Chapter 8: Rings and Calls

Well got delayed once again. This time it was cause of a business trip that I had to go on last week. With how inconsistent things are getting I guess I'll just have to say I'll do my chapters when I can from now on. Try to do it on my scheduled days of either Wednesday and Thursday or Saturday and Sunday in this case but life can be hectic. I used to always be able to do it but now I know how life can throw you crazy curves. Ah just keep working on them. Hope I can get back to normal schedule but only time will tell, just check back when you can my friends.

With their gym battle over, Ash and May took a couple days to relax. They were on a deadline to get Ash the remaining badges but it wouldn't do them any good to overwork themselves. Ash let his Pokémon rest in the center till they were recovered, Eevee and Minun stayed behind as well to be with Pikachu and Plusle. He and May walked around Fortree city. They found restaurants as well as souvenir shops containing wooden carvings of Pokémon.

"Aww so cute," May said as she admired the crafts. "There's one of Minun!"

She pointed to a miniature wooden figure of her electric type that she could hold in her palm.

"And Plusle too!" Ash said. "There's also Torchic, Treecko, and Mudkip too!"

May smiled at the many small wooden Pokémon. Then she looked slightly sad. "No one's of Pikachu or Eevee though."

"While they're pretty rare here in the Hoenn region," Ash said. "I don't recall ever finding a Pikachu here in the Hoenn region at all."

Pikachu probably would have agreed if he were here.

"Oh, too bad," May said. "I might have liked to find a Pikachu of my own."

"If it was a girl that might get Eevee jealous," Ash said with a grin.

They giggled at each other. Continuing the sightseeing around Fortree city they passed a jewelry store with lovely necklaces and rings on display in the front window.

"That is beautiful," May said as she looked at sapphire blue necklace with a gold chain.

"You want to go in, your highness?" Ash asked.

"Certainly, Sir Ash," May said smiling at him.

Holding hands, they walked inside. There were many necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other things that were just as pretty as the necklace May had been drawn to. She admired them as Ash watched. Though something did occur to him as they browsed the jewelry store. He took a look around and quickly saw a case containing rings. Though he looked at May, and wondered if it would be appropriate to buy that with her present or if he should save it as a surprise. Though now that he thought about it, they had hardly ever left each other's side since they'd met, with the exception of when Dialga broke them apart of course.

May looked at the jewelry for a while, then suddenly made an uncomfortable face. "Um, can you excuse me for a moment Sir Ash? I need to use the bathroom."

There was one just ahead of them for customers.

Ash nodded. "No problem, May."

She smiled at him then walked off to do her business, closing the door behind her. Ash smiled, this presented him with an opportunity. He approached the counter where a clerk stood.

"Yes? Finding everything okay?" the clerk asked.

"Yes, I was wondering about getting a set of engagement rings for me and my girlfriend," Ash said pointing to the rings in the case. "Also, maybe that gold necklace with the sapphire in the front window."

"Do you know what rings you would like?" the clerk asked gesturing to the rings below.

"Um… not quite," Ash said.

"Well, are you sure about the necklace in the window?"

"Yes."

"I can get that out if you need some time," the clerk drew a key as Ash nodded. He went to the window to retrieve the necklace May had taken a fancy too.

Ash meanwhile looked at the rings. They were quite expensive, all of which had diamonds in various shapes and sizes. Some were single diamonds at the top while others were smaller multiple diamonds going through more of the ring. They also had writing engraved on them with various phrases and even had some that could have custom words chosen. But Ash found a sign next to one set that seemed to speak to him.

Nothing can keep us apart.

Ash smiled at that phrase. It ran true for both him and May. They had been two people of two different time periods. Yet fate had seemed to bring them together when May came across the mirage tower that took her to this time. Then Dialga had tried to force her back to her time, succeeding but changing his mind in the end once he saw that her presence in today's time had no real impact on it. Before May, Ash had never had any feelings for a girl. He'd had lots of friends that were girls like Misty, Mallow, Lana, Lily, Serena and Bonnie. But he'd never felt the way he did about them that he did with May. Regardless, those words on the sign before a set of good rings seemed perfect to him.

