Installment 1: Paul's Dilemma

Disclaimer: moi-moi819 does not own Pokémon, or any of their titles therein. This is a nonprofit fan fiction. No copyright infringement was intended.

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"And that's it! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! In an amazing victory over his opponent, Paul has managed a clean-sweep win!"

It wasn't what I would call "amazing". It was a sure win. My Pokémon were in the best shape that they've ever been in and my battle style was fully optimized. It would have been a miracle if I hadn't won.

"I guess the better Trainer won," Stephan said to me as he offered his hand for a shake. He towered over me slightly by at least three inches with his bulky build, but I didn't flinch. I accepted the handshake with a nod, nearly scoffing at his tight grip.

"You fought a good battle," I said to him.

Stephan smirked slightly. "Yeah. I guess I'll just have to work harder next time," Stephan said and we released hands. The interaction felt strained and tense despite the cordial words. It was probably due to Stephan's blatant flirtation with Gabi, but I couldn't be sure. It shouldn't matter to me if Stephan made a fool of himself. Gabi wasn't mine to control. But, that didn't stop me from wanting to knock his teeth out.

"Congratulations, my boy! That was an excellent victory!" Charles Goodshow congratulated me with a pat on the back. He looked much older than he had the last time I competed in the Sinnoh League despite that being only four years ago. Gabi stood next to him with the golden, Champion's Cup in her hands. She shot me a smug smirk before offering it to me.

"Congrats. You didn't battle as terribly as I thought you would," she joked in a teasing tone. Infernape was snickering at her side while Mr. Goodshow grinned widely.

"I am the best," I replied with a smirk of my own.

Like I thought she would, she huffed loudly and folded her arms before declaring, "You can't claim the title of "Best" until you beat me. And that is never gonna happen." We'll see.

~:~

After having Mr. Goodshow and the rest of the Pokémon League officials explain the rules to me, I left the stadium to head to the Pokémon Center. Even though I had won in a clean sweep, I didn't want my Pokémon in less than perfect condition. When I entered the Center, I spotted Stephan once again making a nuisance of himself at the counter.

He was grinning widely as well as leaning casually on the counter in attempt to look nonchalant while discretely flexing his muscles. I could feel a headache coming on as my eye twitched. As usual, Gabi was completely oblivious to his advances as she listened to him speak. Either that or she was a really great actress.

She listened to Stephan with polite interest, but when she noticed me approaching, her entire expression lit up and she flagged me down. My eye stopped twitching long enough to shoot a small smirk Stephan's way. He rolled his eyes at me. Even after four years, we hadn't made friends like Gabi always encouraged us to.

"Congrats again, Paul. That was some win. Battling you was really intense," Stephan complimented me.

"That's Paul for you," Gabi shrugged casually, but I could hear the pride in her tone. She felt that it was her place to boast my accomplishments like a mother would boast a gifted child. Whatever made her happy… It didn't matter to me.

That was a lie. There was a small part of me (and I was reluctant to admit that it existed) that relished in her praise and attention. For reasons I couldn't explain (or simply chose not to), she mattered more to me than anyone else. I wasn't sure if I held her higher than I did Reggie, but there were times when that was easy to determine. Such as when Reggie made it his mission to set me up with Gabi or to make incredulous, wild assumptions about us. Ridiculous.

"You really don't know yet?" I heard Stephan asked when I snapped out of my thoughts. I feigned like I knew what the topic of conversation was.

"No, Stephan. Everyone's avoiding the topic. Even Flint is keeping quiet about my birthday. I think another surprise party's being planned," Gabi shrugged. Gabi's birthday?

"I haven't heard anything. Oh well. Since I wasn't let in on it, I feel no guilt in telling you that I've already got you the perfect gift," Stephan smirked.

"The perfect gift? This I've got to see," she grinned. I kept quiet.

"No can do. Maybe you can convince Paul to give you a peak at the gift he got you," Stephan hinted.

Just then, Nurse Joy returned with Stephan's Pokéballs and the red-head left to reclaim them. Gabi turned bright eyes onto me with a small smile on her face. I stared back at her. "Alright. Don't tell me. I want to be surprised anyways. I know it'll be great," Gabi grinned.

