XO

After the returned from the Viridian Forest, the group decided to hang out in the largest suite—the one which Ash was sharing with Richie, Alain, Paul, and Max. (Some of them) drank beer and guzzled Valentine's Day desserts while watching Yuri on Ice!.

"I had a thought," Ash said as he took a break from his food.

"Share this rare moment in history with us," Misty requested.

"What if that pollen-like stuff Meowth shot me and Gary with has to do with their plan?"

"How?" Brock asked.

"Like…"

Ash lowered his voice to a whisper loud enough for only Misty and Brock to hear.

"What if it…so, I have been feeling different all day. I feel…more…"

"Drawn to people?" Misty guessed, thinkin of her own experience.

"Yes. Or more…them being drawn to me."

"Like you're attracted to them and they're attracted to you," Brock surmised.

Ash blushed.

"Well…yeah…don't laugh."

"We aren't laughing," Misty replied, though she was smiling in her head.

"You have been all over Kiawe," said Brock.

"And Gary," said Misty. "And me."

Ash promptly backed away from her. "I-I am not all over anyone!"

"Everything okay over there?" May asked Ash.

"Uh, yeah," Ash replied.

The others didn't realize it but May had picked up on most of their conversation. She joined their little grouping.

"Does this have to do with that smell?" May asked as she sniffed Ash's hair.

"Ummm yes," Ash confessed.

"I know exactly what that is," May replied.

"I do too, but I didn't want to tell Ash and freak him out," said Brock.

"What are you two talking about?" Ash queried.

"Pheromones. They sprayed you with pheromones," Brock explained. "Very strong pheromones…I bet they are mixed with something else too. But I can tell those are pheromones."

Ash's face was blank. May proceeded to explain.

"Pheromones are the chemicals that make people, animals, and Pokémon drawn to each other. So, if someone already likes you…well, now that you have been blasted with pheromones, now they really like you. And pheromones spread; so, whatever you touched could have traces of it."

"I was just gonna say that," said Brock.

"How do you two know this stuff?" asked Ash.

"Because I am training to become a Pokémon doctor," Brock responded.

"And to be a star coordinator, I have to know almost everything there is to know about Pokémon, including what affects their mood," said May.

Everyone was looking at Misty as if it were her turn to speak. She didn't want to admit that she knew something was subconsciously pulling her towards Ash all day, but the truth is that the pheromones had played her.

"I can see that being true," she said cautiously.

"You two should talk alone," Brock told Ash and Misty.

"For sure," May agreed as she scooted away from the couple.

"Ash, do you wanna talk in the hall?" Misty inquired.

"Yes," Ash decided.

They walked down to the first floor of the motel and strolled down the hall. Marril and Pikachu were with them, but they kept their distance so that their trainers could talk privately.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Ash started.

"Us, maybe," said Misty.

"Okay…you start."

"I miss you. I love the Cerulean Gym but some days I feel so stuck there. My dream was to become the best water-type Pokémon trainer in the world, but most days I feel like I am going nowhere. I wish I could go back in time and spent more time seeing the world with you."

"You were always my favorite girl to argue with."

They both laughed nervously.

"So, you and Gary…you and Clemont…you and Kiawe…"

"Um, so…the thing is…"

"Do you like me or do you like one of them?"

"No. Yes. No."

"Explain yourself more."

Ash rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Pikachu. The electric mouse was still down the hall with Marril and pretending to ignore him and Misty.

"I think Clemont likes me," said Ash. "I like Kiawe, and I like Gary…but what if it's just that phomonom stuff messing with my brain?"

"Pheromones," Misty corrected. "And I am sure what May said is true: it doesn't create attraction, it just makes it stronger. I know I like you, and I think you've known this for a while now."

"It's news to me. I never knew you liked me. I thought you hated me and liked Tracey or Brock."

"Hated you? Why would I hate you?"

"Because you told me you had a crush on me and then I ignored you and continued traveling without you."

"That did piss me off, but it didn't make me hate you. Not forever."

"I'm not good at this stuff."

"That's because you aren't good at anything that doesn't involve Pokémon…plus some things that do involve Pokémon."

"I'm not totally clueless. And I am a better battler."

"In your dreams."

"We should have a match."

"I don't want to go back outside; it's cold, and we can't have one inside your mother's motel."

"Tomorrow."

"Okay. And what will this solve?"

"Maybe if win it means I am meant to be with you."

"That's lame. What about the others?"

"What others?"

"I am not the only person you like. There is Serena, maybe May, then Kiawe and Gary of course and perhaps Clemont…"

"One at a time, Mist."

"Are you okay? Don't do eeny-meeny-miny-moe. Pick the person you actually like the most."

Ash looked her straight in the eyes. "Okay. I will."

XO

"This sucks!" Jessie said as she threw another Pokéball to the ground.

"I can't believe they thought ahead for once," said James. "I can't believe they outsmarted us. I can't believe it!"

"All weeze got are 'bout two-hundred fake Pokéballs. I hate twerps. Hate 'em!"

"Another day, another fail," James sighed. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"I refuse to accept this. This is a holiday. We are better than this. There is more we can do," Jessie replied.

"We can get some mora dat love potion and spray dem all at once," Meowth proposed.

"Heleni will no doubt charge," Jessie said as she tapped her foot. "I say we dig a hole. We can make one big enough for them to all fall in at once."

"And then Ash can use his Charizard to fly out and incinerate us," said James.

"Or dat blue-haired gurl could use her Togekiss to confuse us again."

"No matter what, they will no doubt have at least one Pokémon that could either climb or fly them out of a hole."

Jessie despised losing her teammates' support. She marched into the distance, feeling more hurt than she normally did would be by James's lack of faith.

"Yous oughta go after her," Meowth said as he gave James a little push. "Cuz accordin' ta Mimikyu, yous been on her mind a lot lately…like maybe yous shoulda done somethin' nice fer her on Valentine's Day."

"We are going out on a date tonight," James replied. "I'll follow her anyway though…but why do you care?"

"Cuz when yous happy I'm happy…soma de time. And dere's still love in de air."

Meowth didn't finish his sentence with James in his presence, as his teammate had run in Jessie's direction, Marenie struggling to keep up with him. Meowth sat on a snowless rock next to Wobbufet and Mimikyu.

"Now all I need is someone," Meowth sighed.

"Wobbufet?" Wobbufet asked hopefully.

Meowth laughed. "Not in yer dreams."

XO

Two chapters left! Thanks for hanging around:)