Okay, Paul and his eevee!
One year later...
"Alright, eevee, use bite!" Paul called.
The eevee bit alakazam instantly, causing it to flinch in pain. It was night time and Paul had challenged Cynthia to a one on one battle. His eevee was strong and she had become Paul's pride and joy. She went from skin and bones to a power house for her size. Paul had been trying to evolve her. But, couldn't figure out what she wanted to evolve into. She refused every evolutionary stone he offered her, she hates cold climates to the point where she won't train in them, she won't let herself evolve at day time or in heavily wooded areas and there was no way in hell Paul was letting her evolve in to Sylveon. He wouldn't be caught dead with such a girly pokemon. Besides, to him, a sylveon was of no use. He also had no idea how to evolve one. Paul decided to try training her at night. This was his first time training her in the night and then Cynthia came to check on her. Paul wanted to show of her strength and so there they were, battling together.
"Shadow ball!" Paul shouted next.
Cynthia gave the eevee a type advantage on purpose but she didn't expect that shadow ball to do as much damage as it did. Cynthia decided to take it up a notch.
"Use Psybeam!" She called.
"Dodge it, eevee!" Paul called.
The eevee was very nimble and light on her feet but Cynthia is the champion for a good reason. Her alakazam made the eevee run so fast that she had to use a quick attack to dodge. Paul loved that his eevee could improvise but she shouldn't be using attacks without being told to do so. She barely managed to avoid the psybeam.
"Don't let her get away! Use agility and then use another psybeam!" Cynthia called.
"Shadow ball!" Paul called.
The Alakazam took the shadow ball but it knocked him over for a moment. He shot a psybeam at the eevee and it hit her directly. She was knocked back into a tree, causing the tree to actually fall over. Cynthia didn't expect the eevee to get up but then... her body glowed. Paul smiled triumphantly. It was about time she evolved! The glowing figure got up and jumped high up into the air. When she landed, she was an umbreon and she grinned at the alakazam and Cynthia with the same cocky smirk her trainer was wearing. Paul took out his pokedex and was delighted to see that she had new moves.
"Alright, umbreon! Shadow claw!" Paul called.
"Mach punch!" Cynthia shouted.
"Dodge using quick attack!" Paul shouted.
Amazingly, it seems that her speed doubled when she evolved. She ducked under alakazam's mach punch and then hit him head on with a shadow claw powered by a quick attack. It sent alakazam flying and he had been knocked out instantly. The dark pokemon grinned triumphantly and walked back to Paul with a spring in her step. She rubbed up against his leg and he patted her head.
"Good job, girl." He said to her as she leaned into his hand.
"I'm impressed. She's definitely come a long way from where she was. I didn't think she'd be able to beat my pokemon." Cynthia said, returning her pokemon to its ball.
"Yeah. We plan on taking your title this year." Paul said, grinning back at her.
"Well, good luck with that. I heard you finally managed to beat the battle frontier." Cynthia said.
"Yeah, eev- er- umbreon, was a huge help." Paul told her.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! Dawn won top coordinator!" Cynthia said.
Paul paused. He was about to make some kind of rude remark such as: 'who cares?' or 'that's a surprise'. Old habits die hard but, at least he's trying to tone his rude habits down. He didn't really know what to think about her new title. He hasn't seen Dawn in what felt like ages. The last time he saw her was on that news report with her family. Speaking of which, her two brothers must have been born by now... Possibly even a year old.
"Well?" Cynthia asked.
"Sorry, it's just that I never exactly put much thought into what she's been doing." He said honestly.
That was his polite way of pretty much saying 'I don't care'.
"That's too bad. She asks about you a lot." Cynthia said.
Paul was suprised at this news. What does she care? He's done nothing to make her like him. Is she trying to stalk him? But then again, Paul felt somewhat flattered that she would actually care to ask. Then this thought made him feel a little bad about not checking in on her... But then again, what's the point? He doesn't like her and he doesn't see why on earth she would like him. Of course, maybe she did gain a little more respect for him as time went on. She was actually willing to stop Zoey from picking a fight with him and even willing to listen to him that one time at the Sinnoh League. That was more than what most people gave him.