At that moment the clerk returned to the front desk with the necklace.

"Have you found a set of rings you might like?" he asked.

"Yes," Ash said before pointing. "Those there."

There was the sound a toilet flushing and Ash knew May would be coming out soon. The clerk got the set out and handed them to Ash who took the box containing the woman's ring with the large diamond on top. He hid it behind his back just in time. At that moment, the bathroom door opened and May emerged.

She stopped as she saw him, getting a feeling he had something to say.

"Were you waiting for me, Ash?" she asked, noticing to the clerk behind him.

"Yes, there's uh… something I need to ask you May," Ash said. "I know I agreed a while ago. But I need to ask you formally."

He got down on one knee and held up the box while using his free hand to open it. "Will you marry me, May? After we are done on this journey to compete in the Hoenn League? I don't care if I win or not, as long as we're together… forever."

May looked at him in awe, her sapphire eyes widening. She stood there with an open mouth. Then her eyes sparkled and she smiled with a nod.

"Yes! I would be honored to be your bride!"

He rose and put the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly as if it were meant for her. Ash and May hugged each other and then kissed as the clerk watched from behind with a smile.

…

The couple walked around the woodland city, new rings on their fingers and a necklace around May's neck. Ash of course still had the medal marking him as a knight of ancient Hoenn. They found a place to eat lunch and then returned to the center where Ash's Pokemon were returned to him fully recovered.

"Hey buddy," Ash said as he saw Pikachu on the counter with Castform and Plusle beside him. Eevee and Minun stood on the ground below.

"Hey!" Pikachu said as he saw Ash and jumped on his partners shoulder.

"You all feeling better?" he asked his other Pokemon.

Castform and Plusle nodded. Ash smiled as Nurse Joy spoke.

"They've all been recharged and should be good after a little rest."

"Thanks Nurse Joy," Ash said as he recalled Castform and Plusle to their Pokeballs.

"Hey, Evee, Minun," May said to her two Pokémon that were out.

"Mi!"

"Eevee!"

The two of them ran up to their train who knelt down. Minun took her spot on May's shoulder while Eevee jumped and rested her paws on May's knee. She petted them both with a smile. "You aren't gonna believe what I did just now," Ash said to Pikachu reaching up and showing him the ring on his finger.

Pikachu looked at the ring and smiled. "You proposed to her?"

"Yeah," Ash said.

"I know she asked you already but I guess it's official now," Pikachu said.

Ash nodded. He, May, Pikachu, Minun and Eevee all went to the trainer lounge and sat on a sofa there. They relaxed for a while, until…

"Excuse me, Ash?" Nurse Joy asked.

"Yes?" Ash asked.

"I have a phone call for you from Kanto," Nurse Joy said.

"A phone call?" Ash asked.

He headed to the main area where the video phones were located. Taking the phone Nurse Joy led him to, Ash took the phone and pressed the button. The screen lit up to reveal a dark-skinned man a few years older than him with brown hair and closed eyes.

"Brock!" Ash exclaimed.

"Hey Ash! Been a while!" his old friend said. "Just thought I'd see what you were up to! I talked to your mom a little while ago and she gave me some shocking news! You have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah, actually, I just proposed to her today," Ash said. "So, she's my fiancé now."

"What! I can't believe it! I never thought I'd hear those words! You have a fiancé!" Brock said.

"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu waved from Ash's shoulder.

"Hey Pikachu, you're looking good!" Brock said before looking past Ash and noticing May in the background. "Is that her behind you?"

"Yeah," Ash said.

May stepped forward. "Hello, you are a friend of Sir Ash's, I take it?"

"Yes, one of my oldest friends," Ash said. "Brock this is May. May, Brock. He and I traveled together for a few years back when I first started my journey. Anyway, Brock how are you?"

