Chapter 1:
A Champ's Visit
The black man wearing a grey tuxedo stood in the middle of Hammerlocke Stadium, the crowd around him cheering with excitement for the match to start. Fans were holding up banners and shouting at their hearts content.
"Yeah!" Everyone shouted in time to the background music as everyone else started chanting the name "Leon."
"Hello everyone!" the man shouted, sending out his Pokémon. This was a Cufant, a yellow Pokémon with a long trunk. "My name is Chairman Rose, the head of Macro Cosmos! Now, I know you have all waited long enough, but the Gym Challenge will be starting very soon! Make sure you get your endorsement from an official of the Galar League so you have a chance to battle the Champion! And speaking of the Champion, it is time for our exhibition match! On one side, we have Galar's very own unbeatable Champion, it's the one and only Trainer number 001, Leon Stewart!"
Out came a man wearing Gym uniform with the number 001 on it. He had a red cape that blew in the wind with multiple sponsorship stitches on it. With him was his partner, the almighty Charizard. Its tail was ablaze and its wings were spread out. Leon waved the crowd as they went on. He then clenched his left fist and brought it down to his side, whilst bringing his right arm up into the air and spreading out his fingers. All the girls started screaming at his famous "Charizard pose."
"Thank you, thank you!" Leon shouted. "I hope for this to be an amazing match!"
"And on the other side, it's Leon's main rival and the closest to beating him, it's the Hammerlocke Gym Leader, and Trainer 241, Raihan Dawson!"
The other man wearing shorts and a cool looking jacket walked on with his silver Pokémon with three legs called Duraludon. "Maybe this will be the one!" Raihan said. "Will I finally become Champion of the Galar region?"
Raihan and Leon shook hands. They had fire in their eyes. They walked to the other end of the Stadium.
"Okay!" Chairman Rose shouted. "Battle… start!"
"Charizard, Flamethrower!" Charizard shot a breath of fire at Duraludon.
"Go get em!" I shouted whilst watching the TV. Yeah… I couldn't make it to this match. Or the last one. Tickets are NOT easy to get and very expensive. And this was just an EXHBITION match.
"Duraludon, use Dragon Claw!" Duraludon's white claws started glowing, and it swiped at Charizard.
"I'm not done!" shouted Leon. The band on his wrist started glowing.
"It's Dynamax time!" I said, grabbing our very disinterested Munchlax.
Suddenly, the TV turned off. "Gloria, you're not watching that match AGAIN? It's a repeat, and the third time you've watched it to."
"But it's so exciting!" I said.
"Well, you have better things to do than watch the telly. Go outside for a walk or something."
I guess mum was right. I suppose some fresh air would be good. Plus, I had a plan...
Location: Postwick
I opened the door to our house and stepped outside to the small village we live in, Postwick. This is a farming town where people and Pokémon live together in harmony, as indicated by the Butterfree flying everywhere. I never got tired of the air in this town.
My name is Gloria, Gloria Smith. As you could tell, I am a massive fan of the Gym challenge of the Galar region. And now that I'm 13-years-old, I can take it on. To do that though, I needed to have an endorsement from a League official.
What's the Gym challenge? Well, unlike other regions of the world, Gym battles in Galar are a massive deal. Rather than being private buildings for battles to take place in, most Gym battles are in humongous stadiums that can hold thousands. This is why Galar has the most successful sports career of all regions to, though controversially Galar also considers Pokémon battling to be a sport. Other officials have said that it's just getting points to us being the best, but I believe all regions are equal at battling skills. Nevertheless, people from all around the world come to watch these matches.
So, how long do I have to get an endorsement? One week. Yeah, the chances were becoming less and less likely by the day, especially considering the fact I have no Pokémon to call my own. And when there are 256 slots to become Champion a year and about 249 have already been filled out, I might have to wait until next year. But… I had one last chance to take it on this year. It was do or die.
The biggest house in Postwick was a cottage with a small battlefield, a pond and a weathervane with a Fletchling on it. This belonged to my best friend Hop, who also just so happened to be the younger brother of the Champion Leon. Leon is cool, he's been Champion for many years and whilst people have come close, namely the Hammerlocke Gym Leader Raihan, he hasn't been beaten. This year in fact is his 20th consecutive year as Champion.
Anyway, back on topic. I knocked on the door and Hop came out. He had dark-blue hair and a blue jacket with black trousers.
"Hey G!" Hop said as we hugged. "One week to go, aye?"
"Yep!" I said. "And I'm beyond excited! Hey, I was wondering if I could as a favour. Since you're… you know… the Champion's brother… could you endorse me?"
"I can't do that," he said. "I'm not a League official. Even I haven't been endorsed."
"WHAT?!" I said. "But how? Even you have a Pokémon! Wait, where is it anyway?"
"Wooloo?" he asked. "It's right here!" Walking from behind Hop was a fluffy-white Pokémon on all fours. Hop gave me a rundown.
Wooloo (ウールー)
#034
Normal Type
Sheep Pokémon
2'00" (0.6 m)
13.2 lbs (6 kg)
Its curly fleece is such an effective cushion that this Pokémon could fall off a cliff and stand right back up at the bottom, unharmed.
