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rougepancake · 2 days ago

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The Summoning (ch. nine)

FT. Leon x Gym Leader!F!Reader

series m.list

WARNINGS/NOTES: Had to go and watch YouTube videos to make sure I got this chapter accurate. Sorry, I like making the characters suffer. They’ll get together at some point for sure.

Hammerlocke Stadium was one of the biggest energy plants in the region. Beneath the castle, the actual plant rested. Vast rooms dedicated to collecting the generated energy from the dynamaxing of Pok��mon. It was a big deal when Ross made the choice to add the underground plant. Raihan argued with him about the altering of such a historical building, to no avail.

The dragon type gym leader sighed as he roamed the halls of the grandiose building. He passed by several fans that were exploring the beauty of the castle. Rarely did Raihan open up the doors to the gym for free roam. Trainers battled each other on the field, providing him with a nice ambience. He rounded a corner, surprised to see who met him there.

“Well hello, Chairman,” he smiled, keeping up his aloof act. Truth was, he didn’t want Rose anywhere near this building. He couldn’t trust him as far as he could throw him. “Shouldn’t you be in Wyndon?”

Rose chuckled, brushing off Raihan’s question with a fake smile. He was up to something. “Of course! I was just checking out the state of the energy plant,” he checked his watch, “everything is in order, no need to worry.” He stood upright, straightening his tie. “I trust I’ll see you at Wyndon Stadium tonight?” They locked eyes. Something wasn’t right.

“Oh yeah, totally,” he hummed, walking alongside Rose. He led him out of the building and towards the nearest flying taxi. “Can’t miss my buddy’s big day, right?” He placed a firm hand on the Chairman’s shoulder, ushering him forward and away from the castle. Raihan wasn’t having any of it today.

Rose entered the flying taxi, flying off to Wyndon. Raihan watched his departure, brows furrowed. He wasn’t an idiot. He knew something was wrong. He pulled out his phone, dialing Leon’s number, only to be interrupted by the sound of screams. He turned quickly, eyes wide as he looked back out onto the field. The ground shook violently beneath him. The power flickered, before going dark entirely. Children sobbed, frantic screams echoing out into the air.

“Damn it!” He grumbled, stuffing his phone in his pocket. He looked over at the gym staff, shouting for them to evacuate the building. Scratch that, evacuate the city. Did this have something to do with the power plant? Had Rose been messing with something he shouldn’t have..? He frowned, shaking his head as he helped people escape the new trap that had become Hammerlocke Stadium.

It took less than an hour to get people out of the city. He sent several people to Stow-on-Side and Ballonlea. Spikemuth would’ve been an option if it weren’t so small. He stood outside of the gym, staring at it. The sky above the castle was dark, ominous. Thunder rolled in the distance, shaking everything in its wake. It was hardly safe for him to stay here, but a real captain goes down with his ship. A groan escaped him. He needed to call someone.

He pulled out his phone, checking the time. It was too late to call Leon, but he did anyways. He left him a voicemail before calling the next best thing. You.

You were his only choice. He needed someone strong. Someone he could trust. The phone rang, and he prayed that you weren’t at Wyndon Stadium. It clicked. Voicemail.

“Gah!” He shouted, clutching his phone as he threw his hands in the air. Naturally, the one time he needed you, you didn’t respond. He panicked, opening up the group chat for the gym leaders. He called it, having some pick up. He spoke as calm as he could, doing his best to not reveal the panic that had begun to settle within him.

“Evacuate your gyms. Something’s wrong with the power sources Rose installed a few years back,” he hummed, staring at the city of Hammerlocke. It was weird to see the entire thing so… dark. “Hammerlocke has gone dark.”

“Motostoke has too,” Kabu replied gruffly.

“Same for Hulbury. I’ve sent out word for people to keep inside.” Nessa.

“Circhester’s power went out about twenty minutes ago. I tried checking the generators and whatnot, but they wouldn’t work. I was starting to panic,” Melony sighed with relief. “We’ve pushed people into Wyndon. The city is barren.”

