Season Of Magic: I welcome you all to You're The Reason. My first attempt at a Pokemon fanfiction ever.

This story will revolve around Ash being back from Unova, the reasons as to why and of course the pearlshipping.

Ash is eighteen years old and Dawn will turn sixteen. It's safe to assume that the rest of the characters are around their teenage years as well, or adults in their 30s. Except for the Professors... they're old!

Couples: Main one is pearlshipping but later on mentions of contestshipping and CherenxBianca will happen.

Disclaimer: I am simply a Pokemon fanatic, I claim no ownership.

Season Of Magic's additional note: The bold lyrics I used for Dawn's ringtone for Paul is of a YouTube video I watched a couple months ago. Someone made a Paul version of Dawn's Japanese song "Kimi No Soba De" and even sung it in English as well. That's where I got it from and I claim no ownership.

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You're The Reason

by: Season Of Magic

{-}

As his sole Pokémon companion walked ahead of him hopping in joy, Ash Ketchum couldn't help but smile.

He ran to catch up to his best friend and held the Pikachu tightly in his arms. "We made it buddy!" he said as he pointed to the windmills that covered the lab's immense fields.

After so many days of traveling through the water and so many years of being gone he was finally back in his hometown and could rest knowing he and his Pokémon were now safe.

After a long time of being gone it sure is good to be back he thought as he ran the rest of the way and hopped the stones leading into the small white house.

He fished out the key out of the jacket he was wearing, silently praying that his mother had not changed the lock. As the key went inside the lock he breathed in and then exhaled a sigh of relief as the door opened up.

"Mom I'm home!" he yelled as he pushed the glass door back to let them in, making sure to close the door behind him.

Pikachu got out of his grasp and looked around curiously then waved as if saying he'd take a look around the house for him and to just relax until it came back from the search.

As Pikachu's footsteps became distant and Ash was getting ready to sit on the couch, something caught his eye and made him smile. Many of trophies, medals and similar things from his travels were on top of the shelves that surrounded the corners of the living room.

So his mother really did care about his career and chosen path; why else would she keep his things out on display? And here he thought she did not care at all.

He walked around the living room and held his breath as he examined the trophies. The many memories of his childhood and previous travels coming to mind with each different one his eyes landed on. Moments later, Pikachu came back shaking its head and went up to its trainer, a confused look in it gaze.

"Pika?"

Ash sighed wistfully. "It's nothing, Pikachu. Just thinking we have gotten so far, is all."

Rummaging through his backpack he found his Unova badge case and awards, and he placed them in the further end of the shelf that had a empty space, right beside his awards from Sinnoh.

Moments later, he was walking through the house and with his mother nowhere to be found and no sight of Mr. Mime either he decided it was his fault for not having phoned in to tell her of his arrival, perhaps he should have done so after all.

Oh well. Might as well just sit and wait for her to come back.

Should I call professor Oak and ask him if my mom is there? He wondered as he sat in the couch and bit into an apple, the last remains of his supplies from the boat he had arrived in not more than an hour ago.

The door unlocking, and hurried footsteps brought him out of his thoughts and he glanced towards the front entrance which opened up to reveal the face he had not seen in over five years but always thought about, even more so than his own mother at times.

"Mrs. Ketchum why is the door unlocked..." Dawn said as she entered the house with groceries at hand. "Ash, Pikachu?"

Ash stood up from the couch and nodded as he went to help the girl out. "Yeah it's us alright. What are you doing here Dawn?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing? It's been years since anyone's heard from you."

Ash put the bags in the counter and gave her his famous grin and laughter. "Yeah sorry about that I guess I was a little too busy to call anyone."

"We honestly would have thought you were dead if not for the rumors we've heard about you in the news."

"Like I said I was very busy. I'm sorry."

Dawn crossed her arms. "You shouldn't be telling me this. I'll go find your mother and then you can properly apologize to her. The poor woman's been worried sick!"

"I'll go with you! I mean to say...you don't know Kanto that well."

She shook her head. "I wouldn't be worrying about me if I were you." she said with a smirk "Considering how long you've been gone I'll be surprised if you could find your way out of Viridian forest."

"It's only been five years." he said as he finished putting food in the refrigerator then walked out the door with Pikachu and Dawn.

"Five years can make you forget a lot of things." she said as they walked to professor Oak's laboratory.

"Okay you, my mother, all my friends in the entire Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh and Hoenn region are all mad at me I get it. Lighten up will you?"

