Very eventful chapter ahead - I am a little nervous but also excited to share it with you all! It is one of my favorites, though, and I hope you love some of these moments ahead as much as I do!

Can never thank you enough, my dear readers!

18. Silver

As Dawn and Paul make their way through Viridian Forest, with the sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of trees overhead, Paul surprises Dawn with a newfound openness. He chats casually, even teasing her lightly when she jumps at the sight of a particularly large bug Pokémon scuttling across their path.

"You're not afraid of a little Caterpie, are you?" He smirks playfully.

Dawn's cheeks flush with embarrassment. "No." She grits her teeth. "I'll have you know - " But before she can fully retort, Paul steps closer, his twinkling eyes meeting hers with an intensity that sends a shiver down her spine.

"You look cute when you're freaked out by bug Pokémon," he says with a chuckle.

Dawn blinks in surprise, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected compliment. There's a lightness to his voice, a hint of something she can't quite place. Is he teasing her, or . . . flirting? It's a realization that catches her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless as she struggles to find the right words.

Before she can respond, however, their attention is drawn to a redhead boy and a girl in a white cap and denim romper engaged in what appears to be a heated disagreement at the edge of the forest.

Dawn's eyes widen in recognition as she recognizes the girl.

"Lyra!" she calls out eagerly, causing Paul to arch an eyebrow at her.

"Really?" he mutters, amusement twinkling in his eyes. Dawn can almost hear his voice teasing her about her seemingly endless connections. She is almost at the same level as Ash, seeming to personally know a lot of people they run into nowadays.

Lyra's face lights up as she spots Dawn. "Dawn!" She rushes forward to greet her with a warm hug, and the redhead trails behind slowly. "It's so good to see you again!"

Dawn returns the hug with equal enthusiasm. "How have you been? And how's Khoury?"

At the mention of Khoury's name, the redhead boy's eyes flash with anger, a reaction not lost on Paul, though he remains silent.

"Khoury is great! He's been researching with Professor Birch."

Dawn, oblivious to the tension, introduces Paul as her travel partner.

However, before Lyra can introduce the redhead boy to them, he turns and stomps away, clearly agitated.

Lyra watches him with a sigh, the expression on her face sheepish. "And that's Silver, my rival," she explains. "He's been a bit . . . touchy lately. Well, more than usual."

"He seems like a ball of sunshine," Dawn comments sarcastically, but her face softens seeing Lyra unsettled. "Is everything alright?" she asks, concern evident in her voice.

The brunette shakes her head. "Not really. You know Gary Oak, right?" Dawn nods. "He and I have been trying to convince him to take on the role of Viridian City Gym Leader temporarily, but he's refusing. Agatha can't keep going back and forth between the gym and her Elite Four position, and Gary can't hold the post any longer either, since he has to go back to Sinnoh to help Professor Rowan." She looks over at Silver with a frown. "If Silver doesn't agree, Nurse Joy will shut down the gym under the jurisdiction of the Pokémon Inspection Agency."

Paul's interest is piqued at the mention of the gym. "That's stupid. If I had the opportunity to become a gym leader, I'd do it for a few years."

"Really?" Dawn is surprised to hear that comment. She considered Paul to be the type who would move straight to a Championship position.

Lyra bites her lip, debating on whether or not to answer, until finally she speaks. "Actually . . . Silver's dad was the previous gym leader, and Silver hates him."

Everyone is silent for a moment as Lyra's words hang in the air.

Paul's expression darkens slightly as he absorbs this new information. "Giovanni? That guy turned out to be the boss of Team Rocket. I fought him once before he was caught."

Dawn gasps in realization, memories of her encounters with Jessie, James, and Meowth flooding back. "Team Rocket . . . I remember them from Sinnoh," she says, her voice tinged with unease. Though the troublesome trio they dealt with were more incompetent, Dawn is sure that the boss of Team Rocket must be a cunning, horrible man, and she feels pity for Lyra's rival.

