Part LXII: The Fourth Rival
Misty walked into the large drawing room in Anabel's cottage where they'd had tea earlier and looked around for the Salon Maiden. It was evening, shortly after they had had dinner, and it was time for her civil chat with her latest rival. Unlike the last few ones, this talk was proposed by Anabel herself so she knew what it was about from the start. Misty was a little nervous but at the same time she was ready for it. She needed these talks and if they could be civil like this that was great.
After Anabel had been called away for her battle, Ash and Misty had settled in and ended up taking a nap after all the excitement they'd had. That was followed by a light dinner, well light for Misty as Ash didn't know the concept of a light meal. Anabel hadn't joined them as she had gone to the Pokémon Center to get her Pokémon healed up after her battle. Ash had then headed outside for training with Anabel's butler, who had come to assist them and tell Misty that Anabel was waiting for her in the drawing room.
"I'm by the fireplace Misty." Anabel's voice called out and Misty looked over to the still lit fireplace to find Anabel on the floor with a Pokémon half in and half out of her lap as she groomed it with a brush. "Come and join me."
Misty couldn't help but widen her eyes when she noticed the familiar looking, quadrupedal Pokémon that Anabel was calmly brushing with as it purred contentedly at her administrations. The only different thing to Misty was that this Pokémon was lilac, the color that it was normally supposed to be.
"You have an Espeon." Misty said smiling at it as she sat down on the floor across from Anabel but with enough room to give them space while also still feeling the warmth of the fire. "And a beautifully looking one at that."
"Yeah he's my oldest Pokémon, and my favorite." Anabel said with a smile of her own as she continued her work. "I caught him as an Eevee as my first Pokémon, it was after I had perfected my gift and he told me he wanted to join me because I was so kind to him so I caught him. We bonded quickly and when the time was right, he evolved into Espeon. It takes trust and love to evolve Eevee into Espeon, as well as it being during the day, but he knew I was a psychic specialist so waited for me so that he could evolve into a psychic type."
"Oh I know how an Espeon evolves all too well." Misty said with a grin as she pulled out a Poke Ball and opened it, the stars going off as she did which caused Anabel to raise an eyebrow at the odd sight. "Seeing as I have one as well."
Anabel then gasped as Misty's own Espeon appeared in front of her. it was just like hers but with two clear differences. The first was that its fur gleamed differently likely due to being raised by a coordinator who used Poffins and not a trainer who focused on battles. That was to be expected. The other difference was not expected one Anabel had expected. Misty's Espeon was bright green, not lilac like hers.
"Beautiful isn't she." Misty said before grumbling as Espeon affectionately headbutted her forehead and sat down ready for its daily brushing, something Misty didn't hesitate to start. "She always stuns people when they first see her."
"She's one of a kind I feel." Anabel said as her own Espeon looked up and rolled his eyes at the flashy Espeon across from him, it was a Pokémon for looks and not battle like he was so not worth his time even if she was very pretty. "She's the shiny variant, right?"
"Yeah I caught her as an Eevee." Misty said with a smile. "She fell out of the sky and hit me in the head because of Team Rocket. After that I helped protect her and she decided to join me if I could best her in battle, which I did, so that's how I caught a shiny Eevee."
"Those jokers are still around?" Anabel asked. "I thought they would have quit years ago."
"You had a run in with them because of Ash didn't you?" Misty asked and Anabel nodded. "Thought so, they always seemed to pop up back in the day so it doesn't surprise me."
"Yup withing 5 minutes or so of meeting him in fact." Anabel said with a chuckle. "We beat them with ease but we ended up in the lake so came back here to dry up before Ash rushed off to the Battle Tower. Course that was also where all of them learned I was a girl."
"So it wasn't just Ash who made that mistake." Misty said laughing at that.
"No his companions at the time, 3 or them I believe, did as well." Anabel said laughing at the memory. "But then again, I do have short hair, basically no tits and a lower-than-expected voice so it is a fair mistake to make."
"I didn't think you were a boy when we met earlier." Misty said simply. "It was obvious to me."
"Well I was acting like a schoolgirl with a crush on your boyfriend, which you know is true." Anabel pointed out. "So you wouldn't have much of a problem telling that I am a girl."
"True." Misty said as her Espeon lay down to get a better grooming, and some tummy rubs as well because why not. "I guess we should discuss that."
"In a moment, we will." Anabel said shaking her head slightly. "First I want to ask how your Espeon evolved. I can tell she loves you a lot, she told me as much the moment you started grooming her. Though even without speaking to her I would tell, it takes love to evolve Eevee into Espeon, Umbreon and apparently Sylveon though I know little of the last one."
