In the two weeks that Dawn has been shadowing Elesa, she has been taking the time to attend Elesa's fashion shows as well other attractions like Pokémon Musicals, being sure to take advantage of her time in Nimbasa City (though, she has not dared to enter the amusement park after that last night with Paul).

"So, Dawn," Elesa begins, approaching Dawn with a warm smile, "I've seen glimpses of your talent in the Hearthome Collection. Paris sent over an editorial featuring your creations. Impressive, I must say. But I want to see what you've been up to since then."

In Elesa's spacious studio, Dawn nervously adjusts her sketchbook, filled with designs inspired by her recent adventures and Pokémon encounters.

"I've only been working on a few designs since then," she admits sheepishly, her fingers twirling with the orange pencil. Dawn hesitates for a moment before pushing her sketchbook over to Elesa, who leans over the other side of the table.

Elesa's eyes light up with genuine excitement as she examines Dawn's sketch, while Dawn explains that it was her attempt in capturing the essence of Paul's Torchic evolving into Combusken.

"This is exquisite! The energy, the transformation captured in the fabric swirling - it's magnificent."

Dawn blushes with pride at Elesa's reaction. But before she can thank her, Elesa's eyes are already trained onto another colored sketch.

"Ooh, then, what's this? It looks very . . . cyberpunk."

Dawn follows Elesa's curious gaze. Oh!

Heat rises to her cheeks. "This one is inspired by Paul's Luxray. I participated in a contest with him once back when he was a Luxio."

The design consists of a sleeveless, black catsuit. The bodice in the center is blue, along with a ring of yellow around its boatneck. The bottom half is bolder. The garment is specifically a "catsuit," as the two-toned, blue and black boots are attached to the jumpsuit, flaring all the way up to and out of her hips with a strip of yellow on each side, to represent the rings of yellow around Luxio's ankles.

Elesa studies the sketch, her eyes shining with delight. "Wow, Dawn. You may only have three designs, but I see how far your range can stretch."

Elesa leaned back, studying the sketches with a thoughtful expression. "Could you stitch the fabric and make the article of clothing after designing?"

"Uh." Dawn blinks, puzzled. "I've only done it once, but I'm sure I can do it again."

Elesa purses her lips. "I want to color my hair black, but it doesn't feel enough on its own. I think I'm yearning for a style overhaul, a fresh image that embodies reinvention without losing sight of myself. I want you to make me an outfit that captures that essence."

Her jaw drops. "M-Me?"

Elesa, however, pays no mind to Dawn's surprise. "Of course, I don't expect you to do this for free. I will compensate you handsomely."

"Wait, no, no! That's not what I mean!"

Elesa tilts her head, amused. "Then, what do you mean, sweetie?"

Dawn, still taken aback by the unexpected offer, cannot help but feel a surge of excitement and trepidation. "Um, I... I'd be honored, Elesa. Truly. But there are so many established designers you could approach," she points out. "Why choose me?"

Elesa leans forward, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of curiosity and determination. "I've been observing you, Dawn. Your dedication to capturing the essence of Pokémon in your designs is something special. You're not just following trends; you're telling stories. I want you to push your limits, expand beyond the Pokémon-inspired pieces. Call it the final result of your little fellowship with me." Her smile is confident and it encourages Dawn. "I believe in your potential. I see a unique perspective in your designs that I haven't found elsewhere."

.

A few days later, Dawn nervously enters Elesa's fashion studio, carrying her a garment bag covering her latest creation. As her heart pounds with anticipation, Elesa awaits her with a welcoming smile.

"Dawn, darling, you're right on time," Elesa greets her, her eyes sparkling with excitement. As promised, she dyed her hair black a few days ago, so today, her newly colored hair is pulled into two crimped braids that frame her face. "I've been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Have you brought the design you've been working on?"

Dawn nods, her hands trembling slightly as she unzips the garment bag and carefully unveils the outfit inside.

"This is it," Dawn says, her voice filled with a mixture of nerves and pride. "I've poured my heart and soul into this design, inspired by your Pokémon and your impeccable sense of style."

Elesa lets out a gasp, her hand flying to her chest. "Oh, Dawn, this is . . . " She trails off, too taken by wonder to find her words. The garment is a stunning creation, a masterpiece of fabric and design that perfectly captures the essence of Elesa's Electric-type Pokémon.