"There is a chance however," Hop said. "Because Leon may or may not be visiting Postwick for a couple of days…"
"What?!" I said. I was hoping that Hop could give me an endorsement. As I now know, that's not the case. But I couldn't let this opportunity pass. It was my last chance. "When?"
"Today from Wedgehurst Station," Hop replied. "The train should be arriving… in about quarter of an hour!"
"Well let's get a move on then!" I said. "If there is any chance of getting endorsed, it's now or never!"
"Oh, okay!" Hop said as I grabbed him by the arm and ran south to Wedgehurst.
Penguinja Presents…
Pokémon The Journey: Sword and Shield
Based on the work by Game Freak.
Location: Route 1
In the distance, we saw the bustling town of Wedgehurst. Already, fans and members of the press where waiting outside the Train Station.
"Can't your brother catch a break?" I asked.
"He's the biggest celebrity in Galar," Hop said. "Of course he can't!"
We headed straight down the path. The long way, which had lots of tall grass, was blocked by multiple Wooloo. Good thing to because I had no Pokémon on me. We ran down the path past the mossy-rock walls. The beautiful hills and fields of Galar were always amazing to see.
Location: Wedgehurst
Wedgehurst was almost like a buffed up Postwick. It was just as quiet (well, it would be quiet on a day there wasn't a Leon obsessed crowd) but had many shops and even a Pokémon Center. Just down Route 2, which jutted out to the east, was the Research Lab run by Professor Harriet Magnolia who studies… well we'll get to that eventually because almost as soon as we arrived, so did Leon and his Charizard.
"Hello everyone!" he said, as he did his famous pose again.
"AHHHHH!" some of the girls and boys shouted. "LEON WE LOVE YOU! BE MY BOYFRIEND PLEASE!"
"I'm a bit busy for that," he said.
"Leon, Gabby from Hoenn news here! To everyone watching from that region, how is Kabu doing? And Ty you BETTER be rolling this!"
"He's doing great!" Leon said, before noticing me and Hop. "Okay people, please make some room." The crowd split just enough for Leon and Charizard to walk down to us.
"Hey Lee!" Hop said.
"Heya Hop!" Leon replied as Hop and Leon fist bumped. "Came to support me did you?"
"Well…" I said. I was shaking quite a bit. What if he said no? There were two ways I could see it going.
Fantasy #1: "NO GLORIA! YOU ARE A WEAKLING AND YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO TAKE OF THE GYM CHALLENGE! PATHETIC!"
Fantasy #2: "GLORIA YOU ARE SUCH A GREAT PERSON! HERE, HAVE AN ENDORESEMENT AND I'LL THROW IN A FREE ENTEI FOR YOU TO USE AS WELL BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE DESTINED TO BECOME CHAMPION! IN FACT, I'LL MAKE YOU CHAMPION RIGHT HERE AND-"
Okay I went a bit of the rails with that second fantasy, but the thought of being rejected scared me.
"Well… I was wondering if… you could give…"
"An Endorsement?" Leon asked.
"Yes!" I said. Already I could see it; travelling across the land searching far and wide and becoming the greatest Champion that Galar, no the world, had ever seen!
"Now hold on," Leon said. "I do not just give out Endorsements willy nilly. But… that is the reason I came. We want to see if Hop is up to snuff, and there is still room after all so… you have some time. Now, do you have any Pokémon?"
"Ah," I said. "So, I may or may not have overlooked that tiny detail…"
At that point, everyone laughed at me.
"The plonker wants an Endorsement but doesn't even have a Pokémon to call her own?"
"She's lost the plot she 'as!"
"Now hold on!" Hop shouted. "I know why Leon is coming. He's come with three Pokémon, haven't you?"
"Why yes!" he said. "And you know what, since I can see the ambition in your eyes Gloria, I will allow you to have one to!"
"Really?!" I said. "Leon, I'm so chuffed."
"Well let's get a move on!" Leon said. "Back to Postwick!"
Location: Postwick
The three of us got back to Hop's house. The fact that the most famous man in the region was just down the road from my house was… mind blowing. Whilst Hop is my best mate, I had never met Leon in person.
"So," I asked. "What do I get? Is it something cool?"
"You bet!" Leon said.
"Excuse me," Hop asked. "Can Gloria choose first? I know she's been waiting for this day for a long time, and after all, ladies first."
"Aw, thanks," I said. See, THAT is one of the reasons why Hop is my bestie.
"That is a great idea," Leon said. "Let me show you your Pokémon!" Leon threw three Pokéballs and each time, a Pokémon popped. First was a green Pokémon with a brown mouth. It had a small stick in its head that it took out and banged a rock like a drum. Leon gave a rundown.
Grookey (サルノリ)
#001
Grass Type
Chimp Pokémon
1'00" (0.3 m)
11 lbs (5 kg)
It attacks with rapid beats of its stick. As it strikes with amazing speed, it gets more and more pumped.
The next Pokémon was white with orange feet and ears, which were long. It had a cute-white tail and a yellow bandage-like nose.
