This is my newest idea as of 2-10-2009...
"That was a rather spectacular performance, wouldn't you agree, folks?" the announcer asked over the mic. The audience clapped vigorously in response.
"Yeah! Way to go, Dawn!" Ash yelled from his seat in the audience. He decided to watch her compete in it after Pikachu and the rest of the Pokémon had to be taken to the center when they somehow fell ill. The only Pokémon that didn't catch the disease was Buneary, and she was the participant in Dawn's next side contest.
'I'm sure Dawn is gonna win another ribbon this time. That Ice Beam-Bounce combo looked pretty cool,' Ash thought.
"And we have the results!" the announcer yelled out. "The next eight coordinators will advance to the next round!" The screen began to display the potential coordinators.
1...2...3...4...5...6...7...
8...But Dawn's picture was not there…
"Congratulations to all trainers who made it to the next round!" the announcer stated. In response, the audience roared with excitement.
"Hmm…I know that I shouldn't feel sad, but this is just something I can't shake off," Dawn said to herself as she sadly left the stadium. She walked near a fountain and sat on a bench, letting Buneary out of her Pokéball as she did so.
"Bun, buneary," Buneary said as she nuzzled her trainer in an effort to cheer her up.
"Thanks Buneary," Dawn replied. She hugged Buneary before she returned her to her Pokéball. Dawn sat there for a few minutes wondering what went wrong with her performance when Ash came into her view.
"Hey Dawn, are you alright? I was wondering where you went. I couldn't find you anywhere.," Ash stated.
"Sorry, Ash. I was just thinking about the contest. I wonder: what went wrong? Anyways, we should probably go check up on the other Pokémon. Ash," Dawn suggested.
"Oh you're right! Let's go right away!" Ash said, concern making itself evident on his face. With that, the two trainers made a dash for the Pokémon Center.
When Ash and Dawn visited the Pokèmon Center, they found out that Pikachu had made a recovery and was now fully active.
"I'm not surprised Pikachu recovered quickly. He's got a great trainer, and he's an electric type," Dawn stated, making Ash and Pikachu do bashful shrugs. "Pikachu sure is tough, isn't he? It's almost no wonder Buneary loves him." At this Pikachu didn't know how to react.
"Dawn, do you think everyone will be alright in the morning?" Ash asked, deciding to change the subject.
"I'm sure everyone will be fine. With Nurse Joy and Brock helping them, our Pokémon will get better in no time!" Dawn reassured. "Anyways, the sun's starting to set. I think we should go get some sleep." They began to head upstairs when they were suddenly halted by another Nurse Joy.
"I'm sorry, but these rooms are being used so that your Pokémon can recover. I'm afraid there's no place to sleep here yet," she stated sadly. She really did not want to put anyone out, but she had no choice.
"Oh, that's too bad…but if it means our Pokémon can get better, me and Dawn can handle it. Right, Dawn?" Ash asked her.
"Right, besides it's kinda nice to sleep outside sometimes," Dawn replied.
"Well if you two are ok with it, I'll bring you your supplies." Nurse Joy left the room to obtain the emergency sides.
"Say Ash, do you know where Brock is?" Dawn asked.
"Beats me. He might be upstairs helping out the other Nurse Joy," he replied. A loud groan and a thud startled both trainers as they looked upstairs. "I think Croagunk's awake now," Ash said with a chuckle. Just then Nurse Joy returned.
"Here are your supplies. They're a little…heavy," Nurse Joy said. She was straining to hold the few supplies in her hands, so Ash and Dawn quickly took them. "Is there anything I can do for you two before you go?"
Before anyone could say anything, Ash's stomach growled.
"There is one thing," he replied with a slight chuckle.
After everyone ate the dinner provided by the first Nurse Joy and Brock, Ash, Dawn, Buneary and Pikachu left the center. They walked into the forest near the center to set up camp. Upon close inspection, the supplies were revealed to be a tent and two sleeping bags. Everyone worked together to set up the camp and gather firewood. When the tasks were done, it was already nightfall and there was a good fire going.
"Hey Dawn, do you think I could become the new Sinnoh Champion?" Ash asked.
"Are you starting to have doubts? I'm sure you'll make it, Ash. After all, you never give up, and you work really hard. Those are actually two things I like about you," Dawn replied after a while of thinking.
"Thanks. I just wanted to hear what you would say," Ash replied. Pikachu and Buneary were sleeping together in the tent already. A moment of silence passed before Dawn spoke up.
"I'm going to take a walk, Ash. I'll see you later," she said.
"Ok. See you in the morning, Dawn. I'm going to sleep," he replied. He went into the tent and quickly dozed off.
Dawn began to trod through the forest in deep thought.
"I wonder if Ash ever thinks that maybe he should just settle down and stop battling…maybe after he becomes the champion. Probably not," she mumbled to herself, "but it's possible. Hmm…I think I would want to live with him if, for some reason, he can't do that anymore. He needs someone that can look after him because he could get in trouble without me, and I know he would do the same for me. As a friend." Dawn didn't notice that she had stumbled upon a pond, and since she was deep in thought, she continued forward.
"Whaa!" she cried as she fell in. Surfacing quickly, she found out that she fell into a pond. Luckily, she hadn't startled any of the nearby Pokémon to her relief.
"Aw, my clothes are all wet!" she complained as she got out of the water. "Well, I guess I should head back to camp now." Dawn began to shiver, so she decided to walk to camp slowly to avoid catching hypothermia. She saw the camp in the distance and began to quicken her pace when she noticed that she was running a lot faster than she could normally. Something even stranger had happened: a pillar of light had appeared at the camp.
"Huh? Where did that come from?" she asked to no one in particular. The light disappeared as quickly as it came, however. "Are Ash, Buneary and Pikachu okay?" She began to sprint back to camp in her worry, but when she got there, she realized how tired she had become.
'I guess I was more exhausted than I thought. I better put out the fire and call it a night,' she thought. After putting out the fire, she crawled into the tent with her eyes closed and dozed off., unaware of what had happened.
I hope you have enjoyed this chapter.