Okay, sorry for the late update…again!


They continued their way through the forest the next morning.

"We're lost again aren't we?" Misty asked after they passed the huge oak tree three times.

"I'll never get my 8th badge if we keep this up!" Ash complained.

"Oh Ash, stop complaining! I already have a headache from walking around in circles!" Misty complained to Ash. While those two argued and Brock trying to stop the argument, once again, Ritchie and Reena were watching them.

"Uh, Reena?"

"Yeah, Ritchie?" Reena asked and turned her head to him, but he wasn't looking back.

"Um, are you afraid t-that Team Rocket will b-be back?" he asked and was blushing pretty hard but that's the reason why he wasn't looking at her.

"No, well, I'm afraid but not worried," said Reena.

"How can she be so calm? Maybe I'm just overreacting," Ritchie thought.

"Well you should be worried!" came a voice from behind recognized as Cassidy's.

"Okay, now I'm worried," said Reena and they turned around to see Team Rocket in a much bigger machine.

"Oh come on! Can't you leave us alone and stop causing us trouble?" Ash whined.

"Yes please," said Brock.

"I can't believe Cassidy and Batch are back again," said Misty with her face in her hand.

"It's Butch for the last time!"

"Trouble?" Cassidy asked.

"Prepare for trouble
And make it double!
To infect the world with devastation!
To blight all people in every nation!
To denounce the goodness of truth and love!
To extend our wrath to the stars above!
Cassidy!
Butch!
Team Rocket circling Earth all day and night
Surrender to us now or you'll surely lose the fight!"

"RUN!" they all cried.

"Hey! Get back here!" Cassidy shouted and they went after them.

"You guys, I really don't want to pull you into this so-" Reena was cut off by Misty,

"Don't even think about it! We're getting through this together!"

"Yeah, that's what friends are for!" said Ash,

"You guys…"

"Um, I agree with you guys, but we just can't keep running you know," said Brock.

"Brock's right, we need a plan," said Ritchie.

"Oh I got a plan," said Ash taking out a Poke'ball and stopping in his tracks.

"Bayleef! I choose you!"

"Okay, I guess we might as well fight with him," said Brock.

"Agreed," said Misty as everyone takes out a Poke'ball or two.

"Go Crobat! Wing Attack!"

"Go Politoad! Water Gun!"

"Zippo! Slash Attack! Sparky thunderbolt now!"

"PikaG, Vulpix, use iron tail right after everybody finished their attacks!"

"Bayleef use razor leaf! Pikachu! Use thunderbolt!"

Their Poke'mon attacked but did almost no damage. Then, Team Rocket quickly launched a mechanical had to grab Reena.

"Blastoise! Use Hydro Pump now!" Gary ordered and his Blastoise's Hydro Pump broke the mechanic hand.

"GARY?" everyone exclaimed.

"Hey Ashy-boy! Reena! I think I came at the right time," said Gary running up to them.

"Yeah, you did," said Brock.

"DON'T CALL ME ASHY-BOY!" Ash exclaimed.

"Thanks, Gary," said Reena.

"Just here to help," said Gary coolly.

"We're not done!" said Butch and their machine hits the ground so hard that it started to crack. Team Rocket backed off a bit but Pikachu and Sparky was about to fall in.

"Pikachu no!"

"Sparky!"

Reena wasted no time to jump for them. She grabs them with one arm and reaches for the edge with the other.

"Okay, you two climb back up," said Reena letting them climb up from her arm to her head and to safety.

"The only way to get Reena is to separate her from her friends," said Cassidy,

"So we have to crack the ground even more?" Butch asked,

"What do you think? Her Legendary Poke'mon friends will save her so she'll live. While she's recovering, we'll snatch her!" said Cassidy,

"Okay, good idea," said Butch and makes one of the arms of the machine hit the ground one more time.

"Ah!" Reena's hand slipped but someone immediately grabbed it. Reena looked up to see Ritchie holding onto her wrist as hard as he can.

"Ritchie…?"

"There's no way I'm letting them take you awayfrom me," he said.

"That does it! You almost killed my friend for the last time! Pikachu! Thunder!" Ash exclaimed.

Team Rocket went inside the machine (oh yeah, they were riding on top before) to avoid the shock.

"Don't be so reckless Ash, we need something to penetrate through whatever material they're using," said Gary.

"If Poke'mon attacks don't work, why don't we try using the machine's own arms to penetrate itself?" Brock suggested.

"Or we could just break it like last time," said Misty.

