I hope you're enjoying the story so far, though I'll ask you bear with us and any janky pacing for the next few. The next 4 chapters are all born from what was 2 chapters but deemed as too long. Please enjoy either way!
Chapter 3
A Laboratory
"All right, we made it!"
Gloria threw her hands skyward in triumph, racing out of the thicket of trees at long last. Tracking down their previous path was far more of a chore than she wished, but she'd had a mission and wouldn't allow herself to miss her chance of reaching Leon and Hop. She took a deep breath, setting her feet firmly down the beaten path with the proudest grin.
"Nibbah nibbah!" chirped out Scorbunny, hopping after her and landing by her side.
The girl and her Pokémon turned back toward their traveling companions, triumphant grins adorning their faces. Ash and Pikachu, however, looked contemplative as they left the woods, both of their glances moving to the still distant view of Wedgehurst's buildings, at the still distant end of Route One. Or so it seemed.
"I'm not really sure we're there already, Gloria..." Ash pointed out, head tilted to the girl.
Pikachu matched his confusion, folding his arms with unease. "Pika pikachu..."
Confronted by the doubts of the Kantonian duo, Gloria just shrugged, hands on her hips as she looked to their destination. "But we're back on the path. That's something!"
The man brought up the rim of his hat, glancing over at the cityscape ahead. "But still quite a way from Wedgehurst City."
"Just Wedgehurst, actually."
Ash folded his arms, exchanging a look with Pikachu, who shrugged back. "I'm pretty sure it looks like a city."
"Well, yeah," Gloria replied, shoving her hands in her cardigan as she resumed walking forward, "but it doesn't mean we add a description of the place to the name. That's just weird."
"Not that weird to me..." Ash muttered, looking both put out and fascinated, somehow, by the prospect of a singularly-named city. Writing it off as more of his weirdness, Gloria didn't pursue the subject and instead resumed her march down the beaten path. "Anyway, now that we're back on Route One, it's all a straight line to the goal. Let's go, Scorbunny, Rook-"
The girl halted, noticing the familiar shape of her trusty white bunny partner still next to her, but no traces of her newer companion anywhere. She scratched her head, turning to Scorbunny. "Where's Rookidee?"
"Scor..." The bunny shrugged, quickly going on the lookout for their feathered companion.
Gloria did the same, scanning through the nearby bushes and grassy fields, only to find no sign of the blue and yellow bird.
"Maybe he went to find some food?" she mused, bringing her attention to the trees lining the path, even sparing a glance for the forest they had just left behind. She saw all kinds of Pokémon making their way through the trees and tall grass, but had no luck in finding the one Pokémon she was looking for, not even as Ash and Pikachu also started to search around the area. She felt a knot in her stomach as she cupped her hands around her mouth, and shouted. "Hey, Rookidee! Where are y-"
As soon as she called, a nearby tree shook, and Gloria jolted towards it in a hurry, hoping for her little bird to be there. As soon as she was there, though, a small and stubby blur flew right from the tree into her face, strong enough to almost knock her back.
"Oof!" she grunted in pain, her field of vision completely covered by whatever just slammed into her. She immediately tried to remove it from her face.
"Rookokokoko!" chirped a familiar voice, and even in her current state, Gloria understood who the offending creature was. She ground her teeth, trying to grab and toss him away, but her attacker quickly unstuck himself from her face, allowing Gloria to clearly see her Rookidee giving an amused grin.
That clearly wasn't enough for the little ball of mischievousness, however, as he was quick to land atop Gloria's beret, perching himself on it like a nest. Scowling, Gloria tried to catch her Pokémon with both hands, only for the songbird to fly out of range, taking the girl's hat with him on his claws.
Touching her exposed head, Gloria glared in Rookidee's direction, pointing straight at him. "Hey, give that back!"
"Rook?" The Flying type shifted between looking at his trainer and her headwear, but he was quick to throw the hat skyward, adorning it on his own head. He then jabbed his wing towards Gloria, copying her movements with an exaggerated scowl. "Rookokokoko!"
"You little...! I thought you respected me now!" Gloria shouted, slamming her foot down and balling her fists with a desire to punch her rude Pokémon straight out of the sky.
Scorbunny echoed similar feelings as he jumped ahead of her, staring down his comrade. "Scorbun!"
"Rook Rook! Rookokoko!" The bird continued to look at his new companions, finding a new perch on a nearby tree branch from which to taunt the girl and her Scorbunny. To Gloria's frustration, he looked to be having the time of his life, beret still on his head.
Gloria's face crinkled into a scowl, almost matching Rookidee's act. She grabbed her forehead and let out a tired exhale, shaking her head. "Ugh...What's up with this stupid bird?"
A resounding chuckle caught the girl's attention, spotting Ash and Pikachu checking out her newest Pokémon. "Your Rookidee's got some real spunk. I like him."
"Well, I don't." Gloria grumbled, fists balling in frustration. "I caught him and all. Shouldn't he obey me now? That's how it works..."
She sighed and waited for the man's response, hoping for something that could clear her doubts. Instead, he shook his head.
"Not at all. I would know." The man traded a glance with his Electric type partner, petting his head gently. "But there would be no fun if we just got along with everyone from the start. Right, Pikachu?"
Pikachu nodded, letting out a pleased, "Chaa..." before both trainer and Pokémon traded nostalgic looks, reminiscing of stuff Gloria wasn't privy to. She didn't much care, either. A disgruntled frown made its way on Gloria's face, and she kicked some dirt off the path.
"Oh, great. Very helpful," she said, scowling back at Rookidee flying overhead, still flaunting her hat.
"You won't get anywhere with that attitude." Ash joined her in looking after her bird, before giving her a grin. "Why don't you try to understand him? We're called Pokémon trainers for a reason."
Listening to him, Gloria grumbled, her gaze falling back on Rookidee as he had lost interest in teasing her and moved to grab a berry from a tree. She wasn't a fan of how cocky the little bird was, but Champion Leon wouldn't have given up at the first difficulty, and neither would she. She pumped her fists.
"Guess you have a point." Gloria's lips curved upwards, and she thumped her chest. "Well then, Rookidee! I'm gonna make you behave, or I'm not Gloria from Postwick!"