Great. I'd forgotten her birthday. For the entire time that I've known her, Gabi has never forgotten my birthday. She'd even remembered it when I'd forgotten. I've never had to remember hers before. Usually Flint, Victoria, or someone else would be sending me constant messages of her surprise party. Why hadn't he gotten one this time?

"Ah! Young love!"

Gabi's demeanor took a turn for the worst as she rolled her eyes with a growl that sounded suspiciously like Luxray's. we didn't need to turn to see who it was that had spoken. We knew Rhonda's voice anywhere. Sure enough, she was approaching us with a wide, smug grin and her cameraman in tow.

"You two are going to be the cherry on top of my next show with this scoop," she grinned. "Smile pretty, you lovebirds."

She was another one that brought on headaches in me. Luckily, Gabi spoke up for us. "Rhonda, we're not-" she started.

"Yeah, yeah. I've heard all the excuses before," Rhonda waved her off. "Do you really expect me to believe that there isn't something between you two? The public has a right to know! Don't you think?" she winked.

"You're the singled most annoying person I have ever met. Beat it before I-" I started, but Gabi cut me off.

"-What he means is: shouldn't you be interviewing someone else who isn't anywhere near here?" Gabi asked with a polite smile.

"Why would I do that when you two are here? Sinnoh's very own young couple. Like Romeo and Juliette, but you know…without all the dying," Rhonda went on. The headache was surging back now. Even the jealous glares Stephan was shooting me weren't enough to raise my mood. "So, Paul, tell me how you feel about eventually having to face your girlfriend in battle," Rhonda said and placed her microphone at my mouth.

For the past few years, I had experienced the growth spurt that came with puberty. I was getting closer to Reggie's height, but he still had me beat out by several inches. I was able to look Rhonda in the face with a dry stare.

"…Okay…Gabi, how do you feel about having to face Paul? Do you think your heart will keep you from delivering the final blow? How would you feel if you lost your title to him?" Rhonda went on.

"Do you really get paid to harass other's lives? That's pathetic. Go make yourself useful and get a real job," I sneered. Rhonda's face fell before a scowl took its place. With a loud "humph!", she stalked away with her cameraman trailing behind her.

"That wasn't very nice," Gabi admonished me.

"Don't act like you weren't thinking it," I replied with a smirk.

~:~

I sighed again as I glared at my roof. I was getting nowhere in my brainstorming. What could I possibly get Gabi for her birthday? What do you get a girl with enough money to simply buy whatever she wanted or needed? I sighed and groaned again.

"You okay Paul? I heard some pretty strange noises," Reggie said as he moved into my doorway. He placed his hands on his hips as he raised a brow at me.

"I'm fine," I replied and went back to my thoughts.

"Thinking about what to get Gabi for her birthday?" Reggie guessed. I could hear the smug tone in his voice. How did he always know? "You never seem to know what to get her when it comes around. I just figured that it was my turn to help you again."

I decided to bite the bullet take the advice he was offering. "How is it that she always has the best gift for me?" I asked him, but kept my gaze on my ceiling. Reggie came in my room before sitting at the foot of my bed.

"Because she knows you so well. It's kind of scary how well she knows you," Reggie mused.

"And I don't know her," I filled in for him. He didn't need to say it.

"I didn't say that. You do know her. You just don't know how to show it or express yourself. But, the good thing is that she knows that about you," Reggie said. He stood then and patted my leg comfortingly. "Don't worry too much about it Paul. It'll work out."

I watched him go with a glare. He was no help at all. So much for older brothers. I would have to figure this out on my own. And I would have to do it soon. Today was Gabi's birthday. I was sure that she getting all kinds of birthday cards, wishes, and gifts from friends and fans all over the world. Luckily, that would keep her busy long enough for me to attain a gift.

I was shifting out of bed when I heard Electivire call out to me. He was grinning smugly about something as he spoke to me. "What's with you?" I questioned him as I picked up my wallet and shoes. He came closer to me to display the object in his furry hands. It was a small, yellow box with an outlet.

"Your electrizer? What about it?" I questioned him. He went about some motions, but when he saw that I wasn't understanding him, he sighed loudly. With a renewed grin, he quickly left only to return with a yellow ribbon. He showed me the ribbon before moving to tie it around the electrizer like a present.

