Stopping the Impossible - Contestshipping/Hoennshipping Fic!

[Kylie-chan]

Watch this space for rating.

It's a story I started writing after ten minutes of knowing what shipping actually is and so far I've made a Hoennshipper partly a Contestshipper with it so heh if it's not good it must be persuasive...

I'll put you up to date with Serebii.net now.And the guy May is in love with in that segment with the blonde hair in the Pokemon school is not Brendan. It's a flashback to the past. There will be more flashbacks soon.

~DP~



~Prologue~

Maybe I'll use Silver... wow, his eyes are beautiful... STOP IT MAY! YOU ARE GETTING DISTRACTED! FOCUS ON THE CONTEST!!!!

Distracted yet again. I just can't focus... AAAAHHHHH! No, no, no! I can't fall in love with Drew! He's an ugly beast! He's awful! He's not worth me... Oh, stuff it, I don't want to fall in love with Drew! I hate him, I hate him, I hate him. My new mantra. A sure-fire way to dredge up hate and stop love. I hate him, I hate...

DAMMIT! Focus, focus, focus...

I know, I'll fall in love with Ash! The perfect plan! Let's see... Ah, yes, his hair is beautiful...

Oh, it doesn't work! But... If I like Drew, I must be terrible too! Oh, I hate love!

***

Chapter One

The crowd roared as one. May dropped to her knees, salty tears leaking down her face. She recalled Beautifly and just sat there, weeping.

"Sore loser," a familiar, derisive drawl muttered drily.

The thirteen-year-old girl looked up suddenly, her eyes red and puffy from sobbing. She was gazing into the sharp, clear dark eyes of Hyper Coordinator Drew, a fifteen-year-old Roselia-mastering boy.

May blinked hard, stunned. She was trying to focus on controlling the alarm rising up forcefully inside her.

"Uh, u-u-u-u-h," May stammered, unable to retaliate with the ginger that had once flamed in her veins. She had loathed Drew, but now...

No, I don't love him, I can't love him. I love Ash. Drew... I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!

Drew raised his eyebrows. "Give up, midget. You'll never be a Coordinator. Face it. I'll always be better than you. You really are losing your touch. Oh, hang on, you didn't have any touch in the first place." He snickered.

May looked down at her knees and straightened up, getting to her feet.

"I - I might as well go," she said haughtily, but she wished she could stay. No, she didn't. She had to escape him, calm down the longing rising inside her.

"You'd be better off practising than hanging around," Drew said mockingly, "hanging around with Brendan. Oh, hang on, you love that loser, don't you?!"

It was a taunt, merely a taunt, but it hit May hard.

Oh, no, no, no, he thinks I like Brendan, no! He'll never want me if he thinks he can't get me! No! And... oh... if this reaches Brendan's ears...

May's ears burned a fiery red. She could feel the heat radiating from her flaming cheeks.

"I've touched a nerve," Drew said tauntingly, smiling cruelly. "Oh, well, I'll go. I have a Master Rank Beauty Contest to attend. I'll see you - oh, hang on, you lost, you'll never be there." He strode away.

May felt that she should have felt pain from the way he was deliberately pointing out she had lost, but she didn't feel pain from her pride. It was pain in her heart. All she wanted, and even she couldn't deny it deep down, was to be in his arms, to be his girl, for him to praise her. He loathed her.

She was never going to win, be it battling, Contests, or love. She resigned herself to the fact, and slowly walked outside into the cool, brackish sea breeze of the coastal city of Slateport City.

She strolled around the boulevard surrounding the impressive Contest building, but she wasn't really seeing the vibrant sea flowers, smelling the air, watching where she was going. May was waging a war in her head, in another world from the concrete one.

The fact that Drew would never be hers was closing in on her head, attacking her mind, capturing her into a world of torturous thoughts, making her feel compressed.

"Ggggggrrr!" she yelled, frustrated, on her knees again, hardly aware of the pebbled pathway sticking smartingly into her skin. "Unnnhhhh!"

"Is everything alright?" a mild voice asked her. It was Brendan's voice. May sighed and looked up. He didn't seem to know about what Drew had said, or else he was keeping it secret very, very well.

"Oooh, I should have won!" May lied vaguely. She couldn't tell him what she was really furious about. "I was distracted!"

"Distracted by?"

May stood up and said nothing. Brendan and May walked in silence and found a bench alone. May sat there and sighed again. Then she thought about it for a while.

Brendan's reddish-brown eyes were gazing down at her oddly. His hat, oh, his silly hat, May thought, that weird bandanna with the white furry stuff coming out of it, was wavering in the soft zephyr stirring across Slateport. He was tall and lithe, limber, and nimble. Also a veeeeeery good battler.

"Well?"

Brendan's voice was almost... hopeful, May thought, puzzled. What's he expecting?

"Um, er, contest jitters," May stuttered.

Brendan didn't sound convinced, but he said, "It happens in battles, too."

