Hi all,
Than you so much for your continuous support, especially to everyone who's been reading this with me every step of the way. It means a lot to me, and I know I say this a lot, but it really does. You've given me quite a few kind words, and criticism that has given me the opportunity to grow, so I honestly feel grateful.
Here's the latest update, once again, thank you and enjoy!
Chapter 16The battle was going on around them, but May was focused on the plight of her pokémon. Courtney had turned out to be a formidable opponent, her Ninetails and Weezing stronger than May had experienced in a while, and she enjoyed the challenge.
'Weezing, smokescreen, Ninetails, you know what to do,' Courtney smirked, infuriating May. She knew the purple haired Coordinator from somewhere, and she recognised her pokémon, but the brunette couldn't remember where.
Shaking her head, May reminded herself that she had to focus on the battle at hand. With a strangled cry, she called to her pokémon, 'Glaceon, freeze that two faced pokémon and get it to shut up! Munchlax, solar beam that Ninetails!'
Upon noticing her distress, her pokémon hurried to execute her wishes, the execution of her desires turning out to be sloppier than usual. Glaceon's ice beam was misshapen, though effective in shutting the poison gas pokémon, whilst Munchlax's solar beam was shakier than normal.
With a wince, May noticed that her opponent's points hadn't diminished as much as they could have. However, it gave her an opening, and she would take it.
'Great job, guys! I know you're hurt, but we can still do this. Munchlax, use thunder punch on Ninetails, and Glaceon, you use secret power on Weezing!' May called, hoping her voice was filled with more confidence than her previous cry to them.
Exhausted, her pokémon made one final push, Munchlax's thunder punch landing a critical hit on the fire type, causing it to land on the ground in a furry heap.
Upon Glaceon's head encountering the poison gas pokémon's larger head, it flinched, calling its name in pain as it was surrounded by small, electrical currents.
'All right, he's paralysed! Now, Glaceon, use dig!' May called to her pokémon, her attention focused on the battle before her. Her ice type dug a hole, hiding her body from view.
'Munchlax, you know what to do,' May winked as her Glaceon hurtled out of the ground, attacking the Weezing so it lost its balance.
With a growl, Munchlax hit the poison gas pokémon in a clear display of strength. Their opponent didn't stand a chance before landing on the far wall, fainted.
'And there we have it, ladies and gentlemen, all of Courtney's pokémon are unable to continue their fight! Going to the finals will be May!' Adrian called, pointing her hands to a stunned brunette.
'We did it! You guys are awesome!' May grinned, running onto the field to hug her pokémon tightly.
'Pathetic. We'll be having words about your performance today!' Courtney glowered, recalling her pokémon before sending a dark glare at May.
Blinking, May called to the woman, 'it was a good match, your pokémon did well.'
'Don't lie. They lost, again,' the woman spat back before storming out of the arena.
'Well, after that heated battle, it looks like there's some animosity left in the air. We'll take a nice little refresher and be back shortly,' Adrian smiled anxiously before May recalled her pokémon and hurried back stage.
Rushing out of the arena, May hurried to the Pokémon Centre, where she gave Nurse Joy her pokémon.
'Would I be able to have them back for the final stage, Nurse Joy?' May questioned as the nurse took her partners from her.
'Don't worry, we'll get onto it right away,' the nurse smiled before rushing into the back room, a pink Skitty following her.
The brunette heard the sliding doors behind her open, however her eyes were trained on the pink haired nurse, whose hair was curled into two loops on either side of her head.
'May, you were awesome!' Dawn's voice called as May felt herself be pushed into the pink desk before her in a giant hug.
'Thanks, Dawn,' May grinned as she wrapped her arm around her friend's small frame.
'Yes, though you're up against some stiff competition,' Harley glowered, his Banette hat hiding his dark green eyes.
'K-Master?' May frowned slightly as Solidad grimaced at the man, apparently worried that he would incite more fear in May.
'Yes, he does seem quite strong, though he seems incredibly familiar too,' Dawn frowned, poking a finger onto her lips slightly.
'Isn't it obvious who he is?' A cold voice scoffed, causing the blood to rush from Dawn's cheeks as her blue eyes widened in shock.
'Dawn?' May whispered in fear as her friend squeaked.
