A/N: Hello! Finally back to regular updating speed. Just so you know, Ketchup is Ash's codename.

Replies to reviews:

Schoolmouse33: Thanks! Yes, she did. Bad May! XD

Lapiz14: )': I guess everyone makes mistakes? Once again, bad May! XD

Contestshipper16: Thank you! Yep, a lot of trouble coming up... XD Lyra lost, but she's a smart cookie! :D Thanks!

ShadowyBlue: Indeed. XD

xXeeveecuteXx: Nuuu! I'll make sure that it'll end with CS. Or the sequel, should I say.

WOW554: Thanks! Yes, I do. Ghosts of the Liepard. But don't worry, they're not actually ghosts. XD

CookiesNCreamNess: XD *also inwardly fangirl squeals* (: Yes, I do, squinty-eyes.

Katz Monster: Thanks! :D here's the update!

Alex The Rayquaza: Really? Oopsie... Indeed! Crazy stunt, are you sure? Mwhehehe. XD I think so too, actually. But who knows. XD

Skitty13: Yesh! I like drama. :3 I've always liked their rivalry. XD Yes! He's very old, so his Pokémon have been trained for reaaally long. Hahaha! XD They will... maybe. X3 Brendan Ruby is his stage name, Birch is his real one. Thanks!

Sakura Touko: Thank you! :D

Ready to fly: Yes, yes she is. You here that May?! *somewhere in the distance* May: Whatever!

Ayesha Shaikh: Thank you! Soon? I don't think so... mwhehehe. XD

WaterRaven: Ah, I see. XD Hm, I see. Awesome! Here it is!

YeahToast: Ahh, I'm flattered! XD I do that with stories all the time, and I'm proud people do it with my own. Don't do that! I won't be abandoning this story. :P

Pokémon Trainer Mystery: XD Sorry about that. But she has a plan! And Silver will appear soon. Awesome! Thanks! :D

Guest: I always wished I could speak Spanish fluently. But I suck at it. DX Alas, the power of Google Translate! Thanks! :D Here it is!

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Chapter 16: Punishment & Luxury

Ketchup here.

The punishment, there was no escaping it. We all knew it was coming anyway, there was no point in trying to avoid it. Yes, we did a good deed but everything comes with a price.

What was the punishment? It wasn't being grounded or whatever those lame first-world punishments were. It was having a bare back and getting lashed with the whip until they thought it was enough. I wasn't worried, until I was up next. It had happened before, and the memory still haunts me.

Auburn enters first, gulping. Right after he enters, the doors are slammed shut. After a minute, we hear a loud noise followed by a painful yell. More sounds of the whip lashing against a bare back and more yells. Every time I hear the impact, it makes me flinch. After what seems like forever, it stops. He's weak by the time he comes out, unable to stand and collapses. Emerald, who was first, catches him in his arms.

Next, it was Platinum's turn. We all admired his strength, he endured all the pain without a noise. However, he was still a human and when he came out, he couldn't stand. Before he falls to the ground, Auburn and Emerald catch him and gently lower him to the ground. He got the most lashes out of us.

Then, it was my turn. The door is shut behind me after I enter. I'm ordered to remove my shirt, so I do that. My hands are cuffed, and I kneel down, waiting for the pain. The first one feels like a rope of fire hit my spine. As more hit my back, it seems to get worse. Finally, it stops.

I exit the room and before I know it, I'm falling towards the ground and everything goes black. At least she's safe...

Dr. Hayman sat in her office, sipping her coffee as she read through patient reports. She was a very young doctor, and not too experienced. Suddenly, the door opened with her sidekick doctor, Conway. She raised a brow. "What is it?"

"I have something you might want to see," he said, bringing out a magazine.

She rolled her eyes, placing her mug on her desk. "I don't care about gossip. Please leave, I'm a bit busy here."

"No, you want to see this." He dropped the magazine on her desk, looking proud. Dr. Hayman gave him an annoyed look, but read the cover anyway.

"Oh?" she said, reading the headline. Smirking, she flicked to the page with the article on the headline. She chuckled, reading through the article in amusement. "Thank you."

Conway smirked, leaving the room. "My pleasure."

"May Maple," she muttered to herself, her chocolate eyes twinkling. "I'm afraid you've lost this game."

