Back to the main story path!
I'm not sure if I'll do a chapter for every route, but at least every main city should probably get one.
Motostoke
"Finally made it."
Marnie nodded, "I guess we took the long route to get here." She then looked around, to see people staring at them. It then dawned on them why they were getting such looks.
"Oh, we're still wearin' our Expedition Uniforms."
They had been in such a hurry to get back that they didn't get a chance to get changed out of their winter gear.
"Ah, there's my new favorite couple!" A loud voice suddenly called out.
"Hey Sonia!" Victor waved.
"H-hello." Marnie looked off to the side, a bit red-cheeked. That only got worse when Sonia noted that they were even dressed alike.
Satisfied with her teasing, Sonia directed them to a boutique across the street, where they could get changed. And that worked for Marnie, she was looking forward to seeing what the style card they got from Klara would make available to them.
After changing, Victor and Marnie then split up, to do their own shopping. Marnie checks out some shops and gets that tent she'll need for their adventure. Since she finished her shopping first, Marnie finds Victor haggling with some different shopkeepers. The scene of him running all over the place, so excited as he's discussing food and cooking with others, has Marnie have a warm smile on her face.
Satisfied with what they've got, Victor and Marnie walk together, chatting. They then notice a hair salon nearby.
"Want a new hair style?" Marnie asked. And when Victor opened his mouth to say something, Marnie cut in, "As long as it's not the man-bun."
"You know," Victor grumbled, "If you're gonna tell me what I can do with my hair, then I should be able to tell you what you can do with yours, right?"
Marnie just gave him an emotionless look. "I don't think you get how life works."
"Yeah, I guess." Victor sighed.
"But I guess you're right." Marnie said. "So, what would you change?" She then tugged on a few strands of her hair, wondering what Victor might say.
"Well..." Victor said.
He wouldn't change anything, Marnie looked great. He mostly just said this to challenge her, Victor didn't expect her to actually want his input. But since he came this far, might as well see if she's being serious.
Reaching out, Victor put his hand under Marnie's bangs, lifting them up.
"W-what are you doing?!" Marnie exclaimed. He was way too close!
"Just looking to see what you would look like without these here-" Victor cut himself as he found himself staring into Marnie's eyes. They were so bright and emerald-green, he couldn't look away. Even though she has a stoic personality, Victor saw that her eyes were warm and kind. And despite Marnie's growing blush, Victor felt compelled to move in closer to get a better look. Now he could see his own reflection in her eyes, and maybe some other things he couldn't quite explain...
"V-Victor..." Marnie gulped. She had her hands up, although unsure whether it was to push him away, or grip him tightly so that he didn't try anything. Neither way would be done with any conscience thought, just reaction.
"Ahhhh," a very familiar voice sighed, "my precious heart..."
Turning to look, they saw Sonia standing there, hugging herself.
"You're still here?" Victor deadpanned.
"Yup!"
Does she just follow them around, waiting for moments? Either way, the 2 teens separated.
"Sorry about that," Victor laughed sheepishly, "I kinda invaded your personal space there, didn't I?"
"Well, no harm really done..." Marnie said. Now if her heart would just calm down...
"Mmmm," Sonia sighed, "You two are so sweet!" She then got meta. "I look forward to seeing how your relationship grows."
"Okay?" Victor sweatdropped.
Sonia was now leaving, reminding them to go get signed up for the Gym Challenge. …which of course meant going to check out the nearby Battle Café. Marnie could use a drink for her dry throat.
Inside Victor battles the Café Master, Dwight. And his reward for winning? A Love Sweet item. And because he is so nice, Dwight gives Marnie a Sweet Heart item, telling Victor not to let opportunities slip by him.
"Why? Just... why?" Marnie sighed, holding the heart-shaped chocolate. Victor's just confused.
But after their little visit to the Café, they then head to the lift going up to Motostoke Stadium.
