Eventually, the battle was reaching the end. There were only a handful of Kricketune left still fighting.
But Piplup was not doing that well either. He was reaching his limit, and so was Starly. Both Pokémon looked like they were just trying to get through the last push.
"Piplup, keep going! [Bubble Beam]!" Dawn called out.
Piplup opened his mouth and fired a stream of bubbles, hitting the Kricketune directly and sending it rolling backward and knocking it out with the rest.
But then another Kricketune rushed toward them, raising its mandibles, but in that moment, Starly flew in and swiped Kricketune across the head, knocking it out too.
As Starly dragged the attention of the last few bugs, Piplup saw his chance and immediately fired out [Bubble Beam] everywhere.
The bubbles bounced along the cave walls, hitting the remaining bugs one after the other, popping as they got launched back, but that was about everything Piplup had left, and he fell to one knee, too exhausted to shoot another bubble.
By then, there was one left, and the final Kricketune swung its arms and rushed forward toward the exhausted Piplup, but Starly flew in and slashed it in the face with his small talons. Kricketune staggered and tried to swipe up to knock Starly out of the sky, but Starly managed to fly back, letting the bug only graze his chest feathers.
And even though Starly didn't have a lot of room to fly around in here, he flew up to the roof and pushed himself off the cave roof. Then he kicked downward, extending his wings and coating himself in Flying-type energy, going into a [Aerial Ace].
Starly flew down like a missile, slashing at Kricketune's chest with his wings and landing on the ground behind him. Kricketune tried to turn, but then the pain hit it all at once, and it fell over.
And as Kricketune fell to the ground, Starly began glowing, and he started growing. The feathers on his head grew into a little cowlick, and he evolved into a Staravia.
Immediately, as soon as they won, Dawn smiled and jumped for joy. She turned to Ash, and Ash saw it coming. He raised his hands, and Dawn gave him a double high five.
"We did it!" she said excitedly.
Meanwhile, over with Piplup and Staravia, they were out of breath. Then they turned, looked at each other, and gave each other a wing high five.
"We make a pretty good team." Dawn said, putting her hands on her hips, then looking away and giving Ash a cheeky smirk, "Although I still think my plan was better."
Ash blinked, "Your plan was literally 'follow the Pokémon into a dark hole.'"
"And it worked."
"Because I followed you."
Dawn smiled innocently, "Exactly, teamwork."
Ash stared at her, "That is the most Dawn answer ever."
Dawn grinned, "Thank you."
"I wasn't complimenting you."
"I accepted it anyway."
Ash sighed, but let out a snort anyway.
But then they heard the sounds of footsteps. It wasn't Pokémon steps; it sounded like boots on stone. They saw a light down the tunnel, and a figure slowly walked through the tunnel. It was a young man wearing glasses and carrying mining equipment.
"Hey! Is someone down here?" he called out, shining the light toward Ash and Dawn.
When Ash and Dawn got a better look, Ash finally noticed it was Roark, and he looked confused.
"What are you two doing down here?"
"Uh..." Dawn slowly pointed toward Piplup, "He walked in here."
"So your Pokémon walked into an abandoned mine tunnel, and you followed?" Roark asked, tilting his head.
"Yeah, pretty much."
The man rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, "Ahaha..." He looked embarrassed, "Okay, this one is probably on me. I probably should have put up a warning sign."
He adjusted his glasses, "My name's Roark. I'm the Gym Leader of Oreburgh City."
Dawn's eyes widened, "Wow, you're the Gym Leader?"
Roark nodded, "Yep! I'm Roark, the Rock-type Gym Leader!"
He looked around at the defeated Pokémon, "And it looks like you two had quite the battle."
Dawn smiled proudly, "Piplup and Staravia worked really hard."
Roark looked impressed, "That's pretty awesome." He looked around the cave, "Actually, now that I think about it, it makes sense."
Dawn tilted her head, "What does?"
Roark pointed toward the Kricketot and Kricketune, "This place isn't really a normal mining area. I made this place as a special project."
Dawn leaned forward curiously, "You made this?"
Roark nodded, "Yeah! I wanted to create a training ground where the people of Oreburgh could bring their Pokémon and train." He smiled, "There's not a lot of wild Pokémon around here for trainers to battle without traveling far. So I thought, why not make a place where they can?"
Ash looked around, "So these Pokémon are basically here for training?"
"Exactly!" Roark laughed, "That's probably why they attacked you."
