Are you all having as much fun as I am? I hope so. Let the obligatory battle between costars begin! Chapter 23, begin!
"Are you ready, May?" Ash smiled across the field at May.
"Don't go easy on me just because you like me, Ashy," May taunted him, winking.
"I had no intention," Ash grinned back, blushing only slightly. "You ready, Aipom?" Ash asked his Pokémon. Aipom bounced expectantly on her tail, ready to battle.
"Alright, Squirtle, take the stage!" May tossed his ball into the air. Squirtle appeared, performing his entrance perfectly. "I'll go first, if you don't mind. Ladies first, and all," she grinned across the field. "Squirtle, Tackle!" She ordered her tiny turtle Pokémon. Squirtle leapt head first towards Aipom.
"Aipom, catch Squirtle with your tail!" Ash ordered. Aipom extended her tail forward, ready to catch Squirtle like a baseball.
"Mess 'em up with Rapid Spin!" May ordered. At that, Squirtle pulled himself into his shell, and began to spin at a high speed. Aipom still tried to catch him, but the friction caused by the spinning burned her tail. She leapt up and down, holding the end of it in her clumsy hands.
"Aipom, are you alright?" Ash called to her. The Normal-Type nodded, and would try to continue to battle. "Alright, Aipom, use Swift!" Ash ordered. Aipom leapt into the air and swung her tail, causing star-shaped rays to fly at Squirtle.
"Withdraw!" May shouted. Squirtle obeyed, and was safely inside his shell before the stars hit. "Now, Water Gun!" Only Squirtle's head came out of the shell, and he fired a powerful spray of water at Aipom.
"Double Team!" Ash sneered. Aipom split into three copies of herself and the water flew through one, dispelling it. The monkey Pokémon continued to Double Team, surrounding Squirtle.
"Squirtle, blanket the field in Bubble!" May commanded. Squirtle stood up and fired a large quantity of Bubbles into the air. They all began to fall to earth, each snapping near an Aipom. All of the Aipom had disappeared from view. "Where did she go?" May glanced around.
"Toss Squirtle into the air!" Ash cried out. Aipom leapt out of the bushes behind Squirtle and used her tail to grab the Pokémon. A hint of pain on her face, she spun around and threw Squirtle into the air with a spin. The Kanto Water-type couldn't control his trajectory, and withdrew into his shell in fear.
"Be brave, Squirtle!" May called to her Pokémon. Squirtle came out of his shell, but he was already plummeting to earth. "Soften the landing with Water Gun!"
"Not if I can help it!" Ash smiled. "Aipom, Focus Punch!" Aipom wound up her tail as a glow enveloped it. As she swung at May's Pokémon, however, the glow dissipated and Aipom's tail made an audible crack against Squirtle's shell. The Normal-Type winced in pain as her tail recoiled. She landed back on the ground, holding her tail protectively. Squirtle landed with a smile on his face as he was still battle ready.
"Aipom, what's wrong?" Ash asked her, a concerned look on his face.
"I'll tell you, Ash," May smirked at him. "When Aipom grabbed Squirtle early on, her tail got injured. Since nearly all of her attacks come from that tail, the power of her attacks was cut in half, and she couldn't maintain the focus needed for Focus Punch."
Ash looked at May, a kind of disbelief on his face. He shook it off and replaced it with an immense pride. "Aipom, return!" he called, allowing the Normal-Type to rest. "You win, May." He smiled at her.
"Really?" May was surprised. "But Aipom could have continued."
Ash shook his head. "No, with her tail burned like that, she wouldn't be able to keep up the pace, especially with Squirtle keeping the pressure on like her did. That Bubble attack you did to counter Double Team was awesome!"
"You really think so?" May blushed. She ran her fingers through her hair, looking into Ash's auburn eyes.
"Yeah," Ash said, his eyes caught in May's gaze. He felt his heart beat quicken as May stepped closer to him, her eyes never leaving his. Ash could feel the blood vessels in his face fill up, turning him many shades more crimson.
