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“Oricorio, use air slash!”
“Espeon, dodge it and use Psychic!”
The air whips around the battlefield as the two pokemon circle each other, shooting out moves as directed by their trainers.
“Oricorio! Use–”
“Quick attack, now!”
BOOM!
Red and black feathers puff up as Espeon tackles the Baile style bird, pinning it to the ground by its wings.
“Hah!” Nemona cheers. “I’ve got you there!” She gloats from her side of the field, jet black hair streaming around her face. Training to be the next chairwoman of the League is no joke, and after three long months of not seeing her best friend and rival she’s not even dreaming of holding back.
Julianna echoes her sentiment, her eyes flashing as an impish grin spreads across her face. She herself has been traveling across the world with her brother, and had found herself back in Paldea for their mom’s birthday. “Oh yeah?” She calls across the field, her own brown hair tied up in a messy bun.“Well that means it's time for our secret move! Oricorio!” The bird trills in response to its trainer, using its strong legs to kick Espeon backwards and flip onto its feet. “Use attract!” Juliana blows a kiss across the battlefield and makes a heart with her hands.
“Wha-” Nemona stutters, and her hesitance lasts just enough for Oricorio to twirl majestically and flaunt its feathers before sending a heart shaped beam towards Espeon. The two trainers watch as the beam smacks into Espeon before bouncing off in a random direction. “Espeon has mirror armor.” Nemona snorts, and her best friend pouts.
“Aw man, that would have been funny tho–”
“OW!”
The two trainers whip around towards the sound of Penny's voice and see her a short ways away at a picnic table they had set up, rubbing the back of her head.
“What the fuck…”
The trainers lock eyes, suddenly pale.
“You don’t think…” Nemona starts.
“Can that even happen?” Juliana asks.
“Hey! You two!” Penny’s voice draws their attention and the two find her scowling in their direction. “Watch where you’re aiming your moves!”
“Baby!” Nemona squeaks, sprinting over to her girlfriend with Juliana on her heels. “Oh mi cielita, luz de mi vida!” Nemona coos as she squishes Penny’s cheeks and yanks her into a hug. “Mi tereso..,”
“Ack! It’s fine! I'm fine!” Penny wheezes as her ribcage is casually crushed by her girlfriend.
“Are you feeling alright?” Juliana frowns, scanning her friend's face for any sign of injury.
“I mean my head hurts, but nothing else.” Penny grumbles, finally managing to pry Nemona off of her. Her girlfriend doesn't go far, wrapping her arms around Penny’s shoulders and pressing apologetic kisses to her cheek. “What the fuck even happened?”
“You were hit with the move attract, querida.” Nemona sighs sadly as she nuzzles against Penny, who raises an eyebrow at Juliana.
“You sure it wasn’t Nemona?”
Juliana huffs a laugh as Nemona pouts. “Yeaaah. I had forgotten that her espeon has mirror coat and used attract and bam,” she makes an explosion with her hands. “You got love beamed.”
Penny shrugs her shoulder not being currently used as a Nemona headrest. “Well I don’t feel any different, so I guess it didn’t work.”
Julianna hums, looking between the two. “Penny, look at me?” She waits until the other girl meets her eyes. “Nemona.”
“Yeah?” The champion lifts her head, but Julianna ignores her, instead focusing on Penny and noticing how her pupils blow up at the mere sound of her girlfriend’s name. Yeah, no. It definitely worked. “Uh, hello?” Nemona looks between the two, clearly confused. “Guys?”
Julianna quirks an eyebrow. I know.
Penny narrows her eyes slightly. Don’t say anything.
“Guys?”
A slight head tilt. Is it so horrible to show pda?
“Seriously, guys—“
“Sorry, babe.” Penny breaks eye contact with Julianna and presses a soft kiss to her girlfriend's cheek. “I’m fine.” Julianna opens her mouth to retort but Penny jumps up, grabbing her friend’s arm and dragging her out of Nemona’s earshot.
“Wha-“
“Shut up.”
“Excuse me?!” Julianna scowls, but a finger is placed over her lips as Penny meets her eye once more, her face twisted into a grimace.
“I’m planning on proposing to Nemona.” The shorter woman blurts out, and Julianna’s eyes widen. “Don’t freak out!” Penny continues, “But it is taking me everything to not blurt out all the details to her. Along with other stupid, lovey dovey stuff.”
Oooooh. Oh no. Julianna gently takes Penny’s wrist, pulling her finger away. “So you need to pretend it didn’t work so—“
“So I don’t ruin literal months of planning, yes.” Penny sighs, rubbing her temple. “She’s so pretty, I want to do it right now.” She whispers, her voice taking on a dreamy quality that Julianna has never heard before.
“But you can’t.”
“But I want to. ” Penny frowns, crossing her arms. “That’s the issue. I want to do…a lot of things.”
“Ew?”
“Not like that!” Penny immediately scowls, smacking Julianna’s shoulder as her face heats up. “Get your mind out of the gutter!”
“You’re the one who—“
“Grrr!”
“Okay, fine!” Julianna raises her hands in surrender. “Do you have the ring on you?” She asks, glancing over her friend’s shoulder and noticing Nemona staring at them, her head tilted.
“Yeah, it’s in my front pocket. Why?" Penny asks.
Julianna puts her hands on Penny’s shoulders and pulls her into a hug, resting her head on her friend’s shoulder. Even after all these years she’s still only an inch taller. “Put it in my back pocket.” She whispers in her friend’s ear. “I’ll keep it until the move wears off.”
She feels Penny sigh in relief before she hugs back, and soon enough she feels a small box pushed into her pocket. Giving her friend one last squeeze she finally lets go and the two begin walking back over to Nemona.
“Do I even want to ask?” The champion asks, receiving two identical ‘no’s.
“I was just testing how affected Penny was. She’s surprisingly resistant.” Juliana pouts. “I was kind of hoping to see her start to swoon all over you.”
“Never.” Penny grumbles, and her girlfriend giggles.
“Well, I’ve got to head out now but it was really fun to see you guys!” Julianna beams and the trio have a round of goodbyes before splitting.
‘Alright Penny, you got this’ She thinks to herself as she walks with Nemona to the latters Cyclizar. ‘You just need to wait until the move wears out and not mention anything about your plans to make the prettiest woman in the world your wife. Fuck, she looks so good today—‘
“Penny?”
Marry me!
“If you were to scratch my limited edition ultra rare Hero Palafin figure I wouldn’t be mad at you.” She says instead.
Nemona’s eyes widen, and she whirls around and grabs Penny's shoulders. “That's the most romantic thing you've ever said to me.”
Penny opens her mouth….and promptly closes it, sending Nemona a tight lipped smile. Instead of, you know. Reciting her vows to her from the top of her head.
Just a few more hours…she just has to last a few more hours until the stupid move wears off and-
“Hey, have you ever thought about getting married?”
…
Fuck.