A/N: Team Roster: Jackson (Cinderace), Hudson (Mudsdale), Rosa (Bellossom), Theodore (Corviknight), Rouge (Weavile), Ophelia (Haxorus)
Chapter 33 - Greatness
It had been a whirlwind of a week. Dolly figured that once she beat Leon and became the new Champion, things would finally start to settle down after a day or two. She thought she could sign a few autographs, take a couple pictures, then head back to Postwick and the Slumbering Weald. She still needed to get to Zamazenta - she was only one step away from breaking the Curse, but her Champion orientation was keeping her from doing much else besides meetings, eating, sleeping, and more meetings. She was grateful to have Leon with her for the support and explanations of everything it meant to be Champion, and she never realized how much was really weighing on him. He even seemed to be walking lighter, though perhaps that was just because he didn't have a two-ton cape clung over his shoulders. Dolly had tried it on, nearly crumpled under the weight, and gave a vehement 'no' when the tailors asked if she wanted it as part of her uniform. That was only part of her responsibilities and decisions, though, and now with Rose gone, there was even more to be done. Dolly and Leon got a break before the next part of her orientation, and they were preparing to head back to Postwick for a few days. Dolly slumped into the armchair in Leon's hotel room, heaved out a sigh, and Leon chuckled from beside her as he packed up his things.
"You're so much better suited for all of this than I am, Leon," she sighed as she flopped her arms out on the armrests. "I barely know how to talk to my friends and family, let alone journalists and camera people."
She also didn't know there were so many ways to pose or smile. How was she supposed to smile in a way that was 'intimidating, yet inviting?' She wasn't sure she would ever get used to seeing her face plastered over every inch of Wyndon, either. Leon laughed again and ruffled her hair as he walked by.
"You'll get the hang of it soon, Champion Dolly. I've had years of practice. Either way, you don't need to be how I was as Champion, just be yourself."
"Easy for you to say," Dolly grumbled. "You're charming and extroverted and know how to talk to a crowd. I'm awkward and… awkward."
"You're not-" Leon started. He stuck out his lip, calculated a few seconds, then nodded. "Yeah you are. But don't worry, it's endearing."
She laughed and shoved his arm as he walked by.
Leon finally finished packing up, then they hailed a cab for Motostoke. She and Leon had to fill out some paperwork, then they would take the train to Wedgehurst from there. Dolly rested her head on her arms as she gazed out the window as the cab passed over half of Galar. She smiled as she picked out familiar spots she had traversed over throughout her Gym Challenge. That was where she met Rouge, and that was where she met Pip. That was where Hop gave her the charms for her necklace. That was where that curry exploded all over Rosa and Mateo, and that was where Jackson got lodged into the manhole cover when he tried to see what was under it. There was the Wild Area hostel, and that was where she sneezed so hard her glasses flung off her face and almost took Sap's eye out. Dolly whispered a silent thank you to each and every one of the places that held memories.
They finally landed down in Motostoke, completed their errands, then took the train out to Wedgehurst. When the train arrived, the plaza was filled with spectators and villagers, which wasn't too challenging, to be honest, as their little villages weren't exactly a thriving metropolis.
Leon addressed the people seamlessly, and helped Dolly address the people almost as seamlessly. Even as she spoke to them, her eyes flitted about the crowd, waiting for a flash of purple hair and golden eyes to appear.
The second she finished speaking, Hop pushed his way to the front and lunged at the both of them. He curled them both into a huge hug, and they both laughed at the enthusiasm that nearly toppled them both over.
"Number one fan, here to greet you," Hop grinned. He, again, gave Dolly a very public kiss despite her grumbling. He then gave her another one when the crowd gave a collective 'aww.'
They chatted as they walked through Route 1, and Hop had already intertwined his fingers into hers. The three of them walked and talked, and Hop asked a thousand questions about Dolly, and Dolly asked a thousand questions about Hop.
