First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to read this story. I do honestly appreciate that so many of you are reading it as it has taken a lot of time for me to plan and write this. There's a lot more in store for everyone, and I feel like I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of this story.
Here's the latest update, I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 8Rushing past the Ranger base, May did her best to suppress her tears as she ran without much of a thought. Her thoughts were consumed with loathing for the Kanto native as she rushed along, not worrying about which path she was taking.
Soon enough, she found herself in the docks, sniffling away beside an unused computer. Hiding her head in her hands, she ignored the nearby Tyrogue who was going through the motions, practicing against some wooden crates nearby.
'May?' A familiar, deep voice called, as steps came closer and closer.
With a little whimper, May did her best to shrink into the wall as the steps came to a resounding halt before her. She knew her uncharacteristic misery was blatantly obvious to any who saw her, but she couldn't suppress her tears. Remaining as still as possible, she hoped that whoever was near her had the tact to realise that she really did not want to be seen in this manner.
'You know, hiding your face from me isn't going to stop anyone from seeing you,' the familiar voice of Jack Walker sighed as she felt him crouch down beside her, his body brushing slightly against her arm as he leant on the wall beside her.
Even though she was an adult who should have known better, she still sniffled in her arms, childishly hoping he would disappear if she ignored him for long enough.
'I know you won't want to, but you should talk about it. Believe it or not, it will make you feel better,' Jackie spoke softly, surprising her by his unrelenting persistence. He shifted slightly beside her, as though he was seeking a more comfortable position against the wall.
Looking up at him, she could see her face reflected in his dark green eyes, flushed and distraught. Her face was probably covered in her tears and she knew he simply had to be hiding his concern. Why else would he still be talking to her?
'Come on, May, where is that cheerful girl who did everything in her power to help the prince of the sea?' Jackie smiled down at her, placing a gentle hand on her arm.
With a last sniff, May whispered, 'I just feel so alone. No matter how I look at it, I'm a failure. All of my friends are successful, paving their lives and their futures, and I can't even help my pokémon put together a stupid appeal. Then some guy I met like once makes a comment which reminds me of my rival and I completely lose it. I'm pathetic.'
Jackie, to her surprise, stayed quiet, his expression patient as he watched her scrub her eyes with the back of her hands.
Soon enough, she found her explaining everything. Not just events after she had first met the man, but also the events before it. When she was finally through with her miserable tale, she glanced up at him with a slight anxiety. After all, she didn't want him to think of her as a miserable failure too, even if she hated herself for being in this situation. She should have found time to nurture her pokémon's gifts whilst she was younger.
'May, you're overthinking things,' Jackie smiled at her as he wrapped a reassuring arm around her shoulder. Taking in a moment to breathe in the salty air, he continued, 'your friends don't see you as pathetic, they admire you. From what Max has said about you, you really improved the quality of your father's Gym. From what he said, I think it may be one of the hardest gyms in Hoenn now, and your father is struggling to keep up with your reputation. Besides, it's not every day someone single handedly takes on two corporations and succeeds, that takes brains, guts and ability. And before you even think of arguing with me, I'm certain that your friends are all proud of you and everything you've achieved so far. I saw as much when you asked Harley to remind you of the basics of contests—he looked flattered that you'd asked him. As for your appeal problems, don't worry, it'll come to you. Just follow what is natural, and you'll be fine.'
Hearing this, May let out a shaky breath, taking a moment to digest her friend's words. In a soft voice, she whispered, 'You think so?'
'I know so,' Jackie grinned down at her, his eyes sparkling with a confidence May hadn't seen in herself in far too long.
With a light laugh, May pulled the man into a tight hug, beaming, 'thank you so much, Jackie! You're the best!'
The man choked slightly in surprise before hesitantly wrapping his arms around her small frame. He looked uncertain of where to place them, though May did not seem to notice.
'No, I'm not. As for your romance difficulties, when it happens, it happens. I'm still waiting for the woman of my dreams,' Jackie smiled down at her. Releasing her from his arms, he ran a tentative hand through her hair, sending her a small smile.
