Here is the second supplement for the heart, released at the right time in the series. There isn't much administrative stuff to say here, anything regarding this supplement will be addressed in the post supplement note. The only thing to really address at this point is the next supplement. As of right now it is scheduled to come out between Parts XXI and XXII so in about a week's time. However, it is the one supplement that was written because I hadn't addressed it in the main series but featured a specific development that might be better suited in the main series. I have yet to make up my mind on whether or not to elevate it to the main series but if it doesn't appear within the next 10 days then it has been elevated and become Part XXII and the new third supplement will be released in a few weeks time when it falls within the timeline of Dreams. That is all for this note, please relax and enjoy the second Supplement For the Heart: Arousing Suspicion.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Arousing Suspicion
May watched the battles with a small smile and cheered them on whenever something good happened, especially in the battle between her brother and Ash. Everyone was having fun and enjoying the comradery of trainers battling with their Pokémon. However for May it was all an act. She was just putting on a brave face to avoid the others seeing how she was truly feeling. As helpful as her talk with Misty had been, she was still feeling the pain of heartbreak.
May knew that she should try to move on, that she shouldn't feel this way but she couldn't help it. Her heart wasn't listening to her brain no matter how much reason the latter provided her. Between Misty's talk with her and seeing Ash and Dawn act so happy and cute together, May had come to a realization that she hadn't expected. May didn't just have a crush on Ash. No, she was in the same boat as Misty and Dawn and likely a few other girls. She was in love with Ash and as with Misty there was nothing May could do about it.
May only had herself to blame for not acting on her feelings back in Hoenn but between Ash's obliviousness and Drew's clear interest in her May had given up on trying to win the Kanto native's heart. It had taken all she had been through to realize the truth of how much Ash truly meant to her.
That was why she had been planning to finally tell Ash how she felt about him but she had lost. Dawn had beaten her to it, not only that but Dawn had somehow managed to get Ash to fall for her as well and have Ash realize it himself.
Still, Dawn was May's close friend and she hated feeling jealous and spiteful towards her but she couldn't help it. May knew it was petty but feelings weren't rational. Dawn had accomplished what no one else had managed. She had gotten through to Ash Ketchum's heart. May knew that Dawn had to be special, she had to have something that all other girls who had liked Ash lacked and May had no idea what it was. That was the worst part and what May was most jealous about.
Regardless she pushed it down. This was a party for Ash and all that he stood for. May had to be herself, that was what Ash deserved. He was one of her closest friends and though he didn't know it, he was the only man for her. May couldn't let her unrequited feelings ruin it. That was why she had stomached the night before. She had spoken with Ash but only briefly after the party had gotten into full swing. There were a lot of people and with Dawn always on his arm, May couldn't trust herself to be around him.
At least she would be heading to Kalos soon for her next adventure. She would be on the other side of the world doing what she loved and helping others become coordinators and enter contests. She would return for the Wallace Cup and she would have to deal with Ash and Dawn then but by then she would have had the time to process it all and at least come to the same peace that Misty had. Time and distance would heal her heart, at least that's what May told herself It was that thought that allowed her to fake it through the battles.
First up had been Ash and Max. May had been neutral for the battle as she couldn't root for either her brother or her crush in a full battle, there was just too much love for both of them for her to decide who was best. It was over quicker than she had expected with Ash winning 6-2 much to Max's amazement but not May's.
May had known that Ash would win. He had the experience and years of training that Max didn't have and even using only his Hoenn team he was able to counter all that Max threw at him with only one true surprise in Max's Shedinja. It was a good learning experience for her brother, one that he could put towards his training when he returned to Hoenn and resumed his own journey.
After Ash and Max had come Dawn's battle with that Angie girl. It was a one on one battle and Dawn had the advantage from the start with her Mamoswine against Angie's Luxio. A ground type always had the edge on an electric type and despite Angie's best efforts, Dawn had easily won it in short order. It had been friendly and Angie had accepted the loss with grace and dignity, acknowledging that there was a lot of work for her to still do.
May had known of the underlying reasons for the battle from the start. It was a battle of dominance that Dawn was doing to make sure a rival for Ash's heart was put in her place. Misty had said as much as she was the ref for the match. It reminded May that one day Dawn would challenge her, if she found out about May's feelings, and to be ready for that day because Dawn wouldn't hold back and neither would May.