Raihan frowned, “same. I tried calling Leon, but it didn’t give. Same for y/n. They’re probably both at Wyndon Stadium,” he sighed, running a hand over his face. “I’ll try it again. Just stay clear of your gyms.” The others responded with a chorus of yesses before all leaving. Silence filled the air surrounding him. He was at a loss.

He dialed Leon’s number once again, holding the phone to his ear as he prayed to Arceus that he would pick up.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

Leon walked out onto the field with a smiling face, waving at the large crowd that had come in support of him and Gloria. They roared, the sound damn near deafening. He met Gloria in the middle of the field, offering his hand for her to shake. The moment felt surreal. He’d watched her grow up alongside Hop. To think that she was challenging him for his title as Champion was insane.

He stared at her, noticing her hearing aid. He gestured to it. Hop had told him about how she was saving up for a new one. He was happy to see that she was finally able to afford one. “Lookin’ good, kiddo,” he chuckled, shaking her hand firmly. “Let’s have a champion time, shall we?” He hummed, taking a step back from her. He did his signature pose, hand in the air. The crowd roared once more.

Right as he lowered his hand, the power for the stadium cut out. He gasped, looking up at the sky. Dark. Damn near black. He took a deep breath, clenching his fist. He turned on his heels and ran out of the stadium as fast as possible. Once he was outside, he checked his phone. Raihan had called him. He opened the voicemail as he brought out his Charizard, crawling onto its back and having it take off. Originally, he was going to head for Ballonlea, but the trouble started in Hammerlocke.

He looked down at the city of Wyndon as he flew. Not a single light could be seen. The entire city had gone dark. He knew what this meant. He clenched his teeth, arriving at Hammerlocke in record time.

“Leon just what in the hell is going on here?!” Raihan asked, clearly stressed. He followed after his friend, demanding for an answer.

“I can’t tell you,” Leon frowned. He looked over his shoulder, locking eyes with him. “But I can tell you that in about five minutes Hop and Gloria will be here, begging to help. Don’t let them.” He stopped, turning to face him fully. “Have you called y/n? I can’t do this without her.”

“Yeah, I called her. She never picked up. Was she not at the stadium?” Raihan searched Leon’s eyes. It was clear that this was matter was far above him. He’d ask questions later. But something told him he wouldn’t have to.

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard from her all day,” he bit the inside of his cheek. “Stay outside, Raihan. Please.” He then turned, heading straight for the elevator that led down to the entrance to the power plant. He knew what to do. He had been told a million times that when it finally happened, he would be the one to defeat Eternatus. That was his duty as champion. And he was to fulfill it.

The doors to the elevator opened, revealing the bright room that was the source of energy for Hammerlocke. It was brighter than it should have been, the lights pulsating with each roll of thunder. A giant, broken orb sat in the distance. It looked like something had broken out of it. Like it had hatched. In the center of it all stood Chairman Rose, his hands folded neatly behind his back.

“Chairman!” Leon called out, standing his ground. He was ready to fight him. “What have you done?” He grabbed a Pokéball, prepared to battle Rose right then and there.

The Chairman lifted a hand, stopping him. He turned to look at Leon. He was smiling. The sight upset Leon. What an asshole. “Isn’t it glorious?” He hummed, opening his arms and gesturing to the absolute mess around him. He stopped. “You must deal with Eternatus, dear Champion. Head to the top.”

Leon clenched his teeth. He wasted no time rushing to the lift to the top of Hammerlocke Castle. Thunder rolled in the distance, the earth shaking around him. His Boyd trembled as he stepped out of the lift and onto the roof of the castle. He looked down at his hands. He was scared.

A loud, piercing cry rang out, causing him to jump. He turned to face it, his eyes landing on the figure of an outwardly horrifying figure. His breath quickened. Eternatus. He froze. He needed to get it together.

Fight the beast and catch it. That was his duty.

Slowly, he composed himself, bringing Aegislash to the field. He would win this battle. And then everything would be okay.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

You sat upright, a gasp escaping you as you looked at your clock. You hadn’t been asleep. You looked down at yourself, as if to double check that things were real. You had some sort of vision. Almost a premonition. The voice of Eternatus had spoken to you. It was awake.

