Greetings and salutations, friends! Welcome to the Galar Trilogy of the Ancienverse! Or, as you'll notice below and I like to call it, the "Coda Trilogy". This is because, as I said three years ago (wow, time flies), the Ancienverse did officially end with Love in the Time of Tomorrow. Insofar as that was the conclusion to the story I wanted to tell. This trilogy, however, continues a story in the world of the Ancienverse. Ash and company are a major part of it, but, well…you'll see what we'll do.
Yes. We. Myself and fellow author Viroro-kun worked together on this endeavor. But more on that below! For now, we invite you to another adventure in the world of the Ancienverse! Please enjoy! (And forgive any poor attempts at British slang, ha ha.)
Author: Epicocity, Viroro-kun
Rating: T for minor innuendo and violence
Pairings: Amourshipping
As always, cover done by Captain Luky Greace. Thanks for all your hard work!
DISCLAIMER: Neither of us own Pokemon. Nor do I want to handle a franchise that big. So, yeah.
Love in the Time of Traveling
Book One of the Ancienverse Galar and Coda Trilogy
Book Eight of the Ancienverse
Chapter 1
A Start
"Ma'am, we're ready to begin the experiment."
The woman's steps echoed in the vast hallway, giving no words to the worker that had addressed her. Passing a hand through her platinum hair, her eyes fell over the tablet she was carrying. Her schedule for the day was just as full as always, but she knew the importance of this experiment, one that demanded the presence of the chief executive.
And she was nothing if not methodical.
"Has there been any notable progress?" she asked in a clipped tone, no pause in her steps.
She looked to a nearby sealed door, the head of the laboratory at her side continuing to give her the necessary rundown as they walked. "We managed to pinpoint an area with a larger than average number of Galar particles gathering. It's not quite a Power Spot, yet exudes much of the same energy readings. We speculate it might be a result of the IDEAL incident."
The woman didn't react, the explanations of the worker sounding like white noise to her. She already knew this; the events of five months ago were hardly secret anymore. It was an event that had left major scars all across the world, but nothing compared to the current crisis Galar was facing. The only solution for it was to focus their efforts on their most mysterious yet unique asset, one she could proudly call herself an expert on, perhaps second only to Professor Magnolia.
As the worker continued to supply her with information she already knew by heart, the tall, cold woman made her way inside the main testing room. The automatic door opened in front of her, revealing several more company researchers, each of them focused on typing nervously or sharing whispered theories to each other in the dark room. At the back of the room, a wall comprised of several monitors flashed intermittent images of the telltale red and purple lights indicating activated Power Spots. The flickering of the Galar particles was just as mesmerizing as ever, while several readings accompanied each change of scenery.
"After monitoring all the Power Spots around the region, we managed to triangulate a point where all the Galar particles seemed to converge. It's hard to say for sure, but it looks like we may be getting closer to their original source." The worker seemed to be rather proud of his remarks, as if that theory was already fact. The woman couldn't allow that confidence to go unopposed.
"Are you sure it isn't just an underground deposit of Wishing Stars? That has happened before." The woman's comment was sharp and blunt, just as it needed to be. This was a matter of the utmost importance, and they couldn't waste their time chasing false hopes and dead ends.
"We entertained the theory, but it's unlikely. Wishing Stars only act as conduits for the Galar particles and thus tend to deteriorate and diminish their power when used. These energy readings, however, are on a scale previously unmatched. It's as though the land itself is made of it."
The woman moved her attention back to the readings, confirming her researcher's statements; the data appeared to indeed be on a never-before-seen scale, the line on the digital chart trending towards the higher end. She had never seen such a steady influx of data since her own days as a measly Macro Cosmos researcher, and the thought of reaching a new golden age of Dynamax research was most alluring.
Solving the cause of the crisis that plagued them was merely a bonus.
She had to know more.
The stoic chief executive turned back to her subordinate, her stare boring into him. "You already set up the drilling team to get to the bottom of this latest nexus of Galar particles, correct? Put them on the screen."
"As you wish," the man replied, the various images replaced by a singular, larger one that encompassed every screen. Upon it was the drill team, working ceaselessly to tear the earth asunder as the red light of the Galar particles grew wider by the second. They were their top team, the same one they entrusted with the renovation of each League stadium several years before. The woman had no doubt they were putting the highest level of effort in finding the source of the energy spike without damaging the precious Power Spot.
Everything hinged on it.
It was almost amusing to think that just a few years before they still hadn't managed to harness even half of the energy produced by Galar particles, while now they were hedging their bets on it for the continued survival of their region. It was far from a favorable position, but after devoting the better part of her life to understanding the inner workings of Dynamaxing, she knew they needed to get to the bottom of how such power worked. Such power could only hold meaning in the hands of man, and man now needed it more than ever.
As she thought so, the drilling team concluded their activities, the red light coalescing into a pillar of energy that shot for the sky, turning it a faint crimson hue; an unmistakable sign of the power they were dealing with. The woman's subordinate adjusted his lab coat with a hint of pride, his gaze going around the room to check that all the scientists were acting at once.
"We're ready to start the test and verify the potency of the Power Spot. At your word, ma'am," the man said, still rather eager to please.
The chief executive simply swept her hand in the air. "No need to wait. Let's proceed."
"Understood, sir," one of the scientists called, starting to type the necessary inputs, all while the woman's eyes remained focused on the screens.
She didn't need to know the details, for she had pioneered much of their methods and research. All that mattered was the concrete, unquestionable result. Their time was short, and they needed a breakthrough in their research now. She observed patiently as the pillar of light wavered in intensity, pulsing a deeper shade of red, before the color morphed into a sick purple as more Galar particles gravitated around the center of the Power Spot.
"The values are within range. We are registering an increase in the energy readings of fifty-two-point five percent of its initial values," a female scientist declared, only to correct herself with a frown. "No, wait- it's sixty-three...no, seventy-eight-"
The woman stopped paying attention to the scientist's constantly escalating percentages, letting the excited, and even afraid, reactions of everyone else in the room speak in her stead. The executive remained utterly stone-faced, her attention completely on the increasingly deeper purple energy column, realizing the kind of concentrated power swirling inside it. Some of it dispersed, modulating its output, but it was more than palpable. So palpable, it could be felt through the screens with a keening cry on the air. A power stronger than anything she had ever seen in years of research for Macro Cosmos. And little by little, the values started stabilizing, under the scientist's disbelieving commentary.
"-ninety-six...three hundred percent!" The scientist pushed up her glasses, reading over the data on her screen in utter shock. "This is the highest level of Galar Particles ever registered! And it seems to be funneling even more."
The declaration caused an uproar among the scientists in the room, excitement and fear both clashing in a maelstrom of voices. Panic and enthusiasm were most prevalent among the experts as they started to loudly discuss the possibilities of the discovery and what it could mean. The woman was hardly thrilled by the display of unprofessionalism, but in the face of such a monumental event, she was hardly in a position to criticize them; after all, they now held the key to revolutionize the world as they knew it.
The woman allowed herself the briefest of smirks as she tuned out the background chatter and faced the head scientist again. "Call the Chairman, he must know of this."
The man didn't need to hear the order twice before setting up the call, a holographic screen forming right in front of the executive. The woman folded her arms and stood at attention as the familiar visage of a black-haired man in a grey suit appeared on the other end of the call. He appeared to be in a hurry, yet his eyes still glimmered with interest.
"When you said you would go and check out one of our research facilities, I didn't expect an immediate report." The man leaned forward, playing a bit with a large tuft of hair while his gaze went to and fro around him. "I presume there's good news? I'm somewhat preoccupied here."
