Chapter Text
Art courtesy of LukasThadeauArt!
The Indigo Plateau Conference had been a spectacular gathering of trainers and Pokémon alike from all around the world. Old friendships were revisited, and new ones were forged, in just over a week, with many new experiences to show for it. Its highlights would dominate the airwaves for weeks, or even months, to come. But, all good things must come to an end.
Ash and his entourage of friends; The Ketchum Menagerie, as Jimmy put it, had departed from the Indigo Plateau to make a stop in Vermilion City, where the majority of the large party would be going their own ways. Ray and Talia had split off from the group halfway to meet with Professor Willow, leaving Ritchie the next to depart, at the Vermilion City Police Department.
"Well, here we are, I guess!" Ritchie put a hand on his hip, eyeing the station with some melancholy. He turned to Ash and the group, smiling sadly. "Feels like it happened in a blink."
"It was fun to have you with us, again!" Brock volunteered. "And it was nice exchanging recipes."
"Likewise!" Ritchie laughed.
Ash held a hand out, smiling widely. "Hey, Ritch! I really owe you one."
The brunet blinked, then smiled, quickly connecting the dots. His promise to battle at the League had been a light for Ash in a rather dark time. "Hey, for sure! It's just nice to see you and Peeks in good spirits again." He took Ash's hand in a firm shake. "Now stay that way, okay?"
"Don't make us have to come smack some sense into you, bro!" Sparky threatened, grinning.
Peeks laughed from atop Ash's shoulder. "That won't be necessary. Now, I'm not exactly in the shape to come down for a tailshake…" Tragically, his left thigh was still bandaged up.
"Don't sweat it, Broseph. I'll get you for it when you're done walking that off," Sparky replied.
"We'll be good!" Ash laughed, squeezing Ritchie's hand before letting it go. "Oh! Hey. Would you want, like, a photograph for Himashi, or something? Or an autograph?"
"Don't tell me," Misty huffed, "you're already starting to get a big head about your fame."
"I'm not getting a big head!" Ash defended. "I'm just trying to be good to my fans."
Ritchie laughed. "It's fine. She watches your stuff plenty, already."
Drew glanced down at his watch. "Hey, this chatter is fun and all, but we have a boat to catch."
"Yeah, come on!" Max pulled on Ash's wrist. "We'd better not be late!"
Ritchie laughed. "Let me not keep you waiting. Besides, I've got to check in and see if I have any more Ranger work to do! I'll catch you guys later!" He waved to the group, as did Sparky.
"See you, Ritchie!" Dawn waved. "Good luck kicking criminal butt!"
Ritchie awkwardly laughed his way through an explanation about how that was not, in fact, a Pokémon Ranger's job, while the group went their separate ways, offering their farewells.
The loud echo of a foghorn rang in Vermilion Port. A large ship had just docked at the pier where the traveling group of friends had gathered. Sadly, it was time for some of them to go.
"So… Off to Sinnoh, huh?" Ash's smile was bittersweet, as he adjusted his cap.
"You betcha!" Max volunteered. "We're off to Pastoria to stop by Koda's, and relax for a little while. Maybe we'll even get to challenge Crasher Wake!"
"The current League season is almost over there," Brock replied. "You might want to bide your time and start with the next one!"
"And you two are heading off to the Valor Lakefront!" Dawn said to May and Drew with a giggle, leaning forward with her fingers linked together. "You two are gonna play nice, right?"
"We already talked it over~!" May cooed. "One way or another, one of us is going to be Top Coordinator!"
"Hmph." Drew huffed, running a hand through his bangs. "You really shouldn't be parroting our personal business." All the same, he gave Dawn an appreciative smile for her advice.
"That's what I want to hear!" Dawn clapped her hands together. "You can count on me watching the Grand Festival, next month!" She held both of her palms out to May for a high five.
May clapped her hands against Dawn's. "Likewise! But first, we have to get there, so I guess we'll…" May slowly trailed off, blinking twice. "Hey, Ash. Did you invite an entourage?"
"Entourage?"
Ash turned around to face the dock, finding that they had more company than they'd arrived with; a camera crew featuring several reporters with microphones, a cameraman, and a sound design specialist with a larger mic hanging overhead. "Er… can we… help you?"
"Yes, hello, Conference Champion!" A man in a suit and bowtie pushed his way to the front. He had a well-polished pompadour, and a smile made for TV. "We're here from Sunset TV Local News! We'd like to ask you a few questions, following your disappearance from the airwaves!"
"Well…" Ash felt a hand on his shoulder before he could answer. It was Drew. "Good luck."
"H-hey!" Ash protested, turning to May, Drew, Max, and Koda. They were already shuffling onto the boat. May waved to him and made her signature camera gesture. They'd bailed on him.
"Thanks a lot…"
"And, it begins…" Misty muttered to Brock, as their poor friend was swarmed.
"Mr. Ketchum!" The foremost man shoved a microphone at Ash. He took Ash's hand to shake with his opposite hand. "You can call me Chett. Is Mr. Ketchum alright?"
Ash blinked, flicking his eyes between the microphone and the camera. "Actually, Ash is fine—"
"Mr. Ketchum it is!" Chett continued. "Now, can I ask why you've departed from the Indigo Plateau so quickly after your victory?"
"Well, the thing is, I have a life?" Ash replied flatly.
"Er… What Ash is trying to say is, he had to accompany his friends to support them, just as they did him!" Brock cleared his throat to cover for his friend, dropping a hand on Ash's shoulder.
"Oh, right!" Ash snapped his fingers. "I was actually here to see off our friends. See, Max made it to the Final Tournament," he explained, gesturing to the departing ship, "and May and Drew-"
"Excuse me! Joyce here," another reporter interrupted."You regaled your opponents and audience with some mighty inspiring speeches." Joyce squirmed past her coworker, shoving a microphone at Ash. "Do you have any wise words for Vermilion, and the region? Anything new?"
Ash laughed awkwardly, rubbing his neck. "I'm afraid that's more of an improv thing, sorry. I'm honestly a little camera shy!"
"Oh, he's so modest~!" Joyce cooed. To Ash, she echoed the reporters from the League.
"During the final battle with Deidra Agrona, your Pikachu suffered an injury for all of Kanto to see. I see that he's still in bandages; will this inhibit his ability to battle? Is he healing well?"
Peeks shuffled a little lower on Ash's shoulder before he started to lose his footing, feeling self-conscious. Ash held him in his arms instead. "Peeks is going to be just fine! He's just got a few stitches, is all." Ash pumped his free hand into a fist. "It'll take more than that to beat us!"
"Great news, great news!" Chett chimed, though Ash was unsure how much he actually cared, and how much he just wanted a scoop. He didn't like it. "Now, speaking of your Pikachu, he displayed a whole new move at the Plateau! I believe you called it 'Zippy Zap?'"
"Oh, yeah!" Ash lit up. Battles were more his wheelhouse. "It's this move we developed together, off the heels of Volt Tackle-"
"People are dying to know," Joyce interrupted Ash, "your victory means that you've earned the right to challenge the Champion's League! Can you give us a date on that?"
"They're not even letting him finish his answers," Dawn muttered. She bit her knuckle, growing frustrated with the onslaught of attention.
"Well, I, uh… Oh!" Ash lit up. "I haven't found a date for that one, because you see, I'm going to watch Dawn compete in the Grand Festival, first!" He yanked his girlfriend over with his free hand, leaving his hand on her shoulder. "I'm not setting a foot on all that 'till she wins!"
Dawn had a Stantler-in-headlights look for a moment, running a hand through her hair before deciding that it was, in fact, fit for TV. "R-right!" She chirped, victoriously pumping a fist. "Ash is throwing all of his support behind me, but no need to worry! I'll give you a real scoop to sink-"
"Yes, the Grand Festival is set to begin August 12th," Chett followed. "So that means you'll be out of the running for a couple of weeks, correct?" He directed the microphone away from Dawn, back towards Ash. "Do you think we could nail down a date, or an estimate…"
"Excuse you!" Dawn hissed, snatching the microphone out of the man's hand. "I don't know if you've ever done an interview before, Sir, but usually, you don't ignore the interviewee, and he was giving me the floor! Don't you have any sense of decorum?"
"Uhm… Ma'am!" The man stuttered, utterly floored at Dawn's audacity. She was derailing the broadcast! "I understand you're quite enthusiastic about your upcoming bid, but the people want to hear about the Indigo League Conference…" He swallowed. "If I could just have my microphone back, please…"
"You can have it back when you gain an appreciation for art, and when you stop cutting off Ash!" Dawn barked, hoisting the microphone above her head. "Now listen here, you…!"
"What do you know? Dawn's made for television," Misty muttered, watching the girl berate the press with some degree of disbelief. "Look at what you've gotten yourself into, Ketchum."
