Gasp! Another chapter?! That's unthinkable! Astounding! Wow! This can't be real! …Well, it is, so get ready for more adventures with Ash, Anabel, and Team Rocket!

But before we begin…

DISCLAIMER: Yeah, yeah, I NO OWN!

Fire and Ice (Or Maybe Not)

Ash smiled. "Oh, well, since you are the frontier maiden, I should protect you! I am Ash, fearless knight of Salon Maiden Anabel! Beware my might, Team Rocket!"

Anabel giggled. "Thanks, Ash." Maybe he does have feelings…

Ash sipped his tea, and shivered. Pulling his towel a bit closer around him, he anxiously waited for Anabel to return. She had said she was going to grab her other Pokémon, but that should have only taken five minutes, and it had almost been an hour! What happened?

Anabel peered nervously around the corner at Ash, heart pounding. I can't believe it! He came back, whether by accident or not, and I can finally see him again.

Ash turned, and stared out the windows of Anabel's house, his face lit dramatically by the setting sun, Pikachu resting by his feet. Sitting like that made him look, well…

He's so handsome. Three years have really changed him. He's more mature, more intelligent, and so much more caring! No wonder I fell for him.

Trying once again to slip into the room, Anabel slid around the corner, but then darted back. It's no use. I've been out here for nearly an hour, yet I still can't muster the courage to talk to him! Why, though?

"Anabel, I can see your reflection in the glass. You can come in, you know."

The girl jumped, and blushed. "O-oh. Sorry Ash! I didn't know you could see me…"

"it's OK. Why were you hiding? It's perfectly fine to come in, it's not like I need privacy."

"Uh, I was nervous about, um, well…"

Ash stared curiously. "Why were you nervous?"

She replied in whisper, "…Y-you."

"Me? Why? You know me, Anabel! We battled together! You don't have to be scared to talk to me. I'll always be listening to you, OK?"

"OK…" He doesn't get it, does he? Ah well…

Ash stood up, and stretched. "Well, it's only seven. D'you want to go get some dinner?"

Anabel froze. Did he just ask me out? What do I do? "Uh…"

He grinned. "That's a yes! C'mon, where do you want to go? There's that place down the road in the village that makes really great spaghetti, but on the other side there's…

Anabel walked, stunned, beside a smiling Ash, his one hand carrying the leftovers from Blaziken's Barbeque Steakhouse, the other…

He's holding my hand! I can't believe that three years ago this sensitive, caring guy was so klutzy and oblivious!

"Are you OK Anabel? You look kind of flushed."

"N-no, it's just the heat. Thanks, though."

"You sure? I could get my Swellow to fly us back."

"I'm fine."

The stars shone brightly overhead, the crescent moon smiling upon the couple. Ash turned to Anabel and beamed at her. "Isn't the night beautiful?"

"Yeah. It is."

"Almost as beautiful as you-"

They both froze, an awkward silence building between them. Finally, Anabel broke it. "D-do you mean it, Ash? Really?"

Ash thought a moment, then said uncertainly, "Yeah…"

Anabel blushed. "Thank you. I never knew you thought that…"

Ash dropped her hand, and a pleading look came over his face. "Anabel…"

"Yes?"

"Can… can I try to read your heart again?" He stared earnestly at her. "I need to know how you feel about me!"

She nodded hesitantly, and he locked eyes with her, trying to feel what she did, trying to sense her emotions…

There was fondness for Pokémon, her friends, a sisterly love.

There was sadness for herself, a sadness that could be called loneliness, as she was the youngest of the Battle Frontier.

There was hatred of Team Rocket, a fury directed at them because they would dare to take Pokémon away from their rightful trainers.

There was a longing for someone strong enough to actually reach her at the top of the Battle Tower, a longing to actually battle someone of equal strength.

There was hope that one day she could travel to somewhere else than Hoenn, to explore new regions and catch new Pokémon.

And then there was love. A love for her knight, her protector, her hero, and her champion. It was love for someone who left her life three years ago and never came back. Love for…

Ash drew back, startled, then wrapped his arms around Anabel and embraced her.

"Ash!" She jerked back, then hugged him, overjoyed that he finally understood.

"I never knew you felt that way about me," murmured Ash. "I never would have left."

"Ash…"

"Anabel…"

The stars looked down on the couple, smiling upon the dawn of a new relationship, seeming to be even brighter than ever.

Wow. That was fast. But… the story isn't over yet! Team Rocket still has to pull their usual tricks! Don't forget to review! Constructive criticism helps a lot! If you do, you get a bunny!

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Just imagine him put together. Here is your ChapterFact!

Every Spinda has a unique pattern of spots. In-game, there are exactly 4,294,967,296 possible outcomes (Not counting shiny).

Thank you for your support! Pokémon forever! TheElementHero