A/N: Welcome everyone, to my eighth installment to 'What It Takes'! YAY! )

I wrote a one-shot last night that you should all go look at, I'm deciding about wither or not to do a scene like that some time later in this story.

If there is someone who you think should be together, tell me about it (I might not mention all of the Gym Leaders, and none of the Sinnoh Gym Leaders/people except maybe Dawn, because I never watched any of those, because I am a diehard May & Drew fan, and they're not in that series cries Whatever) This is your LAST CHANCE to tell me pairings, I need one for just about every gym leader and frontier brain (except Anabel, got that one covered & I'm considering just sticking Tate and Liza together and they just won't find love cause I'm evil) I also need a pairing for Morrison and HARLEY, dun dun dun.

Alright, for MD answers, May's are first; For AM Ash's are first, For BM Brock's answers come first, for SH Soledad's come first.

Oh and guys, the reason that (even though they're all close to her) Espeon seems to love her the most is that Espeon regards may as her Mother, the rest regard her as perhaps their adoptive mother, or friend who happens to be their trainer, but May was the first thing Espeon ever saw, the only thing Espeon ever truly had, not knowing her true mother, so… hope that answers why it always wants to be around her (and the fact that she thought it was her fault May got hurt, was because she wasn't there)

Me: So, who's gonna do the disclaimer for me today?

Drew: I always do the disclaimer.

Me: Yes, but you always complain or are rude to me, I need someone new!

May: How about me, Oh! I can't wait until the end of the story when me and D-

Me: ALRIGHT! That's enough, May's not doing the disclaimer.

Ash: Cooties, cooties, you two have cooties.

Me: -sweatdrops- Not Ash either.

Brock- prettygirlsprettygirlsprettygirlsqueenlucyisaprettygirlevenprettierthanjennyandjoyputtogether!

Max: -Drags him by the ear-

Me: Alright, not them either.

Misty: What's going on he-

Anabel: Sorry to cut in, but this is taking way too long! I see with you psychic powers, that everyone agrees, Bella (shining hearts) Does NOT own pokemon. Alright, good.

Me: YAY!

-.-.-

Everyone began their tests, the questions were simple, but you had to be honest, because this was a compatibility test. May really didn't want to know if that meant love-connection wise also, so she pushed it to the back of her head and began writing.

What is your Full Name? May Selene Maple. ; Andrew (Drew) Jacob Nektao

What do you participate in, and what is your role? The Pokemon League; trying to be a master, I've finished the badges five times and beaten the Battle Frontier once. ; I want to be a water pokemon master, Gym leader in Cerulean City.

What gender do you prefer, romantically speaking? GIRLS! ; uh, girls?

What is your Greatest accomplishment? I won the Ribbon Cup in Hoenn. ; I got second at the Grand Festival for the Shingro region.

The questions droned on and on, and by the end of a long hour and a half May had finished all 120 questions. She walked slowly up to the front and handed Nurse Joy her papers, the pink-haired nurse gave her a large smile before feeding the test in to some kind of machine. May sneaked a glance at the screen and saw the pictures – all boy's pictures – zooming by extremely fast. As she walked out she thought she heard a faint 'DING!' sound but brushed it off and walked out behind the meeting hall. It was so lovely here.

For a while she strolled around in the fields, looking in to the ocean. She decided it was too much of a perfect day to let her pokemon stay cooped up in their pokeballs, so she released them all. Kingdra began splashing little Bellossom with the crystalline water, the smaller pokemon's bell-like laughter filling the field where only one or two other trainers mingled. Dragonair was laying lazily next to May, who decided he wasn't shiny enough and got out his special brish and went to work, he closed his eyes, appreciating the nice sensation on his skin. Blaziken and Beautifly were practicing routines together – always eager, May thought to herself.

Espeon lounged in a tree, sitting on a middle branch, one paw dangling about half-way in between the two practicing pokemon, the two playing pokemon, and her trainer with the last pokemon. Even with her eyes closed she managed to mess up a few appeals, make Kingdra's water backfire, and the brush slip from May's hand on more than one occasion.

"Alright, that's IT!" May said, loudly enough for all of her pokemon to hear after being successfully hosed down with water that was, of course, being moved by a certain little purple feline pokemon's psychic ability. All of her pokemon turned to look at her quizzically as she pounced on the unsuspecting cat pokemon who wasn't expecting it and they both went flying across the grassy hill, down towards the lake.

