Chapter 15: A Bittersweet Curtain Call!

Dawn had stood upon the victory podium many, many times before, as well as witnessed another coordinator in her place atop that pedestal. Even through each victory and every defeat, the coordinator found each return up to the top to be beyond gratifying, and every seat at the bottom to be a lesson learned. Here, however, she wasn't at the center of the stand like every other time. For the first time, someone else was alongside her, and she wouldn't have wanted it to be anyone different.

Goh had never been in a Pokémon Contest before, let alone even won one. His eyes glazed over the hundreds of applauding audience members; glancing at flatscreen displays that projected his face over the contest hall, a look of wonder and awe affixed to him. And yet, the elation and joy he felt at being right at the top didn't come from him managing to win the first Pokémon Contest he had ever participated in, nor the ribbon he would be awarded, nor how difficult all of the obstacles were for him to overcome.

He turned his head to the right, just as Dawn turned hers to the left. Their eyes met again, and the two smiled at each other. Piplup and Inteleon were up on the podium behind the two coordinators, with the smaller Water-type Pokémon waving atop one of Inteleon's open hands. Lifted high into the sky so Piplup truly was on top of the world, the little prideful Pokémon drank in all of the adoration like fine wine. Inteleon chuckled to itself as it helped satiate Piplup's undying ego.

Then, the judges approached, and the crowd hushed up once more. Mr. Contesta was front and center as the Head Judge, and within his hands rested a small red box, varnished and polished to shine in the spotlight. Within the open-topped container rested the two trophies to denote the victory in the Hearthome City Doubles Contest: a pair of twin-tailed bows, the ribbons descending off of the golden pieces, one red, one blue.

"As Head Judge of the Sinnoh Contest Circuit and residing Chief of the Pokémon Activities Committee, it is with great honor to bestow the Twin Hearthome Ribbons to both of you!" Mr. Contesta presented the symbols of victory to the coordinator and Pokémon catcher, with Dawn plucking the red ribbon from the cushion, and Goh lifting the blue one, "Take great pride in your victory, both of you! For you have won the first-ever Doubles Contest in Sinnoh!"

Mr. Sukizo and Monsieur Pierre both gave approving and proud gazes up at the two coordinators that stood atop the podium. Matilda gave a very slight smile, eying both Dawn and Goh as she stroked her chin with a finger. The moment the ribbons were within the grasp of both of the first-place finishers, the crowd erupted once again in applause, with Conway flat in his seat, exhausted from the cheering and the audience around him. Grookey was still cheering on, its energy never seeming to cease.

Together, Dawn and Goh gave their thanks to Contesta and held their respective ribbons with their thumb and index finger, presenting them up into the air as Piplup and Inteleon joined up with them in the brief celebration they'd get to have right on stage.

"Incredible! The Twin Hearthome Ribbons!" Dawn giggled as she brought back her arm, and aimed it at the space between her and Goh.

"And it's in the palm of our hands!" Goh chuckled as he too readied his arm, and together with Dawn, brought the two pieces together to combine into their complete form, a gorgeous brooch with four trailing bows descending from the middle and bottom.

With a click of the ribbon, the two jumped and shouted with glee, "Alright!"

"Pip-Piplup!" Piplup leaped into frame just as a photographer readied her camera.

"Intel," Inteleon stood behind the two, giving a low bow as the photographer took the picture.

Captured in a standstill were Dawn and Goh, smiles stretching ear to ear as they held the joined ribbon up towards the heavens. Piplup nearly photobombed the shoot by jumping up by Dawn, which was noticed by Inteleon, who gave a now exasperated expression mid-bow.

It was a photo that would absolutely be getting framed for both of the coordinators.

"Grooookey!"

"Haha! There you are!" Goh laughed as his faithful traveling companion leaped from Conway's side and onto his face, the boy faltering as the little monkey Pokémon nuzzled its trainer affectionately, "C-Come on! Not in front of everyone! Aghhhhhh~!"

It wasn't only Goh's contest partner who giggled, but all of her friends as well. The two had finally reunited with May and Drew, Zoey and Nando, and Serena and Lisia as well, now out of their contest outfits and back into their day-to-day clothes. As Conway chuckled to himself, he pushed up his glasses as both Dawn and Goh quickly took a bit of time to thank the Pokémon maniac for all of his help.

"Thanks so much for watching Grookey and Piplup, and, well… giving us that practice battle too!" Dawn gave a warm grin to the boy, who simply smirked as he basked in Dawn's praise.

"Well, I'm glad that my contributions to your victory have finally been paid their notice," Conway gave a faint laugh, severely creeping out the other coordinators not named Dawn and Goh, "But alas, I must get going. I've heard that Ash Ketchum himself was stopping by in Hearthome City, and-"

Goh gave a nervous look to Conway as he rubbed the back of his head, "Uh… Ash left nearly a week ago. I guess I was the only one that remained here!"

