Chapter Text
A boy doesn’t become a legend overnight.
Since his childhood, Bede has always been someone who valued hard work. Of course, someone as naturally talented as he was already had potential, but if you have the talent but not willpower, you’ll get nowhere in life. It was hard work that made him stand out from the other kids at the orphanage, hard work that showed his potential to the former chairman. It was hard work that was noticed by Opal, and the reason why he was where he was today.
But of course, he couldn’t stop here. He couldn’t ever stop, in fact, he had to keep getting stronger and stronger. It would be a shame for someone of his level to stop working hard, and to let his talents go to waste.
So here he was again, in Galar’s famous Wild Area, hard at work training with his partners. Recently he had lost a battle against a gym challenger, and frustrated by how he was cornered, set out to improve his skills.
“We got caught off guard,” Bede grumbled, releasing his Hatterene and Rapidash. “Let’s not let that happen again.”
The two pokemon nodded in understanding.
“If we’re all on the same page, then let’s begin.” He spotted a Steelix in the distance, by the lake. “One of our major weaknesses are Steel-types,” he noted, calling his partners in the direction of the beast.
The Steelix let out a loud and mighty roar as Bede challenged it. Without fear nor hesitation, he and his partners leapt into battle. There were always risks in facing a wild pokemon in the open, especially a large and formidable opponent like this. But it's a risk Bede was used to taking, a risk he had grown accustomed to. The towering rocky spikes which shot out of the ground, the bright Flash Cannon only a foot away from him - it didn’t phase him in the slightest. This was what being a trainer was all about.
“Hatterene, dodge that Stone Edge and use Mystical Fire!” commanded Bede as he regained his balance after narrowly dodging an attack. Hatterene obediently followed his orders, sending a powerful Mystical Fire towards the Steelix midair after teleporting away from its attack. It staggered backwards from the attack, giving Bede a golden opportunity.
“Rapidash, quick, use Drill Run while it’s staggered!”
Without any delay, Rapidash charged towards Steelix, landing a powerful critical hit. Steelix stumbled backward yet again, overwhelmed. Bede could almost taste his sweet and inevitable victory.
The Steelix unleashed a sudden Iron Tail, catching the two pokemon off guard and sweeping their trainer off his feet. He stumbled backwards- tripping over the edge of the cliff and into the lake below.
The water was cold. He felt his muscles tighten as he hit the water, stiff from the freezing cold. He then remembered something very, very terrible - he never learned how to swim.
So… cold…
And then he realized - he would die here. He would die here, and he would never become a legend. Would… would he even be missed? The Chairman, did the man still even think about him? Would Opal really care enough about him to shed a tear or two? Would they even go looking for him? Or would they just forget about him, some good-for-nothing orphan didn’t even know how to swim?
I don’t want to die…
Hopefully, they’ll be able to recover his pokemon. Maybe Opal would be kind enough to take them in, and take care of them. She seems like a nice person, despite her oddities. Yes… they’ll be okay. They’ll be okay.
As his vision began to darken, as time began to slow around him, he could have sworn he saw a hand reach out to him from the light above the surface. Filled with a small bit of hope, as if a spark had ignited a fire in his heart, he weakly reached out towards it. It didn’t matter if it was just some silly illusion. He wanted to die knowing he tried.
I don’t want to die.
He felt something warm wrap around his outstretched hand, and it felt like life. It held on tight, as if it was afraid to let go, and it pulled him out of the freezing waters and back onto the warm earth. He coughed weakly, his mind still out of it. Perhaps he would have passed out there and then if not for the loud noise which followed.
“BEDE!” yelled a familiarly irritating voice. “Oh my Arceus is he breathing-”
The boy propped him up on a nearby tree, anxiously checking over him. As Bede’s vision began to come back to him, he recognized the person who had saved him, the one whose hand he had still been holding onto even up until now.
“...H-Hop…?” was all he could muster. He didn’t have the energy to express the sheer shock and amazement that the former champion’s brother, of all people, had saved his life.
“He’s alive!” yelped the other, overjoyed. He felt a warm, wooly coat come over him, warming his shivering body. Then, he heard the sound of a pokeball opening, and a warm body snuggling up beside him - was that a Dubwool?!
