Okay I am sitting here and I honestly haven't the slightest clue as to what the heck I am doing. Like…I literally have no idea where I'm taking this, who should be the main focus for whatever chapter and so on. I know how this story will end, of course I know that, but I haven't the slightest clue how to…move it to the end without it being a mass of fillers. In spite of this, I have faith in myself because I have gone through this before and rarely came out with negative results, but most of the time I am not completely ecstatic about my end product. I contemplated cutting this story short, but I HAVE to stick to my usual forty five chapters or it's not ML, right. Hopefully I don't pull crap.

~Rolyn~

Chapter Twenty Six: Inferno

"When does our flight leave again?" Alex sighed as she slumped in her seat on the plush white couches of their home. The living room had been overtaken by luggage from both the boys and the girls. They decided that Casa de Dragonite would be the meeting point before they set off for the airport.

With Thanksgiving a mere day away, many were ready to go home for the break from school and in some cases the break from Jewel. May loved the tropical region with all her heart, but she couldn't wait to get back to Hoenn and see her family. She didn't realize how much she missed them until she received the opportunity to go back.

The only ones sticking around were Jason and Rolyn who were spending the holiday with Jason's family here in Jewel. Amy had arrived a day prior and Rolyn was with them now. Jennifer had pouted at the idea of not being able to share the family oriented holiday with her daughter, but Rolyn promised she had Christmas. She felt a need to stay with Jason's family because they were soon to be married.

"I can't wait to get home! I missed my mommy." Dawn smiled fondly as she thought of her mother. The former coordinator had been alone mostly in Hoenn since her daughter had left for college so the reuniting was something Dawn could look forward to. "How are you spending your break, May?"

"I'm having Thanksgiving at Drew's house with my family and then I am being as lazy as I want for the rest of the break. School has been killing me lately." May said with a smile. Dawn smiled as well. That was probably the plan for most of them. Usually they would hang out with one another as much as possible over their holiday breaks, but since they lived together and saw so much of one another, a little break couldn't possibly hurt.

"I second the motion of being lazy," Marina sighed. "I've always been modeling and acting so I never gave myself a break. Now that I generally have to, I'm starting to like the idea of doing absolutely nothing." The aqua haired beauty smiled brightly and Alex and Patou laughed.

"Just don't lose your work ethic," Patou advised with a nod. "I'm gonna need someone to model my clothes."

Marina waved her off with a nonchalant look. "I'll be back in the game soon enough. Don't count me out just yet."

"Are you excited to get back to Hoenn?" Drew inquired as he draped an arm over May's shoulders. She tilted her head to the side to glance at him and found herself automatically smiling. She had been doing that a lot lately. Sometimes she'd go to sleep with sore cheeks from all the smiling she did in one day, but she couldn't help it. She could wholeheartedly admit that she was content. She had her wonderful friends, her wonderful Pokémon, and her more than wonderful boyfriend. Nothing could go wrong.

"I am beyond excited. I can't wait to see Max again…and my mom and dad." May sighed. She spoke to her parents regularly and although Max was hesitant to call her, feeling the need to branch off from under the wing of his older sister, he spoke to her pretty often as well, but just being home would be ten times better. "I hope I see old friends too like Vanessa, Annabelle, and Dex."

"I can't wait to see them!" Marina gasped. She had developed this close relationship with the trio over time. Mainly because Dex was into theater and was dating Annabelle, and Vanessa was his sister. Ever since they had gotten over that…issue that enveloped most of their sophomore year, the trio had been known for far more than the drama they produced. "I have to tell Samia that we have to hang out with them."

"Maybe we'll see Riley, Ray, Yvonne, Nathani, and Ryder, too." May said with a smile. She was fond of the younger group. They were like the next generation of what May and her friends were throughout high school, granted Riley was a less eccentric Princess and there were only two boys that hardly wanted to initiate in any competition.

"Jet's ready…" Paul said as he glanced up from his dex. He had been literally counting down the minutes and the seconds until they were able to get home. Jewel did nothing for him, but he'd never admit that he was homesick.

"Finally…" Alex sang as she sprung up from her seat and gathered a duffle bag on her shoulder before reaching for her suitcase and making a beeline for the door. Aden diligently followed with his own massive duffle bag draped over his shoulder. "I intend ta sleep the entire flight so if any of you wake me up, there will be hell ta pay."