"It'll take to long to use water gun, then flamethrower then-" Ash was cut off,

"Okay we get it just look out!" Gary warned and they ducked out of the way of Houndoom, Hitmontop, and Radicate.

While all that was happening:

"Just hold on, I'll pull you up," said Ritchie trying to pull her up.

"Ritchie, I…"

"Reena! Don't say anything, because I'm the one that has to something to say," said Ritchie as he pulled her back up. Both started panting a bit.

"Thank you so much Ritchie," said Reena.

"Reena, there something I have to tell you," Ritchie started to say and he took her hand.

"I…I like you a lot. More than a friend, much more. I tried to deny these feelings but it just kept building up. The reason why I've been acting a weird lately is because I…I love you…"

"….Ritchie…."

"RUN!" their friends yelled and grabbed Ritchie and Reena on the way.

"Where's the fire?" Reena asked,

"They got a deadly weapon!" Brock exclaimed.

While running away for that short time, Ritchie's eyes weren't taken off Reena. Of course Reena felt like someone was watching her,

"I wonder if she'll respond to me," Ritchie thought.


They felt the ground shake and everyone fell forward to the edge of the forest…okay, it wasn't the edge of the forest itself, they were on a small mountain above the big forest.

"I TOLD you we were going up too much!" Misty complained.

"Okay, I was wrong!" Brock admitted.

"What was the deadly weapon?" Reena asked,

"A huge beam as powerful as a hyper beam itself," Gary answered getting up.

Everyone got up,

"Oh great, another high cliff," said Reena not going anywhere near the edge.

"I think we should leave and get back into the forest before they trap us," Ritchie suggested.

"Found them!" Butch cried.

"Never mind," said Richie,

"I told you they went this way!" said Butch,

"Brag to me later and GET GOTEM!" Cassidy yelled.

"This is already doubled the trouble," said Ash looking over the edge,

"It's a very long fall," said Ash.

"Then we fight back," said Gary.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"And make it double!"

"Oh no…" everyone groaned.

"To protect the world from devastation,"

"To unite all peoples within our nation,"

"It's Jesse!" Cassidy exclaimed as the giant Meowth balloon appeared,

"And Josh," said Butch,

"It's James you idiot and you know it!" James exclaimed.

"What? It's Cassidy and Betch!" Jesse exclaimed.

"It's Butch! Why can't anyone say it right?"

"What are you doing here? Trying to steal our Pikachu?" Jesse accused,

"What are you talking about? We're after the one thing that the Boss is after!" said Cassidy.

The gang was trying to sneak away while they were arguing but the Houndoom noticed them and jumped off the machine to stop them.

"Houndoom saw us! Run!" Ash shouted which got both Team Rocket's attention.

The next part happened fast.

Houndoom attacked Vulpix with Bite but Ritchie picked her up so Houndoom ended up attacking Ritchie. Ritchie backed up to avoid Houndoom's bite and dropped Vulpix off to the side but moving back caused him to put a foot over the edge started falling.

Everyone looked over with a scared expression on their faces. Ash and Gary reached for him but missed.

For Reena, this was happening slowly:

"I'm Ritchie," he said sitting down next too her.

"…Reena," she said.

You're Poke'mon looks like they've been raised well," said Ritchie

----------------------------------------------------

Then there was smoke covering the place.

"What's going on?" Reena asked. Richie pulled her close to him to protect her.

----------------------------------------------------

As usual, Reena isolates herself from the others to be with her Poke'mon.

Ritchie came to join.

"Are you alright?" he asked,

"Yeah, it hurts but I'm okay," said Reena.

"You sure?" Ritchie asked,

"Yes, and even if I'm not, what can you do?" Reena asked,

"Uh…stay with you until you get better?"

-----------------------------------------------------

"Hey! Ritchie! Reena! We're putting the fire out!" Ash called.

"Okay!" Ritchie answered and got up,

"Aren't you going to get some sleep?" Ritchie asked when Reena didn't get up either.

"I will… goodnight, Ritchie," said Reena.

"…goodnight," said Ritchie.

------------------------------------------------------

Reena continued forward to catch up to her friends.

But then she tripped on a big tree's root and started tripping over herself and fell right on top of Ritchie when she surprised him on accident.

------------------------------------------------------

"Um, here's the rest of your Poke'mon, your Pikachu is in his Poke'ball," said Ritchie handing her backpack back, but was looking away from her face.

"Thanks, Ritchie," said Reena taking her bag back.

------------------------------------------------------

"Ritchie, hey Ritchie…Ritchie!" Reena called.

Ritchie heard her voice and his heart skipped a beat.

