Chapter 22 – Dawn the Cave
Dawn woke up that morning due to the sunrise, still lying in her sleeping bag she was fighting against the sunlight to open her eyes and the sound of nature was the only one that could be heard at that time. She looked at her Pokétch on her wrist that was showing 6h43 on the screen. Slowly she started to get up until get sit and saw that May and Serena were still sleeping, looked around their camping and saw Ash's back in front of a fire preparing something which by the smell she realized it was coffee.
"Morning" she said walking to him
"Good morning Dawn" he said "You're the first to be up"
"The sun woke me up" she said still sleepy and rubbing her eyes
"There's clean water in that canteen" said Ash pointing to a canteen by his backpack "You can use if you want to wash your face and brush your teeth"
Dawn accepted Ash's suggestion and went over his backpack to get the canteen, washed her face
"So Ash…" Dawn asked "How do you think the day is gonna be like today?"
"I don't know" he answered "I just hope we can successfully finish all this as soon as possible"
"And once we finish it?" she asked "What are you gonna do next?"
"At first, I'm going back to Pallet Town… to see my mom" he answered
"Of course" she said "But after that? Are you going to keep travelling through the region, challenging gyms leader to collect badges and enter the leagues?"
"I… think so" he answered "It's the only way I can become a Pokémon Master"
Dawn appeared not satisfied with that answer
"You know Ash…" she started "You don't have to do this to become a Pokémon Master"
"What?" he asked "Why not?"
"You trained for almost three years with Lance and became a Dragon Master" she started saying "It is clearly visible that you have improved a lot by the skills you've been showing us. So… I don't think you should go back doing those things to show the world you are a Pokémon Master. I think you already are a Pokémon Master"
Ash looked at her and smiled
"Thank you Dawn" he said "But unfortunately only my skills aren't enough to prove the world I'm a Pokémon Master. I need and I want to win a Pokémon League. Also… what would I do if I stop travelling around the regions collecting badges?"
"You… could… stay… with me" Dawn said blushing and looking back to see if Serena and May were still sleeping, which they were
"With you?" Ash asked "You mean travel with you?"
"No! I mean stay with me" she said getting close him "For real and forever"
Dawn got very close to him and gently rubbed her hand across his face, caressing it. She looked at his eyes and slowly and gently began to pull his head close to hers
"Dawn…"Ash tried to say but got interrupted by her
"Don't say a word Ash" she said "I'm about to break a promise and if I think too much I may change my mind"
Ash didn't say a word nor did anything to stop her… just let her continued until their lips touched each other into a passionate kiss that she desired for a long time and got happy when she realized Ash kissed her back. The kiss lasted almost 30 seconds and when they stopped, Ash saw Dawn's face all red and her blues eyes shining along with a cute smile… She was beautiful
"Dawn… I…" Ash started but once more got interrupted by Dawn's words
"Please no words Ash" she said
"What? Why not?" Ash asked "What we just did is worth of words I believe"
"Ash… I love you" she finally said "I love you for a long time and God only knows how I dreamed about this moment, the moment I would finally confess to you… but… we are on a mission and I hate myself now because I don't want you to lose focus, so promise me that you will forget what happened two minutes ago… until all this is finish at least"
"Dawn… I just…" ash said
"Just promise Ash" Dawn said interrupting him for the third time "Please. Let's for now pretend it just never happened. Can you do it for me?"
"I… can do it" he said "Don't worry Dawn. I can do normal"
"Thank you Ash" she said smiling
"You are Welcome" he said also smiling "So… do you want some coffee?"
