Prologue
As the pounding music began to leak through the room, Dawn felt something inside her click. It was growing closer and closer to her usual 'fall asleep' time of ten (early to bed, early to rise!) but she felt no need to rest with the thumping bass line that now echoed in the large hall.
It was the evening after the Elite Four final, Ash and Paul having a face off to last all ages. Surprising many people, Ash pulled a victory out of nowhere (many suspect his hat) after Pikachu delivered the final blow to Electabuzz with a tremendous iron tail that left the audience in silence for a few moments.
Now the 'after party' reigned on, and Dawn found it the perfect way of distracting herself after her loss in the Grand Festival. Considering it had been her first festival, she had done brilliantly, beating Kenny early on, and gotten her way to the semi final. But she'd relaxed, and gotten too confident, and little mistakes were picked up on by her opponent – Zoey. Zoey won with ease, and went on to win in the final. Dawn cried, long and hard, but not because she had lost. More that she had let her pokemon down, and had let herself become arrogant.
Brock had a few soft words with her, and May had rung from Jhoto to console her. She had picked herself up a bit, and was happy to celebrate Ash's victory, swaying slightly to the music as she happily chatted with her two travel companions, and the heroic Pikachu who had won the match. The conversation was light hearted and filled with playful banter, until when peering over his shoulder, there was a sight that surprised her for the sheer fact he was there; Dawn could see the ever present Paul purposefully as far away from the masses as possible, sulking in a corner. She alerted her friends, and Ash immediately wanted to talk to him.
"He's probably upset after the match." Brock reasoned. "You're the last person he'll want to see."
"Well someone needs to talk to him, he looks miserable." Ash's mind was never able to fully enjoy a moment when someone was down. Quiet dryly, Brock inwardly commented he was more than likely fine, and enjoying the solitude, but Ash persisted. The gym leader's eyes met with the young coordinator's, and she nodded, smiling.
"I'll go talk to him Ash, you relax a little. I can share the pain of losing a little!" Giggling falsely – so they wouldn't think she said that because it was on her mind (which it was) – she wriggled between them and confidently moved towards the purple haired grouch.
"Good evening Paul!" If her smile was any brighter, it would have been able to replace the lighting in the hall. He watched her for a moment, before raising an eyebrow as means of a tolerant greeting. "... Your pokemon were amazing today! I thought that Torterra in particular was incredible!" Scowling, he grunted.
"Obviously, not good enough." He was a terrible loser.
"I know how you feel right now. You spent so long training, preparing yourself for that one moment, and it all just slipped away from under your fingers. And now in your mind, you're running through every second of the match, highlighting every mistake you made and then wishing you could retry..." She paused, her dazzling smile fading into a sympathetic tug of the lips, and Paul wasn't sure if it was sympathy for him or for herself. "... but knowing you can't. But you're an amazing trainer, with incredible pokemon, and you'll come back from this stronger than ever! I'm certain it won't be long before you're back on defeating Ash." After a somewhat stunned silence, Paul shut his eyes quite finally.
"... You're not half bad at coordinating, you know that?"
Dawn's beam returned, knowing that was the highest praise one could receive from Paul. Knowing this as a gracious thanks and dismissal, she wrapped her arms around him in a friendly embrace, before graciously skipping towards her friends again, just in time to miss the reluctant smile on his face.
"I don't know what you did, but it worked." Brock grinned. She replied with her own toothy smile, and giggled.
"I'm just a people person!"
Paul left soon after, apparently done with whatever reason he decided to come, and the evening progressed with much fun, laughter and larks. Ash insisted on contacting a large number of people – firstly Misty (neither Dawn or Brock were too surprised), then his mother, followed by Professor Oak, who just so happened to have his Grandson visiting. He also rang Professor Rowan, and finally, he rung May.
"Hello, this is the Whirl Islands Pokemon Centre, how can I help you?" The pretty Nurse Joy image flashed onto the video call machine, and Ash grinned happily.
"Hello Nurse Joy! Is May Mable around?" He asked, still ecstatic from his victory.
