Ribbon Cup Chronicles

Summary: In this story, a prequel to "Sinnoh League Chronicles", tells the tale of how Ash, Dawn, and Brock first met Ranee. What kind of coordinator is she? How did they all meet? This story tells all!

Pairings: Pokeshipping (Ash/Misty), Locketshipping (Paul/OC: Ranee), and Penguinshipping (Kenny/Dawn).

If you squint: Dimensionalaurashipping (Ash/OC: Ranee).

Last Call, First Round!

It was finally time for the Grand Festival and a young girl with long blue hair, blue eyes, wearing a black top, a pink skirt, pink boots, a yellow backpack, and a Piplup in her arms; along with a boy with short messy black hair, brown eyes, wearing a red cap with a green ball on it, a blue jacket with a yellow v down the middle, blue jeans, green backpack, and blue and red shoes. He also had a Pikachu perched on his right shoulder.

Also arriving along with them was a dark colored skin man, with brown spiky hair, wearing a green undershirt, a black and red vest, gray pants, a blue backpack, and black shoes. Dawn, the blue haired girl, was excited about this. She really couldn't wait to take things on at the Grand Festival but first, she wanted to see her friends first. Dawn was at this big meet and greet where at least hundred coordinators were. Brock, the dark skinned man, saw all of the beautiful girls and started to hit on all of them.

One was so frightened that she accidently bumped into Ash, the boy with the messy black hair. Ash caught her and asked, "Are you okay?" "Y-yeah, thanks," the girl stammered as she got to her feet and got a good look at her savior. Ash got a good look at the girl. She had medium length brown hair, green eyes, wearing a silver locket around her neck, a purple dress shirt, black dress jeans, white running shoes, and a white pouch around her waist.

While this was happening, Croagunk was Poison Jabbing the flirting Brock. The girl asked, "Hey, aren't you Ash Ketchum?" Ash nodded and answered, "Yeah." The girl stated, "Oh wow, I saw you and your Buizel at the Wallace Cup! You two were really good. It's too bad that you lost to Kyle, though, he's a tough coordinator." Dawn got in on the conversation after hearing that and asked, "Do you know Kyle too?" "Yeah, we faced off in one of the contests I took place in," the girl answered.

"So you're a coordinator," Dawn wagered. The girl nodded and responded, "Yeah and you are Dawn, correct? You were the winner of the Wallace Cup!" Dawn replied, proudly, "That's me!" "Piplup, pip," Piplup added, copying Dawn. The girl giggled as she introduced herself, "In all of the excitement, I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Ranee Katina and I'm here to compete for the Ribbon Cup! And once I get the Ribbon Cup, the Championship of Sinnoh will be mine!"

Ash perked up at this and asked, "Wait a minute, you're a trainer too?" "Yeah," Ranee answered, "Ever since I left Veilstone City, I had two goals, becoming top coordinator and becoming a Pokémon Master! See, my dad was a great trainer and my mom a great coordinator. I couldn't choose between the two worlds, so I picked both!" Dawn perked up at this as they were eating together and stated, "Just like Nando!" "Nando," Ranee asked, a bit confused. That's when they heard Rhonda giving Nando an interview.

Nando stated, "Well, my Pokémon and I were hoping this glorious day would come to past." Brock observed, coming over to the three of them, "So, Nando has earned all five ribbons as well." Dawn and Ranee were a bit surprised by this but Ranee was a bit fearful so she hid behind Ash. Dawn commented to Brock as Ash was a bit surprised by Ranee hiding behind him, "What a quick recovery!" Ash turned to Ranee and said, rather gently, "There's no need to be afraid, Ranee.

"Brock won't flirt with you again as long as you stick around us." Before Ranee could react; Nando started to play his harp and sang, "I have a brand new performance here to share and I'm so thrilled that you will be there." Rhonda stated, "That was so lovely, thank you!" She turned to the camera and finished her report, moving on to the next person. Dawn called out, "Nando!" "Piplup," said Piplup. Nando perked up and saw the three trainers he met on his first day of his journey, along with Ranee.