"Tell me about it…" Ash sighed dreamily. Dawn's berating on his behalf — and hers — left him with a dopey smile. "There's something special about a gal who's not afraid to speak her mind."
"I'm taking credit for your having good taste, for the record."
"Um, Mr. Ketchum!" Joyce wormed her way past Dawn and her cohort, holding up her mic. "Please, I'm sure viewers would like to know — Do you have any concerns with this friend of yours stealing your thunder?"
"Well, I'm not the one who has to worry about her." Ash replied, grinning.
"And one more thing…" Dawn paused, mid-fume. A lightbulb went off in her head. 'That's it! If they won't take the spotlight off of Ash… I just have to bring my own!'
"Er, miss?" The befuddled reporter pleaded. "If you'd please return my mic?"
"Wait just a second!" Dawn replied. "If you want to know more about Ash, then you should see the techniques that inspired his battling!"
"Hey, yeah!" Ash grinned, gesturing to Dawn. "You know the Counter Shield? Ice Aqua Jet? The Spikes strategy I used against Samurai? You name it, there's a chance she made it."
"Is… is that so?" Chett finally swiped his mic back from Dawn. "You're saying, then, that you're this stunning young prodigy's coach? His brain to pick?"
"Well, his girlfriend is more like it," Dawn corrected. "Just give me a second, and I'll give you a look at what makes Ash's battles tick!" She started to push the reporter away, with the latter too bewildered to react. His camera crew followed along, and she was able to herd them aside.
"Either you have a plan, or you've gotten a lot more creative with your temper tantrums." Brock frowned, watching Dawn with a touch of concern. In her defense, though, she hadn't tried to assault the press, so he might have to consider it an improvement.
"Listen," Dawn said, raising her hand to whisper. "I'm going to distract them with one of my appeals. While their eyes are on us, you guys should get out of here! Especially Ash."
Ash blinked. Dawn's ingenuity startled him, sometimes. "Well, that's a great plan, and don't think I don't appreciate it a ton, but what about you?"
"No need to worry!" Dawn winked. "I'll find my way back to you guys, once I'm done."
"How about the park?" Misty suggested. "It's a few blocks past the Pokémon Center."
"Perfect!" Dawn agreed. "We'll regroup, there."
"Works for me!" Ash agreed. "...And, Dawn?" He awkwardly rubbed his neck, still supporting Peeks in his other arm. When did she become so reliable to him? He realized he'd be sitting there all day thinking about it, and settled on a quick "thanks."
Dawn winked, and sprinted back towards the pier. "Alright, alright! I'm going to show you just the sort of combination move that's propelled Ash to the top!" She ushered the crew just as she needed them and skipped her way to a manageable distance. She twirled on her heel, coming just short of tripping while she dug out Togekiss's Poké Ball. "Togekiss~! Spotlight!"
A Poké Ball so artfully thrown popped open in the middle of its ascent, sending the angelic Togekiss soaring even higher. "Kiss~!" The Jubilee cooed, soaring higher and higher before turning belly-up, pivoting gracefully into a nosedive. Fresh out of the ball, she knew her cue.
'Spotlight' meant diving straight into a performance, no matter where or when. Togekiss's feathers were voluminous and well-plumed, treated to regular care by Dawn. She delighted in the camera's focus, as she dove down towards the rolling waters of Vermilion Port.
The crew's cameras followed her steady descent, drawing some alarm as she neared the surface. A sharp turn sent Togekiss gliding across the waves, dipping her wing tip into the surface to kick up a refreshing mist. "Kiss~!" She chirped, turning belly-up to bathe in it.
"We're seeing some of a Coordinator's expertise, right off the bat! Togekiss's flying is a sight to behold; there's no doubt that they'd be a help in preparing Ash Ketchum's flyers for battle!"
'Good. We have their attention.' Dawn smiled to herself, and extended a hand outward. "Togekiss! Let's use Air Slash on the water's surface!"
"Togekiss~!" Togekiss cooed to acknowledge Dawn, rolling up into another ascent to leave the bay waters behind. She found a steady altitude, and whipped one of her wingtips in a spiral over her head. A spiral of cutting air took shape, shimmering with blue Flying-type energy.
She then spun to sling it towards the water in a backhanded toss and dove to follow it.
"What a magnificent Air Slash!" The foremost reporter praised. "And, what's this…!?"
Air Slash cut into the steady waters, whipping up a spiral of water around the diving Togekiss. Strong winds carried a current much like a twirling ribbon, rising around and beyond the Jubilee. Togekiss spanned out her wings, rotating in rhythm with the twisting waters.
"Look at that! Togekiss shows expert control of the sky and the sea, with that Air Slash!"
"Now, let's finish it!" Dawn held her hands outward. "Use Dazzling Gleam!"
A bright flash enraptured Togekiss, glimmering with all of the colors of the rainbow. Pinks, greens, blues, and more refracted throughout the water bands, like a gigantic kaleidoscope.
"Now, that's just beautiful!" The woman accompanying the pompadoured man cried, directing the camera towards the flash. "Although, it may be hard to see for all of you at home…! That Dazzling Gleam is absolutely blinding! Stay tuned, and we'll get a word from our starlet!"
The beautiful candy-colored swirls finally started to dim, scattering to the breeze on the mist like diamond dust of all hues and colors. The Sunset News crew blinked the spots away, searching for Dawn.
"I don't see Togekiss, anymore…" The man with the pompadour rubbed his eyes. "That was an impressive, but short-lived performance, Miss Dawn! Could we get a word from… um."
To the crew's befuddlement, Dawn was nowhere to be seen. In reality, she'd been scooped up onto Togekiss's back in the commotion, and carried into the skies overlooking Vermilion. She leaned forward on the Jubilee's back, resting her hands on each of their shoulders.
"Phew… Awesome work, Togekiss! You were stunning, out there! And that Dazzling Gleam was key to pulling one over them," Dawn giggled, winking.
"Toge-kiss~!" Togekiss chirped proudly, lifting her chin with pride. She was glad to be of service!
"Right! Now, let's go find Ash and the others!"
Dawn's cunning escape had gone off without a hitch. With the help of Togekiss, she'd quickly reunited with the rest of the group in Vermilion's most spacious park. Ash, Misty, and Brock had regrouped by a large fountain with a spouting Magikarp statue as its centerpiece.
Brock was sitting on the end of a bench, brushing Ninetales's fluffy tails, while Rura played in the shallow waters of the fountain. He chomped at the steady stream from Magikarp's mouth, intermittently pawing at it. Rosemary, Empoleon, and Misty sat on the fountain's edge, idly kicking their feet in the water. Nearby, Ash and Dawn sat on a bench, close together.
Ash idly pet Peeks, who sat on the other side of him. His other arm was around Dawn. "Y'know, I didn't think winning a conference was going to mean running from camera crews."
"You did say that you want to be Champion," Brock reminded Ash, as he took a break from brushing to massage Ninetales's paws. "If you do, there'll be a lot more where that came from."
"Yeah! Besides, we both agreed on crafting our legacy together," Dawn added with a smile. "You're a great trainer who's great to Pokémon! You should look forward to representing Kanto."
"Mmyeah. I guess you're right," Ash conceded with a halfhearted smile. "That does sound nice one day, and all. But a break from everything would be nice. After everything, recently…"
Ash trailed off, not finishing his thought. Brock spared him a look of concern, but didn't press it.
"Well, you have some time!" Misty added. "Around a month before the Grand Festival is over, and that's not even touching on the Champion's League. And that's assuming you do win."
"And he's going to win!" Dawn added. "What you do from there is your choice!"
~Hey, uh. Ma? Pa?~ Rosemary interjected. ~I get the dilemma, but we've gotta scramble.~
"Huh? Oh, come on," Ash groaned.
Unfortunately, the Sunset camera crew could be seen at a distance, scouting the park.
"That didn't take long," Brock grumbled.
"I was hoping they'd buzz off," Dawn huffed, hopping to her feet. She started to stretch. "But I'll take it as an opportunity to test out my appeals, at least. I mean, how long can they follow us?"
"So, it's as agreed, right?" Misty asked. "We regroup at the strip mall?"
"Agreed!" Ash stood up and stretched. He gave Dawn a thumbs-up. "Knock 'em dead, babe!"
"Count on it!" Dawn stuck her tongue out at Ash, then clapped her hands. "Alright, Rura. Just like we practiced!"
~Right-o!~ Rura grinned, hopping out of the fountain to stand on its ledge. With an effortful wag of his tail, he cast an illusion over the immediate area. Every one of their friends, pardoning Dawn and Empoleon, seemingly vanished into thin air.
One of the camera crew assistants pointed at Dawn, and the group could be seen whispering amongst themselves, although Dawn had no clue what they were conspiring at a distance.
