Chapter 25: I am here for you

It had been two and a half weeks since the events on the coastline of Hoenn, May had moved with Ash back to his new house in Kanto. It was a small house with a patch of land that he let his Pokémon roam when they weren't at professor Oaks lab.

May had asked Ash to not tell her family about her involvement with New Magma who had since been charged with manipulation of a legendary Pokémon and eco-terrorism. Ash had agreed knowing the types of trouble May could get into could be permanent.

For the time being Ash simple wanted May to deal with her actions in her own time and in her own space so he gave her plenty of both. They both however did their best to make their Pokémon friends again. This was harder for the ones like Charizard and Sceptile who had fought May's Pokémon on that day but everyone was slowly coming around, realising they couldn't hold a grudge forever. Everyone except Pikachu, the electric type was getting along with May's Pokémon but refused to even acknowledge May. He had the most reason out of anyone, he had been betrayed, imprisoned, tortured and critically injured by Mismagius under May's direction. When May looked into his eyes on the rare occasion he even turned her way all she could see was hatred and even though Ash wasn't happy with Pikachu's attitude May understood, he had suffered the most. This was made particularly hard since Pikachu was the only Pokémon that stayed indoors and outside his Pokeball and since he was constantly by Ash's side meant he always had to see May.

The days had dragged on slowly, Ash would go to work and May would stay at home. To keep herself busy she often interacted with the Pokémon or went for long walks. She didn't know what to do with herself now that New Magma was finished, she had been given a second chance but she didn't know how to use it. To top it all off she felt that something was wrong deep inside of her.

As the start of the third week approached Ash noted that May had gotten more and more quiet, she spent more time in her room often skipped meals and yesterday didn't even talk to him. Ash had told himself to give her some space but he feared that she might be falling into depression of losing hope. So that morning before he went to work Ash knocked on her bedroom door.

"Hey May you up yet?" Ash asked.

"Yes I'm awake." May's voice came from behind the door.

"Well I'm off to work I'm just checking if you're ok." Ash stated.

"Yeah I'm fine." May replied.

"You don't want me to get you anything before I come back?" Ash asked.

"No I'm right." May responded.

"It's just that you've been rather quiet lately, you know if there's anything you need to talk about I'm right here." Ash stated the time it took May to respond being much longer than usual.

"I know and thanks again I really do appreciate everything." May replied.

"Alright I'll let you be, goodbye." Ash finished before he started walking towards the front door when May's door burst open.

"Ash wait!" May let out causing Ash to turn around and see the girl looking distressed and holding something in her hand.

"What, what wrong?" Ash responded.

May seemed to almost be trembling holding both hands up to her chest she placed one forward with the object in her fist. As she uncurled her fingers Ash saw a thin white piece of plastic however the feature that drew his attention was the red plus in the middle.

"Ash, I'm pregnant." May revealed.

A hundred conflicting thoughts raced through Ash's head all at once, questions, disbelief and confusion all wrapped into one which exited his mouth as a mumble of what's, uh's, and voice cracks.

"That night in the Pokémon centre, that's the only explanation." May explained looking down at the floor.

"But you said you were on the pill?" Ash exclaimed.

"Yes but I hadn't been taking it as much as I was supposed to and at the time I never thought that the two of us would go that far, I don't know it got so out of hand." May tried to talk calmly but her insecurity was showing through very easily.

"Well what do you want to do, are you going to keep it?" Ash exclaimed.

"I don't know Ash, I mean I'm not even nineteen and I'm pregnant with your child. I never wanted to put this burden on you and…I'm so scared Ash! What am I going to do!" May cried out as she fell to her knees and cried into her hands.

Ash kneeled down and pulled May close to him wrapping his arms around her as she replaced her hands with his shoulder and cried as he slowly rubbed her back.

"I can understand why you're so conflicted May, but whatever you decide to do I'll be right beside you. This is my responsibility as well." Ash spoke softly to her.

May wiped away her tears she knew deep down that Ash wasn't the type of person to leave her like this but the thought alone made her an emotional wreck. There was still the choice of if she was going to keep it.