Dragonair got up and followed worriedly, Blaziken got an evil little look in his eyes before motioning to Beautifly and both of them headed over to the edge of the lake near Kingdra.

-.-.-

By this time May and her pokemon had the attention of all of the people lounging outside, even if there was only a handful of them. A giant plop was heard, along with playful pokemon noises and the sound of a chiming bell-like laugh, and for any looking they would see a lively, beautiful girl sitting with her butt and feet in the shallow water, her water and psychic pokemon sending small splashes of crystalline water into her already half-wet face, her butterfly pokemon sneaking up behind her and covering her in glittery silver powder from a silver wind, where the sparkles now stuck to her body. You might also see a few petals that her tiny Bellossom had sent at her before jumping onto her stomach and tickling it gleefully. You might have seen her unusual Dragonair try to fling some uprooted cattails at her, and overshoot, hitting a now very angry Blaziken instead and the two brawling it out, rolling on the grass near her.

You might see a girl having the time of her life, looking extremely stupid, yet fun-loving. But as we all know, either the fun must decrease or come to an end for good, because not all good things last forever.

But for now, we'll let her enjoy her fun, for now she can be her fun-loving self. For now, he would not take the light from her eyes. For now her pokemon could enjoy being with others that they truly love. For now, he would pretend that he had forgotten all of the deadly weapons hanging in his vest and on his belt. For now, he would pretend that Giovanni did not give him the job of wiping the happiness off of these faces, for now he would pretend that she was not stirring something in his heart that after that day he had promised to keep deep down.

For now, he would pretend that the gleam in her eyes and the sheen in her hair, and the large smile playing on her lips did not remind him of his deceased and beloved wife, for being a hit-man, as he knew he was, he was not allowed to have feelings, he was not allowed to be anything but numb, he was not allowed to have a heart…

He looked back at the girl, and saw her joined by another, one with ruby red hair. He sighed, today they would get to be the innocent children that they were.

And so, for now the ruby red eyes faded in to the distance, their owner mentally calculating something else to do to occupy his actions, give the girl and her friends more time, and make sure Giovanni never got suspicious. He was walking a very thin line, was he not?

-.-.-

Drew turned in his paper lazily and went to sit on a bench in the waiting room, looking out in to the open fields. He thought he saw a shady man hiding in some low brush, a man that looked dangerously familiar, not far from where May was rolling around and playing with her pokemon, but a second later the silhouette was gone, and he shook it off. He was now looking at the beautiful girl who had her pokemon all surrounding her, laughing as tiny little Bellossom tickled her stomach.

Someone suddenly wrapped their small hands around his eyes and he tensed, thinking it was another fan girl. "Guess who?" quipped an adolescent, yet soft and intelligent voice.

"Alice!" He gasped, she removed her hands, revealing a large pout to her older brother. Her light pink eyes flashed with playfulness as her long curly red tresses brushed her pale skin when the oncoming air from the sliding doors opening.

"What an awful big brother I have, not even coming to say 'hello' to his one and only sister!" She said, her lip protruding even farther.

"Well, if I had known you were here…!" He replied seriously, morphing in to over protective big brother mode.

Then he saw Ash and Max walking out of an exam room, both engrossed in a conversation with a peculiar looking girl with short lavender hair, who was giggling at something Ash had just said.

His sister sighed sadly as her gaze followed his, before she said in little over a whisper, "You are so lucky Drew, to have friends. It gets so lonely in the mansion without you, that's how I got here you know, I started making pokefood for all of mum and dad's old pokemon since… y'know." She trailed off, but then continued after shooting him a glance that looked like a puppy who was guilty of just wetting on a new carpet and was waiting for punishment. "Well, it was really fun, one of mother's old cooks went in to market one day and told everyone about it, and here I am a little under a year later with a small, yet popular breeding shop in the center of La Rousse!"

She finished with a mock happiness, and maybe if he wasn't her brother who saw how she reacted to the murder of their parents, he would not have noticed the fakeness of it all, but he saw and decided it was high-time that his sister had some friends.

"Oi!" He yelled over her shoulder, and her eyes widened. "Ash! Max! Over here!" He yelled, and the three talking looked over to him and he motioned for him to come over. Ash had a quizzical look on his face as Alice turned to look at them, which turned devious, then conspiratorial. Max had a faint pink blush across his face, and the girl just looked at him puzzled.

