Part 4: Brand New Dress

Spinning like a girl in a brand new dress

We had this big wide city all to ourselves

We blocked the noise with the sound of 'I need you'

And for the first time I had something to lose

- Holy Ground, Taylor Swift

The bell tolled and May's heart stopped. Her eyes flashed up to the scoreboard. She was nervous. The Wallace Cup was her fresh start, her new beginning. Glaceon was exhausted, panting and barely standing. May's heart swelled with pride for her newly evolved Pokémon. He had fought long and hard against Piplup and the battle had been breath-takingly beautiful. In that moment, May felt her heart beating in time with her Pokémon's. They were as one.

In the split second before the score was revealed, May caught Dawn's eye. Both coordinators smiled and seemed to agree silently that no matter whom the victor was there would be no hard feelings. They had both been in a bit of a funk, and the Wallace Cup, more specifically the final battle, had set pulled them free. May took solace in the fact that Dawn looked as nervous as she felt.

After what felt like an eternity, the score was revealed. Dawn was declared the winner by a hair. Dawn doubled over in shock, her hands flying to her mouth. She hugged Piplup tightly, tears sparkling in the corners of her eyes. May felt her posture crumple. She had lost. Something heavy in her stomach sunk and she felt sick. It had been an incredible battle between two talented coordinators.

While it could have gone either way, May felt defeated. She had lost to Dawn. Dawn, a first year coordinator, had beaten her, and it hurt. Glaceon slunk over to May, sadly. May pulled the Pokémon into a warm embrace. "You battled excellently. I'm so, so proud of you." She felt tears of both happiness and sadness tickle her eyes. "You deserve a good long rest now. Return." She recalled the ice type and kissed his Pokéball. She brushed her hair out of her face and stood up. She smiled brilliantly at Dawn, forcing herself to be happy for her fellow coordinator.

They shook hands and over the roar of the crowd, May thanked Dawn for the incredible battle and congratulated her on her win. Dawn was still shocked but she was obviously overjoyed. Dawn was in shock all the way through the presentation of the Aqua Ribbon. May smiled and waved when she was addressed as the runner up. She stood side-by-side with Dawn throughout closing ceremonies.

The day's exhaustion had caught up to her by the time she left the stage. A reporter tried to stop her to ask her some questions, but May waved her off with a smile and a lame excuse that the reporter reluctantly accepted. She did, however, supply the information that she was headed back to Johto as soon as possible.

Upon reaching her room, she all but flopped onto her bed. She was incredibly proud of each and every one of her Pokémon and yet she was still disappointed. Her Pokégear was full of messages from friends, family and past competition that were congratulating her on second place in the Wallace Cup. Max's message in particular simply told her to call him and that he was really proud of her.

May smiled at her brother's message. She dialed his number in, ready to hear a familiar voice, when her Pokégear chimed with another message. Drew had messaged her. Forgetting momentarily about calling Max, she opened his message. He had congratulated her on a job well done.

May wondered if he was kidding. He's Drew Hayden; he would have won the Wallace Cup. He couldn't be congratulating her on second place. She sent him a confused message in reply asking if he realized that she'd lost. Moments later, her gear was ringing.

She answered it, startled. "Hello?"

"The congratulations wasn't on second place," he said firmly. "There was something different about the person that took the stage in that contest May, whether you realize it or not."

"Drew?" She questioned.

He ignored her. "Think about it May. You were different in Sinnoh than you were in Johto."

May paused. She ran over her tactics for the Wallace Cup in her head. She had focused more on showcasing her Pokémon's beauty and on having a balanced defense and offense. It was different from her all or nothing style in Johto. "What are you saying Drew?" She asked quietly.

"You found your style. You went to Sinnoh looking for it and you found it."

May let that thought sink in. Coordinating in Sinnoh had been different. That feeling of being one with her Pokémon was something she hadn't felt since the Kanto Grand Festival when she became one with Blaziken to defeat Drew himself. "I-" she stammered. May inhaled deeply and smiled. This time it wasn't a fake smile like the one that she had been wearing since she lost to Dawn. It was real. "I did. I'm ready to be better Drew. And it's all thanks to you."

