The Only Exception

12.

Here's an update for you guys! Hope you enjoy.

The next morning, all the trainers gathered in the cafeteria to hear about the week activities for the Pokémon Summer Camp. Professor Sycamore explained that each day would be a different activity and on the last day would be a celebration for the team winners.

"For today's activity, we'll be having a battle tournament!" Professor Sycamore said excitedly. "No points will be given out for this activity, this is simply to get to know one another! You may also choose your respective opponents. You may have a single or double battle. It's really up to you! So as long as you get to know one another."

"Hmm.. a double battle, huh?" Ash said as he looked over at Dawn, "hey, Dawn. How about it?"

Dawn, as well as Serena, both looked at him surprised. "Really? With me?" She asked.

"It'll be just like old times! What do you say?" He asked.

She chuckled at him, "Sure! I'd love to team up with you."

Serena tugged on Ash's shirt as she moved closer to him. "Ash, don't you wanna team up with me?" She asked as she laid her head down on his shoulder. Ash tried to get her off his shoulder as he looked at her, "sorry, but I really wanna team up with Dawn. It's been a long while since we've battled together."

"I know, Serena! Why don't you and Clemont team up?" Bonnie suggested, trying her best to get Serena away from Ash.

Serena cracked a smile at Clemont, "sure.. I'd love to team up with Clemont."

"Great. Now that that's settled, what's going to be our team name?" Clemont asked.

"How about team Fennekin?" Serena suggested. The group looked at each other and shook their head at her. She pouted as she crossed her arms at them. "Then what do you guys suggest?"

"Team Ambipom." Ash said.

Dawn looked over at him surprised. It's been awhile since she's heard that name. She was originally planning to go Kanto to visit her long tailed friend after so long.

"Team Ambipom? Wouldn't a starter Pokémon be better?" Bonnie asked.

Ash shook his head, "I think it's pretty unique. You see, Ambipom is a long tailed Pokémon and when the two tails join together they symbolize—"

"an everlasting friendship." Dawn finished as she looked up at him and smiled. Ash smiled at her as well.

The group looked back and forth at the two trainers smiling at each other. "There seems to be a reason why you'd want our team name as Ambipom."

Ash looked over at Clemont and nodded, "Yup. You see, Ambipom was originally my Pokémon when it was an Aipom. Then Dawn and I traded Pokémon because her Buizel liked battling a lot more than contest."

"Wow, that's so cool!" Bonnie smiled. "But, where is Ambipom?"

Dawn furrowed her eyebrows and smiled lightly, "Ambipom had a new interest. So.. I let it go."

"What!?! Why would you let it go?" Bonnie pouted.

"Because it's up to Ambipom to decide what it wants to do and it's also up to the Trainer to decide what's best for their Pokémon." She smiled.

Clemont looked over at Bonnie and placed a hand on her head, "you'll learn soon enough just how it feels to raise a Pokémon and have to decide what's best for it." Bonnie smiled at her brother, "yeah!"

"So Team Ambipom it is." Clemont agreed as well as Bonnie.

"I guess since we have no other choice." Serena said as she turned up her nose and crossed her arms. The group sighed at her as they turned their attention back to Professor Sycamore.

"If you're all ready, please head on over to the beach side!"

Team Ambipom went out to the beach side along with all the other teams. Ash and Dawn went up against two people from Team Charmander. Clemont and Serena went up against two people from Team Chikorita.

The battles were referred by Professor Sycamore and Gary who decided when the battle was over without any Pokémon fainting, but rather when each Pokémon performed well.

Ash and Dawn were doing great as a team. You could really see the way they were in sync with their Pokémon and with each other.

Serena and Clemont on the other hand.. had a tough time trying to pull it together. Both Fennekin and Chespin seemed to fight each other rather than their opponents.

Ash and Dawn kept the battle going with Ash using his gym battle experience and Dawn with her contests.

"Wow, Dawn. That was an amazing move you did with Piplup." An impressed Professor Sycamore smiled.

"Thanks! It's my dream to be a Top Coordinator someday so I've been training really hard." Dawn smiled.

"Really? Have you ever thought about trying out for Pokémon Showcases here in Kalos?" The Professor asked.

"I actually am!" Dawn smiled.

"Hey, so am I!" A girl shouted. Dawn looked over to see a girl in a pink shirt with blue jean shorts — She introduced herself as Shauna.

"That's amazing!" Dawn said happily.

"Excellent! That's just what I wanted to see. Two trainers bonding over the same dream as well as their Pokémon." Professor Sycamore said as he gestured over at Dawn's Piplup and Shauna's Bulbasaur.

Serena glared at Dawn getting all the attention from the other trainers. She crossed her arms as she watched as they asked her tons of questions about contests and what they're about. She looked over at Ash who looked really happy to hear her talk about her dream. She looked down at the ground sadly.

He never looks at me that way when I talk about my dreams...

Dawn had demonstrated all types of contest moves and combinations she's been working on with her Pokémon and everyone loved it — except for Serena of course.

"Well, it looks like the sun is just about to set. Everyone head back into the dining hall for dinner and back to your cabins. The next activity will begin tomorrow morning!" Professor Sycamore said as he walked away towards his cabin.

Team Ambipom made their way into their own cabin. There were four bunk beds in total. Ash and Clemont slept on one bunk bed while the girls slept on the other. It was the same arrangement from the Pokémon center.

"Ash, wanna try sleeping next to me again? I promise I won't move." Serena asked

Ash shook her head at her, "no thanks." He smiled as he laid down in his bed and drifted off to sleep. Serena looked at him, shocked by his straightforward answer. Meanwhile, Dawn, Clemont, and Bonnie tried to hold in their laughs from what just happened.

Everyone eventually drifted off to sleep.

Thanks for reading! Update you soon. :)