As soon as they had gotten over to them Ash opened his big, fat mouth. "She's a bit young, don't ya think, Drew?" He said, obviously proud of himself.

Drew rolled his eyes, seriously, couldn't he do any better than that? "You're a bit of a dope, don't ya think? She's my sister, knucklehead."

At this, Max grew less chalky, the mystery girl giggled and Ash first looked shocked, then dumbfounded, then like a puppy that had been kicked.

"Everyone, this is Alice, Alice this is Ash, ever dense" Drew began, ruffling Ash's hair, "And this is his Pikachu, the brains of the duo," Pikachu chirped his approval and Drew smirked before continuing, "This is Max," Then bending low to her ear he said, "Y'know, he's your age, and I think he likes you." She blushed at his words before he drawled on once more. "And I'm not really sure who she is, I guess I have to wait for formal introductions to find out though."

"Oh, how rude of me," The girl – almost a woman – said, "My name is Anabel, I know Ash from the Battle Frontier, I'm a-"

"You're Anabel? The Anabel? The frontier brain with the amazing Espeon? I heard the only person with one to match yours is a girl called May!" Alice interjected excitedly.

"Well, yes I am, but just to let you know since your obviously a breeder," She paused and Alice nodded, "I would say mine might be better trained, I remember that cute thing when it was just an Eevee, a baby at that… Oh well… But by a breeder's viewpoint I think you would find her's more fascinating, it is definitely… unique."

The girl's eyes widened, "You know The May Maple? She is only the best coordinator ever other than my brother!"

Everyone laughed at her outburst, and looked at Drew. Max was the first to walk up to her, a little tentatively, but that did not get rid of the mischievous and humor-filled glint in his eyes. "Well, I guess Drew hasn't told you. We all know 'the May Maple' as you put it. Hi, my name is Max, Max Maple."

Everyone burst out laughing at the look on her face. She looked like she was going to faint. "Ah, I remember the good old days! Hey Max, remember when she hated pokemon? Ah, those times were great…" Ash said, obviously reminiscing. But the conversation turned, for what Drew thought was the worse.

"You know Drew," Max began, one of those flashing lights crossing his glasses that meant either he was in for it or he was in for a Spanish inquisition, and he thought it would be the first one from that tone. "I would have thought you of all people would have mentioned my sister to your sister, with how close the two of you are and all…"

Anabel giggled as Drew flushed, Alice merely looked at him, a small smirk playing on her face – it must be a family thing. Ash merely looked on confused then blurted out, "What does that mean?"

Everyone fell over anime-style. Drew began the conversation again, "Would you like to meet 'The May Maple' Alice?" Drew asked his sister kindly, when the others gave him odd looks, he tilted his head towards the window and glanced over out of the window towards her. He froze, and everyone besides his excitable sister noticed.

And Drew was nervous for a good reason; out of the corner of his eye, Drew could see that odd man again, still staring at May, and for some reason it made Drew uncomfortable. Then, his blood seemed to chill in his very veins. There, on the man's belt glistened the barrel of a gun.

-.-.-

"YES!" The girl squealed before bursting out of the doors, running through the fields, squeeing once more as she saw May, and began running again.

"Alice – stop!" Drew began, but he was too late. All of the others stayed back, looking at Drew concerned.

"What's wrong Drew?" Ash asked him.

"we need to go, there's a man watching May – with a gun!" He exclaimed, and everyone gasped. He turned to Anabel, "I know you and I don't know each other well or anything, but I do know you have psychic pokemon with amazing power, do you think you could have one out and ready in case he…"

Drew trailed off, swallowing hard, not wanting to say what everyone knew he meant out loud. He felt a small, comforting hand on his shoulder and he looked up, "Don't worry," Said Anabel's soft voice, "We will not let you – or her down." She said, before retrieving a pokeball and releasing an Alakazam.

-.-.-

May was just getting up and out of the water when she thought she saw a flash of red, she shook her head and gently placed Bellossom on the edge of the lake and was about to get out when she was knocked back down in to the water. Her pokemon all let out howls of laughter, May put her hand to her head and groaned, trying to look at the thing – person rather – attached to her midriff.

