We are now caught up to the AO3 version.
I'll do my best to finish Chapter 9 soon. It is a big one as we will get into the Rubello Town Contest and begin the climax of Part 1.
I did post some teasers on my X/Twitter, TurnaboutWriter, for this chapter, and maybe I'll post some for some future chapters, if you'd like to follow me there or on my Tumblr. :)
Also, I am in search of a beta reader - I really think it will help speed up the updates. If anyone is interested, please reach out!
8. Of Mornings and Nights
The sun shines brightly, and Dawn's arm instinctively moves to shield her eyes.
Brightness . . . is it morning already?
Her eyes flutter open to the early morning Hoenn sun. From its position, it seems to be 8AM. So early. So she closes her eyes once more and decides she'll sleep for another 30 mins or so. She cuddles Piplup, who snores softly under the crook of her arm, and rolls over to go back to sleep.
"Nice hair."
A soft "Huh?" falls from Dawn's lips as she opens her eyes, squinting, and shifts her body to the sound of the voice. She blinks a few times until her vision refocuses to clearly see Paul sitting at their foldable table, a paperback in one hand, a carton of orange juice in another.
She is still not entirely used to waking up to Paul as her travel companion.
Releasing Piplup from her grasp, she sits up from the sleeping bag and stretches. "Good morning," she replies in a yawn, ignoring his comment.
"Hi," he answers back quietly, his eyes not leaving the pages of his book.
A pang of pity hits Dawn as she thinks about his Torterra, who is getting treated for serious burns from Paul's battle yesterday with Flannery.
"I'm starving," Dawn comments in a hoarse, sleep-filled voice. "Are you hungry?" She goes through her mental catalog of her favorite breakfasts made by Brock.
He shakes his head. Dawn is about to express her sympathy to him, understanding the feeling of not wanting to eat while his Torterra is not well, but her stomach beats her to it, growling loudly, almost as if she feels even hungrier on his behalf.
"Let me make you breakfast!" she suggests. He does need to eat and this is her chance to show off the omelet-making skills she picked up from Brock!
"No, thanks."
"Aww, come on, Paul! It'll taste good, I promise. Please - "
Something flashes from the corner of Dawn's eye.
"Pi, pi!"
"Huh?" Was that a Pokémon?
Paul tilts his head quizzically at her. "What's wrong?"
"I thought I heard something from behind the trees," she tells him, looking back at the source of the noise curiously.
His attention is brought to the trees as he stares for a moment. "It's probably wildlife. We should let it be."
Dawn nods quietly in agreement before standing up and stretching away her fatigue. In spite of Paul's refusal, she is determined to make breakfast for them both.
She decides to make savory crepes - the recipe is her father's, but she employs Brock's technique in cooking them on the portable burner. As she hums to herself and prepares the food, Paul wordlessly scribes in his notebook.
"Are you writing out your new strategy to beat Flannery?" she wonders aloud, as she plates their breakfast,
"Hmph. Isn't it obvious?"
Geez, isn't he a ball of sunshine this morning, Dawn thinks sarcastically."I just don't get one thing."
"What now?" he asks, irritated now.
She walks over to Paul, balancing their food in her hands before setting it on the table. "You accepted your loss with Wattson so easily but are determined to defeat Flannery. You're not even fighting her for a badge. Why the rematch?"
"Because I can," he answers simply, and Dawn realizes that she will not be getting an answer out of him.
As they eat in silence, she wonders what Paul's motivation could be behind skipping a victory against Wattson. It is not until she retraces her steps to his original goal that she determines a potential reason.
Brandon did not have Pokémon with Fire type moves. Who is to say that he might show up to his and Paul's next battle with one?
Suddenly, Paul pushes his plate and arises from his seat.
"I've waited long enough. We should visit Torterra now."
"Yes, of course." Dawn quickly swallows down the last of her crepe and stands as well.
