Crossroads Chapter 12: The Predator Moves In
Previously on Crossroads: Scott paid a visit to check Ash's progress and ask for the name of his Battle Facility and Symbol. Corey had a talk with Ash about his relationship with Anabel, and the pair went to the lake, where they had a double battle. Anabel then fell asleep, and Ash carried her back to the house, which led to him leaving a note on her desk asking to go on a date.
Tohjo Falls, Anabel's House – Kanto Region
Ash woke up earlier than usual the following day, which was quite unusual for him - understandable; however, he was nervous about Anabel's answer. Unable to get back to sleep, he got dressed and headed into the living room, where he realized he was the only human up at that hour. Seeing Anabel's Pokémon meditating to hone their psychic abilities, he decided getting some early-morning training wouldn't hurt and headed out to the lake.
Once he arrived, Ash softly put his Egg (He takes it everywhere he goes) on the ground and released his Pokémon (each called out their respective species names upon arrival), and Pikachu jumped off his shoulder to join them.
"Alright, everyone, let's start up the day with some training." he greeted them. Some expressed confusion about the alteration of routine, but once Ash's partner explained he couldn't sleep, they accepted it and lined up for instructions. "Kingler and Heracross, you two work on your strength since that's the best part of your battle styles!." The Bug and Water-types nodded.
"Pikachu and Quilava, I want the two of you to work on your speed! That means fast, low-powered, hard-to-evade attacks, not Eruptions or Volt Tackles." The two immediately charged for an open area with Quick Attack, Pikachu throwing a salute.
Ash turned to his remaining partners. "Bulbasaur, you can work with Pidgeot to build up your endurance to Flying-type moves! Pidgeot needs evasion and endurance practice too. Okay, everyone, let's get to it!" Ash pumped a fist in the air, joined by his Pokémon, who then paired up to begin their training.
Clumps of dirt flew everywhere, kicked up by stray elemental attacks. The initiators of these attacks, Pikachu and Quilava, ignored them, being protected from most of their effects by using Quick Attack. Almost invisible to the naked eye, they blurred from collision to collision, barely slowing to launch Flamethrowers and Thunderbolts at each other. Pikachu was much easier to follow, as the Iron Tail he kept active yet unused to balance out the difference in experience gleamed in the sunlight.
Small explosions appeared at each meeting of attacks, marking where the two clashed as Ash looked over at the other sparring Pokémon.
Kingler and Heracross were engaged in a much more slow-paced match, brute strength vs. a strong defense. Kingler swung its giant pincer at Heracross, but the Single Horn Pokémon stood firm, arms crossed above its head. Feinting exhaustion, Heracross was then able to lower Kingler's guard, allowing it to push the giant crustacean back. As its opponent tried to regain its balance, the bug released its wings and powered up a Megahorn, ready to charge towards the Water-type.
As its opponent began its run, Kingler regained its balance and powered up its pincer with Crabhammer, swinging it downwards to intercept Heracross's attack. The ensuing power struggle terminated in a stalemate, both sides unwilling to give in. Agreeing they were getting nowhere, the two disconnected their attacks and moved back to their original positions.
The training session with Bulbasaur and Pidgeot combined elements of the others. They tested each other's speed and endurance by strafing their opponent with Razor Leaves and Air Slashes, respectively, deciding which attacks to dodge and which to take head-on.
Pidgeot, less worried about being hit by Bulbasaur's attacks, saw an opening and took it by diving in with an Aerial Ace. The attack nailed Bulbasaur, but the Kanto Starter was able to recover and latch on to the retreating Pidgeot with his Vine Whip. Once his grip was secure, Bulbasaur fired a barrage of Razor Leaves into Pidgeot's back, causing the flying type to wince in pain. Trusting in type advantage to keep himself healthy, Pidgeot executed another Aerial Ace, swooping under a bush to make Bulbasaur either let go or get caught by its branches. Taking the intelligent choice, Bulbasaur released his grip, quickly returning to his original position.
