Hold My Hand
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Tsukasa: So here we are, once again. Another Pearlshipping fanfiction. And here I was hoping to make an Advanceshipping one eventually.
Karen: Just do what works for you, and obviously you do well with Pearlshipping, so just go with that.
Tsukasa: Yeah, I guess you're right. Well, same old story as usual. 5 ½ years in the future, things have changed, yadda yadda.
Karen: Ugh, what he's trying to say is…. Ash and Dawn went their separate ways after the Sinnoh league, Ash deciding to go for the next region's gym challenge, and Dawn going with Kenny. However, feelings remained between the two, and transcended the 5 ½ years till the present. The story will explain the rest, though this is a short prologue to the real story.
Tsukasa: So sit back, relax, and enjoy reading!
Karen: We don't own Pokémon, only this and our many other ideas based on the copyrighted series.
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"Gah! Hurry up Brock!" Ash shouted as he and his best friend shot through the port of Vermillion City, "The boat's going to leave without us!"
A long year was steadily coming to a close. Another few days, and a new year would begin, and Ash wanted to celebrate it in style; In other words, he wanted to take a ride on the recently salvaged and repaired S.S. Anne.
Ash skidded around a corner, nearly throwing Pikachu off his shoulder, and took off toward the docks. There wasn't much time left before the boat left, though he couldn't get mad at anyone but himself for breaking the alarm clock that woke not only him but Brock as well.
"Ash, hold on! You do have the tickets, right!" Brock asked in an almost scolding voice, truly expecting Ash to have dropped them somewhere in his mad dash.
Ash looked back and smiled, "Yeah, I got them in my pocket!" he replied, not noticing the direct collision course he had with- "Gah!"
With a loud thump Ash and a parasol wielding girl crashed to the ground. Without even looking the girl in the eye, Ash stood and resumed running, "Sorry miss!"
"Damn it Ash! You need to be more careful!" Brock shouted as he ran by the girl. If not for the fact that they were beyond late, He'd help the girl, if not flirt with her, but time was not something they had.
The girl, wearing a white blouse with a icy blue ankle length loose skirt, and her head veiled by a large white hat, stood and shook her head, getting her bearings back. For a moment she didn't speak, only turning to look at the men who ran past her, "Was that…?" She got dizzy again. Apparently the fall did some damage, even if only a little, as she once more shook her head, her blue hair flowing behind her with a salty ocean breeze. In her mind, thoughts flowed and churned; Had she just had a collision with destiny as an old friend tore into the distance…? No, more than a friend… a… the girl closed her eyes as her open parasol rolled in her hands to block the sun. She slowly took a breath, deciding to wait to pursue… er, head towards the boat.
She let her mind clear, but without open thought, she didn't notice the seconds tick by. She felt at peace though, and for but a moment lost interest…. Until she heard the horn of the S.S. Anne announcing its leave. She snapped out of her thoughts, "Shoot! I'm late!"
All the while, from the lowest deck of the restored S.S. Anne, Ash Ketchum stared down at the docks. Both of his shoulders were bare, as his partner Pikachu had decided to go with Brock to get some food. They had skipped breakfast after all, but Ash passed on the food to watch as the port town drifted away into the slowly rising sun.
After such a long sprint, it almost didn't feel like it had only taken an hour to get to the docks, and it most certainly felt like more time had passed as he waited for the ship to depart. Something was on his mind though, a nagging thought about the girl he ran into. He could have sworn he saw her hair; a unique sapphire blue. That was another reason why he stood on the deck. He had hoped to see her board but…
Well, at least the view was nice, and the deck was rather sound despite Ash's initial thoughts on the matter. Vermillion Repair added a third deck at water level due to a recent increase in mantyke, Mantine and remoraid activity, allowing passengers to get closer to the "attractions". One would think this foolish due to the chance of large waves crashing down onto it, but the men and women at Vermillion Repair aren't as stupid as one would think; they installed a metal shield that will ascend from the edge of the deck and lock into the side of the ship, waterproofing it and protecting it from any water damage.
One would find it rather interesting that Ash even knew of this, since he really wasn't one for technology, being more suited to using the technology rather than studying it. But, after his last experience on the ship; the tragic sinking and the near death experience of almost falling into an –until recently- unexplored ocean trench, sealing him and his friends in the depths… There wasn't any chance he'd dare relive that experience without proper knowledge.
The young man knew every door, every device, hell, he even knew the name of every crew member on the ship. Fear of the past is one thing to deal with, preparation for the future, however, was a completely different and far more important topic. Yet on this day, as the S.S. Anne's horn rocked the harbor, and the hull of the ship slowly sliced the water, he never thought another part of his past would approach him; a blue haired damsel came running down the dock toward the ship. "Is that…?" The gangplank had been risen, and the girl was looking for a way on.
Both of them locked eyes, then shouted the other's name: "Ash!" "Dawn!" Both wished they could smile, but the ship slowly drifted away from the dock. Ash turned and sprinted toward the stern section of the viewing dock, then leaned over the side, his arm stretched out, "Take my hand, Dawn!"
The girl reached out, but was a mere inch out from his hand, "I can't!"
"Jump!"
Dawn hesitated, then, trusting her friend completely, leapt out onto the water…
"Gotcha!" Ash shouted as he threw his arms out as far as he could, grasping her hands and catching her just inches above the water. He pulled her aboard, though before she could even stand up straight, he embraced his dear friend in a tight hug, which she immediately returned, "Glad you made it aboard..."
"I'm glad to see you too." Dawn giggled cutely as she tightened the hug.
Ash quickly lost his interest in the fading town, and Dawn just smiled as her parasol rolled down the deck, leaving the two to be alone. Both savored the moment as long as they could, despite knowledge that the best part of the ending year was yet to come.
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Tsukasa: Yeah, it's short I know. But like I said this is just a prologue for the story.
Karen: And, once again, Tsukasa used a new style of writing.
Tsukasa: Yep, longer paragraphs and no page breaks, though there will be some in longer chapters. Just not as many as my previous stories.
Karen: Please review and tell us what you think about the new style!
Tsukasa: Till next time!