"Thank you Ash, now that I know you'll be with me. I want to keep the baby." May pronounced.

"Then we'll work through this together." Ash smiled lightly.

"Before we do anything I want to confirm that I am pregnant so I'll book in to get an ultrasound ok." May said looking at Ash.

"Of course, by the way do you need me to get you anything now?" Ash asked.

"If I think of anything I'll ring you ok." May smiled

"Alright I just wish you told me sooner because I won't be able to think of anything else all day." Ash stated as he stood up.

"Just don't let anyone know ok." May stated.

"Got it, take care now." Ash smiled as got up to exit the house.

"I never thought about what it would be like to be a father." Ash trailed off deep in thought.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see, goodbye May." Ash smiled as he exited.

"Goodbye." May gleamed as Ash got in his car and drove off.

May watched as Ash drove away placing one hand over her stomach, this situation never entered her mind that night and she knew the road would be tough but if it brought her and Ash closer she was sure it was for the better.

Three days later Ash and May sat in the hospital waiting for their appointment to have an ultrasound. As May had predicted the two of them had gotten closer, they still slept in different rooms and the most physical contact they had was the occasional hug but they had begun communicating again which was an important step. As they waited Ash smiled brightly,May hadn't seen him properly smile since that night in the Pokémon centre it seemed that the prospect of being a parent excited him in a way.

"Ash aren't you even a little bit nervous?" May asked.

"Nervous? I'm terrified." Ash chuckled.

"Same here." May replied with a slight giggle.

"But I'm happy you know." Ash stated as he griped May's hand entwining their finger together.

"So am I, you don't know how grateful I am that you're here." May spoke gripping Ash's hand slightly tighter.

"Because of that I think it's time I told you why I joined New Magma in the first place." May revealed.

"Actually that is something I was meaning to ask you, go ahead." Ash insisted.

"Well you see a bit over a year ago I met someone named Brendan, he was a strong trainer who really loved Pokémon in many ways he was a lot like you." May began.

"We hit it off started dating and together we raised funds for various charities. Then one day Brendan decided to join the Pokémon Rangers, I was opposed to it but he was insistent that that was what he wanted to do." May sighed remembering the past events.

"He completed his basic training and went on a few assignments. Then I got a phone call from the Rangers, they told that Brendan had been investigating a group that claimed to be an extremist faction of Team Aqua. Brendan had fought them and stopped there operation but he had sustained serious injuries by the time backup arrived, Brendan had passed away." May looked down in silence.

Ash could easily tell that Brendan meant a lot to her and to loss him at such a young age must have been such a devastating blow.

"I was lost, confused and angry. In a way I wanted to get back at the people who had caused Brendan's death. Not long after that a representative from one of the charities we donated to called 'Gaining Ground' came to me saying they wanted to offer me a job. That company was really New Magma and though they did do conservation work there end goal was to raise Groudon and create more land off Hoenn. Basically what you saw that day." May revealed.

"So they recruited you while you were grieving and used your passion for conservation against you." Ash concluded.

"Yes but still I can't believe I went along with everything they said and never questioned it, I was so stupid." May uttered as she placed her hand over her forehead.

"That's in the past now we have to look to the future, which is why we're here right?" Ash stated positively.

"Yeah that's right." May smiled back gripping Ash's hand again.

"May and Ash you're up next." One of the nurses informed the pair.

May turned to Ash and took in a deep breath, the two of them walked into the room. The female doctor had May lay down as she made all the preparations, Ash stood by her as it was an important moment for both of them. The doctor got May to lift up her shirt and applied the cold gel before lowering the small scanner onto her stomach.

Soon after the image came up on screen though to both May and Ash it looked like a cluster of grey lines. May was getting excited and nervous at the same time, she would soon see the life inside her. The doctor tilted her head slightly and moved the scanner around again, May wasn't sure how long it was meant to take but she was now starting to get worried.

"I'm sorry to say May but you are not pregnant, there is no sign of any growth what so ever." The doctor revealed.

