Norman lowered his head when he finished his statement, awaiting some sort of punishment from his wife. However, everyone was quiet for several minutes and the awkward silence made Norman more nervous.
After he lifted his head again, he spotted May with some tears in her eyes, but she could suppress her sobs. It was always the same for May. Someone told her that there was a possibility that Ash could be alive and she would believe it for some seconds before the reality caught up with her again.
"Norman!" Caroline exclaimed harshly. "I pleaded you not to mention his name!"
"But Caroline, he-"
"No buts, Norman!" Mrs. Maple lifted her hand to threaten her husband.
"It's okay, mum!" May saved her father from a terrible slap. "It's not the first time that someone thought that he had seen Ash. Even Dawn believed that he was somewhere, because his Charizard didn't return to his valley. It's nice to believe those things, but in the end it's just the desperation."
May bit on her lip. "Sorry, but it's hard to talk about him … " May searched for something in her pocket. "If I had one wish, I would use it to see him again .."
Feeling the object, the brunette wished that all those hints were real and that Ash was somewhere.
"However, if he's alive, why shouldn't he return to us then? Why shouldn't he return to me? Am I too weak for him? It doesn't make sense mum … it doesn't make sense …"
May went out of the room of her dad to think about reasons, still holding a small cut ribbon within her palm. Following her, Pikachu and Glaceon stayed silent and they didn't know how the whole story would end.
Her parents were left behind and both of them felt even guiltier. Norman supported his head with his hand, feeling like a jerk that he made his daughter upset despite her win of that bet.
Caroline, however, couldn't believe anymore that all those hints were not real. There were too many already and even Ash's Pikachu behaved weirdly.
"Norman!" Mrs. Maple said with a stern voice and Norman feared the wrath of his wife.
"I'm sorry, honey! I didn't intend to make her upset, really .."
"Cut it Norman! You already put that idea in her head, therefore you'll search for that trainer and ask him yourself! We need to discover those hints to take those off May's mind." Caroline knew that they wouldn't forgive themselves if they didn't look for the hints.
"Caroline, it's not allowed for me to search for trainer information as long as they haven't revealed the winner of the gym leader challenge." Norman explained, taking those rules serious.
"Save your excuses for someone else, but you'll ask him! We won't leave this island until you can tell May that this kid wasn't Ash!" Caroline made an ultimatum for the gym leader.
"Could you change your shirt, please?" Caroline noticed all the sweat that was soaked by her husband's cloth. "It doesn't look good when everybody thinks that I don't know how to wash my husband's clothes!"
"Come on, sweetie! It's pleasant for a man to see that he works hard and -"
"Take that shirt off!" Caroline raised her voice, seemingly not being convinced by Norman's man pride speech.
The gym leader did as he was told to and threw that shirt into the corner, revealing his upper body, but his wife wasn't impressed by that for quiet some time.
Suddenly the referee peeked through the curtain to remind the gym leader of something.
"Mr. Maple, your next match will start soon, so you should take your place and …. Oh ." The official saw the gym leader shirtless with his wife next to him and it wasn't unusual that you could misunderstand that scene.
"I'm sorry! I hope that I didn't interrupt anything … "
"No, no it's okay. My wife and I will be finished within a minute. Tell the challenger that I'll be there in time." Norman said with a casual voice.
"Okay!" The referee stepped out of the room, but not without mumbling. "This guy's really fast …"
Caroline, as the one who knew what the referee thought, had a red face and she could kill her husband for his naivety in such a situation. She could just hope that the referee wouldn't tell it around.
"That was weird …," Norman noted.
"Get your shirt on and finish your job!" Caroline clasped her hands in front of her mouth, realizing that she started to be as stupid as her husband.
"What do you want to do now?" Norman pulled his shirt over his head.
"Because of your slip-up, I have to care for a child!" Caroline facepalmed, because she understood everything ambiguous after the referee's comment.
