Third Person's POV

Beep beep beep

The faint sound of various machines buzz through the room. A dim green glow from the electrocardiogram stands out in the dimmed room. The line running across the machine rhythmically, showing that the patient is still going strong.

The plain white bed is slightly elevated against the wall, wires and tubes spilling running over the sides to various computers and equipment around the bed. Nice clean walls and cabinets surround, nothing out of place.

How different it is from only a day ago...

An ambulance rushed into the hospital grounds, sirens off but lights flashing bright in the middle of the day. No different than routine for the smaller medical building, lucky enough to be separate from the Pokemon Center due to the larger population.

But then another came right behind it.

Soon enough the emergency room was frantic, white coats and green scrubs running all over the place. Everyone available was giving medical care, stabilizing one person and moving right on to the next.

Luckily there weren't any life threatening injuries, just variations of cuts and bone fractures.

One individual took the brunt of the attack, glass piercing much of his skin. An unknown force also knocked the wind out of him without leaving a trace for the doctors to identify. But there's hope they can figure it out when he awakes.

When he does wake up.

Our favourite blunette watches the waiting room television intently, her foot tapping against the metal legs. Jolteon and Shinx sit by her feet, eyes darting around the room. Piplup and Turtwig prefer the cushioned seats, the former taking advantage of the situation to get some sleep.

"The operation was flawless," Officer Jenny sighs into the reporter's microphone, the Eterna City museum behind her. "We knew their target but the speed and efficiency of their plan was too great to stop. Team Galactic is becoming a big threat to the region and we are asking for any tips on where they could be hiding. That is all I have to say right now, thank you."

"You heard her," The screen flashes to the newsroom. "The second attack within days has the police searching for answers. Let's go back to Michael who has the latest on this event."

Dawn buries her head in her hands, massaging it to keep herself awake. Her eyes never really leaving the door to Ash's room.

"Used helicopters to enter through the roof."

She watches a nurse walk over in that direction.

"Used a device to shatter the glass case and cloud the room."

The nurse reaches for the door and his figure disappears behind it.

"Stole the Lustrous Orb."

After what felt like years, literally like twenty seconds, he emerges with a smile on his face. Dawn gets up instantly and practically skips over, nearly running into the doctor going to the same place. "Just wait a second,"  She smiles and opens the door for Dawn, both of them walking in to see a confused Ash Ketchum.

The two teens lock eyes and Dawn shakes her head. "You idiot."

"I swear I didn't do something stupid," Ash leans forward but winces and lays back down.

"Now now," The doctor says calmly while checking a few of the monitors. "You two don't wanna be here much longer right?" They nod. "Then Ash you stay still while I run through some things."

"So what happened?" Ash asks as she checks the bandages down his arms.

"Well all we know is that you were covered in glass and unconscious, " Dawn starts."We were hoping you could explain the rest."

The doctor looks at the boy for an answer but he doesn't know anymore than them. "We can't figure out what knocked you out either, and you were the only one not conscious so it couldn't have been from the smoke," She continues.

"Also Jolteon wasn't knocked out and he was right beside you," Dawn adds while playing with her skirt and taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Good news is that whatever caused it didn't do any long term harm," The doctor folds a clipboard under her arm. "I really have no reason to keep you here as long as you promise to take it easy."

"No need to worry," Dawn gets up. "I'm going to keep my eye on him now."

Ash rolls his eyes but knows she's right. "What about the bandages?" He asks.

"From what I could tell none of the cuts were very deep and we cleaned them all carefully, so you only need to keep them on for a day or two," She smiles. "I got to go but safe travels and stay away from Team Galactic."

"Thanks," The two reply and watch her leave.

Not that they will stay away.

Ash tries to get up but anyone could tell it's hurting a lot to do so. His feet shakily hit the ground, the white hospital gown still hanging on to the bed.