"Hey Dolly," Leon said, interrupting their babbling. "Would you mind going on ahead? I've got to talk with Hop about something."
Dolly nodded, gave Hop's hand a squeeze, and headed down Route 1. As she trotted off, her curiosity got the best of her. Although she knew she probably shouldn't be listening, she couldn't help but smile as Leon apologized to Hop. He promised to be a better older brother who was there for Hop much more often than he ever had been. He wanted to be accessible to his favorite person - his little brother. Hop said Leon was the best brother in the world, she heard him sniffle, and whatever he said next was muffled.
Then Leon said something about how Hop and her were getting into a serious relationship and it was prime time for 'the talk,' and suddenly Dolly started walking away much faster.
As Dolly finally made it to the front porch of her old home, her mum was already waiting for her, and engulfed her in a hug as soon as she walked in the door.
"There's my little Pecha berry," she smiled, stepping back. "Big and important as Galar's Champion, huh?"
"Hi mum," Dolly smiled.
"Come in, set your stuff down, I've already made lunch," her mum said. "I hope there's enough for everyone! I know how much some of your Pokémon can eat, my goodness."
Dolly giggled at the thought of her massive Pokémon sitting around their tiny kitchen table. They instead ate outside on their patio while enjoying the warm, sunny weather. Jackson had insisted he sit beside her mum, and then insisted Dolly sit on his other side. Her team was, again, quickly enthralled by her mum's doting, their smiles shone, and their laughter rang throughout Postwick.
After catching up with her mum for a while, her mum waved her off to the lab to see Hop, saying 'that poor boy is much too blue without you around.' Dolly chuckled when all of her Pokémon wanted to stay with her mum, and her mum insisted that Dolly 'always got time to spoil her darling Pokémon, and now it was her turn.' She couldn't be too long, though - they still needed to see Zamazenta.
Dolly mulled over persuasion tactics to use on Sonia, trying to figure out the best way to get Sonia to let Hop out of work early. That thought left as quickly as it came, unfortunately, because when Sonia met her on the road to Professor Magnolia's house, she shrugged and said, 'You've waited this long, what's a few more hours?' Dolly pouted in response, Sonia shrugged again, and waved goodbye as she went to visit her gran. She was just as strict as Hop said.
So instead, Dolly somberly pushed into the Pokémon Research Lab, Hop nearly tackled her to the ground, and suddenly she was feeling much better. They talked, Hop showed her some of his research, Hop wanted a hug, they talked about Dolly's Champion orientation, Hop wanted a longer hug, Hop showed her some pictures from his field study, Dolly wanted a kiss, she explained the different aspects of her new Champion uniform she was wearing, Hop said he wanted to feel the fabric, he did, then suddenly Dolly wanted a longer kiss, Hop was happy to oblige, it was getting a little challenging to continue their conversation, some papers were strewn off a desk, Hop discovered a sensitive spot on Dolly, Dolly discovered Hop was quite noisy even when he wasn't talking, they nearly fell off the desk, they did fall off the desk, Hop stumbled into an office chair, they discovered they could easily fit on it if Dolly straddled his lap, neither of them heard the door open, Sonia walked around the corner at an unfortunate time, they all froze, and Sonia suddenly had enough ammunition to tease them both until the end of time.
Dolly waved a flustered goodbye and booked it out the door. It didn't even close before she heard Sonia's voice.
"You know I don't pay you to snog with the sexy new Champion, right?"
"We weren't - we weren't snogging, w-we were just-" she heard Hop splutter.
"Just what?! Playing checkers and drinking tea? Talking about politics and the weather?"
"N-no, we-"
"Or was it about your new topic of study on 'How to Get Hickeys'? You're studying Pokémon under my watch, remember? Not whatever else you're learning when you're under your girlfriend!"
"Sonia."
"You thought you were being subtle?" she laughed. "I could hear you moaning like a Miltank from my gran's house! We all know you've been in love with her since the day you met her, but that doesn't mean you can pounce on her like a Purrugly in heat every time she comes home!"
