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Showtime for May - Chapter 2

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Elsewhere at the carnival, Ash was now passing flyers around to advertise two shows happening at the big tent that night. One was for a circus show and the other was for another showing of The Great Butler’s Magic Show.  He was also trying to find May who still had not returned back. Pikachu who sat on his shoulder had now joined him hoping to find her as well.

“Still no sign of May buddy?” Ash asked

“Pi…” it replied with a sigh of disappointment.

“I’m sure she’s somewhere around here. Maybe she went to grab a snack or something.”

Pikachu suddenly raised its ears hearing the sound of jingling bells. It’s recognised them from earlier.

“Pika Pi, Pika Pika!” it cried out pointing its hand out forward.

“You found her Pikachu? Where?”

He looked on ahead and at long last noticed a familiar looking clown. It was indeed May who seemed a lot more acrobatic than earlier. She skipped, spun and jumped around entertaining people who were passing by. They all were amazed at how flexible she was and were clapping for her. She would also stop for some children and make some balloon Pokemon for them like an expert despite wearing huge puffy gloves on her hands. She made the kids laugh by squeezing her rubber nose that made a honking noise when pressed.

“Woah Pikachu look at her go! When did she learn to get so good that fast!? said Ash looking in amazement.

“Pika!”

May headed towards them still with the intent of entertaining people. Ash and Pikachu smiled as she got closer to them.

“Hey, May you're rocking it right now! Way to go!”

“Pika!”

May didn’t even acknowledge them and passed on by continuing to do as she was ordered by her master Butler. Ash and Pikachu watched as she skipped away wondering if she had even heard them.

“I guess she’s just really into the rhythm of it all right now. Guess we better carry on to buddy,” he said.

“Pi,” Pikachu agreed as the two of them carried on passing flyers.



May continued to entertain audiences throughout the day under the constant trigger in her mind telling her to do everything Butler had ordered her to do. Eventually, she passed by the trailer where Butler was inside having a cup of coffee.
He saw May jumping around outside the window and rushed on over to get her attention.

“Oh Maisy my dear, come on over here for a few minutes would you?”

May stopped on a dime hearing her master and walked on over to him devoid of any life she had been demonstrating before. Her empty lifeless eyes were fixated on Butler never looking away as she headed towards him. Butler closed the trailer door and sat back down in his seat.

“Now Maisy I need to give you some new instructions for some plans that are happening today as well as improve yourself as a clown.   it’sSo I call upon you Kirlia my friend!”

He opened up his Poke Ball containing his Kirlia who already knew what to expect when it saw May close up to it.

“Kirlia we need your help once again to make Maisy an even better clown than before and to remember the plans for tonight. Do your thing!”

The Kirlia agreed even though that deep down inside it wasn’t happy with what it was asked to do. It felt too scared to retaliate against us its hypnosis on May again because of how long it had been friends with Butler. But despite how it felt Kirlia did what Butler requested and began to use its hypnosis on May. May was in a deeper trance than before now as the effects of Kirlia’s hypnosis grew stronger on her.

“Now first off Maisy, I have specific instructions about the circus going on tonight that I need you to hear. One of the performers has grown terribly ill and can no longer be on the show tonight. I need you to take this performer's place and take part in that show tonight. I trust in your incredible abilities and just know you’ll be able to put on a great show for everybody! Do you understand what you need to do?”

“Yes, master…” May replied robotically.

“Fantastic! Next, I will need you to improve your skills as a clown. I forgot to take into account that whilst you have your amazing acrobatic skills along with everything else, you don’t seem to show any emotion at all. I know it’s hard for you right now in your current state but I need you to be jollier for me ok? I have a reputation to keep and I can’t let anyone be suspicious about what is going on here. If anyone asks anything about me you will tell them that I gave you helpful advice to be the best clown you can be. So just enjoy your new life when around others when I’m not here. When around me be as monotone as you want. It only proves your loyalty to me.”

“Yes, master…”

The more in control Butler felt the more devious he was beginning to sound. Never before had he ever felt like this as he loved every single minute. He then got out a watch from his pocket.

“Now then Maisy. Go back out there and continue doing what you do best! Only this time you will act a bit more human and love your life as a clown. When the time reaches 5 pm this watch I shall strap to your wrist will ring and that’s when you must return to me in this trailer. We need to get prepared for both the circus and my show around that time. Understand?

“Yes, master.”

“Excellent! Kirlia that will be enough now, please. Thank you very much!”

