November 5th (LaRousse City, Hoenn)
(May's POV)
We arrived in LaRousse in no time and were riding in a limo to the event center where the charity fundraiser was supposed to be. Thankfully, no paparazzi were around when we got out and we went inside to find Max near the entrance.
"What are you doing here Max?" I asked after I gave him a hug with everyone else following Drew inside the event center.
"Lizzy invited me," he said. "Why are you here?"
"Drew begged me to so he could give his mother a reason not to auction him off," I said while rolling my eyes.
"So is this a date?" Max teased.
I blushed, "I guess you could say it is."
"Does this make you a couple?" he teased again.
"Yea, we got together the night of homecoming."
"We'll I'm happy for ya, but this means I get to explain the rules to him."
I frowned slightly, "You will do no such thing, especially now since he's uptight about being auctioned off."
"He's got it coming though," he warned.
"Who's got what coming?" Drew asked as he came back with the gang.
"The rules for dating my sister," he said firmly causing me to put my head in my hand.
"Not now Max," I said through clenched teeth.
"Hey May," Lizzy said as she gave me a hug.
"Hey Lizzy, how are you doing?" I asked.
"Good, can I see your aura before people show up?" she asked.
"I guess," I said as I made a small sphere in my hands.
"That's so cool, wish I could do that," Lizzy said in awe.
"By the way May, how are you feeling from yesterday?" Max asked.
"I'm doing a lot better, and by the way, thanks for sending the phone clip," I snapped causing the gang to snicker.
"Sorry, but I couldn't resist," he teased.
"You are gonna…...ahhh!" I groaned in frustration, throwing my hands down.
Drew came up and gave me a side hug while kissing my cheek, "Calm down air head, we don't want you to fry any brain cells," he teased causing Lizzy to look shocked and then excited.
"Does this mean what I think it means?" she asked excitedly.
I rolled my eyes while Drew smirked causing Lizzy to smirk in response, "Yea, you're one step closer to becoming my sister-in-law," she said happily.
I put my head in my hand again, "Why do I bother," I sighed.
"Lizzy, can you stop making references like that out of respect for May?" Drew asked.
"Hmm…nah, cause it will happen," she said smirking.
"What will happen?" Jennifer asked as she and husband came into the room.
"That May will become my sister-in-law," Lizzy said arrogantly with a smirk causing me to blush and shake my head while still holding it in my hand.
"Now I can understand why you get annoyed with me sometimes," Drew said.
"What are you talking about?" Jennifer asked.
"Drew's dating May," Lizzy said happily.
"Finally, you two look so cute together," she said causing me and Drew to blush.
"I told you," Dawn said.
"Especially at homecoming night," Misty added causing me to blush.
Drew saw my discomfort and gave me a side hug.
"So now that May and I are a couple, can I please not be auctioned off?" Drew begged.
Jennifer had a look of thought on her face, "I think I can let it slide," she said with a smile. "Though you have to stick around and not avoid the event."
"Done," Drew said quickly.
"Speaking of the event, it looks like everyone will be arriving soon," I said as I looked at my poketch.
"You're right May, we better get ready," Jennifer said as she went to the other room to see that everything was ready.
A variety of people began to arrive ranging from teens to elderly people. I also learned that the organization for the event was the children's hospital here in LaRousse. The event was actually going really well and a group of kids from the hospital were here.
I was chatting with the gang as I heard a small "excuse me" from behind me.
"Yes?" I asked politely while turning around to see a girl about nine years old with brown hair in two braids and green eyes.
"Are you May Maple?" she asked shyly.
I gave a smile, "I am, who are you and your friends?" I asked as I noticed some more kids a small distance away.
"My name is Sarah. My friends behind me are Chris, Lucy, David, Julie, John, and Amy," she said. "We were wondering if you could sign our autograph book?"
"I'd be happy to," I said as I signed it.
"Thanks, you guys can sign it too," Sarah said to the gang as her friends came up shyly.
"I'd be happy to," Dawn said cheerfully as she signed it before handing it off for everyone else to sign.
"Thanks very much," Sarah said gratefully.
"Are you patients at the children's hospital?" I asked.
"We are, we're some of the kids there. There are a lot more, but we were chosen to come down here to represent the hospital," Lucy explained who looked thirteen.
"Are your parents here?" Dawn asked.
Suddenly a little girl looked upset and ran off, "Did I say something bad?" Dawn asked concerned.
"You didn't, everyone's parents are here but Amy's. Her parents died a few months ago and her only family is an aunt who travels constantly on business," Sarah explained.
"Poor Amy," I said sadly. "I'll go talk to her."
