Okay, I know this story was actually suppose to be posted a few days ago, (Sorry, Gabby!) buuutt I got side-tracked with other 'fics that helped me get back on my feet. (Thank you, PorcelainDollxx and angelcutiepie...though you probably won't be reading this haha) Anyways, go read their 'fics if you haven't already, they're really good!

Ash: Ahem

Me: What?

Ash: *glare* What about Chapter 5 of "CLWY" ?

Me: ...o: that'll be up before I go back to school the 26th of this wretched month x.x I WILL MAKE SURE OF IT NO NEED TO WORRY!

Dawn: T.T That's my line

Me: Bummer. Anyways, more about this story- This story is based off of "Beauty and the Beast," which is one of my favorite movies. Why this particular story? Well, my theatre did "Beauty and the Beast" for our play this year, and it was spectacular! I wasn't a big part, but it was still soooo so so fun! :D Anyway, that inspired me to write this story c: (THERE'S NO RANDOM SINGING DON'T PANIC! But I will have some lines and lyrics thrown around in there c;) And plus, my OC character will make her first appearance! :D her form in my bio will come up eventually =3

Disclaimer: I do own Pokemon, nor do I own certain lines and lyrics from the movie "Beauty and the Beast."

***THIS STORY WILL BE THREE CHAPTERS LONG. I KNOW THIS FOR SURE.

Please enjoy! c:

Chapter 1- Their Plan & My Fantasy

The crack of thunder sounded outside, and rain began to pour in sheets on the playing children. They screamed, as did their Pokemon, and they ran in a tizzy to get to the front door of the house. The door opened before they could start banging their small fists on the wooden surface.

"Come inside, children, it's alright," the ebony haired girl tried to assure the small kids, who all shoved their way inside to get away from the monstrous thundering and threatening flashes of lightning illuminating the dark sky. The teen sighed heavily and shut the door, muffling the storm's rage.

"Now, everyone, settle down," said she, sitting in her rocking chair as the children grouped around her feet.

"Settle down? How?!" one of the smallest girls exclaimed, waving her hands around in a panicked gesture and then stopping. She clutched her Oshawott, wide eyes looking up at the older girl.

"Ms. Lucy, the storm will get us! How are you so relaxed?" cried another child.

The older girl, called Lucy, had a playful smile across her lips and -upon being asked the silly question- she began to laugh. The children looked at each other in confusion. "The storm cannot get you when you are safe inside." She leaned over and her long dark hair fell over her shoulder. "The storm will only truly get you if you let yourself give into fear of it."

Once again the children exchanged skeptical and confused looks. Lucy's eyes twinkled; she'd expected such from the youngsters.

"Now, the best way to fight fear is to think of a way to conquer it," Lucy informed the silent group, her hands clasping her knees. "But, since you're so young, I think distracting you will be the best medicine right now."

"Distract us?" the girl with the Oshawott asked.

"Yes," The older girl said. "And I think reading to you would be best."

An excited murmur started among the children; they knew Lucy told magnificent stories, whether she read them from a book or told them from her head, she truly brought them to life. Sometimes she would act them out or really described them in such a mood setter that it would have the children on the edge of their seats, the full picture in their imagination blooming the more she would speak.

"What story will you read us?" asked a boy with curly red hair.

Lucy got up and crossed to the bookshelf in the corner. Bending over, she examined the spines of each book and ran her index finger over them, looking for the particular one she thought of. She made a soft "ah" as she plucked a leather bound book from the shelf and walked back over to the children.

"I present, 'Beauty and the Battler,'" Lucy announced after she took her seat in the rocking chair again. The children murmured amongst each other again. They hadn't heard this story before.

"This is one of my favorites, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I do," said Lucy, her smile as warm as a quilt. She had just opened the book to begin reading when a loud boom shook the house and suddenly the lights flickered off. The children shrieked in panic and clutched each other and their Pokemon, the darkness pressing on their eyes and blinding them.

Suddenly, a red glow emanated from the rocking chair. Lucy was putting a Pokeball back into her belt, and the producer of the light was her Vulpix sitting on the arm of her chair, using a mere Will 'O Wisp to illuminate the room. Lucy got gracefully to her feet, pulled out some candles, and Vulpix guided the tiny wisps of fire to the wicks, giving the room some more light.

