wow, reviews already? thanks, guys! it's really nice that you took the time to comment on my story :3

dynji: thank you so much! i'll try so hard to keep you liking the story! :D

blackkyurem27: thank you heaps! barry's always been one of my favourite pokémon characters, though i can certainly agree he isn't the most conveniently placed of all the rivals, haha :3

Dawn's first choice was her Infernape, Inny, of which Barry immediately decided to counter with his Empoleon. The bluenette bit her lip slightly and the blonde boy could feel a slight sense of regret… why should he take this away from her? But then again, this was his dream… he wasn't going to give up on his dream.

"Empoleon, use Hydro Pump! Go, go, go!" Barry ordered, his vociferous volume present in his tone, as always. A burst of aqua shot from Empoleon's agape beak and rushed toward Inny. Barry found it amazing that Dawn did not even need to direct her Pokémon to dodge the attack- it just did so anyway. Of course, the dodge was not completely clean and Inny was damaged by slight impact from the water, however it seemed to be okay for the most part.

"Inny, Close Combat," Dawn murmured, and in a flurry of motion the Infernape leaped into the air and began throwing powerful, rapid punches at Empoleon, who staggered backward, wincing from the attack. The Champion formed her hand into her fist, the rush of battle flowing through her veins. But Barry was not going to give up- despite Empoleon's sustained damage, it was still okay, and the boy nodded his head toward his partner, before ordering it to use Bubble Beam.

At Barry's loud command, a vivid blue beam of effervescence cascaded from Empoleon's maw, and Inny was not fast enough to dodge the attack, and was directly smacked by the Bubble Beam. After the supereffective hit, Inny was largely damaged and obviously fatigued, so with a final shout from Barry, Empoleon used yet another Bubble Beam, and down went Inny.

The blonde-haired Trainer's heart sank slightly at his victory, however- Dawn's crestfallen features made his stomach ache slightly, making him feel as if he was ripping something away from the girl he had loved for so long as soon as she had gained it. But then again, this was his dream… he wasn't going to give up on his dream.

An almighty roar that shook the ground was sonorous as it cleaved the air, and fear filled the Trainer when his citrine visionaries befell the creature, Giratina. With its six powerful limbs that could crush almost anything under their weight, its huge, towering onyx wings of which could lift its megalithic form of the ground effortlessly, and its deep crimson eyes which could pierce one's soul, it truly was a formidable foe. And as Dawn muttered, "Shadow Force," Barry knew what was coming.

The huge, six-legged dragon disappeared into the embrace of the darkness almost instantly, and Barry's tangerine-hued optics widened in shock. It was too late by the time he yelled, "Watch out, Empoleon!" it was too late. The huge Legendary smacked Empoleon as hard as possible, and the penguin Pokémon was knocked flying into the air, and fell to the ground with an almighty thud.

The battle, though Barry fought vigorously, was all too easy for Dawn and that Giratina of hers. Every Stone Edge, Secret Power, Ominous Wind and Shadow force was fatal to Barry's poor Pokémon. Rapidash, Roserade and Snorlax had fought valiantly, but to no avail; at times, he had his doubts, but then again, this was his dream… he wasn't going to give up on his dream.

Next out for Barry was Heracross. The Bug- and Fighting- type was one of Barry's best loved and most skilfully raised of his Pokémon, and he was not prepared to lose Heracross in just a couple moves, as had been the fate of his previous four battlers. "Night Slash, Night Slash, NIGHT SLASH!" Barry bellowed at the top of his lungs, utilising his usual 'attack, attack, attack' strategy.

Barry, with his many partners in this battle, had managed to slowly pick off Giratina, so that one super-effective hit would hopefully faint the Dragon-Ghost type.

Heracross leapt with all its might, and Dawn cowered beneath her hands as Giratina staggered toward her, damaged immensely from Heracross' attack. Giratina had been felled. The overwhelming joy that came with defeating Giratina almost overtook Barry's entire body, and he grinned with glee at the fallen form of the beast, as it was returned to its Master Ball. But his glee was interrupted instantly when his orange gaze befell Dawn, who stood looking as broken as ever. She only had two Pokémon left- since Dawn always fought with four Pokémon, for her own reasons.

After a while, and after Dawn's Roserade, Rosey, had been defeated, all that was left was to defeat her Drifblim, Drifty. Barry's final Pokémon, Staraptor, stood strong from the last foe, and Drifty was the only thing left in the way of Barry becoming the new Champion of Sinnoh. He was determined as ever, and didn't realise how aquiver Dawn's motions were, as she motioned toward Staraptor and ordered the Drifblim, "Drifty, use Curse!"

A razor-sharp nail was hammered with enough force to pierce the skin into Staraptor's side, and the bird Pokémon squawked in agony as it was driven further and further into its skin. "Aerial Ace, Staraptor! DO IT QUICKLY!" Barry shouted, and Staraptor's wing turned as sharp as a butcher's knife as it struck Drifty's frail form. The Drifblim was propelled backward, and bounced off of the ground, rebounding from the attack. It was weak, and all Barry had to do was attack it before it could use Psychic, and then he'd be the new Sinnoh Champion.

This was what he was thinking, until his gaze befell Dawn's solemn features, emanating such an air of melancholy that it seemed she had given up on hope of keeping her title. Guilt ripping through his body, Barry swallowed- what right did he have to take away the goal that the girl he loved had worked so hard to get to? Why did he feel that he was so much more important than her? She was breath-taking in everything she did, and he was sure others would feel the same about her if he just let her have her fame, as Cynthia did. He took in a deep, shaky breath.

He had made his decision.

He waited.

Seeing her chance, Dawn chimed, "Drifty, use Psychic!" and Barry made no effort to instruct Staraptor to dodge. As Staraptor was struck with the psychic energy, Barry sighed. It was over. He had lost.

But losing was worth seeing her smile, and as she walked over to him to shake his hand, he felt his heart fluttering in a manner akin to the wing-beat of a Butterfree. Or a Dustox. Or really any kind of flying-Bug-type.

"That was a really fun battle, Barry. I hope we can do it again sometime." She chimed, and Barry beamed back at her. Despite his loss, he never failed to be happy around Dawn; as corny as it sounded, she was the one thing that brightened his day, even after a momentous loss like that.

"Thanks for the fun, Dawn. See ya 'round!" he chirped, turning to dash out of the door. However, he wasn't expecting to hear the Champion shout after him, "Barry! Wait!"

The blonde trainer turned around, and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Why would she want him to wait? "Uhh… what is it, Dawn?"

"I don't know whether you've heard," the pretty young girl exclaimed, smiling; however, her voice was still as sarcastic-sounding as always, having returned to her usual cynical demeanour. "But Bertha's retiring. Says she's too old for Pokémon battling, the old hag. I'm joking, Barry," she added after getting a shocked glance from the other, before continuing. "So, we need a new Elite Four member. And I think I've found the perfect man for the job," the girl said, tapping Barry on the nose as he crossed his eyes, to trace where her finger had just been.

"You think…"

"Yes," Dawn interrupted, smiling sweetly at the boy. "Barry, I want you to be one of my Elite Four members."

there was chapter two! i hope you all liked it as much as the first one, it is certainly longer than chapter one!

to be continued…