Conway sighed, hanging his head low, "Figures."

Goh then crossed his arms in front of Conway, and held up his phone, "Y'know, I've been doing a lot of research work, and while it's starting to all come together, I'm sure Professor Amaranth would be thrilled to have another potential Chaser with your knowledge!"

With a tap of his Rotom Phone on Conway's Pokétch, the data had been transferred. Conway raised an eyebrow in confusion at Goh's sudden offer, and was met with an enthusiastic reaction from the Pokémon catcher-turned-coordinator, "Seriously! If you think Pokédex data on Suicune is awesome, just wait until you see what me, Gary, and Horace get up to!"

Going to tap his Pokétch, the Pokémon maniac's eyes lit up with wonder as he instantly became absorbed with what was being presented to him, the boy slowly starting to walk off without a farewell, "Discovering the origins of Pokémon…? Bottling a feather from Moltres… Raid Battles…unlocking the secrets of Mew?! Well, I guess we'll have to see about that! Heh… heh… heh…"

"That guy's a real work of art…", Zoey huffed as she walked back over to Dawn, "But seriously, congrats, you two! You completely blew my mind!"

"Yeah, I didn't think you'd get past that first Draco Meteor and Hydro Cannon combo… guess I just keep getting proven wrong again and again in this contest," Drew commented, earning a nod from May as well.

"I think you should put that ribbon in your hair, Dawn. It'd look so cute!" May suggested, earning a chime-in from Lisia.

"Totally! You'd look even more dazzling than you do now!" Lisia then turned to Goh, "And I hope I can see you again sometime!"

Goh blinked, his cheeks aflame as Lisia nosed up towards him, "O-Oh. Well, about that-"

Dawn raised an eyebrow at the gesture, her mouth dropping open slightly as Lisia began to comment on how dashing Goh looked in his tuxedo during the contest. Before Goh's partner could open her mouth, a hand touched Dawn's shoulder. Peering from behind her was Serena, giggling at Dawn's rising temperament, "So…? The two of you really looked like you were in perfect sync with each other out there! There's no way me and Lisia would have been able to take on you, nor Kenny and Ursula!"

The navy-blue-haired girl simmered down, and took a deep breath once she saw Goh's attention was once more fixated on Nando's Mew harp, turning back to Serena with a renewed smile, "Thanks. I…"

Dawn took a look back at the crowd of coordinators around Goh before she began to speak again, but this time in a more hushed tone, "I felt like when I was with him… we could break through the impossible."

Serena closed her eyes and smiled, "It really seems like you did."

Stealing another glance at Goh, who in turn noticed and waved at her and Serena, Dawn turned her cheek away as she pulled at her hair in front of the idol, "I just… I don't know if he held my hand during that battle just to calm himself… or if he… y'know… I mean, he says that the whole dance was just trying to save us from that stupid mistake I made-!"

"Dawn, Dawn, shhhh… let's take some deep breaths, okay?" Serena gave Dawn a light hug, listening as her flustering began to fade away, "Well… do you still feel about him the same as our first talk?"

The coordinator sighed, and nodded as if it were a guilty admission, which Serena immediately picked up on, "Come on, I think he really feels the same way!"

Dawn blinked, and looked up at Serena, "R-Really?"

The idol giggled, closed her eyes, and held her finger up, "I know so! But before we leave…"

Serena held Dawn's hand, squeezing it gently, "Dawn, I want you to promise me something."

"A… promise?" Dawn asked, completely confused by what Serena could be going on about.

Then, Serena began to speak once more.

She took Dawn's other hand, and whispered to her out of earshot of anyone, "There will come an opportunity. I can't tell you when, or where, but I know that there will be one. And I can't tell you what it'll look like either, but you'll know it when you see it."

Serena's eyes shimmered into Dawn's.

"And when that opportunity comes…" Serena tightened her grip on both of Dawn's hands, pulling her in close with a gasp, "I want you to take it without a second thought!"

The two girls were silent as the remaining coordinators, along with Goh, had their heads turned towards the exclaiming Serena. Realizing how loud her outburst had been, Serena awkwardly laughed as she and Dawn fumbled with their hands to break them apart. Almost immediately, the idol quick-stepped over to Lisia, grabbed her arm, and began to shuffle away and wave goodbye, "Bye-bye, everyone! Dawn, remember what I said~!"

Dawn grabbed her beanie, and tugged it down over her head, screaming into it in an effort to hide her red face amidst Lisia's protests at the sudden and forced exit.

The turquoise-haired idol wouldn't leave without a final word, and she had chosen what she would say, "Uh... I guess I'm saying goodbye! Later, Goh! Give me a call sometime- OW!"

