What's good? Sorry for the break in updates I took it easy over Christmas but I'm back now. Hope you all had a happy holiday. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 18:

"Am I crazy or did an Arcanine just appear out of nowhere?" Max asked, frozen in shock.

"Looks like it." Iris answered, just as surprised.

Arcanine shook himself off and hopped back to his feet and immediately went to leave.

"Wait, hold on Arcanine!" Brock shouted, trying to calm the Pokémon down. "How did you find Ash and Gaz?"

"And where's Gary?" Misty asked.

The Arcanine began barking loudly at the trainers, but they couldn't follow what was being said.

"Meowth could you translate for us?" Serena asked.

"I ain't no translator." Meowth hissed.

"Just do it!" Leaf screamed, smacking the Pokémon on its head.

"Alright, easy." Meowth replied rubbing his sore spot. "What's the problem ya big canine?"

Arcanine once again started barking, it looked as if it was becoming impatient.

"It's saying Gary ordered him to bring these other two twerps back in order to get them help. He didn't want to leave because Gary was in really bad shape, but he was ordered. Gary is still out there, but it's not looking good for him."

"We need to go back for him!" Misty jumped up.

"But we don't know where he is, how would we find him?" Cameron asked.

"Arcanine, do you remember where Gary was? Could you lead us to him?" Leaf asked.

Arcanine nodded in reply.

"Okay, lets some of us go out to search and have some of us stay here for Ash and Gaz." Brock suggested.

"We're wasting time let's go!" Misty shouted.

It was decided quickly that Misty, Brock, Leaf, Max, Iris Lucy and Cameron would head out to search while May, Dawn, Serena and Anabel would remain behind. They noticed when Arcanine arrived, he had a bunch of Pokéballs with him. It didn't take long to figure out that it was their own Pokéballs.

The search party sprinted out of the building following after Arcanine while Anabel turned and released two Pokémon, a Medicham and a Reuniclus.

"Can you two please use Psychic to escort these two to the Battle Tower infirmary. Please let the Blissey's know they need attention straight away.

The two Pokémon nodded and began to focus on Ash and Gaz.

"May you need to let go of Ash for now." Serena whispered soothingly to her friend." We're going to get him help, you just need to let go."

After a bit more coercing, Serena managed to pry May and Pikachu off of Ash, allowing Medicham to be able to lift him up gently and carry him through the doorway and down a corridor while Reuniclus carried Gaz.

"You're all more than welcome to wait with them while their being treated if you wish, you just have to follow them down the corridor and you can rest there." Anabel explained.

"Thank you so much for this Anabel." Serena smiled. She then led May and Dawn down the corridor after their injured friends.

Anabel took a deep breath then turned the three Team Rocket members who were all who remained in the room.

"Thank you for helping out everyone before," She started. "But things being as they are, we can't exactly trust you. So, I'm going to have to keep an eye on you."

"We understand." James nodded.

"You'll have to go down to the infirmary as well, but you will be assisting Blissey. She'll have her hands full."

"You mean we'll have to treat those twerps?" Jessie asked.

"If you want to prove we can trust you, this is a good start." Anabel told them.

Reluctantly. The trio made their way after where they saw the group leave before them.

Anabel was then left alone in the room, finally able to gather her thoughts. She stood in the silence for a couple of extra minutes before composing herself and making her way down to the infirmary.


Arcanine led the group back to the clearing where all of this lunacy began. He then began nodding his head straight ahead of him into the trees.

"Last you saw he was that way?" Misty asked.

Arcanine nodded in reply.

"Okay, let's go." Misty went to sprint off into the woods before Brock halted her.

"Hold on Misty. Running carelessly in the forest is what got Gary in this situation in the first place." He warned. "Calm down and let's come up with a plan."

"We don't have time for that." Misty countered.

"She's right Brock, we can't really waste any time." Leaf added.

"Arcanine did say he was in pretty bad shape." Cameron muttered.

"The best course of action would probably be to split up and search. Time is an important factor." Lucy explained.

"Anabel's Alakazam is still up there." Misty pointed to just above the tree line where the Psychic type was floating calmly. "Worst comes to worse we all just meet back here, and he can teleport us safely."

Brock considered everything for a moment.

"Okay, one hour." He conceded. "We meet back here in an hour, no one else is getting lost or hurt out here today."

"Then let's go." Iris shouted. She scampered up a nearby tree and began hopping from tree to tree in search.

The group, including Arcanine, sprinted off into the forest in the hopes of finding Gary.

"Please just be okay." Misty whispered to herself as she ran.


Deeper in the forest Gary was whistling as he strolled casually back in the direction towards where he last saw his friends. He was still in pain but considering how relieved he was to be alive he was able to move rather well.

