After dropping off Steven at the Jubilife grand hotel, Luna returned home on Blimp, her driftblim. Thinking on her way home, she came to realise how nice Steven had been. Of course, they met before, but he was highly suspicious of her before, not knowing who she really was in Kalos, and being forced to trust and battle alongside her to take down team Flare. It was the first time they actually spent time together normally. It was nice. Something about him made her feel warm inside. She didn't like it. she already knew she had developed a bit of a crush on the Hoenn champion.
When she arrived home it was practically her dinner time. Julia questioned her where she had been and she explained her afternoon to her, neglecting to mention the gift she was preparing for Jule.
"So…Steven Stone huh?" Julia said knowingly. Luna looked up from her plate at the dinner table. Julia chuckled.
"What?"
"Nothing…nothing." Julia said with a smirk. Luna ignored her nanny and continued eating. Julia had made sweet and spicy honey garlic tofu. Her favourite dish, she absolutely adored spicy food, it was quite common in Sinnoh. Some say it was because it helped keep its people warm during Sinnoh's harsh cold weather.
"He's just… a friend." Luna thought about her own words. Were they friends? Surely they were, right? She didn't really know him, and they didn't have very much in common. However he did give her a mega stone.
"A very generous friend, I see." Julia went on, with a smug look on her face.
"Yeah yeah, whatever." Luna swiftly changed topic. But before long, dinner was over.
The next morning, Luna got up extra early to prepare for the meeting. Some days ago Cynthia had briefed her on it and Luna had prepared some notes and ideas to propose. She left for Jubilife early, skitty in her arms as Blimp drifted through the sky in no hurry, north, to Jubilife. That night, she remembered was also the championship dinner at the Pokémon league. Julia had helped her make her own dress for it, but she was nervous for it all the same.
Brushing off the snow, stepping into Jubilife grand hotel, Victor greeted her in the lobby.
"Ah Luna! You're early, wonderful! I was hoping we could get some coffee before the meeting; we have much to discuss." He said, stuffing his hands in his suit pocket, when suddenly a phone rang. It was Victor's. He answered. "Ah hello dear! … yes of course…yes the flight is tomorrow….will do! Goodbye my darling!" He chirped happily into the phone. "My wife," He said to Luna. "She congratulates you on your championship."
"Ah, thank you." Luna still wasn't used to receiving so many congratulations yet.
Victor and Luna reached the top floor where he lead her to a separate room with a small kitchenette, Cynthia was there, pouring freshly brewed coffee. "Ah Cynthia, perfect, you're here! I was just going to brief Luna here on today's meeting." Cynthia smiled warmly at the older man, getting two more cups out of the cupboard.
"Ah that's alright! I already briefed her, I think she's prepared already." She said, pouring coffee carefully. The plumes of steam rose from the three mugs. Victor clapped his hands enthusiastically.
"Oh, perfect Cynthia, simply perfect!" They proceeded to chat for the next half hour about the upcoming spring festival. Once winter was over in Sinnoh, the Battle Park season would begin. The Battle Park was an area in an island northeast of Sinnoh, where some of the greatest Pokemon trainers would gather each spring to compete in the Battle tower. It also coincided with Sinnoh's mid spring festival. The trio agreed that it would have to be massive this year to attract plenty of tourists. It was exciting, and Luna was ready to talk about it in the meeting.
The trio walked down the hallway to the main conference room. They arrived right on time, everybody was taking their seats at the table. Steven's and Luna's sights crossed, he gave her a light smile and then adjusted his tie.
"Well, since we're all here, I suggest we begin. Luna has many new propositions for Sinnoh." Victor announced taking his own seat beside Cynthia. Luna swallowed nervously.
