Story of Anabel (AbilityShipping)

"It's been…five months since I've last seen him…"

Anabel was wandering the streets of Saffron City with Sabrina, the city's Gym Leader. They were both Psychic-type trainers and great friends. When Anabel wanted a good battle or some helpful advice, she turned to Sabrina.

They had gotten hungry after hours of training and decided to grab some take out. On the way there, Anabel asked where Sabrina had gotten her Haunter, which was a Ghost-type Pokémon, and Sabrina replied:

"…From a boy named Ash Ketchum…"

Hearing his name caused Anabel's heart to jump. She definitely hadn't been expecting her to say that.

"A-Ash?" she blurted in a surprised tone.

"…Do you know him…?"

"Y-yes. I battled him as the Salon Maiden of the Battle Tower," Anabel explained. "It's been…five months since I've last seen him…"

"…He is a decent trainer…" the Gym Leader said in her usual monotonous voice.

"I think he is a wonderful trainer," Anabel blushed. "He lost in our first battle, but he worked hard and made a great comeback in our rematch. It was…so elegant. He cares very much for his Pokémon."

"…Yes…" Sabrina said simply.

Anabel had developed feelings for Ash the moment that she set eyes on him. She found him to be a fun person to be around and an overall nice guy. Of course, Ash had mistaken her for a boy when they met, so she was pretty positive he couldn't have realized her feelings for him. But she surely didn't mind that. All she wanted was another chance to see him again.

But who knew when that would be? Ash was traveling through the different regions, collecting Gym badges, catching Pokémon, making new friends… He probably didn't even remember who Anabel even was.

The thought really upset her.

I don't want him to forget about me, but… Anabel was having a hard time convincing herself otherwise. Sabrina noticed her sullen expression.

"…Anabel, you don't seem happy…" Sabrina remarked.

Anabel quickly changed expressions and waved her hands. "N-no! I'm fine! I'm just, well…"

"…That sounds like denial to me…"

"Ergh…" Anabel wasn't going to be able to lie to Sabrina; she was too perceptive. Well, she wasn't a psychic for nothing.

"…It's okay… You can tell me what's on your mind…"

Anabel frowned. "Well, it's about…Ash."

"…Ash…?"

"Yes…"

"…Do you like him…?"

"H-huh?" Anabel blushed. "How—?"

"…I could tell by how you were talking about him… You admire him…"

Anabel stared at the ground, not able to face Sabrina. She was dead right. "Y-yeah…"

"…Do you wish to see him again…?"

"Of course! But…he's busy on his journey and who knows if we'll see each other again…"

"…You will… In the very near future, perhaps…"

"What?" Anabel couldn't believe what Sabrina just told her. "I will?"

"…I'm sure of it…"

Anabel instantly pictured Ash's smiling face. She couldn't imagine what she would do if she saw him again.

"Okay, Sabrina…" she said. "I trust you…"

Several days passed.

Anabel was making her way back to the Battle Tower after spending a few days in Saffron with Sabrina. She was taking a quick break, shopping for supplies in Viridian City's Poké Mart, before making her way toward Route 22.

"Hmm, I'll just pick up a few Potions…" Anabel said to herself as she placed a few Super and Hyper Potions in her shopping basket.

"Y'know, we might need some Antidotes. There are lots of Nidoran on the way and Poison Sting is favorable attack of theirs," she heard someone the next aisle over say.

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

Anabel flinched at the sound of a very familiar voice. It couldn't be…

"The Potions are down this aisle."

Anabel spun around as she heard the voices getting closer. That's when she saw…

"Huh?" a boy with messy dark hair hidden under a red cap raised his eyebrow at Anabel.

It was Ash Ketchum.

"A-Ash!" Anabel stuttered, still shocked that Ash was standing right in front of her. What would he say? Would he remember her?

"Hey!" the only girl in their group gasped. Anabel remembered her as May. "Isn't she…?"

"It's Anabel!" Ash answered. Anabel's chest felt tight at the mention of her name exiting his mouth.

"H-hello, Ash…" the Salon Maiden bowed. "May, Brock, Max."

"Wow, Anabel," he chuckled. "It's nice to see you again! It's been awhile!"

"Y-yes, it has," Anabel couldn't help but grin at Ash's laugh.

"What are you doing here in Viridian City?" Max asked.

"I was actually on my way back to Battle Tower from Saffron City," Anabel explained.

"You're on your way to the Battle Tower?" Ash said. "We're headed that way, too! Well, toward the Pokémon League. We have to deliver a Dragon Scale from Professor Oak to Lance."

"Oh, that's cool," Anabel said. The fact that she had managed to encounter Ash and his group was beyond exciting. And incredibly nerve wracking.

"Hey, why don't you come with us?" Ash suggested. "We can venture together until we need to go our separate ways. We can catch up and talk about what's been up since we last saw each other. Would that be okay with you?"

Anabel beamed. "Really? I can come with you guys? That would be fun!"

"Of course!" Ash said. "You guys don't mind, right?" he turned to his friends.

"We don't mind. It'd be nice to have another girl in the group for awhile," May giggled.

"Than yes! I'll be happy to join you guys!" Anabel smiled, extremely happy for the offer to travel with Ash.

After shopping for supplies and making their way out of the city, Ash and Anabel began chatting about what they had been doing the past few months. Anabel had been working on training with Sabrina while Ash was finishing up his Battle Frontier journey. He was about ready to return home when one of Professor Oak's aides spotted Ash between Viridian and Pallet and asked for his assistance in delivering something to the Pokémon League. And that's when the group stopped in Viridian for supplies and ran into Anabel.

"Quite a coincidence, huh?" Ash laughed.

"Yeah, it really was," Anabel smiled. She couldn't have been happier to see Ash again, even if it was for a little while.

Now that he was here…would she tell him of her feelings?

"Y'know, Anabel…" Ash started.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I know this is pretty random, but…"

She waited, her heart rushing.

"I still couldn't believe when I found out you were a girl! That just surprised me so much. I don't know why I felt the need to bring that up…"

"Ash, c'mon! Was that necessary?" May whacked him on the back of his head.

"Oww!" Ash cried. "S-sorry!"

Anabel blinked. Maybe telling him wouldn't be the best idea…

Oh well. Anabel didn't mind. She enjoyed just being able to spend time with him.

"It's okay," she grinned. "As long as you see me as Anabel, I don't care what gender I appear to you."

Ash returned the smile. "Of course!"

That's all Anabel could ask for.