Chapter Text
*In this new version of history, Dawn, feeling no sense of urgency in becoming a Trainer now, thanks to the Beautifly Effect in action, wakes up to the sound of her mother knocking on her bedroom door.*
Dawn’s mother, with a caring voice: Rise and shine, sweety! You aren’t just gonna spend the rest of the week inside, are you? There’s only one more week until you head to Uva Academy in Paldea, you know!
Dawn, yawning, with a mildly loud reply back: I know…I know!! Just give me some time to wake up, alright?! I get that everyone else in my family wants me to become a proper Pokemon Trainer…but I still think it’s boring!
Dawn’s mother, sounding somewhat disappointed: I know…but your father… and your grandfather…both really wanted to see if you could give it a chance! Honestly, getting out there and becoming a Trainer is a great way to make friends, you know? And I think we both know how much you need those…and that's why we're sending you out to Paldea next week, you know! You need to find the treasure in your life!...
*Dawn loudly screams into a pillow, before slumping her head back onto her pillow pile.*
Dawn, thinking to herself: Why does my mom want me to make friends so bad, anyway?! Boys are all mean perverts, and other girls only think about themselves! Can’t there just be…some kind of…third type of person, who’s…neither of those?
*Dawn notices her phone vibrating, on the counter next to her bed. Picking it up, she gasps, upon seeing that her favorite streamer, Iono, had uploaded a new video! Upon pulling it up, she watches as a bouncy influencer of some sort does a collection of wacky things, before the video starts properly.*
Iono: Ello, 'ello, hola! Ciao and bonjour! Welcome to the Iono Zone! It's me, Iono! Tell me, out of all the Pokemon in the world - that are permissible to own within the Paldea Region, at least - is the cutest of all time?! Well, that’s exactly what I recently asked you lovely viewers to vote on, in last week’s poll! And, as luck would have it, last week…has evolved into this week, meaning…the time for the results have come! And, wow, did you guys vote like you meant it, or what?! Well…I hope you did at least, because the numbers are IN! With a whopping 75% of the vote…Piplup has gone and cemented itself as the cutest Pokemon of all time!! …According to you guys, at least. I still think that my lil’ Bellibolt is the cutest thing out there all the same, of course! But that brings me to the topic of….this video! I’ve decided to take some time off from running my Gym here in Paldea…to find out for sure who the cutest Pokemon and Trainer combo out there is! That’s right, now, all of YOU will get to have a front-row seat to the Iono Show, as we go on the road! At least, if you live in Sinnoh, at least! Hey, don’t hate! They’re the only place out there that still hosts Pokemon Contests, you know! But if you don’t know…IONO be there, and if you think you’ve got what it takes to out-cute Bellibolt and I, be there, in Hearthome City next week…and we’ll see just who the cutest out there really is! Until next time, Iono…signing off!
Dawn, thinking to herself, with her eyes having been glued to the screen: I NEED to get in on these contests…because I NEED to meet Iono!! And…doesn’t grandpa give out those Piplup Pokemon to anyone who asks? …I need to get down to his lab, and quick!!
*As Dawn races out of her house that morning, to Professor Rowan’s lab on the other side of Sandgem Town, she quickly runs up to her grandpa, even as he seemed to be surrounded by a group of other Pokemon researchers.*
Dawn, pushing her way over to the Professor, in the middle of the crowded lab: Grandpa, can I please have a Piplup?! I know I said I wasn’t interested in becoming a Trainer before, but…this time is different! I gotta meet Iono, and I need a Piplup to be cute in contests, so…please please please please give me one?!
Professor Rowan, sounding caught off-guard by the sudden request: But…Dawn, you had this entire summer to become a Trainer, did you not? I thought that you had honestly decided to wait until your parents had sent you to Uva Academy, next week, before getting your Trainer’s License!
Dawn, sighing: I know…but my favorite streamer ever is going to be stopping at Hearthome City this week for a Contest Tour…and I want to take part too!! So, please…could I please please PLEASE have a Piplup…?
Professor Rowan, looking worriedly at her, and some of the other researchers, who were wondering who she was: Well, of course you can, dear, but…I’m pretty busy at the moment, considering that our lab specimen Pokemon have…erm…created babies last night, and wouldn’t you know it…the Piplup ended up hatching with a light blue coat! A coat that no one else has even seen, if you can believe it! This Piplup must be properly documented, and-
Dawn, pushing her face up against the large tank that the Piplup was chilling inside of: Awww….she’s so cute!! Grandpa, can I please please please please have her…?! She’s so adorable…I know I could win any cuteness contest, with her by my side!!
Professor Rowan, sounding disappointed: Does it… have to be that one you want, dear? If you accompany me to the back room of my lab, there are plenty of normal Piplup I could offer you instead…!
Dawn, shaking her head: No way, grandpa…I want that one…it has to be her! I can see it now…the crowd, seeing a unique color of Piplup never seen anywhere else in the entire world…goes crazy, and can’t help but vote for us…even putting Iono’s massive following to shame! I’ll become the new hit internet sensation…Piplup and I…we’ll go viral!!
