Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon
Summary: What if Ash wasn't around when Dawn and Princess Salvia switched roles and was preoccupied with training his Gible?
Shipping: BootlegPearlShipper

Salvia-tion for Ash

Ash, Dawn, Brock and their Pokémon friends were in Arrowroot Town and wouldn't you know it, a Pokémon Contest was in town. This would be Dawn's next bout...if Dawn hadn't already won her five Contest Ribbons. "The Pokémon Contest is here in Arrowroot," she stated the obvious. Still to Ash, it's a good warmup for the upcoming Grand Festival.

"What do you think, Dawn?" he eagerly badgered. "A nice practice round before competing in the Grand Festival couldn't hurt." A nice gesture but Dawn wanted to pass it up.

"Nah, I'll watch. I wanna see who else earns their fifth ribbon. It's easier to know some of my competition that way." Interesting point. Ash shrugged his shoulder, not wanting to argue his point further. If Dawn didn't want to participate, why fight about it?

"Okay. I'm just concerned that you could get rusty before the first round." Well, nothing compiles a counterpoint than another counterpoint. "If you guys don't mind, I'm gonna practice for my eighth Gym Badge. What do you say, Pikachu?" Pikachu wove his paw, denying Ash's offer.

("I think I'll join Dawn with watching,") he squeaked. Ash was a bit startled. Pikachu wanted to watch with Brock and Dawn instead of helping his partner in crime-fighting? Get it? They're not criminals but do take them down.

"You sure, buddy?" Pikachu was confident in just watching the contest, thinking that if Team Rocket was still after Ash for him, he'd be inside and safe. "Okay. I'm not gonna convince you to help me if that's your choice." Further proving to be watching, Pikachu leaped from Ash's shoulder onto Brock's.

"I'll make sure Pikachu's safe," he promised Ash. Ash nodded before walking off to practice. It was at that time someone approached the other two. It was a violet-haired young woman in a maroon dress.

"Excuse me," she called to the others. Brock, Dawn and Pikachu turned to see the woman who looked gorgeous...to Brock's eyes. "Is your name Dawn by any chance?" Dawn was perplexed. How did she know her name? A fan?

"Y-yeah..." she stuttered. The woman was pleased to know she found her and turned to Brock to further confirm her suspicions.

"Then you must be Brock." Instead of having the same reaction, Brock gripped her hands under his with hearts for eyes.

"I am but I'm more known as the breeder of romance and with a lovely figure as yours," he flirted. "I'm paralyzed in love with you!" Tell that to his Croagunk...and his Poison Jab right to the sternum! Brock lost his grip...and any body control and crumpled at the effects of the attack. Pikachu hopped off and onto Dawn's head. "Now...I'm...paralyzed...in...Croagunk's...power!" Down, Croagunk dragged Brock away. You saw nothing! Let's continue!

"Anyway, I come to pick you up on request by the princess. By the way, wasn't there someone else who was suppose to be traveling with you?" She had to mean Ash. Dawn was quick to answer.

"Yeah, but Ash is off training for his last Gym Badge," she explained. The woman was a bit saddened but it wasn't too big of a deal.

"I see. Well, my name is Freesia. I come on behalf of the Arrowroot Town Contest's Goodwill Ambassador. Follow me." Not left with much of a choice, Dawn, with Pikachu on her crown and Piplup in her arms, followed with Brock quickly recovering and pursuing the two ladies. Some ways away, Ash was with Gible, Torterra and Infernape in a clearing close by. Ash and the bigger of the three Pokémon watched Gible.

"Okay, Gible," he encouraged. "Let's see if we can perfect that Draco Meteor." Gible looked ready to perform. "Torterra, in case Draco Meteor fails, you can try and knock it down with Energy Ball. And Infernape, if Torterra fails, you can use Mach Punch." Torterra and Infernape were ready to help out. "Okay, Gible. Let's build up that energy." Gible started to concentrate, centering an orange glow within the small body. The glow brightened. To Ash, it was promising. "Now!" That's when an orange orb emerged from Gible's giant mouth. Finally, he spat out the orb high in the sky. Higher and higher it traveled. "Looking good!" Finally, it couldn't go any higher. The moment of truth. POOF! The orb popped instead of boomed. Two orbs began to fall. Reacting, Torterra powered a green orb from the mouth and shot it into the sky. KABANG! Direct hit. That orb was snuffed. Infernape didn't wait for Torterra to reload and jumped for the last orb with a glowing fist. THWACK! The orb was bashed away. It was another botched attempt. Ash did take some solace with that try. "Well, at least more than one Meteor this time. That was a pretty good attempt, Gible." Gible replied by leaping onto Ash and gnawing on his head. Ash understood Gible's excitement and huffed a chuckle to mask the pain.

