Ash: Clenching fists WHAT'S THIS MESSAGE ABOUT DAWN'S PAST? WHO SENT IT?!
Never! I'll never admit defeat!
Ash: WELL, THEN. IF THAT'S YOUR CHOICE, CHAMPION, THEN YOU SHALL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR PRIDE. Ash: I WILL FIGHT YOU UNTIL ONE OF US LIES LIFELESS ON THE GROUND. THAT IS THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR YOUR STUPID PRIDE. Ash: NOW, BRING IT ON, CHAMPION. I'M READY FOR WHATEVER YOU'VE GOT.
Go ahead, send out your Pokémon! She smirked as she watched Ash closely*
Ash: BRING IT ON, CHAMPION. I'M READY FOR WHATEVER YOU'VE GOT. Ash: I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A FIGHT LIKE THIS FOR YEARS. NOW, LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I'M MADE OF. BRING IT ON, CHAMPION. LET'S SEE HOW LONG YOU CAN LAST AGAINST MY POWERFUL POKÉMONS AND MY UNSTOPPABLE DETERMINATION. Ash: I'M NOT GOING DOWN EASY. BRING IT ON, CHAMPION. I'M READY FOR WHATEVER YOU'VE GOT!
Go! Candice yelled as she watched Ash closely, as did the crowd*
Ash: BRING IT ON, CHAMPION. LET'S SEE HOW LONG YOU CAN LAST AGAINST MY POWERFUL POKÉMONS AND MY UNSTOPPABLE DETERMINATION. Ash: I'M NOT GOING DOWN EASY. BRING IT ON, CHAMPION. I'M READY FOR WHATEVER YOU'VE GOT!
The battle went on for hours, neither Candice nor Ash showing signs of backing down. The crowd started to lose interest, but Candice and Ash remained focused on their battle
Ash: BRING IT ON, CHAMPION. LET'S SEE HOW LONG YOU CAN LAST AGAINST MY POWERFUL POKÉMONS AND MY UNSTOPPABLE DETERMINATION. Ash: I'M NOT GOING DOWN EASY. BRING IT ON, CHAMPION. I'M READY FOR WHATEVER YOU'VE GOT!
Hours later, Candice was on the brink of collapse. Her Pokémon were all fainted, and her health was near zero. She was just about to call it quits when something caught her eye on the battlefield. It was a shiny Ralts, looking at her with caring emerald eyes
Ash: Wait, WHAT? A SHINY RALTS? HOW DID THAT GET HERE? Ash: IS IT FRIENDLY? CAN IT UNDERSTAND ME? Ash: MAYBE IT CAN HELP ME RECOVER. I'VE BEEN IN THE TRENCHES FOR HOURS, AND I COULD USE A BREAK. Ash: OH, THANK YOU, SHINY RALTS. YOU'VE SAVED MY LIFE. NOW LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
As Ash and the shiny Ralts left the battlefield, Candice felt her vision getting blurry. She collapsed to the ground, passing out due to exhaustion and injuries
Ash: WHAT'S HAPPENING?! Ash: OH NO, CHAMPION, I THINK YOU'RE IN TROUBLE. Ash: WAIT, CHAMPION, DON'T GO! YOU CAN'T JUST PASS OUT LIKE THIS. WHAT IF YOU HAVE A SEVERE INJURY? Ash: CHAMPION, PLEASE! STAY WITH ME! Ash: OH NO, CHAMPION, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITHOUT YOU?!
When Candice woke up, she found herself in the Pokémon center. She slowly got up and walked to the nurse Joy *Nurse Joy Hey, how are you feeling?
Nurse Joy: Hi there, CHAMPION! How are you feeling? Nurse Joy: LET ME CHECK YOUR INJURIES. Nurse Joy: YOU'RE LUCKY YOU GOT HERE IN TIME. YOU SUFFERED SOME SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT WITH SOME TREATMENT, YOU SHOULD BE GOOD AS NEW SOON. Nurse Joy: NOW, LET ME GET YOU ALL FIXED UP. THIS WILL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE. Nurse Joy: THERE WE GO. THAT SHOULD DO IT. YOU'RE ALL HEALED UP NOW.
Thank you. She said softly, before suddenly opening her eyes and noticing Ash next to her W-what?! What are you doing here? Where's Candice?
Ash: WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?! I'M ASH, THE GYM LEADER FROM PALLET TOWN, AND I WAS IN A BATTLE WITH THE CHAMPION'S GYM LEADER WHEN I SUDDENLY RECEIVED AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM MY MOTHER ABOUT DAWN'S PAST, WHICH MADE ME ANGRY. Ash: I'M HERE BECAUSE OF DAWN. SHE NEEDED MY HELP, AND I COULDN'T REFUSE. NOW, WHERE IS SHE?! Ash: I NEED TO FIND HER. SHE MUST BE IN DANGER. I CAN'T LOSE HER. NOT AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH. Ash: PLEASE, TELL ME WHERE SHE IS. I MUST FIND HER.
Candice is resting. She passed out during the battle.