Then, Bede remembered something. “Hatterene and Rapidash!” he yelped, though it came out as a weak mumble instead. He grumbled as he pulled the coat around him tighter, silently cursing himself for forgetting about his dear partners.
“Don’t worry, I got Inteleon and Corviknight to go help them out!” Hop reassured him, sitting right next to him. “I noticed the battle you were having against it while doing field work, and saw you fall into the lake. Then, my mind went into a panic, and I got them to help your partners fight off Steelix while I went to save you!” He gave a stupid grin. “I’m a great swimmer, yanno? Lee taught me one summer, and now I’m a pro!”
His grin quickly melted into a concerned frown. “But… we need to get you some medical assistance, quick!” He took out his phone, but Bede quickly reached out his arm to grab it.
“Don’t!” he said, panicking. He didn’t want anyone else to find out what happened. Especially Opal. It was embarrassing enough having Hop see him like this. Hop, of all people…
“H-huh?! Hey, you need to get some help,” Hop protested, trying to grab his phone back.
“I’ll be fine!” Bede held the phone away from him, his energy beginning to come back to him. “Nobody needs to know!”
Finally, Hop agreed not to call anyone. It seemed like Bede was recovering quickly, though he still didn’t have the energy to get up, much to his annoyance. As it was getting late, and they still couldn’t get anywhere, Hop set up a campfire and his tent.
“I called Sonia and told her me and you are camping out here for the night,” Hop said, sitting by the fire. “Didn’t even mention the incident. You’re welcome.”
“Whatever,” Bede grumbled, inching closer towards the fire. Hatterene stayed close by him, concerned and frightened by the events which had taken place earlier. It refused to leave his side, but he didn’t really mind.
He still didn’t really like Hop too much, and he figured Hop didn’t like him any better. Even if he was just some random stranger, that foolish, naive kid would jump in anyways. He wasn’t very special to Hop. Just someone who needed saving. Yet, he still felt some gratitude towards him. Of course he would, Hop just saved his life! If Hop wasn’t there… or if Hop still harbored some grudge towards him, he likely would have died there.
He owed a debt to him, as unbelievable as it was. He owed his life to him, in fact. Despite everything he had done, Hop had still chosen to risk his life to save him.
“...Thank you.” It came out as sarcastic and insincere, yet Hop still understood the sincerity behind it.
“It was nothing, honestly,” Hop said, scratching the back of his neck with a goofy grin. Bede recognized how much he had changed since their first meeting. He was a lot more grounded, and humble. And, most of all, he seemed happier. Bede wondered if he had changed too.
“I owe you one,” Bede huffed. “As humiliating as it is to admit, I owe you my life, Hop.”
“You never change, don’t ya?”
“So…” It pained him to say it, but it had to be done. “...I feel obligated to… repay you, in some way.” In a way, it felt like he was about to die yet again.
Hop’s eyes widened in amazement, as he struggled to hide his very obvious excitement. “Repay… me?”
“Just get this over with.” Bede had hidden his face underneath the coat which had been wrapped around him, which he had recently recognized as Hop’s. He expected Hop to make some unbelievable, terrible request, or to start mocking his old-fashioned beliefs.
“If you really insist, then…”
“Bede, can we be friends?”
He should have expected such a childish, naive, corny, and cheesy request from Hop. Yet he was still amazed by his answer. Why would he want to be friends with him? Why would anyone want to be friends with him?
“It’s not too much to ask of you, I’d say,” Hop said. “But lately, I’ve been thinking of you. And how I kinda wish we got along a little better, yanno?”
Bede looked into Hop’s eyes, and saw sincerity and longing. Still, he didn’t understand - why would Hop ever want to even associate with him? Why did this person, who was always met with rejection and beratement from him, want to be his friend? Why would he ever want to love someone as unlovable as him? It was impossible, and it was absolutely idiotic.
“Fine. Fine, I’ll be your ‘friend.’ Whatever. I’ll play along,” he grumbled. Hop beamed with excitement. Hatterene purred quietly, patting Bede on the head gently. Bede then remembered something else - his hair must be a mess right now!
