Chapter 9

*Still at pokémon center*

Long story short, Jessie and May did get into a fight, but the guys managed to stop them before more damage was done. Both of them calmed down as Nurse Joy spotted the dark clouds rolling in. Without warning a lightning and thunder came, and everyone quickly got all the windows closed.

"Looks like we're staying in for another day." Brock stated, as he watched the rain pour outside.

"Doesn't matter to me, I could use a nap."

"Come on Ash, are you always thinking about sleeping?"

"No, well I think about pokémon battles and eating too!" Ash replied sheepishly, sitting down comfortably on the sofa. May shook her head and sat down beside him, followed by Max and Brock. Team Rocket were left standing awkwardly.

"Should we sit down too? We can't go anywhere." James suggested

"Whatever…" Jessie replied, still combing her hair and neatening her clothes.

"No way. We're the bad guys. We're supposed to look tough and strong!"

Ash heard Meowth and decided to joke along. "Ahhh this is so relaxing!" he said, stretching himself. "Chaaaa!" Pikachu yawned and slept on his lap.

May noticed it and joined in, "Yeah, I think you're right. We could use a nap here." She shifted herself to a comfortable position and closed her eyes. Brock and Max started yawning too.

"Eeks! I can't stand it anymore!" James said, lunging forward and crashing into the sofa. "Ahh, comfy~"

"Move it big guy, you're taking up too much space!" Jessie followed along and sat beside him.

"HEY! ...oh well, I'm tired too anyways…" Meowth fell into a slumper on the sofa, snoring away.

"You three haven't answer my question yet, why are you stalking us?"

"Oh leave it tall twerp, it's rude to interrupt someone's nap, you know…" said Jessie, halfway dozing off.

"I hope you're not thinking about stealing Pikachu, you'll never succeed."

"Excuse me, twerp with glasses, that's not a very polite thing to say to someone who's older than you!"

"Well excuse US, but we have names, you know! And we aren't twerps." May said, crossing her arms.

"Nah, remembering names are too kiddy for us. Besides you kids act like twerps anyway."

Ash and co. decided to leave them alone, and began chatting among themselves. Unknown to any of them was Team Rocket observing and eavesdropping to everything they said.

"Excuse me Nurse Joy, but you have to leave with everyone else as we are going to clear up the mess."

The seven turned and saw some workers moving in. Several vehicles and machineries are already stationed outside. To their surprise, the storm has also stopped.

"Well, I guess it's time for us to continue on our journey!" Max said, fishing out his pokenav out happily. Brock leaned down to take a look.

"Maybe we should go to Lacunosa City then, as Max suggested."

"Yeah, I'll like to know more about the Lacunosa Legend." Brock flipped open his guide book and began reading, "They say that long time ago, a large meteor came from the sky with a terrifying monster. To protect the residents, a wall was built to surround it. Until now the wall is still standing there."

"But that's so scary… I mean, what if the monster comes out when we're there!" May said, shivering as wild thoughts ran through her head. Ash chuckled at her reaction, "Come on that would be cool! I don't think it is a monster though. You know what? I think it is just an unknown pokémon! This is awesome, we should go check it out!"

"Ash you're always this rash! Is dangerous this word not in your dictionary?" May scolded. She picked up her waist bag and walked away.

"Jeez, she didn't have to be so angry." Ash commented.

"She's just concern about you, Ash." Said Brock, nudging him with his elbow, to which Ash did not get his hint at all. Not that he paid attention to him. He was busy mentally debating with himself.

'Should I tell mum? Hmm maybe not… don't think it's a good idea to blurt something like this out to her. But then what do I do? Tell Professor Oak? Alright, maybe he'll understand better, and then I'll decided whether to tell mum.'

*At Twinleaf Town*

"Good morning Mom!"

"Morning Dawn, you're up early." Dawn's mother, Johanna replied. She was just setting up the table for breakfast.

"Oh come on, Mom! I'm often up early…" Dawn said. She took out some pokémon food and poured them into a dish for Piplup, who ate them hungrily. Dawn went back to bring out the food, and the two settled down for breakfast.

"Dawn, I was just thinking, are you going to start traveling and competing in contests again?"

"Oh, I don't know… I will definitely start competing again. But I don't know where to go…"

"Why don't you ask Ash and Brock? I'm sure they'll love to travel together with you again." Johanna suggested, remembering how nicely both of them have helped Dawn when she just started as a trainer.

"Hey you're right mom! It's been so long, maybe I should contact them again." And with that Dawn finished her breakfast quickly and dashed right to the video-phone.

'Hmm but I wonder if he's still at home. What if he already went travelling somewhere else already?'

Johanna noticed Dawn staring at the video-phone and approached her, "What's the matter?"

"I…I just don't know if it seems right to call him all of a sudden…"

"Why not? I thought you guys are best friends already."

"Yeah, but, right now he's also moving on in his own life. Maybe he's already travelling with his other friends…"

"You mean Ash?"

Dawn immediately blushed upon realizing how she has been referring to Ash, only. Johanna chuckled at the side of her daughter's reddening cheeks. She decided to prompt her further.

"Why are you so concern? Just call and say hi at least. It's not like you just met him?"

"Oh… okay, I'll call Brock afterwards." Dawn replied, making sure her mom heard her last sentence. She sat down and dialed the number.

'But what if…? Oh come on what's wrong with me! I've known Ash for so long, why is it so hard to just give him a call?'

The ringing tone sounded continuously in the phone as Dawn waited, gripping the edge of her dress tightly.