The woman bowed her head, her attitude far more deferential now that the Chairman was there. "Sir, it looks like we found it. The energy we've been looking for, powerful enough not just for Galar's needs, but the world's as well."
The Chairman didn't appear surprised. On the contrary, he smiled with pride. Seeing that pleased the woman; he was reacting just as she expected him to.
"So, we finally did it?" he asked.
The woman nodded, glancing over at the still updating data on the screens ahead of her. "We will run some further tests first, but chances are that it is the case."
"Splendid. I look forward to hearing more from you." The man checked his wristwatch, turning more serious. "You'll have to excuse me for now, however; I have an exhibition match to attend. Promoting the upcoming season takes effort, after all! I expect things to continue proceeding well."
The woman simply nodded, and the call ended as quick as it started.
All the other workers in the room pat themselves on the back for the approval of their hard work. She wasn't too bothered by the brief interaction; the Chairman was a busy person with several commitments to honor beyond their work to improve Galar, after all. She already knew how much he trusted her work, and that had always been a point of pride for the woman. But the chief executive knew that it was still far too early to celebrate; what they had just discovered was only the beginning of something new, and there was still much more to do before they could know how to make use of it. Especially with what was on the horizon.
BWEEP! BWEEP!
The piercing sound of the warning siren violently brought the woman's attention back to the room, throwing every other scientist into disarray. The entire room was dyed in a deep red hue, every employee scrambling at their desks to understand the source of the alarm. The woman's stoic stare turned into a harsher, ugly grimace, making her way to the center of the room.
"What is happening?" the woman asked, her voice raised enough to be heard over the deafening alarm.
"There's been an intrusion in Sector D!" one of the scientists said, frantically typing to get a read on the situation.
The woman stomped her foot down, fists clenched fiercely. "Pull up the security footage, now!"
Her order was quickly heard, the row of screens instantly flashing to a series of camera feeds depicting another, distant part of the laboratory, the one leading to the area that stored the samples of Galar Particles reserved for their studies. Several Macro Cosmos employees and scientists were on the floor, visible bloody gashes on their bodies as they slumped all over the room. Various containers of Galar particles and priceless scientific equipment laid on the ground, as well, shattered and useless, their contents flickering around the room before fading away.
Another nearby scientist chimed in from her position, observing her screen. "None of our men seem to be dead, but they've all been critically injured-"
"What's the status of the samples?" The woman pierced the scientist with a glare drenched in anger. That was enough for the worker to swallow down and stop speaking, taking a few tense seconds to move to actually important information.
"They were all destroyed, chief."
The woman didn't reply, her attention going back to the feeds playing on the various screens. Months, perhaps years of work, destroyed in an instant, the culprit having left a trail of destruction behind them. Checking every screen, she could catch a glimpse of someone rushing through the corridors, far too fast and covered up to be recognized. The woman slammed her palm on a nearby desk in anger, her formerly stoic face now morphed by anger as she glared daggers to those around her.
"Get to the bottom of this! Stop this intruder and try to salvage what you can! Contact the drill team. We don't want to lose that asset! Contain it!" she shouted. None of the scientists needed to hear that again, continuing their mad dash to understand what was happening and who caused the damage. A simple message sent the company-employed trainers and security officers to deal with their intruder.
All the while, the woman turned to the row of screens, her anger becoming more focused on their mysterious assailant. Whoever had just tried to sabotage them had committed a grave mistake. No one could dare going against Macro Cosmos, against her, and hope to get away with it, not after the progress they just made.
She would get to the bottom of it, and before long, no one else would be able to oppose her ever again.
"And this incredible match is about to reach its conclusion, folks! It's time for the showdown you've all been waiting for!"
The girl's brown eyes shone brightly as she sat on the comfy couch of her house, the television showing dynamic angles of the ongoing battle between two of Galar's strongest trainers. On one side stood a man with unmistakable, long purple hair, a hat held high like a crown, and a flowing cape displaying all the sponsorships the man's fame earned him as well as his unending confidence. Opposite him was a man wearing a black hoodie, a bright orange headband outlining his crest-shaped hair and an excited grin adorning his face. All the while a thick sandstorm raged around the battlefield. The girl clenched her fists, and by her side a white bunny was emulating her every move.
On the screen, the challenger jabbed at himself, the camera focusing on his face as his grin widened. "It's over, Leon. I'll bring down your flawless victory record today!"
"I wouldn't be too cocky, Raihan." Leon tossed his next Poké Ball up, catching it immediately with a sweeping motion. His cape fluttered from the winds of the stadium, holding the capture device high as he stared down his rival. The girl could feel her palms sweating just from watching, the air of anticipation coming through the screen. "Me and Charizard have no intention of losing!"
Raihan's expression grew wilder, beaming in challenge as he clasped his own Poké Ball firmly. He tossed it out in an arch towards the ground. "We'll see about that! Duraludon, go!"
The device opened in mid-air, its light peppering the screen and revealing the steely, blocky and angular form of a fearsome dragon, the Pokémon roaring its name as it took a battle stance. The crowd roared across the screen and the girl watching resisted the urge to hop up and down, like her companion. Duraludon and Raihan both gestured at Leon, and the man smirked, preparing his own throw with just as much enthusiasm.
"You heard them, Charizard!" The Ball snapped open, revealing the familiar form of an orange and cream winged Pokémon, matching his own trainer's determination to win. Charizard and Duraludon stared at each other intensely, both the Pokémon and their trainers eager for their challenge. From her couch, the girl's voice broke loose.
"Yes! Let's go, Leon! Show 'em the strength of a Champion!"
The girl grinned with glee, fists pumped in excitement, knowing that the match was now going to reach its climax. There they were, the strongest trainers in all of Galar, ready to seal another unmissable match for the entire region, showing people what a real Pokémon trainer could do. Even from across the screen, their sheer drive to win could be felt, keeping her from wanting to miss any second of it as Charizard and Duraludon lunged at each other
"Scor scor! Nibbah!" The Pokémon at her side punched and kicked in the air, almost like he was the one on the field.
"And here we are! The legendary rivalry between Gym Leader Raihan and Champion Leon is sure to bring us another unforgettable clash! Chairman Rose, do you have anything to say about the match?" the announcer of the match said, passing the microphone to the sharply dressed man in a grey suit at his side. The man smiled for the camera and cleared his throat before the view panned back to the match, showing Charizard firing a Flamethrower in Duraludon's direction. The steely dragon glowed and hit back with a sphere of power which Leon's partner barely avoided, in spite of the ongoing sandstorm battering him.
"I don't think there's anything I could add that someone else hasn't already said about them." Charizard went on the offensive again, charging up green claws of draconic energy to slice at Duraludon with impunity. "Leon and Raihan are the finest examples of people shaped by our beloved region, and what they're giving us here is yet another proof of the kind of battling you can only find here, among the strongest trainers in the whole Galar Region!"
"Bold claims, but ones we have seen reconfirmed over and over." As they spoke, Duraludon managed to evade the flurry of hits, retaliating with a close-range Draco Meteor that exploded right on top of Charizard, splintering at close range and tossing the Champion's Pokémon groundward. The girl flinched as she saw Charizard being pelted by the attack's stony remnants. "Raihan has been able to dictate the flow of battle for a while now. Will he finally manage to hand Leon his first defeat?"
"Hard to say," Rose commented, just as Charizard stood back up and returned on the offensive with another flurry of Dragon Claws. "Raihan's drive to surpass Leon is absolutely showing, but it's not by luck that Leon managed to reach the top. He's shown that since his Gym Challenge so many years ago."
"More than a decade, and still no one has truly managed to defeat him. That's why Leon is the pride of Galar!"
