As suddenly as it had begun, 10 years had passed. Danica accepted and fulfilled several dozen Pokéstar Studios contracts. And with Sterling's help, she'd practically become a household name. She and her Pokémon not only became famous across Hoenn, but she also had become quite wealthy off the profits of her movies. She had even bought a house just a few miles away from the studio so she and her Pokémon could live away from fans and press as well as enjoy each other's company as they prepared for their roles. One bright and sunny day, Danica was sitting in her bedroom and looking over a script that they had just received from Sterling. Blaziken then walked into the room, drawing her attention away from the script.
"Hey Blaziken." Danica smiled.
"Hey..." Blaziken replied with a tired smile.
"How's everyone doing?" she asked.
"Well let's see. Linoone and Tropius are sparing together in the back, Bellossom and Castform are still on set helping get ready for tomorrow, and Gardvoir is…well you know…"
"Chasing you?"
"Yeah." He sighed. "You mind if I hang here for a bit? Gardevoir wants to constantly go over our scene together...no matter how many times I tell her I'm just doing my job...she just doesn't want to listen...I just need some quiet."
"Of course you can." She nodded.
"Thanks." He said, leaning against the window and looking outside quietly. "I just wish I didn't have to do this scene...if I go through with it and kiss her she'll expect me to marry her or something ridiculous like that..."
"That's certainly crossed my mind too." She admitted.
"Honestly, I really just need a break from all of it. So if it's all the same to you, I don't really want to talk about it much. Sorry."
"That's alright. Don't worry about it. I totally understand."
"So anyway, how are your scenes going? I know you were nervous about your kissing scene too." He commented, trying to move the topic.
"Yeah...I never had my first kiss...and to be honest, I've been avoiding romance stories for that exact reason…"
"Is there a specific reason?" he asked.
"Well…I guess it's kinda a mix of things…for one thing since I've never kissed anyone, I don't know really how to give a good one…and am I really comfortable kissing a total stranger and pretending to be in love with him?" she explained.
"I can understand the fear." He nodded.
"I'm not sure I even really know what it's like to be in love." She admitted. An awkward silence passed between them before Blaziken finally spoke up.
"I can't say I know what it's like for a human to fall in love…but I know what it's like for a Pokémon to fall in love." He said, sitting beside her on the bed. "When a Pokémon falls in love with another Pokémon, he feels a bond to her. All in an instant she has become everything to him. The only thing that truly matters. Her needs, her happiness, her safety, her love. Those things become the most important. And once they become committed to only one another…there's nothing that can separate them… The commitment to a Pokémon's mate is one for life. It's a simple, almost primal love that even Legendary Pokémon can't ignore. To spend every day just waking up and realizing how happy you are to be together…that's the goal of every Pokémon." another silence began to descend over them, their eyes locked on each other as neither one seemed to notice the silence. It was almost like both were in a trance, just by looking into their eyes.
"Wow…" Danica said, barely even noticing the word had left her mouth. However, when it did, Blaziken snapped out of the moment and moved ever so slightly away from her.
"So yeah…I don't know if that helps at all but I suppose it's better than nothing." He said, looking around the room intentionally.
"It does…thank you Blaziken." She nodded.
"Anyway, any other concerns?" he asked, giving a soft chuckle.
"Actually now that you mention it, Sterling has been acting really weird lately…" she continued.
"Lately?"
"I know I know. But it's a different weird." She clarified. "He's been much more…I guess the best word would be clingy."
"You do make him plenty of money," Blaziken commented.
"Sure. But I think it's something else." She explained.
"Well then…maybe you should just ask. You two have worked together for too long to not talk about these kinds of things." He replied. Danica thought for a minute before nodding at him in agreement.
"You're right. Thanks, Blaziken." She gave him a weak smile and the two shared a nice hug. They stayed in each other's arms for a minute or two until Gardevoir suddenly floated up to the window using Psychic.
"Oh Blaziken darling!" she exclaimed happily.
"Ah, geeze..." Blaziken winced.
"We need to practice our scene! I have some ideas on how to make it even better!"
"Gotta go. See you on set." Blaziken told Danica before running off with Quick Attack.
"Blaziken! Wait for me!" Gardevoir called, beginning to fly after him.
