A/N: My fanfic has an illustrated cover for each chapter, but since FFN doesn't allow inserting images nor does it accept links within the fanfic itself, please head over to my tumblr (carefreejules) if you'd like to see the covers!
Chapter 23 - Twilight
There was a lot of work that had to be done in cleaning up the mess that Rose caused and left behind shortly after his arrest. Houses, stores, and buildings could be rebuilt but lives couldn't be replaced and it was a miracle that there weren't any casualties as result from the catastrophe. There were a handful of injured civilians and Pokemon in each city, but thanks to everyone's cooperation and diligence, they were able to prevent more cataclysmic damage. But, everyone's morale was rather low.
The talks about Rose's arrest was a hot topic that didn't show any signs of stopping as the days went on, and that inevitably put Macro Cosmos under the spotlight as well for not very good reasons. Every employee was scrutinized and criticized by the public, demanding answers as to why no one said or did anything to intervene before things took a turn for the worst. Those who weren't helping with the restoration efforts could be seen protesting outside of Rose Tower, ordering them to compensate for all that was lost in the disaster.
On the bright side, Hop and Gloria were at the forefront of news headlines and articles, citing them as the modern era heroes of the Galar region. But, don't think for a second that Juliet was left out from the deserved spotlight. She was praised as being the quick-witted tactician who inspired and brought together trainers from all over the world towards leading the cause of protecting the Wild Area from rampaging Dynamaxed and Gigantamax Pokemon. The other Raid Teams and international trainers that came to their aid were hard at work with helping the recovery efforts as well, which made the progress of opening up the region much more efficient. Seeing this collaboration was what citizens of Galar needed to step up their game in bringing their home back to its original beauty.
Trainers and Pokemon alike were working in harmony with each other, so life could go on and everyone could hopefully live peacefully again. There was a collective feeling of uncertainty that many people were anxious about from the lack of leadership now that Rose was arrested for his crimes. As far as anyone knew, he didn't have any children to take over as his successor and because Oleana was an accomplice in his plans, she couldn't take over despite being the vice-president of the company. That was all people really knew about Rose's arrest, and not much else was added because of how complicated the case was. Of course, no one else knew that besides those who were directly involved.
There were murmurings amongst the public that Leon was the next sensible option to take over the company since he worked closely with the former Chairman, but he was hardly in the mindset to think about such things when he was still recovering from his injuries and the Champion Cup would be postponed until he got better.
Macro Cosmos could wait.
He was finally scheduled to be discharged by the end of the week, but the doctors strongly reminded him to not even think about jumping straight into Pokemon battles once he was out. But he couldn't help it. The Champion Cup was his favourite event of the year and meant so much to him that he couldn't wait any longer. His battle prowess was going to stale the longer he remained in the hospital.
So, any chance he got, he would spend it lightly training his Pokemon on the roof of the hospital. Of course he wasn't allowed to go all out or unleash any attacks, but he made the most of it with mental training like meditation. Back when he trained under Mustard's tutelage, he developed the habit of doing Tai Chi to clear his head and relax his body so he could 'become one' with his Pokemon, as he was taught.
But when he got on the roof and saw that Juliet was there with her Pokemon, he mentally put a raincheck on his prior plans.
"Hi, Lee!" She called over cheerfully. He smiled gently and took the empty spot next to her on the bench.
"Hey, J. How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling pretty good. I finally went through the last bits of testing and everything came back normal. I'm going to be discharged tomorrow. How about you?"
"I'm happy to hear that! Lucky that you get to leave tomorrow. I have to wait until Friday."
"Hang in there. I'm not a fan of staying at hospitals either. Especially since everyone is cleaning up the mess and we're stuck here."
"Yeah...but it sounds like everything is going smoothly. I can't wait to jump onto the pitch again." Ah...he was really itching for a battle. Now that he thought about it, they still hadn't battled each other yet. Well, properly. It would have been the perfect opportunity to, but he didn't really want to battle her just yet. Not so soon after everything that happened.
He wondered how she was processing it all and whether she was peacefully coming to terms with her wounds?
They hadn't told her yet about what they had seen in their memories and maybe now wasn't the time to tell her, but at the same time, it wasn't right to hide the fact that they had seen some of the darker moments of her life.
Moments that she buried so neither her nor anyone would have to see them.
"You're looking at me funny, Leon. What's up?"
He really should be more self-aware.
"I-It's nothing...I was only wondering how you were faring mentally and emotionally. And...if there was anything I could do to help."
"You're so sweet, Lee. Thank you for looking out for me. All you need to do for me, is to keep being you. I'd like to think I'm pretty OK with recognizing when I'm upset and learning to smile through it, but being able to talk it out with a therapist, the same therapist I talked to when I was younger at that, again has been helping a lot too. To be honest…" Juliet looked down at her hands. "It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I'm a victim of gaslighting and emotional abuse. I mean, those are pretty dark words, you know? Even with the help I got in the past for it, a part of me didn't want to admit that I still needed help. But, brushing them aside doesn't make them go away and smiling is only a temporary solution. I needed professional help. But, sometimes I'd feel too scared to go through with it."
"Juliet…"
"But, now, I'm getting the help I need to close these wounds for good. And even if there are scars left behind, reminding me of my demons, that's OK. They may never go away but I'd like to see them as proof of my growth!" Juliet ended optimistically.
