The Shield of Galar

A Day in the Life

Gloria is at her ranch, kicking a ball around with Cinder and Orion. Although she posed no real challenge to them, the two of them loved doing this with her. Her interview with Galar Today would be airing shortly, and Leon and Rose both agreed she should watch it and take notes for the future. Despite these recommendations, she remained in the yard looking after the variety of Pokemon she has captured over the years.

The house itself, was small. Consisting of an upstairs bedroom, a living area, kitchen, and two loos. The vast amount of area around the house, is why she decided this place was best. Especially now that she has a fairly large collection of huge sized Pokemon. The only one she doesn't let out to play often is her Wilfred the Wailord, since he would be far too large to fit any where. In fact on more than one occasion, Gloria had wondered if he would be better off released back into the wild. Yet despite the numerous times this though has arisen in her mind, she never has the heart to follow through.

While in the midst of petting Cobalion, she never nicknamed the legends, Specterier lets out a cry, as the heavy beating wings of a Corviknight fill the air. With Gawain, her Corviknight, busy playing keep away from Iris, Cinder and Orion, Gloria figured it must be a taxi man.

With a heavy sigh, the Champion makes her way back toward the house. A fake smile plastered on her face as she prepares to meet her guest. Her clothes are stained green from having been playing in the grass with her Pokémon, but guessing it is probably just Leon, Gloria walks around front. There she sees someone in a pink dress and a black leather jacket standing nervously by her front door.

"Marnie!" Gloria calls out excitedly, then runs forward to wrap her arms around her friends.

"G-Gloria," Marnie lets out a light chuckle, a slight red color filling her cheeks as she wraps her arms around the one who had embraced her. "I, um, I'm glad you're home,"

"What brings you all the way here Spikemuth that you couldn't just call my Rotom for?"

The Spikemuth Gym Leader grimaces, her eyes darting between the door and her friend. It takes a few moments, but Gloria snaps her fingers and chuckles.

"Right of course, come in," Instead of taking Marnie through the front door, she drags her around back and the pair enter through the side door. They step into an entry room that has dozens of pokeballs, of varying types and ware, hung up on the walls. They are separated into groups, with her main lineup being on a plaque, and the legends all grouped together on the opposite wall. On each of them is written the names of the Pokémon they belong too, spelled out in a messy cursive. Marnie stares in awe at all of them as Gloria grabs one of her spare keys from behind Luna's, the Orbeetle, ball.

After opening the door they step into the kitchen. Marnie steps in first, taking it all in, while Gloria returns the spare to it's location.

"You want tea?" Gloria asks, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder as she passes by.

"Sure," Marnie responds softly, looking across the kitchen into the den, which sits a step lower. Gloria meanwhile starts some water and pulls two cups from the cabinets.

"Not that I don't love seeing you," Gloria says while grabbing the tea leaves. "But Turffield is a quite a journey to just drop by,"

Marnie's face turns red, and she bites her lip. Though Gloria is too focused on preparing the tea to notice her friend fidgeting.

"So..." Marnie starts, but pauses, while bringing her hands up and bringing her index fingers together. "There was something, that I wanted to ask you. And, well, I felt like it would be better to ask in person,"

Gloria at this point is at the fridge, looking for some milk in case Marnie wanted any.

"What I wanted to ask you, was, um," Marnie freezes, as she watches Gloria walk over to grab sugar. It had been five years since they had met, five years since the first time she had been mesmerized by the way Gloria moved. Her hair cut in a bob, the silly green hat she wore, that giant bag, huge coat, and pink dress, are all still present in Marnie's mind. Though now Gloria wore baggy white shorts, stained green, and a plain white shirt with similar stains, her movements still held the same power on the Gym Leader.

"Marnie?" Gloria finally says, causing the girl to jump backwards. "You ok?"

"Yeah...sorry," Marnie responds after catching her breath, and trying her best to cool down.

"Milk or sugar?" Gloria asks again.

"A tiny bit of sugar," Gloria nods and scoops some in before giving it a good stir and handing over the cup.

"So what is it you wanted to ask?"

Marnie's mind reels at the question. Her train of thought was lost, and her heart fluttered a mile a minute. Lost in her friend's auburn eyes, she shakes her head and sighs. "I was wondering if, maybe I could be your partner in the upcoming Star Tournament?"

Gloria tilts her head to the side, a bit confused by the question. "You came all the way from Spikemuth to ask that?" Marnie slowly nods in response, though her eyes are now focused on a random piece of floor tile off to her left. "Well, if that is what you came here for, I obviously won't turn you down," Gloria grimaces and blushes a bit herself as she takes a sip of her tea.

"Well, with me only having just earned my place back in the Majors, I figure I could battle alongside you in order to bring some attention back to Spikemuth,"

Gloria stops mid sip as she hears that. Slowly she puts her tea on the counter, her normally soft look, hardened. "I see, so you just want to team up with me so you can use my status as Champion to help you,"

Marnie's eyes widen at that deduction, and instantly she shakes her head. "No, that isn't it at all,"

Gloria turns away from Marnie and brings her hand up to her chest, tears starting to swell in your eyes. "Spikemuth is important to you, and I get that, but I thought you were different,"

Marnie reaches out and puts a hand on Gloria's shoulder only to be brushed away.

"Please leave," Gloria eventually says.

"Gloria please!" Marnie pleads, a mist starting to form in her eyes as well.

"I thought you were different, that maybe, you were actually my friend or..." Gloria walks away and climbs the stairs to her room. Marnie is left in silence, tea cooling in one hand, and her other still reaching out to where Gloria's shoulder had been. These last few moments playing over and over again in her mind. The days it had taken her to muster up the courage to come here, and the weeks of her practicing what to say in front of a mirror, all wasted. As tears begin to roll down her cheeks, the Gym Leader sets her tea down next to Gloria's and walks back out the way she came.

Meanwhile, Gloria is laying on her bed, head deep in a pillow as tears flow forth. Another one to add to the list. At this point, she wondered if there was truly anybody at all she could trust.