2

A Disturbance in the Force

"Champion Rin!"

I'm rushing down the hallway, checking my watch every few seconds.

I don't know why I bother. It doesn't make me feel better; in fact, the constant tick-tocking of the second hand only deepens my anxiety.

I can't be late.

I absolutely can't be late.

I will kill myself if I'm late.

Either that or Mom will.

"Champion Rin, please wait!"

A hand clamps around my wrist, but I shake it off, my steps echoing loudly on the tiled floor of the Hammerlocke's Pokemon Training Center. "Look, I'm sorry to leave like this, but I need to go! I'm not going to be late for my best friend's wedding!"

I still can't believe it.

Hop was getting married?

Jeez.

We're only twenty-two years old.

Who told him it was okay to start acting like an adult and do adult things?

My personal assistant and third highest ranking trainer of the center places herself firmly in my way, fists placed on her hips.

"I promise we'll get you to Postwick with plenty of time to spare, but this has to be seen to first."

There's a grim look on her face, her lips pressed so thin they've almost disappeared.

I groan, frustration giving my words a harder edge than I intend. "I'm not. I'm not doing another interview. Why in God's name do they feel compelled to interview me every week? I've had microphones shoved in my face for the last ten years and damn it, that's not happening today."

Sara's brows furrow. "This…this isn't about that."

I resist the urge to skirt around her, but she's annoyingly stubborn.

An admirable trait as a trainer, but as an adversary, it can get rather maddening.

Momentarily, I entertain the idea of getting a Shiinotic to blow a handful of Sleep Powder into her face.

But I can't do that to her, no matter how satisfying I'd find it.

"Okay, what is so damn important that it absolutely cannot wait and must be handled immediately?"

The corners of her lips twisted down. "Gym Leader Bede's in your office."

Oh damn.

I stare at her, caught off guard. "From Ballonlea? What the hell does he want?"

I don't know why I'm asking her.

After all, I'm about to find out.

She's right, I have to deal with him now, or there'd be hell to pay later.

Bede's got the temper of an enraged Gyarados and is about as easy to assuage.

That is to say, not at all.

"Please," she said. "Please just meet him, Rin."

And get rid of him is the unspoken but rather obvious plea.

Who could blame her?

Hardly anyone liked Bede and that included those poor souls who have joined his Psychic and Fairy-type specializing gym.

If I didn't deal with him now, he'd likely turn my training center and my trainers upside down.

I might return from Postwick to find the entire place burned down to the foundations, either literally or figuratively.

Last time the conceited jackass came by, he made two of my trainers quit and the main battle field had to be repaved after he absolutely wrecked it with his Rapidash's Drill Run.

I can't deal with that kind of nonsense again.

I check my watch again.

The ceremony is supposed to start at six and it was already almost noon.

It would take roughly five hours from Hammerlocke Station to the tiny station in Postwick, assuming there were no delays.

Praying there isn't going to be a Snorlax asleep in the middle of the tracks like last time, causing a near three-hour delay, I sigh and hold up my hands in surrender.

Sara puts a hand on her check and sighs in relief.

"You win," I grumble. "Let's go see what Bede wants."