Here's the latest chapter. I've introduced a new person and given a bit of a twist ;)
Hope you all like it.
Having met up with Solidad in the Pokémon Centre sooner than expected, the group had rested well before undergoing personal tasks and meeting for lunch. By some miracle, Harley had forgiven both May and Dawn for their audacious actions, and had even mentioned the prospect of shouting them lunch. That was how May found herself back in the Pokémon Centre's café, eating a bowl of ramen.
Enjoying the delicious flavour, May couldn't help but beam as Harley sat beside her, wolfing down a bowl of udon of his own. Dawn, on the other hand, sat opposite them, looking quite uneasy, whilst Solidad simply ate at her own pace, reading the latest news on her PokéNav.
To ensure they met up with Solidad in a timely manner, the trio had rushed the last dredged of their journey to Vientown, barely taking any breaks. Whilst May had mirrored Harley's determination that they reach the town soon, she still felt like something was following her, watching their every move.
'Hey, May, didn't Misty say that she'd contact us today?' Dawn frowned as she glanced at May, probably hoping to deter her eating habits by distracting her.
'Yes, she'll probably contact us soon. You know she likes to swim in the morning,' May smiled briefly in response as Solidad uncharacteristically choked on her lunch.
'Solidad?' Dawn frowned as the purple haired man before her gasped at Solidad's unusual reaction, once again, food flying from his mouth, though his companions didn't appear to notice.
'Lance has been overthrown,' Solidad frowned as she met May's gaze opposite her.
'What? Has Ash beaten him already?' May squeaked, dropping her chopsticks onto the table in surprise. She thought Ash would have told her if he'd put the challenge date earlier, but clearly that wasn't the case.
'That's not possible, his battle isn't for another month or so,' Dawn frowned, placing her own chopsticks on the table as she poked her lip with her front fingers thoughtfully. In a hesitant manner, she continued, 'someone else must have risen up to challenge the Champion, but who?'
'It was by somebody called Leaf,' Solidad corrected, placing the device on the table as she watched her friends' reactions.
'Who's that?' Dawn frowned, scratching her head slightly as she looked up at the pink haired Top Coordinator.
'Her name sounds familiar, but I can't remember where I've heard about her. Do you think she's friends with Brendan?' May muttered as she crossed her arms, sapphire eyes cast upwards in deep thought.
'Well, whoever or whatever Leaf is, their parents must have had a few too many rock tombs fall on their heads. I mean, naming your child Leaf? What's next, Oak? Or worse, Exeggutor!' Harley scoffed, crossing his arms in irritation.
'Hey, I'll have you know that people can be named after trees! I know Brendan, Orlando and Professor Birch, for your information!' May glowered at the man, hoping to silence him with her anger. After all, she didn't take well to her friends being insulted, ever.
'And I personally know Gary and Professor Oak, as well as Professor Rowan! There's nothing wrong with having a surname named after a piece of nature!' Dawn agreed, dropping her chair over in her haste in chastising her companion.
'Say what you want, twerpettes, but you're forgetting the important factor. Lance is no longer the Champion of Kanto and Johto. By all accounts, this Leafy Oak person may be an incredible stranger, and I'd hate to annoy them,' Harley lectured before turning a meaningful eye on May.
'Hey, what are you looking at me like that for! I haven't done anything!' May glared back at him in anger, her food forgotten before her.
'Isn't it obvious? Hon, you're the kind of girl who attracts the attention of all the significant characters in this story. Honestly, knowing you, Leaf will be here tomorrow with a razz berry cake, congratulating you on your undoubtedly awesome contest debut,' Harley scowled, sarcasm and jealousy lacing his tone whilst Solidad smiled in amusement at his statement.
Just as May was about to respond that the notion was ridiculous, and not just because the contest wasn't tomorrow, her Xtransceiver rang.
Sending her companions a brief, yet apologetic glance, May excused herself and answered her phone, 'hello, this is May speaking.'
'Hey stranger, I thought you'd call me when you arrived in your location. Clearly you kept that promise of yours. What's your status, Gym Leader?' An all too familiar voice filled May's ear, making her grin in eager anticipation.
With a light laugh, she beamed, 'Steven, I'm so sorry, I got caught up in being a tourist again and completely forgot to tell you where I was! I'm sorry, but it's great to hear from you! What do you need assistance with?'
Whilst she knew that this may sound like a courtesy call, it wasn't necessarily that. Steven had requested her status, which meant he wanted a report. Walking slightly from her seat, she leaned casually against a well decorated home in the Pokémon Centre.
'It's good to hear your voice too, May. Care to confirm your status?' The man's voice chuckled in her ear, surprising her.
'Ok, I suppose, though shouldn't you be confirming your status to me?' May muttered, glancing back at her trio of friends who were appearing to be preoccupied, though she knew they were sending her furtive glances behind her back. Talking to Steven, whilst lifting her mood, sometimes reminded her of her duties that she'd shirked back onto the older man, scared of the responsibilities she'd had to face, in the past and in the future.