"See, nothing to be frightened of," The dark haired girl chimed, the firelight reflecting off her magnificent eyes, which were a deep and serene violet.

"Now, shall we begin the story?"

The children nodded and grouped closer around her chair. Lucy picked up the book, and her Vulpix hopped on the arm of her chair, alongside it was a black shadow that zipped onto the other arm of the chair. It was the tricky fox Pokemon, Zorua.

"Oh, Dani, Zea, glad you could join us," The dark haired teen told her two Pokemon, who both rubbed against her affectionately. She smiled warmly and once again opened the book gently. The cover was embroidered with golden lettering, written in the language of the Unown. With a crisp clear of her throat, Lucy began to read:

"'Once upon a time, in a far off place called Pallet Town, there was a trainer named Ash Ketchum. He was said to be the greatest Pokemon trainer that had ever lived. He went through each region and earned all eight badges, and even beat all the leagues. He defeated every Frontier Brain as well, and managed to scrape win after win from every challenger he faced. He was also hardworking and passionate with his Pokemon, and with his few closest friends.

"'However, after winning a great many battles, he became selfish, greedy, and unkind.'" Lucy paused for effect, watching the children's expressions change from wonder to disappointment. She continued.

"'These emotions started clouding his judgment, and on a lonely winter's night, Ash received a visit from an elderly woman. She sought to battle him, and if she defeated him, she requested shelter in his home. However, if she were to lose, she offered him a single rose for his victory and she would depart.

"'But Ash refused. He waved her away, repulsed by her looks, and he attempted to cover his disgust by telling her that she ought not to make a fool of herself by challenging him. She warned him not to be deceived appearances, but when he refused her again, her haggard appearance melted away to reveal the powerful and legendary Pokemon, Mew-'"

"Mew?" The children breathed out, their eyes wide with wonder. The dark haired girl nodded, beaming at their amazed faces.

"Wow..." The girl with the Oshawott said, nudging her neighbor, who was holding a sleeping Budew, nodded in agreement with her. Lucy waited patiently as the children's murmuring finally ceased, and she fixed her eyes back on the page.

"Trying to apologize for his mistake, Ash begged for a second chance, but Mew saw there was no love in his heart. As a punishment, she changed him into a ferocious beast, and cursed his household so the inhabitants were transformed as well. She told him that to break the curse, he would have to fall in love, and earn her love in return. The rose she offered was truly enchanted; it would bloom for several years, but near the end of the last year, it would slowly begin to wilt. It was his duty to find her before the last petal fell, or he'd be eternally a beast...'"

Once again, Lucy paused. Total silence filled the room, the children so rapt and absorbed in the story that they did not want to interrupt. She smiled, and continued,

"'As time went on, Ash fell into despair; who could possibly love him, this monstrous beast? He hid himself and his cursed friends inside an abandoned castle deep in the Viridian Forest. Since none of them could be recognized, they could not return home and their families were sick with worry. No matter how many times they searched, they could not find their missing family members. His admirers thought Ash possibly became lost and died, and soon his name was just an old legend, a bedtime story. His mother grieved for him, pleaded and prayed for him to come home, but he was beyond her help. Mew had also left Ash an enchanted mirror, his only window to the outside world. He often used the mirror to check on his mother, who took the supposed death of him hard. He could not return to her, not just yet. He had to find her first..."

The morning light shone bright, penetrating through the closed curtains of the sleeping teen's room. She blinked, yawned, and sat up, stretching. Just another day. Start the routine.

Tossing the blankets off of herself, the blunette slid out of bed and approached her mirror, but flinched when she saw her appearance; her midnight blue hair was sticking up in all directions, her normal cream and roses skin was as pale as her sheets, and her eyes looked puffy and full of sleep. Yikes.

The blue haired girl seized her silver hair brush and began feverishly tugging through the tangles. It felt as if she was yanking out her scalp, but she refused to let anyone see her bedhead.

"Dawn! Dawn, honey, breakfast!" Her mother's voice called from downstairs. A couple of tugs later, and Dawn sighed with relief. Her hair fell smoothly down her back, silky and back to it's fine state. She smiled.

