Chapter 7

May 19th, 2006

Dawn hurried out of bed, quickly getting dressed. She planned to make a nice breakfast today for everyone just like what Brock used to do for her and Ash. She wanted to go with something good but simple to make. So she was going to make pancakes, one of her favourite breakfast foods.

Dawn hurried into the kitchen and pulled on an apron. She was happy that any trainers were allowed to access the kitchens at any time to cook and bake. Dawn noticed a purple head of hair walking towards the Pokémon Center doors. "Paul!" She called out to him as she poured the pancake batter into a mixing bowl. "I'm making us all some pancakes for breakfast!"

Paul looked back at her. "I don't eat breakfast." He said.

"You're going to eat breakfast today. You need lots of strength and a healthy mind for traveling. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!" Dawn smiled at him. "They're only pancakes, I'll make them whatever way you want, oran berry, chocolate chip…"

"I don't want it. You can't make me eat it."

Dawn put down the bowl and placed her hands on her hips. "Maybe not, but I can always call the Fortree gym and postpone your match until I see you eat some breakfast."

He glared at her. "This is ridiculous; if I don't want to eat I'm not going to."

"You're right, it is ridiculous, but this argument will continue until you eat some breakfast. You're only going to waste more time arguing." Paul glared at her and walked over and sat at a table, the one farthest from where she was cooking. Dawn laughed lightly at his actions, sure he was eighteen, but he greatly resembled an eight year old. Her being two years younger, sixteen to be exact, she was much more mature, according to her. Dawn grinned; know exactly what to say to make him angry.

"Stop pouting, unless you want to keep reminding me of Ash." Paul glared at her again and pulled out his pokégear. It was a newer kind, much smaller; he seemed to be sending somebody a message, another new feature on them.

Dawn finished the batter and quickly made Paul's breakfast, knowing that he was antsy to go and train for a bit before they set out again for his battle. It was done quickly so she plated it and carried it over to him, along with a plastic jug of maple syrup. He was still staring at his pokégear and texting somebody.

"Who are you talking to?" She asked as she set the plate and syrup down in front of him.

"Reggie." He spat the name; he glared at the phone and sent another text, then muttered something.

"What's wrong?"

"He sent my pokémon to Lumiose and won't tell me why."

Dawn frowned. Why would Reggie send his pokémon away, to another region, one that was very far from Sinnoh? It was even stranger that he wouldn't tell Paul why he sent them away, it wasn't something Reggie would do. "Try calling him."

Paul picked up his fork and poured some syrup on his pancakes. "I don't want to talk to him right now. He wouldn't answer the phone."

"Does he know that we're all traveling together?"

"No." Paul eyed her. "Why?"

Dawn stood up, slamming her hands onto the table. "What if I called him then? He'd answer me right?"

Paul stared at her. "How did you get his number?"

"He gave it to me, he gave me yours too."

Paul glared at his pokégear when he heard that. "Depends if he's not fawning pathetically over Maylene."

"Are they dating?" Dawn clasped her hands together and squealed. Paul nodded his head once. "How cute!" She cooed. "Boyfriends should always fawn over their beautiful girlfriends!" Paul took a bite of his pancakes, his expression changed slightly, but quickly went back to a frown, and this didn't go unnoticed by Dawn, though she decided to keep quiet for now. "I'm going to call him now!" She pulled out her own pokégear and searched through her contacts, reaching the R's she found the name Reggie Robelldo. She clicked the name and held the pokégear up to her ear. She wasn't facing Paul but could see him watching her from the corner of her eye. The phone rang a few times then he picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi Reggie!"

The line was silent for a few minutes, he then spoke again. "Dawn? Is that you?"

"Yeah! It's me!"

"Oh, how are you?"

Dawn grinned and looked over at Paul. "I'm doing good! I'm preforming in contests in Hoenn right now and I'm traveling with a few old friends that I met through Ash a while ago. I got my first ribbon yesterday!"

"Really? That's great!" Reggie sounded genuinely happy, "Wait, you're in Hoenn?"

Dawn nodded, even though he couldn't see it. "Yep. Oh I called because I had a question to ask you."

"Alright, what is it?" He sounded slightly wary.

Dawn grinned. "Is there any way that you can hold onto my pokémon for me, so I can catch new Hoenn pokémon?"

"Uh, I-ah, I actually can't at the moment, I'm full, sorry Dawn." Reggie didn't sound like he was telling the truth.

Dawn looked at Paul, he paused his eating and was looking at her. "Oh that's okay! I can probably put them into the PC then, thank you anyway!"

"Okay, have fun Dawn, goodbye!"

"Bye!" She said cheerily and hung up. "He said he didn't have any room, that he was full."

"Bull-"

"Don't swear!" Dawn chastised. "It's not a good habit!" Paul glared at her and continued to eat his breakfast. Dawn stood up, "When you're done can you go and get May and Drew?" Paul didn't answer. "I'll take that as a yes." She turned and went back to the batter, she was still wondering what Reggie was going on about with his care being supposedly full.

Paul sat under a tree as he watched his pokémon. Hariyama, Aagron, Weavile, Torterra, Electivire and Honchcrow. Torterra was at a disadvantage for the next gym, so was Hariyama. He wanted to switch out some of his pokémon to prepare for the next gym, but obviously that wouldn't work.

