Welcome back, everyone! Strap yourselves in for the final round, and please review and leave your feedback, if you don't mind! We hope you enjoy this latest chapter! We've also uploaded three new art pieces for the story on our another-rxad tumblr - two of them based on the Grand Festival! Give that a glance, or maybe even a reblog if you have the chance! Thanks!
The day of the semi-finals had come and gone, seemingly in the blink of an eye. The sun had set over Indigo Plateau, making way for the night sky.
Outside the Pokemon Center, a generous arrangement of tables and chairs were set up, for competitors and their companions. Dawn, Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock took up one of the tables, favoring the fresh air over an enclosed hotel room.
One of them hardly seemed to note her surroundings, lazily leaning her chin against her palm. She stared at nothing in particular, oblivious to the group's idle chatter.
"You alright, there, Dawn?"
"...Oh! Yeah, I'm fine." Dawn sat upright in her seat, putting on a smile. "No need to worry!"
Ash winked as he recited the following line; "You know that's when I worry the most."
"You sound just like Mom." Dawn rolled her eyes at Ash. Though she couldn't hold back a hint of a smile. Those two were very different people, but they both had a real knack for calling her out.
That much seemed to satisfy Ash, judging by the goofy grin on his face.
"You're nervous, aren't you?" Misty prodded. "It's okay to admit it. Or, are you still trying to decide your strategy, tomorrow?"
Dawn shook her head. "I've got my approach all planned out! But, yeah, I guess I'm just nervous. I'm in the finals, again."
Brock nodded. "Last time, it was with Zoey. She was just a step ahead of you as a rival, but against a veteran Top Coordinator, from the heydey of Contests…"
Dawn nodded, resting her chin in her palm. "I'll have to bring my best, if I want a chance of becoming Top Coordinator. That's what my mom said."
Out of the corner of the girl's eye, she saw Misty nudge Ash, and whisper something in his ear. Whatever she'd said was inaudible to Dawn, but Ash stood up immediately after.
"Wanna go for a walk? Maybe some fresh air'll clear your head." Ash gave a gentle smile, extending his hand.
A couple of blinks were Dawn's initial answer. She definitely hadn't seen that coming. Though, it would explain Misty's conspiring…
Taking Ash's hand in hers struck Dawn with a familiar warmth that made her smile. She noticed that, oddly enough, he wasn't wearing gloves. She preferred that. "A walk sounds good."
Ash had pulled Dawn up with ease, and looked back to the remaining group. "We'll be back! Don't wait up." With that, Dawn began walking with her boyfriend, their fingers still linked at their sides.
"We won't!" Misty shouted from back at the table. "Pikachu, why don't you go with them?"
"Pika!" Pikachu had apparently agreed, because he was already keeping up with their pace.
"Aw, what!?" Ash complained, stopping in his tracks. "You're sending Pikachu as a chaperone, now? How old do you think we are!?"
"Old enough to need a chaperone!"
Ash snorted at the reply, and Dawn couldn't help but laugh. "You know, you walked right into that one."
"Yeah, yeah… forget them." Ash picked up his pace towards the forest, leaving Misty and Brock in the dust.
"Ash!" Dawn complained, speed walking to keep up. "My legs are still shorter than yours!"
This was nice.
The gentle autumn breeze, nudging her bangs, and greeting her with the refreshing scents of the forest.
Ash's hand, linked gingerly with hers. She'd occasionally give it a squeeze, and get a squeeze in return.
The deep blue night sky, populated scarcely with glimmering stars. Light pollution from Indigo Village and the Plateau kept the heavens from showing their true beauty, but it was pretty enough.
With only a slight tilt of her head, she had a clear view of Ash's bold, kind eyes. Something about them always instilled Dawn with confidence when she stared at them. Eyes were the window to the soul, some said, and she believed it. They sold warmth and certainty.
Though, she was only getting quick glances of them, when they met gazes momentarily. Then, Ash would turn away, again, towards Pikachu. Maybe the eye contact was making him shy? How cute!
Even the chirping and chattering of nocturnal pokemon gave some ambience that was, admittedly, awfully romantic.
Dawn thought, so, at least, when she moved to lean her head on Ash's shoulder. Reaching to snag his arm, she made herself content.
"Ah!"
...Or, at least she'd tried.
Instead, she'd gotten a faceful of dirt, in the middle of the path.
"...Ah! Dawn!" Ash panicked, stopping to offer her a hand. "What the hell happened!?"
"You know, I'm starting to think that I'm the third wheel!" Dawn shouted, dusting herself off.
"You called me out here for a walk, but you keep stopping to stare down Pikachu!"
"Huh!? Oh, come on, don't be silly!" Ash laughed, perhaps a bit too much, waving his free hand dismissively. "I just got distracted!"
"Piiikachu!" Pikachu shook his head frantically, backing his trainer up.
"I'm not stupid, Ash." Dawn squinted, until the light bulb went off in her head. "...You were doing that aura thing, weren't you!? You were talking to Pikachu behind my back!"
"Is this some kind of weird soap opera?" Ash deadpanned.
Dawn ignored Ash's attempted humor. "What were you talking about, anyway?"
"I, uh…" Ash trailed off.
Pikachu went to great lengths to avoid eye contact, whistling a guilty tune.
Dawn's expression softened. This was so like them. This was Ash, for better or for worse. He and Pikachu were a package deal. A trainer and their pokemon always were.
...Actually, that gave Dawn an idea. She took a pokeball from her belt, and tossed it. "Well, I guess it's only fair that Pikachu has company, too."
"Empol!" Empoleon emerged from his pokeball, standing at attention.
"Hey, Empoleon! Ash and I were just on a walk, to clear our heads. Why don't you keep Pikachu company!"
"Pol! Empoleon!" The penguin swiftly saluted Dawn. He'd be thrilled to!