"Rook?" The songbird tilted his head, giving her a quizzical look. He peered into her with curiosity, and after a brief while, he grabbed Gloria's beret and tossed it back, the girl catching it wordlessly. With a light chuckle, Gloria placed it back on her head under Rookidee's still intrigued stare. It wasn't the biggest victory, but for now, it was enough of a first step.
"Oh, so this is where you were!"
The sudden call made Ash turn around, with Pikachu's tail and ears flaring upwards. Scorbunny took a defensive stance at the new voice, and Gloria quirked an eyebrow. Her attention moved to the road behind and she noticed a new arrival: a woman with long blonde hair, roughly the same age as Ash (if not a little older), dressed with a purple long-sleeved shirt decorated by buttons and beige slacks, glaring daggers at her traveling companion. At her side stood a white-furred, dark-skinned quadrupedal Pokémon Gloria faintly recalled from some nature documentaries she and her mother watched.
Ash waved his hand at her with a smile. "Hey, Astrid! Sorry for taking a while, we-"
"'We' nothing! Me and Serena have been waiting hours for you!" The woman closed the distance between them quickly, Scorbunny just barely hopping out of the way, as she jabbed right at Ash's chest. The man's carefree attitude melted away, replaced by a shocked frown.
"There's a reason!" Ash tried to say, stepping backwards.
"And what would it be? Serena was sure you just saw a Dunsparce and chased after it." Ash froze in place, his eyes widening at the accusation. He gulped down and opened his mouth, yet no reply came out.
"Pika pikachu!" Pikachu tried to say, looking at the woman with unease, but she paid little attention to what the yellow mouse had to say. All the while, Gloria stood on the sidelines, with no idea who this "Astrid" was, a frown growing on her face.
"Guilty as charged, huh?" The woman grabbed her forehead, shaking her head in disbelief. "The League is gonna be in dire straits if they have to rely on you..."
"Hey! It wasn't the end of the world!"
With the way that woman was rudely attacking her companion, Gloria was quick to inch towards the blonde. It didn't take long for her mouth to jump in without a second thought. "Look, Ash really was busy! He helped me out!"
Astrid turned around, both the woman and her Pokémon giving the younger trainer a curious look. That mollified Gloria, her lips sewing themselves shut. "And who are you, now?"
"A new friend. We met in Postwick and we're both looking for Leon," Ash said with a sigh. "But seriously, going there would get us to Champion Leon faster than standing around doing nothing."
"Actually, we met Leon a little while ago by 'standing around doing nothing'."
"Wait, what?" Both Ash and Gloria asked at once, both inching closer to the blonde woman.
She gave a quick nod, pointing with her thumb at the city behind her. "He and his brother were going to visit Professor Magnolia in Wedgehurst, or so they said. We arranged to meet him there the moment we fetched you."
After a too long pause, Ash let out a nervous chuckle. "Well..."
"Pikapi..."
The woman shrugged, her expression relaxing, but for the roll of her eyes. "Never mind. The important thing is that we can do our job now. Or more accurately, you can start doing your job."
"Right. Anyway…guess we should make proper introductions." Ash's hands began to move, displaying the Galarian girl to his blonde companion. She stiffened on command. "This is Gloria, a beginner trainer from Postwick."
Thrust into the conversation properly, Gloria felt somewhat queasy, suddenly staying silent as the man described her. She examined the blonde woman, and in particular her Pokémon companion, which Scorbunny checked out with interest.
"Nice to meet you. Name's Astrid, a friend of this knucklehead from the Kalos region." She elbowed Ash to underscore it, eliciting a bashful chuckle from the man. Her tone appeared otherwise uninterested, but her eyes danced playfully.
Trying to get her mouth moving again, the younger trainer adjusted her beret over her head with a smile. After a second, she managed.
"As Ash said, I'm Gloria, and these are my partners, Scorbunny and Rookidee." Scorbunny hopped to say hello as soon as Gloria introduced him, while Rookidee only raised his wing briefly, losing interest in further pleasantries. Gloria would've tried to reprimand him if her attention didn't completely gravitate toward the white-furred companion of Ash's friend. Curiosity took the better of her as she inched closer. "This Pokémon is yours? It looks so cool!"
"Yeah, it's an Absol. Don't you have these in Galar?" Astrid asked, head tilted. Gloria only halfway listened as she leaned closer to the elegant Pokémon, examining its sharp side-horn and the golden pendant around its neck, a shining stone placed inside it. A quick glance showed it to be quite similar to the single earring the woman was also wearing. She faintly remembered seeing them before on television, but couldn't remember what they were.
"Nope!" Gloria chirped before continuing to check out Absol, leading the Pokémon to blink in confusion. It looked so elegant, yet appeared to be ready to fight at a moment's notice. Possibilities swirled inside her head, and before long she stood upright again, beaming excitedly. "Alright, it's set! Me, you, Pokémon battle, right now!"
"Nibbah!" Scorbunny joined in her excitement as he started running in place, sparks flying off his feet. Rookidee remained perched on his tree branch, but Gloria paid him little mind.
"Ha hah! Really, Gloria?" she heard Ash say, sounding fairly amused.
The girl gave a nod, her attention still completely on Absol. "You don't get a chance to fight foreign Pokémon too often!"
Gloria turned towards Astrid expectantly, finding her considering Scorbunny with her arms folded. Gloria's grin grew wider, already prepared to call her first order. An expectation that was completely shattered as Astrid shook her head. "I like your drive, but we've got things to do right now. Sorry."
The younger trainer felt the shattering of speechless disappointment.
"Aww..." she muttered, slumping back down alongside Scorbunny. A familiar, chirping laughter at her expense filled the sky, and Gloria turned just enough to send Rookidee a piercing stare.
"Sorry, Gloria. Guess it's all work and no play when Astrid's around." Ash's words only twisted the knife of disappointment further, leading Gloria to exhale.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it." She shrugged, feigning acceptance. "There's gonna be other times, I guess."
Astrid had already put any concern about battling aside, instead slowly making her way back towards the town. Absol followed right behind as she gestured for Ash and Gloria to come along. "For now, let's head to Wedgehurst. I doubt you want to make Serena wait even more."