Poking her tongue childishly out at him, May giggled when he retracted his hands and rolled his eyes.
'Max is right, you'll never grow up,' Jackie fake groaned as May swatted his arm.
Hearing a low, screeching sound, May frowned as she glanced from one side of the pathway to the other. Feeling the previously comfortable temperature turn into a cool air of darkness as the sun's rays were suddenly obstructed, May glanced at her companion in confusion.
Looking up, she saw that something above them blocked out the sun, balanced precariously over the flat edge of the roof above them.
'What the?' Jackie frowned before clambering up to see it was a rather large crate, wavering uncertainly as Jackie's eyes flitted from the crate to May's suddenly ashen face.
'May, watch out!' His voice called before the crate was pushed over the edge.
It took her a moment to register what was going on. She saw the wooden object turning dangerously over the edge, but didn't seem to realise what was happening. Her sapphire orbs flickered from the toppling crate to Jackie's widened eyes as her brain slowly turned the events which were happening. Blinking, May heard the wood creak slightly, a noise which brought her mind crashing back to earth.
With a squeal, May rolled out of the way, feeling the splinters of wood graze against her skin as it shattered into pieces where she'd just sat moments before.
Her heart pounding, May glanced at the tall Ranger beside her. He seemed equally shocked, glancing at her with concern to ensure she was ok.
'Don't worry, Jackie, I'm fine,' May whispered, though her voice was slightly uneven.
'I'm going to investigate,' Jackie scowled, squeezing her shoulder slightly. With an angry growl, he rushed off, running further into the dock.
'I'm coming!' May called as she ran after him, turning a cemented corner to see him bounding up the concrete stairs.
Glancing back, she saw a figure scurry back along the rooftop, but continued on her run, ignoring the startled reactions of the wild Raticate and Tyrogue around her.
'It's not safe,' Jackie hollered back at her as he reached the top of the stairs.
With a soft scoff, she took them two at a time. She'd faced worse than a falling crate and Jackie was not going to talk her out of it, especially when he had no pokémon of his own.
Skidding to a halt behind the man, she blinked as two Skuntank hissed at them on the upper levels.
The man reached for his Styler, but May stepped before him. With an irritated growl, she sent him a warning glance.
'I'm an adult, Jackie, don't try to protect me from things I could face in my sleep. Besides, you know I've managed to hold my own in the past,' May responded grimly as she pulled out her pokéball, releasing Skitty. The pokémon seemed surprised that she didn't utter her usual catchphrase, glancing from her to Jackie, then the Skunktank. She chased her tail slightly before coming to a stop before her trainer, uttering a quiet, 'Nya?'
'Use blizzard on those Skuntank!' May called as the two purple pokémon began to hiss poisonous gasses from their mouth.
Almost immediately, the two pokémon were frozen, overwhelmed by May's Skitty's superior level.
'Your Skitty is really strong too,' Jackie commented as May rushed ahead, hoping that the two spiky pokémon behind them would remain frozen until they were gone from view.
'I trained every day with all of my pokémon, Jackie. I'd be disappointed if I failed as a trainer and hadn't helped them improve,' May gritted her teeth as she raced up some stairs, barely huffing as Skitty ran alongside her.
'I can tell your will is as strong as ever,' Jackie smirked before running beside her, hiding behind a wall of wooden crates and peering around it.
Sticking her tongue out once again, May tried to creep closer to the man, hoping to see what he saw around the corner. However, rather than stalk their prey stealthily, she nearly ran into Jackie as he came to a halt, having noticed a trio of black clad people before her.
'Ooh great, a Ranger!' One of them squealed, her tone filled with disdain as Jackie stumbled into view. With a furtive glance at May, undoubtedly telling her to remain hidden, he assessed the woman. Her black attire stood out against her fair skin, her yellow hair pulled into two upright pigtails. From her clear resentment to him, he deduced she was a runt.
Glancing around them casually, Jackie counted two people dressed in black and one in white, his black hair gelled out of his face. There were a lack of uncaught pokémon on the roof, making his fight with them much more complicated than required. However, if they were foreigners, they might not be aware of this detail.
