Pounding urgency

Misty's POV

"Misty!"

The voice calling my name got me to pause for just a moment. Ash had made his way down the the street beside the canal, though the gates trapped him from entering the river like Drew and myself.

Drew released his Seel and was seeting about to hold her in a way she could skim across the water with him. "I'm going ahead."

I gave a nod to him, looking to Ash and then holding myself up on the side of the ledge. "What's up Ash? I kind of need to go help rescue May."

Ash knelt by me and took my hand. It was a gesture that even in this situation made the warmth rise to my cheeks. "Mist, I need you to be careful."

"Of course I will be, Ash, but I have to save May and Latios," I replied.

Ash shook his head and fixed his eyes on mine. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

Bashfully, I tried to slip my hand away, aware that my palms would be getting warm and sticky soon. "Ash… I really need to…"

"Come closer for just one moment?" Ash asked.

I pulled my hand away for good this time so I could use both arms to heft myself onto the side ledge. Water dripped from my body, my soaked clothes clinging to my form and feeling cool against my skin.

'Pika!'

I startled as Pikachu appeared beside me. I hadn't even noticed that he'd managed to slip through one of the bigger gaps.

"I want you to take Pikachu with," Ash said slowly, "At least if I know Pikachu is with you, I won't feel so worried about you going against the fossil Pokémon."

Despite the fact I didn't have much time for this sort of chat, I felt confident enough in my water Pokemon that I would be able to catch up to Drew. He would probably need the head start, I thought to myself somewhat smugly, after all I will be the world's greatest water Pokémon trainer.

The need to assure Ash, seeing him concerned was an odd sensation. One I'd not experienced from him. I was unsure how to react, reluctant to leave him looking nervous…. Worried about me?

"Ash, there's no need for you to worry so much," I said gently, patting Pikachu on the head. "I will be back."

"Promise?" Ash asked, reaching his hand through the bars.

"Promise," I replied, squeezing his hand in assurance.

I thought he was done with that, but before I could turn to jump back in the water, he tugged on my hand. I felt his other hand on my shoulder and my body was pulled all the way to the fence. His hand moved behind my head and gently pressed my cheek up against the bars. They were cold and I was about to protest when my breath cut short.

Ash had pressed his lips up against my cheek through the bars.

My face exploded into colour and I could only blink at him in shock. My mouth ceased to function, even after he left me go and his hands slipped back within the bounds of the bars.

How did-What…? What just happened!?

"Be safe," He said with a strange gentleness. "You have to come back to me before you get to ask about that."

He ducked away, but not before I caught the strange pink glow on his cheeks.

My brain misfired. He couldn't possibly… No… That was impossible! This was Ash we were talking about. Dense as a brick, love-could-literally-smack-him-with-a-mallet-and-he-still-wouldn't-get-it Ash.

'Pika! Pika, pika pikachu chu pi!'

I shook my head, trying to clear a thousand different thoughts fighting for my attention. "You're right Pikachu, I have to go save May and Latios."

I called out my Gyarados, preparing myself for a fast ride. I clambered onto his back, settling between his head and the first top fin. I wrapped my arms as snuggly around him as I could. "Go!"

Gyarados' strokes in the water seemed to swallow the distance and soon I had come across Drew. He had since gotten on a wave racer and was being lead my Latias. Latias was making distressed sounds and it didn't take long to figure out that it was because they had Kabutops closely on their tail.

"DREW! DUCK!" I yelled. "Gyarados! Hydro Pump!"

Drew only just barely seemed to hear my warning to get out of the way in time for Gyarados' attack to slam the Kabutops into the wall.

Drew flicked his hair, though out of victory or nervousness I couldn't tell. He turned to give me a quick thumbs up before grabbing the lead as it jerked him forwards again. "Thanks! We've already been attacked by Aerodactyl."

Already? That hadn't taken long for the fossil Pokémon to catch up to us.

Latias dipped and I followed her and Drew as she came to the open water. The museum was just ahead. And just ahead was where May and Latios were in danger.

