Hi all, here's the latest installment. As usual, I don't own the rights to Pokémon.
Chapter 4From the confines of the tiny cabin, May glanced around at the four walls which had formed her abode over the past few days. While she wouldn't miss the not too comfortable bed, nor the drab furniture, she knew she'd miss the rolling movements of the boat. While she loved land, she'd sorely missed being out on the ocean. However, now wasn't the time to enjoy these small pleasures; there was no doubt that Dawn and Harley would be waiting for her shortly.
Grabbing her shoulder bag, May let out a calming breath as she fought the Beautiflies and Butterfrees in her stomach. Taking a last glance in the sole mirror by the only exit of her room, she whispered to her reflection, 'Well, it's now or never.'
Checking that her hair was neatly tied in its ponyta-tail, May turned to the door. Hearing a popping sound came from her belt, followed by a red flash, the young brunette paused in her movements to survey the new presence in her room. After a moment, a tall silhouette formed before her, blocking her way. Once the red glow had disappeared from his strong body, Blaziken's formidable physique materialised perfectly before her. His blue eyes were intent upon her as he crossed his arms in an almost expectant manner.
Noticing her starter pokémon's knowing gaze upon her, May's shoulders slumped. She might have fooled Harley and Dawn, but Blaziken knew her better than anyone. He'd seen her go through her best and worst times, fighting by her side through everything. Even Max hadn't seen as many sides to her as her trusty starter had, but then, when they'd travelled together for years, a strong bond was forged between them. It was only strengthened by May's anguish at her father's ailment, a manifestation of her guilt in alienating him after he tried to pressure her into accepting the pokémon she'd feared as a child. Furthermore, he'd been witness to her increasing sense of despair and her childish jealousy at Max's chance. Throughout it all, Blaziken had been by her side, knowing her every emotion as surely as he knew his own. He was her rock, in every sense of the word, and without him, she would not have been able to hold out as long as she had.
'Blaziken, I'm not sure about what Harley's asking. After all these years, I can't. I'm not ready for this. What if I muck it up somehow?' May whispered as she met his calm blue gaze, her bottom lip trembling with fear. They both knew that, despite gaining age and becoming significantly stronger, May still had zero self-confidence. More importantly, she had faith in her pokémon, but none in herself. That was something none of her partners could fix for her, no matter how hard they'd tried over the years.
Letting out an irritated puff of smoke from his red beak, Blaziken placed a powerful claw on her shoulder, his eyes softening slightly with an emotion May couldn't read. He'd always been the stronger of the two, ever since he'd evolved. However, he'd maintained his tough act since evolving, but May knew her pokémon was still as concerned for her as he had been on the first dredges of their journey. On rare occasions did he drop his strong persona and reveal his anxiety for her.
'No, you're right, it'll be fine,' May growled, clenching her fist with determination. If her pokémon had faith in her, then she should at least try to justify that faith. After all, they were the reason she had come this far, and the reason she'd keep going.
Even though she was looking right at Blaziken, her pokémon glanced at May with worry before sighing slightly at her sudden enthusiasm. After all, her moods were still as unpredictable as ever, bouncing back from fear, depression and anger faster than he could use a sky uppercut attack.
'I know you're worried, Blaziken, but I'll be fine. Honestly, there's no need to worry,' May smiled, reverting to Dawn's catch phrase without realising. After being close friends for so long, she'd accidentally picked up some of her friend's habits, catch phrases included.
Noticing her Pokémon's flat stare, she realised he was as aware of the consequences of said catch phrase as she was. With a slight chuckle, May couldn't help but grin guiltily at her friend before walking past him and out of the room. Her pokémon tittered disapprovingly behind her before following her down the hallway, using a claw to gently close the door behind him.
'Come on, Blaziken, I'm fine,' May called, glancing back to see her pokémon roll its eyes at her sudden chipper act. He really did know her inside out, and it made her pout slightly in response, completely oblivious of the person who was nearing her, facing the opposite direction; handing an unseen envelope to someone whose face was unseen.
'Oh May, hon! Where are you?' Harley's voice sang, ringing across the ship's deck as the figure, dressed in a teal hoodie, rushed away from them, the envelope held tightly in their hand.
The purple haired man smirked once before walking on, not even sparing a second glance at May and Blaziken, despite appearing to search for them.
Hearing the man's voice, both May and Blaziken stopped their rather unusual discussion to glance at him. The pokémon, in response to Harley's tone, glowered irritably, though May sent him a stern glance to acquiesce his concerns.
'Here, Harley!' May called, rushing in the direction the man had sauntered away to, not noticing a Roserade lurking in the shadows, watching her movements, his red and blue roses crossed impatiently before following their movements.
