Hello everyone! This is my first fanfic ever, so I hope you'll forgive me if the characters are OOC. Reviews and suggestions are always welcome. Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of this story.

Chapter 1: Old Friends Reunite

Pokémon attacks flew left and right as the two finalists of the Castelia City Pokémon contest battled it out. Both Coordinators were losing points left and right. But when the dust finally cleared, only one Pokémon was still standing.

A tall and imposing Blaziken.

"And the winner of the Castelia Grand Contest is… May Maple, the Princess of Hoenn!" shouted the head judge. Cheers and applause erupted from the audience as May recalled her Blaziken. She smiled and waved to the crowd as she received her contest ribbon. However, she had something – and a certain someone - else on her mind.

Three days previously, May had received a letter. She knew who it was from immediately; Ash Ketchum, her best friend and major crush. He just happened to hear that May was participating in the Castelia City contest and informed her that he'd be there, to catch up with her.

She hadn't seen him for over a year, as they had gone their separate ways shortly after they helped escort the legendary Pokémon, Manaphy, to the Sea Temple of Samiya.

Manaphy. Oh God, how she missed him. Even a year later, this was still a fresh wound for May. Even with all her other Pokémon, May still felt a sense of loneliness with neither Ash nor Manaphy around. But this new development certainly excited May. She just couldn't wait to see him again! And, unbeknownst to May, Ash was just as desperate to see her.

May continued scanning the crowd for any sign of the raven-haired trainer she longed to see. True, she hadn't found him yet, or seen him at all throughout the contest, but she didn't give up hope. Ash wasn't one to break his promises.

And so he didn't. As May left the Contest Hall and started back towards the Pokémon Center she was staying at, a familiar voice called after her. A voice that was music to her ears.

"Hey, May! Wait up!" Ash yelled from somewhere behind her.

"Pika-pi!", added his small Electric-Type companion.

Turning, May was overjoyed. There was Ash, flashing her that winning smile, Pikachu perched on his shoulder. Before she knew what she was doing, May was running at Ash with all her speed, wrapping him in an enormous hug. Ash blushed, but reciprocated the display of affection. A moment later, as if realizing what she was doing, May pulled out of the hug, blushing profusely. Ash grinned at her, trying his best to hide his own blush.

"Ash, I'm so glad to see you again", began May.

"Same here. It seems like forever since we've seen each other, even if it has only been a year", Ash replied. May nodded.

"Well, why don't we take a walk while we catch up a little bit, shall we?" Ash suggested.

"Okay! How about the piers?" Ah, the ocean. The perfect backdrop for a romantic date. Even if it was just a fantasy, May wanted to cherish it.

"Sounds good to me", Ash smiled.

"Pi-ka-chu!", Pikachu agreed.

The sounds of the waves caressing the docks as Wingulls soared overhead could be heard as the pair strolled around the piers. They watched as some ships docked while others set sail.

"Wow, you've been up to quite a bit since I left", May commented as Ash filled her in on his more recent adventures.

"Yeah, though by the looks of it, you haven't been sitting around either", Ash responded. "This is your 3rd win in a row here in Unova, isn't it?"

"Yep."

Ash was impressed. He was no expert on Pokémon contests, but he could see May was pleased at her accomplishments. He loved seeing her happy, and that was enough for him. He again flashed her a winning smile as he said, "Talented and pretty. Just the way you were."

May began blushing yet again. "Ash!", she protested playfully.

Ash chuckled as he drew closer to May and put his arm around her. May's breath caught in her throat as she enjoyed his touch. She wished she could just tell Ash her feeling for him, but just couldn't find a way to do so.

"I've missed you", she sighed.

"I've missed you too, May. It really does seem like forever ago when I last saw you, with Manaphy and everything".

As May recalled those fond memories, her smile began to fade, and she involuntary allowed a few tears to roll down her face. Alarmed, Ash quickly asked, "What's wrong, May?"

May gave him a weak half-smile as she replied; "Nothing's wrong, Ash. It's just… Manaphy… I still miss him…"

Ash nodded. He truly did understand. Manaphy had hatched in May's arms, and saw her as its mother. The more time she and Manaphy spent together, the more she treated him like he was her own son. As far as May was concerned, Manaphy was her child. There bond was truly something special, and May had been heartbroken when Jack Walker, the Pokémon Ranger responsible for escorting Manaphy safely to Samiya, had tried to separate them. In the end, they came back to one another, which only made it even more devastating for May when Manaphy had to leave to guard the Sea Temple.

"I know, May. But I'm sure he's happy, and I seriously doubt that he's forgotten you". Ash said as he comforted May.

