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In the week since AZ’s passing, Hotel Z had been quiet. Team MZ shuffled about in silence, no one sure what to say to each other as they went about their days.
It was why the reopening of Centrico Plaza— and the news that Harmony and Taunie would be receiving their wishes for reaching Rank A of the Z-A Royale— was such a breath of fresh air. Harmony was able to go down the street and feel like everything was mostly normal. Some of the streets were still upturned, with asphalt and concrete torn to rubble, cordoned off by Racine Construction as they continued tirelessly to fix up Lumiose, but it was almost like nothing happened. She enjoyed the spring breeze and the warmth of the sun against her skin as she strolled along, taking her sweet time. Each step helped the stress that was wound up in her back and shoulders unwind just a bit more.
As she finally started to come upon Centrico Plaza, she was able to see the telltale green holo-walls that indicated the perimeters of a Wild Zone. In the center sat Prism Tower, removed of all the shiny white metal that used to cover it, instead its rusting metal had plant life that started to overtake it. Harmony still had nightmares off and on about the night they had to stop the Ange, with all of those Rogue Mega Evolved Pokemon going berserk and putting everyone in danger, but looking at it now, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm.
“If only AZ could see this…” she thought as she came up behind the rest of Team MZ, who were standing in front of Jett and Vinnie of Quasartico. With a small, mischievous smile on her face, Harmony wrapped her arms around Lida’s waist as she approached, pulling herself close and giving her a big kiss on the cheek before nuzzling into her. Lida squirmed in her girlfriend’s hold and giggled.
“Harmony, c’mooon! We have really important business people here!” she chided teasingly. Jett smiled warmly and waved a hand to dismiss the young woman’s concerns.
“Please, don’t worry. After all you’ve been through, a little affection is well-deserved. Now more than ever, showing love to the ones we care about is the most important thing.”
“See,” Harmony teased, sticking her tongue out briefly before the two shared a quick peck on the lips. After, Harmony finally (but reluctantly) let go, standing next to Lida after. “So we’re here to get our wishes?” she asked.
Vinnie nodded, “Yes, as long as it’s within Quasartico’s power to fulfill them, you can name whatever you want,” he said. Naveen smiled.
“Well, after what you two did, I suppose you deserve to be a little selfish,” he told them. Of course, Harmony… did have a selfish wish in mind. One that, at the same time, she wasn’t sure how to voice in front of the rest of her team.
Mostly because of how it related to Lida. Harmony glanced every so often at the girl to her left, eyes flitting back to Taunie or Jett right away. She stayed silent as everyone else spoke— a rarity for Harmony— her stomach tying itself up in knots.
“I know it’s a little bit selfish, but if it’s possible, I want a way for Lumiose to continue having Pokemon battles through the Z-A Royale,” Taunie said, “AZ always thought it was a way for people and Pokemon to connect with each other, and I can’t think of a better way to honor him.”
Vinnie pulled up his sunglasses for just a moment to wipe his eyes with the side of his index finger, letting them drop down just as quickly. Jett nodded softly, “AZ expressed the same to us, and we feel it’s a great idea. Vinnie, have our engineers push the update to the app,” she told him. His Rotom phone floated in front of him.
“Yes, President Jett gave the okay to push the update.”
Harmony and Taunie’s Rotom phones both dinged, flying in front of them to reveal the Z-A Infinite Royale. The two girls looked at each other, grins on their faces.
“Now, Miss Harmony, what would you like?” Jett asked. Harmony’s stomach dropped, her face paling. She bit the inside of her cheek.
“Ah… It’s… kind of private…” she trailed off nervously. Lida blinked, then looked at Naveen and Taunie.
“Hey, you guys wanna stop by Nouveau Café quick? I’m like, uber hungry and craving one of their croissants right now!” she said. Without even waiting for an answer, she grabbed onto their wrists and dragged them off. She looked over her shoulder to Harmony and winked, before rushing off.