"My boyfriend's father is the leader of Team Rocket," Lyra explained, suddenly becoming interested in the ground. "I was told to come here and find out what's happening, since I'm possibly one of the strongest trainers among them."

Lysandre rubbed his chin. "Ah, I see." Then, he smirked. "In that case, you're no use to us. Leave," he said coldly. "And any funny business, and I will find out. And I will kill you and those close to you."

She looked up, a spark igniting in her mind. Lysandre didn't know she was close friends with Eye of the Liepard. Nodding, she scrambled up to her feet. "I understand. I apologise for intruding." Before she left, she shot Paul a look which he understood; Hang in there.

"You let her free? That's surprising," Gary said to him, frowning.

His boss looked at him, nothing but coldness in his eyes. "Quiet. She's a champion, I had no choice." He sighed, pacing around the room. "I thought you four were my strongest, most loyal assassins."

He sighed once more as he looked at the three boys. "What a pity. I suppose you know your reward. I thought I'd never have to put you through it again, but it seems not."

Paul glared at him, remembering their punishment the last time they disobeyed their boss.

"Oh, and by the way," he began, "I will find Emerald."

"I'm going to visit the hospital before we leave," May said. Once the competition had just five participants left, they took a break for a week.

Leaf's eyelids lowered. Everyone was going home to their families, but she was going back to her foster home. At least she wouldn't be as looked down upon, or she hoped.

"What if he's seen the magazine?" Dawn asked.

May shrugged. "I'll just explain. Anyway, I gotta go now. I have to go to the hospital now, otherwise I'll be late for my flight." She smile widely. "I'll see you guys next week, then?"

Dawn smiled, giving her a hug. "Have a safe flight, and wish Drew the best from us!"

May nodded, returning the hug. "Same goes, and I will!"

After waving one last time, May took her luggage to the car. All their flights apart from her's were late at night, so they would go to the airport later. "The airport?" the driver asked, looking at May through the mirror.

"No, please stop at the hospital first," she replied. "I want to visit someone."

Soon, the car arrived at the hospital. "Be quick, otherwise you'll be late," the driver told her.

Shooting a thumbs up to him, May hurried into the building. "Visitor pass to room 354, please," she asked the receptionist.

"Drew Hayden?" the receptionist asked, typing something into her computer. May nodded. "Ah, here's your pass. He'll be out of the hospital soon," she said, handing her a slip.

May smiled. "Thank you!" She hurried off to the lift, waiting patiently in the elevator. She hadn't spoken to Brendan since that night, but they'd exchanged glances. May knew it wasn't his fault for the magazine, but she decided to keep her distance just in case.

The doors opened, and May walked to the room at a fast pace. She stopped by the door and took a deep breath before entering. Inside, Drew was sitting up on the hospital bed, reading something. May's eyes widened, and she approached him slowly.

He turned his head, smiling. "Hey, May." He narrowed his eyes, seeing her worried expression. "What's wrong?"

May let out a breath of relief as she realised he was just reading a regular novel. "It's nothing," she said dismissively. "How're you doing?"

He raised an eyebrow but didn't question her any further. "I'm doing fine, I'll be out day after tomorrow." He narrowed his eyes, looking down. "Have you heard from the guys?"

"Hm?" May racked her brain, trying to think of any contact they had with the boys after they left. Then, she realised they hadn't had any contact at all. "Now that I think about it," she said thoughtfully, "no, we haven't talked to them since they left..."

Drew was only able to reply a simple; "Oh." He was extremely worried, he knew they couldn't succeed against him with just the three of them. He had to get out of the hospital, he had to save them. There was just one thing which was calm in his mind, May was finally safe, and his.

"Anyway, I just wanted to visit you before I left for Hoenn, since you'll be gone by the time I'm back," May said with a smile.

Drew narrowed his eyes. "Wait, why're you leaving?"

"We have this holiday, since there's only five participants left," she replied. "Where'll you go after you're released? Back to Hoenn?"

Drew didn't know what to say. He couldn't lie about going back to Hoenn, in case she wanted to meet. He also couldn't tell her about the assassins, obviously. Lying seemed like the only option for him, though. "Back to Hoenn."

