Hi all,
Thank you for taking the time to read this fic, as well as any who have followed, favourited or reviewed. I'm sorry I haven't been updating as regularly as I would like to, but I'll do my best to update this as much as possible.
Chapter 28Reaching the island, May ripped the snorkel away from her mouth as she stumbled forward. Her sapphire eyes searched the beach frantically, finding no trace of the black haired man or the submarine.
Letting out a cry, she turned in a circle, searching the sky for any sign of Latios or Latias.
In a loud voice, she called, 'Brendan! Where are you?'
'Back here,' Gary grunted as he appeared out from behind a pine tree, the black haired man by his side.
'Yo, May, what's up?' The man questioned as he arched a cool eyebrow at her, appearing perfectly at ease as the pokémon followed him onto the beach.
'Flygon, I'm never leaving you behind again!' Drew grinned as he stumbled towards his green dragon and ground type, who nuzzled his face affectionately. He didn't notice as the brunette woman began charging forward, her feet stomping ineffectively on the ground.
'What's up? What's up? I was worried sick about you, that's what!' May glared at the man as she reached his side, her face flushed with anger. The man responded by grinning sheepishly at her as she pulled his white beanie over his head so it covered his eyes, an act she frequently did when incapable of expressing her anger at the man.
'Wha—how come? I'm fine, right guys?' Brendan chuckled as he glanced back at Latios and Latias for support. The two eon pokémon glanced at him once before refusing to respond, a sure sign that everything had not been fine.
'Dude, that much isn't all that obvious. What happened here? This place looks like a horde of Cranidos rampaged through here,' Gary frowned as his dark eyes flickered to the other Researcher, hardening slightly as the Hoenn native lifted his beanie and poked the brunette in the side.
'You'd know about that, right?' Brendan chuckled at the man, a knowing glint filling his eyes.
In response, the Kanto native sent him a smug smirk.
'Wait, what?' May questioned, her eyes flickering between the two as Jackie surfaced with Max and the Phantom.
'Confidential research, May, confidential research,' Brendan winked smugly as May scowled at him.
'May, we're going to the Ranger Base with the Phantom and Franklin. I expect that you stay clear from that young prince of yours from now on,' Jackie called to the group, pulling their attention away from the mess.
Hearing this May's lower lip quivered, her eyes brimming with tears at the thought of leaving her young friend indefinitely.
'May,' Max began, but a glare from his mentor silenced him.
'Hey, don't you start having a go at either of them! They're family, and family do their best to look out for each other. Besides, Manaphy is a free pokémon, as May is a free person. If she wants to associate with the prince of the sea, then so be it. You have no means of controlling that, and I can assure you that if I can find a way to bring the two of them together, I will,' Gary retorted hotly, a snarl filling his face as he glared at the older man. He seemed not at all intimidated by Jackie's glower, refusing to back down as he glared back with a fiery passion that had May surprised.
Hearing his words, May couldn't help but blink back her tears, grinning up at the man who she'd recently learned was her cousin. Not only had she never considered the possibility of an extended family, but the fervour with which he was defending her after their rocky introduction made it all the more touching.
'You mean that, Gary?' May whispered as Brendan's eyes flickered between his companions, noticing Gary's uncharacteristic anxiety as well as Drew's moody glower. The man noted with some small joy the way Gary made an extra effort to appease the young woman's worries, as well as the chartreuse haired man's clear resentment of these efforts.
'Well, yeah, of course I do. If I can make you or Max happy, I would. I'd be grateful if you'd give me a second chance,' Gary shrugged slightly, scratching the back of his head in a manner which he'd adopted from none other than Ash Ketchum.
Seeing this familiar action, May's face broke into a giant grin as she lunged at the man, tackling him into a giant hug as she squealed, 'Oh Ho-Oh, I completely understand why Ash, Brock, Dawn, and Misty like you! Gary you're the best, I can almost say I love you!'
'Hey sis, give it a break!' Max hollered, rolling his eyes as Jackie scowled at the man, not appreciating anyone involving themselves in the Manaphy ordeal.
'Please, we all know you love him too!' May grinned back as she grabbed a handful of wet sand and threw it at her brother, who flinched out of instinct.
'Don't you dare start that again!' Max laughed at her, his eyes lighting with joy at seeing his sister bounce back from her separation from the young prince.
