Hello everyone. Sorry for the long delay between these chapters, real life suddenly got in the way and I've been very busy. But I hope this chapter satisfies. I finally get to try my hands at Appeals and Battles in this one and Zoey goes through her own growth.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Ash forced his eyes open and rubbed the sleep from them. He was wearing a plain white shirt and boxer shorts and took a couple of seconds to remember where he was and what had happened. That was right. He and Dawn had finally gone on their date. The two of them had…kissed. He wasn't sure if they were technically boyfriend and girlfriend, but he now knew that the feelings between them were mutual. He'd still try his hardest in the Wallace Cup, however.
He glanced around the room looking for his companions. He saw Zoey with her face pressed up against the misted window, already dressed and ready. He assumed from the light under the bathroom door that Dawn was going through her usual morning routine. He'd almost forgotten how time consuming it was. Seeing nothing better to do until the bathroom became free, he climbed out of bed and went to join Zoey. As he approached, the red-head turned to face him, bags under her eyes. In spite of that there was a laugh in her voice.
"And I was complaining about the sun yesterday," she chuckled, jerking her head in the direction of the window. Ash looked out, first wiping away some of the condensation. Sure enough it was pouring with rain outside and the sky was so dark it might as well have been night-time.
"Lovely day," Ash said, sarcastically. He turned to look at his friend. "You okay Zoey? You look a little tired." The amused look vanished from her eyes at his concern and she turned her face from his.
"Jet lag will do that to you," she mumbled in response.
"Are you at least looking forward to the Contest? I'm not holding back, you know!"
"Sure, Ash." Zoey said, quietly. Ash was confused. Where had Zoey's fire gone? She was always massively invested in every Contest she participated in, so why was she acting as if it was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment.
"Hey, Ash! You're up!" Dawn's voice came from behind him. He turned to meet her in an embrace that took him by surprise. He gladly returned the gesture however, burying his face in her blue hair, still a little damp from Piplup's Bubblebeam.
"Morning, Dawn," he told his crush. "Sleep well?" Her face still buried in the crook of his neck, Dawn made a noise of affirmation. "Well I have to go and get ready myself." Ash finished, as he withdrew from her hug and headed into the bathroom. Zoey watched the scene with a look of sadness on her face. What had happened last night that had made them so close? And why did she feel so upset when she saw them together. Stop it Zoey the red-head berated herself. You need to pull yourself together. You have a Contest to win. She steeled herself against the unfamiliar emotions and waited for Ash to finish his own (much quicker) routine so that they could head to breakfast.
Water splashed under Dawn's feet as the three of them walked through the town, making their way to the stadium where the Wallace Cup was being held. After a quick breakfast, the three of them had to cram under the one umbrella that the Pokémon Centre had free and head out through the pouring rain. As such, their pace was little more than a shuffle. Still, it gave Dawn chance to think. Through her mind ran her game plan for the Cup, from her appeal to what Pokémon she would be using for the battle rounds. Also present was her changing relationship with her closest friend, Ash Ketchum. She was glad that the two of them felt the same for each other and she was hoping to make their relationship more official once the Cup was over. After all, it would make beating him easier if they were simply rivals at the time and hold fire on declaring themselves a couple for a little while.
Without pausing to admire the architecture of the stadium's façade (Ash had told them at breakfast that the place where the Cup was held was usually used for something called the Battle Maison), they pushed inside, Ash and Dawn hurrying ahead, eager to get started.
The main lobby had a plush red carpet that had already been ruined by the tramping feet of dozens of rain-soaked people and Pokémon. Due to their crammed conditions underneath the umbrella, the three of them were soaked through as well. Ash's solution to this, after letting Pikachu out from his hiding place in his jacket, was to shake his hair like a Lilipup, splashing both of his companions.
"Ash!" Dawn admonished, as water hit her face. "What was that for?"
"What's the matter?" Ash asked, puzzled. "We're soaked anyway. It's all just rainwater."
