Chapter 12: Parting Ways, News, and Closing Foes

Duke Harley headed into Lilycove City, his enslaved Tropius walking by his side. He'd stopped at the sight when he first came to it a few days ago following his fiancé and the thief who stole her. He'd watched as they met those old friends of the thief, hiding a distance away and behind whatever was convenient. Though he had to say he admired this city. Unlike the silly treehouse city from before this one actually looked good. He'd heard they were planning to stay for a while so he took the chance to search for magical creatures. Backtracking on his new enslaved Tropius he found a place called a Safari Zone that held a few different creatures that couldn't be found anywhere else in Hoenn. That allowed him to increase his numbers.

In that Safari he'd managed to obtain a few powerful magical creatures. A Seaking, a Girafirig, Doduo, and Natu. With Tropius, that brought him up to five magical creatures that he had with him, which was almost the maximum a trainer in this era could possess. He just needed to find one more, and then he'd try and get his fiancé back.

But there was one that immediately came to his mind. He had liked the Cacturne he'd first encountered, but he quickly pushed that idea away. He had no idea where the Cacturne was. But there was another that he could probably use to tip the scales quickly in his favor. The Pokemon who'd brought him here in the first place. Celebei.

He made his way back into the city in his disguise that would work to hide him from being discovered by the false knight.

…

After the couples contest, Ash, May and all their friends continued to relax for a couple more days. But now they had to get a move on. It was now just a bit over a month until the Hoenn League, and Ash still had two badges to collect. Still, they knew it was important to balance work and pleasure. They'd certainly gotten the previous two badges quickly.

The couple stood on the pier with Drew and Serena by their side. Facing them were Brock, Misty, and Lucy. The ship that would take them back to Kanto was preparing to leave.

"Well, this was a fun little vacation," Brock said. "Its been to see you again Ash, and nice to meet you May. Or I suppose I should say… Princess May to properly address you."

"Thanks, I had a lot of fun," Ash said.

"So did I," May admitted. "That food you made when we all spent the night on the beach was delicious. Makes me wish I had been traveling with Sir Ash back when he was with you. And there's no need to call me princess really. I'm just a Pokemon Trainer now and future wife of the worlds greatest Pokemon Master."

Ash blushed at that.

"You might make a good coordinator if you ever want to become one as well," Serena said.

Everyone laughed. Then Misty and Lucy spoke as well.

"I'm glad to have met you, May," Misty said reaching out her hand to shake the younger girls. "I hope to see you and Ash again when you come to Kanto. Perhaps you can try out fighting gym battles there."

May giggled. "I might. We'll see. But I think I'm good with just watching Sir Ash."

"You should have seen him when he took on the Battle Frontier," Lucy said. "He was a strong trainer, and still is."

"You guys are making me blush!" Ash said as he did so a second time.

"Hey! I'm the only one allowed to do that!" May shouted.

They all chuckled again.

"Well, we better get going," Brock said. "Good luck, see you soon. It was nice to meet you as well, Drew and Serena."

The other couple nodded. Then Brock, Misty, and Lucy all boarded the ship that would take them home. One day, Ash and May would be going that way as well to Kanto. They'd have their wedding, maybe raise a family together. If Ash won the Hoenn League he'd become known as one of the top trainers in the world. That would probably be as close as he could really get to becoming a Pokemon Master, as that was a dream many trainers shared but there was no official way to earn the title. But to Ash, it mean not only being the strongest trainer, but also a kind trainer that was a friend to Pokemon around the world. He'd traveled much of the world, and become a strong trainer. If he won the Hoenn League, he felt could call himself a Pokemon Master. One day perhaps he would challenge other champions who won in their own leagues. Then he would have a chance to win the title of the strongest champion in the world. That would be the fullfillment of his dream. At least the dream he'd had before he met May. Now, he felt he would be satisfied with just having her by his side forever.

But for now, he had to say goodbye to two of his oldest friends. Again. He remembered that day they had first left each other. When Misty got a call from her sisters asking to take over the Gym and Brock had to go home to do some errands. But he'd soon rejoined Ash and they traveled through the Battle Frontier in Kanto. Brock had met Lucy and the two got together. Ash went on to the Unova Region and then Kalos where he met Serena, then Alola, and finally, he'd come here to Hoenn.

Looking back on his previous journeys, Ash smiled fondly at the memories of Brock and Misty as well as his other traveling companions and friends. They watched the ship slow vanish into the horizon. Once it was gone he looked at Drew and Serena.

"So where are you headed now, Serena?" Ash asked.

"Slateport City, its where the Grand Festival is being held," Serena said.

"Good luck with that," May said.

Drew scoffed. "Only a novice relies on luck, we've both obtained the skill necessary to become Top Coordinators. Although, I'm sad to say we might not be able to share the Ribbon Cup, unless we manage to tie while facing each other in the final round. Still that might be possible."

"We'll both do our best," Serena said taking Drew's hand before looking at Ash and May. "And I hope you two do as well. In whatever you are planning."

"We will," Ash said. "Its on to Mossdeep City for us!"

May nodded. "Good luck in the Grand Festival. I'll have to try and watch it on that thing that shows things going on."

"The TV you mean?" Serena asked with a slightly teasing tone.

"Yes," May said. "I wish I could do more contests. But maybe, in a while."

"I'd like to see you in them," Serena said. "You did good in this last one. There might be more like it as well in the future! I heard the Contest Committee is thinking of making Couples Contests something that can occur more often!"