Ash: WHAT?! SHE PASSED OUT DURING THE BATTLE?! Ash: OH NO, THIS ISN'T GOOD. I NEED TO FIND HER. I CAN'T LOSE HER. NOT AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH. Ash: PLEASE, TELL ME WHERE SHE IS. I MUST FIND HER.
You should go too. You also passed out during the battle.
Ash: WHAT?! I PASSED OUT TOO?! Ash: OH NO, THIS ISN'T GOOD. I NEED TO FIND CANDICE. I CAN'T LOSE HER. NOT AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH. Ash: PLEASE, TELL ME WHERE SHE IS. I MUST FIND HER.
You both passed out in the battle and the nurse Joy healed you both.
Ash: THANK YOU, NURSE JOY, FOR HEALING US. NOW, PLEASE, TELL ME WHERE CANDICE IS. I NEED TO MAKE SURE SHE'S OKAY. Ash: I CAN'T LOSE HER. NOT AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH. Nurse Joy: CHILL, ASH. CANDICE IS FINE. SHE'S JUST RESTING IN HER ROOM. LET ME TAKE YOU TO HER. Nurse Joy: FOLLOW ME. WE'LL GO THERE IMMEDIATELY. Nurse Joy: THERE WE ARE. CANDICE IS INSIDE. I NEED TO CHECK ON SOME OTHER PATIENTS NOW. GOOD LUCK, ASH.
Candice opened her eyes, seeing Ash next to her. She seemed confused and frustrated *What happened?!
Ash: OH, THANK THE HEAVENS. YOU'RE AWAKE, CANDICE. Ash: YOU BLACKED OUT DURING OUR BATTLE. I WAS SO SCARED. I THOUGHT YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO WAKE UP. Ash: THANKFULLY, NURSE JOY WAS ABLE TO HEAL YOU, AND NOW YOU'RE SAFE AND SOUND. Ash: NOW, CANDICE, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
Ash, what do you want to tell me? She raised an eyebrow suspiciously*
Ash: CANDICE, I NEED TO TELL YOU ABOUT DAWN'S PAST. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW, BECAUSE IT INVOLVES SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU. Ash: DAWN'S LIFE HAS BEEN FULL OF CHALLENGES AND ADVERSITIES. SHE'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT, AND IT'S BEEN HARD FOR HER. Ash: BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT DAWN IS STRONG. SHE'S OVERCOME SO MUCH, AND SHE'S BECOME AN AMAZING TRAINER. Ash: SO NOW, CANDICE, I NEED YOU TO KEEP DAWN'S SECRETS. DON'T TELL ANYONE WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED TODAY. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Fine. She said reluctantly*
Ash: THANK YOU, CANDICE. I KNOW YOU WON'T LET ME DOWN. I NEED YOU TO BE ABLE TO TRUST ME, AND TO KEEP DAWN'S SECRETS. Ash: NOW, I NEED YOU TO DO ME A FAVOR. I NEED YOU TO GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM AND REST. YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT, AND YOU NEED TO RECOVER. Ash: SO GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM AND GET SOME REST. OKAY?
Fine. She said, before walking away*
Ash: THANK YOU, CANDICE. I APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION. NOW, GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM AND REST. YOU'VE EARNED IT. Ash: NOW, LET ME GO AND DO WHAT MUST BE DONE. I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO HELP DAWN OVERCOME HER CHALLENGES. Ash: GOODBYE, CANDICE. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
Ash watched as Candice walked away, then he sighed *Now, where do I find a shiny Ralts?
Ash: I NEED TO FIND THAT SHINY RALTS. IT WAS THE ONE WHO HELPED ME SAVE CANDICE. Ash: I CAN'T LOSE IT. IT'S MY ONLY HOPE OF FINDING DAWN AND MAKING THINGS RIGHT. Ash: SO I NEED TO FIND THAT SHINY RALTS, NO MATTER WHAT. I CAN'T LET IT SLIP AWAY. Ash: NOW, LET ME SET OFF ON MY QUEST TO FIND IT. I WON'T STOP UNTIL I DO.
He was soon out of the Pokémon center
Ash: I NEED TO FIND THAT SHINY RALTS. IT'S MY ONLY LEAD TO DAWN. Ash: I CAN'T AFFORD TO FAIL. I HAVE TO FIND IT, NO MATTER WHAT. Ash: SO I'M GOING TO EXPLORE THE AREA, AND SEE IF I CAN FIND IT. I WON'T STOP UNTIL I DO.
After exploring the area for hours, he still hadn't found any sign of the shiny Ralts. *I can't give up now. I need to find it. He muttered to himself*
Ash: DON'T LOSE HOPE, ASH. YOU CAN DO THIS. Ash: YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN STRONG AND RESILIENT. YOU WON'T LET THIS GET YOU DOWN. Ash: SO KEEP GOING. KEEP SEARCHING FOR THAT SHINY RALTS. IT HAS TO BE SOMEWHERE NEARBY. Ash: YOU CAN DO THIS, ASH. I BELIEVE IN YOU.