Trying To Move On

Chapter 3

Ash's POV

"Hello Dawn" He said, instantly recognizing one of his best friends. She immediately jumped up from the couch and bounded to the other side and wrap him in a huge hug, which he gladly returned. She wrapped her arms around his neck while he if led his hands around her waist.

"It's been so long.." she whispered into his ear. He seemed to grip her tighter after hearing that. It had been a long time. Almost 4 years since he had seen her last, and that was in Sinnoh. He had missed her. A lot. She was a traveling companion who, even though she was a girl, was easy for him to talk to. When he was around her he just seemed to ease. She made everything better, her smile could melt his heart, and her eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue. And she was so full of spirit and encouragement. He didn't think he could have made it as far as he did in the Sinnoh league as he did without her support.

"So you're the assistant Rowan talked about?" He asked pulling away from the hug but still keeping his arms around her waist.

"Yea, my dad got me a job there a few years ago. I've always worked closely with the professor but no I get to do a lot of important work. Plus I still get to keep up with my contests!"

(Anyone else know this? In the Diamond and Pearl games, Dawn's dad I'd actually one of Rowan said assistants in the lab. I thought that'd be cool for her to bide her time while bouncing in between contests)

"Thats awesome Dawn," He replied. "So what did he want to see me for?"

"No idea, I just now that when I heard you where coming and that he needed you, I begged him to be the one to meet you first." She said with a smile.

God that smile. It reminds me of... of her. An image of her face flashed in his mind. And that honey blonde hair. He instantly frowned remembering her.

"Why are you frowning? What's wrong Ash?" She asked with worry in her eyes.

"Nothing, just remembering someone. You remind me so much of her..."

"Well you don't need to remember her now, you have me." She said in an attempt for him to smile again. She smiled towards him again and grabbed his hand and pulled him out the Pokémon center and towards the laboratory just down the road. Upon entering Ash was taken back to his memories of memories of the time he had spent in this lab before. Everything was pristine and clean. There were complicated machines everywhere and in the back was a room that he assumed was the professors office space. Dawn continued to drag him by the hand towards the room. She swung the door open and pulled him in closing the door once again behind him.

He saw the professor sitting behind his desk. The professor hadn't changed much. He still had ahead full of grey hair and was still wearing the normal button up shirt with a blue sweater over top and khaki pants. He had developed more of a gut that he was using to balance a folder of papers while he looked through them with his hands. He looked up upon entering his office and smiled.

"Ahh Ash, impeccable timing my young boy. It's so great to see you again. And I see you met with Dawn, you know she was very adamant about coming out to see you" He said with a chuckle.

Ash noticed Dawn blushing at this statement. "Professor!" She whined.

"So what was it that you wanted me to come here for?" Ash asked the professor trying to take the topic of discussion away from Dawn.

"Ahh that. Yes, I heard from Professor Oak that you had recently visited the Kalos region. You see we were very interested to learn about mega evolution and the Pokémon that can mega evolve. What makes them different from the ones that cant? That is my goal to find out, and my task for you is to go travel Sinnoh and collect the Pokémon that are from here and bring them to me to study, if you choose to help me."