(A/N): I already had part of this written long before I uploaded the first chapter of this story. This is Paul's side of the story, and romance isn't my strongest point in writing, so I apologize if anything seems off. It's also why I was hesitant to continue the story in the first place. Please let me know if you think the story should continue on from here.

STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY.

For many years, when Paul was young, he found solace from the turbulence in his household in the old park at the edge of Veilstone City. It was always nice and quiet there, barely anyone ever present, and it provided the best view to watch the sun set and rise each day. This park Paul discovered when he was just three years old-or rather, it was shown to him. It had happened the night before his birthday, his parents had been arguing again. Reggie was at school so he wouldn't notice, and his parents never seemed to care, so little Paul that night ran out the house, distraught. The messy child choked back tears, wanting to find a quiet place to cry, but where could a three old year find that?

Then Paul saw her. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, even if all he ever saw was the wisps of her dark blue hair whipping about in the wind, all he ever heard was her giddy giggles, and the strong man guiding her along to a park; Paul instantaneously fell in love.

Forgetting all about his home life, three year old Paul dumbly followed after the two people, directly to the park. The little girl and her father played on the swings and with the fall leaves for many hours until they were fitfully tired, and Paul kept to himself at the edge of the park, in the shadows. He felt an overwhelming shyness overcome him every time he looked at them, and could not speak either. An itching at the center of his back bothered him the whole while too. So when the sun began to set, little Paul slowly trudged home, hoping that maybe he could meet that pretty girl tomorrow.

He would not see her again until many years later, however. When he arrived home that day, Reggie exclaimed in surprise when he saw the tiny soulmate tattoo on three year old Paul's back. Paul tripped and fell into the bathtub, then looked up at Reggie with wide eyes.

"Why did you yell at me?"

Reggie sat down on a stool, shaking his head, starting to shampoo his younger brother's hair.

"Nothing, I was just surprised."

"What surprised you?"

"You have a soulmate tattoo on your back."

"A wha…?"

Reggie chuckled as he rinsed Paul with a bucket full of water, the younger one pouting.

"A soulmate tattoo. Here, let me tell you a story," Reggie wrapped little Paul up in a fluffy towel and sat him on his knee, drying his hair.

"A long long time ago, there was a man who loved this lady very much. He wanted to show her, but he wanted it be special. So off he went into the mountains, and found a fat old god."

Paul giggled, "Why was he fat?"

"Well, he liked to eat mountain boar a lot. Any who, he found the mountain god and asked him to give him a special way to show the lady how much he liked her. So the god was like 'I dunno what to do', and the guy was like 'but you're a god' and the god was like 'yeah but I am fat and old'."

Paul was in a fit of giggles as Reggie stretched the old folk story.

"So, they sat and stared at each other for a long time," Reggie continued, drying Paul's hair, "then the man had an idea. 'How about art,' he said, and the god thought of an idea too. So they mushed their thoughts together, and tattoos were then made. The god liked the outcome so much that he decided that everyone should have tattoos for their loved ones."

Paul 'ooo'ed in awe, looking up at Reggie as his pajamas were tugged on for him, "Does that mean I love someone, big brother?"

"It does indeed. The type you have is a soulmate tattoo. This means that you're meant to be with them, no matter what. But it's so small…did you remember what the girl looked like, Paul?"

"Um…she had pretty blue hair."

"Do you remember her name?"

Paul frowned, shaking his head, "I didn't get to meet her, and she never saw me."

"Ah, that must be why it's so small. You two never actually met."

Paul hugged his brother before being tucked into bed, thinking about what he said. He hoped he would be able to meet this girl again soon.

At age seven, the year that the park no longer became his solace, was the year his parents split apart. It happened so swiftly that Paul and Reggie didn't notice until well into late morning the next day. Their father never came home to take them to the ball game, and their mother never came home from the mall. The two adults thought if one left, the other for sure would stay to look after the children. They were wrong. Paul wondered aloud if his parents went on vacation and forgot to tell them, but Reggie shook his head, his eyes cast in shadow.

That year they had to leave Veilstone, and went to a little house in the country side. Paul didn't understand for several weeks what happened until he saw Reggie crying late one night that his parents had abandoned them indefinitely. Paul choked back tears, quickly wiping his eyes, deciding in that moment that he wouldn't be a wimp that cried like Reggie. He marched back up to his room, and sat deep in thought for the rest of the night.

Years dragged by slowly, Reggie facing their situation with a somber, and then later, cheery demeanor. Paul, on the other hand, slowly grew a tough shell. In that small house, after Reggie lost in the battle frontier, Reggie founded his career as a Pokémon breeder, and took great care of all Pokémon that came to be in his possession, while Paul second-handedly learned about the trade. Paul himself wanted to be a trainer, like his brother used to be, though Reggie didn't let him go until he was around twelve. Paul at least thought he was twelve; he didn't keep track of his birthdays anymore, though Reggie celebrated for him. Reggie gave him some Pokémon to start with, and off he went. At first, Paul was harsh in his training of his Pokémon.

