A Long Chapter, featuring all the major players is about to begin. Some things get resolved, others become much less clear. Please review/question/comment, if you'd like to.
"Psst… Hey… come here…" A voice called from around the corner. Max sat up from the game he was playing with Cyndi when he recognized the voice.
"Who is it? Where're you going?" the girl asked her new friend.
"Just stay here," Max assured her. "I'll handle this alone."
Max stepped around the corner, preparing himself for what he had to face.
He and Cyndi were playing games by themselves since May and Pikachu disappeared. Norman had gone inside, smelling the delicious food. Max was just about to let Cyndi win so they could go eat, when the familiar voice wafted around the corner of the building. Max immediately recognized it. He knew that if anyone else knew she was here, they'd freak.
"What are you doing here, Misty?" Max asked her concealed in the dark.
"I was wondering if you could go find Ash for me," the Gym Leader smiled.
"Why should I? I heard how bad you treated my sister!" the boy retorted.
"I don't really want to get into that, now," Misty sighed. "I just wanted to talk to him and wish him luck tomorrow. Maybe even bridge the gap a little…"
"What's with the change of heart, Misty?" Max asked her. "From what I understood Ash, May and Brock telling everyone, you're fired up over this entire thing."
"I was- I mean, I am," Misty caught herself. She sat down next to Max. "Truth is, I'm not so sure anymore. I talked to May today-"
"When did you talk to May?" he asked, full of questions as always.
"When her Munchlax got away from her, he found me and my picnic," Misty laughed. "I fed the poor thing, seeing it act so hungry, but then your sister came up, and we talked."
"Did you fight?" Max asked.
"Of course," Misty sighed. "But she said some things that have just stuck in my mind, you know?"
The words of the coordinator echoed through her head. You know Ash and Brock probably better than I ever will. And yet, you yourself refuse to believe them when they tell you something. Misty cringed at the memory. You want to be a part of the gang again, and when you see someone else stealing your role, you get jealous of them. Is that it?
The most painful of all, however, was after she had tried to strike the coordinator. You shouldn't hate, Misty. When you hate someone, you can never see anything good about them. You get consumed with their faults that you can't see the beauty they have inside. And you never allow yourself to become their friend. When you hold grudges, and hate, it's you cutting yourself off from everyone else, not them cutting themselves off from you. That's a lesson Ash taught me.
"Misty?" Max asked the Gym Leader. "Are you okay?
"…I'll be fine," she smiled at the boy. "But can I please talk to Ash?"
"Well you're out of luck, 'cuz Ash, May and Pikachu all disappeared recently after Drew came by," Max explained. "They're probably training or something."
"Really?" Misty asked. "Who's Drew?"
"May's rival," Max told her. "He's been helping them train for the battle tomorrow."
"Hey, Max," Cyndi walked around the corner. "What's going-YOU!" She shouted at Misty.
"Um… hello?" Misty smiled.
"You bitch!" Cyndi shouted, throwing her arms at Misty. The Gym Leader held her hand out, holding the small girl back. "You're the worst! What are you even doing here?"
Max came up behind Cyndi and restrained the girl. "Whoa, what's wrong with you?"
"I have every reason to hate Misty!" Cyndi growled at the Gym leader. "After she beat Ash in the Whirl Cup, she thought she'd humiliate him again by harassing him and your sister and then getting it televised when she beats them! Well, I've got news for you! Ash and May are gonna clean your clock!"
Misty bowed her head. "Max, let her go," she whispered.
Max did as she requested, and the girl stood there, growling at her.
"I understand that you're angry with me," Misty said. "I'm just trying to do what I think is right. You may thank me after this is all over." She took in a deep breath, and continued. "But most of all, don't hate anyone. That just causes divides between you and them, and if you cling to that hate for too long, then you'll never be able to be friends with them."
