I'm rather surprised this story has 1k views. You guys are great!

DualStarduster: Overkill...ha...ha...I get the pun, intentional or not. As for Anabel, it's hard to say whether or not she was thinking at all. Suicide does things to a person, you know? Not that I'd know better than you, I'm just assuming...

Pet Shop Girl: Happy birthday! It's what, April 23? My friend's birthday was on that date too! *celebration dance* Delia's teasing is modeled after that of a certain female in my life. Also known as my mother.

aloasa: Yeah, Ash made it...barely. I wanted to characterize Ash the same way as the anime did: reckless, has good intentions, but hindered by his brain/lack thereof.

Incidentally, I was deciding whether or not Gliscor should die...I guess you'll all find out my final decision now, won't you?

Amalgam24: Thank you, you should be a doctor :D Like Brock, minus the...flirting...if you can call it that.

Skywa1ker: I would rather be safe than sorry. Remember, this story is not for me. It's for all of you readers! I honestly couldn't give a shit if not many people read my story, as long as those that do understand and enjoy it.

The main reasons for the M rating will be revealed...later in the story.

By the way, I've read 'Footsoldiers.' It's incredible, and I really liked it.

After she recovers from her injuries, Anabel should be back to normal...or as normal as she can be with Ash there.

WhiteEagle1985: Thanks!

ANON: You like the humor? Great! I have fun writing it too. And yes, Ash's inexplicable stupidity at the beginning of each new journey is...well, stupid.

This chapter is where things start getting more interesting. Why? Read on...


Chapter Four

Second Chances

Falling...

Falling...

"Anabel!"

The ground...closer...and closer...

"Anabel! Wake up!"

And then...nothingness...

"ANABEL!"

"Ahhh!"

Anabel awoke with a startled yell. "Who the hell-oh, hi Scott. Uh...what are you doing in heaven? Don't you ha-"

She trailed off when she saw Scott's solemn face. One thing she had learned from her experiences as a Frontier Brain was that one should never contradict, disagree with, or argue with Scott when he was being serious. God help you if you pissed him off.

Sadly, God was NOT there to help.

"Anabel. Do you have any idea...what happened?"

Confused, Anabel asked, "Why are you asking me? ...I'm dead, aren't I?"

Scott sighed.

"Anabel. You are not dead. You are currently in a hospital. You tried to kill yourself. I grew suspicious when Maron told me you hadn't been at the Battle Tower all day on Wednesday-"

"Wait wait wait. What day is it today?"

"Friday."

Wow. "Oh. Uh..."

"You were unconscious for over two days. All of the other Frontier Brains have been very worried about you. Even before this...incident, they were worried. Worried about how you were treating yourself, your facility, and your battles after Ash left. You haven't acted normally, you haven't performed maintenance, you haven't done paperwork, and you haven't been giving your challengers your all. Essentially, you were handing out free Symbols, making the challengers feel all good about themselves while you, the Salon Maiden herself, stayed sullen. We all seemed to know that eventually something would happen. But this...this will not do. Something must be done."

Scott looked over at the girl lying on the hospital bed. Her face betrayed her emotions. Fear, anxiety, guilt, sadness, doubt...Scott knew it was hard for such a young person to go through such an ordeal.

To Scott's surprise, Anabel started to cry.

"I-I'm s-sorry. It's just th-that I c-can't live on anymore. Ever s-since he l-left...I've b-been th-thinking..."

"About?"

"Ab-about Ash. He-he made my life b-better. I-I couldn't s-stand it when he j-just...just..."

And with that, Anabel buried her head in the pillow, letting out muffled sobs.

Scott, seeing Anabel's grief, decided it was time.

"Anabel."

"Wh-what?"

"Look at me."

Anabel did as she was told, eyes red.

"Take a deep breath, and compose yourself."

Anabel again did as she was told.

"Good. Much better. Now, I still haven't told you the most interesting part of the story. Anabel. Ask yourself this."

