First attack
May's POV
The car rocked back and forth as Kidd recklessly drove again. Drew was looking out the window, but I could tell by the way he kept jerking his head back that he was trying to stay awake. The poor guy. Two late nights in a row and I felt pretty sorry for him. He just wouldn't let himself rest. I frowned as he jerked himself awake again. I'd had enough of this.
"Drew," I said gently, putting my hand on his shoulder.
"What?" he asked, turning to look at me with his sleepy green eyes.
"Please rest," I said.
"No," he replied, "I can't rest until I find Roserade."
"I know Drew, but you aren't helping yourself or anyone like this," I said softly, "you won't be any help if you fall asleep."
"But May I-"
"I don't wanna hear your excuses," I said firmly, cutting him off, "you need to sleep." He sighed and put his head against the window.
"Good boy," I said. He shifted slightly and closed his eyes.
"May?" he murmured.
"Yes?"
"I can't sleep," he said.
"Just try," I begged.
"I can't," he said stubbornly, "the window's really uncomfortable." He lifted his head.
"Take your seatbelt off," I commanded.
"Why?" he asked.
"Just do it." He shot me a confused look, but unbuckled the seatbelt from around his waist.
"Now, curl your knees towards your chest," I said. He frowned and brought his knees to his chest.
"I don't see how this is supposed to make me more comfortable," he muttered.
"Just trust me," I said, "twist your body around to face the window completely." He did as I told him.
"This is seriously not comfortable May," He said.
"You will be in a moment," I assured. I put my hands on his shoulders, slowly pulling him back so that he was eventually lying with his head in my lap.
"You can move your legs so they're more comfortable," I told him. He shifted so his legs were stretched out and dangling off the edge of the chair, down the side in the little gap between the seat and the door.
"There, isn't that better?" I asked.
"I have to admit you're a pretty good pillow," he said.
"Now can you try to sleep?" I asked.
"Maybe," he replied, "maybe if you play with my hair again." I rolled my eyes. Still, I brushed my fingers through his hair, ignoring the strange look I was getting from Ash. I was probably getting a death glare from Max as well. Drew closed his eyes again.
"Promise you'll wake me as soon as we get to the tree of beginning," he mumbled.
"I promise," I whispered, "now sleep."
Misty's POV
I nudged Roserade awake. She slowly opened her eyes.
'Rose?' she asked. I shrugged, having no idea what she said. I pushed Meowth.
"Wah!" he exclaimed as he rolled down the little hill and into the puddle of water I'd been drinking from the past two days.
"I'm drinking from that anymore," I joked as Meowth quickly got out.
"Dat's not nice twerpette," Meowth complained, "you know I hate water." He shook himself out and his fur puffed up. I resisted the urge to laugh.
"Actually I didn't," I said, "you never told me." He started to flatten his fur down.
"I may be able ta speak da human language, but I'm still a Pokémon. A Meowth Pokémon. You do know how much we hate water don't ya?" he replied. I rolled my eyes.
"And yet, I've seen you in the water several times," I said.
"Dat's cause I don't wanna look weak in front a dat twerp wid da Pikachu," Meowth said, "do ya know how much trouble I'd have if he knew?"
"You can call him Ash you know," I said, "Or even just twerp if it's that much of a code breaker. I know you'll be talking about him. I mean who else to you call twerp?"
"Hmm, I tink yous got a point dere," he said.
"So do you really think we can get out of here?" I asked.
"I dunno twerpette," he said, "we'll just gonna have ta see. Hey maybe Mew can show us da way."
"That's a good idea," I said, "Mew! Can you show us the way out of here?"
'Mew, mew, mew, mew," it said.
"He says you should stay," Meowth said, "and play wid him. Roserade as well."
"You know we gotta get out of here," I said, "grasshead will be worried about his Pokémon and I really can't survive in here for much longer." My stomach growled loudly again. I groaned. It had been doing that all last night.
'Mew, mew, mew,' Mew said dejectedly.
"He says dat if we follow him, he'll lead us out," Meowth translated. I picked up Roserade.
"Well, come on then, let's go," I said. Mew floated ahead, leading the way as I followed. Don't worry grasshead, we're bringing her home.
Drew's POV
"Drew, wake up," May said, nudging me. I moaned. I was having a good dream. Why'd she have to wake me?
"I don't want to," I mumbled.
"Drew, wake up," she said, nudging me again.
"I'm comfortable," I murmured.
"You said to wake you when we came close to tree of beginning," she said, "so wake up."
"Are we close?" I asked.
"Well, Lucario stopped and we're all getting out now," May said. I reluctantly opened my eyes. I was met with sparkling blue ones. I sighed, thinking just for a moment how I'd like to wake up to sapphires every morning.
"I guess I'd better get up then," I said, lifting myself from her lap. I looked around to see that everyone had already gotten out of the car. May giggled next to me.
"What?" I asked, realizing she was still looking at me.
"Your hair," she said, covering another giggle, "it looks funny."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I was playing with it," May replied, "and now it's all messy up. Here, let me fix it." She reached over and started fiddling with different pieces of my hair, pulling them back into place. She smoothed her hands over my head.
"That's better," she said. I rolled my eyes and we both got out. Lucario was frozen, looking up at a rocky ledge.
