Chapter 43: The Golden Reunion

"It's finally time." Beatrice sighed to herself as she stared at her badge bag, which had every single badge available in the Hoenn region. She lowered it and looked up at the building she stood before: the Pokémon League.

She couldn't believe that she'd finally done it. A gentle breeze blew in from behind her and caressed her shoulders. Her hair, which was tied into a ponytail, flew gracefully. She could just go inside and begin her challenge- to enter the tournament that would decide the next champion- but she wanted to wait a bit and take in the atmosphere. It felt good to breathe fresh air again after coming out of the Victory Road cave in one piece. She remembered when the sun nearly blinded her with its greeting.

Her hand slowly moved to the glass door in front of her, and she clutched the handle. She couldn't see what was past it, but she knew what was ahead of her.

Despite the several emotions she was feeling, there was one burning question in her mind: Where was Lucia? She figured she'd be lagging behind, but not this behind. Beatrice spun her head around to check and see if Lucia was behind her. The cave behind her showed no sign of people at its exit.

She sighed.

It would have been nice to hear Lucia scream her name, yelling about how she was right behind her the entire time. Beatrice planned to tease her a bit, saying something along the lines of, 'Of course you're lagging behind,' and she'd flip her hair for extra effect. It would have been entertaining. But alas- she wasn't here.

The saddened redhead turned back to the door. Gently, she pushed against it. Suddenly, something- or rather, someone, pulled the door open for her. Her eyes widened in shock once she saw who stood before her.

It was Lucia, with her head turned over her shoulder. Her purple hair was let out and had grown rather long.

"Hey Ana!" Lucia called out. "I'm gonna check if Beatrice is around! She's gotta be-!" Lucia then turned to Beatrice- and gasped loudly.

The girls just stared blankly at each other.

Lucia's eyes widened. Then- she began to beam like a child who got just what she wanted for Christmas. "BEATRICE!" Lucia cried, lunging and hugging the taller girl. "I'm so happy...!" She cried.

Beatrice blinked, still in visible shock. She looked down at the girl who was starting to tear up and hug her even tighter. "I missed you so much..!" The shorter girl cried.

Beatrice had envisioned her reunion with Lucia for months now. She had a mental script prepared that even predicted Lucia would hug her like this. All she had to do now was follow that script. She had to just pat her head, not hug her back- because that'd be more mature and lady-like. Then, she'd say, 'there there, my darling little sister. I missed you too.' all calmly and collectively. She had to be a good role model, after all.

Beatrice took in a deep breath. It was time- but her emotions got the better of her. She broke down into tears, then hugged Lucia back.

"I missed you too…!" Beatrice said with a sniffle.

"I missed you more… idiot!" Lucia said.

"Awwww-" Anastasia said. "You're both so cuuuute…!"

Beatrice looked up to see Anastasia approach them. She had a silver hair clip on her slightly longer white hair and a black dress. She waved. "Nice to see you again, Bea!"

Beatrice sniffled a bit. "Nice to see you again as well, Anastasia." Lucia pulled away from Beatrice and wiped her eyes. "I trust you've been taking care of Lucia while I was gone, right?"

"Of course I have!" Anastasia said.

"And Lucia," Beatrice said. "I'm sure you've been taking care of Anastasia. But have you been less shy around her?"

"Beatrice- Ana and I have been around for like, months!" Lucia cried. "Of course I'm less shy with her!"

"All right then. Prove it."

Anastasia grinned and turned her head, poking her cheek and winking at Lucia. With determination, Lucia immediately moved over to Anastasia, puckered her lips and moved in close- only for Anastasia to spin around and have Lucia's kiss land on her lips. Lucia's eyes widened as her entire body jolted. Her cheeks became red as Anastasia pulled away and winked again. Lucia began to pout.

"Y-You..!" Lucia groaned.

Anastasia giggled. Slowly, Lucia turned to Beatrice.

"S-See..?" She said with a shaky voice.

