Dragon's Shadow (Raihan x OC)

Uncharted Waters

Senna's POV:

The days after my time with Raihan felt different. There was an energy between us now that I couldn't deny, something deeper than rivalry, deeper than even the respect we had earned from one another. Every time I thought about him, my heart felt heavy with unspoken words, but I didn't want to rush into it. I didn't need to define it—at least, not yet.

But the more I thought about him, the more I realized that what we had wasn't just a passing feeling. It was real, and it was growing stronger every time we were together.

Training was my constant. It was the one thing I knew how to pour all of my focus into when things felt uncertain. But even in the middle of intense drills with Cinderace or fine-tuning strategies with Dragapult, I found my thoughts drifting back to Raihan.

I didn't tell my team, but I could feel them noticing the shift in me. There was a weight lifted, an ease in how I moved through the motions. I wasn't fighting against myself anymore, and I wasn't chasing anyone else's expectations.

But that didn't mean I wasn't thinking about what Raihan had said: that this was something more than just competition.

Just when I thought I was starting to get a grip on everything, my phone buzzed. Seeing Raihan's name flash across the screen made my heart skip. I opened the message, unsure of what to expect.

Raihan: Heading back to Hammerlocke. Got some things to figure out. You?

I stared at the message for a moment, my chest tightening. He was pulling back a little, but it wasn't a bad thing. Maybe he needed some space to think—just like I did.

Senna: Training in Wyndon for now. Lots to figure out here too.

I hit send, wondering what else there was left to figure out. But maybe we were both in the same place, navigating this uncharted territory without knowing exactly where it would lead.

A few days later, I was deep in a training session when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Taking a break from battles already?"

I turned to see Leon standing there, arms crossed with his usual smile. I hadn't seen him in a while, not since everything with Raihan had started shifting. It felt strange to have him here now, as if he could sense that something was going on.

"Just fine-tuning," I said, returning the smile as Cinderace jogged over to us, clearly pleased with his performance.

Leon glanced at my team, then back at me. "You seem different."

I blinked, caught off guard by his comment. "Different?"

He nodded, his expression softening. "You're more focused. More sure of yourself. Something's changed."

I hesitated, unsure of how to explain what had been happening with Raihan. But Leon had always been someone I could trust, someone who understood me better than anyone.

"There's... been a lot on my mind," I admitted. "With Raihan. It's complicated."

Leon raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "Complicated how?"

I let out a breath, trying to find the right words. "We've always been rivals, but now... it feels like more. I just don't know what to do with that."

Leon's smile widened, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "You don't have to do anything right away. Just let it happen. You'll know what to do when the time's right."

His advice, simple and to the point, eased some of the tension I hadn't realized I was holding. It reminded me that not everything needed to be figured out at once. This thing with Raihan could unfold in its own time.

Later that day, I found myself thinking about Leon's words. He was right—there was no need to rush anything. My relationship with Raihan didn't need to be defined or forced. It could grow naturally, just like our rivalry had. But I couldn't shake the feeling that we were standing on the edge of something big, something that could change everything between us.

But for now, I needed to focus. Wyndon still had challenges waiting for me, and I wasn't done proving myself here. My next goal was to face more opponents, push my team even harder, and refine our strategy before heading back to Hammerlocke.

That night, I found myself sitting on the steps outside the Pokémon Center, watching the lights of Wyndon flicker in the distance. The city felt alive, pulsing with energy, but there was a calmness in me that I hadn't felt in a long time.

I pulled out my phone and hesitated for a moment before sending a quick message to Raihan.

Senna: Figuring things out over here. Hope you're doing the same.

His response came almost immediately.

Raihan: Always. Let's see where this goes.

I smiled, a warmth spreading through my chest. Whatever was happening between us, we were both on the same page—taking things slow, figuring it out as we went.