Opposites Interact!

The very next day, Dawn was training with her Pachirisu and Mamoswine. Ash was still training with Gible. Ranee was with them, training with her Lopunny and Ariados. Brock was observing them all, seeing if his insight could help them. Brock went over to Dawn as Ranee went over to Ash. Ranee leaned in and whispered, "Dawn might look like she's okay but I think she's still heartbroken over Kenny losing and messing up on his fusion move." Ash nodded in an agreement with Ranee.

He whispered, "I think you're right. I know they are best friends and rivals so it's understandable why Dawn would act that way." "Yeah but Dawn's got a crush on Kenny," Ranee pointed out to the clueless trainer, "And he with her." "I know," Ash responded, gaining the attention of Ranee. Ranee asked, "You know?" Ash nodded and answered, "Yeah because I have a crush on somebody that won't return my affections because she's so far away, working at the Cerulean City gym."

Ranee perked up and asked, "You got a crush on one of the Sensational Sisters?" Ash nodded again and answered, "Yeah, I do. She was first human best friend and she was always there for me. But when she had to return to Cerulean City to become the gym leader; I only again saw her when she came to Hoenn, when I came home from Hoenn, when she travelled with us for a short while, and with her lure and her hankie plus the memories of our travels are the last things I have to remember her by."

Ranee looked sad as she grasped her silver locket around her neck. She stated, "I know what you mean. This locket is the only thing I have to remember my boyfriend, er, friend by." Ash perked up as he saw an oblivious blush on Ranee's face. He smiled as he gently hugged her, surprising her a bit as she returned it, grateful that Ash was such a great friend. Brock saw this from afar and couldn't help but wonder if there really was something between…

Before Brock could finish that thought, Gible's Draco Meteor messed up again and headed straight towards Piplup. Togekiss reacted and bounced the meteors back towards Gible, Ash, Pikachu, and Ranee. Ranee screamed, afraid and Ash quickly reacted. He protected Ranee from the explosion without thinking. The explosion covered Gible, Ash, and Pikachu with smoke but Ranee was clean, thanks to Ash. "Ash, are you okay," Ranee asked, genially concerned. "Yeah, I'm okay," Ash answered, smiling at her.

Zoey and Nando came over as they all of the coordinators started to talk about their next challenge…except Ranee. She was too worried about Ash and the two started to laugh and carry on. Brock observed them from afar, still a bit suspicious. Ranee got out a hankie and cleaned Ash off, laughing. Ash laughed too as the two looked at the other. They smiled at the other, still making suspicious eye contact...well, at least that's what Brock observed.

Later that day, Dawn was facing off against Ursula and she sent out Pachirisu and Mamoswine while Ursula chooses her Gabite and Flareon. Dawn orders Pachirisu to start off with Discharge, sending a surge of electric current at Flareon. Ursula counters easily by commanding her Gabite to block the attack, causing the Electric-type move to have no effect at all. However, this is what Dawn thought would happen. Pachirisu continues using Discharge, and it's shown that the move is also being aimed at Mamoswine. Dawn commands Mamoswine to attack Gabite with Take Down, and still surrounded by electricity, Mamoswine rushes at Gabite.

The attack sends Gabite flying backwards, hitting Flareon and allowing the Discharge to injure it, causing Ursula to lose a chunk of her points. Gabite and Flareon pick themselves up and with a determined look, Ursula tells her Gabite to use Sandstorm. Gabite creates a furious cyclone of sand which Flareon avoids by jumping, but on Dawn's side the gales push at her Pokémon, blowing away Pachirisu. To counter, Dawn commands Mamoswine to use AncientPower to part the Sandstorm. Mamoswine begins to charge the attack, but Ursula will not allow it to interfere. She has Flareon use Scary Face in combination with Sandstorm.

That created a frightening image of a large, glowing-eyed Flareon in the whirling sand. Mamoswine is intimidated by the image and the attack fails, causing Dawn to lose a quarter of her points. Dawn encourages her Pokémon to stay strong, and they pick themselves up. She orders Pachirisu to use Super Fang on Flareon and Mamoswine to use Ice Shard on Gabite. Pachirisu begins sprinting forward and Mamoswine starts charging its attack. Ursula commands her Gabite to evade the attack with Double Team.

The illusions not only confuse Mamoswine, but they also surround Pachirisu. She orders Flareon to attack with Shadow Ball, and the dark spheres pass through the illusions, hitting Dawn's unsuspecting Pokémon. This causes Dawn to lose another quarter of her points. Dawn calls out to her Pokémon again, telling them to do their best, and they get up. Ursula taunts Dawn and orders another barrage of Shadow Balls from Flareon. Pachirisu jumps around, avoiding the attacks, while Mamoswine takes them head on.

However, they eventually fall to the ground in fatigue. Gabite stops its Double Team in confidence, letting Mamoswine begin charging an Ice Shard. However, Flareon easily dissipates it with a Fire Spin. Ursula commands Gabite to use Dragon Claw, and the dragon swipes at Pachirisu, knocking another chunk of Dawn's points away in the process. Dawn tells Mamoswine to use Ice Shard again, but Ursula only commands another Fire Spin to stop it.

