Hello Readers. (^_^)

I'm surprised that I actually managed to type this, considering I have been studying like crazy, the number of times I've accidentally deleted it (about five times), and the fact that I've been in Twinleafshipping mode...

Anyway...

"Talking" Thoughts "PokeSpeech" "This is when a Pokemon and a human are talking at the same time."

On with the story...


Chapter 3: Old Friend


Previously:

*Dawn's POV, Route 201*

I quickly got up and ran over to the Pikachu, picking it up.

I waited until Piplup walked over to me before we started running the rest of the distance to Sandgem Town.

Hopefully we make it in time.

This is a great way to start my journey...


*Dawn's POV, Twinleaf Town, One Year Later*

I can't believe that my journey with Ash and Brock is already over...

I was walking down the streets of Twinleaf, with Piplup, going back to my house.

Each step taking me farther from the harbor, and the ship Ash and Brock were taking back to Kanto.

Piplup, who was walking besides me asked, "Dawn, are we going to stay in Sinnoh or travel somewhere new like Ash and Brock?"

I sighed, I could understand Piplup perfectly because I was a witch and same vice versa, "I don't know Piplup, but let's concentrate on the present right now."

What will I do now?

I'm going to take Buneary to Hearthome City for the fashion shoot, but what after?

As I was walking past the shops and the houses, many people greeted me, but I barely acknowledged their presence.

Piplup pulled on my leg, "Dawn, are you there? A lot people tried talking to you, but you didn't respond."

I picked Piplup up and smiled, "Sorry, I was just thinking..."

I could travel through Sinnoh again, but it just won't be the same.

Ash, Brock, Kenny, Nando, Barry, and Paul were all here, making the journey better.

I don't even know where all of them are now, but I doubt they're all still in Sinnoh.

Maybe I should travel to a new region...

However, I need to ask Mom and Hikari first...

Arceus, Hikari!

I haven't talked to her since the incident with Arceus four months ago!

I need to let her out!

With a burst of energy I started running back to my house.

Piplup tightened his grip on me, "Stop going so fast."

I started running a little slower, "Sorry, I just remembered that I haven't let Hikari out in a while..."

Piplup loosened his grip, "Oh yeah... Why are you going so slow then? Hikari must have been so bored trapped like that."

I smiled and quickly took off again, reaching my home in almost no time at all.

I slammed the door open and quickly shut it, before walking into the living room.

Mom walked down the stairs and put her hands to her hips, "Dawn! You should never slam doors!"

I laughed sheepishly, "Well you see I kinds haven't let Hikari out in a few months and I just realized that..."

Mom scowled, "Hikari is a very important member of this family Dawn! How could you just forget about her?"

I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment, "I was too caught up with the earning my last ribbon, training for the Grand Festival, Ash needing to get his last two badges, and the Suzuran Conference that I didn't remember that Hikari was in necklace form the entire time..."

Mom shook her head, "When you have something on your mind you always forget everything else."

Piplup crossed his arms and buffed his chest, "Just like how I was telling her!"

Mom looked at Piplup and then me, "What did he just say?"

Oh yeah, Mom doesn't understand PokeSpeech.

I sighed, "On my way back from the docks I tuned everyone out because I was thinking and Piplup was referring to that."

Mom nodded, "So are you going to let out Hikari or what?

I gasped, "I almost forgot!"

I grabbed my necklace and pulled it over my head before throwing it into the air and throwing a small energy ball at it.

After the energy ball hit the necklace it began changing shape until it turned into Hikari.

Hikari floated down gracefully, her blue hair billowing behind her.

She was wearing a black Chinese-style dress that was imprinted with silver roses, black loose pants, and silver flats.

That wasn't what she was wearing last time?

Once Hikari's feet touched the ground, Piplup ran over to her and hugged her leg, "Finally! Someone else who understands me!"

Hikari smiled and looked down at Piplup, "It's been a while hasn't it Piplup?"

Hikari then looked up at me, "What did you do in those four months?"

I gasped, "You knew it was four months?"

Hikari rolled her eyes, "My body may be in necklace form, but I can still think and know what is around me. I can also use magic to change my clothes into something else."

Well that explains the outfit change.

I nodded and then answered Hikari's previous question, "I got my last ribbon and entered the Grand Festivals, but I lost in the finals to Zoey. Ash got all his badges, but lost in the end to a guy named Tobias that only had Legendary Pokémon on his team."

Piplup crossed his arms, "That guy was creepy, even creepier than Conway."

Hikari raised an eyebrow, "Really? That's strange; Legendries aren't usually caught unless they trust the person that is catching them..."