Hop groaned again.
"Alright, get out of here. Not like you're going to get any work done when she's in town anyway."
The door to the lab burst open and Hop rushed out. It didn't take long for him to catch up to Dolly and weave his fingers around hers.
"Purrugly in heat, huh?" Dolly grinned.
Hop kissed her cheek, then shrugged as they made their way back to Postwick.
Dolly laughed when she saw her Pokémon team trotting between her house and Hop's with party supplies, as they were all wearing homemade 'Champion Pokémon' sashes her mum must have made. She collected her team, tucked their Poké Balls into her bag, and she and Hop made their way to the fence beside her home.
The pair stood, hand in hand, gazing into the dark mist of the Slumbering Weald. There were no more hurdles. She had overcome them all, and all that was left was the dirt path between the fence and the shrine in the center. Hop squeezed her hand.
"You ready?"
"I've been ready for this day my entire life."
The familiar mist pooled around them as they stepped into the Slumbering Weald.
They traversed through the forest, following along the lush path and side stepping around the Sqwovets that bumbled around their feet. The mist swirled about them, and Dolly could feel each and every particle as it lay over her skin, over the forest, like a blanket. They weaved and turned, and slowly made their way through the dark green grass and purple trees until they reached the small stone bridge.
Dolly took in a breath, and her heart started to beat harder. They followed the river north until they finally reached the shrine, and the air around it glittered as the sun shone between the leaves on the trees. The same stone grave sat at the end of the path, sitting humbly, yet speaking volumes to everything Dolly had experienced. She and Hop finally placed down the rusted sword and shield, took a step back, and waited in the beam of sunlight.
"Shield of Galar, you have returned."
A beam of light erupted before them, and Hop and Dolly both stumbled back. Before them stood Zamazenta and Zacian, gazing down at them with their fierce yellow eyes. Dolly nodded her head, released Hop's hand, and took a step toward Zamazenta.
"I've beaten the Champion," she said. Her voice quivered, but her posture was strong. "And I've come to ask you to break the Nuzlocke Curse."
Zamazenta's great head lowered.
"Very well. Best me in battle, then I shall grant you one wish."
Dolly nodded and swallowed hard. Hop and Zacian had stepped back and sat on the sidelines of what was now their arena. The sunlight glistened over the shrine of the Slumbering Weald, and the small specks flashed in the rays of light. Dolly took Jackson's Poké Ball from her bag, and stepped forward again.
For her. For her Pokémon. To best the beast, to break the Curse, and forever kindle the fire that blazed in her skin. It was as if the entire forest could feel the passion and power erupting from the Trainer, Cinderace, and Zamazenta as they dueled within the light of the sun. The Slumbering Weald pulsed as the mist danced about their feet, as it swirled in the air and cast an ethereal glow over their arena. It was as if the stones of the shrine sang like the Rookidees in the trees, calling out an operatic, an idyllic melody, as Zamazenta grew weaker at every one of Jackson's attacks.
It was as if Dolly was born exactly for this moment. The passion exploded in her body, just as it did on the Champion pitch, just as it did in every battle, just as it did when she first battled with Faline so long ago. Zamazenta hit the ground, Dolly threw the Poké Ball, it rolled three times, and clicked.
Dolly hadn't noticed the tears streaming down her face until she bent down to pick up the Poké Ball. She wiped them away with her palm as Zacian and Hop cheered from the sidelines. Jackson rushed up to her, flashed a grin, and set his hands on his hips.
"That was kind of easy," he said with a decisive nod.
Dolly rolled her eyes and tossed the Poké Ball, and Zamazenta appeared before them again. Zamazenta bowed his head, and his voice rumbled through the air. It was as if it were encapsulated in every particle of mist that swirled about them.
"You have trusted in yourself," Zamazenta said. "You have trusted in your Pokémon, you have saved the region, and you have bested me. Shield of Galar, I will grant you one wish."
