I honestly think it's best to get this out of the way now: please don't ask about Ash and Serena's kid. It'll happen when it happens. Please just enjoy the journey along the way. Anyway, time for Chapter 4!
Chapter 4
A Wish
Gloria could feel the eyes on her as she left the house with Hop, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement.
Everyone was following them out, and a brief look back told Gloria that Magnolia and Ash were both intrigued by the two rivals. They weren't alone.
Rookidee was, too, though whether for amusement or out of a sense of duty, Gloria didn't know. In either case, she preferred to keep her attention on Professor Magnolia's garden, and more specifically the large, outlined battlefield that occupied a large part of the Professor's front yard. She hadn't paid much attention to it earlier, but looking at it, she was curious as to why a researcher would have something like that in the first place. Was it to give upcoming trainers a place to practice? Or perhaps something created for Sonia's benefit? Maybe her spars with Leon?
It didn't matter. Gloria was quick to discard the thoughts.
Having done so, she finally took her place inside one of the trainer boxes, Scorbunny running in place at her side with energetic enthusiasm. Rookidee once again decided to perch atop her beret. On the opposite side stood Hop, winding up his arm and ready to battle as Wooloo bleated in challenge at his side. The rest of the adults remained on the sidelines, with only Sonia stepping in the middle of the field, clapping her hands together.
She had to imagine this is what it would feel like, stepping onto the pitch of a Gym stadium. With an anticipatory breath, she warmed herself up. One eye tracked Sonia, while the other landed on the foreign trainers. It welled inside her, and she grinned to Scorbunny; she'd show them her skill and how a true Galar trainer battled.
"All right, I'm going to be your referee. How many Pokémon you want to use?" Sonia asked, turning her head between both challengers.
Hop's answer was quick, his smirk growing more playful. "Let's do two each."
"You've got a new Pokémon, as well?" Gloria squinted in her friend's direction, zoning in on the extra Poké Ball hanging from his belt.
Hop clipped the Poké Ball out, holding it proudly as he stared back at Gloria. "Lee's gift. To celebrate the start of my legendary adventure. He's a good one, too. Bet he could beat any one of yours."
"Just having a new Pokémon ain't gonna help ya, you know."
"Likewise. We're gonna beat you, anyway."
Gloria's gaze grew sharper at the remark, lips pursed in a thin line. "Don't get too cocky, mate. Remind me the last time you won against us?"
"Scor!"
"It's not cockiness if I'm right." Hop reattached his new Poké Ball on his belt, ignoring Gloria's snide reminder and bringing his attention instead to the fluffy and battle-ready companion at his side. "Ready to show 'em, Wooloo?"
"Baah!" The Sheep Pokémon rolled onward until it entered the battlefield, wearing a confident expression that looked out of place on his cute, fluffy countenance. Most trainers would underestimate the Normal-type, but Gloria knew Hop's buddy way too much to fall for it.
Gloria tensed, ruffling her hair in contemplation while making sure not to upset the bird on her beret. Hop's intent was clear: create pressure on her by saying he had a new, unknown Pokémon, then leading with the one she knew about. A bit cheap perhaps, but hardly against the rules. She began to figure it was probably better to reserve Scorbunny to face the mystery Pokémon with her current lack of information, which left only one other choice for the first matchup.
"Rookidee, let's go!" Gloria declared, pointing forward with decision.
The response to her call was an awfully bored chirping, quickly leading the girl to shake her hat and force her newest capture off it. That seemed to do the trick, as Rookidee flew off the headwear and landed on their side of the battlefield.
"Roookoko..." he cawed softly, looking everywhere but at Wooloo, hardly invested in the upcoming battle. Gloria swallowed, keeping her thoughts on Hop and his Pokémon. She knew Rookidee wouldn't listen easily, but with the bite of her lip, she steeled herself; one insolent little bird wouldn't stop her. She grabbed her Rotom Phone and gave a quick look to Rookidee's moveset, one thought chiefly in her mind.
She would find a way to win, no matter what.
"Very well, then. We'll have a two-on-two battle. First one to get both knocked out, loses." Sonia moved closer to the edge of the battlefield, raising both hands with a grin that said she missed this a little. Ash was no different on the sides, practically pulled down from his excitement of watching the battle. Sonia's hands lowered. "Ready? Go!"
"Let's get this started! Wooloo, use Tackle!" Hop shouted, punching forward. Wooloo was quick to scamper ahead, retreating into a wooly ball and rolling for Rookidee. Gloria steadied her stance, bracing herself for the incoming danger.
"Keep yourself a-" Gloria called, only for her mouth to snap shut at the annoyed cry. Her command went unheard, for Rookidee was already zooming in Wooloo's direction. "Hey, wait!"
"Rookokoko!" the Flying type cawed, a grin on his beak as he ignored his trainer and readied himself to pierce through the accelerating ball of Wooloo charging towards him.
Hop grinned with little worry, snapping his fingers when Gloria's Pokémon got close enough. "Wooloo, Defense Curl!"
The round sheep retreated in his own wool, his speed grinding to a halt just as Rookidee's beak connected, the Peck neutralized against the fluffy shield. Rookidee flew back, shooting a glare at the Sheep Pokémon's protection.
"I was trying to tell you! Don't just attack like that!" Gloria grumbled, palming her face in frustration. Rookidee gave her a dismissive scowl, before he returned to circle around Wooloo, beak ready for another strike, no matter Gloria's commands.
Hop curved his lips upwards, almost amused at his rival's misfortunes. "Looks like you haven't got the whole 'obedience' thing down yet."
"I caught him only a couple hours ago, cut me some slack!" An eyeroll and some muttered groans later, Gloria punched on, determined to prove him wrong. "Rookidee, Hone Claws!"
For once, the Flying type seemed to be on the same page as her. His claws and beak sharpened as an reddish-orange aura enveloped him, his face lit up by the power surging through. Gloria felt confidence flowing inside her as well, and chose to take her chance as Wooloo's features popped out of the wooly shield again. "Rooko!"
