Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dawn yawned as she woke up, stretching her good arm high above her and shaking her head. Her broken arm was in a cast and would be for a few more weeks. She was thinking about making a t-shirt: ‘I Saved the World and All I Got was a Broken Arm!’

Okay, maybe that was a little wordy. 

It was a work in progress. 

Her bed beneath her was so comfortable that she almost called the whole thing off just to sleep for an extra few minutes. Eventually, though, Dawn managed to throw herself off her bed and go through her normal morning routine - showering, brushing her hair, brushing her teeth - and put on the outfit her mom had laid out for her last night. Dawn was well old enough to choose her own clothes, but she was also not one to turn down a new outfit. A cream sweater, a navy skirt, and a new yellow beanie. It was different than what she usually wore, but new was nice sometimes. Dawn fixed her hair in the mirror for a little too long - she was going to be flying, so it'd get messed up anyway - and then skipped downstairs, where the sounds and smell of breakfast welcomed her.

All of Dawn's pokemon were already awake well before her, as they usually were, and crowded around the table as Johanna prepared breakfast. Johanna was almost impossible to see past the hoard.

“Gooood morning!” Dawn greeted. Johanna turned around, smiling. 

“Good morning to you too! Are you all packed up?” 

“Of course I am. Though, I did need to keep two little mischief-makers from making too much trouble.” Dawn pulled Growlithe and Zorua’s pokeballs from her pockets, where she had been forced to keep them for the night. She released them now, and Zorua sniffed a little, clearly upset. Growlithe had already forgiven Dawn, sniffling and yipping at her for pets. Dawn bent down, scratching Growlithe's head and then offering a pet to Zorua. “Listen, I’m sorry! I just don’t have time to refold everything if you went making a nest in my suitcase again.” 

Zorua sniffed again, but after regarding Dawn’s hand for a moment ducked under and let herself receive a few skritches before going to the food bowls. 

“And you’re sure you want to go?” Johanna asked. Dawn let out a little laugh. 

“Yes! I am!” 

“Okay, okay, I know, you’re all grown up, but it’s my job to worry about you.” Johanna put her hands up defensively. Which, of course, left her open for a surprise hug. Or as much of a hug as Dawn could give, with her arm in a cast. 

Johanna finished making breakfast and Dawn ate her omelette quickly and with gusto. 

“I’ve also packed you a lunch and some miscellaneous snacks, in case you get hungry. And you’ll make sure to call often, right? And no wormholes!” Johanna wagged her finger at Dawn and Dawn smiled. 

“No wormholes, I promise!” Dawn stuck out her pinky finger and locked it with her mom’s, promise forged. “And you better call too! I want to hear all about what you and Mary are doing.” 

After breakfast, a final check was made to make sure both Dawn and Johanna had everything they needed. Pokemon were replaced into their pokeballs, with the exception of Honchkrow and Sweety, Johanna’s little starly who knew only growl, tackle, and fly at the moment. Sweety sat on Johanna’s shoulder, where she had liked to sit since being caught. Dawn really couldn’t wait for that to become a major issue after Sweety evolved. 

Outside, the sun was rising and Dawn stretched a bit more, preparing herself for the flight to the League. 

“Morning, Dawn!” 

Just as Dawn and Johanna were leaving their home, across the way four people were exiting Barry’s house. Barry was at the head of the group, waving at them, but he was quickly followed by his mom, his dad, and Ingo. 

Emmet and Ingo’s sudden appearance had been surprising, to say the least. Dawn had been sitting outside of her house, fresh cast on her arm and trying to get the events to settle in her bones, when in a flash of light the two had appeared in the middle of Little Root. At Mary’s insistence, Ingo had continued to stay with her and Barry for a week while Emmet went back to the League for the time being. A week was enough of a break though. In fact, it was almost too much of a break, dull and slow days passing like molasses. It was time for change.

Ingo's most recent addition to his team, the little sneasel he'd had with him in Hisui, ran out after him, climbing up his pant leg and into his coat.

“Morning Barry!” Dawn waved at them, running to meet them halfway between the houses. “And morning Mary and Palmer and Ingo!” 