After that battle, Brock and Cilan had fought. However, that had ended even earlier than the last one when Cilan tried to do an evaluation of Brock and his Pokémon only for Croagunk to ignore it, take out Pansage and then for some inexplicable reason take out Cilan himself. Now he was dragging the twitching connoisseur away to cheers from Cilan's rival Burgundy while Brock ran after Croagunk.
"Alright Stephan, we're up." Morrison bellowed challenging the equally loud and competitive trainer from Unova. "Let's do this, I want to see how you Unova trainers fight."
"Why does everyone say my name wrong." Stephan grumbled as he took his place. "But you are on Morrison, I don't like to lose so this will be a close one."
"Neither do I." Morrison said back. "Misty, will you stay on as judge?"
"Sure." Misty said with a nod. "I think Brock is a little busy so I can officiate. If I recall this will be a 3 on 3 battle and as with the others there will be no substitutions. The winner will be the last one standing. Begin."
"Metagross come on out!" Morrison said throwing out his best Pokémon.
"Sawk, let's fight." Stephan said sending out his own favorite Pokémon.
May was going to just watch the fight and enjoy it. There were several more lined up and May was starting to get into it, especially with her own contest battle with Zoey coming up. That was when she was interrupted from her thoughts by a tap on her shoulder. Turning, May had to control her blush as she saw Ash standing there smiling his goofy smile at her. He was with Dawn of course but it was still hard not to blush at Ash's touch.
"Ash, what's up?" May asked recovering. "Aren't you watching the battle?"
"I know and have faced both Stephan and Morrison." Ash said with a shrug. "This will be long and very even fight. Plus we didn't get to talk much yesterday so I was wondering if you would like to join Dawn and me on a walk around the ranch for a little bit. We haven't caught up in a while and that needs to be corrected. I want to know how you're doing May. What have you been up too? What's next? All that."
"Plus Ash wants to show off his new Pokémon from Unova." Dawn said with a smile. "You know how he is."
"True and you're right, I do want to see the Unova lot." May said not having to feign happiness at the thought of meeting Ash's new Pokémon. "Alright, I could use a break and a few of the matchups coming up involve people I don't really know. Lead the way Ash."
Ash smiled as he took Dawn's hand and they quietly left the group that was too focused on the current, very physical, battle. May knew that she would have to get used to the new situation if she wanted to still be able to hang out with Ash. It would hurt but she knew that she could manage it. Might as well start now.
"So how many Pokémon did you catch while in Unova?" May asked as they headed into the ranch hoping it would make it less awkward for her. "I met Palpitoad yesterday but that is it. You usually catch at least 5 or 6 per region so I am expecting a solid number."
"I caught 9 in total." Ash said proudly. "Most in a region since my time in Kanto. A good variety as well so I was very happy with it. It included my first rock and my first dark type Pokémon."
"That's Ash, always getting more and balancing his team." Dawn said and May had to agree. "One day he will catch one of all 17 types, one day."
"True one day I will get one for each." Ash agreed. "But as with almost all of my Pokémon, it has to be mutual to join me. True a few were standard catches because of need or skill like Palpitoad but for the most part it is mutual."
"How many types do you have?" May asked curious. "You only caught 6 types in Hoenn if I recall."
"15." Ash said proudly after a few moments to think. "There are only types I don't have a Pokémon for."
"Which ones?" May asked.
"Steel and ghost." Ash said. "I don't have either one. I had a Haunter once travel with me but I never caught it so it doesn't count."
"Interesting, so all you need to do is catch a steel and ghost type Pokémon to complete the set." May said. "If one of those even exists."
"Does one?" Dawn asked. "I don't know many ghost types and none that are native to Sinnoh are also steel types as far as I know."
"I don't think there is one." Ash said. "Besides, I know that one day I will find ove for each type. No point in seeking them out, when it comes to Pokémon I will find the right ones."
"True you always do." May said in a tone that set a few small warning bells off in Dawn's mind but she brushed them aside as an after effect of her battle with Angie.
