Hi, all,
This is now my second ever fanfiction, and wow! I feel like I've already made a whole lot of improvements here. I think that with this story, I was much much better at describing the scene and conveying the feelings of the characters without explicitly saying them out loud. I think I made some major improvements building tension as well.
This story specifically features a much more mature Ash emotionally, so don't expect to see your regular old dense Ash.
Overall, I'm pretty damn happy with how it came out, and I hope you guys like it.
Enjoy
I turned and tossed in my sleeping bag, being awoken by the cold biting at my extremities. My hands and feet were freezing, and beckoned for warmth. I attempted to go back to sleep, but to no avail. I submitted and my eyes began to flutter open as the soft wind penetrated my tent and blew against my cheeks in the dark atmosphere. I sat up from my sleeping bag and rubbed my eyes while they adjusted to the bright moon and night sky outside my tent.
I zipped open the front of my tent and observed the surroundings. The fire had fizzled out, being reduced to nothing but a small bed of ashes in the middle of the frosted grass campsite, leaving the area colder than when I had gone to sleep. Far off in different directions, I could hear the wails and noises of nocturnal Pokemon. It appeared to be pretty late at night, maybe sometime in the early morning, just past midnight. However, the night was still relatively young, and it would be awhile before it was time to wake up.
Just a few hours ago, me and the group were on the way to my next gym battle, but it being in the middle of a cold winter, we had decided to set up camp and sleep for the night. The days were shorter and the night came sooner. It got even colder at night, so it was an obvious decision to wait to continue our journey while we got some much needed rest.
I looked around the campsite and saw three other tents surrounding the campfire in a circle, those tents belonging to my fellow companions, Brock, Max, and May.
May…
The name brought much needed warmth to my cheeks. Recently, being around her has made me feel different than usual. I feel happy, or excited, or just content with life. I sometimes get a little nervous, or even sweaty. In my sixteen years of age, I've never felt this way around anyone. It's becoming pretty obvious to me through repeated realizations that I think of May as more than just a friend.
The blatant statement to myself made my heart skip a beat.
I've known May for awhile now, we've been on countless adventures, and honestly just been through so much together. It's safe to say she is the closest friend I've ever had, and I'm comfortable sharing just about anything with her.
Well, other than one thing.
As we've both matured, I've begun to notice more about her. Her deep sapphire eyes are her most defining and beautiful feature. They make my heart flutter whenever she looks at me, I could get lost in them for hours, and be content to look into them forever. Her voice is soft, and smooth, like an instrument that plays the most perfect tune right into your ear. Her smile is a powerful weapon to me. A mere flash of it could convince me to walk to the ends of the Earth.
When all is relaxed, I'm never most comfortable around anyone other than May. The bond I've forged with her could surpass any obstacle.
Yet, I don't know if she feels the same about me.
I mean, obviously she looks at me as a close friend too, but I have no idea if she likes me the same way I feel about her. I don't know, maybe I'm just blind to hints she's given me. Maybe I just can't see them. That's what most girls say about guys at least.
I just don't know if I could ever have the courage to tell her. Our friendship is so amazing, and it would kill me to ruin it, just because I had to go ahead and catch feelings.
The thoughts proved to weigh heavy in my mind as I spaced back in and began to look at my surroundings once again. I looked up to the sky and…
Wow.
My mouth went agape and my eyes shimmered in the low light. I almost couldn't believe the sight my eyes beheld.
The sky was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. On this specific night, I could see more than I ever had before. It was all clear to me, as if presented on a silver platter, like the universe was allowing me to peek at its most precious jewels, laid out in the vast tapestry of the cosmos. The cool colors of blue, purple, green, and black of distant nebulas meshing together, forming abstract shapes you couldn't find anywhere but here. I was utterly awestruck as I gazed at the inky canvas that was the sky, filled with the myriad of shining stars like luminescent diamonds that reflected in my eyes as they littered the sky and shone light upon every surface of the campsite, each one with a unique identity, one celestial fire burning like no other. Far away, I could see distant galaxies and interstellar bodies seeming to float through space, their light traveling eons to show themselves to me, as if the universe was subtly whispering a secret only I could understand into my ear.
The luminous crescent of the moon seemed to hang low in the sky, with a silver, ethereal glow that casted a shadow on the landscape below.
At that moment, I felt connected. As if every particle of my body was understood, as if it was content with existence, as if the stars, nebulas, and planets came down and nurtured every part of me. I felt like I was standing at the crossroads between time and space, being a witness to the cosmic symphony that was unseen by so many.
My astonishment lasted a while. I simply couldn't believe the sight before me. Not being content with peeking at it from inside a hole in my tent, I quickly threw on my jacket, gloves, and hat. Within a few minutes I was fully dressed and outside the tent.
I once again looked at the three other tents surrounding the now almost forgotten campfire. I debated waking up my companions to show them the allure of the night sky, but decided against it, not wanting to deal with a sleep deprived companion angry at me for interrupting their slumber.
