By mid-afternoon, May was still riding her bike and was well on her way through Petalburg Forest. Ash gazed around the forest curiously as she rode. It had been a while since he had been in a forest this thick. He was excited to see various Pokemon everywhere he looked. Up in the sky, he could see a large flock of small bird Pokémon with dark blue feathers flying by.

"Probably looking for food at this time of day. Glad May doesn't have anything out right now. Even with the type advantage, I couldn't handle all of them at once." He commented. May suddenly noticed a large brown Pokémon dart across her path, causing her to skid to a stop.

"What the?!" she gasped.

"Pika!?"

"Was that...a Zigzagoon?" May asked, recognizing the Pokemon from the area around her house. "I didn't think they got that big..." Ash scratched his head in confusion. He had seen Zigzagoon near the house during his stay as well. And this one was far bigger than any he'd ever seen. May hopped off her bike and followed the large Pokemon off the main path. Ash took the opportunity to sniff the air as they went. For some reason, he wasn't picking up the usual Zigzagoon scent from the creature. "Smell anything?"

"All I smell is a human..." he shrugged.

"Hmm..." May wondered aloud. She slowly approached the large Zigzagoon again, but the Pokemon stopped near a pack of other, normally sized, Zigzagoon and stood up. Before May could even voice her confusion, the Zigzagoon suddenly threw off his disguise, revealing a human boy about her age underneath. "Gah!"

"Okay, Zigzagoon! Time for you and I to do some battling!" the strange boy yelled.

"It evolved into a human?!" May gasped. Ash gave a nervous chuckle and shook his head.

"Pi Pikachu." He sighed. His time with her may have warmed her up to Pokemon more than she was before, but her knowledge about them was still very basic. And even if it was one of her cuter qualities, it could still surprise him just how little she knew. May ran over to the costumed boy just as he was about to send out a Pokemon, catching his attention.

"Huh?" May suddenly grabbed his face and examined him.

"Huh...guess he's just a normal human after all...well normal-ish." She concluded. Ash gives a slight jealous huff from her shoulder. The Zigzagoon that the boy had challenged to battle took the opportunity provided by May's momentary distraction to flee.

"Wait! Zigzagoon come back!" the boy yelled, breaking free of May's grasp. He turned back to May and glared at her. "You made me lose that Zigzagoon! What's your issue!?" he demanded. It was then that his eyes traveled down her body and stopped on her legs. "Hey! You're a knickerbocker too!"

"H-Huh...? Knickerbocker...?" she asked.

"C'mon! You're wearing knickers too!" he declared.

"I don't understand..." May informed him. Ash meanwhile tilted his head in confusion and annoyance. He didn't like this strange boy. Certainly not with him staring at May's legs like he was. "What are Knickerbockers...? Who are you?"

"I'm Nicholai! Nicholai the knickerbocker!" he declared.

"And a Knickerbocker is…?"

"Trainers that thrive on communing with nature while exposing our knees! Just as you are!" he explained.

"E-Excuse me?" she blinked.

"You're proudly displaying up to your knees aren't you? That makes you a Knickerbocker too!" he grinned.

"Pikaaaa." Ash complained as he tugged on May's shoulder. Not only was he disinterested in Nicholai's ranting, but he also wanted to get May away from him quickly. May glanced over at him.

"What is it?"

"Pi." He replied, pointing back to the road.

"I see. Guess we should get going." She nodded.

"Wait. Where are you headed?" Nicholai asked.

"Rustburo City."

"Too bad. I was on my way to face Norman in Petalburg City. I figured if we were going the same way-"

"You're going to challenge my Dad?"

"Wait you're the daughter of a gym leader?" he asked, giving her a surprised look. May raised an eyebrow at the surprise in his voice.

"Why is that so shocking?" she questioned.

"It's not. It's just that you could make a great warm-up for me to face him!" he smiled

"H-Huh?!" she gasped.

"Let's have a battle!" he challenged.

