Fighting the Fates

by Warlordess

Complete While making their way through Sootopolis, Ash and friends run across a local Seer who says Ash and May are fated to be together! Then Misty and Drew pop into the picture. Whatever could they have to say about this? Poke x Contestshippy fic.

6. Intoxication of the Oblivious

Author - Chibi / Warlordess

Disclaimer – Er, my old one was outdated, but if you know the definition of the word 'disclaimer', then you know what goes here. I'll leave it up to you to come up with some wonderful, comical, snarky remark; okay?

OoO

Fiction Title - "Fighting the Fates"

Chapter Six - "Intoxication of the Oblivious"

Summary - While making their way through Sootopolis, Ash and friends stumble across a local fortuneteller who says. . . dun, dun, dun! Ash and May are destined to be together! And then Misty and Drew pop into the picture. . . Whatever could they have to say about this? Pokeshippy and Contestshippy fic. Tee hee. :)

Ages -

Ash / 15

May / 13

Misty / 16

Drew / 14

Brock / 18

Max / 10

OoO

Drew could not have been more torturously bored in that moment if he'd been tied down for a month and forced to do nothing but watch a herd of Snorlax sleep. The only thing that kept him from leaping up and running at the wall, bashing his head repeatedly against it, was the slightly maniacal look that Pikachu was threatening him with.

That settled it; May and all of her friends were insane. . . There was nothing else for it.

He crossed his arms, brow furrowed, and nodded confidently, sure of this theory, and it eased his throbbing head for a total of two seconds, until. . .

". . . Okay, and that's it for Bulbasaur's video! Let's move on to Gyarados now, shall we?" Max said, his specs glinting as he held up a cartridge to show to the older Coordinator. Drew, for his part, was immediately floored. His life as he knew it was completely over, he knew, as he watched the young boy move to insert the video into the television.

And then his vision grew hazy just in time for the Pokemon Center's double doors to slide open. His glazed vision was still on the screen, having given up all hope of ever escaping, but the brilliant flash of light reflected from the glass entranceway drew his attention, even if only for a millisecond, and then. . .

"Oh, thank you!" He shouted, completely gone.

May leapt back as he jumped towards her, grateful for anything that got him away from the horror that was Max Beech and his dull, dull, dull form of so-called entertainment. However, May's fear of her rivals (hopeful) temporary loss of sanity did seem to knock him back into himself.

"Er, sorry about that. . ." He coughed, slightly red in the face, ". . . It must have been the, er, delirium, I guess. So, what are you doing here, May? I thought for sure that you would be out doing something more worthwhile on a beautiful day like this. . . maybe working on your coordinating skills, you know, trying to make them equal with mine?" Covering for himself with the ultimatum of opinions, he reverted back to his former persona of arrogance. "But then, if you really like me so much. . ." He smirked and ruffled a hand through his sea-green hair, ". . . I suppose maybe you have something else to think about in the present time, don't you?"

There were about five seconds when he waited in silence, wondering if he'd actually said the wrong thing. Max and Pikachu gasped in exclamation from behind him but he looked up at May instead, wondering about her reaction. Surprisingly, she didn't look threatened in the slightest; in fact, she grinned at him in a subtle sort of way and then turned to her younger brother.

"Sorry, but I need to rescue – er – borrow Drew for right now. I have something I need to talk to him about. I don't know how long it'll take, and it's kind of personal, though, so could you keep Pikachu here with you? Brock should be back in. . ." May faltered and blinked, then took a moment to sweatdrop in acknowledgment of the fact of how she'd left the older breeder-in-the-making at the Sootopolis shopping center with all of the things she'd bought, but then she shook herself from her reverie. ". . . Yea, he'll be back in a little while. But right now, we've gotta go. . . ! So, see ya!" She waved goodbye to her brother and grabbed Drew by the arm, feeling highly uncomfortable as she did so, and took off out the front doors of the Pokemon Center again.

"Oh, wait, May. . . !" Max exclaimed, but it was too late, "Well, good luck, then. . ."

Outside, May threw caution to the wind and allowed herself to get used to the feeling of Drew's skin against hers, because, for the moment, it seemed highly impossible that she ever would. Was this a part of that whole 'destruction' theory that the fortuneteller had cooked up for the group? After all, whoever said that the 'destruction' had to be in the form of a natural disaster such as lightning striking one of them down or something. . . ? Maybe the reason they weren't going to get together was simply because they couldn't ever learn to stand to touch each other?

