Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own Pokemon, sadly, I do not. This is purely fan-made, and no copyright infringement was intended. Thank you.

1. Nothing much happens in this first chapter, because it is just to give me something to work at, and I can't think of anything to name it, so I'm naming this chapter "Granny Huckleberry Fin."

Ages

Ash-16

May-14

Brock-like 20 something

Delia-who knows? Really...?

Misty(who may appear later in the story)- about 18/19

Max-9 going on 10 (will probably run off to start his journey in the middle of the story, too... heh)

Insert word that means defining what some of the text means

Words in single quotations like 'Is May worrying, too?' indicates thoughts

Words in double quotations like "It's so unfair, Pikachu" indicates actual speaking

This chapter is short. Okay, I'm starting the story now, I swear!

-- Granny Huckleberry Fin --

Ash, in a brief recess from his Pokemon Journey (and before he headed off to Sinnoh), was staying at his mother's for awhile in Pallet Town. Brock, Max, and May were also staying with him, which caused a few problems for our young raven-haired hero. The sixteen-year-old left his home at seven, just when it was getting dark, with his trusted Pikachu on his shoulder, saying he would be back later, that he needed "time to think." His five house mates – his mother, Mr. Mime, Brock, Max, and May – had been worried, but had not stopped him.

Lately, Ash had been feeling... weird. Bad weird; he knew that May was a Coordinator, and he knew that all regions didn't hold Contests, like they did Leagues. He hadn't known their paths would split so soon though. It seemed like whenever a girl joined the group, and Ash started to get attached to her, life decided to toss them in a different direction than where he was going. It was unfair. His lips pursed at the word attached. Pikachu sensed his Trainer's unhappiness and nuzzled his cheek. Ash sighed, "It's so unfair, Pikachu. First Misty, and now May is going to leave? Do I really scare them away that fast?"

"Pika pika, pi chu." Ash smiled at the thought of Brock, ask-every-girl-out-he-sees-with-a-lame-pick-up-line Brock, scaring them away, but shook his head a little, sadly. "I don't know Pikachu... Brock may be obsessive, but he's a good cook, and never really 'came on' to May or Misty, and May likes to eat. Like me." He smiled, lifting his hat off of his head to run his fingers through his hair. He studied the sky. He was somewhere in the middle of town, surrounded by some houses and other buildings. A dirt path curved towards a small hill, atop resting Professor Oak's Lab. Ash gazed at the Lab for a moment, considering visiting his Pokemon, then dismissing it and turning around to head back.

"Pikachu, do you think I should tell May I don't want her to leave?" He asked his first Pokemon and best (Pokemon) friend. The electric mouse Pokemon seemed to consider this, twitching his tail and ears. Finally it shook its head, "Pikachu pika, pi pika chaaa." Ash sighed, shoving his hands deep into the pocket of his loose jeans. "You're right. It would be unfair to pull her away from her Contests." He looked at the ground and let his feet guide him towards him home. The others were probably worried about him. 'Is May worrying, too?' he couldn't help but think. The thought of the young brunette missing him warmed his heart with some unknown feeling.

"Pikachu pika," Pikachu teased, ticking his friend's ear with a paw. "I do not like May," Ash protested rather heatedly, but stopped and looked at his friend for a moment (which was rather difficult to do and hurt his neck a little, since Pikachu was on his shoulder and all). "Pika," Pikachu insisted, pawing at Ash's ear. The teenager's gaze went up to the sky again, and he sighed. "What if I do like her, anyway? Not like it would stop her from leaving." Pikachu didn't like the sad look on Ash's face, so the electric mouse snatched his hat and made a run for it. "Pikachu! Wait! My hat!!"

Ash chased Pikachu down the road, not even seeing the mostly red-clad girl in a vest and short black-and-white skirt running towards him. Pikachu darted between May's feet as the two collided. Ash was heavier than May, so she fell backwards and Ash landed on top of her. "Ah... um... sorry!" He quickly rolled away and got back to his feet. May was on her feet even quicker than Ash was. "Ash! Ash, you've got to hurry!" She was nearly hysterical; her bandana was askew, her hair a mess, tears in her eyes and trailing down her cheeks, her clothes streaked with dirt. May's sapphire blue eyes were wide with a mixture of relief and fear, mingling with some sort of sparkle Ash couldn't place. "What – " he started to ask her, but she started talking anyway. "Oh my God, it's terrible! He – she – you've got to hurry!" Ash felt himself being dragged by the hand by one of May's gloved hand, down towards his home. He let a little smile and the touch of her hand warm his heart before focusing his mind on what could have happened.

Not that it took much to dishevel May, but still...

It looked serious. Something could have happened to Brock, Max, or his Mom. Was it Team Rocket? Could they have attacked his home, thinking he was there, in another attempt to take his Pikachu? Speaking of the little mouse... where was he? He was at Ash's heels, his Trainer's hat still gripped in his mouth (knowing how precious it was to him, Pikachu was not about to lose it), following the two anxiously. Ash tried to think of other possibilities. Unfortunately it was very late and Ash's mind was exhausted from staying up sorting his feelings and he was unable to come up with any others besides a fire. He shivered as May led him down the path, his head raised in an attempt to see over the girl's head and at the remaining cinders of his house.