'That doesn't sound good,' Steven muttered, his voice laced with worry. There was a pause, in which she heard the distinctly concerned voices of Wallace and Brendan in the background.
'You called me when you're not alone?' May frowned down the Xtransceiver, recalling that Steven rarely contacted her when there was company.
'Wallace came for a visit and Brendan popped by my apartment with Wally and Orlando to see if I'd heard anything from you. It's good to see you're keeping your friends in the loop. So, where are you?' Steven's voice beamed down the phone, sounding a little too fauxly energetic for her liking.
With a pout, May frowned, 'Am I on speaker phone?'
'You bet you are, May! Took you long enough to notice it too,' Brendan's voice surprised her as he called down the phone, almost drowning out Wally's chuckle.
'Steven! You are such a stony so and so!' May pouted in disappointment, ignoring the startled glances from strangers around her.
'Hey, you didn't say you didn't want to be on speaker!' Steven chuckled, undoubtedly imagining her irked expression.
'He's got you there,' Orlando's voice laughed as May once again found herself flustered by three of her closest friends. They weren't together often, but when they were, they often teamed up against her.
'Come on, guys! You know I hate it when you pick on me together!' May scowled at them from where she stood, glowering at the confused glanced her trio of friends were sending her.
'Yeah, the only one who's missing is Max,' Orlando chuckled as Wally chuckled, his voice sounding sickly even over the electronic device.
'Wally, have you been taking your medication?' May scolded slightly, knowing that her friend's guardians would worry.
The man, in response, offered an uncommitted response, his voice wheezing slightly.
'Wally, you have to look after yourself! If you won't do it for yourself, do it for your family and friends who'll worry about you!' May scowled, knowing her friend wouldn't listen to her argument. After all, his health had improved drastically with his move to his uncle's house.
With a soft sigh, she continued, 'to answer your other question, Steven, I've met up with Max briefly in Almia. They're starting up contests here and I'm apparently trying for the Top Coordinator title once again. Harley seems to think I'll do swimmingly, because he's convinced the new Indigo League Champion will be flying here to meet me after my contest with a razz berry cake.'
'And you're telling me that you're only ok, why? May, I'll find this Leaf Green woman and get her to meet you there myself!' Orlando scoffed slightly, sounding completely unconvinced. Everyone she was talking to knew of her unattained wish of being a Top Coordinator.
'Isn't it obvious, Orlando?' Brendan growled back, apparently ready to start a fight with his younger brother.
'She's lost her confidence,' Wallace's voice explained, making her wince at the sound of his smooth voice, reiterating the problem she was trying to overcome.
'How is that possible? May took on Team Aqua and Magma with barely any of us there to help her!' Orlando expressed, sounding like he was choking on something, though May couldn't begin to understand what it was.
In a sheepish voice, May muttered, 'I can't do it anymore, guys. I'm trying, but I'm not sure I can get all that grace and beauty back. My pokémon are strong, there's no doubt about it. But can I make them shine?'
'Of course you can, you nearly won the Wallace Cup,' Wallace encouraged, his tone more optimistic than the brunette felt.
'And remember that Lisia herself was impressed with your pokémon's beauty,' Wally reassured the brunette too, once again reminding May that she could rely on her friends for anything.
'I know, but I'm still scared,' May whispered as she ran a hand through the top of her ponyta-tail.
'That's understandable, you're human, May. But if you don't take the chance now, you'll never forgive yourself. Sure, your friends may have the title you're dreaming about, but you've achieved what no one else has dared to dream of. You've taken on two organisations and won!' Brendan scowled down at the phone, reminding her again of why they were such good friends.
'I don't see how that's impressive. Ash has done similar things too,' May muttered dejectedly, clinging onto straws. She knew she was being pathetic, but she couldn't help it. How could she think she was great when she had such inspiring friends?
'Please, he didn't take down two in one go. Besides, you know he's got the same unusual luck that you do, and he's, like you, only now trying to achieve his dream. Think about how long he's been trying, May. You've achieved a lot more than he has, and you weren't trying to do any of it,' Brendan lectured into her ear, knowing that her crippled ego was once again damaging her chances.
'Besides, you've really improved your Gym,' Steven added, making May's heart warm for the older man.
'I suppose you're right, though it's not my Gym,' May muttered as she heard the tell-tale noise of another inbound call in the background.
'Is that someone trying to reach you or us?' Wally frowned, his voice wheezing slightly.
'Probably me, I was expecting another call. Before I go, thank you all so much for your support, it means the world to me. I'll talk to you all as soon as I can,' May grinned before hearing their responses, reiterating their support for her.
With a light laugh, she hung up and glanced down at her Xtransceiver. Sure enough, there was a call from none other than Misty, the Cerulean Gym Leader. With a small smile, May knew exactly how to answer this call. She and Misty often liked to call each other out, and Misty most likely wouldn't expect May's chipper greeting.
'Hello, the strongest Gym Leader in Hoenn answering,' May grinned into the device after selecting answer.
