[-]
Stupidity Does Not Earn You Heaven
by: Season Of Magic
{-}
"Welcome to Brianna's birthday committee, sans various members because we want this to be a surprise." Ash said as he walked around his living room, pen and notepad at hand.
May shook her head in disbelief at Ash. "It's literally us two."
"That's why I said sans various members."
"I'm surprised you even know what sans means."
"Trust me, me too." Ash said. "But that's beside the point, this is the first of, hopefully many, birthdays that I will get to share with Brianna and I want to make it the best."
May clapped her hands. "Wheee! Birthday!"
"Anyways, Brianna's birthday is in a month and I have to come up with something that will be amazing." Ash said and May coughed at the 'I' part. "Sorry, Sorry, I mean us... Mainly me. Any ideas?"
May nodded. "Yep."
"I'm listening." Ash said.
May grinned. "I definitely know just the thing, and we'd be killing a bird with two stones. Three if you count that this is something I've actually wanted you to do for nearly a decade."
"Hold it. We've been through this May. Whatever you say to me, it won't convince me to wear a dress." Ash said as he placed the notepad down and crossed his arms.
"It's definitely not that, Ashley." May said as she tried to hide her snickers.
"What can it possibly be then?"
"A pokemon contest duh." May simply said. "Remember, Dawn hasn't been a coordinator since before Bri was born which means...?" She paused for effect.
"Bri hasn't actually seen Dawn perform live, and it's something she's obviously been wanting to see since she is her inspiration." Ash stated. Then he rose up from his chair. "And if Dawn performs in contests again she can easily retake her place as one of the best coordinators from Sinnoh. Hence killing a bird with two stones."
"Bingo." May winked.
"She can go back to being on the limelight and take back what rightfully belongs to her." Ash exclaimed.
"Now you're talking."
"She can do something she loves again, even if it's a hobby." Ash continued.
"We've got a winner!" May stated as she clapped her hands.
Ash frowned a bit. "... She's going to hate us isn't she?"
"Probably." May nodded grimly.
"I can't believe you put me up to this. Why did I agree!?"
"Because we're doing this for your girlfriend so suck it up and smile!"
"I look ridiculous in this hat." Ash said as he gave May an unenthusiastic peace sign for a photo.
CLICK! "Perfect."
"This better work..." Ash said with a sigh.
The weeks rolled by, and things went relatively back to normal. As much as it could, with Ash and May traveling around the entire Kanto region together during the weekends without explaining the reason why to anyone.
After a month, they gathered everyone into Dawn's living room.
"So, we have a surprise." May said.
"Really?" Dawn said, pretending to be shocked. "I wouldn't have known, what with you practically taking my boyfriend away." She attempted to roll her eyes for effect.
"Oh don't be jealous, he was practically gushing about you." May stated. "Ash, tell Dawn how much you wouldn't shut up about her and Bri."
"Gaaaaaary! I miss them so much, I'm doing this for their sake and it's going to be amazing but I can't wait to be in Dawn's loving arms again. May is practically torturing me." Gary recited, imitating Ash.
"THAT WAS A PRIVATE CONVO BETWEEN US YOU TALKER!" Ash stated as if annoyed. "I can't believe you'd betray our friendship that way!"
"What? I'm mainly supporting May's statement that you wouldn't, in fact, shut up about your girls. And we don't have a friendship."
Dawn giggled. "That's kinda cute."
"Still doesn't stop the fact that they abandoned us for an entire month." Brianna said pouting.
"Well, you're not going to get rid of us that easily so pack your bags because we're going on a trip!" May said.
"Ohhh no, I am NOT going anywhere else with you lot." Gary said,
May waved her hand. "You don't have to for this one because where we're going... you're not needed."
Gary pretended to be wounded. "Wow that kind of hurt."
"Where are we going?" Brianna asked curiously.
"It was supposed to be kept a secret but... —" May began to say but As interrupted. "We're going to the Indigo Plateau!" Ash stated.
Dawn, Brianna, Gary and Tracey stared in disbelief. "What?" They all said together.
"Isn't that where you challenge the elite four?" Brianna couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, and no." Ash replied. "It's also used for something else."
"Kanto's Grand Festival!" May said. "I participated in both the Hoenn and Kanto one when I was young and guess what? I'm doing it again!"
"So am I!" Ash said grinning. "I mean this will be my first own competing... But still."
"You're coming along as our guests." May said, "Except for Dawn, we already have bigger plans for her."
Dawn blinked in utter disbelief. "You're participating in the grand festival? You're not a coordinator Ash..."
