May woke up gasping for air as her entire body was covered in sweat. She was in a daze as she tried to get her bearings, her eyes still blurry.
"May, May it's okay your safe!" Britt's voice called out in the distance.
"Britt? Is that you? I can't…" May tried to raise her left arm but for some reason she couldn't feel it. Mays heart sank as she reached over with her right arm. Nothing her left arm wasn't there anymore, her arm had been cut clean off!
Mays breathing began to speed up as she desperately reached for her non existent arm. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to move.
"May, May it's okay! I'm here I promise! You're safe!" Britt cried out in agony hearing how distraught May sounded. May struggle against her restraints setting her panic in even further.
"May it's alright. I'm here, it's gonna be okay." A familiar voice called out to her.
"Papa? Papa is that you?" May slowly eased herself back down as her father brushed the hair from her face.
"I know baby, I'm here and we are gonna make it through this together. your home baby girl." He said gently rocking her back and forth in his arms as tears rolled down his own cheeks.
"What… what happened to me?" May asked still struggling to see.
"Team Magma's there goons after us, we were at the cafe in Fallarbor town. The android bitch attacked us. You took a bad hit to the shoulder May. Your dad did all he could but…" Britt said quietly as she watched her friend struggle to breath.
"I… I see…" May said as a tear rolled down her cheek, she didn't realize how badly she hurt until now. She had been out cold for nearly 2 days and was still in a lot of pain. "Where's Carmine?" May said looking around the room but there was no sign of Carmine.
"He's up stairs in the Lobby with Maggie." Britt answered softly wiping the tears from May's face.
"Oh… okay… where are we? What's my condition? Did anything happen while I was asleep?" May said anxiously. Birch cleared his throat before speaking up.
"Your home May, we're in the lab basement. As far as your health you'll make a full recovery eventually but losing in arm isn't exactly something you'll spring back from any time soon…"
May let out an exasperated sigh and leaned back into her fathers chest wrapping her arm around his neck.
"Pfft I only need one arm to take on Archie and Maxie anyway!" She shouted as more tears began to flow. Brittany smiled softly at her, she always admired Mays go getter spirit; even at a time like this.
"While you were out the rangers set up shop in Littleroot. I heard we're getting some Pokémon league assistance as well." Britt spoke up as May looked up at her confused, she had never seen or heard of any sort of league assistance before.
"So we're gonna have some extra backup?" May asked excitedly.
Britt laughed a bit and shook her head yes before adding "yeah, guess you know what that mean eh?"
"We know where Team Aqua is headed?" May replied.
"Yes ma'am. Me and Maggie are going to tackle aquas hide out, while you and Carmine go after Magma. But like I said we won't be doing this alone." Britt added before turning her attention to May's wound again.
"Well if you'll excuse me, I should probably get ready for our raid on Team Aqua…" Britt said before giving her a peck on the cheek and walking off, heading towards the lobby.
Birch sat running his fingers through his hair watching as Brittany left before turning his attention to May. "Don't worry sweetie, we're gonna kick Team Aqua's ass." He said with confidence before pulling his daughter close again and hugging her tight.
May felt safe in his arms and allowed herself to relax a bit.
"You scared the hell out of me you know that? When you ram away from home… without so much as a letter. No phone call to explain… just disappeared." Birch said tears forming in his eyes.
"Papa…" May struggled to say before breaking into a fit of sobs.
Birch held his crying daughter closely until she spoke up.
"Papa… I had to… I couldn't stay any longer… you and mama… I couldn't take the fighting anymore… I had to go…" May said sniffling.
Birch pulled back to look down at his teary eyed daughter, her eyes red and puffy from crying, her brunette blue hair matted mess. She had changed since he last saw her; she was no longer the little girl he watched play with the zigzagoon behind his lab.
"May, I'm just glad your home safe… but I understand… Carmine and the gang had time to catch me up on everything while you were out. There's more at stake here then our family. Which is why…" Birch grabbed a small box from underneath a near by table, dusting it off before popping the latch and revealing.
"Is that?" May gasped.
"That's right, a Master Ball." Birch said proudly as May stared at the ball for several minutes before speaking again.
"How did." May stopped mid sentence, her father took the ball and placed it in her hand.