'Hi, Hoenn's strongest leader, you are speaking the number one Gym Leader of not just Kanto, but also Johto. Suck it up, princess, I'll always be the more impressive one out of us two!' Misty's voice laughed down the phone, making her smile. Yes, she definitely loved her friends.
'Oh really? Someone's ego is getting out of hand,' May giggled back, picturing the orange haired woman's cerulean eyes rolling at her response.
'Hey, that says a lot, coming from you, Little Miss Strongest! Besides, I may be battling Leaf soon, but you don't hear me stressing or gloating about that. Even if I did, though, that doesn't mean that I've got the ego of her lover boy!' Misty roared, reacting with an anger May knew all too well. She'd still never quite understood what Ash saw in her friend's anger, but May knew that love could be incredibly inconceivable to others. After all, Misty would indefinitely tell her off for her own affections on a certain green haired Top Coordinator.
'Wait, you're battling Leaf? As in the same Leaf that just won the Championship title?' May squeaked down the line as she headed back to her group of friends. After all, Dawn would want to say something to the tomboyish red head, too.
'Yes, she's a good friend of mine,' Misty responded, acting blasé, though May wasn't fooled.
'How can you just say that so calmly? You're taking on the Championship Battle before Ash?' May hissed down the line as she took a seat beside a disgruntled Harley, who always resented being left out of any drama.
'Who's doing what now?' Dawn frowned, glancing up at the brunette in confusion. After all, her friends had only just heard her express the last statement without any background to it.
'Misty is taking on Leaf,' May frowned as Misty had become unusually quiet on the other side of the Xtransceiver.
'She's what? Who is this Misty?' Harley frowned, blinking at the brunette in disbelief, apparently taking a moment or two to decipher the statement.
'No way! MISTY WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? SHE IS THE CHAMPION OF TWO REGIONS! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELF AND YOUR POKÉMON!' Dawn hollered down the communication device, almost breaking it in her eagerness to snatch it from the stunned brunette before her.
Whatever Misty had responded with left Dawn wide eyed and pale, handing the device back to May as though she'd been slapped.
'Hey, Misty, what in Groudon's name did you say to Dawn? You actually managed to silence her,' May frowned, only to hear the orange haired woman laugh down the phone.
'I just reminded her that Leaf is a good friend of mine, but that that didn't influence my desire to battle her. I've been meaning to take on the League for a while, and what better way to do it than just before Ash? Besides, it means I've officially achieved my own goal of being Water Pokémon Master. Could you hold that against me?' Misty's voice spoke, sounding lighter than May could believe.
'But then you'd have to battle Ash. Doesn't that scare you? You two have always had such a volatile relationship,' the brunette frowned, hinting at the orange haired woman's longstanding affections for the aspiring Pokémon Master.
'Not really, we've battled before. It'll just mean he has to think up his strategy some more because Pikachu won't battle me. Sure, Lance would have been a challenge, but I've always been a far more strenuous rival for him. Think about it, we both know each other inside out, we're best friends. I'd love to see his face when he sees me there,' Misty chuckled eagerly. She did sound confident, and it made May feel all the more anxious for her friend. After all, Misty's main supporters weren't geographically close to her at this stage.
'When? Aren't you getting a little cocky?' May teased her friend, noticing Solidad's small smirk as she read another article on the internet.
'No, because I know I'll make it. I have to; Ash needs me to do this for him, even if he doesn't know about it,' Misty smiled at her friend, her tone infuriatingly confident.
'And what if he doesn't appreciate it?' May questioned, unsure of Ash's emotions on this particular event.
'You're forgetting, I know him inside out. He's pushed me on for as much as I have pushed him on. I've seen him die for others, ladies. Trust me, he needs me to do this,' Misty said, clearly attempting to acquiesce her younger friend, though it wasn't really working.
'Ok, I'll support you, but only if you're sure of what you're doing,' May frowned as she glanced at Dawn's equally perplexed gaze. Neither of them could possibly comprehend why Misty was so adamant in this, but they knew they had to respect her wishes. After all, she was Ash's oldest travelling partner, and also his most significant supporter after his mother and Professor Oak. When Misty said she had seen him die, May knew better than to question it.
'Of course I'm sure. Now, tell me what you're up to,' Misty frowned down the phone at May, her concern for her friend coming through.
'Well, I'm about to go practice my appeal some more, but other than that, nothing much. All I can do is battle Dawn, Solidad and Harley and hope for the best,' May muttered into the device, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. After all, it had been quite a while since she had last entered a contest.
'Speaking of battles, I'd better go and practice my battles against Tracey and Daisy. I promise I'll send you a message if I win. Good luck with your great debut,' Misty frowned into the device, and May could almost picture her winking at her Xtransceiver.
'Take care,' May whispered before hanging up. Feeling more confident than she had, she glanced at her trio of friends.
'I'd better go practice my appeals some more,' May smiled before walking out of the door, not noticing the hooded stranger who followed her, their teal coloured clothing standing out against the suburban scenery.
Still no Drew, but I promise he'll be coming!
Thank you for your feedback, it does mean a lot to me :)