Shadowed Over Fair Dust

12

I'll Go Along With You

A/N: This Fan Fiction is based on the Galar region and games (Sword/Shield) featuring CanonXOC

When Anani woke the next day, she spent the morning making sure she had everything just right. Nerves were consuming her as she took in her reflection in the mirror, taking in a shaky breath.

"Today's the day..."she said to herself with a firm nod. She hurried to the Hotel Lobby where she was certain Hop would have already been waiting for her. And indeed he was, in the midst of practicing throwing phantom Poke'balls.

"Ah!" He beamed, "Top of the morning, Anani!" he said with a grin running to greet her.

"Top of the Morning, Hop." Anani smiled.

"Today's the day!" Hop stated,"Can you feel it in your bones!?"

"That...and among other places." she chuckled, holding her stomach as she tried to calm the butterflies in her belly.

"It will be grand!" he stated, "You'll see-Ah?" He blinked as a familiar young girl made her way out of the elvators,"Oi!" he waved,"You're Marnie, yeah?" he smiled,"Top of the morning, Marnie!"

"Huh?" She blinked toward the source of the attention grabber and gave a smile with a nod,"Top of the morning...Hop?" she blinked,"And Anani, right?"

"You got it!" Hop grinned,"We were just about to get ready to head off toward the Stadium." he stated,"Care to join us?"

"Thanks but I'll make my own way." she stated as she began to walk out glancing back toward them,"I'd wish you luck...but I'm afraid I'm going to be the one to win~" she smiled with a wave while her Morpeko chirped along with her at her feet.

"HaHaHa!" Hop laughed,"She sure is a right confident one, isn't she?" he grinned,"Now I'm even more fired up!" he grinned and clasped his hand to Anani's squeezing it warmly,"Let's get going too!" he said, and took off in a run with her hand in his, dragging her along in his lead.

XXXXX

"Ah, Challengers Hop and Anani!" the stadium staff waved them over,"Glad to see you two have made it." he said, shifting his shades,"The Ceremony will be starting shortly,"He stated,"You two should hurry into your Challenge Uniforms now and head for the Stadium Pitch." he grinned.

"Roger!" said Hop, "Sorry Anani but this is where we separate." he smiled,"After all, the Male dressing room is on the other side..." he gave an awkward laugh before trotting off ,"See you up on the Pitch, mate!" he grinned. Anani nodded nervously and gave an awkward smile, returning his gesture with a wave of her own. She managed to find her way to the female changing room and timidly fiddled with her clothes as she changed.

"Nervous, are you?" a soft toned voice questioned her from behind the locker door.

"Oh...Marnie!" Anani blinked,"...That obvious, is it?" she chuckled awkwardly.

"S'all right." she smiled,"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous m'self." she said softly,"It's rather normal. I take it you musta come from a small town or so, aye?"

"Ah...yeah." Anani blinked,"How did you know?"

"Simple, really." said Marnie, "I'm quite the same myself." she smiled,"Let's be off, Anani!" she said, offering a handshake to her. With a little raised caution, Anani smiled and graciously accepted before following her out.

XXX

The Chairman's mighty voice could be heard echoing through the tunnels where the Challengers waited for their cue to enter. Hop founf his way over to Anani and smiled, clasping her hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze as Rose finished introducing the Gym Leaders.

"And now~" said Rose,"Let's meet the Gym Challengers who dare to try an take them on for their shot at the Champion!"

The crowd roared as the staff directed the Challengers to come forward.

"Here we go~" Hop whispered, giving her hand one more squeeze before releasing it to walk ahead. Soon after Marnie followed. She then took in a shaky breath and began to take her first steps to follow them when a sudden shove from behind passed her by. Her eyes went wide when she came to realize that it was the very trainer from before when they were being registered...

The boy with the violet eyes...

"Step aside." he huffed,"Talent is coming through." he stated as he ran his fingers through his hair and strutted.

"Well he's a bright ray of sunshine, isn't he?"

Anani blinked as she turned toward the source of the voice. It was Marnie who had stopped short ahead.

"Well, come on then!" she grinned, and suddenly Anani felt at ease. She gave a nod and followed her out. The light of the stadium was blinding, and and the ignited excitement of the crowd, deafening. In that moment, she had never felt so powerful. The excitement bubbled within her and she grinned in emerald eyes wide and shining in awe.