"What?" Ash asked.

May sat there in shock, she wasn't pregnant after all? How could that be?

"Tell me how many pregnancy tests did you try?" The doctor asked.

"Just the one." May admitted.

"Ok well those things aren't always one hundred percent accurate so it's possible you were never pregnant to begin with. However it's also possible that your body aborted the embryo over the last few days. We can take some tests however we may never know." The doctor informed them as well as she could.

"Could you take one last look, please?" May asked still in shock.

The doctor nodded but it was clear she knew she wouldn't find anything. As she worked the sensor over May she and Ash watched intently but it all looked all the same to him.

"I'm sorry there isn't any sign of a fertilised egg there, your body is perfectly fine it's seems that this time you either never were pregnant or your body rejected it." The doctor finished.

May looked down almost completely spacing out, why didn't she do another pregnancy test? Then if it came up negative she might of gone in thinking it would be fifty-fifty chance. But she didn't and now she was left with all her excitement turning to disbelief and depression.

"May are you alright?" Ash asked placing one hand over her shoulder.

"Thank you for your time doctor, Ash can you take me home please?" May responded quietly and weakly.

"Of course let's go." Ash then thanked the doctor paid the charge and walked May out to the car.

May didn't say anything the entire way back to the car, she didn't look like she was going to cry she just seemed absent. Ash got in the driver's seat while May sat in the passenger side, still completely silent.

"I'm sorry May, please talk to me." Ash insisted.

"Ok but I'd like to go back to your place first." May looked up at him.

"Alright but please let me help you through this." Ash insisted getting a slow nod from May.

The drive home was completely silent, Ash didn't know how to even start. He himself was shocked about the whole situation but he knew that was nothing compared to what May must have been going through. Everything remained silent until Ash started pulling into his driveway and his phone started ringing. Ash answered it and Lance's voice came through.

"Ash I'm sorry to call you like this but the Pokémon League is holding an urgent meeting and you have to attend." Lance informed Ash.

"Sorry Lance but right now I'm in the middle of something very important." Ash objected.

"Well I believe you but unfortunately the league probably won't care what it is and it hurts to say but if you don't come you'll be risking your place as an Elite Four member." Lance revealed.

"Well you can tell the board that right now that I'm-" Ash started to protest when May interrupted.

"Ash it's alright, if it's your job on the line then you shouldn't forsake that for me." May told Ash.

"May I can't just leave you after what's happened, it's my responsibility as well and I can tell you aren't feeling right about it." Ash spoke with the phone pressed on his shoulder.

"I'll be fine and besides you won't be gone forever." May spoke as she rested one hand on his arm.

"Lance how long will this take?" Ash asked.

"I can't say for certain, hopefully not too long." Lance replied.

"You've sacrificed so much for me, don't sacrifice your job as well." May added.

Ash didn't like it but knowing his job was on the line and the responsibilities he had tied to that job were what forced his hand.

"Alright I'll go, but I'll be back as soon as I can." Ash stated.

May leaned over and gave Ash a firm hug something that they both needed, with that she got out of the car and watched as he turned around and drove to the Pokémon League. May entered the house and walked straight to her room, she shut the door despite the fact Ash wasn't even there fell on the bed and let all of her pent up emotions pour out of her.

She grabbed her pillow, held it close to herself and wept, for her this was the final nail in the coffin. The moment she knew Ash was going to be there for her to have a child May had placed everything on having it with him. She wanted them to grow close together again, move in together, maybe even fall in love. But those dreams had been shattered by yet another one of her own stupid mistakes. As she cried and cried May became convinced that she could no longer make any right decisions, with the combination of events that had lend up to this over the last year May had hit her rock bottom. She didn't know how long she cried for as she shed countless tears she didn't even notice the door opened or the small creature entering her room. It wasn't until it jumped on the bed and tapped her back that May jumped up and saw exactly who had come in.

"Pikachu?" May spoke weakly.

The electric type stood on the bed looking at her with a sad expression, without a sound he slowly crawled up to May slid under her arm and nuzzled lightly against her chest.

