The sky was turning yellow when Timothy went through the city gate. Small Pokémon were passing by, or digging burrows, or flying as Timothy walked down the path. Timothy's heart was racing as he grew eager to get the picnic over with. He tried to think of new ways to hint that he didn't like Ezria romantically until he heard Coovers' voice through the earpiece.
"Timothy, look to your left. I think I see Ezria," Coovers said.
Timothy turned his head and realized he was close to a tall hill. There was a cherry tree at the top, and next to it was Ezria sitting on a blanket with a picnic basket next to her. She wore a wine red dress with a black waist and right knee-high slit. She watched the sun slowly descend with a small smile on her lips that had lipstick matching her eyes. Timothy sighed and hung his head in dread before he took a deep breath and walked up the hill.
The sound of feet stepping on the grass caught Ezria's attention. Her cheeks turned red as she observed Timothy in the suit and gave him a flirtatious look. She stood up and walked down to meet him.
"My, my. You exceeded my expectations," Ezria said. "You look very dashing, Timothy. I especially love how your tie matches your eyes."
"Thanks," Timothy said. "You, uh, look stunning yourself."
"Oh, tell me the news. Not the history," Ezria said playfully. "On a different note, you're a few minutes early. Eager to start the date?"
Timothy heard Gwen scoff from the earpiece.
"You could say that," he said.
"I'm glad to hear it," Ezria said. "Let's get started then, shall we?"
Timothy nodded, and Ezria took his hand to lead him to the top of the hill. Ezria sat back down on the blanket and smiled at Timothy, and she patted a spot next to her. Timothy sat down next to Ezria just as she opened the picnic basket. She took out two plates, glass cups, two containers; one containing sandwiches, the other full of berries, and a bottle of cider. She put a sandwich and a handful of berries on each plate, then filled both glasses with cider. Ezria handed a glass to Timothy before she raised hers.
"To Galar and the Championship Cup," she said.
Timothy forced a smile and clinked Ezria's drink with his.
"To Galar and the Championship Cup," he said.
They took a sip of their cider before digging into their supper. Timothy quietly ate his sandwich, but he could feel Ezria looking at him with another flirtatious smile as she ate her berries one at a time. Her alluring stare made Timothy uncomfortable, but he forced himself to act like he didn't notice. As he chewed on a berry, he looked around the area looking for a plane or a place where a TV crew could hide, but there was nothing in the sky, and there were no bushes or boulders where someone could hide.
"Strike a conversation," Coovers said through the earpiece.
"Why?" Timothy muttered so Ezria couldn't hear.
"Ezria's expecting a nice time with you, so you should keep her entertained while she still holds the cards," Coovers said.
Timothy quietly scoffed and grumbled incoherent words. Then he took a moment to think of what to say before reluctantly turning to Ezria, who was still eyeing him.
"So, uh, you must be over the moon that you finally get to compete in the Championship Cup," he said.
"That's putting it mildly," Ezria said. "Tell you the truth, Timothy, I would have waited an eternity to get the chance to win the tournament and face Leon."
"I know that feeling," Timothy said. "I still remember anxiously waiting to turn ten, so I could pursue my dream. I still have a long way to go, but even getting started was worth the wait. Have you seen Leon competing in Pokémon Battles?"
"Hundreds of times," Ezria said. "I've been watching him compete in Championship Cups, and World Coronation Series battles whether on TV, on my phone, or, on a rare occasion, getting to see him at Wyndon Stadium."
"And you have a solid plan to beat his Pokémon with yours?" Timothy asked.
"Oh, I've got a few ideas," Ezria boasted. "At least smarter strategies than Raihan, who just tries to beat Leon in a Gigantamax battle with his Duraludon battling against Leon's Charizard. Honestly, you'd think he'd learn that going against a Fire type with a Steel type isn't going to end well."
"Well, typing doesn't always win the day, but I admit I have found it very helpful in Dynamax battles," Timothy said. "Still, we'll have to see if you even get the chance with a pro competing in Pokémon Leagues like me trying to get to Leon too."
"Indeed, we shall," Ezria said.
