November 10th (Rosewall Town, Hoenn)
(May's POV)
I turned over to my side as sleep continued to elude me. My mind just did not want to shut down. It was too busy replaying the events from a few days ago.
After teleporting to our burning childhood home, I had Gardevoir teleport us back to the burned down Pokemon Center because I knew that Drew and everyone else would be filled with worry. As Drew took Max from me to the paramedics to have him checked over, I noticed that all the pokemon in Nurse Joy's care needed a place to care for them. For the remainder of the night, I made calls all over Hoenn to make sure that the pokemon got the care they needed. I also made arrangements for the trainers to stay at the nearby hotels so they weren't without a place to sleep.
Once I started doing that, my mind just kept rolling with trying to figure things out. There was supposed to be a contest held here this weekend and it would be impossible to do so since the Pokemon Center no longer existed. When I tried to figure out what to do, Drew had to call out Butterfree to use Sleep Powder to knock me out. When I came to, I discovered that I was back at school and that classes began in five minutes. I noticed a note from Drew saying that Max was taken to the hospital to play it safe since he inhaled quite a bit of smoke from the fire and that the school was okay with me skipping classes. I crumbled it into a ball and quickly changed before I teleported myself to the girl's bathroom that was near the classroom. Drew was surprised that I showed up and asked why I did. I explained that I missed enough school and that I couldn't miss anymore. Before he could say anything more Mrs. Burch came in and began to lecture.
After class, I teleported back to the house and found Gardevoir. I grabbed my laptop and a couple days' worth of clothes before having her teleport them to the bungalow while I went to the Petalburg Hospital. For the rest of my free time, Max was discharged and the both of us went to the bungalow. When we got there, I noticed a few shopping bags with a note from Dawn saying she got a few things for Max.
Max ignored the stuff and went to sit outside while Drew suddenly appeared looking worried. He then hugged me and told me he was worried that I disappeared after class. I explained that I went to check on Max. I told him I was worried because I could feel the grief and anger rolling off him in waves. He then asked me how I felt and I told him that I felt drained and empty. Without another word, I went to work. I took Max's stuff upstairs before I got on my laptop and began to try and organize things for the contest. At some point while I was working on making arrangements, Lizzy showed up out of the blue. She gave me her condolences while giving me a hug. I could tell she was worried about me and Max as Drew was.
I gave her the task of keeping an eye on Max since I was busy and I wasn't the best person to comfort him since I was emotionally numb. After a while, I went back for class with Drew while Lizzy held down the fort. After school, I went back to the bungalow and picked up where I left off. Eventually, both Drew and Lizzy pleaded for me to go to bed and decided it would be best if they stayed the night to keep an eye on both of us. Since Max got one of the guest rooms, Lizzy got the other leaving Drew to sleep with me. Even with him there I couldn't sleep, it just wouldn't come. The next day was pretty much the same.
As yesterday faded from my mind and I turned over in bed for the hundred thousandth time, I decided to just get up even though it was 5:30 in the morning. I gently undid myself out of Drew's hold and slipped out of my room. I grabbed a nearby sweatshirt and snuck my way downstairs onto the porch in the back. As I sat on the outside sofa, I took in the early morning. It seemed bitter sweet and ironic for a beautiful day since today was the funeral. After attending classes for two days even though I didn't have to, the teachers made me take off today so that I could attend the funeral without worry.
I heard footsteps and someone sitting next to me before they draped an arm around my shoulders and I placed my head on their shoulder.
"I couldn't sleep," I said breaking the silence.
"I figured as much," Drew murmured. "You haven't been able to sleep at all, have you?"
I sighed, "The only sleep I get is with Butterfree's Sleep Powder."
"You should have said something, I could have given you some," Drew said gently.
I shook my head, "Why are you up?"
He shrugged his shoulders, but I knew the answer. If I couldn't sleep, Drew most likely wouldn't sleep because he was worried about me.
"You shouldn't lose sleep on account of me," I muttered.
"What makes you think that, I could just not be tired," Drew pointed out.
"But I know you," I said as I snuggled more into him. "You're too worried about me to sleep."
"You sure about that?" Drew asked.
I looked up at him in annoyance to find him smirking, "Jerk," I muttered as I snuggled back into his side.
