Along the way out of Oreburgh Mine, Dawn held back and let the young man, the gym leader, walk out of sight. With the brisk and distracted manner in which he was walking, it became apparent that he needed a few moments to himself.

He was arguing with his father, wasn't he? Dawn thought, uncomfortable with having overheard them; I simply wonder over what. Though... it isn't my business.

Arriving back at the Oreburgh Gym, Dawn stopped, and after looking around, filled with shaken alarm. Barry was nowhere to be found. Maybe he went inside, she considered, pushing past the automatic doors that once detained him.

Studying every aspect of the gym's raised grey walls, platforms and stairs, Dawn walked around, swept two gym trainers with Pringles, and, glancing over everything once more, walked back outside.

Her arms shook at her sides and her face went livid. Fluffy, Dawn thought crossly; Why have you FORSAKEN me AGAIN?

Even after searching the whole town, and then resting at the pokecenter in hopes of him turning up, Barry was still nowhere to be found. After an hour of sitting there, Dawn became convinced that he was already in the next town over. Wearily holding her face, she sunk further into her seat cushion. I shouldn't have given him all that caffeine and sugar this morning, she realized; it must've gave him an insane boost of energy.

Standing up, anxiously, and then settling down at the pokecenter's corner PC, Dawn logged into her personal account and shakily checked her mail. To her relief, there was still no response yet from her or Barry's parents. Comforted by this, her relief reenergized her. Maybe, she hoped, our parents haven't even woken up yet... I still have time to search for Fluffy. There was still hope of getting the hostage situation back under control.

Dawn stopped by the gym one more time, but this time she asked around. To her surprise, the doorman informed her that Barry had already earned his badge and left some time ago.

Impossible... when did he do all that? Dawn wondered, suddenly feeling degraded and abandoned. He's quick... is Fluffy that much better than me? Fuming from this insult, it abruptly occurred to her that Barry was no longer her hostage if he was that much stronger than her. All my threats and aspirations are useless... perhaps our parents are at home laughing and awaiting my defeat– just like you are, Fluffy. Perhaps they already knew that I can't handle you.

–Isn't that right?

Stepping up the stairs to Roark, it was then and for the first time that Dawn perceived Barry's declaration of rivalry as a serious thing. It's like my whole existence is just a big joke– an afterthought to Fluffy– a useless leash that drags behind him, she thought testily; But I won't be a joke anymore. Fluffy... You're going NOWHERE.

Sensing the storm behind the girl's eyes, the gym leader curiously welcomed her and introduced himself fully this time around. "I'm Roark," he declared powerfully, "the gym leader! I'm but one trainer who decided to walk proudly with rock-type pokemon!" He suddenly and forcefully pointed at Dawn, glaring at her with challenging severity.

After a bloated moment, Dawn realized that he was waiting for her to introduce herself– and in a similar manner. "I'm a pokemon trainer... Dawn," she finally answered. "What kind of trainer I am among others is unknown. I just began, so I walk with only two pokemon." Shuffling her coat pocket indifferently after this, she then added: "If you're a good judge, though, try us out and compare. ...I won't disappoint."

Roark, amused by her coolness, chuckled intently. "As the gym leader, I do need to see your potential as a trainer." Reaching into his right cargo pant pocket, he retrieved a pokeball. "And," he said; "I'll need to see the toughness of the pokemon that battle with you!" Throwing down the pokeball, he saluted, and immediately sent a serious-looking Geodude charging into battle.

I switched my line-up for this, Dawn thought; because of something I once heard on Rowan's TV show... hope I remembered it right. Pulling the top-most pokeball from her pocket, Dawn pitched it down and slid back on her feet. "Go!" she yelled; "Snover!" Send out the weaker first... that's how you get stronger.

Lurching into battle– Snover– as mouthless as ever, swung his bough-like arms to make them groan and creak in compensation. Shifting his wooden green eyes up, he solemnly stared at the ceiling, welcoming the sudden hail which violently rained down in his presence and swirled through the already cold gym.

"Whoa-ho," Roark cried, holding onto his hardhat and flinching at the indoor storm. "This ice... Unbelievable! Geodude, get this guy, quick! Rock Throw!"

"Go, Snover–" Dawn urged, "–Razor Leaf!"

Being the faster one, Snover moved in and whipped his boughs, shooting razor-sharp pine needles straight at Geodude. Rending pebbles off the shocked rock pokemon's face, the needles proved super-effective, instantly fainting him. Snover rumbled in victory.