Suddenly May felt warmer. It wasn't the mellow sun on her shoulders, but what was it?

She sneaked a glance beside her. Brendan seemed to have edged closer to her, and her body was heating up. She shifted sideways a bit.

May began weeping. This was too much. Was Brendan really in love with her... No, not possible, not possible!

Brendan put his arms around her shoulders and drew her close to him soothingly. He rested his head on her shoulders. "It's ok," he said softly. "You'll win next time, May."

Her heart beat wildly. This was just a friendship thing, just a friendship thing!

Oh, no, I have to get away, please, no! Oooohhh, I hope no one sees this!

But she found herself wanting to cry into his arms, wanting to be like this.

Now this was way too much. She couldn't be in love twice, that was impossible, was she fickle? Did every girl end up like this? She was confused, frustrated, enraged, depressed...

But she put her miseries away and numbed them, lettting Brendan kiss her gently and comfortingly, his soft lips pleasing to her cold skin.


well do u like it?

***

Chapter Two

Startled, May pulled away from Brendan, and gasped.

Oh, no, no, no, how did I get myself into this trap?

"What's wrong - May, you have to tell me if I hurt you," Brendan said, surprised. He reached out for her.

May jumped up and clenched her fists. An anger wave had swept through her from out of the blue the moment she'd come to her proper senses. She was furious at herself. She'd let Brendan think she was inviting him to kiss her! She'd let Brendan love her! And she was so fickle. If she loved Drew, why was her heart beating under Brendan's embrace? She was an unfaithful girl, and she knew it. May was furious at Brendan. How dare he take advantage of her? How dare he think he was allowed to kiss her? She was furious at Drew. She gave him every ounce of her love, and he still hated her. She was wasting herself on him! And she was enraged at everyone and everything on the planet, love, life... Everything.

Her face was scarlet with fury, hot with anger. Warm, salty tears poured freshly down her face. Tears of hatred, rage, misery.

"How - how - how dare you?" she choked. "Taking - taking - advantage - of -of me like that!"

"Wha-" Brendan was ruffled, his complacency shaken.

Oh, yes, May thought savagely, he was so sure he was going to steal my heart. So sure of himself. About time he learned not every girl's going to fall at his feet. This just added to her building resentment.

"I was wrecked. You knew I wasn't all there. You knew if I lost that was going to happen. So you cornered me and took advantage of my EMOTIONS!Advantage of my state of MIND! You knew I would let you kiss me if I wasn't thinking right!" she snarled.

She was a bulldozer without brakes, tearing on. She didn't care about who heard or who saw anymore.

Brendan, genuinely shocked, gasped, "May, you know I wouldn't do that! I - I," he lowered his voice and looked around anxiously, "I love you."

"Not that much, if you care about who hears and are so embarrassed you have to say it quietly!" May challenged heatedly. "Am I so terrible that it's horrible to like me, hey?"

"No!" Brendan protested. He leapt to his feet. "May, I love you, and I'll tell everyone if I have to! Ads, newspaper, poster, whatever!"

He raised his voice to massive proportions. "WORLD, I LOVE MAAAAAAAAAAAY!"

May glared. "You're obnoxious, and I hope you know it," she said coldly, and she began walking away.

"May! Stop!"

May's hesitation was enough for Brendan to catch her and put her back in the chair.

She glared at him and struggled, but Brendan didn't let her go. He kissed her long and hard, and looked at her with satisfaction.

"When I met you," Brendan said softly, "I saw something in you. You had plenty of family love, yes. But... there was a hunger for another love. Love love. Romanctic love, that is. You'd been hurt. You didn't know what loving is like."

He kissed her once more. May kicked hard, but he ignored the blow. "I want to teach you, May," he finished gently.

May thought for a silent while. How did he know?

"No!" she exclaimed. "Don't you dare bring this up again, Brendan!" Her tears were gone, but her wrath was there, as large as ever.

She got up. And Brendan knew, as he watched her run away through the circle of greenery that encircled the Contest Hall into the peaceful city, he had to let her go this time.

~

"Wow," May whispered.

The ten year old had rippling, wavy blonde hair that wavered in the wind, sweet deep green eyes, and a smile that melted ice. And the way he looked at her, May wanted to sink into the ground with ecstasy.

May was standing in the long, noisy Pokemon School corridor, filled with milling-around students. She smoothed her brown locks nervously. He was sooo cute!

Her mind was in shards. She knew only one thing.

She was in love.

Chapter 3

Brendan sat alone with his head in his hands. The azure sea lapped softly in the distance. The sky was slowly greying, and the air was cooling.

He was sitting on the top of a rugged cliff, staring unseeingly out at the silver horizon. He didn't care about anything but May.

The loneliness stung unbearably. His tears trickled down. She'd rejected him. The thought echoed like cold stone in his painful mind. She'd - rejected - him. Was there anything else to care for?

Dad, my friends, Pokemon... But May is just... above all that.

