Hi everyone. Welcome to chapter two. Thanks for all your reviews. They make me want to write even more.
Now, enough for the introduction. Let's get started
For Ash, the next morning was like the previous one, only that Pikachu wasn't there when he woke up.
He was scared at first, but as he approached the window, he saw Rowlet, Incineroar, and Lycanrock training.
Ash smiled and decided to have breakfast and join them. His mother wasn't at home, another strange occurrence, and there was no breakfast left for him.
Instead, against the counter, there was a piece of paper:
I'm out shopping early this morning.
I'll come back in the afternoon.
Pancakes are in the fridge and the Pokémon have already eaten.
With love,
Mom
Ash had breakfast all alone, even without Pikachu. He took the time to think about this long stop. He wasn't sure it was the most effective thing but the anxious feeling he had from only seeing the Vermilion Gym when he came back from Alola was all he needed to extend his stop.
He still was eager to battle and despite not loving the rivalry with Kiawe, he was always pumped up at the thought of a battle. The only thing he didn't want was to battle in order to achieve something like a badge.
He wasn't enthralled with the league format anymore. It was complicated. He wanted to battle, he wanted to compete and earn something like he did with the trials in Alola but he was scared of losing again a league. Not for the loss in itself, but for the thought of not improving.
Surely Sinnoh was difficult to replicate. He had some of his greatest battle and all in all, he was the only one to beat two of Tobias' Pokémon. That Semifinal was his highest achievement.
Unova was such a downgrade, such a shame for him. His thoughts were getting sadder and sadder. This changed his Aura, so Pikachu acknowledged it and stopped his morning training to go to his best friend.
Their Aura bond was so strong that they could feel each other's feelings other than knowing where they were or improving their battle skills. Kukui was also clear to say that, surely Ash had an inner predisposition to feel and exude Aura, but it was thanks to the bond the two shared if they were able to obtain something like that.
Later that day, Ash and Pikachu were walking through the forest next to Pallet Town. It was their new routine. Some training, then a walk, and then up to Professor Oak's lab to train some more.
They were speaking animatedly about the errands Professor Oak was used to give them.
At that moment, a bush started to move and in a moment a mechanic arm appeared from it aiming at Pikachu.
The little mouse jumped, reacting quickly, and avoided it.
Turning around, Ash saw the scene, knowing who it might have been.
"Team Rocket. It has to be you, right?!" shouted the Kantonian trainer.
"Listen, is that a voice I hear?" a woman with long purple hair exclaimed.
"It's speaking to me loud and clear" replied a blue-haired guy.
"On the wind!"
"Past the stars!"
"In your ear!" rang Meowth's voice.
"Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace."
"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place."
"A rose by any other name is just as sweet."
"When everything's worse, our work is complete."
"Jessie!"
"And it's James!"
"And Meowth, now that's a name!"
"Putting the do-gooders in their place..."
"...we're Team Rocket" "...and we're in your face!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"Team Rocket, always following me!" exclaimed Ash, annoyed by the trio.
"Well Twoip, it's getting ezier and ezier since you are cry babying at home all the time" spat out the Catlike Pokémon.
"What do you mean with that?!" shouted Ash, clearly teased by Meowth's words.
"Wehh wehhh, I lost again in Unova! Now I'm gonna cry all the time!" mocked Jessie.
James was only looking at the scene. It seemed like he was only watching what kind of reaction they could provoke in Ash.
Pikachu was equally enraged by the Trio's mocking and was ready to fire.
"Pikachu, fire them with Thunderbolt!" shouted Ash. Pikachu gladly obeyed and Team Rocket was sent into the sky once more. Something never changes.
"Looks like we are blasting off again!" shouted the group, disappearing in the distance.
"Shoot, what was that about?" huffed Ash.
He knew that even Team Rocket was tired of staying in Pallet Town following him.
"I'm not happy with this" exclaimed Ash, staring up at the sky.
Pikachu was listening carefully. "I want to come back traveling… but I'm afraid…" he sobbed
Pikachu nuzzled Ash's cheek as he leapt on his shoulder. Ash grinned: "I know Pikachu. Thank you."
"Chaaa"
Pikachu would always be there for him.
…
Dawn was ready. She had packed everything she needed and was ready to set off. Next stop: Kanto.
She was a bit nervous to meet Ash again. She knew he was in a rough period and didn't want to screw up their meeting.
"Piplup?" asked her partner while sitting on her lap. Dawn was gazing absently out of the plane window. She was thinking hard and was lost. The only thing she wanted was to help Ash but wasn't quite sure how.