"Yea, yea…" Aden muttered with a roll of his eyes. Alex gave him a narrowed eyed look over her shoulder and he smiled at her lopsidedly as he kneed her in the rear end to get her moving again. Alex huffed and went on her way towards the car that was waiting at the gate to take them to the airport.

"Bye guys," Rolyn suddenly appeared on the balcony that overlooked the Dragonite living room with Jason by her side, an arm lazily wrapped around her waist.

"No nasty stuff should go one in this house while we're gone." Patou said firmly as she pointed up at the couple. Jason smirked and Rolyn rolled her eyes as she leaned against the banister.

"We'll be at his parents' house most of the time so you don't need to worry." Rolyn droned. Patou smiled in satisfaction before turning towards Ian and taking her backpack from him as he offered it to her.

Ian turned towards the balcony and gave a two finger salute.

"See ya, dumbass."

"Later, slut." Jason retorted with a smile. Rolyn slapped a hand to her forehead.

"I'll see you later, Ro," Ian ignored the insult as he smiled up at Rolyn. The ebony haired Hayden smiled right back as she waved.

"Bye Ro!" Dawn squealed as she gathered her belongings and skipped out the door. Paul had been gesturing for her to hurry up. Paul simply raised a hand towards the couple on the second floor before disappearing out the door. His bags were already packed into the truck.

"I expect you to be on your best behavior." Drew sighed before glancing up at his sister and her fiancé. Rolyn rolled her eyes once again, but smiled in spite of herself.

"Okay, Dad…" She groaned before sticking out her tongue. They shared a smile before Drew turned towards May, taking one of her bags for her since he only had a medium sized duffle bag. May smiled in gratitude before turning towards her best friend. Rolyn and May shared a gentle smile and the brunette waved almost sadly. Rolyn waved right back before blowing the brunette a kiss. "See you soon, May."

The brunette nodded before heading out the door with a sigh. It would be good to go. Nothing could go wrong.

"Mom? Dad?"

The brunette hesitantly took a couple steps into the house. All the lights were out and there were no cars in the drive way she couldn't help but wonder where everyone was. She was a little saddened that no one would be home when it was her first day back in Hoenn. She had missed everyone so much that it nearly killed her and yet they didn't have the decency to be home when she arrived. That was a little disheartening. Maybe once Drew got settled in his own home across the street, he'd be willing to keep her company.

May dropped her backpack to the floor and clicked the handle of suitcase back into place before propping the suitcase against the wall by the door. She sighed as she slid the door shut behind her. She turned back to maybe head upstairs and take a look at her room, maybe take a shower, the lights flicked on and a group of people were screaming in her face.

"Welcome home!"

May gasped as she pressed her back up against the front door she had just came through. The brunette's eyes widened in surprise as her mother basically rushed her and grabbed her in a tight hug, not even giving her the opportunity to identify all the faces that had gathered for the sake of welcoming her home. Her mother hummed happily into the hug and May easily returned the gesture, getting over her initial shock and smiling happily. She was finally home.

"I missed you so much! My baby girl!" Caroline practically whimpered.

"We missed you so much." Norman corrected for his wife as he pried the woman off her daughter. May beamed as she threw her arms around her father, living up to her expectations as a Daddy's girl. Behind her, May felt a head rest on her shoulder and she gaped.

"Max!" She screeched as she whipped around to face her brother. The only difference now was that she didn't have to look down to look into his eyes. He was practically as tall as her, maybe an inch or two taller. "I've only been gone about three months! How did you grow so fast?"

"It's called a growth spurt, May," The navy haired boy smiled lopsidedly as he nudged his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. "It usually happens during puberty." As if to emphasize his point, his voice cracked a little. He made a face and May laughed lightly as she gave her brother a full frontal hug. She had been gone longer than she thought. So much could happen in a little under three months.

Once she had given her family their hugs, she was able to take in those who had gathered to welcome her home. She couldn't help the bright smile that pulled at her lips when she found Riley at the forefront of the group with a sweet smile on her face. She brought her violet eyes to meet May's blue ones and the two friends rushed each other, making small noises of content once they hugged.