I felt him chuckle, "That's the May I know," he murmured lovingly as I felt him kiss my head.
I sighed, "I just wish I knew me."
I felt Drew shift slightly as he waited for me to continue, "I just…..ugh, I just don't feel anything. I know I should be angry and sad, but I just…I don't know what to feel," I murmured. "But you already knew that."
"I guess you could say that," he agreed solemnly. "I can sense you don't have an easy connection to your emotions associated with grief, but I do know that you're worried about Max and that you love me."
"Oh?" I asked as I sat up and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What's makes you think I love you?"
"Haha, funny," Drew said sarcastically as I gave a tiny smile causing him to smile back before kissing me.
"You'll be able to function emotionally at some point, it just takes time," Drew said as he brushed some hair behind my ear.
"And my guess is that you want to be around when I explode," I murmured as I looked down at my lap.
"I won't deny that," Drew admitted.
"I appreciate the gesture, but that doesn't mean you have to be by my side 24/7," I pointed out.
"Too bad, you're stuck with me," Drew teased as he kissed me before pulling me back into his side as the sun started to appear.
"Well, you'll just have to take a break for classes later," I reminded.
"Not quite, Steven excused me from classes," Drew answered smugly. "So you're not going to get rid of me that easily."
"How'd you manage that? I asked slightly surprised.
"I explained that you were taking this hard and that you weren't able to grieve so I wanted to be by your side and give you support," he explained.
"So you're my stable rock," I mused causing him to nod in agreement.
I then smirked slightly, "Eh…more like a moss covered, stable rock," I murmured.
Drew shook his head while I gave a slight chuckle at my joke. We then sat in silence as we watched the sunrise. After Max and Lizzy got up, we teleported to the cemetery in Petalburg where the burial would be held.
Afterwards, the luncheon was held at a nearby park that Nurse Joy loved to go to. The rest of the gang appeared slightly late due to classes.
"We've tried to find the asshole responsible for what happened, but we don't know where to start looking," Ash reported.
I sighed, "It's probably best to leave it. There are too many people who hold a grudge against me and Max to figure out who did it."
"Cousin May May," I heard from behind.
I looked around to see Annie and Ally rush up to me and hugged me.
"Hi there girls, are you doing okay?" I asked as I knelt down to be at Ally's height.
"I suppose, it's just hard to believe that Auntie Joy is gone," Annie said quietly.
"It's not fair, why did she have to die?!" Ally shouted angrily as tears began to appear.
"There wasn't much that could be done, Max and I found her trapped. We got her unstuck, but when things began to fall down on us, she pushed us out of the way to save us," I explained softly as I picked Ally up. "She was just that kind of person to put people and pokemon above herself."
"Like you?" Ally asked sniffling.
I nodded, "Like me," I murmured as I held her close as she continued to sniffle.
Ally's mother then walked up to me as well as the head Nurse Joy, "We have some things to discuss," Nurse Joy said sternly.
"Ally, go find your sister," Ally's mother said quietly.
I put Ally down and she walked off to a nearby table where her sister was sitting.
"What is it?" I asked knowing that was going to be a difficult conversation.
"I've read the reports of the incident, but I want to hear from you what happened," Nurse Joy said as the three of us walked to the edge of the gathering so that we were alone though Drew and Lizzy followed us at a distance trying to listen in discreetly.
"I rushed in to try and help. I found Max carrying some pokeballs and told him to get out while I went in for Nurse Joy since I could still feel her presence in the building. Her foot was pinned down by a fallen beam. Eventually Max came back and we were able to lift it for her to pull her foot out. We then tried to get out, but the building started to shake from being unstable and debris started to fall. Suddenly Joy told Max and I she loved us both before pushing us out of the way. When we turned to face her, we saw that a fallen beam had split her head open," I recalled bluntly.
I heard a slight gasp, most likely from Lizzy, as I continued to explain, "Max and I then leapt out of there as the building collapsed. Then the mad man made his threat and another bomb went off. I knew that it was our old house and the surrounding buildings," I whispered.
I then crossed my arms and looked over to the nearby sea in the distance, "Tragedy continues to plague me," I murmured.
I then looked at them both and could tell they weren't telling me something, "Something tells me that this isn't what you wanted to talk about," I accused bluntly.