"I hope Arcanine managed to get Ash and Gaz back safely." He told Umbreon who nodded in agreement.

Gary projected a calm exterior but on the inside his heart was racing. He was a hair away from being face to face with Arceus at the pearly gates.

Despite his close brush with death Gary was still full of curiosity. Who was that guy who attacked him? How did they have a Latios? Who's Audino was this?

"Umbreon when we get back to the next Pokémon Centre or next place that we're staying remind me to call Grandpa. After going through that I think I should contact the people I care about."

Umbreon nodded in reply as the two kept walking.


"My beautiful Lucy, even under the midnight sky we are bound together. I followed my heart rather than the light in order to find you. It was written in the stars that we would be reunited!"

"Would you shut up? We have work to do!" Max shouted as he pulled Brock away by his ear. "Sorry about this Lucy."

"It's fine." She spoke softly, the darkness hiding the red tinge on her cheeks.

"How is it we split up, but I still end up somehow finding you and having to keep an eye on you?" Max sighed.

"You could just leave us to ourselves you know." Brock suggested.

"Oh no, someone has to keep you from causing other people trouble." Max told him.

"Then either leave or be quiet because I'm not giving up on love." Brock countered as he began skipping back towards Lucy.

"I really hope everyone else is doing better than we are." Max sighed, cursing his luck that he crossed paths with Brock somehow.


Misty was still sprinting as fast as she could through the forest, hoping she could reach Gary before it was too late.

"Please hang on you stupid wannabe Professor." She said aloud.

A low hanging branch scraped across her face, but she gritted her teeth and kept on running.

"If you die before I told you the truth, I'll kill you!" She shouted at the night's sky.


May sat sadly next to an unconscious Ash in a pristine white bed. May knew from her years of traveling that usually Ash would have been tangled around messy sheets with half of his body hanging awkwardly off his bed. However, this time he was completely still. No tossing and turning, no snoring, this was the most peaceful she had ever seen him. She even had to double check he was breathing every now and then.

She watched as his chest rose and fell steadily with every breath he took.

"After everything stupid you've done it's a miracle that you're still breathing." She whispered.

One of Ash's arms was laying on top of the sheets. May reached out and grabbed his hand. Even now she felt the familiar warmth spread through her arm up to her chest before sparking out throughout her whole body.

She couldn't stand the fact that she might not ever feel this warmth again if he keeps acting how he has been.

"I can't lose you." She spoke aloud.

She placed Ash's hand back down on the bed gently, she then instinctively brought her hand up and began running it through his hair. Her fingers combed through his thick raven locks. Over the traveling time his hair had grown a fair bit longer than he usually had it.

"Remind me when you wake up to give you a haircut." She muttered.

"Don't worry I'll remind you." A voice came from behind, causing May to jump in fright. She turned to find Serena standing there with two glasses of water.

"Oh Serena…hi, I was just talking to…myself?" She stuttered.

"Oh, yeah I'm sure." She giggled, she then handed one glass of water over to May. "Drink up."

"Thank you." May replied with a smile. "Where are Dawn and Anabel?"

"Dawn is having a lie down and Anabel is keeping an eye on Team Rocket." Serena answered as she pulled up a chair and sat next to May.

The pair sat in silence for a few moments, the only break in the quiet being the faint gulps as the water slid fluidly down their throats.

"Looks like the Blissey's did a good job." Serena noted.

"Yeah, he's in good condition, he's lucky he had no major injuries." May explained. "When they first appeared with Arcanine I couldn't help but fear the worst."

"Me too, it didn't look good." Serena agreed.

The pair sat in silence for another while. Serena stared at the boy who she used to admire so much. A year or so ago Serena would have given anything to be lying next to Ash as he slept as soundly as he was sleeping right now. As she continued to travel with Ash began to realise that there was no chance of that happening because of the girl that was sitting next to her right now.

Before meeting her Serena couldn't help but feel a bit of resentment towards May. Once she got to know her though she couldn't keep that emotion up. She was so kind and caring and funny, just one of those people that you couldn't help but like. Plus, she cared so deeply for Ash.

"May there's a lot going on right now." Serena started. "But can you promise me something?"

"Uh, sure what is it?" May asked taken aback at the sudden question.

"Once he wakes up, can you tell him how you feel?"

May's face immediately flushed red as she felt the heat flood to it.

"What do you mean?" She asked in a voice much higher than her regular tone.

"Come on May, don't try that on me." Serena laughed. "You can never hide these things from one of the girls we always know."

May let out a sigh, her secret was finally out. She felt some embarrassment, how long did they know? Does everyone know? What do they all think? Was she too obvious? Should she run away?

Even through all that May also felt a sense of relief. It takes a lot to keep these feelings hidden, even though she wasn't doing as good a job as she thought she was.