Lisia rubbed her head as her partner delivered a firm bonk onto her.

Goh, and the rest of the coordinators, simply stared in a mixture of exasperation and confusion. Once Dawn had recovered from the previously undiscovered embarrassment, May gave her goodbyes to her friend, "Well, looks like this is it. I had a great time seeing you again! We've gotta hang out sometime soon!"

"And I'm fully committed to getting back into the swing of contests. Better watch out, because all of you are at the top of my opponents list!" Drew laughed, flicking a Pokéball in between his thumbs. The other coordinators rolled their eyes.

"Hah! Well… your Rayquaza statue was really amazing!" Goh complimented Drew, the green-haired boy dropping his confident demeanor at the sudden praise from Goh.

"R-Right! It sure was!" Drew took this as his sign to get out of there, departing with May.

As the two stars of Hoenn took their leave, Zoey and Nando approached Dawn and Goh. Both clearly had a lot that they wanted to say to the veteran coordinator, and the newcomer who had already gotten his first victory.

"Y'know… when I saw that you had never been in a contest before… I thought I'd be insulted at the prospect of you entering such a high-caliber contest like this…" Zoey crossed her arms, then opened her eyes with a smile, "But seeing as how you and Dawn were just… I dunno, that much in sync with each other… agh, I'm trying to put this into words even though I've learned this lesson already!"

Nando chuckled, and spoke up for Zoey, "I think what Zoey's trying to say is… you really surprised all of us, Goh. Both you and Dawn."

Goh rubbed the back of his head once more, and chuckled, "It was a team effort. We both gave it our all. Right?"

Dawn grinned, and patted Goh's shoulder, giving him a thumbs-up, "Right. Now come on, you're leaving tomorrow, so let's enjoy the rest of the hotel while we can!"

And with that, Dawn and Goh bid farewell to Zoey and Nando.

The moment they were out of earshot, Zoey chuckled, crossed her arms, and gave a snide glance to Nando, "So, you think they'll hook up?"

"Zoey, you can't just say something like that. We don't know how much stress those two had been under-" Nando interjected before his contest partner cut him off.

"I'll give it a week!" Zoey held up a finger.

Nando sighed, "I'll give it tomorrow."

"You absolute moron! Do you have any idea how badly you cost me this victory?!" Ursula jammed a finger into Kenny's chest, causing the boy to take a step back from the force of just one of Ursula's digits, "I can't believe it! Beaten by Dawn and some guy who's never even been in a contest before!"

Kenny grabbed Ursula's wrist, and thrust her finger away from him before letting go and trying to fruitlessly fight back, "It was a team effort, and we lost! Big deal!"

"Big deal?! Are you just giving up on your chances with Dawn like that?!" Ursula snarled at the boy before her former contest partner snapped back at her.

"This was never about helping me, so drop that act!" Kenny grit his teeth, "The only thing I know is that everything you've led me to believe about you was a lie! You truly are as despicable as Dawn and everyone else says!"

Ursula then took hold of Kenny's collar, and yanked his shirt forward, her forehead inches away from the boy's face as she delivered her pure, unrestrained loathing, "You lost your focus during that battle. I could see it in your eyes the moment we walked into the stadium."

She continued, watching in morbid pleasure as Kenny's pupils shrank, "Face it. She has a new boy in her life, and after everything, I can't blame her for choosing him over you-"

"What's going on here?"

Kenny let out a silent gasp. Ursula sighed with displeasure.

From the contest gate where the two were standing, a pair of coordinators had entered into the conversation, with their Pokémon on their shoulders remaining silent. Dawn had spoken up upon turning the corner and witnessing Ursula's fist balled into Kenny's shirt collar.

Ursula closed her eyes, chuckled, and forcefully pushed Kenny away before turning her back, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. This whole thing was just a waste of my time, yet again."

The girl gave a lazy wave as she walked off down the sidewalk, with Kenny fixing his shirt as the girl left. Together, Dawn and Goh looked at each other, and approached the boy.

"You okay?" Goh asked, overriding his previous reservations about Kenny.

Kenny exhaled at Goh, "I guess."

"Kenny."

The auburn-haired boy glanced up at his childhood friend, who put her arm on his shoulder, and helped him up.

"Pip-Piplup…?" Even Piplup became concerned about the well-being of Dawn's rival as he pursed his lip, and put a hand over his head, clawing his scalp with his fingers.

"I…" Kenny choked a sob, "Dawn… Goh… I… I'm so sorry… for everything I've said and done."

Goh blinked, tilting his chin up at the boy. Dawn's lips parted slightly at the display.

"Don't feel any pity for me. I deserve everything that's happening to me right now after how I've treated both of you," Kenny continued, looking up at Goh, "Especially you, Goh. If you don't forgive me for what I've said to you, then I understand completely."

