A/N: I do not own Pokemon or any of the places and never will. I'm just here to do the shipping. Oh, and pretend Fantina has a French accent.

Chapter 3

We stood at the front of Fantina's gym and I took one step toward the doors, ready to walk in, when Barry grabbed my arm.

"Dawn I have to go. My mom told me to come home for a sec. Call me when you're done with the battle."

I gave Barry a sad face because I wanted him to watch me battle against Fantina again. He gave me a goofy smile and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry Dawn, I'll be able to watch your battle with Volkner. I"LL KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED FOR YA!"

"Okay, if you're going home, can you drop the wrapping paper off at my house?"

He nodded, I smiled toward him, gave him the paper, and we went our separate ways.

0o0o0o0

"OOH Dawn! You finally made it! MANIFIQUE!"

I walked up to Fantina while looking all around the gym.

"Wow. I haven't been here in a long time."

I faced toward Fantina and she looked over joyed by my visit, because she started to twirl around and made her dress swish in every which way.

"Wonderful, Dawn! Shall we?"

I made my way to the end closest to the door and she walked all the way to the other side. The place was bigger than I remember it being. It's so huge now!

"Dawn I see you have noticed the way the gym looks. I got it remodeled so that the Pokemon have more room to battle."

I gave her a toothy smile this time, but turned it into one of my smaller smiles wondering if she could see from all the way down there.

"We should start, no?!"

I immediately retaliated with a head nod.

"Okay Fantina!"

"Manifique!"

At that moment I saw a guy come out of a door and stand off to the side, on a small box.

"The challenge will be between Fantina, the Hearthrome City gym leader and Dawn, the Sinnoh Champion from Twinleaf Town! The battle will be a three on three and only the challenger may switch out Pokemon. You may begin!"

I took a Pokeball from my bag and tossed it out towards the center.

"Come on out Empoleon!"

Empoleon appeared in front of me and looked ready for battle.

"Empoleon!"

Fantina tossed her Pokeball and I saw her famous Drifblim.

"I'll go first Dawn! Drifblim, Ominous Wind!"

A huge gush of dark purple wind had came fast towards Empoleon and knocked him down. Empoleon quickly got up and was ready to start attacking.

"Empoleon use Ice Beam!"

He opened his mouth and a stream of ice came rushing out. It was headed straight for Drifblim's face. It was just about to touch him, when it dodged. Drifblim so effortlessly dodged the attack. It had graciously moved out of the way as if it was the easiest task in the world to do. I looked at Fantina, who was doing basically what her Driblim did, but in a somewhat dance move way.

"MANIFIQUE!"

"Empoleon, Surf!"

A huge tidal wave had appeared from under Empoleon and Drifblim now had nowhere to go. It was to busy mimicking Fantina's dance-dodge.

Drifblim was blown back and slowly got back up.

"Drifblim quickly, use Shadow ball, than Psychic!"

It all happened so fast. Drifblim conjured up a dark orb and hit Empoleon causing him to stumble back. Than, he immediately started using Psychic and tossed him up to the top of the gym and landed pretty hard on the ground.

"Empoleon!"

He stood up looking barely hurt. He turned toward me and nodded his head. I was proud of Empoleon. Even after getting hit like that, he looked like he was barely hit.

"Ready, Empoleon!"

"Empoleon!"

"Okay! Use Ice Beam!"

Drifblim wasn't so aware of what happened this time and got hit by Ice Beam. It hit pretty hard and smacked him on the wall.

"Oh my dear Drifblim! Drifblim use Charge Beam!"

Driflblim than shot out a charge of electricity and hit Empoleon hard, but not hard enough to take him down. Each Pokemon had gotten tired in such a short amount of time and were ready to plop on the last move.

Empoleon was panting and breathing hard and so was Driflblim. I wanted to move fast, so that Fantina couldn't get that last hit.

"Empoleon Ice Beam!/Drifblim Charge Beam!"

Both Pokemon shot there attack with a lot of power causing a big collision. There was smoke everywhere and no one could see.

"Empoleon are you okay!"

The smoke wasn't seeming to die down and everyone was silent. That's when I heard someone call a Pokemon out.

"Staravia, Defog!"

The smoke started to fade from where the referee was. He had got his Staravia to clear the field and it surprised everyone.

We all saw Drifblim and Empoleon knocked out cold by both of there attacks.

"...and both Pokemon have fainted! That means this round is a draw!"

I felt my face drop because back when I was traveling with Barry and Lucas, Fantina was hard to beat on the journey and I wasn't about to give up.

"Oh well, on to the next one! What do you say Dawn, shall we continue?"