You moved as fast as you could, sliding on your shoes and bolting out of the hotel. You ran to the nearest flying taxi, begging for a flight to Ballonlea. As you were speaking, you checked your phone and saw that Raihan had called you. You sighed, asking the man to change the course to Hammerlocke. He agreed and you hopped in the cab.

Right as he took off, you noticed that things were strange. The sky was unnervingly dark, the clouds swirling violently overhead. You stared out the window. You needed to battle it. You needed to take it down and put an end to this madness. And then… then you were going to beat the absolute piss out of the Chairman.

Then, in the blink of an eye, Wyndon went dark. Any light that had been on vanished. The entire city suddenly lost power. You watched it fade away, thinking of Leon. His battle would have just begun. What would he do? You turned in your seat, facing forward. You should’ve used Runerigus’ teleport. That would’ve been far more efficient than the cab. Especially since the cab had no sense of urgency.

You reached for your bag and pulled out Runerigus’ Pokéball. Yeah. This was definitely the better option. You brought out the Pokémon, staring at it. Just then, something rushed past the cab, causing it to shake with the force. You pushed Runerigus out of the way, leaning out the window to catch a glimpse of what passed by. Charizard. Leon. He was heading to Hammerlocke.

“Shit,” you mumbled. You needed to get there fast. You grabbed Runerigus and teleported, ending up just outside of the stadium. Raihan was standing there, his arms crossed. He looked distraught. His eyes landed on you, his expression lighting up.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” he started, sounding like he was out of breath, “But I do know that Leon needs you. And he needs your help,” he placed a hand on your shoulder, squeezing it gently. You tensed up. Without a word, you recalled Runerigus, turning your head to look inside the stadium.

“Where did he go?” Your eyes met with Raihan’s.

“The power plant underneath the stadium.” You nodded, turning to leave, only to be stopped by him. “Be safe,” he mumbled, his concern on his face. You offered him a gentle smile before rushing to the elevator to the power plant.

You reached the bottom floor, the doors opening to reveal a bright room. The light hurt your eyes, making you recoil at the sight. The place was a mess. Naturally, Rose stood in the center of it. Of course. Of course he was here. The sound of the doors opening caused him to turn, his eyes widening at the sight of you. You marched towards him, your fist clenched. Rose backed up, raising his hands as a way to keep the distance between the two of you. But that didn’t stop you.

“What the fuck have you done?!” You shouted, leaning closer as to intimidate him. “Have you lost your mind?!?” You raised your hand, briefly considering slapping him. A frustrated groan escaped you. Now was not the time. “Where is he.”

“Oh, my dear, you don’t need to worry about—“

“Where. The fuck. Is Leon.” Your arm shot out and you grabbed the collar of his shirt. The fabric crumpled underneath your grasp, ruining his pristine look. Rose let out a whimper, his eyes wide as he stared at you. You were ready to beat his ass black and blue and he knew it.

“Up— up on the roof,” he stammered. His body was shaking. You released him, staring at him as if he was nothing. With a scoff, you headed for the lift to the roof.

Once you set foot inside, you felt the atmosphere change. The intensity of the situation washed over you, fear striking your heart like a dagger. You swallowed thickly as the doors opened. The sight before you a terrifying one.

Leon was fighting against Eternatus. Alone. He was down to his final few Pokémon. The battle was taking a toll on him, you could see it in the way he carried himself. You called out to him, running over to his side without hesitation. The battle was far from over. Eternatus didn’t even look tired. If anything, it looked stronger.

The wind whipped violently, thunder ringing out. Eternatus was feeding off of the energy of Leon’s Pokémon. You huffed, bringing your own Pokémon to the fight. Gengar took its place next to Leon’s Haxorus, ready to fight. As it should be. You looked at Leon, who was staring at you in awe. He nodded at you, and the two of you began your battle together.

Unfortunately, you didn’t stand a chance. Leon’s team was wiped. The both of you were left with your aces. With a sigh, you brought forward Chandelure, staring at it as you assessed your situation. Charizard stood tall next to it. Your expression hardened at the thought. Were you really going to win this battle?

“Leon!”

