Midnight nightmare

May's POV

Well…I didn't end up winning it. The contest ribbon had gone to the trainer I'd bumped into before. I missed her name though. She'd gone on stage, collected her ribbon and walked back off.

I kicked a stone on my way back to the Pokémon centre. Beautifly was next to me, also looking a little down.

That was the last contest for a little while. The next one was two weeks away. All the coordinators knew that. The chances to win five ribbons were now very pushed for time. Without an extra two weeks of contests, the chances were lessened. There was going to be less participants in this year's grand festival.

"We'll win the next one," I told Beautifly, "I'm sure we will."

She trilled happily.

"Actually, I was going to let Skitty do the next appeals," I said, "She hasn't had a chance for a while now. You don't mind?"

She nodded.

"And I think I'll let Glaceon do the battle rounds," I continued, "Glaceon has been getting a lot stronger and her attacks are usually very nice don't you think?"

Beautifly cooed her agreement.

"I have lots of time to practise now though," I said.

She fluttered out in front and twirled around. I laughed.

"Maybe if I get good enough with Skitty's appeal then I can practise with you again. Maybe Wartortle and Munchlax too," I said, "I haven't trained Munchlax for a while now actually."

She spoke to me, nodding her head.

"Well, I would've, but I was so focused on this contest, that I forgot," I said, "I'll train him between the contests, I promise."

I recalled her back into her Pokéball once we were nearing the Pokécentre.

"Thank you," I whispered to her ball, knowing she'd hear me from inside, "I still think you did wonderfully today."

I climbed the stairs to my room and wearily flopped down onto my bed. I hadn't even realised how late it had gotten. It was already dark outside. Daylight savings would have to start soon.

I picked up the phone on the bedside, deciding just to call for rom service tonight.

I ordered chips and chicken nuggets for myself and some deluxe Pokémon food for my Pokémon. Once we'd all eaten I lay back, trying to get to sleep.

Midnight's POV

Black. Black everywhere. The darkness I couldn't see in.

"Don't hurt me," I whispered.

It was the same. Pitch black where I couldn't see. That's how it always started. And then…

They came again. The same eyes. I couldn't see the rest of the face, I could only see the eyes. They were full of fear and hurt.

I tried to close my eyes, but the image remained on the back of my eyelids, invading my mind.

"Midnight…"

The voice that whispered my name, sent shivers up my spine.

"Look what you've done."

A bright flash and there it was. A field. A mass murder. Children screaming, crying out for their parents. A little boy clinging to his dead mother, crying for her to wake up. He looked at me, his blue eyes seeming to pierce through the darkness and see me.

"I didn't do it," I said, "Please, no. I didn't do it."

A young girl, barely conscious, bleeding from wounds all over her body. Her blonde hair was splashed with the red of blood and her form was twisted on a strange angle.

"I can't take it," I said, "I didn't do it!"

I woke, sitting bolt upright. It was that nightmare again. It was always the same.

Those eyes. that boy. That girl. They haunted me.

I shivered, cold sweat having drenched my body. I heard a pop sound as a Pokémon released themselves from a Pokéball.

"Ninetales," I whimpered, "Why? I haven't done anything."

She cooed softly to me.

Why did my parents abandon me? Didn't they ever love me? Did they even think of me? What was wrong with me?

Maybe it was because I wasn't the perfect child.

"Ninetales, do you think my parents will ever come to find me?" I asked.

She let out a sad whine.

"You're right," I said, "I can't expect you to know."

She raised a paw and put it on my shoulder. I looked at her, seeing a caring face I'd never seen before. And I broke down crying, using her fur to dry my tears.

May's POV

I woke to the sound of soft crying. Who was crying? It sounded like it came from next door. I groaned and pushed myself out of bed. There was going to be no way I could just leave someone crying.

I put my feet into the Buneary shaped slippers that my brother had gotten me for my last birthday and headed out into the hall. I walked only to the door left to my room before I could hear the quiet sobs.

This was the door.

I knocked gently.

There was no reply.

