Where do we feel our emotions? Science tells us that we experience emotions as a result of chemical and electrical messages in our brains, the biological equivalent to computer circuits. Philosophy and ancient beliefs state that we feel with our hearts, that one of the most vital organs in our bodies is more than just a biomechanical pump. You are free to draw your own conclusions, but I believe that our strongest emotions, our passions, fears, furies and sorrows, are felt with our whole bodies. Knowing this, what happens when two bodies come in contact? And what about the connections between us that we can't see...
Dawn sat in the waiting area of the Pokemon Center, her heart nearly stone cold. It had been over an hour since Max and her had teleported back, Piplup having been seriously injured in a battle with a pair of Pokemon Poachers. Since entrusting Nurse Joy with her partner's well being, she had been sitting there, waiting, while alternating sorrow and fury swamped her thoughts. Sorrow at her friend's wellbeing, fury for allowing him be hurt so badly.
She shuddered as she recalled the leering looks of Ray, one of the Poachers. If Max and Ralts hadn't been there, or if Max's newly caught Golett hadn't broken free of its cage, she didn't want to think about what would have happened.
Max sat opposite of her, gazing at her helplessly. He had also opted to have Nurse Joy take care of his Ralts and Golett, though they hadn't been nearly as badly hurt as Piplup. He also didn't need Ralts to tell him that Dawn was grieving for the battle. She was an experienced trainer, and to not only be beaten so badly, but also for Piplup to have been injured so, was nearly too much for her to take.
The door to the operating room opened, and Nurse Joy stepped through, followed by a large pink and cream Pokemon. Max had been told that it was an Audino, who acted in the same capacity as the Chansey and Blissey of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh.
Dawn glanced over at Nurse Joy, then got to her feet. "Is Piplup okay?"
Nurse Joy smiled. "He'll be just fine. The injury was serious, so I recommend that he not participate in battles for a couple days, but, so long as you adhere to that, I'm expecting him to make a full recovery. May I ask how he managed to get hurt so badly?"
Dawn sat down again, her depressing emotions draining away in relief. "We were up at Dragonspiral Tower, when we ran into a couple of Pokemon Poachers. They were capturing all of the Golett in the tower. We tried to stop them and, well..."
Max took over. "Piplup took most of the hits, and got thrown into a couple of pillars. We managed to beat them though, after Golett broke out. How are Ralts and Golett doing?" he asked hopefully.
Nurse Joy had a thoughtful look on her face, Audino gazing up at her curiously. "Hmm, so that's what was going on." She blinked. "Oh, sorry. Your Ralts and Golett are fine, although Ralts is very tired. I must say, I'm surprised that you managed to catch that shiny Golett. It has a bit of a reputation."
Max stared at her. "He does? He's shiny? Whoa."
Nurse Joy giggled. "Oh yes. This particular Golett is well known around the tower, for two reasons. The first is his reputation for being a powerful protector of the tower. Most believe that it knows everything that goes on there. The second reason is its ability."
Max frowned. "I noticed that he was always surrounded by that light when he was battling. What was it?"
Nurse Joy smiled. "That was its ability, No Guard. It's very unusual, since most Golett have either Iron Fist or Klutz for their abilities. I've worked here for nearly thirty years, and that is the only Golett I've ever heard of of having that ability. It's part of what makes it so powerful, it can be very aggressive without needing to worry about its opponents moving."
Max stared at her in amazement. "I've never heard of Pokemon having three abilities."
Nurse Joy nodded. "Actually, a lot of Pokemon species do. The third ability is so extremely rare to find, however, that most people call it the hidden ability."
Max nodded. He couldn't wait to show Ash. He paused as Dawn suddenly walked past them, stopping in front of the door.
"Excuse me, but can I see Piplup now? Is he awake?" she asked.
Nurse Joy turned. "He is, actually. Go on in."
Dawn walked through the door, followed by Max. The brightly lit room was filled with beds, most of them empty. Piplup's was set off to one side, where he was talking with Ralts. Golett, whose black and grey stone skin and glowing green markings contrasting with the bright lights, stood nearby.
Dawn rushed over to the bed, nearly surprising her partner. "Piplup! I'm so happy you're okay!" She swept him up in her arms, barely keeping the presence of mind to not crush him against her chest.
Piplup stretched his small wings up to her neck. "Pip piplup lup, piplup." (I'm okay, Dawn.)
Dawn smiled happily, all traces of her previous sadness gone. "I know. Nurse Joy says that you should take a break from battles for a few days. Whaddya say?"
Piplup nodded, still feeling the faded bruises beneath his feathers. Ralts smiled, then teleported into Max's arms. He hugged her against his chest, enjoying the warmth her body imparted. True to her kind, the happy emotions in the room did wonders to her well-being. If ever there was a point where she could evolve, it would be now.
But, it wasn't quite enough. Though Ralts was happy and content, she felt no desire to make that jump. Instead, she did her best to spread her feelings around.
Nurse Joy watched the reunion with a kind smile. A thought suddenly occurred to her. "Oh, Dawn, about your friend Ash..."
Dawn whirled around. "You've seen him? Where is he?" she asked forcefully.
Nurse Joy shook her head. "No, I haven't seen him, though I did get a call from Brycen, the Gym Leader. He said that he had a new challenger, and to expect him to drop by the Pokemon Center later today. He seemed almost eager for the match, and that it would be a slightly different battle then others he had faced. Maybe he's battling your friend?"
