"Come on Miss May!" Hana pulled May towards the plaza. They followed the path and May was shocked to see so many Pokémon. There were Pokémon of all six regions. Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos. Hana was skipping happily alongside her.

"There's so many Pokémon," May said. Hana looked at May as the two kept walking.

"Yep! Dad told me that this region is a Pokémon Paradise! And we are lucky to live alongside them!" As Hana said that, a Mankey jumped down from a tree in front of her. Hana smiled and petted the Mankey who smiled at the attention.

She's just like Ash…caring for the Pokemon.

Soon the two continued heading to the plaza. When they arrived, May was surprise at how small the village actually was. There were four houses on each corner and a wooden dais in the center with a strange pattern. A boy with green hair approached them.

"Hana! Want to play with us?" Asked the boy.

Hana shook her head. "Sorry Ralph, I promised to show Miss May around! It's not good to break promises!"

May felt a little guilty, as she had broken her promise to Ash. She decided to stay silent as the two kids conversed.

"Cool! Make sure you show her Herb's place! Booker said that girls love his place," Ralph said before leaving.

"That's a good idea," Hana said to herself. She looked at May. "Miss May! Follow me! I want to introduce you to someone!" Hana pulled May to the lower right of the village where a house was. There were flowers all around it. Hana walked up to the door and knocked. "Mr. Herb? It's me, Hana. Are you home?"

A splash was heard before a reply. "I'm here Hana, come on in." Hana opened to door and went in and May followed. May was surprised by all the flowers in the house. The house was bigger than it looked from the outside.

"Mr. Herb! Are you alright?" May looked at Hana who approached a man with a broken watering can and water all over him and the floor.

Mr. Herb laughed. "I'm fine Hana. I seemed to have watered myself rather than the flowers." Mr. Herb looked at May. "But why don't you introduce me?"

Hana looked at May. "Mr. Herb, this is one of my father's friends. Miss May, this is Mr. Herb."

May walked over to Mr. Herb and helped him up. "It's nice to meet you Mr. Herb."

Mr. Herb laughed again. "Please, only the kids call me mister. Just Herb." He then looked at his broken watering can and sighed. "Looks like I'll need to ask your father to go get me a new watering can, Hana. I really hate bothering him for things like this."

"No way! My father is happy to help," Hana replied rather quickly. Herb chuckled and patted Hana's head.

"I need to water these flowers soon, otherwise they'll wilt. This is a problem," Herb muttered.

He really seemed to like his flowers. May then got an idea. "Herb, if you want, I can water your flowers."

"Eh?"

"I have a water type Pokemon who can water your plants," May said. "And it isn't as big as a Gyarados. Take a look." May pulled out a Pokeball from her bag and tossed it in the air. "Take the stage Wartortle!" Soon a Wartortle appeared with hearts surrounding it.

"Wow! Dad's Pokemon don't do that!" Exclaimed Hana, eyes sparkling at the amazing entrance.

"Your dad's a Pokemon trainer Hana. What made the hearts appear were these seals. They are meant to be used by coordinators for their contests," explained May. Hana nodded as she understood.

"So you're a coordinator? Then if you don't mind me asking, can you water these chrysanthemums?" Herb asked.

"Of course not! I suggested it. Wartortle, use Water Gun on the chrysanthemums," ordered May. Wartortle did just that and sprayed a light shower of water, watering the flowers.

"Thank you so much May!" Thanked Herb.

May returned Wartortle. "You really like flowers huh? Do you sell them?"

Hana answered the question for Herb. "Nope! Here in Cocona Village we don't have currency! Everything is done by the good of our hearts! Herb grows flowers and gives them to us."

May was surprised at that. They just help each other for free, out of kindness, not for money or a reward of sorts.

"I used to sell herbs to Sophian Island but eventually I stopped, since I had nothing to use the money for and because my mother was allergic to herbs," said Herb. May had to wonder why his mother named him Herb then.

"Oh! Mr. Herb, we're going to go see my dad soon to ask him to take us to Sophian Island. Do you want us to ask him to get you a watering can?" Hana asked.

Herb smiled at Hana. "Would you do that for me? Thank you Hana. And you too May. I owe you both."

"Don't mention it," May and Hana said together. They looked at each other. May smiled and Hana giggled and soon the two left Herb's house.

The two headed south to where Booker's house was.

"As you know, this is where Grandpa Booker lives," said Hana. "Oh wait, you haven't met Nick, have you?" May shook her head and the two walked up to Bookers house.

"Grandpa Booker! Mr. Nick!" The door opened and a man with a bandana and an orange shirt appeared.

"Hana? What's up?" Asked the man.

"Mr. Nick! I want to introduce you to my dad's friend! Miss May, this is Mr. Nick, Mr. Nick, this is Miss May," Hana introduced them both.

May held out her hand and smiled. "Nice you meet you Nick."

Nick was surprised but shook her hand. "Nice to meet you May. Why don't you two come inside?" The two entered and May was surprised at how it looked like a carpenter's home.

"Where's Grandpa Booker?" Hana asked.

Nick handed them a glass of water. "Booker is out with your dad and Rand, figuring out where to start building the new lab. I think they're out at Latolato trail."

"Then that's where we're going," Hana said. "We have to ask dad for some things."

"Then I shouldn't keep you two," said Nick. The two nodded and left the house.

"Nice meeting you Nick," said May.

"Same," replied Nick.

They headed to the east and when they did, they arrived at a beautiful beach.

"Miss May, welcome to Lapras Beach!"