Brendan thought bitterly, I bet she loves Ash or somone else. But not me. The only person who loves her. She's wasting herself. Ash just... doesn't want love. Those people take her love for granted! I want it! But I can't have it!

Moodily, he hurled a stone into the churning waters. He got up and walked away. At least he could go on to his quest. A lone figure, lovelorn, walking on a sad path.

There was a sudden movement behind Brendan. He spun around, wiping his eyes. "Huh - oh."

Ash Ketchum stood there, looking kindly down at the huddled boy. "What happened?"

"Look, I don't want to talk about!" Brendan shouted savagely, his tears falling thickly. His voice echoed in the emptiness. talk about it, talk about it, talk about... He clenched his fist.

Ash looked surprised. He toyed with a lock of his coal-black hair. "We can talk - I'm your friend... What happened?"

"Nothing!"

"Why are you crying, then?" Ash asked mildly.

"You - you - you - standing there - you - you - taking it - you don't understand!" Brendan yelled. He sunk his fist as hard as he could into Ash's stomach. Ash didn't understand, he never would, he wouldn't have to go through this, he took her for granted...

Ash flinched and stepped back. "I'm trying to help!"

"I - don't - WANT YOUR HELP!" Brendan screamed. "You take her for granted! You don't understand me! You've never - you - you - you know what you're doing! Laughing behind my back at me - making fun - making out with her!"

Ash was genuinely shocked. He stared at Brendan, and said quietly, in a trembling voice, "Brendan, you're not alone. Other people have love life problems. I - I... I've had them. And I have never had a girlfriend."

"LIAR! Two-faced LIAR! You - you - you!"

Ash was running out of patience. He gripped Brendan hard by the shoulders. "I have never made out with anyone. Never kissed a girl. I was kissed twice."

"By who?" Brendan shouted, struggling. "May, I bet!"

"Settle DOWN! I have never kissed May! I think I know your problem. Sit down, Brendan."

Brendan sulkily obeyed, fuming.

"If you asked May to be your girlfriend," Ash began, "and she rejected you, does that mean she won't change her mind? Love does strange things. Life goes on, Brendan. She probably loves someone else. Be happy she's a part of that wonderful feeling. It's terrible, and can do more damage than hate. But it's wonderful, Brendan Birch."

Brendan got up and hit Ash again with fury pumping through his veins. "It's not like that!"

"Brendan Birch! Get here now!"

Brendan thrust another rock, narrowly missing Ash. Then he disappeared into the bracken, the sound of his weeping echoing dismally in the wind.

~

May felt strange. A tingling feeling surged through her. She didn't know what had happened. All comprehension had gone. Brendan loved her... And a tiny part of her couldn't resist. She found herself wondering what another kiss would feel like. The rest of her hated the minority.

You?re an unfaithful beast, May! she told herself. She was dwelling on it, and the more she dwelled, the more it ate her. She was utterly miserable.

She was curled up in the corner of the Contest Hall, unaware of the chaos around her. Tears were flooding her eyes.

?Sulking, huh??

May looked up excitedly. Drew was standing there, catching her in a tearful moment again. But this time, she couldn?t wait to love him. To save herself from loving Brendan. They were friends, yes. And she knew that the relationship would collapse, and ruin any comradeship. There would be nothing of the sort with Drew. They?d be back to bitter rivals. Only more bitter.

?No,? May said defiantly, sticking up her chin and jutting it out. Pride had to be preserved, even when lying tearfully on an icy pink linoleum floor in a noisy arena under the gaze of your rival and love.

Drew raised an eyebrow, sending May?s heart into ecstatic flutter. ?Not in love with your - ex-boyfriend??

May?s face burned. ?He is - not - my - boyfriend,? she snapped, through gritted teeth.

?I heard your fight. Oh, please. He loves you, May. Why don?t you go and cry in his arms again, like a little baby??

His voice was mocking. May flushed. ?I don?t love him, I never did, and I never? will.? She?d hesitated. A part of her was worrying the never will was a lie, and the other part was struggling to quash that fear.

Drew stared down at her rosy red face, at her blue eyes. A part of him was worrying too. Worrying he actually LIKED this girl. Maybe even? No. I won?t go there. I won?t think that, it?s not true.

May sighed and stood up. Drew felt a sudden urge to put his arm around her. She was? perfect for him. Her ideals, her interests, her ambitions? The sweet, naive look in her eyes. The sound of voice dancing in his eardrums. The tears in her eyes falling down her face.

He compromised by giving in slightly and moving closer to her.

?I?ll teach you the art of doing Contests,? he offered suddenly.

May went into complete shock. She sneaked a look at him. He was sincere.

?Yes,? May whispered.

 

[Kylie-chan]

*please excuse if this is doubleposting. I don't want to interfere with the chapter.*

Well if you're viewing it, why not review it? *growls*

 

[Gohan]

i liked it i like all of your fanfics

 

[Kylie-chan]

why thanks. well I'll update tomorrow I couldn't be bothered at the moment but I've written a new chapter.