May heard Drew laugh. "You're giving me too much credit Maple. You have got to think about your Pokémon and about yourself too."

She fell back onto her bed, keeping her Pokégear at her ear. "I'll be back in Olivine tomorrow. Not early or anything, it'll be in the late afternoon."

"I'll be there. Goodnight May. Again, congratulations." He replied firmly.

May was startled, but before she could protest anything, Drew had ended the call. She was mystified. Had he waited for her in Olivine the entire time she had been gone? If he hadn't, would he really come all the way back just to receive her? She curled her fingers into the bedspread and smiled. He was an amazing person, even if he had been arrogant and rude when they were younger. Age had done good things to both of them.

May felt like her arm was going to fall off. She leaned against the railing and lifted it higher into the air, waving frantically. Ash jumped up and down on the pier, getting progressively smaller and smaller. The breeze smelled like salt and May watched until she couldn't see her friends anymore. Dawn, Zoey, Brock, and Ash had all come down to the docks to see her off. She had promises to rebattle Zoey and Dawn another time. She had also exchanged numbers with both girls.

May finally backed away from the railing when Lake Valor was just a speck in the distance. She glanced up at Beautifly who had been hovering around her head. "Time to plan our return Beautifly." The Pokémon tittered excitedly and landed on May's head, her colourful wings fluttering every so often in the breeze.

She returned the butterfly Pokémon and returned to her cabin. She called out Glaceon and pulled out a pad of paper. For around an hour, May sketched on the pad and drew out a couple new combinations for Glaceon. The ice type seemed excited at the prospect and May repeated the action for her other four Pokémon, designing two or three new appeals or combinations each. She had sent Venusaur and Munchlax to her mom. She did follow Drew's advice there. Venusaur and Munchlax both were not the best fits for contests. The Wallace Cup was a good way to end both of their careers. The sixth spot on her team was a nagging problem, but it wasn't as bad as it had been before leaving for Sinnoh.

With her combinations finished, she took out a map and set to work, planning her route to the next contest. Looking up some dates in the brochure she had received at the beginning of the season, May noticed there was a contest in Ecruteak City in just four days. She smiled and put an x over Ecruteak on her map. It was the perfect place to make her return to Johto contests. She then decided that it would be Glaceon's turn to do an appeal as her Johto debut.

She glanced briefly at the time on her Pokégear. It was nearing lunch, so she sent Skitty out with a small pouch of money to purchase her something to eat. Idly, she wondered if Drew would even be there to receive her. He had said he would and had given her no reason to wonder, but still she couldn't help it. Why would he wait for her?

She really shouldn't have doubted him. True to his word, he was there.

Four days later, May arrived in Ecruteak. Drew stuck around with her for a day, but announced that he had to depart to do some special training. He refused to divulge the reason to May, but it had been two days since they split up. May made her way to the Ecruteak Pokémon centre and began registering for the contest.

As Nurse Joy was scanning her contest pass, May felt a shadow fall over her. She glanced over her shoulder and her heart sunk. "Hi Harley," she greeted warily.

"Sugar Cookie!" He squealed, clapping his hands together. "It's so good to see you darling! I presume you're here for the contest! That makes both of us. Don't disappoint me okay? I want the pleasure of knocking you out myself." Harley smiled broadly at her, but May's wariness set in and her hackles rose.

"Yeah. I'll see you in the finals where I'm going to win." May said firmly.

Harley waved his hand at her. "That's so cute May dear. You did well in the Wallace Cup, Sol, Drewy and I were all watching on TV. It was almost a family reunion. Of course, you were missing." Harley tapped his chin in what appeared to be deep thought. "Although I suppose it's almost a family reunion now! I saw Drewsy-pop lurking around outside earlier!"

May raised an eyebrow. Drew's training was in Ecruteak? Nurse Joy handed her contest pass back and May thanked her. She said goodbye to Harley, probably a little too quickly, and went outside to look for Drew. She wandered out on to the lawn. An Absol bounded across the grass, dodging a Covet attack. It stopped in its tracks to glance at May.