Dolly swallowed hard as her hands began to tremble.
"Please," she whispered. "I want to break the Nuzlocke Curse."
Zamazenta nodded, then lifted his head. His yellow eyes pierced into hers as his voice rumbled again.
"Very well. Close your eyes. Hold out your hands."
Dolly did so. She squeezed her eyes shut and held her palms up to Zamazenta. He set his paws into her hands.
The mist surrounded her again and the dew immediately dampened her clothes. Her Champion's shirt clung to her body as the mist slithered around the silky fabric. She waited, and she could feel Jackson back away. Then, she could feel the familiar prickle. It seeped into her skin, starting on the surface, then slowly melding deeper and deeper into her body. She grunted as the tingling grew stronger.
It started in her fingers. They grew numb, just as her wrists grew numb, then her forearms, then her chest. Then, the numbness started to tingle, it started to buzz, then it started to stab. It reached her veins. Dolly was sweating now and heaving in breaths of air. It was as if those particles of mist ingrained themselves into every blood cell that pumped through her body. She couldn't control herself as she started to shake, and started to tremble.
The stabbing was growing stronger, shooting into her heart. She grunted and fell forward, and Zamazenta helped her stand. She clung to his fur as she panted as every fiber of her body quaked. Her temperature was rising, the sweat starting to pool, and her eyebrows pulled together as the moisture seeped over every inch of her skin.
She couldn't control her breathing as she gripped Zamazenta's fur. Her body was quaking as she let out a grunt when heaving in another breath. She could barely open her eyes, but through her eyelashes she saw Zacian blocking both Hop and Jackson from rushing to her. She opened her mouth to ask Zamazenta to stop, as the pain was making her vision blurry. She could only clench her teeth together as she endured.
Then, she felt something break. It was as if every blood cell popped open, releasing the Curse from her blood. She let out another cry, gripped onto Zamazenta, and held her breath.
And finally, it stopped.
Dolly heaved out a breath and fell, as her overwhelmed body was weak and unable to stand. Through the dark mist that was slowly fading, as her vision started to tunnel, she heard the words she had been waiting her entire life to hear. She heard the rumble of Zamazenta's voice from beneath her as he helped her stand.
"It is broken, Shield of Galar. Dolly, you are freed from the Nuzlocke Curse."
She smiled as the tears came pouring forth. She wasn't sure if she was laughing or sobbing as she fell again into Zamazenta, and he slowly guided her to the ground. She clung to his fur as the shaking in her body slowly subsided there on the ground of the Slumbering Weald shrine.
"It's gone," Dolly wept. "It's finally gone."
Zacian had stepped aside, and Jackson and Hop both immediately ran to her and knelt beside her on the ground. Dolly could barely lift her arms as she held each of them against her. They rested against Zamazenta on the ground, Zacian laid beside them, and all of them were enveloped in the rays of sunlight beaming in through the tops of the trees.
"Thank you, Zamazenta," Hop said, tucking a hair behind Dolly's ear as the tears flowed from both their eyes.
After a while, the tears finally ebbed. Dolly smiled as she wiped a few from her cheek, and then from her shirt that was drenched from the sweat and tears. She stroked a hand through Zamazenta's fur.
"Thank you," she breathed.
He only nodded, smiling softly at the Trainer before him.
"Can you still talk to Pokémon?" Hop asked as Dolly leaned against him.
Dolly's heart stopped. If the Curse is what led her to talk to Pokémon, and it was broken, then that meant…
Jackson moved, knelt in front of her, and set his paws on her knees.
"Jackson…?"
Jackson smiled gently. His eyes started to glisten over as he softly shook his head. He opened his mouth to speak, and Dolly was unable to understand the soft words that escaped his lips.
Dolly's heart dropped as she sat there, trying to listen, trying to hear, trying to understand what it was that was coming from her partner's mouth. All of this time, she had expected to break the Curse, expected to forever kindle the fire in her veins, and expected to battle beside Jackson forever.
