.

- Forward -

March 24th, 2022. Late afternoon. Veilstone City, Sinnoh.

Paul couldn't remember the last time he felt so ridiculous.

His hair was pulled back and tucked into a black baseball cap, and he wore dark sunglasses despite the cloudy day. His neck was slicked with sweat underneath layers of coats, one with a particularly high collar that masked his face. Paul had grown bored of sitting inside for too long, so he rationalized that he could sneak out for a couple hours to train. The odd looks he had received from the last three people he passed by made him reconsider his choice.

Reggie's house was just on the horizon, and Paul felt relieved at the sight of it. The house had become a haven to him. His own apartment was flooded with press and paparazzi, and any time he tried to leave he became trapped in the swarm. He was staying at Reggie's for the time being, at least until things died down—but that didn't seem likely with the upcoming coronation ceremony. He constantly had been receiving calls from League representatives nagging him about his coronation speech and other preparations. Paul's voicemail had reached capacity within days of his victory.

The coronation was a tradition of the League. The event consisted of a ball, complete with dancing and fine dining. Members of the League would be present, many making speeches to honor their new Champion. The whole event would be broadcasted on television, and Cynthia herself would be the one to officially crown Paul as the new Champion. The whole thing sounded overwhelming to Paul, as he was never one to enjoy parties or people. The only upside was that once the coronation was over, everyone would finally start to get off his back.

Paul pushed open the door of Reggie's house, shrugging off his coat with annoyance and letting his hair fall from his hat as he took it off. He let out a breath, sweat dotting his forehead, and he caught a glance of himself in a nearby mirror.

He looked terrible. His face was flushed red from the sun, the skin around his eyes lighter in color from his sunglasses. He had black blotches underneath his eyes, and his face looked a little narrower than usual—he figured he must have lost some weight. He really hadn't had the time or appetite to eat lately.

"Uncle Paul!"

Paul tore himself away from the mirror when he heard the pitter-patter of Joel's tiny feet. Joel had been ecstatic to have his uncle stay with him, especially enjoying the chance to play with Paul's Pokemon in the backyard. Paul would watch him and take the opportunity to practice some moves. He was equally thankful to spend time with Joel, whose carefree nature made him feel a little less trapped in the house.

"Joel," Paul greeted. He gave Joel's head a single tap as he began to walk down the hallway. "Where's your father?"

"The kitchen," Joel replied happily. He lit up. "Hey, can Torra play?"

Paul raised a brow, though he couldn't help but smile when he met his nephew's eyes. "Yeah," he said, and he took out his Poke Ball. Joel led him to the yard, where Paul proceeded to release his Pokemon. Torterra gave a tired yawn, but he looked refreshed when seeing Joel.

"Give this to Torterra," Paul instructed, and he handed Joel an Oran Berry from his bag. Joel nodded eagerly and snatched it up before hurriedly stumbling over to the Continent Pokemon.

"Torra!" Joel chimed, and Paul watched the scene for a moment before letting out a sigh and stepping back inside. Heading to the kitchen, he saw Reggie at the counter.

Reggie could see the yard from the window, and he smiled sheepishly when Paul came inside. "Hey," he said. He put down his cutting knife to turn to his brother. "Sorry—I told Joel to give you some space, but he can still get carried away…"

"It's fine," Paul dismissed. He glanced at the TV, which was turned to a news station replaying one of his interviews. Reggie paused, looking between Paul and the TV, and quickly grabbed the remote and hit the power button.

Paul said nothing, staring at his reflection in the black screen for a moment before looking back forward.

"How was training?" Reggie asked to stray the topic from the news.

"Hot," Paul huffed. "And I can barely even see in front of my face with those stupid clothes."

"It'll get better," Reggie offered sympathetically. "The press will die down eventually."

Paul knew Reggie was right, but he still felt irritated by the current situation nonetheless. He had anticipated things would be chaotic when he first became Champion, but he didn't realize just how chaotic they would actually be. As someone who very much liked his privacy, Paul almost thought he would go insane by the end of this all.

But he was finally Champion, and that fact alone kept him grounded.

"You don't have a suit, do you?" Reggie spoke up, and Paul glanced over at him. "Your coronation is coming up. It wouldn't hurt to clean yourself up a little."

Paul cringed at the idea of going out shopping in public. "What's wrong with my coat?" he countered. Dawn had made it for him, after all. He couldn't think of anything more fitted to wear.

Reggie looked unamused. "You're buying a suit."

"But I'll be seen," Paul protested.

"Then I'll go myself," Reggie pressed. "All I need are your measurements." In a more playful tone, he added, "Besides, I'm sure a certain someone would like to see you dressed up for once."

Paul didn't say anything to that. Instead, he turned his head away. Reggie watched him carefully before leaning against the counter.

"…Don't tell me that you still haven't asked her," Reggie chided, and Paul narrowed his eyes at the wall.

"I've been busy," was all he said.

Reggie looked exasperated. "The coronation is less than a week away. If you don't get your act together, she won't be able to come at all. Is that really what you want?"

He was right. Only those invited could attend the coronation. Anyone associated with the League was automatically extended an invitation to come. From there, family of those invited were welcome, as well as a close friend or date. Paul knew that Maylene could very well invite Dawn herself, but he had a feeling that she and Reggie were trapping him into a corner on purpose.

"…Of course not," Paul finally muttered.

Paul had barely seen Dawn since the day he became Champion. It wasn't entirely his fault—he had sent her a few brief texts and they even exchanged a few voicemails, but they never seemed to be available at the same time. With his phone flooded by league business, he was worried that a message from her might have been lost in the system.

Still, there were times when he would pick up his phone and find himself unable to move his fingers to even dial her number. What happened back at the boutique was still on his mind, and with everything that was going on as of late, bringing up what happened now seemed like bad timing. A part of him worried that Dawn thought he was avoiding her on purpose—and a part of him knew that he was. But he knew he had to confront Dawn eventually. It wouldn't be fair to leave things as they were.

Reggie nodded in satisfaction. "I'm sure she's worried about you, too."

March 25th, 2022. Early Afternoon. Hearthome City, Sinnoh.

Dawn sat on the sofa, the noise from the television filling the air as Zoey sat beside her. Zoey fanned herself with her hand, and she let out a sigh.

"It's unusually hot today, huh?" she groaned. "You really need an AC or something."

Dawn slumped her shoulders. "I know. My fan hasn't been enough these past few days."

Piplup sat between the two, curled up and asleep. The hot weather had made him particularly lazy, and he snored lightly as Zoey gave him a gentle scratch under his chin.

"Maybe I should have gone back to Snowpoint after all," Zoey joked.

Zoey had been doing work in the Hearthome area, and Dawn had offered her to stay with her while she was in town. Zoey's work had since been finished, but with the coronation only a few days away, it seemed pointless to make the trip back to Snowpoint only to come back down to Hearthome again. Candice would be coming tomorrow to take them all shopping; Zoey was so eager to go to an air-conditioned store that Dawn swore this was the most excited she ever saw her get about shopping.

Dawn gave a giggle. "You've spent too much time in Snowpoint. Now that you're back to traveling, you're going to have to get used to dealing with a little heat."

Zoey was too drained to even protest, only half-holding up her hand to wave Dawn off as a response. Dawn stifled another giggle at her friend's behavior, but paused when noticing the screen of the television.

It was Paul. There was an interview on the screen, where Paul sat as a reporter asked him questions. He looked uncomfortable, like he didn't want to be there, and Dawn wondered just how overwhelmed he must be feeling with so much sudden attention. But still, he had barely contacted her since he became Champion. If he really was feeling overwhelmed, he hadn't bothered to reach out to her about it.

Dawn sunk a bit in the sofa at the thought. She was thinking selfishly again. Of course Paul had barely contacted her—he was crazy busy, after all. None of this was a surprise; she knew that once Paul became Champion, everything would change.

