Chapter 3: Family Matters

Chimchar's vision slowly cleared as he awakened, the first thing he noticed being Dawn nearby. She was wringing water out of her hair, a look of awe plastered on her face. Droplets of water glistened on her skin, reflecting the sunlight filtering through the trees.

Dawn's gaze met Chimchar's as he blinked, and despite her exhaustion, her eyes had a glimmer of warmth in them.

The Pokémon's eyes scanned his surroundings, taking in the serene beauty of the lake. He remembered the events that led him here—the struggle in the water, the panic of drowning, and the darkness that followed.

He couldn't recall how he got here, but the sensation of suffocation lingered in his mind, leaving him unsettled.

Chimchar pushed himself up, his fur soaked from the recent ordeal. With a shiver, he shook his body vigorously, droplets of water flying in all directions as he attempted to dry off.

After, Chimchar glanced up towards Dawn, his expression questioning as he uttered, "Chim, Chimchar?"

Dawn, though not able to understand Chimchar's language, knew exactly what he was asking. "You wanted to escape and return to Sandgem, so you tried to swim there," she surmised, her tone sympathetic.

The fire type's gaze dropped down to the ground, shock coloring his eyes, he couldn't believe he was so stupid.

Dawn's voice trembled slightly as she recounted the events. "I jumped in after you when I saw you drowning," she explained, her eyes searching Chimchar's. "But things didn't go as planned. Then, a miracle happened." She glanced up at the sky. "There was this... presence. I can't quite describe it. It didn't seem like a Pokémon, maybe it was an angel, heck, maybe it was God. But, whatever it was, it saved us, and it was... beautiful."

Chimchar lifted his gaze towards Dawn, his eyes mirroring her sense of wonder and awe.

"Sorry, you probably don't care about any of this," Dawn began, turning her gaze from the sky to Chimchar. "Look, I understand. You really wanted to leave my side that badly, huh? Well, I won't force you to stay with me, so, you're free to go."

Chimchar's features froze, his usually fiery demeanor hushed by his trainer's unexpected resolve. As she strode past him, seemingly without a second thought, a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief swept through him.

"Char!" Chimchar let out a sharp cry, a desperate attempt to grab Dawn's attention as she continued to walk away.

As Dawn continued to walk, a shadow seemed to creep over her face, casting a veil of uncertainty over her expression.

"Chimchar, Chim, Char!" Chimchar's cries echoed through the air, anguish tinging his voice. He pounded his chest in a display of distress, a clear plea for Dawn to stop and listen.

Still, Dawn pressed forward, her steps deliberate and resolute, seemingly oblivious to Chimchar's distress.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, Chimchar snapped. In a breathtaking burst of speed, he appeared directly in front of Dawn in the blink of an eye, catching her off guard with his sudden proximity. Before she could react, he leaped onto her arm with lightning-fast reflexes.

"W-what're you?" Dawn muttered as Chimchar began to dig his tiny hands into her satchel, like he was frantically searching for something. His small fingers sifting through her belongings as he became more focused.

With a triumphant gleam in his eyes, Chimchar swung his arm from Dawn's bag, clutching his Poké Ball tightly in his hand.

In a sudden burst of energy, Chimchar leaped into the air, flinging the Poké Ball with determined force. A resolute headbutt activated the button, drawing him into its glowing interior. The Poké Ball descended gracefully, landing before Dawn with a soft thud.

Dawn's gaze lingered on the Poké Ball nestled on the ground before her, a soft smile grazing her lips. With a gentle hand, she reached down and scooped it up, cradling it with care.

"Thank you, Chimchar," she murmured, her voice filled with gratitude.

Dawn's steps echoed on the weathered porch as she approached her old, rundown home. The wooden planks groaned under her weight, cracked windows let in slivers of moonlight and the peeling paint revealed its worn facade.

As Dawn pushed against the rusty door, it emitted a low, metallic whine, the hinges creaking as it slowly began to creep open, revealing the dim, musty interior of the house where candles scattered around provided a flickering glow. Their warm light danced across the worn furniture and faded walls.

