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"S-S-Saria, I, um," Ross stumbled with his words, "I've b-been meaning to, I mean, I-I wanted to-"

The poor little Raichu couldn't even open his eyes, because he thought he would lose his nerve if he did, " Th-there's something I have to te-tell you…"

Ross gulped hard, "I-I-I…I love you!"

His little heart was pounding like a drum and fluttered with the resounding confession he made. The pure silence around him was almost deafening, he just had to open his eyes. Ross stared out over the crystal clear lake near his master's ranch. Saria was nowhere to be seen, but the Raichu was merely practicing his confession that he would try for the third time this week.

Ross thought about Saria, the mere image of her in his mind made him blush uncontrollably. He began to feel flustered again and thoughts of doubt seeped into his mind; there was no way he could confront her, not while he was all tense.

Ross sighed out of frustration, "Why can't I just tell her how I feel?"

"I've bee wonderin' the same thing."

Ross thought he was alone, so the gruff voice behind him made him jump. Napoleon walked out from behind his cover and leaned, crossed armed, against the side of a tree.

"Napoleon?! Wh-what are you doing here," Ross asked, scanning the rest of the area if anyone else had overheard him.

"I just thought I'd take a walk around the ranch," Napoleon said with a smirk, "until I 'happened' to find one of my friends out here."

Ross felt a little embarrassed and irritated by how Napoleon had followed him out here to pick on him, but was too humiliated to make a come back.

"I'm not your friend," Ross scoffed.

"Oh come on," Napoleon said, walking up and towering over the Raichu, "We've known each other since you were a Pichu."

"That doesn't make you my friend."

"I think it does. So what are you doing all the way out here all by your lonesome, little buddy?"

That Napoleon, he perfectly knew well what Ross was doing out by the lake thanks to his eavesdropping.

"It's-It's none of your business!"

"Oh? And Saria has nothing to do with it?"

Ross couldn't help but blush when he heard Saria's name. Napoleon began to laugh when he got the reaction.

Ross turned away from Napoleon, embarrassed again, "Sh-shut up!"

"What, I just find it *snicker* sweet that you have to practice your little love scene," Napoleon couldn't take his own sarcasm any more and busted out laughing.

Ross just wasn't able to decide on whether he should be infuriated or even more embarrassed at this point.

"Ross, are you out here?" A sweet feminine voice floated on the air.

A graceful Leafeon shrugged her way past a bush to appear before Napoleon and Ross at the lake.

"Oh, I thought I'd find you here," The Leafeon said, ""Hello Napoleon, what's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing, have fun," Napoleon replied as he left with a chuckle.

"What did he mean by that?" Saria wondered, "Ross, was that jerk picking on you again?"

"Uh, no, it's nothing," Ross said, suddenly realizing he was now with Saria, "Wh-what are you doing here anyways?"

Saria smiled and got a little closer to Ross, "I came to, um, sit by the lake with you."

'With me?!' Ross thought anxiously.

Saria came and sat down next to Ross by the lake's edge. Both of them had a slight blush, but Ross was too distracted by his thoughts to look Saria in the eyes."

'Come on, just say it! This is your chance!'

Ross gulped and looked down at his feet. By them was a small white daisy, which he carefully plucked and held it out in front of Saria, "Here, Saria."

Saria smiled as she fixed it behind her ear.

S-Saria, I kinda been th-thinking, well I wanted to, um. There's something I ne-need to-"

He was cut off when Saria leaned up against him.

"Thank you for the flower Ross," Saria whispered before giving him a small peck on the cheek.

Ross' cheeks felt red hot on his face, he was overwhelmed by a sense of nervousness. Saria also had a slight ting of red on her face as she gazed up at Ross.

"I-I-I, uh, I have to go check on Scratch and Sibelius!" Ross exclaimed before dashing off toward the ranch.

Saria watched as Ross ran through the bushes and disappear from sight. She sighed deeply as her plan to confess her love to Ross failed.

'Why does he always rush off like that?' Saria thought about the kiss as she dipped a paw into the lake's water, watching the ripples scatter, 'He probably hates it when I do that.'

