Author's Note: My goodness I've been writing like no tomorrow today! I've been bit by the writing bug and I don't mind at all! It's much welcome after that serious writers block I had. Whew!

I hope you guys enjoy this, despite the chapter being a bit shorter.

Onward!

Gloria opened the door to her bedroom, feeling spent after a day of walking around and Pokémon watching. She closed the door by leaning on it and kicked her boots off. She then walked over to her bed and took off her sweater, placing it at the foot of her bed. The golden hour had turned her room into a dull, golden orange shade.

"Whew, what a long day!" She dropped her rucksack and immediately flopped down on her bed. Seconds later, she heard one of the pokeballs open. That's when she saw her Flareon hop on the bed beside her.

"Hi Flareon." Gloria greeted her Pokémon. After rolling on her back, she patted her fire type gently, "You've grown so much, my friend." Her eyes sparkled with joy, "You were the second Pokémon to join my team. We've seen quite a bit together, haven't we?"

Flareon smiled and barked. For Gloria, the small talk was a way to relax her mind. She sat up and glanced toward her window. Long, thin rays of light shone in through the glass displaying a mix of colors.

"Gloria?" Her mother's voice came from the other side of her closed door, "Are you there?"

"Yes mum, I'm here." Gloria replied, "Come in."

Thea pushed open the door slowly, "Are you all right darling? I'm sorry for asking, I just can't help but feel something is troubling you."

"I'm okay mum, I just have a lot on my mind."

Thea went to sit beside her daughter, "You can always talk to me Gloria. I'm here for you."

Gloria was hesitant, but her mother's gentle demeanor helped her feel more at ease, "Well um… I would like to tell you. But I'm not sure how."

Thea was patient, "Take your time darling. Start from the beginning."

"It's kind of… sort of… Mum, have you ever like… been really interested in wanting to know someone? But too afraid to actually… take that step to try and know them?"

Thea thought about it, "Hmm… I'm not quite sure what you mean darling."

Flareon hopped off the bed and went to the window, she placed her front paws on the windowsill to look outside.

Gloria sighed and decided to elaborate a bit deeper, "There's this guy. I met him at the beginning of my journey. In the beginning, he was a real piece of work. I'm not putting that lightly he was a PIECE of WORK. Every time we met; he would do nothing but antagonize me. I would always kick his butt in battle, and he would just be a real sore loser about it. It was awful." Despite this less than favorable description, Gloria couldn't help but chuckle at the memories.

Thea raised her eyebrow, "Oh my… this is the first I'm hearing about his. How terrible."

Gloria continued, "He got kicked out the gym challenge mid-way. But he was scouted by Opal to be her successor. He's mellowed since then and the other day at the Galarian Star Tournament…"

"Wait a minute." Thea interrupted, "I know who you're talking about now. Is his name Bede?"

Gloria felt her heart leap hearing her mother say that, but she answered, "Yes, that's him. He's the one."

"Ah, I see. He's the one that interrupted the champion match to challenge you. What a character." Thea nodded, "I'm sorry for interrupting dear, please go on."

"Okay, so at the Galarian Star Tournament, he found me when I was alone at the park. He was so kind to me, like he was a completely different person. Then I remembered things Sonia told me about him, and I've been really wanting to know him since."

Thea remained quiet for a moment, taking in her daughter's words. After some thinking she replied, "I think I understand your problem dear. You want to be close to him, but because of you two's history, you're worried he won't feel the same."

"Yeah…" Gloria admitted shyly.

The two didn't noticed Flareon had started playing with one of Gloria's boots.

Thea put an arm around Gloria, "I wish I could be more helpful to you sweetheart. I just had never experienced anything like this myself so I wouldn't sure what do to either."

"It's okay mum. I appreciate you hearing me out." Gloria assured.

"All I can say is, follow your heart." Thea smiled, "Do the best you can. Whatever happens, happens."

Gloria giggled, "That's kind of similar to what Sonia told me. But it's good advice, thank you."

Thea smiled, "Anytime dear. All right, I have to prepare dinner now. So I'll leave you be, okay?"

"Okay mum. Thank you for hearing me."

Thea nodded and stood to leave Gloria's room, closing the door on her way out. It was then that Gloria noticed Flareon chewing on her boot. She laughed, "What are you doing you silly girl?"

