Within a couple of weeks, Timothy and Electchu made it to Rustboro City just in time to catch their flight to Galar. Because he only purchased one ticket, Electchu had to sit on Timothy's lap throughout the journey. Eventually, Electchu took a nap on Timothy's lap as it got late at night. Timothy smiled and stroked his friend's back, thinking about what was in store for them in Galar before he also dozed off.
The two of them woke up in the morning at the sound of a ding and the pilot announcing that they were beginning their descent to Wyndon. Timothy put on his seatbelt and wrapped his arms around Electchu for safety before the plane landed at Wyndon Airport. They got off the plane and made their way to the front entrance of the airport. When they got outside, Timothy and Electchu stopped a few steps away from the entrance and looked at their surroundings. Though they had seen plenty of large cities in their travels, this was by far the most unique with a large clock tower made of bricks, a needle-shaped tower with rings all around it standing taller than the lumiose city gym, and a tall ferris wheel. It was nothing like they'd seen before. They continued to look around until they found a massive stadium close to the tower.
"Look at the size of that stadium." Timothy said.
"Raichu." Electchu said in awe.
Timothy stared at the stadium for half a minute before he chuckled and turned to his partner.
"That might be one of the biggest stadiums I've ever seen," he said. "Betcha that's where the Galar League takes place."
"Obviously." a voice said from behind.
Timothy and Electchu turned around to see a tall, slender woman with fair skin and long blonde hair standing behind them. She wore a long white coat, a red blouse, a black pencil skirt, sheer gray pantyhose, and matching black high heels. She also had a black choker, hoop earrings, and a bracelet on her right wrist. She held a clipboard to her chest, showing off her long red fingernails. The blonde woman had a calm, professional expression on her face, yet something in her green eyes looked off to Timothy.
"Chairman Rose takes great pride in organizing our region's Pokémon League. He wants nothing but the best for everyone who competes," she boasted.
"Sorry, but who is Chairman Rose?" Timothy asked.
The woman's eye twitched, and her grasp on her chipboard tightened. Timothy looked at her puzzled, wondering if he insulted her somehow, until the woman collected herself.
"You're not from around here, are you?" she started.
"No, ma'am. I'm from the Kanto region," Timothy answered.
"Indeed? Then a foreigner like yourself should understand that everyone in the Galar region knows who Chairman Rose is. He is the president of Macro Cosmos and the chairman of the Galar Pokémon League." The woman said before she pointed at the needle-shaped tower. "That is Rose Tower, where he runs his company."
"No kidding. He sounds like quite a guy." Timothy said.
"He is the greatest person you will ever meet in the Galar region." the woman claimed.
"You seem to admire him a great deal." Timothy said.
"Of course, I do. I am Oleana, his secretary," Oleana said with pride in her serene voice. "I have seen first-hand all the greatness the chairman has done for the Galar region. He has big plans that will make our beautiful region a better place. You don't want to miss what he has in store."
"Is that right?" Timothy asked. "Well, I intend to be here for the Pokémon League, so maybe I will see what your chairman has planned for your region."
"Oh, so you intend to partake in the Gym Challenge?" Oleana questioned.
"The Gym Challenge?" Timothy asked.
"Meaning you are going to compete in Gym Battles." Oleana explained.
"Oh, so that's what you call it here," Timothy said. "Yes, I am."
"And do you have a letter of endorsement?" Oleana asked.
Timothy gave Oleana a befuddled look and asked, "For what?"
"For participating," the blond woman answered. "All competitors must have a letter of endorsement to compete in the Galar League."
"What? You need that to compete? Why?" Timothy asked.
"It's the rule," Oleana said bluntly. "No letter of endorsement, no competing in the Pokémon League."
"But how do I get a letter of endorsement?" Timothy asked.
"I'm afraid that's something you must find out for yourself," Oleana said uncaringly. "Good day, sir."
Oleana walked away with her eyes on her clipboard, leaving a shocked trainer and his partner staring at her until she was out of sight. After a moment, Timothy furrowed his brow and ran his fingers through his hair with a growl.
