Ash and Dawn: The Indigo Heart

The Parting

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        Dawn had been acting strangely towards Ash ever since that day at the Wallace Cup. He missed the playful, teasing Dawn, the Dawn who was affectionate and joked around, the one who could make his face heat up with just word, just a look. Now she barely even smiles at him. He missed her smile most of all. He just couldn't get used to waking up and not seeing that smile. He didn't know how he'd do it without her there at all.

        The worst part was that he'd never noticed it before. Now that he knew how much it affected him, he wouldn't have it anymore. He didn't understand what was happening to him. His stomach had been in knots all week, he'd barely been able to sleep, and all he could see when he closed his eyes was the same nightmare over and over:

        "Dawn, please," Ash begs.

        "I can't believe I ever agreed to do this with you. I hate you! I never want to see you again!" Then she turns around and briskly walks away, leaving Ash in her wake, tears pouring down his face.

        "This can't be happening," he thought. "Dawn would never..." But then he remembers what happened after the Wallace Cup. She left in a huff,and when she came back she seemed...cold, distant. Dawn would leave him.

        And now she is.

        "Hey, Ash," Dawn called softly, eyes downcast. "I need to talk to you."

        He smiled, thinking he was at last going to find out what was going on with Dawn. He knew that if she just told him, he'd be able to fix it. He always does. He'd do anything for her. And that was a shocking realization for him. After being stunned at that thought for a moment, he decided it was a problem to deal with later.

        "Sure, what's up?" He put on a warm smile and tried to be as approachable as possible in an attempt to get Dawn to open up to him.

        "Well, I know that you'll be heading back to Kanto soon."

        "Oh, yeah! It's gonna be great! I'll get to see my mom and Professor Oak again - you'll be able to meet them too, of course - and Mom's cooki-"

        "Actually, no, I won't..." she trailed off.

        "What? What do you mean?" Ash's brow furrowed

        Dawn let out a melancholy sigh. "I...I took the job. I took the modeling job from Wallace. I won't be traveling with you anymore."

        "What?"

        "Ash, come on, you know what I'm saying."

        "Uhh...I-I need to think"

        "Ash..."

        But he was already gone. And so was his spirit. He lay awake all that night pondering what had just happened, and what it would mean. He'd never see Dawn again after he left. He'd never wake up to that smile.