"That's very sweet of you," she blushed, as well. She placed her gloved hand on his cheek. She could feel the warmth that had spread across his face. Ash couldn't tell what was compelling him, but he felt his face being drawn into May's. His eyes widened with anticipation as May closed hers and puckered her lips.
"Cor-phish!" Ash's water-type coughed loudly, destroying the romantic moment the two where sharing together.
Both of them blushed a few shades darker, realizing that they still had an audience of their Pokémon. They stepped away from each other and looked in each others face for answers.
"A-ash?" May asked, stuttering. "A-a-r-re you okay?" She could feel her heart beat throughout her body.
The only thing to leave Ash's mouth was a string of babble. May could make out the word 'kiss' among the garble. The embarrassed boy turned away from May and hid his eyes under the brim of his hat. She could see him shaking. She bit her bottom lip, trying to curb her anger against Corphish for interrupting her kiss with Ash.
"What's going on over here?" They heard someone shout. May turned to see Brock climbing out of the bushes, followed by the grand procession of everyone who had been in Raine's house that morning. Max and Cyndi, however, where noticeably absent.
"W-we where just having some practice, right Ash?" May looked over to her mentor for support.
Ash, still unable to form words, pointed to Pikachu, who nodded on his trainer's behalf.
"We came to find out if you knew where Tracey went," Oak spoke up from the crowd of adults.
"Tracey went to the Cerulean Gym," Ash regained control over himself. "He wanted to ask Misty what was wrong himself."
"I see," the wise man said. "I don't think I should get involved with that," he said, shooting a knowing glance at Ash.
"So, how did practice go?" Mrs. Ketchum walked over to her son and looked into his eyes while a bright smile danced across her face.
"I-it went well. May did a great job in her battle against me," Ash said. He could almost feel his mother reading his thoughts.
"If there's anything you want to ask me about," she said after probing her son's eyes for a moment, "go ahead, okay, honey?" Mrs. Ketchum stood up and walked back over to the group of adults.
"Are you two hungry?" Raine asked them. "We where getting everyone together for lunch. We'll be ready just as soon as we could find Cyndi and Max."
"No, we're not hungry," May blushed.
Caroline ran over to her daughter and placed her palm against her daughter's forehead. "Are you feeling alright, May? You've never turned down food before…"
"It's nothing," May averted her gaze. She knew that she had just given her secret away to her mother. I can't hide it from her. Moms just figure out these things.
Caroline looked over at Ash, who had recalled Corphish and was chatting with the Professor, Norman, and his mother. Her eyes met May's again, being greeted by the girl's blushes. "Really?" she asked.
"Yeah…" May looked at her feet. Her Squirtle had walked over to her, trying to comfort her from her feet. "But don't tell Daddy!" she quietly pleaded. "He sent me with Ash to become a good trainer, not to get a boyfriend!"
"Alright," Caroline whispered back to her daughter. "But your father will know eventually."
"But I'm not even sure if Ash is the one," May sighed, thinking about her predicament.
"There's more than one!" Caroline shouted, dragging everyone's attention over to her daughter.
"Yeah," May said loudly, trying to play down the situation, "there are so many great places to eat here, I can't pick between them." She shot her mother a look that said, Don't embarrass me like that, mom!
"You know, May, that sounds wonderful," Caroline smiled back at her daughter. "Norman, why don't we leave the children to their training and go have lunch somewhere in town."
Norman turned to his new friends. "Sure, why not? Do you guys want to join us?"
"Thanks for the offer, Norman, but I think I'll stick around with Ash and May," Brock smiled. "I'm more used to their company, anyway."
"Fair enough," Norman smiled at the breeder. "But you'll be coming with us, right, Raine?"
"Well, I think I have to fix something for Cyndi…" Raine started to back up, overwhelmed by the friendliness of the foreign Gym Leader.