She never expected this.
All of their jokes, all their conversations, all of his encouragement and challenging words... They would have to be stored in her memories. She would never again hear him ask a question, tell a joke, or tell her that she was worthy of love.
Dolly tried to smile too as her eyebrows pulled together. She tried, and tried again, and failed as the tears tumbled. Dolly reached out for her friend, for her first ever partner, whom she could no longer speak to, but always, always, always try to understand.
"Sucker!" Jackson laughed, launching himself into a hug. "You can still speak Pokémon!"
Dolly's jaw dropped, and her arms were frozen in the air.
"Sorry I couldn't help myself," Jackson snickered. "That was literally the most golden opportunity."
After a moment she shook her head and smacked his arm.
"You are the worst!" she laughed, then squeezed him as tightly as she could. "I just nearly had a heart attack, you idiot!"
She heard a rumble of a laugh from beneath her.
Zamazenta and Zacian started to stand and Hop and Jackson both pulled Dolly up onto her feet.
"You are quite a trickster, young Cinderace," Zamazenta chuckled. "I can see why your Riolu friend had so much fun with you."
Jackson breathed out a laugh and bashfully scratched behind his head.
"You ought to go find him and tell him the good news," Zamazenta said.
Jackson's brow pulled together as he glanced back up to Zamazenta.
"Oh, he…" Jackson started. "He passed away a while ago."
"Oh, no," Zamazenta said. "He is merely sleeping, waiting for his Trainer to return."
Dolly's heart dropped just as Jackson's jaw did.
"...What?"
Zamazenta looked between the dumbfounded faces before him.
"It is true. The Pokémon victims of the Nuzlocke Curse are but sleeping, sleeping until the day their Trainer breaks the Curse. If their Trainer doesn't break the Curse, they peacefully pass on the day their Trainer does. But you have no worries for that now, do you?"
Dolly's eyes widened.
"Does…" Dolly whispered. "Does that mean…?"
Zamazenta nodded and smiled.
"It is a common misconception, unfortunately," he said. "Although it may seem twisted, did that risk of death not spur you to a greater love and care for your Pokémon? You are not as reckless or as mindless as you may have been otherwise, are you? You see your Pokémon not as tools to sacrifice, but as friends to love and care for."
Dolly had no time to mull it over as suddenly Jackson was pulling on her arm.
"Dolly we have to go! We have to find Mateo! And Posey and Sap and all the others!"
Dolly stared back at Zamazenta, who only nodded slowly and smiled again.
"Go, Shield of Galar. Your friends are awaiting your return."
This guy didn't have to tell her twice. She grabbed Hop and Jackson in each hand and sprinted out of the Slumbering Weald. She bolted past her mum in her front yard.
"Where do you think you're going, Miss Dolores?" she called.
"I'm going through half of Galar, I'll be back before dark!"
And Dolly ran. She ran and she ran and she ran and she ran. The mediocrity was dissipated, long gone, just as the stains were. It had disappeared, evaporated, no longer staining or clinging to her skin. She was like a bullet - fast and powerful and sure of her target. She had bested the Champion, bested the beast, and broken the Nuzlocke Curse. There was nothing left that she couldn't do as she sprinted as fast as she could with her friends beside her. She was strong, she was brave, and she was no longer a monster who could talk to Pokémon. She was no longer a freak with the Nuzlocke Curse. She had finally become only a girl who loved others, a girl who loved herself, and a girl who would always try to help those around her know that they too were worthy of love.
They made it to the Wild Area first, and Jackson tugged her along to where Lacey must have been. Her mind flashed to how he had taken the Poké Ball from her hands the night she could only curl up and cry on the base of the steps to Motostoke City. He pulled her along, neither of them ever breaking their smile, as they saw Lacey standing among the grass and beaming at them.
"Lacey!" Dolly cried, falling to the ground and wrapping her arms around her Wooloo.
