Here it is, the fourth chapter in my latest Hearts Universe side story 'Problems of the Heart' released exactly when I planned to release it. This is the first of the three Anabel chapters that will be the next three and the last ones that are out of chronological order due to them all occurring during Dreams which has finished its upload cycle, the ones after Anabel's will be in chronological order. I also did this because the initial plan had been to look at Misty's recovery but it morphed into a more general, Sabrina helping all the girls story but Misty was always going first and Anabel second. Due to the out of order nature of the first 6 chapters, this one is actually the earliest chronologically taking place sometime during the Cerulean arc of Dreams so between Parts XXIV and XXVI. Anyway, that is all the administrative stuff and as there were no questions or guest reviews to respond to please time to sit back and get ready for the fourth Problem of the Heart.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.

Anabel I

Sabrina entered her office on the main floor of the Saffron Gym and booted up her computer before taking a seat at her desk. She maintained a strict schedule during the weeks she was working so that she was always busy and didn't have time to let her mind dwell on things it shouldn't. It had taken Sabrina years to regain this much control after she abused her powers in her youth, and she wasn't going to do anything to jeopardize that control anytime soon.

As part of her schedule, she took challengers to the gym in the morning. Then she taught classes to her psychic type students or to aspiring psychics but only after they'd passed her course on not abusing their gifts and were over the age of 18 or 25 if their powers were too strong for a developing mind in the afternoon. She finished her days by training her Pokémon or ran a meeting in the evenings. It was a rigid regime that Sabrina only messed with if it was absolutely necessary.

This lasted for 3 weeks before Sabrina took a week off to reset and recharge her mind and body as too much work could also cause her to lose control if she wasn't careful. It was a delicate balance but after 2 years of work she'd perfected it.

Right now, it was lunchtime, an hour-long break Sabrina took between challengers and classes, that always began with a quick, simple, lunch in her apartment suite underground where she went over the battles and did initial paperwork that had to be done by hand. After that she went upstairs to where her office was and sent in the necessary battle and repair reports, transferred any Pokémon in need of healing to the Pokémon Center using the transport machine she had in the office, and checked her emails to see if she'd received a few while underground.

There were always a few to respond to, mostly Pokémon League business or arrangements regarding her work as a recovering addict and mental health advocate, but sometimes there were emails from her few friends that always made her day when she got them. Today Sabrina got really lucky. There were only two emails and they were from her two closest friends: Alain and Anabel.

Alain was a boy she'd met early on her road to recovery in Kalos that she went on right after Ash Ketchum and a wild Haunter had given her enough control of her mind to get the help she desperately needed. Kalos was the best place as the only psychic in the world who was even close to Sabrina in terms of power, the Anistar Gym Leader Olympia, was there and she was a grown woman who had full control over her powers. Sabrina had sought her out to help her and after a destructive meeting due to Sabrina almost relapsing, Olympia did just that.

Along the way to Anistar City, Sabrina had met Alain in a Pokémon Center near Dendemille Town and learned that he was heading in the same direction as her. While there they had a battle and quickly became friends thanks to it and a few unseen pranks by Haunter, so they decided to travel to Anistar City together. He was Sabrina's first friend and they got close over the two years she was in Kalos. He even saw her almost lose it as they reached Anistar and still wanted to hang out after Olympia began helping her gain control.

Before leaving Kalos, Sabrina had told Alain the full truth as to who she was as he only knew her as Sabi from Kanto up to that point, as well as precisely why she was in Kalos and apologized for not being fully truthful with him. He'd understood and still accepted her, promising to keep in touch, which he did much to her delight. She hadn't seen him in almost 4 years, but they messaged a few times a week and Sabrina always enjoyed hearing about his research and life in Kalos while letting him know what she was up to in Kanto.

Right now, Alain was on a quest to collect Mega Energy to study it more and its effects on Pokémon, so he was telling her of his research into the strange power. His message revealed that he'd confirmed that Mega Alakazam existed having had to face one recently, a battle which he won and told her about in great detail. With this confirmation he was going to keep an eye out for a Key Stone and Alakazite for Sabrina as he knew she had one who was her best battle Pokémon, and who she had a close bond with, so he wanted her to have a set so that she could Mega Evolve as well.

