Chapter 25: The Underwater Path.
Time to start the final parts of the story, now towards the road towards the Humilau City Gym. Sorry it took so long, I needed a small break to think about what needs to be done for the story and for the one-shot special that will happen before the Kalos saga.
Ash and Dawn walked into Undella Town again, the feel of the gentle tropical breeze and the seemingly perfect daytime sky, Ash noticed Dawn's long blue hair swaying in the gentle breeze, "you know Dawn, we have been on the road for a few days and we are being followed by Victini," Ash commented while looking back to see the small pokemon hiding from the couple. Victini went invisible as it tried to hide again from the trainer's view. It was then they spotted a building that seemed new to them, they knew something was being built but the duo didn't know what exactly.
"Come on Ash, we don't have all day, I am certain that Victini will follow us," Dawn grasped onto her fiancé's arm, she dragged him towards a building.
Ash and Dawn continued towards the building wanting to see what it was all about, "you know, this could be the Marine Tube," Ash stated quietly.
Ash and Dawn walked into the building to find a large set of stair in the back with desks on either side as they entered, "so this will lead us to the next gym for you," Dawn wondered, she followed Ash towards the stairway that led to the Marine Tube.
Ash and Dawn walked down the steps wondering what the sight was going to be, Pikachu and Piplup waltzed in front of their respective trainers and got the first glance, in awe of the path that was lit up by special lights and a clear tube with a path leading all the way across the tube.
Ash and Dawn finally walked down the steps and saw the amazing sight, "oh wow this is amazing," Dawn gasped in surprise at the sight that was around her, she walked ahead of the trainer unable to contain her excitement, "I haven't ever seen anything like this before," Dawn said with joy.
Ash followed the blue haired teen into the long road ahead; he looked towards the glass that surrounded them amazed at how such a place was created, Ash looked up to see Mantines gliding through the water effortlessly, "it has been a while since I have seen pokemon from outside this region, well that's apart from Pikachu," Ash commented while scanning the area.
Dawn looked back to see Ash getting closer, "Ash I have a question," Dawn stated, she clenched her fists and sighed for a moment.
"What is it?" Ash asked in reply while Pikachu perked up his ears, he looked over to Piplup and jumped towards the small pokemon, the two pokemon ran off wanting to give the two trainers some time alone.
"I have been thinking, what if Tobias defeats you again? Does that mean you will leave me?" Dawn asked the trainer with a concerned outlook at the possibility.
Ash burst out into laughter and placed his left hand on Dawn's shoulder, "you have nothing to worry about, I am not a sore loser anymore, plus I absolutely refuse to lose to Tobias this time around, I am going to win," Ash replied to Dawn's concern.
Dawn giggled while Ash raised his right hand in the air then clenching it into a fist, "good, then I will support you with my cheerleader's outfit," Dawn remarked while raising her hand into the air, Ash and Dawn gave each other a high five before holding the pose, "just no more running away," Dawn instructed Ash with a cheeky grin.
"That's a promise," Ash replied, the couple lowered their hands and started walking through the Marine Tube while their pokemon walked in front of them, Dawn gazed over her shoulder and proudly stared at Ash, 'at least he has grown up,' Dawn thought joyously.
(FlashBack)
Dawn stood at the front of the ship, staring out towards the docks, seeing a small town with green fields and small houses dotting the area, "so this is Ash's home town, I wonder if he has seen his mother yet," Dawn wondered distinctly, she pulled out the two letters and clasped one close to her heart, she closed her eyes wondering what happened to Ash, it had been six months since he left the Sinnoh region on his own leaving all his friends behind.
As the ship docked she looked down to see the trainer's mother standing at the docks with tears rolling down her face, 'I guess not, Ash you jerk,' Dawn thought with great disappointment, the bluenette walked towards the side of the ship and waited for the gangplank to allow for departure of the ship.
Delia continued to look out to the sea wondering where her son was, "just like his father, but at least I hear from him," Delia cried not knowing that Dawn was approaching her.
"Ms Ketchum, it's nice to meet you," the teenager respectfully called out to the mother.
