Supplements for the Heart

by stringdog

Not all events can make it into the main story. Some just don't fit or add enough to the plot to merit inclusion. This doesn't mean that they shouldn't be told. Here is a collection of events that occur during 'Dreams Come From the Heart' that didn't make the cut but do supplement the series in some way. A fun, lighthearted, pearlshipping collection set during the Hearts Series.

11. Conversation in a Conservatory

Here is the eleventh Supplement for the Heart, as usual released in the correct chronological point in the Hearts series for it. The events of this Supplement take place a day after the events of Part XXXIX and about a week before Part XL. This is a Supplement that was asked about after the one with Sabrina and liked the idea enough to write it. It is not as heavy as the Sabrina one though there is one serious moment in it but as the title says, it is a conversation so it is a bit meandering at times to try and make it as realistic as possible. On the administrative front, I will get back to main series tomorrow when I edit and release Part XL for Dreams. After that I still have to draft, edit and upload the 4th Spinoff chapter and draft the 5th as well as another Supplement to be fully caught up with my drafts so that they are all in chronological order and I can focus fully on the Wallace Cup arc that is coming up soon. After that it will be onto a new upload cycle but I will explain that more in Part XL's a/n. That is all for this part but there were some good questions asked after the last Supplement for me to answer now.

Sabrina has a Gallade? Yes, in HeartGold and SoulSilver she does in the rematch and I use game Pokemon to fill out gym leader rosters for those battles. As such, Sabrina has a Gallade though as I will answer next she didn't use it against Ash.

Why didn't she use it against Ash? I was actually planning on using it but changed it to Slowpoke during the drafting of Part XXXII to surprise Ash. I also wanted to go with a full Kanto roster for Sabrina though she should have addressed that in her Supplement but there was a lot else going on there to address it.

Does she also have a Gardevoir? I wouldn't be surprised if she did have one. If I do write a spinoff for Sabrina detailing her recovery during her Kalos journey and time with Anabel I would give her one and create a backstory for it and her Gallade.

Anyway, there are no outstanding questions to address in regards to the Supplement so that is all for now, please relax and enjoy the latest Supplement for the Heart: Conversation in a Conservatory.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

Conversation in a Conservatory

Dawn walked up the path to the Celadon Gym still marveling at the odd structure of the building. It was an elaborate design for a gym and by far the most interesting one Dawn had seen so far in Kanto. However, Dawn knew that Erika loved her Gloom and so it make sense given how close the leader was with her first Pokémon. In fact that was one of the reasons why Dawn was back at the gym today, to discuss with Erika proper Gloom raising techniques and exchange their respective methods, among other things of course.

It was the day after Ash's battle with Erika and the gym had recently closed for the day. Erika had sent a message to the Pokémon Center when it was officially closed after a few challengers and a general gardening lesson she had conducted at noon with an invite to Ash and Dawn to join her for tea at the gym. Dawn had instantly accepted but Ash hadn't been able too as he was busy still dealing with the results of what happened after they had left the gym the day before.

In classic Ash fashion he had run into an old acquaintance from many years ago who he had naturally helped out in some crazy, unbelievable, adventure back when he was in Kanto during his first journey here. The only difference was that this adventure was odd even by Ash's high standards for the word.

Ash had somehow ended up in the computer world stopping Team Rocket from stealing Poke Balls that were in transport through the Poke Ball Transport System. Ash, Misty and Brock had been sent in by the system's creator, a slightly insane man Dawn knew as Dr. Akihabara, with the man's artificially created Pokémon, a Porygon, to solve the problem. Naturally Ash had done so and prevailed, albeit at the cost of the doctor's mansion and being attacked by an antivirus missile in the process.

It had turned out that Dr. Akihabara, the man they had run into yesterday, had moved to Celadon City a few years back to continue his work and had been on his way to see Erika for something when they literally ran into him. The result was a long conversation where Ash recounted his experience with the doctor.

After that the doctor had explained some of his work with the Porygon evolutionary line culminating in him showing them he'd evolved his Porygon into a Porygon2. It was the same one that Ash had borrowed when he'd gone into the computer world and it had instantly taken to Dawn's boyfriend. So much so that the doctor had asked if Porygon2 wanted to join Ash and then gave him the Pokémon when Porygon2 had confirmed it wanted to travel with Ash.

That meant that Ash had a whole new Pokémon in his roster, one no one really knew anything about, that he now had to train. As such Ash had spent the day either with Dr. Akihabara in his bunker where the doctor did most of his work learning about Porygon2 or out back at the Pokémon Center training with the Pokémon. Ash still was still training as he and Porygon2 bonded more and got to more about it.

They'd learned that Porygon2 knew Tri-Attack, Discharge, Psybeam and an unknown move called Conversion2 that apparently was unique to the Pokémon and worked with its artificial nature. Ash was going to spend the evening training with Porygon2, Gengar, Dragonair, Pikachu and the recently arrived Buizel in preparation for the Wallace Cup.

That left Dawn to go to the gym alone, well with Piplup on her head but he was always by her side, something she didn't mind at all as there was plenty to learn from this trip. She had gotten along well with Erika both when they'd messaged while Ash was sick and the day before when they'd met it person as they had one major thing in common, they both had a Gloom.

The older woman had instantly shown an interest in Dawn's Gloom and how she'd raised it. That meant that if Dawn was going to learn any tricks for her Gloom, Erika was by far the best teacher for that. Plus Erika had given her the two stones that could evolve Gloom into one of its two potential final forms so Dawn felt she had to do something for the gym leader in return. That something was teaching her how to make Poffins that would make Erika's Gloom gleam.

As Dawn climbed the stairs the doors to the gym opened and Erika came out in the same outfit as the day before with a smile on her face when she saw Dawn approaching. She seemed completely unperturbed by the fact that Dawn was alone as she approached Dawn and gave her a hug that Dawn returned though she was still a little surprised at how friendly Erika was with her after only a brief meeting. Dawn wasn't complaining though, Erika was a kind, if a little headstrong, and Dawn saw the gym leader as a potential mentor when it came to grass types.