The world suddenly began to move in slow motion. You turned to look at Hop with wide eyes, shouting for he and Gloria to keep back. As you spoke, Leon pushed you behind him, shielding you with his body. Charizard stood before the children, its wings spread to keep them at bay. You commanded Chandelure to make the finishing move, watching in terrified silence as Eternatus fell. Leon moved swiftly. A Pokéball left his hand, capturing Eternatus within it. Your eyes widened.

Leon backed up, sticking his arm out and backing you up with him. He was tense. The ball shook once. Twice. Almost three—

The ball broke in half, releasing the beast. The force of its being sent you and Leon flying backwards. Your back hit the stone walls. Hard. You struggled to keep your eyes open, watching in terror as Eternatus dynamaxed itself. Its form changed drastically. It grew in size, creating a swirling storm around it. Chandelure was forced back into its Pokéball, as was Charizard. You screamed, watching as Hop and Gloria took their positions. They were going to battle the damned beast!

“Leon!” You looked over, shaking him. He had been rendered unconscious from the impact. Your heart sank. “Damn it…” you groaned, pain shooting through your body as you forced yourself to your feet. Adrenaline surged through you, your mind focused on one thing. Defeating Eternatus.

“Ah! You’re okay!” Hop turned to look at you, his expression lighting up. You stared at him. Both he and Gloria were holding odd relics. One a sword and the other a shield. Your eyes widened. Chandelure left its ball in its own, appearing by your side.

“How did you find those,” you breathed out.

“The Slumbering Weald,” Hop grinned, lifting the shield to the sky. It shook in his hands. Gloria’s sword did the same. A howl echoed into the air. One that had only been described in the fables of Galar. One that Opal used to tell you about. Zacian and Zamazenta. The sword and the shield Pokémon. You thought they were myths.

The Pokémon descended from the sky, landing beside the children and aiding them in their battle. They became one with the relics and their appearance changed. They looked like they did in the storybooks. Your eyes couldn’t believe it. You stumbled back at the sight of them. They were real. Your gaze shifted to the raging Eternatus before you. Something about it beckoned you forward. It was as if it was speaking to you, yet no voice could be heard.

You took a singular step forward, walking between the legendary Pokémon. Hop turned to look at you, his eyes wide. Everything seemed slow. The world fading around you the closer you got to Eternatus. Chandelure was next to you, following you closely. The howling of Zacian and Zamazenta led to you snapping out of your trance, followed by Hop’s desperate shouting. Your body ached, yet you stood tall, keeping yourself in the middle of the children and the beast.

The legendary duo stepped forward, standing on either side of you. They were ready to fight. You sent forward Chandelure, shouting for it to attack. It moved, followed by Zacian and Zamazenta. Hop and Gloria panicked, sending out their own Pokémon shortly after you attacked. Eternatus roared in anger, it’s cry shaking the very ground you stood on. You huffed, struggling to keep upright. The force of the wind was moving you back slowly, despite your feet being planted on the ground.

“Chandelure, use Inferno!” You shouted, hardly able to hear your own voice over the sound of the wind whipping. It was violent, and honestly intimidating. The beast attacked, using a move you’d never seen before. You frowned, now standing next to Hop and Gloria. The champion’s brother looked at you, his eyes filled with concern.

Zacian landed a pretty critical attack, which resulted in Eternatus screaming out. Again, the ground shook. You could hear Gloria gasp. She lost her footing. Hop wasted no time rushing over to her, helping her rise to her feet. The act distracted you momentarily. The sound of the battle fading into the distance as you watched them. You looked over your shoulder, eyes landing on Leon’s limp body. Your brows furrowed, expression hardening as you turned your attention back to the battle.

As quickly as you turned around, you were sent flying back once more. Your body hit the ground harshly, the sound echoing into the air. Hop shouted, reaching out for you. Gloria grabbed his hand. Her eyes met his. They were going to finish the battle themselves.

You panicked, trying your hardest to push yourself up from the ground, only to fall down again. A pained groan left you, and you looked over at Leon. His eyes had fluttered open, and he was half consciously watching his brother take on Eternatus. You opened your mouth to call out to anyone that could hear you, but no sound left. You moaned in pain and rolled onto your side.

Everything suddenly went dark.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

Gloria dealt the finishing hit, watching as Eternatus crumpled to the ground.