"Always looking on the bright side, huh? That's the spirit!" He rested a hand over top of her own. "And remember that you can count on me, anytime and anywhere."
She grinned knowingly and nudged the side of her head against his shoulder affectionately as she laced her fingers with his. "Right back at you. You can count on me too."
His warm laughter rang through the air, making her heart bubble pleasantly with affection towards the Champion. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"I'm glad. Now, hurry up and send out Charizard! It's rude to make a lady wait." Juliet teased, gesturing to how her Flygon had been staring expectantly at Leon the whole time.
"Alright, alright! Sorry for making you wait, Tiki." Along with Charizard, he sent out his other Pokemon so they could get some fresh air as well. Upon seeing Charizard, Tiki's eyes lit up excitedly and began nuzzling her cheek against his, making him blush and purr pleasantly. Pistachio wasn't far behind and stood up on his hind legs to grab the orange dragon's attention. Charizard grinned and lowered his neck far enough to nuzzle the baby Pokemon. The Trapinch whined happily before climbing on top of his back. Charizard bounded over to the pair of trainers, and tenderly nudged his snout against Juliet's cheek - a gesture that was long overdue after all that she had been through. After all, any important person to Leon, meant that they were important to Charizard too. Knowing that she meant something dear to Leon, he'd treat her just the same.
"Awwww, thanks Charizard! You've been a good mate to Tiki and I trust that you'll treat her well." Juliet cooed. The mere mention of the word 'mate', made Charizard's blush deepen as he watched Tiki being petted by Leon, who echoed back the same sentiment.
"Don't let us keep you three waiting! You guys are going for a flight, right? Be careful and hang on tight to Charizard, Pistachio!" Juliet reminded sternly. The three Pokemon nodded obediently before taking to the skies and flew across Hammerlocke. Darkrai, who had gone to check on the restoration efforts, regarded the flying duo with a polite nod before hovering back to Juliet's side.
"Champion Juliet."
"Still won't give up on the Champion part, huh?"
"Would you prefer if I call you 'Master' instead?"
Juliet's face scrunched up in disgust. "Absolutely not."
"Then, Champion it is. Anyway, progress is going smoothly as far as I can tell and I overheard some staff members discussing that Wyndon Stadium will re-open next week."
"Really?! That's awesome! Did they say anything about the Champion Cup?" Leon asked eagerly.
"Yes, but there seems to be some issues regarding that. Since...the previous Chairman is no longer representing the event, they're a bit unsure of how to move forward from here."
"Makes sense...the main factor of the Gym Challenge and Champion Cup being able to run is because of sponsors that are affiliated with Macros Cosmos. I bet they're scrambling to find someone to take over." Juliet mumbled uneasily. "Then again, their reputation is probably stained forever because of this."
"Well, why don't we run the event?" Leon suggested nonchalantly.
Juliet gawked at him. "What do you mean, 'we'?"
"Surely the sponsors aren't going to drop from the event just like that. I'd like to think after years of being associated with the Pokemon League, they developed a bit of loyalty towards it."
"Sooooooo…? Are you going to take over Macros Cosmos or something?"
Leon shook his head. If he had any ounce of business experience in him, maybe he'd consider it, but he wasn't at all qualified to take over the reins of a huge conglomerate company no matter how closely he worked with Rose and Oleana.
And...in his opinion, he wanted to take a more collaborative approach. It would be beneficial if there was someone to oversee all the decisions being made and the like, but relying on one or two people to make life-changing decisions on behalf of everyone didn't sit well with him. And he certainly didn't want to be the one making those decisions because who's to say if they were actually good? He will always feel partially at fault for not acting on his suspicions earlier and only thought about the Champion Cup. Rose's heart was in the right place, but someone should have been his voice of reason when he went too far and to shake him out of it. Even with what Sonia told them about Eternatus' influence, it didn't change the fact that he could've done more.
Leon believed that everyone had the power to create change and everyone's voices deserved to be heard.
"No. I don't have Rose's business experience and learning through experience doesn't exactly...align with my own personal interests."
"Hmmm, yeah. I can't really imagine you stepping into Rose's role. You're definitely a man of action rather than a man of business. But, what exactly do you have in mind?" Juliet asked curiously.
"I have some ideas that need to be worked through, so don't laugh. But, don't you think...power should be given back to the people? I mean, one of the main reasons why Rose probably went down this path was because he was only thinking of everyone's future, and that Eternatus made him believe that this was the only way, and he had to be solely responsible for it. So…" Leon looked up to the sky.
"I think what Galar really needs is not just one leader - all of us play an important role in keeping it thriving for generations to come."
Juliet smirked. "Sounds like you were inspired by someone else's speech."
He turned to her sheepishly. "I was in and out of consciousness when Brendan brought me to the hospital, and that clip you recorded played over and over so I took a lot from it. Probably helped me recover, honestly. You were always pretty good at articulating how people are feeling and encouraging them to take a stand."
"All good advice, if I do say so myself. But, it's about time I start applying that for myself."
Leon chuckled. "We're all a work-in-progress so you're hardly alone in that."