"We missed you, May. Hoenn hasn't been the same." Riley sighed into the brunette's shoulder. May laughed lightly behind closed lips.

"I'm sure you handled things just fine." May assured as she pulled back from the ivory haired girl, but not completely. Riley shrugged with a sheepish smile.

"Trust me," Nathani spoke up with a laugh. "She has been doing just fine. By the way, it's nice to see you again, May. How's everything in Jewel? Did you get laid yet?"

"Nate!" Riley hissed.

"I'm curious!"

"You only ask cuz ever since you and Ryder…" Yvonne began but was quickly cut off by Nate's battle cry before she tackled the poor girl. May stared with wide eyes as Nate grabbed Yvonne by the front of her shirt and started yelling the most obscene threats she could think of. Caroline quickly snatched up Max and covered his ears just as Drew came through the front door.

His brow furrowed as he watched Yvonne and Nate roll around the floor. Now both of them were yelling and pulling at each other's collars. He made his way to May's side and poked her in the arm to get her attention. She seemed entranced by the cat fight that was happening on the floor of her foyer. She turned towards Drew and blinked in surprise.

"I wish I got a welcome back like this." He said with a smirk. May couldn't help but laugh while shaking her head. She couldn't say she was surprised. This kind of things happened to her, no matter how strange and out of place they were.

"Alright, who wants to break them apart?' Riley sighed.

"I guess I will?" Norman offered as he stepped up. Riley nodded slowly as she smiled at him nervously.

"You're a brave man, Mr. Maple." She breathed as she took a step back from the fighting pair. "I wish you the best of luck and Arceus help you." Norman sighed in exasperation before he went to insert himself between the two struggling girls. Everyone gasped in shock as Norman practically disappeared into the fight.

Marina took in a deep breath as she set her bags down on the stoop of her three story home. The mansion was massive, rivaling the Hayden manor in size and style. The Sanchez estate was a true sight, perched on a hill and almost a mile away from any other houses. It had to be that way. Everyone wanted a glance at the gorgeous Florence Sanchez and her daughter that retained almost all of her flawless beauty.

Before Marina could search for her key in her purse, one of the double doors was whipped open and Marina was greeted by a familiar face.

"Hello Mr. Mime," Marina greeted with a smile. The Pokémon beamed back at her, but the smile faltered after a moment as though the Pokémon was recalling something unpleasant. Marina was an observant girl, so the look didn't go unnoticed. The house Pokémon really couldn't hide anything from the young Sanchez anyways. She had lived with the Pokémon since she was around four years old so she knew it well enough to recognize when something was wrong.

"What's the matter?" She asked almost immediately.

The Pokémon shook its head slowly and Marina's entire expression fell.

"Mr. Mime…"

The Pokémon opened the door for the aqua haired beauty fully and she was well on her way, leaving her bags behind. Mr. Mime would get them. Right now, she needed to see what was wrong. She had just spoken to her mother earlier that morning. What could have changed in a couple of hours?

"Mom?" Marina called out and her voice almost echoed. She called out again and her voice cracked as she began a frantic search for her mother. After calling out a third time, Marina could hear her mother calling back to her from the study…her father's study.

Marina was hesitant, but she entered the practically forbidden room with her head held high. If her mother was in there, it only meant one thing. Her father was home. Marina couldn't remember the last time she had seen her father in person. It was probably a year ago a week after New Years. He had been apologizing profusely about missing both Christmas and the New Year only to leave two days later for another adventure. Marina was proud of her father and all that he accomplished on these grand yearlong adventures, but having him home made her happier than another trophy.

"Marina," Florence smiled up at her daughter from the lounge chair she had been seat in. One look at her mother and Marina could tell the woman was crying. Her normally flawless and completely put together expression was broken and her eyes were red along with her nose. Marina quickly turned her eyes on her father.

Bruce Sanchez was an average looking man with light blonde hair and blue eyes the color of the ocean. He had nothing too extravagant going for him minus for his cut throat personality and boundless intelligence. Marina wasn't smart by chance. Doctors were still trying to prove that it was a genetic trait in the Sanchez gene pool because on Sanchez after the next possessed intelligence only rivaled by the geniuses of this world. It was with this intelligence Bruce Sanchez built his fame. He was known for analyzing and conquering Pokémon battles across the region along with meeting with other minds to discover and sometimes engineer new Pokémon for the future generations.