"I think this is good. . . !" May stated happily, removing her grip from Drew and clapping her hands together in excitement. The thunderous shock coursing between them immediately faded. "Now, how about some ice cream?" She asked the rival Coordinator, jerking her thumb over her shoulder and in the direction of a dessert stand about five meters behind them.

"Ice cream. . . ? Now?" Drew asked, blinking in disbelief. Here he'd just gotten finished insulting her coordinating abilities, and then he'd near – mocked her for 'liking' him, and she chose to retaliate by inviting him out for ice cream? What type of revenge tactic was that? Unless she was going to poison him. . . If that was the case, then game set, and match. . . !

And the final score was May: 14, Drew: 69.

Drew smirked at the thought. . . He'd always prided himself on being a winner.

And then his more sane half of the mind took over. The fact that May was inviting him out, offering him something to eat, and keeping the mood light and reasonable, and the conversation airy. . . It could almost be assumed that this was a date. . . ! But that couldn't be right because the last time he'd seen her, May had cracked under the pressure of all this talk about destiny and whatever. . . There was no way she would do this, rebel against that woman seers' words. . . ! And he, Drew. . . well, he still didn't know what he wanted, now, did he?

"So. . . how about it? Do you want any ice cream or not?" May asked in a more impatient tone at this point, her hands on her hips. Drew had been silent for the past seven minutes, and then he'd suddenly smirked just like she was oh – so used to him doing. . . but in this case, it was just annoying. "Fine, then; I'll just get us a couple of strawberry cones. . ." She mumbled, and turned to get them, but faltered in her step when she suddenly heard Drew speak for the first time in forever.

"Chocolate."

". . . Excuse me?" She swung back around to face him with her inquiry.

"I want a chocolate cone; not strawberry," and that was all he said on the matter.

"Oh, okay. . . Then you wait here. And you better not try to run off!" She began to head off on her way again before adding offhandedly, ". . . You know, unless a group of your manic female fan club members try to strip you naked and sell all of your belongings on the internet. . . But let's just hope that your popularity has yet to reach such a peak."

Drew took a seat on an empty bench, leaning back lazily and sighing. What did May have to talk to him about? Why did she think that ice cream was such an adequate party favor for the discussion?

The female Coordinator walked up to the iced sweets stand and asked the vendor for two double cones. She tapped her fingers on the countertop while she waited and after she finished paying, she took the two ice creams into her hands and went back to join Drew. She handed one to him and began to eat her own as well, but somehow, it was an almost contemplative process.

"You know," she started with a quick glance in his direction, "Misty supposedly loves chocolate, too; Ash told me one time that she competed in some sort of Pokemon fishing contest and ended up winning a huge chocolate bar prize. . . and she never says 'no' to dessert, especially ice cream. . ." May coughed, clearing her throat almost innocently and Drew turned to stare at her with a quirked eyebrow, not bothering to notice as a particular part of his snack started to melt.

"First of all, I thought that it was an unwritten law that all girls must love chocolate –"

"—Well, it's not true, because I don't care for the stuff at all. . ."

". . . And second of all, you don't really expect me to believe that you're planning on having everything to do with your love – life revolve around what flavors of ice cream you have in common with everyone else?" Drew commented dryly, rolling his eyes and ignoring May's honestly hurt expression. "That's just the most childish thing you could attempt to ever excuse yourself with." He took a spare napkin from beside him and wiped his hand distractedly.

". . . Don't you think it makes sense though; at least a part of it?" May started, not giving up, as though it was her mission to prove the fatal flaws in everything that she – indeed – wanted to work out, "It seems dumb to you, yea, but this is just another thing to add to the over-all list of – well – things that make us so incompatible, and that, at the same time, might make you and Misty, and Ash and I just the opposite. Like I said; small, insignificant, sure, but still. . . It does make some sense."

Drew stopped for only two seconds on his way to finally start on his dessert, as if these words had finally reached him, breached him, in some way. But then the moment was over, the epiphany ruined. After all, he couldn't find the trouble to put up with it for any longer.

"Drew," she started suddenly again, sighing deeply, despondently, reservedly, and he began eating again in order to keep himself from becoming too interested in the way she was speaking to him. "I like you; I really do. And, well, I don't wanna think that stupid words can make this not work out. But you – I want you to – because I know you do. . . Tell me that you like me, too."

