I've actually updated this early, I was so happy at getting the wanted review (thanks blood). And this is actually pretty long. The next chapter will be even longer. It's 4 pages, and this one is 5 pages...oh dang, this one is longer! Well, read and enjoy. And review pleases!
'Pikapi…' Pikachu whimpered. "Pikapi." he asked for weakly. "Pikapi!" he yelped, shooting up. Looking around, he spotted the girl he had let capture her running towards him.
"Pikachu! It's alright, you're safe now." Dawn soothed, cuddling him to her chest. "No need to worry." Pikachu choked up. Was he ever going to see Ash again. Tears slid down his yellow fur.
"Pikapi." he wined.
"What?" Dawn asked, looking down at Pikachu. "Are you still hurt?" she asked, looking him over. Pikachu remained silent, looking around. He spotted Piplup.
"Pip-Piplup. Pipluuuup!" Piplup apologized.
"Pi-Pikachu." Pikachu amended. "Pi?" he asked, looking at Dawn. Dawn, catching on, smiled.
"I'm Dawn, Nice ta meet ya." she said.
"Pikaka. Pikapi." Pikachu moped. How could he of been so stupid.
"What's wrong Pikachu?" Dawn asked. Pikachu looked up at her expectant face. He could tell she already loved and cared for him. If it couldn't be Ash, at least it was this kind girl.
"Pika!" he exclaimed.
Pikachu grinned at all the people around him. The Wallace Cup was getting a great turnout. Sitting in the basket on Dawn's bike with Piplup while she walked it down the street gave both pokemon the opportunity to appreciate the great smelling food that vendors had put out. Lake Valor was the perfect spot to hold the tournament.
It had taken a while, but Pikachu had eventually settled into life with Dawn. It was very peaceful without Team Rocket always trying to steal him. He did miss Gym battles, but Contests were very pleasing when he won. Pikachu's ears perked and he sniffed the air. Something smelt really good.
"Pika!" he jumped out of the basket, rushing off towards the smell, Piplup behind him.
"Hey, wait up you two!" Dawn yelled, struggling to maneuver her bike through the crowd. He let himself be guided by his nose.
"Pi-ka-chaaaa." he sighed in happiness. The food was in front of him. He gave a pleading look to the vendor, who just laughed and shook his head. Sighing in defeat, Pikachu and Piplup turned away.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu perked his ears. That wasn't Dawn calling him. Turning slightly, he barely caught sight of the person before he was tackled into a hug.
"Pi-Pikachu!" he yelped. What was May doing here?
"Pikachu, I've missed you so much. Where's Ash?" May asked. Pikachu smiled at her. It was so good to see May.
"Piplup! Pip-pip-Piplup?" Piplup asked. He had gotten the story of Ash out of Pikachu after the first few months. Is this one of your old traveling buddies? he asked.
"Pika." Pikachu nodded. Yup. This is May, the Hoenn Princess.
"Pikachu, Piplup!" Dawn had made it through the crowd and was hurrying over to her pokemon. "Don't run off like that you two." Dawn sighed.
"Oh, are you a friend of Ash's?" May asked, looking at the young girl.
"Who? " Dawn inquired, bending down to stroke Pikachu's fur. "I've never heard of him."
"Oh, well, this Pikachu is just like a friend of mines, and I heard he was in the Sinnoh region, so I just assumed it was his…" May trailed, chuckling nervously.
"No, I caught this Pikachu my first day as a pokemon trainer. He's one of my best friends." Dawn smiled.
"I'm sorry for the confusion. I'm May."
Dawn smiled. "I'm Dawn. Are you entering the Wallace Cup as well?" she asked.
"Yes. I can't wait. I've been traveling a lot. I entered Contests in Hoenn, Kanto, and Johto. I've got three Johto ribbons right now. But I traveled all the way here to compete. I was hoping to find Ash, but I can't get a hold of him. It's like he doesn't want to talk to anybody, which is not like the Ash I knew." May rambled. Pikachu sighed, knowing they could be here a while. Munchlax offered Piplup and Pikachu a piece of the cookie he was eating, waiting for the former to tell why he was with this trainer instead of Ash.
"Pikaka." Pikachu sighed. Dawn's hair was frizzing out again. May walked past them.
"Dawn, almost time." she warned, turning back.
"Gah! Big need to worry." Dawn moaned, frantically brushing her hair.