Cyndi stopped being angry and became ashamed of herself. She recognized the words that Misty had said. She sat on the ground and sighed. "I… I didn't mean that I really hated you…" she said. "It's just…"
"I know what you mean," Misty sighed. "It's so easy to get caught up with who's your opponent that you forget that they're not really your enemy. That's why I came to talk to Ash tonight. I wanted to try to convince him to come clean one more time, so we could just be friends again."
"But that would require him selling May out," Max pointed out. "Ash wouldn't do that to any of his friends, especially one he has a crush on. He probably wants to battle because he sees it as the only way to reunite everyone as friends instead."
"But I have to beat Ash and May!" Misty argued. "May's been doing horrible things to him!"
"I'm not going to argue with you, Misty," Max turned away from her and helped Cyndi to her feet. "You've already decided what the facts are, and no one, not Ash, Brock, May, or myself is gonna be able to convince you otherwise." Misty's earlier vigor fell short at the child's observation. "This battle is inevitable, Misty. The only thing you can do is battle as hard as you can for what you believe in. Ash and May are going to, and you won't stand a chance against them if you don't believe in yourself."
"You're right, Max," Misty stood up. "I shouldn't have come here. I should believe in my judgments. But what If I judge wrong?"
"Then don't be a baby about it, and admit that you were wrong!" Cyndi shouted. "Throwing a temper fit doesn't prove anything!"
Misty nodded. "Thanks, guys. I'll give this battle everything I have. I know you all don't believe me, but when I beat Ash tomorrow, then you'll all see!"
Max smiled at her and nodded. "Well, we'll see if you can beat Ash this time. He's gotten a lot better since the Whirl Cup!"
The Cerulean Gym Leader turned and began to walk away, her confidence in herself restored.
"I'm Cyndi!" she heard the small girl behind her shout. "I'm the number one fan of Ash Ketchum! And I know for a fact that he won't lose to you again! And when I become a trainer, I'm gonna beat you, too and win a Cascade Badge!"
Misty faced her again. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Cyndi. I'll be as hard on you in our battle as I am going to be on Ash tomorrow." And with that, Ash's former traveling companion dashed back to the Gym.
"Where could she be?" Ash grunted through clinched teeth. He couldn't tell in the darkness if he and Pikachu were making any headway or not. Pikachu kept his ears perked up, listening for any people or Pokémon.
"Pika!" he shouted, his cheeks becoming bright with sparks.
A familiar Dark-Type Pokémon stepped out of the bushes to face them. "Ab…" Drew's Pokémon growled.
"Absol?" Ash thought out loud. "Don't tell me…"
"Sol!" The Dark-Type signaled. Ash turned around, hearing rustling coming from nearby bushes. At that moment, four more Pokémon leapt from the bushes. Roselia, Flygon, Butterfree, and Masquerain all came out, launching themselves at Ash and Pikachu.
The trainer and Pokémon duo leapt out of each other's way. All five Pokémon began closing in on Pikachu. "Pikachu!" the boy shouted, fearing for his best friend. Ash knew he had to even the odds. He began picking Pokéballs off of his belt, making sure to avoid Corphish, who needed his strength for tomorrow's big battle. "Let's even the odds, guys," he shouted, tossing four of his Pokéballs into the air. In a flash, Sceptile, Donphan, Swellow, and Aipom all stood behind Drew's Pokémon.
"Let's divide and conquer!" Ash shouted. Pikachu smiled and nodded. He launched into a Quick Attack, knocking Roselia away from the rest of his party. Absol, annoyed with the retaliation he was seeing, formed a Razor Wind and sent it flying in Pikachu's direction.
Leaping to his ally's aid, Sceptile jumped between the attack and Pikachu. Holding up his arms, he used his Leaf Blades to block the incoming attack. Struggling against it only slightly, Sceptile deflected the attack from Pikachu and himself. Feeling confident, the forest Pokémon smirked at Absol. "Tile…." he challenged, placing a twig in his mouth.
Absol's gaze narrowed, annoyed at the overgrown gecko. He began charging at him, fury burning in his eyes. "Ab-Sol!" the Disaster Pokémon leapt into battle with him, his tail glowing, but his focus clear.
