Summary: Ash meets up with May on his way to a new region, however there are dark secrets running free. What happens when Ash and May learn a horrifying secret about the past? Will it change the future for the better or worse? Find out in Pokémon Ultimate Quest.
Chapter 1: Reunited
Ash Ketchum sat up in his bed. It felt good to be back home. On his bed, curled up in a ball, resided his first ever Pokémon, Pikachu, with whom he had sparked a lifelong adventure. He had met many friends and earned many accomplishments. He was a skilled Pokémon trainer by far. Ash slipped on his slippers and walked down the steps.
Delia Ketchum, Ash's mother was busying herself in the kitchen. She was cooking a farewell diner for Ash, who would soon be looking forward to a new adventure. Where he was going they were unsure, but he would find someplace new soon.
Ash walked down to the smell of frying bacon and scrambled eggs. He grinned. This was his favorite meal no matter what the occasion. Pikachu jumped down from the bed and scampered down the steps. He allowed the aroma to waft into his nose. His ears twitched as the doorbell rang. That was unusual.
Ash walked to the front door and opened it to see an all too familiar face. "May?" "Long time no see."
May smiled. "Hello Ash. It's been a while."
Ash smiled back. "Yeah May. It really has. Mom's making diner, if you'd like you can join us." At that moment, May's stomach grumbled. Ash chuckled. 'Same old May.' He thought. Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder as May stepped inside. The three walked into the dining room, where Delia greeted them.
"Hello May. It's good to see you. It really has been a while." Delia said smiling at the young teen. May nodded her head in agreement. She had been really quiet lately, even her parents had noticed. She was extremely quiet ever since she had to travel alone in Johto. They all wondered why.
"I'm sure May's just tired." Ash said lifting a fork to his mouth shoveling in some of the delicacies. The flavor was remarkable and it tasted delightful. May hardly touched her diner and was even more alarmed when a Pidgey struck the window, indicating the mail was there. Mr. Mime came in carrying the mail. He dropped it by Ash's feet. Ash read through some letters he had received from his other friends in different regions.
"Hey Ash," Delia said picking up her mail. "Thanks for helping with the mail." She looked through some letters and finally stopped, her eyes transfixed on an envelope with a Gastly painted on the front. She read the name of the sender to herself and her eyes looked sad.
"Is something wrong Mrs. Ketchum?" May asked her face looked worried.
"Oh it's nothing I'm sure I can't solve." Delia said waving a hand at the subject of the matter dismissively. "Are you tired May? It must have been a long boat ride here."
"Yes I'm tired Mrs. Ketchum, but no I didn't take a boat." May inhaled deeply waiting to see Delia's reaction.
Delia paused looking at May in shock. "Then how did you get here dear?"
May pushed her fingers together in nervousness. "Well…you see…"
"What?" Delia repeated.
May heaved a sigh. "I walked here." Delia let out a frightened gasp. "It took me a while…and I encountered quite a few people who tried to kidnap me…" She took another pause. "Including a Pokémon hunter." Everyone fell silent, their gazes on May.
"What were you thinking May?! You could've gotten yourself captured…or worse." Ash said. He clenched his fists in anger. His mother glanced at May who was trembling for some reason. Ash shook his fists angrily and Delia saw more fear pass over the girl's face.
"Ash…I think May's had quite enough fright for today. Haven't you dear?" Delia said softly. May nodded her head in approval and Delia excused them. She walked May to the guest bedroom and even before May's head hit the pillow, she was fast asleep.
Ash walked back to his room, anger evident on his face. "I wonder what May was thinking traveling alone. She's only a girl for crying out loud." Pikachu sighed, his head bobbing in approval. How could May have been so careless? And where were her Pokémon who should've been looking after her?
May's brow creased with sweat as another nightmare floated into her head. She was dreaming that a certain purple haired coordinator had beat her. Her arms held bruises and her legs were unstable. Her skirt was ripped at the hem. Blood trickled from the corner of her nose where he had socked her hard. The reasons that May had hated Johto so much…they all lied in the hands of Harley.
May woke up panting. Her scream had rang throughout the house. Tears poured from her eyes. She backed away when the door opened to reveal a wide-eyed Ash. He walked towards her, his eyes never leaving hers. "May…is everything alright?"
May turned over slowly in the bed. "It's…nothing…it was only…a nightmare." She responded pulling the covers to her head. Ash nodded and left her to be alone once again. May fell asleep, again alarmed by a disturbing dream, but this one didn't wake her, this one made her sick. Her brow was covered in massive amounts of sweat. She had kicked off the covers, and was now trembling.
Delia awoke in the night to go and check on their guest, what she found alarmed her. May was shaking incredibly bad. When Delia got a better look at her, she could see May was pale and very sick. Her forehead was wringing with sweat. Delia set to work on reducing May's fever to a minimum. Spreading a cold washcloth over the girl's forehead, Delia left the room, returning to her sleep.
May awoke the next morning to find a worn out Delia resting on a bed in the guest bedroom. May's eyes traveled upward to the cloth on her forehead. Had she really been sick overnight? Delia smiled when she saw May had woken.
"Good morning May." May nodded her head smiling lightly at Delia. The woman came over and sat on the edge of May's bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better I suppose. I didn't even realize I was sick." May murmured. She closed her eyes drowsily. Delia tucked her in.
"You get as much sleep as you need." Delia said removing the cloth from May's forehead.
"Thank you." May replied and she drifted off into dreamland. This time she had a well-earned sleep. When May awoke again, it was 9:30 in the morning. She stretched and lazily clung to the sheets as the sun peaked into the room.
"May wake up!" Ash shouted. He shook the restless girl. "Come on! Mom and Professor Oak have discovered a new region to the west of here!" Ash shouted. He was obviously excited about the recent news.
May growled angrily and pulled the covers back down over her small frame. "Back off Ash. A girl needs her sleep you know."
"May!" Ash yelled again. "Please hurry." He impatiently stomped around the room until May shrieked in fury and threw herself out of bed. She cried as Ash reached out to help her up. He stepped back in confusion. "What's wrong?"
May desperately shook her head. "It's…nothing." She replied. She threw the covers to the side in a neat pile, and taking up her clothes, scurried to the bathroom to change. Once May was fully clothed, the two headed out into the living room to discuss the new place they would soon be traveling to.
Me: You sure seem to be excited about traveling to a new region don'tcha Ash?
Ash: Yeah as always! I'm going to conquer that land and become a Pokémon master!
May: I'll be there to witness it.
Me: I'll be there to witness how Drew gallantly sweeps May away.
May and Ash: What?!
Me: Oh nothing.
May: You forgot something important!
Me: Oh yeah? And what did I forget?
May: The disclaimer.
Me: Oh then be so kind.
May: (sighs) Okay fine. Heather, also known as May and Dawn are the Best, does NOT under any circumstances own Pokémon. However she will own the region, all or most of the Pokémon in the region, and maybe a few ocs.
Me: Totally.
May, Ash, and Me: Review and happy reading!