"I have to be endorsed just to compete in this region's Pokémon League. Thanks for leaving that out, Drake," he grumbled.
"Rai, Rai, Raichu?" Electchu asked.
"I don't know what we're going to do, pal," Timothy said with his hands on his hips. "This is a lousy way to start off in a new region."
The two of them stood in silence, with Timothy staring at nothing in a sour mood. After a minute, Electchu said several "Rai" and "Raichu's" with a weak smile, trying to act optimistic. Timothy continued to stare into space as though he didn't hear Electchu, then he lowered his head and sighed.
"I guess you're right," he said. "We did come all this way. Might as well go on some sort of journey and see new Pokémon and stuff."
"Raichu." Electchu said, nodding.
Every now and then, Timothy would ask for directions, but the people he asked were either new to the city or natives who gave him a list of vague directions. Thus, Timothy and Electchu went further into the city, looking for a way out so they could begin exploring the region. By three o'clock, they stopped at a restaurant for a late lunch. When they finished, they continued to search until they were at a public fountain. Timothy looked around to see roads all around the fountain and growled.
"How could it be so difficult to get out of this city?!" He complained. "We've been to dozens of large cities before, yet we easily get lost here!"
"Raichu." Electchu groaned.
"Excuse me, where are you trying to go?" Said a voice.
Timothy and Electchu looked to their right to see a tall, tan man with long, purple hair topped by a baseball hat, a thin beard that covered the sides of his jaw, and amber eyes. From how the man's black striped shirt had sword and shield logos on it, and how he wore white shorts with white tights underneath, Timothy wondered if he was a player for a major sports league in Galar. He showed a combination of confidence and kindness from the way he smiled at Timothy and Electchu.
"Uh, I'm kinda just trying to get out of the city," Timothy said.
"Oh? Why's that?" The man queried.
"You see, I just flew from Hoenn to compete in this region's Pokémon League just to find out I need a letter of endorsement to compete. I decided to just go on a journey through Galar, but I can't do that when I can't find my way out of the city." Timothy answered.
The man laughed, annoying Timothy and Electchu until he realized he was offending them.
"I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you," he said. "It's just that you're saying that when you're very close to what you're looking for."
"We are?" Timothy asked.
The tan man nodded with a hum and pointed west, saying, "You see that train station at the end of that street? That'll take you anywhere in Galar to start your journey."
"Oh, that's great," Timothy said in relief. "That's the best directions I've been given all day."
"That's kinda sad since I can get pretty lost myself," the man chortled with a toothy grin. "I recommend you travel to Wedgehurst. It's on the other side of the region, but it's a small place, so that might be what you need to start your journey."
"I appreciate the advice," Timothy said, smiling.
"Absolutely," the man said with a grin. "I'm Leon, by the way."
"I'm Timothy, and this is my partner, Electchu," Timothy said.
"Raichu," Electchu said.
"Pleased to meet you both," Leon said. "I hope you'll be able to compete in the Galar League. I'd like to see what you can do."
"Really? Are you competing in the Pokémon League too? Timothy asked.
Leon chuckled and answered, "Something like that. Anyway, I better be off. I'm meeting a friend at Rose Tower. It was nice meeting you, Timothy."
"Same here, Leon," Timothy said as he and Electchu began running to the train station. "Take care."
"You too!" Leon called out.
Timothy and Eletchu ran to the station, bumping into people and Pokémon walking in the opposite direction along the way. When they went inside, they found people and Pokémon in line to buy tickets or sitting on benches, waiting for their trains. Some kids played with the smaller Pokémon while their parents watched. Timothy and Electchu looked around until they found a plastic board against the wall containing a map of the entire region shaped like a sword and a list of train stops. Timothy browsed through the map until he found Wedgehurst at the very bottom of the list.
"Look at all of these stops on the way to Wedgehurst, Electchu," he said. "We could use the train to go to most places and get back here in good time."
"Raichu, Rai, Rai, Raichu?" Electchu asked.
"Of course, I still plan for us to travel on foot," Timothy assured. "But it's good to know we can come back here and leave quickly. If going on a journey turns out to be a bust, we'll get out of here the sooner, the better, and work to get stronger somewhere else. Maybe we'll leave just in time for this year's Unova League. Maybe the Kalos League before that if we're lucky."