"I'd love some coffee" she answered
Ash and Dawn talked for about 15 minutes about Dawn's contests and stuff she did after Ash's depart; he never realized how he missed his friends, while he was at the Temple of Dragons, every now and then he got himself thinking about them… his mom, Brock, Misty, Tracey, Professor Oak, Gary, Max, Iris, Cilan, Clemont, Bonnie… always thinking what they would be doing at that moment. But whenever he thought about Dawn, Serena and May…. He couldn't help it but feel bad for had left them. Either May, Dawn and Serena were kind of his "students" at the Pokémon World, and although Ash had shared many good moments with Misty and Iris… It was nothing compared to the feeling of being with May, Dawn and Serena because he always felt responsible for them, for being the one who would teach them about everything along their journey. At least, it's what he always thought
Ash was listening to Dawn's accomplishments carefully when they got interrupted by a loud explosion noise, just like it happened last night, but this time it was so stronger and made the ground shakes a little, waking May and Serena up
"What was that?" asked Serena scared
"Team Tenebris" said Ash "They have entered the second cave"
"Already?" asked May "Haven't they slept?"
"It seems they haven't" Ash answered "That's a problem…."
"We must go then and find the small cave entrance" said Dawn
"Yes… you're right" said Ash "May, Serena, please try to get ready as fast as you can… we must keep going on"
"Okay" answered May and Serena getting up as fast as they could
"How about you Dawn?" asked Ash
"I'm ready already" she answered him "Do you think we still going to reach the top first?"
"I think so" Ash answered "They are now climbing the second cave, even though we still haven't climbed nothing yet… once we find the small cave, the waterfall will take us direct to the entrance of the third cave, so…."
"We would be a couple of hours ahead them" Dawn finished his words
"Precisely" Ash said
"We're ready" said Serena
"Should we clean the camping up first?" asked May
"No need" answered Ash "We better get going before we run out of time"
Ash and the girls left the camping and entered at the woods once more looking for the small cave that was supposed to take them direct to the entering of the third main cave. While Ash was leading the way looking at the map, May and Serena couldn't stop noticing Dawn, she was different
"Why are you smiling so much?" asked May
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked back
"Since we left the camping you don't stop smiling" said May
"She's right" said Serena "It's quite strange since we are heading to a mortal battle"
"I don't know what are you talking about" Dawn answered
"You were already up when we woke up" said Serena "Weren't you?"
"Yes I was" She answered
"So… you were talking with Ash?" asked May
"Of course I was" Dawn said "We were both awake, so we talked"
"About?" May asked once more
Dawn looked ahead at Ash's back, he didn't seem to be listening them since he was pretty busy solving the map, but she couldn't avoid blushing when she remembered their conversation and of course… the kiss they both shared
"Nothing important" said Dawn "Only about my contests and stuff"
Dawn wasn't sure if May and Serena had bought that, but since they stop asking, she was relieved
"There it is" said Ash pointing ahead "The small cave's entrance. We finally reached the back of Mt. Silver"
"Where?" asked Serena "I don't see it"
"Right over there" said Ash
"Ash… we are not seeing anything" said May
"What? Dawn can you see it?" Ash asked hoping she could see the cave
"Sorry Ash… I can't see either" Dawn answered
How was that possible? It was as clear as water. Between two trees and bushes, maybe the trees and bushes were making a little hard to recognize the entrance… but still, not seeing it it was strange
"Come on, let me show you" said Ash walking all the way down until got to the back of the Mt. "See? Right here"
"Ash… there is no entrance there… only the back of Mt. Silver… it's just stone" May said
Ash looked at them confusedly; maybe if he just entered the cave, they would see it. And that's what he did; he stepped forward and entered the cave. It was really a cave, dark, humid and scared. He started hearing noises coming from far which he then realized it was the sound of the waterfall, at least they were at the right place
"ASH" he heard someone calling from outside. He turned around and left the cave back to the light and saw his friends staring at him in shock
"How did you do that?" asked Dawn
"Do what?" Ash asked back
"How did you passed through the wall?" said May
"What?" said Ash not understanding
"You walked until that stone wall and… just entered it" Serena explained