Ash smiled. "Good idea. Thanks, Empoleon!" He offered a hand to Dawn, then, pulling her to her feet. "Sorry about tripping you up."
"I'll forgive you, this time." Dawn proclaimed, smiling smugly with her nose turned up.
"This time?" Ash's face fell as he echoed Dawn. That was ominous!
"Hey, Pikachu, ol' pal!" Empoleon greeted merrily, falling behind Ash and Dawn to join his best buddy. "What can I do for ya? Lemme guess - got lonely with the lovebirds, out here?"
"Good to see you!" Pikachu chirped, raising a paw to greet his close friend. "Honestly, I wish," he huffed. "Ash was picking my brain for ways to cheer Dawn up and impress her. I never volunteered myself for romantic advice!"
"Hah!" Empoleon squawked loudly in laughter. "He better not wait up."
Pikachu made a face at Empoleon, one ear falling lopsided. "What's that mean?"
"I love you, Pikachu," Empoleon chuckled, "but you can't even get your own affair in order!"
Pikachu's face burned, probably quite red above the nose. "What do you mean, 'my own affair!?'"
Empoleon's beak opened up for a crooked smirk - one Pikachu was very sure he didn't like. "Oh, Pikachu~!" He mocked, in his highest possible voice, holding his claws together across his waist like a fool in love, not unlike his teammate. He leaned against Pikachu as much as possible without falling over to squash him. "That battle of yours was sooo impressive! You should've seen how handsome you looked~!"
Oh, for Mew's sake… "Alright, alright! I get it, already." Pikachu crossed his paws, burning hotter than a Charizard's tail flame. She really was that forward, wasn't she…?
"Maybe you should battle me, next time~!" Empoleon continued, ignoring Pikachu. He spun around on his foot, imitating Lopunny's graceful spins. "But, watch out, I'll be sure to use Attra- OOF!" Naturally, Empoleon lost his balance, landing face first in the dirt. "Ugh…"
Pikachu rolled his eyes, keeping the ugliest of his thoughts on karma to himself. "Please, she's a lot more graceful than that."
"Ha!" Empoleon pulled his face out of the dirt long enough to comment. "So you DO notice her!"
...Drat. As if this weren't embarrassing enough. Pikachu looked forward to the duo's trainers. Ash and Dawn were busy talking amongst themselves. He put his paws on his hips, and sighed.
"...It's not like I've never thought about it."
Unsure if he was hearing things, Empoleon scrambled to his feet, gawking at Pikachu. "Wait, for real!?"
"...I don't know. I mean, all this mushy stuff has never been up my alley. I've been around Brock for years, and you see how his attempts end. It never looked all that glamorous to me. Sure, seeing people in love was nice, but it's always been a far-off thought."
"...Huh. I guess I never thought about it like that." Empoleon had fallen for someone, once, but it'd ended very painfully. Pikachu's feelings sounded reasonable.
"My focus has always been on working with Ash to be Pokemon Masters. So, Bun- Lopunny," he corrected himself. "She just kind of came out of the blue."
"I guess she did," Empoleon agreed. "But, you've had a while to think about it, dude."
"That's true… I don't know, I mean, she's fun to be around! I like her company… even if it ties my tongue in knots, sometimes. When she gets like that, I don't know what to do with myself. It's weird!"
"You're such a prude, dude. Half the time she makes a move, you look mortified."
"Well, sure, with everyone watching!"
"Like I said, prude."
Pikachu heaved a heavy sigh. "She's been really considerate of me, lately. Since… you know, Viridian City, she's looked out for me a lot." He hadn't forgotten the cozy warmth of her fluff, comforting him from atop Mamoswine, looking over Nimbasa City. Glowing an awfully bright red at that thought, he picked up his pace, praying that Empoleon wouldn't notice.
In Vermillion City, she'd given his wavering confidence a boost, and defended him from Raichu. That'd been awfully kind, hadn't it?
Her own abundant feelings aside… Lopunny really was good to him. She did care about him.
"I'll admit, she's… cute, I think." Whirling around, he waved his arms frantically. "B-but, that stays between us, alright!?"
"Yeesh, Pikachu. You give me something juicy like that, and I can't even talk about it!?" Seeing the look on his best friend's face, Empoleon relented. "Alright, alright. I'd give that some more thought, if I were you. She's got it for you bad."
"Don't I know it… yeah, I'll think about it. I've got a lot to sort out. I've never even come close to dating before!"
Empoleon nodded in silence. That was good enough for him. "Of course… it's not like you're the only one here who's nervous."
"Huh?" Pikachu tilted his head. "You mean you have girl troubles, too?"
"No!" Empoleon squawked. "Jeez, you really are like Ash…"
"...Oh, the finals! Duh." Pikachu slapped a paw against his own face. He deserved that remark. "...But, hey! I know that you'll win! You and Dawn are more than ready!"
"Thanks, Pikachu. But… how do I know? How do I know it's for real, this time?"
Pikachu hummed in thought. "You just… do. When we went for the conference this year, Ash and I were just sure this was our time. We'd done everything we could to get ourselves ready. We were strong, at the peak of our game… it just felt right."
He turned to Empoleon. "...How do you feel?"
"...I've got the jitters. I know it's hard to believe - someone as brave as I am, being worried. But, it's true, I'll tell you!"
"Really? I never would've guessed." Pikachu smirked, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.
"You heard them - we're facing a Top Coordinator, tomorrow! How are we supposed to top that, before we've gotten that far!?"
"...I've got a question for you," Pikachu replied. "How was anyone supposed to beat Deidra?"
Not expecting that response, Empoleon stared at Pikachu. "...Huh. Honestly, it looked impossible. Dawn said that she made every other battle a clean sweep. Scary."
