They were uncomfortably silent on their walk to board the S.S. Tidal. May constantly adjusted the straps of her fanny pack. Drew stared blankly ahead, unsure if he should have left directions to the "I've been on the ship before, don't worry" girl walking beside him, but too tired to care. They hadn't spoken a word to each other, just a smile and a nod from Drew as he first saw May - who was late - trudge down to the lobby of the hotel that most of the coordinators for the Grand Festival stayed at where he was waiting, and a small "hello," from May. It originally sounded like a wonderful idea from May to "just head to the Battle Frontier right after the contest," so much so that both parties impulsively bought tickets for the 6 pm journey to the Battle Frontier; in hindsight, it was a terrible decision. The rollercoaster of emotions during the past couple days, especially this past one, could not possibly be quelled in the 2 hours between the final battle and now, as the two coordinators realized.

May, normally talkative, was finding it hard to gather the words she wanted to say. After 15 minutes of silence, she felt compelled to speak, "I'm so happy for you Drew, I really am. It's just - sorry - maybe I shouldn't have suggested traveling right after the Grand Festival. I'm still trying to take in everything that happened. I can't stop replaying that battle in my head."

Drew jolted, before replying, "Yeah…" He felt as if he was stuck in a dream.

May looked sideways at the dazed boy, before saying quietly, "That was the greatest battle I've ever took part in. Maybe that's why my heart is still beating so fast."

Drew suddenly stopped walking. "May...I'm not the best with words. But I wanted to tell you something. I think - no, I don't think. I know it's because of you that I've come so far. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

May bit her lip, furiously trying not to burst into tears in front of him - the one who both made her eyes light up in joy and fierce pride and yet the one who put an end to her bid for the title this year. She hadn't even cried during the ceremony. She had slipped away, grabbing as many lava cookies as she could hold in one hand, to her hotel to pack shortly after clapping for her rival - who had now become a top coordinator. And even then in her hotel room, as she packed for this new adventure, she was strangely at peace. Even when she bid Max - who had flown from Johto where he was doing research at the Elm Labs to see her - goodbye, even when he hugged her tight and whispered, "that battle was amazing. I'm so proud of you, May," she smiled tearily and yet she did not bawl - as she realized she had suddenly begun to. In an instant, she could feel his quilted vest, and she could smell his scent - unable to pinpoint what exactly it was, but a comforting one nonetheless - as he wrapped his arms around her. She was struggling to breathe through the deluge of tears that had suddenly overwhelmed her.

"I can't explain it," she gasped through breaths, "I'm so proud of you, D-Drew."

Drew rubbed her back as he himself started to feel like crying.

She continued, "But I- I'm so sad too! I feel like everything I did this year meant nothing- nothing!"

"No, May. I - well...I've felt the same way many times. Like when I lost to you in Kanto...I never told you this but it really shook me to the core. It was your second grand festival and you were matching me step for step."

She looked up, attentive.

Drew continued, "And I know that you yourself know you're being silly when you say that everything you did this year meant nothing." His voice lowered into a whisper, "That combination, with the hidden power from Venusaur and then Blaziken's stone edge was ...um, sorry I can't think of another word, remarkable. Using the audience's perception of what a grass type is and what a fire type is and flipping that on its head...when I saw flames emitting from Venusaur and not Blaziken my jaw dropped."

May smiled, teary-eyed. "Thanks Drew. You're my favorite rival, but I think you already knew that."

As Drew was about to respond, the pair suddenly heard the horn of the S.S. Tidal sound and their expressions turned from warm smiles to fear. As they made it to the dock, Drew yelled out to the girl running besides him, "you're my favorite, May!"

A/N: Just wanted to give a quick shoutout to jayfeather12345. Thanks for the reviews...it motivated me to start this and though I've been crazy busy, I can't wait to binge your stories. I read one chapter and I'm hooked already:)

Also, this should be way longer than my previous story, so this is exciting!