Chapter One

WE ARE ALL GATHERED HERE TODAY

"Oh my Arceus! He did what?!"

Dawn swore that if May screamed a pitch higher, she would have permanently lost her hearing. The elated brunette placed both hands over her gaping mouth, her wide eyes unwavering. It was a spontaneous invitation, yet May being the ever-so-kind friend she is, did not hesitate to travel all the way from Hoenn upon her friend's request.

Paul's proposal was just about two days ago, however, Dawn could not help but tell her friend of the wonderful news. Despite her tight and busy schedule, she had driven that night all the way home to Twinleaf Town to personally tell her mother of her engagement. She had also requested her best friend, May Maple, to come visit while she organised an online video chat with some friends.

A light knock was heard from the door. "Dawn dear, sugar cookies, your favourite," came Johanna's motherly tone. Quickly hopping off her old yellow bed, Dawn walked towards the door to bring her mom in. Johanna beamed at the sight of her daughter. "There's enough for everyone." She then placed the silver tray on the nightstand.

May grinned as she hopped closer to Dawn and grabbed one of the delicacies nestled on the tray. "Have you told your mom the news?"

Dawn shook her head. "Shhh! I was going to tell everyone at the same time! You just had to be so forward, eh, May?" She nudged her friend lightly by the shoulder.

Johanna grabbed a small chair from behind and sat down to face the two giggling young women acting as if they were ten-year-olds who had been treated to a candy store. "News? What news, dear?" Her voice catching their attention.

"You'll have to wait Mom. My friends will be online in just a minute." Dawn grabbed her stuffed Piplup and gave it a squeeze. "I want to tell everyone at the same time!"

May stuck out her tongue. "Except for me! You just had to tell me A.S.A.P., didn't you Dawn?"

"Shut up, May!"

The blue-haired young woman then pounded her plushie onto her chatty friend's head. Avenging herself from the physical attack, May took one of Dawn's pillows and slammed it against her arm. Dawn was surprised from the rebuttal, but did not refuse to let her guard down. This is war, she thought as she continued to incessantly pound the poor stuffed Piplup against May, causing its wing to slowly tear off.

"Okay now, ladies!" intervened Johanna as she stood from her seat. "Let's all act civil now. Dawn, you've got a call."

"Oh?" Dawn paused and checked her laptop as to see who it was. The caller ID was labeled Misty Waterflower-Ketchum, to which the giddy young woman immediately accepted.

Seconds after she had accepted the call, the screen displayed Misty's pretty face with those deep jade eyes and short-cut marmalade hair.

"Hi Dawn! Long time no see! Oh, how I've missed you guys!"

"I miss you too, Misty!"

Abruptly, May snuck up from behind. "MISTY!" she squealed at the top of her lungs.

Shocked from the sudden screech, Dawn almost let go of her laptop. Even Johanna seemed to have felt startled.

"Son of a—! May!"

Misty merely laughed at her friend's crazy antics. After a few minutes of some small talk concerning Misty's marriage to soon-to-be Kanto Elite Four, Ash Ketchum, and asking how school was for their three year-old boy, Chase, Dawn's laptop once again buzzed in cue of another caller.

"Oh, hold up Misty," Dawn told her as she minimized her screen to view who the other caller was. It was Zoey.

Accepting and merging the call into a three-way, the ladies waited for Zoey's screen to load. Upon seeing her signature fiery deep red hair that matched her eyes, each one of them gave their warm salutations.

"Hey Zoey! How have you been?" Dawn began. "I haven't seen you in ages."

"Likewise Dawn. I'm doing well. Now, what's this scheduled meeting all about?"

"Now, let's just wait for Candice and Leona, then we'll be set—!"

"Is that the lovely Poké Stylist from Twinleaf Town I hear?" came the Snowpoint City Gym leader's high-pitched enthusiastic voice.

Dawn's eyes began to widened. "Hey, is that...?"

"Yeah it's me!" Candice beamed as her winter-white face filled the screen. "You didn't expect me to be here at Zoe-Zoe's now, did you?"

Dawn rolled her eyes after casting her friend a huge grin. She then turned the laptop around for everyone to see and greet one another.

"Oh, by the way," Zoey spoke up. "I received a text from Leona. She said she couldn't go online because of some connection problems—must be the difficult signal from the hot spring resort. But no worries, I'll send her a message on whatever important crap we talk about here."

"I'd really appreciate that, thanks Zoe."

"Sure! It's no problem."

There was a brief silence as some fiddled with their phones whilst waiting for someone to speak up. Johanna gazed at her daughter, her motherly-instincts perceiving as if she was feeling quite nervous. Dawn fidgeted on her seat, cautiously letting out a held breath. The silence was taking its sweet time, the air-conditioning in the room being the only discernible sound. Johanna was just about to ask her daughter if everything was all right, but as if on cue, Dawn parted her lips to speak.

