Shattered - Prologue

{Dawns POV}

Blood, bruises, cuts and a whole lot of shame.

What is all of this?

This is what is going through my head right now..

Blood and bruises are scattered all over my body, as he beats me.

Cuts are also scattered over my body, from him as well.

Shame? I am ashamed. I am very ashamed. Of how I live, who I live with, of leaving the ones I love behind.

And I am deeply ashamed of myself.

Why am I like this?

I feel like a completely different person than the cheerful little ten year old that was starting a journey, nine years ago.

Well you see, time goes by rather quickly, and things can change incredibly.

Let me tell you, I am definitely not like the cheerful little child, booming with energy, as I used to be.

I am now nineteen years old, and living on the other side of Sinnoh, with Paul.

I have been living with him ever since I graduated from high school. I never got to tell my mother goodbye. All that I left her was a note, explaining I was moving away, with the words on the bottom No need to worry.

Was there a need to worry? Yes. But I took my Pokemon along with me, I'll be fine.

You see, moving away from my loved ones was certainly not my choice... never in a million years would I dream of leaving everything I know and everyone I love, behind me.

But Paul forced me to.

He threatened to kill the ones I love, and I of course, would do anything to keep them out of harms way.

At first I didn't believe Paul, As if he'd mean such a threat.

But I soon found out about his abusive side.

"You can hurt me, but don't you dare lay a finger on my Pokemon!" I would hiss at him, terrified more for their safety than my own, as he pushed me against the wall with his bare hand.

My poor Pokemon, they are worried sick of me.

My family has probably forgotten about me, at least by now I hope. I hope they moved on easily.

They have had no contact with me since I've been forced away from Twinleaf town.

I remember the last thing I had to do before I left town...

The only goodbye I was able to properly make, but the most heartbreaking.

The thing I never wanted to do.

Was say goodbye to Ash..

Tears streamed down my face as I finished writing the goodbye letter I had to leave for my mother. I sniffled, looking down at the smudged ink.

"Goodbye Mum, I love you so much, thank you for everything." I quietly winced to myself. I couldn't bare to reread the letter.

"Dawn?" I heard Paul from my front door. "You better be finished in there, we've got to leave, pronto!" I wiped my tears, feeling a sting in my heart at those words.

"Don't make me come in there!" He growled as I felt more tears dripping down my cheeks. I grabbed tissues and quickly wiped my eyes before leaving the house taking a suitcase and a small bag. This was the first step of leaving everything behind, and it was incredibly hard.

"About time! Get in the car." Paul muttered as I walked over, dashing quickly past him as I was afraid he'd hit me again. I quickly got into the backseat, clutching the small bag I brought with me. It had my phone and my pokeballs.

Paul got in the car and began driving, not speaking a word to me. I stayed quiet, clutching my bag. Trying not to think about my current position, being forced to leave home.

"There's one more stop we're making." Paul insisted, coldly. I stayed quiet, looking out the window. We turned into a block that seemed awfully familiar. "Please don't be where I think we are." I thought to myself, as we turned a corner.

I felt a guilty pain in my stomach as I knew exactly where we were going. "Paul please don't do this." I managed to say, my voice filled with guilt as the car pulled up to Ash's house.

Paul turned around to me, grinning as he noticed how guilty I looked. "Break up with him. You're leaving him behind too." He admitted. I shook my head, sinking into the carseat.

"Fine then, we're leaving in two minutes. If you haven't gone inside and said your goodbyes, then I guess Ash will forever wonder where he went wrong." Paul smirked.

I then left the car, taking a Pokeball with me. Usually when I came to Ash and Delia's house I was filled with excitement, but this visit was nothing to get excited over.

I pressed the white button on the Pokeball as Buneary appeared, full of energy before noticing I was upset. "We're here to say goodbye." I said to Buneary as she gasped in surprise.

Ash and I had been together for a long time. As I walked up his driveway to the door, I looked around. I could see memories, everywhere. For example, one day Ash came to school complaining Delia was going to make him do some gardening over the weekend, so I came over with some gardening tools as we made a berry garden.

I dreadfully reached the door, taking a deep breath before knocking. The door opened a small electric mouse looked at us. "Hi Pikachu." I bent down and pet him. "Pika!" He cheered before dashing off to get Ash.