I soon walked out where Amy did and saw that she was sitting next to a pond that was outside looking at the water. I walked up slowly and sat next to her.
After a few moments she finally spoke, "Why did they die?" she asked sadly.
"They didn't want to, it's just that bad things happen to us that we can't control," I said honestly.
"I still don't understand why I feel so alone," she cried as tears began to fall down her face.
I took her into my arms and let her cry with a few of my own falling, "Believe me, I understand how you feel. My own parents died when I was seven and their death shattered me. Even though I had my brother, I felt completely alone," I said sadly as she sniffed before I had her look up at me.
"Believe me when I say that you are never alone. You are always surrounded by those who care about you, and even though your parents are gone, they are still in here," I said as I pointed to her heart. "And they will always be with you."
"How do you know?" she asked.
"Because I felt alone for the longest time. I finally realized that many people cared for me and that my parents never really left. They were always with me ever since they died," I said with a smile.
"I guess you're right, I do feel their presence somehow and I guess my friends do care for me," she agreed.
"Does the hospital have any pokemon?" I asked.
"No, they don't like having pokemon there," she said sadly.
I took out Chikorita's pokeball, "I want you to meet a friend of mine," I said as I tossed it into the air.
"Chika," she said happily.
"It's a Chikorita," Amy said happily.
"That's right, I found her yesterday after someone was trying to scare her to death. I want to find her a nice home and I think you and the other kids at the hospital will be a nice place for her to stay," I explained with a smile.
"But the warden, Nancy, won't allow pokemon," Amy said sadly as she pet Chikorita's leaf making her beam with happiness.
"I'll have a chat with her, but I feel that Chikorita feels alone as well. I think that she will be a good friend to you while you're in the hospital."
"Thanks May," Amy said with a smile as she gave me a hug.
"You're welcome," I said and noticed that the gang, Amy's friends, and an older woman standing behind.
"Chikorita, would you like to cheer up children like Amy all the time?" I asked.
"Chika," she said happily as she rubbed herself against Amy.
"How would you like to live at the children's hospital and cheer children like Amy up?" I asked.
"Chika," she said with a smile.
"Good," I said with a smile. "Amy, why don't you introduce Chikorita to your friends."
"Okay," she said as she and Chikorita raced off to Amy's friends.
I stood up as the everyone else walked up to me, "I want to thank you for getting Amy to talk, she stopped talking after finding out her parents died," the elderly lady said sadly.
"I'm glad I was able to help. All I did was speak from the heart and my own experience. Are you by chance the warden of the hospital?" I asked.
"Yes, my name is Nancy."
"Nancy, I was wondering if Chikorita could stay at the hospital and play with the children while they stay there," I said while watching the children play with Chikorita.
"I don't know, we aren't supposed to have pokemon at the hospital," she said.
"I think there should be," I said firmly. "Because these children should have experience with pokemon, even while in a hospital. They are future trainers and coordinators who should experience meeting with many different pokemon no matter their circumstance. Also, Chikorita can help comfort the children who feel lonely like Amy was."
"Young lady, I believe you're right. It would be a good idea to have a pokemon, or maybe a few, in the hospital to comfort the children," she agreed with a smile.
"Good, here's Chikorita's pokeball. I believe she'll be good for the kids," I said as I handed over the pokeball.
"Thanks so much," Nancy said gratefully.
Suddenly I heard a scream coming from the kids and I saw that it was Amy was beginning grabbed by a huge crane arm and being lifted into the sky with Chikorita in her arms.
"Prepare for trouble," Jessie said.
"And make it double," James finished.
"No no no, I'm not hearing this again!" I shouted as I ran to the kids.
"How dare you interrupt our motto," Jessie screeched.
"How dare you steal and kidnap," I retorted as I threw three of my pokeballs. "Team, let's go!"
Soon Lucario, Blaziken, and Altaria appeared, "Lucario use Aura sphere and Blaziken use Ember, Altaria get ready," I shouted as Lucario and Blaziken shot their attacks at mechanical arm breaking it cause Amy to fall with Chikorita in her arms.
"Altaria, fly and catch them. Blaziken, lift off," I shouted as I broke into a run toward Blaziken who was crouched down with his hands together. I took a step in them and he threw me in the air. When I got about two-thirds of the way to the balloon, I crossed my arms so that my hands touched my shoulders and slashed them straight fast activating the fingernail darts to hit the balloon and cause a bunch of holes to appear.
"Dragonair, let's go," I shouted as I tossed her pokeball for her to appear.
"Team Rocket is blasting off again," they shouted as they disappeared with their balloon not before something hit Dragonair hard causing her to faint. Now I was falling down with no one to catch me.
