Chapter 35: Bye Bye Baby
It was dusk. Ash, May, and Pikachu sat by a lake in a quiet town somewhere in the Hoenn region. The pair were accompanying May on her way home to Petalburg City. Since the coordinator no longer had celebrity privileges, the trek home was longer than expected, but none of them minded. They preferred it this way. Encountering new Pokémon, meeting new people, and enjoying the sights at one's pace was better than following a schedule while traveling from one corner of the world to another within the same day. There was always more to learn from traveling by foot, Ash believed with all his heart. Pikachu and May couldn't agree more.
The trio stared at the sparkling lake, contemplating their recent time together. It wouldn't be long now till May got home. Her family anxiously awaited her return. They were thrilled to learn that the brunette would come home and she'd live life on her terms again. Max even told his sister that their mother went grocery shopping to prepare May's favorite foods. It would be her most memorable homecoming in a long time. There was only one loose end before May arrived in her hometown, Ash.
"We should reach the crossroads between Petalburg City and Oldale Town by tomorrow morning. I guess that's where we'll split up?" Ash shifted his eyes from the lake to May.
"Yeah, your Mom is probably excited to have you come home, too," May happily smiled at her best friend.
"Pika!" Pikachu was excited to have Delia's cooking again.
Ash chuckled when Pikachu reacted. He petted his yellow buddy, "She sure is. We'll probably make it home in time for dinner tomorrow." The boy gave May a half-smile, "It's too bad we didn't get enough time to have an all-out battle between the two of us after all the training we did."
May leaned back with her arms, providing support against the grass. "Maybe we'll have a chance the next time we see each other," the brunette remarked. She didn't appear as disappointed as Ash.
"Maybe," Ash gave her a hopeful smile, except he wasn't sure when they would see each other again.
While they were busy talking, the sky got darker, and the area around the lake started crowding up with people. Chairs and blankets got set up in preparation to watch something. Ash raised his eyebrow as he observed the people. He wondered, "Is it me, or does this town look familiar?"
May looked around, acknowledging the growing crowd. "You know what, it does look familiar," the coordinator noted.
They overheard conversations from families excited to see the light display tonight for the festival. "Something about a festival?" Ash thought about what festival.
Then May heard a child express excitement over Volbeat and Illumise. That's when it clicked, "Ash, this is Lake May. This is the town where they host the May Festival!"
Ash's brightened from the realization, "That's right! The Illumise and Volbeat come out to perform for the town."
The pair and Pikachu observed the commencement of the performance. They saw a man and a woman on the lake's pier with their Illumise and Volbeat, but they weren't the same performers that May remembered. "They're not the couple that I remember," May scratched the side of her face with her finger. She thought about the shy man smitten with the sweet woman he performed with.
"What were their names again?" Ash vaguely recalled their faces but failed to remember their names.
"Romeo and Juliet," May answered him.
Ash nodded; he remembered now. "Wasn't Romeo a good performer but got nervous whenever he was around Juliet?"
"That's because Romeo was in love with Juliet. Being in love will make you act silly," May appeared to insinuate something.
Before Ash could say anything, a stranger came up behind them. "Excuse me, did I hear that you know Romeo and Juliet?" it was an elderly woman in a purple dress and cane.
"We met them once to help with their performance," May was slightly startled by the fact that she came out of nowhere.
"They were great. We were really fortunate to be in town when they performed," Ash added.
The elderly woman smiled, "My how lovely. Everybody in town loved their performance together. Their successors are just as incredible, but everyone adored seeing Romeo and Juliet strolling around the lake once they got together. They were the cutest couple in town, and we took pride in their talent."
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to them?" May questioned.
"Yeah, I thought they would still be the performers for the May Festival," Ash also wanted to know what became of them.
The woman sighed, but her sweet smile returned. "They eventually had their first baby and decided to move to the big city to raise them. Word is they're expecting their second one. Who would've thought, eh? Romeo couldn't fool me with his bumbling whenever Juliet was around. I'm so happy they are living together and in love."
"That does sound nice," May gave the woman a gentle smile. The coordinator thought about spending the rest of her life with someone she loved. She used to believe it was within reach once with Drew, but now there were other things on her mind.
"They've certainly come a long way," Ash couldn't believe they were about to have two children. For now, marriage and children were the last things on Ash's mind.