"Now, Peck!" she ordered, and Rookidee followed with unprecedented diligence, wings tucked as he meteored downward.
"Stay still, Wooloo!" Hop ordered, just as calm as he had been up to then.
Gloria quirked an eyebrow in confusion as Hop's trusty partner made no motions to dodge or protect himself. It was counterintuitive to any battle strategy, and on the side of the field, both Ash and Astrid leaned forward with shining interest. That was all it took to notice the cocky grin of the sheep, a grim realization dawning on her. "Rookidee, stop!"
Her call came too late, as Rookidee had already attacked, this time striking Wooloo squarely on his face. The fluffy Pokémon's expression didn't change, and neither did Hop's as he unveiled his plan.
"Payback!" Just as Hop gave his order, Wooloo jumped towards Rookidee, tackling the bird with his whole body and launching him across the battlefield. Rookidee crashed into the ground, forming a crater on impact and chirping in pain.
"Rookidee!" Gloria yelled, eyes primed on the Tiny Bird Pokémon as he rose back up, giving her a rather annoyed scowl. She shuddered, her eye twitching at the realization born from his glare; if the Flying type was anywhere keen on listening her before, he definitely wasn't anymore. All the while, Hop couldn't help but chuckle again.
"Like that? Me and Wooloo have been working this out for ages in secret! It's a move that hits harder if we hit after you do!" She knew that, her lips starting to twitch in tandem with her eyes. It was more infuriating when Hop slapped his fist over his palm with confidence, him and Wooloo wearing matching grins. "Was hoping to debut it earlier today before the sidetrack, but now you can see it! We've got perfect defense and offense! Your Rookidee has no chance, mate!"
Rookidee's scowl turned more intense, sending daggers at Hop and his Pokémon's. Gloria couldn't blame him: if they could either defend or turn their own attacks against them, what was the best course of action to take? There had to be a solution, but whatever it was, she couldn't see it yet.
"Bloody..." She swallowed, trying to collect her thoughts, even looking over to the crowd and Scorbunny for hints on what to do. Slowly, the beginning of a strategy was forming in her mind. "Rookidee, try to-"
"Rook!" Enraged, the Tiny Bird Pokémon flew straight for Wooloo once more, beak ready to peck once more, uncaring for whatever plans his trainer was cooking up. Gloria would've scolded him if Hop didn't order his own counter faster.
"Defense Curl!" Yet again, the Sheep Pokémon tucked himself inside his wool. Undeterred, Rookidee still slammed into the white fluffy shield, beak piercing the wool. The attempt proved pointless, eliciting no reaction from Wooloo, moreso as Rookidee tried and failed to get his beak out of the fluff. Hop's prideful smirk turned more frustrating to Gloria, doubled when their audience sat back, as if the battle was decided. Except for Ash and Pikachu, though, who watched with vested interest while Hop called his follow-up. "And now, Tackle!"
"Get away, Rookidee!" Gloria tried to say, but she was too late as Hop's Pokémon rolled ahead, the defenseless Rookidee still stuck in the fleece and dragged along.
Rather than hit the bird, however, Wooloo continued to roll around the arena like a speeding wheel, forcing Sonia to back away. Gloria's Pokémon was unable to escape as he kept hitting the ground at high velocity over and over, the bird unable to do anything but chirp in pain. Dread settled inside Gloria, trying to find something to do, only to come out with nothing. She tried spying the crowd for help, but found nothing save for Ash observing Wooloo's motions with interest. After two full revolutions around the battlefield, Hop finally gave his next order.
"Now, slam!" As soon as he said it, Wooloo's legs and face popped out of the wool, leaping skyward above the battlefield.
He spun, hurling Rookidee down powerfully, the Flying-type Pokémon slamming down on the ground with a crack, shattering it on impact and sending shivers down Gloria's spine. Wooloo was hardly finished, however, as he propelled himself down to crash on top of Rookidee with a mighty tackle, enough to form a small chasm and bring another scream of pain out of Gloria's Pokémon, sharp enough to make even Sonia wince.
Gloria was speechless as Wooloo jumped off Rookidee's frame, the sheep offering a prideful smirk and a look that said he was ready to throw down again. She continued to look over her Pokémon, Scorbunny shouting encouragement at her side. And all the while, Hop never lost his snide little grin.
"How did you like that? Your little bird is no match for our teamwork! Though he sure seems a glutton for punishment, mate. Either way, we're taking the top victory, like Lee. No more play-training, Gloria, not like our battles in Postwick! These are for keeps!" he said with overbearing confidence, almost like he believed himself to have already won.
Gloria held a fist to her chest, swallowing as she looked over Rookidee, the bird slowly rising back on his feet. It was a drive Gloria could relate to, but at that point, all she could see was just how close to unconsciousness her Pokémon was. Battered, bruised all over and barely able to stand, yet holding a glare full of anger towards Wooloo, Rookidee was ready to strike another pointless assault that would no doubt end in failure.
In that moment, it seemed like Hop had a point. Maybe Rookidee really was a glutton for punishment, but no amount of bashing his head against the wall would bring victory.
She frowned at the thought. She couldn't allow him to keep fighting like that, unsupervised, without listening to a single word she said. It would do nothing. Yet the question remained: how? How could she even gain any of the respect Rookidee clearly didn't want to give her?
And like a flash, as she glanced over to the crowd and the deep in contemplation Ash Ketchum, a thought made its way back in.
We're called Pokémon trainers for a reason.
That word rang through her head, stunning Gloria as everything, for once, finally made perfect sense. She knew exactly what she needed to do!
She pointed at her weakened bird, her stare growing harsher, angrier, collecting everything she had to say. "You selfish arse!"
"Rook?!" The Tiny Bird Pokémon threw his head back to Gloria, his face contorted into genuine confusion, one shared by everyone else around the battlefield. Even Hop stopped with an amused, and dismissive, grin. Gloria closed her hand into a fist, gaze locked with her Pokémon's.
"You...you're frustrated, right? Angry that no matter what you do, your opponent is winning?" she asked, her anger making way to a genuine question, lips turning downward.
