Looking away from the ocean and back towards Dawn, Ash nodded to himself as he made a decision, "I should head back - do you want to come with me?" Dawn smiled and nodded gently as she began following the raven-haired boy back towards the camp site where the triplets laid sleeping. A few seconds of comfortable seconds past until Ash felt a pair of arms circle his waist and he felt Dawn press her body up against his back as she whispered, "I will earn your trust and love back one day Ash Ketchum..." Ash let a small smile ghost over his lips - he did still love Dawn, that he knew. But he needed to be careful. His heart was so fragile and he couldn't take rejection of betrayal again.
"Let's get back.." Ash spoke in a somewhat softer tone, stepping away from Dawn once more as he continued walking - leaving Dawn to stand for a seocnd as she smiled before following him once more, "I love you, and i will earn your love back..."
Getting back to the camp site, Ash took a second to look at the pitch black sky, "It will be dawn in a few hours - we might as well get some sleep whilst we can" He stated, turning to look at Dawn, who nodded in agreement as she watched Ash walk over to a large rock - where he sat down and leaned back against it, "Well?" Ash said as he looked at Dawn with a raised brow, making the blue haired girl blush as she slipped her bag of her back, reaching inside and pulling out her sleeping bag before rolling it out near a tree.
Ash took this chance to look over the young woman, noting how different she looked. The seven years apart had been good to Dawn - she was much taller than she was, only a few inches shorter than Ash, and whilst Dawn had always had a slim figure, her body had filled out slightly - her hips were wider and her stomach arched in, giving her an hourglass figure. Another thing different was her chest. At 10 years old, Dawn had naturally been flat chested, but now she sported quiet a large chest, which made Ash blush as he quickly looked away, choosing to look at the girls outfit.
Her clothes bore a striking contrast to her old outfit of black and pink. Instead of pink boots, pink skirt, black shirt and a pink scarf - Dawn wore a white, short-sleeved shirt with black markings around the waist with a crop-top like red jacket with yellow sleeves and white buttons. Black short with yellow edges covered her neither regions, long thick black socks, red and white high tops with black laces and a red bandanna across her forehead.
Shaking his head as he looked up to the sky, Ash glanced down at his own ripped outfit with a small frown, "Hey, Dawn?" Dawn blinked and looked up at Ash as she removed her headband and jacket, "I think i need to get a new outfit...no anywhere i could find something new?" Dawn suddenly grinned and nodded, "I know the perfect place in Iki town!" She exclaimed excitedly, making Ash smile, "So, she still loves clothe shopping..." He though as he nodded, letting a small yawn out as he tilted his head back and closed his eyes, "Cool" Was the last thing he said as he allowed sleep to overtake him.
Dawn smiled as Ash quickly fell asleep, slipping into her sleeping bag and resting her head on the pillow she had with her, "I know the perfect outfit for you Ash..." She thought as she yawned herself, closing her eyes and nuzzling down into her sleeping bag, allowing sleep to over take her.
- The Next Dawn -
Ash slowly blinked his eyes open, letting a long yawn as he sat up, his hair falling in his face, making him look around, his eyes landing a couple inches away onto his hat, which had come off during the night, "There's my hat..." He mumbled as he grabbed the hat, placing the worn out item back onto his messy black hair before he stood up, stretching his arms above his head as he looked around the clearing.
The triplets still laid sprawled out on the floor, each of them lost in a sea of dreams. This made Ash roll his eyes as he walked over to them, nudging the first one, Darwin, with his foot rather roughly, "Wake up - its time to get moving" Darwin groaned in his sleep, rolling away from Ash and staying asleep, making Ash's eye twitch in irritation. He HAD told them that they would be leaving early, so this was just irritating.
Calling out his Floatzel, Ash nodded at the sea-weasel pokemon, "Water gun" Floatzel grinned and shot the water attack across the three trainers, who each gasped loudly as the cold water hit them, making them jump up in shock, now completely soaked, "What the hell?!" Darwin demanded as he looked down at his soaked body, looking towards a somewhat smirking Ash and Floatzel, "Whats wrong with just waking us up normally?!"
"Tried it. Plus this is faster." Darwin and his siblings glared at Ash as he recalled Floatzel before he walked away from them and towards Dawn, kneeling down beside her and shaking her shoulders gently, "Dawn. It's time to wake up" Zack and the others watched in shock and anger as Ash gently woke the unknown girl awake, angry that he had woken them up with water and shocked that he was being so gentle and soft with someone.
Letting out a yawn, Dawn blinked her ocean blue eyes open, smiling when she woke up to Ash, "Morning already? Alright, i'm getting up..." Dawn mumbled as she sat up and stretched her arms above her head as Ash stepped back, turning to face the triplets, who still bore shocked and angry faces, "What are you staring at? Get your stuff and let's get going." The triplets just frowned as they each picked up there discarded bags, waiting for Ash to explain to them who the girl was.
"For those who are wondering. This is Dawn." Ash finally stated as Dawn slipped her sleeping bag back into her bag and put her jacket and headband back on before moving to stand besides Ash, "She is...an old friend..." Ash spoke slowly, his voice a touch unsure as he said friend before his face went back to it's usual cold and calm look, "She will be travelling with us. any complaints? No? Good." Ash stated quickly, not giving the others a chance to complain.
"Let's go." Ash stated once more, snapping his fingers quickly to indicate for them to move, "Lets get it Iki town" Zack and his siblings looked at each other before walking on ahead, making notes to talk to Dawn later as they began leading the way towards Iki town.