Beatrice approached Lucia with a bent finger under her lower lip. "Hm…" She said, coming closer to Lucia.

"Wh-What?" She said.

"You're not blushing as much as before. Plus, you're still conscious."

"I-I told you-" Lucia said. "I'm not-"

Beatrice turned to Anastasia. "Hey, Anastasia- is she still shy-"

"Yup!"

"ANA!" Lucia cried. Her entire face became an even brighter red than when she kissed Anastasia.

"When she won her eighth Gym badge," Anastasia continued, "I tackled her and showered her with kisses, she fainted on the spot- it was so adorable!"

"DON'T TELL HER THAT!" Lucia roared. "STOOOOPP!" Lucia started stomping on the ground. Beatrice started giggling.

"I can see a lot of progress with you, Lucia." Beatrice said. "Big Sis is proud of you."

Lucia narrowed her eyes in annoyance at the grinning redhead.

"You patronizing JERK!" Lucia grabbed Beatrice by the shoulders and started shaking her as the redhead continued to grin. "YOU'RE A BIG JERK YOU KNOW THAT!?"

Both Anastasia and Beatrice started laughing as Lucia grumbled.

"Just wait..!" Lucia cried. "I'm gonna have my revenge when I beat you in the tournament!"

Beatrice sighed before she and Anastasia stopped laughing.

"Oh Lucia... tsk tsk," Beatrice said. She wagged her finger and shook her head. Anastasia raised her eyebrows; she knew something was going to go down.

Beatrice smiled. "Don't make promises you can't keep," She said.

Lucia's eyes widened in shock.

"Ooooh….!" Anastasia said.

"What did you just say?!" Lucia cried.

"Get em, Lucia!" Anastasia cried. "Let her have it!"

"Oh don't mind me,." Beatrice said, crossing her arms. "I'm explaining the truth to you. You're going to lose, and I'm going to win. Don't worry- I'll let you sit on the champion throne for a bit. Because otherwise you'll never be able to."

"OOOH! BUUUURN!" Anastasia cried. "Dang, Lucia! C'mon, you can't let her talk you down!"

Lucia started to chuckle.

"What's funny?" Beatrice asked.

"It's funny- because it sounds like you've rehearsed this."

Beatrice's eyes flickered in shock before returning to her neutral poker face.

"How many times did you say that to yourself in the mirror? 30…maybe 40 times? It shows. Instead of spending your time upping your trash talk game, you should have spent more of it training."

"OOOOOOOH!" Anastasia cried, fanning her face with her hand. "SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET A BURN HEAL OVER HERE!"

"Y'know what my Dad told me, too?" Lucia said, crossing her arms and coming closer to Beatrice and smiling a cocky smile. "Quinton used to taunt people because he was afraid that they'd beat him. I'll guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"OOOOOOOOH! DAANG! GET EM' LUCIA-" Anastasia said. "SHOW HER YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT TIER- SHE'S THE PUPPET, AND YOU'RE THE PUPPETEER!"

Beatrice glared back at Lucia. It was like sparks of intense rivalry were flying between their gazes.

"All right then-" Beatrice said, walking past Lucia and Anastasia.

"Where are you going?" Lucia asked.

"I decided that instead of using my words, I'll have my actions do the talking. Eventually, reality will set in. It's not a matter of if, only when I win."

"That's right- YOU'D BETTER RUN! JERK!" Lucia cried.

Beatrice took a few more steps before stopping suddenly. She then turned her head and smiled widely at Lucia, who smiled back.

"See you in the finals," The girls said at the same time.

Beatrice then turned and walked toward the Nurse Joy that was stationed ahead. Lucia turned to Anastasia. Anastasia raised both of her hands, and Lucia high fived them both.

"Just like we rehearsed!" Anastasia cried. Both her's and Lucia's hands locked with each other.

"I know right?!" Lucia continued. "I can't believe I actually managed to win a fight against Beatrice! Well, it wasn't a real fight, but-"

"You did great! You were amazing as always!"