"I won't take no for an answer," Norman pushed her along. "It'll be a treat from Caroline and me, thanking you for housing our children for the last few days."
"But, Cyndi-" Raine tried to protest.
"Brock can handle it," Norman smiled as Oak and Mrs. Ketchum followed behind him.
"Now, you two be good to Cyndi," Caroline said to May, using her eyes to say, We'll talk about this more, later.
"We will," May sighed, hoping to get off the hook.
Ash stood next to May as they watched the adults walk from view towards Cerulean to find a restaurant to have lunch at.
"That was weird," Ash said to himself. He added, whispering into May's ear, "I hope no one saw what was going on."
"Yeah," May agreed, "I'd be pretty embarrassing if someone saw us almost…you know…" The coordinator blushed, thinking about Ash's lips pressed against hers.
She was torn from her fantasy a moment later. "So what were you two about to do before all the grown ups showed up?" the voice of her younger brother called out from behind the bushes. Max stepped out from the bushed behind the trainers with Cyndi close behind. The boy glared at his sister, with an 'I told you so' look.
"What do they mean?" Brock asked. Ash and May both turned bright red. Pikachu leapt onto his trainer's head, trying to show support for the companions.
"We saw Ash and May about to kiss!" Cyndi shouted. "Right before Corphish saw us sneaking up."
May made a note to thank Corphish later. "Nothing was happening, Max," May played down the situation. "Ash and I where just talking."
"And about to start suckin' each other's faces off," Max taunted. "I hope some girl doesn't warp my mind and start getting me to act all goofy and stuff."
"Why are you being such a jerk, Max?" May picked up her brother by his shirt, lifting him off the ground. "Love isn't as bad as you make it out to be. I feel bad for the first girl who likes you."
"So who do you love if you know it so well?" Max sneered, once again trapping May in the proverbial corner.
What he didn't predict was Ash's defense. "Max, cool it," The trainer snapped at him. "If May tells you something, you should be a good brother and believe her."
"And May's boyfriend leaps to her rescue," Max retorted. "When Dad catches wind of you wanting to play kissey face with May, he's gonna let you have it, so I'd keep it quiet if I where you."
Ash and May stopped and turned red slightly. May dropped her brother to the ground and turned away. Ash also averted his gaze from the boy.
"I mean, that's why you want to beat Misty, right? So Dad doesn't force us to leave Ash, right?" Max asked.
"It doesn't matter what Dad wants, Max," May told him sharply. "We're going to fight to bring Misty back to reality. The only reason we're doing this is because she's still our friend and we don't want her to be angry at us." May composed herself, and looked down her nose at her brother. "And besides, if I wanted to travel with Ash, I wouldn't even let Dad stop me."
Max gasped at his sister's remark. "You think you could get away from Dad? He'd tear Ash apart and tie you to the Gym!"
"Maybe I'd battle him for my freedom," May turned up her nose.
"Don't make me laugh," Max snickered. "You think you could beat Dad?"
"I think she could," Ash stepped in. "May's made a lot of progress as a trainer. She even beat Drew for once! With a little extra training, May could beat his three Gym Pokémon with a combination of Combusken, Munchlax, and either Bulbasaur or Beautifly."
"I don't know what's worse," Max pushed up his glasses, "the fact that May thinks she stands a chance, or that you think she could."
"Hey, if Ash says she can," Cyndi leapt in, "then I bet she could!"
"Three against one, Max," May smirked. "Democracy works again."
Max let out a groan.
"Hey, can we stop the fighting?" Brock stepped in, trying to get them to stop. "How about we go back to the house and I fix some lunch?"
"Sounds good to me," Ash sighed. "I'm hungry."
"So am I! What's on the menu now, Brock?" May smiled, hoping for a good meal.
"We're not even at the door yet, much less the kitchen. We can decide when we arrive," Brock smiled, glad that the fighting was over.