"Rookoko?" It wasn't the usual mocking, playful cawing that she was used to. Rookidee appeared to be truly puzzled by her question, only reacting with a quizzical glance back. Gloria didn't give up.
"Do you think only your feelings matter? I'm frustrated, too!" She stomped her foot down, digging her nails into her palms. "I want to win and prove what I'm made of, but you keep not listening!"
Rookidee continued to look back at her, silent, with none of the amusement he usually carried. Realizing she had struck a chord, Gloria took a deep breath and smiled at him.
"We both want to prove we're the best, right? Defeat our opponents and have fun?" She pointed at herself, much more confident than she had been until then. "I get it, you wanna keep running at them, taking whatever you can. But that's not a way to win. On your own, you'll just get pummeled. But with the both of us…Well, let's just say I'm your best shot at winning this, whether you like it or not. Just give me your trust, and we'll make it through.
"And even if we do lose...we'll hate it, but we'll be frustrated together, and not at each other!"
Gloria continued to look into her Pokémon's eyes, breathing slowly, hoping against hope that she finally made a dent in the bird's stubborn streak. That he was finally willing to listen to her.
And then, Rookidee chuckled out.
It wasn't in his usual dismissive, annoying way, but with genuine mirth and happiness. The bird's expression morphed into a more confident one as he nodded, turning back to Wooloo and spreading his wings, awaiting instructions. Gloria beamed, sensing the budding connection between them, the understanding, and she pumped her fists as she stared back at Hop and Wooloo. In her peripheral, Ash sat back, nodding along to himself.
"Thank you! Now, let's kick their arses!" She jabbed forward, feeling confident like never before. "Hone Claws!"
Once again, Rookidee shimmered with an reddish hue as his natural weapons sharpened up, flying above Wooloo and circling around his opponent. Hop rolled his eyes, hardly worried. "You can get stronger all you want, but it won't help you, or did you forget who taught me everything about battling, Gloria? Defense Curl!"
"Baah!" Wooloo bleated, once again retreating inside his fleece and waiting for Gloria and Rookidee's next move. The bird continued to circle around his target, trading glances with Gloria all the while.
Gloria observed the battlefield carefully, the signs of the battle they fought so far clearly visible, and the idea she was having finally took form. "Oh, please, we both learned from watching his matches on the telly. Besides, you didn't forget who's beaten you before, did you? Peck!"
Rookidee sent his trainer a quizzical look, but quickly focused back on his opponent, tucking his wings close to his body and darting downward for the fluffy shield, beak-first. The attempt ended much the same way as before, with Rookidee stuck inside Wooloo's sturdy fleece. From the crowd, Gloria could hear the confused murmurs from the women, with only Ash remaining silent, albeit with a burgeoning grin. Hop laughed it off, hardly worried.
"You're the one who seems to have forgotten, mate! Wooloo, let's roll again!" Just like before, Wooloo wheeled forward, dashing at high speed and dragging Rookidee for the ride. Yet, Gloria was perfectly calm this time, eyes on the battlefield, waiting for the right time. And as Rookidee was about to roll down, Gloria seized the moment.
"Here it is! Rookidee, Peck down!" she ordered; with a powerful snap, Rookidee sliced through Wooloo's fluff, hanging onto it by his claws as he pierced the earth beneath. The sudden braking brought Wooloo's momentum to a halt, propelling the Sheep Pokémon skyward. Everyone's eyes were on the fluffy Pokémon as he flew through the air and fell face-first into the cracked hole Rookidee had dug, completely unable to move. Worry crept over Hop's face, but Gloria was just getting started, and so was Rookidee as he flew off the ground and back towards his target.
"Now, Peck again!" The bird was quick to oblige, circling around the stuck Wooloo and hitting him straight through the fleece, the sheep bleating in pain at the resulting damage.
Scorbunny bounced and cheered for Rookidee at Gloria's side, while Hop's determination was now replaced with a harsh frown, finally taking the battle seriously.
"Payback, Wooloo!" Hop's Pokémon was quick to react, rolling around until he could face Rookidee again. He tried to lunge for the bird again, only for Gloria's Flying-type to get out of range, staying at a safe distance while Wooloo remained stuck on the ground. As the Payback petered out, Rookidee went back on the assault.
"Good job! Peck without stopping!" Rookidee pierced through the fluff over and over, the Sheep Pokémon completely at the bird's mercy, much to Hop's continued frustration. Striking with impunity, Rookidee continued to fly back and forth, staying out of range of Wooloo's retaliation. Peck after Peck, Rookidee continued to attack relentlessly, until one thrust was strong enough to send Wooloo flying out of the cracked hole and back onto the battlefield, bouncing along the ground.
Both the trainers and the adults around them had their eyes on Wooloo, Hop's trusty partner slowly rising back on his feet, breathing slowly and looking just as damaged as Rookidee appeared to be. The field had been evened out, and Hop scowled as he realized that, his prior confidence long lost.
"We're not gonna lose this!" he declared, punching forward. "Wooloo, Tackle on at full charge!"
Gloria grinned at the challenge. "Nor will we! Rookidee, go for one more Peck!"
Both Wooloo and Rookidee charged forward against each other, rushing and descending, head and beak ready to strike. Everyone's eyes remained on the Pokémon as they finally met halfway, impacting with power as they slammed into one another with all their remaining might. They stood there, locked into their clash, the winner unclear as their trainers waited for one of them to fall.
And then, they both did.
Both Gloria and Hop went wide-eyed at that result, while Sonia pulled off her duties. She looked far too happy, disproportionate to the result. "Both Wooloo and Rookidee are unable to battle! It's a tie!"
While Gloria could hear Ash's group and Professor Magnolia discuss the result, the older woman tapping her cane on the dirt in a fascinated cadence, neither of the young trainers took long to register the assistant's call. Then, almost synced, they sighed and shook their heads as they walked forward to recover their Pokémon.
"Aw, man. I thought we had this in the bag." Hop groaned, grabbing Wooloo and petting him, most of his animosity replaced by slight disappointment.