"May!" everyone shouted.
"Dragonair, return. Glaceon, use Ice Beam to make a pillar with a branch," I shouted as I swapped pokemon.
"Glace," she said and did as I asked.
Soon I used my poketch to shoot the grappling line and it wound around the branch. I then swung down and around to the ground safely.
"Are you okay?" I asked Amy as I let the grappling line go from my poketch.
"I'm fine. Thanks for saving me," she said.
I shook my head with a small smile, "Don't thank me, thank my pokemon. They saved you," I said gesturing to my team.
"Thanks, Chika," Amy and Chikorita said gratefully.
"Your pokemon are so cool," Chris said in awe.
"Hang on, let me call out my other two," I said as I tossed my last two pokeballs into the air.
Soon Skitty appeared along with Dragonair who appeared to look faint.
"Here you go Dragonair," I said as I pulled some healing Pokeblock from my pocket.
"Dragonair," she said happily after she was healed.
"Can you have a battle?" Sarah asked with big eyes causing me to smile.
"I don't see why not, Drew?" I asked.
He had a smirk, "Why not, I've been wanting a rematch, just be prepared to lose," he teased.
"In your dreams grasshead," I teased back as he called out Roserade. "Glaceon, you're up."
"Glace," she said.
"I'll referee," Dawn said cheerfully. "This battle is a single battle with no substitutions and begin!"
"Roserade, use Petal Dance," Drew shouted.
"Counter with Blizzard," I shouted.
The Blizzard froze the Petal Dance causing frozen petals to fall everywhere.
"Roserade use Bullet Seed."
"Hmm….okay Glaceon you know what to do," I said with a smirk.
"Glace," she said and quickly used Dig to dodge.
"Use Shadow Ball," I shouted.
"Rose," Roserade shouted as she got hit with Shadow Ball.
"Use Mega Drain," Drew shouted.
"Dodge it," I shouted.
Unfortunately, Glaceon wasn't fast enough and got hit hard, "Are you alright?" I called concerned.
"Glace," she said determined.
"Alright, use Ice Shard."
"Roserade, use Bullet Seed."
The Bullet Seed knocked out the Ice Shard and hit Glaceon.
"Glaceon, use Ice Beam."
"Jump and use Stun Spore," Drew shouted.
Glaceon covered the whole area in ice, but Roserade dodged and used Stun Spore at Glaceon before she could move.
"Finish with Solar Beam," Drew shouted.
"Glaceon dodge it," I cried in vain knowing she couldn't but I was hoping she could.
"Glace," she cried weakly trying to dodge it, but was paralyzed from Stun Spore.
Solar beam hit Glaceon hard causing her to faint.
"Glaceon is no longer able to battle, the winner of the match is Drew and Roserade," Dawn announced.
I rushed up to Glaceon to see that the Stun Spore was starting to take effect. I quickly knelt down next to her while grabbing some healing Pokeblock and gave it to her.
"Glace," she said weakly after eating it.
"Relax," I said gently before returning her. "You battled well, take a good rest."
"Not bad May, but I warned you that you would lose," Drew teased.
I rolled my eyes before turning to Roserade, "Thanks for the battle," I said with a smile.
"Roserade," she said with a nod.
"That was awesome," Sarah said with shiny eyes.
"I wish I could do well like that in a contest battle," Lucy said sadly.
"Are you a coordinator?" I asked.
"I was before I became incredibly sick. I don't know if I'll go back to it after I leave. I feel that I'm not any good at it. I haven't won a ribbon in a long time," she explained.
I gave her a small smile, "I understand how you feel. When I started out as a coordinator, I had no confidence in myself at all. When I was doing the contest circuit in Johto a few years ago, I fell into a rut of where I lost three contests in a row and I thought about quitting. Understand that coordinators and trainers alike face hard times like you when facing loss, but don't give up. If being a coordinator is what you want to do, train hard and bond with your pokemon. Together both of you will shine and achieve what you dream."
Lucy gave a small smile, "Thanks May, I'll try harder. Seeing two top coordinators battle has given me inspiration and determination to continue training when I leave," she determined.
"I'm glad to hear that, I wish you the best of luck," I said.
"Is it true that you put together the tribute a few weeks ago at the Wallace Cup?" Julie asked shyly.
"Somewhat, the girls and I put it together," I explained.
"May, stop. It was you who came up with the idea," Misty said.
"But you girls helped me put it together," I pointed out.
"So you came up with the idea?" David asked.
"You could say that," I agreed.
"Could you sing a song to raise money?" Sarah asked.