The Pokémon catcher looked down at the ground for a second. Before he could respond, Kenny then turned his eyes to Dawn.

"And… Dawn. I'm sorry for how I've acted to you," Kenny admitted to his childhood friend and crush.

"Kenny…" Dawn could tell that everything coming out of the boy was from his heart.

"It goes all the way back to how much I've called you 'Dee Dee' when you hated that name… and… when I tried to rope you into going on a journey with me by battling Ash…" Kenny's words caused Dawn's eyes to widen. He was going even further back than his attitude in the Hearthome City Doubles Contest.

"Insulting you and Goh at the sign-ups… taking Ursula's offer like that…" Kenny then sighed as he glazed his eyes between both Dawn and Goh, with Piplup and Grookey not daring to make a peep, "I… I'm going to be quitting contests."

Goh was taken aback, considering Kenny had been performing in contests even longer than Dawn had, "Y-You're serious?"

Dawn, however, couldn't believe her ears, "Wh-What?! Why on earth would you do that?!"

Kenny grit his teeth, and shouted with tears welling in his eyes, "So you don't have to see me again! Neither of you have to! It's the least I can do-"

"Stop it."

A finger pointed at Kenny's nose, which got him to tense up, and shut his mouth. Dawn's arm was outstretched as she stole Kenny's breath, the girl exhaling as she shook her head.

"Kenny, I get why you'd want to do this. I know you're trying to do this for me, but I'm going to have to stop you before you go through with something as stupid as this," Dawn narrowed her eyes at Kenny, "It hurt, Kenny. What you did and said really did hurt, but I want you to know that I see that what you're saying now is coming from your heart."

From that last sentence, Dawn's eyes glanced back to Goh. The Pokémon catcher could have sworn a tiny smile had flashed onto her face at him, paralleling when Goh had come clean to Dawn after their intense fight with each other.

"Goh, do you forgive Kenny?"

The two boys both looked at Dawn with surprised and puzzled expressions. Then, Kenny's eyes fell upon Goh, a lump forming in the boy's stomach as he was sure that the target of much of his spite would never drop his distaste.

And yet.

Goh exhaled, "Kenny, before I met you, I've had reservations about people that I later found out to not be true, even if time had regrettably passed for ages before I found out who a person really was."

He continued, watching as Kenny's heart began to beat once more, "But like Dawn said, the fact that you're making the effort to apologize and… even to say that you'll stop doing what you love just for the sake of making amends… I can't hate a person for that. I… just can't."

Kenny couldn't believe his ears. He didn't know whether or not to feel even more ashamed that Goh, after all of this, was accepting his apology, or if he felt at ease.

Then, Dawn nodded at Goh, and turned her attention back to Kenny, "Goh gave you his answer. But I want to say something too."

Dawn gripped both of Kenny's shoulders, and squeezed harshly to make sure the boy was paying the most attention he ever had in his life, even earning a startled chirp from Piplup, "I forgive you too, but leaving Pokémon Contests behind so that I don't have to see you anymore?!"

The girl shook her head, "Kenny, if you give up on your dreams just for my sake, then I would never be able to live with myself knowing that's how your journey ended."

The boy didn't even know what to say to Dawn, or Goh. He still couldn't believe that the two were forgiving him after what he had put the coordinator and the Pokémon catcher through. And yet… here they were, forgiving him, and wanting him to continue to pursue his dream of becoming Top Coordinator.

Finally mustering enough courage to open his mouth, he gave a small, warm smile at both Dawn and Goh, "I can't emphasize this enough. Thank you, both of you."

Dawn smiled back at her friend, "No need to worry, Kenny. And I hope to see you at the Grand Festival!"

Kenny nodded, his enthusiasm coming back to him, "Count on it. I promise."

Then, another individual cleared her way through, walking towards the group of conversing coordinators.

It was Headmistress Matilda.

"Do pardon my interruption. I was hoping that I would run into the team of coordinators that took first place," the veteran judge's aged voice rang out across the trio and the two Pokémon resting on Dawn and Goh's shoulder.

"O-Oh. Don't worry about me. I was just leaving," Kenny took his sign to exit the judge's presence as he waved his goodbye to Dawn and Goh. Matilda made no effort to stop him, so the boy carried on as he walked off.

Looking up towards the evening sky, Kenny felt around in his pocket.

A little piece of stone was gripped into his hands, and he pulled out the tiny rock carving of a Piplup that Dawn had given him back when he waited for her to arrive at the lighthouse after he defeated Ash.

Though the little idol often felt cold within Kenny's hand, this time, it was ever so slightly warm to the touch.

The boy closed his eyes, smiled, and let the tiny stone statuette slip back into his pocket.

