Did you have a nice weekend? I got to go home for Labor Day (USA), so I got to see my family and girlfriend. I'm in a good mood right now. Here's the next chapter!

Hrmm... something seems to be cloging the internets around here. Apparently some of you saw CH1 again? Don't be discouraged. I suspect that there are server issues with and that they will be fixed before too long.

Max was ecstatic to see his parents again. Raine offered to make some tea for them, to which all of the newly arrived guests agreed. Norman and Caroline sat on the couch next to Max, while Oak and Mrs. Ketchum sat in wooden chairs that had been brought in from the kitchen. Cyndi stepped out and immediately began to run over to the famous Professor, the one who gave Pikachu to her idol.

"Wow!" Cyndi was hopping up and down in front of the old man. "I can't believe it's really Professor Oak!" She smiled at the man, making him feel rather uncomfortable. "You gotta tell me about giving Ash his Pikachu! He's so awesome! I want to start with a Pikachu when I become a trainer!"

"Cyndi," Raine calmly sipped her tea, "don't pester our guests."

"But these are all of the people Ash has come to rely on, mom!" Cyndi whined. "I might not ever have this chance to talk to all of them again!"

As Cyndi continued her rounds into bothering Ash's mother, the boy himself waited for May to finish her shower upstairs.

"Are you done yet?" Ash asked, his impatience growing.

"Why?" May asked from the shower, "Do you have to use the bathroom?"

"No, I just thought you'd like to see your mom and dad," Ash called through the door.

"Mom and Dad are here?" May slammed the door open. She zipped past Ash and ran down the stairs to find the living room chalk full of the people she knew. "Mommy! Daddy!" May smiled as she ran over to her parents. They both stood and gave their daughter a hug as a bewildered Ash wandered down stairs and sat on the ground near his mother.

"We're so glad to see you, honey," Caroline smiled into her daughter's hair.

The small pink Pokémon leapt up and began nuzzling May's leg while Beautifly landed on May's green bandana for the first time. "Skitty, Beautifly, it's nice to see you both as well!"

"We were so worried about you when we heard that the Cerulean Gym Leader challenged you to a battle," Norman held his daughter close for a moment longer before letting her go.

"Yes, Ash," Oak sipped his tea, "what happened between you four and Misty to cause this falling out?"

Brock began to enter the room from washing dishes when Ash and May both shot him a look. He read their looks as best he could. He shot them a disappointed glance, and returned to the dishes.

"You see," Ash began, "May and I got separated from Max and Brock by an attack by Team Rocket. We were lost in the woods for over a day before we found our way into Cerulean City." He shot a nervous glance at Norman, afraid of what the powerful man would do if he suspected fowl play.

"After we got here, we visited Misty," May a continued, "and she was pretty nice the first time."

"The first time?" Norman asked his daughter.

"Ash went shopping and got me this new bandana after my old one got torn up while we were lost," May continued.

Ash felt his face flush as he glanced over at May's father. The man shot him a smile. "That's very considerate of you, Ash." Norman was pleased with the trainer's actions. "I'm glad May and Max have someone like you to watch out for them."

"Thanks, Norman," Ash smiled. "After we got some ice cream, we came back to the Cerulean Gym, and Misty wasn't herself. Harley, May's rival, told Misty a bunch of lies about how May had been treating me badly and Misty believed him and turned on us. That's when she challenged May to the battle. When Misty wouldn't listen to what I had to say, I also challenged her to the battle, putting May and I up against her and Drew-I mean, Harley." Ash blushed at the slip up.

"I'll go over to the Gym right now and straighten this up," Norman said, coming to his feet.

"Actually, Norman," Oak interrupted, "I think that Ash and May should handle this one."

Norman sat back down. "Are you sure? With the Harley spreading lies and rumors?"

Oak nodded. "This is their battle. There are times when even parents must step aside to allow their children to grow."

"Do you want me to stay out of the fighting?" Norman asked Ash and May.

A lump rose in May's throat. She wanted to get out of the battle. She wanted everyone to be friends again. Would she tell her father that she wanted his help? Would she tell him that she was afraid? That she didn't want to fight anymore with her friends?

Ash stood up and faced Norman. "I think we'd do better if you don't get involved. May and I have been practicing for the coming battle, and we're getting good. May's a really great trainer, and I know that she'll make you proud."

Ash really does believe in me, she thought. I can't let him down. I've gotta fight, too! "Leave it to us, daddy!" May stood up. "We can beat Misty and Harley."