"I had to watch your mother suffer for the past five years because of your stupidity so no."

"Oh come on Dawn. You have traveled with me before you know how I can be."

"It's because I traveled with you that I was worried about you," she said as they walked at a slow pace. She decided to change the topic. "I heard you had been traveling with Iris, one of the Unova gym leaders. Did you happen to break her bicycle as well?"

Ash laughed and Pikachu covered his mouth trying hard not to giggle and point at his trainer. "I'm not like that." he said and Dawn wanted to roll her eyes at that "Okay so I broke yours, Misty's and May's... Iris was a completely different case and traveling partner besides she just became gym leader a couple months ago."

Dawn had heard about that. There was a worry in her heart that she could not shake away. "Was that the reason you decided to return to Kanto?" she said a bit too quietly but Ash still heard her.

"You're forgetting about Cilan." he said. "He was my traveling partner as well."

"He continued his quest around Unova, his brothers are still taking care of the gym for now," Dawn stated "Why didn't you do the same?"

"That's right he is. He was really excited to keep learning and searching for Pokémon. I on the other hand, have been gone from here far too long and miss you guys. I think Cilan might come to visit these regions someday with Iris when she can get a break from her gym duties. It'll be great to see them again one day. Unova was really fun with them around but for now I'm just glad to be back."

Dawn did not know what to say. Perhaps Unova had actually changed Ash was all she was thinking as she tried her best not to stare at him.

He did look much older and wiser from the preteen whom she had last seen at the boat.

She sighed and kept stealing glances at him as they walked. She decided to stop it once they actually got to the lab's fields because then everyone could see what she had been doing and would get ideas of her liking Ash, which she did but it was her secret and she wants to keep it that way.

"Hi Gary!" she said waving to the young researcher and grandson of professor Oak whom was out in the fields taking some notes.

"Oh hey Dawn you're back pretty early today." he said closing the notepad to wave back, noticing the Pikachu sitting on its trainer's head. "Well I'll be damned! Ash Ketchum you're finally back! Welcome to Kanto!"

Ash grinned "You bet and this time to stay. Is my mother here?"

Gary opened the door leading to the back of the house. "She's in the kitchen with grandpa I'll go distract them while you get ready to make your entrance."

"That's a great idea Gary but I'm not sure this idiot should see his mother just yet he's been nothing but an inconsiderate jerk." Dawn said.

"Oh come on Dawn I've already said sorry and I really want to see my mother to apologize to her plus I miss her."

"You miss her cooking."

"Okay that too but that's beside the point."

"Break it off you two and come inside the house in like five minutes." Gary said shaking his head and walking inside leaving Ash and Dawn behind to their fighting.

"Hey Gary finished already?" Professor Oak said as he watched his one and only grandson walk in.

"Hey grandpa, Delia sorry to interrupt but Dawn is here and no grandfather I have not finished but I only have a little bit left don't worry."

"That's great Gary. Can you go get Dawn to come in for a cup of tea with us?" Delia said happily.

"You better set two cups then."

"You want a cup of tea Gary?" Professor Oak asked curiously.

"Me? Oh no thank you it's just that Dawn brought a visitor with her."

"That's great the more the merrier! Tell Paul to come inside already."

"Delia you see Paul every single day how can he be considered a visitor?" Professor Oak stated.

"I suppose you are right Samuel. Who's the visitor then?"

"You'll see in just a second I'll go get them." Gary walked out of the kitchen and bumped into Ash and Dawn who were making their way inside the house. "Ready guys?" He asked and they nodded.

"Hey Delia, good morning." Dawn said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Hey guys it's sure been a while huh?" Ash said waving and Pikachu waved as well.

"Ash, Pikachu!" Both the professor and Delia said together.

"The one and only, in the flesh." He replied laughing.

"Pikachu!" The Pokémon got down from Ash's shoulder and extended its short paw to the two older people whom only looked at it wary and scared.

Ash laughed because he knew what was going on. They thought the mouse Pokémon would give them a thunder shock or something like that. "Oh go ahead guys Pikachu won't harm you."

Pikachu once again extended its paw smiling but both did not move a inch.

"You two can be so childish," Dawn said as she knelt down to Pikachu's level and as she extended her hand out, added, "nothing is going to happen, watch."

Pikachu looked at its trainer and when Ash gave him a stern face as if to say no thunder or any kind of shock from you mister so he just grabbed Dawn's hand and shook it without any kind of electricity "Pikachu!" and with that he launched himself into Dawn's arms.