It was then that Drew had the consideration to start choking; right there. It was not something that well-mannered people did, and he attempted to turn and hide himself from May so that she didn't have to see him in his – er – moment of weakness, but that was rather hard, seeing as how she was the one to cause it in the first place, and she seemed to know that.

"Ah. . . ! Oh, no; I'm sorry, I'm sorry, okay? You don't need to kill yourself to prove a point!"

He continued to cough rather harshly, as though he were tearing up his vocal cords, but waved a hand at her as though to state that it wasn't her fault. She sighed gratefully, guilt-trip completely gone now.

". . . You w – want me to. . ." He started speaking about five seconds later in broken tones, but had to falter again as another wave of respiratory-related disbelief crashed over him. "Er, why should I tell you anything of how I feel?" He continued another few seconds later, seemingly fully recovered.

It was at this point that May sobered up and remembered what the fortuneteller had said about him, and his season; if he was indeed Winter, then friendships – relationships of any kind – were not at all his strong point. And what was tied directly in with the whole lot of relationships that any one person would or could ever have in life?

Emotions; feelings; sentiment; passion. Things that Drew seemed completely incapable of, unfortunately.

Nevertheless, she would not relent.

"Why should you tell me. . . ? Drew, whether they're your feelings or not, they're still feelings about me, aren't they? I have a right to know, don't I?" May asked, now just as skeptical as he had been beforehand.

"Maybe, yea, but that doesn't mean that there's a point to it, really. I don't get it. If you already know, then why do you have to hear it? You said that you liked me; you said that I liked you. . . Isn't that progress enough for now? Why do you need anything else? Why do I need to tell you anything more? It's not like it'll salvage the situation; this is as good as it's going to get, May, believe me."

"Maybe it's because. . . we just need to hear it. It's relieving to hear it," she started, "Look at us; think about it. We've been so pressured these past two days and. . ." She was cut off by his expression and recounted her words, ". . . I mean, I know that I've been. . . you know. . . a little stressed out, at least. I would think that you have been, too. All these things we've been hearing about how, you know, certain people can only be with certain other people. . . It makes you wonder just who you're right for, just how many times you're going to be disappointed. But then you think about it and you realize that, if you can just hear simple phrases, if you can just understand minuscule truths, then maybe even the craziest of things can work out. And, that way, we don't have to depend on perfection to attain happiness."

She paused here, too, as though hoping to find the most innocent, flawless way of wording her next line. ". . . So, if you can tell me something as relieving and as simple as, 'I like you, too, May', then that makes it so much easier for me to believe that we can stand a chance against other things, no matter what they are. . . even if it's supposedly us that's going to be our own downfall. So, how can you not say it now?"

"Because before, you didn't want this, and right now, you still barely do. What makes you think that I want it any more than you? And how can you even dare to tell me how I feel for other people? You don't have the right. . ." Drew rose from his seat and stood still, facing away from her, ". . . I see where you were going with this; you were trying to be so logical, and yet not, both at the same time. It's unreasonable. Choose whichever way you want to go, May. If you want to be logical, then it's not right to want to be here, convincing me of any romantic notions at all, is it? Maybe you should be with him right now; with Ash. And if you want to be so specious, then stop trying to sound so rational and calm when you're talking about something as whimsical and farfetched as us being together, when it makes next to no sense. Maybe that's what love is about in the end, but if you're going to be so diverse about it, then you don't have a right to make any decisions about where you want to be and who you want to be with just yet." He glanced back at her a little more coldly than she'd have liked, and both of them could tell that the other was upset, "Do you get it now?"

She nodded mutely, but she didn't move. He took it as his queue to leave and marched back towards the Pokemon Center, leaving May to her very reasonable, very logical, tears.

OoO

Ash accepted the two hotdogs and sodas from the vendor in the local park and handed one of each to the redheaded girl beside him. The two smiled at each other as they paid and continued walking, feeling that everything was quite right with the world, and feeling as though, for once, everything had gone perfectly for them. It was definitely a rare occurrence, at least on the first time around.

Ash couldn't displace the constant grin on his face. He felt stupid, and giddy; like a schoolgirl. Yea, that was the scariest thought ever to run across anyone's mind, and it brought to light the memory of "Ashley" and her wonderful twenty minute lifeline as she traveled to Celadon gym way back when, years ago, in Kanto, when Erika and her gym-mates wouldn't allow Ash his chance to battle for their Rainbow Badge. . . but he couldn't help it.

