The Cold Shoulder
Dalizapa Passage. Paldea Region. 4:51am.
Candice awoke at a Pokemon Center located on the mountain road. At first, she was taken aback by how the centers of this region are presented. They were like a truck stop, fitting for the many trainers that travel around the region. She wanted to climb up Glaseado Mountain to visit the gym leader up there, but she wouldn't be able to do so this late.
With not much else to do, Candice falls asleep again, her mind constructing an image to keep her occupied. She was imagining herself trudging through the snow, climbing up Glaseado Mountain with shining dust like snow falling down. There was nothing but the howling cold and the sound of her footsteps… until.
"HEY YOU! NOT ONE MORE STEP!"
A voice suddenly snaps alive, like someone really was around and caught her lacking. She stops and looks around before they narrow on a blurry figure. Could she see someone else in the snowfall? Her eyes weren't playing tricks, right? That blurry figure leaps ahead and lands in front of Candice. Finally, a better view of… what the?!
"Seriously? Didn't even notice someone sneaking up on you? Amatuer…" The ambusher said. Candice doesn't respond for a moment. She's kinda left speechless. But then she finds her words. "This some kind of joke? Or am I lucky enough to find a superfan of me all the way out here?" Candice said, taking a step back. "More like UNLUCKY! You face the middle of the Miss Fortune Sisters, and this Clover plucks you!" The ambusher spouted back.
Candice's eyes squinted before she hit a realization, the word 'Clover' unlocked an old memory. She's heard tales of a bandit that went by the same name working alongside 2 sisters. That memory unlocked another one, this one even more faint. A memory of seeing a photo of an ancestor of hers. Candice focused on that memory, linking what she could. That led to her meeting a conclusion. She was the descendant of a criminal?!
Candice moves around in a circle. Clover did the same. It was like looking in a mirror. Their eyes, hair, and skin were nearly identical. "So what's it gonna be? You gonna fight or fork over all your stuff?" The bandit boasts. Candice remained speechless for a brief moment before snickering. "Whatever you say, Grandma Clover."
Clover went from fierce looking to flustered. Grandma?! "Hey! Watch your mouth! You can't just disrespect me like that!" She said, furiously shaking her head. Candice laughs. "Honestly, I've only barely heard of you but I never would've expected someone this weird!" She remarks.
"Look, I don't know who you are, but I'm not going to let you just talk down to me like that!' Clover readies a Poke Ball, making Candice cock an eyebrow. "Oh? You really want to battle Candice? Well, let's see whatcha got. Get ready to lose!" Candice reaches for a Poke Ball of her own. The two ladies take similar stances before tossing their partners out.
"Get 'em, Abomasnow!"
The dream stopped abruptly as an alarm blares. Candice stirs awake and checks the clock. 5:30am. She tosses the covers off her body and sits up. She remains still for a second, thinking about the dream. Was that really her? Was that actually her ancestor?
Candice slowly enters the bathroom and turns the lights on, putting them on a dim setting. She looked into the mirror as she turned on the sink's faucet. She knew she was still a tad groggy, so her eyes were trying to awaken, but in that moment she swore she could see her ancestor staring back at her. She's probably disappointed that she wound up not being a bandit or thief or whatever, but Candice didn't really care about it. "Sorry Grandma Clover…" Candice said to mirror before splashing her face with some water. Her reflection looked normal now. And it remained that way as she changed into her usual wear. "But I've got too good of a thing going on to let criminality ruin it." Candice finishes her thought as she walks out of the bathroom and grabs her Poke Balls. She's got a mountain to climb.