"B-But I've never-"

"C'mon you owe me after making me lose the Zigzagoon!" Nicholai reminded her. Ash looked at May nervously, knowing full well she had no experience battling other trainers. Neither did he in his current form for that matter. But still…some part of him wanted to give it a try. And he figured it'd probably be good for May too. She glanced at Ash as if asking him what she should do. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded to her, confident the two of them working together could win.

"A-Alright..." she agreed.

"Great!" Nicholai cheered, running ahead to find a big enough clearing. With a nervous gulp, May followed him to a clearing. As they walked, Ash gave May a concerned look, quickly shifting gaze between her fanny pack and her face, noticing that she seemed to be in deep thought.

"Pi?" he asked.

"I don't know who to use...I don't know anything about battles..." she admitted.

"Pika!" he volunteered, raising his paw.

"You want to battle? Are you sure?" she asked.

"Pika!" he nodded.

"A-Alright..." Nicholai suddenly stopped and turned back to them from across the clearing.

"Go Mudkip!" he called, throwing a pokeball. A Mudkip emerged from the ball and took his place on the field.

"Mudkip...that was one of the Pokemon at Professor Birch's Lab." May remembered. Ash nodded and jumped down from her shoulder, taking his position on the field. It was then that May realized that the only attack she'd ever asked him to use, or even seen him use, was Thundershock. Noticing her hesitation, Ash glanced back at her.

"Pikachu?" he asked.

"I wonder if..." she said, suddenly struck with an idea. She pulled out her Pokedex and scanned Ash, hoping to find out what moves he knew. After a minute, the Pokédex reveals the moves Thundershock, Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, and Agility. "Try...Quick Attack!" Ash quickly darted forward, headed straight for Mudkip.

"Out of the way Mudkip and use Mud Shot!" Nicholai called.

"Mud!" Mudkip agreed. The Water Pokemon jumped up, dodging Ash's attack before firing a powerful blast of mud towards the stalled Pikachu.

"L-Look out!" May yelled. Ash yelled in pain as he got blasted, falling to the ground back on his side of the field. "Pikachu!"

"How do my Pokemon do it..?" Ash groaned, holding his head.

"Electric types are weak to Ground Attacks! You better watch out!" Nicholai smirked triumphantly.

"Pikachu are you ok?!" May worried. Ash forced himself to stand at the sound of her voice. He was dizzy, but not out yet. "Can you do Thunderbolt...?"

"I don't know..." he gulped. He could barely control Thundershock still. Thunderbolt had far more power than he had ever tried to use before. But he'd still give it a try. He concentrated and tried to use Thunderbolt, only for the sparks to fizzle out a few inches from his cheeks.

"Fine then! Water Gun!" Nicholai ordered. Mudkip followed his command and fired the Water Gun, washing Ash away easily. He landed at May's feet, much to May's horror.

"Pikachu!" she yelled, running to Ash who lay fainted on the ground. She picked him up and held him close. "Oh, Pikachu...I'm sorry..." she apologized. Ash looked up at her tiredly and gave a tiny smile. "Are you ok...?" He snuggled into her arms as she held him. His body hurt, but somehow she made it easier.

"I like this..." May cradled his body close to her chest and gently kissed his head. Ash nuzzled against her body and cooed with a wide smile. "I like this a lot…"

"Can you ever forgive me?" she asked. He simply purred loudly and snuggled against her body, causing her to giggle softly.

"I never would have thought that a Gym Leader's daughter would be so weak! This badge is gonna be a breeze!" Nicholai laughed, interrupting their moment. The smile faded from May's face at his words. Her change in mood snapped Ash out of his daze as he looked at her in concern.

"L-Look...I might not be strong but my dad-"

"Thanks for the warm-up! If I can win at a disadvantage, I know I'm gonna be great! Take care Knickerbocker!" he dismissed her before leaving. May clenched a fist with her hand next to Ash, and it was obvious to him that she was fighting back some tears.

