Hi, all! Wanted to update yesterday before I left the house, but AO3 was down, so it didn't feel right to update on one platform and not the other. Anyway, we've finally moved past summary and are starting to lay the ground down for future events - some political drama surrounding Paul's championship for now, before the romantic and family drama begins. Enjoy!
Dawn watches him from the corner of the champions' viewing box, as he shakes hands of many people, including Professor Rowan and Steven Stone, and even gives Ash a one-armed hug. Lyra ambushes Paul with an unexpected hug that causes him to stiffen, and Silver, who has just shook Paul's hand as well, to snicker.
Though the Sinnoh's newest champion looks more pleased and satisfied with himself than happy, there is a hint of a smile on his face – regardless, Dawn is doing the smiling for him, her face stretched into a grin so wide that hurts her cheeks.
"Paul, congratulations, my boy!" She watches Paul's mentor pull him into a hug after shaking his hand.
Not even Augustine Sycamore's favoritism can wipe the smile off of her face.
Paul gruffly hugs him back, still not used to the Kalosian affection, and pats the man on the back once. "Thank you, Professor Sycamore, for everything." When he is released from their embrace, he nods at him and adds, "I mean it."
(Though, Dawn has also decided to not let her bitterness get in the way of the auspicious moment).
After what feels like an eternity of formal congratulations and handshakes and awkward hugs, Paul finally makes his way over to Dawn.
"Hey." His gray eyes shine in amusement and Dawn realizes she still has that stupid grin on her face.
Her cheeks flush delicately, and her lips fall into a smaller, gentler smile. "Hi," she whispers back, her hand reaching up to rest on his cheek. "You finally did it." She stretches up on her toes to brush her lips against his in a light, brief kiss.
"I did." His words are a quiet murmur against her lips.
She brushes back the tendrils of lilac that have fallen out of his tied-back hair – a style he began to maintain sometime after defeating the Elite Four. "You're the champion."
She is surprised Paul hasn't pushed away, as he is not one for public displays of affection — instead he places a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you."
Unbeknownst to them, the enchanting Professor Sycamore stares at their exchange in disbelief, his jaw slack open.
"You guys have been seeing each other?!"
Immediately, Paul jolts away from Dawn's embrace, surprised by his mentor's outburst and scowls, while Dawn just rolls her eyes and holds him to her tighter.
"Dawn, Paul, how could you not tell me this?" Though an expression hurt crosses his face, there is a playfulness that Dawn has seen from him and has laughed at throughout her childhood.
She sighs, reluctantly pulling herself away from Paul. "Well, now you know."
.
'THE PLATINUM KING AND SINNOH'S DIAMOND ARRIVE TOGETHER AT CORONATION
Love Affair or Promoting Pair?!'
Though anticipation for Saturday night's Coronation of Sinnoh Champion Paul Rebolledo (26) already turned the region into eager Chatot, his entry into the ceremony venue alone has brought about a new reason for uproar. Rebolledo was seen arriving at The Valley Manor, on Lily of the Valley Island, with Top Coordinator and budding Pokéstylist Dawn Berlitz (23) on his arm, much to the shock of many. The pair appeared to at each other's sides and danced a couple of times throughout the night. At the coronation, Berlitz also briefly spoke about the upcoming exhibition battle between the Champion and a Top Coordinator (which will be Berlitz, herself) that will take place this New Years' Eve at the Jubilife Jamboree, indicating Rebolledo's choice of date to be promotional. The Jubilife Jamboree's lineup originally showed that the battle would be between Cynthia Jenness (36) and Berlitz, but with Rebolledo having defeated the former, Sinnoh's Diamond will now be facing the new Champion in a match of power against impression.
Bringing Berlitz as a date to the coronation may have been a tactic to establish new relations and promote the Jubilife Jamboree in a few months on Rebolledo's part, but a source close to Berlitz reveals quite the opposite: "Dawn and Paul have been close friends since childhood. They've loved each other for a long time, but decided to be together only after Paul defeated Cynthia. It's all very new for them, but Dawn is very happy."