Norman smiled at his child, impressed with her courage. "Very well, then. I'll be cheering for you during the battle."

"Speaking of which, we need to get to training," Ash spoke to May. The girl nodded, bowed respectfully to her father, and she and Ash began to head outside.

"Ash?" the trainer heard the voice of Tracey behind him as he walked out the door. "Can I speak to you in private for a sec?"

"Sure, Tracey," Ash smiled at him. He turned to May. "You go ahead of me," he smiled, "I'll catch up with you where we trained with Drew yesterday."

"Okay," May smiled. Skitty and Beautifly chased after her, happy to be with their trainer again.

"Now what is it, Tracey?" Ash asked his old friend.

"It's actually kind of embarrassing," Tracey blushed. "You've gotta keep this under your hat, okay?"

"Sure," Ash smiled, "what is it?"

"Well," Tracey continued to blush, "I've been visiting Misty and her sisters up here for a while now. I come in every time, and Misty seems to glad to see me. You know what I mean, right?"

"Uh…" Ash drew a blank. "no."

"What I'm trying to say is…" Tracey drew his face close to Ash's ear, "… is that I like Misty."

"Yeah? I like Misty, too," Ash was confused, still completely missing the point.

"No, I mean I really like her," Tracey told him, getting annoyed with the boy's density.

"Oh. Oh!" Ash finally got it. "Well, that's great, Tracey! Have you told her yet?"

"Of course not!" Tracey's blush thickened. "I can tell she doesn't have the same feelings for me. And it's not great!"

"What do you mean?" Ash was confused.

"I mean I have to choose between a girl I like and one of my very best friends!" Tracey struggled against himself.

"How much do you like Misty?" Ash asked his friend, concerned over his plight.

"I think about her everyday!" Tracey collapsed. "I gave her Azurill after she told me about how she felt lonely after she let Togepi go. I've come up every time that she's called. I love her, Ash."

"Then go be with her, Tracey. Misty needs friends in her corner, too." Ash told his friend.

"But-" Tracey's eye began to water, "but won't you be angry with me? I'll be siding against you. I'll be cheering for you to lose!"

"It's alright, Tracey," Ash comforted his friend. "When this is all over, we're all gonna be friends again. We'll get Harley's lies out in the open, and Misty will be our friend again. And if you really do love her, you've got to do everything you can to keep her. A friend of mine told me that once, and I followed her advice. Things are still going well for me. I can only hope that her advice'll help you, too."

Tracey gave Ash a large hug. "Thank you, Ash," he sniffed. "You're a great friend. I'd have never met Misty if it wasn't for you. I'd have never become Oak's assistant and realized my dream. I'd still be a nothing if you had never come along."

"It's alright, Tracey," Ash smiled. "You'd have become Oak's assistant anyway, even if you had never met me. You're an awesome Pokémon Watcher." He pulled away from his emotional friend. "Now, go to Misty. She needs her friends right now." With that, the watcher nodded, and ran out the door to the Cerulean Gym. Ash followed him out, but ran in an opposite direction to where May awaited him. Pikachu came up behind him and leapt onto his shoulder.

When May wandered into the clearing, she gasped in surprise.

"Good morning," Drew said to her, as if he was waiting for her.

"Good morning, Drew," May looked at him inquisitively. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to apologize for blowing you off yesterday after our battle," he said, taking a rose out from behind him and holding it out for her, his head bowed. "I'm sorry. Will you accept my heartfelt apology?"

May blushed and took the rose from him. "S-sure," she smiled, looking into the rose.

"I came to help you train for the upcoming battle, like I said I would," Drew looked into her sapphire eyes.

"You mean, help Ash and I train?" May looked back into his eyes, feeling the conflicting feelings trapped and allured.

Drew brought his face closer to May's. She could feel his breath on her lips. "I guess I could, if you wanted me to," he sweetly whispered. He drew his lips closer to hers and-

"May?" the voice of her tag battle partner rang though the quiet air. May quickly pushed Drew back before he could make contact. She felt her face turn deep red. Everything became dark around her. "May, are you there?" the voice echoed. She faintly saw someone coming out of the bushes.

From the depths of her mind, she heard something. A chorus of voices. Some happy, others, dissatisfied.

The conflicting voices in her head rang out. Why did you push him back? asked her lips. I wanted to feel his soft lips against mine!

Drew was making moves on me! her brain fired back. He's trying to seduce me!

But were you letting him? a part deep inside of her asked. I know you wanted to kiss him back.

