Plenty of Love

Ash slowly opened his eyes, looking around the familiar hospital room he was in earlier. His head still hurt a little, but he ignored it as he noticed his friends weren't to be seen. He figured they were waiting in another room, so he shifted his body on the bed. But something held him down. He looked down and saw red, with brown underneath. He smiled as he recognized May's head, then stroked her hair. The images of them together flashed in his mind again, but this time he knew. They were best friends.

"Ash..." he was confused to hear her voice mumbling in her sleep. "..Please be okay..." her hand landed on his chest, then she clutched his shirt.

"It's okay, May. I'm better now." he whispered, but her head shifted.

"Ash...if you leave...I won't forgive myself...for not telling you..." she continued sleepily.

"What do you mean, May? You shouldn't blame yourself." he whispered, confused at her words.

"...Ash...I need to tell you..." her grip got tighter on his shirt as he prepared for her words. "...Ash...I love..you..." she said quietly, then shifted again. Ash cringed. She loved him? He understood their friendship from his images and now...but love? He loved Dawn. But as if she read his thoughts, she spoke again. "Ash...I know you're with Dawn...but I just wanted you to know...just in case..." she trailed off as a tear rolled down her cheek. Ash felt bad about this. She loved him, but he loved Dawn. ...Or did he? The past few days, he had plenty of special moments with May. They didn't quite feel like Dawn, but they actually felt a little...better.

"It's okay, May." Ash whispered, then he saw Brock and Max appear in the doorway.

"Ash, good to see you feeling better." Brock said with a smile.

"Same here, Ash. Glad to have you back." Max said as he stood beside the bed.

"Thanks, guys. It's nice to know I remember you now." Ash chuckled in response. Suddenly, May's head shot up. She yawned as she looked over at Max.

"Max? I-It's not what it looks like! This is a f-friendly moment!" May began to stutter at her sibling.

"May, I know you wouldn't take advantage of a guy while he's sleeping. Especially Ash." Max crossed his arms as he spoke.

"I know, too...but..." May pushed her index fingers together.

"May, you might not want to say anything to personal." Brock said in a wise voice.

"Why?" she tilted her head.

"Do you need a reason, May?" Ash asked. She spun around quickly at her voice and turned deep red.

"A-A-A-Ash!" she said panickely, then quickly hugged him tightly. He was taken back in surprise, then he gently returned the hug. "...I'm so glad..." she whispered in his ear. He rubbed her back reasuringly, then he looked at Brock.

"We'll be back later, Ash. Rest easy." Brock turned around and left the room. Max stepped towards the door.

"See you, Ash. Keep it to a minimum." Max smirked as he passed out the doorway. Ash couldn't notice, but May grew a deeper shade of red. After it faded, she parted from him and smiled.

"Ash..." she trailed off.

"May, do you know you sleep-talk?" he smiled to her. Her eyes suddenly went wide and she became a deeper red than her bandana.

"I slept-talked? So you...h-h-h-heard?" she asked in a very panicky tone. Ash simply nodded, then she focused her gaze on a ground tile. "I understand if you hate me. I'll leave you alone now." she tried to stand, but something grabbed her hand. She looked down to see a fingerless glove on her hand. She followed the arm to see Ash's smiling face.

"I didn't answer yet." he said.

"A-Answer?" she tugged at her collar nervously. He took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb on hers.

"May, I remember now we used to be friends." her lips curled into a smile. "And I remember I wasn't very clear on the field of love. "she began laughing quietly. "But now...from what you said...it's surprising...that have an answer." he finished his little speech.

"I understand. I just wanted it off my chest." she said as she looked at the ground again.

"...But I say yes." he said. She looked back at him.

"...W-W-What? You...you feel the...s-same?" she stuttered.

"...Yes." he replied. A figure frowned and stepped down the hallway. He was sure he loved her. She's nice, caring, sweet, beautiful, smart, and talented. What was wrong with the picture of them together?

"But...what about Dawn?" she asked the inevitable question. Ash frowned as he realized someone would get emotionally crushed either way. But he heard footsteps. Not human, but rapid and heavy. Soon, a large figure slid in the doorway and sat beside Ash's bed.

"Luxray!"

Ash looked at the large dog beside him, then realized. The dog placed its paw on the bed and winked.

"...Luxio?" the dog nodded. Ash stared, then smiled. "Luxio, you evolved!" he started rubbing her head.

"She evolved right after you passed out." May told him, then started the story...

Flashback

Ash's eyes closed. Dawn gasped quietly, but then Luxio grabbed everyone's attention. She began glowing. Her body was enveloped in white light, then her body grew larger. When the light ceased, a larger and slightly different-looking dog stood where she stood.

"Luxray!" Max exclaimed. Luxray nodded, then electricity became visible over its body as it covered its body. Luxray turned and stepped beside Pikachu's bed, then placed her tail on the battery. She closed her eyes and released a strong charge into the battery. The electricity travelled through the battery and down the wires, into Pikachu's cheeks. His body glowed yellow as the electricity flowed into him. His cheeks released one small bolt of electricity, ceasing the charges. Slowly, his eyes began to open, seeing Luxray smiling down on him.

"..Chu-Pi...pikachu pi chu pika?" (Luxio...did you help me?)

"Lux, luxray ray lux ray." (Of course, Pikachu, and it's Luxray now.) she winked at him as she put her paw on the bed. Pikachu smiled as he weakly placed his paw on Luxray's. They smiled at each other, then looked at the humans.

"All right, let's help him now." Nurse Joy said as she pointed to Ash's motionless body. Brock carefully carried him and set him down in his bed. After about ten minutes in the waiting room, the nurse came out of his room. "He'll be fine. Just a few hours of rest." everyone sighed at the good news. In Pikachu's room, Luxray and Pikachu smiled as they had their paws together.

End Flashback

"Wow..." Ash said as the story finished.

"Yeah..." May said quietly, then reached in her pocket. she pulled out something and stared at it in her hand.

"What's that?" Ash pointed to her hand. She slowly opened her hand to reveal the two halves of the Terricota Ribbon.

"It's our Terricota Ribbon. We won it together back in Kanto...just before you left..." she said as her face turned pink. Ash stared at it, remembering it was the cause of his pain before fainting. But it didn't hurt now.

"So...about the love thing..." Ash started, but May stopped him.

"Ash...We both know you can't love Dawn and me at the same time." May told him.

"I know...but..." Ash stopped when Brock stepped in the room, panting. "What's wrong, Brock?" Ash asked.

"Dawn's gone!"

END

Oh no! Now most of you are probably thinking this is a good cliffhanger moment (and I agree), but since I want this fanfic done, I'm going to update the next chap. I'm sorry to cliffhanger fans, but like I said earlier, I want this done. Stay seated for the ending next chapter!