She hadn't left her room in two days. She and Ash had returned empty handed after searching the whole city for Clemont, May never speaking a word, and she'd snuck into her room, locked the door, and was yet to emerge. Dawn spent a good portion of her time knocking on her door, calling for May and speaking to her. May never spoke back. She wondered sometimes if she could even hear her. She'd tell her to come out, even if just for some food, or that her mother was due back soon and she didn't want to seem ill in front of her in case she gave it away.

Still no answer.

May was lying in bed. Admittedly, her stomach rumbled and ached from the lack of food, but she couldn't make herself move. She'd fallen into a pit, a pit that made her want to lie in her bed forever. The change was fully complete now, and she could feel it inside her. She felt different. She knew Ash could feel it too. She knew all of them would feel it, and they'd never look at her the same way. This was the price she would pay for her mistake, and she could never change that. She didn't want to see anyone ever again. She'd opened her palm once, reaching for the power inside her chest, but nothing came. It wasn't that she was weak from hunger, it was just… there was nothing felt. She hadn't mastered water type powers, and so she was weak yet again. She'd spent all that time becoming powerful to protect her friends, and now couldn't even conjure a droplet of water in her hands. She'd dropped her hand in shame and not tried again since.

On the second night, someone knocked on her door again. It was a different knock, and she knew it wasn't Dawn, but she still wouldn't answer.

"May, let me give you some food." It was Drew. Good. She had been worried it was Ash. She couldn't face him now- not yet. They'd spent the last two weeks all over each other, and now… well, now it was awkward, because he felt like he should still be kissing her, but he didn't feel the same about her. The situation was strange, and neither of them knew what they were to one another. May's heart stung in her chest, and she kept her mouth shut, waiting for Drew to leave.

"May, I'll only come in for a second if that's what you want."

She wanted to keep silent like she had for the past two days, but her stomach protested loudly and painfully, and so she stalked from her bed, knees wobbling, and unlocked the door. She was back in bed before Drew fully entered the room, holding a plate of food. He closed the door behind him and paced carefully to her, as if she would jump up to attack him, and handed her the plate. She ate quietly, but he hovered.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice hollow.

"Tell me what I can do to help."

"There's nothing anyone can do," she said, and she meant it. She wasn't being grumpy, she'd truly given up hope. She could think of nothing to fix her problem. Drew couldn't think of what else to say, and she wished he'd leave, if only just so she didn't have to watch his face contort with pity for her.

"Surely there's some way to change yourself back. I mean, it was only a machine that changed you… Your type is a part of you, a part of your soul… your fire is still in there somewhere."

"I don't know about that, Drew," she answered, but gave him a smile of appreciation for trying to comfort her. He sighed heavily and headed for the door.

"Dawn is gonna leave soon. It's about time we met our parents, but she doesn't want to leave you like this. Talk to her."

He shut the door behind him. May rested her plate on her knee and rubbed her hands across her face, thinking about his words. Perhaps the fire was still in her soul, but if so, why couldn't she find it? She'd never be able to push through the water type barrier that had been placed up now anyway. She could feel it, and it was too strong, while she was too weak. But to be ripped from Ash when she had just gotten used to being by his side…

She rose suddenly, putting the plate to one side as she forced herself out of bed. Weakly, she dressed in comfortable clothes and prepared her goodbye to Dawn. It was unfair and selfish of her to keep Dawn here when she had a mother waiting at home for her, and a whole world waiting for her after. As she left the room, she wondered what the rest of them would do.

Dawn was sitting with Paul in the living room. Before May had made it through the door her friend had shot up, pulling May into a bone-crushing hug.

"Take it easy, Dawn," Paul said beside her, his face grim. May looked back at him, returning his look. She knew then that he understood. Dawn pulled away reluctantly.

"You're feeling better?" Dawn asked, the hope apparent in her tone. May forced a smile for her friend.

"In a way," she offered. "Where's Ash?"

Dawn winced at his name, as if she expected May to break down at the sound of it. May did feel as though she would, but fought to keep herself contained as she waited for Dawn's reply.

"He's with Drew, I think."

Of all of their friends, Drew and Ash had gotten on the least, most likely due to Drew's past with May. May cocked her head in confusion and waited, but it was Paul that spoke.

"They think there's a way to get you back to normal again."