"Wow, Headmistress Matilda! I can't believe I get to meet you in person like this!" Dawn bowed politely at the judge and head of the Galar Region Contest Circuit, "I'm so honored!"

"Likewise!" Goh did his best to appear on his best behavior, considering how sharp the Headmistress had been during judging, as well as the rumors of her harshness that had come from Conway.

Matilda gave an earnest nod before she looked down at the coordinator and the Pokémon catcher, "I must give my congratulations to both of you for your well-earned victory in the Hearthome City Pokémon Doubles Contest. I must admit, you two have managed to surprise me again and again, even after all of these years I've served as a judge."

Dawn and Goh looked at each other, as well as Piplup and Grookey. Together, they grinned at each other as they received praise from the notoriously strict judge.

"Th-Thank you so much!" Dawn bowed in front of her.

"You're too kind!" Goh chuckled, rubbing his nose with a finger.

"Lup! Arook!" Piplup and Grookey both sounded off, with the little Penguin Pokémon drinking in even more praise, reaching dangerous levels of smugness.

Then, Matilda's smile disappeared as she continued, reining in the gratitude that Dawn and Goh displayed to her "However, my hopes in meeting the two of you extend past giving my congratulations."

Dawn and Goh gave each other a curious glance.

"I wish to speak to one of you," Matilda then pointed a finger at the boy in the gray-and-red sweater, "Goh, specifically."

At this, Goh nervously laughed, motioning to Dawn, "A-Are you sure you don't mean to speak to-"

"Do not test my patience. When I say that I wish to speak to you, I mean it," Matilda narrowed her piercing eyes at the boy.

Dawn then patted Goh's shoulder, and gave him an enthusiastic and proud cheer, "Come on, Goh! This is Headmistress Matilda! You should be honored!"

"Rook!" Grookey leaped off of Goh's shoulder and hopped on top of Dawn's head, causing the girl to giggle.

At this, Goh swallowed a lump in his throat, then nodded back at the elderly woman, "O-Okay. Dawn, I'll be right back!"

"No need to worry! I'll be right here and waiting!" Dawn waved to Goh as the boy and the veteran judge turned the corner past the Contest Hall's gate.

The area was void of others, as the audience and other coordinators had taken their leave a while ago. Once the two were separated from Dawn, Matilda wasted no time speaking to the boy.

"I looked into your record a while ago. You've never participated in a Pokémon Contest before the Hearthome Doubles…" Matilda crossed her arms, "And yet here you are, a complete newcomer seizing first place in one of the most prestigious and ruthless contests that has ever seen the light of day in Sinnoh."

As Goh listened to Matilda, his eyes unconsciously drifted back towards the hedgerow that separated him from his friend and her Piplup on the other side. Matilda snapped her fingers to get Goh's attention once more.

"Oh- whoops!" Goh straightened up before expressing his concern over Matilda's growing theory, "Well, I don't know if this is what you want to hear, Headmistress, but… it wasn't only me. I couldn't have done it without Dawn at all."

Matilda shook her head, and shut her eyes, "Do not try and pass off your accomplishments in an attempt to appear humble."

The judge patted Goh's shoulder, glaring down at him, "My boy, you have an exceptional natural talent. Even with such coaching you might have received from your contest partner, the skills you demonstrated equaled, and in my opinion, surpassed your contest partner. Even as a newcomer to Pokémon Contests-"

"That's not true!" Goh thrust his arm to his side, shocking the aged woman, "I've already gotten so much flak for knowing nothing about contests when I first arrived here, and I am not going to have the whole narrative shift against Dawn now! You can take it from me, if I deserve any credit for our victory, then the same, if not more, goes to Dawn!"

Matilda blinked at Goh's outburst, watching as the boy's chest heaved, buried anger from within finally reaching the surface to be let out, regardless of the status of the person in front of him.

Matilda sighed, "I see… well, then perhaps you might like my proposition for you."

Goh rose an eyebrow, "Proposition?"

Matilda nodded, motioning towards the hedgerow, "If you do, then you'll be seeing Dawn much more often. As an opponent, and as a contest partner."

The boy raised his chin up at the Headmistress, speaking with stoicism as he had already deciphered what Matilda's offer would be, "You want to take me in… under your wing as an apprentice, don't you?"

"You're a clever one," the woman chuckled, "Think about it. Under my guidance, you could become one of the fastest-advancing coordinators of all time. Your natural talent has already been showcased amidst the toughest competition you could have gone up against. You'd become renowned, with tens of thousands of adoring fans, and go down in history as not only a Top Coordinator, but the Top Coordinator."

Goh's mouth hung ajar at the lady's proposition, her arms still crossed in front of him.