Bruce wasn't quick to anger. He usually kept a cool head. Usually. Now obviously wasn't one of those times. Bruce Sanchez was positively livid.

"Marina," He addressed his daughter and Marina swallowed.

"When did you get back?" Marina asked, ignoring her nerves.

"That is beside the point." Bruce retorted sharply. Marina set her jaw. "Your mother had just…shared with me a small bit of information regarding you and…Jimmy, if I remember correctly."

Florence was up on her feet and standing between Marina and her father in an instant. Marina's heart had long since dropped past her stomach and sunk to the soles of her feet. No, her father was never angry for just any reason. She just wished that he wasn't angry for this reason.

"Marina, I wasn't expecting this…everything is going to be alright, do you hear me, sweetie? Nothing bad will come of this." Florence argued before anything else could be said. Marina seemed to be frozen in time. She couldn't move. She couldn't breathe. Was the Earth even still spinning?

"How can you say that?" Bruce snapped as he raised his hand towards the two of them. Florence flinched, but ignored his words.

"Everything is fine, sweetie…no need to worry about anything. It'll all be fine." Florence went on. It was almost like she was trying to convince herself rather than her daughter. The tears were flowing freely from her eyes now and just the sight of them had Marina swallowing back a lump in her throat.

"No," Bruce interrupted sharply. "Everything is not fine. I come home hoping to spend time with my family only to be slapped in the face by the worst of news."

"Bruce!" Florence hissed.

"How disgraceful could it be to have a daughter that decided she couldn't keep her legs closed for a boy that isn't even worth it?" Bruce easily ignored his wife's warning tone and went on. The rage was evident in his eyes. "After spending so much time making sure the Sanchez name could remain respectable and up to standard?"

"We all have our different standards Bruce, maybe yours were too high," Florence chided.

"I shouldn't have to lower them!" Bruce barked right back. Marina flinched. Her mother's hands on her shoulder were the only things keeping her steady at this point. If her mother wasn't holding on, Marina was sure she would have keeled over by now. "Why the hell do I pay to send her to school if she is simply going to throw her future down the drain? She even had the opportunity to get rid of it and yet she lost sight of her proper judgment. Those harlot friends of hers hardly help either."

"There is nothing wrong with the friends I keep." Marina said quickly. It was bad enough he would slander her, but never her friends. He didn't know him like she did. He didn't try to. "You know nothing about them! You're not even around enough to get to know them."

"I never wanted you aligning yourself with them from the beginning." Bruce retorted with a glare. "Especially those Haydens. They are the epitome of bad publicity and drama."

"Is that all you think about?" Marina practically whined as she clenched her hands into fists. "Is it all about family name and honor, money, and all the other things that shouldn't matter over the feelings of your own daughter?" She was crying now. She cursed herself for that.

"I am only doing what's best for my family." Bruce brought his tone down.

"I already know what's best for me." Marina hissed as her hands relaxed slightly at her sides. "There is nothing wrong with the friends I keep. They have been there for me far more than you have."

Bruce took in a deep breath. That was a slap to the face.

"I would never…ever take away a child's life. That is not my decision to make. I'm not God. I don't get to choose who lives or dies, so yes, I made the decision to keep the baby because not only that…I-I already love this child more than life itself. I don't want this feeling to go away…this idea that there is a piece of me and Jimmy put together and waiting to come into the world." Marina's hands found their way to her stomach as she smiled sadly. "Jimmy has been nothing but amazing with this and Rolyn, Alex, Dawn, Patou, and May…they've been there for me even before some of them knew. I don't see this as ruining my life, but making it ten times better. I feel like I'm better than I was before…"

"Marina…" Florence whimpered, smiling just as sadly.

"Before it was all about being smart and efficient and beautiful…now it's just about me living and making sure the life inside me has a promising future…even if it means throwing mine away. It isn't about anything but my baby…and you either respect that or you have no place in the life that I've chosen."

The ultimatum hung in the air, but neither Bruce nor Florence said anything.

"I-I'm going to my room." Marina announced shakily as she quickly turned on her heel and rushed out of her father's study. She hoped her father understood. She hoped this didn't destroy what little relationship she had, but even so, she promised she'd have no regrets.

