Happy September 1st, everybody! Lotsa stuff goes on in this chapter. I hope you all like how the story's going. Lots of Ash/May in this chapter, as well as a confusing dream sequence. But before I spoil more, why not just read it?
Ash and May found themselves the only ones awake in the house. For a while, neither of them said anything, the tension in the air rising.
"Ash," May began, trying to break the silence, "I'm sorry I put you on the spot like that in the ice cream parlor earlier tonight."
"It's alright, May," Ash smiled. "If Pikachu didn't jump in there to help me, I'm not sure what would've happened."
"That's something I wanted to ask you about," May turned to her friend. "For some reason, when I've been talking to Pikachu recently, it almost seems like he can read my mind, and I can understand what he says. Does this happen to you?"
"Of course it does," Ash laughed. "Pikachu and I have been together for a long time now, so we have kind of a bond that lets us know what the other is thinking."
"But why is it happening to me?" May questioned, "I haven't been with Pikachu as long as you have, so why can I understand him?"
"It's got less to do with how much time you've been together, and more to do with what's in your heart," Ash explained. "Pikachu and me have had this bond for a while. It's 'cause we have the same heart, or something. If you can understand Pikachu, then your heart must be lining up with his, too."
And by extension, May thought, my heart must be coming closer to Ash's. She looked down at the place on her body where her heart is. She placed a hand there and felt her heart beat. It was a steady beat. Not rapid, like when Drew had kissed her, but controlled. Steady. She placed her other hand on top of the one already on her chest and squeezed it. She felt both happy and sad at the thought. She knew that if things go the right way, she and Ash could travel together as long as they would be able to. May also thought of Drew. Even with her growing feelings for the trainer, she still loved the coordinator. Parts of her wanted to stay with Ash, and others shouted for her to go with Drew. For the first time, May felt like this struggle for her affection was going to tear her asunder. She wrapped her arms around herself, and begun to shiver. May was afraid of what would happen when she made a decision. Who would she hurt by choosing one over the other? Would some people condone a certain choice? Misty certainly wouldn't mind if I choose Drew, she thought. She remembered the friendship she used to share with the Cerulean Gym leader, before Harley took control. Would getting out of the battle be as easy as accepting Drew's proposal? May was afraid of this thought. She feared it because it meant running away from her problems and running away from her friends. It meant showing Misty that she was right, even thought May knew she was wrong.
"Are you alright, May?" a compassionate voice asked. May looked up, her eyes sad, but not tearful, to the young man who addressed her. His auburn eyes where full of compassion and worry for her. On his shoulders, proof of how far he was willing to go to protect her. But most importantly, she could see his heart, a heart that overflowed with kindness, understanding, and love. Not just for his partners, or his friends, but for everyone and everything he meets. A kind of person like him was one in a million. No. Once in a life time.
"Ash," May timidly asked her friend, "this is all gonna end all right, isn't it?" She could feel her eyes giving way to the stream of tears, but she fought them back. "After this is over, we're all gonna still be friends, and we're gonna go to the Battle Pyramid, and you're gonna beat Brandon and win your last symbol, right?" The tears slowly worked their way down her face, dripping into her lap.
Ash looked at the crying girl for a moment, taking in fully his protégé's worry. "Of course it's gonna be alright. We'll always be friends, May." He placed his hands on her shoulders. He squeezed them a bit, trying to calm the coordinator down. "After we get Misty back on our side and show her Harley's lies, everything will turn back to normal."
"But what about you and Drew?" May asked him, her eyes gazing into his. "I'm not going to be able to dodge the subject forever. When I choose one of you, the others bound to be heart broken."
"Drew and I actually talked about this on our way to rescue you from Team Rocket," Ash said. "We agreed not to hold a grudge if you picked the other. And even if we didn't, I'd still be your friend, even if you decided to follow Drew."
May said nothing, only smiling at the boy she sat next to.
"So, do you know when you're gonna choose one of us?" Ash asked her. "I mean, if you don't know when you're going to be able to, that's okay." He dropped his arms back down to his side.
"No, it's alright," May glumly stated, "I know it's something on your mind. I just wish it wasn't such a big issue with everyone."
