Man in the Mirror

Chapter 16: Human Nature

"This is..." Ash tried to find the right words for the wondrous setting.

"Sanctuary," May interjected. She never tired of returning to this secluded refuge.

Ash turned to the girl. He couldn't contain his excitement over the hundreds of Pokémon species playing and wandering around a crystal-clear lake near what appeared to be a train station. "It's amazing, May!"

"Pika!" Pikachu shared the same enthusiasm. Several Pichu came up to greet their fellow Pokémon.

May smiled at him. She knew he would be impressed by the location. "I'm happy you think so, Ash," The brunette bowed at him.

"Is that a train station on the other side of the lake?" Ash pointed with a juvenile curiosity.

"Yep," May placed her hands on her waist. She knew he'd be wondering why there was one. "The wildlife refuge is a pretty expansive area. We need to ride a train to get to where we're staying. I didn't want Charizard to fly over there because the Pokémon would be alarmed if they saw an outsider flying over their home. It's better to ease them into it," she explained.

Ash and Pikachu nodded. "I get it. It's like a Safari Zone." He knew he had to be respectful of the nature in the area.

"It used to be a Safari Zone. Unfortunately, the Pokémon around here were either too shy or aggressive to tolerate humans. It was closed off to the public, but still gets maintained for the well-being of the Pokémon," May started leading them around the lake to the train station.

The trainer noticed many Pokémon cleared from their path when they made their way around. Ash would smile or wave, but they disregarded him and moved on. On the other hand, Pikachu received a warm reception from the residents. The Electric-type was a more familiar sight. "The area is so remote they never got used to humans," he noted.

"You got it," May confirmed his guess. Even May, the most frequent human visitor, failed to earn the trust of all the wild Pokémon within the vicinity.

Ash rubbed his chin. "So, how did you settle in a wildlife refuge?"

"Before everyone across the world learned my name and I was still traveling on foot, I helped a Pokémon Ranger protect this refuge from poachers. It took weeks to repel them and nurture any affected Pokémon. The ranger was so thankful that they welcomed me back any time. I'd gotten so enamored with the place that I did," May recollected. The girl remembered how spectacular traveling could be when you didn't have commitments. She continued, "One day, I learned the Pokémon Ranger was getting too old to keep the place running. They asked me if I could look after it."

"Whoa, seriously?" Ash pictured May as a Pokémon Ranger. It seemed rather fitting since they'd adventured with one before.

"Yeah, but I could never be a Pokémon Ranger. Being a Pokémon Coordinator is my calling and demands me to travel. By then, I'd started making more of a name for myself, so I used that influence to my advantage. I presented the refuge to a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Pokémon. They were surprised that a Pokémon Coordinator took the time to advocate for a wildlife refuge, but they were more than happy to care for this place. As a token of their gratitude, the ranger gifted me the home they built here while they returned to the city to retire with family. Now, I'm welcome to lodge here any time, which is rare considering my position," the brunette hated to admit.

Ash and Pikachu respected May's noble deed. "That's awesome, May. I'm glad you got to have that experience. The Pokémon here deserve to live in peace. If it weren't for you, who knows what would've happened," he still couldn't get the image of May dressed as a ranger out of his head.