Hello, people! Yes, this is interrupting the three-part Stress Relievers and False Comfort, but I am still going to finish it. For this story, you really have to read the whole thing in one go, or else it'll be pretty confusing.

Added disclaimer: I do not own M&Ms. :)

"Aw, please?" Ash asked yet again.

Misty sighed and pressed her fingers to her temples. "I have work to do, Ash."

"What kind of work?" he pestered.

"Gym leader work." Seriously, Ash? Misty was ready to tear him apart (or more likely, hit him with her mallet). He'd been here all day, asking to go to some sort of festival. She did love Ash, but really? On a Saturday night?

"But I thought you said you were finished!" Well, she was actually finished. She just didn't want to go. Ash, seeing that she was getting mad, clasped his hands together and knelt on the floor.

"Please, Drew?!" May made her eyes bigger, and her lips turned down into a little frown. "After the festival, I'll leave! Just come with me! Then you can go back to whatever you were doing!" She stayed right where she was on the floor. "Can't you just spend ONE DAY with me?" She paused again, and when he did nothing, slumped against the floor. "Never mind. No, I guess, you won't. Sorry for bothering you." She slowly stood up and wiped her face.

Drew sighed heavily. He hated when this happened...With an apologetic look, he returned his Roselia and looked to May. "When's the festival?"

She brightened. "Really? You'll go with me?" She threw her arms around him. "Thanks so much, Paul! I love you~!"

He grunted, but didn't do anything to discourage or break the hug.

"We need to leave by 6:00, okay?" He nodded once, silently cursing himself for caving in. "Great~! Thanks again." Then she paused, pecked his cheek softly, and was out of the room and into her own faster than one could shout, "IkariShipping forever~!"

Paul leaned back against his bed - they were in the Pokémon Center - and sighed. Then he got up, shut the door and locked it, and opened up his bag for the pictures. Yes, the great and mighty Paul kept pictures of those close to him, though they were the only sign he really did have a heart. He wasn't in any of them, but that was more than alright for him. Well, there was one picture with him in it: a family photo, of Reggie, Paul, and his parents. The last one they'd taken together. He skipped over that one and set it aside. Then he found a collection of his Pokémon - Torterra and Electivire at all three stages, Honchcrow, Ursaring, the crew of his main team. Then he found the last picture.

She didn't know how it got to the bottom of her bag, but there it was. A picture, slightly crumpled but still whole, of her and Harley. It was a long, long time ago, probably when just before they had just set out on their journeys. That was...wow, that was a long time ago. She was eighteen now; that...wow. Eight years ago. This picture was taken eight years ago.

Solidad felt a smile stretching across her face as she fingered the picture carefully. There was mini-Harley, still with his purple locks, though they were considerably shorter. He wore darker green pants and a tee-shirt that matched his hat, which was sitting on Solidad's head. Ten-year-old Solidad, was grinning at Harley - who had his arm around her shoulder - as he adjusted the hat for her, obviously the one who'd put it on in the first place. She herself had her long coral-colored hair in a long braid, bangs still sweeping over her eyes. She wore a red tee-shirt and yellow shorts.

"Wow, we were so young," she marveled.

"I guess so. Glad you think I'm so hot that you have to stare at my picture for so long." Leaf whirled around. "Gary!"

"The one and only." He strode through the door.

"You were just here. I thought you wanted to go to that festival!"

"Well, I do. But I...uh..." For the first time ever, Gary looked speechless. Leaf raised an eyebrow. "...I just wanted to say that...er...oh, right, dress code is - weirdly - formal; wear something nice." He gave her a two-finger salute and beat a hasty exit.

"Oh, great. Now, I get to see what's in my wardrobe..."

"Misty! Are you ready?" Ash waited impatiently at the door. The festival was Pokémon themed, of course, and he couldn't wait. But it would be odd if he went by himself, so naturally, he asked - begged - Misty to go with him.

"Just a minute!" Her voice flowed through the door, and Ash found himself relieved at the fact that Misty's sisters were out that entire week for something to do with clothes in some place called "Kalos." Then the door in front of him opened, and Ash forgot all about the apparent "week of fashion."

Misty was wearing a dress. A dress! That alone would shock Ash, but it was how the dress looked on her that made him speechless. It was a light blue shade that almost hit the floor, with a few decorated sparkles along the sleeves and hems. The top was a v-neckline, and the whole thing was like...in two words, Ash would describe it as a Frosted Cupcake.

"Wow, Misty..."

"...You look...really good." Drew nearly choked on his words. But he had to admit, his rival was looking nothing below beautiful in the fitted red outfit. It was a - what was it called? - peplem-styled top, strapless, and had - ironically - a black rose embroidered to the right. The skirt was long and black, and flowed out when she walked. Her hair was out of its bandana, but instead painstakingly ironed and straightened perfectly down her back. No jewelry except a silver bracelet, but she looked breathtaking.

May blushed and fingered the corner of her top self-consciously. "T-Thanks, Drew. You don't look too bad yourself."

