Maybe an if isn't necessary.
... Sheesh.
« That's quite a sigh. Stuck on work? »
Gloria approached me, the plate she was cleaning in hand.
« Oh. You're writing a story, this time.
— Trying. Can't figure the words I want to use so it sounds good.
— You often have a blank page syndrome like this? Now that I think about it, you were tired yesterday, when you finally decided to take some rest.
— I don't have a blank page syndrome. It never happens to me. I know what I want. But I don't know how it sounds. It's the same as imagining yourself winning an argument. Why can't you pick the same words when needed? Why can't I use the same feelings I have in my mind when I'm writing this?
— Depends on the feeling, right? Are you used to the feeling you want to write? Maybe that's only the case. I haven't written anything but textoes in years. »
Once she had gotten rid of her plate, she took a closer look at what I was writing.
« Oh. That's what you wanted to write when we meet, right? I took you had finished and even told it to the children at your school.
— It was ridiculous. I couldn't get their attention, and even their interests were more captivating than telling them this story. I want something more beautiful. Something that could sound like a tale, yet feels real; something that could teach a lesson, and make someone reflect on their way of life. I guess it's weird showing that to you...
— Uh? I guess it's okay. I don't really associate myself with the champ I might have been back then. Maybe the medicines killed parts of my brain. »
... I didn't know how to answer back. It was a loud silence, where both of us remained glaring at each other, not knowing who would pursue
« At any rate, she took another pause, maybe the feeling you're looking for is something yu don't express usually. Do you have any role model as of today? I mean, I don't think this awkward weirdo who's squatting your house is worth much respect. »
I shook my head. I have nothing like a role model. Trying to live on my own, being content with the little time I spend in company of some children. Hiding in my apartment. Guess that's it.
« Are you sure you want to write something about me, then?
— I mean. I am the person who should be able to do it the best way. Having been a part of the people closer to you back then.
— Yeah... But maybe you would be able to word it if you were the same person as back then, right? I mean, people change and I don't think neither of us really associate with their older self.
— You're right. »
I guess. I am not the same woman anymore. Is that the reason to? It's not like it's been so many years. And despite my efforts, I look just like I used to do back then. Same clothes, a look I can fake, that past... Well. My body changed, but I look like the same person. No one mistakes me for a stranger.
« I'm not telling you it's impossible to write it. You okay?
— Yeah. You just sent down the gutter saying that. I'm ok. Just me being myself. »
Another heavy glimpse at each other. We really do suck at conversation.
« Say, she tried to get the conversation back, do you feel like you won't be able to do any Pokémon battle?
— I'm not interested in Pokémon anymore. Not in training them, I mean. Neither am I in having a duel with anyone.
— I see. I felt like this might be a part of what would help you write your "Galar's legend", though. You want to write about me from a point of view you only had when we were younger. Don't you think that may bring back some of your feelings? »
I sighed. No words coming to mind. Gloria was looking round the room, probably trying to figure out another approach.
« I've got a ridiculous idea. Maybe that can work, but this idea only works if you're ready to take me on a duel. Everything will be more or less handled by me, so you just had to focus on whatever you want.
— Why is that a ridiculous idea? I don't see something so wrong in your reasoning, though. I don't know if something I'm not interested in doing would awaken such feelings, though.
— You're at least interested enough to wonder what good it will bring you. We can do it whenever you want. I'm done with the dishes, so we could even do it now and figure out something else later if needed. »
...
I ended up bobbing the head a little too much. You call that a nod. I had accepted her offer.
She told me to wait for her at the Pokémon training terrain. There wasn't that many other trainers. I could see a duel with two Serperior on the outer edge of the terrain. The two women seemed to have fun. So much I could hear them provocate each other. Something along the lines of "now that we're equal, there's no way I'll ever let my guard down". Maybe these two are friend from a long time.
Equal, uh... While I was wondering what that word would really mean, I saw Gloria sprinting towards me, in an awkward way, crossing another training field just about to battle. Was she looking for attention? Maybe trying to prevent hogging the attention being incredibly weird. Nonetheless, the duel behind her, of a Morgrem against a Cinderace, began.
« Hufff.. Here I am, she said, catching her breath, sorry. Cramorant aren't the strongest Pokémon to fly on in Galar.