 

[Breezy]

Hola Darkpikachu, Breezy here to review (sadly I know =P).

Anyways, tis a pretty good fic. ^^ Has an interesting plot to it and has a lot of different plot directions in which no one knows where its going to head. So good job!

Characters (mainly Brendan) pop out of no where like toast our of a . . . toaster (like my metaphor? =P). Give us some background info on Brendan like how he met Ash and co.

Description was alrighty, could use a bit more but I get the picture all the same.

So overall, its good. May's just in a jumble of emotions and boys right now huh lol? Fwee, fun times.

LaTeR dAyZ!

 

[Kylie-chan]

oh well there is some background info in more chappies

OMG. THE GREAT AUTHOR BREEZY. Reviewing my humble little fiction. *keels over*

 

[Gohan]

come on this is great your fanfics are always jumbles of emotion

 

[Kylie-chan]

Indeed... my best friend said my fics sounded like soapies... hahaha lol

 

[Gohan]

oh this is great!!!write more please

 

[Kylie-chan]

Chapter Two

Startled, May pulled away from Brendan, and gasped.

Oh, no, no, no, how did I get myself into this trap?

"What's wrong - May, you have to tell me if I hurt you," Brendan said, surprised. He reached out for her.

May jumped up and clenched her fists. An anger wave had swept through her from out of the blue the moment she'd come to her proper senses. She was furious at herself. She'd let Brendan think she was inviting him to kiss her! She'd let Brendan love her! And she was so fickle. If she loved Drew, why was her heart beating under Brendan's embrace? She was an unfaithful girl, and she knew it. May was furious at Brendan. How dare he take advantage of her? How dare he think he was allowed to kiss her? She was furious at Drew. She gave him every ounce of her love, and he still hated her. She was wasting herself on him! And she was enraged at everyone and everything on the planet, love, life... Everything.

Her face was scarlet with fury, hot with anger. Warm, salty tears poured freshly down her face. Tears of hatred, rage, misery.

"How - how - how dare you?" she choked. "Taking - taking - advantage - of -of me like that!"

"Wha-" Brendan was ruffled, his complacency shaken.

Oh, yes, May thought savagely, he was so sure he was going to steal my heart. So sure of himself. About time he learned not every girl's going to fall at his feet. This just added to her building resentment.

"I was wrecked. You knew I wasn't all there. You knew if I lost that was going to happen. So you cornered me and took advantage of my EMOTIONS! Advantage of my state of MIND! You knew I would let you kiss me if I wasn't thinking right!" she snarled.

She was a bulldozer without brakes, tearing on. She didn't care about who heard or who saw anymore.

Brendan, genuinely shocked, gasped, "May, you know I wouldn't do that! I - I," he lowered his voice and looked around anxiously, "I love you."

"Not that much, if you care about who hears and are so embarrassed you have to say it quietly!" May challenged heatedly. "Am I so terrible that it's horrible to like me, hey?"

"No!" Brendan protested. He leapt to his feet. "May, I love you, and I'll tell everyone if I have to! Ads, newspaper, poster, whatever!"

He raised his voice to massive proportions. "WORLD, I LOVE MAAAAAAAAAAAY!"

May glared. "You're obnoxious, and I hope you know it," she said coldly, and she began walking away.

"May! Stop!"

May's hesitation was enough for Brendan to catch her and put her back in the chair.

She glared at him and struggled, but Brendan didn't let her go. He kissed her long and hard, and looked at her with satisfaction.

"When I met you," Brendan said softly, "I saw something in you. You had plenty of family love, yes. But... there was a hunger for another love. Love love. Romanctic love, that is. You'd been hurt. You didn't know what loving is like."

He kissed her once more. May kicked hard, but he ignored the blow. "I want to teach you, May," he finished gently.

May thought for a silent while. How did he know?

"No!" she exclaimed. "Don't you dare bring this up again, Brendan!" Her tears were gone, but her wrath was there, as large as ever.

She got up. And Brendan knew, as he watched her run away through the circle of greenery that encircled the Contest Hall into the peaceful city, he had to let her go this time.

~

"Wow," May whispered.

The ten year old had rippling, wavy blonde hair that wavered in the wind, sweet deep green eyes, and a smile that melted ice. And the way he looked at her, May wanted to sink into the ground with ecstasy.

May was standing in the long, noisy Pokemon School corridor, filled with milling-around students. She smoothed her brown locks nervously. He was sooo cute!

Her mind was in shards. She knew only one thing.

She was in love.

Chapter 3

Brendan sat alone with his head in his hands. The azure sea lapped softly in the distance. The sky was slowly greying, and the air was cooling.

He was sitting on the top of a rugged cliff, staring unseeingly out at the silver horizon. He didn't care about anything but May.

