Chapter I—The Beginning
The sun was setting, painting the sky beautiful shades of red, yellow and pink. Waves lapped the shore as the sea was turned a silvery shade of green by the orange-ish setting sun. A boy with hair the same colour as the sea was standing there alone, the wind making gentle ripples in his hair. His emerald eyes stared at the horizon for no apparent reason. Above him hovered a dragon-like creature with bulging eyes. A small plant-like creature with two roses for hands stood beside him and a moth-like creature perched on his shoulder.
"Drew," said a familiar voice.
He turned and saw another boy, his messy jet-black hair hidden beneath his cap and a furry electric mouse rested on his arm.
"Oh, hi, Ash," Drew said stiffly.
"What're you doing all alone here?" Ash plonked himself down on the soft sand. To his surprise, Drew followed.
"Nothing," Drew lied. In his mind, the contest that had just passed was still afresh. How could I lose to May? His heart inevitably missed a beat. Why do I always get this weird feeling nowadays when I think about May? No, he told himself firmly, stop being so sensitive to her. She's your rival after all…
"I know what you are thinking. The contest. And May." Drew stared at him. How on earth did he know everything? Keeping his voice as normal as possible, he sneered, "May and I are rivals. I'm just angry she beat me. That's all. Well, I'll have to train more, I guess. She's still a wimp to me." he laughed his cold laugh, but it came out a little shaky.
Ash winked knowingly. "but yet you don't see a person telling his rival that someone is deceiving her, and helping her." He was referring to the time Harley cheated May, thought Drew bitterly. Great. Now I don't know what to say. Seeing Drew in silence, Ash continued, "Don't try to hide from me. I know you like May."
"How'd you be so sure?" Drew demanded. "I…I…we are rivals!" he finished lamely. But he could not stand the pressure of the situation anymore. "Fine! I like May! So what?" Somehow he felt relieved now.
Ash beamed. "Then tell her," he said simply.
Drew gaped at him. "But…but don't you like May?" he wished he had not asked that question.
Ash frowned. "I treated her like a sister, but that's all. Really. But I did have this good friend…she's in Kanto…" he trailed off.
"I bet you like her," Drew said quickly. Ash just sighed, which he took for a "yes". Getting back on May, Drew went, "But tell her? She'd…"
Reading Drew's mind, Ash went, "Nah. In fact I think she'd appreciate it a lot. She likes you too."
"You…you sure?"
"Positive." Ash got up. "Well, see you soon! Think about it."
On the other side of the coast sat a girl with a red bandanna and russet brown hair. A large butterfly-like creature was on her head, and a small catlike creature as well as a chicken-like creature with long claws sat beside her. She, too, was thinking about the contest. Never thought, I'd beat Drew, she though happily. But her smile faded almost immediately. She could never forget Drew's disappointed look, but all the same he flicked his silvery green hair and sneered—he did look cute whenever he did that. She suddenly caught herself. No, she told herself firmly. Drew's your rival. But she just couldn't get him out of her mind…his roses…he had helped me once…was it possible that-? Suddenly, she was snapped out of her trance by a familiar call.
"May!" A small boy of no more than seven, with large square glasses came running up the beach.
"Oh hi Max." Max sat down beside her. He eyed her suspiciously. "Come on sister, don't tell me you're thinking about Drew again."
May blushed. "You shut up. As if I like him."
Max smiled mischievously. "Don't be so secretive. If you like him just tell him. I know you do, don't deny."
May sighed. "But he will think I am crazy or something!"
To that Max replied, "He likes you. I can tell. Just go ahead and tell him. Well, I gotta go. See you at dinner!" and he raced off.
Which left May feeling very confused.
Suddenly, she heard a rustle of footsteps, turned around, and saw Drew. "Why're you here?" she demanded.
"Why not?" he sneered. Without saying anything else, he handed her another rose.
May looked surprised but delighted. Keeping her face straight, she said in a casual tone, "Is this for Combusken now?"
"Something like that. Oh yeah, you won't be seeing me around soon, I am going back to my homeland." Drew shrugged, and melted away into the dark before May could say another word.
May stared at the rose. Ash said that they would be going somewhere too…for the battle tower challenge…what was the place called? La something. Sighing quietly to herself, she got up and went off to join the rest for dinner.