A Love -Hate Relationship

32

From Darkness To Darkness:

Marnie VS. Anani

BATTLE!

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.

It had been a long and hard sleep, but Anani finally woke to greet the light.

This is the Budew Drop Inn...

She thought to herself

I'm in my room but...how did I get here?

And when?

She couldn't account for a lot of time.

The last thing I remember is...

Flashes of her encounter with Bede in the mines played behind her eyes and she suddenly found herself blushing and shaking out the images as fast as they played.

"The Gym Challenge!" she gasped and quickly leapt to her feet in a hurry, dressing herself to make it to the Gym. As she placed her foot to the floor however, a familiar sharp pain shot straight through her leg and she winced, tumbling down to her knees while she cupped her wrapped ankle. Aside from her own yelps of agony, she heard bickering from just outside her door.

"And just WHAT is it that you think you are doing here. Mate!?"

"Hop? Anani blinked as she stared at the door and listened.

"NONE of your business why don't you PUSH ON, 'mate'!?"

"And BEDE!?" This time Anani opened the door, and low and be hold there was Hop, in his Gym Uniform, yelling at Bede right in front of her door, his long pink coat gripped tightly in Hop's fists.

"Anani!" Hop blinked immediately releasing him, "You're awake! And...You're in your uniform?"

"Kind of hard not to be awake... what with all the ruckus going on outside my door..." she blinked and Bede snorted a sly snicker, "What's going on, Hop?"

""What's going on?" Hop blinked, "I found this peeping tom perving along outside your room, mate, that's what's going on!"

"Oh please!" Bede scoffed as and rolled his eyes, "As if I'd ever..."

"I wouldn't put it passed you...or ANY man with eyes for that matter." he huffed as he released him, and folded his arms.

"So does that include you, then?" said Bede, "Or would you label imbacile as a different category?"

"What was that!?" said Hop, gripping him once again a bit tighter.

"Hop..." Anani blinked, "Your Gym Uniform..." she sighed, "I missed your match again..."

"It's all right Anani..." said Hop with a soft smile, "It was more important that you got your rest." he said to her, "Anyway...I won." he said, "Now I'm gonna change...Let's hook up later?"

"Sure...Okay." she smiled as she waved her friend off into his room.

"Well. Now that he's gone." Bede huffed as he straightened up his dishiveled coat from where Hop was gripping him, "How you can manage to put up with him is beyond me..." said Bede, "You must have the patience of a saint."

"It's...a little more complicated than all that." said Anani.

"...I know." Bede said softly.

"Wait..." Anani blinked, "You do?"

"...Anani." Bede blinked, "...Do you remember much about what happened?" he asked her.

"Not really..." she said softly, "I remember...running into you. I also remember you helping me...again." she blushed shyly, "Thanks for that...and I'm sorry..."

"It's nothing really." said Bede, "...Anything else?"

Anani thought for a moment and sighed, slowly shaking her head.

"I see..." Bede blinked, "Never mind then." he shrugged,"...So...how are you feeling?" he asked, "How's your ankle?"

"Still hurts." said Anani as she stepped her foot down and winced, "I think that's a pain I am never gonna forget..." she sighed, "But I can't let it put a halt on my Gym Challenge!"

"So...you're going to take on the Gym are you?" he scoffed, "In your condition?"

"If you think this is enough to make me quit, you clearly don't know me well."

"Perhaps not..." Bede blinked, "Your chances of actually completing the Gym Challenge are slim to say the lease...but," he blinked, "I suppose a slim chance is better than none..." he smirked and released Hatenna.

"Hm?" Anani blinked in confusion as Bede kneeled down and lifted her foot without much warning. She wobbled a bit and quickly grasped the wall.

"Hatenna." he said, "Use Heal Pulse." he smiled as his Poke'mon's pulsations gave a warm light to Anani's wrapped ankle. The pain subsided and she felt good as new once again.

"Bede..." she blinked, "Why did you do that?" she asked.

"So you could give everything you have to that Kabu with no faults." he said, "Now go take on your Gym Challenge..." he said as he called back his Poke'mon and began to walk away, "Do it so I can crush you."

Anani blinked as she watched him walk away, twirling his Badge ring which already held 3 badges.

If he's already got his badge...why is he hanging around here?

She asked herself. She looked down at her ankle, now free of its pain, replaced with a soothing warmth and she smiled.

Thanks Bede...I owe you one.

She smiled.

I won't waste this!

XXXXX

Anani rushed down the hall, decked out in her Gym Uniform. She hopped the lift that carried her down, and as she made way to the lobby, there wa Marnie in her Gym Uniform.

"Anani?" Marnie blinked, "You're up and about?"