— The Pokémon Center wasn't far. It could have helped if you told me you would be thirty minutes late.
— I had to... You see. What I had in mind wasn't really something I could just do out of the blue. Cramorant, please! »
That silly-looking blue bird Pokémon just fell from the sky right on its feet as if there was glue on them. I dunno what it's lookin' at, definitely not at us.
I noticed a bulge within its beak. The bird screamed
... And vomited what was in.
« Poké Balls?
— I had to make sure those had a safe travel. Forgot my pants had no pockets, and I don't wanna break Barney's neck riding him.
— You were using him as a hang-glider?!
— I needed to be quick, and this boy sure has seen worse than that. You ok, Barney? »
The blue bird was cleaning up its wings without even looking at... Yeah, maybe it was looking at her. I don' know where those eyes are aiming at anyways.
She gave me one of the Poké Ball, and rushed to the other side of the terrain. Her Pokémon flew of in an instant, only to be caught by its Poké Ball's recall.
I guess it's on.
I threw the ball, maybe a little off though. The ball's trajectory was not straight in the least. The ray pointed at the outer edge of the terrain. That's how much I've lost myself I gu-
« I thought these tiny Pokémon would be easy training partner for a shut-in like you, but right now... Positionning yourself on a corner like that... You plan on attacking me by surprise?! Applin! Go and Rollout over her! »
Gloria's Pokémon — a tiny Applin she had probably freshly caught — rushed towards the one she lent me; an Applin too
« Withdraw! »
While Gloria's Pokémon attacked rolling towards us, mine protected itself within the apple. Reaching my Applin, Gloria's rolled back after hitting it with a first Rollout attack. It tried multiple times to make my Pokémon move out the field, but didn't manage to.
« Sheesh! Yours is a bold one, isn't it? Well need to it stronger then! Use Defense Curl, and then Rollout!
— Keep holding your Withdraw! »
... 'Till the last moment. Gloria's offence is far stronger than ours right now. We need to take advantage of it.
The tiny Apple-shaped Pokémon rushed once more towards mine. But now, we have a plan.
« Astonish! »
My Pokémon rolled to the side, prompting Gloria's to stall not to roll out the field. There, we could hit it once, and another time. It was starting to move! Once more!
« Hold it! Gloria yelled, Defense Curl! Work that centrifugal force! »
Now our chance! Just a tiny bit...
Now!
« Sucker Punch, Applin! »
The tiny Grass Pokémon took advantage of its opponent's power to hit it at full force. Gloria's Applin was thrown in the air, out the field, even!
« We haven't touched the ground yet! Grassy Glide! To the middle of the terrain! »
Gloria's Applin seemed to fly and glide over mine. It reached a safe spot of the arena in mere seconds.
« You're getting fire up aren't you, Rosemary? But you definitely haven't won yet. And I won't allow myself to lose to cure that slump of yours. Applin! Let's Evolve! Sweet Scent! »
Sweet Scent?! But An Applin can't learn tha-
It grew. Bigger. Rounder. Bulkier. Her Applin transformed into an Appletun way too quickly, what happened?!
« What's the meaning of that?! How much did you pull the string of this battle?!
— Eh. That's for you to decide that part, now that I've seen you really haven't lost your duelling habits. Come at me, Rosemary! Apple Acid! »
The acid definitely hit my Pokémon. It even covered it under a gross-looking pile of yellow acid... I could hear it scream! What's this?!
In a blue flash. Something came out the sticky acid and hit the Appletun. When the tiny thing that hit the Appletun flew backwards towards me, I understood it was the Applin that had evolved, shedding its tart apple skin.
... While we tried to attack once more with Acrobatics, I realised something. That's the battle she had planned from the start. The Applin she brought weren't freshly caught, but raised by some of her very strong Pokémon. And Gloria's still looking like she's enjoying this duel, but something... is it off? Has she planned the very end of this duel?
« Flapple! Dragon Rush! Let's show that apple pie what we can do! »
My Applin rushed towards Gloria's Pokémon. Once again. It struck with all its might. But...
« Why? Fly away, Fapple, You won't achieve anything insisting on hitting Appletun!
