Chapter Text
"May, hurry up! Can't you walk any faster?"
"Well, excuse me, but I've been walking since 7:30 this morning!" May replied grumpily.
"So have I, and I'm still faster than you." her younger brother, Max, said with a huff, "If you keep up this pace, Ash's birthday will be over by the time we get there."
"Oh, shut up. It's not even 10 o'clock yet."
"Yeah, but Mrs. Ketchum said everyone else would be there by 9!" Max argued.
"Just because you finally ten years old, and you've finally started travelling by yourself, it doesn't mean you're any better than me, Max." May said, "Besides, I'm the one who's been carrying the gift bag."
"We just bought the gift in Viridian City! That's only, like, fifteen minutes from here!"
"Whatever! You don't have to bee such a- wow." May stopped short, her eyes widening at the scene in front of her.
Max tore his eyes away from his sister and turned to the view, "Yes! Pallet Town! We're finally here!"
"It gets me every single time." May shook her head, smiling softly, "What a beautiful place. I love it here."
"Me too." Max agreed, "D'ya think Ash will be happy to see us?"
"Of course!" May said, "He's always so happy to see his friends. Plus, I bet he's gonna be really surprised. He thought we weren't going to be able to make it."
"Well, it takes more than a region's distance to stop us from seeing Ash on his sixteenth birthday." Max acknowledged, "We can finally have that battle he promised me all those years ago."
May grinned, "Yeah! Can't wait to see that. C'mon, Max."
As the two of them made their way down the hill and towards the town, May said, "I can't believe Mrs. Ketchum waited until yesterday night to tell him that she was throwing a party and inviting all his friends."
"What? Why didn't she just make it a surprise party?"
"Because there are people like us who would turn up late and spoil the surprise." May shot back.
Max laughed sheepishly, "Guess you're right."
"Hey, I'm just kidding. It's actually because she never knows what Ash is gonna do next. He might've gotten up this morning and decided that his birthday is the best day to start a new adventure. And once he gets an idea, there's no stopping him. She had to tell him, or else he might've planned something else." May explained, "That's what Mrs. Ketchum told me on the phone yesterday."
"Well, that sure sounds like Ash, alright. Was he excited about the party?" Max asked.
May shrugged, "I don't know- I never asked. Ash doesn't like to make a big fuss about stuff, though. Maybe that's why his mom waited so long to mention the party- or else he might have tried to stop it."
"But it's not a big party, is it? I thought Mrs. Ketchum only invited Ash's closest friends."
May consulted the letter she had received from Ash's mother, "It's the two of us, Misty, Brock, Tracey and Dawn. And her and Professor Oak, of course, and all the Pokemon."
"Dawn, huh? She's the coordinator who traveled through Sinnoh with Ash, right? You met her, too." Max remembered.
"Yeah. She's great, you'll really like her. It'll be so cool to see everyone again. Hey, Max, look!" May pointed to a large building atop a hill.
"Professor Oak's lab!" Max exclaimed, "We're almost there. Hey- isn't that Ash's house?"
"Yes!" May cried, "Finally! I'm starving! Come on, Max!"
With renewed energy, May and Max raced the rest of the distance to Ash's house, skidding to a stop at the door.
"Got the present?" Max asked his sister.
"Yup!" May confirmed. She raised her arm and rang the doorbell.
"Huh? Who's that?" the siblings heard Ash ask. Though the sound was muffled, the bewildered in his voice was clear.
"I'm not sure, sweetie. Could you get it?" his mother replied.
The footsteps grew louder, until the doorknob twisted. May and Max exchanged a grin as Ash swung the door open, his expression of puzzlement changing to one of amazement.
"May! Max! No way! I didn't know you guys were coming!" Ash said in obvious delight.
"Hey! We wouldn't miss your sixteenth for the world, Ash." May thrust the gift into his hands and gave him a hug.
"Yeah!" Max added, accepting Ash's high five, "We're best friends, remember?"
Ash kicked the door shut and led them inside, "I can't believe this! I thought you two were in Johto."
"Your mom called us and said she was planning a little get together." May explained, "And of course, we couldn't miss it. You're the only one who didn't know we were coming. Well, you and Pikachu."
Ash shook his head, "Mom." he muttered fondly, "I didn't even know she was planning anything until last night."
"Sorry we're late." Max said, "May walks slow."