You see, when you realize that you have absolutely everything you could ever hope to have attained, then you begin to feel highly euphoric because of it. And, as Ash held his hotdog in one hand, his soda in the other, and then he thought about the many badges he'd gained on his journey, and his Pokemon, and his mom back home. . . and then, finally, as he allowed a two-second-long glance in Misty's direction, the feeling only increased.

These were teenage hormones at their worst, sure, but still. . . he wasn't complaining. He didn't doubt his feelings, his heart, because it'd never led him wrong before. . . Minus the times he'd gotten crushed under giant chandeliers, or the times he'd gotten thrown over cliffs into wild-winded oceans and almost drowned, or the times he'd gotten stranded on abandoned islands. . . But, you know, other than all of those, his heart had always done him right, and for more than a year, it had been telling him nearly constantly that Misty was one of the most important things in his life – nay, the most important thing – and, well, seeing as there was no life-threatening trouble to be gained by falling in love – (hopefully; he'd never done it before now, so he couldn't really be sure, could he?) – then he didn't feel he had anything to worry about.

And this "euphoria" that kept welling up within him whenever he thought about it. . . well, it only promoted that way of thinking.

"Ash. . ." Misty started quite suddenly, and he turned to stare at her, fully aware that the weird grin was still spread wide across his face. He attempted to restrain it, but his efforts proved fatal.

"Er, what is it, Myst?" He asked, and finished off the last of his hotdog, threw the wrapper away in a trashcan they happened to be passing, and covered the half of his face that she could see clearly with his jacket. They'd just started a trial-session of a relationship. He didn't need her thinking that he was utterly insane, now, did he?

"Well, first I wanna say, you know, thanks. . . for everything. . ." She sounded truly grateful, he knew, but he could also hear the 'but' coming a mile away, and so he nodded his affirmation and allowed her to go on, ". . . I just wanted to know, though. . . What do you think the most important concept is, between two people in a relationship?" She looked slightly troubled as she asked this of him, and Ash blinked, not sure what to say. Well, he did know what to say, actually; he knew what he thought was most important, because he'd told Drew of it just the other day. . .

But why would she bother asking him such a random, almost ridiculous, question?

"Their feelings." He commented simply, "Their feelings for each other. A relationship just isn't one worth having if you don't love the person you're with. . ." He shrugged, but couldn't help glancing at her to see her reaction to his reply.

Misty's expression was a mixture of awe and disappointment, and he wasn't sure that was a good thing or bad. Nevertheless, she didn't tell him why she asked, but simply corrected his answer.

"It's honesty, Ash. Honesty is always one-hundred percent the most important thing in a relationship. Emotions, discussions, outings, everything that takes place between the two people all falls into that category."

"Oh. . ." He placed a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed sheepishly, "Heh; sorry."

". . . Yea; me, too." She commented softly, but when he quirked an eyebrow at her, she just shook her head and started walking again. Ash hadn't even noticed that they'd stopped in the first place, but took off after her either way. ". . . So, when is the right time to lie to the person you're in a relationship with?"

Ah, he definitely knew the answer to this one. . . ! And, with a wide grin on his face once more, Ash laughed loudly, "It's a trick question, right? Never. . . ! You just said that honesty was the most important thing! Why would someone lie to their partner? That would just cause all sorts of problems. . . No, never." He shook his head as though sure of himself.

"Ash, I said that honesty was most important, yea, but I didn't say that you couldn't ever lie. . . ! What happens if something that could cause a huge misunderstanding between you and your, er, girlfriend happens to you? Say, you get caught up with another ex or something, but there are no witnesses, and you both swear each other to secrecy, so there are sure to be no informative leaks? If you told your girlfriend, there could be a chance that she'd never forgive you. . . because she might not understand. So, maybe. . . isn't it better just to leave it alone, and not mention it to her at all? And before you say that that's not really lying, just know that it all fits into the same category, okay. . . ?"

"B – but. . ." Ash groaned, confused as all hell. "But you said. . . What about the honesty-thing? Ugh; what are you trying to prove here, Misty? Why are you bothering to ask me such. . . stupid. . . questions? They don't mean anything for us, do they? Because we already know where we stand!"