“Kirlia..” it replied weakly feeling tired out.

“Take a good rest now my friend,” Butler said as he returned Kirlia to its Poke Ball. “Now then Maisy, do you love being a clown? Tell me with some emotion in that voice of yours.

“Yes, master! Being a clown is what I was always meant to be!” May replied in a jolly tone of voice. She was acting much happier now even if it was completely forced and the life in her eyes was still gone.

“Fantastic!” Now get back out there and have some fun!”

“Yaaaaaay!” she cheered as she danced out the trailer heading back to the carnival.

Butler chuckled to himself feeling very proud as he closed the door.



Meanwhile, Max and Brock who were having fun on some carnival rides had eventually joined up with Ash who was now out of costume taking a well-deserved break. After feeling dizzy from a few of the rides they sat down on a bench to relax.

“So May must still be going around the place as a clown huh? said Brock asking on her whereabouts.  

“Yeah, she must be, cause I haven’t seen her most of the day. She took off after feeling down about getting her role as a clown wrong, but she comes back later and now she’s showing off tricks I never knew she had in her. It’s a pretty amazing switch from what she was like earlier.  

“Pika!” replied Pikachu in agreement with him.

“What kind of stuff was she doing then Ash?” asked Max. I know my sister and I know she’s never been the most flexible person in the world.”

“She was twirling, spinning and dancing around the place like an expert. She was even making balloon Pokemon like she had been doing it all her life.”

“Woah, now that doesn’t sound like the kind of things she would be doing! Are you sure it wasn’t just a different clown? She did have a lot of white face paint on her and most clowns wear that stuff.

“It was definitely May for sure! It’s pretty easy to tell who it is under that face paint and that costume was the same one she was wearing.”

“Hmm. How odd indeed,” replied Max thinking deeply about it. Just then a big pie appeared right before Ash’s eyes and slammed right into his face. Pikachu jumped off his shoulder just in time to avoid being hit.

“Gotya!” cried out a familiar voice as the boys turned around to see who it was. It was May who was laughing at her antics and skipped off to continue going around the carnival.

“May? Hey, come back!” Max cried out as he chased after her.

“Hey May wait up!” followed Brock as he ran off to catch her as well. Ash just watched in a state of confusion covered completely in cream pie all over his face.

“May come back here a sec!” Max called as he and Brock continued to chase her. May looked back giggling as she skipped and twirled around the place. Eventually, she stopped and kneeled down to Max’s height. Max and Brock stopped to catch their breath as May got closer to her brother. Her state of mind didn’t even recognise Max as her brother and treated him like any other child around the carnival.

“What would you like then little boy?” she asked in a soft and gentle tone of voice.

“Uh, it’s me May, Ma-“

“I know just what you would like! A special balloon Pokemon just for you!”

May then took a couple of balloons out of her big pocket and began to start shaping them up into a balloon Jigglypuff.

“Here you go, little guy! It’s a Jigglypuff balloon just for you! “She handed it over to a speechless Max who was shocked at what she just did. She skipped on over to Brock.

“For you sir, a flower,” she said handing over a single daisy to him. Brock didn’t even have the time to react as May squeezed it and water shot out hitting him in the face. May laughed at him and fell back on the floor continuing to do so. It almost sounded genuine if a bit forced.

“Let’s play again sometime! Goodbye now!” she said and honked her rubber nose before jetting off. Max tried to hold in giggling at the noise the rubber nose made.  

Ash had caught up with them with most of the cream pie now off his face. “Hey, guys did you find her?”

“Yeah… Yeah we did,” replied Max just looking confused.

“I guess she’s super into her role now,” replied Brock.

“I can’t understand how she got good enough to be that acrobatic and make amazing balloon Pokemon in just a short span of time? Maybe she has been keeping that talent hidden after all?” Max pondered.  

“Whatever it is she’s pretty good at being a clown now. Hopefully, we can meet up with her later and ask about it,” said Ash.

“Hey wait a sec!” said Brock who just remembered something. “There’s that circus happening tonight at the tent before Butler’s next magic show. Maybe she’s going to be taking part in that tonight as well.”

“Good thinking Brock! We’ll watch it tonight and see if my sister shows up,” replied Max. “She’s probably really busy getting ready for it later on.”

“Sounds like a plan then,” said Ash. “Let’s head on over there tonight and catch up with her afterwards.”



The day progressed as expected with May continuing in her role she was forced to play without ever taking a break. She showed no signs of stopping unless she was ordered to. Eventually, the clock struck 5 pm and May headed immediately back to the trailer as instructed. She quickly arrived and opened the trailer door where Butler was waiting.  

