Disclaimer: Yikes, it's been a while ... Uh, don't own Pokémon, can't hope to own millions ... Although it would be useful ...
I AM SO SO SORRY! How long has it been since I updated this!? Omg ... July 30th July!!! Nearly 6 months ago! Oh well ... For a start, this can now be officially classed as an A/U (alternate universe) fic, because Togepi had to evolve and leave didn't he? Well ... it was a cutey ...
And if anyone is interested, in the past 6 months I've gotten close to my boyfriend who now is my fiancé, and we are moving in together in less than 6 months!
And now, please sit back and enjoy the belated mini section of:
How Much Can Happen in a Year?
Whilst the events described in Part 6 were occurring ... what was happening with Tracey and May?
...
The pounding of their feet thudded on the ground as they tore their way through the forest. The shouts of their pursuers could be heard resonating through the trees, only making the two of them run faster.
"How long have we been running now?" May shouted out to her fellow escapee. A fog was now settling in on the grassy floor, making it harder and harder to see where they were running, as well as their surroundings. Togepi chirped sadly in her arms, only wanting to be with his mother, but understanding the reason why Misty gave her to May so that May could look after her.
"Who cares, just as long we get out of here," was the reply Tracey gave to her. She glanced upwards from the forest floor briefly, seeing the scratches on Tracey's face from the patch of trees they had just ran through, and hugged Togepi closer to her chest.
"Tracey, no offence, but do you think you can get us out of here?" May asked him, as the two of them stopped briefly and glanced around them, Tracey wiping his sweatband as he did so. "I don't know my way around Hoenn, never mind Kanto!" she continued to speak, a look of panic crossing Tracey's face very quickly.
"Shhh!" he harshly silenced, placing his hand over May's mouth tightly, his hand on her shoulder as he stood behind her. Automatically she kicked out at Tracey's leg, causing him to let go of and to grasp the leg tightly as he called out in pain.
"What was that for!?" she shouted out, her heart racing. Her anger turned to sudden fear when an object rushed out of the darkness of the trees and missed her by scant inches.
"That!" Tracey shouted, ignoring the pain in his leg and grabbing one of her wrists, pulling her along with him as he began to run, other darts flying out of the surrounding darkness of the forest. Tracey's faster speed soon showed as May tripped up, falling to the ground. Togepi flew out of her arms and landed in a pile of leaves, crying its name out loudly. After Tracey had quickly gotten May to her feet, she reached out and picked up Togepi. The two of them began to run again, leaping over fallen branches that lay underneath them.
"What ... were they?" May asked him, having difficulty breathing as her energy declined.
"I think ... they were tranquillisers," he answered her, slowing his speed down as they entered a clearing in the forest, the nights starry sky showing through the trees. "I think."
"Thanks, I feel a whole lot better!" May despairingly sighed out, slumping against a large tree. Suddenly, a large cracking noise was heard, and May yelped as the side of the tree caved in on itself. Togepi jumped out of her arms as she fell, and was now on the floor jumping up and down at the discovery of a hiding place.
"Hey, nice work May," Tracey congratulated her as he moved over, picking Togepi up and looking inside the newly discovered space. "It's huge in here ... Quick, get in!" he encouraged, quickly climbing inside. Placing Togepi down, he picked up the whole piece of fallen bark that rested atop of May, and used it to cover their entrance to the tree.
"I'm so glad you like it," she moaned, sitting up using her hands and wiping herself clean. "How come there's a space this big inside a tree?" she asked him, crawling partly on her knees to find the side of the tree. "It's enormous! Loads of people could fit in here!"
"Shame that there's only us two here then," he said sadly, running his hands through his hair after removing his sweatband. "How do you think everyone is? I mean, Ash is gonna have the hardest time trying to get himself and Misty out of here, and with all these Team Rocket agents chasing us ... " he sighed loudly.
"All we can do is hope and get out of here," May replied. Tapping her hands on her thighs for a few seconds, she then reached over and picked up Togepi, pulling the tiny Pokémon close. "Don't worry," she said in a soothing voice. "We'll get out of this creepy place and find your mommy." Togepi chirped in happiness, waving its arms.
"You're good with baby Pokémon, aren't you?" Tracey observed, watching May handle Togepi with ease.
"I ... guess," she said, surprised at his comment. "I never really thought I was that good with Pokémon." The smile that had been on her face had changed to a solemn one. "Max knows more about Pokémon than me ... he's the one who wants to be a trainer. But my Dad wants us both to be trainers, that's why he pushed me to become one as soon as I could. I only went along with it so I could get out of Petalburg and see the world. I remember ... when I was little I used to sneak out the house and go to Route 104. Watching the boats go by, people swimming ... " she sighed, stars shimmering in her eyes.
"And how do you like the life of a traveller?" Tracey asked her, May's eyes refocusing.
"Well ... I'll admit it isn't as classy as I imagined it to be," she said shyly. "But that doesn't mean I don't like it," she added, winking in the darkness.
"I used to love to travel," Tracey added to their topic. "I was travelling around the Orange Islands when I met Ash and Misty. And when I finally got to meet Oak through them ... well, I knew I preferred to stay there and be taught by him, rather than travel around. As much as I enjoyed it."
"Toge toge briiii!" Togepi suddenly chirped, disturbing the silence that had settled in. Tracey and May both jumped slightly, keeping silent as they heard twigs outside snapping, and leaves rustling as they were stepped on.
"Where could they have gone?" a male voice asked into the darkness. "We saw them going this way ... They can't just disappear!" May breathed a quiet sigh of relief that their pursuers hadn't spotted them barely a few metres away from where they were standing. Through small peepholes in the bark that herself and Tracey were looking through, they could see the tranquilliser guns resting in their arms.