"They're not stupid questions! They mean something to everyone at some point, believe me! And I'm proving. . . never mind." Misty turned her nose up and continued on her way, dropping the remnants of her hotdog into another trashcan they were passing, having lost her appetite.

"Misty, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to sabotage this – what we've got going on right now!" Ash didn't relent as he strode alongside her and grabbed a hold of her hand to stop her from running away from him again. "So if that is what you're doing, then give it up right now, because whether you like it or not, I do love you! There, I said it! Does it make you feel better? Does it clear the air? Because it should be relieving, shouldn't it?"

"B – but. . . I'm sorry, Ash, but it's not." Misty looked up at him with wavering eyes. "It would be, if you had. . . passed, but you didn't. Or, you haven't so far. . ."

"'Passed'. . . ? You were testing me? On how relationships go? And you expected me to pass? Misty, do you even remember who I am? Did you hit your head back home before you came here or something?" He laughed lightly as though this cleared up everything, but she didn't join him.

"Ash, it's a test on our compatibility. . . ! The questions were directly linked to how you would treat me in a relationship!" Misty was finally able to pull her hand from his grasp and glared venomously up at him, as though he'd cut her deeply with his humorous attitude towards it all. "How can you just act like you don't care? You did say you loved me, didn't you. . . ? Shouldn't you be worried?"

"But. . . don't we already know that we're not compatible? Isn't that why we're doing this?" Ash stated in confusion, but he regretted it immediately afterward. He didn't mean to word it that way. It came out as though this were all just another challenge for him. . . He didn't want Misty to think of herself that way.

"No, Ash." Evidently, she had caught on to the cruel remark, as well, "We were doing this because we wanted to; because we honestly cared for each other. At least, that's what I thought. . . But if you don't, then, please, don't bother yourself with me any longer. I wouldn't want you to lose your last brainstems to my mallet of doom." And she turned and began her march back towards the Center.

Hoping to rectify the situation, Ash said the first thing that came to mind.

"B – but I love your mallet of doom. . . !"

Well, it definitely did the trick. Misty turned back to face him, and the next thing he knew, she had her hands on her hips and her lips pursed together almost like a disappointed parent.

"Ash, that was the dullest pick-up line ever!" She rolled her eyes as she replied. "You're just lucky that it works for you. Now, c'mon, we still have fifteen minutes to go before we get back to the Center."

"So, you mean, it's not over yet? Yay for me!" He grabbed her hand again and launched himself forward, taking off down the pathway, his other fist thrown successfully into the air. The euphoria had returned in full-force, because, as he'd thought before, there was no way for him to be hurt by the emotions running so completely throughout him right then; well, at least, not long-term, anyway.

He tripped slightly over a crack and, deciding that, if he fell from running too fast, it would not be a good idea to drag Misty down with him, he slowed his pace to an average one, just as the sun began its final decent against the horizon in the distance. He wouldn't really have noticed, except for the fact that the sun was the one thing that had kept the day so warm, and now that it was getting dark, he could feel the temperature start to drop slowly around him.

". . . Er, it's getting kind of. . . cold. . . out here." Misty commented tentatively, and as though she was trying to point something out, mentally eased him in a certain direction. Ash turned and blinked at her.

Way to go, Myst. Kudos to you for stating the obvious! Was written all over his face as he quirked an eyebrow quizzically at her. Almost ten seconds later, however, he slammed his foot to the ground as though something had suddenly clicked, and he grinned wildly at her.

"Oh, I get it now! It's another test, isn't it?" He asked, pointing at her. She allowed an almost coy smile to grace her expression, but didn't answer. Well, that settled it. Ash may not have been any type of genius, on any plain, you know, ever, but he could definitely tell when he was supposed to do or say something special. ". . . I know what I have to do this time! I'm supposed to see how fast I can piggy-back you to the Center, right? To get you sheltered and warmed up for the night as fast as possible? That's it, isn't it?"

The grin on Misty's face dropped so fast it looked almost as though it had been splashed off with white-out. She sighed, groped at her temple in a slightly aggravated, slightly resigned sort of way with her free hand and then looked at Ash in such a way that it clearly stated that it would do him a world of good to let go of her other.

"Uhm, could you come over here with me for a moment, Ash? I need to talk to you about something. . ." She pointed towards a currently vacated bench with a grim look on her face, and he nodded and followed her towards it, allowing her to take a seat first, in case he chose the wrong half to sit on (and she happened to have a preference), and it led up to her chewing him out in a more violent sense of the word.

