Another day at school and it was a strange one. Brock went to look for Kenny immediately after arriving at school. Waiting for his auburn haired teammate the aspiring doctor was in luck. He saw Kenny walking with a purpose and bags under his eyes telling he had a bad night of sleep. Dawn's rejection must've weighed a lot harder than he at first thought.

"Morning." Brock said as Kenny walked by. The auburn haired boy glared at his teammate.

"Morning. Did you tell Ash to…" Kenny wasted no time still angry at Ash for stealing Dawn. Brock stopped him from walking as he needed to have a good long talk to prevent escalation at school and someone made a fool of themselves.

"I know what you're trying to do and it won't work." Kenny walked past him without saying another word.

"What's happening?" Gary and the rest of the starters on the basketball team they wondered how it went between their teammate and his crush. Following him were Paul and Barry with the latter eager to hear it.

"She already is going with Ash."

"Want me too fine him!?" Barry took it up for his teammate.

"Or are you going to fight him? Is there a weigh in? If not I'm putting money on Ashy boy!" Gary trying to provoke a fight between Ash and Kenny to liven things up at school knowing who he'd put his money on in a fight between his class mates.

"You have a gambling problem." Paul telling him to tone it down a bit before it turns into crippling debt. Or before Ash cripples Kenny which certainly was going to happen if it went wrong. Plus Paul needed Kenny for the next game.

"Go get him! We're behind you! And if Ash doesn't want to fight I'll fine him!" Barry being more supportive of Kenny let his rashness take over his thoughts again.

"Don't encourage him!" Brock scolded Barry as he stepped in as an negotiator.

"Let's talk this out." Kenny peered over Brock's shoulder with daggers in his eyes. He was not used to seeing him so upset.

"Get Ash and we'll talk. We're not talking about this until he gets here."

"Hope Brock managed to calm him down." Ash closed his new locker door he got what he needed for class on his bag. Seeing the new student come to him he was glad to see her without a scratch as it told him it was a calm evening for her and the other two.

"Hey Zoey."

"Hey Ash."

"Like Veilstone City so far?" Having gone with May and Dawn he wondered how the new heroine liked his town.

"It's certainly bigger than I thought. It's gonna be hard to find what I'm looking for." The job was a lot harder than she expected. Finding her hometowns drug dealer would be a lot more difficult in the new city and compared to her own hometown the scale of it put her off.

"It seems big at first but you'll find your way in no time. Remember, we're here to make you feel at home."

"I already am. With friends like you and the girls I'm glad you want to help us." The redhead reasoned it could be a lot worse.

Seeing Brock come to him with a certain expression his hopes for an easy solution to him and Kenny were dashed. Being pulled out of his conversation with Zoey they'd talk about the important things later.

"You're the new student." Brock eyed the red headed girl he didn't know to well.

"Zoey. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Brock." He introduced himself copying the redhead.

"Can you maybe give us a minute?"

Ash looked back and nodded his head.

"It's fine. I'll tell you later." Zoey left in search of May and Dawn wondering what that was about.

"The look on your face tells me you didn't have much success with calming Kenny."

"No. He insists on talking to you personally." Brock told him.

"Afraid this would happen. Give me a place."

Brock somehow convinced the teachers to let him have the roof after school.

Zoey spoiled the beans to Dawn and May that Brock took Ash aside alone related to someone called Kenny. Dawn had a feeling what is was about and felt a little guilty for causing it and wanted to be part of it as they discussed things. Going to Brock later in the day he told her no as it was a matter among men. She wasn't going to give up that easy though.

"Brock said he didn't want me here but he never said anything about Umbreon."

Dawn had gone onto the roof in her Umbreon look to wait for the three boys. Hiding behind the large air-conditioning unit of the school the shadow it created made for a perfect spot to hide in and watch as they talked it over. The buzzing sound of the unit next to her she hoped they'd stand close enough to it and talked loud enough to hear them.

Dawn's spirit companion approved greatly of her initiative. Umbreon was glad Dawn took her powers and use them to sneakily overhear the talk. It told the spirit her host was getting more and more in tune with how to use her abilities. Dawn wasn't sure that the spirit would approve of her intention but she said that her powers are used in anyway she wished as long as she wasn't abusing them for material gains.

The three boys came onto the roof and Dawn felt the tension from just watching them. Kenny had a scowl on his face while Ash seemed calm. She should've been maybe more clear to Kenny.

"Nobody is getting up here so it gives us privacy to discuss this like men." Brock told the pair.

"So. You are taking Deedee to prom."

"Yes." Ash didn't deny it as he continued to observe Kenny. The anger was noticeable because they haven't aid a word to each other for the whole day.

"Why her?"

"Because she's the one I want to go with." Ash continued on why he was so early to arrange his prom date. Gossip like that travels around school fast and they were one of the first couples of it.

"You didn't think another guy would swoop in and take her instead of you? You blame me for taking her but you're not the only in line for her. I just made sure I was first cause I know she has plenty of options out of everyone. Dawn can get anyone she wants if she tries."

"He actually thinks that?" Said girl hiding was flattered by Ash's words. The talk with her mom in the back of her head maybe there was something of an attraction hiding underneath his guardian persona. Maybe her mom was right after all about him having a hint of affection for her.

"Hiding up here was the right call." She saw Kenny clench his fists.

"Did you tell May to make sure her friend goes with you as a debt for saving her? Is this the debt you call on? Did you force her to go?" Unable to swallow her choice this was the obvious one. May and Dawn being incredibly close as friends and on the cheerleader squad they were nearly inseparable.

"I saved May and she has nothing to do with this. She doesn't even know I asked Dawn unless she told her. And Dawn is free to choose who she goes with. She isn't yours or mine. She's her own person." Ash continued on exposing Kenny's failings more than necessary.

