Chapter 27: Dawn

Dawn stepped into the town's limits, studying the quaint layout of Verdanturf. It looked like a steadily growing town. Many buildings were only half completed on the outskirts and construction zones seemed to be everywhere. A small mountain range nestled the town against its northern side. The town would soon be a popular city if the pace of growth continued.

Curious, Dawn looked at the welcome sign that read:

Verdanturf Town

Home of the Verdanturf Contest Hall and Battle Tent

Gateway to Rusturf Tunnel

"Piplup." Dawn hugged Piplup against her chest. "They have a Contest Hall here!"

"Pip-lup!" Piplup cheered, wriggling in her arms.

Excitement made her wildly peek above the sign, searching for the large ornate Contest building that felt like a home away from home. Not spotting it, she quickly jogged into town.

"Maybe we can stop in before getting supplies," Dawn murmured, planning it out in her head. It'd been such a long time since she'd been anywhere near a Contest.

She then thought of her promise to be back to camp by sunset and winced as if Paul's disapproving eyes were upon her.

Dawn shook her head, ridding herself of the guilt and pressed onward. She had to go to the Contest Hall, just for a quick look. She would be back in time.

The town was busy. People were walking to work, just beginning their day. Most of the walkers stopped by little shops to say good morning to their friends and neighbors. Dawn smiled at the passersby, enjoying that everyone seemed to know each other.

She walked slowly, taking her time to look around. Still, the Contest Hall was nowhere in sight and Dawn began to grow impatient and worried that if she took too much longer, she wouldn't be able to visit the Contest Hall. Right when she was about to give up on finding the building by herself, she heard a sing-song voice coming from right inside an open flower shop door, "Young lady."

Dawn popped her head inside and saw the woman who had called her. She seemed to be about sixty years old. Dawn said hesitantly, "Yes, ma'am?"

"You seem to be lost. Can I help you?" She smiled at Dawn as she swept up dead leaves from her flowers into a small pan, which her Skitty held in place, batting at the ones her owner had missed with her tiny paws.

"Oh. I'm looking for the Contest Hall. I've never been to this town before. I didn't expect it to be so big," Dawn answered.

The woman nodded in understanding. "It's grown the past decade or so. It used to be a simple town. A good place to settle down for families. The people are still friendly, at least. If only all the tourists were as kind hearted as you, I'd have nothing bad to say about living here."

"Oh, well thank you." Dawn blushed a little. "How long have you run this shop? It's beautiful in here."

Piplup walked over to some roses and smelled them. The aroma wasn't too overpowering considering how many flowers there were. They were in hanging pots, in vases, buckets full of water, on shelves- almost every inch of the place was covered in flowers. Ripe berries were in baskets on the counter as well. It was a perfect little shop; one Dawn wouldn't have minded staying in all day.

"It's been in my family for three generations. I've been helping water and grow these flowers ever since I was a young blossom." The owner delicately brushed a petal of a lily. "We've been busier ever since the Contest Hall opened since it's tradition to keep it full of flowers and give the Coordinators flowers for good luck."

"That's nice to hear," Dawn said, starting to get fidgety.

The shop owner noticed. "Something bothering you, dear?"

"Oh, it's just I promised my friend I'd be back at a certain time and I still need to go shopping for supplies and see the Contest Hall. It's my dream to be a Top Coordinator, so I'm really excited to see it." 

"That's a mighty big dream. Does your friend know how important it is to you?" Her smile crinkled a bit.

"Yes, he knows. He's been helping me and my Pokemon. He's a Trainer himself, though he doesn't like Contests."

"He sounds very interesting." She chuckled. "I say you go sign up for a Contest and force him to come and watch you bloom just like a flower. Who would be able to deny your beauty and strength then?"

Dawn's mouth opened a little in surprise. "Ok. I'll keep that suggestion in mind."

"The Contest Hall is north a block. Just turn left at the end and you're there." The shop owner took her broom behind the counter and looked at a notebook, dismissing Dawn.

"Thank you." Dawn walked out of the store, the bells chiming as she started north. Piplup scurried after her. Dawn picked him up, worry creasing her forehead as the lady's words continued to swirl in her thoughts. What had she meant?

Piplup chirped loudly, excited, and Dawn smiled, focusing on the excitement at hand.