"What about you May?" Ash asked turning the conversation to his friend's latest journey. "Any new Pokémon? I know you were in Sinnoh, they said it on the Wallace Cup when I watch it, so did you get any Pokémon while there?"
"2 actually." May said with a nod. "As you know, I was in Sinnoh for their Contest season and I left Skitty and Munchlax at home while I was there so I balanced the team out over the course of the Contest season. I caught a Stunky and Skorupi. Neither have evolved but both helped while I was there."
"How did the Contests go?" Ash asked a little embarrassed that he hadn't before. "Sorry, I should have connected with you over the year and found out how you were doing. I know that the Wallace Cup said you were in Sinnoh, I watched it from Unova, but I failed to follow up."
"It's ok Ash." May said but it stung that he had failed but she had as well when it came to keeping tabs on Ash. "You were busy yourself. I didn't know you were in Unova until I ran into Dawn at the Wallace Cup after she had seen you there. I know you had the 8 badges you needed to enter the league but only recently learned you got to the last 8."
"Yeah it wasn't my best showing, especially after Sinnoh." Ash said ruefully. "That's why I'm taking a break this year. Kinda like I did with the Battle Frontier a few years back. I need a little reset, you know."
"Yeah I feel you." May said remembering how much the Battle Frontier had helped Ash improve as a trainer. "So what is the plan for you two?"
"We are going to travel Kanto." Dawn said happily. "We did Sinnoh so it's time for Ash's home region. I'm going to enter the Contests here and Ash is going to have personal battles with the gym leaders here before reentering the Indigo League for a second attempt at it."
"Sounds nice." May said knowing that it would be, for them at least. "Good luck to the both of you."
"Thanks." Ash said with a smile at May. "What about you? What happened in Sinnoh and Johto for that matter? I assume Johto didn't go well in the end or else you wouldn't have entered the Sinnoh circuit."
"Yeah I lost in Johto final to Harley of all people." May admitted sadly, it hurt to talk about for other reasons but Ash deserved to know and May needed to put the past behind her. "It was a tough final, especially because Drew was supporting Harley and likely aiding him the entire time. I wasn't in a good place then and I lost."
"I'm sorry to hear that, I would have supported you all the way had I been there." Ash said and May smiled, a light blush gracing her cheeks as she knew Ash meant it. "I know how tricky Harley can be, I didn't expect that from Drew. He always seemed like a decent guy to me."
"Neither did I." May said darkly. "It really hurts when your now ex-boyfriend betrays you like that and all because you beat him in the semifinals."
"Oh May, I didn't know." Dawn said with a note of horror in her voice. May really wanted to be annoyed at Dawn for taking Ash but she couldn't be, Dawn was too good a person to be annoyed at. "Is that why you two broke up?"
"Yeah." May muttered. "It was coming but that was the final straw for us. Good riddance, we weren't right for each other in hindsight. It was a mistake but one I needed to make to grow as a person. However I don't want to dwell on it. That was over a year ago, Sinnoh was much better for me."
"I didn't know that you and Drew had gotten together." Ash said surprised. "I am sorry to hear that he was like that. You deserve much better than him after the way he treated you. A boyfriend should be supportive, not petty when he loses to his girlfriend."
"Thanks, that means a lot Ash." May said with a wide smile at him, warmth growing in her chest despite knowing that it was only friendly. "I made sure that he didn't follow me to Sinnoh, I wanted to be there alone for the circuit and away from the rest of the usual people I knew from the Contest world. I needed the break from that drama."
"It must have been nice to be away." Dawn said. "So I take it that you got that last ribbon after you returned. I remember that you had 4 at the Wallace Cup."
"Yeah, I won the Arrowroot Contest shortly after getting back to Sinnoh." May confirmed. "I had wanted to use the time to prepare for the Grand Festival but someone had to beat me in the Wallace Cup, again."
"What can I say." Dawn said with a shrug. "It is my contest now and I intend on winning it for a third time. We are even making a special detour for it this year. I hear it is going to be in Hoenn, you're home region if I recall."
"It is." May said perking up a bit. "In fact it will be held in Petalburg City."
"Your home." Ash said his eyes going wide at that. "That' s great for you! Home field advantage if you decide to compete in it again. Course Dawn and I will both be in it so watch out."