"Yeah- though you spinning around to have me kiss you on the lips- that wasn't what we agreed! We agreed that I'd kiss your cheek! Jeez- you know how shocked I was?! I had to keep it together! Also, why'd you bring up what happened back at the last gym?!"

Anastasia winked at Lucia's grumpy face. "I treat these situations like I treat my Pokémon contests- gotta add in a sprinkle of surprise! Keeps everyone on their toes!"

Lucia pouted, and Anastasia moved on to give her an eskimo kiss- rubbing her nose against hers. "It's fine- It's fiiine! forgive me, okay?" Anastasia said.

"Ughhh- I can't stay mad at you... you're so lucky..." Lucia said.

"That I'm your weakness?"

"Yeah..." Lucia groaned.

Anastasia smiled and giggled.

"Honestly though," Lucia said. "I bet I would have wussed out during that fight with Beatrice if it wasn't for you hyping me up."

"D'aww," Anastasia said. "You give me too much credit-"

"No! I'm giving you all of the credit! I'm serious! I know you put yourself down sometimes, but I wouldn't have come this far if it wasn't for you! So, thank you… thank you so much!"

Anastasia began to blush. "I- Well-..."

"I mean it!" Lucia said. "Watch me, I'll become strong, and beat Beatrice in the finals for sure!"

"It's not a matter of if, only when you win!" Anastasia said. Lucia stared into the white-haired girl's eyes, closed her own, and took in a deep breath.

"Okay... I can do this… I can do this..." Lucia said.

"Huh? Do what?" Anastasia asked. "Oh- Are you trying to prepare yourself mentally for battle?"

"Nope-!" Lucia said, she quickly dove and kissed Anastasia in the lips. Anastasia's eyes widened in shock. Lucia quickly pulled away and left the girl speechless and breathless.

"Okay- I've gotta go get ready!" Lucia said, running off. "Byee!"

"Y-Yeah...!" Anastasia said, nodding. "Bye...! I- I love you!"

"I love you too!" Lucia cried, waving her hand as she went toward the line that was forming in front of Nurse joy.

Anastasia sighed deeply and placed her hand on her rapidly beating heart. She truly loved that girl with all of her heart. Suddenly, a hand fell on her shoulder. Anastasia jolted and spun around to see Lucian.

"Hey-" The champion said. "Nice to see you!"

"M-Mister Lucian!" Anastasia spun around. "H-Hi!"

"You don't have to call me Mister Lucian," Lucian said, crossing his arms. "Soon, you're gonna have to call me your father-in-law."

"WHA-!?" Anastasia cried.

Lucian chuckled. "I didn't come here to just tease you. I came to check on you. Remember our talk earlier?"

"Our… Talk..?" Anastasia blinked before the memory flew into her mind and replayed like a video.

~flashback~

It was back when Anastasia was kidnapped, and then rescued by Zennon. She was staring at Marie who was in her hospital bed, suffering from the wounds she had from fighting the enemy in an attempt to rescue her.

"It's all my fault." Anastasia said, standing in front of her friend who lay asleep. "Isn't it?"

"Are you blaming yourself again?" Lucian asked, leaning against a wall next to the hospital room exit.

"I don't know what else to do. I just wish I was doing something right." Anastasia narrowed her eyes. "You have to teach me how to fight."

"All right then- but first, answer my question. Why do you want to be a trainer?"

"Because I don't want to be useless and incompetent. That's what made me vulnerable. If I wasn't so weak and pathetic…then this would have never happened."

"I refuse."

"What?!" Anastasia cried, spinning around. "Why not!?"

"You want to become a trainer because you feel like you're worthless and incompetent?"

"No- I-... Listen- I'm doing this because of self-defense!"

"Then why didn't you consider becoming a trainer earlier?"

"I-... I didn't consider it because-"

"You didn't want to."

Anastasia lowered her head.

"..It doesn't matter if I don't want to." Anastasia said. "I'm doing it so- So I can defend myself! So none of this has to happen again!"

