Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Pokemon, its characters, locations, or names. All of them, with the exception of original characters, ideas, and places, belong to Nintendo.

Credits: Vanika, Silvanus, and all locations involving Nara belong to me.

AN: Yes, this chapter is...somewhat...odd. It just kinda turned out that way when I got through with it, and I can't seem to shake it. I know the battle scene is rather...mellow, if you will, but with needing to get to 50,000 words, I wanted to get out of the battle and back to the rest of the story. XD -passes out cupcakes and blankets- Review, people. :3 I know you all are out there. XD;;;; 4 Alerts and 510 hits shows that. o.-

Warning: No those adult scenes aren't in this chapter either (though there is one questionable part... o.0). Go forward a few more chapters and it'll be in there, when I get that chapter up. Ha.

- Chapter Five: The Gym Battle -

The inside was dark as they carefully tiptoed away from the door, warily looking about in case of there being some unknown obstacle that they couldn't see. Just as Misty was about to suggest trying again later, the lights flooded on and revealed the giant room for what it was; the floor was covered in dirt, not having an actual floor to begin with, and the walls were made of a smooth stone.

There were footsteps from the opposite end, and a gruff looking man appeared across the battlefield from them. His tousled gray and brown hair fell over a square-jawed and finely lined face. He called out, his voice matching his exterior: rough. "Visitors! What are you here about?" he asked.

"A Pokemon Battle. I'm trying to earn all of the badges so that I can take part in the main tournament that is in a few weeks." Ash went stiff, his muscles tightening, when the Leader stepped across the arena and stood in front of him.

"And who are they? What are your reasons?" he barked out. None-too-gently pushing the young trainer out of the way, he looked each person in the face, his hard eyes calculating and questioning.

"I'm Misty Waterflower, from the Cerulean City Gym," the redhead said. Brock came up next, meeting the stare with one of his own.

"I am Brock Slate, from the Pewter City Gym." Finally, the older man turned to May, raising a bushy eyebrow. She merely looked up at him, neither answering nor backing down from the stony glare; to her, he seemed like one of the Hunters that constantly trespassed in the Wicker Maiden Forest and anyone like that was someone she didn't like.

"And as for you?" Without replying, May turned and walked over to Ash, latching on tightly. Glaring at the Gym Leader, she stayed silent. "What have you? Can't you use those vocal cords all women have? The ones that never wear out?"

"Leave her alone, she didn't do anything to you." Ash snapped, as his eyes widened at the outburst, "Let's get this started, without harassing my friends preferably."

"Your name might help first." Ash narrowed his eyes.

"The same goes for you. Mine is Ash Ketchum." Laughing, the Gym Leader started back toward his platform, his large boots making loud thuds on the dirt floor.

"Kendrick." Spinning around, Kendrick pulled out two small balls, both red and white, and enlarged one. Ash pulled away from May, taking his place at the edge of the battlefield. "You first, kiddo."

Scowling at the word 'kiddo,' Ash sent Pikachu out. Kendrick let out a Sandslash, smirking confidently. The battle was on.

- - -

With Misty's urging, May went up the steps to the upper boardwalks with her and Brock to watch the fight. Sitting down with her legs dangling over the edge, she held onto the railing on either side of her tightly. Her eyes widened when the Sandslash appeared as suddenly as if it had came out of the ground itself.

She felt the metal flooring under her shake as the two Pokemon leaped at each other, doing their individual attacks on each other. They backed off, staring each other down, until repeating the original round again.

It went on in much the same way for awhile. May yawned, growing bored of the constant dash-strike-run tactic both sides where using. "Is this all they do? Run around biting at each other?" she asked, as Pikachu dove back toward Ash and did a turn to face the oncoming Sandslash.

"No, there is more to it then just that. You'll be seeing their other attacks soon enough," Brock said, just as Sandslash let out a shriek. Pikachu met the cry, letting out an electric shock. Her eyes went wide, bulging slightly, as the ensuring attacks where a mix of Ground and Electric, neither overwhelming the other.

"Down!" Kendrick yelled, as Sandslash fell, drained. Returning the beaten Pokemon, he unleashed another one, a round, brown one that had short limbs and a small head. Golem.

Once again, the battle started anew, this time with the stronger pokemon being Golem. They watched in nervous anticipation as Pikachu had to duck and dodge out of the way, weakened by the fight with Sandslash and needing a rest. "Pikachu, return, now."