“Ah Maisy welcome back!” he said happily. Like a flick of a switch, the jolly and cheerful May went back to acting like her previous monotone robotic state of mind.

“Now then lets head on over to the tent. The ringmaster of the circus is awaiting us.”

“Yes, master…”

They both made it to the tent where the Ringmaster awaited.

“Ah hello there Butler and your partner Maisy is it?”

“Hello there sir and yes this is indeed Maisy!” he replied and shook his hand with the Ringmaster.

May remained in a lifeless state staring blankly at the ringmaster.

“Don’t be shy now my dear say hello,” Butler told her in a friendly manner even though to him it was an instruction.

“Hello!” she replied now switched back to being jolly.

“Why hello there to you as well! Thank you so much for helping me out tonight! We could really use your help.”

“Leave it to Maisy sir! She’ll put on a show in the likes you have never seen before!   manyShe’s so good that all she will need is just one practise run. Why she’ll be asked for an encore I just know it!”

“Fantastic! So then Maisy let me show you exactly what you’re going to be doing tonight,” said the Ringmaster.

“I’ll stick around if that’s ok,” said Butler. Maisy might want me around for some encouragement whilst you teach her.”

“That’s fine with me!” replied the Ringmaster with a smile. As he began to show May the acts she would be doing Butler chuckled to himself. He felt proud that the Ringmaster had no idea on what he had done to May to get her where she was now.



The evening arrived and the circus was just about to begin. It was a full house with not a single seat left open. Ash and the gang waited patiently with popcorn in hand waiting to see if May was going to show up. The lights then dimmed and the ringmaster appeared in the centre of the tent with a spotlight shining down on him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages welcome to tonight’s circus! We’ve got a great show lined up for you all tonight so prepare yourselves for some spectacular acts!” So without further adieu, let’s get on with the show!”

The audience clapped as he left the ring and the acts commenced. The show had a variety of acts throughout such as the human cannonball, artistic cycling, fire dancing, Pokemon taming much more. The crowd were in awe watching the highly trained professionals show all their skills.

“So when do you think May is gonna show up?” Max asked.

“Probably towards the end I would assume? It’s just gone past the half way point and still no sign of her,” replied Brock.

“Well whenever she shows up seeing what she’s been working towards should be good,” said Ash hopeful of seeing her.

Before the next act begun the Ringmaster appeared again.

“Before we begin our next act I’d like to inform you all that sadly one of our performers couldn’t make it tonight as she has fallen ill. But never fear because a very kind volunteer has stepped in and has shown us some truly amazing skills! Prepare to be amazed because it’s going to be spectacular!”

Butler who watched from the shadows chuckled to himself. “Oh, they will be indeed. My creation is going to be a hit. I can see the money just rolling in now,” he said to himself quietly.

The lights dimmed as the next act began. It started out with a man acting the role of a boy sitting down on the floor looking sad. The spotlight shone on him showing the audience the sadness he was conveying. He had a big colourful bouncy ball and was playing by himself. The speakers played the sound of children playing together which was telling the story of a lonely boy who had no friends to play with. Just then something from above was slowly descending from above the tent and the actor looked up as well as the audience. It looked like a person descending downwards in a recognisable clown getup that the audience remembered throughout the day. Ash and friends gasped as they now realised who the person was. There was May descending down the tent attached to a system of pulleys and straps like a puppet.

“Look there she is!” Max said as quiet as he could. “It’s definitely May!”

May was playing the role of a clown marionette as part of an acrobatics act where the story was about a puppet becoming friends with a lonely boy. The pulley system put May on the ground and she walked to the actor stiffly like a puppet would walk. She tapped the actor on the shoulder which prompted him to turn around and be shocked by her. May had a permanent smile fixed on her face and seemed to never blink keeping in character of what a puppet would be. The pulley system raised her up and she began to twirl around in mid-air in a series of impressive acrobatics. She was put back on the ground and raised her arms out stiffly and was trying to tell the actor without any dialogue to throw the ball to her. The actor did just that and they both began to throw the ball back and forth with May doing more acrobatics whilst she played with him. The actor playing the boy was showing happiness and was often being playfully tricked by May’s antics. She would make him think someone was behind him or even pretend to not give him back the ball. Her antics made the audience laugh except for Max who was more fascinated than anything else.