Ally's mother sighed, "It's about Katie," she said using Joy's real first name. "I assuming you could tell she was very sick."
I nodded, "Well, she wasn't just sick. She was…..," she trailed off but I knew what she was saying.
"She was already dying," I muttered.
"She was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The doctor told her last month she had about three to five months to live," Nurse Joy explained.
"So no matter what, she would have died," I murmured as I noticed Max running off.
I then froze as it all clicked, the test, the training, "You want me to take over as the Petalburg City Nurse Joy permanently," I accused in slight disbelief. "That's what the test for a couple of weeks ago. You wanted to see if I was knowledgeable and capable enough."
"I won't deny it," Nurse Joy admitted. "We've watched your potential in what you've done. We knew you could do it once you treated the royal family. You're ready."
"I'm sorry, but I don't accept," I said bitterly. "Being a Nurse Joy is not my calling, it never was and Joy would never have pushed me to do so either."
"You have so much potential and you know everything about Petalburg to take over," Ally's mother added.
"I said no. I won't break that tradition. Besides, medicine and doctoring is only a part that I learned to help people. I want to save people in a way a Nurse Joy can't," I explained bluntly. "Anyway, there are new Nurse Joy graduates that need a position. I'm sure one of them will do. Please excuse me."
I then took my leave to look for Max. I found him standing on the edge of the bluff a little ways away.
"So she was going to die anyway," Max said bitterly.
I sighed, "I knew something wasn't right, but I didn't think it was this bad."
Max grunted angrily as he kicked a rock off the edge, "I should've known damn it!" he shouted angrily. "I noticed she was getting worse and that she kept going out constantly for appointments. If I looked into it, I could have done something to save her."
"Max, there is no known cure for what Joy had. She would have died no matter what she tried to use for treatment," I explained calmly.
"I could have found something," he argued.
"Max," I murmured as I tried to pull him into a hug.
"No!" he said as he pushed me away. "You're partly to blame too for everything that's happened. You just up and left without a word making her worry constantly. And nowadays, you never came home anymore."
"You know why. Ever since we started saving people, you knew that it would make me go all over," I argued bluntly.
"No, you took it a step further by always being away. You abandoned us to care for everyone else. You made it so that I had to stay and help Joy," he said angrily.
"That was your own choice. I admit that I wasn't great at seeing you as often, but it was your choice not to leave. Joy and I told you countless times to go out on your journey. You only traveled to a few cities with Ralts and Treecko before coming back. You couldn't break yourself from your computers," I argued getting slightly angry.
"My computers have nothing to do with this!" Max said with a slight shout.
"Max, if you want to take dad's place as the Petalburg Gym leader, you cannot do it from a computer screen," I said bluntly.
"How do you know if I want to do that anymore? For all you know, I could have changed my goal," Max argued.
"Because I know you. You still want to go, but you were afraid of leaving Joy. She was your mother after our parents died. You didn't want to lose her," I pointed out.
"And what about you? Miss always-on-the-go. You're afraid to settle in one place. It's why for the longest of time you stayed alone," Max sneered.
I sighed, "I won't deny that. Death always stalks me and those I care for so your point is valid."
"What about now? Still refusing? Maybe you should take Lizzy's advice and marry Drew already," Max jeered.
"You know why," I muttered glaring at him.
"Because you're too young? Pfft, please. That's an excuse," Max sneered.
I sighed, "Alright fine. That's an excuse."
"Tell me then," he dared.
I sighed again, "Max, I know you're hurt, but is talking about this necessary?"
"I want to know why. I want to know how you were able to continue on because I'm not sure how," Max whispered as tears began to appear.
"Oh Max," I murmured as I pulled him into a hug. "I've never really overcome it, it's just something I live with."
"But still, you made friends and connected to others," he argued.
"Remember it took me years to get out of it. With the help of my pokemon, I was able to achieve being a top coordinator. Through the gang, I was able to connect with them and they helped overcome my fear of getting to close to others. With Drew, let's just say that I would probably be a wreck with everything that's happened if I didn't have him," I said with a slight chuckle.
"So why don't you marry him then. You two already act like you do," he said slightly exasperated.
