So not too long ago, I read a story called 'Man In The Mirror' by Advance4ever. It was a great story peppered with Michael Jackson references. I so wanted to see what happened next after finishing it, but then realized that it was left unfinished - not updated in 7 going on 8 years. I see it as an injustice, so...I'm gonna do my own take on it. However, this one will be based loosely on the later years of Michael Jackson's life with one of May's male rivals playing the role of a more sinister Conrad Murray (because Soledad is just too sweet to even try a stunt like that). And guess whose job it will be to stop them and protect May? 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count. Anyway...on with the story!
Chapter 1: Missing May
Just outside of Mahogany Town sits Rage Lakefront, overlooking Lake of Rage - former home of the legendary red Gyarados. The new trainer of the red Gyarados in question was competing in this year's Johto Grand Festival. The trainer was a petite brunette with sapphire eyes in black biker shorts, orange sneakers, black fingerless gloves, an orange tank top and a green bandana. Meet 13 year old May Maple. She had caught the red Gyarados after saving it from Team Rocket's evil clutches and ever since, she has used it in Pokemon Contests. In the Grand Festival, she used it in the appeal rounds, snagging a perfect score with a combination of Dragon Rage and Twister. In the quarterfinals, she bested Soledad O'Brien with Gyarados. She switched to Glaceon in the semifinals and curbstomped Harley Rannells, setting up a showdown between her and main rival Drew Hayden.
It was down to May's trusted Blaziken against Drew's Flygon. Neither was giving an inch and was prepared to do whatever it took to help their trainer win. The feeling was mutual with their trainers. May looked up and saw she was behind in points with under a minute left.
'This is it...' she thought. 'I was afraid it would come to this, but I have to use my most powerful combo to win. But since it takes so much power, Blaziken could faint and we could lose...'
May's sparkling sapphire eyes glowed with confidence and it was almost as if Blaziken could feel her spirit. "BLAZIKEN!" the determined fully-evolved starter roared.
Drew smirked and spoke, "You put up a good fight, May. But your defeat was assured. Flygon, Double Team and finish with Outrage!"
Flygon stretched its wings and glowed red with rage as it formed copies of itself. Some prepared to launch a Dragon Pulse attack while another section of copies lunged forward with a Dragon Claw.
'No time to think. Time to act!' May thought with her eyes closed. She then opened her eyes and pulled out her signature move...
"Blaziken, Blast Burn Tornado!" May called out.
"BLAZIKENNN!" The fire and fighting type starter roared as she jumped into the air and ignited her arms before spinning and sending a tornado of fire and lightning at her opponent's confused Flygon. The display took everyone in awe and the resulting wind blew everyone's hair, including May's as Blaziken's spinning speed reached max and the flames eradicated the Dragon Pulse, taking out the Double Team copies in the process. The real Flygon was the last one standing and in its confusion was rendered helpless as it was hit and trapped in the tornado.
"FLYGON! NO!" Drew called out as Flygon fell to the floor and Blaziken roared triumphantly. The judges all buzzed Drew out, signaling the end of the battle.
"That's it! Flygon can no longer battle! That means the winner of the Johto Grand Festival and the title of Top Coordinator is...MAY MAPLE OF PETALBURG CITY!" the host called out.
The crowd cheered. Many gave a wolf whistle at the now 13 year old Coordinator as the host presented the Ribbon Cup to May. As she held the Ribbon Cup, she looked down around her neck at a familiar ribbon - the Terracotta Ribbon. It was won over a year ago by her and a close friend. Holding the ribbon half to her chest, May thought 'Ash...Ashton Taylor Ketchum...thank you. I wouldn't have been here if not for you...'
4 years later...
Ash Ketchum, now 18, had just finished 2nd in Kalos to Alain. He, Clemont, Bonnie and Serena were in Lumiose City at the city's Pokemon Center when the group saw May on TV winning the Unova Grand Festival. This left Ash thinking 'Way to go, May...' He then looked over at a Coordinators Weekly magazine with May on the cover. The cover story reading 'May Maple - Top Coordinator Again! Her Secret To Staying In Top Form And...Has A Pokemon League Contender Captured Her Heart?'
Ash took note of what she was wearing - a strapless black midriff top and a short tan skirt with the same black fingerless gloves she wore when he last saw her. She had also changed up her hair, now wearing it down past her shoulders in a heart style. For some reason, Ash found her more beautiful than he remembered. He looked through the magazine and saw a whole list of things about May...
Favorite Food: Pepperoni Pizza
Favorite Movie: Grease
Favorite TV Shows: Kim Possible (inspiration for her new look), NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Phineas and Ferb, Double Dare (Family Double Dare, Super Sloppy Double Dare, Double Dare 2000)
What She Looks For In Guys: Someone sweet, caring, a great friend and someone that loves Pokemon
The One Person Who Inspires Her The Most: Ash Ketchum - He has my heart...I miss him so much and want nothing more than to be with him
"Man, is everyone still teasing that May and I are gonna get together?" Ash said to himself. "And what does she mean when she said that I have her heart?"
Even Pikachu took note of Ash inspiring May, especially the last part. "Pikapi Pikachu..." he said. (Translation: Ash, she has a crush on you..)
Serena was the first to catch on to Ash's awestruck gaze on May. "Oh my gosh, Ash! You know Top Coordinator May Maple?"