However, as I looked closer at a certain brunette's tent, the zipper appeared to be slightly open at the front, and a series of footprints led from the entrance to away from the campsite.
Where could May have gone? In this temperature, it didn't seem like her to have any desire to leave her tent. However, maybe she too caught a glimpse of the sky, which had revealed itself while we slept, and decided she needed to get a better look at it.
Puzzled, but still hypnotized by the cosmos continuing to peer down from above me, I followed the footprints of my companion around the North end of the campsite.
The footsteps appeared to follow a small path up to the top of a nearby hill. Though not a long walk, it would take a few minutes to reach the peak of land. Each step left an imprint in the white frosted grass and dirt, leading up the path in small paced steps.
I began to follow the path, as my companion had done recently, and I followed in each of her steps up to the top of the hill. Subtly, I felt a connection to her, through following her steps. As if me and her shared the same thoughts, breaking the confines of our minds.
I took another step before looking up to the sky once again, being faced with the ever changing cosmos shimmering in my eyes. I almost paused, but tore my gaze away to continue my search for the brunette.
As I walked the same steps she had taken, I began to picture her inside my head. Blood rushed to my cheeks and I felt my heart flutter as I imagined her sapphire eyes, her flawless smile, and her voice, playing a tune only I could hear.
That's when suddenly it hit me, what if May is in trouble? What if she's not okay? Who knows how long she's been outside of her tent? What if she's freezing to death!?
The realization of the possibility that May isn't out here just to see the stars hit me like a truck. My heart started beating faster, my pace quickened, and soon I was almost running following her footsteps up to the top of the hill. I prayed that she was okay, that I was just imagining possibilities, and that she was just doing fine.
As I reached near the top of the hill, I heard something and stopped. There was a continuous noise.
What was that? A Pokemon chirping? No. The sound of trees swaying in the wind? No. Was that someone humming?
I listened closely.
It was someone humming. A soft melody, gentle and soothing. Like a cool breeze on a hot day. I took a few steps forward and saw May. She was laying down in the grass, wrapped in her jacket, staring at the sky and humming to herself.
From here, she was just as captivating as the night sky above her, and I continued to listen.
She hummed a slow, chill tune that brought peace to my mind. The tune rose and fell within a delicate dance of emotions. It was like a serenade to the quiet moments under the starry night sky.
The melody evoked memories of soft touches, stolen glances, and the warmth of an embrace. The world outside of me faded away as I got lost in the harmonious reverie that May gave out.
Soon, and to my dismay, she finished the tune, and silence once again took up the air, once again being replaced by the soft atmosphere of the night sky.
I decided this was the best time for me to reveal myself. I began walking towards May, the soft crunch of my winter boots making a noticeable sound.
May quickly turned her head to look at the source of the noise, where she showed a surprised expression and let out a noise.
"Oh!" May said as I continued walking to her.
"Hey, May." I replied, now in front of her.
"Hey, Ash."
I took a seat on the grass next to her, and stared upward into the sky. Silence fell between us for a few seconds as a noticeable blush began to appear across my cheeks.
"You came here to look at the sky too?" She asked.
"Yeah. I did. Well actually I did at first but then I was coming to see if you were okay."
"I'm doing great, thanks for checking on me." She said, flashing a smile that my heart skipped a beat at.
"Yeah, of course," I replied and laid down next to her before looking up to the sky.
The cosmos once again captivated my senses, and I was put under another spell by the vast beauty of the universe.
Here I was, sitting next to May, very late in the night, and staring at the most beautiful sight both of us had ever seen. I stole a glance at May, realizing she was looking right at me, before quickly looking away.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked, ignoring my obvious attempt at looking at her.
"Yeah, it really is, huh?" I said.
"I've just never seen anything like it. It's like something that we were gifted to see. Such an amazing thing," she continued, "I mean, the combination of the stars, the planets, the nebulas, it's just…simply amazing."
The warm air clashing against the cold air could be seen coming from her mouth as she exhaled.
"You're right. I mean, how many people have ever seen anything like this?" I said, "I've never heard of being able to see this in person. I honestly thought it was just something you'd seen in pictures." I said.
"Yeah, exactly," she replied.
Silence took place between us once again and I continued to stare at the sky. A particularly bright star caught my eye, and I recognized it to be the north star.
I was snapped out of my trance by shivering coming from May. Instantly, my protective instincts took over.
"Are you alright, May?" I asked frantically.
"Y-y-yeah, I'm just k-kinda cold," she replied.
My mind went through the solutions to her problem. I would give her my jacket, but that would just leave me to become hypothermic. I didn't have any other forms of warmth other than back at the campsite either.
"H-hey Ash?" she said, breaking me from my train of thought.
"Yeah, May?" I asked carefully.
"M-m-maybe we c-could huddle together." she said.
A blush spread across my cheeks, and if it wasn't for the cold, I swear one spread across hers.
"It would k-keep both of us warm." she continued.