"Not again." Zoey complained, walking up.
"Help me." Dawn pleaded, still trying to tame her hair. May sighed, smiling.
"Give me the brush." she took the brush from May. Dawn thanked May as she started working on her hair. Zoey reminded Dawn about her day view, and how worried she had been. Pikachu turned to Piplup.
"I hope she stops fretting soon. It isn't good for her state of mind or confidence." he commented.
"Dawn's got mountains of confidence. She just has to discover it again." Piplup replied. Piplup turned to Dawn, giving words of encouragement.
"Don't back down now Dawn. You've come so far." Pikachu pitched in.
"That's the spirit. You're pokemon have confidence Dawn. You should too." Zoey told her.
"That's right Dawn. No need to worry." May giggled. "Not with pretty hair."
"Gee, thanks May." Dawn smiled.
"Pika?" Dawn was squeezing Piplup just a bit too tight. He turned back to the screen. May was doing good. And Dawn was getting nervous. "Pikaka-Pika Pika-Pikachu." He told her, patting her shoulder. Dawn smiled just a bit before biting her lip.
May returned back to the main room, grinning. "Dawn, Zoey. Do you think I'll pass?" she asked, glancing at the screen to watch the next contestant.
"You did great May, I'm sure you're going to pass." Zoey gave her a thumbs up.
"Pika-Pikachu. Pika-Pika-Pichu." Pikachu praised. He nudged Dawn.
"Y-yeah. You did great May." Dawn told her. May just smiled supportably.
"You'll do fine Dawn. I promise."
"Pika!" Pikachu pulled at Dawn's arms gently. She was going to squeeze Piplup to death! Dawn looked worriedly at Pikachu before quietly apologizing to Piplup. She continued to watch Zoey.
Zoey walked off stage, and Dawn left the room. It was her turn. Pikachu hopped onto May's shoulder to watch her appeal. He cringed as Dawn almost dropped her poke ball.
After her appeal, Dawn was greeted by Pikachu and Piplup launching themselves at her person. "So how'd I do?"
"You did great Dawn. You really managed to mellow out." Pikachu congratulated as Zoey said the same thing. The group turned to the television where they were announcing the contestants to move on. Dawn, Zoey, and May were part of the sixteen contestants.
"Pikaka! Pikachu!" Dawn! You did it! Pikachu applauded. Dawn seemed to be in shock, and Zoey and May had to drag her out and back to the hotel.
"Wow Dawn, having a top coordinator for a mom must of gotten you on the contest path early."
"Yeah, I even begged her to teach me her awesome recipe for poffin."
"Pika!" Pikachu agreed. Dawn's poffin was the best. Almost as good as Brock's cooking. The girls prattled on while the pokemon chattered among themselves.
"So, do you ever plan on finding Ash again?" Munchlax asked Pikachu, downing an entire bowl of pokemon food.
"Why would he? He's got Dawn now!" Piplup retorted.
"Well, Ash was Pikachu's first trainer. And Pikachu only went with Dawn to get healed." Munchlax explained.
"But Dawn is his trainer now!" Piplup argued.
"Well, I'd like to meet this Ash. He sounds strong." Buizel sighed. (Yes, Dawn still has Buizel. No Ash to trade with.)
"He was. Strongest trainer I knew. And he never let it go to his head…and if he did, Brock or Misty always took him down a peg." Pikachu said wistfully. "It'd be nice to see him again. I really do miss him."
"Pikachu! What about Dawn? So you would leave her the moment this Ash came back?" Piplup asked angrily, standing up. Pointing an accusing finger at the electric pokemon, he continued. "Have some shame. Dawn is your trainer now, and be glad. She is a very good trainer, and I won't stand for you to talk about some other trainer when you have her!"
"Piiiika." Pikachu growled. "I know I'm lucky. Dawn is a good trainer. I know that. But I can still miss Ash. And of course I wouldn't leave Dawn first chance. I care about her too ya know!"
"Pikachu, Piplup! Stop fighting this instant." Dawn commanded, glaring at the two. "What's the matter? You two usually get along well." Piplup glared at Pikachu, shooting a few choice words.
"Piiiiikachuuuuu!" Pikachu growled, zapping Piplup with a thunderbolt.
"Piplup!" Dawn gasped, cradling the fried pokemon in her arms. "Pikachu! You apologize!" Dawn ordered.