I nodded, "It is so weird! He was such a cold and quiet person; I understand how he got his Darkrai, but a Latios?"

Hikari's eyes widened, "A Latios, but there is only one now, the other one died three years ago! That Latios should not have been captured at all. Something is definitely wrong here. I would understand him having a Darkrai considering his personality and the fact that Darkrai are some of the most rebellious Legendries..."

I stared at Hikari in confusion, "I know what I saw. Tobias had a Latios, how that's possible I don't know, but he had one."

Piplup buffed his chest, "There was something strange and evil about that guy..."

Hikari thought it over for a second, "I need to talk to Arceus and Giratina about this... However, there is something I need to do first. Dawn, what do you plan on doing now?"

I thought about it the entire way back home, but I still don't know.

I sighed, "I don't know. I'm taking Buneary to Hearthome to be in the PokeStylist Contest Paris and Hermione want me to enter, but after that...I know I want to enter contests, but where?..."

Hikari placed a hand on my shoulder, "You don't need to make up your mind now. Finish what you want to do now, you can decide later."

I looked at Mom and she nodded, "I agree with Hikari. Wait until you're ready to make a decision, but for now you should go to Hearthome, Paris and Hermione want you to be there by the day after tomorrow. I have had lunch ready for a while, care to eat you two?"

Piplup and I instantly cheered up, "Lunch!"

Mom and Hikari smiled and then shared a glance, "Let's eat."

I smiled and picked up Piplup before we both ran to the kitchen.

I can think things over later, but first comes Lunch!


*Dawn's POV, Three Days Later, Route 208-207*

That Fashion Shoot yesterday was exhausting, but it was fun.

I had finally finished the Fashion Shoot and was walking back home.

Piplup looked at me "I really hope you don't zone out again."

I rolled my eyes, "I can me aware of my surrounding if I want to be."

Piplup rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Yeah, right watch you bump into something at least once before we get home."

I smirked, "You're on."

Now to decide where to go...

Hoenn has contests, but they're not super contests.

However, May and her unofficial boyfriend, Drew, are from there.

Kanto is where Ash and Brock are from, but there are no super contests as well.

Johto has super contests, but I don't know anyone from there.

Johto is out, but there are still Kanto and Hoenn.

Kanto has cities that are closer together and I could see Ash's mom, Professor Oak, Brock, and the girl Ash likes, Misty, while I'm there.

Hoenn's cities are farther apart, but their routes are easier to travel, plus I could meet May's family.

Kanto or Hoenn?

Where should I go?

I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn't see Piplup start waving his hands frantically, "Dawn! Watch out!"

Since I didn't hear Piplup's warning I ended up bumping into someone else on the path, knocking us both to the ground.

I sat up and rubbed my head, "Watch where you're going!"

The person I knocked down got up, "Me watch where I'm going? You were the one that bumped into me. For that I'm going to-Dawn!"

I looked up to see that the person I had knocked down was none other than Barry, holding out a hand to help me up.

I grabbed his hand and got up, "Sorry for bumping in to you. I should have been watching where I was going."

Piplup crossed his arms, "I told you so!"

I glared at Piplup half-heartedly, "I don't need your scolding."

Barry looked back and forth between me and Piplup, "You understand each other?"

I waved my hands frantically, "Only somewhat, I pretty much guess what he means. Anyway, where are you going?"

Barry started walking and motioned for me to follow, "I'm going to Twinleaf, my ferry to Hoenn leaves from there in two and a half weeks. Where are you going?"

I sighed and started following Barry, "I don't know honestly. I've decided not to go to Johto, but I can't decide whether to go to Hoenn or Kanto."

Piplup noticed that Barry and I had started walking and chased after us, "Wait up!"

Barry thought about it for a moment, "Why don't you come with me to Hoenn? We could be traveling partners, just like you, Ash, and Brock."

Hoenn?

With Barry?

That would be an interesting experience.

I nodded, "Sure, why not?"

Barry smiled, "Perfect, as soon as we reach Oreburgh City, we can call your mom to tell her to book you the same ferry I'm going on, but we should ask her if you can come with me first."

I grinned, "Hear that Piplup, we're going to Hoenn with Barry! This is going to be my first real trip with Barry, unlike that one to Sandgem a year ago!"

Piplup nodded, "This is going to me so much fun!"

Barry stared at us confused, "What trip to Sandgem?"

He really did forget...

I guess I'll just tell him...

