Chapter 2

Grace and Beauty in Doubt

A/N: I was going to do another long a/n but considering the first chapter wasn't up for 2 hours before getting comments (thanks guy/gals, dunno, two were guest comments), I feel it's more appropriate to instead respond here:

Silverkami963 and Guest2: Nope, unless it blatantly breaks some ToS or law, I don't delete my works... for better or worse.

Guest1: I actually may or may not dumb Ash down from my previous rendition solely because the original was VERY OoC... so was Dawn. One of the biggest things I'm fixing to make it a far more honest and truthful pearlshipping fic, but don't misunderstand that. Ash is 22. Dawn is 18. He will still act a bit more like an adult, so don't worry. When it comes to chapter length, yes, they will be longer. However, they will not be the honking monsters I used to do. One look at my old fics will give a good reason why: I burn out and lose interest trying to think of so much for one chapter. Mid-size chapters are my goal.

Editing note: Due to a discussion I had, I changed a couple things near the end of the chapter to make better sense of chapter 3.

On with the show!

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Gary Oak spun a pen idly between his fingers, not even bothering to look at the pages of research notes before him. He had too much on his mind with recent events and revelations to even bother with the paperwork he brought from his own lab. The disheveled state of the Senior Professor Oak's dining room certainly didn't help, as the cause was said revelations.

The conversation with his grandfather was far more loud than he could have ever expected, especially since it was entirely one sided. The mere mention of Mt. Silver led to a very out of character slam of Samuel's hands on the table, vehemently dismissing the very idea Ash could be inside that hellhole without his permission. Gary calmly, if not with clear concern, let his grandfather rant, up until he began accusing Gary and Dawn of insinuating he had allowed the young Pokémon Master in without informing anyone. At this turn of the conversation Gary cleared his throat loudly to interrupt, and said one name that made the senior professor pale and fall silent.

Leaf.

At the mention of her name, Professor Oak stuttered momentarily, then sat across from Gary. He silently mouthed words but no sound came as he struggled to find his previously uncharacteristic booming voice. After a few moments, he glanced up at his grandson, "She disappeared years ago. What makes you think she would help Ash hide?"

"She called my pokegear and told me herself." He shrugged at his grandfather's incredulous look, "Well, she didn't say her name... but I know that voice. I could never truly forget that voice of hers. The dripping confidence, the smugness... the tiredness that shone through when she admitted why she was willing to give up his location."

A few more moments of silence followed before Samuel stood and walked out of the room, "I'm going to contact the league. She has the only Pokémon on earth with devices that won't set off the security alarms. They'll be able to tell me if she passed over."

Over an hour had passed since he had stepped out. The wait was fine for him at first, to collect himself from seeing his grandfather get so violently angry. Gary, however, was getting antsy as the minutes dragged on. It's why he had pulled out some research notes, but his mind wandered to what was said about Leaf's Pokémon; they wouldn't set off the sensors. If she took a rider on her flying Pokémon... she could smuggle someone into the mountain range. Not a single security official would blink an eye if she soared over Route 28.

His eyes lifted to trace his grandfather as he finally returned to the room, a grim look on his face. He spoke gently, but it was clear he was holding back another roar of rage behind it, "You should go get Ms. Berlitz. I just confirmed... About two and a half months ago, Leaf did indeed fly over Mt. Silver."

Gary stared momentarily, pulled out the stained note he had found in the chateau to confirm that the dates matched, then stood, "I'll need to use a flyer from here, Gramps. I leant Dawn Aerodactyl so she could go to Cerulean." They shared a mutual nod as Grandson and Grandfather made for the Pokémon ranch.

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A whistle echoed through the pool, a tall and fit redhead lowering the device from her lips with a smile as she clicked a timer in her hand, "You know," she laughed, watching the blunette in her pool pull herself up to the rim to rest, "If you weren't in this mad search for Ash, I'd suggest you sign up for the PokeLympics, Dawn."

The exhausted young lady shot a glare at her endurance coach at the mention of his name, though the tough redhead's smile didn't falter; she knew it was just an act anyways. "What was my time, Misty?"