An official spokesperson for Rebolledo, however, discloses, "At this time, Mr. Rebolledo is focused on his new duties as the region's champion and is working closely with Cynthia Jenness to make the successful transition. As Ms. Berlitz announced at the coronation, the Jubilife Jamboree will feature a showcase battle between the two of them as Champion of Sinnoh and Top Coordinator in two months. Please look forward to that." Though we could not get any –
Paul stops reading to roll his eyes at the incorrect article. He knew that the media would buzz once they started to go public, but he didn't think it would be like this.
Sitting next to him at their dining table, Dawn leans over his shoulder to peek at the tabloid in his hands. "What does it say?"
"Look for yourself." He hands her the magazine before taking a sip from his tall glass of orange juice, savoring the citrusy tang that runs down his throat. He then rises from his seat, pushing the chair back as he does, to put his glass away. "Ursula was probably their source for the dating gossip," he deadpans, as he walks to the sink.
Paul had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing her once at Lila's Boutique and though he wouldn't have cared for her presence, she was speaking to his girlfriend like she was the scum beneath those unpleasant-looking heels of her (and he would have liked to see her trip on those heels). Dawn, being the patient, cheerful angel that she is, somehow did not take offense, simply smiled and then bid the annoying pest a goodbye, before making her way over to Paul.
She laughs at his joke as her eyes scan through the gossip column. "Childhood friends? New relationship? This is horribly false." Her giggles grow louder, which elicits a small smile out of Paul. At least, Dawn is taking the media's attention on them well.
When she won the Grand Festival, the media started to hound her and she hated it and would sometimes react badly to their harassment; she would become anxious, feel suffocated, and nearly appointed a bodyguard.
(According to Johanna, Dawn's unease came from a bad experience she had as a child. The mother and daughter duo were out in Jubilife shopping when a pair of Pokérazzi came up to them and began harassing them with questions and pictures. Though Johanna had been out of the media's sight a while after she became Top Coordinator, she was temporarily back in the spotlight since she was a judge for the upcoming Wallace Cup at the time.)
Finally, when the limelight was off of Dawn, she felt at peace again. Though she did reassure Paul that this time, she was more prepared and would be all right, her discomfort with the media was one of Paul's biggest concerns about going public. But Dawn has proved herself to be strong and confident, and Paul will always be there to make sure she is fine.
When he walks back to the table, he sees that her smile has dropped and worry crosses her face, her eyes squinting and her mouth falling open slightly at the booklet's contents.
"What?"
Wordlessly, she hands him back the magazine, which has been turned to a different page.
'BERTHA ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AFTER CYNTHIA'S DEFEAT
With the departure of the only female members in the Sinnoh League, patriarchy takes over the region once again.'
Paul leans against the wooden tabletop and quickly skims through the article, in which the journalist talks about Bertha's announcement about retiring at the coronation, and how she has been a part of the league for so long that she got to see Sinnoh's first two female champions – Rowan's successor and Cynthia (but now, the article adds in, Sinnoh has their first male champion since Rowan). Now, however, Cynthia is no longer a part of the league, and with Bertha's retirement, there will be no female members left in the league, unless the new champion is able to appoint a female that is capable and strong enough to handle such a position. The question is also brought up of why Bertha chose now to retire. Is it because of Paul? Does she not find him fit to be champion? Does she not want to work under him, or did she just like Cynthia's championship better? Whatever the case may be, since the Elite Four are under a new championship, it will be difficult to find anyone, let alone a female, who would be willing to work with a new champion.
He feels Dawn's head fall on his stomach. "They're going to twist your name around and blame you," she mumbles against his shirt. "They'll label you as a bad champion."