Saria sighed again; unaware of the glowing yellow eyes watching her from the shadows of the tree line.

'I should apologize to him then,' Saria resolved and turned to go after Ross.

She took a step away from the lake before the shadow from the tree line leapt out and landed in her path. Saria fell backward, an icy chill ran down her spine, unwilling her to move or speak as the Armaldo loomed over her.

A faint tint of red crossed the Armaldo's face as he spoke, "Saria, I've been watching you from afar for too long. I want to confess my love for you!"

The suitor waited for a response from Saria, but when he didn't get one he continued on.

"I would do anything for your love in return. I would even cross the sea to Kanto for you."

Saria was too terrified to understand what the Armaldo was saying. The Armaldo took a step closer and when Saria noticed this, she couldn't help but scream.

"AAAAAAAHHHH, BUG!"

---

Ross continued to wonder through the forest aimlessly. He couldn't believe he lost his nerve to confess to Saria, again.

'I just have to go back and tell her.'

This thought brought a swarm of butterflies to his stomach, but he knew what he was going to say; 'Saria, I love-'

"AAAAAAAHHHH, BUG!"

Ross jolted upright as he heard Saria's cry. There was no time to think as he ran back to the lake.

"Saria! I'm coming!"

---

The Armaldo was completely thrown off guard by Saria's scream.

"I know we come from different species, but we can always make it work," The Armaldo said, taking another step forward.

"No, please don't eat me!" Saria cried as she stumbled backwards with each of the Armaldo's steps.

The Armaldo was starting to get a little angry from the rejection, "I love you Saria, can't you see that? I want you!"

"Keep away from her, you creep," Ross shouted, bursts of blue sparks shooting from his cheeks.

Saria was overjoyed to see that Ross had come to protect her, "Ross!"

"Get lost rat, you had your chance. Saria will be mine now."

Ross stared the wild Armaldo down as best as he could, "Don't you dare lay a finger on her, or I'll make you regret it!"

The Armaldo turned a deadly glare to Ross, "Fine then, when this battle is over, Saria will be mine."

Ross attacked first, hurtling a power packed Thunder Bolt toward the Armaldo. The Armaldo too the attack head on and shrugged it off instantly. Ross used the distraction to get in closer and charged up an Iron Tail. He jumped into a front flip, swinging his tail wildly. The Armaldo saw it coming and dodged the menacing swipes. He was quite agile for his size and caught Ross from behind with an X-Scissor attack. Ross stumbled to the ground with an 'oomph!'

'Woah, he's pretty quick for an Armaldo,' Ross thought as he got up again.

"Is that all you've got, rat," The Armaldo sneered.

"Ross, you can do this," Saria cheered as she watched the battle.

It was the Armaldo's turn to attack first and he unleashed a hard spout of Water Gun onto Ross. Ross was able to run out of the line of fire and sent another Thunder Bolt crashing toward the Armaldo. He got another direct hit, but with minimal damage with Armaldo being part rock type.

They exchanged a couple more blows; another X-Scissor from the Armaldo to block Ross' Iron Tail. Ross used Agility to dodge a deadly Rock Blast. Ross knew he couldn't stay on the defensive for too long, but that thought was too late.

"I'm done playing around!" The Armaldo roared. Before Ross knew it, he was hurtling through the air, the pain of Armaldo's Fury Cutter attack quickly shooting through him like bolts of lightning.

Saria gasped, "Oh no, Ross!"

"No Saria, stay back," Ross struggled to his feet, "I have to do this myself, for you."

Saria's heart fluttered, "Ok Ross, I believe in you."

"Why can't you just stay down?!" The Armaldo yelled angrily.

"Because *huff* I'm not *huff* going to let you take Saria away!"

Ross was now back on his feet, standing tall and fierce.

"Fine then, it's your funeral."

The Armaldo became ferocious as well, sending crushing Rock Blast attacks to bury the Raichu. Ross jumped and weaved from one spot to another, barely avoiding each attack.

'I can't give up,' Ross leapt up and over the Armaldo, catching his back with an Iron Tail.

