Chapter 11: Leon's POV

Today was a big day, one that I'd been waiting for almost as eagerly as Hop and Gloria. I'd finally be able to see my brother start his own journey, and I'd even brought the starter trio with me—Sobble, Scorbunny, and Grookey. I remembered my own first day as a Trainer, the thrill of holding my first Pokéball, the weight of the world suddenly feeling like it was within reach. Seeing Hop and Gloria on the edge of their own adventure was almost like reliving that moment, and I couldn't wait to hand them their first partners.

When I got to Wedgehurst, Hop was already there, practically vibrating with excitement. Gloria arrived soon after, just as keen as he was, though she wore it with a little more calm. I'd known these two would be fierce Trainers one day, and today, I was more than ready to make that a reality.

"All right, you two," I said, smiling at them both. "Today's the day you start your own journeys. I've got three Pokémon here: Sobble, Scorbunny, and Grookey. Choose wisely."

I held out the Pokéballs, one for each of them, and let them decide. Gloria was first to step up. Her eyes lingered on Sobble's Pokéball, and she didn't hesitate for long before grabbing it, grinning like she'd found treasure.

"Aye, I think ye and me, Sobble, we're goin' tae make a grand team!" she said, her accent making the moment even better. She was already getting into the spirit of things, and her Sobble looked up at her with a hint of shyness.

Hop was next, just as eager, his eyes darting between the remaining choices. Finally, his hand closed around Grookey's Pokéball, and he let out a cheer. "Looks like it's you and me, Grookey! Let's show everyone what we're made of!"

When his Grookey popped out, it practically danced its way onto his shoulder, tapping its little stick and ready to go. I couldn't help but laugh—it looked like it had found the perfect Trainer to keep up with.

"Well, then," I said, clapping my hands, "why don't you two have a quick battle? It'll be good practice and help you bond with your new Pokémon."

Without wasting a second, Hop was in position. "Gloria, you'd better be ready!" he called, his voice full of confidence.

Gloria wasn't one to back down. She met his gaze, standing tall. "Let's do this, Sobble! I'm not goin' easy on ye!"

The battle kicked off with Hop calling for a Scratch attack. His Grookey dashed forward, stick ready to strike. But Gloria was quick to react, calling for Sobble to dodge. Sobble moved just in time, sidestepping Grookey's attack with surprising agility.

"Nice move!" I called out to her. They were both showing real promise.

Gloria wasn't one to miss an opportunity, and she called for Sobble to use Water Gun. Her Pokémon fired a solid stream of water, catching Grookey off guard and knocking him back a little. Hop was unfazed, though; he'd always been good at keeping his cool in a match.

"Not bad at all, Gloria! But we're just getting started!" he said with a grin, calling for Grookey to Growl.

Grookey's Growl was spot-on, and Sobble hesitated, looking just a bit rattled. But Gloria knelt down, offering Sobble a reassuring look, and it seemed to work; Sobble bounced back, ready to fight again.

As the battle went on, both Trainers called out commands with increasing confidence. It was a tight match, but after a well-timed Water Gun, Sobble managed to knock Grookey back one last time, bringing the battle to an end. Gloria had come out on top, though Hop had put up a good fight.

I applauded both of them, genuinely impressed. "Well done, both of you! You're on your way to becoming great Trainers."

Then, from the corner of my eye, I noticed another kid standing off to the side, watching the whole scene with interest. He looked familiar—scruffy dark hair, a confident smile—and I quickly remembered why. Sonia had talked my ear off about her young friend from Spikemuth, Tom. She'd mentioned his dedication to Pokémon training and how his Midnight Lycanroc had already made an impression on her. But this was my first time seeing the kid in person, and I hadn't expected him to look quite so… prepared. He even had on an oversized Pokémon Ranger uniform.

He walked over to us, giving us a friendly wave and a bright grin. "Hey there! Nice battle, you two," he said. He seemed to be sizing up the new Trainers with a genuine interest, and he looked at Sobble with particular admiration. I guessed he must have started his own journey recently as well.

"Tom, is it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. Sonia had never actually told him about me, but it seemed he recognized me from the League posters.

He nodded. "That's right! I'm from Spikemuth, just started my journey too."

Hop, ever the inquisitive one, piped up. "And what about you, mate? You look like you know a thing or two about Pokémon."

Tom looked down at the Pokéball on his belt, then back at us. "Would you like to meet my partner?" he asked.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go ahead, Tom. Let's see what you've got."

He took the Pokéball from his belt, and with a flick of his wrist, released a massive Lycanroc in Midnight Form. The Pokémon's red eyes gleamed as it materialized, and it stood still, calm yet intense, looking like it was more than ready to face whatever came its way.

I wasn't the only one caught off guard. Even Charizard, who'd been standing stoically at my side the whole time, gave a slight shift, his flame tail flaring a little brighter as he eyed the Lycanroc.

"Whoa," Hop muttered, unable to hide his awe. "You've got a Lycanroc? And it's the Midnight Form too! How'd you even find one like that here in Galar?"

Tom shrugged, giving his partner an affectionate pat. "He found me, actually. We've been together for years now."

I glanced over at Charizard, who was still sizing up Lycanroc. Even he could tell this Pokémon was powerful, which meant Tom must have put in serious time and effort training it.

"Quite the Pokémon you've got there, Tom," I said, giving him a nod of approval. "Looks like you've been doing some serious work."

Lycanroc gave a confident nod, acknowledging my words, and Charizard finally relaxed, letting out a small huff as if he'd accepted the other Pokémon's strength.

Gloria looked at Tom, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Ye must be a strong Trainer if ye've got a partner like that already."

I clapped a hand on Tom's shoulder, looking between the three of them. "If you're all planning to start your journey here in Galar, you'd make a solid team traveling together. There's no better way to grow as a Trainer than to have strong rivals by your side."

They all looked at each other, exchanging excited glances, and I could already see the camaraderie forming. They were already talking about which routes they'd take, which Gyms they'd challenge, and what their first steps would be.

"Good luck, all of you," I said, smiling as I watched them start to walk off together down the path. Charizard and I watched them go, feeling a swell of pride. The journey ahead was sure to challenge them all, but somehow, I knew they'd come out stronger for it.

The road to becoming a Champion was just beginning for them, and I couldn't wait to see where it would lead.