"You don't have to be so rude, Caroline. It isn't so that I wanted it to happen, but we have to live with the consequences." Norman stood up and grabbed his Pokéballs.
"It doesn't matter Norman, but you'll look for that trainer as soon as you finished your duties." Caroline walked to the curtain, ready to leave.
"Don't worry, I always finish my duties." Norman gave her a thumbs-up.
"I wish I could believe that …" Caroline sighed before she left her husband on his own. It was a very awkward conversation and she would forget it.
Norman sighed as well and looked forward to his next match. Although, he suffered his first loose, he could still get in the top five of the best gym leaders and he wouldn't waste that opportunity.
May left the field several minutes before her mother and the coordinator longed for some time on her own, however, her two Pokémon wouldn't leave her side.
Following her, Glaceon and Pikachu started their own conversation that contained several events from that day.
Pikachu still didn't dare to look to Glaceon, but he had to explain his actions. Pikachu took all of his courage to tell the fox the reasons for his obsession with a scent that he found quiet often during today.
"Pika chu pi chu (Glaceon? Are you still mad at me?)" Pikachu almost whispered.
"Gla eon eon (Why should I be mad at you? Because you started to flirt with girls that are humans?)" Glaceon's statement sounded very sarcastically.
"Chu Pi ka Pi (It's not like that, Glaceon. I don't know how to explain it you …)"
"Ce ce on Gla (You better know, Pikachu! You behave so weird since yesterday ..)"
"Pi chu chu kachu pi (It's that familiar scent that drives me crazy, Glaceon …)"
"Gla on on gla? (Can't you just ignore it?)"
"Pi ch chu pikapi (I can't because it remind me of Ash somehow …)"
"Glaceon Gla Ceon ce ce on (Isn't it weird? Since we have arrived here, everybody seemed to get that feeling that Ash's near …)
"Pika pi chu chu (I know, but it can't be.)
"Glaceon glaceo eon on gla (I'll help you to find the cause of that scent, so you can get those thoughts out of your head.)"
"Pika pika pi? (You'll help me? Aren't you mad anymore?)"
"Glaceon eon gla gla glace (Of course I'm mad, but you'll promise to stay away from Dawn's a-)"
"PIKA PI (I GOT IT, GLACEON!)"
Pikachu's small outburst caught the attention of May who wondered what the two Pokémon were talking about. It was weird, but Pikachu and Glaceon could always cheer her up with their attitude that they had everyday.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" May asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
The small rodent rubbed the back of his head, not knowing how to explain it to that girl. It wasn't so that he didn't want to tell her, but it should be a secret as long as Glaceon and Pikachu didn't find the cause of the scent.
"Do you still have problems with Glaceon?" May knew that the 'relationship' between those two Pokémon wasn't the best. It seemed weird, but May refused to call Pikachu her Pokémon. It just didn't seem right to claim him for herself.
The yellow rodent needed to stop May's worries, therefore he put a paw on Glaceon's shoulder to show that they were 'best' friends. Glaceon blushed slightly, but she controlled her emotions.
"It's nice that you are still good buddies. Should we search for Max then?" May smiled weakly, knowing that she should enjoy the time that she could spend with her family and friends. At least, she won the bet against her father.
The two Pokémon nodded, but they knew that they had to leave May eventually to search for the reason of Pikachu's behavior.
Max walked through the streets, thinking what he should buy from Gary's money. The young trainer was always interested in those new devices that helped trainer to collect their information. However, he would need some additional money, but it shouldn't be a problem if you are with a guy like Gary Oak.
"Maybe I should buy dad something to cheer him up after his loose …" Max whispered to himself.
The young trainer browsed through several jobs, but he didn't find anything suitable for his father.
"No! I won't buy you that toy!"
Max heard a harsh voice, but it sounded some sort of familiar to him. Falling for his curiosity, Max peeked around a corner to see a trainer who had to pull a Charmander away from a small wooden Mew toy. It was funny to watch that some Pokémon acted like children.