Piplup noticed it and supported her trainer. Dawn looked down at her penguin Pokémon. She took a deep breath and then grinned: "You know what?! You are right Piplup! No need to worry! I'll be just myself and do the best I can!"
With that, the plane started to move and took height. They were off.
…
Dawn was still awake. He was overexcited about meeting Ash again and her next journey.
But she was also thinking that this trip to Kanto was meant to be years ago. She had told him that she would have come with him to Kanto before receiving the modeling offer for Buneary.
And that was what made her betray her promise. Ash, being Ash, had supported her.
Back in Unova, she had made the reunion so wrong, acting uncharacteristically, joining Iris in the hobby of teasing Ash. She had seen Ash's disappointment but had shrugged it off.
Now it was time to fix her flaws.
…
Somewhere else, a little Pokémon was waiting for the young trainer in front of him to make a choice.
"I'll pick Froakie" said the rookie trainer, excited to start his own journey.
The Pokémon looked the kid in his eyes and sighed, leaping forward to escape his faith.
"Froakie, where are you going?!" shouted a tall man in a lab coat. He was tired of this. That Pokémon was such a problem.
…..
Dawn was wakened by the sounds of people speaking. The plane had finally landed in Vermilion, and Dawn picked up her Rotom phone, noticing that it was afternoon in the Kanto region.
She wakened Piplup up and proceeded to collect her things, leaving the plane and being welcomed by the Kanto's warm sun.
She grinned: "We are in Kanto Piplup!" she exclaimed excitedly. "Pipluup!"
After leaving the gate, she was searching for someone when a Mr. Mime greeted her, followed by a woman with brown hair and a pink jacket: "Dawn, is it really you?!" she exclaimed with a happy voice.
"Mrs. Ketchum!" shouted Dawn.
The woman came closer: "Oh dear. Call me just Delia. Look at you! You are even more beautiful in person!" she happily proclaimed making Dawn blush.
Noticing that, Delia changed the topic: "How was your flight?" she asked with a caring smile.
…
The sun was setting when Ash left the lab. He had been out all day doing errands for Professor Oak and his Pokémon had trained really well. He was proud of all of them.
On his way back home, he was chatting with Pikachu: "You know Pikachu? We should hang out with Gary more. Maybe we can go with him to his pub." "Pika, pikapika, Pikapi!"
"Ahahaha, well, someone should take him out of that when he drinks that much!"
"Pikapika, ka pika!"
"No way I'm gonna reduce myself like that!" pouted the boy, approaching his house.
He grabbed the knob and opened the door.
Without watching the living room, he went to the coat hanger to leave his hat and his jacket, shouting "Mom, I'm home!"
Strangely, Pikachu didn't say anything.
"Hey Pikachu, what's up?!" asked the boy turning. He saw his partner looking toward the couch and then her mother: "We know you are, Ash" she giggled, holding a cup of tea. Next to her, stood someone Ash wasn't ready to see again.
"Dawn?!" asked Ash, dropping his hat.
"Long time no see" said Dawn, standing up and winking.
…..
Dawn had come closer to the stunned boy. At first, she would have given him a high five like they were
used to, but, realizing that Ash was still stunned, she opted for a more direct approach. Hugging him.
This only increased Ash's surprise. For Dawn, however, there were mixed feelings in this hug. Liberation, comfort, familiarity. All in one gesture.
Ash hugged back, surprising the girl this time.
After a brief moment, Ash broke the hug and looked at the girl who was now holding Pikachu in her arms: "Dawn, why are you here?"
"This is the first thing you tell me after all this time, Ash?" she feinted a pout.
Ash didn't answer, clearly lost in thoughts. Dawn carried on: "I'm here in search of a traveling companion for my next journey" she stated proudly.
"And you needed to come here?" asked a befuddled Ash.
Pikachu face palmed while Dawn and Delia sweatdropped.
The girl insisted: "I'm here to ask you to come with me!" she told him.
Ash's gears started to move, and Ash understood the matter. He turned to Pikachu: "It's you behind this, aren't you?"
Pikachu sassily smirked while Ash only sighed, before turning to Dawn: "Look, I appreciate the thought, but I'm not interested." He stated, dismissing the thing.
Dawn grew nervous: "How's that, mister?!" she asked angrily. Delia decided to intervene before things became out of control.
"How about Dawn telling us about her adventures at dinner?" she proposed. Mr. Mime came from the kitchen with an apron signaling that dinner was ready.
Ash, being himself, was ecstatic about that and ran with Pikachu to the kitchen.
Delia approached Dawn and whispered in her ears: "Don't let him get over your head". The bluenette merely shrugged.