Climbing up the steps to reach the deck, May notice Harley in his Banette costume waiting beside a rather anxious looking Dawn, both with their backs to May.
'Sorry to keep you both waiting, I'm here,' May called, jogging slightly to reach her friends, unaware of Blaziken studying the pokémon behind her.
'Excellent! Now, let me introduce you to my cousin,' Dawn giggled before taking both of their hands and rushing off the boat.
Over the years, the bluenette had taken a leaf out of May's book and ensured to remain fit and healthy, making her strong enough to pull her companions behind her. After all, a healthy mind and body went hand in hand, and it helped to ensure she was able to come up with exquisite designs.
Taken by surprise, May followed the bluenette, glancing back at her pokémon with clear apprehension. Blaziken, in response, huffed once in irritation before sending a meaningful glance to the grass and poison type which was still hidden in the shadows before bounding after them, his expression as calm as ever.
If May hadn't known better, she could have sworn her starter pokémon's gaze was locked on the purple haired man with apprehensive suspicion, though she reminded herself that too many years had passed since Harley's last prank, and that he deserved yet another chance.
'Is your cousin cute, hon?' Harley giggled, linking arms with Dawn, apparently unaware of the distrust from the pokémon behind them. He didn't even blink as they clambered off the ship's gangway and onto dry land, though he did glance briefly at May to ensure she was keeping up.
The brunette, in response, smiled briefly at the green eyed man who winked once before returning his attention to the blue haired beauty attached to his arm.
'Ummm, I guess some would think he's cute?' Dawn responded in a questioning tone, with a nervous giggle. May knew she felt apprehensive at such an unusual question, though she could not think of anything to deter Harley's enthusiasm. The man was a peculiar specimen, after all.
Struggling to keep up with her friends, especially whilst Dawn held her arm in a rather awkward angle, May understood her female companion's anxiety—she wouldn't know how to respond if someone asked her if Ash, Brendan or Wally were cute. At least she was accustomed to questions about Steven and Wallace, but that was solely because both of them had a horde of fans. Whilst she'd adjusted to that idea a while ago, she knew that Brendan and Wally both resented her more famous friends, whilst Ash was merely jealous of their acclaimed titles.
For the sake of her bluenette friend, May knew she had to interject the conversation and reassure both parties before anything untoward could occur. After all, if Dawn reacted as she had back on the deck, Harley would not be amused. She knew far too well from experience that an unamused Harley was a dangerous and melodramatic version of the man.
'I'm sure he is. After all, he's your cousin; he's had to have inherited some of your looks from your forefathers,' May grinned back, winking at her friend in a reassuring manner as she awkwardly extrapolated herself from her friend's grip. Honestly, she had no idea where Dawn had gained such strength from, even if she trained daily with her pokémon.
'Dawn, is that you?' A deep voice called, pulling May's attention from her friend so she finally noticed her unfamiliar surroundings.
Wherever they'd landed in Almia, it was a quaint, neat town with cement pathways, decorated generously with trees. People and pokémon alike were loitering in the streets, enjoying the charming views. The houses were made of a grey brick with red roofs, each littered with smaller windows in even intervals.
Noticing a few pedestrians nearby, May noticed how relaxed and comfortable they were, contrasting with the miserable frustration which was evident on the people she'd seen in Sootopolis. Yes, wherever this place was, May knew it was a peaceful place which was secluded from the anger and resentment of the world May had inhabited for far too long.
The young woman was so engrossed in her admiration of her surroundings that she didn't notice her friend's surprised gasp, followed by the sound of soft feet on the sidewalk.
'Lucas!' Dawn gasped before giving up on gaining her brunette friend's attention. With a giant grin, the blue haired woman rushed towards a man wearing a red flat cap, a blue jacket and black cargo pants.
In response to her friend's sudden disappearance, May blinked out of her stupor to notice the unacquainted newcomer. Blinking back into reality, the sapphire eyed woman glanced at her purple haired friend and her starter pokémon in utter bewilderment. Whilst Harley's green eyes were strained upon the man in eager delight, Blaziken offered her a slight, uncertain shrug.
'My favourite little cousin!' The man chuckled before pulling Dawn into a tight hug, his brown eyes sparkling in delight.
'Wow, he's a looker,' Harley whistled, not so subtly nudging May, who flushed at the brash and inappropriate statement. She'd never dare to say anything at all quite so loudly, but it was one of the many reasons why Harley had always been an irreplaceable figure in her life.
The newcomer, to May's embarrassment, glanced past Dawn and right at her, apparently believing that she'd said Harley's statement. With a squeak, she tore her gaze away from him, focusing instead on Harley's Banette costume with renewed fervour.