"So, what's going on, Myst? What's wrong now?" He asked a bit too exasperatedly, and he noted that it did affect her. The light of her eyes seemed to die out a little more at his tone.

". . . Three chances, Ash." She sighed again and resolved herself to the task at hand. "I gave you three chances to break past that whole. . . fortunetelling thing. . . that says there's no way in hell that we'll ever work out. And you proved that that seer from the Sootopolis mall was. . . perfectly, utterly right about us. No matter how we feel about each other, if we can barely make it through a day without an argument of some sort, or my malleting you, if we can't prove that we can treat each other with respect, dignity – like we know that we both would deserve in a relationship – then this isn't worth it in the end."

". . . Isn't. . . worth it? What's not?"

"This – this whole thing. . . ! Ash, you did prove something tonight, whether you believe it or not. We're not good for each other, if nothing else; W – we're almost like a hurricane." She grinned sadly at him and her eyes began to tear up again, just as they had earlier that day. "I want to ask you to do something for me." She leant in towards him and dropped her voice to a whisper as though she expected everyone in town to be listening in on their conversation.

"Well, yea, sure; whatever it is you want." Ash said a little too eagerly, but he held himself firmly so that it didn't sound like he was going to break down at the moment. He didn't like where this was going. . .

"Before we. . . end up destroying everything and everyone we've got. . . I want you to end it, to end us, right now."

Something inside of him shattered, and he knew that he'd been wrong. It was so often that he was wrong, of course, but all of those other times seemed entirely and absolutely unimportant. However, knowing that he'd been wrong about this, experiencing this now, it almost made him double over in pain. . . He'd been so mistaken about the whole prospect of falling in love, about the spectrum of emotions that he'd been positive he was going to experience. . . Because Ash had assumed that he'd never be hurt by such a simple thing.

Oh, how he'd been so wrong.

". . . A – and why can't you do it. . . ? I mean, why can't you end this 'us' that's going so horribly?" He managed to ask her about fifteen seconds later, completely dry-eyed, and it was as though he didn't care at all for what was going on.

"Because there's a next step that I think you should also take. . . It would do you good. . ." Misty choked herself to tears as she continued to explain herself.

"Do me good? What could possibly do me any good right now?" Ash stated, and it was in a cold, bitter tone that betrayed how injured he truly was by everything that was happening.

"I want you to go out on a date with May."

He blinked confusedly again, as though sure he'd heard her wrong, but she stared back in such a grave way that he knew then that there had been no misinterpretation of her comment.

"I think that you should go out on a formal, planned-out date with May, and enjoy yourself, and make sure that she does the same. . . and see how it goes. Because, well, if it goes better than this, then it's got to mean that there's something to this whole compatibility-thing, right?"

"But, Myst. . . Look," he tried to deter her plans, "there's no guarantee that Drew and May even had as much of a fallout as we did! We should at least be sure that they had some type of problem before you go trying to set me up with another girl, because I doubt that Drew would be okay with me going out with his current girlfriend. I mean, he's a famous trainer and he's got a fan club, meaning there're are probably hundreds upon hundreds of girls ready to throw themselves at him, but I don't think he'd risk something that stupid. . ."

"Fine, then; we'll go see if they had a good time today after the trip back to the mall, but if they didn't, and it turns out that the two of them ended up having just as much of an issue as we did. . . Well, I want you to promise me right now that you'll agree to go out with May, because I know that if you find out that you were wrong, you'll back out of the whole thing later on." The redhead reached her feet and held out her hand to shake on it.

Ash joined her there and took her hand in his for the last time that evening, an almost competitive expression on his face as he replied; ". . . If that's what you want, then okay. It's a deal."

OoO

"So, let me get this straight. . . They've been like this all evening. . . ?" Ash sweatdropped, not even bothering to glance in Misty's direction, but instead keeping his eyes trained on May, who was sitting in a certain corner of the room, and Drew, who was sitting in the exact opposite place, on the other side of the lobby. Neither was looking at one another; in fact, they seemed to be trying extra hard to avoid eye contact.

"Yep, sorry. . . At least, they've been that way since they came back from. . . wherever they went after someone left me with her millions of bags, back at Sootopolis mall." Brock coughed meaningfully and stared at May, who turned her back on him without a second thought. This proved only one thing, and that was that she must have had something very serious on her mind not to feel any remorse.

