Holy crap what a ride, sorry for being MIA but that was one heck of a year. I have not and will not abandon this story, so don't worry followers and potential future followers. Once more thank you for reading, commenting and following. Now on with the next chapter.
May slowly opened her eyes after being awoken my movement in the tent, looking around she saw Ash pulling on his sweat shirt. "Ash is it time to start training?" She asked before letting out a yawn.
"Its just about four o'clock," Ash replied, "You can go back to sleep if you like."
"No I wanna train with you." She responded getting into her pack looking for her workout clothes. "Just give me a sec to change and I'll be right out."
"Ok May." Ash said smiling. He couldn't help but feel proud of his girlfriend. Knowing that they both were never morning people but now they were going to push their limits every morning to achieve their dreams.
At that thought Ash paused for a moment, what were their dreams? How much had actually changed in five years? He knew his goal was always the same, to be a pokemon master, but he had added to the goal while he was gone. He also wanted to be there for his family and friends no matter what to protect them and help them with anything. He wanted to make sure that all his pokemon were happy and that they could achieve theirs dreams as well. But, what were May's, was it to be top coordinator or that been altered by time?
Hearing the tent rustle Ash turned to see May stepping out in her workout clothes. while rubbing the remaining sleep from her eyes. Although he had seen her everyday Ash was still taken back by her looks everytime.
His previous thoughts, though hadn't left him, "May I know what your dreams once were but have those changed in the last year?"
May stopped upon hearing the question she had thought about but hadn't really ever talked about it. She thought for a moment before responding, "My dreams honestly were to find you first and foremost thats what I thought about. Now that you're back and I'm traveling with you again I can look at my dreams in full focus. I still want to be a top coordinator, bond with my pokemon, make friends with new ones and just to be with you."
Ash's face dropped hearing her response, he felt a sudden ball of shame build inside him. "May you didn't have to put your dreams on hold for me, you should have pursued your dreams and lived your life." He couldn't look up at her feeling ashamed and remorse for all the pain he had caused. Feeling a hand on his cheek Ash looked up and his chocolate eyes met a set of sapphire blue ones filled with tears and fire.
At the next moment he felt an impact on his head then May began to speak angrily, "Don't you dare say something like that Ash we have talked about this, we all chose to look for you and no we didn't abandon our dream. We perused them harder hoping to find you while we traveled, trained, and competed." May"s voice was stern and she took a breath before continuing, "As for my dream it was to find you, telling you how I felt and then traveling together again."
Ash stood there holding his head from May's love punch, "May I'm sorry, but when I hear all you went through it makes me feel terrible. I'm glad you have grown, became stronger, and that you continued to live. I just want you to live out your dreams and be happy."
"Ash I am happy and I am working towards my dream, we're together and traveling again. I'm competing in contests. watching you battle gyms, and we are both winning. I know with our pokemon and our support for each other we will reach the top together." May said as her voice softened and she reached to his head rubbing into gently, "But, if you keep saying things like that I will hurt you." She added with a mischievous smile that made Ash shudder.
"Ok May, shall we start training?" Ash asked hoping to avoid her wrath.
"That sounds great Ash where shall we train today?" May asked looking around wondering where they could train how Ash liked.
"I think I saw a nice clearing a bit off the path yesterday on my way back to camp. Let's take a look and see how it is."
With that the couple headed down the path with Pikachu and Glaceon walking in front and Lucario by Ash's side. A short while later they came to the grassy clearing and decided it would work great. Calling out their pokemon they set everyone to their training while May and Ash began to workout alongside each other. Ash didn't expect May to have a workout routine but when he offered help with one she explained that she had a simple one that she'd use while traveling. They spent an hour training themselves before they went to work with their pokemon. Ash spent a little extra time with Flaffy as she was the newest to the group and not at the same level as the other's.
Taking a quick breather Ash stepped back to take in the area around him and he smiled at his pokemon working so hard together. His gaze shifted to May and he felt joy and happiness rise in his heart watching her gracefully call to her pokemon turning training into what looked like a miniature contest display with the vibrant unique attacks she combined together. She seemed to flow effortlessly from one move to the next and her pokemon never seemed to question her calls. He was so proud of her with how far she had came and how strong she'd trained her pokemon to be. Glancing at his wrist to see the time Ash saw that it was close to seven thirty, knowing they wanted to make their way to Maiden's Peak as soon as possible he walked over to May.
"May if we want to catch the earlier ferry we should wrap it up for the day." Ash said as he stepped by her side.
"Its that time already?" May asked slightly shocked, "I hadn't realized we've been out here that long."
With a smile Ash replied, "Time always flies when you're having fun they say."
With that they called back all there pokemon except the obvious three that faithfully followed their trainer everywhere. After making sure they cleaned up the clearing a bit they headed back to the campsite to pack up. Once they packed up and checked to make sure they hadn't missed anything they made their way to pier to wait.
After finding a bench to wait on the couple compared notes from their training session earlier. May had suggested this after watching Ash's first training, saying a fresh set of eyes is always valuable. Ash agreed say he'd been on his own for so long that his training routine was usually the same. They continued on for about 20 minutes when they heard the ferry horn signaling it was almost there.