Delia turned around in shock to see a friend of Ash talking to her, "you must be Dawn, Ash use to say a lot of good things about you, I could tell that he was really fond of you," Delia replied with a soft smile.
"So he hasn't come back yet, I was kind of hoping to catch up with him," Dawn stated as she picked up her pokemon, she turned her attention to Delia and confidently smiled, "when he comes back I will be the one to lecture him," Dawn decreed with a smirk.
"I can see why he is so fond of you," Delia commented with a giggle, 'so this is Dawn, the girl Ash has feelings for, yet he was always too proud to admit it,' Delia wondered, the gentle sea breeze whipped her brown hair, "I need some company, would you like to stay around for a while, I am sure the Kanto region will have some interesting places for you to see while you stay," Delia offered the teen a place to stay.
"I will stay around to help you out, so no need to worry," Dawn replied calmly.
"Ash warned me about that phrase, he always said that was when he worried the most," Delia giggled causing Dawn to blush a little from the comment, Delia noticed the redness in Dawn's face, "so Dawn, you seem to be blushing, do you have a crush on my son?" Delia asked while Dawn started to get more flustered at the comment.
"No," Dawn scoffed, but there was no hiding the proof from Ash's mother.
"He also said you're a bad liar," Delia replied happily, "and I can tell you have more than a crush on my son, you love him," Delia explained while Dawn looked over to her pokemon, unsure about what to do next.
"I…..I um, I am just worried about him that's all, I….," Dawn continued but was struggling to string together a sentence after being embarrassed by the trainer's mother, "I don't know, whenever I do think of Ash, I feel proud of him, no matter how much he falls, I want to be there to help him up," Dawn explained while Delia started to smile at the teen.
"Don't worry Dawn, it's between you and me, plus I can tell by the way you're talking that you love my son," Delia promised while walking towards the entrance of the docks.
'Ash's mother is so nice, she was able to see through my façade,' Dawn wondered, she turned around to see the setting sun, her thoughts of Ash flashed through her mind and the journey they had been through, "Ash, please come back safely, I will be waiting for you," Dawn stated while pulling out a picture of her and Ash, she looked at it for a moment and smiled tenderly at the picture, 'I guess his mother is right, but then again my mother saw it too, Ash no matter what I am proud of you, also…..' Dawn thought as she gulped at the next part of her thoughts, she looked at the photo again and smiled at it, 'I love you Ash.'
(5 months later)
"Dawn! Can I ask you to get some stuff at the shops?" Delia requested.
Dawn ran down the steps with a cheeky grin, "sure thing Delia, I was thinking of heading out today anyway," Dawn retorted happily.
"The list is on the table," the brunette told the teen with a smile, "also where are you planning on going?" Delia asked the coordinator.
"I thinking of Mount Moon, I heard from Ash it's a really nice place," Dawn replied curiously, "I um….. ah, I wanted to um," Dawn started but was starting to feel nervous.
"Geez Dawn, you can't seem to string together a sentence when it involves my son, are you that nervous to admit your feelings for my son?" Delia questioned the girl with a playful smile.
Dawn rushed to the front door not wanting to reply to Delia's words, she knew that Delia was right but would refuse to admit it out loud, 'I want to see Mount Moon with Ash at my side,' Dawn admitted to herself, she simply couldn't say it out loud.
(Return from flashback)
"You know Ash, as confident as I can be, whenever I wanted to say something to your mother about you, I would get really nervous, so nervous that I could never string together a sentence," Dawn admitted leaving Ash in shock at this admittance, "I was also to scared to say that I love you, around your mother," Dawn replied with a smile.
"Why were you nervous?" Ash questioned the bluenette quietly.
Dawn looked to the ground and began to wonder, "because I thought I was never good enough for you, I mean, when I think about it, there was May and Misty, you had always thought of them highly, but me, I questioned whether you had feelings for one of those two as well," Dawn remarked as she looked over to Ash.
"During our journey right?" Ash asked the blue haired coordinator with a smile.
"And then I thought of the time I dressed as a princess, you couldn't help it, there was no way, you could stop staring," Dawn teased while Ash started to chuckle, "it was the only time I thought I was a princess," Dawn confessed while Ash shook his head.
