Chapter 3 – Petalburg City
"Can't you see Ash? They are holding you back"
"You were supposed to be the best trainer of the World"
"But instead of that you keep traveling all Kanto doing stupid missions to Elite Four"
"Lance is an Idiot"
"Sir?" said a voice "Hello Sir?"
Ash woke up scared; he was all sweaty and didn't know exactly where he was. He looked around and saw a flight attendant standing next to him
"I'm sorry to wake you up sir, but I must inform that we'll be landing on Petalburg city in just fifteen minutes" she said
"Thank you" said Ash still a little dizzy "What's the time now?"
"Eleven o'clock in the morning sir"
"Okay… Thank you again" said Ash as the flight attendant left to talk to another sleepy passenger
Ash looked by the window and saw Petalburg City, since it was only eleven o'clock in the morning he would have enough time to look around the city
"That dream" Ash said "Damn you Brock… I hate when you are right"
The plane landed in Petalburg city exactly fifteen minutes later, and soon Ash found himself at the streets of Petalburg
"Five years" said Ash "It's been five years since I was last here… and yet… nothing's changed"
Petalburg City was completely different from Pallet Town or Pewter city; it was much bigger with much more people than the other two. Tall buildings like were everywhere and all people seemed to be in a rush to get to somewhere
"I wonder if she is still here" thought Ash
"Excuse me sir" said a voice from behind Ash
Ash turned around and saw two boys, about twelve years old standing in front of him
"Sir… do you happen to know where the Petalburg Gym is?" asked one of them
"Hum… no… I don't. Sorry" Ash answered
"It's okay sir. Thanks anyway" the boy answered
The kids were about to leave when Ash stopped them
"Actually… I do know where it is" he said "Just keep going ahead this street and turn left at the end, you will find the Gym at the end of that street"
"Wow Thank you sir" he said
"Anytime" Ash said "Get ready, Norman is a very powerful gym leader"
The two kids looked at each other confusedly
"Who?" one asked
"Norman… the gym leader of Petalburg" Ash said
"I think you are mistaken sir, the gym leader is not this man you said"
"Then who it is?"
"Max Maple" he said
"MAX?" Ash asked "Max is the Gym Leader?"
"That's right and he is known as one of the best leader of all time" he said
Ash was astonished, not only Max was the leader, but a good one
"Well… this is something I have to see" said Ash following the kids to the Gym
As Ash walked through the city to get to the gym, he remembered the first time he had been in Petalburg, he wanted so much to win his first badge from Hoenn but his lack of Pokémon didn't let him. But he came back later and won the battle over Norman. At that time Max was just a little kid who travelled with him. He used to see Ash as a hero, someone to follow the steps in his dream of become a trainer as well. After battle frontier, they stopped travelling together and he didn't even remember when the last time they saw each other was…
"There it is" said Ash
In front of Ash's eyes there was the Gym of Petalburg city. It reminded Ash an old temple with a long stair in front which leaded to the door. Ash walked slowly until the door and opened it
"Swellow, use still wing" said a boy in the battle field
"It seems there is a battle occurring" thought Ash
"You have no chance… Slaking, use Giga Impact" said a boy at the other side of the field
"You haven't changed much Max" thought Ash
Max was the same Ash remembered, he was taller now, about 18 years, he wasn't sure about his age, but he was wearing the same glasses and the same haircut
"Hey, if you're here to challenge the leader, you have to get in line" said a girl to Ash
Ash then noticed that there were at least seven trainers lining next to each other
"Line?" asked Ash
"That's right" she said "we're all here to challenge the leader, do not cut the line"
"Wow… Max was that good the people would actually wait in line to battle him?" Thought Ash "Don't worry… I will not battle" said Ash
"If you're here to watch… then move to the bleachers" said the girl
Ash did as she said and went over the bleacher. He watched patiently Max defeat the first six trainers easily… but although Max was really a very good trainer… Ash was way better than him
"How are you Ash" said a man sitting next to Ash
"Very good" he answered "What about you Norman?"
"I have nothing to complain about" he said "My son is the strongest Gym leader of Hoenn"
"That's what I heard" Ash said
"It's been a long time Ash. What are you doing here?"
