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Dawn sighs, admiring how the Basculin float through the water around her. A collage of viridian scales and silvery fins glisten beneath the surface as they perform an intricate underwater ballet; the ripples of their movement trickle out over the clear surface. She sucks in a deep breath, ripe with the scent of roses and rain water, a gentle breeze washes over the clearing. It sends soft chills tracing down her spine as it brushes the tips of the frosty grass, making her fingers tingle as they run over the crystalline surface of the spring. A small laugh escapes her throat, her muscles relaxing in the cool water.
She blinks, as a faint crunching echoes behind her, Dawn grins, craning her neck to spot the woman approaching her.
“Warden Dawn.” She announces, her voice carrying over the water like a melody, as violet petals swirl around her in the night air. Rose and white fabric swaying gracefully around her legs as she walks.
Dawn leans back against the edge of the pond, feeling the dirt press into her bare shoulders as her heartbeat quickens. “Lady Irida,” She says lazily, pressing her tongue to the roof of her mouth. “To what do I owe the pleasure, this fine evening?”
The Clan Leader rolls her eyes playfully, a slight smirk drawing across her lips. “I don’t know, maybe I just felt like seeing you.”
Dawn chuckles. “Ah, Adaman was being cheeky again, wasn’t he? Are his new ninja skills too much?”
Irida shakes her head. “No, he wasn’t.” She sighs. “But the Commander was being rather… demanding. You’d think after all we’ve been through he would understand the importance of the Pokémon we share vast Hisui with.”
Dawn grits her teeth, a frown etching itself across her face. “Ah, you know, I get why he’s so uptight and all, but he really needs to let himself move on already. At least before he causes another incident.”
“Yeah,” Irida hums in agreement, her ocean eyes tracing the tree line, a flash of anger dissipating in the starlight. “Well, I’d better get going. I should already be back at the Pearl settlement by now, anyways. Nice seeing you.”
Dawn purses her lips, her muscles growing tight at the stiffness in Irida’s stance. Irida is a brilliant woman and a wonderful leader, but even she needs her rest; something she rarely gets.
“Actually… how about you stay here, with me for a bit?” Dawn offers, shooting the Clan Leader a carefree smile. “A nice soak always helps me when I need to relax.” She gestures to the pool, satisfaction seeping into her stomach at the temptation budding in Irida’s gaze.
Irida shakes her head. “I can’t, I have to sort things out with my Wardens, thank you for the offer though, Dawn.”
She’s chewing at her lip, longing clear in the twitch of her fingers, yearning to undo her cape and jump into the spring. Torn between the duty to her Clan and her duty to herself.
Internally, Dawn groans, well, the Pearl Clan will just have to wait. Irida needs a rest, and she will be ensuring her friend gets it. Besides, it’s not like the Wardens will mind anyway. They’ll probably rejoice at their beloved leader finally taking some me-time.
“Come on, my Lady, even clan leaders need to relax sometimes. You’ll be able to sort this out better after having a little time to think, anyway.” Dawn smirks, meeting Irida’s eyes. “Just one night, it won't hurt anyone.”
Irida sighs defeatedly, her fingers beginning to worry away at the turquoise rope holding her cape to her waist. “Fine, I guess.” She murmurs as the knot comes undone. The pristine white and pink fabric floating to the ground behind her. Her shorts and top following swiftly, crumpled in a heap beside where Dawn’s own clothes rest at the water’s edge.
Dawn’s heart catches in her throat as Irida slides into the pool, her pale peach coloured skin glistening in the moonlight. She’s peppered with scars, all shapes and sizes. A cut from a Sneazel’s claws tracing the curve of her waist, the purple marks of frostbite running over her collarbone, a faded bruise from falling on the ice clouding her hip; but there are so many others. Gashes and markings that mar her skin with the touch of life. Dawn sucks in a breath. She wants to run her fingers over each and every one, she wants to know how Irida got them and how they healed. She wants to know every last bit of her.
Irida turns to face her, smiling brightly as she releases the tension she’d been holding in her shoulders, her freckles shining like stars under the moonlight as relief writes itself across her face.
Dawn sighs happily, the sight of Irida’s comfort sending a hoard of Butterfree fluttering in her gut. “Better?”