Dawn rushed out the door without saying a word, although Nurse Joy did catching something that sounded like "Yes!" Max grinned in anticipation and slight embarrassment.
"Sorry about that. She's been looking forward to seeing Ash for a while. See ya later!" He returned Golett to its Pokeball, then hurried after Dawn.
It took Dawn only a couple minutes to reach the Gym. Hurriedly knocking on the door, she was nearly jumping in anticipation. I'll finally get to see Ash! She froze. Shit, what am I going to say? It's been months, and he has no idea that I'm here. What am I going to do?
Max managed to catch up to her just as the door opened. A man stepped through, a different person from before. "Can I help you? Brycen is currently taking a challenger, so you can't battle him yourself."
Dawn shook her head. "No, we're not here to challenge him. The challenger he has right now, does he happen to have a Pikachu?"
The man frowned. "Pikachu?" He rubbed his chin. "Small Pokemon, mostly yellow, red cheeks, tail shaped like a lightning bolt?"
Dawn nearly jumped again. "Yes! That's Pikachu!"
The man smiled. "Yeah. The Trainer called himself Ash. Why, do you know him?"
Dawn was speechless. It had been over a month since she had made the decision to find Ash again, and now that she was so close to seeing him again, her brain simply deserted her.
Max saved her. "Would you mind if we watched the battle? Is it still going on?"
The Gym attendant frowned. "Hmm. Normally, Brycen doesn't like observers. But..." He glanced over the pair. He didn't recognize the Pokemon they were holding. "...You look like you've come a long way, and you seem to know Ash, so I think Brycen will allow it. Follow me."
Dawn and Max followed the attendant down the corridor. It was completely silent, each wrapped up in their thoughts. Dawn could hardly believe that she was finally here, that she was about to see Ash again after all the time that they had been apart. She started fidgeting with her hair and clothes, suddenly self-conscious. She knew that Ash didn't much care how she looked, he hardly cared about how he himself looked, but she couldn't help herself.
Max was eager to see his friend again. He wondered what Pokemon he was about to see. He figured that Ash would have done the same thing that he had done when he came to Hoenn, and later Sinnoh, bringing only Pikachu with him, so he was bound to have some brand new Pokemon, not to mention the Pokemon that the Gym Leader would have, as well as Ash's new friends Iris and Cilan.
A dim explosion reached their ears, and the attendant grinned. "I'll admit, this Ash guy is pretty skilled. He's managed to get Brycen down to Beartic, which is better than most people have managed. But I doubt that he'll be able to win. Brycen didn't get to where he is by being a slacker."
Dawn's eyes narrowed, and her mouth set into a grim line. "You've obviously never seen Ash battle before. No one battles like him. He thrives on a challenge. You might think you have him against the ropes, but that's when he hits hardest." Her eyes took on a flinty appearance, her determination and conviction clearly evident. "Believe me, however tough this Brycen is, Ash has faced tougher."
The attendant glanced back at her, then shrugged, dismissing her words.
They walked through the open doorway of the corridor, and Dawn and Max gazed down. Her heart caught in her throat as she took in the scene.
On one side of the field stood an older man in blue robes. His face was obscured by a mask, and his posture spoke of countless battles and experience. Several feet in front of him stood a tall white bear-like Pokemon. It was over eight feet in height, with wide set hips and stocky limbs. Its paws were easily bigger than most shovel blades, and three icicles descended from its chin like a beard. It roared in challenge, then settled down onto all four legs, its black eyes staring across the battlefield.
Several feet away from the large Pokemon, Pikachu was crouched, his ears flat against his head. His tail twitched in the air, the only response he made to challenge before him. Fearless determination was stamped on his face.
Standing further behind Pikachu, was Ash himself. His signature ball cap, red and white with a blue Pokeball design on the front, was pulled tight over his messy black hair. A blue and white zipped hoodie masked his torso, and his legs were clad in dark gray jeans. Red and white shoes enveloped his feet. A grim look was on his face, and even from the halfway across the arena, Dawn could see the determined fire in his eyes. Despite the new clothes he wore, he was still the same Ash that she knew, the same Ash that she had come to love with all her heart and soul.
While Dawn was absorbed in looking at Ash, Max was eyeing the two people sitting in the stands. One was a tall green haired man, dressed in an elegant suit like a waiter. The other was an older teenage girl, dressed in a simple dark cream frock. Her purple hair was done in three massive bunches. A small green Pokemon, with two small tusks protruding from its mouth, stood on the edge of the railing.
Ash glared across at Brycen. There was no denying it, he was tough. Scraggy had managed to overcome his Vanillite, and Pignite had almost easily defeated the Cryogonal. Now, he was down to Brycen's powerful Beartic. The Brine attack had caught Pignite by surprise, wiping out the fire type. Scraggy was in no condition to fight, having been crushed by the Cryogonal. So, he had chosen to use Pikachu. He had considered using Krokorok or Boldore, but after seeing that Brine, and already knowing Beartic's Icicle Crash and Aerial Ace attacks, he had decided that he needed someone who didn't have some sort of type disadvantage, and had the power and versatility to control the battle. Pikachu's speed, strong electric attacks, and super-effective Iron Tail was exactly what he needed.