The image of the boy on stage, surrounded by the darkened crowd cheering and shouting his name as camera flashes sparked and dotted around the stands, unnerved the Pokémon catcher. Where once the boy struggled to make friends, thousands would know his name, and would fight just for the opportunity to be his acquaintance.

And then there was Dawn.

He did want to see her again. Maybe she would defeat him in contests should the two be matched up against each other. Maybe he would emerge victorious over her.

And maybe… if they partnered up again, every moment the two had experienced arm in arm, and hand in hand today… he and Dawn could journey through all of those emotions once more.

But alas, Goh's eyes dropped to the floor.

The boy shook his head.

"I… can't take your offer, Matilda."

The Headmistress tilted her chin up, "Hm. Care to give me an explanation why?"

The boy's fists tightened into a ball as he spoke up to Matilda, "It's because everything that you saw me do in that contest… it was because Dawn had gotten me to enter with her for my sake. I was exhausting and destroying myself by overdoing it on catching Pokémon, practically catching myself into a coma, and Dawn thought if she got me to participate in the contest with her… it'd keep me from catching Pokémon for a bit."

Goh then turned away, chuckling a bit uneasily, "But I guess some other forms of stress came up…"

Still listening, Matilda watched Goh shake his head as he went on, "But that's not important! What is important is that eventually… as I saw how important this contest was for Dawn… it wasn't for my sake anymore. I wanted to be there for her, and together, not separate, we managed to overcome everything."

"But you would be together-" Matilda started before Goh cut her off.

"We wouldn't. Because… even after everything we've been through, me and Dawn have different dreams we want to pursue, and if I were to give up on mine for Dawn's sake… from what I saw before, I don't think she'd take it well," Goh admitted, thinking back to the conversation Dawn had with Kenny just minutes before, "And I know it, too."

To Matilda, the prospects of taking Goh under her wing had washed away. However, rather than feel animosity or insult at the boy's rejection of her proposal, she instead had a nagging tug of curiosity pull at her.

"And what, pray tell, is your dream, Goh?" Matilda stood firmly.

Goh inhaled, then exhaled.

"My goal is to catch one of every kind of Pokémon in the world."

Matilda's look remained unchanged.

"Including Mew."

The judge kept her arms crossed as time between the two crawled along, the boy and the woman silent as they both stared into each other's eyes.

Then, Matilda shifted.

"I can tell you're serious."

Goh's mouth opened, but Matilda held up a hand.

"That look in your eyes… I've only ever seen that glimmer once before," Matilda looked away from Goh, and stared up into the evening sky, "It's the same one I saw in my granddaughter's eyes when she told me she didn't want to be a coordinator, and instead wanted to become a Gym Leader."

The boy watched as the elderly lady recounted her past, "It took many, many years for her dream to come true… but she eventually did it, and still takes in challengers of all sorts of calibers to this day."

Matilda turned back to Goh, and knelt down to the boy. Despite her age, she had no problem lowering herself to his level.

"Goh… while I must say that I'm disappointed over your rejection of my offer… I now see where your heart lies. I cannot change that for you," Matilda explained, "But… catching one of every Pokémon… it's just such a gargantuan concept, and yet I can hear it in your voice. You're going to keep at it no matter how long it takes."

Goh affirmed with a solid, and determined nod, "I will. Because… it's my future."

He then opened up one of his hands, and stared into the center of it before closing it once more, "And it's in the palm of my hand."

"Charming," Matilda chuckled as she rose back to standing up straight, and dismissively waved with her hand, "Absolutely charming. Now, do you believe that your friend's future looks as bright as yours?"

The Pokémon catcher suddenly perked up, realizing how long he had left Dawn waiting for his conversation with Matilda. The judge laughed once more.

"I hope that her future is just as prosperous as I expect yours to be, Goh," Matilda turned to leave, clicking her pen in one of her hands, "Farewell."

As the Headmistress began to walk off, Goh held out a hand towards her, "Wait, please."

Matilda stopped dead in her tracks as the voice of Goh reached over her shoulders.

"I just want to say one more thing…" Goh tried to get his last word in, thinking back to all of those moments he was at Dawn's side, smiling at her as she did to him, "Everything I said about Dawn isn't an attempt for me to look humble. I really do believe that without her… I wouldn't have captured your eye in that contest."

Matilda didn't turn around as she dipped her head, listening to Goh.

"I owe her so much, and… I deserve your offer so much less than she does," Goh blinked, glancing once more towards the hedgerow, "So, please. If you're looking for an apprentice… I urge you to consider Dawn instead of me."

The Headmistress felt the stylus roll through her fingers as her mind mulled over Goh's counter-proposition.

Goh waited anxiously for the lady's response, and after a few seconds, it came. Matilda didn't turn around to answer the boy.

"I'll consider it."

