Hope: Dawn's POV

Disclaimer: If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: I don't own Pokemon


Dawn sat down on the couch and flipped on the television. I can finally see his face again.

As her mother and Piplup sat down to watch the Unova League with her, she would never admit to them that was her main reason for being excited today. I mean, of course a good battle is exciting, but I can't wait to see him. I feel like it's been forever.

She had gotten his letter letting her know when the tournament would begin and what channel the coverage was going to be on. It was a cute letter, in a way. His handwriting had been even messier than usual, reflecting how excited he was to have gotten in.

"So, why were you so impatient to get that letter to him out? Did he have to get it before his match?" Johanna asked, wanting to snoop just a bit.

Dawn blushed. "Oh, I just sent him a little something for good luck."

Johanna suddenly became stern. "I hope you aren't sending boys dirty pictures of yourself!"

Dawn blushed even more fiercely. "M-Mom! Never! It wasn't anything like that!"

Johanna burst out laughing at her daughter's reaction. "I know dear, I'm just teasing."

Piplup laughed as well.

Dawn shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Well this is awkward now...

It had been awhile since she had first sent Ash a letter with a picture of her and Piplup. Of course, the next time she got a letter in response, it made her heart skip a beat when Ash sent a picture of him and one of his Pokemon. She put the picture in a frame next to her computer, and was relentlessly teased by her mother for it since.

And of course, every time she looked at it, some new thought popped in her mind, along the lines of: He looks so handsome with his new hat, or he's gotten a little more tan since I last saw him, or...well, some were affected by the onslaught of puberty affecting Dawn's mind.

She sent pictures back as well, and so did he. It went on for awhile, and Dawn put each picture in a frame somewhere in her room. This went on for about a month, until she finally received the letter announcing Ash's participation in the Unova League.

He did that a lot faster than he did the Sinnoh badges. She remembered thinking. As the coverage for the opening round of the Unova League began, it hit her:

Was I just slowing him down? That much? She felt pangs of guilt as they announced the battle schedule on television.

"The second match will pit Ash Ketchum against Bianca White. Up first: Trip versus Richter!" The commentator stated.

They began going over some statistics and Dawn zoned out once more. Their trip around Sinnoh was just as much Dawn's journey as a Coordinator as it was about Ash's quest to be a Pokemon Master. And Ash had always done anything he could to help Dawn reach the top. But how much did all that take away from him? I mean, I tried my hardest to help him too...but I think it took him almost twice as long to get the Sinnoh badges as he got these Unova ones...

I can't believe he doesn't hate me for this... Dawn thought sadly.

"Dawn? Earth to Dawn?" Johanna asked, waving her hand in front of Dawn's face.

Dawn shook her head frantically. "Er...sorry mom, thinking. What's up?"

"Just saying...I'm going to run down the street to get some snacks. Want anything in particular?" She asked, before haughtily adding, "Besides Ash, of course."

Once again, Dawn's cheeks turned red. "MOM! You're so embarrassing."

Johanna laughed again. "Well, it's one of the job benefits to being a mom. When you and Ash have kids, you'll do it too."

Dawn threw a pillow off the couch at her mom, who quickly ducked out of the room to go to the store. "CUT IT OUT! We're ten!" Dawn yelled, feeling particularly glad Ash couldn't hear this conversation.

"You won't be forever! Be back soon!" Her mother yelled, heading out the door.

...I wonder if me and Ash had kids, what they'd look like? Dawn couldn't help but think. She indulged herself in a little bit of a fantasy of a potential future with Ash, when the television commentator's interrupted her:

"AND up next, the heated battle continues, it's Ash versus Bianca! BAH GAWD, stay tuned through the commercial break!" The enthusiastic commentator stated.

Dawn couldn't help but feel a little giddy. Since it was a commercial, she quickly ran to her room and grabbed Ash' latest letter. She decided to read it over one more time to get through the break. And then I get to see Ash again...