"There you've been, Ash!" shouted someone...rather formally. Ash, Infernape and Torterra turned to- Oh, it's Dawn! Wait...was that really her? Ash didn't really notice.

"Dawn, what's up? Why aren't you in the arena?" It did seem a little out of line unless...

"Well, I...thought about your proposal to enter the Pokémon Contest. I want to participate in it." Well, it seemed that Ash's convincing worked. Hold on... Proposal? It sounded more of like a suggestion. Regardless, Ash was rather happy about...now he got suspicious. Her voice.

"Are you alright, Dawn? Your voice is a little..."

"No need to worry about my voice." That convinced him. Only Dawn could say that.

"Okay. But why are you telling me what you have in mind? If you wanna do it, go ahead." Hey, Ash! Don't be so harsh!

"I wanted to practice with you beforehand. Beside, there's still an hour before the contest is officially underway." Good point. Satisfied, Ash was willing to help out.

"Hey, of course!" That's when something clicked for Ash. Brock wasn't around and Piplup too. "Hold on! Where's Piplup...and Brock?" Dawn was starting to feel the heat from Ash. However, Gible chewed his head into submission. Reeling from the bite, Ash chose to drop it. "Okay! Gible, that's enough!" Now, Q's and A's were finished. "Okay. Let's begin." Dawn had one request.

"If it's alright with you, I'd like to practice with Staraptor." Why Staraptor? Ash didn't mind. New material perhaps?

"Sure thing! Staraptor, come on out!" Ash tossed his ball, releasing his predator from the air.

"Togekiss, grace us!" Togekiss? The ball opened to reveal a winged white creature with red and blue spots. This startled Ash. Dawn didn't have a Togepi or a Togetic. Where did she acquire a Togekiss? Unbeknown to Ash, this Dawn wasn't the one who he ditched at the entrance to the arena.

(A few moments ago...)

Dawn was wearing royalty. A lovely lilac gown and a sparkling tiara seemed to have won over the real Dawn...Piplup, Pikachu and Brock. "This is Princess Salvia," Freesia presented. "She's the Goodwill Ambassador summoned from a far away kingdom on request of Arrowroot Town."

"It's a miraculous pleasure to meet you all in person," Salvia bowed. "I've watched all the Pokémon Contest and Tag Battles and became a huge fan. And Piplup, you've been a great asset to Dawn." Piplup chirped, proud of the compliment. Salvia noticed that the attendance was a bit small. "May I ask where Sir Ash has gone?" Only now did someone other than Dawn and Brock notice that Ash wasn't present.

"He's off training as usual," Brock scoffed. "He's still confident that he can get Gible's Draco Meteor to work." Salvia understood. Freesia resumed.

"The reason I summoned you over here is that Princess Salvia wants to compete in a Pokémon Contest," she explained further. "However, her royal duties as the Goodwill Ambassador makes it impossible. That is why I sought you." Dawn had a funny feel about why.

"Hold on!" she jumped. "Are you suggesting I be Princess Salvia?" Even Pikachu was shocked about a request such as this. Salvia wanted Dawn to take her place as the princess and Goodwill Ambassador for Salvia to compete in the Contest.

"Oh, please, Lady Dawn!" she begged. "Say that you will!" Dawn was very reluctant until Freesia presented a pink ball gown and crown-style tiara. Dawn was estatic.

"AWESOME!" She was enjoying the dress and performed a twirl. She also wore arm-length white gloves. Pikachu and Piplup were enticed with Dawn's royal look. "I actually look like a princess!" She stood by Salvia and even Brock found trouble telling the two apart.