Dawn's gaze met her mother's as she entered the room, her eyes drawn to the figure seated on the futon in the center.

Johanna was at least dressed out of her pajamas now, wearing a simple white tank top with one of the straps slipping down her shoulder, and a loose-fitting top and grey sweatpants.

She sat comfortably on her futon, absorbed in the television program playing before her.

Dawn walked quietly behind her mother, her footsteps muffled by the worn living room carpet. She paid close attention to what Johanna was watching. On the screen, a Pokémon Contest was unfolding.

Two Pokémon, a graceful Clefairy and a fierce Mawile, danced across the stage, each showcasing their unique talents and abilities. The Clefairy moved with elegance, its twinkling eyes captivating the audience, while the Mawile unleashed powerful attacks with its formidable jaws, commanding the attention of all who watched.

Aside from low-budget soap operas, Pokémon Contests were the only thing Johann ever watched. It had been like that for as long as Dawn could remember, and it wasn't difficult for her to understand why.

Dawn tore her gaze away from the screen, the weight of her secret pressing heavily upon her. Her heart pounded in her chest, the silence stretching between them, suffocating and heavy.

Finally, a commercial break interrupted the intense competition, prompting Johanna to reach for the remote and flick through the channels. "There's food on the stove, Dawn," she said absentmindedly.

Dawn's eyes fell upon the pot of ramen noodles on the stove, it wasn't the gourmet kind, but instead the cheap, instant ramen that could be bought for a dollar at the corner store. The noodles floated in a thin broth, which added very little in terms of flavor.

Normally, Dawn would complain, maybe ask for takeout or something of the sort. But this time, she remained silent, her thoughts consumed by the impeding conversation with her mother.

Without a word, she simply stood there, her gaze fixed on the pot of ramen noodles, her mind elsewhere. She made no move to grab a bowl or utensils, she simply stood still, like a statue.

Johanna finally turned towards Dawn, her eyes locking onto her daughter's figure. "Why are you wet?" she asked, immediately noticing Dawn's damp clothing. Caught off guard, Dawn paused for a moment, confused before she recalled the incident from earlier.

Dawn's nervousness was obvious thanks to her relentless movements and shallow breaths. She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, her fingers tracing small circles as she struggled to find the right words. Finally, with a hesitant glance at her mother, she spoke up. "Mom, there's something I need to tell you."

Just as Dawn gathered her courage to speak, the Pokémon Contest resumed on the television screen. But before the sound could fill the room, Johanna swiftly grabbed the remote and paused the program. With a meaningful look she turned to Dawn, with open ears.

"Well, I know you told me earlier not to go into the woods, but, me and Barry kind of did," Dawn began, a hint of guilt in her voice. "But, it paid off nicely, because..." She reached into her bag, revealing Chimchar's Poké Ball, holding it up for her mother to see.

Johanna's gaze flickered towards the Poké Ball, her expression remaining neutral. There was a subtle shift in her demeanor, a slight tightening of her lips, but otherwise, her face remained unchanged.

"You see, me and Barry ran into this Pokémon scientist, this guy called Professor Rowan," Dawn continued explaining. "He wasn't the happiest with us at first, since we had tried entering the tall grass, but I guess he ended up taking a liking to us, he wants us to be his protégés, but more than that..."

As Dawn's eyes locked with her mother's, a spark of determination ignited in her eyes. "I'm going to travel Sinnoh," she began, her voice steady and resolute. "I'm going to take on the 8 Gyms, and then, I'm going to become the Pokémon Champion, even stronger than Cynthia herself."

Her words hung heavy in the air, a fleeting moment of silence following afterwards. Johanna's expression remained impassive, leaving Dawn feeling unsettled and uncertain. She couldn't tell at all how her mother felt.

Dawn's gaze softened, a hint of sadness shadowing her eyes as she spoke. "That being said, I set off tomorrow... but, well, this is a good thing, because, I won't be here to burden you anymore. You're free to have the life you always wanted."