"No kidding...You don't do a speech like that only to tie." Gloria let out a heavy sigh, but quickly pulled off a grin as she caught Rookidee in her hands, squeezing him into a hug. "But you were great, Rookidee. Thanks for trusting me."
"Rookokoko..." Rookidee averted his gaze, trying to hide the blush under his feathers and the smile on his beak. Gloria chuckled out, grabbing the bird's Poké Ball and recalling him to safety, just as Hop did the same for Wooloo.
"That was a great match! You can make it, Gloria!" Ash screamed from the sidelines, throwing a fist skyward in tandem with Pikachu, eliciting surprise from Magnolia and barely surprised acceptance from Astrid and Serena. The support made the girl feel bashful, rubbing her neck with unease.
"Heheh..." She took a deep breath and faced Hop again, not forgetting what she was there for. Her rival hardly seemed happy about how the battle had ended, but the spark of pride and determination was still clear in his gaze. Gloria grinned; they both knew the battle was far from over. "So, let's see this new friend of yours, Hop."
"Sure thing! You may have the cheers, but this is Lee's gift. No way we're losin' now, mate!" Hop palmed his other Poké Ball yet again, tossing it groundward powerfully. "Let's go, Grookey!"
The capture device hit the dirt, finally revealing Hop's second Pokémon: a small, monkey-like Pokémon, his body almost completely green if not for his orange snout and hands. His brown ears and long tail stood tall, and the yellow mask of fur outlining his large, black eyes was prominent. On top of his head stood high two leaf-like tufts of hair, a stick carefully balanced over them. The Pokémon was quick to grab the stick and slam it on the ground rhythmically, a grin on his face.
"Grook Grook Grook! Grook-Grook-Grookey!" the Pokémon declared in a singsong voice, keeping the beat as he jumped up and down with boundless energy. Looking at him, however, Gloria could clearly see the grin of challenge he was sending them. She didn't lower her guard.
"So that's your gift..." Gloria muttered to herself, bringing up her Rotom Phone and performing a scan of her new opponent.
"Grookey, the Chimp Pokémon. A Grass type. A natural musician, it battles and strikes its beat with its special stick. The soundwaves it produces have both the power to revitalize plants and flowers and the might to strike its foes down."
As the Pokédex completed its duty, Gloria chuckled while putting it away. "So, Leon literally gave you a little gardener. Looks like it has your personality."
"Grook!" The Pokémon threw his baton down with force, a harsh, unforgiving scowl on his face. That only made Gloria laugh a bit more, much to the monkey's chagrin.
"I wouldn't make him angry, if I were you." Hop grabbed his forehead, massaging it slowly as he gave his friend a heavy sigh. "If he's like me, it means he's just as good at dishing out the pain. It also means we're on the perfect wavelength from the jump!"
"Well, we'll just have to fry you both, then." Gloria turned her attention back to her side, where Scorbunny was currently stretching his legs with impatience. She grinned. "You ready?"
"Nibbah!" Scorbunny declared, winking at his trainer and hopping straight to the battlefield. The bunny and the monkey sized up each other, curiosity brimming in their eyes as they took on battle stances, ready to strike on command. As Gloria and Hop prepared themselves for the next match, Sonia giggled a bit, a nostalgic smile on her face as she observed both the Pokémon and their trainers.
"Man, this takes me back." Sonia shook her head, bringing her attention back on the present and her current duties. She wasn't the only one surveying the battle fondly as she raised both hands once more, but Gloria kept focus. "Very well, if both of you are ready...Begin!"
As soon as she brought them down, Gloria seized the chance to start the battle. "Scorbunny, go for Ember!"
The Rabbit Pokémon followed along, firing his burst of flames straight for Hop's Pokémon. Hop smirked, hardly looking worried. "Use your stick, Grookey!"
Just as the fire bullet was about to hit, Grookey leapt upwards, thrusting his stick down to land safely a few feet away. Then, just as quickly, Grookey ripped the branch off the ground to propel himself towards Scorbunny, covering the distance between them in mere seconds before the bunny could react, weapon ready to strike.
"Branch Poke!" The sudden attack made Gloria wince in shared pain with Scorbunny, the strike between the eyes powerful enough to blow her partner several feet away, barely landing on his feet before he could fall outside the battlefield.
"Scorbunny!" Gloria yelled, her Pokémon clearly bruised from the hit as he dusted himself off. His eyes were primed on Grookey, the little monkey looking pretty proud of himself as he twirled his baton.
Hop was looking just as smug as his Pokémon, arms folded and chest puffed as he stared back at her. "That's a trick Lee taught him. That's what you get for underestimating a Champion's Pokémon!"
Gloria didn't say anything, looking over their new opponent. The Chimp Pokémon snickered, looking as prideful and confident as one would expect from a Pokémon instructed by a veteran trainer. Emboldened, a grin made its way on her face. "Champion's Pokémon, heh? That only makes it better! It'll be like facing Leon himself!
"Scorbunny, are you ready to rumble?"
"Nibbah Nibbah!" Scorbunny squeaked with determination, a fire burning in his eyes as he started running in place, preparing to fight again. Gloria grinned, stretching her own hands.
"Do your best, Gloria!" the girl could hear Ash say from the sidelines, and from the corner of her eye she could see the man and his Pikachu throwing a hand up to cheer for her.
"Don't let your guard down, girl!" Astrid was quick to add, cupping her hands around her mouth while Serena simply resorted to a curt nod, both she and Magnolia keeping watch in silence. She felt her cheeks flushing redder, all while even Hop chuckled out at the cheers.
"Man, you have the crowd's favor already." He pumped his fists, giving to Gloria another prideful grin. "All the more reason to win this!"
"Just try to! Scorbunny, Tackle!"
"Grookey, Pound!"
At once, both Scorbunny and Grookey launched themselves towards the other, paw and stick ready to strike. As the distance grew shorter, both Gloria and Hop pointed at each other, their grins of challenge only growing fiercer.
"Branch Poke!" Grookey swung his stick as fast as before, aiming for Scorbunny's face.
