Hey, everyone! So, after my hiatus on my PBB fanfic, I decided to finally make one on Sword and Shield. And trust me when I say this one may be pretty interesting. ;)
Anyways, I will admit something, but I'll share it once this story ends. But by then, you may realize what it is. I got nothing else to share, so I'll go ahead and start the story.
I hope you enjoy! :D
P.S.: Spoilers for Crown Tundra DLC if you haven't played.
The Crown Tundra sure was a massive area outside of Galar. Many rumors of legendary Pokémon that can be found, but those could only be myths, knowing it couldn't be true. Well, that is...
Until one boy stopped by to prove that this is, in fact, true.
Inside of the entrance to the Max Lair, everyone was busy keeping everything under control. A boy, who seemed to be around 16 years old, walked in. He had brown short hair, green eyes, and had a white cap on his head, with a logo of the Gym Challenge on the front. He also wore glasses, with the outline color being red.
His clothing consisted of a version of his Gym uniform designed to be more casual-like clothing. He also had a red motorcycle vest over the uniform. His pants were the same pattern as the shirt. And he also had white, long socks, and red shoes as well. And he also held a black and white patterned bag on his back.
And one thing that made him stand out the most was the number located on his uniform: "72". This is the number he decided to go for when he was first participating in the Gym Challenge after being endorsed by former Champion Leon himself.
And speaking of which, it was this boy who managed to become the new Champion, and end Leon's winning streak once and for all.
Stepping into the Max Lair, he looks around with a smile, noticing everything was going okay. The two scientists who are running the place were at their usual spots, looking over to make sure everything flows smoothly. All the Pokémon here were also calm and collected.
Soon, this boy turned his attention to two people on the left of the cave. There was a taller man with dark skin, gray-ish short hair covered by a black hard hat, and an orang expedition uniform and brown boots. This man was none other than former Steel type Gym Leader, Peony.
And a couple feet away from him was his daughter, Peonia, who wore a black dress with a white short-sleeve shirt, and had a nice pint flair to her white, large hair.
The 16-year old boy approached Peony, closing his eyes and waving at him.
"Hey!" The former greeted.
"Hey, Chief! Thanks for stoppin' by!" Peony said with a hearty grin as he places one hand on his hip, "I'm finally gettin' a little some quality family time with my darlin' Nia."
Peonia simply looked away with a frustrated look, not wanting to shout or anything like that.
"Jeremy... just try and make it quick before my dad embarrasses me..." She thought, thus revealing the boy's name as well.
"That's good to hear, Peony!" Jeremy responded, "But anyways, uh... there's something else that I want to tell you. And the reason I actually came here in the first place. See, uh... well, you dropped something before you went and took off."
"Hmm? I dropped something at the base camp?" Peony questioned, getting into a thinking pose.
"Yeah. It's right here." Jeremy said, holding out a piece of paper. Peony took the paper and looked at it. But he just seemed even more confused as he continued to stare at it.
"Is that really mine? I don't recall ever writing it..." The former Steel type Gym Leader asked, still was unsureness in his tone.
"I could've sworn it was. You did write the other clues, after all," Jeremy explained, "Is this some kind of extra quest? Because if that's so, I wouldn't mind catching more legendaries."
Jeremy shrugged afterwards, reminiscing back to when he first became the chief of Peony's "adven-tour" crew, where he was tasked to finding some legendary Pokémon. He ended up learning about the King of Bountiful Harvests, Calyrex, and helping him reunite with Spectrier, his loyal steed. He also uncovered the mysteries about the giants hidden inside each of the four temples, and even managed to catch the Legendary Birds in their Galarian forms.
Would've been easier for him on that last one if Peony didn't call him during the moment he arrived.
Looking back at the tall man, he soon shows a shocked look as he looks at the paper again.
"Hmm? Hang on- isn't that the Max Lair there in that clue?" He exclaimed.
"Well... yes. Why do you ask?" Jeremy asked, tilting his head in curiosity.
"Waaaaaagh!" Suddenly, a yell was heard. Jeremy, Peony, and his daughter got startled by that, and they all looked over at the entrance to where Dynamax Adventures can take place.
The one scientist moved out of the way, shocked, as four people ran out of the cave, with fearful expressions on their face.
"Huh?" Peony was the first to not know how to exactly respond to that outburst. One of the small boys, who was part of the team of four, turned back, shaking slightly.
"What happened?!" The female scientist asked with extreme worriness in her tone.
"Creatures!" The kid shouted, "A horde of creatures appeared inside the Max Lair! And we don't know if they're Pokémon!"
The scientist only covered her mouth in shock as her eyes widen, taking the response in quickly, but thoroughly.
"What?!" She yelled. But the kid didn't respond back. He only continued to run away from the danger, and not turn back after what he just witnessed.