"I wouldn't expect any less from you." May said with a grin at them. "Though I am only really in it because it is at home, I don't need the ribbon, at least not yet I think."
"Why not?" Ash asked confused.
"Didn't you hear?" May asked and her heart sank when both shook their heads. "I won the Sinnoh Grand Festival. I am now a Top Coordinator."
"May congratulations!" Dawn squealed and pulled May into a tight hug that May returned a little less enthusiastically but still warmly. "You finally achieved your dream."
"Yeah well done." Ash said with a smile hugging May as well when Dawn had let got. "At least one of us can do it. I'm proud of you May. When I met you you didn't like Pokémon and didn't know what you wanted. Then you fell for Contests and found your calling. Now you have achieved that goal."
"Th, thanks Ash." May said blushing furiously as she held him closer that she had Dawn, burying her face in his chest so that he didn't see her blush. "That means the world to me coming from you. I just wish you could have been there but it was around the same time as the other Grand Festivals and I know you were elsewhere then."
"Yeah I was in Johto then." Ash said still holding May as Dawn started to get a little uncomfortable that May hadn't released Ash, and that she was as red as her cycling top. "I had to be there for Dawn, she was my priority as soon as I was done in Unova. Had I known I would have tried to at least come to Sinnoh to congratulate you but I was preoccupied with something more important."
"You had your priorities." May said, her eyes swimming, keeping burying her head in Ash's chest to avoid it being seen. "And I didn't tell you so it is partially my fault that you didn't know."
Dawn didn't say anything, just watched and listened. She knew that Ash meant what he said and it made her happy that she was his priority and more important than anything else. As always Ash was sweet when he wasn't even trying. However, May's reaction was suspicious.
May was a little too upset at Ash not being able to make it. She had blushed hard at his praise, harder than even a close friend should, and she was holding him a little too tightly, the way only Dawn or his mother should. It also didn't help Dawn's jealousy that she could tell that May was really well developed in one area that Dawn wasn't and there was no way that Ash was not noticing those large assets pressed up against him.
Sure it could be the fact that they were close but something in the back of Dawn's brain was tickled by all of it. However she ignored her instincts and let it slide though, clearly May had done well and Ash was just praising her for her achievement. It was who Ash was and what he did, Dawn couldn't fault him for that or May for being happy with Ash's praise.
"So May, what next?" Dawn said keeping the edge from her voice as best she could but reminding her friend that she was still here. "What is in store for the latest Top Coordinator of Sinnoh."
"Oh that is already decided." May said breaking away from Ash and not meeting Dawn's gaze, again a little suspicious. "I was approached by the Contest Committee shortly after my win with a special request. They want me and a bunch of other recent Top Coordinators from all 4 Contest regions over the last 5 years, so 20 in total, to become Contest ambassadors for them."
"Contest ambassadors?" Dawn asked confused, her curiosity overtaking her suspicions regarding May. She had been one point away from being approached herself so she had to know what they were. "Never heard of them."
"They're new." May admitted. "Only Ribbon Cup winners can be one as we aren't likely to compete in another circuit so we are free to help out and are already accomplished coordinators. Basically, we are to go to one of the other major regions and help set up Contest Circuits there as well. The committee is looking to expand to Unova, Kalos, Alola and Galar at least. The goal is to have a Grand Festival in each in a little under 2 years' time at the end of a debut Contest Season starting in one year."
"So you are going to go to a new region and help set up the circuit?" Ash asked a little confused. "Right? I am a little unclear on what you are doing."
"Pretty much." May said happy to explain her job even if it wasn't all she had hoped for given circumstance out of her control. "I am to spend a year there along with Robert, Yuma, two former Top Coordinators who I have met before as Robert won in Hoenn when we were there and Yuma was the one who persuaded Brock to compete in the Gardenia Contest, and two other former top coordinators in a new region."
"What are you going to do there?" Ash asked.
"Well we are all going to be traveling separately but we will be showing people there what Contests are like and how fun they are." May said. "We will even be hosting a few unofficial ones and teaching them about the path to become a coordinator. As I said, the goal is to be able to begin the first official season in a year's time. I leave in a week and I can't wait."
"Sounds exciting and new." Ash said happy that May had a new adventure to go on. "Where are you going?"