Buneary looked up at me, her eyes filled with sadness as she didn't want to say goodbye to Ash and Pikachu. Pikachu soon returned, Ash with him.

"Hey Dawn!" Ash's sleepy voice greeted. Usually I'd just giggle and say something like, 'Sorry to keep you awake, Sleeping Beauty.' Or something else silly, but I wasn't here for a laugh unfortunately. "Hey Ash." I sighed, he noticed the unhappiness in my voice and looked concerned. "Is everything okay? Uh come in."

I shook my head. "I can't stay." I stammered as he blinked. "I'm moving away today." I admitted as he looked at me with wide eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?" He stammered. "Because I only found out today." I lied. Buneary teared up, clinging onto Pikachu in a hug, as he hugged her back.

"Where are you moving to? I can visit you all the time!" He boomed, as I felt a sting in my heart. "Ash, I'm moving far away. It won't work out." I spoke unsteadily, as I was just about ready to burst into tears. "Dawn, please." Ash pleaded as if he knew what I was about to do.

"I'm sorry Ash, I have to break up with you." I finally admitted, my eyes filling with tears again. Ash looked down, tearing up. "We can make this work, I know we can!" He finally looked up. I felt dreadfully guilty when I saw how upset he was. Buneary started crying as she let go of Pikachu, she walked over and stood by me sadly.

"Ash, I have to go." I admitted, picking up Buneary and dashing away, towards the front gate. "Dawn! Wait!" Ash called, going after me. I quickly got into the car, not looking back as Paul quickly started the car and began to drive. "Dawn!!" I heard Ash shout, as it was too late, we were already leaving.

I close my eyes, as they fill with tears. I hate remembering who and what I left behind. Paul is the absolute worst.

I look at the time and panic as its 7:00pm, and I realise haven't made Paul dinner.

He is going to be home very soon and he's going to be really furious. I quickly look through the freezer to find some frozen food, I quickly put some frozen food in the oven, as my Pokemon set the table.

Twenty minutes pass and as usually a rather aggressive Paul enters the house. He sits down without saying a word to my Pokemon or myself.

I looked at my Pokemon and gesture for them to leave, as they head up to my room. I hate them being around Paul, I hate them seeing how aggressive he is.

I decide to start a conversation as I bring the now cooked food out of the oven and onto a plate. "How was work today?" I asked Paul.

"It was alright, I guess. I'm just very hungry for now. All I need is food." He muttered. I took the plate over and stumbled a Poffin I'd given Piplup earlier, that he must have dropped. The food then flew off the plate, landing on the floor. I felt blood slowly drain from my face as he was about to snap any second.

As expected, the fuming purple haired man walked over to me, "Dinner is not just supposed to be on the table when I am home but to be served on a plate, not on the ground." He scolded, squeezing my arm before shoving me, the force was hard enough that I collided with the wall.

It was a hard shove, and my arm was only now beginning to have feeling in it again as he did squeeze it very hard.

What I hadn't realised, is some of my Pokemon were sitting on the staircase, witnessing this. As much as I told them to stay away from Paul, they worried greatly for my safety, as I did theres.

I climbed up the stairs and picked up a sobbing Piplup as he felt it was all his fault as he'd dropped the Poffin there. "It's okay." I admitted, calming him down as I walked up to my bedroom, the rest of the team following behind me.

I sat in my bed, getting comfy as Pachirisu climbed onto the bed with a book. I took it from her and looked at her as she tilted her head, with a smile. "You want me to read a story?" I asked.

"Chipa!" She cheered as Piplup, Buneary, Quilava and Togekiss climbed onto the bed, watching intently as I opened the book.

Mamoswine unfortunately doesn't fit in this house, as the roof isn't very high and Mamoswine is a large Pokemon. I always let him out of his Pokeball when I'm outside.

Ambipom was still training for Ping Pong with the trainer, though it's been an extremely long time by now. I always called the trainer to see how Ambipom was going and occasionally visited, planning to pick her up after I graduated as I wanted to travel again, but Paul brought me here before I had the chance.

I close the book after reading the last sentence, and see the team asleep. I smile and place the book down. I then think about how my Pokemon are constantly worried about me, it's unhealthy. I'm supposed to be the one worrying about them and keeping them safe.

I sighed, laying down and closing my eyes.

"I need to get out of here, and I need to get out now."