Following his victory at Hullbury stadium, Dagda wasted no time leaving the town. He headed east, hearing that Motostoke was far easier to reach that way. He was happy at his victory, looking at the Badge ring he had, seeing both shimmering badges.
However, as he walked through a tunnel towards the second half of the Galar Mine, he frowned. The victory was soured by Danzig's defeat. Seeing his first Pokemon fall in battle soured his victory greatly, the trainer hiding his emotions while performing before the people.
He despised it. He didn't want to have to experience that sour feeling again, that abhorrent defeat that ruined his greatest achievement. He would not allow a single Pokemon to fall in battle on the stage. No matter what, his partners had to keep going.
He walked through the second half of the mine, noticing that this half was so, so much more relaxing. The dim cavern was littered with shimmering gems, pools of water and stone walls with a blue hue to them. It was immensely liberating, and he inhaled as he took in the air. Noticing that there wasn't a worker or a Pokemon in sight, Dagda did something he didn't often do. He took his hair down.
Normally, his hair was tied in a criminally tight bun, slightly tugging on his hairline and keeping his hair moist long after he showered. He let his wavy locks fall this time, noticing that his hair had gotten much longer. When he started traveling around a month ago, his hair was barely to his shoulders. Now, it went past his shoulders, halfway down his shoulderblades.
His hair was still immensely dense, and he bet that if he shaved his head, he could wrap his hair around his wrist or fist and use it like a weapon, or something defensive, like a battle manica or a gauntlet.
He chuckled at the thought, walking about as he let his Pokemon out of their PokeBalls. Danzig and Marko were both tired, yes, but Otis was full of energy, and this was part of Dagda's plan as well.
With the fact that he attacked someone on a boat he broke into still on his mind, he decided that his oldest and most experienced Pokemon would make the best defense against any authorities. This time, his plan worked, but hopefully he wouldn't have to plan for things like this again.
He looked to a pool of water, seeing a Gastrodon floating about calmly, the Pokemon making Dagda smile. There was something about a Pokemon looking serene in it's natural habitat that he enjoyed. If he didn't know any better, he'd assume that his mother birthed him in a forest or something, since he was also comfortable around nature.
He noticed that there were Pokeballs littering the ground, and he found it odd. He narrowed his eyes, wishing he could sense out the life force or energy of Pokemon, something that he knew some Psychic types did. Instead he merely looked closer. He realized that it wasn't a Pokeball, and instead the lips of some kind of creature.
Dagda realized that with how many there were, he couldn't avoid battling at least one of these creatures. He thought carefully, and then looked to Otis, who seemed to notice as well. "Can you do something about that? Like a Flamethrower of something?" he asked, and the Munchlax sighed, shaking his head reluctantly.
He walked over to where the Pokemon where, and in his native tongue, began nagging and complaining to them. As Dagda noticed the sand shift slightly. Otis inhaled, his chest swelling and heating up as he focused.
He exhaled, blowing a massive burst of flame from his maw, singing the ground and causing a small group of Pokemon that looked like Stunfisk to all flail out of the ground, calling out at the pain they felt. These Stunfisk were far different from Unovan Stunfisk, being metallic and green in color. Their lips were colored like Pokeballs, and their body and tailfin looked like a bear trap.
They all hit the ground, beginning to scutter about to avoid the flames. Marko and Danzig laughed at this, as they moved very awkwardly, flopping away like popped balloons given life.
Dagda himself couldn't resist a chuckle, smiling at the scene before he moved on. However, he didn't get to, because he heard a voice from behind him.
"Oh, it's you." he said, and Dagda turned around, smiling when he noticed that the person who chose to interrupt him was infact Bede. He looked much the same, albeit a frown on his face at the sight of Dagda instead of the cocky smirk from before.
Dagda made a lopsided face. He didn't like that. He wanted Bede to engage him, to come at him with a sense of glee. He wanted his opponent to be infatuated with him and have an overwhelming desire to defeat him. It was odd, but when it came to Bede, he cared. Unlike Hop, Dagda actually wanted to battle the fluffy haired trainer.
