Paul didn't return Lycanroc until we were outside of the Pokemon Center. I thought it seemed unusual for him, but I enjoyed walking along with Lycanroc who now reached my waist after her spectacular evolution. Lycanroc held her head proudly, giving off an almost regal feel as she walked beside me. The battle between Paul and Olivia had proven just how incredible of a trainer Paul was. He used Riolu to take out two of her pokemon and if Riolu hadn't been paralyzed it wouldn't have surprised me if he went on to take out her Lycanroc as well. 

Whereas I could barely take down a Lurantis, I thought sadly but then shook my head. Get it together, Dawn. Both Mallow and Olivia said they were impressed with my performance and Paul has helped me become better at battles. I can do this!

Suddenly my hand dropped down as Paul returned Lycanroc without a word. I straightened and the chains I bought made a scraping sound as they slid around in the bag I was carrying on my other arm. Paul raised an inquisitive eyebrow at me at the sounds and I smiled.

"It's just part of my costume for the showdown on Monday," I said and he turned towards the PokeCenter without commenting. 

I followed him through the doors and after Paul handed over his pokeballs I gave her my four as well. All my pokemon were looking as healthy as ever, but I still liked to double check.

"Are you Dawn?" Nurse Joy asked and I nodded slowly. "I thought I recognized you from the showdown footage. Your performance with Cutiefly was so fun!" she said with a smile which I returned.

"Thank you very much," I said, feeling slightly embarrassed at the compliment.

"Actually, I think I have a package for you," Nurse Joy said, asking me to stay where I was as she bustled into the back room. 

Paul looked down at me and I shrugged, wondering if maybe my mom had sent me a birthday present. I called her last week after the pain of failing my second showdown in a row eased up and she told me that she had actually found some footage online of the showdowns I'd been in. She gave me some advice on possible combinations to try, but she actually seemed pleased with my routines.

"Here you are, another one came just this morning," Nurse Joy said while placing two boxes on the counter, one a thin rectangular box and the other was a smaller square box with festive paper wrapped around it.

"Thank you very much," I said, slipping both of the packages into the bag the clothes store had given me.

"Your pokemon should be all ready to go in an hour or so," Nurse Joy said with a grin and I bowed my thanks to her, turning to see that Paul was already walking towards the door.

"Wait up!" I called after him, jogging over as he walked through the sliding door. "Where are you going?" I asked and he shrugged.

"I usually find a place to read while I'm waiting for my pokemon," he said evenly and I smiled. It had come as a shock to know that Paul read so much; I didn't think anyone would expect him to be a bookworm when you first looked at him.

"Are you going to open your packages?" he asked and I shook my head.

"They're from my mom and Serena so they are probably birthday presents. I'll wait until Friday to open them," I decided, smiling down at how thoughtful they were. 

Paul was silent for a few minutes as I followed him into a small park that had a view of a gorgeous lighthouse on the top of a hill.

"Is there anything I should get you?" he asked quietly and I blinked up at him in surprise.

"You want to get me a birthday present?" I asked incredulously and he scowled at me.

"Problem?" he asked gruffly before turning away from me and I shook my head in disbelief.

"No, there's no problem but.... I thought we weren't friends," I said slowly, tilting my head and shoulders forward so I could try to see his face.

"We're not. But you've been making dinner for us since we started traveling together so I owe you," he said, his voice flat, but he still wouldn't meet my eyes.

"You make breakfast," I retorted, feeling a smile spread across my lips. He turned and glared at me, his deep purple eyes flashing with annoyance.

"You know dinner ingredients are more expensive than breakfast," he growled and I chuckled, amazed that he was actually arguing over whether he owed me a birthday present or not.

"Alright then, let me think," I said, tapping my chin with a finger as I tried to think of something that I would like Paul to get me. 

The thought of Paul actually buying something just for me made me happier than I expected and I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye to see that he was once again stubbornly looking away from me. An idea came to me and I blushed just thinking about it, but then I grinned widely and knocked my shoulder into his upper arm. He jerked away from the contact, turning wary eyes on me and I smiled as sweetly as I could.

"Then I want you to help me pick out a new traveling outfit," I said and he blinked then scowled.

"What's wrong with your clothes now?" he asked and I looked down at my black capris and white shirt with a yellow ribbon.

"Nothing. I just like swapping out my travel outfit every once in a while," I replied with a shrug and he rolled his eyes.

"Can't you think of something else?" he asked gruffly and I grinned, feeling slightly wicked.

"Nope. I won't accept anything else," I said smugly. '

Then I guess you're getting nothing' was what I was expecting him to say. Honestly, as much as I liked the idea of Paul buying something for me, it wouldn't really be satisfying knowing he was trying to pay off a debt with it.

"When?" Paul muttered and I froze in my tracks. Paul kept walking for a few steps before turning and glaring at me.

"Did you...." I started, so shocked I couldn't even finish my question. Paul scowled and folded his arms.

"Did you want me to say no?" he asked with annoyance and I shook my head, feeling my cheeks flush with heat.

"No!" I quickly denied and he rolled his eyes.

"Then when do you want to go?" he asked with a grimace and I shook my head, trying to break free from my shock.

"Well... it might take a while so how about after I battle Olivia? We can go shopping in Malie City when we go to Ula'ula Island," I suggested hesitantly. Paul nodded once jerkily before turning and walking towards a bench on the edge of the small park. 

Paul is actually going to go shopping with me? I thought, walking after him in a daze. When I eventually sat next to him he had already pulled out a book and seemed engrossed in his reading. Glancing at the book in his hand, I realized that it was the same one he had shown me last week that explained the best strategies of teaching new moves to your pokemon.

"Hey, Paul," I said after ten minutes of silence stretched by. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye but didn't put down his book.

"What?" he grumbled and I tapped the toes of my sandals together.

"Why didn't you try using Fightinium Z," I asked curiously and Paul sighed through his nose.

"I was planning to try it on her third pokemon and land a quick defeat," he said dully and I nodded slowly.

"So you knew Riolu would defeat the first two pokemon?" I asked and Paul shrugged.

"It was one of the possible outcomes," he replied.

I had to smile at that. Paul tried to teach me to envision all of the ways a battle could go before you even fought it, but I didn't have enough knowledge of other pokemon to be able to predict all of their different moves and strategies.

We sat side by side silently, Paul reading while I chatted with Serena on my PokeGear. Serena had been sending me pictures of her and Ash visiting places all over Kalos recently since Ash was going around gathering gym badges for the second time. When I told Serena about traveling with Paul and she nearly flipped out, thinking that I had started dating someone without telling her. It had taken an hour-long phone call to calm her down and explain the situation and thankfully she had called while Paul was at the library and I was shopping for a new performance outfit.

Your Mom sent me a clip of your last performance. I was so excited when you used the Fairy Wind trick I taught you! Serena texted.

I grinned, remembering back to when we traveled together and she showed me one of her performances where her Sylveon was able to lift up Serena, herself, and two other pokemon all with her Fairy Wind. It had taken Cutiefly hours of practice to lift me up, but I was glad we hadn't given up on it.

Did I tell you that Cutiefly evolved into Ribombee? I asked and Serena sent me a shocked emoji.

Send me pictures! Have you decided what you'll evolve your Eevee into? 

I stared at the text in thought. So far the only thing I knew was that Eevee didn't love water, but I hadn't been able to see any other hints as to what she would like to evolve into.

"Let's head back." 

Paul's voice interrupted my thoughts and I glanced up at him, quickly grabbing my bag of presents and accessories before following him back to the Pokemon Center. We retrieved our pokemon and headed back to the same campsite outside of Konikoni Island. It was nearly dinner time when we arrived but I really wanted to get to practicing so I made a quick pot of ramen. All our pokemon had been fed during their check ups so I set out a few berries as a snack for them, making a mental note to find the time to make poffins for everyone soon.

After I slurped up my dinner as fast as I could I rounded up my pokemon, who had all been gathered around Lycanroc and were admiring her new appearance, then headed towards our practice area. Once we were there I set up my music player and Piplup created an ice mirror for Eevee and I to practice with.

"Everyone knows what to do right?" I asked and they all nodded. 

I watched proudly as Ribombee and Piplup went over to the river's edge together and Growlithe stood several feet away from all of us. Growlithe was still trying to get Overheat to work, and he had been making some great progress in the last few days. I watched Piplup spew out a few gentle bubbles and then Ribombee's eyes began to glow and the bubbles began twirling in intricate patterns. I grinned and turned to look at Eevee.

"Are you ready?" I asked and Eevee wagged her tail in excitement.

The next few days flew by as my pokemon and I practiced for hours every day. My birthday came and went without any kind of celebration, but I opened my presents to find a beautiful new dress from Serena and a pair of crystal earrings from my mom. Paul surprised me with Bluk Berry oatmeal for breakfast but that was the only mention of my birthday he made. I wondered if he had forgotten his promise to go shopping with me or if he was just busy with his training as well.

Sunday morning I packed up my tent and Paul and I went to the PokeCenter so I could take a real bath and prepare myself for the showdown the next day. To relax myself and not stress about the showdown I spent the afternoon baking poffins in the pokemon center kitchen. After taking a handful of each batch I packed the rest away, hoping that I could use them as a daily snack for at least a week or so for all of our pokemon. To my surprise I actually slept well that night and I woke up the next day determined and refreshed.