The loneliness stung unbearably. His tears trickled down. She'd rejected him. The thought echoed like cold stone in his painful mind. She'd - rejected - him. Was there anything else to care for?

Dad, my friends, Pokemon... But May is just... above all that.

Brendan thought bitterly, I bet she loves Ash or somone else. But not me. The only person who loves her. She's wasting herself. Ash just... doesn't want love. Those people take her love for granted! I want it! But I can't have it!

Moodily, he hurled a stone into the churning waters. He got up and walked away. At least he could go on to his quest. A lone figure, lovelorn, walking on a sad path.

There was a sudden movement behind Brendan. He spun around, wiping his eyes. "Huh - oh."

Ash Ketchum stood there, looking kindly down at the huddled boy. "What happened?"

"Look, I don't want to talk about!" Brendan shouted savagely, his tears falling thickly. His voice echoed in the emptiness. talk about it, talk about it, talk about... He clenched his fist.

Ash looked surprised. He toyed with a lock of his coal-black hair. "We can talk - I'm your friend... What happened?"

"Nothing!"

"Why are you crying, then?" Ash asked mildly.

"You - you - you - standing there - you - you - taking it - you don't understand!" Brendan yelled. He sunk his fist as hard as he could into Ash's stomach. Ash didn't understand, he never would, he wouldn't have to go through this, he took her for granted...

Ash flinched and stepped back. "I'm trying to help!"

"I - don't - WANT YOUR HELP!" Brendan screamed. "You take her for granted! You don't understand me! You've never - you - you - you know what you're doing! Laughing behind my back at me - making fun - making out with her!"

Ash was genuinely shocked. He stared at Brendan, and said quietly, in a trembling voice, "Brendan, you're not alone. Other people have love life problems. I - I... I've had them. And I have never had a girlfriend."

"LIAR! Two-faced LIAR! You - you - you!"

Ash was running out of patience. He gripped Brendan hard by the shoulders. "I have never made out with anyone. Never kissed a girl. I was kissed twice."

"By who?" Brendan shouted, struggling. "May, I bet!"

"Settle DOWN! I have never kissed May! I think I know your problem. Sit down, Brendan."

Brendan sulkily obeyed, fuming.

"If you asked May to be your girlfriend," Ash began, "and she rejected you, does that mean she won't change her mind? Love does strange things. Life goes on, Brendan. She probably loves someone else. Be happy she's a part of that wonderful feeling. It's terrible, and can do more damage than hate. But it's wonderful, Brendan Birch."

Brendan got up and hit Ash again with fury pumping through his veins. "It's not like that!"

"Brendan Birch! Get here now!"

Brendan thrust another rock, narrowly missing Ash. Then he disappeared into the bracken, the sound of his weeping echoing dismally in the wind.

~

May felt strange. A tingling feeling surged through her. She didn't know what had happened. All comprehension had gone. Brendan loved her... And a tiny part of her couldn't resist. She found herself wondering what another kiss would feel like. The rest of her hated the minority.

You?re an unfaithful beast, May! she told herself. She was dwelling on it, and the more she dwelled, the more it ate her. She was utterly miserable.

She was curled up in the corner of the Contest Hall, unaware of the chaos around her. Tears were flooding her eyes.

?Sulking, huh??

May looked up excitedly. Drew was standing there, catching her in a tearful moment again. But this time, she couldn?t wait to love him. To save herself from loving Brendan. They were friends, yes. And she knew that the relationship would collapse, and ruin any comradeship. There would be nothing of the sort with Drew. They?d be back to bitter rivals. Only more bitter.

?No,? May said defiantly, sticking up her chin and jutting it out. Pride had to be preserved, even when lying tearfully on an icy pink linoleum floor in a noisy arena under the gaze of your rival and love.

Drew raised an eyebrow, sending May?s heart into ecstatic flutter. ?Not in love with your - ex-boyfriend??

May?s face burned. ?He is - not - my - boyfriend,? she snapped, through gritted teeth.

?I heard your fight. Oh, please. He loves you, May. Why don?t you go and cry in his arms again, like a little baby??

His voice was mocking. May flushed. ?I don?t love him, I never did, and I never? will.? She?d hesitated. A part of her was worrying the never will was a lie, and the other part was struggling to quash that fear.

Drew stared down at her rosy red face, at her blue eyes. A part of him was worrying too. Worrying he actually LIKED this girl. Maybe even? No. I won?t go there. I won?t think that, it?s not true.

May sighed and stood up. Drew felt a sudden urge to put his arm around her. She was? perfect for him. Her ideals, her interests, her ambitions? The sweet, naive look in her eyes. The sound of voice dancing in his eardrums. The tears in her eyes falling down her face.

He compromised by giving in slightly and moving closer to her.

?I?ll teach you the art of doing Contests,? he offered suddenly.

May went into complete shock. She sneaked a look at him. He was sincere.

?Yes,? May whispered.

***
Chapter Four

May walked inside her classroom, heart throbbing almost breathtakingly. And? her legs suddenly went wobbly. There he was, sitting at the table next to hers!

