Chapter 7: Cavernous Conversations!

"Well May, we should finally get to use that tent we just got." Drew said as he stretched his arms above his head. He cracked his neck by leaning it side to side and sighed deeply as he stared into the heart of Mt. Motar, causing his eyes to focus intently.

May rested her chin on top of the egg case she now carried, "You mean we have to go through /that/?" She whined. May looked onward through the trees and closed off pathway of route 42.

"Nurse Joy warned us that construction might still be going on, but this is the only way to Mahogany Town, and to our next ribbon." Drew replied with a slight smile and flick of his hair. He eyed May who seemed swayed, and than began to enter the cave calmly, hands sunk deep into his pockets.

May began to follow, but had one last idea, "Couldn't Flygon Fly us to Mahogany Town?" She said almost pleading.

Drew shook his head, "Altitude would be too high. And we've got that egg with us now. If it fell...well...splat." Drew grinned and gave an amusing thrust of his arms from his pockets as he turned back towards the entrance at May.

May was...intrigued. 'Ive never seen him act so...silly.' She thought. Not wanting to dampen his spirits, May retuned a slight giggle, "This egg is in our care...we shouldn't joke like that!" She scolded teasingly as she jogged up to him.

"Alright." Drew began calmly, "But if we get lost and run out of food...at least we'll have scrambled eggs as an option!" He laughed at his own joke, the sound echoing in the darkness.

If it weren't for the laughter May wouldn't be able to see he was kidding. Drew stopped laughing and paused, worried he Might have upset May.

"You don't...usually act like such a joker, Drew." May said cautiously. She didn't want to upset him, but...this wasn't much like the Drew she knew. 'But what about him do I really know..?' She asked herself.

"I feel different when I don't have an audience May. In the dark of caves, fans, people, other Pokemon, they can't see me. They can't tell who it is saying these thoughts. I don't feel the need to give anyone a show here." Drew let his hands fall snug into his pants.

They walked a moment in silence as May processed this information. Finally she came up to a conclusion, "So you mean you're comfortable around me?" She stated more than questioned the green haired boy.

He flicked his hair, "Yeah, something like that. And if I'm not, I should be soon enough." He answered.

May smiled. And then got a mischievous grin. "Does that mean you'll shoot an episode of May's Expeditions with me?" She asked with pleading eyes.

Drew groaned, "C'mon May, you really want to do that now? We can barely see in here as it is." He reasoned.

"That's my point! Like you said, nobody can see you. Pleaseee?" She begged, biting her lip and causing Drew to blush.

"...Fine. I'll be your cameraman, alright?" Drew succumbed.

"Yes! Alright, May's Expeditions: Today we follow myself and my faithful cameraman Drew throughout the dangerous insides of Mt. Motar..."

~~~~~~~~After One Episode of May's Expeditions~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The duo had been navigating the cave for a while, playing May's childish game, but soon came to a point where the daylight outside the cave faded away, leaving them in pitch black. "Absol, help us out here," Drew called out his disaster Pokemon. It seemed a bit confused in the darkness. "Use flash, Absol." It cried out and then have a bright flash of light.

"That was smart thinking, Drew." May complimented, happy to not wander in darkness.

"Yeah, well," Drew flicked his hair, "Any logical person would've thought of that, May. What, did you think we'd wander in the dark?" He teased as he checked his map.

"I didn't think that!" May defended, "...I just thought of flashlights is all..." She mumbled. Drew chuckled.

"Well, we won't be using Absol's flash for long. I don't want to wear him out too much. We're going to get to our camping spot and then it's lights out." He answered.

May was quiet a moment. But she didn't want to end up in an awkward science. "...So...Uhmm...know any good songs?" May said sweatdropping.

"All the music I listen to is good May; if you're asking I sing 99 bottles of beer on the wall with you, you're mistaken." He flicked his hair as May pouted.

"Well what else are we gonna do?" May asked dumbly.

Drew sighed heavily, "Seeing as we are partners, it might be smart if we get to know each other better. And seeing as there are no fangirls or tabloid writers here, right now might be a good time."

May nodded, "Hmm...okay...what's your favorite color? Is it green?" May guessed.

"You'd think that, huh?" Drew shoved his hands into his pockets, "it's purple actually, for myself, though Harley's kinda ruined that...Red has gotten more popular. What about you maple?" He asked back.

"I really like red, but I love blue because it reminds me of the sea..." May said thoughtfully.

"I see...the sea, huh? You like it a lot?" He asked, trying to make small talk and learn more about her.

"Mhmm...whenever I look at the sea it reminds me of Manaphy...you know it's funny, I haven't had an egg to take care of since him..." She looked down at the egg she held closely to her chest.

Drew was confused, but highly intrigued, "May, are you saying you /hatched/ a Manaphy egg?" He asked.

"Mhmm...Ash, Brock, Max and I all sort of got mixed up in it... But I think it was destined. See, I was with the people who found the Manaphy egg, and I was the first person he saw when he hatched...I was his mommy. I'd sing to him to calm him down, we swam with lovediscs, he always gave such a happy cry...saying goodbye was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but he is the Prince of the Sea and must guard the Sea Temple.." May got quieter and quieter as she spoke her words, and began crying softly, "..I miss him."

Drew was taken aback by her words. Could this clumsy, silly girl, really have been so influential on a legendary's life? Could there be others she encountered too? As May wiped her tears, Drew gently put his arm around her shoulder. "...I know that must've been hard. I hatched Roserade, and the bond was immediately strong. I don't know how I'd've felt with having to let her go." May nodded, "..But I can promise you that with this egg that won't happen...you can be this little guys 'mommy'." Drew tried to comfort tapping on the egg case.

May leaned tiredly on Drew, "But what if the egg hatches and sees you first?" She asked.

"Hm. Well I guess it would see me as it's 'daddy' huh?" He said with a laugh, "In that case, I'll be the daddy, you the mommy, all our Pokemon can be his siblings. We'll be a happy little family." May started to smile and blush a little, "Of course, 'daddy' would tell this little guy about how crazy 'mommy' is." He said with a smirk.

"Hey!" May shouted, allowing the cave to echo.

"I'm only kidding May. A little." He said flicking his hair. "Now let's set up camp."

