Love's Tough Choices

A.C: Hiya! Sorry it took so long for this chapter, had a lot of things to do. And, boy, how time flies, when you're busy, huh? Heh heh…..But yeah, I'm back and you know what, this done right now, BECAUSE THIS IS IT! THE FINAL CHAPTER! This one will probably a little obvious or a little surprising. Oh and by the way, I know I forgot to mention what May was wearing, and I'm just gonna make it clear that she was wearing her usual red shirt and bandana but was wearing a cute, crimson red short skirt (Not for all those guys and Yuri lovers to think of any bad ;) :P). And yeah, I know I left the date between May and Ash hanging but I wanted to end it off with the whole entire fanfic in this chapter. So hang on and read through this final chapter to my fic, Love's Tough Choices (OK, I know that was being a little tacky and cheesy with that last sentence, but I couldn't think of a good ending sentence for this thing.).

Chapter 5: The Final Decision…

Ash and May were sitting up on a hill watching the sun set into the horizon. The sky was a beautiful mix of red, orange and yellow, just a hint of it, and it was the perfect romantic scene for the two. But Ash didn't look like it was his sort of scenery to have with someone he didn't really have much feeling for. While May, on the other hand, was enjoying it.

"Ahhhhhh, the sun looks beautiful!" May said in a passionate tone, and laid her head on Ash's shoulder. Trying to get comfortable but ash didn't really hear her. He was too much into his own thoughts.

'Man, what am I gonna do? Who am I gonna choose?' he thought to himself and then remembered and has a flashback of what pikachu told him.

'Pika, chu kachu pi pika pikachu chu pika. (Well you should get to know their real feelings and get them to show their true personality with you.)'

'Yeah, a lot of good that did' he thought and finally noticed that May was sleeping on his shoulder. He smiled a little bit and used his free hand and put it on May's head, then turned to see the remaining parts of the sun setting. 'Well the decision I make will probably hurt her or Misty. Or maybe…' before he could finish that thought, May waked up and noticed Ash looking at her.

"Oh, I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…"

"Actually, you did. But I'd just let you do it." Ash said and they both stand up. "What do you want to do now?"

"Well we could go to dinner…" she said shyly and Ash remembered about the reservations that his mom made for him and the little competition.

"Alright let's get back and get changed." He told her and they both went back to his place, hands held together. When they got to his place, they both parted ways to get changed into their good clothes. After about 10-15 minutes later, Ash waited downstairs wearing the same suit he was wearing on Misty's dinner date with him, but a little cleaner. When May came up, she was wearing a ruby red dress, sparkling all over and she was wearing ruby red slippers (you know, from the Wizard of Oz?) as well to match. And she was wearing her hair down as well, but her hair just shined so elegantly.

"Do I look overdone?" She asked an awestruck Ash, who was just staring at her of how beautiful she looked.

"Oh, no, y-y-you look beautiful….for tonight, that is." He said trying to hide his amaze. May giggled and they went outside, hoping to see Brock and the limo. And they did, out of shocking timing.

"Hey guys, looking good as always!" Brock said with that suave smile on his face. Ash smiled back.

"Yup, have to look great for this night, man." Ash said to him in a cool way and May just giggled. They both went in the limo and went straight to the fancy restaurant. He told the host his last name and he immediately got them a 2-seat table just for them. They talked a bit and went silent for a little while until they got their dinner. After they were done eating, Ash asked her something that she would never expect him to ask her.

"May, if I choose Misty, what would you do and how would you react?" She was a little shocked to hear this and she thought about this for a long while. "Well?" he asked her and she had to tell him the truth.

"Well to be honest with you, I would just wish you good luck and hope that you don't get either: dumped, used for your money, or your mom's, and have a miserable life with a lazy good-for-nothing little…."

"Enough!" Ash said in the right volume of tone so that no one could hear him. "I think I heard enough about that. I mean, at lease your being honest." He said with a little bitterness in his voice.

"You love her, don't you?" she asked him in the saddest of tones.