*Graaawrrr!*
The cry came from the current Galar region Champion, Leon's Charizard. Leon's only able to find his way to where he needed to go because of his partner.
"So that's Leon. He's the one I'll have to beat, to achieve my goal..." Marnie thought, staring down Leon.
"Hey Victor!" Leon said, waving to him. He then also noticed Marnie. "Oh hey, aren't you-"
But she just kept staring at him. "..."
"Uh, right. Great conversation..." Leon sweatdropped.
He and Victor then catch up, Marnie staying silent the whole time. Maybe she's got a lot on her mind.
Afterwards, the two teens then head up the lift. Marnie grabs onto Victor, when the lift suddenly swung upward so fast. He thought that was cute, but didn't say anything, so as not to embarrass her. And after an encounter with a Poké Ball mascot, they see Hop standing in front of the stadium.
"Where have you two been?!" Hop exclaims. He expects his brother to be bad at directions, but these two are on a whole different level!
Motostoke Stadium
Inside, the pair could see why Hop was in such a rush. Apparently, he had been waiting for the two of them all this time, so that they could all sign up together. Being as impatient as he is, everyone should be glad that there was no apparent deadline to do so.
Waiting their turn, a boy wearing an interesting magenta and violet coat, with platinum-blond hair, is finishing up. The boy then brushes past Hop as he walked past, in a condescending way. He stops when he sees Marnie.
"What a strange get up." Both he and Marnie thought. But he wouldn't give her a second thought, leaving.
So now the trio have all been signed up. The man behind the desk is shocked to learn that Victor and Hop are endorsed by Leon himself. And Marnie?
"Oh, you're endorsed by-"
Marnie shakes her head, not wanting too much information to be revealed. Victor and Hop just shrug.
The ceremony will happen the next day, so the trio leave the stadium to go to an Inn that has been set up for all the challengers.
Budew Drop Inn
"Hello there." A certain red head smirked.
"Hi Sonia..." Victor replied, monotoned.
Hop's confused by the reactions on both sides, but he doesn't pursue it. He's more interested in the giant statue Sonia's standing in front of. He's probably imagining his face over the statue's one.
- One Lore Session Later -
The group then heads up the stairs, to get signed in to their rooms. But when they climb the stairs, Marnie sees something up ahead that makes her turn away.
"What are they doin' here?" She whispers to herself.
"Huh?" Victor asks.
"Wow," Hop exclaims, "Get a look at these guys!" Hop's referring to a group of people crowded around the front desk of the Inn, preventing any contestants from signing in and going to their rooms. Their pink and black outfits seem oddly familiar...
Marnie stays behind, hiding out of view.
The group calls themselves Team Yell. They babble on about helping one particular trainer win the Gym Challenge. So in order to make some noise for the 'mystery' trainer, 2 of their number challenge Victor to a battle. He easily wins. When Hop gets involved, a 2-on-2 battle then happens, which the 2 boys win. Finally, Marnie shows herself.
"Why do I hear boss music?" A member of Team Yell says. They then see Marnie. "Marnie?! Our queen!"
She then scolds them a bit, asking them to turn down their fanaticism a bit. Afterwards, she apologizes to Victor and Hop for their actions.
"Don't judge them too harshly, they just let things get to their heads sometimes..." Interestingly, Marnie seems a bit embarrassed, not looking Victor in the eyes. Team Yell seems to catch on.
"Who are these two?"
"Doesn't it seem like Marnie's traveling with them?"
"Did they kidnap her?!" The group asks out loud. Marnie ignores their descending nonsense.
"You have a fan club?" Victor asks.
"W-well..." Marnie stammers. She will be even more embarrassed if Victor thinks it's weird for her to have one.
"That's pretty cool!" Victor laughs. "I can see why you'd have one."
Marnie lets out a sigh of relief. But that makes her fans speculate, whispering among themselves about why Marnie cares so much about what Victor thinks.
"Room for one more?" Victor asks them.
