Thank you for reading this far! There were a lot of different ways this chapter could go, and there was a looot of reworking done to it over time. I think I'm happy with this version.

To the person who reviewed - gah, I would have loved an episode on Bede. Who is mostly irrelevant to this story; unfortunate, because other than Leon and Hop, Bede is one of my favorites. Anyway, I knew what you meant about Swordward and Shielbert - it's all good! They were written, in the games, to be totally unlikable, and they were great at being that. Here, they have to be a mix of Comically Bad and Actually Threatening and I hope I was able to do it right.

Anyway, enjoy!

"Infinite amounts of energy pour from this Pokémon's enlarged core, warping the surrounding space-time." -the Pokédex on Eternamax Eternatus, Pokémon Shield version

"Hahahaha! Yes, this is brilliant indeed! You so-called legends... Now is your chance to run rampant. Just a few more Galar particles and you two will both become ginormous, the heights of skyscrapers!"

Shielbert was standing with his back towards Gloria, his arms extended in an inviting fashion. In front of him, Zacian and Zamazenta were trembling, their powers seeming ready to burst. With both the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield adorned, they looked ready to level cities, if they were not in so much pain.

"Doubtful, if I have anything to say about it," Leon's voice was strained. Dotting the scene, a few Pokémon Gloria recognised as his team members were unconscious or nursing their wounds. By now, the young trainer was unsure either of them had noticed her yet, but her hand was already at her hip, fingering a Poké Ball.

"Silence, you egg, I have no business with you. Mm... You, with the blade. Eliminate the distraction, would you?"

Zacian's eyes burned red, its Intrepid Sword scraping the metal floors while the Pokémon sprinted towards an unprepared Leon, raising it high in the air.

Fortunately, defeat was out of the unbeatable Champion's lexicon.

Always by his side, Charizard was there to defend his body, if not his dignity. The dragon's wingspan was unbothered by the hardened steel. From the ground, squinting one eye, Leon was grinning. "That all you got?"

But he was compromised, as Gloria could see. "Oi! Those Pokémon are out of control," she observed. Shielbert turned to her flatly. "We need to calm them down."

Distracted, Shielbert was knocked to the ground by a swipe from one of Zamazenta's paws. Gasping for breath, he scrambled backwards: "S-So it seems," he stammered. "Excellent. This is just what we were hoping for. Soon, the whole region will... What are you doing."

"Battling it, what does it look like?" Her first Pokémon was already in a fighting stance.

Shielbert smirked, snickered. "Go ahead. You lost in the semifinals, have you not? This will be a wonderful first demonstration." He picked himself up and stepped out of harm's way.

Focused, Gloria tried not to notice the appearance of a frightened Hop beside her. "Woah!" His eyes were wide. "Okay, not a coward. Not a coward!"

"Hop, get out of here," Leon instructed, not letting his eyes leave Zacian's. "Just - leave this to the adults; it's very dangerous." The legendary he was facing bit down on its Sword.

Light on his feet, as if ready to run at any point, Hop spluttered an explanation. "Piers lost to the other creep. His team was very well-equipped to deal with Dark-Types, I'm afraid."

The first of Gloria's team fainted, and she sent another. "Blast!" the boy continued, having noticed the titan staring down Charizard. "That's why you wanted me to have the Rusted Sword. And I-I wanted to throw it away!"

Leon had no time to look at his brother. "Hop!"

"Aye, Hop." Gloria cut in. "Either get to safety er start pulling yer weight. This is no time to feel bad about - yourself."

The hesitation in her voice occured at the defeat of her second Pokémon. She sent another, attempting to steady her breathing.

"There, Zacian... Calm yourself. Sonia told me what you've done for Galar." Leon was consoling the other trembling canine, one arm out for his own protection. "That's it." With his other arm, he reached for his side, where he surely had some Ball or other, if the need arose for it. "I know you don't want to do this. You're not a monster, no matter what these weirdos want Galar to believe."

He took the slightest step forward. Zacian growled; Leon lowered his arm, and Charizard his wings, but his very presence was apparently too threatening. Zacian turned away, toward Gloria, reared down, and sprinted in her direction.

She yelped, throwing her hands above her, as the massive Pokémon leapt over her head and off the roof.

Heart rate slowly receding, she made brief eye contact with Leon, who was understandably stunned. Then her Pokémon fainted, and she refocused.

The foe dressed in blue strode, ducking slightly, up to the scene. "All going well, younger brother," he observed. "Say, you-" he sneered at Hop - "I thought I told you not to meddle. Here, let me quell you shortly."

