Ok. This is my fault, I rushed Chapter 5, and saw less interest in the new chapter. The next few chapters are gonna start some new things, and lay down groundwork while continuing the story. I appreciate all of you. The best is yet to come. Thanks to those of you still reading, I'm trying my best. I think I'm gonna stick with the battle format that I had in the last chapter at least with the smaller scale battles (YES THE POKEMON LEAGUE IS ALL IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK THAT SOME BATTLES ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE STORY). Due to this new format I'm just gonna say this for the Top 8, Ash defeats a trainer from Hoenn named Brandon, Sawyer defeats Remo, Tierno defeats Titus, Astrid defeats a trainer from Sinnoh named Lucas. The stage is set for the final four matches that will be revealed in the chapter. Also before those matches are revealed some conflict will Dawn.

Ash walked out of Lumiose stadium after another win where he hadn't needed to use more than needed. His secret weapon was still tucked away safely, always an option, but never needed. Greninja was not known about to any except Mr. Goodshow, and Serena who had also promised to keep it a secret, after Greninja had come out on his own to see her Braixen. Those two really liked each other as well, and according to Serena, Braixen had become quiet since Greninja had left.

Ash continued his walk, but unbeknownst to him he was being watched. A figure had stuck around to wait for him to leave so they could have a very long overdue talk with him. The figure began to trail him on his way back towards the tower.

Ash's aura twitched, notifying him that he was being followed. He felt to see if it was a dangerous presence, but could only feel that they were a conflicted person. He turned around to see nothing. "I know you're following me, come out and face me you coward!" He yelled confidently.

Oh Ash, always ready for a fight Dawn thought to herself as she had ducked into an alley. She'd seen him walk out of the stadium several times , but had always lost him in crowds. This was an empty street. Before she could think she walked right out into the middle of the road and continued towards him. "Dawn?"

"Come here you idiot" she said as she wrapped her old friend in a hug.

Ash hadn't seen his friend since the airport, but they hadn't really spoken in years. He hugged her back then realized he had to act like he didn't know why she was there. "What are you doing here?" he began to ask knowing full well why.

"For the contest between semi finals matches. You however have a lot of explaining to do mister. Starting with why you didn't tell me it was you at the airport." She scolded.

Fuck she knows. His brain went into panic mode. " I… uhhh…"

"Save it, tell me the truth."

"Dawn I'm in love."

Dawn was not expecting this. She never thought she would hear those words out of that boy's mouth ever. Her mind began to race about the possibilities of him being as in love with her as she was with him. Then he said something that broke her. "Her name is Serena Yvonne, she's Kalos Queen, and was the first one to show me what love is. I had to leave, and get to the best of my ability as a trainer so I could come back, and win for her."

Dawn's world broke. She just stared ahead, and then dropped to her knees. Ash instantly was at her side asking if she was ok, but she didn't hear him. All she heard was Her name is Serena Yvonne…

Ash wasn't sure what happened Dawn had just dropped to her knees with an emotionless look on her face. She then curled up in the street and began to cry. Ash was not the best in these situations. Fortunately he knew someone who was. "Staraptor, come out"

The large bird leapt from the ball then spread its wings and got low so Ash could climb on. Ash scooped up Dawn who was a relatively small girl and climbed on and told Staraptor to go to the tower.

After they landed, Ash recalled Staraptor walked inside and went to grab the one person he could think of. Serena. If anyone could help with Dawn it would be her. As soon as he walked in holding the sobbing girl he began to receive looks of confusion from his friends who he waved off and then continued searching. Then he found her. She turned and looked at him when she heard him coming. The sight she saw was not what she expected.

He was holding a sobbing blue haired girl bridal style in his arms with a worried look on his face. Serena thought she recognized the girl from somewhere, but couldn't place her finger on it. She gestured at Ash to place Dawn on her bed and then walk out onto the balcony for a quick talk about what was happening. Ash did so. "Three Questions, Who is that? Why is she crying? And why did you bring her here?"

"Ok, that's one of my old traveling companions. Her name is Dawn and we traveled to Sinnoh together."

Serena realized where she saw the girl now. In Hoenn the had been contest posters with Dawn on them she was a three time Wallace cup Champion and basically a celebrity in Hoenn and Sinnoh. If Ash was friends with her then Serena might have an idea of what might've happened. She took a deep breath. "Ok why is she crying and why's she here?" Serena asked.

"I was walking back from the stadium and she was following me but then she gave herself away, and we started talking, because when I was disguised I ran into her, and she was yelling at me for not telling her it was me, and demanded to know why."

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her the truth. That I fell in love with you and had to come back and prove myself before revealing who I was. I still think I should be in disguise sometimes. I haven't really proven…"

"Ash, I know what's wrong with her now, but how are you still so dense?"

It was more of a statement and he was smart enough to realize that, but that led to more questions. "Wait, what do you mean?"

Serena glazed back at Dawn and softened a bit. "That girl loves you Ash. You didn't know, and then told her you were in love with someone else and it shattered her."

Ash looked inside and felt an overwhelming amount of guilt. Dawn loved him and after all this time he'd never seen it. Ash thought about how dense he must've been. He could definitely remember Dawn alway being a bit coy with him, but he'd just figured it was all in good fun. Never that she loved him he just figured they were very good friends. "She loves me?"

"Yes and as someone who's in love with you and has had you be that dense around me before I know what it's like."

"Can you please talk with her for a little bit, Serena? I'm not good with crying girls in general let alone something like this," he said as Dawn continued crying inside.

"Fine, but you have to face the noise at some point and tell her its not going to happen."

"I will, I promise, and Serena just know that I love you always." He said.

Then he walked up and gave her a kiss. She shuddered as they made contact then he pulled away stared into her eyes for a few seconds then left to go think, leaving Serena with a sobbing Dawn.

She walked inside and sat next to Dawn and then began running her hand up and down her back trying to soothe her. The girl flinched at the contact, unsure of who this new person was. The conversation that they'd just had with Ash had been muffled and hushed. Not to mention the endless stream of tears coming from her. "Who.. are.. You?" she sniffled.

"I'm Serena, and your Dawn, we both love Ash Ketchum."

End Chapter 7