Chapter 37 Parties, Couples and Ends:
Okay, decided to make this the last chapter of the story, so this is it. I hope you guys who've stuck with me have enjoyed this until the end. I've lost a few favorites but ah well, if you guys have any suggestions I'm always open to hearing them in reviews or PMs. I will be editing this story as well so your suggestions might come to life.
Now for the review last time from my usual guest, Advanceshipper, glad to hear from you again after a while. I think I will take your idea on having Ash give May a sapphire necklace to match her eyes for her birthday, though I'd already planned on Manaphy leaving on May's ride back to Hoenn. But I managed to add something in here along those lines. Hmm… I might have to have Manaphy say "Bye Papa" to Ash when everyone parts way last when I go back and edit. We'll see.
The months went by as everyone went back to their everyday lives in their own regions. Ash, May, Misty, Brock, Tracey, and Dawn all went back home to spend time with their families or careers. Ash helped his Mom in rebuilding their house and played with his Pokemon at Professor Oak's lab in the meantime while also going through Junior Police Training with Officer Jenny. Brock continued his dream to become a Pokemon Doctor and also spent time with Rebecca, finally getting together with a girl like he'd yearned to for years. Misty returned to Cerulean Gym taking on challenges and helping her sisters train so they could cover when she was gone, Tracy stayed at Professor Oak's lab and helped him with research and other things. May and Dawn stayed home with their families training or (in Dawn's case) having their Pokemon model. Manaphy had also returned to the Sea Temple on the boat ride home to Hoenn. But May knew that they could see each other again, sometime. The only one not at home was Max who returned to his journey through the Hoenn Region. May's younger brother did a bit of everything, Gym Battles, Contests, even taking pictures of Pokemon he found. He made it back home just in time for the special event.
May awoke on the day of her fourteenth birthday. She opened her eyes and looked at her wall where she'd hung her most recent photo of herself and all her friends after they'd defeated Team Rocket for good. She held Manaphy, Ash next to her Pikachu on her shoulder. The others all smiled at the camera. She got up and dressed then walked out to the kitchen.
"Morning May," Caroline said. "Happy birthday!"
May smiled as she saw the table full of breakfast, eggs, bacon, toast and fruits.
"Ah nothing quite beats your cooking Mom!" May said as she sat down. "Well, maybe Brock. But yours is the best homemade in Petalburg I'd say."
Caroline smiled as Max came out and immediately went for the food as well.
"Ah! Yeah!" he said as he went and dove in as well. "You have no idea how hard it is to cook a good meal by myself!"
"Couldn't quite make it the way Brock or your Mom could huh?" Norman teased his son.
"Well can't learn everything," Max said.
The family ate their breakfast together, fed their Pokemon and then Max and May went up to Max's room where they played a game on the Gamecube, something they hadn't done together in a long time.
"Man, feels weird doing these old things again," Max said.
"Yeah, we spent so much time on the road we never got play these," May said. "I'm glad I stayed for a while. I mean I love traveling but there's no place like home."
Max nodded. "Well, happy birthday sis. Guess you'll be leaving on another journey with him huh?"
May nodded. "We've talked over the phone. He's heard of a new region called Unova and wants to try the league there. Good time too since it's just starting. There aren't any contests there but… ah well at least I can be with him. Maybe it will help me grow anyway. One day, I will become a Top Coordinator!"
Max smiled. "I believe it sis! And someday I'm gonna discover an all new Pokemon species or take over the Gym for Dad."
"You do what makes you happy Max," May said as she ruffled her brothers hair.
"Hey cut it out!" Max said.
The doorbell rang.
"They're here!" May said as she pressed the button to save then turned it off.
She and Max went out and saw Dawn in the room with Piplup. The little Penguin Pokemon walked as Dawn carried a present in her hand.
"Hey May!" Dawn greeted.
"Dawn!" May ran and hugged her fellow Coordinator.
It wasn't long after that everyone else came at once. Ash, Pikachu, Misty, Brock (with Rebecca at his side), and Tracy, all with presents of their own. May smiled.
"You're all here!" she said excitedly.
"Happy Birthday May!" Brock said.
"Yeah, Happy Fourteenth!" Misty said.
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder into May's arms.
"Ah good to see you two Pikachu!" May said as she hugged him.
Ash smiled at her, blushing as he held her present in his hand. It was small with a ribbon on it. But that didn't matter. Whatever it was she was sure she'd love it.
"Glad to see you May," Ash said.
"Yeah. I must say you have a lovely house," Tracy said. "Would you mind if I take some sketches of your Pokemon and green house?"
