In the dim light filtering through the dense canopy, May's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the familiar sight of the mysterious forest, one that she quickly recognized as the same one from the dream she had when Kyurem first got sick. Confusion clouded her thoughts as she struggled to recall how she had returned to this enigmatic place once more.
"Again...?" she murmured, her voice barely audible in the eerie stillness. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, her presence sending a shiver down May's spine. The same purple-haired woman from before, her features slightly clearer than before, stood before her with an air of anticipation.
"Excellent," the woman declared, her tone tinged with excitement. May turned towards the intruder, her senses sharpened by a mix of trepidation and curiosity. "This is where the final member of this Dragon species was slain in the purge... The Totem should be at its strongest here..." the woman spoke with reverence, her words carrying a weight that sent a chill down May's spine.
"Totem...?" May echoed, her voice barely above a whisper as she tentatively approached to see better.
"Come, great Dragon Overlord... And return the power you've taken from this soul!" the woman proclaimed, lifting a staff adorned with the skull of a dragon. The artifact glowed with an intensity that threatened to blind, accompanied by a deafening screech that seemed to emanate from far beyond of the forest. But May knew the cry of pain even from this distance.
"Zekrom?!" May gasped, her heart racing as the ground beneath her seemed to tremble with unseen forces. Before she could fully comprehend the situation, she felt herself being wrenched away, pulled towards her dragon's lair beneath the Kingdom. Despite the disorienting journey, she managed to maintain a sense of direction, catching glimpses of the surrounding landscape as she was propelled forward. Once she realized where she had been brought, she watched in horror as Zekrom screamed in pain, slowly and painfully being shrunk to about half his normal size.
"No…!" the dragon grunted in immense pain.
"Zekrom!" she cried out, desperation driving her to reach out to the legendary dragon. But her efforts were in vain as electric energy surged around Zekrom, forming a barrier that kept her at bay. The shockwaves from the field sent her careening backward, her body slamming into the unforgiving walls of the cave.
The force of impact jolted May awake, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings.
"ZEKROM!" she shouted, a bolt of lightning crackling from her outstretched hand and piercing through one of the windows of the infirmary. Startled cries filled the room as Brock and Ash rushed to her side, their faces etched with concern.
"May, are you okay?!" Ash's voice quivered with emotion as he enveloped her in a tight embrace. Confusion clouded May's features as she glanced around, trying to piece together the fragments of her fractured memory.
"A-Ash…? Why am I in the infirmary...?" she whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the chaos. Tears welled up in Ash's eyes as he clung to her, his grip tightening with each passing moment, surprising his new wife. She'd never seen him tremble with such fear. "Ash…?"
"May, I woke up to you screaming in pain and collapsing unconscious to the floor," Ash choked out, his voice thick with emotion.
"I did...? I mean I remember a pain in my head but…" Realization dawned on May as fragments of her vision flooded back to her, the memory of Zekrom's cries echoing in her mind. "Oh no, Zekrom!"
"What?" her husband asked with confusion.
"They're in trouble, I need to—" May's words were cut short as she attempted to rise from the bed, her body still weak from the ordeal.
"May, wait!" Ash pleaded, catching her before she could fall. "Easy…" But May's resolve remained unyielding as she struggled against Ash's grasp, her thoughts consumed by the urgency of the situation.
"Someone's hurting them on purpose...!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with desperation. Ash's heart ached at the sight of May's anguish, his own fears mirrored in her tear-streaked face.
"May, I promise we'll deal with it, but you need to rest," Ash implored, his voice filled with a sense of urgency. But May's mind was already made up as she fought against the darkness threatening to consume her.
"I can't! She could be hurting Zekrom right now!" May's voice cracked with emotion as she struggled against Ash's hold. A flicker of pain flashed across Ash's features as he gazed into May's tear-filled eyes, his heart breaking at the sight of her suffering.
"May!" he suddenly snapped, his tone shocking her into stillness as their eyes met. "I don't want to lose you before we've even had our honeymoon..." Ash's voice trailed off, his words laden with unspoken fears. May's resolve wavered at Ash's words, her heart aching at the thought of causing him further pain. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips and pleaded with her again, voice was barely a whisper as he reached out to her. "May, please..."
"Ash…" Tears streamed down May's cheeks as she hesitated, the weight of her decision bearing down on her like a heavy burden.
"...At least put something on first…then I'll go with you to the caves." he finally conceded. It was at his comment that May glanced down, finally noticing she was wrapped in a blanket since she hadn't had a chance to put on clothes before she collapsed.