Then the pulleys were dragging May back into the air as she waved goodbye to the actor. The actor didn’t want her to go and pulled her back down and removed the straps connecting her to the wires as if it were to break her free from her strings. May collapsed to the floor and sat motionless for a few seconds. She then jolted up on her feet and began to dance around the stage. She did her series of twirls and spins and even interacted with some of the audience as she skipped on over to the seats. She then got on a nearby unicycle and juggled some balls whilst she rode on it. The audience clapped and cheered loudly feeling impressed with her skills. Ash, Brock, Max and Pikachu were speechless as they watched in amazement.  

“Ok, she could never have done this before! How on earth is this happening!” exclaimed Max.

“No idea but this is nuts! How on earth is she this good?!” Ash replied with Pikachu replying afterwards.  

“I officially have no explanation anymore…” said Brock struggling on finding the words to say.

To end the act, May pointed towards the tightrope up above showing the actor what she was going to do next. She climbed up the pole and started to walk across the tightrope like an expert. The audience continued to cheer whilst Ash and friends had their jaws wide open in complete disbelief. May then stood on one foot and spread her arms out to keep in balance. The smile never left her face and was still constantly making sure she pleased Butler and the ringmaster. She eventually came back down and danced towards the centre of the ring. May honked her rubber nose just in time with the ending of the circus music playing in the background thus ending the act. The audience stood up from their chairs clapping and cheering louder than ever. Ash and the others couldn’t even muster to get up at all still in amazement at what they had just seen their friend perform. The ringmaster headed back onto the stage and stood next to May.

“Ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls give it up for Maisy the Clown!” he cried.

“Maisy the Clown?!” Max called out in shock.

“That must be her stage name!” Brock replied.

“Never expected that but it kinda works I guess!” said Ash.

“Pika-chu!” Pikachu agreed.

“What an amazing performance folks! Look forward to seeing Maisy once again tonight at The Great Butler’s Magic Show where she will be his trusty assistant! Give it up once more for Maisy!”

The audience’s cheers got louder than ever and Butler still in the shadows felt very pleased with May’s performance.

“Fantastic! She’s turned out just the way I wanted her! There is absolutely no way I’ll be giving her up now! That girl is fully under my power and nobody suspects a thing! Maisy is a gold mine that I will keep forever!”




He started to laugh to himself manically at his success unheard by anyone through the loud applause. He was dead set on making Maisy a household name for the rest of his career.    
Missing out on a chance to be part of a show, May just might get her chance in a way she won't expect.


This story is an alternate what if take on events from Pokemon Jirachi Wish Maker. 
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Enjoying the story so far? Check out a comic version of this story by :icontf-circus: in the links below. These two pages cover what happens in this chapter.


Page 3                          Page 4
Showtime For May Page 3 (sketch) by TF-Circus       Showtime For May Page 4 (sketch) by TF-Circus
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Showtime for May - Chapter 1During their travels in the Hoenn region Ash, his best friend Pikachu, May, Max and Brock had come across a carnival that was set to open in the morning.  After watching an impressive display from a Magician and his assistant putting together a big tent, the gang decided to take a break from their travels and enjoy the carnival. Everyone was having a great time going on all the rides and eating a lot of carnival food. Whilst walking around the crew noticed a poster lying on the ground.
“Hey what’s this?” asked Ash as he picked the poster up.
“It looks like one of those posters I’ve seen around the place for The Great Butler’s Magic Show,” Brock replied.
“Hey that sounds like fun! We should go and see it tonight,” said May getting excited thinking about it. “What about you guys?”
“Sure! I haven’t seen a magic show in years,” Brock replied.
“I’ve never seen a magic show. It sounds like fu
             Showtime for May - Final ChapterThe circus had come to a close and May was the star of the show. The audience were speaking amongst themselves as they left the tent about how amazing they thought she was. Butler’s Magic show was set to begin within an hour so everybody had a chance to get some fresh air whilst the tent was being prepared for the show. Ash, Brock, Pikachu and Max were the last ones in the tent hoping to try and find May. Butler noticed they were still hanging around and walked on over to them.
“You kids still here I see?” he said.
“Yeah we were hoping to catch up with May before the show started just to congratulate her,” replied Ash.
“We haven’t seen much of her all day so would it be ok to see her?” asked Brock.
Butler had a feeling they would ask about May. He was determined to make sure nobody was suspicious about what he was doing so he responded in a flash.
“I’m sorry but May is very busy right now. Lots of preparation is needed for her




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gingka102's avatar

What the **** what the **** what the ****