"Ah! Uh, yes, Reena?" he asked,

"You were dazing out," said Reena lying on her stomach in her sleeping bag.

"Oh, I was? Well, uh, goodnight," he said quickly and got into his sleeping bag.

------------------------------------------------------

"…I love you…"

--------------------------

"Why didn't I see it before?" Reena asked herself as a tear slid down her face

"RITCHHIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Ritchie!" their friends called.

Then they saw Ritchie land on a giant bubble that appeared out of no where.

"Huh?" Ritchie couldn't tell what was going on, the bubble started floating up, then a Poke'mon appeared.

"Mew! Mew,"

"What are you?" Ritchie asked.

Reena looked over and was relieved to see him okay.

Mew took Ritchie's cap and started playing with it as the bubble continues floating up.

"It's a Legendary Poke'mon!" Cassidy and Butch both exclaimed at the same time.

"It is?" Meowth asked,

"If it is then it's ours!" said Jesse.

"Oh no you don't! Houndoom Flamethrower!" and the Meowth balloon pops again but didn't go flying away, it just crashed to the ground.

"That Legendary Poke'mon is ours!" said James picking up a fight.

"Ours!" Cassidy and Butch argued back.

"Arbok! Go!"

"Let's go Weezing!"

While they were battling, the gang waited patiently for Ritchie's trip back to them.

After Ritchie floated above the ground, Mew popped the balloon.

"Ow!" and Mew started giggling big.

His friends started crowding around Ritchie to make sure he was okay except Reena who went up to Mew and pulled Mew into a hug.

"Thank you so much for saving Ritchie…" she said with tears falling.

"Mew…"

"We're wasting time! Hitmontop triple kick at them!" Butch pointed at the kids (not that young I know).

Mew went in front of it and used its psychic ability to stop Hitmontop and Mew started speaking.

"What's it saying Meowth?" Jesse asked.

"It said 'How dare you try and hurt other people and Poke'mon to get what you want. Which is also why you will never win. We Legendary Poke'mon will always protect those in need and we will get rid of those that treat Poke'mon like tools' and that's what it said," said Meowth.

Then everyone was in Mew's psychic and Mew exploded the machine and the balloon completely to send them all blasting off again.


"Mew! Mew mew!"

"Pika!" said Pikachu,

"Pika! Pikachu!" said Sparky,

"Mew, mew mew! Mew!" said Mew.

"Vulpix! Vul…" said Vulpix.

"Mew," said Mew nodding.

Mew went up to Ash,

"Mew!" Mew said happily.

"Uh…what?" Ash asked.

"It looks like Mew knows you," said Reena.

"Yeah, but I can't really remember uh, Mew was it? Mew…it sounds awfully familiar…" said Ash with his hand on his chin.

"Yeah it does," said Misty,

"I've heard it before but I can't put my figure on it," said Brock.

"This Poke'mon is fascinating," said Gary.

"It really is, thank you for saving me," said Ritchie.

Mew started speaking but for some reason, they all could understand what Mew was saying.

"You are all one of the kindest humans I've met. You prove what true friendship is. I was happy to save you Ritchie; it's my job to help those in need of me. Your bond with your Poke'mon and each other is strong enough to protect you from danger. Remember, friendship, and in some cases, love can pull you through anything. And you Poke'mon, help protect your human friends," Mew said and flew off to the sky and disappeared among the clouds.

"Thank you…" said Reena and all of a sudden everyone seems to be floating and everything turned white. When everyone opened their eyes again, they were standing outside the Poke'mon Center of their destination.

They didn't talk much; the only thing they talked about was Mew.

Everyone was resting; Ash and Misty were sitting together on the couch.

"Mew…I still can't put my finger on it," said Ash.

"I'm just glad Mew was helping us out," said Misty then there were silence for a few seconds.

"Um Ash, what were you going to tell me before?" Misty asked,

"You mean before Brock interrupted?" Ash asked making sure.

"Yeah,"

"Well um…" Ash looked around to make sure no one was listening.

"Okay…um, I know I owe you a bike, I know I can be a bit dense sometimes, but after I tell you this, tell me what you think of me okay?"

"Um, okay, Ash." Said Misty a little nervous.

"Okay, Misty, I…I um…iloveyou," he said really fast and was turning red.

"Huh? Did you say-"

"I said… (deep breath) I love you, always have and always will. Now, what do you think of me?" Ash asked nervously.

"Hm…well, you're hot-headed, stubborn, but you have a great heart…And I love you too, Ash," said Misty with one of the most gentle expression she has.