"Where is the showdown going to be?" Paul asked as we ate lunch in the pokemon center cafeteria together.

"Apparently it's going to be in the park we went to a few days ago," I said, rubbing Piplup's head affectionately as he pulled himself up onto the chair next to me and eyed the doughnut that I had grabbed.

"And when does it start?" he asked and I shrugged.

"Around seven. But I'm going to head over to get ready in an hour or so," I said and he blinked in surprise.

"It's only two," he pointed out and I smiled.

"Do you know how long it takes to do hair and makeup?" I asked and Paul rolled his eyes.

"I can say confidently that I do not," he responded flatly and I laughed, delighted when I saw one corner of his mouth quirk up slightly.

"Well it takes a while," I said between giggles. He shook his head but didn't make another comment.

"You're going to come watch me, right?" I asked, suddenly feeling nervous and he glared at me.

"You're the one who said I have to," he reminded me gruffly and I felt my shoulders relax.

"Thanks," I said simply and he shrugged.

"My pokemon seem to enjoy the showdowns so I'll be in the back," he said before drinking some lemonade and I nodded in understanding. 

Paul left me to go do some training behind the PokeCenter after he finished his meal and I returned to my room to make sure that I had all the pieces for my performance outfit that I would need.

Several hours later I looked in one of the full length mirrors in the tent prep and bit my bottom lip, immediately letting it go as the bitter flavor of the dark red lipstick I had applied met my taste buds. My outfit was a lot more edgy than I normally liked, but for some reason it felt right for the song I was dancing to. 

I was wearing a loose white shirt with short sleeves and the sides were almost completely open, only coming together at the bottom around my hips, and it had a deep V neck. I was wearing a thick black tube top underneath which completely covered my chest but left my sides still visible. The short shorts I had chosen were black and ripped a little in the front and not only was there a red belt with a skull clip but I looped a thin chain through the belt loops and left the excess to dangle down the side of my left leg. For accessories I was wearing black fingerless gloves with an open heart shape on the back of my hand, a red beaded necklace that I looped twice around my neck, and a red beanie. Black boots with red heels completed the outfit and I had pulled my curled hair into a side ponytail, leaving a few small curls to frame my face.

"Is that you, Dawn?" 

I turned to see Leia giving me a shocked expression and I smiled hesitantly.

"Is it too much?" I asked nervously and Leia's face exploded into a grin.

"Are you kidding? You look fierce!" she exclaimed, running over to me and grabbing my hands. "I'm glad to see you here. I was afraid you hurt yourself wiping out like that," Leia said sincerely and I forced a smile.

"Yup, totally fine. You look great," I said, taking in her beautiful purple dress that stopped just above her knees.

"Thanks!" 

Leia and I chatted until the workers announced that the showdown was ready to start. We turned our attention to the TV set up in our tent and watched as Keanu came out and greeted the crowd. The sun was still setting, which made me a little nervous for Eevee, but I hoped that she wouldn't get scared being in front of so many people. 

Leia and I watched the performances together, commenting on combinations and pokemon choice as each performer went up. Soon it was Leia's turn and I wished her luck as she went up. I watched in awe as she released an elegant Espeon and they danced to a ballad, using Espeon's psychic moves to create stunning illusions. Nervously I waited for my turn and I groaned when the second to last person was called and it wasn't me.

"Looks like they saved the best for last!" Leia said with a squeal and I shook my head quietly, feeling nerves begin to eat at my insides.

"Thanks for talking to me, Leia."

"You're welcome. Honestly the other performers here are either fans of Kailani and Traavi or wack jobs. It's nice to know there is another normal person," Leia whispered and I couldn't help but giggle. 

After the performer finished Keanu announced that I would be the last performer, gratefully without using my nickname, and I gave Leia a shaky smile. She wished me luck and I walked out of the tent, trying to hold my head high.

The sun had set while I was in the tent which was a relief. Keanu exited the stage as I climbed up and I peered out into the crowd, trying to spot Paul. A waving vine above the crowd caught my eye and I smiled, still not able to see Paul but knowing that if Torterra was here then he was too. Flipping a thumbs up sign to the DJ, I held up my hand with Eevee's pokeball. As an eerie sound rang out from the speakers I released her, allowing a stream of fog to billow out of the pokeball. A slightly indian beat began to play as Eevee gracefully fell and landed perfectly in front of me.

