This is Part II of Anabel's flashback to when Ash went to the Sinnoh region. The flashback ends here as well. Ash heads to the Battle Frontier HQ after his two days passed and meets someone from his past. You know who it is.
So now, please enjoy…
"Ash, where are you?" Anabel called out desperately. She ran around the Town of Pallet in circles, not knowing which house belong to the Ketchum family. "Ash, please answer me!" Anabel unknowingly bumped into a brown-haired woman in her thirties. The woman was accompanied by a Mr. Mime. "Oh, I'm really sorry ma'am! I didn't see where I was going!" Anabel lightly knocked her head with her fist and lightheartedly stuck out her tongue.
"That's okay, young lady," the woman said kindly. "You must be searching for someone if you're in a rush like this." Anabel nodded in agreement.
"I am searching for a young man who I heard returned from beating the Battle Frontier challenge," Anabel said to the woman. "His name is Ash Ketchum. Do you know him?" The woman was shocked to know that this cute violet-haired girl is looking for her son. The woman smiled at Anabel for awhile, not wanting to tell her about Ash's early departure to Sinnoh. However, she knew that Anabel would find out the truth eventually.
"I'm terribly sorry, miss," the woman said apologetically. "Ash left earlier this morning to catch a boat to Sinnoh. He departed an hour before you came here to Pallet Town. He always gets so excited starting a new journey!" After hearing the news, Anabel felt even worse. She felt her own heart bleeding emotionally, having lost her chance for Ash to know her true feelings for him.
"…I-I was too late?! I-I lost him… He's gone… And I'm all alone again…"
Anabel looked down at the ground at her feet. She couldn't believe that she was only an hour late. She lost her only chance of confessing her love for Ash. Her stomach was aching and churning. She was so miserable that she felt her heart breaking into two pieces. The women felt truly sorry for her. She could see that she was trying to hold back her tears in her violet eyes. However, this proved futile as several tears began sliding down Anabel's face. The woman could sympathize with Anabel as she misses Ash as well, but she knew she couldn't hold him back from his dream to become a Pokémon Master.
"Hey, uh, miss?" the women spoke. "What's your name?"
"A-Anabel…," the violet-haired girl said tearfully and sniffled. "M-My name is Anabel…"
"What a lovely name, Anabel," the woman said sweetly. "I guess it is to be expected that my son would meet such a lovely girl as you, Anabel." Anabel immediately reacted to what the woman previously said about "her son."
"Y-You mean…," Anabel stuttered with curiosity. "That Ash Ketchum is YOUR son?!" The woman nodded happily.
"Yes, Delia Ketchum at your service," the woman said playfully and did a bow. The Mr. Mime that accompanied Delia began clapping after her bow.
"Mime! Mr. Mime!"
Wow… Anabel thought, staring in awe as she gazed at Ash's mother. She's really beautiful. I guess that's where Ash got his looks! Hee hee…And she is so kind: another quality that makes Ash so attractive! Anabel started blushing again.
"Well, Anabel, if you need any help, stop by my house anytime," Delia said it with a smile so reminiscent of Ash's many smiles and pointed the direction of her house to Anabel. "Ciao, Anabel! Let's go home, Mimey!" The Psychic-type followed Delia back home.
"Mr. Mime!"
"Thanks for everything, Mrs. Ketchum!" Anabel yelled, waving good-bye to Delia and Mr. Mime. "I still can't believe I lost my chance! Who knows how long it'll be when I meet Ash again!" Anabel pouted and almost felt like crying again. "No, no! Ash wouldn't approve of my behavior right now! He wants me to be happy, to be friends with as many Pokémon possible, just like the gentleman he is!" Anabel suddenly ran back up the hill she descended to Pallet Town.
"Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town!" Anabel shouted into the sky. "I, Salon Maiden Anabel, make a promise that I shall be waiting for you forever! Until we finally are together forever!" Anabel's powerful speech echoed throughout entire area. Anabel is dedicated to wait for Ash's return from Sinnoh, no matter how long it takes.
Hee hee…If I truly love that silly boy, then I'll remain by his side for an eternity!
Two days had passed since the good news of Ash Ketchum becoming a Frontier Brain. Ash and Pikachu were already on their way to Vermillion City to meet up with Scott and the other Frontier Brains at the Battle Frontier HQ. Ash decided to bring along his Pokémon team from Sinnoh on such an occasion.
"Hurry up, Pikachu," Ash said excitingly. The pair has made it to the Diglett's Cave near Pewter City, Brock's hometown. "Hmmm, I could ask Brock if he wants to join me. But I think it's time I handle things myself. Right, Pikachu?"
"Pika! Pikapi!" Pikachu yelled.
"What's up, buddy?"
Pikachu pointed at a lone Diglett looking at the two. It stared at the pair curiously before retreating back underground. Ash and Pikachu briefly looked at each other before more Diglett appeared out of the ground.
