Our adventure continues with the gang now heading toward Veilstone City, being as it was a three week walk from Snowpoint City, the trip was going to be a long one.
"I'm hungry..." and Ash was feeling the work.
"Can we stop to eat? It's been four hours since breakfast."
"Oh come on Ash, how can you be hungry so early?" Dawn was one to talk, she was a little hungry herself but she wanted to get to Reggie's as soon as possible.
"Let's at least wait till we get to a clearing, there's nothing but forest around here."
"Not only that, but we have a straggler coming up the rear."
All of them had turned to see Paul, a good ten feet behind, panting and trying his best to keep up with them.
"Think one of us should try helping him again?" Dawn was pretty concerned for the little tyke, she felt bad.
"But we already tried twelve times." Ash said scratching the back of his head.
"How can we help someone that won't accept it?"
Dawn was a little fed up now, "So then we won't give him a choice."
Both Ash and Brock had a "I don't think that's a good idea" look on their face as Dawn walked to Paul. As she stood over head waiting for Paul, as soon as he got close she scooped him up in her arms and started walking toward the others.
"Pichu pichu pi? Pichu-chu!" - ('What the hell are you doing? Put me down now!') This was embarrassing and it had really not made his mood better. "Pichu pi-pi-chu!" - ('I can walk on my own!')
"I don't give a flying Spearow what you say, you are falling way behind and you need help whether you like it or not." Dawn had said it in a very sure and controlled voice, it kinda caught Paul off guard. He was catching his breath and flattened his ears back as she carried him back to the group.
"Wow Dawn, I can't believe he let you pick him up." Ash was giggling at Paul, which in turn ticked him off more.
"Ggrrrrrrrrrr" He gave Ash the dirtiest look he could muster in his state. And it was in fact enough to back him off.
"You know he doesn't like you, why do you keep insisting on him?" Dawn gave Ash the "really?" look as they kept walking.
"Well I do want him to like me, but I suppose he's too much like Paul to."
"Alright you guys, I see a clearing up ahead we can picnic there and rest a bit."
"Alright! Food!" Ash sprinted ahead of the group to get what he could ready.
"It'll be good to rest up a bit," Dawn was a little worn as well from the hard rocky floor, "I think I need to get a new pair of boots, these ones are wearing out."
"There's a small town about a days walk away if you can wait till then?"
"Yeah, thanks Brock." she gave him a sweet smile and quickened her pace to catch up with Ash.
As soon as the table was set and the food was over the fire, it was time for the newbie to meet the rest of the group.
"Come on out guys!"
Ash, Dawn, and Brock threw their pokeballs in the air and all their Pokemon came out.
"Guys, this is Pichu." Ash was introducing Paul to the group, all the while Paul was glaring at him. "He's gonna be traveling with us for a bit."
'Hello!' All the Pokemon greeted him at once, it was really unnatural to Paul.
"You all be nice to him you hear? Make him part of the family." Dawn said that with a hint of a sort of sinister echo in her voice that only Paul caught it seemed.
The first of the thirteen Pokemon to welcome Paul was Infernape, of all Pokemon, it had to be the one we gave up.
'Hey Pichu, I'm Infernape. It's great to meet you.' He was so happy and cheerful, it kinda made Paul sick to his stomach. 'So who's your trainer? Ash said that you would be here for a while, that means you weren't caught by any of our trainers.'
'Yeah,' next was Piplup, 'who's your trainer?'
'….uh,' as he looked around, all eyes were on him. The Pokemon were all waiting for him to answer the question. Being so small, it didn't help his position and it was getting him mad, '….' He flattened his ears back and lowered himself to the ground backing up slowly, if you payed any attention, you were able to see the little tuft of fur stand on end on his back.
`Damn I wish those idiots had kept my Pokemon! Show these looser pokemon what a real fight would look like.`
"Uh, guys?" Both Dawn and Ash stop setting the table and bowls and turned to look at Brock, "It doesn't look like Pichu is fitting in so well." As soon as he said that all three turned to look at Paul who looked like he was getting ready to blast them all.
