Chapter 47

Keeping her head low, May followed Steven outside, to the garden where she'd had Brendan bring her mother a breakfast so long ago. She barely spared a glance for the beautifly as she followed Steven, adjusting her pace to his perfectly, wondering if she should say something.

Expecting him to take up a seat in the park, May suppressed her surprise when he continued to walk, ignoring the beautiful flowers as though they were simply everyday decorations. He seemed completely at ease with Blaziken as he walked by May's side in a protective manner.

'May, how are you holding up? I can't help but notice you didn't visit Flannery when you were in the area. Is everything ok?' Steven asked in concern as he continued to lead her through Mauville City, heading east, towards route 118.

Unlike her, he seemed completely at ease with the stares of strangers as they turned to gaze at the iconic champion, son of the director of Devon Corporation. May, however, felt her face warm as she noticed quite a few women admiring Steven's physique.

In his custom suit, it flattered the man perfectly, though May stomped down those thoughts. Those were inappropriate, especially about her boss.

She could barely consider the man's question as they walked through the streets of Mauville, away from the hospital.

'I'm ok, just have a lot on my mind. I've had some friends visiting me so Flannery completely slipped my mind. One of them wasn't well and staying in my house at the time, so I was a bit distracted by worrying about him,' May grinned, scratching her cheek in the same way she used to do as a child.

'I'm so sorry I failed to fulfil my duties in inspecting other gyms. I promise that I'll go and visit Flannery as soon as I can, though!' May reassured the man as they reached an intersection at which many shoppers were gathered. She barely noticed the stares of strangers as she realised just how bad she felt.

Steven had asked her to travel around Hoenn so she could inspect other gyms to ensure that she kept Petalburg up to the standard set by the Hoenn League. The way she ran her gym wasn't just a reflection on herself, but also her father and her boss, so she should definitely be doing what she could to ensure she brought out the best in her gym.

Having watched Ash battle countless gyms, May knew that Steven was giving her a massive opportunity for growth by letting her inspect gyms. Where most gym leaders would typically have battled other gym leaders as trainers, she didn't have that experience or knowledge. It had never really interested her, so Steven's request made sense. And she'd completely forgotten all about it at the first opportunity.

She couldn't even think of the words to express how absolutely guilty she felt to have forgotten the role she had promised Steven she would fulfil. However, all she could do was to go back and make amends by giving Flannery a battle they'd both remember.

The man appeared to consider her words, not at all aware of the stares they were receiving from passers-by as they headed towards the exit of the city, stepping through the gates without so much as greeting another person.

Seeing her wide-eyed apology, Steven smiled, 'don't worry, I do understand. Wallace has so kindly reminded me of just how much you have going on in your personal life. It was why I wanted to talk to you.'

'Y-you did?' May asked, blinking as she walked past a stunned Dalton as he watched her Blaziken glare at them, keeping him effectively from the champion of Hoenn as well as the daughter of Norman.

Hesitating, May placed her hands in her pockets as she ignored the suddenly cool chill that was on her cheeks. She could see the breeze stir the blades of the tall grass as Steven guided her to the sandy beach, which was too small to be a tourist attraction.

'Yes, it appears that I need to retune myself with the requirements of the individual members of the Hoenn League. Between us, I must admit that he is much more perceptive than I am, and his memory is also far more attune with the affairs of others. It is one of the many reasons why I seek his counsel,' Steven smiled at her amiably, causing her heart to flutter. When he smiled, his expression softened remarkably, and she couldn't help but admire his features.

Feeling her face warm uncomfortably, May glanced around at the stunned aroma lady nearby, who hurriedly adjusted the flower in her brunette hair before hopping elegantly into the entrance of Mauville City, glancing back at them through the glass doors.

Sending the woman a shy smile, May glanced at her feet before stating, 'to be honest, I find your expectations of me quite reasonable. I am here to be a gym leader, and not a victim of my current situation. Sure, what's happened to my father is unfortunate, I understand that. However, as Kenny so kindly reminded me, life does go on.'

'Ah yes, your aid is quite an insightful young man,' Steven said before he ushered May through the exit of the city and onto a ferry so they could cross from one side of Route 118 onto another.