Sabrina smiled as she read the message and quickly replied thanking Alain for looking for it but to focus on his research first as it was more important than finding her the stones. After all, he was trying to help cure a friend's Chespin with Mega Energy, which Sabrina found touching and encouraged him to prioritize that over anything for her. She was glad he'd told her about Mega Alakazam and hoped to have one day what she needed to Mega Evolve hers, but she could wait until the right time for it.

The other email was from the girl she'd met back in Kanto shortly after leaving Kalos, in fact she was the reason why Sabrina's return to Saffron had been delayed by a year. Anabel was the Salon Maiden of the Battle Tower on the Kanto Battle Frontier which meant that she was a talented and strong trainer. In addition, she was an empath which meant that she could sense emotions in others and understand them similar to thoughts. It worked best with Pokémon but with a physical contact she could do it with humans as well. It had been because of her empathy that Sabrina had sought out Anabel.

While Olympia had been able to help Sabrina get control of her telekinesis, the weakest and least corruptive of Sabrina's three powers, Olympia's secondary power had been foresight which Sabrina didn't have. It was rare that a psychic had more than one power hence why Olympia had been the best contact for Sabrina but those who did rarely had the same power combo.

Sabrina's secondary power was telepathy so she could read the minds of other people if she focused on them. Sabrina was unique in that she had a third power showing how strong she was, and why she ended up the way she did as she had too much power for a young girl to handle, but she never used that power. She would never use transmutation, not again.

Telepathy and empathy were similar enough that Sabrina knew she could get help from Anabel in how to control it more. Sabrina couldn't get full control over it again; she'd had abused it so much before her recovery that she'd caused permanent damage to her mind because of it. She could no longer turn her telepathy off, only suppress it for a while, but any help had been needed.

Also, Sabrina didn't know any other telepaths and Anabel was renowned for her skills and control, so she made the most sense. That was why Sabrina had headed straight to Cremini Town when she returned to Kanto, after confirming that Anabel would see her, and ended up spending a year with the young Salon Maiden as she got the other aspect of her power under control.

So long as Sabrina had control of her mind, she could resist the temptation to use transmutation and that meant controlling the other two powers. Olympia had given her the control she needed over telekinesis and Anabel had helped her get to a good point with telepathy. The rest had all been Sabrina and she'd been good for 3 years now and never happier.

Since leaving Cremini Town to return home, Sabrina had kept in contact with Anabel at the same rate as she did with Alain, but she also visited her at least two or three times a year and Anabel returned the favor by coming to Saffron at least once a year. In fact, because Anabel was a psychic type specialist, she was listed as the emergency Saffron Gym Leader should Sabrina or her father be unable to execute their duties. As such, Anabel made sure that her yearly trip to Saffron was during the busiest time of year just in case she was needed.

Clicking on the email from Anabel, Sabrina read it and smiled at the content. It was just the email she had been looking forward to.

Sabrina,

How are you doing? Just checking in and seeing if you are alright now that the stretch of the year is coming up and the gym gets busy, and the Saffron Contest comes to town. I know that this is always a stressful time of the year for you because of the Contest so why don't you come to Cremini Town for your upcoming week off during it and destress with me.

It would be great to have you and I don't have any challengers yet as it is still to earlier for any to reach me so we can relax and recharge you for after the Contest. The Falls are great this time of year and just warm enough to swim in so long as you bring Delphox to warm us up after a dip. We can even take a brief trip into Johto if you want, I think there may be some Natu or even a Xatu in the area for me to chat to and for you to try and catch if they want to join your team. I know you want to catch one, so I'll do my best to help if we go out to Johto for a few days.

If you can't make it that week let me know and we'll figure something out, I enjoy our time together and I know you like coming to Cremini Town. Your friend,

Anabel.

Sabrina smiled as she reread the message before it fell slightly when she confirmed what week Anabel wanted her to come. Alas she couldn't go down to Cremini Town that week. She had already promised Ash Ketchum a full battle and as he was going to be in town because his companion was competing in the Saffron Contest, he had suggest they battle around then.

Of course, Sabrina had said yes almost as soon as she had gotten the challenge request form Ash. She hadn't seen the boy who had given her her life back in at least 6 years and she wanted to see how much he'd grown since she last saw hum. He had apparently decided to re-enter the Indigo Conference this year and while he didn't need the gym badges, he wanted to face the gym leaders in full battles this year to help practice and had challenged all 8 of them to the toughest possible battle for a trainer.