"Gardevoir hold on!" Danica called before running over to her window and opening it up.
"Yes?" Gardevoir asked, almost innocently.
"Maybe you could give him a break for a while. I'm sure you're both more than ready for that scene today." She offered.
"But Danica! This is the biggest step in our relationship ever! Our first kiss!" Gardevoir insisted.
"Gardevoir you guys don't have a relationship. He's made that pretty clear."
"But this scene will change all of that! The best way to tell how someone feels about you is through the first kiss! So when we kiss he'll finally know just how I feel!" she explained.
"I…really don't think any of us need further examples of how you feel." Danica muttered.
"What do you mean?" Gardevoir asked, tilting her head in curiosity and genuinely confused.
"Never mind." Danica quickly replied. "Just please consider giving him a break until filming today ok?" Gardevoir hovered by the window for a moment as she considered Danica's words. For a moment Danica actually thought that she might've gotten through to her Psychic-type. But then Gardevoir lifted her head and smiled at Danica and she knew that the moment of consideration was over.
"No that's ok! We really need to practice! Bye-bye!" she exclaimed, quickly flying off after Blaziken.
"Bye…" Danica replied quietly as she watched her go. The silence and talk with Blaziken before seemed to still weigh on her some as she closed her window and returned to her bed. "Come to think of it…Blaziken has been acting weird too…" she commented to herself. She thought for another moment or two before deciding she needed to focus and got back to reading over her script. Later that day at the set, Danica is watching as Blaziken and Gardevoir get into position for their big scene as Danica and Sterling stood off to the side to watch. Before Danica could even try to get his attention to ask what had been going on lately, Sterling turned to her.
"Hey, Danica?" Sterling asked.
"Yes?"
"I had a question for you if you don't mind. It's kinda personal."
"You can ask me anything Sterling."
"Well…I was wondering if you'd like to go out to dinner with me tonight." He offered. Danica's eyes widened in shock as their conversation drew the Pokémon's attention.
"L-Like…like a date?" Danica stammered.
"Exactly. We've done so much together as business partners. And that's been great. But I want to take things to the next level. I want to start going out with you." He explained. Danica blushed profusely and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Well, gee um…I'm flattered Sterling really…but I…I've never been on a date before and…I-I don' know…maybe I could have some time to think about it?" she replied, trying to find the right way to respond.
"Of course of course." He nodded, planting a kiss on the back of her hand. "Just let me know after we're done shooting for today ok?"
"Ok…thank you." She answered. She looked back at her Pokémon just as they turned away to do their scene. But in that brief moment, she thought she had seen Blaziken shoot Sterling a look, one that she couldn't quite pinpoint.
"Ok, everyone! Quiet on the set!" Sterling announced as everyone lowered their voices and got into their positions. "Are you two ready?"
"Defiantly!" Gardevoir cheered.
"Yeah…" Blaziken sighed.
"And action!" Sterling yelled. The cameras began rolling and Gardevoir gently took Blaziken's talons in her hands and looked deep into his eyes.
"You've been acting so strange around me lately." She told him, remembering her lines perfectly. "Please tell me why."
"I can't…" Blaziken responded. "I would never put you in that position. I could never hurt you that way."
"What position?"
"Your family would never approve. No one would. How can I risk stripping you of everything you love? All because of my own stupid dream."
"After all this time we've spent together, you should know me better than that. You've never been afraid to tell me your secrets before. So what could be so terrifying that it could make you fear me now?"
"…A feeling. One that could ruin everything between us. And if I were to lose you over it…" Blaziken looked away from her on cue and Gardevoir gasped as if she just realized what he was implying.
"Are you…?" she whispered.
"I am…" he answered.
"Why have you been hiding this from me...?" she asked softly.
"How could I tell my best friend I've fallen in love with her...? That I've been in love with her since we met...?" he answered, tightening his grip on her hands just slightly.
"How do you tell me? That's the easy part. You do it just like this..." she replied as she leaned in for the kiss. Blaziken started to lean in as well, but he stopped before their lips connected and pulled away. Danica and Sterling watched in surprise as Gardevoir looked at him in confusion.
"...I can't." Blaziken whispered before suddenly running off.
"Huh?!" Gardevoir gasped.
"What's going on?!" Sterling demanded.
"Blaziken!" Danica called before running off after him.
"Danica hold on!" Sterling yelled, but she ignored him as she followed him outside the studio and off the lot. She eventually found Blaziken, who was standing near a tree, looking up at the sky quietly. Danica slowly approached him, the sound of her footsteps on grass echoing loudly in the silence. Blaziken turned around and looked at her with an almost sad expression on his face.
"Danica...?" he whispered.
"Blaziken...please tell me what's going on…" she begged.
"...I'm sorry...I know you and Sterling were counting on me…but I…I can't let my first kiss be with someone I don't love..." he explained, looking away from her.
"Blaziken…I can understand that…but…is there someone that you're in love with?" she asked cautiously.
"…Yes…" he admitted. "But I can't have her…" In that moment, Danica's eyes widened in complete shock as she realized who he was talking about.
"You…you wanted it to be me instead of Gardevoir...didn't you…?" she realized. Blaziken quickly turned around and looked at her in shock.
"W-What...?" he stuttered. "You...you know that I...?"
"I do now…" she nodded. Blaziken looked away from her, almost like he was ashamed. "You're in love with me…?"
"…Yes…I am." A very long silence passes between them, both seemingly digesting this revelation. Finally, it was Blaziken who spoke next. "...So now you know...I'm sorry..."
"Why are you sorry...?" Danica asked in surprise.
"For ruining our friendship...the one thing I fear more than you finding your true love..." he explained.
"Blaziken...our friendship isn't ruined…I really don't mind you being in love with me..." she offered quietly.
"Maybe you don't right now...but what about when you fall in love with someone? Knowing how I feel...it'll only drive us further and further apart..." he countered.
"Blaziken..." Danica looked at him sadly and took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm in love with you too..." Blaziken's eyes widened as he looked at her in shock.
"What...?" he gasped.
"I'm in love with you too..." she repeated.
"You...are...?" Blaziken asked almost breathlessly. Danica nodded as she blushed profusely. "H-How long have you...?"
"I guess since you saved me from the debris 10 years ago...I always felt closer to you than anyone I've ever met…I always thought it was just because you are my partner…but lately I've wondered if it was something more…and after hearing how you feel…it just all seems so clear. The kind of love you were talking about back at the house…that's what I feel for you." She explained.
"W-What about Sterling…? I heard what he said to you before the scene." he asked.
"Sterling will always be a great friend to me. And I'll always appreciate everything he's done to get me to where I am now. But that's not love…what I feel for you…that is love." She continued. Blaziken slowly approached her and gently held her hands in his talons.
"Danica...ever since you picked me as your starter Pokémon...I knew I'd never meet another person like you...I fell in love with you that day and I promised myself that I'd never let anyone hurt you...including me...I'm not a fool…I know that people and Pokémon being together in this way is still not something that would go over well with most people…and I know how much your career means to you…to all of our friends…and I'd never forgive myself if you lost it all because of me…I love you with my whole heart...and whatever it is you want...even if it means we both have to ignore these feelings...I'll make it my life's work to make sure it happens...it's up to you..." he promised her.
"Blaziken…" Danica whispered as she looked into his eyes for a moment. She then slowly leaned her head in towards him, causing their lips to meet. Both of them blushed very hard when their lips first connected, the tension of the first kiss worrying them both. But as the kiss continued, they both began to relax. Blaziken held her close as he poured years and years of his hidden love into the kiss, trying to show her just how deep his love for her is. Danica softly moaned into his mouth, letting him know that she understands. Blaziken moaned back at her, holding onto her as if he was afraid she'd disappear and Danica reciprocated by wrapping her arms around his neck. A powerful and primal heat began to form between them as they continued to kiss and all of a sudden Danica felt a bulge poking at her hips, causing her to gasp softly and pull away from the kiss to look. Blaziken pulled away from her body quickly and blushed bright red in surprise.
"I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to-" Danica stopped him by placing a finger on his lips and seductively shushed him. Blaziken blushed hard as his gaze returned to her eyes.
"Let's deal with this fella in my room." She said with an almost sly grin. Blaziken stared at her for another minute, making sure he heard her right before giving a slow nod.
"A-As you wish..." he agreed. He picked her up bridal style in his arms and used his Quick Attack to get them home in less than a minute.
To be Continued...