"Okay, mom, I'll be down in a moment!" Dawn called out, then began washing and scrubbing her face and brushed her teeth, then slipped into a light blue sundress with three tiny flowers on the neckline.

After analyzing her appearance for another five minutes, she decided that she looked acceptable enough and no longer blanched, so she made her way downstairs.

"Morning, dear!" Johanna exclaimed, infolding her daughter in a brief hug. "Are you going into town today?"

"I am," Dawn told her, sitting down and began digging into her waiting breakfast. Toast and eggs and orange juice. Normal. The same. Always delicious. Always on a china plate, always with a neat checkered napkin tucked underneath.

"Will you pick up some bread and eggs, dear?" The blue haired woman asked her daughter, whisking Dawn's empty plate and cup off the table as the latter stood up.

"Of course, mum," said she as she grabbed a picnic basket sitting ready for her beside the door. Like always. "See ya later!"

The blunette hurried down the path, through the garden, and over the hill, where she could see the small, provincial town of Pallet. It looked the same, small houses and usual morning bustle. She sighed. The only thing new that had much happened to this town was her and her mother moving in just over a year ago from her old town, Twinleaf. She liked that her house wasn't actually in town; it made her feel different and disconnected from everyone, but wasn't she already?

"Pfft, everyday, like the one before," She joked to herself, making her way down the hill with her swinging basket and passing the first few houses. "And hear they'll be waking up to say..."

"Hello!"

"Bonjour!"

"Top of the morning!"

"Good day!"

She memorized the usual morning greetings, could practically mouth them as they were said! She waved to some friendly townspeople, and spotted her first destination.

"And of course," Dawn whispered to herself. "There goes the baker with his tray- like always. The same old bread and rolls to sell." She debated on her choice, and then plucked two healthy looking loaves and slapped them down in front of the baker.

He raised his head and offered a swift smile. "Ah, Dawn, a pleasure, as always!" He said with an air of trying to be pleasant, but also with slight impatience. "Where are you off today?" He rang up her bread.

"To buy eggs, and to the bookshop!" She replied, offering a sweet smile at the mention of books. "I just finished this lovely story about a beanstalk and and a Golem-"

"That's nice!" He interrupted, not really listening and turning his head over his shoulder. "Marianne, the baguettes, hurry up!"

Dawn shrugged, muttering "never mind" and turning away to the next cart to purchase some eggs.

"That girl, she's always so been so peculiar," Iris whispered to her green haired boyfriend, who glanced over.

"Who Dawn? Oh who knows, maybe she isn't feeling well," Cilan told her, shaking his head.

"She's always got this dreamy look!" Georgia cut in, watching Dawn meander down the street with a far off look on her face.

From behind Georgia, a blond haired boy around their age nodded in agreement. "And she's always got her nose stuck in book! Every single day!" Trip exclaimed, making a face.

"She's quite a puzzle to us, I suppose," Burgundy said, rolling her eyes and wheeling her cart of expenses down the street.

Dawn, who could hear their loud conversation about her, just ignored the remarks and kept walking towards her destination. She was use to the people talking about her, use to the rude gossip they conversed about when they thought she couldn't hear. She didn't care much, just stuck to her beloved books for comfort.

The blunette pushed open the bookshop's door, and entered while the bell tinkled in a friendly sort of manner, much unlike the townspeople.

"Ah, my dearest Dawn!" exclaimed the owner of the shop, Professor Oak, whose kind smile and twinkling dark eyes made Dawn feel slightly better.

"Good morning, Professor!" She said, beaming and pulling a green covered book from her basket. "I've come to return the book I borrowed!"

"Wow, you finished it already, in just a day?" Oak asked, taking the book and carefully reshelving it. Dawn twirled around the bookcases, her eyes searching the spines for something she might not have read.

"Oh yes, I simply couldn't put it down!" She trilled, climbing on the ladder to look at the highest shelf to see if she could have possibly missed a story up there. "Have you got anything new?"

The Professor laughed good naturedly. "Not since a few days ago, and the three new ones you read already."