Brycen smiled across at his challenger. "So, Ash. What'll it be? Pikachu and Beartic are evenly matched, and I'm eager to see what else you have in store. Show me your strength!"
Ash grinned. "Don't think that we're going to be frightened off by Beartic's power. I haven't come all this way to wimp out. Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu flexed the sacks of electricity in his cheeks, causing sparks of electricity to burst through his skin and fur. More sparks and jolts shot out, until he was surrounded by a thick field of electricity. Leaping into the air, he concentrated the field into a single bolt, which blasted through the air towards Beartic.
Brycen smiled. "Good. Beartic, Frost Breath!" Beartic reared onto his hind legs, and drew in a sharp breath. Releasing it, a bitterly cold wind erupted from his open mouth, laced with dozens of glittering ice crystals.
The two attacks, electric and ice, collided, each striving to overpower the other. The stalemate lasted for a few seconds, then both Pokemon ceased their attacks. Pikachu easily landed on all fours, the adrenaline pumping through his small body enhancing the thrill of a challenge. Beartic dropped down to his front paws as well, gazing across with beady black eyes at his much smaller opponent.
Brycen's smile grew slightly wider. "Excellent power, but you will need more than that to overcome our experience. Icicle Crash!" Beartic reared up again, and blew another cold, ice-laden wind. This time, the tiny crystals merged together, rapidly forming large icicles as thick as Beartic's arm. Gravity took hold, and the heavy icicles turned their sharp points toward the earth.
Ash quietly chuckled. He had been thinking about how best to counter this attack. "Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Pikachu tensed, then leaped forward, blurring slightly as he rushed, a trail of white light tailing him. Moving at speeds far exceeding anything that Beartic could ever hope for, Pikachu bobbed and weaved between the falling icicles. Each block of ice crashed into the ground with a heavy thud, splitting open the ground with their impact, and each missed the agile Mouse Pokemon by a scarce breath.
Brycen and Beartic looked on in surprise as Pikachu made it through the perilous obstacle course without a scratch. "Impressive." Brycen commented.
Ash grinned. "Now, Electro Ball!" Pikachu leaped into the air, still moving at breath-taking speed, and threw himself in a forward spin. Electricity crackled around his tail, gathering into an orb of electric energy. Enhanced by Pikachu's accelerated body, the orb was whipped from his tail, and smashed into Beartic's chest, the powerful impact offsetting the Freezing Pokemon's balance, sending him sprawling onto his back with a pained roar.
Pikachu landed nearby, then dashed back to stand in front of Ash, pleased but wary. Experience had long since taught him that opponents, especially large and powerful ones like Beartic, seldom appreciated being made fools of.
Beartic rolled onto his paws, shook his head, then turned and roared at Pikachu. Brycen chuckled. "Excellent work, Ash. It's not often that I get a challenger like you. But you will not find us so easily beaten. Frost Breath!" Again, Beartic blew a bitterly cold wind towards Pikachu.
Ash smiled. "Dodge it!" Pikachu leaped aside, easily avoiding the chilled air.
Brycen thrust out his hand. "Aerial Ace!" Beartic tensed, compressing the muscles in his hind legs, then lunged forward, becoming enveloped in streaks of white light as he stretched his lanky arms forward. He shot through the air, rocketing straight towards Pikachu.
Ash gritted his teeth. "Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
Brycen smiled. "Beartic, Icicle Crash!"
Pikachu leaped towards Beartic, his lightning bolt tail becoming covered in a silver metallic sheen. Beartic opened his mouth and blew, more thick icicles shooting through the air at an accelerated rate. Taken by surprise, Pikachu was forced to slash at a frenzied pace, trying to break the icicles as they came. Not being able to maneuver nearly quickly enough in the air, several icicles battered his body, throwing him backwards. Beartic then slammed into him, trapping Pikachu beneath his bulky body. Shifting quickly, he pressed down with one paw, leaving Pikachu nearly helpless.
Ash ground his teeth in frustration. It never ceased to surprise him how quickly a battle to turn from advantage to disadvantage. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Brycen chuckled. "Brine!"
Beartic lifted his paw and blasted a thick stream of blue-green sea water from his mouth into Pikachu's face, breaking the electric type's concentration. Satisfied that no attack was forthcoming, Beartic once again trapped Pikachu beneath his heavy paw.
Ash clenched his fists, irritated with himself. "Electro Ball!" Spitting salt from his mouth, Pikachu glared up at his bulky opponent. Electricity gathered at the tip of Pikachu's tail, which he swung upward and slammed into Beartic's elbow. Roaring as the strong electric attack spasmed through his arm, Beartic reared backwards.
"Get out of there! Quick Attack!" A fast as a bolt of lightning from a storm cloud, Pikachu rolled onto his front and shot out from beneath the large Freezing Pokemon. "Iron Tail, now!" Racing up to the wall of the battlefield, Pikachu easily jumped up onto the small ledge at the top, then turned and launched himself into the air again, his tail again glowing in a silvery metallic light. Mentally, he nearly did a double-take.
Did I see Dawn up there? No, she's in Hoenn, she couldn't be here. Come on, focus on the battle! You know better than to get distracted! He scolded himself, glaring down at the large white bear beneath him.
Brycen simply smiled. "Beartic, Brine." Beartic rolled onto his back, and shot the stream of water up at the air-born Pikachu. The blast caught him full in the stomach, knocking the wind from his lungs and hurtling him into the air and down the battlefield, crashing into the dirt.
