The Chairman of the Pokemon League was furious. He could barely contain his restrained anger as he got into his vehicle, Oleana sitting across from him in the limousine. "Sir… are you alright?" she asked, and he looked out the window, his eyes cast on the plateau as they drove out of Stow on Side.
"Who was that sickening creature?" he asked, and Oleana glanced in the same direction as they sped off. "I believe he was who he said. Dagda De Danann, a skilled trainer with five Gym Badges at the moment. He did hold our interest for a moment because of his actions." she explained, her posture refined.
"He first gained notoriety in Turrfield because of his scarred face, and in Motostoke he became infamous for using an illegal Pokemon, a Lycanroc, to completely crush Kabu. He also seems to be incredibly skilled in acting and creative battling, as he found a way to use Power Spots to perform something akin to Z-Moves." she said.
Rose remembered. He was the ugly child using the illegal Pokemon. He thought nothing of it at the time, remembering that he permitted the illegal Pokemon's continued use since Dagda's last two gym battles, in Stow on Side and Ballonlea, were both incredibly popular, and he was a hot topic across the internet and the region. He could make a profit off of it, but now? He had to do something.
And it wasn't because of his usage of illegal Pokemon, or because of his defiance in his face. It was something else. It was because he seemed to KNOW. He knew about the darker side of the smiling Chairman, and that made him dangerous.
He tried to think. How exactly could he deal with Dagda, and get Bede back? He needed the fluffy haired cherub. He was the best Rose had had in a long time. He thought so often of the Ritual he performed every so often, and he had searched for better and better chefs for the time. It was only a month or so away, Bede's eighteenth birthday. The day when the stars would align and the boy's flesh would be most ripe. He had to get him back.
"Oleana… I trust that you can make Dagda disappear while keeping our hands clean? And make Bede repent on his sins as well?" he asked, and Oleana nodded. She watched him smile and close his eyes, unable to see her small frown.
She was a distraught being. She truly idolized and loved this man, but she knew that he wasn't what she thought he was. However, her devotion to Rose overwhelmed her morals, and she found herself aiding in all of his nefarious activities. Even if it meant hiring assassins or grooming children. It was awful, but maybe one day he'd realize that the two of them could just have each other and live happily.
Dagda smiled. He liked this feeling of victory, and he could tell that Rose would make an attempt to retaliate. He wondered how, and he began to question his morals. After all, if they bore teeth, fangs, blades, firearms or even raised their fist against him, he didn't think he'd have that hard of a time striking them down.
"Um… Dagda?" he heard, and he blinked, realizing that he was still standing in the same spot, still holding Bede. He released him, smiling when he noticed that Bede seemed a little bit better. "Sorry. I get carried away sometimes." he said, and Bede pulled the neck of his jacket over his face, unable to meet Dagda's eye, the taller trainer a rather imposing figure to him.
With Rose gone, Dagda felt like he could relax, his mind focused on contacting Mr. Felix and finding a place to sleep. Allister's match was in a day or two, and he wanted to remain in the area to see his friend's performance, remembering Allister coming to him for a couple of pointers.
"I'm going to be in town for a little while to watch Allister's next match. Since it seems like Chairman Rose isn't as nice as I first assumed, I bet he'll try and get at at least me. Why don't you travel with me? I can keep you safe." he said, and Bede grumbled to himself, almost whimpering.
He nodded, almost hesitantly. Dagda smiled again, rather glad to have his friend on board. "That's great. I could use something to look at." he said, and Bede looked to him with his large, bright eyes, Dagda glad to finally have someone around besides his own thoughts and his rough, violent brothers.
The two sat at a tiny cafe in the town, Mr. Felix sitting across from them, his feline eyes locked on Bede momentarily before looking to Dagda. "And you're sure about this, Dagda? Rose is the ringleader?" he asked, and Dagda nodded. "I'm pretty sure. I'm not the most confident in my abilities, but right now, I know for a fact that I sensed an incredible amount of pure evil on that man." he said, and Felix nodded.
Felix cast his gaze to Bede, the boy halfway between afraid of the imposing man and awestruck that the leader of his favorite Theatre was sitting across from him. "Was there a particular reason that you're gathering Wishing Stars? As far as I know, they're tiny pieces of meteors or the like that can harness Power Spots. Why collect them?" he asked.