Dawn swallows nervously, but clears her throat. This is her design, her work - she needs to maintain confidence and believe in her design. "I know you wanted me to expand beyond Pokémon inspired designs, but you asked me to capture your essence. I really couldn't help but notice that your Pokémon are a huge part of who you are. I already felt part of your Zebstrika and Emolga in your current outfit, but you said you wanted to be a whole lot more bolder this time around. So, I really wanted to retain those elements while expanding on your essence."

"Dawn, this is beautiful. This is not something I would have thought for myself and, yet, it's better than anything I could have thought of . . . and so much color! What was your inspiration? …Oh!" Elesa's fingers reach to caress the vibrant, luxurious yellow fur shrug that layers over her ensemble. "The coat looks so luxurious, I love it! May I rack your brain for your thought process?"

Dawn's fingers also touch the soft faux fur. Its plush texture and vibrant color makes a bold statement that commands attention.

Dawn smiles fondly. "When I saw you battle Paul, the image of you hugging your Mareep after the battle was just preserved in my memory. I really wanted to include that in the design. As for the rest of the outfit, the color scheme is an ode to your Zebstrika's blue and yellow eyes, as well as your Emolga."

Elesa's outfit consists of a chic two-piece ensemble. The crop top features a striking design with bold geometric patterns, while the matching miniskirt is attached at her midriff with a sleek buckle, creating a seamless and fashionable silhouette.

In Dawn's other hand, she holds up a pair of slippers. Elesa's footwear is equally eye-catching, with shoes of two different colors: one red and one blue.

"The footwear is a little more subtle. The combination of red and blue adds a dynamic contrast, similar to Zebstrika's striking appearance of black and white."

Elesa excitedly decides to try on the outfit, nearly snatching everything from Dawn's hands and dashing to a folding changing screen in the corner of the room. Dawn anxiously waits for her to step from behind the screen, her stomach twisting both in nervousness and excitement.

After what feels like hours, Elesa steps from behind the screen and in front of the mirror. Her eyes widen in delight as she takes in the dress. The crop top and miniskirt, attached at the midriff with a buckle, create a seamless and cohesive look, the mismatched colors create a contrast that adds an unexpected twist to her ensemble, and the fur shrug adds a touch of glamor and warmth to Elesa's new look.

Elesa carries Dawn's vision even better than imagined.

"This is . . . breathtaking. It is me," she breathes, her voice filled with awe. "You've captured the essence of me and my Pokémon in this design, Dawn. The colors of the fabric, the attention to detail - it's sheer perfection."

"Elesa, I'm so glad you love it," Dawn says, her voice shaky with emotion.

She watches as Elesa carefully examines every seam and stitch, her expression filled with pure admiration and joy. Tears of happiness and relief prick at the corners of her eyes at Elesa's praise, and her heart swells with pride. She poured her heart and soul into this design, hoping to create something that would not only showcase Elesa's beauty, but also honor her bond with her Pokémon.

Remembering something, Dawn suddenly reaches into her knapsack to bring out her sketchbook. She pulls out the mechanical pencil hung on the spiral binding of the book and flips to the sketch of Elesa's dress.

"I want to keep some elements of your current outfit." Dawn drags the pencil along the length of one of the antennaed-earmuffs. "I don't know if you can get headphones like these made, but the antennas remind me of your Zebstrika."

To her surprise, Elesa's eyes mirror her own, as they begin to fill with tears. "Oh, Dawn," she cries out, "you've truly thought of everything! You have the soul of fashion design within you!"

Elesa envelops Dawn in a warm embrace, her coat enveloping them both in a cocoon of comfort and warmth.

"Thank you for giving me this chance," Dawn responds in a mumble, quickly wiping her tears to avoid getting her shrug wet. "Your support and encouragement mean the world to me and I couldn't have done it without you."

In that moment, surrounded by faux fur and fabric and fashion, Dawn realizes that she has found not only a mentor, but also a friend in Elesa - a friend who believes in her talent and has given her a chance to define her own path in the world of fashion.

.

When Dawn does not accept any payment from Elesa, she gifts Dawn a device.

Curiously, Dawn looks it over while Elesa explains that it is an Xtransceiver, a communication tool that allows for multiway video calling. As Dawn marvels at the device, Elesa helps her unlatch the Pokéch from her wrist and replace it with the Xtransceiver.

Dawn immediately calls her mother to test it out.

Elesa is excited to talk to Dawn's mother and recounts the events of the past few days, describing how pleased she is with Dawn's work.

"I think it would definitely be worth your time to visit Kalos and attend some fashion workshops there," Elesa tells her, after they disconnect the call.