"I know it may seem strange to you at first but I promise you, we're doing this to protect the people around us... you, your mother and everyone in Hoenn. We'll all be counting on you." Birch finished, placing his hand over Mays. May nodded her understanding before turn To her father.
"We can do this. We're going to save everyone."
Maggie was sitting atop the stairs of the lobby looking down at May who was still resting in her cott. She hated her, she really did, but even still, Carmine cared for May deeply. She didn't really get what he saw in her. There was nothing she could do for him that she couldn't,so why did he insist on taking on Magma alone with her. Maybe he just loved the idea of risking his life for someone he wasn't even sure he…That thought was enough to send a shiver down Maggie's spine but, as usual she kept it to herself. That night by the stream, she had wanted to ask him if what May said was true. Did Carmine really tell May he loved her. And if so where did that leave her? Was she the fool for believing him when he said he loved her? Was that what he did to women he wanted to sleep with? And what did this mean for her baby? She placed a hand over her stomach, she still had yet to show any visble signs of her pregnancy. But she was running out of time, she'd have to tell him sooner or later. If she told him now maybe he'd stay with her instead of with May. But, if she did this and it all went wrong then she would end up hurting not only Carmine but Brittany as well. She just hoped she wouldn't have to find out which path she'd have to pick soon.
"You okay?" Carmine said approaching Maggie from behind. She jolted slightly hearing his voice shaking her out of her thoughts.
"Ah, yeah. I'm ah… fine." Maggie lied, looking at him curiously.
"Nervous?" Carmine said siting down next to her in the stairwell.
"No, uh… not really… I'm just thinking about… things." Maggie replied, avoiding eye contact with him.
Carmine nodded his head and sighed before speaking up again.
"Like?" Carmine continued to prod her gently until she relented.
"Well… I guess I'm nervous… I donot like that we're splitting up, it's always been you and me." Maggie finally admitted, staring blankly into space.
"Yeah it is kinda weird huh?" Carmine agreed, looking at her before continuing "But it's important we do this Maggie. It's important that we win. Me and May have a better team composition for dealing with Maxie."
Maggie looked up at him again, her expression softening as she began to speak "I know… I just wish things were different, I want this to work out…" Maggie trailed off not knowing exactly how to express her feelings towards Carmine.
"It's going too. It has too. You'll see." He said smiling softly at her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders pulling her close to him, his lips pressed against her cheek as she leaned into his touch. "I'm gonna miss you though. I won't lie."
"I know, I will too… listen, when we get back. I have something important to tell you." Maggie said quietly as she turned to face him again, their noses touching as he smiled down at her.
"Oh yeah? What's that?" Carmine asked as Maggie felt his warm breath blow over her cheek teasingly, making her shudder slightly before speaking up again.
"I'm… not ready yet… I'll explain when the missions over. Okay?" Maggie said softly, feeling tears stinging the back of her eyes as she tried desperately to keep the lump in her throat from forming and ruining her words. Carmine frowned slightly before leaning in again and pressing his lips to hers, kissing her softly for a few seconds before he pulled back again.
"Okay Maggie. I'll be here when you get back. I love you." Carmine told her softly before standing up and leaving her to finish packing.
"May are you sure about this? Your still recovering your stitches haven't healed yet." Brittney argued as May stood on the opposite end of the field.
"I can handle a battle, besides it'll be a good chance for us to talk." May said struggling to grab a Pokeball out of her bag with her only arm.
"And you think this conversation will go better if we battle? Can't we just sit down somewhere nice?" Brittany said.
"Pfft. A battle is a conversation between two trainers anyways, it'll be like having two conversations at once." May smiled finally freeing the ball. Brittany simply took a deep breath and sighed.
"Three on three then?" Brittany relented.
"Hell yeah! Blazekin!" May shouted releasing her bird Pokémon onto the field. The two girls were both dressed more casually then usual, May wore a white tank top with the left sleeve tied in a knot and shorts while Brittany was wearing her usual top and jacket combo; this time sporting a red and blue color scheme. Brittany couldn't help but admire May
The blue tips of her medium length brunette hair that seemed to glow in the sunlight and those piercing blue eyes. They were even more stunning when she was fired up. The way May moved was fluid like a dancer, every motion graceful and precise.