Paul wore a black dress-shirt but rolled the sleeves to his elbows. He had on nice black jeans, and dress shoes. Honestly, he thought he looked ridiculous. But apparently that was what every single guy was going to wear in whatever color, so at least he would look stupid like everyone else. But Dawn was a different story.

Now, as everyone knew, Paul could probably not care less about clothes. But even he had to admit that Dawn looked seriously good. She wore a pink dress that hit right above her knees, and the darker colored top hugged her just fine. She wore her hair like she did at one of her many Grand Festivals, in a large bun with a red bow on top. There was a matching, though smaller, bow to the left on her waist, and the sleeves had little white details.

She looked good.

Gary's eyes widened as he took in Leaf's appearance. She wore an off-the-shoulder-gray, top and a short-ish black skirt that flared out whenever she moved. On her feet were black wedges that gave her a good three inches so she didn't have to look up to meet his eyes.

"Whenever you're ready, Harley," Solidad called, and he finally stepped out. "I'm all set, Sugar Cookie!" Solidad couldn't help rolling her eyes - though fondly - at his nickname for her, derived from her giving him a sugar cookie when they first met. She ran a hand over her hair, wondering if it was too much. In remembrance of the photo she found, she had her hair in a long - much longer now - braid over her left shoulder. She was wearing a red strapless dress with a thin white belt around her waist. Her skirt was creme colored and hit her knees.

Harley strode out of the room and gasped when he saw her. Her own eyebrows raised too. He was wearing - as always - his hat, but instead of his...rather flamboyant outfit, he was wearing dark green slack-like pants and a lighter green blazer-type jacket and black shirt.

"My, my, my! We're just two M&M's in a cookie!"

"Great! Let's go!" Ash cheered, and pulled Misty through the open gates, nearly bursting with enthusiasm. For the next few enjoyable hours, the two of them pretty went back in time. No longer were they sixteen-year old teenagers, but ten-year-old kids laughing and fooling around.

Though it might seem wierd for Drew to be descibed as a kid, the term practically defined May right then. She managed to trip over nothing; crash into people, Pokémon, and inanimate objects alike; yet still look as stunning as she did earlier.

So eventually, Paul inwardly shrugged, and grabbed Dawn's hand, and headed to the line for the ferris-wheel. It was strangely short, but that was just fine with them. Dawn laughed with joy as she found him opening up to her more and more. Sure, they were in an enclosed space where no one would bother them, but c'mon; she could have sworn she saw a hint of smile on his passive face.

And smile he did. It surprised Solidad that Harley was able to keep from scaring too many people and instead just enjoy their time together, but she was certainly not about to argue.

How could she, when seeing a true smile from Gary was so...so...unexpected? Unexpected but so..great, somehow. The smile he gave her was a real one, not a smirk or sly, cunning grin. It was a real one, and reached to his eyes.

She'd not seen a smile quite like that for a very long time. And Misty knew that that festival was to be a milemarker set in stone and written in blood. The nighttime sky was their beautiful background as they sat there together, just feeling the love.

When they got off the ferris-wheel, Drew felt the sudden urge to clasp May's hand in his. So he did. She gasped, softly, but soon smiled back, her eyes sparkling.

"C'mon," he said, and started directly to the right of them.

"...We need to take a picture." Standing there was a perfectly fine looking picture-booth. Dawn blinked in surprise before her usual personna took over, and she grinned and ended up dragging him with her instead. What was the point of a festival if not to have fun?!

Solidad and Harley slid into the photo-booth-thing. There was a big screen in front of them, and Solidad watched un amusement as Harley selected a five-picture film print, borderlined with a different design on each frame.

It looked a bit odd, Leaf thought, but that was just fine. Gary grinned at her, and she shrugged, hiding a smile. He pressed the button, and the countdown began.

The first frame had was surrounded by pretty white clouds on a light blue background. Misty and Ash scooted in close and smiled for the camera, Misty waving and Ash flashing a victory sign.

The second frame was black, with the sun just rising on top of the frame. There were two roses on each of the bottom corners. May and Drew just looked at each other and sort of forgot that the camera was taking a picture of their lightly blushing faces.

Paul wondered, though staring into Dawn's eyes, if this was such a good idea after all. He swiftly broke contact, staring straight ahead of him (which happened to be at the camera). Dawn pouted, but quickly poked him in the side while watching his face. She got her reaction printed on a frame encircled by pink and purple clouds; there was a hint of a smile on his lips, and actual amusement (or maybe more) showed in his face.

Gary smirked at his victory and glanced at the green flowered and gold-accented frame. Whatever he did now would be captured on camera forever. He put his arms around the shoulders of a very surprised Leaf.

And he kissed her. The flash of light imprinting their image on a beautifully setting sun did nothing to interrupt the moment; though oxygen - or lack therof - did it for them. Solidad just looked back at Harley, who grinned at the sight of his hat on her head.

And anyone would agree, no matter who or where they were. It was the best festival they had ever had the pleasure to go to.

:) That one was long, but I loved it! I know I spent a while on the girls' outfits, but I created the loks in my head and thought they were too cute to skip. :) And the storyline, if you didn't get it, was one long story that went from couple to couple.

Do you know where Misty's sisters are? :)

Reviews and PMs are appreciated! :)