Flygon hovered above, watching the exchange. His eyes, quickly darting about from behind the red lenses, focused on Roselia's target. He began his silent decent to face Pikachu, but before he could strike or anyone could warn the small Electric Pokémon, a sharp pain began coursing through his back. Flygon flipped around to see that Ash's Swallow Pokémon had taken a free shot at him while he was distracted. He angrily shot a stream of fire from his mouth, but the fire disintegrated only an illusion.
"Swee!" the Flying type taunted. Becoming furious with the Norma-Flying type's games, Flygon dove at Swellow, just barely missing him as Swellow flew higher into the air. He again tried to roast the Swallow Pokémon, but once again, the fire simply shot though what was only an illusion. Swellow continued to taunt Flygon as he chased after him into the inky black sky.
Aipom stood around, looking for an opponent as the battles got underway. Masquerain saw this opportunity to sneak up on the small Pokémon. He darted quickly infront of the Long Tail Pokémon and scared her with the intimidating patterns on his wings. Aipom, becoming embarrassed and flustered at the Bug-Flying type's trick, leapt onto his face and began to slap him from all sides with her small hands and tail.
Donphan quickly realized that he and Butterfree were the only two without opponents. He tromped up to the mysterious Bug Pokémon.
"Du-oh!" he trumpeted, challenging his opponent.
"Free…" Butterfree sighed. "Free-ree…"
Donphan began stomping the ground. "Doo!" he complained. "Doo-uh!"
"Free…" Butterfree sighed again. He flew backwards a few feet and halted. "Free… freee-er." The battle lines drawn, Ash's Pokémon stood ready to begin.
Knowing he no longer held the advantages of surprise and back up, Roselia glowered at his rival. "Rose…" he growled, puffs of a yellow spore shooting threatingly.
"Pika…" he responded. Sparks showered from his cheeks. "Pi Chuu pikaka Pikapika, pikachu pika…"
"Roselia," he shot back. "Roselia Sell rosel roselia." He began to chuckle. "Se rose roselia Roselia rose Selroselia rose rose."
Pikachu smacked him across the face with Iron Tail for speaking about May in such a way. "Pika! Pikapika pikachu!"
Roselia smirked and began to stand his ground. "Rose…" he smirked. This battle was going to be interesting.
Tears slid down her face as she ran. Why would he do such a thing? she pleaded to know. I trusted him, and he touched me! If I didn't get out of there soon, I'm not sure what he could have tried to do to me. The coordinator didn't know where she was fleeing to. All she knew was that she had to run. Get away from Drew. Get as far away from him as she could.
"Roselia?" Drew called, walking around near blindly. "Absol? Flygon? Where did they go?" he walked. "I knew I shouldn't have listened to Harley."
Drew stepped out of the bushes after he realized that May's Munchlax had become sidetracked. His Roselia walked beside him, worn out from using Sweet Scent to lure in Munchlax.
"Oh, hey Drew!" Harley smiled, walking up to him.
"What do you want?" Drew asked the older coordinator, clearly annoyed with him before the conversation began.
"Oh, I was just walking through the woods, and who did I see but our sweet, little, old May!" Harley giggled.
"Cut the crap, Harley," Drew turned away from him. "What's this about?"
"Oh, I was just thinking about your interests, Drew-boy," Harley smiled, waving off any suspicion. "And I know you have a very special interest in our friend, May!"
Drew blushed. "May told me about you manipulating Misty," he said. "That's pretty underhanded of you, turning friends against each other like that."
"I'm just giving Misty the support she wants. Deep down, she's always wanted a reason to hate May," Harley smiled. "Misty hates her because she sees all sorts of lost opportunity that May has taken from her."
"So how does this affect me?" Drew snapped.
"Oh, I was just in the woods, minding my own business, and I saw our May in there having a-" he stopped. "Oh, you probably don't even care, do you?"
"What do you mean?" Drew became interested. "What was she having?"
"She was having a little picnic with her good friend Ash, of course!" Harley smiled, brushing it off as if was yesterday's news. He knew that Drew would get jealous.