I nodded feeling quite even with that match.

*Remember Dawn. It's not over till' its over.*

0o0o0o0

"We shall do this again, no?"

It was my first out two victories and I was still pumped for my next one.

"Yeah!"

"Ouie! Dawn I hope you had as much fun as I had. Battling is a passion of mine and it's something I never want to lose, especially my wondrous Pokemon!"

I agree with Fantina. Being able to be with your Pokemon and watch them battle is a rush. Raising them from the beginning and sharing all those memories is something I never want to give away.

"It was great Fantina. We should do it again and next time I won't go easy on you."

"MANIFIQUE! The same as me. I shall give it my all. Auvoir!"

With that, I left her gym and sat down on a bench nearby.

"Come on out everyone!"

I took all my Pokemon out ready to give them one of my inspirational talks that I save for them every once in awhile.

Glaceon laid halfway on my lap and Raichu sat next to Glaceon facing me. Luxray sat on the other side of me on the ground and Typhlosion stood next to him. Empoleon had stood in front of me while Togekiss was still in her Pokeball.

"Guys, you know I love you all, right?"

Each one nodded and I could feel Glaceon lick me.

"I try to motivate you all so much and you guys try so hard that I'm very grateful to each and every one of you."

Everyone chanted causing me to smile.

"Now we have a battle with Volkner next so I just hope we can give it our all. We better get going to our next battle. Return everyone!"

All my Pokemon went back into there Pokeballs except for Raichu. I like to keep one Pokemon out every so often.

"Come on Raichu, we have to go to the Pokemon Center."

"Rai-Rai."

I got up and walked a couple steps forward. I turned around to see if he was following me or not. When I did, he jumped off and started to walk by my side.

0o0o0o0

"Nurse Joy may I use the phone please?"

"Yes, here I'll open a line for you."

"Thank you."

She started clicking her mouse rapidly, focusing all her attention to the screen of her computer at the front desk.

"uhh...The first one on the right is open."

"Okay, thanks again."

I walked over to the one Nurse Joy had said to go to and started dialing Barry's home. It started ringing and I could feel my heart jump when someone answered, but it wasn't Barry. (It's one of those phone/screen things)

"Dawn. How are you?"

It was Barry's mom and she seemed to be very smiley. She enjoyed seeing both me and Barry get along so well when we were kids. I actually think that she wanted us to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but I didn't want to know. It would be too embarrassing.

"Oh I'm fine."

"Your probably looking for Barry, right?"

I nodded and her smile widened even more, if it was possible.

"Okay, I'll go get him. Barry the phone!"

Barry sat down and quickly grabbed the phone immediately shouting straight into it.

"So Dawn how was the battle?! Did you win?!"

"It was great Barry and I'm ready for the next one. Can you come get me now?"

I looked at the screen and the next thing I saw was a really beautiful girl push Barry out of the way a little and wave at me. I sat there for a second before waving back at her, but with way less enthusiasm then her.

"Hey there, you must be Dawn! My name's Hilda it's really nice to finally meet you."

"Umm... Nice to meet you to?"

Barry looked really mad and pushed the girl to the side, so she was out of view.

"Sorry about that Dawn. This is my dad's-friend's-daughter, Hilda. She's visiting here from the Unova region and she wanted to sightsee before going off to the Kanto region to travel."

Hilda then grabbed a chair and sat smack next to Barry, taking the phone and holding it up between both of their ears. I looked at Barry and Hilda's shoulders and I just couldn't help the pang of jealousy in my heart because of how close they were.

"Yea and I'm so excited to be here! Barry and I met a couple months ago and we've been friends ever since. He told me so much about you and how you beat the league. Congrats by the way!"

I nodded slightly and pouted a little before answering.

"Thanks."

Barry took the phone from her and nudged her away and she did the same. They did it a couple times before Hilda took it, but Barry snatched it from her hands again and held it up. He stuck his tongue out at her and winked.

I looked away slightly and just looked at the top of Raichu's head. I heard them giggling and slouched a little. It didn't look like they were friends to me, it looked like they were flirting instead.

"I was wondering if you wouldn't mind her coming to your battle Dawn, if that's okay with you?"

I nodded my head, barely paying attention to what he was saying, and just kept thinking about Hilda. I have nothing against her, it's just that… Barry's known me longer and now I see him doing what took a few years for him to do with me, to a girl he met a couple months ago.

"Cool, we'll be there as fast as a Pidgeot."

"Bye Dawn, we'll see ya and it was nice to meet ya!"