Fisting the bottom of her skirt, she glanced down to the ground.

"Dawn."

Dawn inhaled and snapped her head up. She looked to Zoey, who had an eyebrow craned as she watched her friend.

"Y-yes?" Dawn managed.

"Don't 'yes' me," Zoey said, unamused. "You totally got down when you saw Paul's face just now."

Dawn winced. She didn't realize she had been so obvious. "S-sorry. It's just…" she trailed off to glance out the window.

Zoey crossed her arms. "I know what this is about," she continued, and Dawn perked up. "Now that Paul's become a big hot-shot, you feel like you've been pushed to the background. Am I right?"

Dawn pursed her lips. Zoey always saw right through her. Hanging her head, she let out a sigh.

"…Yeah."

Zoey flicked Dawn's forehead teasingly, and Dawn let out a small yelp. Closing an eye, she gave Zoey an accusing look. "Hey!"

"You know, when I was having my work problems with Candice, I remember you told me, 'No need to worry'."

Dawn pouted as she rubbed her forehead. "This is different. You and Candice love each other, so of course you two would be fine."

"But you love Paul," Zoey retorted playfully, and Dawn's cheeks heated up.

Deflating, she glanced away. "But he doesn't feel the same," she reminded her.

"You don't know that," Zoey pressed. "Paul said that once everything was over, you two would sort it all out. He wouldn't make that promise if he didn't care about you."

Dawn flopped back onto the armrest and let out a groan. Zoey shook her head as she patted Dawn's knee comfortingly.

"If you two really do love each other, then there's no need to worry." She offered Dawn a smile. "It's no different than me and Candice. It wasn't until we were honest with our feelings that we could both really be happy, even if it meant sometimes being apart. When you see Paul again, you have to take the chance to be honest, too. Even if he doesn't feel the same, you'll only have regrets if you leave your feelings unsaid."

Dawn stared at the ceiling. She knew Zoey was right. Paul said they would sort everything out, and Dawn had no reason to doubt him. She just had to shake off her nerves in the meantime.

She just couldn't seem to, though. Even now she felt butterflies in her stomach.

Letting out a frustrated noise from her throat, she sat up, her hair a mess. Zoey stifled a laugh at her appearance, and Dawn scowled at her as she hurriedly fixed her hair. As she pulled her hair from her face, her eyes caught sight of her Poketch. Pausing, her face fell.

"O-oh no! I'm going to be late for work!"

Scrambling off of the sofa, Dawn accidentally shoved Piplup with her foot. Piplup yelped in surprise and gave his trainer a glare.

"Pip Piplup!"

"Sorry, Piplup," Dawn breathed. She checked herself in the mirror as Zoey watched in amusement.

"Don't worry, I'll keep this little guy under control," Zoey promised as she put a hand atop Piplup's head. Piplup looked up at her bitterly.

"Thanks," Dawn said as she grabbed her purse and opened the door. "I'll see you later!"

With that, the door was slammed shut, and Zoey listened as she heard Dawn's heels click in haste down the hallway. Letting out a huff, Zoey smiled as she cast Piplup a glance.

"Your trainer's a mess, huh?"

Piplup only sighed and shook his head in agreement.

March 25th, 2022. Late Afternoon. Hearthome City, Sinnoh.

The shift had gone by quickly—a little too quickly.

Dawn's mind had been so elsewhere that she had barely even realized the shop was beginning to close. She put down her fabric and scissors, scolding herself for being so distracted. Rubbing her eye, she let out a yawn as she stretched out her arms.

"What lovely stitching."

Dawn blinked and craned her neck up to see Lila standing over her.

"Lila," Dawn said, surprised.

Lila smiled at her. "Is this your new design?"

Dawn looked back to the fabric and loose sketches on her worktable. She scratched her cheek and tilted her head as she looked at them.

"Yeah. It's still got a long way to go, though."

Lila nodded. "It's a step in the right direction. I look forward to seeing the finished product."

Dawn managed a small smile. "Thanks." Letting out a breath, she stretched her arms upwards. "But I guess I'd better start packing up for now. I'll work on the rest at home."

"Working hard, huh?" Lila asked playfully.

"Of course," Dawn retorted. She carefully put a roll of fabric into her bag. "Like Elesa said before—the world of fashion waits for no one." She adjusted the strap of her bag. "After all, if I want to be able to make my mark as a Poke Stylist, I have to stay ahead of the other designers."

Lila looked satisfied. "That's what I like to hear." She leaned her weight against the edge of the worktable. "But speaking of Elesa, I talked to her on the phone the other day."

Dawn perked up at the name. "What? Really?"

Lila nodded. "Just to chat," she said, flicking her gaze towards Dawn with a smile. "She was asking about you." Teasingly, she added, "She was wondering when you were going to come back to Unova again for another photoshoot."

Dawn let out a nervous laugh. "As flattering as that is, I think it'll be a little while before I go back. I have too much to take care of here right now."

"Is that so?"

Dawn gave a nod. "Mm." She gave a confident expression. "If I want to be able to open my own boutique, then I still have a lot of work to get done."

"You seem more determined than ever," Lila noted.

"Mhm. By opening my own boutique, I want to be able to share with everyone the feeling I had when I stood on that runway with Lopunny. I had never felt a stronger bond with my Pokemon than in that moment." She closed her eyes, putting a hand to her chest. "To see everyone smiling when they saw the design we made together—to see Lopunny smiling the way she did." She opened her eyes. "By wearing my designs, I want people to be able to share in that feeling with their Pokemon, too."

Lila smiled. "… I'd say you've come a long way in these past few months. You really have become a wonderful Poke Stylist." She sighed and put a hand to her cheek. "But I can't believe my own student will become my rival. Once you have your own place, business will begin to get competitive around here." Dawn's face fell in concern, but Lila gave Dawn a wink before she could open her mouth. "But more than anything, the thought of a rival gets me fired up. I'll only work that much harder to make my designs."

Dawn blinked a few times, but her face lit up as she turned to Lila with fire in her eyes. "I'll do my best then!" She held Lila's gaze for a few moments, but realizing her position, she hastily added, "…but I couldn't have done it without you!" She paused, becoming quiet before glancing at the ground. "… You were always so hard on me. At times I almost even resented you for it." She looked at Lila sincerely. "But I know now that you only pushed me so hard because believed in me from the start—even when I didn't believe in myself." She smiled. "Thank you for that."

Lila shook her head knowingly. "You had it inside you all along. All I did was support you." She put a hand on Dawn's shoulder, and Dawn perked up. "It's thanks to your hard work and the bond that you share with your Pokemon that you've been able to come as far as you have." She winked. "I can't take credit for that."

Dawn's cheeks flushed, and she straightened herself out as she gave a quick nod. "O-of course!"

Lila let go of Dawn's shoulder. "Your mother would never let me live it down if she knew just how mushy I've become…" Dawn laughed, and Lila shook her head before putting her hands on her hips. "I better go back to my cold self. They didn't dub me the Tiger Lily of Contests for nothing," she joked. "Well, I should get out of here before it's too late."

Dawn tilted her head. "Are you leaving now?"

Lila nodded. "I have some things I need to take care of. Close up shop for me." She began to walk, but then stopped. Dawn watched her curiously, and Lila took a moment before turning her head back over her shoulder. "Whenever you start looking for places to set up that boutique of yours, make sure to let me know—I might be able to set up a few connections for you."

Dawn inhaled. "Y-yes, of course! Thank you!"

Lila held up her hand in response, and with that, she was gone.

Dawn let out her breath and exhaled. She began to collect her things quietly, the air in the shop still and almost hollow to her. Knowing that she might be leaving this shop in the near future left her with a bittersweet feeling that she couldn't seem to shake.

"And how's Lila's little prodigy?"

