AN: Alright so I think at this point I need to step in and exercise my power as author, no Ash will not be getting a harem in THIS story. Like I've said before these aren't gonna be my only stories, I will be doing more pokemon stories just not nearly as long in length. So again to make it clear, ASH WILL NOT BE GETTING A HAREM. I thank all of you for your input and attempts to convince me otherwise and someone of them were pretty well thought out too but for this story in particular I think it being just a Pearlshipping story is more than enough romance.

As for some questions regarding the whole sex jokes thing last chapter, they live in a different world. It's kind of like how our world is during times of war, people live shorter lives and get married younger due to their lives being at risk. Remember these TEENAGERS are being sent out into the world with creatures that can easily destroy whole human settlements in a bout of anger with little to no supervision. Like I briefly mentioned before there was enough trainer deaths to warrant the World Committee's involvement. Johanna herself was a trainer many years before the newer laws that are present at the time of this story and so she herself probably got knocked up pretty young. Delia is in much the same boat, but she also knows her son and the kind of trouble he finds himself in. So from their perspective and the perspective of the mass majority teens marrying and starting families is commonplace.

This is not to say that there will be lemons in this or the next 2 or 3 chapters though. I am personally a hopeless romantic and so enjoy the fluff and how relationships start and all that jazz. But I am also realistic and know that sex is a part of any healthy relationship so yes that will be happening.

Any other questions/requests? Pm me or review! Also I'm debating on starting to answer reviews in the story itself. This will not affect the length of the actual chapter itself but the length of my AN's. What do you guys think?

On to the story!

"So do you have an idea of what you're gonna do for the appeal round?" Ash spoke from his spot on the bench just outside of the Pokemon Center.

He had decided that since the gym battle was a few days off and having already come up with a game plan of sorts that he and his pokemon could use a day of rest. Today and tomorrow would be all about helping Dawn out.

"Well I figured that since Piplup is a little stronger and more battle oriented that I would save him for the battle rounds and use Buneary for the Appeal round," The blue haired teen said, hoping Ash would give her some feed-back. He may not be a coordinator but he was a damn good trainer with years more experience under his belt.

Ash rubbed his chin in thought, "Well that is true they also that's it's also good to, 'lead with your best foot forward' right?"

Dawn pouted at that, "Ash! Not helping!"

Chuckling at the cost of the poor girl Ash continued, "I know but as much as I would like to tell you exactly what to do that just wouldn't benefit you as a trainer."

Ash got up and dusted himself off before placing a hand on Dawn's shoulder, "You're a smart girl and a whole hell of a lot better than me when I started out. Just trust in yourself and your pokemon and you got this, but I will say that you are headed in the right direction and don't hesitate to ask for mine or my pokemon's help ok?"

Dawn gave him a confident smile after realizing what he was saying. He would point her in the right direction but that was it. She would have to walk the road to her goal on her own two feet. She then gave him a dazzling smile and wink, "No need to worry!"

Smiling at her Ash nodded and began to walk off into the forests that surrounded Jubilife, "I'm gonna go do some training with Umbreon and Starly but I'll be back before sunset. If ya need me send Pikachu."

With that Ash and his Dark type partner were gone.

Pikachu looked up at Dawn with a smile and made his way to her shoulder where he perched himself, "Well Pikachu I think I may just need you to help me with a couple things, that ok?" Pikachu gave the young teen a thumbs up, "Pika!"

Grasping the two balls that contained Piplup and Buneary she threw them into the air calling out, "Come on guys we got work to do!"

Several hours later we find an exhausted Dawn sitting on the bench feeding an equally exhausted Piplup and Buneary. Pikachu was of course not even winded due to how much more rigorous his own training was but had convinced Nurse Joy to give him a bottle of ketchup which he was now happily suckling on.

Before she could congratulate her pokemon on a job well done she heard clapping come from nearby. Turning she saw a figure garbed in green with long hair that trailed from underneath a similarly colored hat. At his feet was a small green pokemon that looked to be a bud of some sort.

"Well done young miss. It was a beautiful sight to see such a display of your pokemon's beauty and strength."

Dawn waved the older teen off, "Oh thank you but that was just some training. By the way why do you have a harp?"

At that the green garbed teen bowed, his small green pokemon doing the same, "I apologize for not introducing myself. My name is Nando the bard and this is my partner Budew." Bringing himself up from the bow he continued, "If I may be so rude as to ask for a battle with you Ms. Coordinator?"

