Flora's Pov

I don't know how long I've been asleep, but sleeping next to Flame made all my stress melt away. We finally met up at Hearthome city once I visited Rowan and the others and told them everything that happened and that I was safe. They were relieved to hear it, especially Dawn.

I dreamt of Angel last night, making me feel worried about what her mission would consist of. All I could think about was those moments I met her in the spring, in that nightmare, and in that world. She was clueless and didn't speak a language, so I don't know exactly how she's going to manage. I wish I could be there for her, especially after what she's done for me.

"Flame" I poked his cheek while he was still asleep "Are you going to wake up?" He mumbled without responding. Gardevoir told me that he ended up expressing his willpower to the legendaries to calm them down, so I can only imagine how tired it made him.

She also told me that it took a lot of my own willpower to even be in a place like the distortion world. Because I used it without thinking, I sucked a lot of my own energy that Flame and I ended up sleeping for at least a week.

Cyrus being there for that long actually ended up messing with his mind. He was calm by nature and doesn't express emotions, so of course it wasn't noticeable until he managed to try to kill me.

I got up from bed to let out a stretch and walked to the mirror to check my neck, seeing the hand print was mostly gone. This was a relief, so it made me feel better about leaving the dressing room to get some breakfast for us if Flame even ends up waking up today.

"I'm starving" I sighed "I'm so sorry you guys suffered like that" I looked around at my Pokémon laying on the floor "I bet it was difficult to wake me up" Gardevoir appeared beside me and patted her chest "Did you feed them?" She nodded "That's a relief" I sighed "Why don't you and I go out to get some food while everyone stays here?" she nodded again. Vaporeon came up fo rub on my leg "You can come too if you like" I smiled and left the room with Gardevoir and Vaporeon by my side.

We went to the nearest cafe and waited on an order while I sat outside and played with my Poketch before hearing someone squeal in happiness. I looked up at the same time Vaporeon ran from my side and ran towards Bebe with a camera man.

"Oh my goodness! Look at you!" Bebe laughed, hugging Vaporeon happily "You gotten so big! You look so strong too! I knew I picked the right person to take care of you!" Bebe looked at me and rushed to me with the microphone in hand and the camera man. I flinched and moved away from the mic she put on my face "Flora! Winner of the Pokémon contest, main character of a love story, savior of the coma patients, and now hero of Sinnoh!" I blinked confused "How did you do it?! It's been all over the news from our new News Anchor of your heroic activities that put Team Galactic in their place!"

"H-Huh?!" How did this spread?! What new News Anchor?!

"You're truly amazing! Our new Anchor gave proof on your good deeds and everyone is talking about it! Please tell us about what you did to save the world! Tell us everything! Especially saving the coma patients! I heard you ran away from those reporters. I'm so lucky!" I stared at her beeming eyes and sighed, knowing I don't have to hide anything anymore and told her just enough to not make me seem like I was the most important person in the world. Of course I left out personal things and the legendaries depending on us. I was still to exhausted to say too much, so I said what needed to be said, grabbed my food, and thanked Bebe for her time so I could leave back to my room.

I closed the door to my room and saw Flame sitting on the couch that was folded up from the bed we used "Oh, there you are" he smiled "How did you sleep?" I gave him the bag of food and sat down next to him.

"It was nice, but the weirdest thing happened earlier. The world somehow knows about my deeds with Team Galactic" He nodded and started to eat while handing me a newspaper.

"You'll have Ferrel to blame" Huh? "He got a job as a News Anchor after providing proof of a story that was going to make it big. I don't have any involvement, but you're a celebrity" I looked down at my food, not knowing how I felt about that "Why aren't you eating?"

"Oh, it's nothing. A reporter came up to me and asked about my good deeds about a few things. Telling the world about what happened would eventually come out, but something has been on my mind lately. We completed our mission, but Angel may struggle with her own"

"You mean the girl you told me about that lived in the Distortion world?" I nodded "She's kept there for a reason, and if anyone can help her set off on a new mission, I'm sure Giratina will find a way" I held my heart "Her heart was unprotected, unlike ours who were given barriers by the lake Pokémon. Things happen for a reason, so I wouldn't worry" he pet my head. I nodded and ate my food, feeling pain on my cheek from the explosion of flavor.

"While you were out, I was looking for you around the contest hall before I realized that you might've went to get some food. I don't know what it is, but I just needed to make sure you were on my side, as if, if you weren't, you'll leave me again" I smiled and held his cheek.

"I'm not going anywhere" he smiled and kissed my lips. I flinched and blushed, making him chuckle "F-Flame!" I held my burning cheeks.

"Summer vacation is just starting, so it's going to end up getting hot. We should head back home as soon as we can. You'll probably need to start school" I tilted my head confused.

"School? You're thinking about something as silly as school? Pretty pointless if you ask me"

"What? Have you never went when you were growing up in the meadow?" I shook my head "But you're so smart" I blushed.

"Even as a kid, I liked reading books. I spent most of my time reading if we weren't hanging out. You were always dedicated for us to go out and play, but the tables have turned and now I can see you as the bookworm and I like to go have fun!" I laughed "I might not be a genius like you because of Uxie, but I'm smart enough from those books" he nodded and took another bite off his food "You're so smart that you ended up making bombs" he almost choked.

"About that" he cleared his throat "Those bombs were only for the new world. They were never intended to be used for anything else"

"So... You didn't ask bomb the lake?"

"I'm not a monster! I know I was a bit crazy when it came to my job, but I would never intend to hurt the innocent!" He looked away "that doesn't include those grunts" I smiled "Nobody got hurt, and the lake Pokémon are finally home"

"You're right" I leaned my head on his shoulder "We worked hard, so let's head out as soon as possible and go to the Resort area" he nodded and followed me out after I ate, and my Pokémon were well taken care of. The contest hall was covered in news reporters, something I didn't expect to see after I told Bebe enough.

"I already said what I needed to say. They better not be here for me" I groaned.

"Different news companies want a story as well, so they won't stand a competing company to have information they could have and more. I know that much. They just want to give you the spotlight"

"You helped too, you know"

"It's best that they don't know about willpowers. That information is pretty worthless and should only be kept between us" I nodded, agreeing "just because I calmed Dialga and Palkia doesn't mean I need attention. I'm a criminal, after all"

"Don't say that" I frowned.

"Ferrel ended up putting my name in the newspaper as well, so I don't doubt that they will ask me questions as well. I am no longer Mercury, and that identity is gone. Flame is a normal guy along side someone he cares about" he smiled at me. I blushed and noticed the reporters seeing us before rushing to speak to us. Our Gardevoir and Gallade teleported us out of there and into a new route right in front of a large mansion.

"Thank goodness! That could had been a mess!" I shouted.

"At least we didn't have to end up running" he opened his hand to catch some rain droplets falling from the sky.

"You're still not use to running?" I asked, then the rain started pouring hard "Whoa! That was fast!"

"Dammit!" Flame raised his jacket over my head "Why did you take us here?!" He asked his Gallade, who didn't even try to remove us from the rain. Gardevoir did the same "Come on! I'm sure the people won't mind if we use their porch for shelter!" He ran me towards the mansion for cover. I watched how he escorted me, staring at our path while all I could think about was how lucky I was to have someone as great as him back in my life. To think we've been separated for so long and we were already so close in the beginning when we reunited. It was strange at first, but I regret nothing.

I got lost in my thoughts and ended up falling on some mud "Flora!" Flame went down to check on me "Are you okay?!" He placed his jacket on my head and checked for injuries. I smiled and moved his wet hair from his face.

"Yes, thanks to you" he stared at me "If you never thought to make that headquarters in the meadow, we wouldn't have met and gotten so close" I held his hands "No matter how long it was, you found me in the fields like you did when we were younger" I chuckled "I'm happy we're together again" he placed his forehead on mine.

