Most people voted for Hoenn, so that is where Dawn and Paul will be going! It won by one vote! Sorry to everyone who wanted Kanto, please don't hate me! .Thanks for voting and reviewing and here is chapter 4!

Chapter 4: Decision Making

Location: Paul and Reggie's house

POV: Dawn

I rang my mum on the videophone straight away. After everything that had happened I just needed to see her, to hear her. I told her everything. All about Team Galactic, all about their plans for me and all about how I now had to leave. She took it fairly well, glad to know that I was safe now and that I wouldn't be alone in a new region. She agreed with Paul's idea about changing my appearance and leaving my pokemon with her. I still wasn't one hundred percent sure where I wanted to go yet, but I knew I would know by the end of the day. For now I wanted to have that bath I had planned on taking earlier and then have a long, long sleep.

"I think you should go black," She told me.

"Black?" I repeated.

"Yes!" She replied "I can't really see you being blonde... or red... or green... or purple,"

"Definitely not purple!" I said.

"So black seems to fit you most... or maybe a dark shade of brown. Maybe you could take out your clips and just keep your hair down," She added.

"I guess that could work," I replied.

"And I have the perfect outfit! I'll send it over when you send me your pokemon," She told me.

"Really! What is it?" I cried.

"You'll see soon Dawn. It's a surprise," She replied.

I pouted "You can't tell me now?"

"No Dawn, you have to wait," She told me.

"Fine," I said with a sigh.

"Dawn?" She said.

"Yes mum?" I asked.

"Promise me you'll keep safe. I have never been so worried about you. If anything happened to you..." Her voice trailed off as she choked up with tears.

"Mum?" My voice broke.

"I love you so much Dawn. That boy... the one you told me about... he will keep you safe, right?" She asked.

"Paul? He will definitely keep me safe. You have no need to worry," I told her.

"And Dawn..." She trailed off again.

"Yes mum?" I asked.

"Promise me, no matter what that boy says; you won't do anything you aren't ready for. You know how teenage boys are! They will tell you anything just to get inside your-"

"MUM!" I shrieked, completely horrified "We aren't like that!" I hate to say I couldn't keep the disappointment out of my voice.

"If you say so... Just makes sure he keeps it in his-"

"MUM!" I yelled again.

"Just be careful," She told me.

"I'm always careful, mum," I said.

"That does nothing to ease my worry. I have to go sweaty, I have to pop down to the shops before they close. Call me when you want to send your pokemon over," She told me.

"I will," I promised. We waved, said our goodbyes, and logged off. Although I had finally talked to my mum, I still felt empty inside, knowing I might not see her for a very long time.

"Time for that bath," I muttered and made my way back down the hallway.

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Location: Paul and Reggie's house... still!

POV: Paul

I'm pretty sure my face was still pink. I had walked into the room, just as Dawn's mum had told her to make sure I kept it in my... anyways, I had been completely horrified. What kind of guy did she think I was? The kind to just take advantage of younger girls? I was sixteen!

I splashed some cold water on my face, from my bathroom sink.

"Paul?" A voice yelled through the door.

I wiped my face with a towel, put on a bored expression then exited my bathroom. Dawn stood in the centre of my room, checking everything out. My room wasn't much. The bed was a queen size, with a plain black quilt. The furniture was made from the same coloured pine. I had a few books in my bookcase, but mostly it was bare. The walls were white and had no posters or shelves. On the table beside my bed were an alarm clock, lamp, and small photo frame that held a photo of me, Reggie and our parents.

"Your room is... something," She told me. She picked up the photo and looked at it, a smile lighting up her face.

I quickly grabbed it out of her hands and put it down where it had been.

She flinched away from me, a hurt expression on her face.

"Tch, what do you want?" I asked her. My voice came out harsh and I saw her wince. I couldn't help it. After what her mum had said, I was a little jumpy. Plus I didn't like people in my room, touching my stuff. It was a personal thing.

"I-I... I wanted to take a bath... I wanted to know if you had any Radox? And maybe I could get a towel?" She asked. She refused to meet my eyes and I immediately felt horrible. Oh well... what's done is done.

"The cupboard outside the bathroom has towels. The Radox is in the bathroom cupboard, under the sink," I told her.

"Okay... thanks," She said. She practically ran out of my room, closing the door behind her.

I sat on my bed and put my head in my hands. This was going to be a long day. I couldn't wait to be on the road again.

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POV: Dawn

I wiped my eyes and told myself not to cry. I had been stupid to think that Paul had changed. He was back to his usual self now. Maybe it was for the best. At least, if I kept telling myself that, I might start to believe it.