But My Pokémon still managed to land many more Dragon Rush. The Sweet Scent just made it lose its temper... Are its attacks getting weaker?
— Appletun had covered itself in Apple Acid... And your Flapple is getting all coated in it! There is our comeback! Appletun! Headbutt! »
It was expecting the moment Flapple would become slower! Flapple was blown away by the hit, but endured it. Maybe we still have a chance!
« Flapple! Use Dragon Breath!
— So you want to change your plans? Too bad, but we're stronger there! Dragon Pulse! »
She's right. Her attack's stronger. But we're faster! Fast enough to escape her attack at the last moment and fly over her Pokémon...
Now!
« Grav Apple! Squash it! »
Using all its dragon power, Flapple let itself crash on its opponent. It's our way out! I'm sure of it!
« Grab it. »
Following Gloria's order, Appletun took the blow on a corner of its back, but was still strong enough to endure it. With the blow making the Apple Nectar Pokémon slightly leave the ground, it managed to grab Flapple's tail with its maw
« Headbutt to the victory! »
And a final slam.
Flapple fainted from this hit on the ground. Appletun was clearly damaged, but it recovered itself in an instant... So... We were far from the victory in the end, right? I guess that's always been like that. Has Gloria ever lost her strength? She clearly had the determination to just win this battle. Not a battle you'd do to help your friend out a slump.
« Rosemary? You ok?
— Yeah. Yeah. I got it. I just thought I was still off the mark, there.
— Ermmm... I didn't plan on using Recover. That's why we used Sweet Scent, the same organ does that, so you weren't that far... Maybe? Those applemon are kinda sturdy when needed.
— Thanks. That really cheers me up, you know?
— Ah! At least it showed you something, hasn't it? »
Uh? Showed something? Gloria saw I hadn't understood what she meant.
« Don't you think you've never really lost yourself? It has bothered you a lot, am-I mistaken?
— Never lost myself? You mean how I live?
— That for sure. You're still a somewhat confident trainer. You refusing contact with Pokémon haven't changed a thing. I wanted to help you get back these feelings, but you never lost any of them. That is quite remarkable. »
She gazed at me intently, with a serious glare I don't remember seeing in her face... Her phone rang this instant.
« Give it a thought, ok? It's the hospital, so I'm gonna answer. »
Never lost myself? But I did change. Yeah, I changed my whole appearance, my habits and I neglect how I should look because it's ridiculous... I feel much more comfortable today. It's true I wouldn't think I'd get so fired up over an Applin duel... I don't even know if I messed up something anyway. Does she mean I haven't changed?
But I like the life I'm living now. How could I still be the same person?
Gloria's call ended, she went back towards me
« Mom will be able to leave the hospital tomorrow. I'm glad. she sighed loudly
— Did they find anything worth worrying about?
— Nope. Not that they would tell me on the phone anyway. They said I could even bring her home myself.
— That's great news. Want me to... »
Oh... Maybe it's their family's problem. But I don't think it's so wrong.
« That's nothing. Want me to give both of you a ride to Postwick?
— That! I definitely accept. I still have some of my stuff at your home, and I'm sure mom will be glad not to be thrown here and there by one of these Corviknight... »
She laughed, ironically, as she as complaining about her only mean of transport back when she was still a champion, having no iconic flying Pokémon.
But still... Isn't she right? I did change, but that's only something you'd say if you don't know where I came from. I'm afraid of something I choose to distance myself from, but I really am too afraid of it to understand that all I did was right. It was for myself. I managed to protect the me from then and to chose a life for the me of today. It's not "if I were to accept her hand, would I become who I was again?" I'm past that fear. I've evolved.
Author Notes : Hello~ Pokémon Battles... To be honest, I feel like I've mastered them in French. But I still lack habits and shortcuts in English. I really like to write them, though. I wrote something in the latest chapter... Yeah. We're currently in the middle September 2021, and I don't plan on writing a single fanfic for this year. Next year? Yeah! I want to write two new fanfics. Of course, I'd like to post one about Pokémon... I already have something planned. But I also want to try something with my greatest fanfic which is a Pokémon one and a French one. I'll mostly spend the year writing it. I believe I'll be sick of writing about Pokémon before I get through another third of this project.