Hey, if anyone found chapters 26 and 27 hard to follow, I went back in and added nice shiny break lines to divide up the scenes. I also went and expanded some of the battle scenes in 27. Because that chapter is one of the most importiant in the entire story. There shouldn't be many jarring transistions today or Friday, so there might not be any worry there.
Can you think of a place where a transitional bar thing might be helpful? If so, you can PM me with the chapter number and location.
Anyway, let's get moving into the next chapter.
Delia sat at the table, twirling her spaghetti with her fork. "Do you see anything yet?" She asked half-heartedly.
"No, Delia," Oak sighed, looking into the storm from the kitchen window.
"I'm worried, Professor," Delia sighed. "It's not like him to just up an vanish without telling anyone."
"I'm sure he's alright," the Professor tried to comfort her. "He's been on the road for a long time. He'll come back, after all, there is that battle tomorrow."
"But what makes me more worried is that May's gone, too," She said, depressed. "I know he likes her, and he's a growing boy, and you know how boys are with their hormones."
"Now you're just looking for things to worry about," Oak placed his hand on her shoulder. "Ash is an honest young man, and you've raised him to be very respectful. I'm sure whatever's going on, he's doing the responsible thing."
"But now it's storming," she sighed. "I hope he's doing alright."
In the living room, Cyndi and Max sat on the couch with Norman between them. Caroline paced the room, shooting glances outside into the storm for a hint of Ash or May.
"Caroline, what are you pacing for?" Norman asked her, looking up from the television.
"It-It's nothing, dear" she lied. She knew May wouldn't speak to her for weeks if she let her secret slip. The woman kept looking at the rain.
"I wonder where Ash and May are," the Gym Leader thought out loud. "It isn't like May to miss a meal."
"They're probably-" Cyndi started before Max elbowed her sharply in the side.
"-probably working on a battle strategy," Max laughed. He whispered in the girl's ear, "Are you trying to get Ash killed?"
"What do you mean?" Cyndi whispered back.
"My dad is able to crush a cell phone in his bare hands. Think about that power on Ash's neck," the boy warned.
Cyndi gulped. "I guess we need to keep this a secret, then, huh?"
Raine sat quietly sewing in the storefront. Suddenly, she heard a knocking from the front door that caused her to jump. She stopped sewing and walked over to the door. She opened it to find Pikachu and Noctowl sitting on the front step. The Pokémon entered the building and shook the water from their bodies. Pikachu ran to the door to the living area, and began pawing at it. Raine opened the door and followed the Electric-Type in, as Noctowl flew into the room and landed in the far corner.
"Pikachu!" Max shouted, running to him. "You're back! That means Ash is back, too!"
"Ash is back?" Delia stuck her head into the living room. Oak followed her in as Raine closed the door to the storefront.
"Pika…" he sighed.
"Then where is he?" Max asked the Pokémon.
Pikachu pointed out the window to the forest, as the tree branches swayed in the storm.
"They're in the woods?" Caroline asked.
Norman leapt to his feet. "Let's go get them out of there," he rallied the adults. "This storm is getting severe. We can't let them stay outside."
"Pika!" the small Pokémon defied them. Sparks shot out of his cheeks, a stern expression across his face.
Oak walked up the Pokémon. "Now why don't you want us to go looking for them?"
"Pikapi pika pi chu Pikachu pikachu pikapika pikapi pika," he explained as well as he could.
"I see…" Oak's gaze narrowed.
"Can you understand him, Professor?" Cyndi asked the old gentleman.
"Pikachu wants us to stay here and wait for Ash and May to return on their own," he explained.
"But why?" Delia asked.
"Because Ash promised him that they would come back," Brock said, coming down the stairs, his shower finished.
"How can you tell?" Raine was amazed.
"When you work with Pokémon as much as the Professor and I do, it becomes a second nature," Brock explained.