It seemed Hop, gulping, had no choice but to battle. Gloria scoffed, knowing already how it was going to end. Hop was strong! But right now, he was in no shape to win anything. Neither was she, she added, rotating out her fourth fainted teammate.

Within minutes, Hop and Gloria were each down for the count, knocked to the ground by the force of their opponents' moves. Zamazenta remained stalwart, hardly dented. Leon balled his fists, making his way toward the brothers.

Zamazenta narrowed in on the young trainers. The brothers beckoned it to sow destruction elsewhere, still somehow under the impression that it could be controlled. But the Pokémon was clearly resisting movement.

"It's still going berserk," Hop whimpered. Leon, seeing his family threatened, was so serious he did not even speak: he and Charizard appeared in front of the children, always their first and last line of defence. His Pokémon, while as intimidating as he in appearance, was clearly hurt.

Leon the unbeatable was there, but Hop was still quivering. "Now I really just wish I never even beat you in the semis," he admitted, head turned in Gloria's direction, eyes locked on the Pokémon. "Is that selfish of me? I'm so useless, you should have just put me in my place right there and then."

Gloria gritted her teeth, inhaling sharply. After all I've done to get you that chance... But she realised he was right. If she had just stayed Champion in the first place, Gloria would have at least been strong enough to handle a single angered Pokémon.

She wished it would not have come to this. She stood. "Enough."

Investing the few seconds she had, Gloria opened her Box Link and withdrew Eternatus.

There was no time for her to bother explaining to Hop and Leon, who were gobsmacked. They took turns spewing baffled nonsense.

"Blimey! What is that thing!"

"Crivens, Gloria!"

"When did you-"

"Big ol' skeleton-lookin' thing-!"

"Oi, you're pulling my leg, right mate?"

"Criminy..."

"Bloomin' dragon."

Even Swordward and Shielbert were flabbergasted. They were not counting on that.

Eternatus and its Dynamax Cannon move would be powerful enough to stop nearly anything that Zamazenta could throw out. It was not Dynamaxed, but it was full of Galar Particles, and Gloria wondered if that would be enough to double the move's damage.

Finger extended in command, the name of the move on her tongue, Gloria expected to wrap up quickly.

Apparently Eternatus had other plans. As if knowing what she had done, it flew off somewhere west, leaving every remaining human in danger.

"Rubbish," she squeaked inaudibly.

Well, that plan failed, and only Leon had any healthy Pokémon remaining. Gloria, who threw away all her restores prior to her match with Hop, had no way to revive her team, and everything that remained in her Boxes was still untrained, at the levels they were caught. It seemed the humans would not need Pokémon for now, however: Zamazenta howled, then leaned back on its haunches.

It leaped off the roof in the direction opposite Zacian's. In both of their wakes, the trainers could already see wild Pokémon growing to terrifying sizes.

"Well! I'd say this has been a great success," Swordward remarked. "Brother?"

"Another fine win of ours. Let us savour it... elsewhere, away from these disrespected plebeians."

Gloria attempted to follow, but they locked the only door. Her Electric-Type was unconscious, and the skies were rapidly becoming too dangerous for taxis.

"Blast," Gloria muttered. "This wasn't supposed to happen." Tears appeared in her ducts, but she swallowed them.

"What do we do now?" Hop offered optimistically.

"I-I dinnae ken! I didnae plan fer this. Ugh, how dim can I be?"

Hop turned to his brother. "And you're awfully quiet."

The two waited in silence for Leon, whose eyes were obscured by his ball cap. "I did... I did not expect that. I couldn't do anything."

Gloria walked forward so that she was next to Hop. "Neither could we-"

"It's my duty as Champion to keep the region safe, by eliminating any threat to it. When that means defeating a deviant trainer, it's nothing I can't handle, but..." He stroked Charizard by the neck. "Some situations call for skills that have nothing to do with battle. Skills that I - don't have, apparently."

He sighed, voice shaking, just a tad. "I'm used to being able to save the day by just knocking out six Pokémon, or by capturing a particularly dangerous one. I... I'm not sure what to do when that doesn't solve it. We could-" His head swung around, surveying all angles. From his height, on the castle roof, he could probably see his whole region. "We could - we have to get-" Gloria bit her lip as the Champion became more desperate. "I hate this sense of hopelessness. It's so - demoralising!"

"Yeah. Welcome to the club, mate," Hop returned flatly, as if he did not care how quickly the situation was becoming sour.

Leon looked upwards toward the distance. "Galar is in a great danger right now; no more time for dawdling or bickering. My pride may be injured, but I'm still your Champion and I must not give up till everyone is safe."