"Double Kick!" The first kick to the ground sent Scorbunny soaring above the monkey's weapon, the Grass-type too slow to react as the second kick plummeted down on him, pinning him on the ground and not letting go.
"Ember!" From his vantage point, the Rabbit Pokémon readied another bullet of flames, prepared to use it point-blank.
"Pound!" With a mighty tackle, Grookey managed to free himself, forcing Scorbunny to waste his Ember skyward as the bunny dodged his attempt to hit him.
"Keep going, Grookey! Show them what you're made of!"
"You too, Scorbunny! We won't lose!"
Hearing their trainers' respective encouragements, both Scorbunny and Grookey went at each other again, both ready to finish the other. They started trading blows at high speed, kicks meeting sticks and pounds blocking embers, acting faster than their trainers did as they kept trying to outmatch the other. Gloria and Hop continued to try to gain an advantage over the other, both them and their Pokémon thinking of nothing but their battle.
Grookey deftly dodged Scorbunny's hits with his acrobatics and Scorbunny used his speed to strike back. Gloria felt the adrenaline surging inside her. As Scorbunny tanked hits and dished back his own with renewed vigor, she knew that her partner felt the same. After facing nothing but weak wild Pokémon and Hop's Wooloo, having a worthy opponent that could match up to him gave the Rabbit Pokémon renewed determination, a desire to best his opponent that Hop's Grookey matched just as well. Neither was going to give up until the other would faint, and they were both loving every second of it.
This was the start of their legend. The road to winning and becoming Champion for the entire world!
And so, they continued, countering each other's attacks, trading blows and dodging hits, until their strength started to fade away. It may have been mere minutes, but it felt like a clash for days, only the amber sun indicating the passage of time. With another blow, both Scorbunny and Grookey backed away, staring at each other across the battlefield. Marked by bruises and dirt, they grinned together, ready to strike back on cue.
As the Rabbit Pokémon wheezed and panted, Hop chuckled out, already acting victorious. "Scorbunny looks like it's going to faint any moment."
"Funny, I could say the same of your Grookey." Gloria smirked back at him, the way Grookey was keeping himself up with his stick only corroborating her view.
"Heh." Hop didn't deny it, as they were both keenly aware of how their Pokémon didn't have much fight in them left. Thus, the two trainers knew what they needed to do. "Let's settle this. Grookey, Pound!"
"You heard him, Scorbunny! Go for a Tackle!"
Just like before, both Scorbunny and Grookey lunged for each other, preparing their final attacks, the monkey grasping his stick firmly. Gloria narrowed her gaze, waiting.
"Branch Poke!" Hop ordered, and his Pokémon halted his charge. It swung the baton to strike Scorbunny down.
But both Scorbunny and Gloria were ready.
"Double Kick!" As Grookey's weapon sailed towards him, Scorbunny kicked it away powerfully, sending it flying skyward and away from the Grass type's reach. The defenseless Grookey was surprised, his planned attack ruined, exposing him for the second strike of the rabbit's foot to blow him back.
Seizing their chance, Gloria punched onward with decision. "Now, Tackle!"
Scorbunny dashed forward, sparks flying from his soles as he covered the distance and slammed Grookey groundward, dragging him into the dirt for several feet. The monkey tried to break free, crying in pain, but it was all for nothing.
With one last hit, Grookey finally fell, just as his stick bounced back down, tumbling uselessly on the ground.
Everything went silent as Scorbunny stood over the motionless, tired Grookey with a huge, satisfied grin on his face, Hop's face losing all color as even their observers continued to watch with bated breath. Sonia seemed surprised, before snapping out of her reaction to resume her duties, giving Hop's Pokémon one last glance.
"Grookey is unable to battle! The winners are Gloria and Scorbunny!"
Gloria beamed, each and every word Sonia said making her smile grow that much wider. She ran for her partner, bruised all over and more tired than ever, yet still with enough energy to jump towards her and share a high five.
"Yes! We did it!" she yelled, pumping her fists as she grabbed Scorbunny into a tight hug.
Her partner replied in kind, with the warmest grin he had ever worn. "Scorbun nibbah!"
They remained there, enjoying their moment of triumph between themselves. As Gloria finally let go and brought her friend down, she spared a glance ahead of her, finding Hop grabbing Grookey from the ground, a forlorn expression on his face as the monkey came back to his senses. He exhaled heavily, but attempted to affix a consoling grin to his face.
"Guess we weren't ready to win yet...Should've expected that." He patted his monkey's head, recovering his stick and offering it back to the Pokémon. "Thank you, Grookey. You were amazing. We'll keep getting stronger together, like we promised Lee, a'ight, mate?"
"Grook..." The Grass-type looked disappointed as he placed his weapon back into his tufts of hair, nodding. However, he soon turned around to glare back at Scorbunny. It was the harsh, annoyed stare of someone burning with defeat, yet carrying the desire to fight again, proving himself against his opponent. Scorbunny replied in kind, a grin on his face that Grookey soon gained as well, both clearly looking forward to their next battle.
Hop pet his Pokémon gently, glad to see him enjoy himself like that. On the side, their little audience came closer to her and Hop, with Ash arriving quicker than the others.
"That's the way, Gloria! Your battle was fantastic!" Ash gave her a thumbs up, soon emulated by Pikachu. Gloria's cheeks felt warmer once more, rubbing her neck sheepishly. She really didn't think she was that good.
Serena nodded with her husband, looking over both Postwick trainers with a vibrant smile. "Both you and Hop really showed a lot of promise."
"Miss Serena is right. I'm impressed by your skills, for two beginners, that is." Magnolia brought her walking stick down, smiling at both youngsters with pride. "There's still a road to walk, but I've no doubt you'll only grow, if that battle was any indication, and I'm sure a battle at the end would truly be a sight worth seeing."
"You said it, Professor!" Hop smirked, his usual bluster back in his voice, ignoring the professor's advice and focusing on her praise. It was as if he hadn't lost at all, as he recalled Grookey into his Poké Ball. "Gloria here is exactly what I'd expect from my rival, after all!"