"Ahem! Miss Dawn! Dawn Tsumura." Chett cleared his throat, speaking through his mic as he and his cohort approached. "I see you, ahem, gave us the slip just a few minutes ago… I can understand being camera shy—"
"Oh, me?" Dawn blinked. "I'm not camera shy. Ash is, though, so don't get any ideas about finding him, got it? I'm covering for him, and that's that," she said, hands firmly on her hips.
"Em-pol~!" Empoleon flicked his crown sassily with his wing, echoing Dawn's words.
"She… refused us right to our faces." Chett cleared his throat, leaning into a good-humored, made-for-TV laugh towards their prospective audience. "Well, you have to give Ketchum's right-hand-woman one thing: She has a lot of moxie!"
"It's so good to see a young lady be so brazen!" Joyce chirped, laying it on thick with a plastered-on smile. She shoved her microphone towards Dawn. "If Ash is under your protection, then do you think we could get a few words from you, instead?"
"Hm? Uh, sure. I guess so," Dawn said, eyes wide. 'That's actually perfect. If they're busy with me, they won't notice that they're slipping away under Rura's illusion! I just have to keep their attention long enough, and not make things too obvious. I'm technically not lying, after all!'
The girl smiled and patted her cheeks to psyche herself up, closing her fists. "Alright, bring it!"
"Wooo-onderful!" Chett grinned. "Right, then. Ash said that you've inspired a multitude of his maneuvers. Which of those are you most proud to have inspired?"
"Which one…" Dawn tapped a finger thoughtfully against her lip. "I want to say the Counter Shield, but the truth is, I didn't invent that one on purpose. Ash took a failed appeal of mine and made it into something successful! So I'd have to say Ice Aqua Jet. See, that was a technique that I was working on myself, back when I…" She paused. "It's actually a little embarrassing," Dawn laughed awkwardly, her cheeks a dusty pink. She twirled a finger around her locks. "See, Ash's Floatzel was originally my Buizel, and…"
"Oh, how sweet! And, what a scoop!" Joyce cooed. "So you're saying that the Floatzel from Ash's League-winning team was actually yours, from a trade?"
"Sshh! Don't say it so loud!" Dawn hissed, waving her hands. Her cheeks had darkened from pink to scarlet. "Oh, this is on television… Everyone on TV is going to hear that! Oh, man…!"
The collective crew stared at Dawn, befuddled. Chett cleared his throat.
"Ahem, Miss Dawn. The Ice Aqua Jet…?"
"Oh! Right!" Dawn exhaled, happy to be off of the subject. "So, Ice Aqua Jet was a technique I tried to hone for Contests. But we could never quite get the timing right! It always relied on an opponent's Ice-type moves, so it was hard to get much use out of it, practically speaking. But Ash went the extra mile and made it his own! He's even added in Ice Punch, so that they don't have to rely on their opponents!" Dawn puffed out her chest proudly. "I'd call that a success!"
"Well, there's the scoop on Ice Aqua Jet! You all saw it for yourselves in the Indigo Plateau Conference Finals!" Chett narrated, hyping up the revelation for the at-home audience.
"Oh, it's wonderful that you can admit your influence on others," Joyce added. "Even so young!"
"Well, yeah?" Dawn said, slightly thrown off. She regained her candor quickly. "One of my goals as a Coordinator is to help everyone see a Pokémon's appeal! So, having influence is great!"
"When did you first realize that Ash looked to you for battle inspiration?" Chett followed.
"I think it was back around the time we met!" Dawn answered. "Ash was having trouble at the Oreburgh Gym, but he picked up on the way I'd recently taught my Pokémon to dodge by spinning! It was part of the make-or-break for his victory, back then."
"Wow! Back during his previous Gym Challenge? This trend of inspiration runs far and wide!"
"Is Ash going to take you out to celebrate your victory! Your shared victory, of course, aha."
"Pol…" Empoleon squinted at Joyce and Chett. He didn't like where this was headed.
"Uhm…?" Dawn's face screwed up in confusion. "I guess? We haven't really had the time lately, what with the League, and all of our friends… Ash isn't really the romantic type-"
"How do you feel about being relied upon for his Championship victory?" Chett interrupted, growing impatient with her dawdling. "Do you feel like he owes you?"
"Owes me!?" Dawn squinted. "Just what are you… Look! The only thing that Ash owes me is his honesty, and he's made good on that," she insisted, stomping forward to look into the camera. "I'm more than happy to be part of that, B-T-W. That's what being partners is about!"
"Pol! Pol-Empol!" Empoleon cheered on his mama. He quietly snickered at the way she was intimidating the camera man, who was stepping back in the interest of personal space.
"Aha, well, you certainly can't say she isn't loyal!" Chett maintained his smooth facade. To some degree, the TV personality was eating up her eccentricity. It'd make for good headlines! "But, that brings me to another thought that viewers at home might be pondering: Do you think it's fair for him to be dating his battle coach?"
"Do I— wait a minute." Dawn grimaced. One could practically see wildfire combusting in her ordinarily cool cerulean hues. "Are you," she pointed at Chett, "trying to insinuate that Ash didn't earn his victory? Because let me tell you something, buster. Ash is the most hard-working-"
"Ahaha, I don't think we ever meant to call Ash's worthiness into question!" Joyce chuckled sweetly, trying to calm the flames of Dawn's wrath. "But I do have one more question for you, Dawn. Have any other notable trainers sought your advice? Your mother also has a reputation as a tutor; it sounds an awful lot like you're following in her footsteps!"
"Well, I've had a few other Coordinators come to me…" Dawn hummed. The mention of her mother, naturally, put stars in her eyes. "Well, yeah! My mom's always been a source of—"
Her words came to a halt, when the gears in her head turned. A chilling realization was upon her. 'Why'd they just pivot into talking about Mom? All of that flattery, right after I… wait a minute!' Dawn's hands balled up into fists. 'Those creeps. They're playing with my feelings to get the juicy answers they want!'
Dawn shot a nasty look at Chett and Joyce, and then pivoted on her feet, walking away from the camera crew without another word.
Empoleon waddled after Dawn, chirping words of concern. "Pol-eon. Empol!"
"I know," Dawn affirmed. "They played us like a fiddle. And I hate being lied to. So, I think it's time we give them a taste of their own medicine." She smiled over her shoulder at her starter. "They want the spotlight? Then they're going to have to share it with everyone else."
Stars sparkled in Empoleon's eyes. He loved the way she operated!
"Now, let's see…" Dawn scouted their surroundings. There were a fair amount of kids playing nearby, and nosey adults eavesdropping on the scene she and Sunset had started. "Perfect."
"Um, Miss Tsumura…?" Chett begged Dawn's attention from a distance.
Dawn ignored it, clapping her hands together. "Alright! Gather around everyone, because it's time for a show!" She held her hands out over her head. "Who wants to see some Poké-talent!?"
Empoleon danced circles around Dawn, squawking to garner more attention.
Children and adults alike turned in Dawn's direction, muttering confusion and enthusiasm alike.
"Right!" Dawn beamed, clutching a Poké Ball between her fingers. She tossed it. "Mamoswine!"
"Spotlight!"
"Mamoooo!" The mighty, giant Mamoswine bellowed, appearing in the flesh. His mighty tusks were well-polished, and his brown insulatory fur well-groomed. The earth trembled in his wake.
"Woaah! What Pokémon is that!?"
"Way cool!"
"He looks so fluffy!"
A couple of children rushed over in a clamor, eager to see Mamoswine.
"Hold your Horseas, kids!" Dawn warned, holding up her index finger with a wink. "You can greet Mamoswine in just a minute. First, he has an act to put on!" She waited judiciously until her spectators were at a safe distance. Then, she waved a hand. "Use Stomping Tantrum!"
Mamoswine put his teachings from Ash's lead Tauros to work. In a fit of feigned frustration, he pulverized the grassy terrain under his feet, battering the land to pieces. Splinters of earth dislodged and shot like projectiles in succession. The land was no match for his wooly wrath!
"Great!" Dawn praised, snapping her fingers. "Now, use Ice Shard, just like we practiced!"
A large, shimmering orb of solid ice materialized in front of Mamoswine; the air frozen by a chill harkening to a long-gone ice age. The Pokémon cried, firing Ice Shard at the flying slabs.
Ice Shard ricocheted off of the first, bouncing between them at a rapid pace, freezing each into a slab of ice, glistening under the afternoon sun. It bounced off the last of Stomping Tantrum, bouncing into the air. It glistened and glittered, making the children coo in awe.
"Now! Mix it up with Ancient Power!"
Mamoswine willed a long-dormant mysterious force to life, taking shape in the form he'd been trained to do so; a mysterious silver orb, rather than the many glowing boulders they'd seen in recent months. He fired Ancient Power with precise aim, colliding with Ice Shard.
