I can't believe I'm writing again after all this time. It seems so long ago when school took away my time, and now I have a more flexible schedule. This is a rewrite.

Just heads up, the story of the girls is "Sky" while the boys are "World." "World" would only be up after Misty's chapter, which is the final chapter of "Sky." When both "Sky" and "World" are finished, another fanfic would be posted, this time the adventure kind with long chapters, action, drama, angst, and romance problems. It'll tie in both "Sky" and "World", which are like "companion piece" prologues.

Let the reading begin!

Simple Love

I care about my own life.

I care about the lives of my friends.

I suppose being petrified does that to anyone.

Or being a scam artist and a thief long before I met them.

Sorry…I'm rambling.

I want to explore the world. It would be a dream of mine to find all the Pokémon. Still, I want it to be with my friends. Trouble seems to find us all the time, however. Being a Dex Holder isn't easy. My years on the field, literally, show me that.

I look at them.

Yellow is playing with Chuchu and her Pichu offspring who was visiting from Ethan's care. It's honestly cute to see something like that…I can also see a look of longing in her eyes. She once confided in me about that thread of fate she saw. I can tell she wants to be with Red, and someday settle down. We've grown up, and our relationships and attachments show it, especially in Yellow's crush. They've been dating for a while now.

I also remembered a certain red-headed tomboy mermaid, and that she had let him go, assuring him she was fine. She was a firm believer of that old "If you love something" saying. We still keep in touch, idle chatter. Last time I heard from her, she took over Cerulean Gym.

Sometimes, our conversations over the videophone are awkward; silent questions are asked, and replied in double-meaning. Nobody knows, not even Red, that I keep in touch with her. Even he stopped. I think it was seven years since they broke up, five since all communications cut off, simply because they grew too apart, mutual as their short-lived relationship may seem.

Love is complicated.

May and her…personality, and things that have happened to her, proved it to me. It's been a long time since Sapphire…er…May left for her own journey, having rejoined Red with the Pewter Gym leader once. I think she had her little brother in tow. Last I heard of Max though, he came of age years ago and began on his own journey. Tabloids say the "Princess of Hoenn" is dating a guy named Drew, also a coordinator of great fame by his own right. Ever since Brendan read it, well…

I feel a hand slip into mine. The fingers don't lace with mine, but still, I like this. I look to see Blue smile at me. His new lab coat looks good on him. He was mine and Red's rival, but also a good friend. Well, good friends with Red, at least. He kisses my cheek. "What are you thinking about?"

Maybe, love is so simple after all.

*Ducks from angry Pokéshipping fans hurling rocks at me*

Look, I know you guys are angry at me for this, and you're complaining why Red/Ash is with Yellow, not Misty. It'd make a much more interesting start for my true fic, and it might continue that way… However, I promise I'll make it up to you; IF, the votes are in your favor. Now you might be asking, what vote? Well, just wait until the uploading of a different fic that ties both the boys and girls sides of the stories. Lots of drama are plotted there, involves the resolution of Misty's relationship with Red/Ash, but that is IF the votes are in your favor when I open the polls. If the votes say otherwise, Specialshipping will be the star pair. So be alert. Also, word of warning, don't do sympathy votes for what you don't like, thinking your favorite choice has so plenty, one vote to the other can't hurt. Trust me, those votes can accumulate AGAINST your favor. Take this as my first and only warning.