Awesome chapter! The last one. I mean if any chapter involves Ash and May being sensitive, dramatic, courageous means that that chapter is awesome. Well, this chapter is about Ash Getting back to his feet. Well Enjoy reading and don't forget to review...

~PokeWielders

Pokémon Fanfiction:_

Pokemon Fanfiction: Lost Foundation

Chapter 18: Bit by bit...

It was almost afternoon. Hours have passed away since they arrived at Dewford Island. Ash was roaming around the Island in search of any interesting Pokémons. On the other hand May was busy calling Brock and trying to get any useful information for them. She also told Brock about how Ash is back on his feet. When Dawn heard it from May she was overjoyed with it. Brock felt glad too.

May cut off the phone after talking with them individually. May then layed her back against the wall remembering over and over again about Ash's words earlier,

" I'll take back all those days, months, years of my failure and Now... I'm back to myself... Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, who never backs down from something and who's goal is to become ...The POKÉMON MASTER!"

Everytime May remembered those confident words she had a smile and a sigh of relief. Then she would go outside and watch Ash train with Pikachu.

"Hey, May? Did you get anything good out of Brock?"

May shook her head in reply. Ash sighed. "So, when will we go to Lilycove?" Ash asked straight out. May looked at Ash for a few second. Then she brust out in laughter.

Ash was confused but May seemed to not stop. After a while she stopped and gave out heavy breaths.

"Ash! Really! You're really awesome at joking!" May said.

"Hey, knock it off and tell me what's wrong..." Ash became impatient. May reached her hand to his head and petted him. "I'm glad you're back to normal. But what you said is a little too much. You were very much likely to challenging foes but Ash..." May wore a couple of worried eyes, "you can't battle against them in your this state." Ash's eyes became shocked. "Then why are you so eager to beat them up. And... You're underestimating me! " Ash said. "Huh..." May gave a evil smirk. "I maybe haven't battled for a long time. But, I am the Frontier Champ!" Ash said. May gave a grin.

"I'm starting to like where this is going..." May said.

"Let's..."

"Battle"

Moments later, Ash and May faced each other at the beachside near the Dewford Island's granite cave.

"Ash, this'll be a Two on two, team match." May said. "OK, I'm ready for anything."

"That's the spirit! Go! Pichu! Go! Glaceon!" Ash knew May had a Glaceon but also a Pichu?

"What Ash? Surprised?"

"Why a Pichu?"

"Pichu is cuter than any Pokemon which gives me a head start in Contests..."

"Well, That's the most unsmart thinking I've ever seen, Go! Pikachu! Go! Kirilia!"

"Well, I knew these two were your only Pokemon for now. Well, Let's battle anyway."

"Okay! C'mon Pikachu, let's show them what we're made off! Use Quick Attack! Kirilia, focus on your opponent for now." Kirilia nodded while Pikachu dashed forward while Kirilia stood still.

"Glacion stay put. Ready for a shadow ball. And Pichu! Use Iron Tail like we practiced!" Pichu nodded and then dashed at Pikachu. But suddenly Pikachu was confused. Pichu wasn't attacking Pikachu with the Iron Tail. Instead, it was running circles around Pikachu while knocking his Iron Tail on the ground. "Pikachu! Stay sharp on Pichu's movements! We don't know what move May will go for." Ash told him. But right then,

"Gottcha!" May said.

Suddenly while Pikachu was focusing on Pichu a Shadow ball was coming towards him from out of nowhere. Pikachu and Ash were horrified as the Shadow ball came close. Neither Pikachu was ready to dodge it nor try to deflect it. But in a split second a Moon Blast came in and intercepted with the attack.

"No way! Damn!" May grunted as she saw Kirilia standing behind Pikachu.

'Phew, that was close...' Ash sighed,'good thing I asked Kirilia to stay focused on the battle... Thanks Kirilia'

'You're Welcome,master ' Ash sighed as Kirilia welcomed him through his thoughts. Ash then looked at May. She was dumbfounded with that interception. Ash then thought to himself. 'That Shadow Ball was a lot bigger than usual ones. I doubt Pikachu would recover if that shadow ball hit him head on..'

"Okay, Pikachu, use another quick attack..." Without a second to waste, Pikachu's quick attack connected with Pichu and ended up rocketing Pichu on the rocky walls. Pichu seemed to be smashed deep into the rocky wall. Ash was surprised that Pikachu's quick attack worked so well.