Even the teens and adults watching applauded the glimmering orbit of silver minerals and pristine ice; trainers and inexperienced onlookers alike. Dawn smiled. She had their attention!
"Now, Mamoswine!" Dawn threw her hands outward. "You know what to do!"
Mamoswine charged towards the orbit of glistening debris that he himself had created. "Mamoooh~!" He roared, leaping high above ground towards the amalgamation. In just one chomp, he swallowed the combination whole, to bewildered and excited cries from the crowd.
He landed with a 'thud,' internalizing the power that was originally his. Suddenly, regal spires of ice started to erupt from his fur, atop his skull and then down his back. Unlike the standard Ice Armor, though, Mamoswine's new adornments maintained a mysterious glow, reflecting in many different colors through the icicles. Ancient Power's debris even orbited some of the ice, reflecting off its bright surface.
Dawn turned to the crowd and bowed, in sync with Empoleon and Mamoswine himself, who lowered his head. "That was 'Ancient Armor!' Let's hear a round of applause for Mamoswine!"
The applause was immediate, and gratuitous. The children were first to swarm Mamoswine.
"He's so cute! Can I pet him?"
"You can if he's alright with it!" Dawn said, leaning her hands on her knees to crouch to meet the kids at eye level. "C'mon! Go ask him!"
"Okay!" A small girl giggled, and walked up to Mamoswine. "Um, Mr. Mamoswine? Can we pet you? You're so fluffy and cool and cold, and, and-"
Mamoswine snorted, and the wind knocked the girl on her rear. She blinked.
"He's just shy," Dawn laughed. "That's a yes!"
"Thank you, Mr. Mamoswine!" The girl was back up, swarming him along with the other children.
"That Ancient Armor was awesome!"
"He looks like a big snowman!"
Dawn backed off from the commotion and looked to Empoleon, grinning. "I think he's a star."
"Pol-Empol." Empoleon nodded proudly. Naturally, any one of theirs would be. But, he held a wing to his beak then, frowning. "Empoleon. Pole?" He gestured to the camera crew, who were currently on the outer edges of their gathering. (They'd look bad pushing past children, after all.)
"Way ahead of you, big guy. We'll just keep talking to the rest of the crowd! Once the kids have their fun, we'll slip away without a trace." She winked, offering her starter a thumbs-up.
Empoleon sneered, amusing himself with the image of those vultures being left in the dust. He patted his mama on the back with his wing, singing her praises. She was beyond clever!
"Whew!" Dawn exhaled, slapping her hand down on the round outdoor dining table that Ash and the others occupied. "Alright… I made it." The girl wiped the sweat from her brow, and made a face.
Escaping to the strip mall's food court had been a touch more difficult than she'd thought. But, she was free of the press for the time being. Ash, Misty, Brock, and their Pokémon had already settled in, complete with their own food. "Nice of you to wait on me," she pouted.
"Well, I hope you've got a real appetite Dawn," Ash said. "'Cause you might wanna order some humble pie for dessert." Smiling widely, he nudged something towards her — a plate of cold sesame noodles, and a strawberry soda accompanying.
~You know what they say about assuming!~ Rosa chimed in, sitting cross-legged in a nearby chair while popping a chocolate donut in her mouth. ~Makes an ass out of 'U' and me!~
"Should you be talking with your mouth full?" Brock chided, noting Rosemary's language.
~Does it matter if it's telepathy?~
"...They always get better at talking back, with age."
Dawn ignored the fuss, blinking dumbly at the meal before her. These were two of her favorites! "I'll take a double helping of that humble pie," she giggled, sitting down next to Ash. Her cheeks filled with pink, and for a brief moment, she'd forgotten about her troubles.
"So," Misty cut in. "How was your interview?"
"Ugh!" Dawn smacked her hand down on the table, making her plate rattle. "Terrible."
That harmony hadn't lasted long.
Ash frowned, concerned. "How bad could it be?"
"The audacity of those two!" Dawn fumed, twirling some noodles before angrily slurping them down. "They started by asking about what moves I helped inspire, and which I liked most…"
"That's a good question," Ash interjected, after eating a takoyaki ball.
"It sounds like one at first," Dawn grumbled. "But you give them an inch, they take a mile. They tried to insinuate that you didn't earn your win — that I'm responsible! That you, you… owe me, or something!" She threw her hands up in the air.
"Are you serious?" Ash squinted. "That's stupid. I'm proud to have your support! The only thing you owe me is-"
"My honesty!" Dawn finished his sentence.
"An hour of your time over dinner," Ash said smoothly. "...Oh. Right. Honesty. That, too."
"Dear Mew, we've taught him too much," Misty pinched the bridge of her nose.
Brock, surprisingly, didn't comment on the flirting at all. "This is the kind of thing that comes with being well-known, you two. The tabloids love a juicy narrative. If they can spin the idea that Ash relied on somebody else for his big break, then it's dollar signs for them."
"Who cares?" Ash shrugged. "As far as I'm concerned, Dawn's support is an honor!"
"I care," Dawn hissed out, leaning onto the table. "They're using it to smear your good name!"
"They can shout it from the rooftops for all I care," Ash asserted, sitting up. "It's a good thing!"
"I'm trying to protect our legacies," Dawn grumbled out with a touch of venom in her tone. She'd gone from leaning forward to standing in Ash's personal space. "A little gratitude couldn't hurt!"
Ash stood up, challenging her gaze with his equally stubborn one. "Well, I'm totally grateful!"
"Good!" Dawn barked back, leaning in to glare until her forehead nudged his cap.
"I think they forgot that they're both on the same side," Misty sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Now, that's nostalgic…" Brock shook his head, bemused. "Like we're in Sinnoh, all over again."
"Heh! Got some trouble in paradise, eh?" The booming voice of Lieutenant Surge startled the group. The giant of a man stood nearby, lips parted in an amused sneer, arms folded.
Raichu waddled up beside him, tail flicking about.
"Surge!?" The group exclaimed in unison.
"Raichu!?" Peeks echoed.
"In da flesh," Surge said, gesturing with his hands in a showboating fashion.
"How long have you been here?" Ash asked.
"Been here," the man answered. "I always come by for a quick lunch break at the Vermilion Strip. I was trynna mind m' own business, but Baby and Baby's Baby were making a nuisance of themselves," he jeered, ruffling Ash and Dawn's heads, alike.
After wriggling free of his grasp, Ash and Dawn exchanged a look, laughing nervously. They both considered it a silent apology for their spat, leaving their temper tantrums behind them.
"Speakin' of Babies!" Surge continued, clapping Ash's shoulder. "I saw your performance at th' Plateau." The veteran flashed a rare genuine smile. "Great work out there. You done Kanto proud."
"And the whole 'chu line, too!" Raichu walked up to Peeks, offering his tail. "That fight with Hydreigon was raw as hell."
Peeks tried to turn to shake tails, only to find he was moving a bit awkwardly. "Aha, thanks. A little too raw. My whole flank is sore."
"Yeah, you'll be walking that one off for a bit. Shit, you're lucky you're walking it off at all." Raichu roughly pat Peeks's back. "Good goin', soldier."
Ash laughed, rubbing his neck sheepishly at Surge's praise. "Thanks, Surge. I'm really happy about it… Although I think Kanto's a little too proud of it right now, if you ask me."
"Ah, yeah… You gotta remember somethin', Babies." Surge scowled, folding his arms over his chest. "The press is unforgiving. You've gotta stand your ground. Whether it's you not giving a damn," he looked at Ash, "or you wantin' to have your own narrative." He looked at Dawn. "They'll sniff out weakness of any kind, like a Houndoom lookin' for its next meal."
"Speaking of sniffing us out," Misty said, grimacing. "They've found us."
Sunset News could be seen at a few tables' lengths away. "Mr. Ketchum!" Chett called out, waving his microphone. "A moment of your time, please!"
"Oh, give it a rest!" Ash groaned. "How many times do we have to…"
"I've got this," Dawn said, raising her hand as she stood up from her seat. There were enough passers by for a second performance, here and there. A few other Vermilion residents had already been eavesdropping on the loud group, from the looks of it. This could work.
She exhaled, and held a Poké Ball in each hand. "Alright, everyone! You've heard of dinner and a show, but you'll have to settle for lunch, this time around!" She took in their impromptu crowd's lingering eyes and smiled, twirling to throw each capsule into the air. "Pachirisu! Lopunny!"
Two beams of light materialized alongside one another; a stylish, roughneck Lopunny in her torn leather jacket and spiked cuffs, posing with one leg over the other, and Pachirisu jumping up to frame the former symmetrically; both winking at the crowd. "Chi-pah~!"
"Spotlight!"
