Welcome back, one and all, friends! It's been a few weeks, but we're here and ready for more of the Galar Trilogy! There's not much to say this time around, but a quick refresher. Last we left the story, Gloria had lost to Kabu, argued with Ash, before a bunch of Pokémon Dynamaxed outside Motostoke. Of course, the situation was resolved, and Ash and Gloria made up. Now, the adventure continues onward…

Author: Epicocity, Viroro

Rating: T for minor innuendo and violence

Pairings: Amourshipping

DISCLAIMER: As customary…I don't own Pokémon. Obviously.

Love in the Time of Turmoil

Book Two of the Ancienverse Galar and Coda Trilogy

Book Nine of the Ancienverse

Chapter 1

An Overture

"Welcome back, Champion Leon."

"I've told you before, it's just Leon, Clarisse." The Champion's smooth words caused the woman at the front desk to blush, the color of her skin reminding Leon of Sonia's hair for just a moment. It drew a chuckle from him, which made the blush turn crimson; a not altogether unusual occurrence in his presence, but one that it seemed he could not help. Leon leaned forward, Clarisse putting a book between them in embarrassment. "Is the Chairman in?"

"Of course. Chairman Rose is awaiting your appointment."

"Excellent. I'll help myself up. Take care, Clarisse." His parting words caused her to twirl her hair while he stepped on the elevator, already active and waiting for him. Sending a wink the secretary's way, he stepped in and the doors closed, the lift shooting upwards.

Soon as he was alone, Leon let out a labored sigh.

Two weeks. It had already been two weeks since the disaster that had plagued the Wild Area, and yet he felt it had hardly been a day. Perhaps it was a result of the fallout, he figured, running a hand through his long hair. The ecosystem had been thrown out of whack, with Pokémon disputes threatening Gym Challengers, and the people of Motostoke had been rattled. All of it, he had tried to deal with, but it was something he had little preparation for.

For the first time in his entire career, Leon was beginning to wish he wasn't as looked up to for solving problems.

After all, there had never been a problem like this.

Leon leaned forward, his forehead hitting the glass as the elevator continued rising, out of its metal tube and into the bright sunlight that stretched to the sky. Through the glass panes, Leon could see the wondrous city of Wyndon fanning out before him. Here, the people were not aware of the Wild Area. It was a prosperous city, one built by the hands of the very man he was going to see. That peace, at least, brought a smile to Leon's face, especially when he recognized his favorite spot. That kind of moment was something to treasure.

Unfortunately, the frown came back to his face just as quickly.

Uninformed.

The people of Wyndon were uninformed and he was feeling quite the same. Even Macro Cosmos seemed to have no clue what had caused the events, though even now, he was unsure. For that reason, when the elevator at last slowed, Leon straightened his uniform and prepared himself for what was to come.

The doors slid open, and instantly, Leon was hit with a wave of melodious voices in an unfamiliar language. He understood nothing of it, but the piece playing over the record player sounded powerful, if more than a bit heartbreaking. Ignoring it, Leon looked up to find the man of his purpose here, standing at the large windows that lined the office, looking out over Wyndon with contentment.

"Chairman!" he called, making himself heard over the music. It was enough, for the man with salt-and-pepper hair turned, a dazzling grin adorning his face. With the press of a button, the music lowered to allow conversation, much to Leon's approval.

"Ah, Leon! Man of the hour! I'm glad you could make it. Was afraid you'd get lost."

"I'm not here for platitudes, Chairman," Leon said, but could not stop himself from walking to the man's side. The older man thumped him on the back, never losing the genial smile that graced him at every event and ceremony. Not even the twinkle diminished, despite Leon's attempt at assertiveness.

"Of course not. Beautiful, though, isn't it?" Leon followed the Chairman's gaze to the self-same city he had just been observing, agreeing wholeheartedly but never saying a word. "Our crown jewel of Galar, well, excluding you, of course. I want to create a thousand Wyndons just like it."

"Chairman…"

"Oh, relax, Leon. I know why you're here." At long last, Rose turned away from the window and approached his desk. The record player was still going, but it was far more palatable to Leon's ears. "Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you. Macro Cosmos is still looking into the Motostoke Incident."

"Is that what we're calling it?" Leon asked, his brow furrowing as he sat opposite his benefactor, crossing his fingers together.

"The media, at least." Leon noted that he neglected to mention the fact that he owned the media. "Reasons will become clear to us in due time, Leon. Though I've never known you to be so proactive on issues outside of the competition circuit. You didn't even investigate the minor issue at Galar Mine."

"As you said, Chairman: minor."

"Ah, yes. Well, fret not. You've nothing to worry about." Rose sat back in his chair as the music, one Leon could now identify as an opera of sorts, reached a particular swell. From across the desk, Leon could swear to seeing tears on Rose's cheeks. They were gone soon as he smiled again. "Macro Cosmos will get to the bottom of it, and soon as we have an idea, I'll rely on you, Leon. Hero of the people! Champion of Galar! You're still their darling, the unbeatable Leon! So, take pride in that. And your brother, I'm told."