"Thanks, but I see where you're coming from. A lot of times when one person has too much power, it corrupts them without them even realizing it. I think it would also lessen the burden if multiple people shared the responsibilities." But then Juliet sighed and shrugged.
"But, what we're saying is just all talk. Who knows how much more complicated it is?"
"It's better than not having a plan at all. Even if it is just a pipe dream."
Lucky for them, the Gym Leaders had been working closely with the sponsors that were plastered on their uniforms in their respective towns so when Leon approached them about his plan on hosting the rest of the Champion Cup themselves, they were more than on board with the idea and it didn't take too much persuasion for their sponsors to be on board too. After all, with everyone working together and lifting each other up, it boosted their morale considerably that they wanted to give back everyone's kindness.
"Of course you have our support with getting the Champion Cup up and running! With or without our sponsors, we're going to make it happen no matter what." Raihan reassured, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. But it was - all of them were Gym Leaders not solely because of what it brought them financially, but because it was their passion, and their passion was going to follow them no matter where they went.
"Thank you, Raihan. This was Leon's idea and as much as I want to help him out, it's hard to ignore the finances that will be involved-"
"Well, I'm glad his girlfriend is thinking about the logistics because Arceus knows he would just dive head first into a plan without looking back." The Dragon Gym Leader teased.
"G-Girlfriend?" Juliet sputtered.
"Yeesh, Sonia wasn't kidding when she said you two were still dancing around the subject. You two saved each other, supported each other in the hospital, and you're still going to deny that you aren't joined at the hip?"
"S-Sorry...It's not like I'm used to caring and loving someone like this."
"Well, embrace it because that goof has been head-over-heels for you all this time. Hey, since I'm doing you a solid, care to give me some insight on the things Mary likes?" Raihan asked innocently with a toothy grin.
Juliet raised her eyebrow. "Why not just ask her yourself? Aren't you a smooth talker?"
He rubbed the back of his neck and looked off to the side with a light blush. "I just want to be sure, you know?"
"Who's the one dancing around now?"
"Shut up-"
On top of getting Galar back into the shape, many also desired a celebration. And there were plenty of things to celebrate over. The battle against Eternatus would no doubt go down in history as one of the biggest turning points in Galarian history, with all the Dynamax research and legends of Zacien and Zamazenta to go with it.
That's why, on the same night as the Champion Cup finals, they would put together a special annual celebration to honor everyone who played a part in protecting the Galar region and ushering a new dawn of prosperity, hand in hand.
Well, it sounded all fine and dandy on paper but there was a lot of work to do in actually rallying support to make it happen, not to mention, how much it would cost to pull it all off. There was a lot to think about, but there was no time to waste and despite Leon being stuck in the hospital for one more day, he made up for it by making as many phone calls as he could with the help of the Gym Leaders while Juliet went around the region to gauge interest in such an event.
Vendors, performances, maybe even rides - it felt like she was putting together some sort of carnival. But, it was reassuring knowing that she didn't have to worry too much about funding so she can focus on making sure there were no shortages of entertainment and fun.
"Oh, don't worry about entertainment, big sis! I'd be happy to put on some street performances with my Pokemon!" Courtney offered confidently.
"Thanks Courtney, but we're going to need some more performers and entertainers if the whole region is going to be celebrating." Juliet pouted, tapping her pen on her notepad impatiently. Maybe get more coordinators on board? Idols were pretty big, weren't they? Heck, she could even ask Piers if he was on board with performing-
"Did I hear something about needing performers?" Rosa interjected, popping up from the bush, startling both Juliet and Courtney who were relaxing on a park bench.
"Geez, Rosa, you scared me."
"Hee hee, sorry! But, back on topic, I heard you're trying to rally up interest for a big celebratory event for beating the Darkest Day, right? Well, I know just who to contact!"
"You do? Who?"
"You'll see! I'll give you a hint - they're huuuuuuuuuuuuuge idols from the Unova region!"
"You're going to invite idols here?! Is that really OK? I mean, wouldn't we have to contact them through their talent agency and-" Juliet sputtered, waving her arms in protest at such a high-profile invitation. Rosa scoffed and shooed her hands.
"Don't sweat the details, Juliet! Leave it to me! Besides, Nate knows them well too! And you know what, I think May, Dawn, and Serena might be interested in doing some street performances too so I'll ask them!" Before Juliet could even get another word in, Rosa was already skipping down the street to look for the aforementioned Pokemon Coordinators.
"W-Well, I guess I can cross off the performance component of this event since Rosa seems to have taken that role from me…" She was hardly complaining though. In the short period that she knew the Unovian trainer, she was quite the go-getter and was always eager to lend a hand.
Then again, many of the trainers that came to the Galar region to answer her call for help were all caring and considerate. To this day, she still couldn't believe how many people turned up at the Wild Area and no words could ever describe how grateful she was for their generosity and their trust in her. It felt like something straight out of a movie; where the good guys were in a pinch and at the last second, they were saved by others who believed in their cause.
It just goes to show, when push comes to shove, someone will always be there to grab your hand and pull you back up.
Because kindness was universal, and you didn't need a 'good' reason to offer it other than because you want to make the other person happy.