"Or you could stay and spend time with your best bud."
For the third time, Timothy turned around, wondering who was talking behind him, but then an arm wrapped around his neck and forced his head down, followed by a set of knuckles grinding on his head. He shouted in pain but heard Electchu squeal in delight as he heard someone laughing gleefully. The person let go of Timothy's head, and he lifted his head up to glower at the person who noogied him.
"Don't you ever get tired of doing that, Coovers?" He complained.
"Never!" Coovers declared as he took Timothy by the hand and pulled him into a bear-crushing hug. "How're you doing, Timbo?! So good to see you! Congratulations on winning the Hoenn League!"
Coovers let go of Timothy, who backed away to rub his back, while the Unovian man kneeled down and hugged Electchu.
"Electchu! You keeping our buddy out of trouble?" He asked.
"Cha!" Electchu squealed as Coovers pet its head.
Coovers put Electchu down and stood back up to face Timothy with a toothy grin. The man in the "H.A.K." shirt huffed before giving his long-time friend a smile.
"It's good to see you too, Coovers," he said. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Coovers said. "I watched you win your second Pokémon League, and now you're going to Wedgehurst too?"
""Too?" What are you going to Wedgehurst for?" Timothy asked.
But before Coovers could answer, a ding was heard from the speakers all over the station, and a woman said, "Attention, passengers. The train leaving for Wedgehurst will be leaving in five minutes."
"Five minutes?!" Timothy exclaimed. "I haven't bought my ticket yet!"
"Seriously? You better go, man! There won't be another train for three hours!" Coovers shouted.
The three of them ran to the nearest ticket booth and waited in line for a couple of minutes before Timothy could get his tickets. As soon as he got his ticket, he and Electchu raced to the platform for the train to Wedgehurst, with Coovers leading. With mere seconds to spare, Timothy, Coovers, and Electchu got on the train and panted heavily with Timothy's hands on his knees and Coovers leaning his back against the wall as the doors closed.
"Should've...bothered...to check...the times," Timothy wheezed.
"And I...should...have...told...you...that the...train was...leaving soon," Coovers huffed.
"Rai...chu," Electchu whimpered.
"Sirs, can you please take your seats?" The train conductor asked as she walked over to them. "We're about to depart."
"Yeah, sure, ma'am," Coovers replied as he stopped leaning and put his hand on Timothy's back. "Come on. Let's find an empty room and catch up on things."
"Sounds good to me," Timothy said as he stood straight.
The two of them and Electchu walked from one car to the next until they found an empty room with beds on each side. After picking their beds and putting their stuff under the beds, they sat down, and Timothy filled Coovers in on what he and Electchu had been doing ever since they parted ways with Ash, Serena, Brock, Holly, and the rest of their friends in Vermillion City. Coovers listened intently, happy for what his best friend had accomplished in the past year, and was sympathetic to Electchu, who was still downcast over losing to Drake's Mega Salamence. When Timothy finished, Coovers tilted his head and gave Timothy an astounding look.
"A letter of endorsement just to compete?!" He exclaimed.
"That's what Oleana said," Timothy said.
"What kind of rule is that?!" Coovers shouted. "Trainers should be partaking in Gym Battles no matter who they are. What confounded reason is there to need permission to do that?"
"Believe me, Coovers, if there's a reasonable explanation, I'd love to hear it," Timothy said. "Anyway, Electchu and I decided to just go on a journey through the region and see what happens. We met a guy who told us to start at Wedgehurst and that's when you found us."
"That's crazy," Coovers retorted. "You shouldn't have to come all this way just to do that. It's not right that something like this should keep you from going further into accomplishing your dream."
"Tell that to this Chairman Rose guy," Timothy said.
"Believe me, I will," Coovers declared. "I already have my skepticism with whoever this bloke is, but he's got another thing coming if he thinks he can make things difficult for my best friend like that."
Timothy smirked at Coovers, having somewhat forgotten how devoted his friend was. Then his smirk faded, and he asked, "Wait. What do you mean you are already skeptical about Chairman Rose?"
