Gloria walked through Motostoke and down the stairs to reach the wild area. Of course, Hop was already there. She was seething through her teeth. How could that bampot possibly beat her to the Wild Area? She ran much faster than him, and she had a bike.

With a gruff sigh, she watched as Bede tore down Leon for all it was worth, Hop arguing that Leon was the greatest champion ever. Hop told Gloria he'd show Bede for all the insults that he'd thrown at his brother, Champion Leon.

She just nodded at him, not bothered to make a smart remark. He'd learn not to get so cocky. Bede'd have to learn that the Chairman isn't his saving grace. But, she was starting to doubt that. As she battled a too-strong Garbodor with her Raboot, she started to think the opposite.

What if Hop loses and proves that he can't use Leon as his saving grace? Gloria found herself wondering when she used a Super Potion on her Raboot, so it could do the last bit of chip damage she needed it to do. It pulled off the Flame Charge it needed to defeat the opposing Garbodor and levelled up.

Biting down on her bottom lip, Gloria headed down to Bridge Field in the Wild Area, knowing all the Pokémon there were much too strong for her. She aboided almost every one. She eventually ended up camping out on the Hammerlocke Hills, setting up her tent near a patch of tall grass.

Whilst she played with her Pokémon, she couldn't help but watch the area around her, waiting for Hop to appear. But alas, nobody came. She began to feel concerned but forgot about that concern for a little bit while cooking some curry.

As she was eating it, a thought popped into her head.

Did Hop... lose to Bede...?

She shook her head in response to the thought. Of course Hop wouldn't lose. He had his head on straight and one every badge almost immediately as he came within five centimetres of the Gym Stadium. Gloria always ended up stunned. She won against him, yet he beat every gym first try.

She saw telltale footsteps reach a crescendo around the stairs up to Hammerlocke and packed away her tent. There was a magenta Macro Cosmos branded jacket in the distance.

Bede. Why is he here? Didn't Hop say he'd...

"I doubt Hop will be coming. It's only natural. After such a humiliating defeat, there is no way he could look the Champion in the eye," she overheard Bede tell a League Staff member.

Hop lost to Bede?! But... he said he'd win it for the Champion's sake!

She got up to take a closer look, her Raboot following close behind her. But, by the time she'd gotten to the stairs, Bede had gone.

Wee posh bampot... she thought to herself. So full of himself. What a damn tosser he is. I can't believe Hop lost to such a boy!

She met Hop out near Stow-On-Side.

"So your friend is depressed and you won't even lift a finger to help?" she heard him whimper from the distance.

"Gloria will come, Hop. I'm sure she will." That was Victor.

"Bede said I was dragging Lee's name down, being rubbish as I was..." Hop sighed.

"Come on, Hop. You know that's not true. Gloria and I care for you, and you know that, right?" 

Gloria went closer and saw that Hop nodded to what Victor said.

"I'm going to challenge Stow-On-Side's gym leader. And next time I see Bede, I'll give him a good thrashing," Gloria heard Victor reassure the boy.

"Oi, don't let me dumbass cousin speak for me!" Gloria found herself yelling.

Hop stared up at her upon hearing her voice. "Gloria?"

"Hop..." The Scottish girl stroked his hair. "Bede is a tosser, alright? He doesn't know who he's speakin' ta. Yer gonna be the new champ of Galar, and he knows that. He's jus' tryin' ta piss you off. But Victor and me, especially, care about you."

"Gloria, do you love me?"

"Hop... you're a bampot sometimes, but I love ya. You're my lil bampot and Bede can go drown in a hole."

Wrapping the golden eyed boy in a hug, who was sobbing, Gloria gave him a peck on his head and blushed.

I'll make Bede regret ever hurtin' you...