Johanna's blank stare remained fixed on her daughter, despite Dawn's heartfelt words, there was no hint of acknowledgement or response from her mother. The weight of Johanna's unyielding gaze bore down on Dawn, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

As Dawn's frustration built up, her voice grew sharper. "Well, I'm really going to be leaving, and I probably won't be back for a really long time, so, if there's anything you want to say to me, anything at all, you should probably do it now... Mom," she said, growing with impatience.

With her daughter's words still resonating in her mind, a subtle changed flickered across Johanna's face. There was a fleeting look of hesitation, a hint of something unspoken in her eyes as if she were on the verge of saying something.

However, before she could utter a single word, Johanna rose from the futon. Spotting her lighter on a nearby table, she made her way towards it. She reached into her pocket and retrieved a pack of cigarettes.

She pulled out a cigarette, placing it between her lips. Then, she flicked the lighter, igniting the flame and bringing it to the tip of the cigarette, drawing in a deep inhale as the tobacco ignited.

Johanna withdrew the cigarette from her lips, holding it between her two fingers as Dawn watched, the girl's frustration beginning to simmer.

The woman's voice was devoid of emotion as she uttered the words. "Do what you want, I don't care." After uttering the words, Johanna turned away from Dawn, her gaze fixed on some distant point, avoiding any further interaction.

As Dawn stood there, her heart heavy with disappointment, she couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of distance that seemed to grow between her and her mother. Dawn's face reddened with anger, her jaw tight and her eyes blazing with intensity.

Dawn's voice cracked with emotion as she unleashed her pent-up frustration. "So that's it? I tell you I'm leaving and you can't even pretend to care!?" Tears welled up in her eyes as her voice grew louder. "I always knew it! You hate me, you always did. Well, I'm sorry I was born, okay? I'm sorry I ruined your life!" Her words were choked with tears; her shoulders shaking.

Johanna's eyes remained fixed on the wall; her expression unreadable as Dawn's tears flowed freely. Despite the turmoil her daughter was expressing, she remained motionless, the hand holding her cigarette trembling slightly.

Dawn wiped her tears with the back of her sleeve, her gaze shifting from her own wet cheeks to her mother's stoic figure. "Darn it, Mom, say something, say anything!" Her voice cracked with emotion as she reached out, her hand shaking as she placed it on her mother's shoulder, turning her so she could look at her.

As Dawn's gaze met her mother's, she was taken aback by the sight of tears strolling down Johanna's cheeks. Her eyes glistened with unshed sorrow, and her lips quivered with the weight of every unspoken emotion she held within. In her trembling hand, her cigarette was held backward, its ember end pointed towards her palm rather than her lips.

As Johanna gazed into her daughter's eyes, years worth of regret crashed over her, overwhelming her with the weight of years gone by. Her cries intensified, each sob wracking her body further. With trembling hands, she pressed them against her mouth, muffling the sound of her anguish as she spilled forth uncontrollably.

Dawn stared at her mother, shocked to see the tears streaking down Johanna's face. In all her years as her daughter, she had never witnessed her mother cry. It was as if the entire world had turned upside down, she was seeing a whole new side of her mother. She reached out her hand, hovering over Johanna's shoulder.

"Mom..." Dawn's voice cracked, unsure of what to say. "I didn't mean... I didn't want to..."

But Johanna pulled away, her shoulders still shaking as she cried. She didn't speak, nor was she still looking at her daughter. Dawn took a step back, her heart heavy with guilt. She wanted to reach out, to comfort her mother, but she didn't know how. Everything felt broken, irreparably damaged by years of misunderstanding and resentment.

As Dawn looked at her mother, she noticed Johanna's tears slowly subside, her sobs reducing to quiet sniffles. Even as she tried to stop crying, her eyes were still red and swollen. Johanna took a deep breath, her voice shaky as she managed to say, "I'm sorry, Dawn. I'm so sorry."

