(A/N): I saw a post on tumblr about people gaining tattoos every time they fell in love, or something along those lines, and was inspired to write this from that. Credit to original poster, though my concept of the idea differs quite a bit from the original post that inspired this. Truthfully, I'm on the fence about making this more than just a one-shot. Please let me know what you think of this, and enjoy the story.
STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY.
All her life, Dawn saw tattoos appear on the people around her all the time. Some were faded, some were vibrant, others ugly, ones that were beautiful, and those that were brand new. Her mother sat her in her lap one day, brushing her poufy hair down with a soft brush. They were in their living room, by the fire while rain softly fell all around outside, cuddled up with one another. Dawn's father had passed away about a year ago, but since Dawn was only a child, she did not yet realize the significance of such a thing. Age five it was that they sat there like that, her mother telling her the story of the tattoos.
"Have you seen the tattoos on all the people around you, Dawn?"
The little girl nodded, smiling softly.
"Do you know why they're there?"
She thought on it for several minutes before shaking her head.
"Well, I'll tell you the story behind the tattoos. A really long time ago, before you or I or your great grandma was born, there was a man who loved art. He loved it so much that he wanted to decorate his body too. But, he wanted it to be special. So he decided that the first art on his body would be one for his love. But not just any love; the love you have for your an other.
The one you feel complete with, or even just have a crush on. Back then, they didn't have anything that could make tattoos. Just old calligraphy ink. So the man went to an old fountain god and asked him, 'Could you make art appear on my body?' The god thought this peculiar and responded 'Whatever for, sir?'
'I want to express my love for all to see' is what the man responded. The god liked this idea, and granted the man's desire. So from that day on, tattoos appear on people's bodies whenever they fall in love."
Dawn liked this story very much. She looked at her mom, wondering where her tattoos where.
She had never seen them before.
"Where are your tattoos, mommy?"
Johanna chuckled.
"They all appeared under my clothes. I'll show you."
Lifting up her shirt, Dawn could see five different tattoos clustered on her mother's tummy. Each one was unique, and four out of the five of them were faded. Johanna pointed to one in the shape of a beautifly.
"This is the very first tattoo I ever had, when I was ten years old. It was my very first crush, and his name was Jimmy."
Dawn giggled, "That's a funny name."
Her mother laughed too.
"I suppose it is."
Pointing out the other ones, Johanna told Dawn about them all. Then Johanna turned around, and revealed one large, beautiful and vibrant heart with wings spanning the whole of her back. Dawn stared in awe at how wondrous it was.
"Who is that for, mommy?"
Johanna smiled sadly.
"This type of tattoo appears only for your soulmate, Dawn."
"What's a soulmate?"
"It's someone who you can't live without, and is your true love."
"Oh…" Dawn looked up at her mother inquisitively.
"Who was your soulmate, mommy?"
"It was your father," she whispered back.
Several years later, at eight years old, Johanna brought Dawn to a small elementary in nearby Sandgem Town. She wanted her daughter to be able to make new friends, and learn about the world around her. It was during the first week of school that Dawn found her very first tattoo snaking its way around her right ankle. It was a tattoo of a winding tree vine decorated with leaves and pretty flowers. She giggled, excited about her new find. She and Kenny had matching tattoos. Her mom scrapped book this moment to commemorate the start of Dawn's love life.
The next tattoo came along when Dawn was twelve, walking through a local festival when a boy ran right into her. He had a head of unruly blonde hair, horrible fashion sense, and a knack for giving people unreasonable fines. The tattoo was one of a pair of wings, on her left ankle. They dated for a few weeks before he left for his own Pokémon journey.
The third one came just a year later, after several months of traveling with her new friends Ash and Brock. It was a small leaping Pikachu, and it appeared on the side of her stomach. Dawn decided to keep that to herself. Ash already had the blossoming heart tattoo on his back. He wouldn't like her back. Brock, on the other hand, was a wreck with tattoos littering him from head to toe. Brock's back was completely bare, though.
Dawn and her group met Paul, and a rivalry was born. Ash collected his badges, had run-ins with Paul, and Dawn collected her contest ribbons. The adolescent contented herself with enjoying her travels with them all, temporarily forgetting about the tattoos, becoming a top coordinator along the way. Her fourth tattoo appeared on the other side of her stomach, one of a smiling munchlax, when she briefly met a boy named Lucas, someone who was an assistant to Professor Rowan. Ash left for Kanto again, and Brock with him.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. One day as Dawn was changing in a Pokémon centered, she saw it. The tattoo she had always hoped would appear, the one that was the most wondrous thing she had ever seen. The soulmate tattoo. She stared at it in the mirror, how it spanned her whole back and was the biggest she had ever seen.
When had this appeared? Dawn had the feeling that it wasn't new. She had a horrible feeling that her soulmate tattoo had been there for months, and she grew worried that she had missed the meeting of her soulmate completely. With Ash and Brock visiting her, and the business of the past few months, she didn't notice it at all. She began to cry, and Ash and Brock rushed over to her.
