Season: So... before you ask, I kinda had to go back and erase chapter 29 and do it again because it wasn't exactly /right./ Don't post something without good research first. The Grand Festival is IN Kanto. For those of you who read the previous chapter 29 I'm sorry for the confusion this will cause. Please enjoy and accept my sincere apology. Basically they're on the way to the grand festival/will get there. I also added snippets of what I had from what was originally supposed to be chapter 30. I guess you can say this is a double chapter?
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Stupidity Does Not Earn You Heaven
by: Season Of Magic
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"Mom! Mom! Mom!"
Dawn was woken up from a dream about something or other by Brianna shaking the bed.
"Hnngg?" Was her reply as she rubbed her eyes and rolled over to the other side. She pulled the covers back up and snuggled deeper into the bed.
"No you can't go back to sleep mom. We'll be late come on!"
"It's my day off you parrot, come back in one more hour."
"In one hour we'll be alone and deserted." Brianna couldn't help but remind her. Drastic times called for drastic measures so she jumped into the bed and pulled the covers off her mother. "Festival day is today." She reminded her mom.
At that, Dawn fully woke up. "Ash's competition!" She stood up in the bed. "We're supposed to leave at six!"
"And since it takes me fifteen mins to wake you up and then half an hour just for you to get ready..." Brianna said as she pointed to her poketch which shone the hour '4:30AM.' "You're welcome mom."
"I'm not even going to ask why you're up and awake so early." Dawn said as she grabbed a scrunchie and placed her hair in a bun. "Let's just get ready, I'll let you shower first."
Brianna hopped down the bed and fixed her attire. She was wearing a knee-length blue dress that Ash has gotten for her just for the occasion as an apology for being gone so long during training. Her hair was tied neatly into a ponytail with a blue and yellow ribbon, and she was wearing black shoes with yellow stripes.
"Well, you're the responsible one." Dawn said as she too got up from bed. "I guess it's my turn to get ready."
"Remember to wear the dress Ash got for you."
Brianna was happily munching on a piece of toast, drinking juice from a cup as May arrived into the kitchen and quickly turned on the coffee machine.
"Caffeine... I'm dying here."
"Tea would be better you do know that right?" Brianna stated as she kept drinking her juice.
"Bad decisions are meant to be made." May say as she stared at the machine, as if urging it to brew faster."Don't tell Dawn I taught you that."
Ash came in eating a granola bar. "Munchkin, please tell me that you guys have the cookie cereal brand we both like."
Brianna raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "All out, sorry. Mom didn't have time to go shopping and May wasn't here the past week."
"But I need sugar!"
"That granola seems like a better option."
"This was all we had!" Ash groaned as he sat on the island in despair.
"You two need to calm down." Brianna couldn't help but utter. She walked to the refrigerator and looked inside. She tossed Ash a couple banana and strawberries along with a gallon of milk. "Here make a milkshake."
"Let me guess; concentration anxiety?" Dawn said as she walked into the kitchen. She was wearing a sparkly shimmering blue dress identical to the one Brianna was wearing. It had been the one Ash got for her as forgiveness for being gone almost all month. She shook her head towards the ingredients Brianna had chosen. "A milkshake isn't a good idea considering they're likely to not keep anything liquid down if they're like this."
She unplugged the coffee machine and May couldn't help but stare in despair. "MY PRECIOUS!"
Dawn tossed her a granola bar from the pantry. "Looks like Ash had the best idea out of you two." She smiled softly, "Seriously are you going to be okay?"
"I would be if you'd let me have my fix." May stated as she watched the machine that had enough coffee for a cup and a little more but Dawn kept staring everytime she attempted to take some.
"I'm comfy where I am, I don't want to get up." Was all Ash uttered, "like ever."
Dawn laughed lightly as she wrapped her arms around Ash. "You'll be fine." She said. "Breathe."
"If you losers aren't ready yet I'm leaving you all!" Gary yelled from the living room. He tossed his bag to the couch because the front door had other bags next to it and kept walking. "There better be coffee."