I gave a slight laugh, "One, he hasn't asked me and I'm not going to force him to do so. Marriage is a big commitment and it's not something to be taken lightly. Two, I'm not in a position to be in that commitment. What I do is chaotic and I've already broken Drew's heart twice. I refuse to do it again," I explained before sighing. "Lastly, I guess that I'm afraid to lose what I gain."
"I understood everything but the last reason," Max said slightly confused. "What do you mean you're afraid to lose what you gain?"
I sighed as I crossed my arms and took a few steps away to look out into the sea, "I would gain what I've wanted ever since I was little. A home and family of my own, but what I've done in the last few years has made it impossible for it to happen. Any villain I've faced could destroy that and I would be shattered beyond recognition. Also if I have any kids, their futures would be jeopardized by my actions. I feel that it isn't safe for me to try and achieve happiness through a family."
Max scoffed, "Drew would tell you right off the bat that that is a load of BS. He would tell that it is still worth the risk because you both would be happy with each other."
I chuckled, "I have no doubt in my mind that is what he would say, but I still can't shake it. It's something that I have to think on and discuss with him."
Max looked out at the sea and sighed, "You know what I want, at least what I want some point in the future, but what do you want?" I asked as I looked at him.
Max said nothing, "After today, our small hero arrangement will be shut down," I said as I looked ahead.
Max turned to face me stunned, "You're what? You can't do that?!" Max shouted.
I sighed, "Max, it is for your own good. You need to travel and see the world. Not stay behind a computer and be my technical support. Besides, I think Joy wanted us to stop, it's time we've moved on to different things."
"So you're giving up saving people?" Max asked skeptically.
"Good heavens no, I'm sure the world will end before I let that happen," I joked before looking at him seriously. "Besides, my fate and circumstances have made it impossible for me to not help others. Hello, I can control the elements and wield aura! Anyway, the point is that you should pursue all that you can before the chance is up. I traveled quite a bit before I started saving people and you deserve that chance too."
"But I don't know where to go?" Max said exasperated.
I smirked slightly, "Johto is nice this time of year and the league just started a month ago. Plus I'm pretty sure if you ask nicely, Lizzy will travel with you."
Max blushed slightly, "You assume things too much," he muttered. "And you still haven't said what you are going to do since you still want to help people."
"You'll learn soon enough," I said causing Max to look at me annoyed.
"Another thing, can I have a laptop?" he asked.
I sighed and shook my head, "Max….."
"No! I need one May," he snapped.
I frowned, "Max, I'm not going to get you one. I know that once you have it you'll look into who is responsible for what happened."
"I don't care, I want to find the SOB who did this," he said angrily.
"Max, it's impossible to find out. Do you know how many people we've put in prison or are still out there?" I asked.
He said nothing, "There are too many suspects and it'll be near to impossible to find the one responsible. So many of them want us dead," I sighed. "It's best if we let PHPA look into things while we try to continue on with our lives. Joy would have wanted it that way."
Max frowned, "I don't agree, but you still won't get me one will you?"
"No, you need a break from technology. You need to look more at the world than a computer screen," I explained firmly. "The only tech you're allowed is a poketch and a pokenav."
"You can't cut me off from a computer," Max muttered.
"No, but I wish you would at least try," I said honestly.
"Fine, but I get to do what I want for my poketch and pokenav," he stated.
"Just don't go over the top," I chuckled.
Max looked at his poketch, "We better get back, people will wonder where we went," he sighed.
"I doubt that's a problem, Drew and Lizzy have been "protectively" watching us for a while," I said as I rolled my eyes while turning around to face their hiding spot.
"We were worried so sue us," Lizzy said with slight sarcasm.
"We're fine, we just needed to talk," I assured her.
"I gonna get some food before they start dividing up the left overs," Max said before he walked back to the gathering.
"May, is it true what you said to that one Nurse Joy? About what happened before the building collapsed?" Lizzy asked quietly.
"Lizzy," Drew reprimanded quietly.
"It's okay Drew," I said before sighing while looking at Lizzy, "Yes, it was a gruesome way to die, but at least it was instantaneous so she didn't feel it coming."
Lizzy looked pained as she stared at her feet, "I'm assuming you heard the whole conversation Max and I had?" I guessed.
She looked up and nodded, "For a certain topic that was discussed, I trust you understand my reasons for it?" I asked.
