A Love -Hate Relationship
1
Rising to a Brand New Dawn

-

"You, are worthless...nothing. And no matter what you do, you will always be nothing...because it doesn't matter how many times someone multiplies zero...zero will always remain."

Anani's eyes blinked open to the dim light shining through the windows of a small shed.
The sun was rising and the passing bird poke'mon over head were crying for their morning meal of defenseless bug poke'mon undoubtedly hiding themselves in the shifting reeds of tall grass.
I see...
That dream again...

She thought to herself.
These words hung heavily in her...however something in her mind seemed to be blocking out the person who said them.
She sighed and rose to greet the dawn with a yawn, a disheveled punk t-shirt and a bed head woven around in wine red.
Her eyes shined in a vibrant magenta hue.
The gentle tapping on the shed door disrrupted her peaceful rising as it suddenly swung open and Hop, energetic as ever, introduced her to the morning sunlight-

"Rise on~ mate, come on now!" he beamed, "What, you plan on sleeping all day!?" he threw himself playfully onto her futon mat and rolled around with her until she laughed.
"I'm up~ I'm up!" she chuckled.

Hop was the very first friend she made in this strange new region known as Galar.
Anani didn't remember too much about her past or where she came from...
That seemed to be blocked out along with the person responsible for spitting such words like a poison sting.
What she did remember, was that she was found battered and cream crackered on the Forest floor of the Slumbering Weald.
Apparently Hop's Wooloo decided to get a bit mischevious after being egged on by a taunting Zigzagoon and gave chase to it for revenge, going on a little adventure of its own.
Hop followed it inside and there he found a sleeping beauty.

"It was like something straight out of a fairy tale!"he stated,"You were the lost sleeping princess of the Slumbering Weald, and I, Hop, the Legendary knight of rescue came to your aide like a super hero!"

Indeed he was a hero to her.
She had no recollection of where she was, how she got there or what she was doing.
Her past was shrouded in mist...and she had no place to call home and no where to return.
After hearing of the situation, Hop convinced his mother to let her live in their shed, and so that's where she stayed.
He and his mother were all but kind to her, they made her feel welcome and lent her a place to call home.
And as an added bonus, Hop went ahead and caught that Zigzagoon who had caused all the trouble and gifted it to her as a housewarming gift of sorts.
"Come now, Punkoon, rise to rise."
Needless to say the poke'mon took dearly after its trainer in greeting the sun with an unwelcome groan.
"HaHaHa. I'll leave you two to it then!" Hop grinned, "Meet me outside once you're polished up, aye?"
"Roger." Anani chuckled as he shut the door.
She always found it amusing how she and Hop clearly spoke very differently, and yet, somehow, understood each other exactly.
It didn't take her long to polish up, after all, Hop was never known to be patient.
She hurried along in her decked out colors of Pink, Black, and grey. a tattered denim skirt and some tattered punk tights in hot pink. she wore a black studded belt that matched her bulky punk boots. There was a loose hung off shoulder T-shirt in black with a hot pink tank underneath, the strap showed. and her travel bag was a faded pink studded backpack. she straighted her hair which did its own thing so she never had to do anything fancy with it.
After appraising herself in the looking glass, Hop's impatient call brought her out of the door, and Punkoon, the Zigzagoon, Zig-Zagged his way beside her.
They made fast friends, and mischevious as he was, he was loving and would support his trainer, belly up.
"Well look at you!" Hop beamed, "Aren't you decked out like a Gothitelle!?" he laughed.
"Oh please, I don't wear nearly that many ribbons and bows!" she joked.
Hop's mother's warm chuckling could be heard from the kitchen,
"Well good morning dear." She said, greeting Anani,"I do hope you're not too uncomfortable in that shed of ours?" she asked, "I'm sorry, if I had a spare bedroom I would surely offer it to you."
"Nonsense, ma'am!" Anani said, "You've already offered me more than enough." she stated, "I hope you don't mind, I kinda made the place my own a little bit?"
"But of course not!" she chuckled, "I'm happy to hear it!"
"Made it her own~" Hop said in a teasing matter, "She's got pictured of Piers everywhere!"
Anani blushed.
"Th-They're not everywhere!" she huffed, "They're just a few magizine clippings and small posters!"
"You do know Piers is one of the Gym Leaders of the Gym Challenge too, don't you, Anani?" Hop asked.
"Duh!" she exclaimed, "Of course I knew that!"
By that, she means she read about it in more than a few articles from magizines Hop lent her so that she had something to read.
Anani was a clear fan of Piers.
Not strictly as a Dark Type Gym Leader, but more so as a Musician.
She viewed him like a rock star.
She loved his sound.
She loved his music.
"There would be no greater dream come true than for a chance to have an all out battle against Piers!" she beamed, "Well aside from the champion himself of course!"
"HaHa, speaking of the Champion...where is Lee, mom? Is he here yet?" Hop asked, "Have you got him crammed in a cupbard somewhere!?"
"Of course not!" his mother laughed as Hop began searching through the cabinets, "Honestly, Hop! You must learn some patience!"
Suddenly the telly blared on.
The crowd screamed, fireworks shot colors in the televised sky, and Rose, the Poke'mon League Chairman made his way to the center of the field and began to speak.

