The next two chapters were written as a whole. I have a few things to finish up with the next chapter, but it will be posted in a few days. Emotions are beginning to run high in this chapter.

I do not own Pokemon.

Chapter 9: Suffering the Balloons, Part Two

"So how is this going to work again, James?" Jessie asked, looking at the glass bubble holding the struggling Buneary. Buneary was shooting Ice Beams at the glass, with no results.

"It's an exchange." James replied. "Both her and the blue haired twerp share similar interests. I can see them becoming friends very quickly."

"Ahhh, I see!" Jessie exclaimed. "They do share very similar interests. And seeing as how They're all so goody-goody, We're sure to see them all come to puffball's rescue."

The trio laughed.

"Wow Jim," Said Meowth. "Dis isn't like you ta come up with the good ideas."

"Although...my plan was to capture the blue haired girl...but this works too." James replied, scratching his head.

"We can only hope." Jessie said, smirking at Buneary. "You're going to finally break our legion of bad luck. I suppose it's true what they say about rabbit's feet." She let loose a boisterous laugh. James and Meowth joined her.

In her bubble, Buneary beat on the side of the bubble with her long, but sturdy ears. Despite being scared out of her gourd, the comment about rabbit's feet had sent her into indignation. She wasn't foolish, however, and eventually stopped banging. All her attempts to escape the bubble had been fruitless, and her ears were beginning to hurt. Angry or not, she wasn't getting free of that bubble herself. Sitting down in frustration, all she could do was wait for rescue. (Pikachu...Please come soon.)

In the distance, she saw a large bird fly away. For some reason, it gave her hope.

As Pikachu ran, he felt completely confused. It wasn't like him to simply dash away like he did, unless it was for Pikapi's sake. And yet, at the mention that Buneary could be hurt, or in danger, he had done exactly that. This was all too strange for him. He had left Pikapi for her. Did that mean he cared more for her than Pikapi?

(I care for her. I care for her a lot.) Pikachu's thoughts were beginning to race. He slowed his running as his stomach twisted in knots. She was all that was in his thoughts now. (The more I think about her...the more I care about her. I...what am I feeling?) And then, it hit him. (Is this...what Misty and Dawn called...love? Do I love Buneary?) If this was true, then it all made sense to him now. (If Pikapi and I share feelings...those feelings for May were Pikapi's feelings...They're the same as what I feel for Buneary right now. If this is what Dawn called "Love"...then Pikapi loves May.) Stopping at a small clearing, he took a breath. (And I...love Buneary.) With that said in his mind, Pikachu instantly felt better. The knots vanished. ("I love her.") He said to himself aloud. His eyes became set, He had an even greater reason to look for her now...to go and save her. A new knot appeared, one of worry. Looking up at the sky, he noticed Staravia flying by.

("Heeey! Staravia!") Pikachu called out. Staravia stopped and flew down.

("Pikachu!") It said, landing. ("I was told to look for you and Buneary.")

("I'm sure.") Pikachu replied. ("I left Pikapi in a hurry to find her. Have you seen her?")

Staravia paused. ("No, at least not directly.") he said, looking back in the direction he had come from. ("But I did see Team Rocket back that way. They had a small brown thing in a glass ball.")

Pikachu's eyes blazed, and body tensed. (Typical. Very typical.) He took two steps forward. Staravia looked on anxiously. Looking back at Staravia, Pikachu nodded. ("Go tell Pikapi and May where Team Rocket is.")

("What about you?") Staravia asked, cocking his head.

("I'm going to save Buneary.")

Giving Staravia a final nod, he dashed off as quickly as he could.

(Love.) Pikachu smiled slightly as he ran. Bad situation aside, he realized how much he enjoyed the feeling. (If this really is love...I don't ever want to stop.)

Ash and May had been walking through the forest in the same direction Pikachu had vanished earlier. There was no true pathway here, only underbrush and trees. The underbrush was thick in some places but rare in others: Pikachu, though in haste, seemed to have avoided the thick underbrush as he ran by, as they showed no signs of being disturbed. May kept close behind Ash, often with a hand on his shoulder, her cheeks somewhat red. This reminded her of the time where she and Ash had been caught alone in the wilderness: During that time, Ash had rescued her from a Donphan's Rollout attack. Except now, a friend's Pokemon was in danger now, not her. And that was what she needed to worry about.

She thought for a moment as they walked. At the mere mention that Buneary was in trouble, Pikachu dashed away recklessly, and completely ignored Ash. This she found extremely odd. Pikachu was loyal to the grave when it came to Ash. She knew that Buneary and Pikachu were friends, but even if a friend was in trouble, Pikachu would usually follow Ash while going to save them.

"Hey...Ash?" she said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?" Ash said.

"Do you know why Pikachu ran off like he did?" She asked, her free hand on her chin. "It really isn't like him to do that."

Ash stopped and paused for a second. "I don't have any idea." he replied after a minute. "Admittedly, Pikachu's a bit more level headed than I am. But...there's something about Buneary."

"Hmm?" May sounded. Did I just hear him say Pikachu was more level-headed than him?

"Buneary's always acting kind of weird around Pikachu." He continued. "You've kinda seen it yourself. Always blushing, sometimes hiding her face in her fluff, and sometimes always trying to cuddle up to him." May nodded at Ash. She had noticed. In fact, Dawn mentioned it to her. Ash began to walk forward, May close behind with her hand on his shoulder. For some reason, every time May put her hand on his shoulder, his stomach did a flip. He tried to ignore it without a slight blush, but failed, and scratched his head. He continued his words, oblivious to their irony.

"Dawn called it a crush." He said. "I don't know why that would make Pikachu want to run off like that."

May frowned, a small piece of her heart cracking a little. He still...doesn't get it at all. Still, she wasn't without hope. Ash was getting more and more mature each day. Saying that Pikachu was more level headed than him proved it, as it was unusual for Ash to mention his own faults in that way.

"I think I understand why Pikachu ran off." She said. Ash looked at her somewhat quizzically. And I really hope you will soon, Ash.

Suddenly, Staravia flew down in front of them. Ash moved towards it and motioned for it to land.

"Well? Any sign of them?" Ash asked as its feet touched the ground.

Staravia let out a stream of cries and pointed off ahead. There was faint noises coming from that direction, and a few Pokemon were beginning to scurry away from it.

"Great. Thanks, Staravia! Now, can you do me another favor?"

Staravia flapped its wings and flew upwards. Ash nodded at it. "Go tell Brock and Dawn what's going on! We might need their help!" With a loud cry, Staravia sped off in the direction of the camp.

May looked at Ash and gripped his shoulder tightly. He nodded at her, and the two of them left running, a clear direction to follow at last.

"We're coming to get you, Pikachu and Buneary. Hold on."