Harmony was grateful her girlfriend picked up on wanting her and the others gone— though she probably wouldn’t have guessed the reason why. She looked at Jett and Vinnie, two people from a world so wholly different from her own, and swallowed hard.
“I… need money,” she said, pausing for a moment to try and gather herself, “N-Not just because I want money. I want to get my girlfriend— I want to get Lida a ring. To propose to her.” Jett started in surprise, blinking a few times, and then smiled.
“For one of the saviors of Lumiose? That should be more than doable,” she said. She looked to Vinnie, “If you don’t mind, Miss Harmony and I will go shop for a ring.” Vinnie smiled widely and clapped his hands together.
“That sounds like an excellent day. You have a meeting at 3 you can’t miss, but I’ll make sure to call you thirty minutes before to remind you in case you aren’t back at the office in time,” he told them, before folding his hands in front of himself again, “I hope the both of you have a good time. Harmony, I trust you to take the utmost care of President Jett.”
Harmony grinned, “I will. I promise.”
As the two women started to walk off towards Vernal Avenue, Harmony’s Rotom phone flew out of her pocket.
“Hey!” came Lida’s voice, “I have your order for you, when’re you gonna get here?”
“Sorry! I actually need to go off with President Jett as part of my wish! I’ll catch up with you later?” Harmony said.
“Aww, ok. Have fun babe! Love you!”
“Love you too,” Harmony said, feeling her heart swell with love for her girlfriend.
As her Rotom phone flew back into her pocket, Jett chuckled gently. “How long have the two of you been dating?” she asked. Harmony smiled and let out a content sigh.
“One month. I know it doesn’t sound like a long time— I know it isn’t a long time but I just… I just know. I know I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
“I just hope she wants to spend the rest of her life with me…” she thought grimly. There was no reason for Lida to not want to spend the rest of her life with Harmony, but Harmony couldn’t help but worry. What if something changed? What if there was a day Lida just woke up and just… didn’t feel the same? What if dance took her somewhere else in the world that Harmony didn’t want to go?
“I hope everything works out for you two. I must say, you’re quite adorable. I hope you continue to make Lumiose your home together.”
“Me too.”
Lumiose was somewhere she came to because she needed somewhere to go. Drifting from place to place, she settled on Lumiose as soon as she had just enough money saved up for the train ticket. She ran into Taunie by complete chance, but she’d forever be grateful because that encounter led her to Hotel Z, which led her to Lida.
Next thing she knew, they stopped at a small jewelry store next to Lumiose’s Stone Emporium. It definitely was the best place to put this, but Harmony still felt a bit nervous as she stood outside. The store’s window display probably cost more than all the money she’d made since coming to this city and then some. This was way too fancy for her. She shouldn’t have been here. She was a poor trans woman who shared pain au chocolats for breakfast with her girlfriend when their wallets were stretched too thin. This was not the type of place Harmony shopped at.
Boutique Couture was already too much for her, and this was well beyond that.
“Are you ready?” Jett asked, stirring her from her thoughts. Harmony swallowed hard and nodded quickly.
“Yeah, yeah, let’s go.”
Even the woman at the counter gave her a strange look once the unlikely pair of women entered. Harmony glanced away, opting to look at the large display signs featuring blushing brides showing off extravagant engagement rings. With any luck, she’d be able to take a picture like that of Lida soon enough. She knew her girlfriend would look better than any of the models shown off in this store (not that the models looked bad, and she was sure Lida would agree).
“It’s not often we get a visit from Quasartico’s president. What can we do for you?” the woman asked, pointedly focusing only on Jett.
“I’m here to help my friend pick out an engagement ring for her girlfriend,” Jett said, gesturing to Harmony. They were greeted with silent confusion by the woman, and Harmony couldn’t necessarily blame her. Her hair was dyed pink and blonde that no one could possibly mistake for natural, done in a long, wavy style. She was wearing a pink pullover under bright blue overalls that she donned for ease and comfort, and the bright pink color contacts didn’t help, either.