"Let me help," Dawn grabs his torso gently, trying to avoid the bulges where bandages are. "You know I'm sure it's fine staying here another night if it hurts too much to move."

"I'll be fine," Ash grits through his teeth, stabilizing before trying to move. "Thanks by the way."

"Anytime," Dawn gives him a small smile. "I need my training partner back so we can win the next contest."

"But first my gym battle," Ash states and the two laugh.

"You change and I'll be back with our Pokemon 'kay?" Dawn suggests and he nods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Is this really necessary?" Ash asks from two feet in the air. Turtwig's vines wrap tightly around the boy, a big smile on the grass type's face.

"I think so," Dawn giggles while leading them to the Pokemon Center.

"Turt!" The Pokemon cheers while moving Ash up and down in the air.

"Aren't you a cutie!" A tall slender girl runs over to them.

Her loose dark green cape thing follows her downwards as she crouches in front of Turtwig. Her auburn hair is just inches from the grass type as she studies him very closely. "I needed to see a cutie like you!" She squeals.

Ash and Dawn share a look in slight worry.

The girl stands up straighter, brushing her hands against her brown shorts. "Where'd you find such an amazing Pokémon?!" She gets very close to Ash who's still wrapped by Turtwig's vines.

"Umm-" Ash panics.

"We found him in Eterna Forest," Dawn answers with her arms crossed. Big emphasis on 'we'.

"Oh," She steps backwards a couple steps, seeing the blunette's slight glare. "Sorry for overreacting." She sweat drops.

"It's okay," Ash chcukles. "Turtwig is pretty cool."

"It's been a tough week with the museum heist," She sighs. "And as gym leader I couldn't protect the city."

"Gym leader?" Dawn asks and Ash starts to listen carefully.

"Right I should introduce myself," She scratches the back of her neck. "I'm Gardenia, the grass type expert. That's why I wanted to see your Turtwig."

Gardenia crouches back down to put the Pokemon's shell. Turtwig coos, clearly okay with the motion. "He seems quite strong."

"You'll get to see for yourself," Ash smirks. "Because we're coming for you."

"Oh really?" Gardenia gets a confident look on her face. "I'll have you know that no grass type can beat mine."

"Well Turtwig is undefeated," Ash says proudly.

Dawn shakes her head. "You haven't battled with him yet."

Ash looks down defeated and Gardenia laughs.

"Well we will see," Gardenia points to a giant greenhouse building close to them. "Over there is my gym and I'll be waiting."

The gym leader walks away without any more words exchanged.

"She's gonna beat you," Dawn laughs.

"Not possible," Ash clenches his fist in excitement. "Onward Turtwig!"

The grass type sprints forward with the trainer in his vines, clearly ready to prove his strength. They may actually beat Gardenia there.

Dawn lags behind at a comfortable walking speed. She takes in the very pleasant city, if it wasn't for Team Galactic I'm sure it'd be even calmer.

Dawn traces the grey bricked streets with her eyes, noticing that almost every building is overgrown with ivy and other vegetation. Grass type gym makes sense now.

Two statues then stop Dawn in her tracks. She recognizes them from her history classes... Dialga and Palkia. Legends of Sinnoh. Capable of things Dawn can only imagine possible.

And they're in the Pokedex.

Dawn gets chills and continues walking by to shake them off.

It never really occurred to her that there are Pokémon they have to catch that haven't been seen in centuries. Kind of disheartening.

But then she focuses back on the trainer ahead of her and it seems possible. Like somehow he changes everything.

Dawn smiles.

They're gonna do it.

One Pokémon at a time.

Dawn's thoughts dissipate once realizing she's at the gym.

She stops as a wave of humidity hits her, sighing since her hair is going to be all messed up now. Except that's not what really matters right now.

The greenhouse gym is quite cool. Well hot, but cool looking. A large grass roof sits above them, watching the glass walls as well. There's a back area that is solid, most likely for bathrooms and storage, but everywhere else is see through.

