Chapter 2 - "A Legendary Encounter"


"Lee! You've been saying 'in a minute, Hop' for the past hour! Tell us what you have!" demanded Hop. Aria giggled watching the two brothers argue - well, more like Hop arguing while Leon looked at him with an amused smile. Mrs. Aurora and Mr. Rheuben shook their heads.

"Hoppurt! Will you relax yourself?" said Mrs. Aurora.

"Nana!" Hop whined. "Tell him to stop messing around!"

"Your brother just got home and all you want to do is nag him, Hoppurt." The elderly woman sighed. "So impatient."

"It's alright, Nana." Leon chuckled and kissed her cheek. "I'm just teasing him. I'll show you in a minute, Hop. But how about we have some family time and wait for Mum to come home, yeah?"

Hop huffed and trudged towards the sofa, slumping down next to Aria who was very much amused by his antics, followed by Leon who sat on the other side between her and Mrs. Aurora.

"So Aria," Leon began. "How's your dad and what kind of things did you do in Kalos?"

The girl smiled. "Dad's good. Working hard as usual. We live in Lumiose City so there's no real countryside-except if you go all the way down to Vaniville Town, but even there it's not really a countryside like Postwick. And all I did there was help my dad with his work and meet lots of Pokémon. I even took a chance at being Kalos Queen, but it wasn't for me."

"Why do you say that?" Leon asked curiously.

"Well, Trainers and Performers are kinda the same but different. As a Performer, your main goal is to show off the bond you have with your Pokémon, much like a Trainer. But when you train a Pokémon, you're really showing off the combined strength and unparalleled unison between you and your partner. Performers aim to show how amazing our teamwork skills are."

Leon smiled brightly. "Well said, Aria. You've grown quite a lot."

"So everyone keeps telling me." She chuckled with him. The door suddenly opened and Corrina entered with Hop and Leon's mother Flora with so many grocery bags. Immediately, Leon went to assist the two women and Flora didn't even notice her own son as she was too busy stocking away newly bought items until Hop said loudly, "Hey Mum! We have two special guests here tonight!" Flora turned around and then jumped back in shock seeing her first born right behind her and immediately crushed herself to him, happy tears falling down her cheeks.

"Welcome home, Leon." She mumbled against his chest and then smiled even wider seeing Aria seated on her sofa.

"And look who's come all the way from the Kalos Region! I was for sure that they had stolen you away from us for good." She grinned and hugged her the girl.

"No way. I could never live in Kalos for the rest of my life." Aria beamed.

"Thank goodness." She heard her mother mutter, but Aria didn't respond.

"Well would you look at this Cori. Our kids all reunited in the same spot for the first time in twelve years! I think that calls for a barbecue tonight!" said Flora. Hop cheered in delight as well as Aria while Leon grinned at their enthusiasm.


Later on in the afternoon, Leon escorted the two teens outside to the front lawn to reveal his surprise while the women began to make the preparations for dinner tonight.

"Alright, you two. It's time for the greatest gift from the greatest Champion." Leon began. This time, Aria rolled her eyes, but neither Leon nor Hop noticed.

"It's showtime, everyone!" He said and then threw three Pokéballs onto the battle mat that opened to reveal the three starter Pokémon for the Galar Region: Grookey, Scorbunny and Sobble. The three little creatures ran all around the lawn, happily exploring their surroundings. Aria smiled at their cuteness.

"Okay, you three. Let's line up, yeah?" He said softly. The three Pokémon listened and stood in a straight line chirping at their soon to be trainers.

"Oh man!" exclaimed Hop. "You're giving us our own Pokémon?! This is so sick! I can barely contain myself!"

"I think everyone can see that, Hop." Aria teased. Leon chuckled.

"Well you two, the choice is yours. Which Pokémon will you choose as your partner?" said Leon.

"You pick first, Aria." Hop encouraged. And with a nod from the Champion, Aria stepped forward, squatted down and carefully watched each one. They were all so adorable and sweet, all three coming up to her and brushing themselves against her hand, doing small tricks to impress her. The decision was a hard one.