“Quick, catch it!” Hop shouted. She nodded, grabbing a Pokéball of her own and throwing it towards the beast. Her body ached, her heart racing with fear.

The Pokéball stood idle. Shaking once. Then twice. Lastly, three times.

She let out a sigh of relief, laughing in disbelief. Hop ran over to her, his arms open as he leapt towards her. He nearly tackled her, his arms wrapping around her tightly. She hugged him back, the adrenaline slowly wearing off.

“I so thought we were dead!” Hop pulled back. A laugh escaped him. “I can’t believe we just did that—“

He was interrupted by the howling of Zacian and Zamazenta. The two turned to face the Pokémon. They looked regal, their heads held high. They bowed their heads to the two, a sign of respect. Gloria gasped in awe. They then turned and flew off into the sky, returning to the Slumbering Weald. What magnificent beings.

Hop opened his mouth to speak, only to freeze in place. His eyes widened and he turned to look behind him. There you lay, about five feet from Leon. “Ah!” He ran over to Leon, shaking him awake. Poor kid had Leon by his shoulders, shaking him so hard he probably doubled the damage of his concussion.

“Hop! Gloria!” Raihan’s voice rang out. He ran over to the children, freezing at the aftermath of the battle. “Authorities have taken Chairman Rose in for questioning,” he placed a hand on Hop’s shoulder, slowly looking down at Leon. His eyes shifted to your body. You were out, a thin trail of blood streaming down your face. Both you and Leon were covered in bruises and dust. He wondered just what it was that you two had gotten yourselves into.

Gloria stepped forward. “How are we going to get them out of here..?” At her words, Leon stirred, a groan leaving him as he sat up. Hop exclaimed in joy, holding his brother to his chest.

“If Leon’s stable enough to walk, then we’ll lead him down to the first floor and to a flying taxi. I’ll carry y/n and the three of us will ride together,” he looked at them, trying to remain calm in front of the kids. “You two do whatever you need to, alright?” As he spoke, the power suddenly came back on. “Perfect timing.”

Raihan gently moved Hop away from Leon, leaning down to inspect his friend’s injuries. Arceus. He had been beat to shit. He extended his hand and helped Leon to his feet. To see the champion like this was something he never thought he'd see. Honestly, he didn't know that Leon was even capable of losing anymore. He wondered what Hop thought. That kid idolized the shit out of him. Seeing him so hurt and so unlike himself must have changed something for Hop.

Leon groaned as he leaned against his friend. Pain shot through his body with every move he made. He looked over at you, his eyes widening. He opened his mouth, a concerned noise falling off of his tongue. Yet he could not speak. He looked back at Raihan

"Look, Leon, I'll come back for her-" Raihan explained as he and Leon walked. Leon pushed himself away from him, giving him a glare. He groaned once more, holding his head as he fought to stay upright. "Come on, you're not even fit to stand-!"

"We're not leaving her behind!" Leon argued, stumbling over to your limp body. He bent down, hoisting you into his arms with a strained breath. Raihan watched in shock, his eye twitching. As much as he wanted to help you, he knew that in the eyes of Galar, Leon's health was first and foremost. Raihan could feel his heart ache as he stared on, watching his friend struggle to carry you to the elevator. He had every intention of coming back for you.

He stood there, surrounded by the aftermath of the battle. Gloria came up next to him, holding a Pokéball. She seemed conflicted. She held it tightly in her hand, looking up at Raihan with a look in her eyes that he could only describe as understanding. In this moment, the young trainer seemed wise beyond her years.

"This doesn't belong to me," she spoke, her voice calm. "It needs to be taken back to Ballonlea."

"Ballonlea?" Raihan took the ball, inspecting it. So this was your problem. Fair. He wouldn't pry. You were always doing weird things anyhow. He sighed, sliding the ball into his pocket. He had so many questions he needed answered, but he had to force himself to be patient. It was killing him. All of this. Leon had nearly died, same for you, and he didn't help. He couldn't have. He wished he didn't listen to Leon when he said to stay back. His Pokémon would have proven to be useful in a battle as grandiose as this.