A blush rises to Lyra's cheeks. "Oh, no. I guess I'm not as subtle as I thought. Yeah, that's Silver's dad," she answers embarrassedly, much to the pair's shock. "The gym used to be a front for his Team Rocket activities until it was exposed two years ago."

As Dawn and Lyra engage further in conversation, Paul's gaze lingers on the retreating figure of Silver, his expression inscrutable. Without a word, he follows Silver into the depths of Viridian Forest, his footsteps echoing softly against the forest floor.

"Huh?" Dawn is surprised to see him walk away. "Paul, wait. Are you . . ." Dawn starts to call out, her voice echoing through the trees. But it's too late. Paul has already disappeared into the shadows, leaving Dawn and Lyra alone.

Lyra turns to Dawn, her voice tinged with worry. "Silver's really stubborn. I'm not sure if Paul can convince him."

Dawn shakes her head, her gaze following the way Paul left. She is unsure if he has gone to even convince Silver, but is certain of one thing. "Paul has always been one to follow his instincts. If he's determined, he'll give it his all."

But a pang of uncertainty tugs at her heart as she wonders what interaction lies between Paul and Silver ahead in the forest.

.

Paul finds Silver sitting on a moss-covered boulder near the edge of a tranquil stream. The sun casts a warm glow over the landscape, as the sound of chirping Pokémon fills the air.

Paul slowly approaches where Silver sits. "How our fathers shape so much of who we are, yet we strive to be anything but them," he remarks, his gaze fixed on the flowing water.

Silver's jaw tightens, but he doesn't turn around.

"Your rival didn't tell us," Paul clarifies quickly, recalling Lyra's panic-stricken eyes when he brought up Giovanni earlier. "I keep up with Kantonian news, so I pieced it together."

After a tense silence, Silver finally speaks, his voice low and guarded. "I trust Lyra. But why do you keep up with Kantonian news if you're not from here?"

Paul swallows the anxiety bubbling up his throat. He could lie, but that's not why he had an interest in talking to Silver. "My . . . father. He is from Kanto," he admits quietly. "I'm estranged from him, too."

Realization dawns upon Silver's face and he leers at Paul. "So, your father is someone big, then," he concludes smugly. "Newsworthy, but not infamous like Giovanni."

Paul suppresses a shudder at Silver's quick, astute observation and averts his eyes momentarily, unable to answer.

"One more thing. My father is estranged from me ." Silver's upper lip curls into a sneer, seemingly annoyed at Paul's extended olive branch. "Our sperm donors may have given us our start, but we choose our own paths."

Paul nods, finally acknowledging the truth in Silver's words, before clearing his throat. "Sometimes, those paths lead us to unexpected places," he says cryptically, now focusing on a different common ground between them.

Silver's eyes flicker with curiosity as he regards Paul. "What do you mean?"

"About that girl, your rival . . . Lyra, was it?" Paul's voice cuts through the air, deliberate and probing.

Silver stiffens, his jaw clenching tightly. "Leave her out of this," he replies, his voice edged with a warning.

Paul finds himself rolling his eyes at Silver's antagonistic reaction. "I already have my own troublesome girl to worry about. You should worry about yours."

Silver relaxes upon learning that Paul has no interest in Lyra, but his lips purse in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Paul sighs, and regret tinges his voice. "I made a mistake once. I thought that having her by my side was a weakness, and so, I parted ways with her."

Silver furrows his brows. "Her?"

"Yeah, her. Dawn." Paul glances towards Dawn, who is a few paces away with Lyra, engrossed in introducing their Pokémon. He is almost certain that the pair of girls cannot see him and Silver standing in the shadows. "I thought she was a distraction, but I was wrong. She's been my strongest support, my most loyal companion."

Understanding dawns in Silver's eyes as he follows Paul's gaze. "And now?"

"Now," Paul continues, a softness in his voice that he rarely allows himself to show, "I know better. I know that having someone who believes in you, who stands by you no matter what, is a strength very rare to find."

There is a moment of silence between them, the weight of Paul's words hanging heavy in the air. Silver's gaze softens slightly at Lyra before he averts his eyes, lost in his own thoughts.