"It's just some Diglett. Let's go!"
Ash and Pikachu went past the Mole Pokémon and into the cave. While they were trekking in the hollow cave, they saw many Diglett and Dugtrio, Diglett's evolved form, digging everywhere and further colonizing their home.
"Diglett-Di! Diglett-Di!"
"Trio! Trio! Trio!"
"Diglett-Di! Diglett-Di!"
"Trio! Trio! Trio!"
"What a sight to see!" Ash exclaimed, making sure he and Pikachu did not disturb them.
"Piikaa!"
Eventually, the two saw light ahead of the tunnel. Ash and Pikachu were now at the Diglett's Cave entrance in Vermillion City. The bright light temporarily blinded them upon their emergence from Diglett's Cave. They saw Vermillion City nearby as well as a route full of wild Pokémon on the other side.
"Let's go to the Battle Frontier HQ, Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pikachu!"
But before they were able to set foot in Vermillion, a pink, rubber, and mechanical hand from the air snatched Pikachu. Ash noticed the action take place right after Pikachu was several feet away from his reach and in a familiar Meowth hot air balloon.
"No, Pikachu!"
"Pikapi!"
"Oh, no! Not THEM again!" Ash grumbled, having heard familiar cackling and a familiar motto.
"Listen, is that a voice I hear?"
"It's speaking to me loud and clear."
"On the wind."
"Past the stars."
"In your ear!"
"Bringing chaos at a break neck pace."
"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place."
"A rose by any other name is just as sweet."
"When everything's worse, our work is complete."
"Jessie!"
"And James!"
"Meowth, now dat's a name!"
"Putting the do-gooders in their place…"
"…Team Rocket…"
"We're in your face!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"Mime! Mime!"
"Team Rocket, aren't you done with this already?!" Ash snapped at the Rocket trio. "Give me back, Pikachu! I'm busy right now!"
"Well, now you'll be busy watching us make out getaway, twerp," Jessie said triumphantly.
"And thanks again for Pikachu," James said.
"How's about ya get some new friends to pal around, twoip," Meowth said, hoping to break the fourth wall. "After all, ya can't let da series end dis way! Heh heh heh…"
"That's it!" Ash shouted. "Staraptor, I choose y—!"
"Espeon, use Psybeam!" someone commanded. An Espeon jumped out of nowhere and fired her Psybeam at Team Rocket's balloon. The balloon exploded from the Psychic attack, releasing Pikachu from Team Rocket's grasp.
"Look's like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" Team Rocket shouted, flying in the sky once again; their exit marked by a twinkling star. Pikachu was falling down from the explosion.
"Pikachu, I gotcha!" Ash yelled, running to where Pikachu was going to land. However, the Espeon already made the attempt at rescuing easier by using Psychic to slow down Pikachu's descent. "Pikachu!" Ash managed to catch Pikachu when Espeon released her Psychic hold on him. "You okay, buddy?"
"Pikapi," Pikachu walked towards the Espeon.
"Thanks for the help, Espeon," he said. "You do kind of look familiar." Espeon went up to Ash's leg and purred.
"So have you figured out who Espeon belongs to?" a soft-spoken female voice asked. The voice sounded similar to the one that commanded Espeon to use Psybeam on Team Rocket. Ash looked around until he saw a familiar violet-haired girl wearing an attire of a formal white blouse with long sleeves, lavender pants, long white socks, and black dress shoes.
"Anabel!" Ash exclaimed, astonished by her sudden appearance after such a long time. The girl ran towards Ash and gave him a warm embrace, which completely threw Ash off his guard. He then decided to return the hug. Pikachu and Espeon smiled for their Trainers' reunion.
"I missed you so much, Ash," Anabel said with a warm feeling in her heart. "You've grown so much from that year in Sinnoh!" Ash chuckled as he received the same complement from Scott two days ago. "Come on! Everyone's waiting for you!" Anabel grabbed Ash's hand, in which Ash's face gave off a little hint of red, and they both ran to the Battle Frontier HQ. Pikachu and Espeon followed their trainers as well. Ash, Anabel, Pikachu, and Espeon made it to the grand Battle Frontier HQ building, located in the heart of Vermillion City. They saw Scott waiting by the entrance.
"Ash, over here!" Scott yelled and waved his hand. Ash and Anabel met up with Scott, out of breath.
"Great to see you again, Scott," Ash said, shaking Scott's hand.
"Now are you ready, Ash?" Scott asked. Ash enthusiastically nodded while Anabel giggled. "Now then, let's go inside, where everything shall begin!"
Next chapter, Ash will be involved in a complex initiation in order to prove himself worthy of becoming a Frontier Brain. You'll find out more about the initiation ritual is the next chapter. And there will be more AbilityShipping to come as well.
Ciao!