"Welcome One and all to the wonderful world of Poke'mon!"
He said,"Our lovely Galar region is a wonderful place, with thriving nature!"he exclaimed,"Beautiful cities, and many Poke'mon with which we share our lives! As you know, our society is able to thrive thanks to help from these mysterious creatures we call Poke'mon!"he stated," Poke'mon are all around us! In the sea, in the sky, and even with us in our towns! And then there are those of us who choose to raise and train Poke'mon to do battle and compete! We call ourselves...Poke'mon Trainers!"
The crowd roared and Rose grinned as he took in their applause,"But it seems I am getting carried away..."he chuckled,"Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Rose...and it's a pleasure to be here!"the audience applauded once more,"Now turn your gaze to the Galar region's greatest Poke'mon Trainer! Our undefeated Champion...Leon!"
And so the crowd went wild as he appeared in a path of smoke and fire, and Exhibition match for the ages-
Click.

"Oh come on, that was getting good!" Anani pouted as Hop turned off the telly with the clicker.
"Don't worry about it, we can watch it later!" Hop grinned, "I have it recording, I record all of my brother's matches! Besides...wouldn't you rather meet the real thing in person?"
That's right.
Leon was Hop's older brother.
And while Anani was indeed a fan of Piers, she was a fan of Leon's too, and she beamed with excitement knowing that he was coming home to visit his family and she would actually get to meet him herself.
"Now come on then, Anani!" Hop beamed, "Grab your flash new phone." he stated.
He meant her Rotom Phone.
Yet another gift from Hop so that she could have something to watch Piers's performances and Leon's battles on when she was shut away into her shed for the night.
"Today's the big day after all, why do you think I rushed you to wake this morning?" he laughed,"Never mind watching the match now, we'll click it on later when Lee gets home, so let's go!" he said, "He should be here any minute! Also...Lee always brings presents when he visits, so don't forget your bag either,aye?"
"Why?" Anani chuckled, "It's not like he's obligated to bring me something you know! He doesn't even know me, really!"
"Right, but still..." said Hop," You're like...my best mate, and I told him all about you, so he knows you're here and he knows about your situation so...I wouldn't put it past him to bring you something anyway."
"...Best Mate, huh?" she chuckled.
Mates.
Friends.
things Anani had no experiences with until she met and was rescued by Hop.
She truly owed him everything.
Indeed, he truly was her best mate.
"He should be just arriving at the station in Wedgehurst about now..." said his mother.
"Then that's where we're going too!" Hop grinned taking Anani's hand in his, "Lee has always been hopeless with directions, you know!"
"No way, really!?" Anani laughed.
"Really, truly!" Hop snickered, "So we should go meet up with him at the station Anani. That way we can make sure he doesn't lose his way!"
"Oh, would you?" his mother beamed, "Yes that probably is for the best after all!"
"Then, we're off!" Hop beamed in return, "You ready to step on, Anani?"
"You better believe it!" Anani grinned, "There's no way I should miss out on this opportunity to meet the undefeated Champion...right, Punkoon!?"

"Goon Za goo!"

"HaHaHa, you sure made fast friends with that Zigzagoon didn't you mate!?" Hop laughed, "I'm happy to see it...now then...let's head En route!"
Hand-in-hand the two mates ran together.
Wooloo rolling alongside Hop, and Punkoon the Zigzagoon zig zagging his way at Anani's feet.
Two unsuspecting young trainers unknowingly taking their first steps onto the road of their grandest journey soon to come!

To Be Continued