"Dawn, so glad you could make it." Erika said still smiling as they broke apart and she looked Dawn up and down clearly taking in her different outfit. "That is certainly a more practical than what you wore yesterday."

"Oh this, this is my normal outfit." Dawn said looking down at her familiar black shirt , pink skirt and matching boots with a pink scarf and the locket Ash had given her around her neck. "I only dress up as a cheerleader for Ash when he's in a battle so that I can show my support for him."

"I see, that is sweet of you." Erika said as she led Dawn into the gym and linked arms with her as they walked into the greenhouse just as she'd done the day before. "Where is your boyfriend by the way? I thought he would be with you; I did invite both of you. Ash and I may have had our differences in the past but they're behind us now. It's time to turn over a new leaf so to speak."

"He would be here but we ran into someone from his past as we left the gym, literally we all fell down the stairs in the process, and well one thing led to another and Ash ended up with a new Pokémon." Dawn explained as Erika took her on a leisurely stroll through the greenhouse though Dawn had a feeling that they would be seeing other parts of the greenhouse today. "He's back at the Pokémon Center training it as it's not a Pokémon either of us is familiar with so he needs to get used to it before the Wallace Cup."

"That does sound interesting." Erika said. "What Pokémon did Ash get?"

Dawn could tell that the woman meant it. Clearly Erika had had some realization the day before regarding her past with Ash and was trying to make up for it in some way not that it wasn't already mended. Dawn had a feeling that there was something deeper going on that she wasn't going to press Erika about.

"A Porygon2." Dawn said. "It's, well it's an artificial Pokémon or more accurately the artificial evolution of an artificially created Pokémon."

"Oh I know what it is." Erika said surprising Dawn. "Which means that I know who you ran into."

"You know it?" Dawn asked still surprised. "And who Dr. Akihabara is?"

"Oh yes I've known the, er, interesting doctor for about 2 years now." Erika said with a nod. "He showed up around closing time completely one day out of the blue and asked me if I could help with something he wanted to test. Naturally I said yes as he seemed earnest and had no ill intentions, and well I was interesting as to way a slightly insane but clearly intelligent man wanted my aid. I was not disappointed."

"What did he want?" Dawn asked curiously. "He said something about berries before but after he recognized Ash he got distracted."

"Yes he does experiments with the berries I grow here." Erika said with a nod. "Back then he wanted to see if his Porygon2 would eat them as it is an artificial Pokémon so eating is not something you would expect it doing. Oddly enough it did eat some of the berries though I have no idea how it managed that. That's how I met it and him. Since then he comes in sporadically and randomly with no pattern that I've deduced, to collect berries and talk about his latest scientific discoveries."

"Seems like an odd place for him though." Dawn said looking around the lush greenery they were walking through. "This is a greenhouse and he's a computer scientist. Those two don't exactly go hand in hand as far as I know."

"It may seem that way but thanks to him I've been able to move the gym and the perfumery's systems up to a whole new level thanks to his computers." Erika said. "It makes things a lot easier and even helps me produce better berries and plants because the computers can regulate everything to right conditions I need to maximize production. It's not as much used in the perfumery as I prefer my personal touch there but I still use the system for other purposes like money transactions and protecting my recipes."

"I see." Dawn said realizing that there was a lot more going on behind the scenes then she'd expected but given how technologically advanced the world was she really shouldn't have been surprised. "Well berries are something important, we will need them for the Poffins later as they are wat Poffins are made of. That is another reason why Ash isn't here, he can't make a poffin to save his life. In fact he might be a fire hazard here as I am sure he hasn't tried to make one since his failure the first time he tried."

"Ah yes that wouldn't be good." Erika said shaking her head. "Though I am prepared and we won't be making them in here regardless. Still, I prefer this as it gives us some girl time to chat, get to know each other and share a few stories. I have tea set up in a clearing I like to relax in near my berries and we can chat as we walk there. I enjoy showing off my greenhouse."

"Clearly." Dawn said as she looked around and for the first time noticed many grass types from all 4 regions in the area frolicking and playing but keeping a safe distance. "So is everything ok after yesterday's battle?"

"Oh yes that was sorted out almost right away." Erika said dismissively. "I have a standing contract for repairs with a local construction company that specializes in battlefield and gym construction. They came in and fixed the stands in a few hours so it's all good."

"I heard that Celadon was famous for its construction companies." Dawn said as they walked past the battlefield from the day before showing a completely fixed stands, though the battlefield itself had a few small craters from the day's battles. "A new friend I made on this journey is from Celadon originally but her family's construction company moved to Mt. Moon when she was young."

"Yeah that is common." Erika said as they continued into the greenhouse that was past the battlefield and Dawn saw more of the large room that she'd not seen before. "Many companies get their start here because they can learn the trade but few beyond the major ones and a few who fill a very specific niche survive in Celadon long term. The ones that don't take what they learn and move to the more rural areas and do well there, though not as well as they would in the cities. Such is the nature of competition though."

"Yeah I figured." Dawn said. "I was surprised that construction was big here but then again I know little about Kanto, this is my first time in the region after all."

"You have to live, or at least spend a lot of time, here to really get it." Erika said as they came to a clearing that was near a grove of berry trees. "But more on that in a moment, we are here."

Erika let go of Dawn's arm and headed to the grove as Pokémon looked on. Dawn followed her and found that there was a small table near the trees with a tea set for three. Pokémon were giving it a wide berth though that might be because Erika's Gloom seemed to be standing guard at it to prevent curious Pokémon from harming it. Instantly Piplup leapt off Dawn's head with an elaborate flip that involved using Dawn's forehead to make it work before he waddled over to say hi to the Gloom who looked at him with interest.

"Um Erika, can I let my Pokémon out?" Dawn asked looking around the clearing. "There is space here and I feel like they might enjoy it."

"Of course, we do have to talk about our Glooms in time so it's a good idea to have them all out." Erika said. "Just make sure that they behave themselves."

"I will." Dawn promised as she pulled out her 5 Poke Balls. "Alright guys, come on out."

Dawn threw up the balls and her Pokémon burst out. They looked around confused at their new surroundings for a moment before recognizing the place and all turned to look at Dawn waiting for instructions.