May smiled lightly as she moved herself closer to her boyfriend, snuggling into her side. Drew glanced down at her before letting his own smile creep onto his lips as he pulled her close. They laid out on the hammock in May's backyard and it swayed lightly as the autumn breeze pushed leaves around. The temperature had dropped significantly since evening rolled around. Autumn in Jewel was far different from autumn in Hoenn.

Flygon and May's Charizard flew circles around each other overhead in the moonlight as Drew played with a bit of May's hair.

"As beautiful the sunsets and Jewel are…there is nothing like a night with a full moon in Hoenn," May sighed as she stared up the glowing moon. Clouds drifted in front of it and she closed her eyes briefly as she took in a deep breath. "It feels so good to be home."

"Even I have to admit, I am a little calmer now that I'm back on familiar soil." Drew commented with a shrug of his shoulders. "It makes me wonder if this was how Jason felt when he moved back to Jewel since that is home to him…"

"Hmm…" May hummed as she kept her eyes closed.

"Do you think you'd feel even better if you were in Petalburg?" Drew murmured. May blinked her eyes open and glanced up at him. He looked right back and when their eyes met, May felt a shiver travel down her spine. She quickly looked away and sighed again as a blush creep up the back of her neck and threatened to spill over on her cheeks. Why did Drew have to be so…Drew?

"As much as I love Petalburg…LaRousse is home for me. It always will be from here on out. Petalburg is my roots, I was just taken and replanted." May explained as she lifted her head so her chin was resting on Drew's chest. The little movement caused the hammock to rock.

Drew smiled down at her.

"Have I ever told you what happened the first time we met?"

"I was there," May deadpanned. "You called me by the wrong and insulted my skills as a trainer."

"And you forgave me…" Drew retorted with a nod. "But I only did that because I panicked. I thought you were pretty cute."

May smiled lopsidedly. "Oh really…"

"But I have seen cute girls before so…"

May scowled. "Oh really…"

"The difference between them and you is the fact that you reminded me of the one thing that kept me sane." Drew sighed as he snuggled further into the hammock. It swayed again. Overhead, Charizard roared as it started to chase Flygon with more intent.

"The ocean…" May knew how much Drew loved the beach. He hummed in agreement.

"When I got inside, Rolyn just knew that I had met someone I wouldn't…couldn't get rid of." Drew continued quietly. "She asked me if you were cute and she said I was in love."

"Rolyn has a tendency of seeing into the future." May chuckled as she ran her fingers up and down Drew's abdomen. "But honestly…there was a time I didn't see this. I didn't see everything falling into place. I didn't want to move or make new friends. I didn't want to be nice to you because you weren't nice to me…but you made it pretty hard to say no." She laughed again and Drew laughed along with her. "I'm happy to be where I am…with you. Everything is perfect."

"Don't jinx it." Drew groaned as he pulled the brunette up further until they were face to face. They locked eyes briefly before Drew's eyes darted down to May's lips. May laughed behind closed lips before pressing them to Drew's firmly. Drew smirked against her lips as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer if that was even physically possible at this point. May wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to maneuver her legs so that she was straddling him.

With all that movement, it was no wonder the hammock basically spat them up on the deck. May gasped in surprise as Drew fell on top of her, but braced his hands beside her head. The two of them laughed openly as the hammock continued to swing. Once their laughter died down, Drew brought their lips together once again, easily ignoring his dex vibrating in his pocket.

Inside Caroline dropped a plate as she stared at the familiar beach styled mansion on the news being engulfed in flames.

Ooh, what a cliffhanger! I recently remembered me wanting Marina having a little tizzy with her father. What better time than now? And what's this? Something is going down in Jewel? We'll just have to see. I don't want to give too much away. Well, I'm pretty tried considering I had to get up at six in the morning on a Saturday so I think I'll maybe go curl up in bed, maybe read a little then I will fall asleep and await all of your kind and uplifting reviews. I'll work on the next chapter of Quintessence right away. I'm trying to bang these things out quick. I wanna finish one story before I move by the end of this month. It isn't home, but what can you do when a fire takes everything you have?

Feedback and critiques are welcome so go for it.

~Rolyn~