"What's wrong Lucario?" Ash asked. Lucario tensed up.
This is the place where I was trapped in the staff. I frowned. This couldn't be easy for him. Getting reminded of something like that had to hurt a lot. Especially after what I accused him of last night. I had to apologise. Lucario walked forwards a few steps.
Why? He sank down to his knees.
Why did he do it? I saw the light spark in the time flower he had landed next to. Here we go again. A vision appeared and suddenly I saw the blurred image of Lucario and Sir Aaron. Sir Aaron threw his staff into the ground just a little bit in front of where Lucario was standing. The staff glowed brightly, like it had done when Lucario had been released. Lucario of the image glowed and started to be sucked into the staff's gem. May gasped next to me. I watched as Sir Aaron jumped onto a Pidgeot and flew away. Before I had time to think about it, the staff started shaking as the ground rumbled. I looked to where it was coming from. My eyes widened when I saw hundreds, no thousands of Pokémon charging through the valley. They rushed around us, the images seemingly going through us. Lucario looked distressed.
AHHH! In his hands a light ball of blue formed. He shot the aura sphere; obviously intending for it to hit the Pokémon, but it went straight through.
"May!" Max yelled. I saw it was heading straight towards her. I jumped, knocking her down, landing on top of her as the aura sphere flew over our heads. I supported myself over her, leaning my elbows on the ground on either side of her.
"Are you ok?" I asked, "It didn't brush you or anything?"
"I'm ok Drew," she replied, "just a little shell shocked." I ducked down again; trying not to crush her underneath me as another sphere narrowly missed us.
"Stop it Lucario!" I yelled, hoping the volume of my voice wouldn't hurt her ears.
"It's just a vision from the past!" Ash added. Lucario backed away, his foot touching the time flower. The vision faded, the Pokémon disappearing.
"That was scary," May whispered.
"You know, Lucario was right," Brock said.
"Hey! Drew!" Max yelled, "Get off my sister!" I rolled over her, being careful not to pressure any of my weight on her.
"It's ok Max," May said, "he just protected me from the aura sphere."
"Sir Aaron wasn't a hero," Brock said bitterly, "he wasn't even around."
"So that whole legend of the champion thing was wrong?" Kidd questioned. Lucario shook his head and ran away.
"Where's he going?" May asked. I gritted my teeth.
"Betrayal hurts," I said, "it hurts a lot. Being reminded of it like that is just like ripping open an old wound." I got up off the ground and held my hand out to May. She took it and I helped her up.
"Drew," she whispered quietly, "I think you should talk to Lucario this time."
"Why?" I asked.
"You two have a lot more in common than you think," May said, "I think you're the only one who can really relate to anything he's been through."
"What do you mean May?" Max asked. May looked at me, a question in her eyes. I shook my head. I didn't need everyone knowing. My life wasn't something that they needed to know about. She nodded slightly.
"Don't worry about it Max," May said, smiling, "Now Drew, go find Lucario." I sighed. I guess I had better.
I found Lucario. He was bent over on the ground. I remembered feeling that way when I found my house empty. It was when it had really sank in.
He was my master…and he betrayed me.
"Yeah, betrayal sucks doesn't it?" I said. He straightened, stiffening noticeably.
What would you know?
"A lot actually," I said, "I know how much it hurts to be abandoned like that. I know."
I doubt it.
"Oh yeah, you got betrayed by Sir Aaron, your master and I'm assuming friend right," I said, "Well, I was abandoned by my dad."
What?
"Yeah, you heard me," I said, "My dad left me in the middle of a forest on my birthday. He left me there, couldn't care less if I died there."
What kind of dad is that?
"The worst kind," I said, "but you see, I know how you feel. I know how much it hurts and look, I'm sorry about what I said last night. I was just angry and upset and I didn't mean it."
I…I didn't know. I forgive you.
"Thanks," I said, "we're in this together right?"
Yeah…His ears twitched. He closed his eyes and the flaps on his head raised, shaking slightly.
"What is it?" I asked.
Get May out the way or she'll get hurt. I ran back to May.
"May!" I yelled. I pulled her hand and yanked her towards me.
"Drew, what's-" She cut herself off with her own gasp as something burst from the ground where she used to be. Lucario ran out.
"It's Regirock!" Kidd exclaimed. Regirock picked up Kidd's car. We moved out the way of it as it threw the car down. It shot out a hyper beam that just barely missed us.
Let's move.
"This way!" Kidd yelled. She led everyone down the path that I had just come from, between two giant rock faces.
"Go May," I said, pushing her out of my arms and towards where they were. Lucario shot an aura sphere at Regirock as he fired another hyper beam. The two attacks collided, but the aura sphere pushed through the hyper beam, smashing into Regirock's face.
Let's go. Lucario ran out to the crack where everyone had just run.
"Drew are you ok?" May yelled.
"I'm fine, keep moving!" I called back. Lucario ran up to the front, leading everyone along.
In here. Lucario motioned to a cave in the wall. We all entered.
"How will we get to the tree of beginning?" May asked, panting as she slumped against the wall.
"Now's not the time to relax," I said, "Regirock can still find us in here." I took her hand and yanked her away from the entrance, running to catch up to the others.
