"Woah Moon, who's this?" Lillie asked, referring to the man sitting next to her best friend.

"This is my dad!" Moon chirped, "I guess you haven't met him yet. You were gone when he visited a few years ago"

The father and daughter were sitting inside a malasada shop on Melemele island, catching up. Lillie slid next to Moon in the booth.

"Dad, this is my friend Lillie. She's Gladion's sister" Moon explained.

"Nice to meet you Lillie. I'm Eclipse" Moon's father said.

"Moon and Eclipse huh? Cute. So, speaking of my brother," Lillie said, quickly changing the subject, "I heard he challenged you yesterday"

"He did" Moon confirmed.

"So?"

"He lost" Moon stated simply, "Hard"

"It was embarrassing" Moon's father added, "I got to watch it"

"Oh...that...explains a lot" Lillie muttered.

"What do you mean?" Moon asked.

"He was supposed to talk to you, but I guess he dropped the ball"

"Talk to me about what?" Moon asked.

Lillie tensed, "Um...I don't know! Just...um...stuff!" She said nervously.

Moon and her father exchanged confused looks.

"Um...what?"

"Nothing!" Lillie squeaked, "So you're Moon's dad? You coming to the party tonight?"

Eclipse blinked, "Yes of course. It's my daughter's sixteenth birthday" he said proudly.

"Gladion's coming...right?" Moon asked.

Lillie nodded, "Yes. I think. I'm sure he is"

Moon sighed, "Okay"

"See ya tonight! I have to do some things that are not suspicious at all! Bye!" Lillie said quickly, getting up and speed walking out of the shop.

"Are all of your friends this...interesting?" Moon's father asked.

"Lillie's not normally so weird. Something must be up" Moon explained.

"How many other of your friends am I meeting tonight?"

"A lot"

"Oh great"

~~~~

"Are you sure I have to go?" Gladion asked, groaning.

"You're going to skip your friend's birthday?!" Lusamine gasped, turning her attention from the mirror to her son.

"No he's not" Lillie stated, "He wouldn't want to lose his only friend"

"But I was such an idiot today!" He groaned, putting his face in his hands, "I wouldn't be surprised if she would never want to associate with me ever again"

"What did you do?" Lusamine asked.

Gladion groaned and hit his head on the wall repeatedly.

"Honey, don't do that"

Gladion sighed and ceased hitting his head.

"I'm sure Moon doesn't think you're more of an idiot than she already does" Lillie sighed.

"Thanks" Gladion said sarcastically.

Lusamine walked over to her son and fixed stray hairs that stuck out from his head, "Stress is bad for your hair" she sang.

"Mother please" Gladion groaned, swatting his mother's hand away.

Lusamine moved over to her daughter and fixed her ponytail, "So what did you do again, Gladion?" She asked.

"I challenged her and lost" he groaned.

"What else is new?" Lillie asked.

Gladion laughed with no humor, "Very funny Lillie. But I lost by a landslide! It was an embarrassing loss!"

"You were also supposed to ask her out"

"You were going to ask her out?!" Lusamine squealed, "My little boy is growing up!"

Gladion groaned.

"What are you, Torchic?" Lillie teased.

"No!" Gladion denied, "Her dad was there! And how could I ask her out after I lost that badly?!"

"Well how about this," Lillie suggested, "Have a battle with her at the party, don't lose as badly, and then ask her out!"

"But then both of her parents will be there!" Gladion complained.

"Stop being a Torchic and do it! You've liked each other for like, ever!"

Gladion pouted, "So?"

"So be with her already! What've you got to lose?"

"Everything..."

"Well time to put everything on the line! Let's go!"

~~~~

"You look nervous" Hau observed, taking in Gladion's odd posture.

"I'm not nervous" Gladion lied, "You're nervous"

Hau laughed, "You're nervous man, I get it"

"Whatever" Gladion grumbled.

The sky turned from a light blue to an orange, and people began lighting torches around town to keep it lit for the night.

"Lillie briefed me on the plan" Hau said, pointing to the battle platform that battles in Iki town were held, "You and Moon battle, you lose, as always, and then you ask her out"

"I don't always lose"

"Okay" Hau laughed, rolling his eyes.

"Are you two sure this is even a good idea?" Gladion asked, looking at his mother and sister who were talking with Moon. Her Lycanroc was at her feet, making the task one million times harder.

"That girl is practically in love with you dude"

"That doesn't make this any easier"

"Just do it man!"

"It's not that simple..." Gladion mumbled.

"You do it or Kiawe does it" Hau sang.

"What?"

"Nothing. Go!" Hau said quickly, shoving Gladion in Moon's direction.

Lillie caught her brother walking over and excused her and her mother from the conversation, walking to Moon's mother who was having a conversation with Professor Kukui and Burnet.

"Hey Gladion" Moon said, noticing him, "What's up?"

Her Lycanroc growled at Gladion, its white fur sticking up, its sharp teeth threatening to tear Gladion's throat out.

"Um...I...I just wanted to say...happy birthday!"  Gladion stuttered, surprising both Moon and her Pokémon. Lycanroc's aggressive posture became confused as it titled its head in surprise.

"Are you okay?" Moon asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No" Gladion squeaked, "I mean! Of course I'm okay, what makes you say that?"

Moon blinked, "The everything about you"

"Oh"

Moon giggled, "Gladion are you sure you're okay?"

