Disclaimer: I still don't own Pokémon...

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Paul followed the fuming girl away from the Contest Hall and towards her apartment at Amity Square. He allowed her to walk several feet ahead of him, and contemplated what would happen when they reached her apartment.

Yelling and ranting, clearly, Paul thought heavily. Maybe she'll throw things. Well, it can't be helped. I'll let her rant for a few minutes. She probably deserves that much.

He watched her walk ahead of him. Her fists were clenched at her sides. He could hear her snarling under her breath from where he was walking, more than ten feet behind her. Arceus, it's not like I asked her to swallow poison.

No, it's like you asked her to marry you.

Dawn stormed up the steps to her apartment on the second floor and flung the door open when she reached it.

Ugh. Dramatic, Paul thought.

"MAY!" Dawn shouted when she took the first step inside. A girl with light brown hair poked her head out of another room, her eyes narrowed, readied for a fight.

"Look, Dawn, I've been thinking –"

"I've been thinking you need to leave now, May," Dawn finished for her calmly. "I have some important things to discuss..."

She raised up her hand, almost a fist with just her ring finger pointing straight up.

"Are you flipping me –" May began furiously

"... With my fiancée," Dawn finished, her lips curling around the word. May's mouth snapped shut.

"He... Didn't," May breathed.

"Oh, yes he did," Dawn snarled. "So, I'm sorry to kick you out, but I need to have this conversation. Now."

"Of course," May said hurriedly. She snatched her bag from the couch and rushed to the door, pausing when she saw Paul in the hallway. She sized him up, looking confused. "But... Dawn, I need to ask you something. Really quick?"

"What?"

"... Why did you say yes?"

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"Get in, Paul, I'm not leaving this door open all day," Dawn snapped after May disappeared down the hall, her question unanswered. Paul took the three necessary steps forward to place himself in the apartment, and Dawn slammed the door with all of her force and turned to look at him.

"What the hell are you thinking?"

Here it comes, Paul thought wryly.

"This is insanity. You just asked me to marry you. Have you lost your mind? Have you lost every little bit of sense that was ever in your tiny little brain, Paul? Do you want to start this psychotic, stupid, idiotic, horrible, terrible, stupid, worst idea ever in the history of everything? Do you wanna? Because I will promise you right now that I will not be the partner you want on this ride to hell!"

Give her the minute, Paul thought. You told yourself you'd give her a minute.

"This is RIDICULOUS!" Dawn shrieked. "This is the worst idea I have ever heard in all of my life. I am so mad at you, Paul, how could you do this? Arceus, what is wrong with you?"

She stormed back and forth, from the entrance where Paul stood to the window on the far side of the room, ranting and calling him every name she could possibly think of (there were quite a few, even Paul was impressed by her creative language) for about seven minutes. Paul stood in the doorway, listening to her, waiting for it to stop. He figured he owed her the ranting time; he had just asked her the stupidest question a man can ever ask a woman – and they didn't even like each other.

"Have you lost your fucking mind?"

She sounded calm, almost.

"No."

"Then explain to me why you purchased a ring, had me meet you, and asked me to be your wife."

"Why did you say yes?" Paul shot back.

"Answer my questions first."

Paul sighed. "Do you remember, a few days ago, when we went to the Champion's dinner?"

Dawn nodded once, irritated by his slow start.

"I told you that people are more likely to respect a married Champion."

"And that's what this is about?" Dawn asked incredulously. "Respect? Since when do you care what people think about you?" Paul shook his head.

"No, not entirely. I was talking to Reggie three days ago. He has an old friend that works for the Pokémon League. He told Reggie why every current Champion is married. The League doesn't recognize a Champion that isn't married."

"Why?" Dawn asked curiously, as if this were a normal conversation that would have no significant impact on her future.

Paul shook his head again. "I don't know. Neither does Reggie, really, or his friend. But even if someone beats a Champion, and they aren't married, the League won't recognize the victory. It'll be like it never even happened. It doesn't make sense, and yes, it's ridiculous, but that's how it is."

Dawn stared at him. So, the League was even more corrupt than the rumors said. She spent a moment, idly wondering why people in positions of power made everything so skewed. But then she remembered the point of the talk.

"But why ask me?"

Paul stared at her levelly.

"The same reason I asked you to the dinner. I won't have to lie to you," Paul answered simply.

"One less person to lie to," Dawn said. Paul nodded. "So, you need my help. Again."

"As much as I hate to need the help of anyone," Paul sighed, inclining his head, "especially you, yes. I do."

Dawn looked at the ceiling thoughtfully.

"Why did you say yes?" Paul asked again. "You didn't have to."

"There were people watching. I didn't want to embarrass you," Dawn answered absentmindedly, still deep in thought.

"Is that all?" Paul asked, incredulously.

"Yes," Dawn snapped, returning to the present. "I, unlike you, am not an evil little cockroach. Trust me, it's not that I have a secret burning desire to marry you."

Paul rolled his eyes. "Are you going to help me? Or not?"

Dawn looked at him.

"Give me a reason," Dawn requested.

"I don't have one," Paul answered her plainly. "I need your help. I would be indebted to you, and that's all I can offer you in return for this."

Dawn stared at him for another minute or so before sighing sadly.

"This is pretty heavy, Paul. Are you even sure you've thought this through? This isn't just an illusion to the Champions, or a lie to my mother. This is real. Even if it isn't a real engagement, it's not just pretend anymore. This isn't going to go away. We can't just walk away from this. It's not going to be easy, or pretty, and you're not going to like it. Neither will I. I don't want to do this," Dawn said candidly. "I really don't."

It was Paul's turn to sighed.

"But... It's done," Dawn continued. "I said yes, in front of hundreds of people. I'm not going to take that back."

Paul said nothing, waiting for her to finish. It sounded like there was a 'but' coming.

"So it looks like we're stuck with each other."

"S-seriously?" Paul said, surprised. It was too simple.

"Yes," Dawn sighed heavily. "That's all I'm going to say, for right now. I think you should go. I need to think. Wrap my mind around this."

And with that, she walked through a door off the living room and shut it softly behind her. Paul stood where he was for a full minute before turning and walking out the front door.

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A/N: It gets better. This was more of an explanation/had to be in this chapter.