The Slumbering Weald scene at the beginning of Sword and Shield is one of my favorite moments in any Pokémon game, so I just had to write a fanfiction about it.
Whether the playable character (PC) is Gloria (female PC) or Victor (male PC) is intentionally left to open interpretation. Thus, the PC will be referred to as "Hop's friend" and identified with the pronouns "they/them." On a related note, the name "Mum" without any descriptor will be used for Leon's and Hop's mother.
Rated K+ for mild violence, specifically spanking (and for the record, I'm against this type of discipline - there are much more effective and humane methods of managing behavior).
Pokémon is copyrighted by The Pokémon Company and all related affiliates!
Champion Leon sat with his Charizard in front of the Pokémon Research Lab as he waited for Hop and his brother's friend. Barking could be heard coming from inside of the lab, along with the sound of scratching at the door. Leon instantly recognized it as Sonia's Yamper; the dog-like Pokémon always gave an excited high-pitched bark whenever he sensed the Champion's presence.
Inside of the lab, Sonia was reading a biology journal when her Yamper began barking. She put the book onto the table and walked up to the closest window. When the research assistant peeked out she did not see anyone, as Leon and his Charizard were just out of vision. "Yamper, Hop and his friend are not here yet. There is nobody outside. Thank you." The 'thank you' was a verbal cue that Sonia used to stop her pet from barking, which was accompanied by a visual cue.
The kids should be here by now, Leon thought upon hearing his childhood friend's comment. I hope they arrive soon.
Despite being given his anti-barking cues, her Yamper continued barking. "Yamper, you just had a potty break. I'm not taking you out again just to give you a treat. Thank you." That bark was usually low-pitched, but Sonia could not think of any other reason why he would be barking and scratching at the door. The dog-like Pokémon did not stop and the research assistant was getting annoyed. "What are you barking at?!"
Leon chuckled at the event he was hearing. Poor Sonia, that Yamper must be driving her crazy. Should I let her know I'm here? Nah, this is too funny. Besides, the kids should arrive any minute now.
Sonia pulled a bone-shaped squeaky toy from her purse. "If you can stop barking for just a second... here, take this." She squeezed it to grab her Yamper's attention and tossed it to him. The barking was temporarily replaced with squeaking, but it soon resumed. This cycle repeated multiple times.
As time went by, Leon grew increasingly anxious. He petted his Charizard. "What is taking them so long? If those kids are not here in another minute or two then we are going back to Postwick to find them." The Champion also became bored while waiting, and began to daydream:
Wyndon Stadium was the most crowded that Leon ever saw it in his life. The fans roared with excitement as he and his challenger competed in the Championship Match. It was the moment this special challenger dreamed of his whole life, and the Champion could not be more proud of his brother.
Yet Leon had mixed feelings on whether he wanted Hop to win or not. If he lost his undefeated Champion title to any trainer, then he wanted it to be to his brother. Yet he also worried about Hop getting burdened with the exhausting duties of being Champion; his brother meant the world to Leon, and the last thing he wanted was to see him struggle the same way he did.
After an intense battle, they were both down to their last Pokémon: Leon's gigantamaxed Charizard verses Hop's dynamaxed Wooloo - no, at this point it would most certainly be a Dubwool. The Champion ordered his Charizard to use G-Max Wildfire. The two trainers' Pokémon charged at each other with their max moves and-
"Earth to Doofus!"
Feeling a foot on his thigh brought Leon back to reality. He rubbed it and glanced up at the person who kicked him as he pathetically whined. "Ouch! Sonia, what was that for?"
"I've been trying to get your attention. You've been sitting there with your head in the clouds for I'm guessing thirty minutes, cause that's how long Yamper has been barking nonstop." As if on cue, her Yamper barked again as he whined and squirmed in his trainer's arms. Sonia rolled her eyes and sighed. "What are you even doing here anyway? Gran told me that your brother was coming, not you."
Leon jumped onto his feet, ignoring his childhood friend's question. "Thirty minutes and they're still not here?! Blast, I better go find them! If you see them, then please let me know!" He dashed off with his Charizard trailing behind.
"You never answered my question, Leon!" Sonia rolled her eyes and sighed again as she watched her childhood friend run off. You may be the Champion, but you're also a complete goofball. And I'm sure they're just running late, you worrywart. The research assistant retreated back into the lab with her Yamper, whom finally stopped barking.
The destination was his family house, but as usual the trip did not go as planned. Leon strayed around Wedgehurst as he attempted to travel home. He periodically stopped to call or text his brother, to no avail. Excited residents stopped the Champion for autographs, and he took the opportunity to ask them if they saw the children. Unfortunately, no one had spotted them.
Leon was usually very chill about his directional difficulties; he would just smile sheepishly and laugh it off. The Champion even used it as an excuse to get out of situations he would rather avoid, with varying levels of success. But when he needed to arrive at a specific location fast, he got extremely frustrated over his lack of directional sense. After ten minutes of hopelessly roaming, Leon collapsed onto the ground and burst into tears. "Why do I always get lost?!"
His Charizard was used to the Champion's mental breakdowns and knew exactly how to respond to them. The dragon-like Pokémon nuzzled him and made a soft purr-like sound, while also growling at concerned bystanders who got too close to his trainer. It took Leon a few minutes to relax; once he was calmer, he stood up and climbed onto his Charizard's back. "Thanks buddy, I'm good now. Let's go home."
The dragon-like Pokémon flew to Leon's family house. The Champion dismounted and barged through the front door. "Mum, have you seen Hop or his friend? They were supposed to meet me at the Pokémon Research Lab but they're not there."
In the kitchen, Mum was cleaning dirty dishes from the previous night. Her older son's question barely concerned her, as she was certain she knew exactly what the problem and solution were. "Don't worry dear, I bet they're at the lab. Are you sure you went to the right building?"
Leon rolled his eyes and sighed. "Yes Mum, I am. Charizard guided me there."
Mum was not persuaded, though she felt slightly uneasy. She dried her hands, walked up to her older son, and patted him on the cheek. "Let's go double-check, just in case. We both know that you... uhh... don't have the best sense of direction, and as your mummy it is my job to help you."
"Muuumm, you're embarrassing me!" Leon complained. "And I tried calling and texting Hop multiple times; he hasn't responded to me at all."
This new information was significantly harder to think of an alternative explanation for. Mum grew highly apprehensive. "That is not good. Let's go look for him and his friend. We'll search Postwick first and then stop by the lab when we get to Wedgehurst."
Leon agreed to the plan. He and his mother left their house and checked every area of their hometown, calling Hop's name as they tried to locate him and his friend. When they passed by the Slumbering Weald, both immediately noticed that the fence blocking the path to it was open. The Champion felt his heart skip a beat. "Do you think they went into the Slumbering Weald?"
"Hop knows not to, so I doubt it," Mum reassured, to herself just as much as to her older son. But if he did then he is in deep trouble.
Leon recalled the warnings she gave him and his brother about going into the forbidden forest; their mother made it perfectly clear that if she caught them in it then they would suffer dire consequences (assuming they were not severely injured). Hop is not a troublemaker, he wouldn't risk it... but he is extremely impulsive, so if a motive came up... The Champion listened to his instincts and bolted past the fence. "I'm gonna go look for them in the Slumbering Weald!"
"No, Leon!" Mum reached for his arm, but she was not quick enough to grab him. "Get your rear end back over here this instant! You are not - ugh, fine! But if we have to send a search party out to find you too then..." Her words trailed off as she watched her older son dash towards the forbidden forest. ...Just please stay safe Leon, I don't want to lose both of my babies.