He leaned over and stared directly into her teary eyes.

"Why do you think you're still alive?"

Anabel, surprised by this question, suddenly realized she couldn't come up with a simple answer.

"You jumped off Tohjo Falls. The impact would have been more than enough to kill you (or any other human). And yet, impossibly, you emerged fully alive. Weak and unconscious, but alive. The other Brains' shock upon hearing the news of your...decision was only matched by their joy at your having survived. Do you know what saved you?"

"N-no. I don't remember much...besides blacking out."

Scott smiled. "Then let me tell you. When Maron arrived at the foot of Tohjo Falls, he found not only you, but also...two others."

"What!?"

It was obvious Anabel, now sitting upright, was fully awake and paying Scott her utmost attention.

Scott's smile grew wider, as if he anticipated her reaction. "As you were falling, those two flew under you, cushioning your fall. Without them, one person would have died. I am pleased to say that you and they are going to make full recoveries within two or three weeks. (Those Chanseys...I don't know how they do it, but I've never been so grateful for them.)"

Anabel was shocked. Not many people cared about her enough to even attempt to save her. They might point and say, "No, Anabel!", but they probably wouldn't have moved an inch. Certainly no one would have gone so far as to put their own lives in danger in order to save hers. She was genuinely curious now. "Who are these two?"

It's time, Scott thought to himself. "Nurse Joy!"

Running over, the woman with the omnipresent appearance said,

"Yes, Mr. Smith?"

"Do you know the patient who was admitted into this hospital at the same time as this young lady here? Bring his bed over please."

"Right away sir. Chansey, a little help please!"

"Chan Sey! Chansey chan!"

"Oh, you're busy? Okay then..."


Within a few minutes, the nurse reappeared, dragging a rolling bed with an unconscious boy on it behind her.

"Here you are, sir."

"Thank you. Now please give us some privacy."

"No problem."

Nurse Joy then promptly left. Scott turned back to Anabel.

"Now, Anabel, do you recognize this man?"

Taking one look at the patient, Anabel gasped.

He's hardly changed...

"ASH!"

Scott grinned as Anabel's face lit up, only to restrain her as she tried to flop over to Ash's bed.

They then both looked at Ash as he groaned, muttered to himself, and slowly opened his eyes.

"Ahhh...where am I...? Oh right. A hospital. I hope she's alright."

He then turned to see a knowingly smiling Scott and a beaming Anabel.

"Anabel! You're alright! Thank goodness...ow, shouldn't have done that."

Scott chuckled. "You know, Ash, that arm IS still fractured. By the way, you might be pleased to know that both Gliscor and Pikachu will also be alright...though it was indeed quite the challenge to separate you and Pikachu, considering he was still conscious and wanted to stay with you."

"That's great! And how about you, Anabel?"

"Never better. Ash, I thank you from th-"

"Ahem."

Anabel was interrupted as Scott cleared his throat before speaking.

"Anabel, Ash wants to become a Frontier Brain. That was why he came to Tohjo Falls-to tell you and take you to headquarters."

Anabel fainted from sheer giddiness.

Not noticing, Scott said,

"Anabel, I would like you to be his mentor and guide him. Normally, of course, I would let Ash himself choose, but I have my reasons. So, Anabel, will you do it?"

Much to Scott's disdain, Anabel had already fainted from sheer giddiness.

Ash laughed. "I suppose that's a 'yes.'"

Scott sighed. "I suppose it is."


YEAH CHAPTER FOUR WHOOOOOOOOOO

So apparently I'm going to be in D.C. next week. Sadly, this means absolutely no writing. Boooooo! :(

But! Summer's in a month...and you all want that, right? No? Well then.

*I've already decided on what my next FF projects are going to be, so as soon as I finish SYSM, I'll jump straight into those. Sadly, that probably won't happen this summer.

I'll elaborate on Pikachu and Gliscor in the next chapter. RnR pls!