“Better.” Irida confirms, beaming, as she brushes a lock of choppy golden hair from her face before diving beneath the water, sending an icy wave up to splash Dawn right across the face.
“Ack!” Dawn shouts, sputtering.
Irida comes up a few feet deeper, grinning from ear to ear.
Dawn rolls her eyes. “Oh, you didn’t!”
“I believe I did.”
Dawn raises an eyebrow cheekily, taking two long strides over the smooth sandy bottom of the pool and raking her palms over the surface, sending a cascade of water crashing over her friend’s head.
She laughs. “Well, so did I.”
Irida shakes her head, fire dancing in her eyes. “This means war, Warden Dawn.”
“So be it, My Lady.”
Lighthearted giggles break out over the spring, sending the Basculin fleeing beneath the waves as Irida surges forward, raising her arms to send another small tsunami Dawn’s way before disappearing beneath the water once more.
She reappears a little bit deeper again, and Dawn follows, enjoying the cool stone beneath her feet as she sputters and snickers at each splash coming her way, responding in kind.
A light rain of leaves and flower petals settles over the spring as they chase each other in a sloppy dance of flailing limbs. The mountains painting them against the full glory of the night sky.
“Woah!” Dawn exclaims as Irida sticks her tongue out, water droplets flying through the air.
“I told you you shouldn’t have challenged me!” Irida chuckles, cocking her head to the side. “You sure you don’t want to forfeit, my dear Warden?”
Dawn shivers at the title, beaming at the Clan leader. “To you? Never!”
“You asked for it.” Irida takes a step forward, poised for another attack, but the slippery stone beneath them seems to have other ideas as she loses her balance, careening forwards.
Dawn catches her, pruney fingers wrapping gently around her friend’s shoulders and then waist as she stumbles over the bottom of the pool.
“You alright, Irida?”
Irida blinks, sucking in a breath as she extends back to her full height, using Dawn to hold herself steady. Smiling sweetly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you.”
Dawn beams at her. “Of course. What else are you supposed to do when a beautiful Clan Leader literally falls into your arms?”
Irida chortles, a light blush spreading across her cheeks as she collapses into a hearty laugh. Dawn joins her, chuckling until her lungs are beginning to burn. Her hands are still holding Irida close, fingertips barely digging into the softness of her skin. Slippery and chilled from her time spent in the water.
They’re practically clinging to each other now, Irida’s grip settled just above Dawn's waistline as they smile and laugh. Dawn shivers at her friend’s touch, the breath leaving her lungs at the closeness.
“Thank you for this.” Irida sighs, smiling shyly as she straightens to stare into Dawn’s eyes. “Sometimes I just don’t know how to relax…”
Dawn shakes her head, placing a gentle kiss on Irida’s cheek. “You’re not the only one. I’m just repaying a much needed favour, remember?”
Irida giggles. “I guess, that really was a lovely night.”
“I’d do anything for you to show me the stars again, M’Lady.”
“Well, you won't have to. I’d go stargazing with you any time. When we’re not busy of course.”
“Of course.”
Dawn sighs as the warmth of Irida’s palms traces her back, the familiar smoke tinted scent of flowers washing over her. She adores this woman, so so much.….
“What’s that?”
“Huh?” Dawn hums, blinking. “What’s what?”
Irida purses her lips, lightly running her fingers over Dawn’s lower back. Sparks of pain shoot across her skin, a web of tender flesh objecting to the touch.
“Oh, it’s an electrical scar. I got that one from one of Lord Electrode’s children,” Dawn explains with a shrug. “A little boy. Quite the cryer. Nothing to worry about. Actually, I think Rei’s gotten worse from those little baby Shinx that roam the Fieldlands.”
Irida blinks. “Ah, I see. How about this one?”
Dawn shudders, feeling a gentle tap at a veiny cut across her thigh. “That one was a baby noble too. A clingy little Sneasel, Ingo got me all fixed up though. I’m a bit too young to be poisoned to death, after all..”
Irida nods, chuckling softly. “What about this?”
Her palms reach upwards to feel Dawn back, running over jagged lines that travel up her spine. The Warden smiles. “Oh, that was from when Rei and I battled Lord Avalug. Had a nasty fall, but I’m lucky that was all it was. Gearic gave me quite the ‘pep talk’ later that day anyway, all better now.” They share a laugh as Dawn allows her hands to explore Irida’s torso, landing on some rough claw marks over her stomach. “What about this one my Lady? Does it have a story?”
