(Author's Notes)

Welcome to chapter fourteen! I'm sorry it took so long, I had a big test at school... But anyways, in the upcoming chapters there's going to be a lot of Wally~~

Onto reviews.

archnemesisnae: Thank you so much, I'm glad you like it! :D

RoseNitemare: I will not be writing the Delta episode for this story, actually. After May beats the league, the story will end. However, I'm actually planning on starting a new Pokemon story about either Johto or Sinnoh. We will see! I'm glad you're liking May more, I feel like she's growing a lot haha. Thank you!

organizationkhII: I'm glad you enjoyed that! I felt that, with this story, I wanted to delve into some of the tougher issues that the Pokemon series doesn't usually address. ^^

Aurawarrior13: The update is here! Thank you, and I hope you enjoy~

The battle between May and Archie was a long and arduous one; it was a battle that tested the strengths and weaknesses of both combatants. Archie's first Pokemon was a Mightyena, which managed to get a few hits in on Tsubaki, before the Grovyle managed to take it out. His second Pokemon, a high-level Golbat, gave the pair a lot more trouble. In the end, it tore through her team with confuse ray, until Yui finally managed to take it out. His final Pokemon left May feeling more than a little nervous. The vicious, dead eyes of a Sharpedo — that very much matched its owner's — watched over Yui and May, as if they were nothing but prey.

The battle raged on, and though Yui fought tremendously, it was a little too close for May's comfort. May knew that she and Yui were the only ones left standing, and both of them were entirely exhausted. The Sharpedo was running on its last bits of energy as well, however, and it's tiredness was evidenced by it's lazy movements. May figured she had one chance at this. This attack had to be all or nothing. She had to win!

"Yui, use Assist!" May ordered, smiling impishly. Archie raised an eyebrow. He had to admit, at least this girl had guts. Still, he was determined she wouldn't live much longer. Yui gave her trainer one last look to confirm her orders, as she panted heavily from exhaustion. May only nodded firmly. Before the Sharpedo could react, Yui twisted her tail and initiated the attack. May mumbled a quiet prayer, her fingers crossed. She knew her life, and that of others, was at stake.

Suddenly, a bright green light flashed, and a set of gnarled roots sprang up through the rocky ground, tunneling their way towards Archie and his Sharpedo. Archie's eyes widened in shock.

"F-frenzy plant?! Get the hell out of there!" Archie yelled at his Pokemon, but it was too late. The massive roots collided with Sharpedo, and the impact threw Archie off his feet and left him with a beaten and bruised Pokemon, that could no longer remain conscious. May couldn't believe what had just happened, but she had no time to congratulate herself. She swallowed hard.

"Ya stupid bitch…" Archie growled under his breath. His mouth set into a snarl, and as Yui raised her claws to the man's neck, his hands shook with rage. How could he have been defeated by this little skamp?!

Yui awaited the order to kill, but May's lips trembled and she found herself unable to speak. To take someone's life… that was something she had never thought about before. She averted her gaze from Archie's stormy eyes. For all her bravado, May felt pathetic. Why couldn't she do this?! Wasn't it the right thing…? May sighed. She knew it had never been about that. She wasn't noble or any kind of highly moral person. So then why… couldn't she do it…?

May's thought's were interrupted by heavy gusts of wind that assaulted her face. Looking up, she could see Archie grinning like a maniac. A shadow fell over the group, and as May gazed skyward, she could see a large flying Pokemon hovering over them, and on it's back was a man she didn't recognize.

"Ah… Matt, just in time!" Archie shouted triumphantly. May quickly called for Yui, who then scurried to her trainer. She grit her teeth. This wasn't good at all.

"May… I will remember that name, little girl." Was all Archie said, before he was hoisted onto the Pokemon's back, and subsequently disappeared into the smoky sky.

May could only stare in shock. She had failed… and the professor was… Her legs shook with pain, and tears began to spring down her cheeks as she fell to her knees. Clutching Yui to her chest, May felt sobs wrack her body.

It was over.

Steven was absolutely frantic. It had been thirty whole minutes since he'd lost May in the crowd, and he couldn't believe he had been so stupid. The battle had petered out, and though many of Team Aqua's grunts had retreated quite suddenly, Maxie and Team Magma had managed to round up quite a few to be interrogated. Many of the grunts were now working with the local rangers to put out the fires that had spread. All and all, despite not having found Archie or the admins, Steven could count it as a victory, since no catastrophe had befallen the region. Steven had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with May, but where the hell was she?

When one of the grunts spotted a small figure stumbling out of the bramble off in the distance, the meteorite clutched in her hands, Steven had immediately run to the the girl, wrapping his arms around her. May's eyes were red and irritated from crying, and she barely seemed able to stand. However, she was alive, and that was all Steven cared about in that moment.

"I couldn't do it… I-I failed… The Professor… I couldn't even save him." May mumbled into Steven's shoulder, fresh tears gathering at the edges of her eyes. She felt a tremendous regret. Steven shook his head.

"Don't worry about that, Princess. I'm just glad you're okay…" He said firmly. May, however, didn't seem to hear him. He fingers clenched around his jacket.