"Have fun and play with Erika's Pokémon in her greenhouse but behave yourselves." Dawn told them. "We are her guests and your actions reflect on me so be respectful."

All her Pokémon nodded before heading out into the greenhouse to do their own things. Mamoswine just walked over to the sunny clearing and thumped down in the warm sun and went to sleep. Almost instantly several first stage Pokémon, Dawn wasn't sure what all of them were but she recognized a Turtwig and an Oddish amongst them, began creeping over to look at Mamoswine while larger Pokémon looked at the big Twin Tusk Pokémon either warily or as a potential challenge.

Meanwhile Buneary and Eevee glared at each other for a second before going their separate ways, both looking for the prettiest flowers that they could enjoy and maybe pick one for Pikachu. Dawn just shook her head at her small normal types and their rivalry for Pikachu and let them do their own thing.

Lastly Gloom and Pinsir stayed together and were quickly approached by several curious grass types, Pinsir looking really nervous at them but Gloom was reassuring her the entire time. Dawn noted that Erika's Bellossom and a Budew amongst the Pokémon saying hello to Gloom and Pinsir.

"I must say, I've never seen a Pinsir act that timid before." Erika said as her and Dawn sat down at the table while Erika's Gloom very clearly sauntered over to talk to the female Gloom that he'd seen the day before and knew didn't belong to his trainer, Piplup trailing in his wake. "Normally they are hyper aggressive, at least they have been in my experience."

"I'd never seen one before I caught her." Dawn admitted. "In fact, I didn't even know what I'd caught until after I had caught her as I was a little too preoccupied at the time to scan it with my pokedex."

"Her?" Erika asked as she poured the tea, judging by the smell it was jasmine or something similar. "You know Pinsir's gender?"

"Yeah I caught her and Gloom when we were in Viridian Forest right at the start of our Kanto journey." Dawn explained. "After that, when training with Ash's Snivy for his upcoming battle with Forrest, she and Gloom, who was still an Oddish back then, were hit with Snivy's Attract attack, which is a core part of Ash's strategy whenever he uses Snivy. However nothing happened so we knew that they were girls because we already knew that Snivy's one and Attract doesn't work on the same gender."

"Alright there are a few things to unpack there and that's not including Ash's use of a status attack like Attract." Erika said as she took a sip of the hot tea. "Let's start with you and how you caught Oddish and Pinsir because that alone is interesting to me. I've spent a lot of time in Viridian Forest so I know that it is not a natural habitat for a Pinsir, they are usually found further south near Fuchsia City."

"Yeah Ash told me as much." Dawn said with a nod letting her own tea cool down a bit. "It was actually on the first day of our journey this year and we'd just made camp to spend a few days in the forest training when Oddish burst out and grabbed my hair, she really likes it, and dragged me off to help Pinsir."

"You were dragged by an Oddish?" Erika asked confused. "How?"

"Oddish was very determined in getting me to help Pinsir." Dawn said simply. "I managed to stop her after a bit and agreed to help if she let me. Then I just followed her to where Pinsir was. Pinsir had been badly hurt by some Pokémon, I don't know why, and needed first aid right away."

"And you administered it." Erika said understanding what Dawn had done.

"I did." Dawn confirmed. "I am not great at it but I understand the basics, it is actually how I managed to get Mamoswine to trust me when he got hurt, and I had the supplies on me so I helped out as best I could. Soon Pinsir was a lot better and would be fine in a little bit once she rested up and let the medicine do its job. After that Oddish wanted to go with me because I had helped out but only if Pinsir would join her. I couldn't separate them, they were clearly close, so I promised to only take both of them with me, if Pinsir didn't want to come with me then I wouldn't capture Oddish by herself."

"A nice and kind gesture." Erika said with a smile at Dawn. "I would expect no less from you. it is how it should be, separating Pokémon that are friends is needlessly cruel."

"I learned that from watching Ash's interactions with his Pokémon." Dawn said surprising Erika. "He never catches Pokémon just for the sake of it as far as I am aware. All of the ones that I have seen Ash catch have all either wanted to go with him, wanted him to battle them first to prove himself, joined after he asked them, or been given to him but that was a first time yesterday. I know that there are a few he caught because he either needed them like his Staraptor back when it was a Starly or been told he was impressed by them so much he had to catch it because of its love for battle like his Seismitoad back when it was a Palpitoad but other than that its purely the Pokémon's choice to join him."

"I see, that does explain a lot." Erika said confusing Dawn so Erika explained after a sip of her tea. "I noticed yesterday how much passion all of Ash's Pokémon had for him when they battled my Pokémon. That can only come from a deep bond and few Pokémon caught for the sake of it develop that kind of bond with their trainer. Anyway, continue your story."

"Huh, oh yeah Oddish and Pinsir." Dawn said remembering where they had been in her first adventure of the year. "Pinsir agreed after Oddish convinced her so I caught both of them at the same time. That was when Ash showed he'd been there for a bit but didn't bother me. After that I found out more about them and both have been by my side ever since."

"And you found out thanks to Ash's Snivy that they were both female." Erika said and Dawn nodded. "Ok and when did Oddish evolve?"

"It was between Cerulean City and Vermilion City." Dawn said remembering the day clearly. "Team Rocket ambushed us and captured all of our Pokémon except Oddish who had been spared for some reason. Oddish tried to fight but was outmatched by Team Rocket's Pokémon, that was until she suddenly evolved into Gloom and won. We actually haven't seen Team Rocket since, not that I am complaining they are really annoying and distracting."

"And destructive." Erika said darkly. "But that is all in the past."

"I hope they stay there so that Ash and I can enjoy our journey free of their frustrating antics." Dawn said as she sipped her tea. "But I feel like they will reappear when I least expect them, that's just who they are."

"Yes your journey." Erika said. "How has it been so far? Are you enjoying Kanto?"

"Yeah I'm loving it." Dawn said with a smile. "I couldn't have asked for more. I've seen Ash's home, watched him have several epic battles, caught new Pokémon, met many new people though not all have been great to start with, and won a few Contests in the process. I am well on my way to the Grand Festival, hopefully only two more ribbons after the Wallace Cup in a few weeks."