As the process continued, Ash tried to figure out what still needed work. Hearing Pidgeot fire off several syllables of its name towards Bulbasaur, he thought, "I wish I could understand Pokémon as Anabel does - then I'd be able to ask their opinions. How did she say she did it again?" He barely had the presence of mind to take shelter from stray attacks as he thought back to that day.
...
"Wow, you can talk to Pokémon for real?" Max questioned as they sat around Anabel's coffee table.
"That's incredible!" Brock added.
"Not really," the (unknown at the time) Salon Maiden responded. "What I do is sort of sense what the Pokémon are feeling at the time."
...
"Sense what the Pokémon are feeling at the time, eh?" Ash pondered. "Hmm... I wonder if what I've been practicing to help read Anabel's heart will help me sense my Pokémon's feelings too." Drawing on the emotion-sensing Aura ability, he focused on his partners to try and see if he could hear anything.
He could feel Heracross and Kingler going at it as the two exchanged blows. Quilava's cries as Pikachu sped around it. Bulbasaur's exuberance trying to gain the edge over Pidgeot. All these feelings and emotions were swirling together like a vortex before, "Ahh!"
"Pi pika, Pikapi!?" Pikachu looked over at Ash, who looked flustered with sweat trickling off his forehead.
"He-he sorry buddy, I was trying to hear what you guys were saying like Anabel can! It didn't work as well as I'd hoped, though," said Ash scratching the back of his head.
"Pikachu, Pi," said Pikachu looking downwards.
"Don't worry about it, buddy; it's all good! I'm not going to be like Anabel on the first try. Who knows, she might be the only person who can fully read Pokemon's thoughts! Come on, let's continue our training!" Said Ash as the group continued their exercises.
After an intensive training session for Ash and his Pokémon, he called them all into a group. "That was great, everyone!" he told them. "Take five, and then we'll mix things up by switching partners."
They all replied in their language, moving over to the trees to relax and recover their energy after their workout.
As Ash looked over all of his Pokémon, having stopped the energy-intensive mental exercise, he realized that he had forgotten about the note that he left on Anabel's nightstand the night before. But that realization reminded him, making him wonder what the Salon Maiden's response would be. "I guess I'll find out whenever I see her next..."
Fortunately, he didn't have to wait very long for his answer - right afterward, a pair of hands attached to slender arms covered his eyes, leaving him unable to see who had ambushed him. He had a good idea who it was based on their build, though. "Is that who I think it is?"
The 'unknown' figure chuckled in a very obviously disguised voice. "Here's a clue: my answer to both questions is yes."
It took a second for Ash to connect the dots about the 'both' and a few more to formulate his reply as Anabel switched from covering his eyes to hugging him. "I see you saw my note, then…" he finally said.
"Yeah, I did," she answered. "When I woke up dressed in yesterday's clothes, I figured I must have fallen asleep last night at the lake. And that made me wonder whether you would even ask me out - but then I saw the note. Now, if only there had been flowers there too..."
Ash laughed softly at the playful tone in her voice. "I'm glad you liked it. I was thinking about asking you before we returned, but since you fell asleep, I figured that was the next best way."
Anabel laid her head against his back, arms wrapped around him, and asked, "So where and when are we going?"
The question took Ash slightly off guard, as he had forgotten about that part of the process. Racking his brain, he replied, "Oh - well, um... I think I remember your brother mentioning a restaurant in town that you've always wanted to go to. So maybe we can go there tonight, after today's tournament?"
At this, the Salon Maiden unlatched herself from Ash, chuckling. "Well, Ash, I thought you would have given me a little bit more time to prepare for this, but… I guess I can trust you to make this work."
"I'm glad to hear you think that highly of me." he teased, turning to face her. "So, is seven a good time for you, or should I make reservations for a different time?"
In response, Anabel quickly moved back over to Ash, whispering. "I'll see you then…."
