Pokemon Rusted Shield/Sword

Route 5

Grant set up camp halfway through the route that stood between him and Hulbury, the largest obstacle in his journey from Turrfield to Hulbury. He checked his backpack, finding some Pokéballs, a pack of precooked burgers, some berries, three super potions, and a revive. Most of which he found along the way, save for the Pokéballs he had purchased with the burgers. It was roughly lunch time as he fanned the flames of the fire and placed several Cherri Berries into the pot, letting it simmer as he fanned them.

Bede approached, annoyed and sat down with a sigh, "Ugh, it's you."

Grant nodded as he began to stir, he didn't speak for he didn't know what to say to Bede. What could he say? Him and Bede didn't get along at all.

"You know we're not so different you and I," Bede admitted.

"Hm?" Grant asked, confused.

"I didn't have much as a kid," Bede admitted, "I started from the bottom. Just like you."

"You don't know what I've been through," Grant retorted.

"Nor do you know what I've been through," Bede replied, "I may be more improtant than you, being chosen by Rose, but we really aren't so different. I was abandoned by my parents as a baby and grew up as a street urchin with my partner Pokémon Hatenna, who would distract people as I stole food. One day I stole from the wrong person, or maybe the right person. Rose. Rose challenged me to a battle, maybe he saw potential maybe he felt pity for me I don't know. I put up a good fight I guess cause even though I lost he took me under his wing and raised me as if I was his own until he endorsed me. I came from nothing but I'm better than these people Grant. Because I have to be. I cannot, will not, disappoint Rose."

Grant sighed and finished the curry. He offered a plate to Bede and sat next to him, "My life was fine until I was 10. I was at home. Just waiting for my parents to get back. They were only gonna be gone for five minutes. Just left to grab milk. Now we can get into the semantics on how leaving a 10 year old alone is bad in it of itself and no parent should ever do that but that's not the point. The point is an hour went by and on the news I learned they were killed by a rouge wild Pokémon that wandered into town. I hear Leon killed it to protect the town. I got so scared and I just... ran. I ran and ran and ran. I lived in the Wild Area for the last seven years. Scraping by, gathering scraps, edible roots, berries, and so on. Stole some camping gear from some campers who had a spare set when I was 14. That's why I have this camping kit at all. Only reason I have any Pokémon right now is because I managed to find some nest balls dropped by campers and caught Kiss and Rook. It was me myself and I. That and Tom, but Tom taught me to count on myself. Surviving made me strong. Accepting help is weakness. Luxury is weakness. Weakness is death. That's how I lived."

Bede looked at the stiches in Grant's arm and asked, "Is that what happened to your arm?"

"My whole body is covered in scars," Grant shrugged, "Mostly my arms and legs. So yeah. Wild Pokémon would attack me all the time."

Kiss sat in Grant's lap. Grant began to brush the now clean and silky fur of the happy little furball.

Bede reached out to pet her but pulled his hand back.

"Oh she don't bite don't worry," Grant assured Bede.

Bede scratched Kiss behind the ears, causing the Zigzagoon to purr happily.

"I'm sorry I was so mean to you," Grant admitted, "I had no idea you had worked hard like I have."

"Is all this why you seem frankly borderline feral?" Bede asked, "When you battle you move as if you're some beast, you scream your orders with near murderous intent. Also I appreciate that Grant. Means a lot."