Days later, May was on deck practicing her battle stances, her movements fluid and precise. Dawn set down a tray of tea nearby, watching with interest as May readied a shuriken between her fingers and launched it into the railing, hitting the same spot as her last throw.

"Nicely done," Janine complimented as May relaxed her stance and pulled out the shuriken.

"Thanks," May replied with a smile, walking over to the table and taking a seat.

"How about a break, you two?" Dawn suggested, pouring a few cups of tea.

"Alright," Janine agreed, joining May at the table.

"Thanks, Dawn," May said gratefully.

"How goes the training?" Dawn asked.

"Smoothly," Janine answered confidently.

"I think we can kick even more butt than we could before." May nodded in agreement.

"That number was already pretty high," Dawn remarked with a chuckle.

"True," Janine agreed. May took a sip of her drink.

"I am so ready."

"Heh," Janine chuckled.

"How are the boys doing?" Dawn inquired.

"Well, they've managed to not punch any holes in the ship with their swords below deck, so I'd consider that overall good," Dawn replied with a smile.

"Since when does Ash use a sword?" Janine asked, surprised.

"Since it's harder for him to practice Aura Blasts in an enclosed space," May explained. "He has a staff, but it only takes one misfire to cause massive damage."

"Point taken..." Janine nodded, understanding.

"I appreciate his caution, especially since we haven't seen any land since we left," May added.

"Fair enough," Dawn agreed. May took another sip of her drink but suddenly winced, holding her head.

"May?" Janine looked concerned.

"Dragons again...?" Dawn asked, noticing May's discomfort. May nodded slightly, still holding her head.

"Yeah... but there's something different about it..."

"Different how?" Janine inquired, worried.

"It's not happening... to me... I think... I think Kyurem is trying to send me a message..." May explained, her grip on her head tightening.

"Flee..." Kyurem's voice echoed in May's mind.

"What? Flee from what?" May asked, confused.

"Flee course!" his voice insisted. May's eyes widened in surprise, and she ran to the back of the boat, looking out at the water. A Kingdra roared as he swam after the boat, flanked by several dozen Seadra, signaling the start of an unexpected attack.

"May, what's-" Dawn started to ask, but May interrupted.

"We've got company!" May exclaimed, pointing at the water. Several Seadra surged forward, slamming into the boat and rocking it back and forth. May gripped the railing tightly to keep her balance as Dawn fell back with a cry, and Janine exclaimed in disbelief.

"What in the world!?" Janine shouted over the chaos. Kingdra continued to issue orders, and more Seadra collided with the ship, intensifying the onslaught.

"We're under attack...!" Dawn yelled, scrambling to regain her footing.

"Just our luck!" Janine added, frustration evident in her voice. Gary and Ash quickly ran onto the main deck as more hits came to the ship's hull.

"What's going on?!" Ash yelled.

"Under attack!" Dawn answered, stumbling from another hit to the ship.

"Gary take the helm...!" May ordered.

"On it!" the guard nodded as he ran up the wheel and took control of it. More Seadra rammed the boat, knocking everyone around.

"Ack…! We gotta break up their group...!" May shouted, determination flashing in her eyes.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash sprang into action. Pikachu jumped into the air and fired Thunderbolt into the water while May grabbed some shurikens from her dress.

"Glaceon help me out!" she called as she launched her shurikens. Glaceon quickly fired Ice Beam at May's weapons, which froze and sharpened the weapons as they headed into the water. However, Kingdra dodged their attacks, proving to be a formidable opponent.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt again!" Ash ordered, hurling an Aura Sphere at Kingdra. The Kingdra grunted in pain as Ash's Aura Sphere found it's mark, but the Seadra continued their assault, one of them managing to slam into Pikachu, activating its Poison Point ability before the Electric Mouse could fire Thunderbolt again.

"Ack!" he yelped.

"Pikachu!" Ash cried out, rushing to his partner's aid and thwacking the Seadra with his staff. Glaceon, concerned for Pikachu's well-being, looked to May for guidance.

"Are you guys okay?!" May called out, worry etched on her face as she assessed the situation. Pikachu twitched from the poison, and Ash's expression darkened.

"I don't know, it doesn't look good..."

"Dawn, take Pikachu below and treat him!" May instructed, her voice urgent yet composed. Dawn nodded, moving swiftly to assist Ash and Pikachu.