"I chose the Kalos region." May said. "It's a region that I know nothing about but I felt it would be good to see it and they have something called Pokémon Showcases that no other region has and I am eager to see one. There are also gyms and a league there so I had hoped that you would join me Ash but it seems that you have your own plans."
"Alas we do or else we totally would have." Ash said and May winced at the use of the word we. "As you know, love seeing a new region, earning badges and catching Pokémon but I need the break and Dawn needs to compete in Contests so our options were to stay in Kanto or go to Hoenn. We chose the former as it is my home region."
"Yeah sorry, it would have been a lot fun to travel a new region with you." Dawn said noticing that May was a little annoyed that Ash said that it would be both of them. Dawn's senses were certainly on alert now but still dulled because this was May and Dawn was certain she didn't like Ash the way Dawn did. "Had I won in Johto and known your plans then Ash and I definitely would have travel Kalos with you. I could have helped you set up the Contest circuit and Ash could do his usually thing. It would have been so much fun."
"No worries." May said waving her hand dismissively. "I understand. You will win this time Dawn, I know it. If I have time I will come back for the Grand Festival here and cheer you on."
"After Johto I have to win." Dawn said firmly. "I can't take another loss, not after the last two. I don't think I can handle it. It's Ribbon Cup or bust for me this year."
"And I will be by your side for all of it." Ash said with a loving smile at her and squeezing her hand reassuringly. "Supporting you all the way until the end."
"I love you." Dawn said smiling back at Ash with all her love. "With you by my side I know that can't lose."
"Love you too." Ash said and Dawn noticed May wince at that out of the corner of her eye.
Dawn was going to ask May about what the first season in Kalos would be like as it was something that she was curious about it and wanted to move the conversation back to May but at that very moment there was a large explosion from the battle area. Judging by the mass amount of ice flying and a flash of orange flying into the air it was almost certainly from the match between Georgia and Iris.
"I think we should probably head back." Ash said looking a little worried as a clearly pissed off Dragonite dove to the ground at high speed and letting go of Dawn's hand in the process. "We can continue this later. I have a feeling I know who is fighting and if so we may have to get ready for some major cleaning up knowing those two. The only thing more destructive than a Dragon Master and a Dragon Buster going at it with two powerful, fully evolved, Pokémon is a royally pissed off Misty."
"Agreed." Dawn said knowing about the latter first hand as both her and Ash set off running. "Let's go."
"Those two are really that bad?" May asked as they began running.
"You have no idea." Ash said as they made their way back to the battlefield.
May just shrugged and ran faster to keep up with Ash. Dawn fell behind running at a slower pace, keeping an eye on May the entire time. Something hadn't felt quite right about her interactions with Ash and Dawn was suspicious that there may be a new rival on the scene, pun fully intended. She would have to keep a close eye on the Princess of Hoenn whenever they saw her again, Dawn had a feeling that the next Wallace Cup might mean more than usual.
Her musing were interrupted by a second, somehow larger, explosion and she picked up the pace to join Ash and May. She could think about her suspicions later, right now they had to deal with a pair of bitter rivals going at it with the intent of utterly destroying the other. It certainly was never boring when Ash Ketchum was around, Dawn couldn't wait to start her journey with him. She knew that it would be epic.
The almonds are percolating in Dawn's mind now after all that but the seeds have yet to take route and with May's departure for Kalos they won't for a while. The second reason why this supplement was not included in the main series is that the gap between appearances for May in Dreams is over 20 parts long, too long to have something like this in the main series. It will be referenced by the time May returns in Dreams hence why it is still important in the wider scheme of things and as such deserving of a supplement. There is only one other thing to say and that is that there is a little, subtle, hint to something that will be mentioned and eventually seen when May returns. It's a nice little Easter egg for y'all to enjoy, albeit a completely accidental one that I didn't realize until after I added it in the edits. I will reveal what that egg is after it comes up, though if you successful guess it in a review or a PM I will confirm it to you personally. Anyway, that is all for this rambling note. As always, please favorite and follow both me and this story to keep abreast with new releases and keep the reviews coming. All questions or points raised in reviews and PMs will be answered at the start of the next supplement. Until next time.
Stringdog