"Come on out, Onix!" Roark blurted, smashing down his next pokeball. Onix's long body plunged in onto the scene, and he stretched up so high, that he nearly raked the ceiling. "Rock Throw!"

Nodding his head dutifully, Onix moved around the platform, looking for the perfect angle to strike. Despite his gigantic size and limited space, Onix slithered circles around Snover; and despite being buffeted by the raging hail, he slammed his tail effortlessly and lobbed a huge boulder smack at Snover, forcing Dawn to whirl away from the boulder's rebound path.

Roark flippantly laughed at her unexpected footwork. "You're fast!" he said. "Too bad the same can't be said for your Snover!"

Snover's trunk groaned– doubled over from the hit– and Dawn, glaring unforgivingly at Roark, ran to her pokemon. "Hold in there–" she said, tightly hugging Snover from behind and straightening him out; "Onix is coming back around, so get ready." Letting go, she backed away from him and signaled forward. "Razor Leaf!"

As Onix slithered back around, Snover stood in his path and stopped. Whipping his boughs once more, Snover launched razor-sharp pine needles, piercing Onix's rocky body dead-on and tumultuously toppling him over like a tower of bricks.

"Snover, switch out! Come back!" Dawn recalled him through his blistering hail storm. Switching to her last pokeball, she pelted it forward. "Go! Pringles!"

Beating her wings and trilling, the steadfast little Piplup emerged on the battlefield and soulfully stared ahead.

Visibly agitated, Roark sharply threw down his last pokeball and released Cranidos– a tiny, dome-headed dinosaur pokemon. Hunching over, Cranidos growled, scratching his clawed feet on the stone floor and readying himself to attack.

"Think you can take down the next pokemon like you did earlier?" Roark blasted, instilling Dawn with a brief flicker of doubt.

Ignoring him, she incited Pringles to attack. "Bubble!" Dawn shouted, holding against the chill wind and hail which continually pitted against their skins.

Pringles, painfully bearing this blasting hail, did her best to prepare her attack, but was instead out-maneuvered by the relentless and agile Cranidos. Attacking her with Pursuit, he threw Pringles into a corner, panicking Dawn into running over and dousing her with potion. Not slowing down, Cranidos shot Pringles a glaring Leer and frightened her into dropping her defense.

"Bubble again–" Dawn shouted once more, rushing aside and breathlessly watching as Pringles opened her tiny yellow beak and spewed out a floating stream of glossy bubbles.

The hail raged on, and Roark, knowing that his Cranidos had lost major health, jumped in to cheer him on. "No way!" the gym leader growled; "Not yet! Not giving up!" He encouraged Cranidos to fight on: "It's time to use your strongest move– the move that uses your iron-hard head to its fullest advantage!" He pointed ahead in declaration. "Cranidos, Headbutt attack!"

Lowering his dome, Cranidos forged ahead, ramming it right into Pringles and bowling her over. Trilling and rolling, Pringles flopped to a stop, and using her wings to prop herself up, raised herself back onto her feet. Gasping and huffing, she puffed out her feathery chest with power and stood firmly through the razing wind.

Dawn, watching the exhausted but scrupulous Pipup, filled with shared determination. "Once more–" Dawn stepped supportively behind her "–Bubble!"

Letting out a drastic shrill, Pringles plodded forward and blasted Cranidos with a final, spiraling stream of bubbles. Battered by the oddly super-charged attack, Cranidos screeched and roared, stomping and fighting to stay where he was. As the last bubble struck, though, his legs gave out and he fell over– fainted.

"W-what?" Roark roared incredulously; "That's can't be! My buffed-up pokemon!"

Bringing the battle to a close, the hail storm died down, leaving behind its tiny ice stones to melt into puddles.

Dawn, bending down over the exhausted Pringles, petted the pokemon's puffy head. "You did it," Dawn told her, smiling as Pringles closed her eyes and leaned gently into each pet. Recalling the Piplup, Dawn stood up and confronted Roark, whom she silently handed her empty badge case to.

"This is embarrassing... I went and lost to a trainer who didn't have a single gym badge..." Roark sighed, examining the bare badge case. "But that's tough. You were strong and I was weak. That's all there is." Reaching into his left cargo pants pocket, he retrieved a shining button-like object. "According to Pokémon League rules, I have to give you our Gym Badge since you've beaten me, the Leader. Here's your official Pokémon League Coal Badge." He placed it in her case and offered it back. "Having that means that your pokemon are strong enough to safely use Rock Smash outside of battle."