"Well, now it's second hand rainwater! And that's worse…" Dawn trailed off. Their argument was a little silly. White then filled her vision as well as a warm, fuzzy feeling all around her head and shoulders. She realized that, impatient with her friends' unproductive bickering, Zoey had draped a clean white towel over Ash's and Dawn's heads.
Zoey couldn't help but grin as she watched them dry themselves off. As much as watching them interact had bothered her, she couldn't help but find the pair amusing. The fact that they had both missed the pile of clean towels available at the entrance was just one example of how the two could get a head of themselves.
"Thanks Zoey!" Ash and Dawn told her in unison. She gave them both a slight smile and grabbed a towel for herself. They then went their separate ways as Dawn and Zoey went to the girls' changing room and Ash headed to the one for male Coordinators.
"Mamoswine, spotlight!" Dawn cried, as she released her powerhouse Pokémon onto the stage. She was the very first appeal of the Wallace Cup and she had to make a good impression. Mamoswine emerged from a cloud of white mist before slamming onto the stage and roaring loudly. Gasps could already be heard from the audience. Dawn grinned to herself. Mamoswine always made a big impression. And she intended to use it.
"Alright Mamoswine! Start the appeal with Ice Shard!" Hearing his trainer's commands, the Pokémon formed an orb of ice between its tusks and waited for further instructions instead of releasing it. A pause for dramatic effect: keep the audience guessing.
"Okay, good. Now swallow it! Show them your icy armour." Dawn cried. To further gasps of admiration from the audience, Mamoswine swallowed its own attack whole and along its back, great spears of ice formed, highlighting its already intimidating appearance.
In the waiting room, Ash and Zoey watched her appeal. "Amazing!" Ash gasped. He was dressed in the outfit that he had bought yesterday. Zoey turned to him and raised an eyebrow. She was wearing what she had worn at the last Wallace Cup: a stylised white and green suit that fitted her tomboy attitude.
"Her appeal or Dawn herself?" she asked the trainer in response to his exclamation. Ash blushed furiously. Dawn was wearing a dress very similar to the one she had worn whilst impersonating Princess Salvia in Arrowroot Town. It was a sparkling, strapless, light blue dress and plain white gloves that came up to her elbow. She had looked good in it then and she looked even better wearing it now, Ash thought.
"Both." He responded to Zoey, still a little awe struck. "She's using the same tactic she used in the Lilypad Town Contest. Hopefully it'll work out better for her. Weird to see it in an appeal though."
"I saw that Contest on the news. Mamoswine better keep his temper. Though knowing Dawn, she has something planned."
Both trainers turned their eyes back to the screen and waited to see what the girl would do with the ice spikes.
"Great job!" Dawn congratulated her Pokémon. It was all working the way she thought it would. "Now, launch those spikes in front of you!"
Mamoswine bellowed its name and did as it was told. The icy spikes on its back shot off and impaled the ground in front of it, without a single one shattering. Although it was hard to tell when the spikes were on its back, now that they were on display it was clear that they all had varying lengths and widths. The crowd was silent, eagerly awaiting the climax to the display of power. Dawn smiled to herself. It was time for the twist.
"Now, play us a song!" Dawn cried. The crowd seemed confused, as were Ash and Zoey. Play a song? A bulky Pokémon like Mamoswine? And where was the instrument? Mamoswine lumbered forwards and stood directly in front of its wall of ice spikes. It then, gently and cautiously tapped them in turn with its tusks. Amazingly, it began to produce a melody and the audience were rendered silent, as each person was listening to the elegant tune that such an uncoordinated Pokémon was producing.
After ten seconds, Mamoswine stopped playing and dipped its head to the audience: the closest thing to a bow it could manage. The audience cheered loudly. The judges then voiced their opinions.
"Remarkable!" Cried the head of the Pokémon fan club, with his limited vocabulary. He gave her an 8.5.