Hearing that name, a worried frown formed over Ash's face. "Is she angry?"
"What do you think?"
Ash swallowed down, exchanging worried looks with Pikachu as he rushed closer to the Kalosian trainer. Astrid didn't pay it much mind as she strode forward on the path, leaving Gloria to wonder how terrifying this 'Serena' person had to be. She quickly put the thought aside, however, as she scrambled after her traveling companions, her Pokémon right by her side.
Compared to their little detour in the woods, the rest of the trip towards Wedgehurst turned out fairly uneventful, and quick, with Gloria and her Pokémon simply following after the two adults. They were making small talk about the landscape of Route One, but Gloria held little interest in the chitchat, instead checking on Scorbunny and Rookidee's pace as the city drew nearer with each step. Thankfully for Gloria, her boredom was short lived as the trio of trainers set foot in Wedgehurst.
Gloria chanced a look at her surroundings, even if she knew what to expect by now: a nice, pleasant looking city, with none of the brick homes and buildings rising taller than a couple stories, all dyed in pleasant shades of red and pink. Several bushes and trees lined the greenery that surrounded the paved road connecting most of the city's streets together, save for the train tracks that cut through the town. Her eyes still followed them, despite knowing they led to Wedgehurst's train station, the gateway to the local airport and every other major part of Galar. None of it had changed. It was just as it always was, except for the rather joyful horde of people crowding the path, all excitedly discussing with each other.
As the group walked through the paved road, Astrid scratched her head at the gaggle of people all around them. "Well, this city got crowded fast. I swear I wasn't even gone for an hour…"
Gloria only needed a glance at the several swooning youngsters a short distance away to formulate a reason. "Must've been Leon. He tends to attract people like this."
Ash folded his arms, looking on as the various gathered people tried to pull off Leon's iconic Charizard pose. He eyed Gloria with his following question. "You Galarians really love your Champion, huh?"
"Of course, he's the best! Never lost a battle!"
The Kantonian trainer's expression lit up with a fierce glint that Gloria could relate very well to. "Can't wait to meet him."
"There's someone else you have to see first," Astrid exhaled, her focus fully on searching through the crowd around them.
As if in reply, Pikachu's ears twitched with interest, his face scrunched up in a grimace. Gloria and Scorbunny quirked an eyebrow at once towards the electric mouse, moreso as he started to frantically push on his partner's shoulder.
"Pikapi! Pipika!" he squeaked, and even through the language barrier, Ash understood whatever warning his partner was giving him, standing on alert and turning where Pikachu was pointing. Gloria was puzzled by the whole routine, but her confusion was short-lived as an unfamiliar voice came from the crowd.
"Oh, you're finally back!"
Ash froze in place hearing that, and Gloria raised an eyebrow while she searched for the voice. The reason for the man's reaction was quick to spot: on the other side of the road was a honey-blonde woman, clad in loose, red and pink traveling clothes and carrying quite a few bags, staring straight through Ash with her blue eyes. Though none of it caught Gloria's attention more than the visible bump she was sporting. She quickly strode towards them, and in response, Ash swallowed loudly.
"Hey, Serena…" He grimaced, trying to rub his neck. "I'm sorry, I know I should've come sooner-"
"Yes, you should have." The woman's tone was as sharp and pointed as a finely honed knife, and she let out a frustrated exhale. "It's been hours, Ash. Hours!"
Whether because of the scolding he had received by Astrid beforehand or something else, Ash refrained from answering, only giving the woman an uneasy look as he scratched some invisible itch on his face. She seemed to quickly calm down however, sighing and shaking her head as her expression softened considerably. "You need to take your duties more seriously. You know the League is counting on you for this."
"I know, I know." Ash was the one to sigh this time, giving the woman a smile. "It won't happen again."
"It better not."
Gloria winced a bit at the sudden coldness, with even Scorbunny looking uneasy at her presence. She sounded like someone that could've gone far heavier on scolding than she did, and yet what was left unspoken still left as much of an impression as her actual words. She glanced over at Astrid, and the Kalosian trainer quickly gestured to just let the two be.
Ash seemed to get more relaxed in the meantime, rolling his eyes at the woman. "You don't need to babysit me, you know."
"Given how you can be, someone needs to do it." The honey-blonde woman shook her head, and in doing so, she finally met Gloria's gaze, instantly freezing the girl in place for the second (or was it third) time that day. "And I see you've got someone new with you, as well."
Gloria opened her mouth, only for no sound to come out, unsure what to say or even think about the woman. Thankfully, Ash came to her rescue with a nod. "Yeah, she's Gloria, a trainer from Postwick looking for Leon. Gloria, this is Serena, my wife."
Finally connecting the name to the woman only made Gloria's unease grow, realizing how she was the one Ash was so scared of (if it could be called that; Gloria wasn't sure). Still feeling Serena's inquisitive stare on her, Gloria took a deep breath, instinctively getting closer to Scorbunny, as if her partner could do something to help.
"Um, hello," she muttered, averting her gaze. From the corner of her eye, Gloria could still see Serena checking her out, leaving the girl unable to say anything, unsure of what she would say or think. She mentally prepared herself for a scolding about how she had delayed the woman's husband. The woman instead let out an amused giggle as she cocked her head towards Ash.
"You sure can't leave for a second without making friends." Serena's attention went back to Gloria, shifting between her and the two Pokémon surrounding the young girl with renewed interest. "Nice to meet you. Are these Pokémon yours?"
Gloria gave a brief, unsure nod back. "Y-yeah, this is Scorbunny, that one is Rookidee."
"Scor Scor!" The fire bunny squeaked, his little paws on his hips as he shook off his uneasiness and pulled off his brightest smile. Rookidee simply decided to perch on Gloria's hat, making sure Serena could get a nice, clear look.
Serena continued to give a good look to Gloria's two Pokémon, the young trainer feeling her heart race inside her chest, her mind already expecting the critique she was going to deliver. Once again, Serena's bright smile caught her off guard.
"They both look wonderful. You're going to have a great future ahead of you."
