Old Friends, New Places

On a note; From here on out what happens in the story will be my writing, no more following the anime. This will all be new, you have been warned.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, or anything related.

Chapter 2: Dawn's Decision part 2

" Piplup." Dawn said quietly. "We have to find him! He would do the same for me too!" She stated with a look of confidence.

Everyone nodded. They decided to split up. Pikachu stayed at the house.

(With Ash)

'She won't leave.' He thought to himself. 'No need to worry!' He chuckled as he walked into a wooded area.

'He could be anywhere.' He thought. He peaked through a gap between a few branches and saw a pond.

He maneuvered through the branches and walked over to the pond, and sure enough, he found Piplup.

"Hey there, Piplup." Ash said calmly as he sat on the ground beside him. Piplup looked up a little startled, but realized who it was and relaxed.

"You know, Brock and I are both gonna miss you and Dawn if she decides to go." The raven haired boy said. Piplup looked up at him, still as sad as ever.

"No matter what, you can't be upset with Dawn." He said. "I'm sure Dawn will do what she thinks is right." He smiled at Piplup, and Piplup returned the favor with his own smile.

"That's the spirit." Ash said with a smile. He sat up and Piplup did the same.

"Now what do you say we show everyone you're alright." He stated with a smile.

"Piplup!" The Penguin Pokemon cried out. He ran over and hugged Ash's leg. Ash chuckled.

"Let's get going." He said with a smile as Piplup let go of his leg. Then all of a sudden, a familiar I've was heard.

"Ah, ain't dat somein." Ash and Piplup look over and see an all too familiar Meowth crying.

"What the-" The raven haired trainer was cut off by the sound of a cannon come from behind. He shot his head back to find Piplup trapped in a net.

"Listen, is that a voice I hear." Another familiar woman began.

"It's speaking to me loud and clear." A familiar man spoke up.

"Team Rocket!" Ash yelled as the net was retracted back to Team Rocket. A large Meowth hot air balloon began floating up as Meowth hopped into it.

"On the wind."

"Past the-" He was cut off By Ash who stepped forward and grabbed for a pokeball.

"Would you shut up!" He yelled as he threw the pokeball into the air. A red flash revealed a powerful Staraptor.

"Starrraptor!" The bird cried.

"Alright Staraptor, use Brave Bird!" The raven haired trainer. Its body caught fire as it flew up towards the balloon. The fire soon transformed in to a glowing blue aura that wrapped around the bird's body. It soared straight through the balloon causing Piplup to fall out of the basket.

"I've gotcha!" He yelled as he dove down and caught Piplup. Piplup once again hugged him, but on the face.

Staraptor soared down and roosted by Ash. The teenage boy looked up and saw Team Rocket soaring through the sky.

"Team Rocket's blasting off again!" The TRio yelled in unison as they flew out of sight .

"Return, Staraptor." Ash said calmly as he got up to his feet, and returned the bird to its pokeball. "Let's go, Piplup." He said as they walked off looking for their friends.

About five minutes later they found their way back home. Everyone was gathered around outside of the house.

"Ash!" Everyone except for Ash yelled.

"And I brought a friend!" He replied. Piplup stepped out from behind him and ran to Dawn. She bent down and caught the penguin in a hug.

"Oh, Piplup you had me worried sick." She lectured while crying.

She let go of Piplup and stepped over to Ash and hugged him.

"Thank you, Ash." She continued to hug him for about a minute, but realized what she was doing. She backed up and attempted to hide her blush by looking at the floor.

Ash's denseness kicked in. "What are you looking at Dawn?" He asked caused her to blush a thousand times more.

"Nothing." She muttered, still trying to hide her blush.

"Okay." He replied confused. Johanna decided to speak up.

"So Dawn, what's your answer?"

Dawn just stood there for a second. She looked down at Pikachu, then back up at Brock, and finally at Ash.

"I'll see what Buneary wants." She answered. "Buneary, come on out." She said as she through a pokeball into the air. It opened with a flash of red. Out came a red silhouette of Buneary.

"Buneary!" The rabbit cried. She looked up at her trainer in confusion, for the lack of an opponent or contest.

"Buneary, how would you like to become a model for the Hearthome Collection. Buneary's eyes sparkled.

"Bun Buneary!" It cried out with joy. Dawn looked away from Buneary and back to Ash.

"Truth is, even if Buneary wants to model, I still want to travel with Ash." She said as she looked at her mother. Brock stepped toward Dawn.

"You know, there's a way, you and Buneary can both get what you want." He stated.

"How?" Everybody but Brock asked.

"Buneary could always stay in Hearthome with Paris." He said as hearts formed in his eyes. He quickly shook it off, because of the consequences that would come. "While you can always come with Ash and I."

"I... don't... know. Buneary, is this what you truly want?" Buneary nodded. "I'm afraid that my destiny leads me in a different path." The bluenette said quietly.

She pulled herself together and looked down to Buneary. Buneary looked up at her trainer. Dawn motioned toward Ash with her head. Buneary's eyes widened, but then understood completely.

"No need to worry." She said to the rabbit with a smirk. Buneary smiled at Dawn.

"I think we'd better get inside." Johanna said calmly. "I need to call Hermione." They all walked into the house.

It was about an hour later and Brock was in the kitchen with Johanna.

"Do you know where Ash and Dawn are?" The older woman asked.

"Upstairs packing." He answered. There was a moment of silence, then Brock spoke up.

"You do know why she's leaving, right?" She nodded.

"I had a feeling that she liked him for some time now." She replied.

"I feel bad for her. Ash wouldn't know love if it smacked him in the face." She giggled at the comment.

"One of these days he'll find love, and for Dawn's sake, I hope it's with her." She replied.