Drew called out another attack from the Pokémon that was racing towards Absol. "Trump Card!" He ran alongside his Pokémon as the smaller Pokémon barreled into Absol with a huge amount of power.

Absol fell back, panting and Drew returned it. He seemed to notice May for the first time. May was still staring at Drew's new Pokémon. It was an Eevee. The little Pokémon took one look at May and ran and hid behind Drew's legs with startled squeak. May giggled at the shy attitude of the Pokémon.

"Well it appears you just can't stay away May, can you?" Drew asked, folding his arms.

May rolled her eyes. "You knew I was coming to Ecruteak to enter the contest here Drew." She reminded him.

He shrugged. "Yeah, maybe I did."

"Are you here to watch again?" May asked curiously.

He shook his head. "I'm actually in Ecruteak for this little fellow." He gestured to the Eevee hiding behind his legs. The Pokémon took a careful glance at May, but didn't come out of hiding. "Eevee, this is the nice lady with the pretty Glaceon." He coaxed. May almost melted at the soft husky tone of voice Drew used even if it wasn't directed at her.

Eevee shyly peeked out once again and this time it approached May tentatively. She crouched down and pulled out her Pokéblock dispenser. She clicked a few blocks of her sweet Pokéblock that Glaceon liked into her hand and held it out. Eevee took them quickly and after eating them, lightened up. He rubbed against May's leg affectionately. She brushed the top of his head before standing up again.

"So why are you in Ecruteak for Eevee? And how did you get an Eevee anyways?"

Drew returned Eevee and tucks his hands into his pockets suavely. "I did a favour for the daycare to the south of Goldenrod and they gave me an egg. The egg hatched into Eevee a week or so ago. Have you heard of the Kimono Girls? They put on shows here in their theatre in Ecruteak with all different kinds of Eevee evolutions. I thought it would be worth while to bring my new Eevee here to see it."

May nodded. "I'm going to be in the contest today." She said.

"I'll probably stop by to see your new style in action. Are you excited to battle Harley?"

May shrugged. "I'm almost nervous if I can be honest. I haven't actually battled you, Harley or Solidad in a contest yet this season."

Drew nodded. "I've beaten and lost to Solidad and beaten Harley once. I guess after today we'll get to see how you measure up. I'll catch you later Maple."

Glaceon's appeal was stunningly beautiful. His Ice Beam had turned the floor into a skating rink on which he skated elegantly. Ice Shard had created spinning blocks of ice that appeared to be like mirrors. May then commanded a Mirror Coat, giving off a beautiful, glowing light that bounced through the ice crystals and reflected in a beautiful light. She finished using Shadow Ball to destroy all the ice and create a rain of sparkles that showered Glaceon as he stood proudly. She had received the highest score of the contest.

Wartortle had won his way through the first two rounds of the contest, leaving May and Harley against each other in the finals. Harley called out his Wigglytuff, a dark gleam in his eye. May inhaled and tightened her grip on the Pokéball she had selected. This was redemption and she deserved every second of it.

"Skitty! Take the stage!" She tossed the ball out onto the field and her pink cat burst forth, landed with an adorable meow.

"Using that useless thing May, really?" Harley taunted.

May grit her teeth. "Useless? All right Skitty; let's show him how useless you are! Start with Double Team!" Skitty's Double Team created a circle of pink kittens. Wigglytuff glanced from Skitty to Skitty, trying to determine the real one. May smiled. "Use Blizzard and Double Slap! Make some snowballs!" As Skitty used Blizzard, the snow was packed together into sparkly snowballs that she juggled using Double Slap.

Harley's points dropped as the cute appeal caused the audience to coo and aw. He scowled. "Wigglytuff! Find the real Skitty! Use Disable!" Wigglytuff's eyes started glowing ominously.

May grimaced. "Attack now!" Skitty threw all her snowballs just before Disable came into effect and Double Team faded away. Wigglytuff was knocked back harshly by the snowballs as both coordinators lost a fifth of their points.