'Oh yeah, who do you think it is then, if you're such a know it all!' Dawn hollered back, releasing May immediately and stomping a boot on the ground in anger.
'Tch, Dusk, it's obvious, isn't it?' A purple haired man scoffed, crossing his arms and closing his eyes, though May noticed the faintest hint of a smile lifting the corner of his cheeks.
'What did you call me? My name is Dawn!' Dawn screeched, causing May to flinch from her friend and cover her ears in shock. In all the years she'd known Dawn, she'd never seen anyone rile her up quite so successfully. It reminded her of her own reactions to Drew's taunts.
'You heard me the first time. I didn't think you were deaf as well as stupid,' the man who could only be Paul glowered at Dawn, appearing to push all of the buttons that would set May and Dawn off.
'What did you say?' Dawn howled, taking a step forward as May all but lurched to hold back her blue haired friend.
'Harley, help!' May yelped as Harley gasped in feigned shock, though she suspected he enjoyed the drama.
'As I said before, you heard me,' Paul smirked, staring down at Dawn's blue eyes, a smug smirk filling his thin lips.
'Why you nasty, little spoilt brat! Say that again, I dare you!' Dawn snarled as she tried to reach for the man.
'Hang on, hon, let the experts handle this,' Harley winked at May before heading towards the arguing couple.
When May opened her mouth to protest, Harley shushed her with a finger. In a smug voice, he continued, 'we wouldn't want to ruin your cute little outfit, would we? Not before Drew can get you out of it!'
'Harley!' Solidad gasped, her light blue eyes widening in shock.
'Oh, Solidad, excellent, you take her,' Harley winked before shuffling Dawn's irate body onto the flustered pink haired woman.
With a cold laugh, Paul continued, 'look at how you're passed around, you really are puny.'
'Paul, you say one more word and even Arceus himself won't be able to save you!' Dawn scowled as she struggled against the pink haired woman, whose wide eyes were focused on May, begging her to diffuse the situation.
'Now, hon, I can tell you fancy the little blue pipsqueak, no?' Harley questioned, placing a languid arm on Paul's shoulders.
The man, in question stared at his extravagant companion with wide black eyes.
'Harley!' Dawn cried, all of her anger deflating into mortification as her face flushed a bright red.
'That's Harley,' Solidad chuckled as May felt her close friend's pain. She'd been in this scenario with Harley and Drew more times than she could count.
'What?' Paul spat at the man, wrestling himself free as Harley chuckled.
'Oh, hon, your naiveté is simply adorable! Like an adolescent boy on heat!' Harley chuckled as he poked Paul straight on the nose.
'Harley I swear if you don't stop I'll make you!' Dawn squealed, fighting a stunned Solidad's grasp before tackling the man in the Banette costume to the ground.
In a poor attempt at shielding them from view, May anxiously said to Paul, 'so, you must be Paul, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is May.'
'Hi, tell your friends they can get off the floor. I'm going up to my room,' Paul spat in anger, turning to move to the residential area of the Pokémon Centre.
'Hey Paul, before you go, why are you in Almia?' Dawn called, forgetting all about her precarious seat on the Banette wearing man's torso.
'I'm here to catch new pokémon. I heard the game here was good,' Paul shrugged before continuing up his way.
'Wait! Won't you come to the contest with us? May will be in it, and it'd be great if you could join us to support her,' Dawn called, jumping off the extravagant man to watch Ash's rival.
May quietly admired how nonchalant Dawn could act, as though straddling Harley was a daily occurrence for her. However, Misty had often told May that both she and the bluenette bounced back faster than yoyos.
Black eyes met blue before he sighed, 'fine, but only because I know how pushy you can be.'
'All right, thank you, Paul!' Dawn grinned as May shared an uncertain glance with Solidad.
'The more the merrier, I suppose,' Solidad shrugged at the brunette.
'May, your pokémon are fully healed,' Nurse Joy called, pulling May's attention away from her friends.
'Excellent, thank you so much!' May grinned as she took her pokéballs from the awaiting nurse.
'Good luck with the rest of the contest,' Nurse Joy smiled as the group of trainers lead May back outside.
'Thanks, Nurse Joy!' May managed to call out before Harley had ushered her completely out of the building. With an irritated tut, he herded her the rest of the way to the contest hall, sending a brief wave to a familiar chartreuse haired man, hidden in the shadows.