AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, I looked over the reviews and they were interesting… haha got a few new ones, which I'm glad for. I don't have the time or energy (sorry!) to reply to them all but I will reply to this one because it applies to everyone: Mr. Browncoat, thank you! And yes, there are mistakes, I'm know (and I'm sorry!) but after the series is done I plan on going back and fixing all the mistakes! I know it'll be too late by then but my main focus right now is to get the chapters OUT as quickly as possible.

Also! Nauran: thank you, Mr. Homophobic, I KNOW I'm gay, and I'm pretty damn proud of it. Did you know you're an idiot?

PREVIOUSLY: Ash is rejected by Oak, while May, Norman, and Gary watch; Drayden doesn't accept nor turn down Ash's challenge. Meanwhile, Misty refuses to enter a relationship with Brock and tells him how she really feels.

(-P-O-K-E-M-O-N-)

(Final Chapter – Whirl Cup part 4)

As I thrust into Roark I realized that it was almost hopeless. That if Oak didn't love me anymore then I should move on. No, I'd never get over him, but I couldn't be with someone who refused to love me. I couldn't be with Oak if he wouldn't look at me the same way again.

"Harder!" Roark cried.

I wouldn't love anyone the way I loved him. I still loved him, even after he rejected me, and I always would – but maybe it was time for me to let him go.

(-P-O-K-E-M-O-N-)

"Are you ok?"

It was a stupid question. Since when was Oak okay? He was in a funk for the last 3 years – Drayden didn't want to accept that until now. He watched Oak, who was standing in front of the window, looking out at the city. Drayden wasn't sure if he should try to comfort Oak or just leave him alone for now.

"Sammy?"

"I'm fine," Oak said, glancing over his shoulder at Drayden. "Honestly."

There were so many things Drayden wanted to say, but he couldn't make himself say them. He could have asked Oak how he really felt. He could ask Oak why he still had feelings for Ash after all this time. He could have asked Oak if he still wanted to get married.

But Drayden asked none of these things.

"Ok, just making sure. You seem really down," Drayden said. He loved Oak with all his heart. He couldn't possibly love anyone anymore. And he thought that would win Oak over.

But Oak climbed into a shell ever since he broke up with Ash. And ever since then Drayden hadn't been able to get through to Oak. It seemed to have been getting better but Ash came along and ruined it all again. It was like Oak had broken up with Ash all over again.

Oak reached out and touched the glass. Drayden got a good look at the ring on Oak's long finger. This was the right choice. No, this was not a mistake – it was not a mistake. Right?

Drayden walked over to Oak and put his hand over Oak's on the glass. He loved Oak, but he couldn't hold back. If he really loved Oak he couldn't hold back. "You'll be okay," he whispered.

"I know," Oak said. "I'm fine. I'm not in love with Ash."

"I know you are," Drayden said.

Oak's eyes widened. He looked at Drayden. "Wha…?"

"It's okay, I understand," Drayden said. "You were with him for a while. You were totally devoted to him. Head over heels in love with him. He was your life."

"But now you are," Oak said.

Drayden shook his head. "I love you with all my heart, but you've never looked at me the way you looked at Ash."

"Stop," Oak whispered.

"I'm not saying this to hurt you, I'm saying this because I care about you. I'm giving you a way out," Drayden said. "If you don't want to marry me, tell me now. And don't marry me out of pity, and don't marry me because you feel you should. You don't know me anything."

"Dray…"

"Please be honest with me. Do you want to marry me?"

"I do," Oak said.

"I want you to think about it…"

"There's nothing to think about," Oak said, pulling his hand away from the window and away from Drayden. "I'm in love with you, and I'm going to marry you, not because I owe you anything but because I want to." Oak sighed. "And I don't have any feelings for Ash anymore."

Drayden smiled – for what seemed to be the first time in a while – but before he could say anything else Oak was walking away. He went into the bathroom and shut the door.

"Love you too," Drayden whispered, and hugged himself because there was no one else around.

(-P-O-K-E-M-O-N-)

I woke up feeling slightly dazed. It must be the climate. I figured I'd be better soon, so I just ignored the feeling. Then I felt someone pull at my leg. I opened my eyes and there was a yellow mist in the room. Pikachu was unconscious on the ground; Roark was still fast asleep beside me.