"She did, and it did sound impossible. But, guess what? We did it."
"You sure did, you pint-sized monster. I saw it. But, I'm…"
Pikachu tilted his head. "You're what?"
"I know this is going to be hard to believe, but I'm not as strong as you are. I probably never will be... It's okay if you hold onto that admission with pride! Not just anyone gets that out of me." Empoleon boasted, his head held high.
Pikachu snorted. "Gee, thanks. That might be true… but, there's no way I could ever perform like you, either!"
Empoleon did a double-take, his blue, beady eyes shimmering. "Really? ...I-I mean, of course not! Duh."
"Really. I've seen you perform, since the day you and Dawn started entering contests. You've come a really long way. I can battle with the best of them, but the grace you show off - I could never! Your attacks are so flashy, too… You've got this, Empoleon. Just put your faith in Dawn, and you'll win, for sure!"
The next thing Pikachu knew, he was pulled into a crushing hug by a sobbing Empoleon.
"Pikachu, buddy, you're the best! I promise…" He sniffled. "...not to let you or Dawn down! I'll be the best contest battler I can be! Just you wait!"
"That's… great…" Pikachu squeaked out. "But, keep this up, and I might not be around to root for you…!"
Ash looked back to Pikachu and Empoleon. They'd started to chatter amongst themselves, as soon as Dawn called him out. He must've finally taken the hint, offering Dawn his arm.
Finally. Dawn smiled, linking her own arm through his. "About time."
"Hey, cut me some slack."
Dawn stuck her tongue out at Ash, making him crack a smile.
The two continued to walk at a steady pace in silence. Dawn heard the occasional leaf crunch under her boots. Ash's closeness was nice, making her a little more at ease. Going for a walk had been a good idea.
It was better than sitting at a crowded table, mulling over her worries, only to have them fed back to her.
That was one thing she liked about Ash. He never answered with pessimism. He'd always have some cliche vote of confidence, or a joke, or some oddly wise advice. He didn't let her mope.
He didn't mope. Not often, anyway.
"I don't know what I'm even stressing about!" Dawn laughed scratching her cheek. "It's not like we came here unprepared! It's a bit silly, right?"
Ash looked to her, and smiled. "It is, and it isn't."
Dawn quirked a brow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's not silly to be nervous about the final round. That's always nerve racking, no matter who you are."
"It really is! Jeez." Dawn groaned. "I gave Ciara this whole pep talk about focusing entirely on your pokemon, but I feel like a total hypocrite! Of course I'm confident in my team… but, this is a Top Coordinator. I'll have to be ready for a high-level match… the kind we saw in the Sinnoh Grand Festival."
"You've got a point," Ash agreed. "Those battles were dizzying… every move one of you guys threw out, the opponent had to be ready with something to show it up. It looks like as much of a mind game, as it is a battle…"
"That's the thing," Dawn agreed, "it is. Even against Zoey, who I knew well… every move had to account for what she'd do next. It was exhausting, but it… it was so exciting, too! The moves were so pretty, the comebacks so clever… it was beautiful. I wanted nothing more than to find the next way to let my pokemon shine!" Dawn gushed, clutching her fists, remembering the rush.
"That's the same thing you'll be doing, tomorrow."
"...I guess you're right. It's just a little different. Glenda could be on another level. She could have things up her sleeve I'd never think of."
"Maybe she will." Ash shrugged. "And, then you'll get to figure out how to one-up her!"
"That's where the pressure comes in," Dawn chuckled weakly.
"Hey."
Dawn tilted her head at Ash, and said nothing. She found Ash staring intensely into her eyes.
"You didn't let me finish, earlier. It is silly to be so nervous… because you're not a nobody, either! You're Dawn Tsumura!"
"...Yeah. I am my mom's daughter," Dawn agreed. "If she could figure it out - and I'm sure she could - then I'll find a way, too!"
"Not just that. You're your own person, with your own accomplishments, and your own pokemon! Everyone has their own battling style. You have all of that style, and the flashy moves, and the swagger to back it up… your pokemon really take the spotlight, when you're on the ball. You may have to watch out for Glenda, but she'll have to watch out for you!"
"Right!" Dawn perked up, flashing a victory sign. "No need to worry!"
"No need to worry!" Ash agreed, with a wink.
"...You're not gonna say that's when you worry the most?" Dawn quirked a brow.
"Nope!" Ash proclaimed proudly, his free hand stationed on his waist. "Because this time, you're right!"
"Right… thanks, Ash." Dawn stood on her tiptoes, planting a kiss on the boy's cheek.
Her boyfriend was grinning, now, running a hand through his messy hair. "Hey, anytime! It's my job as your big, handsome dude to make sure you're feeling 100 percent."
Dawn made a face at her gloating paramour. "Is all of that part of your job description?"
"As much as it is yours to gear up and cheer for me, in those cute outfits."
"Oh, cut it out! I swear, you're like a totally different person, these days." Dawn lightly shoved Ash, despite the growing blush on her face. The smug smile on his told her that she was completely failing at hiding her satisfaction.
Ash smirked. "You want me to go back to playing dumb?"
"Wait, wait, slow down! I didn't say that!" Dawn pulled back to wave her hands wildly. "On second thought, keep it up! If I'm going to put all this work into my appearance, someone ought to notice it…. Huh?" Dawn looked over her shoulder.
Empoleon was sobbing, clinging onto a less enthusiastic Pikachu for dear life.
"What are you two doing?" Dawn cocked her head at the pokemon. Honestly, they were just a mystery, sometimes.
"Hey, Dawn?"
Dawn turned around to face Ash, ready for another quip, or words of encouragement She met his eyes, but they were already half-lidded. A sudden pressure against her lips sprung her eyes open. The familiar forcefulness that she'd come to expect, from someone as rowdy and hotblooded as Ash.