"Cool!" May beamed, sitting down on a stool by his bed. "Whereabouts? I'm staying in Petalburg, with my family."

Drew's green eyes narrowed in confusion. Family? Didn't his parents murder them for their mission? Then, he realised she could have other family. "LaRousse, although I don't have any family there." That, wasn't a lie. He had lived in LaRousse with his family, until they died. It was his hometown, and he had a whole mansion to himself. Not that he'd been there for more than two days since they died.

"Maybe I'll come and see you," she said cheerfully. He gave a slight nod, ceasing the conversation. She stood up, and turned to leave.

Drew raised an eyebrow. "Wait."

May froze, and turned around. "What?"

"Come here," he said, gesturing for her to come closer. May sighed sat down on the stool again. "Closer." Narrowing her eyes, she edged even closer. Smirking, Drew closed the gap between their lips.

May's eyed widened. After a bit, she pulled away and looked into his eyes. Their eyes locked, an inch away from each other. Just like that day in with the tsunami, his eyes triggered a memory in her brain. She stood up, turning around. "I need to go, uh- I'll be late for my flight if I don't," she said hastily.

Drew's smirk grew, upon seeing the colour of her face. It was completely red. "Try to get on the right flight, airhead."

May turned around, glaring. Then, she smirked. "And you try not to get oiled, palm tree."

She exited the room quickly, the memory the only thing on her mind. She glanced at Drew one last time, before shutting the door. Little did she know, that would be the last time she talked to Drew as her Drew for a long, long time.

May reached the airport and took her luggage from the car. She shot the driver a quick smile and wave, and entered the pretty, large airport. After visiting a couple of souvenir stores and food shops, she took a seat at the first class lounge of Kalos Airways, a prestigious airline.

There was just one thing on her mind, the memory. Green hair, those mesmerising emerald eyes. It has to be him. And Gary, Ash and Paul. They're the ones that saved Leaf, Misty and Dawn! It had to be him. That was why he had went to those lengths to save her, right?

May grinned, happy that Drew was free and him and his friends could participate in the competition. They were finally free of their assassin careers. Or so she thought.

"All first class passengers please approach the gate for boarding."

May narrowed her eyes. It was too late to go back to the hospital. She stood up, remembering Drew was going to be in Hoenn. She would just visit him, then. She smiled, thinking about the kiss they had shared. Short, but nice.

Smiling like an idiot, she boarded the plane.

Later that evening, Misty and Leaf were the only remaining members of Eye of the Liepard at the house. "We better get going now, Leaf," Misty said, pulling her bag-pack over her back.

Leaf nodded, taking her hand luggage. They walked out to the car together, storing their luggage. The eight remaining participants were Eye of the Liepard, The Candies, Serena, Calem, Brendan, Danny, Brock and Iris.

Melody and Danny had already left for the Orange Islands, Serena and Calem had left for Vaniville Town, Brianna and Brendan had left on the same flight as May to Hoenn, Iris had left to Unova, Ursula and Dawn had left to Sinnoh and all that was left were Leaf, Misty and Brock to Kanto.

"Let me get that for you," Brock said to Leaf kindly, taking her heavy suitcase into the car. She had left most of her things, but still took a suitcase full of things back.

"Thank you," Leaf replied, returning the smile. She got into the car and stared out of the window at the bright city of Lumiose, thinking about Ghost of the Night. Would she ever see Gary again? Why hadn't he called her yet? She remembered giving him her number, he should've called her by now.

After they reached the airport, Leaf and Misty browsed around the shops. "I think I'll get each of my sisters one of these," Misty said, taking a fashionable t-shirt in her hands which said "I (heart) Lumiose" and had a picture of the Prism Tower.

Leaf nodded, smiling in approval. "I'm going to go sit at the lounge, okay? I'll meet you there."

Misty nodded, taking two more t-shirts in her hand. "Sure."

Leaf made her way to the Kalos Airways' first-class lounge, dragging her cabin bag behind her. She took a seat, bringing out her phone. She called Gary's number, twice. He didn't pick up. She narrowed her eyes, placing her phone back in her bag.

Why wouldn't he pick up? Why didn't he call her even once, after he left? Suddenly, her phone started ringing. Hastily, she picked up, expecting it to be Gary. But the caller ID showed Lyra's name.