Dawn bit her lip as she muffled Piplup's excited cheer. Max looked at her oddly. "Aren't you gonna cheer for him? I thought that's what you said you always did?"
Dawn gave him a nervous look. "I don't want him to know I'm here yet. I want to see how he battles when I'm not here. Besides, I don't here you cheering for him either."
Max shrugged. "I know that Ash can take care of himself in a battle. Besides, I don't want him to get distracted. This match up looks pretty even. Still, Ash is bound to have something up his sleeve."
Dawn nodded, anxiously bitting her lip again. She still didn't know how she was going to tell Ash that she was here, or how she was going to tell him that she loved him. At this point, she didn't know how she was going to do anything. Her heart thudded a heavy rhythm in her chest. Piplup pecked her hand, and she scarcely noticed. Her eyes were looked on Ash's face, hooded in grim determination.
Ash grunted. "Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
Brycen smiled. "Aerial Ace!"
Both Pokemon shot towards each other and collided, Beartic's greater size and weight winning out, bowling Pikachu backwards. "Now Frost Breath!" The chilled air propelled Pikachu faster, rolling him clear into the wall. Ash gritted his teeth. He had over six years of battling experience, and he was stumped.
Iris and Cilan gazed anxiously out from the sidelines.
"Ash isn't doing so well. Pikachu just can't seem to get past Beartic." Iris commented sadly, shivering slightly. Her fear of ice types was well known. It had alleviated a little after being trapped with a Vannilluxe for several hours, but not by a whole lot.
Cilan rubbed his chin. "It's true, from Ash's side, the flavor of the match is rapidly growing sour. Brycen is a very skilled Gym Leader, and has clear control of the match. I'm afraid that, if Ash doesn't pull himself together soon, he may end up losing this match.
Ash knelt next to Pikachu, helping his friend back to his feet. "You feeling okay Pikachu? You think you can keep going?" Pikachu leaned against Ash's hand, then shook his head rapidly. "Pika, pikachu pichu!" (I'm still good. We're not done yet.) He glared stubbornly at the bulky Beartic.
Ash bowed his head. "I don't know what's wrong with me, Pikachu. I can't think straight." Pikachu turned his gaze to his human partner. "Pika, pikapi, pikachupika!" (Come on Ash, we can't give up!)
Brycen folded his arms. "Do you want to continue, Ash? Or are you prepared to end this?"
Ash slowly raised to his feet, his head still bowed.
Dawn bit her lip anxiously. Something was wrong, she could feel it. Her heart thudded faster, and she couldn't hold herself back. "Come on, Ash!"
Ash froze, and his heart lurched in his chest, slamming into his ribs. What?
Iris and Cilan turned around and stared up the stands. Two people were standing at the top walkway. One was a young boy in a green t-shirt, sand-colored shorts and glasses. A strange, white Pokemon with a green head and pink horns was crouched on his backpack. Standing next to them a pretty teenage girl, wearing a black sleeveless shirt, pink skirt, and white beanie hat. A small blue bird-like Pokemon was held against her chest.
Ash turned his gaze upwards, and his eyes fastened on her bright blue ones. His heart crashed against his chest again, and time seemed to stop for him. His vision tunneled, until everything was excluded but her face.
Dawn? What? Why is she here? How did she get here?
Dawn gazed down at him, completely absorbed in his brown eyes. Surprise was marked across his face, though his eyes seemed almost lifeless. Where are you, Ash? Where's the guy I remember?
Ash was completely dumbstruck. Man, her eyes are just like I remember. Deep blue, just like the ocean...Something clicked in his head. Ocean? Salt water...wait...
Dawn saw a spark suddenly light in his eyes, and a familiar grin spread across his face. It was like a switch had been thrown, and suddenly he was there. All of him. Yes! Ash!
Ash turned and grinned at Brycen. "Give up? Nah, I'm just warming up." Pikachu smiled and clenched his small fist, then bounded back out onto the battle field. "Pika, pikapikachu!" (Heads up, ya big lug!)
Iris stared at the girl, then at Ash, then back up at the girl. "Is that...Dawn? I thought that Ash had said she was in Hoenn? What's she doing here?"
Cilan simply shook his head, then returned his attention to the battle. "I don't know, but I think a new ingredient was introduced to our battle. This should be exciting."
Max smirked. "I thought you said that you didn't want Ash to know you were here yet?"
Dawn waved her hand. "Shush."
Ash clenched his fist. "Let's rev this up, Pikachu. Thunderbolt!" Pikachu gathered his energy, and sent a crackling blast of electricity towards Beartic.
Brycen smiled. "I was hoping you weren't done yet. Frost Breath, then Icicle Crash!" Beartic reared up, sending another blast of frigid air, distorting the crackling Thunderbolt. Sucking in a second breath, he blew another volley of icicles towards Pikachu.
Ash grinned, a warm familiar feeling growing inside him. For the first time in a while, a fire was fanned in his mind, drawing his fighting spirit straight to the surface. "Pikachu, rapid fire Electro Balls, now!" Pikachu fastened his gaze on the descending icicles as more electric energy built up along his tail. Launching into a frenetic spin, he sent ball after ball into the air, each colliding with an icicle, reducing them to a gentle shower of ice crystals. "Come on, Brycen. You'll need something better than that." Ash taunted.
