Chapter 12: Snowpoint Gym

The next morning, we got up rather early and seeing that the storm had finally ended, we decided to head to the Snowpoint Gym, well after we had breakfast that is. I noticed while we were eating that Dawn didn't say that much. Pikachu didn't seem in the best of moods either.

Once we were done, we then continued towards the gym. However, since it was still in the morning hours, Ash decided to get some last-minute training in.

"Hey Ash, I think I might just take a little stroll through the city," Dawn said. "Chris, do you mind coming along?"

"Uh sure," I said, feeling a little confused. I looked to the others. "We'll meet you guys at the gym."

Dawn and I started walking through town by ourselves, not saying anything to each other. I was still rather confused with what was going on. Finally, we made our way to one of the benches in the park and sat down.

"I'm assuming you brought us both here for a good reason?" I said.

Dawn sighed. "Chris, we need to talk," she said. That sentence there gave me goosebumps and a sense of déjà vu. "I know something has been bothering you."

"I'm not quite sure what you mean?" I said.

"Your ex, her name was Sadie, wasn't it?" Dawn said, wishing she hadn't heard what she heard.

I grimaced. I guess she had heard me when I got up during the night. "I rather not talk about it," I said, trying not to think back on it.

"Chris, it's better if you get it off your chest," Dawn said, taking my hand. "You still love her, don't you?"

"She was one of the closest friends I ever had," I said. "We had been together for so long and it just ended like that."

"If you still love her, I can understand that you would want to go back to her," Dawn said sadly, putting her head down.

I smiled slightly, realizing she didn't fully understand. I put my hand under her chin and lifted her head up, looking into her eyes. "It's not quite what you think," I said. "The reason we broke up... was because she was moving to another city. She knew a long-distance relationship would never work out, and we both decided to find new people. We had both promised to keep in touch, but... we never got to do that." I placed my head down. "I had gotten the news the next day that there was a huge pileup on the one highway and that she had been one of the many who got killed."

Dawn placed a hand over her mouth in shock. "That's terrible," she said. And she had thought it was just old love? "I'm such an idiot," she thought. "Chris, I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," I said. "I was rather depressed for the next couple of weeks, pretty much not doing anything. But then I realized she wouldn't want that from me, she would want me to be happy and live life at the fullest." Dawn had tears in her eyes, and then gave me a hug. I returned it, realizing how much Dawn really did care about me. I then looked at her, wiping her tears away. "But I couldn't be any happier than I am now, thanks to you. I love you Dawn."

I then kissed her lips, placing my hands on her shoulders. She returned it, placing her arms around my neck. I then noticed she was getting more into it as she started placing her tongue in my mouth, surprising me but I only followed her example and did the same. Finally, we broke the kiss, gasping for breath. "I love you too Chris," Dawn said, smiling.

"Well, we had better get back to the gym," I said, taking her hand. "We wouldn't want to be late for Ash's gym battle now do we?" We then headed back to where the gym was, hand in hand.

Once we got back, we saw that Ash had just finished his training.

"So Ash, you think you're ready to win that next gym badge?" I asked.

"You bet," Ash said. "That badge is as good as mine!"

"Wow, I have to say your Pokemon look strong." We looked over and saw a girl, around my age, looking at us. "Hi, my name is Candice."

"Thanks, my name is Ash," Ash said.

"I'm Dawn," Dawn said.

"My name is Brock," Brock said.

"And I'm Chris," I said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Candice said.

I noticed that Dawn was staring at her rather strangely. "Um, aren't you rather cold with wearing that skirt?"

Indeed she was just wearing what looked like a school outfit, with a skirt to match and had a jacket tied around her waist. Candice just smiled, "Well being in a city covered in snow for years as well as being a gym leader you just get used to it."

"Wait, you're the gym leader here?" Ash said, rather surprised.

"Yep, and I have the feeling I know why you're here," she said, smiling.

"That's right, I'm here to challenge you to a battle," Ash said.

"Very well," Candice said, "I accept your challenge. Well, we better head inside."

And that's what we did. Once we got inside, we realized that the stadium was practically an ice rink. Also, it was just as cold as it was outside, much to my annoyance.

While Ash took his spot on the one side of the gym, the rest of us took a seat in the bleachers. "Oh Pikette, I almost forgot," Dawn said, reaching into her bag. "I made an outfit just for you so you can cheer with the rest of us." She then pulled out a mini cheerleader's outfit with matching pom-poms.

"Oh," Pikette said, a little surprised. She had never worn clothing before. Still, she couldn't turn it down. "It looks beautiful."

Dawn laughed slightly, a sweatdrop appearing on the side of her head. "Oh, it's not much, just something I designed." She then took out her other Pokeballs. "Now it's time for everyone else to come out!" Buneary, Ambipom, Piplup, and Pachirisu appeared. Buneary looked at Pikette for a second, just staring at her. Pikette stared back, feeling a little timid. However, Buneary then smiled and put out her paw, telling Pikette she was sorry. Pikette smiled and shook her paw, gladly accepting her apology.