"All right, everyone. I gathered you all here today…"

The synchronized looks from everyone in the room startled Dawn. Those who were focused on their phones looked up while those who were staring blankly shot a glance. Johanna gave her daughter a comforting smile, urging her to continue.

"I've gathered you all here today, because I have something very important to announce."

Everyone's gazes locked on her as they anticipated what the young woman had to say. Some already had presumptions it might be something bad, whilst the others grinned in anticipation of it to be something rather joyful.

"I'm engaged to Paul. I'm getting married."

Paul rolled up his sleeves once more, trying to combat the humidity. The falling sunset did little to cool down his brother's workplace. It did not help that his brother had a giant Torkoal to take care of 'till the trainer came back for him later. He observed as Reggie prepped the food pellets into a large dish tray for the massive Pokémon, carefully, meticulously, caringly—typical Reggie.

He should have told him about the engagement an hour ago; something seemed to put it off every time. A few times, it would be the Torkoal and the other Pokémon his brother was attending to, most times it was just nerves. Arceus damn nerves, getting the better of the Sinnoh Champion.

Reggie spared a glance towards his brother as Torkoal devoured the pellets by the second. He wiped his hands on his apron as he approached him. "Paul, you've been staring at me work for a good hour without a single word but 'hello'. Something's bugging you."

Paul merely grunted. Damn that man.

Reggie was relentless. "Is it League-related? Your Pokémon not feeling well? Heavens know you've improved your relationship with them since years ago, at least. Is Dawn okay?"

Another grunt from Paul. Torkoal's loud munching wasn't enough to mute his words.

"...Is she pregnant?" Reggie whispered inquisitively.

This made Paul take a step back in surprise and knock down a few stacked-up boxes, Torterra lumbered to stand abruptly from his nap in the commotion. "Damn it Reggie, of course she isn't. I just proposed to her, okay?" He bent down grumbling as he stacked the fallen boxes.

"You what?!" Reggie's hands slammed so hard onto his shoulders Paul forgot how strong his brother has gotten ever since he became a breeder. His name resounded all over the small, humid space as Torkoal and the other Pokémon joined in the feverish happiness. Paul was the only one in the room confounded. "Paul, my boy, oh if Mom were here she'd... she'd—!" Reggie persisted to pull back a sniffle as he bit on his knuckles, but to no avail. Paul rolled his eyes but the flush that stained his cheeks betrayed him alongside his weak smirk. The pink in his face then turned blue when his brother trapped him into a bone-crushing hug. "Paul, my little baby brother, married! Dawn is the one, I always knew it! Wait 'till I tell Marlene and the kids! Paul, start calling your friends, you're going to need groomsmen!"

And just like that he was gone, out the door and sprinting towards his wife's Gym. Paul was left to the anticipating stares of the Pokémon in the room. He sighed as he continued to tidy up the place. The sun blinked into the horizon and twilight pulled over.

Suddenly, he heard his phone vibrate from his pocket and upon checking the caller, he didn't hesitate to suppress a groan. "Fucking Barry."

The little room brimmed with silence, which was cut short as Johanna broke down in tears of joy. "Oh, m-my little angel," she brought her trembling fingers towards her lips and swiftly moved towards her daughter to envelop her into a warm and loving hug. "My sweet, sweet Dawn." Johanna tightened the embrace as she felt her daughter rub her back gently. Even she could not hold back the tears, locked in her mother's embraced and feeling the warm love expressed.

Johanna slowly then let go and wiped her tears away. "Goodness, I'm so sorry you all had to see that. It is a touchy moment."

Minutes after the dramatic moment between mother and daughter, the entire band of girls freely expressed their heartfelt reactions. May clasped her hands and squealed in surprise and glee, Misty beamed though was careful not to wake Chase, Zoey and Candice exchanged surprised and delighted expressions. All each gave their merry and loving messages of congratulations to the couple, especially to their good friend, Dawn.

Dawn flushed as silent tears continued to stream down, warming her cheeks. "Thank you everyone." Johanna and May leaned in closer towards her for a group hug.

"Pardon my language but... shit just got real," commented Zoey. Everyone hollered gaily.

"Oh my Arceus, Dawn!" remarked Misty. "I am flying there to Sinnoh as soon as I can and we are going to discuss so many things—family planning is no exception."

"Oh yes, please do Misty!" May glanced over towards Dawn's direction. "I'm pretty Dawn would need a whole lot of advice." She then gave her blue-haired friend a knowing wink to which Dawn merely responded with a raised brow.

