May's Thoughts

Losing to Brandon a second time left Ash uncertain about what to do. He knew he had to find a way to become one with his Pokemon, but he didn't know how yet. Ash wasn't the only one feeling down; May was feeling down too. Ever since they arrived at the Pokemon Center May had trouble figuring out what to do for herself. She had seen Ash work so hard to make his dream of Pokemon Master come true and Brock work hard to become a Pokemon doctor. But she didn't know what to do to make her dream of top coordinator come true, and the loss to Ash in the Kanto Grand Festival made it really difficult for her. Tomo, Max and Brock could see that something needed to be done to help Ash and May get back to their feet.

Max got an idea; he thought Ash and May could battle each other to lift their spirits. He told Brock and Tomo about his idea.

"I'm not so sure about that." Brock said. "Remember Ash beat her at the Kanto Grand Festival. He's also a lot stronger than she is so it wouldn't exactly be a fair battle."

Max realized he was right.

"So what can we do?" He questioned.

Then Tomo got a idea.

"Maybe Drew can help." He said. "He was defeated by May in the Grand Festival, so he might know what to do."

"You know what, that's a great idea Tomo." Brock said.

"Yeah Drew can help." Max agreed.

Meanwhile...

Ash had received a surprise; Prof. Oak had arrived at the Pokemon Center. He heard that Ash had lost at the Battle Pyramid twice, so he came to give Ash some encouragement. He also had some things to give to Ash. First Prof. Oak showed Ash two big banners that Tracey made and on them were prints from Ash's Pokemon at the lab. Since Ash had many, many Pokemon it was necessary to use two big banners. Second Prof. Oak gave him a boxed lunch that his mom sent for him; Delia figured that having her cooking will help Ash get stronger like it always did. Third Prof. Oak gave him something from Misty; she had sent one of her special Misty lures to him.

"Wow this will be handy for fishing for new water type Pokemon." Ash said.

The last gift Prof. Oak gave him was a postcard from Gary. He was doing Pokemon research in the Sinnoh Region. Reading Gary's postcard made Ash know what he would say to him if he was here; Gary would make him remember that he lost to him in the Johto league but it didn't make him depressed. Gary would also be telling him not to feel down because of a loss either. Seeing that made Ash perk up.

"Thank you Prof. Oak, this is just what I needed." Ash said. "Now I know what to do for myself and I will beat Brandon no matter how many times it takes me to earn that symbol."

So Ash fell back on his feet and everyone was happy for him. So now they had do figure out what to do for May.

Suddenly a Roselia appeared at her feet; it was Drew's Roselia. Drew had arrived at the Pokemon Center. Max, Tomo and Brock were surprised to see him, they were about to call him for help but now that was no longer necessary. Drew and May had a conversation alone in the hall where Nurse Joy kept a contest hall.

"You startled me there Drew." May said. "I mean I was thinking about you before you even showed up."

"Really?" Drew teased.

"Only because you're my rival." May said. "You see I have been thinking about Pokemon contests and rivals."

"I see." Drew noted. "So May, how have you been since your loss to Ash?"

"Alright I guess, but to be honest I'm not sure what to do with myself." May said.

She decided to be honest with Drew for once.

"With Ash being stronger than me and seeing how much stronger Solidad than was to Ash I just."

"That just means you're shaken with things." Drew said. "You have discovered your weak point but you don't know what to do about it to overcome it."

"Right as always Drew." May sighed.

"Well May you and I should have a contest battle here." Drew said. "After the Grand Festival having a battle on this contest stage will clear the air for both of us."

"Go for it." A voice said.

It belonged to Ash. He and the others had been listening the whole time.

"This is a great idea." Max said.

He agreed with Drew's idea.

"You should let your brain rest for a minute May." Brock said.

May hesitated for a minute and then decided that she will have a battle with Drew. Drew and the others were happy that May agreed to battle.

"Oh looks like I came just in time." A voice said.

It was Harley. He was visiting the Pokemon Center.

"I think it will be nice seeing a contest battle between May and Drew." For once Harley wasn't here to cause any problems, he just wanted to see how May and Drew were doing after the Kanto Grand Festival. So everyone got ready for the contest match between May and Drew. Prof. Oak and Scott offered to be the judges and Nurse Joy offered to be the announcer. Everyone else in the Pokemon Center sat in the seats with Ash and the others. Harley joined them shortly. May sent out her Butterfree and Combusken and Drew sent out his Roselia and his new Pokemon Butterfree.

"I hope this will help May perk up." Max said.

"No sweat." Ash said. "If anyone can fire May up, it's Drew."

May started off by telling Combusken to use Fire Spin and Buttefree controlled the flames with Psychic. Roselia broke Fire Spin into smaller flames with Petal Dance. May's Butterfree used Psychic to send the smaller flames back towards Roselia and Drew's Butterfree. But then Roselia countered the flames with Magical Leaf. Next Drew's Butterfree used Gust and the flames and leaves struck Combusken and Butterfree.

"Wow that was good." Tomo said.

"It's obvious that Drew has worked really hard with all his Pokemon to come up with new tricks for Pokemon contests." Ash said.

May told Combusken and Butterfree to go after Drew's Butterfree.

"Psybeam." Drew ordered.

Combusken dodged it and hit Butterfree with Sky Uppercut.

"Petal Dance, Roselia." Drew said.

"Gust." May ordered.

The petals broke through the gust of wind and struck Butterfree. Butterfree was still not strong enough to beat Drew's Roselia. May then told her Combusken to use Overheat, but Drew's Butterfree used Protect to keep itself and Roselia safe. Finally Drew ordered his Roselia to use Solar Beam and his Butterfree to use Psybeam. The two attacks hit Butterfree and Combusken head on and they fainted. So Drew was the winner of the battle. May thanked her Pokemon for battling so hard.

"I see everything now." She said. "And it's thanks to Drew."

*That evening...*

May and Drew spoke to each other.

"Thank you Drew." May said. "That battle made me understand that I still have a lot more growing to do and you were right I do need to find my own battle style. The battle styles I've been doing recently are based on other people's battling techniques especially ones I've picked up from Ash's Pokemon battles. So I will find my own battling style and I will also get new Pokemon friends to pick up new techniques."

Drew was happy that May knew what she needed to do now.

"I look forward to seeing your new battle style May." He said.

Drew and May stared at each other; what they didn't recognize yet was that this was the start of an unexpected relationship between the two of them.

Drew then pointed out that he was going to the Johto Region to compete in the Pokemon contests there and Solidad was going to do the same. Harley who stumbled upon May and Drew talking to each other also said he was going to Johto and he took off in a hurry. May told the others about Drew and Harley going to Johto.

"That brings back memories." Ash said, recalling Johto.

So now May and Ash were over their losses and the only thing Ash needed to do was figure out his rematch with Brandon.