After Dawn and I return to the Pokémon Center, we first make a stop at the bar and buy ourselves some snacks. The whole clean up at the Pinchers' base took away most of the day for us, so it's already pretty late right now and we don't have much to do until tomorrow. With all that said, we decide to call Nate and check how he's doing with Rosa and whoever the Dark-types specialist Wes brought in is.

It takes a bit for Nate to answer the call, and when he does Dawn and I are both surprised by the strained expression he has on his face. He tries to be cheerful nonetheless, "Oh, hi guys!"

Dawn and I share a quick glance before we can address him.

"Hi Nate," Dawn says.

"Is everything alright over there?" I add.

Nate answers me by letting out an exhausted sigh. "Up until half an hour ago, yes. Now, not so much."

Both the bluenette and I frown. "What happened?"

"Team Plasma is here." We wince at the news. "They've made a hidden camp just outside Aspertia. Gym leader Cheren and the police are organizing a raid on it tomorrow morning, I've come back from that just now."

Dawn and I share an uncomfortable look. So much for us trying to let him have a break.

"You want to know the best part about it?" Nate continues. "We found that out by mere chance. There was never any emergency here, Samantha just needed someone to act as Rosa's sparring partner."

And speak of the de- wait, what did he just say?!

"Samantha?!"

My question takes Nate by surprise as he visibly flinches. "Ah, right. Should have started with that, sorry."

He proceeds to recount his day from the moment he arrived in Aspertia and how he met Rosa, Hugh and Samantha there. As well as an explanation for the whole Dark-types specialist deal going on with her. As it turns out, she used to be a runner-up for the title of Champion of Galar, until one of her opponents apparently framed her for cheating. If it hadn't been for Lucas, her career as a trainer would have been over.

I let out a snort when Nate is done explaining that. "Yeah, sad story," I comment. "Doesn't change the fact she's a bitch." No wonder Wes would recruit someone like her.

Dawn hums in response to my words, brows set in a frown. "She is, no question about that. But if Lucas thought she deserved a second chance, he must have seen something more in her."

"Actually," Nate intervenes, "she said Professor Kouki doesn't know about most of this."

"She may believe that, but I think I know Lucas better than her. He prefers to be careful with those he associates himself with, especially after one time he was duped and robbed of research data for Professor Rowan."

Oh, I think I know what she's talking about.

"Whatever she may think, Lucas does know and wants to help her out." She purses her lips. "Whether she deserves that help remains to be seen."

Couldn't agree more.

"Well," Nate replies, "if it's any reassurance, she has not been too bad with Rosa and Hugh just yet. I want to at least give her a chance this time."

Both Dawn and I give him small nods of assent. Not like we have much of a choice in the matter at this point.

"So...what about you? How did it go with the Pinchers?"

I let out a huff, "The Pinchers are finished. So is our partnership with Wes right now."

Nate blinks confusedly. "Wait, what?"

We proceed to explain the events of the day to him. He is - unsurprisingly - taken aback by the part about Tabitha's joining us on the operation. When we tell him Tabitha had been working with Wes the whole time, he is outright speechless.

He has the time to recover from the initial surprise as we recollect our fights with the barracudas and Purple Eyes' own Pokémon. As can be expected, Dawn's part is the one he's most interested in.

"That Nidoking?" he asks her. "Are you sure?"

The bluenette nods to him. "The eye was hard to miss. Thankfully, I was able to knock him out. He won't be hurting anyone ever again."

"Good," Nate whispers as his gaze briefly turns away from the screen. For some reason, his watch shakes while he does that. "Good."

The rest of our recollection is tamer than that. Dawn decides not to talk about her power and I make sure not to mention it in any way. Though I have a feeling Nate will need to be told sooner or later.

By the end of it all, Nate has just one thing to say, "Was this a good idea? Aren't we back to how we were before we met him this way?"

"Remember," I reply, "despite all his swagger, Wes is not the one in charge. If his boss is serious about working with us, he'll contact us again. If not, then we're better off without an untrustworthy scoundrel that had no respect for his associates."

"This applies to you too, Nate," Dawn intervenes. "Don't let Samantha walk all over you. Make sure she respects your boundaries as a person."

Nate nods to that. "I will, don't worry."

The call doesn't last much longer after that. A few recommendations to be careful on both parts, Dawn and I stating we'd decide our next move depending on what Summer tells us tomorrow and how that raid on the Plasma camp goes and then we wish one another a good night and end the call.

After paying for the snacks, the two of us take the elevator to our rooms. As it moves up, though, Dawn asks something new out of the blue, her fingers fidgeting as she holds them together. "Say, what do you usually do in the evenings?"

Where did that come from all of a sudden?

"I usually watch whatever movies are on TV. Why?"