"Miss Dolly, you're back!" Lacey bleated, bouncing up and down. "I've been so excited to see you again!"
Dolly held Lacey's soft wool against her, apologized for everything, and they started off again. She stumbled in her steps as she tried to keep a hand on her Wooloo, but Jackson pulled her along just the same.
Next was Route 4.
Dolly sprinted through Galar Mine No. 1, through the wheat, through that mud puddle she tripped in that was somehow still there, and made it to beneath the tree by the river.
Posey and Fay were waiting, both of their smiles blooming as their Trainer approached them.
They leapt into her arms as the tears continued to fall, both of them mumbling out kind words and apologies and forgiveness as they choked through the tears. Dolly finally set them both down, and Posey gazed up at her Trainer.
"Dolly?" Posey asked quietly.
"Yes, Posey?" Dolly smiled, wiping her nose with her sleeve.
"I've been thinking about what I want to be when I grow up and…"
Posey kicked at the ground bashfully, then gazed up at Dolly with big brown eyes.
"I think I want to be an Eevee for just a bit longer. You love yourself for who you are, and I want to be just like you."
Dolly burst out sobbing again as she clung to her Eevee. Jackson had to pull her back up to get them to continue on.
The next closest spot was Route 9, where Dolly couldn't help but laugh as she watched Pip breakdancing around in some grass.
"Oh wassup homegirl!" the Solosis called.
Dolly grinned, offered an apology, then Pip waved her off.
"Pfft you're fine! That Piers bloke with the sick ass hair knows how to friggin' shred. I got to listen to some sick tunes for like, ever!" she said. Then, she looked at Hop. "Oh shit, this your boyfriend? He's friggin' hot, wassup honey?"
Dolly didn't even need to translate, as apparently Solosis could communicate telepathically. Great.
Next was Circhester, where Sap nearly tackled her into the ground as they approached. She tackled into Jackson too, who hugged her just as hard.
"Welcome back, Dolly."
Dolly froze.
"...Sap?"
Sap buzzed again. Although Dolly had never heard that voice before, it was as familiar as the Vikavolt that buzzed her wings in front of her then. Dolly opened her mouth, only to let out a grunt as Jackson tugged on her arm.
"Come on Dolly, we need to hurry, we need to get to the Glimwood Tangle!" he begged, pulling her along. They hailed a cab and it took off, the fierce wings of the Corviknight pumping powerfully through the air.
It took them a while to weave through the branches and bushes, as Dolly could only rely on her bleak memory to get them to their destination. Her heart was beating harder as she saw the trees around them start to reflect a bright neon glow. As the glowing grew stronger, Jackson took off, ignoring the branches and leaves whipping at his face.
"Mateo!" Jackson called, tripping into the clearing. His head whipped around, eyes frantically scanning every inch of the circular clearing. He hesitantly stepped over the small glittering mushrooms and small white flowers that were speckled about the grass.
"Mateo...?" he called again as Dolly and Hop followed up behind him.
The little Pokémon that darted around the clearing had finally stopped. Dolly's heart did, too, as when they first visited this sacred site, she didn't think they knew they were there. It was as if the entire forest was holding its breath, watching, waiting, the dark trees framing the graves that laid before them.
Jackson stepped up to the grave that bore Mateo's name. It looked just as it did the last time they left it, with the small white flowers still blooming. He looked around. No movement. His shoulders slumped as he untied Mateo's bandana from around his arm.
As he motioned to place the bandana on the tombstone, a Lucario peeked around the massive mushroom.
"Jackson?"
The leaves didn't rustle, the Pokémon didn't move, not a single being in the clearing breathed as Jackson lifted his head to the sound of the familiar voice.
Then, the tears burst, flooded down each face, as the two ran and tackled each other to the ground. Dolly didn't need Mateo to identify the aura in the clearing, as she could feel the blazing yellow as she watched the two friends embrace each other. The small Pokémon around them cheered, clapped, danced, as the Cinderace and Lucario were finally reunited.