"But that does not mean Leon is invincible. I hope one day to see a Champion even greater than Leon rise up and guide our region to newer heights, be it Raihan, another Gym Leader, or perhaps even someone new. This year's Gym Challenge is starting in but a few days, after all."
Hearing that, the girl could feel the blood rush through her veins. The Gym Challenge was bar none the most awaited event for any Galarian trainer worth their salt, and realizing how soon it would begin only filled her with excitement. She could already see herself in Leon and Raihan's places, standing on the battlefield with her loyal partner at her side, ordering him deftly through harsh battles to seize the victory they deserved, just like she dreamt of for years.
"It's going to be interesting to see what the next generation of trainers will bring to the table," the commentator added, prompting an amused chuckle from the Chairman.
"Oh, I'm sure this year's Gym Challenge will be one to remember. The League already received several high-profile endorsements for this year. Who knows? Perhaps one of these rising stars will finally ascend to the top, and outclass even Leon."
"You bet, Chairman!" The girl jumped on top of the couch, yelling out with passion as she jabbed at herself, a prideful grin plastered on her face. "And that rising star will be us! Isn't that right, Scorbunny!?"
The white Pokémon wore a grin to match hers, shaking his paws to the sky with energy. "Bun bun! Scorbun!"
"That's right! There's nothing we can't aim for!" She and Scorbunny shared a high five, both of them smiling. Then, she turned back to the television, pointing at Leon's visage on the screen as if he was standing right in front of her, her confidence swelling up. "You hear that, Leon!? We're gonna defeat you and take your title for ourselves! Or my name is not-"
"Gloria, quiet down! It's almost midnight here!" a piercing voice boomed through the walls. It was familiar and menacing enough to freeze both girl and bunny on the spot, realizing just how noisy they were being. Human and Pokémon traded sheepish grins.
"Uhm, right. Sorry, mum!" Gloria said, lowering herself back to a standing position and making sure not to make any further noise, while Scorbunny dropped like a rock back on his seat.
"And lower the telly's volume, you're giving me a headache!"
The girl rolled her eyes as she grabbed the remote, bringing the volume as low as possible. "Sheesh, alright, alright."
As the voices became just audible enough and no further yell rose, Gloria let out a relieved sigh, trying to make as little noise as possible while she and Scorbunny once more concentrated on the ongoing match. Raihan and Leon continued to trade blows at a breakneck pace, avoiding close calls and retaliating with intensity as they tried to leave no room for a comeback to their opponent. All the while, the camera zoomed left and right, capturing the most exciting moments of the clash, the intensity on Leon and Raihan's faces, and the sheer power any single move radiated, shockwaves and explosions rocking the whole stadium.
"Duraludon, Rock Tomb!"
"Go for a radial Flamethrower!"
The orders came almost at once, as several slabs of stone rained from the sky only for Charizard to spin around himself, unleashing a Flamethrower strong enough to melt away the attack before redirecting himself towards Duraludon in one fluid motion, claws already charged with draconic energy for another assault. Gloria and Scorbunny were mesmerized, knowing the Champion would seal the win in the next hit.
But Raihan, as always, was not going to make things easy, sweeping his hand forward.
"Metal Burst!" Just as the Dragon Claw impacted, Duraludon flashed brightly, retaliating with a sphere of condensed power that hit Charizard point-blank. The Champion's partner was blown back.
"Hurricane!" Leon ordered as he spread his arms, his confidence unwavering as Charizard braked through the beating of his wings, the winds forcing Duraludon on the defensive.
As he observed the flow of the battle, Raihan took a selfie with nonchalance, before his attention went back to his rival. "Heh. You're really not making this easy."
"Would you have it any other way?" Leon let out a chuckle, shrugging as Charizard flew back in front of him.
"Of course not!" Raihan's glare fiercened, plucking Duraludon's Poké Ball and grasping it firmly. "So, let's start the real fight."
The two trainers traded a knowing glance, and Leon palmed Charizard's Poké Ball as well. They both pointed the devices to their partners, recalling them immediately. Recognizing the cue, Gloria beamed in excitement, grabbing a nearby cushion and holding it firmly.
"Here it comes, Scorbunny!" the girl chirped, while her Pokémon friend's eyes glimmered in awe.
The bands on Leon's and Raihan's wrists lit up, particles of purple energy glowing from it and expanding towards the Poké Balls, enveloping them swiftly. The device absorbed the energy, growing until it reached the size of a volleyball, now seemingly made of pure, glowing energy. Both trainers smiled for the camera before turning around and throwing the now enlarged Balls. Both of their Pokémon emerged and grew to far larger sizes in short bursts, changing as they did. Charizard's chest and horns were now bursting with harsh flames as if he were an erupting volcano, while Duraludon's body had grown sharper and sleeker, like a skyscraper towering above the battlefield.
"And finally, here it comes! It's time for Dynamax, folks!" the announcer called, right alongside the roaring approval of the entire crowd.
Seeing the two powerful Pokémon now tall enough to dwarf the stadium, ready to fight fiercely at a moment's command, was enough to send chills down Gloria's spine. It was hardly the first time she saw a match like that, but the emotions she felt at seeing such all-out battles never changed.
"Waaah, so cool!" She pumped her fists, sharing a glance with Scorbunny. "Just imagine it. It's the biggest moment of the battle, the crowd goes wild, then, bam! Giant battle time!"
"Scorbun! Bun bun bun!" Scorbunny replied, looking ready to brawl against any opponent ahead of them.
Gloria gave him a thumbs up, grinning in agreement. "That's the spirit! This is how we're going to aim for the top!"
To underscore her words, the girl pointed dramatically towards the nearby window, to the bright starry sky above them.
And it was then that Gloria could see two arches making their way groundward, lighting a bright path behind themselves. The girl blinked, her gaze still following after the falling light that rained down from the heavens to the ground, before it disappeared among distant trees. It was all over as quickly as it started, but Gloria continued to stare at the window, brimming with curiosity.
She turned at her side, looking into her partner's eyes. "Did you see that too, Scorbunny?"
The white bunny nodded quickly, and Gloria inched closer to the window, enough to be able to see outside. All of Postwick was cloaked in darkness, with nothing but the occasional chirp of a Rookidee or the shuffling of a Skwovet among some bushes to break the silence of the night. The thick forest in the distance seemed unperturbed if for the slow rustling of the trees, with little sign of the objects that just fell from the sky.
Gloria placed her hand above her eyes, squinting to try and remember where the stars fell. "Did it...fall in the Slumbering Weald? Was it a meteorite?"
She tried to find something, anything, that could clue her in on the whereabouts of that strange fallen light, Scorbunny joining her in the task. It was hardly the first time she saw a shooting star, but seeing one fall so close to her couldn't help but pique her curiosity. Her sleepy little town was hardly the most interesting place, and any sort of unusual happenstance was very much welcome. However, her quest to solve the mystery was brought to a halt as a loud explosion and a pained cry boomed through her television's speakers.
"Oh, damn!" Gloria paled, finally remembering the other exciting thing that was going on at the time. She and Scorbunny scrambled back on the couch, almost tripping along the way, the girl hoping for the match to still be ongoing. However, she frowned heavily upon seeing the unconscious form of Duraludon shrinking back to normal size.
"And Duraludon is unable to battle! The winner of the match is Champion Leon!" the announcer declared, prompting the crowd to go wild in a shower of applause as Charizard also shrunk down.
The celebratory mood was high in the stadium, but Gloria's own had been completely depleted as she let herself fall on the couch, grumbling. "Aw, man...Why did it have to happen now?"
"Bun..." Her partner shrugged, looking just as disappointed as she did.
