Unrevealed Affection

Dawn's POV:

After about an hour of being alone, I decide to turn back towards camp even though Ash's words are still ringing inside my head. I've never been hurt by anyone this much in my entire life but, I suppose he was making a valid point. He didn't have to yell it though! I sigh as I continue through the forest.

"It makes you look like a flirt!" Ash yelled.

"Electabuzz, use Thunder!" I hear someone yell. I look up and see Ash and Paul engaged in a battle while Barry acts as the referee. Paul and Ash both have the same determination on their faces. I walk over to Brock.

"What are they battling for?" I ask. Brock stops cutting carrots and looks at me, a serious expression on his face.

"I'm not sure if you'll be happy about this, but, you see, they're fighting over you! It's the final battle between Ash and Paul. Whoever wins gets to have you as their girlfriend," Brock explains. A frown sets on my features as I walk over to them.

"Buizel is down! Electabuzz wins, therefore Paul gets Dawn!" Barry announces, sadly, no excitement in his voice. Paul then looks around.

"Where is Dawn?" he asks.

"Right here," I say, bitterly. They all turn to look at me. Paul rushes to my side and grabs my hand before holding it up in the air.

"Barry, Ash, meet my new girlfriend, Dawn!" he says, triumphantly. I struggle to escape from his grasp. Paul looks shocked while Barry and Ash have relief in their eyes.

"Your new girlfriend?!" I yell. "I'm not your girlfriend just because you won a stupid battle! I'm not an item! You have no claim over me! You can't claim I'm your girlfriend just because you won a battle!" I shake his hand off of my wrist and walk silently towards my tent before the tears spill out. I never expected this. Especially not from Ash.

I wake Piplup up from his slumber and start packing. Piplup looks at me in confusion.

"Piplup?"

"We're leaving, Piplup. I'm just an item to Ash. Nothing more. I thought he was my friend, but it feels like he's betrayed me," I explain. I hear my tent unzip and someone walks in. I turn around to find Ash.

"D-Dawn! What are you doing?" he asks.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm leaving. I'm obviously not worth anything so, I'm just going to complete this journey alone. I'll be better off that way!" I say, my anger rising.

"Leaving?! No, Dawn! You can't leave!" Ash protests.

"I don't see any laws saying I can't!" I reply in an angry tone.

"Dawn! Why are you leaving?! Did we upset you?!" Ash asks.

"Did you upset me? Did you upset me? Let's see... yes! I'd expect this juvenile behaviour from Paul and Barry but not you! I thought you understood me! I never thought you'd treat me like an item and battle over me for... entertainment or what ever other pathetic and invalid reason you have for this! I hate it, I hate them and I hate you! You're a traitor, Ash. A lying, deceitful traitor!" I spit before turning away from him in disgust. And that's when I feel it. The first tear escaping my eye. I quickly wipe it away and carry on packing.

Ash's POV:

I stand there, stunned at what Dawn just said. It begins to sink in. The guilt. The realization that she's not lying about leaving. The fact that I've hurt her so badly. I've been such a bad friend towards her today. I begin questioning myself. Why? Why did I treat her like this? I love her and I've ended up hurting her. Why am I so stupid? I want to hug her and tell her the truth, but I know she doesn't want to listen to me now.

"Dawn... I-I'm sorry..." I hang my head in guilt and shame. She turns around.

"Sorry?! Sorry?! You treat me like this and sorry is all you say?! Forget it, Ash. I'm never going to forgive you!" Dawn screams. I look up slightly and see a tear leave her eye. Before she can do so, I lift my hand up and wipe it away. She turns away from me. I ponder on what to do. I decide to hug her and see if she'll calm down. I hug her around the waist but she just grabs my hands and throws them off of herself. I sigh. She'll never forgive me.

"D-Dawn, look... I-I know you're mad at me but -" I get cut off by Dawn's voice.

"Mad?! Mad?! I'm not mad! I'm furious! Mad is an understatement of how I feel!" Dawn yells. I hear someone come in and turn around, as does Dawn. Brock is standing there.

"I heard yelling. Is everything okay?" Brock asks. I shake my head. "Well, what's wrong?" I open my mouth to explain but Dawn beats me to it.

"Ash, Paul and Barry had a Pokemon battle over who would get to be my boyfriend. Now, I expect that kind of thing from Barry and Paul but not Ash! So, I'm leaving!" Dawn explains, her voice still angry.

"Leaving? But, you can't leave!" Brock says.

"Look, I don't want another argument, Brock,"

"You can't leave! Look, I'll help you sort out your problems, come with me," Brock says. Now, as I've traveled with Brock in the past, I know he can be quite persuasive and is pretty good at counselling so I know he'll be able to resolve the matter.