"Has something caused alien beings to appear? And is this somehow connected to that Ultra Wormhole that opened up briefly in the sky?" She asked herself. But it wasn't exactly quiet, so the group immediately took note of that.
"Ultra Wormhole? Alien beings? What in the world...?" Jeremy muttered.
"Well, sounds like some new, crazy thing's afoot!" Peony exclaimed, "And you know what that means, Chief! Bet you a new expedition's approachin'! And I know just what to call this one!"
He maintained a hearty grin as he gets into an enthusiastic pose. Jeremy looks curiously back at the older man.
"And what exactly are you gonna call this one?" Jeremy questioned. Peony took in a huge deep breath, and then he answers by shouting:
"THEY CAME FROM THE ULTRA BEYOND!"
Jeremy thought about that one for a moment, and then he shows a small smirk and nods, liking the ring to that.
"Ha! How d'you like that one, Chief?" Peony chuckled.
"Well, I like the flow of that, especially because of what's going on right now." Jeremy replied, nodding afterwards.
"Anyway, for now, there's your goal: catch the Pokemon- or whatever, in the photo on that odd clue!" Peony requested, "Now, get pumped for some more adventurin'!"
"Ah-ha, I'd love to. But first things first, I need a break from the whole legendary quest thing," Jeremy sighed, "Would it be okay if I head back to the main part of Galar for some time?"
"Ah, no worries, Chief!" Peony said, "You can take all the time you need! But make sure you come back soon so we can find out what are the secrets hidden within that clue!"
"Will do." Jeremy said with a smile and a wink. He waves one last time, and Peony and Peonia returned it immediately. Then, Jeremy heads back outside to the outside, where he'll have to temporarily deal with the frigid weather.
As soon as Jeremy got outside, not only was he meet with the very cold temperature, but he only also felt his Rotom phone vibrating. His phone started floating up to him, and Jeremy immediately accepts the call.
"*shudder* Why in this weather of all things. I hate the cold..." Jeremy groans quietly.
"Jeremy! At last!" A man's voice was heard, "Hello, hello? You there? This is Jeremy's phone, right?"
"Yes... it is me. This is my phone." Jeremy said. Although, this person sounded very familiar.
"Brilliant!" The voice on the other end cheered, "I asked Hop for your number. I'm glad he didn't pull anything funny, like giving me the wrong one..."
He drifted off for a moment, before he realized what he forgot.
"Oh, sorry. Guess I should've said who was calling you, eh?" He chuckles bashfully. It was then that Jeremy immediately caught onto who exactly was speaking.
"Leon?" He guessed.
"Yes! It's me, Leon! Sorry if I took you aback!" Leon responded.
"Eh heh, it's quite alright. I'm glad it was you and not another scam caller that I usually would get at some random times." Jeremy said.
"Glad to hear it!" Leon chuckled, "But rest assured, there can only be a pretty good reason for me to call you out of the blue like this."
"Yeah, you got that right. Why did you call me, exactly, Leon?" Jeremy questioned, getting more curious by the minute.
"The former Champion of Galar has a favor to ask of the current Champion...and that's you, Jeremy!" Leon started.
"Oh, sure. I can help out. What is it that you need help with?" Jeremy insisted, showing a small smile.
"Come on over to Wyndon Stadium, and I'll tell you all the details!" Leon suggested.
"Oh, sure thing!" Jeremy replied, "I was actually thinking on heading over there, so this is perfect timing."
"Excellent! I'll head that way myself now- and I swear I won't take any detours or get lost!" Leon responded, a little bit louder on the last sentence. Jeremy smirks slightly and chuckles.
"It's a big stadium, Leon. I doubt you could get lost finding your way there." He teased.
"I know, I know. Anyways, I'll see you there, Jeremy!" Leon finalized.
"See ya." Jeremy said with a wave. A beep is then heard signaling the end of the call. The Rotom phone flies back to its owner, and the latter grabs it and places it back in his pocket.
"Well, I should head over there now. Hopefully nothing bad happens once I get there." Jeremy said to himself. Then he proceeds to head back to the station so he can get a ride back to Galar.
*scene: Wyndon, 9:00 PM*
As soon as Jeremy got right to the large city, he was immediately left with how beautiful the night sky was, along with how bright the street lights were to make this view even better than it already is.
As much as he would like to ride his bike there, he decided against it, and is gonna walk instead. So he started walking over to Wyndon Stadium, and was just amazed on how it was like for a wondrous city like this.
After about a minute of a nice walk, he was only a few feet away from the stadium. And even despite being outside, he can hear a commentator's voice:
"Wow! And such a wonderful play from Galar's new Champion: Jeremy! His Gigantamax Cinderace manages to clutch a huge hit from Bede's Gigantamax Hatterene, and retaliates with a G-Max Fireball, securing another easy win for our Champion!"
Jeremy shows a simplistic smile as he heard that, knowing that his skills are beyond what anyone could've imagined. He pulled out one of his Poke Balls and longingly stares at it.