"So that means you have how many ribbons?" Erika asked. "I never know the requirements for these competitions, the numbers always seem to be different."

"2." Dawn answered. "You need 5 to qualify for the Grand Festival so I am almost halfway there. I would be on 3 but Ash surprised me recently in the HopHopHop Town Contest and beat me in the final to claim his first ever ribbon. He was there for training while I was there for the Contest and in the end he was the better trainer that day."

"I bet that would have been a surprise." Erika said and Dawn nodded in confirmation, it had been a surprise that Ash had made the final let alone actual beaten her but as Dawn had once told Emily, anything could happen in a Contest.

"I know that a few of my students do Contests for fun whenever they're near Celadon but I have always preferred a straight battle so I know little about the circuit." Erika continued causing Dawn to refocus on her host and admonish herself for getting lost in her own thoughts. "That and Celadon hasn't hosted a Contest yet."

"It hasn't?" Dawn asked confused. "I would have thought a large city like this would have a Contest."

"For whatever reason, it appears that Contests tend to be in the smaller cities, towns and out on the islands." Erika said shaking her head. "Saffron is an exception because of its size and central location. Cerulean had one this year as a trial run for the other big cities in Kanto and they may expand to Vermilion and Fuchsia in the coming years but I doubt Celadon will have one."

"Why?" Dawn asked. "I can kinda see how the smaller places would be better as there aren't gyms there so they are better locations for Contests as it allows the towns some attention every year but big cities have other benefits. That being said, when I think of it I think the only cities in Sinnoh that hosted Contests were Jubilife and Hearthome and only the latter has a gym that is run by a Top Coordinator who won the Sinnoh Grand Festival several years ago so that could explain it. I guess the Committee prefers it that way."

"I would presume so but there is another reason why Celadon isn't the best place for Contests." Erika said. "Beyond just a desire to have them in towns and small cities where there are no gyms."

"There is?" Dawn asked confused. "What?"

"The Game Corner." Erika said simply. "That place will always cause competition committees to be hesitant to select Celadon as a location."

"That's a casino right?" Dawn asked, she wasn't sure but she had a feeling that it was and she recalled Sabrina mentioned that there was one here so that had to be it.

"Correct." Erika said impressed. "You know of it?"

"Sabrina told us about it when we spent some time with her after Ash's battle with her in Saffron City." Dawn said as the memory came back to her. "She'd invited us to stay the night so we did. It was over tea when Sabrina was telling us about her own journey that she mentioned it as the reason why she didn't visit Celadon City but she didn't give it a name. I just assumed that when you said it was a reason why the Committee wouldn't put a Contest here that would be what it was. The Committee tend to prefer a more family friendly atmosphere; I should know they warned me for swearing in the last Contest and I could face disqualification if I do it again."

"You swore in the middle of a Contest?" Erika asked raising an eyebrow at Dawn. "That strikes me as out of character for you."

"Yeah it kinda was but in my defense it was for good reasons." Dawn said blushing a little. "I forgot that one of Pinsir's moves was a normal type attack rather than a bug type like I had thought and used it on Gengar. Naturally it backfired so I swore because of my own stupidity. Then when I had Ash dead to rights and the ribbon was mine his Dratini evolved into Dragonair and the most opportune moment for him and well I didn't exactly censor myself in the moment. I paid for it as Dragonair proceeded to own Gloom and Pinsir just before time expired and secured the win for Ash by knocking my Pokémon out."

"I see so they warned you for it." Erika said and Dawn nodded. "I can see that; I have heard that the Committee prefers to be family friendly as they market Contests to all audiences so it makes sense. Celadon is the only place in Kanto where gambling is legal and they would certainly run lines on a Contest here. They already do so for the Indigo League and the Grand Festival so a normal Contest would be fair game."

"They wouldn't like that." Dawn agreed. "Best to avoid it and there are plenty of other locations for a Contest."

"No and the Gaming Corner is a staple of Celadon despite its less than reputable reputation." Erika said. "It also has limited morals when it comes to gambling responsibility so I can understand why someone like Sabrina would ignore this city because of it. I have tried to get her to visit the city to discuss gym running business but she refuses so I usually go to Saffron for that."

"You know Sabrina?" Dawn asked both confused and interested at the same time. "I wasn't aware that gym leaders interacted that much. Other than Byron and Roark who are father and son they don't seem to do so in Sinnoh, at least that I am aware of."

"We all know each other and see one another at an annual conference the Pokémon League requires us to attend so that it can go over any changes in regulations but that is about it for the most part." Erika said with a shrug. "I don't really interact with most of the other gym leaders as we are all pretty different. Sabrina and I are pretty close due to the proximity of our gyms and the fact that back when Ash challenged us we were the only female leaders. Well technically there was that airhead trio out in Cerulean as well but no one considered them real gym leaders as they were a joke. The best thing they did was force Misty to take over, she at least respects the gym and has made the Cerulean Gym respectable again."

"I'll give Misty that, she does respect her position for the most part." Dawn grumbled before the timeline of what Erika had just laid out hit her. "Wait, that was more than 6 years ago if I recall, wasn't Sabrina very different then?"

"Yeah Sabrina was really scary when I first met her." Erika said with a slight shiver. "Never spoke but had a doll that spoke for her. She also never touched anything but used her telekinesis instead and she was always in your head. Then all of a sudden, at the first meeting after Ash challenged me for the Rainbow Badge, Sabrina wasn't present. Her father was at that year's meeting as the acting leader instead and I learned that Sabrina was on a medical leave of absence. One that lasted 3 years."

"Yeah that was Ash's doing." Dawn said causing Erika's eyes to go wide as she clearly didn't know that Ash had been involved in Sabrina's recovery. "He was the one, along with a wild Haunter that is now Sabrina's, as well my Piplup's prank mentor for some reason, who restored Sabrina's mind and gave her the first shred of control she needed to reclaim her own mind. I take it she's been honest with you about all her struggles."