When the song began Eevee and I both walked forward, both of us moving jerkily forward and then back for the first and second line. When the song began to pick up though I bent down and Eevee flipped up and landed on my shoulder and used Wish. This sent a beautiful stream of stars shooting above us and into the audience. Eevee flipped off just as the chorus started and we both exploded into the fast-paced chorus that we had practiced for hours.

I jumped, tucking my feet up to me and then turned sideways, and pointed over the audience as the vocalist said "let you" for the first time, before spinning on one foot and bouncing backwards. I dropped to one knee and slapped the stage when she said "hit the ground" and Eevee flipped over my hunched figure, letting off her Natural Gift which floated above us in green sparks. I quickly stood as the words "No, no" rang out and jutted my chin in a challenging expression before shuffling forward, angling my knees inward as I moved towards the front of the stage.

As the chorus repeated I moved forward with Eevee spinning beside me and this time as the words "hit the ground" sang out I lifted one leg behind me, bending it at the knee and pushed my hand down towards the stage, my other hand coming up my arm as if to say I was punching through something. Then I raised my hands and jumped backwards with both my feet together, circling my hips to help me jump farther back and I knew that Eevee was jumping backwards on just her hind legs along with me, her body now glowing from her Wish.

As the vocalist sang "I'll find my way" I pumped my fist up and to the left, then down and to the right as my legs stomped to the beat. Eevee, exactly on time, sent a short burst of Swift every time I pumped my fist in the same direction. As the "I'll find my way" bridge began I widened my stance and rolled my shoulders and hips first to the left and then to the right, my hands pushing out towards the audience. Eevee twirled around me, letting off several Natural Gift attacks so that the green sparks clashed into each other and showered us with sparkles.

When the verse began again I once again bent down and Eevee leaped onto my shoulder. As she released another Wish and the shooting stars fell over us and the audience I spun quickly to the front of the stage with Eevee holding onto my shoulder tightly. Just before the chorus started again Eevee jumped off and we began dancing in sync with me lifting my feet one after another bent back sharply at the knee while pulling my alternating fists back. I jumped and turned to face Eevee, landing with my feet wide apart and squatting down so I was almost sitting on the ground as Eevee did some quick footwork. I then stood back up and began moving to the left, holding one hand over my stomach as I did a grapevine step while swinging my shoulders to the beat until the words "hit the ground" rang out and I fell to my knees, smacking my hands against the stage. Eevee once again jumped over me, letting loose just a single Natural Gift.

When "I'll find my way" repeated again I rolled to the side onto my back and quickly back to my feet, seeing out of the corner of my eye that Eevee was following me perfectly. Standing back up I began to move back to the beat, motioning as if I wanted the audience to follow me, and then began my fist pumping move again. Eevee was once again perfectly on time with her small bursts of Swift.

Once the indian music beat began again I lowered myself slowly to the ground and nodded at Eevee. Her eyes seemed to be glowing and she immediately began creating a small stream of swift stars that circled me tightly. She pranced around me, shooting off a longer stream of Swift to circle the entire stage. 

I began to rise as the vocalist said "never give up" doing slow, deliberate movements with my arms. As the chorus began again I leaped forward into a layout and as my legs flew over top of me and back to the stage Eevee let go of her control on the Swift and the stars shot outwards. As I landed I did the same moves as the second chorus. As the phrase "I'll find my way" once again rang out Eevee and I began dancing backwards to the beat, heading for the middle of the stage again. Once there I did a complicated dance move while Eevee set up a firework display with Natural Gift. 

The vocalist stopped singing and as the last few beats rang out I took a deep breath and Eevee and I both rushed forward and jumped, doing a front flip. Gratefully I landed it well and as the last note rang out we both dramatically fell down, me on my back and Eevee on her side.

A loud cheer came from the audience but I stayed where I was breathing heavily for a few seconds. Suddenly a weight landed on my stomach and I shot up to a sitting position with a grunt, grabbing onto Eevee so she wouldn't fall off. Eevee licked my cheek then gave her mewling laugh as her tail wagged like crazy. I hugged her tightly to me and then stood up. Shifting so that I was holding Eevee under her front legs I waved at the still cheering crowd and Eevee flailed all of her feet happily, her ears quivering.

"Thank you, Eevee," I whispered into her ear as I began walking off the stage.

"Eevoy!" she exclaimed happily, turning in my arms and scrabbling up my chest until she had wrapped herself around my neck affectionately. 

Grinning happily I held onto her front paw that was dangling off my shoulder and made my way to the tent, hoping that we had done enough to move on to the battle rounds.

A/N Once again I found the perfect song for Dawn to dance to but it was too slow.... so I used the Nightcore version :P Hopefully you are enjoying the story!

Also, HAPPY IKARISHIPPING DAY!!! ;)