"Hop? What's he have to-"

"I'm told he was at ground zero, along with that girl, what's her name…?"

"Gloria?" Leon questioned, causing Rose to clap his hands together. He snapped his feet back down, causing a frame to topple from the desk to the floor.

"That's it. Ash Ketchum's pick. Mighty fine trainers, the both of them. Wave of the future, wouldn't you say?" This discussion brought a smile back to Leon's face. He didn't quite have the answers he wanted, but knowing Rose was looking into it with all he could made Leon far more interested in the bigger upcoming event.

"Hop is certainly one with zeal, and he and Gloria have been battling since they were tykes. Perhaps one of them is enough to dethrone me."

"Hmm…" Rose's break in the conversation gave Leon a chance to pick the fallen portrait from the floor. It looked to be an older photo, nearly a decade at least, with an unfamiliar woman shaking hands with an unfamiliar man. Given the assortment of other pictures on the desk, those of Rose shaking hands with every sponsor imaginable, it hardly looked out of place, however, and he set it back on the desk, only for Rose to stand and pick it up. "You're an exemplary Champion, Leon. There'll never be another you."

"I wouldn't count on that. Every generation of trainers is just getting better, faster."

"And yet, is that enough?" Leon blinked at Rose's question, the pensive tone throwing him off. His face went back to scrunching, his eyes narrowed. "What is it to be Champion of Galar? What is it to lead our great region in changing times? Could you do it, Leon?"

"Chairman?" His confusion was palpable, and whatever momentary thought had struck Rose seemed to scatter like petals on the wind. He smiled once more, placing the portrait back down and letting the music continue to play.

"Have you ever listened to Kalosian opera, Leon?" the man asked, walking back over to the window, surveying the city of which he wished to make thousands.

"I'm afraid I've not had the pleasure…?" Unsure where he was going with it, Leon stood to join the Chairman. "Is there a reason you're asking?"

"It can be sad, but enlightening. This one…It makes me think. About a woman who would give her all for protection of the people she loved. She would suffer indignities, criticisms, loss, and even death if it meant seeing her people be free. It makes me wonder if that is the kind of Champion we need."

Leon exhaled, at last understanding what Rose was attempting to say in his own roundabout way. He smiled at the Chairman, a hand on his shoulder. "Should it come to that, I would give my all for the people of Galar."

"And they would love you for it…in time…" Rose reached up, patting the hand placed there and continuing to smile. "Forgive me. I've been pensive since the advent of IDEAL some months ago. Dreaming about the future and how to protect it."

"Is that why you called the League Liaison? Ash?"

"In a way, yes. He'd almost be considered as much of a hero as you."

"I'm not a-"

"Well, it's just a musing." Leon frowned, but only for a fraction of a second. He refused to let anything else but a smile grace his face, not at Rose's words lifting him up. "We don't want people to suffer or feel strife. Happy and secure is what we must strive for. You'll help me, Champion?"

"Of course, Chairman. My services are yours." The two men having arrived at common ground took a step away from each other, clasping hands with a genial laugh. "I look forward to the Wyndon Conference."

"As do I. Now, I must make a call to Oleana and see how the investigation is going. Hard nut to crack, she is." Rose turned away, leaving Leon alone for a second before he began walking back towards the elevator. As he was about to cross over the threshold, Rose called back from his phone. "Oh, and Leon, try not to get lost on the way down."

The Chairman winked, and the doors closed as his call was finally answered, sending Leon hurtling back downwards. He chuckled at the Chairman's joke, before the contents of their conversation caught up with him.

Hero of the people? He supposed he was looked at that way, but Rose's contemplation, about a future of happiness and safety made him truly consider the view. Did they all look to him for that? Had they been doing so all along? Leon had never viewed himself that way. Never seen himself as more than the seasoned, professional battler. Yet now, Rose was suggesting that the Champion of the future needed to be more. Leon was unsure if he could be.

He hated feeling that newfound doubt, one that Motostoke had cracked open.

But he didn't have to find the way forward on his own. The guide that had always been there from the beginning was just upstairs, and by the time the elevator had reached the ground floor, the smile was back on his face.

Trusting Rose and Macro Cosmos for the good of the region was all he had to do. That was how he would continue to be the Champion they all wanted him to be: the indomitable, glowing, undefeated Leon.

"Agh, I lost again!"

Gloria fell back, her beret slipping off her head and onto the dirt field where she was currently practicing. Her brown hair splayed itself around her head while her eyes looked up to the sky where smokestacks were producing white clouds that peppered the blue. Next to her, she could hear groaning from a day of exhaustion, most notably from the rabbit at her side. "Raba…"

"Kapika, pika pika!" The shock of yellow fur in her eyesight made Gloria purse her lips and blow at it. Pikachu giggled at the sensation running down his tail and he retreated enough for Gloria to sit up, soon finding Ash's favorite partner in her lap, looking up with his big brown eyes.