He took a comb from his pocket, and began to try combing out all the knots in his hair. Hop smirked.
“Didn’t expect you to be the kinda person to carry a comb with you at all times,” Hop remarked.
“And what are you implying?!” Bede shot back, offended by his new “friend’s” remark. “Someone of my status must always look his absolute best!”
“Err… doesn’t it get annoying having to brush out all those curls?” Hop got up. “Here, let me give you a hand.”
For some reason, Bede didn’t protest when Hop took the comb from his hand. Nor did he protest when he began running the comb through his fluffy white hair.
“Woah…” marvelled Hop. “It’s so soft, like a Wooloo!”
“Yeah, yeah. Just be gentle, alright? Don’t start yanking my hair out.”
Bede was quite surprised by Hop’s gentle yet firm hands, meticulously combing out every knot and picking out any debris that he found. Then again, maybe it was to be expected from someone whose partner happened to be a Wooloo with fluffy white fur not unlike his own hair.
Hop whistled to himself without a care in the world, the simple task of combing someone's hair was quite relaxing. "This mophead of yours is really well maintained!" Hop complimented. If Bede really thought about it, he didn't receive too many genuine compliments like this. He hid his embarrassed face.
"You're oddly comfortable with this," he muttered. "And of course, I must always present myself to the best of my abilities."
"Oh, don't be like that! This is just what friends do, you know." He picked a leaf out of Bede's hair. "You know, growing up, me and Gloria would always do each others' hair." He chuckled awkwardly. "But… compared to her, I'm kinda sloppy."
"Hmph, at least you're self aware."
Hop sighed. "Bede…" He put the comb aside, kneeling down on the ground behind his new friend.
Bede's gaze turned to the ground. It's only out of necessity, he told himself. There was no way they'd ever be friends. He doesn't need Hop to be his friend, anyways. Hop would probably get fed up and leave, anyways.
"Bede, have you ever seen such a clear starry sky?" Hop said, his eyes staring into the great dark abyss above. Thousands, millions, perhaps trillions of little stars dotted the clear night sky.
"...I've never found any reason to look," Bede said. It was the truth, but as he looked up, taking in the beautiful sight, he began to regret his past ignorance. Perhaps sometimes it really is okay to stop and smell the flowers.
"Ah!" Hop cried suddenly. "I know!" He pointed up at the sky. "I'll teach you about the constellations! Professor Sonia taught me the last time we camped out." He sat down beside Bede with a thump. A wide and proud grin formed on his face. "All of them have a lot of history behind them, you see? I don't know as much as a professional would, of course, but maybe I can teach you a few things."
"They're just big, glowing balls of fire, aren't they? Silly stories like these don't mean anything." Bede tried to keep his proud face, but seeing Hop's dejected expression somehow filled him with guilt. "... But fine, fine. I'll listen."
Hop enthusiastically explained to Bede how to locate constellations, what they were called, and the mythology behind them. Bede couldn't help but admit he found them somewhat fascinating, as wild and unimaginable they were. Of course, though he would never say it out loud, he thought Hop's engaging and excited tone of voice, and his easygoing attitude attracted his attention.
"Fascinating," Bede said, looking up at the last constellation Hop pointed out - a majestic Rapidash galloping across the stars.
"That's all I know, though," Hop sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Pretty neat, right?"
Bede only nodded silently, his eyes fixated on the night sky above. The two of them sat in silence, only the sound of nocturnal pokemon chirping in the dead of night, the sound of their fire crackling in front of them, and their own breaths. They had lost track of time long ago, but there was no need for time in this little world they had created together.
Bede felt happy. For some reason, the idea of him being friends with Hop didn't feel too terrible anymore. Listening to Hop talk the night away about interesting things filled him with a strange peace and comfort he didn't expect.
What a truly great thing it is, to be alive.
"It's getting late," Bede said, standing up. "We should go to bed now."
"Oh, yeah," Hop replied, watching Bede walk off to his tent. "Goodnight, Bede!"
Bede stopped in his tracks. He closed his eyes, and said something he would have never expected himself to say.
"Goodnight, Hop." And he said this with a smile.