Dawn stood up straight, and she looked behind her. "Ursula!" She turned to face her coworker who was standing a few yards away at her own worktable. "I didn't realize you were here…"

Ursula scoffed. "I didn't realize my presence was that forgettable."

Dawn became a bit flustered by the comment. "That's not what I meant—!" She bit her tongue and sucked in her breath. Letting out a sigh, she dropped it. "What are you still doing here? I thought your shift ended an hour ago."

Ursula rolled her eyes. "You aren't the only one who has projects to work on."

It was then Dawn noticed the mannequin situated at Ursula's work station. She perked up, and craned her neck to get a better view. "Oh! Is that your design?" She approached it, and Ursula watched her as she lit up at the outfit before her. "It's beautiful…"

"Thanks," Ursula said curtly with the flick of her hair. "It's almost done—I just have to do the final touches. But I'll take care of that at home."

"I can't wait to see it finished," Dawn said sincerely.

Ursula didn't say anything for a moment. After a beat of watching Dawn, she fidgeted her hand. "… So are you really planning on opening your own boutique?"

Dawn paused, caught off guard, but quickly realized that Ursula had probably heard her conversation with Lila. She stood back up straight. "…Yeah." She smiled sheepishly. "I'd like to, at least. It's been a dream of mine for a while now." She looked back to Ursula's design. "If I can work hard enough, then I'm hoping that maybe I could have it open by the end of the fall." She then let out a short, nervous laugh. "But we'll see."

Ursula eyed her carefully for a brief moment. She then closed her eyes and let out a dramatic sigh.
"That's going to make my competition around here pretty boring, then." She placed a finger to her temple. "But I suppose that's what I get for letting you slip ahead of me." Ursula then opened an eye, looking right at Dawn. "For now"

Dawn raised her brows. "Huh?"

Ursula crossed her arms. "I won't lie—when Elesa picked your design over mine, well… I was mad. Confused." She averted her gaze to the window. "Your designs had no consistency. No style. And, no offense, but most of them were a total mess." She knitted her brows together as she looked to the floor. "The designs I had picked were perfect—but apparently Elesa didn't think so. And I spent months wondering why."

Dawn could only stare, and Ursula began to pack up her things in what seemed to be a rushed frustration. "And it wasn't until I saw your entry that I realized the reason your work stood out so much to Elesa. It was because the dress you entered was able to tell the story of you and your Lopunny. It wasn't just Mega Evolution—it was like, your bond." She suddenly stopped, and for a moment, it was silent. She looked down at her hands as she slowly put down her fabric. "But when I looked at my own work… It told me nothing."

Dawn had never heard Ursula talk like this before. It was the first time she had seen her so vulnerable and honest.

"Ursula…"

Ursula was quick to interrupt her. "And that's why I just have to keep pushing myself to grow as a designer." She looked Dawn in the eyes. "Because I want my designs to be able to speak to people, too. After all, you aren't the only designer here who wants to open up her own boutique someday." She closed her eyes. "And I can't afford to let myself fall behind you of all people when that happens."

Dawn blinked a few times, but then she smiled and curled her fist at her side. "Then I guess that means we'll just continue on as rivals."

Ursula paused, but she let out a huff before getting her old spark back in her eye. "Please, Dee-dee," she began. She slung her bag over her shoulder as she turned on her heel to the door exiting the backroom. "Maybe I let you get a step ahead of me now, but it's not going to stay that way."

A small smile teased at the corners of Dawn's mouth. Just as Ursula was about to open the door, she let out an abrupt breath. "Hey, Ursula," she called, and Ursula stopped. "Let's get coffee sometime and talk business."

Ursula's hand stayed still on the doorknob. She glanced behind her, and for the first time, she smiled at Dawn genuinely. "… Sure." She quickly reverted back to her old-self and closed her eyes. "But don't think you're going to be getting any ideas out of me for you to use for yourself. I have to keep some secrets, you know." She opened the door. "Later, Dawn."

And then she was gone. Dawn could only smile as she watched the door close behind her.

Dawn turned the key in the lock, the door making a clicking sound. Pulling the key out, Dawn let out a sigh and leaned her back against the glass door. She blew some stray bangs from her forehead and glanced up to the sky. The sky was cloudy, but the light of the moon still blotched white behind the gray clouds.

"Dawn."

Dawn paused. She looked back and forth, alarmed, but didn't see anyone. Turning her head back, she went cold when seeing a stranger standing in front of her. A man stood before her, his face concealed by his hat and scarf. He wore a long trench coat, and Dawn became tense when he reached into his pocket.

Dawn instantly jumped back and reached for a Poke Ball. Pulling it from her purse, she said, "D-don't come any closer!"

The man halted his hand, and he took a beat before pulling down his scarf.

"Dawn—it's me."

Dawn furrowed her brows and looked the man over. When getting a good look at his eyes, she stared for a moment before inhaling sharply.

"Paul?!" She let out a frustrated breath as she let her heart rate calm back down. "What are you doing? I thought you were some kind of criminal!"

Paul became flustered and closed his eyes in embarrassment. "I have to wear this stupid disguise or else the media will be all over me." He let out a huff. "It was Reggie's idea."

Dawn raised her brows. "O-oh! That makes sense." She loosened her stance. "That does sound like something Reggie would come up with…"

It was just then that Dawn fully processed that Paul was standing right in front of her. She suddenly became tense and awkward, and she found herself unable to meet his gaze. She glanced to the ground instead.

Paul waited a moment before slipping his hand back into his pocket. Unable to find any words to say to her, he pulled out an envelope and held it out.

The envelope caught the corner of Dawn's eye, and she blinked as she turned her head back to Paul. She looked questioningly between the letter and him, but his face remained firm as he kept his hand as steady as he could.

She hesitated, but she took the letter. Paul let go, and she straightened herself out as she studied it. There was no writing on it, so she opened it carefully and unfolded the paper inside.

You are formally invited to attend the Champion's Coronation Ball. We hope you—

But Dawn didn't read the rest. She shot her head up in surprise and looked to Paul.

"I…"

"I want you to go with me," Paul spoke up, and Dawn only stared at him. When she didn't say anything, Paul pressed his lips together as he let his hat hide some of his face. He added abruptly, "If you don't want to, that's fine. I just want you to know that the offer is there."

Dawn still stayed quiet, her words trapped in her throat. She glanced down at the letter again, but her hand tightened when Zoey's words suddenly pushed from the back of her mind.

"Paul said that once everything was over, that you two would sort it all out. He wouldn't make that promise if he didn't care about you."

Dawn's heart went still. She almost wanted to say no, to spare herself. She was afraid to confront him, afraid to hear the words he'd say to her. Gripping the letter, Dawn glanced to the side. If it wasn't for her, things might not have become so messy between them. She was the one who tried to kiss him. She had to be the one to push past it, too. It was unfair to leave things unfinished after everything the two had been through together.

Lifting her head, Dawn met Paul's gaze.

"I'd love to come."

Paul's shoulders eased just the slightest at her response. He managed to give her a curt nod, but suddenly something interrupted the atmosphere.

"I heard the Champion was spotted right here in Hearthome today!"

"No way—do you think we might actually get to see him?"

Paul stiffened at the conversation, and he eyed two women as they walked down the street. Pulling back up his scarf, he flicked his eyes to Dawn.

"I have to go," he said, and he took a few steps back. Dawn inhaled, but before she could open her mouth to say anything, she realized he was already gone.

She stared down the now empty street. After letting out the breath she had been holding, she looked down to the letter she still held in her hand.

March 29th, 2022. Evening. Hearthome City, Sinnoh.

"Invitation?"

Dawn held up her invitation to the usher, and he gave her a nod. Slipping it back into her purse, she went forward to where Zoey and Candice were waiting for her beyond the main doors.

"Everything here is totally gorgeous!" she heard Candice gush.