"Oh, sure, you can be encouraging when you've kicked our arses for the thousandth time."

"Thousandth and two," called a voice from the blonde woman at the other field in the courtyard. Gloria scowled, sending a glare her way.

"No one asked your opinion, Astrid!" If there had been a rock nearby, Gloria would have picked it up and tossed it at the woman and her Pokémon. The jerk of her body was enough to make Pikachu leap off, back towards the sparring partner that was helping them out, a white-furred lemur that he had called specifically for such an occasion. With another exhale at the thought, Gloria pushed from the ground, swiping her dusty beret and looking across the field to Ash.

"Just think about all the progress you've made," he said with a grin. Behind him, the windows of the courtyard made the gleaming halls of what was soon to be Serena's Performance School come into sharp relief. Some people were walking through those halls, prospective students by Gloria's estimation, but she focused back on Ash, who adjusted his hat. "New moves, and your team is looking stronger than ever."

"I need more than being strong if I'm gonna beat Kabu," Gloria said, stretching out her limbs. Ash soon mimicked her, the two exercising their bodies in tandem. The actions got their Pokémon moving, and Gloria could see Raboot emulating her, while Corvisquire, Chewtle and Applin tried their best to stretch however they could. "I need to be focused. Kabu's a wall, and the only way I'm breaking through is punching at the right spot."

"That's why Passimian's here to help," Ash said, now cracking his knuckles. He was ready to resume the training. Gloria ran her foot along the dusty dirt. The young man briefly tipped his head back, to where his own Galarian capture was sharing a bar of chocolate with Greninja. "You watch, too, Sobble. We'll show you some accuracy and precision!"

"Sahb sahb!" Sobble nodded, downing the rest of his chocolate and bounding forward to stand at Ash's feet.

"All right, Ash, bring it on! Raboot, Chewtle, let's do this! Body Slam, Chewtle! Headbutt, Raboot!" Her order made Astrid snicker, no doubt over her insistence on making the first move, but she knew Ash would do the same exact thing if she'd given him a chance to. Sure enough…

"Passimian, Shadow Ball! Pikachu, Electro Ball!"

"Chu pi!" Pikachu called, more enthusiastic than ever to be taking part. Passimian tossed his berry out at the pair of Pokémon he was facing, swirling with cloaked shadows. Raboot made straight for it while Pikachu leapt into the air for the charging Chewtle. His orb of electricity pulsed and he sent it firing.

"Punch it!" Gloria said with a grin. Her Pokémon were looking tired from the hard day's work, but Applin's cheer from the side emboldened Chewtle to keep going. Her little body struck against the Electro Ball with the weight of a freight train, and she kept going until she struck Pikachu, sending him skidding back. "Jaw Lock! Raboot, keep Passimian out of the way!"

"Rabuh!" Raboot jumped, meeting the berry head on and striking it with his forehead. The berry flew back, striking Passimian precisely on the stomach, something the lemur looked proud about before Raboot rushed to meet him, swinging his legs around with an ordered Double Kick.

"Brick Break. Pikachu." Pikachu didn't need the command. He attempted to dodge out of the way, only for his tail to get caught in Chewtle's teeth. The second it happened, electricity sparked around his body, and before Gloria could order her to break free, the Electro Ball exploded against her mouth, sending Chewtle flying. Raboot, likewise, was struck by Brick Break, barely managing to absorb some of the blow with his legs. He righted himself in midair to catch Chewtle, only for both to slump when they hit the ground.

"Corva-va!" Corvisquire's laugh didn't help and when Gloria aimed a short glare at him, he shut his beak, looking down to see Applin rolling back and forth, as if trying to pre-empt attacks.

"You've gotten good," Ash said, wiping away some sweat as he walked across the field. Passimian was with him, checking over Raboot. "Just two more days. I think you're ready for it."

"Wish I felt ready for it," Gloria admitted, rubbing the back of her head. Her Pokémon looked exhausted, but she could sense the determination, or at the very least a desire for revenge, burning inside them. This time, they needed to walk away with a victory against Kabu. "But you've helped a lot the last two weeks. Putting focus into upgrading basic techniques is something I should've thought of. Any last pointers you can give?"

"Hmm…" Ash folded his arms, looking deeper in concentration that she ever remembered him being. Astrid looked alarmed at the prospect, one hand holding to a quivering Poké Ball while Absol hunkered down. "Well…I mean, it's not great, but…when Kabu tries to go all fwoosh, you need a quick blam. You know, avoiding his rawr and all that."

"Ash, that's word salad, not advice," Astrid now commented, rolling her eyes.

For Gloria's part, the girl tilted her head, mulling over what Ash had just said to her, complete with hand movements to illustrate his point. Tapping her foot on the ground, she found her Pokémon staring at her. It made sense, in its own way, and already a strategy was forming in her mind, one which would no doubt help on the way to victory. "That's a brilliant idea! Thanks!"