"I'm lucky to have my trusty team with me, else I wouldn't have this," Jeremy thought, "My adventure sure has been a wild one, and now... people recognize me so well, even during the Gym Challenge."
He places the Poke Ball back, then frowns as he stares at the stadium.
"But... thing is, I don't know if I want to be popular," Jeremy told himself, "It's not that I don't like it, I just don't really expect it. With how I am, I don't know if I can go anywhere without constantly being followed or reminded, especially since I... no, don't say that, Jeremy. I don't want that to ruin my reputation."
He shook his head as he cleared his thoughts, not wanting whatever he was thinking to overtake his mind, or any of the others thoughts he would seem to have. But just as soon as he was about to head inside, he saw another boy walk up to him. He had a little more tanner skin, and, as usual, has more casual clothes.
"Hey, Champion Jeremy! You okay?" He asked.
"Oh, uh... I'm... f-fine." Jeremy simply said, shocked by the sudden appearance of this trainer.
"So, you here for more battles? I actually have a ticket for front row seats this time, so the battles are gonna be amazing, right?!" The male trainer said excitedly.
"Well, I mean... g-good for you." Jeremy stuttered, showing a small smile at the boy's enthusiasm. It always brings Jeremy happiness to see some people loving these battles, and showing their excitement without hesitation. After all, Jeremy is an energetic person whenever he feels like it.
He's not like that much anymore, but he is always such a likable, excited person.
"But anyways, I have to head in now. Hope the front row seat works well for ya." Jeremy commented, receiving a big smile from the trainer he was talking to.
"Sure thing, Champion! Catch ya later!" The tan-skinned trainer cheered, walking away after that. Jeremy then heads on his own path, where he would walk on over to Wyndon Stadium.
"Did my ears hear me correctly? The new Champion is here now?" A female's voice asked. Jeremy turns around again, and he saw two girls walk up to him. One had blue eyes, but the same skin color as Jeremy, except she has freckles as well. While the other girl had brown eyes and tan skin, similar to the guy from earlier.
"I heard our former Champion, Leon, had a big announcement to make. And I sure am ready to hear what he has to say!" The brown-eyed girl reminded.
"Yeah, uh... Champions do stick up with each other," Jeremy said, "He called me for the announcement as well, and-"
"Ooh, it's gonna be so exciting seeing you two there like the Championship match that you ultimately won!" The other girl interrupted him. Jeremy didn't mind it, but he did show a shocked expression at this girl's excitement.
"The way your Cinderace took down Leon's undefeatable Charizard... I can't get over that! You're something else!" The same girl commented.
"Ah... yeah, that is true." Jeremy chuckled bashfully.
"So what do you plan on doing next, Champion?" The freckled girl asked.
"Uhh..." Jeremy didn't really know how to respond to that question. Granted, he always thinks thoroughly about what he plans to do each day. While he plans for some of it, the rest comes up out of the blue, and he just does wherever the wind takes him.
He couldn't exactly come up with a response. But just then, another trainer walks up to the conversation. It wasn't the same boy from earlier, but it was a different one.
"Hey, Champion!" He greeted, "I just saw on TV of one of your best replays. It's amazing how you always manage to take down others with ease! All of your Pokémon are awesome! The battles are very exhilarating!"
Jeremy tried to thank him for the compliment, but just then, about six more people began to crowd around. Not too close, but close enough where Jeremy actually began to feel a little uncomfortable.
"Your Cinderace sure knows how to put on a show! I can't get enough of your battles!" Was one of the compliments.
"Champion Jeremy, it's amazing how well you did in the Gym challenge to reach this point!" Was another question. Jeremy could only silently stutter as a bunch of the same people started to ask him questions, want autographs or selfies, and give him and his Pokémon varying compliments.
"Champion! Your battles are amazing! Whatever this announcement that former Champion Leon has, I bet it will be awesome for future battles for you to partake in!"
"You have a Dragapult, and as well as a Dracozolt?! I thought the latter went extinct long ago as separate forms!"
"Champion Jeremy! Can I take a selfie with you?"
"I want to see how well you battle, Champion! The way you set up with Sandaconda and that Stealth Rock... tell me all about it!"
"When's your next battle, Champion Jeremy? I can barely contain my excitement for this!"
"Did you ride your Corviknight over here? I bet you're really something else, Champion! Tell me more!"
"Can I get an autograph with you and your Grimmsnarl?"
"You should get your trusty Cinderace to do a Pyro Ball celebration at the start! That'll be a sight to see!"
"Champion! Champion Jeremy!"
And the talking goes on and on. At this point, Jeremy eventually got uncomfortable with everything. A few more people came, and by this time, poor Jeremy couldn't understand a thing anyone was saying because of the amount of people talking at the same time.
As much as Jeremy would shout or tell them to stop, he couldn't bring himself to it. He had enough by then.