"Same here." Misty admitted. "But it was a surprise to me that Eevee decided to be an Espeon. It was when we took a side trip to Hoenn a few months back to compete in the Wallace Cup, which I won, again. My mom was visiting from Sinnoh to support me so I decided to battle her Umbreon for practice that morning. Umbreon got the upper hand but I knew Eevee could still fight so I encouraged her and next thing I know she's evolved into Espeon. The coloring was just as surprising but I like it and she gets so many gasps whenever I use her in a Contest. No one expects her."
"I don't doubt that." Anabel said looking Misty's Espeon over. "She is an attractive Pokémon for sure though I prefer lilac."
"I can tell." Misty said gesturing at Anabel's clothes and hair. "Espeon is perfect for you for multiple reasons."
"So I guess that concludes the small talk." Anabel said with a sigh. "And onto the main reason why we should talk like sensible adults; Ash."
"Yeah this isn't the first time I've had this talk with a rival." Misty admitted. "Though other than the first one, which basically started bad and ended up in a destructive battle that almost destroyed the Cerulean Gym, though we are now friends after a series of petty moments, they've all been civil talks."
"How many so far?" Anabel asked curiously. "I got the feeling that Ash was special, I mean I fell for him so that is clear enough as he's the only person I've ever felt that way about, so I'm curious as to how many others like us there are out there."
"You're the fourth I've officially talked to." Misty said. "Though I know of a 5th but I've never really spoken to her other than to yank her pigtails once when she tried to hit on Ash right in front of me. An incident with a Psyduck prevented me from confronting her more. I have a feeling we will have a proper meeting one day though."
"So including you that is at least 6 who have fallen for Ash." Anabel said. "I doubt that's all though. Ash is special in a way that can't really be quantified."
"Neither do I." Misty said shaking her head. "So I am prepared. My first rival, Ash's oldest friend Dawn, made me a little insecure but it has helped identify the next 3, though I suspected you before we met."
"I know, I'm going to have to have words with Sabrina for this." Anabel said with a slightly irritated tone. "She's clearly enjoyed her amusement at our expense."
"She also probably didn't expect us to ever meet." Misty pointed out. "Though if she did then she totally did this on purpose."
"True." Anabel said. "Is Ash aware of these rivals?"
"Other than you he is." Misty said knowing that Ash didn't know about Anabel because he hadn't picked up on their subtle conversation earlier as he didn't get subtlety at all unless it was in battle. "But only after they, or me in Angie's case, she's a friend of ours from Sinnoh who I found out had a crush on Ash at his birthday party, confirmed to Ash that they liked him like that. He's not the most observant person on this front if you haven't noticed."
"No he is not but I wouldn't expect it from him." Anabel agreed. "He couldn't read my heart when we last parted when I accepted my feelings for him. I would like to talk to him, with you being there of course, about this once we are all sorted."
"I think that would be good." Misty said with a nod. "That way he understands what is going on. Directness will work on Ash, if hammered in hard enough."
"Does he have rivals as well?" Anabel asked. "I can't imagine a girl as cute as yourself not having a few guys after her that Ash will have to fend off with a stick, or a Pikachu."
"Yeah Ash has some." Misty said with a slight blush at Anabel's complement despite knowing it was pure observation. "Three in fact. I knew of 2 though he hasn't faced them yet but will face at least one by the end of the year. The third took us both by surprise."
"Really, you strike me as more observant that Ash, not that that's a high bar." Anabel said and Misty had to agree with Anabel's assessment on that front. "How'd you miss one?"
"Well I almost missed my, potentially former, childhood friend Kenny's crush until he was very blatant about it when we ran into him in Sunyshore City." Misty said. "As for the other one, well I guess I just didn't notice because it didn't cross my mind that she might like me like that until she confessed to me and Ash before she faced him in the Wallace Cup that she had a crush on me."
"She?" Anabel asked her brow raised. "I guess I can see how that would be more of a surprise to you."
"Yeah, I don't swing that way and Zoey knows it but I accept her regardless, she's my best friend and always will be." Misty said. "It was just a little surprising to learn that she liked me as more than a friend that's all."
"I bet." Anabel agreed.
"So what about you?" Misty asked posing the one question she'd asked Angie and May; she didn't need to ask Dawn as she had a good feeling Ash had told her what that event was. "What made you fall for Ash? What was the event?"
"Event?" Anabel asked confused. "What do you mean by event?"
"Well usually there is some big or important event where Ash does something stupidly brave to save us that makes us fall for him." Misty said surprised that Anabel hadn't had an event with Ash. "For me it was saving me from falling off a tower in Alamos Town while Dialga and Palkia dueled each other though I didn't realize it for a few months."