"Just a picnic?" The coordinator was hardly impressed.
"Oh?" Harley was puzzled. "Let me set the stage for you, Drew-boy! May and Ash were about this far apart…" he held his thumb and fore finger about one inch apart, "… and it looked like they were sharing food. It wouldn't surprise me if they shared something more, if you know what I mean," he winked at Drew. The coordinator's face became flushed, and an upset expression settled on his face. Mission Accomplished, Harley thought to himself. "Oh, don't tell me you're jealous of Ash? That guy? He's so clueless when it comes to anything May's interested in, I wouldn't worry about it!"
"Then how come they were eating out of each other's hands in the forest!" Drew shouted.
"Oh, I hadn't thought of it like that," Harley put a surprised look on. "Do you think they'll start dating?"
"Not if I can help it…" Drew grumbled.
Harley smirked. "I like you, Drew," he said. "What do you say about me helping you?"
"What's the catch?" Drew asked, knowing Harley was trying to get the better of him.
Harley shook his head. "Harley doesn't play tricks, Drew," he grinned. "All I'll need is for you to use your Pokémon to set an ambush for Ash in the forest. After all, if he loves May as much as you do, then he's gonna come and try to break up your romantic moments, right?"
Drew remembered when Ash barreled into the clearing earlier that day, stopping him from stealing a kiss from May. "And this is no trick?" Drew asked, still skeptical, but willing to cooperate to get together with May.
"Cross my heart," the purple haired coordinator smiled. "Do we have a deal?" he held out his hand.
"Deal," Drew smiled, shaking the outstretched limb.
Drew groaned. It was abundantly clear now that Harley had used his jealousy to blind his judgment. The coordinator was ready to call it a day after his fumbled attempt to curry May's favor. He just had to find his Pokémon before they got into trouble.
Sceptile crossed blades with Absol. The force of the Forest Pokémon's attacks knocked the Dark-Type further backwards. Absol couldn't find the time to ready Razor Wind under the constant attacks of Sceptile, so he tried to force him back with Water Pulse. The Grass-Type stood his ground, the Water-Type strike not being very effective against him.
Swellow's Wing Attack wasn't effective against Flygon's Steel Wing, so the Swallow Pokémon had to adopt a different approach. In the darkness of the sky, Swellow surrounded Flygon with Double Team. Flygon retaliated with Flamethrower, swinging it through the illusions. Before it could find the real one, however, Swellow struck Flygon in the back with a powerful Aerial Ace.
Donphan was at a greater disadvantage in his battle. Being stuck on the ground while his opponent flew above him was his greatest disadvantage in this encounter. The Armor Pokémon emitted a glow, trying to strike Butterfree down with it. The Butterfly Pokémon, however, used his Psychic powers to grab the aura and return it to Donphan. Ash's Ground-Type opened his mouth and launched a powerful orange beam of highly concentrated energy at Butterfree. The beam cut through the aura as if it wasn't there at all, slamming into the Bug-Flying type before he could dodge. Taking the opportunity, Donphan curled up and began rolling towards Butterfree. Drew's Pokémon sat up and blew the Ground-Type back with his wings, knocking Donphan onto his side.
If Donphan was at a great disadvantage, then Aipom was losing. The Normal-Type still hadn't recovered from the battle with Squirtle that morning, and Masquerain was using the opportunity to get vengeance on her for the loss Drew suffered due to Baton Pass. After shaking her off by darting around with Quick Attack, he began his offensive. Masquerain's Hidden Power shot at the Normal-Type, but Aipom managed to evade the strike with Double Team. Her illusions were quickly dispelled by Silver Wind as Masquerain began combing through the copies. Aipom decided to take a chance and fired a Swift. Her tail injury, however, caused the stars to fall short of their target, only alerting Masquerain of her location. Attempting to come in with a close range Focus Punch became her undoing as Drew's intimidating Pokémon shot her down with an Ice Beam, freezing her tail in a chunk of ice. Aipom found herself unable to move with her encumbered tail and was at the Bug Pokémon's mercy.