"Darn," She muttered, slightly disappointed as she scanned the shelves. Her gaze landed on a particular volume, and she seized it, her eyes twinkling. "I'll just borrow this one!"

She brought it over to him to checkout, and he chuckled again. "This one? But you've read it twice!"

"It's my favorite! Far off regions, daring Pokemon battles, magic spells, a champion in disguise-"

"If you like it all that much, it's yours, dear." He pressed the book in her surprised hands, and smiled broadly at her open mouth.

"B-but, sir, I couldn't-"

Oak shook his head and dusted off lab coat. "I insist." He winked. "For my favorite customer."

Her cheeks colored and she leaned over the counter to hug the old man. "Oh thank you, sir! Thank you so much!" Taken aback by her hug and before he could comprehend what to do next, Dawn had scurried off out of the shop, shouting another "thank you" over her shoulder.

Now that she had completed her mission for the day, Dawn started heading home. But, eager to start the book, she simply opened the old spine gently, and began to read, weaving in and out of passing people. Some grumbled, some squawked at her to pay attention, but she didn't run into people; the sight of her buried in her book while walking irritated them.

"Such a waste of beauty, being glued to books all the time," Soledad said to a man with long purple hair and dressed as a Cacturne. "Her looks definitely have no parallel."

"I agree. But, behind that fair facade, I believe she's rather odd," said Harley with a shake of his head. The pair watched as Dawn perched herself on the fountain, her eyes scanning each page with rapt attention. Some children sat by her, and she smiled and read from the book to them, until their irritable mothers ushered them away.

Dawn sighed, returning to her book with a small frown on her face. It was one thing when everyone thought she was odd, just muttered to each other about her unusualness, but it was quite another when people treated her like a freak, or a plague that could damage their children. She shifted uncomfortably in her spot, aware that many eyes were upon her. She gulped and kept reading, pretending to be unfazed by their stares.

Only did their gazes break when three girlish shrieks and giggles erupted from several yards away, and soon the people were murmuring in excitement as the source of the chatter emerged from the crowd.

"It's him, it's him!" They whispered, girls everywhere fixing their hair or brushing off their clothes. Guys grumbled some envious words and parted, revealing a boy with messy, auburn hair, dark eyes, purple pants and a tight, dark shirt to show off his hard muscles. His handsome complexion sent the nearest girls in a tizzy, and they bounced up and down in excitement, and one girl was so enraptured she was drooling.

Three girls followed the attractive teen, their hands clasped by their flushed cheeks.

"Look, there he goes!" The pink haired girl, called Ursula, squealed.

The brunette next to her sighed. "Isn't he dreamy?" Lyra asked.

"Oh he's so cute!" Bianca squeaked, tugging at her blond hair to make sure it was in place. The girls stayed close to Gary, batting their eyelashes and trying to say hello.

The young man hardly paid attention to his fans, just flipped a Pokeball in his hand. A twitchy blond boy with orange eyes scrambled to his side, holding a bag in his jittery hands.

"You didn't miss a capture, Gary, you're the greatest Pokemon capturer in the whole world!" Barry exclaimed.

Gary Oak just smirked. "Oh, I know." He flexed his fingers, and placed the Pokeball into his belt. He walked with his chest thrown out. A nearby girl fainted.

"Well, no Pokemon stands a chance against you," Barry blabbered on. "Or any girl for that matter." He let out a burst of laughter, and Gary nodded.

"Will you be choosing a wife sooner or later?"

Gary's haughty grin flicked on, and he spotted the blunette slipping off the fountain and walking away from the commotion without taking her eyes off the pages. He gestured to Dawn, a glint sparkling in his dark eyes.

"I've got my sights set on her," Gary exclaimed, a note of pride in his voice.

"Johanna Berlitz's daughter?" Barry asked, taken aback.

"Yes, indeed, she's the most beautiful girl in town," Gary informed him, starting to jog after Dawn's retreating form.

Running after him, Barry started to protest, but Gary turned to glare at him.

"Don't I deserve the best?"

"Y-yes," The blond teen muttered meekly, backtracking from fright. Gary's smirk returned, and he kept pursuing the blunette, Barry barely keeping up in his wake.