"Hello?" she said into the phone, wondering why Lyra would be calling her. "Meet? Why?" Lyra called her, and asked her to meet somewhere, anywhere, as soon as possible.

Leaf frowned. "Are you okay? Okay, fine... Well, I'm visiting Kanto since we have a break. I'm at the airport right now..."

Misty had arrived, placing her bags down and sitting next to Leaf. Their plane was about to begin boarding. Misty gestured towards the gate, not wanting to interrupt Leaf's phone call. "Okay, well I have to go. Plane's about to start boarding." Then, she smirked slightly. "I'm going first-class," she added.

Leaf could almost imagine Lyra's eye-roll as she stood up, heading towards the gate. "Okay, okay, I got it!" She sighed, giving her boarding pass to the flight attendant by the gate. "Bye, mom," she said sarcastically, hanging up.

"Who was that?" Misty asked as they stepped into the plane.

"Lyra," Leaf replied. "I don't know what she wants, but I'm meeting her at Vermillion City tomorrow."

Misty looked at her curiously as they walked down to their huge seats. First-class was amazing. "Really? Any ideas why?"

A grim expression appeared on Leaf's face. "Not really. But I'm getting the feeling it's something bad. Really bad."

Dr. Hayman had seen everything. The conversation, the kiss, she saw it all. It was hours after May left the hospital, when she was about to Drew's hospital room with a certain magazine.

Dr. Hayman chuckled to herself, somewhat evilly. She had her dark-brown hair up in ponytail, and a pair of glasses on her face. She was wearing her doctor's uniform. She entered, making Drew turn his head to her from his bed. He raised a brow. "Hey, Jess."

"Hello," she replied. "How're you doing?"

He sighed, looking out the window at the bright city lights. "Fine," he replied. "Can I just leave tomorrow instead of the day after?"

"Nope, we need to ensure your full recovery is complete," she replied, popping the 'p' in 'nope'. Then, she smiled sweetly. "I have something to show you," she said, bringing out a certain magazine from behind her back.

He look at her questioningly, pointing to the magazine. "That?" He flicked his hair, looking back at the large window. "Sorry, I'm not interested."

"Oh, but I'm sure you are," she replied. "Isn't May your girlfriend?"

Drew narrowed his eyes at her. "No, but yes. In a way. What has that got to do with anything?"

"See for yourself, Mr. Hayden." She handed him the magazine, smirking at his reaction.

His eyes widened, and then narrowed. "When was this?"

"Just a few days ago," she replied innocently, her hands behind her back. "Even I wasn't expecting May, such an innocent girl, to stoop so low! She has no..."

Drew wasn't listening to her after she answered his question. He found out that May and Brendan were close childhood friends until her parents were killed, by his very own father. Of course she didn't know that, but if she did...

A felt his heart ache, knowing that if it wasn't for his parents, May's would still be alive. It was his parents' fault that May's parents were dead, his parents' fault she had to go through that pain at such a young age. No! Drew thought, frowning. It was Lysandre. All Lysandre's fault!

And not only that, but May was falling in love with Brendan. But then why was she pretending to like Drew? Frustrated, Drew tore the magazine in half with his amazing strength. "Get out, please."

"But-"

Drew turned to her, his eyes filled with pain, betrayal and frustration. "Get. Out."

"Okay!" she replied, hurrying out of the room. She shut the door behind her, and leaned on it. She chuckled, making a mental note to meet Brendan one day and thank him.

In the room, a magazine lay on the floor with the whole book and the cover of May and Brendan torn in half.

Ash's eyes widened as he heard Gary's yells of pain from the chamber.

Not again...

A/N Ash was the one talking at the start, if you didn't realise. How's Leaf gonna react to what Lyra tells her? Also, Silver will be appearing! :D

So they finally kissed. (: Awh, Drew. )X I feel bad. Poor May, too. This story is reaching it's end, slowly. It won't be a happy ending, for some. But worry not, there will be a sequel posted after it's done.

Also, I posted a new story for Contestshipping Day yesterday, about the meaning of roses. I'll be updating it really often, check it out!

Please leave a review, if you want to make my day! :D

Until next time~!