“Good morning,” Palmer yawned, looking tired but giving a wave anyway. 

“You ready?” Barry asked, lugging a suitcase behind him. Dawn patted her own and nodded. 

“You know I am! I’m ready for anything.” 

“Anything? Really? Even… a surprise attack?!” 

Barry sprang backwards as he sent out a pokeball, Torterra taking to the field. Luckily, Dawn was just as light on her feet, jumping and sending out Typhlosion, who let out a burst of fire that forced Torterra back. 

“Aw, I liked it better when you didn’t have a fire-type on your team,” Barry complained. Palmer chuckled and ruffled his hair. 

“Alright, enough from the both of you! We’ve all got places to be.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Dawn nodded, both her and Barry returning their pokemon. 

“Okay. Be safe, alright!” Mary pulled Barry into a hug and kissed his forehead, and before Dawn could poke fun at him for it, Dawn was pulled into her own embrace from Johanna. 

“You too! You had better be safe!” 

“I promise, I promise!” 

“And when you get back, you may just have to fight your own mother for the Champion,” Johanna only half-joked, petting Sweety’s feathers. 

“If not Johanna, then Volkner,” Palmer added. Dawn smiled. 

“I can’t wait for the challenge.” 

“And you,” Mary turned to Ingo, “You had better keep that coat in one piece; I’m not going to be able to mend it again, unless you’re willing to make the long trip back to Sinnoh.” 

“I’ll take good care of it. Thank you for your hospitality, Mary.” Ingo reached up to tilt a hat he didn’t have, and then awkwardly aborted the gesture to give a stiff bow. Mary rolled her eyes and pulled him into a hug. The little sneasel leapt out of Ingo's coat and nuzzled at Mary, getting the woman to giggle, and she gave the pokemon a little peck on her head. "Lady Irida," Ingo addressed the pokemon, holding his hand out, "It is time for our train to leave the station." Irida mewled petulantly but jumped into Ingo's awaiting hand and then was placed back into the coat.

With that settled, Johanna and Mary stepped back as the trainers all released their flying pokemon. Dawn already had her honchkrow out, but he was joined by Barry’s staraptor, Palmer’s dragonite, and finally Ingo’s lunala. Polaris dwarfed the rest of them easily. Polaris encased all of the various bags of luggage in their psychic energy and lifted them up; having a legendary like them around was certainly useful. 

As they took off, Dawn looked behind her to her mom and Mary. They waved for a bit, but Dawn was able to see the two of them finally turning away and heading towards the road out of their sleepy little town, towards Sandgem Town. Dawn really did hope her mom would tell her all about her pokemon journey. It had been many years since Johanna had been on one. Dawn was glad her mom was getting to do something outside of the house, and with a friend by her side, just like Dawn had had. 

The group of four soared over Sinnoh, and Dawn let herself close her eyes, the wind whipping her hair back. No place would be like home. Shortly before they reached the League, Palmer broke off from their group, flying down towards Sunnyshore City. He’d been dropping in often over the past week to train with Volkner. His comment may have been made to join in jest with Johanna, but Dawn also wouldn’t be too terribly surprised if she did return to find Volkner had managed to defeat the elite four and then wanted the mantle that came with it. 

The remaining trio landed outside of the League. Over the last week, the news and paparazzi and journalists - really all names for more or less the same thing, in Dawn’s experience - had steadily slowed down. While there were a few some ways away, Dawn didn’t pay them any mind, simply pocketing Honchkrow and picking up her luggage. 

There was no need to go into some big meeting room or anything, not for what they were doing today. The lobby of the League worked as well as anywhere. The people they had come to meet up with were already waiting for them. Cynthia was talking with Elesa and Skyla, while Drayden, Emmet, and Professor Rowan were deep in conversation. Finally, Lucas was with Anabel and Looker, holding a Beast Ball and asking some kind of question. 

“Dawn, Barry!” Lucas looked up as they entered, grinning and handing the Beast Ball back to Anabel to run over to them. “I was afraid I wouldn’t get to see you guys before I left!” 