Dawn's eyes widened in surprise, her own tears now flowing freely. She took a hesitant step forward, reaching out once more, but this time Johanna didn't pull away. Instead, she allowed Dawn to wrap her arms around her, holding her tight as they both cried.

With her daughter's arms wrapped around her for the first time in a long time, Johanna's mind was swept away by a torrent of memories, carrying her to a moment etched in her heart forever.

In the dimly lit room of the hospital, the cries of a newborn baby, just seconds old, echoed against the walls. The doctor cradled the tiny bundle in her arms with expert care.

"Congratulations, she's beautiful," the doctor announced with a warm smile, the baby's umbilical cord just cut. Johanna's mother stood by her side, her eyes sparkling with tears of joy as she witnessed her daughter transition into motherhood.

Johanna's face, flushed from the labor she endured, softened as she looked at her baby in the doctor's arms. Of course, she had a ton of worries, after all, she was only 15, and she would be raising the baby all by herself, with maybe her mother's help here and there. But in that moment, nothing else mattered.

Johanna's looked up at her mother, finding a glint of happiness in her eye as she gently clasped her daughter's hand, offering reassurance with a smile in her eyes.

The doctor gently passed the swaddled baby to Johanna, who received the child with hesitant arms. Both awe and uncertainty flashing in her eyes.

Johanna's mother turned to the doctor, "Is she healthy? Everything went well, right?"

With a nod of her head, the doctor gave an encouraging smile, "Yes Mrs. Platinum, she's perfectly healthy. Johanna did amazingly well." Johanna's mother's eyes gleamed with pride as she looked at her daughter and now-granddaughter.

Johanna cradled her newborn baby in her arms, feeling the gentle rise and fall of the tiny chest against her own. As she held her close, the baby's cries gradually softened, replaced by soft little coos and whimpers. An overwhelming sense of love and protectiveness washed over her, as she focused on the miracle of new life in her embrace.

The doctor turned towards Johanna, a kind look on her face, "So, have we thought of a name for her yet?"

Johanna gently wiped away a tear from her baby's cheek before offering a suggestion. Her mother, despite having been angry with her for getting knocked up, had remained by her side during her entire pregnancy. She made up her mind, she would name her child after the one person who loved her most in the world.

Her smile widened as she looked down at her baby with affectionate eyes. "How about..."

"Dawn..." Johanna's voice was soft, her arms still wrapped tightly around her daughter. Tears welled in her eyes as she asked, "Do you really believe I hate you?"

Dawn remained silent, her eyes fixed on her mother's tear-streaked face, not sure how to respond.

Johanna's smile faltered as she spoke, her voice cracking with emotion. "Dawn... I'm sorry, for everything, and you don't ever have to forgive me, because the truth is..."

She tightened her embrace around Dawn, her voice trembling with sincerity. "I will love you, always."

Jesus, that was really hard for me to write, I had to dig deep for that one. I don't think I've ever really been good at writing emotional scenes, but I think for once, I succeeded.

To be honest, it was only midway into chapter 1 when I decided to write Johanna's character like this, usually I just write your average Poké Mom, you know, your average Delia Ketchum type character, I did that with Crimson Gold, and the original Metal Platinum story, but this time I wanted to do things differently here.

Anyways, I hope I made some things clear about their relationship, obviously, their relationship has become extremely strained over the years. Anyways, Johanna was once a coordinator, and a really good one too, but once she became pregnant with Dawn, she retired to take care of her. That led her to becoming discontent with her life, especially considering she had to raise Dawn without the help of Dawn's deadbeat father.

Well, I'm sure you guys are smart enough to understand that, but if there's any kids reading this, you guys may not, so, take that as you will. I can't express this enough, but it's important you go to your mom and tell her you love her, especially if you guys have a relationship like Dawn's and Johanna's here, since one day, if something were to happen to her and she were to pass on from this world, you may live with that guilt for the rest of your life, trust me, I know that more than anyone.

Alright, I'm gonna go cry myself to sleep now (laughs) you guys go take care now.

—yonas813, out.