"You weren't half bad either, Hop. But I'm still the strongest." Gloria chuckled out, allowing herself some bluster and arrogance.
"Keep enjoying your victory for now. A strong opponent to overcome is the perfect start for my personal legend." Hop placed a hand inside the pocket of his jacket, trying to make himself seem dramatic. "A legend that will truly begin in just a few days!"
As the boy finished talking, he pulled out a white envelope, carefully held closed by a wax seal engraved with a sword and shield symbol. Ash's entourage appeared fairly confused at what that was, but Gloria froze in place, recognizing exactly what that piece of paper meant.
"Is that...?" Hop nodded before she could finish, flaunting the letter with pride.
"A letter of endorsement, from Lee himself! It took a lot of prodding and explaining what we were up to in the Slumbering Weald, but he finally agreed!"
Listening to that, Gloria couldn't help but share her friend's enthusiasm. It took forever and a half, but learning that their little adventure finally convinced Leon they were ready made whatever happened there absolutely worth it.
"That's amazing, mate! Our journey is ready to begin!" Gloria said, offering a high five with joy.
But Hop didn't react.
Instead, he stood there, unmoving, as if a grim realization had just dawned on him, putting the letter back where it was. That reaction was enough to confuse the adults, but Gloria had too clear an idea of what was going on as the grimace spread on Hop's face. Dread crawled under her skin, tightening her hands into fists. It couldn't be true, and yet...she had to ask.
She swallowed and took a deep breath, looking straight into her friend's eyes. "That's...the only one…isn't it?"
Hop didn't say anything, and for a second, Gloria almost thought…hoped she was wrong.
And then he nodded, and the girl felt the whole world collapse around her.
Gloria didn't say a word as her mind went blank, still looking at Hop, hoping against hope that this was all a prank, that something could be done to fix it. His expression was hardly happy, a nervous frown on his face as he shifted his eyes to the distance, towards Route Two and Wedgehurst, constantly going back and forth between Gloria and the path.
"Maybe Lee is still around. We can still find him!" the boy suggested, but it was obvious that he didn't believe it much himself. Even considering how bad Leon's sense of direction could be, he was no doubt long gone by now. Gloria remained silent, digging her nails into her fists, her frame shaking as she stared intensely at the boy. He hung his head in shame, sighing. "I'm sorry. I should've remembered."
Somehow, that didn't feel like enough for Gloria.
Nothing did, at that point. She only felt empty.
Yet, she still forced her lips upwards, giving Hop a mirthless laugh, trying to keep her feelings at bay.
"It's... it's okay. I'm happy for you, really." She weakly punched the boy's shoulder. "Just beat 'em all."
"Scorbun..." Gloria could feel her rabbit partner hugging her leg, trying to catch her attention. She could feel the Pokémon's worry, and it only made her forced grin falter, her mind pulled in too many directions to focus on anything in particular.
Hop probably realized how she was feeling, as he grimaced and turned around, not even looking back at her. His words were quiet, but started growing in volume. "Not sure it'd be worth it without you, Gloria...But, uh, I...I guess I should head for Motostoke. Don't want to be late and all...See you there?"
He seemed to realize what a poor choice of words that was immediately, as he gulped, but Gloria avoided bringing it up, just nodding. "Yeah...see you…"
Without saying anything to anyone else, Hop left for Route Two abruptly, only waving briefly, dashing towards the burning, setting sun. Gloria could tell that he was also feeling bad about what happened, but she really couldn't bring herself to care.
It was as if she hadn't won at all.
Gloria observed her friend leave into the distance absentmindedly, only stopping as she noticed Scorbunny, the Pokémon still hugging her leg with worry and apprehension. She grabbed him and hugged him tightly, a sad smile on her face, trying hard to not shake. It was at that point that she saw Sonia coming near her, trying to look reassuring, like she understood what she was feeling.
She didn't. Couldn't.
"Well...it's not like Leon is the end all be all," she tried to say, but much like Hop, she felt hardly convinced by her own words. "I'm sure there are-"
"Please...don't say anything."
Gloria's voice was but a whisper, as weak as her will, but it was still enough to make Sonia desist from any further attempts at cheering her up. She would've thanked the assistant if her mind didn't feel so numb. Any attempt to stop thinking about what she had just missed out on kept failing, her eyes on the orange-tinged, sunset-soaked battleground. Her first...and her last real battle with a rival.
So consumed, Gloria couldn't realize that Ash, Serena and Astrid were trying to understand what happened to her. She didn't want to explain regardless, turning away toward the glittering lake in silence.
Perhaps as a way to avoid addressing the topic again, Professor Magnolia turned her attention up, towards the reddening sky. "It's almost nightfall. Would you perchance prefer sleeping here before departing? It's not advisable to travel so late."
"We'd love to, Professor," Serena said with a courteous nod, quickly joined by Astrid.
"Deal!" Ash added with his usual enthusiasm. He was quick to restrain himself, however, as he eyed the younger girl facing the rippling waters. His lips pursed, and Ash's footsteps could be heard behind her. The breeze felt louder to the girl, nearly drowning out his words. "Gloria, do you want to...?"
She shook her head, dragging herself away from the lake and pulling off another smile. "It's okay. Let's go inside."
Whether that convinced the man or not, she couldn't say, but it did at least lead Ash to not ask further, heading back inside the laboratory with the rest of their little group. Gloria followed the procession, still lost in her own world as one thought took precedence over everything else.
She had failed. Utterly.
The rest of the evening felt like a blur to Gloria. After a hefty meal, courtesy of Sonia's culinary skills, Professor Magnolia led their guests to a free room in the private quarters of the Laboratory. It was a fairly modest one, but with enough space and beds for a comfortable one-night stay, including a nice balcony overlooking the lake. After bidding the researcher and her assistant farewell for the night, Ash and his group were quick to prepare themselves for bed.
Gloria, however, couldn't fathom sleeping, and didn't care about the lodgings.