“Like I would miss seeing you off!” Barry snorted, wrapping his friend in a hug. 

“You had to be roused by being dragged out of your bed this morning,” Ingo reminded him. 

“And then I was totally ready to come see you,” Barry waved off the comment. 

“I am glad to see you again as well, Dawn. We really can’t thank you enough for your help; Both Interpol, and Looker and I personally,” Anabel said, she and Looker following after Lucas. 

“I just did what had to be done,” Dawn shrugged with her stock answer. She’d heard more or less the same thing many many times in her life; the words lost some of their strength at some point. Still, she was glad that Looker and Anabel had come and provided their insight, and that they recognized and appreciated what Dawn had gone through. 

“Mr. Ingo, Anabel and I will also be keeping in touch with you. However, you don’t need to worry about Interpol interfering with you living a full life,” Looker promised him.

“They had better not.” Emmet stalked over, folding his arms. 

"It wasn't easy to convince Interpol," Anabel grimaced.

“Ingo is still a Faller, and having a lunala in his hands makes him even more of a target for future Ultra Beast attacks. However, with the legendaries in Unova, hopefully that will not be too much of a risk. Additionally, considering Ingo has a lunala, while Ingo is at risk, Lunala provides a sort of safety for Ingo; a way he can return should he Fall again and a means to deal with Ultra Beasts,” Looker said. It was the explanation given before, but it was still a comforting one. Would it be possible for Dawn to get a cosmog of her own? Just for safety reasons. Also they were really cute.

“I would love to stay longer, but if we are to make our first stop, we need to get going,” Anabel advised, glancing at her watch. 

“Right, of course!” Looker nodded, walking out the way that Dawn, Barry, and Ingo had just come from. 

“Alright,” Professor Rowan folded his arms, looking down at Lucas. “Learn as much as you can. Professor Kukui is expecting you; he’s happy to have an extra pair of hands around, but you’d better not let him steal you from me.” 

“Don’t worry, I promise I’ll be back.” Lucas grinned. 

He gave one last hug to Dawn, Barry, and Professor Rowan before running after Anabel and Looker. 

Lucas had apparently come to the decision to further study Ultra Beasts somewhere in the middle of all the chaos of the past few weeks. Dawn had to admit, she’d feel safer with an expert who was always in Sinnoh, who knew both Sinnoh and Ultra Beasts.

Dawn had heard what had happened during the ‘final strike’ of the Ultra Beasts second hand. There had been an outbreak like in Hisui, and all hands were on deck. Really, though, the Ultra Beasts hadn’t stood a chance against all of Sinnoh; every trainer stood up against the strange foes in battle. When the wormholes had torn open - which Dawn knew was due to Arceus but which Sinnoh had no warning for - there had been a few incidences of people falling in, just as Dawn had feared. However, it seemed that the missing people were inexplicably returned to their homes the next morning. She was relieved that Arceus had kept their promise. 

Dawn had awoken that morning at Spear Pillar. 

Her arm was broken, Cyrus was nowhere to be seen, and the blue and clear sky lay above her, unblemished. 

Alone, she had silently cried, utterly overwhelmed, until Cynthia found her.

“Well,” Skyla stretched her arms far over her head and rolled out her neck, to the sound of some satisfying cracks, “That seems as good a cue as any! I’ll do a final check of the plane. With so many of us, we’ll probably need to make a stop or two for extra fuel. And everybody, go to the bathroom before we leave!” She wagged a finger at the remaining crew in the lobby before walking to the bay her plane was being kept in.

“About time,” Drayden sighed, folding his arms, “It’ll be a relief to get my boys back home again.” 

“It will be a relief to have you not causing trouble in another region,” Emmet grinned mischievously. Drayden cuffed him on the back of the head lightly. 

“I was worried about you boys!” 

“Is Uncle Drayden always such a worrier?” Ingo asked, humor sparking in his eye. 

“Yes, he is. Especially when he does not have Iris to worry over,” Emmet rolled his eyes. 

“I worry just fine when I am watching over such reckless kids!” Drayden threw his hands up into the air. 