"Oh…" she sighed, finally giving in as she rubbed some lingering pain from her head. "Ok…"
"Thank you…" he whispered. Slowly, she allowed herself to be guided back to their room, her steps faltering with each passing moment.
"Thank you..." May whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the silence that hung heavy in the air. Ash's embrace offered her solace in the midst of the storm, his love a beacon of hope in the darkness that threatened to consume her. "I'm sorry I worried you..." May's voice was barely a whisper, filled with a mixture of remorse and gratitude. Ash's heart swelled with love as he reached out to her, his touch a silent reassurance of his unwavering devotion.
"I love you so much..." he confessed, his voice trembling with emotion. May's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she met his gaze, her heart overflowing with love for the man who had always stood by her side.
"I love you too..." she murmured, her words a solemn vow to never let their bond falter. With a deep breath, Ash opened the door, ushering May inside as they ventured into the safety of their shared sanctuary. May headed straight for the bathroom, eager to freshen up after the ordeal that had left her shaken to the core. As she emerged, clad in a simple outfit chosen for practicality rather than fashion, Ash's gaze lingered on her, his expression a mix of concern and determination. "You still want to come…?"
"Yes," he affirmed, his voice steady with conviction. May offered him a small nod of gratitude, a silent acknowledgment of the unwavering support he had always provided.
"Alright... I'll even walk instead of branch hopping just to be sure I'm not overdoing it," she offered, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she tried to lighten the mood a little.
"Thank you," Ash replied, his gratitude evident in the gentle squeeze of his hand as he offered her his arm. Together, they descended the stairs, their footsteps echoing in the quiet stillness of the hallway as they made their way toward the mouth of the cave.
With each step, the tension in the air grew palpable, the weight of their shared burden pressing down on them like a heavy yoke. But May drew strength from the reassuring presence of Ash by her side, his unwavering support a beacon of hope in the darkness that threatened to engulf them. Finally, they reached the mouth of the cave, the ominous darkness stretching out before them like an abyss. With a silent nod, they steeled themselves for the journey ahead and entered the cave. As May cautiously stepped deeper into the cave, her heart pounded with a mixture of fear and determination.
"Kyurem? Zekrom...?" she called out into the oppressive silence, her voice echoing off the cold, damp walls. But there was no response, only the eerie stillness of the cavernous chamber. Panic gnawed at the edges of May's mind as she pressed forward, each step bringing her closer to the truth she feared to confront. And then, amidst the darkness, she saw him – Zekrom, lying weak and shrunken in size, surrounded by an aura of desolation. Without a moment's hesitation, May rushed to his side, her heart aching at the sight of his weakened state. "Zekrom!" she cried out, her voice trembling with emotion as she gently placed her hands on his shrunken and shuddering form. Ash followed closely behind, his expression a mix of confusion and concern.
"What in the world..?" he muttered, his gaze darting between May and the legendary dragon. Ignoring his question, May focused all her energy on Zekrom, trying to speak with him through their shared bond.
"Are you in pain...?" she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper as she gazed into his weary eyes. Zekrom's response was barely a flicker of his eye, his strength waning with each passing moment. But May refused to give up, drawing upon a power deep within herself as she attempted to establish a connection with the legendary dragon. Closing her eyes, May slowed her heartbeat, allowing herself to synchronize with Zekrom's weakened state. In that moment, she felt a surge of emotions flood her senses – confusion, sadness, fear, and pain – a jumbled mess of feelings that threatened to overwhelm her. With a determined resolve, May pushed deeper into Zekrom's consciousness, delving into his memories in search of answers. The vision unfolded before her eyes, a harrowing glimpse into the torment Zekrom had endured at the hands of an unknown assailant. As the vision faded, May staggered back, her body trembling with exhaustion from the mental strain. Ash rushed to her side, concern etched into every line of his face as he helped her to sit down against the cave wall.
"May, are you okay?" Ash's voice was filled with worry as he gently held her. Despite her fatigue, May's mind raced with newfound revelations.
"I-I'm fine..." she reassured him, her voice wavering with emotion. "Just went a little too deep..."
"What happened…?" Ash's brow furrowed with concern.
"I saw it happen... in my vision..." she explained, her words tumbling out in a rush. "There's some woman in another country... she has some kind of artifact... it was glowing, and I could hear Kyurem and the others in pain... I watched as it hurt Zekrom..." Kyurem's voice cut through the tense silence, his words sending a chill down May's spine.