For as much as she wanted to pretend it was all a bad dream, rest didn't take her and before long, the girl abandoned the sheets to head outside. Scorbunny and Rookidee, ever vigilant and unable to sleep, themselves, followed her, keeping just enough distance. As the trainer grabbed the railing of the balcony, she took a good look at her surroundings. The view was breathtaking, the large lake of Route Two glittering brightly with the reflection of the countless stars in the sky above.
Gloria's eyes naturally went up, admiring the natural spectacle above. All the stars stood still in the night sky, and once again, Gloria's thoughts went to the night before, and to the Wishing Stars that started everything.
Getting to explore the Slumbering Weald, meeting mysterious Pokémon and famous trainers, the thrill of catching her own Pokémon and making her first steps into the world of Pokémon trainers...They were all memories that she would've treasured forever.
She still couldn't believe that it had all happened in less than a day.
Which only made thinking about her missed chance for an endorsement hurt even more. She was so close to making her wish come true, yet she allowed it to pass her by. And her stupid rival knew how much she needed one, yet only asked for an endorsement for himself. He could've solved everything and chosen not to. Gloria's wistful gaze turned harsher, her blood boiling.
"Hop, you idiot! You're not supposed to just leave your best mate behind!" she shouted, glaring at the moon above, hoping to feel better. She didn't, and her trembling words proved it. "You're not supposed to leave me…"
At the very least, her words caused both of her Pokémon to tackle her, almost making her fall off the balcony. Rookidee perched on her shoulder and Scorbunny hugged her at the legs tightly.
"Scorbun!"
"Rook Rook! Rookokoko!"
The pair both looked at her, worried expressions on their faces as they huddled close, sharing their warmth with the trainer. Gloria stood there, trying not to let tears stream down her face as she hugged both of her Pokémon back, smiling at them. She really didn't deserve either of them.
"Thanks, guys..." She wiped her eyes quickly, sighing to herself. "I didn't wanna let you down."
Scorbunny vigorously shook his head, scowling in her direction. "Nibbah nibbah! Scorbun scor!"
"Rook..." Rookidee nodded sagely to Scorbunny's words, whatever they may actually have been. Gloria assumed they were just trying to get her to not take things too hard, yet she couldn't help but feel that way. The girl's gaze went to the lake again, trying to spot Wedgehurst, or even Postwick, from the distance, thinking of the day behind them once again.
"It was great, you know. The freedom, the adventure, finally fighting at our best..." She turned back to both of her Pokémon, looking at them with earned pride. "And you two were great, too. You could've done amazingly in the Galar League. Really been someone."
It was true. They could've been the darkhorses of the Gym Challenge, bringing them to victory singlehandedly. They had the potential to do so, a potential she ruined completely.
Her smile faltered once more, a guilty, sad frown replacing it. "I'm sorry."
Gloria couldn't stop the tears from forming in the corner of her eyes, sobs escaping her as the emotions broke through. Neither Scorbunny nor Rookidee seemed to know what to say, both looking back at her with worry.
Someone else did.
"What are you sorry for? You've been a great trainer so far."
Gloria jolted to attention as she turned around to find Ash at the entrance of the balcony, Pikachu on his shoulder as always, looking over her with contemplation and a yawn. The girl blinked quizzically, wiping the tears away before he could see them.
"Ash? Weren't you sleeping?" she asked, glancing back inside to find Serena and Astrid peacefully resting, letting go of her Pokémon just enough to let them stand.
Ash shook his head, reaching Gloria's side. "You seemed down and I thought you needed someone to talk with. You looked a bit...er, lost."
"Something like that. Just thinking." She exhaled, but still managed to send the man a sheepish grin. "Thanks, though."
The man smiled back, arms folded as he leaned with his back on the railing. "So, want to talk about what's getting you so down?"
Gloria sighed, wondering if to tell the man or not. She eventually relented, clasping both of her hands above the railing as she avoided looking at Ash. Then, after collecting her thoughts, she spoke. "Just...I left Postwick because I needed to meet Leon, and once I was here, I completely forgot the most important thing. It's embarrassing."
"Is this about that 'endorsement' thing?"
She turned back to Ash, quirking an eyebrow. "What, you're a veteran trainer and never had an endorsement?"
"Is it necessary?" The man scratched his head, legitimately looking like he had no clue. "In all the regions I've been in, it's just that you turn ten and then you can start your journey."
"For real? Lucky you…" Gloria tried not to grumble, feeling bitter at the thought things were so much easier outside her region. Still, she exhaled and explained. "Things aren't that simple here. You can leave for a Pokémon journey once you're ten, but you need a letter of endorsement from some experienced trainer or League higher-up to actually take part in the Gym Challenge, itself. Without that, there's nothing you can really do. Leon was lucky enough to be noticed by the current League Chairman and got an endorsement as soon as he was of age, and you saw how that went."
"You weren't this lucky, I imagine."
"I was lucky enough to get Scorbunny here, but no endorsement." She rubbed her Pokémon's head, making the white rabbit squeak happily. She smiled, too, remembering their shared past. "We kept training together every day, both with and without Hop, hoping that next time we met Leon, he would finally allow us to get an endorsement. We wanted our story to begin already. But Postwick isn't exactly...it's more of a..."
"The boonies?" Ash asked with barely concealed mirth.
"Yeah...No one would pay attention if it wasn't for Leon, and he has such a terrible sense of direction, he barely remembers to come home. Or is just busy. Or something...I guess…"
She continued to scratch over her Pokémon's fur to try and keep her thoughts away from the present, having nothing more to say on the matter. The action elicited pleased reactions from Scorbunny and an annoyed scowl from Rookidee. The scene seemed to do something for Ash, the man's smile growing fonder as he scratched Pikachu's chin, earning him a pleased, "Chaa…"
"I was the same. I kept watching Pokémon League matches and waiting for the day my journey would begin," he confessed. Gloria found it incredibly familiar, but she still frowned again. They may have been similar, but they were not the same.
"At least you started. It took me years to even have a chance, and I blew it." She scowled, pressing herself over the railing.
Silence fell between the two, and Gloria wondered if the man had decided to give up on talking with her. She wouldn't have blamed him if that was the case.
But Ash still wasn't done. "Does it really have to be Leon?"