The bluenette lets out a relieved sigh. "Ah good." A small smile forms on her face. "In that case, would you be interested in watching one with me tonight?"

My brain freezes for a moment there. "Dawn...are you asking me on a date?"

She shrugs innocently as her smile broadens. "I suppose I am."

That is something I like the sound of. However, the shaking within Dawn's trench coat doesn't escape me. Nor does the fact that it's not physically coming from her.

"Uhm," I point at her pockets, "are you sure it's a good idea?"

It seems she notices the shaking only then, as her confused gaze moves to her coat and her eyes widen.

"Come on, guys!" she protests. "You all should know by now that he's good."

The shaking inside her coat seems to calm down at her words, but not completely stop. Dawn reaches into her pockets and before long she's rolling her eyes.

I cross my arms, "It's Pory, isn't it?"

"Yep," she huffs out. "Is it an issue if I come to your room? I suspect your Pokémon will be more accepting of me than mine of you."

It is now my turn to smile. "Not at all. Just give me a few minutes to set everything up."

She returns my smile. "Looking forward to it."

After the elevator gets to our floor, both Dawn and I head for our respective rooms. The first thing I do after getting into mine is call out my Pokémon and prepare their food. The sly smirks Annette and Leonie regard me with don't escape me, though.

"You two can keep your heads out of the gutter," I tell them. "This is not that."

They both chuckle at my words, causing me to massage the bridge of my nose. At the side of my vision, Hubert glances curiously between me and them, while Seteth rolls his eyes.

After the food for the four of them is set, I leave my fedora and jacket on the clothes-hanger by the entrance and then turn to the state of my room.

Let's see now. The bed is right in front of the TV and there is room for both me and Dawn on it, but would the two of us staying so close be too forward of a move? Should I move the sofa so one of us can sit there? Or would she understand that as me trying to keep her away? Should I-?

Knocks on the door break my train of thought. Sounds like it's showtime, so to say.

Okay, breathe in, breathe out and let's do this. This is just a night together with Dawn, much simpler than trying to outwit a Gym leader or beat a giant whale. Nothing to be so nervous about.

I go to the door and open it. Similar to me, Dawn has ditched her coat and hat, her blue hair flowing freely and her black shirt the only thing covering her torso. I have seen her like this more than once before. It didn't affect me then. However, this time I feel heat coming to my face.

Dawn smiles and waves at me. "Hi."

I blink my eyes to refocus and then smile at her. "Hi." I move aside and let her in. While she waves at my Pokémon, I steal another glance at the bed. "So, uhm…have a seat." Is that the correct expression? Even if she's lying down instead of sitting? I'm not mixing up terms, right?

"Thank you," Dawn replies with a close-eyed smile and a nod, to which I'm grateful. I accompany her to the side of the bed, and just watch as she sits down on it. I literally stay frozen in place as I still ponder whether I should lie next to her or grab the sofa.

"Hey, you okay?"

Again, she breaks me out of those thoughts, making me notice the worried look her pretty water-blue eyes are giving me.

"S-sorry, I just…" I let down a gulp. "You...don't mind if I lie next to you, right?"

She has a slight wince. "N-no, of course not!"

I let out an internal sigh of relief. Thank God.

"I-I mean, if you don't feel comfortable yet-"

Oh crap.

"No, no, no!" I hastily interrupt her. "I just wanted to make sure you were, that's all!"

Smooth me. Very smooth.

Leonie's not so quiet snicker seems to agree with that sentiment.

Before I can embarrass myself any further, I circle around the bed and sit on the side next to Dawn's. That said, there is still a bit of a gap between us afterward. One Dawn decides to narrow as she moves closer to me. I follow her example and move as well.

"So…" I begin. "Did you have any movie in mind?"

"Actually, I do. Just, uhm…" she glances around, "where's the remote control?"

...I'm so stupid.

While I get up again to pick the remote, I probably do some weird expression if Dawn's giggling is anything to go by. When I'm back to sitting next to her, I give it to her and she turns on the TV. Whatever the channel she switches to is, it seems to be in the middle of a commercial break if the Basculin meat store is anything to go by.

"So, what's this movie you want to watch?"

"You'll see," Dawn replies, smiling at me. "It's a fantasy that came out two or three years ago. Nothing groundbreaking, but the overall animation was very good and the story charming."

Ah, so it's an animated movie? Neat. "What's it called?"

"Tales of Kaze, with the subtitle 'Rescue Team'."

...wait, why does that subtitle sound familiar?

I must have made some weird faces, as Dawn gives me a perplexed look. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing is wrong," I try to reassure her. "It's just...what's the subtitle for?"

"Well, this movie is supposed to be the first of a trilogy. The second movie came out a few months ago, but I haven't had the chance to watch it yet."

Different world, same Hollywood method, I see. "Okay, but what's the movie about?"

"It's about a person who wakes in the body of a Squirtle, with no memory of how he got there, and has to form a rescue team with a Charmander to save other Pokémon afflicted by natural disasters."

This...this can't be real. That's basically the same premise as-

"Look, it's beginning!"

I turn to the TV before I can voice my thoughts. As the movie begins, it all instantly checks out. The Squirtle is woken up by the Charmander, claims to be a human and the two have some chit chat before a lady Butterfree comes pleading for help saving her baby Caterpie. The only difference from the actual Mystery Dungeons is, of course, that this isn't a dungeon crawler. No floors, no constant fighting, just two guys trying to sneak through a forest crawling with pissed off Pokémon until they find the caterpillar they're looking for and then all the way back.

"So, what do you think?" Dawn asks during the first commercial break, a sweet smile on her face. "Pretty nice to look at, isn't it?"

Out of all the spin-off games Pokémon has ever had, the Mystery Dungeons series is the only one I've ever played. A whole movie based on the first game is something I would have loved back home.

So why does this one feel...off?

"It's…" I have to trail off momentarily as I think of my words. "Strange seeing this story in this format."

Dawn blinks at my comment. "'This format'? What do you mean?"

"I'm already familiar with this story," I reply, almost automatically. "Back in my world, it was called 'Mystery Dungeons: Rescue Team'."

It's almost comedic how Dawn's mouth falls agape. "Oh! Uhm…" She glances awkwardly between me and the TV. "Do you want to…?"

Oh great. Had to run my mouth and risk ruining this date.

I muster a smile for her, though it's strangely difficult this time. "Don't worry. It's one I liked. If anything, I'm curious to see what is different in this movie." And more importantly, what about it makes it feel off.

"If you're sure…"

I nod. "I am."

Dawn doesn't protest that, but the uneasy last glance she gives me is rather telling.

After that, the movie proceeds in a manner much similar to its game counterpart. The events with the Magnemites and the Skarmory are mostly glossed over during a montage shortly after the foundation of the team, but the parts after that are taken almost directly from the game. The Jumpluff pleading the Shiftry to help her, the Alakazam, the Gengar's Team Meanies, the Zapdos. The only true differences I can notice are Team Meanies' Ekans being replaced by an Arbok and the Alakazam being a woman in this version.

When I bring those two things up during one of the breaks, all Dawn has to say is, "I suppose they wanted to keep up a theme of fully evolved Pokémon to make Team Meanie more threatening. As for the Alakazam," she shrugs, "I don't know. Maybe it didn't matter to them which gender they went with."

I suppose she's right on both counts. Both are minor changes, purely esthetical as the roles they play are exactly the same. So why do these changes leave me feeling so...lost? Is that even the right word to describe what I'm feeling?

As faithful as this movie is, it is still a movie that can go on only for so long. As such, it doesn't cover all of the game and concludes with the confrontation with the Zapdos.

Actually, that's not entirely true. There is one other scene before the end credits. The one where the Alakazam all but exposes the Squirtle's nature as a former human. Though the dialogue is not quite what I remember.

"Wait Charmander, do you remember what Lombre said at the square?" the Squirtle asks as he turns to the Alakazam. "He said Alakazam knows everything!"

The fire lizard widens his eyes. "That's true! If anyone would know of this, it's her!" He turns to the Psychic-type as well. "Alakazam, do you know why Squirtle became a Pokémon?"

The yellow...thing stares impassively at the two, not a muscle of her body moving to do anything. A pleading look enters the Squirtle's eyes as a result and he holds his hands together.

"Please?" he says. "Everything I had, everything I was before, it's all gone now. I want to know why."

That is when I realize why this movie felt off to me. That Squirtle...is me. Or rather, a mirror of me.

Another chump taken away from his world by forces out of his league, thrust into one he thought he knew only to realize just how much grimmer it actually is. The difference is that this Squirtle had a way home but stayed because he chose to. I have no such luck. I'm trapped here whether I like it or not.

As that realization dawns on me, the rest of the scene, with the Alakazam directing the two to the Xatu and her ominous foreshadowing of the Ninetales legend, becomes little more than static noise to my ears as the space between my legs suddenly becomes much more interesting to look at.

I can vaguely acknowledge the moment Dawn shuts off the TV, but it's still not enough for me to raise my head. As the moments pass and I don't look at whatever displeased face Dawn is making, an uncomfortable silence settles between us.

My hands clutch into fists as they grab the sheets beneath me. I just couldn't have one night with Dawn - one frigging night! - without ruining it all, could I? We were just supposed to watch a movie and I had to make it weird by-!