"I missed you too." She said laughing and hugging the Pokémon tightly.

"Okay mom I know you're mad but..."

"Mad does not cover it mister! You did not call me even once for the last five years!"

"I was...busy?"

"Getting badges? Exploring Unova? Oh I know that because of the television but wouldn't it have been nice to hear it from my own son!"

"Mom I'm really sorry I never called but I promise I was traveling with really good people."

"Cilan and Iris, they're both gym leaders and apparently Ash didn't break a bike this time." Dawn stated. "Which means no monetary damages."

"Not helping much Dawn." Ash said glaring at her.

"Okay fine come on Pikachu let's go get you and the rest of Ash's Pokémon reacquainted. Professor, do you mind if I feed the Pokémon right now instead of later?"

"I do not mind, I will even go with you. Ash and Delia need time alone and I need to complete my latest research."

"Great! Let's go" she said smiling and hugged Pikachu tighter "I can take him with me right Ash?"

"Yeah go ahead I'll meet you guys there in a bit."

"This conversation is not done mister!"

Ash sighed and mouthed the words "Help me." to Dawn, whom only grinned and went outside as if nothing was going on.

{-}

Professor Oak had left her as soon as they got to the field. He had used the Pokémon as an excuse to be able to gather more research with Gary whom had come out with them as well.

So here she was with Pikachu walking around the fields and explaining everything that had happened in the last five years as best as she could.

She skipped the part about missing Ash, the crying at night and other things like that of course. She just talked about the Pokémon and her journey.

She sighed as she gripped the railings separating Ash's Pokémon from the rest of the other trainer's Pokémon they were caring for.

He was back. She did not know what to think or do about it. Everything was different now and she had grown up.

Would he actually see that? Would he even care?

Who was she kidding? As a preteen Ash was dense and even though he's much older now he is probably still just as dense as he was before.

She shook the thoughts off and smiled as Pikachu jumped over the fence and ran to greet the friends he had not seen in a while. "Pikachu!" he said and everyone ran towards him excitedly and jumping up and down.

She thought it was best to let them have time to themselves so she walked towards the shed to get the food so they could all eat. She had to admit she was a bit hungry herself.

She walked back pushing a cart and saw that Ash was standing near the railing watching all of his Pokémon surround Pikachu in a circle. "They sure look happy and well taken care of." He said as she drew nearer.

Dawn didn't answer and just went to open the gate to let them in. She pushed the cart inside and smiled as the Pokémon broke the circle and ran towards her, she had put Ash behind her so they had not known he was there yet. "Good afternoon guys it's time for lunch who's hungry?" a few of them went to hug her but she put up her hand to stop them. "Before you all hug and tackle me for food there's a surprise for you...look who's back from Unova!" she grinned as they stared at her confusedly. She pushed Ash towards the Pokémon and all of them went to tackle their trainer in happiness.

"Okay guys I miss you all too but take it easy please!"

As Ash was being tackled and jumped on by his Pokémon, Dawn set bowl after bowl full of Pokémon food down then set a blanket and a basket as well. "Alright guys lunch is served." She smiled and threw a few poke balls in the air. "Join the party!"

The Pokémon all went towards the bowl of food excited and pushed their respective bowls near Dawn and the blanket, their trainer momentarily forgotten.

Ash sighed as he sat down in the blanket. "I had forgotten how much my Pokémon love to tackle me."

Dawn passed him a sandwich and patted him on the shoulder "They miss you it's only natural for them to show their happiness in knowing you are back."

"I missed them too," he admitted as he took the wrapper off the sandwich and tried his best not to say how much he had missed her as well. "The Pokémon seem well adjusted to you. Do you take care of them?" Was all he uttered.

Dawn shrugged. "I work part time for professor Oak when I'm around."

"What do you mean by work?"

"Taking care of all your Pokémon takes effort you know but I hardly call it work. It's a lot of fun as well because I get to interact with and learn about all kind of different types."

"So basically all you do is take care of my Pokémon?" He asked.

Dawn blushed but then shook her head. "No! I do chores here and there as well."

Ash laughed. "Well I'm still glad to know my Pokémon have been under your care. I worry about them sometimes but if you're here then I know everything is fine and I have nothing to worry about."

"Actually I only take care of them a couple months a year."

"What do you mean?"

"I still travel all over the place. I only stay a few months here in Pallet town then I leave to the other regions."