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to defend yourself," Lucian said. "But what I find an issue with, is that you're attempting to become a trainer because of guilt. You're not doing it because you genuinely want to. The way you answered my question tells me that you're becoming a trainer to make yourself feel better. 'To make sure that this never happens again' sounds like a pretty good lie to tell yourself."

"What else should I do, huh!?" Anastasia cried. "You tell me what I should do- should I just sit around, be useless all the time- just- do nothing...!" Anastasia began to choke up and tear up. "What do I even do!?"

"Do you even like fighting?" Lucian asked.

"I-...No. I don't."

"Be honest. Do you really want to be a trainer?"

"No...! I don't… But- But if it-"

"Stop right there." Lucian said. "That's why I won't train you. You're trying to prove to yourself that you can be useful, and so you're trying to chase strength, as though it'll solve all of your problems and self-doubt. As though you're going to quiet those thoughts you're having right now- the ones that are beating you up. You have to understand that you can't 'find' your own worth. It's impossible. Your worth is found here." Lucian pressed a finger against his own chest. "Nowhere else." He continued. "Though- if you want to learn how to defend yourself, then all the more power to you. Do it."

"...I don't believe in violence. I hate hurting people or Pokemon. It makes me sad even thinking about pitting Pokemon against one another…. But-..!" Anastasia clenched her fists."How else can I be useful, then?! All I do is just sit around, and-"

"Have you thought of being useful in another way? You don't have to fight or protect yourself to do that."

Anastasia blinked. "I-.."

"You can be 'useful' by just being yourself- heck, I don't even like the way you use those words 'being useful'. It's like you think that you have to earn your way to being someone worthy of love or attention. When in reality, you already are by simply existing. You're already Golden."

~End of flashback~

"I'll be honest," Anastasia said, staring up at Lucian. "I don't remember much of it, since it was so long ago… but I remember you saying… that I was golden."

"You are," Lucian said. "And you know something?" Lucian said. "I'm certain that you're part of the reason why my daughter has grown so confident."

"I mean-" Anastasia spoke awkwardly, scratching the back of her head and chuckling lightly. "I didn't do much, I-"

Lucian raised his hand to interrupt.

"Just take the compliment." Lucian said, crossing his arms. "You deserve it."

"...Okay.." Anastasia said, she nodded quickly. "Thanks."

"There ya go. Anyway- Do you still talk to your mother?"

"Of course I do. Every night."

"Does she still call you her Golden Girl?"

Anastasia smiled. "Y-Yeah. Though if I'm honest, whenever I get a compliment it's like- I'm hearing someone talk about an entirely different person."

"Well," Lucian said. "Everyone you know is talking about the real you. The true Golden Girl that you are. " Lucian patted the young girl's head. "You're already golden. You hear?"

"Y-Yeah.." Anastasia said.

Lucian smiled. "I'm glad I'm able to have a bond with my future Daughter-In-Law."

Anastasia's eyes widened. "I-I..!"

"Don't be startled," Lucian said. "You want to marry my daughter, right?"

"Yes!" A newfound confidence waved over her as she grit her teeth and clenched her fists. "Y-Yeah! I'm gonna marry Lucia! Just wait and see!"

"That's great!" Lucian said. He turned and walked off, raising his hand to wave goodbye. "You already have my blessing! Just be sure not to be as much as red as you are right now when you tell Lucia you're going to marry her!"

"Red-?!" Anastasia pulled out her makeup case from her pocket and opened it, seeing her red, blushing face on the case mirror. "AAAAAAAAAH!"

Author's note: Here's a Fun fact: Lucia and Beatrice swapped hairstyles! is it because they missed each other that much...?

You may be wondering, "When will the next chapter come...?"
I've got NOOOOOOO idea. buuuuuut- Hopefully it'll come next week. If it comes late, then that's how the cookie crumbles. Hope you guys have been enjoying the story so far! Take care!