However, what caught his attention was the costume of that figure. It was a medieval, blue costume with a blue and black hat. Unlike Paul, Dawn and Norman, Max knew that it was Sir Aaron's costume and the boy saw it the last time when Ash wore it at the Cameron palace.
"Can I help you?" Max had become a polite boy, but he would do everything to spend some time with a Pokémon.
Ash looked to the side, not releasing his grip on 'Charmander'. Once he saw the familiar boy, Ash lowered his head before he muttered a quiet 'No need to'.
"Shouldn't you buy your Pokémon that toy? It's a rare event and it would be good for him to have something from here." Max smiled big time.
"No, he has enough toys and I don't have money anyway!" Ash tried to change his voice a bit.
Max looked at the Charmander and it was so cute, therefore he decided to spend some of his money for that toy.
"How much is it?" He asked.
"What?" Ash said puzzled.
"How much is that toy? I could buy it for your Pokémon, because it seemed that he really want to have it!" Max took the toy from Charmander and searched for the price. It cost 100 Pokédollar, cheap enough for Gary's money.
"No, you don't need to!" Ash didn't want to owe that boy something.
"It's okay, because I'm sure that I'll get new money soon." Max smirked, knowing that Gary would pay for every lie that he had to cover for him.
The young trainer bought the wooden toy before he handed it to Charmander and the fire-type was more than happy to get a replica of 'himself'.
"Thanks, but it wasn't necessary. I don't have any money to pay you back and I doubt that I'll get any over the next few days." Ash tried to get out of that awkward conversation with May's brother.
"No problem, sir." Max said politely.
Ash felt weird to be called sir by Max, but at least it showed that the boy didn't recognized him so far. It's amazing how four years could change you.
"I'll think I need to go now." Ash waved goodbye, but Max wasn't finished with him.
"I don't want to be noisy, but could you tell me why you wear a Sir Aaron costume?" Max needed to ask that question.
"No particular reason, but it nice to pay honor to a hero like Sir Aaron. It's sad that you won't see such heroes today anymore…" Ash explained coherently to Max to get rid of the 'smart' boy.
"I wouldn't say that you don't see such heroes anymore. Do you know Ash Ketchum? He had a similar aura like Sir Aaron and he was a hero like him." Max praised the savior of his sister.
Ash gritted his teeth, but at least Max didn't forget him. However, it was weird that the boy praised him as a hero, although he couldn't save his sister. Unknowing, he took his hand into his pocket to search for some object that he didn't look at for quiet some time.
"Heroes are a dying breed, Max, but there are still Pokémon that watch over humans." Ash explained, indicating that Pokémon like Mew would save the world.
"That's right, but I still have one more question." Max asked, having a weird grin on his face.
Ash raised his eyebrow, but one question shouldn't discover him.
"Ok, just ask."
"How do you know my name? I can't remember that I introduced myself to you." Max crossed his arms, effectively starting his quest to discover that boy.
Ash sweated heavily, but he should be able to come up with a suitable excuse that would be satisfying enough for the thirteen-year-old.
"Uh … Is it that unusual that people know the talented son of Norman Maple? I would be ashamed if I didn't recognize a future Pokémon master like you and I'm sure that many girls would love to spend time with you. " Ash intended to flatter Max enough, so he would forget his question.
"Really? Am I that famous?" Max rubbed the back of his head. "It's nice to meet someone who appreciate my talents and work."
The mission of Ash was completed and he could use that for his escape.
"I'm sure that the son of a famous gym leader has a lot to do, right? I don't want to waste your time anymore, so goodbye!" Ash waved before he left with his 'Charmander'.
Max was still flattered by the statements, therefore he didn't realize that 'Ash' left the pace. Once he came down from his mountain, Max realized that this was just a feint to get rid of him.
"Damn it! I was fooled by him!" Max was furious and he looked everywhere for that trainer.
It was senseless and the gym leader's son soon quit his search for that figure. If the trainer was part of the tournament, he would find him eventually.