He clenches his teeth as he grabs the handle of his cap a bit, not replacing his uncomfortable expression. He immediately turns away from the small crowd and walks inside of the stadium.
The crowd wasn't exactly offended, but they were surprised at the action he just performed.
"Hey, Champion, where you going?"
"We're sorry if we made you feel bad! Please come back!"
"Don't leave! We didn't mean to get too close!"
"I think we screwed up big time."
The crowd then murmured amongst themselves, realizing what they have done. Before things could get any more awkward, they head the opposite way, away from the stadium, and leave Jeremy alone.
*inside Wyndon Stadium*
That fiasco seemed to be a little much for poor Jeremy. Once he got inside, he adjusts his cap and looks around. Everything was as normal as it should be inside the huge stadium.
And then, just as expected for the reason he went here in the first place, he saw Leon there, waving at him. Jeremy was slightly shocked. Mainly for the reason that he didn't get lost on the way here.
But, like he mentioned before, it is a big stadium, so it's obvious he wouldn't get lost.
"Hey, Jeremy! You made it!" Leon shouted excitedly.
"Eh heh... yep. As soon as I got the call, I went straight over there." Jeremy responded bashfully, showing a nervous smile throughout. Leon slowly walked over to the younger boy, noticing his demeanor a little more... odd than usual.
"You alright there? You seem uneasy, Jeremy." Leon asked. Jeremy immediately caught onto that, but he wasn't at all shocked by the former Champion noticing.
"Well, on my way here, a small crowd of people were starting to gather around me," Jeremy explained, "It started out with two, then three... and the numbers kept going up, and I was almost surrounded. They were nice and all that, but it was really starting to make me uncomfortable."
"Ah, well. That's what happens when you're in the spotlight as Champion: being followed around by dozens of fans," Leon chuckled, "Charizard and I used to get a lot of that before you managed to defeat me. Man, it sure was a champion time whenever crowds came along!"
The blue-haired man spun around for a second before doing his trademark pose he is most known for. And meanwhile, the current Champion was not only happy for seeing Leon's cool pose, but also confused on the happy way he expressed dealing with crowds.
"You're telling me that you would... eventually get used to crowds?" Jeremy asked.
"It grows onto you once you adjust to it, actually. It's not as bad as one may think, as long as it's not a huge wave of people." Leon reminded.
"Well, sure, but that's you, Leon," Jeremy sighed, "I just don't think I'll ever get used to everyone asking me for selfies, or just constant compliments, or whatever else that paparazzies can do. Being Champion is way harder than it looks, especially since how I am..."
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Jeremy!" Leon said with a big smile, "Besides, everyone is different, after all. Are you shy, or socially anxious? You can tell me whatever is bothering you."
"I mean... yeah, but..." Jeremy stutered, but stopped and looks away slightly, as he didn't want to get even farther with what he was about to say.
"But what?" Leon questioned, tilting his head slightly in confusion.
"...I can't tell you. If I do, you'll poke fun at me, and then others will follow shortly after." Jeremy admitted, maintaining a non-relaxed pose as he thought about it.
"Aw, don't fret, Jeremy! That's a bit superstitious, don't you think?" Leon assured, shrugging his shoulders. The brown-haired boy was about to respond back, but just then, he heard a familiar voice coming over from Leon's end.
"Hey, Lee! I heard you were talking outside. We ready for all of us seeing the announcement yet?"
It was Hop. He was walking towards his older brother, who returns a smile. Hop then immediately looks at Jeremy, and waves at him with the big grin he always has.
"Oh, hey mate! Didn't see you head on in. I was over at the podium waiting for you to arrive!" Hop greeted. Jeremy, however, didn't smile back. He still had that small frown, but he did wave back to show some sort of greeting.
"Hey, Hop." Jeremy said back. Hop didn't like Jeremy's sluggish tone that he spoke in. He immediately grew concerned.
"You okay? You don't sound well." He asked.
"He told me that a small crowd was endlessly pestering him," Leon explained, "When I came up to him, I noticed that this actually bothers him more than it does for me when I was Champion. Apparently, there's something bothering him."
"Oh," Hop noticed, then turns back towards his friend and rival, "Well, you're free to tell us about it, Jeremy. You know I wouldn't make fun of ya in any way, shape or form! I'm really glad to have you as a friend, after all!"
"I-I can't, Hop. This is something I don't even like admitting. And I blame myself for it, too." Jeremy uttered, still not feeling relaxed.
"Aww, but why ever not? It's best if you get it out of your chest, Jeremy. It's not okay to... build up negative feelings," Hop suggested, "After all, you helped me back then, so it's okay that Lee and I help you out, right?"
"Well, we can continue this elsewhere. You should follow us to the Battle Court, Jeremy. We can continue our conversation there." Leon added, giving off another good suggestion.