The townspeople's focus was on Dawn again, and the mutters started up once more,

"Look, there she goes, and reading another book. Big shocker."

"She's really strange."

"But special!"

"She's just a peculiar girl!" Lyra said to her two friends, rushing to keep up with Gary.

"I think it's a pity, and a sin!" Ursula grumbled, keeping pace with the blond and brunette.

Bianca, panting, managed to say, "She doesn't quite fit in!"

"She really is a funny girl."

"A beauty, though!"

"Oh, that Dawn!"

The people quieted about Dawn as she made her way up the hill, her basket swinging merrily on her arm, her book clasped in her grip. She didn't even notice the pair following her, until someone jumped in her way and she collided with him and stumbled back, dropping her book and basket.

"Uh, hi, Gary," Dawn muttered, trying to keep the annoyance in her voice to a minimum as she stooped to pick up the fallen objects. She gathered up her items, and tried to sidestep the auburn haired boy, but he blocked her way. "Excuse me." She tried to slip by, but he snatched her book from her hands.

"May I have my book back, Gary?" The blunette questioned as he flipped through it.

"How can you possibly read this, it has no pictures!" Gary said in disgust, shaking his head.

"Well, some people use their imagination," She informed him, making a grab for the book, but he merely tossed it over his shoulder into the dirt.

"Dawn, it's time you got your head out of those books and paid attention to more important things," Gary boomed, placing his hands on his hips and smirked at her.

Barry coughed, "Hint hint!"

Dawn regarded Gary's rugged features with an irritated expression, and managed to walk past him to grab her book. "Oh please, like you?" She scoffed, dusting off her book and turning to narrow her royal blue eyes at him. "Gary, please, I have to go inside and help my mother."

"Crazy 'ole, bat, she'll need all the help she can get!" Barry crooned, getting a laugh out of himself and Gary.

"Don't talk about my mother that way!" She snapped back.

Gary stopped laughing at once and gave Barry a shove. "Yeah, don't talk about her mother that way!"

"My mother is wise!" She said, but in the next moment, smoke burst forth from the windows of her cottage. She yelped. "Mama!" She ran to help her, and both boys laughed once more. The blunette opened the front door, coughing, and ran to the kitchen.

"Mama!" Dawn cried again, swatting away the fumes to where Johanna was lying on the floor, candle wax and bottles scattered around her. Dawn beat the smoke away with a blanket and knelt by her mother. "Are you alright?"

Her mother smiled and coughed a little. "Perfectly fine, deary. Just a little concoction gone wrong," She reassured her daughter, patting Dawn's cheek and standing up. She brushed off her apron and grabbed a rag.

"Lemme help you," Dawn said, seizing a rag as well and running it under the faucet before starting to scrub the floor. She was use to this sort of routine, her mother loved to experiment with different ingredients and hopefully make a new brew of some sort. Some people called her a witch, but she didn't do it for harm; she mostly sought out new medicines or pain killers. But others shopped at her little store, where she sold candles and herbs. It was nice her mom could make business, but moving from her old town had been tough.

The reason they'd moved was so her mom could find more business. Dawn complained that they didn't have to move to a completely different region, maybe just the next town over. But her mom had insisted, and her opinions weren't easily wavered. So now they were here, the boring old town of Pallet, the place that never changed.

"Thank you, honey, but really, I'm fine," Her mother muttered, patting her daughter's hand and finishing up the mess. She sat down as Dawn poured tea.

"So, did you have fun in town today?"

"Well...I got a new book!" Dawn said, trying to sound cheery as she sat across from her mother and handed her a tea cup. Her mother thanked her and took a sip, watching the younger blunette over the top of her drink.

"Uh...mum?"

"Yes, dear?''

"Do you think I'm...odd?" Her mother snorted through her tea. "Certainly not, sweetheart." She put on her funny looking pair of reading glasses, picked up a cookbook, and then looked back up at her daughter. "Where would you get a silly idea like that?"

"Well, everyone seems to think so," Dawn mumbled, staring into the surface of her tea. "I don't have anyone to talk to."

"Mm, what about that Gary Oak fellow?" Her mother winked. "He's quite handsome."