Nando stated, "So we meet again and I see you have a new friend." Before Ranee had a chance to introduce herself to Nando, Rhonda perked up as she saw Dawn and Ranee. Rhonda gushed, "Oh, Dawn and Miss Katina. May we have a word with you two?" Dawn brought out a mirror to make sure that her hair was in place as Piplup and Ranee both sweat dropped at the scene. After the girls gave their interview, Nando turned to Ranee. "Ranee Katina, this is a true pleasure," Nando said, in his usual musical tone.

Ranee perked up at this and asked, "You know who I am?" Nando nodded and answered, "Yes, I saw your first contest a long time ago. The way you controlled your Pokémon so forcefully yet gracefully – truly a sight behold. I can understand why you won your first contest so easily." "Seriously," Dawn asked, freaking out a bit. Ranee blushed out embarrassment and answered, "It was beginners luck, mostly." "There is no such thing as luck, my friend," Nando stated.

He added, "You either know what you are doing or you train until you get it right." Dawn realized that Nando was right and she did really hard to get to this point. 'Guess I'll have to work extra hard to get the Ribbon Cup,' she thought to herself, getting a tad nervous. Nando stated, "I had a hard time deciding on whether to take part in either contests or in gym battles. That was until I battled with both you and Ash and decided to pursue both. And I am very grateful that we all met."

Ranee perked up at this and started to think, 'If Nando is just like me, there's no doubt we might see each other in the Sinnoh League and here. That would raise my level a bit more and then…' "Ranee," a voice called. Ranee perked up and saw that Dawn was getting her attention. "You okay," the blue haired coordinator asked the brown haired one. Ranee nodded and answered, "Yeah, I'm fine." Ash asked Nando, "What about your gym battles?" Nando brought out a badge case and inside were seven badges.

He answered, "As you can see, I have seven badges which means that I only have one more to enter the Sinnoh league." "Me too," Ash and Ranee said at the exact time, surprising the other. Ash stared at Ranee in shock and vice versa. Brock stated to Ash, "Looks like you have a new rival." "Yeah," Ash replied, "And I wanna have a battle with you, Ranee." "Maybe after the Grand Festival," Ranee respectfully declined. Ash looked a bit upset but understood. Just then, someone tapped Dawn on the shoulder.

Dawn turned around and saw Kenny standing right behind her. Kenny poked her in the cheek and said, "Gotcha, Dee-Dee!" Dawn yelled, "Kenny!" Ash perked up and said, "Hey, Kenny! Long time no see!" Kenny replied, "Ash, hey man!" Brock explained to Nando and Ranee, "You see, Kenny and Dawn grew up together in Twinleaf Town." Kenny declared, "I'm gonna win this thing with my brand new fusion move!" "What's a fusion move," Ash asked, confused.

Kenny answered, being a bit mysterious, "You'll have to wait and see, Dee-Dee dear!" Dawn stated, "Then that's just what I'll do." Kenny perked up at this and asked, "Hold on, you're not going to freak over me calling you Dee-Dee?" Dawn explained to him what happened with Ursula and her Plusle and Minun. Ranee had to admit that Kenny looked a little surprised. Just when Dawn mentioned Plusle and Minun, the two Pokémon jumped on her. The two shocked her as Piplup escaped into Kenny's arms.

Kenny caught the penguin and when the "diamond dandruff" returned, Dawn didn't even freak out. Ranee tried her hardest not to laugh but it was hilarious. Dawn saw her Piplup in Kenny's arms and blushed. But she focused on the Plusle and Minun on her. She started to ask, "Now hold on, aren't you two…?" "Those are my little ones," said a voice. Everyone spun around and saw Ursula standing there. "Ursula," Dawn asked. Plusle and Minun jumped on Ursula's shoulders.

She stated, "I just wanted to say good luck." With that, she walked off. Everyone exchanged shrugs as Kenny handed back Piplup to Dawn. Both of them were blushing up a storm. Kenny observed that Ursula and Dawn had some history. Dawn sweat dropped at this as someone called her name. Dawn turned around and there was Zoey. "Zoey," Dawn called out, happily. "Zoey," Dawn gushed, "How are you?" "Fine, tuning things up with Glameow," Zoey replied as the others came over.

Zoey saw Ranee and asked, "Wait, aren't you Ranee Katina?" "Yeah, why," Ranee asked, a bit confused. "I saw your recent contest and I gotta say, you are pretty good like Nando," Zoey answered. Ranee blushed a bit from the complement and stated, "Well, I just did my best, like I always do." "And that's all you can do," Zoey replied. As Zoey and Dawn talked about the finals, Kenny interjected that he might be winning. Nando and Ranee both stayed quiet.