Watching the waves roll past the small, white ferry, May grimaced slightly as she watched a flock of Wingull skimming the waves.

They pulled up on a small, wooden pier where Steven helped May climb off.

His light blue eyes met May's sapphire as he held onto her hand a moment longer, before turning his attention away from her, towards the grassy plains behind him.

Returning his hands to his pockets, he glanced amiably around them before stating, 'follow me, I want to introduce you to someone who may just help relieve some of your strain.'

Hearing this from the champion, May struggled to contain her blush as she wondered who she should meet. It was hard not to let her imagination run wild as she walked beside the champion on the east side of route 118.

Realising that they had transcended into a silence, May nervously asked, 'so, how have you been?'

Hearing this, the older man glanced at her once before responding, 'I've been well, I suppose. Wallace keeps reminding me of my duties to Hoenn, so I've been rather preoccupied with that. I hadn't expected being champion would involve so many outdated protocols and paperwork, but we're hoping to streamline things for the next champion.'

There was an awkward pause before the man continued, 'my apologies if my absence has caused you any concern. I assure you that I have been quite well, though preoccupied all the same. It seems that I have a lot to learn about what it means to be champion.'

Hearing this, May simply nodded as they walked through extremely tall grass. She quietly hoped they didn't encounter any horde pokémon. After Dalton, she didn't have the will to fight, especially against a group.

'I'm sorry for not taking the time out of my schedule to visit you as well as your father,' he said, glancing at her sapphire eyes before returning his gaze around them, acting almost in a childlike manner in his guilt.

Registering the words that were coming out of his mouth, May flushed as she tripped over an upturned root, trying to catch herself, though finding no support in the grassy area around them.

'There's no need to apologise! Don't be silly, you don't need to visit me! I mean... ungh,' May rambled as she scrambled to her feet, wincing at the muddy smears on her legs.

She felt like she was sounding like a horribly indecisive brat who was taking her boss's attention for granted, or worse—one that wasn't grateful for his support.

Seeing the man blink at her, May flushed awkwardly before muttering, 'you don't need to look after me this much. I promise, I'm coping ok on my own.'

'I can see that,' the man mused as he watched her momentarily, struggling to hide his amusement, not that May could blame him, especially when she could hear Blaziken chuckling at her from behind her.

She'd just tripped over herself because he'd made an innocuous remark.

Seeing the laughter in his eyes, May hurriedly glanced away, seeing a flash of red through the grass.

As the newest and youngest member of the league, she couldn't help but feel mortified at the direction this conversation was taking, and couldn't even bring herself to focus on the dirt stains on her legs. Whoever she was meeting would think her a right grub, and first impressions were said to be the most important ones.

The man's mirth died down as he stopped walking. He glanced slightly around them before beginning, 'I hope you're learning from your fellow gym leaders around Hoenn. As you would have noticed in your travels through this vast world, there are many kinds of pokémon. It's another reason why I have requested you make this journey, to familiarise yourself with the people and pokémon who live in Hoenn. You're not originally from here, is that correct?'

Nodding her head, May glanced shyly up at Steven. No matter how many times she saw him, he always looked pristine, his expression perfectly neutral. Whenever he was around, she felt like a bumbling fool, but he never seemed to hold that against her, which she was eternally grateful for.

Blinking, she realised she'd been staring at his cool eyes. From nearby came the sound of a flock of flying types, and she instantly turned, grateful for the distraction as she saw a wingull flying in the air, calling out eagerly.

'I'm sure you know that pokémon come in many types, which begs the question: should you raise different types? Or will you raise pokémon of only a certain type you feel connected to, like your father chose?' Steven mused, his eyes intent upon the wingull in the air, appearing oblivious as May tried to clean some of the mud off her leg.

'I wonder what you think, not just as a trainer, but a gym leader,' Steven said, turning to watch her with a look that made her heart drop, her hand frozen on her muddied leg. He shifted his gaze when she glanced up at him as he pretended to be preoccupied with the area around them.

Flushing as she realised he'd seen her be unprofessional again, May hesitated. It hadn't been an idea which had ever crossed her mind, to specialise in a certain type like Iris, Misty or her father. She couldn't even fathom picking between which type she should pick, if she were to pick one. After all, every type had its advantages and disadvantages, and every pokémon had its individual strengths and quirks.