Dawn kissed Ash's cheek and grabbed a clean cup from the dishwasher. "We heard you grumpy grinch." She said as she began to pour the liquid gold from the machine.
May glared in utter betrayal. "I'm never forgetting this."
Dawn laughed. "You'll thank me later." She said as she went to give Gary the cup.
"Is that coffee? Because if that is, I can almost say thank you." Gary said as he saw Dawn coming towards him and offering him the cup. He decided to go back to the living room and sat down in the couch next to his bag.
"Happy to help Mr-Grinch." Dawn said as she twirled back towards Ash. Her dress flowed behind her.
May took the opportunity and had taken a cup and had filled it with the bit of coffee left in the machine before Dawn saw it. She was currently drinking it and in heaven. "Best decision ever." She said in happiness.
Dawn simply sighed as she grabbed two slices of bread from the refrigerator and placed them into the toaster. "Just know that I'm going to be saying 'I-told-you-so' later no matter how much you may not want me to." She said to May.
"If I say how beautiful you look in that dress will you forgive me?" May said as she batted her lashes and winked.
"Stop flirting with my girlfriend." Ash stated from his side of the table. "Especially when I haven't complimented her yet."
"That's what best friends are for." May said.
"Best friends are meant to pay attention when you tell them something." Dawn replies back.
"Exactly. Like you haven't commented me back on my you look pretty comment."
"Because I am not asking for forgiveness compliments."
Ash grinned. "Well I think you look lovely." He leaned forwards with his Poketch to take a picture.
"Thank you Ash!" Dawn said as she twirled and winked when she saw what he was doing.
"I helped pick the dress!" May uttered.
"Ash did a great job."
"Stop ignoring me..." May grumbled.
Gary and Tracey walked into the kitchen at that moment.
"Hello everyone I'm glad to see you're all actually awake." Tracey stated. "But if you guys don't stop arguing we'll be late." He said as he watched from the kitchen door.
Gary whistled. "Hop into the van now or we'll leave you."
Ash stared. "You do remember I'm the one driving right?"
"I don't trust you'll take us to the Indigo Plateau in one piece." Gary stated.
"And I don't trust you to drive my van."
"Ash took us safely to the Viridian Forest, so I trust he can take us safely to this place too." Tracey said.
"Thank you Trace!"
"You're welcome Ash." He replied. "We really should be heading off."
"He's right." Brianna said as she stared at her poketch. '5:40' it was highlighting.
May finished her half cup of coffee and set the cup down on the dishwasher. "I'm ready."
Dawn wrapped her two slices of bread along with some cheese into a bag and nodded. "Me too."
"Great let's go!" Ash said. "I'll go place all our bags into the van."
May grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a drawer and passed it along to Ash. "Don't forget this."
"And you people say I'll be the one to corrupt the child." Gary said shaking his head.
"You're all corrupting yourselves." Brianna couldn't help but say as she went to grab her purse. "I recommend you all take some sort of stomach medicine instead. Or our lunch, which you all seem to be forgetting."
"Our food!" Dawn said as she took a basket out the refrigerator.
"I don't think I'm awake enough to go on this trip..." Gary couldn't help but mumble.
"You can sleep on the way, let's go!" May said as she pushed him off the kitchen.
"I can walk just fine!"
"Guys hurry up." Brianna said from the front door.
"Hold your horseas you parrot." May stated.
They had all finally made their way out the house.
"Everyone here?" Dawn asked as she took out her key ready to close the door.
"Whoever isn't here say I!" Ash said.
"If I say I, can I go back inside the house?" Gary couldn't help but utter.
"Nooooope!"
"Then we're all here let's get this stupid trip on a roll."
"You'd think you'd be more excited to go to the Indigo Plateau."
"Who says I want to see stupid Pokémon performances?" Gary said, wanting to roll his eyes.
"You can learn something from them." Tracey stated.
"Flips, twirls and bowing," Gary said in a high pitched voice, "exciting." He added sarcastically.
"That's a great enthusiasm you got there." May said.
"Yeah, I could feel it from up here." Dawn agreed.
Gary sighed. "Spare me, Arceus! Why do I torture myself this way?" Gary couldn't help but utter as he buckled himself for safety inside Ash's van.