The ginger girl held the timer out as though to show her, "Three full laps in Four-Fifty Five. You're faster than me in my mermaid outfit, Dawn." Misty's eyes gleamed with both astonishment and worry as her friend, who had barely caught her breath, slid back into the water, "Guessing you want to go for faster?" she exhaled an irritated breath when the blunette nodded, prepping herself against the wall, though a smile did return when a small blue penguin Pokémon chirped his name and hopped into the lane next to his trainer in the pool. "Alright. Let's try to go for four minutes, fifty seconds. Just don't hurt yourself, alright?" When she received no response, she conceded and lifted the whistle once more, signaling a three-down before blowing into it.

Misty was truly astonished at how far Dawn had pushed herself in the last six months. She was already in fantastic shape, no less so thanks to the blue and black jackal Pokémon who meditated by the pool. Ever since she promised to care for the egg of a dying Lucario mother, she had been physically training herself nonstop. While she did already have great endurance, most of her training had focused on her ability on the ground so as to keep up with the aura jackal, their aura bond allowing them to create both a mental and physical link between them to increase their respective abilities, and she constantly complained that she was lacking in cardio and arm strength. It didn't take long for her to make her way to Cerulean Gym and request Misty be her coach. Despite the redhead being adamantly against it, Dawn wore thin lead plates throughout her suit, as an attempt to try to speed up her training by forcing her to use more arm strength to keep herself afloat.

The only reason she had agreed was the Lucario. Although he was clearly in meditation, his true reason for being there was his connection to Dawn through Aura. Ever since he evolved, Dawn had slowly developed what could only have been an unknown ability within herself, as she never showed any signs of it around Ash. Ash being the reincarnation of Sir Aaron, the Aura Guardian from the past, was one thing. A young girl from Twinleaf town? Certainly a twist of fate, if not a positive one considering her current quest. If she tired during her cardio practice, Lucario would be ready to dive to her aid. It had certainly helped her immensely, though, as not only had it sped up her search for the redheaded gym leader's ex crush, but it made her far more in touch with her body's limits. With this, she had sped up years of physical training into half a year, although Misty still felt that she was pushing her body far too hard.

A quick glance at Lucario, however, was quick enough assurance that all was well, as even he, in his own way, had made it clear he would not allow her to overdo it. If he had not moved to stop her, there was nothing Misty herself could do to stop the love driven blue haired beauty. She clicked the timer and blew her whistle again, flinching as Dawn breached the surface and gasped desperately for air, eliciting even a glance from her aura Pokémon at the display as she slumped against the edge of the pool. She had dove under for the final full lap, as though to test herself further, and it seems she had just barely held her breath to the end. "Dawn, you can't keep pushing yourself this hard. Even with Lucario and I here to help, you could cause serious damage to your lungs or muscles."

Misty knew her words fell on deaf ears as the girl rebuilt her serious composure, façade as it was, and slowed her breathing, heaving herself out of the water to shakily stand just as a new pair of footsteps echoed into the pool hall, "Time, Misty."

"Faster than before... I'll tell you that," Misty said softly as she eyed their visitor, a small blush painting her cheeks. She had indeed dropped her attraction to Ash, as the redhead had come to terms with how it was truly nothing more than a childhood crush, as compared to the burning devotion Dawn sported for the young Pokémon Master. The young man who had walked in on their session, however... "Gary Oak," Misty shook away her thoughts to address her visitor, who waved nonchalantly to her calling his name, "What might bring you here?"

Her demeanor slackened, though, when he averted his gaze to the blunette who was still, despite replacing her 'mask', clearly exhausted from her workout. "Here to pick up Dawn for the prom, what else?" both he and Misty laughed at Dawn's expense as she shot a horrid scowl at him and nearly slipped from moving to slap him, "Seriously though... We need to go Dawn. Gramps is getting everything ready."

Sapphire blue eyes widened in realization of what he meant, "You mean... he is on Mt. Silver?" Misty's jaw dropped at the mention. Ever since Cerulean Cave had collapsed in on itself, Mt. Silver was now the only place the League kept on permanent watch under fear of trainer deaths.

"Ash is at Mt. Silver?! What is that knucklehead thinking going to such a place?"

Both Gary and Dawn glanced at Misty, understanding her concern, but the blunette was the first to move, taking her towel from her waiting Lucario and walking past Gary for the changing room, "I'm going to clean myself up before we return to Pallet, alright?"

