Nice and Spice

Significance

 "Being the one you endorsed will not prove to be a mistake!" A young platinum blonde looked up at the tall male before him. His new father he had come to love and respect. Those knowing green eyes stared holes into him, judging yet approving. Given nothing but an oversized magenta coat, a golden watch, and a task, he was more than prepared for the road ahead. Proving his own value to someone was a thing he often failed at many times before. It took no more than one more chance to fuel his desire for approval. He would do it now and better than anyone else ever could.

"I'm sure you'll do great out there."

With a firm nod, the boy turned away from the face of authority. It felt so long ago now. He had gathered many Wishing Stars for him, losing sight of what the Gym Challenge truly meant and stood for. To what end did this lead? What did he even do with the Wishing Stars? Surely this quest was a noble and prideful one. Rose wouldn't send him on a pointless journey. Or maybe he would to just send him away. No. . he was not just something to use. Rose cared.

"Make your move!" An impatient voice broke the silence. Bede came to, shaking his head from the memory. "I'll move when I decide to. Gothita! Use Psybeam!" With a snap, and a newfound look of unwavering pride, he commanded his Pokemon. He would win. Truthfully, he had no other choices.

The Rillaboom fell, Bede looking onward proudly at the purple-haired boy. His eyes went from rage, to soft and sorrowful defeat. His shoulders dropped, his head lowering. All that talk he had before the battle was nothing but silence now. No comebacks, no remarks of even winning the next time. Just pure shame and quiet.

"You win." Hop breathed lowly. He slowly raised himself to look eye-to-eye with the platinum blonde. His pain was evident. Bede relished in his victory only for mere moments; the other male's sorrowful gaze definitely lingering in him slightly.

"That's it? That's all you've got for me?" He challenged. A look of anger flashed across the other boy's face, but it quickly softened to its previous dead gaze.

"I've got nothing more for you. You've won. I. . I've got to go heal. ." Hop met eyes with the magenta-boy briefly before starting his trek back to Motostoke. Those golden orbs lost all shine, glossed over with a watery sheen. Bede watched him go. He would be lying if he said he felt no pity—he wasn't heartless. But, this moment meant something good to him. He was strong. Gloria and Victor—those relentless trainers! Not to mention that ever-so-resilient Y/N. They dug into every avenue of his nerves. His confident demeanor fell away after any of their battles. He only had one mission yet it felt as if everyone had done their best to stand in his way. All of them were mocking him behind closed doors—he was sure of it. All of them laughing at his shortcomings and arrogance. Never did he get a break. Aside from. . one person.

Upon further reflection he noticed that Y/N spoke no malice to him when they fought. He huffed, looking down. They probably find him a weak, spineless trainer as all the others do. Of course they would, they just probably rather not instigate something they might not finish.

"Not so," he smiled to himself. He had proven his strength as far as he was concerned. With Hop taken down so easily, he marched onward proudly. His next objective wasn't too far from here. He remembered what Oleana had told him before he started his trek today. That many Wishing Stars were behind the artistry on the wall in Stow-on-Side. It was still quite a walk but he couldn't start the journey just yet. The plan required some assistance.

The walk became a spiraling of thinking and thinking. He had so much to do—so much to collect. It was uncertain if Rose even cared. The brief memory came to his mind. He approached Rose, excited, sharing his progress, and ensuring he would continue to perform well.

While, Rose seemed to had forgotten who he even was. It stung. More than he thought it should've. His heart ached. All this work and effort he was putting out there—and for what gain?

Care. Love. Surely Rose was just too busy at the time to think clearly. Surely. Bede shook his head, wiping his face of any potential tears. It was too early to give up. It was far too early to doubt all he had done. It was all he had. He had no one else to turn to. They'd all mock him. Every pathway was a deadend. The sudden stab and desire for a homelife to return to hit him. The pain stormed endlessly.

"I just want to forget it. ." He mumbled quietly. He had stumbled into Hammerlocke, looking drowsy. Perhaps it was his brain overloading with negativity, or perhaps it was the late hours, either way, the desire for sleep hit him like a boulder. His heart and mind ached and all he could picture was resting.

"Forget what?" A feminine voice chirped.

"You." Bede huffed and glanced back. "I have somewhere to be. I have no use for you or any time you have to provide. So it would be kind if you left."

The girl tilted her head, slight pain glinted her eyes—or maybe it was curiosity. She held her partner Pokemon close, the creature seeming confused about him too.

"Uhm, perhaps you didn't hear since you're lingering. Please leave. I have no use for you." The platinum blonde growled, his purple eyes staring deeply into the girl. She released a sad hum, lowering her sights and running by him to walk behind Gloria, Victor, and Hop. The happy quartet. It angered him. They felt so eager to impede his progress and laugh at him. They had no idea what truly was happening. He sighed to himself and trudged onward. All that was on his mind was getting as far from them as possible.

He had things to do. He had success to earn. He would be known, and Rose would be so proud. He would do something. And finally, after all this time, have someone to see and look forward to.

After a quick trip, he stopped in front of an inn. The inn sat at the edge of Hammerlocke, and although Stow-on-Side wasn't far, he found himself too tired to travel into the cold darkness. He checked in, getting a room for the night.

Settling down, it was peaceful and quiet, aside from his overactive mind. Repeating thoughts and questions over and over.

What if Rose didn't care?

What if Rose forgot about him again?

Did anyone care at all?

Where would he go if they were disappointed in him?

Where did he belong?. .

Maybe it truly all was some pointless quest to get rid of him. Sending him out into the wide plains of the land in search of some special rocks. It sounded like a farfetched quest. While he had been making progress, lately he had been thinking about what it meant. He had never seen what Rose did with them. It was very much a possibility they were thrown away—just like he had been by his parents.

He winced upon the thought. His mind was rattled, fighting with itself. That optimism found its way in the darkness; telling him he had come too far to suddenly lose faith. No one would treat him in such a way again.

After taking off his coat, shoes, and pants, he sighed. He gently laid down, his mind still ablaze with ceaseless worries and arguments. "I just want to sleep. ." he muttered. It always felt so difficult to trust anything or anyone. People gave him relentless anxiety. He was nothing but a rotting mess of pain and ill-will. There was no end to the thoughts, they merely paused only to start again later.

Eventually the optimism was shut-out, falling victim to his mind's darkness. He gave into the negativity when nothing else felt plausible. The platinum blonde rolled over with a groan, silent tears falling as he slowly but surely drifted off to sleep.