"Look, Myst, this doesn't necessarily mean anything. . ." Ash attempted to emphasize, turning to face her finally with a pleading expression on his face, but she had an unyielding one on her own.

"Sorry, Ash; you promised, and this means something, whether we want it to or not. So, are you going to go ask May, or should I? It's more the man's job to ask the girl out, but if you'd rather not, then I understand. I can do it on my own."

"I – I don't. . ."

"Look, I have no idea what you two are talking about, but it'll have to wait. We have another problem right now." Brock interrupted again, stepping in between the two and placing an arm around both of their shoulders. Ash sighed in relief; he'd never been more thankful for his older friends' bad timing. "The thing is, Misty's obviously planning on staying in town tonight, and, well, I've already talked to Nurse Joy about it, and it turns out that there won't be another available room until tomorrow. . . So, yea. Our room is cramped enough as it is, what with the four of us, plus our things, and Pikachu. We wouldn't have enough room for another sleeping bag." He shrugged as though having realized that the situation was hopeless.

"So, what are we going to do? I mean, I guess I could camp outside. . . but now that I think about it, I don't even know if I really came prepared for all of that. I basically thought I'd get here, beat a few heads in, and head back to the gym. . ." Misty shrugged here, too, and ignored her friends' flinches.

"I guess that I could help with that. . ." Drew stated carelessly, walking up with a cool expression on his face and not a single glimpse in May's direction as he passed her. "I got a single trainers' room, and I guess I could sacrifice the extra space."

"Excuse me? I don't think that it's very. . . kosher. . . to spend the night with someone I barely know; at least, not in close quarters." Misty reprimanded him, her face completely red at the embarrassing thought.

Drew turned red, too, and it was obvious almost immediately that that hadn't been what he had in mind at all, "No, no. . . ! I meant that I'd switch places with her. You two could share the single trainer's room, and I'd take her bed. That way, there're no gender issues, and although my rooms a bit smaller, there's definitely room enough for an extra person."

". . . Actually. . ." The redhead gave a sidelong glance in May's direction, and then nodded, ". . . Yea, that'll work. Thanks a lot, guy-I-barely-know. I – I mean Drew. This is perfect, considering I have something to talk to May about anyway. . ."

At the mention of the female Coordinators name, Drew went slightly stiff, threw the key into her arms, and made a comment about how he was going to go out for a bit to train his Pokemon for some anonymous competition. He didn't bother stating a name, proving that his explanation was entirely falsified.

As he walked out the door, May seemed to sense why he'd left, and she gave a slight sniff, reaching her feet and heading towards the back hallway that would lead towards the trainers' rooms.

"Uhm, I'm tired, so I guess it's time to hit the sack. . . Goodnight, guys. . . !" She waved back at them all and marched off.

"I guess that's my queue. . ." And Misty was off like a rocket, following in the younger girls' direction. "See you tomorrow."

As soon as she was gone, Brock faced his younger friend and mentally careened straight into him.

"So, are you going to tell me, or am I just going to have to wait it out until one of you shouts out the details in another grudging argument?" He asked quizzically.

"I guess that's the only choice you've got, Brocko, 'cause I'm not in the mood to say a thing. In fact, to avoid anymore awkward questions, I think that I'll go to bed, too. This day's been nothing but a big flop of disappointment anyway, right. . . ?" And with an eerily wry smile, Ash began stalking off towards the dorms. . . and then he froze again. "Oh, wait a second. . . Uh, Brock? I think that we've got a problem with this living arrangement you've set up for the night. . ." His expression turned suddenly ill at ease as he sweatdropped.

"Problem. . . ? What problem?" And then there was a lot of uncomfortable shuffling and bemused blinking as the raven-haired trainer launched himself into an explanation about what damage he and Misty had done earlier that day. . .

. . . While, about one hundred meters away, Misty was explaining to May the same thing she'd clarified for Ash earlier on that evening – that was, that the two of them might have a much better time with each other, than with any significant others they might have had in mind beforehand, and as such, they should attempt to do something about it.

They were sitting in Drew's now-vacant room, occupying its space quite fully for only two people. May had offered Misty the bed, seeing as the redhead hadn't exactly come as prepared as anyone would have liked for an overnight trip, but Misty had said that, for now, it might have been better if May used it for. . . remedial. . . purposes; you know, in case the Hoenn girl tended to faint easily.