"Four on four." He muttered. His pokémon sat still as they watched him look each of them over. All he knew is that Torterra was not going to be used for sure. Hariyama too. "Pair up and fight. Don't get too tired for the afternoon."

The pokémon did as he instructed. Torterra was with Electivire. Hariyama with Weavile and Honchcrow with Aagron. They all started to fight as Paul watched to see who seemed to be at their best for today. Paul pulled out his pokédex and looked over all their stats.

"I think Dawn would let you use her Mamoswine if you asked, you know for more ice type moves."

Paul didn't bother looking up. What Drew had said was right; the cheerful blue haired girl probably would let him use her Mamoswine for one battle. Paul pushed the thought away. "My pokémon are stronger battlers."

"They are, but contest pokémon are just as strong too. I think my pokémon would be able to take yours on in a battle." Paul stared at the green haired man. Drew was the person that he got along the best with put of their group. He wasn't an overly annoying person and he never forced Paul to do things like the two girls did.

"What bulk do your pokémon have? They have flouncy attacks, not hard-hitting ones or even good status boosters."

"That doesn't change their skill, unless the only move they know is Splash."

"I'll just stick with using my own." He said as he scrolled through his pokédex.

Drew shrugged, "Do you know what you're going to do?"

Paul closed his pokédex, "I have an idea."

Dawn walked happily beside Paul. "Aren't you glad I made you eat breakfast now?"

Paul shrugged. "It just makes me not as hungry for lunch, I really don't care."

"Are you excited for your gym battle?"

"I've been to Hoenn before," Paul grumbled, "It's nothing new."

"I think you're excited."

"Think whatever you want." Dawn rolled her eyes and smiled down at Piplup, who copied her with a roll of his own eyes. They were heading down route 118, Dawn wanted to stay at the little beach that was on this route but they had no time, especially considering that they had to cross the water, over a bridge that was a little farther off to allow the small, but seemingly popular beach some privacy. There weren't many trees around but it was nice and grassy and there was also cool breeze.

"The bridge is this way." May said, pointing to a small pathway, "They just put it in recently so not many trainers have used it yet." Dawn looked over at Paul who had walked right past the pathway; he glanced at her before brushing past Dawn and walked along the very grassy path. Drew after him and then May. There was a flash of red and Dawn's Buneary appeared in front of her. Dawn smiled and set Piplup beside Buneary and together the three hurried to catch up with the others, Dawn still taking up the back. May looked behind her and smiled at the two pokémon before facing Drew's back again.

"How many routes do we have to pass through until we reach Fortree City?" Dawn asked.

"Just route 118 and 119. 119 is pretty long though, 118 is shorter thanks to the new bridge, we'll be out by the end of the day. We should reach the town in about five days if we keep going this speed." Drew replied.

"Maybe six because we left after lunch." May added. May was right, the sun was starting to set now, and they had just reached the bridge. There were big shrubs in the way of it so Paul called out his Weavile to cut them with its claws. "I think we should stop somewhere early on in route 119 for the night."

"That sounds like a good idea." Dawn nodded in agreement

"We need to wake up early tomorrow to make up for lost time." Paul grumbled as he stepped onto the bridge, it squeaked as he put his weight on it. "You're sure this is a new bridge?" He eyed May and Drew, "Hardly seems like it."

Drew nodded. "It is, it was made last year, obviously not many trainers have opted to actually use it."

"It's not stable." Paul said.

"You should walk on first Paul, you're the biggest one out of all of us, so you should go first. If it can hold up your weight than it can hold up ours." May added.

Paul gave her a look. "I appreciate you voicing your thoughts on something I was already planning on doing."

May narrowed her eyes at him. "Well if you voiced your thoughts first then I wouldn't have said anything."

Paul gave her another look and stepped onto the bridge. "Be careful Paul!" Paul didn't acknowledge her and kept on walking, holding onto the sides of bridge. With every step he took the bridge swayed from side to side.

Dawn let out a big sigh once Paul had reached the other side. Drew went after Paul and May after Drew. Finally it was Dawn's turn; she had brought both Piplup and Buneary into their pokéballs, just in case for their safety. Cautiously, Dawn stepped onto the rickety bridge, holding onto the sides until her knuckles turned white. There was a big gust of wind, making Dawn stop in her tracks for a moment. Dawn held her gaze on her three friends, keeping her focus off of the wind. Once it died down she began to walk on again. She finally reached the other side but another gust of wind knocked her back, a hand quickly shot out and grabbed her, pulling her back.

"You're not a piece of paper. Use your muscles." Paul let go of her.

"Sorry." Dawn said and scratched the back of her head.

May placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't apologise Dawn, I was knocked over too. They were big gusts of wind; we're just smaller and lighter than he is so we get blown away by the wind easier."

Dawn nodded. "You're right."

May smiled. "Paul's just upset because we didn't leave earlier."

Dawn laughed, "You know, Paul really is just like Ash, they're both persistent and have to get to the next gym quickly, they both have ants in their pants and have to keep moving."

"The only difference is that Ash is nicer."

"We're on route 119 now." Drew said, "Let's set up camp under those trees there."

"We're waking up early tomorrow." Paul said. "I'm leaving if you're not up in time." He set down his bag and began to sift through it.

"Don't worry, we will!" Dawn said cheerily.