The Becoming: Chapter 4

“Hey, Gallant, can you pass me those berries?”  We are seated at Nodi’s table, eating breakfast before training.

Predictably, Gallant ignores me and turns her back.  I glare at her, and then stretch across the table to grab the berries myself.  I wince slightly--my left paw is bruised from a fight.  In fact, my entire body is worn down from all the training.  I am covered in bandages--they are always present now, covering me like a second layer of skin.  I have the scars to prove how hard I've been working--and how dangerous our fights have become.

“Arceus, what’s her problem?” I mutter to Snark, just loud enough so that she can hear me.  “First she takes every opportunity to lash out and now she won’t even look at me.”

Snark shrugs, and narrows his eyes.  “Who knows why anyone does anything anymore.”  He stands, and heads outside.  I sigh.

It’s been almost two weeks since Prior left.  Gallant went from outright insulting me to completely ignoring me.  Unless we’re fighting--in which case she crushes me in stony silence. But I don’t mind.  Nodi’s training is hard, but it is paying off.  I can hold my own against Snark now.  I’ve been trying to befriend the Sneasel, but he doesn’t seem to have much interest in being friends.  He is unnervingly silent and often goes off by himself for long lengths of time.

Nodi breaks into my thoughts as she enters the cave with a basket full of berries.  She sets them down, and then faces the two of us who remain.

“Everyone, we’re going to do a jog through the mountains.  Finish up breakfast and be outside in five minutes.”

I nod, finishing up quickly.  We meet up outside, and Nodi tells us the course.  We begin to trot at a steady pace.  The constant beat of my paws on the snow lures my thoughts away from the jog.  I’ve been trying not to think lately--I know there’s something I’m avoiding.

Something feels wrong, as though there is a thought nagging at me that refuses to reveal itself.  I try not to think about it, but...I think I miss home.

Home...with my trainer, Fern, and her two Pokémon, Bronzong and Wingull.  Do they think about me?  I try not to think about them.  Perhaps they want to forget me, as I try to do with them.  I certainly caused them enough trouble, and they don't deserve to have to remember me.  I don’t know.

“Focus, Reason!”  Nodi’s words cut into the thoughts that have been plaguing me all day.  Now we have moved on to battle training, and I am facing off against Gallant.  She takes advantage of my distraction to throw me to the ground.

Hot anger flashes though me, and I press my paws into the snow to stand again.  "I won't let you defeat me," I say defiantly as I stand.

Gallant slashes down again, before I can fully rise.  I collapse face-first into the snow again.

“N-not giving up,” I say, shaking as I stand once more.  The force within me, all my anger and determination, is rising.

Gallant rushes at me again, this time landing a blow to my front.  I collapse.  But she is not done.  She delivers two more powerful strikes, and then finishes with a Dragon Rage attack that sends me skidding across the snow field.  I lie motionless as I hear Gallant address Nodi.

“I’m done here.”

No.  No, we are not done.  I have put up with Gallant's insults long enough.  Gallant will respect me...she will respect me.  I don’t know why I care.  It shouldn’t matter what she thinks.  But...this is something I have to do.  I have to prove myself.

“No...” I place one paw on the ground, and clench the other into a fist.  Slowly, I begin to stand.  “We’re not d-done, Gallant.”  I look up at her.  She is still walking away, her back turned.  “I...w-won’t...l-let you...beat me.”  Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Nodi nodding just slightly.  I plant my feet firmly for a moment, and then lunge at Gallant’s turned back.