A strong, sturdy arm had wrapped around her waist, pulling her in. Smiling through the kiss, Dawn reciprocated, losing a hand in his black, messy hair, free of his cap. Letting her eyes fall shut, she gave in to the sudden move on her boyfriend's part.
His not-so-disciplined, impulsive style had grown on her. There were no more bashed noses, or colliding foreheads, after a couple months of dating. No blame-slinging of who knocked into who, before a second attempt.
They stuck to lip pecks, naturally - both were young and inexperienced. This breathtaking experience was more than enough.
It was quite literally breathtaking, even. Her lungs were beginning to burn, sapped of oxygen, and Dawn pulled back, putting a couple of inches between them.
A brief reprieve let Dawn catch her breath. She stared up at the messy-haired teen, who looked cockier than ever. "What… not that I'm complaining - but, what was that for!?"
Ash grinned. "It's our deal, remember?"
"That was for celebrating." Dawn scrunched her nose. "I haven't won yet."
"Yeah, well, this one was for good luck!"
Dawn smiled, rolling her eyes. Only Ash. Though, again, she couldn't complain. He'd gotten better at 'putting the moves on her,' as he liked to call it.
"Now, what did I say about keeping your head in the matches while you're preparing?"
"What the!?" Ash's head whirled around, gawking at the intruder.
Dawn followed suit, her face quickly losing color. "Glenda!?"
Only barely visible in the shadows of the forest surrounding the Plateau, the elder, honey-haired woman stood. A generous sliver of moonlight crossed her aging features, highlighting a scowl.
Dawn instinctively pulled away from Ash.
"Oh, come on!" Ash complained, holding his head with both hands in despair. "The one time I make a move…"
"The Cerulean Contest notwithstanding, I'm sure." Glenda walked past Ash, sparing him a glance.
One that made him feel awfully small. "...Y'know what, we're gonna leave you gals alone. Come on, Pikachu!"
Pikachu, who'd been going to great lengths to avoid spying on Ash and Dawn, nodded along eagerly. "Pika! Pikachu." He hopped upon Ash's shoulder, while the latter took his leave.
"Whaddya mean, I'm not the only one with girl troubles, here?"
"Pikachu!"
Dawn shook her head with a smile. Those two…
"He's a strange one." Glenda commented, approaching Dawn with her arms crossed. Her expression was awfully hard to read, which unnerved Dawn.
"He is," Dawn agreed. "B-but, he's really, really supportive! I swear, you just walked in at the worst possible time!"
"Empol!" Empoleon waddled to Dawn's side, raising a wing in emphasis. It was true!
"Hm… well, I'll take your word, dear. If that's the case, hold onto him. It's hard to find men like that."
"It's hard to find anyone like Ash, honestly." Dawn looked off in the direction of the village. Ash was barely visible, now, only identified by the yellow companion on his shoulder. "...What were you doing out here, anyway?"
"Oh, I just wanted to get away from the commotion of the contest hall. You can only imagine the attention a finalist would get… Or, maybe you already know."
"I've stuck around my friends, so, not really." Dawn scratched her cheek. "You really don't like being the center of attention, do you? To be honest, you always struck me as kind of a socialite, but…"
"That lifestyle gets tiresome. One would think climbing the rungs of society would put you in good company… but, in many ways, high society is no different from those brutish lots in Fuschia City. Shallow tastes, a complete disconnect from the beauty of a pokemon's performance... " Glenda coughed into her hand, clearing her throat. "Apologies, you had me on a tangent."
Dawn and Empoleon exchanged a look, and shrugged. What on Earth was she on about? "It's fine," Dawn dismissed. "You said something about trying to keep out of the spotlight?"
"Thank you." The woman nodded. "Frankly, I detest all of the attention drawn to coordinators, themselves. If a coordinator's face is what the crowds remember, then they've failed."
"Drawn to the coordinators, rather than their pokemon?" Dawn finished.
The blonde nodded. "You understand. That's reassuring."
"It's harsh," Dawn admitted, "but you're right!"
"The truth can often be harsh. If every appeal was critiqued gently, pokemon would have no incentive to improve, nor would their trainers. The competition would grow soft, and the art would wither."
'She's pretty serious about this,' Dawn thought. Then, it struck her, like the sudden, shocking might of Pikachu's Thunderbolt. "That's your concern, as a Top Coordinator, isn't it?"
Dawn caught the full weight of Glenda's gaze. She was spared, when the coordinator turned and exhaled. "I see someone on the committee didn't know how to hold their tongue."
"Actually, it was my mom." Dawn smiled meekly.
"Johanna? Well, then, you're the only one privy to that. It was supposed to be kept completely under wraps."
"So you wouldn't soak up all the attention?" Dawn guessed.
"Not just that. People have a way of putting on an act, when they know they're facing a professional. They lose their nerve, and focus too much on their opponents. It's a detriment to them and their pokemon."
"I see what you mean…" Dawn looked to Empoleon, and nodded. They'd both been a little on edge, since they'd been given the big reveal… ordinary pre-match nerves had inflated into serious concern.
Dawn stroked her starter pokemon's cheek. "So, you wanted to see the best of what newer coordinators could offer? To test them?"
Glenda held a pokeball in her hand, absently watching the light of the moon and stars reflect off the smooth surface. "It's a shame the one competitor left is under that pressure, now… then again, if you can't shoulder that weight, you wouldn't deserve to win, to begin with."
"Yeah, well I can handle it!" Dawn defied, clutching her fists, staring down her senior with furrowed brows. "If you entered the Kanto Circuit to be that kind of obstacle… then, that'll be our hurdle to jump, to win the Grand Festival!"
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon squawked, slapping a wing against his chest.
"It's my dream to be a Top Coordinator. It's Empoleon's dream to stand in the spotlight, and show off his charm. If a little pressure was enough to crack us, then we wouldn't be here, right now!"
