Wedding Prep Pt. 2

Steven looked over Pallet Town after the feeling of Teleportation faded. It was just as beautiful and peaceful as he remembered. When his father spoke, he turned his eyes away from the familiar and much missed sight, "Beautiful place. The wedding isn't until tomorrow, right?"

"Not until tomorrow," Steven answered with a smile, "It's good to be back,"

A soft sigh left him after he took a deep breath of the fresh air. Steven spotted something flying nearby and and sent a mental question to Metagross. Metagross replied quickly, "It's Smaug and Diaval. They're racing around. Neither have a trainer on their backs, Lance and Vali are by the Professor's residence with the dark-type trainer, Zaria."

Steven pointed out the flying pokemon, "That's Smaug and Diaval, Lance and Vali aren't on them right now. Metagross pinged them by the Oak residence."

"Since we are staying with the Professor, we'll head that way then," Joseph replied with a cheerful grin, "Excited to see them both? Or just Vali?"

"Both, but mostly Vali," Steven replied as they began walking towards the Professor's house.

As they made their way through Pallet Town towards the Professor's house, Steven was hit with memories of his time in Pallet Town. He saw flashes of himself walking with Vali through the town. Vali grinning at him with Ash laughing beside her. Gary and Ash playing with their pokemon in one grassy area. Vali riding on Balto with Ash in front of her. Metagross hummed contently beside him and he offered his partner a soft smile. Joseph spoke as they passed a local bakery, "That smile, you like it here a lot, huh?"

"Lots of good memories," Steven replied as they passed by a couple of kids that he recognized from the school when they'd done that demonstration, "The time I spent here was good. It helped center me,"

"I can tell," Joseph nodded at him, "When you left for Kanto it was clear you needed to clear your head after what had happened during the tournament the year before,"

Steven nodded as they made their way closer the Oak residence, "It helped a lot. New region, new pokemon, and a new priority, it gave me a chance to rethink my strategies and my team to get the strength they needed. With how it's been going, we'll be champions in no time."

They reached the gate and found a rather large amount of activity going on there. Steven spotted Lance first, "Lance! What's going on?!"

There were swirls of fabrics and ribbons, the whole place was a mess of object that Steven vaguely knew went along with parties. Lance turned his head and grinned, "Hey, Steven. Joseph, it's been awhile. We're getting wedding stuff ready over here since Professor Oak offered to host it. The Professor is inside if you need to find a place for your stuff."

"Thanks," Steven told him earning a nod as Zaria popped out of somewhere holding a large amount of flowers, "Hey, Zaria,"

"Yo, Seven. Joseph," Zaria said before turning her head, "Where did Delia want these?"

"Along the garden pathway," Vali's familiar voice sounded from among the fog of fabrics, "She wants to them to lead towards the big pond in back. It's where Siri's building the arch,"

"So more flowers," Zaria groaned out.

"That's why we've got two wheel barrows here and a couple back at the house," Vali replied as she walked into view, "And-Steven?!"

A look of surprise and happiness appeared on Vali's Face. Steven grinned at her and opened his arms, "Hey, Vali. It's been awhile."

Vali quickly hugged him and Steven wrapped his arms around her. He closed his eyes with a soft smile as she murmured, "I missed you so much, Steven."

Vali heard footsteps behind her while she sat down next to Balto with Thorin curled up at her feet. She spoke while watching the grasses in the field wave about, "Delia's been a bit crazy."

"I can see that," Steven chuckled softly as he came to stand beside her, "How've you been?"

"Going a bit crazy," Vali replied as she leaned against Balto and looked at him, "And busy. I've got commissions lined up. In a few days. I'm going to be doing a photoshoot at Purpleheart Ranch,"

"Wow," Steven looked at her curiously, "That sounds like it'll be fun,"

"It's going to be my first one," Vali replied with a grin, "I can't wait,"

Steven grinned at her, "I wish I'd be able to see it in person."

Vali sighed a bit at the reminder that he wouldn't be there, "It is a shame. I'd be nice to have you there."

They sat in a somewhat awkward silence only for it be broken when Steven caught sight of Magby training with Smaug. Vali looked at him when he commented, "You still haven't mentioned where he's from."

Vali looked back at Magby as the Smaug growled at him to do something. She took out her camera, "Don't tell anyone, we went to Mt. Ember," She held out her camera after finding the Mt. Ember gallery she'd set up, "Take a look at these."

Steven took the camera and began going through the photo's with a small frown, "Huh? I thought it was inactive."

"League suppressed information," Vali replied with a slight smile, "Keep it quiet, the preserve there is precious for obvious reason,"

"Definitely," Steven replied only to let out a soft gasp, "Black and grey coated Ponyta?"