"I was passing by and decided to come here when I learned Max was the Gym leader"
"My son has been the Gym leader for almost one year now" said Norman
"And yet you seem worried about it" said Ash looking at Norman for the first time
"So… you noticed" he said
"What's wrong Norman?" asked Ash
"Well… Max is very powerful, an amazing Gym leader. It's been almost four months since his last lost… but…"
"But?" Ash asked
"Look at that" said Norman pointing to the battlefield where Max had just defeated the seventh challenger
"Come on… who is the next? Who will try to defeat the unstoppable Max? The best Gym leader of all Hoenn" said Max to all people at the Gym
"I think I got it" said Ash
"Max is a very good trainer… but he became too much…stuck-up" said Norman
"And you fear that could become a problem to Max" said Ash
"Precisely" he answered
"I see. You're right" said Ash "What are you gonna do?"
"If I could find someone who could defeat Max easily… he'll probably remember how difficult is to be a Gym leader and maybe will change his way as Gym leader"
"Why don't you challenge him?" asked Ash
"I did… and I lost" said Norman "He is really good, so I was thinking about someone who he admires a lot, someone who could beat him and show him a little humility" said Norman looking at Ash
"You want me to challenge Max?" asked Ash
"I'll be grateful if you do" said Norman
Ash looked at Norman and saw how serious he was; he wanted to help his son to become better, to never forget that losing is also important sometimes. And Ash also didn't want to Max's confidence becomes an weapon against himself
"Fine" said Ash standing up and walking down the bleacher to the battlefield
"Thanks Ash"
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.
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"So… there are no more trainers here to challenge me? How bad… I thought I could get to my victory number 300 as Gym leader… but it seems I'll have to wait until tomorrow" said Max
"I challenge you" said a voice
Max turned around to see the person who had spoken and got surprised when he saw… him
"You?" asked Max
"Hello Max. It's been a while" said Ash still walking to his position at the battlefield
Max looked at his father on the bleachers and then back to Ash
"You want to challenge me?"
"Of course" answered Ash "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and I challenge you. Is there a problem?"
"Absolutely not" said Max "As Gym leader, I accept all challengers"
"Good. So please, on your position"
Both Max and Ash positioned themselves at each side of the field, the referee at the middle started then to speak
"This is a gym battle between the Gym leader of Petalburg city Max and the challenger Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. Each trainer can use three Pokémon …"
"No" said Ash interrupting the referee "we'll each use just one Pokémon"
"What?" asked the referee "Sir… I'm sorry but you do not set the rules"
"I don't care. This is not an official battle" said Ash "If you are as good as you say… show me then"
"Very well" said Max "I accept your terms"
"Very good Max" said Ash
"So let's begin" said Max "Slaking I choose you"
"Sceptile, Go" said Ash
It was a long time ago, but those two Pokémon had already faced each other. At that time Sceptile was still a Grovyle and the trainer was Norman. Now, many years after that Ash was once more stepping on that arena to face his son and his Slaking, that's why he chose Sceptile
"Remember Ash" said Norman "You must win fast and easily"
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.
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"Slaking, use Ice beam" said Max
"Sceptile, use agility" said Ash
Sceptile started moving around very fast, making very difficult to get hit
"Now, jump and use Solar beam"
Sceptile jumped and started charging energy
"Using solar beam takes time" said Max "Use Ice beam once more Slaking"
Slaking was about to use ice beam when…
"Double team" said Ash
Suddenly many other Sceptiles appeared on the air making Slaking confused about which one hit
"How he used Double team while charging energy?" asked Max
"Use Solar Beam, but aim the ground" said Ash
"What?" asked Max
Sceptile used its move on the ground as Ash ordered, making dust goes everywhere
"I can't see a damn thing" said Max
"You seem to trust too much your strategy Max. When something goes wrong… you don't know what to do. That's how you lose a match"
"What do I do now?" asked Max
"You do nothing but lose" said Ash "Sceptile, use Focus Blast"
Sceptile suddenly appeared from the dust in front of Slaking and used Focus Blast, a fighting move super effective against normal types.
After the dust faded away, all everybody could see was Sceptile up with not even a scratch, while Slaking on the other hand was down, knocked out
"Slaking can no longer battle, the winner is Ash from Pallet Town" said the referee
"I… lost?" asked Max, he suddenly heard many people on the bleachers talking
"Max lost… how is that possible?"
"I thought he was the best"
"That Ash guy is way better than him"
Max looked at his father and then to Ash and realized…
"I am not that good as I thought" he said
"Don't be too hard on yourself" said Ash coming close to him "You are very good. But there will always be someone better than you"
"You mean you?"
"Maybe… Today I won, tomorrow I may lose" said Ash
"It was an amazing battle Ash" said Norman who came down to congratulate him
"Are you mad at me dad?" asked Max "Because I lost?