"You do?" Ash asked to make sure he heard correctly.

"Yes you idiot! What do you-" Misty was cut off because Ash pressed his lips on hers.


"Aw how sweet, then again, not my thing," said Gary watching near the back of the room.

"It's not fair! How come Ash gets a girlfriends and I don't?" Brock whimpered in the corner. Gary and Pikachu had a sweat drop. Togepi was just happy.

"Hey Brock, where's Reena and Ritchie?" Gary asked.

"Uh, I think they went outside behind the Pokémon Center," said Brock snapping out of it.

Reena was sitting by herself in grass with flowers. Ritchie walked up to her.

"How are you feeling?" Ritchie asked sitting next to her.

"I don't know…you scared me falling off and almost getting yourself killed," Reena mumbled as she pulled her knees up to her chest.

"…You scared me too, you almost got yourself killed a lot more times than I have," said Ritchie but his face still had a worried expression on her face.

"I'm sorry then…" said Reena. The two weren't looking at each other, afraid of what they might do or think if they did.

"Reena, I, I would really like a response from you. I love you and I want to know if you feel the same," Ritchie asked shyly playing with a flower.

"...I, I don't know how I feel, how do you know if it's love?" Reena asked.

"I know it's confusing, it took me a while to realize my feelings for you…But I know that love is an emotion of truly not wanting to lose that person you're in love with. It's someone to always be there for you, someone that you see more than a friend and more than a simple crush. It's much more," Ritchie explained as he placed his hand on Reena's shoulder.

"Someone you don't want to lose? What does Ritchie mean to me? My first true friend? My best friend? No…he's more than that, he's always been there for me and I don't know what I would do if I lost him or can't be with him. So, just what do I feel about him?"

Ritchie stared at her noticed the confusion she had in her eyes.

"Reena, I don't want to stress you out, you can tell me how you feel when you're ready," said Ritchie and got up to go back inside. Reena felt him leave and didn't like the feeling without being near him,

"Ritchie don't go!" she quickly cried.

"I don't want you to leave me…I don't like it, even when you're only about ten feet away…" Reena was crying and still crouched up,

"I don't like the feeling when I'm not with you."

Ritchie looked at her and smiled,

"I don't like it either," he said and went back to sit with her.

"Feel better now?" he asked and Reena nodded her head.

"…I won't leave you for anything, I promise, and you know I always keep my promises. And this is because you're the only one for me," said Ritchie pulling her into a hug.

"Ritchie…I think I'm…in love with you," said Reena calmly after begin held by Ritchie.


"Man, it's about time, Reena's so stubborn. And I don't know how that kid fell in love with her," said Gary watching from the window looking away from the scene.

"It's so beautiful…and it sounds like you're a bit jealous Gary Oak," said Brock in a teasing way.

"Yeah right, Reena's too much for me to handle anyway," said Gary.

"Pika pi!" Sparky said happily

Poke'mon conversation:

"I can't believe it, I've never seen Ritchie so happy!" said Sparky.

"You call that happy?" Vulpix asked,

"You just can't see it, Ritchie really is happy," said Sparky.

"Well, it looks like Reena really does love him," said Vulpix with a smile.

"Your saying crying means they're in love?" Sparky asked,

"You just can't see it!" said Vulpix.


"I'm going to go check on Ash and Misty, who knows what they might be doing now," said Gary and turned around to come face to face with Ash,

"WERE YOU SPYING ON US?" Ash exclaimed.

"Oh that's so romantic! Reena and Ritchie got together!" said Misty excitedly.

"Gag…" said Gary sarcastically.

"Don't listen to Gary, he's just jealous," said Brock.

"You were spying weren't you?" Ash asked again,

"I was not!" Gary argued back.

"Hey Brock, did they kiss yet?" Misty asked,

"I don't think so, I've looked away a few times but only for a few seconds and nothing happened," Brock answered.

"Excuse me; are any of you named Reena Gotem?" Nurse Joy asked walking over to them.

"Uh, I'll get her!" said Misty.

"Oh very well, tell her there's a phone call for her," said Joy and went back to her desk.

"I lied, I don't want to interrupt their moment," said Misty,

"They're just talking, what's there to interrupt?" Gary asked,

"You were spying! I know you were!" Ash continued arguing.

"I'm not getting her, I don't want to interrupt either," said Brock. They all looked at each other.

"Rock, Paper, Scissors!"

"I volunteered anyway," said Misty and went out the door.

Made it a little longer than I usually have it to make up for the late updating.

It's not over yet, there's still one more chapter left!