Ship Prince.

A request By a great friend.

The starry silence of a crisp fall night was interrupted by a sudden blast of a ships horn. Dawn raced forward, holding her shimmering pink skirt up above her knees.

     “Hurry Piplup! We’re going to miss it!” She called behind her to her penguin Pokemon.

     “Pip pip lup!” It chirruped indignantly. Dawn rushed back and scooping up the water Pokemon, and running towards the huge cruise liner in the distance. Wisps of skirt fabric flowed behind her. Just as she reached the end of the dock, to boat moved away, too far away to jump.

     “Dawn!” Ash appeared on the railing.

     “I’m coming!” She called to him, turning around. “Piplup, use watergun on the deck!” she said.

     “Piplup.” It shouted, blasting a jet of water onto the deck and shooting the pair up into the air in the general direction of the ship. Dawn screamed as she flipped through the air, towards the boat. She was almost certain she couldn’t make it, and closed her eyes for the impact.

     THUD!!

     After a few moments of blackness, she opened her eyes to Ash’s face above her.

     “Dawn, are you okay?” he asked.

    “Ugh. Yeah I guess I’m fine. How about you Piplup?”

     “Piiiplup.”

Suddenly Dawn felt the ground underneath her move.

     “If you’re fine would you please, GET OFF OF ME?!” a muffled voice said angrily.

     “OH! I’m so sorry!” She leapt up quickly. She looked back to apologize again, and saw a familiar head of purple hair.

     “Oh my gosh! Paul I’m so sorry!” She said again. “Are you okay?”

     Paul carefully got up and brushed off his deep blue Victorian suit. He looked like some sort of prince.

     “I’m fine.” He mumbled, “Are you alright?”

     “Mhm.” Dawn nodded. Paul looked at her for another few seconds, then just walked away.

     “Some things never change.” Ash said slyly. “How’s it going Dawn?” He looked the same as ever, but with a new hat.

     “Pikachu!” His partner called from his shoulder.

     “Good to see you too, Pikachu!”  Dawn greeted it back.

     “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?” Asked a voice that apparently belonged to a ball of hair in a short sequined gown. “Man you are such a kid.”

    “Oh right! Dawn, this is Iris, Iris Dawn. And then there’s. . .” Ash’s voice became a background noise to a flurry of names and faces. She was introduced to Misty, and Max and Cilan and a host of others. Then she was berated with questions about her dress, her Pokemon, her hair, her home town. She was glad when the captain announced that the party would start in the ballroom. 

     Once she walked into the room, she felt like she had been transported to the Milky Way. Sparkling stars filled the ceiling, and shimmering curtain separated the dance floor from whatever had been on the other side. Over the loud speaker a smooth voice suddenly boomed.

     “Welcome Pokemon trainers! This is your captain speaking. This is to remind you that this trip is sponsored by the Unova World Unity Foundation: bringing people and Pokemon together! Please enjoy this trip as a chance to meet new and different Pokemon trainers, as well as have some fun!” As soon as he stopped talking, the music started, and a cheer went up among the guests. The air filled with fast, dancy music, and people started to break off into groups: Some dancing, some chatting, some eating. Pokemon were let out to enjoy the boat and the party.

     “Piplup-up?” Her Pokemon asked.

     “Yeah. Go have fun Piplup!” she encouraged. As Piplup shuffled off to join the other Pokemon, Dawn looked around for someone to talk to. Ash was reminiscing with old friends, and she didn’t know anyone else very well. Brock and Cilan were debating something about Pokemon rearing. And she didn’t know any of the dancers.

     Dawn sighed. She was debating weather it would be entirely rude to cut in on Ash’s conversation, when something shifting on the outside of the room caught her eye.

     “Huh?” Dawn whispered to herself, slipping through the curtains after the shadow.  Behind them was all blackness as far as Dawn could tell. She reached out with her hands, feeling along, until she touched something soft.

     “AAAAAAAAH!!!” A voice yelled.

     “EEEEEEK!” Dawn cried as whatever she had been touching quickly moved away. A light flashed on, and revealed Paul, one hand flicking the lights, the other up in a defensive, very un-Paul stance.

     “Oh, it’s just you.” He said, moving right away to his normal rudeness. He sat down on a spare table next to the curtain.

