"May..."

May moans. She feels someone shaking her body lightly.

"What is it?" She grumbles, falling back into the pillow.

"There's a phone call for you."

It was her mom. May rubs her eyes and sits on her bed, picking the phone from her mom's hand.

"Thank you" She kindly smiles at her mother. "Hello?"

"May? It's Steven. Did I wake you up?

May sighs.

"You did, but it's fine. What is it?" She answers in a cold tone.

"Oh... Okay, then, I won't bother you anymore. Have a good day, Maylene."

"No! Steven!"

It's too late, he already hung up the phone. May flails on her bed, refusing to believe she'll have to get up to find out what Steven wants.

Curse you, Steven Stone.

She wraps up a bandanna around her hair before heading out. She didn't care to change her pajamas, nor brush her messy hair.

•••

We left a bag for you. It has a map and everything you'll need to survive in the wild. It's a long way to our daughter, but we trust her safety to you. Be careful.
Ron and Julia.

Steven folded the letter. He wasn't surprised by May's reaction, but he should've realized she still is pretty pissed at him. It was a rough fight, and he regretted some things he said to her. May saving him didn't erase their actions.

She was just trying to help...

He sighs as he walks up to the bag. There's Potions, Berries, all sorts of battle items, Poké Balls, Repels. Everything he could ask for.

Something feels weird inside his heart. A mixture of excitement, anxiety, sadness, and happiness at the same time.

A knock on the door snaps Steven out of his thoughts. He opens it, revealing a worried and messy May.

"Wha..."

"You're an idiot. Do you know that, Steven?" May hisses.

"I know, now" He mumbles, really upset.

"You wanted to ask me something, right? I know you."

"You have better things to do... I can go all by myself. Sorry if I bothered you."

Steven started to feel dizzy, so he sat back in bed. May furrows her eyebrows, worried.

"Are you okay?"

"You know what, Maylene? I'm not!" He snaps. "I just had the crappiest week of my life. Now, I need to get out of here and find (Y/N) before my father does, but..."

Steven sighs, finally calming down.

"I'm scared."

"Then why are you doing it?"

Steven hands the letter to May. She reads it quickly. Her eyes cannot believe in what they just saw.

"Steven... This is too dangerous, you can't do it" May whispers, too shocked to yell.

"If I don't do it, then who will?" He arguments.

"I don't know. We should call the police, or something! Just... Don't do it, Stevo."

He rips the letter off of May's hand.

"I have to, I already told you" He repeats in a cold tone.

"And suddenly you're the only one who can save her" May mocks, folding her arms over her chest. Steven glares at his friend.

"If I don't..."

"Then no one will, yada yada. Please change the record, it's getting repetitive."

"You have a lot to say about me, but you're not a sweetheart either" Steven folds the letter and puts it back inside his pocket. "Please leave, May. I'm going through enough, already, I don't need you here being a pain in the ass."

"I'm not leaving. You really are going after her, and I don't want you to do it."

"It's not about what you want!"

"You have to consider my feelings too. Or are you too selfish to realize your actions also impact your friends?"

"Maybe I am" Steven stands up and grabs the bag, putting it on his shoulder. "I don't care if you're worried about me or what, I'm going anyway."

Steven walks out of the room. He knew it wouldn't take long enough until the staff realizes he's gone, so he took the stairs instead of the elevator.

Even if he didn't want to admit it to himself, it pained to leave May at that state. He feels like a horrible person for not taking her feelings into account, but she's not seeing his side either.

•••

Wallace was about to have a cup of tea when he heard the doorbell ring. He puts down the spoon, already annoyed at the visitor.

"Steven?!" He gasps in shock.

His friend looks even crappier since his last visit to the hospital. Thin, dark bags under his eyes, tired expression.

"What are you doing here? You should be at the hospital!" He quickly grabs a Poké Ball. "Come, I'll get you back to your room."

"Wallace, stop" Steven raises one hand. "I just came here to say goodbye."

"Goodbye? Why?" Wallace furrows his eyebrows. He then notices the bag hanging from Steven's shoulder. "Are you leaving?"

"(Y/N)'s parents asked me to get her. I know I'm not the most suitable person for the job, but... I can also deal with my father while I'm at it. Shane said he went to a work trip, but I know he's out there doing something to her. I need to stop it."