Flareon widened her eyes and jumped away from the boot, trying to act innocent. Gloria giggled, "You're such a weirdo."

At the Ballonea Gym, Bede wrapped up his last match of the day and was now in the process of tidying up. He was thinking about the words of his last challenger, the youngster had brought up Bede's intrusion during the Finals of the Champion Cup, and how cool he thought Bede was for doing that. Bede himself noticed his rise in popularity and wasn't sure how to respond.

It felt so strange to him considering he had spent a good portion of his early years being despised by others just for existing. Suddenly seeking solitude, he rushed to the office and locked himself in. Sitting at the desk, his mind drifted to a place he had always fought to block out.

It was the day his parents had abandoned him at the orphanage all those years ago.

Flashback…

"All right Bede, this is going to be your new home."

That statement from his mother said in a harsh tone confused him, he turned to face her, "Why are you leaving me here?" A seven-year-old Bede questioned.

Not showing any more sympathy than his mother, his father explained, "Look, your mother and I have to leave you here. Our… jobs transferred us. We'd like to take you with us, but we can't."

Even a kid could sense the insincerity in his voice, nonetheless he held onto hope, "Are you gonna come back for me?"

His parents looked at each other with annoyed glances before his mother answered, "Yeah, sure. We'll be back in… two months! All right?"

"O-Okay…" Bede replied.

At that moment, a worker from the orphanage came out to guide Bede away. The look on her face expressed disapproval toward the attitudes of these unloving 'parents'. As he was being led inside, he turned to see his parents rushing back to their car and hopping in, speeding away before they even got inside.

The worker spoke sweetly, "Don't worry about them honey. We'll take care of you here. Can I get you anything? Are you okay?"

Bede hesitated before asking, "Why did they leave me?" His voice trembling, "Why couldn't they take me with them?"

The worker sighed, "I don't know dear. Some people are just… wrong in the head."

End of Flashback…

His life was hell for a long time after that. Every day at that orphanage felt like he was in a warzone. The bullying, the fights, the scoldings from the less sympathetic workers, the anguish. His parents never came back of course, those were just lies. Lies so that he would accept this fate that was being pushed onto him.

He was ten years old when Chairman Rose visited the orphanage. When he did, it was like a light had finally appeared at the end of the tunnel. After years of suffering, he was finally being cast a lifeline. Rose had gifted him a Hatenna, and had him enrolled at a Pokémon Trainers school.

He had finally escaped that place of despair he was forced to call home.

That was where he thrived. He had a natural talent for battles, and everyone saw it. Passing classes with flying colors, he graduated a lot quicker than most students. A few more years went by, and shortly after he turned sixteen, Chairman Rose had personally sponsored him for the Galar Gym Challenge. He remembers how excited he was on that day. He'd been on the losing side, but that was going to change. This was his opportunity to make him proud. To show him that his faith in him was not displaced. Not only that, everyone who had treated him poorly were going to look like utter fools.

But everyone knows how that turned out.

He put a hand on his forehead, recollecting the memories of his life. He knew he was going to live only for himself from now on and he was confident in that decision. Despite the scars from his past lingering in the back of his mind.

That's when he thought about Gloria. The one he had tried over and over again to conquer, but never could. She was like the fog, no matter how long he chased after it, it would always elude him. At first, he despised her. Because he saw her as the reason he couldn't truly be the best. A threat to a spotlight that he saw belonged to him and him alone. A roadblock that he could not destroy no matter how hard he struck it.

She truly was a great trainer, but she never let that get to her head. He saw her always being kind to others. Even if they were way beneath her. Even now as a champion, she always showed compassion and care. Even toward him, when he had been nothing but insufferable to her. Despite her kind nature, she always had a witty response each time he tried to antagonize her. When she saw him at his lowest point after being disowned by Rose, instead of twisting the knife, she showed mercy and comforted him. Her humility was immeasurable.

Could this be the reason he now longed for her presence? He did not know the answer to that, but he ached to have her near.

But how would he make that happen? He certainly couldn't reach out to her himself. She'd probably laugh at him. He felt hopeless.
That's when he had an idea. His heart was racing, but he was going to act.

He will not be stopped. His only option was to go through with this.