"How did you…? Never mind, I'm done asking questions. Hotshot, go get your Pokémon healed up."

"I was about to, Astrid." Her snide voice drew a smirk to Astrid's lips, the blonde getting closer to lean in towards Gloria. It wasn't quite as taunting as usual, but still elicited a glare from Gloria, one that Pikachu tried to intervene on.

"Kapika! Pikaka! Chu pika!"

"We're not arguing, Pikachu."

"Just a friendly verbal spar."

"Chu…" Pikachu said, looking relieved at the fact they weren't fighting. His relaxation was short lived, his body tensing as soon as the Poké Ball in Astrid's hand shook.

"Oh, not again!" Gloria backed away from Astrid as fast as possible. As it had many times over the last two weeks, the Poké Ball burst open and, from it, her new Butterfree emerged, powder coming from his wings as he floated in front of Pikachu.

"Freee! Free free!"

"Pika…" Pikachu's tired face said everything, more so when Astrid leapt to her Pokémon and held him back. He immediately began to thrash under her hold.

"I told you to cut that out! Stop challenging everything that moves!"

"Free!" Butterfree's head turned away from his trainer, spurning her advice, to which the blonde scoffed.

"Look, Butterfree, you wanna fight, I'll let you fight. But stop bursting onto a battlefield like that. It's going to get you hurt one day, and I don't have the ability to make you Gigantamax like you did those weeks ago!" Gloria blinked; it was the first time Astrid had so much as mentioned the phenomenon that Butterfree had undergone since she had captured the Bug type. For a moment, it betrayed a thought that was there, but Butterfree didn't seem to like it.

"Freeeee!" His thrashing increased, and one of his wings slapped against Astrid's face, loosening her hold and allowing the Butterfly Pokémon to break free. He immediately flew for Pikachu, only to find an obstacle in his place.

"Applin, move out of the way!" Gloria cried, realizing her brave little Pokémon had jumped between, her body glowing purple. It manifested as a fist, aiming to strike Butterfree across the face, only to fade before it made contact. A swift Gust sent Applin flying back, right into Ash's arms.

The momentary distraction was all that was needed for Absol to intervene and pin Butterfree to the ground.

"Honestly, what am I going to do with you…?" Astrid blew at her bangs, recalling Butterfree before any more damage could be done. "He keeps seeking challenges like that he's just going to burn up…"

There was something wistful in Astrid's voice, reminding Gloria of the time they'd sat by the fountain. It was gone quick as it came, though, and when Ash handed the injured Applin off to Gloria, he began to speak. "Maybe he just needs a good fight to get it out of his system."

"No, there's more to it than that. I think…maybe he wants power. Like what he had."

"What, you're gonna try to Dynamax him?"

"Gigantamax."

"Same difference," Gloria retorted with hands behind her head. The noise of the courtyard doors opening echoed, allowing the sounds of the school and its prospective students to reverberate around the open air, but none of the three of them paid any mind. "Answer the question."

"Well, look at you, little miss bossy. But for the record, yes, it has crossed my mind. Mastering it would open up a door to…" She broke off again, clutching Butterfree's Poké Ball tighter before stowing it on her belt. "Go get your Pokémon rested."

"I see all of ya have been gettin' along."

"Ah, Marnie!" Gloria turned at the sound of her friend and rival's voice, the teenage girl entering the courtyard as she supported Serena. The pregnant woman looked tired, and Gloria quickly moved to dust off some leaves from a bench, allowing her the opportunity to sit. A quick look up when Serena was comfortably seated told Gloria that Marnie was wearing her bag on her back, looking ready for departure, a fact brought to sharper light by Morpeko crying over Raboot. "You're leaving?"

"She had a class here, and it seems to be enough. Marnie has quite the skill as a dancer."

"Well, my brother is in the entertainment business…" Marnie scratched at her cheek with embarrassment. "What about you, Gloria? Facin' Kabu soon?"

"That's the plan. I'll catch up to you in no time."

"Lookin' forward to it." Marnie reached forward and the girls clasped hands with a grin. There was little else that needed to be said that hadn't when Marnie had earned her Fire Badge, fully declaring herself as a rival to Gloria and Hop. The boy, himself, had also been working hard to earn his own, the two from Postwick in a constant race to see who would get there first. It made a rather uncomfortable realization start to worm itself in Gloria's brain, but before she could latch on to it, Ash threw his arm around her.

"Well, if we meet each other on the road, don't hesitate to camp out with us. Gloria could use someone like you for a training partner."

"Hey, what does that mean? I've already learned loads from you! You're not ditching me, are you?" Ash waved his hands in front of his face, prompting a giggle from Serena, who shared it with Marnie. Astrid, predictably, rolled her eyes.

"You two are really settling into it, aren't you?"