“Well… I suppose I can help,” the woman said. “I imagine you have some sort of idea for what you’re looking for?” Harmony nodded eagerly, a wide smile making its way on her face. This was something she thought about plenty— probably more than she should have.
“Yeah! So first I need…”
***
Luckily after the trip to the jewelers, the day had gone by quickly and without incident. Harmony returned back to Hotel Z, where Taunie had big plates of croissant curry for them all. As they talked, Taunie and Lida repeatedly asked “So what was your wish?” throughout the entire meal. Even when Naveen tried to get them to stop, their eyes were still bright as they tried to find out.
Each time, though, despite the butterflies in her stomach, Harmony would shrug and say “I guess we’ll see,” before taking a large bite of food.
Now her and Harmony were sitting on the couch, a large, plush blanket with tiny cartoon Psyducks on it keeping them warm. The fire pit aided in the warmth and cast a warm glow over the two of them. In the distance they could see Prism Tower, with the starry night sky now more easily visible without as many lights and obstructions.
Under the blanket, inside one of the pockets of her overalls, sat the engagement ring box that Harmony got hours before. It was practically burning a hole in the denim, and it was taking all her willpower to not instantly slam it into her girlfriend’s palm.
“You still haven’t told me what your wish is,” Lida teased, resting her head against Harmony’s. Greeted by silence for a few moments, Lida glanced at Harmony from her periphery, “If it’s really private, you don’t have to say anything, you know. We’re just teasing. You totally don’t have to tell me.”
Harmony had been pretty open with her about almost everything, but there were still a few things she wasn’t: most of that had to do with her life before coming to Lumiose. Harmony would tell her when she was ready, if she was ever ready, and Lida was fine with that.
“I’ll tell you soon, promise,” Harmony said, letting out a content sigh after. Lida smiled and nodded as best as she could without breaking contact. And soon…
Harmony had to remind herself that it would all be ok. That no matter how things might turn out tonight, no matter what Lida’s answer would be, the two of them would be ok. The fire continued to crackle as Harmony pushed those fears from her mind: if she let herself get caught up in this, she would back out, and this ring would sit uselessly for who knew how long.
“Actually, um…” Harmony started slowly, voice shaking. Lida leaned forward and looked at her girlfriend, still keeping the blanket wrapped tight around her. “There is something I want to talk to you about.”
“Harmony, you know you can talk to me about anything, right?” Lida asked, reaching for Harmony’s hand under the blanket. “Is something wrong?”
Lida squeezed Harmony’s hand, and Harmony couldn’t stop herself from tearing up a bit, causing Lida’s expression to drop. “No,” Harmony whispered, “Everything is great. I have you with me, how couldn’t things be perfect?”
Lida blushed, a goofy smile on her face, “Harmony…” she said, unable to stop giggling, “I feel the same. I’m so glad we met. I’m so glad we’re… here right now.” Lida couldn’t help but feel useless while Harmony ran through Lumiose, fighting hordes of rogue Mega Evolved Pokemon to help save Taunie. Not to mention all of the rogue Mega Evolved Pokemon she had to fight with the rest of them, Harmony was always putting herself in danger for the sake of others. It scared Lida how willing she was to do all of this, but it just made her love the girl even more.
“So, there’s, um… something I want to tell you. It has to do with my wish,” Harmony told her. Lida’s eyes went wide and she shook her head quickly.
“No no no, really, you don’t have to say anything! If it’s private, it’s private, and that’s fine.”
Harmony gently shook her head, “No, it’s something I want to tell you. I just need you to listen.” Lida nodded in silence, staring her girlfriend in the eyes. “You… mean so much to me. And I’m really lucky to have you around, and to be dating you. Your passion with dance is so inspiring, and I can’t wait to see you make it big. Every time I see you my heart smiles, and I feel like I never have to worry with you around. Like everything is always going to be great. You’re just… You’re the best ever, and I love you, and I want you to know that.”