'Maybe I'm overestimating her. Yeah... No matter how strong she is, she is a Coordinator. Coordinator's Pokemons may have strong attack skills but they can't take a direct hit like that. Maybe if I get a hit on Glaceon, Glaceon might also fall.' Ash said to himself in his mind.

"That's where you're wrong Ash." May suddenly stated. Ash was shocked to hear it from her.

"I know, you must be thinking us coordinators' Pokemon are dedicated to look beautiful and fragile. But... You must be true about that. But there's one thing you missed. We, Coordinators love to do Surprise Attacks to get more Points!"

Suddenly the Sky darkened. "What the?" "Pika?"

"Master! Its Pichu!" Kirilia stated. In just a moment. Pikachu and Kirilia got struck hard by a Thunder Attack. After a big explosion, the smoke cleared. Ash's eyes were tormented with the sight of Kirilia getting knocked out and Pikachu burnt and full of bruises and barely standing.

"When did Pichu.."

"Like I said Surprise attacks." Ash was devastated with May's overwhelming aura. To him, she just dramatically changed. Others changed a bit too. But May, she had become a different person. From a Person who never liked Pokemons at the beginning , sucked at battling. And now, her skills are champion level.

May came and gently sat beside Pikachu and Kirilia. She fed a sitrus berry to Kirilia and then tend to Pikachu's bruises. After doing so, she stood up but accodently slipped and fell onto the sandy ground. "Owch! I fell on my butt!"

Ash laughed a bit. "But she's still the same inside."

May looked at Ash with puppy dog eyes. Ash sighed and lended a hand. May took the hand and Ash hoisted her up. "So, Ash... You're...not going...to quit right for losing to someone...like me.." May had worried eyes but,

"ARE YOU KIDDING I NEVER WERE OVERWHELMED SO MUCH BY ANY OPPONENT. YOU WERE AWESOME!"

"Ash..." Tears came out of joy as May wiped it off and then told Ash, "Well, I couldn't hold back. I have a reputation you know? I can't lose to you, not now." May said.

"Huh?"

"She beat Steven Stone in an official Match between The Champ and Hoenn's best Coordinator" From behind the Captain from the ship came up.

"Wait...What?

Hours later...

It was almost night. The sky was turning dark but had a feint purple of the evening. Ash had roamed around the island while May had made some important calls. After getting some free time, May searched for Ash. She thought to herself if Ash is led down with the loss and the news. She searched here and their and after searching almost everywhere, she finally found him sitting on a ledge of a big rock.

" Hey..." May greeted from the low ground. Ash looked down and saw May. "Hey... Your phone call finished?" He asked looking out across the sea.

"Yup... Just roaming around now...accidentally found you." She lied. She lied that she had been searching for him, it wasn't accident.

"Oh..."

"So, Ash... Um... I hate to ask this...but what's your feeling about me beating Steven?"

"Why... You want a compliment?" Ash gave a laugh.

"Huh... I don't know... I'm just asking.."

"Well... I can say that I'm a bit happy that the one I mentored in the Past now is one of the strongest yet dazzling trainer in this world," May blushed beetred but Ash hadn't noticed it.

"But... Another thing is that I am frustrated with my view."

May was confused at first. She thought it was because of his quitting.

"Is it because you wasted all those time in Kanto lying in your room?" May said. Ash felt daggers pierced in him.

"You've become a bit cold then usual..." Ash sighed.

"Well, I had to... In order to knock the stubbornness of a certain someone." May said. Ash felt embarrassed. May then looked up to Ash, "so what? Why are you unhappy with your view?"

"I am not angry at myself for those years...maybe a little... But like all others I had problems I couldn't... No...Can't escape from. But I decided that I would do whatever it takes to fill up the gap for those years."

"Then why are you unha-"

"Because I felt relieved... I felt relieved when I heard you beat Steven. Its pathetic... I know... Here I am trying my hardest to get myself back together but...the Ash in the last two years is still the same... Losing to an opponent is by all means bitter. But just because you were strong I felt relieved... Its cowardice actually... Giving up the one thing I loved just tore up my form..."

May smiled at those last words.