"A truly unconventional performance. What a way to show of Mamoswine's talents." Said Mr. Contesta. He gave her 9 points.
"I don't know much about Contests, but I certainly enjoyed it!" Cried Kiloude City's resident Nurse Joy. She gave it 7.5 points.
"The change from showing off Mamoswine's sheer size and power to something far more delicate is a stroke of genius rarely seen in performances. Well done." The Contest Master and Champion of the Hoenn region gave her a solid 9.5 points. Dawn's total was an impressive 34.5 out of a possible 40.
Dawn left the stage, grinning. It had gone even better than she had expected.
The appeal rounds had gone on with many astounding performances, though none quite made the impression that Dawn's did. Zoey had just returned from appealing with her Lumineon. She had used its pre-evolved form in her first Wallace Cup and she had wanted to emphasise how much she had learned since then. Unfortunately, she had taken no pleasure in her performance and in spite of it being pulled of perfectly thanks to hours of practise, her lack of enthusiasm had left her at a decent 30 points in total. But she knew that she should be equalling or even surpassing Dawn.
As if reading her mind, the blunette turned to her rival. "You really could have looked more into it out there Zoey. What's up?"
The red-head was about to give an excuse when she was interrupted by Ash's name being announced. With all his usual enthusiasm, Ash ran onto the stage and released his Pokémon.
"Talonflame! I chose you!" The red and grey bird emerged from a cloud of black smoke, sparks flying from the edges of its wings, showing of its fire typing.
"Wow, Ash looks great in the clothes I got for him!" Dawn cried, concerns for Zoey temporarily dismissed.
Looking at Ash perform, Zoey couldn't help but agree. "Yeah, he does…" she said, quietly. Dawn shot her a sharp look, suddenly suspicious of Zoey. The red-head corrected herself. "I mean, it's a testament to your abilities that you managed to make Ash Ketchum look stylish." She finished, hastily. Dawn laughed in agreement and both girls turned to look at the screen.
Talonflame had landed in the centre of the stage. "Okay, show them your power with Overheat!" Ash instructed, wanting to start of the performance in a big way. A blazing orb of fire formed from the bird's big and was shot straight up into the air, where it hung unmoving in mid-air, like a miniature sun. Ash grinned. At least that part had worked out. Holding the fire in place was one of the trickiest things they had to do. "Now, circle that fire ball with multiple Flame Charges!"
Talonflame launched itself into the air and ignited its body, burning a fierce orange. It circled the Overheat orb twice, each time the trail of its flame formed a ring around the attack, highlighting the sheer power of the flames.
"Straight up into the air! Go!" Ash yelled. Talonflame obeyed and shot upwards until it was lazily circling above the display of flames that it had formed. "Finish this off with Brave Bird!" The bird screeched its name aloud and shit downwards as fast as a bullet, its body glowing in a golden light. It hit the Overheat and an explosion of fire and light expanded outwards from the point of impact, dazzling the audience. When it was over, the proud bird Pokémon landed on the stage once again and bowed to the audience repeatedly as cheers for the flashy display washed over him and his Trainer.
The judges voiced their opinions. He got an 8 from the head of the Pokémon fan club and Mr Contesta, a 7.5 from Nurse Joy and an 8.5 from Wallace. Ash's total was 32, leaving him in a comfortable position for the next round.
He made his way back to the waiting room whilst the next (and last) competitor went up to perform. When he got there, he was immediately greeted with a raised hand from Dawn. He met her gesture and they shared a high five.
"Brilliantly done, Ash!" She congratulated him. "That was a really showy performance. I definitely saw Talonflame's speed and power."
Zoey also approached him. "Using a fire Pokémon was pretty clever Ash. Most just use water types in order to use the pool and impress Wallace. It definitely made you memorable." There was maybe a tinge of envy in her voice as well. But she couldn't hold Ash's performance against him. He had done really well and it was her own fault that she had messed up on her performance.