"Being noticed by someone important is hard, especially in 'the boonies', as you put it. Leon was my only shot."
Gloria wore a bitter smile, looking over at the pale moon above. "Maybe that's how things were meant to be. Gloria from Postwick, good for nothing."
"Don't knock yourself too hard, everyone makes mistakes like that starting out." Gloria perked her head up, noticing how Ash was caressing Pikachu's fur once more. "I woke up too late to choose my first Pokémon and ended up with all the starters already chosen, but that's how I met my best friend."
"Pikapi, pikachu!" The electric mouse nodded along, his beady eyes glimmering with joy.
Gloria appreciated the effort, but it still didn't feel like enough. "At least you had a silver lining. The only thing I can do is keep hoping for the stars to align again."
She kicked the air with her leg, frustrated with herself. She hated how she was feeling, that everything had been pointless and that there was no way out, especially with Ash taking his time to talk with her. Yet, that was the reality of things: no matter what encouragement or commonality the man would dish, it would've changed nothing that actually mattered.
Which is why she was surprised to notice Ash was still thinking about something, his whole expression lighting up as some realization hit him. He immediately shared it with excitement.
"You know, I'm not sure about that." A daring grin formed on the man's face. "You said a League higher-up would be enough?"
The question was puzzling, out of nowhere, and yet it only took a second for Gloria to put two and two together. Her eyes went wide with shock.
"Wait, you don't mean-"
Ash nodded, thumping at his chest with smugness as his grin widened. "I'm a League Liaison, after all. Title has to mean something, right?"
The man's confirmation froze Gloria in place, enough to worry Scorbunny and Rookidee again. There was still a chance, and it was right in front of her. The girl beamed, her worries and frustrations melting away as her body shook with the overwhelming emotion of possibility, but she quickly reined in her newfound joy and excitement. She was very glad for the offer, but after moping so much, doubt immediately crept in as to whether she deserved it.
"Is...is it really okay?" Gloria asked, to herself as much as Ash.
"I'm the one offering it." The man was confident, firm in his decision as he gave her a supportive wink. "After all, I'm here in Galar to see for myself how the Galar League compares to other regions. What better way to do that than following a promising Gym Challenger?"
Gloria's face turned several shades of red, hardly feeling like she deserved any of those compliments. Yet there was happiness there: Ash Ketchum, the Pokémon Master, had decided she was worthy of an endorsement. He may not have been Leon, but that didn't make the offer any less significant or important.
She looked over her Pokémon, both of them nodding back to her. Tears finally trickled down Gloria's cheeks, overcome by her emotions, but she was quick to wipe them away and beam at Ash.
"Thank you," she said, feeling lighter than she had been in a long while. But Ash still wasn't finished.
"However, I have one condition." Ash held his finger up, and Gloria listened carefully, owing him at least that much. "No matter how hard the path gets, no matter how strong your opponents, and no matter what doubts you face along the way, do your best to win your way to the top and become the best trainer Galar has ever seen."
This time, Gloria didn't need to think about it, grinning with audacity as she threw her fist up. "Of course, I will! Nothing can stop me!"
"Then, it'll be great to endorse you." Ash's smile grew prouder, offering the girl a hand.
She grasped it firmly, grinning back at the man, the offer officially sealed between the two.
Scorbunny jumped on his feet in excitement, with even Rookidee affording a little grin of his own. Overcome with the newfound joy, Gloria pointed skyward dramatically, placing a foot over the railing to look higher. She sucked in a breath, and unafraid of waking the women in the room behind, bellowed her newest proclamation to the sky, maybe even all of Galar.
"Alright! Have you heard us, Galar region? Your new Champion is here! Get ready!" Gloria thumped her chest with emphasis, truly feeling like it was possible.
Ash grinned, nodding with approval. "That's the spirit! Nothing will stop you now!"
The girl and the man locked gazes, a shared excitement between them. That was the start of something special, and they both knew it.
And then a piercing, old voice came from a nearby room. "Quiet down! People are trying to sleep here!"
Both Gloria and Ash went immediately silent at Professor Magnolia's complaint, trading sheepish grins with each other.
"Whoops," Gloria whispered, rubbing her neck with unease, but unable to remove the flush of euphoria. Ash chuckled out in mild amusement, and soon, the girl joined him.
Her worries had disappeared, and once more Gloria turned her gaze to the sky and the sea of stars looking them over from above. It had all begun with a falling star, and while it took way longer than it should have, she had finally started to seize her wish.
The Pokémon journey of Gloria from Postwick could finally begin.
Author's Note: First battles. First big moments. There was a bit in this chapter. For me, the defining moment actually is Gloria's scene with Ash on the balcony, pulling the curtain back on her character a little for what you may begin to see. But really, I'll leave that to Viroro.
Viroro: And with this, the second half of what was originally the third chapter is finished. While Rookidee is hardly going to lose his personality, this was an important bit of early development to show Gloria starting to improve as a trainer, and I hope we managed to make it come across well. But of course, the following events are perhaps some of the most important of this early stretch.
I don't doubt that people already expected Ash to take over Leon's game role as Gloria's endorser, but this was a very important scene for this trilogy, and really hope we sold the moment as it should be since it's our first look in ways where Gloria really differs from Ash. With their partnership fully sealed in an official capacity, we hope you'll like where their adventure will take them next.
Thanks for reading, and hope you'll look forward for what's to come next!
As usual, however, I have people to thank: Animeloverdog, AtreyuFlames, Rayman0098, Efrem Stefan and Invortex for favoriting; StoryBrookFields95 for following; and a heartiest of thanks to ahmedpikamaster123, AwesomeFury, GalarianMike, FantasyLover88, Mezamun, Tenzalucard123, UltimateCCC, Ander Arias, oomoepoo, Captainsquid12, Cottonmouth25, aliensinnoh, MythGirl Writes, AmourshippingCanon, XDiamondX90 and 1 guest for reviewing!
I hope you're continuing to enjoy the story, even if we're still setting up, but until next time, please Review and,
Dare to Be Silly.