"Oh, he's handsome alright." Dawn shook her head. "And rude, and conceited, and just- ugh! Oh, mama, he's definitely not for me."

"Sweetheart." Looking amused, she took off her reading glasses and walked around the table to rest her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You know the Viridian Festival is coming up tomorrow, yes? Well, I will sell many products tomorrow and we'll get out of this town to visit all the places in your books."

She turned shining eyes to her mother. "R-really?"

"Of course, but that means I have to get going right now. Will you help me load the wagon?"

So mother and daughter loaded various herbs and candles into the large wagon, and strapped them tightly. Johanna threw a Pokeball into the air, and out burst a large unicorn with a fiery mane and tail. (A/N - I know Rapidash is a fire horse, but I call it a unicorn sometimes since it has a horn so no judge or reviews saying, "Rapidash is the fire horse Pokemon, not a unicorn!" I KNOW! x.x)

"Good luck, Mama!" Dawn called after her mother as Rapidash pulled them into the forest and out of sight. Dawn dropped her hand and bit her lip. "Be careful."

The Viridian Forest was dark, the trees very close together and the path barely visible. Johanna lightly nudged Rapidash forward, glancing left and right as she went. The distant calls of wild Pokemon could be heard, and it was making her nervous, a feeling shared between Pokemon and it's trainer.

"It's alright, Dash dear," Johanna consoled the unicorn, who made a soft whinny and kept moving, though reluctantly.

And then, howls erupted from the trees, uncomfortably close. The blunette winced, and nudged Rapidash again. "Faster," She murmured, and Rapidash picked up a little speed, but she couldn't cart the wagon fast enough to get away...

Now Johanna was very worried. The howls were getting closer, and now she could hear the sounds of many paw pads coming closer. She nudged her horse once more, egging her on and trying to go faster. But Rapidash couldn't go faster with the heavy cart...

Before Johanna could react, five dark shapes leaped from behind the trees and upon Rapidash. The blunette went toppling to ground, rolling on the path. The five shadows bore down on her instead, and five pairs of red eyes leaned close to her own, low rumbling growls issuing from their jaws.

Johanna screamed, and she managed to shove through two of the Mightyena, struggling off the path and into the trees. Adrenaline roaring in her ears, Johanna sprinted as fast as she could, shoving branches aside and leaping over roots. 'They will not get me, they will not get me!' She thought fiercely, ducking and shoving her way farther, the Mightyena just behind her.

The trees suddenly parted and Johanna burst out of them, nearly crashing into wrought iron gates. Her eyes widened when she saw the five Mightyena pounce, their snarls getting closer and closer. She managed to pry open the gates, get inside them, and slammed them shut, the Mightyenas' heavy bodies crashing against them. She backtracked quickly, her hat sailing off her head and fell close enough to the gates where she didn't dare grab it.

Gasping for breath, clutching a stitch in her chest, she realized that she was freezing. The days had been getting steadily colder as November drew nearer, and now that she was stuck far away from Viridian City, and even Pallet Town, she had no hope to get to either, especially on foot. Not to mention the dropping temperature and the five Mightyenas still circling the outside of the gate.

Getting shakily to her feet, she turned around to face what lie beyond the gate. She gasped, a castle the last thing she expected to see. It looked abandoned, vines growing alongside the towers, the walls, the pillars. In the semi-darkness, the castle looked forbidding, unwelcoming. 'But, where else can I go? I'll just stay for the night...'

Cautiously, Johanna approached the large doors, then carefully pushed them open. "Hellooo?" Johanna called, hugging her arms and walking inside the grand entrance with chattery teeth. The red carpet beneath her feet muffled her footsteps, small puffs of dusts erupting at her feet.

In the shadows, where Johanna couldn't see, a Pokemon lifted its head off its chest sleepily, green eyes widening. "K-Khoury!" the Pokemon whispered, nudging the sleeping owl beside him. "Wake up, someone's in the castle!"

The Noctowl grunted and rustled his feathers, his eyes glowing lightly in the darkness as he fixed his gaze on the woman. "Wh-what?!" He squawked, flapping his wings indignantly. "What's she doing here?"