"I'm sorry," I hear Dawn sob. I look up and am met by the sight of her downcast expression.

"S-sorry?" I ask bewildered. "For what?"

Her head nudges to the TV. "For this movie. I only wanted us to watch something together. I...I didn't realize that it could affect you like this."

Truly great job, me. Now you've made her feel guilty.

"No, don't say that!" I tell her. "This one's on me. I know I should be used to the idea of being here at this point. It's just that I...I…"

Crap, what can I say from here?

As I fail to come up with anything to continue, the two of us go back to awkward silence.

"For what it's worth," Dawn chimes in after a bit, still not looking up. "Time can alleviate the pain of trauma, but it isn't a solution. You can go on and act like everything is fine again, until there is one thing that brings back the pain."

"Yes," I admit with a gulp, my eyes cast down. "Having something to do can also help. So does having others around. But when it's just you and your thoughts, without something to organize next…"

As my statement trails off, I look up to Dawn again. "Does it ever go away entirely?"

She lightly shakes her head. "You only need to look at me to know that answer."

Right. Right.

"At least you figured out surrounding yourself with people was the right thing to do much, much sooner than I ever did," she continues. "I spent years isolating myself from those I know, only to do myself more harm than good. I only saw that after..."

She pauses and finally raises her head and I get to see her reddened eyes. "After I met you."

Dawn…

Before I can say anything, she makes to clear her eyes of tears before they can come out, "I'm sorry. I guess I'm a pretty terrible girlfriend, making everything about me when you-"

Before she can finish, I reach out for her and wrap her within my arms. The hug I then give her cuts off her words entirely and - after a moment of hesitation - she returns it.

"You should know by now that this isn't just about one of us," I whisper in her ear as her blue hair caresses the tip of my nose. "We both know neither of us are the most stable of people, but that doesn't mean one's issues have to overshadow the other's."

Dawn doesn't shake or stiffen within my arms. The raising and falling of her chest doesn't feel any faster against mine. So it's a little surprising to hear how shaky her voice is as she says, "I know. Still, every time mine come into play, I always - always - feel like I'm trying to detract from those of others."

A slight chuckle escapes me. "Then we're the same in that regard. There is a reason I try not to bring mine up unnecessarily."

A chuckle escapes her as well. "I guess so..."

We stay wrapped around each other for a while longer, neither of us trying to say or do anything as we take comfort in being so close. Before long, though, our hug loosens, but only enough for us to be able to look in each other's eyes.

Even now, with tears scrolling down her cheeks, she's still beautiful. Her pristine eyes, her short nose, her tiny mouth, all of it is as pristine as always.

Without really thinking, I inch my lips closer to hers, tentatively trying to kiss them. Before I can realize it, she does the same and our mouths meet. At first, they do little more than brush against each other, tasting the other's lips. After a while, though, we both grow more confident and more passion goes into the kiss, our tongues joining into the mix and our arms wrapping around each other's sides and back again.

Before long, our legs give out and we both lay down on the bed, our limbs wrapped around each other tightly while basking in the warm embrace as we keep kissing. As all that goes on, one of my arms starts circling around Dawn's back, her shirt an unwelcome obstacle between us.

As my hand passes between her shoulder blades, I feel something else beneath her shirt. A latch holding two other strings of cloth together. Two pieces of cloth that must be…

I have to interrupt our kiss as I understand just what it is I was touching. Dawn blinks confusedly as I do so, but it doesn't take long before the realization hits her. At the same time, I also feel one of her hands by my waist, close to my butt.

"Uhm…" I murmur. "Should we…?"

As Dawn's head rests on the sheets, a pensive look enters her eyes. On one hand, I would love to have this with her. But on the other, are we rushing things?

"Can we just," she says after a bit, "stay like this for tonight?"

Some small part of my brain feels disappointed by that answer, but the rest of it knows it's for the best. Maybe another day, when we are both ready, we'll take that step. Just not today.

I smile at her and nod, "I would like that." Dawn responds to that by smiling and nodding too.

The rest of the night is spent with the two of us cuddling together. I lose track of time before long, more focused on how good it feels to be so close to Dawn and to feel her warmth next to me. A sensation that accompanies and lulls my mind up until the moment sleep claims me.

Well, this is a day earlier than I'd announced but tomorrow is going to be busy for me so here we are.

I probably was pushing the T rating this time, but hopefully this is still within the limits of it.

Also yes, Mystery Dungeon exists as a movie series. An idea that I literally came up with while I was writing this chapter, but I hope you guys enjoy.

Thank you to Softandhappy, Krosrodes Sushion (aka Bunni) for betareading. You can find us at the Fanfiction Treehouse discord server at: 9XG3U7a

See you all in a couple of weeks!