The Only Exception

48.

I'm back! :D Sorry I took awhile to update. I had a few art requests that needed to be cleared up.

Enjoy!

Dawn and Serena started making their way back towards the entrance of the cave. They had to stop a few times on the way due to the fact Serena was in pain. Dawn sat her down on a nearby rock while Serena rested her foot.

"Does it still hurt?" Dawn asked.

"What do you think?" Serena said irritated.

Dawn simply rolled her eyes as she called out both Buneary and Piplup. The two Pokemon happily greeted their owner as she pat them on the head. "Hey, guys. Remember when Mamoswine injured his foot and I had you guys make me an ice pack? Do you think you could help me out like that again?"

The Pokemon happily smiled at their trainer as they got to work. They didn't have a bucket, but luckily, Dawn her hydro flask. Piplup had used Hydropump to fill it up while Buneary used ice beam.

Dawn smiled at her Pokemon and thanked them. All the while Serena had simply stared at the girl who worked so well with her Pokemon. Yes, Serena had worked well with her Pokemon but seeing the way Dawn worked with hers was quite different from the way Serena does it.

"Here. This should help a bit." The bluenette said as she took off the girl's shoe and placed the ice pack onto her foot.

"Thanks, I guess." Serena said as she felt the cold compress against her foot and sighed in relief. That actually felt quite better.

"Can you walk?" Dawn asked.

"Sort of." Serena replied.

"Hmm... I don't wanna take any chances and have you sprain your foot more." She said as she then took out another Pokeball and called out Mamoswine. "Here, ride on Mamoswine for now."

Serena blinked at the girl then raised a questioning brow at her. "Why?"

"What do you mean why? You obviously can't walk so—"

"I meant why are you doing this? For me? You could just leave me here and forget about me and claim Ash as yours." She told her.

Dawn looked at the girl and sighed at her. "Ash is not a thing that you just claim. Ash is his own person and he gets to decide for himself who he wants to be with. As for why I'm doing this? Because Ash cares about you and so do I." She told her.

Serena scoffed at the girl, "yeah, right."

Dawn sighed, "it's true. I really do care about you."

Serena rolled her eyes at her. "Don't try and pity me just because I lost this competition."

"Competition? What are you talking about?"

"Competition for Ash's heart, obviously." She told the bluenette.

Dawn raised a brow at her and sighed. "I never saw this as a competition. Ash isn't some prize to be won. And for your information... Even if Ash did ask me to be his girlfriend, I'd reject it."

Serena's eyes widened at the girl's response then sighed. "You're a fool."

"I'm not rejecting him because I don't love him. I'm rejecting him because someone else loves him."

"You're rejecting him for me?" Serena asked, sorta shocked at the girl.

"We both love and care about Ash in our own way. I don't want to be with Ash because I care about your feelings too. I want you to have some sort of resolve." Dawn said as she helped the girl up onto Mamoswine.