"What for? I'm not exactly much to think about or is she just curious about umbreon?" Paul asked.
"No, she's asked about you before you got her but she has asked about her, too. Funny thing is, she was probably the only one who wasn't all too shocked about you saving umbreon. She was moved but she wasn't surprised." Cynthia said.
Dawn doesn't think he's heartless? Okay, granted, she called him that around the first few times they've met each other. Maybe he shouldn't have taken it all to heart as much as he did.
"Okay, then how's she been?" Paul asked.
Cynthia chuckled at this, knowing he was only asking because she made him feel bad. It was kind of cute.
"She's been fine. Her sylveon is probably her best contest pokemon yet, alongside her lopbunny. Her brothers turned a year old today." Cynthia said.
"A Sylveon?! Of all things she could have evolved that eevee into, she picked a sylveon?!" Paul asked, almost distraught.
"She didn't pick it, it did. It wanted to evolve into sylveon. If it was up to Dawn, she would have had it evolve into an umbreon." Cynthia said.
"But why a Sylveon? It's not exactly a useful evolution. It's not an evolution that adapts to any kind of environment." Paul said.
"Wrong, Paul. A sylveon evolves in a loving environment. It's a fairy type evolution." Cynthia said.
"Fairy type?!" He scoffed.
Paul is definitely no sucker for girly girl things and thinks that fairy types are ridiculous. He never saw a point in having one. Cynthia grinned, an idea forming in her head as to how to get Paul to meet Dawn again.
"You know, it's actually rumored that this evolution might be one of eevee's strongest ones yet." Cynthia said.
"I'll be the judge of that. Come on, Umbreon, let's go prove who the real strongest eeveelution is." Paul said, getting on his honchcrow, Umbreon sitting across his lap.
"You might want to wait until morning. Dawn isn't exactly a noctowl like you two are." Cynthia said.
"I was going home to go to bed." Paul said, his face flushed from embarrassment.
He flew off on honchcrow and Cynthia laughed. Paul definitely had the right makings of taking on the championship but he still had some growing up to do.
Dawn was up early in the morning as the sun was rising. Her sylveon was prancing around ahead of her with piplup hobbling after him. They were just on their morning walk. This early in the morning was Dawn's favorite part of the day: it was peaceful and quiet, no one is up making noise, and on top of that, the sun is rising beautifully from the horizon. The sun shone a beautiful coppery orange, light a giant bright new penny. Soon, the sun rose higher and higher. Eventually, Dawn had to go back to the house and help make breakfast. Danny smiled at her as she, Sylveon, and Piplup came in.
"Hey, sweetheart." He greeted.
"Hey, dad." She said with a smile.
She had just gotten used to calling him dad a month ago. Even now, it still felt a little weird. She put some coffee on and helped her mom make some scrambled eggs, sautéed carrots in syrup for the babies, and some ham. Finally, Dawn went upstairs to go wake up the boys and bring them down. Sylveon skipped alongside her as she made her way to their room, across from hers. She opened the door, walked passed the cribs, and opened the curtains. Both boys grimaced as the unwanted light came in. Sylveon jumped into Jamie's bed and nudged his cheek while Dawn picked Charlie up and gently shook him awake. Sylveon carefully picked Jamie up using his ribbons and jumped down from the crib, keeping the infant close to his chest under his neck ribbon. The jump jolted Jamie awake but when he saw that it was just sylveon, he settled down. The pair carried the boys downstairs and put them both in their high chairs.