Ash laughed, "Trust me, buddy, I know. Plus, I bet you stopped at every gourmet food shop there is on the way, huh?"
"Hey!" May protested, "Oh, and happy birthday, Ash."
"Yeah, happy birthday!" Max said cheerily.
Ash beamed at them, "Thanks, you guys."
As they walked into the living room, there was a flurry of greetings. May surveyed the room happily. Yup, everyone was there- Misty, Brock, Tracey, Dawn- and Ash, of course.
"It's been a while." Misty said, hugging May.
"May!" Dawn squealed as she joined the hug.
"Hey, it's awesome to see you guys! Hi Brock, Tracey! Long time, no see!"
"Yeah, guys, what's up?" Max slapped them all a high-five before turning to Dawn, "Hi, I'm Max. I'm a trainer. Can I see your Piplup?"
This made everyone laugh.
"Yup, that's the Max I remember." Ash said.
"Piplup is in the backyard with Pikachu and Mr. Mime. C'mon, let's all go say hi!" Dawn suggested.
May followed the group to the backyard, smiling at the familiar surroundings. It was pretty cool, she thought, that Ash had so many close friends, all brought together by their travels. It was almost like May's best friends were the people she met through Ash, or because of her journey with him. Sure, she had befriended loads of people and Pokemon once they had separated, but she never felt as close to them as she did to the people she met on her Hoenn and Kanto journey.
"This is my first time here." Dawn said, snapping May out of her stupor, "I love it. I can't wait to see Professor Oak's lab and meet all the Pokemon."
"Yeah, isn't it great?" May agreed, "It's such an 'Ash' place, too."
"Is it?" Dawn quirked her eyebrow, "Pallet Town's all serene and calm. Ash is-"
"Loud, brash, annoying and reckless." a third voice finished. Dawn and May turned to see Misty standing next to them, holding her Azuril. However, contrary to her words, she had an extremely fond smile on her face, "That boy attracts trouble like a Magnemite. Half the scrapes I got into, it was because of him. But-" she smiled as she watched Ash and Brock call for Pikachu and Piplup, "you know, my room is full of pictures and souvenirs and memories of experiences I never would have had without him. He can be an idiot, but, hey. He's our idiot, isn't he?"
Dawn and May laughed at this, nodding.
"I heard that!" Ash whined, as he joined them, "And, for your information, Mist, I can strategize way better than you can." he eyed her, "Strategizing isn't something idiots are able to do, you know."
"Of course idiots can strategize." Misty scoffed, "I mean, it's hard to believe otherwise when I look at you. You're an idiot who strategizes. You just crossed yourself out, Ash."
"Oh, shut up." Ash grumbled, "It's my birthday. Plus, you haven't seen me in about a year. It wouldn't hurt to be nice." he grinned at her mischievously, "Well, maybe it would hurt you. You are kind of-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Ash Ketchum!" Misty threatened, "I have my mallet right here, so just-"
"Are you two fighting again?" Tracey demanded. He turned to May and Max, "They've been arguing since she got here."
"Just like old times." Brock sighed in remembrance, "If those two didn't argue- that would be strange."
"We don't fight all the time!" Ash protested, "We get along perfectly fine, don't we, Mist?"
"Of course!" Misty said, glaring at Brock, "Brock's just being annoying."
"Got that right."
Brock sweat-dropped, "Wait. So now I'm the bad guy?"
Dawn blinked at Ash and Misty, "You two make me dizzy. Are you sure you're not together?"
May waited for them to jump and turn red and shake their heads and shout, but to her surprise, they just laughed.
"Me and Mist? No way." Ash grinned, "But we get that a lot."
"Yeah." Misty agreed, "Remember that time Team Rocket thought we were dating?"
"Oh, yeah!" Ash laughed harder, "It was just when Brock left to work with-um-" he blinked at Brock, "He left to work. And me and Mist continued around the Orange Islands. And Team Rocket caught us and they thought we were together."
"I actually did have a crush on you, back then, remember?" Misty reminded him.
"I know." Ash said, "I liked you, too, remember that? We would have been the worst couple."
"Nah, we'd have been awesome!" Misty disagreed, "But we'd break up after, like, a month."
"Hold on, hold on, hold on, what?" Dawn shrieked, "You guys liked each other? What happened to all that?"
"Um, Dawn, I was 10." Ash said, "I didn't realize I used to like her till I was 14- but by that time, I didn't anymore."