Ash and Brock walked at the head of the group with May, Max and Cyndi trailing a bit behind. Pikachu had decided to lie on May's head, enjoying the girl's bandana. Brock walked next to the Electric-Type's trainer and whispered into his ear. "Did you really try to kiss May?"
Ash blushed and pulled down the brim of his hat over his eyes. "It's not like that, Brock…"
"Then what?" Brock asked. "Max and Cyndi wouldn't get on your case for nothing."
"I was just talking to May about our battle," Ash explained, "and suddenly I felt like I had to get closer and closer to her, and before I knew it, we were two inches apart."
"That, Ash, is what love is all about," Brock smiled at him. "You said you loved May, right?"
"Yeah, but I didn't think I'd be so…" Ash searched for the right word, "…weird, you know. When I'm alone with her, I just can't seem to take my eyes or mind off of her. When we battled, I could focus on that, but afterward, I just lost it."
"I wouldn't worry," Brock patted him on the back. "This is all new for you. Later, when you become more comfortable around May, this'll all be easier."
"I used to be comfortable before I told May," Ash sighed. "Maybe I never should have told her…"
"Don't talk like that, Ash," Brock sternly spoke. "If you really love her, then you have to do what ever you can to make sure she stays with you."
"Heh, I've heard that advice before," Ash smiled. "Thanks, Brock. I'm gonna go talk to May, now." The trainer slowed his walking pace to end up closer to the coordinator.
"Heh," Brock laughed. "Misty must have told him the same thing I told her so long ago."
"So, what are you all talking about over here?" Ash asked, slipping into the group next to May.
"We're trying to figure out what we want for lunch," Cyndi told her idol. "I'm not sure what I want, yet."
"Well, I have a major ramen craving," May smiled. "I just can't seem to get enough of it!"
"You always eat ramen, May," Max accused. "I want a hamburger. Something I can really chew on. None of that ramen stuff. I mean, it's just noodles and flavor."
"Well, I happen to like ramen, Max," May snapped. "It's one of my favorite foods. I happen to like noodles and flavor, and most of the time you can get meat put in it, too."
"Not that instant stuff you always get Brock to make," Max pushed his glasses up along his face. "That's just noodles and flavor."
May turned to Ash, staring into him with her sparkling sapphire eyes. "What do you want, Ash?" she asked him, trying to persuade him with her charms. "Do you want dumb ol' burgers with Max, or some nice hot ramen with me?"
Ash felt his face change colors. He took a step back from the group and pulled his hat over his eyes again. "A-as nice as that sounds, May, I was thinking about having rice balls…"
"That sounds great!" Cyndi jumped up. "Let's go have some rice balls!"
I really was hoping Cyndi wouldn't take my side like that! Ash sighed. He looked over to May's face to see a look of annoyance coming over it. "Maybe Brock will make whatever we want if we ask him nicely enough," The trainer tried to return the smile to May's face. "Then you can have your ramen, Max can have his burger, and Cyndi and I can eat rice balls."
"I would be glad to fix whatever you all want," Brock smiled as he joined the conversation. "But remember that your Pokémon need to eat, too. We'll need to let them all out of their Pokéballs."
"I guess you're right," May smiled, cutely knocking her knuckles against her head. "I just plain ol' forgot."
"So did I," Ash sighed. "And I'm supposed to be the responsible one."
Pikachu, Max and Cyndi all had a good laugh at their friend's expense. The trainers finally came to Cyndi's house, and Brock went straight to the kitchen to cook. He expertly began to prepare all three meals (he had decided to have a burger with Max) for his friends.
Ash and the rest of his friends, however, went outside to feed the Pokémon.
"Alright, everyone, come on out!" He called, tossing his five Pokéballs into the air.
"Let's eat some lunch!" May shouted, lobbing her six into the air.
"C'mon, guys!" Max shouted, tossing Brock's three Pokéballs into the air.