"I was aware pretty much from the moment I saw her again she told me why." Erika confirmed. "It was at the reception of the first meeting she attended after her she resumed her duties as gym leader and she was pointedly not drinking and even told the waiter with the champagne to stay away from her after he tried to serve her a second time."

"She told she doesn't drink." Dawn said. "So that makes sense."

"I wasn't aware of that at the time so I asked why she was so adamant that she not be served alcohol." Erika said. "Well after first getting over the fact that she didn't have her doll with her and was speaking normally that is. That was when Sabrina rather bluntly explained the reason why she'd been away was to get her powers under control rather than let them control her as they had in the past. Apparently it was an addiction to her own power and as such she avoids anything that can cause addiction out of an abundance of precaution. Hence why she stays away from Celadon, well that and my greenhouse is probably not the best for her if she learned of some of things I grow here."

"It's not?" Dawn asked confused looking around. "Why? I don't notice anything amiss here."

"That's because I have a restricted section where only I am allowed as it requires special permits just to enter let alone what's required to grow the plants there." Erika explained though Dawn didn't understand why that was needed. "The plants there aren't exactly something Sabrina would be comfortable being near."

"How so?" Dawn asked her brows furrowing. "I don't know a lot about plants but I don't understand why you would have a restricted section."

"It is where I grow herbs and other plants that are used in pharmaceuticals for things like pain management, my green thumb is unrivaled in Kanto so my plants are of the highest quality and as such are the safest they can be." Erika said and Dawn heard a slight strain to her voice. "Unfortunately, in the wrong hands, the plants can be used to create dangerous drugs, not that the pharmaceutical ones aren't as they are but at least they are safe if administered correctly. So I need a special permit to grow them which is hard to get. Someone has to grow them, best that it is someone like me who can limit as many risks as possible then someone who has no idea what they're doing."

"I see, you really do everything here." Dawn said realizing just how much of a businesswoman Erika was, it wasn't what Dawn was expecting. "At least if it has something to do with plants that is."

"I am but such is the nature of growing up in Celadon." Erika said with a small smile. "It is the center of business and commerce in Kanto just as Saffron is the center of region geographically, Pewter is the raw material center, Fuchsia the conservation city, Vermilion the port, Cinnabar the tourist hotspot, and Lavender Town the spiritual center of Kanto. Growing up here gives you a certain drive for it because you see it everywhere that it becomes second nature. That is why I began my perfumery. I also sell my berries, herbs and medicine. However the stuff in my restricted section I refuse to profit off."

"You don't?" Dawn asked confused. "I'm sorry, this is something I am not well-versed in."

"Nope, after learning of Sabrina's struggles I felt it immoral to profit of something that can lead to addiction if abused or misdescribed." Erika said shaking her head. "I still grow and sell them to the companies because they are the best quality around which makes them as safe as possible. After all, they do have medical benefit so long as they're administered correctly and I have canceled contracts with companies that don't do so. However, I will not make a profit one them. Any profit I would make I immediately donate to addiction and recovery charities that Sabrina has personally vetted. It is the least I can do."

"I see." Dawn said a little surprised by that but realizing that it made sense and was the right thing to do. "But the other things are profitable."

"For the most part yes." Erika said sipping some more tea. "My perfumes are my moneymaker because of how limited they are and how almost everyone, other than your boyfriend apparently, loves the smell of them. The rest range from moderately profitable to not at all but I don't care, I grow things here because I want to not because I have to."

"Huh, I guess that makes sense." Dawn said her brain starting to hurt a little, this was stuff that she knew she would have to understand it one day but she felt she was still too young for it and deciding to leave it there and shift the topic back a bit. "What about the other gym leaders? Are you close with any of them? I know there's been some change since Ash challenged the Indigo League."

"I'm pretty close with Janine, the Fuchsia City Gym Leader, but that is because her specialty is poison types." Erika said her tone lightening as they switched back to a more lighthearted topic. "So we have a lot in common and talk a fair bit to help each other out with training our respective Pokémon."

"But you're a grass type specialist not a poison type specialist." Dawn pointed out a little confused. "I don't own a poison type so I don't know it well but from what I understand they're super effective against grass types so other than knowing how to counter them what could a poison specialist teach you."

"But Dawn, you do have a poison type." Erika said giving Dawn a quizzical look. "Don't you know that?"

"I do?" Dawn asked. "I thought I didn't have one."

"Yes, Gloom." Erika said surprising Dawn.

"Gloom is part poison type?" Dawn asked. "I didn't know."

"Yeah, Oddish, Gloom and Vileplume are duel grass and poison types." Erika explained. "Bellossom however isn't, it's a pure grass type Pokémon."

"I knew that much." Dawn said with a nod. "One of my family's friends back home has a Bellossom she uses in Contests in Sinnoh, that is why I thought that Oddish and all the other evolved forms were also pure grass types."

"Bellossom is an interesting case." Erika said setting her cup down. "As far as I am away, it's the only Pokémon that actually loses a type upon evolving. All others either change one of their two types or gains a second type but for some reason Bellossom loses its poison typing upon evolution and as you know is a pure grass type."

"I didn't know, that is interesting." Dawn said sipping some more tea. "So you are in contact with Janine because your Gloom and Vileplume are also poison types which is her specialty."

"Them and my Victreebell, Venusaur, and Roserade, as well all of their pre evolved forms, are also duel grass and poison types." Erika said surprising Dawn. "Though only first two are native to Kanto."

"There are nine duel grass/poison types here in Kanto?" Dawn asked amazed. "That is oddly high."

"Yeah it is a high number and there are a total of 32 or so poison types native to Kanto making it a lot more common than most types found here." Erika said. "And Janine is an expert in the type so she's helped me out a fair bit. The type is only super effective against grass type Pokémon so it's not the most useful one in battle but it has some good status affecters that I like to use."

"It's only super effective against grass types?" Dawn asked confused. "Are you sure?"

"As far as I am aware yes." Erika said her own confusion clear. "While I had one recent oddity that was likely due to other attacks doing more damage than I'd calculated. I know grass types well so I know their many weaknesses, hence my preferred style of status-based attacks to gain an upper hand before I try and prolong the battle. Why do you ask?"