Normal. The word hit may harder than she expected. She hadn't let herself think it yet… that she wasn't normal anymore. She swallowed hard and faced Paul. "I can feel the barrier inside myself. I can feel the way this works. My fire type is still inside me, but buried and surrounded by a barrier created by the water type. I can't break through that barrier."

"Have you tried?" He challenged.

"If you felt the strength of it, you'd say the same."

He looked as though he would challenge her, but remained silent instead. Dawn looked between them, a heaviness in her eyes. May suddenly remembered the reason she'd even bothered to leave her room- the thing she was currently failing to do. She plastered a fake smile on her face.

"Anyway, I feel alright."

Paul gave her a wary look, and she knew he didn't believe her, but perhaps knew what she was trying to do. Dawn smiled.

"That's great! You know, maybe you could even master the powers like you did with your fire powers."

She hid the fact that the mentioning of her fire powers almost made her wince. "Maybe one day, but I can't even create a droplet of water yet." She smiled sheepishly.

"With some time and practice though I know you-"

She stopped mid sentence and glanced behind May to the door. May turned to follow her eyes, and stopped as she caught sight of Ash by the door. The heaviness spread inside her, threatening to drag her down again into the pit she'd been stuck in for the past two days. He could hardly look at her.

"We should talk."

May glanced briefly at Dawn, who nodded her agreement. Without a word, May turned back to him, and followed him out of the room, into the garden and to the side of a fountain where he sat. As May sat beside him, she noticed how she felt the presence of the water beside her, and found herself reaching to drag a hand through it without thinking. A long moment passed before Ash spoke.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" She resisted the urge to reach for his hand, keeping her hand in the water which somehow calmed her.

"That things have to be this way now."

"I'm sorry too." She felt the tears blossoming again. "This is all my fault, I ruined this."

"What was this?" He asked, the silent question that May hadn't dared to ask in the two weeks that they'd spent together. The question made her throat dry up and she didn't know if she could answer the question without breaking. She opened her mouth to speak

"I shouldn't have asked that, don't answer," he interrupted, holding out a hand. He looked to her then, his eyes burning. "I want to believe that you can fight it. Bring your old self back. Tell me that you'll try."

A tear slipped free then, sliding down her cheek. She knew a few days ago he would have reached out and wiped it away, but now he couldn't. "I can't. I've tried, and the barrier is too strong. I couldn't do anything against it."

"You can, May."

"I can't," she persisted, anger rising. She was falling again, back into the pit which would make her lock herself in her room and not speak to her friends.

"Yes you can."

"That's easy for you to say, you're not the one dealing with this," she hissed, her temper taking over.

"Am I not?" He asked quietly, anger in his own tone. That fast, she regretted her remark, but her anger was out now, and she felt the urge to smash the closest window to her.

"I can't do it so just let me be!"

"You can do it," he said again, calmly. She felt her temper snap inside her.

"I can't!" She screamed, standing and closing her eyes, her fists curling at her sides, feeling her anger push outward. She exploded.

When she opened her eyes, the rose bush beside her was on fire. Ash rushed to put it out, his water washing over the now ruined flowers. Her heart stopped.

"I-" she looked down at her hands. She closed her eyes again, feeling for her power, trying to gather it in her chest. Nothing. She cried out, her tears coming quick and fast as Ash threw his arms around her. She buried her head in his chest, and didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

Once her friends heard of her outburst, the mood had lightened a little. For May, she felt worse than she had beforehand. The outburst had merely teased her, reminded her of what she'd felt before she changed herself. Although it offered her some hope, she couldn't be happy, and she knew Ash sensed it as the group of friends sat around the living room together late in the evening.

"Your mom returns tomorrow," Dawn stated, changing the topic of conversation. May hadn't had time to properly bond with her mother yet, and she hoped she would get the chance to when she returned. Her father, too.

"I hope everything went alright," Drew offered to the conversation. May would have spoke, but she was so desperately exhausted. Drew and Dawn spoke back and forth for a moment, before May cleared her throat and interrupted.

"I'm really tired guys, I think I'll head to bed."

Ash was immediately on his feet, offering his hand to her. "I'll take you. I'm pretty tired myself."

She didn't say anything, just smiled and took his hand, wincing at the feeling of his skin. It would be selfish of her to try to kiss him, or even to try to hold onto his hand… but as they left the room, she looked down, noticing that he hadn't yet dropped it. He continued to hold it until they parted ways. May had almost closed her door when he called out to her suddenly from the corridor. He was back in an instant, leaning against the door.