"You're all so cute and sweet." She said. "I wish I could take you all, but … I have to choose one starter. And though I love your sensitivity Sobble and your enthusiasm Grookey - I choose you, Scorbunny, to be my partner." The fiery rabbit hopped up with a happy cheer while Sobble and Grookey looked down sadly.

Aria petted them both. "Don't worry, you two are gonna get awesome trainers!" She said which perked up the remaining creatures.

"Yeah!" said Hop, running over with excitement burning through him. "And for my partner - I choose you, Grookey!" He said, much to the delight of the grass-type marsupial. Sobble frowned and seemed ready to cry over not being chosen until Leon squatted down next to Aria, their arms touching ever so lightly which sent an unexpected jolt down her spine.

"Don't worry, my friend." Leon said softly. "You're going to have an adventure too. Because I choose you as my partner." The water-type Pokémon looked at the Champion excitedly and chirped happily nuzzling its head against Leon's hand. Aria smiled at Leon's sweet gesture and then returned her attention to her new Scorbunny who looked happy and determined all at once.

"Ready to get stronger together, Scorbunny?" She asked with a wink. The fiery rabbit squeaked and then jumped up to high-five her. Right afterwards, Corrina and Flora came up with the barbecue preparations.

"Alright you guys, that's enough about this trainer and partner stuff. Help us set the bench so we can eat soon." said Flora. Mr. Rheuben and Mrs. Aurora came outside as well that night and watched the three new Pokémon run and play with Charizard and Hop's Wooloo while the two women grilled the kabobs and corn whilst cooking the spicy mushroom curry inside. Leon and Hop grabbed some outdoor lounge chairs for everyone to sit on while the grandparents and Aria helped set the bench with food.

The sun began to set at the same time everyone began to dig into their food and Aria made sure to have a seat on the grassy ledge of the brick fence that guarded the yard with the sun just miles away. Gorgeous.

"You must've missed these kinds of views," said Leon, walking up with a cup full of water for her. "I know I sure do. Being in the city all the time … kinda makes you forget to take a minute and go out in nature more often."

"Very true." She said and took a bite out of her smoked kabob. "Thanks for the Pokémon, by the way. That was really nice of you."

"Don't mention it." Leon shrugged. "Besides, Hop's been dying to become a trainer for the longest. It's about time he had a partner to grow with besides Wooloo, who's known him since he was a baby." Aria nodded and took one last look at the sun slowly hiding behind the mountains, the sky turning a bright pink, the sight of Rookidees flying through the air and the sound of family and friends permeating the air.


The next day, Aria worked with her mother out in the gardens with the help of the Budews, a watering can and hard work. She finally finished packing away her belongings, but the redecorating was put on hold for a moment now that Scorbunny was here. He was as fiery as he was energetic, kind of like Hop in some ways, but Scorbunny was also very friendly and passionate, not willing to shy away from anything which is what made Aria choose him.

Her mother liked him too, but the introduction to Scorbunny was only the beginning to her own fears of Aria partaking in the Gym Challenge very soon. After working in the garden, Aria took Scorbunny over to Hop's house where she spotted Leon and Hop in what looked to be a pretty heated argument the closer she got.

"You can't do this, Lee! It's not fair!"

"Hop, I've told you this a million times over - you still think that this is a game. This is serious stuff and a huge honor."

"What's a huge honor?" Aria interrupted. Hop sighed and then crossed his arms petulantly.

"Lee is still not going to sponsor us, Aria."

Well, I kind of saw that coming. "Can I ask why, Leon?"

"It's very simple Aria. The Gym Challenge is not just some childhood excursion like how they portray it in other regions. Here in Galar, it's an extreme honor. One of the highest honors one can have aside from being the Champion. It takes will, perseverance, critical thinking, hard work and-"

"We know that already, Lee!" said an exasperated Hop. The older male narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I don't think you really understand, Hop. This isn't a game. This is a competition; and an intense one at that. Do you know how many times I've seen over one hundred Gym Challengers in the opening ceremony and then by the time they make it to the League, there's only about five challengers. It's not easy, Hop. So until I believe you have what it takes, my answer is still 'no' to sponsoring you both."