Lida let out a breathy laugh, tears welling up in her eyes, “You’re being way too nice. You’re just as good as me. You’re even better.”
“And there’s, um, something I want to give you. If you don’t like it then, like, that’s totally fine, don’t worry about it, but…” Harmony trailed off, biting the inside of her cheek. She reached into her overall’s pocket, her face quickly becoming flush.
“Look, you giving me something? I know it’s going to be my favorite thing ever,” Lida assured her. Suddenly, Harmony pulled her arm out from under the blanket, setting her hand— which was covering something— in her lap.
“So, uh…” Harmony swallowed a hard lump in her throat, “I-I want you to have this…” She gripped onto the ring box and held it in front of Lida. Lida held out her hand and Harmony placed her hand in Lida’s. Lida furrowed her brow and pouted her lip as she tried to figure out what it was. Finally, Harmony removed her hand, revealing to Lida the tiny, black velvet ring box. Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped in shock.
“N-N-No way… You didn’t. No way,” Lida mumbled under her breath. Harmony ducked her head.
“Is it bad if I did?” she whispered. Lida didn’t say anything, instead slowly opening the box.
“NO WAY! REALLY!?” she shouted, loud enough to cause a few Pidgeys from a nearby rooftop to fly away.
Inside the box was an engagement ring. The band was pristine silver, shining up at Lida, with a gold setting with eight small gold prongs holding it to the band, and a large red ruby as the center stone. Harmony was practically vibrating in her seat as she waited for her girlfriend’s response, while Lida continued to wordlessly gawp at the ring.
“…So I asked Jett if I could get the money for a-an engagement ring. I know we’ve only been dating for a month but I just… I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Lida. If you aren’t ready or you don’t want it, that’s fine, but I just wanted to let you know… and um, would you marry me?”
As soon as Harmony was done speaking, Lida gripped the ring tight in her hand, letting the box fall onto the blanket, and practically pounced onto Harmony. She wrapped her arms around her girlfriend as tight as she could, planting her lips on Harmony’s. Lida shot her tongue in her girlfriend’s mouth, causing Harmony’s eyes to shoot open in shock and surprise, but she wasted no time in kissing Lida back. They continued to kiss each other, loving and passionate, only breaking apart as they needed to breathe.
“Is that an answer for you?” Lida asked with a cheeky grin, before placing the ring on her right ring finger, humming as she admired it. “It looks like a Starmie!”
“Yeah! That’s what I was going for when I asked about customizing it,” Harmony nodded.
“Wait, this is custom?” Lida asked, “You seriously did that for me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Harmony asked.
“So my girlfriend is one of the heroes who saved Lumiose, and she got me a killer ring that looks like my favorite Pokemon? I’m literally the luckiest girl ever,” Lida said, “So in case you still need a confirmation— of course I’ll marry you.”
Harmony squealed with joy, which caused Lida to squeal. “We don’t have to right away! I just want you to know how much I love you and everything!” Harmony said. Lida nodded.
“Of course. We’ll figure out the perfect time and it’ll be perfect.”
For the next hour or so, until the flames in the fire pit became little more than dying embers, the two sat there, snuggled up together, quietly admiring Lida’s ring and sharing quick (and not so quick) kisses. Finally, well past midnight, they got up, Harmony making sure everything in the fire pit was put out, then turned on the balls of her feet to look at Lida, who was looking at Harmony dreamily.
“Should we go tell Taunie and Naveen?” Harmony asked. Lida skipped the few steps forward, stopping right in front of Harmony, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“We could… or… we could celebrate this and tell them tomorrow?” Lida asked, before leaning next to Harmony, her breath hot against Harmony’s neck, causing her to shiver more than the cold had at all that night, “And when I say celebrate… I mean celebrate.”
“Y-Yeah! Yeah! That sounds good. I like that. I like that idea a lot,” Harmony said. The two girls giggled before Lida grabbed onto Harmony’s wrist and dragged her into Hotel Z.