He strode to the edge of the roof, measuring the distance to the ground. "No taxis, eh. If we could only fly away on a Pokémon, that would solve it all..." He shook his head. "Charizard is far too injured to try it. Especially in skies like these."

Pokémon nearby towered over buildings. Gloria could even see a couple Gigantamax Pokémon - but she could not be distracted.

So that was it. They were stuck up here, while the region was terrorised by the creatures everyone knew only as friends and heroes. Leon was scrambling for answers, and his relationship with Hop was clearly on the fritz; who could blame them, the way Hop had been acting recently. Ugh! And Hop, that boy who drove her out to the Wild Area for a week out of pity... All she wanted was for him to have a decent victory under his belt, but she ended up with - this. How Aspear-shaped this whole thing had gone.

There he was, pacing diligently across the roof, occasionally grasping at strands of purple hair. He was no longer the Hop she grew up with but a neurotic, twitching bundle of self-judgement that had been exacerbated to a toxic degree.

This isn't what I wanted.

Every time he lost, his entire team felt it, physically and emotionally. They must not be so fond of him right now, in fact, and that only worsened the odds of him ever winning again. He had always wanted to be a trainer like his brother! And now that he was, it was destroying him! No matter how many times he vowed to become better, stronger, more independent.

This isn't what I asked for.

He was mad at her, and all she wanted to know was why. Right, he wanted alone time. And here he was, not avoiding the two people that had sent his ego to pot but rather trapped on a roof with them. Why did he have to take the loss to Leon so poorly? When he lost to her in the semifinals, losing his chance to even try against his brother, his dream - he was still so proud, so supportive, so full of love for the both of them. Try as she might, Gloria could not understand why that had not hurt him more. After how terrible she felt in the Wild Area for having done it, how could that have been the right ending? Was the Wishing Star really more of a Grookey's paw?

This isn't what I wished for.

So this was what could have been: the world in which Hop beat Gloria and battled through the finals. The consequences of his opportunity to battle his brother... Now, as the panic grew and chances of escape seemed slim, Galar's most powerful League challengers and their Champion were locked away from the action. Unable to help, Hop and Leon took to bickering bitterly. Leon was being uncharacteristically serious, the same demeanour he only wore to intimidate challengers. Hop was spitting objections at all his orders, not being afraid to throw Gloria under the bus when he could. Hop might have been mad at her, but he was always such good mates with his brother, and the two of them were undoubtedly worse off than the versions that had been jointly defeated by her.

This was not Hop. This was not Gloria's best friend!

This isn't what I wished for!

Soon she was unable to even look between the two any longer. Stupid fragile egos, sibling power imbalance, inability to work together after hurting each other! How hard was it to get along with someone you have known all your life, anyhow? Rubbish!

Nerves rattled, she spun and walked purposefully toward the door, knowing it would never budge. Her foot punted something on the ground, sending it metres away.

Eternatus had left behind a shimmering stone in its wake: a Wishing Star!

Gloria skipped up to it. "Oi. You two," she called, silencing them both. "I know things have gone a bit awry tonight, but... we're still friends, right?"

Leon looked at her, then dismissed her. "Yeah, of course."

Hop narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"I just... I just want ye to know, I - love both of ye, so much, and I'm sorry that all this happened, and - I just hope... we can be friends, forever... I needed to get that off me chest."

"Glory?" Hop's face softened.

"Thank you, I just had to say that!" She grabbed the Wishing Star, which filled her hand. It burned her palm, but then, what did she expect. She lifted it into the sky, eyes clenched, head bowed, in a familiar position.

There was a bright light.

"Challenger Gloria, you're on in five!"

The girl looked up in slight surprise, face and hands burning.

"Hop's match was over quicker than expected. You're on in five."

There she was deliberating in Wyndon Stadium's locker room, her team of Pokémon itching in their balls, still pumped from their fight against Marnie. Was it relief or grief that she was feeling? No, she knew which it was.

She sniffled. She was alone, so nobody saw the damp marks appear on her uniform shorts. Nobody saw the raw, charred patches of skin on her palm. How pathetic... She gently covered her face with her hands and wept silently for a few minutes.

She knew what she had to do.

A critical hit!

Gloria's eyes were wide. Her strategy did not account for this - but then, Hop always surprised her.

Zamazenta knelt, the weight of its Dauntless Shield forcing its body to the dark green of the deep Slumbering Weald. Gloria lifted its Ultra Ball; she was defeated.

"W-What?"

Hop was smiling, but hesitantly, as if he was unsure what just happened. "That was your last... right?"