"Unova... Home..." May turned to him in surprise, her eyes widening at his unexpected revelation.
"You mean you... you know that place…?" she asked. Kyurem remained silent, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the confines of the cave. Frustration welled up inside May as she pressed for answers. "Kyurem please…tell me what's going on." But Kyurem offered no further explanation, his icy demeanor a barrier to any further discussion.
"That's new…" Ash commented, having never seen any of the dragons close themselves to May. Feeling a pang of hurt as Kyurem shut her out, May clenched her fists at her sides, struggling to make sense of Kyurem's cryptic response.
"I'm going to Unova," she declared, her voice tinged with determination.
"Huh?" Ash asked.
"The ancestral home of Kyurem and the others... I'm going there to stop this woman from hurting them any further." she clarified. Ash's eyes widened in shock at May's proclamation, his voice filled with disbelief.
"What?!" May's resolve remained unshaken as she met Ash's gaze, her eyes burning with determination.
"And I'm going today," she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"WHAT?!" Ash's mind raced with a million questions, but in that moment, May rose from the ground, determination etched into every line of her face, Ash's heart clenched with worry. "May, wait!" he called out, his voice tinged with desperation. But May's resolve remained unyielding as she steadied herself, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
"I can't. I have to have a ship prepared right away," she declared, her voice resolute despite the slight tremor that betrayed her inner turmoil. Ash reached out, his hand closing around May's arm in a desperate bid to halt her progress.
"Please wait!" he pleaded, his grip tight with concern. But May shook her head, her determination unwavering as she met Ash's gaze head-on.
"Ash, you're not going to talk me out of this," she insisted, her voice firm with conviction. Ash's heart sank at her words, his mind racing with a million reasons why this was a terrible idea.
"I can't just let you run off into the blue! We have to plan, we have to think this through!" he argued, his voice laced with frustration.
"That's what the boat ride is for," May countered, her tone impatient as she struggled to contain her rising emotions.
"May..." Ash's voice was a desperate plea, his eyes pleading for her to reconsider. But May's resolve remained unshaken as she turned away, her frustration boiling over as she struggled to make sense of her tumultuous thoughts.
"They need me to solve this..." she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper as tears welled up in her eyes. Ash's heart ached at the sight of May's distress, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him as he reached out to comfort her.
"We'll do it together..." he vowed, his voice filled with determination as he gathered May into his arms. May's breath caught in her throat as she buried her face in Ash's chest, her tears flowing freely as she surrendered to the comfort of his embrace. "I love you..." Ash's words were a whispered promise, his voice filled with unwavering devotion. May's heart swelled with emotion at his words.
"I-I can't ask you to..." she protested weakly, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
"You didn't," Ash reassured her, his voice soft with tenderness as he gently cupped her cheeks in his hands. May's cheeks flushed with warmth at his touch, her heart racing as she met his gaze with newfound clarity.
"I love you too..." she confessed, her voice barely a whisper as she leaned into his touch, seeking solace in the warmth of his embrace. Ash's heart soared at her words, his love for her burning brighter than ever as he held her close, their embrace a silent vow to face whatever challenges lay ahead together. As they lingered in each other's arms, the weight of their shared burden lifting with each passing moment, Ash felt a sense of peace settle over him. "I'm sorry…I'm just used to dealing with problems myself…"
"That's gotta change now that we're married May…wherever you go, I'll go," he assured her.
"Thank you..." May whispered, her voice filled with gratitude as she pressed a tender kiss to his lips. Ash returned her kiss with equal fervor, his heart overflowing with love for the woman who had captured his soul.
"I love you…" he promised her once more.
"...Enough to tell my parents for me...?" she said, half-jokingly.
"Yeah…" he chuckled. May gave a small smile and chuckled softly at his response.
"Brave man…" she remarked. Ash smiled and kissed the top of her head as May rested her head against him.
"We should get a move on..." he murmured, reluctantly pulling away from her embrace. May nodded in agreement, her resolve renewed as she prepared to face the challenges that awaited them in the land of Unova.
A little later, in the castle's throneroom, the tension in the room was palpable as May, Ash, and May's parents faced off in a battle of wills. May's determination was unwavering, fueled by the urgency of her mission, while King Norman's concern for his daughter's safety clouded his judgment.
"There's no stopping her. Mind's made up," Ash remarked, his voice heavy with resignation as he helped May square off against her father. But King Norman refused to back down, his paternal instincts driving him to protect his daughter at any cost.
