I apologize that this chapter is shorter than the first two, but again, it's not filler as it's more build-up. I just hope I'm doing it right, as if any of you watch RvB, you would understand how much buildup and tension there is, before Miles/Burnie exploits it brilliantly to the plot.

Disclaimer: No I don't own Pokemon, and no I never will.

Three days later, at 5:15 pm, Ash was waiting for Dawn to arrive at the Viridian City harbor, which according to her, should arrive at about 5:30, and he had just arrived five minutes ago via walking, since it wasn't that much of a walk between Pallet and Viridian nowadays, only about an hour...okay, to others, that's a bit much, but to him, it felt like only minutes.

Regardless, he wanted to be early, but not too early, so he figured twenty minutes early was fair enough.

In the three days, he got reacquainted with the other residents of Pallet, including Prof. Oak. Tracey, and even Gary, who arrived just the day before. Since Gary wasn't even part of what happened two years ago along with Tracey, it was a brother-like reunion.

Ash also put the Pokemon team he was going to use for the Kanto rerun, and put the rest of his party at Oak's ranch, promising to use each and every one of them at different regions. He bought all of his Hoenn team-Corphish, Sceptile, Glalie, Swellow, and Torkoal-with him, thinking they'd be fine for this, despite kinda already traveling with him here when he was taking the Battle Frontier challenge.

Of course he still had Pikachu and that Togepi egg from Nurse Joy, as technically the boy didn't exactly have six Pokemon, due to Pikachu not even using his Pokeball-it was always left at his house-but that didn't mean he was gonna use seven Pokemon in a match, although using a newborn Pokemon in a Gym match was just stupid...unless the child was somehow very powerful at birth.

He only called her once during those three days, and it was just to check if she made it to her ship on time, which she obviously did. He didn't tell her about the egg, as he wanted to make it kinda a surprise despite it being in his backpack.

"Pikapi." His partner said nudging him, snapping him out of his thoughts as the ship came into view.

"Thanks buddy." Ash said scratching under the mouse's chin. She was here.

After a fair amount of people got off, the teen could see the girl's signature blue hair, making him smile.

"Dawn!" "Pikaka!"

"Ash! Pikachu!"

She ran to him and nearly tackled him onto the ground, although he kept his balance before they could fall.

"It's been too long since we've been physically near each other..." She started knowing a sarcastic comeback was imminent.

But then she realized the double meaning of what she said and pulled herself away from Ash, as red as a rose. "S-sorry! You know what I meant!"

"I knew you missed me, but I didn't know you missed me that much." Came his sarcastic remark, causing his companion to smile and punch him on the shoulder. Hard. Hard enough to actually hurt him. "Oww...missed you too."

"That's better." She responded before frowning a bit, ignoring the former and new passengers leaving or getting on the ship respectively glancing at them. "That didn't hurt too much right?"

"It stings a bit, but it's fine." He answered honestly. "Come on, let's go to Pallet. We'll plan the journey there." She nodded, and they went off to his hometown.

Since it was an hour walk, the two started to converse, and after some thought, Ash decided to let some memory of his former friends resurface, at least the guys anyway. "Have you spoken to anyone after what happened before I left?" Came his question after a bit of silence since she finished.

"Are you sure you wanna talk about them?:

"Yes...the guys at least, as they seemed more reluctant then, not as much as you of course, but still."

"I don't know Max very well, and Cilan's been with Iris for awhile from what I heard. Brock...I think he had the most regret, due to him knowing you the most out of all of us, right?"

"Yes. Misty met me first, but Brock's been with me the most. Continue."

"He talked to me afterwards, apologizing for his actions-"

"Should have said it to me." He interrupted before shaking his head. "Sorry..."

"I agree, no need to worry." She reassures with her catchphrase, making him smile slightly. "He was afraid of you I guess...even me at that time."

"It's okay. I am unpredictable for things like that. But unlike what Iris used to say, I'm not a kid anymore...more or less."

"True...that was really mature of you to just take it...although I could just feel the emotions inside you then. Shows how much you grew as a person." She compliments, trying to make sure he doesn't get too into the subject, as even though it was him who got...traumatized the most, the act of a betrayal that large without warning...she admits, she was somewhat traumatized herself from it.

"Thanks." He smiles at her, causing her in turn to smile back.

"Anything else though?"

"Other than the fact that I might have to talk to Brock alone when we go to Pewter...I'm okay."

"You're collecting all the badges again?"

"Yup. Don't worry about Misty and the others, we'll deal with them when we get to their gyms. Anyway, you didn't do the Kanto circuit correct?"

She nodded.

"No need to worry then. We can just enjoy ourselves until we get to Pewter, where your first Kanto contest is being held in four days, along with Brock's gym." He explained without realizing he used her catchphrase.

See, Ash had looked online exactly where every contest was being held in Kanto this year, and thankfully most of them were being held in the towns with gyms. But once they got out of Kanto, it was fresh on where the contests would be.

"Alright then."

The duo soon arrived at the Ketchum household, and after the blue haired girl reacquainted with Delia, the trio had dinner.

Afterwards the two went into the living room to plan what he dubbed 'Kanto run' and it went much like their other journeys but with a slight twist; Go to town/city of importance ASAP, but if something interesting happens on the way, then Fly on respective Pokemon to said location afterwards to save time.

It was to ensure they wouldn't be late for any of the girl's contests. Honestly it was a stroke of luck they always made it to the town it was being held at despite oh so many people holding them up with a problem. It wasn't that this was a bad thing, as they enjoyed helping others out of the kindness of their heart, but at the same time it pushed their luck, and relying on luck only gets you so far.

The two were beginning the journey tomorrow, and the two were talking about some of the important things that happened while they were separated, with their starters sleeping nearby below the couch they were on.

"So you got a Togepi egg from Nurse Joy?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah...I hope I can raise it without too much issue, as you remember, Misty used to own one...but what happened to it...I don't remember."

"You'll be fine. If you can raise a Larvitar, Phanpy, and Scraggy, you can raise a Togepi." She reassures with a pat on his shoulder, before yawning.

"You can sleep if you want, it is almost 11."

"But can you at least tell me what Pokemon you have on you for Kanto?"

"Tomorrow." He says simply before quickly hugging her and standing up to go to his room, taking Pikachu with him.

"Meanie." She says jokingly before grabbing Piplup to go to her room; the guest room.

At least she can be with him...almost.

Again, I apologize for the shortness of this chapter. But in the next chapter they will arrive in Pewter for Ash's gym battle, and Dawn's contest after. I'll try to do the battle scenes as best I can.

Until then, thanks for reading.