While Scorbunny rubbed his neck bashfully, Gloria remained still, completely taken aback by the smiling, pleasant tone of the woman. She felt like a completely different person than she appeared to be, and realizing that only made the Postwick girl unsure of what to say in response. She let her gaze wander down, and it was then that she noticed what exactly was inside of Serena's bags, and more specifically the familiar logo sewn on the visible part of the jacket.
"Hey, is that a Daily Discovery jacket?" she asked, tilting her head to get a better look, noticing various other articles of clothing inside, ranging from trousers to shirts.
"Yes, I just bought it at the boutique down the street. Is there something wrong with it?"
"Not at all, it's the hottest brand in Wedgehurst! It's not really my favorite, and I'm not exactly big into fashion, but you picked some great stuff!"
Serena smiled, glancing over at her purchases. "Thanks for telling me. I'm not too knowledgeable of Galarian fashion."
"Like I said, neither am I, but when you're a Wedgehurst local you kinda learn of our major businesses. All those Wooloo gotta be used for something." Gloria placed her hands behind her neck, giving an almost bored once-over at the fields beyond the city. She was quick to realize what she was saying, however, turning away in embarrassment. "Sorry, guess you aren't interested in that."
"Don't be shy! We're all friends around here," Ash reassured her, him and Astrid grabbing Serena's bags and splitting up his wife's purchases among them. Even Pikachu added his own reassurance, jumping from Ash's shoulder to pat Gloria's ankle before scampering back to help.
Her hands now free, Serena adjusted her fedora, still looking at Gloria. "Ash is right. I'm very interested to learn more of the region. You're a local, right? I take it you know where Professor Magnolia's Laboratory is?"
"Oh, you just gotta follow the main street and then head for the outskirts. Straight line through the beaten path." Gloria pointed ahead, beyond the road cutting straight through Wedgehurst and towards the green hills and large lake in the distance, where a fairly large yet quaint-looking building emblazoned with a Poké Ball stood right next to the body of water. "I've never been, but most locals know it's both her house and Laboratory."
"Your Professor knows how to treat herself..." Astrid commented, stroking her chin with interest, while Ash and Pikachu were looking ready to run all the way there, bags and all.
Gloria shrugged at the remark. "Guess being a researcher pays well, or something."
"You sound bored. Is there something wrong?" Serena asked, a tinge of worry in her tone. Gloria blushed at the returning attention, but was quick to shake her head, giving the familiar streets of the city a longing look.
"Nah, I love Wedgehurst. It's the liveliest place I've known." She turned to the train station, wistfully staring at it before groaning just a bit. "But Postwick and Wedgehurst just feel so small. I want to see the caves, the ancient ruins, the wilderness, everything! Even all the strong trainers! There's so much I don't know yet of Galar, and it's all waiting just up ahead."
As if to punctuate Gloria's statement, Scorbunny jumped up, fists pumped and giving off a grin, while Rookidee remained comfortably on top of her beret. All of the adults around her exchanged looks, trading amused glances. Gloria blinked, wondering what she'd said to elicit such a reaction, but her worries were set aside as Ash placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a confident wink.
"I'm sure the world won't disappoint you." He faced the laboratory in the distance again, adjusting his cap. "Is that why you're trying to meet Leon?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
"I hope you get to have the adventure you're looking for, Gloria," Serena said with her hands clasped, while Astrid sent the girl a curt nod. Gloria giggled, her cheeks flushing red at the attention, lips curling upward sheepishly.
"Th-thanks," she said, beaming at the older woman and receiving just as bright a smile in return. Gloria really couldn't believe to have pegged the woman so wrong, after seeing how supportive and kind she could sound.
Astrid put a stop to her thoughts, however, thumb pointed to their eventual destination. "If she wants to get her adventure started, and we want Ash to actually do his job, then we should actually head for the Professor's house as soon as possible. It's already late in the afternoon and we shouldn't make the Champion wait even more."
"Of course!" Ash pumped his fists, excitedly stepping forward. "Wanna lead the way, Gloria?"
Gloria smirked confidently, instantly striding ahead of everyone. "You bet. This way!"
Without skipping a beat, the Postwick girl led the way up Wedgehurst's main street, through a bridge above the river and straight into Route Two. Gloria and Scorbunny paced quickly through the grassy hill's beaten road, snaking downward towards the beautiful, large lake of Wedgehurst, still stunningly enormous even after years. Yet, Gloria's goal was still clear, making a beeline for Magnolia's laboratory at the end of the path.
Even then, however, Gloria continued to turn and check where everyone else was. Rookidee was freely flying above their heads, making flips and enjoying himself, while Ash and Astrid followed not far behind, the Kalosian trainer having recalled Absol inside her Poké Ball. Several steps behind was Serena, walking slowly after them and clearly looking like she didn't want to push herself.
A tinge of guilt for the older woman washed over Gloria as she stopped. "Hey, if we need to stop, we can-"
"Don't worry, this is just a stroll. I can still make it." The woman's gentle smile didn't do much to assuage the young trainer's worries, even as she finally caught up with her, but she still shrugged and tried to keep her uncertainty at bay.
"All right." She twirled around and resumed her walk forward, eyeing their eventual destination once more, much closer than she had initially figured. "Let's take it slow, though. We-"
Gloria's train of thought was abruptly derailed as she finally noticed two people outside the Professor's house. They were distant, barely recognizable, but even from there she could see the purple mop of hair, the blue jacket and the extremely fluffy sheep that made one of them unmistakable. She scowled, fists balled as her teeth were bared.
"So, he is here!" Gloria sized up the rest of the road to reach Hop, looking ready to throw down with anyone that could stop her, and then dashed without warning through the dirt path.
"Gloria, wait!" she heard Serena saying, but whatever she, the other adults or even Rookidee were doing or thinking was irrelevant now.
"I already waited more than enough! Scorbunny, come on!"
"Nibbah!" The Rabbit Pokémon sprinted by her side, catching up and tailing closely after the young trainer.
Gloria and her starter left everyone in the dust as they continued their mad race to the lake. Her heart was thumping against her chest and her legs felt ready to give up at yet another run, but the girl was going on sheer adrenaline, the desire to close the distance overpowering everything else. Her scampering down the hill didn't go unnoticed, as her rival turned towards her when she finally reached the entrance.
