Grant set up camp halfway through the route that stood between him and Hulbury, the largest obstacle in his journey from Turrfield to Hulbury. He checked his backpack, finding some Pokéballs, a pack of precooked burgers, some berries, three super potions, and a revive. Most of which he found along the way, save for the Pokéballs he had purchased with the burgers. It was roughly lunch time as he fanned the flames of the fire and placed several Cherri Berries into the pot, letting it simmer as he fanned them.

Bede approached, annoyed and sat down with a sigh, "Ugh, it's you."

Grant nodded as he began to stir, he didn't speak for he didn't know what to say to Bede. What could he say? Him and Bede didn't get along at all.

"You know we're not so different you and I," Bede admitted.

"Hm?" Grant asked, confused.

"I didn't have much as a kid," Bede admitted, "I started from the bottom. Just like you."

"You don't know what I've been through," Grant retorted.

"Nor do you know what I've been through," Bede replied, "I may be more improtant than you, being chosen by Rose, but we really aren't so different. I was abandoned by my parents as a baby and grew up as a street urchin with my partner Pokémon Hatenna, who would distract people as I stole food. One day I stole from the wrong person, or maybe the right person. Rose. Rose challenged me to a battle, maybe he saw potential maybe he felt pity for me I don't know. I put up a good fight I guess cause even though I lost he took me under his wing and raised me as if I was his own until he endorsed me. I came from nothing but I'm better than these people Grant. Because I have to be. I cannot, will not, disappoint Rose."

Grant sighed and finished the curry. He offered a plate to Bede and sat next to him, "My life was fine until I was 10. I was at home. Just waiting for my parents to get back. They were only gonna be gone for five minutes. Just left to grab milk. Now we can get into the semantics on how leaving a 10 year old alone is bad in it of itself and no parent should ever do that but that's not the point. The point is an hour went by and on the news I learned they were killed by a rouge wild Pokémon that wandered into town. I hear Leon killed it to protect the town. I got so scared and I just... ran. I ran and ran and ran. I lived in the Wild Area for the last seven years. Scraping by, gathering scraps, edible roots, berries, and so on. Stole some camping gear from some campers who had a spare set when I was 14. That's why I have this camping kit at all. Only reason I have any Pokémon right now is because I managed to find some nest balls dropped by campers and caught Kiss and Rook. It was me myself and I. That and Tom, but Tom taught me to count on myself. Surviving made me strong. Accepting help is weakness. Luxury is weakness. Weakness is death. That's how I lived."

Bede looked at the stiches in Grant's arm and asked, "Is that what happened to your arm?"

"My whole body is covered in scars," Grant shrugged, "Mostly my arms and legs. So yeah. Wild Pokémon would attack me all the time."

Kiss sat in Grant's lap. Grant began to brush the now clean and silky fur of the happy little furball.

Bede reached out to pet her but pulled his hand back.

"Oh she don't bite don't worry," Grant assured Bede.

Bede scratched Kiss behind the ears, causing the Zigzagoon to purr happily.

"I'm sorry I was so mean to you," Grant admitted, "I had no idea you had worked hard like I have."

"Is all this why you seem frankly borderline feral?" Bede asked, "When you battle you move as if you're some beast, you scream your orders with near murderous intent. Also I appreciate that Grant. Means a lot."

"I survive," Grant shrugged, "Just like you. If that means I'm feral so be it."

Grant set aside a plate for Rook and Kiss, Kiss leapt out of his lap to eat the spicy burger steaks with Rook as Grant elaborated, "But you Bede... you I respect. You I like. You're my only friend now I guess."

"Not gonna lie," Bede smiled, "It's nice to find someone who at least somewhat understands what it's like, but you were a real jerk when we first met."

"Fair," Grant shrugged, finishing his meal. "Anyways I'm gonna head in out. Any advice on the Wild Pokémon around here?"

Bede shrugged, "Just some psychic and diary types. Nothing unusual. Except for that trainer endorsed by Leon. Fainted my whole party back at Galar Mine 1. Speaking of which may I feed some of the leftovers to get that back on their feet?"

Grant nodded and began to pack up, "Sure thing buddy. But... why are you accepting my help? Anyone's help? Don't you want to be strong?"

Bede looked at Grant confused, "What?'

Grant sighed, "Nevermind. I'm gonna go."

