Chapter 9

The sound of a boats horn fills the air. No sun can be seen on this cloudy day and it seems as if a storm is coming.

"Look! That must be our boat!" Max yells excitedly. "Hurry guys!" Max, Dawn, and Seth run towards the port. A man in a sailor suit is standing next to the bridge that connects to the massive ferry boat.

"Can I help you three?" the man asks politely.

"Yeah, we're all on the boat to the Johto region; is this it?" Seth asks.

"Yes it is; please enjoy your trip." The man unhinges the rope that blocked the way onto the boat. "Please have your tickets ready."

"Thanks a lot." Seth, Max, and Dawn hustle onto the boat. They pass another man in a sailor suit; they each flash their ticket and he nods.

The ship is nearly vacant. It is just them, the crew, and a few other people traveling to Johto region. Dawn, Max, and Seth find the guest quarters and sit down in their room; Seth sits on the floor, Max sits on his bed, and Dawn lies down on her bed and turns away from the rest of them.

"Dawn, are you feeling alright?" Seth asks calmly but still with concern.

"Yeah…" Dawn softly replies. Max and Seth look at each other; Max bows his head.

"You're still sad about Gary aren't you?" Seth asks knowing the answer. Dawn buries her face in the pillow, not caring that it messes up her hair. Seth stands up and walks over to her bed. "We know…" Seth sits next to her on the bed and pats her on the back.

"So where are we off to next?" Max asks perkily hoping to change the subject.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me! I want to thank you guys for coming to the Johto region with me. I know you guys had other plans." Seth says in his carefree voice.

"Hey no problem, I wasn't even sure where I was going next anyways. I've never been to the Johto region so it's worth it for me!" Max replies happily. Dawn still doesn't move.

"Well anyways, our boat docks at New Bark town. I think after that we should head to Cherrygrove City for the Pokémon contest there." Seth hopes Dawn will react to this comment but he has no such luck. "And after that there is a gym battle in Violet City that I need to win."

"Sounds good, I can't wait to see all the new Pokémon in the Johto region!" Max beams like a little kid who just ate a piece of candy. The bell rings from outside the cabin. "It's time for dinner! I'm starving!" Max streaks out the door.

"Why don't you come eat with us Dawn?" Seth asks hopefully.

"No thanks… I'm not hungry." She says softly and sadly. Seth frowns and looks down.

"Well ok… don't worry I'll bring you something back." Seth replies with a little bit of disappointment in his voice.

Max and Seth make their way to a big cafeteria with four long strips of buffet food and tables. The place is almost empty. They sit down after collecting their food and begin to eat. Max eats a little too much and gets a stomach ache; Seth hardly touches his food.

"I'm going to go and lie down." Max is barely able to say he's so full.

"If you are going to throw up do so off the edge of the boat please." Seth replies with almost no interest; he simply continues to stare at his food. Max shrugs and walks out of the cafeteria.

After a few more minutes, Seth leaves the cafeteria, after collecting a plate of food for Dawn, and walks over to the commons area. He moves into the lobby and sits down at one of the video phones. He types in a number and Brock's face appears on the screen.

"Seth? How is it going? Where are you at now?" Brock happily answers the phone.

"I'm on the boat that goes to the Johto region." Seth replies with a troubled voice.

"Johto… I remember when I traveled there with Ash and Misty. Anyways, how is it going? You don't look so good."

"Well… you see… I'm traveling with Max and Dawn."

"Really? That's great! How are they doing?"

"Oh, Max is great! He's really excited about the journey but… Dawn isn't doing to well."

"Let me guess; she is depressed about Gary." Brock says solemnly but honestly.

"Yeah, how'd you guess?"

"Dawn has always been… easily depressed if you will. It's no wonder she got so depressed over this."

"Yeah, I mean, I'm depressed to. Gary was a good friend of mine."

"We all are… he was a god friend."

"I'm sorry to have gotten off track. I called because I'm worried about Dawn; she won't even speak. I figured that you might know what to do because you traveled with her for so long."

"I see now, you want to help her." Brock laughs. "You two remind of a couple of friends of mine."

"Who?"