"I'm s-so s-sorry, m-miss M-May." They young girl stuttered. May smiled warmly at her before picking her gently up and getting them both on the shore.

May felt bad for the girl, she seemed so nervous, or scared. "It's alright, really I was already wet, thanks to someone." She huffed, looking over towards her huddled pokemon that the girl had not looked at yet. "And you can call me May, Miss makes me feel so old!" She added cheerfully.

"Oh! Alright, May, as long as you aren't mad. M-my brother said it would be okay to come down and meet you." May laughed, and the little girl thought that her laugh sounded like beautiful chimes making their graceful music in a lazy spring breeze.

"And who, pray-tell, is your brother?" She asked, her eyes warm and kind.

"Drew!" The girl said, and she noticed the way May's eyes lighted up even more at the mention of her brother's name, she put that in her mental storage for later use, along with the remark Max had said to her brother.

"Ohhh! That means you can give me dirty little secrets from your childhood, eh? Did he have a blanket, or better yet, did he NAME it? Oh how terribly rude of me, I should have asked your name too, but I bet it's Alice, unless he has two sisters." She asked.

Alice's eyes widened, "H-he talked about me?"

"All the time," She said, smiling warmly, and it was true back years ago he had always talked about his little sister, and she had been one of his main concerns (other than May, but she didn't know that) since they had reunited. "He really loves you, you know."

At that moment Bellossom came over and began tickling little Alice's stomach. The girl squirmed and laughed in delight, trying to get out of the small creature's grasp.

"Bellossom, Bell Bell!" (I like her already!)

'Me too Bellossom, me too…' May thought to herself.

"Can all contestants please report to the Main Hall for the results of the partner testing please?" Nurse joy's voice boomed over the intercom.

May returned all of her pokemon and took the hand of the small girl next to her as they practically skipped back to the building.

-.-.-

"C'mon" Drew growled to the people behind him, his Roselia and Absol closely on his heels, Anabel with her Alakazam, Max with his Starmie, and Ash with his Pikachu.

All of our eyes followed the man as he subtly melted in to the shadows of the forest.

They followed stealthily, and the man seemed to be in his own world. Drew pointed to Anabel who must've been mentally communicating with Alakazam because it got in to a ready position and the four humans looked in to the open clearing where the man had stopped.

"Hey you!" Drew and Max snarled at the same time as the four came out of the brush. He whipped around and fast like lightning his hand was at his belt. "Anabel, now!" Drew said, and at that moment Alakazam came out of the brush with a blue glow and the bullet which was only a few feet from Drew's face went right back in to the gun which made a loud noise and if the man had not thrown it in the other direction would have exploded on his face.

Drew noticed Anabel looking questioningly at him and he nodded once, soon all of his guns were off of his person, along with many poisons and a communicator. Drew thought he might be sick. This man was a hunter, an assassinator, a hit man, a killer.

"You will not hurt May." Drew and Ash said in unison.

"I will not let you put a single finger on my sister." Max snarled.

The man burst out laughing, but his eyes held inner conflict and great sadness, that if Drew had not been practiced in looking for, he would not have caught it. "I highly doubt you'd be able to stop me." He said coldly.

"I would die before I let you touch her." Drew snarled.

"Is that a promise, because it is most certainly not a threat." He said before taking out a strange black pokeball with red where the white should have been.

He grinned maliciously at them all before throwing the ball in to the air.

-.-.-

A/N: Sorry guys! I know it's short, please don't kill me or anything!

Next chapter is gonna be GOOD, I swear:D Do you all like Alice, she is SO cute (in my opinion) Ohhh, do I smell Max with a love connection? If so I might just call it… siblingshipping… what do you guys think? Max with someone else's younger sister and TADA! Siblingshipping!

Anywho… I have final exams for my pre-highschool PE/Health classes (so I have a free seventh period) tomorrow, so I might not update until around… Monday, kay?

Oh, and I had this story plot stuck in my head (two actually) and they're both Sailor Moon (Seiya x Usagi), so if you like that topic and pairing, I invite you all to read it!

-Shining Hearts

P.S.- review! But don't call me evil for the cliffy. There wasn't one last chapter, so it is pretty long voerdue, and I got really lazy on the questions, I had a paper with like 25 answered for you guys, but I lost it and I am lazy AND forgetful, so you guys only get four.