The Armaldo staggered and roared in pain, he did not expect to get hit at close range. Ross used the moment of the Armaldo's recovery to charge again. A veil of blue electricity engulfed Ross as he rushed forward. He hit the Armaldo square in the chest with Volt Tackle. The Armaldo couldn't recover this time and began to topple, but Ross wasn't done yet.

"Yaaaahhh!" Ross spun in a 360 with a Mega Kick in tow.

The Armaldo was lifted off his feet by the last attack and spun head over heel clear across the lake.

Ross panted wearily, but stood proudly over his win in the match.

"Ross, you did it, thank you," Saria cried joyfully as she toppled onto Ross, "Thank you for saving me."

Ross blushed wildly now that the Armaldo was gone and he was alone with Saria. She gave him another peck on the cheek and Ross was just about to start running away.

'No, I know why I'm here.'

"S-Saria?" Ross started off.

Saria felt the seriousness in Ross' voice, "Yes Ross?"

"After that battle, I feel I finally have the strength to do something very important."

Both Saria and Ross stared deeply into each other's eyes longingly with bright red faces.

"What do you mean Ross?"

'Here it goes,' Ross thought, taking a long deep breath, "I've been meaning to say, I lo-"

"Ross? Saria? Where are you?"

Veruka's voice broke their attention from each other as she, Vincent, and Cotton cleared the tree line to find the Raichu and Leafeon by the lake.

"What are you three doing out here?" Ross quickly asked.

"We came to get you two for lunch when we heard a battle," Cotton answered now with a deviously raised eyebrow, "What are YOU two doing out here *giggle*."

Ross and Saria both noticed that Saria was still lying on top of Ross and hastily separated, too embarrassed to look at each other now.

"Can we please go back now that we found them, I'm starving," Vincent said, his stomach rumbling.

Saria ran over to the end of the woods leading to the ranch, "Yes, um, Vincent's right let's go eat. What do you say Ross?"

"Ah, s-sure. Let's go," Ross replied as everyone left.

Ross looked over his shoulder to the crystal clear lake. He came so close this time, but choked.

'Next time," Sighing as he headed for the ranch with the others.

Description
"S-S-Saria, I, um," Ross stumbled with his words, "I've b-been meaning to, I mean, I-I wanted to-"

The poor little Raichu couldn't even open his eyes, because he thought he would lose his nerve if he did, " Th-there's something I have to te-tell you…"

Ross gulped hard, "I-I-I…I love you!"

His little heart was pounding like a drum and fluttered with the resounding confession he made. The pure silence around him was almost deafening, he just had to open his eyes. Ross stared out over the crystal clear lake near his master's ranch. Saria was nowhere to be seen, but the Raichu was merely practicing his confession that he would try for the third time this week.

Ross thought about Saria, the mere image of her in his mind made him blush uncontrollably. He began to feel flustered again and thoughts of doubt seeped into his mind; there was no way he could confront her, not while he was all tense.

Ross sighed out of frustration, "Why can't I just tell her how I feel?"

"I've bee wonderin' the same thing."

Ross thought he was alone, so the gruff voice behind him made him jump. Napoleon walked out from behind his cover and leaned, crossed armed, against the side of a tree.

"Napoleon?! Wh-what are you doing here," Ross asked, scanning the rest of the area if anyone else had overheard him.

"I just thought I'd take a walk around the ranch," Napoleon said with a smirk, "until I 'happened' to find one of my friends out here."

Ross felt a little embarrassed and irritated by how Napoleon had followed him out here to pick on him, but was too humiliated to make a come back.

"I'm not your friend," Ross scoffed.

"Oh come on," Napoleon said, walking up and towering over the Raichu, "We've known each other since you were a Pichu."

"That doesn't make you my friend."

"I think it does. So what are you doing all the way out here all by your lonesome, little buddy?"

That Napoleon, he perfectly knew well what Ross was doing out by the lake thanks to his eavesdropping.

"It's-It's none of your business!"

"Oh? And Saria has nothing to do with it?"

Ross couldn't help but blush when he heard Saria's name. Napoleon began to laugh when he got the reaction.

Ross turned away from Napoleon, embarrassed again, "Sh-shut up!"