"Absolutely not! I won't allow this!" he declared, his voice laced with authority.
"Dad..." May's voice was a plea, her eyes pleading for understanding.
"Sir..." Ash's tone was respectful, but firm as he sought to reason with the king. But King Norman's resolve remained unyielding as he voiced his concerns, his words a stark reminder of the dangers that awaited May on her perilous journey.
"I won't send my daughter out on what could very well be a suicide mission over a dream she had during a seizure!" he argued, his voice filled with desperation. But Ash refused to be deterred, his own experiences driving him to stand by May's side no matter the cost.
"I saw it with my own eyes... Zekrom has shrunk considerably..." he interjected, his voice tinged with urgency.
"We'll put a number of our scholars together and have them look into this. Then we can make a plan," King Norman suggested quickly. May's frustration boiled over at her father's refusal to see reason, her hands sparking with pent-up energy as she struggled to contain her emotions.
"In case you hadn't noticed, She's spent days pouring over everything the kingdom has to offer to figure this out. There's nothing here. And you know perfectly well she can handle herself. Your pride is a bigger danger to that than anything else." Ash countered.
"Pride has nothing to do with this! She's talking about hunting down someone apparently capable of taking down our dragons! You can't tell me that's a safe thing for her to do!" Norman argued.
"Dad...!" she protested, her voice tinged with anger. "Stop talking about me like I'm not here! I didn't come here for your approval! Only to inform you of what I'm going to do!"
"I won't lose you again!" he bellowed. But Ash suddenly stepped in, his words a calm reassurance in the midst of the storm as his hand found it's way to May's shoulder.
"This is a losing battle, you know. This is happening whether you approve or not, and nothing this entire kingdom can dish out is enough to stop May when her mind is set on something," he reasoned, his voice steady with conviction. "Or did you not pay attention for the past half-decade? The ONLY reason she was around long enough for the truth to come out, was because she promised to humor you for my sake. This is happening. Period. Either we go with your help and increase the odds of success, or you fight us on this, hurting our odds, and your relationship." May's eyes widened in surprise at Ash's boldness, her heart swelling with gratitude for his unwavering support. Ash's words struck a chord with King Norman, his resolve wavering as he gazed into his daughter's eyes.
"May you can't do this...!" he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation. But May's determination remained unshaken as she confronted her father, her heart heavy with the weight of their strained relationship.
"My Father always told me what I could and couldn't do...all in an effort to control my life...is my Dad really going to do the same thing to me...?" she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper as tears welled up in her eyes. King Norman's eyes widened in surprise at May's words, his heart breaking at the thought of losing her once more. But Ash stepped forward, his voice a calming presence in the midst of the chaos.
"We're going..." he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. King Norman hesitated for a moment, his gaze softening as he looked upon his daughter with a mixture of pride and concern.
"At least take your sister with you... the more people watching out for you, the better I'll feel..." he relented, his voice filled with resignation. May's eyes widened in surprise at her father's unexpected surrender, her heart swelling with gratitude for his reluctant acceptance.
"Dad...?" she whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief. King Norman's gaze softened as he gathered May into his arms, his embrace a silent vow to protect her at all costs.
"I'm not going to pretend I like it... but Ash is right... I can at least try and give enough support that you can come home this time," he murmured, his voice filled with unspoken love.
"Thank you..." May whispered, her voice barely a whisper as she returned her father's embrace. Ash looked on, his heart swelling with pride as he witnessed the bond between father and daughter, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him. With a final embrace, King Norman released May, his eyes filled with tears as he watched her prepare to embark on her journey.
"Then take care of yourself, please..." he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. May nodded in silent understanding, her heart heavy with the weight of her father's words. "I'll have a shipped prepared for you by morning. Take whoever you feel could help."
"Thanks for resolving this without taking any heads off…" Ash said with a respectful bow.
"Ash I know she can take care of herself...but it's a father's job to worry and protect. Which is why I'm hoping I can still rely on you to watch out for her too." he added.
"I'll do my best…" Ash promised. Norman nodded in approval as the newlyweds left the throne room and made their way to their room to prepare for their journey.
"I love you, Ash…"
"I love you too May…"
"Let's do this... together," May declared, her voice filled with determination as she smiled up at Ash. Ash nodded in agreement.
"Together," he echoed, his voice filled with unwavering conviction as they prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
To be Continued...