Marnie can't help but let out a small laugh about Victor's silliness, much to everyone's surprise, while Hop asks her what she did to his friend. So she makes the Team leave, before they can recruit Hop too. And now they can finally check into their rooms and get a good night's rest ahead of their big day.
Motostoke Stadium
The next morning, meeting up in the lobby of Budew Drop Inn, Victor and Marnie see a fired-up Hop practicing his Poké Ball tossing. Everyone exchanges a few confident lines, and then they head to the stadium. When they get changed into their Gym Uniforms, and meet up in the locker room, Victor notices something about Marnie's Uniform. She catches him staring.
"Is somethin' wrong?" She asks.
"No, just that you... look nice!"
"Hmmm, you too..."
"You two ready to get going, we're getting left behind." Hop complained. He's a little too excited about the Gym Challenge.
"R-right." Victor said.
But what Victor saw was the size of Marnie's uniform. It looked like her uniform was too big for her, and its sleeves were too long as well. If he didn't know any better, Victor would have thought that her uniform looked like a hand-me-down.
Either way, one dramatic slow-mo walk into the stadium, the group gets to see the Gym Leaders that they'll be facing later. But something seems off.
"One, two... seven?" Victor only counts 7 Gym Leaders. Is one of them missing?
"..." Marnie is silent.
Victor notices that she's not looking at the Gym Leaders, but instead seems lost in thought.
"Something wrong?" Victor asks.
"Hmm? Oh, no."
Victor doesn't pursue it, maybe it's just jitters.
Afterwards, they get changed back into their normal clothes. As Victor and Hop head into the lobby, they run into Leon, and Chairman Rose.
- One plot-driving conversation about the Gym Challenge later -
The two boys are later joined by Marnie, who had been delayed by something. And as they leave the stadium to get their journey on the road, they are stopped by a staff member who seems oddly enthralled by Chairman Rose. She gives them access to the Flying Taxi service. This will allow all of them to travel to any place they've visited. Handy!
Looking at a Town map, they can see the route they need to take. So they head out to Route 3. Before they can though, they run into a couple kids and their mum. Marnie hides her feelings about the kids, waving at them when they see her. But one of them is so distraught over his missing Minccino. At Marnie's insistence, they search for and locate the small Pokémon, and are rewarded for their efforts by their mum.
Feeling a bit hungry after that great adventure, the trio head into Motostoke Station. Inside, they order some lunch from the small food area in there.
"Hmmm." Marnie said, after tasting her order.
"Is it good?" Hop asked.
"Yes, but..."
Hop laughed. "You must've had some of Victor's cooking. You know he's a good chef when we have a gathering between our families, and Victor usually does the cooking!"
Marnie has a small smile on her face, Hop is right. But looking over at Victor, he seems to be studying what he ordered.
"Huh? Oh yeah, sorry." Victor said. He hadn't been paying attention to them. He then laughed, "I like visiting different restaurants, I can get some ideas about what I'd like to make in the future."
So pure.
"Argh," Hop groaned, "It almost makes me not want to go on this adventure alone, I'm missing out on Victor's great creations!"
Interestingly enough, the idea of Hop being a third wheel is unappealing to Marnie...
But after they've eaten, the group heads across a small bridge leading out of Motostoke. There, Hop challenges Victor to one more battle.
"Hop's improved." Marnie thought, watching him lose to Victor. This helps remind Marnie that Hop is also her rival, and one to watch out for as well.
After the battle, Hop takes off. This leaves Victor and Marnie to watch him leave.
"Ready to continue?" Victor grins, looking at Marnie. She smiles back, nodding.
"Mhmm."
Today we learned that Sonia's a shipper! And a lot's going on with Marnie?
As you probably have noticed, I try to follow the game quite a bit. Just adding a few things that come to my mind to, (hopefully), make things more interesting.
But as I continue to keep making chapters, if you have an idea that would be nice, let me know. It might make it into the story!
Next time: Victor and Marnie are on the road to Turffield.
And then?
…something different...
Take care!