"Do you know that you cause more problems than you're worth?" Ash looked to the small fire-type Pokémon that had his beloved wooden toy within his hands.
"(I wouldn't cause problems if you buy me some things!)"
"I told you thousand times that I don't have any money! I'm happy enough that I receive some food for free." Ash explained harshly, hating Mew' childish characteristic.
"(Then earn some money! You are sixteen-years-old for Mew's sake!)"
"First, it won't happen everything for your sake and seconds, I can't be blamed for my lack of money, Mew. You know that a Chosen One does Charity work and you legendaries don't pay me for that!"
"(Do you blame your lack of success on me?)"
"I don't lack of success, Mew, but I lack of money and you have to live with that."
"(You should really return to your society, Chosen One. It seems that your hermit life makes you quiet stupid.)"
"I'm stupid, because you Pokémon haven't developed money yet?"
"(We don't need money to coexist, Chosen One, therefore we are better than humans!)"
"Mew? Somehow, somewhere, someday I'll punch you in your face!" Ash threatened the legendary, but Mew knew that Ash loved him too much to raise a hand against him.
"(You probably mastered your aura, Chosen One, but you can't compete against a legendary! Your power is it to activate various spheres like those you saw at the Orange islands.)"
"Then I'm a moving key that you have to feed or what?"
"(You don't get it, Ash. Normally we wouldn't need you all the time, but you decided to dedicate your whole life to us Pokémon.)"
"Wow, Mew!" Ash said sarcastically. "You really know how to cheer me up."
"(You should search for some conversations as long as you have the possibility, Chosen One.)"
"Pshaw Mew …. I don't have any luck today, because my conversation were with those I wanted to forget. At least, you keep my mind off the topic." Ash again touched the object in his pocket.
"(Could you tell me what you are holding?)"
"Nothing, Mew. Just some paper stuff." Ash lied, knowing that Mew would tease him if he knew that Ash still hang on his past.
"(You know that I can sense your emotions, Ash and I'm sure that you wouldn't feel so emotional while holding garbage. )"
Ash forgot that Mew could read his emotions like a book, therefore he decided to show Mew the last object that he still had after all those years. It was half a ribbon, but Mew didn't know his meaning.
"(It looks like a damaged ribbon to me. Chosen One.)"
"It's not damaged, Mew! It was shared and it reminds me of some good old memories, however, it's weird, Mew …" Ash tried to understand his emotions.
"(What's so weird, Chosen One? Tell me and I'll help you.)"
"Thank you, doctor Mew." Ash chuckled slightly. "Everything on this island reminds me of my past, however, I don't feel so sad like I was used to be …" Ash sighed. "Did I become heartless, Mew?"
"(I don't know what you are sad about, but probably it has something to do with your experiences on that island, Chosen One. Otherwise it could rely on your aura, Ash.)"
"On my aura?" Ash was puzzled.
"(You just don't see, hear, feel, taste and smell, Chosen One! You also sense with your aura. It's like a sixth sense and it gives information to your brain as well. Like most senses, it happens subconscious and you don't know much about it. It could be that you sense something with your aura that makes you happy, although you don't know about it. It could be a human or a Pokémon.)"
"I can't control my own feelings anymore?" Ash feared to loose the strength to handle his own emotions.
"(Not necessarily, Chosen One, because you can learn to control your aura to a point where you can decide when you want to use it as a sense.)"
"It seems that this aura stuff is more a burden than a gift …" Ash sighed, knowing that fate wasn't always good to him.
"(Don't judge your fate before it's revealed, Chosen One. Who knows? Maybe it's a good sigh that you feel not so sad anymore.)"
Ash didn't know what he should believe, otherwise what aura should make him happy?
It was just eleven o'clock in the morning and that meant that the qualifying rounds would be for another six hours or so. It was sure that Norman, Brock and Misty would be exhausted after their marathon, let alone their Pokémon.
"Hey Paul, could we look for some drinks? I'm thirsty." Dawn panted a bit.
