Advancing through the Ages
Hi guys. Hope you like this story. As I first wrote these author's notes I didn't even have a title in mind. But I got one now. This story will take place toward the end of the Diamond and Pearl Series after Ash has yet again failed to win the league. This isn't cause I dislike all the other seasons that came after, I just feel that the Pokemon series dragged on a bit too much. I admit I stopped watching it for a while when Black and White came out, but came back for XY, and I stopped watching again after that.
But enough of that rant. Of the three first pokegirls (Misty, May, and Dawn) I like May the best with Ash. So this will be an Advanceshipping story.
Now just to explain the ages in this fanfic. I've seen some stories that have Ash being more than 10 which I like as the series has said on several occasions that years have gone by and the characters never age.
Ash: Two years older than May, so I'm having him be 15 in this fanfic. I know that a year went by in the original series as Ash remarked on it in the episode he gets the Earth Badge when they returned to Viridian city. And they had an anniversary of the day he met Pikachu which showed at least one more year had passed. He could be three or four years older than her when he meets her.
May: 13
Dawn: 11. Too young for Ash :). I like them as friends, it's okay for Dawn to admire a friend, right?
Brock. 18. If recall correctly it was stated on the Pokemon wiki he's 15, but I could be wrong. Still, he doesn't look quite tall enough to be that much older than the forever 10 in the anime Ash, but who knows? I'll just make him three years older than Ash.
Misty: 16. A year older than Ash is fine with me.
Max: 10 and finally a Pokemon Trainer.
Chapter One Calls Across Regions
Ash, Pikachu, Dawn, Piplup and Brock all arrived in Twinleaf Town. They were going to spend the night here as guests before the two boys took the ferry back home to Kanto.
"Welcome home dear," Dawn's mother Johanna waved as they approached her house.
"Hi Mom," Dawn said as she saw her mother and ran to hug her.
"Hello Dawn, hi Piplup!" Johanna said as she hugged her daughter who had to let go of the penguin Pokemon in her arms.
"Piplup!" Piplup waved as it landed on its feet.
The two boys approached.
"Hi Johanna," Brock said.
"Hello Brock, Ash."
"Hey, would you mind if I borrow your phone to call my mom?" Ash asked.
"Oh, not at all Ash!"
"Thanks!"
Ash ran inside and dialed his mom's number. An image of her soon appeared on the video phone.
"Ash!" Delia Ketchum said in joy.
"Hi Mom. I'll be on the Ferry home tomorrow," Ash said. "Then it should just be a couple days before I get home."
"Pika pika!" Pikachu waved from Ash's shoulder.
"Alright, I look forward to seeing you both. When you get home we'll be having a big celebration, and I know just who to invite! I'll see if Misty is available, I'm sure she'd love to see you and Brock!
"That will be great!" Ash said. "Haven't seen her since the Mirage Pokemon Incident."
"Also, your friend May called as well."
"Really, May?" Ash asked.
"Yes. She's returned home to Hoenn. She saw your performance in the Sinnoh League and wanted me to tell you good job! Also, she hoped that she might be able to see you soon. Would you mind if I invited her as well? She's currently in Petalburg city with her family."
"Sure! Go ahead, invite all of them!" Ash said. "It will be great to see everyone."
"Alright, I'll give them a call." Delia said. "I love you son, goodnight."
"Night mom," Ash said.
…
May Maple, a 13-year-old Pokemon Coordinator who'd finished second place in the Johto Grand Festival just over a month ago, sat on her bed in a nightgown. She sighed contently, glad to be home. Her journey through Johto had been hard without her friends, Ash and Brock, even her brother Max. At least she'd not been in any dangerous situations during her travels there. That had happened quite a few times in her early two years as a Pokemon Trainer. She'd been chased by a Corphish, attacked by swarms of territorial grass pokemon, a mutant Groudon created by a formerly mad scientist, nearly squashed by a rolling Donphan, and just about fallen to her death on at least two occasions. Boy, she felt like a big damsel in distress when she recalled all that! But through all of those she'd been saved by the boy that always stuck with her, Ash Ketchum.
She'd met him at the age of ten, he'd been two and a half years older. She'd been attracted to his care for Pikachu and been thrilled when he agreed to travel with her. He'd been a formidable trainer that could teach her the ropes, and he'd even been a bit famous as someone who'd come in the Top 8 during the Johto Silver Conference. But she'd known he'd been a bit too old for her at the time. She'd tried to remind herself of that as they traveled together, that he could have easily found a girl more appropriate to date at the time. But he'd never made any attempt on that.
She never thanked him for all those times he saved her life, as she'd been nervous and thought she might confess the feelings she had. But now it warmed her heart as she recalled all those moments. If not for Ash, she would probably not even be alive today. Her Johto journey had come to an end nearly two months ago. She'd gone to that region to follow her rivals, Drew, Harley, and Solidad. Toward the end of it, Drew had said he liked her, only for her to catch him flirting with that fangirl Brianna who'd followed him to the region as well. He'd given her a rose! When she saw May walked out on the arrogant playboy. Now that Drew was out of the picture, May knew who she really wanted. Someone who'd been there for her more times than she could count. Ash Ketchum. Now that she was older, the timing was better. Still, would her parents permit it?
When I see Ash, should I tell him how I feel? May wondered. What if he doesn't feel the same way? I might lose him as a friend. I don't want that.
Her mind filled with memories of the boy she liked and never should have left for that green haired thorn in her side. Him swooping down on a vine tarzan style to save her from the grass pokemon, his Pikachu letting off a thunderbolt, his Sceptile catching her before she hit the ground. All those memories of her secret hero flooding back and making her heart melt, the crush she'd repressed and denied for so long because of the slight age gap seeming to intensify.
Suddenly a ring sounded through the house. May got off bed, hoping it was a reply from Delia Ketchum, Ash's mother. She opened the door to her room and looked to see her mother getting up from her spot on the sofa in the living room next to her father as they watched a later night program together. Caroline Maple picked up the phone.
"Oh. Mrs. Ketchum!" Caroline greeted her caller.
May's face lit up in a wide smile.
"Hello Caroline, Ash is on the ferry home from Sinnoh tomorrow. He should be home in three days."
"Wonderful! I think we're all free to take the weekend off and go visit. It will be good to meet you in person Delia. You've raised a fine young man in Ash," Caroline said.
"Thank you. I look forward to having you."
The video phone went out and Caroline turned to her husband.
"Well Norman, you ready to take a little time off from the Gym?"
"Yes… any trainers that come by will just have to wait till I get back on Monday."
"It will probably save them the humiliation of defeat!" a voice said from behind May.
The young Coordinater looked over her shoulder to see her younger brother Max listening in on the conversation.
"Maybe so son! But you know your old man isn't invincible."
"I know there's a lot of tough trainers out there like Ash. But no matter what happens Dad, you'll always be my number one!" Max said. "I can't wait to see Ash and Brock! Now that I'm a trainer myself I'll be able to challenge Ash to a battle like we promised. Glad I made it back home yesterday from my journey even though it was only three months long!"
"You'll get more traveling in soon, son. But for now, both of you need to go back to bed. We have a long day tomorrow," Caroline said in her nurturing motherly manner. "I'm sure we're all looking forward to seeing your old friends."
May blushed as she nodded. You have no idea mom. I just hope everything will work out and Ash doesn't see me as just the little girl I used to be.
Well I'm a sucker for damsel in distress stuff, I like thinking of all the times when Ash saved May in the Advanced series, so that's probably my number one reason for shipping them more than the other two. I know he's done that a few times for Misty and probably for Dawn as well but May is my favorite.