Coovers froze with his pupils as small as grains of sand and muttered random gibberish. Timothy and Electchu looked at each other, confused, before they looked back at Coovers, who was looking at them as though he was a little boy caught trying to hide something from his parents. After a moment, the Unovian man let out a heavy sigh and hung his head.
"I need to learn to watch my mouth when I'm on duty." he whimpered.
"On duty? You're on a mission?" Timothy asked.
"Yeah, I am," Coovers said reluctantly.
Timothy smirked at his friend over how he was being dramatic and said, "Oh, you don't need to be ashamed of telling me that. I know what you do, and I'm sure Looker would be alright with me knowing. Besides, it's just the three of us in this room."
"Yeah, but people might hear us through the walls or something," Coovers said. "I've been on thin ice because we led Jessie, James, and Meowth to Brandon, and it didn't help that they escaped after the battle with Team Rocket. Looker's pretty peeved that there are three members of Team Rocket not behind bars."
"But, you played a giant part in saving the entire world from the most powerful crime organization known to man and Pokémon," Timothy pointed out. "Doesn't that count for anything?"
"Partaking in a giant battle isn't the same as proving that I am reliable as an officer secretly investigating," Coovers explained. "This mission is my chance at redemption so to speak."
Timothy furrowed his brow, thinking the explanation to be ridiculous, but he decided to drop it and ask, "Well, can you tell me what you're on a mission for?"
Coovers hesitated and looked away from Timothy while scratching the back of his head. Then he sighed in defeat and said, "Alright. You are one of the most reliable people outside of the force. I'd like to think Looker would be okay with you knowing."
Timothy and Electchu smiled, instantly excited to learn the scoop. Coovers opened the door to their room and looked around to ensure no one was around. He closed the door and sat back down before gesturing to Timothy and Electchu to come closer. The man in the "H.A.K." shirt and his Riachu leaned forward as Coovers covered the side of his mouth with his hand.
"Chairman Rose might be up to no good," he whispered.
"No good? What do you mean?" Timothy asked. "Is he trying to capture rare Pokémon to conquer the region or something?"
"No, nothing like that," Coovers answered. "In fact, the way Looker explained it to me, he's a legit businessman trying to make Galar a better place."
Timothy and Electchu's curiosity faded into disappointment, expecting Coovers to say something like Chairman Rose being the leader of a new crime organization or trying to obtain the massive power of a rare Pokémon like Mewtwo or Arceus.
"Then what's the big deal?" Timothy asked.
Coovers reached in and took out a photo from his coat. He handed it to Timothy and Eletchu looked over Timothy's shoulder. It was an image of a woman in her seventies with light brown hair, wearing a yellow dress under a white lab coat, beige ballet flats, glasses, a purple necklace and a purple headband. She stared at the camera with a stern look and stood tall using a cane shaped like some sort of raven. Timothy and Electchu looked at each other again before turning back to Coovers.
"Who is this?" Timothy asked.
"That's Professor Magnolia. She's a Pokémon Professor who gives new trainers their first Pokémon at her lab in Wedgehurst," Coovers said.
"And?" Timothy asked.
"She's the person who contacted the International Police about Chairman Rose," Coovers said. "According to Looker, she used to work with him for something that's supposed to help Galar with its energy crisis. They were trying to solve the problem together, but something about how the chairman intends to do it doesn't sit well with Professor Magnolia. She tried to get him to stop, but he didn't listen, so she ended their partnership. She wants to find a way to stop him, but she believes there might be people under the chairman's payroll that are watching her."
"Because she knows too much?" Timothy asked.
"Correct," Coovers said. "Now, Chairman Rose can't do anything to Magnolia without people asking questions regarding a relatively important person in Galar, being the Pokémon Professor and all, but at the same time, she can't do anything that might reveal what Chairman Rose is up to. That's why she called Looker for outside help. She hopes the International Police will stop what the chairman is up to since we have jurisdiction all over the world."