"Hey, Juliet! Mind if I borrow your ear for a moment?" Blue requested, with Red following close behind him. Despite battling alongside them before, it was still hard to keep her composure around two of the greatest Pokemon trainers in the world. Leon especially nearly fainted when she told him they were in Galar, which didn't help his impatience to get out of the hospital at all. Thinking about it made her smile and she hoped she would be around when Leon would get to meet the pair for the first time to see his reaction.
"Blue! And Red too! What can I help you gentlemen with?"
"Heh, we actually thought we could help you out instead. A little Pidgey told us that you were putting together a special celebration so, since we're already here, why not lighten your load a little?"
"O-Oh, but you guys have already done so much-"
Red signed something to Blue, to which Blue translated with, "Red says that we don't mind! I thought it could be fun to hold exhibition matches at the other stadiums throughout the region. After all, this region is massive and I'm sure a lot of people living here, who can't go to Wyndon, would get to watch a Pokemon battle in their hometowns."
"That sounds awesome! I'm sure the Gym Leaders will let you use their stadiums. Besides the two of you, does anyone else know about it?"
"We've pitched it to some of the other Champions and they couldn't pass it up. But, I'll have to double-check with them since they probably have to return to their respective regions for a bit. Red, Leaf, and I will be here though. We've been meaning to check Galar out for awhile anyway."
"Thank you, Red and Blue. Please let me know if you need any more help!" Juliet slowly and carefully signed a 'thank you' and 'see you later' to the both of them, making Red beam at her appreciatively before signing it back.
"OK...So, since entertainment and tournaments have been covered by Rosa and Blue, I need to plan out decorations, confetti, and fireworks…" Juliet mulled to herself, eyes glued to her clipboard, not paying attention to where she was going before accidentally bumping into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry about that, Lillie!"
Lillie turned around and smiled gently. "That's alright-Ah! Juliet! Just the person we wanted to see. How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing a lot better now, thank you! You said you need me for something?"
"Hey, Juliet! Good to see you're finally up and at 'em! This is a bit late but here are Soleil, Flora, and Felix's Pokeballs!" Hau reached into his pocket and handed her the three Pokeballs. "Professor Kukui also told us to tell you that he's handing them back to you for good."
"Really? Won't he need help with the baby?"
"Lei's over a year old now so he's becoming easier to manage that his own Pokemon are enough to watch over him." Elio explained. "Here, he recorded something for you."
After fishing out his phone, he handed the phone to Juliet, where a video with Kukui holding Lei in his arms started to play. "Alola, Juliet! I'm sorry we couldn't be there to support you in person but based on how things turn out, I don't think I have to worry. Thank you for letting us borrow some of your Pokemon to look after Lei here, but I think it's only right that you get them back after all that you've been through. They've been missing you too! They weren't the only ones who were touched by your speech. It's trainers like you that make this world easier to live in by reminding us that we're all in this together. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives that we forget that. When Lei here is a bit older, I hope you'll give us a grand tour of Galar! I've been itchin' to check the place out. Anyway, keep on doing your best and inspiring others, cousin! Lei, do you want to help me say 'bye bye'?"
Lei let out some incomprehensible babbling before reaching out to something, or someone, off camera. Likely Burnet.
"Close enough. See you soon, Juliet!"
Juliet had the biggest smile throughout the whole recording, moreso towards their son than what Kukui said. Not that she didn't pay attention and wasn't flattered by his words, but she hadn't met or seen Lei until this point so she was distracted by the adorable baby. "Awww. Thank you for showing me that! Lei is so cute."
"Isn't he?! He definitely takes after Burnet, but she thinks he might take after Kukui when he's older." Selene giggled.
"Think he'll pick up wrestling in that case?"
"I would love to see that!"
"Hey, everyone! Sorry to interrupt-" Lyra called over, running up to the group with Kris, Hilda, Hilbert, Cheren, and Bianca following close behind. It looked like Kris was holding something behind her back.
"Hey guys! On break?" Elio greeted.
"Something like that! We finally finished the 'thing' we put together!" Kris beamed before walking over to Juliet. "Hiya, Juliet! We made something for you!"
Juliet looked at her sheepishly and opened her mouth, probably to say something along the lines of 'oh, you didn't have to' or 'sorry for the trouble' but Bianca interrupted her train of thought.
"No ifs, ands, or buts! Please accept it!"
Juliet smiled wryly and chuckled. "Alright, alright."
Kris' smile widened as she revealed the streamers of origami Swannas from her back and held it out to her. "After hearing about how you collapsed and were in a nightmare, Lyra had the idea of making origami Swannas for you to help you recover faster. In Johto, not only do they symbolize hope, but there's a legend where if you make 1000 of them, your wish will come true!"
"1000?! Oh boy, that must have taken a while. But, thank you all so much! That's very kind of you especially since you all came from your respective regions to give us a hand with our own crisis…"
"We had our own fair share of struggles that went on in our regions so knowing how hard it was for us, we didn't want anyone to have to suffer through the same thing alone." Hilbert reassured.
"Besides, we ended up meeting other trainers, and making new friends so we gained a lot in the end!" Hilda added cheerfully.
"So, now that you have 1000 Swannas, what are you going to wish for?" Gladion asked curiously.
Good question, but it was also one of those questions where when asked on the spot, suddenly Juliet couldn't think of anything she wished or dreamed of. There was a lot of weight on one wish and there was this expectation that one would have to wish for something big to make it worthwhile.