She gave him a peck on the cheek as she pulled away, turning to walk back towards the house. As Ash watched her leave, her gait again drawing his gaze towards her hips, a thought flashed through his mind. "Wow, she's got some real TM87..." He immediately questioned his sanity before his thoughts returned to his upcoming date.
He turned back to look at his Pokémon, saying, "Tonight is gonna be a great night…."
As 7:00 PM neared, Ash finished getting ready. Adjusting his purple tie for the last time, he made one final attempt to fix his unruly hair, again failing. Tucking in his shirt (which also happened to be purple, blaming/praising Corey for helping buy so many items of that color) in his dark blue dress pants, Ash exited his room with his new brown dress shoes squeaking against the floor. As he entered the living room, he saw Corey, Boltblast, and Pikachu sitting on the couch watching TV.
Ash's squeaky footsteps alerted them to his presence, and the trio turned around to appraise him. Nodding his approval (and wiping his paws on the sofa to avoid marring the shirt), Pikachu leaped onto his trainer's shoulder. On the other hand, Corey said, "Not bad at all, Ash - maybe violet brings out the best in you; I heard it's a great color."
"Pfft, yeah, right," Ash responded. "Anyway, do you think I'm underdressed?"
"Nah, trust me on this. It's your first date, and besides, if my sister would think you'd look good covered in mud, she'll be amazed at how you look now. Additionally, I'm sure Anabel will wear something lilac, so your outfit will go along with hers perfectly."
"So, when exactly did you become 'Mr. Fashion Expert,' again?"
"Well... it just so happens that a couple of my girlfriends - note: girl-friends, not girlfriends - are great at that kind of thing. It's hard not to pick up notes after going out with them from time to time." laughed Corey. His laughter was cut short, though, by a new voice entering the conversation.
"Please, Corey - the last thing you are is fashionable. Just because a couple of girls you hang out with are into fashion doesn't add anything to your 'expertise'..." said the lilac-haired Salon Maiden as she entered from around the corner.
Anabel was (naturally) dressed in a lilac-colored strapped dress - and it didn't do too bad a job of showing off her figure, either. Anabel had her hair curled with her bangs arranged to frame her face. Anabel looked the best Ash had ever seen her! His jaw hung as he took in the Salon Maiden, but he finally stammered out, "Wow, Anabel… you look… beautiful."
Older-brother instincts kicked in, and Corey resisted the urge to gently but firmly send Ash away. His slight unease didn't escape his sister's notice, and she gave him 'the look' before closing the gap between her and Ash, saying, "Well, I think you look very nice as well, Mr. Ketchum."
Hundreds of Butterfree suddenly assaulted Ash's stomach. "He-he… thanks..."
Anabel giggled at Ash's sudden nervousness. "So, my good sir, how shall I be escorted to my destination tonight?"
"Well, milady, your transportation resides..." Ash began. However, he soon ran into difficulty with his delivery - the 'high-class atmosphere' didn't work with the TV blasting in the background. "You know what, how about we ditch the formality until we get there? I'll show you how we're traveling once we get outside." he finished, extending his hand towards the Salon Maiden.
Anabel accepted it and looked toward her brother. "We should be back around 9-ish, but if we need anything, then we'll call you," she informed him. With that, Ash led her out the door.
As the door closed behind Anabel, Corey leaned back on the couch, absentmindedly petting Boltblast. However, he couldn't help a nagging feeling tugging at him. He knew their date would go swimmingly, but "Boltblast… I have a bad feeling about tonight…."
"Lai lai!" The Raichu answered, encouraging him there was no need to worry.
"Thanks, buddy. I hope I'm wrong," Corey replied, suppressing the inexplicable urge to say, "That's when I worry the most," The pair went back to Cynthia demolish another dumbfounded trainer on TV.
