"You have to take me."

Dawn closed her eye for just a moment to keep them from at the dramatic tone Cordelia seemed to take on tonight. Not that her daughter would close her mouth long enough to notice. She felt much calmer as she opened them again, taking in every other word of her incessant begging as she put on last minute touch ups for her performance.

"It'll be fun! I'll be good, I promise. No need to worry."

'That's when I worry most.'

The thought echoed in her head like a forgotten memory. She could still see her mother, hear her teasing tone and could now understand where she was coming from. Which reminded her …

"I'm sure that's true," she started, hoping a little give would allow for a change in the topic, "and perhaps I'll give it some thought to it as we head into Twinleaf Town. Your grandmother's been missing you."

At 9 years old, Cordelia was a particularly stubborn girl. Still too young to register as a pokemon trainer or coordinator, she still held a fascination for them and took every opportunity she could to be involved. This trip seemed to be one Dawn couldn't talk her errant child out of.

It was barely a week ago when she'd received the invitation. She'd been traveling through Jubilife City while headed home, wanting to see the last competition before the Grand Festival occurred. She'd heard rumors that the event of the century was occurring but ignored it wanting to rest for the next few month's, taking a break from coordinating to focus on her fashion line. She'd long since stopped competing but, like her mother, she went into teaching, as well as guest judging for unofficial Pokemon Contests.

When she woke that morning, it was to the voices of Cordy and Cynthia, who was still Champion of Sinnoh region - one of the longest holders of such a title in history. This wasn't an unusual occurrence as Cynthia had become a very close friend and was named Cordelia's godmother. What was unusual, however, was the level of excitement so early in the morning, which made her pay closer attention - Cordy was much more difficult to wake than Dawn ever was.

On her way to say her greetings, Dawn caught sight of the invite, torn with haste, offering her a chance to compete with the chosen select. A trainor along side a coordinator, competing to take on the champion of their choice from any participating region in a tag team match of both coordination and brute force. Such a competition was held once every 50 years for those with the greatest experience beneath their belts. It's been known to bring many elite competitors out of retirement to battle once more.

Dawn understood quickly what caused her little girl's excitement and she wished she had followed through when she told the young girl she did not want to join in, but she tended she had a difficult time saying no.

"Cordelia."

Dawn sighed, eyes tracking her child through the mirror once she had stopped speaking. Not that she would stop for long… She hadn't stopped in weeks.

"I'm going to be so very busy if i become a part of this, having to restart a training regimen and coordinate performances and you're still too young to be on your own. Your grandmother decided not to compete and she said she'll bring you up there when the semi-finals are scheduled to begin. You won't miss anything. Promise."

Cordelia pouted. Dawn could feel the heavy stare as she put on last minute touches before they left for the show.

"But…"

"No."

"B-"

"No."

"Mom."

"Cordelia."

They huffed, twin sighs making its way into silence.

"Your journey," she started, taking the young girl's hands into her own, "will begin soon enough." It was like looking from one mirror to another, though this one showed a look into her distant past.

"This journey will be the best one ever," she continued, "the start of all journeys, with just you and your chosen pokemon."

"Piplup!" Piplup piped up from his seat in the corner, fin to his heart as he garnered their attention.

"Like you, Piplup."

Standing slowly, she smiled at her own chosen, who'd barely changed after all these years, though his ego worsened once he had a hyperactive Cordelia to take care of

"Come now, the both of you. This conversation is over with. Let's go to see the show."