"No!" Hop said defiantly. "No, I won't let you walk away from this, Lee! I can show you I've got what it takes!" said Hop determinedly who then gave a look to Aria. "Battle me, Aria. You and Scorbunny in a battle against me and Grookey!" He said and marched over to the battle mat waiting with Grookey ready to battle.

"Are you sure about this, Hop?" She asked.

"One thousand percent! I'm not letting him walk away without seeing my potential! I know I can do this! I know we can do this!" Hop said determinedly. "So show me what you've got, Aria!"

Aria looked at the fiery rabbit Pokémon on her shoulder. "You up for this?" She asked. A positive and confident yelp was her confirmation and quickly, Aria took her stance with her Pokémon. Leon stepped back and watched in silence.

The two trainers made eye contact and then with a sharp nod, yelled: LET'S GO!

"Grookey, get in there and- uh, hold on a sec!" said Hop, quickly turning his back and searching for his Rotom phone. Leon quirked a disapproving eyebrow while Aria remained composed. Silently, she thanked herself for being able to look through the standard moves online last night that a Scorbunny should know when just starting out. Once Hop found the standard moves for Grookey online, the battle continued.

"Okay, Grookey - let's try this again and prove to Lee that we-"

"Scorbunny, Tackle!" Aria commanded. The fiery rabbit chirped in response and instantly moved in to headbutt Grookey as quickly as it could. The marsupial Pokémon squeaked from the quick and hard impact and fell backwards onto the mat. Leon remained quiet.

"Use Scratch!" said Hop quickly. Grookey stood up and then raced forward in the same motion as its opponent and scratched Scorbunny across the face and sent it flying farther backwards onto the grass.

"You okay, honey?" Aria asked her partner who chirped in response. Hop grinned widely.

"C'mon, Grookey! Lay into Scorbuuny with another Scratch!" He commanded. Aria quickly responded.

"Use Growl!" She said. Scorbunny then took a big breath and then released a low, menacing growl that slowed Grookey down and made his attack a little weaker than normal. Leon took notice of this, but Hop didn't.

"Yes! We're almost done! Grookey, keep using Scratch!" Hop commanded with glee, but at the same time, Aria commanded Scorbunny to use Growl repeatedly and a cycle ensued; with Scorbunny being hit with Grookey's Scratch, but Leon and Aria understood her tactic. Even the Pokémon did too, but Hop was oblivious.

"Yes! See, Lee! I told you I could do this! I told you!" Hop exclaimed. "Now Grookey, one more time! For the grand finale-" Hop monologues and didn't notice the orange glow surrounding Scorbunny which usually signifies a new learned move in a Pokémon.

Aria smiled. "Now Scorbunny, use Ember!" She declared. Her partner chirped in response and then took in that big breath of air again and spit out thousands of small hot embers at its opponents who screeched and got a little singed from the impact. Hop gasped.

"How did you-"

"Focus, Hop!" barked Leon. "You're not focused on what's happening! She's going to win!"

"I am so!" the younger male retorted and didn't notice that Aria had launched a second attack on his Grookey, wounding it further. Hop growled in frustration. "C'mon, Grookey! Use Scratch!" The burned and tired monkey ran forward with glowing claws again and swiped at Scorbunny but this time, it barely injured him. It was like watching Scorbunny get tapped instead of scratched.

"What the hell?" Hop whispered to himself. Scorbunny then leaped up into the air and Aria knew what to do. "Finish it off with Ember again!" She said just as her Pokémon released an onslaught of embers onto its opponent that burned away the last of its energy.

Leon shook his head and stepped in. "The battle's over. Aria and Scorbunny win and you little brother, have just proved my point."

Hop whipped his head around angrily. "What point?"

