Chapter 48

The moment May took the champion's tentative hand in her own, the man sent her a smile filled with such warmth that she felt her heart skip a beat in surprise. Seeing his eyes light up, May couldn't help but grin back before the man climbed upon the eon pokémon, pulling her gently up behind him.

Flushing as she wrapped her arms around his torso, May hesitantly leant her head on his shoulder, siphoning his heat as Latias flew into the air with a strong movement that sent May's stomach in an awkward summersault.

With her feet no longer on the firm ground, May felt a horde of beautifly in her stomach as she scrunched her eyes shut.

Once the motion had steadied, May hesitantly opened her eyes, peering out past Steven with apprehension at the open sky around them.

Seeing the bright blue sky around her, May let out a gasp before her eyes settled on the green grassland below them. Feeling a nauseating wave of vertigo rise up in her stomach, May instinctively leant closer to Steven, who reacted subtly to her touch, though he said nothing.

Realising that they were heading towards the ocean, May blinked as she saw a flock of swellow in the distance, forming loops in the sky. Latias let out an eager cry which the flock responded to, flying just below the legendary pokémon.

Peering down at the wild pokémon, the cool wind blew through her hair. It looked like a steep fall, and the only thing keeping her in place was her arms around Steven's waist.

Pulling herself back to the man, May reminded herself to ignore the temptation of looking down at earth as the swellow called out their names to Latias.

The pokémon hummed anxiously in response, her wings gliding through the sky with a confidence that came from experience.

Burying her face into Steven's back, May focused on the sensation of human interaction, trying not to think about how much space was between the eon pokémon and the ocean below them.

Latias wouldn't let anything happen to them, and if it did, she had to have faith that Steven wouldn't just let anything happen to her.

On the ground, he seemed to stiff until he interacted with pokémon, almost as though he wasn't sure how to interact with others. Holding onto him as she was, she couldn't help but feel like this was right, like he wasn't the intimidating and silent champion he was made out to be by BuzzNav.

After a pause, the man said in a light voice, 'we're almost there.'

Hearing this, May couldn't help but smile as she peered over his shoulder to see what looked like a tropical island surrounded by cliffs. From where she sat, perched behind Steven, she couldn't see a single path which led from the rocky shoreline up to the tropical forest above. Even the waves seemed to slap against the cliffs in an ominous manner, though May refrained from saying a thing to Steven.

She trusted the man to be honest with her, and had faith in his strength and wits to ensure they returned to Hoenn safely. After all, she had no idea where Latias had brought them, but Steven didn't seem too bothered.

If he trusted her, why shouldn't May, especially with how legendary pokémon were treated by most people?

With a loud cry, Latias soared in a circle before heading into a steep decent, causing a wave of butterfrees and beautiflies to erupt in May's stomach. Instinctively, she once again buried her face in Steven's back, unashamedly seeking comfort from the man who was her superior.

She'd never flown on the back of a pokémon like this before. That time she and Max had flown on the back of Winona's Skarmory in the Feather Carnival, though that had had all the necessary safety procedure. This was them free-flying on the back of a seemingly friendly yet very much wild pokémon over an ocean with no help in sight.

Seeing the ground lurch up to meet them, May let out a squeak before she fell to the ground in a heap, the force of their landing yanking her from Steven's back.

The landing had been much harder than she'd anticipated, and May's body hurt as she lay in the muddy, grassy field looking up at Steven and Latias.

'Are you all right?' the man asked as he hurriedly climbed off Latias, stepping to her in that poised way, his brows knitted in concern as he held his hand out to her.

With a small smile, he helped May to her feet, his steel blue eyes taking in her windswept appearance, making her feel incredibly self-conscious. She didn't need a mirror to know that her nose was red, her cheeks felt warm (though who knew if that was the flight or mortification at having embarrassed herself again in front of Steven? She'd been clinging onto him throughout the trip like a jigglypuff clung to a stage, and then couldn't even climb off a pokémon properly either) and her eyes were watering too.

The eon pokémon, while incredibly friendly, didn't seem to understand how fragile exposed human skin was.

Hurriedly, he glanced away before turning to the pokémon, 'thank you, Latias.'

The pokémon nodded her head once before turning her head anxiously, whining slightly as May and Steven glanced around the silent forest. There didn't seem to be any immediate danger, though they both knew better than to trust anything at face value. Even then, in the semblance of peace, May found that something felt... off.