Dawn could tell him that he could have gone to the Pokémon Center to visit Torterra without her, but she does not want to. A strange warmth spreads in her chest at the thought of him waiting for her. Does he know that she wants to see Torterra, too? Or does he want her there with him?
"Thank you for the food," he says quietly, breaking Dawn out of her thoughts. "I've never had anything like it before."
A slow blush creeps onto Dawn's face, as she shyly looks down and collects their plates. "Of course. I'm happy you enjoyed it! It's a Kalosian specialty."
"Phan, phan!"
A plate immediately slips out of a startled Dawn's hand.
Before it can collide with the ground, however, Paul swoops in and catches it.
He groans. "It's just wildlife, Dawn. How could you be so careless?" he scolds, as he lifts himself from the ground. "We'd have to buy new plates with your contest money if you broke these."
On any other occasion, Dawn would not let his comment about replacing their china on her dime slide, but she is enraptured by the sound. She turns on her heel and steps towards the tree.
Paul tries to call her back but halts as he sees her reach into her knapsack for a poffin.
"Aha!" Dawn exclaims, as a Phanpy comes into view. "You were watching us all morning, weren't you?"
"Pi, Pi!" It makes a happy sound with its trunk.
She holds up the poffin and throws it towards Phanpy.
"Pi!" Happily, it takes the snack.
Dawn uses this moment to grab a fresh Pokéball, but to her misfortune, Phanpy seems to take notice and scampers away with the poffin.
Annoyed, she bemoans why it keeps coming to her if it doesn't want to get caught. "It feels like a taunt."
"Don't you have a Mamoswine already? You wouldn't even need a Donophan," Paul points out.
She pouts. He may be right - it probably is not meant to be.
He sighs and shakes his head. "We need to clean up and leave."
"R-Right!"
Dawn asks Paul about his strategy while they clean and pack everything into their backpacks. Gastrodoon will stay as an entrant, but Espeon was not strong enough to handle Flannery's Pokémon, and Torterra is still injured, having not been able to combat his Ground type attacks against the Fire types.
"That leaves me needing two Pokémon since it's a three-on-three battle."
Piplup suddenly leaps onto a boulder next to Paul. "Luuup."
"Huh? Piplup?"
"Pip, pippip, lup!" He waves his flippers towards Paul, and then himself. "Piplup."
"You . . . want to help Paul?" Dawn slowly realizes. It is very sweet of Piplup to offer, but Paul . . . using her Pokemon? Huh. She supposes that it is not too far fetched, considering she won the LaRousse City contest with his Luxio.
Paul shakes his head. "Thanks, but no thanks. That would be an easy and unrealistic way out." His phrasing confirms Dawn's suspicions that this might be, in fact, about Brandon.
Immediately, Torchic leaps up to the boulder next to Piplup.
"Tor, torchic!"
"Luuuup!" Piplup agrees suddenly.
Paul stares at Torchic intently. "You want to participate?" he guesses.
"Chic!" He nods eagerly.
Dawn, seeing the hesitation on Paul's face, interjects, "Come on, Paul! It would be a great way for Torchic to get some experience, don't ya think?"
He nods curtly. "Maybe so." He gently places his palm on Torchic's warm head as he focuses his attention on Dawn. "We can train Torchic with Quilava today and see if it can learn Dig. But that still leaves me needing another Pokémon."
"No need to worry," she states cheerfully. "We're done cleaning up, so we can go to the Pokémon Center now. We can visit Torterra, I can switch out a Pokémon for Quilava, and you can call Reggie and ask him to send a Pokémon over."
He nods, pleased at her suggestion. "Not a bad idea."
But their plans are slightly derailed when Dawn sees the same Phanpy outside of the Pokémon Center.
And this time she will not try to stall with a poffin.
But before she even has the chance to reach for the Pokéball on her trainer's belt, she hears Paul's shout.
"Go, Pokéball!"