All of the Pokéballs opened, bringing out a total of fourteen Pokémon, who were joined by Pikachu. From Brock's Pokéballs, came a small, tree shaped Pokémon, a larger, blue Pokémon with large orange gills and small orange eyes, and a round, reddish colored bagworm Pokémon. The Pokémon's voices rang out in a chorus, with Aipom holding her tail, still injured from the battle. Feeling guilty, May's Squirtle walked over to her and tried to apologize. The normal type seemed to accept the apology, but still looked at her tail protectively.
"Is that your Pokémon?" Cyndi leapt up at the sight of his fully evolved Grass-Type. "It's so majestic! What's he called?"
"Here, see for yourself," May brought out her yellow Pokédex and flipped it open, pointing it at the large reptilian Pokémon.
The Pokédex whirred for a moment, and then clicked. A picture of Sceptile appeared on the screen. "Sceptile, the Forest Pokémon," the Pokédex's prerecorded voice dictated. "Sceptile is the evolved form of Grovyle. In the jungle, its power is without equal. This Pokémon carefully grows plants and trees. It regulates its body temperature by basking in sunlight."
"That's so cool!" Cyndi leapt up to the Grass-type, flinging herself around his neck. "This is the coolest Pokémon ever!" Sceptile, however, was less accepting of this title and removed the small girl from his neck and sat her down.
The girl caught sight of Aipom and ran over and picked up the small Pokémon. "Aww, it's so cute! Ash has so many cute Pokémon!" she squealed as she hugged the normal type.
May sighed. "Does that mean none of mine are cute?" She looked over at her six Pokémon. "I think Eevee and Skitty are cute. Combusken's cool, too, but in a tough kind of way. Squirtle's cute, but Beautifly's got a kind or radiance about her, and Munchlax…" She looked around for the rogue Pokémon. "Um, where's Munchlax?"
"There he is!" Max shouted. Sure enough, the Big Eater Pokémon had wandered up the street and was walking into the woods.
"Do you want me to help get him back?" Ash asked.
"No, I'll get him back," May turned to Ash. "Just keep my ramen warm, okay?" she winked at him. "Get back here, Munchlax!" May called to her Pokémon. The Normal-type turned his head, seeing her chase behind him, and quickened his gait. He dove into the bushes at the edge of the forest and scurried off.
May followed him in and began to look around the forest. She could hear the sound of a waterfall faintly in the distance. She also smelled a sweet smelling scent. Munchlax probably caught wind of it back there and was wandering off to investigate, May thought to herself. She began walking towards the scent, following it. It smelled exquisite. A scent this powerfully alluring would take lots of hard work to create. May found herself following a river as she followed Munchlax. May knew her Pokémon would go to this wonderful smell and see if there was wonderful food at the end of it. She heard the sound of the waterfall come closer as she and her starter walked up the river.
"Hey, cutie! Are you hungry?" she heard a voice ask.
The voice was familiar. May shook her head. No, it couldn't be. Not out here.
"Munch!" May's Pokémon claimed affirmatively.
I'm close now, May thought, stepping through a line of bushes.
May stepped out from the bushes to find Munchlax, with someone else. "Oh, no…" May gasped, placing her hands over her mouth.
Hand feeding her Pokémon a piece of fried chicken was none other than the Cerulean Gym Leader.
Cliffhanger'd!
How will Misty greet her sworn rival? Can May stay civil? Or will someone else get involved? The battle for Ash and May's hearts rages on…
Just a reminder to try and catch the premier of Battle Frontier later today. The Mystery Dungeon special looks fun, too.
Please continue to review, and if you want to speculate on anything that's happening in the story, you can send me a PM. I may even tell you how close your speculation is…
I have a pretty good idea on how the rest of the story is gonna play out. I never thought it would get this long when I put up that first chapter so long ago. I've written enough for about two or three fics, I believe. Oh, well. Makes things more interesting right?
Let me close by saying how I hope that May is around in the Shino Region.