Bede sighed, fiddling with his fingers in his now empty pocket, his Gym Badges taken by force. "Mr. Rose needed them. He said that he was trying to think of a way to maintain the electricity and power sources of Galar for eternity. He was almost afraid of them running out in a thousand years." he said, and Felix narrowed his eyes.
Dagda had the same thought as the cat man. Why would he care about something a thousand years from now? Unless Rose was a God, or a healthy Halfling, he had no chance of making it even a tenth of that far. He might not even be alive for another sixty or seventy years, why care about a thousand years down the line? What exactly would happen then that would scare him now?
Felix narrowed his eyes, his pupils shifting to slits, something that made Bede almost jump in his seat. "The village is coming along just fine. We've all spread out looking, but we've got a couple more relatives coming. Our oldest brothers, both adopted, are coming as well. Allister's change in attitude is rather amusing, and they want to see it in person." he said, and Dagda smiled.
Bede wondered exactly what they were talking about. Who were these people, and what village did he speak of? And why did it seem that Dagda was personal friends with the Stow on Side gym leader? Dagda tilted his head. "How's Belphegor and the kids?" he asked, and Felix rose a brow. "You'd be surprised." he said.
"After Belphegor got nabbed under our noses, we decided that they all needed permanent families and homes. Zara was actually adopted by the Ogre's oldest brother, and he's coming with his wife to meet her. Kai was a bit harder because he's such a buzzkill, but I was rather surprised when the Ogre told me about who finally gave in and scooped him up." he said, and Dagda tilted his head.
"Of all the people to decide that a depressed, teenage Crobat Halfling was the perfect child, it was old Grimsley and Shauntal, from the Unova Elite Four. I believe Grimsley is a Crobat himself, so it's not too surprising. But look at him, getting all that attention." he mused, and Dagda smiled. He was happy to hear it.
Bede was again, confused. What exactly was a Halfling? Why did it sound like there was a whole world Bede was unaware of? "Um… what exactly is a Halfling?" he asked, and Felix turned to him. He held his hand out, and Bede looked to it. He noticed, oddly enough, weird, bean like pads on the top joint of his fingers. His eyes were oddly cat like as well.
"You know more than you're telling me, but I'm going to pretend I don't know that, Child. To put it bluntly, Halflings are the rare few that are born from the union of humans and Pokemon. We don't know why we can interbreed, only choice few do, but we can regardless." he said, and Bede blinked.
Half Pokemon? Was that truly possible? Could he really believe that someone could be born from a Pokemon? "I'll give you some time to explain to your little sheep about things. Just make sure you tell him what you are as well." he said, and Dagda nodded, rising with Felix and bowing to him, thanking him for his kindness.
The two paced Stow on Side, Dagda sighing when he glanced to Bede. "How are you handling it? I know it was kind of hard for me." he said, and Bede shrugged. "It's just… weird. How do they feel being… abnormal?" he asked, and Dagda hummed. "Well… we Halflings all deal with it different. I've seen some of us act like it's normal, some try to hide it, and I've even seen some drawn so far over the deep end by their own existence that they start speaking like oracles, and speaking in terms of 'beauty' and 'science' and such." he said.
"We?" Bede asked immediately, as if ignoring all of what Dagda said. Dagda nodded, holding out his hand, the hairs on his arms extending and wrapping around his hand like a glove. Bede watched in shock, and Dagda sighed. "I'm apparently the Galar region's one and only Grimmsnarl Halfling. It's why the fire didn't bother me during our first battle." he said.
Bede remembered the alluring, awe inspiring sight. Dagda was unharmed by flames licking at his skin, and the hairs on his arm were unharmed by the radiating embers. He thought it was a feat of superhuman strength, but it was really a feat of inhuman strength.
"Dagda!" they heard, the Halfling turning to face the large staircase in the center of town. Dagda narrowed his eye, realizing that he hadn't seen Hop in a while, something that he remembered fondly. Bede had been a good friend and taken care of Hop for him. He never did learn the result of that battle.