Ash shook his head. "I wasn't." He took out his ribbon case and showed Dawn all six of Kanto's ribbons. "But now I am."
"That's great!" Brianna squealed as she hugged Ash. "I'll be rooting for you dad."
"Hey, I'm participating too you know." May said.
"Shush, you're a veteran in this I have to support the rookies plus he's my dad." Brianna stated.
"May turned my boyfriend into a coordinator." Dawn said, mouth agape as she finally registered what was being said.
"That I did!" May replied proudly. "It was a hard month but he's a natural."
"You didn't make me do anything." Ash stated with his arms crossed. "It's part one of many of Brianna's birthday surprises."
Brianna's eyes sparkled, and she ran to Ash to hug him. "You did this for me? Really?"
Ash blushed and looked away shyly. "Y...yeah..."
Brianna squealed. "Thank youuuuuu!"
"I just thought that since you looked up to your mom, I want you to look up to me as well..." Ash mumbled quietly, but Brianna still heard him.
"Who says I don't look up to you? You're my dad." Brianna hugged him tighter. "My one and only papa."
Ash's face was full of tears. So was Dawn's and everyone else's in the room.
"And that's why I think you need to consider doing contests again." May whispered to Dawn.
Dawn's face went completely pale. "May...!"
May ushered Dawn away from their friends for a bit. "Dawn, it's been eight years. In that time you have helped so many women find what their passion is, even motivated them to chase their dreams. Don't you think it's about time that you start chasing yours too?"
Dawn sat down in a chair. "May, you know the story, I don't do contests anymore for a reason."
May sighed. "And the reason is completely idiotic. Brianna practically worships the ground you walk on, Ash is her role model and father figure, not Paul. He doesn't even know she exists."
"And I want to keep it that way, thank you very much." Dawn said stubbornly.
May shook her head. "Even if he did know she exists, we won't let anything happen to Bri. Ash, I and the others won't let it. Don't you think it's time you put Brianna first?"
"That's what I've been doing."
"Have you?" May said with an eyebrow raised. "Nearly every night she falls asleep watching re-runs of your previous contests, she's always talking to me about how you are the best and when she grows up she wants to be just like you."
Dawn gasped. This was the first time she was hearing this. "I knew she watched some of my stuff, but I didn't know it was this much."
May winked. "A babysitter knows all."
Dawn sighed. "I don't know if I can do that though..."
Ash placed an arm on Dawn's chair, nuzzling her head. "Sorry to eavesdrop like this, but we all know it isn't true. I live right next door, don't think me or May haven't seen you practicing with Piplup and Togekiss when you think everyone's asleep."
"We just kept our mouth shut because what you do is your business but it's time to intervene because you shouldn't keep your natural talent hidden anymore." May said.
"It's finally time you retake your crown, let us worry about everything else." Ash stated.
"You'll thank us for this." May said.
"What they said." Gary mumbled from the couch.
"It's not a secret conversation if we can all hear you." Tracey said besides Gary.
Brianna sat down next to Dawn. "They're right mommy. You've worried about me for long enough. I'm turning eight, which means in two years I'll be out exploring on my own. It's time you chased your own dreams, just like May said."
Dawn hadn't stopped crying, and the tears poured more now that she realized that her daughter was worrying about her as well. She took a deep breath. "Alright, I'll do it."
Brianna held unto Dawn's hand. "You're my mommy and I love you, Ash is my dad and I love him. You're my parents, not a person I never knew, nor want to know for that matter."
Dawn wiped away her tears with her free hand. "You're right, I'm your mommy and I've failed you. I should have never ran away and stopped doing contests. But I met Ash and everyone else because of it so it's not a decision I regret, I'd do it again in a heartbeat but it's time to show the world just who we are."
May, Ash, Brianna and Tracey all clapped their hands.
"Well said, Dawn." Tracey said.
"We're behind you one hundred percent." May replied.
"All steps of the way." Ash said.
"I'm already involved in this so I have to see it to the end." Gary said as he stood up from the couch. "Now let me go mentally prepare myself to be stuck with you guys on a road trip again."
"Awww Gar, you do love us." Ash replied gushing.
"I've never disliked someone as much as I do you Ash." Gary mumbled.
"Deep down he is a teddy bear." Ash told everyone else.
Dawn lost it and just laughed hysterically. "You two are the best."
Ash smiled brightly. "And there's the queen's beautiful pearly whites and perfect smile."
"It suits you the best mommy!" Brianna said as she hugged her.
Ash instantly wrapped his arms around them both. "I want in!"
May glanced at Tracey. "Now that's adorable." She said as she took a photo,