"It was just two seconds! How did the match end so fast?!" The girl pouted, paying no further attention to the closure of the match. Without the big part, it just wasn't worth following any longer. She crossed her arms and grumbled to herself, letting her foul mood overtake her. She had waited weeks to watch that match, and she had to miss the good part! How could she get distracted at such a key moment?
She exhaled, shaking her head and trying to calm down. Someone was bound to post the video online eventually, so it wasn't such a big loss, but still...
The girl's attention went to the view outside the window, more specifically the large forest right next to her home. She rubbed her chin in thought. "Were those really stars?"
"Scor?" Scorbunny hopped right next to her, trying to look out in search of the elusive light.
Gloria didn't know why, but she couldn't stop thinking about it. Maybe it was the fact that it was a weird event she wanted to get to the bottom of, or perhaps just that it was something actually happening.
Or, the more likely conclusion, it was because it involved the nearby Slumbering Weald, a forest the inhabitants had constantly kept away from in spite of their proximity...and something the girl had always wanted to see for herself, one day. Thinking that, she grinned, turning towards Scorbunny.
"Say, buddy, you up for a nice adventure?" she asked, already knowing what the answer would be. They had known each other for years, after all.
Indeed, the little bunny thumped his chest with pride, grinning just as much as her. "Bun bun!"
"Great!" They shared a fist bump. "Let's get ready, then!"
Scorbunny replied with just as much energy. Or he tried to, before letting out a fairly loud yawn that Gloria reciprocated. The girl grimaced; perhaps, staying up so late wasn't the best way to start out a great adventure...especially with the threat of her mother waking up and yelling at them again hanging over their heads.
She rubbed her neck with a sheepish grin. "Okay, maybe tomorrow morning..."
"Baa..." Scorbunny nodded sagely, already hopping back towards the bedroom.
Gloria smiled at her partner before another yawn escaped her, prompting her to close everything. She grabbed the remote and turned off the television, which had now transitioned to a news report mentioning something about a League Liaison coming to Galar or something else boring like that. She gave one last look to the horizon outside the window, her grin only growing fiercer and more confident. No matter what would happen, she knew that the next day would be the beginning of something great.
As the morning sun heralded the start of another peaceful day above Postwick, Gloria and her spunky Pokémon were already getting ready for their little jaunt.
As a final step, the girl looked herself over in the mirror, adjusting her grey cardigan over her magenta dress. Once that was done, she grabbed her green beret from the nearby hat rack and placed it triumphantly on her head. She twirled, and upon seeing that everything was in place, she walked up to her bed and grabbed the bag she just prepared. There wasn't much inside, but considering where they were about to head, it was everything she would need. "Are you ready, Scorbunny?"
Her partner hopped to her side, nodding. Gloria slung her bag across her shoulder, smirking as she opened the door of her bedroom. "All right! Adventure, here we come!"
The girl rushed through the corridor and into the living room to fetch a quick breakfast, where her mother was already up, taking a coffee at the table. She still looked half-asleep, but she was already dressed in her typical blue overalls and heavy boots. Gloria didn't pay her too much mind, making a beeline for the fridge and opening it to raid its contents while Scorbunny fetched the cookie jar and some mugs above the kitchen sink, sidestepping her mother's Munchlax and placing them on the table like a dutiful child.
As she fetched some Moo Moo Milk and closed the fridge, Gloria's gaze met her mother's, the older woman pushing up her glasses with a suspicious stare. "Up already? Are you gonna marathon Postwick again?"
The young brunette chuckled out, pointing the cookie at her mother and waving it, while Scorbunny evenly poured the milk for everyone. "Oh, not today. Me and Scorbunny have something far more important to do."
Her mother grumbled with knowing annoyance, rubbing her temples as the house bunny offered her some milk in the coffee. "Oh dear. The neighborhood is going to give me an earful again."
"Don't be so negative, mum. This will be something great, I'm sure." Gloria soaked her cookie in the milk and munched on it, her smile never faltering.
The older woman simply shook her head. "Just be careful, Gloria."
Gloria muttered an affirmative between bites, before she and her partner Pokémon chugged down the rest of the milk, placing everything inside the sink before turning to the door.
"See you later, mum!" the girl said, waving her hand as she opened the door and sprinted out of the garden. With but a few bounds, she and Scorbunny skidded into the main street. Gloria thought she heard her mother reply in kind, but she didn't have time to make sure; they had already wasted enough time by sleeping, and their elusive stars wouldn't find themselves. Her mother would at best be briefly annoyed, but after years of her escapades, she knew better than to try and keep her on a leash.
As Gloria and her partner rushed through the main streets, they chanced a glance at their surroundings. Postwick had always been one of the smallest and most rural towns in the Galar region, with only a few scattered and small houses made of stone bricks. With the bare minimum of services and the majority of the space left for farmers to grow crops in, the fairly large fields and smaller buildings that allowed the worker Pokémon lodgings were just enough to be considered a town. It was almost aggressively quaint, and with little in the way of things to do and see, it was obvious why most people preferred to spend their time in the neighboring Wedgehurst when not at home or working. Gloria really couldn't blame them.
But among the boring pastoral sights there was a special place that everyone always tried to avoid, which only meant that Gloria had every intention to break in and explore it eventually. The stars from yesterday were exactly the motivation she needed to do so.
Right by her side, Gloria could see Scorbunny speed up enough for fiery sparks to form on the soles of his feet. She knew how much her partner was raring to go for some excitement, and if what they heard was true, they would be in for a fairly intense adventure. Exactly what they wanted!
Just as the forest entered her line of sight, however, Gloria noticed a familiar form in close proximity.
"Yo, Gloria!" The known voice brought the girl and her partner Pokémon to a halt, turning to the familiar mop of chestnut-shaped purple hair and its owner, clad in black and a blue jeans jacket. Next to him was a fluffy and round sheep Pokémon, bleating joyously. She smiled and approached him
"Hey, Hop. How's the day?" she asked, passing a hand over her forehead and catching her breath.
"It's alright. Me and Wooloo were planning to go for some training." Hop stretched his fingers with a wide grin, eyeing the Pokémon at his side. "We gotta keep ourselves sharp, after all!"
"Baah!" Hop's Wooloo bleated in affirmative, trading a grin of challenge with Scorbunny.
The determination in the Sheep Pokémon's eyes caught Gloria's attention, prompting her to tilt her head at her friend. "Something exciting happening?"
"What, I didn't tell you?" Hop quirked an eyebrow, placing his hands deep in his pockets as he stared back at his house, right next to Gloria's own. "Lee's coming home today. Apparently, he has some League assignments to deal with in Wedgehurst and decided to drop by."
Hearing the news, Gloria felt like thunder had struck her, freezing in place. She thought to have misheard her friend, but Scorbunny's hanging jaw and blank expression confirmed she clearly understood him. Excitement crawled on her skin. "No way. Champion Leon is coming here?!"
"You bet!" Hop smirked, his not-so-veiled pride on clear display.
Gloria sharpened her gaze, stamping her foot. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? This is huge!"
"Hey, it was a surprise for us, too. It was a very last-minute thing." The boy raised both of his hands, but that didn't do anything to quell Gloria's interest as the brunette grabbed him by the shoulders, staring right into his eyes.
"You have to let me meet him, now!" she demanded, gripping her friend tighter and getting her face ever closer to his.
Hop barely managed to free himself from the girl's grip, directing a flustered frown towards her. "You do realize he's a very busy guy, right-"
"Please! You don't get a chance to meet the Champion of Galar every day!" She kept staring at him, clasping her hands together.
The boy's frown only deepened. "Gloria, come on-"
"Me and Scorbunny have to prove to him we're ready!" She inched closer to him while Scorbunny hopped right next to her, both of them giving out their most determined expressions. They had waited too long for their chance, and there was no way either of them would surrender it when it was so close. She didn't like to beg, but Hop was her friend, and right now also the quickest shortcut to one of her goals. Gloria inched closer.
