This next part of the story plays off of the Alt. end.
Chapter 2
Enjoy!
They walked off through the forest, happily smiling the whole way. Underneath though, May had really wanted to know what condition her father was in. She walked next to Ash, holding his hand tightly with both joy and guilt. She had been the reason for his injury that healed surprisingly quickly. His friends had always said that he was quick on his feet, but that was almost miraculous.
They were soon approaching Rustboro city, the site of Ash's gym badge and next concert. They got a room in the Pokémon Center and then approached the gym. With Ash leading, holding her by the hand, they approached the gym leader Roxanne. She quickly recognized May, which put a slight smile on her face. She was extremely saddened by something though, May could see it, and so could Ash.
"Is something wrong?" Ash asked. He was truly a curious person.
"Well, it's news about Norman. He had been in the hospital and had died there, in the room." She said solemnly. A spearhead of guilt had almost impaled May from hearing the news. It hit her so fast; she dropped to her knees, tears already spreading down her cheeks.
"He's dead?" May asked. Roxanne nodded in affirmation. So many things started to burst into her mind. A long list of memories flowed like an electric current. They were memories of before Max was born. The first thing that came to mind was her as a toddler, at the preschool class Roxanne taught.
Another thing was gym leader reunions that she attended. That's how she had come to know several gym leaders. They played, along with her father. Then, something terrible returned to her mind. She remembered the last day her father spoke to her without threats.
It was another reunion. The lakeside that everyone was at was lush and beautiful, the flowers in bloom and the trees giving plenty of shade. The lake was calm and peaceful, with water Pokémon dotting the water and splashing around. Brown picnic tables were scattered on the shoreline. Several people were sitting at the tables, others playing with Pokémon at the shore. May was 8 at the time, so the question that arose was one of somewhat seriousness.
Someone had asked her what she wanted to be when she reached 10. Most people expected to take over the gym or started preparing for that. Another thing was becoming a trainer. They all expected something gym related because she was the child of a gym leader. Her answer almost scared a few people. She said that she wanted to be a coordinator. Most looked at her with enthusiasm, because she was a free spirit, they wanted her to be happy. Others looked in confusion, wondering why she chose coordinator but still ready to support her decision. She was part of the gym family they had to support her.
Her father took this as a joke saying, "Ha! Good one! I almost believed you there for a minute."
"But dad," She squealed out. "This is what I want to be." He didn't speak to me for the rest of the day. When they got back home, he only looked at her with disappointment. After that, they only spoke in threats or promises. Painfully true promises.
Thinking about this, she walked to a bench and sat down with the rest of the group. Ash pulled out a Pokéball, summoning out a Primeape. "I just recently received this back from the guy I let train it. After receiving it, I taught it to play guitar." The Pokémon was holding a guitar similar in design to his. Ash grabbed it up and placed it off to the side. In a rage, it charged the summoned Geodude.
Geodude rolled up and used rollout. Primeape used Karate Chop, landing a direct blow to Geodude, stopping it in its tracks. It held its head used head butt. Primeape answered with sticking out its hand, stopping the attack dead. "Powerful." Roxanne said quietly. Primeape gave the Geodude a Low Kick, sending it flying like a stone skipping on water. It smashed into a rock, fainted.
She summoned an Onyx, which grimaced at the sight of the power packed opponent. It swung its tail, only to be grabbed and stopped by the Primeape. It cracked the Onyx like a whip. Its face slammed into the ground, sending dirt flying. The Onyx curled around the Primeape, thinking it was in control. It brought Primeape up to its face, smirking with pride as it crunched up the monkey like Pokémon. Primeape didn't react to any of it. He just sat there, the same expression over its face. It Karate Chopped Onyx between the eyes, and it fell like an oak. It slammed into the dirt it too had fainted.
"Impossible." Roxanne said. Ash returned a lifted eyebrow, like saying, "how do you like me now?" She called out Nosepass, which saw the untethered opponent and seemed to shiver. Primeape charged, ready to finish the fight and receive the guitar. It recklessly charged for the Nosepass, which almost seemed to cry. Nosepass threw a rock at Primeape, which only gained its rage. It jumped up, put its two fists together, and brought them down, one hitting the prize of Roxanne's collection.
"Impressive Ash." She said as giving Ash his next badge. They congratulated each other and she told him the next town to go towards for a gym badge. Filled with pride, he walked for the door, with the group closely following. She stayed behind with Roxanne for a few minutes.
"Thanks for telling me about this." May said, head bent down and hands holding each other. She turned to walk outside, not really paying attention to her surroundings. She looked up to see the group waiting across the street in front of the next concert. The road was barren, with a single car approaching in the distance. She started to cross the street, when the car seemed to stomp in the pedal, approaching faster. She didn't notice and continued walking down the street. As she crossed in front of the lane the car was in, it was directly in front of her.
Everything started running in slow motion, it seemed. The group calling out her name, the car's horn blaring, even the collapse of her own leg as she buckled up onto the car. In the split-second May could see into the windshield, she saw her mother and brother in the car, half surprised and half way happy. Then, it all sped back up. May's head slammed into the windshield, shattering it and obscuring her vision. Next, she did a backflip over the roof, smashing her face once again into the trunk of the car.
The car, still going full speed, dumped her body off on the pavement, beaten and bloodied. In the moments before her world faded to white, she saw Ash running over, completely abandoning all thought, kneeling over her body. Then, it went white followed by black.