"Settling into what?" the pair of Ash and Gloria asked. Marnie covered her mouth with her sleeve, unable to stop herself from laughing. Serena just smiled. The action caused Ash to clear his throat, finally addressing his wife, who was looking even more noticeably pregnant than she had before.

"How's the school coming along?"

"Well. We're ready for opening next week. I'd say the preliminary courses went well. How about you, Marnie?" Serena asked, kindly continuing to involve the girl in the conversation. She was, however, looking eager to get back on the road, something Serena's soft squeeze of a hand indicated she understood.

"I learned quite a lot from it."

"So, you're not just keeping it open to, er…Performers, is it?" As much as she tried, the world Serena was trying to introduce remained foreign to Gloria, but she still waited for Serena to answer, watching her smile.

"I'm opening it to everyone. Boys, girls, trainers of all walks. Even you could join, Gloria."

"No thanks."

"Would be a good experience. Sometimes we gotta…"

"Yeah, yeah, go off the beaten path. Last time that happened I nearly got trampled." Gloria sighed, clutching Applin close to her chest.

"Well, anyway, we're just about ready. I've even called in some people for guest lectures. So, once you beat Kabu, everything will be all set. And don't worry, we'll all be there to watch."

"Wampa!" Yamper's cry indicated his return to Serena's side from wherever in the school he had been, racing across the courtyard and tackling Pikachu. He soon began to lick his fellow Electric type's face, tickling the poor mouse.

Gloria, meanwhile, turned her thoughts inward.

She had spent so long preparing for her third round with Kabu, that the mere idea of being on the precipice of the match, just a single day separating that encounter, filled her with equal parts anticipation and anxiety. The others had made it seem so easy and effortless, with Marnie looking as though Kabu's flames hadn't made her break a sweat. And for Hop…

"Crap. Hop."

"What's that now?"

"Sorry, Marnie, talk when we see each other again. Guys, return." All but Raboot returned inside their respective Poké Balls, Gloria shoving them away while she ran to the exit from the courtyard. Marnie gave a wave, while Ash and Serena stared after her. Only Astrid said something, in a fashion that made Gloria respond with an obscene gesture.

"Remember to take your Pokémon to the Center, and say hi to your boyfriend!"

She deliberately refused to respond with words, dashing into the cleaned hallways of the Performing School. A couple staff members cleared the way for her as she dashed out, Raboot keeping constant pace with her, allowing her passage to the exterior and deeper into Motostoke. Gloria found the nearest lift, and waited with agonizing patience until she was delivered to the city's upper level and made a beeline straight for the tall building where their entourage (save for Serena, at this point) was staying. Few were lingering outside of it, though the buzz of the air around the city spoke to another successful Gym challenge and overflowing praise. None of it stopped Gloria, charging right through the doors of the Budew Drop Inn and nearly collapsing from the exertion.

"You all right there, mate?"

"Just…peachy…" Gloria gasped out, hands on her bare knees as she looked up to see Hop leaning against the statue in the inn's lobby. His Rotom Phone was out, checking what looked to be some rudimentary rankings, but he quickly stowed it away. "Did you…?"

"A freshly earned Fire Badge. Looks like you fall behind again, Gloria." He said it with no ill meaning, and Gloria tried to take it as such. She still couldn't help the pangs of jealousy and inadequacy when Hop pulled out his badge case to reveal the Fire Badge sitting nicely within. He put it away just as quickly, as if guilty for having moved ahead. It was a kind of pity she didn't need, and one that was cast aside by a totally different emotion. "I thought you promised to be there."

"Er…sorry. Got caught up in training and lost track of time." Now being her turn to feel guilty, Gloria turned away from Hop, hoping to catch sight of just about anything in the room. "I wanted to watch, though. Just…"

"Yeah, I get it!" Hop said, and Gloria soon found his arm around her. Though she tried to deny it and stop it, her face flushed and she scrambled to remove herself, only for Hop to pull her tighter with a grin. "You don't want to fall behind anymore. I knew it was gonna happen, mate. But that just means when you eventually watch me from the stands, it'll be something real special."

"Then I guess I'll just have to promise to make it up to you." Gloria knew not what she said, and Hop hadn't registered his own words either.

It took neither of them long to realize it, separating and clearing their throats. Silence interceded, broken only by the dinging of the elevator that suggested a new arrival to the lobby from the upper floors. Fishing for something to break the awkward silence, Gloria cast her eyes around, finding the statue, but despairing at finding any way it would break the tension.

"Well, look at you two. Thick as thieves as always, huh? Or so Leon would say." Grateful for anything to reduce whatever had just happened, Gloria looked up to see the familiar heart-studded, ginger hair of Sonia come bouncing down the steps to the lobby. She looked exhausted, as if having spent hours poring over papers or some other boring stuff.

"So, Lee talks about me, huh?"

"Us," Gloria said, rolling her eyes. The awkward air returned and she quickly attempted a course correction. "Er…you and me. As in, both of us individually. Not a unit."