Ash stood up offering May his hand. "Well it looks like its time to head to your next contest." he said as he gently pulled her to her feet into his arms. Giving her a hug and light kiss he couldn't help but feel happy to have May by his side.
Slightly caught off guard by his smooth movement May blushed momentarily before holding onto Ash. She enjoyed feeling his arms holding her and hearing the steady beat of his heart. She smiled into his chest happily thinking this is what she wanted for so long. Not unlike their trainers Glaceon and Pikachu sat side by side with their tails together enjoying be together. Then there was Lucario he stood off too the side trying to be macho because if not it would ruin his fighting type appeal. Ash was not dense as he was at one point always noticed Lucario at moments like these and would chuckle at the aura pokemon.
Smiling as he unwrapped his arms from May, Ash reached over and pulled Lucario in for a hug. Not expecting it Lucario tried to to fight back but Ash was able to get his arms locked together.
"Come on Lucario just accept the hug." Ash laughed while trying to hold on.
"Master please let me go, its undignified for a fighting type." Lucario replied using all four paws to push against his trainer.
"If you just it happen and admit you like it I'll let you go, and please stop with the master." Ash said with a chuckle.
Sensing he couldn't get free the jackal pokemon merely hung his head in defeat allowing Ash to hug him in victory. Being a proud fighting pokemon he would never admit it but being with Ash and receiving hugs for praise did make him happy.
"Master you are my trainer and partner therefore my master and you will always be." The aura pokemon replied trying to hold show some dignity.
As she watched this happen May couldn't help but giggle, she enjoyed seeing the bond her boyfriend shared with his pokemon. On the other hand Pikachu snickered at Lucario knowing that he tried hard to be macho. Finally hearing Lucario give in Ash let him loose and chuckled at his pokemon he knew that the aura pokemon wouldn't say but he liked hugs deep down.
"Ok guys shall we get on the ferry and be on our way?" Ash asked looking at the group.
May linked her arm with his while Pikachu and Glaceon walked infront together and Lucario followed by Ash's side as always. Once they were on board the ferry they found some seats and waited to leave, after about ten minutes everyone had boarded and they set off. The crossing was relatively quick and before long the docked and the Maiden's Peak docking area.
"Ash I'd like to get registered for the contest as soon as possible." May said as they head towards town.
"Sounds like a good idea to me May. Do you know if there is a theme to this one?" Ash asked.
"No, there wasn't much info on the flyer when I read it." She replied. That wasn't uncommon as some contest liked to keep coordinators on their toes buy not giving out too much information.
As they walked they ping ponged contest ides back and forth thinking of what it could possibly be. Before long the arrived at the contest site and May walked over to the cheek in desk.
"Hello I'm here to sign up for the contest." May said with a smile.
"Welcome to the Maiden's Peak contest." The receptionist said cheerfully, "Do you have a partner who will be joining you?"
"Partner?" May asked, "I'm guessing this is a doubles contest."
"Thats correct. We thought it would be fitting in honor of the maiden and her lost love to have two coordinators work together to win." The woman said polity.
"Give me just a second to ask someone." May went to where Ash was waiting, "Ash could you do me a huge favor and partner with me for the contest? It's a doubles contest and I'd rather partner with you than anyone else."
Ash grinned, "Of course I will May, it will be my pleasure. Besides what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't help you?"
May's cheeks flushed slightly at his response, she would still feel giddy hearing Ash call himself her boyfriend.
"Thank you so much Ash, and you are a great boyfriend regardless." She said leading him to the desk. Now it was Ash's turn to flush, he liked the compliment but he wasn't good at reacting to them.
"Oh good you found someone quickly." The receptionist said while looking over Ash, obviously checking him out.
May noticed this and wrapped her arm around his, "Yes I did he's my boyfriend." With a slightly icy tone.
Taken back by her tone the receptionist blushed, "Ok let's get you two checked in and then you'll be set."
After they were finished up they made their way to the Pokemon Center to book a room. "May what was with the receptionist, she was acting weird?" Ash asked.
May realized that though he'd grown a lot, Ash was still dense about somethings in life. Shaking her said May replied, "She just didn't think we're a couple."
"Oh, ok." The raven haired trainer replied still a little confused. Pikachu couldn't help but face palm at his trainer, he loved Ash but sometimes he was still that dumb ten year old. Lucario stayed silent but inwardly shook his head at his partner, he understood emotions and actions far more than he let on.
May brushed it off for now and she would think later how to explain it to Ash. At the moment they need to focus on their training together to prepare for the up contest. May was sure they could pull it off but she did have many ideas of what to do just yet.
"May let's get checked in, I'll swap some of my pokemon around and we can come up with a plan." Ash said as they walked through the center's doors.
"Sounds good Ash, I'll change up my team a bit too and we'll come up with a great show." With that the couple picked up their room key, and went to the transfer station. A brief chat with Professor Oak later they had the pokemon the decided on and with that they set out to find a secluded training place.
Unbeknownst to the young couple an old figure watched from the shadows snicker, "Hmmm, this could be fun this year."
Thank you for reading everyone, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Again I apologize for the delay, but I suck at filler chapters and struggle with writers block on them. I'm always open to suggestions and thoughts. Until next time.