I used to be a Pokeshipper (still kinda am) but then I took Pearlshipping to the knee.

Warning: prequel to "The Battle of the Ladies".

Happy Birthday, Dawn

"Hey Ash... what are you doing with that Pokemon egg?"

The dark-haired boy jumped and looked back at one of his traveling companions and secret crush, Dawn Berlitz, staring at him and the egg he was holding in his arms. He flushed a bit, wondering if he should have been more careful about this or at least more secretive, before stepping forward and handing her the egg. Blinking, Dawn took it and held it close to keep it warm.

"Ash?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you...?"

The bluenette watched him blush as he stumbled over his words and, strangely enough, found herself flushing a bit too as she rubbed the egg absent-mindly. He chuckled dryly and spoke.

"I got it from the same egg farm I visited back in the day with May and the others. I asked them if they had an egg close to hatching since they did tell me that I could take an egg if I wanted to and since it's your birthday today..."

"Oh Ash! You didn't have to!"

"Of course I had to! It's your birthday! The day you were born into this world..." he went off into dreamland.

Before Dawn could say anything to stop this pointless blushing fest they had going on, the egg in her arms began to glow a bright white and she quickly set it down on a warm pillow (mostly because she had just gotten up in her room at the Pokemon Center) and barely felt Ash knee down behind her to look over her shoulder, astounded by the fact that she was witnessing a new life being born into their world.

Moments later...

"Eeeve!"

Thank you for reading guys!

Hope you enjoyed it! :)