A Love -Hate Relationship
44
A Complete 180...
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.
They arrived late in the evening...
After having ran all the way there, they were all pretty pooped upon arrival and pretty much passed out as soon as they reached the Poke'mon center. Of course an early fall meant an early rise for Anani whose eyes fluttered open at the sound of muffled whispers belonging to Bede as he seemed to be speaking to someone via communications through Rotom Phone.
"She's waking up now...I must go." he seemed to rush, "Yes, I understand. Good bye." it was a quick click before Anani rose and rubbed the blurry vision from her eyes and cleared it up through the placing of her glasses.
"Bede?" she called to him, as though to confirm if it were really his voice she were hearing in her inbetween waking and non-waking state.
"Hmph...you're up early, aren't you?"He asked of her...though she did not respond right away...still rather dead in early morning.
"...Were you talking to someone just now?" she asked him...he responded with a long silence.
"Of course not." he spoke the words curtly. It was a very clear lie.
"Even if I were what would it matter to you, anyway!?" he snapped, "It's no bussiness of yours who I choose to communicate with."
Maybe it's not...
Anani thought to herself.
But then is that any reason to lie?
Still...he was right.
It wasn't her bussiness anyway...so she thought it better not to push it any further. There was a long silence between them...
His bed was already made, bag already packed, and himself already dressed for the day. So even if she were up rather earlier than normal...it would seem he was up even earlier than that. He let out a scoff and pushed himself up to his feet, kicking his shoes on and preparing to take leave.
"Leaving so soon?" she blinked, "Wouldn't you like to maybe join us for breakfast or something?" she asked.
"I've better and far more important things to do than waste any more time with you lot." he stated with a huff, "Besides I already ate...so what does it matter if I decide to leave earlier without you? It's none of your bussiness anyway."
"No...you're right." Anani blinked, "I suppose it's not..."
bede twitched a bit when taking notice of that pained expression behind her magenta colored eyes. She seemed so hurt by his leaving... He could feel the twists around his heart...it was almost painful. Maybe he could...no.
I need to go before I get any softer on this lot of losers...
He thought to himself and rushed out silently, without a word.
XXXXX
"This is absolute rubbish!" Hop huffed over breakfast that the threesom shared together, "First he isnsisted on following us around and hanging about-" he stated, "And then he decides oh so suddenly that he's better than us! And Insists on pushin on by himself!"
"What's got you in a huff-n-grump?" asked Marnie, "I thought you didn't want him around anyway."
"W-Well no...I don't, but-" Hop blushed and heaved a stubboprn pout, "I don't know, I just wish he'd clarify himself with us." he stated, "I mean what are we? Are we enemies? are we mates?"
"Technically speaking..." said Marnie, "We're all rivals, mate."
"Well...yeah." Hop blinked, "But we're also friends too..." he sighed, "I don't know...I guess I just thought...maybe the four of us were finally coming together...but, the three of us is fine too." he huffed, blushing while the girls exchanged glances and giggled. Still...even though she smiled, Anani also felt a sadness within.
It's like...every time I feel like we have become a little closer...
He does a complete 180 and pulls away...
Bede...
She sighed.
After the meal, all three had changed into their Gym Uniforms, registered for their Gym Battle in Stow-On-Side.
"Huh...it looks like Anani gets first pick of the run this time." said Marnie as she looked at the roster and time of the registered battles for Stow-On-Side Gym, "Lucky for me, they alternate a few of the Gym leaders from time to time, and it seems this time the Stow-On-Side leader is going to be Bea, the Karate prodigy." she mumbled behind her hand, "that leaves a tough battle for me and my dark types, so...I am going to need some time to strategize..." she stated.
"Aww man..." Anani mumbled nervously, "I use mostly dark types too...why do I have to go first."
"true." said Marnie, "It seems I go right after you...so...I could just watch you!"
"That doesn't help me Marnie..." Anani groaned.
"I'm dead last after you ladies...this bites!" Hop grumped.
"Ne, Hop, wanna trade places with me?" Anani beamed, "I can go last, and you can go first!"
"Oi, no fair you're just pushing me to go before you!" said Marnie.
"HaHa, the roster is set, Anani...we're not allowed to change it." Hop chuckled, "But you've no reason to be nervous, I know you can do it!" he stated, "Yes your Poke'mon reign in the dark era, which does put you in a typoe disadvantage- but they are other types too, and they're all strong!" he beamed.
"Well yes, of course they're strong, but-"
"No Buts!" said Hop gripping both hands tightly over her thin shoulders. This was the first time she really noticed them...but Hop's hands were rather big, weren't they? And they felt stronger than before...he seemed a little taller too. Being this close to him...really changed her perspective, and she blushed at the realization that she never really noticed it before.
," I KNOW you're ready for this...but it seems you need some convincing." he smirked as he cocked his hand to his hip and tossed a poke'ball in his other.
"Let's go then, you and me." he stated.
"What!? Right now!?" Marnie huffed, "Are you sure you two have time for this!?"
"Sure we do!" Hop beamed, "We've plenty of time! and besides~" he smirked, "True rivals never rest! Let's go, Anani!"
The wine haired girl was stunned in silences...the light reflecting off her glasses made it hard to see her eyes, but they were wide with shock.
"...There's no getting out of this...is there?" she asked.
