(A/N): I've found myself in a bit of a rut lately, running down. Hardly a lick of inspiration too. It's like my soul has been emptied. It took a while to write this chapter, and I'm sorry if the writing is lacking or there are glaring grammatical errors. I wasn't feeling it much when writing this, or any of my other stories. This chapter is also cringingly short, apologies. The biggest bright side I can muster is to thank you for reading my story, and to thank those who have reviewed it so far. This story has reached over a thousand views now, and that truly did make my day. On to the story.

Standard disclaimers apply.


Paul


Today was the day Paul was going to challenge the gym. He could feel it. No matter how long it took him, he would track down that stupid gym leader and challenge him. And find him he did.

It took Paul half the day though – Dawn deigned that her day would be better off training for her next contest as she figured that finding the gym leader would be as easy as finding a weedle in a hay stack – before he actually found the gym leader.

It started with Paul walking up to the gym and asking the weird guy with the sun glasses by the statues if, by some unlikely chance, the gym leader was already there. He was told no, of course, but that the gym leader should still be out for his morning coffee if he hurried. When Paul arrived at the port side café that the gym leader enjoyed visiting, the waitress told him that the leader had already left and enjoyed training near diglett cave with his raichu after his coffee. When he got there, he got roped into a trainer battle, and after whooping their butt, the resentful trainer told Paul that Lt. Surge enjoyed going for a stroll by the water after his training for the sea breeze. Walking up and down the entire port, Paul did not find Lt. Surge.

A sailor then told him that the gym leader was probably grocery shopping, as he did so every Wednesday. The cashier, though, told him that Surge had already picked up his groceries and was probably at home. Arriving at Surge's house, the mailman informed Paul that Surge had gone out for lunch at that café where he drinks coffee. So back-tracking all the back to the port, he made it to the café where Surge supposedly had lunch. He was not even miffed when the same waitress from that morning told him that the gym leader was already gone.

She felt so bad for him that she even gave him 50% off his meal. Adding in a free desert at the annoyance in his face, she told him that Lt. Surge should be back at his gym by now. Giving her a ten dollar tip and a wave in thanks, Paul trudged to the gym, where Lt. Surge was waiting for him atop that stupid stage. The almighty glare the lavender haired young man gave him made everyone in the gym but Surge cringe. Thus began Paul's gym battle against his first gym leader.


The battle had begun, and Paul felt the rush as he did at the start of any battle. He just hoped that it would be as exciting as he hoped it would.

"Electrode, come on out!"

"Weavile, prepare for battle."

Wearily watching the leader, Paul wondered what his first move would be. Thunder shock, perhaps thunder, or even thunder bolt? This is an electric type gym, after all.

"Self-destruct, Electrode!"

Blinking, Paul could do nothing to protect him Weavile in time from the blast. Sighing, Paul sent out his next Pokémon as Lt. Surge did the same. The magnemite he called out used Self Destruct too. Down to his last Pokémon, Paul found the once notorious gym leader to be quite the disappointing opponent.

"Drill run, Rhyhorn!"

"Dodge, raichu!"

The electric Pokémon was too slow, receiving the brunt of the impact of the attack. It went flying and Surge grinned at Paul. Paul, on the other hand, was not much in the mood today.

"Raichu, use thunderbolt!"

"Stone edge."

The spinning rocks deflected the attempted thunder attack and bruised up the raichu. It attempted to stand before it fainted. Surge nodded, impressed by Paul. Paul found himself just wanting to go watch a movie with Dawn to make up all the time he wasted chasing Surge around town.

"Raichu has fainted! Paul of Veilstone, Sinnoh, is the winner!"

Huffing, he called back his Rhyhorn while Lt. Surge told his raichu what a good job it had done. Good job? Paul beat him while he wasn't even in top condition. Then again, Paul had been training hard and had a lot of experience fighting in other leagues. Either way, the battle left him rather disappointed.

"Well done, kid! You did better than I thought you would. Here, you earned the badge."

Taking the badge, Paul could not help but scowl at the taller gym leader.

"I did better than you thought I would?"