"Yeah, yeah. Of course." I said, as we both sat up and scooted closer to each other. I debated the risk for a second, before brushing it off and putting my arm around her.
At this point, the only thing preventing my skin from looking like a tomato was the cool air nipping at it.
We both went silent again as we enjoyed each other's embrace, and continued to look up at the night sky.
After a few minutes, May began to hum again.
She began to hum the same tune as earlier, though this time, with even more grace and perfection than before. Time seemed to stand still as my heart found a solace in the gentle cadence of her tune, it was as if a gentle caress to the heart, an invitation to dream and feel together. From here, it was like she was giving me a silent declaration of affection.
The tune she sang was music to my ears. It hit every spot of my ears, and caressed my brain through my head. The tune created an atmosphere of calmness around us, as we both warmed up to each other.
The serene melody she produced was a lullaby of the soul, a sweet serenity that captured the feelings of this peaceful night.
As I gazed up into the sky once more for the night, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of wonder, humility, and courage. In that moment, I was but a speck in the grand tapestry of the universe. A fleeting soul graced with the privilege of witnessing one of the most vivid and beautiful sights that nature had to offer. It was a reminder of the boundless beauty and mystery that lies beyond our everyday lives. It was an invitation to dream and explore, to reach for the stars, both metaphorically and literally.
That's when I came to a realization. I realized the star that I was trying to reach.
It was May.
The universe was here with me today, and it was inviting me to do what I've always wanted to do. It was giving me the courage that hundreds of Pokemon battles could never give me, it was giving me the hope to do what I had always wished I could do. It was giving me the chance to confess to May.
And so, with this new found courage given to me by none other than the universe, with its myriad of stars, planets, nebulas, galaxies, and infinite power, combined with the elegant tune coming from May, I began to execute the best decision of my life.
"H-hey, May." I said, this time the stutter being provoked by something other than the cold.
"Yeah, Ash?" she asked, turning to me, and showing me her deep sapphire eyes. I stared into them for a few seconds before responding.
"Can I tell you something?" I asked.
"Of course, Ash."
With a million butterflies in my stomach, I stared into her eyes, and I began.
"May, throughout all my journeys, countless adventures, many friends, I've never met someone as amazing as you." I said, and instantly observed the look of surprise on May's face combined with the blush on her cheeks.
I continued, my heart beating at a mile per minute, "After traveling with you for so long, I've come to realize a lot of things about you."
"Your deep blue sapphire eyes are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, more so than the sky above us. Maybe sometimes you notice, but I get lost in them constantly." I said, the look of surprise only growing on her face, with her eyes widening more than I'd ever seen. Despite the nerves and with motivation from the stars, I continued.
"And your smile, it's the most amazing thing ever. You could convince me to do anything with it. There's nothing I'd rather see than you smiling," I continued, "and your voice, it's the most soothing and beautiful sound ever."
May's eyes sparkled in the moonlight as she leaned in closer to me.
With an exhale of warm air, I continued, "But most importantly, your personality. There's nobody I connect with better than you. I can relate to you on so many things and you're always there for me. I know I can always talk to you, and I don't feel the most comfortable around anyone other than you."
With a final bit of courage, I said, "What I'm trying to say, May, is that I like you. I like you a lot."
I shut my eyes and turned away slightly, now fully realizing the potential effects of what I'd just done. I couldn't believe myself. Where on Earth did I get this courage? How did I just do that? What does this mean for me and May?
But one question remained at the top of my mind.
What is she gonna say?
A few seconds of silence passed.
Suddenly, I felt two arms wrap around me as tight as they possibly could. I opened my eyes and turned to see May, embracing me, with a large smile wrapped around her face and a tear rolling down her cheek.
As her eyes watered, I looked into her deep sapphire eyes as she said with the happiest, most beautiful tone of voice, the greatest words I'd ever hear for the rest of my life.
"Ash, I've been waiting so long for you to say that."
I had no time to react before May sprang up and kissed me. The joy I felt at the moment surpassed any victory I'd ever experienced in my years as a trainer.
I felt on top of the world as I kissed May.
We both retracted a few seconds later and stared into each other's eyes.
I looked up to the sky once again, and May followed suit. I took this moment to silently thank the universe for this serendipitous moment.
Me and May huddled together as close as we ever had, and both looked up to the night sky one last time, as the universe intertwined between and around us.
On this cold, cold, night, I was exposed to the vast magic of the universe and its abilities. I never saw a sight as beautiful as the sky that night, and the mere beauty of it will always exist in my memories.
A lot happened that night, where the stars seemed to align for us, but most importantly,
I was united with May.
The End
Well, I certainly hope anyone reading this far enjoyed the story. Personally, I enjoyed writing it, and it feels a lot more mature than my last piece. I think that combining this kind of story with my last one will make prove to make some even better ones.
And hey, that's the point of all these oneshots, I'm trying to improve my writing so that one day, I can make you guys a longer, more detailed story.
Once again, hope you guys enjoyed.
Peace out.