Taking it in hand, Dawn held the case carefully and quietly observed Roark. It's none of my business... she reminded herself, still remembering the argument that he had had with his father, and the despairing way in which he smashed that cave boulder.

"You should also take this, too," he said, handing her a disc. "It's not Rock Smash, but Stealth Rock. It's a move that inflicts damage on foes who switch into battle. It's a technique machine, so it'll break after one use. Make sure you're certain before using it."

Hearing this, and certain that he was done speaking with her, Dawn turned to leave– but was stopped when Roark suddenly called out to her.

"Wait," he said. "You overheard us, didn't you? You must be curious."

Is he trying to get me to admit to my offense? she wondered; well, if he is, I guess I owe it to him. It was rude for me to eavesdrop. Turning aside, she blankly stared at him. "... Sorry," she emitted. "I didn't mean to."

Roark lowered his head. "No. I'm sorry for making you feel awkward about it," he said. "And for taking my anger out on you in our battle earlier. I owe an explanation."

Not sure of what to say, Dawn simply nodded and looked down at her feet.

"It's weird, but our battle just now brought back some memories," Roark said, looking ahead and ignoring her silence; "My mother was a powerful ice-type trainer. Sometimes, she would make it snow here..."

Curious, Dawn looked up into his daydreaming face and found that his strong and dynamic nature was gone and replaced with faint melancholy.

"My dad and mom didn't get along very well," Roark said, "They would have arguments all the time, putting me in the middle." Pausing, he adjusted his hat before continuing. "One day, though, my mom got fed up and left him. When he searched for her, he found out that she found someone else... and had bore a new son. When my dad looks at me, he's probably reminded of all that."

Dawn bit her lip and slunk her shoulders low. "That's... sad," she uttered, wholly depressed for him.

"Hey, that's life!" Roark perked up, trying to brighten her mood. "I just have to work extra hard to prove my dad wrong! Though that argument earlier didn't help... but he's a tough guy, so he'll forget what I said to him! Hopefully."

"Still... if you feel guilty, apologize," Dawn said, certain that Roark and his father had left on a terrible note. "Even if he's too proud to admit it, he'll feel better. My dad is like that, too."

"Hm. OK. I'll try it out." Roark grinned. "I'm a bonehead like him, so I'm always in need of such advice. Thanks!"

Saying their farewells, Dawn left, but with the troublesome pangs of guilt dampening her spirit. Who am I to say such big things? she wondered dourly; My parents love each other very much and are still together. I was the one who abandoned them. But... is it wrong? Wanting to find love at my own pace. Escaping. I don't know... I don't really know anything. Losing herself in her wonderings, she wandered to the edge of town, unaware of where she was going or where she even was. This loss of self-awareness came to an abrupt end when she was forcefully rammed from behind.

THUD!

Spinning on her toes, Dawn gasped and fell backwards– a familiar lanky body falling down on top of her.

"Whoops! Dawn!" Barry sung, wrapping his arms around her– supposedly to cushion her fall. "You got the gym badge, huh?" He happily pawed at her back.

"Geh... How'd you know?" Dawn grunted, prying away his wandering arms. Fluffy, massaging my back won't fix all the damages you've caused it!

Dancing around her question, he yammered at a difficult-to-understand speed, mentioning television, chocolate soda pop, anchors, Route 207, bicycles, and then double espressos.

"So you've had both coffee and choco soda?" Dawn questioned, effectively holding back her panic.

"Oh yeah! I totally did!" Barry confirmed, shaking his fists and jumping to his feet. "It was incredible! My teeth disintegrated! I felt both my livers explode!"

"Barry... you only have one liver." Unless you stole an extra from somebody.

"Oh yeah, huh? Just like a kidney!"

Not bothering to correct him again, Dawn stood up and dusted herself off. Barry, however, began revving up to go. "So," he said, jogging in place, "I'm going to Jubilife City. Next stop, the Eterna gym badge! Ten seconds before I dash! Nine–"

"–Wait!" Dawn rushed, holding out her arms to try and stop him. You can't just go... not when I finally have you back!

"Bah! Who's got time to count?...!" Motivated by her resistance, Barry gleefully swerved around her, running off into the cavernous expanse of Oreburgh Gate. "Just try to catch me!" his far-off voice taunted.