Dawn smiled, "Nice to meet you, my name's Dawn and I'm sorry to say I'm gonna have to turn down your offer. My pokemon are just too tired to battle."

Nando then pointed at Pikachu who was still happily slurping at his ketchup bottle, "And what of your Pikachu? He seems to be quite full of energy," Nando spoke chuckling at the pokemon's odd taste.

"Oh no no, he's not mine. Pikachu actually belongs to my friend, Ash, who let me borrow him for the day," Dawn spoke waving her hands quickly. She knew Pikachu may like her but that didn't mean that he would listen to her in a battle, besides she was far from Ash's level and wouldn't want to try fighting with him when Pikachu was so used to Ash's style.

"You called my name?" called a voice coming from the trees. From the tree line emerged a grinning Ash, Umbreon padding alongside him and Starly perched on his jacket clad shoulder. The two pokemon looked rather tired and showed it in their drooped posture. Ash himself looked to have been sweating a bit showing that they had done some serious training himself.

Nando walked up to the raven haired teen and held out his hand, "Good day my name is Nando the bard and I was wondering if I could bother you for a battle against your Pikachu."

Ash calmly shook the slightly older teen's hand, "Names Ash. And well it's not really my call. Kinda up to Pikachu if he wants to battle you," turning to yellow mouse he sweatdropped noticing his Pikachu's…focus, "though I'm afraid he seems to be a bit busy with that ketchup bottle."

Nando gave small laugh at that, "I understand Ash."

Ash then turned to Nando with a grin, "Though I do have another pokemon that would more than happily battle you."

Nando only nodded, "Then a battle we will have."

The robed teen walked to the other side of the field and looked down at his Budew, "If you would Budew," which the small pokemon nodded to and walked in front of its trainer.

Ash pulled out his pokedex at seeing the grass type, "Budew, the Bud Pokémon. In winter, it keeps its bud closed to survive the cold, but then opens it again in the spring."

He then pocketed the dex and grabbed a ball from his belt, "Guess this is gonna be a grass type against grass type battle then."

Ash tossed the ball calling out, "Come on out Turtwig!" surprising Dawn and Pikachu.

Dawn of course blurted out, "When did you catch him?"

Ash didn't take his eyes off the battlefield as he replied, "Long story involving a trio of idiots who keep following me and an old lady with a cottage. I'll explain later."

Ash then turned to the long haired teen, "Since you challenged me I think it only fair to give you the first move."

Nando nodded and calmly called out, "Budew use Sunny Day please."

With a cry of "Bud!" the small flower pokemon fired a bright white beam into the sky and almost immediately what had once been a setting sun now shined just as bright as if it had just risen.

'Big mistake buddy. Turtwig can also use the brighter sun to his advantage too,' Ash thought with a grin.

"Alright Turtwig go on the offensive, use Bite!" Ash called out, the Sinnoh grass starter doing just as asked and rushing towards its opponent at a rather amazing speed.

"Budew dodge please!" Nando called out quickly.

Sadly for him and Budew Ash had called out the attack just before Budew had been able to finish using Sunny Day and so the small grass type did not have enough time to move out of the grass turtle's range. With a cry of, "Turt!" Turtwig clamped its toothless maw onto Budew, almost fitting the whole pokemon in its mouth.

"Budew please use Bullet Seed!" called the ever calm Nando. However Ash wasn't an elite trainer for nothing and noticed a slight tensing of the other teen's muscles showing his slight panic at his pokemon's situation.

"Turtwig toss it into the air and use Razor Leaf!" and like any of his pokemon Turtwig followed the order to a letter. Budew still went through with the Bullet Seed attack but not a single glowing seed impacted with Turtwig as they were all met with the flurry of leaves that was the Razor Leaf attack.

"Don't let up Turtwig! Another Razor Leaf!" Ash called out with Nando answering the attack, "Budew dodge please!"

Luckily Turtwig was still a rather inexperienced pokemon and so was not able to release the Razor Leaf attack as fast as Ash would have liked, allowing Budew enough time to land and roll to the side to dodge the razor sharp leaves.

"Budew try Bullet Seed again!" and this time Turtwig was the one to be caught off guard, receiving quite the pelting of glowing yellow seeds.

