Just want to say thank you to everyone for your help and positive feedback. I'd like to say sorry for any bad grammar or mistakes, it has been a while since English class. Let me know what you guys think and I'll hopefully be able to do at least a chapter a week.

Chapter 6

The next week seem to fly by for everyone in the Ketchum house as Ash prepared to take on the Indigo League and May to take on the Kanto Contest Circuit. The sun rose on a quite monday morning and a raven haired trainer stood facing it with three companions by him. "Well guys today is the first step towards our dream." he spoke "Think we got what it takes to win them all and then face him again?"

"Pi pika pi!" Pikachu fist pumped.

"We are all ready master, we will not fail you." Lucario stated.

"We're with you till the end Ash no matter what happens." Meowth said with a confidence in his eyes.

"Well lets get some food, our gear, then pick out the first team since we have to follow the rules now." Ash said as the walked back into the house.

After a filling hearty breakfast Ash's mom brought out a package for her son, "Ash, dear I thought you would like this for your journey I made it over the last few days." she said as he opened the box.

"Mom these are amazing, thank you so much." he said giving his mom a big hug as he rushed up the stairs. When he came back down a few minutes later in his new clothes, the pants where a tan cargo pant made of a heavier but breathable material, shirt was jet black, the vest was identical to his original Kanto one, his gloves were black and cobalt blue, and finally his mom had some how tracked down a mint condition hat just like his first one.

"Mom I don't know what to say these look amazing and I can't believe you found the same hat." he said looking at his new outfit.

"Well I thought it would be fitting to look this way when you started again and I always liked this hat the best." Delia said wiping a tear from her eye.

"Don't cry mom, I'm not leaving like that again. I promise I'll call and keep you updated and before you say it, I'll remeber to change them daily." He said hugging her one last time.

"You have nothing to worry about Delia he wont ever be out of my sight." May said with a cheerful tone as she hugged her tight. "Thank you for everything I couldn't have made it with out you Delia."

"May you're welcome, but you helped me just as much. He is a handful so take good care of him." she said waving to the pair and just as they left the yard and turned down the road. 'I wish you were here, that boy could use your guidance' she thought sadly as the two trainers walked towards the laboratory.

When they reached the lab they had decided on there first teams when Professor Oak gave them some unexpected news, "It seems the Pokemon League has made a small rule change this season. They have sent out an email saying that trainers, coordinators, and performers who have competed in at least three of thetheir respecting competitions with no less that one top two or better may now carry up to eight pokemon. Although during official competitions you will only be allowed to have six pokemon with you."

"Well thats a different change, now we can train eight pokemon while traveling. I guess we need to pick out two new pokemon May." Ash said while grinning. He was excited about being able to have more of his pokemon with him. After choosing their two new pokemon their teams were ,Ash choose to bring Pikachu, Lucario, Eevee, Pidgeot, Primeape, Butterfree, Goodra, and Gyarados. Meowth choose to stay behind to spend time with Meowstic and Professor Oak wanted to do some studies with him. May choose to bring Blaziken, Froslass, Swanna, Glaceon, Wartortle, Munchlax, Masquerin, and Sawsbuck. The pair thanked him for all his help and said goodbye to Gary, Zoey and Professor Oak.

"Good luck you two give it your all." Professor Oak said with a smile.

"May good luck in your contests, I have a feeling you're going to have some very strong completion this season. Ash show everyone what your training as done for you and your pokemon. We'll be cheering for you at the final battle." Zoey said as she hugged them both.

Gary shook Ash's hand and gave May a hug and told them both, "Win it big guys, I know you two will do great and make us all proud. Ash watch out for Paul he's gotten much stronger and smarter, and May you know all about Dawn so don't underestimate her."

"Thanks guys and we will for sure." the two trainers said as they waved good bye and continued down the road.

"Well I'd better get ready too. We can't let them have all the fun now can we." Zoey said with a smirk as she turned down the hallway.

"You sure you'll be alright Grandpa with us leaving?" Gary asked his grandfather.

"Yes, I will be plus Tracy will be back in a few days so you've got nothing to worry about Gary. You two go enjoy traveling, make sure to cheer Zoey on and take care of yourselves." the gray haired man said. "Oh and one more thing, I don't need to be a great grandpa just yet." he added with a wink, causing Gary to go deep red and hurry down the hallway to his and Zoey's room.

As May and Ash reached the top of the hill overlooking Pallete Town, Ash couldn't help but smile. "Well guys here we go, lets some 'em what we got and win it all." he said looking at May, Lucario and Pikachu earning a cheer and a hug from May. The hug caused both of them to blush and let go quickly. They were at the edge of the forest separating Pallete Town from Viridian, when Ash felt like someone was watching them from the shadows. He spun quickl and looked deep into the darkness of the trees, while reaching out with his aura sight making his eyes glow blue.

