The group's halfway point challenge comes not from a random duelist, but from a friend! Michael, curious as to how good of a duelist our heroes have become, decides to challenge Misty to find out!
But Misty is quick to show Michael that she, Ash, and Brock are getting quite good at the game, good enough to hopefully earn the remaining four Crests and challenge the four Grand Masters!
But can they handle the challenges ahead? Find out!
The Heart of the Cards, part 23: Love is a Song That Never Ends
Ash yawned and sat up in bed. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and glanced out the window, where the sunlight was peeking inside. "Wow...it sure is pretty today... he thought as he climbed out of bed and trudged over to the closet and got dressed. "Maybe Maya will take us somewhere nice for the day...
"Pika?" Pikachu opened an eye, curious as to why Ash was awake. "Pichupika pika pikachu..."
"Yes, I know Maya hasen't come yet, but the sun's already up...and I am quite hungry..." Ash explained, offering his hand to Pikachu, who willingly climbed aboard.
"Unngh..." Ash turned back to look towards the bedroom, where Misty was beginning to stir. "Morning, Ash..." she yawned.
"Morning..." Ash smiled. "Is Brock awake yet?"
"Nope, still counting Mareeps over there..." Misty smiled. "He's probably waiting for Maya to get here..."
"Well..." Ash mused. "She's usually here by now..." With that, he tiptoed over to Brock's bed and gave him a gentle nudge. "Hey..."
"mrggh...is Maya here yet?" Brock groggily asked as he sat up in bed.
"No, but is it time to get up." Ash assured him.
"Okay..." and Brock climbed out of bed, walked off to the bathroom, and started the shower.
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"That's strange...Maya usually comes to wake us up in the morning." Misty began as she poured herself some cereal.
"Maybe she had something she had to do that prevented her from giving us our wake-up call this morning..." Ash suggested.
"Oh no..." Brock interjected. "Usually she'll come wake us up BEFORE she does anything else...you think...she's got a problem or something?"
Ash was surprised. "What makes you think that, Brock?"
"Pika Pichupika pi pikachu?" Pikachu suggested, sniffling to prove his point.
"You're right, Pikachu, Maya could very well be sad about something..." Brock began. "But the question is...what could she be sad about?
"Good point, Brock..." Misty agreed. "She may have lost a loved one...or she may have gotten transferred to another circuit..."
Ash stood from from the table, put his dishes in the sink, and started for the door. "Well, the only way we can find out what's wrong with Maya is to ask Maya herself!" he explained as he grabbed his cap from the hat stand. "So, I'm going to go find her and ask what's bothering her."
"Good luck, then..." Misty called as Ash departed.
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"Pika pi Pichupika?" Pikachu asked as he and Ash walked along the street.
"Maya sometimes likes to come out here in the morning, so that's why we're looking here first." Ash explained as the two of them entered the square.
Pikachu then spotted a familiar face on a bench in one of the gardens. "Pichupika!" he called, pointing out Maya in the crowds of people.
"You see her?" Ash replied. "Hey, Maya!" he called as he approached the bench, waving in Maya's direction.
Maya looked up from the notebook she was writing in and saw Ash approaching. "Oh...good morning, Ash..." she smiled, making a place on the bench for Ash to sit down. "What brings you out here this morning?"
"We were worried about you!" Ash explained. "You didn't come wake us up like you usually do...so we were worried that something was wrong."
"I appriciate your concern...and I do have some sort of a problem..." Maya began. "You see...Michael and I have been close friends for a very long time...and I feel like our friendship is turning into love..."
"How sweet..." Ash replied.
"However...although I do love Michael, I don't think he knows I love him..." Maya continued. "So, my problem lies in how to tell Micheal that I love him..."
"So he basically thinks you're still his best friend?" Ash asked.
"Yes...but I want to tell him that I love him a lot more than he thinks I do..." Maya showed Ash the page she had been writing on. "...and since he likes music and my songwriting, I thought I might write him a song that tells him how much I love him."
"Great idea!" Ash replied, glancing at the page. "Let's see here...put yourself in my on over anytime.....looks pretty good!"
"That's only the chorus..." Maya noted as she got up from the bench. "All it needs is some verses and music."