"Gee, thanks guys!" Ash replied, embarrassed at the praise from two talented Coordinators. "Talonflame worked really-"
"And now, to announce which 8 Coordinators are moving on to the next round!" Marian's voice interrupted Ash and all the Coordinators present turned to watch the screen. The faces appeared in order of their score. The first to appear was, needless to say, Dawn. She cheered herself and shared a grin with Ash. Then two other Coordinators appeared, followed by Ash's face. Fourth place was much better than he expected. Ash too was happy with his placement. More faces appeared: 5, 6, 7- there was just one place left. Zoey's heart was in her throat. She had ever failed an appeal round in her life and if she didn't make it through now it would break a winning streak that had lasted her from before the Grand Festival in Sinnoh. She could not fail.
Bing. Zoey's face appeared as number 8. There were cheers and sighs of disappointment from throughout the waiting room, but Zoey couldn't hear them over the sound of her own relief. She had made it by the skin of her teeth.
Ash and Dawn exchanged concerned looks. Zoey had only just made it through, and whilst they were both proud of their friend for making it, they both knew that there was something seriously wrong with Zoey at the moment.
"Glameow!" Zoey cried as her faithful cat Pokémon took another hit from the opponent's Poliwrath. She was facing off against a Coordinator in the first round of the Cup and it wasn't going well. She had managed to remain equal to her opponent in terms of points, but the powerful fighting type moves of the Poliwrath were beginning to wear her starter down. She needed some quick thinking to get herself out of this, but creativity wasn't coming easily.
The Poliwrath charged up a powerful Focus Punch- if that hit it was all over and there were mere seconds left on the timer. She flashed back to facing Ash's Aipom under the same circumstances, except now the time would not work in her favour- act now or lose. A burst of adrenaline flooded her system and thoughts of Ash were dismissed in the heat of the moment.
"Block the attack with your tail, Glameow!" she instructed. The spring-like appendage blocked the attack and absorbed most of the force. Another bonus was entangling her opponent in the tail.
"Okay! End it with Shock Wave!" Zoey yelled. Blue bolts of electricity shot from the tail and electrocuted the water-type for super effective damage.
"And time!" Marian cried. "And the winner by only a few points is Zoey from Snowpoint City!" The girl let out a shuddering breath and recalled Glameow. That had been too close.
She had been the last match of the first round, which had begun after a break for lunch. Ash and Dawn (who had both made it through as well) had interrogated her throughout the meal, but she had dodged their questions the best she could.
She arrived in the waiting room only to be congratulated by her companions. Neither of them mentioned the fact that the battle should not have been as close as it was. They watched the screen with interest as the remaining four Coordinators were randomly paired up for the second round matches. Dawn was against some Coordinator who seemed to favour his Blastoise, and that left… Ash against Zoey. The red-head felt like there was a rock in her stomach. It was inevitable that the three friends would have to face one another eventually… but still she didn't feel ready to face Ash. Not like this.
"Looks like you two are going up against each other once I'm done with my match!" Dawn said.
"Yeah… we're rivals again, just like in Jubilife." Ash told her. He sounded excited and… apprehensive? Zoey couldn't tell. She was finding it harder to read this boy who had once been an open book to her analytical mind.
Dawn shot Ash a look. The communication between them didn't need words: Talk to her. Figure this out. Ash's response: I'll try. But I'm bad at this.
"No need to worry!" Dawn announced. She was speaking to everyone in the group. She then, after a quick hug from Ash, set off to her match, leaving Ash and Zoey alone.
The male made a gesture to Zoey- Follow me, we need to talk. Zoey paused, fishing for time. "Don't you want to watch Dawn's battle?" She asked.
Ash shook his head. "She's got it covered. It's our battle I'm worried about." He then turned and walked out of the waiting room. Zoey felt that she had little choice but to follow.
