A/N: I'm glad lots of people liked it! Thanks for all the feedback; this wouldn't be here without you! Sorry, I was editing this story, so that's why this chapter is reposted.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.

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An Advanceshipping Two-shot
Author: wubbzy
Count: 2225

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His Hat and May

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But now destiny was in their hands

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Part Two: If You Leave

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The darkness filled the corridor except the one light that cascaded down the brunette's body. Next to her was the black haired boy who was doused in that same light. He had the utmost confidents. He grinned, turning to face her. Ash stared straight into her eyes ambition enflamed in his chocolate eyes.

"Are you ready May?" he asked.

"Yeah! Let's do our best then!" May clasped her hands together and gave him a wink in excitement. Ash nodded in agreement, just as pumped. This time, Ash was going to know what it felt like to be in a contest, for he will be competing in his first one with one of his best friends, May, in a matter of a few minutes. Ash smiled at the mere thought, content to see how he would hold up in a real contest. It was unofficial, but it was like an authentic one. He stared over to Pikachu, clenching his fist in anticipation.

"Pikachu, are you ready?" Ash asked.

"Pika!" Pikachu said as electrifying sparks began to soar from his scarlet cheeks. Ash tugged at his hat out of sheer routine when a thought crossed his mind.

"May… did you want to wear my hat?" he asked, taking it off his spiky hair. May smiled gently, shaking her head.

"Thanks for the offer, but you should wear it. It's yours after all. I think I'll be fine from now on." She gave him a thumbs up. Ash was a bit shocked at first when she declined.

After the Pacifidlog contest, she had never performed in a contest without wearing his hat, claiming it was her 'good luck charm'. Whenever she would put it on, she'd always pose either in a mirror or to him and give him a wink, leaving him stunned in his place. He wondered what was wrong for her to decline today of all times, but such thoughts flew over his head when he saw her smile at him. Ash nodded, giving her a thumbs up as well.

"Then good luck to you May. Whatever happens, happens," he declared.

"Right! Good luck to you too, and be sure not to go easy on me, alright?" Ash nodded in agreement. "Let's do our very best then!" and they shook hands.

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May and Ash faced each other, the smoke from the colliding attack of her Blaziken and his Sceptile made it impossible to see who the winner was. The two were facing off after a brilliant first round performance. They were a bit shocked to be facing each other for the Terracotta ribbon, but then smirked in want – especially in May's eyes.

She had realized that he was the person she looked up to all this time. The person she was facing, anticipation and anxiousness reflected in his eyes as well. It was him, he was the one. Him, Ash Ketchum, was the one who always cheered her up and comforted her. He was the one who taught her to try her hardest and to aspire to become something greater than what she originally set out to be. He was the reason she tried so much, working her way through anything with her pokemon by her side, just like she watched him do all this time. It was him. She had realized this throughout their battle, their last performance.

The five minutes of battle were the most grueling that May had ever went through. Ash hadn't let up, and their two starter pokemon were of equal strength.

When those minutes were up, it was the moment of truth. They found themselves biting their lip, impatient for the outcome of the last battle.

"It appears… we have a tie!" the host screamed in contempt and excitement. "What a turn of events!" Both Ash and May stood wide eyed at the board, their bodies so stiff. They finally managed to face each other, both in wonderment. The process repeated. The outcome was unbelievable, so surreal and just… incredible! The applause finally reached their ears, and they stared into each other's eyes, beginning to smile. They turned to the audience and waved.

"Wow! Blaziken and Sceptile, you guys did a great job!" May congratulated.

"Yeah, they both came a long way! You guys were awesome out there!" Ash grinned, petting his Sceptile. The two pokemon beamed in response, giving their trainers a nod. The host's announcement cause the entire arena to mellow down. She turned to the two, melancholic.

"I'm sorry you two, but there is only one ribbon. We never expected a tie," the host apologized, opening the ribbon case to show the Terracotta ribbon. They glanced over to the shinning ribbon that reminded them of the soon. Ash and May's gaze then averted to the other, their eyes sparkling in knowing.

"Don't worry about that. We know just what to do." They both nodded to each other in acknowledgment. Ash grabbed the ribbon and threw it in the air. "Sceptile, use leaf blade!" Ash yelled while Sceptile jumped up and cut the ribbon perfectly in two. They both caught their piece watching the varnished metal gleam.

"Alright! We just won the Terracotta ribbon!" they both declared in unison, their bodies in a similar pose.

"What a great friendship!" the host announced in her microphone. The two placed their ribbons on their pokemon smiles and cheers egging them on.

This day, for as long as they lived, would always be remembered.

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Everyone stood at the docks where May and Max were about to depart. The sea was calm, and the skies seemed clear.

"So you'll be going to Johto, huh?" Ash asked with disappointment consuming his auburn eyes.

"Yup! It's time I find my own style and perform in a lot of contest," May said. He nodded in understanding.

"Then… good luck May." He gently smiled, shaking her hand once again. "Oh, um… maybe you should take this," he reminded her, taking his hat off and sheepishly extending his arms out to her. May stared at him with widened eyes, surprise eminent on her face. Really, it was crazy. The hat he always wore, adored like it was his own pokemon… and he was offering it to her. She gave off a sad smile, shaking her head no. He stared at her with a frown adorning his face.

"Thanks Ash, but I'll have to decline." May moved his hat to his chest when she pushed it away.

"Why not?" he asked, a bit offended by her refusal.