Her and the Bunny Pokémon's joint assault seemed to finally do the trick, Hop looking visibly flustered as he turned to Wooloo, scratching the back of his neck. Gloria had to fight back the urge to rejoice as the boy turned back to her.
"Well, if you put it that way..." He shrugged and sighed. "I'll try. I was gonna ask him for an endorsement as well, anyway."
Gloria snickered at that remark. "Feeling ready for the League, are you?"
"Me and Wooloo were always ready!" Pumping his fists, Hop punched the sky with a proud grin. "And once we have the endorsement, we'll finally take the first steps into our legend! Who knows, maybe Lee will have a new friend for us, too."
"Oh, we're being greedy here." Gloria folded her arms, staring at her oldest friend.
Hop replied in kind by staring through her. "Any advantage is good when you want to be the best. You know that."
"It's okay. I understand. You need all the help you can get to defeat us." Gloria shrugged with nonchalance, waving away at the boy.
Scorbunny emulated his trainer, puffing his chest and looking down on Wooloo. "Scor!"
Gloria and her partner's prideful attitudes quickly earned them an annoyed glare by both Hop and Wooloo. "You won't be so smug when we trounce you in a battle!"
"I'll look forward to that…in the next million years."
Both sets of trainers and Pokémon kept glaring at each other, both determined to upstage their rival, but it didn't take long for both of them to break down with laughter. They couldn't help it; they had competed for everything since they were little kids. Yet as determined as they were to upstage the other, there was no real animosity between them. Being the only kids of the same age in a small town in the middle of nowhere, they had learned to cherish friendships. Trying to one-up the other was just their way of having fun, and Gloria knew it.
She loosened up just a bit, giving her friend a sincere smile as she placed a hand on her hip. "Still, Leon or no Leon, me and Scorbunny have something more important to do first."
"Oh yeah? What's the deal? If it's got you interested, it must be something cool." Hop walked closer, Wooloo trotting right behind him.
"I saw some stars falling in the Weald. We're looking for them." She pointed with her free hand in the direction of the trees, grinning with confidence once more.
Upon looking at just where Gloria laid her sight on, Hop paled, staring at her in utter disbelief. "Wait, you're going to break into the Slumbering Weald?"
"Yeah, that's the plan." She nodded, already walking that way alongside Scorbunny.
Hop halted her march with a hand on her shoulder and a severe stare. "You can't go there! It's off-limits to everyone, with lots of dangerous Pokémon!"
"All the more reason!" She broke free from Hop's hold, a fearless grin forming on her face as she stared back at the forbidden woods. "This is just the proof I need for everyone to recognize my skill. Once he knows I braved the Slumbering Weald, Leon will be forced to acknowledge me and give me an endorsement!"
"There're much better ways to do that!"
"Oh, really? Name them." Gloria matched Hop's stare with one of her own, hands on her hips. "No one has ever started an adventure by going for the safe path! We need to prove we can do what everyone else failed at!"
She turned back to Scorbunny, beaming back to her partner and holding a hand high. "We'll conquer the Slumbering Weald, and nothing will stop us!"
"Bun bun scorbun!" The white bunny emulated her with glee, leaping high enough to share a high five with his trainer.
Her Pokémon friend's agreement only emboldened Gloria as she faced Hop once again, her grin only widening as she stared him and Wooloo down. "You can keep going through your safe path. Me and Scorbunny are taking the challenging one!"
Hop seemed to want to counter her claims once more, only to say nothing, trading glances with his own sheep friend. After lots of seeming consideration, he exhaled and shook his head, looking quite defeated.
"Nothing can ever stop you, heh?" he chuckled, stepping forward. "If that's the case, then I'll come as well."
"Want a piece of the glory?" Gloria folded her arms, feigning a reprimand as she sized up her friend.
It was Hop's turn to wear an audacious grin, fists pumped with excitement. "Champions aren't afraid of anything. If I want to be one, I can't back down from a chance to prove myself, can I?"
Gloria let out an amused laugh. She already knew things would come to this the moment they started talking, but it was still nice to see her and Hop be on the same wavelength. It was the one reason she managed to put up with him for as many years as she did. Or that was what she told herself, at least.
"Now we're talking!" She turned back to the woods in the distance, beckoning at her friend to come along. "Let's go. The stars are waiting for us."
"For me, you mean."
Gloria stared back at Hop in challenge. "Only if you get there first!"
Both young trainers laughed before turning their sights back to the nearby misty forest, their Pokémon following along with just as much enthusiasm. Staring back at the Slumbering Weald, Gloria grinned yet again; she knew they would be in hot water if they were found out, but the reward for their success was worth all the scoldings they could possibly get.
Sucking in a breath, Gloria led them forward for the fence separating them from the forest. She looked around, careful to see if anyone was watching, or if they would be stuck before they had a chance.
As it were, sneaking into the Slumbering Weald was surprisingly easy.
Everyone in town was told since they were kids to avoid the area at all costs, and trusting everyone to heed the warnings, the only thing between Postwick and the nearby forest was an easily overcome fence and lock. It didn't take long for the kids and their Pokémon to get through the lax security by climbing over the mundane barrier, and just a short distance later, they all found themselves inside the forbidden woods, a light mist pervading the air around them.
As Gloria made her way on the dirt path with Scorbunny ahead of her, she couldn't help but enjoy the sights. Even just a few steps in, the atmosphere was completely unlike the small town she spent most of her life in. The trees stood tall around them, high enough to obscure the sunlight with their rich and verdant canopies. Various patches of tall grass, dirt and bushes dotted the landscape, a clear sign of untamed nature. All around, water flowed in a large river and occasional small lakes, the sound of rushing water pleasant to the ear. The faint, but noticeable, mist (perhaps the work of a Fairy-type Pokémon?) gave everything around them an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality.
"So...this is the Slumbering Weald..." Gloria muttered to herself as she continued to observe the area, moving some tree branches out of the way.
Hop held just as much interest as he and Wooloo followed along, a smile lighting up his face. "Even with all the stories, seeing it in person is something else. Think anyone'll come after us for breaking the rules?"
Gloria shook her head, trying to keep her mind focused as she sped up her pace, treading closer to Scorbunny along what she believed was the main path.
"We'll be back home before they even notice we're gone! So, let's not waste time. The stars are way deeper in," the girl said in response, her wonder replaced by purpose.
Hop quirked an eyebrow. "And where, exactly?"
"Hm...let me think..." Gloria rubbed her chin and narrowed her eyes, carefully scrutinizing the area once more. Then, she pointed straight ahead, towards a side of the dirt road cloaked in vegetation. "Should be that way."
"How can you be sure?" The boy scratched his head, looking back at his friend.
Gloria replied with a shrug and a smirk. "Just a hunch. Now let's see!"
She immediately sprinted onward, hopping off the rocks and uncaring of the puddles and leaves blocking her way. She wasted no second as she made a beeline for her designated path.
"Scor!" Scorbunny cried, leaping after his trainer with just as much energy.
As Gloria kept heading in, Hop's voice rose again as she caught him catching up to her from the corner of her eye. "Gloria, just wait a second! This place is filled with dangerous Pokémon, especially off the beaten path!"
"I know! I can't wait to face them!" She turned back around, beaming towards the boy, confidence surging inside her. She had waited way too long; she wouldn't let a measly thing like danger get in the way. "Don't tell me you're scared, Hop!"
"Not scared, just telling you to be careful, mate…"
Gloria huffed, disregarding his worries and continuing to dodge tree branches and pebbles on the path. Just seconds after his warning had passed, however, she heard a snapping sound in her proximity.