"Marnie!" Anani blinked, " You won your match already?"

"I did...and it was a doozy..." said Marnie, "And you? Shouldn't you be

"If I rested anymore I may as well call it quits and that's something I refuse to do!" said Anani.

"But Nurse Joy said that was a serious attack and rest was really important." said Marnie.

"I'm fine." said Anani, "And now I have a Gym Battle to win."

"Hmm..." Marnie pondered, "I wonder if you're really up for it."

"You think I'm not?"

"Well...only one way to find out~" Marnie grinned.

"Wait...Marnie?" Anani blinked, "Are you challenging me?"

"Why now?" Marnie shrugged, "I watched you and Hop have an amazing battle..." she said, "I was jealous that I didn't get a chance to battle too." she said, "So why not now? We'll call it a practice run, yeah?"

"Hmm..." Anani pondered and a smile curled on her lips, "Yeah...why not?" she said, "Not gonna lie, I've always wanted to battle you too...this is the perfect opportunity!"

"Wicked!" marnie beamed, "Got some fight in you." she grinned and and tossed out her first Poke'mon.

"Go Crogunk!"

Crogunk...

Anani began plotting.

A Fighting Poison type...

She thought.

I think the best equal chance I have is...

"Go Bloo!"

"A water type." said Marnie as she took in Drizzile,"I see you're prepared for Kabu..." She snickered, "But how will you stand against me!?"

"Bloo! Use Water Pulse!" said Anani.

But it had no effect.

"What!?" Needless to say Anani was confused as Marnie giggled.

"You see Crogunk has an effect called Dry Skin!" she explained, "So Water does it harm her, rather, it helps her out a bit~"

"I see..." said Anani, "This calls for another tactic..." she blinked, "Quickly Bloo! Use U-Turn!"

While it didn't do a lot of damage, it still left a mark while also quickly allowing her to switch out her partner for Kubfu.

"Now take advantage of the high speed that Drizzile allowed and use your Aerial Ace!" she demanded. And within the speed that Bloo had granted, Kubfu's attack had gained a hefty momentum in a Super Effective attack on Crogunk in a One-hit knock out.

"Ouch! That smarts a bit!" said Marnie as she called back her Poke'mon, "Go! Scraggy!"

"Don't hold back, Fuukuu!" said Anani, "Aerial Ace again!" with a high speed attack, Scraggy couldn't escape a direct smack down, if not for a handy effect called sturdy, it would have seized victory.

"Go now, Scraggy!" said Marnie, "Use Headbutt!"

"Bear Ma Beear!"

"Fuukuu!" she called out as the small bear took a hard head bashing. On wobbling knees he stood and let out a fierce cry.

"Use brick break!" said Anani. in one fierce crush of a fist Scraggy was out cold.

"Goodness me, that Kubfu of yours sure is Tops!" gasped Marnie, "But this wouldn't be fun if things ended so easily...I've one more left!" she aid, "Morpeko! Use Thunder Shock!"

The electrified attack left Kubfu stunned but he managed to shake it off.

"Don't give in!" said Anani, "Brick break!" With each attack Kubfu landed successfully his confidence grew. Everything Master Mustard said would come has so far been true. Kubfu was strong now, strong enough to with stand attacks, and land powerful ones of his own. This victory was earned all by one small teddy bear of a Poke'mon and even Marnie couldn't shake that off.

"Y...You beat me..." she said softly, "I guess you're not bad after all, huh?"

Anani smiled.

"Thanks a lot Marnie." said Anani, "It was a blast to battle you, may we do it again soon enough."

"You can bet we will!" said Marnie in a firm hand shake, "I'm still in this challenge...and apparently...so are you!" she snickered, "You better push on to the Gym, I'll be cheering for you with Hop from the audience." she said, "Don't you go losin' until I get to beatin' ya y'hear!?"

"All right, Marnie...I promise!" Anani laughed as she ran ahead with a wave," Wish me luck!"

"You go on and beat that Chap Man of fire!" she said waving back.

"Good o see that heal pulse is doin' well..." said Bede, startling Marnie as he stepped from the shadows of the halls.

"What was that?" Marnie blinked confusion "Did you say something?" she asked.

"Aye." said Bede as he passed by, "I said I'm out of here!" he stormed off in a heated flush. Marnie blinked as she watched him walk away, confused on why he was still around.

Come to think of it...Anani was mighty active on that foot considering it was pretty badly hurt by that Stunfisk...

She thought to herself, cracking a cheeky smirk as she spied Bede watching Anani and casually following her to the Gym as well.

"Hmm..." she snickered.

So...Heal Pulse, huh?

To Be Continued...