Love Doesn't Sit Still
8
A/N: This Fan Fiction is based on the Galar region and games (Sword/Shield) featuring CanonXOC It is based on the GAMES not the anime/manga. And to clarify confusion (because I know I have written multiple fic based on these games XD ) This is a completely different and separate story from the other Sword/Shield fics I have written. They are not connected and they do not interract.
"Wicked, Aanya~" Hop greeted her with a smile brighter than the sun and she was stunned.
"I think this is the first time you've gotten up before I did."
"Yeah well...Mom was pretty spare when I came home yesterday..." she chuckled awkward, "I thought it might be wise not to wake her with Wooloo's rolling tackle today..."
"Ha, aye, I can see that." Hop laughed.
"Plus I couldn't sleep anyway, I was so excited-"
"You're welcome!" Leon's voice rose above hers, startling them both.
"Oh...right...I suppose we owe a lot of that to Lee, huh?" Hop chuckled, "Thanks Lee-."
"Yeah, thanks so much." Aanya smiled.
Leon held his stare for a while before exchanging a smile with them and repeating "You're welcome," this time in a much more gentler tone.
"I'll leave you to it then!" said Hop, "I'm gonna train up my partners for a bit- check back later, yeah?"
"Uh-Y-yeah-" but he was gone before she even had a chance to respond, "Uhm...all right..." she blinked.
"Don't feel bad, dove." Leon chuckled, "Hop never sits still...come then, We'll just go to the lab without him for now."
It was a little odd to be left alone with Leon...but a keen opportunity to learn a bit more about Hop, which Aanya did find amusing. By the time they reached the lab, Aanya was astonished by the sheer amount of books...
"Yip! Yip!"
And the greeting from a very adorable welcoming commitee
"Oh my goodness it's so cuuuuute~" Aanya squealed happily kneeling to the puppy Poke'mon.
"Oh that's Yamper~" leon grinned as he knelt down right next to her.
"What is it, today, Leon?" a woman's voice sounded from a flight of stairs up, "Are you looking for info on some other never-before-seen super strong Poke'mon?" she sighed, "I wish you'd stop with these outlandish requests..." A teal eyed ginger made her way down the stops, stopping curiously before Aanyam "Oh, hello." she blinked.
"this is Yamper's trainer, Sonia." leon smiled, "She's the Proffessor's grandaughter...and...hmmm...what else can I say about Sonia?" he pondered for a moment, "Well I like the way she cooks!" he grinned as she blushed.
'Ugh, what kind of an introduction is that!?" she huffed blushing more before heaving a heavy sigh, " Anyway...it's nice to meet you ms...?"
"Ah, this is Aanya!" said Leon, "She's my neighbor back at home and Hop seems to have taken a fast liking to her. They're friends." he grinned.
"Friends, huh?" Sonia smirked as she eyed the girl who only kept her gaze averted. Leon wasn't exactly the most delicate with introductions, was he?
"Well it's nice to meet you!" Sonia grinned, "My name is Sonia, I'm the Professor's assistant, and I'm here to help set you on the right path." she grinned.
"Right, then I'll leave it to you ." said Leon. Yamper yipped a few times and seemed to lead him off, leaving Aanya alone yet again, only this time with a complete stranger.
Sonia sighed.
"What does he think I am? He's always got his head in the clouds... it's no wonder he gets lost all the time..."
Aanya kept eyes on the woman for a while. She was pretty,,,and those red cheeks looked all to familiar to her...
Leon reminded Aanya so much of Hop, so seeing him and Sonia like this was kind of eerie...
It was like a glimpse into the future..."
"O-Oh, uh-" Sonia coughed and cleared her throat, "Rotom phones are handly little things, aren't they?" Sonia asked as she pointed out to Aanya's phone, "Hey there, Rotom!"
"Bzzzt~" Rotom buzzed and beeped floating along Aanya who chuckled.
"Yeah...it was a gift from my mom to celebrate her first pay check in our new home..." she twinged a bit. It was hard for her to think about the fast approaching future...though Sonia didn't seem to notice.
"I'll go ahead and make it so that you can use the Poke'dex on your phone." Sonia smiled, "This is a gift from my gran that she hands off to all new Trainers...I hope you make good use of it." she smiled.
"Wow just like that!?" Aanya grinned as Sonia made fast work of the App installation.
"Installation complete, bzzt bzzt!" Rotom beeped, "Refer to me for all of your Poke'dex needs!"
'That's awesome!" said Aanya, "Thank you so much, I'm certain I will!" she beamed.
After having received her promised gift, Aanya began scrolling through all of its new features as she made her way to the Poke'mon center...stopping short of breath as she caught a familiar face, sitting at the cafe with two cups of tea.
"Hop?" aanya blinked as she took the scene opposite of him.
"Heya, Aan!" Hop grinned, "I got you a cup." he stated motioning to the steaming aromatic liquid beneather her nose. The aroma of sweet berries and flower petals tickled her nose and instantly made her feel calmer. It was Roserade tea, a bit of a fancier brew, but a favorite of hers.
"I even added milk and sweetened it with Combee collected Honey~ just how you like!" he grinned.
"Thank you Hop...you didn't have to do that." she smiled, but happily indulged.
"Yeah I know." he said softly, "I wanted to." he grinned, "So...got your Poke'dex from Sonia, yeah?"
"yeah it's amazing!" said Aanya, "I had no idea Rotom could do that-"
Hop laughed.
"Aye, Rotom is pretty amazing." he said as he sipped at his own cup of brew.
"So what's up, Hop?" Aanya blinked curiously, "Were you waiting?"
That was a strange thing to ask...probably because it was strange to think about Hop waiting...for anything really.
"mm, that's right!" Hop stated, suddenly getting a bit riled up, "I wanted to meet so we could talk about something before! but then all that happened and it slipped my mind." he explained.
"Oh..." Aanya blinked, "So then...what was it that you wanted to talk about before?" she asked.
"this!" he beamed as he slapped down a flyer on the table.
"What's this?" aanya asked curiously taking it up and giving it a read.
"Your ticket to staying!" he stated, "That's a flyer for the Gym Challenge!" he explained, "Think about it, If you're traveling all around Galar with me-You won't be ABLE to move away, yeah!? It's brilliant, isn't it!?" he grinned. He was so proud of himself.
Aanya's eyes widened.
"Oh Hop-That would be a dream!" she beamed, "But...don't you need an endorsement in order to compete in this?" she asked. She had heard of the Gym Challenge in Galar plenty of times thanks to watching many of Leon's battles with Hop during the time they spent together staying in.
"Yeah...there is that part,,," Hop sighed as he leaned back in his seat and began pondering again.
Aanya felt a little bit bad being a downer and raining on his parade...until it seemed he was hit with yet another, brilliant idea.
"Then we'll just have Lee do it!" he said, "We convince Lee to endorse you and me...and then have him convince your mum!" he said, "It worked before, for this..." he said waving his poke'dex, "Maybe it will work again!"
"But you're missing the bigger challenge here, Hop." aanya blinked, "Convincing Leon in the first place..."
"Good point..." he hummed, "So maybe the Professor will help."
"The Professor?" Aanya blinked.
"Let's go, Aanya!" said Hop taking her up by the hand, "We haven't the time to waste!" he grinned.
To be Continued