May knew that she couldn't hide anymore, especially to Serena who had a smug look on her face after catching her out.

"It wasn't that obvious was it?" May asked.

"Not really," Serena said to May's relief. "It was only noticeable to people with eyes and ears."

May shot a murderous look at the girl from Kalos as she laughed. After waiting for her friend to stop laughing May wanted to ask another question.

"So why do you want me to tell him?"

"Because if you don't, you'll end up regretting it." Serena told her, now straight faced. "Take it from me you don't want that to happen."

"What do you mean?" May asked.

It was now Serena's turn to be embarrassed.

"I used to have a crush on Ash, for a long time." She admitted. "When we were traveling through Kalos I thought everyday about confessing to him, even my rival Miette used to try to force me to do it to try and help me. But I didn't and he left. For the next couple of months, I regretted it every day and it wasn't a good time for me May. Don't get me wrong I'm incredibly happy with Cameron now and I'm over Ash, but I don't want you to go through what I went through. It hurts."

May took in every word her friend spoke to her and she could feel the sincerity dripping off every syllable.

"What if I tell him and he doesn't feel the same way?" May asked with her eyes cast downwards.

"I'm sorry May but that's the chance you have to take." Serena admitted. "But I will say this, from my time in Kalos with Ash and the time we've all spent together here, I know he thinks the world of you, and he treasures you. I'm very confident that he feels the same way."

"Thank you, Serena," May smiled. "I'm honestly also afraid that Ash wouldn't even understand if I was to tell him he's so dense."

"That's definitely a possibility." Serena admitted as the pair laughed.

"So, you will tell him?" Serena asked after the laughing dies down.

"I promise, I will try." May told her.

"I'll take it." Serena shouted excitedly as she pulled May into a hug.


Gary continued to stroll casually through the forest whistling alongside his Umbreon. As they continued the silence in the night began to be broken up by a disturbance further on. There were faint rustling sounds and Hoot Hoot's and Noctowl's began to rise and fly away from the trees.

"Something is happening up ahead Umbreon, be careful." Gary warned, he received a nod and cry in reply.

The disruption was getting closer and closer, Gary and Umbreon came to a stop. This was the last thing Gary needed after everything he has been through this evening. Why couldn't he just get to a Pokémon Centre and rest for a few hours?

Suddenly, an orange blur broke through the threshold of the trees in front of him at incredible speed. He didn't even have time to give Umbreon an order. Before he knew it, he was tackled to the ground.

His body slammed to the ground and all the air was knocked out of his lungs as he felt his body being pressed down. He was looked up scared at his attacker until he realised who it was, and he let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh, thank god it's you I was scared for a minute." Gary laughed.

Just as soon as these words left his mouth, he felt a slap knock the taste out of his mouth.

"YOU IDIOT!" Misty screamed, shaking her hand which itself hurt from the impact.

"What was that for?" Gary asked, his face and pride stung.

"You run headfirst into the forest, then Ash and Gaz get back and you're nowhere to be seen leaving us to think the worse. Then we have to run into the forest blind and I find you just casually walking back? Do you have any idea how worried we all were?"

"I didn't mean for anyone for come after me and put themselves in danger." Gary explained.

"You gave us no choice you bastard!" Misty screamed. "We weren't going to leave you behind. I wasn't going to leave you. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Sorry." Gary tried sheepishly.

Misty just sighed and let her head drop, resting it on Gary's chest. Gary suddenly became very aware that Misty was on top of him. He suddenly began to heat up despite the cool night air of the forest.

"Why are you Pallet Town boys so stupid?" Misty asked. "I was so worried I'd never get to see you again."

"That's what I was worried about too." Gary admitted. "All I could think about out there was how I might not see you again."

Misty picked her head up once again and Gary saw a glint of tears in the glow of the moonlight.

"If you want to keep seeing me then be more careful." Misty warned him. "I can't lose you."

The two just stayed still in the forest for another few moments, they didn't even move from the position when Misty tackled Gary.

"We should get back to everyone." Gary spoke after another minute or so, patting Misty's back.

Misty didn't even say a word she just stood up and brushed herself off, allowing Gary to get up. Gary decided to recall Umbreon, who was standing there awkwardly the whole time, and he and Misty began to walk together.

"You have a lot of explaining to do." Misty warned him as she led him back.

"Don't worry, I have a lot to tell everyone." Gary explained.

"Don't get me wrong I'm still pissed at you, but I'm glad you're safe." Misty admitted and she gave his arm a small squeeze.

Once Misty turned back around and began walking again Gary let out a smirk and followed with a pep in his step.

Happy New Year to all of you, let's hope 2021 is a lot better than 2020 turned out. Please follow, favourite and review if you wish. Hope you enjoyed.