Thankfully since Budew was still technically a baby pokemon and Turtwig being a grass type himself the attack did very little damage. However it still managed to do just enough to slightly stun the Sinnoh starter and Nando decided to capitalize on the opening he was offered, "Budew please use Mega Drain," said a now calmer Nando.

Before Ash could call out an order glowing green energy vines ensnared the stunned Turtwig. In seconds both Turtwig and the vines were glowing red signifying a successful Mega Drain. Ash took stock of the situation and debated on seeing who would win out first, Turtwig or Budew. He knew Budew wouldn't be able to hold the Mega Drain for too long but Turtwig had taken a little damage from that Bullet Seed so he didn't know if he would be able to hold out until then.

Normally he wouldn't have any issue gauging how much of a beating his pokemon could take but he had just caught Turtwig only a few hours before and so hadn't had the time to "test the waters" with the grass type, though Ash guessed now was as good a time as any.

"Turtwig just try and hold on a bit longer!" with the grass turtle giving a pained grunt telling Ash that he had heard his trainer. As this was going on the wounds Budew had gained from the Bite attack as well as the damage from his little fall began to heal.

"Budew begin charging your Solar Beam!" Nando called, shocking Ash that such a young pokemon knew such a powerful move, though he shouldn't talk. His Bulbasaur knew Frenzy Plant and his Squirtle knew Hydro Cannon, the strongest attacks available to their types and they shouldn't be able to learn those moves well into their last evolutionary stage. However what happened next made Ash want to face palm.

As Budew gathered energy to do as its trainer asked it began to glow a bright white showing that it was evolving as it did so, all while maintaining its hold on Turtwig. As the glow died down the slightly larger form of Roselia emerged and released the concentrated beam of energy that was Solar Beam straight at the immobile Turtwig causing Ash to grimace. The chances that Turtwig was going to win this battle had just dropped drastically. Then again Ash was known for being able to pull out the win even with the odds stacked against him.

Despite Roselia just evolving, taking a full on Bite attack from Turtwig and tiring itself out from using Solar Beam, two Bullet Seeds, and maintaining a Mega Drain had taken quite the toll on the pokemon, shown by its heavily panting form. When the dust finally cleared what it revealed caused everyone present to gasp and Ash to grin because wobbling on its feet with a grin mirroring its trainer was Turtwig. Of course Turtwig looked like it had seen better days with the various burns that dotted his shelled body but even still it was determined to show its new trainer that it was more than strong enough to stand with him.

Taking advantage of the situation Nando had presented them Ash called out, "Turtwig use Synthesis now!"

Thanks to Sunny Day still being in effect Turtwig was able to heal almost all of the damage it had taken from the direct Solar Beam and Nando could do nothing as he knew his Roselia was much too tired to move much less continue battling. Taking this in too account he sighed before he called out, "I forfeit!" which shocked Dawn, though Ash only nodded. As someone who put his pokemon's health over winning a battle he understood where Nando was coming from.

Both trainers recalled their grass types, Ash and Nando praising their pokemon and their efforts in the battle. Dawn walked up to the two, Piplup in her arms and Pikachu on her shoulder. As soon as Dawn was close enough Pikachu leapt from her shoulder to assume his usual spot on Ash's shoulder which he welcomed with a grin.

"Why did you forfeit Nando?" asked a curious Dawn. She knew that Turtwig had been able to regain a good chunk of its health but Roselia had just evolved so it should have had the upper hand.

Knowing what was going through her head Ash answered instead, "Even though the two were pretty evenly matched and Roselia had just evolved that doesn't change the fact that Turtwig had been able to score a good hit on it right at the beginning of the battle. Mega Drain can heal wounds but it doesn't heal fatigue and neither does evolving."

Nando nodded at that, "Indeed and I was actually hoping that Budew would evolve as I could tell that she was about ready to do so."

Turning to Ash he inclined his head in a nod, "Thank you Ash but I must take Roselia to be healed now."

Ash nodded his head in return, "Yea it looks like all of our pokemon could use some rest and healing, right guys?"

All of the pokemon present including Piplup and Buneary nodded their heads at that, they had worked their respective butts off today.

Later that night Ash had gotten the craving for a midnight snack and so ventured down to the cafeteria to see that there was still some food left out by Nurse Joy for just such an occasion. He also noticed Nando sitting without his robe and hat looking contemplatively at a cup of what appeared to be coffee.

Taking a seat across from him with a sandwich and cup of water he asked, "So whatcha got on your mind?"