"Well, it's nice to see those two are getting allowed now," Brock said. He then looked to Dawn. "Hey Dawn, how come you're not dressed up with them?"

"Oh," Dawn said, smiling but blushing slightly, "I think it's a bit too cold for that."

"Oh come on Dawn," I said, smirking, "It's not that bad in here."

That was a mistake to say. I then got smacked from the back of my head rather painfully. "LOOK WHO'S TALKING! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S WEARING MORE CLOTHING THAN I AM!" Dawn yelled, glaring at me, while I was on the ground in pain, and Brock and all the other Pokemon just sweatdropped, feeling awkward now.

"Boys will be boys." Pikette thought, smiling.

Back in the stadium, Ash and Candice were about ready to battle. "So Ash, how does three on three sound for you?"

"Works for me," Ash said.

A referee on the side of the field then announced, "Let the battle between Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Candice of the Snowpoint Gym begin!"

"Alright Buizel, let's get started!" Ash said, throwing out a Pokeball. The ball opened and Buizel came out of it.

"Alright Mamoswine, take the stage!" Candice said, tossing out her Pokeball, and out came Mamoswine.

"Wow, just like mine," Dawn said, who looked at her other Pokeball. "I hope I can get Mamoswine to listen to me sometime soon," she thought.

(A/N: I can't believe I'm doing this but I decided I'm going to put in actual Pokemon music. Yep, you heard me right. Anyway, the name of the song is "Wild Pokemon Battle (Diamond/Pearl)." You've heard it whether playing the actual games or Brawl.)

"Hmm, Mamoswine is an ice and ground-type. Might work to my advantage." Ash thought. "Alright Buizel, use Aqua Jet!" Buizel jumped into the air, becoming engulfed in a jet of water and headed straight for Mamoswine.

"Use Mud Bomb, Mamoswine!" Candice said. Mamoswine then shot a ball of mud towards Buizel who got hit and was knocked back but did not seem to have taken any damage. "Don't forget Ash, you may have a type advantage but my Pokemon seem to prove otherwise. Now Mamoswine, use Take Down!" Mamoswine charged at Buizel.

Ash waited until the time was right. "Dodge it and use Water Pulse!" Buizel dodged at the right second, jumping into the air and using water pulse, which hit Mamoswine right in the back, knocking him down. Seeing that Mamoswine was rather large and couldn't get up quickly, Ash used this to his advantage. "Now use Sonic Boom!" Buizel then whipped his tail, sending bands of energy right into Mamoswine's back until finally it was knocked out from exhaustion.

"Mamoswine is unable to battle, Buizel is the winner!" the referee said.

"Alright! Great job Buizel!" Ash said.

"Bui bui!" Buizel said smiling.

"Wow, that was amazing," Dawn said.

"Looks like Buizel has gotten stronger," I said, impressed.

"Despite the difference in size, Buizel had more of the advantage due to speed," Brock said. "I'm curious to see who Candice will send out next?"

"Well done Ash," Candice said, calling back Mamoswine. "But this match is just getting started." She then took out another Pokeball. "Go Glaceon!" There was a flash of light and Glaceon appeared.

"Oh, it's so cute!" Dawn said.

"Now Glaceon, use Quick Attack!" Candice said. Not even being affected by the field of ice, Glaceon charged right towards Buizel.

"Dodge it!" Ash said, but Buizel wasn't quick enough and was hit by Glaceon and was knocked down. "Buizel you alright?" Ash said. Buizel got up and got back into his stance. "Alright, now use Water Pulse once more!"

Buizel again produced a ball of energy and sent it towards Glaceon.

"Use Mirror Coat!" Candice said. Glaceon's fur glowed and once the attack hit it, it deflected off and hit Buizel, knocking him out.

"No, Buizel!"Ash cried.

"Wow, that Glaceon sure is tough," Dawn said.

"Ash is going to need come up with a good strategy if he's going to plan on beating that Glaceon," Brock said.

I was silent, trying to remember what types ice-type Pokemon were weakest against.

"You did well Buizel," Ash said, calling back Buizel. "Alright Chimchar, you're up next!" Chimchar then came out next.

"This should be a good match-up," Brock said.

"I just hope that Ash can pull this off," I said.

(A/N: CLIFFHANGER! Sorry, but I thought maybe it would be best to split this into two parts, or else I'd be going at this forever. I admit when it comes to Pokemon battles, I may not be the best but I try. Anyway, the second part will come up. Oh yeah, and if you were listening to the song before it cut off, well just play the same thing for the next chapter, or at least the one part. I'll let you know about that. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter.)

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