I sighed, "Well you see you used to live in Twinleaf Town, you were my best friend during those years. The day I started my journey, you came to take me to Professor Rowan's Lab, saying you were going to travel with me. As soon as we reached the Lab, you ditched me and ran off saying that I need to have a journey of my own. However, a short way down the path to Sandgem Town, you tripped over a rock sticking out of the ground and fell down really hard on your head. I think that that's why you don't remember any of that."

Barry stared at me in shock, "Are you serious? I was your best friend when we were younger and I forgot it all?"

I nodded, "That pretty much sums it up."

Barry stared down the path, "I can't believe it. We knew each other before you traveled with Ash. When I met you again after that, I had a feeling that I knew you, but I put it aside."

I sighed, "Well, the past is the past, let's get going, I want to get to Oreburgh before the week ends."

Barry nodded, "Let's get going then, standing around here won't help us."

With that, Barry started running down the path.

I turned to look at Piplup, "You ready?"

Piplup buffed his chest, "Are you really even asking?"

I laughed and heard Barry yell, "Hurry up you two! If you don't I'm going to fine you a million dollars each!"

Piplup and I shared one last glance before running down the path to catch up with Barry.

This is going to be a great new journey!


*Dawn's POV, Ferry to Hoenn, Two and a Half Weeks Later*

I can't believe I'm going to Hoenn.

At least I have Barry to travel with.

Barry, Piplup, and I were standing on the ship's deck looking at the ocean, while leaning against the railing.

"Aren't you excited to be traveling Hoenn together, Dawn?"

I smiled slightly, "Yes Barry I am."

Piplup buffed his chest, "We're all going to have a good time!"

Barry and I stared at the setting sun for a while before we heard someone behind us say, "Well if it isn't Troublesome and Barry."

Why him?

Barry smiled, while I scowled, and Piplup frowned, "Paul."

Both of us turned around and saw Paul standing there, bag slung over his shoulder.

Barry left the railing to shake Paul's hand, "I haven't seen you since your battle with Ash!"

I jumped down from the second rail and walked towards Paul, grumbling, "That wasn't long enough of me not seeing Paul."

Paul let go of Barry's hand to look at me, "You're still wearing that ridiculously short skirt, Troublesome?"

I rolled my eyes, "It's not that short. Seems like you haven't changed, you still can't remember my name."

Paul ignored me and turned towards Barry, "How can you let your girlfriend where something that short? There are perverted guys on this ship."

Barry and I both blushed, "We're only friends!"

Paul rolled his eyes, "That's what Maylene and Reggie always said before they started dating."

Reggie and Maylene are dating?

Finally!

Barry and I both crossed our arms, "We would never date each other."

Piplup was, by now, rolling on the deck in laughter, "Keep it up Paul! This is hilarious!"

I glared at Piplup, "Don't encourage him."

Piplup shook his head, "It's fun."

I turned my head back towards Paul, "I am not dating Barry."

Paul rolled his eyes, "Yet."

I glared at him, "I am not dating Barry and I never will."

Paul shook his head, "Denial."

My hands curled into fists, "Listen to me. I am not dating Barry, my skirt is not too short, I have shorts on underneath, and I can't believe you had the audacity to say that!"

Paul shoved his hands in his pockets, "Yeah, whatever."

He hasn't changed at all!

I yelled, "That's it, he's going to get it!"

Piplup leaped, "Dawn, no!"

I lunged towards Paul, but Barry managed to grab hold of my scarf and yanked me back, "Calm down Dawn. You can murder him once we're on solid ground. Hold that thought! You aren't allowed to murder Paul at all."

By then, Paul had already left, so there was nothing fueling my anger anymore.

I stopped trying to escape Barry's grasp and looked down at the ground.

After a few seconds Barry let go of me.

I turned around to see that the sun was now just a tiny dot on the horizon.

I picked up Piplup from the ground and started walking back towards the cabins, "Barry, it's getting late. We should just go back to our cabins and go to sleep. Good night."

Barry sighed and I heard him start walking behind me, "Good night Dawn. May Cresselia give you good dreams."

Once I reached my cabin I walked in and dropped myself onto the bed, "Why did Paul out of all people have to be on the same boat as us?"

Piplup shrugged, "How could I know?"

I grabbed my pillow and screamed into it from frustration.

Why Paul?

I don't even consider him a person worth liking, let alone an old friend.


To Be Continued...


And so Paul has finally come into play.

This story was going to have Twinleafshipping from the start, so don't think it was just from my Twinleafshipping craze, it was this chapter's idea that started the craze.

The next update will be on May 29.

See you then, but don't forget to review. (^_^)