The Shield of Galar

Consequences

Gloria climbs out of her bed to the sound of her Rotom phone's alarm.  Her hair is in all different directions, and her eyes puffy from crying the whole evening before.  Slowly she makes her way downstairs and starts preparing the food for all her companions out in the yard.  Looking over her supplies, she figures she'll need to go into town to buy some more today so she won't risk dipping into her emergency supplies. 

When she starts walking out with the food, all the Pokémon come rushing over.  A smile instantly comes to her face as she hands out their food and watches them joy fully eat.  Sitting down in the grass with them, she eats a plate of eggs she had prepared for herself, as the Pokémon all head off to start playing after they are done with their food.   

She sits there for awhile after finishing her breakfast, watching them all carelessly run around and play with any of the numerous toys that are scattered about.  Closing her eyes, she thinks back to before she was Champion.  The carefree nights spent camping under the stars, the fun little training games she'd play with her lineup, and of course the intensity of braving the dynamax dens.  Back then, she dreamed of how her life would be now, and yet...

Cinder walks over to his trainer and plops down next to her, a look of concern on his face.  Gloria smiles at her starter, but they have been together long enough to know when something is off. 

"You're too good to me Cinder," Gloria states with a chuckle. "Even as as scorbunny you could tell when something was off.  Like those first few nights when I was really home sick, and you sat awake with me," she gives another soft laugh thinking back on it.  At that time she wasn't even sure she would make it to Monostoke for the opening ceremony let alone get out there and beat all the gyms.  Cinderace leans over ands rests its head on Gloria's shoulder, his warmth flowing through his trainer from that single touch. 

"Thank you," she says, petting Cinder.  "You mind joining me on a trip into town today?" Cinder nods happily and jumps up.  "K, why don't you grab Poe and Shiva as well then we will head out," Gloria slowly gets to her feet and heads over to the side door and grabs the pokeball, duskball and netball with the names of the ones she had chosen to bring with her.  

After stepping outside she sees the Cinderace, the Runerigus and Frosmoth she had captured during her time collecting badges.  All three of them were present on her team when she took down Leon, and remain part of her main team even now.  "You guys all ready for a quick trip into town?" she asks in a cheery voice, getting an equally pleased response from her partners. 

With the truest of smiles plastered on her face, she recalls the three of them and then goes upstairs and sets out a pair of clothes to change into.  A quick shower behind her, she changes into some navy trousers and a simple white blouse.  Grabbing one of her smaller bags, Gloria slings it over her shoulder, and heads outside where she keeps her old bike.  It had been given to her as a gift during her challenge, and though having seen better days, works perfectly fine. 

Putting her helmet on, she then slots her phone into the holder so that her Rotom can integrate itself into her bike. With her three pokeballs clipped onto a holder on her hip, she mounts the bike and starts her ride into town. 

Gloria parks her bike outside the Pokémon Center and locks it to the bike rack.  Right before she enters, she see a large man walk out with a wooloo under each arm. 

"Champion, good to see you in town," he says, a huge grin on his face. 

"Milo," she says simply, and goes to walk around him, causing the man to grimace. 

"Are we still not talking," Milo asks as she goes to walk into the center. 

"You used my moving here as a marketing strategy!" Gloria barks.  "You completely shattered any chance I had of a peaceful move, and just used my position as Champion for your gain.  Just like everybody else,"

"Gloria, wait," Milo calls out but the doors close behind the Champion separating them.

"Champion, how wonderful to see you again," the shop keep says, all eyes in the center now on her.  Gritting her teeth, she puts a smile on her face. 

"Hi, my normal order please," Gloria forces.  "I'm starting to run low again,"

"Of course," he says and starts typing the order into his computer.  "So you seem to be running out even faster than usual, maybe up your order?" Gloria sighs, seeing the line of trainers forming behind her, waiting for her to finish. 

"Sure, thank you," She then puts far more than she owes in pokedollars down before turning around.  "Are all of you here just to see little old me?" she chuckles, squatting down to get on the younger kids' levels. 

All of them nod and hold out a variety of things to sign.  Used to this occurrence, the shop keeper hands her a sharpie he always keeps on hand, and Gloria starts signing her name on every little thing they hands to her.  Seeing their faces light up when they get it back fills her with glee, forcing the recent incidents out of her mind. 

The line gradually fades as the kids get their fill and leave talking excitedly about how awesome their Champion is.  With renewed energy, she stands up and leaves the Pokémon Center, only to have her mood shattered when she sees Milo standing there waiting for her. 

"You are great with the young trainers," Milo says and stands over by her bike. 

"So glad you think so," she states, hands on her hips as she looks up at Milo who has a nervous smile on his face. 

"Yet I don't think there has ever been a Champion who has gotten along so poorly with the fellow members of the League, both in the Minors and Majors.  Just what, Bea and Gordie in the Minors and Allister and Marnie in the Majors.  All the others you have completely cut yourself off from in some way or another,"

Gloria scoffs at his comment and tries to get around him.  "Listen, if I don't get along with the Gym Leaders, it is because they are always looking for something out of me.  None of them would give me a second look if I wasn't the one wearing the Champion uniform come challenge time,"

"You know that isn't true!" Milo retorts, only to be scoffed at again. 

"Really? Well I'm fairly certain you used me to help Turffield.  Nessa used my influence to further her modeling, and her relationship with Sonia.  Kabu used my voice to keep the opening ceremonies in Motostoke when there was word of moving them to the new Hammerlocke Stadium.  Raihan is always trying to use me to get to Leon.  Bede and Opal forced me into a very precarious situation so they could get funding to rebuild their gym.  Melony is always using me to get to Gordie, and Peony is always using me to get to his daughter.  Both Avery and Klara only talk to me so that they can maybe get Kabu's spot when he retires next season," Gloria stops, her voice gradually getting louder as she announces each thing somebody has done.  "And now Marnie..." she clenches her teeth so hard, she can feel a shooting pain in her jaw. 

"Wait, you and Marnie now too?" Milo puts his hand on his hat, as if expecting it to blow away.  "You two were inseparable, especially after you broke up with L..." he is halted abruptly by a finger in his face from the much shorter girl. 

"Don't you DARE, bring that up," she growls.  Her auburn eyes stare daggers into his soul as Milo brings up the touchy subject.  Her face is flushed just skirting the memories of two years ago, and her stomach is twisted with regret. 

"Can you just let me go home?" she eventually asks, her voice much lower now.  "This is the only real free time I have in the year, and I'd rather not waste it standing here arguing with you,"

Milo frowns and stands aside allowing Gloria to plug her Rotom back into the bike and put her helmet on. Before she takes off, the Gym Leader adds one last thing. 

"Every job has it's consequences you know,"

Gloria sits on that for a moment before speeding away back to her house.  Of course she knew that, but it didn't make it right.