"This is great, Piplup. I feel lucky." Dawn almost trembled, giddy. "Maybe there will even be a Contest today and we'll get to see it!"

"P-lup?" Piplup craned his neck to stare, surprised, at his Trainer who would rather watch a Contest than compete in one.

"Oh, well, I just don't feel like we're ready to be in one ourselves." Dawn continued walking, following the lady's instructions up the rest of the block. "We still need to brush up on our new moves and besides, I promised Paul we'd be back before sundown."

Piplup's expression became moody and he crossed his flippers, beak held high, refusing to look at Dawn.

"I know you don't like him much." Dawn grimaced. "But he's inspiring me. Don't you feel like you can just do anything when you watch him?"

Piplup shot Dawn another stunned look before narrowing his eyes in accusal. Dawn blushed again, but said nothing more until they turned the corner. She gasped. "There it is!"

A grand building sat in a large square, surrounded by perfectly manicured fields of flowers. The Contest Hall almost looked like a blooming flower itself- large pieces of metal curving outwards from the Hall like petals. Dawn wondered if the family owned flower shop had anything to do with the design.

"Let's go!" Dawn ran to the front doors, stepping inside to feel the air conditioner blow a stream of cool air in her face. She sighed in contentment, feeling like she'd stepped into heaven not only because of her dream to be the Top Coordinator, but because it'd been such a long time since she'd experienced the comforts of civilization.

Piplup jumped out of Dawn's arms to take a look around for himself. He pointed a flipper to the front desk, which stood ten feet from the doors. They hurried over and found a woman with long, flowing red hair at the desk, typing away on a computer. Dawn place Piplup on the counter so he could see what was going on.

"Excuse me."

The woman looked up. "Hello. Are you here to register for Saturday's Contest?"

"Um, no." Dawn's brow furrowed. Should she enter the Contest on Saturday? It was three days away. She'd been training hard and she was close by. Plus, maybe Paul would come. She blurted out, "Actually, yes. I would like to compete."

Nodding, the woman stood up. "It you have your Hoenn Contest Pass, it'll be the easiest way to register. No paperwork required."

Dawn silently reached into her bag and pulled out her Contest Pass, handing it over. The receptionist took it and slid it into a port on the computer. Dawn's picture flashed on the screen along with a green check mark.

"All done." The woman handed back the Contest Pass. "The Contest starts at 3:00 in the afternoon. Make sure you're here at least an hour early to prepare."

"Ok, I will be. Thank you." Dawn gave a slight bow as Piplup smiled and patted his chest proudly. Dawn began walking away before turning around and exclaiming, "Oh! Ma'am... is it ok if I just look around? I won't cause any trouble."

"Sure," the receptionist replied. "Go anywhere you want except backstage."

"Thanks."

Dawn spent a good half hour leisurely walking through the galleries of photos of past winners, taking in the Contest Hall archives of the founder and the history, and daydreaming of the Contest on Saturday that she felt sure she would win.

"Isn't it great to finally be in the region where Contests were created, Piplup?" Dawn sighed after watching a short video presentation of last week's winner's highlights.

"P-lup!" Piplup exclaimed.

Piplup led the way, always pointing ahead, eager to explore the entire place. They soon made their way to the actual stadium-like main room where the Contest would take place. Rows and rows of seats were surrounding the rectangular stage and Dawn thought happily of the many victories she had had with her Pokemon and the roar from the crowd as she performed, everyone cheering her name-

"Dawn?" a rough, yet familiar voice questioned.

Dawn looked to her left to see Zoey, one of her best friends and rivals, sitting in the stands.

"Zoey!" Dawn ran to her. Zoey stood up and accepted Dawn's hug, grinning ear to ear. "I didn't know you were in Hoenn."

Dawn studied Zoey. She'd grown taller since she'd last seen her. Still, the air of confidence and toughness was plain in her large smile. She had sunglasses perched in her flaming red hair, which was cut short, and she wore her usual orange vest that reminded Dawn of camping.

Zoey put her hands on her hips. "Well, I knew you were here. Kenny told me you ran off."

"Ran off?" Dawn repeated. "I mean, I never agreed to travel with him or anything."