More confidently than he felt, he sauntered forward, grinning, 'three little Pignites out to play?'
'Don't lecture me with fairy type tales, you're no Mightyena!' The red haired man glowered, his tanned skin complimented by his black jacket.
'Get rid of him,' the second man roared, his white varsity jacket coloured with black stripes on the shoulders. If Officer Jenny's shoulders were to be used as an example, it signified rank, but May wasn't too sure for what.
'Yes, sir!' the two subordinates saluted him as May stumbled into view, her Skitty still held in her arms.
Jackie sent her a glare before the man in black released a pokémon with two large purple heads, one larger than the other. On one was the insignia OX, on the other O, however both heads appeared to be in pain. With an unheard command, their opponent disappeared in a puff of smoke created by a purple pokémon with two heads, one smaller than the other.
'What is that pokémon?' May gasped, taking out her pokédex from her pocket, her Skitty moving frantically to be released from her grip.
Her electronic device scanned the pokémon, before the gas reached them.
'Don't breathe it in, it's poisonous!' Jackie called, flinging his arm over his own mouth.
Fumbling with her pokéball, May recalled Skitty, before hurriedly covering her own mouth with her shirt, frantically hoping that no one would see anything untoward. Despite her efforts, some of the putrid gas still went into her mouth, making throat clam up and cough, rejecting the unclean air.
Her pokédex's voice rang out over her coughing, calling, 'Weezing, the poison gas pokémon. Weezing alternately shrinks and inflates its twin bodies to mix together toxic gases inside. The more the gases are mixed, the more powerful the toxins become. The pokémon also becomes more putrid.'
Hearing this, May's eyes widened in horror. She needed to get out of the pungent gas, but where was Jackie? She couldn't just leave the man here alone by himself, and she didn't have any flying types to blow the gas away. For the life of her, she didn't know what to do. The gas was smothering her senses, making it difficult to breathe. It stung at her eyes, making them unusually teary, and all she could smell was this poison, even if she tried not to breathe through her nose.
Biting back a choke, May barely heard the faint sound of an electronic gadget whirring into life.
'Capture, on!' The man's voice rang out across the field as the two grunts began to squabble, though May paid them no attention.
'Spearow!' A high pitched voice called before May could hear the sound of flapping wings, strong and rhythmic.
Soon enough, her hair was flicking away from her back as the poisonous gas floated past her, disappearing into thin air. Dropping her shirt, May rushed forward to see the two grunts still squabbling.
'Hey, who's the girl?' The man with white hair scowled as the woman beside him, with teal hair squeaked at May's sudden reappearance.
'Girl?' May glowered, ignoring Jackie, who was waving at her to calm down.
Taking a menacing step forward, May repeated, 'Girl? Who do you think you're talking to! I'm not ten years old anymore!'
'You might not be ten years old, but you sure look like a weak little girl to me,' the man taunted, stepping forward as he grabbed a pokéball.
Seeing Jackie move to defend her, May held up a hand and called to him, 'don't get involved, Jackie. I want to teach him not to degrade a woman myself.'
The blond man, to his credit, remained mute on the topic, though a small smirk ordained his face as he released Spearow from his Styler.
The man before May growled once before unleashing a Jynx, the bipedal, humanoid pokémon calling out its name before blinking in confusion at May's determined expression.
'Jynx,' May grimaced, recalling a challenger from her gym having one of those. Needless to say, she'd had to face that particular challenger a few times, the younger trainer refusing to accept defeat.
'All right, it's up to you, Blaziken, take the stage!' she grimaced, unleashing her fire and fighting dual type before her.
In reaction to her call, May's pokémon let out a powerful burst of fire, before growling at the blonde pokémon before him.
'Blaziken, double kick, followed by flame charge!' May called, still furious that someone would degrade her so blatantly.
'Jynx, uhh, use heart stamp!' The man cried out, looking a little anxious as Blaziken reciprocated his Trainer's ferocity.