"You made her promise she'd go with you. Call that promise off and see who she picks of us if she gets the freedom to choose." Kenny not accepting it.

"I'm not calling it off unless Dawn does." Ash wasn't going to brag further to twist the knife. He knows she wouldn't do that now cause of her duties as Umbreon.

"Damn you." Kenny cursed Ash out. The aura user shook his head.

"You should've been more considerate! You stole her from me! You don't steal another girl from a friend!"

"I didn't steal anything!" Ash defended himself at Kenny's claim. The auburn haired boy bitter that Ash took Dawn he spend all night thinking about how she picked Ash instead of himself as if he wasn't good enough for her.

"Told you it be trouble for him."

"Shut it or else he will hear you."

"I'm sorry ok. I did what needed to be done for myself."

"You think a sorry is enough?!" Kenny was absolutely fuming now.

Kenny threw a right punch which Ash easily saw coming. Ash caught it with his left hand and moved his arm down quickly turning Kenny round with the auburn haired boy now had his back turned. Ash forced him to move to the locker by pushing him in his back and Ash moved most of his right arm on Kenny's neck pinning him to the wall that was the small entry to the roof staircase. The way he positioned himself he could torque Kenny's right arm the wrong way if he pleased.

"Are we done here!?" Ash losing patience would no go further than this hoping he clearly made his point. He did not want to winch on it snapping it in the process but Kenny was really tempting him right now.

"GUYS!" Brock stepped in stopping their bickering as this was going nowhere.

"You both may like Dawn but this doesn't help anyone. Let's talk this out like civilized people." Before he could do more Ash felt something suddenly tense around his leg.

"ARGH!" He let go off Kenny as he was dragged by his leg and fell forwards on his stomach and got pulled over to the edge of the roof. Ash looked to his feet and saw his right leg was caught in something green which glowed like his blue aura.

"Who's that!" Brock yelled.

Ash looked further and saw who he was being dragged by. A adult sized person dressed in something similar to his old vigilante costume was covered from head to toe in purple. Even through the purple mask Ash saw glowing green crescent eyes. In his right hand he held a green blade that glowed as much as his eyes while on his left he held green wire that was used to snare his leg and he was pulling Ash to him.

"Is that aura?!" Ash thought to himself as the figure kept dragging him over the ground as he was being deafened by screams of agony. His head felt as if it was going to burst by the noises echoing in his ears as he never felt anything like it. The screams sounded as if they are in constant torture begging for it to end as Ash's anger at himself grew for not being able to help them.

He shook the feeling off and grabbed hold of the wire he was getting pulled on. He pulled on it himself ignoring the yelling the green rope as he formed a tiny layer of protective aura that didn't glow in his hands the screams stopped. The two were stuck in a tug of war as Brock and Kenny went to him and try and help.

"Don't touch it!" Ash warned them not to come closer to unhook his leg as the screams he heard might be too much for them.

Ash had to know for sure who he was fighting if he was using green aura. The enemy broke off the wire holding Ash as it wasn't working drawing his target nearer. The guardian saw the rope around his leg and hands vanish as he then rolled back to his feet quickly. The attacker only muttered deeply.

"Kill…Ketchum…kill…Maple…" The three felt the killing intent coming from him. Ash used to the feeling shook it off but Brock and Kenny were starting to hyperventilate and cower.

"Come on guys! Snap out of it! Just run!"

The attacker then ran towards the guardian with his sword forward as Dawn was watching on. The mysterious figure attacked Ash again as he was bound by Brock and Kenny's presence while standing in front of the two to protect them. If it wasn't for them Ash could go use his full potential and defend himself proper.

"Come on Dawn! You said you were ready so prove it!"

Dawn psyched herself up and got out from behind her cover out of the shadow revealing her form. She ran to the limited guardian as she jumped with both feet forward. Dawn dropkicked the figure out of nowhere Ash as she fell on her back and then kipped up back on her feet.

"Who's that!?"

Kenny screamed seeing the black and yellow figure. It matched the description of the one that entered the hotel that the shaolin was staying in and stole something from there. Ash got up from his back and saw the mostly dressed black figure with the same long hair color and yellow rings over parts of her outfit.

"Dawn!?"

"Run!" Ash took the opportunity as Umbreon told him. He had to ask later what she was doing here. His classmates safety was more of a priority.

"Come on guys! You heard her!" The best excuse possible for his classmates he just had to trust her. As he headed to the door to head down with Brock and Kenny leading the way already ahead of him. Ash saw them go down the stairs as he then waited a few moments to look at Dawn.

"You sure you can take him? Want me to stay or…"

"No need to worry!" The heroine said to him. Ash heard the confidence in her voice. Of course he was still worried for her but Dawn's tone told him she was bursting with power.

"If you take this guy I'll make sure nobody gets up here! Don't touch those green weapons!" Ash called to Dawn as he wanted to keep the rest of what remained at school out of it giving her all the room she would need. He went down the stairs too as he smashed a tiny glass for the fire alarm that started to ring over the entire building.

As Ash was running through the building he picked up his phone and texted his mom and May. The attacker muttered their surnames so with what's going on he wanted to make sure Delia and the Maple's were safe. If the attacker came from the necromancer it just got personal and Ash wouldn't mind breaking a few bones so he can never cast that dark magic again.

He wouldn't leave Dawn alone by herself though. Seeing no one around him he focused all the aura he could within himself. The idea with all the aura emitted Riley should feel the flash and come running to help out him at the nearby location as he then moved on trying to keep his cover intact with Brock and Kenny.

Next up. Dawn's baptism by fire, finally.

Also, note to self. Just say they're dating in a shipping story from the start next time.

See you around.