"No!" Jeremy raised his voice, causing the two brothers to flinch. The current Champion noticed his outburst, and grew a sorry expression. He clears his throat and puts his hands in sweater pockets.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice... but... admitting it to thousands of people who are watching?" Jeremy cried, "That's a little much, even for me. I-I would gladly tell you guys about my problem, but can it be somewhere private? I don't wanna get stressed out immediately."
"Oh, of course, mate! Whatever makes you feel comfortable!" Hop replied, still grinning, accepting his friend's request.
"Well then, let's head on over to the locker room. Everyone else is already at the court, as we can talk there since no one will follow us." Leon said.
"Fine by me. As long as it's just the three of us." Jeremy nods, agreeing. Then the three group up together, and they head over to the male locker room.
Once they were inside, they closed the door and made sure it was securely shut so that no one will think about heading inside that easily. It was quiet and clear. More clear than usual, especially since it's big enough to fit a small group of people.
Jeremy sat down on one of the bleachers inside, placing his hands on his lap. And he began to think about what was gonna happen. Admitting something he deems... very personal, and will be afraid to admit because of how it bothers him so much.
He was unsure how it would turn out. Will Leon and Hop accept it? Or will they lash out or make fun of him? He didn't want to lose any friendships or specialties. Especially if it considers him to lose part with his trusty team.
The two brothers sat down next to Jeremy, one on each side, but gave the Champion a little room so he's not squished in-between.
"Okay, door's closed. So what was it that's bothering you so much, Jeremy?" Leon asked.
"We're all ears. We'll listen to anything you have to say." Hop added. Jeremy inhaled deeply through his nose, and exhaled through his mouth.
"Before I admit... I just want to promise you two that you won't make fun of me for what I'm about to say." He offered.
"I would never laugh at your pain, Jeremy." Hop said, placing one of his hands on his chest.
"Whatever you would like to tell us, we're glad to listen to you and talk for a bit." Leon chimed in while grinning.
"Okay, well... here goes." Jeremy took another deep breath after hew spoke. Hop and Leon immediately listened intently, knowing that whatever Jeremy is about to tell them is going to be super important.
"So, as it may turn out... I am diagnosed with autism," Jeremy confessed, "I've had it since I was born. Or maybe around three, if I can recall correctly. I don't know. But anyways, yes... that's why I hate talking about it. Because I am autistic, I have trouble communicating with others easily. And my anxiety issues are... pretty bad as well. I don't like admitting it because people like me are considered... different."
"Different? You don't act any different to me. You act the same all day, every day." Hop pointed out.
"I mean... yes, but... that's because we grew onto each other after a while," Jeremy continued, "I'm still energetic and happy, but the problem is... going into middle school and high school, that's where it really started to kick in. I didn't really make any friends a lot, but I had just a couple I talk to once in a while. And even nowadays with my terrible anxiety, I have to take a small medicine every day to keep myself relaxed."
Leon places one of his hands on Jeremy's shoulder, and the younger boy looks up at the giver.
"And like I mentioned before, that's nothing to be ashamed of. You are who you are, Jeremy. And there's nothing wrong with that." Leon assured.
"No, y-you guys don't understand," Jeremy exclaimed, clenching his fists as his voice slightly breaks, "Do you have any idea what it's like to live like this? I question myself about this every day. I ask my mum and my doctors whenever I get all desperate: 'Why do I have this? Why was I born like this? I don't want this, please tell me there's a way to get rid of this!' and by default, I know there are no answers. No one knows, and every day, I blame myself for having autism in the first place."
"Jeremy... there's no shame in that." Hop said quietly, growing concerned again.
"But why? I have a condition that holds me back from just... being normal on this world," Jeremy sighed, "If I didn't have this condition, I... I-I don't know. I don't know what I would do. But it would certainly make me easier to talk to people! *sigh* But it's too late. I still question why I am even like this in the first place."
Tears began to form around Jeremy's eyes. He takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes with one of his sleeves. The two brothers next to him only exchanged concerning looks, but they wholeheartedly agree with where exactly Jeremy was coming from.
"You know, Jeremy," Leon said, "You don't have to blame yourself for having something that you can't help. And besides, there's only one of any person in the whole wide world. And in case case, there's only one you, Jeremy. No one can replace you, no matter how hard they can attempt. You're a special Champion for sure, and there's nothing I can say to deny that."
"Yeah, mate! Exactly! Your mum always say that you're always doing well in school, getting good grades... and you're also very talented!" Hop complimented, "You managed to default my big bro in battle, and take his spot as Champion! You stopped an upcoming Darkest Day, caught Eternatus, and much, much more! And that's not even the end of it! Because I know there's a lot of good stuff you did there!"
Jeremy looks down slightly, still getting rid of any remaining tears.
"Well... back in elementary school, I was the team captain of my school's kickball team." Jeremy admitted.
"See? And you're playing a part, and that's what truly matters!" Hop chuckles.