May's POV

Pain entered my mind like none I'd ever experienced in my life. It was impossible to describe with human words. My body ached agonisingly and excruciating stabbing pains raked through my bones.

My body felt hot, burning. I was paralysed. It felt like my very cells were melting and being torn apart simultaneously.

"MAY! HANG IN THERE!" Bianca's voice sliced through and I was gasping for the breath I hadn't known I was holding.

I didn't know what was happening.

"You can still turn back!" Ah, that was grandpa's voice. "Just release the Soul Dew now."

A sharp laugh pierced my eardrums and my brain begged my hands to move just to cut off the sound. "I don't care if your town dries up. From in here I have enough power to rule the entire world!"

"… Oakley..?"

My mind buzzed again. My heart felt like it was exploding. My limps felt limp.

I was dying. Surely this was what it was like before death. And if not, I prayed for sweet release from this torture. One way or another.

Drew's POV

My heart thudded hard against my ribs. It felt like there was a timer in my head, ticking down how long May would last. It made me afraid. Me, Drew… Actually afraid.

I wasn't ready for her life to be in so much danger. Never had I felt like this.

A column of water rose up for seemingly no reason. The town square was right there and I wobbled as my feet hit pavement.

Misty called back Gyarados and pulled herself up next as I had already started running again.

My lungs already burned, trying to suck in enough oxygen to keep up with my system.

Each footstep pounding sounded like it was screaming May's name. May. May. May.

As if it had a life of it's own, the water column moved, snaking to bend over and finally crashing into the town square. The ground was swallowed up and I heard Misty's terrified scream not long before my own feet were swept out from under me.

My (manly) screams were cut off and my mouth was filled with water. I clamped my jaw shut so fast, my teeth clicked painfully. A weird thought in my chimed that I hoped I hadn't broken my beautifully straight teeth. My smirk wouldn't be as beautiful otherwise.

My hand raised, plugging my nose firmly as my breath struggled to release. If my lungs were burning before, then they were ablaze now. My body writhed, trying to find an exit point.

Was I to drown?

My heart clanged in my chest as if it too was looking for escape. I was going to burst if I didn't breath in soon.

I heard a cry, muffled underwater. I couldn't tell who it was. Misty, the Pikachu I'd seem on her shoulder or Latias.

A peaceful thought entered my head of how cool the water felt when my body was on fire.

And then suddenly I was on the ground and the sting of cool air brushed my skin. I gasped in and out, coughing at the residue water that was being sucked in with my breath.

I wiped the water and my soaked hair. Oh this would not dry for a long time and I could not flick my hair at May when I casually save her.

Latias dropped from the sky with a heavy thud on the ground. Was she the reason it all stopped?

Pikachu ran to Latias and 'chaaa'ed at her. Latias made a sound back, as if to say she was ok.

I remained on my knees a while longer. My legs felt like jelly and wouldn't cooperate.

Misty was on her feet before me and yanking me up by my upper arm. My feet struggled to gain hold on the wet floor.

"Come on. You didn't forget why we're here. Let's go before anything else crazy happens," She said.

My heart hammered once again, each beat reminded me of what I was doing, pumping that reason throughout my blood stream.

Lub dub, lub dub, lub dub.

Save May, save May, Save May.

Me: *timidly pokes me head in* Uh... Sooooo... Hi?

Everyone: *rages at me*

Me: AHHHHHHHHHHHH *runs*

So it's been forever and a day since I've had the motivation for this, but I'm finally into finishing this. It's been so long I have forgotten what my original concept was. I'm just going to be trying my best to finish this with what I have.

And for those who will be asking, yes. This time it's getting finished for sure. In a good show of faith, I already have the next chapter ready for next week.

Misty: Next week!

Me: Uhh yes, I do need some time to catch up if I want to finish this. So gimme until next week.

Misty: No! You're leaving me here for a week! I'm going crazy! I broke my mallet!

Me: *grins* Aha... Yeah, good luck. I'm out!

Everyone: MINA GET BACK HERE!