Norman took a step towards the door, prompting Pikachu to spark again. Next Brock approached, but Pikachu scared him back with the same tactic. Max decided to test Pikachu's bluff, but as the boy tried to step past the Electric-Type, he found himself on the unpleasant end of a non-lethal shock, jolting the boy backwards. A consensus was reached that Pikachu wouldn't let them leave, so they would all have to wait for Ash and May to come back. The house remained quiet. Pikachu sat at the door, guarding it from anyone who would dare to try to exit. Delia returned to the kitchen and sat, twirling her spaghetti. Oak and Caroline returned to their respective windows, watching for signs. Norman turned off the television and began to play some games with the small children, in order to keep their minds off the storm.
A sound of coughing filled his ears. Ash turned to his side to see May having to bend over in the rain, clutching her sides, hacking hoarsely.
"Are you gonna be alright, May?" Ash asked, bending down to see her face.
"I-" she coughed. "I'll be fine. Let's just get to-" Her speaking was interrupted by the hacking in her throat. "-Cyndi's house so I can rest."
Ash turned around and kneeled. "C'mon, May," he offered. "I'll carry you back."
May sighed sickly, "But I might slow you down."
"Don't say that," Ash fired back. "I'll carry you, don't worry." With that, the coordinator crawled onto his back, allowing the boy to take one of her legs in each of his arms. He stood up as May wrapped her arms around his neck. He began to walk along the river, remembering that it was the key to return them to their friends and family.
In order to occupy his mind, Brock began formulating a list of what he, Ash, May and Max would need for when they returned to the road. He searched through Ash's things and jotted down a few numbers on his notepad. Turning to May's items, Brock was shocked when he found her Pokéballs lying in her pack. He thought for a moment on what would be the best course of action, and decided not to say anything about it. If they knew that May didn't have her Pokémon to protect her, it would only cause more pandemonium, he thought. He quietly zipped her pack back up, and went into Max's things.
"Hey, Brock," he heard the voice of his youngest traveling companion call for him. Brock turned to see Max behind him, looking distressed.
"What's up, Max?" Brock asked, even though he knew what was on his mind.
"I'm worried about May," he admitted.
"I thought you were playing a game with your dad to keep your mind off of it," Brock observed.
"I couldn't keep my mind off it, though," he sat down. "I've always had my sister with me. I was upset when I heard she was gonna go on her Pokémon journey alone, so when she and Ash came to the Petalburg Gym, I was glad that Mom and Dad let me go with them. I'm worried that something's happened to my sister and friend."
Brock placed his arm around the boy. "I'm sure Ash and May are fine. We get into these kinds of scrapes all the time, remember? And we end up okay."
"I guess you're right," Max sighed. He turned to the breeder again. "I-If May stays with us, do you think things are gonna change between her and Ash?"
"Undoubtedly," Brock responded. "Ash has told May something very special, Max. I know you don't understand right now, seeing as you only see May as your sister. But Ash sees in her something that he has never seen before. Their friendship has grown and matured into a loving relationship, even if May eventually chooses Drew. They won't be able to look at each other in the same way again."
"Heh, I think I understand, now," Max smiled.
"What do you mean by that?" Brock smiled, knowing already.
The boy stood up and began walking away. "I've gotta get back to the game," he smiled, blushing. He ran off to avoid being caught by his friend in such a situation.
Brock sighed. "Young love," he told himself. "It seems like everyone's getting together but me. I do have to admit that I have been giving out some wonderful advice. Maybe I should follow it, myself…" he thought for a moment. "Nah," he laughed, "It's much funner to do things my way."
A loud knocking again interrupted Raine's work. The mother hustled over to the door and opened it, allowing a soaked Ash carrying May inside.
"Thanks, Raine," Ash panted.
"Oh, my…" Raine's eyes widened at the sight of May. "Let's get her a place to lay down, quick."
"I'm not that sick…" May coughed.
Ash carried her into the next room, amid the gasps and cheers over their return. He carried May to the couch and sat her down on it. Norman and Caroline leapt in to check on their daughter.
"Oh my God," Caroline was speechless. "May, what happened to you?"
