Dawn's Wedding Day

It was a brisk morning in July. Everybody was in Pallet Town for a reunion: Misty, Ash, Brock, May, Max, and Dawn, as well as some others, including Sakura, whose Eevee had evolved into a Leafeon.

Ash was about to announce that he was in love with one of the girls. Why he was going to do this, he did not know. There was no lie about it, but he hated to hurt people's feelings. Of course, it was doubtful that Sakura would be bothered by his choice, but the other two…

Dulia watched her son, tentatively. Was he certain he wanted one of them? She was really hoping he would wait a little longer—he was only twenty years old, very young to get married.

"I'm rooting for you, buddy," Brock told Ash.

"Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better."

"Look, just because I'm not settled down yet—"

"Brock, you're a breeder. Nobody really expects you to settle down until you turn at least sixty-five."

"Very funny."

"And hey, your Toxicroak will never let you get married, as long as you're together. You really should've considered leaving it at Snowpoint City (as I suggested) if you wanted to have a wife."

"Yeah, I suppose you are right. But Toxicroak and I are the best of pals, even if he won't let me have a girl. Although, perhaps Sakura…"

Toxicroak came out of its Pokeball and used Poison Jab on Brock, after which he dragged him off.

"That's Brock, for you," Ash said to Pikachu, not even knowing why. "You know, it's really strange how Dawn's Bunneary refused to evolve because of you. There's so many similarities between our journeys—she saw a legendary Pokemon on the first day she set out, and I saw one on mine. Of course, hers was Diagla, and mine Ho-oh, but all the same…And then there was that Pachirisu she caught, an Electric type like yourself, causing a few of the same problems, like shocking everybody at every opportunity."

"Pika, pi."

"I hate to hurt Misty's feelings, but Dawn's so…Dawn. Even her name just rings sweet on my ears: every time I look at her, I think of morning, of hope, of a fresh new start. But Misty will expect me to choose her; I couldn't be more certain of it. Of course, she no longer holds a grudge against me for demolishing her bike, but perhaps she'll feel that I am abandoning her by preferring Dawn. But I can't help it. Misty would want me to have the best happiness, wouldn't she?"

"Pika," said Pikachu. Then Ash noticed that one of his Pokeballs was throttling. Somebody wanted to be let out.

"Come on out then!" Ash said, throwing the ball in the air.

It was Grotle, Turtwig's evolved form.

"So you want to hear me make my final decision regarding marriage, too, huh?"

Grotle nodded.

"I'm not sure that'd be fair, though. The only one you're familiar with is Dawn, and anything good I have to say about the others will fall on dead ears. Wait, I know! We'll go to Professor Oak's lab and see Bayleef, Bulbasaur, and Grovyle."

Once all of Ash's Grass Pokemon were gathered around him, he said, "Pikachu and I were talking earlier. I'm getting married, and I want to make a wise decision. All three of the girls are likely to accept me, and so I have no worries there. The only problem is that I hate disappointing the other two."

Grovyle gave a snort.

"What's that? You don't think May would accept me? Why not? Certainly there's no one she'd choose over me…well, except maybe that Harley kid. But I'm sure she wouldn't say no."

"Ash, I couldn't help overhearing. So, it's possible you're going to marry my sister."

"Max, I didn't expect you to be here."

"Where else would I be? Professor Oak's lab is the most interesting place in Pallet, perhaps in the entire Kanto Region. Of course, I've only explored Hoenn and Johto, so I can't really say yet. But I'm certain it is."

"Yes, now about May."

"I don't think you have a chance with her. I hate to be blunt, but she's so different from the other two. Of course, I just met Misty and Dawn three days ago, but I can tell that you have a much better chance of being happy with them than with May."

"Or perhaps your father would object."

"I don't think so. If May desires it, my dad would permit it, no ifs, ands, or buts. However, that's the point. I don't think she will."

"That's too bad. I really thought…"

"Why don't we drop her from your considerations, and discuss Misty."

"Well, I'd have to ask Bulbasaur and Bayleef what they think first."

Bulbasaur smiled, but Bayleef charged at Ash and gave him a headbutt.

"I don't think Bayleef likes Misty too much," Max said, while Ash brushed himself off and stood up again.

"Oh, come on! What could she have against Misty?"

"All kinds of things. But I think it's silly to argue about whom you're going to choose. Isn't there any among them you love more than the others?"

"Dawn," Ash said, almost automatically.

"Then why are you pondering whether that's the right decision or not? I say go for it."

"But Misty will be hurt!"

"And so you would let Dawn feel pain for choosing a girl you don't love as much over her?"

"I guess you have a point there."

"Choose Dawn and be done with it. Well, I'll see you later. I've gotta go check out the Rapidash."

Ash looked at Grotle, who was extremely pleased at this talk with Max. "Fine then, Dawn it is!"

The next day, at noontime, he was sweating as he ate lunch. Dawn was sitting across from him, and he couldn't stop staring at her. "What? Is there something in my teeth?" she asked.

Later, he pulled her aside, out of earshot. "Dawn, I want you to marry me."

"I wish I could, but I already promised someone else," she said, after a moment's silence.

"Oh," Ash said, looking downcast.

"I'm kidding! Can't you take a joke? Of course I'll marry you. What a beautiful couple we'll be, a Pokemon coordinator and a Pokemon trainer."

Ash was happy as he walked back to join the others. Dawn told them at once, and he saw Misty's face grow dark. She left abruptly, and he ran after her.

"Misty, wait up!"

She stopped. "How could you choose her over me?"

"I love Dawn."

"And she'll never be a perfect wife for you. You'll haven't even known each other long enough."

"Six years, I think, is an awful long time."

"So? We've known each other for ten. I think I'm more suitable."

"I knew you'd take it like this."

"I'm not going to be at your wedding, just so you now."

"But it'd be nothing without you."

"That's my final decision. I only came here because I thought you loved me, but I see I was mistaken. Goodbye."

That night, Misty got on a ship and sailed to Sootopolis City in Hoenn. As soon as it was known when Ash and Dawn were to get married, Misty announced her own marriage to Juan, the Sootopolis Gym Leader.