Gary stood in the doorway with a gasmask on. He had a gun in his hands and it was pointed right towards me. I jolted upwards and put my hands up in the air. "Gary, what the hell are you doing?"

"Shut up." Gary snapped. Roark, feelings me bouncing around and hearing Gary's voice, sat up and looked at Gary.

"Whoa!" he cried. He grabbed the blanket and pulled it over himself, completely uncovering me. I was completely naked, of course, since I was fucking Roark right before I went to bed. I put my hands over my crotch.

"What the hell?" I cried.

Roark rolled over and hit the ground with a thud.

"What are you doing in here?" I yelled at Gary.

"That gas has knocked out Pikachu and will knock out any Pokémon you summon," Gary said. "Also, it will keep the two of you dazed or at least sluggish enough for me to fire before you can do anything. Understand?"

"Yeah," I said. "What the hell do you want, Gary?"

"You made a fool of my grandpa. You're lucky I don't kill you where you sit."

"Ok… so you're not going to kill me, right?"

"…I'm still deciding."

Uh, that wasn't good at all. "Ok, so… until you decide to kill me, what?"

"You're an idiot, and I can't stand you. I wish you never entered my life, and I sure as hell wish you never met my grandpa. And I wish the two of you never fell in love."

"I… I'm sorry?" What exactly does a person say to that? Roark sat up and stared at Gary.

"I wish you were dead."

"Ouch," Roark said.

"I'm not exactly your biggest fan either," I said.

"What you said to my grandpa was stupid, and inappropriate, and you should have never come back into his life. You should have just stayed the fuck away from him. From all of us."

"This is going somewhere, right?" I asked, because if this continued I might ask him to shoot me.

"You said you still loved him. Is that the truth?"

"You weren't watching the TV?" I snapped. "You didn't hear me? How many times did I say it?"

"Convince me," Gary said, and raised his gun to point directly on my forehead.

I stared down the barrel of the gun. I opened my mouth to speak, to say the same things I already said. I loved Oak with all my heart. It was so real to me it was tangible. But what difference did it make, to tell Gary that, when he and I already knew it? So I closed my mouth and took a deep breath. Gary raised an eyebrow.

"Well?" he said.

"Shoot me," I said.

"What?"

"I've already made my feelings clear. You already know how much I love him. I can't find any more words to describe it. So to prove it – I'll die for him, and I'll make you happy too. It's not like we can be together anyway…" I closed my eyes.

"So you'd die to prove how much you love him?" Gary said.

"Ash?" Roark cried. "What are you doing? What's your problem?"

"Shut up," I whispered.

Gary chuckled. "You're an idiot. That's just stupid." And he lowered the gun. "Dying doesn't prove anything. You're just pathetic. And pretty lame, too."

I flushed.

"This is filled with taser bullets," Gary chuckled. "It won't kill you, it'll just shock you. You really thought I'd kill you, idiot?"

"N – no, I was just pretending too," I said.

"Whatever," Gary tucked the gun in the back of his pants. "But the truth is, without you grandpa won't survive."

"What?"

"He likes you way too much, and he needs you."

"He told me he wasn't interested anymore," I muttered. I glared down at the bed. "He told me he didn't love me anymore."

"He wasn't being honest with you," Gary said. "He wasn't being honest with anyone. Truth is, he can't live without you. He likes you so much that it hurts. The only reason he turned you down was because he's with Drayden. And he loves Drayden, sure… but he needs you."

I glared at him. I wasn't so sure about that.

"He's been so depressed since you left, Ash…" Gary whispered.

"So you're telling me to go after him?" I said.

"Yes," Roark said. "He wants you to get with his grandpa."

"I hate you," Gary said. "But I love my grandpa even more, and I'd rather he be happy with you then depressed with anyone else."

Funny, that wasn't the plan I had in mind. I was going to drop out of the competition and disappear with Roark, never to come back again. It was a mistake in coming back. Oak clearly was over me, even though I was still in love with him.

"Got through with your plan," Gary said. "Challenge Drayden. A beat him, Ash. Beat him and make my grandpa happy again."

I shook my head. "He already told me no. I can't handle that again."

"You're Ash Ketchum, of course you can," Gary said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "Here's an address. Drayden is hosting a dinner. You can get Oak alone. If the two of you are alone my grandpa will open up to you."