Holding a slice of toast in his mouth, Lucas slung the refrigerator door open and rummaged around, grumbling lowly when he realized that there was no milk. Turning around, he found his grandfather sitting at the kitchen table, blithely chugging the whole milk bottle and watching TV with an equally unconcerned Lucia.

"Forget this," Lucas complained, yanking his toast from his mouth and heading for the front door. "I'm going to the lab." At least there's coffee there...

Lucia suddenly jumped. "Whaa, two losses in one day!" she exclaimed, still engrossed in the television. "Must stink for that gym leader."

"Hm, quite," her grandfather responded.

Stopping at the front door, Lucas turned and eyed the TV, his pulse quickening when he saw a Snover on the screen.

"–and Roark hadn't even finished licking his wounds when he was trounced by this SECOND newbie trainer from the SAME town." A news reporter sensationalized over clips and slow-motion playbacks of Snover felling Geodude and Onix. "Could these two kid trainers be dueling it out in a classic rivalry? Will their moves stay THIS hot? We'll be watching them, so find out! We keep an eye on the action. This is The Battle Channel!" When a freeze frame of Dawn and Piplup appeared, alongside one of Barry and Turtwig, Lucas let out an audible gasp.

"What? What is it?" Lucia asked, receiving only reluctant silence from her brother.

"Nothing. Don't worry. I'm going now," he told her, abruptly opening the front door and receiving a face full of cold, dry air. Dawn and Barry... they made it to Oreburgh quickly, Lucas thought, walking across the sandy road to Rowan's lab. Those two are really serious... They're probably already in Eterna City by now. Well, hopefully. Dawn needs to keep moving if she wants to run away– especially under this much attention...

Walking into the lab's warm, brightly lit main room, Lucas stopped and cringed when he saw his father– an intimidating stick of a man in horn-rimmed glasses and a white coat– bounding over to him.

"Ah, right on time," the man expressed. "Rowan's gone and we've just received an amazing profusion of data from Dawn's pokedex. Listen, I need you to start compiling it so we can write up more entries. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

"I'll work on it," Lucas said, "and I'll finish more tonight... but I need to meet up with Rowan in Jubilife City soon, because he's carrying back sensitive records from the GTS."

"Lucas."

"Also, I've been waiting for this trip for awhile now, since it's my first opportunity to do field research outside of–"

"–You don't need to do anymore field research," his father cut him off. "I just decided it this morning. You've been making slow pokedex progress in comparison to Dawn, so your efforts in that area are no longer needed."

His father's words, clinical and true, tormented him for that very nature. "So? I like doing it." Lucas spat, his anger rising.

His father stared at him disapprovingly. "Take advantage of your youth, Lucas. 'Brave' and 'strong' trainers of your age are everywhere, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one as bright as you are. So let your talents shine where they were meant, and leave the dirty work to others."

"What's so dirty about that kind of work?" Lucas blurted. "Do you think it's nothing special? Dawn just started, and she's phenomenal. That's why you're making me quit, right?" He felt strongly about her successes, and with an intense love and hate that looped back into envy.

Dawn– who was gifted with the braveness and necessity to run away– had abandoned everything safe, comfortable, and certain just for her independence. She fought and deceived to do things her own way; to do what she felt was right, and all while showing the same shy indifference that Lucas had noticed when they'd first met. Yet here I am, stooping to my father's commands. The assistant of an assistant, he thought bitterly; I could whine and cry about how unfair things are, but the fact is... I'm too cowardly to change my future.

"Dawn," the man began, balking at his son's resistance, "is talented in that area because she doesn't have many responsibilities or mature things to worry about... She has time to spare and devote to such a task."

For the first time ever, Lucas realized that his father's words were erroneous in addition to being detached and offensive. "You... you grossly underestimate EVERYONE around you," Lucas finally said, glaring at him. With that, the boy turned and ran out the door– bolting down the street and up the same route that Dawn had left in the cold, early morning hours only a brief rest and a dream ago.

From now on, Lucas determined, dreams would no longer be the place where he found an outlet to his wishes.

~To be continued...~

Awesome Dawn, Barry, and Lucas fan art of the week:

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* remove the asterisks *

Thanks for reading– and reviewing! I didn't realize that people liked this story as much as IILOP, so I'll work harder on updating it more often. C: