Normal POV

It was the second day of Adam, Jason, Megan, and Amber being in Dewford Town. They were currently in the Pokemon Center's cafeteria eating breakfast before deciding what to do for today. Adam and Jason had decided to go with eggs and bacon with orange juice and apple juice respectively, while Amber had opted for oran berry pancakes and tea. Megan decided to do a fresh fruit mix with oatmeal and water.

"So Amber, how's your dad doing?" Adam asked.

"He's training hard to become an agent for the International Police. Usually, it would take several years of studying and training, but he's requested to do it in an accelerated course so that he can finish sooner. He has a strong work ethic and I feel that it's his motivation to get back out there in the world and stop Team Rocket, which is making him push himself even harder." Amber replied.

"He's also been trying to convince the other former Team Rocket members who worked with him to change their evil mindsets and join him in helping him once he's an agent. I hope that they do, since they all trust one another and work well together as a team. Plus, no one knows Team rocket like they do, so I know that they would be a great help for him. My dad obviously can't stop Team Rocket alone and nobody can help him more than they can. I don't want him facing danger alone.

"Anyway, as busy as my dad has been, he always finds time to call me while I'm traveling. Usually, agents aren't allowed to do so, because of safety concerns regarding their family members. But since Team Rocket already knows about me and I might be in danger, he's allowed to contact me. It's the best way for him to know that I'm safe."

"If you don't mind me asking, how were you able to accept your dad back into your life after learning about his evil past?" Megan asked, looking at Amber.

"Well, once I was told the story, it all made sense to me. I also felt like the missing piece of my life was finally back again. All of the questions that I had were now answered. I could also see that my dad truly wanted to change and I saw firsthand just how much he wanted to become a better man. I know that he can let go of his evil past and start anew. Plus, he's going to help bring Team Rocket to an end. His evil ways from his past just might be the extra edge needed to stop them and give the police what they need to defeat them once and for all!

"Plus, while I was growing up, he was gone and I'd always wanted to see him again. I never once suspected him to have a secret that dark. But if my mom was able to accept him and his past once he told her, then I should be able to do the same.

"Honestly, I'm just grateful that everyone still treats me the same way, even after learning that I'm Giovanni's granddaughter. Like my dad, people can change for the better. And like myself, it doesn't matter what things your family did, you're your own person and shouldn't let your past define you."

Once they had finished breakfast, the group made their way to the contest hall, so that Amber and Megan could register for the upcoming contest.

"Hi, can I help you?" the receptionist asked.

"We'd like to register for the contest." said Amber.

"Are you registering as a pair?" she questioned.

"What?" Megan asked, confused.

"The contest is going to be a tag team contest. Coordinators will perform and battle in pairs and the winning pair will each receive a ribbon. Last year in Johto, the tag team format was tried once and the response was overwhelmingly good! So all regions that hold contests will have at least one tag team contest each year from now on." the receptionist explained.

"I was in that contest last year in Johto and won, alongside Michelle. Would you want to be my partner, Megan? Neither of us have a ribbon yet, so it would be the best time for us to win our first!" Amber explained.

Megan eagerly agreed and the two registered for the contest.

"There you are. The contest will be in one week's time. I wish you both the best of luck."

"That gives us plenty of time to decide which of our Pokemon would be the best ones to work together and which to use for appeals and battles." Megan said as the four exited. "Are you two going to challenge the Dewford gym leader?"

"The first time that my dad battled Brawly, he lost, despite his type advantage with his Taillow. Brawly's Pokemon have high endurance and stamina, so they're able to take a lot more hits than usual and still be able to keep fighting, despite super-effective attacks. So I'm going to need some extra time to prepare for this gym battle." Adam replied.

"Same here. I'll challenge him after you girls have your contest." Jason said.

"I'll be using one of my Pokemon from Johto against Brawly." Adam said, tossing one of his Pokeballs to reveal Feraligatr.

"Oh, wow!" Megan cried, having not seen this Pokemon before. "He looks strong and intimidating! My Pokemon are so tiny in comparison."

"Since Brawly's Pokemon are strong physically, I'm gonna answer strength with strength. Feraligatr is my biggest and most physically strong Pokemon. Last night, I called Gary and had him send him over. Normally, I would use Rhydon, since he's better suited for physical battles, but he's a Rock type, which is weak against Fighting attacks. I'll also use Pidgeot in my battle, since Flying attacks are strong against Fighting Pokemon." Adam explained.

"I'll also use the strength against strength strategy. I'll be using Machamp and I'll also use Taillow. I'm hoping to evolve Taillow beforehand, since he's too weak to battle against Brawly's Pokemon right now. So to achieve getting Taillow evolved into Swellow, we're gonna be training hard this next week." Jason added.

"Sounds like we all have some serious training to cover before the contest arrives." Megan stated.

"Why don't we explore the island while we train? When my dad was in Hoenn, he had a lot of adventures during his time here on the island and maybe we'll see some of the same things." Adam suggested.

The others all agreed and they left Dewford Town once Adam had returned Feraligatr.

As the four walked, Jason broke the comfortable silence that had fallen over them.

"So...our tent won't have enough room for all four of us when we camp out." Jason said.

"Not to worry, I have my own tent, and Adam can sleep in it with me." Amber replied, with a wink to Adam.

Megan thought back to April's words as she witnessed this. It was highly possible that Amber might like Adam as more than a friend. Megan decided that she would ask Amber about her feelings for Adam once the two of them were alone.

She also realized that her sister was right: other girls were wanting Adam and she needed to try and figure out her feelings for Adam and find the courage to confess first before it was too late!

Adam was slightly shocked at Amber's words and actions. "O-Okay," he stuttered.

He had noticed that ever since his Johto journey had ended, Amber seemed to be a lot friendlier towards him. At first, he'd thought that it was because she was grateful that he had put his own life on the line to save her and her father. But he was now realizing that it might be more than just his bravery and actions that were the reason for her attitude towards him.

Adam had always seen Amber as a friend, but in the back of his mind, he had always admired her the most for her contest prowess, out of all of Michelle and Megan's rivals. Plus, he'd always thought that she looked pretty and dressed well. She had a good fashion sense, which made sense, since his mom did inspire her.

Overall, she was a pretty girl and a highly skilled coordinator, much like Dawn was, and those qualities did draw Ash towards her while they were traveling together. Adam wondered...was the same thing happening with him now, too?

Later that night, the four friends were sitting around their campfire, eating dinner, which Amber had prepared. She had made a stew, which was her grandma's recipe, and it was delicious. They had decided, after walking all day and seeing some of the island, to stop for the night and camp. Tomorrow, their training would begin.

"So there was one day when my mom was traveling around here that her and Jessie's Wurmples got switched. They were fighting over which one had the better Pokemon and in the tussle, they mixed up which Pokemon belonged to whom. They eventually got it sorted, but it was a disaster." Megan said, recalling the story that her mom had told her.

The four talked for a little while longer before they decided to call it a night. Adam and Jason put out the fire while the girls went to change into their pajamas. Once the girls emerged from the tents, the boys went to change. Amber was in a pair of white shorts and a gold-colored tank top. The group bade one another good night and went into their respective tents.

As Amber settled into her sleeping bag, she turned on her side to face Adam.

"Adam?" she said quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Ever since I started my Pokemon journey, I've always camped out alone. This is the first time that I've ever shared my tent with anyone else and it feels nice. It's nice to have someone to talk to as you fall asleep, for a change.

"You're lucky to be traveling with such good friends. Traveling alone can be tough, since you have nobody to help you through the tough times, not to mention the fact that you have to do everything yourself with no one else's help, from cooking to cleaning. It doesn't leave as much time for training as I'd like."

Amber reached out her arm and her hand gently gripped his and she smiled at him. "Thank you for allowing me to travel with you and the others, even if it's only for a week. I've never mentioned these feelings of loneliness to anyone because I don't want to worry my friends, especially Megan."

Adam felt honored and glad that Amber was being vulnerable and revealing secrets to him that no one else knew. He couldn't imagine what it was like to travel alone, since he'd always had someone with him. He couldn't imagine what he would've done if Jason and Michelle hadn't joined him on his Kanto journey with his dad missing, spending all of those nights and days alone with his thoughts about everyone thinking that his dad was dead.

He could see that him being there and agreeing to sleep in her tent meant a lot to her and made her feel safe and comfortable. He was touched to be able to see her happy like this and that she trusted him enough to open up like that. Maybe she did care for him more deeply than he realized.

"I'm glad you're traveling with us, too. I enjoy your company." Adam said.

Amber smiled and softly said goodnight before she shut her eyes.

Adam laid there, looking at her sleeping form. From the feelings that she had given him, he knew that he would need to figure out if he liked Amber as more than a friend.

The next morning, Amber and Megan had been trying out different attack combinations for the upcoming contest, seeing which Pokemon work together the best. They were currently taking a break, sitting on the grass as their Pokemon took a rest. The boys had gone elsewhere to train for their battles.

Since they were alone without the boys, Megan decided that this was the time to ask Amber about Adam.

"Amber, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"What are your feelings for Adam?"

"Why are you asking about that?" She sounded curious.

"Well, I noticed yesterday how friendly you were acting towards him."

"Do you...promise not to tell anyone else what I"m about to say?"

"I promise."

"After Team Rocket's defeat last year in Johto, something inside me changed, in regards to Adam. I'd always known about how amazing of a man Master Ketchum is, from what people have said about him. His bravery and selflessness... And I'd always assumed that Adam would've inherited some of those traits from his dad.

"But when I saw those traits firsthand in person last year, when he helped save my life and my father's life, it made me look at him in a different light. It stirred something in my heart and created new feelings that I've never felt for anyone before. But I'm still not completely sure if they mean what I think they do, because I've never felt them before.

"That's why I've been acting extra friendly towards him; to see if he reciprocates those feelings by acting the same way towards me, and to learn if my own feelings are genuine. He's shown no signs so far, but I'm not giving up just yet."

Amber's answer made sense to Megan. She was still trying to figure out how she felt about Adam herself, too. But Megan also realized that she hadn't thought of her feelings for him nearly as much as Amber had. Megan could see that she needed to start thinking deeper about this. If this could become a love triangle, it would be like a competition and Megan didn't want to ruin her friendship with Amber over this. That meant that she would have to tell Adam first, if her feelings did go deeper for Adam, and if he returned them.

Author's Note: Adam, Jason, Megan, and Amber begin their adventures across Dewford Island, training for their gym battles and contest as they go. They all have a plan in place, but it will take lots of extra training to make sure that they triumph in what will likely be the toughest challenge they've faced so far on their Hoenn journeys.

Amber gets closer to Adam and opens up to him about her hidden feelings of isolation. She also reveals to Megan how her feelings for Adam have gotten deeper since the last story.

Megan herself now sees that April's suggestions about other girls wanting Adam are indeed true. If Megan wants to be with him, she now knows that she has to search her heart and figure out if she feels that strongly about him. But she still doesn't want to risk destroying her friendship with Amber.

It seems that a love triangle may be forming between Adam, Amber, and Megan. What will this mean for the group going forwards?

Find out as the journey continues in Pokemon NG!