Onlookers cooed at the cute and tough contrast between the two Pokémon, Dawn noticed.
'Hook, line, and sinker.' Dawn thought to herself, proudly, before gesturing a hand outward. "Let's show this crowd your charm! Pachirisu, use Sweet Kiss!"
"Chiii…!" Pachirisu hopped up into Lopunny's waiting paws. The rabbit flung her into the air to launch her, sending the Elesquirrel high above. The smiling, doe-eyed rodent covered her mouth with her paws, then swung them outward, blowing a kiss at the audience. "Pah~!"
A barrage of hot pink hearts orbited herself and Lopunny, wrapping them in passionate hues. Their audience was becoming more numerous, fawning over the adorable pair. Lopunny's dark clothing and mahogany and cream fur contrasted wonderfully with Pachirisu's pastel shades!
The Sunset crew was begrudgingly capturing the performance on film, clearly interested in pushing further to get closer to Ash. Dawn wouldn't allow him to be shoved into her spotlight.
"Alright! Now, stand back, everyone!" Dawn held her arms outward. "Because we're about to light this place up! Pachirisu! Lopunny! Let's see your Thunder Tiara!"
Their audience backed up, forcing Chett, Joyce, and their crew to the outer rung.
"Pachi-ruuh!" Pachirisu somersaulted from her hangtime in mid-air, only to be caught by Lopunny's ears, which stood completely upright. She giggled, held snugly between the cottony fluff of Lopunny's strong extremities. Without further ado, she cried, unleashing her Thunder.
Blue bolts of lightning boomed and crackled, climbing the skies to branch out to the many hearts spawned by Sweet Kiss that still hung above. Each prong of electricity found a heart to pop, showing the lightning in pink highlights. The many bolts active at once framed Lopunny in what genuinely looked like a gigantic lightning tiara. Even with the cries of excitement rolling in, though, they didn't stop there. Lopunny sprung towards the remaining hearts, shattering them with earth-breaking kicks! She pivoted off of one explosion, turning into a beautiful pirouette.
It was like the rabbit had stumbled into the middle of a colorful, deafening rave!
Peeks recalled a similar image, back at the block party. She looked even more beautiful. He put his paws between his lips to whistle for her, showing his enthusiastic support.
Her sharp ears picked up on it, and Lopunny winked, before the lightning started to die off.
Pachirisu huffed with effort, somersaulting out of Lopunny's grip. Both of them graced the crowd with a bow, just as their performance came to an end. "Chi… Pachi!"
Dawn bowed with her team, in tandem. "Thank you! Thank you very much!"
Whoops and cries of excitement were Dawn and her team's reward. A few trainers and children made their forward to give Dawn and her team their due praises; some of them still snacking on their lunch, all the while. Some ventured to see Lopunny and Pachirisu up-close, before a mountain of a man got in their way.
"Aw, ain't cha just the cutest damn thing!" Lt. Surge hoisted up Pachirisu, able to fit her snugly in his gargantuan hands. "Un-friggin-believable! What an adorable lil' light show! You're a natural, ain't ya?"
"Pahchi?" Pachirisu tilted her head, wearing her usual dopey smile.
"...Huh." Ash blinked dumbly at the Lieutenant, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"What!? You got a problem, Baby?" Surge barked. "Bein' a man's man doesn't mean you can't appreciate a cutie!"
"Huh? Oh, yeah! Of course!" Ash startled. He picked up Peeks, holding him in his arms. "I agree. I mean, have you seen this guy?"
"Hey, sister!" Raichu sauntered over to Lopunny, offering his tail. "You're the dame Peeks couldn't shut up about, eh?"
Lopunny grinned and bumped her fist against his tail. "You betcha! And you're the Raichu who gave him a push. I'd be lying if I said I didn't appreciate ya." She looked up at the dangling mouse, who was at a chattering Ash's mercy at the moment. She sighed dreamily.
"Sounds like you sealed the deal, then." Raichu clicked his tongue approvingly, nudging her with his elbow. "Good for you two. I was gonna beat his ass if he managed to screw that one up."
"Hey, runts!" Surge interrupted the conversations in progress, calling everyone to his attention. "It's been nice catching up with ya's, but that crowd is startin' to thin out. You better scram."
"Oh! You're right!" Dawn exclaimed. "Um, er, thanks! See you later, you two!" She waved. Ash, Peeks, and the remainder of the group hurried to make themselves scarce before the inevitable.
The day's sunlight was starting to wane. Ash's friends had essentially been chased across the city at this point, and it led them to their last refuge before day's end: exactly where they started.
Ash, Peeks, Misty, Brock, and Dawn sat at Vermilion Port, with their legs dangling over an open pier. Empoleon swam laps in the bay nearby, careful to avoid an incoming passenger ship. (The loud foghorn announcing its arrival had damn near scared him out of his skin.)
"What a pain," Dawn lamented, as she twirled the last of her leftover noodles onto her fork; she hadn't had time to eat before the press had gotten to them. "I was really hoping to save the Thunder Tiara for the Grand Festival. Now I'll have to work out a new combination for Lopunny and Pachirisu."
"Is there a reason you can't use it again?" Brock asked. "It's not as if you haven't recycled tactics before. Every Coordinator does that."
"I'm not saying I never will, but it's going to be on TV now, fresh in everyone's memory," Dawn replied. "I guess that's assuming if anyone's even watching the Vermilion local news, though."
"She got this idea in her head from one of her rivals that she should keep her moves up her sleeve," Ash explained. "Didn't we go over this? You can't worry too much about that sorta thing. All you can do is go out there and give your best!"
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Dawn exhaled, and patted her cheeks. "I think today's just stressing me out. I like the spotlight and all, but I'd rather not be forced into it."
"Most people don't like that sort of thing," Misty added. "At least we're back where we started."
"Yeah," Ash agreed. "They'd have to be really deranged to follow us, back here."
Peeks's ears twitched. "Hey, Ash? You might not want to look behind you."
"Huh…? Oh, you've got to be kidding me." Ash grimaced.
"A-a-Ash! Mr. Ketchum!" Who else but Chett could be calling for him, again? He was accompanied by the crew, approaching the pier. "I'm so glad we've finally found you!"
"Can you take a hike?" Misty admonished, looking over her shoulder. "You've been bothering us all day. Shoo!"
"Oh, if it isn't the Cerulean Gym Leader!" Joyce cut in. "What a lovely entourage. But surely you have something more becoming to say for the cameras?"
"Ah-ha," Misty laughed a strained laugh, getting up from where she sat to roll her shoulder. "Let me tell you something, Ma'am. I didn't earn my reputation by being polite and cordial."
"Well, that is how you got a reputation as the 'Tomboyish Mermaid!'" Chett laughed in a way that made Misty want to vomit. "Are you suggesting, though, that the Cerulean Gym Leader can't exhibit self-control while representing her city?"
The redhead's eyebrow twitched. "It's funny you bring reputations into the mix," she chuckled darkly. "Because as representatives of your station, you've been harassing Pokémon Trainers who are doing nothing but minding their own business! Now tell me, have you had a late lunch?"
"I… can't say I have," the man replied, raising a brow.
"Oh, that's good! Because I think that microphone of yours will make a good chaser."
Back on the pier, Ash was leaning back on his palm, grinning at the scene in amusement.
"You're still not bothered by the coverage you're getting?" Dawn asked him.
"Me? Nah." Ash shrugged. "I just want them to go away. They can say what they want. Watching Misty tear 'em a new one is better TV than they'll ever offer, though." Despite his jesting, though, Ash knew Dawn at a gut level. His eyes turned back to her. Her fists trembled, white knuckled.
"You're bothered by it, though, aren't cha?"
"Oh, like heck," Dawn spat. She felt Ash's hand on her shoulder, then. Her boyfriend smiled.
"Then get out there, and back up our rep, Miss Tsumura." Ash winked, and gave her a shove.
Dawn felt her heart skip a beat for her boyfriend's enduring support. But, there was no time for that, as she hopped to her feet. "Hey!" She shouted, breaking up the commotion.
"I don't know if you forgot, but Ash isn't going to be the star of this broadcast. Today's hot scoop is Team Tsumura!" She pointed forward dramatically; a well-timed cue for the waters to break.
Empoleon soared out of the bay, twisting elegantly to land beside Dawn. He pointed his wing towards the Sunset crew, mirroring his trainer. "Pol! Empol!" His stainless steel armor glistened under the waning sun and mist surrounding him.
"That's… very nice of you to offer, Miss Tsumura." Joyce's laugh didn't contain much of the peppy effort it'd had previously. Even she sounded weary. "But, I think we've had quite enough."
"...Come again?" Dawn said, wide-eyed.