Shifting on her feet anxiously, she glanced apprehensively at the champion, wondering if he felt the same nervousness she did. The man was a much stronger trainer than she was, and he was far more adept in his travels than many others. It was one of the things she'd observed about the man, though he tried to appear ordinary, he failed miserably.

He seemed too captivating that even May couldn't deny it with her usually unobservant nature. Something about his friendly encouragement throughout their interactions, made his persona shine much stronger. It was as if he was trying to hide how extraordinary he was from his very soul, but it only made him shine all the more brightly in that unusual way he had.

'I don't know what it is... not quite unease, not quite fear... but there is something... unsettling... it is an odd feeling, as if I'm walking through a dream—or an illusion,' the champion frowned as he assessed he seemingly empty forest. He seemed to have forgotten that May and Latias were there as the two females shared an uncertain glance.

Glancing around them, May placed a reassuring hand on Latias as she whispered, 'then we should investigate what is wrong.'

There was a pause in which May glanced at the man, wondering if he'd heard what she'd said. Seeing his furrowed brow, she realised that he was deep in thought.

She was about to break the silence when the man began, 'I once heard an odd fable. It was said that two pokémon that live on this island guard some secret about that great form of evolution: mega evolution. Could it be that some dangerous element is here because of that?'

Blinking at his words, May glanced sceptically at the pokémon before seeing the man frown at her. From her extensive studies, she couldn't recall ever hearing about any evolutionary line for the eon duo.

'But I thought that Latias didn't evolve?' May couldn't help but wonder before flushing. Seeing Steven Stone send her a subtle smirk, she had to question if the champion was hiding something from her.

'Come, we should be going,' was the only response he deigned to offer her before walking away at a brisk pace.

May only hesitated slightly before jogging after him. She didn't want to be left alone on a deserted island that gave her such a sense of foreboding. Especially if she couldn't decide if someone was watching her or if she was intruding profusely, encroaching on another's personal space. Either way, she strongly didn't want to be left on the island alone.

They followed a rocky path until she saw a green enclave, covered in leaves. In spite of her unease, she couldn't help but admire the way the sun shone through the gaps in the leaves, almost as if it were welcoming them to the island's heart.

Deep from inside the cave, she heard a soft voice echoing, 'th— wh— mem—de se— to carv— th—rts…'

Considering the words, May realised what it stood for. Those whose memories fade seek to carve them in their hearts… It was a statement that she'd heard as a young child and it still struck May's very core as she considered the memories she never wanted to forget. Her life in Johto, her journey with Ash, Brock and Max, her experiences with Brendan and her friends, her father. Realising where her thoughts were going, May clenched her fists, focusing on the nails that dug into her palm.

She had to focus on the here and now, Latias had made it clear that something was wrong. If May wasn't going to help those in need, then she'd be letting all of her loved ones down.

Seeing Steven frown, she was about to reassure him when she realised there was nothing she could do for him. He was by far the stronger, more experienced trainer who had his head on his shoulders. Her life was a mess, but she wouldn't let that keep her down. After all, whatever he did, she could do too. She just had to prove it to herself.

Rather than wait for the man to gather his thoughts, May felt compelled to walk on. Being the first to step through the archway, May ignored the beautifly in her stomach as she continued on her way.

Whatever was waiting for her on the other side of the arch, she'd face it with the same courage she'd shown the world when she was by Ash Ketchum's side. She might no longer travel with the man, but she hadn't changed all that much.

Hearing the soft footsteps of Steven behind her, May felt reassurance in knowing the man had her back. Rather than explain that to him, though, she focused on the path, keeping an eye out for anything that could make her trip later on.

Reaching a clearing, May frowned as she saw a strange, shining stone placed upon a guardianite pedestal, it's light illuminating the dark grey stone. Approaching the item, May noticed how the colours changed in the light. Whatever it was, it looked priceless, and very delicate.

Even though she wanted to, she knew she shouldn't get too close to it, just in case she tripped over her feet. From her past, she knew she had a habit of slipping at poignant times.

A/N:

Hey everyone,

Sorry it's a bit late, I've not been feeling well. I'm better at the moment, but I don't know for how long that'll be.

Hope you enjoyed the update :)