'Dodge it!' May called out, watching in fear as Blaziken's feet glowed and rapidly contacted Jynx's puckered lips.
Hearing May's cry, her pokémon jumped away from his humanoid opponent before encapsulating himself in a flame.
With a roar, he ran forward, halting slightly as Jynx's heart shaped kiss hit him.
'No, Blaziken!' May cried, though her pokémon didn't seem to hear her.
Noticing his Trainer's despair, the pokémon reacted by instinct. His blue eyes glowing with anger, the bird pokémon's feathers began to glow as he jumped into the air.
'Blaziken?' May whispered as her pokémon fell forward, his eyes narrowed on Jynx, who seemed rooted to the spot.
'Jynx? Do something!' The man cried, though his pokémon raced around frantically, sensing the man's frustration and uncertainty.
'Blazikeeen!' The fire type roared before colliding painfully with the purple skinned Jynx.
In response, the Jynx fell to the floor in a heap, unable to battle.
'Blaziken, you were awesome!' May cried before tackling her pokémon in a tight hug.
'Yes, he was,' Jackie's voice grinned from behind her.
'I failed, I can't believe it!' The man cried as he recalled his pokémon.
'I can, you've always been abysmal. Let's go, before the bosses hear of your spectacular disaster.' The woman sneered before grabbing the man's collar and jumping off the building.
'They're getting away,' May frowned at her friend.
'I'll catch up to them and meet you at the Ranger base. Don't even think of following me, either!' Jackie called as he jumped after them.
Hesitating, May glanced at her pokémon who nodded his head before they both began chasing Jackie. With the press of a few buttons, May dialled her brother's number.
'May, are you all right? Everyone's looking for you,' Max's voice frowned into her ear, filled with worry.
'Not now, Max, chasing bad guys. Jackie needs help, check his Styler for location,' May huffed into the Xtransceiver before terminating the call. She knew it would only incite her brother's worry, but she didn't have the time. Besides, the Capture Styler's location could be traced within the Almia region by contacting any Operators.
Following the blond man down the pristine streets, May ignored the calls of surprise from the citizens of Pueltown at seeing something so unusual. Apparently the town was not accustomed to seeing a Top Ranger and young woman chasing after a group of strangers.
'May, go to safety,' Jackie hollered as the female grunt grabbed a pokéball from her black belt. Her thin lips were pulled into an angry snarl as her purple eyes glared at them.
'I'm not leaving you to face this on your own, Jackie. What do you take me for?' May glowered back at the man as she caught up to him, helping to corner their opponents in an unused alley.
'Go Houndour!' The woman cried, releasing the black furred pokémon.
Wincing at the low growl which came from the tiny cub pokémon, May felt slightly intimidated by the dark canine pokémon.
'You don't have a partner pokémon, Jackie. Remind me again how you would fight this battle if I weren't here?' May questioned her friend, noticing his suddenly anxious gaze as he searched for a pokémon near them. Blaziken growled its name in support of his Trainer.
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed a pokéball, enlargening it as she began to twirl. In a loud voice, she called, 'Munchlax, take the stage!'
'Munch laaaax!' Munchlax called before flexing his arms before them.
'Munchlax, use secret power on that Houndour!' May called, pointing at the canine type pokémon before them.
Calling his name in response, the big eater pokémon bolted forward, smashing into the canine pokémon with an eager enthusiasm reciprocated by its Trainer.
'Awesome work, Munchlax!' May called, grinning as her pokémon sent her a wink with a thumbs up. He was as confident as ever, and it made the aspiring Top Coordinator smile as her starter pokémon let out a tiny flame from his mouth.
To May's surprise, her opponent laughed at the damage taken by her own pokémon. With a soft giggle, her opponent grinned, 'Houndour, darling, use bite on that annoying Rattata.'
With a low growl, the dark pokémon bolted forward, pouncing on the big eater pokémon.
Hearing her pokémon cry out in pain, May felt her heart lurch painfully in her throat. In a shaky voice, she called, 'Munchlax! Get him off of you with strength!'