"Pika! Pikachu! Pika-pi-pika!" Pikachu shook his head, refusing. No way! He had it coming! I won't!
"Pikachu!" Dawn sighed. "Apologize! What did Piplup do to you?" Dawn asked.
"I can think of some things." Pikachu snarled, knowing Dawn wouldn't understand him. "But it isn't like you would care. It seems you've already made up your mind about who is in the wrong." Pikachu yelled in Pika-Speak before running towards the window and climbing up to the roof.
"Bun-Bun. Buneary!" I'm going after Pikachu. She told the other pokemon, jumping after her crush.
"Chupa?" the small electric squirrel looked sadly at his trainer.
"Love?" Buneary asked, slowly walking up to Pikachu. "I'm sure Dawn didn't mean to take sides. She just doesn't know what happened." Buneary sat beside Pikachu.
"I know Bun, but I'm not mad at Dawn or Piplup. I'm mad at myself. Piplup is right. I've got a great trainer right in front of me, but I can't stop thinking about Ash. I'm being so mean to Dawn, and she doesn't even realize it."
"You aren't being mean. You're just…well…Ash was your best friend. You miss him a lot. I'd miss you if you suddenly went away." Buneary grabbed Pikachu's hand.
"I'd miss you too Bun. But I need to stop brooding over Ash. There's a big chance that I may never see him again, so I just need to move on, but I can't! And it's driving me nuts." Pikachu tore his hand away from Buneary, pulling at his fur in frustration.
"Love! Pikachu! Stop!" Buneary grabbed Pikachu's hand, gripping his wrist so he couldn't damage himself. Pikachu went limp, berating himself verbally instead. "Love, this won't do anything. You need to apologize to both Dawn and Piplup. Tell Piplup this, make him understand your dilemma."
"Will you be there too Bun? In case I need someone to restrain him?" He had no idea how Piplup would react, he was fiercely protective of their trainer.
"Of course Love, why wouldn't I be?" she asked, winking and shooting an attract at him. Pikachu managed to dodge, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yeah, thanks Bun. But…can we do that tomorrow? I think both Piplup and I need some time to cool down before facing each other." Pikachu asked, looking away, at the sky.
"Of course Love. Are we going to go back to Dawn's room?" she asked.
"You can if you want to. I might come in later, but not until I'm sure both Dawn and Piplup are asleep." Pikachu replied, sitting down.
"Then I'll stay out here with you. Nobody should be alone when brooding. Never any good." Buneary giggled. She sat down and snatched Pikachu's hand again, relishing in the feeling of being beside him.
"Pikachu! Come back!" Dawn pleaded, running to the window. "Oh no, now what do I do?" she moaned.
"Calm down Dawn. I'm sure it was just a petty fight. But Pikachu did seem upset." Zoey soothed. "I think you hurt his feelings."
"How?" Dawn asked. "I was just telling him to apologize."
"Well, you seemed to blame Pikachu immediately, but we don't know what really happened." May answered. "And Pikachu may think that you're taking Piplup's side." Was she taking Piplup's side? Thinking back over the fight, it seemed that she had.
"Oh, I'm a horrible trainer." Dawn moaned, burying her face in her hands. "I can't keep my pokemon from fighting each other."
"Now that's a little harsh, don't you think? Every team will have their disagreements. The best thing you can do is show Pikachu that you don't blame him, and sit both Pokemon down so they can work the problem out together." Zoey explained. "I'm sure they'll be the best of friends again in no time."
Dawn smiled. "Thanks Zoey, thanks May. I will, as soon as Pikachu comes back."
But Pikachu didn't come back that night until very late. Dawn was lying in bed, pretending to sleep while she worried and wondered where Pikachu and Buneary was. It was round two a.m. when the two pokemon climbed back through the window. Zoey was snoring softly in the second bed the room provided.
"Pika? Pika-pi-pika?" Pikachu whispered.
"Bun-Buneary-Bun-Bun." Buneary answered in a hushed tone. They softly jumped onto the bed, Dawn softly closing her eyes to give the appearance of sleep. Pikachu curled up on the pillow beside her, Buneary cuddling into her arms. The two were snoring softly in minutes.
"We'll talk tomorrow." Dawn promised softly, drifting off to the land of dreams.
Next chapter, Pikachu and Piplup make up, and the Wallace Cup continues. Please review to make me happy! I get all warm and fuzzy inside when people review my stories.