May felt like she was losing her mind. As her heartbeat quickened, she heard a voice spring up. So what if I did? I need love, too! Mom has it! Raine has it! I need to feel wanted! After the Grand Festival, I felt so lost. I didn't have a goal anymore. I couldn't get on stage. I couldn't have people cheer me on. I lost that feeling of being loved. I want it from somewhere. But, I feel a loyalty somewhere inside of me. A loyalty that wouldn't let me be caught by him with another. Why am I worried about it? I haven't chosen yet.

"From what I could tell, you have chosen." The voice of her kid brother rang out in her mind. Have I already mentally made a choice? For who? My teacher? The romantic? Both of them? Who?

"May, are you okay? Say something!" she heard a voice calling to her. It sounded… familiar. Like he was worried. Someone she knew very well who was worried.

"C'mon May. Get up!" another voice talked to her. The voice of someone close, yet distant. He sounded commanding. Someone who keeps an air of superiority around him.

She opened her eyes, not realizing that she had fainted. Each of her sapphire eyes beheld a boy. Each with a choice. Each with a future. Whose would she choose?

"Thank goodness you're awake, May," her friend let out a sigh of relief. "I was worried when I found you unconscious here."

"I was unconscious?" May furrowed her brow. "I don't remember that."

"You fainted when you heard Ash calling for you," the charming emerald eyed boy held her hand.

"Why would I do that?" May asked him. "That seems pretty weird."

"Anyway," Ash smiled, reaching a hand out for hers, "I'm glad you're okay. Do you think you'll be able to train?"

She took his hand and was pulled to her feet by her tutor. "Of course I am!" May smiled. "You said you were gonna help us, right, Drew?"

"That's what I said," he shot an intense glare at Ash, who wasn't really paying him a great deal of attention.

"Okay, who goes first?" Ash asked him after taking his gaze off May's eyes.

"How about we do it in the same order as yesterday?" Drew smiled.

"Okay, that means I go first," Ash ran across the clearing so that there would be enough room for them to battle. Pikachu leapt off of Ash's shoulder and ran up to May. She took the small Pokémon in her arms and sat at the sidelines to watch.

"Are you ready?" Drew asked him.

"Sure," Ash smiled back, intensity in his eyes. He reached to his belt and plucked off a Pokéball. "Corphish, I choose you!" Ash tossed the ball through the air, and it sprang open, revealing Corphish. The Water-Type flipped forward, but before he crashed into the ground, he caught himself on his claws, and sprung forward, landing on his feet, completing the somersault.

"Corphish!" the ruffian Pokémon grunted. Ash smiled at Corphish before turning to his student. "Thanks for your help with that, May," He smiled at her. Drew's interest also peaked.

"No problem, Ash," May smiled at him. "Sometimes the student teaches the teacher, ya know." She gave him a wink.

Drew began to grind his teeth together. "Go, Absol!" he shouted. He chucked the ball, and his Absol appeared seconds later. I'll show him, Drew thought with as much intensity as he could muster. He'll quit showing off to May when I clean his clock! Absol growled at Corphish, who flashed his pincers, ready to fight.

"Umm…" May sat there for a moment. "Begin?"

"Absol," Drew shouted, "use Water Pulse!"

"Corphish, Harden!" Ash commanded.

Absol created a wave of water and sent it barreling at Corphish. The crustacean Pokémon shone green for a moment, and as the Water Pulse came over him, stood through it, completely unaffected.

"You'll have to try harder than that," Ash smiled.

"Absol, blind him with Flash!" Drew grunted. Absol let shine a brilliant light that caused Corphish to close his eyes due to the intensity. "Now, Iron Tail!"

As Absol began to charge at Corphish, Ash and his blinded Pokémon stood still. When Absol was about 4 feet away, Ash shouted, "Bubblebeam!" Corphish, still unable to see, fired its multicolored bubbles at Absol, who took the attack head on due to the proximity. Absol was pushed back toward a stunned Drew. "How could you hit Absol if you couldn't see?" Drew asked.

"Corphish and I have a bond of trust," Ash remarked. "He knows that when I tell him to use Bubblebeam, that he needs to use it."

"I'll show you how strong your bond is!" Drew grunted. "Absol, Razor Wind!"

Absol wound his head back and sliced through the air, sending a sharp blade through the air at Corphish.

"Corphish, sent it right back!" Ash shouted. Drew didn't understand the command before it was set into motion.