Almost in slow-motion, a Great Ball flies over her head and taps the Phanpy. Three shakes, and it is captured.
She is momentarily stunned into place, unable to move, but as soon as realization registers, she whips her head around.
" You ," she seethes at Paul, a finger pointed at his chest, "stole my Pokémon."
Paul shrugs, brushing past her to pick up Phanpy's Pokéball.
Dawn nearly growls at him.
He tosses the ball in the air a few times, taunting her. "You were complaining that Phanpy is playing hard to get. You didn't stop and think that it wants to come with me instead of you?" He sneers, sparking more anger within Dawn.
"Why would it want to be with you?" Dawn is aghast at the idea. "It hasn't expressed interest in you at all! I was the one feeding it poffins and trying to catch it."
Wordlessly, Paul releases Phanpy from the Pokéball. "Phi!" Phanpy cries in happiness and snuggles its tiny trunk against Paul's legs, while he crosses his arms over his chest and smirks at Dawn.
Leaving her and Piplup absolutely flabbergasted.
Paul pulls out his Pokédex and analyzes his new Pokémon. "You are exactly what I was missing," he mutters to himself.
.
"Torterra, please stay in your Pokéball and rest. There is no need to worry, I will win this."
Dawn hides a smirk at Paul's inadvertent use of her catchphrase.
Torterra lifts his head up weakly but his voice is strong. "Terra!" he insists with a grumble.
Paul rolls his eyes, but affectionately rubs his Pokémon's shell. "I won't fight you on it." However, his wary eyes flit to Dawn. She is wearing that cheerleading outfit again. "If he feels unwell at any point, please have him return to his Pokéball."
"Got it." She nods. "Good luck, Paul."
"Tor . . . torterra!"
"Thanks."
Torterra watches the whole battle intently alongside Dawn, Piplup, Eevee, and Quilava.
The fight goes well, with Gastrodoon taking out Torkoal, and Phanpy beating Flannery's Magcargo named Meg.
But an odd vision strikes Dawn towards the end of Paul's battle against Flannery.
It happens after Torchic digs up from the ground, when Flannery reflexively orders her Rapidash to use Flamethrower, and Paul has Torchic leap over Rapidash.
That is when Torchic evolves.
At that moment, Dawn does not see the result of pebbles and debris, from where Torchic, encased in a shining bright light, has dug up, flying into the flamethrower from the impact of Dig.
Instead, she sees a dress, glowing brightly at the bodice - maybe with the help of lights. Its train is licked by flames of orange and red, encrusted strategically with crystals, creating an illusion of rolling down the flamethrower dress.
And then, Combusken emerges from the luminescence.
.
"Stupid, troublesome girl," Paul mutters under his breath.
"Excuse me? You're the stupid one who got us lost!" she bites back, nearly dropping the lantern in her hand.
"I'm not arguing with you on this. I followed the shortcut." He holds up the map with Flannery's scrawl all over it.
"Then why aren't we out of this tunnel yet?"
He grows silent, while Dawn mentally exclaims, Ha!
Dawn was hoping to make poffins tonight from some Liechi berries she saw and quietly picked from a tree outside the tunnel, but at this rate, it seems like they'll have to spend the night in Rusturf Tunnel.
She suppresses a shudder at the thought of sleeping in the dark, cold cave. Maybe they were better off going around through Mauville City to get to Verdanturf Town instead of taking an obscure shortcut . . .
Paul suddenly grabs Dawn by her collar and pulls her towards a set of boulders.
She struggles against him as he throws them both behind a boulderstone, with her back up against the rock and his body shielding hers. Their close proximity slightly unnerves Dawn. "What are you - "
"Shh." He holds a finger up to his lips. "There are grunts up ahead," he informs her quietly. In spite of the darkness, Dawn is surprised she is able to see his gray eyes shine with concern.