"Empoleon!" Empoleon shouted. All of the trials they'd faced… all of the contests, all of the perils… he'd been at Dawn's side for those, and he'd be at her side, always!
The bird looked perplexed, when Glenda had knelt just slightly to make eye contact with him. She looked… awfully kind, for her usual demeanor. It was a look of approval. Maybe?
It better be.
"Your Empoleon shares your resolve. He, and the pokemon that will accompany him, will decide your places, tomorrow. Promise me dear," she spoke to Empoleon, "that you'll let your charm flourish. I'll be doing everything I can to upstage you. Shine brighter, little one, and you might have a chance. That's all up to you."
"Pol…" Empoleon tilted his head. Was this a threat, or a motivational speech? He wasn't sure how to feel, exactly… This woman was strange.
A hand on the bird's wing caught his attention. It was Dawn's, thankfully.
"No need to worry," she replied, "taking the spotlight is what my pokemon do best!"
Glenda smiled, and stood upright. "That's good, dear. Then, show me, tomorrow." With that, the Top Coordinator turned to take her leave.
"Pol." Empoleon watched Glenda retreat. What kind of opponent would she be…? Would he be able to overcome her?
"Empoleon?"
"Empol?" He turned towards Dawn, who stood before him.
"A long time ago, we promised to be partners, forever. The day you chose not to evolve… You said you wanted to protect me as a Piplup, no matter what."
"Empol…" He had said that… he remembered that day with clarity, as did he the day they'd met. But, he hadn't kept that promise, had he?
"Hey, don't look so down!" Dawn winked. "When you evolved, it was because you knew nothing would change, right? We still had Ash and Pikachu… I think you knew that no matter what, things would always come full circle, right?"
"Pol…." Empoleon nodded his head, twice. That day he'd stood up to Ash's Charizard, he'd felt the overwhelming urge to do better. To be stronger and more capable, for Dawn.
He'd wondered if that'd been foolish.
The day he'd evolved into his final stage, he'd felt the urge to protect.
Maybe it wasn't foolish.
"Remember what I said on the last day of our Sinnoh journey? You're a big boy, now, Empoleon." Dawn smiled softly upon her starter with pride. He was no longer the tiny, rotund penguin she'd first received. But, in those bold, blue eyes, the kind, prideful soul she'd always known endured. "You've grown… and I have, too! We've both gotten stronger," Dawn continued, reaching to take each of Empoleon's wings in her hands. "Strong enough to protect our friends… to protect people who need it… and especially each other."
Empoleon nodded, tears beginning to well in his eyes, pooling in the groove of his crown.
"That'll always be how we work, no matter what we look like! We'll keep chasing our dream, and do it in style! So, what do you say we win the Grand Festival, together!?"
"Pol…" Empoleon sniffled, his beak quivering. "Empollll!" Empoleon threw himself at Dawn, burying his face in her shoulder, sobbing through his squawks of agreement. "Of… of course, Dawn! I'll fight by your side, no matter what! With me by your side, you can't lose!"
"There, there…" Dawn smiled to herself, stroking the penguin's back. What was once soft, fluffy down, had evolved into smooth, steely feathers. When she'd once had to crouch to hold him, she could stand upright. He was cold to the touch, rather than warm. But, he was still her Empoleon.
"No need to worry."
"Big need to worry!"
A fine, trusty brush ran frantically through unruly blue locks, attempting to tame wavy fringes and bangs. Every attempt at taming them was met with disobedience.
"Jeez!" Dawn groaned, dropping the brush in frustration. Sat in front of a vanity mirror on the hotel room's courtesy night stand, she desperately arranged her hair to flow down her shoulders as it rightfully should. "This is the worst!"
"You're telling me," Ash complained, sitting on the edge of his bunk bed. "It's ten, and we still haven't gotten breakfast." All dressed up, down to the headband tied through his messy hair, he sat in a slump. A sudden sense of danger struck him, and he ducked. His instincts served well, as a brush shot past his head, crashing against the wall.
"We have bigger things to worry about!" Dawn scolded.
"I told you not to experiment with that new brand of conditioner," Misty tutted. "Not on today, of all days."
"I thought it'd be the perfect day to try it…" Dawn hung her head. "But, now my hair's all frizzy…" She knew well that Glenda had told her it wasn't her spotlight to take, but this could be her big break! She had to look at least half as good as her pokemon did!
Brock sat on his top bunk, with his arms crossed. "Are you sure it was the conditioner? I'm starting to think that stress is what makes your hair bug out. This always happens at the worst possible moment."
"Stress, huh…" Ash hummed under his breath. Brock did have a point. Eyeing the brush, he was already hatching an idea.
"Whatever it is, I better get this fixed fast. The pokemon are all groomed, but still…" Dawn hung her head. "A bad hair day is always a bad omen."
"Well, then we just have to get it fixed, don't we!?"
Dawn quirked a brow. "Duh, Ash. What do you think I've been trying to do!?" Dawn snapped, whirling around. She yelped. When did Ash get so close!?
"That's why I'm here!" He grinned, holding up the brush. "Like I said, it's my job to make sure you're feeling 100 percent!" Not giving Dawn a chance to answer, he was holding her locks, attempting to smooth out her wavy mane with the brush.
Dawn huffed, hanging her head. If nothing else, this felt nice - the first time Ash had tried this, he'd been entirely too rough. "Thanks, but you know this isn't your specialty."
"Maybe not," Ash agreed, struggling with what looked to be a knot. Great. "But, hell if I won't try! Now, let's see here…"
"Pikapi!"
"Maybe I can just brush this over…"
"Ash, with haircare? Now I've seen everything," Misty laughed. "Maybe I should've volunteered, for Dawn's sake."