'Hey man, chill out a bit.' It was Buizel that was trying to talk to Paul. 'They just asked you a simple question, we aren't going to hurt you.'
'Rrrrrr...' Paul was building up his attack with Charge, and this time he meant to do it.
'Look! We're trying to be nice here! But if you want a fight let's go!' Buizel was getting ready to give a call back the moment Paul gave the first attack.
"Ok, seriously Dawn, time to stop it before someone gets hurt."
"Me? Why do I have to do it?"
"Cuz Pichu listens to you," Ash began setting the table again, didn't matter what was going up with Pichu, he wanted to eat. "Besides, I don't want to get between that little guy and Buizel, he may have the type advantage but there is no way he would win."
-sigh- Dawn lowered her head in defeat and under her breath,"It's not exactly fun when you begin to make sense Ash."
"Hmm? What was that?"
"Oh, nothing. I'm on it." She placed the bowls aside and started to the two angry Pokemon locked in a glaring contest.
"BUI-BUIZEL!" - ('COME ON LET'S GO!')
"That's enough you guys!" All eyes turned to Dawn. "Pichu isn't exactly the social type, so go on, get on about your business." She clapped her hands and waved them all off. Buizel retracted his stance and huffed away with the others.
"You know? Just cuz you belong to Paul, doesn't mean you have to act like him." She picked him up and carried him to the table, sitting him down next to Pikachu.
'So how was your visit with the others?' Pikachu was chuckling at Paul when Dawn turned away.
'Har, har,' Paul was in no mood to deal with any sarcastic remarks. 'That girl did that on purpose. She knew what was going to happen.'
'Come on Paul, Dawn wouldn't do something like that. I haven't known her to hold a grudge.'
'Well guess again, she's no angel.'
Paul flattened his ears back as soon as Dawn came to the two with two bowls of poke-food.
"Eat up. No doubt you're both hungry." she gave a warm smile as she placed the bowls in front of them. "It's Brock's own home made recipe, you'll love it!"
Pikachu dug right in but Paul was skeptic. He looked it over, sniffed it a bit, and gave a little nibble.
-Hurck- -cough- -cough- -blehk-
All four stopped eating and turned to Paul who was scratching at his tongue.
"He doesn't like it?" Ash had food in his mouth, gazing at Brock with concern.
"Impossible. All Pokemon love my food." Brock was in denial as he got up and approached Paul. "What's the matter little buddy, did you eat too fast?" He gave a light smile as he patted Paul on the head.
Paul glared at him then shook his head, pushing away the bowl in front of him to Pikachu who accepted with open arms.
"You don't like it?" Brock was shocked. "Not even a little bit?"
Paul shook his head 'No.'
"Oh, NO!," with that over dramatic zoom out with the thunder in the background, Brock collapsed in fetal position away from the table with a little misery cloud over his head.
Both Dawn and Ash looked at him with a sweat drop.
"Well what are we gonna do then? He can't just not eat." Dawn was in a real dilemma with the little mouse. "Why does he have to be so damn stubborn?"
"Why don't we try something with more flavor and not so poke-food-ish?" Ash was mostly paying attention to his food in front of him than what was really going on.
"Hey that's a good idea, Ash." Brock was now recovered and with the others at the table. "Dawn," she looked up at him curious, "since he's pretty fond of you," Paul looked at him with a glare as the blood started to rush to his face, "why not try giving him some poffin?"
"Pichu?" - ('Poffin?')
"That's not a bad idea, but how do you know he'll like it?" Dawn was rummaging through her pack as she was talking to Brock. "I mean he didn't even like your food, I doubt he would like mine."
"Pichu pi-pi-chu." - ('You know I'm standing right here.') Paul was looking a little annoyed, they spoke like he wasn't even there listening.