Hop recognized her, smiling and waving back. "Oh, hey, Gloria! How are things goin-"
"Hop, you idiot!" Gloria yelled, stopping short of a couple feet from the boy, staring right through him with a piercing glare. The boy jerked back, but the girl's verbal assault remained relentless. She was half-tempted to slug him, but his alarmed expression was enough for her to stop, hands trailing from her knees to her hips with a glare. "Why did you leave, you arse? We were supposed to come here together!"
"Well excuse me, you weren't waking up and I wanted to get everything ready!" Hop scowled back at her, hands raised up. Then Gloria felt a light weight on top of her beret. "Is that Rookidee yours?"
"Yeah, I caught him just now- Hey, don't change the subject!" She snapped her head sharply enough to send Rookidee flying away. "You knew I wanted to be there! How did you not think about it?"
"Sorry, it's my fault. I was the one that insisted on leaving right away."
The familiar and confident, yet soft, tone of voice was enough to freeze Gloria on the spot. Her head twisted ninety degrees to find the imposing and unmistakable frame of a muscular, friendly-looking man with long purple hair, bedecked in a regal cape, a black and white uniform, and a hat tilted with the rim all the way upwards. He was considering her and Scorbunny with interest, sending them a warm smile, but that was hardly what the girl dwelled on.
"Ch-Champion Leon!" Gloria cried, her voice rising several octaves. The Champion chuckled with nonchalance, striding closer to her.
"Hello, Gloria. Been a while." Leon kneeled just a bit, enough to observe and pet Gloria's trusty first partner. "You're looking good as well, Scorbunny."
"N-Nibbah..." The Rabbit Pokémon strained his own pose, sweat pouring down his face as he tried to be as stiff as possible.
Gloria swallowed loudly; the Champion was there,in the flesh, speaking specifically with her. She fidgeted in place as her thoughts jumbled in her head. "Sorry, I was- well..."
"Is everything alri-"
"Yesitis!"
Gloria's whole body locked up, her face redder than before, heart going into overdrive as Leon kept staring at her with the most puzzled look on his face. On the side, Hop and Rookidee snickered at her predicament, earning themselves a harsh stare from the Postwick girl.
Thankfully for her, help swiftly arrived.
"Here we are! You gotta be Leon, right?" The familiar voice made Gloria snap out of her starstruck state, as Ash and his two companions had finally caught up. The man was quick to cover the distance and stand in front of Leon, a smile on his face.
The Champion diverted his attention towards the Kantonian trainer, taking a second to realize who he was before offering him a hand. "Ah, and you must be Ash Ketchum, the League Liaison I've heard so much of! It's a pleasure to finally meet you! The rumors of your exploits are legendary."
Ash accepted the handshake, firmly grasping Leon's hand. "So are yours, by the way the rest of the region seems to see you."
"I've been told that a lot."
Both men shared a smirk at the same time, staring intensely at one another as they clasped their hands just a bit tighter. Gloria could see a familiar fire in both of their eyes, as if they were both trying to get a feel of the other, their love for challenge simmering under the pleasantries.
What that feeling would've led to Gloria couldn't say, as the creaking of a door slammed open, catching everyone by surprise.
"What's all this ruckus for? This is a place for work!"
The stern, older call made everyone's attention gravitate towards the Laboratory's entrance, where two figures stood, a younger ginger-haired woman dressed in a large traveling coat and a much older and dignified lady wearing a lab coat, carrying herself with a walking stick. Gloria vaguely recalled the former, but most certainly recognized the latter: Professor Magnolia, the highest authority on Pokémon research in the Galar region, and the woman she and Hop were supposed to meet.
The younger woman rubbed her neck with unease, her eyes flicking over towards Leon. "Sorry, Gran and I were analyzing some data from the Wild Area just now."
"It's okay, we were being loud..." Leon chuckled out sheepishly. Ash let out a nervous laugh, as well, the older men sharing the embarrassment together. At those words, the younger woman puffed her cheeks and rolled her eyes.
Serena, instead, strode forward towards the older lady. "You must be Professor Magnolia. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Yes, I am, and she's Sonia, my granddaughter and assistant." The orange-haired woman gave a nod and a wave, while the Professor held the bird-shaped tip of her cane firmly, sharpening her gaze towards the gaggle of people ahead of her. It was clear she wasn't one for meandering on a subject. "You must be the guests the Champion was waiting for, and Hop's friend, correct? Can say I wasn't expecting such a large gathering, but Leon's call at noontime…"
"Yes, it's us. Sorry for the wait," Hop said, cutting off Magnolia, though the older women did little but purse her lips. Hop gave a sheepish smile, while Gloria simply nodded along a second later, realizing she'd been addressed. Magnolia's severe stare bored into them for a second more before her expression and posture grew softer.
"It happens," the professor said, looking back to the inside of the Laboratory. "I'm sure there's much to talk about. Let's all have a nice conversation inside."
All others quickly agreed, and they followed into the building. Gloria clenched her fists, trying to rein in her excitement as she stepped inside, a bright smile coming back to her face.
It was tidy, or at least as tidy as a laboratory could be, Gloria supposed. Hop was the more interested of the two of them, but neither had any time to look, soon guided to a room with a table and chairs before they could discern further details. Once seated, the ginger-haired Sonia disappeared from the room, returning swiftly with a tray of teacups.
"You'll have to forgive us for the lack of refreshments. As I said, we didn't expect to have so many guests," Professor Magnolia said. Sonia made the rounds across the table, bringing several cups of tea and sweet snacks to everyone. All the adults sat across from each other while Gloria and Hop remained on the side, waiting for their turn to discuss matters. Having the chance, Gloria glanced around the building. Professor Magnolia's Laboratory felt more like a library, with several rows of books carefully lined up all around them over two floors alongside the white, pristine walls that lined the area. There didn't seem to be any separations between rooms save for a backdoor that Gloria guessed led to the house proper, allowing her to see the desk, boards and computers carefully filled with invaluable research data.
"All good, Professor Magnolia," Leon said, grabbing a bite of his treats with the same voracity Ash was showing. Serena and Astrid looked to be far more conservative in theirs, taking a few bites at their own pace.