"Oh, can it. I'm her boyfriend - I have to at least try! Ugh…"
"Pikapi!" Pikachu tugged on Ash's pant leg.
"Gimme a minute, Pikachu!" Ash complained, struggling with a fringe. "Come on…"
"Pika!"
"What is it, buddy!?" Ash whirled around, and swiftly ducked.
A flurry of bubbles had barely missed him, barraging Dawn, instead!
"Empol!" Empoleon folded his wings decisively.
"...Oh my gosh, perfect!" Dawn cooed, checking herself out in the mirror from a variety of angles. Miraculously, her hair had smoothed out - it even looked glossy, all-around! "The Bubblebeam treatment… I can't believe I didn't think of that!" Dawn hopped up, positively glowing. "Thank you, Empoleon!"
"Empol!" Empoleon smacked his wing to his chest. He could always count on her!
"Thanks for the warning, buddy." Ash rubbed the back of his head, apologetic. "I should've listened to you sooner."
Pikachu folded his paws, proud of himself. "Maybe next time, you will."
"Well, I'm glad that's over." Brock descended from his bunk. "Are we ready to head out? You really should eat something, Dawn."
To which, Dawn's stomach answered, loudly.
Blushing heavily, she laughed. "I… think you're right…!"
"Just for the occasion, I've prepared some pokechow, specifically for our two contestants!" Brock boasted.
"Pol! Empol!" Empoleon squawked happily. He was ready for it!
"About time! So, let's head out! You've got a Grand Festival to win!" Ash cheered, holding a hand over his head.
Dawn smirked, and smacked her hand against his. "You can count on it, Ash!"
"Thank you, everyone, for your patience!" Lilian stood beside the battlefield, microphone in hand. "After a myriad of striking performances, we've reached the final stage! Today, we'll see the crowning of a new Top Coordinator! Whoever comes out on top will receive this trophy," she gestured to a large, golden statue, with the handles melded and twisted into what appeared to be beautiful ribbons, clinging to the glimmering, decorated cup. "...as well as the title of Top Coordinator!"
Lilian gestured with her hand that held her microphone, to one end of the stage. "And, these are our contestants! On one end, Glenda, from Lilycove City!"
The grown woman, cloaked in a dark, dull blue ensemble stood, stone-faced.
"...and on the other, Dawn, from Twinleaf Town!"
On the opposite end, Dawn stood, her fists clenched at her sides. Contrary to her opponent, she bore a smirk. Her eyes bore confidence, and her stance, excitement.
"The time limit is five minutes," Lilian announced. "Now, let's get busy!"
Dawn and Glenda's faces appeared on the scoreboard above the field, with both of their point bars displayed.
"Empoleon, Togekiss!" Dawn held two pokeballs between her pointer, middle, and ring fingers, and flung them forward with practiced grace. "Spotlight!"
"Persian, Dusknoir," Glenda retalited, tossing two of her own capsules into the air. "If you'd please!"
Empoleon appeared in a flash, striking a cool pose, with one wing held in front of him like a blade, the other poised behind him, one foot in front of the other. "Empoleon!" He cried, battle-ready. The residual glimmer of his summoning reflected off his polished wings.
Togekiss appeared beside him, spanning both of her wings. One was angled towards the ground, away from Empoleon, the other held upwards, behind him. "Kiss~!" She cooed, ever jubilant. Her feathers were fluffed and vibrant, even when viewed from a distance.
Together, the two appeared symmetrical.
"Mrow!" Persian howled, craning his neck out to stretch his lithe body. The little red jewel on his forehead gleamed under the high noon sun. Grinning through his sharp fangs, he poised, his head and forelimbs low. His curled tail bundled up and snapped, alert.
A sickly grey shadow whirled into being, towering over Persian. A lone red eye leered at Empoleon and Togekiss, letting out a deep, wicked chuckle. Gargantuan ghastly hands hovered over Dusknoir's head. "Noir!"
"Come on, Dawn…" Ash leaned forward in his seat, his teeth grit painfully tight. "You've got this!"
"Pikachu…" Pikachu stood in his trainer's lap, his fans at the ready.
~C'mon, Ma!~ Rosa cheered.
"We haven't seen Dusknoir battle before," Brock mused. "It could be trouble."
All eyes were on the stage - the judges, including Marina. Ash and company. Larkspur, Ember, Ryan, and Ciara. The entire crowd, with them.
"Empoleon, Togekiss," Dawn whispered, "don't let your guard down. Stay calm, and I'll have your backs!"
"Empol!"
"Kiss!"
"Glenda could be our toughest opponent, yet… it's time to show her how strong we've gotten!"
"Now, begin!"
The clock sat at five minutes.
"Empoleon, Togekiss, let's go!" Dawn commanded. "Use Whirlpool, and Air Slash!"
Togekiss promptly soared over Empoleon, allowing him room to work.
Empoleon threw his wings over his head with a cry, summoning a rushing spiral of water, collecting into a foaming, glimmering Whirlpool.
Togekiss twirled her wing around, whipping up a fierce air current that she promptly tossed into Whirlpool. A beautiful, howling wind unraveled at the hand of the waves, cutting through them with a vengeful air current. Whirlpool began to tear at the seams, turning it into a destructive cyclone, whipping around the waves that remained. It tore across the field, approaching Persian and Dusknoir.
"What a start on Dawn's part! Beautiful, and powerful!"
Glenda's points took a small dive.
"A worthy start," Glenda remarked, "Persian, Helping Hand. Dusknoir, Will-o-Wisp."
Dusknoir hovered over Persian, waving and gesturing his large hands about, as if conjuring a wicked incantation. Two blue flames came to be, each the size of Dusknoir's hands.
Persian stood on his hind legs, extending his claws. With a hiss, he slashed through each Will-o-Wisp, making the flames snap and reform in a wild dance.