Pikachu faced off against Roselia, each bearing part of a grudge. Roselia's Magical Leaf was cut off by Pikachu's Thunderbolt. Stun Spore was dodged with Agility, which was halted with Petal Dance, which was blocked with Iron Tail. The two Pokémon seemed evenly matched. Pikachu growled at Roselia, who stared through the darkness at his adversary. Pikachu began darting to and fro, trying to disorient the Grass-Type, but Roselia, turned to him and began to shoot Magical Leaf. The mouse Pokémon summoned a massive Thunder from deep within himself, burning the leaves to a crisp before they even came into contact with him.
Somewhere in the airspace above the forest, a Flying Pokémon saw the thunder, recognized it, and approached the battle field.
Drew stepped into the fray, hearing his Pokémon battling some unseen attackers. Glowing yellow seeds flew in his direction at high velocity.
"Watch out!" a voice called, tackling him to the ground.
Drew opened his eyes to see who had saved him. "Ash!" he almost snarled.
"Drew?" Ash was concerned. "What are you're Pokémon doing here attacking people?"
The Coordinator stood up. "They're here to stop you from getting to May, that's what!" he spat.
"What have you done to her?" Ash growled. "Where is she if she's not with you?"
"She's run off to the woods somewhere, and I'm looking for her," Drew answered. "And I see my Pokémon found their opponents."
All of the Pokémon battling halted. Flygon landed behind Drew, and Swellow flapped his wings just in front of Ash. "She ran away from you? "
"She just needs to get to know me better, that's all," Drew flipped his hair. "Things were going too fast for her. I'm sure she'll be better this time…"
"What do you mean, 'too fast for her?" Ash's eyes narrowed.
"Oh, you wouldn't understand," Drew sneered. "I mean, she's been kissed by me twice. What have you done? Some crummy food delivering?"
Ash's hands clinched. All of his Pokémon, sensing his anger, growled at Drew and his ensemble. "You must have done something really rotten to get her to run away from you…" Ash growled. "If she doesn't want to be with you, then you have no right to force her to be."
"Oh yeah? And who's gonna stop me, you? That's never gonna happen!" Drew shouted. "Get your Pokémon in line! We're having it out right here."
May found herself at the waterfall she and Misty had talked near earlier that day. Her eyes seemed to have run out of tears as she collapsed to the ground. She breathed in heavily, having a shortness of breath after running and crying all the way here.
As she sat there, the familiar smell of the perfume that Drew had given her wafted into her nose. Ugh, this… this stench! May screamed in her mind. She reached into her pocket and tossed the small vial into the waterfall.
She sat there for a moment, and the scent returned. I feel like it's choking me!, she gagged, I can't stand this anymore! His stench is all over me! It's all over my clothes! I've gotta get away from it! May began tearing at her blouse, desperately trying to separate herself from Drew. The fowl smell had soaked into clothes, tying her to the boy who had defiled her trust and invaded her person. She ripped her blouse in half and tossed it into the water. The bra that the boy had touched with his hands, in an attempt to undress her himself hung from her shoulders. In a fit of rage and tears, she sent it into the waters. A quick sniff of her nose revealed to her that the horrifying smell was still on her, emanating from her lap. She ripped her skirt in half, tears again flowing. The smell had gone even though her skirt into her shorts, both of which were removed and pitched into the swift current of the waterfall. She began to untie her headband, but she took a moment to smell it. Somehow, in the blitz of her spraying, none of the perfume had touched the green bandana Ash had gotten for her. She cried into it, thinking of the boy who had watched over her from day one of her journey. She thought about how she thought she had betrayed him, leaving to go with Drew. She sat there in only her underwear, feeling sad, vulnerable, and alone. "I… I should never have gone off with Drew alone…" she sobbed. "Ash… please… save me…"
Ash shook his head and held up four Pokéballs. "Everyone, return." Four beams of red light shot out, each hitting and recalling one of Ash's Pokémon. Pikachu looked back at the boy, confused. "You, too, Pikachu." The Electric-type nodded, and leapt to Ash's shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Drew asked. "I'm challenging you to a battle!"