Professor Rowan, shaking his head: If you want that Shiny-coated Piplup for clout…there’s no way I could possibly allow that! This Piplup may very well be a one-of-a-kind specimen, you see…and as such, I don’t want this Pokemon to be used as an…artificial clout machine…of all things!
Female researcher, to Professor Rowan’s side, chuckling a bit: Oh, don’t be such a party pooper, Professor! Look at her…the girl reminds me of me, when I was her age! I would have tried to do exactly what she's aiming to do, back then…if Pokemon Contests even existed back then, that is! Besides…she’s your granddaughter, isn’t she? If you ever wanted to do more research on that Piplup…you could just ask her to give it back to you sometime, right?
Dawn, nodding: Exactly! Besides…I’ll be going to Paldea next week, remember? They don’t allow non-native Pokemon out there anyway, so it’s not like I could bring Piplup with me next week anyway, you know?
Professor Rowan, sighing: Well, I suppose you do have a point, Dawn. Well…fine. I will let you train that Piplup this week…on the condition that you bring her back as soon as next week rolls around. Have I made myself clear?
Dawn, squeeing, as she plucks the Shiny Piplup out of the lab’s research tank: EEEE!! Thank you grandpa….you’re the best, no matter how many people tell you you’re old!!
*The researchers around Rowan have a laugh, as he lets out yet another sigh. The scene transitions to Dawn, already racing her new Shiny Piplup to Route 202, as she notices that Piplup was struggling to keep up with her.*
Dawn, rolling her eyes: Come on, Piplup! We’ll never make it to Hearthome City this week, at the pace you’re going!
Shiny Piplup, trying to point up at her owner’s Poke Ball on her belt, as sweat drops from her forehead, in her efforts to keep up with her: Piplup…pip…pip pip pip!!
Dawn, looking down at the Poke Ball on her waist: Oh, you want back in the Ball? Sorry, but no can do! I’ve been reading books about Pokemon, for when I get shipped off to Uva Academy next week, and they say that Pokemon who spend time outside of the Poke Ball…become more friendly with their Trainers! And the more friendly you become, the more in-sync we’ll be, when it comes time for your Contest debut!
Shiny Piplup, scratching her head in confusion: Piplup pip pip?
Dawn, shrugging: You know…contests! They’re like…show-off competitions, for both people and Pokemon! Basically, Pokemon do a move, while their Trainer dances and stuff…and people go crazy for them!!
Shiny Piplup, sounding curious: Pip pip lup?
Dawn, nodding: Yeah, I think you’ll be great at them! Hence, why we need to get to Hearthome City ASAP! And considering it’s literally in the center of Sinnoh, and we’re stuck in the outskirts here right now…we have a lot of ground to cover still!
Shiny Piplup, resting her back on a nearby tree: Piplup pip…plup plip lup?
Dawn, frowning, with a tone of disappointment: You seriously need a break already? Well…I guess we could take some time to work on your moves, in the meantime. What’s the best move you can pull off right now, Piplup?
*Piplup blows out about five Bubbles from her mouth, before chirping a sound of tiredness.*
Dawn, sounding underwhelmed: Really? Just…Bubbles? Not even a BubbleBEAM or the like? Man…we’ve really got some work to do, to get you up-to-snuff, huh?
Shiny Piplup, sounding tired: Pip…plup plup?
Dawn, sighing, as she bends down to pick up Piplup: Fine…I can carry you for a bit. But we really need you to get stronger soon, you know?
Dawn, thinking to herself, as she trudges along through the route, holding her Shiny starter in her hands: Wait a second…those places that Trainers stop at, to get their Pokemon stronger…maybe a Gym would do the trick! Yeah…maybe Piplup will learn some new moves that way!
Dawn, grinning, as she puts her Piplup back on the ground: Change of plans, Piplup! If we’re gonna be sure that you’ll set the internet on fire, you’ll have to get stronger, too, and learn some new moves! So that’s why…I’m going to have you start battling other Pokemon! Like…that Starly, just over there!
Shiny Piplup, sounding startled, as he stares at the other adorable-looking bird: Piplup pip?!
Starly, looking equally as surprised: Starly?!
Dawn, nodding: Yeah! Bust its spirits, with your Bubbles, Piplup!!
*Piplup shoots out a series of Bubbles the small bird, but Starly whips up a tiny windstorm, by producing a Gust of air with her wings, that absorbs up Piplup’s Bubbles, as they float through the air…and end up sending them back towards Piplup, before the little Starly flies away in a hurry. In the end, all the Bubbles end up loudly popping right near Piplup’s face, and causes her to faint, not from the impact, obviously…but the shock that came from them, popping right in front of her eyes.*
Dawn, rolling her eyes, as she calls Piplup back into her Poke Ball finally: Well, you got what you wanted, right? I hope you’re happy now! So cute…yet so, so weak…
