A/N: I think it's time for a advanceshipping chapter don't you guys think? But that doesn't mean the mystery of the war will fade away form their hearts easily.
~midnight
Chapter seven: Opening what was once locked.
"Sometimes all you need is a second chance, because time wasn't ready for the first one." Unknown.
Hot water, morning light and the sounds of the radio playing was the only thing Ash had his mind on. Slipping deeper, Ash glared across the bathroom wondering if he had closed it or not. It had been on his mind for the last minute or so. The tub he was in was in the shape of a large expensive rectangle spa, which had enough room for Samurott and Pikachu to join him. Lying against Samurott's back he looked at his phone that stood silently on the bench, beside the sink. Then without permission, his mind slipped into his dream he had. Pikachu paddled his way to his trainer while still remaining in his floating rubber ring.
"Pika?" the little mouse asked his trainer. Pikachu waited until Ash looked back at him before continuing. "Cha?"
"I'm fine." He patted his Pokémon. "I think." He sighed before adding. "Just had a dream about the Mask of Ice people that stole me from my family when I was young." Shaking his head to remove the horrible thought, "I should really get ready for class." Gazing at his arm that was still in the recovery process, "I mean I can write without getting any pain."
Ash's train of thought was interrupted when his phone went off in a violent manner. As Ash reached for it Pikachu had reached to the device quicker. Quickly drying his paws he unlocked the phone and placed it on loudspeaker.
"Ash you there?!" the boys knew it was Iris's voice that had come through the phone. "You don't have to go to class today, we have a day off."
"Just when I was so excited to go." Ash placed a sarcastic tone in his voice as he reached over for a cloth placed near the sink.
"We all know that's a lie Ashton."
Ash chuckled at Iris's words as he began to wash Samurott with the cloth. "Oops, I got caught." Ash laughed a little more afterwards.
"But I do expect your review on marketing in the gaming industry to be done by tomorrow." Iris spoke on a teacher manner.
"Come-on Iris!" Ash could hear his Pokémon snickering at his childish behaviour. "Be easy on me." Ash glared at his phone after hearing Iris laughing at him.
"Now where is the fun in that?" Iris calmed herself down. "Just enjoy your break and submit at least a draft then. I'll tell that to the rest of the class via email. I'll send one to you too just in case you forget."
"Yes Mam." Rolling his eyes, Ash soon returned to cleaning the shells on Samurott. Hearing a click from his phone Ash knew that the conversation was over. Ash took a sigh of relief as he continued to clean his Pokémon clean.
Drifting back into his dream Ash could see their glowing piercing glares haunting him and the pain of being taken away from his mother. The screams haunted his mind. There was no escape. His mother's face was nothing but a blur but her crying voice, was clear. Years of lies of that moment struck him; to this day his origins were unknown. He didn't really care where or who he was, he had his family with him now. The trainer lied back on his Pokémon with confidence that where he was was where he belonged. He looked up to Pikachu who was still up at the bench. Sitting up, Ash called his Pokémon's name.
"Pikachu, call May for me while you're up there. There is something I need to propose to her."
Smiling May was confident and pleased with her new hairstyle for a few seconds before rushing to the hairdryer once more. Reaching for her roller brush she brushed her hair down but at the ends she curled them inwards with the help of her hairdryer. Now feeling that her hair was fine she reached for the green and white silk ribbon hanging loosely off the bathroom bench, reaching over it she placed it on her head. Her hairstyling moment was interrupted with a call.
"Wartortle do you mind and pick up that call for me?" She continued to fix herself up in front of the mirror, making sure the ribbon was in place and wasn't going to fall off.
Popping from his shell the little turtle stretched and yawned as he lazily reached over for the device unlocked and answered the call. The little water type was jumping up and down trying to communicate that he had done her request and only wanted to go back to sleep. Smiling at her Pokémon's antics she retrieved the phone from him.
"Hello?" May signal for her water type to leave the bathroom. Watertortle gave a lazy look and made his way out. "Maylene speaking."
"Hey May, it's me, Ash!"
"Oh hey there." Cheerfully greeting May couldn't help but smile after hearing Ash's name. "Oh and I heard what happened on the news? You alright?"
"I'm fine and thanks for the concern." May could hear Ash paused over the other end. "Hey, you don't mind if we, ah, um, go out? T-to get to know each other more of course!"