"Well the other day something odd happened with a poison type move that confused me but as I don't know the type well I didn't really understand it to begin with." Dawn said thinking back on it. "We reported it to Professor Oak a few days later because it wasn't what we expected."

"What happened?" Erika asked curiously. "I know the type well enough but you should also mention it to Janine when you meet her, she's the expert in Kanto so she'd know best."

"I think I will." Dawn said with a nod. "But it was in the recent HopHopHop Town Contest that Ash and I were in. it was the semifinals between him and a rookie coordinator who I've been advising a bit whenever we meet at Contests called Emily, she's the one I mentioned earlier who's family is originally from Celadon. She favors cute, pink, normal type Pokémon and was using a Clefairy and Granbull against Ash's Dratini and Gengar."

"Gengar's a poison type so I assume it was what used the attack." Erika said. "Though what attack? I have always been confused with Gengar and its evolutionary line as it is a poison type but never seems to use any moves that are poison type moves."

"Ash said that the only poison type move he thought that a Gengar can learn is Venoshock." Dawn said. "He confirmed it after the Contest with Professor Oak just in case there were any others his Gengar might learn. That's what Gengar used during the battle, without prompting or Ash knowing that it could use the move. It hit Emily's Granbull and took it down in one hit."

"Was it injured?" Erika asked confused. "Venoshock is a good move but unless the opponent is not already poisoned it shouldn't do that to a non-grass type, fully evolved, Pokémon."

"It had taken a Dragon Rush attack as part of Ash's opening combo but that was it." Dawn said. "Nowhere near enough to knock it out with two non-super effective attacks though. The way Granbull reacted, however, was as if it had been super effective but that shouldn't' be the case, right?"

"No it shouldn't." Erika said shaking her head. "Normal types are only weak against fighting type moves, not poison type moves. That is certainly odd."

"Ok so it was as we expected, just another one of the many oddities that Ash and I have encountered recently." Dawn said as she finished her cup of tea. "There have been a few recently that haven't made much sense to us."

"Oddities?" Erika asked as she poured them some more tea. "Like what?"

"It started when my Togekiss shook off a dragon type attack from Misty's Gyarados as if it was nothing." Dawn said. "No damage at all which none of us were expecting and it's gotten odder from there. When we met Ash's Dragonair, back when it was a Dratini, he was being bullied by an Azumarill and some Marill that it couldn't affect with Dragon Rush for some reason. Then when Ash faced Sabrina, her Mr. Mime fell to an Iron Tail from Pikachu and it hadn't been that badly hurt until that point in the battle. Most recently it was Emily's Granbull's reaction to a poison type attack. Professor Oak is investigating it but it is certainly odd."

"Yes it is." Erika said sipping her newly filled cup of tea. "None of those situations sound normal."

"Have you encountered anything like that?" Dawn asked curiously. "As a gym leader you face a lot of different Pokémon so you may have seen something, especially because you use part poison types and that seems to be one of the recent oddities we've encountered."

"Once and it was similar to what you just described with your friend's Granbull." Erika said as she put her cup down. "It was a few weeks ago, I was facing a trainer who had a Wigglytuff in her party. I was using my Ivysaur, she was in my rotation that day with Gloom and a Nuzleaf I was training as a favor for a friend from Hoenn. I hit the Wigglytuff with a Toxic attack to poison it and get an advantage. Next thing I know the Wigglytuff has fainted and we have no idea what happened. I'd certainly hit it with a few other moves but still, one Toxic poisoning shouldn't' have taken enough health to knock it out."

"So similar to what happened in HopHopHop Town." Dawn said sipping her own refilled tea. "I'll pass it on to Professor Oak then, he'll want to know more for his research. Any little helps with this kinda thing according to him."

"I'll keep my own eyes open as well." Erika said. "But enough talk of odd Pokémon developments, other gym leaders, and my various business ventures, let's get to what we can help each other as Gloom owners with. Tell me about Poffins."

"Well Poffins are snacks made out of berries." Dawn said excitedly as she pulled out her poffin case and opened it to show Erika the pink Pokémon food eager to tell Erika all about them. "They're given to Pokémon to keep them healthy and looking good for Contests but the benefits also help with battles as Ash's Pokémon also love my poffins."

"I see and how are they made?" Erika asked looking closely at the poffins. "I've heard of them but don't know how to make them as they're not popular here in Kanto. After seeing your Gloom I think they should be, she looks amazing and I bet these have something to do with them."

"Thank you." Dawn said blushing a little at the complement. "As for making them, basically you put them in a pot of cold water and turn up the heat. Then you stir steadily and continuously until the timer that you set runs out. The stirring is key or else you burn them, which is what Ash did when we all took a lesson in Sinnoh. He's never tried since."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me." Erika said with a light chuckle. "I assume there is a mold for them or something that gives them the shape they have."

"There is and alas I don't have mine on me right now." Dawn admitted. "I keep a small one that basically allows me to make a few at a time when we're on the road but it's with our stuff in the Pokémon Center. Most of the ones I make are when we are at Pokémon Centers as even here they have special trays for Poffins given how many people from Sinnoh pass through."

"That's fine, I am sure that I have something that will substitute for now." Erika said. "But I would like to see the mold so I know what to get in the future. I'll contact Nurse Joy tomorrow and borrow one from her to make them properly in the future or go and do it at the Pokémon Center if she won't lend me one."

"Regardless I'll bring my small one around sometime to show you." Dawn promised. "We are around for the week so it won't be too hard to do that when we have a spare moment in the evening."

"Thanks." Erika said as she finished her tea. "I have a few tips as well in terms of what I believe is the diet for a Gloom but I can give them while you show me how to make Poffins. We can go to my berry garden and pick what we need and then use the perfume lab for the cooking part. The lab has all the necessary equipment for it is, I don't keep anything that could cause a fire here for obvious reasons."

"Sounds good but there is something you should know first." Dawn said causing Erika to raise an eyebrow to her. "Something I wish I'd known before I made my first batch."

"And that is?" Erika asked.