"Ah I see. You still compete in contests?"

Dawn smiled. "Yes and no." she opened up her bag and passed him two separate cases.

"You do contests and gym battles now? That's great. "Ash said as he opened the cases and stared amazed at all the ribbons and badges. "Wow congratulations Dawn you've sure gotten far in the last couple of years."

"Thanks."

"I am curious about one thing though." Ash said.

"What is it?" Dawn replied back.

"What were you doing in my house today?"

"Oh that. While I'm here in Kanto I live with your mom."

Ash stood there mouth agape. "Wait... what!"

"Yeah, Paul is the one whom stays in the laboratory with Professor Oak. Your mom was really nice and let me stay with her so I did not have to be stuck there with them."

"Paul is here as well?"

Dawn nodded ."I've been traveling with him and Misty a lot. Misty's sisters came back from their trip about three years ago and Misty decided to travel with me. It's a lot of fun and she's great as a coordinator."

"What has this world come to?" Ash sighed and shook his head in defeat.

"You used to compete in them as well you know."

"I'm not talking about the contests I'm talking about you traveling with Paul."

"He's not that bad a person. If you get to know him he's really nice and funny."

Paul was funny? That was about the silliest thing he had heard all day. "Maybe I should come along on the next trip with you guys."

"Eh?" she was confused. "I thought you said you weren't going to travel for a while?"

As the thoughts about Dawn and Paul traveling together alone came to him he clenched his fists and tried his best to calm down the rage he was feeling. "I changed my mind."

"Nah you're staying here. You need the vacation."

"I think of traveling as my vacation and besides when I stay in one place for too long it gets boring." he said and then looked oddly as he heard when I say one more time I want to mean you're weak. "What is that?" He asked curiously.

Dawn took her phone out of her bag and pushed the talk button but started singing along Standby for battle, defeat them, it's my victory… "Hi Paul!" she said waving into the built in camera.

Paul shook his head and sighed I see you still have not changed the ringtone troublesome

"It's my phone I can do what I want with it besides I like it."

It's the same version as your stupid made up song of course you like it

"Stop criticizing me and just tell me what you want already."

Never mind that I can see you're at the field

"Yup and look who's with me. Ash wave and say hi!"

Oh you're back

Ash simply replied "Yeah I'm back and this time to stay. Your days of traveling alone with Dawn are over."

What is this idiot talking about troublesome? I never traveled alone with you

"I have no clue." Dawn stated.

"You were the one who said you traveled with him." Ash said.

"You thought I traveled alone with Paul?" Dawn wanted to laugh. "Oh please like I would do that."

"Dawn you're the one who said you were traveling with him."

"Yes. I travel with Paul and Misty. She's at Cerulean City right now because of her gym leader duties. Once she finishes we're all leaving Kanto together not just me and Paul, silly."

"So...you're not traveling alone with Paul then?"

No you imbecile she's not. I would not mind if she did though. She's not that bad to be around with at times she's even tolerable

"You stay away from her I'm warning you."

Paul smirked. Congratulations troublesome; you got your idiot back. Anyways, please remember that we're low on supplies for the lab and it's your turn to do the shopping. I also know you still have some heals, potions and puffins from last time but you might need a couple more things like that tent you always say you're going to get but never do and always end up sharing with carrot top instead. So stop being lazy and go to the mall, buy the tent or suffer it's your choice really and then he hung up.

Dawn stood up and began placing the bowls of food back to the cart along with the blanket Ash had folded and handed to her. She grabbed her poke balls and called her Pokémon back "Alright guys, return." she said then made Ash go out of the field and closed the fence before any of Ash's Pokémon could escape.

Pikachu hopped off the fence and got on top of Ash's hat. He watched as Ash and Dawn walked to the shed and then Dawn did not look like she was going back to the lab.

"Where are you going?" Ash asked curiously as Dawn walked away from the laboratory.

"You heard Paul. I have to go get supplies besides there's a couple of stuff I have to do in town anyways so I'll take this opportunity to go and take care of it that way I kill two birds with one stone."

Ash yelled at her to wait up for him "I'm going to go with you." he said running after her.

"Fine you can come along," she said as she waited for him to catch up. "I need someone to help me hold the bags either way."

"Okay I changed my mind I don't want to go after all."

Dawn grabbed him by the hand and pulled him with her to town "Nope you're going and that's final."

"But…but…." Ash tried to complain and Pikachu simply patted his trainer on the head with his paw trying to console him.