Janine, Gary, and Dawn walked over to the newlyweds, all three of them smiling at the sight of the two of them enjoying each other's company. Gary cleared his throat, his expression playfully sarcastic.
"Sorry to interrupt your date," he said. Dawn giggled and Ash rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Hardy har," he replied dryly. May, also giggling, sat up straighter.
"Did you guys find anything?" Dawn wondered.
"We got some information about who I assume is the woman I saw in my visions." May nodded, her expression growing serious.
"All we got was cold shoulders." Janine sighed, a hint of frustration in her voice.
"Well, I think the person we're looking for is the Queen of the country. Queen Iris." May revealed to her friends.
"They have a Queen?" Dawn's eyes widened in surprise.
"At least that's what we're being led to assume." Ash nodded, his tone thoughtful. Gary crossed his arms, his brow furrowing.
"You're confident this is who we're looking for?"
"Fairly," May replied. "There was talk about her 'obsession' with dragon myths. Seems to fit our parameters."
"And she doesn't seem very popular." Ash's expression darkened slightly.
"So how do we find her?" Dawn tilted her head, thinking. May's gaze turned distant as she considered the possibilities.
"Well, I assume that even a Queen like this has to have a castle or some other kind of dwelling somewhere in the country. We just need to find it." Suddenly, the sky above them briefly turned a disconcerting shade of purple. May gasped, clutching her head as a massive headache struck her. She stumbled back against a nearby tree, her face contorted in pain. "Ack!" she cried out, her legs wobbling.
"May!" Ash exclaimed, rushing to her side and holding her up as she slumped against him.
"What's going on?!" Dawn's eyes were wide with panic.
"Nothing good, I bet..." Gary mumbled as his hand moved instinctively to the handle of his sword. Janine's gaze sharpened, scanning the area.
"I think our culprit is nearby..." she guessed. May struggled to steady herself, a determined look on her face despite the pain.
"Ah..."
"May..?" Ash's grip on her tightened. She gritted her teeth, fighting through the agony.
"I'm fine..." Her eyes focused on the dense forest ahead of them. "That way..."
"Are you sure...?" Ash squeezed her hand, his concern evident.
"I'm not wasting this opportunity," May insisted, her voice firm despite the tremor of pain in it. With that, she took off running towards the forest. Ash cursed under his breath but didn't hesitate to follow her. Dawn gasped, her eyes wide with worry as she sprinted after them with Janine on her heels. Gary, his expression grim, chased after the group, his sword now drawn and ready for whatever lay ahead.
May burst into a nearby clearing, her breath ragged from the dash. Just as she caught her breath, a Dragon Pulse blast landed mere inches from her feet, throwing up dirt and grass.
"Gah!" Ash yelped, throwing up his arms to shield himself from the debris. May skidded to a halt, her eyes narrowing.
"Show yourself!" she demanded, her voice echoing through the clearing. A figure emerged from the shadows, her presence commanding.
"So, you're the trespassers that bullied my Kingdra," the woman said, her tone icy and authoritative. May's eyes widened as recognition set in.
"Queen Iris, if I'm not mistaken?" she asked, her voice filled with both awe and accusation.
"Not Princess Cupcake," Iris retorted with a smirk. May growled, fighting the urge to grab a shuriken from her skirt.
"I want to know exactly why you had us attacked."
"You attacked my fish. Hardly my fault they retaliated. Any more lip from you and Hydreigon will put the next blast between your eyes." Iris's expression remained unyielding. May's eyes flashed with anger.
"I wouldn't challenge me if I were you. Especially not after what you've been doing to my charges."
"Listen, pigtails, I don't know who you think you are, but if you think you can just waltz up and confront the Dragon Queen, you've got another thing coming." Iris snorted dismissively.
"Try Princess May. Caretaker and Speaker for the great Dragon Kyurem." May glared, her voice steady and defiant. Iris raised an eyebrow briefly before giving an amused smile.
"You speak on behalf of that murderous dragon?"
"I won't allow you to keep hurting him," May declared, her resolve unwavering. Iris's smile vanished, replaced by cold determination.
"I'm just taking back what he stole. And I'll eliminate anyone who gets in my way." With a snap of her fingers, she summoned a trio of Hydreigon. May's eyes narrowed as she grabbed her weapons. Three streams of purple fire erupted from the Hydreigon, forcing Ash to leap into action.
"Duck!" He pulled May down just in time.
"Ack!" May landed hard on her stomach. Dawn yelped, covering her head, while Gary and Janine ducked down. Janine quickly retaliated by throwing shurikens at the nearest Hydreigon, but he dodged and rammed into her.
"Ah!" Janine yelped as she was thrown backwards.