Dawn's head tilts towards the trail they were just on, and sure enough, she can hear faint, but angry voices. Understanding dawns her face. "Neo Team Aqua?" Dawn recalls their encounter with the grunts while traveling with Mr. Briney and Peeko.
With Paul's brows furrowed in confusion, he bends his torso around her and the boulder to get a glimpse ahead. "No, they look different. They're dressed in red, but Team Magma disbanded a while ago. I wonder if these guys are a Neo Team Magma."
"Neo Team Magma?" she wonders aloud, prompting Paul to shush her again.
"Be quiet!"
"Sorry!" she whispers back sheepishly, as they hear the crunch of footsteps against gravel.
Paul and Dawn exchange a glance before they both peer over to see.
As Paul stated, figures dressed in red walk in a huddle. The male and female grunts that lead them seem to be in conversation.
"Are we certain that the information about this green meteor is correct? Didn't Primal Team Magma previously fail to carry out such a mission to erupt Mt. Chimney?"
"Yes. Primal Magma was not able to retrieve the meteorite previously due to a professor destroying it. But this meteorite would hold the purpose of becoming a mega stone."
"Mega stone?" Dawn mouths to Paul quizzically, but he is lost in thought, so Dawn turns her head back towards the grunts.
The male grunt is confused as well. "Why would Neo Team Magma need a mega stone? Groundon's Primal Reversion can't be done with a mega stone - we would need to retrieve the blue orb for that, no?"
Dawn sees the female's eyes glint evilly in the glow of the torch she holds. "The blue orb is already ours, but why not give ourselves the ability to mega evolve?" Suddenly, her face sours. "And we must do so quickly to get an edge over those buffoons, Neo Team Aqua, so we can rule over the land!"
Dawn cannot hold back her gasp, and Paul sharply glares at her.
"We have to do something to stop them!" she whispers hurriedly. Neo Team Aqua was much easier to handle, especially since they were on a boat, but these guys look like they will put up more of a fight.
"It's impossible." He grits his teeth, helpless. "They're five grunts and we're only two people - we'd be outnumbered," he mutters back. "It looks like they want to set up a camp here for the night."
"We have to get out of here before they see us!"
Dawn stealthily takes a step back, mapping out the best way to escape without the grunts noticing.
"Ach, achoo!"
The grunts freeze. "What was that?"
Dawn whirls to Paul, stunned. So much for him trying to shut her up.
"Really? You couldn't hold back a sneeze?" she hisses. And he got irate with her for gasping a few moments ago.
"I think I touched your Liechi berries," he mumbles, pointing to the pouch sticking out of Dawn's already stuffed knapsack. "When did you pick those up?"
Another grunt speaks up. "Oh, if someone heard our plan, that would not be good at all."
"Before we got in the tunnel," Dawn speaks quickly, irritated at why he is bringing it up when they should be getting out here. The grunts are already alarmed.
He tries to clear his throat but fails. "I'm allergic," he rasps, before letting out another sneeze.
"Oh, Mew." Dawn slaps a forehead to her head.
"Who is there?" the voice of the female grunt calls out from behind the boulder.
Oh, Mewtwo.
They do not have many options left and the trepidation makes Dawn's heart beat erratically. Her eyes flicker once to the direction of the grunt's voice, once to the pathway from which the grunts came from, and finally lands on Paul, who nods once.
Letting out a shriek, Dawn grabs his hand and bolts.
"After them!" the grunt cries.
They hear the sound of running feet behind them, causing a spike of adrenaline that makes Dawn push her feet against the ground faster, with Paul catching up to her.
As they race away from the grunts, Dawn mentally lists out their Pokémon, trying to determine who can help them right now. Flying doesn't seem to be an option, as the cave ceiling is too low. Her eyes quickly flit to the hand grasping the lantern, clattering from the fast movement. The flame is still intact, but she still has Quilava to replenish it in case it extinguishes.
