Jirachi's Twin

Memory Three: In Loving Memory of Two Years Ago

"Here I was, trying to make up for being a jerk—and this is your response, eh?" Bede's eyes were intense as he spoke, a sudden bloodlust flickering in his eyes as he leered at Hop between his fingers, "I guess not everybody cares if I try to be nice!"

Bede's fist flew forward blindingly fast, striking Hop in the jaw. Shocked, Hop fell back a few feet onto the pavement. He sat there a few seconds, wiping blood away from his mouth, before he jumped up and launched himself back at Bede. The two of them tore at each other like dogs—punching and pulling, as onlookers started to point and scream. Everyone was aware that the two hated each other, but nobody expected them to start a brawl in public.

The shoving, pulling, and pointless arguing kept up for a few minutes until Bede reached for his Poké Balls. He was just about to throw one when both of them heard someone scream.

"STOOOP!"

They both halted their fighting. The scream was a bloodcurdling, horrified, and infuriated screech that tore through Bede and Hop's ears like a searing javelin. The two stepped away from each other and searched for who had spoken. As they stared, a horrible, bitter shame swept through their bodies when they realized who they were now facing.

The Champion stood before them, a look of angry betrayal in her eyes.

"How could you..." she whispered, shaking her head softly once before suddenly screaming, "HOW COULD YOU!?"

Her words were a bullet to the heart. Neither of them could meet her gaze.

She stepped towards Bede first, "Why did this happen?" she barked through clenched teeth.

"I didn't—" Bede stammered.

"You DID," tears sprung into Gloria's eyes, "We had such a good day, and then you had to go and do something like this. What's wrong with you!?" she spun to look at Hop now, "And YOU!" she yelled, not loud, but rather intense as she spoke, "Two years have passed. I thought you were BETTER than this."

"I..." Hop couldn't find the words to speak.

The three of them stood there in silence. The overhead speaker announced suddenly that the train was back on track and would be leaving in five minutes.

Bede opened his mouth, "I'm sorry," he sighed, bowing his head, "Regardless of the situation, I shouldn't have lashed out the way I did," he looked around consciously, but thankfully everyone had left onto the train except for the three of them. He then turned to Hop apologetically, "I should've left you alone... I was afraid of this happening..."

Gloria looked up at him, her eyes now sad with pain. As Hop witnessed the pain in her eyes, it suddenly occurred to him that Bede and her were legitimately close friends. In that moment, he felt horribly out of place—like there was a wall separating him from the other two as they stared at one another.

She approached him first, he realized, I can't believe she actually...

Bede placed his hand on her shoulder, "I'll make it up to you, I promise. But..." he looked at the train, "I have to go," Bede hesitated, picked up his bag of crisps that he'd dropped, and disappeared back into the train car.

As soon as Bede sat down, he looked painfully at Gloria. She stared at him with a similar expression on her face, and then looked away when the train disappeared down the tracks.

Then, when Bede was finally gone, it was just the two of them.

Hop's friend whom he hadn't seen in two years, was disappointed in him. Two years, and the first thing she got to witness was him thrashing Bede—someone whom she was now well acquainted—no. Close friends with. He felt like a stranger.