"Rabah…" Raboot shrugged with his sigh and Gloria didn't appreciate his exasperation at her expense.

"Well, either way, it's nice to see you two acknowledge each other so much, even as rivals."

"Well, why wouldn't I? Gloria's more than just my rival. She's my best mate. I'd never just leave her behind." Something about the way Hop had said it clearly touched a nerve in Sonia, and Gloria slapped him upside the head. He didn't quite get the message.

"So, what're you doing here, Sonia? More research?" Gloria came closer to the young woman, drawing her out of whatever negative headspace Hop's statement had made. She managed a wry smile.

"Yes, or so gran leads me to believe. Not sure how it all connects, but I'm developing some theories. Unfortunately, every major document is either useless or sealed in Hammerlocke…" Sonia let out another sigh, her long, painted nails tapping against her chin in thought. "Gran thought, or really it was my idea, that after what happened here a couple weeks ago, maybe there was a connection to the Darkest Day."

"That weird glyph thing in Turffield?"

"What's the Darkest Day?" Hop's sudden question made Gloria jump, but Sonia was too lost in reverie, staring at the statue, to have earned such a reaction. Gloria took the chance to answer, from what scraps of memory she could call upon.

"Some thing in the past with a bunch of giant Pokémon rampaging."

"Oh, well, no wonder you want to look into it. Think there's a connection between Motostoke and the legend?"

"It was a thought." Sonia stepped closer to the statue, placing her hand upon it. "The Darkest Day…there are so many tellings in record. Enough that we can't definitively say what the right story is. The only consistent thing I can see is that of rampaging giant Pokémon, and the hero that used the sword and shield to cut through the darkness and protect Galar."

"Lots of confusion, huh? What other conflicting accounts are there, Miss Sonia?" Hop asked. He was looking very interested in the topic and Gloria stood back to let him be involved. History was far too boring a subject to come up with theories for, and she already was suppressing a yawn.

"There are only so many, but the various differing patterns are enough to make me doubt some accounts. Was the hero royalty, or not? Did the sword come first, or the shield? Even the cause of the Day is heavily in conflict among historians, right down to whether they were Dynamaxed or Gigantamaxed."

"Uh, aren't they pretty much the same?"

Hop whipped around, making Gloria take a step back as he came close. "Mate, you've got to be kidding me. Gigantamax is a whole other level from Dynamax! How have you watched Lee's matches all these years and not noticed that?!"

"What? It just looked like a cooler Dynamax, okay?! Wasn't exactly paying attention to the commentary."

"You're both right, in your own way," Sonia said. She kept drumming her fingers on the impressive statue, making Gloria look just a bit closer at it. "Gigantamax alters the Pokémon's entire cellular structure at times, by absorbing more Galar Particles. Changes its moves, which is why Leon's Charizard is different from a normal Dynamaxed Charizard. However, it is functionally the same in terms of the process. Both do, after all, come from the same place. Though it does make me wonder: is the Gigantamax factor related to the inherent Pokémon or whatever causes Dynamaxing?

"Ugh, this statue is more useless than I thought."

Sonia aimed a kick at the base of the statue, but received only a stubbed toe for her efforts. In an effort to cheer her up, Gloria clapped the young woman on the back with a beaming grin. "Chin up, professor, you'll get there."

"I intend to." A huff later, and Sonia seemed to have the wind put back in her sails. Her fists pumped, the young woman looked at the hero in front of them, brandishing his sword and shield to the world as if she, herself, was challenging him. "I will get to the bottom of those three thousand years ago and what made the advent of Dynamax possible in Galar. I just know they're connected. Which means my destination is set: Hammerlocke."

"Well, looks like we've all got places to be!" Hop said, himself now unable to take his eyes off the statue. "I want to head to Hammerlocke, too, to challenge Raihan."

"He's not an easy opponent," Sonia noted, twirling a bit of her hair, but otherwise ignoring the challenge from Hop's lips. Gloria resisted the urge to claim she would get there first, knowing what a farce that was when Kabu was still staring her in the face. "That said, would be nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of. Leon was never any good at it, but you seem a mite more observant, Hop. How about we head to Hammerlocke together?"
"Sounds like a plan to me. I'm curious about this Darkest Day thing, too."

"Yeah, sure, have a fun time. I'll just stay here and try to beat Kabu."

"Rab…" Raboot's consternation didn't stop Hop from casting her a wan smile.

"Don't be like that, mate. You'll beat him for sure. No rival of mine can stay down for long." Hop closed the gap one more time, taking Gloria's hands. She could swear to hearing Sonia snicker a little, but in an effort to prove herself bigger than that, she remained in contact, staring straight into Hop's amber eyes. "The next time we meet, you'll be even stronger. Then we'll have a battle."

It took a moment, but Gloria relented with a chuckle under her breath. "It's a da-deal. It's a deal."