"I don't prevent you from getting a drink, but I won't spend more money on you!" Paul was furious enough that he lost his 'housemate'. In exchange he got Dawn, a girl that wouldn't shut up.
"You should check your vocabulary, Paul! Moreover, you should start to act like a gentleman, because you'll guide me to our dinner, tonight!" Dawn smiled big time.
"It's just a dinner, Dawn! I'm sure you won't eat that much …" Paul explained.
Dawn almost jumped at that boy, but she calmed herself down, knowing that it would take some time to confirm Paul to the good guys.
On their way they met Gary, who crossed his arms as soon as he spotted his fellow group members.
"Hi Gary." Dawn said with a casual voice, ignoring Gary's attitude.
"Thank you that you were at my qualifying match, Dawn." Gary exclaimed, tipping onto the ground.
"I wasn't at your qualifying match, Gary." Dawn informed the researcher, not seeing the sarcasm in his statement.
"That was sarcasm, Dawn!" Gary raised his voice. "I can say that you missed something."
"Did you win?" Dawn asked in hope to calm the researcher down. It wasn't in her interest to make Gary upset, but Dawn had other priorities at the moment.
"Of course I did!" Gary stated proudly.
"You're so pathetic, Gary! Celebrating every little victory it's the right thing for you." Paul smirked, looking down at the 'former' league trainer.
Gary wanted to show Gary some of his mind, but Dawn stepped between the two qualified trainer. It wasn't nice for her that her crush and her favorite Pokémon researcher fight each other.
"Stop it, Gary! I know that Paul is a difficult case, but please be patient." Dawn pleaded him.
The three trainers were soon joined by Max who looked for someone of his group. Probably it wasn't the best for him to find those three, but he would see it soon.
"Hey, Gary! Did you win your match?" Max was one of those who cared for Gary's matches and his money.
"Yes …" Gary still looked straight to Paul.
"Great, because it means that we three won our rounds, therefore we will advance to the tournament." Max was still excited that he could be declared the trainer of the year.
"Great …" Gary murmured, but he would change the topic as soon as possible. "Could you guys help me to solve a mystery?"
"We aren't the myth busters, Gary!" Dawn clarified, not knowing which mystery Gary wanted to solve. Probably Muk's obsession with professor Oak or why a Meowth always landed on his legs.
"That's not the point Dawn, but there are some things that lead to my conclusion that Ash is still alive!" Gary blurted out, not caring if someone was going to crying.
The trainers raised an eyebrow, but everyone of them experienced something weird today, but why should it be connected with Ash.
"Why do you think that Gary?" Max tilted his head. "It could be a coincidence that a lot of today's events remind us of him."
"It's just too perfect, Max! Pikachu's behavior, Paul's guesses, Norman's loose …." Gary started.
"Wait!" Paul interrupted him. "According to you, you think that my housemate is Ash Ketchum? The same guy that defeated me all those years ago?"
"Didn't you tell me that his name was Aaron, Paul?" Dawn asked curiously. "Why should he change his name?"
"Slow down, Dawn!" Max stopped the speed of Dawn. "It's just a suspicion and we shouldn't take it as granted! Okay, there are hints for that, but we shouldn't run around and tell everyone that we know that Ash's alive."
"We won't know it as long as we haven't searched for the reasons, Max." Gary felt like the leader of the squad, much to the dislike of Paul who couldn't care less about the researcher.
"It seemed that you start to see ghosts! This guy is my housemate and I'll see who he is at the end of the day!" Paul chuckled devilishly, but he didn't expect Dawn.
"You won't return to your house as long as you don't give me my reward!" Dawn demanded still her dinner.
Gary and Max snickered, but Gary should wait until Misty finished her duties as gym leader. It wasn't so that she and Gary had many dates so far, but it was always hard to fulfill her wishes.
Everybody was confronted with the idea that Ash was alive, but no one wanted to disappoint the others if there search wasn't successful.