Ash let out a short, quick laugh. "I understand. If you don't feel anything for me, that's alright. I just hoped we'd stick together a while longer…"
"No, Ash," May interrupted him, "It's not that I don't like you." The trainer looked at the girl. She realized what she just said, and now she had to go with it. "I really do like you. You're a great guy, and when I'm with you, I feel safe. But, I also like Drew. He's a romantic, and I can't say that I don't find that appealing."
"Well, I'm not a romantic," Ash smiled, "and I have no intention of becoming one. That would be me trying to be someone I'm not."
"I'm glad, Ash," May smiled at him, "because the last thing we need is more Drews around."
They both snickered at the thought of a world overpopulated with dozens of the same coordinator.
"Thanks for comforting me, Ash. It really means a lot," May smiled at him.
"It's alright, May. You know I'm always here if you need a shoulder to lean on," Ash told her. The trainer was surprised when the girl wrapped her arms around him pulling him tightly in for a hug. Ash placed his arms around May, and the student and teacher held each other for a moment, feeling each others warmth.
May let out a chuckle. "What's up, May?" Ash asked his companion as he held her.
"I can feel your heart beat," May whispered. Ash blushed when he felt his heart pounding against his chest in a steady rhythm.
"Well," Ash countered, "I can feel you breathe." May smiled as she expanded her lungs again, making the boy's arms feel that much tighter around her.
"We'd better be getting to sleep, Ash," May whispered into his ear.
"Alright. We're gonna need to do some more training tomorrow," Ash whispered back.
The couple released each other from their embrace. They looked sheepishly at each other's faces. They whispered a good night to each other, and slipped under the covers to sleep among their friends and family.
May felt the cool breeze blowing against her face. She looked around to find herself in a familiar field. Ash stood behind her, although he was much taller than she remembered. Looking across the field, she saw Drew and his Roselia. Brock stood at the sidelines, watching the battle, and she could barely make out her red bandana in the bushes behind him.
"We can't waste this opportunity, Pikachu! Thunderbolt him!" May heard those words ring in her ears. She looked down at her hands and feet, seeing the small, yellow body of Ash's partner. She nodded at Ash, and ran on all fours toward Roselia. May glared at the enemy Pokémon, sensing something familiar about him. She concentrated her hardest, and launched a massive electric charge at the small Grass-type. He screamed with a familiar voice, but May couldn't put her finger on whose it was.
Roselia shook off the Thunderbolt as Drew shouted a command. "Roselia, Petal Dance!"
Roselia smiled a familiar, fiendish grin. He spun around and the pink petals flew at May. She tried to leap around the petals, but they came from too many directions at once, and she felt herself getting pushed back by the force of the attack. May felt the petals cutting against her sides, but felt no pain. She heard a loud thud as she hit the ground.
"Get up, Pikachu! I know you can do it, buddy!" Ash called to her. She came to be standing on all fours, and looked down the field at Roselia.
I remember this part, she thought.
"Pikachu, this is our shot!" Ash called to May, "Take 'em out with Volt Tackle!"
May looked at Roselia for a moment longer. Even though she was afraid that she was gonna run into another Petal Dance, she began running across the field as fast as she could. She could feel a buildup in her face. The power that her body contained began to rise to the surface as she ran down the field toward her adversary.
"Roselia, finish her off with Solar beam!" Drew commanded. Roselia grinned as he held his rose-tipped hands into the air. May could see the energy he was collecting move into his grasp.
"No, I absolutely won't lose to you!" May shouted, hearing her own voice come out of Pikachu's mouth. A golden, sparking aura enveloped her. Her powers had taken on a visible form. She charged as quickly as she could at Roselia.
"Roselia, now!" Drew commanded.
May leapt at Roselia, her body coursing with the electric energy. Just before she connected, though, Roselia lowered his rose and shot a beam of energy straight into her face. May again felt no pain, but a sudden fatigue came over her as the beam flung her small body through the air. She tumbled across the ground and landed near Ash's feet.
"Pikachu is no longer able to battle!" Brock called from the sidelines. "Drew and Roselia are the winners!"
"Serves you right!" Roselia called to May using Harley's voice. "You didn't think you could beat me, did you?"
"Harley…" May growled, but her body couldn't muster the strength to fight back.