Brycen smirked. "Don't tempt fate, Ash. It will be the end of you. Aerial Ace!" Beartic lunged forward.
Ash smiled widely. Just as he hoped. "Pikachu, you know exactly what we need." Pikachu nodded. He hadn't been seeing things when he had seen Dawn the first time. And seeing her again, he had a pretty good idea of what Ash was thinking. He fastened his gaze on the rapidly approaching Beartic.
"Now, Quick Attack!" Pikachu shot forward, trusting completely in what he hoped was an unfamiliar strategy for Brycen. The gap between Pikachu and Beartic closed almost too fast, such were the speeds that the two Pokemon were moving.
Brycen frowned. What is he up to? He knows what happened last time.
At the last second, Pikachu threw himself into a sideways spin, lifting himself a little higher into the air. The distance was minuscule, but enough.
Ash grinned. "Thunderbolt!" Pikachu concentrated as he spun a hairsbreadth above the speeding Beartic, and multiple jolts of electricity sprang from his body, striking Beartic's back. Beartic roared in pain as he crashed into the ground, electricity crackling around his body, causing his muscles to twitch and spasm. Pikachu broke out of his spin, backflipping into a low stance as he stared across at the paralysed Freezing Pokemon.
Brycen raised an eyebrow. "Well. That's new. I confess, I have not seen a strategy like that. It has an...interesting flair...to it. May I ask where you learned it?"
Ash simply grinned at the Gym Leader. "From a friend."
Dawn gazed down at the battle in sheer delight. There was the Ash that she remembered. Always optimistic, always ready for a battle, almost never at a loss, and always unpredictable.
Brycen shrugged. "Well, in any case, this battle is far from over. Beartic, Icicle Crash!" Beartic jerked and shuddered as jolts of electricity continued to ripple around his body, growling as his muscles refused to respond.
Ash smiled. "You're right. We're not done either. Pikachu, Electro Ball!" Pikachu leaped into the air, and hurled another sphere of electricity. The crackling yellow orb smashed into Beartic's shoulder, forcing him down closer to the ground.
Brycen gritted his teeth. "Brine, now!" Beartic growled as his limbs finally obeyed him. He rose up on his hind legs and fired the powerful stream of water.
Ash's smile shifted slightly. "Alright. Thanks."
Iris frowned. "Did I just hear him right? Did he thank Brycen?"
Max folded his arms in confusion. "What is Ash doing now?"
Dawn smiled. "What he always does. Be Ash."
Ash held out his hand. "Pikachu, lets show him just what we're made of. Intercept with Thunderbolt!" Pikachu grinned. Another crackling field of energy surrounded him, and he blasted the oncoming stream of water.
The bolt of electricity and column of water struck each other. At the point of contact, each tiny particle of water become supercharged, and electricity blasted down the stream, smashing straight into Beartic's face. The powerful impact threw him backwards, carving a shallow trench through the dirt.
Ash smiled. "Now, Quick Attack to the wall!" Pikachu tensed, then shot forward, shooting past Brycen before the older man could blink. In one easy bound, he leaped to the top of the wall, then into the air. Ash's smile grew wider. "Iron Tail!" A flash of light lit the air, and Pikachu descended straight down on Beartic, his tail gleaming with metallic silver.
Brycen's eyes widened. "Frost Breath, now!" Beartic groaned as he rolled over and raised himself onto his paws, shaking his head to try and dispel the buzzing sound that ricocheted around his skull. Pikachu spun around in the air, bringing his metallic tail swinging down like an axe straight between Beartic's shoulders. Allowing his momentum to carrying him forward, he leaped off of Beartic's head, twisting in the air to land facing his opponent as Beartic collapsed to ground. The last thing the Freezing Pokemon saw before he passed out was the determined grin on the face of an opponent almost an eighth his size.
The referee raised his arm and pointed at Ash. "Pikachu is the victor, which means Ash wins the match!" Pikachu turned and jumped into Ash's arms. "Pikachu pikapi!" (We did it Ash)
Ash hugged his partner tightly. "Alright! Thanks a bunch Pikachu!" He laughed, then turned and raised his eyes to where Dawn was standing. She was waving at him, and he waved back. He noticed the boy standing next to her. Wait, is that Max? With Ralts? What are they doing here? His smile grew wider. I guess that Max is a trainer now. And that means I've got another battle to look forward to. His gaze switched back to Dawn. First things first. I've got some things to figure out.
Dawn smiled as she watched the blue robed man approach Ash. "I knew he was going to win. There was no way Ash was going to lose a Gym battle like this."
Max chuckled. "Yeah. He always does figure out someway to pull through." He turned and headed for the exit. "Come on, we'll meet up with him on his way out."
Several minutes later, Ash was sliding his new Freeze Badge into its slot in his badge case. He smiled as walked down the corridor, Cilan and Iris close behind him. Nearly there. Just one more to go.
"So, Ash, that girl that was there watching you, was that..."
Ash paused, then looked over his shoulder at Iris. "Was that Dawn? Yeah, that was her. I have no idea why or when she got here."
"Well, you could just ask me, Ash."
Ash stopped full and turned back the front. Dawn stood in the corridor opening, her arms crossed as she held Piplup to her chest. She smiled at him, and his heart thumped against his ribs again. Man, why does that keep happening?