'Please, we both know I'm far better in a fight than you'll ever be,' May teased, poking her tongue out at her younger brother as Gary sent a thumbs up signal to Brendan.
'So, you told her?' Brendan whispered as May continued to banter with her brother, appearing oblivious to the events going on around them.
'Yup, and I think she's happy with the idea,' Gary grinned, unable to suppress his childlike joy.
'Wow, I think that childish delight is otherwise hereditary or contagious,' Brendan teased as Gary sent the man a moody glower.
May bounced off the balls of her feet before her sapphire orbs met Drew's back. The young man was focusing his attention on his dragon type, his back to her so she couldn't see his face. With a small smile, she walked forward, trying to be as subtle as possible.
'Hey Drew, haven't you missed these moments?' May grinned as she appeared beside him, her expression as cheerful as any he'd ever adored on her face.
Opening his mouth, he responded in a distant manner, 'I suppose.'
Hearing this, she frowned slightly, trying to hide her disappointment at the impartial response. Glancing anxiously at her feet, she didn't hear Gary saunter towards them as she sought for an adequate response.
With an eager grin, the man swung an arm around her shoulders, not seeing the young woman blink at the touch. The man beamed, 'come on, May, I want to introduce you to someone very important to me.'
'Who?' May questioned as she glanced from one man to the other, not registering the moody glower Drew was trying, and failing, to suppress. She realised that something was upsetting her rival, but she wasn't too sure how to discuss it with Gary standing beside her. Rather than address it, she turned her focus to her cousin, a man she was increasingly wanting to know.
'Ever heard Ash mention a childhood friend called Leaf?' Gary winked as he played with his Xtransceiver, seeming completely unperturbed by Drew's moody glower.
'Not that I remember, but Misty mentioned battling a Leaf soon,' May frowned as her heart dropped to her stomach. If her friends were as tight knit as she thought they were, then this Leaf was the same Leaf that had just been proclaimed champion of two regions. What had Harley said about Leaf coming into her life with razz berry cake after her contest debut?
'Yeah, I'll intro you,' Gary winked before his gaze became intent on his device.
'Can she bring razz berry cake?' May questioned as she bit back a smile. Harley would definitely have a field day if it did happen.
With a grimace, he muttered, 'maybe, I'll ask her. Gramps has been looking for me. Brendan and I are apparently needed in the conference after all.'
'Really, so you have to go?' May pouted up at the man, not seeing Drew's eyes widen further at her clear disappointment.
'Yeah, but I'll call you. Tell me when your next contest is, I'll introduce you to a string of people. Just do me a favour, don't tell anyone about our relationship until I've introduced you to the rest of the family,' Gary winked at her before messing up her hair with his hand.
'Hey!' May squawked as Brendan chuckled at their interaction.
'I must say I approve of this side of you, Gary,' Brendan winked as he pulled May into a tight hug, ignoring her angered glare.
'Yeah, as opposed to the teasing jerk,' May giggled, pushing the man's ribs slightly.
'Hey, I was only showing you my true persona, it's not my fault you gravitated towards me!' Gary retorted as May rolled her eyes.
'Please, she's only attracted to one type of person,' Brendan retorted, only to be interrupted by May's angered squeak.
'I'll get your number from Brendan. Safe trip back to Almia, May,' Gary grinned as he flicked her nose, enjoying the pout she sent him.
'I'll safe trip you in a minute,' May muttered to herself, not pausing to consider how little sense her words made. Seeing the two climb back onto their pokémon, May couldn't help but wave at them.
'Take care! Have a safe trip or I'll be having words with Misty!' May teased, unable to hide her giant grin. Who would have thought that back when she had met Gary in Petalburg he'd be such an important figure in her life?
'So, you two seem to have forgotten your intense dislike for each other,' Drew frowned, his tone guarded as he stood by her side.
'Yeah, he's not as bad as I thought,' May grinned, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet as she watched the two friends fly into the distance.
Drew sent her a guarded frown before turning to Flygon, 'we should get going. The others might still be in trouble.'
Hearing this, May frowned, 'you're right. Let's go, Latias!'
Hopping onto the red eon pokémon with ease, May petted her friend's neck carefully as her thoughts flew with her childhood friend and cousin. What were the odds that her first travel companion and her oldest friend who, to the best of her knowledge, didn't know each other, were both acquainted with her long lost cousin? She couldn't wait to talk to her mother about it.