"M-hm."

"I won?"

Gloria was afraid to say anything. "Ye... got a crit, that's the only reason."

It was true. If that had not happened, Gloria had enough Max Potions to survive enough Close Combats to win, Zacian's defences dropping each turn. But it did not seem to matter to Hop.

"Wow! Does that make me the Champion now?" His jovial tone showed he was joking. He called back Zacian, thanking it for everything.

"Uhhhh, this wasn't an exhibition match."

"I know, but I still beat you. Boy, next year's tournament looks promising for me, though!" He was nearly singing. "Come on, I know that wasn't all you got! I thought I told you not to hold back."

What a familiar accusation. "Um, no. I really was trying, Hops! How dare you." She did not mean to be so harsh. "Our matches have always been close, anyway."

Hop considered this. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Blast, if I was ever going to beat you, I wish it would have happened in the semifinals, heheh. No offence."

Gloria balled a subtle fist. "None taken," she squeaked. "How... does it feel?"

"I... It doesn't quite feel real yet, to be honest."

She smiled softly. "Hey, uh, can we - take a seat?" She gestured to the edge of the monument, about a decimetre off the grass.

The two did. The Slumbering Weald was quiet, and the thick fog created by the resident Weezing obscured most of the scenery: it was just them.

"I had a... dream, recently, that I - lost to you in the semifinals. It was weird, because I was trying so, so hard to win, but I just couldn't! But I wasn't sad that I lost... just relieved that Ah didnae have to fight Lee, I guess."

Hop paid close attention. "You didn't want to?"

"Of course I wanted to! I just didnae believe I could win."

He scoffed. "You." He broke eye contact, but still appeared amused. "What happened? Did I beat him?"

Oh, she did not think this through. What would she say? "You... did great!"

"But I lost."

"...Yeh. Ah mean, dreams are weird, so I dinnae ken what it means, er if that's what would - actually - have happened..." Her voice grew extremely quiet and mumbly at the last part; she coughed. "Point is, you and him just got... really mad at each other after that. It was terrible! So I just wanted to - have ye seen Lee since the tournament?" Curiously, when she and Hop stopped Swordward and Shielbert this time around, he was nowhere to be found.

Hop chuckled. "It's impossible to get ahold of him after the finals, especially this year."

"...Oh."

"Are you kidding? You know he always makes time for his brother though!"

"Ah. And is he - how is he taking it?" Her concern was written across her face.

"Pretty well, actually, considering. He somehow got the rights to Rose Tower and turned it into this brand-spankin'-new battling facility. And he's been waiting for you to show up to challenge him!"

Gloria pumped her fists. "That Lee! Ah should have known. Well, there go me plans fer the weekend."

"Anyway, yeah, the whole region's pretty shocked about what happened. I'm sure you've noticed." Gloria nodded. "But he's not letting it get to him. He's still-" he chuckled again. "He's still having a champion time."

Gloria breathed a sigh of relief. She was expecting him to have been destroyed. "That's good. But you two have been getting along all right, yes? That's what I wanted to make sure of."

"Glory." Hop put a hand on her shoulder. "We've never been closer."

That sure put a smile on her face. Only now did she notice just how close the two were sitting. Here it was: the chance she had been pleading for. "Good, good. Um..." How could she put this? "And there was, ah... something else."

His words echoed. "Thank you for saying that, but it's not enough." She needed to know, somehow, what that meant - and if it was still true.

She nearly wished he was paying an iota less attention, but his eyes were locked on her. "I know, over the last few months, ye've been having some trouble with yourself, nae?"

He swallowed. "...W-Was it that obvious?"

She nodded sorrowfully. He looked down.

"So I wanted you to know, if there's anything you want to talk about, ye can always come to me. B-But all of us are behind you, win er lose. You know that, aye?"

A tick. "Aye."

"Ah wouldn't understand the pressure ye're under. But Lee loves you, and so do your parents, and your Pokémon, and so do I-"

The last words spilled out before Gloria realised they were there. She was stunned for a tick as her train of thought derailed and she stumbled to remember her point. "All Ah'm saying is, you should too."

Why was it so hard to say? And what must Hop be thinking after something like that?

"...Thank you..." he said slowly. He leaned so slightly closer, and accidentally brushed her leg. "I'm still working on that. But I needed to hear that, I guess you know. Thanks, Glory." Her hand appeared on top of his. "I don't deserve you."

She clicked her tongue. "You deserve it all."

They shared a look. He closed his eyes and leaned on her, and she tried to hold him in a kind of sideways hug that worked better in her mind. Thankfully, it only lasted a few seconds before they pulled away amicably.