"I would love nothing more than to do so, but the Wallace Cup is coming up in Johto. I'd like to focus on my contest dreams for now," Dawn shares.

Elesa beams. "This is the perfect time then! We have a contest here in Nimbasa tomorrow, and another one in two days in Castelia City. I'd love to see your performance."

Elesa, along with Cheren, comes to watch Dawn at the Nimbasa City Pokémon Contest. She loses in the finals, but instead of feeling embarrassed in front of her newfound mentor, she holds her head high and smiles. No need to worry.

Elesa and Cheren only have nice things to say, both expressing their excitement at Dawn's appeal and battle rounds, and wish her the best of luck at the Castelia City Pokémon Contest tomorrow.

Cheren also tells her something interesting. He informs her about the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup and asks if she would like to participate, explaining that there are limited spots available, so he would have to register her immediately. It is in Lacunosa Town, which Dawn recognizes to be near Undella Town.

"The Marvelous Bridge is normally the fastest way from here, but it's been closed for the past few weeks. You would have to travel by boat, the Royal Unova, but I imagine that would be more convenient for you as you have the contest in Castelia City tomorrow anyway."

Her mind wanders to Paul - there is a chance he may participate as well, as he tends to use these sort of events to train his Pokémon. As soon as the thought pops into her mind, an immediate, resounding, "Yes," escapes her lips.

"Wonderful!" Cheren exclaims. "We can fill out the paperwork for you now and I will submit it tomorrow."

The paperwork does not take long to fill out, and Dawn expresses her gratitude to Cheren before he flies back to Aspertia City. Once he is gone, however, the smile drops from her face and her arm suddenly weighs heavy from the X-Transceiver strapped around her wrist.

She briefly thinks about calling Paul to ask him about the tournament - but she has no idea what Pokémon Center he is in, so she calls Cynthia instead to tell her about it.

Cynthia is as warm and as inviting as always, offering her villa for Dawn to stay in. "I'll be in Virbank City for a few days, but my butler, Jarvis, will take good care of you."

.

The next morning, Dawn arrives in Castelia City by bus. She starts her sightseeing by watching the sunrise at Northeast Street Port, taking in the view in front of the Skyarrow Bridge.

She has the Castelia City Pokémon Contest in a few hours and wants to spend the rest of the time exploring the streets as much as she can before then, so after sunrise, she decides to get breakfast at a quaint cafe at the waterfront to feed herself and her Pokémon.

The city skyscrapers are so tall, that Dawn has to crane her neck and still can barely see the tops of the buildings. The tallest buildings in Hearthome and Jubilife are not as nearly half as tall. Even the view of the Castelia Skyline from the Nimbasa City Ferris Wheel could not give her the same taste of the city as she is getting now.

The streets are bustling, with people rushing to get to their destinations. She feels like an outsider, slowly strolling through the streets. Some are rude, nearly pushing her out of the way. Some smoothly fast-walk around her. But mostly, the people here are in their own little worlds. No one cares - not about the tourists, not about the weirdos, not about the fashionistas, not about the suited professionals, and not even about the ones roaming around in their pajamas.

Dawn finds it oddly reassuring.

So, she continues to peruse through the avenues, the shops, landmarks, the coffee shops - and stops by to grab a world-famous Casteliacone.

She even wanders into the local gym at one point.

"Welcome to the Driftveil Gym! This is for you!" A man hands her a Fresh Water bottle. "My name is Clyde and I'm the guide of this gym! Gym Leader Burgh uses Bug-type Pokémon. Between you and me, he - "

"Um, actually," Dawn cuts in, her voice bashful, "I am not interested in fighting the gym leader. I actually wanted to ask if you guys had a challenger named Paul come in to fight Burgh. Purple-haired guy." Maybe she can ask him if he is participating in the tournament.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! A small voice in her head berates. What is she going to do when Paul sees she has stalked him here?

"Uh, we had a Paul with purple hair come in a few days ago."

So, she is too late. What was she thinking? Paul is never in one place for too long and acts quickly. He must be getting his third badge by now already.

Suppressing her frown, Dawn thanks him and exits the gym.

While wandering through the streets, she stumbles upon a cafè called Cafè Sonata. She sits inside, sipping on a lemonade, and listens to a guitarist play a sweet melody that slightly uplifts her spirits.

(Unbeknownst to her, this song will become familiar a few days from now, when she, Ash, Iris, and Cilan encounter Meloetta.)

.

The Royal Unova cuts through the gentle waves of the Titanic Ocean, carrying Dawn towards her next destination.