"I…" he began but then looked away with a depressed look on his face. 'I don't want to tell you but if I do, you'll hate me forever and you'll just think I'm throwing my life way if I choose her, But in my heart…' And that's when it hits him. And his facial expression changed from being depressed to amazement. 'My heart, I shouldn't even be thinking with my head, I should be thinking with my heart!' He looks up to May, who has a few tears in her eyes and on her face. "May, I'll tell you when it's time. But for the time being, let's get going, ok?" She nodded and got up and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"I knew you would pick the right choice!" she said, assuming that Ash was thinking about her and not Misty and would give him a no answer to her question when they got back to Ash's place. That was a big mistake of even thinking about that. Because when they got back, after Brock being 5 minutes late for picking them up, she asked him again if he loves Misty and not her. She was so hoping for a no answer but was sorely disappointed.

"May, I told you, I would think about that. But for the time being, I would have to say maybe. Maybe I love her, maybe I love you, but in truth, it's what my heart decides on." And then May thought about what Misty said his heart choosing the right girl for him. But before they went inside, she quickly grabs his head, and kisses him. Ash was just dumbstruck to what May is doing to him and thought that it should be the other way around. He tried to pull away but for some oddball reason, he couldn't. Then, out of nowhere, he feels her tongue touching his and is really trying to breakaway. After a couple of times, he did pull away and was gasping for air. "MAY, WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" he yelled at her and all May did was smile about it.

"That was just a taste of a good relationship between us in the future, Ashy boy!" She said casually and teasing sort of way.

"RELATIONSHIP? BUT…!"

"Night, Ash!" She said and just blown a kiss towards him and went inside, leaving Ash outside, stiff as a statue.

'O-Kay, I think I made my decision!' But then again, he didn't fully make it just yet.

The next morning, Ash looked like he just went trough a huge pile of Tauros manure. Pikachu was even shocked to see his human companion and best friend like that. No one knew why he looked like that at the table but nobody would take a crack at what happened last night with May and Ash. But then again, Misty took a huge swing at it.

"WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO TO ASH?" she yelled at him and she was pretty much calm about it.

"Whatever do you mean?" she said and that just put more wood in the fire.

"WHAT….DID….YOU….TO….HIM?" Misty said, trying to control her anger. She looked like she was madder than a Snorlax that hasn't eaten anything for about 3 whole years!

"I have done nothing wrong, Misty. All I did was gave Ash a kiss and that's it, nothing else."

"YEAH RIGHT, THEN WHY IS HE LIKE THAT THEN?"

"I guess that kiss was a little too much for him then, right Ashy boy?" she said turning to Ash who still looked bad. Misty, on the other hand, looked entirely frustrated and looked like she was PMSing to the core inside. But then they heard an eerie voice that sounded like it was coming from Ash.

"Don't…blame…her…much, Misty…for how…I…am….I…was up…all…last…night…thinking." He said slowly like he was gonna die. Misty, was gonna join him, from the way she looked at him, but now everyone understands why he looks like how he is now. May looks at Misty with a look of being right and was waiting for Misty to apologize, but Misty just turned her head away with her nose in the air. "Now…I'm gunna…get…some…rest." He said and starts walking to the stairs and to his room.

"The way he was talking, he sounds like he was an old geezer." Max said with a smile and laughed a little bit. But then, he caught glimpse of everyone looking at him with daggers in their eyes. "What?" he said with a sweat drop going down the back of his head. Everyone ignored him afterwards. Pikachu had a bad feeling for his friend and jets from on top of the table, and raced up the stairs to Ash's room. "What's up with Pikachu?"

"He's worried about Ash, I bet." Brock stated.

"Well, anyways, I'm going to Professor Oak's. Anyone want to come?" Max asked and everyone shook their heads. "Oh well, more fun with the Pokemon for me!" He said gleefully and ran to the front, got his shoes on and left. While that was going on, Pikachu got to Ash's room and opened the door to see his human companion dead asleep on his bed. He gave a sighing breath of relief and went to Ash's bed. He hopped on, pulled the comforter with all his might over Ash, and curled up beside him, just for security, and fell asleep. Meanwhile, back in the kitchen downstairs, May and Misty decided to go to the basement, just to be alone with their thoughts, leaving Brock and Mrs. Ketchum alone with theirs in the kitchen.