"What you are is also being an introvert, Jeremy. And that's completely normal. It has nothing to do with being autistic," Leon told the Champion, "And to add onto your statement... there's no such thing as normal. We all have different scenarios and such that hold us back, whether it be a disability or not. I mean, Hop told me about how he felt at times, including where he felt depressed for a short period of time before.
"Yeah. You're right, bro. And you're pants with directions and always get lost if not for Charizard." Hop retaliated.
"Right I am!" Leon laughed at Hop's comeback statement.
"And you don't have to feel bad about yourself for having autism, Jeremy," Hop commented, "I mean... there are people out there who have it worse, whether on the spectrum or not. There are those who are blind, deaf, deeply paralyzed, and also those who have weaker immune systems, or missing a limb. As much as how sad it is, it's true."
Jeremy places his glasses back on and shares a concerned look with Hop.
"Well... yeah, that is true. I always feel bad for others who have such conditions." The former agreed.
"So it's okay, mate. We'll always be there to help you out in times of need. No matter what it may be!" Hop said. And finally, Jeremy managed to show a genuine smile, appreciating all of the comfort he was getting.
"Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it. And..." Jeremy said, "...Maybe I'll go ahead and admit it to the others once I get a chance. And plus, Hop is right. It's better if I get it out of my chest rather than wait for others to find out on their own. Now is... the perfect time."
"That's the spirit, Jeremy! Just what I'd expect from you!" Hop cheered.
"Well, while we're still waiting, let's head on over to the Battle Court then. You two are ready, right?" Leon questioned.
"Yes we are, Lee!" Hop answered.
"I'm with Hop. I'm also ready." Jeremy added as he stood up, showing a happy look.
"Alright! Then here we go! This is what we've all been waiting for!" Leon cheered along, heading over to the stadium. Jeremy and Hop look at each other while they were still in the locker room. Then they exchanged nods, and follow Leon on the way there.
"Hopefully this goes well..." Jeremy thought.
*inside the Battle Court at Wyndon Stadium*
Looking at the court, it looked like almost everyone was here. Every single one of the Gym leaders, waiting around for Leon's big announcement. They were all just talking to each other while everyone was waiting.
Jeremy and Hop arrived at the big stage, walking over to the grassy area where they were all waiting.
"I'm gonna assume he called you here too, eh?" Hop asked his friend/rival.
"Yeah, he did." Jeremy replied with a nod. Meanwhile, he looked around, and was shocked to see all the Gym Leaders there. The last time he saw such was during the Gym challenge ceremony, where all the Gym leaders were present except for Piers.
"What is all this, anyway?" Jeremy asking, looking at Hop with a confused look. Immediately, Hop looked back with the same confused look, realizing why he asked that.
"Huh? You mean Lee didn't tell you anything?" Hope asked, but growing a smile, "I've been real busy with my studies, so I actually turned Lee down at first, but... well, that brother of mine doesn't give up easily!"
"Eh heh, he sure doesn't. He's just that kind of guy." Jeremy chuckled. Hop laughed along, enjoying Jeremy's statement.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps was growing closer near the two. They didn't notice who it was until the sound stopped, and they all turned behind them to see that the one who was approaching them was Psychic master Avery, Jeremy's rival at the Isle of Armor.
"*ahem* Forgive me for interrupting when you two seem so intent on leaving the rest of us out..." Avery said smugly as the Poke Balls above his head circle around in a slow pattern.
"Hey... you're Avery, right? From the Master Dojo?" Hop asked. Avery turns his head towards Hop, and shows a gleeful smile back.
"As I would expect from one related to the former Champion, you clearly have an elegant mind and formidable memory." The Psychic trainer complimented.
"Yeah, he does remember a lot quite easily." Jeremy added, smiling along with the three.
"An elegant... what?" Hop, however, had no idea how to relate to Avery's complicated words in all the sentences he speaks. But then Avery just ignores Hop's confused statement, and looks back at Jeremy.
"I have redoubled my training efforts since my last defeat at your hands, you see..." Avery started, adjusting his glasses to cause a small shine.
"Yeah, I can tell." Jeremy said back.
"And my efforts were rewarded gloriously! You are looking at the chosen leader of the Psychic Gym!" Avery boasted. Jeremy was amazed at what Avery said, and his smile grew wider.
"Well, congratulations!" He complimented. Avery crosses his arms and smirks at the Champion.
"Well, our Gym is still in minor division. But you can feel free to praise me some more. It's perfectly deserved, of course." He sneered. Hop stumbled backwards a bit, shocked at Avery's accomplishment.
"Th... That really is amazing! I hope you'll keep working toward reaching the major division!" Hop shouted.
"Hop... rest assured that I will bring my best performance to this competition," Avery responded, "I will be a fearsome challenger to face down!"
"Suddenly I am feeling all fired up for this thing! If everyone's taking it that seriously, I don't want to be the one to lose!" Hop cheered, showing an excited pose.