Johanna had already cut up their ham, eggs, and carrots into small bits. The boys both perked up once they noticed there was breakfast in front of them. Sylveon and Dawn both spoon fed the boys. Both boys ate anything you offer them, so it's usually no trouble to feed them. However, they do hate carrots unless they're sautéed in syrup, which is usually apart of their breakfast or dessert. Sylveon and Dawn alternate between the two each morning. Their jobs, when it comes to helping, is to wake the twins up and feed them in the morning and also to babysit when they need to. Dawn and Sylveon are always wide awake in the morning, more so than mom or dad. That's why they usually take care of the boys in the morning.
Sylveon made weird faces when he feeds the babies, like he's trying to show them how to eat. He doesn't need to, though; both boys are gluttons that eat anything that's food. Still, it was something Sylveon did and the boys loved it. Finally, both Dawn and Sylveon spooned the last few bites into the babies' mouths before moving on to their own breakfast. Lopbunny decided to take the boys into the living room to entertain them while the grown ups ate. Lopbunny was also a good babysitter for the twins like sylveon is. She likes to help feed them during snack time.
Anyway, Dawn and Sylveon settled down to eat. The grown ups talked about their day, what Dawn will be doing within the week, what Danny will be doing during his job, and so on. Dawn is too busy to stick around much with being top coordinator. She's only here because she requested to have this day as family time because of the twins' birthday. She was happy to have a regular day at home for once. Soon, breakfast got over with and she decided to spend the day with her brothers, since she won't have much time for them. She played with them at a local playground along with her team of pokemon. Johanna had brought stuff to have a picnic. It was around sometime after lunch when unexpected visitors came.
The family had just gotten around the block when they saw them on the deck, waiting. They got up to the deck.
"Paul?" Dawn said, surprised.
"Troublesome." He said, acknowledging her.
"It's Dawn." She corrected but unable to hide her smile.
"Really? Last time I checked, it seemed to be noon outside." He said, unable to help being a smart ass, but he meant it more of a playful joke.
"You know what I meant you smart aa-aleck." She said, quickly catching herself before saying a swear word in front of the boys.
"Watch it, Troublesome. You don't want them learning some colorful language, do you?" Paul chuckled.
"I'm taking the boys inside." Johanna said.
Then the blue sylveon notice Paul's umbreon. He smiled and pranced right up to her, hugging her with his ribbons.
"Hello, sweetheart!" He said, happy to meet a new friend.
Paul's umbreon, however, didn't like getting this close to strange pokemon. The sylveon freaked her out, too. His feminine voice made her unable to tell what gender he was. In fact, she thought he was a female pokemon trying to hook up with her. She jumped back away from him and arched her back, her fur fully bristled. She growled at him and sylveon gave her a sweet apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, honey, I didn't mean to scare you." He said to her.
"It's fine... J-just stay away from me!" She said, honest to arceus, terrified of that thing that looked like a little girl randomly glued ribbons to.
Sylveon was a little hurt by her reaction. He looked up at Dawn.
"She doesn't like me." He said, obviously hurt.
"Don't touch me with those ribbons again, ugly fairy!" The umbreon said, shivering.
"Ugly?! Hmph! I'm fabulous!" Sylveon said, flipping his ears and ribbons like a model would her hair to emphasize how fabulous he was.
"I came to challenge your sylveon against my umbreon." Paul said.
This took Dawn by surprise.
"Oh good! I get to hit it!" Umbreon said.
"Why must you hate me, sweetie?" Sylveon asked.
"Because you look so... Girly!" Umbreon said.
"I look like a girl?" Sylveon asked.
"Of course you do because you are!" Umbreon growled, annoyed.
Sylveon broke out into a fit of giggles. This wouldn't be the first time he's been mistaken for a girl, which usually gives him an advantage in a lot of fights. You'll see why in a minute.
"What?!" Umbreon asked, terrified of 'her' giggles.
"Oh you'll know soon enough, my dear." He said, giggling.
"You want to challenge me? Why?" Dawn asked.
"I want to see just how strong your sylveon is. She shouldn't be too much trouble." Paul said.
Dawn gave it some thought and then realized the error in Paul's judgement. She looked at her sylveon and he nodded.