'I wonder if Ash is going to pick Misty. It's sort of obvious, but then again, he might pick May. I guess it's all up to Ash and his choice.' Brock thought while Mrs. Ketchum was thinking of something a little different than Ash's decision.

'I hope May didn't do, or TRY anything with my darling Ash last night, or she's gonna get it from me AND her parents!'

All the while, May and Misty were occupied with the upside and the downside of Ash's choice between the two of them.

'I know I'll make a good girlfriend to Ash. I have a pure heart, I'm kind, I listen to what Ash says, and he deeply cares about me, it's a no brainer!' May thought with a smile on her face and almost looking like she was gonna explode with enthusiasm. 'But then again, he might choose Misty, even though she's a Yuri like me. I mean, I know he would except me for whom I am, but would he actually accept someone who just accepted the fact that she's a Yuri like me?' Her happiness, then turned into sadness and worry, while Misty, in the other room, was thinking of something a little bit different that May's daydream of a perfect life with Ash.

'I know Ash will make a good choice in picking me,' she thought then went into a flashback of all her memories of traveling with him. 'We've known each other for so long, and I know we get into fights and arguments about some petty things and some important things. I mean, I know he still owes me a bike for what happened years ago, but I won't let that bother me.' Her flashback of her memories went away as soon as she reminded herself about the bike. 'I just hope his heart chooses the right person. Because in all honesty, I know I am the right one for him. But if he chooses May without letting his heart fully accepting that decision, then I guess, what I've been telling May would be for nothing and I would just be wasting my breath and time on it…' She started to have tears in her eyes and went face first into the pillow, crying. Crying for the fact that he might pick May instead of her. But then she got up, and wiped away the tears for her eyes and put her hands on her chest, praying. 'I pray that he listens to his heart, not his head.'

After 4 hours had past into the afternoon, Ash finally got up, looking like his usual, determined-to-become-a-pokemon-master self, Pikachu woke, a little startled and looked up at Ash. He was happy that Ash was himself again and hopped on his big buddy's shoulder.

"You were looking after me, weren't you?" he asked.

"Pi! Pika pika pikachu. (Yup, got worried about you, that's all!)" Pikachu said to him and Ash smiled and patted him on the head.

"C'mon! Let's get this thing over and done with." Ash stated because he knew this would be the time to deal with this little competition. Pikachu nodded and they both went downstairs to the kitchen to find Brock and Mrs. Ketchum. They were happy to see the old Ash back. "Okay, I want everyone to be in the living room, okay?" Ash told them and they nodded because they understood that it was time. When they got the two girls upstairs and in the living room, Ash was then ready to make a choice. But first, he wanted to summarize everything about this whole thing.

"Okay, now I know this whole thing started when Misty hugged me, I thought that was a little odd that she would, considering she hated my guts like crazy when we first met and was stuck traveling with each other. But I guess there was something between us that I didn't catch on to until that day. Either that, or I was just slow." Everyone was laughing a little bit at that and so was Ash. But then he got serious again. "But anyways, when she hugged me, May got jealous about it and started arguing with her, because she assumed that I was with her. But that's where she was wrong at because I didn't even know that she actually liked me. So yeah, I know I was coward and ran away from you two," he said pointing to the two of them. "And thought up this whole idea, which in fact, was going to be the whole entire month but then, turn to be just a couple of days or so. But now, after knowing some things about you two, I didn't let it bother me. But now, I've come to a decision." Everyone in that living room, except for Ash, fell silent. Misty and May both had one hand behind their backs with their fingers crossed and hoping it's one of them. "And I've decided that the person I'm choosing to be my girlfriend, for all time, is…"

There was a knock on the door, just when Ash was about to make his decision.

"Who could that be?" Brock wondered and went to the door. He opened it up to find a certain boy that he, Misty and Ash, has not seen for a very, very long time. He wore a blue hat with a silver rectangular-shape plate on the front, a green jacket and blue jeans. His hair is red and his eyes were of a maroon color.

"Hiya Brock, long time, no see! Is Ash home?" the boy said and Brock just stood in shock for about 20 seconds until he snapped out of it.

