That's My Girl
10
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.
The two stood opposite each other on the provided battle field just outside the professor's home, very soon joined by Professor Magnolia herself who was curious to see how far it would go.
"All right I want a good clean battle you two." said leon with arms folded, "The Gym Challenge is a competition yes, but without good sportsmanship, you will get no where in it."
"All right, Nouii!" beamed Hop, "I want you to come at me with everything you got- so that we can show lee that we got what it takes to be good competitors!"
"You got it!" said Nouii, "I never got my Island Trial...so this will have to due instead!"
"Then let's go!" said Hop, "It's time for my legend to begin!"
Hop's first partner was his Wooloo, and Nouii grinned.
"Not gonna lie, I wanted to take you and your Wooloo on for a while!" she said tossing her ball between her hands while her Grookey chirped happily on her head, "I got some brand new Poke'mon and I've been excited to show you- Go! Black Starr!"
It was a Wooloo versus Zigzagoon battle and with a higher speed stat, and smaller frame, Zigzagoon struck first.
"All right Wooloo, fight off that Zigzagoon's tackle with your tackle!"
A Tckle from a Wooloo meant some rough damage. Its wool is really dense, making its defense stat pretty decent and the strength of its tackles up to parr.
"With the way you move, Black Starr, it should be easy to dodge that!" she called out. When Wooloos tackled, they rolled straight, which didn't work too well on Zigzagoons which ran in an eratic zig-zag like fashion...especially one from galar, "Now use Headbutt!" The last hit won it.
"Wooloo is unable to battle!" said Leon, "Nouii and her Zigzagoon Black Starr win the round!"
"Nice!" Nouii beamed.
"Wooloo, return!" called Hop, "Not bad, Nouii~" he grinned, "But you're not the only one who got new Poke'mon- Rookidee, go!"
"Oh! Oh! I have one of those too!" she giggled, "Black Starr return!" called Nouii, "Wing Beat! Go!"
"Well now it looks like we have a Rookidee versus Rookidee battle!" Leon chuckled.
"Bring it on! I know my Rookidee is an ace!" said Hop, "Move on in with Peck!"
"All right Wing Beat, you heard him!" the two birds hopped around each other. each one poking at each other with their pointed mouths.
"And now, use Power Trip!" said Nouii!"
"Kidee Kidee Keee!"
"Hop's Rookidee is unable to battle!" called Leon, " Nouii's Rookidee, Wing Beat, wins!"
"Nicely done mate!" said Hop, this time referring to his tiny bird Poke'mon, "Backed into a corner, eh?" said Hop, "A close match...but that's the sort of battle I like! Scorbunny! Go!"
He has his Scorbunny waiting in the wings...that Poke'mon will put Drum Stixx at a disadvantage...and Wing Beat is pretty exhausted after that fight with Hop's Rookidee...but maybe if I use my Zigzagoon again...
"Screee! Scree!"
"What's that, Drum Stixx? You mean, you want to face off against Scorbunny?"
"KeKeKe~!"
"But it will put you at a disadvantage...Fire types are extra strong against grass types..."
But her Monkey partner didn't want to waver. She had no choice to submit to its wishes with a smirk.
"Well all right then." she stated, "Looks like Drum Stixx has a rivalary of his own he wants to settle- against your Scorbunny, Hop!"
"Bring it on then, mate!" Hop grinned, "But it won't be an easy feat!"
"Scooorraaah~!"
"Very well then!" said Nouii, "Give'Em Hell, Drum Stixx!"
"Ke ke Ke~!"
"All right Scorbunny, they're going for it- let's put'em back in place with Ember~!"
"Scorraa~!"
Hot bits of fire shot directly at Grookey, and it left quite a mark.
"You can shake it and bake it, Drum Stixx!" called Nouii, "Use Branch Poke!"
"A Good Move mate," Hop chuckled, "But I'm afraid it won't be very effective."
"It's called strategy, cousin!" Nouii beamed.
"What?" Hop blinked.
"Scoraaa~!" Scorbunny let out a yelp as it rubbed at its eyes. it seemed that was the target of Grookey's Branch Poke Attack.
"Now move quick Drum Stixx, while he's blinded!" called Nouii, "Use Scratch Attck!"
"Screee!" her Grookey cried and dropped in flailing its arms about with its little tiny claws which took the Scorbunny by surprise. It ran wild with Grookey riding along on its back, chirping away. A skill it has gotten quite good at from clinging onto Nouii all the time.
"Use Branch Poke again!"