"Not at all!" he grinned.
In the silence between them, Anani couldn't help but chuckle.
"Very well then..." she smiled, "you're right...this will probably do me and these nerves of mine some real good."
"I know it will..." Hop chuckled and gave her a soft smile, "Anani...I'm still not too sure what to do about the stuff we talked about before..." he said to her, "You know, about me dragging Lee's good name down and all, yeah?" he sighed, "Admittedly, while I have been fronting about being fine...it's been weighing on me still..."
"Hop...
Anani called to him softly and he shook his head and smiled.
"But all I can really do...is get stronger, right?" he stated, "So I decided that I am going to try all kinds of different things and see what works." he grinned, "So let's do this...after all...I'm not just doing it to help you." he said softly, "I am doing it to help me too. I bet an all out battle against my true rival will help me get my head on straight!"
Anani was stunned by this sudden shift in nature...but she could feel his will and determination and nodded.
"Very well then...you're on!"
"Excellent!" Hop beamed, "Then I will start this off with Cramorant!" he said as he tossed out his Poke'ball.
"Cramorant!?" Anani blinked, "When did he catch one of those?"
"he found it back when we were separated for a spell at the Aisle of Armor." Marnie smiled, "In fact there are a few new things he picked up since then..."
"You don't say..." Anani blinked.
Had she been so lost in her own head that she's been completely missing the things going on around her?
"Very well...Fuukuu, I choose you!" she called out, sending Urshifu into battle.
"An interesting type up with a fighting type versus flying." said Marnie pumping her fists, "Good luck!"
"it is an interesting match up." Said Anani as she and her Urshifu seemed to be in sync with their movements, "Because I am going in with Wicked Blow!" she declared. The move was so fast, and it only took one shot for Urshifu to clear Cramorant out of the battle.
"Ouch!" Hop wined, "Even I hurt when you manage to land a critical hit like that one..." he stated, "All right then, next up is Silicobra!"
"Then I will send out...Dusk!"
Marnie's eyes widened.
"Another odd typing...rock type versus ground type." she blinked.
Anani was never in any lack of surprises...
"Dusk Use Rock Slide!" she commanded the Rockruff.
"Silicobra, avoid it, using dig!" said Hop. Needless to say, that hit was a hard one. Since Rock types were initially weak against ground types..." Shake it off, Dusk, you're tougher than that!" she declared, "Use Rock Slide again!" this time Silicobra took the hit, and it did relatively decent damage this time around, "Now use Bite!" she demanded.
"Ruff! Ruff!" In a lock jaw snap, the wold pokemon clamped its jaw down on the Silicobra and tossed it aside.
"Now charge in with headbut!" she declared.
"Ahh...Anani and Dusk are too fast..." Hop muttered, "I can't leep up-AHH!" he was forced back by a hard toss of his Poke'mon square to his chest, knock the wind from him for a spell.
"All right...th-that was good..." he coughed, calling back his Poke'mon while trying to catch his breath, "Next I'll send out Raboot!" he claimed.
A smile came to Anani's lips.
"Then i'll release Bloo!" she declared while calling back her Rockruff.
This of course was a quick and easy fight as Anani's Drizzile's speed made taking out the fire type easy to do in one shot.
"Yeah who wouldn't go for the Super Effective route when they've mastered the type advantage." said Hop as he called Raboot back. His last Poke'mon was a Toxel, which Anani made quick defeat of as well. She was surprised at how smoothly this bettle went for her...without even realizing...had she and her team, really become this strong?
"You're amazing, Anani!" Hop beamed, even while being defeated "You know your type advantages and yet you can still dominate a battle even when YOU'RE the one at the disadvantage!" he said, "that's how I KNOW you can beat Bea..." he said to her, approaching her and placing his hand on her shoulders, "Even as I switched my team out to increase the chances in every match up...you still stood your ground and fought the good fight." he smiled, "See Anani? You are ready." he stated, "Surely you're not going to let nerves shake you now...right?"
"You...child..."
Before Anani could speak up, she was interrupted by a surprising new spectator.
"Ahh...it's Ms. Opal!" said Hop.
"She's the fairy type Gym leader, but what is she doing here?" Marnie wondered.
Opal chuckled.
"Gym Challengers should battle for the sake of themselves and their own Poke'mon..." she said kindly, "By doing that...I know each of you will go far." she smiled, "Now go on then, You are all registered for a battle with Bea, correct?" she asked, "Your uniforms say you are up to the challenge...now let's see your mind and bodies say the same, after all..." she said softly, "The Gym Challenge is about having fun~" she smiled, bowing her head politely before wandering off.
"Well that was a bit unexpected..." Hop blinked.
"No Kiddin'" said marnie, "But she did share some rather wise words...we chouldn't shy away now just because we may be at a disadvantage...right Anani?" she grinned, "I mean, look at what you did...you fought Hop at a type disadvantage a couple times and still won!"
"Huh? Uh..." Anani blinked, "Yeah I...guess I did..." she blinked once more and held her gaze on the Poke'ball in her palm.
I did that...
Because Hop helped me get here.
She thought to herself.
And...Bede...
"After all...The Gym Challenge is about having fun~"
I hope some day...you can free yourself too...from whatever darkness may be inside of you...
Just as you, and others have been helping me to do...
To Be Continued