"Yeah, you're talking to the densest kid on earth." Misty giggled, "But that was just a childish-crush type of thing. We've grown way out of it. Besides." Misty shot Ash a look of pure evil, "There's someone else, isn't there?"
Ash blinked at her, "Huh? No."
"Yeah, there is." Misty's grin widened, "I should've guessed long ago, but I was too stupid."
"Mist, what are you-"
"Opposites attract, and you're dumb-"
"-I am not!-"
"So obviously, you like smart people. People like doctors, lawyers, I don' know, Pokemon Researchers...."
Ash turned about five different shades of red in 10 seconds, "Misty." he choked out, "No, no, no, no, he's just my best friend-"
"No, that's me." Misty replied, "Well, all of us."
"Besides." Dawn suddenly grinned, too, "Misty never mentioned a person. She just said Pokemon Researchers. You kind of just assumed, Ash."
Ash scowled.
"And we all know he likes you, too...." Misty weedled, "He sent you a Pokemon Poem last week."
"It was a joke poem!" Ash said desperately, "And of course he likes me- as his best friend."
"Well, I think-"
"I'm going to find Pikachu and Piplup!" Ash announced loudly, "Poor Max, he wanted to meet Piplup, and Pikachu doesn't even know that he and May are here. So you guys can just keep talking and I'll go do something useful!"
As the raven-haired trainer stalked away in search of the Pokemon that were no doubt playing around in the bushes or the garden, May and Max turned to the others.
"What," Max finally asked, "was that all about?"
Brock scratched the back of his head and Tracey shrugged, "It's a long story." the Pokemon doctor said, "Hey, wait- you've never met him."
Misty blinked, "That's right...."
"Met who?" May asked.
"Professor Oak's grandson." Dawn told her, "He and Ash grew up together. They used to be best friends, but when they started their journeys, they became rivals."
"Eventually, he decided to become a Pokemon Researcher, too, like his granddad." Tracey explained, "And he and Ash became close friends again."
"Wait. Then, Dawn how do you know him?" Max asked curiously, "You met Ash way after we did."
"You see, Gary- that's his name, Gary Oak- does his research in Sinnoh. So we bumped into him a few times during our travels." Dawn said.
"And he and Ash are dating?" May asked, her eyes wide in delight.
"Well..." Misty said sheepishly, "no, they're not. But they should!"
"They totally like each other! They literally act like a couple every time they're together. They're just in denial." Dawn said helpfully.
"Wish I could meet him." May said ruefully, "I could play matchmaker! May as Cupid. Doesn't it sound great?"
Max groaned.
"You all could help me." May continued, "We could call it Operation Cupid! Oh, I wish this Gary person was here! He and Ash will be together by the end of the week, if I had a say in it."
"Actually, May, you can meet Gary." Tracey said.
Everyone turned to him in confusion.
Tracey lowered his voice, "Okay, so don't tell Ash. Promise."
They all nodded eagerly.
"Well, Gary's coming." Tracey beamed, "He didn't want to miss Ash's sixteenth, so he's going to surprise him. He'll be here around 12:30. That's why Mrs. Ketchum's delaying the cake-cutting."
"No way!" Dawn squealed, "That's so cute!"
"Hold on." Misty squinted at him, "How do you know?"
Tracey shrugged, "I heard Professor Oak talking to him on the video-call screen last night. Turns out Professor Rowan was planning to send Gary to Kanto to do some special research-internship thing with Professor Oak, anyway. Gary decided to come early to see Ash."
"Alright!" May cried, "This is great! Okay, guys, we have to get them together." she frowned, "But how will we do it in a day?"
"You guys are leaving after a day?" Dawn looked disappointed, "We're all staying for a while."
Max blinked, "A while?"
"Well, Cerulean and Pewter are right around the corner." Brock pointed out, "I've got a few weeks off from Nurse Joy. Every doctor needs a maximum of four weeks off through the entire year, and I haven't taken a day off yet. It comes in handy now- I've just taken it all at once."
"Huh?"
"You see, usually doctors take a week off every three months. They're entitled to it."
"I didn't know that." Max looked interested, "What about you, Misty?"
