Hello everyone! Here's Chapter 17 of Champions. Quick note, don't expect a chapter tomorrow cause it's Homecoming! It'll be awesome! But you guys probably don't care, so I'll get to the fun part, the story! So I'm sowing seeds of misfortune in this chapter which will prove to be a major plot point later on in the story. MWAHAHAHA! If you liked it, then follows and favorites are always appreciated! Along with reviews! Oh and another thing, the story is almost at 4,000 views! You guys are awesome and I really think you will like the next few chapters!

Thanks,

Court

Chapter 17

Aftermath Part Deux

The phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled out and checked the time. The display lit up, displaying the time.

7:00? I'll start breakfast. I might need to get Cilan up, I'm not the best cook.

He slipped out from under Dawn's arm, placing a pillow in his now vacant space. He slipped on a baggy sweatshirt and some comfy, classy pants.

He went down to the kitchen, starting some boiling water for his tea. He remembered that May liked coffee along with Dawn. He started a pot of 'French Vanilla'. French? What's that? He pulled the massive carton of eggs out of the fridge, along with butter and some salsa. He grabbed an egg, getting ready to break it into the pan. He stopped. A pan. Dammit. Placing the egg back into the carton, grabbing a heavy, black pan out of the drawer. He put it on the top of the stove, warming the pan up. He noticed a note attached to the handle.

Let the pan warm up for fifteen minutes before use! If you use it, tell me, I will clean it. It's cast iron.

-Cilan

He walked over to the pot of boiling water, scooping some into a mug. He pulled out the box of tea bags, rummaging through them. His fingers sifted through the bags until he found the one he was looking for. Earl Grey. He placed it in his cup, putting a spoon on it, weighing it down. He sat down at the table, waiting for the pan to warm up.

I'm missing something. But what?

He walked over to the fridge and opened it, trying to refresh his memory. His eyes focused on a ham sitting in the fridge. Bacon. He started rummaging through the meat and cheese drawer. He pulled out a massive, two pound bag of raw bacon. The pan was almost ready, so he walked it over and put it next to the eggs. He pulled out a couple pokéballs.

Might as well.

He tossed them.

"Come on out guys."

Bayleef, Oshawott, and Meoletta materialized out of three red streams of light. Ash walked outside and called out Charizard and Staraptor.

"You guys stay close, okay?" The two flying pokémon nodded and flew off.

Ash walked back inside. He put some slices of bacon on the pan, frying them up. After fifteen minutes of this, he had a couple platefuls of bacon and several burns from the flying grease. He winced when the boiling oil splattered onto his arms which were exposed because he had rolled the sleeves of his sweatshirt. Pushing the sleeves back down, he threw some more raw bacon onto the pan. Once he had enough, he drank a sip of his tea and sat at the table, skimming his smartphone for any news.

Nothing new, just some more speculation on the Court. He scoffed as he read an article about rumors that it was an elaborate plot to find a girlfriend for him. He closed out of the news app as angrily as one could on a smartphone.

It was now around 8:00 in the morning, so Ash grabbed a bag of pokémon food and poured it out into two bowls. He left one in the kitchen for the three friends who were inside with him, while he took out the other bowl and set it down for the others.

"Pikachu! Pika-Pi!"

"Piplup!"

His Pikachu and Dawn's Piplup had just run down the stairs having smelled the food. They were closely followed by Iris's Axew.

"Yew, Axew!"

He laughed at the three overjoyed pokémon who were snarfing up the food faster than he did usually. A slender pair of dark brown arms snaked around him. He didn't need to look.

"Hey Iris. Good morning!"

He turned to face her, slowly pulling her arms off of him. She had somehow managed to wake up before anyone else, despite having gotten completely wasted the night before.

Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair completely disheveled and she wore a ripped shirt that didn't do the best job of covering her bra and underwear. Ash stepped back, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"Wow, uh, you don't look so good." She nodded, tears pooling in her eyes.

"Why? Why her, Ash? What makes you love her more?" Ash closed his eyes, raising a hand to rub his face.

"Let's get Cilan up. He can help you. You're still quite hungover. I'm working on breakfast." He turned, meaning to go and get the connoisseur.

"ASH KETCHUM, YOU WILL ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW!"

Her voice shaking the house. He froze. Well, there goes the peaceful breakfast. He heard groans from all of the guest rooms. ...fuck. He took a deep breath, turning around. He found Iris right behind him. Before he could react, she grabbed his neck, bending it forward and she kissed him. He was paralyzed for a second before pushing her away, pushing her harder than he had intended. He shook his head as the smell of alcohol hit him.

"No, Iris. I've told you before. I tried to be nice. Please don't push it. I still want to be friends." He turned and saw Cilan looking at him from the doorway. He motioned him away. Cilan caught the meaning and nodded, turning the crowd who was slowly gathering at the door around.