Wallace closes his turquoise eyes. Unlike May, he knew there's nothing he can say to stop Steven. He's going anyway, no matter what he says. So, instead of wasting saliva, he just hugs his long time friend.

"Be careful out there, yeah?"

"You know I don't give up without a good fight" Wallace smiles, giving Steven a friendly pat.

"Still, be careful."

Steven takes a deep breath. It's time to go.

•••

Matt throws something on your bed, almost hitting Kirlia's head. You glare at him.

"This just came for you" He says before leaving. You sigh. He never showed you much love or treated you like a human being, but it seems to have gotten worse since that message from your mom.

You grab the box. Kirlia stops you before you can open it, trying to sense something dangerous you should look out for. She nods her head in approval.

Inside, you find a piece of paper and your favourite candy. You open the letter while Kirlia inspects the candy, to make sure it's okay to eat. As you saw the content of the letter, you gasped.

It was written in a language you and your dad developed when you were little. It came with a guide inside, just in case you forgot something. When you translated, the letter said:

Darling, help is coming. We know it is. But you'll have to go through dark times before the light comes. All we ask is that you fight with all your soul. Don't let them win. You are strong enough to fight them. We're fighting for you, too. And when this is all over, we promise things will go back to the way they were. You just have to hang in there for a little longer, but we promise the wait is worth it.
Love, Mom and Dad.

Your eyes were filled with tears and your body was shaking with fear. You felt dizzy with so much information, it was too much for you to process.

All that you absorbed, is that help is coming. And that's all that mattered to you at the moment.

• Extra Scene •

May threw her phone on her bed.

Stop ignoring me.

She wanted her thoughts to be heard by Steven. After dealing with his mess at the hospital, she wanted to grab him by the collar and yell at him until he cries. Instead, she's sitting on her bed in hopes he'll pick up the phone.

He will eventually, she was just worried it would be too late.

Max climbs up the stairs with a confused look on his face.

"Mom said there is someone at the door for you" He states as he enters the room.

"Is it Brendan? I'm not in the mood right now" May slurs out.

"No, I think it's that guy you got into a fight with."

May's eyes almost popped out of her skull. She didn't even answer, she just flew out of her room.

"I got it! Thanks, mom" She smiles at the woman, who goes back to work.

May closes the door behind her. Steven is standing by a tree close to route 101. She slowly walks up to him.

"I thought you would be gone by now..." She begins.

"Me too. But I ended up here, somehow" Steven shrugs. "Guess I couldn't leave you here without having you sure that I'll be okay."

"Your words don't make me feel more at ease."

"I'm trying, okay? Give me a break" Steven says softly. His rude words still affected May.

"I can't. You're walking into danger, if not your death! Don't do it, Steven, please."

"Sorry."

Steven approaches the small one. She engulfs him in a tight hug. It might be the last time she got to hug him.

"Be careful, yeah?"

He nods. There's no words to reassure her, so he didn't bother saying anything.

"Don't disappear. Text me, or give me a sign to let me know you're okay."

"I will, May, don't worry. If you ever wonder how I'm doing, just know I'm fine. I know how to take care of myself, thanks to my dad. And Wallace is nearby, you can always go to him when you need something."

May smirks.

"It's not like you take care of me or anything."

Steven pats May's back.

"It's not you without a smart comeback" He mocks with a smirk. "I need to go, now. (Y/F/N) is waiting for me, we're going together."

"Alright. Just... take care, okay?"

Steven nods. He kisses May's forehead before leaving.

Her heart sheds into a million pieces as she watches Steven head towards route 101. All she can do is to hope he and (Y/F/N) will be okay.

•••
Final A/N

I'm a dumbass, seriously -_-

Remember last chapter when I said I had two more chapters ready to post? Yeah... Stupid me accidentally deleted the other chapter, now I have to cry in a corner because I forgot how it went and I have another writer's block ;-; I really hate myself, I'm a failure ;-;

So yeah, I don't know when I'll update again... Sorry, I really am an idiot -_-

But if you do want to get more of Steven stories written by me... Ready for the shameless self promo? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I am rewriting my first Pokémon story, Onward to Our Own Futures, so if you want to check that one out I'd be delighted! ^^ (Plus, it's clean and safe to read around others. Pretty surprising considering it's a story written by me, huh? xD)

Luv, Angel