Then it hit me. "You want to give that to Gabi?" I asked him with a raised brow. He nodded vigorously. I shrugged once. "Alright. Whatever," I said casually, but internally I seethed. Even Electivire could come up with a gift for Gabi and he didn't even have much to begin with! His electrizer was like his prized possession. I didn't even want to know what my other Pokémon had come up with. They all adored Gabi to know end and were probably moving mountains to get her gifts.

I left my room to see Reggie tying a ribbon on a large basket. The basket held all types of fruits and flowers along with a card. Honchkrow and Staraptor stood at Reggie's side with proud grins. Reggie turned to us with a small smile. "Staraptor and Honchkrow got Gabi a fruit basket. They even signed the card with their feet," Reggie explained. I frowned.

"I'm going out. Be back later," I said and slipped my hands into my jacket pockets. I left the house with Electivire on my tail. I didn't normally travel with him out of his ball, but I had forgotten his ball at home.

I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to buy. I was completely lost. I'd never gone gift shopping before without someone's help. Usually, it was Gabi who would help me. Either that or she'd get the gift and sign my name on it with hers. If it was a present for Gabi, either Victoria, Flint, or Reggie would help me. I could call one of them to help, but they were AWOL. Were they still planning a surprise party?

When Electivire tugged on my sleeve twice to get my attention, I raised a brow at him "What?" I asked him. He pointed off to the side where a man was selling flowers from his vendors cart. My face flamed. "You think I should get her flowers?" I balked. Electivire shrugged hopelessly once.

I couldn't get Gabi flowers. Flowers were for married people or couples. We weren't a couple. Despite what everyone in Sinnoh believed (thanks to Rhonda's brainwashing), Gabi and I weren't a couple. And that wasn't going to change no matter how many times people told us how "cute we were together" or how much she'd "changed" me over the years. Apparently, a large part of Gabi's fan base thought our nonexistent relationship to be a perfect match. I couldn't count how many times I'd gotten wistful letters from "Gaul" shippers. I was sure that Reggie along with all of my Pokémon were a "Gaul" shippers (whatever that was…).

"I just need a simple gift. Something that you would give a friend that you've known for a long time," I told him. Electivire pointed to the flower vendor again while giving me his impression of a kissy face. I glared at him before speeding up to leave him behind. My face on fire, I snapped, "If you aren't going to take this seriously, you can go home."

"Young man?"

I stopped. It was the flower vendor. Upon closer inspection, I saw that he also sold heart-shaped candies and cards. Perfect. "Yes?" I asked him, already ready to walk away.

"You seem troubled. Are you looking for a gift for a young lady?" he smiled at me. He was a middle-aged man with a soft face.

"Yeah. I am," I said hesitantly.

"Would you like a bouquet of flowers? Or perhaps some chocolate tulips?" the man smiled. I frowned at him.

"No thanks. I don't need a romantic gift. She's just a friend," I explained to him.

"Oh I see… "Just a friend"," the and said with a wink. "I get it. How about this Teddiursa doll?"

My eyes widened in stunned shock. The Teddiursa was nearly the size of an Ursaring as it sat with a red, frilly heart in its paws. The plush heart read "I Wuv You" in a cursive script in white letters. The man wiggled the bear in his arms for emphasis.

"Paul? Is that you?"

With a restrained expression, I turned o see Rhonda jogging up to me with her camera crew. "You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get a hold of Gabi on her birthday. But, I'm sure that's no problem for you," she winked. Then, she spotted the bear. I suddenly wished Electivire could use Dig or Fly to get me away from here. "What have we here? Is this for Gabi? You really spare no expense for the one you love. Am I right Paul?" she asked as she felt the Teddiursa.

I had two options. I could have Electivire use Thunder to get my point across to the dull woman. However, I was sure that the scene would end up on television for everyone to see. And, of course, Gabi would see it. And if she saw that I had been attacking news reporters again, she wouldn't let me hear the end of it. The second option was to simply walk away.

"You're not worth my time," I scoffed and walked away from Rhonda wit Electivire on my tail.

"Paul, wait! I have more questions to ask y- ow! I told you to watch where you're holding that mic you idiot!" I could hear Rhonda yelling as I walked away.

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I was running out of time. I had set off on my search just before lunch and now, it was nearly sunset. I had been to over twenty stores and carts in Veilstone. Even with Electivire's "help", I couldn't find a single thing to get her. Why was shopping so difficult?