"Of course not Max" said Norman "Don't forget that I myself once lost to Ash. It's completely okay to lose sometimes… it's makes you stronger and humble"
"I think I've been a jerk… thinking I could beat everybody" said Max "I'm sorry dad"
"It's okay son" said Norman "And thank you Ash"
"No problem Norman" said Ash
"You're still… something" said Max "After all these years…you just get better"
"Well… thank you" said Ash
"By the way… what are you doing here?" asked Max
"I… was passing by" said Ash
"Passing by?" asked Max "You are a Kanto Elite Four member and you were passing by Petalburg city?"
"It's completely believable" said Ash
Max didn't seem to trust Ash but let it go
"So Ash, would you like to stay for lunch?" asked Norman "Caroline is at home preparing it. I can ask her to put one extra plate for you"
"I'm sorry Norman, but I have many things to do here in Hoenn… so I'll have to say…"
"…YES" said a voice from behind them
Ash, Max and Norman turned around to see who was talking and saw nothing more, nothing less than… her. A woman Ash was both happy and sad to see. Her beauty was still magical like an angel, her brown long hair and sapphire eyes made her face indescribable, her body… in Ash's mind was the most beautiful he has ever seen, curves that enhance the body of a woman in her early twenties, sneakers, shorts and a red tank top. She was there
"May" said Ash
"The only and one" May said coming closer to Ash, and scanning him from up to down. She bit her lips and stared at him "You look good Ash"
"You look good too" said Ash
"So… you come all the way from Kanto to here, do not let us know, defeat Max and intend to leave without saying hello and goodbye to me?" she said kind of seductively
"I… didn't know you were here" Ash said
"Well, you could've asked" said Max
Ash gave him a glare like he was not helping
"Dad, Max… Ash will stay for lunch" May said "Won't you?"
May took a few steps ahead getting real close to Ash; she could even feel his breath now
"I… will stay for lunch" said Ash
"Dad, Max… you can go back home and let mom knows Ash's here" said May
Max and Norman nodded and left back to their home next to the Gym, leaving May and Ash alone, by that time, all people who were inside the gym watching the match had also left
"What are you doing here Ash?" asked May
"I was passing by" he said
"You know nobody here believed you… but dad and Max are too polite to say anything… unlike me" said May "What are you doing here?"
"I'm on a mission for Elite Four" said Ash
"Is it about the earthquakes?" she asked
"How do you know that?"
"It seems something the Elite would ask you to investigate" said May
They remained a couple of minutes in silence, just looking at each other
"Close your eyes" said May
"What?" asked Ash
"Close your eyes I said"
Ash hesitated but closed his eyes, he had no time to think, and the next second he felt a slap hitting his left cheek
Ash opened his eyes and saw May smiling, he couldn't see but he was sure his cheek was badly red now
"Do you know what was that for?" she asked
"Yes… I do"
"Good. Now close your eyes again"
Ash closed his eyes once more and a new slap hit him, this time on his right cheek
"And this one… do you know what was that for?" She asked again
"I think I do too"
"Good. Now close your eyes again"
"May, what are you going to do now? You're not going to punch my belly or kick my balls are you?"
"Do not give me ideas Ash. CLOSE…YOUR…EYES"
Ash closed his eyes, and this time he was scared, he was expecting the worse, but he then felt something differently… he felt May's lips touching his, it was a kiss that he fast responded. She then put her arms around his neck while he put his arms around her waist. The kiss became strongly and more passionate and lasted almost two minutes, after that they had to break the kiss to get some air. They looked at each other as May started caressing Ash's hair, he no longer wears a cap, but she liked that way… his messy hair was now visible
"Do you know what was that for?" May asked
"Actually… I do not" Ash answered
"Let me explain to you" said May "The first slap was because you cheated on me, but I forgive you. The second slap was because you cheated on me again… but I also forgive you. And the kiss was because you came back after so many years"
"You are a very weird woman" said Ash
"And you are a very lucky guy" said May
"So… am I going to get lucky tonight?" Ash asked smiling
"You wish. Can you see this?" asked May passing her hands through her body "You won't have it"
"Who said I want it?"
"Your eyes did"
"To be honest… I really wanted it" Ash said
"I also want you" said May "But our time together has long passed Ash. We are just friends okay?"
"I… guess is for the best" Ash said smiling
May also smiled and grabbed his hand
"Come on, mom is doing lasagna… and I know you love it" said May
"You really know me, don't you?"
"I know you better than myself" she said winking at him "Good kiss by the way"
They looked at each other once more and kissed again, this time faster and not that intense, but good anyway
"Are you sure we can't…"
"Just friends Ash" said May interrupting him
"Okay…." He said "So… you said something about lasagna, didn't you?"
"You don't change" she laughed "Follow me"