Welcome to chapter 3 good friends! SO far this story's been seriously well received and therefore I've got no other choice than to keep writing it. So, please enjoy!

Ash clung to his seat as the other passengers boarded the flight from KRA ( Kanto Regional Airport). He had always made sure people around him would never get wise to the fact that he was actually an exceptionally fearful flier. All around him he saw relatively calm people without a care in the world. Even his partner seemed more relaxed than he did.

Dawn sat next to Ash, quite relaxed. She currently had a book in her hand and her leg crossed over her other as she looked at her friend. He looked like he had just taken a direct hit from Bunneary's ice beam. Was it possible that Ash Ketchum was actually afraid of something? Of course in theory it was but based on what she knew about him, that just didn't seem like a part of his personality. Fear alluded him as far as she knew. Maybe after taking so many thunderbolts from Pikachu the fear gland had woken up?

'' Ash?'' Dawn asked, placing her hand on his thigh.

'' Yeah?''

'' Are you ok?''

'' Sure, why not? Hey quick question, where does this plane land? Ya know so I know how long I'm going to be in this flying death machine?''

'' Relax, we're landing in Snowpoint City. Its only 5 hours-

'' Five hours?!'' Ash cried. '' I don't know if I can make it that long in here. Is there less air in here? Is this why the flight was so cheap? Less air- ow!''

Dawn slapped Ash across the face, shaking her hand afterwards, she hadn't thought that hitting him would hurt so much.

'' What was that for?'' Ash asked.

'' To calm you down. For Arceus' sake Ash people are watching. Also there's ample air in here and the reason it was so cheap is because when the airline heard we were on it they dropped the price by 40%.''

'' Sorry, guess I'm a nervous flyer. Weird considering I've almost died multiple times as a kid.''

'' I'll say.''

'' Hey!''

'' Its true. The ghost-type incident in Saffron City, the Mt. Coronet situation, Kyogre and Groudon and of course your little spat with Lugia back in Johto.''

'' Who told you that?'' Ash breathed.

'' You and all of our friends. But don't worry, I do have something that might help you'' Dawn dug in her purse and pulled out an oddly white poffin.

'' A poffin? But those are meant for pokemon, not people.''

'' Just eat it. I've adjusted the recipe so its fit for human consumption.''

'' What's in it?''

'' Surprise.''

'' Come on tell me please.''

'' Trust me'' Dawn pouted.

'' Fine'' Ash swallowed the food item whole, his eyes becoming huge.

'' How ya feeling now?'' Dawn smirked.

Ash looked down at his hands. '' My fingers don't match.''

'' Brilliant'' Dawn grinned, as the pair braced for takeoff.

'' You're gorgeous'' Ash said slumping down as he stared at the bluenette next to him.

'' Thank you'' Dawn blushed. '' You're quite handsome yourself.''

'' Hey, look, the Earth is moving'' Ash said dazedly as he looked around him, the plane leaving the ground. '' Am I a flying type? Can I challenge Hawlucha to a fly-off. I totally should when we get to Sinnoh.''

'' Maybe those…pencil shavings from Misty weren't a good idea'' Dawn muttered. The reason for Ash's new mood was that before leaving Kanto, Dawn had gone to Cerulean City to get some special seeds that Misty kept for her pokemon. Naturally the coordinator knew exactly what those seeds did, she didn't know what she'd need them for until a week ago when Delia had told her about Ash's secret fear of flying.

'' That's great honey, just quiet down ok?'' Dawn said.

'' Look Dawn, that woman's pregnant.''

'' That's a man'' Dawn deadpanned. Maybe giving him weed wasn't a good idea Dawn thought to herself.

-x-

Five hours later, the pair found themselves at the Snowpoint City airport. There was an intense chill in the air no doubt thanks to the city's elevation and the fact that Sinnoh winters were notoriously brutal. It laso didnthelp that it was now 8 at night, the temperature having plummeted since the afternoon.

'' Its so cold- * gasp * Dawn, we're in Sinnoh now'' Ash looked around him.

'' Yes we are. Come on let's get to baggage claim'' Dawn answered, still regretting not just giving Ash sleeping pills. Of all the things he was, he was definitely not good at hiding being high. It also didn't help that Snowpoint airport security were notoriously ill tempered and strict.

As the pair approached the area, a man dressed in S.W.A.T-like gear stared them down through the pair of dark shades he wore. He then proceeded to tap his earpiece, contacting a nearby cohort.

'' Unit 76, this is 63, we have a tan-skinned man in a black golf shirt, blue jeans and black and white sneakers. Accompanying him is a bluenette woman, black bomber jacket, jeans and boots'' he said.

'' Roger that. I'll be right there'' a female voice answered as she sauntered over to the pair, tapping Ash on his shoulder.

'' Excuse me sir, ma'am?'' she said, the pair turning around.

'' Yes?'' Ash answered. The woman in front of him wore a sand-camo outfit, with a beige baseball-style cap. Her red hair platted behind her. Like the officer who had summoned her, she wore dark shades and had a nightstick by her hip.

'' Snowpoint City security officer Lee. I'm afraid you'll have to come with me'' Officer Lee said.

'' But why? We didn't do anything!'' Dawn protested.

'' Ma'am, your boyfriend over here is clearly high as a kite-

'' No I'm not, I'm on the ground'' Ash protested.

'' Uh huh. Sir, ma'am if you don't come with me right now I'll be forced to use drastic action. Something which we're no longer allowed to use unprovoked.''

'' No way, I know my rights as a Kantonian citizen! Justice for the people, justice for the people!'' Ash cried, before being tased in the stomach.