"It's a long story…" May smiled weakly.
"Thank goodness Ash found you when he did," Norman gave a sigh of relief.
Ash was too busy being smothered by his mother's embrace to make a comment. "I was so worried about you, Ash!" Delia cried into her son's hair. "Never, ever do that again!"
"I'm fine, Mom," Ash sighed. He looked around the room for Pikachu.
The small Pokémon had crawled into May's lap to give her some comfort. May looked at him and stroked his soft, yellow fur. She looked up from him to have her eyes meet Ash's. She smiled a 'Thank you' to him. Ash smiled and nodded back.
After the initial relief that May was back had subsided, Caroline noticed that she wasn't clothed as she was earlier that day. "May, what happened to your clothes?" the mother asked her daughter.
Raine's ears peaked when she heard something happened to May's clothes. She looked over at the girl, the gears spinning in her head, planning. She began pacing about the room, nervously tapping her teeth with her thumb.
"Max," Norman turned to the boy, ignoring Raine's actions, "be a good brother and go fetch your sister a change of clothes."
Before the boy could agree, May's voice shot out. "No! I never want to see those clothes again!"
"What's up, May?" Max asked his sister.
Ash walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I think the story needs to be told," he whispered to her.
May looked up and him and nodded. Ash sat down next to her and took her hand in his, much to the confusion of everyone else in the room. Brock stepped into the room looking at the crowd around the couch. "Um, can they have some space, please?" Brock asked them. All of the adults looked at each other in embarrassment, and then took several places around the room. Brock walked over and sat on the couch with Ash and May, giving them support.
May began telling the story of how Drew invited her for a picnic. She had forgotten her Pokéballs, but Drew had told her that she didn't need them. Ash broke in and mentioned that after they left, Harley's Ariados had tried to capture Pikachu, but that attempt was foiled by, of all people, Team Rocket.
May continued her tale about how she had eaten with Drew and talked with him during this time. She told them about the perfume that Drew had made for her. So ecstatic with the wonderful smelling gift, she quickly sprayed it all over her clothes. Meanwhile, Ash had encountered Tracey in the forest, and Pikachu defeated his Marill and Scyther. Ash pondered out loud as to how Harley convinced Tracey to help him.
May stopped for a moment and just began to look at her bare legs. Ash squeezed her hand to give her the strength to continue. May told them about how Drew had drawn closer to her. About how he had started kissing her. About how his hands invaded her person. May began to cry silently when she thought about these events. May told them about how Drew had struck a deal with Harley, only because Drew was jealous of Ash.
Ash could see the blood vessels on Norman's head begin to pop out. The Gym Leader gritted his teeth in rage, squeezing the arms of the easy chair in which he sat. Caroline stepped closer to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, prompting him to control his anger.
"But why would Drew and Harley join forces?" Cyndi asked, rubbing her chin.
"I think Harley was just using Drew," Brock said after thinking. "I bet he was trying to divide Ash and May before the battle to increase his chances of winning."
"Come to think of it," Max said, "Misty was here earlier, too. While Ash and May were gone. Do you think that Misty trying to split them up, too?"
"I don't know, Max," Oak said. "I've spoken with Misty quite a few times before this incident began. This doesn't seem like her style…"
"True," Max agreed, "but you know what they say. Desperate times call for desperate measures."
"I'm so glad we have so many smart people here to help us think about this stuff!" Delia giggled.
Caroline sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if there's anything going on in that head of yours, Delia…"
Raine stayed out of the argument, stealing nervous glances at May as she stepped back into the front room and reemerged with a pen and note pad.
"The story's not over, yet," May interrupted. "After I realized that Drew was working with Harley, I ran away from him and ended up at the base of a waterfall." She thought for a moment. "Why he didn't chase me on Flygon, I don't know…"
"I do," Ash spoke up. "Drew's Pokémon were waiting in the forest to ambush me. If that doesn't connect him to Harley, especially after I'd encountered Harley's Pokémon in the forest, I don't know what does." Ash continued and told them about the battle he had with Drew's Pokémon before their trainer arrived. Drew arrived and was rescued by Ash from Sceptile's Bullet Seed, which he had mistakenly stepped into. He recounted their encounter, and how the boy had become broken by his own actions.