From the corner of her eye, she could see the black haired man whisper something into Dawn's ear, making her giggle in a knowing manner as May felt the rush of more blood pulse to her face in embarrassment. She really hoped that the man didn't think Harley's statement had come from her mouth. After all, Harley's voice was still rather effeminate when the man wanted it to be, and she was still extremely innocent, especially if she had a say in the matter. Making such comments about others' physique was definitely not something May could do easily.
Considering the last time she'd been exposed to such an awkward scenario, May sincerely hoped that her friend would leave the topic be, at least for the sake of her burning face. How Brendan and Max would tease her if either of them could see her now!
'Cousin, this is May and Harley, they're both coordinators, like me,' Dawn smiled politely, sharing a knowing wink at a still slightly flushed May. The woman, in response, poked her fingers together feebly and stared down at her feet, suddenly enraptured by a speck of dirt on her shoes.
'It's a pleasure,' Lucas smiled at them politely, holding May's gaze in his own for longer than necessary as Harley stood beside them, frowning at their little moment.
In retaliation, Harley stole the younger man's attention from his younger, and suddenly grateful, companion, gushing, 'Oh, hon, the pleasure is all mine. Where has a cutie like you been all my life? Hmmm? Come on now, dear boy, don't be shy!'
'He's been in Sinnoh, mostly. Now, I'm sorry to interrupt your introductions, but I think we're all a little tired from our length stay on the ship. Let's get you both settled in a Pokémon Centre,' Dawn chuckled back at Harley, linking her arm with her cousin and skipping along the roads of Almia, its paved streets clean and frequented by people and pokémon alike, seemingly oblivious to Harley's muted rants about injustice and rude twerpettes.
Following her friend and paying no heed to Harley's anger, May once again found herself admiring the unusual nature of the town. It was unlike anything May had ever experienced before. Various types and levels of pokémon simply wandered the streets unhindered, apparently domesticated and perfectly happy with their current location.
'So, where are we? I know we're in Almia, and they're starting pokémon contests here, but I wouldn't mind a place name so I can identify my location,' May frowned as she walked beside Harley, staring at the neat grey houses which lined the paths, surrounded by green shrubs which were trimmed to perfection. Not one had the room for a car, though there were some lined in the streets.
Some would call her pedantic, but since her experiences as Gym Leader, she liked to be aware of where she was. After all, the Champion would sometimes contact her back in the day just to find out where she was. Memories of that time made her smile. It had been fun, a different kind of adventure that she hadn't expected.
'Pueltown, hon, though I didn't think you were aware of Almia's geography,' Harley chuckled, dragging her along as he sped up to catch up to their guides. By the steely glint in his green eyes, May suspected he wanted to become more familiar with Dawn's cousin.
'It makes sense, that's for sure,' May muttered as she glanced around her, feeling a sense of ease which occurred by knowing her location. Steven would be proud, he'd trained her well after she'd undertaken tasks for him as a Gym Leader around the Hoenn region.
With a small smile, May was almost certain her brother would share the Champion's pride. After all, her brother had been the one to tell her all about the Almia region; it was the region designated to rangers. It explained why the pokémon around them were roaming so freely, and May couldn't help but love it.
'Do you know about Almia, May?' Lucas called as he glanced back at the brunette, his eyes tracing her figure slightly before flicking to the purple haired man to ensure he was keeping up. The newcomer, to his credit, had no idea how doggedly determined Harley could be once the man had his sights on something; and from what May could see, his determination was increasing with each passing moment.
'Ummm, not much, my brother's been here a few times,' May responded uncertainly, once again poking her fingers together. While her brother was a Ranger, she didn't know if he was known in the area, or if he'd appreciate her spreading the news of their relation. Being a Ranger meant that he did gain a few enemies, and she didn't want him to worry about her. Even though she had proved in Hoenn that she could look after herself, her brother was known to worry about her. As such, she didn't want to give anything away, at least until she'd spoken to her sibling about it.
There was an awkward pause in which no one said anything, and May sorely wished that Brendan, Stephen, Wallace or Wally were there to bail her out of this incredibly awkward conversation. She wasn't very observant at the best of times, at least, she'd always been told she was as thick as a brick, but she had a sneaking suspicion that Lucas might be a little interested in her. While her friends wouldn't believe she was suspicious of a thing, she couldn't help but be slightly concerned. Considering how thick she'd been to Syd's own advances back in LaRousse City, she knew her friends would suspect Brock's Croagunk appearing in Sootopolis and used Brick Break on her for her to have suddenly gained this conscious awareness of others. After all, she had often been labelled as being as clueless as Ash, which she'd taken some offence to initially. Now, though, she was finally developing some cognitive and emotional reflexes, and she was definitely concerned about Lucas' extensive attention to her.