"Well. First of all, I wanted to talk about the old abandoned galactic buildings in Eterna and Vielstone city. In short, I want to transform them into social centres, a space for people to gather, battle, practise, hold events eccetera. The buildings are ugly and take up space that could well be used for other things, like a school for example." Luna checked her notes. "Regarding the big galactic building in Vielstone. I want to transform it, into something like the 'Sinnoh centre'. I want it to be a place where people and Pokémon can come together. Contests are certainly very popular in Sinnoh, we could turn it into a multi-use arena as well. Or a research centre, or something else, I'm not sure. All I know is that everyone hates those old buildings. Something needs to change." The champions all eagerly nodded in agreement. "The second point of order is the midspring festival. It's a big moment for Sinnoh, celebrating the end of the winters and the prosperity of the new year. It always coincides with Battle tower season. I wanted to hold events, festivities, music, performances all over Sinnoh, but especially in the Fight, survival, and resort area. Something to attract younger people." She concluded. Cynthia nodded her head enthusiastically.
"An excellent idea. I can help you out for the contacts." She said.
"I already talked to the mayor of Floraroma town, they're perfectly happy to help out with decorations."
"It seems as if you're already getting started with preparations then," Hala, an island Kahuna said. Luna nodded.
"Sinnoh is known for its history, contests and artisanal craftsmanship, I want it to be the key point of the festival." Luna explained.
"I'm sure Bryron can help with the construction and transformation of the old galactic buildings in Eterna and Vielstone city." Cynthia tapped her chin. "And I'm sure the ribbon syndicate can help out with decorations too. Celestic town must be revived, it would be a perfect place for storytelling to kids."
"I agree. We can hold book presentations at Canalave library, have guest music shows on Jubilife TV, and contest competitions at all levels in Hearthome. Maybe we can put a touristy focus on Pastorias great safari marsh too." Luna said thinking of all the possibilities.
"Oh excellent! Simply fabulous ideas Luna! You must get to work immediately!" Victor cheered excitedly.
Luna's day had been a whirlwind of things to do, the league staff was busy preparing the great hall for a dinner party, everyone rushing around with food and drinks and silk to hang on the walls. It was chaos.
Luna was in one of the league bathrooms, already dressed for the evening, coordinating where to put what and making the final touches to the evening. All the gym leaders and champions would be there, and Luna's anxiety simmered throughout her whole body. She was dressed in a short black dress, with black velvet gloves, winter tights and black mary jane heels. The dress was beaded to show the scene of dialga and palkia banishing giratina to the distortion world, the intricate design glittering in the light of the great hall.
Bertha and Fanny walked in, it wasn't time for people to arrive yet.
"Mon Cherie! You look absolutely fabulous, yes!" Fanny was dressed in a glittering purple and black gown, it was beautiful, her hair was done in a different updo too. Bertha instead was dressed in a simple cream coloured gown, plain and silky. "Cherie! Go get ready, we'll handle the rest from here!" Fanny insisted shooing her away to her league office. There was still some documentation she had to finish up before she was ready to attend the banquet. Tofu flitted around the grand hall, chasing what looked like a tiny joltik. Luna called her over and Tofu lept into her arms.
"Come one Tofu, we've got to get you ready!" Luna squealed to her partner. Back in the Champion's office Luna wrestled on Tofu's peach knitted sweater, the skitty had gotten distracted by papers which were sprawled on the floor. But soon enough, the banquet was to begin, and she had to give an opening welcome to all the gym leaders, important figures and powerful trainers that attended.
Luna took a deep breath before entering the great hall. She pushed the doors open and strutted up confidently towards the stage. People and Pokémon turned their heads as she walked by, eyeing her, some threw up a wave in congratulations. Steven watched her as she made her way through the small crowd. He had been talking to Cynthia but when Luna walked in he stopped, temporarily distracted. Cynthia chuckled, and his attention was brought back to the conversation.
"She's quite something, isn't she." Cynthia said. Steven nervously cleared his throat. "As dazzling as her mother was, I think."
"If I may have your attention!" She spoke into a mic at one end of the great hall. "I want to thank everyone in attendance tonight, from Champions, to league staff, to Gym leaders, to Kahunas. This ceremony may just be a formality, but it means so much to me for you all to be here and share this time with me. Please, relax and have a wonderful evening." Claps echoed across the hall and people raised their glass to the champion, including Cynthia and Steven. Steven's eyes lingered on her as she went to speak with Flint and Volkner, who offered her a glass of champagne.