May laughed at Ash's stuttering. "Is this the first time your asking a girl out?" She laughed a little more. "I thought a son of a billionaire would have dated all the girls in the city by now." Closing the door behind her May began to go through her dresser. "Alright then, see you soon."
"Alright, I'll be waiting here."
"Here?" Taking the phone away from her ear the young teenager walked over to her apartment window and saw the teenager smiling and waving at her. Tightening the towel around her body her face flushed red and her blood boiled in anger. Composing her anger to keep her phone in one whole piece she opened her window and placed a fake smile on before throwing the object at Ash.
"Your cheap pervert!" May made her leave by slamming the window shut.
Ash looked at where he last saw May at, sighed he sat on the concert pavement. "Pervert? How did I know she wasn't properly dressed anyway?" Crossing his arms for a brief moment Ash looked up towards the sky. Then that moment where he was flying the night sky with Staraptor came to him. It was just so peaceful up there, and the way the city lights sparkle and glow kept his troubles away. Closing his eyes briefly his childhood of his times as a trainer came back in. But Ash shook them away as soon he opened his eyes and returned to the reality he was stuck in.
He held his hand up to his eyesight, which was holding the phone May had thrown towards him. Curious he turned it on by touching the screen. There he tried to unlock the phone with the expectation of being blocked by a password entry. But to the boy's surprise, there was none. He moved his eyes skyward to where May's apartment laid. Looking back at her phone Ash decided there was no harm looking at her gallery unless there was something private…shaking his idea away he went ahead.
They were photos of an exciting life a teenager would have. Photos of family, friends and places she had been too. None of them really surprised him; there were many photos of May with people he didn't know. Ash looked back up at the window and saw no sign of May. This gave Ash more reasons to dig deeper into the girl's gallery. He was now entering photos that were six months and older. There were photos of her and Drew, and photos of wedding dresses and cakes. Now Ash was interested. He continued to flick through each passing photo and nearly dropped the girl's phone with the next photo he saw.
It was herself with Max, Caroline and Norman. Holding his composure he regulated his breathing and looked at the photo more carefully. The happy face that Max had on the photo just reminded of the time Max yelled at him, blaming him for his sister's death. The anger he had in his eyes, he knew that if they ever met again, he would see them again.
"Max, sorry I never got the chance to battle you like we promised."
"You know my brother?"
Ash was lost for words when he heard May's voice clear and loud. Looking up he saw she was all dressed and standing right beside him in confusion. Ash had no words to tell her and just offered her phone back. "Sorry for browsing through your photos."
"That's not the answer I want. How do you know my brother?" May repeated in a more bold tone.
"We-we travelled in Hoenn back when we were young with a couple friends of mine." Ash explained.
"Odd, my brother has never told stories of him begin a Pokémon trainer. In fact his never left Hoenn at all." May pressed the ''home'' button on her phone and turned it to standby mode. "Maybe you're talking about somebody similar." Patting his shoulder she began to walk ahead of him.
Placing his hands into his shoulder Ash remember that happy face Max had on that photo. He was sure, that black short hair and giant glasses was no other but Max. But why would he lie about his time with him in Hoenn was a whole new question all together. Ash could remember the clear anger he had against him. He knew a simple sorry would not take it away or return his sister's life.
"You coming or what?" May called, causing Ash to snap out from his thoughts.
Rushing to her side the boy just smiled. She just reply with a warm and soft stare before looking away after Ash noticed her staring at him.
Both walked for hours, passing many buildings that Ash, despite living in the area for over a year, had not seen half of them. Both were strangers in a giant unknown world. After hours of travelling both ended up at the city park, which was a common spot for Ash. Lunch hour had come and what was normally empty and quiet area was filled with all types of walk of life.
Maylene twirled around in her white dress, with matching long white sleeve top a few times like a child before falling down onto her back and onto the soft wild grass. Looking down Ash looked straight down into her sapphire eyes and only could imagine how deep her thoughts could be.
"This beautiful city seems empty." May muttered. She didn't seem to notice Ash still looking down on her. "All of the people in the world and you can still feel lonely." Taking a pause, "what's the point of having it all, without the person you love?"
"Sometimes you just need to start again…in order to fly." Her words were stolen when she heard Ash had finished her sentence for her. Turning to her right she noticed Ash was lying right beside her, on his back. "A wise woman once told me those exact words." Turning to left, "How do you know those words?"