They stood together alone and Zoey glared into the middle distance. She didn't want to look at him. "I don't want to battle you this way," Ash started, ignoring her rudeness. In spite of herself she glanced at him, curiously. He sighed in exasperation. "Neither me nor Dawn are thick Zoey. We know when something's wrong with you. And I don't want to battle you when you're weak. So spit it out: What's wrong?"
Zoey slumped. She might as well come out with it. "It's nothing to do with Contests," she explained. She then looked Ash right in the eye. There was something that she had to know. "What happened between you and Dawn last night?"
Ash looked startled and embarrassed. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Everything."
It was Ash's turn to be nervous. Where was this going? "We confessed. I dunno if we're officially dating, but we know we like each other… and we kissed."
Zoey sighed. There was that feeling again. That incredible loneliness and envy. "Oh, congratulations…" Her voice was hollow.
"That doesn't sound very sincere. Are mine and Dawn's feelings for each other your problem?" He didn't sound angry. Just curious and hurt.
"I think so…" Zoey responded. "I'm not sure. I've never felt this way before…"
"Jealous?" Was she jealous? No, that didn't feel right… at least not jealous of Dawn for having Ash.
She shook her head. "No. Envious… sad… lonely… I just don't know."
Ash was silent. Ideas trickled through his brain at her words. Thoughts that he had wrestled with during his lonely journey in the last half of Kalos. Zoey was an independent girl… putting her career before anything else, especially personal matters.
"You know…" he began. Zoey only stared at him, waiting for him to continue. "Love, romance crushes… all those things are complicated. I didn't understand them for years… and when I did I didn't want to feel them… as if they'd be a distraction." He looked at Zoey. She had an odd look on her face. He had been right… she had shut herself of from these emotions, these 'distractions' that now haunted her. He carried on. "Then I hurt my friendship with Serena and I thought… no way! Don't ever touch that stuff. But I was wrong. Dawn showed me that. All the times, travelling alone, that I tried to convince myself I didn't need to want or be wanted in that way… I became distracted. You can't cut that part out of you, Zoey. No matter how hard you try."
"But… it's so immature. I never needed it to do well before! I don't want it!" Zoey cried, not caring that she sounded childish.
"It's still human Zoey… and so are you. Just acknowledge that you want… well what do you want?"
Silence. Zoey thought. What did she want? Outside of her Coordinator ambitions… Ash and Dawn hugging each other at the sea port. Ash and Dawn chattering together in the Café, somehow excluding everyone else. Ash and Dawn dating… Ash and Dawn bickering, playfully. "I want love," she said, finally. "I want my… other. A partner who loves me for everything I am and who I can love for all they are. What you and Dawn have." She looked at Ash, this boy who had been little more than an outlet for her supressed emotions- a petty crush for the sake of feeling something… anything. Tears filled her eyes. She hadn't cried since she was 10.
Ash stepped forwards and hugged her. It wasn't romantic but supporting. "I know, Zoey. I've been where you are… and I'm proof that you can move past it. Just accept it and start looking." Zoey nodded into his shirt. She then pulled away, wiping her eyes on her sleeve. She felt a new energy in her and suddenly, she wanted to battle… to perform and shine. She knew that there was more out there. All she had to do was look hard enough.
"It's about time for our battle Zoey. Let's go! And good luck!"
The red-head snorted, feeling more like her old self. "Good luck to you more like. You'll need it! And don't you dare tell anyone I cried!" She demanded.
Ash laughed and they walked down the corridor, where they would separate to reach opposite ends of the arena. "My lips are sealed," he grinned. "But you know Zoey… I do love Dawn to bits. But you're quite a catch too, you know. You'll find someone in no time."
Zoey blushed, although it was hard to tell under her sunburn. "Thanks Ash… seriously though. Thanks for everything. You'll definitely be a worthy opponent!"
Ash gave her a thumbs up and the two of them parted ways. They would meet again soon… in battle.
Zoey stood on her platform in the arena. The centre was a circle surrounded by water. Ash stood on his own platform facing her. He gave her a slight wave, which she returned. His face then took on a determined look. They were rivals again.