Some time had past and it was already 3 o'clock in the afternoon, leaving only a few hours until the qualifying rounds were finished. Mew and Ash were still on the road and the Chosen One refreshed his knowledge about some Pokémon tournaments on this world. It surprised him that Cynthia was still Sinnoh champion.
"(What's wrong, Chosen One?)"
"Do you think that one life matters?" Ash asked, seeing the events that happened since his departure.
"(In my opinion there's a reason for everyone to be born, but why should you ask such a question?")
"I just wonder what would have happened if I didn't disappear four years ago, Mew. Do you think that everything would be the same?"
"(You shouldn't burden your mind with if-questions, Chosen One. What happened has happened and we can only learn from the past, but we can't change it.")
"You are probably right, Mew, but sometimes it would be better if we had a second chance."
"(Everyone hopes for a second chance, Ash, but sometimes you didn't even had a chance or choice.)"
Ash stayed silent for a few minutes, but Mew noticed that this familiar aura appeared behind them. It was the same aura that Mew sensed in front of the battlefield twenty-four. This time he wouldn't miss the chance to take the first step. It didn't matter that the aura wasn't in eyesight, so Mew would try something.
The legendary changed his form again, this time into an Aipom that jumped onto Ash' shoulder. It wasn't unusual for the legendary to jump onto Ash's shoulder, but this time he had ulterior motives for that.
"Was it too exhausting to go as a Charmander?" Ash teased the lazy Mew.
"(There are nearly six-hundred Pokémon and it would be a waste not to use my ability, Ash.)"
The second 'Ash' - aura was still behind them, but it wouldn't catch up with them though.
"Can't you transform into money, Mew?" Ash knew that Mew couldn't transform into everything, but it would be quiet useful.
"(That's not necessary, Ash. I'm more worth than all money of the world for your information.)"
"Can I pay a bill with that, Mew?" Ash chuckled, because it was too funny to tease the perfect Mew.
"(If you win that tournament you'll get money as well, Chosen One …)"
Mew assured himself that there weren't any crossroads behind them, so the second person would come along this way. Mew only had one chance, although he could help out a bit with his psychic powers.
Keeping an eye on Ash, Mew used the hand on his tail to sneak into Ash's pocket. Once he grabbed the object of his desire, he pulled it out of Ash's costume. Happily for Mew, Ash didn't notice the small robbery.
Without much noise, he dropped the half ribbon onto the ground on the middle of the road where it was visible for the next person or Pokémon.
Mew just had to hope that the person knew what it meant, although there were good odds for it. Why should have someone the same aura as Ash without knowing him?
It was strange, but May couldn't find her brother so far. Probably it was good for her to spend some time on her own or at least with the two Pokémon in front of her.
Glaceon and Pikachu still talked about Pikachu's guesses, however, they couldn't come up with a plan to start their research.
May enjoyed the warm air around her and for the first time in quiet some time, she felt as if nothing was wrong. She knew that her mother probably searched for her, but May was fifteen and she could survive some days alone.
"If only he was here …." May sighed, wishing to share a moment like this with her 'Chosen One'.
They walked for some time before Pikachu got this scent into his nose again and this time it was stronger than before. The yellow rodent became restless again and even Glaceon didn't know how to react too the Pokémon's behavior.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" May knew that the rodent again had this weird behavior.
The electro-type dashed forwards, following the scent that was in the air. Glaceon tried to keep up with the rodent's speed.
May desperately ran after him before Pikachu stopped, looking at something on the ground.
The rodent looked in disbelief at the small object, taking it from the ground into his paws.
May approached Ash's electro-type, panting heavily.
"What did you find, Pikachu?" May bend over to catch her breath before the rodent ran to her, holding something over his head.
"Wait! That's half of the Terracotta ribbon. I didn't know that I lost it …"
May grabbed into her pocket to assure herself that she lost her most precious object but for her surprise, it was still in her pocket. However, the object that Pikachu found was part of the Terracotta ribbon, but the other half should be in possession of another trainer.
"Could it be? …"