Reluctantly, the yellow rodent trotted back over to Ash, and sat at his feet, panting. Thoughtfully, he picked out one of the five poke balls that was attached to his belt and tossed it out. With a roar, Charizard came into view, his great maw open, revealing a row of very sharp pointed teeth. "That looks like Silvanus and Vanika!" May said, leaning forward to get a better look at the curious creature.

"Not quite the same," Misty said, as the combatants started grappling, growling and glaring at each other. Charizard broke away, flying up into the air and unleashing a plume of fire down on the Ground and Rock type.

Easily, the Golem dug under the ground, disappearing from view into the dirt. For several minutes it looked at if it would be a stalemate, with neither Pokemon being able to make a move against the other; then, the large ball of rock flew out of the ground, striking Charizard as he fluttered down.

With a growl of rage, the dragon-like Fire type lashed out.

- - -

As the smoke cleared, it became clear that Charizard had won the battle, as the downed Golem groaned and rolled over time and time again. "Return!" Kendrick called, before looking sourly at the younger man, "You've won, fair and square. Take the Wicker Badge, and get before I have to have a go at you."

He flipped the small token, and it flew up and over the field. Just barely catching the thing, Ash smiled and nodded, gesturing to the group that was already starting down the stairs to follow.

"You won!" May said, as he held up the Badge so that the light would hit it just right. Ash nodded, his smile becoming a huge grin. "And you can get more of those?"

"Yeah, there are eight in all, and this is my fourth." Slipping the item into his pocket so he wouldn't lose it, Ash turned to regard them. "Where do we go now?"

"I think we're all finished, so we just have to go back to the forest," Brock replied, just as they heard the tell-tale rustling of the bushes around the side of the Gym building. Two pairs of eyes peered out at them brightly.

Have things gone well? Vanika and Silvanus came out of their hiding place, shaking the leaves off as they went. The group nodded in unison. Very good. Let us go back home…it is getting dark.

- - -

Night set quietly over the forest. As the birds and small creatures of the day bedded down for well-earned sleep, the nocturnal insects and animals arose, coming out to get fed and to play in the dark.

May sat on one of the tree stumps that was situated in one of the smaller clearings of the forest. The forest itself seemed to be alive, as it swayed with the cool evening winds and whistled with it. She looked around slowly, taking in the sight of the gloom, before sighing.

What she hadn't told any of the others – not Ash, not Misty, not even Vanika – was that had been hearing people whispering nonstop about the forest itself. Statements such as 'it's haunted' or 'it's cursed' were a few that were mentioned. One person was even going into great detail on the 'spirit of the forest' that gave it the name Wicker Maiden….

"Wicker Maiden….why do I have to be the Wicker Maiden?" she sighed, wringing her hands together.

"Talking to the trees?" May jumped at the sound of the teasing voice. Turning around, she watched Ash step down from the slight drop that was at the north edge of the clearing. She smiled.

"No, I don't think they would really give me any nice answers like you do." Ash snickered, sitting down on the edge of the stump when May moved to give him some room, hiding her face in her hands. "Nooo."

"Come on, what are you suffering about?" he asked, gently pulling her hands down. May looked away, feeling the sting as tears started forming. She shook her head.

"No, no….nothing." She pulled her legs up, leaning back against him as she wrapped her arms around her knees. "I'm just thinking about things."

"What type of things?" Ash relaxed, putting his arms around her. May shrugged.

"Just the town and the guy in the gem shop and that mean one in the Gym," she half admitted, frowning. He squeezed her, nodding thoughtfully. "And there were all those people and it was loud…"

"That's what cities like that are like." Ash said, his voice slightly regretful, "Not everyone is exactly nice and you can't hear your own thoughts sometimes."

"And you have to go to more of those cities?" she asked, tilting her head up to look at him. Ash nodded. "When?"

"Not for a while." Smiling again, he twisted around to peer into the dark of the surrounding woods. "How about we start back? They'll start worrying soon."

Agreeing, and much happier then before, May uncurled and stood from the stump. When they both were up and in the trees, she speeded up her pace to match Ash's long strides, and grabbed his hand, grinning.

- - -

Having finished his breakfast, Ash stretched out his limbs, listening to the cracking in his joints. "I think I'll take a long dip." he said, getting up, "I could use it!"