With a nod, Paul turns away, leaving Silver to contemplate his words.

.

Paul returns to Dawn and Lyra in silence, his thoughts swirling as he processes his conversation with Silver.

Surprisingly, Silver has followed him, but stands at a distance in the wild grass.

Lyra announces, "We'll catch up with you guys in the city," before jogging over to him.

Dawn and Paul watch silently as Lyra throws her arms around Silver. Despite his stoic demeanor, Silver surprises them both by placing a kiss on Lyra's forehead before they turn and walk away, disappearing into the depths of the forest.

"What is it about rivals and romance?" Dawn muses lightly as they watch Lyra and Silver depart.

Paul freezes, as Kenny's face flashes into his mind.

He reminds himself that it's been six months since he and Dawn last saw each other. Anything could have happened in that time.

It's entirely possible that Dawn and Kenny have grown closer, perhaps even developed or confessed romantic feelings for each other.

"Why . . . why do you say that?" Paul's voice is strained as he forces the words out, his heart pounding in his chest.

Dawn shrugs nonchalantly, her gaze fixed on Lyra and Silver in the distance. "You know how Drew and May are rivals? They weren't like Lyra and Silver," she explains, waving to where the pair kissed from a distance. "But it's pretty clear that they like each other. It was fun to travel with them in Johto, but I felt like a third wheel sometimes."

Paul's heart skips a beat at her words, relief flooding through him at the realization that Dawn's attention isn't focused on Kenny. "I thought you were going to talk about you and Kenny," he admits, trying to keep his tone light despite the tightening in his chest.

Dawn wrinkles her nose distastefully. "Kenny? Gross. The rival romance just isn't my thing. Travel companions on the other hand . . . " Her voice turns sly as her eyes twinkle with mischief. If he can flirt, so can she.

"Good to know. I'll pass along the message to Ash," Paul teases, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he looks at Dawn. Despite the lingering doubts and uncertainties, he finds comfort in their banter, a flicker of hope igniting within him.

Dawn's face wrinkles in disgust. " Eww . That might be even worse than Kenny. Please don't say that again."

Paul barks out a laugh at that.

As they make their way out of the forest and into Viridian City, Dawn can't shake the weight of the mystery conversation between Paul and Silver. Despite his aloofness, she senses his unease. There is something important on his mind, something that's been bothering him for a long time . . . and she worries that the important topic she must bring up to him now has something to do with it.

"Lyra told me something interesting while you were talking to Silver," Dawn begins tentatively, her voice breaking the silence between them.

Paul turns to her, and though his expression is guarded, his eyes are curious. "And what's that?"

"The Battle Pyramid is on Mt. Silver right now," Dawn reveals, watching for his reaction.

Paul's silence speaks volumes, and Dawn can sense his inner turmoil. "Are you ready to face Brandon?" she probes gently, her eyes searching his as she waits for a response.

But as Dawn's question hangs in the air, a voice echoes in Paul's mind - Reggie's voice, filled with determination and unwavering support. " You have to face your fears head-on, Paul ," he had said to Paul years ago when he lost to Brandon, his eyes filled with a mixture of pride and concern. " You can't let them control you ."

Taking a deep breath, Paul meets Dawn's gaze, his expression serious. "I'm . . . not so sure anymore," he admits finally, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Dawn's brow furrows, her concern growing. "What's that supposed to mean?" she presses, gently. Perhaps, this is related to whatever he spoke about with Silver.

Paul hesitates, his thoughts racing as he struggles to find the right words. Finally, he takes a deep breath and opens up to Dawn.

"When I suggested to Reggie that he should take my place to battle Brandon at the last second in Hoenn . . . " Paul takes a deep breath, steeling himself as he continues. "It was not just about Reggie. It had to do with . . . what happened with my mother."

Dawn's eyes widen in surprise. Her heartbeat quickens as it hits her that he is about to open up about his past to her. But a question swirls in the back of Dawn's head: what does Brandon have to do with his deceased mother? "Your mother?" she probes gently.

