So, with a story like this, Ash being OOC will probably come up. If he stayed the exact same every chapter, this story would get pretty boring to read, let me tell ya.

Story of Dawn (PearlShipping)

Princess Salvia.

Oh, how I loved her!

I mean, everyone in Sinnoh did, maybe even in other regions. She was so beautiful. I would love for the chance to meet her!

And the chance arose.

My friend Brock worked in Princess Salvia's castle as a Pokémon doctor, so one day he asked the Princess if his friend, I, could come and meet her. She said she wouldn't mind. She's so sweet!

But more than that, I was going to meet the one and only beautiful Princess Salvia! I was so excited!

I had no idea what to wear. I was so nervous, I began mismatching all of my clothes by accident. In the end, I walked out wearing a dark blue blazer, black polo, red pants and a silver tie. Beyond regrettable. But if I didn't hurry, I would be late! I wouldn't want Princess Salvia's first impression of me to be so bad that she would quickly change her mind about meeting me! And then fire Brock for being his friend! Lives would be ruined in seconds!

I shook my head. No, today would be a good day. No, a great day! I was going to meet Princess Salvia! I'm not sure if I actually deserve this!

Well, imagine my surprise when I finally saw her, standing in the entrance hallway of the castle.

"Who are you?"

The girl standing in front of me, supposedly Princess Salvia, widened her eyes in horror. Everyone circled around us, the butlers, the maids, and Brock, glanced at each other in confusion as I questioned her.

"U-um," the girl stuttered. "W-what are you—?"

"You're not Prin—"

Before I could finish my sentence, the girl grabbed my wrists are forcefully dragged me through the long hallway, up a set of spiral stairs and to the only room at the top. She literally threw me in there and slammed the door behind me. I heard a click that sounded like she locked the door.

I stared in awe at the huge and spacious room. It was probably bigger than my whole house in Kanto. There was a monstrous bed in the corner that looked like it could fit maybe eight people. There were a few side table drawers on each side of the bed, one with a purple clock and the other with a lamp surrounded by blue roses. There was a dresser on the wall opposite to me, next to a wide window. I saw a door to the right of me, which I assumed was the closet. If I opened that door, I was sure it would be so big I could get lost in there. Cause, y'know, don't all girls have closets bigger than their own rooms?

"What the hell was that all about?" the girl shrieked, very un-princess like.

"You're not Princess Salvia, are you?" I repeated, finally finishing my sentence.

"How could you tell at first glance?" the girl asked, very surprised. "No one has been able to do that and only a few people in the castle know about me. Even some people in the castle don't know of my existence. And you're definitely the first outside of the castle to find out."

"I've loved Princess Salvia since I was a child. Well, I guess I'm still a child, but you know what I mean," I said. "I know what she looks like, but up close, I could tell you were different."

The girl sighed. "Well, you have to promise me you won't tell anybody. Please."

"I guess not. I don't really have a reason to," I nodded. "But where's Princess Salvia? And what's your name?"

"My name is Dawn," she introduced herself. "Princess Salvia is actually…really sick. She's been rather sickly for the past few years and I've been her stand-in ever since."

My face contorted in shock. "Really? Are you, like, her twin or something?"

"No, I'm not related to her at all," Dawn shook her head. "Salvia and I have been friends since we were little. People were always surprised at how much we looked alike. Then a few years ago, she was struck with some kind of flu-like illness that doctors haven't been able to cure. Salvia asked me if I could stand in as her double until she got better. I told her I'd do anything to help, although I wasn't too sure if I could pull off being a Princess for a week. Well, at the time I figured that was how long I was going to be her stand-in, but she hasn't gotten any better…"

"So you've been acting as Princess Salvia for several years now?" I asked, quite surprised.

"Yeah."

I thought about that for a second. When I said that I had been in love with Princess Salvia since I was a child, I had only meant a few years. Now that I knew that Dawn had been acting as Princess Salvia all this time…

…Did that mean that I was really in love with Dawn?

But if that was the case, how was I able to tell that Dawn was different from Princess Salvia? Maybe I loved Princess Salvia right before she switched places with Dawn and then my love for Princess Salvia transferred over to Dawn. Or something. I was so confused.

But maybe Dawn realized the same thing. "So, you say you've been in love with Salvia since you were young, right? I mean, we're all around the same age, but maybe when I switched with Salvia was when…"

We stared at each other for a moment. Then we both blushed.

"W-well, I guess maybe all this time, it was you I was in love with…"

"Or since I was just acting like the Princess, you really have been in love with…"

"No, I don't think so…" I muttered, not really knowing what I was saying. Was I telling this girl that I had just met that I had been in love with her for most of my life?

But…she didn't seem to mind, though. "I-if you say so…"

My face felt hot.

"Y'know, um…" she paused.

"I'm Ash."

"Oh, yeah, that's right. Ash. Y'know, no one's ever actually told me they've liked me for me. I'm always just 'Princess Salvia's double,' or 'Princess Salvia's stand-in,' never really 'Dawn.' And that makes me…happy. Y'know, if it is 'Dawn' you love and not 'Princess Salvia…'"

I glanced at her sullen face. She had been living a life of luxury, but at the cost of not being known as herself. Plus her friend was very sick.

Her friend that I had claimed to be in love with all this time. But…

I thought that was wrong.

"Dawn," I spoke her name softly and she jumped, probably not used to being called by her name. "I…I love you…"

I saw her face turn beat red. "U-um, really?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "I love you, Dawn."

She giggled. "I can't say I love you, too, 'cause, y'know, we just met. But…I'd love to get to know you. I mean, if you can handle me being Salvia's double."

"I don't mind." I cheesed.

In truth, I feel in love with a girl I didn't really even know. And with being Princess Salvia's stand-in, I didn't even know it was really Dawn that I was in love with! But, we figured it all out.

Funny how that works, huh?