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Different colored bags were scattered across the conference room table, various food items and camping supplies surrounding them in neat, organized piles. You silently watched as Friede packed, insisting to the kids he would take all the heavier gear in his bigger utility bag, only leaving the smaller items like flashlights and matches to Liko when she begged to take something. Roy otpted to carry all the food in his bag, go figure, and Liko and Dot ended up splitting the toiletries and the rest of the clothes the boys couldn’t carry in their bags. Murdock handed Roy a few boxes.
“Will this be enough food for you guys?” Murdock was full of worry, and before he could ramble on about preparing more food, Friede had cut him off with a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“It’s plenty, Murdock. We’ll only be gone for a day or two, tops”
Murdock still sneaked a few more breakfast bars in, but he seemed satisfied at Friede’s words nonetheless.
Once Roy stuffed the last snack in his bag, he let out a rather loud yawn, stretching his arms back. His face resembled that of a tired child, Liko not faring any better as she let out a yawn of her own.
“Sounds like you kids need to go to bed,” You joked as you zipped up one of the pockets on Friede’s bag. The kids started to protest, insisting they had more to, but you waved a hand.
“We can finish up here. Rest is just as, if not more, important than the packing.”
Liko let out another yawn. Accepting defeat, she scooped up Terapagos in her arms. “Goodnight everyone.”
Roy and Dot gave their farewells, following after Liko as she left for her room. After tucking the last few items wherever they would fit, Murdock and Mollie bid their goodbyes as well, leaving just You, Orla, and Friede. There was light chatter, but otherwise, the three of you were just burning time until you felt tired enough to sleep. You heard Orla and Friede whisper about something, but you definitely weren’t paying attention, too focused on the article you were reading on your Rotom phone.
Without any warning, Friede came up to you and wrapped an arm around your shoulder. His lips brushed against your temple.
“Mind coming with me real quick? I need to talk to you about something.”
You put your phone back in your pocket, a questioning look on your face. Friede didn’t make haste to explain, and a quick glance towards Orla to see her smirking just gave you more questions. She definitely knew something. You rolled your eyes at her.
“Let me use the bathroom first.”
“Sweet! Meet me on the deck!” Friede practically bolted out the room, Cap following close behind. You chuckled. Orla came up to your left and patted you on the shoulder. You could see excitement behind her eyes.
“Have fun!”
“You two confuse me.”
The air, slightly cold from the elevation, seemed to re-awake you as you stepped out of the observation deck’s doors. The battlefield was down, Friede standing back towards you in the middle. For a moment, you thought Friede was challenging you to an impromptu battle, but you pushed that thought away when you saw Cap dozing off on the side. This was something else entirely.
You made your way over to where Friede stood. He made no move to turn around, but he did start talking, you name gliding off his tongue.
“We’ve been dating for years now,” His voice was steady, as if he had been practicing what he’d say for some time now. “And we’ve been best friends for even longer.”
Your body froze. This couldn’t be.
But, it was. Friede turned around, and while he wasn't wearing any special clothes or holding a bouquet of flowers, the look on his face was more than enough for you to know he meant everything he was saying. Friede fished through his jacket pocket and pulled out a small black box. He held it towards you, but didn’t open it quite yet.
“I love you dearly. Since the day we met on that beach, I knew there was no way I could just leave the region if you weren’t coming with.”
You thought back on the moment you met him– you were upset, having just lost the Mossdeep City gym for the third time, and were doubting your battling skills. In your frustration, you challenged the first trainer you saw, which happened to be him. Even if that battle was a total blunder, you would never deny how much you’ve come to cherish the moment. How it had turned into something incredible . Friede had too, it seems. Your eyes started to sting.
Friede took your left hand in his. “I want to be by your side for the rest of your adventure– the rest of our lives .”
He popped open the box. Resting on a dark velvet cushion was a simple ring that shimmered in the light of the setting sun.
“I was going to wait until after we took Terapagos to Laqua, but something is telling me I need to do this now.
“Will you marry me?”
You ignored the tears that streamed down your face, hastily letting out a yes before pulling him into a kiss. Sure it was simple, an action the two of you shared almost every day, but this time felt better . It was pure love and happiness all wrapped into a soft feeling against your body. The feeling of bliss stayed even after Friede pulled back, his arms wrapping around you and his warmth blocking the cold air. The two of you stood like that for a while. The sun had long since set when you finally pulled away, a laugh leaving your body as Friede made a show out of slipping the ring around your finger. The stone shimmered in the moonlight, and you knew you’d have to go get a better look when the two of you got inside. You loved it. Friede pressed a kiss onto the top of your hand.
“I have another question,” You hummed, smiling when he pecked your cheek. Cap jumped on his shoulder. He let out a soft yawn.
“Mind watching the ship while we’re out?”
You rolled your eyes– way to jump out of the moment. “I was wondering when you were going to ask that.”
Friede laughed in response.
“If I make it back in one piece–”
“When.”
“When I make it back in one piece, we can start planning a wedding. Since I know you’re already itching to do it.”
You had to admit, visuals of a possible ceremony had been drifting around in your head since the moment he opened the box. You definitely wanted to bask in the engagement a little bit, but you knew if you waited too long Friede might forget.
“I’ll be sure to remind you.”
“I would never forget!”
The rest of the night was spent laughing and reminiscing on the years you’ve been together. The two of you had opted to formally tell the entire crew about the engagement after Laqua, but you decided to keep wearing the ring in the time being. When you headed back inside, Orla had congratulated you– of course she knew– and soon after you found yourself drifting off to sleep in Friede’s arms.
Wind whipped by, slapping against your face and whistling by your eyes too loud for you to hear anything but Orla’s frantic yelling. The two of you had gone to the deck to motion Friede and the kids inside before the smoking engines gave out. Now, you stood with dot, helping them keep their balance as they held themselves on the railing of the ship. The two of you were momentarily distracted by the popping of the engine, not noticing how Friede and Charizard were swept up with the wind until you heard Liko shout out.
It all happened too fast– Friede holding onto Charizard with all his strength, handing Cap and his now chipped goggles over to Liko, the engine letting out another terrified screech as the force started to become too much. All you could smell was smoke. You remember reaching out towards Friede, feeling your hand barely graze the fabric of his jacket and the crushing feeling of Orla holding you around your midsection. The ring on your finger sparkled in the sunlight, and for a moment all you could register was the calm look Friede wore as he stared back at you.
That day replayed in your mind for the next year that followed.