She rests her chin upon elbows folded against the ship's railing. She watches in awe as the ship passes beneath the majestic Skyarrow Bridge, its arches stretching into the sky like open wings. If it is not for that, she almost would feel as though she is on the ship to Slateport once more.

The depressing implications of that thought quickly causes her to remove herself off the railing.

As she walks along the upper deck, Dawn's mind wanders back to the moments she shared with Paul during their travels together. Though Dawn's Pokémon have been keeping her company, she has admittedly been a little bored. Paul did not really talk much, but she misses having him around. She misses his stoic presence, his unwavering determination, and the way he has pushed her to be a better trainer, among a few things.

As if on cue, her X-Tranceiver buzzes on her wrist, interrupting her reverie. Dawn's heart skips a beat as she glances at the incoming message from Cheren. With trembling fingers, she taps on the attachment, revealing her registration for the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup.

Excitement and anticipation surge through her as she scrolls through the document, but it is creeped by a semblance of anxiety. She scans the list of participants, her eyes searching desperately for a familiar name.

"Please, let him be there," she whispers to herself, her heart pounding in her chest.

Ash

The first name is a pleasant surprise. She would assume that Ash was in another region by now. A wave of nostalgia washes over her. She is looking forward to reuniting with her old friend and travel companion, eager for the chance to possibly battle him in the tournament.

But her excitement wanes as she continues down the list, her heart sinking with each passing name.

Burgundy

Cassie

Cilan

Dawn

Geraldo

Georgia

Horatio

Iris

Kenton

Manning

Marris

Ramone

Shepherd

Simeon

Trip

She sighs woefully. No Paul. "Damn," she mutters, disappointment clouding her mind.

Where would he be right now?

Just as she resigns herself to the fact that she won't be seeing Paul at the tournament, a sudden blur of a head full of blond hair smacks her in the forehead. With a yelp, she stumbles backward.

There's only one blond person Dawn knows who always runs into her like a tornado. And it is the exact same way Barry had, literally, run into Dawn back both on Lily of the Valley Island and in Slateport City.

"Barry, come on," she groans, rubbing at her aching forehead. "I'm going to fine you this time!" She opens her eyes and points at him, but her voice falters as she realizes it is a girl, and not Barry, who has bumped into her. "Oh, I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else."

Before her is a blonde girl, who lifts herself up off the floor and adjusts her hat on top of her head, bearing an expression that is a mix of apology and amusement on her face. "Here I was about to say that my eyesight's getting sore and that I need glasses, but you mistook me for a guy. I can see why, though. After all, Barry and I really do look alike."

Dawn blinks in surprise, still reeling from the unexpected impact. "You know Barry?" she asks, her curiosity piqued.

The girl nods, a warm smile gracing her features. "Yep, he's my cousin - our dads are brothers. I'm Bianca, by the way."

Dawn's surprise turns to delight as she realizes the family connection. "Wow, what a small world! It's nice to meet you. I'm Dawn," she replies, extending her hand in greeting. That explains their collision.

"So, Dawn, you're from Sinnoh, then?"

"Yes! I'm from Twinleaf Town, just like Barry. What about you?"

"Oh, I'm from Nuvema Town."

"Awesome! Do you know Cheren then? He's the new gym leader of Aspertia City!"

Bianca blushes before confirming that Cheren is one of her closest friends.

As they exchange introductions, Dawn can't help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling within her. As she looks ahead to the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup, perhaps this unexpected encounter is a sign of new adventures to come in Unova, even if it has to be without Paul.

Bianca, who is headed to the Abundant Shrine to do research for the famous Professor Juniper, amicably offers to lead the way through Reversal Mountain, as Dawn is new to the region.

For the next few hours, they travel together. Dawn sometimes can't catch the things Bianca very hurriedly talks about, but she catches some things her research with Professor Juniper, her strict father, Barry (though, out of respect for Barry, Dawn has to stop Bianca before she reveals much about his secret relationship with one of Professor Rowan's assistants) about Cheren (who Dawn believes Bianca is harboring a secret crush on), and her friend Touko. She senses Bianca's struggle between low self-esteem and trying to be more confident.

Dawn answers Bianca's questions about herself, but refrains from talking about Paul, in case it goes back to Barry, to Kenny, or even worse, Ursula, and then the rumor mill starts from there. It is very difficult, though, to evade a chatty Bianca.

"Um, I don't think I caught what you said about your friend Touko," Dawn says quickly, before Bianca has the chance to ask more about her Hoenn travels, "what is she up to now?"