"Yea, you made some valid points," she agreed. "So I'll lighten up on the pestering, but don't expect me to completely stop 'cause I'm not."
I chuckled, "I wouldn't expect anything less from you. I'm sure that the world would end if you did," I teased.
"Haha," Lizzy said sarcastically. "Well, I better find Max."
She then left leaving just Drew and me.
"Have any comments as to what I said?" I asked not really wanting to have this conversation, but I didn't want there to be any awkwardness because of what I said.
Drew shrugged his shoulders, "I respect with what you said and I agree. What we do now is chaotic, it would be hard to have a marriage while trying to be agents."
"But I take it to a whole new level with being the Guardian of Arceus," I added with a sigh. "It's something I struggle with all the time. I want stability in my life, but I don't want to give up being able to go all out."
Drew pulled me into a hug and kissed my temple, "Remember that you are never alone in that fight."
I nodded as I breathed deeply, "I know."
"You're not the only one who's weird. Remember I'm an aura guardian too," Drew pointed out.
"But you don't shoot lightning or breathe fire," I teased as I lifted my face up to see his.
"I guess not," he agreed teasingly. "Come on, I'm pretty sure everyone is wondering where we went."
I sighed and nodded as he pulled me to his side as we walked back to the gathering.
"Where the hell did you two go? We were worried!" Dawn snapped as the gang found us.
"Max and I needed to talk some things out," I explained as Mr. Contesta walked up to me.
"Oh Mr. Contesta, I was able to finalize things for the contest yesterday," I reported.
"I saw the changes and I'm impressed," he complimented.
"Well, I've lived a Pokemon Center for quite a while so I know how things work," I explained.
"I see. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about the contest. The Pokemon Contest Committee made a few changes," he explained.
"Really? What's changing?" I asked slightly confused.
"First off, this contest is more than a regular contest. It'll have standards of the Wallace Cup so anyone can participate and the ribbon will count in all regions," he said as he showed me a picture of the ribbon.
It was black with multiple shades of grey, "Why the change?" I asked.
"We want this contest to pay tribute to the damage that was done here in Petalburg. That's why we would like you to be the guest judge for the performance and open the contest with an appeal," he said causing me to look at him in surprise.
"Okay," I answered slightly dazed.
"Good, I'll let the committee know, see you then," he said with a smile and he walked away as people began to leave.
"You look out of it," Misty commented.
"That's because I have nothing lined up. I am at a total loss in what I'm going to do," I said truthfully. "Last year, I raised the bar to the point of where I don't think I can surpass it."
"Nonsense," Dawn stated firmly. "You're not a four timing Top Coordinator for nothing."
"But Dawn, I haven't practiced for contests in months," I argued before sighing.
"So just work on some simple ones," Leaf suggested.
I sighed, "I guess, but I think the appeal that Mr. Contesta is looking for is an appeal similar to the one I did at school last year."
"So break it down into steps," Gary answered.
"I'm doing that right now. The problem is that I don't know how to portray the song I want to perform," I explained.
"So what's the song?" Drew asked interested.
"Well…..can't quite tell ya. I haven't recorded it yet," I said with a slight laugh causing everyone to sweatdrop.
"Maybe it is time to worry," Misty muttered.
I then got an idea, "I think I actually have an idea of what I'm doing but, it's still in the works," I said as I stood up and began to run and find Gardevoir. "I'll see you later."
I sensed Drew trying to catch up to me, "Mind filling me in?" he asked.
"You'll see," I teased with a wink.
November 11th (Rosewall Town, Hoenn)
"Great job Gardevoir, I think we've got it," I said sighing in relief. "You can take a break."
She nodded and walked off while I went inside the bungalow to get a drink of water.
While doing so, I walked past all the stuff in the living room and sighed, "I better start going through all of that," I muttered as I finished my water.
I grabbed some post its, a marker, and tape before sitting down cross-legged. I grabbed the first box closest to me and began to take inventory of its contents. I continued to attack boxes finding mostly old sheets, equipment, and other things from the Pokemon Center as well the computer stuff Max wanted. After I took the few boxes upstairs to his room, I opened the next box and I froze. The smell from the box faintly smelled of my childhood home. Inside contained toddler clothes and other things that were vaguely familiar.
"Why would Joy have all of this?" I murmured as I opened another box containing some more old things.
