AN: Unrelated to this fic but is anyone into Miraculous Ladybug? I LOVE IT! I am officially all caught up with the show, having finally got a chance to finish watching and it is beyond adorable and the show proves yet again that I am shipper trash! That and I also can't wait for Girl Meets World season 3 to start up :)

Also, the pain from my tooth extraction slowed down the writing process a bit because it's hurting longer than it should be :/

Anyway lol here is the third installment of my fic, I hope you all enjoy :)

DISCLAIMER: I DONT OWN POKEMON

Pairing: ikarishipping

C: Challenge

The alarm sitting on the nightstand went off alerting the sleeping bluenette that it was time to wake up. The teen just came back from participating in Contests in the Hoenn Region. She took second place in the grand festival due to losing to May Maple, one of her best friends.

Today was her last day she was taking off from contests to rejuvenate after being gone for so long. Before she beings her ribbon quest for a second time in her home region, she has a meeting with the regional professor because she had promised to run an errand for him.

Getting dressed as fast as she could she grabbed a piece of toast and gave her mom a kiss as she ran out of the door while her mom called out,"Slow down, Dawn. You have plenty of time!"

The only response she received was a distant sounding, "No need to worry!" And a "Pip pip lup!" as her starter ran off after her.

Joanna sighed as she watched her daughter and partner run off in the direction of Professor Rowan's laboratory which was situated in the next town over. Shaking her head as she held Glameow. That's when I worry the most.

/

Runningas fast as she could, Dawn made it to Sandgem town with Piplup in tow.

Catching her breath,"Ok Piplup let's see what the Professor wants me to do."

The water type had a sweat drop forming on the side of his head. Where did she get all that energy from? And why the rush? Lost in his thoughts the tiny blue penguin was brought back to current events when he walked right into Dawn's leg.

"Pip pip pi-"

The starter was hushed mid rant.

"Shhh! Look who's talking to the Professor."

Dawn stopped by one of the big pine trees leading up to the path to the lab. She concealed herself behind it as she noticed the familiar figure with purple hair.

The tiny Pokemon followed Dawn's gaze and was startled for two reasons, who he was staring at and why the bluenett was blushing.

Two words, Paul Robelledo.

The teen was taller than she remembered him from their first meeting a few years back. His mauve colored hair was a bit longer and he still sported similar clothes from before. I wonder if Paul remembers me? The bluenette asked herself trying to fight her blush.

/

"Ah yes I see you've been training hard Paul, your Pokemon all look to be in fighting fit. You certainly have a bright future ahead of you", Professor Rowan spoke gruffly to the teen as he looked at his Pokemon.

"Yeah we just got back from Unova", Paul replied back to the older man.

He lightened up after loosing to Ash in the Sinnoh League. He still has some arrogance but he different for the most part and treats his Pokemon better too. Not to mention he kept in contact with a certain trainer from Pallet Town, exchanging emails back and forth.

While recalling his team members back into their pokeballs he heard a strikingly familiar voice, one he recognized anywhere. He did watch the contest performances while staying at local Pokemon centers in various cities, though he would never admit that out loud.

Turning around he saw her walk up the path as she greeted Professor Rowan with a smile on her porcelain features. She's pretty. But he quickly shook that thought. She would never like me anyway, it would be too much of a challenge to do that.

"You wanted to see me Professor?"

"Yes I have a parcel that needs to be delivered and figured you could do it while you set out once again. Let me grab it for you."

With that the older man walked into the building to his left leaving the two teens to themselves.

Dawn turned her head to the right,"Hi Paul!"

The boy blinked as he leaned on the tree with crossed arms trying to feign indifference and only responding with,"Troublesome".

"Hey name is Dawn. D-A-W-N. Not Troublesome!"

Ignoring her outburst which made him smirk because riling her up was fun he looked to Piplup and cocked his eyebrow.

"Why is he still a stage one Pokemon?"

"Well because a long time ago he was in the middle of evolution and tried fighting it so I was given an everstone to hinder the process. He didn't want to change and I would never make him."

He nodded to signal his understanding of what she said.

This confused Dawn. The Paul she knew would have responded by calling her Pokemon weak and pathetic. But, he didn't just now. Before she could question it further the old Professor found his way back outside with his package for Dawn to deliver a few towns over.

Clearing his throat,"Here you are Dawn. Do make sure it arrives safely now. I've got to get back to work so good luck in your Contests and Paul good luck in your badge quest."

He went back in for a final time leaving the two alone again.

"Oh are you retrying the Sinnoh League again?"

"Yeah, I just finished with Unova and wanted to give it another try here. I'm assuming you are as well?"

"Yup! I just returned from Hoenn a week ago and now I'm off to try winning at home this time! Well, good luck, maybe I will run into you again?"Dawn said with a hopeful tone that Paul noticed and was a bit shocked over but held composure, not wanting the girl to know how he felt, not yet anyway she was still going to be a challenge because to him, the tone of her questions didn't exactly mean anything.

"Yeah, maybe. Thanks and good luck as well, later".

He walked off not giving her a chance to respond but she didn't mind. She just smiled because something about him was different for sure. Well I do like a challenge.

She walked off and Piplup looked confused but followed his trainer anyway.

END

So there it is, it's not a full blown relationshipy fic but it's in the beginning stages of what they will be eventually LOL.

I hope you enjoyed!