This time Grookey poked its stick downward toward the ground on Scorbunny's scorching foot path, causing it to trip and tumble while Grookey hopped off and used its stick to break its fall and land it on its feet again. With a loud rolling smack into a tree a few berried fell on Scorbunny's head from the impact...and it was out cold.
"Wha- that's Bogey, mate!" said Hop, facepalming with red cheeked embarassment as Leon tried to stifle his chuckling.
"They're Grookey's offical attacks! look it up!" argued Nouii.
"She's right little brother." said Leon, "While Grookey may have used its attacks in a rather unconventional way, they are still its attacks to use!" he stated, "I'm afraid Scorbunny is no longer able to battle!" he called, "The Nouii's Grookey Drum Stixx wins! The winner of this match is Nouii!"
"Wooooohoo~!" the girl cheered while Hop groaned and returned his Poke'mon to its ball.
"You and that Grookey are something else, mate." Hop sighed, "I'm gutted that I lost...but winning and losing...both are part of being a Poke'mon trainer." he stated, "And that's what makes us stronger, right?" he grinned, "Don't count on winning next time though~ you lucked out!" he teased.
"Well I must say Hop...after watching a battle like that and hearing what you said after when you lost...you sound like you're well on your way to being a great trainer already." Leon grinned, "I suppose I'm left with little choice but to give you that endorsement you keep begging me for~" he smiled.
"All right!" Hop beamed, "FINALLY!" his excitement was very visibly expressed, "I take it you're gonna give Nouii one too, right?" he asked, "As the official winner of our match, I think she more than deserves it!"
"Hop..." she blinked blushing.
"What!? That match was Wicked!" he exclaimed, "The Gym Challenge wouldn't be NEARLY as much fun for me to fight through...without you in it." he said, flashing her a genuine smile.
"I couldn't agree more..." said Leon as he handed over a written note, identical to Hop's, both were signed Champion Leon.
"I'll have the chat with your mum tonight when we get home." he said to her, "I really think you should enter." he stated, "Travel along with Hop, fight by his side and make each other stronger...then...at the end...come find me." he grinned, placing a firm hand on both of their heads. Nouii could feel her heart fluttering inside.
This man is so...different.
She thought to herself.
Way different from all of my mom's other boyfriends...
Maybe...
She let out a soft gasp as a flash of Red began to fall towards the ground crashing down not far from them.
"What's that!?" Hop gasped, running towards the sight with a curious Nouii not far behind him.
"Nouii- have a look!" he beamed as he held the reddish stones in his hands, "These are Wishing Stars, mate!"
"What are Wishing Stars?" she wondered as she gazed upon the glowing objects in Hop's olive skinned hands, "They're pretty..."
"They're a unique kind of stone found only here in the Galar Region." explained Leon, "They hold a mysterious power...some say your dreams will come true if you find one." Leon grinned.
"Aye! And also with Wishing Stars, your Poke'mon can Dynamax!" he exclaimed, "Another thing Unique only to Galar! They're gonna be massive! YES!"
it all sounded so exciting.
"Indeed...Wishing Stars are a precious Resource here in the Galar region..."explained Magnolia, "But they won't do you a whole lot of good like that..." she chuckled, "Hand them to me...I'll have you sorted by morning."
"In the mean time...What say we all head home, yeah?" Leon smiled.
"Lee, Lee, can I stay over at yours tonight?" Hop asked.
"I don't see why not." said Leon, "Though, I still need to have the Chat with Kalia about it..."
XXXXX
"You want her to what!? Lee are you sure?"
"I'm telling you Kalia, she's got real potential that one, I think she'd make a great rival for Hop..."
"But we are new to this region, she knows nothing about Galar...and you want her to travel around in it?"
"That's what Hop is for!"
Leon could be heard chuckling through the walls as he talked to Kalia about letting Nouii join the Gym Challenge, "You left before she had a chance to par take in the Island Challenge in Alola right? Well...think of this as that...only Galar style." he stated, "Besides she won't be alone...I'll help them along the way with whatever I can...I have to set off early anyway for the Opening Ceremonies, so I will already be waiting in Motostoke for them..."
"Well Lee...You are galar's Champion...I suppose if you think she has Potential...then she must, if you see it."
"I do." he stated, "Very much so."
...
"Sounds like a Yes to me, mate!" Hop said with a thumbs up and a wink as he listened in through the wall, much to the lack of leon and Kalia's knowledge...though as Hop's older brother, Leon did have his suspicions...he just stayed quiet about it.