"Mhmm," Vali hummed softly in amusement, "They're beautiful up close as well. If I could catch one, I would have. There was one specifically, a colt that I saw running along the beach. It was the most beautiful Ponyta I've ever seen. The ebony of his coat, the pearl of his hooves, and the ruby of his flames," A soft sigh left her, "Oh how I wanted him," She looked at Steven with a laugh, "For once, I will admit to wanting a pokemon for their looks rather than an honest connection. I've got a picture of him at the end of the gallery,"

"I can understand that," Steven smiled at her, "I ended up getting a rather wonderful looking Milotic a couple months into my journey. She'd been wounded and needed looked after. It was a good partnership, but in the end, she discovered that Contests were more her forte. I found a trainer worthy of her and we ended up making a trade," He let out a wistful sigh, "I miss her greatly,"

Vali thought of how her inner flame had felt on Mt. Ember then inwardly as said, "When we were there, I felt something," Steven looked at her sharply, "That might be where I might be training or close enough to it, I can't say."

"Truly?" Steven's voice was soft and his eyes were unreadable.

Vali nodded as Thorin nuzzled into her, "Yeah."

"That's amazing," Steven's voice was soft, "Now you know where you'll be going,"

"Yeah," She looked at Thorin, "Steven, my time-limit was shortened," She brought up her arm when he went to speak, "That mission to Mount Silver? I ended up using some of my inner Flame. It evolved somewhat," She waved her arm slightly before flicking her fingers and calling forth the flame a bit with a grimace as pain flared up, "Painful to do this, it's not fully formed to be honest, but that's a good thing,"

"How much time do you have left?" Steven asked with concern filling his voice.

Vali let her flames die down, "Less than a year now, it might become less as time passes on. I'm rushing to complete my internship with Blaine's approval since he knows I've got something going on with me and the missions will become only more dangerous," She looked at the pinked skin of her hand with a soft sigh, "I can't promise that I'll be able to tell anyone when it actually happens."

"I know," Steven dropped down, "Are you going to be okay?"

"I should be," Vali twitched her fingers, "I'm not going to be training my inner flame, so I should be fine,"

Steven looked at her hand and winced, "So how badly does that hurt?"

"It's not too bad, but it does hurt," Vali flexed her fingers, "When I get my training and these pathways for my inner flames actually form properly, it won't hurt," She paused for a moment, "Hopefully,"

Vali looked at Delia in horror, "You want me to what?!"

"I just believe you should have a date to the wedding," Delia told her with a serious expression.

"I am the photographer," Vali reminded Delia with a slightly frustrated look on her face, "I'll be taking photos most of the wedding. I do not need a date,"

Delia gave her a look, "I think you need a date."

"Delia, I do not need a date," Vali replied with a glare, "I love you, but there is no need for such a thing," Thorin leaned against her legs, "And even if I were to agree, I doubt I could find anyone. You're getting married tomorrow,"

"I-" Delia began only for Sirius to walk into the room.

"Is something the matter?" Sirius asked with a concerned look.

Vali nodded while turning to Sirius, "Delia decided that she thought I, the photographer of your wedding, need a date. Ignoring my physical age, I am not able to find a date within the time left before your wedding nor would I want to make anyone be my date when they'd be left waiting around for times that one of my pokemon would be taking photo's for me."

Sirius turned to Delia with a raised eyebrow, "Really Delia? Vali doesn't need a date for one. And for two, you should've brought this up earlier had you really wanted her to bring the date."

"I didn't really think about this until now. I've been busy!" Delia defended while Vali rolled her eyes.

"We know," Vali said as she crossed her arms, "Look, I get you want the perfect wedding, but I don't need a date for that. I'm perfect fine without one,"

Delia gave her a frustrated look. Sirius tilted his head towards the door, "Vali, why don't you head out and go spend some time with your pokemon?"

Vali nodded and left the kitchen where she'd been planning on making something to eat. She headed out of the house and found Lance walking towards it. She spoke as he reached her, "I highly recommend not to go in there."

"What's going on?" Lance asked in confusion.

"Delia deciding that I need a damn date for some strange reason," Vali replied with an eyeroll, "Sirius is talking her down. Want to go eat with Thorin and I, I'm hungry,"

Lance looked back at the house than at her before nodding, "Sure."

Vali led the way towards the one restaurant in town that wouldn't be catering the wedding. She noticed he wasn't talking and kept shooting looks at her. Giving a small sigh, she said, "Come out with it, what's up?"

"She thinks you need a date?" Lance gave her a look of disbelief, "Why?"

"I don't know," Vali ran a hand through her hair, "I will be taking photo's almost all of the wedding. Any date of mine would be forced to be wait around while I took photos almost all of the wedding. It's screwed up."

"Why does she expect you to find a date within the next couple of hours?" Lance asked earning a shrug, "Do yo-"

"I don't want a date, Lance," Vali shook her head at him, "Like I said, I'd rather not have you wait around while I take photos,"

Lance shrugged slightly, "Thought I'd offer even if you didn't let me finish."