Chapter13

I followed Ash away from the group to a nearby river. May watched as we left, wondering what was going on.

"So Ash… what is it that you want to talk to me about?" I asked.

"First off, I have to admit I'm really impressed by the way you battle. Your battling style is so unique, the way you're able to stay calm in tough situations and how you battle as one with your pokemon." Ash commented me.

"Well… they're the only pokemon I've had for three years now, so by now I would have bonded with them and be able to understand them perfectly. It's kinda like you and your Pikachu; I could tell that you two share a very close bond." I replied

"Yea, Pikachu was my first pokemon. I understand him and he understands me." He responded

"See. It's the same with me and my pokemon." I proclaimed.

"I guess you're right." He replied, scratching the back of his head.

"Of course I'm right. Anyway… is that all you wanted to tell me?" I asked.

"Well… I was kinda wondering if you could help me on training me pokemon better." He replied.

"You don't need any help training your pokemon Ash. You're already a great trainer; you just need to work harder, but not too much to push your pokemon. Besides…"

I paused to look in the direction of the pokemon. When I did, I saw Leafeon helping Grovyle with his leaf blade and bullet seed attacks, Torkoal and Glalie went to see if they could get some help from Flareon and Glaceon with some of their attacks, Corphish was apologizing to Vaporeon about earlier and was asking for her help with water type moves, Jolteon was telling Pikachu how he could help him perfect his volt tackle, and Swellow went over to Espeon to see if she knew a thing our two about flying types, with she being a psychic type and all.

"… I think your pokemon are way ahead of you."

"Oh… well I guess I didn't really need to ask you." Ash said

"I guess not," I replied with a smile.

"Anyway… There is… something else I… wanted to ask you…" he said sheepishly while blushing.

"Huh? What is it?" I asked him.

He then turned to face the campsite, where May was helping Brock put the lunch wares away. He blush became brighter when he looked in their direction.

I faced Ash and started to giggle.

"Aww… does Ashy washy have a little crushy wushy on Maysy?" I say to him playfully.

"Shhhhhhh. Down say that too loud. She'll hear you." He cried out to me in a whisper.

I giggled. "Sorry. So you like her… more than a friend?" I asked. He nodded.

"So why don't you just tell her? I'm sure she probably feels the same," I explained to him.

"I don't think so. She… likes someone else," he replied in a sad tone.

"Huh? Who could she possibly pick over you?" I asked a bit confused. "You're a very likable person Ash; and I'm saying this truthfully."

"It's… one of her rivals… Drew," he replied.

"DREW!?" I said angrily, and a little louder than I was supposed to. Luckily, May and Brock didn't hear, but the pokemon did. (Darn pokemon's ultra hearing)

"Yea. You know him?" Ash asked me, a bit surprised by my reaction.

"Oh I know him alright, the little freak of nature!" I replied in the same angry tone, "That shrub boy doesn't know when to quit!"

"Um… you kinda lost me. Shrub boy?" he asked, confused.

"Huh… Oh yea! It's a nickname some of my friends and me gave him, because his favorite pokemon is his grass type, Roselia and his green hair makes him look like a shrub. So we call him 'shrub boy'." I explained a lot calmer now.

"Oh. So… how do you know him?" Ash asked me.

"First, let me ask you," I demanded, "How long have you guys known Drew or met him?"

"About a year and a half. Why?"

"I haven't seem him for that exact amount of time and now I know why. I've known him 3 years ago… the creep thought he was so perfect!"

"So… how were able to get rid of him, if he always got on your nerve?" Ash asked.

"I told him off… WITH A POKEMON BATTLE!!" I replied with fire in my eyes.

"Whoa!" Ash cried out as he fell backwards from my outburst.

"Sorry. You see… at the time, we were both still rookie trainers; but he was more of a rookie than me." I explained.

"How come?" he asked, getting back up to his feet.

"The time I battled him to get rid of him, he still only had his Roselia; and I already had all my Eevee evolutions. But he didn't know that." I replied.

"Wow, really? So I guessing you beat him with Eevee?"

"Yup. It was a pretty quick and easy battle though."

"Hmm… I wish I could say the same when I battled him…" Ash said under his breath.

"Huh? You mean he beat you?" I asked surprised.

"Well… actually, the first time I battled him, I won. The second time was when I lost," he replied.

"He must have gotten stronger then," I said in a whisper.

"Anyway, I doubt May likes him like that Ash. All he has is a big ego; you got one too, but you have a much bigger heart then he could ever have. And I'm saying this from experience."

"Yea but…" he said a little unsure.

"You've got to stop doubting yourself Ash," I said to him scornfully. "Listen… if it will make you feel better, I'll talk to her for you. We haven't seen each other in a really long time and I'm sure we have lots to talk about."

"Thanks Zea. That means a lot." He said thanking and giving me a quick hug.

"Anytime Ash… anytime…" I replied as we broke the hug and started to head back to the campsite.

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"Brock… what do you think they're talking about over there?" May asked.

"They're probably talking about the battle, knowing Ash and his love for pokemon," Brock replied.

"They've been talking for an hour and a half now. You really think talking about a battle takes that much time?" May asked a bit curious.

"Now that you mention it…" Brock replied.

They both looked in our (Ash & Me) direction and saw Ash hugging me. May's eyes became wide from shock as tears were about to form in her eyes. She quickly hid them so that Brock would see and asked her what was wrong.

"Excuse me Brock," May said as she got up and started to walk away.

"Where are you going May?" he asked.

"I just… want to be alone for a while." She replied as she continued walking.

She walked by the two Eevee who were happily playing together when she passed. Her Eevee… sensing her trainer's emotions wondered what was wrong.

"Eev? Eevee eev? (Huh? Mommy what's wrong?)" She asked, but May just kept on walking, not even acknowledging her Eevee. Eevee hang her ears down feeling bad that her mother would ignore her like that.

"(Don't feel bad. Come on… let's follow her and see if we can help,)" My Eevee said to May's Eevee.

"(Ok,)" May's Eevee replied as the two ran off to catch up with May.

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