Ash grinned. "Hey Dawn. It's great to see you again." He frowned. "But, what are you doing here? You're mom said you were competing in contests in Hoenn."
Piplup slipped out of Dawn's arms, landing smoothly on his feet. Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder, and the two Pokemon launched into a rapid conversation. Both spoke too quickly for their trainers to understand, an ability built from close familiarity with each other.
Dawn's smile widened. "I was, but my Pokemon were working so hard, that I decided that we deserved a bit of a break from contests. Besides, I heard about the World Junior Tournament that Unova was hosting, and I knew that you would never pass up an opportunity like that."
Ash's face nearly glowed in excitement. "World Tournament, huh? How did you hear about it? League battles and Contests don't usually mix like that."
Dawn laughed. "True. I was talking to Professor Rowan, and he mentioned it. He also mentioned that Cynthia was going to be participating."
Ash perked up slightly. "Cynthia? Whoa."
Iris tapped him on the shoulder. "Uh, 'scuse me? Did you forget about someones?"
Ash blushed slightly. "Whoops. Sorry. Dawn, these are my friends Iris and Cilan. Iris, Cilan, this Dawn."
Cilan smiled at his friend's absentmindedness, and bowed slightly. "Pleasure to meet you Dawn. I am one of the Gym Leaders of Striaton City, and a Pokemon Connoisseur."
Iris waved. "Hi. I'm a dragon trainer, and this is my partner, Axew." Axew poked his head out from Iris's hair, then jumped down next to Pikachu. Rapid introductions were done between the three Pokemon, then Pikachu and Piplup returned to their conversation, with Axew looking between the two with evident confusion.
Dawn smiled. "Nice to meet you both. I'm a Pokemon Coordinator."
"Hey, don't tell me you forgot about me already."
Ash frowned, then broke into a wide grin as a young boy walked around beside Dawn, a small white Pokemon standing on his backpack. "I thought I saw standing up there with Dawn. How've you been Max?"
Max smiled as he adjusted his glasses. "I've been doing great since I finally became a trainer. And I still remember your promise, Ash." He turned and looked towards Iris and Cilan. "I heard your names, so it's nice to meet you. I'm Max, from the Hoenn region. I'm just a Pokemon trainer, and this is my partner, Ralts." Ralts tilted her head back to peer at the newcomers, then abruptly teleported onto Iris's shoulder. The dragon trainer nearly jumped, and Ralts teleported to Cilan's shoulder, taking fast emotional readings as she did so, then made one last teleport to stand with the other Pokemon, easily inserting herself into the mysterious conversation.
Cilan smiled. "My my, that is an interesting Pokemon. From Hoenn?"
Max nodded. "Yep. She's my first Pokemon, and my best friend."
Cilan nodded. "Hmm. If you wouldn't mind, Max, could you and I have a battle? As a Pokemon Connoisseur, it's my job to evaluate the connection between trainer and Pokemon. I haven't had a chance to do an evaluation of such an unusual Pokemon since I first met Ash."
Max looked at him. "So, you want to evaluate us, but you also want to battle?"
Cilan smiled. "But of course. When better to evaluate trainer and Pokemon than in a battle?"
Max smiled in return. "I guess you're right. Alright, you're on." He turned his gaze to Ash. "But first, you promised me a battle, Ash."
Ash smiled. "Sorry Max, but not today. My Pokemon, especially Scraggy, need rest. Besides, it's getting late, and we've got a lot of catching up to do."
Dawn glanced down at the ring of Pokemon at their feet. "Speaking of catching up, I wonder what they're talking about?"
Pikachu's face was serious. "Pika, pikachu pikapika pichupi pikapi?" (So, Dawn really does love Ash?)
Piplup nodded. "Pip piplup luplup piplup." (Yep, it's true, she's finally admitted it to herself.)
Ralts placed her hand on Pikachu's shoulder. "Ral, ralralts ra?" (What about Ash?)
Pikachu shook his head. "Pi pikapi pikachu pichupichuka." (No, Ash is still as dense as always.)
Axew hugged himself. "Axew, axax axewew?" (So, what are you gonna do?)
Piplup turned to the Tusk Pokemon. "Pippip piplup pip luppip?" (What about your trainer?)
Axew shook his head. "Axew axew ewewax axew. Axewaxew ewax." (No, she doesn't like him like that. They're just friends.)
Ralts nodded, gently folding her hands. "Ralra ralts ra ra." (I agree. She seems more like a little sister than someone in love.)
Pikachu sighed. "Pika pika pikachu. Pika pikachupi chu chu pikapi? Pika pichuka." (I don't know what to do. How are we gonna get Ash to figure it out? He's gonna deny it.)
Ralts shook her head. "Ral ralts. Ralts ralralra ralts rara ral. Ra ralralts." (We do nothing. The only way he will ever accept it is if he finds out for himself. There is nothing we can do.) She abruptly teleported to Max's shoulder. Can we go sleep now? There are too many confusing emotions here.
Max smiled. "Sorry guys, but Ralts is pretty tired. Maybe we could battle tomorrow?" What were you guys talking about?
Ralts laid her head tiredly against Max's. Just how to deal with this situation.
Cilan smiled and dipped his head. "I suspect that we could all use some rest. We have a room at the Pokemon Center. Why don't we grab some sleep, and then sort out everything tomorrow?"
