A Love -Hate Relationship

28

The Captain's Table

A/N: This Fan Fiction is based on the Galar region and games (Sword/Shield) featuring CanonXOC It based on the GAMES and NOT the anime version.

"Fancy~" Marnie and Hop gasped softly under thur breath as they took in the aesthetic beauty of the seafood restaurant that Rose had issued a luncheon with. They were reserved for a seat at the Captain's table...the best table in the house.

"Anani~" Rose beamed once he saw her and appraoched her with open arms as he leaned down and kissed each cheek. A traditional Gentleman's greeting around Galar, "Your most recent battle was magnifique!" he said as he clapped his hands and she blushed awkwardly.

"You...saw it sir?"

"Did I ever!" he laughed, "And I daresay~ Now I understand why The Champion endorsed you after all!"

"Oi, what about mine, sir!?" Hop beamed, "Because you know I was endorsed by the Champion too~!" He grinned proudly, "He's my older brother and all!"

"Far out!" Marnie blinked, "I didn't know that!"

"Yes, Hop, of course!" Rose chuckled, "You and Challenger Marnie did exceptionally well too."

"Phishing for compliments much?" Bede huffed from up at the Captain's table where he was already seated.

"Say what?" Hop blinked, "YOU!" he huffed, "What are you doing here!?"

"Did you forget, you simpleton?" said Bede, "I was endorsed by the Chairman~" he said snobishly, "I'm here as his special guest unlike you!" he scoffed, "You're only here by the seat of your friend's coat tails." he said shooting a look at Anani.

"Hmph...I saw your match." Bede said firmly.

"What? Mine?" Anani gulped blushing shyly.

"Aye." he shrugged, "Not too bad...for an ameteuer." he said with a shrug and nothing further.

"Incase you'd forgotten... Bede was it?" Hop huffed, "But you're no expert trainer either." he stated, "I've been following up on your record too ever since that incident at the mines with Anani and I happen to know that you as well, only have two Gym Badges." he smirked, "No better than the rest of us!"

"Hmph." Bede huffed and rolled his eyes with a stubborn pout of a blush to his cheeks.

"Come now, enough." said Rose, "We are here to celebrate all of your recent victories."

"Settle yourself, Hop." said Sonia as she stepped up from behind Bede, "With a hot temper like that you'll over boil my tea~"

"Sonia!" Hop beamed, "It's so good to see a friendly face!" he grinned and instantly clasped Anani's hand in his which caught Bede's attention with a twitch as he recalled the way Anani's hand felt in his...

For whatever reason...it seemed to bother him. Only a little. Especially when Hop looked directly at him once more and gave a nasty smirk of victory. That only annoyed him ever the more.

"Come on, Anani!" he said, Let's go take our seats!"

"Ah...yeah." Anani blinked, "Sure."

"Things are getting mighty spicy for the pepper methinks~" Marnie giggled to herself, "Right Morpeko?"

"Peko-pe~!"

Exchanging a knowing glance with each other they both snickered and followed behind their friends just ahead.

"So You lot were invited too then?" Sonia smiled, "It's good to see you all."

"That one was invited." said Bede, correctively pointing at Anani,"The rest of the lot has come along because she was generous enough to ask the Chaiman's permission~" he scoffed, "They ought to be thanking her~."

"This one has a name!" the young girl huffed as she adjusted her frames," and it's Anani!"

"Yeah! You tell him!" Hop snickered.

"Hmph." Bede scoffed and rolled his eyes, averting his gaze quite stubbornly.

"So it seems you all know each other then~" Rose chuckled, "Come now-let's all be seated."

The table was decorated quite nicely with fancy folded napkins, placed elegantly in front of a large window with both a gorgeous view of the sea and the colors of the sun setting on Hulbury.

"Hulbury is a seafood town~" said Rose, "Naturally if one is going to eat here, the obvious choice would be the local cuisine!"

"Not to worry, sir!" Anani smiled sweetly, "I love Fish'n'Chips!"

"Do you now!?" Rose laughed, "Well I assure you everything on the menu is delicious!" he said between chuckles, "Especially the Fish'n'Chips!" he grinned as everyone dined into their delectible order choice, "So how is Professor Magnolia getting on, these days?" Rose asked to Sonia who had finished dabbing at her lips with a napkin, "I am quite indebted to her, you know!" he said, "After all she was the one who figured out how to unleash the power of the Wishing Stars and use that power to Dynamax Poke'mon."

"You mean...that old Bat did that?" Bede blinked.

"That's Professor Old Bat to you!" Hop huffed.

"Or rather...Professor Magnolia." said Anani.

Marnie snickered. "...Savage~" she whispered.

"Indeed." said Rose, "We would never have been able to create Dynamax bands without her." he stated.

Sonia sighed.

"She was saying that there's still so much we don't know about Dynamaxing." said Sonia, "It's causing her some worry." she blinked, "She even had me take a Power Spot Detector with me while traveling."

"A Power Spot Detector?" the four young trainers all blinked curious eyes exchanging glances with each other, of course anyone other than Anani, Bede simply scoffed and averted his gaze.

"That's a device that allows us to discover Power Spots..." said Rose, "Locations that emit Galar particles and allow Poke'mon to Dynamax!" he sighed, "Still I don't like hearing that Professor Magnolia is worried..." he blinked, "If only there was something I could do..." he pondered a moment and snapped his fingers, "Sonia, it may be a good idea for you and even our young Gym Challengers here to visit the vault in Hammerlocke." he stated, "I believe the key to unlocking the secrets of the Dynamax phenomenon lies in the history preserved there." he said, "And as Trainers with Dynamax Bands yourselves, it might do you some good to check it out." he said smiling at the four Gym Challengers that shared the table.

"Understood, I will arrange a meeting with ." said Oleana,"However I do believe it is about time we get going, Chairman sir."

"Hm?" Rose blinked," But I have hardly had the chance to speak with our Gym Challengers..."

"Such a shame~ too bad." Bede smirked in victory as he flipped his hair.

"There's just not enough time in the day, I suppose." said Rose, "It's regrettable, but alas it can't be helped." he shrugged, "If something needs to get done there's no time like the present you know!" he nodded as he rose to his feet, "In any case, I bid you all farewell."

"Ta Ta~" said Bede as he rose to follow Rose out, "Here's to not doing this again in the future~" he smirked, taking the last swallow of his drink before placing down the empty glass and catching up to Rose and Oleana.

"Good riddance!" said Hop, sticking his tongue out at Bede as he walked away.

"I admit, he's a bit of a flavor one needs time to adjust to..." Marnie sighed.

"Hm..." Sonia sighed, "Does the Chairman think he's doing me a favor?" she blinked, "He is right that the vault is a good place to look for information on the legends though..." she shrugged, "By the way, defeating Nessa is no small feat." said Sonia,"So congratulations you lot." she chuckled, "You should head on ahead back to Motostoke." she said, "That's where you will face Kabu after all." she pointed to a road out the window, "If you follow that road to Galar Mine number 2, it should loop you right back around to Motostoke." she nodded.

"Great...more mines." said Anani.

Her experience in the first one wasn't exactly too pleasant.

"Not to worry." said Sonia, "This mine is packed more like a cave...it shouldn't fall apart on you~" she winked, "See you next time then!"

"Bye Sonia!" Hop waved, "Well, you heard her ladies~" he grinned," Let's loop on back to Motostoke!"

"Roger!" Marnie beamed meanwhile Anani wasn't exactly too keen...but as they say...the adventure must go on~ After all it's more about the journey rather than the destination. And the experiences to come between here and the next bump in the road are all what make the adventure worth having.

To be Continued