Delia sighed. It was going to be a long evening: "Let's hope Pikachu was right" she thought.
…..
At dinner, Dawn was telling Ash and Delia all the new conquests she had achieved during her travels. Tension seemed to have left the house. But then Dawn started to speak about her next goal: the Kalos Region.
Ash immediately knew where she was heading: "Dawn. I don't care why you want to go there but I won't come with you!" he said, interrupting the girl.
"Ah so why, Mr. Pokémon master?"
"Because I don't care about traveling with a coordinator" he replied cheekily.
"Well, that's cute because you seem more of a coordinator than a trainer watching your scores!" She instantly closed her mouth, covering it with a hand, but the deal was done.
As's eyes widened. He stood up and walked away. Pikachu followed him, not before glaring at Dawn.
The girl stayed there, her eyes watering from what she had said. Delia came near her and put a hand around her. Dawn stood and hugged Delia: "I'm sorry Mrs. Ketchum! I'm such a bad friend. How could I say that to him?!"
Delia held a knowing smile: "You did the right thing Dawn" she said, surprising the teen. "Ash needs to get back on track and your words are what he needed to get moving again."
"Now go and follow him."
"But what should I say to him?"
"Let your heart lead you"
….
Ash was sitting on a bench on the hill of Pallet town. From there it was easy to see the lights of Viridian as well as the sea which reflected the moonlight.
Pikachu was with him. They were quiet, so they could hear the steps of someone approaching them.
He sighed. Dawn appeared: "Hey Ash…"
"Why are you still here?"
"I'm here because I want you to come with me"
"But I don't"
"Why Ash?"
"I don't want to enter a league anymore"
"Is it for the Unova League?"
"How do you know that?"
"Don't change the topic"
"Dawn, I don't care what you have to tell me. I won't come"
"So, it's really like that…" her voice started to crack.
Ash noticed it; he stood up and turned to face Dawn: "There is no need to cry. You will have much better adventures without me. After all, it seemed like I was only a joke for you back in Unova"
She had had enough. She raised her gaze, staring at his auburn eyes and she slapped his face so hard that he fell to the ground. She then turned, not before yelling: "YOU ARE NOT THE ASH I KNOW! YOU ARE NOT MY MENTOR. YOU ARE NOT MY BEST FRIEND. I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU ANYMORE!"
Ash saw her runaway. Pikachu came to him, helping him to regain balance. His eyes were wide, so wide like they never had been.
"Pikapi.." Pikachu said, a serious and determined gaze on his face.
"Yeah, Pikachu. She's right. You were right all the time."
He patted his partner's head and then proclaimed: "Let's go Pikachu, we have to reach Dawn!"
Pikachu saw the spark of fire in Ash's auburn eyes. He was so happy to have his best friend back. He cheered and jumped to his spot on Ash's shoulder. They started their run-up.
….
Dawn had run as fast as she could and had reached a pond. She stopped her get-away and started to catch her breath, her hands on her legs. She was panting and crying and sweating. Her beanie failed to contain her locks of hair and now she was a mess.
Piplup had caught up with her and was preoccupied.
She collapsed sobbing in her hands, crouched on the ground. PIplup was trying to console her when he heard steps and saw Ash with a finger on his mouth as if saying "Stay silent please".
The penguin Pokémon obeyed, and Ash came closer, Pikachu hopping down from his shoulder.
"Dee- Dee. Your hair is a mess" he said, smirking.
She was startled by this. She raised her head and faced Ash who had kneeled to her height.
"Hi Dawn" he said, a soft smile on his face.
"What do you want Ash?" she asked, her eyes blood red from all the crying.
"I want to say sorry Dawn. I was not myself"
"You're right. I didn't pay attention to you when we met back in Unova"
Ash continued to smile: "I don't care anymore. That's the past"
Dawn looked at his auburn eyes and noticed the difference in them. They had the fire again. Hers widened in realization.
"I'm sorry for how I treated you. It wasn't nice and I deserved that slap. I know you are here because you care about my well-being and that's what Pikachu was telling me all the time."
He stood up and extended his arm to her, offering his hand.
Dawn watched the scene and then Ash said: "Come on, let's head back. We should get some rest if we want to plan our journey"
Dawn started to cry again, this time from happiness. She took Ash's hand and he pulled her into a hug. She was taken aback and started to blush.
Then Ash added: "I missed you" half whispering. She felt chills and she hugged back: "I missed you too, Ash"
Pikachu and Piplup watched the scene with knowing smiles on their faces.
And that's it for chapter two. I'm looking forward to reading your reviews.
Next time:
Chapter three: Back in business (04/14)
Until then, See ya!