If she chose to specialise, what would happen to her current team?

She vaguely heard her Blaziken growl at the man, though placed a hand on his shoulder to acquiesce the pokémon. Considering the topic of their conversation, she could only imagine what her pokémon was thinking.

Guiltily, she glanced at her pokémon before grimacing, 'return, Blaziken. You know I wouldn't change you or our family for the world.'

Feeling terrible about recalling her pokémon so suddenly after something so sensitive had been mentioned, May turned her attention back onto the champion, trying her best to keep her inner conflict from her expression.

The man blinked before hurriedly saying, 'not that it's anything that I should be concerning myself with... but somehow, I find myself wanting to know what you think. You aren't like others I've met, and it's interesting. I'd hope to see you again like this, especially when I consider that I suppose I should introduce you to her.'

Her? May thought, wondering who Steven was taking her to. Did he have a significant other that he introduced his employees to? More importantly, why did that thought turn her stomach? Was it because the very idea of introducing the people who worked for you to your significant other in a middle of a route in Hoenn was tacky?

'I hope it doesn't change what you think about me—presuming, of course that you do think of me,' the man said, appearing to not at all be perturbed by the words coming from his mouth, his hands playing with a button on his suit.

Those buttons had names. She remembered her father receiving a pair. What were they called, again?

She was so preoccupied that she didn't hear a rustling behind her.

Glancing past her, he frowned, 'hmmm?'

Seeing the curiosity in his eyes, May turned around and nearly screamed at the pokémon she saw. It had red feathers on the top and bottom of its body and white feathers on its neck. The pokémon had a streamlined body which accentuated it's large, yellow eyes. All in all, it looked strong, and looked far more intriguing than any of the stories May had ever heard.

'L-Latias?' May whispered as she stared at the pokémon, feeling a sense of deja vu. She couldn't count how long it had been since she'd last seen a legendary pokémon in real life. It had been in the same year she'd seen Steven, and said farewell to Ash and Brock.

'Do you want us to soar somewhere?' Steven asked as he stepped towards the pokémon, not seeing May glance around for Ash Ketchum. The last time she'd had a legendary pokémon walk so close to her without knowing a thing about her was Manaphy. From what the man had said at the time, it was a regular occurrence for him.

Glancing at Steven, she wondered if he had the same alluring aura to pokémon as Ash Ketchum. Considering how eager Latias was, it didn't surprise her. After all, Steven Stone was the champion, and much more travelled than she was.

The pokémon nodded her head eagerly, rushing forward to nudge Steven, pushing him into May in her eagerness to convey her message.

Rather than stutter awkwardly as May was doing, the man simply chuckled as he murmured soft reassurances to the pokémon, appearing at ease as May gawked slightly.

Watching his confident, gentle movements, May couldn't help but be slightly in awe of the man. She could see why he was admired not just by her brother, but by many of her friends.

In all of her interactions with him, he'd been courteous, kind and knowledgeable.

'May, come with me,' Steven smiled at her, causing her to stare at him in disbelief, her heart once again behaving erratically, bouncing nervously in her chest.

'I beg your pardon?' May squeaked as she tried not to remember the rage of the Mauville City Pokémon Fan Club members that she had experienced when Wattson had first helped her with her father.

She knew that there were fan clubs dedicated to each gym leader, and there was definitely going to be a fan club that harboured a strong emotional attachment for the champion, and that didn't even consider that he was considerably more attractive than Wattson, who was no longer a young spring torchic.

If Steven's fan club discovered that Steven was asking her to join him somewhere, she was going to be hung out to dry after they were done with her.

'I must confess that I brought you out here to meet Latias, but she seems distressed by something. I believe that she is asking us for help. If that's the case, please help me reassure her,' Steven insisted, imploring her slightly by holding his hand out to her.

Glancing from the champion to the legendary, May bit her lower lip.

If it was for Latias, surely any fans wouldn't be mad at her?

She only hesitated slightly before taking his warm hand in her own, knowing she couldn't leave a pokémon in distress anywhere.