"I think I can help you there..." and Ash lead the way out.
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"...and she wants to write a song for Michael that tells him that she loves him." Ash explained to Brock. "Think you can help?"
"So...one love song that needs verses..." Brock explained as he walked over to a desk and got comfortable. "Okay..." he called, beckoning Maya to sit down next to him. "This is the chorus, right?" he asked.
"It is..." Maya replied.
Brock studied what Maya had written and smiled. "This looks great!"
"Thank you..." Maya replied. "It basically is telling Michael that although he's been through heartbreak before, I know how he feels too...so I want to love him and give him a relationship that lasts..."
"All right...so we could make the first verse reinforce that theme..." Brock began writing a few lines.
"Then I could tell him I've suffered heartbreak before as well, so I know how he feels...and I want to love him to make him feel better." Maya suggested.
Okay..." Brock wrote a few more lines. "That takes care of verse 1...now, how about verse 2?
"Well..." Maya thought for a moment. "He's still feeling kinda bad about his last attempt at love...so tell him that before he gives up on love completely, try a relationship with me."
"Perfect!" Brock cried as he scribbled down the lines. "Two verses all you want?"
"Yes..." Maya replied. "If you can, try to get the music ready by tonight...I want to sing it to him as soon as I can!"
"I will." Brock assured Maya as he reached for several sheets of musical staff paper...
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"Michael..." Ash began as he escorted Michael into the room that evening. "Maya has something she'd like to say--or should I say--sing to you."
"I hope it's good..." Michael sighed as he sat down before a makeshift stage. "I could use some cheering up after my breakup last week..."
"Oh believe me, you'll like it!" Maya called from the stage. She waited as Brock stepped up to the stage, picked up his guitar, and started to tune up. "We spent all afternoon rehearsing it!" At this, Misty and Ash stepped up to the stage. Ash walked over to stage left, picked up a waiting fiddle, and started to tune up. Misty stood nearby, anxiously shaking a tambourine.
"I can tell this going to be good..." Michael smiled. "Your songs always cheer me up!"
"I had some help this time..." Maya replied, smiling at Brock. "Are we ready?" Brock answered with a confident strum, Ash calmly stroked a note, and Misty shook the tambourine excitedly. "Okay...take it, Brock."
Brock started a catchy melody as Maya sang:
Well, she broke your heart into a million pieces...
And your confidence is scattered on the wind...
Your mind is set on never even tryin' love again.
But, you don't own the only heart that's been broken...
Baby, I've been through it all before!
And the quickest way around that lonesome feeling...
Is a plain and simple straight line to my door!
Put yourself in my place! the others joined in with Maya.
Come on over anytime!
Put yourself in my lovin' arms
Baby, I could change your mind!
Well, I know just where you're coming from...
Don't you think you've hurt enough?
Honey, put yourself in my place before you give up on love!
Now, I'm on the other side of a heartache... Maya continued. Ash stood nearby, complimenting Brock's upbeat melody with a calm fiddle countermelody.
And if I can make it baby, you can too!
Maybe you just need a little help now gettin' through.
So, before you think of throwin' in the towel...
Give me a chance to soften your mistake.
True love is waitin' just inside these four walls...
Baby, it ain't never too late!
Put yourself in my place! The others chimed in with Maya once again.
Come on over anytime!
Put yourself in my lovin' arms
Baby, I could change your mind!
Well, I know just where you're coming from...
Don't you think you've hurt enough?
Honey, put yourself in my place before you give up on love!
Maya then did a short dance as Brock broke off to solo...causing Michael to clap along with the song.
Well, I know just where you're coming from... Maya continued, kneeling close to Michael, whose sad expression was shifting to a small smile.
Don't you think you've hurt enough?
Honey, put yourself in my place before you give up on love!
Put yourself in my place before you give up on love! everyone sang, ending the song.
Michael stood up and applauded. "Bravo!"
"Thank you..." Maya smiled and took a bow. Everyone else did the same.
"In fact..." Michael paused to brush away a joyful tear. "Come here!" The others watched as Maya and Michael hugged each other in a loving embrace...
"What lies ahead for the Pokepals? Stay tuned!