"Hello! Hello, I was looking for somewhere to stay!" Johanna called, still making her way slowly towards the stairs at the far end of the room. The Noctowl shook it's head and continued to flap it's wings angrily.

"Drew! Drew, how could you let that woman in?" He chattered angrily, hitting the Pokemon's arm beside him. The Gallade, who was called Drew, looked excited.

"I did not, but she looks awfully lost, I shall assist her!" The Gallade said, casually walking up to Johanna and saying, "Why hello, madam."

Johanna let out a soft shriek, her hands jumping to her mouth. "A...t-talking Pokemon?!"

"And goodbye!" The Noctowl named Khoury said swiftly, flapping his wings at the blunette in irritation. Johanna stepped back, her royal blue eyes huge.

"Ah, Khoury, have a heart, the poor lady needs a place to stay," Drew the Gallade said warmly, gently taking Johanna's elbow. "How 'bout we sit you down, ma'am, and I'll have Caroline bring you some tea."

"O-okay!" Johanna managed to squeak as the Gallade escorted her to the wingback chair by the fireplace. His fist suddenly burst into flames, and he lit the logs to make a roaring fire. A blanket was draped across Johanna's thin shoulders, and she turned her to thank the Gardevoir, who smiled.

"It's lovely to have a guest here," The Gardevoir said, her voice sweet and cheery. "Anything I could get you, just let me know." Johanna thanked her again, and hugged the blanket closer.

"'Scuse me, May, I have tea!" said a woman's voice, and a tray was pushed in by a blue, cat-like Pokemon. A Vaporeon! The Gardevoir called May moved aside and the Vaporeon bustled up with tray now balanced precariously on her head. An Eevee perched on the tray, holding the teacup in his paws.

"Here ya go, miss!" The Eevee squeaked, it's bushy tail wagging.

"Oh, thank you!" The blunette exclaimed, taking the cup from the Eevee's outstretched paws and sipping it a little.

"Oh, Max!" cried the Gardevoir, picking up the Eevee from the tray and setting him on the floor. "Hey!" He protested, making an irritated face at the Gardevoir called May.

"You two, settle down," The Vaporeon commanded, a steely glint in her eyes that hadn't been there moments before. It faded the minute her gaze settled on Johanna. "I am Caroline Maple, and it's nice to meet you!" Johanna smiled and nodded. She felt so comfortable, but...talking Pokemon. The idea was absurd. Could she be dreaming? She gave her arm an experimental pinch, but the only thing that happened was pain shooting up her arm.

The only one who hadn't graciously welcomed her was the Noctowl named Khoury, who was pacing back and forth. "...he'll be angry, Drew," he was saying to the Gallade, who rolled his eyes. "He does not like visitors!"

"Relax, he need not know," The Gallade called Drew tried to assure the Noctowl, but the latter continued to pace and mutter.

But a sudden roar frightened them to silence. The fire blew out in a rush of air and darkness surrounded them. Frightened, Johanna cowered in her chair and the Pokemon retreated in the shadows. "Oh no.." She heard Max whisper.

The hairs on the back of Johanna's neck stood up, a shadow fell across her and an angry voice growled, "WHO ARE YOU?"

She shivered and cringed low in the chair, too scared to look up at the speaker. "I am J-Johanna, and I was merely looking for a place to stay the night, you see-"

"YOU'RE NOT WELCOME!" The voice boomed, and startled, she found a pair of electric blue eyes in her face.

"Please, I-"

"Want a place to stay?" The beast snarled, his paws seizing her upper arms. "I'LL GIVE YOU A PLACE TO STAY!" And though she protested and screamed, the dark beast dragged her away through the castle.

It had been a couple hours since her mother had been gone, and the sun had started to set. Dawn had just finished attending her and her mom's Pokemon, and curled up in an armchair with her book, when she heard a knock on the door. Sighing, she bookmarked her page and went to door, peeking through the keyhole.

She let out a soft groan. It was person she dreaded seeing most.

"Dawn, I know you're home. I need to talk to you," Gary Oak said smoothly, tapping his knuckles on the door again. She couldn't ignore him, as much as she wanted to; he had to know she was home. After her trip in town she always came home and didn't leave until the next morning. Had he been stalking her?