"You aren't ready for the Gym Challenge, Hop." said a disappointed Leon. "Do you know why you lost? Mistake number one: you didn't know any of Grookey's moves so you had to look them up in the middle of a battle. In a real battle, you can't do things like that." Leon said firmly. Hop's expression became solemn as he listened.

"Mistake number two: you waited too long to attack which allowed Aria to hit first. Mistake number three: you didn't realize that Aria was using the move Growl continuously, which lowers the attack power of a Pokémon's move steadily. So while you were attacking, she was weakening your Pokémon. Mistake number four: you didn't utilize Grookey's other move Leer which lowers the defense power of a Pokémon which could've helped you win. And your last two mistakes? You didn't see that Scorbunny had learned a new move with the constant battling that you were feeding it and you were overconfident. Pure and simple, Hop." Leon finished. By the end, both Hop and Aria were quiet and taken aback.

"The only one here who is capable enough to be a good trainer is Aria. You still have so much to learn, little brother." Leon scolded.

"Screw you!" Hop yelled. "Screw you and your stupid title!" Then, the boy ran off - running into the forbidden forest of Slumbering Weald away from the sting of his defeat and the truth in his brother's words.

"Hop! Wait!" Aria yelled. She turned to Leon who gathered the weakened Grookey in his hands. "I'll take him and Scorbunny to the Pokémon Center in Wedgehurst. Take Sobble and find Hop." Leon ordered, handing Aria his Pokéball before she ran off following Hop's trail into the forest.


There was fog everywhere.

It was hard to see where the path was leading at moments, but the deep footprints Hop left behind were a good enough indication that Aria was on the right track. The silence was deathly around her, but Aria wasn't too bothered by it. Her main focus was finding Hop and getting them out as quickly as possible and hopefully, talking some sense into him too.

She wandered down this foggy path for quite a while before hearing something in the far distance.

"Hop?" She called out. "Hop, is that you?" No response. Aria sighed.

"Hop … listen, I know you're upset with your brother and I get it. I get why you're frustrated. But Hop, … you have to understand — that Leon is only saying this because he loves you. He wants you to be able to go out there one day and face the challenges that come with being a trainer. He doesn't want you to sulk and give up when you lose. He wants you to be strong, Hop."

Silence remained throughout her walk until suddenly she heard footsteps running towards her and then a face was revealed to be Hop's—thankfully. Aria sighed with relief and hugged her friend briefly.

"Don't scare me like that," she said softly and then punched his arm. Hop whined from the hit but managed to give a lazy smile. "Aww you were worried about me?" He said batting his lashes. Aria scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Get real. Now let's get out of here before—"

"AHROOOOOOOOOO!"

Both teens turned around with surprise, but couldn't see the source of the strange howling noise.

"What … was that?" Hop asked worriedly.

"I'm not sure," Aria replied slowly backing away. Hop then grasped her arm quickly and pointed to the direction where the howl came from. In the center was a small Wooloo braying that then ran off into the foggy abyss.

"Wait! Come back!" said Hop. "Whatever's here will probably gobble him up! We have to save him!"

Aria groaned. She wanted to leave as quickly as she could and see how Scorbunny and Grookey are doing and to just be away from this creepiness. But even she didn't have the heart to leave that Wooloo all by himself in here.

With a heavy sigh, she held onto Hop's hand and continued down the path to wherever they were going in this deep fog. As they progressed, their surroundings began to fade around them more and more until nothing seemed recognizable.

The fog had now closed in on the two teens and it seemed as if there was no way out and no way in.

"AHROOOOOOOO!" The sound came again, this time louder than the previous. Chills ran down Aria's spine.

"Who's there?" Hop demanded. "Where are you?"

The young man got his answer when out from the fog appeared a large blue and red wolf with piercing amber eyes that stop only a few feet away from them with a low growl. Their eyes widened seeing the size of the unknown Pokémon.

"What in the—?!" Hop couldn't finish his sentence as the wild Pokémon growled again and took on an offensive stance ready to battle.