"I'll be honest… I don't think I'll need it anymore. It is really cute on me, I'll admit, but I think I'll be fine without it. Besides, I already have something to remember you by now," she said, showing him her half of the Terracotta ribbon. Ash at first had been taken back at her gesture, but soon deadpanned when he pondered on it more.

"Why does something tell me you never needed it in the first place?" he inquired, the timbre of his voice monotone. Pikachu held the same expression, wondering if what his trainer suspected was correct. May merely giggled, shrugging with faux innocence.

"Maybe, who knows?" She smiled, trying to play along with him. "But-" She grabbed the hat once more and placed it on her head. "It did look cute on me all those times I wore it, don't you think?" She winked, then giggled at his heated face. Ash had stayed there stiff as a rock and unable to move. Max sighed, tugging at his sister's shirt.

"The boat's about to leave," Max told her. May nodded.

"Well, Max and I should be getting on the boat now. Bye Ash, bye Brock, bye Pikachu!" She waved, giving back his hat. She grabbed Max's hand and ran off to the ferry before it left without them. Max stared at the two boys waving along with Pikachu. He did his best to hold back his tears. He quickly brushed the water out of his eyes, continuing to wave at them.

As they got on the boat, he saw the figures where they were, and broke down right there.

"Bye!"

"Bye Max – remember, I'll definitely go and visit you!" Ash said as he waved. "Bye May!"

"I hope you have a safe trip!" Brock said, continuing to wave as well.

"I'll go and visit right after I win the Johto grand festival!" she called out. Ash smirked, sending her a thumbs up.

"Be sure to!"

Both Ash and Brock stood by the docks until the ship was out of sight. Ash smiled contently, placing his hat back on his head, matting his spiky hair to look a bit less wild. "I'm going to get stronger." Ash smiled with new confidents. He grabbed his half of the Terracotta ribbon from his pocket and held it tightly in his calloused palms. He stared at it for a moment, and then put it back in his pocket.

"You ready to head back to Pallet Town Pikachu?" he asked. Pikachu nodded. Brock and Ash walked together until it was finally time to part ways. They shook hands, and waved goodbye.

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Ash's face brightened at the sight before him.

"Whoa, new clothes!" he exclaimed, grabbing them out of the package.

"Even a new backpack!" He smiled, wanting to go thank his mother as soon as he tried them on. He had arrived in Sinnoh just a few days ago, and he already got himself into trouble. He'd lost Pikachu and his journey got off to a hectic start. However, he did meet a new friend named Dawn and met back up with his old friend, Brock. He knew new clothes meant a new start on his journey and new friends, but he would never forget his friends that were moving on along with himself.

He walked out of the bathroom and patted his new clothes. He looked in the mirror and took his old cap off and placed it on the counter. He stared at his new hat. It looked the same only it held a blue poke ball symbol in the middle instead of the green one like his old hat did.

"Well, since I did get a new one…" he trailed off, grabbing it and going to look for a package along with a pen and notebook paper.

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May sighed as she leaned on the rails of the boat in an attempt to calm her nerves. She had dropped off Max, and stayed in Hoenn for a whole week. She couldn't stop thinking of her friends and her future in Johto. She was going to be on her own – all by herself. This time, no one will be at her contest to cheer her on. She was in that same predicament on that fateful day to the Pacifidlog contest. Only this time she was able to ease her nerves when she took her ribbon out.

"This will be my inspiration. If I'm lonely or feel afraid, I'll always have that memory to look back to and smile at," she reminded herself. However, she soon felt somber, her expression falling. "Although maybe I should have accepted his hat," she said in regret. She had great memories while wearing Ash's hat as well. The only problem was he liked his hat so much, she couldn't just take it from him. She still couldn't believe he'd offer it to her in the first place. "Well, that's Ash for you," she thought aloud as she stared up towards rather bleak sky.

"May Maple?" a man asked as he tapped her shoulder.

"Hi, um, yeah that's me." She looked down to see him holding a medium sized package in his hand.

"This just came for you," he informed.

"Oh, thank you!" May smiled.

"Hmm, I wonder what it is," she thought, wondering if her mother sent her anything she might have forgotten for her travels. Her eyes widened when she saw the red and black cap right in front of her. "He didn't…" she whispered out skeptically. She looked down and noticed a piece of white notebook paper folded in half. She opened it and read. Her eyes brightened, smiling in pure rapture.

It read: You may not need it since you're the best coordinator I know, but just in case… -Ash

She felt as if she would cry out in absolute euphoria. She looked down to the bottom of the page shaking her head in amusement.

P.S. It looks better on you anyways, it read with a sloppy drawing of a Pikachu and a Torchic at the end.

May's face heated when reading the last sentence. She grinned, placing the hat and the note to her chest.

"Oh Ash," she said, clutching the items to her chest with closed eyes, taking everything in. "Thank you."

She took off her lime green bandana and placed the red and black hat on her head, posing at a nearby mirror. She felt embarrassed, her cheeks painted scarlet, but still giggled.

With confidence and anxiousness, May stared out to the shore with a determined smile plastered on her face. She wouldn't let Ash or herself down. New challenges, new people and pokemon await the both of them.

Ash and May maybe separated, but yet still linked together as May tugged at the front of their hat.

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A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this. I had to edit this, so if you're wondering why I repost this, you can take a peak in my profile. Anyways, tell me what you think and leave a review! Till next time! xD