Ash and Dawn both nodded. "Yeah, my guys really need their sleep. Come on Pikachu." Ash held out his arm, and the Mouse Pokemon bounded up to settle on his shoulder. "Us too. Piplup is still bruised after that battle at the tower. Plus, it'll be nice to sleep in a real bed for once." Dawn picked up Piplup in her arms, who winced slightly as one of his bruises stretched.
Ash looked at her oddly as Axew jumped back into Iris's hair. "What battle?"
Dawn smiled coyly. "I'll tell you tomorrow."
Later that night, Ash and Dawn were each laying in their respective beds, separated by a single wall. Each were warmed by the slumbering Pokemon next to them, though neither were anywhere close to sleeping themselves.
Ash sighed as he stared up at the ceiling. I can't believe she's actually here. I should be happy to see her again. I am, but there's more to it than that, I just know it, but I can't see it. He smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. Come on, Ketchum! You're good at figuring out Pokemon, so why can't you figure yourself out!
Sighing again, he rubbed his forehead. I'm never going to get to sleep like this.
Dawn sighed unhappily as she stroked Piplup's head. What am I going to do? How am I going to tell him that I love him? What will he say? Does he love me? Am I even sure that I love him? Could it just be a crush, and go away later? Urrgh, why can't I figure out my own head?
A soft thump reached her ears, and she raised her head. That sounded like a door closing. Carefully maneuvering so as to not wake up Piplup, she crept out the door of the room that she shared with Max, and saw to her surprise Ash walking down the corridor. Where's he going?
Quietly closing her own door, she padded down the hallway after him. Eventually, she found him sitting on the bench next to the Pokemon Center's battlefield. She watched him for a moment, wondering what he was up to.
Ash sighed as he stared up at the sky. Why does Dawn seem to be the source of all my problems? What is so special about her? I feel weird when I think about her, I feel unhappy when I don't. I hate to admit it, but until I saw her today, I think I would have lost that Gym battle. I've never been this...off.
"Ash?"
Jerking, he turned his head and saw Dawn stand by the wall. "Dawn? What are you doing up?"
Dawn frowned at him. "I could ask you the same question. What's bugging you?"
He sighed. "I don't know. I've just, had a lot on my mind recently. How about you? It's not like you to stay up so late."
She sat down next to him. "Kinda the same as you, actually. I've, been having some new thoughts recently. Found new ways to look at things." She turned, and saw him looking at her strangely, with an intensity that she hadn't seen before. "Um, are you okay?"
Ash blinked, then averted his gaze. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine." Moonlight or sun, she looks amazing. "So, you mentioned that Cynthia was coming here, for the Tournament?"
Dawn looked at him for a moment. That was...different. "Yeah, she was representing Sinnoh, since she's the Champion."
Ash nodded. "I wonder if Wallace is going to come too. You know, since he's the Hoenn Champion."
Dawn turned her gaze skyward, watching as the twinkling stars slowly multiplied in the sky. "I don't know." A thought occurred to her. "Hey Ash?"
He glanced at her as he rested his elbows on his knees. "Yeah?"
"Who's the Kanto Champion? And Johto? I mean, you spent a year in Johto, and you're originally from Kanto, so who's the Champion's of those regions?"
Ash thought for a moment. "I...I don't know. I've never met them. I've heard they're insanely powerful though."
Dawn smiled. "I bet you could beat them, if you challenged them. I've hardly ever seen you lose, and even Champion's have to have off days."
Ash grinned. "Probably, but I don't want to battle a Champion on their off day. I wanna beat them at their prime, with my closest friends and partner. And Pikachu, of course. There's no way I would ever leave him out of a battle like that." He sighed. "But, not yet. I've got too many other people to beat first."
Dawn nodded. "Me too. I came so close to being Top Coordinator. I want a battle like that again, you know? Something that I can throw everything I have into, to show everything I've learned and fought for." She smiled. "A real battle of the ages, you know?"
Ash nodded. "Yeah. Something that nobody would ever forget." He fell silent for a moment. "Hey, you know what would be crazy?"
Dawn turned and looked at him. "What?"
Ash grinned at her. "If you and I entered that World Tournament, and we both got into the finals. Can you imagine how that battle would go?"
Dawn laughed. "That wouldn't be fair, Ash. You know everything that my Pokemon are capable of, I only know Pikachu. You'd have an unfair advantage."
Ash chuckled as he shook his head. "No, I wouldn't. You've trained since I left Sinnoh, found new ways to battle, to appeal. I might have new Pokemon, but I also know you. You're just as unpredictable as me."
Dawn pondered his words. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She giggled. "It would be an insane battle. Worlds Top Coordinator against the World's Pokemon Master? I would win, of course."
Ash burst out laughing. "Nah, I'd win. Contests are your thing, but battles are mine. In an all out battle like they've got, there's no way you could ever beat me."
Dawn glared at him. "Don't count me out just because I do Contests, Ketchum. I could beat your ass in a battle, and you're just too scared to admit it."
Ash glared back at her. "I'm not scared of anything, Berlitz. You're just too full of yourself to think that you could lose."
Each glared at the other, the tension almost crackling like electricity.
Both of them cracked at the same time, and burst out laughing, the tension draining away like a popped balloon. Ash fell of the bench as he clutched his stomach, and tears began streaming out of Dawn's eyes as she laid down on the bench.