Ash sighed knowing that Dawn was right, "perfection is over rated Dawn, but if you must know, I always thought you were a princess, but I guess that's me being bias," Ash replied with a proud smile, Ash looked up to see the water pokemon swimming overhead, wondering what to say next, it was then that Dawn grasped onto his arm and started to smile, "you're nothing like Misty and May, sure they are great friends, but there is more to you than I anticipated," Ash commented while thinking about the previous journey the couple had, "I watched you become a great coordinator, you learned from me and I learned from you," Ash explained while Dawn listened with intent.
"I guess we are the best team," Dawn replied gently.
"No we aren't the best team," Ash replied while Dawn looked up in shock getting ready to cry, "We're the perfect team," Ash finished his sentence leaving Dawn surprised at the comment.
Ash and Dawn continued through the Marine Tube, "you had me worried for a moment, but I guess there really is nothing to worry about," Dawn stated blissfully.
Ash blushed while walking through the Marine Tube, he was happy to hear that Dawn would be cheering for him, it was a great feeling, he looked up again to see the water pokemon swimming overhead, the serene picture gave the trainer a relaxing moment to think about the special day that was approaching, "you know Dawn, I have been thinking, we should have our wedding in Sinnoh," Ash commented happily.
"No, we should have it in Kanto," Dawn argued much to the trainer's surprise.
Pikachu and Piplup looked back to see the couple staring into one another's eyes, "I am telling you we are taking our vows in Sinnoh," Ash replied in frustration.
"No it should be in Kanto," Dawn fought back while clenching her fists.
"Alright then how about this when we reach Humilau City, we have a one on one battle, the winner decides where the wedding will be," Ash challenged Dawn to a battle.
Dawn gasped knowing that this challenge wasn't in her favour, she looked over to her starter pokemon and shook her head, 'Ash is much stronger than I am, it is almost unfair,' Dawn told herself like she was being forced into a choice that she didn't want, "but Ash, you are much stronger than I am, what chance do I have in a battle against you?" Dawn questioned the trainer with a frown.
"What are you scared that you might lose?" Ash teased the teen with a playful grin.
"Fine, but if I win, I choose the place as well as the region, if you win it will be Sinnoh and the town or City of choice for you," Dawn submitted while walking ahead of the trainer, she exhaled knowing that the battle she was going to participate in was going to end up in defeat for her, 'great why did I accept the battle?' Dawn wondered while thinking about the possibility of Ash choosing the region and town, 'unless,' Dawn started to wonder what Ash was thinking, she looked over to her fiancé and the two pokemon he was talking to, "Ash, what town are you selecting for us?" Dawn questioned the trainer quietly.
"Floaroma Town, I have been thinking about it for a few weeks," Ash replied with a gentle smile.
Dawn stood her ground in shock, speechless at what was being suggested, she didn't know Ash was planning the best place she could imagine, "I was kind of hoping Pallet Town, but you chose my favourite place in all of Sinnoh," Dawn commented as tears started to flow from her eyes, she was no longer able to say anything, she turned around and ran off leaving Ash, Piplup and Pikachu to watch the blue haired coordinator running after hearing Ash's suggestion.
"I guess she was shocked to hear the place of choice, and I really don't want to battle her," Ash commented with a guilt ridden expression, he walked ahead to try and catch up to Dawn, but wasn't sure how Dawn was going to take it, the raven haired trainer walked with the two pokemon, "oh well I guess Dawn has to make a choice as well, but I also knew that she loves Floaroma Town and that she hasn't been home in such a long time," Ash considered the while remembering the travels he had with Dawn and Brock, it had been such a long time since he saw his other friends, it was starting to catch up to him, he began to think about his past travels again as if they never left his thoughts.
(Flashback)
"I am traveling with you until you pay me back for my bike," Misty decreed while Ash tried his best to ignore her.
It was back when he first travelled, his first pokemon was his Pikachu, walking through Viridian Forest he heard a scream from his first traveling companion, "oh come on Misty, it's just a Caterpie," Ash stated with a teasing laugh.
"Get it away from me, I hate bug pokemon!" Misty yelled out.