"You're such a joke, May," Roselia walked over to her and kicked dirt into her eyes. May's vision went black; all she could do was hear.
"Pikachu, are you alright?" Ash asked her, taking her into his gentle hands.
"Yeah," she choked out. "I feel so weak."
"We've already lost May," Ash told her. "I'll take you back to the Pokémon Center, and then we'll talk with Max and Brock about leaving without her."
"Why, Ash?" May asked him from his arms. "Why are you gonna give up on her?"
"She obviously likes Drew more than me," Ash began to cry. He didn't let it affect his talking. "He probably set up the battle to make a fool of me."
"No, I set up the battle, Ash," May tried to comfort him. Her small Pikachu arms tugged on his collar.
"Does that even matter?" Ash asked her. "If she's in love with Drew, then I shouldn't get in the way. It's what makes her happy that's important."
"I'm not in love with Drew!" She shouted at him. She could feel her cheeks light up with involuntary sparks. "And I won't be happy with him! You've got to save me, Ash!"
"It's too late for that," the tears continued to flow down his face. "I battled for her, and lost."
"It's not the outcome of any stupid battle that makes someone love someone else!" May shouted again. "No matter what the stakes, if two people love each other, then they'll rise above what ever losses they face, and be better for it! Not even if we lose to Misty!"
May sprung awake to find herself the only one left in the bed. She looked around for signs of the rest of her traveling party. However, it was her own words from the dream that echoed through her thoughts. Did it really not matter if they beat Misty? All May would have to do is tell the truth about how she felt about Ash, and the kinds of things they do together. She felt a smile quickly rise to her face. May sat up and looked about the room. Not even Pikachu, who's post was at the door, remained in the room. She turned to the kitchen and heard talking coming from it. She decided to get up and go see what the ruckus was about.
The coordinator wandered into the kitchen to find Brock cooking while performing a spectacular show. He was fixing them a hash brown casserole dish using the shredded potatoes, eggs, cheese and ham. As he flipped his creation into the air again, May looked for a chair to sit at. All of the chairs that the house could pull together were assembled here. Ash sat at the head of the table, with Max and Cyndi taking the spots closest to him. Raine sat beside her daughter, looking over her shoulder to watch Brock cook. May felt herself get angry at Max and Cyndi for only a second, but then shook it off. Why should I get mad at them for sitting next to my Ash, she thought, sitting down. Wait, hold the phone! My Ash? May surprised herself. Why was she taking ownership of the boy, now? This is all so confusing, May sighed. She took a seat next to her brother and tried to follow the story Ash was telling the young children about.
"There was this other time that Jigglypuff met up with twin Igglybuffs that were going to perform in concert. She interrupted their performance and put us all to sleep again!" Ash energetically told the admittedly boring story.
May sighed, not caring what the boy was talking about. She absentmindedly played with the fork placed near her plate. She looked into her empty glass. She felt thirsty just looking at it. As May stood up, Brock turned around and began placing the casserole on the plates of everyone who was waiting. May filled her glass with water from the sink and returned to her plate to begin eating.
"Brock, you outdo yourself each and every time," May commented, taking in another bite. "This is great."
"You only say that because it's true," Brock jokingly smiled, taking a seat next to the coordinator. The talking had ceased, and was replaced by the sound of two wild Pokémon tearing apart their meal. Brock coughed loudly to get Ash and May to realize that they were making a scene. They smiled, their mouth splattered with their breakfast. Ash and May started to eat at a slower pace than before. The messy eaters glanced over at each other, each thinking how adorable the other was just now.
After cleaning her plate thoroughly for the second time, May thought that it was time to go take a shower. She asked Cyndi and Raine where their shower was, and the mother told her that it was down the hall from Cyndi's room. She thanked the blue-haired woman and left the room to gather a change of clothes and head to the shower.
Ash finished his second helping and left to go wait for May in the living room so they could continue their training. He and Pikachu sat on the couch after folding it back up, waiting for the girl to come down the stairs. Just then, Ash heard a tiny rapping against the window. When he looked outside, he saw a yellow and red bird Pokémon flying outside the window. He recognized his Noctowl the moment he set eyes on it. Ash ran outside to greet his old friend. "Noctowl?" Ash smiled, "What are you doing here?"