Pikachu and Wooloo were off to the side, enjoying some treats Sonia had delivered them, while Scorbunny rested in Gloria's arms and Rookidee continued to perch upon her beret. As Sonia delivered the tea and snacks to the Postwick girl, she tried to give one of the sweets to her little bird, but seeing him deliberately avoid that made her desist immediately. Rolling her eyes, she passed it over to Scorbunny instead, continuing to follow the current discussion.
"So, your field of research is this...Dynamax thing? I read about it on the way to Galar." Ash swallowed down all the sweets he stuffed in his mouth, observing the size comparison between a Charizard and a much larger proportioned one affixed to the Laboratory's board.
Magnolia gave a curt nod. "Yes. The gigantification of Pokémon, only registered in the Galar region. It's been happening since time immemorial, but only in recent times have we found a way to safely and reliably harness it."
"Good thing, too, because we can use them in Pokémon battles." Leon smirked, showcasing the white, pink and blue band over his wrist with pride. Gloria quirked an eyebrow, the thrill rushing into her veins at the sight of it. "There's nothing like seeing Pokémon grow giant to make the crowd go wild! Only here in Galar!"
Ash gave the briefest of smiles, but his attention remained on Leon. "Man, your Gym battles must be amazing."
"They are! Every year, hundreds of Gym Challengers attempt to win their way to the top, but so far, none have managed to dethrone me!"
Sonia rolled her eyes as she placed the remainder of the sweets in the middle of the table, letting out a heavy sigh. "Don't flaunt your undefeated status, you already have the whole region doing that for you."
"Not my fault if it's true, Sonia." Leon gave her a dismissive shrug as he took another handful of snacks. Astrid helped herself as well, looking back to the gigantification charts with interest, while Ash's attention continued to be on the purple-haired man.
"I've fought against undefeated trainers before. They didn't last," he said, drinking his tea with nonchalance until the cup was emptied.
The remark seemed to earn him Leon's interest, a grin creeping back on his face. "If you want, my team is raring to give you a Champion time."
"That a challenge? You shouldn't underestimate me, Galar Champion."
"Pika!" As if on cue, Pikachu raised one of his tiny fists, electricity gathering around his cheeks as he leapt over Ash's shoulder.
Leon didn't seem threatened, letting out a lighthearted laugh. "Likewise, League Liaison."
Once again, Gloria could see the fire of challenge sparkling inside both trainers' eyes, each sizing up the other, their hands hovering above their Poké Balls. Her eyebrow arched further, mildly intrigued to find out how Leon would do against a trainer from a foreign land, moreso as they both appeared ready to rumble right there and then. Hop seemed to be feeling the same way, with how much he was beaming in their direction.
"Ash, don't forget why we're here." Serena took a slow and deliberate sip, and that was enough to make Ash slump back on the chair.
"Right, right…" He exhaled, playing with his empty cup. "Man, it sucks, but League work is League work."
"Working for it is not the same as challenging it, right?" Leon's voice was tinged with nostalgia as he adjusted his position. "I'm lucky enough that I get to watch over Gym Challengers, at least. Would've loved to have you with us."
"You can at least tell me more about it. It's part of my assignment."
Leon nodded back at Ash, putting aside the rest of the sweets to try and give himself the appropriate tone. Even knowing what he would say, Gloria's interest remained on Hop's brother, eagerly awaiting his explanation.
"For the most part, it's the same as other regions. Win eight badges, and then you enter a League Conference." The Champion rose from his seat, pointing skyward to accompany his talk. "Then, for the winner of the Conference there's another tournament, the Champion Cup, where the Conference winner, the Gym Leaders and the current Champion battle against each other to crown the new one."
"Lee's been the Champion since he was ten, too!" Hop chimed in, arms folded and chest puffed with pride.
"He set a pretty lofty standard. Everyone joins the Challenge more to dethrone him than anything these days, and it's about all he focuses on, too," Sonia commented, playing with her sidetail absentmindedly. Leon ignored her minor flash of frustration with a hearty laugh.
"Did you take part in it, too?" Sonia glanced over to Ash upon his question, at a seeming loss for words.
Leon flashed a grin before she could add anything, slinging his arm across the researcher's shoulder. That turned the frustration to a look of flusterment. "Sonia here was with me the whole way during my Gym Challenge! She helped me get out of the Glimwood Tangle once, on the way to Circhester."
"Which was in the opposite direction..." the researcher grumbled, untangling herself from his grip and scowling towards her old friend. "I wasn't just your glorified navigator, Leon. We were rivals!"
"Until you went into research, that is."
Sonia grabbed the empty plate of sweets away from the table, averting her gaze from Leon as she shook her head. "Yeah...the Champion was a bit too out of my reach. Not that working for Gran is too bad."
"What's that now?"
Professor Magnolia's stern glare made Sonia freeze in place, instantly forcing a nervous grin on her face. "I mean, great! Amazing! Work is awesome!"
"I'm still waiting for that thesis, Sonia."
"It'll come, I swear," Sonia grumbled in a hushed tone.
Gloria blinked, a bit lost in the constant shuffle of arguments, while Magnolia finally diverted her attention away from her granddaughter, much to the young woman's appreciation. Ash probably felt the same, as he rubbed his neck with unease. He turned back towards Leon. "Anyway…anything else you can tell me?"
"Not really. The Gym Challenge is something you experience, not really describe." Ash seemed satisfied, even excited, by that answer, going by his fired-up expression. There was also a light disappointment, or that's what Gloria thought, as if he really wanted to take part. He quickly wiped it away.
"I'll do so for sure. I want to see what Galar trainers are made of!" The liaison jumped from his chair as well, fists pumped in excitement and Pikachu emulating him. Then, a second later, he gave a sheepish smile to the Champion. "Though, I'll still need to meet up with the Galar League President Rose, as well...Think you could do something about that?"
"I can arrange an appointment for you in Motostoke. I have to meet him for the opening ceremony of the League in a few days anyway."
"That'd be great, thanks!"
