Now that May didn't have the whole world to save, she could go back to her main goals, such as challenging the Sootopolis' Gym. Despite what Brendan told her, she was going to go there the very next day. After battling Groudon the girl felt like there wasn't a challenge in this world she wouldn't take on. And she battled Wallace with the same attitude.
Of course, she won, as usual, getting the Rain Badge and Waterfall move as rewards. After that was done, she knew that her next aim was to reach Ever Grande City located on a remote island on the east.
When she reached it, what surprised May the most, was the fact that Ever Grande… Didn't look like a city at all. It's just a Pokemon Center… She looked around the island, but the only thing apart from that one building was an entrance to a cave. This must be the Victory Road…
The young trainer didn't feel like taking a break so she decided to instantly proceed through the cave. Many skilled trainers were awaiting her inside. Most of them were on their own way to the Pokemon League and everyone wanted to battle. The brunette girl realised that was probably the biggest challenge of the Victory Road. She needed to be the best among those trainers to have the right to face the Champion.
Keeping her distance, she won with every opponent who wanted to have a battle with her. I can't give up now, she repeated in her head over and over again. May focused on all of those challenges so much, she didn't think about Steven anymore as much as she would always do. There's time and place for everything, and I need to beat the Champion first!
Getting through the whole Victory Road was even harder than the brunette girl expected. It took her a whole good hour before she saw an exit. When she stepped outside the cave, a whole new unexpected sight showed up in front of her. Cobbled path leading to some building in distance, with neatly planted roses on the sides. May closed her eyes as she felt a slight breeze on her skin. Whoever came up with this idea, good job. She smiled to herself.
The blue-eyed girl heard footsteps in front of her. "May..?"
When she opened her eyes, she saw Wally. "You… Here?" she asked a bit surprised.
"I bet you didn't expect me in a place like this!" The green-haired boy grinned. "I was able to make it this far only thanks to you."
The brunette girl replied with a smile. "How are you?"
Wally shuffled his feet. "Well… I'm fine. But …"
May cocked her head. "...Yes?"
"Standing here facing you again gives me chills…" He clenched his fists. "... But I won't give up! I won't lose anymore."
"So you want to have a battle with me again?"
"Mhm. My Pokemon have given me the courage and strength to fight. I have to win for their sake!" The green-haired boy looked so serious, the girl nodded her head. There's no way out of this now, is there?
Even though May's Pokemon were tired after the Victory Road, they were still able to fight against Wally's team. His strongest was a Gallade, and on top of that the boy had a Mega Stone on his own. The brunette girl knew this was an even tougher opponent than any other she'd met just a few minutes ago in the cave. I wonder, when did he turn so serious?
Despite his best effords, the green-haired boy still lost. At first he looked sad and disappointed in himself but when May gave him a pat on the back, his usual cheerful smile returned.
"... Thank you for not holding back when you battled against us," he said when he held a Pokeball with his Gallade inside. "Oh! I know! I'll give you a Dawn Stone… So you'll always remember our fight!" Wally looked around in his bag and gave the girl the dark-green item.
"Oh, you needn't to…" She accepted the gift hesitantly but when he insisted, she put it in her bag's pocket.
"I couldn't beat you this time, May… But look out! One day I'll catch up to you and then we'll battle again!" Wally grinned in his usual manner. "It's a promise, okay?"
"Alright, alright." The brunette girl ruffled the boy's hair. "Now I have to go though."
"Are you… Still going to the Pokemon League?"
May closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes. After all, I've come all this way! See you later, Wally!" She waved for a goodbye and continued walking along the road.
The girl had to admit; the Pokemon League building was enormous. When she stepped inside, she took a quick look around. The first room, available for everyone, was looking a bit like a Pokemon Center, with a place to heal up your Pokemon. In the opposite corner there was a small PokeMart. I guess it's for the trainers who are ready to challenge the Elite Four…
May plopped down on one of the couches there. Theoretically speaking, I have all the time in the world I want… But I can't wait too long. I need to go there today.
Not even an hour passed before May stood in front of the final gate. She won against Sidney, Phoebe, Glacia and Drake. The whole Hoenn's Elite Four. The only challenge left, the one she'd come there for in the first place, was still awaiting her.
Ready or not, here I come! She clenched her fists and smirked. There's no way I'm losing today!
The brunette girl watched the door open and walked forward. A set of stairs was leading her to the last room. Time to face the Champion. Whoever they are.
But when May saw the silhouette, she didn't feel so brave anymore. The person who was at first standing with their back to her, turned around. And the girl couldn't believe her eyes. That black suit, that silver hair...