Candice, Zoey, and Dawn had come to the coronation together. The two had stayed the night at her apartment, and Dawn had to admit that it was nice to have them to help calm her nerves after her encounter with Paul a few nights before.

When Dawn stepped inside, her mouth fell open in awe. The hall was beautiful. Chandeliers made of glass hung from the ceiling, lighting up the room. There was a stage at the front of the room with a podium, where Dawn assumed the League and Champion would make their speeches. In the center of the room were tables with deep red cloths draped over them, each tabletop having a small bouquet of flowers in the middle. Off to the back of the room was an open floor with a small band at the side, where one or two people were already dancing. Most people, however, stayed in the center as they greeted and mingled with one another.

"Dawn, over here!"

Dawn blinked, and she looked over to see Zoey giving her a wave. She perked up and hurried to join them once again.

"I can't believe the size of this place," Zoey whistled. "It's even more incredible than the Grand Festival hall."

"And look at all the people!" Candice exclaimed. Her eyes lit up as she caught sight of a man in the distance. "Hey, isn't that Steven Stone?"

Dawn raised her brows, standing a bit on her toes to see over the crowd. Sure enough, she was able to make out a gleam of silver hair. He stood chatting with Wallace, who Dawn could recognize anywhere.

"It is!" she confirmed.

"He's even dreamier in person," Candice commented, and Dawn giggled in agreement. Zoey simply craned an eyebrow, but she smiled.

Dawn shifted her attention to the rest of the room as Candice continued to point out people she recognized in the crowd to Zoey. She glanced from side to side carefully, and her breath hitched just the slightest when she finally caught Paul standing near the stage.

His shoulders were stiff, and his eyes darted between the small crowd of people gathered around him. Dawn was sure that they were members of the Pokemon League Board wanting to chat with him, though Paul appeared less than thrilled to do so.

Candice seemed to notice Dawn's gaze, and she followed her line of sight.

"Oh!" she piped up. "It's Paul!"

Zoey looked over as well, and she crossed her arms when giving him a once over. "For someone who's having a party thrown for him, he totally looks out of place," she commented playfully. "He doesn't look like he wants to be here at all."

Dawn gave a small, nervous laugh. "Probably because he doesn't."

"But he sure looks handsome," Candice said. She teasingly nudged Dawn a bit in the side with her elbow. "He cleans up nice, huh?"

Dawn's cheeks flushed as she brushed Candice's hand away. "W-well…"

Dawn glanced back at Paul, getting a closer look at him. He was dressed in a suit, a deep black cut that fitted his proportions nicely. As she observed him, she noticed that he kept lifting his hand and adjusting the dark tie around his neck. Dawn had to admit, Candice was right—he did clean up well.

Candice held up a hand to stop her. "Better yet," she started with a malicious grin. "You should just tell him that yourself. You are his date, aren't you?"

Dawn let out a small squeak, and her cheeks dusted pink as she waved her hands quickly at Candice. "H-he just asked me as a friend," she countered defensively. She glanced over to Paul, who seemed to ease up as Roark approached him. "Besides, he looks busy."

"He looks like he needs to be saved," Candice retorted. She pushed Dawn lightly forward, and Dawn almost stumbled in her heels. "At least just go and say hi!"

Dawn let out a small yelp, and she turned her head to Zoey pleadingly.

"I think you should," Zoey said, and Dawn's face fell. "You shouldn't just hide in the crowd."

Dawn pursed her lips. Letting out a sigh, she hung her head slightly in defeat. Lifting her head, she gave them a dry look. "Fine—but I'm just saying a quick hello."

Candice perked up, and Zoey looked satisfied.

"We'll find our table in the meantime," Zoey said. Dawn waved a hand in response as she turned on her heel and stepped into the crowd.

"I can't believe you actually found it," Roark said. He cracked a grin. "When I told some of my colleagues back in Johto about you getting the Mega Stone, they were totally ecstatic."

Paul nodded. "Your machine worked well. Thank you."

Roark laughed, rubbing his head. "You can thank me by stopping by sometime to let me get a good look at that Mega Torterra of yours."

Paul closed his eyes and smiled. He really did owe a lot to the Gym Leader.

"Of course."

"Paul!"

Paul paused. Recognizing the voice, he looked back over his shoulder to see Dawn approaching him. His shoulders tensed just the slightest.

Dawn looked between Roark and Paul, and she suddenly became flustered and shy. "S-sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Nonsense," Roark said with a smile. "It's nice to see you again, Dawn. You look lovely."

"Thank you," Dawn said, and she glanced to Paul.

Paul had his brows knitted together as he stared at Dawn. Dawn waited for a moment, but when he said nothing, she opened her mouth to speak.

"I—"

"You came," Paul cut in abruptly.

Dawn looked taken aback. Realizing she looked stupid, she shook it off and loosened her stance. "Of course I came."

Roark glanced between the two, and a knowing smile curved his lips as he took a step back. "I'll just leave you guys alone, then," he said a little quietly as he took his leave. Paul didn't even notice.

Dawn pulled some loose hair behind her ear. "I just wanted to say thank you for inviting me tonight," she began tentatively. "Everything looks really nice," she commented. She went a bit pink, adding, "…You look really nice, too."

Paul became awkward and clenched his jaw. He looked Dawn over, and he felt his neck heat up just the slightest. Her orange dress hugged her waist, a white sash tied around the middle. The dress flared out from there in folds and faded to yellow, the hem glittered with beads. He looked like nothing compared to her.

"So you do," he said lamely.

Dawn smiled. She flattened the skirt of her dress a bit, and took a moment before looking back up to Paul. She tried to think of something more to say to him, but her throat seemed to have gone dry.

"Mr. Champion!"

Paul straightened out immediately, and he looked over to see Aaron of the Sinnoh Elite Four approaching. Dawn took the opportunity and held up a hand.

"I should get back to my table, anyways," she spoke up, and Paul flicked his eyes to her. She looked back to him and added, "I'll talk to you later tonight, though?"

The assurance seemed to ease Paul, and he lost the tension in his shoulders as he gave her a nod. With that, Paul turned away and walked back into the crowd. When he was out of sight, Dawn let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

The buffet was beyond incredible. Dawn could have sworn the table was as long as the hall itself, ice sculptures of Pokemon dotting along the surface. Food was set up with beauty, and Dawn's attention was drawn to the bowls of fruit and sweets arranged at the end of the table. She couldn't help herself from stealing a second cookie as she waited for the line to dwindle. Piplup was much more shameless, stuffing his face by a bowl of berries nearby.

Everyone had arrived by now. The hall was packed, most people sitting at tables or mingling with each other by the buffet. Some more people had begun to occupy the dancefloor, the music from the band softly filling the rest of the hall with its upbeat strings.

She spotted Zoey and Candice on the dancefloor. She knew that Candice must have persuaded Zoey into it, but now that Zoey was dancing, she actually had a smile on her face. Dawn frowned a little as she helped herself to a third cookie. It really did look like fun.

A tap on Dawn's shoulders broke her from her thoughts. She looked over, but no one was there. She tilted her head, but another tap on her shoulder caused her to jump. She snapped her head back around only to see air. Becoming frustrated, Dawn waited a moment before swiftly spinning on her heel to catch the culprit. She paused when she saw a large, male figure standing behind her with a familiar grin on his face.

Her anger instantly melted away and she broke into a beam. "Ash!" Ash's grin grew wider, and the two friends broke into laughter as Dawn greeted him with a hug. Pulling away, she looked up to him with bright eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Pikachu perked up and hopped off of Ash's shoulder and onto the table. Piplup let out a noise of excitement, and the two embraced happily.

Ash laughed again and rubbed under his nose. "Hey, I'm Kanto Elite Four, ya know? I was invited!" he explained. "Besides, I wouldn't miss Paul's big night for the world!"