"I hope you didn't mind that we brought it," the elderly professor commented, walking up to the boy and his Pikachu. "It was the only way I could think of to find you in this city.
"Professor Oak!" Ash smiled. "I saw on the news that you where coming."
"Ash!" the boy felt his mother begin to smother him. She squeezed him tighter than he had ever felt before.
"Mom," Ash choked out, "can you please stop killing me?"
Mrs. Ketchum slackened her grip. "Sorry, Ash," she smiled, "I was just worried about you. What could have happened between you and Misty that would have her up in arms against you?"
"I brought Noctowl's Pokéball for you, Ash," his friend said, stepping out of the professor's shadow. He wore a red headband under his hair that was parted right down the middle. His familiar green shirt gave Ash comfort as he held the Pokéball for the trainer.
"Thanks, Tracey," Ash said, taking the ball from him. He turned to Noctowl, saying, "You did great to find me, Noctowl. Your psychic powers must be coming along very well. Return." Just as he was about to recall his Johto Flying-Type, Noctowl turned his head around, looking into the distance. "Do you see something?" Ash asked his Pokémon. Noctowl flew up and down the path when he came into contact with a butterfly Pokémon. Her wings were colored with bright yellow, blue and red. Her long, hose mouth instinctively shot a string at Ash's Noctowl. The Owl Pokémon turned the attack back with his Psychic powers, but the butterfly counter with the same ability, snaring Ash's Noctowl in the sticky string.
"Noctowl!" Ash called to it as it fell to the ground before a large man with short hair and a brown shirt. The trainer approached his fallen Pokémon, but stopped short when he recognized the man and the Pokémon he was traveling with.
The man had a look of intense focus upon his face. He glared at Ash, not recognizing him for who he was, at first. The woman next to him, in her long, orange dress, was the first to recognize the wandering trainer. She held a small, pink Pokémon in her arms that seemed to be napping away.
"Ash?" asked the woman. "Is that you?"
"Is that Ash?" the man asked his wife. As the trainer came closer to them, he remembered the boy under whose care he placed his children under. "Hello, Ash," the man ran to meet him where Noctowl lay.
"Norman?" Ash gulped. The first images in his mind were Norman crushing the microphone and the nightmare where he decked the young trainer.
"It's been a long time, Ash," Norman smiled. "Caroline and I came as soon as we heard there was trouble."
"That's…cool," Ash said, almost afraid of how friendly the Petalburg Gym Leader was acting towards him.
"Is that Noctowl yours?" Norman asked the trainer.
"Yeah," Ash picked up his Pokémon. He tried to pull the String Shot out of Noctowl's wings.
"It's rare to see a Noctowl of that color," Norman smiled. "You're very lucky."
"Beau!" The butterfly Pokémon called, motioning toward the top of the building.
"Oh, Beautifly! Is May in there?" Caroline asked the Bug-Flying type.
"Yeah, she's probably still taking her shower," Ash looked at the rather rundown building.
"Ash!" Tracey ran up the road to see the trainer conversing with the Gym Leader and his wife. "Do you know these people?"
"Oh, yeah," Ash turned to them, "Norman, this is Tracey. I met him when I traveled though the Orange Islands. Right now, he's Professor Oak's assistant."
"That is a very notable position," Norman said thoughtfully.
"Tracey," Ash continued, "These are Norman and Caroline. They're May's parents from Petalburg City. Norman's the Gym Leader there."
"Oh, wow!" Tracey exclaimed. "Max told me a lot about your Pokémon, Norman." Tracey smiled.
"Why don't we go inside and wait for May to come down?" Norman asked. The group agreed and they all wandered into the house to wait for the girl to get finished taking her shower. Oak had to pull Mrs. Ketchum along through the clothing store part and into the living space in the back.
A happy reunion as all of the important people from Pallet and Petalburg journey all the way out here to voice their concern about their children. But what will their reaction be to the closeness of Ash and May? And is Tracey feeling uncomfortable? What's he worried about?
I hope the dream sequence wasn't too hard to understand. If you all have any questions about it, don't hesitate to PM me about it. I'll be glad to try and shed some light on what it was supposed to mean.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and can wait for the next one. Until next time, everyone, get Pokémon!