Gary gulped as she sauntered past him, her dark blue one piece sport swim suit clinging to her in all the right places to elicit his stares, much to Misty's annoyance, "Hey, eyes up, Professor!" It was the young man's turn to nearly slip as he quickly turned to defend himself against Misty with a retort only to step where one of Dawn's still soaked feet had stepped, nearly sending him into the pool.

"Arceus, Misty, don't..." He shook his head, looking at the gym leader somberly, "Sorry."

Misty's shoulder's drooped as she sighed, "It's fine... I'm well aware of what's been going through your mind lately, Gary. Dawn isn't the only one who has changed a lot," she giggled as his eyes slimmed in a half glare, "I don't mean that in a bad way. You have softened up a bit, sure. However... You've really been a good friend to everyone. Really have grown up since you had those cheerleaders following you."

"Gah, will anyone ever let those days just die in the past?" the trainer extraordinaire turned professor groaned, "I feel like I've done enough for people to just leave those days be." He perked up slightly as Misty approached him, letting her timer and whistle fall from her hands to dangle in front of her chest. Although he wouldn't admit it to himself, with his still lingering crush on Dawn, he couldn't dismiss that Misty was attractive. She had gained a toned body from her years as a swimmer, and her legs and arms, despite still remaining slim, were clearly muscle filled to the point she could outswim a Gyarados if she had wanted. Tracing the fallen timer with his eyes, seeing it read Four-forty seven, he barely caught himself from staring at her chest. Fit or not, she hadn't missed out on the growth many other females had by the age of 23, if not more modestly, which couldn't be said for her tight white one piece, a blue 'V' highlighting her bust.

Hearing her 'hmm' him, Gary forced his eyes back up to meet hers, "Look... I know what her intentions are. I'm just as bad as you were with Ash back in the day," Seeing her eyes flicker with rage, he knew he had turned the conversation back to his favor, although he decided not to play into it, "She's going to find Ash... and I don't think she's going to give him a choice in regards to a relationship. I have no chance... much like her on Mt. Silver."

Misty tensed at the mention, "You can't be serious. She's going to go into that god forsaken place?" When Gary nodded grimly, she continued, "It's a miracle they even hold the Silver conference there with how much worse the caves have gotten over the years. The fact he'd be there training... The fact that Dawn would risk chasing him there. This is... a lot of information to process."

Gary scratched the back of his head and exhaled a long breath, "Yeah... My thoughts exactly. Gramps about had a fit when he heard Ash had gotten into that hellhole without his permission." He noticed Misty tilt her head in wondering, "Apparently... Someone none of us have heard from in a while got him up there." Before he could continue informing the gym leader, both of them glanced over to the changing room door. Dawn stood stalwart, eyes brimming with determination as she walked towards Gary, taking his hand and without a word beginning to lead him out. She clearly wasn't going to wait for their conversation to end. She had been waiting for months for a breakthrough like this. She wasn't waiting any longer.

No words were spoken as Piplup and Lucario nodded to Misty before chasing their trainer, leaving the youngest cerulean flower standing alone with her thoughts. "Mt. Silver... why would that idiot go there... to hide? Is he really that terrified of facing everyone after his loss?" In a way, it made sense. Ash had gone on a rampage through the leagues after his loss to Tobias in the Lily of the Valley Conference. A year off for dedicated training with each of his partners did wonders, and he first laid claim to his home region's title, Indigo. He proceed to tear through the elite four to the point even Lance, the champion, admitted bewilderment at his progress upon battling him. And although Lance's Dragon types fell to the might of Ash's now evolved Garchomp, the young man from Pallet Town refused the title. He stated he wanted to be a Pokémon Master, and staying the champion of one region would mean nothing in comparison.

He was there for the challenge, and for the recognition, for both himself and his Pokémon partners. His goal wasn't completed. And thus he moved onto the Hoenn region next, bringing the same team he had in his prior run-through of the temperate land. It was no surprise he made it to Steven Stone, matching his strength with prowess never before seen. Even to this day, Misty was both shocked and concerned; there was no way the childish and fun loving young man she once knew had progressed so much without some loss to both his personality, and perhaps his mental health, and her worries were proven right as the years progressed. After the Hoenn League, he returned to Sinnoh. As Lance was considered the champion of both Kanto and Johto, fighting him and the Silver League once more would be nothing more than a sparring match. Cynthia, who had known Ash for a long while and had watched his progress, gave far more of a fight to the young man than any before. It was as though she had been waiting for his return, knowing he would after word of her defeating Tobias with just her Garchomp alone reached him, much to the shock and, admittedly, amusement of the young man after the battle Tobias had given him. She was correct, and the fire in her eyes as they battled for the Sinnoh Championship confirmed something else; she had a torch for him, not romantically, but as a mentor. She wanted to see him win, she wanted to be the one to welcome him into the annals of history...

