Hello everyone! :)

This is my first fanfic in the Pokemon archive, so please be nice ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon. If I did, May would return to the show and she and Ash would be together.

I hope you enjoy the story!

H a l v e s make a Whole

What a beautiful moon…

Smiling to herself, a brown-haired girl leaned further on the railing of the balcony, wistfully staring at the night sky. The soft evening light was saturated in a liquid darkness, kissed by the swaying palms and embedded with tiny stars. It was almost sweet, the night, peaceful as it was in its mild warmth.

From the dusk came a slight draft of cool air, washing past the girl and seeping through the thin material of her orange dress. She shivered, bringing her slender arms across her chest, but then jolted in surprise as something landed gently on her head...

"Beautifly?"

The pensive sound of the butterfly pokemon, now perched on its coordinator's head, was almost an inquiry. It probed gently at the green bandanna it had settled on, eyes worried.

May sighed and reached up to pat her long-time Pokemon companion between its antennas.

"Hey Beautifly."

The butterfly pokemon smiled in reply, nudging its trainer to say more.

May kept her gaze fixed on the moon. "What are you still doing up? You need to get plenty of rest - we have a big day tomorrow."

The bug Pokemon didn't respond, flapping its jewel-like wings as if to ask, "Well, you should be sleeping too. What are you doing up?"

May shrugged, not quite sure how to respond, glancing back into her hotel room. Since she had wanted all her pokemon to be well-rested for tomorrow, she had allowed them to sleep out of their pokeballs. Her first and strongest pokemon, Blaziken, was lying on the air mattress next to her bed. Her Venusaur had claimed the sofa, and Skitty was perched on her head, mewing softly. Glaceon and Wartortle were next to the dormant fireplace, curled up on the rug, and Munchlax was spread-eagle on the carpet, lying near a half-eaten bowl of berries. All their pokeballs lay on the coffee table, freshly shined and curiously vacant.

May felt her blue eyes soften affectionately as she watched her sleeping pokemon - her companions, her best friends. All of them had helped her through so many contests in the past years. It was because of them that she was here now, in a 5-star hotel suite that was sponsored by the Johto Grand Festival.

Just thinking about the Grand Festival suddenly made her stomach drop down to the soles of her feet. Her heart gave an embarrassingly loud palpitation, as if annoyed at being forgotten.

"Beautifly?" The bug Pokemon shifted down to May's shoulders, patting them soothingly. What's wrong?

May relaxed her tense shoulders. "It's nothing Beautifly. Don't worry about me," she said quietly. Her voice couldn't betray her when she whispered. But she then gave a little genuine smile, feeling a slight tinge of déjà vu in her thoughts.

"Do you remember Beautifly, how I was just like this a few years ago during my second contest? In Fallarbor town? When I was still traveling with Max and Brock and Ash…"

She trailed off suddenly, the words acquiring a plaintive lilt, the thought of her friends making her insides clench.

(Especially Ash.)

What...?

May hummed in confusion, the thought flitting away before she could make sense of it.

I miss...

(Some people more than others...)

...them...

She shook her head infinitesimally to rid of the bittersweet memories. Passing a hand lightly over her tired eyes, she then turned to the pokemon on her shoulder, raising her palm slightly to lift Beautifly gently up into the air.

"Ok, enough of this - I don't want you all exhausted for tomorrow's big contest. I need you up on stage for that performance, okay? Get some sleep - I promise that I'm doing just fine."

The bug pokemon hesitated, as if in uncertainty, but then nodded and drifted away, flying back into the room through the two French doors. Fluttering its wings shut, it folded itself neatly next to Blaziken on the mattress, closing its eyes.

May's heart softened at the sight of all her loyal, sleeping Pokemon. She had to win that Ribbon Cup this year. For them.

Looking up once more at the moon, May reached unconsciously into her back pocket, taking out a halved, golden ribbon with its familiar pink fringe. It glinted in the light, winking at her.

Cupping both hands gently around the precious keepsake, May let her eyes slide shut, willing the ribbon to give her the strength and confidence she needed - like it had done so many times in the past. She let the memories of Ash, Brock and Max run through her head, remembering her very first contest, the two Grand Festivals before, the countless of adventures, and that final contest with Ash where the ribbon had come from.

Her eyes were brighter when they opened again, sparkling with a sort of renewed confidence.

(however short-lived it may have been, it was enough.)

(for the moment.)

This year...

...the Ribbon Cup will be mine.

I must win...

...for my pokemon, for my family...

...and for...

(Ash.)

...my friends.

The thought floated off silently into the night.

(him.)

With a refined sigh, May finally let her gaze drop from the night, walking back into her room. Slipping into her new blue pajamas, she folded all her clothes and placed them neatly on a chair, tossing her green bandanna and mesh gloves on top. Then, curling onto the feathery mattress, her blue eyes slid shut as she tried very hard not to think about the fierce competition lying ahead, waiting to rise with the sun.

Yes, short first chapter, but it will get better, I promise!

Please review? :) I would love to hear your feedback!

Thank you for reading!

Kisses,

WingsofRain