"That's it!" May shouted, getting up and launching a barrage of shurikens into one of the Hydreigon, which roared in pain. Another Hydreigon struck her with a powerful Dragon Tail, sending her sprawling. Ash, his aura flaring with determination, charged an Aura Sphere and hurled it at the nearest Hydreigon. Simultaneously, Glaceon launched an Ice Beam, hitting another Hydreigon and making him screech in pain. Gary swung his sword into the first Hydreigon, while May, recovering quickly, jumped and grabbed the second Hydreigon by the wings, vaulting herself onto his back. The dragon roared and bit her shoulder, making her scream in pain, but she held on tightly.
"MAY!" Ash shouted, his voice filled with panic. May gritted her teeth, ignoring the searing pain, and slammed a shuriken right between the Hydreigon's eyes. He screamed and unleashed a point-blank Dragon Breath in desperation. May screamed as the flames burned her skin, but she used all her strength to drive the shuriken even further in. With a final, agonized roar, the Hydreigon crashed to the ground, pinning May beneath its massive weight.
"ACK!"
"May!" Ash ran over to her, his heart pounding. He shoved the fallen dragon off her with all his might. May struggled to get up, clutching her bleeding shoulder. "You're hurt…"
"I'm not running..." she panted.
"We gotta get you outta here," Ash insisted, his voice firm.
"Like hell..." May began, but was cut off by Gary's urgent shout.
"Look out!" A massive Dragonite flew in, leading a large group of Altaria, Charizard, Flygon, and Noivern. May gasped at the sight.
"Go!" Glaceon urged, sensing the danger. May gritted her teeth and threw several smoke bombs to cover their escape. Ash helped her to her feet, supporting her as they fled the clearing. She winced in pain but pressed on, determined.
"Over there!" Gary pointed to a sloping cave partially hidden by overgrown vegetation. Janine darted over to investigate, followed closely by Dawn.
"It looks okay," she called back. Gary was the first to run inside, followed by Ash, who helped May inside and then Janine and Dawn close behind. Janine took a post at the front of the cave to watch for anyone following them, while Gary headed towards the back of the cave to make sure they couldn't be ambushed from behind. May groaned, clutching her bleeding shoulder, but managed to stay on her feet. She panted heavily, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she leaned against the cave wall. Ash gently laid her down, his expression filled with worry.
"May..." he began, but she cut him off, gritting her teeth against the pain.
"Don't even think about it..." she hissed. Glaceon looked up with sorrowful eyes.
"You're burned in one spot and bleeding in another," she said softly, her ears drooping.
"I don't care... I could've taken her...!" May's voice was fierce, but the exhaustion was evident.
"No, May," Ash replied firmly. "We were clearly out of our league there. You would have gotten yourself killed."
"You think I'm just gonna sit back and let that witch keep hurting my dragons?!" May's eyes blazed with defiance.
"MAY!" Ash's shout echoed through the cave, making her flinch slightly. "Wake up! This isn't just another run-of-the-mill heist of yours! This is someone we don't know, in a place we don't know, with powers we know nothing about, who was fully prepared to kill us! I don't know about you, but I'm NOT eager to fulfill the 'till death do us part' part of our vows just yet!"
"If that's what it takes, I'll die for them! And for the rest of you too!"
"NO, YOU WON'T!" Ash's voice cracked with emotion.
"Ash-"
"IF YOU DIE, SO DO THEY, GENIUS!" May's defiance faltered, and she fell silent. "You're soul-linked to them until we have a kid! If you go, they all do too! And if I don't get to be selfish and heal you, you CERTAINLY don't get to be selfish and throw your life away! If you can't even bear the thought of seeing me weary, did it ever cross your mind that I couldn't bear to lose you!?"
"I…" May lowered her head, her resolve crumbling. She had no words. Ash's eyes filled with tears.
"Darn hypocrite..." He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "You just can't get enough of raising my blood pressure, can you?"
"I'm sorry..." she whispered as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I just hoped I didn't have to keep chasing you anymore..." Ash's voice was thick with emotion. May's tears spilled over, and she began to cry softly. Ash wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she sobbed into his chest.
"I hate being helpless..." she managed between sobs.
"I know," Ash murmured, his voice gentle. May continued to cry, her body shaking with the effort, as she lost more blood. Glaceon approached, concern etched on her face.
"Here," she said, breathing a cold breath onto her injuries. May winced at the sting but nodded. "There..." Dawn stepped forward, rummaging through her bag.
"I'll take it from here," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. She helped May lean against the wall, granting better access to her injuries. May gritted her teeth, her pain evident.
"May..?" Ash called softly. May groaned in response, the pain overwhelming her senses. Dawn inspected the wounds carefully, her expression serious.
"May, I think they tore through some of your muscles when they bit you..."
"Fantastic..." May groaned softly, her sarcasm barely masking her pain. Ash's expression hardened with determination.