~~~~After Setting up Camp and Making Dinner~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May roasts her hotdog over the fire, "So Drew, you know a little about my family, what about yours?" She asked.

Drew swallowed a bite of his before answering, "Well May, I grew up in La Rousse City in Hoenn, you know that. My mother is named Delilah and my Aunt is named Lilith. They run a successful flowershop. My father in named Anthony and he is a Pokerus researcher. I don't have any siblings." Drew answered.

May chewed thoughtfully. "Only child...huh. Alright, you ask a question." She stated.

"Hmm...I don't know what to ask honestly. I already confirmed your favorite color, know about your family and friends, your favorite food, favorite flower..." Drew thought for a moment, then had an evil idea to get under May's skin, "..What about love interests?" He said with a sly grin.

May about chocked, "Huh?" She asked.

"You know, like exboyfriends, or girlfriends, I don't judge. Just don't want them harassing me." He said matter of factly, "You already know about fangirls, so talk."

"Uhh..." Mays face turned red, "Well I've never had a boyfriend. Ash was like a brother and my teacher, Brock is too old...uh...a few guys have shown

Interest in me before but I never accepted their asking me out..."

Drew was slightly disappointed and yet...relieved? May had no interest in Ash and that comforted him for some reason. He decided to prod further, "So there's no one you like?" He questioned, feeling his heart beat faster in his chest.

"I...Uhmm...well, I mean...well yeah, b-but-" May flustered.

"Who is it?" Drew said with a smirk and flip of his hair, "you can tell me May."

"Well...I...uh...t-that's private Drew?" She managed weakly.

"What? Afraid to tell me?... Is it Harley?" He said, unable to control his laughter.

May was furious at the accusation, "No, but tell me Mr. Acusator, do /you/?" She asked.

Drew flushed, a bit shocked by Her comeback, "HELL NO. Eww. I'm not gay May."

May giggled. Now Drew was in the hot seat, "I don't judge" she quoted.

"Yeah yeah." He answered. "Go in the tent and change, we need to sleep." He said changing the subject."

Feeling like she won, May cheerfully went inside the tent and changed. Drew grabbed the lantern after putting out the fire and returning Absol and entered into the tent, where he quickly stripped down to his boxers. May flushed and looked away, making herself busy polishing the egg before placing it back into its case. Drew turned the lantern off to sleep, leaving he and May in the dark.

But he couldn't sleep.

"Hey May, want to play a game?" Drew asked grinning in the dark.

"What kinda game?" May asked intrigued

"How about would you rather?" He asked, "Ever play?"

"Of course I have! I love that game." May said smiling.

"Good." Drew affirmed, "Would you rather...Have a life time suppy of ramen, or never have to deal with Harley again?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Ohh...that's tough!" She said with a giggle, "...But I guess the ramen. Harley might be annoying, but he is a good opponent in a contest." She answered. "Now, would you rather...be trapped in a room with Harley for an hour, or be trapped in a room full of fangirls for a day?" She said mischievously.

"...I choose Harley. I can at least knock him out, fangirls are ruthless." He said with a chill. "Okay, enough with Harley...would you rather...have a giant, terrifying Pokemon come to you while you slept every night but not harm you, or a small, sweet looking Pokemon visit you one night but hurt you severely?" Drew asked.

May pondered, "...I...I guess the one that wouldn't hurt me..." She answered, "We should get some sleep..."

"Oh...alright then. Goodnight May." Drew said a bit surprised, but began to shut his eyes.

"Goodnight Drew...sweet dreams." She answered before going to sleep.

~~~~~A few hours later~~~~~~~~

"...Drew..?" May whispered to her sleeping partner as she tried to shake him awake.

Drew fluttered his eyes open to stare into May's worried sapphire orbs. "May? What is it?" He asked groggily.

"I...uhm..." Mays face flushed with embarassment, "...I keep hearing noises...I...I know it's the wind or wild Pokemon, b-but..." She now turned away feeling stupid, knowing a crude remark would come.

Drew listened to the outside for a bit. Yes, wind and clawing cave Pokemon could be heard. But he also could hear rain and thunder outside, creating quite an erie scene. He pondered a moment. Was she afraid..? Did his silly little would you rather frighten her?

"Out of your sleeping bag." He ordered. May was confused but obeyed. In a quick motion Drew undid each of their sleeping bags and created one large one. He quickly settled into in and motioned her to join him. Blushing, May quickly entered the sleeping bag. Drew then pulled May close to him, allowing her head to rest on his chest.

"Don't think of all the sounds outside...just focus on my heartbeat. Count it, like mareeps.." He said softly as he began stroking her soft brown hair. "I won't let anything hurt you, I'm here. You're safe." He said soothingly. May was obviously tired, and her eyes began to flutter before she finally fell asleep. Drew looked down at her sleeping face. He hesitated a moment, then gently kissed her forehead, "Goodnight, Princess of Hoenn." He whispered before he too fell asleep.

(I'm so sorry I haven't updated lately. You all know how school can be. But I'll try to update this more, and hope you enjoy!)