"I'll take good care of him. I promise," she assured them before disappearing below deck with Pikachu in her arms. As Glaceon looked up at May, May nodded in silent approval, allowing Glaceon to follow Dawn and Pikachu. Meanwhile, Kingdra roared another command, and several Seadra conjured Twister, surrounding the ship with funnels of wind and water.

"We've got a major problem! The ship will break up if we try to cross that!" Gary shouted, his voice strained with concern. Ash gritted his teeth, weighing their options.

"Shoot..!" he muttered under his breath, the pressure of the situation weighing heavily on him.

"We gotta push through! If we can take out the summoners, the funnels might weaken enough that we can escape!" May suggested, her voice resolute despite the chaos around them.

"We can't at this rate! Ariados can't handle it alone!" Janine pointed out, her expression grim.

"I have another idea!" Ash exclaimed suddenly, his eyes alight with determination.

"I'm open to suggestions!" May replied, turning to face him. Ash held out his palms, the orbs in his gloves glowing as he created a force field around the ship.

"I can't hold it for long..! Go..!" he urged, his voice strained with effort. Gary wasted no time, increasing the boat's speed as Ash struggled to maintain the barrier against the onslaught of Seadra and the swirling Twisters. Finally, with a burst of determination, Gary forced the ship clear of the Twisters.

"Alright now!" he called out. Ash dropped the barrier, staggering with fatigue. May rushed to his side, offering her support as he steadied himself.

"Thanks..." Ash murmured, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"You're just full of new tricks lately, aren't you...?" May remarked with a small smile, admiration shining in her eyes.

"I could say the same about you," Ash replied, returning her smile with warmth. May smiled back at Ash, but her expression quickly turned to one of alarm as the ship jerked with another impact.

"Ack!" she exclaimed, quickly looking over the railing to assess the situation. Kingdra had rammed into the ship with Giga Impact, proving to be the only member of the school capable of breaking through the Twisters.

"This thing just won't take a hint!" Gary exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.

"Ariados go!" Janine took charge, commanding Ariados to act. The Pokémon shot a Spider Web at Kingdra, but the powerful creature dodged the attack and retaliated with Bubblebeam, sending a barrage of bubbles crashing into the ship. Thinking quickly, May called out to Janine,

"Give me a bigger Spider Web!" Janine nodded, understanding May's plan, and Ariados fired another web, this time larger and stronger. Without hesitation, May leaped over the railing and used the Spider Web as a trampoline to propel herself directly over Kingdra. In mid-air, she launched a shuriken with pinpoint accuracy, striking Kingdra in the neck. The dragon Pokémon screeched in pain, but in his dying breath, he managed to fire off a weak Water Gun, catching May in the eye and throwing off her course.

"May..!" Ash called out, running forward in concern. Gritting her teeth, May reached out for the railing, but she was just out of reach. Thankfully, Ash grabbed her wrist just in time, halting her fall midair. Ash nearly lost his balance in the process, but Janine quickly came to their aid, grabbing his torso and pulling them back onto the deck. Ariados launched String Shot, grabbing all three of them and helping them back onto the ship. Ash and May panted heavily, recovering from the intense ordeal.

"Everyone alright down there?" Gary called out from the helm.

"I'm fine..." May replied, rubbing the water from her eye.

"It'd be better if my muscles didn't feel like I was about to sink into the floor..." Ash added, feeling the strain of the force field he had created.

"Luckily for you, there's a spot we can rest up ahead," Gary informed them.

"There is?" May questioned, getting up and looking over the bow of the ship. Her eyes widened as she spotted a large landmass in the distance. "That's not a rest stop..."

"The destination?" Ash nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. May nodded in confirmation.

"I'll never forget what I saw in that vision... that's Unova..."

"Well... land ho then, I guess," Gary remarked, steering the ship towards their newfound destination. Ash nodded, a sense of determination settling over him as they approached the mysterious land of Unova.

The air was thick with tension as May scanned the horizon, her eyes narrowed in concentration. The ship drifted cautiously towards an unfamiliar coastline, its crew alert and apprehensive. They had no idea what awaited them on this uncharted shore.

"We need to try and find a more secluded area to dock," May said, her voice steady despite the anxiety gnawing at her. "We don't know what's up there."

"Just as well. We need to check the ship for damage too." Gary nodded in agreement. Ash, standing nearby, looked exhausted.

