Maria Dietrich

for me to not obsess over looking different."

She looks back to Rosa with a smile and a laugh.

"I know I keep bringing it up, and I'll try to do better about not obsessing over it. At the end of the day, I'm still here, and that's what matters."

"I can't believe that we never saw each other there. I must've been blind or something."

Or hospitalized. Or both. Rosa thought Maria was attractive though, huh...

Her gaze moves to the outside of the carriage, looking out at the vast landscape.

"I believe you, just...it was a little difficult

it'd be kinda sad if I didn't. There was a girl there who'd saved a Veluza and absolutely loved swimming with it in the communal pool at night. Another one, uh, that girl that was in the news all the time about being a missing person..."

blush.

"Yeah. I traveled a bit in Paldea. There's a school there that's supposed to make expert Pokemon Trainers, so I figured I'd go and...you know, try and make a name for myself."

Her thumb gently brushes against the top of Rosa's hand, back and forth.

"...I made friends there. I mean,

Maria looks to Rosa. It was surreal sitting in the cab with her like this...just the two of them, holding hands and enjoying each other's presence...

"Guilty. You're attractive, and I've always enjoyed being around you so..."

She clears her throat, attempting to fight off her ever increasing

Maria follows soon after, claiming the seat next to Rosa. Alone like this, inside the Ferris Wheel...just the two of them. She could feel her heart beating again.

With a *kerchunk*, the door closes and locks, ensuring their security in the cab.

"I bet the view is amazing," she says, noticing the glint in Rosa's eyes. No matter what, it seemed like nothing could get her down. In a way, Maria envied her.

"Let's head on in. Princesses first."

She grins at Rosa. "Gotta make sure she doesn't get ambushed by the crowds."

would recognize.

Once they were at the Ferris Wheel, Maria would look up at it, craning her neck to get a good view of the massive structure.

"They say this Ferris Wheel's the largest one in the world," she mentions quietly.

There was something that was fueling Rosa right now, Maria could definitely tell that. Was she scheming something?

"Rosalinde, you're definitely excited for this," Maria says, knowing full well that Rosa was trying to avoid people crowding around her. Best to not actually use a name that people

"About as good as these guys'll manage, at least combat-wise."

she says, laughing a bit at her own lame joke.

What exactly did Rosa see in Maria, she wondered...all the while letting the perky brunette lead her onward!

This brunette was oblivious to said plan. That being said...some quality time with Rosa, alone...that sounded enticing. They'd caught up a bit, but catching up even more...holding hands...leaning on each other...

"Yeah, I'm down. Well, gonna be up soon, but that's for a few minutes from now,"

thoughts. I've gotta have more confidence in myself. You chose me of all people."

She grips her hand, the one she can grip anyway, and nods with a smile.

"Let's do it. I want my first time on that Ferris Wheel to be with you, Princess."

"C-couples. R-right! We're a couple now."

It felt really good to say that. So she says it again, "We're a couple now." Still felt good to say. Her heart beat rather loudly in her chest for a moment, she felt.

"A-ah...am I really...n-no, you'd tell me to just stop with those defeatist

"For...?"

Her eyes look in the direction Rosa points. A Ferris Wheel...riiiight, the famous Nimbasa Ferris Wheel!

"There's a rule for it? What's the rule?"

She looks back to Rosa, interested. It seemed like a good place for couples...

start with that first big leap, right?"

"Ah yeah, I can imagine Sushi having problems. Water types don't tend to do well with electricity."

She'd nod, type matchups hadn't really been the most important thing for her to learn until she'd actually started catching Pokemon herself. Rattata was a Normal type after all.

"All journeys

(Yuri is exactly what's needed on this timeline.)

the Gym Challenge like I'd wanted when I was a kid, or I would probably have more fond memories of the place."

She glances back over to the brunette.

"How'd your challenge go here?"

"I went there once with my family. It was kind of a funded vacation, remember when I left town for a week when we were younger?"

The flashing neon lights and the hustle and bustle of the big city overtook her for a moment. Whew...it felt weird going back to a large city.

"I never ended up taking

would always be one.

"Uh-uhm...y-you too, Rosa. You look erm...you look gorgeous."

Her face couldn't be any redder. Rosa thought Maria looked good? She hadn't really put a bunch of makeup on or anything...or really was wearing anything but the casual fit she normally had...

Maria keeps leaning against Rosa, walking with her. There were worries that she wasn't acting quite like Rosa wanted her to, but those were worries that she could talk about with her later.

"H-huh?"

She looked to Rosa with surprise. It shouldn't surprise her, they were dating, but hearing it

Rosa's. Stepping a little closer, letting herself lean against her.

"Will you lead me to this wonderland, Princess?"

"I don't mind walking a bit. I'll uh...I'll make sure to keep you safe, my darling princess."

Maria felt the same. It was a little hard to work up the confidence to speak as vibrantly as Rosa did, but the smile and the gaze she gave Rosa spoke more than words could.

Her hand gently squeezes

"I'd be crazy not to accept."

She takes Rosa's hand in her own. Stepping closer to Rosa, definitely blushy right now.

"W-well...I'm definitely not opposed to it. Yeah, let's go to the fair!"

She might be interested in that.

"Oooh right. I've never been on the Ferris Wheel..."

A pause again once she processes what the implication was. Cheeks were starting to go red.

"Like...uhm...a date?"

"...huh, the Nimbasa fairgrounds is having an event for Valentine's Day."

"Buh. My neck aches...I definitely slept on it wrong."

(*Snuggle* I love you honey.)