Dawn blinked, "Wait, so they weren't trying to hurt us?"
"Nope!" Roark shook his head, "They probably thought you were trainers coming here to battle. Looks like they got a little too excited."
Ash looked around at the defeated swarm, "A little?"
Roark laughed, "Okay, maybe more than a little."
Dawn smiled awkwardly, "Yeah...I think they were excited."
Roark smiled, "But still, you two did great. I'm really impressed." But then he looked back down the tunnel, "Still, I think we should get you two out of here before you accidentally find another swarm."
Dawn froze, "Another swarm?"
Roark laughed, "I'm joking." He paused, "…Probably."
"ROARK!"
"Ehahaha! I'm kidding!"
Ash snorted as he leaned in, putting his hand over his mouth. He whispered, "I really don't think she can tell when you're joking."
"Starting to see that too," Roark said, putting a hand on his chin as he nodded.
Dawn crossed her arms, "I can too!"
Both Ash and Roark turned in unison and stared at her, making Dawn look away sheepishly and whistle.
Roark chuckled, "Alright, follow me. I'll get you guys out."
He gestured, and Ash and Dawn followed behind him after putting their Pokémon into their Poké Balls. Pikachu also jumped back into Ash's bag, looking around the walls as they went.
By the time they got out, it was around midday, and Roark immediately flinched under the light, covering his eyes.
"Whoa, it's so bright up here compared to the mines."
"How long have you been down there?" Ash asked.
"Uhhhhhh…." Roark started, but he didn't finish. He looked away and whistled, hoping Ash would drop the topic.
Thankfully, at that moment, the miner from before ran up to them and bowed apologetically to Ash and Dawn for leaving them. He greeted Roark appropriately, giving him a basic rundown on things.
Roark sighed, seeing he would have a lot of work to do. Then he turned over to Ash and Dawn.
"Well, I need to get back to overseeing everything, but you're both really strong. You guys wouldn't happen to be going through the Gym Challenge, would you?"
Dawn raised her hand and pointed at herself, "I'm not, but Ash and a few friends of ours are." Then she blinked and realized something, "Oh, that reminds me. Has anyone come to challenge you—"
"That's a bad way to describe it," she stopped herself halfway through.
Roark scratched the back of his head, "Yeah, I've gotten a few challenges. Unfortunately, since I am busy a lot of the time, most people that want to challenge me have to schedule it ahead of time."
"Okay, one is a blond guy who stomps around, wears a shirt with orange stripes, and the other looks like he's always tired and is constantly eating," Ash described.
"Hm, no, I don't think I've seen anyone that matches that description," Roark explained, tapping his chin, "But anyway, if you're challenging the Gym, I'd love to face you. Though I think my schedule is full for tomorrow. You might want to check the League website to check, though. I have a lot of work to do."
"Alright, I'll check. See you whenever we get the reservation for," Ash said as he was already pulling out his phone and checking.
Roark nodded and took a step back, "Alright, it was nice meeting you two. I look forward to our battle!" he said as he ran off to get back to the mines.
Meanwhile, Ash checked the website, and his eyebrow raised because, yeah, the schedule for tomorrow was full, and he saw Paul on the list, or more accurately, multiple times. It looked like he signed up for multiple slots just to be ready.
He also checked, and he did not see Barry or Lucas' names on the list. That made him wonder where they were and what they were doing since they left before Ash's group.
—
{Meanwhile}
Lucas was looking at his map. He looked at it for a few seconds before he lowered it.
"I think we're lost, Barry," he said as he was sitting on a branch with his Turtwig sitting on his head.
Barry was currently hanging upside down, tied up in a vine. Under him, the Luxray pack was circling around the tree they were in. On the branch the vine was tied to was his Chimchar, laughing and not helping.
Barry looked at Lucas, "You don't say."
Then he looked over to Chimchar, "Could you maybe help me?" Barry asked.
Chimchar laughed even harder.
"Okay, okay, I get it! Very funny!" Barry snapped, "Now get me down!"
Chimchar jumped onto the vine and started swinging on it, which only caused Barry to spin around upside down.
"STOP!"
Lucas covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
"This isn't funny!"
"I didn't say it was."
"You're laughing!"
"I'm trying not to."
"That's basically the same thing!"
Turtwig lifted his head from Lucas's hat and looked at Barry hanging from the tree.
"Turtwig."
"See?! Even Turtwig thinks you're being ridiculous."
Turtwig blinked, "Turt?"