Nouii giggled and clapped her hands when Hop quickly scuffled back into his cot in her room. Their house wasn't very big. So it was agreed upon that Hop could stay in Nouii's room so long as he had a separate bed.
"Just think of it, Nouii!" the boy beamed, "Tomorrow morning, our adventure truley begins!"
"I know...I'm not sure I will be able to sleep tonight..." she giggled as she rose up and began tapping at her Rotom phone, wandering towards the open door.
"Oi, where you off to, mate?" Hop asked curiously.
"I'm just gonna make a quick phone call." she stated, "I'll be right back."
"All right then, don't take too long." he stated, "We have an early rise you know." nodding with a thumbs up the girl gave a smile while pressing the phone to her ear and stood just outside the door.
We're sorry, the person you have been trying to reach is not available at this time...
"...no answer again, huh, daddy?" she sighed. She had tried three times with the same response before giving up and wandering back in tossing her Rotom phone casually to her bed. Hop took notice of her sad eyes as she stood there, seemingly lost in her own thoughts for a while.
"Oi...you good?" he wondered.
"Oh!" she gasped, it seemed he had startled her back to the presence, "Uhh...yeah, I was just thinking...how about some tea?" she asked, "Nice hot tea might help us rest easy.
"Aye, that sounds great!" he beamed.
"Tubular!" she stated, "Then I'll uh... go make some." after that she was off. While he wore a smile in her presence, once she was away, it dropped quickly into a frown.
"...I guess whoever she was trying to call didn't pick up..." he stated softly.
Ring Ring Ring!
Ring Ring Ring!
Phone Call! Phone Call!
"Ahh!" Hop was startled by the sudden mechanical ringing of the Rotom Phone.
"Who on earth would be calling at this time of night!" he huffed and quickly read the display screen, "Huh...Uncle Kukui, eh?" he blinked, "Oi, Rotom, go ahead and answer that will you? Nouii will be back in a mo.
Rrrrrroger!
Beep beep
"Oh ho~ What's this then?" A tan skinned man wearing a pair of transparent shade blinked through them as he came to focus on the face of a young boy who looked rather unfamiliar to him.
"Whoops sorry, I did call Nouii's phone, did I not?"
"Oh aye, you did!" said Hop chuckling, "She'll be back in a mo, she's just fetching some tea for us, so I went ahead and answered-sorry about that mate!"
"Haha...no problem at all, cousin!" Kukui chuckled, "By the looks of it, I'd say you're Hop, yeah?"
"Aye, how'd you know that!?" Hop blinked, "Did Nouii talk about me?"
"Plenty of times!" said Kukui, "Apparently you are in the running to replace me as best uncle!"
"Oi! Nouii and I came to agreement that if her mum and my bro get married, I am her Step Brother and we will leave it at that!" he laughed.
"Sorry that took a bit..." said Nouii chiming in softly with two hot cups, "Oh? Is someone on my Rotom Phone?" she asked with a bit of hope in her eyes.
"Aye, the display screen said that your Uncle Kukui was calling so I went on and answered it for ya...sorry mate." said Hop.
"Oh I see..." Nouii blinked, "...Uncle Kukui..." she sighed, handing Hop a disposable cup of hot tea.
"Is something the matter?" he asked, "Should I have not done it?"
"Oh no, you did fine." she said softly, "I was just sort of hoping that my daddy was calling me back for once..."
"No answer again, eh Minnow?"
Nouii sighed with a saddened smile as she shook her head.
She seems to hold high hopes for her dad...
Hop thought to himself as he studied her expression.
But yet...every time he's mentioned in anyway...she always seems so sad about it...
...just what sort of bloke is her dad, I wonder?
"I had a lot to tell him too...I as so excited." she stated.
I ee...well I'm here, yeah?" stated Kukui, "I'd sure LOVE to hear what you got for me, oh yeah!"
Hop giggled.
"You're uncle is a rather funny chap, yeah?" he chuckled.
"Haha, yeah, Uncle Kukui is the best, oh yeah!" she beamed.
Well that's a far more pleasant look about her...
Hop chuckled to himself, smiling in relief with a bit of added flush to his cheeks.
And judging by their mannerisms, they must have spent a lot of their time together...
"So hit me with it, Minnow!" Said Kukui, "Tell me what you got!"
"Well I see you've met my soon to be step brother here, Hop." she giggled as the olive skinned boy sat beside her with a grin to share the screen.
"step Brother?" Kukui blinked, "Things are getting serious, Kalia and Leon, then?"