They need to get Neo Team Magma off their tail and locate the exit fast to get Paul medical attention. Dawn sneaks a glance at him - he is not yet breaking out into hives, but the tip of his nose is a little red and his cheeks are a bit swollen. His hand that she has gripped onto tightly feels warm as well.
As if he can read her thoughts, he pants out. "I have . . . a remedy that Reggie packed for me. It's . . . somewhere in my backpack."
"Oh, thank Arceus. You really . . . should have told me your allergies!" Maybe talking is not the best way to conserve breath while running, Dawn notes.
"I'm sorry . . . I didn't know it was part of Travel Partners 101!" he bites back, though he is breathless, too.
"Whatever the case . . . we need to get somewhere safe!"
But as soon as the words are out of her mouth, she falters.
There is a mouth of a cave up ahead, leading to somewhere. But it is covered with rocks and boulders.
Paul tugs on her hand upon seeing the panic on her face, before reaching into his pocket with his free hand and tossing out a Pokéball.
"Phanpy, we need your help!" The Pokémon comes out with a cry, landing on Paul's head.
Paul points at the pile ahead of them. "Phanpy, keep on using bulldoze until those rocks loosen and fall."
Phanpy scampers ahead until it reaches the wall and leaps. "Phaaan, pi!" The ground shakes as Phanpy hits the ground, but the impact is only enough to shake the rocks on top.
"Again!"
Dawn glances behind her shoulder. "We're not going to make it! They're coming!" If only she had transported another Pokémon for Quilava instead of Mamoswine.
Paul struggles to move some of the bottom boulders out of the way with his swollen hand, hoping to unsettle the foundation of the pile. "Please, Phanpy, once more!"
"You can do this, Phanpy!" Dawn cheers, as she moves to kick and push away some rocks as well.
More boulders fall.
Upon hearing the grunts coming in closer. Paul growls in frustration. "Espeon, standby!"
"Espi!"
He points to the big boulders Phanpy struggles to impact on top. "Use Psychic to move those and as many other boulders as you can!"
The red gem on Espeon's forehead glows brightly. Its body and some of the top boulders are encased in the same red aura, and to Dawn's surprise, Espeon is able to move most of the top boulders out of the way, and they come rolling down, which Dawn, Phanpy, and Paul dodge. It does so a few more times before it collapses from fatigue and Paul has to call back the Pokémon to its Pokéball.
"Thank you for your help. Time to rest." He stares fondly at the Pokéball for a moment before returning its gaze back to Phanpy.
Phanpy nods and leaps into the air to Bulldoze once more.
And success! Phanpy is able to shake out a few more rocks at the top to reveal a view of the sky.
"Yes!" Paul pumps his fist, made with his good hand, into the air. "This is the best we're going to get," Paul shouts, as he thanks Phanpy and has it return to its Pokéball, "so we'll have to climb up and out."
Right then, the grunts surround them.
Dawn is ready to call out her Pokémon for battle - even if they are outnumbered, they have to try and create a distraction and get out of there - but before she and Paul can get out their Pokéballs, a booming laugh echoes from behind the grunts.
"Bwahahah, Maxie would be disappointed. You little runts aren't even the real deal!"
Everyone turns to the source of the voice. From the glow of the grunts' torches, Dawn sees a large figure looming over them.
"Fufufu, time for ye scurvy Neo knaves to face a keelhauling!" The mystery man waves them. "Get out of here, ye little scamps!"
"Who are you?" Paul calls out.
"But what about you?" Dawn cries.
"I got these simps, girlie. Steer clear and keep yer nose clean, scamps. Now scram!" he shouts.
He did not have to tell Paul and Dawn twice. They nod at him before turning to the boulders. Paul hoists himself a particularly big one, taking the lantern from Dawn and extending his hand to her.
Cursing herself for wearing a skirt, she takes his hand and lifts herself onto the rock.
Dawn waves at their savior, even if he cannot see her motion in the darkness. "Thank you!" she calls out.
He does not answer, but guffaws to himself.