They were talking a mile a minute, both practically vibrating with excitement. Jackson held out the bandana that he had been holding onto ever since Hammerlocke.
"Here, you can have this back now, I guess," Jackson grinned.
"Thanks for keeping it safe for me," Mateo nodded. Then, he ripped it in half, and handed half to Jackson. They tied it around the other's wrist, both beaming.
Mateo finally approached her as well, and Dolly offered an apology, a hug, and Mateo waved her off just as Pip had.
"It's thanks to you that I've finally evolved into a Lucario," Mateo smiled. "I finally felt enough love and encouragement from you all that I could finally evolve."
Dolly beamed and pulled her Lucario into a hug.
"I've missed you so much, Mateo," she whispered.
When Mateo stepped back, he glanced between her and Hop.
"Hey, and Hop's here!" Mateo beamed. "Has he asked you to marry him yet? I feel like I've only ever seen his aura as pink when he's around you, and that night we were all in the Glimwood Tangle yours turned pink too."
The heat rose to Dolly's cheeks as she sputtered out a response.
"Ah, and now it's pink again," Mateo hummed. "Real deep pink, too, wow."
Great.
They started their way out of the Glimwood Tangle, and she overheard Mateo whisper to Jackson.
"I've never seen such a deep pink. They must be really in love,"
"Oh yeah," Jackson whispered back. "They kiss each other like, all the time."
Dolly shot a glare at them both, and they grinned cheekily. After weaving through the trees of the Glimwood Tangle, they hailed another cab, and it didn't take long before they landed in Postwick again. It didn't take long before Dolly's eyes hurt from crying so much, either.
Her and Hop's mums were bustling around in Hop's yard as they finished their celebration preparations that night. Fairy lights hung from the trees, windows, and the torches that were set up around the yard, and music drifted through the air. Dolly flopped into the grass with a contented sigh, and Hop laid beside her with a smile. The succulent scent of the grill wafted around them, and Dolly sat up again. Hop sat behind her, pulled her against him, and she leaned against his chest as he curled his arms around her waist. All of their Pokémon were bounding around the yard, talking and playing and reuniting with one another. She hadn't realized many of them would have never met each other, and Dolly watched with a satisfied smile as they all interacted together.
She was correct in thinking that Mateo and Rouge would take to each other well, since both of them had a sharp wit and keen eye. Dolly grinned as she watched Rouge lean towards the Lucario, enthralled in whatever it was he was talking about. Dolly giggled when Mateo paused in his story, and casually Rouge if she knew anything about auras. She shook her head, asked him to tell her all about it, and he started describing the different colors. She asked what aura she had, he said pink, then she froze, grumbled something, and stormed off.
Theodore was just as enthralled with Posey and Fay, and he and Ophelia sat with them and regaled stories of their adventures, and then a bit of a history lesson mixed in as well. Her heart swelled to see the stars in their eyes when Ophelia described everything she knew about Noivern, and then Theodore described everything he knew about every Eevee evolution, and then some. Even though she herself grew tired of listening to him, the Eevee and Noibat nodded and stared, wide-eyed, at all the knowledge pouring forth from the Corviknight.
Hudson and Rosa were sitting with Sap and Lacey, where Dolly assumed Hudson and Sap were chatting about something while Rosa doted on Lacey while braiding the locks of hair on her head. They had to shoo away Jackson and Pip, who were flinging around during their breakdance competition.
After their delicious grilled dinner, they all sat around the campfire and Jackson filled everyone in on every bit of adventure they had been through. He started from the very beginning, when Dolly first met her 'adorable, powerful, and super ace Scorbunny,' to the part where 'Dolly and her handsome, hilarious, and strikingly fit Cinderace' beat up Eternatus with their bare fists, to how he practically beat Charizard with one paw behind his back. Charizard disagreed, and Jackson stumbled out a 'W-well, basically one paw…' Charizard raised an eyebrow, and Jackson concluded that he did, in fact, use both of his paws.