Empoleon and Togekiss' combination subsequently swallowed their foes.
"What now!? Did Persian and Dusknoir take too long to counter-attack!?"
Dawn stared at the results intently. "Did we get them?"
Glimmers of blue shone from within breaks in the cyclone, breaking through its walls. Rushing water began to burst into eerie blue miss, and the vicious path of wind began to waver and wobble.
Whirlpool broke apart, leaving little more than a twisting, residual wind around Persian and Dusknoir. Will-o-Wisp spun around the two, letting off dying embers that scattered into the wind.
"Now, Nasty Plot," Glenda continued.
"Nyah!" Persian sat up, with its chinned turned upward. Surrounded by Will-o-Wisp, he was bathed in an ominous blue glow. Leering at Empoleon and Togekiss, he grinned, scheming wicked tactics. His special attack sharply increased.
Dawn's points shot down, hanging a bit below Glenda's.
"How ominous! Glenda staves off Dawn's combination, with her pokemon no worse for wear!"
"No way!" Dawn stared in astonishment.
"Ohhh, and that combination was so ferocious, too!" Misty lamented. "Air and water, together…."
"That was clever," Brock mused. "Using a fire type move against a water combination like that was risky, but it clearly paid off. Glenda's pokemon came off quite intimidating for their efforts."
~Talk about creepy,~ Rosa shuddered.
Dusknoir held his hands outward, launching the two wicked blue flames towards Dawn's pokemon.
"Empoleon, use Swords Dance!" Dawn ordered. "Togekiss, use Safeguard!"
"Kiss!" Togekiss pulled back from above Empoleon, raising both of her wings above her head. "Toge~!" She sang, turning into a graceful pirouette in time with her descent. A reassuring wave of emerald bathed Dawn's end of the field, basking herself and Empoleon in a protective aura.
Togekiss finished by landing behind Empoleon, touching each of her wings to the field beside her.
Empoleon stood tall in the face of the flames, emboldened by his partner's generous protection. "Empol!" He raised one of his wings, and slashed into the first wave of Will-o-Wisp. Spinning around, he sliced with his opposite wing, working himself into a primal, artful dance. Cool, steel wings ran through harmful heat, tearing the flames asunder. Spiteful sparks and embers rained onto his feathers and armor, staved off by Safeguard's glow.
Will-o-Wisp was cut down by Swords Dance, the blue flames cast aside by Empoleon and Togekiss' teamwork.
"Pol!" Empoleon cried, singing the tune of his boosted attack power to the stadium at large.
Glenda's points dropped sharply, to three quarters of her full score.
"That was awesome, Dawn!" Ash cheered, throwing a fist in the air.
"I love it!" Misty squealed, clasping her fingers together in admiration. "Empoleon and Togekiss… Togekiss is like powerful, but fragile royalty, and Empoleon, a brave knight fighting in her stead!"
"Good job, you two!" Dawn praised. 'Now, we'll just have to keep this up…' She looked across the stage, studying Glenda's expression.
"Hm." Glenda gestured forward. "Dusknoir, please use Disable on Togekiss!"
Dusknoir let out a low groan in reply, his obscured red eye lighting up a bright blue.
"Kiss?" Togekiss found herself shining the same shade of blue, inspecting her wings. She felt an odd mental block that she couldn't shake.
"Pol!?" Empoleon looked back to his ally, looking her over with concern.
"Stay focused, you two!" Dawn reassured. "That won't be enough to stop us!" She frowned, eyeing Dusknoir. 'Now, we'll have to watch out for that Will-o-Wisp…'
"Well, that didn't bag Glenda any points," Ash noted. "You think she's just trying to psyche Dawn out?"
"I don't think so," Brock shook his head. "That might be a bonus for her, but without Safeguard, Dawn's down a support move. And, once Safeguard wears off…"
"If they're going to play it subtle, then we'll just use that time to shine!" Dawn proclaimed, gesturing forward dramatically. "Togekiss, use Fire Blast, on Dusknoir!"
"Kiss!" Togekiss took to the air, flying towards the specter. With a howl, she gathered her power, spitting out a roaring, blazing star, glimmering with a beautiful spectrum of reds and oranges..
Glenda's points took a slight hit for its beauty.
"Persian, Helping Hand," Glenda called. "Dusknoir, use Hex!"
Persian emitted a golden glow, raising his paws to lend Dusknoir strength.
"Empoleon, Steel Wing!" Dawn countered.
"Pol!" Empoleon charged in, slashing at Persian with a wing, coated in a polished, lustrous silver. The attack knocked Persian aside, putting an end to his assistance.
Glenda's points dropped a bit, again.
Explosive heat caught the attention of Dawn, and spectators alike.
Before Togekiss, Fire Blast's wrath rearranged, recklessly raining sparks and heat. Crackling flames took the shape of a large, glowering eye.
"Kiss!?' Togekiss screeched, lurching back in fright.
"My goodness! Glenda and her pokemon don't disappoint! I don't know what that is, but it makes Dusknoir look absolutely terrifying!"
Dawn swallowed thickly, watching her score drop to two thirds."Togekiss," she called out, "get some distance!"
"Grab it, with Shadow Punch!"
The pupil of Hex's flames parted to let a ghoulish hand pass through. Togekiss fled from the frightening sight, but failed to escape Dusknoir's mighty grip. Shadow Punch squeezed tightly around the Jubilee pokemon, trapping her in its clutches.
"Togekiss!" Dawn called out in horror.
"Kiss! Togekiss!" Togekiss cried, wriggling around to free herself. With her wings pinned to her side, though, she was helpless.
"Empol!" Empoleon looked towards the commotion, grimacing. How dare they trap Togekiss!?
"Togekiss can't move at all! Things are looking bad for Dawn, right now!"