Chett stepped his way carefully around Misty, not wanting to humor the Gym Leader any longer. "Your performances were nice. A great spectacle for our viewers at home!" He gave a toothy, showman's grin, and immediately dropped any feinted enthusiasm. "But, you're not the story we came here for."
One could imagine a dark storm cloud hanging over Dawn and Empoleon. The two looked ghostly; as if all life, color, and confidence had been drained out of them, all at once.
"Not… what they came here for?" Dawn muttered through grit teeth. "Of all the nerve…!"
"I've never been so humiliated," Empoleon whimpered.
"...Alright. This is ridiculous." Ash's jaw clenched.
"Now, Ash…" Brock tried to temper his friend, to no avail. Ash was already on his feet.
"They can talk about me all they want, but talking to Dawn like that to her face?" Ash scooped Peeks into his arms, ready to march his way toward the crew. "They'll have to take that up with-"
Before Ash could finish, a large, purple crackling mass shot across the pier, seemingly swallowing any signs of light nearby. A Shadow Ball was headed right towards Dawn.
Empoleon's steely cerulean eyes caught the intrusion, sharp and steady as the seas. He pivoted in front of his trainer, carving the Shadow Ball right down the middle. It burst into withering shadows, reflecting off his steel wing pad. He stood strong and defiant, protective of Dawn.
"Now, now. This is no way for a legitimate broadcast to be behaving, is it?"
A poised and delicate Glameow walked her way down the pier, tilting her nose up at the newscast. Accompanying her was a grown woman with a sky blue open jacket over a white blouse, jeans, and matching heels. Voluminous dark blue hair framed her face, pinned with her signature blue clip. Johanna smiled. "Is it not your job to bring your audience intrigue?"
"Mom!?" Dawn exclaimed. Her jaw had dropped.
"Miss Tsumura!?" Ash and Brock shouted in unison.
"Pika!?"
"Hi, Dear. And the rest of you," Johanna addressed the group kindly. "It's been quite a while."
"But… Oh, I'm lost!" Dawn skipped over to her mother, forgetting her previous conflict for a moment. Empoleon followed her. "What brings you over to Kanto!?"
"It's as I've told you, Dawn. I have my own life," Johanna said simply. She got another look at her daughter, blinking and then smiling. "It's only been a couple months, but you've grown."
Dawn beamed, happy to bask in her mother's approval. Before she could ask anymore questions, Johanna walked past her, she and Glameow moving towards the end of the pier.
"Here's a story for Sunset TV. An exhibition Contest Battle between a Top Coordinator and a Grand Festival hopeful. Surely that would bring you the ratings you're desperately vying for?" She asked, pointedly cutting her eyes at the camera crew.
Chett swallowed heavily, processing the new conditions they'd found themselves in. They'd look like idiots to ignore a match with that kind of public draw. No doubt, their bosses would chew them out for missing that opportunity; let alone any misconduct they'd shown along the way!
"Ahem! Of course!" The man cleared his throat, ushering his crew to a fair and equitable distance so that both Coordinators were in view. "This is a rare opportunity for our audience, and for us! For all of you watching Sunset TV, let's see what these two talents are made of!"
"She's good," Ash muttered, dumbstruck. "Had them wrapped around her finger in no time."
"Careful," Misty whispered to Ash. "That could be your mother-in-law, one day."
"Oh, shut up."
Dawn, meanwhile, was tuning the rest of the world out. "Alright, Empoleon. This is our chance to show Mom just how far we've come." She could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Her palms felt unpleasantly sweaty. But despite her nerves, she couldn't be more excited. She grinned.
"Let's do this!"
"Empol!" Empoleon extended a wing towards Glameow, challenging her.
Glameow stretched her back out, then stood opposite of him, poised.
"Brock!" Johanna called out. "If you would be so kind as to call the start of the match?"
"Oh! Of course!" Brock ran over to the midway point between Dawn and Johanna, and cleared his throat. "Ahem! This will be an informal Exhibition Contest Battle, between Dawn Tsumura, and Johanna Tsumura. With no qualified judges, this will simply be a battle to show off their appeal, with no strict parameters!" He waved a hand in the air. "You may begin!"
"Use Shadow Ball!"
"Empoleon! Bubble Beam!"
Empoleon and Glameow initiated simultaneously; the former throwing his head forward to fire a shimmering, explosive barrage of bubbling foam, and the latter a swarm of deep purple Shadow Balls. The barrages collided, detonating into a near-amorphous storm of bubbling violets.
The necrotic shroud hid Glameow and Empoleon alike.
"Take flight, with Quick Attack." Johanna pointed toward the sky.
The shroud broke for Glameow, who soared out of the aftermath and high above. The usual silver trail was wrapped in the ghoulish shroud of Shadow Ball and Bubble Beam, highlighting the feline's fur with an eerie cloak of black and violet. She took on a jagged flight pattern, bolting her way out of reach. The patterns she drew with her shadows elicited awe from their audience.
"Follow her, Empoleon! Drill Peck!" Dawn commanded.
The remainder of the shroud was pulled into a corkscrew. Empoleon propelled himself out of the lingering shadow and foam, wrapping himself in a shadowy swirl that had its visual apex upon his beak. He quickly caught up to Glameow, leading his charge with flickers of black and mauve.
"You go, Dawn!" Ash cheered, jumping in place.
"Show them, Empoleon!" Peeks cheered, clinging to the back of Ash's head.
"Now, let's take the lead!" Dawn said with conviction, gesturing a full circle with her index finger. "Add an Ice Beam to that Drill Peck!"
Empoleon didn't stop spinning. He simply opened his beak, spitting freezing rays into the sky all about Glameow; all about himself, in many freezing ribbons. Black shadows wrapped in with pale cyan, highlighting his well-polished steels with a spectrum of light.
Meanwhile, Glameow used her Quick Attack to avoid the quick freeze. Soon, she and Empoleon both lost their momentum, left with a remarkable amount of hang time as gravity drew them in.
About and below them, many bands of ice fell along with them.
Johanna smiled, keeping any remarks to herself. "Cut it down, with Shadow Claw!"
Ghastly wisps danced around her, and channeled into ghoulish razor-sharp claws. "Nya-nya-nya-nya-nya~!" She struck with swift precision, carving up the ice as it appeared.
The ice was carved into a series of disconnected glaciers, on which both Pokémon found footing. Empoleon stood opposite of Glameow, each poised on the falling ice.
"Shadow Ball!" Johanna ordered.
Glameow tossed her head to fire another light-eating blast, aiming to displace Empoleon.
"Dodge that!" Dawn urged.
But, Empoleon was born to glide along arctic paths. He spun off of the icy foothold he'd found, gracefully dancing onto a nearby slab. His sharp talons dug into the ice, securing his footing.
"Use Bubble Beam!"
Empoleon retaliated with a bubbly assault, targeting a quickly fleeing Glameow. But, the Normal-type wasn't built for the ice the way he was. Her paws slipped and scuttled, making her escape from the bubbles far more narrow. But, Empoleon hadn't been aiming for her.
Bubble Beam shattered the ice under Glameow's feet, leaving her in a freefall.
Johanna frowned. "Break your fall, with Shadow Claw!"
"Glam-ya!" Glameow's monstrous claws struck the water's surface, kicking up a barrier of mist about her. Black and purple leaked into the reflective vapor, which quickly broke apart for the Pokémon's momentum. Her strike launched her towards Empoleon, who'd landed on the ice.
"Just what I'd expect from Mom!" Dawn smirked. "Use Bide, Empoleon!"
Empoleon dropped his wings at his sides, focusing intently. A white glow started to surround him, just as Glameow slashed at his body with both of her claws. He slid back across the ice, clearing the gap between it and the next small glacier. He dug in his talons, holding his ground.
"That's the way, Empoleon!" Ash cheered, accentuated with a whistle. "Tough it out, big guy!"
"That move, again?" Johanna asked. Her eyes narrowed. She wasn't one to spare advice in the heat of a decision, but it was one that Dawn could discern for herself, knowing her.
She was second-guessing the use of a risky technique from Dawn's amateur days. As a young beginning Coordinator, Dawn might have crumbled, but she smiled. "Try and beat it, if you can!"
Johanna clicked her tongue. "Glameow. Shadow Claw, once more."
Glameow landed atop her coiling tail on the ice, kicking up powdered snow and icy debris; a landing struck with intentional force to illustrate the impact of her movements, and highlight her glossy fur under the summer sun. Her tail compressed like a spring, and she shifted her weight to set off the spring. She twirled her way towards Empoleon with all of the force of her tail.
Her paws were coated in shadows once more, wrapping around her to cut into the bay's surface; shredding mauve glistening waters to ribbons. She looked as haunting as she did beautiful; all an intimidating show to turn up the pressure on the waiting Emperor.