"Are you alright?" I called softly.

The sobbing stopped for a moment and I heard a shuffling noise. The door opened after and I was shocked by what I was greeted with. It was the girl from the contest, the one I'd bumped into. Her face was red and her eyes were damp with tears. Her hair was tangled and she looked so sorrowful.

"What do…you want?" she asked, an irregular deep breath interrupting her in the middle.

"I could hear you next door," I said, "I wanted to see if you were ok."

"I'm fine," she mumbled.

"You're obviously not," I said, "Can I come in for a while? You look like you shouldn't be alone."

"I'm not alone," she protested, "I have Ninetales."

I smiled slightly.

"Come on, just for a little bit. It might help," I said.

"I don't even know you," she said.

"Oh, sorry, I'm May. May Maple," I said.

She paused for a moment and then sighed, letting her door swing open so I could come in.

"I'm Midnight. Midnight Ace."

Jaiden's POV

I rocked Ash's sleeping form.

"Breakfast already?" he mumbled.

"No Ash," I said, "No breakfast."

"Then go back to sleep," he muttered, turning back over.

"No Ash," I said, "We're leaving. Now."

"What?" he asked, opening one eye to look at me.

"We're escaping and we're going to look for them," I said, "I've already planned out our route. We just need to pack and sneak out."

Ash groaned.

"You woke me up for that? We can go in the morning," he whined.

"We're leaving now," I said, "Do you think if we try to leave in broad daylight that they'd actually let us?"

He groaned again.

"Are we really doing this?" he asked.

"I am," I said, "Even if none of you come along I'm still going. I thought I'd let you have the opportunity to come with and look for her."

Ash paused.

"Give me a few minutes," he said, sitting up now.

"Good," I said, "I'll get Paul and Drew."

I walked over silently to our door and carefully turned the doorknob. I pulled the door open quickly to avoid it from creaking. You learnt tricks like that went you snuck out late at night.

I did the same and for the room next to ours and tiptoed into Drew and Paul's room.

I went to Drew first.

"Wake up," I said, "We're breaking out of here."

Drew moaned and turned over, mumbling something about grass. Did this boy dream of his hair or something?

"Drew," i said louder, "Get up, we're going to break out and search for her if you're interested."

Drew sat bolt upright.

"Grasshead!" he exclaimed, still half asleep.

Well I guess he does dream of his hair.

I clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Not so loud," I hissed.

He blinked a few times and looked at me.

"Really?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Pack and get ready," I said, "We're leaving as soon as we're all ready."

He swung his legs out of bed, only to slip and fall with a thud onto the ground. Drew really wasn't the coordinated when he'd just been woken up. It was rather funny at times actually, but I had other matter to attend to now.

"Paul," I whispered, shaking him.

I recoiled back as his fist shot up and hit me in the face. I cupped my jaw, letting out brief seething hiss of pain.

"Ouch, Paul, get up," I said, using my foot to kick him slightly.

"You better have woken me up for a good reason," Paul said.

So now he was awake.

"We're leaving," I said, tenderly touching my jaw, "We're going out and we're going to look for them."

Paul hesitated before swinging out of bed.

"When," he said.

I looked at Drew, who was just about finished packing a medium sized back pack, and then at Ash who was standing in the doorway with a small camo patterned duffel bag.

"Now," I said.

Me: I'm doing pretty good with this one so far

Drew: *groans* I do not dream about my hair.

Me: *shrugs* I thought I'd add humour after Midnight's nightmare.

Midnight: Seriously? You wrote another nightmare?

Me: *jumps* WHA! When did you get here? Yes, I had another nightmare scene. You guys can sort of expect those things to be a sort of trend. Don't worry, they'll add up later on. For now, things are going to be confusing

Misty: Because that's just what you want to do, confuse the reader

Dawn: Why haven't I appeared yet?

Paul: Just be thankful

Me: All in due time Dawn...All in Due time. You'll get your turn *evil grin*

Dawn:...I don't like that look.

Me: I dunno what you;re talking about *grins innocently while drawing angel halo*