"I was meaning to ask you, I just don't know how…" He paused, and her breathing became difficult as she braced herself for whatever he would ask her. "I just wondered… if maybe you would like to come travelling with me, if you manage to change yourself back."

Surprise flooded her, showing on her face, but she felt her happiness return slightly at even the thought of being able to travel freely with him, and only him. She smiled genuinely.

"I'd love to."

He took hold of both her hands then, holding them in his own, and a heat rose within her- the desire for him to kiss her. She forced it back down as she focused on controlling her ragged breathing.

"If you break this, I want…" He stopped again, taking a deep breath. "I want to be with you."

That was all that May had ever needed to hear. She felt the crack in her heart begin to heal slightly at his words, at the excitement they brought. She could have cried with joy as she answered.

"I want that too," she whispered, looking up to him. He raised one of her hands to his face and kissed it gently. A chill ran down her spine as it became harder to suppress her emotions. She knew he was testing where the line was between them now, where it would be until she figured out how to fix herself. He didn't want to cross it, but perhaps he still wanted her affection too. Though she thought about it, she didn't dare kiss him.

"Then fight it for us, and I'll stay here with you the whole time."

She nodded, tears welling in her eyes, and he dropped her hands. She leaned up and kissed his cheek before he turned to leave her alone for the night. Knowing he would stay there as long as she needed him to, she slept comfortably that night.

When she woke the next day, her mother still wasn't back. A guard by the door informed her that she was delayed, and it would be a few days before she returned. Silently, May rejoiced. The sooner her mother returned, the sooner the plans for her wedding would begin. She and Gary had spoken briefly since she'd changed, but never about the situation they were now stuck in.

So she waited. The same routine would take place every day. She'd wake, and eat breakfast with her friends. Once she'd eaten, she'd walk around the cold, frosty gardens for a long while with whoever would walk with her. Dawn would make lunch for them at midday, and then she would spend some time talking to Gary, or Drew, or Ash, once. Then she'd read a book, eat dinner with her friends, relax in the living room with them, and go to bed. Somehow, the routine didn't bore her until the fourth day, when she began to feel like time was wasted while she sat and did nothing, as her timer ran out.

She'd told Gary as much that morning. Her friend watched her, a hand to his chin as he tried to think of something that could take her mind off the situation.

"I have an idea," he started, lowering his hand, "but it's kind of stupid."

"Tell me."

Gary shrugged. "We could have a party of sorts, if you know what I mean. Your mom isn't back yet, so there's no one here to stop us. It might ease your mind, even if just for the night."

May wasn't totally against the idea, only afraid of what would happen if she let herself get carried away. Still, the thought of a night where she could forget her troubles was too tempting to let pass. So she nodded, and told him that she liked his idea, but that Dawn should plan it. He agreed, telling her she shouldn't worry herself about it and that he and Dawn would have everything ready by that evening. She had planned on returning to her routine, but the thought of spending another day in her bed trying to focus on a book while thoughts of Ash, and of herself on the floor as she changed, drowned her. Instead, she found Serena and Drew in the living room.

Once she told Serena they were to have a mini-party, the girl rushed off to find Dawn to make sure she at least played some part in the planning. Alone with Drew, she lay back on the sofa, letting out a breath. He moved to sit on the floor beside the sofa, leaning back close to where her head rested. She placed an arm across her face, as if that would block out the memories that still floated in her mind.

"You don't feel too good?" Drew inspected her. She didn't say anything, just shook her head. Drew fell silent for a second, silently debating with himself. Suddenly, he moved to face her, staying on the floor. "Then let's practice."

"Practice what?" May asked, peeking out from under her arm. She didn't feel like battling with Blaziken today.

"Bringing your fire powers out."

May sat up, bringing her knees up to her chest. "That only happened when I lost my temper. I can't control it."

"Then you need to learn to control it."

She wished it were that simple. The times she'd tried, she'd gotten nowhere. Though, she admitted to herself, she didn't try as hard as she could. The release of her fire powers had almost been too much for her, and her chest had hurt for a long while afterwards. "I don't know how."

"You said that you used to control your fire powers by focusing on pulling your powers in towards your chest, as if you were gathering it there. Why don't you try that, first?"

