Hope Chapter 9

May and Drew stood across from each other firmly looking each other in the eyes. "Get ready to release your Pokémon!" the announcer called. The two stood unfazed as they both took out their poke balls.

"Get ready…set….Begin!" the announcer yelled. May released her Kingdra while Drew released his Absol. "Start with night clash Absol!" Drew yelled. The horn glowed a dark purple as Absol ran at Kingdra who waited for May's call. "Dodge and use water pulse!" May yelled though her call was a second too late.

As Kingdra was about to jump out of the way the slash hit it just barely causing Kingdra to writhe slightly in pain. May's eyes narrowed to as she yelled out "Kingdra you can do this! Use Aqua tail!" With a flick of Kingdra's small tail shots of water rushed at Absol hitting it and causing it to fly back.

"Absol!" Drew yelled "Get up and use shadow ball!" he finished. The energy ball hit Kingdra causing it to skid back a few feet as it tried to recover. "Kingdra use dragon rage!" May called.

The blue and yellow flames rushed towards Absol, though the Pokémon made a valid effort in trying to dodge got hit by the move known as Dragon Rage.

"Absol!" Drew yelled when he saw his Pokemon barely stand. "Kingdra Smoke Screen!" May yelled smirking when she saw Absol's figure, blackened by the smoke, running in desperation to find either Kingdra or Drew.

"Kingdra double team and finish it off with Dragon pulse!" May called. Drew grit his teeth in frustration when he heard both the timer and Absol's cry of pain.

"Time is up! We now must wait for the smoke to clear!" the announcer yelled. They entire stadium were on the edges of their seats and once the smoke cleared they were surprised to see Absol lying on the ground fainted with a tired, but awake, Kingdra.

Drew returned Absol with a sigh of defeat as May did the same with Kingdra. "Congratulations May you're going on to the final rounds!" May smiled as she and Drew walked into the corridor in between the stands, and the waiting room.

"That was a great battle May." Drew said with a flick of his hair. May narrowed her eyes at the sight of his signature move "You should stop doing that." She said firmly

Drew smirked as he spoke "and why should I?" he asked mockingly "It looks really lame." She deadpanned as she turned to go into the waiting room. Drew caught her wrist and turned her around. Before she could speak a rose was thrown at her "Good luck May." He said smirking as he walked away. May smiled to herself as she walked back into the waiting room.

"May I was just called to do my battle but great job!" Leaf said rushing out of the room. May didn't even notice her as she kept staring at the rose.

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"And Sara is the winner!" the call rang in Leaf's ears as she realized she had lost. Leaf smiled sadly as she walked off leaving Sara to wait for May. Once she had gotten back into the corridor she began running her hand wiping furiously at her eyes.

She ran straight past the group who had been waiting for her and out of the doors. She rests her back on the wall outside of the arena and let the tears flow freely. 'I feel like such a failure' she thought to herself sadly.

"Leaf!" she heard Gary call. She began wiping at her eyes as she saw him running towards her. "What's wrong?" he asked urgently "I-I just feel like such a screw up!" she cried. He gathered her into his arms and let her cry into his shirt.

"You're not a screw up!" he insisted. "You just need a little more practice, and her Gardevior was strong, there was nothing you could do about it." He told her softly. "She got lucky that hypnosis worked." He finished.

"I just really thought that I could have won, maybe coordinating was the wrong choice." She said sadly wiping her eyes. "It's not the wrong choice Leaf!" he insisted. "You're just new at this, if it helps, I'll help you train for the next one." He offered kindly. Leaf smiled and nodded. She looked up at him and saw him staring at her with love in his eyes.

"Thanks for believing in me." She whispered. Gary leaned down and as he was leaning whispered "I'll always believe in you." He caught her lips in a gentle kiss as she placed her hands on his cheeks holding him close.

When they broke away she was all smiles as she began dragging him "Hey slow down girlfriend!" he called. "What did you call me?" she asked shocked "Girlfriend, is that a problem?" he asked carefully.

She grinned and shook her head "No way will boyfriend, but come on we'll miss May's battle."

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"Gardevior use psybeam!" the girl Sara yelled to her tired Pokemon. "Kingdra counter with Dragon Rage!" May yelled to her equally tired Pokemon.

May knew that if she was able to hit Gardevior once more she would win and vice versa. The two beams were caught in a deadlock as they pushed back and forth until May yelled "Kingdra full power!"

Kingdra cried out as it used every ounce of power it had and was victorious when the dragon rage broke through the psybeam and hit Gardevior dead-on, causing it to faint.

"And the winner of the Littleroot Town Contest is May Shinji!" the announcer yelled. Sara and May shook hands as the crowd roared. "Congrats." Sara said softly May told her she did a good job and accepted her ribbon.

May grinned as she held it up to the crowd. She waved and laughed as she was tackled by the girls.

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"Remind me to eat there again!" Misty exclaimed as they were walking back from eating. They laughed in agreement as they neared the Pokemon Center. "Tomorrow we will leave for Oldale Town okay?" May asked.

They agreed to leave at 10 and May was about to enter the Center, following everyone else but Drew cut her off. "Hey nice job today." He said softly.

May smiled and thanked him and was about to walk back in but was cut off by Drew "Do you think you could learn to trust me?" he asked quietly. May looked him in the eyes and spoke "I already am learning." Ignoring his grin she began jogging into her room. Drew walked into his, his grin still plastered on, and Paul gave him a weird look.

"What's got you so happy?" he asked Drew suspiciously "May said she was learning to trust me!" he exclaimed. Paul glared "wait she trusts you but not me, her brother?" he asked angrily

Drew realized his happiness had backfired as he rushed to explain "She doesn't entirely trust me yet, and I'm sure she trusts you too." Drew tried.

Paul sighed as he silently walked into the bath room but spared Drew a nod telling him that it was fine. Drew still grinned none-the-less as he flopped onto his bed slowly falling asleep

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The next morning came quickly as the group rushed to eat and got on the road fast. Once they had reached Oldale town, it wasn't even 4 yet, they noticed a sign outside of the town.

"Music Contest?" May breathed in confusion. "I told you guys that some towns had music contests for coordinators." Dawn said shrugging.

"Come on I want to get some food!" Ash whined. Misty hit the back of his head as May drove to the Pokemon Center.

"Who's going to enter the contest?" Paul asked. All four coordinators, at first May refused but gave in when she saw Dawn' pout, were entering.

"Tomorrow's the contest so let's just rest today." Leaf offered, they agreed and went off into different directions to get ready.

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Okay internet cookies to whoever doesn't entirely hate me for taking so long to update! Seriously I really am sorry, which brings me to my next point

Updates will for now on happen within two weeks, it might fluctuate but around two weeks for now on until I think I can do it in less.

I'll try to get the next chapter earlier, to compensate for my lack of updates but, once school starts the two weeks will become two weeks most likely.

I love anyone who still reads and those who don't well I still love you!

Again I am sorry but I'll try harder, I was just caught up in family drama, and other stories.

Lastly I'd like you all to check out my other stories, My Chance with You, and Every Rose has its Thorns.

Also check out my friends story Expect the Unexpected, his name is Acereader55.

Love you all Bye!