"Not at all Tracy!" Norman said.
To start out the party they went to the pond near the Petalburg gym and swam. They all floated on water tubes, rode their Pokemon through the water joyfully. Norman set up a barbeque of hot dogs and hamburgers while Caroline made the cake. They ate lunch then dessert and were stuffed. Now it was time for presents. She opened them one by one, getting a lot of items that could be useful in her next journey or just looked good. A new contest dress from Dawn that was a size larger then her current one.
"Figured you'd grow up a bit before you went to your next Contest so I thought I'd try and get you a dress for when that happens," Dawn said.
May smiled. "Thank you, Dawn. I'll put it my closet and when I return to contests somewhere I'll wear it!"
Brock and Rebecca had gotten her a recipe book for on the road cooking. From her parents, a list of restaurants in the Unova region for her and Ash to check out. Misty got her a Mystic Water Pendant for her Wartortle or any other water Pokemon she got that would make their attacks even stronger. Finally, Tracy gave her a new mini recording camera.
"I heard you liked to sometimes act like you're on a TV show or something," Tracy said.
"Alright now May's Expedition has a live camera!" May said. "Thank you, guys!"
"Hey don't forget mine!" Ash sad.
"I didn't!" May said. "I saved it for last."
She knew it had to be the best, right? Looking at the small box, May unwrapped the paper and saw another box. Opening it she looked inside and saw a beautiful sapphire necklace on a gold chain. She gasped at it.
"My mom helped me pick it out," Ash said scratching his cheek. "Said it looked lot like your eyes, and I agree."
"Oh, thanks Ash! I love it!" May said as she got up and hugged him.
Ash blushed. "Well, I guess now is the time. I know we already did this kind of but I probably have to ask to make it official. Will you be my girlfriend May?"
"Yes!" May screamed, having been waited for him to ask that since they'd all arrived.
She hugged him again, then they looked into each other's eyes, not caring that many of their friends were watching and leaned in…
Knock knock!
Their kiss was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Oh, who could that be?" May asked.
She walked over to the door and received a not entirely welcome set of guests. A girl with short red hair next to a boy with green hair in a purple vest.
"Brianna, Drew!" May exclaimed her eyes narrowing.
"May please, Drew has been trying to reach you and explain things!" Brianna said in a begging voice.
May scowled at her ex-boyfriend. He'd tried calling her after the incident before she'd left Johto. She'd blocked him from her Trainer Call ID and hoped to never see him again.
Hearing Drew's name, Norman and Ash both quickly made their way to the door. The others listened from behind.
"You have some nerve coming to my house after what you did to my daughter!" Norman snarled. "Now get off my property!"
"I wasn't trying to cheat on you May, I was just telling Brianna she was doing a good job," Drew said.
"With a rose!?" May asked furiously.
"Yes. That's just my way of being nice and offering praise!" Drew said. "Roserade produces them every so often so I give them out! Usually to you! But I felt Brianna earned a little as well!"
"It's true!" Brianna said. "He wasn't trying to cheat on you May he was just telling me I did a good job."
May looked at them, her anger lessening. She thought for a moment and said, "I believe you. But Drew, I'm already with someone else now."
She took Ash's hand and he gave her a reassuring squeeze. Norman had cooled down as well, taking a deep breath and giving a neutral expression.
Drew sighed. "I understand May. Me and Brianna are kind of together now as well. She helped me out when I was alone after you left."
May managed as a smile as she saw her rival take his fangirl's (now girlfriends) hand. Brianna smiled back.
"I hope to see you in some contests soon!" Brianna said.
"That might take a while," May said. "I'm going to Unova. But when I get back, I'm definitely gonna go somewhere that has contests!"
"Careful you don't get too weak!" Drew said. "Or I'll have an easy time beating you!"
"Oh, just you wait! I'll wipe the floor with you next time!" May said.
They glared at each other. Then Drew chuckled and May laughed at that.
"Good luck. I'm glad I finally got the chance to explain," Drew said with a soft smile. "I hope you and Ash have a happy life."
And he and Brianna walked off, looking back with a smile.
…
After the rest of the party was done, everyone else left to get on their ships at Petalburg port.
"Bye Ash! See you soon!" Brock said as he walked off with Misty, Rebecca, Dawn, Tracy, and Max.
Ash, Pikachu, and May all waved as their friends left. Their ship came in tomorrow. They turned to face May's parents. Norman gave his best smile at Ash.
"You take care of my little girl now," Norman said.
Ash nodded and shook Norman's hand. "I will."