Sonia's sniggering went up a notch, and Gloria began to imagine a very snarky blonde woman in her place. Nevertheless, the teens broke contact, and Hop turned to Sonia to begin making travel arrangements. Knowing she no longer had party to their concerns, Gloria waved a quick goodbye, the thought of letting her Pokémon rest once more coming into her brain. They bid her farewell, and Gloria left the inn to head for the nearest Pokémon Center.

It wasn't long before her eyes were drawn to Motostoke Stadium. To Kabu.

The Darkest Day, Dynamaxing, heroes and swords and shields. All of it paled in comparison to that looming mountain, the one she was determined to climb. None of it mattered but the direct path in front of her. Gloria pumped her fist.

"We have one more day to get ready. Let's do it, Raboot!"

"Rab rab!" Raboot kicked upwards, meeting Gloria's fist with his foot in a promise to see them to victory.

The next page of her legend was about to begin.

"How much longer are we going to have to wait here, Y?!" Jessie's shrill screeches made James cringe, even if he agreed with her general inquiry. Above their heads, painting the alleyway they were crouching in gold and orange, the sun was setting on Motostoke, no different than any other day. Or so James thought. Y had a strange tendency to monitor the sky since two weeks ago, something Jessie didn't notice. Nor had Wobbuffet. Meowth, alas, was the only one to share in James's suspicions, something proven by Jessie's continued outburst. "The sun's almost down and I need my beauty sleep!"

"No beauty sleep is gonna help dat face, Jess."

"Say it again before I rip off your coin!"

Just as the two were about to come to blows, the sound of solitary footsteps interceded, catching the pair in an unfortunate position. Shadows pooled in the alleyway, blotting the sun, but Y looked anything but concerned. In fact, a smile came to his face as the figure at the end of the alley approached slowly.

"Serena, you made it." Now no longer framed by the dying sun, the familiar face of the twerpette, if not the familiar form due to her pregnancy, was made plain to the quartet. The honey blonde smiled, nodding at Jessie and the rest before facing her father. "It's been a few months."

"And you've been busy, Ash tells me."

"Is that why you wanted to meet? I thought you were busy with your Performing School. So the grapevine says. How is that going?" Y stepped closer to his daughter, lightly patting her on the head in the most awkward fashion imaginable. James winced a little, knowing all too well the signs of a father unfamiliar with caring for his child. Still, he couldn't help but find joy in the small smile Serena shared with her father.

"It's going well, but I get the feeling you knew that. We're already expecting the final orders of preparations tomorrow." Serena breathed out, shifting her weight and eventually sitting upon a dumpster. Unable to help himself, James quickly sought the cleanest rag he could find to wipe the space for her. It wouldn't do to have a pregnant woman sitting somewhere so filthy. "But you know I'm not here to catch up, and since you won't talk to Ash, apparently, it means I have to be proactive in protecting my school. You're here for Alastair, right?"

"You know I am." Y's refusal to deny their pursuit took James aback, while behind him, Jessie and Meowth finally stopped their fight. Though that might have been because Wobbuffet's girth pushed them apart.

"And what is he planning? How will it affect Motostoke? My students? Gloria?"

That one took a while for Y to answer, and after nearly a minute of his silent deliberations, James could take it no longer. "Well, I don't think he had anything to do with Motostoke."

"That doesn't answer my question, James."

Her use of his first name caused Y to jerk and he rubbed the back of his head with a disgruntled expression. "No, he's right. Alastair was here to save Motostoke. I'm all but certain."

"We all know what saving meant to IDEAL."

"Yes, but I don't think it's the same. The tipping points are over, and Alastair has more than acknowledged that he lost. If he's planning anything, it would be small-scale." Y stopped rubbing and looked to his daughter. "Serena, you've more than earned your peace. Focus on the school, we'll focus on Alastair."

"With noses like ours, we can track down that buffoon in no time!" Jessie proclaimed, cracking her knuckles.

"And we'll do it without spending a dime!"

"Ain't dat just fine!"

"Wobb wobba wobb wobb!"

"Hah, of course…" Serena looked away, stifling a small giggle. "Ash'll be relieved. He was really starting to get worried you went back to committing crimes for a while. Though I'd steer clear of Gloria. She's pretty convinced you are the criminals you acted as."

"Well, I do manage to steal fame the region over!"

"In ya dreams, Jess…"

"And our nightmares…" James agreed, only to find himself slapped on the back of the head, leaving a rather large welt.

"Speaking of fame, Jessie," Serena said, making the magenta-haired woman perk up. It was no surprise; the twerpette seemed to be one of the few people to make Jessie drop her act, if just for a second. "This Performing School…it's still small, and given my current condition, I can't go around recruiting."

"What's your point, twerpette?"

"Well, since you're busy with my father-"

"Dat's more a personal mission."

"Alastair was part of Team Rocket after all. Falls to us to see the last bit of it stamped out," James agreed, nodding his head. Serena wasn't deterred, continuing on as if they had never interrupted in the first place.