May could expect anyone. Anyone. Brendan, Wally, any of the gym leaders or people she'd met. Anyone but him.
She stood with her mouth agape. "S-Steven…?!"
He tilted his head and smiled. "Welcome, May. So nice to see you again."
The brunette girl was opening and closing her mouth for a while, looking for words. She felt terribly confused. "Y-you…" A slight blush appeared on her face as she finally dared to speak up. "You are the Champion?"
The silver-haired man nodded his head. "Yes." He felt a bit surprised himself that she didn't see that coming. I thought at that point it would be obvious…
"B-but…" Still stumbling on her words, May stared at Steven. "Why didn't you tell me?"
He gave her a small smile. "Because you've never asked."
The brunette girl's eye twitched. But after giving it some thought, she realised exactly how many hints had been thrown in her face on so many occasions. She immediately felt embarassed. Did everyone know and I was the only one who didn't notice?!
Steven sighed and slowly shook his head. He expected this opponent would be unlike any other. But he didn't expect her to be different in that way.
"I was hoping to see you make it here one day… So tell me, have you and your Pokemon prepared yourselves through your journey?" The silver-haired man stared at May with thoughtful eyes. "Meeting other trainers and travelling through Hoenn… Has it awoken something inside you?"
The brunette girl looked back at him, getting hold of her thoughts. There was no more room for jokes and she perfectly knew that. But how can I...
"Standing now here, you challenge me, the Champion," he continued talking with a serious face. "I want you to come at me with all you've learned." For a small second, May thought she saw him smile at that moment. "My Pokemon and I will respond in return with everything we know!"
He held a Pokeball in his hand. That was it, May's last battle on her journey. Her final goal. She reached to her bag and took out her own Pokemon.
"Let it begin!" Steven threw his Pokeball, sending out a Skarmory. The girl knew it too well. She saw him fly away on its back so many times… May, what are you doing! Stop reminiscing! She had to scold herself again and quickly sent out her Gardevoir in return.
Even during the battle, the young trainer couldn't get rid of the embarassement. All this time I've had a crush… On the Champion?! Her thoughts were all around the place, chaotic as ever. She could hardly focus, still fazed by the fact that it was Steven she was fighting against.
But slowly she started winning over his Pokemon. Just like the brunette girl suspected, he had Steel-type ones. Of course, she could use her Blaziken to easily knock out her opponent's Pokemon but she decided to save it for later in case Steven used a stronger one.
And she wasn't wrong.
As his last Pokemon, the silver-haired man sent out a Pokemon May had never seen. Metagross…? Somehow, it looks familiar… She looked carefully at the creature. What's so special about it, if he saved it up till now…? As if it was supposed to be an answer to her question, a light surrounded the Pokemon and it revealed Steven's last trick. Mega Evolution, I should've known…ah! The Mega Metagross quickly knocked out her Mightyena while the brunette girl was busy with her thoughts.
She hesitated for a while, unsure which Pokemon she should send against her opponent. Blaziken, I'm counting on you, she whispered as she chose her next Pokemon. When it appeared on the battleground, May used her own Key Stone to Mega Evolve the creature.
The last round of the battle turned out to be hardest one. Fire was strong against Steel, but Psychic beat Fighting types. Both May and Steven, along with their Pokemon, were so engaged in the fight, giving it their best. But eventually…
The girl couldn't believe it. The silver-haired man's last Pokemon, Mega Metagross, collapsed. Her Blaziken won.
"So I, the Champion, fall in defeat…" Steven looked down. His hair covered his face, so May couldn't see him for a while. But when he raised his head, he looked relieved.
I won, the brunette girl repeated in her mind. I beat the Champion. She started grinning wider and wider, feeling happiness build inside. Soon it was too much and she bursted out with a squeal. May ran up to her Blaziken and hugged it tightly.
The silver-haired man didn't say anything as he watched her with a bit of understanding. She had not only just become the new Champion, but she was still a child, after all. She had every right to express her joy, and somehow, seeing her laugh so gleefully made him smile as well.
May was cuddling her Pokemon until it started giving her signs it was pretty inappropriate by gently pushing its owner away. She coughed nervously, feeling her face turn pink. Damn, behave yourself! You're embarassing yourself in front of him again! She returned her Blaziken to its Pokeball.
"Just as I expected, you're an excellent trainer." Steven approached May. "Congratulations to you! Since our first meeting, I've had a suspicion you're special. Thank you for showing me this feeling was not misplaced."
The brunette girl looked at him. "So I am now…?"
