The Shield of Galar

Girl Talk

As soon as she landed in Stow-on-Side, Marnie stopped at a store to buy a pack of cigs and some alcohol.  Vices and addiction have always been a problem in her family.  In fact, it was responsible for the loss of everybody close to her.  Around Gloria, Marnie never felt the need for them. Now though, where she feels the complete absence of the one who creates that protective feel, they are calling out to her more than they have in years.  

As soon as she leaves the store, she lights one and starts smoking it while walking her way towards Bea's house on the far side of the city.  Although she would scolded by Gloria for smoking, Bea will likely straight up punch her in the face for it.  So, by the time Marnie gets to the house, both the cigarettes are nothing but butts on the road.  

Clearing her throat, she knocks on the door and is greeted by a glowing purple eye peeking out from a slightly opened door.  

"Hey Allister, is Bea here?" The door closes and she can hear from the other side the young Gym Leader calls out. 

"Sis, Marnie is here!" Marnie takes a deep breath as she hears the stomping feet of the fighting  type trainer.  The door opens to reveal the short standing girl with a white shirt rolled up and tied in  a knot just above her stomach. 

"Hey, Bea I really need," Before Marnie can get the next words out, Bea's fist makes contact with Marnie's face.  The bag in Marnie's hand drops as she falls to the ground.

"What the hell happened?" Bea barks and puts her foot on Marnie's chest as she lays on the ground.  "You told me that you were finally gonna grow a set and confess to her.  Instead she is going on in a fight with Milo about how you were using her?"

"That really fucking hurt," Marnie curses as she reaches up to rub her jaw.  "You could have at least let me explain before you knocked me to the ground."

Bea steps off Marnie and helps her up.  "Fine, pour us each a glass of what ever toxic crap you have in there while I put Allie to bed.  We will talk when I get back down," Marnie nods and grabs the bag and walks into the house.  She has been here a million times before, but it always amazes her the stark contrast between their two ways of living.  While Marnie kept things clean, she could go days without lifting a finger to organize her house. 

Bea on the other hand, kept everything immaculate.  Looking around, you could almost believe if somebody said nobody lived here.  Chuckling, Marnie grabs two glasses from the lower cabinet and pours them each a glass of wine.  Normally Bea would turn down a glass, but tonight was obviously special circumstances.  Walking over to the sliding doors that lead to the back yard, Marnie steps out and sets herself down on the large wooden swing.  

While rocking, she looks up at the stars.  Gloria would normally make her spend hours like this, just staring up into the abyss above and getting lost in each other.  Instinctively, Marnie goes to wrap her arm around the Champion, only to return to her senses when she realizes the rest of the swing is vacant.

Shortly after the slider opens again revealing a stone faced Bea.  Her gray eyes focus intently on Marnie, daring her to say the wrong thing.  "Get to it, I'm waiting to punch you again,"

With a heavy sigh, Marnie starts.  "So I went there, and had every intention to do just like I said I was going to do,"

Bea nods, a little annoyed, but gestures for her to proceed.  "So she meets me out front, offers me tea, and I just get flustered, and overwhelmed.  Plus, I think she was already upset about something else, though we never got to that,"

"Would you just tell me what you said!" Bea barks, her patience having passed its boiling point. 

"I asked her to be my partner for the Star Tournament so I could bring some fame back to Spikemuth," There was a pause after she says it, the rustling of the surrounding trees the only noise to be heard. 

"You idiot," Bea says and punches her again, almost knocking her off over the side of the swing.  

"Fucking Mew on a stick," Marnie curses.  "Are you trying to kill me,"

"I can't believe you went and did the very thing, you taught her to get mad at other people for doing to her!" Bea yells, though quiets down after Marnie points upstairs.  "You probably completely shattered her heart,"

"I know, that's why I need help," Marnie explains, and stops sipping and instead chugs the rest of her glass.  "I need to make it up to her, and I'm above nothing,"

"What do you need help with then? Go grovel or whatever, but the longer you wait, the worse it will get,"

"I'm not sure she would even let me in the house at this point..." Marnie trails off and Bea rolls her eyes.  

"So you want me to ease her into it, is that it?" Marnie nods, and Bea just scoffs.  "As if I'm not doing enough for you already, and now you want me to help you clean up a mess you made," 

"I feel awful enough as it is," Marnie sighs.  "You don't need to hammer it home any further,"

Bea takes a sip of her wine and leans back on the swing.  "I'm not sure you'd learn anything if I didn't," Bea says, her eyes skyward.  "You know, I never really took the time to look at the stars till that night in the Wild Area,"

Marnie nods and looks skyward as well.  "Me neither," she responds.  "I've looked up every night since though, no matter where in the world I was.  I had never felt like I had missed out on something, as much as I did after our trip,"  

"I know what you mean," Bea adds.  "Allister and I, well, we always have had to look out for each other.  Both of our focuses were always on what was ahead of us.  That night though, after what she said, I realized the dangers of being single minded.  That there are benefits to slowing down and taking in what's around you," There is another long moment of silence between the two of them as they watch the stars flicker over their heads.  

"Hey sis?" The two eventually hear from an upstairs window, snapping them back.  

"Ghostie, why aren't you asleep," Bea calls out, getting up and walking deeper into the yard so she can see him.  

"I'm worried about you two fighting, I like being friends with Gloria and Marnie," he mumbles, just loud enough for the girls to hear.  Marnie can't help but smile, then walks out and wraps her arm around her friend. 

"Don't worry Allie," Marnie calls up to him.  "We are still going to be friends, I promise," Bea shoots a side glare but nods. 

"Marnie is right, now get some sleep for school tomorrow,"  

Allister nods and goes back in and closes his window.  Shortly after, Bea punches Marnie in the gut causing the recipient to double over in pain.  

"Don't you dare make a promise like that to him if you don't know you can keep it," Bea growls and heads back over to the swing.  

Marnie, still hunched over, trudges back as well.  "Wh...you mean," she asks breathlessly, the wind still trying to get back to her lungs. 

"If you can't make up with Gloria, that will change everything," Bea explains.  "Even if we are still friends afterwards, it will certainly change the dynamic given the circumstances,"

"You mean, if things go south..."

"We made each other a promise, and I will keep my end.  But I expect you to keep your end if it doesn't end well for you,"

Marnie is quiet after Bea finishes, and directs her eyes downward.  "I'll keep my promise,"

"Good, now get some sleep.  We will head over there in the morning after I drop Allister off at school.  I'm going to go call Gordie, see if he can come watch him for a night or two,"

"Thank you," Marnie mumbles.  

"Don't thank me yet," Bea responds, opening the sliders.  "And if you smoke any of those awful things while on my property, all bets are off,"

The dark type trainer nods in understanding, and joins her friend in the house, and heads toward the couch.  There she falls asleep hoping for the best in the morning.