"Certainly could, you have that right," Misty snickered, getting a swat to the head by the laughing teenage boy as he walked past. "It might be a good idea if we all wash up today, since we've been walking to town and back, and getting dirty from working in the forest and just being in it."

May blinked, before smiling. "And since Vanika and Silvanus already did, we don't have to wait for them to finish." As Brock and Misty started clearing away the dishes and pots from the meal, she took to the cave.

Searching about the shelves, she found the one that held all of her bath things – including a towel, soap, and a toy from when she was little – and scooped them up. Grabbing her new sun dress, she placed them all in the basket she used whenever she would be near the lake, and carried it out.

Neither of the Gym Leaders even looked at her as she walked – or skipped, it was hard to tell whether she was just walking with a bouncy step or not – off into the trees.

- - -

Ash kneeled down at the edge of the lake, putting a hand in the water to test the temperature. It felt cold, like expected, but it would be warmer as the day wore on and the sun was given time to beat down on it. Before he had even pulled his shoes off, Pikachu had dove in, doggy paddling around.

"You waste no time, do you?" he asked as he undressed, taking care to put his clothes on a rock that was far enough away that they wouldn't get wet, and carefully stepped down the slippery, sandy shallow edge of the lake. "Just don't accidentally electrocute me again."

"Chu?" Nose twitching, Pikachu turned onto his back and floated past, letting his cheeks spark slightly. Ash rolled his eyes, using one hand to splash the unknowing pokemon and ducked down so that the water swallowed him up before a bolt could be sent his direction.

As he slowly resurfaced, Ash noted that his friend and ally was suddenly very still, balanced on an upraised rock in the water. Pikachu's ears shot up straight, and he let out a loud squeal. Staring at the startled pokemon, he started to turn to look at what caused it, before deciding against that idea. "Am I right in assuming I should not look back?" he said.

Before Pikachu could even reply, Ash's eyes widened as they heard the splush of water parting and making room for another form. He bit his lip, not daring to look as there was the continuous splashes. "Please, please, please only be Brock and Silvanus or even Vanika," he breathed, as Pikachu tilted his head curiously.

The hope was dashed. As the water stopped moving and rippling finally, there was silence, then a…meow. Incredulously, Ash spun around, the curiosity that was the noise overwhelming his thought that it would be best to try to not look. "………….."

It very nearly didn't even register in his mind what he was seeing, it was so shocking to him; the meowing sound was actually coming from a toy that looked like a cat sitting in a sail boat, which was being held onto by May. When it finally sank in, Ash put a hand up to his face, shaking his head.

"May! What in the name of the nine levels of hell are you doing?" he asked, turning to glare at Pikachu, who had started laughing hysterically. Turning bright red, Ash sighed, when she looked at him in confusion.

"What? I'm just taking a bath," she said, holding up the toy to show it off, "with you!"

"And you see nothing wrong with that?" Ash felt like tripping himself up and sinking back down into the water, but resisted the urge to. May shook her head.

"No…what's wrong?" Ash bit his lip, tasting blood, wondering what strange statement she was going to make. "Vanika and Silvanus…"

His head jerked up, what was actually going on dawning on him. Ash slowly turned back to look at her, pointedly trying his hardest to keep his eyes locked onto her wide ones. "Wait." he said, "You mean, they always do this?"

May nodded, actually smiling. Briefly giving Pikachu another glare, Ash once again sighed, but smiled back nonetheless. Letting the toy float away, she rushed forward and hugged him. "You aren't mad?" she asked.

Ash knew he had just turned an even darker red then before, as he carefully took hold of her shoulders and pushed her back. "May, people…typically don't do this type of thing unless they either have been together for a while or are married or just really, really, really like each other."

Blinking, she stared at him for several moments, clearly thinking over what he said, before beaming. "Let's get married then!"

"….do you even know what that means?" he asked, blanching. Free to move about again, May took to chasing after the sailboat that had floated away. She shook her head, peering back at him.

"What's it matter though?" May plopped down, sitting in the shallower water – which actually went up to her shoulders once she sat down – and started making the boat jump invisible waves. "I…"

Disregarding his still lingering embarrassment, Ash sat next to her, watching the water ripple around the toy. "I'm sorry." He looked at May in confusion, meeting her saddened gaze. "I keep messing up and doing everything wrong-"

"Do not say that!" May jumped when he yelled, going wide eyed and alarmed. "If you feel that something is right, then it is!"

