After three scrapped drafts and one Windows 10 crash (grr...) I present the first Ash x Dawn side chapter. I was leaning towards waiting until after Onix Island to make one, but a guest review changed my mind. Ravengal gave me the great idea to PM feedback to user reviews, so I'll start doing that. I still owe you one by the way, I haven't forgot. I will still do comments to non-user reviews in this space so all reviewers get feedback!

FYI this side chapter is Pearlshipping.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.

Dawn POV:

Everything was going according to plan so far. Iris and Cilan had quickly agreed to go to Onix Island, but Ash did not want to stop his training. Luckily, I was prepared and had an enticement for him; a special Onix that brought luck to those who saw it. I knew Ash loved all types of Pokémon, especially strange and rare ones. He quickly changed his mind and was eager to come; just as I predicted.

I've had a crush on Ash for a while now. I have always liked and admired him ever since we traveled together with Brock through the Sinnoh region. There had been a few instances early on when I had wondered if what I felt for him was romantic attraction; but I kept dismissing those feelings as close friendship.

That all changed when I took Princess Salvia's place so she could compete in the Arrowroot Contest as me. I loved the way he looked at me when I was dressed in her royal outfit. "It looks good on you!" he had complimented in an awestruck tone. And afterward, he pulled me aside and whispered in my ear "Royalty suits you, Dawn. After all, you are my princess."

I could still feel the tingle of his breath in my ear and the hot blush on my face all this time later. When nothing happened after he said that, I realized he was just being his usual dense self. However, it was then that I realized just how much I liked him.

And how much I wanted to be his girlfriend.

"I will guide your way to the island" Jervis announced to us, ending my train of thought. "Please, get on board."

"Oh wow, we're going by boat" Ash said, stepping forward. "I'm totally psyched." I mentally rolled my eyes. His maturity sure had not changed a bit.

"What a kid" Iris commented. I grinned to myself; the opportunity to tease Ash was knocking. And I was going to answer.

"I sure hope he doesn't go overboard" I added, and saw Ash stiffen. I laughed along with Iris: It was awesome to not be the only girl in the group, and I had already found mutual ground with her.

"Knock it off" Ash grumbled.

'Teasing him is so easy and fun!' I thought, still laughing. 'He looks really cute when he's flustered like that.' I would have to tease him some more.

"Letta!" I heard.

"Hey, Meloetta!" Ash greeted her. I saw she had dropped her invisibility and was drifting down towards us. She stopped and hovered in the middle of our group.

"We're going to a deserted island Meloetta" Ash stated. "Want to come too?"

"Lome lome" she replied happily. In the short time I knew her, it seemed she really liked and trusted Ash.

'Maybe Meloetta has a crush on Ash' I thought, giggling to myself. 'Imagine me having to compete with a Pokémon. Boy would that be strange!'

"Piplup pip!" I heard Piplup hiss angrily. I looked and saw he was confronting Oshawott, yet again.

"Osha." Oshawott hissed back at Piplup, walking away and boarding the boat right behind Ash.

I sighed as I followed everyone getting on. So much for Piplup promising to get along with Oshawott.

Although I was disappointed in him, I was not overly surprised. It was obvious that Meloetta caught Piplup's heart and, knowing him, he would not rest until he caught hers as well. He clearly knew that Oshawott liked her too, so they became rivals; and rivals fought each other.

I just wish he would cool it though, as their fighting was hurting my chance to possibly be Ash's girlfriend. After all, Piplup was my Pokémon and Oshawott was Ash's. Why would he want to be with me when all our Pokémon did was fight with each other?

I noticed that Piplup was not on the boat yet. I looked at the dock and saw him standing there with an angry expression on his face. I wonder what Oshawott said to upset him like this.

"Come on Piplup, we're leaving now" I called. He looked at me and shook his head quickly. I was worried he was refusing, but lightly sighed in relief when he quickly walked up the ramp and jumped into my lap. With everyone on the boat now, Jervis departed the dock and began our trek to Onix Island.

I felt Piplup squirming uncomfortably on my lap and looked down to meet his gaze. He was frowning and I could tell he did not want to wear the life ring anymore, probably because it was not comfortable. I frowned back at him in disapproval.

"No Piplup, the ring stays on" I quietly whispered so only he could hear me. To everyone else the life ring was just a fashion accessory, and we both wanted to keep it that way. "You promised you'd wear it, and I'm holding you to it. Besides, we don't want any accidents, right?" I added. I remembered the nightmare I had of him being swept away by the ocean while he was immobilized by paralysis, and I shivered.

He looked down in disappointment, but I knew he understood the reason. I had a suspicion he secretly agreed with me.

"And don't forget the other part of the deal" I told him. I knew that if he and Oshawott were cordial with each other, I would have a much better chance with Ash.

He looked back up at me with a confused expression and I forced back a sigh of frustration. He clearly did not remember.

"Pip?" he asked me, scratching his head. Yep, he did forget. I sighed out loud this time.

"You already forgot, didn't you?" I said, frustration in my voice. "You were supposed to be nice to someone, remember?"

I watched as realization spread across his face. "Lup. Piplup" he said and hoped down from my lap. I watched him start to walk over to Pikachu, Axew and Oshawott. I was relieved that he remembered after all. Hopefully, he would follow through on his promise of being civil with Oshawott.

"Hey Dawn" I heard, turning to see Ash had walked over from across the boat. Iris and Cilan were still chatting away with Jervis. He sat down next to me on the bench.

"We haven't had much time to talk alone, have we?" he spoke. I smiled at him.

"No, we haven't" I replied. He smiled back at me.

"I miss traveling with you" he stated. "It is nowhere near as fun traveling with Iris as it was with you." I felt a blush spread across my face as he took my hand in his. "I wi-"

"Pikapi" Pikachu spoke, startling me. I looked down and saw him at Ash's feet. He pointed to the front of the boat. I saw Piplup and Oshawott together, but they weren't fighting. They were being…social.

"Well, what do you know; those two are being nice to each other" Ash commented. "It's about time too."

"No joke" I agreed. "It's nice to see them getting along."

As I looked at the two water starters chatting up front, I felt a bit of hope spread through my heart. Maybe Piplup would follow through and be nice to Oshawott. Maybe I would get a chance to tell Ash how I really felt. Maybe he would reciprocate my feelings. Maybe we would end up being boyfriend and girlfriend.

Maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out great.

/

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