"Why the frown?" he asked, and Bede narrowed his eyes. "Why would I be smiling? You humiliated me. Me, an elite trainer!" he said, raising his voice, a few Wimpod in the area scuttling away in fear. Dagda glanced to his Pokemon, Otis seeming the most enthused. Marko and Danzig were still weak and weary from the gym battle. Dagda's paranoia cost him, as his Pokemon sorely needed the Pokemon Center.
With this in mind, he decided that he'd focus on scheming, goading people into doing what he wanted so that Otis would have an easier time than normal. He looked back to Bede, sighing.
"I didn't humiliate you. I just won a battle. Not everyone can be undefeated all the time." he said, and Bede growled, reaching into one of his many pockets and pulling out a Great Ball. "Are we gonna battle, or are you gonna keep talking?" Bede asked, and Dagda looked to Otis.
The Pokemon that popped out of the ball was a Solosis, the same as before. Dagda wondered how much stronger it was, fully aware that Bede was a stronger opponent than Hop. He wondered how he could tell, but there was just some part of Dagda that just knew.
"Solosis, use Psybeam." He commanded, the jellybean like Pokemon launching a beam of pinkish energy, Otis bracing himself. "Otis, Protect!" Dagda called, the bear forming a barrier to block the beam, Dagda inhaling as he began to shift gears.
"Use Darkest Lariat!" He called, Otis spinning, shooting forward with his hands coated black. "Psybeam!" Bede called, the beam of energy striking Otis, who simply deflected it, slapping it away with his own attack. He reached the jellybean Pokemon, striking it with a right punch, knocking it to the ground unconscious.
Bede seemed surprised, a frown on his features still. He returned his Pokemon, pulling a different ball from a different pocket. He tossed it forward, another Pokemon Dagda was familiar with appearing. This was a larger female Pokemon, appearing to be an evolved form of his Gothita.
"Gothorita, use Energy Ball!" he called, a green ball firing from the Pokemon's hands without warning, striking Otis and sending him sliding back. "Otis, use Ice Beam!" Dagda called, Otis spreading his hands as a ball of shining energy appeared.
He grunted, a beam of chilling energy flying for the Gothorita. "Use Light Screen!" Bede called, a golden barrier forming around the Pokemon, the Ice Beam doing no damage. "Now Psyshock!" he called, balls of psychic energy appearing around Otis before closing in, pelting him as they burst.
Otis fell to his knees, gritting his teeth as he looked to Bede and his Pokemon. Dagda struggled to think, trying to come up with a move for Otis to use. Something came to mind, and he wondered how effective it would be. "Otis, Shadow Claw!" he called, and Otis threw his head back, roaring as his arms were covered in glowing black claws of energy.
He ran forward, his focus solely on his opponent. "Energy Ball and Psyshock!" Bede called, orbs of psychic energy forming around and trailing Otis as a ball of green energy shot out at the chunky bear. Otis inhaled, pacing himself to prevent overexertion.
"Push through it Otis!" Dagda called, Otis coming down with his right claw, the energy tearing through the green ball, the orbs floating around him shooting forward as he closed in. "Spin!" Dagda called, the Munchlax spinning in a circle to deflect the balls of energy as he reached his opponent.
"Energy Ball!" Bede called, the green ball of energy forming between Gothorita's palms as Otis came down. It was a single strike, the Gothorita losing focus as she wobbled, falling back, leaving the bear worn, yet victorious.
Bede growled as he returned the Pokemon. Again. He was making quick work of him despite everything he'd gone through. Everything he'd struggled to earn, everything he'd been given, everything.
He sent out another Pokemon, this time something new that Dagda hadn't seen before. It was obviously a Ponyta, but instead of flames licking across it's flesh, it had fluffy, well cared for hair and a small horn. The Pokemon called out, and Dagda could tell that this one would be much more trouble than the last two.
