With her two best friends next to her, a gigantic pot of poffin stew, and moomoo milk, Dawn was in heaven. Literally.
"Aw!" Tyler groaned, grimacing at his pot with frustrated look on his face, and continued, "It's burnt!" Lucas peered over to check out his friend's "disaster" and burst out laughing, saying in between laughs, "No kidd it's BURNT! You barely even stirred!" Dawn glanced up from her careful measurement of Leppa berry and her jaw dropped open in shock when she saw his batter, "What happened?!" Her rival cried back, "I don't know!" and pushed up the sleeves of his orange and white striped shirt, glaring at the pot with his hands on his hips. Dawn wanted to point out so badly that he looked like is mother when she was mad or frustrated with something, but she was laughing too much. The three friends laughed together, Lucas and Dawn molding their poffins while Tyler got a new pot from the lady. They stayed there until lunch rolled around, and each of them had errands to run, even though it was what Tyler called their "spring break" from looking for pokemon for the pokedex. Lucas said that he had to pick up his ready-to-evolve Growlithe from the daycare, and Tyler was going to go visit his cousin, Maria (which he said with a groan), while Dawn was off once again to the mansion of disappointments, they had nicknamed it with another bucket of laughs.
While she traveled along the well- tended gardens, the sun shone brightly as the trainer munched on bread and lemonade, vaguely wondering in the back of her brain if Ashur would be on duty. Probably Dawn thought, remembering how his lanky body was stationed there every time she went. They were actually pretty good friends, it being a week since their battle, and she felt like she had known him her whole life. His eyes always glowed with mischief, and as weird as it sounded, power, like he could walk into the middle of a battle field and raise his hands for peace and be obeyed. Black fingerless gloves, a white with black trimmed jacket that was always open, crimson shirt, black pants and black shoes made him always look game for anything. Whenever she asked him where he was from (and he refused to tell her) he got this shadow covering his face, like it was horrible.
Not able to think about not seeing him but thinking about him, Dawn finally got to the pavement in front of his house and walked past the two rich brats that were loafing around, opening the door into the gigantic mansion. She walked into the too familiar room and asked for the billionth time about Backlot's garden. Ashur wasn't there though, she noted in her head as she listened dully to the rich owner's droning. Where was he? "And a eevee came and gave me a smooch on the cheek….." Her attention snapped back to Backlot as he spoke of the evolution pokemon, and she asked excitedly, "Eevee?!" The fat man gave a small "mmmmhm" and continued droning on, but Dawn ran out of the room and into the trophy garden. Finally she could get Glaceon!
After a tiring afternoon of searching in the tall grass, Dawn at last came across the one pokemon she was looking for. "Go, Ultra ball!" the tired trainer exclaimed excitedly, throwing one as hard as she could towards the small brown and tan bundle of fur. One… Two…. THREE! Dawn cheered excitedly in her head as the poke ball rolled a final time, and she stuffed it in her pocket, throwing out Pidgeot and commanding him to do fly. Then the excited trainer flew through the indigo evening sky, to the city of snow.
Dawn threw the poke ball up in the air, releasing the bouncy eevee with its bold nature. The little female was definitely going to be Glaceon. She had already named her Ice, and the two traveled to the ice covered rock that everyone knew where the Glaceons were born. A snowrunt was picking at the ground, as if trying to get something out, and didn't even see Ice coming. "Ice!" Dawn called desperately, "I didn't tell you to attack!" But the little bold pokemon growled and tackled the poor snorunt again, making the pokemon give out a little cry as he ran away. Dawn kneeled beside her pokemon, face palming herself, and saying, "Ice, you can't just go off and attack random pokemon! Especially ones that are too young to even give you experience!" The eevee just glanced up at her with her fiery purple eyes, like saying, So what? It's still battling, isn't it? Dawn gave a grin with a sigh, and thought, This Is going to be a long evening.