"Go talk to her." Cynthia said after a while. Steven's head whipped around.
"What?"
"Go talk to her." Cynthia repeated. "Go on." She nudged him, he made no effort to move. "Oh come on Steven, go on!" Cynthia playfully urged him. Again, Steven just rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink. "Fine. If you want to be so difficult." Cynthia's black dress swooshed as she walked over to the new Sinnoh Champion, and grabbed her hand, dragging her over. Steven's eyes widened at what Cynthia was doing, and out of Luna's sight, she gave him a wink.
"Steven and I were just talking about how he found a mega stone in the grand underground?! Isn't that amazing!" Cynthia said enthusiastically.
"Oh yes! Quite amazing indeed. I spoke to the professor this morning after the meeting and even he had no records of mega evolution occurring in Sinnoh! I suppose the grand underground holds more secrets than we imagined." Luna said.
"The grand underground is a fascinating place, I'd love to see more of it." Steven said.
"Steven, didn't you recently purchase a villa in the resort area?" Cynthia asked the man. Steven cursed her internally.
"I…Ah yes. I did. I was hoping to continue my research on stones in the underground before Luna became champion. I haven't really put it to good use yet." Steven explained. Luna's thoughts were fried. Steven had a villa? In Sinnoh? She stayed silent. She didn't know what to say.
"Ah then in that case, you simply must attend the midspring festival in a couple of months!" Cynthia clasped her hands excitedly.
"I will be sure to participate." Steven said with a neutral voice. Luna couldn't tell if he didn't really want to attend or not, despite him saying he would. His face was unreadable.
"Luna! Oh Luna! You must come over; I have Serena on the phone who wanted to congratulate you!" Diantha called, rushing up to the young woman. Diantha was stunning, her black hair was loose, and her white dress was crisp and silky and absolutely stunning.
"Excuse me…" She said to Steven and Cynthia, walking towards Diantha.
The dinner party had only gone on for about an hour, but Luna was exhausted. She leaned against the balcony rail of the grand hall, which looked out to sea. She exhaled, when she heard footsteps. Steven Stone ran a hand through his hair. Luna looked back at him.
"Hey." He said, with a smile.
"Hi." Luna said.
"Tired already?" Steven asked.
"No, just…catching some fresh air." It was cold, Luna was nearly trembling with the icy sea air, but she was used to it.
The two stood in silence for a long while, neither of them needing to speak to enjoy each other's company. Luna thought about the man next to her. He was incredibly handsome, standing in his Black suit and black bowtie. Pink dusted her cheeks as she blushed and shook her thoughts away. Steven was a colleague, no more. There couldn't be more. could there?
"What are you thinking about?" He asked. Luna played the wheel of fortune in her head looking for an answer.
"Pokémon contests." It wasn't the answer either of them had been expecting. Luna faceplanted internally.
"Oh really? You thinking of performing at the spring festival?" No, Luna say no. for Arceus' sake, say no.
"Yes." Luna groaned internally at herself. She was such an idiot.
"Aha, well I'll be sure to come and see you perform then." Steven said with a chuckle.
"What will you do when you return to Hoenn tomorrow?" Luna changed the subject.
"Ah…well, I have lots of work to catch up on, unfortunately." Steven said, rubbing the back of his neck. Luna hummed in acknowledgement. She had lots to do too, not only champion duties but the yarn shop had been closed for some time and they had to reopen soon. "Have you ever been to Hoenn?" The champion asked.
"No." She replied. Silence engulfed them.
"It's nice." He said. Luna laughed.
"That's it?" She asked.
"it's…hot." Luna laughed again. What an odd man. Champion of his region and all he could say was 'nice' and 'hot' about it. Luna leaned back and stretched her back, then went to her position leaning on the balcony rail again. "Hoenn is a splendid region." He said honestly. "You ought to visit sometime." Luna smiled. There it was. A warmth spread across her stomach and in her chest. Something was enchanting about this man.
"Maybe I will." She said with a smile, looking south, towards Sunnyshore city. "Come on. We should head back to the party."