"My pleasure!" Before the discussion could continue, he tilted his head towards the entrance and then back to the gathered guests. "Speaking of, I should probably start heading there. It's been great to meet you all. I'm glad we didn't miss each other entirely."
Ash nodded along in full understanding. "Same here. See you in Motostoke, then?"
"Of course. I wish you all good work." Leon flashed a grin back to Ash, adjusting his uniform and making his way out of the Laboratory. Right as he opened the door, he turned around and gave an acknowledging nod to everyone in the room. Gloria could feel her heart skip a beat as Leon's gaze lingered on her and her friend. "Hop, Gloria, hope the Professor will be able to help you out. And never forget..."
With pride, Leon threw his hand skyward, his signature three-point Charizard pose on display. "Let's have a Champion time!"
And just like that, Leon winked back to the youngsters and walked away, slamming the door behind him with perfect dramatic timing.
Gloria remained there, her mind empty of thoughts, until she turned around to meet Hop's just as starstruck expression that was worth a million words. They sighed dreamily at once. "Man, he's so cool…"
"You said it..."
The adults in the room didn't appear to share their enthusiasm, either shrugging or continuing to enjoy the teatime, while Sonia and Magnolia rolled their eyes at the predictable response. Ash was different, however, stroking his chin with interest. "He sure is unlike any other Champion I met. But he doesn't seem too bad.".
Sonia folded her arms, chancing a fleeting glimpse of the departing Leon through the window. "He's like that. The best Champion the region could ask for, really. Charismatic, strong, inspirational...and it doesn't help he's a looker for his fans, I suppose."
She continued to stare towards him, her gaze wistful and nostalgic, and Gloria wondered if there was more to the story about them than they were told. Her questions were quickly put to rest, however, as the sharp sound of Magnolia's stick hitting the floor brought everyone's attention back to the Professor.
She cleared her throat, addressing both Gloria and Hop. "Anyway, now that Leon's business is over, I think you two were here to discuss something."
"Oh, yeah! Hop already gave you the stones, right?" Gloria leaned forward, eager to know more, with even Scorbunny hopping from her grip and standing on the table in excitement. Hop and Wooloo inched forward as well, forcing Serena and Astrid to scramble for their teacups before they could spill all over the table.
"Yes, he asked me to confirm if they truly were Wishing Stars. I ran a few checks to make sure."
"And...?"
Magnolia paused, both arms firmly atop her cane as she waited. Every second felt agonizing for Gloria, nails digging into her palms while her mind jumped to the worst-case scenario. She swallowed down her anxiety, and after far more time than she felt necessary, Magnolia finally gave her the reassuring nod she was waiting for.
"They absolutely are Wishing Stars, and they can be fashioned into Dynamax Bands."
"Yes!" Gloria slammed her fists to the table, the cups and plates clattering as she beamed like never before. She instantly turned back to Hop again, finding an expression of joy as large as her own. They shared a high five without any further prompt.
"We did it, Gloria!" Hop said, flashing a face-splitting grin back to her. On the table, both Scorbunny and Wooloo cheered as well, almost making up for how Rookidee was simply moving around the table to swindle some unclaimed sweets, but Gloria and her friend were too happy to care for that.
They did care, however, for the loud cough interrupting their jubilation, especially as Professor Magnolia appeared none too pleased about it. Both kids sheepishly sat back down, wearing matching nervous grins as everyone's attention went back to them, their Pokémon similarly hopping off to the ground.
Gloria tried to laugh it off with a very awkward grin. scratching her neck slowly. "Sorry, it's just...Dynamax!"
Of the adults in the room, only Sonia seemed to get what she meant, while the foreigners still appeared somewhere between curious and puzzled. Well, except for Ash, who nodded as he followed along, just looking clueless. Professor Magnolia remained as serious as ever, and after shaking her head, she let out a tired sigh, resuming her talk.
"You'll still have to wait a while for it. Building a functional Dynamax Band takes time. How Macro Cosmos can hand them out like candy is beyond me…"
"Aww..." Gloria felt her excitement deflate as quickly as it started, one of her early goals as a trainer getting postponed yet again. Nonetheless, she realized how whiny it would've been to complain, and just laughed it off. "Well, makes sense. Do we have to wait for it here or...?"
"No need. I'll bring the Bands to you as soon as they're ready!" Sonia told the teens, her voice reassuring as she pumped her fist. "I have some trips planned, so if they're ready by the time of the opening ceremony, I can deliver them then, or just meet up with you somewhere along the way. I'll give you a ring, or gran."
"Sounds amazing! Thank you! Gloria, isn't this awesome?" Hop said, receiving a thumbs up and a wink from the Sonia, while Gloria nodded fervently.
Ash chuckled at their enthusiasm, his gaze wandering back to Professor Magnolia's workplace and hanging diagrams. "I wanna see Dynamax in action, as well."
"It won't disappoint you, I'm sure." The elderly lady's tone betrayed the personal pride for her field of work, as she stood from her chair to walk slowly towards her desk. "That said, I do still have a little gift for our two upcoming trainers. Leon asked me to prepare them, but for any kids with enough gumption to find Wishing Stars on their own, I'd do it anyway."
"What is it, Professor?" Gloria asked, curiosity making her stand back up and follow after the researcher.
"Oh, something you'll love for sure."
The woman didn't even turn around as she rummaged through a desk, looking for something hidden from view. Everyone else seemed to be just as intrigued as Gloria, and the rest of the entourage rose up from their seats as well, all while Sonia stood by her grandmother's side. The Postwick girl tapped her foot impatiently, trying to peer through the woman's frame and see what she was up to, almost ready to beg her to get faster. She couldn't imagine what the Professor would want to show them that was so important.
And then, as Professor Magnolia turned back to them and held two devices in her hand, all the impatience was washed away, and the hugest grin formed on both her and Hop's face. Both were starting to hurt.
"No way, no way!" She kept staring at the objects in Magnolia's hands like a kid in a candy store, keenly aware of what they actually were as the Professor delivered them to her and Hop's hands. "Rotom Phones! Newest model, too!"
"Rotom Phones?" Ash asked, head tilted as he took a look at the rectangular-shaped, orange device Gloria was now happily fiddling with.