Sabrina had apparently been the 3rd to accept and would be the 4th to face Ash as he had time to face Surge in Vermilion before the Saffron Contest and with that Contest it made the most sense to schedule their battle around it due to his companion. Sabrina would be out of town for it, that many people in the city and excited was not good for her telepathy, so she the Contest Committee planned it during her week off so that she could leave the city for it.

That was why Anabel had invited her to Cremini but alas Sabrina needed to be back right before the end of the week to face Ash so she couldn't go too far, and Cremini Town was on the very western edge of Kanto. She couldn't make it to Cremini and back in time to face Ash and she'd already promised Ash the battle.

Thankfully, Anabel would understand that she had to reschedule, and Sabrina would give her a full explanation for why and then propose that they meet either the next month or the one afterwards, whichever one she wasn't heading to Cerulean City for a talk on mental health awareness. A group in Cerulean had invited her to speak and Sabrina never turned down the chance to go and talk about her past struggles and that it was ok to get help for your mental health, she just had to plan it around her monthly week off. With all that in mind, Sabrina began to type a response.

Anabel,

I'm doing great, thank you for checking in on me. You are right, this is a stressful time for me, but recent news has me really excited and has given me something to really look forward to in the coming weeks, so I'll be able to handle the stress by focusing on that. It is actually this news that means that I can't come to Cremini during the Saffron Contest unfortunately.

A little over a month ago or so I got an email from a trainer out in Pallet Town called Ash Ketchum. I doubt that you have met him, and I never mentioned his name when I told you of my past, but you know of him and his importance to me.

That was because 6 years ago Ash was the trainer who challenged me 3 times and brought a wild Haunter for the last two attempts to try and counter my Kadabra. It was thanks to that Haunter that I laughed and in the process broke the hold on my powers had on me. That wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't been for Ash's tenacity and determination to earn a Marsh Badge. I owe him so much for what he did for me so when I got an email from him out of the blue, I had to check it.

In it Ash revealed that he was spending the year in Kanto again training for a second attempt at the Indigo Conference and challenged me to a full battle as part of his training regime. He already has the 8 badges required so he doesn't need the Marsh Badge, but he wants the training, and I can't refuse that or the chance to have my first full battle in years.

Alas the best time for this is right before or after the Saffron Contest as he's in town at the same time due to his traveling companion competing in the Contest. As such, a few days after the Contest is best for both of us so I can't come all the way to Cremini Town during my week off as I want to face him before the week ends. I'm sorry.

I do want to come as soon as possible; it's been too long since I saw you and enjoyed the peace of the nature in that part of Kanto or a simple dip under the Falls, don't worry I'll bring Delphox especially for that part. I can't guarantee the month after the Saffron Contest as I may be in Cerulean for a talk there about my struggles so I could come could either that month or the one after. Let's pencil in both and whichever one that I am not in Cerulean for I will come down to Cremini. How does that sound?

I hope you are also well my friend. See you soon,

Sabrina.

Sabrina nodded after reviewing the email to makes sure she'd said everything she needed to say and then hit send. She'd check again during her dinner break after her classes, she expected Anabel to respond by then as the girl was efficient when it came to scheduling. However, her lunch break was almost up so she had to get everything ready for her classes this afternoon as she had some trainee psychics coming in for a lecture on abuse prevention, so Sabrina got up and left her office ready for her afternoon.

Anabel instantly felt her heartrate increase as she read Sabrina's message. She knew her friend's schedule well so expected a response sometime in the early afternoon and as such she'd opted for a late lunch so that she could check her messages before her afternoon training session. That way she could respond promptly so that Sabrina saw it before during her evening break for dinner.

She'd been expecting a normal message either confirming Sabrina could come visit in a few weeks or that she was already booked and would have to reschedule to the next available week off. What Anabel had not been expecting was the reason for why Sabrina was unable to make it.

Anabel still thought about Ash Ketchum a lot. He was the only boy, or person in general, she'd ever fallen for and she still harbored a deep crush on him even if she knew it wouldn't work. However, she didn't realize that Ash had not only met Sabrina before but been the tenacious trainer she credited with giving her the chance to regain control.