He was aggressive, and gave them little to no rest, stuck in that train of thought of not wanting to be weak like Reggie, or weak like his parents that had run away from their problems. After defeating his first two gyms, his training become gentler, albeit more rigid. Somewhere along the way he met Ash, impressed by his Pikachu's moves. He was disappointed to find that Ash himself was not skilled enough to know how to care of his Pikachu and its needs, and quickly moved on. Their first meeting was cold, and Paul almost regretted how rude he was, but pushed down the feelings. He was sure that his words could probably make Ash stronger in the long run. Being a lone traveler, Paul's Pokémon journey and its days blurred together, so that when he first met Dawn, he did not know how much time had passed or how far along he was.

To him, she was beautiful, breathtaking, but she was quick to judge him and the way he treated his Pokémon, that he soon found her troublesome instead. Every time they parted, he quickly wished to see her again, ignoring the majority of what she said, just ignoring the rush of adrenaline every time they argued. Time was hard to track for him, but he was crushed when Ash defeated him at the Sinnoh league. Was Paul not the superior trainer? He had trained so diligently, studied opponents and their battle styles to adapt them to his own use, and even played with Pokémon moves to manipulate the outcome of a battle.

But he saw that Ash had grown since their first encounter, and recognized him as a trainer now. So he accepted his defeat, disgruntled. Then he saw how Dawn was so happy for Ash, and grew upset. Their meeting soon ended, and he did not see her for a long time after that.

Somewhere along the way, in his lost thoughts and meandering journey, he realized in the back of his mind that his tattoo was growing slowly. He paid it no mind at all, focusing on the battles, the winning, and eventually the losing. But eventually he stopped and thought about it seriously. There was no questioning that Dawn was the girl from his memories. But he didn't need love, did he? Not if it would cripple him like it did his parents, who bore gray tattoos.

Their love wasn't mutual, and they eventually split. Paul knew his tattoo wasn't white, but what if someday it became white, or gray, or if Dawn's was a different color than his own? He ignored it all, kept the shell intact, ignored the pleasant adrenaline arguments and encounters with Dawn brought. But was that really the right way to go about this? Paul sighed, continuing his journey in troubled thoughts, slowly seeping into a thick depression. Much time passed between then and when he saw Dawn next.

"Hey Paul! Let's battle!"

The lavender haired teen stopped, startled by that voice he had not heard in so long. Paul was just aimlessly wandering, deep in thought of how much he loves Dawn. He was mulling over how the tattoo had grown and swelled each time he met Dawn, and how it had stopped after their last meeting at the Sinnoh league so long ago, like how he does every day. He slowly turned to face Ash, not in the mood to face a battle, hoping that Ash was alone. To his distraught, not only was Brock with him, but so was Dawn.

The one who he had not seen is so long, the beautiful little girl he had met when he was three, and the girl that he supposed hated him. He reluctantly agreed to the battle, if only to see Dawn a little while longer. He was distracted by her the whole while, thinking of how he realized his feelings after he had last met her, and surmised them as unacquainted. After all, that was what had happened to his parents. He wouldn't be surprised if it happened to himself too. Paul was snapped out of his reverie when he was declared the winner of the battle, though Dawn soon walked over to him, concern written in her eyes.

"Hey, Paul, is something wrong?"

His breath hitched as she gently placed her hand upon his arm.

"You can tell us; I know you're not fond of us, but I think after all these months, that we could at least be considered friends," Dawn was looking up at him with her beautiful eyes swimming with worry, and he looked at Ash and Brock, giving him supportive smiles. He looked down at the ground then, slowly letting the words come out.

"…I received my soulmate tattoo."

That wasn't exactly true, now, was it? He had it for a while, he was just in denial of it all. He frowned at the surprise, and raised up his hand to silence their congratulating. He should just explain himself clearly.

"I've had the tattoo since I was small, but it remained small, in the middle of my back, just a puny thing, actually. Appeared when I was three-Reggie would tell me that was because my soulmate wasn't near me and I didn't know them yet. But…but I just noticed a few days ago that the tattoo was suddenly huge, it covered my whole back, that I hadn't noticed it happened, but I think I know who it is…"

Ash perked up, while Brock examined Paul with a concerned frown. Dawn just stared up at Paul, and Paul sighed at how he failed to properly explain himself again.

"Who is it?" Dawn inquired quietly while Ash said the same at the same time, although ecstatically.

Paul glanced at Dawn for less than a second, but Brock caught it. His companions didn't.

"I don't think it's a mutual tattoo."

Ash deflated at Paul's words, and Dawn looked incredibly relieved. Brock, being one in the expert of love, watched them all with knowing eyes. He stood, placing a comforting arm around Paul. Paul frowned, guessing that Brock probably saw how he was distracted by Dawn. Paul vaguely wondered why Dawn looked so relieved. She must not love him, as he had thought all along.

