Sorry about the delay, we stayed a day longer than expected due to the great weather. Gotta love Minnesota, lower temperatures and more snow than many can imagine in the winter and a more direct solar rays than the tropics in the summer. Good thing that I really only burn on my face and shoulders, too bad those are some of the worst places as well. But that's enough about me, you guys just care about the next chapter. Without any further delay here's chapter eight.

"Not again…" Ash moaned as Dawn brought him into yet another store. Sitting down on some chairs situated near the entrance he put down several bags that Dawn had already bought.

"Oh come on Ash it's only the third store we've been in," the blunette said as she started to look around the different racks.

"Yeah and I still don't completely understand the reason for the second one."

"Don't worry Ash we'll only go to a few more before heading out to go eat," May consoled him. "Besides at least Dawn is letting you keep Pikachu during this time instead of keeping him as per your deal."

"The company is nice I guess," he said while looking down at his content partner.

"Well if that's how you want to look at it, here, you can have Eevee for a while too."

Happily accepting her trainer's offer Eevee jumped down and climbed up onto Ash's shoulder, all the while Pikachu watched her from his Pikapi's arms. Though it wasn't the same kind of look that he was giving her while everyone was still in Pallet, by this point the fear he had around her while she was in a good mood was nearly gone. Mostly due to the fact that even if she was in a good mood she wasn't causing him nearly as much trouble as she used to.

"You sure about that May? Besides you know how skittish Pikachu can get around her." Yet even as he said this Ash noticed that Pikachu actually seemed rather calm.

"Oh I don't think that you need to worry about that one anymore. Besides she would probably rather just sit here with you instead of coming with me to look at all of the different clothes. Right?"

"Vee," she responded with a nod.

"If you say so."

"Okay then I'll be off joining Dawn. You can just sit here until then."

Walking off May could only smile while taking one last look at Ash with both Pikachu and Eevee. The latter had already made herself comfortable on his shoulder and continuously watched the patrons coming in and out of the store, only every once and a while looking down at the true reason that May left her there. Pikachu also seemed rather content with everything. After first watching Eevee climb her way up to Ash's shoulder he relaxed instantly back into Ash's lap without so much as a second thought.

"I wonder exactly why Eevee hasn't been trying to make a move on Pikachu yet, especially with what Dawn was trying to pull with getting him for the day. But even when she was holding both Pikachu and Buneary together Eevee barely even batted an eye. She really seems confident that she won't have any problem with getting him to notice her. It almost seems the same with Dawn and Ash, they have been getting along pretty well so far with the boat trip and everything but beyond that there really hasn't been much else. Oh well there is still plenty of time left for that."

"So May what were you talking to Ash about?"

Jumping slightly, May was snapped out of her personal mindscape and back into the real world at the sound of Dawn's question.

"Oh I was just giving him Eevee to hold on to while we were out here. He said that he liked having Pikachu as company while we were shopping so I thought the more the merrier. Besides Eevee doesn't like to come with me at times like these, so I figured why not?"

Of course the last part was a complete lie, Eevee loved to go anywhere May would go no matter what the circumstances, but telling Dawn the real reason might have been a bit too much for the situation.

"Okay..." Looking from the brunette and back to Ash, Dawn couldn't help but find Pikachu rather content even with Eevee that close. Much different as to how she had seen them react before. "You know I've noticed that Eevee has been acting a bit different around Pikachu, even since just a couple days ago. Did something happen between them?"

"Not that I know of," May lied again. "But this is how they usually are once Eevee calms down. It's when she is overactive that Pikachu gets a bit scared of her and runs away. Most of the time they are just simply like that. Even though it may not look it at times those two really are the best of friends, much like their trainers." Although she wasn't trying May could feel a bit of sadness come out with her last comment.

"May you okay?"

Snapping out of it yet again the Hoenn native just smiled at her friend. "Yeah I'm fine. Just trying to figure out another way to help get you and Ash together. Normally a shopping trip would be a good way to bond but there wouldn't really be a good reason for me to all of a sudden disappear from the picture for a while." May found it hard to keep her voice from cracking as she said the last bit, the idea almost too hard to think about.

"I'm glad that you are willing to help me but you don't really have to go to those lengths for me like that. Besides if Eevee really doesn't like Pikachu in that way it will be a little easier once Buneary finally wins him over. Either that or vice versa."

"Yep like Pokémon like trainer right?" May replied with a nervous laugh.

"Exactly. So what do you think of this?" She asked holding up a light green blouse.

"Yuck, definitely not."

"Yeah I kinda thought so as well. Even though there's a lot on sale here I haven't really seen anything worth buying. How about we go and try another store?"

"Sure, why not? I really haven't seen anything that I would buy either; even if I haven't been looking as long as you have I can see that much from just looking around. Besides there are plenty of stores around here to check out, but what about Ash?"

"Huh? What about him?"

"He's never been one for shopping so is there a reason that we are still dragging him along?"

"Don't worry May it'll only be another hour or something before we end and head out to go eat. He wouldn't forgive us if we did that while leaving him at the hotel."

"Good point."