Ash had challenged the Kanto Champion League several years earlier, but ultimately lost to Lance. However, he was offered a position as a Kanto Elite Four member, and he accepted it with the belief that it would help him grow as a trainer. He always assured people that his quest to become a Pokemon Master wasn't going to end there. It was just one more stepping stone to his dream.

Dawn smiled in understanding. "I see. Either way, I'm really happy to see you again."

"Hey, I told you that Pikachu had been begging to visit Piplup, right?" Ash said as he nudged her playfully.

Dawn giggled, and Ash blinked as he looked at Dawn questioningly. "I gotta say though, I'm more surprised to see you here."

"Hm? Oh!" Dawn gave a sheepish laugh. "Paul was actually the one who invited me."

Ash's brows shot up in surprise. "Paul? I had no idea the two of you talked."

Dawn fidgeted her hand at her side. "Well…"

"There you are!"

Ash winced at the voice, and Dawn looked over to see an angry Misty stomping her way over towards the table.

"Jeeze, you don't have to rush off like that!" she chastised. "The food's not going anyw—!" She came to a stop when seeing Dawn. Forgetting her anger, her face lit up in pleasant surprise. "Oh, Dawn!"

Ash let out a sigh of relief, and Pikachu giggled as he nibbled on a piece of fruit.

Dawn lit up. "Misty!" she greeted, and the two shared a quick hug. "Wow, you look amazing! Blue is definitely your color."

Misty put a hand to her cheek in embarrassment. "Thank you, Dawn."

"Even Misty can look nice every once in a while," Ash cut in, and Misty shot him a glare and elbowed him in the side.

Ash let out a small yelp. "Hey!"

Dawn chuckled. "So, how's married life been?" she asked. The last time she had seen the two was at their wedding the previous July. With Dawn having been so busy with Elesa's showcase, and Ash and Misty tending to their own lives, she had barely gotten the chance to talk with them as much as she would have liked to.

Ash pulled his focus away from Misty. "It's really not much different," he answered. "I mean, I used to travel with Misty every day." He shrugged. "She's as much of a pain now as she was then."

Misty shot him a glare, and Ash only laughed, wrapping an around her.

"That goes double for you," she shot back, and Ash snickered.

"Love you too, Mist."

Pikachu let out another giggle, while Dawn gave a nervous laugh. Some things never changed.

"It's getting kind of crowded over here," Ash spoke up, noticing a group arrive at the buffet table. He held out a hand to Dawn, and Dawn perked up. "How about we catch up some more on the dancefloor?"

Dawn blinked a few times, but then gave him a sly smile. "I don't know if I want a repeat of what happened when we danced at your wedding," she teased, and Ash became flustered.

"I won't trip you this time," he countered defensively.

Dawn still didn't look convinced. Misty snickered before eyeing Dawn.

"Why don't you lead, Dawn?" she suggested. "Ash needs all the help he can get."

Ash pouted a bit at the comment, but Dawn frowned as she looked to Misty.

"I would hate to leave you here alone, though," she said. "I'd be stealing your date from you."

Misty dismissed her with the wave of her hand. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that," she assured. "I have my own handsome dance partner."

Ash scrunched his brows together and glanced around the crowd. "What? Who?" he asked with a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Just then, Pikachu hopped off of the table and jumped into Misty's open arms. "Pikachupi!" he squeaked happily, and Misty giggled as she nuzzled against the Pokemon's cheek.

Ash blinked stupidly, but then let out a sigh as he put a hand on Pikachu's head. "Be good to her, buddy," he said, and Pikachu let out a noise in excitement. Turning back to Dawn, Ash held out his hand again. "So, shall we?"

Dawn smiled. Taking Ash's hand, she gestured her head towards the dancefloor.

"I'd be honored."

There were a few stumbles, but as long as Dawn was in the lead, Ash actually wasn't doing half-bad. She had to at least give him credit for pushing through with such enthusiasm. They chatted as they danced, their conversation flowing with the upbeat music. Eventually, Ash brought up a topic Dawn wasn't sure she wanted to discuss.

"Did you catch Paul's battle?"

The question caught her off-guard. "I did," she said shyly. "I actually went to go see the match."

Ash's mouth hung open. "You mean you were actually there? Man, I wish I could have been in that stadium, too." He went quiet for a moment, and Dawn tilted her head. Ash closed his eyes and smiled. "…I knew he would win, though." He opened his eyes with a confident smile. "If anyone can push to the top, it's Paul."

Dawn glanced over to where Paul sat on the stage. He looked stiff as he watched the crowd, and for a second, Dawn almost thought she saw him look their way. She wondered if she had imagined it, but the thought was quickly shaken away when she noticed him rise up from his seat and step off of the stage.

She raised her brows in surprise, and Ash seemed to notice Paul, too. Dawn felt Ash grip her waist just a little tighter as he watched Paul push his way through the crowd until he was out of sight.

"Ash?"

Ash inhaled. "Ah, sorry," he apologized with a laugh. He loosened his grip.

Dawn smiled knowingly. "You want to go talk to him, don't you?"

"And leave you on the dancefloor? No way," Ash protested.

Dawn opened her mouth to argue when she felt a bump against her shoulder. Craning her neck upwards, her eyes widened when she saw Barry above her.

"Hey, hey, hey," he interrupted, and he pointed at Ash. "If you keep Dawn all to yourself, I'm totally gonna fine you!" Ash stared, stunned. After a brief moment, he and Barry both broke into wide grins.

"Barry!"

"That's the name! It's good to see you again, Ash!"

"Yeah, it's been a while." Ash replied.

Dawn shifted her eyes between the two friends, and she couldn't help but grin as well. Dawn let go of Ash and offered him a smile. "You heard him." She nodded towards Paul. "You've been relinquished of your duty."

Barry puffed his chest with satisfaction, and Ash perked up. "Well, I don't wanna be fined," he reasoned. Dawn giggled as Ash added, "Hey, Barry, let's catch up later!" Barry nodded, and with that, Ash slipped into the crowd.

Paul raised a glass to his lips. The feeling of the cold water against his dry throat refreshed him. He stood alone, just behind the refreshments table with his back turned to the crowd. Spending the night talking to so many people had left him completely parched. It hadn't been until just now that he was able to pull away from the barrage of questions for a moment of solitude.

He also couldn't seem to stop looking at Dawn. When she almost caught him stare, he knew he had to pull himself away.

Paul silently hoped that for the next thirty seconds, he could take the time that he needed to collect himself before returning to the wave of people.

"Hey, Paul!"

Paul tensed at the sound of his own name. Closing his eyes, he furrowed his brows together before turning to face his next visitor. He let out an exhale from his nose, preparing himself to repeat the same talk he had already had a hundred times earlier that night. But when he opened his mouth to speak, he stopped in surprise.

Ash stood in front of him, a grin plastered on his face as he held up a hand in greeting. "Long time no see, huh?"

Paul stared for a moment longer, processing. He had gotten a glimpse of Ash dancing with Dawn just moments before. He didn't think much of it, but having Ash standing before him now caused an old feeling to bubble inside of him. Suddenly, he realized that it really had been a long time.

Taking a breath, he turned to face Ash fully. "…Yeah."

Ash's grin widened and he clenched his fist. "Hey, congrats on your victory—I saw the whole thing on TV!" He laughed, rubbing his head. "I jumped to my feet when I saw that counter-shield attack! I think I really scared Pikachu with how loud I yelled."

Paul closed his eyes. "It's a good strategy."

"And the way Torterra used its tail to dodge that final Fire Blast attack?" Ash continued with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "I definitely didn't see that one coming!"

Paul was almost taken aback by how easily Ash spoke to him, as if no time had passed between the two at all. He felt the tension that had been in his shoulders all night relax, and he slipped his hands into his pockets.

"I've been training hard," Paul replied. He smirked. "I couldn't let you surpass me again."

