The camera flashed, and for a moment, the world was nothing but a brilliant white spark against the vibrant backdrop of Floaroma Town's flower fields. When my vision cleared, Aya was handing the camera back to me with a graceful smile.
"That's a lovely shot," she said, her eyes twinkling. "You all look like a real team."
Dawn was practically vibrating with excitement. I looked at the digital preview. It was perfect. But there was a small problem: the local photo shop wouldn't have the physical prints ready until late this evening, and I was planning to leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow.
"Listen, Dawn," I said, crouching down to her level. "I'm heading out tomorrow morning to continue my journey toward Eterna City. I won't be able to catch the photo shop before I go."
The little girl's face fell for a split second, her blue eyes wide with worry that she'd lose this souvenir.
"But don't worry!" I added quickly. "I've already paid for the development. I'm going to leave your copy at the front desk of the Pokémon Center. Just ask Nurse Joy for the envelope addressed to 'Dawn' this evening, okay?"
"Really? You promise?" Dawn asked, her hope returning instantly.
"I promise. A Coordinator never breaks his word," I said, giving her a playful wink.
"Wait, Brother Julian... are you leaving already?" Dawn tilted her head. "Are you going to another Contest?"
"Actually, I'm a bit of a multitasker," I laughed, reaching into my backpack. I pulled out my two collection cases—one for ribbons and one for badges. "I'm a Coordinator, but I'm also a Trainer. I'm challenging the Sinnoh League. See? Two ribbons from Jubilife and Floaroma, and two badges from Oreburgh and Eterna."
Wait, I caught myself—I only had the Coal Badge and the Forest Badge (or Mine Badge, depending on the route). I laid them out, the sunlight catching the metallic glint of the badges and the silky sheen of the ribbons.
Dawn gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Whoa! You're doing both? That's so cool! I... I don't think I want to do Gym battles when I grow up, but I want to be just like my mom. I want to be a Top Coordinator!"
Looking at her—the signature blue hair, the boundless optimism, the "no need to worry" attitude that was clearly already starting to bloom—I felt a strange sense of nostalgia. In the world I came from, Dawn was a legend. Here, she was just a little girl with big dreams and a slightly crooked hair clip.
"I have no doubt you'll make it," I said earnestly, patting her shoulder. "You've got the spirit for it. You just have to work hard and listen to your Pokémon."
"I will! I'll work harder than anyone!" Dawn declared, clenching her tiny fists. "And when I finally make it to the big stage, you have to come and watch me, okay? You have to!"
"It's a deal," I smiled. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'll be in the front row with a giant foam finger."
Aya, who had been watching our interaction with a soft smile, stepped forward and placed a hand on Dawn's shoulder. "Julian, it's a bold path you've chosen. Balancing the elegance of a Coordinator with the raw power of a League Trainer is a difficult tightrope walk. Many try, but few manage to excel at both without one side suffering."
She looked me dead in the eye, her expression turning serious for a moment—the look of a veteran who had seen it all. "As a senior, my only advice is this: Don't let your desire for badges make you forget the beauty of the bond, and don't let the beauty of the stage make you forget the strength of your partner. They are two sides of the same coin."
"I'll remember that, Aya. Thank you," I said, bowing slightly.
"Alright, Dawn, let's head home. We've bothered the Champion long enough," Aya teased, tugging gently on Dawn's hand. "He has a lot of packing to do if he's hitting the road tomorrow."
"Bye, Brother Julian! Bye, Sylveon! Bye, Floette! Bye, Togepi!" Dawn waved frantically as she was led away. "Good luck with your next badge! I'll be cheering for you!"
"Study hard!" I called back. "Don't let your mom go too easy on you!"
The Quiet After the Storm
As their figures grew smaller in the distance, I felt the weight of the day finally catching up to me. I looked down at my trio.
"Well? You three seen enough flowers for one lifetime?"
"Floe~... (My wings are tired, and I've already sniffed every petal in a five-mile radius,)" Floette sighed, settling onto my head like a leafy crown.
"Fly-ah~ (I want to go back and nap. The sun is nice, but the hotel bed is fluffier,)" Sylveon added, letting out a massive yawn that showed her tiny fangs.
Togepi just hummed a happy little tune in my arms, his head already drooping.
"Back to the hotel it is," I muttered.
The walk back was peaceful. Floaroma Town was beginning to settle into its evening rhythm. The scent of evening primrose was starting to take over the air, and the buzzing of Combee was being replaced by the soft chirping of Kricketot.
Once we got back to the room, the routine took over. I prepped a final "Floaroma Special" dinner—lots of fresh local berries and honey-infused treats. While they ate, I sat by the window, watching the sunset paint the sky in hues of violet and orange.
I pulled out my badge and ribbon cases again. The Coal Badge, the Forest Badge, the Jubilife Ribbon, and now the Floaroma Ribbon.
"It still feels like a dream sometimes," I whispered to the empty room.
I remembered being a researcher back in the lab, staring at data on a screen. Now, I was here. I had felt the heat of a Steelix's breath, the sting of a Lairon's Rock Tomb, and the sheer joy of a crowd's roar. I had met Ash, I had met Dawn, and I was forging a path that wasn't in any guidebook.
"I'm really doing it," I said, a grin spreading across my face. "I'm actually traveling through Sinnoh."
I shook off the sentimentality and grabbed the developed photo I had picked up on the way back. It was the one of me and Dawn. She looked so young, so full of that "everything is possible" energy. I flipped it over and took out my pen.
Julian & Dawn — The Meeting of Generations.
Floaroma Town, May 9th. Ran into a very young Dawn today. It's wild to think about the journey she has ahead of her. We made an agreement: I'll be there for her debut. Even if it takes three, four, or five years, I'm holding her to it.
P.S.: I should really start carrying some kind of commemorative tokens. Giving away photos is cool, but maybe something like a custom Poké Ball half or a carved berry charm? Something that says 'we're rivals/friends' in a more permanent way. ( ≖ ᴗ ≖ ) ✧
Tomorrow: Eterna Forest. It's going to be a long trek, and Togepi needs the experience. Time to see if the little guy has a fighter's heart hidden under that shell.
I tucked the photo into the back of my journal and stood up, stretching my back until it popped.
"Alright, team! Lights out!" I called out. "Tomorrow we leave the flowers behind. Eterna Forest is waiting, and I hear the ghosts there are particularly grumpy this time of year!"
"Floe~! (Bring on the ghosts!)" "Fly-ah! (As long as they don't mess up my ribbons.)"
"Togi-pri! (Let's go, let's go!)"
We curled up for our last night in the garden city, the scent of honey lingering in the air like a promise of more adventures to come.