.
With the hand-me-down mortar and pestle she got from Brock, Dawn sits cross-legged on the ground to mash the Leppa berry leaves and the other ingredients Paul provided into a paste. Quilava sits beside her, his fiery body providing light for her.
They are just on the outskirts of Verdanturf Town, but Dawn did not want to wait till they got to a Pokémon Center for Paul to have his remedy. His right hand was still so swollen and red.
She holds up the mortar. "What do we do with this?"
Paul sighs, kneeling down to be at equal level with Dawn, and holds his hand out. "I have to ingest some and leave the rest on my hand overnight."
So Paul takes a spoonful of the remedy, grimacing and shuddering as he swallows it down - Dawn stifles a laugh at that - and then, Dawn spreads the rest of the paste onto some Combee wax paper and wraps it around his hand.
"And, voila!" she announces, after securing the paper around his hand with some of her hair ties. "Hopefully this helps, but I think we should ask Nurse Joy to check on it in a few hours." It was already 10PM, giving them an hour to reach the Pokémon Center before curfew, and morning was not too far away.
So they begin the walk to Verdanturf Town. They do not get very far when a man comes across their path.
Quilava scuttles closer to the figure, so Dawn and Paul can get a look at who it is.
"Dawn!"
Even in the darkness of the night, Dawn can recognize the voice. "It can't be."
The man steps forward, and his face illuminates in the light of Quilava's flame.
"Yes, it is you, Dawn. I thought it was you! I have not seen you since the incident at Spear Pillar."
Spear Pillar? Paul takes note to question her about it later.
"Looker!" she exclaims in surprise happily. "It's great to see you again."
"What a pleasure to see you again as well." He smiles at Paul as well, reminding Dawn that Looker and Paul are not acquainted with each other.
"Oh! This is Paul, my travel companion. Paul, this is Looker - he is a member of the International Police."
International Police, huh? "Hello, Officer Looker." Paul extends his good hand out to the officer.
"Ah, hello." The officer looks sheepish as he shakes Paul's hand. "Looker is my codename." His gaze flickers towards Paul's wrapped hand. "Are you alright, Paul?"
He nods, but cannot hide the embarrassment on his face. "Yes, just an allergic reaction." His back straightens as he lets go of Looker's hand. "Though, I'd like to bring your attention to something a little unrelated."
Huh? Dawn suddenly worries, what is he going to tell Looker?
He nods eagerly. "Yes, yes, please do share."
"We had a run in with a band of grunts that call themselves Neo Team Magma tonight in Rusturf Tunnel."
Oh, of course! Looker is someone they should report tonight's events to, being he is a member of the police.
His eyes darken. "Neo Team Magma? In the Rusturf Tunnel? I should have known." His words are clumped together so fast, Dawn almost does not register what he is saying. "Excuse me, I must take your leave now." He moves to leave in the direction of the tunnel, Dawn grabs his arm.
"Wait, Looker! They're probably gone now. It's been an hour since we escaped and someone in there was fighting them off while we were trying to get out of there."
Looker sighs in frustration. "So very close I was. I could have finished the job today itself." He begins muttering to himself quickly, running a hand through his hair and pacing.
"Excuse me, Officer Looker. May I ask a question?"
Looker stops pacing and smiles politely at Paul. "Of course."
"What are these Neo teams about anyway? I thought Team Magma and Aqua had been put to a stop already."
Looker explains to them about the rise of the two teams after the heads, Maxie's and Archie's failures almost two years ago. Neo Team Aqua is in search of their leader, Archie, who has disappeared, and they are harmless for the most part, but Neo Team Magma wants to revive their missions and awaken Primal Groudon.
"I was in the area and had gotten some intel that they'd be meeting here tonight to hand off some meteorite, but I suppose I was wrong."
"Primal Groudon," Paul says in awe. "That sounds very dangerous, Looker. If we can be of any help, please let us know." Dawn's shocked face is ignored by Paul as Looker chuckles.