"It's because deep down you like these trips." Brianna stated as she took the seat beside him.
"Nope, nope, nope!" Gary said as he gently pushed her to the seat furthest from him. "You're not going to be my seat mate."
"Talk about being rude." Brianna sighed, and with a pout sat on the other windowsill.
"Seriously, who's the child here?" May couldn't help but shake her head as she took the seat beside Brianna.
Tracey silently hopped in and buckled himself in the usual seat. Not saying a word he took out his sketch pad.
"I guess we're all ready to hit the road?" Ash said as he opened the driver's assistant seat for Dawn and helped her up.
"Yes!" Brianna chirped.
Ash winked as he buckled Dawn's seatbelt and closed the door. He walked to the driver's side and hopped in. "Onwards to the Indigo Plateau then!"
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Gary asked for the umpteenth time.
"Yes, mom." Ash replied as he drove past a welcome sign. "See? We're already in Viridian City!"
"We're not stopping to see the stupid forest again." Gary said.
"Wasn't even thinking about it you drama queen." Ash replied back.
"We can stop on the way back." May replied. She enjoyed messing with Gary, even if it was just a tiny bit.
"Well... we should have enough time to stop at the forest for a couple of minutes right now... We do have to eat our lunch." Ash murmured out loud. "Do you want to fish, Bri?"
"Yes!" She chirped.
Ash grinned. "Great. We'll catch a couple magikarps, take a couple pics and be on the road again. Maybe we can leave Gary there too."
"I heard that!" Gary muttered. "Actually that's not a bad idea maybe I'll stay in the forest after all."
Dawn simply shook her head at them. "Seriously I'll never understand your arguing."
"They've been like this since they were ten." Tracey couldn't help but state as he looked up from his sketch pad. "Something about Gary taking Ash's Pokemon or something?"
"He was the one who overslept." Gary grumbled. "Not my fault I took Squirtle."
"I'm not even mad about that anymore." Ash replied as he kept his eyes on the road. "Me and Pikachu have been the bestest of buddies."
"Pikachu was your starter?" Brianna asked as she leaned into the driver seat and peeked at Ash. "That's impossible."
"On most occasions yes. But professor Oak miscalculated the number of trainers and he'd given all the starters away by the time I got there." Ash couldn't help but laugh at the memory. "Pikachu was the only remaining option."
"See? Not my fault you overslept." Gary said with crossed arms.
"And it's not my fault you actually live there and got to choose the one you wanted."
"You've always lived in Oak lab?" Brianna asked.
"I grew up with my grandfather and after I stopped being a trainer and decided I wanted to be a researcher instead I trained under my grandfather, so yeah?"
"That's pretty cool! Does that mean you'll be the one to give me my first pokemon?"
"Me or Tracey. He co-owns the lab with me."
"They also have a couple in other regions as well!" Ash replied. "I admit it is pretty cool."
"They get along when they want to, they just choose not to." Tracey replied with a smile.
"We do not!" Both Gary and Ash stated.
They had stopped at the forest's safe zone and had eaten lunch, then Ash and Brianna went fishing. They took pictures and were on their away again.
Gary had grumpily been the last one to board the van and was on a sour mood because Ash had locked it as to not let him in.
Ash was laughing too much and was sticking out his tongue and nearly crashed into a pole because he was glancing away from the road.
"Great job genius."
"You started it!"
"Should I drive?" Dawn asked concerned.
"Nah, we're almost at the checkpoint gate anyways." Ash said.
"If we get there in one piece." Gary retaliated as he crossed his arms.
"I'm about to turn back and dunk you into the lake." Ash said.
"I dare you."
Tracey almost broke his pencil. "Okay you two, ENOUGH!"
"..." Both Gary and Ash remained silent.
"Good. We're almost at the victory road checkpoint then we can rest our legs again before we reach the plateau so just behave until then." Tracey stated.
"He started it!" Both Ash and Gary said.
"I don't care whostarted it, I'm ending this. One more word out of you two and I'm throwing this pencil at the first one who talks."