Corphish stood still and blinked a few times as the Razor Wind approached. Before it came to close, Corphish leapt into the air and grabbed the Razor Wind in his pincer. Acting quickly, Corphish threw the volatile attack back to its origin. Taken by surprise, Absol took the attack head on. The Dark-Type struggled to his feet, and looked down the field at Corphish.

"Corphish, now is our turn to strike. Get in there with Crabhammer!" Ash called. Corphish began charging at Absol.

"Block it with Water Pulse!" Drew ordered.

Absol used Water Pulse to create a pillar of water around it, to serve as a shield.

"Plunge on through it, Corphish!" Ash commanded him. Corphish leapt into the Water Pulse and came out the other side above Absol. "Now, Crabhammer!"

"Absol, Iron Tail!" Drew mounted a defensive.

Both Pokémon flew against each other. Absol's glowing tail came into contact with Corphish's glowing claw. The attacks where at a stand still. "Another Crabhammer!" Ash told his Pokémon. Corphish's opposite claw began to glow and it slammed into Absol underside, knocking the air out of the Disaster Pokémon. Absol plummeting to the ground as Corphish stood ready for more.

"Um…" May looked over at Absol, "Drew, I don't think he can continue…"

"Of course he can!" Drew spat. "Get up, Absol so we can teach his Corphish a lesson."

"A..aa…a.bs" the Pokémon grunted, struggling to stand up.

"Corphish, Return!" Ash called out, recalling his Pokémon. He walked over to Drew and Absol.

"Why did you recall Corphish?" Drew angrily shouted. "The battle wasn't over!"

"Absol's hurt pretty bad," Ash showed his concern for Drew's Pokémon's well being. "You need to take him to the Pokémon Center so he can rest."

Drew ground his teeth together again. He knew Ash was right. He grudgingly recalled Absol. He tried to put a cool look on his face. "I guess what ever May taught you last night really paid off, huh?"

Ash smiled. "Yeah, she's been a great help for getting me ready for the battle."

"I'll take Absol to the Pokémon Center, now," Drew smiled at May, causing her to blush. "I'll see you guys around."

"See you later, Drew!" May waved to him as he walked off. She smiled at him, even though he couldn't see.

"Thank you for your help last night, May," Ash smiled at her. "You're ideas for how to Contest Battle worked really well. I bet they'll even help me win my match against Brandon."

May blushed at the praise she was receiving. "You're welcome, Ash," she smiled back. "I'm glad I could help." Her face became curious. "Did I really faint, Ash?" she asked him.

"When I came through the bushes, I saw you lying on the ground, out cold," Ash explained. "Drew was standing above you, so I rushed over and tried to wake you up. I asked Drew what happened to you, and he said that after you heard me calling from behind the bushes, you fainted." Ash turned a bit grim. "I was worried that he had done something to you. Are you feeling okay?"

May nodded. "I'm alright, Ash," she tried to dispel his worry. "I remember seeing you come out of the bushes before I lost consciousness."

"That's good," Ash sighed. "I was worried that I was gone for too long and something bad might've happened."

"Well, since Drew's gone to the Pokémon Center, do you wanna have a practice battle with me?" May shyly smiled at Ash.

Ash was caught off guard and began to blush. "O-okay. Sure," the trainer answered. "But we better not battle too hard, or else we won't be at one hundred percent for tomorrow."

"That's true," May placed her hand to her chin thoughtfully. "Hey, what about you use Aipom and I use Squirtle? That way Corphish doesn't get too tired out from battling twice in a row?" She smiled at her idea as she brought it up to the trainer.

"That sounds like a great idea, May," he answered. He pulled Aipom's Pokéball out and after thinking for a moment, he pulled out Corphish's Pokéball, too. He laughed as he tossed both of them into the air, causing the long-tailed and the ruffian Pokémon to appear. Ash leaned down to Corphish and said, "Now pay attention to May and Squirtle. Learn how they attack, and you'll be a better team mate."

"Cor," Ash's Water-type nodded. He and Pikachu sat on the sidelines as Ash and May got ready for their battle.

Ash wins against Drew, but can he battle to the max against his crush? What effect will the battle have on their relationship? Please continue to read/review and keep PMing me your questions and comments.

On Friday (In the US, at any rate), on Cartoon Network at 8:30PM Eastern Time, Pokémon: Battle Frontier will premiere. I want to be supportive of the new dub, and I hope you will, too. I hope you all will watch it. If you're an Advanceshipper, the episode has a shippy moment (PM me if you want specifics about that).

In any case, until next time: Everyone, get Pokémon!