Meeting the Rival!

Author's Notes: Part of every Pokémon Adventure is meeting your "rival" who is often the very first Pokémon battle that you get into. With that in mind...

As Bell walks down the brick road affectionately called Route 1, she can't help but feel giddy with excitement. Although it wasn't really a route, it was barely a road at all.

But still, it marked the border between Vanille and Aquacorde. Yes, she had walked down this empty street countless time throughout her life, but this time it was different. As she crossed the short road and approached the front gate of Aquacorde she couldn't help but smile.

It was real, she was officially on her Pokémon Journey. What should she do first? Go to the Pokémon Center (this would be her first time being allowed inside the building), try to catch some wild Pokémon, oh maybe she should find somebody and challenge them to a Pokémon Battle!?

Bell's self refection was interrupted when she hears a voice "Good Morning my fair lady!" Turning towards the voice, Bell is momentarily stunned by what she is seeing and has to resist the urge to laugh. "Might I take a moment of your time? For I am looking for a small quant little place known as Vanille. Perchance you know of where it is?"

The speaker is a handsome man in his late 20s, which isn't the weird part. No, the weird part is that he is dressed like an aristocrat out of a children's movie. A bad children's movie. Completing the image is the fact that the man is riding a Ponyta of all things.

There is just something so, absurd, about the whole thing. The man's appearance, his manner of speech, that Bell had to resist the urge to laugh.

***

Resist the urge to laugh: Heart 1d6 [1], FAILURE! Bell's first roll is a 1, we are off to a GREAT START!

Going over this for errors, I realize that I should have rolled a d8. Still, a 1 is a 1 and 1.

***

A task that she fails so spectacularly at that she loses the ability to speak as she is overcome with laughter, clutching her stomach as she starts gasping for breath.

***

Does he realize she is laughing at him? Heart 1d8 [7], yeah he knows

***

A look of annoyance flashes across his face. "Tell me, are all country bumpkins are rude as you, or are you just especially uncouth?"

Ok, Bell might not know what 'uncouth' means. But she knows when she is being insulted. Getting her voice back, Bell tells the man. "I'm sorry, but you're the one dressed up like..." She gestures towards his direction, unsure just how to explain. "THAT!"

This seems to upset the man. "There is nothing wrong with the manner of my dress."

"You look like you stepped out of a painting." It seems like Bell touched a nerve. "Are you auditioning for a play or something?" This was too easy.

"I'll have you know that these cloths were made by the finest tailors in Lumiose City!" The man inches the Ponyta closer and looks down at her and takes a calming breath. "But no matter, my time is much to valuable to waste it in pointless babble with common folk such as yourself."

Bell's voice is full of sarcasm as she replies, "Oh, I'm SOOO sorry your majesty!" She gives the man a mocking exaggerated bow. "I should have immediately realized what you were, riding in on your high horse." She straitens back up and looks at him, grinning. "But I'm just one of the poor 'common folk', as you put it, and it is rare for someone such as yourself to pull their head out of the clouds long enough to visit us out here in the country."

Finally not taking the bait, the man grits his teeth as he asks. "I tire of your trite babble. Do you know the way to Vanille or not? If not, then declare it and I shall begone from your company with all do haste."

"With all due haste? Seriously, who talks like that?!" Bell can't help but chuckle. "I might know, but why would someone of such obvious self importance want to travel to such an unimportant place."

"I'm looking for a woman."

"Why? Got a glass slipper in your pocket or something?"

To Bell's surprise, this comment actually gets a smile out of the man. "Something like that..."

***

He tries to lay on the charm, Heart v Heart. Bell 1d8 v Charming 1d8. Bell [8+8+6=22], Charming [2].

DAMN! This took a weird turn. An interesting turn. A turn about it is than!

***

The man might be older than Bell, but he was still a man. A fact that was reinforced when Bell noticed how the man's gaze kept glancing at her breasts. Smiling, she leans forward a little bit, "How about you tell me why, and I'll consider giving you directions..." she then crosses her arms beneath her chest, which has the desired effect of squeezing her breasts a bit. "After all, I don't even know your name."