He watched Hop walk down the stairs, seeing the people of Stow on Side slowly start to gather around, the infamous 'Blooming Demon' staring down the Champion's little brother. It looked like a fight for the ages, the kind of thing they make movies and sing songs about. Dagda smiled, casting Bede a calm glance as the fluffy haired boy stepped back. "It's been a while, Hop." he said, and the purple haired boy frowned.
"I want to battle that bastard behind you. I want to get even for what he did in the Wild Area." he said, and Dagda smiled. "Oh? So you got your ass whooped?" he asked, and Hop grit his teeth. "That isn't important! I just want my rematch." he said.
Dagda hummed. "I don't think so. Bede's rather shaken up right now. He needs tender love and care, so I can't let you battle him." he said, slowly noticing the size of the crowd start to increase, even members of Allister's staff filing out of the stadium. Dagda wondered. Does he treat this like a performance?
"Then I'll battle you! We haven't battled since before Hullbury! I bet that I could beat you with just two Pokemon!" he said, and Dagda nodded, smiling and facing Bede, using the hairs on his back beneath his shirt to pull two Pokeballs from his bag. "Then how about a Double Battle? Just like Raihan, if only to see which one of us is closer to reaching his level?" he asked, and Hop nodded, a frown on his face.
Dagda smiled, holding two Pokeballs in his hand before he took his bag off, placing it on the ground as he rolled his neck, hopping in place to loosen up his muscles, as if he needed it. He watched Hop throw two Pokeballs, seeing them pop open, Dagda ready to throw his own Pokemon into the fray.
However, he stopped. He couldn't bring himself to use these two Pokemon. Because across the field from him were the two Pokemon Hop received from Leon. They were surprisingly fully evolved, but he didn't care about that. He looked to the green ape, the Pokemon known as Rillaboom. It's posture was shaky, and it had yet to brandish it's signature drum.
On top of that, it looked terrible. It's body seemed malnourished and overworked, Dagda able to see patchy fur covering bruises and what almost looked like burns. It's entire color palette was off as well, making it look pale and sickly, it's long green hair looking more like an old man's thinning mullet. The Pokemon was in no condition to battle.
Dagda tossed the two Pokeballs to Bede, blinking. "Do me a favor. Grab me the Heavy Ball and the Beast Ball." he said, and Bede blinked, nodding as he fumbled through Dagda's things before tossing him the two Pokeballs.
"Hop! Put the Rillaboom away. I'll battle any of your other Pokemon, but put him away." he said, the crowd finding that request rather odd. Hop laughed. "You're just scared that I'll win, aren't you!? Hurry up and send your Pokemon out!" he shouted, and Dagda frowned.
"He doesn't look good. I think he's a little sick or something. I said I'd battle you, just put him away." he said, and Hop growled. "Shut up and fight me already! You've been dodging me for weeks!" he said, and Dagda frowned. He sent out his Pokemon, Otis and Gorias, the Electivire frowning when he looked across the field.
Dagda frowned. "Stand back, both of you. I have to get through to Hop." he said, the two of them nodding silently as they stepped aside. "I'm not battling that Rillaboom. He's sick, Hop. He needs to see a doctor or something." he said, the people in the audience starting to gossip.
'He does look a little pale.' Dagda heard, the whispers filling the surrounding people exactly what he wanted. Hopefully Hop would heed them and listen. However, it seemed like just the opposite. "Shut up! Rillaboom is just fine. We'll show you! Rillaboom, use SolarBeam!" he shouted, the Pokemon calling out, it's voice cracking.
The Black Angel watched the Pokemon throw it's hands out, launching a beam of concentrated sunlight directly at the three of them. Dagda began to grow angry, unable to put up with Hop's stubborn foolishness anymore. He opened his arms, a frown on his face as the beam struck him squarely in the chest.
Dagda frowned at the force of the attack, expecting far more from a fully grown Pokemon. He flexed his chest, the beam dissipating as the Pokemon visibly wobbled. "I'm not putting up with this shit anymore." Otis said, taking a step onto the battlefield.
He opened his mouth, releasing a huge Yawn, the Rillaboom wobbling, made drowsy by the attack. "Cinderace, Hi Jump Kick!" Hop called, the large white rabbit leaping into the air, throwing a massive jumping kick as the Rillaboom began to collapse, his consciousness fading.