"But you just said-" Ash shook his head, silencing her with an upraised hand.

"To Hell and be damned what I said. May, I tell you what people normally do, but that doesn't mean you have to just go along with it and start acting that way." Ash looked away briefly, frowning, before once again turning toward her. "Listen, I'm fine, you're fine, the others are fine. If…" He blushed, flustered, as he tried to form the right words. "…if you want to come out here with me or vice versa…that's ok. The same goes for anything else."

May paused, letting go of her toy. She turned her head to glance at him, seeing the sincerity in his brown eyes, before smiling. "You mean I don't have to do everything like those people in town did?" she asked.

Ash grinned. "Ah….no. Not unless you want to. Otherwise, just be what you want to be," he replied, as she lunged at him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

They both fell back into the water, submerged for a few seconds as Ash struggled to sit back up, laughing when they could finally breath again. "Won't they not agree though?" May suddenly asked; the 'they' she referred to was obviously Brock and Misty.

He shrugged, wondering about the answer himself – though, he had a feeling he knew it. "I'm not sure, actually." Ash admitted, as Pikachu paddled over once he saw that the danger was over, "Though, whether or not they do…doesn't matter."

- - -

"Hey, Brock, where did May go off to?" Misty asked, tapping him on the shoulder. The elder Leader peered up from his work on the PokeFood. He was only able to shake his head and shrug, not knowing any more then she did. Perhaps she went for a walk.

Silvanus was stretched out on one of the lower branches of a tree above them, his tail wrapped around it to keep a firm hold. His green eyes were closed, but it was obvious he was awake. Vanika, on the other hand, was quite active; she was doing various moves, including kicks, spins, and dancing. No, no, I saw her get the cat and boat earlier, and the basket, so I think she went down to the lake.

"Wait, didn't…" His interest caught, Brock looked up at the darting dragon. "Didn't Ash say he was going there earlier too?"

Misty nodded, pursing her lips. It was not looking at all good. "Yes, he did." She crossed her arms, looking in the direction of the small body of water. "We now have a situation that is getting out of hand."

Vanika came to a stop, freezing into her position. How so? Things seem to be going well. "They are getting too close, too fast." the redhead explained, as the green creature patiently slithered over to sit at her feet. "In the end, though, it won't work out. Ash is not the type to stay in one place for a long period of time, if he can avoid it. May, on the other hand, easily will sit down and stay put."

"Actually, we don't know that for sure." Brock pointed out, frowning at her, "Have any of us considering asking her about that?"

How about you ask instead of debate? Silvanus rolled over, his claws hanging down on either side of the branch, and peered at them. You might get some better answers.

You can do that now, in fact, Vanika said, as there were footsteps and rustling coming from the forest surroundings, Your situation-makers are coming back.

Right on time, Ash, May, and Pikachu arrived, pushing the thorny bushes out of the way. "Uh, oh," the dark-haired boy said, noticing the looks from all sides they were getting.

Have a nice swim? Vanika asked, giving a very good impression of a human smile, her sharp teeth glistening. Or did something else happen?

Both teenagers blushed, glancing at each other in embarrassment and nervousness. "Nothing like….that type of stuff." May replied, toying with the handle of her basket, "We were just talking is all."

I am so sure you did not notice anything about him at all, Silvanus' drawling voice said, causing the young girl to go even redder then before, It is the same with all creatures, so do not think I do not know.

"No! I wasn't…" Vanika shot her mate a glare, silencing his inner laughter. That is enough! There is no reason to humiliate either of them, considering we do the same thing!

"That was something I had not expected to hear," Misty said, raising an eyebrow, "nor that I wanted to hear." Shaking her head, she turned toward the pair that was standing only feet away, giving each other quick nervous looks. "Now, what really went on?"

Ash put his hands up, gaping at her. "All we did was sit in the water and talk…well, Pikachu did keep laughing at us, but that's it." When Misty gave him a disbelieving look, he frowned. "Honest."

"Hm, I don't doubt it," Brock piped up. Misty sighed and nodded, agreeing with him on it. "Now, who wants to go out and get me some firewood?"

"I'll go get it this time," the redhead quickly said, dashing off into the trees. She wanted some time away from the others, and fast.