Chased

May's POV

"Prepare for trouble with the things you see," Meowth said, sounding exactly like Jessie.

"These earring are just not me," Jessie said, speaking like James.

"An evil as old as the galaxy."

"Sent here to fulfil our destiny."

"Meowth that's me," James exclaimed in Meowth's voice, jumping and moving his paws up and down. I blinked. We all looked at each other before cracking up laughing. They had somehow been switched.

"This isn't working," Jessie said in Meowth's body.

"Who cares?" James said in Jessie's body, "with this baby we'll never have to work again." He gestured to the egg case in his arms. Oh no. They jumped down and started running as the clown took off after them. I ran after him. That egg held some sort of special connection with me. I had no idea how, but it did. The clown stopped and scowled as they flew up in some sort of flying machine.

"Pikachu, thunderbolt," Ash commanded.

"Wait," the clown finally spoke, "they have something important, we can't risk damage."

"Right," I agreed. He turned and looked to the side. I followed his gaze and saw a Fearow.

"A Fearow!" He exclaimed, pulling out a capture styler, "capture on." I blinked in shock.

"Pikachu, you go too," Ash said, apparently not nearly as stunned as I was. Pikachu climbed on the Fearow's back as he flew passed. The Fearow looped around the balloon and Pikachu jumped off. I squinted to see what was happening. Pikachu tackled James in Jessie's body and took the egg case into his hands. Pikachu fell off the edge while James almost fell off the other side. Fearow looped around and Pikachu landed safely on his back again. The Fearow circled up next to the balloon. The Fearow poked a hole in the balloon and Team Rocket was sent flying into the distance.

"We're blasting off again!" They yelled as the disappeared into the horizon. Fearow swooped low and Pikachu jumped off into his trainer's waiting arms. Lizabeth took the egg case off Pikachu and it was only then that I finally snapped out of my daze. The clown closed his capture styler and the Fearow flew loose again.

"You're a Pokémon ranger," I gasped, finally connecting the dots. The clown turned and nodded. He took off his wig to reveal thick blonde hair. He took off his red nose and carefully wiped off the coloured shapes that had been painted onto his face.

"Jack Walker," he said introducing himself. He winked one of his green eyes at me.

"Call me Jackie," he smirked. My eyes widened. Greens eyes and that smirk! My mind drifted again to my rival. I missed him so much.

"Hello May, are you there?" Ash asked, waving his hand in front of my face, "We're heading back down again." I snapped out of it and nodded. I had to stop letting my feeling take over me like this.

"You see," Jackie explained, "I'm on a mission right now and the Marina group has been helping me hide."

"We're sorry we couldn't tell you guys," Lizabeth apologised, "but we weren't allowed to. It's a secret you know." She handed the case to Jackie.

"This is the egg of a Pokémon called Manaphy," Jackie continued, pressing the button on the case again, "My mission is to see that it hatches and then return it safely to the sea temple." I leaned in close, the egg mesmerising me again.

"Wow," I breathed.

"I've heard a lot about Manaphy," Max spoke up, "It's supposed to be really rare and hardly anyone sees one."

"That must've been the Pokémon I saw in my dream."

"You mean you got to see it," Max exclaimed, "You're lucky May." It was then that I realized that I had accidentally spoken out loud. I blushed slightly. I froze, feeling the ground beneath me shake a bit. A strange sound filled the air. I turned towards the noise. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jackie scowl. He took out his phone and quickly dialled a number, yelling something that was drowned out by the noise of the approaching helicopters.

"Quick, everyone!" Jackie yelled, "We've got to get to the trailer!" Two Beedrills were released. My eyes widened, but I wasted no time in turning around and running like the rest of my companions. There was a split in the road. To my dismay, Jackie and Ash went one way, while the rest of us went the other. Max turned to look behind him.

"Max hurry," I gasped as he slowed down slightly. I took his arm and started to drag him along. A Beedrill flew down in front of us and Shep only just managed to avoid it. One came from behind us and we again started running. Another fork in the road came and to my horror, we split again. Shep, Lizabeth and Brock went to the right, while Max and I went to the left. I gripped Max's hand tightly. We just had to make it. I looked down the side of the cliff to see Jackie running with the egg case covered by a cream cloth. A gasped in horror when a rather large man, looking like a pirate, grabbed the cloth.