"I do have a . . . trump card, if you will, up my sleeve. So it can and will be handled without me being needed when the time comes." He smirks, almost like he knows an inside joke, to Dawn and Paul's confusion. "But it is very kind of you to offer. Thank you." He bows and Paul bows back.
Officer Looker is kind enough to drive them in his car to the Pokémon Center, and also pay for their food at the restaurant attached to the Center. He bids them farewell, as he is leaving for Unova on another mission in a few hours.
.
"I still can't understand why you're insisting on participating in only one contest. You and Luxio could have won Verdanturf if you entered."
Paul shakes his head. ""If you and Quilava lost in the finals, there's no way I would have stood a chance."
Dawn twists her fingers nervously as she walks beside him in the huge mall, feeling both flattered and nervous at how highly he thinks of her skills. She opens her mouth to counter his words when the rumble of a stomach growling interrupts.
And it's not hers this time.
Dawn stops in her tracks, as her eyes flit to Paul, who wordlessly walks ahead.
He must be famished after his battle with Wattson.
"Hey, Paul," she calls out.
He halts and turns around to Dawn. "Hm?"
"Let's get something to eat," she suggests.
He raises an eyebrow. "Yes, I assumed we were walking towards the food court before you stopped me."
"Huh? There's a food court here, too?" Dawn is incredulous. This place truly has everything they could ever need.
He nods. "Every city, even indoor, needs dining. Wattson must have thought everything out. And May did say that Mauville Food Court has excellent food, did she not?"
"Oh yeah." Dawn slaps a palm to her forehead. "I totally forgot! She said the ramen was the best here."
And so, they eat lunch from Mauville Ramen Bowl. On any other day, Dawn is sure Paul would have jumped to battle the trainers challenging him for their seats while they waited for their food, but his loss to Wattson must have drained him whole.
"Dawn," Paul calls out suddenly, watching her messily slurp at her ramen. Wasn't he the one famished and tired from his battle? He didn't realize that she must have been hungry too after sitting through his long battle.
She looks up from her bowl sheepishly, before setting it down on the table. "What's up?"
He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. "While we're here, we should see if we can find a Dawn Stone for your new Kirlia."
"A Dawn Stone?" She is puzzled for a moment before realizing his misunderstanding. "No, Paul, Kirlia is female, not male . . . Though I'm starting to doubt the effectiveness of these evolution items anyway," she grumbles to herself, looking away.
Upon seeing Dawn's frown, Paul states, "You're still worried about Eevee."
She sighs and pushes her bowl away from herself, her eyes trained on the leftover floating vegetables in the broth. "He still hasn't evolved yet. Your Eevee evolved so quickly with the sun shard, so why isn't the moon shard working on mine?"
"Professor Rowan and Cynthia did say to be patient," he reminds.
"I know," she acquiesces, her shoulders dropping in resignation. "I was just hoping to have him evolve into Umbreon for my upcoming contests."
He shakes his head. "That won't be a problem. Honchkrow can train with Eevee in the nights. When is your next contest?"
Her eyes flit back to his, surprised by the kind gesture. "That would be great, thank you. The contest is two days from now in Slateport City," she informs him. "And then comes the Rubello Town Contest." She looks at him pointedly.
He nods, silently affirming her last comment. "We'll have to bike there tomorrow then." Suddenly, he rises from his seat. "Are you done eating? I need to get a chore out of the way." He grimaces, confusing Dawn.
She sets down her chopsticks and her eyebrows furrow. "A chore?"
An hour later, Dawn smiles wryly as Paul steps out of the fitting room. "Finally got too hot for the Sinnohan, huh?"
Paul scowls, tugging at the collar of his new short sleeved shirt. "Damn the Hoenn sun," he grumbles under his breath.
"Pip lup," Piplup moans in agreement, as his flipper reaches up to wipe the sweat off his face.
