We like Bea, but Allister is just like the editor was at that age, so we're using him instead. (EDITOR'S NOTE: "I wonder if a mask would have helped me.")

The next morning, the trio met in the hotel lobby. Gloria was practically purring, and, for once, wasn't even bothered when Victor asked her where her glasses were.

"In my bag, where I left them."

"Your mum told me to make sure you had them."

"I left them at your house once. That's why."

"And at my house," Hop added. "And once in the garden, and on your front steps, and more than once in your kitchen..."

"I get it," Gloria hissed, her good mood gone. She opened her bag, where she was greeted with a plain brown glasses case decorated with stickers. Without bothering to reach for it, she closed it again. "I have Ace. He can help me navigate, I don't need them for more than reading."

Ace facepalmed.

"And fighting off headaches," Victor said with a mocking wise nod, and Gloria moved to hit him. She missed. "And judging distance, apparently."

Gloria moved to hit him again, but Hop caught her hand. "There will be time for that later," he told her. "We have to get to the opening ceremony first!"

"Will they let me in?"

"We'll smuggle you in," Victor decided. "Hop? You're the one with the plans. Come up with a way to bring her in."

"Let's try just asking first," Hop suggested.

They found a guide and asked him, and he actually gave Gloria permission to watch. "After all," he said, "you do need to cheer on your friends." So they followed him to the Gym, where they were promised a look at the Gym Leaders. Most of them, at least.

"The Gym Leader in Spikemuth doesn't like to share the spotlight," Hop explained. As someone who spoke to the Champion very often, he would likely be the best source next to the Gym Leader himself. "Or that's what Lee says, anyway. He doesn't talk to him much."

"I've never been to Spikemuth," Victor said, as if traveling to Spikemuth was something that everyone did without an endorsement.

"This is the first time I've ever been farther than Wedgehurst," Gloria added.

Hop grinned. "Then you're both in for a treat."

Gloria waited for her friends to arrive on the field, one face in a crowd of dozens. She got to sit up front, Ace in her lap - and he had dug in her bag to put her glasses on her face for her. She was sure she wouldn't leave them anywhere anymore with him reminding her.

Even more impressive, Chairman Rose was there in person, opening the ceremony with his assistant behind him.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "I am Rose, chairman of the Pokémon League. It is my pleasure to announce that the Galar region Gym Challenge is about to begin! We have several challengers with interesting stories, including two boys endorsed by the Champion himself and my own choice."

Back with the other challengers, the boy with fluffy blond hair straightened up a bit, giving a taunting smile in Victor's general direction that Victor couldn't help but mockingly return.

"Yes, one of these challengers will have the honor of facing the greatest Champion of all time. But I know what you really want to see." He gestured to the stadium door. "The eight Gym Leaders of the Major Division, the ones that earned their spot in the challenge!"

The door opened. The crowd cheered, Gloria and Ace right along with the rest of them, as Rose introduced them all.

Milo, Nessa, Kabu, Allister, Opal, Gordie, Raihan...and one of them missing. Rose did a double take at that, and double-checked his cards, but decided that it didn't matter. "There you have it! Seven of the Gym Leaders that the Galar region is proud to call our own! And here are our challengers!"

The challengers entered the stadium. When they saw their friends in their new uniforms, Hop's with the number 189 and Victor's with the oh-so-creative 123, Gloria and Ace were the loudest cheers of all.

The three left the stadium together, Hop and Victor laughing in excitement while Gloria reassured them that it was just as impressive from the stands. The laughter fell silent as Leon and Chairman Rose approached them.

"So you're the ones endorsed by the Champion himself," Rose said, studying them as if he could tell how far they'd go in the challenge by sight. "I see he knew what he was doing."

"Which one did you endorse?" Gloria asked.

"The boy with the fluffy hair. It was the least I could do for him." He didn't elaborate, instead focusing on Gloria's wrist. "And all three of you have Dynamax bands! Why aren't you taking the challenge, miss?"

"She turned down my offer," Leon explained.

"Best to just keep Victor fed," Gloria said at the same time. "I'm traveling Galar to build my character and self-esteem."

"So you want money," Rose deduced.

"I want money," Gloria confirmed.

"Understandable," Rose decided, "if not relatable. I made my fortune by following my dreams."

"And you wanted money."

"Money helped, but it was mostly the dream bit. You wouldn't believe how much my dreams motivate me to this day."

Hop finally took his turn to speak. "Are you ready for the new Champion?" he asked, and Rose laughed.

"We'll have to wait and see about a new Champion," he said, "but I'm sure that this year's challenge will be an absolute blast!"

Rose was gone just as quickly, giving Leon an excuse about a company meeting.

"That's Rose for you," said Leon, before he noticed the kids' confused faces. "He gets an idea and needs to do it now. He didn't even get to give you his gift."

Leon handed Hop and Victor passes to use the Flying Taxis. Gloria slumped a bit, but Leon laughed that off. "If you'd taken my offer of endorsement, you would have gotten one, too. But I'm sure you can use Victor's."

"I suppose."

"Now, then." Leon spun around, and headed in the correct direction to get to the door. "We're off!"

Victor: Dash (Scorbunny) Rookidee, Chewtle

Gloria: Ace (Sobble) Dishwasher (Galarian Zigzagoon) Rogue (Nickit)