"Wow, you two look like twins!" Brock gulped. He couldn't be starting to fall for the two, could he? Croagunk, you're needed again!

"Now, princess," Freesia called. "It's time for you to get dressed." It was Dawn's clothes Freesia was handing over. A little bit later, Salvia looked like Dawn. Even Dawn was amazed.

"Wow, it's like I'm looking into a mirror!" she awed. Brock agreed.

"You two look so much alike, no one would suspect a thing," he pointed out. "Even Ash would have a hard time telling you two apart." That would soon become true.

"It's an honor," Salvia thanked. "Although, your outfit is rather less than desirable. It's pretty embarrassing." She tugged Dawn's skirt down to protect any unmentionables flying in the open.

"It suits you just dandy, your highness," Freesia reconsidered. Salvia would debate but looking like Dawn was the mission.

"If you insist. Now, I'm willing to meet your other friend." Freesia began to escort Dawn and Brock away to the arena for the contest while Salvia sought Ash.

(Now)

Staraptor and Togekiss bashed what appeared to be blue spheres around each other. Ten spheres were in the air before they landed graciously on Staraptor's beak, wing and talons as well as Togekiss' three horns and wings. Finally, the two wingers threw the spheres to the center, colliding. However, instead of a big explosion, the sphere remains were sparkles. They glittered over the two wingers...and the two humans. "That was awesome!" Ash praised. "Who knew that you had a Togekiss in hand. I bet you wanted to keep it in secret until the Grand Festival." Dawn...sorry, Salvia smiled brightly at Ash's compliment.

"Much appreciated, Ash," she returned. "Perhaps I can help out on Gible's Draco Meteor." Salvia, not Dawn, knelt down and comforted Gible.

"Did you run into Cynthia in the arena?"

"Not the champion, no. Someone who had taken a different approach to learning the move." Thinking it was someone still inside, possibly a coordinator like Dawn who's preparing for the Contest, maybe she decided to teach Ash. She pulled out a large red rubber ball. Why a rubber ball?

"You know Gible will jaw around anything in front of him." Salvia wasn't worried.

"Precisely." Just like Ash said and Salvia predicted, Gible clamped its huge teeth onto the rubber ball. That's when it hit Ash.

"I get it. Use an object in Gible's gullet and have it as a support." Gible heard the two and was ready to try once more as Staraptor and Togekiss waited on the ground. "Okay Gible. Let's try Draco Meteor once more." Mouthful Gible nodded before powering up the Dragon Energy in it's body before being able to try it. That's when the new orb enveloped the ball. Finally, Gible shot it skyward. Ash was hoping it would work. KABOOM! The ball blew up into a hundred falling spheres going in all directions. To Ash and Salvia, it was a success. "Gible, you did it!" Gible was proud of that successful Draco Meteor. Without warning, one meteor was heading right at the princess's head. Ash spotted it and dove onto his highness just before the meteor crashed. The Pokémon were so awed with the Draco Meteor that they forgot to knock away any debris falling at them. After that deadly shower, Ash wanted to make sure Salvia was okay. "You alright?" Salvia was shaken and her quaking hand felt the face of the trainer who spared her from harm.

"Thank you." His gift from the royal one? A lovely kiss on the lips. Ash was thinking Dawn had been keeping more secrets than just Togekiss. He's right but he's yet to figure out those secrets. 'Oh, Ash! I wish I could keep you in the castle for the rest of my life.' Of course, that depended if Dawn would approve. Before leaving to watch Salvia and Togekiss in action, she saw the princess kissing the frog...and she was less than enjoying it.

"How...dare she!" she stormed while looking through a telescope. Dawn was upset that Ash was getting some love from the princess. Brock was looking through the same telescope, jealous as well. That's when he thought it could work in Dawn's favor.

"Well, I'm not happy that Ash gets loved on before I do," he murmured. However, if Ash doesn't know it's not you, you could totally take advantage of it." In a sense, Brock figured that Ash was getting kissed by Dawn without knowing that Dawn and Salvia swapped places. Oh, well. If Ash gets an idea of who's who, someone's going to be upset...with Ash being in double trouble.