Switching Lives

PokemonFreak90: Full disclosure, I am NOT responsible for this story's 10-month delay between updates! We had the outline for this chapter planned as soon as the last one was finished! Jokes aside, hopefully this story will have more frequent updates from now on, so that we can get these chapters out to you loyal readers faster!

MDM: Hey! I've already apologized for such a long delay three times already! I have so many other projects that I want to get out of the way so that I could have some breathing room, and school isn't exactly helping either.

Anyway, you're right. We've waited long enough. Let's get on with Chapter 8! Roll it!

Chapter 8

New Friendship on Castle Grounds

Meanwhile, back at the castle, the doppelganger princess Dawn was back in the library, surrounded by piles of books and maps. She groaned and resisted the urge to plant her face onto the surface of the study desk.

"This is exhausting..." She moaned.

Sitting next to her was Ash, holding a large book in his arms. Seeing her reaction, he chuckled. "I know. This is pretty annoying. But it just happens to be part of being royalty."

"Doesn't exactly help the situation now, Ash." Dawn grumbled, burying her face in her arms.

Ash laughed again at her retort before closing the book and placing it back on the desk. "You're a funny girl, Salvia. How about we both take a little break?"

Dawn lifted her head up to look at him. "Best idea I've heard all day." She said. They then both stood up from their chairs. "Thanks again, Ash. For all of your help."

Before he could respond, she threw her arms around him, giving him a grateful hug. Ash was a little surprised, given that it was usually informal for a princess to suddenly hug someone out of nowhere, but he eventually returned it, holding her around her waist. He couldn't deny that he was enjoying this hug.

But then, after a few seconds, Dawn realized what she had just done. She quickly broke away from him, her cheeks turning a bright pink.

"Ah! I-I'm sorry!" She stammered. "I-I shouldn't h-have d-done that."

Ash laughed again, this time a little bit more hearty and real than the polite chuckles before. "It's okay." He reassured the mortified girl. "We're friends. It should be a little common than if we were strangers."

Dawn felt the embarrassment leave her body, but was instead replaced with a warmth rushing through her, and her cheeks turned a much softer rose color, though she hoped that it wasn't visible. He, a prince, considered her, a commoner pretending to be a princess, a friend? It sounded like it was almost too good to be true!

However, Ash took her silence as uncertainty. "We are friends, right?" He asked, now sounding nervous.

Dawn quickly snapped out of her trance to answer him. "Yes, of course we are friends." She assured him.

The smile that he gave her was enough to make her blush even pinker, but she returned it just as bright. Dawn was happy that someone was showing her more care than anyone else had done during her life thus far.

Soon after, they went their separate ways to take their break and Dawn found herself wandering outside in the palace gardens. She had never seen such beautiful plants and flowers in her life. All of them were looking very healthy, the flowers themselves had such bright colors, and the perfect and delicate fragrance was soothing enough to make her want to curl up somewhere and just take a nap.

She took a deep breath through her nose. "This is all so beautiful." She said. "Don't you think so, Togekiss?"

The Flying and Fairy type trilled happily, agreeing with her. Dawn giggled at that.

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound coming from inside one of the Berry bushes. Dawn cautiously walked up to it, curious. Then, there were two fluffy ears popping out of the shrubbery, and then a whole Pokémon. It was a Buneary.

Dawn smiled at the cute Normal type. "Hello there!" She greeted it cheerfully. "Are you hungry?"

The Buneary titled its head in confusion at this human being so kind to it, a wild Pokémon. Carefully, it hopped up to her.

Dawn grabbed an Oran Berry from the bush and gave it to the Buneary. "Here. It's alright."

The Buneary looked at the Berry and then up to the doppelganger princess. It then looked over at Togekiss, who trilled happily at it while nodding. Buneary chirped in agreement and then grabbed the Berry, eating it quickly. Dawn smiled at how cute it looked while eating. Buneary returned the smile once it had finished the Berry.

Suddenly, there was a chuckle from nearby. Dawn looked over in that direction with surprise and was shocked to find Ash standing there.

"You do remind me of myself a bit." He said, a smirk dancing on the corner of his lips.

Dawn blushed as she shakily stood up. "W-What do you mean?" She asked.

Ash smiled fondly. "Back home in Kanto, I've made friends with all sorts of Pokémon in the same way that you do." He explained. "To be honest, I thought that I was the only one who could do that. And I've been made fun of because of that, when I was a kid."

Dawn bit her lip in anger. "Just because you could easily befriend anyone who comes your way, even a Pokémon?" She asked in disbelief. "That's certainly no excuse! Quite the opposite, you should've been praised for your natural talent and charm!"

Ash stared at her in surprise, a strange and unfamiliar heat to him rushing towards his face, resulting in a delicate blush. Dawn, in turn, flushed a brighter red.

"Ah, I-I mean, uh, well, you still didn't deserve it just because you're d-different." She stammered. It was probably informal of her to speak that forcefully to a guest.

Feeling a sudden surge of confidence, Ash decided to tease her a bit. "What do you think makes me different?" He asked.

Now Dawn was sure her that face resembled a Tamato Berry. Togekiss just smiled fondly at the doppelganger princess acting so flustered. Buneary was only watching the exchange with curious eyes. It certainly was interesting.

"W-Well, for one, you want us to be friends first before seeing if there could…be something there between us." Dawn said, her blush slowly receding.

"Go on." said Ash.

Mustering some more confidence, Dawn continued shakily. "And you're definitely more respectful than S- I mean...my other suitors. And we both want similar things in marriage, if it ever comes to that point."