"Ritchie how's it going, buddy?" Brock exclaimed and lets him in.

"Oh not much, got word that you and Ash got back from…" he stopped at mid sentence when he walked to the living room with Brock, and saw May, and instantly, the two eyes met each other then May fell in love with him.

"WOW! WHAT A CUTIE!" She exclaimed and ran from her seat and went to his side. "So, you got someone in mind?" she asked, and everyone's jaw started to drop and they had blank anime stares on their faces, and sweat drops as well. Misty snapped out of it before everyone else did.

"Hey, wait a minute! I though you liked Ash?" she asked her and May turned to face her.

"Well I still do and I want to know his decision. But, he's a lot cuter than Ash so if he picks me, I'll just stay with…Ritchie's your name, right…Ritchie instead!" she said.

"But that doesn't make any sense! I mean, what if Ash really…"

"Don't worry Misty, my choice was you anyway." Ash said and Misty turned to face him with her eyes, ever so passionate. She hugs him and kisses him to know that she was right about his heart choosing the right girl for him. Mrs. Ketchum was happy to see them together, and Brock had a look that said that he knew it for a long while (And didn't we all figure that out?) But May wasn't really shocked about it; at lease she has someone else, Ritchie.

"So, Ritchie, you want to do something later on tonight?" she asks him and he had a nervous look on his face. "Why are you looking so nervous?"

"Because I never actually went out with a girl before." He said and that gave May so much satisfaction that she'll be his first girlfriend. "And we just met, too."

"Well don't worry, Ritchie, I'll be your first one then. And trust me, we'll have a lot of fun!" she said and kissed him on the cheek. Ritchie blushed like mad but then had a smile on his face.

"Y-yeah, we will." He stuttered and made May giggle. All the while, Ash and Misty were just happy with each other and that they can finally able to let out the feelings and emotions for each other.

"Don't these four loves birds look cute?" Mrs. Ketchum squealed with excitement while Brock is, still, not believing what he's seeing.

'May and Ritchie, together! But they've only just met! But then again, it was a big break for Misty, though.' Brock thought and then turned to smile at the two.

"SO," Mrs. Ketchum exclaimed to get everyone's attention, "why don't we all go to the restaurant I booked for the month?" she asked everyone but then Ash had to ask her something about it.

"Uh, mom, HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU GET THE MONEY TO ACTUALLY BOOK A RESERVATION THERE, AND GET A NEW BASEMENT MADE!" he asked hysterically, something he never did before but gave it a shot, but his mom answered calmly to her son's loud question.

"Won the $100.000.000 off a lottery of course!" Everyone found it kind of hard to believe the she, of all people, had that much luck in winning THAT much cash. They all started at her with the most, funniest anime blank looks ever. But they all snapped out of it and nodded their heads, except for Brock.

"But compared to all of you, I don't even have a date!" he said with anime tears going down his cheeks. But then, Mrs. Ketchum put her hand on his shoulder and said, "I'll be your date for the month." And he turned and got so happy that he took her hand and started saying some poetry stuff that made both May and Misty pull his ear back but this time, instead of just pulling him away from Mrs. Ketchum, they pulled him away from her and threw him, by the ear, into the basement and shouted, "GET CHANGED!" and they both thought of doing the same thing. While Ash & Ritchie were staring and felt just bad for him, they thought of doing the same thing and went upstairs to Ash's room and got changed. Everyone, except for Ritchie, had their going-out clothes that they used for their dates for the last 2 nights. Ritchie, on the other hand, was wearing a gentleman-like black suit with a red tie. Good black shoes, that would be worn to church, and his hair was cleaned up and gelled just right for the night.

"You're looking nice, sweetie." May said to him and kissed not on the cheek, but on the lips. And they held it for a little bit, well, long enough for Ash and Misty to see and was a little shocked to see them kiss when they just met today.

"You're looking great, May!" Ritchie said after they pulled away. Brock came upstairs wearing his limo uniform that he wore for the whole driving Ash and his dates around. When everyone was downstairs, they all waited for Mrs. Ketchum to come downstairs so they can leave. But when she came downstairs, everyone was awestruck at what she was wearing. She had her hair fully styled and was fully let down, wore a beautiful white dress down to her knees and had nice white high-heels.