"Let me get this straight. . ." May was saying now, with blotchy, red eyes from the crying she'd been doing just a little while earlier. Thankfully, she'd stopped long enough to hear her friend out. ". . . You want me t – to just drop all of the drama that's been going on between me and Drew these past couple of days, just like that, and go out on a date with Ash? Who's in love with you but has agreed to this because he wants to make you happy?" May blinked as though something else had slid into place. "This would make you happy? What is wrong with that head of. . ." Misty glared threateningly and May forfeited the game, ". . . that head of Mother Nature's, giving us such. . . testy weather today. . . ? Heh, heh, heh. . ."

"Smooth, May." Misty rolled her eyes. "I'm not happy with this, but I'm not going to force anyone into something that would just ruin them. You wouldn't do that to Drew, would you? I mean, even if you liked him a lot – or loved him – if he had a chance at something a lot better, you'd let him go for that, wouldn't you?"

". . . Probably not, actually. I mean, not at first. . . It would take a lot of convincing to deter me from what I really want." May said, and her cheeks turned slightly red as though she were ashamed of herself. "But it doesn't matter now; there's nothing more I can do for this, is there?"

"Well, then, look at it from my point of view. . . The fortuneteller must have been right about me and Ash on some plain, because we're nothing but wind and fire, burning down a forest. I mean, after we did so much damage over the years, I dunno how I couldn't have seen it before; the arguments, the mallet-whacking, the insults, the bike-wrecking, the Pokemon-Center-room destroying, the Pokemon Center destroying. . ." Misty looked like she was about ready to start bashing her head against the nearby wall; mercifully, she was retaining the urge.

". . . Fine, yea, I'll do it. I'll go out with Ash; it's not that I want to, but right now, what else do I have to lose, right? And maybe this could help prove everything the seer said wrong, too. . ." Although, by the expressions on both girls' faces, they doubted it very much so. "So, can we finally go to. . . Wait. . . did you just say Pokemon-Center-room destroying. . . ? Y – you wouldn't happen to mean any of the rooms in, er, this Pokemon Center, would you. . . ?"

The two girls blinked again, and then Misty broke out into self-conscious, short laughter, her hand behind her neck, rubbing anxiously.

"You see, it's a very funny thing about that. . ."

. . . And about four rooms down the hall, Ash, Brock, Max, and Drew – who'd just returned from "training" – stared at the demolished floors, walls, beds, and window of their own living quarters from the doorway. . . Everything was just as obliterated as it had been earlier that day, making the male Coordinator amongst them suddenly very upset about giving away his relatively clean, inhabitable counterpart about a half-hour beforehand.

"Uh. . ." Brock and Max stated in depressing awe of it all.

"Heh." Ash said, sweatdropping again. Pikachu joined him in his nervous stance.

". . . So, does this happen every time she comes to town for a visit. . . ?" Drew said in a cool tone, sounding very much so like he wasn't in the mood to be friendly towards Misty at all the next time he saw her.

Ash sighed; Just wait until he finds out about the date May and I have got going on for tomorrow. . .

OoO

Notes – Yes; a long-awaited update! Well, I was waiting for it, at least, 'cause I was waiting for the reviews. . . After all, looky-here at all the reviews Chibi got last time! Yeehee! I'm so proud of me! And you, because you all must love me just oh-so much to be so sweet in your comments. . . So, thank you so much for those!

Oh, and please ignore Drew's obvious OOC-ness. I know that I could have done better, but for the sake of the humor, and the romance, and the drama, and the fact that I've only seen about twenty minutes of him on the anime. . . Yea, please, just forgive me or ignore it. Whichever is easier for you.

Anyway, other than an apology for how long this chapter took to update, I guess I've got nothing much else to say! Only one more chapter to go, I hope! As far as I know, it is. . . Unless I can't fit it all in the next chapter. . . but I don't really have any juicy details on the date Ash and May are gonna go on as of yet, and that's the only thing that's holding me back so far. . . Darn. Oh, well. . . I still plan on writing it all out at once, no matter how long it takes, and no matter how many words! Hah! Get ready for another Illicit Saints! Er, no; never mind that. . .

But all reviews (especially positive ones) will be appreciated!

Until next time!

Oh, wait, a P.S. sorta thing. . . As for May's not liking chocolate, well, that was my own personal touch because, frankly, I can't stand the stuff, and so, for the sake of this fic, neither can she. Heh.