Dawn's eyes glimmered at the sight. Her mother was putting on such a dazzling show. 'No,' she corrected herself internally. 'Glameow is the star! She's highlighting all of Glameow's best qualities, in just a couple of movements! I have to throw them off their rhythm, if I want to keep up.' Deliberating her next move, Dawn steeled her gaze. "Empoleon! Take the attack, and pivot!"
Empoleon shifted his weight toward his front leg, awaiting the assault with utmost composure. Taking an attack from one of Johanna's Pokémon head-on would have frightened him earlier this year. But, he was a stalwart knight, serving at Dawn's side. He'd face it with composure!
Just as Glameow slashed, he turned his weight away from her, allowing her claws to graze his chest plate, before passing him by completely. The pain he endured intensified Bide's glow.
'There it is!' Dawn smiled with satisfaction. 'He brushed off the brunt of the attack, the same way that Quagsire from the Indigo Plateau Conference did! Watching it all paid off for us, after all.'
Johanna's brow furrowed. Glameow's back was to Empoleon, who'd brushed her off successfully. If Bide fired, now… "Glameow! Take to the sky, with Quick Attack! Post Haste."
Glameow came within inches of touching the bay waters and submerging. A silver burst of speed sent her soaring into the sky in jagged, but decidedly deliberate patterns.
"Now's our chance!" Dawn pointed toward Glameow. "Empoleon! Use Bide!"
Empoleon planted his talons in the ice, standing firmly as the damage he'd recently taken channeled into a blinding light that leaked from his beak. He cried mightily, spitting an expansive flash of light; one so large that even Glameow had little room to weave her way around it.
"Well, well." Johanna smiled to herself, catching Dawn's attention. She met her daughter's eyes. "It looks like you've forced my hand. Glameow! Use Last Resort."
Dawn couldn't believe her ears. As much as she wanted to swell with pride now, though, she knew something more was coming. She wisely turned her eyes to Glameow in the sky.
The silver trail around Glameow evaporated, as Quick Attack faded. It would have seemed dim in comparison anyway, next to the quickly approaching Bide. The feline's eyes widened at the approaching blast. But, she was never one to lose her poise. She dove right back towards it, and began to twirl once more. Pink and gold wrapped together around her body, heading the charge with a large, colorful star. Last Resort collided with Bide in mid-air, igniting the skies.
Unbeknownst to Dawn, a crowd had gathered on the pier to watch the display. Coos and whoops of awe echoed at the bursts of pink, gold, and white that filled the late afternoon skies.
The ice beneath Empoleon started to fracture, and the power raging between himself and Glameow detonated. Colorful explosions rocked the waters, forcing onlookers to brace themselves.
Meanwhile, the bright lights highlighted the silhouettes of both Pokémon. Glameow somersaulted out of the skies, landing on the coil of her tail to easily break her fall. Empoleon twirled through the air upside down, spanning out his wings to make a show of his mobility. He twirled his way rightside up, landing skillfully on his feet. Slowly, the lights died out.
Empoleon and Glameow stood opposite of one another alongside their trainers, just as they'd started. They exchanged intense gazes, as did Dawn and Johanna, themselves.
Then, Johanna raised her hand. "I think that'll do."
This was enough to break Dawn from the spell of fiery competition, and drag her back to reality. She found her posture locked in a combative crouch, and her eyes laser-focused on only her Pokémon, as they ought to have been.
But in that little world, she hadn't noticed the crowd of spectators who had gathered near the pier. At battle's end, they erupted into cheers and applause, grateful for the show they'd witnessed.
Dawn's eyes widened in shock. She quickly swallowed her stupor and bowed, smiling graciously at their audience. "Thank you! Thank you, everyone! You've just witnessed a Tsumura Contest Battle!"
The crowd was receptive. More importantly, though, Empoleon stood by her, and nudged her with his wing. "Pol. Empoleon." He gestured about with his wing. This was their stage — their moment!
"Oh. You're right!" Dawn giggled, thanking Empoleon before projecting her voice. "And, guess what? In just a couple of weeks, you'll see Empoleon and I at the Kanto Grand Festival!" She flashed a peace sign at the crowd, drawing from Ash's showmanship at the block party, just days prior. "Look forward to it!"
"Typically, when a battle is over, you're supposed to exchange graces with your opponent." The ever-present, ever-loving chiding of her mother grabbed Dawn's attention. She stood before her daughter with Glameow at her side, wearing that striking neutral expression that always came with a lecture. Just as Dawn forced out an embarrassed giggle, she smiled, offering her hand.
"Ehe, right…! Right." Dawn reached for her mother's hand, taking it in a firm shake. The tacit approval for a battle well-fought made her spirits soar. "I guess that showed them, huh?" Her eyes flicked through the crowd for the rabid press; she was actually having trouble spotting them, even as their audience had started to scatter.
"Indeed, we did. On that note, give me just one moment." Johanna's gaze narrowed.
"Wow! What a performance, from mother and daughter alike! I hope that our cameraman captured that glorious action enough to do it justice, for you folks at home!" Joyce cooed, beaming at the lens.
"It was admittedly hard to keep up with! I think with that, we can see a secondhand taste of where Mr. Ketchum nurtured his prestige!" Chett followed, wearing a plastered, overly-enthusiastic grin. Before he could continue, one of their crew members pointed behind him, directing his attention to an approaching Johanna.
"...Ah! And there she is! Miss Tsumura, would you mind having a word with our viewers?" Chett grinned, shoving the microphone towards Johanna without so much as waiting for an answer.
"Ah, yes! I would." Johanna responded with a cordial smile in return that faded away almost instantly. An icy gaze started into the camera lens, instead. "As much as I appreciate your tuning in, I would like to ask if any self-respecting licensed network would pride themselves in stalking and harassing four upcoming trainers, for hours at a time?"
Each crew member looked as if they'd swallowed an apple respectively, staring at Johanna like a Deerling in headlights. They exchanged glances with one another afterward, waiting for their wits to catch up with the bombshell Johanna had dropped. Predictably, Chett was first.
"O-o-okayyy, thank you, Missus Tsumura!"
"It's Miss, actually."
"Miss Tsumura!" He corrected through a grit-teeth grin. "Thank you for your two Poké on our latest story. Now if you don't mind, we ought to be wrapping up for the day! To all our viewers in Vermilion and beyond, there's no view like the Sunset News! This is Chett, signing off!"
The gang of four trainers, plus Peeks, watched the Sunset crew pack and depart in record time, astonished. The way Johanna had disassembled them was admittedly a little scary.
"Remind me not to piss her off," Ash whistled.
"A few words, but no more needed," Brock mused. "Efficient."
"She gagged them." Misty huffed, smiling at the scene. "I guess I've got a thing or two to learn about dealing with the press, yet."
"That's Mom for you!" Dawn chirped proudly, hands on her hips. "She can work a crowd like nobody else!"
"Thank you, dear." Johanna answered as she walked over, still looking mildly irritated. "You really should learn to deal with a hungry press without me. But, that's also my fault for not teaching you." She showed a hint of a smile. "I didn't expect you to gain notoriety so quickly."
Dawn's eyes glimmered like the shining sea a short distance away. "Then you'll teach me to handle them like you, right?"
"I'll give you some pointers." Johanna chuckled. "But before that, I'm sure you've all had a hard day." She turned to address the wider group. "How would you all like some dinner? My treat."
Trainer, Coordinator, and Pokémon all alike shared the same sentiment;
"That sounds great!"
"...And did you see the way Bubblebeam and Shadow Ball blew up together!?"
"We all saw it, Ash. We were there."
"Okay, but I feel like it hasn't been talked about enough. It was like… purple ghost foam or something! Which one of you thought of that? Was it like the battle with Ryan, where you collaborated or— mgpmph! Ack!"
"For the love of… Ash, take a breath! Drink some water."
Collective sighs and tuts of exasperation were had around the table, not far from the Vermilion Bay. Johanna had taken the group to Misty's favorite eatery; a classy seafood spot that had outdoor seating on a wooden deck with ornate railings and carvings of Krabby and Dewgong.
Obviously, they did not have Pokémon on the menu.
Ash thumped his chest and downed a glass of water, gasping for dear life. "Agh… Sorry. Got carried away there," he laughed.
"Pikapi…" Peeks sighed from the sidelines, on a small deck designated for Pokémon to eat. Empoleon raised his wing to hide his head in second-hand shame.
"I know it's an exercise in futility, since I've been telling you since you were ten, but please try to finish chewing your food before talking?" Brock pleaded, as he twirled pasta onto his fork. "I think it'd be a little anticlimactic if we lost you to your next meal getting caught in your windpipe."
"I'm fine," Ash asserted, pouting.
Dawn tutted. "It would be something like that to get him, too. But, you can't be mad at his enthusiasm! As for your question, I think the answer to that is both yes and no."