May smiled. "After Sir Ash and I are done with the league I might very well get into it. Assuming we don't get too busy after we get married."

"You guys sure you really want to take that next step?" Drew asked.

"Yes, we are," Ash said putting his arm around May.

The princess nodded. At their feet, Pikachu and Eevee both stood by their trainers side and looked at each other.

Drew and Serena smiled.

"Well I think it's a little crazy, but if you really think its meant to be," Drew said.

"I'm happy for you Ash," Serena said. "You take care of her!"

"I will," Ash said.

At that moment, the ship for Slateport City arrived.

"Guess this is goodbye once again, Ash," Serena said as she looked at him with her old admiration.

"Yeah, good luck Serena," Ash said.

His Kalos companion and her boyfriend got on their ship. It too soon set off. Now it was just Ash, May, and their two Pokemon out as well.

"Our ship doesn't come till tomorrow morning," Ash said.

May nodded then suddenly winced and clutched her stomach.

"You okay?" Ash asked.

"Yeah, I've just been having these stomach pains for the last few days," May said.

"Maybe we should get to a doctor," Ash said in a concerned voice.

She nodded. It was getting late in the afternoon. Ash led her back up the pier and they soon found a hospital.

They took May into one of the rooms for testing and soon figured out why she was feeling a bit off.

"You're pregnant!" the doctor said.

May gasped. "What?"

"There is a little one growing inside you," the doctor said. "It looks like you're a bit over a month along."

Ash and May looked at each other. It must have been done during one of their first times together. They felt a mixture of uncertainty and happiness at the news. They left the hospital and began walking to the Pokemon Center.

"Are you alright with this May?" Ash asked.

She nodded, a little nervousness on her face. "I think so. I mean, I probably would have preferred to wait until after we were married to have children but none of this was ever something I planned."

Ash nodded. Neither of them had ever imagined they would meet someone from another time and fall in love with them.

May put a hand on her stomach. She didn't have a baby bump yet but that would probably take another month if she recalled from her mother's lectures. She'd at least have to eat a lot if she wanted the baby to grow.

"Guess I'll have an even bigger appetite then I used to," May said with a blush. "But, do you think we can get married before he or she is born?"

Ash thought for a moment. "Well, you're only one month along and it will take another month for the Hoenn League to begin. Then it will take at least a week to get that done. Then we go back to Pallet Town and… I guess… start planning our wedding. I think we do that before six or seven months left."

May smiled. "Good. I was afraid for a second about the possibility of our child be ridiculed because his parents were married. That was a sort of taboo back in my day."

"Well, this day and age is a lot more tolerant," Ash said. "Don't worry. I'm with you whatever happens. If you feel like you're not ready to have the baby we could abort."

"Abort?" May asked. "Like… not have the baby?"

"Yeah," Ash said. "There is a process if you think…"

"No!" May screamed, an angry look in her eyes. "I want our child!"

Ash backed up, as did Pikachu and Eevee at the force of May's voice. "Okay okay! It was just a suggestion jeesh!"

May put a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry Sir Ash! I didn't mean to snap like that!"

Ash sighed. "My mom told me mothers that are expecting can get moody sometimes. Its okay, May."

There was a moment of silence. Then Ash said, "I am… really happy about this. Its just, everything's happened so fast ever since we met."

She nodded then smiled with her usual positivity. "Yes. Well, we can do it."

Ash smiled at her. They headed to the Pokemon Center, passing a man in a cloak without much regard. After a meal, they headed to their room to rest before the boat ride to Mossdeep City tomorrow.

…

They arrived at the pier the following morning and boarded the ship to their next destination. Duke Harley watched them eating breakfast, hidden in his cloak. He climbed on Tropius's back and followed the ship. Now was probably a good time to prepare to strike. He'd follow the ship and when it got to its destination, he'd ambush the false knight and take his fiancé back. This time for sure.

"Celebei!" He called. "I need your help darling!"

A green light shined out in front of him. The legendary Pokemon appeared and flew in midair.

You took your time. The other magical creature that travels through time is soon to notice you I think! He does not take kindly to threats to the natural order of it! You must hurry!

"I'm sorry," Harley said with fake sincerity. "I ran into some… complications. But perhaps you can help me? You do owe me after all for what my family did?"

I stay out of human affairs, you must solve this on your own. My duty is to guard the forest. Celebei said. Please be quick about it.

It vanished before Harley could say anything. The Duke growled. "Seems I'll have to find something else to make due."

He looked down below at the water in frustration. But his eyes soon widened as he saw a dark shape in the water.

"Could that be another magical creature?" Harley asked. "Take me down a bit Tropius."

The enslaved Pokemon lowered itself a bit. Then the thing in the water leapt out. It had a two toned body, the top was black and the bottom was white. Three straight fins protruded from its body in a triangle pattern, one on top of its body and two below. A star pattern was on top of its head and it had two red eyes, gills, and sharp teeth. A Sharpedo!

The Sharpedo's teeth narrowly missed Tropius's leafy wing. Harley grinned.

"I suppose that will do for my sixth magical creature!" he said wickedly.

Hope you all have a good Memorial Day. My heart goes out to any of you who are reading this that have lost members of your family in military service. Hope you also like this latest chapter. I'll have Harley strike again, and we'll see what happens. See you again in two weeks most likely. I was gonna have Celebei join him at first but I felt it would be better to draw things out a bit more then have the final battle with him toward the end. Let me know what you guys think in the reviews.