Dawn,

Hey, sorry, no picture this time, I'm on the road and can't get another one printed. Guess what? I got my LAST BADGE! I know, a lot faster than I did in Sinnoh, right? Well...let's just say I had a heck of a motivation to power me through these last two gym battles.

Anyways, I'm already entered in to the League! It starts on April 2nd. I think it's going to be on Channel 42. That's what Nurse Joy said in the last town we were in. It might be different in Sinnoh though. I hope you can watch it! I'm going to win it all, just like I promised you! And then, I'll come visit, just like I promised. Maybe we could even go on another journey together?

I hate to cut this letter short, but I have a lot of letters to write to let people know where to watch me - I wrote you first.

Love, Ash.

I'd love to go on another trip with Ash. Especially just the two of us... Dawn thought to herself, a pink tinge creeping across her cheeks. And the fact that he had written to her first...she couldn't help but feel special.

Her little daydream was interrupted when the battle began on television. The commentator made this apparent to Dawn.

"AND WE'RE BACK, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN! And without further ado, the battle between Ash Ketchum and Bianca White is under way!"

Dawn scooted onto the edge of the couch in anticipation, and squealed excitedly as she finally - FINALLY - got to see Ash appear on his side of the battlefield. He looks so handsome in his hoodie there. She thought. I'm sure he can win.

"Pikachu, I CHOOSE YOU!" She heard him yell to start the battle.

Not long in to the battle, Johanna returned home with a few snacks for them to share. She walked back in to the living room and tossed Dawn a soda, which Dawn just barely caught, due to how engrossed in to the battle she was. "Thanks mom."

"I see I'm a bit late. How is your boyfriend doing?" Johanna asked teasingly.

Dawn blushed yet again. "I don't know what you're talking about. But it's a three-on-three battle, and so far Ash is winning three-to-one with Pikachu."

Johanna looked surprised. "Oh wow, that well?"

Dawn smiled and winked at her mom. "Come on mom, Ash trained Pikachu so well it can take down a Darkrai and a Latios. He's amazing!"

Johanna laughed. "Good point."

"AND BAH GAWD, that's the match! I've never seen a league battle end so quickly! Ash's Pikachu took down all of Bianca's Pokemon in a real slobber-knocker of an event!" The commentator said in a southern drawl.

Johanna rolled her eyes. "Where do they find these guys to do these things?"

But Dawn wasn't listening. She pumped her fist in to the air. "YEAH! ASH IS THE BEST!"

Johanna laughed at her daughter's enthusiasm. "Oh hey, looks like you get a little more eye-candy, dear, they're interviewing Ash about his win. Oh...what's he got on his hoodie?"

"Huh?" Dawn asked, and turned her attention to the television set once more. And then gasped.

He's...he's wearing my contest ribbon... She was dumbfounded. Does it really mean that much to him? It can't be...

"Mr. Ketchum, that was quite an amazing bout you had with your Pikachu!" A young lady for the network said, holding a microphone up to Ash.

"Thanks! But I have a lot of people cheering for me, so it was no problem! And my Pokemon and I always give it our all!" Ash replied enthusiastically.

"Now, out of curiosity, it appears you have a contest ribbon on your hoodie. Did you partake in contests in another region before coming here?"

Ash looked confused before looking down at Dawn's ribbon. He appeared to be deep in thought. Dawn leaned forward eagerly. Why is he wearing it?

"Oh...haha, no. Someone very special to me mailed this to me for good luck. She...it..." He didn't know what to say, before finally settling on, "It lets me know I have no need to worry! It's my good luck charm for the tournament!"

Dawn nearly fainted, as she slumped back on to the couch, smiling and blushing. She saw her mother looking at her knowingly. "Not a word." Dawn said, smirking.

Oh Ash...you have no idea what you do to me.


Haha, a little bit of a happier ending for Dawn this time.

I may make a small collection of songfic oneshots next. Don't worry, I plan on finishing this story up, but I have a few good ideas. And not the songs that everyone always uses.

Reviews, kthnxbai?