"Dawn." He sighs, one hand reaching for hers, while the other lifts her face up to meet his. He stares into her vivid, cobalt eyes, hating that they glisten with worry and unshed tears. "No one is taking the news of Bertha's retirement well, I know, but the media will always twist and omit things. You know how they are." He looks at her pointedly. "They didn't mention that Professor Rowan was the one who appointed Bertha when he was champion, and that it was under her own stipulation that she would work for no longer than 40 years. And that was 40 years ago. I already spoke with Bertha and Professor Rowan, and they will clarify that in a press conference tomorrow."
She nods to herself once, before standing up to sit on the tabletop, so she doesn't have to stretch her neck up anymore to see Paul. "And what about the next Elite Four member?"
"I'm meeting with Fantina and Byron tomorrow. Cynthia suggested them as my first two candidates." He purses his lips and then regards her with interest. "Do you think Fantina will say yes?"
"Fantina . . . might not agree so easily," she answers hesitantly, looking away. "She gave up her entire life in Kalos to move to Hearthome and become a coordinator and gym leader. She loves it all too much to move on to something new."
Paul rubs the side of his face tiredly with a hand. "I was afraid so. I don't think Byron will accept the position either, and the other gym leaders are too inexperienced and young to consider." He and Dawn recently learned that Crasher Wake is only four years older than him, and they were both shocked that he is actually younger than 35 years old when he told her.
"Huh." Dawn looks pensive. "I guess it's a strength as well as a weakness of Sinnoh to have young gym leaders. But age is just a number, Paul. You can't determine how strong they are based on their age."
"No, I can't, but I asked them all to have a one-on-one battle with me – most of the younger ones declined, with the exception of Gardenia, Volkner, and Maylene. Gardenia won, but she and I both agreed that she wouldn't make it as an Elite Four member, and Volkner was too reckless with his battling and lost." He maintains a blank expression on his face. "As for Maylene . . . I had to eliminate her from my list immediately after, due to potential claims of nepotism."
Dawn frowns. "She may be your sister-in-law, but she's a gym leader, too."
He rolls his eyes. "She wouldn't have accepted the position even if I had offered it to her." His fingers find hers once more, his thumb rubbing over the glittery, new ring that rests on her left hand.
Paul must admit that he did well in picking it out – with Johanna's help, of course. The ring is comprised of two bands, weaving around each other, and the diamonds are set in a floral halo, with a large diamond at its center. Dawn immediately loved it, and he is still smug whenever he catches her admiring it fondly.
His proposal, on the other hand, though done last night, in the romantic garden of The Valley Manor before his coronation, wasn't as stellar. He hadn't prepared the speech and refused to go down on one knee, only planning to request her to marry him and present her with the ring, which was in his pocket. He did tell her that he loves her and requested her to marry him, but his mouth opened more to speak without his own accord. He told her that it wouldn't be easy his focus would be on his duties as Champion until he could settle in, and that it would sometimes be hard for him to keep up with her.
"But you can't give up on me so easily and you will have to pull me back on track," he had warned, finally pulling the velvet blue box out of his pocket to present the ring to Dawn.
She, of course, said yes.
And he swore to Arceus that he heard Piplup rolling in his Pokéball when she did.
With his eyes finally off her ring and back on her, he quietly tells her, "I asked Barry."
Her eyebrows lift in surprise. "You asked Barry?!" she cries, her voice rising, letting go of his hand and pushing herself off of the tabletop. "Paul, you know he's been trying to beat his father at the Battle Frontier to take over as the new Tower Tycoon. You of all people should understand the position he's in – in both ways, because he's been trying to defeat his father in battle and is trying to earn a title, just like you did – and yet you want to drag him away from that?"
He groans, rubbing a hand against his temple. "I'm running out of options, Dawn. Lucas already refused but said Barry might accept. He's been having second thoughts about becoming the next Tower Tycoon." Dawn looks at him with uncertainty, which makes him exhale lightly. "Look, it's ultimately Barry's choice to make. I simply offered him an alternative. Bertha leaves in six months, so he has some time to think over it."