"Hmmm…I'd probably wish for all of your hopes and dreams to come true-"
Bianca giggled and Cheren let out a short chuckle. "Seems like May and Brendan were right about that. But, it's a generous and humble wish regardless."
"Awwww, we're flattered, Juliet! But, what about you? Do you have a dream?" Bianca asked.
"Me? Hmmm...To be honest, up until now, I've honestly been satisfied with just living through the same routine over and over because I was afraid of things taking me by surprise. But, speaking of which," Juliet turned to Cheren. "You wanted to talk to me in person about the business card you gave me?"
"Indeed. But, perhaps now isn't the best time since I hear you're planning a big celebration?"
"Then, leave the rest to us! We'll take care of whatever you need done!" Selene volunteered, swiping the clipboard out of Juliet's hands and scurrying off with the others to assign tasks. It was almost endearing by how eager everyone was to help, but she was going to count her blessings.
"So? What do you think about becoming a teacher? Or, at least a Teacher Assistant to get you started? I know Principal Asuka in Alola personally and she's looking for someone to fill in a role as a TA at her school." Cheren offered.
Juliet bit her lip, considering she didn't have much time to think about the offer when it was originally presented to her. She didn't oppose the idea, but she wasn't sure about it either. The bigger question was, "Why me?"
"Because you have the voice to lead and inspire others. Our world needs more people to guide aspiring trainers to greatness, and help them discover their untapped potential."
"But, I haven't gotten any formal training in education-"
"You don't necessarily need a diploma depending on the kind of teacher you want to be. We're talking Pokemon battles here - you don't need to know geometry and algebra for Pokemon battles, now do you?" Cheren retorted. "Galar doesn't have any trainer schools, and I think this region has a lot of potential towards giving trainers more experience and insight on Dynamax Battles, and even survival skills out in the Wild Area. You could be the start of that boom. But, you don't have to decide right at this second and I imagine you're probably feeling pressured by me dumping this on you all at once, but think about it. This could be a good path for you."
Juliet stared at her feet, pondering on the offer more carefully before shooting the teacher a small grin. "I'm going to need more time to think about it, but I'm open to the opportunity. There's just a lot I need to sort out."
"I understand. Luckily the position won't be filled that quickly since Asuka is looking for someone to be referred for the position so if you do decide to seize the opportunity, let me know." Cheren handed her his business card that had contact information at the school he taught at, and his personal phone number.
"Thank you, Cheren. I'll keep in touch if I have an answer or any questions."
With the offer sitting in the back of her mind, the overwhelming support towards the celebratory efforts kept pouring in that she couldn't handle it all on her own. By the time Leon was finally discharged from the hospital, they managed to organize a committee for the Champion Cup and the celebrations that would follow. But, for such a big and momentous event, they needed a good name for it.
Something to encompass everyone's hope and dreams; all of which would always shine through the dark like welcoming the dawn or the stars in the sky.
That day would become known as 'Twilight Day'.
With everyone working together, the day finally arrived, and there was not a single person in the Galar region who wasn't looking forward to it.
But, before the celebrations of Twilight Day can truly kick off, the finale of the Champion Cup was finally underway…
Leon looked over himself in the mirror that was hung up in his locker. His eyes wandered over the various trinkets and memorabilia that he amassed over the years as Champion. Gifts and letters from fans, photographs of his youth back when he was just a Gym Challenger like many others - he went through this ritual every year to allow himself to reflect on any challenges he might have faced to get here.
Needless to say, so much has changed to himself, his friends, the region he called home...It was hard to encapsulate everything he was feeling into a single moment of self-reflection.
But, change isn't always bad.
13 years of being Champion brought about opportunities and challenges he will never forget, but at some points, it felt like he was going through a routine he couldn't break out of. Even though he hardly saw it coming and it took a moment to adjust to changes, he welcomed the storm that came his way. Because it ultimately led to the beautiful rainbow at the end of it all.
And that rainbow, took the form of a stronger heart and deepened bonds.
He smiled fondly at an old photo of him posed with Raihan, Sonia, and Nessa during their Gym Challenge and then softly regarding the photo that was Juliet's most prized possession, which he had grown to treasure as well.
He hoped to take another photo just like it, but for their present selves.
"Well, mate. It's just about time you head out."
"Just give me another minute, Raiha-" Leon turned around, expecting to see the tall Dragon Gym Leader, but he wasn't alone. All the Gym Leaders, including Sonia, were gathered around with gentle smiles on their faces.
Leon blinked. "Oh! Hi. everyone. What are you all doing here?"
"Here to wish our Champion good luck, what else?" Nessa answered lightheartedly.
He suspected as much, but something seemed...different about them. Like, something was lifted from their shoulders. He noticed how they didn't avert their gaze when he looked at them - really looked at them in their eyes. They held their gaze, choosing to look at him for who he was, rather than what he had.
Leon always had the unpleasant feeling in his stomach that his fellow co-workers were intimidated by him. They spent years trying to win over the position he held, building up years of bitterness and envy over his strength. He...never really knew how to address it, not wanting to give them the impressions that he was looking down at them through pity. But, it seemed that they recognized what he might have been feeling on their own terms. During what transpired, it was the first time Leon admitted to himself that he didn't rely on them as he should have. He didn't have to face the horrors of Eternatus on his own. He wasn't above everyone else, but that must have been what it looked liked.