Lucas paused, "…I think he was agreeing with me."
Barry groaned.
The Luxray pack below them growled and paced around the tree, their tails twitching with electricity.
As for how they got in this situation, that was a story for another time. This was just a very normal subplot.
—
{Back with Ash}
Ash shrugged, thinking they were probably fine. Even if they did get into a problem, Barry was their number-one knuckleheaded trainer that he knew. He was more curious about Paul. He wondered if he should find him to see how he's doing.
"You're thinking about something." Dawn's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Ash looked up, and Dawn was walking beside him with her hands behind her head, watching him.
"Paul."
Dawn's expression immediately changed, "Oh."
"Yeah."
"So..." Dawn began slowly, "Are you going to go find him?"
"I don't know," Ash admitted, "I was thinking about it."
Dawn shrugged, "Knowing him, he'll show up." Then she muttered something more to herself, "Even if he's rude, I thought we were friends, and he couldn't bother remembering my name."
Ash chuckled, "I guess that's true," Ash said, leaving the topic at that. He could see if he could find Paul tomorrow. Now that he thinks about it, he hasn't battled Paul yet, huh? But that's a problem for later.
"So," Ash said, stretching his arms behind his head as they walked down the street, "hotel?"
Dawn nodded, "Hotel."
"Sleepy Verity?"
"Definitely sleepy Verity."
Ash grinned, "Think she's still asleep?"
Dawn tapped her chin, "Considering how exhausted she was when we arrived? Absolutely."
Ash nodded seriously, "Good. Then we have the perfect opportunity."
Dawn immediately looked suspicious, "Opportunity for what?"
Ash turned toward her with a mischievous grin, "To mess with her."
Dawn's eyes lit up, "Oh." Dawn's polite smile slowly turned into a devious grin, "I approve."
"Excellent."
They continued walking side by side, both already thinking of ways to annoy their exhausted friend.
Dawn eventually looked over at Ash, "So, what are you thinking?"
"I don't know yet."
"That sounds like a terrible plan."
"That's because it is."
Dawn nodded approvingly, "Perfect."
Ash glanced at her, "You know, I think you're becoming a bad influence."
Dawn placed a hand against her chest, looking genuinely offended, "Me?"
"Yes, you."
"I am a perfectly respectable young lady," Dawn said, raising her nose, but even she couldn't keep a straight face.
"About as respectable as a Tauros in a tea shop," Ash muttered.
Dawn lightly punched his arm, "Shut up."
Ash laughed, "Ow. Such violence from a lady."
"I'll show you violence."
"Oh, I'm terrified."
Dawn narrowed her eyes, "You should be."
Ash grinned, "I'm not."
Eventually, they got to the large hotel, and Dawn led the way since she reserved the place. She led them to the very top and got to the suite, where they entered and moved quietly together.
"Okay, what's the plan?" Dawn whispered.
Ash thought for a moment, "First, we check if she's asleep."
"And then?"
"If she's awake, we pretend we weren't planning anything."
Dawn nodded, "Okay, okay…"
"If she's asleep…"
Dawn's eyes lit up, "We strike."
Ash grinned, "Exactly."
Dawn looked around before lowering her voice dramatically, "Operation: Annoy Verity."
Ash nodded seriously, "Operation: Annoy Verity is a go."
Ash slowly opened the door to Verity's room, and inside, Verity was completely passed out. She was sprawled across the bed. She didn't bother changing into pajamas, and her hair was completely messy. Piplup was sleeping beside her.
Ash covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing.
Dawn leaned over his shoulder. He immediately smiled.
"Oh my gosh."
Ash whispered, "Look at her."
Ash got closer and waved his hand over her face. No reaction.
Dawn whispered, "She's dead."
Ash nodded seriously, "Yep."
Dawn elbowed him, "Don't say that."
Ash whispered, "She's been asleep for so long that she has entered another plane of existence."
Dawn tried not to laugh, "Stop."
Ash slowly leaned closer to Verity, "Verity?"
No reaction, and that made the two trolls grin and rub their hands evilly.
"What's the plan?" Dawn asked.
Ash slowly reached into his hand and pulled out a bottle of whipped cream, "I was thinking the classic."
Dawn's eyes widened, and then a slow, mischievous smile spread across her face, "Oh, you're evil."
Ash grinned, "Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I accepted it anyway," Ash said, copying the exact way Dawn said it earlier.