"I'll let you wonder. Anyways, if you really want to help her you should call her mom and get Dawn to talk to her."

"Call her mom?" Seth looks completely confused.

"Trust me, you'll see." Brock smiles. "It has been nice talking to you. Come visit sometime in the Pewter Gym." Brock hangs up and his face disappears.

"Booo!" Max screams from right behind Seth. Seth jumps out of his chair and falls on his head onto the ground. Max laughs.

"Oww… That hurt." Seth rubs his head and scowls at Max. "Ha ha ha very funny. You're looking better." Seth stands up and brushes off his jacket. "Could you do me a favor?"

"Why not?" Max says still laughing.

"Could you go get Dawn and bring her in here?" Max salutes Seth in confirmation and runs out of the room. Seth sits back down and dials another number. A woman with big round blue hair appears on the screen.

"Hello?" the woman says.

"Hi, my name is Seth Elwood. I'm currently traveling with your daughter, Dawn." Seth replies putting on a happy face.

"Oh yes! She told me about you on the phone! It's a pleasure to meet you." Mrs. Shionn replies happily. "So how can I help you?"

"Well… Dawn's not feeling so well since the funeral for Gary and Brock told me you'd be able to help."

"Oh I see now. Ok then, bring her to me."

"Max is getting her right now… I think…" As he says this, Max rushes into the room with Marshstomp and Empoleon.

"We just can't do it." Max says feeling like a failure. "I even grabbed her Pokéball and released Empoleon to help me and Marshstomp try and carry her after she wouldn't respond to me, but when we tried to pick her up she slapped me and ran off somewhere."

"That girl…" Mr. Shionn sighs. Seth pulls a Pokéball off of his belt and opens it; Absol appears.

"Absol, let's go find Dawn." Absol nods and makes a deep barking sound. Absol and Seth walk out the door.

They move about the deck looking for Dawn. Absol makes a noise and points his nose towards the bow of the boat. Dawn is leaning on the bars looking out into the distant clouds and sea.

"Hey Dawn." Seth calmly says as he walks up behind her. "What're you doing out here?"

"Nothing." Dawn replies sadly.

"Your mom wants to talk to you. I've got her on the phone." Seth smoothly moves up next to her. "I've got your dinner to."

"Thanks, but no thanks."

"You can't just blow off your own mother like that! Besides, I know you're hungry."

"Watch me."

"Come on Dawn! The lobby is really nice. I think they're showing a movie! We could watch it together… all of us!"

"No; but thanks again." Seth and Absol sigh.

"Well I guess we've got no other choice buddy. Absol, let's do it." Absol jumps underneath Dawn and sweeps her legs with its legs. Dawn starts to fall forward but Seth catches her and hoists her over his shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing?! Let me go!" Dawn yells angrily as Seth starts to walk towards the lobby. "Damnit! Let me go!" Seth just laughs and Absol makes teasing faces at Dawn from the ground.

They walk into the lobby, Dawn still flailing, until Seth sits her down in front of her mother.

"Dawn." Mrs. Shionn says sternly.

"Oh, hi mom." Dawn replies in a scared and depressed voice.

"Now Dawn, I understand that what happened was tragic but you can't let it get to you. Your friends have gone through the same as you have. They are trying to help you; if you just let yourself get completely depressed every time something happens you will never be able to succeed in life!" Max and Seth back away from the phone in fear of Mrs. Shionn's wrath.

"I understand mom."

"Also, you should let your feelings loose. You told me on the phone that you promised you weren't going to cry over Gary's death. That you wanted to respect him in life and death by staying strong, but look at yourself. Is this strength?" Mrs. Shionn softens up. "Please Dawn, don't bottle things up." Dawn nods and Mrs. Shionn looks at Max and Seth.

"Thank you both for your help. I know she is in good hands."

"Don't worry mom." Dawn says sadly and barely able to keep the tears out. Mrs. Shionn smiles.

"When you say that is when I worry the most." She hangs up the phone and her face disappears.

Dawn bursts into tears, sobbing profusely. Max and Seth walk over next to her. Marshstomp, Absol, and Empoleon move over to her as well with concerned looks on their faces. Seth puts his hand on her shoulder and she cries for a long time.