Gorias intercepted the rabbit, allowing it to kick him squarely in the face before standing back. When Rillaboom hit the ground, Otis looked to Gorias. "Take care of this shitshow." he said, Dagda and Hop watching as the Snorlax picked up the unhealthy Rillaboom with ease, carrying him off the battlefield and towards the Pokemon Center. "Hey, what the fuck is he doing!?" Hop shouted.
Dagda couldn't handle it. Hop's pigheaded idiocy had reached a new low, and he tried to stop himself from erupting. "Do you really think it's alright to use an unhealthy Pokemon!?" he screamed, Hop looking to him, surprised at the vile tone in his voice. "Pay the fuck attention you damn fool!" he shouted, slapping his chest.
"Do you really think I'd still be standing if a healthy, well trained and well rested Rillaboom hit me with a Solarbeam!? Do you think I'd even be conscious!?" he shouted, the crowd still under the impression that he was human. They began to whisper, realizing that he had a point.
"Your Pokemon was in such dire straits that Otis acted of his own free will and took him to a Pokemon Center, something you should've done already!" he shouted, Bede standing back, captivated by Dagda's righteous fury. Hop clenched his fists, screaming as if his mind was just broken.
He began hurling Pokeballs, and Dagda noticed that each Pokemon that popped out looked tiny, weak, unable to defend themselves against something like Gorias. A Corvisquire, a Wooloo, a Snorlax, a Purrloin, and the Cinderace. It was apparent to Dagda what was happening.
He placed so much stock and importance in the Pokemon given to him by Leon, that even the Wooloo he had beforehand was neglected, the Pokemon all looking weak and freshly captured. Dagda was disgusted, and he realized that it was time to pass his judgment on Hop. "Gorias, use Swagger." he said, and the Electivire nodded.
"Do ye wee lads really think ye stand a chance in hell?" Gorias asked, the smaller Pokemon immediately afraid, backing down of their own free will. They knew that they hadn't trained or even battled enough to touch this huge, monstrous Pokemon. He was like a titan towering over a city, and they were just mere denizens. They stood no honest chance against this beast.
The only one who dared stand up to Gorias was the Cinderace, the other Pokemon visibly refusing to battle, Hop growing more and more flustered as he watched. "Either you stand down, or I'm having rabbit stew for dinner." Gorias said, the Pokemon's stalwart defiance setting Gorias off.
Gorias kicked the Pokemon in the stomach, making it keel over, gripping it's abdomen. "I fuckin told ye to back off!" he shouted, grabbing the Pokemon about the waist and flipping it as he hoisted it high in the air. He drove the Pokemon down, slamming it's back and neck into the ground as he sat, rolling back to his feet.
"Now look! Ye went and got yerself Batista Bombed fer a fooking nonce, ye damn dustbag." he said, Dagda sighing as he began to walk across the field, ignoring all of Gorias' crude comments and references to an old wrestling teacher from his youth.
He stood in front of Hop, his lavender gaze bearing down on him like the weight of the heavens. "Return your Pokemon and go home. This farce is over." he said, and Hop shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere till I get my Rillaboom back!" he shouted, and Dagda nodded. "If you retreat gracefully, I'll consider it." he said, and Hop growled.
"My Pokemon are still able to fight!" he shouted, and Dagda frowned. He lifted his left hand, glancing to it briefly before furrowing his brow. He swung, slapping Hop and knocking him on his rear.
"Your Pokemon are not equipped to battle mine, your Cinderace was defeated in one move, and your Rillaboom was so poorly treated that my Pokemon took it to the Pokemon Center himself! You have no right to stand in front of me as a trainer! Look around you, Hop, the whole town can bear witness to your sins, and yet you refuse to repent!? Why?" Dagda asked.
Hop found himself unable to answer, looking to Dagda while he gripped his cheek, the sight of Dagda standing with a disgusted disappointed gaze, the setting sun at his back, engraved into Hop's mind.
"That Rillaboom is a living, breathing creature. To see him in such dire straits, and then to see you have him attack me directly in his terrible state is truly deplorable. You are beyond salvation, Hop. Leon must be ashamed."