"Okay..." he murmured, his weariness evident.

"I'll keep an eye out," Janine volunteered, her sharp gaze already scanning the terrain. May gave her a grateful nod.

"Thanks." She turned to Ash, concern etched on her face. "Ash, how far can you scan? Maybe we can find a place with fewer life signs?"

"Not far...at least not until I get a few more minutes to rest..." Ash shook his head, frustration mingling with fatigue. May placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Then stay back until you've recovered. Janine and I will scout as soon as we're in jumping range."

"Wait..." Ash interjected, a hint of unease in his voice. "I'm not sure that's the best idea…"

"Why not?" May glanced over at him, puzzled.

"Shouldn't we stick together?" Ash asked, his worry palpable. A soft smile played on May's lips as she leaned in and kissed him gently.

"I'd love to. But you need to rest and we need to find a safe place to dock ASAP." Ash's shoulders sagged slightly, but he didn't argue. He knew she was right, even if he didn't like it. "Janine and I can scout the coast and find a safe place to dock in no time," May reassured him. Ash frowned, thinking of the others.

"What about Glaceon?"

"She's helping Dawn with Pikachu," May replied.

"That shouldn't be anything a couple of drops of water won't solve," Janine added, trying to ease his concerns.

"I know. I trust Dawn. But we have to do this quickly," she said, turning to Janine, who simply shrugged. "Besides, looking around from tree to tree is something I do all the time," May added with a wink.

"True enough." Janine nodded in agreement. May cupped Ash's face in her hands and kissed him gently. He kissed her back, his tension easing slightly under her touch.

"I love you," May whispered, stroking his cheek. "And I'll be fine. It's me, remember?"

"That's what I'm afraid of..." Ash managed a small smile. May chuckled and pressed her forehead against his.

"Meanie..."

"You know I'm right," Ash countered softly.

"Oh, get a room." Janine rolled her eyes.

"Don't tempt me." May grinned.

"We're getting close." Gary's voice broke the moment. May gave Ash one more lingering kiss before stepping back.

"Just rest up. I'll be back in just a few minutes. And I know you'll be watching my Aura like a Hawlucha." Ash blushed, the familiar warmth of his love for her mingling with his worry.

"Be careful," he begged.

"Of course." May smiled at him before turning to her sister. "You and Ariados ready?"

"Ready." Janine nodded. Ariados sprayed out another Spider Web trampoline. May wasted no time, running right in and jumping, springing into the air and into the branches of the nearest tree. Janine followed her lead with practiced ease.

"You want left or right?" May called out as they moved swiftly through the trees.

"Left," Janine responded, already veering to her side. May nodded, dashing to the right.

"Fifteen minutes!" Janine nodded back and disappeared into the foliage, both of them moving with the silent grace of seasoned scouts. Back on the ship, Ash watched May until she vanished from sight, his heart pounding with a mix of love and apprehension. He took a deep breath, trusting in her skills and his own ability to monitor her Aura from a distance.

"Stay safe," he whispered to the wind, as he closed his eyes to rest, knowing he would be ready when she needed him most.

May bounded through the trees with practiced agility, her keen eyes scanning the surroundings. The forest was alive with the rustle of leaves and the occasional sound of wild Pokémon. So far, she hadn't encountered anything out of the ordinary.

"So far so good..." she murmured to herself, her senses alert for any sign of danger. As she continued her search, May stumbled across a small alcove, hidden away from any signs of civilization. "Bingo," she whispered, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. Nearby, a Horsea glided up a gentle stream, its presence a good omen. May jumped down from her perch and thoroughly inspected the area, ensuring it was safe and secure. Everything seemed in order. Nodding to herself, she headed back to the designated meet-up point. Janine, her sister, appeared with a graceful somersault, landing silently beside her. "Found the perfect spot," May announced, her voice filled with confidence.

"Yeah?" Janine raised an eyebrow.

"Should suffice as long as we need." May nodded.

"Good," Janine replied, her expression relaxing. Ariados, her faithful Pokémon, spat out a web to assist their return.

"After you," May gestured. Janine jumped first, followed closely by May. They landed back on the deck with practiced ease. Ash stood waiting, a relieved smile on his face.

"Ten-star landing."

"Thanks." May grinned at him. "Gary, set course five knots to the right."