"Alright, now it's getting interesting," Timothy said, him and Electchu giving smiles of intrigue. "So, your mission is to meet up with Professor Magnolia and work together to put a stop to this Chairman Rose's evil plan."
"Possibly," Coovers answered hesitantly.
"Possibly? How can it be just a possibility?" Timothy questioned. "If something serious is going on, then the people behind it should be taken down right away before they cause any trouble."
"Except this isn't Team Rocket, where everyone and their Pokémon figured out they were up to no good. This businessman sincerely tries to make things better for people and Pokémon in his region. The reality is we have nothing but the word of one person to suggest that he's doing something wrong," Coovers pointed out. "Doesn't matter if Professor Magnolia is somebody who knows him. We can't just barge in full force and arrest Chairman Rose when we don't even understand what he's doing wrong."
Timothy opened his mouth to protest, but he stopped and thought about it before sighing in defeat. Coovers looked at his friend with a sad smile and said, "I know it's not as clear cut as stopping Team Rocket, Timothy. There may be a chance that Chairman Rose is not guilty of anything. Still, if there's even the slightest chance that he is, I must find proof. That's why I'm going to meet with Professor Magnolia at her laboratory. She will tell me everything she knows in greater detail, and then I have to find out if it's true. That's all there is to it."
"Yeah, I get it. I guess it wouldn't make sense for things to be black and white anymore now that Team Rocket is gone," Timothy said.
"True, but there's always going to be people who are up to no good whether they're crime organizations or Pokémon Poachers, or who knows what," Coovers said. "Personally, I don't see what Professor Magnolia would benefit by making false claims, but I don't know her personally, and we don't have all of the details behind what's going on."
"Right," Timothy said. "Do you think it'll be alright if Electchu and I hear what Professor Magnolia has to say with you before we start our journey?"
Coovers frowned and said, "I don't know. The professor seems insistent on only sharing what she knows with the International Police."
"Hey, if she's hesitant, then you could just point out everything I've done for the International Police to prove that I'm not with the chairman," Timothy said. "Besides, if she's this region's Pokemon Professor, she might be the right person for advice about traveling through Galar and maybe finding someone willing to make a letter of endorsement for me. So, I think I should go see her anyway."
Coovers squirmed and scratched the back of his head. Timothy grew impatient with his friend's resistance. Then, he got an idea and turned to Electchu with a devious grin. Electchu was uncomfortable with how its partner looked at it as he picked it up and laid it on his lap, which made Coovers curious.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
But instead of giving an answer, Timothy whispered something into Electchu's ear. Electchu's unease melted into a devilish smirk and turned its gaze on Coovers. The Raichu closed its eyes and took a deep breath before it opened its eyes and gave Coovers a sad pout. Coovers's eyes widened, and he scooted to the back of the wall, horror plastered all over his face.
"No," he said. His voice started to crack. "No, no, no, come on, guys. Don't do this! It's not fair!"
But Electchu replied with a whimper and the bottom of its lip quivering. The act made Coovers's heart break even though the Mouse Pokémon wasn't actually in misery. Coovers tried to find the will to resist, but it wasn't long before he began tearing up at the sight of a cute Pokémon looking sad. The grown man broke down, wiping the tears from his eyes with his arm as he wept.
"I hate you guys," he sobbed. "I hate you so much!"
Timothy's grin expanded, knowing that he won, and he and Electchu looked at each other as he pets the top of his partner's head.
"I should have thought of that years ago," Timothy said.
"Raichu," Electchu agreed.
Coovers continued to cry for a minute before he collected himself. His eyes were pink from the tears. With a sniffle, he said, "Alright, I will try to convince her. Just don't ruin the mission for me, and never do that again."
"If she refuses, no matter what we say, I'll leave it. You have my word," Timothy said while still stroking Electchu. "But I can't make any guarantees about that last part, though."
Coovers whined with his mouth closed, then let out a sigh of defeat.
"Very well," he said. "Then I guess we're in this together for the time being. Let's just hope things at Wedgehurst will go smoothly for the both of us."
Timothy gave his long-time friend a sincere smile, and he and Electchu looked at each other as he continued petting it.
"I hope so too, Coovers."