Ash craned a brow, but his lips curved into a confident smile. "For now," he corrected. "Once I become Champion, I'll remind you what it's like to lose."

"To become Champion, you have to actually defeat Lance," Paul reminded him.

Ash clenched his fist. "And I will!" He grinned. "Seeing you become Champion has only fired me up even more!" He punched his fist forward. "There's no way I'm gonna let you stay ahead!"

Paul paused at his words. Ash's eyes had a familiar fire in them, and for an instant, he felt like nothing had changed at all.

Paul stared, lost in thought. Everything had been a blur these past few weeks, and he couldn't keep up with the media and attention. He was overwhelmed, unable to train or even go out in public. Everything had changed in an instant, and Paul felt detached from himself.

But Ash's words sparked something inside of him, and for the first time since becoming Champion, he felt himself get fired up. Maybe not everything had changed. As long as people like Ash were still working for the top, Paul had no time to stand still.

"I'll look forward to it," Paul finally said.

Dancing with Barry was more of a workout than Dawn had anticipated, and she struggled to keep up with him as he moved with hurried motions. She almost felt dizzy for a moment, but when the lights began to flash, Barry let out a gasp as he came to an abrupt stop.

"Oh no! I gotta run!" he exclaimed. "They're gonna start the speeches!"

He sped off towards the stage (bumping into people in the crowd as he did so), and Dawn was just reaching her seat when Cynthia approached the podium. Everyone went into a quiet hush when she took the microphone.

"Thank you all for coming tonight to honor Mr. Paul Rebolledo, our new Sinnoh Champion," she began. Dawn noticed the cameras near the stage recording her. "The start of a new Champion is the birth of a new path for our region. I have served as Champion for 12 years, and now, it is my honor to hand the position off to Paul." She put a hand to her chest. "I believe the battle we shared speaks enough of his competency as a trainer. We can certainly expect great things from him. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Rebolledo!"

The crowd clapped, and Dawn managed to push herself closer to the stage.

"Before we begin our coronation ceremony, we have a few words of welcome from our Sinnoh Elite Four," Cynthia said as she stepped back from the microphone.

It looked like Barry was about to stand in excitement, but Flint put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Barry looked disappointed, and Flint let out a chuckle before standing and walking over to Cynthia. Cynthia smiled at him as she handed him the mic, and she took a step back as he occupied the podium.

"I know you guys definitely didn't come all this way for me, so I'll try to make this brief," he began jokingly, which caused a light laugh from the audience. He slipped a hand his pocket as he glanced around the room. "I've been Elite Four for a long time now, and a lot has changed since I was a trainer." He closed his eyes. "And the world keeps changing even still. Someone old like me can't always keep up, so having some new faces keeps us moving forward." He opened his eyes with a grin. "I couldn't be happier to have someone like Paul at the head of that."

Dawn felt touched by his words. It was just like what Flint and Volkner had said to her on the day Paul became Champion. She hadn't even realized everyone was clapping until she snapped back to reality and clapped herself.

After Flint's speech was over, Barry hurried to the mic, and Dawn was surprised by how genuine and controlled he sounded despite his excitement. He eventually did ramble, however, and that's when Aaron stole the microphone from him. Once he and Lucian had their word, Cynthia returned to the podium and a hush fell over the crowd.

"Thank you to Lucian and the rest of the Sinnoh Elite for the words that they have spoken here tonight," she said, eliciting another small round of applause from the audience. Once the clapping ended, she leaned forward into the microphone again. "So now, the moment has come for us to officially coronate our new Champion."

At that, Mr. Goodshow stepped forward, a black box held carefully between his hands. Stepping beside Cynthia, he handed the box off to her. She accepted it with a small nod before turning to face where Paul sat. "Paul, would you please step forward?"

Paul inhaled when Cynthia called his name. He could feel his nerves tense inside of him, and he took a brief moment before rising to his feet and stepping before Cynthia.

Cynthia offered him an encouraging smile before turning back to the podium. As she did so, she opened the box that she held in her hands. Sitting at the center was a shining, gold medallion. Carved into the surface were four circles linked together. Paul recognized them as being the symbols that represented Sinnoh's four creators—Arceus, Palkia, Dialga, and Giratina. The metal gleamed against the ceiling's lights, and Paul furrowed his brows.

"For hundreds of generations, it has been the duty of Champions to fight for, defend and lead the regions that we live in. In ancient times, before we had government, technology, elected leaders and Poke Balls, Champions were individuals who fought alongside Pokemon—working together with one heart—to defend the welfare of people and Pokemon in times of hardship. They were the regions' leaders and protectors," she said, looking around the crowd. "And although the title has changed since then, we still uphold the meaning behind being Champion. It takes far more than being a powerful trainer to be a Champion. It takes someone with a strong heart, a strong love for Pokemon, and a strong desire to defend what they care about at any cost. It has been my honor to do this for Sinnoh for so many years, but I couldn't be happier to now hand down this position to someone like Paul." She turned to face him, and Paul straightened out his posture. "And to ensure that Paul will be everything that is expected of his role, we will now have him take the Oath of Champions." She smiled, gripping the box in her hands. "Paul, are you ready?"

Paul inhaled before giving a nod. "I am."

"Then please hold up your right hand and repeat after me," Cynthia instructed.

The crowd watched in anticipation as Paul slowly raised his right hand. His gaze was fixated on Cynthia.

"I, Paul Rebolledo," Cynthia began.

Paul took a small breath before he repeated, "I, Paul Rebolledo-"

Reggie's face was beaming with pride as he watched his younger brother up on stage. Maylene glanced at him with a smile, gently grasping his hand within her own.

"-do solemnly swear to faithfully uphold my duties as Champion of the Sinnoh region-"

"-do solemnly swear to faithfully uphold my duties as Champion of the Sinnoh region-"

Ash was leaning forward in his seat, and he glowed with excitement as though he were watching a battle. Pikachu sat in Misty's lap and looked up at her, the two exchanging amused smiles before focusing their attention back on to Paul.

"-I promise to maintain the principles of the Pokemon League-"

"-I promise to maintain the principles of the Pokemon League-"

The Elite Four watched closely as their new leader was sworn into his position. Barry kept attempting to rise out of his seat in order to applaud, only to be pushed back down by Flint.

"-and to do everything in my power-"

"-and to do everything in my power-"

Zoey and Candice sat side by side, Zoey with her arm draped around the back of Candice's chair. Candice's eyes were shining as she listened to the oath, her hands clasped together. Zoey cracked a smile before shifting her gaze over to Dawn.

"-to protect and defend the people, Pokemon and land of Sinnoh."

"-to protect and defend the people, Pokemon and land of Sinnoh."

Dawn's eyes never tore away from Paul for even a second. Her heart beat with every word spoken, and she put a hand to her chest as she remembered everything that had happened between her and Paul until now.

There really was no one better fit to be Champion.

Paul exhaled as those final words came from his mouth. His heart slowed, and he felt himself relax just the slightest.

With that, Cynthia smiled. "Now please lower your head as I present you with the Champion's Emblem," she said. She pulled the shining medallion from the black box and held it carefully in her hands.

Paul closed his eyes and slowly lowered his head. Cynthia extended her arms forward, draping the medallion's strap around his neck. Once it was on securely, Paul rose back up and glanced down at it. The emblem hung from his neck, pressed against his chest as it shined brightly beneath the lights. Knitting his brows together he looked forward towards the crowd of people gathered in the banquet hall.

Hundreds of faces stared at him in silence until Cynthia gestured an arm towards him. "And now, let us welcome our new Champion, Paul Rebolledo!"

The crowd erupted into a wild roar of cheers, and Paul took a deep breath as Cynthia stepped aside to allow him to take the podium for his official statement. As Paul stepped forward, she and Mr. Goodshow bowed their heads respectfully, and Paul offered a slight bow as well before taking podium.

