Before I leave Cerulean

Four

Misty practiced her violin.
Out of her, May and Iris, she was the one that practiced the most. May also played the violin while Iris played cello. Mallow played the oboe, Serena played clarinet while Dawn played the flute. May and Iris weren't too bad at their instruments. They seemed to be at an
average level. May had just started playing violin last year and had seemed to improve pretty quickly.

Misty put away her instrument. She practiced 40 minutes every other day. She was supposed to meet Dawn in the gardens. It was passing period for the girls. As Misty walked to the gardens, she wondered what Dawn wanted with her. She had only known Dawn for a couple of months. Her mother had sent her here while she was away taking care of her husbands business. With the money she earned, she traveled all of the world and sent her souvenirs along with brand new dresses.
What she had heard from her parents was that Dawn was in a lot of pressure because of her mother, wanting her to be a proper princess and carry on the name. Her mother was a princess, too, when she was younger.

Misty found Dawn sitting on the garden steps. Her hair had been decorated with flowers. She was sure the other girls had put them in. Dawn picked up her flute and started playing. It sounded lovely. If Misty were to bring her violin outside, it would sound perfectly.
"Dawn, you wanted to see me?" Misty reminded her.
"That's the only reason I'm out here," Dawn muttered. She then sighed and rubbed her head. Was she receiving bad headaches? A lot seemed to be going around with the citizens of Cerulean.

Misty sat down next to Dawn.
"About the day before," Dawn began. "I probably must have startled you when I yelled. Everyone was causing an uproar (no Pokémon move pun intended) about me. I need to show you something."
Dawn handed Misty the gold and blue letter that Ash had given her yesterday. Misty held onto it lightly. She wondered what it was about.
"Misty," Dawn said, her voice trailing off. "My mother....she's...she's terribly ill. That's why Jessie had to talk to me. If anything happens to her, I have to go back to Sinnoh and take her place. I can't do that."
Misty frowned.
"That's terrible!" Misty said. "You can't go back to Sinnoh. You were so excited for Serena's ball. You and the girls were happy, talking about dresses and hair. And now this happens."
"Read the letter. It's even worse."
Misty opened up the letter.

Dear Dawn Hikari,
We are sorry to inform you that your mother has fallen ill. She's in a terrible state at the moment. However, she has sent you a lovely dress that you'll enjoy wearing. If anything happens, we must inform you to come back to Sinnoh immediately to take place of your mother. Please stay strong, lovely dear.
Nurse Joy, Sinnoh Region

Dawn looked as if she was to cry.
Misty hugged her. She had already lost her father 4 years ago, she didn't need to loose her mother.
"What's worse is that I'm running around being the best princess I can be," Dawn said. "I just want it to stop. Those other princesses drive me crazy. Not only that, Spoiled Serena thinks she can get her way. Misty, you're the only one I can trust. I tried to hide it from you the day I first met you. I didn't want those other girls finding out who I actually am. I don't hate you. I think your lovely."

Misty smiled. Never in her 10 years of life did she ever hear someone say that to her. She wanted to cry. What Dawn had said to her touched her.
"Dawn," Misty began. "Please don't hide the real you. I think you're lovely just the way you are. If those girls don't like it, so be it. They can be stuck up and rude all they want, but remember what Lady Jessie had said the other day? We'll come out on top no matter what."
"Oh, Misty! You do understand me! No one else would understand. If I told any other girl about this, they would be head over heels worried about me and try to keep you away. But I'm glad I got to talk to you in private. You're an amazing girl!"

"Lady Dawn, you have another letter," Amy, another maid said. Dawn took the letter and opened it. She quickly scanned through it and smiled.
"My Piplup's been cured!" Dawn shouted. "Misty! My Piplup is all better!"
"That's great to hear!" Misty said. "Lucky you! I still haven't gotten my Pokémon yet. I'm hoping to get one, soon!"
"Oh I bet it'll look lovely like you."

Misty couldn't believe it. Princess Dawn, the princess of the Sinnoh Region, actually talking to her. She wrapped her arm around Dawn.
"Everything is going to be okay," Misty assured her. "There's always a happy ending. You just have to look on the bright side."
Dawn nodded.