"Gallade! Curtain!" She cried as she released her Psychic/Fighting type. It had been instrumental in defeating Brawley and as such was her strongest battler.
"Greninja, go!" Ash responded, as he sent out his own Pokémon. Zoey frowned in annoyance. Of course he had used another of his Kalos captures. The creature on stage looked like a Water-type. It resembled a frog with long spindly limbs and a flat face with strangely blank eyes. Around its neck was a pink scarf. She wished she knew more about her opponent- she knew most Pokémon from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh- but had never faced Pokémon from Unova or Kalos before. Still, she had a Contest to win- Ash would need more than that to stop her.
"Okay- use Thunderbolt Gallade!" The swordsman Pokémon crossed its blades and charged electricity through them. The bolt shot out, straight forwards towards Greninja. It wasn't the most imaginative move, but it would be super-effective and help her establish more about this unknown Pokémon.
"Avoid it!" Ash cried. Instead of leaping out of the way, Greninja splayed its legs and bent its body backwards into an arc. Gallade's attack shot over its head and dispersed into the water. Zoey glanced at her points as they dropped. Such a casual dodge was effective in Contests as it portrayed the attacker as incompetent. A good move.
"So much for being simple. Let's see how he likes this! Gallade, use Magical Leaf- Countershield!" The Countershield was a move she had seen Ash use before and one that Dawn had adopted to use in Contests- naturally Zoey had decided to use it for herself. Her Gallade launched a volley of glowing leafs which proceeded to orbit the Pokemon as three rings.
"Now charge forwards with Brick Break!" Both of Gallade's wrists then glowed white as the powerful combination attack rushed towards the still stationary Greninja. Ash's points fell rapidly: combinations were an excellent way to affect the score.
But Ash still had more tricks up his sleeve. "A Countershield? Sneaky Zoey! Greninja, dodge through the gaps and get in close." Zoey tried not to laugh. Avoid the Magical Leaf Countershield? Unless a Pokemon could teleport, it wasn't possible… She was proved wrong mere moments after thinking this as Greninja leaped forwards, his body stretched out so it was as thin as possible and fast as a thought was through the leaves and approaching Gallade…
"Land the Brick Break!" Zoey cried, almost panicking at the sight.
At the same time Ash also cried out. "Greninja use Hydro Pump!"
Wham! The Brick Break hit Greninja right between its flat eyes. However, an orb of water had already formed in Greninja's palm and the powerful water attack hit Gallade from less than a foot away. The Countershield dissipated as Gallade lost its focus. It was sent hurtling through the air before crashing to the ground back on its own side of the field. Both their points dropped… Gallade had taken major damage.
"Well done on the Fighting type move Zoey!" Ash called out. "Greninja is part Dark type!" So she had managed to land a super-effective hit. There was still all to play for. But Ash's Pokemon were notoriously tough- it would take much more than that to stop his Greninja.
"Our turn for a combination! Greninja, combine Ice Beam with Dark Pulse!" The dark purple energy of the Dark pulse combined with the cruel pale blue of the Ice Beam formed a chilling combination as the attack rushed towards Gallade… Zoey's points fell.
"Dodge! Use Psychic to boost your jump!" Zoey ordered. Gallade launched a Psychic blast towards the floor and this shot him straight up into the air, narrowly avoiding the combination. Ash's points dropped.
Ash smirked, Gallade was airborne and couldn't dodge his next attack. "Greninja! Hit it with your Lick!"
Zoey frowned. Lick? She started in astonishment, however, when the pink scarf around her opponent's neck sprang to life and snapped out like a whip, it stretched for several metres and wrapped around the still jumping Gallade. It was Greninja's tongue!
"And slam it into the ground!" Ash instructed. Greninja responded, and with a twitch of his tongue sent Gallade crushing to the floor. It was a bizarre and unexpected attack that left both Zoey and the audience shocked.