The went to the back yard. Paul and umbreon were both cocky about this fight but Dawn and Sylveon had a strategy. They both knew the battle was over before it had begun. If there was one thing they should know about contest battles, it's that they're done with careful planning and strategizing. Dawn had just the strategy and if Paul had actually seen her battle with Sylveon, he would have realized his mistake sooner. He was going to get a wake up call.
"We'll let you two make the first move." Paul said.
"Are you sure?" Dawn asked.
"I want to give you a fighting chance." Paul sneered.
"Okay." Dawn said with a smile.
"Normally, I'm chivalrous and allow the ladies to go first." Sylveon said with a smile.
"What are you talking about?!" Umbreon asked.
"Sylveon, use attract." Dawn said.
Sylveon shot the attack at her and he grinned as she just stood there, thinking it wouldn't affect her.
"Do you really think that's going to work?!" Both trainer and umbreon asked their respective opponents.
The attack hit umbreon and much to Paul's shock and horror, it had worked.
"Yes, I do." Both Dawn and Sylveon said with a smug grin.
"Th-that thing... Is a male?!" Paul said, surprised and utterly horrified.
"Yes. You're move, Paul." Dawn said, giggling.
"Umbreon, snap out of it! Use shadow claw!" He shouted.
She didn't move and only stared at her opponent with dreamy eyes. Dark thoughts clouded her mind as she stared at him longingly.
"You know, now that I look at you, you're kind of cute." Umbreon said with a dreamy smile.
"That's more like it, honey. I think I prefer you this way." Sylveon giggled.
"Come on, Umbreon! You're better than this! Snap out of it and use dark pulse!" Paul shouted frantically.
Umbreon wasn't listening: she was on cloud nine.
"Blue fairy, blue fairy, grant me a wish... Come and give me a kiss." She said, seductively.
"Use draining kiss." Dawn said, almost as if she understood the conversation
Sylveon smirked and pranced right up to his willing opponent.
"Your wish is my command, sweetheart." He said before kissing her right on the lips.
Umbreon kissed back only to feel her energy slowly drain away. Sylveon pulled away, smiling at her with affectionate eyes.
"Nighty night, honey." He said as her eyes started to close.
She fell to the side, completely knocked out and smiling. Paul gaped at the entire scene, trying to register what had happened: his umbreon had lost for the first time in a long time... To probably girliest looking thing in the world. Dawn walked up and looked at the umbreon. Paul silently walked over.
"At least she's smiling. She's not even hurt." Dawn chuckled.
"How the hell is that thing a male? He doesn't even act like it." Paul said.
"He's a bit feminine. He's always been slightly feminine ever since he hatched." Dawn said, patting him on the head.
"She's not going to be happy about this when she wakes up... I don't know what will set her off more: her loss or both of us thinking he was a female." Paul said, giving her a lum berry.
The umbreon woke up and looked into the eyes of none other than sylveon. She quickly slid out from underneath him and was fluffed up even more.
"Y-you're a male?!" She said, surprised.
"Indeed I am, sweet baby." He said with a smile.
The umbreon didn't know if she should be relieved that this is a male hitting on her or be more disgusted because it is a male.
"Told you so." Paul said.
"You can stay for dinner if you want. I have to leave tomorrow anyway." Dawn said.
"Sure." Paul said.
"But Paul!" Umbreon pleaded but he wasn't listening.
Umbreon looked at Paul and how he looked at Dawn. Jealousy bubbled up within the dark pokemon. This girl had to be using cute charm or something. No one steals Paul away from Umbreon without permission. Sylveon suddenly slid his ribbons around her and rubbed his cheek against hers. She was too drained from the battle to fight him off this time. She definitely didn't want to see this creep any longer!
"Yay! We get to spend more time together!" Sylveon said gleefully.
"Yay..." Umbreon said sarcastically.
The followed their trainers inside.
There you have it for chapter four! See you next time!