Even so
Scrolling down the Pokémon League feed, I liked and shared multiple posts regarding the competition to come. The new champion wants to challenge people across the world here in Galar. He even went and did an exhibition match against some celeb wo fought against his Urshifu with her Lucario. The match was quick. Any hit mattered, and both Pokémon fought aggressively, resulting in a double Close Combat Urshifu won in the instant. It was the only hit that landed in a three-minute duel.
Now I wonder. Weren't Gloria's exhibitions like that too? The battle clearly doesn't look made up. Lucario was trying to fight the Dark Type Pokémon, trying to protect itself from every Wicked Blow attacks with its Bone Rush... Both Pokémon's Aura Sphere had the same strength too...
Then again, I liked and shared this on my wall. Be it made up or not, it is still extremely impressive. My neck was getting sore, so I checked back at the hospital, doing some little stretching.
Gloria was back. Her mother with her.
I had never noticed, but both woman don't have the same skin tone. I remember trying to compare Gloria to Nessa. Which was a childish way to hide my frustration regarding her. Of course, Nessa's Nessa and Gloria's herself. Maybe in her old age, Gloria will look like her mother. You know what they say about you and your parent. Just look at me, and I've already taken the place my brother once stood at.
I couldn't help but laugh at the thought. I'm not my brother. And I feel like everything may change for the better now that I want to try and not be scared of the past. Should I look up at the future though? I tried to imagine an older Gloria, but couldn't. She was here right before I could even start fantasizing.
« So it was you, indeed. the woman looked at me with a peaceful smile, You've changed a lot. I'm glad to see you so close to Gloria.
Changed a lot ?
— Good to see you, I answered, it's been a while !
— Don't say such words! Young people have a whole life yet to see, a while isn't much for me. To me, I met you some days ago. That's just how memories work. »
I was confused by her words, but she told me not to botter with her ramblings. Young people still have a lot of place for memories to be written and overwritten. That's what she tried to say, but I somehow felt even more confused. Maybe because we are at a hospital, and I can't really feel the mood for once.
When Gloria opened the front door of the car for er mother, the woman yelled
« That's how you treat your mother? I'll take a seat behind this tomboyish friend of yours. I wouldn't want to make you worry for nothing, and I've never seen someone with a worse case of motion sickness you!
— Rosemary drives well, I won't be sick and you won't botter us.
— That you say! You're taking as many medicines as I do despite being thirty years younger. Anyway, I'm tired. I just had lunch, you know? Let me rest a bit over here. »
She ignored the door her daughter had opened for her and went to the exact opposite part of the vehicle — behind me, as she said — and smiled at me before opening the backdoor
« My girl can be dense at times, but I'm sure you know most of it. I'm actually tired, so please drive nicely.
— It would be an honour. »
She sat, but jumped out the car the second after
« By the way. Sorry for calling you tomboyish. That's what I used to call Gloria when she was young, because of this haircut that looks like yours. »
... And she went backward, almost like diving in the vehicle. Is she really tired? Maybe I shouldn't have cut my hair that short last time. I haven't realized how close it was to the one Gloria had when we first met.
I took a glimpse at Gloria's curly hair, as she sat down in the seat near mine, her face barely visible due to her locks she had not braided today. It felt weird for a moment.
Am I noticeably good at driving? Gloria complimented me once more. I remember getting this license in two years, brooding over every mistakes I made. Eventually, I passed. Even though I failed multiple times, considered I didn't need it anyway. When my brother got his, I felt like I could also do it. Maybe I had luck that day, but I've yet to get reprimanded for my driving mistakes. Gloria confessed she thought she could afford flying taxis anyway. It's true that our trainer cards were incredible back then. Young trainers are truly blessed.
« I thought I told you not to compare with young people! You're not even half my age!
— And I thought you were asleep!
— I'm sensitive to nonsense. That's something older people have so they don't feel like young leave them behind.
— And you're old, mom? Gloria added with a jolly tone of voice, Grandma would pull your ear!