"Yes, ma'am," Gary acknowledged, turning the ship toward their new destination. Ash stepped closer to May, who wrapped her arms around his neck.

"See? I'm just fine." Ash blushed slightly. "Trust your wife, my love," May teased, pecking him on the lips.

"I do…" he conceded, returning her affectionate peck. As Gary expertly maneuvered the ship into the alcove, May hopped off the ship, her senses attuned to the subtle energies of the land. She ran her hand along the ground, feeling a familiar power.

"We're definitely on the right track..." she murmured.

"How can you tell?" Gary looked curious.

"There's a power here...right in the very being of this place," May explained, closing her eyes to feel the energy more deeply. "Almost identical to the dragons' energy..."

"You're scary sometimes, you know that?" Ash chuckled nervously.

"How so?" May glanced back at him, puzzled.

"The way you figure this stuff out with no warning... There's a lot we don't understand," Ash admitted.

"I don't understand it either. But I have a way of following what I feel to be right." May shrugged.

"That you do." Ash nodded, acknowledging her intuition.

"After we get the boat tied up, let's see if we can find a town or village. We need some information," May suggested.

"On it," Janine agreed, while Gary began securing the boat. Dawn emerged from below deck, carrying Pikachu.

"Ash?" she called his attention. Ash turned, his eyes lighting up.

"Yeah?"

"Pikachu's going to be just fine." Dawn smiled warmly. Pikachu leapt into Ash's arms, his eyes sparkling.

"I knew no poison could slow you down!" Ash laughed, holding his beloved Pokémon close.

"Got that right!" Pikachu cooed happily.

"We're good to go," Gary announced as he finished tying off the boat. May nodded, her expression determined.

"Then let's hit the road."

"What about Pikachu's girlfriend? Is she coming along?" Ash glanced at Pikachu, earning a flustered blush from his partner.

"Of course." May chuckled. On cue, Glaceon ran down the gangplank, joining the group with a graceful leap. Pikachu blushed, embarrassed by the attention.

"Did we have to call attention to that factor?" he muttered.

"I'm sure she thinks so," Ash teased, watching Glaceon smile at Pikachu.

"Let's roll." Janine stretched, ready to move. May nodded and began walking, leading the way into the unknown. The group followed, united in their mission and ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As the group walked through the unfamiliar woods, Ash shut his eyes, trying to extend his senses to detect any potential threats in their surroundings. His brow furrowed in concentration as he reached out with his Aura.

"Any suspicious readings?" Gary asked, his tone cautious. Ash opened his eyes, shaking his head.

"Nothing yet, but I don't have the range of a master." he reminded them. May placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Don't underestimate yourself, honey." Ash blushed at her words and the warmth in her eyes.

"Thanks, May," he said softly, smiling back at her. Dawn, walking beside them, looked thoughtful.

"Hopefully these people aren't too hostile towards outsiders..."

"I just hope we don't run into the mastermind of this whole thing without knowing it." Gary frowned. May's expression hardened.

"No chance of that. I'll never forget what she looked like..."

"Describe her then. We should all know who we're up against." Janine glanced over, curious. May's eyes darkened with the memory.

"Darker skin, very long purple hair... she was wearing this really poofy and extravagant dress."

"How extravagant?" Dawn asked, intrigued.

"The opposite of anything I'd wear," May replied with a hint of a smile.

"Got a name?" Ash inquired, hoping for a lead. May shook her head, her frustration evident.

"Unfortunately, no..."

"Darn," Ash muttered.

"But if she's as dangerous as I think she is, someone here has to know something about her," May said resolutely.

"Exactly why I'm worried..." Ash muttered under his breath. Suddenly, Glaceon's ears perked up. May noticed immediately.

"You hear it too?" Glaceon nodded. May turned to Janine. "What about you, Janine?" Janine closed her eyes briefly before nodding.

"I think so."

"Hear what?" Dawn looked around, puzzled.

"A town," May said, her eyes brightening. "Just a little over a mile ahead." Ash focused his Aura again.

"I'm getting something too."

"Is it the kind of thing we need weapons for?" Gary's hand moved instinctively toward his weapon.

"Not sure. Let's find out," May said, dashing off towards the sound.

"Hey, wait!" Ash called after her, sprinting to catch up. Dawn and Gary exchanged glances before following quickly, while Janine leaped from tree to tree with agile grace.

To be Continued...