Chapter 3: victory and torment
This chapter will be focused mostly on Dawn's first contest as well as the second of Ash's nightmares.
(Dawn POV)
Piplup and Buneary stood there staring at each other not flinching. I was being patient not willing to make a mistake and waited for the right time to make my move.
"The time is right Piplup hit Buneary with bubble" I ordered.
The Attack landed causing Buneary to fall back.
"Now Piplup use peck on Buneary" I instructed not giving Buneary the chance to recover.
The attack landed with great ferocity causing Buneary to fall back again. I thought to myself it was a good time to throw my first pokeball.
"You are mine Buneary" I declared and threw my pokeball at Buneary.
The pokeball shook for a while as I stood there hoping for Buneary to stay in. then ping it was a successful capture.
"Yes I just captured Buneary" I declared out to the world in great excitement.
(Normal POV)
"Come on Dawn we have to get to Jubilife City" Ash said with concern "because now we need to help two pokemon that needs to be healed" Ash stated wisely.
"Your right Ash" Dawn commented.
Ash and Dawn ran to the city rushing to the Pokemon Center so they can get their pokemon to recover and to Dawns first contest.
At the pokemon center Dawn began to think about her first contest and how nervous she was. Not because Ash will there to support but because she didn't have the time to train up for the upcoming contest. She went outside with Piplup and her new Buneary and decided to do some quick last minute practice.
"Piplup use bubble then use peck to pop them" she instructed to her Piplup which followed her command to perfection "I guess that will have to do for now" she stated with a sad smile "I will have to come up with something better while I journey" she said lazily.
"So Buneary you will have to battle" she said to her new pokemon "but your attacks what are they?" she asked her pokemon.
"There is only one way to find out Dawn" Ash said after he walked out from the Pokemon Center.
"How Ash?" she asked "I only have 2 hours before the first contest begins and I need to register" she stated to Ash.
"Well go and register and we have a quick practice battle" Ash said after formulating the plan.
"Okay sounds like a plan" Dawn said smiling and running towards the contest hall to register for the contest.
(Dawn's POV)
I ran in to the hall exhausted from running all the way from the Pokemon Center. I quickly made my way to the front desk to register for the contest.
"I would like to register for this contest" I declared.
The receptionist just smiled at me "you are lucky you just took the final spot for the contest" she stated "here is you pass and ribbon case" she continued "the contest will start in just under 2 hours from now so make some final preparations" she finished.
"Okay time to meet up with Ash to have that practice battle" I said as I walked out the building.
"So Dawn is everything done?" he asked me.
"Yeah so let's get started" I responded "go Buneary" I called out my new pokemon
"Chimchar let's go" Ash called out his pokemon "we need to take it easy" I heard Ash whispering to his Chimchar. "Use Scratch Chimchar" Ash ordered to start this battle off
Buneary dodged the attack much to my relief and learnt of its first attack which turned out to be dizzy punch.
"So Buneary knows dizzy punch" I said to myself "what other attacks does Buneary know?" I questioned.
"Chimchar use ember" Ash ordered for another attack.
"Wow Buneary also dodged it by using bounce" I said with a smile "Nice" I said with excitement "I wonder what else Buneary knows" I said after it landed.
The next attack came out as a huge surprise for me, Ash and Chimchar.
"What that is attract" I said in laughter
"Well that was unexpected" Ash said laughing.
We both laughed at the situation, I could tell it was a way for Ash to hide the embarrassment of his pokemon getting hit with attract but also the fact that he was enjoying the misfortune that had befallen him.
"We better head to the Pokemon Center" Ash declared still recovering from our laughing fit "and heal our pokemon one more time" he said with a little more composure.
"Yeah I need my pokemon at full strength for the contest" I said in agreement.
"Thanks for that Dawn" Ash said in a thankful tone.
"For what Ash?" I questioned him in a puzzled look.
"For that hilarious moment Dawn" Ash said with slight embarrassment.
"No it was just luck that I found out Buneary knows attract" I said scratching my head.
We had lunch and made our way to the contest hall. I went to my own coordinators room to get ready for the contest I dressed up for the contest and waited for everyone to do the appeals round. I was nervous but excited at the same time I looked at my pokemon and smiled.
"Well are you ready?" I asked Piplup and Buneary. Piplup just puffed up his chest in confidence while Buneary just bounced around ready and raring to go.
(Ash's POV)
"Phew I never thought I would find a seat" I said to myself "now it is time to see what these contest are all about" I said while taking my seat
Dawn walked out looking nervous but damn she looked gorgeous in a beautiful dress almost like an angel I thought to myself.
"Wait a minute what am I thinking?" I asked myself "I only have six more days here" I said angrily at myself.
After that embarrassing moment I began to cheer Dawn on.
(Dawn's POV)
"Piplup spotlight" I called for my first pokemon "use bubble then pop them using peck" I ordered in hesitation.
After the appeals round I took a sigh of relief after the judges gave me a good mark for a beginner "she shows potential but still needs to work on her appeals" one judge said to me. "Yes she has the makings of being a great coordinator she has a lot of charisma" the second pointed out. The third one told me to keep working hard. Before I left the stage for the next coordinator.
I sat in my room waiting for the results to show up. After a few minutes there was one spot left over, I crossed my fingers hoping that I would be the one selected to participate in the battles round. I closed my eyes not wanting to see the unfortunate. A few seconds later I opened my eyes to see that I made it into the next round.
"I made it to the final round" I said with relief.
(Ash's POV)
"Wow Dawn made it to the next round" I said in excitement. "I hope she wins this contest" I said to myself.