May wasn't in the mood to protest, and knew that she should be trying harder to regain her fire type powers. The last few days had exhausted her, and she barely had the energy to hold a conversation with anyone, never mind fight against the water type barrier within her now. She closed her eyes, pulling hard in search of any power she could find within herself. She felt nothing but the slightest twinkle of power at her core, and perhaps it was the thought of Ash that hit her, but she fought for it, trying to pull against it violently. Her face scrunched as she focused, and Drew leaned in towards her a little. Still, she pulled.

She heard Ash approach the door, but couldn't hear what he said as she fought the urge to let go of the thread she tugged at. Taking a deep breath, she hauled it one last time, and felt it give away towards her chest. A sharp pain struck her chest, and she cried out, letting go of the thread, but the pain continued. She couldn't open her eyes, couldn't fight against whatever she'd broken within herself as she curled over, screaming at the pain. She heard Ash call her name as a strong pair of hands gripped her shoulders, shaking her. The power continued to build in her chest as she cried out. Gripping the sofa beneath her, she pushed her powers one last time, feeling them explode around her as she screamed. The light within her flickered, the pain subsiding, and she panted, opening her eyes.

Her hands had burned through the sofa. The hand that she'd unknowingly placed on Ash had left a burn on his arm. She lifted a hand to her mouth- she'd hurt him.

"Ash, I'm sorry." She held out her hand to take his arm, but he moved away slightly.

"Don't worry about me, May, are you okay?"

"I-" she held up her hands before her face, inspecting them. They weren't burnt. So fire still wouldn't harm her. Her heart still hammered against her chest, but the pain had passed. "I'm fine."

Drew had backed away during her outburst, but dared to move back towards her now. Her chest ached as she realised she'd scared her own friend.

"Maybe you shouldn't push so hard. It's good to try, but… you broke through the barrier there, didn't you?"

She nodded slowly. "I saw myself beneath it and pulled. It came free, but the pain…" She shuddered. "I lost control."

"Do you feel any different?"

She hadn't thought about it. Beneath her chest, she felt her power thrumming, spreading down her limbs. "I do," she answered, looking to Ash, whose face was contorted with concern, and his eyes lit up with hope. A lump formed in her throat at the thought that she'd broken through the barrier. Gently, she began to pull again, as slowly as she could.

The agony hit her before her mind could even register it. She cried, doubling over as she fell, eyes wide, to the floor. Ash was by her side again instantly, but she couldn't move, couldn't even cry out. Her water type swirled around inside her, but her fire type built up in her core. Silently crying as Ash called for her, she pulled for her fire power, but the water blocked her, fighting against it. The two types battled inside her as she began her changing again.

She knew this changing would take longer. The pain that ripped through her chest, her heart and her limbs stopped her from feeling any sort of excitement. She wondered if the battle inside her would kill her. Ash continued to shake her, and she turned her eyes to him, but she couldn't move. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Dawn and Serena arrive.

"What's happening?" Dawn asked, running to her. Ash held a hand to keep her friends back as May writhed slightly on the floor.

"I think she's changing," Drew answered for him, as he was unable. She saw the nerves on his face, the excitement in his eyes, the hope that she would emerge from this attack a fire type again.

May regained the use of her limbs so suddenly that she jerked upright.

"May!" Drew grabbed for her to prevent her flying back down to the ground. She held her arm out, grabbing his for support as she gathered herself, her breath. Ash watched her, waiting with bated breath.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice weak and raspy.

"Are you okay?" Drew asked, leaning down to look into her eyes- trying to figure out which type she was.

"I can feel it," she started, swallowing hard. "The two types fighting each other inside me."

Drew's eyes widened as her grip on his arm tightened. "It's happening right now?"

She nodded. She held his arm tightly as she tried to push herself up to stand, her knees wobbling. Ash was upright immediately, holding onto her other elbow as she steadied herself. As well as the feeling of the war inside her, May felt something else too. She didn't feel like herself, as though someone else had taken over her body, and she was only in the passenger seat. Her senses were heightened- she felt her two types tugging her in different directions. Her fire type pulled her towards Ash, but her water type pulled her somewhere else, somewhere she couldn't figure out.