"...ChuPika..?" he asked.

"I-I'm fine...not like I care about battling anyway..." she lied. He looked at her sadly as she began the quiet walk back to her bike.

Not too far away, two other trainers finally arrived at their destination, Petalburg City. Misty looked behind her at Brock with a slightly annoyed look. They had already left far later than they had agreed on after the lack of sleep caught up with them both by accident. Then it was hunger that slowed them down. It was all starting to frustrate the redhead even further.

"Brock hurry up! I can see the town from here! We gotta get there before she leaves!" Misty yelled. Brock panted as he tried to keep up with the determined girl. Misty ran further into the city without waiting for him to catch up. With a heavy sigh, he follows behind her. "Where do we go to find them?"

"Well, I guess the first place should be the Center." Brock offered.

"Right." She agreed. She looked around at the different buildings until she spotted the red-roofed building. "Over there." Both trainers quickly headed over to, and then inside the building, spotting the familiar nurse talking with her Chansey. "Nurse Joy! We need your help! Quickly!"

"Oh my." Joy gasped, turning to them. "What is it?"

"Our friend was kidnapped by a girl who was on her way here! A Pikachu in a hat!" Misty explained.

"Misty kidnapped is a bold-"

"Please Nurse Joy have you seen him?!" she asked again, intentionally ignoring Brock.

"Well, I have occasionally seen a Pikachu with a hat with the Maple family...But they've lived here for quite a while and Norman would've informed someone if their Pikachu was missing...I'm afraid I don't know how to help..." the Nurse informed them.

"Their Pikachu?!" Misty gasped. Why did everyone insist on talking about Ash like he was property?!

"Misty! Calm. Down." Brock demanded, grabbing her wrist. "We won't get anywhere like this. Would Ash be so ready to assume the worst right off the bat?"

"If he were here we wouldn't be in this mess!" she countered.

"Misty. Please, breathe." He begged of her. She looked back at him for a moment before lowering her eyes and looking at her feet.

"...You have no idea how hard this is for me...I can't stop...not until he's safe..."

"Misty...I know exactly how hard it is. I'd feel the same way if it was one of my siblings. But we haven't once been provided with any inkling that he was in danger since learning he was in Hoenn. Everything has pointed towards him being safe...try not to jump to conclusions until we know for sure he's in danger..." he tried to reason with her.

"It's not the same and you know it..." she whispered, putting a hand over her heart. "The connection we have...it's..."

"I know..."

"If I never see him again...and I never got to tell him...I'll never forgive myself..." Brock sighed and turned his attention back to Nurse Joy.

"Where can we find the Maples?"

"Norman is the Gym Leader of this city...and Pikachu is always with their daughter." Joy explained.

"Where's the Gym?"

"That way. The South end of town." She replied, pointing down the main road.

"Thank you." Misty nodded to her before quickly running back outside. Brock sighed and rushed to catch up with her wearily. They ran until they stopped in front of the Gym's front door. Misty wasted no time and knocked on the door. After a moment a young boy, about seven years old from the looks of it, opened the door.

"Hello?" he asked them.

"Hi. Are your parents or sister here?" she asked, getting right to the point. Having never seen them before, Max smirked a little. He knew better than to reveal anything personal about his family to strangers at the door.

"I'm an only child thank you very much." He smugly replied, adjusting his glasses so they gleamed.

"What?" Misty blinked.

"Problem?" Max smirked.

"Look...we're just looking for our friend...a Pikachu wearing a hat..." she informed him. He immediately lost his composure at the mention of May's partner.

"What?"

"So he is here..." she commented. Max looked at her suspiciously.

"What do you want with Pikachu?" he asked.

"He's our friend...he was taken here by poachers." Brock explained.

"WHAT!? Poachers?" Max gasped.

"How long have you had Pikachu?" Brock questioned him.

"About three Months..?" Max guessed.

"That's when we lost him." Misty informed the young boy.