With nothing else to say, Timothy awkwardly went back to his sandwich. Ezria smirked while still eyeing Timothy, thinking he was trying to be playful. She returned to eating her berries and imagined her and Timothy facing each other in the final round of the Championship Cup. The very idea made her chuckle with her mouth closed and her cheeks turned pink, thinking she and Timothy were battling for the right to challenge Leon to be romantic in a twisted way. As Timothy finished his sandwich, he glanced at Ezria and pursued his lips.
"Guys, I'm open to suggestions for what to say next," he whispered to the microphone.
"Uh, you could talk about the weather or how good the food is," Coovers said.
"Seriously? Coovers? That's all you can come up with?" Gwen rebuked.
"Raichu," Electchu agreed.
"Teddi," Winnie said.
"Well, I don't hear you coming up with something better," Coovers said.
Timothy groaned, feeling more unsettled while silently sitting next to Ezria while she checked him out as she ate. Then he heard someone snapping their fingers through the earpiece.
"I got it," Gwen said. "Try finding out more about her relationship with the chairman. Maybe there's something you can use to get her to defect."
"Perfect. Thanks," Timothy whispered.
He took a moment to think of how to approach the subject before he turned his head to Ezria with another fake smile.
"Ezria, do you mind if I ask you something personal?" He asked.
Ezria's smile stretched from ear to ear, and she said. "Not at all. Please, ask away."
"What is it you admire the most about Rose?" Timothy asked.
Ezria's smile faded, taken aback by the question. Then her smirk returned, and she looked up at the sky.
"Lots of things, really," she said. "Like how he's very generous. Not only has he always been there to support Venarge and me, but he gives so much to the people and Pokémon of Galar. He provides electricity to power our homes, built a Pokémon League for our region, and never fails to greet every soul he meets with a smile. Not to mention he's very charismatic in his own way."
Timothy kept his fake smile, but on the inside, he felt uneasy again. Ezria had a point, given how Chairman Rose treated the group to dinner, and arranged to have a suit made for him.
"But I also admire men with big goals," Ezria continued. "Goals far beyond the ideas of mastering certain Pokémon types or certain occupations. I also value the sincerity in men who do what's right for the greater good."
Ezria scooted closer to Timothy until their hips were only centimeters apart, giving him a heartfelt smile.
"That's what I especially admire about you too, Timothy," she said. "You dream big, and you stand up for people who get bullied like Ned or everyone Team Rocket wanted to rule over. As men go, you are exceptionally rare. No, you are one of a kind."
"Thanks," Timothy said hesitantly.
Ezria's smile grew, and she placed her hand on top of Timothy's. Timothy immediately retracted his hand and hurried back to return to his dinner. Ezria pouted in disappointment but decided to let it be, thinking Timothy was being shy, and went back to her meal.
By the time they finished eating, the sun was halfway down, and the clouds were a mixture of yellow, orange, blue, and purple. The sight made Ezria smile again, and even Timothy couldn't deny it was a sight to behold. The raspberry-haired woman scooted closer to Timothy again, blushing with a smile that made Timothy uncomfortable.
"Let's watch the sunset together," Ezria said.
Timothy bit his tongue to stop himself from saying no. He would rather tell Ezria she was sitting too close to him and remind her that he only saw her as a friend. More than anything, however, Timothy wished he could watch the sunset together with Gwen. The simple idea of watching a sunset with someone special had never crossed his mind before, yet he felt trapped in doing it with someone else. He mentally prayed this was the last thing Ezria would do and nodded begrudgingly.
Ezria's smile brightened, and she put her hand on top of Timothy's again. Then she scooted closer and rested her head on Timothy's shoulder with her cheeks pink. Timothy grabbed a handful of grass with his free hand to keep his cool. Every minute felt like an hour as he waited for the sun to set. He could only imagine how Gwen acted while watching everything on the camera with Coovers and the Pokémon.
Finally, the sun disappeared under the horizon, and the sky grew utterly dark. Ezria sighed and squeezed Timothy's hand before she lifted her head to look at Timothy sweetly.
"Thank you," she said.
"My pleasure," Timothy lied.
Timothy helped Ezria put the plates, glasses, containers, and blanket in the picnic basket. When they finished, Ezria wrapped her arm around Timothy's and led him up the path back to Hammerlocke while he held the basket. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Timothy cleared his throat.
"So… does this mean it's time?" He asked.
Ezria turned to Timothy with another smile and said, "Almost. I left my Pokémon at the Pokémon Center, and I'll need to pick them up. If you have your Pokémon there too, I suggest you do the same, excluding Electchu unless it's in its Pokéball."
"Why?" Timothy asked.
"Because what I have to show you is something Knightblade knows about too. And I'm positive it'll want to be there with Doublade."
Timothy's heart sank at the mention of Knightblade. At that moment, he realized he had spent so much time during the Gym Challenge growing close with his new Pokémon that he didn't consider that it might have already known about Chairman Rose's operation. Undoubtedly, it would support the idea of recruiting Timothy to the chairman's cause. Timothy began to feel the pressure of what was to come as it was clear he not only had to convince Ezria to defect but his own Poéemon.
"S-sounds good," Timothy stuttered. "Electchu's with the others, but my other Pokémon are also with Nurse Joy. So, what are we waiting for?"
Ezria's smile grew again, and they walked to the Pokémon Center. They collected their Pokéballs from Nurse Joy, with Timothy giving Knightblade's Pokéball an uneasy look before putting it in his pocket. Timothy and Ezria exited the Pokémon Center with Ezria's arm around Timothy's again and took a turn around the corner to Hammerlocke Stadium. As they went inside, Timothy heard Coovers breathing heavily in anticipation and Gwen praying through the earpiece.
"Please, please, please, please, please."
Timothy imagined Gwen holding Winnie tight and Electchu standing next to her and patting her side as they watched the footage from the tiny camera. He wanted to say something to assure her that he would complete the mission for her. Ezria led Timothy halfway through the lobby before she stopped in front of a metal door on the right. She placed her hand on the panel next to the door, and it scanned her hand. The metal door slid open, revealing an elevator, and Timothy and Ezria went inside. As Ezria pressed a red button and the elevator went down, Timothy's heart raced, growing anxious to be inside the underground facility finally.
The elevator door opened to reveal a metal hallway. Ezria led Timothy to a tall, rectangular metal door at the end of the hall on the left side. She turned to Timothy and took out a Pokéball with a smirk. He mentally sighed before he took out a Pokéball, and they opened the balls to reveal Doublade and Knightblade. The siblings released calls of excitement, immediately figuring out what they were doing in front of the large metal door. Timothy's unease grew as he watched Doublade and Knightblade until Ezria stepped in front of him.
"Before we go in, I want to make clear that what I'm about to show you is top secret," she said. "You can't tell your friends about this place and what it's for. As an employee of Marco Cosmos entrusted with this project, I am legally obligated to warn you that there will be severe legal consequences if you utter a word of this to anyone. Understand?"
"Heh. Joke's on you, Ezria. The International Police is going to hear everything from your mouth," Coovers said.
Timothy heard Gwen chuckling from the earpiece, and the edge of his mouth curled up for a brief moment.
"I swear not to say a word," he said.
Ezria smiled and nodded before she pressed a button on the door panel. The large door slowly rose to reveal a massive hanger. Piles of black minerals and giant light bulbs covered the area, and at the center was a platform where a core stood six stories tall. As Timothy, Ezria, Knightblade, and Doublade went in, Coovers laughed so loud that Timothy needed to take off his earpiece for a moment.
"Yes! Yes!" Coovers shouted in joy. "This is it! Ladies and gentlemen, we're in business!"
Timothy imagined Gwen struggling to keep her emotions in check with her hands covering her mouth as she watched him enter the facility. He followed Ezria, Doublade, and Knightblade until they were only several feet away from the core. Ezria turned to Timothy and quickly looked up at the core, pretending to be confused.
"What is this place?" He asked.
"This is the Energy Plant. It's the main facility for powering towns and cities all throughout Galar," Ezria said before pointing at the core. "And this is the key to Galar's future."
"What do you mean?" Timothy asked.
Ezria pointed at the minerals surrounding the platform and said, "What you see around you are the natural resources Macro Cosmos collect to provide power. Since before we were born, people and Pokémon mined to create electricity. Uncle Rose built his company to become the ultimate corporation to mine and give power to everyone in the region."
"Okay, so what makes this thing Galar's future?" Timothy asked, pointing at the core.
Ezria's smile faded, and said, "The thing is, we won't have these minerals to power our homes forever. Uncle Rose has speculated that all of our natural resources will be depleted in a thousand years, leaving the Galar region without power. As such, he looked for a solution and eventually discovered the power of Galar Particles to be the perfect energy source. The only thing is he needed a way to provide unlimited Galar Particles."
Ezria's smile returned, and she took Timothy's hand as she pointed at the core again.
"And then the miracle happened," she said. "With the best minds in Macro Cosmos, Uncle Rose found something that would make his dream come true."
"What's that?" Timothy asked.
"An ancient Pokémon that possesses unlimited energy," Ezria said. "In the past, it was called The Darkest Day, but out of deep and abiding reverence, Uncle Rose called it Eternatus. He created a team of scientists and researchers to find Eternatus so it could be captured and contained in this core."
Timothy wanted to rebuke Ezria for intentionally leaving out that Gwen lost her mom when the chairman's people caught Eternatus. He took a moment to keep his cool before acting surprised.
"Wait a minute. Are you telling me there's a Pokémon inside that core?" He asked.
"That's right," Ezria said proudly. "For the past few months, Uncle Rose's people have been developing the technology to extract Galar Particles from Eternatus safely. Very soon, they will begin the operation, and Galar will be safe from facing an energy crisis forever."
"Aegislash!" Knightblade cheered.
"Doublade!" Doublade exclaimed.
Timothy's heart ached from seeing Knightblade cheering for Chairman Rose's cause. Ezria waited for Timothy to say something, but all he could think of was to keep smiling.
"Timothy, ask her why the secrecy regarding Eternatus," Coovers said through the earpiece. "Get her to admit the major flaw in their operation."
Timothy took a moment to think and said, "That sounds wonderful, Ezria, but why the secrecy? If Eternatus is so vital to Galar's future, why not let everyone know how they will forever have energy thanks to Rose?"
Ezria chuckled with her mouth closed and said, "I like where your head's at, Timothy, but there is a slight complication. You see, while we have Eternatus securely confined, its incredible energy has proven… difficult to contain. Eternatus has tried to break free once or twice, leading some Galar Particles to escape and causing a Pokémon or two to Dynamax outside of a Power Spot. Uncle Rose wouldn't want me to admit this, but that may be why the wild Drednaw and your friend's Pikachu were able to Gigantamax outside Wyndon Stadium."
"What?!" Timothy shouted, pretending to be shocked. "You mean to tell me those citizens were in danger because of this?"
"That's one way to look at it, yes," Ezria said. "Fortunately, Uncle Rose knew this would happen while things were still in development, so he came up with a plan."
"Which is?" Timothy asked.
"You may have noticed Uncle Rose likes skilled trainers like us," Ezria said. "And the reason why is he wants to help trainers advance so they will be powerful enough to defeat any Pokémon Eternatus causes to Dynamax and go on a rampage. Uncle Rose has mentored Leon since he was a boy, preparing him to defend our home. He even expects Leon to capture Eternatus should it escape so he can learn how to tame it. Even so, there's a possibility Leon wouldn't be enough, and that's why Uncle Rose needed more trainers to help advance. Trainers who are as strong if not stronger than Leon."
"Meaning you and Venarge?" Timothy asked.
"Exactly," Ezria said. "While our parents never wanted us to be trainers, Uncle Rose knew we had the potential to be much more than just employees of a power plant we were going to inherit. So, he created two positions in Macro Cosmos for Venarge and me to fill. Paid jobs allowing us to train hard with our Pokémon until we were ready to compete in the Gym Challenge and World Coronation Series to grow stronger to the point that we were ready and able to fight any Pokémon Eternatus causes to Dynamax for Uncle Rose."
"And how long does Rose expect to need you to fight rampaging Pokémon all over the region?" Timothy asked.
"As long as it takes to control Eternatus permanently," Ezria said. "If it escapes this facility and Leon fails to capture it, it'll be up to us to catch it with a Pokéball and get it to submit to Uncle Rose's wishes."
"Are there others Rose has recruited to do this?" Timothy asked.
Ezria looked away bashfully while still holding Timothy's hand, and Knightblade and Doublade looked at each other with excitement. The raspberry-haired woman played with her hair, and her cheeks turned red as she turned her head back to Timothy.
"Well, that's the other reason I wanted to bring you here," Ezria said. "You see, when we were about to pass by Hammerlocke on our way to Circhester, I talked with Uncle Rose. We agreed that after you and I won all of our Gym Badges, I will show you this place and ask you something very important."
Ezria took a step closer to Timothy and stared deep into his eyes, looking as though she was going to ask him to marry her.
"Timothy, I - we would like you to stay here in Galar," she said. "We want you to be a part of the Macro Cosmos family and battle Dynamax Pokémon with Leon, Venarge, and me. Save the future of our beloved region together."
Nothing could be heard except the humming coming from the giant lightbulbs. Knightblade and Doublade were huddled together in the air, waiting for Timothy to answer. Timothy stood silent until he heard Coovers' voice from the earpiece.
"We have everything we need to nab the Chairman, Timothy. If you're going to try to convince Ezria to change sides, now's the time," he said.
Timothy furrowed his brow as he prepared to finally speak honestly with the chairman's minion. Ezria's smile slowly faded as Timothy took a step away from her with a sad look.
"I'm sorry, Ezria, but I'm not okay with this," Timothy said.
Ezria's eyes widened, and she let go of Timothy's hand.
"Y-you mean you won't battle to protect the Galar?" She asked.
"No, I mean, I'm not okay with what Rose is doing," Timothy said. "You're talking about constantly risking lives while trying to absorb energy from a Pokémon."
"I know how it sounds, but for the greater good, sacrifices must be made. You know that better than anyone," Ezria said. "You led trainers and Pokémon to risk their lives to save the entire world."
"That's different," Timothy said. "Everyone was in danger of a force of evil that could destroy everyone's way of life and didn't care about anyone but themselves whether we fought them or not. You're claiming to help people and Pokémon in your region, yet you're willing to risk their homes and their lives while trying to contain a Pokémon that may be too powerful for anyone to control."
"And lives will be ruined in the future if we don't fix the situation," Ezria said. "Besides, if Eternatus causes any Pokémon to Dynamax and go on a rampage, we'll be there to stop them. Venarge and I grew strong together with our Pokémon to prepare for this. Leon won't be Champion anymore when you or I beat him at the Championship Cup, but he's still a trainer of great skill, and he won't hesitate to protect Galar to the end. And you? You are the best out of all of us. You've won Pokémon Leagues, beaten a Champion, and saved the world from Team Rocket when it looked like nothing in the universe could stop them with Arceus in their hands. In over a month, you've battled more Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon on the battlefield and in the Wild Area than others will ever do in their lifetimes. Together, we will stop the rampaging Pokémon before they can create a dent on a road or break a lamppost, and you can instantly catch Eternatus with the Master Ball if it escapes. Don't you want that, Timothy? To be there to prove everything will be alright? To help people and Pokémon smile and continue pursuing their dreams, knowing that everything is okay because you're there for them? To be a hero of Galar?"
Timothy's frown deepened as Ezria wasn't listening to him. He looked past her to see Knightblade watching in anticipation, expecting Timothy to say yes. Timothy's heart sank, and his fear for his new Pokemon grew. He tried to think of a way to shut down Ezria's argument, but deep down, he felt there was nothing he could do to divert Ezria, Knightblade, and Doublade from their misguided views.
Then his mind went to the night he told Gwen the truth about the Gieldenstone and how Team Rocket obtained it. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he had something that may yet reach out to Ezria. She would likely think less of him if he told her this, but he was willing to take the risk. Timothy looked down, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before he looked back up at Ezria with a severe look.
"Ezria, there's something you should know," he began. "I did turn the tide against Team Rocket by capturing Arceus, but I'm also responsible for giving them the chance to capture it in the first place."
Knightblade and Doublade looked at each other befuddled, and Ezria tilted her head and looked at Timothy as though he was speaking in a different language.
"What are you talking about?" Ezria asked.
Timothy took a moment to prepare himself before he let it out.
"It was a couple of months or so before Team Rocket brainwashed all of the Psychic type Pokémon. I was participating in this thing called the Battle Frontier in the Kanto region with Electchu, and Coovers was traveling with us. We were traveling throughout the region for me to challenge seven skilled trainers called Frontier Brains. When I got to the final Frontier Brain, Brandon, I found him investigating ancient ruins, where he found the hiding place of the Gieldanstone: a powerful jewel that made Arceus bend to the will of anyone who holds it. In ancient times, an emperor used Arceus to conquer his enemies, but in the end, he was destroyed by that same power, and the Gieldanstone was made hidden to keep anyone from using it. Coovers and I convinced Brandon that we should find the stone and bring it to the authorities, where it could be better protected through modern technology. We found the Gieldenstone, but when we came out of the tomb, Team Rocket was there to take the stone and use it to control Arceus. They were stopped at the last minute, but then Brandon changed his mind and said he should take the Gieldanstone to the archeologist community instead of the police. He blamed Coovers and me for Team Rocket almost getting the stone. Eventually, Brandon challenged me to a battle to determine who would get the stone. He wanted to use my arrogance against me, but I used his plan against him and won the battle so the International Police could keep the stone. After that, I focused on getting ready to participate in the Indigo League, but Team Rocket found out where the Gieldanstone went and stole it from the International Police. While I was competing, Giovanni summoned Arceus with the stone and put it in a machine used to control Pokémon through Arceus. I had no idea this happened until Giovanni appeared in Indigo Plateau, revealing that he had the Gieldanstone and he was using Arceus to brainwash all Psychic type Pokémon. All I could do was watch as Shockwave came out of its Pokéball and followed Giovanni."
Ezria stared at Timothy, skeptical of his story that did not add to her idolized view of him. Timothy sighed again and moved closer to Ezria with a pleading look.
"The point is by letting the Gieldanstone still exist, Brandon, Coovers, me, and the people from ancient times allowed people like Team Rocket to still have the chance to use it, thus Arceus, to rise in power, nearly dooming everyone," Timothy said. "Sure, everything worked out for the better in the end. Team Rocket was taken down, Giovanni's gone, and the Gieldanstone was destroyed during the fight, but we - I still left the entire world's fate to chance. I may as well have just hidden a detonator to a bomb that could destroy a city rather than disarm it so the bomb can't go off, and it was partly because I wanted to humiliate Brandon. I want to believe that Rose is doing the right thing, but it's clear there's no guarantee that he will ever be able to control Eternatus. By keeping it here, you are inviting nothing but loss for the very people and Pokémon you want to be happy."
Once more, nothing but the sound of the light bulbs humming could be heard. Knightblade's proud posture softened as it listened to Timothy. Here its trainer was humble and guilt-ridden just as he appeared at Stow-on-Side after his first battle with Bea. The Royal Sword Pokémon has witnessed Ezria losing battles, failing to catch a Pokémon, or teaching one of her Pokémon a move. Still, she always disregarded her failings, seeing them as setbacks at best, and otherwise acted as though they never happened. That neither she nor her Pokémon were at risk of her failing to complete her goals of protecting Galar and becoming the new Champion. And yet, Knightblade's new trainer admitted defeats, his shortcomings with his Pokémon, and confessed how his choices risked the fate of the world when he was painted to be a majestic hero. Knightblade began to wonder if things were not as black and white as it thought, though no one could notice with only one eye to express its emotions.
After several seconds, Ezria smiled like a parent, amused that their child tried to act grown up.
"Timothy, let me tell you a story," she said. "When Uncle Rose was little, his father worked down in a mine. He worked night and day digging in the ground to provide for Uncle Rose, his Pokémon partner, Copperajah, a Cufant at the time, his mother, and his brother, as devoted as a family man as anyone can be. One day, it was raining, and there was an accident. Uncle Rose's father was in the mine, and he never returned. It was devastating for Uncle Rose to lose his father at such a young age. From then on, Uncle Rose worked hard to better the lives of those who provide energy for the Galar region, but that will only mean so much without Eternatus. You need to understand that even today, there is a risk of people going through what happened to Uncle Rose. When we contain Eternatus, no one will again feel the pain of loss. It's an uphill battle, but that's why we need you."
"Aegislash," Knightblade agreed.
"Doublade," Doublade said.
Timothy sighed through his nose, accepting his efforts were in vain. After another moment of silence, Ezria stepped closer to Timothy and took his hands, staring intensely into his green eyes. She wasn't being bashful or looking at Timothy flirtatiously. No, Ezria was giving him an honest look.
"Timothy, there's another reason why I want you to join us," she said. "The truth is...I love you. I know you look at me as a friend, but I've loved you since I saw you on the battlefield at Turrfield. Every moment I spend with you is a treasure beyond words. You are an amazing person: strong, caring, devoted, loyal, and honest. I never thought I'd find someone so special that I would want to be with them forever, but now that I have, I don't ever want us to be apart. You're the only one for me, Timothy. The only one who understands how it feels to truly be on top, but also values the bigger picture. To keep people and Pokémon happy. Above all, you look at me not as a prize but as a person, and you care for me and respect me as one. I know this is upfront, but I truly believe we are meant to be together. If you stay here in Galar, you will see how we complete each other and how much you are needed here. I also know you have your dream, but there is no need for you to worry about that anymore. You have already proven you're the best. You've saved the entire world. That's something far beyond what any Elite Four member or Champion has ever done or will ever do. Now, it is your destiny to protect the future here. Forget your dream. Focus on where you are needed and loved the most. Focus on Galar. On me. Please."
Timothy closed his fists to keep himself from acting awkward or angry toward Ezria. Her talks of honesty made him feel more guilty for manipulating her. At the same time, Timothy also wanted to rebuke Ezria for using the chairman's loss as an excuse for risking countless lives and for telling him to abandon his dream for the chairman's operation and for her, even going so far as confessing her love as a means to lure Timothy to her side. Timothy wanted to tell Ezria straight out that he was using her to stop Chairman Rose, he would never return her feelings, and he wanted to be with Gwen, but he knew this wasn't the time to tell the truth, and Gwen was listening. Timothy took another deep breath to collect himself and raised his and Ezria's hands to their chests.
"Ezria, I'm going to do everything in my power to keep the people and Pokémon in the Galar region safe, and I won't leave until they are," he said. "Even if my way of doing it will break someone's heart, I will protect this region even if I have to do it alone."
"You promise?" Ezria asked.
"My word is my bond," Timothy replied.
The two of them were silent again. Timothy grew uneasy as Ezria simply gazed at him, unsure if she believed him or not. Knightblade and Doublade were squealing in delight as though Timothy had returned Ezria's feelings. Finally, Ezria smiled from ear to ear with a loving look in her eyes, and she let go of one of Timothy's hands to put her hand on his cheek.
"That makes me happy, Timothy, but there's one problem with your promise," Ezria said.
"What's that?" Timothy asked.
In one quick motion, Ezria yanked Timothy's other hand, pulled him toward her, and smashed her lips together with his. Timothy's eyes widened, and he froze in shock. Ezria moaned in pleasure as she caressed Timothy's cheek and moved her mouth against his. Knightblade and Doublade huddled together again, fighting the urge to scream in joy. When Ezria pulled her head back, Timothy was still frozen, and she smiled, interpreting it as the shock of being kissed by someone he adored. She pulled Timothy into a hug and squeezed him while resting her head on his shoulder with her eyes closed.
"You won't ever have to worry about protecting Galar alone. I'll be by your side till the very end. That is my promise to you," she said.
Timothy snapped out of his shock and awkwardly hugged Ezria back. He glanced at Knightblade, who watched with joy in its golden eye. Timothy's heart grew heavy again, feeling he had failed his Pokémon and his friend. He hoped that, though Knightblade would be devastated when Ezria was arrested and heaven knows what would happen to its brother, it would understand in time. After a minute, Ezria broke the hug and gave Timothy another heartfelt smile.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a little tired," she said. "Walk me to our room?"
"Sure," Timothy said.