Yo, friends of fanfiction, I'm back with chapter 12 of Love, Pokemon and other delusions.

I hope you enjoy!

RR

Well... It starts with love, pokemon and other delusions." Gary said in the most dramatic way possible.

Both Max and Brock sweat dropped. "And that means?" The glasses wearing boy asked, unsure of what Gary means.

"Y-you don't get it!?" Gary was shocked, "I sounded so cool too!" He complained, mumbling curses under his breath.

Max face palmed, "How are you older than me...?" Brock just laughed in the background.

"S-shut up!" Gary stuttered. "You!" He pointed to Brock. "Stop laughing!"

Despite Gary's wishes Brock's laughter never ceased. "Sorry, sorry."

"Can we get back on topic..." Max groaned. "Gary, what do you know?" He asked, fixing his glasses.

The spiky haired boy calmed himself with soothing breaths. "Fine." He grumbled. "Let me start with... Love."

"Love?" Max was confused. "I've never known Ash as a lover." He said bluntly.

Gary applauded the boy. "You got it. That's the problem."

Brock shook his head. "I really don't get it..."

"Well... Think of it this way." Gary paused, thinking of a way to explain himself. "Brock, why do you flirt with all women?"

This question caught the pokemon doctor off guard. "Well... I want love. I guess?"

"Right." Gary snapped his fingers, happy with his friends answer. "It's in all our brains," He pointed to his head. "To crave love. It's a mental need that can't be turned off." He crossed his arms, trying to look smart. "Man. Women. We all feel this way. Everyone falls in love with someone or something. Be it your mother or girlfriend, you fall in love." Gary ran his hand through his spiky hair with a smirk. "You know I'm right."

Max, stroking his chin in thought. "So, you're saying Ash is craving love, even though he doesn't know it?"

"Yeah, you get it." Gary praised.

Brock interjected. "But, what does that have to do with his current state?"

"Well, the next part ties in with this one." Gary said, grabbing a drink from his pack. "That being... Pokemon."

"Well, we all know that Ash loves everything pokemon." Max said with an admiring smile.

"Ding ding ding!" Gary acted like he was ringing a bell. "Five points to Max!"

"There's a point system!?" Brock was in shock AND he was losing.

"I was just trying to be funny... But sure." Gary mumbled. "Anyway. You're right, Max. He does love everything pokemon. That's what ties these two things together."

"Okay..." Max fixed his glasses. "How so?"

"Ash's internal want to love is being put onto his pokemon and pokemon battles. To a hyper fixated degree." Gary took a swig of his water and placed it down onto a nearby nightstand. "I'm sure you've noticed, Brock. When he battles he almost becomes someone else."

"You're right there..."

"And that's because of his head wanting love?" Max was getting a little lost.

"Yes!" Gary paused. "And no."

"What do you mean?" Brock was also getting lost.

"It's true that Ash is hyper fixated on winning and keeping his pokemon safe at the time, that's the love part. BUT! I said one more thing, didn't I?"

"And other delusions." Brock quoted.

"Five points to Brock!" Gary joked. "Yeah. And maybe you're wondering what that means." Both Max and Brock nodded like crazy. "Well, let me explain." Gary said, as cocky as possible. "The "Other delusions" I mentioned is in reference to the fact Ash has been caught up in the past."

"Caught up in the past...?" Max repeated. "In what way?"

"Whenever Ash gets in a battle is trying to grasp the past that is flying further and further away from him." Gary added, looking a bit sad.

"So, Ash misses the old days." Brock was piecing it together. "Like, battling evil organizations or battling for the hell of it. Right?"

"You are on a roll! Ten points!" Gary got serious again. "Yeah, you're right. Like when he fought team rock in an airplane."

"He was craving the old feeling!" Max interjected, which caused Gary to nod.

"Do you guys get it now?" Gary asked. "The reason he acts the way he does is because Ash is wanting many different things."

"Love, pokemon and other delusions." They all said at the same time.

The whole stadium was cheering, loudly at that, so much so Paul had to cover his sensitive ears a bit. But, it all made sense when he looked down to see a smiling blue haired girl. "She won..." Paul mumbled with a grin on his face.

Dawn lifted up her trophy and waved to the camera. "Mom! Look!" She shoved her award into the camera. "I've done it! I won!"

Paul watched with a proud smile on his face. "You did Dawn." He closed his eyes, a little embarrassed he was getting so emotional. "I'm happy for you..." The purple haired trainer got up and was making his way out of the arena. But, someone's voice stopped him.

"AND I WANT TO THANK, PAUL!" Dawn waved up to the stands. "THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME!" A spot light was now on, the very red, Paul. "THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR ME!" She gave him her iconic cute smile.

Paul had to look away, lest she or anyone saw him blushing. "Yeah... NO PROBLEM!"

Ash and the rocket trio were just sitting on the beach of the island, lost and empty. "So, anyone have an idea how to get out of this place?" James asked, watching the sea.

Ash lifelessly shook his head, not taking his eyes off the ocean. "Nope." Was all he said.

"This is where we die isn't it." Jesse stated not asked.

"Yeahz." Was all Moewth added.

They all sighed at the same time, thinking about all of their regrets.

"Hey, you four! You okay?"

The group all turn to see a middle aged man holding a fishing pole. "Wha-what are you doing here?!" Ash asked, completely dumbfounded.

"Uhhh, fishin." The man thrusted the pole in the air to show them better.

All four leaped into a group hug and yelled. "WE'RE SAVED!"

The fisherman was very confused. "Were you not safe?"

Ash dashed up to the man and gripped his shoulders. "Look man. We need you to take us back to the mainland. Got it!?" Team rocket appeared behind him frantically nodding.

"Ummm, okay. Hop on my boat."

And that's that! Hope you enjoyed. I know it's short but this one is kinda a bridge chapter, as I like to call them, this one will lead into the next, bigger, chapter. If you liked it and you read the next chapter. Well, see yea later friends of fanfiction!