"I never want to leave you alone ever again. Ever since laying my eyes on you, I always thought that I owed something to you, not just about what happened to the meadow. I didn't know it at the time, but I'm glad I decided to follow you" he leaned in to kiss me in the rain that softened a bit. I blushed at our lips touching. I never want to let this go...

Flame helped me back on my feet and removed my hair from my face "We're soaking wet" He chuckled.

"Hopefully someone in that mansion would help us" I looked at the mansion and found someone running from it with an umbrella in hand.

"Flora!" It was Dawn! She rushed over to us and lifted the umbrella to cover our heads while a man in a suit came with his own "Are you okay?!" Dawn frowned at me.

"I'm fine. I didn't realize this was your home" I smiled. She looked at me and then Flame, staring at him for a moment before snatching me from him and held the umbrella on our heads instead.

"Let's get you all dried up!" She glanced at Flame "You too! Let's go!" She rushed us back into the mansion and ordered the maids to escort us to separate rooms to have a shower and new clothes. It was a bit strange at first, since I didn't think she would be this rich, but it was so nice just being pampered for once. I actually received a massage after my shower!

"You look wonderful, miss" the maid who took care of me complimented me on the long silk dress she gave me to wear. It's so soft! Although it was a bit tight on the bust area "I'm glad it fit perfectly. You and Lady Dawn are almost the same size" she giggled, referring to my bust. I blushed and hid them, like I've always done with the dresses I've worn all thought my life and journey. It's a main reason why I was looked at as a child for my height and face.

Dawn came through the door and hurried over to me with a big smile on her face, but stopped when she looked at me hiding myself "What's wrong? Does the dress not fit?" She took my hands to look at me "Ah" she sweatdropped "Sorry about that. I'm not blessed like you are" I cupped my face embarrassed.

"Dawn!" She giggled and told the maid to bring something to cover me up "Thanks for the hospitality..."

"You don't have to worry. I just didn't want you catching a cold. You've done a lot on your own already, so it'll be a bother to get one" I nodded "Are you hungry?"

"Not really. Flame and I ate breakfast earlier, but..." it's been a whole week without eating at all "I think we should eat anyway" I told her about how much energy Flame and I have lost in the Sphere pillar and that we needed a week of sleep. Her maid came back from the closet to give Dawn a cardigan for me to put on. Apparently the room we were in was her spare "closet".

"It must've been alot of work" she sad smiled "but as long as you're okay, that's all that matters. Why don't we head to the dining room for some lunch?" I nodded and looked around her closet some more before noticing picture frames on the wall. I was shocked to see a younger version of Dawn hugging a lavender haired little girl that resembled me.

"Is that..?" I cupped my mouth. Dawn smiled and walked up to the frame.

"Do you remember this picture? It was the day before you and Flame went missing" I looked at her sad expression. Looking back on it, I started remembering how close we were as friends back when we were kids. If Flame wasn't in the picture, Dawn would always be there with me.

"I'm sorry I can't remember as vividly, but I have wondered why I couldn't help but be close with you" I smiled "You were so worried for me to leave the library that one time. I can't imagine what you thought the entire time"

"I was scared of you leaving me again, especially after you told me your name. You looked like Flora, but I didn't think you were actually her" she sniffled "I first saw you in that contest... You were always the rising star. Flame and I always fought over you when we were little. It was like a rivalry" I looked down, feeling bad for forgetting a friend again "I really missed you" I frowned and hugged her.

"I miss you too. I'm so sorry. We never meant to hurt anyone, but things happen for a reason. We couldn't help that"

"No matter what, Flame always end up having you more than I would" she pulled away and whined "Just because you guys lived next door to each other" my stomach started growling, making her smile and pull my hand to the dining room. A group of maids escorted us there. This made me remember that my mom had maids back home in the resort as well. There's no way I'm going to get use to that lifestyle after so many years... but I'll just have to see once we get home.