Wow. Between waiting for my Switch to recharge, I'm a shockingly productive writer. Who knew? Anyway, you can probably guess what this ones about. No major spoilers, not with everything that's already on the internet. That said, YAY, SHINY IMPIDIMP FOUND AND ADDED TO THE PARTY!

Let's Go(u)

Living in the Galar region was an interesting experience. Like most other regions, it boasted wide areas teeming with life, breathtaking sights, and of course drew in hundreds from around the world with its Pokemon League.

But there was something special about Galar. DYNAMAX. A strange type of energy that permeated Galar seemingly from falling stars striking the ground that allowed Pokemon to both purposefully or accidentally grow to insane sizes or reach new forms. It was still being researched and the fact that they could barely decide whether it was science or magic did a great job of showing just how well it was understood.

But despite not knowing what every little particle could do, people still did and are finding uses for it. Massive stadiums draw in the particle and power the cities within which we live. Between Gym Leaders and random giant Pokemon, no criminal syndicate had been able to spread chaos through the populous like so many others. It was a time of peace and prosperity for the people of Galar, easy-going lives while the champion rested upon his throne undefeated.

And Leon, the Champion, felt his frown grow a bit bigger as he stared over his kingdom.

It had been years since he'd taken the Gym Challenge, defeating friend and foe alike till he reached the top, after a suitably climactic battle against his Rival, Raihan. It was a glorious moment that cultivated the full work of his first year, intoxicating and everything he had dreamed.

From then on, he had defended his crown with aplomb. Challengers came and went, interviews, endorsements, and fans galore came and went, nut over time...it changed.

Slowly but surely, the number of challengers was falling. Gym Leaders came of age or decided to retire for health or work reasons, and there were many waiting to take up the Guard for their great region. But even then the pool was shrinking. Allister might have been a prodigy with Ghost-Pokemon, but he was still a child with deep bouts of shyness and anxiousness. Bea was well on her way to being a proud martial artist, but was too quick to fall on opinions and basic strategies beyond 'hit harder'. Both should have been free to grow on their own, correcting these issues with the passage of time, but instead were now locked to one calling for a good chunk of time, even if they had eachother to support in their 'Dual' Gym.

But that wasn't the main issue, not really. It wasn't that people weren't interested or trying in these matters, it was that Galar...was content.

Why even bother, their Champion was unbeatable. Leon is the Best. These Gyms are too hard. Most people who entered the Gym Challenge these last few years didn't even make it past the Elemental Three, to afraid to push limits or go beyond what was handed to them.

It made Leon's mouth taste like the Ash Charizard sometimes coughed in his face. This was his beloved region? He could understand, of course, not everyone wanting to battle. But this was too far. He was strong, yes. But the Best? Was there no better out there, even amongst Champions in regions so far away?

Leon refused to believe that. Hop would nearly be of age to begin his journey, and while he had a fire burning inside him, it would only be extinguished against such a shallow pool of contenders.

He felt Charizard's clawed hand rest against his arm for a moment, and looked back to see eyes blazing with the same determination he knew was in his own.

He would be calling in every trainer he could. Every region, everyone who wished to be the best there ever was, to Galar.

It would incite chaos, potentially reawaken problems, invite new ones, and light a fire his beloved region had been missing for so long now.

For he was Champion Leon, and he would see his people prosper, regardless of how much he had to drag them into it.

END OF CHAPTER

This is a WEIRD pokemon game. The regions Team is literally a bunch of fanboys and girls who don't even do much bad or anything, just trying to delay challengers and help pokemon they like. Foreshadowing galor for other things as well, but its still completely different from the usual formula by the halfway point of the game.

Thus, I look at the problem much deeper to the Galar region. Everyone wants to battle like their favorite trainer, but they don't DO anything with it. A majority of the gym challengers don't get through the first three before quitting, which is a VERY big change of pace from the formula. We'll see if this goes anywhere.