"I don't know. After the war those words were the only thing I could remember clearly beside my name." The young teenager sat up and brushed all the grass clippings out of her hair. Turning her attention back to Ash, a question came back into her mind. "Do you mind if I ask you how Cilan died? I remember my father mentioning it years ago. I hope you don't mind."
Sitting up, "Well that's an odd way to start a conversation." Ash yawned and rested back onto his back. "It was in the midst of the war. I wasn't there when it happened; I only heard stories from Iris and whoever was there at the time." Ash could feel his chest getting tighter, but he continued on. "At that time, a horrible plague was sweeping through Unova, and most of them had lost their relative through death or they got caught by the military. Short story is Cilan caught the virus which continued to eat him from the inside until his last breathe." He began to rub his eyes to stop his tears falling down. "But I don't understand why Iris keeps blaming herself for his death. I know her medical herbal skills and she's really good but there are times that no matter what we do to protect them they'll still slip away and get hurt."
"So where were you during this time?" May continued to ask. She embraced her knees as she watched for Ash's reply.
"I was with a group of friends that turned out to be my brother and sister later on the track. If it weren't for them both I don't think I would be around right now. I didn't know what I was doing. I was so caught up with my emotions of losing so many of my friends and rivals that I didn't care where I would go. Whenever I would wake up I would curse myself why. I was never learnt how to deal with such events before in my life." Ash slowly pushed himself onto his two feet. "I own them my life."
May thought about her next few words wisely. "Well I think I owe them because I got to meet you." May smiled and saw Ash blushed slightly from her words. "Anyway maybe you should talk to Iris about what really happened. She probably isn't as happy as you think." Taking a stand May turned around to face Ash. "Come on let's keep going." May smiled as she offered her hand to him.
Smiling Ash accepted her help and began to continue their walk without noticing that their hands were locked together.
The day seemed to go longer with one another. Ash's thoughts about his past childhood, the mask of Ice and Max's strange behaviour towards his journey in Hoenn were pushed to the back of his mind. Reaching the end of their tour both were interrupted with a loud speech filling the air. Walking towards the loud speech both discovered a large crowd was already there.
"The recent news lately only prove one thing, that some us here still hold Pokémon as captives and slaves. We must liberate them once and for all!"
May heard all the chatter and confusion the man had created to them. Some younger children laughed at the man as others just walked off, teasing and laughing at the man's wild antics.
"Did your mother drop you on the head when you were your young or are you that ridiculously stupid?" Ash broke the confusion in the crowd. May held unto the boy's arm slightly tighter. "Pokémon don't exist anymore, their nothing more but myths and children fairy tales!" Ash spoke in a lecture tone.
"Silly child. Deny all you want but there are some of us here that still keep these creatures as slaves in our households. Why no set them free?"
"I really think you have been living on a rock old man." Taking a few steps forward, "There was a ruling created eight years ago that any Pokémon seen or heard will be eliminated. So this bill introduce that any Pokémon seen will be killed. A great way to "liberate" them don't you think?"
"If liberating them means ending their life on this world then so be it. They are free and no longer slaves for human use." The men behind him nodded their leader.
"Pokémon were never slaves to begin with!" May began to state her opinion on the matter. "They were friends, no, family! They were important to us back then. Sure, there were a few that treated them cruelly but do you think the rest of us like that? No. These once mystic creatures are gone so I have no idea why you're speaking to liberate when they don't even roam freely in the city. There are no more Pokémon so get that through your thick skull." The crowd applauded both Ash and May's speeches afterwards.
"Children these days," The man sighed. "You do know that the wars we have around us are because of cruel men and their Pokémon? Even now as we speak, another one is breaking in another region." Taking a few steps back he asked his men to take a few steps ahead. "I am Ghetsis, leader of Team Plasma. I will not stop until all Pokémon are set free." The old man left with his fellow man tagging behind.
The crowd scattered afterwards as Ash and May stood in their spots. Looking over her shoulder the teenager saw Ash trying to contain his anger at the man. His fits were clenched as he looked on the ground below him to hide his expression.
"He is a fool, my father." Turning around, May noticed it was another man with long lime green hair, white long sleeve top and black pants was standing right beside her. "Liberate something that does not exist. I don't know what he is trying to get out of all this."
