I hope you are reading this despite the fact that this fanfiction is several years old.
I have extremely high standards when it comes to what I read and I don't review unless I have been impressed by a fanfiction. And you are one of the incredibly few people who have managed to impress me with your story.
Where do I even begin with this. I don't think I have ever seen anyone with this much talent for characterization and I'm including all the actually published books I have read throughout my life. I don't think I've ever seen anyone portray their characters so well. They don't feel one dimentional like so many others on this website. They feel and act like real human beings and not cardboard cutouts characters. Even though you made the characters much older than what they are in the source material, their personnalities is spot on. Even the minor characters like Prof. Oak are masterfully portrayed. And the way you portray Misty and Gary... I have no words.
Never have I read a fanfiction that found that perfect balance between dragging things on for way too long or rushing it to get to the "good" stuff so that you don't feel invested in the story at all.
All the dialogue is masterfully crafted. Nothing is tedious. It's so well written you can picture the scene perfectly like a movie. It feels real. And when you get to the romance stuff, it really made me feel something. You made Gary into such an irresisitble playboy not even Misty could resist him and you made it totally believable.
I wouldn't have bothered to write such an elaborate review unless I really wanted to see what would happen next. You have captured my attention. I don't heap praise on just anyone but I couldn't not tell you just how fantastic a writer you are. I know it's been a while since you updated this thing but if there ever is a chance that you would continue this then please! I will be your faithful reader and I will gladly review!

This made me cry like a baby, so beautifully sad.

I just came across this story. I just got into Pokemon for the first time since Indigo League originally aired. Stayed up late reading your story and now I am bawling my eyes out. I see it has been 2 years since you last updated. At this point, I don't expect you to finish the story but I was wondering if you would mine messaging me and letting me know how you planned on the story ending. It is unresolved and such a good story that I want to know what happens.

I swear I've actually read this story before! But it still has me at the edge of my seat! The character interactions are so very well done, between how you keep everybody in character so beautifully and the realism in most of your scenes! I wish this story were completed...but I understand... I hope you do manage to finish it one day, as it is an incredible piece of work!

This is too good I swear.

I noticed you haven't updated in a while! Life sure whisks you away, huh? I hope you plan on continuing it. This story's been on my mind for the past few days... I've been conjuring up my own head-canons as to what happens following Ash's funeral until you did put up the next chapter. (I reviewed as "pkmnmaniac" before.)

Yes, Gary's still in his thinking corner.

Whatever the reason, don't rush on the update, take your time! Just know that I am still thinking about it, and am devastated about Ash's funeral still.

I hope there is a somewhat happy ending after all of this! Maybe Gary growing a pair or something.

I don't care that it's been half a year since this has been edited - this is my utmost favourite fanfiction I've ever read (and I read it all tonight, 2 hours straight). It's just honestly powerful writing and you brought tears to my eyes towards the end.

The way you maintained tension throughout this work is masterful, and the twists and turns are brilliantly played. The way both options for Misty are held tantalisingly there, and the eventual epic resolution and subsequent fallout is sublime. As a moderate Pokeshipper, I've been through the works; despising Gary, hating Ash's bad decisions (yet knowing that Ash himself would have done exactly the same), to honestly feeling overwhelmed by how real and raw every character's plight feels. You've both managed to stay perfectly in character, and at the same time make each character so much more complex, with a depth of emotion that I never knew words could convey. And on top of that, your battle scenes are incredible - a perfect blend of game mechanics and anime lifelikeness.

I could go on, but I feel privileged for having read this work, and currently don't know whether I'm inspired to emulate you or down in the knowledge that nothing I write will ever touch the beauty and emotion and incredible feeling that yours does. I salute you, and thank you.

Please please please please please update :)

This story is about emotional manipulation, women, men, lust and love. It is a study for me.

(I'm so lazy about signing in.)

Ok, so a friend of mine (that friend being Poliwhirl42!) hooked me up with this fanfic. It destroyed me and I am ACHING for more. I can go on forever and ever and ever about how this fanfiction has done me in, in a good way, I mean. I feel like I'd be wasting your time and also be exceeding the character limit, whatever it is now, for reviews.

Just saying this fic is INCREDIBLE, and it has literally made me cry some parts (by 'some' I mean ALL parts). I am putting Gary in 'the corner' where he will contemplate all his life decisions. If he doesn't go through with it, his severed head will end up on a popsicle stick. As much as I love EgoShipping, I feel I am betraying my Ego-trash heart because A PART OF ME ACTUALLY DOES NOT WANT MY FAVORITE CHARACTER OF ALL TIME TO WIN MISTY. OMG.

I STILL CAN'T BREATHE. THIS FIC IS SO GOOD AND I JUST -

I AM STILL TAKING IT ALL IN. IT'S SO GOOD.

The only pkm that I felt was missing was togetic. Very nice chapter.

I can't wait to see where this leads. I hope the next chapter will take less time. :)

Welp you had me bawling like a baby too. Lt Surge isn't alone in that.

Dear God, you made me cry! Fan fiction never makes me cry! This chapter was so appropriately touching, moving, tragic and really quite beautiful, but you managed to intersperse it with moments that made me laugh: as always, I love your Pokemon metaphors, I adored your Team Rocket cameo, and your Gary's inner monologues, even if they were clouded with grief and regret, are always priceless. You did a brilliant job with this chapter, every moment you spent on it was absolutely, 100% worth it and you should be proud to have written something so sad so well; the grief was palpable and I felt like I was there for every moment of it, something that is so difficult to pull off.

I can't wait to see where you go from here, and I eagerly await the next chapter. Great job again.

OH MY GOD! I absolutely loved this chapter! It was sincere, emotional and really insightful. Please keep writing this fanfic piece so I can keep reading it!