When he finally turned to them for help in organizing the rest of the Champion Cup and the celebrations for Twilight Day, perhaps they saw a change in him. A change that made him more open to relying on others and appreciating what everyone had to offer. He wasn't an untouchable Champion - he was just like them. Fellow Pokemon trainers who loved battling at the bottom of their hearts and weren't just looking to win.
"We also wanted to thank you for organizing all of this and letting us help you. If we knew how hard Rose was pressuring you and making you work, we would have approached you much sooner. Perhaps you wouldn't haven't gotten injured or...controlled if we had intervened." Kabu told him, remorse evident in his voice.
"Kabu...Hey, give yourselves some credit too! WE were able to make the finale happen. And...it's also my fault for letting my pride get in the way of reaching out for help in a situation that even I knew deep down, was too big of a task to accomplish on my own. Thank you, all of you, for standing strong beside me." Leon pumped his fist into the air. "From now on, we won't stand idle to any problems our region might face in the future!"
"...Hmph. I'm fully capable of working alone, thank you very much." Bede grumbled under his breath. Opal lightly bonked him on the head with the handle of her umbrella. Some of the Gym Leaders turned to the new addition to their family with sheepish grins as he took the scolding that was being delivered by Opal.
"Hey squirt, we can't welcome you into the Galar League family with that kind of attitude." Gordie added with a chuckle. Bede huffed and turned away with crossed arms.
Opal sighed exasperatedly. "I'm sorry, Leon. I promise to continue training Bede so he develops more...decorum, for cooperation."
"Well, that does sound like a problem. Do you need any assistance, Opal?" Melony offered with a foreboding smile that sent a cold chill down Bede's spine. The newly appointed Fairy Gym Leader cleared his throat and straightened his posture.
"T-That won't be necessary. I promise to be on my best behaviour under Opal's tutelage."
"Wow, he changed his tune pretty quickly." Piers smirked.
"Can you blame him though? Melony's coaching is super strict, even for me…" Bea whispered.
"What was that, Bea, sweetie?" Melony asked innocently.
"N-Nothing!"
"Come on, everyone. Aren't you forgetting where we are?" Sonia giggled. Everyone burst out into laughter from their silliness and camaraderie, which sent a pleasant tingle through Leon's heart.
He didn't have any more regrets weighing down his heart.
He would see through to the finals until the very end.
The cheers of his name grew louder and louder and he knew he couldn't keep them waiting any longer.
After straightening his snap back and getting a rather rough slap on the back from Raihan, he walked through the double doors leading out into the stadium with renewed confidence burning in his chest. The others watched him walk down the dim hallway leading out into the stadium, each of them wishing him the best of luck under their breaths.
Leon pulled out Juliet's heart scale, his lucky charm, and gave it a chaste kiss before holding it close to his chest.
When Leon felt the astroturf beneath his feet, the crowd roared in excitement.
"Annnd, the man of the hour has finally arrived!" Phil announced.
"Time for the finals of the Champion Cup to begin!" Vanquil added enthusiastically. But, before all of that, Leon held his hand up, letting the MCs know that he had some words that he wanted to say, which also quieted the audience.
"First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming out today!" Leon stared directly at one of the Rotom drones and winked. "And to everyone watching at home, thank you for tuning in! This is the biggest turn out we've ever seen that we have some very special guests in the stands! It's an honor to have the other Champions from the other regions here today to witness this finale!"
The audience erupted in gasps and squeals as the Rotom drone panned over to the VIP stands where the Champions were all seated.
"None of this wouldn't have been possible without the cooperation of everyone in Galar and beyond." He turned to Gloria and spotted his brother standing with his mom in the stands. "I'd like to extend special thanks to the trainer standing before me, Gloria, and my brother, Hop, for rising up as heroes of our beloved region, and fighting alongside Zacien and Zamazenta to capture Eternatus so that we could see another day!"
Both Gloria and Hop blushed bashfully, still not used to being regarded so highly by everyone even if it was well-deserved. Hop moreso, due to being second-best in many aspects. To be called a hero on the same level as Gloria made him swell with pride. His mother looked at him proudly and pulled him into her arms for a tight hug, making him laugh joyfully.
"There's someone else I'd like to thank...A Pokemon trainer who inspired and brought trainers from all over the world together to protect our cities, towns, and Wild Area from rampaging Dynamaxed Pokemon. A trainer who united the world through the values we share as humans with our Pokemon companions by our side - thank you, Juliet." Leon grinned knowingly. He could already picture Juliet covering her face from the impending cameras.
Phil, Mary, Tessu, and Vanquil turned their heads to Juliet, who in fact, did have both of her hands covering her face. Unfortunately for her, the Rotom drones decided to record her anyway, regardless of how much she wanted to shy away. The positive attention was just so overwhelming. But, she promised herself she was going to embrace gratitude more readily. Slowly pulling her hands away from her face, she looked at the Rotom drones and smiled toothily as she leaned into the mic.
"Let's give a big round of applause to all of us! This is our victory!"
The following applause was deafening but the energy in the stadium was full of life. When the clapping slowly died down, Leon returned his fiery gaze at Gloria.