"May keep going!" Max shouted, now pulling me as the Beedrill chased after us.

"Ash!" I exclaimed, seeing him ahead. I spotted the egg case in his hands and sighed in relief.

"We gotta get out of here," Max exclaimed. A man dressed in blue stood in front of us, a Beedrill by his side.

"You think you're so strong don't you?" He said smirking. What was with that smirk today? Was everyone trying to remind me of Drew? Now is not the time to think about Drew, I told myself as the man ordered a pin missile. Pikachu used thunderbolt and I ran up the other path.

"Beedrill stop them with sludge bomb!" Ash jumped back, barely avoiding getting hit by the attack, but the egg flew out of his hands. I gasped as it came towards me. Drew told me I was clumsy and I usually didn't mind too much, but right now I was hoping that he was wrong. I sighed in relief as the egg landed safely in my arms. I hugged it close to my chest. I ran as fast as I could, away from the man. I felt that certain warmth come over me and I looked down slightly. I stopped as I saw the egg was glowing red.

"It's glowing," Max exclaimed.

"Give me that!" The pirate man from before jumped from the rock above. I ran away, but found myself backed against the wall.

"That belongs to me," he growled.

"Manaphy doesn't belong to anyone!" I yelled gaining some courage I never knew I had.

"Anything that has no owner belongs to me!" he snapped. He reached down and his hands closed over the case. Another pair of hands pulled at the man's face. I looked up to see Max.

"Don't you dare touch my sister," Max growled, trying to pull the man away. I struggled to keep my grip on the case as he tugged it. This man was strong. I stumbled back as the lid popped open, the egg flying out into the air. The man looked up. I watched in horror as it arched higher. I dropped the case and ran towards it. I jumped out to catch it just before it fell. I gasped in pain as I hit the ground. My skin stung. I would definitely have a few cuts and grazes to add to me collection of injuries, but I had the egg safely in my hands again. It continued to glow brighter, until red light shone out at all directions, like what I saw before my dream.

"May, give that to me!" Jackie called. I ignored him and slowly stood up. Something was telling me not to let go just get. The man and the boys got into some sort of fight, but I ignored that as well. I focused on the egg. It glowed white. My eyes widened. I'd seen this before with my Eevee. It was hatching. It sprouted two antennas and I had to close my eyes. It was too bright to look at. When the light died down and I dared to peek again, I saw a small blue bundle in my arms. It was exactly like the Pokémon from my dreams. It opened its blue and yellow eyes, looking at me. I smiled at it. Its eyes focussed on me and then something behind me. I looked up to see Dryden looking over at us. He backed up and quickly ran away again.

'Mana!' the Pokémon cried. It started to cry. I gently started rocking it, cooing to it softly. I heard the car and trailer pull up and Manaphy cried more, apparently not liking the noise.

"Quick guys!" Lizabeth called. I ran and ducked into the trailer.

The car took off, pulling the trailer behind it as I stood in Lizabeth's room. The rest of my friends crowded around me. In my arms Manaphy was still upset. I rocked him gently, cooing to him softly as I walked around. Manaphy slowly stopped and looked up at me. I let out a small giggle and Manaphy did the same. I sighed in relief and sat down on Lizabeth's bed.

"You don't mind if I sit here?" I asked. Lizabeth shook her head. Manaphy's eyes slowly started to close as he yawned. I gently rocked him until he was asleep.

"I think he's finally calmed down," Lizabeth stated.

"Manaphy must be tired," I sighed. My arms were starting to cramp from being in the same position.

"I can take over if you want," Meredith offered, holding out her arms.

"Thanks," I said, handing him over. Manaphy woke up as soon as he was transferred. He started to cry again. I stretched out my arms as Meredith tried rocking him back to sleep.

"I think Manaphy prefers you May," she sighed, sounding almost disappointed. I held out my tired arms once again and Manaphy cuddled into them. I hummed gently.

