Gryphon Turboclaw: Yeah, there's continuity issues with May's ribbons. Fact is, this was written before the episode where she came and competed in the Wallace cup aired. And at this point, trying to change things to fit the show would only make it more complicated - her failures wouldn't hit her so hard if she had 3 ribbons and only lost the other two to people she'd beaten before, but was just having trouble with now. In other words, it works better for the circumstances in this story if she only had two and won them through flukes against random people. I do my best to keep the characters as much in-character as I can, and to preserve the anime's storyline, but the fact remains that for the purposes of this story and it's plot, deviance from that storyline simply works better. Please don't be offended -- I'd hate to lose you as a reader.

It's time to b-b-b-b-battle! ^_^ Yeah, that's right - the long awaited AshXLaura battle has arrived! Who's Pikachu will come out on top? Mano a mano...erm...Pika a Pika, I suppose. Anyway, you'll just have to read and find out! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own it.

"A Passion Revived": chapter 8

A sigh escaped May's lips as she lay back, stretching out on the surprisingly soft grass. 'There are so many pokemon here!' she marveled, remembering all of the pokemon she'd seen that day. She doesn't seem to have very many from Hoenn, though...at least, pokemon from Hoenn that you can't also easily find in Sinnoh. I wonder why that is...' It was sunset again, and all the brilliant colors from the night before that she remembered were once again washed over the landscape. Ash sat beside her, Pikachu on his lap, as they waited for Laura to emerge from the barn where Brock had been all day.

May watched lazily as Laura's Houndoom, in a rare moment away from her mistress' side, was also resting in the grass. A Mightyena came up to her, cautiously, and began sniffing her over. The Houndoom grumbled, raising her head to look back at the other canine-like Dark-type, who bent his head and took a step or so back. But it wasn't long before he stepped towards her again, his tail raised and wagging slightly and he bent to sniff her again. Cerbera growled softly this time and got up heavily, walking away. The Mightyena's tail drooped, and he looked after her with a whine.

'He's courting her.' May realized, then gave a sad sort of smile. 'But it seems that her Houndoom is just as stubborn as her trainer.'

At that moment, Laura and Brock emerged from the barn, discussing something -- probably her Tauros. "...will be just fine, Ms. Cooper. He's already looking much better than he was yesterday."

Laura nodded. "Thank you, Brock. You've been a great help."

"My pleasure, Ms. Cooper."

"Hey Brock!" Ash called out, waving as Pikachu also looked up. "Haven't seen you all day!"

The former Gym Leader laughed. "Hey, when a pokemon's in need, I can't say no." he explained, sitting with him. May also sat up, stretching her arms once again.

"Hey Laura, what about that battle? Pikachu and I are ready to go!" Ash questioned, emphasized by a spirited "Pikachu!" from his companion.

Laura thought for a moment. "I did promise you one, didn't I?" she finally said with a small smile. "And Rai and Buster are nearby. Why not?"

Ash leapt to his feet, a jubilant smile on his face. "Yeah, all right! Pikachu, you ready?"

"Pi, Pikachu!"

As if on cue, both of Laura's Pikachu appeared on either side of her. "Do you mind terribly facing Buster instead of Rai?" she asked, picking the older Pikachu up gently. "He's earned his retirement, so to speak, and Buster's just as strong as he is."

"Fine by me!"

Brock also rose. "I'll referee the match."

Laura nodded as she and Ash took their positions. "Thank you, Brock."

May stayed where she was, making sure she was a fair distance away from the action. Brock raised his hand, then dropped it to begin the battle.

"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

Laura smirked. "You certainly don't waste any time, Ash. Buster, wait for it..."

"Pi!"

'What the...she's just going to let it get hit?'

"Grab it, Buster!"

Buster leapt in the air just before Pikachu's glowing tail slammed into him, and grabbed Pikachu's tail. With an agile flip, he summersaulted over Pikachu's head, bringing Pikachu around with him and slamming him onto the ground.

"Grass Knot!"

"Oh no you don't!" Pikachu, use Quick Attack to get out of there and then go into Volt Tackle!"

Buster jumped back, his eyes glowing green. Shoots of grass shot up around Pikachu, who barely escaped their snares in time. Pikachu charged for Buster, his form slowly becoming encased in electricity until only a vague silhouette was discernible amid it all.