With shaky hands, Aria took out Leon's Pokéball and threw it forward and Sobble came out with a chirp. But even he was astounded seeing the size of his opponent.

"What do we do?" asked Hop.

"We try to fend him off." Aria said and suddenly remembered a two of Sobble's moves.

"Ok Sobble, we need your help! Use Pound!" She commanded. The water Pokémon followed his order but just as the attack was going to land a hit, Sobble - seemingly - passed through the unknown Pokémon and landed on the ground. Aria gasped and Hop was ready to pull his hair out.

"What the heck?! It … it went right through it?!" He exclaimed.

"Sobble, use Growl!" She ordered. The Pokémon gave a low menacing growl to its opponents but once again, it was unaffected and merely stared at Sobble. At the same time, the fog began to increase around them all until—they all blacked out.


"A … Ar … Ari … Aria!" She heard her name muffled above. Her eyes blinked open to see Leon hovering over her with concern in his bright hazel eyes. She blinked again and pushed herself to sit up with his help. Hop was across from them with the lost Wooloo, petting it gently. The Pokémon burred happily.

"Are you hurt?" asked Leon. Aria shook her head and then suddenly remembered that weird Pokémon! She turned to find it but all that was there was fog and hollow trees and a small river nearby.

"Where did it go?" She asked.

"Where did what go?" Leon questioned.

"The Pokémon. It was a big red and blue Pokémon."

"I didn't see anything like that when I found you two. All I saw was you guys and Sobble unconscious on the ground. Thank goodness you guys are alright. Our parents are waiting for us at the entrance of Slumbering Weald."

Crap. Aria thought, knowing her mother was probably close to having an aneurysm by now. Leon assisted her as she stood up and then walked the two teens and the Pokémon out of the mysterious woods and into the arms of their parents. Corrina immediately hugged her daughter much too tight and Flora was quick to examine her youngest born of any possible injuries.

"Aria …," Corrina sighed. "Thank goodness for our Champion finding you both! We were so worried!"She said weakly.

"Hoppurt." Flora said sternly. "We need to have a talk with the family. Right now, young man." She ordered and with a sullen look, Hop trudged forward with Flora and Leon following. Corrina took Aria up the steps to their house and when she closed the door. The atmosphere drastically changed.

"Aria, Leon told me what happened. He told me you battled Hop and that you showed great promise in becoming a trainer. I was happy to hear this at first, but now- it's too much. I'm forbidding you from pursuing Pokémon training."

Aria eyes widened and somehow she found the inner courage to say, "It's not your decision to make!" Shocked, her mother narrowed her eyes slightly at her daughter.

"I am your mother and you, young lady, are not eighteen yet, which means I make the rules in this house." She said sternly.

"Well then maybe I should go back to living with Dad! At least I had a life in Kalos!" Aria hissed and then stormed off into her room, locking the door. On her bed, lay Scorbunny who was sleeping soundly until he heard Aria come in. He yawned and stretched his small arms out before hopping off the bed to hug his partner. Aria smiled and returned his gesture, but wasn't so sure if they were even partners anymore.

All her life, there was only one thing she wanted - to be with Pokémon. And for years, she waited and waited until the time was right for her to begin that dream and she would be damned to allow Leon's standards and her mother's over-protectiveness stop her from achieving that dream.

With one more look towards Scorbunny, Aria made up her mind. Yes, … she would become a trainer. She would master all the styles and techniques and the challenges to become the greatest. And nobody was going to stop that.


Hope you all enjoyed this one!

One thing to note - I know some of you may not like the fact that I changed the dynamic between Hop and Leon but it is necessary. Obviously this is based off of a game and the game is more gentler with this but let's be honest - Hop wasn't ready. He was rushing into this which is why I made Leon give him a reality check.

Anyways, review what you liked best and as a special bonus! I'll give a shout-out to the first person who can guess who is Aria's father! Let me know in the reviews!

And with that, I'll see you all at the next update!

Peace & Love

xGhostReaderx