Scorbunny (ヒバニー)
#004
Fire Type
Rabbit Pokémon
1'00" (0.3 m)
9.9 lbs (4.5 kg)
It has special pads on the back of its feet, and one of its nose. Once it's raring to fight, these pads radiate tremendous heat.
Finally, was a blue Pokémon with a curly tail. It was in the water and had a yellow frill on its head.
Sobble (メッソン)
#007
Water Type
Water Lizard Pokémon
1'00" (0.3 m)
8.8 lbs (4 kg)
When scared, this Pokémon cries. Its tears pack the chemical punch of 100 onions, and attackers won't be able to resist weeping.
After a bit of playing, each of the Pokémon lined up.
"Well, they're not Legendary, but they're all so cute!" I said.
"And you get to choose just one!" Leon said. "So pick wisely."
I looked at each. They all had their benefits. Grookey looked brawny and Sobble could do well in water environments. But Scorbunny? That thing looked raring to go at all times!
"My starter… will be Scorbunny!" I said.
Happily, Scorbunny came up and fist bumped me.
"It suits you!" Hop said. "Both of you have that fiery energy!"
"Well, I'm guessing your picking Sobble?" Leon asked. "You'll have the advantage!"
"Nope!" Hop said. "I'm going Grookey!"
Grookey immediately ran onto Hop's shoulder. "Interesting," Leon said.
At that point, Sobble started tearing up. "Uh oh," I said. Sobble started wailing which in turn caused us to start having a meltdown.
"Sorry Sobble!" Hop said.
"Calm down!" Leon said. "I'll take you in!"
That caused Sobble to stop crying, then make its way to Leon. "You'll raise it?" I asked.
"Yep!" he said. "Can't have a Pokémon just waiting around can we!"
"And I can't wait around!" Hop said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"We're Trainers now! So… let's have a battle!"
"Sounds good!" I said. "Then maybe Leon will endorse us!"
"Calm down," Leon said. "It will take more than a battle to show if you're worthy!"
"Well?" I said. "Let's do this!"
Gloria Vs. Hop
"Okay Wooloo, get 'em!" shouted Hop as Wooloo rolled onto the battlefield.
"And I'm using Scorbunny!" I replied, sending out my first Pokémon. "Now… what can you use?"
"Try Tackle!" Leon replied.
"Okay," I said. "Use Tackle!" Scorbuny rammed into Wooloo.
"Use Tackle back!" Wooloo rammed its body into Scorbunny as well.
"Another Tackle!" Scorbunny used it again, almost knocking out Wooloo.
"Use Growl!" Wooloo growled at Scorbunny, lowering its Attack.
"Try another Tackle!" Scorbunny rammed its body into Wooloo again. This was a Critical Hit! Wooloo was down!
"Wooloo! Okay, let's give my new Grookey a shot!" Out came the Grass Type.
Scorbunny looked at me, nodded, then created a flame which it kicked at Grookey. It was Super Effective. "That was Ember!" I shouted. "A new move, alright!"
"Use Scratch Grookey!" Grookey scratched at Scorbunny.
"One more Ember!" Scorbunny shot one more flame at Grookey, winning the match.
"Hey, not bad for our first match!"
"That was great!" I said. "So, can we get an Endorsement now?"
Leon laughed. "You need to do more than that to get an Endorsement. We give 256 Trainers from Galar an Endorsement if they can prove themselves."
Hop looked at his feet. "So… that battle meant nothing?"
"Not at all!" Leon said. "It really elevated your chances! You have a week before the opening ceremony at Motostoke, you just have to prove yourself by then!"
"Thanks," I said.
"Hey!" Hop and Leon's mum came out. "Who wants a BBQ?"
"Sounds great!" I said. "Let me just head home and tell Mum!"
"I'll come to!" Hop said.
We walked down the path to my house and passed the gate to Slumbering Weald. That's a forest where no one is allowed to go. We saw a Wooloo trying to ram itself into it.
"No no no," Hop said. "You can't go in there Wooloo. It's forbidden." He turned the Wooloo around and pushed it so that it kept walking.
"What's in there anyway?" I asked.
"Sometimes it's best not to question things," Hop said as Mum opened the door.
"Gloria, it came!" She was holding up a parcel.
"Really?" I asked. I unwrapped it to reveal… my Rotom Phone. "It's been repaired!" I said.
"Oh, was this from that time where you were helping me out and you slipped in mud and cracked the screen?" Hop asked.
"Yep!" she said.
Rotom Phone floated upwards. "Hello Gloria," it said. "All your functions are still in place, and a new feature has been added." It showed off a new icon; a Pokédex icon.
"Wow!" she said. "Now I can look up Pokémon when I see them!"
"So you can!" said Mum. "Hey, is that a new Pokémon?"
"Yeah!" I said. "Now we just need to prove our worth to Leon to get an endorsement so we can take on the Galar Gym Challenge!"
"Oh," Mum said. "That means… you might be going away for a bit. In which case, I wish you both luck! But don't get in trouble!"
"We won't!" the two of us said.