For a few seconds the older man simply sits on his horse in silence, apparently stunned by Bell's surprisingly effective attempt at flirting. When he stops staring at Bell's breasts, he clears is throat, "My apologies, I am Louis of House Anistar. I am seeking a woman who goes by the name Grace."

Of everything Bell was expecting him to say, it was NOT that. She is so surprised that she blurts out unthinkingly, "Why are you looking for my Mom?"

The instant the words are out of Bell's mouth, Louis' expression changes from annoyance to surprise. He then looks at Bell, really examining her appearance for the first time instead of dismissing her. "Of course, I should have noticed before." Quickly jumping off of the Ponyta Louis gets uncomfortably close, grabbing her face as he examines her. "You do bare a resemblance to him."

Bell was about to slap away Louis' hands, but his words stun her into inaction. Grace never spoke of Bell's father, only saying that it was the result of a lost Pokémon Battle early on in her journey. "Do you... Do you know who my father is?"

***

ok, for those who read the "Wait, who is her Rival" chapter I've already determined that Bell's father is some kind of Nobility. But I haven't decided specifics. So I'm going to roll a d10, with 10 meaning that Bell is basically a long lost princess of the Kingly Line.

One Discord Dicebot 1d10 roll later... and its a 3. Huh, what to do with a 3...???

One Google Search later to look for French Nobility Titles Ranks.... Vicomte seems like a good choice. Now I just need to decide what/where. Camphrier is a cool place without a Gym, I'll pick that.

***

"Your Father was Lord Pierre, the Vicomte of Camphrier."

Was, Louis is speaking in the past tense. "Wait, you said was. Does that mean...?"

Louis seems unconcerned as he continues to examine Bell like she is a Lillipup for sale. "Oh. Yes, he passed away a few months ago. Now that I get a closer look you really do resemble him."

Bell slaps away his hands and takes a few steps back. She stomps her feet while glaring at the arrogant man. "Will you tell me what is going on!? What do you want with my Mom!?"

"Oh, well in truth it is you I'm after. You see, you are the last of his house, so we are to be wed and your fathers lands shall be absorbed by my house."

"I'm sorry, but WHAT!?" This was too much to process, in the last 30 seconds Bell had just learned the name of her father, found out that he was dead, and now some stranger was claiming that they were to be married? "Why the fuck would I marry you?!"

Bell sees a flash of anger on Louis' face at her outburst, but he manages to stay calm. Speaking to her like a child he explains, "Isn't it obvious? You are the only known child of the late Lord Pierre. Thus you must get married and produce an heir. You should be honored, I'll have you know that I'm the eldest son of my house."

"I don't care if you are the re-born King of Galar! No way I'm getting married to some weirdo I just met."

Completely ignoring Bell's outburst, Louis continues. "Oh, you don't need to worry about the details. Just direct me to your Mother and we will arrange everything."

"Um, excuse me! Don't I get a say in this?!" Louis looks at Bell and judging by his expression his thoughts seemed to be that no, she did not have a say in this. "FINE!" Turning her back on him, Bell storms off north, away from Vanille.

As Bell storms off, she hears Louis call out to her. "Where are you going?" She doesn't turn around, nor does she reply to him. "Aren't you going to tell me how to get to Vanille?"

Bell yells, "NO!" over her shoulder as she continues to walk away..

Bell only takes a few more steps before she hears Louis call out, "I challenge you to a Pokémon Battle!" That gets Bell to stop, she turns around and sees that Louis seems completely serious. "You are a Pokémon Trainer are you not? Or is that Chespin just following you around for another reason?"

Realizing that she can't really deny it, "No, I am a Pokémon Trainer."

"Good, then I challenge you to a Pokémon Battle. When I win, you will take me to Vanille and introduce me to Grace." Louis then smiles and Bell can't help but feel a shiver run down her spine. "Then I shall teach you some of the joys you will experience as my wife."

Looking at Louis and his Ponyta, and just how absurd this situation is, Bell only has one thought. "Well shit..."