Part II of my Lyra tribute! :)

"I guess that if we're all gonna spend the rest of our lives in here, we'll all get married here!" Lyra declared.

"Huh?" Dawn questioned, wondering what Lyra was thinking about.

"I see three choices," Lyra continued.

"Umm, what are you talking about?" Dawn asked, curiosity getting the best of her.

"Khoury? He's out of the question," Lyra stated. She had a look of wonder on her face. Suddenly, she turned to Dawn. "He Dane, is Ash your boyfriend?"

"Huh, Ash! N-No way!" Dawn replied much too quickly, with a quirky deer-in-the-headlights look.

Lyra smiled. "Hmm, Ash is quite a catch, don't you think?" She continued, prodding Dawn. It worked, since Dawn turned to look at Ash, who was working hard to detach the vent cap from the wall.

"Really?" Dawn asked, puzzled.

"Come on, if you had to choose between the three who would it be?" Lyra asked, verbally pressuring Dawn.

"Uhh..." Dawn replied, looking clearly uncomfortable. "I never thought of it!"

Lyra sighed. "Wow Dane, I'd thought it'd be the first thing you'd be thinking about!"

Lyra was right. It was one of the first things she'd thought about when she met Ash. The situation at the time was less than ideal. Two adults donning clothing advertising a red R slogan and a talking Meowth had just kidnapped Pikachu and Piplup.

Dawn had to admire his courage and willingness to sacrifice for his Pokemon. Anybody would. Dawn was completely awed. At that time, she vowed to become as strong and dedicated as Ash was. He had literally become his hero.

Over time, Ash and she had become completely inseparable. Brock told of stories about Misty and May, two of their previous female traveling buddies. But from what she heard, (and she hoped it wasn't just her feelings making things up) she felt as if neither Misty nor May were nearly as close with Ash as she was.

So when Lyra asked that question, it took Dawn completely off-guard. She couldn't believe Lyra saw right through her! Nobody had ever seen it before. Granted, Ash was extremely dense, but Brock hadn't even noticed anything!

Needing some fresh air, Dawn stood up and walked out onto the balcony, enjoying the cool breeze and the warm sun. She sighed contently as she looked down and saw a handsome young raven-haired boy lying on the grass below, enjoying the same breeze and sunlight.

She giggled as Ash opened his eyes and let out a yelp of surprise as the full brightness of the sun hit him. Gathering her confidence, she ran out of the room to meet Ash downstairs on the lawn.

Even though Dawn had always thought of Ash as an amazing person: so superbly courageous and dedicated, Lyra put it permanently into her head that maybe, just maybe, she had a crush on Ash.

The way Lyra described it, Ash certainly was a catch. He was everything Dawn would want in a boyfriend. She would especially never forget how Ash would always cheer her up after a contest loss, back when she was still insecure and uncertain of herself.

If it weren't for Lyra, Dawn might have been outside training Mamoswine in preparation for her final contest, or maybe she would be downstairs in the Pokemon Center theater watching that new film, Ponyta. But all because that hyperactive girl had to open her mouth and yap, Dawn now couldn't stop thinking about that stupid raven-haired boy who stole her heart.

It was an unhealthy obsession.

But Ash is worth it, Dawn thought, as she exited the Pokemon Center and was greeted with Ash's cheerful grin.