Thinking on it for a moment, Anabel realized that Ash was about the right age to have faced Sabrina back when she was under the sway of her powers, something that she'd only heard about and couldn't imaging seeing first hand. It made sense now that Anabel thought about it that someone like Ash would be the one to rescue Sabrina from herself, it was so Ash to do that.

Anabel had to know more about the battle Sabrina was going to have with Ash which meant she had to get Sabrina down here as soon as possible so she quickly responded to Sabrina to ensure she saw it. She didn't realize that she was a little less controlled than usual in her response and her emotions bled into her words when she started typing about Ash Ketchum and her experience with him.

Sabrina quickly returned to her office after a nice dinner with her parents. She tried to have dinner with them as often as possible as it was the end of the day and a way to unwind before training in the evening. It also was part of her ongoing efforts to be the best daughter possible after what she'd done to them, especially her mother, all those years ago. They may have forgiven her and glad that their daughter was back, but Sabrina would never forgive herself for what she did to her mother. All she could do was continue showing them she was better and that they could be a happy family now.

As soon as she checked her email, Sabrina saw the response from Anabel and all thoughts of her past indiscretions against her family vanished for a moment. Smiling she clicked on it and began to read, her eyes going wider and wider as she read it.

Sabrina,

I am doing well, thank you for asking. As the last Frontier Brain, I don't get many challengers this early in the year, at most two by now and none so far this year, so I spend my time training both my Pokémon and my talents so there isn't much to report about my life other than that.

It is a shame that you can't make it but that is understandable. You are a busy woman so I should have expected at least a month's delay given how close to the Contest we are and how rigid your schedule is, but now I can't wait for you to visit because I want to hear all about your full battle with Ash.

Yes, I do know Ash Ketchum and like you I know just how amazing he is. He challenged the Battle Frontier a few years back, the last year Brandon was the final Frontier Brain in fact and beat all of us though he did lose to me the first time we battled because he rushed the battle and didn't take the time he needed to get ready. He rallied and really worked hard, I watched and helped him and was impressed by his dedication and love for his Pokémon before our second battle. He beat me the second time in a battle I will always remember. I still think of him and that battle to this day.

It doesn't surprise me that he was the one with that Haunter who helped save you, if you had said it was anyone else I may have asked for proof, but I know Ash and know that it would be just the thing he'd do. Ash is truly special and does things that even he likely doesn't understand.

I can't believe he's back in Kanto, he's such a wanderer so I wonder why he's not going somewhere new this year but this companion you mentioned might be the reason. It's a shame he likely won't see me because of how far Cremini Town is from any gyms but I can't wait to hear about how he's doing and your battle with him. I expect you to tell me everything when you visit.

I guess we will have to pencil in your visit for the month after the Saffron Contest or two months after depending on what happens with our business in Cerulean, I know how important that is to you so if that has to come first please go for it before coming to Cremini. Can't wait to see you Sabrina and hear all about Ash.

Anabel.

Sabrina blinked at the message from Anabel that she'd just read. It wasn't exactly her usual reserved, formal, style and instantly Sabrina knew there was more to it. She had to find out more about this, specifically the glowing review of one Ash Ketchum that Anabel had given, something she'd never given anyone else. She grinned as she typed out a response to her friend and her theory of why Anabel was gushing so much about a boy.

Anabel,

I don't think I have ever heard you talk about a boy, or anyone for that matter, like that. You sound like a schoolgirl with a crush, not the serious Salon Maiden I know. Come on, spill it, you have a crush on Ash Ketchum. I want the truth Anabel and don't lie to me, I promise you I will use my powers to find this out, this is way to juicy not to use them.

I am definitely coming to Cremini Town as soon as possible because we are having a full girl session over this, minus anything stereotypically girly thrown in as neither of us are girly girls. Finally, one of us has a crush and we can talk about it, and I promise to tell you a blow-by-blow account of my battle with Ash and how he's doing. I can't believe I will get to see the Salon Maiden blush.

Let's aim for the month after but if it's two then so be it. I will block off both weeks as fully booked so if anything, else comes up that isn't you or my trip to Cerulean, I can reject it. Can't wait to see you either.

Sabrina.