"That's it. I'm helping."
"No." May looked up sharply. "You're not using that spell..."
"May, I can't treat your muscles with a field kit." Dawn intervened, her voice gentle but firm. "If we don't get something stronger, you might not be able to use your arm right once it heals. And if it got infected..."
"I won't let him hurt himself..." May insisted, her voice weak but determined.
"Stop it." Ash shook his head. "It's just darn fatigue. You don't have a say in this after that stunt." He held out his arms, ready to cast the healing spell.
"I'm your wife... of course I have a say-"
"Like I did earlier?" Ash replied coldly, already focusing on his spell. May winced but reluctantly held still, knowing she couldn't stop him.
"Fine…" Ash took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind, and began the incantation.
"This might sting a bit," he warned softly. As Ash began channeling healing energy into her, she felt her muscles start to relax. Despite the relief, she winced slightly as he started to correct the tears in her muscles. Ash hissed in pain as he continued, his own energy draining. May took a deep breath, trying to stay relaxed for both their sakes. The wounds began to close, but the process was taxing on them both. May watched him, her heart aching with a mixture of love and frustration. She hated feeling helpless, but as the healing energy flowed from Ash's hands, she couldn't deny the relief that spread through her injured body. Glaceon curled up in her lap, offering silent support. Dawn continued to assist as well, applying what medicine she could to aid the healing process. While they were working, Gary returned to the group, brushing dirt off his hands.
"Nothing in the back of the cave. We should be able to hide out here as long as we need."
"Thanks, Gary," May replied, her voice weary but grateful. Finally, Ash dropped to his knees, his strength spent.
"There..." he whispered finally, slumping back, exhausted but satisfied.
"Ash!" May exclaimed, quickly shifting towards him and placing her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm fine..." he managed, though his body twitched with pain.
"Now who's being stubborn?" she chided gently, helping him sit up and rest his back against the cave wall. Ash took a deep breath, his exhaustion evident. May leaned in and kissed him gently, a gesture of both love and reassurance. He kissed her back, their connection a soothing balm amid the chaos. As they pulled away, May placed a hand on his cheek. "I love you... more than anything in the world..."
"I love you too... Even though you drive me crazy," Ash responded with a small smile.
"Back at you," May replied, giving a weak smile of her own. They shared one more kiss before May gently squeezed his hand.
"Please, honest truth... are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah, no big deal," Ash reassured her. May rested her forehead against his.
"Stay down at least for a little while?"
"Okay..." he agreed, his voice softening.
"Thank you... for everything," May whispered, giving his hand one more squeeze before standing up and rotating her shoulder to stretch the muscles a little. Ash shut his eyes, trying to recover some energy. May looked at the rest of the group. "Everyone else...?"
"I'm alright," Dawn said, nodding. Gary nodded in agreement.
"Same as always," Janine added.
"Good," May said, taking a deep breath. "But I guess we need a different strategy..."
"Figured that out on your own, did ya?" Ash smirked. May shrugged with a slightly joking attitude.
"More or less..." Ash gave a small smile. "One thing I didn't see on her was the talisman she used in my vision... it must be somewhere else."
"I see," Ash said thoughtfully.
"Is that the source of the power over Kyurem and the others?" Dawn asked.
"Probably," May replied. "Every time it glows is when I feel their pain."
"Then we have to figure out how to take it back," Ash said firmly.
"If only we knew something more about it," Gary mused.
"Yeah…" Ash nodded. "I'd say we should find out more... but that didn't go well last time..."
"There has to be some way," May insisted.
"That starts with learning more about where we are," Janine spoke up.
"I'm open to suggestions," May said.
"There's always the next town," Janine suggested.
"I guess..."
"We should at least rest for tonight," Dawn advised.
"Probably the best move," Ash agreed.
"Alright," May conceded. She sat down on the cave floor next to her husband and Ash leaned against her, May blushing softly at the contact. As Ash shut his eyes, she snuggled closer to him and began to hum their wedding song softly. Ash smiled, recognizing the tune. "Remember?" she asked, her voice gentle.
"Sure do," Ash replied. May smiled and softly sang the refrain under her breath.
"And you make me so mad I ask myself... why I'm still here... but where could I go? You're the only love I've ever known... I hate you... I really hate you... so much I think it must be true love..." Ash relaxed, the soothing melody easing his weariness.
"True love," he murmured as he drifted off. May rested her head against his neck and closed her eyes.
"True love," she echoed softly before falling asleep against him. Gary, watching them with a smile, turned to Janine teasingly.
"Any interest in that?"
"Talk to the hand." Janine held up her hand. Dawn giggled at their exchange, and Janine huffed in mock irritation. The cave settled into a peaceful silence, the group finding a brief respite from their troubles.
To be Continued...