Con Man and Princess [ IkariShipping/Paul x Dawn ]

secrets & ash

Marlene and Reggie stood in front of a crowd of newsman. There were bright flashing lights upon them amongst the sea of beige in which everyone dressed. They all wanted to know - Was this truly the real Platinum?

Maylene simply ignored them with her regal chin pointed upward, and Reggie followed, fielding off questions that they'd soon discover the answer to. Though she soon stood up on a stool that faced the entire crowd, saying, "The Dowager Empress is coming but she's running very late. She can answer all of your questions, but you're going to remain patient." She paused amongst the uproar from the audience, "I'm not at liberty to gossip with the press."

Reggie stood up, inspired by his lover's attitude toward the crowd, "Suffice to say, you'll go home having met the lost Princess!" The crowd shot up yet again and Maylene gave a glare. He clearly shouldn't have done that.

These two had a lot to deal with before the Empress would even make an effort to arrive.

+++

The Empress and Dawn were taking pictures in Cythia's chambers. Unsmiling photographs and yet they were so happy to have found each other, it felt like they were reliving the lifetime they lost as family. Dawn was adorned in a beautiful, scarlet red dress plated with gold and red and green jewels falling down the ballgown form. In her tiara and heels she felt the need to reassess how exactly she was walking, but when Cynthia held onto her arms, she felt safe and secure. She felt like she was home. Dawn had never had her picture taken before. Memories were flowing back, but as much as she could recall, she hadn't. Though this royal life was truly her own, it was still so new to the girl.

Cynthia hummed, "Fellow Sinnoans are all going to want a look at you."

"It doesn't matter. We've finally found each other," the blunette smiled. She hummed along, knowingly. "Let them."

Reggie and Maylene had entered the room. He approached Her Highness, grabbing her to tug her arm. As soon as he had made contact with the old woman, he nervously, and very quickly shied away from her. "Everyone's here, Your Majesty."

"I remember you," Cynthia seethed.

Maylene stuttered, "Quit while you're ahead, Reggie."

Reggie agreed, bowing. "Nice seeing you again Your Majesty. Goodbye, Your Majesty." And like the wind, he was gone.

Cynthia nodded stiffly. "I don't like that man."

Maylene grinned whimsically, "He's not so bad!" But upon Cynthia's glance, "Oh! Yes he is, Your Majesty, he's a terrible person." And she too followed Reggie's leave.

Cynthia turned back to her granddaughter. "Get used to people agreeing with everything you say."

Dawn grinned, "That's not right!"

"Of course it's not right! Now, where's your young man?"

"He's not my young man, Nana."

"Oh, so it's not clear to you that he loves you?"

Dawn repeated herself, louder. "He's not my young man!"

"When he refused my reward for finding you, I thought 'Platinum has found herself another kind of Prince.' One of character instead of worth."

"Paul refused the reward?" Dawn didn't understand.

"You are Platinum - He said that was reward enough."

Maylene soon entered again to give both royals an acknowledgment that the press was ready.

Cynthia looked back to her granddaughter. "You have made today the happiest day of my life, Platinum. Make sure it will be yours as well, Dawn." She paused to let her words sink in. "We will always have each other, no matter what you decide. What's one more little secret between us?" She have a quick kiss to her forehead, and followed Maylene out of the room.

Dawn was supposed to be grinning from ear to ear in this moment. It was everything she wished for and more, but she couldn't detach him from her thoughts. She didn't know he mattered so much to her, but he had left an immoveable imprint upon her. She loved him. Their fairy tale could come true. He was the one part missing. She had to find him.

"Forgive me, Nana," the blunette murmured. But upon turning around she discovered an even larger surprise. "Ash!"

"Always in a rush and somehow I always let you go... but not this time." The man with charcoal eyes grinned in some sort of newfound confidence. He was in Lumiose. Why? "Lumiose is no place for a good and loyal Sinnoan."

"We are all good and loyal Sinnoans."

"I've come to take you home."

"My home is right here." The girl attempted to sweep past him but his arm latched onto her glove, pulling the girl closer to him.

Ash pleaded, "Stop playing this game, Dawn. I'm begging you."

"We both know it's not a game, Ash."

"If you are Platinum, do you think history wants you to have lived?"

There were angry tears filling up in her eyes. She was filled with passion. For Sinnoh. For her grandmother. For Paul. "Yes! Why don't you?"

"The Berlitz's were given everything and gave back nothing! We had to destroy them! All but one."

"Then finish it! For I am my father's daughter."

The boy gulped in fury, to then spit out, "And I am my father's son, and finish it I must." He removed his right hand from his pocket to reveal a small pistol.

Dawn gulped, but she couldn't back down. "Do it. Then I will be with my brothers and sisters and family all over again!"

"Soldiers must obey!" He pointed the gun at the girl, aiming for a lethal shot by squinting one eye. Dawn had hardly noticed that she was backing up. Her time was quickly approaching and yet, she had already accepted it. If this was what she must do to be a Berlitz, then so be it.

Before pulling the trigger, Ash Ketchum shrieked, "For the last time, who are you?"

"I am the Grand Dutchess Platinum Berlitz!"

"Then you know I must pull this trigger." But he hesitated. It was over. Ash couldn't follow his orders and he fell to his knees in shame.

Dawn nervously approached the man. Her first instinct after his visible confusion was to console him. "I mean you no harm, Ash."

He whispered, "I believe you are Platinum. But I also believe I'm damned to have not pulled to trigger."

"What will you tell them?"

He came up from his knees, wiping away a tear from clear stress. "That I was not my father's son." He paused, "Have a long life, comrade."

The pair shook hands after clear hesitation from both parties. The man walked away in shame as a million separate thoughts crowded Dawn's mind.

"Paul—"