I went to see Phantom of the Opera in Cleveland last week, and as I walked out afterwards humming various bits of the music, I got this overwhelming desire to reread this fic! It has been one of my favorites for years and years! Even though it's been three years since an update, I still think about it fairly frequently and even go back to reread once in a while. I know your life has probably been crazy and full of all sorts of new adventures in the last three years, but I want you to know that if you ever update, I will still be around and still be super excited to read it! Take care!

Okay, so this is literally the first review I've posted in years but your fic was brought up on Tumblr today (by me, due to an anon's question) and it reminded me how much I loved it when I started reading it years ago... so I came back and reread it, including the newer chapters that I hadn't gotten to before.

You have always been one of my favorite authors. I mean it sincerely when I say that I idolized you when I first started out. You had relatively flawless grammar, you dabbled in all genres (which can be hard to do, let me tell ya), you knew how to carry a story faithfully without dropping the ball and disappointing your readers with too much filler.

You are still one of my favorite authors, even though I rarely ever get to read fan-fiction due to work anymore. Whenever someone strolls onto my blog and asks for fan-fiction recs, you're at the top of my highly selective list.

Take that compliment with however much enthusiasm you want, but you're a legacy Pokeshipper I still believe in even now.

So now that I've finally caught up with the one story you're still (maybe) writing, now that I've read a couple of your author's notes explaining how that rare review in between your even rarer fic update fuels you into inspiration, I thought I'd come along and remind you this still needs finishing.

I sounds like your life is pretty hectic. Joining the army, moving to another country, I know that must eat away at your time, which is why the next update has been delayed despite your AN in this chapter saying it should be up "before next fall" (and this was written three years ago so)... I hope all is well with you. I think I remember years ago when I read your FFN profile that you couldn't exert yourself physically due to either a lasting injury or illness (I may have mixed you up with someone though so, if so, please forgive me), but I hope you find time to come back to this because I'm still here. And not only me, I'm sure.

I hope that the XY series hasn't dampered your Pokeshipping heart. I know, canonically, that a new female character being interested in Ash has caused quite a stir over the past year or two and that at least a couple of Pokeshippers have either turned multi-shipper or else have finally decided it's time to give up on their OTP and move on to what's "really" canon.

This fic is still everything I remember and more. The characters are engaging, emotionally charged, three dimensional. Everyone has their necessary role and you've even allowed minor players to shine brighter than I expected. So I hope you'll come back to it. I hope you realize how much time you've invested and that you WANT to finish it, not just for your readers, but for yourself.

Lastly, I hope this review reaches you well and that it doesn't make you uncomfortable. Please be safe!

But I thought... I thought -sobbing painfully-
WHYYYYY? -strangled noise-
I had hope for a while (until I reached half of the chapter lol).
So close :,(
Oh man -still sobbing-
It was a great chapter anyways. Everyone's screwed asf, but at least Ash and Misty aren't dead (and I hope it'll stay that way if you ever... You know D:)
Gary still thinks things are Ash's fault, seriously? He even admitted Ash is weak-hearted.
Is Gary gonna take down Drake? Delia? Even Misty if he gets to her?
And Ash's father is not dead? O.O
What kind of... just... WHY'D YOU LEAVE IT HANGING THERE?
Regardless, this was one of the most well-written and engaging stories I've ever seen. It's beautiful.
And I'll be more than overjoyed if you ever finish it.
Now excuse as I go mope in some corner for the rest of my life because most of the best fanfics are never finished.

"One more chapter, folks! And I mean that this time. After that there will be a brief epilogue, and that's all. Period. Forever. inorite. Scary."

Oh...oh. OH! I feel so stupid now LOL
I thought it was never... Well, I checked your LJ and it looked like you were going to write act 5 as well.
Then it has an ending? -happy dance-
But I'm apprehensive. For once I don't know if a story will end up well or not even though it's so close to the end (you can usually tell) and just one more chapter for wrapping everything up makes me even more anxious.
Please, don't kill Ash! -crossing fingers-
Kill Gary instead, he's creepy and evil and batshit crazy. Why so much hate in his kokoro?
But oh well, I'm so sorry for my misunderstanding!
Btw, great chapter as always. I love how their relantionship is progressing.

W h a t. They had to find him right when Misty was gone.
You're evil -cries-
They... they had sex?! :O
Things are getting too complicated. Seriously tho, were you intending on finishing this in tragedy? D:
I mean... Delia already had that :/
And now I'm afraid Ash was supposed to die as Misty bore his child. Just like Delia. Please, tell me that wasn't it -cries-
I mean... The poor Pokemon that the Stadium abuse will never be free?
I think some Legendaries should come by and help Ash restore balance to this twisted world in which Pokemon are abused -pouts-

Oh, and why can't Rudy just say "Ash is a lucky guy" and move on? :,D

Damn, two weeks?! Poor Delia.
The ending made me turn to jelly from the cuteness.

"There's only one act left, and it'll be a short one; I'm hoping not to break twenty chapters." -screaming inside-
Oh, and I haven't mentioned it before, but I checked your LJ! Phantom Ash is really too cute XD
But I kinda prefer reading here... You see, I use my cell to read fanfics and LJ's format is just... Not good.

This chapter was really cute. Yeah, my Pokeshipping fangirl side got ecstatic!

A master is on her side? -dances happily-
Master Drake being Ash's uncle was really unexpected!
What, she's making up with Rudy? -desk flip-
Wow, another heated argument. And this one was even more intense!
So they've broken up oficially -happy dance-
No, no, no! Rudy and Gary working together is too much -terrified-

"Misty's chest lurched. She wondered why he needed his mother to tell him these things."
Hahah :,D
Wow, she kissed him!? O...O
Of course he would run away -facepalms-
Man, that talk with Brock was so good. It's incredible how fast they sorta bonded.
And Brock's advice... Loved it! :D
Why can't Ash understand how Misty could treat him like a human? It’s obvious the same thing happened to his father and his mom XD And the previous Phantoms for that matter.

"He did not remember calling a Mr. Brock Slate, room 937, on Wednesday at 10:37 in the morning, nor on any other day for that matter."
LOL You JUST have to make things harder, don't you? XDDD
And here I was thinking Rudy would be dumb till the end -sighs-
Wow, that fight between Misty and Rudy was intense.
Damnit, Rudy will help Gary now? -facepalms-

Poor Rudy. But I couldn't contain my laugh either when Brock came and asked if he really believed Misty's story LOL

Wow, that was intense.
Gary just had to find them, hadn't he? D:
You like to make things harder for them. I kinda like that XD
But I'm worried about what Gary will do now. He reminds me of Mr Filch from Harry Potter LOL
And Ash's hideout isn't that safe anymore.
So Brock was rescued by Ash as well? :o
That's awesome!

W H A T? N O!
Damn it, no! WHY DID SHE HAVE TO TELL EVERYTHING TO RUDY? -flips desk-
I can't believe they've captured Ash and made it look like Misty lured him. What will she do?
Just... nooooo! -sobbing painfully-

What. I can't believe she ran away like that!
And then told Rudy everything. And then Rudy told Gary. Wth.
I REALLY hope she didn't tell Rudy about Delia. Ash and Delia will be doomed if she did.
At least Misty still believes in Ash.

Wow, Max died? D:
Why does Gary hate Ash so much? D:
And man, I feel bad for Delia. She's already lost Ash's father and Ash's reckless as hell.
And what, Rudy and Misty's relantionship is advancing! D:
Oh, and I love how Misty's curiosity is greater than her fear XD