Stranded in Petalburg

Chapter 7: Blossoming Bonds

Chapter 7: Blossoming Bonds

Sunlight poured into the room from the cracks between the blinds. They shone upon every surface of the room, a warm reminder of the day ahead, and that it was time to awaken.

The light reached the skin of May's cheeks, stoking the brunette awake. Her eyes fluttered open, removing herself from dreams of a certain raven-haired trainer. Pleasant smells of morning filled her senses, and the sounds of Pokemon chirping outside were audible. A graceful, light-blue Pokemon laid next to her, still asleep.

Thoughts ran through the coordinator's head as she slowly rose from bed and sat up straight. The realization of everything that had happened the night before. She felt a rush of embarrassment, in disbelief of what she had done the night prior.

She had kissed someone.

Not just anyone, she had kissed Ash.

Albeit, it was on the cheek, but still a kiss nonetheless; the first she'd ever given.

May felt Beautiflys in her stomach as she recalled the events from before. Arceus, it was still unbelievable she did wasn't even sure what she meant by it at first, it was just an impulse. Ash was still dense, sure, but he must have known that it meant something. At least she hoped he knew.

Wow, there she went again; thinking about her feelings for the dense-headed boy. She was no dummy, she knew what this meant, and it was time she finally accepted it.

May had a crush on Ash.

The words hit her like a truck as they passed through her internal monologue, but quickly shifted into a feeling of relief. She had finally admitted it to herself. After so many years, she had finally admitted her true feelings.

Arceus, it was staring her in the face the entire time. She knew it deep down, but she never accepted it, always worried that Ash didn't feel the same (or if he even knew how to); she didn't want to ruin their friendship. But now, she had done it; an accomplishment that could go directly on the shelf next to her grand festival trophy. She smiled.

Wow, at last, it felt amazing to be honest with herself.

She suddenly remembered how Ash had agreed to let her join him on his next journey, and a wave of happiness rushed through her. She smiled as she sat up in her room in the dim lighting; life was good.

She'd had the chance to travel by herself and prove that she could be independent, she had even gone as far as to win a grand festival. Now she was finally being reunited with her friend, whom she planned to travel with once again. Fate had brought them together once again, and she didn't plan to say goodbye like the last time.

May thought back to Sinnoh when she had departed from the region on her way back to Johto, saying goodbye as she waved to Ash, Brock, and Dawn. She recalled watching her friends as the ship parted from land, taking her away. She remembered the empty feeling in her heart as she watched the raven-haired boy slowly shrink into a dot on the horizon, until eventually she could no longer see him; the feeling of loss that filled her mind, like there was something she hadn't done, something which she had lost the chance to do.

It took May a very long time, but she finally realized what it was she felt like she hadn't done back then.

It was to confess to Ash.

May thought back to how fate had brought her and Ash together. How he had been careless enough to get on the wrong plane? She would never understand. What matters was that he did get on the wrong plane and was sent to Petalburg. What matters is that fate had brought them together in that ramen restaurant, and she'd be damned if she didn't take the chance that life was offering her.