He hadn't realized it, but a faint smile was on Matilda's face as she took her leave.

Goh sighed, wanting nothing more than to reunite with Dawn and Grookey. Sure enough, as he walked past the hedgerow and around the corner of the gate, Dawn was leaning against the shrubbery, and was entertaining both Grookey and Piplup.

As his shadow came around, Dawn took notice and glanced at her side. She instantly smiled.

"There you are!" Dawn huffed, "Man, you two were talking forever!"

Goh chuckled, rubbing the back of his head, "Sorry! It was… quite the conversation!"

The girl smiled at Goh, giving him a thumbs-up, "Well, be proud that you managed to speak to Headmistress Matilda herself! I'd give so much to speak to her!"

The boy smiled at his friend, "Well, maybe that prospect isn't too far off."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Dawn tilted her head.

"Piplup?" Piplup mimicked Dawn's expression.

"It's a long story!" Goh then got a good look at the orange evening sky, the sunlight giving the surrounding clouds a warm, yet solemn pink glow; it was another reminder that the time he and Dawn had left was ticking away, "Wow… it's getting late."

At this, Dawn's upbeat demeanor began to fade, the smile still holding on her face even as her heart began to ache, "R-Right. And you've gotta leave tomorrow morning, right?"

Goh nodded, "Yeah. Gotta catch that train to the airport."

The two stood there by themselves. For what seemed like a minute, not one word was uttered by either of the Pokémon trainers.

Piplup and Grookey gave each other worried glances as both Dawn and Goh avoided each other's gaze, the two Pokémon giving low and worried chirps and roots over the souring mood of their trainers.

Then, Dawn perked up, and nosed over to Goh, "We still got one more night at the hotel… so let's make it count!"

"Well… you've got a point! What do you have in mind-"

Grabbing Goh's arm, Dawn began to pull him along the sidewalk, "No need to worry! I have a feeling you'll like my idea!"

"Piplup! Bubble Beam on those bushes!" Dawn called out, thrusting a hand out towards the pack of shrubbery.

"Piiip-lup-lup-lup~!" the small Water-type Pokémon blasted out its attack, scattering leaves and branches as the bubbles pierced into the bush and popped apart inside. Almost instantly, a flurry of the Hearthome Resort's wild Pokémon in the nature reserve scattered out, running in every single direction.

"There, Goh! A Cherubi!" the girl pointed towards one Pokémon in particular, the creature sporting two little round bodies with a dark-pink hue.

"I see it! Pokéball, go!" Goh let loose his capsule, and effortlessly snagged the Pokémon before it could react towards the incoming object, the ball snapping shut after wiggling once, twice, and thrice, "Got it!"

Even though Dawn had come up with the idea of getting Goh into the contest with her to force him to take a break from catching Pokémon, there was a difference between having the boy take a break, and coming back from Sinnoh empty-handed. The resort's nature reserve turned out to be the perfect last hurrah for Goh to advance towards his goal, even if Dawn had limited the incursion to an hour.

Of course, she'd help him out with it. Admittedly for Dawn, it was pretty fun to assist the overjoyed boy.

"Nice going!" Dawn cheered before spotting a trio of Pokémon buzzing around above, "Up there! Combee!"

"I see 'em! Go!" the Pokémon catcher threw a wicked curveball, and managed to snipe one of the unaware Bug-types from the air, snagging another successful capture before catching the falling Pokéball, and turning back to Dawn, "And if there's Combee… there's bound to be-"

"Zzzzzt~!" A dark cloud loomed above the trainers and their Pokémon, the group staring at the massive swarm of Combee congregating overhead.

"Woah," Goh could only say as the gigantic, buzzing, and angry wall blotted out the setting sun just as it dipped below the horizon, parting ways for the much larger and imposing leader of the pack to hover forwards.

A chill ran up Dawn's spine, "Wow… I forgot how scary Vespiquen are when they're glaring right at you!"

Even as the intimidating leader of the hivemind sized up its opponents, Goh unhooked a Pokéball, and gave it a toss into the air, "Inteleon, let's go!"

A flash of white, and the slick and suave Water-type was outside once again, earning an overjoyed reaction from Piplup.

"Inteleon, how about we do one more appeal move and catch this Vespiquen?" Goh offered to his Pokémon partner, who nodded and slickly grunted, "Leon."

At this, Dawn immediately recognized Goh's plan, and gave a pumped-up grin in response, "We're with you, Goh! Right, Piplup?"

"Lup-lup!" Piplup patted its chest, ready to do its part.

"Inteleon! Piplup!" Dawn and Goh pointed up towards the swarm of Combee, "Scatter Shot!"

With a bound into the air, Piplup corkscrewed just as it did in the final battle against Empoleon and Garchomp, firing off its Bubble Beam in every direction to spread out the volatile bubbles towards the cloud of defending Bug-types.