"Yeah. When she died, Reggie had to cut his Pokémon journey short to take care of me," Paul explains, his voice tinged with sadness. "He was so close to closing his journey - you already know that he had fought all of the Frontier Brains and only lost to Brandon. But after our mother died, he had to stop his journey to stay home and take care of me."

Dawn's gaze softens, her eyes filled with compassion as she listens intently to Paul's words. Her heart aches at the pain in his voice, the weight of his guilt evident in every word he speaks. "Paul . . . " she murmurs softly, at a loss for words.

Paul takes a deep breath, his gaze searching Dawn's face for understanding. "I've been living with this guilt for years," he admits quietly. "And when I suggested to Reggie that he should take my place to battle Brandon . . . it wasn't just about giving him the opportunity to bring his journey full circle. It was about easing my own guilt, about making up for all the sacrifices he's made for me."

She is already aware of this part of Paul's past, thanks to Reggie, but his confession holds the burden he's been carrying alone. Dawn reaches out to him, her touch a comforting reassurance in the midst of his turmoil. "Paul," she whispers, her voice filled with compassion. "There is nothing wrong with that. You don't have to carry this burden alone."

Paul meets her gaze, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and pain. For a moment, they simply hold each other's gaze.

But as the silence stretches on, a knot forms in Dawn's stomach, a nagging feeling that there's more to Paul's story than he's letting on. She can sense that there's something else he's hiding.

Before she can voice her thoughts, however, Paul's expression shifts, his eyes clouded with a mixture of frustration and resignation. "So, now that Reggie finally beat Brandon," he explains, his voice filled with frustration and guilt, "why should I battle him now? I don't need to carry the torch anymore."

She shakes her head, her expression serious. "After all you've done, how can you say that? It's not about carrying a torch. This is what you've been working hard towards! You can't give up now!" she urges, her tone pleading.

He snorts bitterly. "Dawn, you say you've been feeling like a failure? Well, I feel like a loser," he confesses, the bitterness seeping through his words. "How many times do I have to humiliate myself in front of that man?"

Dawn lets out a gasp of shock, and she strikes the urge to shake some sense into him by the shoulders. Her chest tightens at his self-deprecation. "No, Paul, you're far from a loser!" she insists, her voice filled with conviction. "You're a strong, determined trainer who has come a long way. I see a guy who has opened up his heart and mind to better himself, not just as a trainer, but as a person. It's not fair to you, your Pokémon, or even Reggie to stop now! You said it to me once, that one setback doesn't define you," she insists, her voice filled with conviction.

Paul's gaze softens at her words, but his doubts remain. "I'm being stupid," he mumbles hopelessly to himself, his gaze fixating on the ground.

This much turmoil over a lost battle seems unreasonable for anyone, least of all Paul. Seeing him like this feels so bizarre. She has seen his anger, his stress, his defeat, his happiness - for crying out loud, she's seen his flirtiness today - but she has never seen him pace around like a lost puppy looking for guidance.

" . . . There's no point."

Like a taunt, the memory of Paul's rageful, yet hollow eyes haunts Dawn again, gnawing at her like an unsolved mystery. With that, frustration creeps into her pity, "Do you even hear yourself right now? Why have you been so insistent on beating Brandon, on destroying him in battle, only to give up on it at the last minute!?" she demands. This, she is convinced, has more to do than with just Reggie.

Paul snorts bitterly. "How can I explain? What am I exactly trying to avenge? And what's the point if he doesn't even know?" Paul's voice trails off.

Her blood runs cold at the despair in his tone. "Know what?" she asks, her voice barely a whisper. Has her secret suspicion been true all along? Does Paul hold a deeper grudge against Brandon than originally thought for stopping Reggie's competitive career? Dawn's mind races with questions, but before she can voice them, Paul's next words hit her like a ton of bricks.

"What will beating him in battle do when he doesn't even know that I am his son?"

Thirty seconds of silence go by as the words repeat and process in Dawn's mind.

"What will beating him in battle do when he doesn't even know that I am his son?"

And then, the wrecking ball finally hits and her eyes pop out of their sockets in realization.