Before she could identify its source, Scorbunny leapt ahead of her, fiercely staring onward as he outstretched his stubby white arms, guarding his trainer from whatever was lurking. Gloria's gaze turned upwards as she slid to a stop, and she finally noticed the various creatures looking down on them, mostly consisting of several grey and brown squirrel-like Pokémon with noticeably swollen cheeks and a voracious stare. With them were also some brown spherical owls balanced on one claw and staring down with crimson eyes.
The many Pokémon, Skwovet and Hoothoot, if Gloria remembered well, jumped off the branches, surrounding both the humans and their partner Pokémon. There were at least a dozen of them, and not a single one appeared happy at the kids' intrusion in the Weald.
"Skwov!"
"Hoot!"
The wild Pokémon inched closer, their gazes still fixated on the intruders, fussing and crooning. Gloria stood her ground as Hop edged closer to her, all while Wooloo trotted forward to form a united front alongside Scorbunny. None of the Pokémon surrounding them considered backing down.
"See? You really have a way of getting us into trouble, Gloria," Hop said, worry apparent in his tone as he glanced left and right with a shake of his head. Gloria didn't share that sentiment in the slightest, as she beamed with passion.
"Trouble is good! Means we finally get some action!" She jabbed her finger onward, towards the various Skwovet. "Scorbunny, go on for a Tackle!"
"Bun!" Fearlessly, Scorbunny charged on, preparing his elbow as he aimed for one of the Cheeky Pokémon. The Skwovet was too slow to react as Scorbunny slammed it, sending the Normal type rolling on the grass and right into a tree. The Bunny Pokémon smirked with pride as the wild Pokémon watched in surprise.
Hop seemed just as surprised, but he quickly seized the opportunity to help. "Guess you're right. Can't let you have all the spoils, either. Wooloo, Tackle, as well!"
"Baaah!" Wooloo rolled onward, smashing through the gathered Skwovet. Several cried in pain upon being hurt, dispersing as the remaining squirrels and the Hoothoot were left in disarray. That didn't stop one of the bird Pokémon from lunging in, a Peck ready to strike towards the pair.
"Ember!" Gloria ordered, sweeping her hand in the air. Her Fire Type Pokémon bounced in place, inhaling air and aiming ahead.
"Bun!" Scorbunny fired the feeble flames in the Hoothoot's direction, hitting it squarely in the face.
"Hoot!" The Hoothoot stopped in its tracks, allowing Scorbunny to knock it down with another Tackle. Without skipping a beat, the Bunny Pokémon inhaled once again, firing several other Embers in the direction of the remaining Hoothoot and Skwovet, scoring several bullseyes on most of the opposing Pokémon as the birds flew away.
"Skwov! Skwov!" A Skwovet cried as it ran around, it and the rest of its brethren unable to focus as they felt the pain from the Fire type move, some of them retreating into the woods.
"Great job, Scorbunny!" Gloria gave her Pokémon a thumbs up, to which Scorbunny replied in kind with a confident smirk. They had spent ages trying to perfect and improve his aim, and seeing it work like that only galvanized them further. After spending their time mostly facing Hop's Wooloo and makeshift targets, being in a real battle and gaining the upper hand felt amazing.
Looking back to the remaining Pokémon showed Hop's Wooloo rounding up a few of the Skwovet. The girl grinned again; it was time to clinch it. "Now, use-"
Her order went unspoken, as Scorbunny was rammed into and thrown into the dirt by a Hoothoot flying from above. She froze as the Owl Pokémon unleashed several Pecks on Scorbunny, far too close for Gloria's partner to be able to defend himself.
"Scor! Scor! Scor!" the bunny cried, trying and failing to hit back as he was left at the mercy of the Hoothoot. The Normal and Flying Type then flew back, regrouping with the remaining members of its flock. Then, all of the gathered Hoothoot aimed downward, ready to Peck at Scorbunny in unison.
Gloria went wide-eyed, unsure of what to do as Scorbunny reeled from too much pain to stand up. She bit her lip, trying to come to a solution for their current predicament, as the Hoothoot aimed for their prey. Nothing came to her.
Thankfully, she wasn't in that fight alone.
"Wooloo, intercept that!" Hop's voice cried, and without wasting any second, Wooloo charged in between the birds and Scorbunny, retreating in his fluffy fleece. All of the Hoothoot's beaks dipped into the wide wool, none of them hitting the Sheep Pokémon and remaining stuck on the outer layer.
"Baah!" Wooloo bleated, glaring with pride as he rolled onward, dragging the birds along until he crashed into a tree. The wood shook powerfully as the impact blew the various Normal and Flying types away, leaving them dizzy and hurt. The Sheep Pokémon allowed himself a grin as his opponents flew away to safety without a second thought.
Gloria looked after the fleeing bird Pokémon, her attention alternating between them and the Skwovet retreating groundward, leaving no other Pokémon to impede their progress. Their show of power seemed to have achieved the result they aimed for, and realizing that, Gloria wiped a hand across her forehead, finally letting the tension wash away from her body.
"Whew..." She took a deep breath, then headed closer to her still injured partner Pokémon, offering him a hand in concern. "Scorbunny, are you alright?"
"Scor..." The white bunny took the hand with his paw, giving his trainer a nod. He was fairly bruised all over, but the way he hopped in place and pumped up his fists was enough to alleviate Gloria's concerns. She sighed in relief and turned around, just as Hop and Wooloo approached the two, the boy patting the fluffy fleece.
Hop sighed, arms crossed as he inspected their surroundings. "Honestly, Gloria, this is what I meant, running headlong into danger like that. What would you do without me around? You need to be more careful!"
"You can't slow down all the time! That's how you miss out on opportunities! Sometimes you just gotta cut a path forward!" Gloria gave her friend a pointed stare, grumbling to herself. She kicked at the ground, her gaze traveling around the dirt path ahead, and a sigh escaped her lips. "I've waited my whole life for something big to happen…I'm tired of waiting."
"So that's why you want to find those stars," Hop commented as he took his friend's side. "And here I thought it was just another harebrained escapade of yours."
"Can you really blame me? Nobody will be able to say I can't take care of myself if I told them I made it through the Slumbering Weald." She outstretched her hand, clasping it with determination. "The first step towards my dream."
"I get it, I get it. It's our way to prove we're not just those defenseless kids, playing around Postwick, right?"
Gloria nodded, turning back to her friend. She adjusted her beret and put her hands on her hips, nudging towards the path ahead. "So, wanna go on?"
Hop seemed pensive, looking the same way as his friend. Then, he nodded, a brief smile towards Gloria. The girl grinned back; she didn't expect any other reaction from him.
"All right, but be more alert." There was a pause, and then Hop smirked, pointing at himself. He took a step forward and gave the girl a challenging stare. "Just don't get any delusions. Between us, I'll be the next Champion of Galar."
Gloria just quirked an eyebrow. "And I'm the one having delusions?"
"I know everything Lee did to reach the top. Watched all his matches and read every interview. There's no way I won't make it!"
"Really now?" she chuckled out, before stretching her hands and stepping forward, aiming once more for the depths of the forest. "Then, let's test it out. How about a race? First one to find the stars wins."
"You think you can make it when just a few Skwovet were giving you trouble?" Hop crowed, barely restraining a smirk that Gloria found extremely punchable.
She restrained herself to just elbowing him and piercing him with a glare. "You'll eat those words! I don't need your help."
"If you say so." Hop shrugged, but his eyes never lost the glint of challenge towards his friend. He turned back towards Wooloo, the Sheep Pokémon ready to walk by his side. "Let's go, Wooloo! We'll prove to them who's the best!"