"Even if that's true, I can't just-"

"What's all the commotion Max?" a voice asked from inside the house. A middle-aged man with dark hair approached the door and spotted the two trainers, opening the door further to join the discussion.

"Are you Norman?" Misty asked.

"That's right. Have you two come for a battle?" Norman asked. Both of them shook their heads.

"We've come for our friend...a Pikachu in a hat." She told him. Norman's eyes widened and he sighed.

"I had a feeling this day would come...Did you lose a Pikachu like that recently?"

"Nearly three months ago..." Brock confirmed.

"Three months ago my daughter found a wounded Pikachu while we were out...we brought him in and she helped nurse him to health. But he seemed very confused about where he was...they've been growing closer every day since then and he helped her get more comfortable around Pokemon...but the hat always did give me the feeling he belonged to someone else..." Norman explained.

"Please tell me he's here..." Misty begged. Norman simply shook his head.

"He and May left for Petalburg Woods early this morning...and I don't think she'll take to the news well...she's...very attached to him..." Norman added. Misty sent a silent glare to Brock. It didn't take a genius to see that she was silently cursing him for making her wait to come.

"How far is Petalburg Woods from here?" Brock asked, trying to ignore her.

"Right outside the edge of town. She's biking but you might be able to catch her on foot if you hurry." the Petalburg Gym Leader answered.

"Thank you." Misty nodded before heading away from the house.

"Be patient with her!" Norman called after then. Misty led the charge and quickly headed towards the woods with Brock in tow. It wasn't hard to find the thick forest just outside the city.

"Up there must be it." Misty concluded. She began to head in, but Brock grabbed her shoulder, stopping her.

"Are you willing to calm down a little now that we know he's in good hands..?" he sincerely asked her.

"No." she said flatly. "He's a human being used by some newbie trainer to battle. He could be killed."

"Misty. That's enough. You're taking this too far." He countered.

"I love him!" she yelled, clenching a fist. Brock grabbed her ear and pulled her back towards him.

"Get a grip! You're just going to end up pushing him away if you keep acting like this! If all you think about is your own feelings you're just going to make things worse on everybody. You're acting like Ash is completely helpless." He yelled.

"Ow!"

"Misty. You've gotta get ahold of yourself. You're overreacting and staying in constant panic ISN'T going to help you or Ash! …Or Pikachu…" he reminded her.

"...Fine..." she relented ever so slightly.

"Good...A fresh bike trail should be easy to find in the forest...let's start there." He offered, letting go of her ear.

May had finally managed to find her way back to the main path. She hadn't realized she had gone so far away with Nicholai. But the whole walk back was silent, obviously, her loss and opponent's mocking was still affecting her. All the while, Ash watched her face with worry.

"ChuPika..?" he asked.

"I'm fine Pikachu...really..." she lied again. He knew better. He shook his head firmly at her. "What...?"

"Pika!" he called, demanding for her to talk to him. That was something both could always do. Somehow his desire to help her broke through their language barrier.

"I just…"

"Chaaaaaaa." He encouraged her, nuzzling her cheek for emphasis. May sighed and held him close.

"I don't know...maybe he's right...maybe I'm just ruining my family's reputation out here..." she admitted.

"Pika!" Ash shook his head. "Pika Pikachu! Pi Pika! Pikachu!" he continued, waving his arms in protest.

"But we lost so badly...and you got hurt..." she reminded him. He shook his head again and smiled at her. Sure it hurt at the time, but he was already feeling better. His Pokemon body did have some perks.

"Pika Pika!" he assured her.

"Really...?" she asked. Ash smiled brightly at her and she finally cracked a small smile back at him. "I don't know what I'd do without you..." she commented before pulling him into an affectionate hug. He happily reciprocated and enjoyed the embrace until his ears perked up at another voice and he lifted his head from her chest. "Something wrong?"

"Did I just...hear my name..?"

"Hold up!" a voice called as two figures ran towards them.

To be Continued...