I became flustered, "I don't know, I don't think people would want me to."
"I believe that's a good idea," Nancy agreed. "Everyone loved you singing at the tribute and it would be for a good cause."
"Please?" John begged with big eyes.
I couldn't help but smile, "I guess I could sing something if people donate enough," I said finally giving in.
"Yea!" the kids cheered as they rushed inside excitedly with Nancy following them.
I sighed causing Lucario to look at me, "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I shouldn't be singing, but I couldn't say no to little John or the other kids," I said worriedly.
"So be it, do what you want to do. I can sense that your aura is intertwined with music, you can't help it, music is a part of you," he said firmly.
I gave a small smile, "I suppose you're right and it is for a good cause," I said as everyone else stared at me.
"You okay May?" Drew asked concerned.
"I'm fine now, Lucario helped point something out to me. I wonder how much the money the kids were able to raise?"
Soon Sarah came outside incredibly excited, "We were able to raise $3000 pokedollars in ten minutes," she said happily.
I was shocked along with everyone else, "Everyone raised that much?" I asked astonished.
"Yup, now come on May. Everyone is waiting for you to sing," she said impatiently as she started dragging me inside with the gang following me along with Roserade and my pokemon.
We walked into the main room to see that everyone began to clap and I made my way on stage, "Hi everyone, I wrote this song a little while ago. I hope you enjoy it," I said as music began to play.
May: Into your head, into your mind
Out of your soul, race through your veins
You can't escape, you can't escape.
Into your life, into your dreams,
Out of the dark, sunlight again.
You can't explain, you can't explain.
Can you feel it, can you feel it,
Rushin' through your hair,
Rushin' through your head,
Can you feel it, can you feel it,
Don't let nobody tell you, your life is over,
Be every color that you are,
Into the rush now,
You don't have to know how,
Know it all before you try.
Pulling you in, spinning you 'round,
Lifting your feet right off the ground,
You can't believe it's happening now.
Can You feel it, can you feel it,
Rushin' through your hair,
Rushin' through your head,
Can you feel it, can you feel it,
Don't let nobody tell you, your life is over,
Be every color that you are,
Into the rush now,
You don't have to know how,
Know it all before you try.
It takes you to another place,
Imagine everything you can.
All the colors start to blend,
Your system overloads again.
Can you feel it?
Don't let nobody tell you, your life is over,
Be every color that you are,
Into the rush now,
You don't have to know how,
Know it all before you try.
Don't let nobody tell you,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't let nobody tell you,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't let nobody tell you, your life is over,
Be every color that you are,
Into the rush now,
You don't have to know how,
Know it all before you try
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I finished singing and everyone in the whole room applauded while the kids from the hospital looked extremely happy. That made me feel really good and I decided that I wasn't gonna stop here.
"Thanks so much for the applause everyone," I said as everyone settled down. "I'm gonna make a deal with you. If all of you can donate another total of $5000 pokedollars, I'll sing another song."
I walked off stage to where everyone was, "That was incredible," Sarah said with her eyes shining brightly.
"I'm glad you liked it," I said with a laugh.
"Will you really sing another song?" Amy asked.
"If people raise enough money," I said before a twinkle appeared in my eyes.
I saw that on the screen showing the amount of money being raised that it already hit $3000 again, "What song are you gonna sing?" Lucy asked.
"It's another one that I wrote a little while ago," I said before I saw with wide eyes that the goal of $5000 pokedollars was made.
"I'll be right back, I've got to find Max," I said leaving everyone confused.
I soon found Max sitting by Lizzy, "Hey Max, you think you can help me out?" I asked.
"Sure May whatcha need?" he asked.
I whispered my plan in his ear causing him to smile, "You bet May," he said happily as he followed me backstage.
Once everything was set and I was wearing a mic, I walked onstage again to hear more applause, "Thanks everyone for all the money you just donated and I hope you like this song and it gets you moving.
Soon you could hear guitar starting to play and I began to sing.
May: Here I am, once again
Feeling lost but now and then
I breathe it in to let it go
Soon I started to dance as I continued to sing causing people to clap to the rhythm of the song.
And you don't know
Where you are now
Or what it would come to
If only somebody could hear
When you figure out how
You're lost in the moment
You disappear
I threw a smoke pelt at the ground causing a small puff of smoke to appear as I "disappeared" with Kirlia using Teleport for me to wind up next to the kids from the hospital causing them to smile in surprise as I continued to sing and dance.
You don't have to be afraid to put your dream in action
You're never gonna fade you'll be the main attraction
Not a fantasy
Just remember me
When it turns out right
Then I signaled for them to follow me back onto the stage to dance with me as I continued to perform.