May couldn't stop her own body from moving away from Drew and Ash, and towards the door, following the tug of her water type inside her. She screamed inside her head for her to stop, but she was a zombie, ignoring her friends calling for her as she hurried through the hallway and through the kitchen. Ash followed behind her, calling for her to wait, but her body wouldn't obey, and she carried on walking, until she turned, pulling open the door to the gardens and rushing through, heading for the fountain. She turned.

A few feet ahead of her, Gary stood. The tugging became harder to bear, and the realisation struck her like a punch to the stomach. Gary watched her in confusion as she took the final few steps towards him, reaching out to grab his arm. She knew Ash had stopped behind her.

Her body was reaching out for Gary, even as he backed up, asking her what was wrong. She took hold of his arm, reaching up for his face.

Drew slammed into her side before she could kiss Gary, pushing her back with his hands. She screeched as they crashed into the side of the fountain, almost falling in. She was jolted back to reality, regaining her control as she clutched Drew to keep herself from toppling into the water. She realised she'd moved her limbs just as he pulled her into his chest, calming her.

Overwhelmed with this war inside her, with everything that was happening to her, May slid from his arms to the ground, her face in her hands, and began to sob. Drew leaned, whispering comforting lines to her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.

"What-" Gary ran a hand through his hair. "What was that?"

"We think she's going through the change again. But it might take longer this time, and her water type might win this battle inside her… so we just have to wait." His hand gripped her shoulder a little tighter. "But she might not be herself sometimes, for a time."

May only continued to cry as Drew lifted her from the floor and carried her to her room.

It took her longer than she cared to admit to calm down. She regained her senses, but was always aware of what was going on inside her. Drew had stayed with her, but Ash had excused himself, saying he needed air. She hated herself for doing this to him, even if she hadn't been in control of herself. She'd tried to kiss Gary. Nothing would hurt him more. She couldn't keep thinking this way, she was going to drive herself mad…

"I still want to have the party," she announced. Drew's head snapped to her.

"Are you crazy?"

"Please, Drew, I really need this. I need to be able to forget this, for any amount of time."

He sighed. "Fine. I'll go tell Dawn it's still on, but if you even feel slightly strange, you have to tell me so I can bring you back to bed."

She agreed, and Drew disappeared to find Dawn. After a few minutes alone, she headed down the stairs to wait for the party to start.

They'd had limited resources to work with, but Dawn had done her best. The long dining room table was filled with party food, and drinks were gathered at the end of it for them. She knew her mother would notice they were gone when she returned, and just hoped she wouldn't be in too much trouble.

"I'm sorry it's not great," Dawn said, coming to stand by May's side as Serena grabbed herself a drink quickly. Music played from the speaker Dawn had set up in the corner of the room. Drew grabbed his own drink and joined Serena at the head of the table where the music would be the loudest. May forced herself to smile.

"It's really good Dawn. Thank you."

Dawn beamed. She reached out and grabbed a drink, thrusting it at May.

"You look like you really need this."

May had never drank properly before, and although she worried what the alcohol would do to her, she didn't care to stay sober for the rest of the night. So, she took the drink from Dawn's hand, drinking from it. She contained her cringe at the strange taste. Dawn announced that they would play a game of truth and dare from beside her, and her friends gathered around the table to play.

May participated as little as she could as she drank from her bottle slowly. Her friends laughed and joked with one another, and she found herself able to do the same. After the first bottle, she felt no different, and collected another.

She was in the middle of a conversation with Serena when she felt it. She felt the power thrumming inside her again, but different… She stopped hearing Serena as she felt inside her chest for the battle she'd stopped feeling, but only heard a dull drum. Her heart fluttered. The drink was subduing her water type, slowly and temporarily pushing and holding it down. She began to drink faster.

By the end of her third bottle, she was sure. Her water type was pushed further and further down, and she felt it less and less. She felt like her old self again. Quietly, as her friends talked together, she stumbled to the bathroom. She struggled to contain her breathing as she held her hands out, and a small flame erupted in her palms.

She ran from the bathroom for the living room, grabbing her fourth bottle and taking a long sip. Looking up to where some of her friends dance, she noticed Ash watching for her, and she felt that tug again, but only towards him. Would he notice the change in her? Would he love her again, even if just for tonight? She watched as his mouth opened, as if he would say something, and his eyes widened as he realised.

May's own eyes were wide as she stared back, her drinking becoming desperate. Yes, just for tonight would do. He stood and began to approach her. Her heart soared.