"Are you two in love?" the elderly lady became nosy.
Ash and May jolted upright upon hearing the question. May nervously laughed, "We're just friends, ma'am."
"Nothing going on here," Ash lied through his chuckle. He waved his hands back and forth to indicate that.
The woman chuckled, "If you say so. Well, I'll go sit down to watch the show. It was a pleasure talking to the two of you. Enjoy the evening." Ash and May wished her the same. The elderly resident excused herself.
Despite the old woman being gone, her comment about Ash and May stayed in May's head. She sighed. Her sapphire eyes turned to Ash. He also seemed to be thinking about something. "Ash, do you remember what I told you the night Romeo and Juliet performed?" the brunette remembered.
He crossed his arms as he tried to remember with a concentrated expression, but nothing came to mind. Ash sheepishly smiled, "Gosh, it was so long ago I can't remember anymore."
May teased, "Now, who's the one who can't remember our journey together?"
The raven-haired trainer rubbed the back of his head while he laughed off her teasing. "What did you tell me then?" Ash asked his Hoenn friend. He wished he could recollect what it was.
His brunette friend fixed her eyes on Volbeat and Illumise's lights while they performed. "I told you that you'd understand love when you'd get older," May reminded him. Her eyes glistened from the lights emitted by the firefly-like Pokémon.
"Oh," Ash's eyes grew upon hearing what May said. He still failed to recall, but it did sound like something May would say.
"So do you?" May's eyes turned from the show to Ash. Her eyes still glistened. She anticipated what he would have to say.
Ash stared at her with uncertainty. When his auburn eyes read her sapphire eyes, he got a sense of what May wanted to hear from him. "I guess I don't know. Not enough at least," there was an awkward silence for a second between the pair. Pikachu swore he could cut the tension with a knife.
May lowered her head with an embarrassed grin. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be bringing it up after everything that's happened, especially with Serena, but I believe you understand love, Ash. I think you always did; I was only teasing back then, but I think you always knew. You just didn't realize it."
"What makes you say that?" Ash became perplexed by her point of view.
The coordinator edged closer to him. "You love your Pokémon, your friends, and your family, Ash. Just because it's not romantic doesn't make it any different. Love is the feeling when you're with someone and nothing else matters. Love makes us brave enough to do anything for the ones we care about. That's something you've always been capable of. I see it between you and Pikachu," May looked at her yellow friend.
"Piiiikaa!" Pikachu agreed with May. The Electric-type jumped into Ash's arms to nuzzle against his cheek. The pair laughed together over their ticklish affection.
Ash understood what May meant. He never thought of it that way before, but it did make sense. He supported his friends and always took risks for them because he loved them. He was even willing to risk his life for them, time and time again. He did it for Pokémon he hardly knew. He did it for Pikachu. He did it for…May.
His mind took him to the next piece of the puzzle. He wanted to ask something he'd been meaning to ask since Serena left them. "May, can I ask you something?" Ash said with slight hesitation.
"Anything," May encouraged him with a warm tone.
Ash appreciated her warmth. He softly smiled, "I know you said you didn't want a relationship, but do you wish we could be together?" Ash felt his heart race with each word of his question.
May got caught off guard by his question. She hadn't expected it from him, but she did appreciate it. Ash was learning. "I do wish we could be together. What about you?" the sapphire-eyed coordinator threw the question back.
Ash's face blushed. He lowered his head with slight embarrassment. "I wish we could be together, too. I understand now that I want to be with you, but I guess I…ignored the feeling?" the trainer hoped he was explaining himself well enough.
May nodded. She was able to follow what he was trying to communicate. The coordinator placed her hand over his hand on the grass. There was a warm smile on her face. "You didn't ignore the feeling. You just knew now wasn't your time, Ash. Part of the reason that I'm not ready for a relationship with you is because I know that you aren't," May's confession surprised Ash and Pikachu.
"May, what makes you say that?" Ash tried to understand where her statement came from.
May's eyes softened. "You know as well as I do that even your feelings for me or Serena are nothing compared to how big your dream is. You took all this time off to see me, but I know you've been itching to continue your dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. Not even love can hold that down. Am I wrong?" May ended with a question to see if Ash would deny it.
