Dawn stretched out her arms, enjoying the view of the city from the Pokecenter balcony. The air was cool and crisp and the sounds of Kricketot and Kricketune could be heard throughout Johto Luling its residents to sleep.
The blunette had spent a few hours training and scribbling down messy ideas for her final performance the next morning, itching to finally get to face her old friend May once again.
The blue-eyed girl had tried everything. Shimmering combinations of bubblebeam and ice beam, a dazzling icy crystal slashed with Ariel ace to make fresh powder snow, and even a whirlpool volcano with flames erupting from it.
It wasn't enough if she was going to outshine May and her team this time she would need so much more. Dawn suddenly felt a sharp pain in her hand a loud snap; looking down to find the remains of her pencil crushed over her small pink journal.
"UGH! How am I supposed to make this the best performance of my life, If I can't even hold this stupid pen!" she growled wincing at the small cuts in her palm from the broken shards of wood. She quickly went into her bag reaching for bandages.
A soft rustle could be heard from her bed, as two shining eyes popped out of the blankets; her partner Piplup now awake, ran to help its trainer. Dawn sighed motioning for the penguin pokemon to come over.
"Pip! Piplup-Pip!", clearly worried, Dawn huffed slightly before tightening the bandage across her hand.
"I'm fine Piplup… just go to sleep" the Sinnoh girl said once again reaching for her journal; she folded creases into the paper hoping that some idea, any idea would magically appear. The penguin pokemon gave a small whine before hopping into her lap and nudging her arm as if to ask what was wrong.
Dawn chuckled "Piplup, how come you always know when I'm upset?" the penguin pokemon gave a proud "Pip!" before returning to cuddle into its trainer.
Dawn pulled a hand through her hair trying to untangle the knots "Piplup, Do you ever think we...we reached everything we can be?".
The pokemon in question gave what appeared to be a small frown "Pip?" it questioned.
Dawn looked out towards the shining city below them, feeling the chill of night tickle her face "Just, ever since we stopped traveling with Ash and Brock; and kept winning contests, It feels like I've done everything and that maybe.." she paused holding in a breath, struggling to make her pokemon understand the buildup that had led to her funk.
Dawn clutched her hand into a fist "Maybe I've reached everything I can become? The best coordinator I could possibly be, and that scares me Piplup" she let out a breath feeling small tears running down her cheeks.
The penguin pokemon jumped up in front of her flailing its arms in disbelief "Pip-Piplup-Piplup!" it nearly shouted trying to reason with the blunette. She continued to mumble about reaching her end until the starter pokemon could no longer stand it and charged up a chilly bubble beam at her face, splashing her with cold water.
"Gah! Piplup! That was cold!" the coordinator shouted.
The penguin pokemon gave no answer, only a stern stare into its trainer's eyes, after years of dealing with Dawn, Piplup knew a thing or two about dealing with her ups and downs.
Suddenly; she felt it bubble like bubble beam, and a burst of bubbly sweet laughter filled the air as Dawn began to giggle and cackle. She had tears in her eyes and her face was swollen and wet and gross but she couldn't seem to find it in her to even care.
This is what she needed, a reminder
She lifted Piplup into her arms swinging him around and hugging the unsuspecting penguin pokemon like it was her old clefairy doll. The Pokemon gave a confused "Pip?" before just enjoying it's trainers happiness and cheering her along.
A rustle from her Pokemon Center room could be heard, as the blunettes sleepy pokemon trudged out of their rooms curious about the commotion. Dawn quickly placed Piplup on her shoulder before calling the colorful gang of Pokemon over and hugging them each as if she were trying to squish them to bits. The Pokemon gave confused nods and stares to each other, trying to understand whatever they had slept through.
Dawn finally calmed down from the mania, gently wiping away her own tears and huddling with her confused and sleepy team.
"Piplup, Lopunny, Togekiss, and Mamoswine, Pachirisu and quilava!" she cheered finally flashing her familiar and yet dazzling coordinator smile. She gave a cheery laugh pumping her fist in the air "I finally figured out what I was missing! Why I felt so trapped in my own performances!" the pokemon gave smiles; lopunny using its ears to create a makeshift clap and togekiss flapping its long elegant wings excitedly.
The Sinnoh native gave a wide grin "I forgot to take my own advice! I'm proud, I'm confident!, I'm Dawn Hikari Berlitz! And as long as I have you guys by my side, well then, there's no need to worry!"
Her pokemon cheered happily crying out to see their trainer burning bright like a fire with excitement in the air. In the midst of all the celebrating dawns, poketch watch rang out indicating the clock had struck twelve with a slight beep and buzz.
The coordinators blue eyes widened, having lost track of the time. She quickly shooed her pokemon to bed. And they sleepy obliged readily for some deserved rest.
Dawn took one last look at the view and grabbed her journal off the table, clutching it to her heart she reminded herself on last time "Tomorrow I'm going to face May, and as long as I follow my team"
She paused staring at the starry night, breathing in the fresh Johto air "There's no need to worry".
And when the girl finally curled up in her bed for the night she decided to thank Arceus for that.