"What, I just find it *snicker* sweet that you have to practice your little love scene," Napoleon couldn't take his own sarcasm any more and busted out laughing.

Ross just wasn't able to decide on whether he should be infuriated or even more embarrassed at this point.

"Ross, are you out here?" A sweet feminine voice floated on the air.

A graceful Leafeon shrugged her way past a bush to appear before Napoleon and Ross at the lake.

"Oh, I thought I'd find you here," The Leafeon said, ""Hello Napoleon, what's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing, have fun," Napoleon replied as he left with a chuckle.

"What did he mean by that?" Saria wondered, "Ross, was that jerk picking on you again?"

"Uh, no, it's nothing," Ross said, suddenly realizing he was now with Saria, "Wh-what are you doing here anyways?"

Saria smiled and got a little closer to Ross, "I came to, um, sit by the lake with you."

'With me?!' Ross thought anxiously.

Saria came and sat down next to Ross by the lake's edge. Both of them had a slight blush, but Ross was too distracted by his thoughts to look Saria in the eyes."

'Come on, just say it! This is your chance!'

Ross gulped and looked down at his feet. By them was a small white daisy, which he carefully plucked and held it out in front of Saria, "Here, Saria."

Saria smiled as she fixed it behind her ear.

S-Saria, I kinda been th-thinking, well I wanted to, um. There's something I ne-need to-"

He was cut off when Saria leaned up against him.

"Thank you for the flower Ross," Saria whispered before giving him a small peck on the cheek.

Ross' cheeks felt red hot on his face, he was overwhelmed by a sense of nervousness. Saria also had a slight ting of red on her face as she gazed up at Ross.

"I-I-I, uh, I have to go check on Scratch and Sibelius!" Ross exclaimed before dashing off toward the ranch.

Saria watched as Ross ran through the bushes and disappear from sight. She sighed deeply as her plan to confess her love to Ross failed.

'Why does he always rush off like that?' Saria thought about the kiss as she dipped a paw into the lake's water, watching the ripples scatter, 'He probably hates it when I do that.'

Saria sighed again; unaware of the glowing yellow eyes watching her from the shadows of the tree line.

'I should apologize to him then,' Saria resolved and turned to go after Ross.

She took a step away from the lake before the shadow from the tree line leapt out and landed in her path. Saria fell backward, an icy chill ran down her spine, unwilling her to move or speak as the Armaldo loomed over her.

A faint tint of red crossed the Armaldo's face as he spoke, "Saria, I've been watching you from afar for too long. I want to confess my love for you!"

The suitor waited for a response from Saria, but when he didn't get one he continued on.

"I would do anything for your love in return. I would even cross the sea to Kanto for you."

Saria was too terrified to understand what the Armaldo was saying. The Armaldo took a step closer and when Saria noticed this, she couldn't help but scream.

"AAAAAAAHHHH, BUG!"

---

Ross continued to wonder through the forest aimlessly. He couldn't believe he lost his nerve to confess to Saria, again.

'I just have to go back and tell her.'

This thought brought a swarm of butterflies to his stomach, but he knew what he was going to say; 'Saria, I love-'

"AAAAAAAHHHH, BUG!"

Ross jolted upright as he heard Saria's cry. There was no time to think as he ran back to the lake.

"Saria! I'm coming!"

---

The Armaldo was completely thrown off guard by Saria's scream.

"I know we come from different species, but we can always make it work," The Armaldo said, taking another step forward.

"No, please don't eat me!" Saria cried as she stumbled backwards with each of the Armaldo's steps.

The Armaldo was starting to get a little angry from the rejection, "I love you Saria, can't you see that? I want you!"

"Keep away from her, you creep," Ross shouted, bursts of blue sparks shooting from his cheeks.

Saria was overjoyed to see that Ross had come to protect her, "Ross!"

"Get lost rat, you had your chance. Saria will be mine now."

Ross stared the wild Armaldo down as best as he could, "Don't you dare lay a finger on her, or I'll make you regret it!"

The Armaldo turned a deadly glare to Ross, "Fine then, when this battle is over, Saria will be mine."