"Thunder Wave!"

"Huh?"

Buster braced itself, a triumphant smirk on it's face, and sent out a light zap towards Pikachu. The charges formed rings around Pikachu, who seemed just as surprised, and hovered for a moment before closing in on him. Pikachu cried out, and, incredibly, began to slow down. The electricity around it's body faded, and he seemed to struggle to take a step, the paralysis sparking erratically around him before finally, he collapsed at Buster's feet.

Ash stood, dumbstruck. 'Thunder Wave is an electric-type move! The energy from Pikachu's Volt Tackle should have absorbed it, and made the volt tackle stronger! But it didn't...' Frustrated, he shook his head. "We're not done yet -- we don't need to move to win! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Buster, Grass Knot!"

Once again, Buster's eyes glowed and tendrils of grass began sprouting around Pikachu, who was rapidly trying to charge up his Thunderbolt. But it was too little, too late -- this time, the grass got him, completely cocooning Pikachu.

"Pikachu!"

"The match is over, Ash." Laura said calmly.

Ash growled -- if there was one thing that he hated, it was people telling him that he was going to lose. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt again!"

The cocoon that was Pikachu twitched, then began to rock violently. The grass' edges smoldered and singed for a moment before Pikachu suddenly burst out from it's prison, it's paralysis gone, but looking tired.

Laura smirked. "I give you points for guts, Ash, but the match is still over. Buster, use Swift!"

"It's not over so long as Pikachu and I can still battle!" Ash called back. "Pikachu, Quick Attack!"

Buster reached back and tore some bits of it's fur out before launching them at Pikachu, the slightly damp clumps of hair becoming the familiar star-shaped rays of a Swift attack. The stars smashed into Pikachu head-on, and kept coming. Valiantly, Pikachu tried to continue charging through the attack, but to no avail. He slumped over, and Brock raised a hand.

"Ash's Pikachu is unable to battle. Laura and Buster are the winners!"

May sat in shock, sapphire eyes wide. 'No way...as good as Ash is, he still couldn't even land an attack...' her eyes turned to Laura, who was kneeling down and congratulating her Pikachu along with Rai. 'Who is this person?'

"That was a good match, Ash." Laura said as she rose to her feet. "You and your Pikachu work really well together."

"Huh?" Ash questioned, scooping up a battered Pikachu in his arms and cradling him. "But we didn't even manage to land a single attack!"

"That doesn't mean you two don't have a great synergy with each other." Laura replied, fishing a Max Potion out of the shoulder bag she had carried around with her all day and handing it to Ash. "It's obvious you two battle really well together, and that you have the makings of a top-notch trainer."

"Which is why I'd like you to teach me."

Everyone paused, and every set of eyes turned to May. She was now standing, and gazing firmly at Laura, who tilted her head. "Pardon?"

"You said last night that Coordinators were people who failed as trainers." May said, locking her eyes with Laura's. Her voice wavered, but she clenched a fist, determined. "So I want you to teach me how to be a better trainer."

"May, what -- ?"

Brock held a hand in front of Ash and looked down at him. "If this is what she wants...we shouldn't stop her."

Ash's shoulders drooped, and his face fell as he turned back to Laura and May. "But...why couldn't she have asked me...?"

Laura looked down at May, scrutinizing her with a highly critical eye. "It'll be hard. I'll work your ass so hard you'll barely be able to sit. It'll be tiring, grueling, and for a while, unrewarding. Are you sure?"

May swallowed, a little nervously, then met Laura's eyes again and nodded. "I-I'm sure."

"Well, then, I'd be happy to." Laura replied, holding out her hand. May took it in a firm shake, and nodded again. "Meet me out here tomorrow morning with all the pokemon you're carrying with you."

May nodded. 'Great. I've just signed my own death warrant.'

The review button makes a really cool noise...it goes 'click'! ^_^ it's one of my favorite sounds. That, and the clacking of keys typing out a review. Won't you make a humble authoress happy, please?

(And before I get any nasty reviews about it, yes, actually, that IS how Pikachu are shown to use the move Swift in the manga. I was just as surprised as you are, trust me.)