"Oh Arceus!" Candice chimed in. "Girl! You are just—! You're so lucky! I mean, he's a really determined, strong Trainer—ugh, he's the Sinnoh Champion! Plus, he is fucking gorgeous. You both'll make such wonderful children! I am just so happy!" In spite of Zoey's raised brow, everyone, especially Johanna, heartily laughed at Candice's remarks.

Johanna then placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Now dear, on a more serious note… Who will be included in your entourage?"

A brief moment of silence then lingered as everyone had their attention on the bride-to-be.

"I, um, really have not given it much thought yet," she said. Dawn knew that she could not announce it all now, seeing it would be better to tell each of her selected bridesmaids personally. "But I'll let you all know as soon as possible, of course."

Dawn then turned to face her mother. "Of course, you'll be there Mom, right?" Johanna embraced her daughter once more.

"Every step of the way, my darling."

"Paul, Marlene's ecstatic! Oh, and your nephew and niece, wait till you hear what they—! What are you doing?"

Reggie returned to see his brother sinking into one of the sofas next to the pile of boxes. His phone sat right on top of the coffee table, a faint buzzing sound pouring into the room like a Beedril. Before Reggie could ask, Paul beat him to it. "I don't know how he found out so fast. He's been yapping about congratulations and something about calling the right men ever since you left."

Reggie laughed nervously. He knew too well. "Barry."

"Fucking Barry."

"Pau-you say-some-?-are-calling-everyone-about now!" came the muffled voice from Twinleaf Town. Paul at this point did not care as he heard his phone make random clicking noises and a chorus of men voiced out their greetings.

"Uh, Hello?"

"Good afternoon. Oak Research."

"Sorry, the signal inside the cruise ship isn't so great. Who is this?"

Barry beamed from his end of the line. "Goood day, everyone! We are all gathered here today because a certain someone is getting married!"

A faux chuckle from one of the lines. "Heh, and I know it's not me."

"Come on, Brock, stop being such a pessimist."

"You aren't going to convince me that it's Barry, are you, Gary?"

"Hey watch it or I'll fine you!" Barry bellowed from his line. "You don't believe I have a beautiful, loving, super-hot girlfriend?"

"Uh… No."

"Nu-uh."

"Not in the slightest."

"You guys are pathetic," mumbled Paul. "I'm the one getting married."

Silence seeped into every corner.

"Dawn didn't dump you?"

"Gary, I am warning you…"

"Relax, Paul-y… I'm just kidding! We've known each other ever since your Kanto visit and I've seen you with her."

"Well, congratulations, Paul! I'm really glad you and Dawn are happy together." Brock's smile could be heard from the other line. "Thanks," was all Paul could mutter. Despite this, the Pokemon doctor responded with hearty laugh.

"Congratulations! I'm impressed. You don't see it but I'm toasting to you with my martini right now," said Drew, the sound of the ocean in the background.

"Well, let's hope we meet up soon so we can discuss our plans!" hollered Reggie as he picked up the now empty Pokébowls. "The Drunken Spheal sound good next week? Drew, I know your cruise ends soon. Brock, you have to tell me how the new formulas working in Kanto! The hypoallergenic properties really work well on the bigger guys."

"I can't take all the credit though, Reggie. You'd have to thank Gary too. He was the one who discovered the breakdown of components in the first place."

"Aw, shucks. You flatter me. It was just a matter of chance—!"

"You guys, I'd hate to break your little breeding bullshit but can we just get this over with? And where the hell did Barry go?"

"Hey, you've reached the Ketchums of Pallet Town! Since you've received this voice message, this means we're not around. Please leave a message! Pika!"

Beep.

"HEY-O! How's it going, Ash? It's Barry P.! Don't forget to call me when you're back from League business! Paul's getting married and he needs you to be a groomsman! Thanks!"

There was a resounding click of a button followed by an awkward silence. Paul felt his eyes twitch, followed by a surge to run towards Twinleaf Town bash Barry's head inside out. "What the fu—!" Drew's snigger could be heard from his line. This did not faze Paul. "You fucking yellow turnip! What did you do?"

"What do you think I did? Getting the gang back together for your big day!"

"FUCK YOU, BARRY."

"Holy Dialga, Paladino!" chortled Gary. "Don't you know that Ashy-boy and Paul haven't cooled down since they both vied for the title of Champion?"

"They haven't...?"

Ice clinked from Drew's line. "Oblivious as ever."

Brock sighed. "Well, we'll see how things go next week. I know it may have not been what you wanted, but you two play nice. All right?"

Paul, for the umpteenth time, failed to suppress a groan.

"This is going to be one hell of a wedding."

...