Ashur finally was off work. FINALLY! He didn't mind working for Backlot, but sometimes boss could get annoying when he tried to get him to say he was envious. Lots of visitors almost bowed to the smug owner, gushing over how pretty his mansion was in hopes to gain at least an advantage of the riches. The only person he had seen almost barf like he did was Dawn. Ashur shook his head to himself, smirking at the thought of her laughing at his jokes and her, well, friend's jokes too. He didn't exactly know them, but if Dawn thought they were funny, then he would too. But, back on Dawn, just the way she smiled competitively to him, and her dove gray eyes met his sky blue with happiness gave him a feeling that Ashur didn't know. A feeling of what, protectiveness? He could guess his whole life and never get it right. Creatures don't have feelings. He could imagine Brazil sneering, sadness glowing throughout his eyes. Sapphire would nod her head, her red eyes dulling, and Brazil would regret whatever he said to make her sad. The fiery 15 year old boy's crush would always make him consider her feelings before his or anyone else's.
Ashur sighed. Why couldn't they? They liked each other, and Ashur definitely had feelings for Dawn. Man, if he was so legendary, why couldn't he figure any of it out? Arceus was pretty dumb when he gave them human form. He was a pokemon, for pete's sake he was something Dawn could capture with her bold little eevee. Just remembering her excitement made him smile. Jumping up and down repeatedly, saying yesyesyesyesyes over and over. She was amazing.
BAM!
A sudden jolt of electricity ran through Ashur, causing him to jump. Someone had it. He gritted his teeth and melted into the shadows, towards Snowpoint city.
Dawn was in cold sweat. All of her pokemon were unconscious, and Empoleon was barely standing up to face the houndoom. How out of all luck did she meet Cyrus, Team Galatic's boss, in the middle of the snow field outside Snowpoint?! He was taking down all of her supplies and pokemon. BUT HOW?! His garchomp literally killed with Draco Meteor, and it originally didn't kill in one strike. It was more powerful somehow, and the weary trainer was too tired to find out. The leader smirked at her, saying with amusement, "Is that all you have trainer? I expected better from one of Professor Rowan's." Dawn shot out an empty threat, "Nope! This party's just getting started." The leader laughed. It was a cold and calculating sound, as if she was an idiot for fighting back. His gray eyes were dark as he snapped back, "Unfortunately, this party's over for you. Houndoom, fire spin!" The dog had a ring of fire go and blast Empoleon, knocking him to the ground and making him faint. Dawn crouched beside him as the Houndoom stalked closer. Cow, she was going to die from Cyrus in the middle of a snow field. How nice. "Houndoom, kill!" The dog leaped forward, and Dawn thought desperately, Bye Mom. Lucas, don't stop researching, Tyler, drink more Mountain Dew and Red bull for me. Ashur, keep smirking.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Dawn's eyes shot open, gasping when she saw the gigantic pokemon standing before her.
It was Giratina.
The legendary pokemon glared at Cyrus, and the boss crumpled to the ground in awe. "Giratina," he breathed, and his houndoom ran away with its tail in between its legs, by passing his awestruck master. The pokemon roared at him, and leaped on the leader, picking him up with his mouth and throwing him. A really, really long way away. Dawn couldn't even see him anymore. But, she had bigger problems to worry about. Such as the gigantic, angry legendary in front of her.
It peered down on her with sky blue eyes, and it crouched down in front of her, inviting her onto his back. Dawn gave a great show of hesitation before it gave a little growl, and she hopped on. They rode into a burst of shadow, and into the Distortion world. Every platform was topsy turvy, and purple shadows covered everywhere. Giratina navigated through it easily, and appeared in Eterna Forest, gliding down onto the ground gently and letting Dawn clamber down.
"Um, thanks Giratina. Especially for saving me from Cyrus. But why did you?" The pokemon got this look on his face, and was suddenly glowed black, sizing him down to a lanky boy.
Ashur.