"Same here. I do actually feel excited about this, too." Jeremy agreed, nodding his head.
"Just what I like to hear!" Avery chuckled, liking Hop's enthusiasm and Jeremy's agreement.
"Alright, everyone! Sorry to have kept you waiting!" Leon's voice was heard from far away. Everyone immediately grew quiet, and they look towards where Leon is at. Everyone, including the Gym Leaders, now had their attention on the former Champion.
"First things first- I want to say a quick thank you to all of you for coming running when I called!" Leon started. He took a few steps closer once everyone now had their eyes on him.
They all listened intently with their regular looks on their faces.
"I really wanted to explain this in person, because I wanted to be sure I can get across to you all how great this idea is?" Leon said.
"Hmm, knowing him, I bet this idea may be pretty good." Jeremy mumbled, showing a small smile.
"Phew, would you look at this guy?" Raihan chuckled, "Getting all serious on us in your old age, are you? What is this grand idea anyway, Leon?"
Leon looked at Raihan and smirks, placing one of his hands on his hips.
"Hah! Don't you start in on me, Raihan! I'm really trying here!" He retaliated. After that small remark from his friend, the former Champion looks back towards the center, growing a serious expression.
"See, I've spent my whole life battling with myself to try to become the greatest trainer..." Leon stated, "And then I saw how Jeremy grew so strong by competing against my little brother, Hop... and how much it made Hop grow, too."
Upon hearing their names, Jeremy could only show a big smile as he waves. Hop joined in as well, loving the excitement taking over him.
"It really proved to me how much further you can go when battling against a proper rival!" Leon continued.
"Hrmph..." Bede scoffed as he slightly looks away from the crowd, not wanting any part of being mentioned with his rival.
"And now that I've taken over running the League from Chairman Rose... I'm thinking I want to bring even more thrilling battles to our wonderful Galar region!" Leon yelled, the motivation in his tone rising with each passing sentence.
Jeremy was in awe from what he was hearing. He loved every Pokémon battle he participated in, having his team by his side and growing with them. Seeing that Leon plans on making battles even more enjoyable was making everyone excited.
Leon closes his eyes again as he prepares how to bring this out to everyone.
"So for both these reasons, I called you all here today to tell you that..." He pauses his sentence for a few seconds. Then he opens his eyes and smirks, holding his hand out in a very determined pose.
"I'm declaring the Galarian Star Tournament open!" He shouted.
"Galarian Star Tournament...?" Jeremy asked himself, pretty quietly.
"The Galarian Star what?!" Marine yelped, shocked at what she just heard. Piers just sighs, however, knowing what Leon may have been thinking.
"Doesn't he ever tire of draggin' other people into his nonsense?" The Dark type Gym leader groaned.
"The Galarian Star Tournament will be an elimination tournament in Multi Battle format!" Leon explained as he crosses his arms, "I want all of you here to pair up with the strongest partner you can think of... then pool your power and work together to try to win your way through the tourney!"
The audience's cheers drown out all other noise nearby. They were immediately excited by Leon's ambitions. A Galarian Star Tournament in Multi Battle format with partnering with each other? Seems pretty fun!
"But before we begin," Leon stated, "I want to give a shoutout to our now current Champion of Galar: Jeremy! He and I Have talked privately during these few minutes, and as it turns out, he has something he wants to announce."
Jeremy quickly remembered what Leon was talking about, and his eyes widened. But he quickly cooled down knowing it was too late to turn back now.
Leon looks towards the brown-haired boy, and smiles at him.
"Whenever you're ready. Or I can call it off if you feel uncomfortable." The former Champion offered.
"It's okay. I'll do it." Jeremy assured, waving his arms in a "don't worry about it" motion.
"Good luck, mate. You got this." Hop complimented, showing a happy grin. Jeremy looks back at Hop and smiles, then proceeds to walk to the center of the field.
"Piers, uh... may I borrow your mic for a second?" Jeremy requested. Piers smirks, then he pulls out his microphone and hands it to the Champion.
"It's all yours." Piers says, then walks by by Marnie's side. Jeremy pulls the mic closer to himself, taps it a couple times, then clears his throat.
"Well... first of all, everyone, I want to thank you for coming," Jeremy chuckled, "It's been a pleasure that our former Champion, Leon, has a wonderful idea with the Galarian Star Tournament and make it very enjoyable for all of us to participate in. I really like it, too, and I can't wait to see how my battling style will adjust to this whole bracket each time I decide to go into it."
Leon smirks as he crosses his arms, liking the speech so far. Hop and everyone else seemed to like it to. Bede just slightly looks back at his rival, still unamused.
"But before we go on ahead into starting our very first Star Tournament bracket... I want to go ahead and confess something to you all, so then you all will be further aware of what to expect from me." Jeremy pauses again to take another deep breath.