"My sister Lily's new boyfriend is totally into Pokemon and battling and stuff." Misty rolled her eyes, "So, of course, Lily's battling has suddenly improved. She's doing all the gym battles now. At first, it was because she wanted to impress Chase. Then she started winning. And now, even though she denies it, I think she kinda likes battling." Misty smiled, "I don't have much to worry about. If there's an emergency, I can get back pretty fast."
"Wow, so you're just going to spend a month here in Pallet Town?" May asked in surprise.
"Well, even when I'm not working, I'm working!" Brock grinned, "See, there's a lot of special herbs and medical plants right here in Pallet Town. This trip is the perfect opportunity to study them."
"I came down for Ash's birthday, but when I saw Professor Oak's new water-pokemon facility, he said I could take some time to do special training here. I won't be around for a month, but I will be staying for a couple of weeks." Misty said.
"And you, Dawn?" Max asked the blunette.
"Special training as well." Dawn answered, "Pallet Town is great for inspiration. I wanted to train in a particular place for a while, instead of being on the move and practicing in a different place every day. When I heard what Brock and Misty were doing, I thought maybe I could give it a try, too. You can learn a lot from the people who live here, and Ash's mom has been just great about it."
"Aw." May said glumly, "Wish we could stay for a while, too."
"Why can't we?" Max asked curiously.
"Well, we can't because-" May spluttered, "Max, we- you're trying to make into the Johto League, and-"
"But that's not for another 10 months!" Max protested, "And you just finished the Grand Festival. And I already have 4 gym badges and a full Pokemon team!"
"You do not! You only have four pokemon, you've still got to catch two for a full team!"
"And Kanto's a great place to do that." Max pointed out, "I could learn a lot from Professor Oak, too. And Ash and Brock! And Misty. She's a gym leader!" Max's eyes sparkled, "If we stayed here for a couple of weeks, I could learn lots, battle with all these experienced trainers, catch new pokemon and do some super-awesome special training! May, whether you're staying or not, I sure am! I could do a lot in two weeks. Or three. Or four."
May sighed, "When you put it that way..."
"We can practice together!" Dawn said excitedly, "As two coordinators, I bet we could learn a lot from each other. And Viridian City's barely fifteen minutes away. They have Pokemon Plays and Musicals every week! It's so inspiring."
"And watching battles can give us some great ideas, too...." May said, slowly warming up to the idea, "I'd really learn a lot. It'll be fun and a great experience."
Max and Dawn looked at her hopefully.
"I guess staying for some special training is a pretty cool idea." May finally said, "I'll call my parents and let them know that we're not in Johto anymore. They'll be pleased to know we're at the Ketchum's. I'm in."
"Yes!" Max and Dawn high-fived. Misty looked excited, too, "It'll be awesome!"
"I hope Mrs. Ketchum won't mind." May worried, "Accomodating two more people like that."
"You do know that she runs and Inn, right?" Tracey chuckled, "The house is huge. There's plenty of space for you an Max, no problem."
"And the best part is, we can get Ash and Gary together!" May squealed, "You guys will help me, right?"
"Yes!" Misty and Dawn cried immediately.
Brock and Tracey exchanged a glance. Slowly, a grin formed on Brock's face, "Well, there is no doubt that they like each other..."
"And they would be cute together.." Tracey added thoughtfully.
"Okay, we're in." they said together.
Max grumbled, "Whatever. I guess I'm in, too."
"Operation Cupid!" May cheered, "I'll have to wait till I actually meet Gary to start forming any ideas, though. Misty, Dawn- we've got a lot to discuss tonight."
The girls nodded gamely.
"Like what?" Max asked.
"Like all the possible scenarios we could set up to get them together, or all the hints we could throw to make them realize..." May listed, "You get my flow. Just you wait, they'll be the cutest couple around soon."
"Poor Ash." Max muttered.
"Speaking of Ash, where is he?" Brock asked, "He said he was going to look for Pikachu and Piplup, but he's been gone for nearly fifteen minutes."
"Knowing him, he probably got side-tracked by some Pokemon." Misty sighed.
Sure enough, Ash returned to the backyard about five minutes later, Pikachu and Piplup right behind him. "Sorry I took so long." he said, "They were playing hide and seek. Pikachu is really excited to see you two again, May and Max."
"Pikachu!" May said happily as they yellow mouse jumped into her arms and beamed at her and Max.
"And it's Piplup." Max bent down to look at the penguin pokemon, "Pretty cool. It looks stronger than most Piplup."
Piplup looked around proudly at this compliment.