"I think you're okay." Ash suddenly looked at May. Her brown hair was dazzling in the night's Moonlight. Her face was so bright and so clear even in this time of the day. The dark of the night had never enveloped her.

"Why?" Ash asked. "It's simple... You said you felt relieved... Then why are you troubled now..."

Ash was confused. "In fact, right now this face you have...is the same one I saw every time you lost a battle. It may be a bit sad but this face you make, it's the one that the real Ash Ketchum has..."

Ash then looked up in the sky."you sure...?" "I'm Positive... I think you are bit by bit becoming the Ash you once were."

"Then a request..."

"Huh...?"

"Can you ah... Help me train?... A bit..." Ash had that embarrassed face he had at times.

May giggled a bit. "You still have some stubborn pride I see... Still hesitating to get advices from your apprentice?"

"Knock it off..." Ash blushed in embarrassment. "Right right... I'll stop... Mister Ash Ketchum..."

"Make fun of me all you want... You'll be apologizing in a day or two..." "We'll see about that..."

Midnight...

"Hmm... Today was a rather amusing day. Full of events..." May said to Dawn through phone. Right then, she was at her hotel room. After having a long chat with Ash about the schedule planned for training. Bothsje and Ash went to their individual rooms. May at the moment was lying down on her cozy, luxurious bed. She was wearing only a red sweat shirt. Her hair was freed from any bands or bandanas. So her long hair was spread on the bed. Lying down on the bed she continued her talk with Dawn. "Well, So how did it go...? Any romantic events occurring?"

"None...to be exact... Just that he complimented me several times and he pulled me up from the ground two times."

"Wait...that's it?" "I almost hugged him earlier today, but Dawn that's a lot in one day!"

"You are unreliable, May... You should take a chance now. Its because of you that Ash is back to normal now, so he should do something good as a reward right?"

"He petted me?" May blushed a bit.

"Are you his doggy?" Dawn sarcastically said. May sighed. "Listen, May... Complimentary? Pulling you up? Petted you? You're turning like a little girl to him."

"I know... That's why I'm saying...he has no feelings for me.. You're better than. Why not you..."

"I've already told you... I can't."

"What's the wrong?" May got up while yelling on the phone. She sat down on the middle of her bed "You never told me why! I'm your best friend! Why can't you share-"

"There are things that one can't tell others... Trust me, May. You are the one. Sarena was an important person to Ash. I respect her. I really do. But that doesn't change the fact I support you. Ash needs someone. He can't forever be alone. And I know you don't want that."

May stopped a bit. Then answered,

"Okay... I'll try my best..." May blushed deep red.

"THATS THE SPIRIT!"

"Okay... It's already 1 am, I'm cutting off the phone."

"Okay, bye , love ya."

"Love you too."

The phone cut off. 'Now... I haven't taken a bath tonight...so I think nows a good time.'- Slowly stripping of her sweatshirt and underwear, May went inside the Bathroom. After a while, lullabying, May came out of the bathtub, wearing a light pink towel to cover her upper body and soon walked out of the bathroom with delicate steps. "It feels so refreshing to have a bath..she said fanning her. Her skin was glowing and silky. But while walking along the way to her bed, May's feet slipped and " AHHHH!" she fell on the floor.

Moments ago in the Corridor..

"Damn... Why can't I get a good night's sleep once in a while... Those nightmares..." Ash remembered about Sarena. "They just keep coming." Ash then saw light in May's room. "Well it looks like she's awake. I should give a knock and chat a bit... Hope she won't mind..." As Ash was about to knock the door, a scream was heard. It was May. "May?" Without a second thought Ash barged in through the door. "May!"

Present...

"AHHHHH!"May slipped and fell on the ground. Her towel went loose

" MAY! Are you oka-" For just a moment both Ash and May's eyes were set on each other. May's eyes had a helpless stare and Ash's a serious one. But in a moment, they were speechless. Both's eyes were shocked as though a lightning had struck.

"A-..." Before saying further, the towel went untied and fell. May quickly held it to her chest. But unfortunately, Ash could see her half naked body and half exposed breasts.

"M-"

"GET OUT!"

Done! Finally! Nothing is better than a little parody. How was this week's chapter? I hope you liked some Advancedshipping moments. However, I only hope you all enjoyed. Please review about how you felt with today's chapter...

Well, new chapter will come soon. Hope you wait for it...