In The Still Of The Night

by

Stars of Gold

My take on how May was convinced to go to Johto. :D

May sighed as she turned in her bed, unafraid that she'd wake any of her friends up since she was in a separate room. She and Max would have to part ways with Brock and Ash soon, since they lived in Kanto, and she and Max in Hoenn. She didn't want to go back, especially since she'd already entered the Hoenn Grand Festival.

Well, I suppose I could try it again, and I might actually win this time, since Drew… She paused. Wait a minute! Drew! He's going to Johto, isn't he? Maybe I can persuade Ash and Brock to come with Max and me on my journey… She frowned as she remembered something. But they've already been to Johto; Brock told me. She sighed and turned again, unable to sleep.

"Psst…May…" She stifled a gasp. "Who…Who are you?" She asked, feeling rather scared. She knew that voice, but she couldn't place it, so she picked up Skitty's Pokeball, just in case.

"May, it's me, Drew." Her eyes widened, and she sat up, blinking at him in surprise. "Drew? What are you doing here? I thought you were in Johto."

"Uh, yeah. I was, but then this year's Johto Grand Festival isn't over yet, so the Contests for next season's haven't started yet. I grabbed a Contest Pass, then came back."

"Oh, I see. So why'd you come back here?"

"Well, I had some…uh…unfinished business to attend to."

"Oh, is that so? What kind of business?"

His face turned pink in the darkness. Thankfully, she didn't notice. "Never mind that. Are you coming to Johto?" He asked, a sudden change of topic. She blinked in surprise. "I haven't decided yet, but probably not. The others won't want to go again." He looked at her weirdly. "I wasn't talking about them. I was talking about you."

"…Huh?"

He sighed. "Look, May, you're strong enough to fend for yourself, aren't you? Do you need to depend on them?"

"I…I'd never thought about it that way…"

"So do you want to come, or am I going to end up with only Solidad and Harley for familiar faces?"

"Oh, I'm coming, alright, and I'm going to win this time!" She replied, determined. Drew smiled at her fondly, which took her by surprise. "Well, then, I have a surprise for you."

"What?"

"Johto Contests require two coordinators to enter one Pokemon each in the Contest."

"…WHAT?"

"Yep. You heard me."

"…Oh, no."

"Now you know why I came back, huh?"

"…Huh?"

He sighed again. "Dense as ever. But I guess that's the May we all know and love. Would you like to be my partner for the Johto Contests?"

"Wait. What?"

"Would. You. Like. To. Be. My. Partner?" He said slowly.

"Uh…sure, but why are you asking me, of all people?"

He chuckled. "I'll be seeing you, May. Take care, and I'll see you in Olivine City." And with that, he climbed through the window and disappeared into the night. May smiled. "I'm going to Johto, alright, and I'll get that Ribbon Cup – with Drew's help. He is, after all, my partner, right?" And then she lay back down in her bed, vaguely noticing a single red rose on the windowsill. She smiled as she drifted off to sleep, saying, "Thank you…Drew…"