"Don't be stupid," a rough voice shouted. He then sighed. "This is ridiculous. Nearly 200 agents sent out into the forest at night, and what are we looking for?" he said, the annoyance rising in his voice. "A bunch of measly kids! And one of them's pregnant for crying out loud! What kind of wild Pidgey chase will we be sent on next!?"
Through their gap they watched as a young man took a step towards the one who had just spoken, raising his gun into the air. "Don't talk about the Boss like that!" he said defiantly, trying to look steady and forceful. But May could see his hands trembling near the gun's trigger and, glancing a quick look at Tracey, she wondered just what was going to happen next.
"Ooooh, and just what are ya gonna do to me?" the man replied teasingly. "You wouldn't fire that gun at a Magikarp, never mind a real person!"
"Don't push me," the young agent said threateningly, visibly increasing his grip and control of the gun. He looked like he was ready to fire it when they were interrupted by more arrivals.
"Oh I do wish you grunts would grow up sometimes," a smooth female voice spoke, immediately provoking recognition in Tracey, as he swiftly moved as close as he could to the tree bark, peeking outside.
"Cassidy ... " he quietly whispered, May not hearing him as she encouraged Togepi to remain quiet.
"When you boys have done playing men," a croaky male voice relayed, "you'll realise that the Boss has sent you new orders."
"We are ready to receive our orders Agents Butch and Cassidy, sirs!" the young agent shouted out, standing to attention and lowering his gun, his hand now raised to his head in a salute.
"If he stands any straighter he could be used as a ladder!" Cassidy sarcastically remarked, laughing slightly. The smirks from the other agents resulted in the young grunt lowering his hand, his face displaying the redness of embarrassment.
"Enough of this messing around," Butch professionally announced, causing Cassidy to throw him a death glare briefly. "We have new orders from the boss."
"And what are they this time?" the earlier grunt asked lazily. "Does he want us to dance and sing whilst he eats dinner now?" he said sarcastically, chuckling out loud.
"Watch your mouth, or you won't have one," Butch croakily warned him. "The Boss wants us to-" he stopped as he heard voices, male and female, crying out in the darkness. Through his peephole, Tracey could see a sly smile appear on Cassidy's face.
"We got them," she whispered to herself. She then stood up tall and addressed the others. "Screw the orders, head after whatever the hell that noise was."
"Yes ma'am!" the grunts acknowledged. They saluted and then, after grasping their weapons firmer, jogged off.
"Who do you think it was?" Cassidy asked Butch, the only one remaining.
"The Pikachu brat," he replied.
"I hope so," she returned. "I've got a few things lined up for him and that red-head." She paused, tilting her head back and taking in a deep breath of air. "I wonder if the brat'll pull the same face Jimmy boy did when we performed Jessie's 'operation'," she finished, giggling smugly to herself. As she and Butch walked off into the distance Tracey felt it safe enough to sigh.
"What were they on about?" May asked him. "And who do you think is in trouble?"
"I know who I hope isn't in danger," he said. "Anyways, I think it's safe to leave now, don't you?" May nodded in agreement and Tracey pushed at the loose tree bark. It fell away and he stepped out into the night, stretching his arms and shaking his head to rid the small bits of wood from it. "Let's go," he said to her, offering his hand. She accepted it and after dusting off herself and Togepi, they walked towards Pallet Town.
After an hour or so, what May thought was an unacceptable silence, she felt she couldn't not say anything anymore. "Tracey-" she said quickly. She then realised how loud she had spoken and covered her mouth with her hand briefly. "Sorry," she apologised. Embarrassed, she turned her attention to the now sleeping Togepi in her arms.
"It's ok," he reassured her. "What were you going to say?"
"Well ... Do you ... Miss home?" she asked quietly, almost as if the words were rude and she was talking to a teacher.
"Sure I do," he replied freely. "I mean, who doesn't?"
"So it's not a bad thing to miss home?" she said, surprised at his response. "Even if you thought all your life you wanted to leave there and see the world?"
"Home's home," he reminded her. "Home used to be the world when you were growing up, and it doesn't matter how many places you travel to, or how many people you see ... Because no place you'll ever visit is truly home."
"Unless you make it a home?"
Tracey was silent for a moment, pondering his answer. "I guess so," he answered honestly.
"Thanks." She smiled at Tracey, and he returned it.
All night they walked through the forest, talking of various things. Growing up ... School ... Annoying siblings ... Annoying parents even. It wasn't until the sun touched the top of the horizon, and they neared their destination of Pallet Town, that they realised how late it was that the topic changed to more recent matters at hand.
"Part of me doesn't wanna go back," May said.
"Why?"
She sighed, stopping in her steps. Tracey halted as well, turning to look at her as May spoke. "Because you know and I know that something has happened to someone last night."
"No, we have no idea what has happened to anyone," he corrected. "And if you think negative, then you're gonna make negative things happen." He turned back round and continued walking.
"So I should be a total optimist like you?" she quipped sarcastically, continuing walking. Togepi, whom had recently woken up, chirped.
"Very funny," he told her. "And yes, you should be. If the whole world was like you then ..." he faded off.
"Tracey?" she called, jogging up to him. "You're freaking me out now, what's ..." she too faded off. Standing on the hill overlooking Pallet Town, nausea and dizziness both overcame May.
And she screamed ...
*~*
END PART 7
That is short ... And I only picked this back up today after re-reading it several times. And writers block ... It took me a while to get back into writing, and in my opinion this part was rubbish. But then again ... I wasn't looking forward to writing this part because it's Tracey and May ... THE FILL-IN CHARACTERS!!!
Part 8 will be better ... And it will be up soon (and I mean that!)!