The Future and The Past (Pokemon Sword, Hop x FemMC/OC)

Chapter 1

Italics are out of story comments, dreams and some character thoughts.

Trigger warnings: Suicide attempt, alcoholism, depression, suicidal thoughts, references to mature acts.

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You know that feeling? The one where everything is so perfect, and yet everything is so broken? Like your life is going down an amazing path and you know you did well but you feel like deep down you don't deserve it?

Aurelie couldn't tell if that's what she really thought, or if it was the bottle talking, but it felt too close to her own emotions to not be real.

These last six years had been crazy ones, but she had taken it all in stride. At least - that is what her fans thought.

The last year had been especially hard on her. First 4 years as champion? Piece of cake. Fifth year? A little harder as her friends had all gone off to do their own things. Going into the sixth year, it was just getting worse. Day in, day out; Training, battling, kicking Bede's ass, fixing problems, rinse and repeat. The helping people part she didn't mind, it was the repetitive life she had fallen in to. The abject loneliness.

She used to be able to travel over all of Galar, and learn on the way. She picked up languages, cooking skills, and so many precious pokemon along the way. If she knew that this is what her life would be like, she'd have never became Champion.

Leon made it look so easy.

If they knew that She spent most nights in a bottle, what would they think of her? That their own Champion couldn't get through the day without going home and sinking into a depression that only Vodka could "fix".

Picking up the tumbler, She watched the twinkling lights of the city through the glass walls of her penthouse. The city around her was so beautiful, the lights were dazzling and the place was full of life. But how come she couldn't feel that way? Why was the world allowed to feel the joys of life and she couldn't? When was the last time she felt that happy?

Stumbling over to her bed, she decided that sleeping a little would be the best thing for Her so she grabbed her bottle of sleeping pills off the dresser Opening her pokeballs, she let out all of her Pokemon. There were nine of them, and one that stayed home all day. Four more than she was supposed to have, but who was going to yell at her, really?

Sylveon flounced from her bed in the corner to greet the other pokemon that were coming out of their balls. Kong - her Rillaboom, Hatterene, Centiskorch, Zacian, Gengar, Ace - her Greninja, Komo-o, Arya - her Corviknight, and her little baby Snom named Chaylee who she had caught years ago, that refused to evolve.

She patted their heads one by one as Kong looked at her with worry in his eyes, trading looks with Ace. She didn't know how many pills she took, she just knew she needed anything to escape this day. She barely had a chance to notice their exchanged looks before she blacked out.

She was back in the slumbering weald again, looking off into the sunset as Hop was lounging next to her. Zacian and Zamazenta were playing off in the woods nearby just as the sun was going down, acting like pups, a feature she liked about them both. Feeling his fingers interlock with hers, she had looked over in surprise and felt his lips press against hers, a gentle gasp emanating from her lips, and a soft moan from his.

~*~

Leon was lounging in an all night outside cafe across from Raihan. Ever since Lee, the trainer from Unova took Raihan's place as gym leader, and Leon was beat out by Aurelie, they decided to go out into Galar and relive their trainer days. It had been a long time since they were allowed to just relax.