"Make sure you pick berries you know your Pokémon like to eat." Dawn said. "All Pokémon have different tastes and preferences and that can be seen when you make Poffins. I learned that the hard way."

"How so?" Erika asked curiously.

"My first poffin attempt was not a resounding success with my Pokémon." Dawn admitted still a little embarrassed at that failure. "Not that I failed to make them at all, the Poffins themselves were fine, but I had used my mom's special recipe which is tailor made for her Glameow from years of perfecting it to be perfect for her own Pokémon. Cat Pokémon love them, all others hate them."

"I see and you didn't have any Pokémon like that." Erika said thoughtfully. "At least not from the ones you have on you at the moment."

"And none of my Pokémon back at Professor Oak's ranch are feline Pokémon either." Dawn said shaking her head. "At the time of my first attempt I had Piplup, Buneary, and Pachirisu, the last one is one of 4 Pokémon I keep at the ranch at the moment. Piplup is a bird while the other two are rodent-based Pokémon. As such they didn't like my first attempt as they were special made for a Glameow, though I think any other cat-based Pokémon like a Meowth or a Skitty would like them. After that I tinkered with the recipe to make them the best they can be for as many Pokémon as possible. Now almost all my Pokémon love my Poffins."

"Almost all?" Erika asked. "I take it that one of your Pokémon doesn't like your Poffins."

"Turns out that because I've never had a bug type I had no idea that their tastes are very different from most other Pokémon." Dawn said looking over at her Pinsir who was now socializing more with Dawn's Gloom and Bellossom, the latter of which had caught Piplup's amorous eye and her starter was inching closer to the Flower Pokémon. "So while almost all Pokémon who have tried my Poffins love them, including non-animal-based Pokémon like Gloom, Gengar and a cute Shuppet I met when we visited the Pokémon Tower, bug types are different. Pinsir didn't like it at all and she was upset because of it."

"That's a shame." Erika said. "But I get what you are suggesting. I know just what my grass types like but experimentation is often good so as to find that perfect recipe. I know it from my perfumes, I can do it with Poffins."

"I did the same both when I first failed and with Pinsir." Dawn said pulling out a second, smaller, poffin case and opening it to show a few light green Poffins to Erika. "These are just for Pinsir. I wanted her to enjoy them as much as the others so the two of us worked together to find what she liked the best and what helped her look the best after eating them. They're specifically made for bug types and Pinsir loves them. We know that other bug types like them as Ash's Heracross also enjoyed it though not as much as nectar. The others don't like them and prefer my normal ones. I think Pinsir likes that she gets her own special batch of poffins."

"I bet." Erika said as she got up. "Well shall we head into the berry garden then. I know what I need but feel free to help yourself to what you need as well. After this please come back with Ash before you leave Celadon, I will restock your berries free of charge and in Kanto you won't find berries of a higher quality then the ones grown in the Celadon Gym."

"Thank you, that is really kind of you." Dawn said bowing respectfully to Erika after getting up herself. "I gotta admit, you are very different from what I was expecting. The only grass specialist I know is Gardenia so I kinda had to compare you to her and well as you pointed out yesterday, Gardenia can be very enthusiastic about grass types."

"All specialists are different in their own ways and approaches to their specialty but I agree, Gardenia and I are very different." Erika said as they began to head into the berry garden, some of the Pokémon following them as they walked. "We both love nature and its beauty but we have our own passions as well. For me it is my work with my perfumes, for Gardenia it is the great outdoors and battling, though I do enjoy the latter myself. Well that and her love of grass types is a little different to mine."

"Tell me about it." Dawn said with a slight shiver at Gardenia's passionate love of grass types. "She fell for two of James's Pokémon simply because they were grass types and he's Team Rocket."

"I'm surprised she didn't try to make a move on him as well." Erika said causing Dawn to stop dead in her tracks. "She's done that to grass type trainers in the past."

"Come again?" Dawn asked.

"Gardenia has a habit of getting infatuated with grass type trainers who can raise strong and healthy grass type Pokémon." Erika said stopping as well and turning back to look at Dawn. "Something about the mix really gets her crushing hard and she doesn't exactly discriminate when it comes to gender. I think for her, the attraction is the skill of the trainer and the care they show for their grass types above all else."

"Oh." Dawn said as what Erika was saying hit her. "So that means…"

"Yeah our meetings can get kinda awkward at times." Erika said with a slight sigh and small smile at the same time. "Don't get me wrong, I'm flattered by her attention as it is a testament to my own skills when it comes to raising grass types but I don't swing that way. We all have what we look for in a partner and I know Gardenia will find the right person eventually, I believe if you look hard enough you will find that person like you have in Ash. In Gardenia's case, that person isn't me."

"I see." Dawn said understanding what Erika was saying and glad that she had done just that, Dawn had found the right person for her and was still amazed at how lucky she'd been for Ash to love her back. "So do you have a boyfriend?"

"Not at the moment, no." Erika said shaking her head as they entered the berry garden while an apprentice appeared to take away their finished tea. "I've had a few serious ones in the past in the past but nothing that has lasted unfortunately. In all honesty, I am married to my work above anything else. I love it here, between making perfumes, gardening, teaching, working with my Pokémon, and of course managing the gym I am very busy and I need a man who's ok with that being my priority. Preferably one who has a similar work ethic to me but that's not as important."

"And that's hard to find?" Dawn asked.

"Surprisingly so." Erika said. "I think I intimate a few men but if they can't handle me then they aren't worth my time in my book. I know that I will find the right guy for me eventually but until then I'm content with my life as it is now."

"True." Dawn said. "I did notice that you didn't have any male students, is there a connection there?"

"No you just came a time when I don't have any." Erika said shaking her head. "My classes are open to all but only those truly dedicated to either becoming perfume makers or grass specialists stay long term. Both of those are predominantly female fields in Kanto despite my attempts to increase male interest in them."

"I guess I can see that." Dawn said thinking on it, the perfume made sense but the grass specialty didn't in her book. "So what do most of your male students want out of your lessons?"