Ash sighed. He closed his eyes as he began speaking, "You're right. The night Serena left, I thought about why I was unaware of her feelings and why I couldn't admit to myself that I wanted to be with you. The reason is that becoming a Pokémon Master is still more important than anything else to me. It's the dream I've held even before I got Pikachu."
"And there's nothing wrong with that. You're free to work toward your dream without getting yourself tied down in other commitments, like a relationship. If you think becoming a Pokémon Master requires all your devotion right now, that's where it should be. Keep working to become the best," May squeezed his hand. Her affection put his heart at ease.
Ash opened his eyes to give May a soft look. "I wish I could've made that clearer before I hurt Serena. I should've been more considerate of other people's feelings," the raven-haired trainer guiltily admitted.
"Serena understood before you did, Ash. She respected your choice. Serena wouldn't force you to choose between her, me, or your dream. She also knew that clinging onto you in hopes of something wasn't good for her, so it's why she had to leave," May gave her insight. "There were times when I felt like I was falling into the same problem as Serena. I know she noticed it. I have feelings for you and want to be with you, but I've been through this once before, and I won't let it happen again. I also see other things requiring my attention. My life is changing again, and my focus needs to be on adjusting to that. For once in a long time, I'm alone. No one is looking over my shoulder. I get to recreate my path, so that's where my attention needs to be now," the coordinator conveyed how she felt.
Everything May said to Ash made sense to him. It was as if a thick fog was clearing over his path. His feelings for May and Serena were the curveball he nearly failed to catch, but everything was finally coming together. At the end of the road, the most critical thing to him was still his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. It was the road he needed to keep walking. Nevertheless, he lamented the circumstances that prevented him from committing to someone. As long as he aimed to be the very best, he knew neither Serena nor May could keep up. This was especially true if their paths as coordinator or performer didn't cross with his. Just as they wouldn't stop him from pursuing his dream, he wouldn't stop them from pursuing theirs.
"Thank you, May. You've helped me understand more than you realize," a smile stretched across Ash's face. His eyes shimmered with gratefulness.
His Hoenn friend caressed his hand. "You're born with the right to chase what brings you happiness. Don't let anyone take that away from you. Stick to it above all else," May helped him see that it was ok to place dreams before feelings. It wasn't easy to recognize, but his guilt was replaced by relief.
Ash agreed, "You're right. I can't change what's happened, but I can focus on the present to fulfill my dream." His auburn eyes turned from May to the Illumise and Volbeat. Everyone had dreams they were pursuing. The performers and their Pokémon had dreams they were fulfilling, just like Ash, May, and Serena. It brought them fulfillment.
May pulled her hand away from Ash. Her sapphire eyes shifted back to the performance. With her eyes gleaming, she commented, "I don't know what love waits for you down the line. I don't know if you'll have to choose between Serena and me someday, or if you'll meet someone different altogether, but I know you'll be ready for love one day. Whoever you end up with, I know they'll make you happy."
"You're right. I don't know what will happen next, but I know it will work out. It always does because we make it work no matter what," Ash looked down at Pikachu with happiness. For now, his best friend was still his valuable companion.
"Pikapi," Pikachu licked Ash's hand. The mouse appreciated his trainer's love for him. He knew Ash would find someone to love one day, but it didn't have to be today. There was no rush. Ash could take things one step at a time. After all, life and love have no playbook.
The trio watched the performance for the rest of the night until they got sleepy and went to bed. It was the first night in a while where all of them could rest with smiles on their faces.
Hoenn's sun lightened the clear blue sky. Ash stood with Pikachu on his shoulder on one side of the crossroads, with May standing across from him. "This is the same crossroads from the first time we split up after the Hoenn League," Ash recognized the paths.
"That's right. Nothing's changed here. It's like time came to a stop," May observed that the same trees, bushes, and Pokémon inhabited the area. For a moment, it made the trio nostalgic.
"I'm guessing that way leads to Petalburg City?" Ash pointed behind May.
May nodded, "Yep, and the path behind you leads to Oldale Town and Littleroot Town. You'll be able to catch the ferry to Pallet Town from there."
"Right," Ash nodded back. He held his hand out to May. "I guess this is it, then?"
The sapphire-eyed coordinator took his hand and abruptly pulled herself toward him. May grabbed Ash in a tight hug. "You're going to fulfill your destiny. I know it," May's voice cracked as she held him.