"Oh there was no event, I just felt that connection to him from the start." Anabel said shaking her head. "I was confused as I had never felt that way about anyone before but I could easily read my heart and realized that it was feelings of romantic attraction to him. I guess it was seeing him work with his Pokémon, hearing their love for him and watching his dedication to get better after he lost to me the first time that all added up for me. When we shook after he beat me and gave him the Ability Symbol I felt my heart truly open to him and knew what it was. I've never felt this was about anyone before or since."
"Really?" Misty asked confused. "Ash is your only crush?"
"Only love and I don't doubt how deep my feelings are though I know yours are deeper than mine and I will never mess with them but yes he's my only one." Anabel admitted and reassured Misty. "I never had that desire before I met Ash, never found another human attractive in that sense. I grew up with only Pokémon as friends and not people and while I, I never had the urge, I guessed it would find me when the right guy or gal came around. Turned out that guy was Ash."
"So wait does that make you bi?" Misty asked even more confused than before. "Sorry after learning that my friend Zoey was gay I've started to be more aware of this but I have no idea what you're describing."
"Bi isn't the right term I think." Anabel said shaking her head as she seemed to think on Misty's words. "I was open minded to the idea of love regardless of gender but I never felt any of the human urges associated with it whenever I met people, or even sexual attraction. I guess the correct term for what I was before I met Ash was asexual but after meeting him I knew I wasn't that I just hadn't found the right person. I'm still open minded but after 3 years since I last saw him and no feelings like that until Sabrina told me about Ash challenging her made me realize that Ash may be the only person I'll ever feel like that for."
"Oh." Misty said unsure what to take from Anabel's words, they weren't what she was expecting. "I, er,…"
"Don't feel bad or anything Misty, I can tell Ash loves you as much as you love him and your love together is pure." Anabel said with a slightly sad smile. "I would never ruin that, it's wrong on so many levels. Besides, when Ash left the first time, right as I realized my feelings for him, I knew that I wouldn't ever have him the way I wanted and made peace with that, even if the feelings keep coming back at the mention or sight of him but such is the nature of love."
"You already accepted it?" Misty asked her confusion still not going away, she really couldn't get this girl but she had a gut feeling that she could trust Anabel. "That you couldn't be with Ash? Like right away?"
"Ash is a wanderer, a traveler who courts adventure wherever it is and it usually finds him." Anabel said and Misty had to agree, that was an accurate assessment of Ash. "I am not. I like my life here and I really love my work as a Frontier Brain. Ash had the opportunity to become a Frontier Brain and rejected it because it wasn't for him. We are too different to work out but I will always have my love him. When I chose the title Salon Maiden I think it was more accurate then I would realize. I guess the maiden thing will remain as it is for the foreseeable future."
"Well that is good that you have made peace with it." Misty said unsure what else to say. "To an extent as Ash does have that effect on people without ever realizing it himself. I remember how my heart raced when I knew I would see him again in Unova. All the feelings I had previously buried and thought I no longer had resurfaced with a vengeance."
"Yeah tell me about it." Anabel said with a chuckle. "As soon as Sabrina said that Ash Ketchum was going to face her in a full battle and that she was really looking forward to seeing him again after how he helped her in the past, I, er, got really jealous and demanded answers."
"And I take it Sabrina was confused." Misty said trying and failing to imagine someone as reserved as Anabel being jealous.
"Very and asked for clarification as to whether I knew Ash or not." Anabel said with a blush. "I may have, er, gotten a little gushy when describing my experience with Ash. Enough that Sabrina called me out on them but she did reassure me that she wasn't attracted to him, just eternally grateful for how he gave her that chance to regain control again."
"That happens when asked to describe Ash and you love him at the same time." Misty said with a laugh. "I remember after my time in Unova, when I realized I loved him right as I was leaving the region so the timing was terrible, how I was when I roomed with May before the Wallace Cup that year. This was when it was in Johto that is so a little over a year ago. I was a giddy, lovesick, schoolgirl and May quickly realized though she never called me on it because she was also feeling that way."
"Yeah I had to confess to Sabrina that I like Ash, no doubt that is why she refused to mention that to you when you met or you to me when we met up recently." Anabel said. "Her idea of a little fun at our expense."
"Well if I ever see her again I'll tell her it wasn't funny." Misty said. "I like some forewarning when my boyfriend is about to run into someone crushing on him and send us all into a lake."
"Likewise." Anabel said and they laughed together for a moment before Anabel got all serious for a moment. "So, when are we battling Misty?"
"You know I want that?" Misty asked surprised, she hadn't brought that up yet even if she knew that she would. "I know it's a little petty to want that though."
"I could feel the challenge in you when we shook earlier." Anabel said. "And it was all over your face the moment our eyes met. I won't lie, I felt a little similar meeting Ash's girlfriend."
