Being the last of rivals
Author Notes : Hello again. I hope you were interested in the first chapter, and aren't disappointed that I choose to slowly approach the moment this relationship would take form. In this one, we will take another detour, as making a fanfiction is one thing, but making a Pokémon fanfiction is another. This chapter focuses on Bede's character. Well... I haven't searched for demographics yet, but I assume Bede is a rather uncommon name. It comes from the word "beet", and in France, it's the same origin... Even though "betteraves" are one of my most hated dishes, I do prefer the name we use for that boy in France, so instead of Bede which became a meme, let's call him "Travis". It will also help me to put together a little word-play you'll notice here...
« Champion Gloria's Rapidash's Morning Sun's light dissipate the Mystical Fire of her opponent! How will Gym leader Travis and his own Rapidash answer?! »
Four to two... And his Rapidash is almost done... Nonetheless, he still fights, using Calm Mind to reinforce his Pokémon's Stored Power, only for Psyho Cut to break through the psychic particles. He's definitely cornered
« Uwrarara! »
Morpeko stretched out on my lap, greeting me with her tiny smile which eased the tension I feel gushing from the battlefield. Before I could do it, a hand came and patted my Pokémon's head. I glanced at the green pearled ring, and then the arm itself... It was miss Sonia!
« Hello there, Rosemary. I saw you were pretty riled up about this match.
— I could have been there, if not for Travis. »
I glanced back at the battlefield; Gloria's Pokémon swept Travis' with Smart Strike, making it a five to two
« I give you that he didn't give you the type advantage. Also... You don't use a sixth Pokémon...
— Morpeko can't fight. I want her to witness my battles!
— Uwara-ra! »
The little rodent showed no hesitation in showing its pride. Sonia looked embarrassed
« I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. Are you okay, though? You want to chat a bit together?
— Why do you ask? I feel like everyone is taking pity on me.
— It's true. Melony took you under her wing. It must be though... She truly believes in you, and you already showed prowesses, beating her son in this tournament. It's just... You knew Gloria, Hop and Travis from a long time ago...
— It's alright'. I made my choice to stop comparing myself to them. I have yet to find my own pace, not follow any of theirs at least. »
Surging in the middle of the Battlefield, Travis' Gigantamax Hatterene growled, as stars started to plummet the ground. Gloria's Rapidash ran past the comets, charging its Morning Dawn into its body, its horn glimmering in purple light; Psycho Cut to stumble the titan, yet the multiple cratter erupted as Rapidash avoided a blazing explosion coming from its opponent... Five to three. Travis untied his ponytail; his hair took the same appearance as Hatterene's.
I could hear gossips from the crowd behind us
« This gym leader really starts to look like a girl.
— I know right. You think he takes medicines for that?
— He's handsome as he is but well, dysphoria happens, I guess. »
I glanced at Sonia. Looks like she heard the same. At the same moment, Travis claimed he reached "metamorphosis", that he was "no longer the one he used to be"... The theories amplified. Both of us sighed
« I guess miss Opal could never teach people wha–
— Alright Travis! Gloria's voice resonated in the whole stadium, You want a true fight? Allow me! Inteleon! It's our turn to reach higher heights! Gigantamax! »
Arching its back, elongating its tail and fingers, Inteleon towered in front of Travis' Pokémon. Sonia's Yamper grew excited just seeing the two titans reverberating each other's attacks; Psychic waves deflected by ice storms, and powerful water shots confronting flare explosions.
« Gloria is just entertaining the audience...
— You said something? »
No way she would have lost any duel with Travis... I'm sure of it. He's good, of course... Gloria has become even more of a terrifying opponent since she became champion. With year passing, her battle style grew even more acted than ever; no one seems to be a match to her, and her full strength is no more needed. The hailstorm hides the sun Hatterene was calling, and the Fairy Pokémon was cornered by yet another G-Max Hydrosnipe...
« Hatterene! Endure it! Max Guard! »
And the shot pierced through the shield, and the Psychic Pokémon fell from its own height, taking back its former form. Inteleon loaded another Snipeshot, but Travis' Pokémon was still able to fight; its Expanding Force seemed to take the whole power from beneath the ground, to develop and become even bigger than a Dynamax Pokémon, trying to reach for its opponent, as the shot wasn't fired yet.
« Inteleon... Let's end this. Snipe Shot! »
The multiples psychic beams finally reached for their aim, and the others Hatterene was relentlessly creating rushed once again towards the Water Pokémon... Only for its body to be missing.
Finally, I could see Inteleon flying across the attacks of its opponent, dodging every single beam of Expanding Force, charging a ball of water in its hand, reaching closer. And finally, using its signature skill directly on its opponent. Claiming the ultimate victory.
... Once again, Gloria defended her title.
I skipped the festivities, spotting Travis doing the same. I joined him in front of Wyndon's river. He was sitting on a bench, looking down the ground.
« Want to have a talk about that?
Hearing my voice made him lift up the chin, disbelief in his eyes
— I guess we're on the same boat. »
So he said, and I sit next to him, silently looking at the fireworks and the moon reflecting on the river, music pulsing from the stadium where the festivities occur.
I congratulated him. He was strong, but he was not naïve. Gloria only bribed her strength against him. She did so with Hop, and every gym leader that she fought here. She always did. Yet, To everyone who came here to enjoy the show, it was only beautiful battles with tension and a star up above... When Leon was the champion, making the battle a spectacle was totally different. It was not about great showdowns of abilities, and who would win the most duels. It was something you were able to perceive heartfelt feelings from. Gloria has to hide her own talent, or else she is unable to satisfy the crowd. That is what happened at first, and the league was forced to adapt, making changes into every galarian gyms so she could fake the new generation was stronger than ever.
« She texted me. She's sorry about that battle. »
His eyes on his phone were glistering with clogged tears. His pastel uniform reflected the light of the final fireworks, the ones that generate so much light they're blinding.
« We should head back before we get into trouble, I suggested, Sonia told me about pesty paparazzi wherever she goes.
— Right. Because of her girlfriend.
— Yeah. I doubt any of us would like such rumors.
— I don't. And I think you would prefer other rumors.
— I don't know if Gloria interests me that much anymore... Rather, if I'm worthy of such a thing.
— Well, I changed thanks to her. Do whatever suit your boat. Time will surely put an end to these times as it already did with that friendship we once had. »
Memories tintered his cheeks red. After saying that, he hid his face doing his ponytail once again. Yeah... Time may change everything. In the end, I too, must start to grow.