?Calm down,? May told herself. ?Calm down, calm down??

She sat down, plonked her pencil case on the shiny surface of the desk, and rummaged through her Torchic-themed, compact backpack. With a heave, she pulled out her study book, entitled ?Back to Basics - The Pok?mon Trainer?s Study Book?.

She tried to focus on the first chapter - ?Stats and Status? - but her heart was choking her. Out of the corner of her eye, she drank in every inch of the boy. He was deeply engrossed in his book, so she tried to ignore him and engross herself in the book.

Stats and status - they sound similar, but they?re different. Stats are the level of ability a Pok?mon has in certain areas, such as Accuracy, Defense, or Attack. They increase the power of that area, for example high Accuracy increases the odds of that Pok?mon?s attack hitting its target.
Natures, such as Jolly or Calm, increase these areas and/or decrease one of them. See Chapter Nine - Natures.

She slammed it shut violently, causing everyone else in study hall to stare at her. She hurled it down to the floor. It was no good! It was infuriating! How was she supposed to stare at tedious lines of text when the cutest boy ever was sitting right behind her?!

There was a loud thud and a flurry of paper spurted from the floor. Guiltily, feeling the piercing stares on the back of her neck, May got down on her knees and began hurriedly scooping up the pages in and putting them back in randomly.

?Here, let me help you.?

May?s heart gave a giant lurch. She watched as the boy patiently sorted the pages out and stuck them back in, hooking the pages back onto the staples.

?It?s going to be very delicate, so don?t throw it again,? he said kindly.

May grinned awkwardly; to her relief everyone was back to rigorous study.

?I don?t know why I threw it,? she informed him. It was the truth; it was really exasperation.

?It?s exam jitters. Temper, tantrums, tears.?

May laughed. ?Thanks? um, what is]/i] your name?? She felt stupid. She was in love with a boy she didn?t even know the name of!

?Derek,? he answered, helping her to her feet.

?Oh, erm, I?m May.?

?Yes, your father is Gym Leader Norman,? Derek said knowledgeably. ?You?re in a few books, you know.?

?I am??

?Oh, yes. You?re rather famous in Johto for being a good Trainer, and of course, your father was famous there, and still is.?

May felt silly. ?Oh, er? Right. How do you know this all, anyway?? she finished curiously.

?I used to live in Johto,? Derek explained, ?Goldenrod City, to be precise.?

?You did?? May?s face broke into a smile. ?I used to live there too!? She was excited; there was someone who understood how hard it was to leave Johto.

?Where??

?Petalrose Gardens!?

?Then you were right next door to my suburb!? Derek exclaimed. ?I lived in Rosebush Heights!?

?Really? It?s really beautiful up there. Did you see all those roads up in the sky over there??

?Your head is also in the sky,? a sharp voice snapped, the touch of steel biting May. ?Get back to work.?

?Yes, Miss Jones,? the two chorused meekly, bending their heads down as they copiously took notes from the whiteboard, which was covered in writing.

~


Brendan wound his way through the mass of tendrils and verdant greenery, on his way home to Littleroot Town. He?d cut through the woods; it would only take him two weeks if he didn?t stop. He supposed if he left May, he might stop aching over her; there was always home and work in the lab, but sketching and exploring the limited area nearby was mediocre, compared to May - and a Pok?mon journey.

He could hear voices screaming in his head, vying to gain pride of place and the right to torture him. The cacophony made Brendan a prisoner to misery and darkness.

May?s voice - ?Not that much, if you care about who hears and are so embarrassed you have to say it quietly!"

It echoed again and again, her tone making Brendan fall down in despair.

Ash?s voice - ?Life goes on, Brendan.?

That infuriated Brendan, bringing back the rage, now mingled with his falling tears. How - how - how dare he?

His father?s voice - ?Imagine, Brendan - the fascinating world of Pok?mon! What more could a boy possibly want??

That had always been the stuff of Brendan?s dreams. Now he had an answer. May, that?s what more a boy could want. That boy?s me.

Other voices were more taunting, but Brendan shut them out of his ears with the desperation of one struggling over deserts without a drink or victuals.

There was a rustle and Brendan tensed, suddenly more alert. A shadow stepped from the bushes and walked towards him. Brendan, transfixed, did not move.

?Hello,? the voice said calmly. ?Brendan Birch, I believe??

?Y-y-yes,? Brendan stammered, mouth dry. The tall figure had a sinister, mocking smile, and deep green eyes that sent the hair on the boy?s back up on end. The voice was a slow, ominous drawl that made Brendan shudder, but the boy was stuck.

?I have news for you.?

Brendan sensed it was only bad news. ?What?? he asked, almost too afraid to find out.

The voice took an almost gleeful tone. ?May was killed in a sniper incident.?

At that horrible, unbearable moment, all Brendan wanted to do was run, and never stop.