Her pokémon winced as his tiny hands struggled with the giant dark and fire type. May's eyes were focused on her friend, zoned in to his struggles, not even aware of her surroundings. She didn't even notice Jackie calling for her attention, trying to get her to move away from the battlefield.
Watching her pokémon tussle in a futile manner against the much larger canine pokémon, May felt terrible. If she hadn't picked Munchlax, her friend and partner wouldn't be in pain. Pushing aside her doubts, May called, 'Munchlax, you can do it!'
Hearing her friend call out his name, May felt surprise fill her when her pokémon's hands began to glow.
'Come on, Munchlax!' May cried, taking a step forward as Blaziken roared with her in support.
'Houndour, use feint attack!' The woman sneered, her purple eyes glinting with angry.
'I know you can do it, Munchlax!' May yelled at her pokémon, recalling just how much support could motivate them.
Just as Houndour was about to disappear, Munchlax pushed the pokémon violently off of him.
With yelp, Houndour flew into a wall nearby, crashing loudly, and painfully, into it.
'Now, while the momentum is high, try earthquake!' May called out, knowing the command was risqué. After all, Munchlax had only ever successfully used earthquake once before.
Munchlax jumped into the air before a tremor started shaking the earth, feeble, yet there.
'Come on, Munchlax!' May grinned at her friend as his gaze focussed on Houndour.
The pokémon, in reaction to May's cries, intensified its attack. As the ground rumbled and shook, the teal pokémon's opponent lost its footing, landing painfully on his jaw.
'Finish it up with strength!' May called as her opponent scowled, 'Houndour, use flamethrower or you'll be sorry!'
The Houndour could only try to catch its breath before Munchlax attacked, pushing it violently into the wall.
With a groan, the canine pokémon struggled to stand up before falling over, fainted.
'You pathetic pokémon!' The woman snarled, all of her previous praise forgotten as she recalled it.
'That's no way to treat your Houndour! He fought as hard as he could!' May yelled furiously, her face flushed in anger as she glared at the woman before her. The woman, to May's shock, merely chuckled as she pocketed her pokéball.
'She's right, who do you think you are?' Jackie snarled as he stumbled forward, though the woman jumped out of his reach with a giggle.
'It is not important who I think I am. I know that I am better than you and will prove it when I can. Now, we of Team Bright Moon bid you farewell!' The woman snapped before grabbing hold of a rope. Sending them a smug smirk, she tugged on it once before disappearing over the walls of the alley.
Recalling her Munchlax, May beamed, 'You were awesome and deserve a good, long rest.'
Once they were alone, Jackie frowned, 'Like your pokémon, May, you were awesome. However, I'm a Ranger and assigned to tackle these dangers. You're not.'
'I may not be a Ranger, Jackie, but I am still classed as a Gym Leader of Petalburg, I'm an inter-region Coordinator and a civilian. If I do not do my bit to help, then how can I face my friends, family and pokémon?' May responded back, surprising him by the depth of her response as she scratched Blaziken's head slowly.
Glaring darkly at the man, she continued, 'besides, who do you think helped coach my brother in passing his tests? He spent hours with me on the phone revising his notes. I know for a fact that even Top Rangers haven't been allocated a Styler that enables capturing already domesticated pokémon, or pokémon caught in a pokéball. How would you have fought those cronies without any wild pokémon around?'
'When you say it like that,' Jackie muttered in an almost guilty manner, appearing speechless for the first time.
'I know I'm right,' May glared back, trying to suppress a smile. After all, she'd never been one to remain serious for extended periods of time.
'Let's head back to the others, I need to report this event,' Jackie frowned as he lead the way to the end of the alley. Glancing back at the damaged ground behind them, Jackie grimaced, 'And we'll need to send someone to clean this mess up.'
With a soft smile, May skipped behind the man, humming a soft tune. Both were unaware of a dark shadow watching their movements away from the building, noticing their every move.
Hope you all enjoyed it. I know there's still no interaction between May and Drew, but it will be before May's first contest debut :)