"I guess so." Ash replied.

Suddenly, Dawn saw Zoey, who seemed to be looking for her. "Zoey!" She called to her.

The red-haired servant heard her name and saw that the princess was the one who called her. She quickly ran over to her. "There you are, Your Highness." She said.

"Can you please take this Buneary inside and see that it is properly fed?" Dawn ordered kindly, kneeling back down to the Normal type.

"But Your Highness..." Zoey tried to cut in.

"Please?" Dawn continued to ask, her voice a bit more firm, but still kind and polite.

Zoey reluctantly held back what she wanted to say. "As you wish, Your Highness." She was about to kneel down and pick up Buneary when a cheerful chirp was heard.

"Pika-pi!"

Ash perked up when he heard that voice. Everyone looked up and saw Ash's Pikachu waving down at them from above in one of the fruit trees. He jumped off, his form sparkling in the sunlight, getting Buneary's attention. She watched with awe as the Electric type did multiple flips in the air before he landed on his master's arm, that was outstretched for him to land on.

"Pi-Pikachu!" He exclaimed proudly, posing for his latest feat.

"Buneary!" The Rabbit Pokémon's eyes sparkled with admiration as she gazed up at Pikachu.

"Nice moves, Pikachu!" Ash complimented his partner. He then began scratching him under the chin gently, making the Electric type squeal in pleasure. "Your speed is getting better and better."

Dawn smiled at the touching scene between the prince and his Pokémon. She then glanced down at Buneary and saw that her new friend's eyes were glittering with an emotion that she had only seen a couple of times. She looked in the direction where the Normal type was staring, and then had a knowing smirk on her face.

Pikachu finally noticed the other Pokémon that was there and he waved to her. "Pika, pika!" He greeted her cheerfully.

Buneary's face got a bright pink blush on it and she shyly hid her face in her fur, making the Electric type a bit confused.

"Hey, what's up with Buneary?" Ash asked, noticing the Normal type's strange behavior.

Dawn giggled. "Well, I think this little one has a crush on your Pikachu." She said, making the Rabbit Pokémon bury her face deeper in her fluffy fur and squirming with nervousness. It was clear that love at first sight actually could happen.

Pikachu still looked a little confused, but then the realization hit him like a Brick Break to the head. He looked a little uncomfortable, but then jumped down from Ash's shoulder to get down to her level.

"Pika, Pikachu." He tried to be casual, knowing that he had to be gentle at first, knowing that the Normal type was exceedingly shy around him now.

Buneary peeked up from her fur, her cheeks still pink, to look at the Electric Mouse. "Bun-eary." she answered in their own language.

Ash chuckled at the scene. Even if there was a Pokémon that was as shy as Buneary was acting right now, Pikachu would eventually befriend it.

"Zoey, how about you take both Buneary and Pikachu and get them a snack?" he suggested.

Dawn stood up. "That's a good idea." she agreed. "Will you, Zoey?"

Zoey bowed politely. "Of course, Your Highness." she said. "Stay close to me." She told the two Pokémon.

Both nodded in confirmation and they followed Zoey back inside the castle, with Dawn and Ash following.

In a matter of minutes, both Pokémon were eating some Poffins in one of the many spare rooms of the castle. By now, Buneary wasn't as shy as she was before, but she still blushed red when Pikachu would smile at her.

Dawn loved having another Pokémon around besides Togekiss. She went over to Buneary, sitting at the table. "Hey, Buneary." She said, getting the Normal type's attention. "How would you like it if you could stay here with me?"

Buneary's eyes lit up with delight and she immediately jumped into Dawn's arms, chattering happily, making Dawn laugh. That reaction was more than enough for an answer.

Ash smiled at the adorable scene and Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder. "Wow, you can befriend Pokémon as easily as I can! Your kind heart is what drew Buneary to you. If you treat all of your subjects with that same level of kindness, I know that you'll make a wonderful queen someday, whether we're together or not." He said encouragingly. His commentary made Dawn blush a bright pink.

"Well, Pikachu and I must be going." He said. "We still have some training to do."

"Very well." Dawn said, smiling brightly at the prince, who returned her grin with the same enthusiasm.

"I'll see you later, Salvia."

That very name made Dawn freeze for a second, but it was unnoticed by Ash as he and Pikachu said their goodbyes to Togekiss and Buneary, then left the room.

Dawn kept her eyes to the door, feeling a strange weight sink inside of her. Togekiss looked up at the doppelganger princess with a concerned look.

"Togekiss?" She asked gently.

Dawn slowly sat down, remembering all of the times that she and Ash had shared in such a short time. But the more that she relived them, the more the guilt that was settling in her stomach grew heavier.

She glanced down at Buneary, who was looking at her with the same worried expression. It was cute to know that the Normal type had a crush on Pikachu, like Dawn had butterflies in her chest when she would smile at his master, but it didn't really help the situation.

"What am I doing?" She chided herself. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I wasn't supposed to….fall in love with Prince Ash."

Dawn had never experienced love before in her life, so this feeling was new to her. But if this was what being in love truly felt like...then it was amazing!

PokemonFreak90: Dawn meets Buneary, who has fallen for Pikachu, just like how Dawn has fallen for Ash. Buneary will now be living with Dawn as her new Pokémon.

What will happen next for Dawn, now that she realizes her feelings for the prince? Will she tell him? Or will she suppress these feelings, knowing that they can't ever be together?

MDM: I hope something good. I am such a sucker for happy endings. Well, we hoped y'all enjoyed this long-awaited and way overdue chapter. Please leave a review about what you think!

Got to fly! ;)