May couldn't help but laugh. "Ha ha! Grouuuuunded!" Tracey glared at her. "Okay I'm shutting up too."
They had parked the van near the checkpoint entrance and had walked with their stuff into the checkpoint.
A security guard stopped them. "Halt! Trainers are not allowed to pass."
"Not this again... Look, we're not going to challenge the elite four or the champion..." Ash couldn't help but sigh. "I already beat them anyways." He added, more to himself than to anyone else.
"We're here for the Kanto Grand Festival." May said as she showed the guard her ribbon case.
The guard coughed. "Right, right, sorry for the misunderstanding. Just doing my job."
"We understand, thank you." May smiled.
"Just go right though until you reach the middle—"
"—and go north." Ash interrupted, "I know my way around thanks. Let's go guys."
"Ash! Don't be so rude." May said shaking her head in disbelief.
"I don't know him." Gary said as he slowed down his pace. "You idiotic moron!" He was murmuring.
"Wow this place has not changed a bit. Don't you think so Gary?" Ash said as he stared around.
"I'll pretend I don't know who you're talking to." Gary mumbled as he caught up with the group. It hadn't been that long a walk.
Brianna was in awe quickly taking pictures and Dawn simply glanced around.
"I like the design." Dawn nodded her approval.
"Come on, up we go."
"Nope hold it right there." Another guard stopped them.
Ash sighed. "Now what?"
"There are no elite four challenges allowed today."
"We know..." Ash groaned. "We're here to go to the indigo plateau."
"He's competing in the grand festival." Dawn piped in.
"You don't look like a coordinator." The guard simply said.
"I'm a beginner." Ash replied as he showed him his badge case.
"Okay you're clear." The guard said nodding. "Who else is competing? We need to give you the correct passes."
"Two contestants, a guest and three spectators." May sounded off the list.
"Ahuh..." The guard wrote this all down in his desk at the computer. "Normally you would have to go through Victory Road but since it's the grand festival you just go through route 23 over here to the west and you'll find your way to the plateau. You're a bit early, the opening ceremony doesn't start until five."
"We know," Brianna said, "but the early bird gets the worm!"
"She meant to say we get better seats this way." Tracey stated.
"Anyways, there's a center inside the plateau if you are looking to staying the night." The guard grumbled as he gave everyone their passes.
"Thank you." May said once again as she ushered everyone to follow her along.
Dawn was fighting a bout of nerves as she, Brianna, Ash and their friends made it to the indigo plateau. She still didn't know what to expect, or what exactly she was going to be doing as she didn't necessarily go collecting the ribbons needed to participate in the grand festival. Her nerves calmed down as she spotted two familiar faces. Brianna instantly unlinked her hands from Ash and Dawn's and ran up to them.
"Wow, I've been replaced already." Ash said laughing. "... Wait, who are they?" He asked concerned. They didn't seem familiar.
There was a woman that had vermillion hair that was about shoulder length, with red eyes to match. There also was a male with side swept auburn hair and black eyes.
"They're our friends." Dawn smiled softly as she too walked up to the two. "Hi guys it's been forever." She said to them.
"They're Zoey and Kenny, who used to be coordinators from Sinnoh." May replied. "I gave you a rundown on the people who are competing just last week did you forget already!?"
"They weren't on the list, or maybe I didn't even check it out at all." Ash said sheepishly. He did know who they were, just not by face because they had grown up and the the only contests he had seen were re-runs Dawn had been on.
"What am I going to do with you?" May said with a sigh.
"Dee-Dee why does your munchkin still insist on tackling me to death?" Kenny said as if he was annoyed by the fact that Brianna wouldn't stop clinging to him.
Dawn laughed. "Because you insist on acting as if you hate it." She merely replied as she looked at Zoey. "I think it's your turn next." She said.
"I'm always ready." Zoey stated as she stretched her hands out to her, and Brianna instantly tackled her.
"Zoey! I've missed you, thank you so much for my Christmas gifts the bows were adorable."
"I've missed you too my favorite godchild." Zoey replied as she hugged Brianna tightly.
