New Beginning (Pearlshipping-AshxDawn)

Chapter Twenty-four

Ash and Dawn were currently eating breakfast. Dawn had eaten two pancakes and some sausage links, which was more than she had been eating in the last few days. It seemed that the talk from the night before had helped lift her spirits and allowed her appetite to start returning.

The TV was playing in the background, which showed Queen Salvia. As they ate, they watched to see what she was going to say, since she was addressing the nation.

"Good morning, citizens of Sinnoh. I wish that I could say that the following news will be one of joyous occasion, a cause for celebration. But alas, it is not. The news that I am about to share will be saddening and terrifying. But this is something that has to be known." Salvia started.

"As many of you know, there were kidnappings of people and Pokemon alike across our region and throughout the world over the past several months. The perpetrators of these actions have finally all been caught by the police and the world is now safe. The ones behind these evil actions were members of a new Team Rocket, who had plans to cause destruction and devastation if their plans succeeded, but they did not.

"These plans that Team Rocket planned to enact were to take over the world. They created a machine that would drain the kidnapped humans and Pokemon alike of their Aura. Once they were drained of this Aura, their bodies were cremated, being reduced to ashes. Team Rocket planned to use this machine to make their Pokemon unstoppable by infusing them with Aura and use them to take over the world, as they believed their actions in doing so would make the world a better place."

Salvia began to list off the names of those who had been kidnapped and killed. Hearing Trey's name caused Ash and Dawn both to feel sick to their stomachs. It was still hard to grasp the fact that a boy they had known had been killed by Team Rocket, a boy that was their children's friend.

"Even my own family suffered from Team Rocket. An innocent woman was twisted to do their bidding and now is facing charges because she was willing in some ways, but her will was also twisted. She helped to capture my cousin and her children before helping Team Rocket lure the husband of my cousin to their hideout. But thanks to this, the Elite Four and police were able to find out where Team Rocket was and their plans were stopped. But now, the children of my cousin are fighting for their lives because of poison that they were given while they were held captive.

"We have all suffered because of this tragedy, we have all lost someone or something that we cherish, but Team Rocket has been captured and their plans have been stopped. Everyone is now safe. To those of you who lost loved ones, I am deeply sorry and I offer to help in any way possible. May Arceus be with you all through this difficult time."

The TV then cut to a commercial.

Dawn sat in the hospital room with the kids. Ash had once again given some of his Aura to the kids and Johanna before he had to leave. When they had arrived earlier in the day, the doctor had informed them that their vital signs were stronger than they had been yesterday.

Dawn was looking out the window of the room when she heard movement. Turning, she saw that Julia shifted slightly and weakly mumbled, "Mommy..." before she went still again.

Dawn stared at her daughter in shock. This was the first sign of life that either of the kids had shown since being admitted to the hospital! Dawn smiled, overcome with joy. This was a sign that her little girl was still alive and seemed to be recovering. There was still hope!

She walked over to her daughter's bed and gently grabbed her hand, whispering, "Mommy's here, sweetie."

A few days later, Ash and Dawn were once again walking into the hospital, having just gotten back from going home for lunch. When Dawn had told Ash of Julia's small movement, he had hugged her tightly as she broke down into tears and he had whispered that their kids were true fighters and the hope was there.