Jessilina, Jessie in disguise, told them that she would be the one winning and not them. Ursula watched this unfold from the side, keeping to herself as well. That night, Dawn was getting her Pokémon ready for the Grand Festival. They were all excited and Dawn showed them her mother's first ribbon that she ever won thanking her friends for everything. The Pokémon were impressed as Ranee came over, staying in the other room. "Hey, Dawn," she said. "Oh, hey Ranee," said Dawn.

"I was going to get some ice cream," Ranee stated. She then asked, "Would you and your Pokémon like to join me?" "No thanks," Dawn answered, "I wanna get ready for tomorrow." "I could go for some ice cream," Ash stated. Ranee turned and smiled at Ash. "Great, let's go then," Ranee replied as the two of them headed out. Brock silently observed this as the two headed out.

Ash, Ranee, and Pikachu were licking their ice cream cones underneath the stars. Ranee stopped for a second, flinching over a brain freeze. Ash laughed…until he did it too. Ranee laughed as did Pikachu. Ash turned to Ranee and asked, "So, are you nervous about tomorrow?" "A bit," Ranee answered, "That's why I thought going out for some ice cream might calm me down." "I hear ya," Ash stated, "Ice cream is always the best for your troubles." Ranee nodded as Pikachu said, "Pi pika."

Ranee smiled as she petted the electric mouse. Pikachu rather liked that as Ash smiled at her kindness. Ash said, "You know, it feels kind of weird that we just met and I feel like I've known you for a long time." Ranee replied, "I know what you mean. It's weird." Ash smiled and responded, "But we do have this great connection." "I know," Ranee said. After finishing their ice cream and spending most of the night talking, Ash and Ranee headed back to the Pokémon Center, with Pikachu right on Ash's heels.

The next morning, as Ash worked on Gible's Draco Meteor, Dawn was getting ready for the start of the Grand Festival, getting a brand new dress for the event. Ranee also got a new dress from home that she was more than ready to debut. Things were finally getting under way. However, while Ash was training with Gible, one of the Draco Meteor's almost hit Kenny. Ranee and Zoey went to help Dawn, when she was having a bad hair day – plus all three girls were beyond nervous.

Marian introduced everyone and showed off the Ribbon Cup itself. It was a double performance. Everyone was a bit nervous as Ursula went first showing off with two Eevee's. Ursula showed off their original abilities first before evolving them into Vapereon and Flareon, respectfully. Dawn looked them with her Pokedex and Ranee stated, "Wow that was different." "And she showed off evolution pretty well," Zoey observed. As for Nando, he used Altaria and Kricketot. Jessilina showed off Yanmega and Seviper.

Ranee showed off her Infernape and her Lanturn. Zoey showed off her Lumineon and Gastrodon. Kenny showed off his Empoleon and his Floatzel, messing up in his fusion move, hurting him badly. Dawn was heartbroken by this, even though she didn't show it. Dawn showed off her Buneary and Cyndaquil, showing off her Ice Pokeball idea. As everyone finished, Dawn was getting more nervous. Everyone was there for her as the announcements came in.

Marian announced that Zoey, Nando, Jessilina, Ursula, Ranee, and Dawn were moving on to the next round – and Kenny wasn't. Dawn felt awful as her stomach tightened when she saw Kenny's face. Kenny was so good too…until that goof… "Too bad," Ranee stated, "If he practiced that fusion move a bit more, he would've made it." Dawn made a fist without even thinking, gaining Ranee's attention.

The grip got tighter when Kenny announced that he was leaving that night. Dawn was heartbroken even more when he left and she wanted to chase after him. Ranee cringed at the sight for some reason – gaining the attention of Ash. The heat was just getting started as everyone well knew. It was only get worse through the entire Grand Festival, Dawn knew. She was ready for it...she hoped...

AK1028: I apologize for the delay in this story but I've been busy in college! Anyways, got a birthday coming up this month on the 28th, I'll be 22 years old! Plus, I'll be donating blood tomorrow at my college and going to Comic Con on Sunday! Hope you guys like the start of this! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!