"You really think so?"

"I know so."

May smiled, this time a little more sincerely. "Thanks, Ash."

Suddenly, May heard something. Well, "heard" isn't exactly the right word. More "felt" than "heard". Something, a tugging at her heart. Impelling her to walk closer to the ocean.

"Ash, did you hear that?" May asked.

"Hear what?", Ash responded with a question of his own.

Suddenly, it came again. Louder.

"There! Don't tell me you didn't hear it that time?"

Ash was getting concerned now. "May, I didn't hear anything".

The sound, growing louder by the minute, now took on the sound of a voice. A small, child-like voice, calling to May.

Mama…

May's eyes widened. She shook her head a couple times to make sure she wasn't imagining this.

Mama…

"I know who's voice that is!" May exclaimed.

"Huh? You do?" asked Ash, still not having heard anything.

"Of course I do! How could I ever forget?" replied May. And with that she took off running toward one of the piers.

"May, wait! Where are you going?" Ash shouted as he took off after her, nearly throwing Pikachu off his shoulder in the process.

May couldn't stop, couldn't slow down. She absolutely had to get to the end of that pier! If she was right, she knew exactly who would be waiting for her there. As she skidded to a halt at the end of the dock, she looked out over the calm ocean. The voice had stopped.

May's eyes began to well up with tears. She had been so sure… So certain she was going to see him again…

Just as she felt ready to cry, a light suddenly appeared beneath the waves. It shot towards the surface at an astounding speed, before breaching the surface. May looked up and gasped, a smile overtaking her mouth once again.

"Happyyyyy!", cried the small blue and yellow aquatic Pokémon as it leapt out of the water and towards May.

"Manaphy!" May cried, overjoyed. She held out her hands as Manaphy leapt straight into her open arms, embracing her tightly.

"Love you, mama. Love you, May!", Manaphy said sweetly, repeating the last words it had said to her when they parted ways before.

May couldn't contain herself any longer. She burst into tears of joy, hugging the small Water-Type with all the love a mother could ever have for her baby.

"And I love you too, Manaphy. So much." May replied.

Noticing May crying, Manaphy became worried.

"Mana? Mama happy?" Manaphy asked, gently wiping her tears away with his flipper-like arms. This, in turn, only made May hug him tighter and shed more tears. He was the most adorable thing she had ever seen. He was just so sweet!

"Of course I'm happy, Manaphy. They're tears of happiness! I never thought I'd see you again, but now you're here. It just makes me so happy!" May said warmly.

"Pheeeeee!" Manaphy squealed happily as May cuddled him, rubbing his cheek against hers.

Meanwhile, Ash had finally caught up to May, just in time to see the entire heartwarming scene unfold. He himself was nearly moved to tears. May was absolutely beautiful when she was this happy. And he was plenty excited to see Manaphy too!

"Hey, Manaphy came back after all! I told you he hadn't forgotten you." Ash laughed.

May was absolutely ecstatic. Between her favorite boy and her favorite Pokémon in the whole world both showing up, this was quickly becoming the best day of her life!

Manaphy, craddled in May's arms, suddenly yawned. Awww, May thought, he must be tired after the long trip from Samiya just to get here. May then had another thought.

"Manaphy, can you stay a while?" May asked the little Seafaring Pokémon.

Smiling, Manaphy gave a slight nod, indicating he was in no great hurry to leave.

"Yay!" May cheered, beaming. "We can go back to my room at the Pokémon Center, and you can take a nap there. Do you want to do that, Manaphy?"

"Phi, mana mana", Manaphy confirmed happily. He didn't care where they went; he was just glad to be with his mama again.

"Alright!" Then, turning to Ash, May requested, "Ash, will you come with us? Please? While you're here in Castelia, we can share my room. We need to spend some time with each other, and I'm sure Manaphy would like it if you and you're Pokémon stayed with us."

Ash was all too eager to accept, fumbling with his words as he tried to do so.

"I… uh… ye… wha… that sounds… good… sure." He managed to jumble out.

"I'll take that as a yes" May giggled.

"Mana!" Manaphy added cheerfully.

Planting a kiss on the baby legendary's forehead, May lead the way back to the Pokémon Center, with Ash and Pikachu following close behind. Ash couldn't help but smile to himself. Manaphy's back, May's happier than ever, and they had a whole room to themselves. He knew this was going to be one heck of a weekend.

And cut! Well, first chapter of my first fic is done! Please, give my plenty of feedback, suggestions, etc. I think I need all the help I can get. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next chapter!