That was it. Ash somehow was the only one who could see the entrance of the cave. But why May, Serena and Dawn couldn't… he didn't know… yet
"I think you can't see the entrance" he said
The three girls looked at each other and then to Ash
"But why not?" asked Serena
"I don't know" Ash said "Let's see if you can enter"
Ash leaded the girls to the cave's entrance and asked them to try entering it, but…
"No" said May "It's pure, hard rock"
"Yes, I can't pass either" said Dawn
"Me too" said Serena
"Why?" asked Ash "It makes no sense"
"Maybe…" started Serena "Only Dragon Masters can enter this cave"
"That would be a good explanation" said May
"And also it answers why only Ash and probably Lance, who discovered this place can see and enter it" finished Dawn
"No…" said Ash "I'm… starting to remember something Lance told me a couple of years ago… When I first came to the Temple of Dragons"
"What did he tell you?" asked Serena
FLASHBACK
"Ash, the training I'm going to give you it's nothing like you ever seen before" said Lance "Once we're done, you will see the power the Temple of Dragons is able to give to you"
Ash was amazed with the temple of Dragons, It was nothing he had ever seen before, it seemed to have no end, anywhere he looked at there were more monuments, statues and training rooms. It was like a Buddhist temple but ten times bigger and better. Also… the energy, power and strength Ash started feeling from the moment he stepped the Temple it was in his mind enough to defeat all Elite Four member at once. It was magical
"It's not magic" said Lance "If that's what you were thinking"
"How did you know I was thinking that?" Ash asked
"Because I once thought the same" Lance said "How could a place like this give you so much energy, power and strength?"
"I do now know the answer is not magic" Ash said
"No. It is not" Lance answered
"So what is it?" Ash asked
"Dragons" Lance said
"Dragons?" Ash said
"When the Dragons built this Temple; they blessed Mount Silver so that all Dragon Masters would always be safe on their way to the Temple. The power of Dragons goes beyond the Temple; it is present throughout all Mt. Silver and in every each small spot of it. The Dragons also protect Mt. Silver from invaders and without them it's impossible to make the way to the Temple" said Lance
"So only Dragon Master who carries a Dragon can enter the Temple?" asked Ash
"Or allow someone else to enter it. But not any Dragon, Only Dragons who have experienced the power of the temple. Without them, you can't find your way here" Lance said
END OF FLASHBACK
"Dragonite" said Ash taking Dragonite's poke ball from his belt
"What?" asked May
"Only a Dragon Master who carries a Dragon who has experienced the power of the temple can enter, allow people to enter or find its way, he said" said Ash "That's why Lance gave me Dragonite. Only the two of us together can enter the Temple, let people in or…."
"… Find the way to the temple" finished Serena
"That's right" said Ash
"But how come you've just entered the cave?" asked May
"Because I am carrying it" Ash answered
"So what are you waiting for?" asked Dawn
"Yes, let Dragonite out of the Poke ball" May said
Ash looked to the cave's entrance and threw Dragonite's poke ball
"Dragonite! Go" shouted Ash
As the Poke ball hit the ground it released Lance's strongest Pokémon, brown Dragon… Dragonite
"Dragonite… Lance entrusted me you to help us save him from Team Tenebris" said Ash "I need you to let May, Serena and Dawn to enter the cave"
Dragonite looked at the girls, came close to them and closed his eyes
"Ash… what is he doing?" asked Dawn
"Dragonite is looking deep down your souls if you are worth to receive his help" Ash answered
After a couple of minutes, Dragonite opened his eyes and giggled to them
"It seems you have earned his trust" said Ash
"That's good!" said Serena caressing Dragonite "What do we do now?"
"You guys can get on his back one by one" Ash said "He will take you all in"
Ash waited outside the cave to watch the area while Dragonite took the girls one by one inside the cave, after that he came back outside for Ash
"Dragonite" said Ash "I believe you and Lance are linked in a way which makes you feel his pain while he is under the control of The "Lady", so I promise to set him free and save him from Team Tenebris. Can I count on you to help me?"
Dragonite nodded his head in agreement, showing him that he would be at his side and help in everything he could to help him bring his master back
"Thank you" Ash said "Now… it's time for us to enter"
Ash returned Dragonite and entered the cave where three girls were waiting for him
"You ready to keep going?" Ash asked
Ash received three determined and excited "yes" as answer from Serena, May and Dawn and together they started walking through that dark, deep and humid cave