After her failed relationship with Steven, the thought alone of another being interested in her scared her, especially whilst her heart still doggedly belonged to another.
May didn't notice a Roserade shaking a rose covered hand in her companion's direction in a silent show of anger, nor did she see its hooded trainer appeasing it with a hand.
'What did your brother do here?' Lucas questioned, his tone arbitrarily friendly, though May glanced nervously at Harley in the hopes he'd intervene. After Lucas' glances, she didn't feel all too comfortable talking to him about her brother. The purple haired man must have noticed her discomfort, because he frowned at the younger man in clear disapproval.
With a very unsubtle roll of his eyes, Harley offered a response for her, speaking in an infuriatingly disparaging tone, 'I believe he was training at the ranger school here for a while, but I'm not sure if he was successful. After all, I talk to this pipsqueak, not that tiny twerp.'
'Oh, your brother's a Ranger?' Lucas frowned, apparently surprised by this revelation. May noted that he completely ignored Harley's dark glower, appearing unhindered by the older man's attempts to dissuade the conversation.
'Yes,' May smiled, though she felt nervous to reveal this information. Furthermore, whilst the man was perfectly polite, she still felt some anxiety around him. He may be a relation of Dawn, but May did not appreciate his questions. Especially when it made her miss her brother all the more.
'Lucas, stop interrogating my friend,' Dawn chastised with a slight slap on the man's arm, apparently noticing her friend's discomfort at last.
May sent a small, grateful smile to her blue haired companion before returning her attention to the people wandering the streets of Pueltown. She honestly could not help but marvel at how different their lives were from the one May had just left.
They all seemed extremely peaceful and content, mindful of the pokémon around them. She even saw a couple of people stopping to talk to them, sometimes petting them. To her surprise, they reacted with pleased murmurs, acting almost as if they were domesticated.
Sensing the powerful presence of her starter pokémon beside her, she shared a confused glance with her own starter pokémon, who sent a reproachful glare at any pokémon who tried to approach him.
'Everyone here seems really happy,' May smiled softly, barely noticing the way Harley frowned at her wandering sapphire gaze as she continued to focus on the oddities of Pueltown, having heard many stories from her brother.
'Yeah, it makes a nice change from a certain boutique, doesn't it?' Dawn teased, grinning back at her friend as May childishly poked her tongue out at her, Blaziken murmuring in agreement.
Enjoying their stroll down the streets, May petted a lone Magby which chippered in appreciation, not in the least intimidated by Blaziken's moody glower.
Noticing the pokémon appeared perfectly happy at her touch, May realised it was a clear indication the pokémon was somewhat domesticated and would allow any passers-by to pet it. Considering there were quite a few roaming the streets without a care, May realised that Pueltown must be an extremely safe town for its inhabitants to let their pokémon roam so freely, without any fear of capture or abandonment.
'You look right at home, May,' Dawn giggled as she released her cousin to sling an arm around her close friend, briefly poking Blaziken in the side when he refused to high five a lone Tyrogue. The bluenette giggled in response to the fire type's blank glare, not at all afraid of any of his antics
'I suppose I've missed this, travelling around, meeting pokémon and people,' May grinned back, enjoying the sun's rays on her face as her pokémon's blue eyes sparkled upon hearing this response.
'You suppose?' Harley quoted in disbelief, his arms crossed as he glowered moodily at her.
'Oh fine, I did,' May grinned back at the man as Lucas scratched his head in confusion.
'That's more like it, twerp!' Harley muttered in a bitter response, though his green eyes were shining in delight. He wasn't nearly as intimidating, nor as sinister as he had been when she was much younger, and it made May wonder if it was she, he or both of them who'd matured. Either way, she was grateful that their friendship finally had time to grow in the way Solidad had always told her it would.
With a soft smile, May enjoyed the silence, unaware of the shock she was bound to encounter shortly. She'd finally left Sootopolis and the cursed job at Rockson's Boutique, embarking on a journey she'd long since deemed abandoned. There was a gentle breeze, the sun's warm rays were on her face, and she had good company. What more could she ask for?
I do appreciate any feedback and am so, so, so very grateful for it. If you want, please do review this story. For any who are interested, I'll be creating a prequel for this based loosely on the events of ORAS. I know I should probably have uploaded that story before this one, but I only just had the idea and I am itching to write it down. Also, I know I could have waited until the completion of this story, but I'm honestly just itching to get my ideas out there.
Thank you all again and I honestly can't thank you enough for reading this fic. There's so much more to come soon :)