"Yeah. You were quite grumpy, following me around town, so I supposed you were some newbie trainer thinking he was bigger than his haunches. But you clearly earned the badge. You probably won't have a problem at the league either."

Mumbling something akin to a thanks, Paul left the gym, utterly peeved. The win had been so easy because he hadn't been taken seriously. How insulting. The only thing that cheered Paul up now was being able to see Dawn at the end of his day in the rented room they shared. Shuffling into the hotel room, the lavender haired trainer found his soulmate curled up on the couch, gaze fixed upon the television that came with the room. Plopping next to her, he decided to see what she was watching.

"Good evening, Kanto! Welcome to the evening edition of Indigo League Weekly! Unlike years past, there has been an influx of league challengers the likes of which Kanto has never seen! After the amassing popularity of battling in far-off regions, experienced and intermediate trainers have come flocking in droves to see what Kanto is made off! Known as the region where the most difficult league challenge exists, challengers will have to prove their worth against our brilliant eight gym leaders. With the return of Champion Red, the only Pokémon trainer known to hold the title of 'Pokémon master' in existence, and many veteran trainers arriving in Kanto, this ought to be the most interesting league season yet."

Dawn started beside Paul, looking surprised. The TV was a small buzz in the background as it cut to a commercial.

"What is it, Dawn?"

"There's someone who actually has the title of Pokémon Master? And it's that same trainer that we had met?"

"Ah, yeah. There is. Not many people know about him because he practically disappeared from society to train on Mount Silver after he became champion. I happened to search him up after we met him and Blue. I looked up Blue, too. He's none too famous, really, outside of Kanto because of how quickly he lost the title of Champion to Red after he won it."

"Huh, I see. It reminded me of how Ash said he wanted to be a Pokémon master."

Paul's expression soured at how Dawn seemed to brighten at the mention of his old rival, "Yeah. Think I remember him saying that. He's got a long way to go." Paul focused back on the television. "I've got a long way to go, too."


Dawn


Dawn watched Paul while he glowered at the television. The dim glow from it seemed to highlight the shadows of his face and the annoyance in his eyes. It seemed mentioning Ash put him into another one of his moods. Perhaps he got jealous? Why would he, though? Stilling herself, Dawn took in a breath as she uncurled and sat straight, continuing to watch him. Their status as soulmates was something they've danced around the entire time since they reunited. Entirely unmentioned. Pink meant eternal, right? She would have nothing to lose.

"Hey, Paul?"

"…yeah?"

"…you know we're soulmates, right?"

He breathed in sharply, staring resolutely at the television screen.

"…yes. I know."

"…why haven't you mentioned it, then?" Dawn couldn't help her scowl, which quickly turned into a pout. She could see how uncomfortable he felt, and felt bad for it.

"I, uh…I…I didn't know how to bring it up. …I even doubted that you did anything other than hate me, for the longest time, too."

"Of course I like you, Paul! Why wouldn't I?"

Dawn felt her cheeks come aflame while Paul looked at her in utter astonishment.

"Y-You do? …not just because of the tattoo that says we do?"

"I like you, and it's not just because the tattoo says we do," Dawn felt herself falter for a moment, but smiled sheepishly. She was sure she had feelings for Paul. Most definitely! They weren't soulmates for nothing. Across from her, Paul visibly relaxed, an uneasy smile gracing him. He tentatively held her hand.

"I…," he swallowed, forcing himself to say what he wanted, "I'm glad. I really am. I…I've liked you ever since we met. You seemed to hate me no matter what, and I felt discouraged, but no matter what…I couldn't stop loving you. I spent the past three years lost in thoughts of you, Dawn. Thank you."

Paul looked so honest, and so fragile in that moment, that Dawn could only stare. It felt so out of character, and his tone was entirely shaky and flustered, but she could not laugh. Not when he had shown so much trust by exposing himself like this. Finding herself smiling, Dawn leaned forward and embraced him. Not a moment later, she felt his sure, strong arms wrap around her in turn. Her smile widened and she felt glad as well.


Thanks for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Sorry, again, for it's shortness. I'll try to make the next one longer. I have a new story out, titled A World Written In Shadow Gray, if you would like. Please leave me a review telling me what you think of the story so far. Until next time, readers.