Love in the Time of Turmoil

Chapter 14: A Question

It's already time for another Gym battle! They're sure coming fast. Anyway, Chapter 14, start!

Chapter 14

A Question

An hour, as it turned out, wasn't much time to prepare for a Gym match at all.

Part of this had to do with Gloria being ready and at the stadium before the match could begin. But the other, and far larger part of the equation, was the fact that her team was not going to cure itself of its squabbles in time for that deadline. To that, she knew she needed to pick her team right and set them straight in the locker room, all while in full view of her companions...which unfortunately included Bede.

"Okay, everyone. This is our fifth badge. That means it only gets harder from here," Gloria declared, taking strong steps in front of her full assembled team. Bede snorted, only for Seamus to clock him on the head. Bonnie went for the knees. "Now, Opal's sure to have some tricks up her sleeve, and she really wants to win this fight. We won't let her. I need you to all work together."

"Who will you choose, then?" Ash asked, the only one to stand near her as she attempted to make her decision. Each Pokémon was fully willing, but there was no denying the side-eying given to Clobbopus. Given his own aggressive stance, Gloria quickly made her decision.

"Clobbopus, you're up for one."

"Corva?!"

"Yes, Corvisquire. He's a member of the team. You have a problem with it?" Corvisquire eyed her closely before turning away, only to find Clobbopus arrogantly puffing his chest. He received a beak for his trouble, and the group began to spar with each other. "Okay, that's it. Stop this fighting already! Clobbopus, you're on the team. Toxel, you, too. It's time to make your big debut and you two need to learn from each other. Raboot, I'm counting on you to be the mitigating force."

"Rabuh..." He sounded the least enthusiastic than he ever had, but a stern tap of her foot later and her first partner straightened, understanding his role.

"Hah," came the scornful laugh from behind. Gloria glowered at Bede, but received nothing but rolling eyes from it. "You're taking a baby, a Fighting type, and a not even fully evolved Pokémon into battle with the hag? And they kicked me out?"

"Yeah, got a problem with it?" Gloria said, stepping up to the boy and shoving him back. She didn't need his attitude. Commiserating with his loss or not, she wasn't about to be torn down like that. "I'd shut my mouth if I were you. Your future's on the line for this."

"I decide my future, not them."

"And Opal won't give you a choice if I lose. The fact Mawile is still clinging to you shows that. So, shut your pie hole and actually root for me instead. I'm sure you can manage that even a little. Prick..." Gloria turned away, refusing to budge from the team she'd chosen.

The trembling of her hands was the only indication she had doubts. She quelled them by gripping her Poké Balls and returning her team, ready for the match. It further steadied when Ash put a hand on her.

"Don't worry about him. Just focus on your Pokémon and the battle, and try not to get too distracted."

Gloria looked up at Ash, swallowing. She wanted to not, but couldn't, barely managing to move her mouth to get words out. "I just...isn't there a lot riding on this?"

"Maybe. For Bede. But you need to focus on what you can do. It's okay to not be the hero for someone else." She felt that was easy for him to say, but his words still had a calming effect. "Besides, typings and evolutions? They're only as good as the trainer who knows how to use them. I know you'll use yours right, so go have a great battle."