Irida licks her lips. “That was from a long time ago, when I was way younger. My father, he was Pearl Clan’s Leader at the time. Well, he brought me to Heart’s Craig for a picnic one day when it looked like our war with Diamond Clan might finally come to an end.”
“Uh huh.” Dawn nods, urging Irida on, as nostalgia consumes her features with a childish softness.
“But, then something came up, and he had to go talk to one of the Wardens, and while he wasn’t watching me, I wandered off.”
“Really?”
“Really?”
Dawn grins, twining a lock of Irida’s hair around her fingers. “Can’t picture you getting lost in Hisui’s vast space Lady Irida.”
Irida shakes her head. “Hey! I wasn’t lost, just exploring the wonderful vastness of our world.”
“But it didn’t go that well, I assume?” Dawn states, raising an eyebrow.
The Clan Leader winces, offering her a curt nod. “No, it didn’t. I ran right into a small flock of Rufflet, they attacked me on sight. I was terrified! They chased me all the way back to my Father, and then he chased them off with his Lucario.” Irida sighs. “I think that was when I decided that I wanted to live in harmony with the Pokémon we share our space with, even if they were dangerous.”
Dawn blinks, planting a soft kiss on Irida’s forehead. “That’s a lovely story. Your father sounds like a wonderful man.”
“He was. I doubt I’ll ever be able to live up to him.”
“Just focus on living up to yourself, ok?”
Silence falls over the water, leaving the music of the forest to overtake the night air, full of the Clefairy’s song and the rustling and snoring of wild Pokémon among the undergrowth. The water sways around them as the wind whispers and howls in the night. Dawn sucks in a breath, the peacefulness of it all washing over her. She sighs deeply, watching Irida as her friend smiles sadly at the ground, the full moon shining behind her like a silver halo, highlighting how her frost tipped hair clings to the curve of her cheeks, soaked to her skin. Could it really be possible to be any more perfect than her?
"May I?" Dawn murmurs, resting a gentle hand on the woman's cheek, to wipe a stray tear away, smiling softly as the realisation alights in Irida's eyes.
A sudden fire takes hold of the Clan Leader’s glittering irises, and two warm, calloused palms are cupping Dawn's cheeks. She gasps as Irida's lips caress her own. Pressing against her with the sweet taste of berries and fresh spices. She breathes it in, returning the kiss, cherishing every moment the warmth of Irida's body is pressed against her own. Irida shifts closer to her, and it’s all she can feel, all she’s ever wanted to. At least when it comes to Irida.
They pull apart for just a second and there’s a giddiness to Irida’s eyes, a gleeful smile gracing her features. Her hands travel down to grasp Dawn’s hands, rubbing gently over her palms, cracked, calloused and scared, but hers; and somehow, Irida seems to love them. Love her.
“Dawn?” Irida murmurs sheepishly. “I understand that this is in no way the proper way in which to do this, but would you consider courting me?”
The breath wooshes out of Dawn’s lungs at the request, a sudden chill gripping her, her heart tying itself in knots. “Why.” The word tumbles from her lips.
Irida’s brow furrows, confusion covering her face. “What do you mean?”
Dawn sighs, shame leaking in. “I mean why would you want to court me? I’m just some broken girl stuck in the wrong time period! Why the hell would you want me? You’re gorgeous and compassionate and so creative and observant and you never give up. You deserve so much better, Irida, so much.”
Irida shakes her head, brushing a clump of tangled azure hair from Dawn’s face. “Dawn, you are the bravest, most kind-hearted person I have ever known. I have no idea who made you feel like that, but they have no space in my mind or my heart.”
Dawn lets out a humourless laugh, warmth bubbling within her as cold tears track down her cheeks. “If you say so, My Lady.” she sucks in a breath. “I would be happy to accept your courtship.”
“Wonderful.” Irida beams, pulling her closer, pressing her forehead to Dawn’s.
Dawn sighs, feeling the impossible contentment welling up within her as she returns the embrace, reaching up to run her fingers through Irida’s hair. “I love you so much, My Lady.”
“And I, you, My Warden.”