With ever box I opened, I felt more nostalgic. Vague memories of the past began to hit me. Eventually, I found a letter addressed to me in one of the boxes.
(Drew's POV)
"Dude, why the hell didn't you attack?" Gary shouted at me annoyed.
I sighed in annoyance, "I don't have a fast enough reaction time so can it."
"We could have cleared the dungeon if you hadn't died," Gary complained.
I sighed as I waited for my guy to resurrect. Suddenly I felt the need to check on May and scanned for her aura. I found her downstairs feeling grief, more so than the past few days.
"Guys, I've got to go," I said quickly as I began to log out.
"Dude you can't bail, we've almost cleared the dungeon," Ash whined.
"Well my girlfriend needs me more," I snapped as I logged out and shut my laptop.
I went downstairs to find May sobbing on the floor with a letter in front of her. I quietly went and sat down next to her taking her in my arms letting her cry. She needed to let it out while she could.
After a while, May began to calm down and she pulled away to wipe her tears.
"I'm sorry," she said hoarsely.
I gave a sad smile, "You don't need to apologize sweetheart, you've been holding it in for a long time."
I watched her cheeks flush slightly when I called her sweetheart, better remember that.
"I guess reading Joy's letter triggered it," she sighed. "She wrote to me how she came across all this stuff that belonged to my family a couple of weeks ago. That she kept this stuff safe for my parents."
May took a shaky breath, "She also wrote that she knew she was dying and that she was proud of Max and myself. She considered us the kids she never had and that she loved us," she said as her voice began to crack and she started to cry again.
I pulled her close as I kissed and stroked her head, "I don't understand, why does everyone I love die? It isn't fair. What have they done to deserve this?" she sobbed angrily.
"They didn't deserve it, but there are some things in life we can't control. We just have to accept that everything happens for a reason whether we like it or not," I murmured. "We just need to remember that the ones we care for are in our hearts even if they are gone."
May pulled back to look at me. I could see the depths of sadness and love in her eyes.
"I love you," she murmured.
I gave a small smile back, "I love you too," I replied before we kissed.
"Of course we leave for a few hours to find you both here making out," Lizzy said sarcastically as she and Max came in.
"Better get used to it," I said as I kissed May causing Lizzy and Max to cringe.
"Enough with the PDA already," Max complained.
May laughed and Lizzy gave a small frown, "You okay, you look like you've been crying?"
She nodded, "I just reached my breaking point when I was going through all these boxes."
"What's in them?" Lizzy asked.
"A bunch of stuff from when I was younger," she said as she reached to pull a box closer and began to pull stuff out.
"Huh," she said as she pulled out what seemed to be a scrapbook.
"What's that?" Max asked.
"I don't know," she said honestly as she opened it up.
She then gasped, "No way!" she murmured.
"What is it?" Max asked as he looked over our shoulders.
"Mom and dad's wedding pictures. I thought all of this stuff was destroyed years ago," she said surprised. "I wonder…"
I heard a door open as May began to look through boxes, "Oh hey you guys. What brings you here?" Max asked as he looked up from the photo album.
"We thought we'd stop by since the guys said Drew abandoned them for you," Dawn said.
"No we didn't," Gary and Ash shouted.
Misty rolled her eyes, "Whatcha lookin' at?"
"My parents wedding album. Apparently it was packed away in the attic at the Pokemon Center," May explained as I found what I was looking for. "Ah ha!"
"Ah ha what?" Lizzy asked.
"I've found what I was looking for," she said as I pulled the item out of the box.
"Wow!" Dawn awed as she helped May pull it out.
"Wait, that's your mom's wedding dress isn't it?" Lizzy said making the connection.
May nodded, "I figured that if the wedding album was here so was my mom's dress."
"I'm surprised it's in this great of condition considering where it's been," Dawn said surprised.
"It's not quite my type, but it's still pretty though," Leaf agreed.
"Remember Leaf, puffed up sleeves and lace was the style of most wedding dresses in the 90s," May pointed out as she folded the dress to put away.
"That's great that you still have it though," Misty said making May smile.
She nodded in agreement, "I'm pretty sure a lot of stuff from my childhood and my parent's early marriage are in these boxes, but I can finish going through it later. I should keep getting ready for tomorrow."