"I know how it feels, Paul. Come, talk with me," he said as he pulled Paul away from Ash and Dawn. The lavender haired teen followed along while Ash and Dawn wondered off and started talking themselves.

Paul and Brock stood underneath a tall tree, looking in the direction of where Ash and Dawn were seated. Paul noted the sun setting slowly while Brock turned to him, arms crossed across his chest, examining Paul with a stern expression. The younger glanced away, disliking the scrutiny, it felt as though Brock was picking away at his shell.

"...your tattoo is for Dawn, isn't it?" Sighing, Paul silently nodded. Brock sighed as well, shaking his head.

"It would have been better if someone nicer than you were her soulmate, but I suppose the world does work in mysterious ways," he mused while Paul flinched. Why did he feel so uncomfortable right now? He usually had no trouble being stoic. He guessed it was the love sickness making him weak, as he had thought.

"Well, it's not like she would like me back," Paul laughed sourly to himself. Brock could see right through him.

"I think you're wrong there, Paul."

"How would you suppose that?"

"Well, Dawn recently found that her own tattoo had appeared. She was heartbroken because she believed that she missed meeting them. It was the biggest tattoo that I had ever seen, and I knew then that she must be deeply in love. It couldn't be someone at random, it had to be someone we saw constantly. Her tattoo was pink too."

"Why tell me all this? Are you trying to make fun of me?"

"Not at all; from what I've seen, I think you're the best fit for who Dawn's soulmate could be."

Paul scowled, "Yeah, right. Her or my tattoos could turn white or gray at any time, and how do you know it's not Barry or Ash or Kenny that's her soulmate?"

Brock shook his head at Paul, sighing.

"Ash already found his soulmate, and Dawn had temporary tattoos for all you mentioned."

Paul glared, not liking where this conversation was going.

"Tattoos can't turn white either, Paul."

Paul 'tsk'ed, looking away from Brock, emotion overwhelming him.

"If that's true, then why did my parents split? Why did they argue every time they say each other, glared venom at each other, and run away from all their problems? Why were their tattoos faded and gray! Soulmates? Never has there been a bigger lie in nature!"

Paul was near tears that he refused to let out when the wind was knocked out of him, Brock shoving him against the tree and tugging at his shirt.

"What are you doing?!"

Brock shoved him against the tree again, examining the tattoo on his back.

"Your tattoo is pink," he roughly let go of Paul, "and tattoos are only ever gray if soulmates were unfaithful to one another, or the other died." Paul shook his head, not wanting to listen to Brock anymore.

"Paul, just tell her. You have no other tattoos but your soulmate tattoo, and its pink, Paul. Pink means eternal love," Brock shook his head at the lavender haired boy who was usually full of confidence, speaking in harsh whispers. Paul looked at Dawn longingly, then shook his head.

"I…I can't," and with that, Paul departed and disappeared into the chilly night. He left Brock heavily disappointed.

After that, Paul found himself lost in time again. He unconsciously let the depression take over him. He wandered all over with his team, taking up small challenges at miscellaneous places, but for now, stayed out of leagues. He couldn't concentrate on any one thing long enough to be a league trainer or stay in one place anymore. Through various regions he went - to Unova, Kalos, Johto, and Hoenn. Heck, he even went to small places like Fiore.

His travelling through the regions was fast, his thoughts keeping him on the move. She was always on his mind, and he regretted, at times, not listening to Brock. He kept himself in constant internal conflict over this love he bore for her, and thought it weird how it could keep him so down, and how he didn't know as much about her as he would like. The thoughts kept him in a prison that blinded himself from the present. Before he realized it, he found himself in Kanto with a case for league badges three years later. Staring into a mirror in the Pokémon center room he was renting, Paul's thoughts came to a sudden halt.

When had he gotten so tall, so adult? Why had his hair grown long, and his eyes so sharp? His clothes didn't fit that well either. He stared at the badge case in his hand, and checked the time on his pokedex.

"Time sure does flies when you're lost in thought," he murmured to himself, then went silent. Sighing, he looked back at the mirror.

"You're an idiot, Paul…," he whispered to himself. "In the end, you were the weak one. You let the thoughts imprison you." Shaking himself, he thoroughly washed his face. With a set scowl, he strode to the market down the road, buying himself new clothes. He bought fresh supplies, and brought all his Pokémon out. They looked at him with concern.

"You all saw it too, and put up with me all this time…," he squatted, examining each and everyone one of them. Weavile came and hugged him, while Ursaring and Electrive wouldn't acknowledge him. Magmortar wandered over to Paul, and he could see the fire type was sick. Most of them looked sick.

"Paul, you're such an idiot…," the lavender haired man stood, calling them back. He had to get out of this funk, and take care of himself and his Pokémon friends.

"I need to stop being weak and pick up the pace again," he stared up at the sky.

"I need to find Dawn."

He strode back into the Pokémon center with determined stride, focused on bringing himself out of his prisoning thoughts, wanting to find Dawn, and concentrated on bringing out a new Paul.

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