"Well, challenge denied," Ash said. "Don't you see, Drew? We've already had this battle. We can't decide for May who she wants and who she doesn't. It's her choice, and we have to respect her."
"I do respect her!" Drew snapped back, losing his cool.
"Then why did she run away from you?" the trainer glared back into his emerald eyes.
"I… I didn't mean to…" Drew tried to explain.
"It's too late for excuses, Drew," Ash responded. "What's done is done."
Drew backed down. Roselia walked over to his trainer and tugged at his pants. "Rose?" the Thorn Pokémon asked.
Drew picked him up. "You're right, Ash," he sighed. "I just can't believe I lost."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"May doesn't want to see me," he said reluctantly. "Not after what I did…" He began, one by one, sending his Pokémon back into their Pokéballs, with the exception of Roselia.
"What did you do?" Ash asked, his voice becoming agitated. "Where did she go?"
"I wish I knew," Drew sighed. "But I know that if she sees me, all that it'd do is upset her. Go to her, Ash. She needs someone." Feeling himself loosing composure, he turned from the trainer and Pikachu, "M-maybe someday, she'll forgive me. B-b-but now, I've gotta go." He began walking away from Ash, but he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Drew…" Ash said with compassion in his voice, "I don't know what you did to May, or what I'll feel about you after she tells me, but if you are truly sorry, then I'm sure she'll forgive you, someday."
"Thank you, Ash," Drew sobbed, not letting the trainer see him so upset. "Take care… of May for me." He broke away from Ash and began running through the forest, his shame and guilt following him closer than any shadow.
"I can't do that, Drew," Ash said to himself. "I'll take care of May, because it's what I want. And if she's willing, then I'll take care of her for as long as I physically can." He felt a drop land on his nose. The trainer looked up and saw the sky had clouded up over his head during his talk with Drew. He began to walk away from the clearing he was in when a sharp hooting came into Ash's ears, causing him to turn around. He turned to see his Noctowl there, flapping his wings. "Hey, Noctowl! Am I glad to see you! Can you help us find May before the rain gets too bad?"
Noctowl nodded, leading Ash to the river he and Pikachu had traveled part way up earlier that day. The dark sky blew a threatening wind through the trees. Ash heard a sobbing in the distance, piercing the steady drizzle that had started. Fearing the worst, he began running ahead of Noctowl, chasing the sound of crying. He stopped short when lightning bolt lit up the sky. Ash could tell that May was just beyond the next set of bushes. Ash turned to Pikachu and said "I think I can handle this from here. Why don't you go back to Cyndi's house and let everyone know we're alright. I'll bring back May by myself, I promise." The mouse Pokémon, understanding, leapt to Noctowl. The pair flew above the treetops back to Cyndi's to alleviate the worry that both of their mothers must be in at this moment, their children caught in the storm. Ash gathered his courage and stepped closer to the pitiful sound coming from up ahead.
He came to the clearing, and what he saw broke his heart.
May laid there in the mud, sobbing fitfully into her bandana. Her body, lit palely from the sheet lightning that illuminated the sky from time to time, was dirty all over. As the rain fell, her skin became visible; it became quickly apparent that the only thing she wore was her underwear. Her lovely hair was in tangles and soaking up the rain, her beautiful voice cracking from the stress it had been put under through the moaning and sobbing. "Help me…" she cried to herself, lying in the puddle. "Help me, Ash… I… I can't do this anymore… I'm scared… I don't know who I can trust anymore… First Misty, now Drew… who's next… please Ash, I need you to protect me…"
"May?" he called to her, his voice unsure and worried.
The girl looked up from her keepsake, her sapphire eyes ringed in red. Ash couldn't tell if the droplets on her face were from the rain, or if they were her tears. "A-Ash?" she asked, not believing that he was really here, after pleading so fervently that he would find her.