"Yeah, he has the power to evolve, but we gave him an Everstone, because he didn't want to." Dawn laughed.
"Why not?"
"Memories." Dawn said simply. Max didn't really get it, but he dropped the topic.
"By the way Max, who did you pick as your starter? How many Pokemon do you have?" Ash asked eagerly.
"Four so far." Max replied, "I picked Treecko- bet you saw that coming."
"Awesome! You can show me when we go to Professor Oak's lab later." Ash suggested.
"Kids!" a new voice called. They turned to see Ash's mother approaching them, "Let's come inside and start appetizers before- oh, Pikachu, Piplup, you're covered in mud! Go wash up before we eat."
Piplup and Pikachu nodded sheepishly.
"Hurry up, everyone." Delia said, "I'm putting garlic bread on the table. Come on in."
Ash walked forward with Brock, Max and Tracey, all of them heavily discussing some battle that had taken place last week.
The girls fell behind them.
"Okay." May said firmly, "We are not forgetting Operation Cupid. We're going to do it."
"You bet!" Dawn said enthusiastically, "And Brock, Max and Tracey are helping us out, too."
"Gary should be hear in forty-five minutes, max." Mist checked her watch, "You should watch him and Ash together. They have this love-love-hate thing going on."
May and Dawn laughed as they joined everyone else at the table.
"Why are we waiting so long to cut the cake, Mrs. Ketchum?" Dawn asked innocently.
"Oh, I thought you could all finish lunch first." Delia said, slightly nervous.
Misty giggled, "But these are appetizers."
Delia looked flusters, "Lunch starts soon." she hurried from the room.
"That was weird." Ash commented, taking of his hat and placing it on Pikachu's head instead.
"Ash, could you help me with this?" Ash's mother called from inside.
"Sure thing, Mom!" Ash hurried to the kitchen.
May leaned across the table, "You are all in, right? Operation Cupid?"
Max groaned, "I said it once, I'll say it again: Poor Ash. And why Operation Cupid? That's ridiculous. More like Operation Stupid."
"Well, I've always wanted to be someone's Cupid and match them up with the love of their life!" May said hotly as her brother sweat-dropped.
"Why are you even making it such a big deal?" Max demanded, "You're more obsessed with their love life than they are! You're more into this than all of us put together!"
"Because I love love, unlike some people!" May said, sticking her nose in the air.
"Well, I doubt Operation Stupid is gonna do anything."
"It's Operation CUPID!" May snapped.
"C'mon, Max, Operation Cupid is a pretty cute name." Dawn said.
"Cute or not, I'd say it does fit the mood." Brock admitted, a little reluctantly, "I mean, Cupid is someone that tries to create love or some sort of romantic relationship between two people..."
"And that's sure what May's trying to do." Tracey finished, sighing, "Anyway, whether we like the name or not, Max, I doubt we'd have a say in it."
"But if we're part of an Operation, make it cool!" Max said stubbornly, "How about Operation Ash and Gary?"
"Too obvious." May dismissed it with a wave of her hand.
"Operation Pallet? Because they're both from Pallet Town?"
"Lots of people are from Pallet Town." Dawn pointed out.
"Operation Make Ash And Gary See The Light?" Max said eagerly.
"Way too obvious." Misty said.
"Operation-"
"-Cupid." May finished with finality, "It's perfect. It's not too obvious, it fits the mood, it makes sense, and it's totally true- because we're playing Cupid for Ash and Gary's relationship!" she got a little starry eyed.
"Then why not Operation Matchmaker?" Max whined.
May frowned, "Bor-ring. Operation Cupid, and that's that."
Before Max could argue, Ash returned with another plate of food, which distracted all of them.
After some time, Delia and Professor Oak joined them. They were in the middle of discussing- what else?- a battle, when the doorbell rang.
Ash frowned, "Okay...now that's really weird. Who could that be?"
Delia and Professor Oak smiled.
"I guess I'll get it." Ash got up slowly and walked down the hall towards the door, Pikachu at his heels.
Misty grabbed May's arm and yanked her to the right so that every one of them had a clear view of the door that Ash was yet to open.
"Guys." May said in a low, but excited voice, "You ready?"
Despite Max's groan, she was with five determined nods.
"Then let's do this."
As Ash unlocked the door and swung it open, May said gamely:
"Operation Cupid is officially underway."