Nando didn't seem at all surprised by Ash's presence and just gave a small smile as a greeting, "Well I've been thinking about what I should choose…gym battles or contests. I had hoped that a battle with you would have given me a clear decision but I am still confused."

Ash took a bite of his sandwich and asked, "Well tell me why you're considering both."

Nando returned his gaze to his cup and began to speak in a slightly excited tone, "They both have their merits. I enjoy having a battle where my partners and I are forced to fight at the limits of our power and have to think of strategies on the fly…but contests are the perfect opportunity to not only show that strength but express to the world the passion and the beauty I and my team have for what we do. Both give me such a rush and I gain so much enjoyment from both for different reasons."

Ash finished his sandwich, crumpled the wrapper, finished his drink and got up, "Do both then."

Nando looked up shocked at his fellow trainer's blunt reply, "What?"

Ash continued on his way to his room, "It's simple. Do both. The Grand Festival is always a few months before the League tournaments and contest halls are sometimes in the same city as a gym if not on the way to one. You have more than enough time."

With a casual wave without looking behind him Ash yawned, "Night Nando."

Nando merely shook his head and smiled at the bluntness of the teen. He turned his gaze up to the cafeteria ceiling, "Do both hmm? You sure are an interesting person Ash Ketchum. I wonder what the future holds for both you and your…friend Dawn. Hmm but for how much longer will she remain as just a friend?"

The next morning we find Ash and Dawn standing outside the Jubilife contest hall. Ash smiled at the young blue haired teen next to him, "Well Dawn this is it, your first contest. You ready?"

Dawn turned to her raven haired companion and winked while giving him the peace sign, "No need to worry!"

Ash shook his head with a smile at the girls "catchphrase". They began to walk in separate directions, Ash to the stands where the rest of the crowd would be watching and Dawn to the coordinators' room to prepare. Before they totally separated they hi-fived each other and grasped the other's hand before eventually having to let go as the wall separating the two different passage ways came between them.

It was Dawn's time to shine.

EDIT: Some questions about ages and such have come up due to romance aspects and such.

I will preface this by saying that one must keep in mind that the Pokemon world is different from our own. Besides the obvious addition of creatures who can breathe fire and such, the mentality and thinking of the general populace is different. Where in modern times we think of kids younger than about 16 or so partaking in the more adult aspects of relationships as something to be frowned upon this is not the case in the Pokemon world. At the age of 10 (12 in my story) they are given a tiny little creature who could very well kill them as their only means of defense against the elements of Nature and other creatures who are equally if not even more dangerous and expected to go out and not only survive but fight/perform/etc. in Contests, Gym battles, or whatever else they choose to do and make a living off of it.

I doubt many of us would have the sheer bravery or stupidity to stand up to something like a Nidoking or even a Manetric in real life. Contrary to what almost all of us Pokemon fans think we would probably sooner shat ourselves than try and fight it, even with the help of a pokemon. The only way I'm doing that is if I have a team of strong ones like Typhlosion, Kingdra, or the like. Yet that is exactly what is expected of these trainers, these kids now christened adults by their own version of a government.

In all honesty I think that for the majority kids indulging in things like sex and even marrying at a young age is nothing of surprise to the Pokemon world. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the norm actually.

I mean the only old people we see alive in game or in the show are all mostly battle hardened veteran trainers like Oak, Agatha, Bertha, etc. People who have made a name for themselves and have proven to be more than capable of fighting at intense levels even in old age.

As such I think that for most trainers and such the life expectancy probably isn't too high.

Anywho aside from this little rant here are the ages as I see them:

Ash: 14 years old about to be 15. (1 year and some months in Kanto, a year in Johto, a few months in the Orange Islands, a year or so in Hoenn and then a shorter trek back through Kanto for the Battle Frontier)

Dawn: 12 years old.

Nothing too explicit will be happening between the two for some time though so don't go worrying about that stuff. Especially since I think the progression of romance last time was a little too fast. They will still obviously end up together and kiss and all that great stuff, but not too fast as to be unbelievable. I want to add a sense of realism to this, rushing the romance would be counterintuitive to that end.

Also I would like to say that this was the last of the original chapters I have edited. This means that soon you guys can expect a brand spanking new chapter! Expect it to be longer and to show off some of my…new knowledge? Style?

Whatever just expect it to be better really.

Until chapter!

Peace!