They all talked and laughed and sang together well into the night, and the campfire blazed as Dolly and her friends enjoyed one another's company. She leaned against Hop with a satisfied hum, and he smiled and kissed her temple. Her eyes fluttered closed, only to shoot open again when she watched Sonia cautiously look around. She frantically nudged Hop and pointed slyly to Sonia and Leon tiptoeing behind the tree in the yard, they watched Sonia and Leon glance at one another, then Leon hid their faces behind his hat.
"I knew it," Hop grinned against her ear.
"I sure hope you two are only kissing foreheads!" Dolly called.
Leon and Sonia whipped around, then bolted away from each other as Sonia twirled her hair and Leon tripped into the pond.
It didn't take long before the stars were twinkling overhead, and Hop was combing his fingers through her hair as Dolly was peacefully snoozing against his chest. Many of her Pokémon had come to lay with them, too, so she was trying to hold onto a Wooloo, an Eevee, a Noibat, a Cinderace, a Lucario, a Vikavolt, and a Bellossom. She managed with relative success, though Hop had to lay against her Corviknight when he couldn't hold up all of their combined weight by himself.
As the night wound down, her mum persuaded most of her Pokémon back into their Poké Balls, though some of the smaller ones and Jackson stayed out. Hop carried Dolly back to her house as she curled her arms around Posey and Fay, and her mum carried Jackson to their house as a line of drool trailed down her back.
Dolly was grateful for those few days off, as she certainly needed a break from her Champion's orientation, and also a break from the entire Gym Challenge and fighting Eternatus and beating the Champion and fighting Zamazenta and breaking the Curse and finding all her Pokémon and trying to fit them all in her house.
It was her last day home for a while, and Dolly sighed as she gazed out her window, watching the trees of the Slumbering Weald swaying back and forth. Jackson lay curled around her head, sleeping soundly after he and Mateo rushed back and forth so much earlier that day. It took eons to get the stench out after he and Mateo joined Jeremey the Sqwovet in a dung war, much to her disapproval and everyone else's disgust. Jackson finally won against Mateo in something, and Dolly couldn't really say she was surprised it was via dung war. She was so proud.
She glanced to the other end of her couch, where Hop was sitting with her legs slung on his lap. He leafed through a book, a small smile ghosting over his face as he mindlessly drew circles on her ankles. Her eyes shot back out the window as a Greedent bumbled across a branch, and another fat one behind it cracked the branch, and tumbled into the shrubbery below. Dolly rolled her eyes and chuckled.
As the light breeze hit her face, she couldn't help but think back to so long ago when she was sitting in this exact spot, attempting with every fiber of her being to quell the desire that burned within her. She hummed out a sigh, pat Jackson on the head, and reached her hand out for Hop to hold.
Greatness can come in many forms, can't it? It could come standing before a mighty and devastating monster, defeating it through sheer force of will. It could come in a blaze of glory, standing in front of thousands of people - millions, even - beating the unbeatable. It could come by breaking the unbreakable as beams of light glowed in her blood. It could come from those things, and it could come from many others. It could come from wiping the tears of her partner on the ledge of a building in Hammerlocke. It could come from vowing to be a better friend. It could come from the courage that came with working through heartbreak. It could come from laying flowers down at the graves of dear friends. It could come from the countless tears she shed out of fear, out of despair, and out of joy. It could come from overcoming the limits she set for herself. It could come from being comfortable in her own skin, and it could come from finally looking in the mirror and learning to love the girl she saw - bruises, cuts, scars, and all.
What was disguised as mediocrity was often her truest potential for growth, she just had to have the courage to get up and find it. With the help of great friends, great family, she had to will herself to get up and chase it. Because of that mediocrity, because of her sheer will to overcome it, there was something she found and something she would always continue to reach towards: greatness.
The End.