"Well here goes nothing." Dawn took out her poffin case and handed Paul a pink poffin with yellow sprinkles.
"Chu?" - ('Pink?') He looked at Dawn like "are you serious?"
"Just try it, it's not going to kill you." She gave him the poffin and sat back to watch with the others if he would like it.
Paul sniffed it, turning it over and examining it in his little paws. He looked up at the three pairs of eyes that were staring at him. It just made him annoyed. He took a little nibble and in that instant his ears perked right up. He liked it, before anyone knew it, the poffin was gone.
"Told you he would like it." Brock sat back down and started to eat his lunch, Ash was already half way through seconds.
"Well at least we can get him to eat something, but poffins wont do anything for him. They're for contest Pokemon, not gym battle pokemon." She placed a pile of different poffin types in front of Paul, he took to them quicker than a Staraptor to it's prey.
"What if you enter him in a few?" Ash was up for thirds and wasn't being secret about it. "It's almost the same thing as trainer battles, plus it will help him get to know us better."
Both Dawn and Paul looked at Ash then to each other. Paul was glaring at Dawn, he sure as hell did not want to be in any of those stupid girly contests of hers.
"I already have three ribbons," she looked over Paul, then said, "not to be mean Pichu, but you are far from qualified and I don't want to risk a ribbon for a slight chance that you might help me win."
"Pi. Cha? Pichu picha?" - ('Good. Wait? What do you mean I'm not qualified?') He got up from his plate and walked over in front of Dawn. "Pichu-pi pi pi-chu! Pichu picha-chu pichu pi pi-pi-chu picha-pi picha!" - ('Those contests of yours are child's play! Any number of pathetic Pokemon could win them, the fact that it takes you forever to get even one proves how pathetic you and your Pokemon are!')
"I think he's calling you out Dawn." Ash was done eating, (*finally*) "Ha ha ha, maybe you should show him how hard it can be."
"He belongs to Paul, Ash. His pride will end up getting the best of him." Both trainer and coordinator were giggling with each other. "I wouldn't want to embarrass the little monster." She gave a sarcastic glance and smile toward Paul.
"Pichu-pi pi-pi cha picha pi pichu! Pi pi-pi-chu." - ('I will not get dragged into your stupid reverse psychology crap! It's not going to work.') He looked away crossing his arms, getting fed up with their discussion.
"It don't matter anyway," Dawn was finishing up her plate, "contests are for Pokemon that can control their attacks, and if I recall correctly, Pichu's usually have trouble in that area."
"Pi! Pichu pi pi-pi-chu!" - ('Hey! I can control my moves just fine!.')
"I have an idea," Brock stood up and was clearing the table, "how about using your pokedex to see what kind of moves he has?"
"That's a good idea." Dawn took out her pokedex, pointing it at Paul.
Both Brock and Ash looked over at Dawn waiting for her to say, Paul was rather curios himself.
"Ok, looks like he knows Charge, Shock Wave, Electro Ball, Thunder Fang, and Crunch."
"Wow..." the four were pretty surprised, "I can see now, why Paul would want this Pichu." Ash said looking at Paul.
"Yeah, those along with his agility moves, this Pichu is pretty tough."
The three all looked at Paul kind of curios.
"Well, good moves or not, I doubt he'll let any of us train with him." Dawn said looking a bit defeated. Paul only gave them a small glare.
"Actually Dawn, if anything, the person that might be able to bond with him would be you."
"Chu?" - ('What?')
"What?"
Both Dawn and Paul looked at Brock surprised, Paul a bit more mad.
"Well yeah," chuckling under his breath, "he wont get anywhere near Ash, he listens to you even if he hates it."
"Face it Dawn," Ash said with Pikachu on his shoulder, "until we meet up with Reggie, Pichu is gonna be sticking with you."
"Pichu pi." - ('Not a chance') He gave all of them a dirty look before jumping off the table.
"I don't want my Pokemon being subjected to that thing," she fumed, "I am not keeping him."
