Helloooo, readers! I'm here to bring you my second chapter fic of Pokemon.

This one will not be as long as Love and Loss, but hopefully we'll all have a great time with it. Pearlshipping, of course! I can't help it.

Alright, let's see what lame ideas I can think of...


The scene: Twinleaf Town.

Ash Ketchum awoke to a very faint sunrise visible over the horizon of Twinleaf Town in his borrowed quarters of the Berlitz Residence. Since Ash's Sinnoh journey was soon to be over, Ash's companion, the blue-haired co-ordinator, Dawn Berlitz, had insisted that he and his other friend, the older breeder, Brock spend their final days in Sinnoh at her house.

Ash had gotten his badges, challenged the Sinnoh league...and failed. But he was extremely grateful for one thing: he had finally beaten Paul. The person who had eliminated him from the League was an astounding trainer called Jason. Ash had been glad to see he cared dearly for his Pokemon and felt Jason deserved that victory.

But the league was not what was troubling him. Lately, Dawn had been unusually sober. Ash suspected it was their impending separation that was causing her to act like this. He should know, he had been feeling the same way.

Ash swung his legs around to the floor and sat up. He got up slowly to avoid waking up his yellow mouse Pokemon, Pikachu. It was still too early to wake him up. He would get up, have a glass of water and then try to get a bit more sleep.

He entered the living room to find he was not alone in his lack of sleep. He saw Dawn sitting on a couch, still in her pajamas. She looked up abruptly, as if startled by his appearence. To his shock, her eyes were red, as if she had been crying. The sight of her in that state made his heart twinge. He had always treated her like a younger sister, comforting her and supporting her when she was gloomy. Now she seemed more than merely gloomy/

"D-dawn." Ash began. She simply stared. "What's up?"

"I-I'm okay, Ash." Dawn said, her voice sounded as if she had not spoken for hours. Needless to say, he was not buying her answer. And she knew it.

"It was...just a dream." she finally said, sighing and looking at the floor.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Ash asked gently.

Dawn looked at him again, "It was just a dream, Ash. I'll get over it." her rather harsh tone startled Ash.

"Yeah, but you look terr-" Ash started to say.

"I'm serious, Ash. I'll be fine." Dawn looked him in the eye. Ash's astonishment was clear. Eventually, he decided to comply.

"Okay, Dawn. Okay." he finally said. He turned and left the room.

As Dawn watched him go, a wave of shame enveloped her. She shouldn't have done that. Was it his fault she had those dreams?

No. No, I shouldn't have taken my feelings out on him, thought Dawn, sighing inwardly, but I can't bring myself to tell him about the dreams now.

These dreams were not new. It was just the first time someone had come to her while she had been recovering from the dream. It didn't have much meaning. She always saw an ebony colored figure, with a flaming backdrop. She wasn't sure if it was human, or where it was standing. Did it matter? No!

Heck, the dream seemed like one you would forget by the time you would wake up! But it always lingered in her mind. It had been haunting her since Ash left the Sinnoh League. Add to these troubles the fact Ash was about to leave and...well...it didn't feel good, to say the least.

But... none of this was reason to get angry at Ash. She would apologize later.

Eventually, they both found sleep again.

Dawn awoke, immediately thought of the earlier events and got up. Her second spell of sleep had gone dreamless, thankfully. She wondered how Ash had taken her behavior. She got up and saw her penguin Pokemon, Piplup waking up slowly too. She would come back for him when he was fully awake.

As it turned out, Ash awoke with only concern for that very behavior. He thought for a moment. The dream seemed to severely trouble her. In what way, he didn't know nor did it matter. A suspicion popped into his head. What if these dreams were also causing some of her recent depression? He would find too up and saw that Pikachu was still asleep. He stroked the Pokemon's head, smiling at it. He decided to let him rest. The Sinnoh League had been a real trial for him.

Ash opened the his room's door, just as Dawn did in her's.

They met in the hall. Dawn looked better now. Ash tried a small smile. To his relief, she smiled back.

While Ash was thinking of what to say, Dawn spoke, "I'm sorry about before, Ash. I had no reason to take my feelings out on you. After all, it was just a silly dream."

Ash was rather taken aback at her apology, "No need to worry, Dawn." He had been using her catchphrase quite commonly lately, "I don't blame you for it. But still," His smile softened, as he decided to test his newly discovered suspicion, "I'm sorry about the dreams."

Dawn looked startled. Dreams?! How could he know they had been plaguing her mind for so long? She said, "Dreams?" she put emphasis on the last syllable. "What makes you think I've been having more than once?" Ash's face was unreadable as he replied, "I'm not that dense, Dawn," she giggled lightly at this and Ash continued, "I've noticed, and so have the others, that you're feeling depressed lately. At first I thought it was just the fact I was leaving, which pains me too, but I just realized maybe the dreams had something to do with it too, and it looks like I was right. And like I said: I'm sorry for these events."

Dawn was taken aback considerably more at his concern. When did he become sensitive to the feelings of others? Nevertheless, she appreciated it and clasped his hand. "Thanks, Ash, but there's no need to worry." she smiled as she saw a faint shade of red pass over Ash's face.

Ash spoke again in a shaky voice, "Dawn, I-I..." Just then Brock entered the hall, saying, "Good, you two are up I-" He saw their clasped hands and smiled as they let go. "Did I miss something?" They mumbled inaudible explanations, but Brock chuckled and continued, "Anyway, Johanna says breakfast's ready."

"O-ok." Ash managed. "We'll be right down." Brock went back downstairs. "I should get Pikachu."

Dawn nodded, "I'll get Piplup."

Since they were staying at Dawn's house, they had the astounding cooking talents of Johanna Berlitz, Dawn's mother, and Brock, which was enough to even lighten Dawn's feelings of those dreams and Ash's departure.

After an excellent breakfast, Dawn decided to confront Ash about her dreams. Who knows? Maybe he had a solution! Unlikely, but possible...

She told him to meet her in her room, anywhere else would attract the attention of her sometimes over-protective mother.

He had agreed to come with a curious expression on his face. When he came with Pikachu on his shoulder, she told him to sit down and got right to the point.

"About before, Ash." she began, "You were right. I've been having dreams ever since we left the Sinnoh League. The same one in fact. Over and over and over. It's driving me crazy, and I don't even know why!!"

Ash was silent, then asked her to describe the dream. She told him about the ebony figure as best as she could.

"Well, Dawn, unless it becomes something more, I can only guess what it means."

"Then guess." Dawn insisted. "Anything would be welcome."

Ash smiled, "Dawn, I'm no expert at this." she managed to smile back, seeing him smile always brightened her day. Ash continued, "But I would say you're worrying too much. My mom said if you're already worried about something, then it's not hard to extend the feeling. Now, in this situation, we have you dreading me and Brock leaving and now your dreams. Maybe you're, I dunno, so preoccupied with your emotions that your dreams repeat themselves." He took a deep breath.

Dawn considered this version of things. It made sense. Sort of...

Nevertheless, she was glad for his help, "OK, thanks Ash. I just needed to tell someone." she looked at the floor as she thought about his theory.

"OK...and Dawn?" He asked quietly. "Yeah?" Dawn looked up at him. Without warning, he took a step close to her and hugged her. She was stunned for a few seconds, slid her arms around his back.

"I'm really gonna miss you, Dawn." Ash whispered into her ear. Dawn laid her head on his shoulder. "Me too, Ash." A tear escaped from each eye. "Me too."

Well, it's just a taster! So! Is Ash right about the dreams? Maybe. Maybe not.

Ash: I said I'm not an expert on that subject.

Me: WRONG! I MADE you say it.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed, R&R.