"Now, with everyone on the edge of their seats and the anticipation running in our veins, I couldn't have dreamed of a better challenger to help increase my winning streak! Now that I've seen just what kind of strength you possess as the greatest of challenges, crushing you into the dirt will show everyone just how strong their Champion truly is!" The wind gradually picked up, blowing through his thick cape that made him stand as the imposing trainer he was when things turned serious.
"Come on, Gloria! Let's make this a final match that'll go down in Galar's history! No! A match that'll change Galar forever!" He then struck his iconic pose.
"We're gonna have an absolutely Champion time!"
"Can you believe it folks?! For the first time in years, Leon, the unbeatable Champion, is down to his last Pokemon!" Phil gawked.
"But, don't count him out just yet! Gloria's final Pokemon has been out for awhile so Leon has the upper hand in terms of stamina!" Juliet added.
"Will Inteleon be able to stand up against Leon's Charizard?!" Tessu announced dramatically.
Gloria gritted her teeth and wiped away the sweat from her forehead. The pressure was starting to get to her that she could barely hear the audience's cheers amongst the ringing in her ears. The moment she started to think about this being the end, her Inteleon looked back at her with resolve and valor shining in his eyes.
This wasn't the end.
No, she was just getting started!
She shook off the hesitation and uneasiness, replacing them with fortitude and perseverance with a confident grin.
Leon smirked. He had been waiting for a moment like this for a long time! "It's now or never, Gloria! I'm going to show you how strong we can really be!"
The Champion returned Charizard back into his Pokeball and promptly Dynamaxed his Pokemon before fearlessly tossing it behind him and watching his Charizard grow in size into his grand Gigantamax form. Leon stood proudly in front of his ace with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Well, Gloria?"
Gloria scoffed through his taunts and Dynamaxed her Inteleon as well and though he didn't have a Gigantamax form, he easily stood taller than Leon's Charizard.
But that was hardly going to deter Leon or Charizard.
"Charizard, use Max Overgrowth!"
"And right off the bat, Leon is going for the super-effective grass-type Max move!" Vanquil commented.
"The fact that it's linked to Charizard's Solar Beam means that this could be the final hit!" Mary chimed in.
"Freeze it with Max Hailstorm!" Gloria commanded. Leon raised an eyebrow, unsure about her choice of counterattack against a fire-type on top of the hail inevitably affecting her Inteleon as well. Hm. Perhaps she was taking a leaf out of Raihan's book by optimizing weather effects even if it called for a bit of sacrifice.
The hailstorm negated the effects of Max Overgrowth by freezing the mushrooms in their place, but that didn't mean Inteleon came out unscathed. Hail began to fall from the sky, making everyone in the stadium shiver and huddle close to each other until the weather came to pass.
The cold didn't exactly bother Charizard, but the hail pelting against his skin was nothing short of uncomfortable and distracting.
G-Max Wildfire wasn't going to break through the hail, nor was it going to do much damage against Inteleon, but it's continuous infliction of fire was what made the move so deadly.
There was no way for Inteleon to avoid those subsequent hits.
"It's a Champion time to turn up the heat. Use G-Max Wildfire!"
Charizard unleashed a devastating burst of fire from his wings, which swooped right towards Inteleon and landed directly on target, causing the audience to protect themselves from the onslaught of heat that came from the flames.
It seemed like Leon had the battle in the bag, but Gloria was putting all of her cards towards a gamble that he fell right into.
Hang in there, Inteleon…! Just a little more…!
"Inteleon is getting absolutely slammed by the effects of G-Max Wildfire and he doesn't look like he can go anywhere!"
"What is challenger Gloria playing at?!"
Leon braced himself. This was too easy. Gloria wasn't just going to let Inteleon take hits until he would inevitably faint. She was playing some sort of gamble - a risky game that he unfortunately couldn't read into.
It was time to put an end to the match.
"Charizard, use Max-"
"NOW INTELEON!" Gloria shouted. Inteleon pushed through the fiery assault by pulling out a berry and quickly eating it, letting its effects take control. Juliet caught a glimpse of the berry before it was eaten, jumped out of her seat, and gasped loudly into the mic.
"That's…! Inteleon consumed a Custap berry!"
She didn't get a chance to elaborate its game-changing effects any further as Gloria gave Inteleon the final command that ultimately turned the tides of the match.
"Inteleon, use Max Geyser!"
Gloria didn't give Leon a chance to react as her commands came so quickly and the destructive stream of water landed critically on Leon's Charizard. Charizard's roar pierced through the air, enough to shake through everyone's core until he shrunk down back to size and fainted, leaving everyone in the stadium speechless.
...
Leon...had lost.
Phil somehow was able to pull himself out of his shock while Raid Prism just stared at the scene with their jaws dropped. "I can hardly believe it either, folks! We just witnessed the rise of a brand new Champion! Give it up for Galar's new Champion, Gloria!"
Gloria jumped up and down as her Inteleon shrunk to normal size and ran over to his trainer to hug her tightly. She dropped to her knees and wept happily against her Pokemon's shoulder. Leon watched with his lip pressed tightly together and he tipped his hat down to hide his face.
His time as Champion...was over.