Bianca's face falls. "We don't know where she is. She's been chasing after her rival, N." Dawn looks on curiously as Bianca's eyes darken and her voice turns ominous. "They seem to share an . . . interesting relationship. I don't know him, but Cheren says he's weird. We think he has something to do with Team Plasma."

"Team Plasma?" Geez, every region really does seems to have their own villainous team of sorts, Dawn thinks to herself, as Bianca goes into Team Plasma's campaign for Pokémon liberation, and they discuss its fallacies.

"I think Touko knows more than she lets on about N and Team Plasma, but she won't say."

"I hope she's safe," Dawn murmurs, recalling her own run-ins with Team Rocket and Team Galactic.

Bianca frowns. "Touko has always been so brave. She has a knack for running in head first to save the day and she always succeeds. I still worry for her though."

After hearing that, Dawn feels horrible for bringing up Touko in the first place.

When they reach the end of Reversal Mountain, they part ways - Dawn is a short walk away from Undella Town and Bianca is off to investigate the Abundant Shrine. She wishes Dawn the best of luck in her contests and hopes to see her soon. Dawn wishes her the same and hopes she finds Touko and N soon.

When Dawn finally makes her way to Undella Town, she finds herself at the beach.

She pulls off her boots and socks, throwing them haphazardly into the sand, and runs straight into the waves crashing against the shore.

She closes her eyes and smiles to herself, As the water creeps over her shins, she inhales deeply, the salty breeze carrying memories of her brief time with Paul on this beach, as well as her recent journey with Paul in Hoenn.

.

Dawn has been staying in Cynthia's villa for two days now.

When Cynthia arrived at the villa on the second day, she asked about Paul and their Umbreon and Espeon.

"Oh, I'm actually not traveling with Paul anymore," she answered in a small voice.

Cynthia thankfully did not press her about it and, instead, informed her of some good news. Ash has acquired all eight Unova badges and that he and his friends are also arriving at the villa shortly. Ah, yes, Dawn recalls seeing Ash's name on the participant list for the tournament.

She and Piplup are so ecstatic at the news that they wait at the villa's large balcony for the rest of the morning, waving at their plane as it comes by.

.

The sun dips low, casting a warm glow of orange and pink hues over the tranquil Titanic Ocean.

Paul strolls along the Coastal Road Promenade in Nuvema Bay, the echoes of crashing waves and the cries of Wingull filling the air.

When he approaches the edge, the sight that greets him takes his breath away. The promenade unfurls, revealing the Castelia City skyline on the horizon. The city lights dance like distant stars and glitter across the water.

He leans against the railing, sighing quietly at the horizon as the gentle sea breeze ruffles his hair. As he gazes out over the ocean, a pang of nostalgia hits him.

It has only been a few days since he and Dawn parted ways, but the absence of her presence already lingers like a silent ache.

Paul's gaze drifts to a passing flock of Swanna, gliding over the water. The rhythmic sound of their wings reminds of his own Honchkrow and Dawn's Togekiss, constant companions during their trainers' shared adventures.

Memories of the past six months flood his mind - the camaraderie they developed, Dawn's infectious enthusiasm, the shared battles and victories, and even the occasional disagreements.

A twinge of regret settles in his chest. The realization that he misses Dawn's presence hits him harder than he anticipates.

With a sigh, Paul pushes himself away from the railing and continues down the promenade. As he walks, the resolve in his eyes betrays a longing for the company he grew accustomed to - a subtle, begrudging acknowledgment of his connection with Dawn that left a mark on him.

As Paul walks away from the cityscape, he wonders whether the city lights on the horizon are supposed to be a beacon guiding him forward or a reflection of the warmth he is leaving behind.

End of Safe Travels, Part II: Of One Variety.

As the average New Yorker, straight out of the city, I do get very territorial and stickler about my city. I disagree with the mapping and conceptual basis of certain locations in Unova, such as Nimbasa City. Though it lines up mapping wise to be based on Midtown Manhattan, it features elements resembling both an amusement park and a train park like Coney Island. All of this was just to say that the last part of the chapter is an ode to my own neighborhood, which, instead of Coney Island, I do genuinely think Nuvema must geographically and conceptually be based on. This is the end of Part 2. It was a short one, but I hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks for reading and see you next month for Part 3. You can come back down here and find the link, otherwise be on the lookout for my upload announcement on the Ikarishipping Discord, my Twitter/X, and my Tumblr.