"I was hoping you might spread the word. You're one of the best Performers I know, and it would really make me happy to know you were helping out. Though I can understand if you don't want to. You have your own career to consider, after all," Serena finished. She was moving to stand, something her father helped her with, and which James found himself doing the same. Soon as she was up, the blue-haired man looked to Jessie, wondering how she was taking the request.

For a second, her hair drooped, covering her eyes, and James began to believe it would receive a swift rejection. At least, he thought so until her head and hair flung backwards. "Ohohoho! So, you admit my skill!"

"I wouldn't go dat far, Jessie…"

"Very well, I'll oblige! But only so you owe me one, and I'll cash in! I'll bring in more students than even you could."

"Mm. Thank you." Serena bowed as much as she could and soon straightened, nodding to her father. "And, be careful. I don't want to hear about some robot attack on the news."

The trio didn't have the time to retort, Serena taking her leave out of the alleyway, dusk now turned to night. Jessie paid no mind, continuing to cackle about the alleyway, to the point Gourgeist popped out and joined her alongside Wobbuffet. James and Meowth approached Y, still watching where his daughter had left.

"So…what's next, boss?" James asked, feeling a bad taste on his mouth for asking it. Meowth blanched, too, but the older man didn't notice. He was too lost in thought.

Then, as he had been wont to do since the incident two weeks ago, he muttered the familiar words that continued to puzzle him. "There's something wrong with this land…"

"Ugh, is he on about that again? Just tell us where to go already, grandpa!"

"I'm not a grandfather yet," Y admitted sharply, showing that he wasn't as lost as he appeared. "We need more information. Motostoke, Galar Mines, all of these locations are populated, and then there's the rumors Cedric heard, about something in a research facility owned by Macro Cosmos."

"Dey just keep croppin' up all over Galar, huh…?" Meowth questioned, stroking his whiskers. "Maybe we oughta dismantle 'em like we did to all dose other bozos."

"Those other bozos aren't as well connected as Macro Cosmos, and we don't know who inside would be reason for Alastair to be so active," Y pointed out. James had to admit he had a point, but was already dreading the call for what the next mission would be. After having spent so many years in the life of a criminal, it was hardly enjoyable anymore to continue acting like one. "Is it at the top or just below? We'll need to investigate and find out, starting with their biggest facility in Hammerlocke. At least for you. It might behoove me to check the top of the structure, instead. A two-pronged effort."

"But for us that means…Back undercover…" James said with a sigh.

"Joy," Meowth uttered in a deadpan, only to find himself headlocked by Jessie. James shared in the same fate.

"Stop complaining! Hammerlocke will be where I show up the twerpette! She might have grown up into a great rival, but I'm not letting some twerpette get the jump on me!"

"Ain't you working for her?" Jessie didn't care, spinning around and letting Gourgeist and Wobbuffet join the chain as they marched out of the alleyway, the haughty laughter bouncing off the walls.

Knowing Jessie wouldn't stop until they reached Hammerlocke, James gave himself into the ride, glancing back to find Y looking down at the ground. He touched it, scrutinizing every piece of gravel in the stone, before looking up high yet again. The man was inscrutable, but James knew there was no choice but to continue trusting his judgment, and hoping that at the end of it, the last piece of Team Rocket would be gone.

Letting Y continue his work, James broke free of Jessie, and the former criminals set off for the train station, and their next mission.

Author's Note: Little lengthy of a first chapter, but one with a lot of building and catching up to the cast members since two weeks passed. And yes, Gloria will be battling Kabu soon. It's not being saved for the end like I did with Hala. There was a want for this to still be different. Likewise, with some more establishment, we have a direction for Y and TRio, though don't expect the former to show up; he'll be busy with other things. That all said, all of this chapter laid the bedrock for where this story will go forward, and I hope you continue to enjoy Gloria's adventure onward.

Viroro: And we're back with Turmoil's first chapter, and the start of the next stage of Gloria's journey! But first, we had a very important scene between Leon and Rose. We didn't get to spend much time with the Galar Champion during Traveling, but the strongest trainer of the region won't remain a background element for much longer. As for Gloria, however, this chapter is very much intended to get us caught up with how she and Ash have been preparing for the Gym Challenger's rematch against Kabu, ontop of catching up with Sonia and Hop, and we hope you had fun with the elements we laid out. And looks like there's definitely something more brewing between Gloria and Hop, beneath the surface...

Beyond that, while Serena is still soon to leave the group, our stay in Motostoke will ensure we still have time to spend with her before then. And even if she won't be physically present, we have no intention to remove her from the story wholesale, which is one of the reasons we showed her meeting with the former Rocket trio so they could help spreading the word of the school. We were never planning on just using the trio in their 'classic' role and ending it there, and we hope to deliver with them, as well.

We hope you enjoyed this chapter, and that you'll keep looking forward to what's to come!

With that, there's not much to say, but look forward to the next chapter on my usual schedule! In the meantime, please Review and,

Dare to Be Silly.