After tapping on the screen and beginning the startup, the young girl showed off the phone with barely restrained excitement. "The latest in Rotom-powered technology. They've been all the rage in the last few years!"
Almost as if it had waited for the introduction, Gloria's Rotom Phone suddenly sprouted a stubby tail and long, jagged horn over its shape, flying from her hands and stopping to float ahead, just as Hop's blue device also did. Both Gloria, her rival and their guests observed carefully as their devices grew the familiar, playful face associated with the Rotom line, finally living up to what they were.
"Hello, users. We look forward to assist you in your journey," both Rotom Phones declared in tandem, causing both young trainers to grab them again, working on their settings.
"Aaaah, they're so professional!" Gloria remarked, moving into the App list and scrolling through the various icons, between Calls, Messages, Maps, News Updates and all sorts of useful things for a trainer on the road. "The older models are great, too, but this has everything! Ooh, look, Leon's social media page!"
"Already had him followed, though haven't checked it in a while," Hop admitted. Ash chuckled, sitting back down.
"Man, the Rotom we traveled with in Alola wasn't this polite." Ash's tone was nostalgic, earning both a wistful expression from Serena, followed by a laugh. He joined her moments after. Gloria preferred not intruding, instead focusing on her own, Rotom-powered device as she looked for the most important thing.
"Does it also have a Pokédex function?" she asked Magnolia, still cycling through the screens. Not every Rotom Phone was able to be used like one, including her own, older model, but if the Professor had given them...
"Yes, I made sure those two did have it. Courtesy of being the latest model." Much to her joy, Gloria did end up finding the Dex icon right at that point. It took a lot to not just shriek right there and then. "Why don't you try it out, Gloria, dear?"
Gloria didn't even need to be told that, as she already pressed the App icon and transitioned into camera mode, aiming it over to her trusty bunny partner at her side. A static image of Scorbunny formed, and Rotom did the rest. "Scorbunny, the Rabbit Pokémon. A Fire type. Known for its energetic temperament, the pads above its nose and under its feet heat up intensely when ready for battle."
"Bun bun!" Scorbunny puffed his chest, indulging in some vanity, while Gloria and Hop continued to glance over their new phones. One didn't need a Pokédex to be a good trainer, but it was undeniable that having one already put them a cut above the rest.
Professor Magnolia seemed to agree, even allowing herself to crack a smile. "I have updated it with all the latest known information about Pokémon. It'll be an invaluable tool for your Gym Challenge, no doubt."
"Thank you, Professor! You're the best!" Gloria told her, giving the elderly woman a thumbs up.
The Professor shrugged with nonchalance. "I'm only doing what I can. Not often we have determined young trainers from way out here. Most are content with farm work."
"Not us, though!" As he continued setting up his own Rotom Phone, Hop pumped up his fists, shaking with excitement. "We're going to get Dynamax Bands and we have a Pokédex now! That's awesome!"
"Makes you feel like a real trainer, right? No more laying around Postwick!" Gloria smirked, offering him another high five.
"Yes! The perfect first page for my legend!" The boy slapped Gloria's hand, only to surprise the girl by clasping it right after with his own, staring into her eyes. She gulped for just a second, but it passed at his words. "But that page won't be complete without a fight with a worthy rival, don't you think?"
Gloria tightened her own grip, not letting Hop's hand go. "Are you challenging me, mate?"
"Why not? I really want to see what you and your new Rookidee are made of."
"Rookoko?" Gloria's Flying-type held an annoyed scowl towards the boy, taking offense at being considered Gloria's.
The reaction was to be expected with how the little bird had been acting since his capture, but it was enough to give the girl pause as she let go of her friend's hand. She wasn't sure how good an idea it would be to test out her unruly bird against her rival, but of all things, Gloria was not one to turn down the fight.
"Well, since you want it so much...prepare to get your arse kicked." Gloria punctuated her remark with a prideful smirk.
Hop replied in kind, arms folded at his chest with confidence. "You first!"
All the while, Ash observed them with a bemused expression. "Man, a good old intense rivalry. Always great to see."
"I'm not sure you should fight inside Professor Magnolia's Laboratory, however," Serena chimed in, scanning the surrounding area and all the priceless books and research materials around them.
"It's okay, there's a battlefield right outside!" Just to make sure, Hop looked back to Magnolia, even if his confidence didn't falter. "We can use it, right?"
"Of course, make yourself at home." The Professor looked over their Pokémon, clearly intrigued to see what they were made of.
Hop gestured back to Gloria as he headed for the door. "Well, you heard the Prof. Let's go!"
"You're on!" Neither Gloria nor Scorbunny debated the notion, excitement fueling them. They jumped to their feet and followed right out the room, eager for the battle.
Gloria and Hop's first clash as true trainers, aiming for the stars, was ready to begin.
Author's Note: And with this, we're almost done setting some building blocks down. Of course, as we're still in largely Viroro-written territory (though I've made some choice additions and whatnot), I'll leave him to address it.
Viroro: And with this, Astrid and Serena properly enjoy the team! For as much as Ash's presence impacts the story, they will be no less important for the developments that are to come. I apologize if this chapter didn't turn out to be as eventful of the prior two, but I'd like to think we still placed an important building block for the future of the story with the first in-person appearence of Leon, alongside Professor Magnolia and her granddaughter Sonia. It's been fun to let the characters bounce off each other and work our way to Gloria and Hop's first proper rival battle, and hope that came across to you readers, as well.
Hope you'll keep enjoying what's to come next!
In the meantime, and as usual, some people to thank: Fiction Realm, dracometeo and jlogan2748 for favoriting; Demon Shadow5000, blizzardblaze174 and cher752803 for following; and a most hearty thanks to Mezamun, potat lasaro, StoutShako42Refined, TheEnigmatic97, FantasyLover88, GalarianMike, Tenzalucard123, oomoepoo, King Nintendo, UltimateCCC, aliensinnoh, Awesome Fury, Ander Arias, fanatical99, NewLooneyTune, XDiamondX90, Rajiv A. Rajaram, Captainsquid12, AmourshippingCanon and Rayman0098 for reviewing!
Thanks for your time. Until next time, please Review and…
Dare to Be Silly.