Lush vegetation is everywhere, making it impossible to see the greenhouse walls from the middle.

Ahead of Dawn is a beaten down clearing, the battlefield. Ash and Gardenia are already on opposite sides, staring each other down. The former is sitting with Turtwig now on the battlefield.

Across the field is another turtwig.

An interesting start I guess.

Dawn finds a fallen log to watch the battle from while the referee goes through the rules.

3 on 3.

No substitutions, the normal rules.

The gym is silent for a few seconds, allowing Dawn to hear the sounds of Pokémon. Sounds just as peaceful as the forest.

Except that's not going to last.

"Tackle!" The two trainers yell in unison.

The two turtle Pokémon charge forward along the beaten down grass. Their heads bow down as they collide, and one clearly won.

Gardenia's Turtwig managed to push through Ash's and send him tumbling. It wasn't a huge difference but enough for Gardenia's to show it has more raw strength.

"Razor leaf," Gardenia smirks. Now a grass type move on a grass type isn't exactly intelligent but that's what happens when both trainers use the same Pokémon.

Turtwig's little head sapling glows before sending spinning leaves at Ash's Turtwig.

"Withdraw!" Ash yells and Turtwig curls up into a ball.

The razor blades made out of leaves hit Turtwig's shell, doing some damage but not much. After the attack, Ash's Turtwig gets up and ready for the next command.

"This is going to be a long battle," Dawn sighs.

"Tackle!" Ash throws a fist out, hard for him to show energy while sitting.

"Grass knot."

Gardenia's Turtwig spawns a root out of the ground that trips Ash's and sends him into the ground.

"Tackle!"

The Turtwig unable to hold its ground gets sent through the air. He comes crashing down, leaving a trail of where he slid through the grass.

Ash's Turtwig slowly gets up and its not looking good.

"We have to do some sort of damage," Ash mumbles and tries to think of something.

"Finish with tackle!" Gardenia interrupts his thoughts.

And indeed it did.

Ash's Turtwig lost all mobility it had from the previous attacks and couldn't dodge this one.

Gardenia's Turtwig hits Ash's hard, sending it unconscious.

"Turtwig is unable to battle!" The referee exclaims.

Ash recalls the Pokémon, mumbling a thanks.

The trainer racks his brain for an answer to Gardenia's Turtwig.

How about a Pokémon with type advantage?

"Magby I choose you!" Ash rolls the pokeball along the ground before it opens to show the small fire type.

"Wow a smart decision for once," Dawn says surprised.

"Hey I heard that!" Ash yells at the spectator.

She shrugs with a childish smile.

"A fire type won't give you an easy win," Gardenia smirks. "Tackle Turtwig!"

"Leer then fire punch," Ash smiles confidently.

A glint from Magby's sinister look freezes Turtwig for a split second allowing Magby to punch the off balance Pokémon. Flames follow the punch, flaring up around the poor grass type.

Smoke follows Turtwig through the air who does not take the super effective attack well.

Two Turtwig's down.

"You were great Turtwig," The gym leader smiles while Ash celebrates with Shinx running around him.

Gardenia's next Pokémon is also not new to Ash.

A Cherubi comes out onto the battlefield. The magenta berry Pokémon looks very strong compared to the pair's. Even its expression looks fierce.

It's still a grass type though.

Dawn watches the battlefield erupt into a battle of fire and leaves.

Magby's ember attacks scorch the grassy floor but Cherubi's razor leaf move manages to cut the flames down. In the beginning anyways.

Dawn watches the flames begin to overtake the tiring Cherubi's leaves, but then a small moving object catches her eye.

Various grass and bug Pokémon have gathered around the field.

But one is getting too close to the action.

_______________________________

We are officially back in business.

Thanks for reading and remember I am taking suggestions for Pokémon, so if you want to see one sooner than later let me know.

Anyway let me know how you liked the chapter and I'll see you soon!