"Pika." The small mouse Pokémon cooed.

May lay there with Pikachu in her arms looking at him in disbelief, yesterday he hated her and now he was snuggling close to her trying to comfort her. Ash and May didn't tell Pikachu that she might be pregnant, did he figure it out? Or was it that he simply knew that May was suffering and that she needed someone to be there for her? For him to put aside his anger like this and try to help relieve some of her pain was the most touching thing that he had done for her.

If Pikachu could forgive her then she could recover from this, if not for herself then for those around her. Pikachu, her Pokémon, her family and Ash she could recover for them and work to fix what she had done wrong. She sat up and pulled Pikachu in tighter, she could see so much of Ash in him including his way of healing those he was around.

"Thank you Pikachu." May whispered a final tear escaping the corner of her eye.

Pikachu and May sat there, she stroked his fur as the time flowed by. It was quiet and peaceful just what May needed, not crying till her eyes hurt just sitting with her friend in her arms. She was still hurting but thanks to Pikachu pulling her out of her misery she was recovering, soon she would be ready to take her life back.

The meeting had lasted far longer than either Ash or Lance had anticipated, it was ironically about the incident in Hoenn that Ash and May were involved in which they now dubbed The Blood Sky Incident. All Ash cared about was getting home and seeing May, it was nearly nightfall and it had been many hours since he had left, as he pulled in Ash prayed May would forgive him. Ash entered the house and smelled something cooking, he didn't bother to keep smelling and called out for May.

"May you here?" Ash called out.

"I'm in the kitchen." May replied.

Ash hurried into the kitchen and saw May cooking something on top of the stove with Glaceon at her feet watching her cook.

"May are you alright I'm so sorry it took so long." Ash apologised.

"It's ok Ash I admit I began to cry when you left and I was pretty distraught, but thanks to Pikachu I got through it." May said as she walked across the kitchen floor.

"Pikachu?" Ash asked a little confused.

May turned around and Pikachu jumped up on her shoulder and nuzzled their cheeks together showing they were friends again.

"Pikachu pulled me back up much like you have done." May said and Pikachu jumped off her shoulder.

"I realise now, that I wasn't ready to be a mother. The idea excited me yes but I'm not in a position to support a child and though I know you would make a wonderful dad you still have your dream of being a Pokémon Master, I couldn't have you slow down on that." May spoke passionately.

Ash listened to May as she spoke all her sadness seemed to have faded away, even after everything that happened this morning she was in good spirits. He took a glance at Pikachu, had he really done so much for May?

"The point is, what's happened has happened. I can either keep crying about it or I can bare the pain and move on, and I've shed enough tears." May concluded.

Ash really didn't know what to say in just a few hours she had come so far, he was immensely proud of her. May moved in close to Ash looked into his eyes for a few seconds and then tenderly wrapped her arms around him in a hug, Ash returned the warm embrace only wishing he could have been there for her sooner.

"You've given me so much strength Ash, one day I hope to repay you for everything you'll done for me. But until then I just have one request, may I stay here with you for a little longer?" May asked .

"You can stay as long as you need to." Ash assured her.

"You're the greatest person that's ever come into my life Ash." May whispered.

"Just know that I'll always be here whenever you need me." Ash replied.

Ash felt a paw pull his jeans and May felt one tap her leg, looking down they saw Pikachu and Glaceon smiling up at them. Smiling right back Ash and May bent down and lifted them up holding them in their arms.

"We'll all be here, isn't that right buddy?" Ash asked Pikachu getting an enthusiastic shout in response.

May rubbed her nose against Glaceon and then pulled Ash and Pikachu in for a combined hug. Here at last she was ready to rebuild her life and she the perfect person for it, she only wished she realised it years ago.

I hope that answers some of the questions about how May got involved with New Magma. I did some research for this chapter and some of the details might be a little off but it's Pokémon we can bend the rules of technology. To make it clear 'this is not the end!' There are more chapters to come but I'm going to take my time with the next one, just be assured it is coming out. Stay tuned everyone.