 

[Gohan]

ooh did was may really killed?can't wait for the next chapter!!

 

[Kylie-chan]

can't tell ya that ;)

I'm nearly done the next chapter, which shalt reveal the truth

 

[Gohan]

whell im looking forward to the next chapter!

 

[kirbyfan]

What happened?!?!?! *runs around screaming in suspense* can't wait, 10/10!:)

 

[FireEmporer]

10/10! So suspenceful! but one thing i have to comment on is: YOU KILLED OFF MAY! HOW COULD YOU!>?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!

 

[kirbyfan]

Calm down... she may(lol) not be dead!

 

[FireEmporer]

*Hugs knees and hocks back and forth With may plushie* God I hope not!
Shippings I support: Hoennshipping, ContestShipping, Advancedshipping, And, pokeshipping

 

[Gohan]

oh can't wait until more!hmm I don't really care if May died it would make the story more interesting

 

[Kylie-chan]

Don't worry. *smiles* She's not freaking dead.

Sorry for my slow time! Plot block... and - distractions.

Chapter... Three.


Drew and May strolled around the circular path that encircled the Contest Hall, happy - and healthy - as ever.

?You?re very good at the introduction,? Drew assured May, tingling inside with an unimaginable joy. ?It?s the battle that?s your hindrance.?

May nodded. ?I keep getting distracted.?

Drew smiled. ?When I was at your level, I was always distracted.?

?And? I can?t battle.?

?I?ll teach you. Why don?t we go to the beach, and we?ll learn in a nice, secluded inlet.?

?That way, if I stuff up, half the world won?t know,? May suggested, blushing.

Drew had other reasons for that inlet. ?Well, yes. But you won?t stuff up.?

?I will. I stuff up in everything.?

Especially in love.

Not at stealing a guy?s heart. ?No you don?t.?

?Oh, whatever.?

The inlet was a grainy area curved around reddish peaks, on the headland. May was puffing when they finished their trek over. She wiped sweat from her brow and pulled out her Pok?ball.

?OK,? Drew instructed, ?I?ve got the timer ready. I?ll release Roselia.?

?Go, Beautifly!? May called hesitantly.

?Go, Roselia! And the timer?s on for five minutes!?

?Um? Gust??

Roselia reeled, a bit taken surprise by the shimmering gust of wind.

?Roselia, use Poison Sting! Oh, very good, May, type advantage,? Drew added.

?Beautifly, dodge it! Roselia can?t fly!?

Beautifly evaded Roselia with ease and chirruped happily as Roselia tried to jump but fell back on the hot sand.

?Stun Spore!?

A shining mass of powder emanated from hovering Beautifly and paralysed Roselia.

?Nice,? Drew said approvingly. ?You?re winning.?

His smile made May waver. And she was sinking into distraction!

Oh, no, no. Focus, focus, focus! she thought desperately.

?Roselia, Magical Leaf!?

The power sent Beautifly flying. It finally returned, looking very miserable and defeated.

?Petal Dance!?

Beautifly, fortunately, only took one quarter of damage from type.

?Gust!?

Roselia fell over and looked as though it was defeated. Then it staggered up.

?Synthesis!?

Roselia recovered and looked much stronger. Slowly, it began attacking Beautifly in a pattern of Petal Dance and Magical Leaf.

?May, what are you doing? Fight!? Drew shouted.

?Oh,? May said vaguely, staring into his eyes, but Beautifly was already fainted, lying on the shore. Roselia was jumping around merrily. ?I lost.?

They spent the whole afternoon practising until the cool periwinkle of twilight began settling on the beach, but each time she got distracted, and Beautifly lost.

?But you?re improving,? Drew assuaged.

?I am not!? May wept. She flung herself down on the cooling sand and she started sobbing. ?I?ll never win a Contest!? Her voice was muffled and tearful.

Drew looked absolutely depressed. He couldn?t make her smile, could he? He was so stupid. He could win Master contests, for heaven?s sake - and he couldn?t get a girl to smile.

Suddenly, that urge he?d felt earlier rose up in him again. Tentatively, he reached out for May. Just hug her. How hard can it be, Drew?

The urge was overwhelming him. Slowly, his hand neared May. He felt his fingers pleasingly touch her glossy, soft, somewhat drenched hair - she?d fallen into the water a bit earlier when she tripped - and he began soothingly stroking it. He felt more relaxed, calm, and his fingers began to fit into a long, relaxing pattern back and forth. He?d never done anything like this before. Drew was amazed at himself.

May?s dirge dwindled and she gasped as she worked out Drew was stroking her hair. She? liked it. Loved it, even.

?Drew,? she breathed, ?what - what -?

?Ssh?? Drew hesitated. He drew a breath, and then finished, ?My sweet.?

?Oooohhh,? May said, trembling yet ecstatic, ?your sweet??

?My sweet,? Drew confirmed. He drew her into his arms, holding her tight, but May didn?t try to run away. She rested her head on his shoulder - she was just that bit shorter than Drew - and wrapped her own arms around his neck.