Ross attacked first, hurtling a power packed Thunder Bolt toward the Armaldo. The Armaldo too the attack head on and shrugged it off instantly. Ross used the distraction to get in closer and charged up an Iron Tail. He jumped into a front flip, swinging his tail wildly. The Armaldo saw it coming and dodged the menacing swipes. He was quite agile for his size and caught Ross from behind with an X-Scissor attack. Ross stumbled to the ground with an 'oomph!'

'Woah, he's pretty quick for an Armaldo,' Ross thought as he got up again.

"Is that all you've got, rat," The Armaldo sneered.

"Ross, you can do this," Saria cheered as she watched the battle.

It was the Armaldo's turn to attack first and he unleashed a hard spout of Water Gun onto Ross. Ross was able to run out of the line of fire and sent another Thunder Bolt crashing toward the Armaldo. He got another direct hit, but with minimal damage with Armaldo being part rock type.

They exchanged a couple more blows; another X-Scissor from the Armaldo to block Ross' Iron Tail. Ross used Agility to dodge a deadly Rock Blast. Ross knew he couldn't stay on the defensive for too long, but that thought was too late.

"I'm done playing around!" The Armaldo roared. Before Ross knew it, he was hurtling through the air, the pain of Armaldo's Fury Cutter attack quickly shooting through him like bolts of lightning.

Saria gasped, "Oh no, Ross!"

"No Saria, stay back," Ross struggled to his feet, "I have to do this myself, for you."

Saria's heart fluttered, "Ok Ross, I believe in you."

"Why can't you just stay down?!" The Armaldo yelled angrily.

"Because *huff* I'm not *huff* going to let you take Saria away!"

Ross was now back on his feet, standing tall and fierce.

"Fine then, it's your funeral."

The Armaldo became ferocious as well, sending crushing Rock Blast attacks to bury the Raichu. Ross jumped and weaved from one spot to another, barely avoiding each attack.

'I can't give up,' Ross leapt up and over the Armaldo, catching his back with an Iron Tail.

The Armaldo staggered and roared in pain, he did not expect to get hit at close range. Ross used the moment of the Armaldo's recovery to charge again. A veil of blue electricity engulfed Ross as he rushed forward. He hit the Armaldo square in the chest with Volt Tackle. The Armaldo couldn't recover this time and began to topple, but Ross wasn't done yet.

"Yaaaahhh!" Ross spun in a 360 with a Mega Kick in tow.

The Armaldo was lifted off his feet by the last attack and spun head over heel clear across the lake.

Ross panted wearily, but stood proudly over his win in the match.

"Ross, you did it, thank you," Saria cried joyfully as she toppled onto Ross, "Thank you for saving me."

Ross blushed wildly now that the Armaldo was gone and he was alone with Saria. She gave him another peck on the cheek and Ross was just about to start running away.

'No, I know why I'm here.'

"S-Saria?" Ross started off.

Saria felt the seriousness in Ross' voice, "Yes Ross?"

"After that battle, I feel I finally have the strength to do something very important."

Both Saria and Ross stared deeply into each other's eyes longingly with bright red faces.

"What do you mean Ross?"

'Here it goes,' Ross thought, taking a long deep breath, "I've been meaning to say, I lo-"

"Ross? Saria? Where are you?"

Veruka's voice broke their attention from each other as she, Vincent, and Cotton cleared the tree line to find the Raichu and Leafeon by the lake.

"What are you three doing out here?" Ross quickly asked.

"We came to get you two for lunch when we heard a battle," Cotton answered now with a deviously raised eyebrow, "What are YOU two doing out here *giggle*."

Ross and Saria both noticed that Saria was still lying on top of Ross and hastily separated, too embarrassed to look at each other now.

"Can we please go back now that we found them, I'm starving," Vincent said, his stomach rumbling.

Saria ran over to the end of the woods leading to the ranch, "Yes, um, Vincent's right let's go eat. What do you say Ross?"

"Ah, s-sure. Let's go," Ross replied as everyone left.

Ross looked over his shoulder to the crystal clear lake. He came so close this time, but choked.

'Next time," Sighing as he headed for the ranch with the others.