"Come on Dawn," Brock was trying to reason with her now, "even Nurse Joy said that he should be with you. And it will only be till we get to Veilstone City."
Ash had left to hang out with the Pokemon, leaving Brock and Dawn to talk alone.
"Besides," he spoke in a more sympathetic tone, "I know why you don't want to keep him around you."
Dawn looked at him a bit nervous. "What do you mean?"
"He reminds you too much of Paul."
A blush was creeping up on her face, she quickly looked away so that Brock wouldn't see. "He's a pain in the neck just like him, yes." She tried to make her voice sound mad.
"And you miss him."
Dawn was caught off guard and didn't know what to say. She wasn't facing the breeder, she didn't say anything. All she did was shake her head and walk off.
Brock looked after her as she left, sighing to himself. Out the corner of his eye he saw yellow and purple on the ground behind his pack. He walked over and knelt next to Paul who didn't look at him.
"Don't take what she said the wrong way." He gave him a gentle smile. "She does like you well enough, even if she isn't showing it now. I know you don't like us all too well, we aren't like Paul. Ash and Dawn have big hearts and are pretty open with their feelings most of the time."
Paul made a little "hmph" sound as he looked at the ground.
"You remind her so much of your trainer, she just doesn't like to admit it." It sounded like he was getting defeated and didn't know what to do. "If you don't like Ash, give her a chance. She's upset with this whole situation and I think you could help."
"..." Paul didn't say anything, he just stood there listening to the breeder.
"Think it over." With that he got up and headed back to the table to clean up and pack.
Back on the road the gang walked in silence. Brock and Ash at the front, Pikachu on his shoulder. A few steps back Dawn walked without the same speed as before, and just in her shadow, Paul.
`This is stupid,` Paul thought to himself, `I shouldn't even be here with these losers. I should be half way to my final gym battle in SunnyShore, not pint sized and yellow.` He was growling under his breath, glaring at nothing in front of him.
Dawn could hear him behind her, again she was worried and had half a mind to carry him again. But she couldn't help thinking of what Brock said.
"He reminds you too much of Paul." She glanced back at the tiny Pokemon. "And you miss him."
She was hesitant but she finally slowed down to where he was. It didn't look like he noticed her, he was too busy growling at himself.
She bent down and picked him up. To her surprise, he didn't snap at her, didn't growl, fight, or even glare. He actually let her pick him up.
This made her so happy she giggled and hugged him close to her. Of course that just made him blush and that's when he glared.
-giggle- "Sorry." She gave him a sweet smile and kept walking. When she was walking with the guys, they both noticed Paul in her arms and the big genuine smile on her face. The two looked at each other, Ash confused and Brock just smiled and kept walking.
The sun wasn't down yet but few stars were starting to show in the sky.
"We better set up camp before it gets dark." Brock said looking at the sky.
"Good idea, Pikachu is pretty tired." Ash gave Pikachu a light scratch on head as he yawned. "I'll get the firewood."
"K, we'll set up at that small clearing up ahead next to the river." Dawn was pointing at an area that had very few trees, with soft looking grass and a very flat ground.
"Alright, be back in a few." Ash waved them off and went to do as he said.
Dawn sat Paul down on a small soft patch of grass, "I'm gonna set up our tent alright? Here," she handed him a few poffins, "something to snack on till we get ready to sleep." She flashed him a sweet smile before turning around.
The blood rushed to his face when she did that and he just bit the treat in his hand to try to ignore it. As he watched them set up, he didn't like not having anything to do. Finishing the poffin in his hand he started wandering the area.
The night was clear and fresh. With his newly acquired senses he was able to hear all the little sounds that he normally wouldn't as a person, he could hear the Starly nesting in the trees, the different melodies that Kricketune and Kricketot made separately and how smoothly they combined with one another. The moon was out and bright against the still river, to him, the light was just as clear as in the day. Getting used to what he could do now was starting to get easier. Now all he needed to do was figure out how to use his moves.