— And I would flick your front for making fun of me young lady! I'm definitely not soooo old, and I will definitely catch up to the old hag. »
She chuckled, possibly imagining herself giving a lesson to her mother.
Before we reached Wedgehurst, we saw a Dynamax Pokémon down on the Wild Area. A gigantic Steelix in the rolling fields. Soon enough, another Pokémon was starting to grow. A Serperior. And a second one. I almost lost my composure while driving and seeing this happen right bellow us. I tried to focus on the road, as it was starting to come down into the station where I'll leave my car. I don't want to drive when we're so close to Postwick.
« It's okay, said Gloria. These Pokémon belong to two trainers. I wonder how they managed to dynamax two of them while fighting another Dynamaxed Pokémon, but I guess that's just how it is nowadays. With the energy growing due to Eternatus' release... »
She sighed. This happened ten years ago. Can't blame her looking a little behind. This Darkest Day seriously wounded Galar's spirit.
« That reminds me, Gloria's mother yawned, has that chairman been released ? Is he going to be in jail for a while ?
— Nah, her daughter retorted, both Leon and me helped him getting back on the right track, but he was clearly down in the gutter back then... Two years ago, I guess? This man never realized his ambition took over his ideals. Without his company, he's bound to start everything anew. Even his brother somehow ended up offering to help him. »
The way she spoke struck me harder than it should have. Chairman Rose never seemed like a bad person. He was wrong and knew it when it was too late. Somehow, I feel like Gloria is reflecting on herself when she talks about him.
I parked my car. We've arrived in Wedgehurst. It's funny how this quiet town changed. The place was entirely paved, the berry shop extended and thus the café grew along, with the funds they raised being the closest city to Brasswick, where two legendary trainers lived, they embellished the town a whole lot, trying to keep its old spirit. I saw a Yamper flail in the fountain, and two Dottler emitting songs from atop the general store's front door. It sounded like music.
Strolling through Route 1, a Sheperd waved at us, from the field where he just brought his Wooloo herd
« Look at this, he exclaimed with joy, it's been a while since I haven't seen the big champ bring one of her former friends. You choose the right day to come by. The new Professor is here today, he wanted to say hi, but when I told him Gloria was away, he decided to take a stroll in the woods. »
Gloria started exchanging a few words with the enthusiastic man. The new professor... So Hop is here today... I may see him were I to stay more than necessary...
Gloria's mom had taken the lead, and walked kinda far before us. I took this opportunity to talk to Gloria.
« So, Hop's gonna be here too...
— Yup. Seems so. You don't plan on running away, do you?
— I told you. I want to make peace with myself. I'm still unsure. That's all.
— Do what you want, but if you're so afraid of the past, try to see if you may regret running away now. »
Yup. She's right.
« Hum...
— What is it? My mom has a good ear; you may want to spit it out before she notices.
— You think you could help me getting back on track? I don't want these regrets. »
I noticed her mom was looking at us, and stopped walking up the hill
« Girls! Why is an old hag faster than two young ladies!?
— The old hag just wants to show off! Gloria shouted with a broad smile, You'd better not force us to really try to keep up! »
I noticed she'd start running in a moment. Before doing that, she glanced at me
« Sure. Let's keep it up! »
Author note : Oh? You're here? I feel like I'm always talking about my plans in these notes. It would feel strange for me, considering I don't know the author and I might not remember their existence by the time I end up on their work. Would another topic interest you? For instance, the Cramorant and Appletun in the latest chapters. Do you like these Pokémon? Even though I played through Pokémon SnS (I like to call it like that) multiple times, I couldn't play Cramorant yet. I played most of gen 8 Pokémon in a playthrough, and couldn't play one of the very first to interest me! Maybe you have that kind of Pokémon, too? Or even Pokémon you fell in love with? I couldn't play through the game without my Centiskorch. With Galarian Ponyta, they are my favourite for this gen. Centiskorch is a taaad more reliable late in the game, though.