Then, with masterful aim, Inteleon chose its bubble, and fired its Snipe Shot.

In an instant, multiple blistering volleys of reflected and dividing spears of water impacted against the swarm, knocking down scores of Combee in seconds, and creating an opening towards the queen of the hive. Tossing a Pokéball towards Vespiquen, Goh shouted another order to Inteleon, "Snipe Shot!"

Inteleon took aim once more, and bullseye'd the Pokéball, sending it hurtling past the recovering cloud of Combee. The capsule made contact with Vespiquen, took the queen inside, and snapped shut, falling to the ground.

The Combee stared at the Pokéball as it locked up, signaling the successful capture. Looking amongst themselves, the Combee shrugged in the best way an armless and shoulderless Pokémon could, and scattered off in random directions.

Goh walked over, and snatched the Pokéball off of the ground, turning back to Dawn and Piplup with a smile, "Alright! That was great, you two! Inteleon as well!"

"Aww, no need to worry!" Dawn giggled as she waved a hand.

"Luuuup…" Piplup was elated as it, once again, absorbed the compliments like a sponge.

Before Inteleon could react, out of the corner of its eye, the tall and slender Pokémon spotted a light-blue shape emerging from a bush. Pointing at the Pokémon that had just come out, Goh and Dawn spotted the creature as well, both of them instantly scowling.

The wide-jawed Pokémon patted its belly, "Gible."

"YOU!" Goh tightened his grip on the empty Pokéball he was saving just for this little runt.

"Wait, isn't that- hey! You're the reason I had a Pokéball thrown into my face!" Dawn angrily pointed at the small Dragon- and Ground-type.

"After it!" Dawn and Goh both shouted, causing the Gible to run off on its little stubby legs with the two Pokémon trainers in hot pursuit.

It was night by the time Dawn and Goh arrived back in their hotel room, with Piplup and Grookey immediately diving for their respective trainer's beds. With a backpack full of Pokéballs, Goh set the carrying satchel against his dresser, and kicked off his shoes.

"I wonder how many Pokémon we caught out there?" Dawn giggled as she lay down on her bed, relishing the somehow still-comfy mattress, "I think I lost track after twenty!"

"Yeah, something around there! Thanks, Dawn," Goh chuckled, also laying down on his bed, "You were such a great help!"

"Ah, no need to worry! That was a ton of fun!" Dawn turned over on her bed, then pointed a finger at Goh, "But you'll promise not to overdo yourself from now on, right?"

The boy smiled, nodding sincerely at Dawn, "I promise."

"Good."

The two lay on their beds, staring at the ceiling, hands clasped together.

Dawn blinked.

She stole a glance at Goh when he wasn't looking. This was Goh's last night with her in Sinnoh. Sure, he'd likely visit again sometime, but… when would that be?

No matter the time, she'd definitely miss being by his side.

Would he miss being by hers?

Dawn inhaled as she got up from her bed, and walked past Goh, "I'm gonna take a shower and get changed in the bathroom, since you seem content on your bed."

Goh's eyes lay on Dawn for a split second before he quickly shook his head to come back down to earth, and nodded, "S-Sure thing."

Once inside, and with the door locked, Dawn slipped out of her everyday outfit, and switched on the shower, wincing as she entered too early and was greeted with cold water, gradually warming up to a comfortable temperature.

The girl behind the shower curtains, alone with her own thoughts, sighed as she tidied up herself. Dawn shampooed her hair, smiling as she thought back to everything she went through in the days leading up to the contest, and everything that happened during. She giggled to herself as she remembered how many times she had to stop Goh from sneaking away to catch Pokémon.

Turning off the water, the girl dried herself off, then slipped into her pajamas. Stealing a glance in the mirror after she wiped the fog off with the hand rag, the girl's slate gray eyes gazed back at her.

Her fingers gripped the edge of the sink, tightening as Dawn muttered to herself, "I… I don't know if I can tell him."

The girl sighed as she brought herself away from the mirror, and exited out the door.

In her pajamas, Dawn walked back into the hotel room, and motioned to Goh, "Bathroom's yours."

"Cool," Goh got off of his bed, and entered the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind him. Her hair still a little damp, Dawn nestled into bed with Piplup, and looked at the empty bed of Goh's.

She felt that it was an ominous symbol of some sort.

The girl waited and waited for Goh to finish his pre-bedtime routine before he eventually came back out, his hair damp as well, and dressed in his pajamas as well.

Goh caught Dawn's gaze this time, and smiled at the girl.

"Night, Dawn."

Dawn replied with a smile, hiding the creeping heartache that was clawing in her chest, "Goodnight, Goh."

The light turned off.