Very loosely based on my own experience with the Wild Area.
Leon had praised Sonia's cooking, but Victor decided that Mrs. MacCallan made better curry with things that she found in the wild. Not that Sonia's was bad - it was, in fact, pretty good - but there was something about dirt curry that made it more impressive.
Of course, Victor had never had curry made from only Oran Berries before, so maybe he was just used to a mixture of flavors. Dishwasher seemed to enjoy it, as he licked the plates clean in the manner that earned him his name, before Sonia put the plates in an actual dishwasher to sanitize them. Dash and Rookidee seemed to enjoy it very much, and Victor leaned in to whisper that they should just wait until they taste dirt curry.
On their way home, Victor stopped to catch another Pokémon, this one a Chewtle. "If I'm going to be facing Leon," he told Gloria, "I'm going to need something to deal with his Charizard." He did not tell her that it was also because she already had three and he didn't want to be too far behind.
By the time the trio reached Wedgehurst the next morning, Professor Magnolia was there with their mothers, ready to send them off to the world.
"And you're sure you don't want to get involved, Gloria?" her mother asked, and Gloria confirmed it immediately.
"I'll borrow Victor's badges to catch new Pokémon," she promised. "I don't think wild ones watch television. They won't know who the badges belong to."
Her mother wasn't sure about that, but she had faith in Victor and Hop to either bail or break Gloria out of jail. She wasn't even sure if things would go that far, but it wouldn't hurt to be careful.
Victor's mother wasn't amused by the declaration, either, but seeing that her son was, she let it go. "I got you a camping set," she said instead, handing over a large bag with everything inside. "I recommend that you share with Gloria, her mum and dad..."
"I get it," Victor promised. "I'll make her buy her own once she has enough money, but I can spend a night or two having a sleepover with my best friend."
Hop snorted, not bothered at all. "I thought I was your best friend."
"I'd sell you to Giratina for one chocolate bar," Victor joked, both boys laughing at the thought.
Professor Magnolia laughed along, and handed each of the teenagers a wristband. "Your Dynamax Bands," she explained. "You'll need them for the Gym challenge, or perhaps other places. Who knows where Power Spots will emerge next, after all."
Gloria put it on as her friends did. Her mother gave her the same proud smile the other mothers gave their sons.
"Good luck, Hop," his mother said, and Hop nodded solemnly.
"Wear your glasses," Gloria's mother instructed. Gloria smiled innocently but didn't bother following the order.
"Keep that Rotom under control," Magnolia warned. "Sonia tells me that it's quite a troublemaker."
"And Victor." His mother put a hand on his shoulder, and the sun reflected off her glasses in a show of intimidation. "Be good."
The train only made it to the Wild Area. Apparently, a bunch of Wooloo had gotten onto the tracks, and the train had stopped to avoid squishing them.
"Well," Victor commented, looking over to see that, yes, there was a flock of Wooloo on the train tracks. "Our adventure's off to a good start. Absolutely brilliant. Wonderful."
"Cut the sarcasm," Hop ordered. "This isn't bad luck, it's a chance to catch the best teams!" He crossed his arms and grinned. "Especially Gloria. Without any badges, she can't catch anything too strong."
"I already said I'll steal Victor's badges," Gloria insisted. "I'll be feeding him, so he'll pay me in Pokémon."
"Her mum taught her how to make dirt curry," Victor explained, completely on board with Gloria's debatably-legal suggestions.
Hop agreed that it was a fair trade, and headed off, once again promising Victor that they would be the top 2 trainers in Galar. Victor and Gloria were right behind him.
They found Sonia waiting there. She wasn't surprised to see them.
"You kids are lucky," she said, starting the conversation she knew they didn't want. "Gran gave me an earful about how you're teenagers and know what you want with your lives, but I'm, in her words," she cleared her throat and roughed up her voice slightly, doing a poor impression of the professor's, "'doing nothing but eating my food, drinking my tea, and leaving butt grooves on my couch.' Like Granddad doesn't!" She threw her hands up for emphasis. Then she shook her head, calmed down. "But about that Pokémon you met in the forest. What did it look like?"
"Not a god," Victor said quickly.
"Bummer," said Sonia, before once more changing the subject. "If you see it again, let me know. There's loads of information about forest gods, and just strange Pokémon living in Slumbering Weald, that needs to be recorded. I'll show Gran that I can be useful."
"Good luck with that," said Victor.
Sonia appeared to miss his sarcasm. "But you have Rotom. I'm sure it'll get you in...I mean, help you see several new Pokémon you wouldn't see otherwise."
"You forced it on me."
"Still." Sonia had to smile, and started on the way to Motostoke herself. "Good luck with your badge quest, Victor. And Gloria, good luck with...whatever it is you're doing."
Gloria thought of her wallet, in a pocket in her bag, and nodded.
The two took their time heading to the city. Victor immediately went into battle with a wild Onix, while Gloria sent out all 3 of her Pokémon to go scavenging with her, knowing that people dropped things as they ran from aggressive Pokémon all the time. Ace picked up a few stray jars of honey at once, while Gloria found herself facing a familiar green shape.
"So this is where Mum goes to get her dirt curry ingredients," she said to herself, looking up into the branches. She carefully placed her hands on the trunk, knowing that it was very shakeable. Putting as much force as she could into the shakes, she was rewarded with 2 Pecha Berries and a Rawst Berry. A second shake gave her an Oran.
The third shake dropped a Skwovet onto her face.
Victor, Chewtle, and the Onix all turned to look at the sound of her scream, and she quickly sent Rogue out to deal with the problem. The Nickit scooped up the berries in her tail and dropped them in Gloria's bag before hitting the Skwovet with a Quick Attack.
Victor recovered first. With one more Water Gun, Onix fainted and Chewtle proudly trotted up to Victor.
"Doing all right?" he asked his friend, and Rogue took out the Skwovet with another Quick Attack.
"Never better," Gloria said sarcastically, before her Pokémon led her away, to more berry trees and lost, up-for-grabs items. Victor decided to follow her to save himself some time.
Two trees later, they had a quick lunch of apple curry and continued on their way, Dishwasher having licked the plates clean once again. By the time they reached Motostoke, the sun had nearly set, and they raced to the Motostoke Gym to sign Victor up for the challenge. Sonia was there to give them the tour.
"And you're sure you didn't see a forest god?" she asked, and Victor's teeth clamped together.
"For the last time, Sonia - no."
"Just asking," she said, offended, as if she'd only asked once before. "Well, you know what a Pokémon Center is. I can take you to the shops, if you want to."
"I have no money," Gloria pointed out.
"I can buy you some sweets," Sonia suggested.
Gloria smiled brightly at the thought of free sweets. "What are you offering?"
"Nothing expensive," Sonia said quickly, and Gloria shook her head.
"I'd never ask that much," she promised. "But if someone offers to buy me something cheap..." she shrugged. "Gonna take 'em up on that offer."
"I like you," Sonia said quickly, and the temporary gal pals went off to find a candy store. Victor waited only a second longer before following.
After all, he liked sweets, too.
Victor: Dash (Scorbunny) Rookidee, Chewtle
Gloria: Ace (Sobble) Dishwasher (Galarian Zigzagoon) Rogue (Nickit)