"Doyouwanttohaveabattle?" He squeaked quickly.

"Um...sure...but-"

"-Okay bye!" Gladion chirped, cutting Moon off and speed walking away.

Gladion mentally slapped himself. Why was he being so weird? Why was it so hard for him to tell her?

"Sooo how'd it go?" Hau asked, strolling up next to Gladion.

"She said she'd battle me" Gladion grunted.

"Then where are you going? Shouldn't you be battling?"

Gladion stopped dead in his tracks and facepalmed, "I am such an idiot!"

"Yeah I can't argue with ya there..." Hau muttered, "Well let's go together! I'll make sure you don't mess up this time!" Hau chirped, turning around and walking towards Moon. Gladion reluctantly followed.

"So Moon," Hau said, "I hear you and Gladion are gonna have a battle!"

"Yeah I thought we were, too. Then he walked away" Moon answered, an eyebrow raised at the blonde. Her Lycanroc still seemed as confused as its trainer.

"Well you're gonna have it now. Right Gladion?" Hau asked, slapping Gladion's shoulder when he didn't answer.

"Yeah! Yeah, we'll battle!" Gladion squeaked.

"Oookkaaaay" Moon said awkwardly, walking to the battle platform. Her Lycanroc padded behind her, its tail wagging.

"I suggest you follow her" Hau said, patting Gladion's shoulder.

As the two trainers made their way onto the platform, all the guests turned to watch them.

Moon's Lycanroc took its place on the field, snarling and showing its sharp white teeth.

Gladion took a deep breath, Focus on the battle

Gladion sent out his Weavile. Moon's Lycanroc growled. If there was anyone who her Lycanroc despised more than Gladion, it was his Weavile. Weavile taunted Lycanroc.

Lycanroc charged at Weavile, preparing a crunch attack. Lycanroc bit down on Weavile's arm, but Weavile used brick break with its free arm, sending Lycanroc across the field.

Lycanroc slammed it two front paws on the ground, giant rocks shooting up from the floor. Weavile used the rocks to gain height and attack from above. A large barrier appeared around Lycanroc, shielding it from Weavile's attack.

Moon laughed, "This battle may take awhile"

"I'd hope so. We won't be going down without a fight" Gladion said.

"Show us a fight then"

~~~

"That's my girl!" Moon's father exclaimed as he rushed onto the platform, hugging his daughter, "Always a winner!"

Moon's mother found her way next to her daughter, "Of course! She gets it from me" she bragged.

Her father released her, "No way! She gets it from me!"

"Oh yeah?!"

"Yeah!"

"Oh boy..." Moon sighed. Her Lycanroc nudged in between her and her father, glaring at the man.

Moon looked to see Gladion returning his Weavile to its Pokéball. He caught her gaze and smiled sheepishly.

Moon raised an eyebrow, "Is that a smile on your face flower boy?" She teased.

Gladion laughed and Moon's eyes widened.

"What's wrong with you today?" She asked.

Gladion blushed and rubbed the back of his neck, "I wanted to talk to you"

Moon blinked, waiting for him to say whatever it was he needed to. Moon caught her father glaring at the boy, but her mother seemed to be holding back a smile.

"Not here!" He exclaimed a panicked tone to his voice, "Just...come with me"

"Okay?" Moon said unsurely, following the blonde off the platform.

Gladion turned and saw the Lycanroc following and pointed at it, "He needs to stay"

The Pokémon growled, but Moon put her hand on its head, "I'll be fine Rocky. It's just Gladion"

The Pokémon resigned reluctantly, sitting and staying. Lillie walked over to the Pokémon and scratched its ears. Hau tried to do the same, but the Lycanroc nipped at his hand.

Moon chuckled as she walked off with Gladion, unsure of where they were going. The boy led her to the area just outside of town and he hugged his arms awkwardly.

"You didn't bring me over here to murder me with no witnesses, did you?" Moon asked teasingly.

Gladion gave a shaky laugh, "No"

"Then what's the deal? You've been weird all day!"

"All day?"

"You were weird when you challenged me. It was like you were trying to lose..."

"I wasn't trying to lose!" Gladion defended, "My mind was elsewhere. I've had some things on my mind today"

"Like?" Moon pressed.

Gladion didn't answer for a long while. If it wasn't so dark, she could swear his face was a deep shade of red.

"You" He finally said, meeting Moon's eyes.

Heat rose to Moon's face, "M-Me?" She stuttered, "W...What about me?" she asked.

Gladion took a step towards her, "Just about...how much I...like you"

"Like...me?"

Gladion nodded.

"Me? Like...me me?"

Gladion chuckled, "Yes. You you"

"You? Like me?" Moon asked.

Gladion smiled, "Yes"

"Why?"

Gladion laughed and stepped closer to Moon again, cupping her face with his hand, "Because you're you"

Moon slowly brought her hand up to Gladion's, "I'm me..." she whispered as Gladion pressed their foreheads together.

He chuckled lightly, his breath intermingling with hers, "Yeah"

The two trainers leaned in, their lips making contact. The kiss was long- there were years of emotion packed into it. Years of love and compassion.

They pulled away, but kept their faces close, giving each other small kisses every once in awhile.

"Moon..." Gladion murmured in between kisses.

"Hmm?" Moon hummed.

"Would you...be my girlfriend?"

Moon giggled, "Yes"

(A/N. Ugh I worked on this for too long and it's not even that good smh AND it's poorly edited)