-x-

'' Ok, now, why are you in the Sinnoh region?'' Officer Lee asked. She, after tasing Ash in the stomach, had taken him and Dawn into a back room, where they were busy being interrogated. Thankfully Ash's high had started to wear off, Dawn having learnt her lesson about giving Ash recreational drugs.

'' I'm a top coordinator coming back from Pallet Town in the Kanto region after attending a friend of mine's wedding'' Dawn answered.

'' Alright. Name and address?''

'' Seriously?''

'' Seriously'' Officer Lee deadpanned. '' Snowpoint security operates in the entire city, if you live here we have to know.''

'' Well, I don't. I'm from and live in Twinleaf Town. Also my name is Dawn Ariella Berlitz.

'' Wait, Dawn Berlitz. As in 2nd place Sinnoh Grand Festival Dawn Berlitz? The coordinator who's strong enough to hold her own with the likes of Iris Saige from Unova?''

'' Yeah, why?''

As if by magic, Lee's stony demeanor faded away. '' Oh my Arceus its really you! I'm a huge fan of yours, can you show me your piplup? That penguin of yours is to die for!''

'' Hey, I was a Frontier Brain!'' Ash protested.

'' Yeah whatever. So, when's your next contest and where?'' Lee answered. Both Ash and Dawn confused as to how the officer's personality could change after just finding out who Dawn was.

'' Uh, Sunnyshore City in a few weeks. Look, if its alright with you, can myself and Ash just go-

'' Ash? As in Alola winner Ash Ketchum?'' Lee asked again.

'' Yep, that's me'' Ash said proudly. '' Want an autograph-

'' You know Gary Oak!''

'' Yeah, he's my best friend, why?''

'' I've been following his research for years. His theory on the psychological impact of pokemon evolution is breathtaking. Is he single? What's his phone number? Where does he live?!''

'' Hey, he's happily married thanks. Also what about me, I ran the Kanto Battle Fortress!''

'' Uh huh, good for you. Look, I'm legally required to say that I checked you for any form of contraband, but since one of you is my hero and the other knows the great Gary Oak, I'll let you off with a warning. In fact…'' Lee dug in a nearby drawer and pulled out an old pokeball. '' Dawn, can you sign this?''

'' Ok….?'' Dawn said, as she scribbled on the sphere with a ball point pen she had been given.

As Officer Lee squealed with glee, the pair quickly slipped out to grab their bags.

'' That was fun'' Ash said sarcastically.

'' Yeah, being welcomed to your home region with an interrogative fangirl. That's always a fun one.''

'' Yep- oh by the way, did you get us a ride to Twinleaf Town? I still have to get a car here and the only pokemon I have on me are Pikachu, Infernape, Oshawott, Palpatoad, Heracross and Corphish. None of them are easy to fly on to Twinleaf Town.''

'' Great'' Dawn muttered. '' Well, we could always stay here at the airport hotel and rent a car in the morning'' Dawn shrugged before noticing two familiar gym leaders laughing near a vending machine. One had spiky blonde hair, piercing blue eyes with dark circles under them. He also wore a black v-neck t shirt underneath a blue jacket, black pants with a wallet chain and brown shoes. Next to him was a raven haired woman, probably a year younger than him. Her hair was tied into two long pigtails. Despite the unbearable chill of Snowpoint City, she was dressed in a white blouse, short brown shirt with a sweater wrapped around her waist. The only protection from the elements she seemed to have on were a pair of knee-high socks and shoes.

'' Hey, aren't those Volkner and Candice?'' Ash asked, remembering how tough they were.

'' Yep. Hey guy!'' Dawn called, the pair looking up and noticing a familiar ex-challenger and top coordinator.

'' Dawn! Zoey's been telling me so much about you kiddo. What's this about you going to Sunnyshore in a few weeks?'' Candice gleefully squealed.

'' Thanks, its my newest contest.''

'' I exist too'' Ash pouted.

'' Sorry dude. Let me try again. Hey, it's the challenger who brought back my spark in the form of a full on thunder wave'' Volkner smirked.

'' Better. So, why're you guys hanging out at an airport?''

'' Well, you could say we're a couple of strangers who came back from a getway'' Candice winked.

'' Huh?'' Ash raised an eyebrow, clearly confused.

'' What my ice princess here means, is that we just came back from a trip to Castelia City.''

'' Awesome! For pokemon stuff right?'' Ash asked.

'' Among others'' Volkner held up his left hand, showing a silver-mesh band.

'' Oh my Arceus you guys are engaged?! That's so romantic'' Dawn squealed.

'' Right! And to think I proposed to him'' Candice shrugged. '' The guy was taking too long so I decided to propose to him.''

'' Yep. Now I need to find real estate halfway between Sunnyshore and Snowpoint'' Volkner half joked. '' But enough about us, why are you guys here?''

'' Well, Ash quit his job at the Indigo League and got accepted by Barry to be a Frontier brain here in Sinnoh and live with me in Twinleaf Town.''

'' Wow, so you guys are dating? That's…big'' Candice said.

'' Well, we aren't dating'' Ash stupidly said, Dawn glaring at him.

'' We should go…Oh also, knowing Ash over here, no rental car?'' Volkner smirked.

'' Yeah'' Ash sighed.

'' Tell you what. You'll stay with us tonight. My apartment's only a couple blocks from here and my fiance's * sigh * Thunderizer is parked in long term'' Candice said.

'' Thunderizer?'' Ash raised an eyebrow.

'' Yep. Electric blue sports car with thunderbolts on the side. Barry gave me a bonus. Come on I'll show ya'' Volkner said cheerily a the two men raced away.

And scene everybody. Thanks for reading and following. In fact as of right now, this story is the most followed one I have on this account, so thanks so much.

As usual, stay safe and stay awesome!