Sabrina was still grinning as she hit send. This was a whole new development, and she couldn't wait to see Anabel and grill her over her crush. Plus, she'll have seen Ash beforehand so she can really tease Anabel about him and how he's doing when the meet.

However, that would have to wait as it was time to train, and Sabrina had a new move that she wanted her Hypno to learn to help it counter ghost types. Getting up, Sabrina headed out to her training facilities for a few hours of rigorous training before going to bed. Today had really been a good day.

Anabel knew she was blushing and was very glad that Sabrina couldn't see her. How could she not. Her friend had correctly guessed that Anabel had a crush, and it was definitely still there. Anabel sighed as she replied to her friend and admitted to it. There was no point in hiding something from a telepath who wanted to find out and would use her powers to do so but only for this thing. Sabrina could easily find out and it wouldn't be a high risk for her to do so, but Anabel didn't want to deal with that risk. Best to head it off now and deal with it when Sabrina arrived.

Anabel smiled as she sent the message. It would be interesting having the stereotypical girl talk with her friend for the first time. She'd never had one before, mainly because Sabrina was her only close female friend and Anabel had never had a crush before Ash while Sabrina had been a slave to her power during a prime time for crushes to develop so never got one herself.

Add in that Sabrina was now afraid of sex because it could be addictive and thus dangerous to someone with addiction problems like Sabrina, and her friend still kept the idea of developing feelings locked up. One day Anabel knew Sabrina would get a crush just as she did but until then she didn't mind discussing her own one with her fellow psychic specialist.

Still smiling Anabel got up and stretched, Espeon mewling by her side as he did the same. It was time for his nightly grooming and then off to bed. Anabel was looking forward to sleep tonight, she knew her dreams would be filled with a certain raven-haired boy.

Sabrina stopped by her office one last time before heading to bed, ready for sleep and to repeat the process the next day. However, she wanted to see if she had a response from Anabel that would confirm her theory about the girl's feelings for Ash. Of course, there was one and instantly Sabrina began to read it.

Sabrina,

I can see that I can't get anything past you and to avoid you using too much of your telepathy. Which I know you don't like to use because of how it is always on, I will confirm your suspicions now. Yes, I have a crush on Ash Ketchum. I fell for him after seeing how amazing he was when he was in Cremini Town to face me and when we shook after he beat me, I felt it deep in my heart that I had fallen hard for him. I had developed feelings for Ash, and they are still there to this day.

I know you want to gossip about this because we've never had the chance to do this, and I will indulge you when you visit and explain why I know it won't work out between us, but I do think a talk about Ash is needed. It is probably a good idea to discuss this as I have never really had the chance to do so with anyone. However, I do expect a full story of you battle with him and updates as to how he is in return.

Anyway, I know it is late, but I also know that you would check to see if I replied so I made sure to get this off before I brush Espeon and head to bed. We can message more in the tomorrow about whatever you want.

Goodnight Sabrina,

Anabel.

Sabrina smiled as she closed the email, turned off her computer, and yawned. She would reply in the morning and begin working out the logistics for her visit, but she was tired, and Anabel had a good point, it was time to go to bed.

Standing, Sabrina left her office and turned off the lights as she made her way to the underground part of the gym and her bedroom. It had been an interesting day for sure, more interesting than usual. She couldn't wait to see Anabel and talk about her crush on Ash.

First though she had to face Ash in a full battle and that was going to be one hell of a battle. Sabrina was looking forward to it and seeing what Ash had made of himself after all these years. One thing was for sure whenever Ash was involved, it was going to be a day that Sabrina would never forgot.

Well, there is the first Anabel chapter and like Misty's first chapter it is all about Sabrina finding out about the girl in question's crush on Ash and setting up the meeting but because this is occurring before Sabrina meets Dawn she can't help just yet. This exchange was briefly mentioned in the 9th Supplement where Sabrina had tea and dinner with Ash and Dawn and told them her tale that became the impetus for this series. This is how Sabrina knew of Anabel's crush on Ash and how right Dawn was to be suspicious in that chapter. As for the next Anabel chapter, that one will look at Sabrina and Anabel's chat in Cremini Town about Ash so stay tuned for that next week. Anyway, that is all I have for now and given the content all I will do is ask that if you want to read more that you favorite or follow it and let me know what you think of it in your reviews or PMs to me. Until next time.

Stringdog