Ash threw his pokeball at the bug type pokemon, successfully capturing the small green pokemon he jumped around for joy, he picked up the pokeball and pushed into Misty's face, seemingly in discomfort she tried to remind Ash about her fear of bug type pokemon, "oh come on Misty, Caterpie is a new friend," Ash commented with great joy.
A few days later Ash was standing at one side of the battlefield staring down an Onix, his Pikachu was fully charged for battle, "You do know that electric types have no effect on ground type pokemon?" Brock questioned the in experienced trainer about his battling style.
After the battle Ash and Misty were walking towards the next city before hearing the voice of Brock, he rushed up to the two traveling friends, "Brock, what are you doing here?" Ash asked the older gym leader with a puzzled expression.
"I have decided to travel with you," Brock answered with great joy.
"Nice, I guess along the way I can make even more friends," Ash proclaimed while turning his attention to Mount Moon, which dominated the skyline.
(Return from the flashback)
"You know buddy I sure have come a long way, from being an idiot trainer to a more experienced trainer," Ash reminded his small yellow pokemon, pulling out his first badge from the start of his journey, "I wonder, what other challenges will come my way," Ash asked himself out loud.
(Flashback)
"Ah my bike!" Screamed out a girl with short brown hair, dressed in a red shirt with her collar up, black shorts, red bandana and white sneakers.
"Sorry about your bike," Ash apologized while holding onto his injured partner pokemon.
On the next day Ash and May were standing outside getting ready to travel, "you know, I will be traveling with you, you did destroy my bike after all," May proclaimed while trying to make the trainer feel guilty about having his partner pokemon frying her bike.
"Alright, May, you can travel with me," Ash replied with a proud smile.
May turned away from Ash with her right hand clenched, "yes,"
A few days later after dealing with Team Rocket Ash and May were getting ready to leave on their journey, "so I have to travel with May and now we got to take care of her brother," Ash wondered as he and May waited for the little kid.
"Now May, you must make sure that you take care of Max, also Ash I am counting on you to teach my daughter the pokemon world," an older woman with short brown hair requested with a gentle smile.
"That's right young man, I will be looking forward to battling you again," May's father said with a grin, he extended his hand out and shook the trainer hand with pride knowing that his daughter was in good hands for the journey.
"Come on you two, we have a long way to go, if you both want to win your badges," a small boy with large glasses, wearing brown shorts and a green shirt.
(Return from flashback)
"It was before we made it to Rustboro City that May discovered Pokemon Contests," Ash explained to himself with pride, he pulled out his ribbon and thought about the battle he won his half of the ribbon, "it definitely was one of my favourite battles," Ash reminded himself of his battle with May.
It was then he pictured his rivals in the previous leagues, "and then there were my rivals, what a case some of them were," Ash laughed while remembering Gary, Paul and to some extent he remembered May as his rival as well, "I even competed in contests against May, I wonder what a contest battle against Dawn would be like, would like to find out for myself," Ash wondered as he thought more about his battles against his rivals and friends.
(Flashback)
"Blaziken, attack with Blaze Kick," May confidently instructed her pokemon to attack.
"Sceptile, counter with Leaf Blade," Ash instructed, both trainers not looking at the clock, the two attacks landed forcing the two powerful pokemon back towards their respective trainers, the buzzer sounded bringing an end to the battle.
"Ladies and gents we have a draw," the MC yelled out in surprise.
Ash and May walked up to take the ribbon, they looked into one another's eyes and nodded, "Sceptile, use Leaf Blade to cut this ribbon in half," Ash ordered his pokemon proudly. The grass type pokemon followed the instructions and sliced the ribbon in half.
Each half landed in the respective hands of the trainers, they celebrated their victory by showing off their ribbon, "yes we won the Terracotta Ribbon," Ash and May cried out in unison.
Much later on at the Sinnoh League Ash was battling his rival Paul in a full battle, with Dawn cheering him on in the crowd Ash was down to his last pokemon, Infernape and Paul was down to a super charged Electivire, "you never stood a chance Ash," Paul commented while sneering at Ash, "Electivire attack with Thunder Punch," Paul ordered calmly.
"Flare Blitz Infernape," Ash yelled out his command.