Rubbing his eyes and letting his clenched fist go, Ash looked at the strange man. He glared at him, wanting to speak but he could not come up with any words. The man turned to face Ash with a blank and empty stare.
"I don't follow his beliefs anymore so relax." He patted Ash's black thick hair. May could see Ash didn't like it at all. "Until we meet next time."
"Odd guy." May turned back to Ash who was not cheerful with the whole current circumstances. His arms were crossed and he was deep in thought. "Don't let him put you off Ash."
"It's not that. That guy, Ghetsis reminded me of a dream I had earlier." Looking up, "The Mask of Ice. I haven't thought about them for years so why now?" Shaking his head. "I don't understand anything anymore."
"Mask of…Ice?" May learned forward with her hands behind her back. "Never heard of them."
"They were a small group of people that stole children to train them to become members of their group and teach how to steal from others."
"That's horrible. How did you ever escape?"
Looking around him, Ash answered May's question. "I don't know. I can't remember how or who saved me."
May reached from Ash's hands and held them tight. "I guess it's not really important now. As long you're here it's alright!"
Trying to contain his happiness Ash smiled warmly before pulling May into his arms. Holding her tighter Ash tried not to break down. Smiling, "You don't know how much that means to me."
In shock by Ash's sudden actions May began to raise he shaking arms to embrace him back, lightly first before hugging him tightly. May couldn't help but smile. The way he had his arms around touched her in ways Drew never knew how. Somehow, her connections with Ash were tighter and stronger then anyone she knew. Breaking apart Ash smiled. "I better head off, so want to see each other again next week?"
With a delightful smile May nodded before taking a few steps closer to the boy. With flushed red cheeks she reached over and kissed the young man on the cheek very softly. Quickly taking a few steps back, May waved nervously before heading her own way. Ash froze in the spot trying to understand what had just happened. He felt like a teenager all over again and experiencing love for the first time. His happiness was all over the place.
"Please don't tell me you already love her." Turning around Ash only found out it was only his older brother.
"And if I do?" Ash asked in an annoyed tone.
"Because I fear you only like her because she looks a lot like May, shares the same eye colour and hairstyle and her brother happens to be Max. The same boy that once looked up to you back in your travels in Hoenn and Kanto." Silver crossed his arms and stood beside his brother. "Don't you get it? There could be a big chance that Maylene is May. Your, May."
"Silver..." Ash spoke softly. "Don't let me burst your little secret of you working in the police force rather than working as father's delivery boy to father and mother." Reaching for his pocket he pulled out his phone. Unlocking it Ash headed straight to the gallery.
"I'm only doing this because I want to know the people that stole us from mother and father. The Mask of Ice."
"Your incredibility slow for somebody who was raised in that group for years." Ash teased slightly as he browsed through the photos in his phone.
"Say's somebody that can't remember how he escaped and ended up in the arms of another mother."
"Do you think I like the idea of not remembering my real mother? You have yours still around while mine could be dead or alive. All I have is an old photo stuck in my phone. I can't hear her or talk to her while you can." Ash tried to calm himself down.
"I'm not saying you can't talk to mother now. Look, I'm trying to understand you but if you keep pushing my away I can't." Silver's thoughts were interrupted when Ash shoved the photo of his mother into his face.
There was more a resemblance from her than their father, Giovanni. The woman had long black hair and little "z" marks under her cheeks but they were hardly visible. She shared the same brown eyes Ash had. She looked very cheerful and happy in her photo with her Pichu and with their younger version of their father with his Meowth.
"Don't show me that horrible photo of father happy." Silver took a few steps back with his hand blocking the image away from his vision. "It's disgusting."
"I don't normally go this deep but don't push my buttons Silver." Ash glared at his brother. "Leave my past and love life alone. I'll tell you if I want you to interfere." Ash began to walk away as he brushed shoulders against Silver's along the way.
Turning around Silver cupped his hands around his mouth. "Stop rejecting help when you need it."
Turning back for only a moment Ash quickly shrugged his words away and just started to run all the way back home.
May couldn't wipe the smile away from her face as she continued to lie on her sofa. Hugging her pillow a little tighter after thinking of her day together with Ash only made her more excited to their next meeting. Sitting up she took a sigh of relief as Wartortle entered into the room wondering what the high pitch noises were. May saw her little water type and ran to embrace it before spinning it circles with it.