"Next time… I won't hesitate."

After a tense ride in the cable car, May and Steven were surprised to find Wally and a bunch of reporters waiting for them at the base of the mountain. Steven shooed the reporters away, with perhaps more force than was necessary, and the three took refuge in the visitor's center for Mount Chimney, which was quite thankfully empty at the time. As Steven closed the door, Wally immediately embraced May tightly, tears in his eyes. May smirked.

"Jeez, it hasn't even been that long, idiot. You better not be falling for me!" May teased. Wally blushed furiously.

"I-I was so… w-worried…" He mumbled into her chest, but feeling Steven's stern glare on his back, he quickly released the girl. May rolled her eyes.

"You guys worry too much." She commented drily. Turning his gaze from Wally to May, Steven's frown turned into a smile.

"So, where are you headed to now? Of course I will go with you, since you're injured." May looked thoughtful at his words.

"I haven't really thought about it, honestly." She responded with, ignoring the last part of his sentence.

"W-well… maybe y-you should check out t-the hot springs in Lavaridge? It w-would be a g-good place recover… and there's a gym there…" Wally suggested. May thought it over as she glanced at the map on her pokenav.

"Hmm… that's not a bad idea." May concluded. It was pretty close by, after all.

"Then we will—" Steven's words were interrupted when his pokenav began ringing. Seeing Maxie's name flash across the screen, he stepped aside and took the call.

Maxie reported that they'd begun interrogating the grunts that his team had captured, but that all they knew so far was that Archie was after something at Mt. Pyre. Steven gritted his teeth. They knew where he would strike next, but not why or when. After the call had ended, he returned to the other two.

"You really want to come?" May questioned Wally suspiciously.

"Ummm… I-I think the s-springs would be good for me, a-as well… And I really w-want to start t-traveling." Wally stated, and May could see the passion in his eyes. She chuckled.

"That is not necessary. I will take care of May." Steven suddenly interrupted the pair rather bitterly. Wally couldn't help but flinch. May rolled her eyes.

"Hah. I don't need to be taken care of. Besides, you're obviously busy. Wally and I will go to Lavaridge." May concluded, her voice sounding rather annoyed. In all honesty, after everything that happened between she and Steven at Meteor Falls, May felt more than a little uncomfortable around the man, and she was eager to get away from him for a bit. She found that her feelings towards him were quite confused. After all… he saw her break down on Mt. Chimney… and she didn't like that he saw that weakness in her.

Steven blinked in surprise.

"Is that… what you really want?" He asked quietly. He couldn't express the tight feeling he felt in his chest.

"Yeah, it's fine." May responded with, unaware of his wounded feelings. Steven could only watch as the two of them left him behind.

"Y-you know… you c-can rely on me a little, M-May." Wally mumbled nervously, as they made their way down the mountain. Beside him, May was hobbling along with her walking stick, looking confident as ever. However, this only concerned Wally more. The terrain was getting more treacherous, and he worried that she would trip and injure herself further.

"Seriously, between you and Steven…" May commented with a sigh, trailing off as Wally paused and crouched suddenly.

"P-please… I can c-carry you on my back." Wally's voice wavered, but his words were firm. He wanted to help her. May raised an eyebrow.

"Ahhh… is that really a good idea? You're a pretty sickly guy, right?" May said, clearly not convinced. Wally felt his brow furrow.

"I can do this." Was all he said, but the sharpness of his words struck May oddly.

"Suit yourself…" She mumbled, reluctantly climbing onto his back. Wally could feel his cheeks flaming as May's arms looped around his neck, holding onto him tightly. He took a deep beeath, and stood. May was surprised at the teen's strength as he carried her down the mountain, one careful step at a time. May found herself wondering if maybe, somehow, she had underestimated this guy's spirit. Maybe…

May's thoughts were interrupted, as her pokenav began ringing. Pulling it from her bag, she sighed at the sight of the caller ID.

"Steven…" She mumbled quietly, hanging up the phone and tossing it back into her bag. This was the third time he had called since she and Wally had left. May honestly didn't know what to think of that. She knew he had to be teasing her… but why was he so persistent? May found herself feeling more confused than ever. What was with these guys? She didn't understand at all.

A couple of hours later, and Wally had nearly made it down the mountain, May clutching onto his back. They were a little over half an hour out from Lavaridge, but May could see Wally wasn't doing too well. He was breathing heavily, and she could feel his body trembling beneath her.

"Really… I can walk the rest of the way…" May mumbled into his ear, but Wally shook his head fervently.

"I-I… I can do this. I can… h-help you…" Wally stated with determination, as he carefully made his way along the rocky path. May felt a little flustered at his refusal.

"What is up with you, hah?! I don't need to be babied!" May protested, squirming a bit.

"P-please… I w-want to do this." Wally murmured between wheezing. May found herself unable to say anything. This guy… he was much stronger than she would ever be, May thought. He wasn't selfish like she was, and it made her think that maybe he pitied her. But why would he push himself so far…?

"Ahh… I can see the city…" May breathed into Wally's ear, and the ticklish sensation of her breath made Wally feel happy.

"Y-yeah…"