The two girls laughed while putting the clothes that they grabbed back onto the racks. Walking back towards Ash, he appeared to be quite content just sitting there along with the two Pokémon, one curled up on his shoulder while the other relaxed in his lap. Of course the sudden reappearance of the girls caused a large sigh to come from him.

"We're leaving already? You just got here, and I can't believe I'm actually saying this but, couldn't we stay just a bit longer?" The trainer asked. "I'm up for sightseeing and everything but moving from one store to the next isn't what I would count as such."

"It's no big deal Ash," Dawn stated as she pulled him up by the hand. "Besides in another hour or so we can go and eat. Here, I'll take Pikachu from you so you don't have to worry about him in the mean time," she said as she took the yellow mouse into her own arms, Buneary looking quite happy with the results while Eevee only eyed the action with limited interest.

"Um, thanks," Ash said hesitantly as he looked back at the bags. Sighing yet again he just grabbed them all and stood up, stretching slightly as well.

"And you can probably give Eevee back to May. She more than likely would rather be with her trainer."

"Okay…well here ya go May. Thanks for letting her keep me company, even if it was only for a few minutes."

"No problem Ash," May told him while taking her from the trainer.

Although both Ash and May were wondering why Dawn said that almost out of the blue, May was the one with a closer idea as to why. The brunette figured that it was mostly done for Buneary's sake of getting together with Pikachu but that was only part of it.

"I don't want to have to do this but like I said considering our circumstances I can't be taking any chances. With Eevee next to him I can't get Ash to focus only on me and not think of May as well," Dawn thought as she saw Ash hand over the Evolution Pokémon. "I just can't get rid of that sour feeling after doing it though. It just feels as though I'm betraying her after all the help that she is trying to give me."

"So let's head out, the next shop is already waiting for us," the blunette stated, happily grabbing Ash's hand after he got hold of the bags and started to lead him out onto the street.

Walking about a couple meters behind the apparently happy couple, May couldn't help but feel both happy for them but also the chest pains that had been coming more often as of late.

"It truly has become bittersweet to see them together Eevee," she said to her partner who had returned to her place on her trainer's shoulder. "It's taking all I have to keep myself from saying anything out loud when I see them like that. I would just feel as if I'd betray my own friend by trying to get in-between the two of them. From everything that I have seen it can only be assumed that they look like a young couple in love. Even though I haven't really done all that much in helping those two get together just giving them time alone like that has apparently done wonders."

"Vee…" The little Pokémon could only look down as a lone tear made its way down May's face. Rubbing her face against her trainer's, Eevee once again tried to console the confused brunette.

Smiling and rubbing Eevee between the ears far a couple seconds May wiped away the tear and hurried up to meet with her friends.

"Ooh, this one looks like the perfect one to check out next!" Dawn exclaimed just as May caught up with the two. "Come on, the sales await us!"

Moaning as he was dragged into yet another clothing store it was something else that caught his eye, a different shop across the street. But before he got too long of a look at it Dawn was already dragging him into the store.

May caught Ash's glance and followed his eyes to see a few stores in operation on the other side of the street. She could only wonder which one of them had gotten his interest until she noticed what the stores actually were; all but one were just like the ones that he was being brought into by Dawn for the past couple hours, a jewelry store.

"Why would Ash be interested in some place like that?" May wondered as she entered the store as well.

"Finally," Ash gasped as he set all of Dawn and May's bags on the floor of their hotel room.

"While it was nice of you to carry our bags for us they couldn't have been that heavy," Dawn commented as she sat down on the couch.

"You try carrying that many next time," he commented, trying to ignore the seemingly ungrateful coordinator's comment.

"Are you kidding? I'd break my back."

Ash just stared at the coordinator who apparently didn't even catch the reasoning as to why. Not believing that his friend actually said that he looked over at May who was just sitting on the other couch petting Eevee. She hadn't said a word their entire trip back.

"May what's wrong? You seemed fine when we first started but now you're back to being all gloomy and quiet."

"No I'm not" she defended herself, even when she knew it was the truth. The reason that she hadn't said anything was because of the fact that almost every chance she got outside of shopping, Dawn was trying to get even closer to Ash, most of the times holding his hand as they continued on to a different shop. The more May saw it the less bittersweet the moment became and the more depressed she felt.

Thinking a bit Ash got an idea. "Hey May how about we have a battle?"

While that word was innocent enough for the humans all three Pokémon accompanying them instantly caught it.

"Huh? A battle?"

"Sure, just a quick one before we go out to eat. I still have to make up for that loss a couple days ago. And to be fair we'll only use the Pokémon that we have here."

"No offence Ash but that would make it Pikachu versus Eevee," Dawn spoke up, wondering where this seemingly random thought came up from. "Even under the best of circumstances it wouldn't be a fair fight. And again no offence meant to May or Eevee, but I doubt that they would last long against you guys."

"It was just an offer," Ash countered before looking back at May with his trademark smile. "Well?"

The coordinator could barely believe what she was hearing, but it wasn't just the idea of battling Ash again that was playing through her head at that moment. Looking down at the Pokémon in her lap May knew that she had more at stake here than almost anyone.

