Hey everyone it's The-Ell-Star and I've updated on time for once, last month was chapter 3 and this month is chapter 4- huh?(whispers)...The month? Its June isn't it? (Whispers) No? August then... (whisper whisper) ...It's November?(whisper)...
Oh god I am so sorry. In all seriousnesses, I was planning to have a chapter up in August/September time, not November. Then again it could be worse. If you're wondering why this has taken so long, I only to have to say 2 words and most people will understand: Collage work. It probably doesn't help i've taken four hard subjects. Anyway, on with the chapter.

As soon as Dawn and Ash were out of the gym, with Piplup still in Dawn's arms, she made a dash towards the infirmary. She was so wrapped up in getting to the infirmary, she didn't hear Ash call out to her repeatedly. It wasn't a long dash mind you, considering that sometimes Pokemon got badly hurt during battles, the infirmary was close to the battle field, so Dawn's dash only lasted for 2 corridors and 1 flight of stairs. She bursted into through the door and handing the nurse (nurse Joy) her Piplup, and though the gash on Piplup's face and injuries looked severe, the nurse informed Dawn that she would only need to give Piplup some medicine (and plenty of rest) and he should be fine. Breathing a sigh of relief, Dawn left the room to let the nurse deal with Piplup's medicine and took a seat outside. It didn't take long for the bluenette to begin day dreaming about a certain battle that took place a few minuets prior.

'How could of I done that" Dawn began thinking, a few tears threatening to break out from her eyes.'

'Damn my bloody nervousness, I made myself look like an idiot in front of everyone and I let my Pokemon down as well...'

A few tears started to seep out of Dawn's eyes and down her cheeks.

'I...I hope Piplup's ok.k..'

With that thought the few dripping tears soon turned into a cascade. Dawn couldn't help it, she had just witnessed her loyal starter Pokemon get hammered in a battle to a Pokemon who had a type disadvantage. And though her thoughts were just on the battle, her mind involuntary began bringing up her painful and dark past.

'Weak...Pathetic...Useless...'

She didn't even know why her mind did this to her, it would always do it however after things like that battle happened.

'Slut...Waste of Space...You should be Reduced to Nothingness..'

Of course Dawn's reaction to these thoughts were split, in public places she would fight to hold back those tears lest she gets anymore abuse for it. In situations like where she currently found herself however, she would just let those tears fall, there was no need to fight them back since no one was witnessing them. The tears kept falling, and despite being like this numerous times, each time would hurt more and more. There was nothing more Dawn could do but lay her head in her lap and let the tears fall.

"sigh Why'd she have to run off like that?" Ash asked Mudkip, who was currently in ash's arms and being held up like a baby.

"Mud MudKip"

"I know that her Piplup got injured, but at the very least she could've gotten her stuff FIRST before dashing off like that?"

Mudkip shook his head. "Mud Mud Mudkip"

"If you were injured yes I would heal you first, but unless I suddenly grew blue hair and you fins and a beak, you can't use that"

Mudkip just laughed, and Ash rolled his eyes.

"End of discussion" Ash said, whilst almost toppling over. Carrying two backpacks at once whilst having a Pokemon in your arms wasn't the easiest thing to do, though somehow Ash had managed it with only a few close calls.

It took a while until Ash made it close to the infirmary, but as he came closer and closer, he heard a continuos muffled sound, that after a bit Ash realised was crying.

'Shit'

10 seconds later, Ash was outside the infirmary, and the sight wasn't a nice one: Dawn currently had her head in her lap with the crying sound coming from her. Ash dropped both bags and rushed over to Dawn.

"DAWN!?"

Dawn slowly lifted her head out of lap, which was now covered in fresh and dried tears, and looked at Ash. "..Ash.?"

"DAWN" Ash looked at Dawn with worry in eyes, before taking a seat next to her. "Are...you ok? What happened?"

Dawn stared blankly at Ash before stating the obvious "Does..it look like I'm ok?"

Ash merely chuckled "No, I guess is shouldn't of asked"

Dawn smiled softly before sighing "..It's my fault Piplup's in there, if I didn't freeze up he wouldn't be in there.."

Ash looked concerned after Dawn said this. "Dawn...you can't blam-"

"But I can ASH, if Piplup had a better trainer, one that was actually competent in battling, he wouldn't of received those injuries. Hell he'd probably came out of that...unscathed..I-i'm...I'm.." Dawn just completely broke down at this, well, as breaking down as you can get given whats happened prior. Her head flopped into her lap again, but unlike last time she began shaking with all the crying.

To say Ash was worried at this sight...was a giant understatement.

"DAWN?" "DAWN?" "DAWN?" To no avail, Dawn was not responding. Ash got up of his chair and tried shaking her, nothing. Poking her, nothing. Shouting closer to her ears, nothing. As much as he could've asked Mudkip to use water gun, he decided against guessing Dawn wouldn't be amused at having water sprayed at her. With pretty much all options out , Ash's mind came up with one last idea.