Ash started as Dawn pulled a feather out of the feather pillows. Ash slowly put whipped cream on Verity's free hand and Piplup's flipper too. Then he stepped back, and Dawn approached with two feathers, one in each hand.
Then she tickled both of their noses. Both Verity and Piplup twitched, and then, as expected, their hands came up to scratch their noses, and they slapped the whipped cream right onto their faces.
Verity and Piplup immediately woke up.
"What the—" she said, still slightly disoriented. Then she felt the cream on her face and saw it was still on her hand. She looked over and saw that Piplup was also covered in it.
Then slowly, she turned and saw Ash and Dawn both cackling together.
"You two..." she muttered, "You two did this."
Ash smiled, looking not ashamed at all, "Technically, yes."
Dawn nodded, "But in our defense—"
"There is no defense!" Verity launched herself out of bed.
"Run!" Ash grabbed Dawn's hand and pulled her out behind him. Ash and Dawn immediately bolted out of the room.
Dawn was right behind him, laughing so hard she could barely keep herself from tripping, "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY DID IT!"
"You helped!"
"I KNOW!"
Behind them came the sound of Verity's furious footsteps, "GET BACK HERE!"
Ash and Dawn sprinted around the corner, still laughing as they raced through the enormous hotel suite. Dawn glanced back and nearly ran into Ash when he suddenly slowed down.
"Hey, careful!" Dawn laughed, grabbing his shoulder to steady herself.
Ash looked back, "I think we should split up."
"Alright!" Dawn said as she took the right side and Ash took the left, "May the best troll survive."
"Good luck."
Verity came charging around the corner a second later, whipped cream still smeared across her face. Then she immediately went down the left, going after Ash.
Ash was jogging through the hotel at a pace that was barely faster than walking. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Verity gaining on him.
He grinned, "Oh, she's coming."
Ash could have easily disappeared from sight in an instant if he actually tried. If he really didn't want to get caught, she would never catch him in a million years. But where is the fun in that?
"Come on, Verity!" Ash called over his shoulder, "You're gonna have to try harder than that!"
"SHUT UP!"
Ash laughed and picked up his pace just enough to stay ahead of her.
They raced through another hallway, around a corner, and into another massive open section of the suite.
Verity was getting closer.
Ash glanced back again, "Oh, you're actually catching me."
"FINALLY!" Verity pushed herself harder.
Ash could hear her footsteps getting closer and closer.
He smiled, "Almost!"
"Got you!" Verity suddenly lunged forward with everything she had.
Ash felt her arms wrap around his waist, but because she literally threw herself, they tumbled onto the carpet.
Ash flipped himself and landed on his back while Verity landed on top of him.
Verity was breathing heavily, her hair completely disheveled from the chase. She had one hand planted against Ash's chest while another grabbed one of the sides of his jacket.
Ash, meanwhile, looked completely calm. He stared up at her, and he got his signature smile.
"Well, if you wanted a hug, you could've just asked."
Verity blinked, "...What?"
Ash raised an eyebrow, "You didn't have to tackle me."
Verity stared at him, then she slowly looked down, and then she realized exactly how they were positioned. Her face immediately turned bright red, realizing the position they were in.
Ash's grin widened, "Comfortable?"
Verity's eyes twitched, "Don't."
"I mean, you went through a lot of trouble to get here."
"Ash."
"You could've just said you missed me."
"I SWEAR—!"
Ash laughed at her.
Verity immediately scrambled off him and stood up, covering her face with both hands, "It's impossible to embarrass you!"
Ash casually sat up and brushed himself off, "Now you're learning~"
Verity pointed angrily at him, "Mark my words, Ash! I am going to get you back for this!"
Ash stood up and gave her a playful grin, "You'll die trying~"
Verity's eye twitched, "I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"I absolutely do!"
Ash walked past her, patting her lightly on the head as he went, "Sure you do."
Verity stood there for a moment, completely stunned. Then she heard a snicker. Slowly, she turned and saw Dawn peeking from behind the wall.
She got a smirk, "You, however, Dawn, are very embarrassable."
Dawn yelped and fled, while Verity ran after her, raising her arms.
Meanwhile, Piplup was still groggy as he peeked his head out of the room, with cream still on his face. Then Ash's Piplup waddled out from Ash's bag and walked up to him. She raised her little flipper and scooped the whipped cream off his face, then happily licked it up.
And if Dawn's Piplup wasn't tired, he would be making another heartbroken expression, but thankfully for everyone else, he was getting a well-deserved sleep.