"Most guys show up to make something personal for the significant other or to learn how to handle a particularly strong grass type that is causing them challenges." Erika said simply. "My reputation is such that they know that I'm the best around to help them out with either task. If it's the later then I will always make sure a trainer and their grass type bond."

Dawn was about to say something about that when their attention was suddenly diverted by a commotion from behind them. Dawn sighed as soon as she heard it, she knew at once who was responsible for it before she even looked back at their Pokémon.

"Bella!" An affronted voice said followed by the unmistakable sound of an attack being launched.

"Pip, lup." Came Piplup's strained voice as Dawn turned to survey the scene.

Piplup was on his back, his eyes wide and beak open as the orange dust of a Stun Spore attack dissipated around his now twitching form, the pattern indicating that he'd taken the attack to his face at near point-blank range. A very pissed off looking Bellossom glaring down at him before she turned and flounced away clearly in a huff at Piplup. Erika's Gloom and a Tangela that had joined them at some point gave Dawn's Gloom and Pinsir an apologetic look before hurrying off after Bellossom to calm her down. Dawn's Pokémon just looked down at Piplup and sighed shaking their heads giving him no sympathy at all.

"Um, did your Piplup just hit on my Bellossom?" Erika asked confused as she too looked at the scene.

"I am certain that that is exactly what happened." Dawn said with a sigh deciding that Piplup was going to have to recover on his own the way Brock had to whenever he was stopped by Croagunk as Piplup had probably deserved the Stun Spore. "I think my Piplup picked up a few bad habits regarding falling for females from Brock when we traveled together. He has a habit of crushing on every pretty female Pokémon he finds and it never ends well for him, though this is the first direct attack he's taken for it."

"I see, yes my Bellossom is a little headstrong." Erika said with a light laugh at the situation. "And very picky when it comes to potential mates, though she is a fully evolved Pokémon so she probably saw Piplup as beneath her. Sorry about that."

"I'm sure Piplup earned it and don't worry I'm the one who's going to be sorry." Dawn said. "Both for my Piplup's actions and the fact that I now have to deal with him."

"What do you mean?" Erika asked a little confused at Dawn's words.

"So Piplups are prideful Pokémon by nature." Dawn explained. "But mine redefines the word though he does earn it, he's probably one of the strongest Piplups out there and I can always count on him. Of course he knows this so his pride is on a whole new level and his ego is larger than a Wailord but as fragile as the finest china. It doesn't help that for some reason Arceus has decided that Piplup will suffer the brunt of misfortunes on our adventures that usually end up with me paying for it whenever Piplup wants revenge. Some of it is my fault, some not."

"Didn't Misty cause one of those problems?" Erika asked recalling their conversation after the battle the day before. "I heard that she tried to put a Piplup through a wall or something like that."

"Yeah but I should have pulled Piplup from the battle the moment Misty revealed her final Pokémon." Dawn said with a wince at the memory. "I had just beaten her Starmie giving me a 2 to 1 lead and was feeling really cocky given what had triggered my challenge. I kinda goaded Misty into sending out her best against me as I would take it down as well."

"And Misty's best is a Gyarados." Erika said remembering the young redhead who ran the Cerulean gym, Misty was very proud of her Gyarados and had spoken with Erika about it but she hadn't made the connection to the Misty that had traveled with Ash until yesterday. "Which isn't exactly a calm Pokémon to begin with, or a weak one."

"Nope and she decided to hit Piplup with a Hyper Beam as her opening attack." Dawn said causing Erika to gasp, apparently she hadn't known what the attack had been. "Yeah it was bad but I know that Misty knows she went way too far with that attack. She made it up to Piplup at Ash's party a week or so later and spoiled Piplup rotten. That was the worst Piplup suffered and it was because of my jealousy and insecurities that he had suffered it. Other than that he seems to always get hit by Ash's Gabite's Draco Meteor and his Dragonair's Thunderbolt for some reason, as well as any other potential misfortune that may befall us."

"Wow that is unlucky." Erika said. "Poor Piplup."

"I don't know why he is always in the wrong place at the wrong time but he is." Dawn said with a sigh. "But he knows I love him and he loves me back and that's what counts."

"At least wasn't hit when Ash and I battled though." Erika pointed out. "That's a start at least."

"No he wasn't but I think that's because Dragonair never got the attack off before you defeated it." Dawn said not realizing that Piplup had in fact been hit but no one had seen it. "He knows it's not our fault most of the time but it does wound his pride and he milks it for all its worth, which is usually as many Poffins and cuddles as possible."

"I see well on that note shall we continue." Erika said gesturing to the berry garden. "We should start with a Cheri berry for Piplup, that will cure his paralysis and cheer him up. After that we can get what we need for Poffins and then cook some while I explain my own personal Gloom care plan and see what of it works for yours."

"I'd like that." Dawn said with a smile. "Thank you Erika, for everything."

Erika just smiled back as they began to pick the necessary berries. Dawn was looking forward to cooking with Erika and learning about how Erika raised her own Gloom as it would help Dawn with her Gloom.

Dawn was glad that she was here with the older woman; it was going to be fun and she could make some things for May while here as well while they were here. Dawn was ready for a good, productive, week in Celadon before heading to Hoenn for the Wallace Cup. The Aqua Ribbon was hers but first she had to get her Pokémon ready and that started with Poffins.

It was time to teach a gym leader how to make the perfect poffin for her own Pokémon. Dawn chuckled as she picked the berries, all of which were indeed of a quality she'd never seen before, that she would need to make her own Poffins. She certainly never expected to be in this situation when she'd started her Kanto journey but then again when traveling, and dating, Ash Ketchum one had to expect the unexpected. This was just another example of that and Dawn wouldn't change it for the world.

Well that was longer than I intended but hopefully worth the read, even if there isn't much intrigue going on in Dawn and Erika's conversation. There really isn't than much to actually say about the Supplement so that is all I really have for it. There was no interest in an Ash and Akihabara Supplement revolving around Porygon2 so I won't write it. I am expecting to get Part XL out tomorrow evening so stay tuned for that one. That is all I have for now, please continue favorite and follow both me and this story to keep abreast with new releases and keep the reviews coming. Until next time.

Stringdog