He couldn't process exactly what he was feeling at that moment. He was still reeling from how quickly the tables had turned against him. Disappointment? Shame? Those emotions were probably mixed in there somewhere. But...what happened, happened. Gloria had fairly outsmarted him by distracting him with a defensive strategy and then going in for the final strike. How fitting for a Pokemon like Inteleon as well, rather than going for a more direct approach that many challengers used against him.
He was always so guarded, and played his cards carefully - to have his title swiped right from his head was almost ironic.
This was his first taste of defeat in a while, but it wasn't in his character to be a poor sport.
Leon's mouth broke out into a toothy grin and he launched his snap back off of his head and raised his fist up at the audience.
"My time as Champion is over...But what a Champion time it has been!" He cheered. The crowd went absolutely crazy and cheered harder than they ever had before as a result of the match. As fireworks shot through the sky and sparkling confetti rained down over the stadium, Leon went over to his ace and hugged him tightly. Charizard whimpered sadly, silently apologizing to his trainer for being defeated, but he wasn't mad at all.
"Charizard...You were amazing! Thank you for fighting until the end...We...We may not be Champions anymore, but you'll always be a Champion Pokemon in my heart."
Charizard growled affectionately, weakly returning his trainer's hug before being returned to his Pokeball to get a well-deserved rest. Gloria did the same with her Inteleon before walking towards the very centre of the stadium to stand before Leon.
Without his billowing cape and his crown snapback on his hat, Leon felt...so much lighter. He shot a fond glance to his Charizard's Pokeball before lifting his head back up to the new Champion.
"Congratulations, Gloria! You've beat even the unbeatable Champion - making you the new Champion of the region. You've become a first-rate Trainer, all right. I offer you my heartfelt congratulations!"
Gloria's eyes lit up and she beamed gratefully at the former Champion. "Thank you very much, Leon!"
Leon beamed back and put a firm hand on her shoulder. "And now that you've grown so strong, perhaps it's time I started looking ahead myself. It's time we adults started working on improving the here and now, for the sake of all that's to come! And you, Gloria! What you ought to do now is believe in yourself and your partner Pokémon, and keep on blasting ahead! In order to create that bright future we all hope to see!"
Leon picked up his discarded cape and wrapped it around Gloria's shoulder. He gently grabbed her wrist and tossed it high into the air, proudly showing off Galar's new Champion and new legend. "People of Galar! "Here you have it! A new legend born right before your eyes! Your Champion, Gloria! Bet you can't wait to see what kind of future a kid with this kind of strength might bring about! I sure can't! Let's watch and see what she can do!"
Another flurry of confetti shot through the stadium and the sky continued to be blanketed by endless fireworks, stirring the celebratory atmosphere with hope and wonderment of the future of Galar with a new Champion at the helm.
"And that concludes this year's Champion Cup! This has been an incredible year of twists and excitement that will no doubt be remembered as the best Champion Cup in history!" Phil bellowed lively.
"But, the fun isn't over yet! Everyone from all over Galar, please join us in celebrating this momentous occasion that will be known as Twilight Day from this point forward!" Juliet announced eagerly, before quickly leaving her post to check on preparations.
"...Do I have to wear this?" Gloria asked hesitantly, somewhat struggling to move fluidly with the heavy cape draped over her shoulders and how it dragged along the ground. It was a tad too big for her, not to mention it felt too warm for comfort.
Leon laughed. "You don't have to, but you'll need to wear something to promote those sponsors."
"...Does that mean you're going to be the new Chairman of the Pokemon League?"
Huh, that's right. Chairman Rose wasn't just in charge of Macro Cosmos; he was also in charge of the Pokemon League as well. Both of which meant a lot to him and there was no denying the years he spent making it grow as big as it did. Leon didn't want to deal with Macro Cosmos, but thinking about it now, he wasn't opposed to helping out the Pokemon League in a way. That was technically part of the job as Champion, except in this case it meant he'd take on a more administrative role, which didn't sound as appealing but he wasn't going to presume things without trying. "I'm not the one calling the shots, but I'm sure the Pokemon League will need my help either way. Marcos Cosmos on the other hand, is a massive company and I'm sure they'll find someone suitable to take over the role. Just thought I'd clue you in from a former Champion, to you, Champ."
"Thank you, Leon! I hope you'll help me with other Champion related activities since there's more to the job than just battling, right?"
"That's right. And, don't worry. I'll make sure they don't give you too much work. You're still young, and I'm sure there's plenty of things you'd like to do still. There's going to be a crowd waiting for you outside, but try to have some fun tonight!" He playfully ruffled her bangs before walking off to the male change room to switch into something more comfortable. And, maybe he should take a shower while he was at it.
Yeah, that sounded nice.
But, when he removed his clothes, stepped into the shower, and turned on the cold water to wash the sweat off from his tan skin, he felt a different kind of wetness stream down his face.
And he knew it was different because in contrast to the cold water running down his back, the wetness falling from his face was hot.
He was...He was crying.
...
Defeated, huh?
The word made him feel strange. Cold. Hollow, even. He grew up molding the identity of being undefeated, of always being on top. That's who he was. Or, at least that's who he was supposed to be. Now that a part of his identity was gone, it rendered him speechless and a wave of confusion washed over him as the next thought crossed his mind.
If he wasn't a Champion, what was he now?