"Aye, well we're hoping." stated Hop, "I mean...they do live together, so..." he shrugged.
"But wouldn't that make Hop your uncle then?"
"We've decided not to go with that."
The two kids spoke these words in unison before shooting a glance at each other and bursting into a fit of giggles.
"Hop? Nouii? Are you two still up!?"
Leon's heavy steps echoed in the hallway, but Kalia was the one who opened the door with a huff.
"You two do know you have an early start in the morning, right?"
"You can blame me for that one Kalia~ I called late."
"Oh, Kukui!" Kalia blinked as she recognized her brother's voice aounding through the Rotom Phone.
"I keep forgetting about the time difference between Alola and Galar, yeah, haha."
"I see...well do try not to keep them up they have to wake up early for their Gym Challenge tomorrow."
Gym Challenge now THAT sounds exciting, oh yeah!"
"Yeah that's...what I was wanting to tell daddy about..." A silence soon fell from the girl and Leon and Kalia exchanged a glance...Hop too seemed to feel the heaviness of this emotion...before Kukui did his part to break the silence.
"Well...I'm sure your dad is proud of you too."
"Yeah I wonder..." she sighed.
"I realize talking to Uncle Kukui is a nightly ritual...but remember you have an early start...so not too late."
"Understood, , sorry." said Hop, "We'll keep it down.
Nouii nodded.
"Sorry again~" said Kukui
"Well...sorry to have interrupted then." said Leon as he made his way on screen, "Alola, Kukui!"
"Alola, Leon! Long time no see since you were on tour here in Alola yeah?" Kukui waved, "Glad to see you're treating my family well."
"As well as I can at least..." leon nodded before releasing a yawn, "Anyway I'm knackered...so I'm off to bed." he stated, "I've got to be at Motostoke first thing...not too late, got it Hop?"
"All right I got it already." Hop huffed as he flopped onto his back while Nouii giggled, "Sheesh how many times is he gonna tell us that in one night?"
"Sounds to me like your...Step Brother...gets into about as much trouble as you do, eh Minnow?"
"That's why we get along so well!" Nouii giggled.
"Call us the Dare Devil Duo~!" Hop winked and flashed a grin.
"HaHaHa well I'm glad Leon is the one that gets to deal with that and not me~"
"I'm going to bed!" Leon huffed blushing while Hop and Nouii snickered, and even Kalia stifled a chuckle before following him, after flashing them one last look.
"HeHe...all right Uncle Kukui, Hop and I really better get off to bed now...Mom is giving us that look...and Lee is getting upset." she chuckled sheepishly,"The last thing we need is to get in trouble with him again."
"Haha, well atleast you won't be alone on that one, mate." Hop cnickered before yawning himself, "Mm but I am rather cream Crackered." he sighed.
"Me too." said Nouii, "I guess the time shift is finally starting to settle in me."
"HaHa Right on then." Kukui chuckled, "Sleep well then little Minnow...and you too Hop."
"And you have a grand day, chap." said Hop, "The sun is blazing where you are, yeah?" he laughed, "It was a pleasurable chat!"
The Rotom screen went blank and the two were left to the darkness. There was a silence for a while before Hop decided to be the one to break it this time-
"Now I don't wanna sleep." he snickered.
"That tends to be how it works, right?" Nouii giggled. She was full of restless feelings...excitement for the adventure ahead...but also a weighted disappointment that once again, the one to share in her thrills was her Uncle Kukui rather than her dad...
Not that she didn't enjoy Kukui. She loved him and he was always a big part of her life growing up...she just wished her father wanted to be part of it. Feeling the heaviness in the room Hop pondered a moment...trying think of ways to lift the weight...
"Oi...scootch over!" he stated before flopping herself beside her on her bed.
"H-Hop what are you doing!?" she asked blushing as he shuffled his way under her covers and moved in closer.
"I can't sleep...and neither can you, right?" he stated, "So bring it in over here...We're gonna watch some videos of Leon's previous exhibition matches!" he said, "So you can get a feel of what the Gym Challenge is going to be like when we get on the pitch tomorrow!" he grinned.
Nouii looked at him, stunned in silence...her yellow eyes in the darkness looks like they had their own light and it fluttered his chest a bit but he simply smiled and opened his arm to her so she could move in.
After blinking her brilliant eyes a couple times she smiled softly and nodded.
"Okay." she spoke in a whisper and moved in closer. They nestled in comfortably against each other while Hop explained everything soon to come as they scrolled through videos late into the night, tapping along the screen of his Rotom Phone.
To be Contined