Outside the house, their ride to town turned out to be Pidgeot - and the air as they flew was chillier than expected. Anabel regretted not bringing a coat, but Ash proved an excellent heat source. She clung to him throughout the flight, appreciating him for three reasons. One, stability; two, body heat; and three, comfort that helped banish her 'first-date jitters.'
After about five minutes of flying, Pidgeot landed in the center of the village. Tohjo Village was small - most of its inhabitants were non-residents, only there to challenge the nearby Tower. It wouldn't be fair to attribute all of the tourism to the Battle Tower, though; the restaurants and monthly festivals indeed held their appeal to foreigners.
"Thanks for the ride, Pidgeot!" Ash said as they dismounted. "We'll let you know when we need to leave, but until then, why don't you relax for a bit? Fly around and enjoy the night!"
Pidgeot raised its wings in agreement and took off into the night sky, Pikachu choosing to remain with him. The two-headed over to the forest to chill (both figuratively and literally), Pikachu was listing the benefits of not having to stay within the confines of one's Pokéball for Pidgeot to experience.
Ash then looked at Anabel and offered her his arm. "Shall I escort you to our destination?"
Anabel looked at Ash quizzically for a second, trying to figure out if this was the natural Ash - the formality was so unlike him. Remembering the exchange in her living room, she flashed Ash a big smile and said, "Of course, you may, sir Ash." as she linked her arm with his.
The pair walked for a couple of blocks before reaching their destination. When they arrived, Anabel knew where they were going - the giant Milotic statue on the roof was a dead giveaway.
"No way! The Extravagant Milotic!? Ash! Do you know how expensive this place is!?"
"Hey, Corey told me to make a good first impression; he said you've always wanted to come here! Besides, I have my winnings from the conferences I participated in, so this won't put a dent in my savings."
Anabel looked at Ash, sensing no hint of falsehood in his statement, and smiled before pulling him into a quick hug. She then pulled away and grabbed his hand, saying, "All right then, Ash - let's go!"
Ash smiled at Anabel's delight and followed her into a genuinely gorgeous scene under the smaller Milotic gracing the door frame. The whole restaurant, true to its name, had gone all out with the decorations in the dining hall. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the floor was spotless, and a large fireplace roared and crackled in the back, adding to the room's ambiance. The restaurant's mascots swam gracefully in tanks on either side of the fireplace, relaxed yet ready to deal with any escaping fire at a moment's notice.
The two took all this in as they waited to approach the hostess, who (quite anticlimactically) simply asked, "Name, please?"
Ash stepped forward. "Ash Ketchum; I called earlier, reserving a table for two."
The hostess checked her list and said, "Ah, yes. Ash Ketchum - and I see your date is our local Frontier Brain. Right this way, then."
Ash retook Anabel's hand, following the hostess as she led them to a table near the fireplace. The hostess handed them their menus, informing them, "Your waiter will be with you shortly, so please sit and enjoy!"
"Thank you very much!" the couple responded, sitting across from each other.
Anabel glanced at Ash before looking down at her menu. "Thanks a lot for taking me here tonight, Ash! I can't wait to taste the food here - I read the Extravagant Milotic was one of the top places to eat in Kanto!"
Ash didn't respond, as his bottomless stomach had taken over his brain. He sped through the first few pages of the menu at a rapid speed, looking for the perfect thing to eat. When he reached page eight, he suddenly stopped, his eyes widening at the picture of the New York Strip.
"Anabel, have you seen the New York Strip on page eight yet? It looks fantastic!"
"Just like Ash..."Anabel thought with a smile as she turned to the page he had mentioned. To his credit, it did look fantastic. "Wow, Ash! You're right; it looks great! I was thinking about getting pasta, but now I'm not sure..."
Ash laughed. "Well, you can have anything you want, Anabel. Tonight is totally on me!"
Anabel smiled warmly at him and said, "Thanks again, Ash - really!"
Ash's reply was cut off before it began by the approach of the black-and-white-clad waiter. "Hello, and welcome to the Extravagant Milotic. My name is Jordan, and I will be serving you tonight."