When Fire Spin hits, the attack breaks into smaller pieces of sparkling ice. Despite this, Dawn orders yet another Ice Shard. Ursula tells Gabite to use Dragon Claw and Flareon to use Fire Spin, but Dawn counters with Pachirisu's Spark. The electric rodent flies past Gabite, sending Flareon backwards. With the Fire-type out of the way, Dawn tells Mamoswine to release its Ice Shard, and the pieces fly toward Pachirisu, encasing it in glittering ice.

Dawn finally orders a Discharge from Pachirisu, and the rodent charges forward in a shining ball of ice. As Ursula stares in shock, over a quarter of her points deplete. Ursula recovers quickly and orders Gabite to use Dig. Gabite burrows underground and Flareon hops into the hole after it. With no target, Pachirisu crashes it the wall, breaking the Ice Chandelier. Ursula's Pokémon jump back up after, and Flareon shoots a Shadow Ball at Pachirisu.

Dawn commands Mamoswine to use Hidden Power, but Ursula's Pokémon repeat their Dig and Shadow Ball combination many times, leaving Dawn's remaining points slim. Ursula then tells her Gabite to use Dragon Claw. Dawn suddenly orders Pachirisu to jump into one of the many holes left behind and tells Mamoswine to fire another Ice Shard. Gabite collides into Mamoswine while Ursula orders Flareon to use Fire Fang. Mamoswine endures the attacks and sends its Ice Shard attack into the holes.

Suddenly, a Discharge is fired out from the holes. Dawn orders Mamoswine the use AncientPower, creating a fissure in the ground that reveals Pachirisu encased in another Ice Chandelier. Pachirisu manages to knock into both its opponents and turns around for another shot, but Ursula orders a Sandstorm and Fire Spin. In turn, Dawn commands Mamoswine to use Hidden Power on Pachirisu, causing the ice ball to accelerate exponentially.

Before Gabite and Flareon can attack, Pachirisu crashes into them in a cloud of smoke and ice. Dawn begins to order another attack, but when the smoke clears, it's revealed that Gabite and Flareon are unable to battle, giving Dawn the win. After the battle, Ursula left the contest arena with her ego bigger than her head - yet again, making Dawn sweat drop in embarrassment.

On another stage, Ranee was battling her opponent, a man named Samuel. Samuel had sent out his Lunatone and Solrock. Ranee had sent out her Lopunny and Walrein. Samuel had commanded for Lunatone and Solrock to do a double Psybeam attack, causing the whole stage to look like it was a solar eclipse. Ranee quickly countered with Lopunny and Walrein's Ice Beam, sending the double attack idea right back at him – as well as freezing the double Psybeam in the process.

Samuel ordered Solrock to do Solar Beam which reflected off of the ice, making Lunatone shine. Ranee countered that with Walrein using Water Pulse, destroying the frozen Psybeams and hitting both of the Rock/Psychic type Pokémon at once since the ice that broken off from the frozen Psybeams, making the Water Pulse that much bigger and more beautiful. Ranee then ordered Lopunny to use a Hi Jump Kick, showing off its amazing footwork and its gracefulness.

Samuel didn't get the chance to react for Hi Jump Kick was too fast and knocked out Lunatone. Samuel commanded Solrock with Fire Spin and Ranee countered with Walrein's Surf and Lopunny's Bounce, getting it out of the way of Surf and defeating Solrock. Samuel was a bit disappointed that he lost but he had to admit, Ranee was strong. Ash cheered for her after the victory and she bowed to the crowd, pleased with her performance.

That night, Ash and Ranee were hanging out. Pikachu was playing with Dawn and Ranee's Pokémon. Ash stated, "You were awesome today, Ranee." "Thanks, Ash," Ranee replied, "But I got to admit that things were a bit hard. My head is just not in the game." Ash commented, "Might because that you are just having fun and not competing for the sake of competing." "Could be," Ranee replied, "Tomorrow, I'll give it all." "That's the way," Ash said, pumping his fist.

Ranee smiled at this as she said, "And as soon as the Grand Festival is over, it will be time for the Sinnoh League!" She then asked, "Will I meet you there?" "Defiantly," Ash answered, "And then we can battle!" "Sounds great," Ranee stated. Ash smiled at this as they continued to enjoy the nice night and the company of a good friend. Brock was still suspicious about the whole thing before Ash headed out to hang with Ranee for the night. He couldn't help but wonder...

AK1028: Well, that's the end of chapter two! I couldn't donate blood yesterday since my iron was too low. And then late last night, the water in our apartment was shut off for some reason or another. But it finally came back on at 11:30 this morning. Anyways, Sunday, I'm going to Comic Con so I might be updating this later that day or on Monday. And since TimPrime1 sent me something from his Comic Con, I decided to return the favor and send him something. Not gonna tell what, though. ;) Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!

P.S. I miss you, TimPrime1.