He knew there was no turning back once he has done the deed. But it was best for him to tell it now before anyone else forces themselves to find out. He waits a few seconds. 5 seconds of silence. And now...
He inhales one more time, and then speaks.
"I have autism," He admitted, "I've had it since I was little, and, as you may know, I still have it to this day. My communication isn't well on-point after dealing with a small crowd earlier before heading in, but I do try my hardest. And... well... with bad anxiety issues and all that, I'm afraid it'll hinder my performance in any more battles and events I decide to go into."
No one was exactly shocked. Rather, the Gym leaders felt sympathy for him because of him admitting this. And the current Champion couldn't exactly see what the audience was thinking.
There was more silence. Jeremy waited for a response.
Was it too good to be true?
...
"You're still an amazing battler, Champion Jeremy!" A voice yelled from across. Jeremy recognized the voice. It was that one male trainer from earlier before the crowd pushed him beyond his boundaries.
"R-Really?" Jeremy asked.
"Just because you have that doesn't mean you're a bad person! You're very talented, and without it, you couldn't have defeated the unbeatable Leon!" The male trainer reminded.
"He sure is special." Marnie complimented, showing a true smile.
"At first, I thought a Pokémon used Hypnosis on me, but that doesn't seem to be quite the case." Avery said to himself.
"Tch." Bede just scoffs slightly, not wanting any interaction.
"We're sorry for causing you trouble earlier, Champion! May our best wishes be with you!" One of the girls from the crowd complimented. Jeremy couldn't see them, of course, but he heard them very well through their shouts.
"Do your best, Champion, and we'll cheer for everyone every step of the way!" Another trainer said. Soon, the rest of the audience began to shout compliments at him, but at this point, was mixed up due to so many people talking at once.
After more of that, some started to chant his name. Until that crossed to everyone joining in on that chant to make the Champion feel better about himself. And Jeremy was speechless by what was happening.
The chants were too much for the boy. But it was a good feeling this time. Eventually, his face warmed up to a big smile, and tears formed in his eyes again. They flow down onto his cheeks, realizing that all these people here, accepting who he is with his condition.
Jeremy takes off his glasses again as he rubs his eyes, still keeping his smile on.
"T-Thank you... thank you all..." Jeremy said quietly throughout the ongoing chants. Hop was looking over at everything, and he had a sympathetic smile as he saw Jeremy cry tears of joy, liking the acceptance everyone was giving.
"I'm glad he got through with this." Hop thought.
*5 minutes later...*
Most of the others were back at the main lobby, deciding who to partner up with for their first Star Tournament bracket. Milo, Kabu, Nessa, and Bede were all by themselves as they thought about who to choose. Marnie was next to Piers, and Melony was sitting on one of the benches near one of the doors.
Hop and Jeremy walked out together, exchanging smiles like they always do.
"That's Lee for you!" Hop laughed, "He knows how to start off a tournament nice and prosper!"
"He sure does. He always likes giving all these exciting speeches." Jeremy responded, nodding in agreement.
"Anyways, I always wanna say I'm proud of ya, mate," Hop complimented, wrapping one arm around Jeremy, "You really showed some bravery as you gave off that speech to admit your problems. I don't think of you any differently just because you have autism! You're still the same excitable, strong guy that I know!"
Jeremy's eyebrows soften as his smile grows bigger.
"Thanks, Hop. I'm always glad to have you by my side." Jeremy said.
"Always happy to help! That's why I'm here!" Hop replied. He then lets go of Jeremy as he walks a few steps to the side, as the two of them began to think about what to do for the Galarian Star Tournament.
"Still, I wasn't expecting to have to team up with someone... oh, I know!" Hop suddenly realized. Jeremy turns back towards his friend.
"Hm? What's up?" Jeremy asked.
"Jeremy! If you haven't settled on a partner yet, why don't you team up with me?" Hop requested, looking at the brown-haired Champion with excitement.
"You know... let's do it! We've partnered up before on multiple occasions, so I don't see why not!" Jeremy agreed, crossing his arms with a big grin.
"Nobody's going to be able to stop this team! We're sure to win this tournament. You'll see!" Hop cheered as he and Jeremy gave each other a high five.
They then walk together to the registration table so they can enter the tournament, and start to do what may be the most toughest battles to ever participate in.
But with a talented trainer like Jeremy, there isn't anything that can go wrong.
Author's Note: Well, that's it for this one. Sure was enjoyable in my eyes. ;)
Also, I will admit: yes, I do have autism as well. Always have, always will be. That's why I can sympathize with Jeremy, being my Pokémon Shield OC that will only appear in those specific stories.
I'll plan to make a whole one shot series starring this boy one day, but that'll have to wait. For now, at least Jeremy's biggest problem is no longer hidden so he doesn't have to bottle it up in an uncomfortable stance.
I'll see you next time, everyone! Have a wonderful day! :D