"Oh right, I am not as subtle as I realize and being with Ash has dulled me to the fact that most people aren't as spectacularly dense as he it." Misty said with a slight blush. "But yeah, I, um, do want to battle you Anabel. I know it won't be easy, in fact I know it will be my hardest battle ever, but so far I have faced, and beaten, my other 3 rivals in battle to assert my dominance over them and I kinda want to do it again with you. If for nothing else then just for tradition sake."
"Well you don't need to assert your dominance over me." Anabel said kindly. "You have Ash and deserve him; I know that but I can see where you're coming from which is why I brought it up. I should warn you, facing me isn't going to be easy. I'm not the final Frontier Brain for nothing, well that and Brandon's sudden retirement a few years back, and I won't hold back if you accept my invitation to battle me."
"I know that, you beat Ash once and he's praised your skills so you are good and I know how your ability ensures you don't need to give verbal commands in battle." Misty said ignoring the reason why Brandon had retired as she knew it because she was there for that incident but couldn't say it as it was a secret. "And out of all my rivals, you're the one I expect to lose to but I still want to battle even if it is just for the practice."
"Very well, I accept you challenge on three conditions." Anabel said with a nod.
"Sure." Misty agreed surprised that Anabel had conditions but grateful that she was agreeing to battle her. "What are they?"
"The first is that we start with our Espeons." Anabel said indicating the two Pokémon they were still grooming as they talked. "It's not often I get to face another Espeon, let alone a shiny one, so it is going to be fun to see how they compare. However that does lead to my second condition."
"And that is?" Misty asked.
"You don't ask Ash about my battles with him." Anabel said seriously. "I will be using the same Pokémon as I did against him, they are my usual ones for these battles so I want to keep them a surprise for you. Likewise I won't know the other 2 that you use against me as I will practice in the Battle Tower while you practice here."
"I can agree to both." Misty said with a nod realizing that Anabel had a point. "They make sense to me and while I know of your skills and specialty, Ash has never gone into detail about your battles with him so I don't know the Pokémon you have. What's the third condition?"
"Scott, the promoter and owner of the Battle Frontier is in Town as the person I beat today is staying around for a rematch with me after the Cremini Town Contest." Anabel said. "So with his permission, and I need that for this, I want to make this an official challenge by you. That would ensure that official rules of the Battle Tower, where we will battle, are followed. It also means that if you beat me you get the Ability Symbol for your win."
"You want this to be official." Misty said her eyes wide at that and gulping slightly. "I'm not challenging the Battle Frontier though."
"Only if Scott allows it will it be official but yes I do." Anabel said with a nod. "It just makes it more serious I feel. If he does say yes, it will be a 3 on 3 battle with no substitutions on my part, does that work for you Misty?"
"Yes, yes it does." Misty confirmed and she already had the team in mind to face Anabel and her psychic Pokémon. "I'd be honored to properly face you Anabel."
"Good." Anabel said recalling her Espeon as she finished grooming him, Misty doing the same with hers though she would finish her own grooming later in their room as Espeon always enjoyed a good pampering. "Then let's shake on this."
Anabel got up and offered her hand to Misty. A little taken aback by the formalities but understanding it, Misty took Anabel's hand and let her help her to her feet. Then they properly shook to signal their commitment to their battle.
"We will battle in 2 days." Anabel said as they ended their handshake. "That gives you tomorrow to prepare while I convince Scott to make this official and prepare myself. Then you have another day off to prepare for your Contest, which I will help with if you will let me, before Ash and I watch you win that 5th ribbon and qualify for the Grand Festival."
"Works for me." Misty said as there was a sudden explosion and ball of fire lit up the night sky form outside where the battlefield was. "But for now I think we need to check on Ash. I am not sure what he just did but none of his current Pokémon are fire types or know fire type moves that I am aware of so I'm a little disturbed by that."
"I see yes let's good go check and Misty." Anabel said as they began to leave causing Misty to look at her. "Thank you, this was a nice and needed chat."
"Same here Anabel." Misty said as they left to see what trouble Ash was in, a glowing light of fire showed that it was going to be a long night but Piplup was with them so at least there was water on hand, proving that Piplup hadn't been the one who had been hit before the explosion. "I was definitely needed."
Misty was glad that she and Anabel had had their chat. It was polite, civil and respectful and she felt closer to the slightly odd but nice girl. Of course the formal battle was a bit unnerving but Misty already knew her team, she just needed a strategy that would put Ash to shame if she even had a chance of beating a Frontier Brain like Anabel and beat her Misty intended to. Anabel had no idea what Misty had in store for her. It was going to be fun as Misty prepared to face her fourth rival in battle.