'Mana' he cried out happily and soon fell asleep again. Misty grinned at me.

"What?" I questioned.

"Manaphy thinks you're his mum," she exclaimed.

"That's true," Brock agreed thoughtfully, "often whoever a Pokémon sees after hatching is assumed to be its mother."

"I'm a mum," I breathed. I looked down at the sleeping bundle in my arms and smiled. I could work with being a mum. I was already Eevee's mum, now Glaceon. Pikachu jumped from Ash's head and climbed onto the bookshelf. Ash looked at him curiously. Pikachu pointed to the skylight. Ash awkwardly climbed up and pushed it open.

"They're back!" He yelled, jumping down and slamming the skylight shut. Meredith ran up ahead and must've told Kyle to drive faster because the caravan lurched forwards. I held Manaphy close as something sharp poked through the roof. It let out three other spikes, making it impossible to pull back out. They had caught us. Another one came through as Shep opened the door.

"Everyone!" he exclaimed, "We have to move up to the front." I got up, trying to hold both my balance and Manaphy. Max jumped into the car while Misty followed. I stumbled as I tried walking across the metal bar in between.

"Help me!" I squealed as I tumbled forwards. Misty caught my arm and dragged me in. Brock followed and turned back to help Lizabeth in. Ash ran across and then Jackie and finally Shep brought up the rear. He opened a panel on the side and flicked a switch. The trailer disconnected and went flying off the side of the road, pulling two helicopters with it. I sat down and buckled myself into one of the seats as we came into the cover of the trees. I looked down. Manaphy was awake now and looking around. It looked lost.

"It's ok," I cooed to it, "everything will be fine." I cuddled him close, rubbing my cheek against his. He seemed to be looking for something or someone and I wondered who or what it was.

I continued to rock Manaphy gently. The car soon stopped in front of an old ruin.

"Everybody out," Shep commanded. I undid my seat beat and quickly followed everyone out. We all headed into the ruin. There was an urgency in the air as we walked down the stairs. I blinked in shock upon coming to a dead end.

"Where do we go now?" Misty asked, sounding panicked. Ash came up next to her and put him arm over her shoulder.

"Don't worry," he said, "I'm sure they know what they're doing."

"But that pirate is following us," Misty complained, "We don't have time for this."

"I'll protect you!" Ash said, determinedly. In the dim light, I saw Misty's cheeks slowly turn pink. I giggled slightly. Shep walked up to a small red jewel on the wall and held up his bracelet against it. It glowed and a blue pattern appeared around it. He reached forwards and placed two fingers on the pattern. He then turned it like it was a dial. It glowed and the wall opened. My eyes widened. Shep turned to us as Lizabeth, Meredith and Kyle walked into the passage behind the door.

"Do you have any water Pokémon?" he asked. I nodded, as did the others.

"In that case it's your turn." I walked through. More stairs. I was trying to balance my walking between being careful and fast. There was a need to get ahead and quickly, but like Drew had told me many times, I was extremely clumsy. I didn't want to drop Manaphy in my arms. I came to the bottom and I saw that the path ended and instead continued with water. Manaphy struggled in my arms and I realized that he wanted to go down. I gently placed him on the ground. He immediately jumped into the water and started swimming around, jumping out of the water whenever he felt like it. Kyle released his Dewgong into the water and waded into the water. He held on tightly to his Pokémon and steered it away from the edge. Shep went next, releasing his Seaking. Meredith used a Poliwhirl and Lizabeth released her Gorebyss. Ash stood up, and took out his Pokémon. He released his Corphish. Misty followed with her Starmie. Finally snapping out of it, I released my Wartortle. Yeah, Squirtle had evolved. Brock released his Marshtomp. Buizel hopped around Max's legs. I had forgotten about him. Apparently he wanted Max to use him. Max laughed as Buizel got into the water and beckoned for Max to hold onto him. Max shook his head and put the Pokéball he was holding back in his pocket. I was wondering what water Pokémon Max owned. I hadn't seen it yet and he certainly hadn't told me about it. Manaphy swam around me and then led the way down the halls. We all followed him, only half of us actually knowing where we were going. Better not get lost.