"I love you," was all May could choke out, compressed against him.

"That's all I wanted to hear you say, honey," Drew murmured, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "Tell me something else I want to hear in that beautiful voice of yours."

"I'll be yours," May whispered raptly, eyes sparkling like the twinkle of stars in twilight, chin lifted in delight. "I... loved you so much... I thought you hated me."

"Hated you, sweetheart? Never hated you, you were my sunshine, but the clouds blocked me from you," Drew smiled.

May flushed at his compliment. "The clouds aren't there anymore," she informed him, as they finally broke apart. They recalled their Pokemon and walked into the glowing city, glowing more inside than the neon lights ever would.

~

Brendan collapsed onto the yielding carpet of leaf litter, his hands pressed firmly over his ears. His ears were roaring, pain shooting through his veins.

There was a malicious snigger. "Dead, dead, dead..."

Sniper incident, sniper incident, sniper incident... Brendan screamed. "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

For what seemed like millenia, Brendan Birch sat still, alone, silent, and crying. He was numb all over.

Dead.

It suddenly hit him hard again. DEAD.

"Dead... dead... oohhhh... dead..."

All recognition disappeared and everything was an unplumbed darkness. He was plummeting down, and voices once again echoed to him. May's voice ran around and around, particularly her crying... and he could hear her pleas and piercing shrieks... a gunshot... a thud... one single, desperate squeal...

And Brendan's eyes snapped open and for the moment a shimmering blur was all he could see. He finally realised he was lying flat on the ground staring up at the blue sky... in a lake?

"How did I get here?" he thought, and rolled over, inhaling. The lake was actually more of a shallow pool running off from estuaries in the forest. In the mud on the bank, he could see smudged and blurred footprints. They looked suspiciously like... someone had pushed him.

Brendan stood up, dripping, and brushed silt from his sodden clothing. Yes... his footprints seemed to have skidded, just in front and covered by the stranger's. And it was funny - as if he'd dreamed falling. He recalled it vaguely.

"Who would do that?" he wondered, slightly irate. "Well," he sighed dejectedly, "may as well go back to Slateport." He swore. "May had better be alive, or there'll be heck to pay for whoever killed her."

~

Ash finally stood up, in deep thought. The sky had darkened as he sat there, a bit shellshocked, and pondering the predicament Brendan was in.

"Brendan really does love May," he mused. "There she is, with Drew. Oh, crap - where did Brendan go?"

As if an answer to his question, a shadow materialised from the forest and he saw the figure creep after May and Drew.

"He's following them," Ash thought urgently. "In that temper, he's going to get himself into trouble - ****."

And Ash hurried after Brendan, praying Brendan wouldn't do anything inane.

~

May and Drew, rapt in each other's love, were unaware of the two teenagers three metres or so behind them.

"But I thought you loathed me," May protested, "not loved me.?

?Honey, if you thought I loathed you... what a brat I?ve been! I went a bit overboard on the enemy-disguise, don?t you think??

?I guess I was a bit proud, too.?

?But, sweetie... I deserved it. But put the past behind you. This is now... and I love you, darling.?

?I love you, too, Drew...?

They stopped talking, and when they reached the Contest Hall - many competitors were staying there - they broke apart as a mass of reporters and media converged on them, throwing hard questions at them like bullets.

?Tell me, May, do you hate Drew for winning? We recently reported you as a rival to Drew...?

?Uh - uh - no, I don?t hate him,? May faltered, a bit dizzy from the day?s events.

?So, Drew, you won. Do you consider May as worthy competition??

?Of course,? the reply came.

?Is she a friend of yours??

?Yeah, I guess so...?

?More than a friend??

?WHAT kind of question is that??

After managing to break away, the two were caught up to by Brendan and Ash, who was staying at a fair distance for his own sake. The mass of spectators, media, and competitors milled around, so they were trapped.

Brendan clenched his fist and glared at Drew. ?Get the heck away from her!?

The couple turned around, shocked.

?She?s my girlfriend,? Drew snapped in a low voice. The journalists? pens were in frenzies of excitement as they skated on their notepads.

?Oh, yeah?? Brendan challenged. ?You?re gonna break her heart, fool. And I?m - not - ****ing - going - to - let - you do it!? he roared.

It was all confusion. Punches whirled, journalists fled, pens still poised, people stared, others fought to escape, and in the melee and chaos, people found themselves conducting their own brawls.

Ash grabbed May by the shoulder and pulled her out. May looked very concerned, her eyes wide and round.

And then... a silver flash, a shot, and Drew and Brendan collapsed, locked in a brawl, onto the pavement, in the midst of panicked screams.





Mind you, there has been a sniper incident. Brendan seems to be telling the future... just don't think that. It actually is a coincidence... unless... never mind. It's tentative.

 

[FireEmporer]

Now who is dead!?!?! *Dies*