XXXXX

"Anani!" Hop called for her during the festivities after the ceremony was over. Families gathered to celebrate with their children once more before departure come the next dawn. Hop's mother and Leon waved and waited as he ran to greet her in excitement.

"Man that feeling from being out on the Pitch..." he stated."It was unreal! Am I right?"

"It sure was something else." Anani chuckled.

"Can you believe it?" he asked,"Tomorrow our journey really begins." he stated, "But tonight~ we celebrate!" he grinned as he swiped a kabob and playfully slipped it into her mouth,"Anyway, I'm off to talk with my mum and Lee...you should come too!" he said as he quickly took off back toward them,"I'll be waiting!"

"You two are quite close, aren't you?"

"Oh... Marnie!" Anani blinked and blushed awkwardly as she quickly tried to swallow the shoved food, "Ah...yeah you could say something like that...she said softly,"I...sorta owe him a lot..."

"That right?" Marnie blinked.

"Say Marnie, where's your family at?" Anani asked, quickly trying to change the subject.

"I'm afraid my brother couldn't make it." she shrugged,"But that's all right...what about you?" she asked,"Is yours here?"

"Oh...right, mine- I..." Anani twiddled her fingers nervously as she tried to think of how to answer that. The truth was...she couldn't remember if she even had family...

"I don't really..." she muttered softly. Not too far away, she had caught another trainer's attention. One of which she wasn't aware was listening.

His sharp piercing violet eyes were locked on her.

Huh...no family for you either, eh?

He thought to himself. For a moment he could feel his heart constrict.

Lonliness...

That was a feeling he was all too familiar with, and he could see it on her too, clear as the sky over head. He blinked and let out a snort. Quickly avoiding his gaze as he flipped his hair and wandered off before he could be caught staring again.

"Oi! Anani!" Hop called out to her and waved her over,"We're waiting! Hurry up now!" he huffed and Marnie couldn't help but chuckle.

"It seems your mate is calling." she chuckled,"Best hurry along and enjoy the rest of the festivities." she said softly,"After all, we may be friends today, but tomorrow...we'll all be enemies."

"Right." said Anani with a nod,"Good luck, Marnie." she said to her.

"I don't need luck, mate." she shrugged,"I already know I'll win...ciao~" she waved with a smile, leaving Anani to hurry to the small gathering that waited for her.

XXXXX

The festivities of the previous day were a delight, but none more so than the day that arrived soon after. Hop waited for Anani in the lobby. They double checked each other's supplies.

"All in check." said Hop,"best Push on." he grinned,"The Gym Challenge has to be completed in a certain order." he stated,"And the first one up, is Turfield Stadium!" he grinned,"Let's go!"

"Roger!" said Anani, both of them charged off through the crowd that awaited them outside the Hotel each one waving them off and wishing them luck as they made their way En Route.

"Oi! Wait up!"

"Huh?" Anani and Hop blinked as they looked behind them and saw Marnie running to catch up holding her Morpeko in her arms.

"It's Marnie." said Anani.

"What's up?" asked Hop.

The girl huffed as she managed to catch up, catching her breath.

" I was doing some thinking..." she said between bated breaths,"And I've decided...if you'll have me, I'd like to travel along with you."

"Say what!?" Hop blinked,"But aren't we rivals now?" he laughed,"Why would you wanna tag along?"

She shrugged.

"You two are rivals too and yet you tag along with each other." she stated.

"W-Well yeah but..."Hop blushed,"That's different...!"

Marnie giggled.

"I was thinking about what Anani had said back when we met." said Marnie,"And I figured, it really would be nice to travel with someone who share's an appreciation for Piers as I do." she stated,"And besides that...you know what they say." she shrugged,"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer~"

"Hahaha." Hop laughed,"You hold nothing back do you Marnie?" he grinned,"Fine then, If you wish to tag along then I won't oppose." he stated,"But don't think for a second that this means I'll go easy on you!"

"Wouldn't want you to." she shrugged,"I'll be clear, I plan on taking you both out in this competition!"

"Well then..." Anani blinked,"This ought to make for an interesting adventure." she smiled,"So I better get a head start-"

"Oi!" Hop called out as Anani darted faster,"Get back here you cheat!" he laughed,"I won't let you get ahead of me."

"Say what you will but I'll have you both eating my dust!" said Marnie. The three new found companions held nothing back as they raced together toward a common goal.

To Be Continued