"I wish I could've brought my violin out here," Misty said. "You play the flute very wonderfully and I bet it would sound even better with my violin."
"Thank you," Dawn said. "I've been playing since I was 4. I love the way it sounds. I would love to play along with your violin. At least it's better than May's."
The girls giggled.

Prince Ash came into the entrance of the gardens. Pikachu seemed to be a little brighter than the last visit. He wore a smirk on his cubby face.
"Good afternoon, ladies," Ash said, bowing. Misty and Dawn stood up and gave a curtsy.
"Good afternoon," Dawn said.
"How do you do?" Misty asked.
"I'm doing well," Ash answered. "It looks like Brock is making some progress. His illness seems to be clearing up. Pikachu here just won another battle on the way here."

"How lovely!" Dawn exclaimed, pinching Pikachu's face. Pikachu cooed with delight, his face glowing like a Christmas tree. Dawn could feel a little bit of shock but she didn't seem to mind.
"My Piplup will be here soon," Dawn said excitedly. "He's been cured from his illness!"
Ash smiled.
"Lucky lucky lady," he said, moving some of her hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear. She blushed when she felt Ash touching her.

"Dawn, I hope you don't mind, but I've invited Misty to come with me for a day out," Ash explained. Misty's eyes widened.
"Misty you lucky girl!" Dawn exclaimed.
"Oh Ash!" Misty swooned.
"You've been stuck in this castle for a while. It's like being a prisoner," Ash explained. "But when your with me, I'll let you be you. Show me who the real Misty Waterflower is."
Misty wanted to cry.
She had never been invited to anything. Unlike Serena, who was invited to balls with her companion, Clement, who was also from the Kalos Region.

"Tomorrow, at morning, we shall meet at the entrance," Ash instructed. "Get you a nice breakfast and we shall get our day started. Be careful about not getting caught, though. Your parents are quite pesky."
Ash looked up at the window that lead to what may have been the Waterflower's bedroom. He sighed.
"Well, better get back to Pallet," Ash said. "I've got so many things to do. You ladies have a wonderful evening. Dawn, my heart goes out to your Piplup."
Dawn smiled. She held on to Misty's hand and Misty squeezed it tight. Ash and Pikachu walked away, Ponyta must have been waiting at the front with the other horses. That Ponyta must have been very shy.

Dawn looked at Misty, her went to serious, but there were still happiness and sparkling in her blue eyes.
"Can I trust you?" Dawn asked. "Please keep this a secret. I can't let any of the other girls know what's going on. They'll pester me non stop."
"Dawn, you can trust me any time," Misty said. "We're the only two in the gardens. There's no one around but us. I'll go get my violin and we can a duet near the Delia's and Rose's."

Dawn nodded and Misty went to go get her instrument. She picked up her flute that was sitting on the table and began to play.
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Sitting near the bushes were May and Iris. They were shocked at what they had just seen. Misty and Dawn. Talking to each other. Of course that could've been some other princess considering there were other princesses than the main girls from each region.
"I cannot believe Dawn is talking to that little runt!" Iris scowled. "The both of them are such little kids!"

"That Misty!" May exclaimed. "She thinks she can get everything. Dawn doesn't even like her. Didn't she get mad at Misty for touching one of her dresses?"
"That doesn't matter," Iris muttered. "What really matters is that she told her personal business to a maid in disguise."

The girls peeked their heads out of the bushes that were decorated with azalea's. They would blame Misty for knocking them down later.
Dawn and Misty where nowhere to be seen. However, they did hear a flute and a violin. They blended in together perfectly.
"So that's why Dawn was upset at that dress store," May remarked. "Her mother poorly sick. She should've said something to us instead of Misty."

"Not only that, Ash, the prince of Kanto, just asked her to spend a day with her," Iris said. "Why not us?"
"This will be something of worthy telling to the other girls," May said, a smiling appearing on her face. "Let's teach Misty a little lesson she won't forget."
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Oh no! Dawn's secret is going to be spilled! What do we do? What do we do? Stay tuned for the next chapter :D