May's POV (oohh did you expect this?)

I gasped as I felt air fill my lungs as though there had been something blocking my flow of oxygen. My mind felt heavy. But more importantly, I felt alive. That dark state I had been in was now just a memory. I could feel the faint light of warmth within me. The spark that told me that I was alive.

Images of me falling from that building flickered in my mind repeatedly bringing an aching in my head. The burning sensation of the bomb as it unleashed its furious flames and choking smoke. My skin tingled with pain, a searing sensation flooding through my arms and legs. I twitched one finger in hopes that my hand will move somehow and I felt relief wash over me as I managed to move.

I slowly, but surely started to move the rest of my body before I felt myself sigh a breath of joy as I sat up in my bed. The worst of my injuries had already seemed to heal, and there was only a few burn scars covering my legs and arms. Remnants of debris that had scathed my skin was placed in a small metal tray on my bedside table and whatever cuts had covered my body were all healed up. Even though my arms and legs were quite soar and the burning sensation had never faded, I felt pretty good overall.

"How are you doing?" A familiar voice echoed in my ears.

My throat felt dry and my vision was hazy. I attempted to answer but all that came out of my mouth was a strained sound followed by a cough.

"Don't push yourself May. It's alright now, you're fine." I shifted my head slightly to face the person and blinked a couple of times before my vision finally cleared up.

"C-Cynthia..." I croaked with a lopsided smile on my face.

I watched as the Sinnoh champion sent me a warm smile and dipped her head towards me.

"I have plenty of news for you, but I should wait for you to recover a bit more." She said abruptly before standing up and taking her leave before I could even protest.

I listened as her footsteps faded slowly as she walked further and further away from my room. I felt sleep cloud my vision and I lay back on my pillow before being knocked out cold.

There was one thing that I knew for sure. I wasn't going to die.

~ Time skip to after May was released from the hospital ~

I stood outside the hospital with a wide smile on my face. I had never felt so free in that moment. The wind softly batted against my face as I stared up at the bright sky. The rays of the sun sent warmth through my body and I watched as the bird Pokémon danced in the sky. I stretched my arms out far and wide then proceeded to yawn loudly. Someone behind me chuckled and I spun around to see the Sinnoh Champion standing right there with a bright smile on her face to greet me.

"Morning Cynthia." I greeted her with a grin on my face and Cynthia waved in response.

"I'm glad to see you're doing well." Cynthia said and nudged me slightly.

I glanced down at my arms and legs which had fully healed. I had been unconscious for one month straight and somehow survived. I stayed another month in hospital to recover more of my injuries. Over time, I had realised that my friends had known about my critical condition. And that they thought I was dead. The nurse had informed me that she had told my friends that I had died overnight when my friends had visited me while I had been in fact unconscious.

"So, how are things?" I asked Cynthia who sat down on a bench and gazed out at the garden in front of us.

"Everything's fine actually. Gladion and Moon became an unlikely team after that mission that you three were involved in." Cynthia informed me and I gasped.

"No way?! Gladion actually got a proper buddy to work with? And Moon joined our organisation?" I questioned and Cynthia chuckled once again before nodding.

"Actually Gladion is on his way right now to visit you. He's been worried sick about you." She said and now it was my turn to chuckle.

"I can't believe I actually made Gladion worry." I smiled and looked up at the bright blue sky. "Have the two of them done any missions together yet?"

"Yeah. Actually this mission was not supposed to be theirs but they secretly took it because they wanted to avenge you somehow and there was no better way to do it than to complete the mission that you guys had been sent to do previously. They tracked down the culprit of the bombing incidents around Rustboro. He's currently in prison because of Gladion and Moon. His name is Vincent Sanders and he's apart of an unknown organisation that we are trying to find more data about right now, although we couldn't seem to gain any information of Vincent." Cynthia said and I looked at her with wide eyes.

"Wow so they really did a mission together and caught the bomber?" I thought out loud. "So, how many people know that I'm alive?" I asked changing the subject.

"So far, Gladion, Moon, the champions including your principal Steven, Brock, Amethyst and Max. Unfortunately we couldn't tell your other friends for reasons." Cynthia explained.

"Yeah I know." I responded as I thought of my friends. "Speaking of my friends, how are they?"

"They're doing better than they were last month. They've all pretty much gotten over your 'death' as they didn't even know you for that long anyway." Cynthia spoke and I just smiled sadly at the ground knowing that this is what would have happened. "Also, considering that you are also a student at the school, we had to tell your teachers that you had to stay in Petalburg to look after your parents for personal issues so that they wouldn't worry. Because of your 'death', we have now also gained the perfect excuse to make the enemy get their eyes off of you." Cynthia explained and I nodded at everything.

"My Pokémon?" I questioned after Cynthia finished speaking fully.

"I have them right here. They've been dying to see you again. Your Pokémon at the base are also waiting for you so I suggest you pay them a visit after this as well. You can go with Gladion actually." Cynthia said and handed me my six poke balls.

Before I could even touch my pokeballs, a certain small Pokémon jumped out of its own pokeball. I grinned from ear to ear as I stared at the shiny Pokémon which now sat in my lap, it's eyes wide with wonder and happiness. I laughed as the Pokémon licked my face rapidly in joy.