"Dawn, what's wrong-!"
They quieted once they saw the large tattoo on her back. She must have been passionately in love with whoever her soulmate is, for it was the largest and most vibrant heart that they had ever seen. They sat around her and comforted her, waiting for her tears to dry.
"I think I missed meeting them…"
They understood and hugged her close.
"It'll be okay, Dawn."
Brock agreed.
"Since they're your soulmate, you'll be destined to meet again."
She smiled at their words and calmed.
"Thank you."
Not too long after that, she and the other two ran into Paul again. Dawn was irritated just seeing him; he had changed significantly since Dawn was travelling with Ash and Brock, but the guy could still be really rude. Dawn herself still held onto some prejudices that she had against him, even with him being a nicer person now.
"Paul, let's battle!"
The lavender haired boy merely scowled, but agreed to Ash's request. Dawn watched on in contempt. The battle was swift and fierce, with Paul besting Ash as he always did. But this battle, he seemed distracted; it took him longer to execute battle action than usual, and the end was result would have nearly been a tie had Ash's Pikachu not fallen just minutes before Paul's ursaring. Ash tended to his Pikachu and Brock offered to tend to Paul's Pokémon, as they were miles from a Pokémon center.
The tall boy nodded, staring at something in the distance, surprising them that he had agreed. They became somewhat concerned for his off-standish demeanor, and Dawn approached him. She found herself drawn to him, and felt bad about thinking solely of how much of a jerk he used to be the entire battle.
"Hey, Paul, is something wrong?" He hesitated, unable to look her in the eye.
"You can tell us; I know you're not fond of us, but I think after all these months, that we could at least be considered friends," she gently placed a hand on Paul's arm while Brock and Ash gave him encouraging smiles. Dawn found the words smoothly coming out, despite her thoughts to the contrary several minutes ago.
They could tell with the most recent encounters that Paul was changed from the rude boy they met so many months ago. Paul took an uncharasterically nervous breath, staring at the ground.
"…I received my soulmate tattoo."
They all stared in amazement, then they began to congratulate him, but he raised his hand to silence them.
"I've had the tattoo since I was small, but it remained small, in the middle of my back, just a puny thing, actually. Appeared when I was three - Reggie would tell me that was because my soulmate wasn't near me and I didn't know them yet. But…but I just noticed a few days ago that the tattoo was suddenly huge, it covered my whole back, that I hadn't noticed it happened, but I think I know who it is…"
Ash perked up, while Brock examined Paul with a concerned frown. Dawn just stared up at Paul, feeling confliction and confusion inside.
"Who is it?" Dawn inquired quietly while Ash said the same at the same time, although estacially.
Paul glanced at Dawn for less than a second, but Brock caught it. His companions didn't.
"I don't think it's a mutual tattoo."
Ash deflated at Paul's words, and Dawn felt a strange, anguished relief. She frowned to herself, confused as to her emotions. Paul could always bring out different sides to her she had never experienced before, and sometimes give her butterflies, but she had never experienced jealously before. It bewildered her. Brock, being one in the expert of love, watched them all with knowing eyes. He stood, placing a comforting arm around Paul.
"I know how it feels, Paul. Come, talk with me," he said as he pulled Paul away from the disheartened Ash and Dawn. They talked a long while, and in that while, the sun began to set. Dawn sighed.
"Why do we have to bear these tattoos? They can be so heart wrenching."
Ash looked over at Dawn, "I think they're meant to remind us of all the loves we've had. So that we'll never forget them, and treasure them. Even if nothing ever happens from that small crush or love."
Dawn hummed. Ash could be surprisingly deep when not concentrating on the journey or battles.
"Say, Ash, I noticed a while ago that you already have your soul mate tattoo," Dawn looked over at him, curious. Ash smiled estacially, and he pulled over his shirt to show her. The heart on his back was cerulean; Dawn gasped, startled.
The soulmates tattoos were only ever colored if the love was one that transcended lifetimes, and each different color had an important meaning. Red was the standard color.
"It's amazing, Ash..," she whispered, racking her brain about the color of her own tattoo. She could not remember what color it was, for she had been so distraught when she saw it. Ash chuckled, happy.
"I've never had any other tattoo but this one appear," he declared proudly, putting his shirt back on, "She's from my home region of Kanto, Cerulean City. She's the gym leader! She was sad that I was leaving again to go on another journey in Unova, but she knew that I want to be the very best. Once I finish this visit, I'll be going back to see her."
"What's her name?" Dawn asked with a smile.
"Misty…"
The two friends fell into a comfortable silence. Soon the stars came out, but Paul and Brock did not return until well after the other two had fallen asleep. Brock could not convince Paul to say anything to the one he loved, and he was quite upset with the usually stubborn Paul. Paul was nothing but a sad, nervous wreck who was barely able to keep his wall up.
"Paul, just tell her! You have no other tattoos but your soulmate tattoo, and its pink, Paul. Pink means eternal love," Brock shook his head at the lavender haired boy who was usually full of confidence, speaking in hushed whispers. Paul looked at Dawn longingly, then shook his head.
