hello, and welcome to my very first fanfiction on this site! i have a few things to say, before we start-

in this version of the universe, cynthia is barry's sister. also, the story takes place in the 'platinum' universe, but everyone has their teams from diamond & pearl. this is because the elite four and cynthia were nerfed quite a bit in platinum, in my opinion.

thanks for reading! i don't own the complete awesomness of Pokémon, even though i wish i did :3

Loving her was painful, in many ways, yet… such a joy, too. Since she'd moved to Twinleaf Town, he'd always had an eye for her; and when they'd become friends, Barry believed he was living a dream. The fact that she merely noticed him was wonderful in his eyes- he wasn't exactly the hardest person to befriend, but the majority of people seemed… turned off by his boisterous and slightly egotistical personality. Luckily, she saw through that, and just accepted him the way he was.

Watching her just stride into the Elite Four's chamber was disheartening to him, that he hadn't been able to beat her amazing team, which seemed to always be superior to his. Despite his advantages, she still managed to beat him every time; he was sure that her victory was greatly aided that Giratina she had, that huge beast that obeyed every word she happened to utter. It took his breath away how effortlessly she was able to control such a gargantuan beast; but then again, everything she did took his breath away.

Dawn was always able to best him in anything, he knew that. He'd accepted that perhaps he wasn't as good as he told, there was always someone better than him at battling, and that someone- without a shadow of a doubt- would be Dawn.

He fast-walked out of the main Pokémon League building, and swallowed, inhaling the fresh winter air softly. The coldness tickled the back of Barry's throat as his amber eyes befell the Pokémon centre, to where he would take his injured party members to heal them, before challenging the Elite Four, without Dawn's presence standing in his way. His exhalations were visible as wisps of bitter cold, and he hugged his shoulders close to his head as he bolted in from the freezing air outdoors.

Beating Aaron wasn't hard, with his Staraptor. Brave Bird covered most of the bug-type trainer's team, and when Aaron brought on a Steel-type, Heracross or Rapidash managed them. Though he went through a few Full Heals, Barry eventually emerged victorious from the fight.

Bertha was next, and with the support of both Empoleon and Roserade, he managed to struggle through, again declared as the winner of the battle. Bertha smile graciously, glad that the battle had been worth something- a young trainer fighting the Champion, and her last battle as an Elite Four member.

Then followed Flint, and with Heracross' Night Slash to defeat Drifblim, and its Close Combat to manage Lopunny and Steelix, Empoleon and Snorlax managed Infernape and Rapidash. It was a fairly simple battle, but of course, not without its difficulties.

Finally- and he could feel his breath shaking in his chest, as he speedwalked to the penultimate chamber of the Pokémon League- was Lucian. The other looked cold and calculating, seeming as if he were thinking. Perhaps that was his psychic energy, his connection with his team, radiating from his tall, lanky form.

This battle was a long one, and vigorous, too. Heracross' Night Slash had to be aided with Elixirs to help it get through the fight, and for Bronzong, Rapidash did the job rather spectacularly. It was difficult for Barry's Pokémon to get through the fight, and difficult for Barry himself watch his long-term partners get hurt, but eventually, the fight was won.

The only thing left to do, would be to defeat Cynthia. He knew his sister's team like the back of his hand, so he'd come prepared- with coverage moves, healing items and advantageous held items for his Pokémon, he was sure he was ready to brave the Champion's team, and fight with all he had. But when he entered the monochromatic chamber, the individual his citrine gaze befell was not Cynthia.

It was Dawn.

He knew Dawn could defeat his team with ease, but Cynthia's? She had never been beaten, but here was a thirteen-year-old girl who had taken out her team in one go.

"Dawn?" spluttered out the boy, his optics widening in surprise. He cleared his throat, and straightened his back, as the girl turned around.

"Barry! You came!" she chimed, pulling him into a hug, and burying her face into her shoulder- the blonde was taller than Dawn, being 14 and just hitting his growth spurt. At the sudden contact, the trainer felt his cheeks heating up slightly. Despite how flustered he felt, however, he kept his cool- he'd always keep his cool around Dawn.

"Yep! It was easy! You need to get some new Elite Four members." he joked, and Dawn laughed along with him.

"So, you beat Sis?"

"Yeah, it was… hard. She's something special, Cynthia is. But I suppose, I was just… better. Hm." mused the girl, refraining from her usual sarcasm.

There was silence, and Barry shuffled uncomfortably on the spot, digging his teeth into his lip. Though, this blanket of quiet was ripped when Dawn chirped, "So, are you ready to go?"

"Let's do it."

so that was chapter one! follow if you liked it, and please review! it gives me more motivation to write when you guys let me know how i'm doing, because then i know you care enough to help me improve my story!