"So is everyone ready?" she asked everyone and they nodded and was ready for a great night. But then Mrs. Ketchum just remembered something. "I should leave a note for Max when he gets back." And writes a note on a piece of paper and leaves it on at the front. It reads:

To Max,

If you read this, it means that we're out to dinner and won't be back until later on in the night. So there are some things in the kitchen that you can make until we come back. Have a nice night! And make sure you don't stay up late!

Mrs. Ketchum.

And all 3 couples were ready to dine at the most fanciest dining restaurant ever! While Brock was driving the limo with Mrs. Ketchum in the passenger seat, Misty couldn't help but look at May, hoping to get a hateful look from her. But she didn't, because May was doing the same and she smiled at her. Misty was a little stunned and smiled back. She figured that she has someone that cares about her and was gonna be happy with Ritchie. While she, herself was happy with Ash. She kissed him on the cheek and Ash turned and looked at her with a smile.

"I'm so glad that we're together, Misty." He said.

"I'm glad too. But I want to ask you something, did you think with your heart or your mind?" she asked him. He didn't turn away from her to think, he just gave her a straight answer.

"I did, and I'm happy that I did. Because if I didn't then you would be sad, and I don't think that is what you wanted to be. I love you Misty, and always will, even if you are a Yuri." Ash said to her and her eyes went so passionate, and tears started to form and she hugged him and kissed him. He kissed back. But while they did that, Ritchie overheard the 'Yuri' part and his eyes widened.

"YOU'RE A YURI?" he said in shock and May tugged his shoulder sleeve.

"I'm a Yuri too." She said shyly but had a sad tone to it.

"YOU ARE TOO! BUT…."

"I'll explain later. Right now we're here!" she stated and Brock parked around the corner and the 6 of them got in had the dining experience of their lives! They danced, they ate, and had the best time of there lives. Once the night was over, and everyone was at Ash's house everyone but Ash and Misty went inside to get ready for bed. Those two stayed outside and stood on the front porch, looking at the stars.

"I think our star is shining." Misty said to him while looking up at the dark sky, scattered with stars. She pointed it out to him and then he realized that it was for them. She saw it before on their travels together and was wondering if it will be theirs someday. Ash nodded, and then turned to face her. Misty did the same with a smile on her face and gave each other a kiss on the lips, ever so passionate. It was really true love for the two of them. And while that was going on, May and Ritchie did the same at the backyard.

"Wow, I guess we were really meant to be together, me and you." Ritchie said and laughed a bit. May did the same and then smiled at him.

"See, I told you I'd show you a great time, didn't I" she said and kissed again.

"I think this is a beginning of something much more." He told her.

"DUH!" May said and they both laughed and kissed each other again. The two couples came inside both the front and back doors, looking at each other and smiled at one another.

"Ritchie, my man, I wish you the best of luck with May!" He said and extended a hand out to him. He nodded and shook Ash's hand. May and Misty did the same.

"Take care of my Ash, okay?" May demandingly told her but Misty knew May was kidding around about that and they laughed. May and Misty went downstairs and Ash and Ritchie went to his room, got changed for bed, and got a good night sleep. All and all, this marked an end to something so trivial and a beginning of something passionate and romantic. But for Misty, all she can think about is how this will be the greatest time of her life. In fact, before she went to sleep, she smiled and thought 'Thank you Ash, for letting your choose the one for you. I promise, to always love you till death do us part, forever and ever.'

The End

A.E.C (Author's ending Comments): So what did you guys and girls think of my ending and my little Surprise Character? If some of you don't remember Ritchie, He was first introduced in the Indigo Plateau Pokemon League and first met Ash there. And then met up with him in the Jotoh Region around the Whirlwind Islands (I think that's what the islands were called). Anyways I had to add him in as my FINAL ideal plot to this chapter. So ends this first romance fanfic of mine, but I'm gonna be making up one some on other anime or do combinations of some. Namely with Superadammario, and the Dimension Chaos fanfic he wants me to team up with. But I'll let you all see it when I get it up and running. Alright I'm outtie, everyone! Hope you all enjoyed it!