Looking back at her trainer Eevee also had a questionable look on her face. A battle against Pikachu was the exact opposite of what she was planning. While there was no doubt that she could gain much in the battle she could also lose everything. And the worst part was the only one who could predict Pikachu's opinion would be Pikachu himself. If she won he could be extremely impressed or he could easily resent her for it. And if she lost the reverse could just as easily be true.

The exact same thoughts were running through Buneary's mind as well, trying to figure out if she should be supportive of the battle or be against it.

Of course May figured that much out as well, and she wouldn't do anything that Eevee would not want to do, but above all else she wanted to help her partner and even if it was risky this was a good way to do so. She just needed to figure out how.

After some time had passed an idea finally came to her.

"One second Ash, I just have to talk to Eevee first."

"Okay…sure."

Taking Eevee into her room May closed the door behind her and sat down on the bed, setting the Pokémon next to her.

"Alright I know that you are probably apprehensive about this battle too, but I think that I have a way to help."

"Vee?" The small Pokémon asked while cocking her head a bit.

"Don't worry I won't do anything that you wouldn't want to do, I promise that much. The only thing I have to ask is if you trust me for this."

Eevee almost laughed at the thought, trust was never a question between them. In the contest ring Eevee knew that May held much more than just her safety on the line, and not only that but Eevee would risk, if not give, her life for her trainer; and knew that the same was true for May. The fact that she was asking just proved how much May actually cared for her.

"Eevee," she finally nodded.

"Alright then here's my plan," May started as she bent down to Eevee's ear and started to whisper into it. The little Pokémon's eyes widened as she heard what her trainer had planned.

"So how about it?" May finally asked.

"Vui!"

"Glad you like it. I know that there are two trump cards that we have to play but it should work. And I know that one of them has already been taking some affect on Pikachu."

The fox nearly blushed at the thought that her trainer actually knew something like that about her, but then again considering that she was her trainer it shouldn't be that hard to know why.

"Don't worry, it's not like I'll tell anyone. That's something between just you and him," May giggled at seeing her reaction. "I figured that there was probably a good reason as to why you all of a sudden chose to go after Pikachu now of all times, you just need to make sure that he is the only one who tries to come after you. So are you ready?"

"Vee!"

Smiling at her Pokémon's reaction May opened the door and walked out with Eevee close behind. Looking up at them both Ash and Dawn were obviously wondering what her answer would be.

"Alright Ash, we agree to the battle," May stated proudly. "Under one condition, seeing as how you are already buying dinner for us tonight let's put it up that the loser buys dessert for everyone on top of it."

Ash's face grew a wide smile. "Great! I see no problem in that. Now I saw a clearing not far from here that we could use."

Sure enough it didn't take all that long for the three of them and their Pokémon to reach the spot that he was talking about. With May on one side of the field and Ash on the other, both looked ready to battle. Besides those two and Eevee, everyone else at the field was questioning the very idea for the battle.

"Hey Dawn I know you aren't really officially qualified to do this but could you ref the battle for us?"

"Um, sure Ash," Dawn hesitantly replied looking between her two friends.

"And are you ready Pikachu?" Ash quietly asked his partner.

"Pika…" Looking over at his opponent Pikachu was wondering what the heck was going through his trainer's mind. Even if his Pikapi had no clue about the reasons as to why Eevee and Buneary were acting odd towards him the idea of fighting a battle with a friend like this was always hard on the small Pokémon, especially one that he at one point considered to be under his watchful eye every since she was born, just like Togepi.

"Come on Pikachu this is just for fun," Ash whispered to his partner. "I'm not going to ask you to go all out on Eevee. May has been acting weird and gloomy lately so I just wanted to cheer her up a bit and after I thought of what usually cheers me up I figured that it would work for her as well."

Finally understanding the reasoning Pikachu actually facepalmed at his trainer's reasoning. While Pikapi's heart was in the right place as to the reason why, the method was way off, even he knew that much. But if this was the reason that his Pikapi was asking to battle it would be rude of him to turn it down.

Giving of a small sigh he jumped off of his perch and walked up near the center of the battlefield just as Eevee did the same. As they met in the middle Pikachu was still a little worried about what might happen, not only to Eevee but also with his problems involving both her and Buneary. Eevee on the other hand was still as happy and energetic as she usually looked, almost as if she didn't have a care in the world. The prospect of him hurting her during this battle once again passed through his mind and he silently shuddered at the thought.

"Are both trainers ready?" Dawn asked looking from one to the other.

"Ready," they both replied, confidence evident in each of their voices.

On the field Pikachu got into his usual pre-battle stance; head low to the ground, tail raised high, and sparks flying from his cheeks. But to both his and virtually everyone's shock Eevee began to copy his movements; bending down, tail high, and most surprising of all sparks started to fly from her body. His eyes went wide at the sight, but Eevee and May didn't seem to think anything of it.

"Start," Dawn said in an airy voice, wondering what the heck was going on.

Don't worry the battle should be entertaining and won't really be like the previous one. Well hope you enjoyed it and thanks for reading. Please review and I should be back on my normal schedule now so the next one will be up in a couple days.