'Cause you know that if you live in your imagination
Tomorrow you'll be everybody's fascination
In my victory
Just remember me
When I make it shine!
Reaching high
Feeling low
I'm holding on but letting go
I like to shine
I'll shine for you
And it's time to show the world how
It's a little bit closer
As long as I'm ready to go
All we have is right now
As long as you feel it inside you know...
You don't have to be afraid to put your dream in action
Your never gonna fade you'll be the main attraction
Not a fantasy
Just remember me
When it turns out right
'Cause you know that if you live in your imagination
Tomorrow you'll be everybody's fascination
In my victory
Just remember me
When I make it shine!
Everyone can tell you how it's all been said and done
That harder times will change your mind and make you wanna run
But you want it
And you need it
Like you need to breathe the air
If they doubt you
Just believe it
That's enough to get you there
Soon I did a few dance moves and did a back flip to land on my feet before singing the chorus one last time with the kids dancing like crazy.
You don't have to be afraid to put your dream in action
Your never gonna fade you'll be the main attraction
Not a fantasy
Just remember me
When it turns out right
'Cause you know that if you live in your imagination
Tomorrow you'll be everybody's fascination
In my victory
Just remember me
When I make it SHINE!
Soon the song stopped with the kids and I striking a pose causing everyone to applause and Jennifer walked on stage causing the applause to die down.
"I believe that was one awesome performance," she said causing everyone to applaud again.
"May, do you think you could raise the goal again for us?" she asked.
I smiled, "I believe I can. If you guys raise another total of $10,000 pokedollars, I'll have both songs performed from today posted online for sale tomorrow on Poketunes."
"You heard her, I'll give everyone ten minutes for us to reach that goal and we'll keep track on the board," Jennifer said as the kids and I walked off stage.
"That was some awesome dancing you guys," I complimented them.
"Thanks May, but you did the best out of all of us," Lucy said.
"Did you all have fun though?" I asked.
"Yea, that was a ton of fun," Sarah said happily.
"Good," I said as the gang walked up to us.
"Great performance May, you sure had everyone pumped during the whole thing," Leaf said.
"I'll say, I sure hope everyone donates enough money. I want to get both your songs," Dawn said.
"I didn't think they were that good," I said honestly.
"They weren't good, they were awesome," Amy said happily.
I laughed, "If you say so."
"May, they reached the goal and over," Sarah said excitedly causing me to look at the board in shock, instead of seeing $10,000 I saw $20,000 and it was still going.
I couldn't say anything, I was just shocked beyond belief. I didn't know that people liked my music this much.
"May, you in there?" Dawn asked as she waved her hand in front on my face.
I snapped out of my thoughts, "I'm here," I said. "I just can't believe what I'm seeing."
"I'll say," Lizzy said as she came up with Max.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"May, normally the charity events my mom throws raise about $15,000 total. This time you caused that number to at least double," she said.
"Are you serious?" I asked surprised.
"I am, but I can't say I'm not surprised. You have a talent May. Scratch that, you'll full of talent in some many areas that it's unbelievable," she said truthfully.
My pokemon nodded in agreement along with everyone else causing me to smile. Soon the event came to a close with raising over $35,000 . The kids soon left to head back to the hospital and the gang and I were flying back to Lilycove High with me in thought.
"You still can't wrap your head around what happened today can you?" Drew asked.
"Not really, I'm happy and worried," I admitted.
"Why on earth are you worried, you got the confidence to sing and you made a group of kids feel happy," Dawn said surprised.
"I'm not worried about that. What I'm worried about is how this will impact me. I feel I'm putting more on my plate than I can handle," I said anxiously.
"Don't worry about it, you'll handle it. If you can handle disconnecting bombs and the drama queens at school, I'm sure this won't be a problem for ya," Misty said.
I gave a small smile, "I guess you're right, now I've got a long night ahead of me."
"Why's that?" Gary asked.
"I've got two songs to edit if they're gonna make it on Poketunes tomorrow," I said with a smile.
Team Rocket Headquarters
"Dr. Sebastian, what is the status of our current project," the boss of Team Rocket asked.
"We continued the scan of the voice, but it was a little bit fuzzy. As for the map and gems, we need the next part of the map in order to continue, but we haven't found it," Dr. Sebastian reported.
"Leave the finding of the map pieces to the professors of the regions. They'll find the pieces soon enough like Oak and Elm did," the boss said. "Continue with research until the next piece is found."
"Yes sir," Dr. Sebastian said before the boss of Team Rocket left the lab with his loyal Persian following behind.