Dawn's points took another hit.
"Glenda's really good," Ash commended. "I don't wanna admit it, but Dawn's in trouble, here. She only has Empoleon to battle with, right now!"
"It's up to you, Empoleon!" Dawn shouted, throwing a hand out towards Dusclops. "Whirlpool!"
"Pol!" Empoleon cried to the skies, raising his wings above his head. Wild waters were conjured up, collecting into a rushing, glimmering Whirlpool. It grew in size, even, ideal for wholloping Dusknoir. "I've got you now!"
"Persian," Glenda interjected, "Power Gem!"
Persian dug his claws into the field, and howled. The small ruby atop his head shone, and let an incredible burst loose. Persian recoiled in the wake of a huge, red, glimmering beam of energy.
Empoleon threw his wings forward, launching Whirlpool at Dusknoir.
A blinding red burst crashed into Whirlpool, twisting into its waves. The spinning current lit a beautiful prism of reds and pinks, before bursting into glittering red mist.
"How gorgeous! Power Gem has totally neutralized Whirlpool, and it looked dazzling, to boot!"
Dawn grimaced, as her points dipped again. 'So, we'll have to deal with Persian, before we can get to Togekiss…!' She looked to Empoleon, making eye contact with him. She smirked, and nodded. If anyone could handle this, it was Empoleon! "Let's go, Empoleon!"
"Empol!" Empoleon nodded dutifully, and charged towards Persian. It was time for that nasty cat to get knocked down a peg or two!
"This contest battle feels like it came right out of a fairy tale!" Misty swooned. "Dusknoir is controlling the fray, like a powerful warlock! And, Persian's backing it up and disrupting Empoleon, like a nasty rogue sidekick!"
"Who's side are you on!?" Ash snapped, punching the air, once more. "If Dawn wants to take back the lead, she'll have to turn this over, and fast!"
"Duh," Misty replied. "Empoleon's still playing the role of a valiant knight, rescuing his majesty… and an audience can always root for a valiant underdog!"
"Persian, Power Gem!" Glenda commanded.
Persian howled, lowering his head to fire a ruby-colored burst at Empoleon.
Dawn grinned, and gestured outward. "Counter that, with Steel Wing!"
Empoleon lunged towards the blast, preparing a backhanded slice of his wing. Beautiful steel covered the extremity, reflecting the colorful influence of Power Gem. He struck into the blast, cutting it down the middle.
"Dusknoir," Glenda countered, "please use Disable!"
"What!?" Dawn jerked her head towards Glenda.
With Togekiss still helpless in the aptly named Gripper pokemon's clutches, Dusknoir glared at Empoleon, his red eye shining blue.
Empoleon suddenly felt a jarring numbness in his head, his mind seemingly blank. Or, at least the part of his psyche that had told his body to use the move he was executing.
Steel Wing died away, leaving Empoleon's wing unprotected.
How was he supposed to do that, again!?
A thunderous explosion rocked Empoleon, sending him tumbling across the battlefield. He landed on all fours, disoriented. Power Gem had nailed him.
"Ouch! With Steel Wing Disabled, Empoleon's brave charge was completely nullified, leaving him helpless to take on Power Gem! Dusknoir and Persian are quickly cornering their opponents, with their sneaky tactics!"
Dawn's points dipped again.
"Empoleon…!" Dawn looked between her two pokemon in horror. Empoleon was without one of his moves, and Togekiss couldn't move at all… 'There's got to be something I can do, from here! Think, Dawn, think!'
"That's enough, Dusknoir."
Dawn snapped to attention, quirking a brow at Glenda. "What do you mean, 'that's enough?'"
Dusknoir's lone, obscured eye turned back to Glenda, seemingly acknowledging her. He released his fist, willing Shadow Punch to toss Togekiss towards the ground.
The Jubilee pokemon was plummeting quickly. Dawn gestured to her pokemon in peril. "Empoleon, catch her!"
Empoleon pushed himself to his feet, and leapt.
Ash jumped out of his seat, his eyes going wide in horror. "Dawn, no!"
Empoleon had moved with enough urgency to jump just beneath his disoriented comrade. She was flapping her wings, attempting to reassert herself. But, there was no way she'd do so in time.
Dutifully, the penguin snatched the larger pokemon into his wings.
"Will-o-Wisp!"
"Dusknoir!" Dusknoir held both of his hands outward, and fired a malicious indigo blaze.
Dawn gasped.
Empoleon and Togekiss alike, were seared.
In the wake of the harsh flames, both pokemon dropped to the center of the field in a heap.
"Togekiss, Empoleon!" Dawn called out, clenching her fists entirely too tight. "Are you alright!?"
"Empol…" Empoleon groaned, shaking his head. What a nasty trick…! He'd show those sneaky villains a thing or two! He couldn't fold, with the Grand Festival, on the line!
"Toge…" Togekiss shook her feathers out, and stood. She'd been made a fool of, quite long enough!
Both pokemon had righted themselves, and suddenly erupted in flames.
"They're burned…!" Dawn grit her teeth.
"Ouch! Talk about adding insult to injury! Or perhaps, the reverse!? Dawn was lured right into a trap, and both of her pokemon have fallen from grace, with a burn status to boot! Things are looking awfully sloppy, in the face of Glenda's trickery. Does she have what it takes to turn this around!?"
Dawn dared to look at the scoreboard. Glenda's points rested at about two thirds of her full score.
Dawn's own had fallen just under half. Two minutes and fifty seconds were left on the clock.
Her opponent stood, calm and poised. Upon a glance, she was staring down Dawn.
'I know she's hoping for better, from us…. And I know we can do better!' Dawn exhaled heavily, and sized up the field. Dusknoir and Persian had regrouped.
With these odds, would her best efforts be enough?