"He always has Dad," May said as she clutched her new boyfriend's arm. Finally, she could call him that.
"I know," Norman said. "I'm sure I can count on you to protect and love my daughter."
Ash nodded once again. "She's in good hands."
Norman and Caroline smiled and nodded. "We'll see you soon. Love you May."
"Bye Mom, bye Dad," May said as she and Ash took hands and began to walk. It was sunset. Lovely.
The new couple then came to a halt as May stopped.
"What is it May?" Ash asked looking at her.
"We got interrupted last time. But I want to get this done before the day's over," May said.
And finally, she kissed him. He kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her waist and she did the same with his neck as Pikachu jumped off his partners shoulders.
"Pika!" Pikachu put his paws together like he had when Ash had been kissed on the cheek by either Bianca or Latias in Altmare back in Johto.
Ash and May's lips parted as they looked back into each other's eyes, auburn to sapphire, just like the necklace she wore now. They then continued walking into the sunset to find a place to camp for the night. Tomorrow their new journey would begin when they got on the ferry, who knew where it would take them in the years to come?
…
20 years later:
Ash Ketchum, Champion of the Kanto Region, and Winner of the World Champion Tournament for the last ten years in a row woke up in bed besides his beautiful wife, the top Coordinator May Ketchum. Sitting up he stretched and looked to the bedside table that showed photographs of their many memories together. Their time traveling through Unova together, as well as times before and that. He saw the younger faces of himself looking back at him, along with Brock, Misty, Tracy, Dawn and Max. He saw pictures of himself with the Champion Trophy, and May with her Ribbon Cup, his and May's wedding, her pregnant, holding their newborn child in the hospital room. Their daughter growing up. Now it was her time.
"Mom! Dad! I'm off!" a young female voice called. "I hope I'm not too late!"
Ash looked at his clock. It was 8 am! Not as late as he'd been at least. He heard running footsteps and then the door slammed shut downstairs in their Pallet Town home.
May rubbed her eyes then opened them up, revealing the sapphires inside that matched her necklace that she still often wore.
"Morning, Ashley leave?" she asked.
"Yeah, off to get her Pokemon from Professor Sketchit," Ash said.
Pikachu got up now from his bed next to theirs, May's Glaceon beside him and a young Eevee and Pichu next to them.
"Morning everyone," Ash said.
"Pika!"
"Pichu, Pi!"
"Gla."
"Eevee!"
The families smiled at each other, then got up and dressed headed downstairs to have breakfast ready. Their daughter would find a feast waiting for her when she got home from choosing her first Pokemon. They sat outside, it was a nice summer morning and the Ketchum House was full of Pokemon that belonged to both Ash and May. Charizard, Pidgeot, Noctowl, Staraptor, Gliscor, Swellow and Beautifly flew through the sky. Ash's Tauros ran across the yard they shared with Professor Tracy Sketchit who'd taken over once Professor Oak had passed away. They missed the dear old wise poetry man but knew that it was inevitable someday.
Many of their Pokemon were in sight, except for most of the water types. Both their Venasaur (Ash's having finally decided to evolve) stood tall and proud with their two children, a Bulbasaur and Ivysaur behind them. Their water Pokemon were by the creek, or in it. Ash's Squirtle and May's Wartortle both lay in their shells. Infernape was sparring Primeape and Blaziken. Ash and May smiled as they looked out across their yard filled with their friends.
Soon their daughter returned. She was a perfect mixture of her two parents. Black hair and z like lines on her cheeks like her father and lovely sapphire eyes like her mother. Ashley Ketchum wore her hair in a style like May did as well. Her shirt was blue and she wore a hat on her head. At her side walked a-
"Squirtle!" her Pokemon said.
"Squirtle huh?" Ash said. "That was my first choose back when I first started my journey."
Ashley smiled as she picked up her Squirtle.
"This is my family Squirtle, say hi!"
"Squirtle," it waved.
"Welcome to the family," May said.
They and all their Pokemon ate breakfast. Then it was time for the sad part today.
"Now don't forget to change your underwear, Ashley!" May said.
"I know Mom!" Ashley said. "It would be gross if I didn't!"
She and her Squirtle began walking down the path leading north from Pallet Town. Ash and May watched with a smile as their daughter began her own journey, just as they had long ago. They held each other's hand, Pikachu on Ash's shoulder and Glaceon by May's side along with Blaziken, their other Pokemon surrounded them as they watched proudly.
The End.
Alright so, finally done. Hope you guys enjoyed, and please make a review whether its suggestions or just to say you did enjoy.