“Iris?” Ingo questioned. 

“Our current Champion. You’ll meet her when we get to Unova. She’s about Dawn’s age, actually,” Elesa explained.

Dawn watched the four chatting. The difference in the Unovans was stark now that Emmet and Ingo were returned, and the various threats were gone. The heavy cloud that had hung over them had lifted. Now, they laughed and joked, teased each other as family was want to do. Even the gruff and intimidating Drayden had a brightness to his eyes that had been lacking since their first impromptu battle together against the Stakataka.

“And you’re sure?” 

Dawn jumped a bit in surprise, having been paying so much attention to the Unovans she hadn’t noticed Cynthia walking up behind her. Cynthia had her hands behind her back, looking at the Unovans as well, but glancing at Dawn from the corner of her eyes.

Cynthia had been the one to find Dawn at Spear Pillar. She had been the one to hold Dawn as she had sobbed with relief and anger and fear, and such loneliness it had felt like she was never going to be the same. While Dawn certainly felt better, she still knew she was not the same. She had only told Cynthia about seeing Arceus. Cynthia had told her about how Cyrus had gotten out. Dawn hadn't even been able to hold it against Cynthia. The question of where Cyrus was had sat unasked and unanswered between the two of them.

“About going to Unova? Well, it’d just be embarrassing to turn around now,” Dawn smiled, “But yeah, I think I’m ready for something new, something fun.” Something that was her choice. She loved Sinnoh and Hisui, but… it would be nice to step away from it, for just a minute. At least it wasn’t running away to a snowy mountain without telling anyone, though it was still vanishing off to another region. Maybe Dawn would have to figure out how to tell Blue she was taking his advice.

“Oh, I know you’re going through with that. But are you sure you want to step down from Champion?” 

“Yes. I’m sure.”

The answer had come easy. Perhaps, Dawn had known for a long time. 

Being champion was every kid’s dream, and then she’d beat the Elite Four and Cynthia. The title was offered to her, as well as the position. How could she not take it? 

But she’d been young. She was still young. 

“But I’ll be back! And I’m still a Champion, even if ’m not The Champion,” Dawn pointed to Cynthia. Cynthia chuckled. 

“Yes, I guess I’ll have to put up a good fight when you’re ready to take it back. How long do you think you’re going to be there?”

Dawn shrugged. 

“Not sure just yet. Barry and I are planning to do the Gym circuit, take on the Elite Four. I also hear there’s something, oh, what’s it called? The Battle Subway?” 

Cynthia laughed at that. 

“Okay okay. I’ll probably stop by sometime myself. Before you go, I do have something of a little gift. It’s not from me, though I’m glad to act as the deliverer.” Cynthia reached into her pocket and pulled something out. “I visited my grandma yesterday; she was, of course, very interested to hear about everything that’s been happening. And apparently, she’s been holding onto something for a long time now, passed down my familiy, to get it to the right person.” 

Cynthia passed the item over to Dawn. 

It was an old and yellowed picture. It had at some point been placed into protective clear plastic. Staring at Dawn from the picture was a face a decade older than when she’d last seen it, but she recognized it anyway.

Rei smiled at Dawn, dressed in a white coat and plain kimono, wearing Ingo’s hat on his head. Behind him stood a large arcanine. Underneath the photo was a date, and the words ‘Professor Rei Arcanine Akari’. Dawn smiled at the name, flipping it over.

Akari, I am doing fine. I await your next letter. 

“My next letter?” Dawn repeated. 

“So it says.”

“Huh. Hey, Ingo, look at this!” Dawn held up the picture, flagging over Ingo. Ingo took the picture, reading it over. 

“Letter…” he repeated. “It is reassuring to see Rei well.” 

“Yeah.” Dawn looked down at the smile of her friend again. She already missed him. 

“Perhaps Celebi…” Ingo held his chin in his hand, deep in thought. 

“Alright!” Before Ingo could say anymore, Skyla had returned. “We’re all good to go!” 

Dawn gently placed the picture in her bag. 

“Well,” Dawn smiled at Ingo, “Let’s go.”