"I visited Paul in Veilstone," Dawn said casually, two weeks later. She was talking to Ash on the phone, who was now apparently cued by her last phrase to start choking on air.
"Are you OK?" she enquired concernedly, as he began to look more and more like he was going to suffocate. From behind someone passed him a glass with water, which he emptied in the blink of an eye.
"No, I'm fine, thanks," he then smiled brightly. "I was just a bit surprised."
"Uh-huh," Misty said apathetically, taking the glass. "That totally explains your, by the way, completely overdramatic reaction."
"Shut up."
"Why should I?"
"Because I, the Chosen One, said so."
"Keep on dreaming, Ketchum," she said, waved Dawn goodbye and strode out of the room.
"Stupid cow."
"Ash, why is Misty at your home?" Dawn asked, still gaping at the spot where she'd stood just seconds ago.
"She's not," he answered, as if it explained everything.
"But—"
"I'm in Cerulean City," he added, but didn't seem to be inclined to say anything else.
"Why?" she cried, faintly feeling a migraine approaching.
"Oh, haven't I told you?" He looked surprised. "The gym blew up. I was here on a visit when it happened. Team Rocket tried to steal Pikachu and their robot, well, kind of exploded. Now I'm here to help."
"Kind of?"