Taking a deep breath and plastering a fake smile on her face, the blunette opened the door. "Uh...hi, Gary, this is kind of a bad time-"

"Ah, no worries, that can wait," He chuckled, placing his arm around her shoulders. Dawn cringed a little, but he ignored it, leaning into her. "So, I have something very important to ask you."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, I do. Any lady would kill to be in your place, but since it is you, feel lucky when I say you are the most beautiful girl in town." He smirked at her.

Cheeks flushed the tiniest bit, she muttered, "Uh...thanks?"

Gary laughed and brought her closer to him. "So picture this; a rusted hunting lodge, my little wife massaging my feet while the boys play on the floor with the Houndoom. We'll have six or seven."

"Six or seven Houndoom?" She asked.

"No, strapping boys, like me." Gary admired his reflection in a pan for a moment.

"Imagine that..." She mumbled, wrinkling her nose. 'He can't be serious,' She thought in disgust. 'There's no way, ever, that I'd touch his feet, let alone have kids with him. Gross.'

"So, what'll it be?" He pressed on, looking away from his reflection to grin at her.

'The narcissitic, arrogant, fool!' "I just...don't deserve you," She said simply, ducking out from under his arm and moving toward the door.

"Who does?" He asked with a small laugh, advancing on her as she backed into the door. "But I think I could change your mind." The auburn haired boy took hold of her shoulders and pushed her against the door, pinning her to it, and leaning in with a smile most girls would find endearing.

When his mouth came close to hers, his hands pushed against the door on either side of her waist, she whipped the door open and stayed flat against it. Gary stumbled forward and went toppling down the stairs.

'Good riddance,' she thought smugly as he stalked away, looking furious. She slipped out into the backyard where a few of her and her mother's Pokemon were playing.

"Can you believe it?" Dawn asked her Piplup and Buneary, who watched her curiously. "He asked me to marry him! The irritating, brainless-" She sighed. Then she adopted a silly expression and curtsied, wrapping a bonnet around her head. "Madam, Mrs. Oak, can't you just see it? Madam, Mrs. Oak, his little wife!" She kicked her foot angrily and upset a bucket of water. (A/N: My favorite part of 'Beauty and the Beast.' Belle is definitely one of my favorite princesses because of her attitude xD) "No, sir, not me, I guarantee it!"

The blunette jogged a little ways into the field and flopped down in the meadow. "I...want much more than this provincial life," She whispered, looking longingly out into the sunset. "I want adventure in far off places...somewhere. I want it more than I can tell." Her Piplup prodded her side, and she scooped him into her arms, and looked into his blackish blue eyes. "And for once it might be grand, to have someone...understand." She kissed his forehead. "I want some much more than they have planned." 'And soon, hopefully, me and Mama will leave, and my fantasies will come true...'

A sudden, loud whinny cut through the silence. Dawn stood up, still holding her Piplup in her arms. She gasped. "Dash?"

Setting Piplup down, she ran to the frightened fire horse and tried to calm it, stroking it's neck and murmuring comforting words to her.

"Dash, what's wrong? Where's-" The blunette gaped at the wagon, ripped in places but still attached to Rapidash. "Mama? Dash, where's Mum?"

She only whinnied sadly. Dawn shook her head. "We have to find her!" She cried, detaching the wagon from Dash and leaping onto her back. "Piplup, you're in charge; if we don't return by nightfall get everyone inside. Okay?" Piplup nodded, and Dawn nudged her boots into Rapidash's sides. "Okay, Dash, let's go!"

Cliff-hanger already? Mwahaha, yep! You notice most of the characters' roles I hope c: And if anyone's confused with anything, just PM me! I know this story is really confusing, and I apologize, but I'll clear up any mishaps c;;;

Ash: I'd rather see Chapter 5 of "CLWY" up in a couple days T-T

Me: *cracks knuckles* alright, you asked for it! *tackles Ash*

Dawn: Uh...review, ask questions, and...um..

Gary: FEED US WITH REVIEWS, WE'RE HUNGRY!

May: Please do, they help with motivation and make Liz (me) smile!

~ Demon