Ash walked closer to her. May leapt at him, the mentor catching his protégé in his arms, the force knocking his hat to the ground. May began to sob once again. "It was horrible. Drew… he… he tried…"
"Shh…" Ash quieted her, "it's gonna be alright. I'm here. You don't have to be afraid anymore." He backed himself against a tree to try to get as much out of the rain, continuing to give the girl shelter.
May sobbed into his sweatshirt, the comfortable warmth of a loved one soothing her, in a cold world that seemed to be devoid of compassion at this moment. "Drew touched me, Ash…" she whispered, still frightened.
"You're alright, May," Ash tried to comfort her. "Drew's not gonna touch you, anymore." He ran his fingers though her tangled locks, trying to straighten it out to the familiar style he associated with her.
"He tried to get undress me, Ash…" she whispered into his sweatshirt. A loud thunder boomed above them and she squeezed his chest for comfort in the storm.
"I'm here, May," he reassured her, placing her head on his shoulder. "No one is going to try to undress you."
"I felt like he was choking me with this perfume of his," she looked up into his eyes, sniffling, the rain continuing to run down her face.
"You don't have to worry," Ash smiled back at her, his dark hair matting to the sides of his face. "Drew's perfume isn't gonna be anywhere near here."
"Ash… I…" May smiled back at him, blushing.
"I love you, May," Ash said to the girl in his arms.
"I love you, too, Ash," she responded, nuzzling his chest with her muddy hair. She placed her hands on the sides of his face and pulled his down to meet hers.
Ash felt May press her lips against his. His eyes widened at the surprise that he was handed. He felt May's soft, tender lips against his own, and felt himself being overcome with love for this girl. He closed his eyes, letting the feeling envelop him even in the turbulent weather. He felt his mouth slowly open as May's did, but their tongues remained still. They held their open mouths together, sharing each other's breath. May tasted Ash's sweet breath in her mouth, and felt as though the intrusion made by Drew had been healed. Her heart began to beat heavily as she wrapped her arms around her beloved. She held him there, not wanting to break the kiss. Ash didn't seem to mind, as he held the girl close as well, his hands against her bare back. The rest of the world and it's problems; the storm, the battle with Misty, Ash's Battle Frontier Challenge, what May's parents would think of her falling in love with her mentor. It all seemed to disappear for that moment, in which they were just a man and woman in love with each other, and wanted nothing to come between them.
It seemed like the moment lasted for hours, but May eventually broke off to breathe fresh air. She rested her head against Ash's shoulder, and the boy rested his head on May's opposite shoulder as he leaned his back against the tree.
She looked up into his auburn eyes again. "Thanks… again, for being a place for me to cry… Ash Ketchum…"
"Anytime, May," he smiled into her sparkling sapphire eyes. Her held her there and turned to her hair. He smelled the dirt in it, but it also held the same familiar scent it held all those days ago when she had cried on him back in the Pokémon Center. He kissed her hair, tasting the dirt on his lips.
"C'mon," he said, "let's get you a nice warm shower. I'm sure you'll feel better after that." He looked around the muddy ground as water began to pool in it. "Um… where are your clothes?"
May sniffed. "I… I tossed them into the river," she said, backing from him, covering her exposed breasts with her arms. "Drew's perfume-
Ash took off his sweatshirt and handed it to her. "Don't worry about explaining yourself. Please, just put this on," he requested. "You've been though a lot tonight."
May took it from his hand and turned away form him as she pulled it over her head, as to not expose herself again to him. She turned back to him to see him bending over, picking up his hat that had partially sunken into the mud. She looked down at his feet to see where she had dropped her bandana while they embraced. She pulled it out of the muddy water and tied it around her hair again. She didn't care if it was dirty and wet. It was from Ash, and that fact alone made it one of the most precious things she had. She held onto his arm as he placed his hat back on his head. He turned to her, and held they held each other in their arms again, feeling their breathing, their warmth, and their heartbeats in the windy, frightening storm. Ash took the girl by the hand and began to lead her back to the house, not sure how anyone would interpret the events that had just unfolded.