The two powerhouse pokemon rushed to each other not flinching, a blue flame surrounded the fire type pokemon while the electric pokemon charged with a thunderous fist, the two pokemon collided raising dirt and dust into the air preventing everyone from seeing the end result of the battle. Eventually the dust had settled from an intense battle revealing that he had won the most important battle in his short career.
(Return from the flashback)
"I don't even want to remember the next day, but I still lost, after that I ran off like a sore loser, but I guess I still needed to learn more about pokemon from that defeat," Ash reminded himself while balling his hands into tightly clenched fists, he looked back and remembered his defeat to Tobias, "well there is no looking back now, I will not be defeated by Tobias this time around, I will win even if his team is filled with legendary pokemon," Ash told himself as he gained more confidence, he continued to walk towards the exit of the Marine Tube on his own needing to catch up to Dawn who ran on a head of him.
Pikachu and Piplup both followed the experienced trainer knowing that he was reflecting on the past journeys but they were both wondering where Dawn fit into all of this.
"Alright you two, you wanted to know where Dawn fits into this," Ash commented much to the starter pokemon's surprise. "That's tough for me to even put into words, but what I love about Dawn is the fact that she is confident, she had chosen her path long before I met her," Ash stated while walking between the small pokemon, "Dawn and I were so similar, but I would need to be honest, I thought she was too good for me, especially after my defeat at the Sinnoh League, but I was surprised when she stayed in Pallet Town, waiting for me to come back," Ash professed while continuing his path towards the last gym leader, he pulled out a photo of him and Dawn hanging out in Veilstone City, "I guess it was also then that I realised what Dawn meant to me.
Nearing the exit he looked back to see the water pokemon continuing to glide through the water, "you know, I am certain Dawn and I will want to catch up with all our friends," he told his pokemon.
After exiting the Marine Tube, the trainer looked around the Marine Tube for Dawn, but wasn't able to find her, he knew she was upset but didn't know why, "I guess I upset her," Ash said with a frown.
Dawn walked into the building with a bright smile on her face, "alright, for the first time you win, I accept that choice, I knew I wasn't going to win against you in the battle," Dawn said with joy, she approached the trainer, she scratched her cheek and smiled gently, "on one condition," Dawn decreed sternly.
"I knew there would be a condition," Ash replied shortly after Dawn grabbed his left hand.
Dawn looked up and smiled, "we continue our journey in the Kalos region," Dawn demanded with a smile she grasped the young man's hand and walked ahead.
"There is one other Dawn, you know that you have a few girls gunning for bridesmaid," Ash chuckled, this information forced Dawn to freeze on the spot.
Dawn sighed at the prospect of the rivalry building between her friends, "I know Ash, I don't want to upset them, you have chosen Brock as your best man, but I guess I have a few choices," Dawn replied with a shudder.
"Yeah and those girls are rivals to be your bridesmaid," Ash replied with a snigger, leaving Dawn to ponder about her choice, "you have May, Misty, Rosa, Hilda and Princess Salvia, then there is an old friend of mine I haven't seen in eight years," Ash finished while Dawn drooped in disappointment after hearing the names of the girls wanting to be her bridesmaid.
"Wait a second, you said something about an old friend," Dawn jolted her head up in surprise.
"You heard right, my old friend in the Kalos region, I was talking to her about the situation you're in and she wants to be invited as well," Ash replied with a playful smile, "you can thank me later," Ash joked while Dawn turned around to hide her anger at Ash.
"Yeah I can thank you for putting more pressure on me," Dawn replied with sarcasm.
The flashbacks were nice in this chapter, I didn't do every one of Ash's rivals and friends, but I wanted him to at least reflect on the friends he met on the way to this league.
Next time chapter 26: the final gym battle.
Yes ladies and gents the last badge is on its way, next after the gym battle we will be have a three part finale to the Team Plasma story, with Rosa and Hugh making an appearance to help Ash and Dawn out.
The flashbacks in this chapter for Ash were the moments he met his previous traveling companions with my own little twist, so if I went into too much detail, it would have gotten boring pretty quickly, they were just short and sweet.
Be on the look out for a new story that will be released on the day of the new Games, the pairing Ash and Serena, the story Separate Roads.