He flashed a grin at them that would make most girls swoon - denture-free, perfectly straight teeth, complemented by his underlying charm. His blue eyes sparkled with recognition as he took out his notebook to take their orders.
"Hey, you're Salon Maiden Anabel, aren't you?" Jordan asked.
Anabel smiled and said, "That would be correct."
He flashed her another pearly grin, suavely replying, "Well, I must say that you look much more beautiful in person than in those newspaper photos."
"Thank you very much for the compliment," Anabel blushed slightly, embarrassed at the uninvited attention.
Ash, misinterpreting Anabel's blush, began sneaking dirty looks at Jordan. "Who in the Reverse World does this guy think he is, coming up and blatantly flirting with my date?"
Blissfully unaware of Ash's anger, Jordan answered Anabel, "You're very welcome." Turning part of his attention back to Ash, he asked, "Now, what can I get you two to drink?"
"I'll take water with lemon, please," Anabel replied cheerfully.
On the other hand, Ash stiffly answered, "I think I'd like a Coke, please."
"All right, I'll be right back with your drinks," Jordan told them as he put away his notebook and walked toward the bar.
As he left, something in the corner of Anabel's eye caught her notice - a party of five at another table. She couldn't be entirely sure, but two men looked like the President of Hoenn's Devon Corporation and his son Steven. The blond-haired woman and her family members with them seemed familiar, too, but their names escaped her at the moment - all she could remember was something about a purplish-blue dragon.
She turned to Ash, preparing to ask him if he could tell, but stopped when she noticed the irritated expression. Before she could ask him why, Jordan returned with their drinks (from over near where she had been looking) and placed them on the table, along with the complimentary plate of rolls.
"Now, what can I get you to eat?" Jordan queried - once again directing the question towards Anabel.
"I'll have the New York Strip," Anabel pointed to the picture.
The blonde waiter began writing her order down, commenting, "Ah, that's an excellent selection. The Extravagant Milotic is known for having the best New York Strip in the Kanto region."
Before Jordan could get another word in, Ash spoke up. "I'll be having the same."
Jordan wrote Ash's order before telling Anabel, "Alright, I'll put this right in for you, so it should be ready shortly. Until then, enjoy…." He flashed another smile and walked away to attend to a different table.
Hearing the muted sound of grinding teeth, Anabel looked over at Ash. "Hey, Ash. Are you okay?"
"Oh, I don't know; why don't you go ask Jordan? You sure seemed fascinated with him earlier while he was getting our drinks..."
The Salon Maiden quickly realized the problem and immediately face-palmed in her mind. "Ash, that's not it at all - I thought I saw somebody I recognized over at another table." At his skeptical look, she continued. "Just think about it. Do you think I'm the kind of person who would try flirting with somebody else during a date? Especially one with you? There's no need for you to worry! I'm on this date with you, not him, and I wouldn't have it any other way!"
Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, the raven-haired trainer realized how stupid he must have looked with his false accusation. He quickly straightened up in his seat and apologized. "I'm sorry, Anabel - I acted stupidly by jumping to conclusions. Let's put this behind us and enjoy the night like we wanted to do in the first place!"
When she heard that, Anabel felt like she had to reassure him with a smile; she reached over, took his hand, intertwining their fingers, and said, "Tell me about some of your adventures in Sinnoh! I always wanted to go there when I was younger, but then the Battle Frontier came along, and I bet you can tell what happened next. I heard from my Dad it's a beautiful place, though."
"Heh heh, funny, you should mention Sinnoh..." Ash replied. "Your earlier comment about 'not worrying' sounded a lot like the 'catchphrase' of one of my traveling companions during that time - the third one whose bike I accidentally destroyed. You see..."
Ash began to relate the story of his Sinnoh journeys, with Anabel listening and occasionally asking questions. They were so engrossed in their conversation and spending time bonding that their surroundings seemed to melt into a blur of motion - constantly moving, never staying quite the same. Inside their area of calm, however, no matter whether they were laughing at jokes, eating the bread, or drinking their beverages, one thing remained constant - their hands did not unclasp.
Jordan returned to Ash and Anabel's table, carrying two plates of food. As he handed them their food, he apologized to them for the delay - something about a stray cat had stolen their food. He had given up on trying to flirt with Anabel after seeing how happy they were with each other while he refilled their drinks, "All right, both of you - enjoy!"
The food lived up to its reputation - Ash struggled to refrain from devouring it in huge bites, not wanting to look like a slob in front of Anabel. She laughed appreciatively at his behavior as she consumed hers as well. Even though she wasn't usually a steak person (not as much as Ash, anyways), Anabel still found the steak quite appetizing.
Within 15 minutes, the pair had finished their food, and Jordan brought them their bill. When he returned from processing it, he told the couple, "I hope you have a great evening together!"
The pair exited the building feeling incredibly satisfied and walked down the street; Anabel started to lean on Ash's shoulder. A familiar blonde-haired woman (the same one Anabel had seen at the restaurant) emerged from a shop with an ice cream cone in hand, and Ash asked Anabel, "Hey, there's an ice cream shop over there - would you like to get some dessert?"
Lifting her head, Anabel smiled at Ash. "Sure, that would be nice."
A couple of minutes later, they emerged from the shop, holding an ice cream cone. Ash had a mixture of vanilla and chocolate swirl, topped with chocolate sprinkles, and Anabel's was just plain old mint chocolate chip. As the two began eating the sugary treat, they sat on a bench near the town square's Magikarp fountain.
To them, the ice cream tasted too delicious for words - so it was a good thing they weren't talking at the moment. Instead, they just sat there, content in each other's presence. Eventually, Anabel began leaning on Ash's shoulder again, their hands remaining intertwined.
As the clock struck 8:45 PM, Ash softly asked, "You ready to head back now?"
"Yeah… I think so. Let's go to the lake first, though - this has been a fantastic night, and I don't want it to end yet."
Ash nodded. "Okay, just make sure to let your brother know we'll be a little later getting back than planned," he advised as he retrieved Pidgeot's Pokéball, stood up and blasted the red return light into the air. A circling black dot saw this and dove down towards the pair, metamorphosing into Pidgeot as it approached.
"Hey, Pidgeot, you mind giving us a flight over to the lake?" his trainer asked as Anabel notified her brother of the detour.
The bird majestically answered, landing and crouching down so they could mount up.
"Thanks, buddy," he told his Pokémon as they climbed on, Anabel stowing away her communications device. Pikachu jumped back onto Ash's shoulder, and the group took off towards the lake.
It took another five minutes to reach the lake, where Espeon greeted them before corralling Pikachu so their trainers (and, she secretly hoped, they) could have some 'alone time.' His thoughts in the same vein, Ash returned Pidgeot to his Pokéball - but not before telling him, "Thanks a lot for helping me out tonight, Pidgeot. I appreciate it."
As he clipped the ball to his belt, Anabel motioned to gain his attention. They walked over to the lakeside, where the water almost seemed to shine by itself under the moon's light. That same light illuminated the area around the pair in a soft, almost magical glow.
Anabel retook Ash's hand. "Thanks again for this fantastic night, Ash. There isn't anyone else I would have wanted to spend it with."
"Heh heh... Same here," Ash responded sheepishly, scratching the back of his head with his free hand. "To be honest, though, I should be the one thanking you for accepting my invitation, not the other way around."
Anabel smiled at the sincerity of his emotions during that statement. "Speaking of emotions... maybe now Ash can finally manage to 'read my heart' - I know he's been practicing to try and do that..."She looked up at her companion and started to ask, "Hey, Ash…."
"Yeah, what is it, Anabel?"