Finally, the laughter began to subside. Ash picked himself up from the ground, and Dawn wiped her eyes clear.
"You know what Dawn?" Ash barely managed to choke out.
Dawn struggled not to collapse into another giggling fit. "Yeah?"
"I don't care who would win between us. I'd just try to have as much fun as possible." Ash helped her push herself, then sat down next to her.
Dawn's heart fluttered slightly, and she wasn't sure if she was going to start laughing or crying again. "Me too, Ash. And it would be a pretty incredible battle. You and me, we'd make your last battle with Paul look like a pair of squabbling Starly."
Both of them sighed as they stared up at the sky. Neither noticed the fact that Dawn's outer thigh was pressed Ash's, or that they were almost leaning against each other.
Finally, Ash stood up. "Well, we should probably get some sleep. Max is gonna want that battle I promised him tomorrow, and I imagine that Cilan is gonna want to battle you as well. Plus, I gotta start heading for my last Gym badge, wherever it is."
Dawn nodded as she walked beside him. "Yeah. So, just out of curiosity, what are they like? Your friends, I mean."
Ash thought for a moment. "Iris is pretty nice, though her teasing can get pretty tiring. She cares a lot about Pokemon, and she knows a lot about natural medicine. There's been quite a few times when a Pokemon has gotten sick, and she's whipped something together from plants and berries that she's found in the forest. She's kinda like Brock in that way. She's also incredibly passionate about dragon Pokemon, even though her only dragon is Axew.
Dawn smiled. "I imagine that she's really eager to meet Gible then. Have you told her about him?"
Ash shook his head. "Nah. I haven't really told either of them about my other Pokemon. I'll bet that she'll go nuts over Charizard too. He may not be an actual dragon type, but he might as well be. As for Cilan...he's different, I'll say that. Normally he's pretty calm, collected. He's also an amazing cook, honestly, I'm not sure who's better, Cilan or Brock."
Dawn glanced at him. "Don't tell me he's got a huge family too."
Ash chuckled. "No, his siblings are limited to his twin brothers, Chili and Cress. The three of them all acted as the Gym Leaders of the Striaton Gym, which is also the best restaurant in the city. That's where he gets his cooking expertise." He stopped for a moment. "Oh, and don't get him started on trains. Cilan says he's a Pokemon Connoisseur, but he's an expert in a lot of things, and he's insanely passionate about all of them. Trains, fishing, police work, it gets kinda freaky sometimes. You'll be in for a treat tomorrow when he evaluates Max and Ralts. It's Cilan at his weirdest, but I promise you, it's worth experiencing. He really knows what he's talking about."
Dawn smiled again. "Sounds neat. I'm looking forward to it."
Ash glanced at her. "So, how exactly did you meet up with Max?"
Dawn frowned. "Oh, I actually ran into him by accident. You remember Cassidy and...what was that other guy's name? Baxter? Barney?"
Ash shrugged. "I dunno. I've mostly dealt with Jesse, James and Meowth. They were enough for me."
Dawn nodded. "Anyway, I heard them trying to steal Max's Pokemon. He was losing pretty badly, so I stepped in to help. Cassidy and...whatever his name was, got sent flying, I stayed with Max until we got to a Pokemon Center, and we've travelled together since."
Ash glanced at her quizzically. "And you just happened to be traveling here?"
Dawn glanced aside, hoping to hide her sudden blush. "Well, he heard that I was coming here, and that I would likely run into you, and he wanted to have that battle that you promised him, so he tagged along."
Ash looked at her strangely. "Uh-huh." Something else is up. Dawn's never acted like this before. "Well, here's our rooms. Hope you sleep well Dawn."
Dawn smiled as she opened the door to her room. "You too. Goodnight Ash."
Ash hesitated in the doorway of the room that he shared with Cilan and Iris. "Uh, Dawn?"
Dawn slipped her head out her door, frowning. "Yeah."
Ash shuffled his feet, suddenly awkward and uncomfortable. "Listen, I, uh, I'm really glad you're here. It's great seeing you again. Really." Man, why is this suddenly so hard? What's wrong with me?
Dawn stepped back out into the hallway, hoping that he couldn't see her sudden blush in the dim light. "Oh, sure, no problem. It's great seeing you too. I, uh, kinda missed you, you know, after you left." Come on, Dawn, now's your chance! Tell him!
Both of them stood awkwardly in the hallway, the suddenly uncomfortable silence stretching out. Finally, Ash sighed. "We should probably get some sleep. We've got a lot to do tomorrow."
Dawn nodded weakly, feeling like her knees were going to collapse. "Yeah. See ya tomorrow. G'night?"
Ash smiled half-heartedly. "G'night."
As each of them crawled into their respective beds, both were thinking the exact same thought. You stupid moron.
Oh, the angsty romantic tension. I am cruel, so cruel. One down, two to go. Before we can have the ultimatum that we have all been waiting patiently for (I believe that anticipation is one of the better parts of romance, next to the romance itself, and it is a real doozy, I promise you won't be disappointed), we must have epic battlez! I'm going to enjoy this.
Also, I currently have plans for two more chapters, but if anyone wants me to continue after that, please let me know! Send me a message, include it in a review, do something! Any ideas are greatly appreciated, I am only one man!