And as Ash congratulated his partners for their hard earned victory, Cynthia was indeed that person. A league committee from each region flanked her as she extended a hand to the young man. Four years. That was all the time it took for him to be offered the title he had sought since he had first set out. With a strong handshake, Cynthia handed him a signed certificate, holding the signatures of each region's champions and league heads, with the words...

"This certificate bestows the title, the rank, and privilege of Pokémon Master upon one Ash Ketchum, Conqueror of the Leagues"

At Cynthia's suggestion, Ash decided to make a run through the leagues once more, but more casually. His mother had urged him to instead take a break and come home, to relish his victory with friends and family... But he refused. He claimed he had one last hill to climb. He took his own version of a break, despite what he told his mother. He took a more casual trip through each region, taking challenges as he went, ducking the paparazzi that seemed to track his every move, but he also visited many of the places of his childhood. He became almost a drifter, appearing for a few days to see old friends or acquaintances, only to disappear right as the media showed up. This is what led to the young Gym Leader finally coming to terms with her crush; the feeling was no longer there when he came to see her mermaid show two years ago. They had gone out for old time's sake, even humoring Misty with a movie and dinner, even if it was just fast food and a cheesy action movie. Nothing, absolutely no flicker of life from the cinder she thought still held warmth for the young man.

Finally, after these three years of travel seemingly brought back his old cheerful, if not comically goofy and childlike, self, he decided to finally take on the Silver League. And in a devastating turn of events, his Charizard, in the final round, knocked itself out with its own Seismic Toss attack, the fire lizard not only crashing but slamming into Ash, and, in the process, an already tired and beaten Pikachu.

In no way could this cost Ash his title. It was lifelong, something that could never be taken from him. But Charizard and Pikachu both had been severely hurt by the mistake, its own incredible speed being used against him in the fall, and it nearly broke Ash's spirit- if not his body- as he fought to stand and stay by his partners as several Nurse Joys and their Blissey tended to them on the field, not risking moving the two until they were stable.

The loss wasn't what caused Ash to disappear. It was his Pokémon being so hurt because of his mistake. His Pokémon had been hurt in the past, yes, critically so even. But something about this incident broke the young man more than any bones that had been shattered from the impact at the arena. After he had healed up, without a word he collected his Pokémon, used his title to take every partner he had and transferred them to his own storage so as to cut every contact he had...

And vanished off of the face of the earth.

From what she had heard through her connections, a young girl had been at his side until his disappearance. A young maiden with deep blue hair and an elegance that matched her beauty. And now that same beauty had just walked with grace out of the gym, even with how much doubt she not only had in herself but clearly knew everyone else had.

Until now. Misty made her way back to her own room in the gym, glancing around at many framed pictures she had managed to save from her adventures back in the day with the young man. He had been gone for over a year, and now, after Dawn and Gary had spent six months of their lives searching, they had finally found him. And Dawn was about to make the most treacherous journey of her life to bring him home, by choice or by the ear, she had made it clear she was not going to stop until he gave in... Both to her requests... and to her heart.

Misty smiled lightly at the thought. How the young, bubbly coordinator had become not only such a powerful trainer but powerful woman in so short a time, Misty could only fathom. And while she did her best to act tough, the gym leader knew her friend was still her old self, despite the grim mask she constantly wore over her beautiful young face. If anyone could bring Ash home, it was the determined blue beauty from Twinleaf. And if anyone could break the ice that had formed around her heart, it would be the man who trained the fieriest Charizard on the face of this earth.

It would only be Ash.

A/N: Jesus tap dancing Christ I did NOT expect that to go this long. I had no intention of making the explanation for his disappearance occur in this chapter, let alone from Misty –technically- but I just started writing and couldn't bring myself to stop. I feel it turned out ok because I could let Misty's thoughts flow in, if ever so slightly. Let me know what you think and, hopefully, the next chapter will be the departure to Mt. Silver.