I stayed in the bath until my whole body was wrinkly before going back to my room. My pokemon were all out of their pokeballs and scattered around my room. Quilava came up to me and rubbed his head against my leg.

"Quil?" He said, asking if I was okay.

"It's nothing," I told him, patting him on the head.

He shook his head, but left me be.

I went up to my mirror and took in my reflection. My eye looked a lot better, it was no longer swollen and the bruise had faded to yellow. My body was scattered with yellow bruises and had a few, new purple ones, thanks to the attack this morning.

"Okay... I need to decide where to go," I said out loud "I've always wanted to see Mount Moon in Kanto... but I also want to see Meteor Falls in Hoenn,"

I sighed, this was a hard decision. And I had to make it quickly, before Team Galactic decided to come back.

I lay down in my bed and shut my eyes. Slowly I lulled to sleep.

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POV: Paul

I wanted to say sorry to Dawn for snapping, but she was asleep and I lost my nerve. Reggie came home soon after and I told him everything that had happened and what we were going to do.

"Well... If you think this is for the best," He said.

"I do. She can't stay here," I told him.

"And why do you care so much, Paul? No one has ever meant enough to you, for you to go travelling with them, let alone change regions," Reggie said.

Honestly, I didn't know, but I had thought of a good enough reason. "If Team Galactic find her it could be the end of the world," I replied "And I don't know about you, but I don't want to end up as Team Galactic's slave,"

Reggie shook his head "If that's what you want people to believe," He said.

"It is what I believe," I told him.

"Okay, okay," Reggie said, holding his hands up in defeat.

Dawn entered the kitchen, her hand over her mouth to hide her yawn.

"Hello, Dawn," Reggie said to her, smiling widely. A bolt of jealousy went through me.

"Hey Reggie," She replied, smiling back "I saw all your badges, they're pretty impressive,"

"Thanks," He said.

"I was wondering if I could go to the shops... and maybe borrow some money. My mum would pay you back of course," She asked him.

"I don't think that's safe," I cut in.

"I need to buy hair dye... and I need to stock up on supplies... Team Galactic have all my things," She said softly.

"I don't see why not," Reggie said "I could take you?"

"Thanks!" She cried happily "It means a lot to me,"

"You're welcome Dawn," He replied.

I shook my head and left them. Going into town for shopping was a terrible idea. She would be closer to Team Galactic and out in the open. They weren't going to listen to me though. So I would have to go along and make sure nothing did happen.

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Location: Veilstone City

POV: Dawn

I came out of the pharmacy, holding my box of black hair dye and pokemon medical supplies. Reggie took my bags and Paul, who was leaning against the wall, shook his head.

I headed for another shop, one that sold girls clothes.

"Clothes too?" Paul muttered.

"Lighten up, Paul. She's been through a lot. Let her have this moment of happiness," Reggie said to him.

I ignored their banter and entered the store. They both stayed outside. I tried on a few shirts, shorts and skirts, selecting a couple to keep. I then spotted a pale pink dress with a white sash around the middle, a white bow on the side. It was really, really pretty and I knew, without a doubt, it would look perfect on me. I immediately tried it on before buying it.

I exited the store, humming happily.

"Are we done?" Paul asked me.

I pouted at him; I could spend the whole day shopping. "Fine, we'll leave," I said. I had borrowed his and Reggie's money, the least I could do was leave when he wanted. Paul looked nervous and twitchy and I wondered what he was so worried about.

We made it home safely and Paul sighed with relief.

"So have you decided where you are going yet?" Reggie asked.

"I don't know... what region do you suggest?" I asked him.

"They are both great regions," He told me "You would like both of them,"

"That doesn't help!" I cried.

"I think you would prefer Hoenn," Paul told me "There are so many places there that I think you would love to see. You could always go to other regions later,"

"I guess that's true," I told him. Unless Team Galactic found me first, I thought silently.

"So we are going to Hoenn?" He asked.

"Yep!" I replied, putting on a fake smile. Honestly, I did feel better at deciding where to go. But I was terrified at the thought of being found by Team Galactic.

Paul gave me a knowing look, as though he knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Oh and I got something for you Paul," I told him.

"Really?" He said, raising an eyebrow.

I chucked the box of dark brown hair dye at him. "I'm not the only one they are looking for now," I told him "And purple hair isn't common,"

He stared at me dubiously. "Brown?" He said.

"It suits you," I told him.

He shook his head "Fine," He muttered.

I grinned at him before heading down the hall to my room. It was time to dye my hair.

Haha, Paul with brown hair. Hope you like the chapter. Review!