With that Grant moved forward, and as he worked his way through Rook and Kiss both evolved into their second forms. At the edge of Hulbury, there stood a trainer with black hair and a blue jacket.

"Hop..." Grant growled.

Hop turned to greet Grant, "Oh hey! You're the... what are they calling you, 'Feral Survivalist Grant' right? Gym challenger?"

Grant nodded and approached, "What's your point? I have a gym to beat. Move."

Hop smiled and explained, "I wanna battle you."

Grant sighed, annoyed, "Fine. Someone born into wealth like you? Should be an easy win."

"What do you mean by that?" Hop demanded.

"Let's just get to the point," Grant sighed.

Hop sent out his Wooloo first as Grant returned in kind with Kiss, now freshly evolved into a Linoone. Grant ordered Kiss, "Headbutt! Hit fast and get out!"

"Counter with rollout!" Hop yelled.

Kiss charged strait forward at high speeds, kicking up dust from the dirt road beneath the them as Wooloo rolled forward. Kiss leapt into Wooloo, slamming her head into the Wooloo's thick fur before being pushed back to the other end of the cavern by the blow. Wooloo began to build up speed and power now, striking again, crushing Kiss against a slanted cliff face. Kiss limped to her feet as Wooloo spun at increasing speeds, now going up the cliffside like a motorcycle in a metal sphere that daredevils often ride. Wooloo went around and over Kiss, using the curved cliffside and speed it built up to launch itself behind the Linoone.

"Sand attack!" Grant ordered, "Make it crash!"

Kiss kicked up a cloud of sand which blinded the Wooloo, allowing Kiss to dive out of the wave. The Wooloo slammed into a boulder, which left it open to a headbutt from Kiss that fainted the Wooloo.

"You're pretty tough!" Hop exclaimed, "But you're pants at battles compared to my rival Victor!"

Hop sent out his second Pokémon, Raboot.

Grant knew he was trouble, so he went with old reliable.

"Sand-attack!" Grant demanded, "Same plan as before!"

Kiss complied, throwing sand in the eyes of Raboot, who countered with a kick from above that shattered the soil below and fainted Kiss.

"OK Rook!" Grant demanded throwing Rook into the fray, "You know the drill! Two hone claws! Let's go!"

The Corvisquire complied, sharpening his talons as Raboot surrounded itself with fire and lunged at Rook with Flame Wheel, an attack the bird flew out of the way of, sharpening its talons further as Raboot struck with a leaping double kick to the face that knocked Rook to the ground.

Rook got back on his feet and countered with Power Trip, slashing Raboot's chest with his sharpened talons, fainting it.

"I may seem backed into a corner but it's not over until the it's over!" Hop exclaimed sending out his own Corvisquire.

Hop's Corvisquire pecked Rook, stabbing his chest with its sharp beak. Rook countered with his own peck, impaling Hop's Corvisquire through the neck and dragging it against the ground, held in his beak, and flew at high speeds into the cliffside, fainting the opposing Corvisquire on impact.

"Well that was fun," Hop smiled, "You're pretty good."

Grant sighed, "I can't believe you got endorsed when there's hundreds of trainers stronger than me or you who have worked far harder than either of us. Pure nepotism. Battles should be for all."

"What do you mean?" Hop inquired.

"Do you really think it's fair that trainers need an endorsement to even have a chance at becoming champion? You can't get an endorsement no matter how good you are unless you have either money or a favor to call in. How are those who work hard and deserve it suppose to reach the top? They can't!"

"Yeah," Hop conceded, "In Kanto anyone can challenge the League. Never claimed to agree limiting it like this was fair. You're right in that it only allows the wealthy to keep on top but what does that have to do with me? I don't like it but..."

"You gonna change it?" Grant demanded, "if the bond to Pokémon is something we all share should it not be open to all?"

"If I win I would like to yes," Hop explained.

Grant smiled, "You know Hop, at the very least, for that, you have my respect."

"So you're not gonna spew seventeen different insults at me like you did Marnie?" Hop asked, "You owe her an apology dude."

Grant sighed, "Well given how you and Bede are actually pretty cool people who I totally misjudged and who aren't the ones at fault you're probably right. I'll be sure to do that. Farewell Hop."

Grant left and muttered to himself, "But you're still weak..."

With that Grant exited the mines and entered Hulbury, and made a bee line for the second gym...