"Double Edge!" Harley yelled again.

"Skitty dodge it!" May cried desperately. The pink Pokémon barely dodged the attack. Wigglytuff flinched from the recoil damage. "Use Assist!" She called nervously.

Harley and the entire audience were shocked. May hadn't used Assist in a contest in a long time. Harley was furious. May was obviously attempting to show him up since he tried to get her eliminated from the Hoenn Grand Festival. Assist turned into Fire Spin and the gears in May's head quickly started spinning. Fire Spin had trapped Wigglytuff in a cyclone of fire, and now there was no way for either Wigglytuff or Skitty to attack. May was struck by a sudden idea.

"Use Blizzard to shield yourself and use Tackle!" May commanded, hoping her idea would work.

Skitty used Blizzard and jumped forwards, spinning. Blizzard formed an ice shield that broke through Fire Spin and then Skitty finished the job by hitting Wigglytuff with a reinforced Tackle. There was a plume of smoke and when it cleared Skitty was sitting on top of an unconscious Wigglytuff looking quite proud of itself.

May cried out in relief. Skitty ran to her and jumped into her arms. May laughed and swung her around, feeding it a piece of Pokéblock before returning it. Harley, baffled, returned his fainted Wigglytuff and bitterly shook May's hand before stomping off. May received her ribbon giddily. She had four now. While she was backstage packing up, Drew found her.

"That was a clever use of Blizzard." He complimented as he walked over.

May stopped packing up and turned to face him. "Thanks Drew." She pulled out her ribbon case and showed it to him. "I've got four now."

Drew pulled his out and showed May his five ribbons. "I'll meet you at the Grand Festival then." He nodded to her briefly and turned to leave, but paused. "Do you want to go see the Kimono Girls show tonight with me?"

May blinked like a deer in headlights. "Um, okay." She replied.

Drew chuckled at her expression. "Wear something nice." He advised and tossed her another flawless rose.

May touched the petals with a smile before freaking out internally at what had just happened. She grabbed her Pokégear and dialed Dawn's number. The three girls: Dawn, May and Zoey, had all gossiped one night about boys and May had spilled about some of her confusing feelings for Drew. Dawn said that she was welcome to phone about boy troubles anytime.

"May?" Dawn asked as soon as she answered. "What's up?"

May groaned. "I have no idea what to do. Drew just asked me to go see the Kimono Girls show with him and I said yes, but I have no idea what to think! Is it a date? Am I supposed to act couply? Is he flirting with me? Ugh! What do I do?"

Dawn laughed. "May, first of all you need to calm down. Second, where are you right now?"

May blinked. "I'm backstage at the contest hall. I just won the Ecruteak contest."

"Congrats on winning. You should probably head back to your room at the Pokécentre and stop freaking out."

May took a deep breath. "Yeah, thanks. Alright, but do you think Drew was asking me out on a date?" She left the contest hall and began the short walk back to her room.

Dawn mused on that for a moment. "I don't know May. From what you've told me about this guy, he's seems like a pretty great guy. If he really used to be the arrogant and snooty jerk he was when you were younger, maybe he's trying to prove to you that he's changed. I definitely think that he might be testing the waters here, to see if you're willing, but I don't see any reason to think that it's an official date. Also, from what we talked about, I think you're falling for this guy."

May was left a little speechless at her friend's words. "Dawn, love is supposed to happen when we're in our twenties and we accidentally collide with someone in a supermarket. It's not supposed to happen when we're sixteen and still traveling on our journeys. It's also not supposed to be Drew!" She entered the Pokécentre and made her was to her room.

"Hey May, chill out. I was just speculating. It could just be nothing, but I do think that you should wear something nice tonight, like he recommended." Dawn said in a soft voice.

"What do you think I should wear?" May asked, fiddling with her key as she unlocked the door.

"Do you have anything classy, but still a little fun?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah I have that blue dress I showed you in Sinnoh."

"Ooh that's a nice one. Have you worn it before?"

"Nope it's like new." May pulled out the dress and held it up. It was the pretty blue one she'd bought in Olivine.