"Hey Eevee." I smiled at the Pokémon who jumped on my head and rested herself there. "How have you been little one?"

Eevee let out a loud yelp of joy and climbed down my head before running around in circles on the grass patch in front of Cynthia and I. I giggled as I watched my Pokémon dance around in circles in excitement. I glanced at my other pokeballs and felt relief wash over me as I stared at them feeling comforted by the presence of my own Pokémon once more. I took out each pokeball and let out all my Pokémon one by one.

Glaceon, Delcatty, Blaziken, Beautifly and Wartortle all stood in front of me with joy in their eyes. They all suddenly cheered in happiness as they saw me and began dancing in little circles. I smiled at them and felt a tear form in my eye. I missed my Pokémon. Eevee also joined the troop and they all happily danced in a large circle, chanting.

"I should also go see the others at base." I told Cynthia as I walked over to my Pokémon.

I glanced over at Cynthia who looked at us with a bright smile on her face as though she were pleased to see me reunited with my Pokémon again.

"Ever since the accident occurred, all your Pokémon have been completely restless. They wouldn't listen to anything they were told. I'm glad that they seem to be happy with you now." Cynthia said and I smiled at her.

"Thank you so much for taking care of them." I thanked her with gratefulness.

Before Cynthia could answer, a car pulled up outside the hospital garden and the tires squealed as they came to a halt in a parking spot. Two figures immediately ran out of the car while a third figure slowly walked out of the drivers seat. I watched as Cynthia turned towards them and nodded towards the driver. I felt a wide smile form on my face as I looked at the three newcomers.

"Gladion, Moon and Steven." I cried out in joy and hurried towards them.

Gladion looked as though he wanted to tackle me before rethinking his decision and eventually just walked quickly towards me. I chuckled at that knowing that he had actually been pretty worried. Moon on the other hand just bolted straight for me and tackled me down to the ground causing me to laugh as I lay on the grass with Moon on top of me who was laughing as well. Gladion just padded over to us and put his hands on his hips as he stared at us from above.

"Moon, get off her." Gladion demanded to her and Moon just chuckled and rolled off of me.

"May I'm so glad that you're alright!" Moon cheered causing me to laugh once again while Gladion just shook his head and smiled at me. I see, the rare smile.

I smirked at him and then he realised what he was doing. He coughed in defence before fixing his composure and letting go of his smile. He replaced it with a serious look on his face like always but his eyes sparkled glints of joy.

"It's nice to see you guys again." I greeted the two who both nodded at me.

I watched as Gladion sat on the grass in front of Moon and I, before I also sat up and Moon did as well making a small circle with just the three of us. Steven was talking to Cynthia at the bench and my Pokémon were all playing happily with one another somewhere further away on the grass pitch as well.

"How's school been?" I questioned and Gladion just shook his head.

"Same as what it was like when you were there." He informed me and Moon nodded in agreement.

"Gladion has been complaining a lot about how boring school has been without you." Moon teased the boy who just snarled at her while she poked him cheekily.

Gladion folded his arms and pouted while I giggle at the two who were bickering like little kids.

"Thanks Gladion. So you admit now that I make everything fun?" I asked with a smirk and he glared at me.

"No." He answered bluntly while Moon and I just chuckled.

Before we could speak anymore, Steven came up to us and interrupted our little conversation. He smiled at me and waved.

"It's nice to see that you're doing well May. How are you feeling?" He asked me.

"I feel pretty good to be honest. I don't feel any pain and also my wounds have healed. So altogether I'm actually feeling fine." I informed him and he nodded.

"Well as you know, everyone around the world currently thinks you are dead besides the nurses at this hospital and a few other people." He stated and I nodded while Gladion and Moon just kept poking each other. "I have your disguise which we got from Max who managed to recreate the same look which got incinerated in the bomb incident."

I nodded once again. Then I stopped.

"How did you contact Max?" I questioned and he sighed as though he had known that I was going to ask that exact question.

"He joined our organisation." Steven said and I froze where I was.

"No, why?" I asked in shock. "He said he wouldn't. I told him not to get involved. It's too dangerous for him."

"Don't worry. I'm not going to send him on any missions. He's working in the technology department and helping us get into bases. Your brother does do well in hacking other systems." Steven explained and I realised that what he was saying was true. As long as my brother did not get into any trouble, I'd be fine with it.

"Alright then. I'll let you have him for now. But he must stay at the base at all times." I agreed sternly and Steven nodded.

"You have my word." He smiled at me. "Now, do you think you're ready to come back as Madeline?"

I stared at Steven for a moment and glanced over to Moon and Gladion who had come up beside me on each side. They sent me a reassuring smile and gestured to Steven. I nodded at him with a confident grin on my face. Even though I wouldn't be May anymore, I knew I'd have to continue my life now as Madeline. There was no turning back now.

"I'm ready. May is gone. It's time to live as Madeline now."

Geez it took a long time to update I apologise. I completely forgot that I'd nearly finished this chapter and only had to write a little more before updating.

Sorry that it was so poorly written. I'm starting to run out of ideas and I think this story is flopping in my opinion. Didn't turn out the way I wanted it to but I'm still going to continue it, even if my updates may be really slow. I apologise for that.

Anyway, thanks so much for reading!

- April

7th February, 2019