"So that's where he ended up…" May reflected. "I thought he would be chasing after me…"
"But, how did May's clothes get destroyed?" Raine asked, looking up from the note pad after jotting something down.
"I… I did it…" May told them. "After I got away from him, the smell was still on me. From the perfume, I mean. I… I couldn't stand the thought of him still on my body. So I ripped my clothes off and tossed them into the river. If I look at them again, all it will remind me of is this horrible night. I need a change…"
"W-when I found her…" Ash explained, "she wasn't wearing anything but her underwear…" He blushed at the recount. "I gave her my sweatshirt to wear on our way back."
"I was so glad when Ash found me," she sighed. "I was afraid that Drew would come back… but Ash protected me." She smiled at him. "He's always been protecting me." She turned to her father and mother. "And… I… I love him."
Norman's mouth dropped wide open. Everyone's eyes shot to Caroline, then the Gym Leader.
"I…" Ash blushed. "I love May, Norman…" he gulped.
Norman didn't respond. He stood there with the stupefied look on his face, his mouth hanging open.
"Oh, this is just too precious!" Delia hopped in front of them. "My litte Ash and his first girlfriend!" She hugged them both tightly.
"I've got it!" Raine shouted. She dashed over to stand in front of May so she could be the center of attention. "Caroline, take May upstairs and give her a bath." She yanked the green bandana off of May's head and passed it to Brock.
"Hey!" May protested, reaching for her bandana as it was lobbed to the breeder. "That's mine. Give it back!"
"Wash that in the kitchen sink. I'll send someone to get it later." Raine explained, her mouth running a mile a minute. "C'mon, Caroline, get a move on!" She shouted. Bewildered, Caroline took May by the hand and led her up the stairs. "Delia, you and I need to go look through the storefront for some clothes for May."
"Why?" Delia asked, still confused as to what was going on.
"I've got a great plan!" Raine was entirely psyched. "It'll give May a makeover and has the capability to save my store!" She grabbed Delia by her upper arm and pulled her into the storefront as the two of them began to search for clothes.
"Hey!" Cyndi shot through the door before it closed. "I'm a girl, too! I can help!"
"Then you'll be holding things," her mother told her.
"Aww, I never get to do the fun stuff!" the girl pouted.
The two women began rummaging through all of Raine's stock. Delia showed several things that she liked to the store owner, most of which Raine shouted harsh denials towards. After getting pestered one to many times by the Pallet mother, she sent her upstairs to get May's measurements.
"Yo, Norman…" Brock snapped his fingers in front of the Gym Leader as Delia dashed up the stairs. "Are you home?"
"Um, Ash?" Max gulped. "This might be a good time to either explain yourself, or run like crazy."
"Norman," Ash gulped. "I'm sorry if it wasn't in your plan for May when you sent her off with me, but we fell in love. I've never felt this way before about anyone. I can't really explain it, myself, because it's so new. But I would never want to hurt her like Drew did."
Delia almost tripped going back down the stairs as she reported in to Raine. The two mothers got May's entire brand new change of clothes and loaded them into Cyndi's arms. Raine yanked May's wet, yet clean bandana from Brock as she crossed the room and followed her daughter and Ash's mom up the stairs to the bathroom where May was bathing under the watchful gaze of her mother, Caroline.
Oak walked over to the still stunned Gym Leader. "Take it easy on him, Norman," Oak smiled. "Don't you remember how scared you were when you had to speak to Caroline's parents?"
Norman's frozen visage finally changed. He walked up to Ash and looked him in the eyes. "If you ever hurt my daughter, I will hunt you down and personally neuter you myself, got that?"
Ash gulped as the color drained from his face. "Ye-yes, sir."