"It's perfect then. Good luck May! I've got to go, it's time to hit the hay over here." Dawn said happily. "Text me later! I want to know all the details."

May looked at the dress. "Just you and me now." She grumbled.

Two hours later, she pulled on the dress and tied her hair back in a half-up and half-down style that was a very classic beauty type look. She matched the dress with a black bag and pair of black flats. She grabbed Glaceon's Pokéball and let the ice type out.

She twirled a little for her Pokémon. "What do you think Glaceon?" The Fresh Snow Pokémon let out a small bark of agreement. "I think you should come with Drew and I to the show tonight because I think he's bringing his Eevee."

May led the way down to the lobby, Glaceon darting ahead of her at the last minute and curiously circling Drew. May admitted it, her rival cleaned up nicely. He wore tan slacks and a white shirt that made his eyes and hair pop. He raised an eyebrow when he spotted her.

"Blue suits you." He said. He beckoned for her to walk with him and he made for the doors. As they walked towards the theatre, the wind was a little chilly and May almost regretted not wearing a coat. The evening reminded her of her and Drew's first meeting in Johto where they got coffee at midnight. She still had his scarf, she noted almost randomly.

"I figured you were going to bring Eevee along, so I brought Glaceon." May said to break the awkward silence.

Drew nodded. "I was hoping you would. Eevee's in his Pokéball right now, but I'll bring him out for the show. The Kimono Girls are performers and I thought it would be worthwhile for our Pokémon to see how they utilize the different skills of each evolution."

"That's a good point." May admitted. "Oh look! There's the theatre there!" She pointed to the traditional style wooden building with light pouring out of the doorway.

They walked inside and found two seats. Drew offered May his hand and he guided her into the seats of the busy theatre. May was thankful for the darkness that covered the light blush dusting her cheeks. It seemed like they were only seated for a minute before the lights dimmed fully and the show started. May leaned forwards and watched eagerly as the Kimono Girls took the stage.

She watched the show, enraptured, but Drew could barely tear his eyes from her, a soft smile on his lips. Eevee was watching the show intently as well, but Glaceon kept glancing between his trainer and her rival. The beautiful show received a standing ovation. Over the applause, May turned to Drew.

"Thank you for inviting me." She said sincerely.

He just shrugged. "Thanks for coming."

May smiled at him and turned back to the stage, still clapping. Once the applause had died down, the Kimono Girls made a special announcement. In honour of their hundred and fiftieth performance, they were going to play some music and have a dance for their guests to dance to. The music started and people began filing onto the dance floor. May looked curiously at Drew. He was smiling and glancing between her and the dance floor.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked suddenly.

May felt heat flush her cheeks. "Um, I don't really know-"

Drew took her hand in his own and led her down towards the dance floor. "You worry too much." He guided her into a simple dance.

May knew her face was incredibly red, but she kept a smile on and enjoyed the peaceful moment. She felt it was a little awkward dancing with her rival in front of a bunch of strangers. Drew seemed to sense that and asked her if she wanted to go. May nodded, gratefully, and they made their way to the doors of the theatre. Once outside, Drew returned Eevee, but May kept Glaceon outside his Pokéball. They walked back to the Pokémon centre together, with Glaceon weaving in between them every so often.

"I'll see you later May. Thanks for tonight." Drew said once they arrived at the Pokécentre. He tossed her another rose, which May caught clumsily. "Congrats again on today." He turned and began to walk away down the dark street. He waved over his shoulder again.

May clutched the rose to her chest, touching the petals almost reverently. "Glaceon, what is this feeling?" she murmured softly.

Her Pokémon just barked in amusement and pawed gently at the hem of May's pretty, new, sapphire dress.

Author's Note: I am horrible. It's been almost three months and I am so so so so so so sorry! I've hit a stroke of inspiration on this story, so chapter five should be along in the next month. Fingers crossed that everything goes well. I did hit a wall when I accidentally deleted everything I had saved for half of this chapter. That was a problem.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! It's halfway done!

- Nicole