Thank you everyone who has read this and reviewed so far. I know this is different, but bear with me. I am expecting a lot to happen before this story is over. Now, I want to clarify that this happens after Pokémon: Galactic Battles. With all said, this is chapter 2. Enjoy!


I frowned. Ah, well. I shrugged it off. At least I get to spend the day close to civilization...

I woke up peacefully from my sleep. Today was already going to be a great day; I could tell. Not only was I waking up in a soft bed, but I also planned to take a nice hot shower once I made it to the bathroom. I yawned and stretched again. I knew I had to get up, but everything was just so peaceful. I finally slid out of bed and headed for the bathroom. I paused and looked over to where Paul slept and found him no longer there. I almost panicked; he really didn't leave me so soon, did he? I ran to the bathroom and frantically tugged at the door. It wouldn't open. I sat against the door to listen for Paul, after a few seconds I heard talking.

"No, that's right. I am still here, Reggie. I need Weavile sent to me as soon as possible," he said. I exhaled; it was a breath of relief. I haven't been abandoned just yet. "No, she's still sleeping," he replied. Once again, I pressed my body against the door to hear what he had to say. "Why should I care?" At that moment, the door flew open and I crashed onto the cold, tile bathroom floor. Paul raised one eyebrow and stepped over my body. I quickly stood up, embarrassed as he hung up the phone. "Hn," he grunted as he headed for the front door.

"Wait," I called. He stopped and looked at me. I was still blushing from my incident, but I had to know. "You aren't leaving, are you?" He rolled his eyes and began to walk again. He quickly opened the door before I stopped him once more. "Wait!" I yelled. He again looked at me. This time I could see the annoyance written all over his face. "What was Reggie asking about me?" Paul walked out and slammed the door behind him. I rolled my eyes; he definitely needed to get over his attitude problem. I shut the bathroom door and busied myself with getting ready for the day.

I made my way downstairs to the center's cafeteria with breakfast on my mind. This was still a good day; I got a break from cooking. The entire trip I had been feeding Paul, myself and all our pokémon. He said if I was going to annoy him, I had to make myself useful. When I stepped into the dining hal,l the wafting scents grasped my attention. In the middle of the floor sat three buffet-like stands full of food. I picked up a tray and a plate and got what I wanted. My tray was now filled with French toast, eggs, bacon, and a glass of milk. I scanned the area for a place to sit and I soon saw Paul in the corner.

"It's great here, huh?" I asked. He looked up at me and swallowed his food.

"I guess," he answered. My mouth opened in disbelief; who could not like all the benefits of a Pokémon center? "It would have been better if I could have gotten any sleep last night." I gave him another questioning glace; I slept great. "Now I know why we didn't have any trouble with wild pokémon in the woods. Your snoring scared them all away." I took a deep breath and exhaled. I wasn't going to let him get to me today. We sat in silence for a little while, enjoying our food. I would glance at him occasionally, but he kept his eyes on his food. For breakfast, he had chosen cold cereal and that was it. I sighed. Such a simple, mundane breakfast. His tray made me feel like a pig.

"So, where is our first battle?" I asked. He looked up to me for the first time since he spoke. He raised his eyebrow again. I was getting tired of this gesture and decided to name it. It could only mean, "Are you serious?" or maybe it was a, "You are an idiot" look. I waited a second before opening my mouth; I had to at least clarify that I was keeping track of something. "I know where the contests are being held, but I am lost on the battles." He opened his mouth to speak, but someone else began to talk to me first.

"Dawn? Is that you?" I turned to look at the person calling my name. My face lit up and a huge smile graced my features. "It is you, isn't it?" I was embraced by May. She looked the same since the last time I saw her. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail for the moment, but that wasn't significant. "How have you been?" she asked.

"I have been well," I replied. I hugged her back and she continued to listen. "I am going to try to compete over here," I finished. She smiled and nodded eagerly. "Oh, before I forget," I said. I pointed over at Paul who was scowling at May already. I didn't have to ask to know he knew nothing of her. "This is Paul. I am traveling with him." May smiled at me and turned to smile at him. He said nothing as he got up with his bowl and left the table. I watched him throw his stuff away and walk out of the cafeteria. I looked over to May who seemed slightly offended. "He's... weird," I offered. She smiled.

"So, you are traveling with him, huh?" she asked. She began to grin smugly, causing me to blush. "That makes make you two a couple, congratulations!" My face heated up even more. May wasn't being quiet. I shook my head from side to side, holding my hands up in front of my face. I opened my mouth but she cut me off. "Oh, come on, Dawn," she started. She winked and gave me the thumbs up. "I talked to Ash already; he told me you were traveling with someone."

"Oh come on, I am traveling with him but we are just friends," I answered, cutting her off. I sighed, releasing some of the redness from my cheeks. "Actually, I wouldn't even really call us friends." She opened her mouth, making a small 'oh' shape. This was obviously not what she was expecting to hear. "So, what are you doing here? Ash told me that you have already competed in the Grand Festival," I asked.

"Oh, well, I have competed in the Grand Festival, but I haven't won it yet," she answered. Her smile melted off of her face and was replaced with a scowl. Unlike my reaction when I first met her, I could tell she was definitely no princess. "Stupid Drew has won already, though." I smiled, doing my best to cheer her up. "It makes me so mad that he beat me in the final round… I was so close! If only that stupid Masquerain didn't know water pulse, my Blaziken and I would have won!" She paused from her rant only to start stuffing the food in her mouth. I began to say something but quickly decided against it; she obviously needed it more than I did at the moment.

"Well, at least you made it that far," I soothed. She finally snapped out of her unhappy state and watched me. "I mean, I would be lucky to make it that far. That is a huge accomplishment." She smiled but then shook her head.

"It is pretty good, but what do you mean you don't think you will get that far, Dawn?" she asked. I shrugged nonchalantly and smiled. She shook her head at me, shoving another forkful of food into her mouth. "Come on, you know you are good. You beat me in the Wallace cup, remember?" I smiled. Of course I remembered. That was one of the hardest contests in my life, besides the one against my mom's old rival.

"Let's just say I have a lot on my plate right now," I answered. She looked at me while eating my food, waiting for me to finish speaking. "Well, you see, I am not only doing contests this time, but gym battles as well. I already know that this is going to be hard, but I can't give up," I finished. That last part was more for me than her. I couldn't give up, not after what he said to me. And to make it worse, Brock and Ash pretty much agreed.

"Why gym battles?" she asked. Her attention was finally off the food and more into our conversation. I decided I might as well tell her. Sooner or later she would find out, anyway.


Okay, this was chapter two. I really hope you enjoyed it and will review. Like I said, I have a lot of ideas for this story, but it is important that you enjoy it as well. So tell me what you think, review and give me your opinions; I will be waiting.