"You remember the day we had our rematch, and I asked you if you could read my heart? And then that other time, when your apprenticeship was beginning? Well, after all the time we've spent together (and all the practicing you've been doing), you'll finally be able to do it!"
Ash turned to look straight at her. "Do you think so?"
"I don't think so - I know so! And even if you don't, believe you can - that usually helps me."
"Okay…" the raven-haired trainer replied. He closed his eyes for a second, centering himself so he could perform the same feat as earlier in the day, before opening them and locking eyes with Anabel's lilac orbs. Sadly, he felt nothing - "No, wait, is that a spark?" Focusing on the elusive feeling, he recalled Anabel's advice - and it grew. From a spark to a flame, an inferno, burning clear a path to her mind. He began to traverse the path, becoming swamped with a wave of emotion.
In that instant, it's as if their minds connected unprecedentedly, the two-way link allowing for deeper interaction. Everything Anabel had stored inside her heart since they first met was at his fingertips.
Anabel's first meeting with him, and how Ash disregarded his safety to protect Pikachu from Seviper's Poison Tail.
When they first battled, she recognized how he cared equally for all his Pokémon.
The determination and companionship he shared with his partners, even running alongside his Tauros as it practiced Take Down.
His fun-loving nature, even after getting chased by Beedrill and knocked into a lake.
His wholehearted attempts to imitate her empathetic abilities, even though he fails.
His resolve and adaptability during their second battle and the support he showed to his Pokemon allowed him to emerge victorious.
Though she didn't know exactly when it happened, she realized she had feelings for him, which she kept hidden as he left.
How those feelings never left her - only growing more robust as time went on.
How excited (yet nervous) she was when they met again, and he chose her to be his mentor.
His actions over the past month or so reaffirmed her feelings and showed signs of them himself.
Their faux date and 'official' date that night, finalizing the transformation from a simple crush to love.
As he read the open book of her heart, seeing the growth of her feelings spurred a blossoming of similar emotions within him. The mental reverberations almost knocked him backward, and he instinctively withdrew to prevent her mind from being damaged.
As he looked at the Salon Maiden, he saw her tearing up slightly with joy. "You finally did it…."
"Anabel…" Ash had no words to describe this moment - but as he looked at her, he realized there was a way to communicate his newly blossomed love without words. Anabel was more than ready for what happened next, wholeheartedly complying as he pulled her in for a kiss. When their lips finally connected, it sent shockwaves of pure bliss through them, the re-established mental connection amplifying the experience.
They weren't sure who thought it first, as their minds were so deeply intertwined, but a voice whispered to "be wary of taking things too fast." Recognizing what it meant, the pair broke off the kiss before their hormones could urge them to go too far. Instead, they simply put their foreheads together, maintaining eye contact.
Ash knew before Anabel started that she was about to confess her feelings aloud (not that it was needed at this point). "Ash… I lov-"
"NOW!" And Pokémon yelled from the forest, and a purple claw came out from the shadows of the trees and grabbed Anabel. It pulled her away from a stunned Ash, both paralyzed with fear.
"Anabel!" he called frantically, trying to understand why anyone would do such a thing. "What the hell is going on?!"
The owner of the purple claw came into the light, revealing a very familiar Drapion. "Wait a minute... don't you belong to -"
"Pathetic. I used to expect more from you, Ash, but not anymore." The figure showed himself, unmasking Ash's purple-haired rival from Veilstone.
"P-Paul?"
"It's payback time!"
Author's Note:
For all the bros out there; take your girl for coffee on a first date instead of a high-end dinner. This is where I'm heavily beginning to edit the story from when I used to write it. Everything won't be nearly as harsh or aggressive as it used to be, especially later.
Otherwise hope you all enjoyed the Abilityshipping again in this chapter! It was a huge chapter for them, so I tried to explain what it would be like to read Anabel's heart as best I could. It's up to you to make your visions of how you think it happened, and here's the next chapter.
Crossroads Chapter 13: Payback
Cyclone20