I watched as the coordinators were separated to match them with opponents for what seemed like a battle. I thought to myself good my area of expertise. That was until they went over the rules of a contest battle that made my opinion change.
"Damn that sounds tough" I thought to myself thinking about the rules. "They only get five minutes to show off their skills" I said still not knowing all the rules.
My cheering started again as Dawn showed up for the first battle against her first opponent Zane who had been in a few contests putting Dawn a slight disadvantage in this round. Dawn called out her Buneary while Zane called out his Beautifly.
(Dawn's POV)
"Okay Beautifly use Gust" Zane ordered after the timer started and the battle got under way.
"Buneary stand your ground" I instructed "then use bounce" I ordered for the counter attack.
I lost a few points but it didn't bother me because the battle had only just started and there was still a long time to go before this thing was over.
"Beautifly use silver wind" Zane ordered.
"Quick dodge it Buneary" I told my pokemon "now use attract" I ordered hoping that Beautifly was a male pokemon.
To my luck it turned out that beautifly was a male pokemon which tipped the scales of the battle in my favour.
"Now finish this with dizzy punch" I ordered to end this battle.
The final attack landed which knocked out the Beautifly giving me the victory sending me straight into the finals.
"Hey nice battle Dawn" Zane said while shaking my hand.
"Thanks" I replied with pride.
I went back to my room only to be greeted by Ash who congratulated me and telling me to win this contest.
"Thanks Ash I will make sure I win this" I stated "now get back to your seat so I can hear your cheers" I ordered Ash
"Yes Ma'am" he jokingly replied.
I just sat there waiting to see who my opponent was and it turned out to be Zoey another experienced coordinator but I knew that this one will be a lot tougher with the way she battled with her Glameow. It seemed like they have battled together for many years while Buneary and me have only been a team for only a few hours.
It was time for me to take the stage with what seemed an impossible task of defeating some that has been in contests for many years.
"Buneary Spotlight" I said nervously
"Glameow it's show time" Zoey said calling out her signature pokemon.
We waited for the signal to get this battle started while I was still trying to hold on to my nerves as I looked over to the other side seeing that my opponent was calm and even had a smile of great confidence.
"Buneary use dizzy punch to start the battle" I ordered.
"Quick dodge it then use iron tail Glameow" Zoey instructed.
The attack collided sending both pokemon back to where they came from and then launched another barrage of attacks.
(Ash"s POV)
I just sat there watching the battle unfold with both of them not holding anything back. I started to feel a little tired for some reason but I didn't want to leave until the battle was over and plus the crowd was keeping me awake.
"Darkrai can you wait before you give me another nightmare" I yelled to it while people looked at me strangely which embarrassed me greatly.
"Come on Dawn win this!" I cheered while trying to keep myself awake.
(Normal POV)
The battle was drawing to its conclusion and the points were almost even but Zoey was still just ahead but Dawn was ready to launch the final attack of the battle. Zoey knew that if Dawn's next attack landed she would lose the battle.
"Buneary use dizzy punch now" Dawn ordered calling for the final attack.
Glameow was too tired to even dodge the attack that was coming her way. The attack landed knocking out Zoey's Glameow making Dawn the victor which also sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Dawn looked up to Ash barely awake but still cheering for her.
A few hours had passed and Ash was struggling to stay awake even after dinner at the pokemon it was almost late in the night and Ash was heading in to his room when the hall way suddenly got dark.
(Ash's POV)
I heard a loud sound coming from the behind I didn't know what was going on so I turned around to see if someone was there but there was no one.
"Who is it?" I yelled out when suddenly the dark figure rose up in front of me which sent me back from his sudden appearance.
"Another day wasted" he said while laughing at me then disappearing again in to the darkness.
I continued down the hall trying to find my room but it was too dark to see where I was going. Halfway through the stroll I found the door to my room only to find two shadows in the room one with pointy ears and a lightning shaped tail and the other which looked like my Chimchar. I called out to them but they didn't hear me they walked away leaving me alone in the room.
"Come back here!" I yelled after them before I was pushed out of the room.
I continued to walk down the hallway to find six doors with light shining around them. So I continued through to the sixth door which was Dawn's room to see how she was going. I opened her door but no one was inside. I entered the room with the door slamming behind me.
"Wrong door" said the same mysterious voice as the light began to flicker and then fade away into darkness.
I walked over to where the door was and tried to open it but soon found myself trapped in the room.
"Where am I?" I yelled. Then I heard a voice it was fuzzy but it gave out a soothing light which helped me find the door out. I walked out only to find myself wake up in my room with Dawn checking to see if I was okay.
After I got ready I walked out of the room to hear a barrage of questions from Dawn the scariest of which was.
"Why did you collapse on the way to your room Ash?" she asked me which caught me off guard and "did you have another nightmare Ash? She asked but I avoided the question trying not to concern her too much.
"Let's head over to the next city Dawn" I said with a fake smile and walked out of the Pokemon Center.
(Normal POV)
"Jirachi are you sure this is the right thing to do?" a dark figure questioned "my powers are only for self-defense not for this" it said as it voiced its disapproval.
"I only have five days left before I go to sleep for another thousand years" Jirachi stated.
"Yes I know, but there now seems to be a light for him to follow" the dark figure said as it revealed itself to be Darkrai. "This light is one I will never be able to extinguish" Darkrai pointed out "nor do I want to!" Darkrai finished with anger as it disappeared.
What is this light Darkrai that is talking about? What does Jirachi and Darkrai have in store for Ash? Will Ash find the courage to face what haunts him the most? His past.