The apprehension still doesn't disappear from Dawn's face.
.
Returning rumors of Dawn and Paul dating sweep the tabloids after the Jubilife Jamboree. The press loves it, but Paul pushes away any of Dawn's ideas of going public for good press. Now's not the right time, he would say, though he was also worried she wasn't ready to face the hounding media once more and was only saying it for his sake.
A month after the Jubilife Jamboree, though, the news of Paul offering the Elite Four position to Barry is leaked to Sinnoh Now, courtesy of a contemptuous Volkner – Flint wants to burn him alive, and Cynthia is livid; Paul has never seen her so upset or mad before, and he must admit that she is scary.
Though Paul hasn't gained much authority within the Elite Four, he rebukes Flint for disclosing such confidential information to Volkner in the first place, irrespective of the fact that he is a gym leader. He also admonishes Volkner for his actions – it may have been a personal act against Paul, but now the League will suffer for it. Paul also threatens him that if he ever pulls a stint like that again, his gym will get disqualified; though Sinnoh's gym rules are less stricter and have less room for disqualification as opposed to Kanto, Paul knows he had to pull that card, and Cynthia commended him for doing so later on. It seems to work, too, since Volkner apologizes to him later on, calling it a stupid act and agreeing with Paul that he is reckless.
After that, Paul seems to gain his and the other gym leaders' respect, at least, according to Maylene.
On Valentine's Day, Dawn and Paul share a quiet, cozy dinner on their living room couch when Silver announces his resignation at a press conference being broadcasted on national television.
"Fuck," Paul curses a low voice, causing Dawn to lift her head off his shoulder and frown at him questioningly.
"I thought you knew this was coming." She shifts to right, allowing him to stand up and pace around the living room anxiously. "You told me last year he was thinking about resigning."
He stops walking and turns to glower at Silver's face, displayed on their flat-screen television, before he turns back at Dawn. "He said last month that he wouldn't quit."
Later that night, Silver calls Paul. Dawn isn't able to fall asleep and worriedly listens to her fiancée talk on the phone. At first, he's arguing, and she can faintly hear Silver yelling back at him through the phone.
But then Silver must say something compelling, because Paul's words break off and his angry face morphs into shock.
"Oh." His voice grows quiet. "Congratulations." A pause. His eyebrows furrow at whatever Silver is telling him. And then he sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I wish you had told me before you made the announcement, but I understand that it is also personal matter . . . That's fine. I will see you next week at Pokétopia. And please, send my congratulations to Lyra as well." With that, he ends the call and sets his Pokégear down on their bedside table.
The bed dips as Paul lies down onto the bed. He shifts his body towards Dawn, and she can see the weariness beginning to settle onto his face.
She stretches her hand and smoothens the lines wrinkling his face. "What's wrong?" Her voice is a breathless whisper, afraid to shatter the stillness and silence that has surrounded them. "What did Silver say?"
He closes his eyes and leans into her touch. "Lyra's pregnant," he murmurs softly.
She nearly jolts up from the bed in shock. "Wow," she breathes in surprise, making a mental note to call her friend and congratulate her in the morning. "So, he's quitting because he doesn't want things to be tense between them anymore with his position, especially with a baby on the way."
"Mhm," he hums indolently. His breathing is becoming more regular, and Dawn can sense that he's growing sleepier.
Dawn lets him fall asleep after that, but can't seem to find any sleep of her own. Her mind keeps her awake, worrying about what the news will say about Paul in the morning. She has already seen news outlets sharing hopes that the next Johto Champion is a woman, since Silver and Ash dethroned the previous female champions, Lyra and Leaf – this, specifically, is not bad for Paul's reputation, and in fact, might be better for him, but these talks will ultimately lead them all to blame him for Silver's resignation.
She sighs once before closing her eyes and burrowing further into her pillow. Three steps forward, two steps back.
Thanks for reading! Be sure to share your thoughts - and any guesses as to whom the new E4 member is going to be?