"Baaah!" the Pokémon bleated, rolling past Hop as the boy kept the pace, both heading for the dirt road further into the Weald. As both of their rivals disappeared between the foliage, Gloria and Scorbunny continued to look after them, the girl allowing herself a brief, soft chuckle at her friend's expense.
"Hmph. Cocky as ever, but he wouldn't be Hop without that." She turned back to an alternate, barely hidden path at their side before glancing at her partner. "Let's show 'em, Scorbunny."
"Scorbun!" The Bunny Pokémon thumped at his chest, leaping next to her. He started to sniff at the air before pointing forward. A second later, both Trainer and Pokémon headed towards their goal.
Gloria continued to run after her Pokémon, the white bunny bouncing through the path with ease as he continued to sniff at the air. Gloria had no idea what kind of smell the stars they were looking for could give off, but if there was someone she'd trust to find their way after all these years, it was Scorbunny. He was her partner, after all, and after years of being together she knew how good he was at searching for something lost.
The duo continued to make their way through the depths of the woods, making sure to stay along the path (if it could be called one) in order to avoid any further encounters with the local wild Pokémon. All the while, Gloria grinned to herself, enjoying the wind over her skin as she caught up with Scorbunny. She wouldn't let Hop and Wooloo get away with their stars, but at the same time, she enjoyed the freedom of that little adventure. There was no one to tell her what she couldn't do, or to stop her from doing what she wanted; only her and Scorbunny, off to meet their personal goals. A taste of the kind of freedom she'd get, once she and Scorbunny obtained the stars they were looking for, and the endorsement that would come with it. It was yet another reason why they needed to make it, and beat Hop and his Wooloo.
The excitement of the race through the woods kept the two going for a long while, until Scorbunny halted immediately, pointing towards a nearby bush. Taking the hint, Gloria headed there, moving it away and peering to the other side with her little partner. She grinned with glee as she did so.
Not too far away from them stood a clearing, larger than any part of the Weald they had seen thus far, still covered in the thick mist that surrounded the whole forest. But what caught Gloria's eyes was a patch of upset dirt right in the middle of it, where two strange, purple-and-red stones rested, unlike any other rock she'd ever seen. Even if she'd never seen them before, she knew exactly what they were.
"Yes! We're there!" Gloria sprinted forward, Scorbunny not far from her as she aimed straight for the rocks, a wide grin plastered over her face. Finally, what she looked for was right in front of her; the ticket she needed to begin her climb to glory and success!
"Done!" she yelled as she grasped at one of the stones, only to notice someone else right next to her, grabbing the remaining one. Turning that way, her grin quickly turned into a scowl as she recognized Hop's and Wooloo's familiar form.
She narrowed her eyes, her dreams of glory taking a backseat to the current situation. "How are you already here?"
"What kind of question is that? We were racing to reach this place." Hop stared back with just as much annoyance, leading Gloria to pout at him and cross her arms.
"That's not fair! We took totally different paths! There's no way we made equal time! I demand a redo!" she groaned, stomping her foot down. After all their effort, she couldn't let him upstage her where it mattered most! She needed to prove something about herself, and herself alone!
Hop showed no sympathy for her plight, however, shrugging with nonchalance and tossing his stone in the air. "Too bad, Gloria. It's a tie."
"Ugh..." Gloria rolled her eyes, then took a deep breath, deciding to calm down and try to let go of her irritation. As the girl did so, however, something caught her eye not far from the stones. "Hm? What's that?"
She pointed in front of her, directing Hop, Scorbunny and Wooloo's attention towards the most unusual part of the scenery: not too far from them, between the dirt path and the nearby lake and through the thick mist, stood some old ruins.
Or she thought they were. They were hard to make out, flickering in and out of the mist like some conjured illusion.
They were made out of a sweeping arch with what appeared to be an incision in the middle. It looked to be ancient, its surface covered in vines and moss, with clear signs of deterioration; a likely remnant of a bygone era, accentuated by some rusty scraps of metal laid down over it. Having not seen anything else like that in the forest, both kids headed closer to it, with Hop in particular giving the ruins a closer look. Or as close a look as he could get, the mist rolling thicker. Still, Gloria let her friend try and work out what it was for: between them, he had always been the more invested in that kind of mystery-solving stuff, and she knew better than to distract him at that point.
"It looks like some sort of altar," Hop concluded, squinting his eyes to try and have a better look, but barely registering anything. "I think. Hard to tell with this mist…"
Gloria blinked, trying to see what her friend was spotting, puzzled by his conclusion. "Why would an altar be here, lost in the woods?"
"Maybe this is why entering the Slumbering Weald is forbidden? I don't know." Hop smiled, probably trying to think out the solution to their current mystery. "This is pretty fascinating, though."
The girl continued to try and make out the shape across the mist, only to shake her head and focus her attention back to the nearby ground. It helped that the vision disappeared, dispersed in the fog surrounding them.
"We can spare the archeology lesson for later. We have more pressing matters at hand." She tossed up the stone and caught it in a sweeping motion, holding it high. "Like our little prize here!"
"Scor?" The Bunny Pokémon perked his head up, his ears twitching into the air as he stepped closer to Gloria. He seemed to have noticed something, looking at the stone in Gloria's hand. The girl faced her partner again, curious about why he was reacting that way, before realizing how Hop's Wooloo was doing the same, as if the stone was calling for their attention.
Gloria looked at the piece of rock, and then at the two Pokémon, tilting her head. "What's up, guys? Do you feel anything from these?"
Scorbunny nodded, trying to touch the stone. Gloria scratched her head, squinting over at the rock, trying to understand why exactly the Pokémon seemed interested in them. However, no matter how much she tried to look, it didn't seem any different than an average rock. Yet, to grab Scorbunny and Wooloo's attention, there had to be something weird about it...
"Hmmm..." After another, fruitless attempt to stare out a solution to her riddle, Gloria finally sighed and turned to her friend, still intrigued by the now vanished ruins. "Hop, you got a moment? There's something weird with these stones here. Scorbunny and Wooloo seem attracted to them."
Hop turned back to his friend, Gloria holding up the mysterious stone for the boy's scrutiny. He alternated between looking over Gloria's stone and his own, seemingly just as puzzled as she. At least, until his eyes lit up with a bright glint, an excited smirk drawn on his face.
"Wait a second…wait a sec! Could these be…?" Hop muttered, his enthusiasm rising with every word. After a second more of examination, a grin split his face. "I know what these are!"
Gloria simply folded her arms in wait. "Spill the beans, then."
"The fact Scorbunny and Wooloo react to it proves it. They're Wishing Stars!" the boy held up his own with pride, his grin only growing wider.
The girl, for her part, simply blinked and then stared at her stone in annoyance. "Oh…Damn it. I should've made my wish on these..."
"Not those kind of wishing stars." Hop sighed, shaking his head. "They're the essential components of a Dynamax Band. With these, you can get one fashioned."
Hearing those words was enough to perk Gloria's interest. "Wait, really?!"
"Yeah! They're rare to find, but any self-respecting trainer in the Galar region owns one!"
"That's awesome!" She looked back to both Wishing Stars, trading prideful and cheeky grins with Scorbunny. "I knew these things would be useful!"
Hop nodded, examining his own stone further. "We just need to find someone who can fashion them into Dynamax Bands, and then-"
"Whoa whoa whoa, hold up." Gloria held her hand up, her grin turning into a frown. "I'm the reason we're here to begin with. If anyone will get to deal with the Dynamax Bands, that'll be me."
"Yeah, and you'd still think they're dumb rocks if it weren't for me." Hop rolled his eyes. "I'm clearly the more resourceful one that can find someone to work with them."