He swallowed and looked out into the crowd. There were hundreds of faces staring at him from the audience, and dozens of television cameras were pointed directly at him. Suddenly, he felt tense again. His heart was pounding in his head, and his palms were sweating just the slightest. Everyone here was expecting something out of him, and with that realization, he almost forgot how to talk at all. Taking a quick breath through his nose, he straightened himself out.

"Thank you for this honor," he began. "It is something I have worked for a very long time. I will do my best to fulfill my duties as Champion."

As he spoke, his eyes found Dawn in the crowd.

His voice caught in his throat. He knew the acceptance speech word for word, but those words weren't his. They were someone else's, a pre-written template given to him by the League. Conveying how he really felt was difficult for him, and he could never find the right words for anything.

Like for Dawn.

He really had messed everything up with her. Because he couldn't talk to her, because he couldn't be honest with her, he might miss her completely. Walking out on her that night at the boutique—that was no different than reciting this silly speech. He couldn't keep avoiding his feelings. No Champion should ever be such a coward.

Becoming firm, Paul's expression became serious.

"…When I first became a trainer, I didn't know the real meaning of strength. All I thought about was winning battles and catching the best Pokemon I could find. I never even considered what would happen after that."

The crowd appeared a bit taken aback by the sudden shift in mood, his speech very abruptly breaking the flow from what he was saying before. Dawn furrowed her brows and listened intently.

"And I was like that… for a long time." He closed his eyes. "… Even now, there's still a lot I don't know." He opened his eyes. "But I believe true strength isn't about how many battles you win. True strength is something that isn't always obvious." He glanced at Dawn. "Sometimes the greatest strength is to be able to simply persevere."

Dawn's breath hitched, and Paul looked back forward.

"I want to use my strength to protect those close to me. I don't always know what to say, but even still, I'll use what I have to give back to this region."

Paul then bowed, and the crowd cheered. Dawn's eyes were sparkling, and Paul glanced at her one last time before Cynthia returned to the podium.

"This concludes the coronation ceremony. Please enjoy the rest of the night," she said, and the crowd clapped before breaking out into conversation among themselves. For a moment, Dawn could only stare. She watched Paul as he spoke with Cynthia, and her heart fluttered when she thought of the way his eyes had met hers.

Somehow, she couldn't seem to stop smiling.

Dawn let out a content sigh as she leaned back in her chair from her empty plate. She had gotten so caught up in dancing earlier that she hadn't had time to sit down and properly eat. Piplup was lying on the table, bloated, insisting he could eat more despite how much he had eaten prior. He definitely seemed to be regretting it now as he let out a pained groan.

There were a lot more people on the dancefloor now. Dawn watched, and she could spot Reggie and Maylene dancing in the crowd. Reggie dipped Maylene and caught her off guard, causing her to give him a glare before laughing it off.

Dawn got that same feeling in her stomach that she had earlier. She remembered when she was dancing with Ash; when she had almost caught Paul's eye. She told herself it was nothing, but she couldn't seem to shake the thought that maybe he had been watching her. She tried to restrain herself, but before she knew it her eyes had flicked back to Paul on stage.

She paused when her eyes met his. He was definitely looking at her, and she felt her face heat up. Paul seemed to become a little tense when he realized he had been caught, but he didn't look away. He nodded at Dawn, and Dawn took a breath before nodding back at him and rising from her seat.

Now that Paul wasn't swarmed with meetings and formalities, he was finally able to enjoy his own party (well, as much as Paul could enjoy a party). Dawn approached him through the crowd, and Paul stepped down from the stage to meet her.

"Hey," she greeted.

Paul nodded. "Hey."

Dawn fidgeted her hand. "Your speech was beautiful," she commented with a shy smile. "… I felt really touched by it."

Paul nodded. "… I'm glad."

Silence fell. Dawn bit the insides of her cheeks, unsure of what to say, and Paul clenched and unclenched his fist by his side. After a moment, he spoke up.

"Would you like to dance?"

Dawn paused. "Huh?"

Paul only stared at her, his eyes unwavering. Dawn blinked stupidly a few times as his words repeated in her head. A smile then curved onto her lips, and she pulled a piece of hair behind her shoulder.

"I'd love to."

This was the closest Dawn had ever been to Paul. Her hand laid gently on his shoulder, and his was placed carefully on her waist. Her free hand intertwined with his; it was warmer than Dawn had expected.

Paul wasn't a terrible dancer. He was a little stiff and awkward, but he seemed to have the rhythm down fine, and he didn't stumble once. Dawn couldn't help but keep thinking that Paul really did clean up nice. When she inhaled she could smell his aftershave, and her heart would flutter inside her chest.

"You know, you're not half-bad at this," Dawn teased. "I didn't peg you as the dancing type."

"I'm not," Paul huffed. "It's just something Reggie showed me once."

Dawn stifled a giggle at the thought of Reggie trying to teach Paul how to dance. "Anyways, I'm sure you're happy you can relax now. Or will you still go around looking like a criminal?"

Paul didn't seem amused by the comment. "I'm starting to regret asking you to dance."

Dawn let out a light laugh, but then went quiet as the two continued to move. The music softly filled the air, and Dawn could see the way his chest moved up and down as he breathed steadily. After a beat of silence, she glanced up at him.

"…Hey."

Paul glanced down at her. "Hm?"

Dawn hesitated. "…Is it over?"

Paul furrowed his brows, not understanding. Pursing her lips, Dawn lifted her head.

"You said that once all of this was over, we would sort out the rest."

Paul stopped dancing. They stood in the center of the dance floor, oblivious to the people around them. Everyone's voice became static, the music fading away. Paul tightened his grip on Dawn's waist before letting go. Dawn frowned just the slightest, but then Paul nodded towards the back doorway.

"…Let's talk elsewhere."

Dawn walked alongside Paul awkwardly as he guided them into a hallway located in the back of the hall. Eventually, Paul identified a pair of doors that led to a garden he had stumbled upon when he arrived earlier that afternoon.

"This way," he said suddenly.

"R-right!" Dawn fumbled, turning to follow him. As the two stepped outside, Dawn's mouth dropped in awe.

The garden outback was beautiful. Strings of lights trimmed the building, with hedges of roses planted beneath them. A Roselia fountain was placed in the center of the garden, the water sparkling in the lights. The moon wasn't quite full, but it was bright enough to illuminate the narrow path that led to the fountain. Flowers decorated the ground, and Dawn looked around in wonder as she soaked in the sight.

Paul walked beside her, their steps slow. He stopped when they reached the fountain. The sound of the water pouring from it filled the air, and the sounds of the party and the music were only faint murmurs in the background. Dawn noticed Paul's rippled figure reflected in the water, and she glanced at him as she gripped the skirt of her dress.

"…I'm sorry."

Dawn paused at his words. Slowly lifting her head, she looked over to Paul.

"For what?"

Paul kept his gaze in the water. "For walking out on you that night."

Dawn's heart accelerated just the slightest. Doing her best to keep her breathing even, she stood up straight.

"I'm the one who's sorry," she began, frowning as she stared at the stone Roselia figure. "I shouldn't have tried to…" She shook her head. "I just wasn't thinking."

Paul's fists curled by his sides.

Dawn pressed on with, "I know that I totally messed everything up." She gave a light, hollow laugh, as it was all she could do to hide the shaky tone in her voice. "I think it was just—"

"Why did you do it?" Paul cut in.

Dawn stared at him, stunned. Feeling the heat rise on the back of her neck, she glanced away. "I-it's…" She took a breath. "It's not important. I just—"

Paul didn't falter. He looked up from the fountain and turned himself to Dawn. "It is," he said firmly, and Dawn felt her heart drop. He took a step closer to her, and Dawn suddenly felt trapped. "You tried to kiss me," he stated, and Dawn sunk under his stare. "Why?"