"It's so pretty," May looked around and saw many Pokemon in the water and on land. Krabby's were blowing bubbles, Pachirisu's were running around, she saw a Lumineon and Alomomola jump out of the water. It was a breathtaking sight.

Hana giggled. "If you think this is pretty, you should see it at sunset!"

May could only imagine the sight. The beautiful, romantic sight. The two continued to walk east, Pokemon occasionally greeting them. While they were walking, Hana saw someone at the coast.

"Miss May! Follow me!" The two walked over to the coast and there was a woman with long brown hair wearing a bikini. The woman was petting her Lapras. "Miss Layla!"

The woman turned around. "Hana! What are you doing here?"

"I am going to find my dad while giving Miss May a tour," said Hana. Layla looked at May.

"Nice to meet you May."

"Nice to meet you too, Layla," May looked at the Lapras. It was bigger than the average Lapras, but only by a few centimetres is May had to guess. "Your Lapras looks very healthy."

"You could say that to all the Pokemon of Oblivia," laughed Layla. "But I make sure Lapras is healthy every day. She's my partner."

"Partner?" May asked.

"That's right. I suppose you outsiders use Pokeballs to claim your Pokemon, right? We have no need for that. All we need is a bond," said Layla. Though, I think the Ransei Region is the best example of bonds."

"Ransei?"

"You should ask Ash about it. He's the one who told us about the outside regions," said Layla. She sat down on the sand and laid her head back against Lapras. She looked up at the sky. "Bonds with Pokemon are an amazing thing. Without bonds, we'd be doomed."

"Bonds with Pokemon is the most important thing in the world," May said, agreeing with Layla.

"Bonds with Pokemon and humans. Bonds in general are important," said Layla, looking at May. As she expected, May flinched at that. She sighed. "Hey Hana, want to play with Lapras for a bit? I want to talk to May about something." Hana nodded eagerly and started playing with Lapras. Layla walked over to May.

"What is it Layla?" Asked May.

"I think it's time you moved on May," said Layla. Before May could say anything, Layla interrupted. "I'm talking about ten years ago. What happened is done. The past is unchangeable. Guilt is what you feel, no?" When she got no reply, Layla continued. "Ash has forgiven you."

May looked up. "Huh?"

"He told you, didn't he?" May remembered a talk they had before, during the Championship Tournament.

"Well, he didn't exactly say he forgave me," May trailed off. She started to wonder what Ash felt about her. He did help her in her time of need, but that could just be part of who he is.

"Maybe at the time, but he has. We had a talk last night. He told me all about you. And you know what he said?" May shook her head and Layla smiled. "She has grown. At first I thought she didn't change one bit, but in the end, she's grown and understands the world. I probably wouldn't have said this in the past ten years but, I'm proud she was one of my travel friends."

Layla kept her smile as May's eyes began to water. "Why…why would he say that? All I've been is a burden to him so far!"

"I think, it was your determination to regain his trust that did it. You actually care about him and did anything you could to regain that trust. He told me how you provoked him into staying in the tournament and how you challenged him to a battle you knew you couldn't win just so he would stay, not for you but your friends."

May started crying right then and Layla pulled her into a hug. "May, he wants to forget the past. And you should too. Look towards the future. Your bright future."

May soon calmed down and wiped her tears away. "Thank you Layla. Thank you so much."

"No need to thank me," said Layla.

"I do. I think, I can move on now. Thanks to you," May said with determination written all over her face. Layla smiled at her resolve.

"MISS LAYLA!" The two jumped at the scream and ran over to the coast where Lapras and Hana were.

"What is it Hana?!" Asked Layla. Hana has never screamed like that before.

"Th-there's something in the water!" Layla was surprised that Hana was scared. The little girl was never scared of Pokemon, whether it be a Gengar or a Banette. The two ladies looked at the water and saw giant shadow. It was a huge shadow and it was bigger than a Wailord.

"Hana! Come here!" Hana jumped off Lapras and ran over to Layla and hid behind her. The three looked at the shadow, which soon jumped out of the water. The thing roared loud enough to make all the nearby Pokemon flee.

It was a giant Gyarados.

The three were shocked at the giant beast in front of them as it was glaring at them with the deadliest gaze.

"Gyarados can't be that big," muttered Layla.

"Miss Layla, Miss May, I'm scared," Hana whispered, shaking.

"What do we do Layla?" Asked May.

Layla gulped. "We need to distract it to get help. Unfortunately both Rand and Ash are at the Latolato Trail, which is too far from here."

"We need to get Hana out of here," said May.

"We can't, considering how huge it is, there's no way we can distract it from her for too long," said Layla.

May clenched her fists. Then came on a realization, she had Pokemon, friends by her side.

"Then I guess we have to defeat it," May said. Layla looked at her as if she was crazy.

"What?! It's an overgrown Gyarados! How in Oblivia are we supposed to defeat it?!" Exclaimed Layla.

May held up a Pokeball. "I believe in my partners!" Layla looked at her in surprise before grinning.

"I'll try and help to! I hate to ask, but can you distract it until Hana and I get to my Lapras?" Layla asked, picking up Hana.

"I've got your back," said May. "Venusaur! Take the stage!" May tossed the Pokeball and after dazzling lights, appeared Venusaur with her unique heart shaped pattern. And it began.

Sorry for the delay and thanks for being patient. Can't believe its been a year since Infinite Battles was completed. But soon the fic will get better and more Advanceshipping moments!

I have never been so busy before, projects, both for school and personal projects, not to mention playing Xenoblade, I have little time to do this but I will not give up on this story! Even if it takes ten years! (Which it won't)