"In your dreams! You just want an advantage on us!"
"Gloria, please. I don't need advantages to crush you!"
Neither Gloria nor Hop were willing to budge, both staring the other down. The girl had absolutely no intention of letting the boy seize her trophy: this was her moment, her starting line. They had shared much over the years, but she had no intention to share this with him more than she already had.
Unfortunately, she had no way to hit back at Hop for his remark before the silence of the Slumbering Weald was torn asunder.
"Awooooooooooo!"
The fierce howl put both trainers on alert, with their Pokémon partners tensing up alongside them. Gloria and Hop quickly turned around, trying to make out the origin of the sound. However, nothing seemed to have changed, the area around them still seemingly devoid of any other presence, clouded in the thick mist.
Gloria didn't lower her guard, however, staying close to Hop as she turned around. "What was that?"
"Nibbah!" Scorbunny cried, hopping madly in place, and Gloria quickly got why; the mist surrounding them was growing even thicker, completely obscuring the path around them, including the way back. They were completely trapped, with no way out to be seen.
Gloria's eyes went wide in shock. "What the-"
"Gloria! Something's coming!" Hop warned, pointing ahead to where the mad illusion had been.
The girl immediately turned that way, just as Scorbunny and Wooloo took a stand in front of them. Two large, quadrupedal figures were barely visible through the mist, making their way towards the group. As they got closer, Gloria was able to make out their shape. They looked like wolves, one slender, the other stouter. The former was adorned with a cyan mane and pink highlights, while the latter had a crimson mane with blue accents. They were proud and imposing, several signs of scars dotting their body, with even parts of their ears missing, almost as if they had fought a vicious fight they could barely finish.
And both of those creatures were heading closer to them, their gaze fixated on the young Trainers and the stones they were clutching tight.
Instinctively, Gloria stepped back, swallowing as she remained close to Hop. "Are those...Pokémon?"
"I've never seen any like them before..." Hop said, trying to look back at them fiercely, but Gloria could notice the way he was shaking.
The wolves continued to stare them down. They both bared their fangs, their expression growing hostile as they continued to close the distance. "Grrrr..."
"They don't look like they have good intentions..." Hop stood his ground, trying to figure the Pokémon out, just as Scorbunny and Wooloo readied themselves to strike at the first command.
Gloria turned to the purple stones she and Hop were still holding, shifting between them and the approaching creatures. "Is it the Wishing Stars?"
Her question went unanswered, and the wolves continued to come closer, the cyan one looking ready to attack. It was too fast for Gloria to react to them.
"Look out!" Hop yelled, and without a pause, Wooloo rolled towards the girl, tackling her away from the wolf's path and into the dirt.
Gloria silently thanked the Sheep Pokémon with a nod before standing up, Scorbunny reaching them with a few quick bounces. The girl looked at the wolves, neither of them any less fierce, and both still gunning for her and Hop. She took a step forward, keeping her fears at bay. With the mist still growing thicker and preventing any escape, there was only one path to take.
"If it's a fight they want, then that's what they'll get!" She pointed forward with all the confidence she could muster. "Scorbunny, let's go! Ember!"
"Bun!" Scorbunny hopped forth, inhaling the air and firing bursts of flames in both wolves' direction. Neither of them moved out of the way, the attacks set to strike dead center.
Or they would have.
Instead, they simply phased through their forms, harmlessly hitting the ground. Scorbunny went wide-eyed. All the while, the mist only grew thicker, impacting the already limited vision of the area even further.
"What?" Gloria grimaced, staring at her opponents in confusion and taking a step back, only to sweep her hand in the air, her resolve still solid. "Ember, again!"
"Bun! Bun! Bun!" Scorbunny fired several waves of Ember like a living machine gun, trying with all his might to aim for the wolves ahead of them. Yet, every single one passed through their bodies, creating ripples in their form, but having no effect against them. Scorbunny tried to catch his breath, fatigued by the barrage of attacks. The wolves paced forward once more, each focusing on one of them.
Whether out of interest or aggression, Gloria couldn't say, and it made her shiver.
She didn't know what to say, or think. How could those creatures avoid their attacks like that? Were they Ghost-types, or immune to Fire-type attacks? Neither of those abilities, however, fit with the effects she was seeing. It was like they were...there, yet not.
"That doesn't make any...sense..." The girl grabbed her forehead, a searing headache suddenly taking ahold of her mind. She tried to keep her focus up, only to find it hard to do so. The shiver returned with greater intensity, crawling up her back, and she turned to Hop and Wooloo, only to find them just as dizzy as she was, barely standing on their own legs.
"My head..." she heard Hop mumbling, just as her vision started to get blurry. She shook her head, stubbornly refusing to pass out, noticing just how thick the mist had gotten by now. Was it why they were feeling that way? Was it the wolves attacking them?
Whatever it was, it didn't matter; she needed to do something, before it was too late.
"Scorbunny...use...hnnn..." Gloria clutched her head even more, the migraine too strong to think of anything, her legs starting to feel wobbly and unsteady.
Her loyal partner wasn't faring much better, falling on his knees, just as lightheaded as she was. "Ni...bbah..."
Against every instinct to lose consciousness, Gloria stubbornly hung on, looking over at the blurry forms of the wolves, heading closer to them and their Wishing Stars, once again baring their fangs, ready to howl and lunge for them. Their aggression could no longer be mistaken for curiosity. And there was nothing she or any of her companions could do to stop the attack.
She fell to her knees, trying to stay awake, to do something, only for her vision to grow cloudier and her thoughts hazier. As their opponents got closer and her comrades started to lose consciousness, the only thing in her mind was how she didn't want things to end that way.
And, as if hearing her desire, an unknown voice came from the mist.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pika-chuuuuuuuuu!"
A powerful, blinding bolt of electricity burned the ground between her and the wolves, powerful enough to finally draw a reaction from them. Gloria tried to turn around, wishing to figure out what was going on. She could see the shapes of the wolves turning around and disappearing into the mist, only for another, more humanoid shape to make his way through the mist, coming in their direction.
"Gloria, Hop, hang in there!" the voice called. Gloria's vision was too unfocused to make out who it could be, even as the mist seemed to finally subside around them.
And before she could, her eyelids finally became too heavy, and she collapsed on the ground, her consciousness finally giving in and drifting away with the mists of the Slumbering Weald.
Author's Note: And there we have it, the conclusion of our first chapter! Not what you expected, huh? In fact, you may find some of these chapters a bit different in general. Especially early on, due to them being written almost exclusively by Viroro! I won't get into the details of how it all shook out, though. Instead, I'm just going to say that the publish schedule for this book will be like before, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. In the meantime, enjoy a little note from Viroro.
Viroro: Hello, everyone, and welcome to this first chapter of the Galar and Coda Trilogy of the Ancienverse! This project has been in the workings for a while, even before Sword and Shield actually released, but between solid ideas, inspirations and a bit of coincidence, I and Epicocity managed to find some interesting ground for a story that progressed past Tomorrow. I was the one to write this chapter in its original form, and as someone who wasn't involved with the prior entries it's been fun to help define a new corner of it, just in time for a new story to unfold. While the Galar games are the basis of this story, we're making sure to have some twists in store for new and older readers alike.
Between mysteries and incidents, we're also introduced to our new protagonist, Gloria, and her rival Hop. Writing their relationship was quite fun, and hope you have enjoyed them as well. With Ash's personal story reaching an end in Tomorrow, it was important to set the stage well for a new cast of main characters, even if their contributions to the story will hardly be minor. But that's a story for future chapters.
Hope you had a great time, and see you next chapter!
With all this said, please drop us a Review and, as always, Dare to Be Silly!