"The Champion, yes." The silver-haired man nodded. "You are rightfully the Hoenn region's new…"
"May, wait!"
An unexpected shout interrupted him. When both May and Steven turned around, they saw the girl's friend.
"Brendan...?!" the brunette girl exclaimed in surprise. What in the world?
He took few shallow breaths (Was he running all the way there?) before he spoke again: "I've heard that you were going to challenge the Champion so I wanted to give you some advice-"
When May heard his words, she started giggling. He's a dork as usual! Brendan felt confused by her reaction, and that made the girl laugh even harder.
"Surprisee!" She threw her arms in the air.
"Wha- Don't tell me it's over already!" He stepped back, startled by that turn of events.
After him, Professor Birch came in as well, laughing at his son's shocked face. "May, I thought you could have a chance… But you actually did it! Congratulations on your today's victory!"
The brunette girl smiled cheerfully, that time genuinely. She had to admit, it was nice being praised by everyone, it made her feel even prouder of her latest achievement. "Thank you!"
Her daydreaming state was interrupted by Steven. "May… Wait, no. I should call you the Hoenn region's new Pokemon League Champion…"
No need to be so formal. For some reason, that new title felt like an insult when the silver-haired man said it so directly. Being called by my name was just fine...
"Come with me, Champion." He poined to follow him. The girl went upstairs with him, but when Brendan tried to go after them, Steven stopped him.
"I'm sorry, but only a trainer who has become the Champion can go beyond that point. You'll have to wait outside."
"No waaay!" the boy shouted in disappointment. But the pout quickly disappeared from his face. "Just kidding! It's fine! Rules are rules, right?" He scratched his head in embarassement.
Just as May and Steven left behind the door, Brendan yelled last time: "Maay! Congratulations!"
The silver-haired man led the girl in silence, which made her feel a bit awkward. Should I say something now? She stared at his back, following him until he stopped in front of some kind of computer.
"This room is where we maintain the records of the Pokemon that prevailed through the harshest battles. Here is where the League Champions are honored." He turned around to face May again. "We'll use this machine to record your name and your victorious team. Place your Pokeballs in those slots."
The brunette girl took out her Pokeballs and carefully put them in the device. She knew that was just a normal action but somehow, she felt a slight blush appear on her face. Don't give him any funny ideas! Or… No! Maybe he'll get the right idea that way!
Steven raised an eyebrow, seeing May's weird nervousness. "Is everything alright?"
She nearly jumped, for some reason unexpecting him saying anything. "H-heh? Nooo, everything's fine!" she quickly replied, still smiling nervously.
He only sighed in response. After a moment of silence he added with a sly smile: "Is that my fault again?"
He knows…?! Keep it cool, May, keep it cool… She crossed her arms and grinned proudfully. "Well, it's just that I am the Champion now!"
Steven smirked, looking away. "Is that so?"
The brunette girl tried to keep the smile but didn't know what else to say. Soon the record was done.
"Well, Champion, you can go back now. Your friend is waiting for you, isn't he?" The man pointed back at the door.
Don't. Call me. So formally… May's smile disappeared completely from her face. They both started walking towards the exit. "Just before I leave… Can I ask something?"
He nodded, signing that he's listening.
"How.. Was it?"
"How was what?" he asked, looking at the girl.
She lowered her gaze, staring at her feet. "Being the Champion… Is it hard?"
The silver-haired man put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. It's not."
May looked up at him. "But isn't there some work-"
"You're not an adult yet," he cut her off in the middle of the sentence. He was silent for a while but he eventually smiled. "You won't have to do any formalities for now."
"Huh?" She couldn't help but feel concerned. "If now me, then who?"
"Me." Steven stopped, as they were standing in front of the door already. "Go." He hurried her.
B-but.. May felt down when she left the room. She was a bit disappointed in herself, thinking she might have just wasted a great chance for confession. We were alone… Dammit. Tomorrow's a day too, right? Right. It's not like he's going to be gone by then.
When she met up with Brendan again, she agreed to go back to Littleroot with him.
"We set out on this journey together, right? So maybe we should finish it together too. So… Come on! Your parents have to hear the news!" The boy was grinning as he grabbed the girl's hand and they walked out of the Pokemon League's bulding.
May looked back for the last time. I swear, I'll never waste such a great opportunity again!
a/n: Reasons you had to wait a week for this chapter: 1. I've burnt my index finger and it's hurts like hell; 2. It's LONG and I tried my best to shorten it; 3. No ideas for beginning again; 4. Physics's back; 5. Awkward writing.