Holding him out to her eyesight, "War, guess what?!" Wartortle was too dizzy to reply so May continued. "I just had a date and it was with Ash. It was so romantic. I never thought that a person that was a total asshole to me earlier could be so kind and nice."
Wartortle didn't reply and just asked to be placed back on the ground. Placing her Pokémon down May reached over to the door after hearing the doorbell going off for the third time. Twisting the door knob open May pulled the door to her and was shocked to see who was in front of her.
"Max!" May cheered and embraced her younger brother. "I'm so glad you finally decided to stay here for good. Did Mum and Dad agree easily?"
"Nope." Max replied rather arrogantly as he threw his backpack roughly into May's apartment. Giving a pat on her back he walked over to Wartortle and gave the water type a pat on the head. "But they will once they find out I'll be living here for good."
Locking the door May looked back at her brother deeply. "How's Hoenn? Is it recovering after that tragic war yet?"
"Just." Max turned around with Wartortle in his arms. "Father is part of the recovery group and mother is making endless meals for the homeless. They wanted me to come over here and check up on you. I'm glad you're alright now. We were all worried for you after you left in the midst of the war. We thought you were dead."
"But I'm not." May began to pick up the pillows on the floor. "I work at a bar now and I'm making more friends by the day. I feel like I'm in the good 'ol days now." Picking up notes from the floor the brunette soon placed them on the coffee table.
"But you're not in that silly group of Pokemon Masters I keep hearing?" Max took a seat on the couch with Wartortle sitting beside him. "I mean you still have what they call, ''demons of the war'' right here."
"You'll be surprise of how many people still have the demons Max." Taking a seat opposite to her brother's, May could see the curiously all over Max's face. "I'll show you tonight. I'm sure the news will have info about it."
Putting his feet on the coffee table Max yawned. "Screw the news, too depressing to watch."
"On that note I just had a date with somebody." May giggled at the thought. "In fact he knows you."
"It better not be that asshole Drew again." Max turned to his side and started to get comfortable, signs of ready to fall asleep at any moment.
"No, but we are on good terms. This guy is completely different. Maybe I'll introduce you to him next week."
May could see her brother had already fallen asleep. Smiling softly May reached into her brother's bag and pulled out a blanket and covered him from head to toe. Taking a seat beside her younger brother she softly brushed his hair and removed his glasses and placed them on the coffee table. She soon moved his feet from the table and to the couch to make him feel more comfortable. May glanced over her shoulder and saw Wartortle was coming with a pillow or two. Saying her thanks she placed the pillow underneath Max's head and kissed him goodnight before leaving the room humming a strange but familiar lullaby.
"Each day that passes me now is getting a little easier to bear but after returning to the nightmares of my pass I wonder if I should change my agenda. Maybe I should start to accept that Pokémon maybe not be able to go outside. Maybe it's time to rediscover myself a little more."
Tossing his pen across his table Ash took his reading glasses off and cleaned them with his shirt before placing them on again. He looked down and noticed Pikachu was still in his lap, sleeping quietly. Picking him up gently he placed Pikachu on his bed. Reaching for his pen again Ash wondered about his past before he took that journey every ten year old went on. How did he ever ended up with his current mother and what he did before then was a blur.
"Maybe they're blurred for a reason." Ash began to ponder as he made his way to his bed. "Maybe it's best if I don't recall a thing." Ash pulled out his phone and gazed at the photo of his real mother. "Should I really go find you or accept you're out of my life for good?" Ash didn't stay long at the photo before his eyes got distracted by the ripped green bandana hanging loosely on his many Sinnoh trophies. Pushing his chair to the object Ash reached his over to it before pulling back. "I need to let you go." Reaching over to it again Ash held the green bandana then walking over to his bedroom window.
Taking a deep breath he unlocked the locks and opened the window. The cold winter night breeze ran through his hair and against his face. Closing his eyes Ash pressed his lips softly on the material before letting it slip through his fingers while remaining his eyes closed. Few seconds later Ash opened them to find that the material was gone. Letting a tear slip Ash continued to watch the city view from where he was standing. He gazed at how wonderful the night's lights stood from the darkness. But that lights weren't the thing that took up his mind, it was May and his last words to her.
"I love you." Softly muttering before his locked his bedroom window for another night.