     “Just me?!” Dawn was livid, “I was nearly scared to DEATH! And I HEARD you scream! Don’t think you can just brush that off with that?!”

     “What do you want me to say? Thank God you’re not a horrible monster?” Paul whispered fiercely. Dawn was silent, sitting on the table next to him.

      “I thought not. How’d you find me?” He asked. Dawn sneered.

     “It’s not like I was searching for you. I saw a shadow on the curtain, and I wanted to know what it was. It’s not like I wanted to find an antisocial jerk like you!”

     For a millisecond Paul looked hurt, but it was gone in a flash.

     “Well you found me instead. Go look for prince charming somewhere else.”

     Dawn was quiet a moment, but didn’t move.

     “So, why are you back here all by yourself?” she asked.

     Paul chuckled, the turned away quickly.

     “Do you ant some snacks?” He said, dodging the question, “I have too many.”

     “Sure!” Dawn said sweetly, taking a strawberry. As she popped it into her mouth Paul started to peel an orange.

     “This party’s pretty cool huh?” Dawn asked. Paul didn’t answer, so she rambled on. “Everyone seems to be having fun. And there’s lots of food and dancing. It’s the kind of thing everyone can enjoy.”

     “So why aren’t you out there, enjoying it?” He asked her suddenly. “Why not go dance and have fun?”

     Dawn sighed. “To be honest? I’m nervous. I don’t know anyone besides Ash and Brock, and neither of them will dance with me. And their both caught up with their old friends. I don’t want to be a burden. I even let Piplup go on without me.” She pointed to it among the groups of happy Pokemon.

     Paul smiled ruefully.

     “Yeah. I let all of my Pokemon go too. They deserved a party.” He said. Dawn looked at Paul as secretly as she could. She had never seen him so friendly. It was weird, but nice. They sat quietly for a few moments. Then Dawn asked her question again.

    “So, why aren’t you at the party?”

     Paul pondered a moment, slowly peeling all of the little white strings off of the orange.

     “I guess I thought, well . . .” he started, then stopped. “This is stupid. Why do you care?” He snapped. Dawn was unfazed. She scooted closer to him, and placed a calm hand on his shoulder.

     “You can tell me,” She whispered in his ear. “It’ll be our secret.”

     Paul seemed to crumple a bit, sagging his shoulders and leaning down to put the orange peels on the snack plate.

     “I just didn’t think you would want me there.” He said quickly.

     “Why would you think that?!” Dawn burst out. Paul looked at her like she was insane.

     “I was a jerk to you guys!” He half-yelled. “I was mean and stupid and just, horrible to you! Even earlier, I was just, a jerk.” He crumpled again.

     “That’s okay,” Dawn said quietly. “I fell on you. I think that entitles you to be a bit grouchy.”

     Paul gave her a half smile.

     “Thanks Dawn.”

    Dawn giggled. Paul looked at her questioningly.

    “What’s so funny” He asked with a laugh.

     “Haha! It’s just that, I didn’t think you remembered my name, but here wa are having a hart to heart.” She whispered. Paul looked down again.

     “I’m so sorry about that, Dawn.” He whispered.

     Dawn just smiled, and placed her hand on his shoulder again. Somehow she didn’t feel so alone anymore. For a moment they watched the party silently, until Paul suddenly jumped from the table and spun to face her.

     “Let’s dance!” He proclaimed. Dawn gapped at him a second.

     “WH-what?” she stammered.

     “You said you wanted to dance right? But you didn’t know anyone. Well, you know me. So let’s dance!” he explained, treating her to a half smile again. Dawn gathered up her dress and stood up next to him.

     “May I have the next dance miss?” Paul asked with a deep bow.

     “You mat indeed.” Dawn replied with a curtsy.

     Paul grabber her hand and led her out past the curtains to the dance floor. Dawn knew everyone was watching her, but when she looked she only saw a few heads turned.

     “Ready?” Paul asked, and before she could answer she was whisked around and into his arms. Dawn felt happier with each step. She leaned in and whispered,

     “Not as bad as you thought, hmm?”

     Paul looked right back at her as the next song started.

     “No. It’s not bad at all.”

Dawn smiled at her prince charming, ready to dance the night away.

Author's Note

Plaese leave reveiws on writting not the subject. I do not want to hear how stupid you think the shipping is.