"I'm doing well. Being a professional breeder is a lot of work but it's well worth it every time a trainer sees their Pokémon feeling better."

"You're a Pokémon breeder?" May asked, interested.

"Brock works to take care of Pokémon and keep them healthy," Ash said. "Not quite as much about the competition like with Gym Battles."

"I see," May said.

"Is it true that you're a princess, May?" Brock asked.

Ash took a quick look around but it seemed they were alone.

"Yes, Sir Ash found me after I had been knocked out while trapped in a tower that travels through time."

"Why does that not surprise me?" Brock said. "Ash always seems to attract all sorts of strange things and Pokémon."

"Hey!" Ash said.

"What? It's true."

Ash couldn't deny that.

Brock chuckled. "I kind of miss traveling together since the Battle Frontier. I remember we had a lot of fun back in the day."

"We sure did, how's Misty doing?"

"She's good. Still dating Tracy. I thought about taking a vacation at some point with Lucy since we've both been pretty busy."

Ash nodded. Lucy was Brock's wife and a Frontier Brain on the Battle Frontier. Ash had battled her once before years ago when he and Brock were still traveling together. She and Brock exchanged numbers and were soon seeing each other once he and Ash split up.

"Where are you thinking of going?" Ash asked.

"Lilycove City," Brock said. "It's in Hoenn, I don't know if you've been there yet."

"That's where I'm going next!" Ash exclaimed.

"Really? Well looks like it's time for a reunion!" Brock said with a grin.

Ash grinned back.

…

Duke Harley made his way north. He'd gone back to the spot where he'd battled the false knight to free his fiancé and seen the single path leading this direction. The trainer of magical creatures had come from the west. The Berry Master's house had been the path to the east. Having gone on several hunts back in his own time, Harley knew to eliminate routes that he knew were obvious. He would have seen them if they'd gone in the same direction as where he was. North was the only option left.

Arriving at a building of some sort he saw a man in a strange white coat. A doctor perhaps?

"Excuse me? I'm looking for some old friends of mine and I believe they passed this way. One of them is a girl, quite beautiful and wearing a… red shirt with a matching hat. The other one… well… not so attractive and probably trouble. Has a yellow creature on his shoulder?" Harley asked.

The man looked at him confused for a moment. "Um… I think I know you are talking about. Ash and May?"

"Yes, those are the ones I'm looking for alright!"

"Are you alright, you seem a little off," the peasant said.

"Oh, I'm fine. Or I will be soon once I'm back home!" Harley said. "Can you point me in the direction they went?"

The man pointed to a nearby bridge. "They were on their way to Fortree City to challenge the Gym there."

Harley wondered what 'the Gym' was, but quickly decided it was irrevalent. All that mattered was he knew he was on the right track.

"Thank you kindly, peasant."

He was about to continue along the path. Though there was still the matter of how he would manage to defeat that false knight's magical creatures. He would have to enslave another one with the device he still had. But he needed one that was very strong to go up against the ones that so called 'Sir' Ash had. Harley didn't know how many the thief had. He might have to bide his time, get to know his enemy. He'd find them and watch them for a while without being seen. Or wear a disguise.

He turned back to the peasant in the white coat who was frowning at him.

"Do you have any clothes I might be able to borrow?"

"I think you should just leave," the man said.

"Alright, I asked nicely," Harley said drawing his dagger that he'd hidden in his tunic. "Now let's try that again."

Just to let you guys know I didn't include Dawn in the list due to Ash saying he never went to Sinnoh in Lady Arcanine's story. So, I guess he never met Dawn here. Also, I had Brock stay a Pokemon breeder because it was toward the tale end of the Sinnoh Arc that he decided to become a doctor. Without going on that journey with Ash, he never would have changed his plans. Also I had thought of having a different companion of Ash's reunite with him besides Brock but that might still happen. Could be a double reunion coming up.