Dawn felt a tinge of annoyance at the boy in question. Kenny was like a Growlithe, always trying to win her attention. It got very irritating after time and that's one reason she shook him off as quickly as she could after getting to Hoenn.

"Well, he got on my nerves. He wouldn't take any of my hints to leave me alone." Dawn replied, trying to hide the dislike she felt, "Besides, he still won't leave me alone. He keeps calling a couple times a day. Not that I pick up."

Dawn was instantly reminded of how many times Paul had flat out told her to leave him alone, that he didn't want her around. She smiled at the irony.

"I get what you mean. He seemed a little attached to you and I could tell by the look on your face the last time I saw you two together that you weren't interested." Zoey nodded. "Hey, would you like to get some lunch and catch up? I'd love to hear about what you've been up to."

"Sure, sounds great," Dawn agreed. Piplup jumped into Zoey's arms in greeting and they walked out of the Contest Hall, glad to be in each other's company.

They chatted about Contests until arriving at the Pokemon Center, dropping off their Pokemon and going to the kitchen area to wrangle up a meal.

"So you really are going to compete on Saturday, right?" Zoey asked, grabbing some fruit from a large bowl, placing it next to plate that held a gigantic hamburger.

"Well, I'm pretty sure," Dawn replied. "I just need to make sure I'm not busy."

Zoey laughed. "What would you be busy with?"

Dawn focused on getting all her food together and finding a table with Zoey, feeling very conscious of every movement she made and the fact that Zoey was staring at her. Deciding it was now or never, Dawn said, "I've been training with Paul."

Zoey, who had just picked up her fork, made a too vicious stab at a french fry on her plate, "Paul?" her tone was incredulous. "The Paul I met in-"

"Snowpoint, yes," Dawn finished, sighing.

"Why!?"

"Because he's training me to be a better Trainer," Dawn replied defiantly.

Zoey opened her mouth to retort, but Dawn cut her off, "I know you have a thing about people being Trainers and Coordinators, Zoey. I'm still going to be only a Coordinator, but he's helping me with battles, ok? You know that battles are super important in Contests too."

Zoey frowned. "Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"I thought you both hated each other." Zoey put her fork down, the information more appealing than food.

"I never said I hated him," Dawn retorted. "He's not that bad."

"And he likes you enough to let you travel with him? I thought he liked being alone."

"He lost a bet." Dawn smiled, remembering.

Zoey laughed despite her disapproval. "I would have liked to see his face when he lost. So when was this, a week ago?"

"More like a month ago..." Dawn trailed off as Zoey's mouth went wide open.

"A month?"

"That's what I said, Zoey." Dawn glared at the table, feeling annoyed.

"So you guys are training? That's it?" Zoey's tone was more accusing, failing to lack any understanding that Dawn had been expecting and wanting to hear from a friend.

"Of course that's it. He's trying to evolve his new Bagon and I'm trying to get stronger and come up with some new ideas for combinations. I have learned a lot, Paul's so..." Dawn trailed off again, unable to think of words to describe how Paul had helped her thus far.

"You like him," Zoey whispered, as if they were discussing something on the line of an assassination plan.

Dawn met her eyes. "I said I didn't hate him."

"It's more than that, though." Zoey peered at her friend. "You seem different. Less girly, that's for sure. Less optimistic. Quieter. I don't like it."

"Who said you have to like it, Zoey?" Dawn, unable to help herself as her eyes narrowed at her friend.

"You're becoming him, you know," Zoey observed. "Since when have you ever glared at me like that?"

Dawn took a deep breath, her eyes softened. "I'm sorry, Zoey, but this is a touchy subject. And I'm not becoming him."

As used to Paul as Dawn had become, she couldn't imagine becoming exactly like him. She was her own person, nobody else.

Zoey pursed her lips. "You're still into him."

"Zoey!"

"Fine." Zoey smiled reluctantly. "Let's eat and talk about Pokemon then."

Dawn sighed in relief and took a bite of her salad before asking Zoey how her Gallade was nowadays.

Hi, Readers! I just wanted to say thanks for reading and I hope you've enjoyed the story up to this point. Thanks to those of you who leave comments- they really do make my day!

This chapter is dedicated to RukiaKuchiki18 for her drawing of Dawn, which looks fantastic and I just HAD to add it to this chapter since it's all about Dawn.