`Of all the damn Pokemon to be turned into, why the hell did it have to be a weak rat like this?` Paul was looking at his reflection in the water, he just couldn't believe how small he was now. ` Pichu's are useless, they aren't strong...` Anger was building up, he thought back to the cave. 'Three flames, three things to get me back to normal.'
He looked up at the moon. 'Green for kindness, blue for family and friendship, and red for love...'
His anger faded and a blank look appeared on his face. 'I'm screwed.'
'How so?'
Paul turned to see Piplup and Buneary walking toward him holding water containers.
'Looks like you're feeling better from earlier today.' Buneary walked past him and started getting water. 'Dawn asked us to get water before we go to sleep, so that it would be ready for the morning.'
'I know it's probably weird for you here with us,' Piplup was filling up the container along side his brown companion, 'She told us how you belong to Paul and that they were going to take you to Reggie.'
Paul was about to snap at them at how it was none of their business but then a small thought popped in his head.
'What's her relationship with, uh, Paul?' It felt weird to be talking about himself in the third person like this but Arceus help him if anyone besides Pikachu found out who he really was.
'Who, Dawn?' They both looked at Paul sorta surprised.
'Uh, yeah...' This was seriously weird.
'Well I'm not sure to be honest.' Piplup said scratching his head.
'I know that your, um, people, don't really like him.' He was trying his hardest not to sound angry as he spoke. 'I'm just wondering why they're even bothering with trying to find him.'
'Dawn has a big heart,' Buneary was done with the water and was heading back to camp with Paul and Piplup following. 'I know that Paul may not be the best company but she still cares about him.'
'Yea but why?'
'She wont admit it but she li-'
"Buneary, Piplup, Pichu. Come on guys let's go to sleep, tomorrow we can work on our routine." Dawn met the little Pokemon half way, taking the water and Paul. "If I remember correctly, Nurse Joy said that the next contest is in Celestic Town and it's going to be a double team match. So we're going to need all the rest and practice we can work in."
"Buneary!" - ('Alright!')
"Piplup!" - ('Awesome!')
-hehe- She gave them all a light smile, she had already set aside the water and was headed to her tent. She held the door open for Buneary and Piplup then stepped in after.
"Pichu," Paul glanced at Dawn as she spoke "I know you may not be too comfortable with the situation that we're in, I can only imagine how stressful this is for you. But I assure you that as soon as I can, I'll get you to Paul."
Paul was generally surprised at the sincerity in her voice. The look that she gave him was very shocking, she had never looked at him like that. With so much truth, kindness, and concern. Paul immediately looked away from Dawn's gaze and instinctively walked into the tent.
Both Buneary and Piplup were already curled up together on an oversized pillow and right next to it was and equally sized black one assumed to be for Paul to sleep on.
"I got it for you if you want to sleep on it," Paul was feeling uncomfortable by the kind jester form the girl "it's better than sleeping on the ground in my opinion." She sat down on her sleeping bag and started rummaging through her pack. Paul analyzed the item in front of him, unsure of whether or not he should get on it.
The sound of a zipper caught his ear, however. But the sight that presented itself in front of him as he turned around almost killed him.
On her knees atop her pink fluffy sleeping bag, Dawn was in the process of removing her top. The fabric of the blouse was blocking her sight from the shocked and reddening Paul. And in her present state, what Paul was seeing, the only clothing covering her was the small pieces of the pink and white lace patterned fabric that covered the important ares of her chest and her bottom.
His head was going cloudy and the room was starting to spin..."Chaaa..." - ('Craaa...') -thump!-
"Huh?" -GASP!- "PICHU! Pichu are you alright?!"
Dawn flung to Paul and picked him up in her arms. The poor thing was knocked out cold, swirls in his eyes, face red, and blood coming out of his nose.
Lol there, the next chapter and Paul gets to see Dawn in her underwear without getting his ass handed to him for it lol. I hope you all enjoyed it, please R&R!