"What Dawn means is that we both likely had the same idea," Johanna added, smiling and shaking her head at Ash's excitement. "And it's often customary to open a battle with a projectile, if both Pokémon have one. You know that as well as we do, Ash."
"Right!" Ash agreed. No longer choking, he'd regained his candor. "But, then there was the way you both got out of there with Drill Peck and Quick Attack, with the smoke wrapped around you… Oh, right!" His hand came down on the table, making the silverware clatter. "I was meaning to ask, that whole Quick Attack thing — you know, how Glameow flies through the air? Do you think you could teach that to me?"
"Oh, that one? It's a pretty advanced Coordinator's technique," Johanna said. "It won't be so easy."
"Please! I can take it on," Ash adopted a stern expression. "I'll take it seriously!"
"I believe you would," she chuckled, "but what about that 'Zippy Zap?' I saw you using it during the conference, and it allowed for plenty of maneuverability in the same vein."
"It won't work the same," Ash shook his head. "Zippy Zap was built off of Volt Tackle, so it tires Peeks out quickly. There's no way we'd have the freedom that we would with Quick Attack!"
Johanna nodded. "That makes enough sense. Sure, if I ever find the time, I'd love to."
Brock cleared his throat loudly. "You know, Ash, it might not hurt to draw attention to Dawn's techniques instead of just her mother's." He shot a pointed look at his younger friend.
"No need to worry!" Dawn cut in, smiling. "It's totally deserved! Ash gets to see my techniques all the time. Of course he's going to get interested in what Mom can do!"
"She's cuckoo," Misty muttered, cutting a look at Dawn. "She didn't even get it."
There was a tired, but unsurprised look in Johanna's eyes. She brushed it off, shaking her head. "Even so, I would like to talk about your performance, Dawn. The way you showed off your Pokémon throughout the day was exemplary. Each rather quick, but to the point of their appeal. I think what impressed me more was how even Togekiss, while rather flashy in the most literal sense, did everything she could to highlight her own beauty, rather than draw attention away from her. It's a wide departure from some of your earlier appeals, back in Sinnoh."
"I've been doing my best to avoid just that!" Dawn beamed, clapping her hands together. "I haven't given up on my move combinations, but I want them to accentuate my Pokémon, not upstage them! Everyone's eyes should be on them, after all! If I don't make the audience appreciate how great they are, then who will?"
"And she's done an awesome job at it!" Ash added candidly.
"Your improvement has been linear," Johanna acknowledged, smiling. "Just be wary that it won't always be the case, and that you have to be able to keep a clear head when it happens. More to that point… If I were to criticize anything, Dawn, it would be your explosive temper."
"Ehehehe…!" Dawn rubbed her neck, bashful and blushing. "I know, I know. They just played on my every nerve." Then, she blinked. "Wait, hold on. How did you catch all of that, anyway?"
"I was watching it on television on and off throughout the day," Johanna explained. "By the time we got to shore, I saw you all struggling with them. As luck would have it, I arrived right on time."
"I'll say," Misty agreed. "I'd had enough of those creeps. They wouldn't listen to me, either. Remind me to fine-tune my fear tactics…"
"Speaking of your arrival, I've actually been meaning to ask," Brock interjected. "Not that we're not thrilled to see you, Johanna, but what brings you all the way to Kanto?"
"Oh, I was invited to fulfill a favor to a friend at the Grand Festival," Johanna said, waving a hand. "It's nothing all that glamorous, really."
Brock and Misty exchanged a glance, and even Ash looked mildly suspicious. But the outlier, astoundingly, was Dawn, who looked none the wiser. "Well, at least you'll get to see me compete again!" She grinned, satisfied with the turn of events. "Oh, but Mom! There's something I've been dying to tell you about!" She beamed, standing up from her seat. She took Ash's hand, pulling him up with her. "I want you to know that Ash and I are dating!"
Ash struggled to choke down what he'd been eating, but he flashed a peace sign along with a muffled hum of proud affirmation.
Johanna blinked. "Honey, I saw you announce that on TV."
"W-what!?" Dawn balked. "Oh, come on…! How come every time we try to tell somebody, something's already beat us to the punch!?" She pouted, folding her arms. "It's supposed to be a dramatic reveal."
"Maybe next time we have somethin' to say, we won't sit on it for a whole month," Ash said dryly.
"Or you could try being a little more subtle," Misty interjected. "But I won't hold my breath. The two of you were as subtle as a Gyarados about the whole thing, even beforehand."
"Honestly, I was 50/50 on it," Brock admitted.
"...How far back." Ash squinted.
"Back in Sinnoh, give or take."
Ash dragged a palm across his forehead, groaning. "Agh… Well, you know what!? Of course it's obvious!"
"Yeah!" Dawn hooked her arm in Ash's. "We're just that great a match!"
"Well, from what I've seen of you both, I'll definitely take your word for it," Johanna chuckled. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter, Ash."
"Aw, c'mon…" Ash rubbed his neck, suddenly feeling sheepish. "It's just my job, y'know?
"All the same." With that, the elder Coordinator got out of her seat, leaving the paid tab on the table. "I couldn't have hoped for someone better to help her push her limits and grow."
"Well, that's what's important to us." Ash grinned, despite his embarrassment. "Aw, hell," he laughed, getting up to open his arms to Johanna. They embraced, and she affectionately ruffled his hat atop his head. "Thanks for raising Dawn to be so awesome."
"It was all I could do to prepare her to leave the nest." Johanna gave a heartfelt smile as she pulled back from Ash. "I think it's about time that I get going, though. As you can imagine, I'm a bit winded from a long day of travel. I'm not exactly your age, anymore." She turned to the group. "Brock, Misty. You have my gratitude for watching her, too."
"It was our pleasure!" Brock grinned.
"Someone's gotta keep the goof troop in line," Misty teased.
Dawn smiled, wiping a stray tear from her eyes. "Catch you later, Mom!"
"Yes, Dear. But first, could I speak to you for a minute? Just us?"
Dawn blinked, but nodded. "Uh, yeah! Sure." As the group waved off Johanna, Dawn followed her off of the restaurant's deck, out to one of Vermilion's many streets. The setting sun cast stark shadows past mother and daughter alike, bathing the city in orange. They stood opposite of one another; Dawn waiting expectantly for Johanna to speak.
"I just wanted to check on you, Dawn," Johanna admitted. Her ordinarily cool countenance cracked a little. The glassiness in her eyes was evident. "And I wanted to apologize for not being here, during that turbulence. I know it's my habit to be hands-off, but…"
"Mom… It's okay. I turned out alright. No need to worry!" Dawn protested.
"Dear, you know that's when I worry the most."
"Yeah. Right." The girl smiled sadly. She should've seen that coming. "If it makes you feel better, there wasn't much I could do. I could barely think or read, let alone keep company at the time."
"You're not very good at assuaging a parent's worries, dear." Johanna chuckled dryly. It was a little pained, perhaps. Dawn often forgot that her mother was human and vulnerable too, after all. "But I am very proud of you for doing everything that you did, and standing strong."
"I am strong," Dawn asserted, as she closed a fist. "I'm much stronger now. Too strong to be brought down by anything, from inside or out. Whether it's being there for Ash, or being a Coordinator… I really feel like I've grown. And I mean that, this time. Last year, there's no way I would've been able to take all of this on. But my friends and my Pokémon changed that!"
"An ounce of humility from you is worth its weight in gold," Johanna replied, wiping her eyes. "And it makes me more confident that you've grown. I look forward to seeing just how strong you are, at the Grand Festival." She pulled Dawn into a tight embrace, which she returned.
Johanna was always a bit of a strict parent, averse to coddling. Dawn felt her warmth growing up as she did in that moment, but as always, she let go to give her daughter room to grow. With a loving farewell, she turned her back to Dawn and went her own way. Her shadowed silhouette retreated until it turned a corner, leaving Dawn alone.
Before the Coordinator was the setting, binding sun, making her squint. Her future was bright; perhaps a bit intimidating and overbearing. It was hard to see exactly where she'd end up.
"Pol…?" Empoleon squawked questioningly. He approached Dawn, standing by her side. His cerulean eyes met her at level, begging the question without a word needing to be spoken.
"No need to worry, Empoleon," she said. "And I really mean that. I don't know exactly what's going to happen at the Grand Festival… or what exactly Mom's going to think." She reached for her starter's wing, holding its cool, sturdy steel between her fingers. "But one thing's for sure."
A late day breeze swept through the streets, nudging her long locks abound. Empoleon's polished metal gleamed golden; almost too brilliant for her to take in. She smiled, narrowed her eyes and extended a hand, closing it within the bright confines of the setting sun.
"With you and me… The world is our oyster!"