Brianna laughed. "I'm your only godchild."
"If I had any others, you'd still be my favorite."
"Guys I don't want to interrupt this reunion, but we got to get going if we're going to register in time." May said as she glanced to her Poketch.
"No worries May, you're already registered." Kenny stated.
May blinked. "Eh?"
"You're forgetting we're the judges," Zoey stated. "So when you contacted us about Dawn's surprise, you told us you and Ash were competing, we kinda registered you into the competition."
May sighed in relief. "Well, that's one less thing to worry about then."
Kenny winked. "What can we say? You got connections."
May grinned. "Thanks!"
"Okay so we're registered." Ash said as he looked around. "Now what?"
"You have to introduce yourself silly!" Dawn said. "They know me and Brianna but they don't know you guys."
"You know, I should have really stayed home." Gary said as he walked up to them with crossed arms.
Tracey followed him, eating a ice cream cone. "We're here for moral support remember?"
May shook her head. "Ah, right you know me because I was a coordinator, but these here," she pointed to Ash, Tracey and Gary, "Are our friends."
"Hi, I'm Ash!" Ash said as he waved. "I'm sorry I didn't recognize you earlier Zoey. Your hair is longer than it was before."
"That's fine." Zoey said with a wave of her hand. "I'm Zoey nice to meet you."
"I'm Kenny!" Kenny stated.
"Gary." Was all Gary said.
"Hello I'm Tracey."
"Are you all competing?" Zoey asked curiously.
"Wouldn't even try." Gary replied.
"He's a pokemon researcher." May said. "And so is Tracey."
"This will be my first official competition." Ash stated.
Dawn couldn't help but laugh. "They're all official, even the ones you competed in just to be able to participate in this one."
Brianna nodded. "It's like collecting the badges to be able to battle the elite four." She said as if she was slightly offended, which she wasn't.
"Okay I'm sorry." Ash said with raised arms.
Brianna tackled him. "Apology accepted, but only if you buy me and mommy cotton candy."
Dawn smiled. "You heard her Ash, you have to buy us cotton candy for offending our job."
He wrapped an arm around Dawn and brought her closer to him. "Well... I supposeI can buy my two lovely girls some cotton candy."
"Daaaaawn!" Zoey squealed. "You didn't tell me you were dating someone? And a total hottie at that!"
Dawn and Ash both blushed.
"Well, because..." Dawn muttered as she struggled to find words.
"Because she wanted to see your expression in person." Ash said.
"You two can't cease to make me want to gag anywhere I go can you?" Gary asked as he made a puking noise.
Tracey simply laughed. "It's actually quite adorable."
"Wow Dee-Dee you have a boyfriend and didn't dare tell your best friend?" Kenny gasped. "I'd be mad but I can't stay mad at you."
Dawn hid her face in Ash's sweater. "Kenny! Stop with that horrible nickname we're not kids anymore."
Kenny laughed. "See? Not mad one bit."
Ash blinked. "Eh?" Was all he said as he wrapped his arm tighter around Dawn.
Zoey giggled at that. "They're childhood friends, you don't have anything to worry about."
"Besides," Kenny wrapped an arm around Zoey. "We're kind of a thing too. SURPRISE DEE-DEE!"
Dawn unhid and glanced from Zoey to Kenny. "What!?"
"Well, when you moved I was just so lonely..." Zoey couldn't help but exaggerate.
"This is betrayal to the fifth degree." Dawn stated.
"Ha! I'm not the only one being betrayed today." May said. "I win."
"I don't think it's a competition." Tracey stated.
"Oh but it is." Brianna chirped happily. "You owe me a stuffed animal." She said to Dawn.
"She bet they'd get together before a year was up when me moved.." Dawn stated. "I didn't want to believe her."
"I can't believe you'd bet on your own godparents you evil, evil munchkin." Kenny said.
Brianna shrugged. "You're perfect for each other."
Kenny sighed but then smiled. "That's true."
Zoey grinned. "We definitely have to go on a double date before we have to go back to Sinnoh."
"Can we focus on my cotton candy first?" Brianna asked.
"Lead the way." Ash replied.