I watched the screen as it turned off and switched to black. I needed a moment to clear my head so I carried Raichu to the bathroom with me and placed him on the counter. I looked at him and just kept my eyes on his flicking tail.

"Rai?"

He walked closer and poked my stomach. I was aware he did it, but still jumped back.

"Sorry Raichu. I'm just thinking."

He took a battle stance and started to walk closer to the edge of the counter.

"Raiii! Raii!"

I understand my Pokemon and I could always feel a connection with them, so I knew what he was saying to me.

"You're right Raichu. I have a battle and I shouldn't get distracted."

I slapped my cheeks and walked up to the sink, turning the water on. I looked at my reflection and I could see something I didn't expect.

Tears.

I knew they were definitely not from joy.

*I guess seeing Hilda and Barry together got to me.*

I splashed water on my face and got paper towels.

"Come on Raichu, let's go get that snack."

He cheered, I picked him up, and we walked out. I walked over to the cafe and sat down at a booth placing Raichu down. I looked around for a waiter and called one over.

"Yes, now what would you and your Pokemon like today ma'am?"

"Just a bowl of electric type food would be fine, thank you."

"Yes ma'am."

He walked away looking chipper and I immediately put my head down.

"Rai-Rai."

I looked up and Raichu started rubbing his cheek with mine.

"Raichu you're too soft for your own good, you know that."

The waiter came by and set the bowl down causing Raichu to turn from me to the food. He sat down and started stuffing his face with food.

"You're so silly Raichu."

He looked at me with crumbs on his mouth and smiled.

I smiled and started to rub the top of his head while he kept demolishing his food.

"Hey Dawn."

I turned around and saw Barry with Hilda holding onto his arm. I faced Raichu again and started talking.

"Hey, I'm ready to go, I just have to wait for Raichu.

"Waii-Waii!"

Raichu was just getting cuter and cuter the more he kept eating. He had his cheeks filled with Pokemon food and it was adorable.

"Aww, come on Raichu. We have to get going."

I stood up and waited for Raichu to swallow and picked him up.

"Sorry Raichu, but we have to go."

We walked outside the Pokemon Center and stood there. I put Raichu down and took out his Pokeball.

"Raichu return."

I looked at Barry and he seemed to be whispering to Hilda about something. I looked closer at his face and I could see a faint blush sweeping over his face.

"Is everything okay guys? You seem kind of quiet Barry."

He shifted his eyes to look at me and quickly nodded.

"Don't worry Dawn we're fine. Hilda here is just being weird is all."

Hilda then started to scowl rolled her eyes at Barry.

"Barry, I'm not the weird one here. You're the one who won't tell Dawn about you asking me—"

Barry then clamped his hand over Hilda's mouth and turned as bright as a tomato berry. I could tell that Barry liked Hilda, but he didn't have to keep that from me. I looked down at the ground and stared at my boots. He and I have been friends since forever and I just wish he would tell me if he was dating her. It would be nice to know especially since I have feelings for him too...

"Dawn don't worry about Hilda, let's just hurry up and go."

I smiled to reassure him that I didn't need to know what Hilda was about to say. But in all honesty, I do.

Barry let go of Hilda's mouth and she threw him a quick side glance and brushed it off like he didn't even do that. He made a relieved sigh and then threw out his Staraptor.

"Come on out Staraptor."

Barry quickly climbed on and patted Staraptor's head while looking at me and Hilda.

"Well the battle's not gonna come to us. Let's make a move on!"

I looked at Hilda and she just stared at Barry who looked oblivious to the situation. She stepped forward and spoke before I could.

"Barry I don't think Staraptor's big enough for the 3 of us. I'll just call out one of my Pokemon and you and Dawn could ride together."

Before I could suggest that I go switch Togekiss out for another I had in my PC, Hilda had already sent out her Pokemon.

"Come out and meet everybody!"

I watched intently as a beautiful white bird Pokemon emitted from the Pokeball and made a shrilling call. It had a tuft of blue chest feathers and an elegant look about it that made it look stunning.

"This here is Swanna, Dawn. She's the lovely lady who got me through the Pokemon League in the Unova region."

"She's beautiful."

I was too stunned for words to say anything else and watched as Hilda got onto her back.

"No time like the present Dawn let's go."

I nodded nervously and got on with Barry. I cautiously put my arms around his waist and I could feel him tense up. As soon as I looked at Hilda, I could see her smile at Barry and wink, which to me it looked like he started to turn pink again.

"CAN WE GO ALREADY WE'RE WAISTING TIME FOR DAWN'S BATTLE!"

I peered over at Hilda and watched as she giggled.

"Lead the way!"