"W-W-Wha . . WHAT ?" she shrieks loudly. "His son ?"

Her outburst causes Paul's eyes to flash angrily. "Exactly what you heard!" he snaps, his frustration bubbling over before he sighs heavily, resignation washing over him. "He's my dad!"

The revelation leaves Dawn speechless, her mind reeling with the implications of Paul's words.

She recalls the last time they were all together. Snowpoint City, the Battle Pyramid - but even then, not Brandon, neither Paul, nor Reggie acknowledged the relationship they share.

Paul turns his face away. "He doesn't know about us," he adds quietly, sensing Dawn's thoughts.

She swallows before finding her voice again. "Y-You . . . you and Reggie both?" she asks, her words barely a whisper.

Paul nods grimly. "Yes."

"How is that possible? He didn't have one, but two children with your mother. If not you, shouldn't he at least have known about Reggie?" Dawn's confusion is evident in her tone, her mind racing to make sense of it all, but as soon as his name is out of her mouth, Dawn realizes the connection to Brandon with Reggie's name, too. Reggie. Regi. Like the Regi Trio.

His jaw tightens at her words, his face unreadable. "My mother went to Kanto to tell him about Reggie, hoping to bring him back . . . but returned alone and pregnant with me instead."

The pieces fall into place as she replays certain memories from the time Paul battled Brandon in Snowpoint City, as well as the other times Brandon was mentioned throughout their journeys together, by both him and Reggie.

"Paul, I'm so sorry," Dawn murmurs, feeling her heart breaking for Paul and the pain he's had to carry.

Paul bows his head in defeat. "Reggie says to let it be. It doesn't matter if Brandon is our father or not, we have each other and that's what matters," he says, his tone filled with a quiet resolve.

Without hesitation, Dawn reaches out to him, her own hands clasping his in a gesture of comfort and solidarity. She brings their joined hands to her chest. "I'm here, too," she whispers.

Paul's eyes meet hers, and for a moment, they share a silent exchange of understanding.

Without a word, he pulls her into a tight embrace using his free arm. Though Paul does not cry and - as much as he yearns to - does not kiss the top of Dawn's head as Silver did with Lyra, he breathes in Dawn's soothing scent of florals and bubbles from Piplup's morning attempt to smooth down her hair.

Dawn returns the embrace, holding him tightly as they stand together under the dim streetlights of Viridian City.

.

They sleep in the same bed that night.

Paul's eyes do not leave Dawn's cherub, sleeping face, her breathing steady and calm as she sleeps soundly beside him - and though it is a complete contrast to her normal chaos, her charm and beauty remain.

"I feel strangely relieved after telling you about Brandon."

As the words slip out of his mouth, Paul truly feels as though the weight that had been pressing down on his heart for so long feels lighter now. He feels a strange sense of relief after sharing his burden with her - for almost a year now, guilt spread through every time he looked at Dawn's piercing eyes, filled with so many questions that he never had the courage to answer, until now.

A smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "You know, you talk so much that it's actually easiest to talk to you when you're sleeping," he whispers, his voice carrying a soft tone of fondness.

The seraph laying next to him lets out a soft snore in response, blissfully unaware of the conversion she partakes in.

He chuckles softly, a warmth spreading through him at the sight of her serene expression. He has never teased her about her light snoring before, but maybe he will do so in the morning.

"I'll fight him next time, I promise," he vows in a murmur, resisting the urge to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ears. "He said that I need to keep control of my own emotions. I just need to detach myself from what he is to me. I don't think I'm ready yet, but I'll get there."

As Paul speaks, he feels a pair of eyes watching him from across the room. He pushes his body up slightly, and sure enough, Piplup, who rests on the other side of a sleeping Dawn, stares at him with wide, curious eyes.

Blushing slightly at being caught, Paul scowls at the Pokémon. "Go back to sleep," he orders sternly.

Piplup snickers knowingly.

Paul growls softly in frustration and throws himself back into the covers, though not before sneaking one last glance at Dawn's sleeping form.