"You'll become the world's greatest Contest Master, too. There's no doubt," Ash firmly believed in the girl from Petalburg City. He wished he didn't have to let go of May.
May pecked his cheek, then backed away. Tears hung from the corner of her wobbly eyes. The girl eagerly bobbed her head as she held back from crying. A giant smile formed across her face, "Goodbye, Ash Ketchum!" She refused to cry in front of Ash, so she immediately turned around and ran down the path toward Petalburg City. May was going home.
Ash hid his eyes under the brim of his hat. Tears quietly streamed down his face. "Pika," Pikachu lovingly patted his friend behind the head to comfort him.
The trainer from Pallet Town rubbed his eyes with his arm and lifted his head with glistening eyes. He held an equally giant smile as he waved, "Goodbye, May!" Ash continued waving until May was out of sight. He let out a deep sigh and walked toward Oldale Town. "Miss you," Ash imagined May's face in the sky as they made their way. After that, he didn't look back. He refused to look back at the path where May disappeared down.
Ash and Pikachu's eyes opened with surprise. They found themselves in a void surrounded by mirrors. The mirrors reflected someone similar to him, but it wasn't. The figure was the same person who plagued his nightmares from the early days he reunited with May. He still wore a red hat and had calm, collected red eyes. "You?" Ash raised his eyebrow at the person in the mirrors encircling him.
"You have more growing up to do, Ash. So, what's it going to be? Will you stagnant or prevail?" the red-eyed Pokémon trainer asked.
Ash smirked at him. He turned his right hand into a fist. "I wanna be the very best like no one ever was. The courage between my Pokémon and I will pull us through every challenge along the way. We'll face every battle. It's always been our dream, and I know it's my destiny."
His mysterious foe chuckled, "Well said." Suddenly, the mirrors around Ash cracked. The falling glass unveiled a snowy cliff with light snow coming down. His red-eyed opponent stood before him at a cliff's edge with a Pikachu beside him.
Ash, the foe, and their Pikachu smirked at each other with fiery eyes. His opponent pointed at Ash and Pikachu. Ash pointed back at the foe and his Pikachu. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" they simultaneously commanded. Without a moment's waste, the Pikachu mightily cried at each other. They unleashed formidable lightning strikes that lit up the top of the mountain.
A few years passed since Ash, May, and Serena went their separate ways. As Serena intended, she and May found themselves in each other's company again. This time Max joined them in Hoenn.
Like many of Ash's friends from around the world, they were tuned into the final between Ash and Leon. It was the tournament's final match to decide the world's strongest Pokémon trainer. They knew they couldn't miss this.
May had her hand on Max's shoulder. Glaceon and Sylveon watched the screen above them with their trainers. Serena and May anxiously squeezed their hands together. Like Max, they had tense expressions as their eyes remained fixed on the screens.
C'mon, Ash and Pikachu. This is it, May thought as she watched their final showdown with Leon in the Masters Eight.
You can do this. This is your dream, Serena did not lose faith in her friends. She knew Ash and Pikachu had to defeat Leon. Like May before them, defeat was not an option.
When Pikachu got up, they became even more anxious. They knew this was their last shot. Ash turned his hat around to signify their last stand. Pikachu and his trainer shared the same intensity in their eyes. Leon's Charizard and Ash's Pikachu charged up every ounce of power they had left to deliver their final attacks. They saw the ground erupt underneath the Pokémon. When they bashed each other head-on, Serena and May's eyes widened. Then Leon's Charizard fainted.
Euphoria surged through Serena and May when Ash was determined the winner. "He did it!" Serena and May simultaneously celebrated when they hugged each other. Max, Sylveon, and Glaceon were startled by their eagerness but were just as happy for their longtime friend.
May and Serena smiled happily at each other with sparkling eyes. They never stopped believing in their best friend. Ash never gave up, and they loved him for it. The girls turned to the screen to look at Ash spinning Pikachu around cheerfully.
Well done, Ash, May felt tears form in the corner of her eyes. She was beyond proud.
Ash, you deserve it, Serena also had tears in her eyes. Her heart could burst with joy.
May and Serena knew that Ash was fulfilling his destiny like he always wanted.
Note: The next 2 chapters are epilogues with alternate endings. I found this was the best way to address the major loose ends. You're welcome to accept whichever ending you like more. Enjoy!