"Oh- I heard some green haired boy mention her a few minutes ago. I think she's on her way here, but hasn't arrived yet, I apologise..." the woman remained ever cheerful, as Ash sighed slightly in disappointment.
"Oh, well I suppose I'll call her another..."
"Wait Ash! How many green haired people are there in the world?" Brock's voice became a little excited.
"... Not many." Ash's slow reply came as no surprise.
"And how many know May?"
Brock waited patiently, and thankfully so did Nurse Joy.
"Ooh! Nurse Joy, is he still around?" Ash grinned. "The guy with the green hair?"
"Yes- I'll fetch him for you now if you like!"
"Thanks!"
As she momentarily disappeared off screen, Brock melted. He could never get over the beauty of Nurse Joys worldwide, and he needed a moment to compose himself.
"Who's this guy then?" Dawn asked, looking to Ash while Brock collected himself.
"His name is Drew. He's that old rival of May's we told you about, comparing him to Paul – he used to be such a stuck up pretty boy, but he turned out alright in the end."
"Well, I don't know about you Ash, but I don't go around identifying other males as 'pretty'."
Ash froze.
"D-Drew! How wonderful to see you!" He flushed slightly, avoiding looking directly at the image of the smug coordinator in the screen. He hadn't changed all that much. His hair looked a little longer, and his face a little older, but you couldn't tell much from a computer image. Ash guessed he would be a little taller by now.
"If you're looking for May, she isn't here yet." He seemed slightly annoyed at this fact, but shook it off. "Actually, she should be here in a week. The Grand Festival in Jhoto is held here at Whirl Islands, and she got her last ribbon a few days ago, I was at the contest. I, of course, already had mine..."
"We get the picture Drew." Brock's sigh snapped the arrogant teenager out of his reverie.
"Well, I'm sure she could use some support..." He glanced backwards awkwardly. "She's been having a rough time recently, if I'm honest. Missing company she had with you two and that... kid... Matt?"
"Max." Ash filled in. Drew nodded in slight recognition.
"Are you coming to the festival? It might cheer her up. She's no fun to tease like this..."
Dawn leaned into the screen, scanning his face, and Drew jumped back a little.
"Sorry, can I help you?" His voice was a cross between embarrassment and amusement.
"Hmm... From what I've heard you don't really act nice to people." She announced. Ash's eyes widened and as he protested, while Drew smirked. "But... you're really concerned about May... So why do you care?" Dawn's eyes narrowed as he flicked his hair.
"Because, sweetheart, she's a fun rival to tease. Like I said, she's no fun when she's down."
"Keep telling yourself that Drew." Brock teased. He momentarily lost his composure, and snapped a little at the screen, blushing.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The three travellers stared at him disbelievingly.
"Even I'm not that stupid Drew." Ash giggled.
"And that's saying something." Was the annoyed reply.
"Back to May – how do you know she's upset?" Dawn intervened, and he snapped back to attention.
"I, er, caught her crying." He scratched the back of her head. "It was a little awkward. I asked her what was wrong and she admitted she was lonely. I'm, well, not good at comforting people." He looked the picture of discomfort.
"Well, maybe we should go to the festival, cheer her up!" Ash decided, and the others agreed, Pikachu chiming in happily.
"Good." Drew smirked, composure regained. "It's in two weeks. She's spending the week with her family before coming out, so if you get here before her it'd be... y'know..."
"A nice surprise sounds good." Brock nodded. Drew returned the gesture.
"I'm sure she watched your battle tonight Ash, so I expect she'll call you soon enough." He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Everyone here watched, anyway. Congratulations, you finally learnt how to battle."
"Thanks! ... Wait, hey!"
"See you round."
-Bllip.
Silence consumed the three, before Dawn spoke up.
"Just an observation, and I totally get he likes May, but ... He's quite hot."
Brock and Ash stared at her incredulously.
Pokemon ©Satoshi Tajiri
Vardoger © -Little-Miss-Lia
Permission to translate or create a story
based on or following on from 'Vardoger' needed.