"So are you ready for tomorrow?" Ash asked.
May gave a grin as looked around at everyone, "You bet."
November 12th (Petalburg City, Hoenn)
(May's POV)
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Petalburg City Contest," Vivian announced causing cheers to be heard.
I turned my attention from the TV in my private room back to the mirror as I gave myself one last look over and double checked the mic I was wearing for later.
"You know you look beautiful no matter what," Drew said from leaning against the door frame. "So quit worrying."
"I'm not, I'm just double checking to make sure everything looks okay," I stated firmly.
Drew chuckled as he walked over to me, "That's still considered worrying," he teased as he grabbed my hand making me stand up as he kissed it. "You'll be fine."
"I just hope everyone is satisfied with what I planned," I muttered.
Drew smirked, "I would reassure you that it will, but I can't say that cause you wouldn't even let me see it when you were practicing," he teased.
"Too bad," I teased giving a slight pout before grabbing Gardevoir's pokeball and my violin. "Wish me luck."
I was about to walk out when Drew pulled my arm to force me back into him where he kissed me deeply.
"You don't need it," he murmured.
I gave a small smile as I kissed him again before running out.
"Now to introduce our special guest judge who is opening up this contest with an appeal, May Maple," Vivian announced causing cheers to be heard.
I smiled from the corridor where I was hidden in the shadows as I controlled the air to turn into a fog to cover the field.
I then released Gardevoir, "Are you ready?"
She nodded and gave me a smile. We then walked on stage as piano music could be heard. I then had the fog to thin out some before I began to play. Gardevoir then started to use her psychic moves and powers to tell a story with the fog. What I wanted from this appeal was to tell our stories of grief since both Gardevoir and I had suffered lose.
When I played the refrain, she began to show images of hope, love, and family as she gracefully moved about the stage. At the end, she Psychic and Signal Beam to create an explosion of color before making a rainbow over the whole stage. Sure the appeal was simple, but it was just enough for I wanted to show.
The crowd then applauded as Gardevoir and I bowed. I then turned on my mic, "Thank you so much for the applause. When I was creating this appeal, I had no idea how to portray what I wanted to show everyone. Then I remembered my Gardevoir and how we both have suffered from the loss of loved ones. We wanted to display our grief in a way that connected to everyone as well as show the love and hope that comes from those around us when we mourn the ones we love. That even though the ones we love are gone, we still carry them in our hearts. What I hope to see today are coordinators who are able to communicate with their pokemon not only on a level of simple communication, but a level of emotion. The bonds between pokemon and trainer go deeper than anything and you receive amazing results because of it," I said before I gestured to the stage behind me. "I welcome you to my stage."
The crowd applauded again as I returned Gardevoir and made my way to the judge's panel.
Throughout the whole contest, it was amazing to be in the shoes of a judge. I can understand why they love doing it. Afterwards, a coordinator named Marie from Rustboro City won.
"Congratulations on winning, you and your pokemon did a magnificent job," I praised as I awarded her and her pokemon the ribbon.
"Thanks so much," she beamed as she accepted it.
The contest then came to a close. I went back to my dressing room to pack my violin before going outside to find everyone waiting for me.
"Great job on your appeal," Lizzy praised.
I grinned, "Thanks, I'm glad that everyone loved it. Too bad about your loss in the quarter finals."
"Yeah, but at least I understand why I didn't win and it'll make me stronger," she decided.
"When are you heading out to Johto?" I asked.
"Right now actually, the next contest is coming up and I want to be back in order have some time to train," she explained before smirking and elbowing Max. "And someone needs to register for the Johto League."
I looked at Max, "Are you ready to leave?"
Max shrugged, "No time like the present. Will you be okay?"
I nodded as I gestured to the gang on either side of me with my thumbs, "I've got these guys to keep me in check."
I then walked up to Max and gave him a hug, "Good luck, I'll be cheerin' ya all the way."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, now get off," Max complained with a slight blush at the attention I was giving him.
I laughed and let go as Max and Lizzy began heading to the airport.
I gave a slight frown as I watched them go.
I then felt a hand on my shoulder, "They'll be alright," Drew promised.
I gave a nod with a small smile as I placed my hand on top of his, "I guess you're right. No need to worry."