He sighed. Gloria and Hop walked together, entering the lift and returning to the first floor. They looked so young and full of life. He remembers being similar to them, bright and cheery. How old was he back then? If his memory served him right, he'd have to say no older than ten. Of course, since then the league has changed the age requirements for the gym challenge. No doubt they had to after Leon became champion. The memory hurt him. So young. They were so young.

#x reader #pokemon swsh #champion leon #Leon pokemon x reader #pokemon x reader #leon pokemon #pokemon swsh x reader #leon x reader

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rougepancake · 2 days ago

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The Summoning (ch. eight)

FT.Leon x Gym Leader!F!Reader

series m.list | series playlist

WARNINGS/NOTES: Hi hi! I’m so excited to put this chapter out! Don’t forget that I have a playlist for the series, check it out! I spent time arranging it to fit the storyline the best I could so your reading experience could be elevated!

Gloria lay in her hotel bed, her arms folded as she stared at the ceiling. Advancing to the next part of the challenge was something she hadn’t been able to see herself doing beforehand. She thought she’d make it decently far, but her main goal was to make a pretty penny. She didn’t ever think that she’d have to fight Hop for the last time. Honestly, when she beat Marnie, she felt bad. Marnie had goals for herself. She wanted to become the Champion. If not that, then she was going to become the next gym leader for Spikemuth. Hop? Hop wanted nothing more for himself to become Champion and beat his brother. She knew that. Everyone knew that.

So for her to beat Hop after one of the most intense battles of their journey, she felt strange. Naturally, she was happy to be able to go farther, but it felt wrong. It should be Hop. Not her. He couldn’t even look at her after her victory. And that one hurt. Her closest friend, rendered unable to move all because of her. It made her feel guilty. Like she shouldn’t have taken his place. For a moment, she wondered if there was a way to surrender her position up to Hop, but she stopped.

She still needed to follow through with this. She had made it a mission for herself and she was going to follow through. No matter what it took.

With a sigh, she rolled over onto her side, staring at the clock. She was going to have to go back to the stadium in a few hours. Today was the day she was set to fight the gym leaders. They weren’t going to back down today, and she knew that. She was just hoping that she would get the better few of the bunch. Like Gordie. Or Milo. Someone she wouldn’t have to totally stress over.

But she knew she would never get that lucky. Not with you or Raihan in the running. Hell, even Piers was enough to make her want to quit.

She looked over at the Pokéballs sitting on the dresser next to the TV. Today was another day that she and her Pokémon would be pushed to their limits. Another day if she’d wonder ‘is this all worth it?’

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

The day had come. The day that you were partly dreading. You couldn’t stand to win against Gloria, should you go against her, and you couldn’t stand to lose either. You were torn, but decided that whatever happened, happened. Allister would be observing today’s matches, and you wanted to make him proud. So, you weren’t going to back down. This was your time to remind the people of Galar that you were third in the lineup for a reason.

You walked into the stadium, waving politely at fans that cheered at you. Many stopped you, asking for your rare trainer card so that they could complete their collections. You obliged, handing out cards when asked. Reporters stopped you as well, asking for your input, begging you to let some gym leader insight slide to the press. But you stood your ground, walking through the crowd and down the hall to the weight room. Raihan’s face met you on the other side of the door, a cheeky grin on his lips. Great. He’s already up to some bullshit.

“Wow, I forgot how popular you are,” he hums, pulling out his phone and scrolling as you walk past him. “Not as popular as me though.”

“Right…” you roll your eyes, setting your things down on one of the benches and sighing. The bracket had been posted on the wall. You were to fight Bea first, and if you advanced, you’d be against Piers. Then, it’d be you against Gloria, if she won. And that was where things mattered to you. Gloria was facing Nessa first, then Gordie. If she won against both of them, it’d be game on. No holds barred.

“Staring at that thing awfully hard, hm?” Gordie walks up to you, observing the brackets. “Haven’t been this anxious about a fight in a good long while,” he chuckled, running a hand over his hair. You smiled, shoving him with your shoulder.

“Getting cold feet, old man?” You tease, walking over to your bag and pulling out your Pokéballs. You begin to attach all six of them to your belt. That’s right. All six. During the semifinals the gym leaders get to give it their all. That’s part of what makes it so special. It’s a new side to the tame gym leaders that everyone is used to.