"I…I can't," and with that, Paul departed and disappeared into the chilly night. He left Brock heavily disappointed.
Months eventually turned into years. Ash and Brock returned to Kanto, and after Ash travelled to Unova and Kalos, he soon enough returned to Sinnoh when Dawn was nearly fifteen and successfully beat the league this time around. This time Dawn was travelling around by herself when Ash had returned, just competing at miscellaneous contests. She met Misty when she ran into Ash again, and they became fast friends. The next place she went was to Hoenn, where contestants originated. The contest style was different here, but she quickly adapted.
She competed in the Grand Festival there, and won its trophy. Along this journey she met May and Drew, becoming quick besties with the young couple. From there she returned to Sinnoh to try her hand at the Grand Festival again, winning this time. She then travelled all the way to Kanto for their short time running contests. At this point, she was nearly seventeen (her birthday coming soon) and a top coordinator in two regions already. She enjoyed contests, but she constantly felt lonely since she did not have any companions to travel with the past three years.
As she walked through the lush foliage of the Viridian Forest, she thought of all the friends and love interests throughout her life. The first one, Kenny, who was her best friend. It was a sweet childhood love, but nothing more than crushes. He even asked her out the first time she left with Ash on that boat. From there, years later, Dawn met Barry. He was so annoying, but a kind first boyfriend. They broke up when Barry developed strong feelings for Ursula. Who would have thought? From there, it was Ash and Lucas. Honestly, she couldn't remember who she had met first. But she knew she was impressioned by how kind and cheery they were. Dawn giggled, remembering their silly antics.
Dawn came upon a stream, and sat beside it, letting her weary feet soak in the cool water, sighing contently. It had been so long since she really had talked to any of them. Misty was fun to battle, May was fun to gossip with, Ash was there to always give her a laugh, Brock was there to lecture her and Ash like a nagging mother, Kenny was just like a brother…Then suddenly Dawn remembered when she first met Paul.
The lavender haired teen must nearly, or already, be an adult by now, right? She wondered how he was doing, if he ever did properly meet or at least get together with his unknown soulmate. The pang of jealously that she had not felt in so long rang through her. She knew that some weeks after she met Paul she felt a tattoo form, she just never bothered to look at it, for she was definitely sure she hated him more than crushed on him. They guy had been attractive when they met, but he was also a jerk when they first met. He must be different now, though, since a few years had passed. The last they met she remembered that he wasn't so much of a jerk too.
Dawn slowly stood, wondering what ever did happen to the Paul tattoo that she never bothered looking for. She lifted up her skater dress, staring at her reflection, unhappiness tingling through her scalp. Whenever a tattoo appeared, the person could directly feel it and its location. She had purposely not been looking at them for years ever since the soulmate tattoo appeared. She counted them out.
The very first one, the one around her left ankle, Kenny's, was very faded. A love long gone. The second, Barry's, on her other ankle, was also faded too. Then three and four, also very faded. Ash and Lucas as potential boyfriends until the "right" one came along were long gone from her mind. She looked at the reflection and twirled around, looking for Paul's tattoo. That would be five, and the soulmate one would make six. She knew a tattoo could fade when the love was no more, but it never ever disappeared completely.
Slowly, Dawn came to a stop, mouth agape, tears rushing to her eyes. A realization then hit her, as she let herself truly feel the locations of all her tattoos, each magical marking tingling on her warm skin. She didn't have six tattoos, there were only five. The fifth, it was her soulmate tattoo-and it belonged to Paul. She collapsed onto her knees, ignoring the jarring cold of the stream water, staring to cry.
Her voice was loud and pained as she thought of every memory, every moment she shared with Paul and the others. The moments he made her heated in an argument, how he gave her butterflies the rare times he had helped her, how he was so mature when he lost to Ash the first time at the Sinnoh league, and that day he had told them about his soulmate tattoo.
She remembered how Brock tried to subtly hint at the love, how he tried to hint at how Paul loved her, and that Ash caught on and tried to hint at it too, but she was oblivious to it, and her crying turned into sobs. She was so blinded by judging his outward demeanor and behavior that she never entertained the feelings she had buried deep within herself. The last tear fell into the water, then Dawn quietly laughed a miserable chuckle to herself. It took her nearly three or so years and overwhelmingly loneliness for her to finally realize it all. Shivering, she gathered herself up, staring at the reflection of the tattoo on her back. Pink meant eternal, right?
Sniffling, Dawn left the forest and headed to the nearest Pokémon center, focused on the days ahead. She wanted to meet Paul again, but she wouldn't know what she would say. She wouldn't know what to do or say at all, or if they would be able to become friends again or anything of the sort. Worry gnawed at her, but she swallowed it and slowly pushed it down. She would try to meet him again, and get to know him properly, slowly. Let this love she realized nurture and grow. She supposed it hypocritical at how she hated him so much when they first met, and smiled wryly to herself as she entered the Pokémon center as the sun set. Her new journey had just begun.
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