'..Crazy...but I'm outta options and it might just work'

He leaned in closer on Dawn, so that his mouth was millimetres away form her ear. "Dawn...listen to me" he whispered, not wanting to hurt her eardrums "Dawn...as weird as this is gonna sound...can you stand up?" Ash wasn't expecting anything, but he was surprised to see Dawn slowly rise onto her feet, apparently she had heard. Ash wasted no time in wrapping two arms around her, one around her shoulder and across her back, the other pressed against the back of her head, moving her head onto his shoulder. All the while Dawn was still producing tears.

"Shh..Shhhhh" Ash tried to make soothing noises to calm the shaking women down. It was working as the crying sound was slowly dying down and the violent shaking stopped.

'Words of wisdom time I guess"

"You can't blame yourself for what happened in that battle" Dawn's head slowly moved so she was looking at Ash, who had a compassionate look on his face, "Being good at battling doesn't come overnight, it takes time to become good with even the basics of battling." Ash looked down onto Dawn "Look at me, I don't want to sound big headed, but my skills with battling didn't come overnight." Ash paused before continuing "If anything, most of the time I was bonding with my Pokemon, my friends...Battling isn't all about brute strength you know, or getting a whitewash win." Ash closed his eyes "You may not even want to to do battling, you may be more interested in contests, you won't unless you've tried..."

Dawn let his words sink into her brain, somehow his words had calmed her down to the point that tears stopped flowing, and his sage advice made her have a completely different look on the battle. Dawn released the embrace with Ash and sat back down, staring at the bare wall across from her. Ash did the same, but said nothing. It was obvious Dawn was contemplating the words Ash had just spoken. Ash just sat there, not wanting to distract Dawn by saying anything, though Mudkip jumped up into his arms, and snuggled up to him. The duo, or trio, sat in silence for a while, that was of course until Dawn quietly mumbled something.

"Thank you..."

"Hmm..?" Ash looked at Dawn who was staring out into space, until she turned her head to look at him, giving a small smile.

"I said thank you you deaf idiot"

"Oh n-Wait Deaf Idiot?" Ash's reaction to being called an idiot was utterly priceless, Dawn started giggling and laughing uncontrollably at this sight.

"In...all...seriousness...though" Dawn said in between laughs, finally starting to calm down. "Thank you for telling me that, and for being here for me. You seem to have a habit of doing that with me huh?" Ash simply nodded, recalling the prior days events as if it only happened a few hours ago.

"It's not problem Dawn"

Dawn gave a small nod and a smile, but before she realised it she had her head resting against Ash's shoulder, and was a bit shocked when she realised her body moved without commanding it. Ash too was surprised at her actions, though he didn't complain. And going by her earlier actions, he guessed that she needed a bit more comforting, reassurance. So, he did the only thing he could in his position, slowly moved his arm across Dawn's back and onto her shoulder, and placed a reassuring hand on it. Dawn didn't mind it one bit, actually, she quite liked it, much the hug she received earlier.

The trio sat there in silence once more, with Mudkip still in Ash's lap, Dawn with her head on Ash's shoulder, and Ash with an arm wrapped around her. To anyone who didn't know these two, nor what had just happened to Dawn, they could mistake this scene for a young family touching moment. But alass, all things must come to an end, and in this situation, that came from the infirmary door opening and a certain small blue penguin waddling out followed by nurse joy.

"Pip Piplup!"

"Piplup?" Dawn jumped out of her seat, before embracing her starter Pokemon in a tight hug. "Oh thank goodness you're ok"

"Pip..pip..lup"

"I'm not sure how Piplup recovered so quickly" Nurse joy said to Ash, as Dawn was still embracing Piplup. "I gave him the treatment and he had some rest, though he woke up earlier than anticipated. He should be fine though, just make sure he doesn't do anything too strenuous for a couple of days" Dawn nodded her head indicating she had heard. With that nurse joy returned to her room, leaving the now four alone.

"Told you he'd be fine" Dawn stuck her tongue out at Ash, to which Ash chuckled at, before standing up and glancing at a convient clock on the wall. "Come on, everyone else would've left by now" Dawn looked up at the clock and nodded in agreement.

"Come on Piplup lets go home"

"Pip pip piplup"

Short chapter today, sorry for those expecting/wanting longer. I think the reason is wanting to get a chapter out, hell I'm pleased to get more than 1k words to be honest. Before I leave, I would like to address something, From High School to Badges will not turn into a nuzlocke story. The nuzlocke story may come later based of my Platnium nuzlocke(wedlocke) run (still shuddering). Oh and rating has changed to an M now (wether i'm going in the right direction I have no idea, I'll find out soon enough:

Anyway, see you next time