"B-but, why?" Iris whined. He responded without turning around.

"Don't be a kid, Iris. You always teased me and doubted me. She never did. We always supported each other, even when everything looked pointless. I learned so much from her. I'm sorry." She was crying now. Axew walked over and put his paw on her leg, comforting her.

"But, but, Ash-" he held up a hand, silencing her.

"Iris, no." She ran past him, bumping into Cilan. Ash nodded at Cilan. Cilan nodded subtly, wrapping Iris in a hug. He walked her over to the room they slept in. Ash went back to the stove, putting more bacon on the pan. He heard heavy footsteps behind him. Marlon looked at the struggling champion.

"I've got it. Take a break." Ash moved over to let the Leader grab the pan. Ash sighed and walked out into the gardens, leaving his hungry pokemon snarfing up their food in the kitchen.

Marlon grabbed an egg and cracked it on the edge of the pan and poured it into the pan. He heard a group walk into the kitchen, drawn by the smell of bacon and coffee. They sat down at the table, pouring cups of coffee and water which they put bags of tea into. One girl added cream and sugar to her coffee. Marlon walked over with a big plate full of omelettes. He grabbed the plates of bacon on the way over. He noticed that the girl with blue hair was looking around for something or someone. He set the plates in reach of the group which also consisted of a brunette with a bandanna tied around her head, a groggy blonde, Cheren, and a boy who had green hair who looked like he was about to throw up. Marlon noticed a bucket at his feet. He gave it to the bloated boy who proceeded to puke in it.

"Hey Marlon? Where's Ash?" The girl with blue hair spoke up. I feel like I should know who that is... Oh of course. The new Sinnoh League Champion. Dawn Berlitz. He gestured at the door which lead into the gardens. She nodded and grabbed her cup, along with a half full cup with a tea bag string coming out of it. She went out to the gardens.

(Dawn's Point of View)

I grabbed the cup of Earl Grey and exited into the garden. (Ash was the only one who enjoyed it.) I was immediately greeted by Piplup and Pikachu.

"Hey guys! Could you take me to Ash?" They smiled, happy to help. They pointed to the maze. Seriously? Why is there a MAZE in the gardens? I walked to the entrance and saw the pirouette pokémon gliding towards me. The lady-like pokémon smiled and hugged me.

"Good Morning! How are you?" Meoletta smiled and grabbed my hand. There was a flash of light and I teleported to the center of the maze. Ash stood there, looking at the a stone statue of a pokémon. He turned as I approached, his forlorn eyes brightening as he saw me. I noticed his sad smile as I went over and hugged him.

"What's up?" I pressed my head into his chest, comforting him.

"Iris got really jealous today. I feel really bad about this, but she kissed me briefly and I really felt bad cause I'm her friend but you're my girlfriend and I almost didn't want to tell you b..." I kissed him, grateful for his honesty. He kissed me back, gratefully. I pulled away, leaving his lips out, kissing the air.

"Shut up." I smiled at him, standing on my tiptoes to press my nose against his. I placed my hand on his cheek and felt him smile.

"Ash, I trust you. I guessed she would try something like this ever since the talk we had the night of the interview, when you mentioned that she liked you." I looked up at him, our eyes connecting. "I realized I never thanked you for taking care of me last night or the week before. Thank You."

"Dawn, I'd never let anything happen to you. You know why? Because I love you." We walked over to the bench by the statute. I rested my head on his shoulders as he pulled me closer with his arm around my waist, closing my eyes. He sighed contently. We sat there for what seemed like forever when Burgh walked out of the maze into the clearing. He was holding a helmet with a weird visor.

"How did I know that I'd find you here?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at the obvious display of affection. Ash sighed and turned around to look at the artist. He froze, recognizing the helmet.

"Is that what I think it is?" Ash asked, breathless. Burgh nodded slowly.

"There's more. In fact there is a massive room with them, and guess what game we found." He held up a plastic case that said 'Hunger Games' in it.

"The... The Hunger Games? No way. There's like, maybe ten copies of them in the world!" Ash looked giddier than I've ever seen.

The Hunger Games? Oh, that movie where kids are forced to fight to the death. Bleh... Talk about morbid. I turned my focus back to the boys who were still chattering animatedly about the funky helmet and the game.

"...the VisReal helmets and that game? Those were in the manor?" Ash was absolutely floored. Burgh nodded.

"Alder gave me a key last night so I looked around this morning and it unlocked that room."

"Wow. I hadn't a clue Alder was a gamer!"

Burgh glanced at my befuddled expression.

"I'd say the same about your girlfriend for you." He waited for us to deny the accusation. Neither of us did. Burgh turned around.

"Let's go. The others weren't happy that I wanted to find you first." He jogged back through the maze. Ash pulled me up.

"I'll explain." He paled under my critical look.