"Ponyta, use Zen Headbutt!" Bede called, the horse surging forward with incredible speed, her head glowing a bright pink color. "Otis, Headbutt!" Dagda called, the two Pokemon slamming together by the skull, the force sending a shockwave through the cave. Both Pokemon slid back, and Dagda exhaled.
This was what he wanted. He struggled with his emotions sometimes, but for some reason, this feeling of his heart throbbing in his chest as he battled against a worthy adversary was something he'd always craved.
Even as a child in Kalos, he always saw how his favorite Gym Leaders and celebrity trainers battled over and over again, and the look of euphoria on their features when they finally came against someone who could make them struggle, someone who might defeat them. This was the feeling Dagda had now. If he took one misstep, made one wrong call, Otis would fall and Bede would defeat him. He loved this feeling.
"Drill Run!" Bede called, the Ponyta's horn glowing as it extended and began to spin like a drill, the Pokemon surging forward at top speed, Otis, still recovering from the previous clash. "Otis, Double Edge!" Dagda called, aware that the move was dangerous, as even if it struck, Otis would suffer damage from the strike, something he took into consideration.
Otis erupted in bright golden light before surging forward, throwing his weight behind his fist, a right hook that struck the Ponyta in the shoulder, the spiraling horn striking Otis in the left shoulder, piercing his flesh as the two Pokemon slid back. Otis flinched at the recoil, stumbling lightly, his breathing heavy.
Otis was feeling enthused as well. He was a lazy Pokemon, yes, but he too loved this feeling of being deep in a battle, the feeling of his heart throbbing. He wouldn't fall until this battle was over. He liked the fight, and he liked his opponent.
Bede's frown had faded, replaced with the same confident smirk as before, something Dagda enjoyed seeing. With all four combatants in sync, all feeling that addicting adrenaline, this battle would finally begin it's next phase. "Zen Headbutt!" Bede called, the horse neighing before charging forward.
"Otis, Double Edge!" Dagda called, both trainers throwing everything into this one clash. Whoever fell at the end of this clash would lose, regardless of the fact that both trainers still had Pokemon remaining. This was the one clash that they both craved, the vie for dominance ending here.
Which is why both trainers felt their hearts sink as a Linoone appeared from nowhere, blindsiding Bede's Ponyta and sending her crashing into a nearby wall. "Ponyta!" Bede called, both trainers turning their heads in the opposite direction.
Standing before them were a pair of trainers, heavyset grown men with pink Mohawks and odd, skintight shirts and ripped pants. They wore facepaint as well, and looked almost like brothers from a clown school. The one with a Linoone laughed, his friend having a Liepard standing by.
Dagda could hear Fairy's voice in his head, begging him to remain calm, his voice falling on a deaf mind and even deafer ears. He was angry. It didn't happen often, but Dagda's battle was interrupted. His desire to prove himself strong faded, his scar throbbing, almost like the wound itself was upset.
"Who the fuck are you!?" Dagda called, his three Pokemon looking to him, finding his shift in attitude rather odd. However, they all flanked him, ready to stand by him. The heavyset men laughed. "We're Team Yell. We was hearing that you two were pretty strong. Possibly strong enough to pose a threat to Marnie." he said, and Dagda felt his good eye twitch.
So they interrupted his battle with his friend for what? Because they were afraid that he might be able to defeat some trainer he'd never heard of? This was a preposterous idea to Dagda, who wasn't in any mood to be rational.
"Destroy them!" Dagda called, his Pokemon feeling a chill running down their spines at his vulgar attitude. However, they felt something else. It was a rush of adrenaline, the Pokemon spurred into action by their trainer's command.
Marko rolled his shoulders, that dark, pupiless gaze staring forward, Danzig and Otis flanking him. The trio of Pokemon burst forth, the Linoone unable to react as he was beset by the three monsters.
Bede looked on, holding his injured Pokemon. He wasn't sure what he was witnessing, but there was something horrifyingly different about his opponent. His hair was moving, almost like twitching eyelids. His Pokemon were also relentless, striking down the Linoone and the Liepard in a short amount of time, leaving the two trainers slightly afraid at the cyclopian fiend before them.