Ash gave a nod to his childhood friend. "I do. I traveled with her years ago through Hoenn and the Kanto Battle Frontier. I miss her so much...and I haven't kept in touch with her much since the Wallace Cup back in Sinnoh..."
Serena's expression dropped when she heard the last part. "Aw, Ash..."
"You think I'm a bad friend, Serena?"
"Not at all, Ash. I think it's high time you got back in touch with her..."
"I know I want to..." Ash said with a sigh. "But she's a huge celebrity now."
"You say you were 13 when you last saw her?"
"Yeah. 13...was a few months from turning 14. May was almost 13."
Serena clenched her fists at hearing this. "Look, Ash. It's been 4 years. You're 18, she's 17 now. You got no excuses. I would ask more about your history with May is, but that would just spiral things out of control. Something tells me you forgetting May is worse than you forgetting me all those years ago after Sycamore's Pokemon Summer Camp," the honey blonde remarked.
"Serena...you're right. I'm not gonna make the same mistake twice. As soon as I get back to Pallet Town, I'm gonna call her. I still have her XTranceiver number, so I don't think it'll hurt to at least try..." Ash said, trailing off as his flight was called.
"Sounds like your flight's up," Serena said to Ash. "Call me as soon as you land in Pallet and let me know how it goes with May, alright?"
"I will, Serena..." Ash said as he boarded his flight, but not before picking up the Coordinators Weekly issue just so he can see May's sweet smiling face. As his plane set off for Kanto, he thought to himself 'Soon, May...I'll see you again...'
Meanwhile, back in Blackthorne City...
May was busy at a photoshoot. She had just posed in a sparkling sapphire dress that complimented her eyes. Now she was doing bikini shots for Coordinators Weekly's annual Girl Power issue.
"That's it, May! You got it!" The photographer said to her as she snapped endless shots of her.
May blew kisses at the camera with her signature black fingerless gloves as the photographer took another shot. "One more, May..." the photographer said.
"Right," May responded as she gave a flirty look for her last shot.
"Perfect! We're done for the day!"
The life of a Top Coordinator was a tough one. The one constant in her life was her best friend and sister figure, 16 year old fellow Coordinator Dawn Berlitz.
"Hey, May! What's up?" Dawn cheerfully greeted.
"Tough photoshoot for Coordinators Weekly today. I'm guessing you were in before me..."
Dawn nodded. "Yeah. Why they're doing those swimsuit shots of us, I'll never know," the blunette remarked as she took note of May's necklace. "May, I just now realized that you've never taken that necklace off..."
"You of all people should know why..."
Then it hit Dawn. "Oh right...it's the ribbon you and Ash won together."
"Yeah. I miss him, Dawn."
"I do too, May. I actually just got off the phone with him. He's headed back from Kalos today, should be back in Pallet Town tomorrow."
"Cool! Maybe we should go and surprise him..."
"Well, that depends on what the bloated corporate machine has in store for us then."
May gave a nod and hugged Dawn. "I hope it's not much. I want to see the look on Ash's face when he sees us!" the brunette beamed. However, inside she was thinking 'There's times like this where I wish Dawn and I never became Top Coordinators...'
Dawn had caught her in the act, however and said, "May...May...you zoned out again. Everything alright?" the blunette asked, waving a hand in front of May before looking at the ribbon necklace that May wears and giving a cheeky smile. "You know, I saw this before when we were in Sinnoh for the Wallace Cup..."
"What do you mean, Dawn?"
"The blushing, the nervousness...you're crushing on Ash! No wonder Coordinators Weekly is teasing a relationship between you two!"
May froze. She knew she was caught. "How long have you known?"
"Whole time. When we get to Pallet Town, we are gonna set you and Ash up!"
May gave a sigh. "That's IF we get to Pallet Town..."
"No need to worry! I'll handle this!" Dawn cheerfully reassured her best friend.
"Whenever Dawn says 'No need to worry' is when I worry the most..." May said as she and Dawn got changed back into their normal clothes - May's outfit now akin to Kim Possible's original mission gear while Dawn's outfit is now a reasonable facsimile of Candace Flynn's outfit from 'Phineas and Ferb'. "So I guess our first stop is Twinleaf Town?"
"Yeah, I gotta check in with mom first. Then we can head on over to Petalburg, check in with your parents and kid brother..."
"HEY! Max is 15 now! But alright, Petalburg after Twinleaf...then we can surprise Ash in Pallet Town. I don't think the greedy suits at the Contest Committee have anything planned for us."
"Just checked. No big events for at least the next month or two. Next Contest season doesn't start until April and the calendar just turned to November."
May gave a nod. "So I guess Ash is in for a big surprise in a few days..." the brunette said as she thought to herself 'Soon, Ash Ketchum...soon we'll be together again...and I'll have you all to myself.'
Yeah, so this will be an entirely different plot than what Advance4ever had in mind. But this is my own take and I hope you enjoy it. I decided to throw Dawn into the mix because the two were basically sisters during the Wallace Cup arc in Diamond and Pearl and I want to try and expand on that. I'm thinking next chapter will be a more May and Dawn focused chapter, expanding on their sisterly bond. Ash might make an appearance in Chapter 2, but I'm not sure if I want to have him there. Until next time...
TRAIN ON, EVERYONE!