"Alright, you asked for it." Brittany reached into her back pocket releasing a Crawdaunt from its Pokeball. The pokemon's red shelled body shifted into a battle stance before snipping its claws.
Blazekin was quick for his size but Crawdaunt's claws would give him trouble before long. This should be interesting!
"Blazekin come in! Let's show this thing who's boss!" May shouted as the bird Pokémon lunged forward. Crawdaunt's body suddenly shot into the sky before landing a crab hammer in return.
"Feels like we just got back together and now…" Britt said after commanding her Pokémon to dodge.
"And we're already going our separate ways again?" May returned as Blazekin kicked its legs at the Crawdad Pokemon.
"Yeah, real crooke of shit ain't it?" Britt's crawdaunt landed a waterfall knocking Blazekin out. May fumbled reaching for her ball dropping it to the ground before picking it up.
"Yeah… but it's for the best. We have bigger things to worry about right now." May was slowly getting the hang of unzipping her bag one handed. Deftly removing another ball and releasing her Dellcatty.
"Bigger then us?" Brittany said catching her Crawdaunt as the cat Pokemon slapped it away with its tail.
"About that… Brittany. I need to tell you something." May said nervously as she broke her gaze.
Brittany sighed, concern for where the conversation would eventually lead. "what is it?"
"I … I think we should call things off." May said as Brittany stared blankly for several seconds before recalling her Pokémon.
"It's Carmine isn't it…" Brittany said quietly.
"No, that's not… aren't you going to send out your last Pokémon?" May asked as Brittany looked down sadly.
"May." Brittany muttered. May looked up confused by the lack of a reply as Brittany continued, her voice barely above a whisper. Mays expression saddened as she recalled her Delcatty.
"Be honest with me. All those late night training sessions with Carmine… you too. Wee just fooling around right?" Brittany asked sadly as May looked up at her.
"Brittany, I was going to break things off earlier but…" May trailed off as tears began forming in her eyes.
"But what? Don't give me that shit. You didn't even give enough of a shit about me to end things right. After everything we've been through together. Everything I did for you..." Brittany said angrily as May covered her face with her only hand.
"Brittany it wasn't like that I do care for you just…"
"Spare me your bullshit, two timing excuses!" Britt screamed in anger, she wasn't truly angry. More then anything Brittany was wounded.
"Britt I…" May was truly at a loss for words.
"Does Maggie know? Do you know?" Brittany spat.
"Know?" May replied timidly.
"About Maggie's baby. It's Carmines fucking kid." Brittany exclaimed angrily still unable to stop crying. May simply looked away unable to face her.
"May, you knew? You fucking new he had a kid and you still went after him?" Brittany said in disbelief. She felt betrayed, disgusted, and hurt all at once. May was always so confident, strong willed, beautiful, smart but now she was nothing more than a broken shell of a girl who was about to lose someone else she cared about.
"Brittany please I…"
"No, shut it. I'm done. Listen to me. After this is said and done. When he finds out Maggie's been carrying his baby. You really think he'll stay with you over her?" Brittany was seithing. Glass cracked to the grassy field behind them. Two both of there surprises Carmine stood dumbstruck a plate in one hand with cracked glasses of water scattered around his feet.
"She's what." Carmine stood dumbfounded. "I was coming out to check on you two…"
Brittany in May stood I stunned silence, the panic evadent on May's face. The two stood there looking at each other for several seconds before they turned to Carmine.
"Maggie's pregnant?" Carmine said exasperated.
"Well, shit." Brittany said all the fight draining out of her.
"What do you mean…?" Carmine asked as May finally snapped out of it.
"C, I'm sorry that wasn't for us to say it's just ah." May scrambled to think of something anything to say. But she couldn't come up with anything. Instead she turned and ran towards the trees at full speed leaving Carmine standing alone on the field with Brittany. Carmine started to storm off before Britt caught his arm.
" Carmine wait, she was meaning to tell you." Brittany tried to explain before quickly letting go of him.
"How long." Carmine muttered.
"She's known for about 2 months now. But listen." Brittany pleaded desperately as Carmine stormed off toward the Lab. "She's just been looking for the right chance to tell you!" She shouted, but it was too late. Carmine was back in the lab. And there she was. All alone, again.