Norman started laughing, slapping Ash on the back. "Oh, I was just kidding!" A puzzled look flew across Ash's face, while Max's head fell, embarrassed over his father's reaction to the situation. "If you and May are really in love, then there's nothing I can do about it, is there?" he laughed. "Ash, I trusted you to watch over her before. Now that you two are a couple, there's even more reason for me to let you two travel together."
"You mean you're not mad?" Ash blinked.
"Yeah, I thought Ash'd be shaped into a balloon Pokémon by now," Max added,
"Ash has my trust," Norman explained. "He's proven that he loves May, in my eyes. And knowing what kind of young man Ash is, I know he'll never want that love to go out."
Ash shot his eyes around the room. "Hey, guys?" he asked. "Can I talk to Max in private?"
Norman stood up and walked over to Oak and Brock. "Let's leave them to talk. I'm getting hungry again, anyway." The Gym Leader pushed the professor and the breeder into the kitchen, so that Ash and Max could have privacy. Pikachu walked across the couch to sit in Ash's lap.
"So, what do you think?" Ash asked his friend.
"About what?" Max said as he climbed on the couch next to Ash.
"About your sister and me being a couple," he explained. "It must be pretty weird, having one of your best friends fall in love with your sister."
"Yeah, I've done some thinking about that," he sighed. "Why do you love my sister?"
"That's a hard question, Max," Ash laughed. "There's no one thing. It's her personality. Her bright, cheery smile every morning. I like how she seems so optimistic, even when things don't seem to be going well. I've grown attached to her, just by having her around. Her smile makes me light up, and when I hold her in my arms, I feel so strong." Ash laughed at his words. "I'm not very good at explaining this kind of thing."
"There are some times when I just can't stand her, though," Max grunted. "She acts so girly, it makes me gag."
"I used to think like that," Ash smiled. "Girls used to be this weird alien species. Then, when I went on my journey, I matured. I made friends with Misty, and after that, girls just seemed normal. I guess those girly things your sister does kinda grew on me after a while."
"You're not gonna stop being my friend, just because you and my sister are going out, now, right?" Max asked.
Ash could tell that this was troubling the boy especially. "Of course we'll still be friends, Max," he smiled. "You're a great friend. I'd never stop being your pal, even if something happens and May and I break up."
"Thanks, Ash," Max smiled. "I feel a lot better about this now."
"I was worried you'd be upset with me," Ash laughed.
"Now why would I be?" Max asked the youth.
"Well, you were always makin' fun of May and me when we hung out," Ash said.
"It's not that I was upset," Max explained. "I just didn't understand how you could fall in love with my sister. But now I think I'm starting to." He pushed up his glasses. "But that doesn't mean that I'm not gonna poke fun at you and her, so watch out!"
Ash messed up the boy's hair. "That's fine, Max," he laughed. "You wouldn't be you without buggin' your sister."
"Eureka!" Raine shouted. "My masterpiece is finished!"
"I think you look wonderful, honey," they heard Delia say before she came down the stairs.
"May looks so cute in her new outfit!" Caroline smiled, following Ash's mother.
"It looks a lot like what she used to wear…" Cyndi grumbled, tailing Caroline with Raine right behind.
"I call it: May, risen again and reimagined!" Raine announced, acting like it's a huge presentation. She flung her arms skyward and shouted at the top of her lungs, "C'mon down, May!"
"Geez, Mom," Cyndi became cynical, "this isn't a fashion show."
Ash and Max looked up the stairs to see the coordinator's new outfit as she stepped down the stairs.
I'm a jerk. I'm going to force you to wait until next time before I tell you what she's wearing now. Although, everyone could probably guess…
Well, the battle's starting in I'd say the end of Chapter 30, or the beginning of chapter 31. I hope you all enjoy the coming battle.
And I bet you all thought Norman was gonna kill him, eh? So I pulled the ol' bait-n-switch on ya. Give you what you're not expecting.
So, please continue to review and PM me your questions and comments, if it suits your fancy. Myself? I've gotta get started on the next part.