"So. You're the Champ now, huh."

"M-hm."

"Completed the Pokédex yet?"

"...Working on it."

"If I have anything you need, I can trade it to you."

"Thanks. In advance."

They looked away.

"So Leon's running the Battle Tower, Bede and Marnie are Gym Leaders, Sonia's the new Pokémon professor, and I'm... Well, what's next fer you, Hop? Whatever it is, I want to help you get there."

"I... I don't know. It's been tough, having a goal for so long and then realising it's not for me. I don't even know yet, whether I'm giving up because I want to, or because I just couldn't do it, but - huh. It did feel good to help everyone out back there. And, I might not be the strongest trainer, but I must be something, for Zacian to have chosen me. So I think I want to use my strength to help others; I'm just not sure how."

That gave Gloria an idea. "Have you thought about joining the Ranger Union?"

He sat up straight. "B-But I'm not fit enough for that!"

Oh. "Aye. Ah forgot ye were a bloomin' nerd."

He chuckled painfully. "I am."

"So, what then?"

"Do... I have to decide right now?"

"...Ah suppose not. True. In the meantime, would ye like to, I dinnae ken... catch up sometime? It's been a tick since we were able to do things together, but the Gym challenge is over now. The year went by so quickly."

"Sonia mentioned there have been sightings of new Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area."

"Pure brilliant! It's a plan."

He raised his right hand, and they shook on it.

Then something ahead of them caught Hop's eye. "Speaking of."

Through the fog, the figure of Sonia slowly strode into view. "Sorry I'm so late!" she explained, "Piers wound up needing my help to wrangle up those two weirdos. But we've got it all under control."

She looked around. The teens were still sitting next to each other, close enough that their legs were touching. "Um... where is Zacian? Were you two able to calm it down?"

Gloria cut in before Hop could try. "Hop did! Before I even made it, actually."

"Yeah!" He stood up. "I caught it and everything! Want me to show you?"

Sonia's eyes widened. She held her hands up defensively: "Uh, I'll take your word for it, thanks." Gloria stood as well. "And, hey, I brought along a friend."

Leon stepped into view. "There you two are! I heard you had a little trouble while I was cleaning up after the chairman in Wyndon."

"Leon!"

"Hey! Yeah, it was weird, but we've got it all sorted out now. I caught a legendary," Hop explained nonchalantly.

Gloria rubbed her arm. "I did too..."

Leon threw his head back in laughter. "That's my brother and neighbour for you! My, you both have gotten so strong. It's nearly got me choked up."

Hop giggled, Gloria blushed.

"You remember what I said, Hopscotch? I've been watching all your matches in the League challenge, and I've become so impressed. I want to battle you! You know where to find me when you're ready."

Hop's eyes lit up: it looked as though there were stars in them. "Gee! I don't know what to say. I-I don't think I'd win, not against you..."

Gloria swallowed.

"Don't care," Leon responded. "You don't have to be able to beat me, or Gloria, or anyone for me to be proud of you. Whatever you end up wanting to do, you have my support - as your brother, your rival, and your friend. I want to see firsthand how far you've come."

Hop bit his cheek. "Well, shucks, I can't say no to that! I'll be sure to put together my best team. I do know all your weaknesses, after all." He lifted an eyebrow tauntingly.

"That's the spirit! As for you." Leon focused on Gloria, making her shrink a little. "How's Champion life treating you?"

"It's... uh, a lot of work."

Leon smirked. "You'll get used to it quick. I will say this whole thing was a great surprise to me, but in the end, I'm glad it was one of the trainers I endorsed that carried on my legacy. Plus, I didn't realise how freeing it was to be rid of all those paparazzi!"

Everyone chuckled. "Anyway, same goes for you. I expect you in the Battle Tower at your earliest convenience."

He struck his signature pose, and now Gloria's eyes were starry. She lived next to the coolest pair of brothers in Galar - no, the world!

Sonia coughed. "All right, that's all well and good; but all this fog is messing my lungs right up. This isn't exactly the best place for a chin-wag, after all."

Gloria looked up. Through the treetops and the dense air, it was impossible to see the sun. Even Gloria was getting a little sick of the temperature. "All right then, it's a race to get home first!" she announced.

"You're on!"

She and Leon took off. "Hey, no fair! You live closer, Glory!" Hop whined, following closely on their heels.

The images of her friends quickly fading behind the fog, Sonia shook her head. "You lot have to make a competition out of everything, don't you?" Yet, despite herself, she shifted the bag beneath her lab coat and trotted along in the direction of Postwick.