"I've already decided –" I began.

"I know," Gary said. "But if you really love my grandpa, then instead of dying randomly for him, be there for him. Prove to me how much you love him and be there tonight." Gary shook his head. "And open a window so that gas can clear out."

Then he left. I felt really confused and wasn't sure what to do with myself. Roark and I just stayed seated, both in a daze.

"I should open a window," Roark finally said. He did, and the scent of fresh air drew us to the window. We both stuck our heads out and the fresh air cleared our senses.

"Are you going?" Roark asked.

I looked down at the paper. "I don't think Oak wants to be with me, but I'll try it."

"Ash…" I looked at Roark and he was staring intensely at me. "If it doesn't work with Oak…" Roark blushed. He looked away. "You always have me."

"I know…" I said.

(-P-O-K-E-M-O-N-)

It was crowded, and crazy, and there was a guest list and our names weren't on it. So, Roark and I, in our tuxes, hopped the fucking fence to get into the dinner party. The hotel Drayden and Oak were staying at was amazing. They rented out a huge room for the party, and there were multiple tables and a dinner buffet with the finest foods. The place was packed with people so Roark and I went completely unnoticed.

"You look good," Roark said in my ear.

I giggled. "You do too," I said.

I looked around for Oak and Drayden but I couldn't see them in the swarm of people. So many people came just because Drayden invited them. I know he was a hot, popular millionaire, but this was over the top.

"I'm hungry," Roark said. I was going to argue but then my stomach started growling.

"Ok, let's eat," I said. "But only a little."

I was starting to fill up my third plate when I bumped into someone. "S – sorry," I said with a mouthful of the gourmet sea food I was enjoy. I looked at the dress first – deep blue like the ocean, with shiny diamond necklace – and then I looked at the face.

"Ash!"

"May?"

It was May. I hadn't seen her since I left 3 years ago! She jumped on me, wrapping her arms tightly around me, and I nearly dropped my plate and coughed out my food.

"I haven't seen you in so long! How are you, Ash?"

"I'm fine, May, how are you?"

"Good. I'm here with my boyfriend and my father," May said.

"Oh cool," I said.

"Hey, I saw you on TV yesterday. Many people were utterly shocked at what happened, but I think that was brave and so romantic…"

I saw a beautiful silky purple dress, and noticed the orange hair. I focused in on the face and realized it was Misty, with Brock (in a tux) close behind her. How the hell did they get invited? I don't know.

"I'm just so glad you're doing well!" May cheered.

Cheery to the point of annoying as usual. She hadn't changed much.

"Yep," I said, and gave a weak laugh.

Then I spotted Oak and Drayden. Oak was standing, Drayden was sitting. Oak was whispering in Drayden's ear – Drayden nodded and Oak kissed him on the cheek and walked off. Shit, now – he was going to be alone!

"Excuse me," I said to May, but she didn't hear me, because at the same time Gary yelled, "MAY!"

And the entire room froze. The crowd parted and Umbreon came out. It did a double team, and then it circled around May and I, because I didn't have time to escape. All the Umbreon fired shadow balls into the air, and the attacks smashed together and exploded to shower the crowd with sparks.

Gary came out as Umbreon ended its double team. He walked towards May, wearing his tux like a super model.

"Put out your hand," he said.

May did. She reached out, palm up, towards Gary.

And a diamond ring fell right into her hand.

Everyone including me gasped. Gary came before her and got down on one knee.

"Love is just another word until someone gives it meaning. You give it meaning. May, I love you so much that I can't think of spending another day without calling you my wife. If I ask you to marry me, will you say yes?"

May put her hand over her mouth, her eyes filling with tears.

"Yes," she whispered, and then louder, "Yes!" and then she cried out "YES!" and threw herself on him, and he wrapped his arms around her.

Good for them, I thought, and then I started to push through the crowd to find the one I loved.

(-P-O-K-E-M-O-N-)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I got all mushy in this chapter. But when haven't I been totally mushy? Gary and May are going to get married. I've been planning that for a while. Since I started the series. And I've finally been able to write it down. And speaking of the start, I've hit the 200 page count on this series. Pretty cool, right?

NEXT TIME: I get Oak alone, and I'm still rejected by him. I'm faced with the cold realization that I've lost him, and I'll never be able to get him back. But then Drayden shocks us all…