Dawn felt herself almost get sick, but she swallowed. Paul was making it very hard to avert from his gaze, and she had to tell herself to breathe a little slower. Paul really had kept his word. Dawn had told herself she wanted this conversation to happen, but now that it was actually happening, she saw the appeal of dropping the topic completely.

But she knew Paul wasn't going to run away. They had evaded it for too long, and they both deserved a proper resolution.

"Because I like you," she blurted. She wanted to think of a more prettily worded confession, but after all this time, those words were long overdue. Perhaps it was for the better; she knew Paul was someone who always liked to get straight to the point.

Paul's expression changed, but just barely. Dawn found it hard to look into his eyes, and she shifted her weight as she flicked her gaze between him and the ground. Even still, she didn't regret her words, and she wanted Paul to know that. Even if he didn't feel the same, she didn't regret any of it. She expected him to say just that.

What she didn't expect was his lips against hers.

He moved in swiftly, so swiftly that Dawn's eyes were still averted when their lips met. Had she been fully aware, she might have thought to adjust her posture, purse her lips, or at the very least, inhale. But the kiss was rushed, and she was overwhelmed by the sudden pressure against her lips. It was firm, but also pleasant and warm, and she could feel his breathing through his nose against her skin before he pulled away.

Dawn's eyes fluttered, and she lightly licked her top lip as she gently touched her mouth with her fingers.

"What was that for?" she murmured. It was all she could manage.

Paul's eyes wavered, and Dawn realized he was just as nervous as she was. He tried to keep his hands steady at his sides, but his earnest eyes betrayed his body language. Dawn couldn't look away from them.

"You have nothing to apologize for," Paul finally muttered. "You never messed anything up. If it wasn't for you, I don't think I would be where I am now." He closed his eyes. "I don't know when it happened, but I started to become… used to you."

Dawn let a small smile show. "Mm. I think that's why I was so worried," she admitted. She shifted her feet. "I thought that once you became Champion, we would begin to drift apart. At some point, that thought began to scare me."

Paul opened his eyes. He let out a small huff before muttering, "I think I'm still a little scared."

Dawn was taken aback by his words. She never thought for a moment that Paul would be scared about their future, too. Without thinking, she took his hand in hers, and Paul tensed. "…Yeah. Me, too." She squeezed his hand a little, his fingers calloused as they pressed against her smooth skin. She could feel his heartbeat in his palm. "But I think that's what also makes it kind of exciting."

Paul closed his eyes and let a small smile show despite himself. Her hand in his was somehow comforting to him, and when she squeezed it, he felt like he really did believe in Dawn's words. He had never thought he would ever fall for someone. Until recently, he wasn't even aware this type of feeling even existed. Never had he felt so anxious and terrified.

And never had he felt so warm.

July 28th, 2022. Early Afternoon. Hearthome City, Sinnoh.

After the ball had ended, everything in Dawn's life felt like it was happening in a blur. It had been four months since then, but to her, it only felt like an instant. She and Paul had agreed to keep their relationship a secret at first—well, for the most part. Reggie picked up on it easily, and Dawn was able to tell her friends the news (she couldn't keep it completely inside, after all).

The press was still on top of Paul after the coronation, but as time went on, the initial buzz finally began to wear down. Paul was able to move back into his apartment and train regularly again, and he took some time to travel around Sinnoh as Champion. He was now back in Hearthome, and Dawn and Paul agreed that everything had died down enough to no longer hide themselves.

Dawn had kept herself busy in the meantime, too. With the help of Lila, she was able to find some potential locations for her boutique. One place stood out in particular, a two-story house nestled near the end of a lively street. Many of the interior walls on the bottom floor had been removed by the previous owner, which seemed to make the real estate agent anxious. However, Dawn couldn't have been more charmed by the open concept, as it created the perfect space for her shop. She was going to meet with the agent later that week to make it official.

Maybe that was why, before Dawn even realized, four months had already passed, and the hot weather from the July sun made that fact hit her all at once as she rushed down the street in panted huffs.

She scolded herself for not dressing more appropriately, the fabric from her shirt sticking to her skin in the summer heat. Days this hot were unusual in Sinnoh, and it seemed to take everyone by surprise. She visibly lit up when she spotted her favorite coffee shop on the corner; it was a haven of air conditioning, and Dawn picked up her pace for the final spurt.

She pushed open the double doors of the café, and she let out an instant breath of relief when the cool air hit her parched skin. She took a moment to straighten out her hair and clothes, as they were both a mess, and she pulled down her sunglasses to see someone already sitting at the small table in the back.

After grabbing an iced coffee, Dawn approached with a nervous laugh. "Sorry I'm late," she said. She flattened her skirt as she sat down. "I was on the phone with someone about the store."

Paul glanced up from his book, and he carefully pressed his bookmark between the pages before closing it and placing it aside.

"It's fine," he said. "Did you settle on a place?"

Dawn sipped her coffee. "Mhm." She let out a content sigh at the refreshing taste. "I'm going to go with that place on the corner—you know, the one by the park."

Paul nodded. "It's a nice place. I'm sure you can get good business there."

"Still," Dawn began, putting down her cup. She let out a sigh and put a hand to her cheek. "It has two bedrooms. I wonder if it's too big for just me." She eyed Paul. "I might need to look for a roommate."

Paul became flustered at the insinuation, and he averted his attention by taking a sip of his coffee instead. Dawn stifled a giggle as she picked back up her own.

"Anyway, I was talking to Reggie the other day," she said. Her expression became more playful. "He told me the big news."

Paul closed his eyes. "I'm not surprised. He's been telling everyone."

"I know you're excited to have another nephew or niece," Dawn teased. "You can't hide it."

Paul simply closed his eyes and took another sip of his coffee. Dawn rolled her eyes, but she smiled. Even if Paul acted annoyed, Dawn knew that he was actually happy for his brother and Maylene.

"I think I'm going to train today," Paul said suddenly, and Dawn looked over. "I thought maybe you could join me."

Dawn looked exasperated. "You finally come back to Hearthome and you already want to train again?" She closed her eyes and wagged a finger at him. "You need to learn to relax a little more, mister."

Paul glanced at her. "…I get it."

Dawn furrowed her brows. "Huh? Get what?"

"You're rusty," Paul stated with a shrug. "You've been so preoccupied with your shop preparations that you haven't been training as regularly. If we had a battle now, I wouldn't even break a sweat."

Dawn instantly became heated at the comment. "What? I'll have you know I'm always at the top of my game!" She pointed to him. "Don't think that just because you're Champion now doesn't mean I can't beat you any day of the week!"

Paul smirked. "Then prove it to me."

Dawn's brow twitched, and she promptly stood from her seat and took a long sip of her iced coffee. She slammed the now empty cup onto the table. "Then no more stalling," she declared. "Let's do this, right here and now!"

Paul let out a low chuckle and rose from his seat. "How about Route 209 instead?"

"You know what I mean!" Dawn said dryly. She slung her purse back over her shoulder.

Paul watched her in silence as she gathered her things, and he slipped his hands into his pocket. Just as she was about to walk, he closed his eyes and smiled.

"…Then after, maybe we could make ramen together."

Dawn paused, stopping mid-step. She looked back at Paul, and his eyes met hers. A smile curved on her lips, and she waved him off with her hand as she began to walk to the door.

"The loser buys the ingredients," she said confidently as she pushed open the door.

Paul followed, and once they were out the door he walked with her side by side.

"Deal."

End.

A/N: We apologize for taking so long with the final chapter-we really appreciate all of your support and patience. Thank you all so much for reading this story, and we hope that you were able to enjoy it just as much as we enjoyed writing it. A very big thank you to our two wonderful beta readers over on Tumblr, mooites and noodlerama, as we couldn't have gotten this story done without them. Thank you all again for reading!