"Get out of my sight. If you ever interrupt one of my battles again, or hurt anyone I care about, I will make you unrecognizable." he growled out. The two members of Team Yell backed up. This wasn't a normal child. His eye was filled with pure evil, and his canine teeth had begun to turn outwards during their confrontation. It was like he was some form of shapeshifting monster, a mythical changeling or muse possessed by evil.
The men immediately fled with their defeated Pokemon, Dagda's three partners looking to their trainer as he began to calm down. He panted, looking to his shaking, sweaty hands before shaking his head. He looked back to Bede, who looked at him with a cross of awe and fear. He walked over to the trainer, offering him a hand.
"Is your Ponyta alright?" he asked, and Bede took Dagda's hand, his firm grip pulling Bede up like a leaf in the breeze, the fluffy haired trainer nodding. "She'll be okay. I just have to get through this cave." he said, and Dagda sighed, shaking his head. His Pokemon all seemed worn out, and he realized that no matter what he did, they'd be hard pressed to get through the cave in their condition. He looked to Bede. "Do you want to travel with me? Just until we get to Motostoke at least. I wouldn't want you getting hurt, especially since it's my fault that your Pokemon are so beat up." he said, and Bede was cautious.
He soon nodded, accepting Dagda's offer as the two began to walk. Otis, Marko and Danzig flanked them, the group facing no adversity as they walked on. "You said that the chairman sponsored you. How'd that happen?" he asked, and Bede looked to him. Why did he care?
"Chairman Rose adopted me. He took me from an orphanage, sent me to a Trainer's School, helped me the whole way through. If it wasn't for his kindness, I'd probably still be some filthy ruffian." he said, and Dagda smiled. He had always wondered what kind of person the Chairman was. He could see now that he was a kind man, someone worthy of his position.
"What about you? How did a low class ruffian like you get a sponsorship from the Laverre Theatre Company?" he asked, and Dagda hummed. "Actually, it has to do with this." he said, pointing to his cloudy eye and scarred face.
"I got jumped in the Wild Area by an Obstagoon and this big dude called Pops helped me out. He saved me, took care of me and my Pokemon and guided me to Motostoke. When I told him about how Galar works, he helped me get the sponsorship. Apparently the leader of the theater troupe was his brother in law." he said, and Bede blinked. That sounded rather odd. A relative of such a rich and powerful man just wandering about a region far away?
"Have you ever been to a Laverre Theatre production?" Bede asked, and Dagda shook his head. He could see the exit to the cave up ahead, glad that they all made it through rather safely.
"Nope. I'd seen the Laverre Gym Leader, my sponsor, battle though. I thought he was really cool, between the performances he'd put on in the battle and his variety of Pokemon. Has the Chairman taken you to any of their plays?" he asked, and Bede nodded, the cave's exit visible to him, the sun rather low in the sky.
"I went and saw a play from their Winter Troupe. It was called 'Sympathy for the Angel'. It was a romantic comedy about an angel called Sandalphon, who fell in love with a human who worked as a college professor. The funny part was that Sandalphon was called 'The Tall Angel', and seeing the actor have to slump over for kisses was funny, especially to me back then." he said, a bright look in his eyes as they walked a path on the outskirts of their destination.
"That sounds hilarious. Maybe if they ever come to Galar we could catch one of their plays." he said, and Bede looked to him, an odd look on his features. "Me? Go to a play with you?" he asked, and Dagda blinked. Did this have to do with him being upset at losing? "Sure. We're friends, and we both like the Theatre Company. Their Autumn Troupe should be active now, so they'd have a pretty cool action show if last year is anything to go by." he said, and Bede sighed, seeming frustrated.
The moon's first rays began to shine over the town as they reached the city. "Maybe. Just do me a favor and stay out of my way. I'm the one that's going to be the Champion, got it?" he asked, and Dagda chuckled, nodding. "And I'll be the first one to take that title from you."