I do not own Pokemon.
Chapter 11: Through the Eyes of a Friend
"Aww, how cute!" Dawn said, clapping and smiling.
"Way to go, Pikachu." Brock said, giving Pikachu a thumbs up.
Leaning against a tree stump in his sleeping bag, Ash looked up at the beautiful night sky, unable to sleep. His mind was dwelling on the sight that greeted him the morning before, after they had gone to look for Pikachu and Buneary. They had eventually turned up at the campsite, but not in the way anyone had ever expected: They were arm in arm, and leaning against each other. Both were very comfortable and looked very happy. And then, Buneary leaned over and kissed him right on the mouth. Dawn and Brock both gushed when they saw it, but for some reason, May blushed very red and began to steal glances at Ash, something that he noticed. He didn't understand it. Does she want to be kissed or something?
Kissing. For some reason, thinking about that made him feel weird. Not disgusted, as he had felt in the past, but just weird. He recalled his trip through the Orange Islands with Tracey and Misty. On one island, they came across a pair of bickering trainers, a boy and a girl, who lived right next to each other. The two had a pair of Nidoran, one male, and one female. Despite the ongoing fight between their trainers, the two Pokemon cared for each other. He remembered how Misty had hatched a plan to get the two of the trainers together: A plan that had, in the end, proven itself successful. He remembered the moment when the two Nidoran kissed. He also remembered the question he asked Misty a few moments later.
"Do people change when they get kissed?"
This puzzled him greatly at the time. But now, a few years later, it made a bit of sense to him. Both of the Nidoran had evolved following that kiss. That certainly changed them. But the more he thought about it, the more he thought that, maybe the change wasn't on the surface. He glanced at Pikachu and Buneary, happily sleeping arm in arm, snuggled against each other. The two of them had kissed, yet nothing seemed to change about them, at least on the outside. But he watched them both through the day. Something had certainly changed. For one, Buneary was no longer bashful or flirty, instead, she was happy, and eager to be close to Pikachu. Likewise Pikachu wasn't nervous or fidgety around Buneary anymore, instead he seemed to always be holding or hugging her, and every time she went to kiss him, he would match her.
From this, his thoughts drifted back to May. In the span of a few short days, after he had encouraged her to try and get back on her feet, she gradually seemed to regain herself. This morning, when Buneary was snatched by Team Rocket, she took the initiative and defeated Team Rocket all on her own. Ash had let her do it, because given how depressed she had been after her devastating loss, her defeating Team Rocket all her own would be very good for her. He sighed. May was ALWAYS on his mind, especially recently. He had missed her dearly when she had left for Johto. I know she's a good friend. But why am I always thinking about her? He glanced at Pikachu and Buneary again. And why am I feeling so...weird about kissing? Do I want...to kiss her?
Knots were twisting in his stomach again. What does this mean?
May was sitting alone on a rock nearby the campsite. All of the events of that day were turning over and over in her mind. Buneary's capture, Ash joining her search, Pikachu running off, the battle...But what stuck in her mind the most was what they saw when Pikachu and Buneary reappeared at the campsite. The two of them were cuddling, and then, to her surprise, kissing. When she saw that, a million different situations ran through her mind, and she found herself glancing at Ash, face hotter than a boiling pot. The prospect of kissing him made her heart pound. She loved him: She realized that now. But does he...love me? Pikachu and Buneary were officially a couple now. She was happy for them, and happy that she knew what that meant. It meant that Pikachu finally realized what love is. She hoped beyond hope that it meant Ash would be closer to knowing. When he learns...if he learns...then maybe I can tell him how I feel.
The sound of steps in the grass broke her thoughts. Looking around, her eyes eventually found her visitor.
"Dawn! Why are you awake?" She asked.
"I saw you up, and figured you would want some company." Dawn answered, smiling. "I hope that's ok."
"Sure. Thanks." May smiled back at her. Dawn sat down, her back against the rock. For some reason, it felt strangely comfortable to her. After a pause, she finally spoke.
"So...Pikachu and Buneary! The two of them got together!"
"Yeah!" May answered."I feel so happy for them. And I know from watching them...that it will last. Forever."
"Hehe, yeah." Dawn gushed. "Those two are so...cute! I've known from the beginning that Buneary liked Pikachu, and I was wondering how long it would take before their love finally bloomed."
May smiled. Buneary...you've found someone great.
"I'm just glad that Buneary's happy." Dawn continued. "If I didn't make my Pokemon happy, what kind of friend would I be?"
"Making your friends happy...yeah. I see what you mean." May said, her eyes drifting back to the sky. Dawn's gaze gradually followed.
"The night is so beautiful." Dawn said after a long pause.
"It really is." May answered. She shifted a bit. After another pause, she spoke again.
"You know Dawn...you were right."
"Huh?" Dawn was slightly confused. "Wait, you mean..."
"Yeah. I...love Ash."
Dawn smiled broadly. Yes! My plan's going perfectly! She looked at May, trying to get back into her normal state of mind.
"It's good that you can admit it, at least to me." She said to her.
"Yes...I love him...but I don't know...if he loves me back."
The conundrum that all early lovers face. "No need to worry, May." She said, trying to dissolve her fears. "Like I said before at that Pokemon parlor, you are very pretty." May blushed a little. "You're prettier than I am. And I'm certainly not ugly."
"Yes, but..." May tried to interrupt.
"You're also such a good person! You're kind. You're strong, you're not selfish or mean in any way...and you've been traveling with Ash for a long time! Even now, you're traveling with him."
"But I still don't know..."
Dawn shook her head. She knew how much May meant to Ash. Ash had given up doing gym battles just to help cheer her up. "Trust me, May. I really think he feels the same way about you as you do about him."
May's face became hot again. She didn't reply. Dawn's feet shuffled nervously.
"To be honest...I'm kind of envious." Dawn said, staring at her feet.
"W-what?" May yelped, eyes suspicious. Dawn waved her hands in front of her face.
"No need to worry! I don't mean like that!" she said in a state of minor panic. "I mean...I'm envious that you could find a guy as great as Ash." She said. May relaxed slightly, and Dawn put her hands down. "I hope...to someday find someone like that myself."
There was a pause. Dawn stood up.
"It's late. We should get some sleep. We gotta get up early if we're going to make it to the next town's Pokemon Center."
With that, Dawn and May returned to their tents.
Later the next day, they came to the Pokemon Center. May decided to give her home a call, to check up on Eevee. Ash stood behind him, ready to say hello to May's family.
"May! I'm glad you called!" Max said, his face on the screen one of fright.
"What is it, Max? H-has something happened to Eevee?" she answered, worried.
"No, May! Drew called here a few days ago! He said that guy who hurt Eevee's on his way to Sinnoh! May, you gotta get somewhere safe!"
Ash and May turned to each other and nodded. May turned back to the video screen.
"Thank you for telling me, Max. I know what I have to do now. I have to find him..."
Ash chimed in. "And beat him!"
May smiled at him, cheeks slightly pink. She turned back to Max again.
"I'm sorry for hanging up so soon, but I have to get ready. Please, take care of Eevee for me."
With that, she hung up. Ash looked at her and held a fist in the air. May's eyes became set.
"Ash, go find Dawn and Brock. I think it's time I tell them why I came here."
