Paul liked a challenge. To him, nothing was impossible. In fact, the word itself was nonexistent. Of course defeating the Sinnoh League was possible, and he proved himself right a few years after his loss to Ash. Friendship with Ash was not impossible, which was what Paul wound up with after his brother had dared him to make a friend. Ash Ketchum had just been the more challenging way to go about that.

But that is another story. As a friend of Ash's, Paul was entitled to visits every time the rambunctious Trainer came to town. He could not pretend he did not look forward to these visits, especially since Ash always had a new challenge for him. "Defeat my Emboar!" or "Show me your strongest Pokemon!" were common challenges from Ash that Paul welcomed.

During a particular one of Ash's visits, the two of them were lounging on Paul's couch, as teenage boys are known to do. Pikachu lounged at Ash's side. Each had a can of soda, watching the television but not really. Abruptly, Ash sat up, nearly spilling some of his drink. "Hey, it's Dawn!" he exclaimed, pointing. "Paul, turn it up!"

Reluctantly, Paul reached for the remote and upped the volume. The face of a vaguely familiar girl took up the screen, waving to some crowd Paul could not see. "Oh," he said upon recognizing her. "Her."

It was a brief ad for a Contest that had happened somewhere in Sinnoh. Paul really could not care less about such a thing. But Ash seemed to care, which meant Paul had to act at least remotely interested.

Ash blinked as he watched. "She's hot."

Paul's usually disinterested expression immediately turned into a frown. "What?" he exclaimed, in the most exclamatory voice he was capable of.

"Well look at her!" Ash went on, gesticulating wildly. "You can't say she's not hot."

"You have a girlfriend," snapped Paul.

Ash grimaced. "Yeah, but I heard her call Gary sexy, so I think I can get away with this." He sat back against the couch. "Besides, it's not like she'll find out."

Paul took that as a challenge and pulled out his cell phone, searching his contacts for Misty's name.

However, his fun was interrupted by Ash. "Dawn didn't like you much, if I remember right," he remarked, as if this were the most casual thing in the world.

"And?" Paul asked. He was starting to type out his message to Misty.

"…Nah, you're probably not up for it."

Slowly, Paul lowered his phone. "What are you talking about?"

Ash sipped his soda smugly. "I got a text from her telling me she would be here in Veilstone if I wanted to meet up."

Paul rolled his eyes. "And…?" he prompted.

"I just thought it would be interesting to see if you could win her over."

For a while, Paul was silent. "How do you mean?" he asked, snapping his phone shut and putting it away.

Ash just shrugged. "I don't know, man. I mean, you're here all by yourself. Me and Reggie are like the only human beings you see. Might not be a bad idea to get a girlfriend."

Slowly, Paul rolled his head around to stare at his friend. "You want me," he said carefully, "to get Dawn… to be my girlfriend?"

"Yeah, see, I knew it was too big a challenge for you." Ash took another gulp of his soda.

Now wait just a minute, is what Paul wanted to say. But it wasn't very Paul-like, so he kept silent. Instead, he watched the commercial about Dawn end and the normal program resume. "Hm," he said finally.

Paul knew Ash was peering at him curiously, wanting to see if the stony Trainer would take the bait. Oh, and Paul was such a sucker for bait, too. He hated it. But the hook was already in his mouth. All Ash had to do was pull.

"I mean" Ash stated casually, "she really hated you back then. It'd be a real victory if you could swing her to your side."

And there was the pull. Ash had him right where he wanted him. Paul was completely out the water, flailing ineffectively in the air, useless for anything except going in the net.

Paul shook the metaphor from his head, disturbed with the image it presented him with. "What if I'm not interested in having a girlfriend?" he said, despite how appealing the task was starting to sound.

Ash shrugged. "If you're going to let things like that stop you, then you're clearly not up for it."

Paul scowled at the TV. Ash may not look it, but he was a manipulative little sneak. Paul had learned this the hard way, and now was able to spot it when Ash used his powers of persuasion. Of course, that didn't make them any less effective.

"Very well," Paul complied. "I'll do it."