Kenny's story gave me goosebumps. Nearby, a shamisen player strummed an old folk song. The strings almost overpowered my voice as I whispered, "Thank you, Kenny."

Kenny crouched next to me and tugged on a lock of blue-black hair playfully. "What for, Deedee?"

I leaned in to kiss him. For choosing love. We melted into each other, exploring each other in a way we'd never done as kids. We'd known each other for over a decade, but this was new for us. It was like meeting each other for the first time. "Hello, Kenny."

Kenny licked my lips. "Hello, Dawn."

We leaned toward each other again, but before we could share another kiss, Piplup and Empoleon cried out, interrupting us. The shamisen player sensed a change in the atmosphere and began strumming his instrument faster, preparing for an epic battle. Our Pokémon pointed at Cynthia and Steven, who strode with confidence, followed by Cynthia's menacing Garchomp and a powerful Excadrill.

Kenny whistled. "Now that is a power couple."

I swatted him. Below our cliff, people gawked or took pictures of the two Champions on their date. Others trembled with fear at the sight of the scary Pokémon. Steven adjusted his ruby-and-sapphire-studded sleeve cuffs with a bored expression, while Cynthia looked up at us, raising one pale eyebrow as though to ask, Isn't your plan to cause chaos, Dawn?

Kenny and I stood up, holding hands. Behind us, the shamisen player strummed ever faster.

"Piplup, make the biggest Whirlpool you can!"

"Empoleon, launch some Flash Cannons down on Amity Square!"

Whirlpool kept growing bigger and bigger as the silver orbs whizzed around the outer rim, gaining speed. Most of the people didn't panic; they simply turned their attention and phones toward us. I winced. If my plan flopped, my and Kenny's careers as Pokémon Coordinators would take a heavy hit. Kenny squeezed my hand. We won't fail.

In the end, my plan depended on the Champions to do their part, too.

"Excadrill!"

"Garchomp!"

In unison, they commanded, "Use Earthquake!"

Kenny and I almost fell off the cliff, more out of shock than from the shaking ground. Although the move disturbed the rock towers and sent waves from the pool splashing onto the bridge, no damage was done. The control of the Champions' Pokémon was impeccable. But still. "Earthquake?!" I blurted out. "You're supposed to defend Amity Square from our pretend attack!"

"Pretend?" several people muttered, baffled.

I huffed and let go of Kenny's hand to plant my fists on my hips. There was no point in pretending anymore. "Listen closely, friends! You may think Amity Square is perfect." Nerissa stormed from the gate. I had to soothe her crippled heart while getting to my point. "When Kenny and I went on our first date here, I thought so, too. It's romantic! It's beautiful."

Nerissa hesitated, a soft smile forming. She really is pretty; it's a shame her attitude is so ugly.

I continued, "But not everyone can enjoy Amity Square. The manager, Nerissa, forbids certain Pokémon from entering. In fact, she forbids most Pokémon from entering! Only the handful of Pokémon that she considers cute are allowed into Amity Square."

Aware that all of Sinnoh was watching, Steven's drone streaming the entire incident, Nerissa spluttered, "It's for everyone's safety—"

"Look at how strong my Piplup and Kenny's Empoleon are!" I interrupted, annoyed at Nerissa's silly excuse. "We could wreck Amity Square if we wanted. And look at how loyal Garchomp and Excadrill are. They might seem scary at first, but they're good-hearted and will protect you from nefarious troublemakers."

"Like you?" someone called out.

I grinned. "Exactly like us."

Kenny joined in. "We're so good, we're bad!"

Nerissa threw her arms into the air, her shiny bangles clattering against each other. "That makes no sense!"

"No," I retorted. "Discrimination makes no sense."

"Excadrill," Steven said, "use Earthquake again!"

"You too, Garchomp!"

This time, the cliff where Kenny and I were standing shook so hard that we slid down. Somehow, the shamisen player remained unfazed and continued playing, though his tune changed to a more mischievous one, full of syncopated beats. "Hey!" I exclaimed. Piplup squawked indignantly, rushing at Garchomp, who held him back with his foot.

Nerissa pointed frantically at them. "Look how violent these non-cute Pokémon are! Just look! Is this what you want in Amity Square?"

I scowled at Nerissa. Before I could stomp over to her and slap that smug look off her face, Kenny placed a hand on my shoulder. "Dawn, there's a way."

"Yes, there's a way, and it involves my fist on her nose, and then Piplup's beak on her forehead."

Kenny grinned. "There's another way, though it might not be as fun as that."

I followed his gaze. Garchomp slashed with flourishing gestures that obscured what he was doing, but Excadrill's quick, straight path was easy to track. I'd heard it said that faith could move mountains, but so could love, passion, and sheer will. The two ground types were rearranging the mountainscape! And I wanted to join them. I'd saved Sinnoh; now I would bend the region to my will. "Mamoswine, use Earthquake alongside Garchomp and Excadrill!"

Kenny threw a Poké Ball immediately after. "Alakazam, help them with Psychic!"

Together, we paved a stairway that led up to the flattened mountaintops far enough away from the rest of Amity Square that nothing there could disturb anything here. We climbed the nearest mountain. The dusty grounds made for a unique battlefield that reminded me of the islands in the Distortion World, each one its own separate land. At least these ones didn't hover in a void, nor was the dust red.

"This is perfect," I marveled. "Now all Pokémon can stroll through Amity Square, and if they want to get rough, they can go up here where they won't bother anyone else." I turned to look down at Nerissa, who stayed at the bottom. "Is this good enough for you, Nerissa?"

Nerissa shook her head vehemently. "People will still get hurt."

"Then I can heal them," Cheryl said. Her long green dress and hair billowed as she seemed to float up the mountain. "My name is Cheryl. I am both a healer and a treasure hunter. I've always wanted to explore Amity Square; there's an endless supply of treasures here! I would be delighted to stay here as Amity Square's nurse."

"Just in time," Ace said, strolling down the path, Aaron and both of their Drapion at his side, "for the exhibition rematch."