BravelyFlying
I trust you know where the happy button is?
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2018
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Partly that, partly another reason but mainly because of the role of rival battles in Pokemon. In the games they're a test of your skills as a trainer and your bonds with your Pokemon.
Rivals, even the friendly ones, treat them seriously and consider them actual loses when they lose against the player. Some even take it really, really badly when they lose. The Protectorate, however, don't really care and weren't emotionally invested in it. Neither were their shards.
It wasn't a test of their skills or their bonds with their team and shard. That's good because they didn't take it badly when they lost but without that level of passion it doesn't really count as a win either.
If they were a Damsel type of cape where they would've got really, really pissed that they lost then it would've counted. But they aren't, so it didn't.
Nothing to see there. You're eyes are playing tricks on you.