Chapter Text
It was ridiculous, really, how he would check his mail each day once a tournament was announced, anticipating his invitation with the impatience of a Pokemon awaiting its dinner. With feigned disinterest, Bede casually thumbed through Ballonlea Gym’s mail until he found what he was looking for; a sticker-sealed envelope addressed to him in a quick cursive scrawl. The tiniest of smiles graced his features as he opened his prize, violet eyes skimming over content he may as well know by heart.
Dear Gym Leader Bede,
The honour of your presence is requested by Champion Gloria as a participant in this Saturday’s tournament at Wyndon Stadium. Please indicate your interest by Friday evening, via the enclosed mail-out or at the Wyndon Stadium front counter.
We look forward to your response,
Wyndon Stadium League Staff
Bede swiftly plucked the mail-out from the envelope, checked off “Attending,” and tossed it into the gym's outbox without a moment of hesitation. While there was no need to rush, there really wasn't much else going on for him during these seasonal lulls when a championship had recently ended.
He had grown into his gym leader position splendidly over the years, but the skill gap between him and his staff often made training sessions somewhat dull. Bede was always quick to join these little tournaments, even if he wasn't formally invited, just to keep his team sharp. Truly, there was no other time he could let his Pokemon go all out in battle, if not faced against the reigning champion, Gloria.
A tinge of excitement possessed him at just the thought, and he ran a hand through his thick curls in an attempt to dispel the feeling. It was just another tournament, nothing definitive, simply a gathering of powerful trainers testing their skills against each other in preparation for championships to come.
There was no doubt that Gloria was the strongest trainer in the region, now. Much time had passed since she seized the title from Leon's grasp, and with no challengers able to dethrone her so far, she appeared to be coming for his "undefeatable" streak as well.
It was admirable, not that Bede would willingly admit it, but the incontestable strength she displayed when battling, as frustrating as it could be, was simply… Incredible.
He would be lying to himself if he said he didn’t enjoy it when it was just the two of them on the pitch; the serious glint in her eye as she stood across from him, their pointed banter in the thick of battle—even the bitter taste of defeat wasn’t so awful, as long as it was her, the one person in all of Galar he considered worthy enough to call his rival.
Bede swallowed thickly as a strange warmth bubbled up in his chest, burying the feeling as quickly as it had surfaced. Reminiscing like this would only serve to distract him. Worse, still, would be if anyone knew how often he entertained such embarrassing thoughts.
Miss Opal, in all her wisdom, always seemed to have an inkling of his emotional state, perhaps even better than himself. Knowing this, Bede dreaded that he would not ever hear the end of it, were he to mention Gloria even once in his mentor's presence. She already offhandedly referred to the champion, unprompted, enough.
He glanced over his shoulder warily as he strode out of the gym, deciding some fresh air would clear his head. Slinging his coat over his shoulders, Bede stepped outside into the woodland town, a crisp morning breeze ghosting over him. Thin beams of sunlight flitted through the forest canopy, highlighting the colourful mushrooms and freckling the soil with warm spots of light which wavered in the wind.
Ballonlea was a beautiful place, that, he couldn’t deny. Bede considered himself quite lucky to reside here as the gym leader. It was home, now, and he couldn’t imagine what course his life would’ve taken had he not ended up here, this enchanting forest town existing in perfect harmony with the Pokemon around it.
Morelull and Chinchou crooned their greetings as he made his way towards the Pokemon center. It was never too early to stock up on supplies. He mulled over his mental shopping list; hyper potions, full restores... Pokeballs, too. Always better to have more than not enough.
He stopped in his tracks as he entered the store section of the building, the magazine rack immediately catching his attention. Who else would be on the cover of the latest "Trainer’s Digest" but the very trainer plaguing his thoughts. His eyes zeroed in on the headline. Galar’s Cutest Champion?
Bede scoffed, yet his gaze lingered. They used an admittedly tasteful photograph. He didn’t have Gloria’s rare trainer card, did he? No, as if he would ask.
Somehow, the magazine ended up on the counter with the rest of his shopping as he paid the merchant. Bede was hoping to leave quietly when the shopkeeper spoke up.
“Say, we got a few of these free posters in with the newest shipment of Trainer’s Digest. Here, take one with you.”
Before Bede could refuse, the poster was tucked into his newly purchased magazine and thrown into his bag with the rest of its contents. He mumbled his thanks and hurried out of the Pokemon center, somewhat flustered at his own impulse-buy.
As soon as he got home, Bede ducked into his room and yanked out the magazine, fully intending to throw it in a drawer and never look at it again. Of course, before the offending paperback could reach its chosen destination, the exclusive poster conveniently fell out onto the floor.
He instantly snatched it off the ground, his hands apparently moving on their own as the fold-out unraveled itself between his shaking fingers. Oh no. Oh… There was Gloria front and center. Heat exploded under his collar and he found himself lifting the fabric to his chin. The headline wasn’t wrong. Wait, wait, this was his rival! She wasn’t, this… Uh…
His mind went blank as he took a good, long look at her outfit. Wearing an airy yet elegant dress featuring Cherrim print, the windblown fabric was only complemented by her open cardigan and trademark beret. She was clutching a Budew in one arm and smiling sweetly at the camera, eyes half-lidded and sparkling in the sun. The backdrop appeared to be set in the bright yellow fields of her hometown, with a few popular members of her Pokemon team posing off in the distance.
Bede gently folded the poster back up. What the hell was he going to do with this.