"Ash whats going on?" May asked in a startled voice seeing him react so quickly and his eyes turning solid blue made her feel nervous.

"I thought I felt someone watching us from over there, but I can't seem to feel anyone's presence there. I must have just imagined it, being excited might have my aura extra sensitive." Ash said with a shrug and calming May down as his eyes turned brown once again. They started walking again and Ash started to explain more about his aura abilities to May as they walked underneath the lush green tree tops.

Unknown to them a figure stepped out from behind a tree and allowing his cloak to unwrap from around him. 'He has gotten stronger then. I'll keep an eye on his progress to see if he has what it takes.' the man thought with a smile. He stepped back into the shadows to continue on his own path through the forest, he cast a glance over his shoulder towards the small town and wiped a single tear from the corner of his eye.

Over the next few days Ash and May made their way to Viridian city with very little trouble. They had a small skirmish with a group of territorial Raticate but they cleared them away quickly and continued down the road. The first night the camped Ash cooked dinner and May was very cautious of this knowing how his past food turned out. When he finally convinced her to try it, she was quite surprised at how good the food was.

"Ash this is amazing." She said between mouth fulls, "Where and how did you learn to cook so well?"

"I learned some by watching Brock and Cilian. The chefs in Rota taught me a bit as well, they didn't want me to starve in the wild," he said with a chuckle, "and a lot of trial and error. I had to fend for my pokemon and myself for four years after we went on our own." He finished explaining. While they enjoyed their meal, they discussed training methods and Ash gave May some new combo ideas to try in her up coming contests. After dinner they cleaned the dishes and May went to change and get ready for the night. Ash and Lucario sat cross legged next to each other and started meditating. While they did this Pikachu jumped onto May's lap while the other pokemon relaxed or spared against each other. May smiled as she scratched Pikachu's back, she felt a chill against her leg she saw Glaceon looking at her, so she adjusted Pikachu so they could both fit in her lap.

Ash was in his own head unaware of his suroundings as he reflected on memories and recent events. He had taken Brock's advice to heart and over the last few days he had thought long and hard about his feelings. During this he recognized how dense he'd been over the years at all the girls who had shown interest in him, but he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on May. He soon realized that she had a crush on him for awhile, but the feeling of her aura showed that it had grown far beyond a simple crush to possibly love. At least that was his best guess as these feelings were new and difficult to understand to him. He knew he cared deeply for all his friends, family and everyone of his pokemon, but he noticed that his feelings for May seemed stronger than the others.

Ash and Lucario had been meditating for an hour or so when they finished and opened their eyes. The first sight that greeted Ash's eyes made his heart race, it was May with Pikachu and Glaceon on her lap. They had all fallen asleep watching them and the pokemon, Ash couldn't help but notice the features of May's face and how beautiful she looked in the fading rays of the sunset. Ash stood up and stretched his body and walked over to May, he gently brushed a few stray hairs from her face.

"May," he said softly with a gentle shake of her shoulder, "May, you should wake up a chair is no place to sleep."

May felt a gentle shaking of her shoulders, she slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by a wonderful sight in her opinion. She stared into his deep brown eyes, she took in every once of his presence and even his smell. She had to restrain the urge to grab him and pull him into a deep kiss, she knew he cared about her alot but she didn't want to scare him with a kiss.

"Sorry we must have dozed off watching you." She said stretching het arms while Glaceon and Pikachu jumped to the ground and stretched as well.

"It's ok, sorry we meditated for so long. Sometimes I get lost in in my thoughts and lose track of time." Ash said apologetically.

"No worries." May said with a smile that caused Ash's heart to beat faster. "What where you so deep in thought about?"

Ash began to think fast, "Uh, just about my first battle and all the places I'd like to show you while we're travelling through Kanto." he said while he thought 'I can't let her know yet, if my feelings aren't what she wants she'll get hurt and I do not want that.'

May giggled slightly, "If that put you deep thought I'd hate to be in your brain during a battle." They both laughed at the comment and Ash made a small fire for the night. He had offered May the tent, but she opted to sleep under the stars with him. They returned their pokemon except Lucario, Glaceon (who dodged the red beam), and obviously Pikachu. They all settled down for the night and made small conversation until they decided to call it a night.

"Good night Ash see you in the morning." May said with a yawn.

"Sleep tight and good night May." He replied. As he gazed into the star filled night he stared at a certain star for some unknown reason and silently asked "Star light star bright, will you help me understand my feelings for May are they love?" As he finished talking his eyes drifted shut and he was soon dreaming of his and May's past adventures.