"Hey, Paul. Did you find anything?" Reggie asked as I reentered the house.

"I came back empty handed. What do you think?" I snapped at him. Being more than use to my bad moods, Reggie brushed off my rude tone.

He was about to saw something else to me when someone else suddenly appeared in the house. I sighed loudly when I spotted Gabi's Gardevoir floating gracefully. "Gardevoir, you look well. It's time to go already? I'll go call everyone else," Reggie smiled. Gardevoir was the personal transportation for anyone making the trip to Gabi's home in Sandgem Town for her birthday. Teleportation was a lot faster than modern transportation.

When Reggie came back in with all my Pokémon plus their many gifts, I felt even worse. They were all bustling happily as they waited to be Teleported. There was nothing they loved more than visiting Gabi. I guessed that it was from her constant pampering and praise towards them. She spoiled them rotten. I wasn't harsh on them like I used to be, but I was far from giving them ear scratches and belly rubs.

Once everyone as gathered in the living room, Gardevoir's Teleport transported us all into the backyard of Gabi's home. I could hear the party music along with the loud voices and bright lights coming from the house. It took a little more than a second before Gabi was at the back door with a large grin. "You made it!" she exclaimed.

Gardevoir left us then to rejoin the party inside as Gabi joined us outside. Her eyes scanned over all the gifts before she smiled brightly. "Gifts? You guys shouldn't have, but I'm more than happy you did," she smirked with a wink. Like a kid on Christmas, she went about opening each one starting with Staraptor's and Honchkrow's. "To Gabi from Staraptor, Honchkrow and Paul," she read he card. My eyes widened. "These fruit look amazing! They'll make the best Poffins ever!"

What? My confusion only grew as she kept reading the cards. Each gift read my Pokémon's name… along with my own. Even Reggie's gift had my name on it. I knew that Reggie wrote the card for them, but not one of my Pokémon looked surprised that my name was on the cards.

When Electivire presented his cardless gift to Gabi, her eyes widened. "Your electrizer? Thank you very much, Electivire. I'll cherish it forever. I'm guessing that it was your and Paul's idea," she grinned. My mouth opened to speak, but Electivire's quick nod cut me off.

A small part of me was touched. They had all come through for me. I hadn't done anything, but they'd done so much. I still felt guilty for not actually having a gift, but I would put that away from now.

"Let's get inside and say "hi" to everyone," Reggie suggested to all the Pokémon. They all followed him inside, leaving Gabi and I alone.

Once they were all gone, she smiled at me. I swallowed. The guilt was growing. "Gabi, I don't know whose idea it was to put my name on the cards, but I didn't help them get their gifts. I was too busy looking for my own, but I couldn't find anything that you could possibly want or need. It was impossible," I started.

"I had a feeling," I said as she held the electrizer in her hands.

"W-what?" I gaped. How did she-?

"When I saw the scented soap, lotion, candle, and perfume set, I figured it out," she shrugged with a grin.

"I'm sorry. I know that it's no excuse, but I'm just no good at this," I said with a frustrated noise.

I would have kept going if her laughter hadn't stopped me. I shot her a look. She was laughing at me? "I know you're no good at gift shopping. Why do you think I buy the gifts and sign your name on the card?" she started. I was at a loss for words. "It doesn't matter if you're terrible at gift shopping. It means a lot to me that you tried."

I let out a relieved breath. She was… there were no words to describe how amazing she could be. And if there were, I didn't know them. "I also saw just how much you tried today on TV. Rhonda had a "premium exclusive" today," she started. "I'm kinda disappointed that you didn't get the Teddiursa. It was cute."

I shot her an annoyed look. "I thought it was the thought that counted," I replied.

"Well…sure. But, next time, go with the Teddiursa doll," she winked before taking me by the hand to lead me inside. The atrocious doll with the even more atrocious message "I Wuv You"… Would she really want him to get that? She couldn't really want it. He knew her better than that.

Maybe it was the message she wanted? Looking at the bock of her head as she lead him through the crowd, he was surprised when she suddenly turned to wink at him. His face flushed. If he ever told her that, the "wuv" would have to go. The day he said "wuv" over "love" would be the day he gave Electivire a belly rub.

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Moi-Moi: Aw Paul. :')

Edited: 1/24/14