"Gallade!" Zoey called out. "Are you alright?" Gallade moved to get up, but his body refused to move. Lick's secondary effect of Paralysis.
"Okay Greninja, hit it with Ice Beam!" The chilly blue beam struck the downed Gallade and Zoey's points plummeted. Why was Ash using Ice Beam? Surely a powerful water type move such as Hydro Pump would do more damage. Zoey's tongue was dry against the roof of her mouth. She had to think… wait dry mouth… saliva! Greninja's saliva was what was causing the paralysis. That was why Ash wasn't using a water type move- it would wash it off!
"Gallade! You have to move. Get into the water!"
With supreme effort, Gallade rolled into the pool that surrounded the arena and submerged himself. He then sprung back out, mobility returned as Ash's points fell.
"Greninja, Ice Beam!" Zoey felt hope fade away again as the Ice Beam froze the water in the middle of Gallade's jump. The swordsman Pokémon was left in a spout of ice, his lower half frozen solid. Zoey's points fell further.
Still, she wasn't giving up. "Gallade, break free with your Brick Break!" Her Pokémon's arms glowed white and the Fighting attack shattered the ice. "Now, launch the remains at Greninja with Psychic!" The remains of the ice spout glowed in a blue light and they shot forwards.
"Greninja, stop them all with a Countershield! Dark Pulse!" Bands of dark purple energy blasted from Greninja's palms in all directions. The ice shards shattered as they approached.
"Thunderbolt!" Zoey ordered. Unprepared for such a swift retaliation, the attack hit Greninja dead on and the frog collapsed, almost knocked out. Finally, she could end this.
"Finish it! Brick Break!" Zoey instructed.
"Greninja, use Hydro Pump!"
Gallade advanced swiftly, preparing for the final blow…
Greninja charged an orb of water in its palm and blasted it outwards…
"And time!" Cried Marian.
Both Trainers jumped, and their Pokémons' attack faded. They had both been so caught up in the battle, they had forgotten about the time limit. Their eyes turned to the screen.
"And the winner by the narrowest of margins is… Ash Ketchum form Pallet Town. A round of applause for both competitors in this thrilling match!" Zoey felt momentary sadness. There went her winning streak. But still… She grinned across the arena at Ash. They had both given it their all and there could be no hard feelings. She recalled Gallade and thanked it for its hard work. She then made her way back to the waiting room to meet Ash and Dawn.
"That was certainly something, you guys. Congratulations, both of you!" Dawn cried. She had won her battle with relative ease and it had been thrilling to watch her two closest friends go head to head in the most intense battle of the Wallace Cup so far. She was also relieved to see that, in spite of her loss, Zoey seemed much more like her old self. She was curious about what Ash had told her though.
"I believe you need to be congratulated as well, Dawn." Zoey said, a laugh in her voice.
"Phffrt, no need to worry. My battle was pretty simple."
"I meant on your other victory." Zoey smirked, glancing between Ash and Dawn. No that she had worked through her own trauma, it was once again amusing to tease the two.
Dawn flushed with embarrassment. "You told her!" She hissed to Ash.
Ash rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Sorry Dawn! It's not like she wouldn't have figured it out on her own," He then wrapped one arm around Dawn and kissed her cheek. "You look lovely in that dress by the way."
Dawn blushed scarlet. "Fine, fine. You're forgiven. But I still want to know what you guys talked about!"
"All in good time Dawn," Zoey replied. "But first, you two have a Final to have."
Ash gasped in realisation. He had been so caught up in competing and battling Zoey that he had forgotten his reason for entering in the first place. He would confront Dawn in the Finals… and show her once and for all how far she had come.
Thanks again for reading. I'm not sure when the next (and final, bar maybe a epilogue) chapter will be released, but I'm working on it. Zoey had a much bigger focus in this story than I ever intended, but I had ideas for her character so I might as well use them. Anyway, please review and Ash and Dawn face off next!