“Oh shut it,” he huffs, watching you as you get ready. He grabs one of his own Pokéballs and stares at it. “This year just feels… different. I dunno how to describe it.” He sighs, putting it away and stretching his arms over his head. He’s not as competitive as you are. His battle style is much more lax, despite being intense in his own way. You on the other hand? The other gym leaders FEAR going against you. You’re intense, and incredibly strong. But most of all, you’re quiet. You call out moves. That’s it. It’s intimidating. They hate to see you coming.

“No I get it,” you begin your stretches, trying to ignore the thunder rolling outside. You wondered if a storm would hit today’s matches. Not that it bothered you, just frustrated. As you warmed up, you wondered if Leon was going to be able to make it today. Your eyes wandered the room as you thought, and you noticed Raihan staring at his phone. He looked… disappointed. Ah. Maybe he wouldn’t be coming today. You felt your heart sink. You take great pride in your strength as a trainer and enjoy showing it off, so it hurts a little that Leon won’t be watching you win today.

Gloria then walked into the weight room, in uniform, and the announcer came over the intercom, beckoning everyone to the field. There it was. It was finally time to get things in motion.

Everyone lined up on the field, and spectators realized that today would be long. Back to back battling, no breaks, and no time to process. For diehard fans, this time of year is the dream. For young children with diehard parents, it’s hell.

You were dismissed from the field, leaving Nessa and Gloria behind. Their match started, lasting only thirty minutes. Gloria won, knocking Nessa out of the bracket. Her loss, unfortunately, was anticipated. From observing her battle with Nessa, the others were able to grasp that Gloria had prepared herself well for today’s matches. Her readiness had you excited.

Your match against Bea rolled around quicker than you had anticipated, with both of you ready to get it out of the way and advance. That was the thing about Bea. She was no older than 17, and she was reckless. Her biggest trait as a gym leader was her inability to keep things consistent. She locked eyes with you as you took your places on either end of the field. She wanted to give you a run for your money. Poor thing. She hadn’t battled you since her own challenging days. You’d come a long way since then.

The crowd roared in anticipation, cheering for both you and Bea as your starting Pokémon took the field. This time, you chose to take a different approach. As she brought out Hawlucha, you chose Runerigus. True fans of yours gasped in the stands, and a tension filled the air. Surprise flashed in Bea’s eyes. You never brought out Runerigus. In fact, this Pokémon had been labeled as reckless and dangerous the day you had decided to take it into your care. You used it as a scare tactic, rarely ever actually fighting with it. Why? Because Runerigus never listened to instructions.

The Pokémon lunched for Hawlucha, without you having to say a single word. You watched as it attacked hungrily, giving Bea quite the scare. Her Hawlucha was rendered unconscious within seconds. Unfortunately, after its frenzy, Runerigus decided that it was done playing, so you recalled it and replaced it with Trevenant. You went through the rest of her Pokémon easily, only knocking out two of your six in the process.

The announcer called out your victory, and the audience practically jumped for joy. With a smile, you shook hands with Bea, comforting her in her shock. It was clear that she hadn’t battled like that in a hot minute. Once the two of you returned to the weight room, she found the courage to approach you, the color drained from her face.

“You really don’t hold back,” she breathed out, clearly exasperated. You couldn’t help but chuckle, giving her a pat on the head.

“You put up a good fight. I expect you to keep up with training so I can say the same thing to you this time next year,” you hummed, taking a towel that had been offered to you and wiping the sweat from your face slowly. It took you a second to catch your breath, your back against the wall as you listened to the sound of the ongoing battle outside. Based on the brackets, you wouldn’t get the chance to fight Raihan, not this year. Kicking his ass had been something that you were looking forward to. Unfortunately, you’d have to save that for next year.

Gloria won her battle against Gordie, causing him to fall to his knees dramatically. Gordie was all about being dramatic. Plus, he had been hoping to show off for Nessa. To be fair, he did, but he didn’t know that yet. Nessa had been worried for him the moment he stepped out onto the field. Ugh. Romantics.

“It’s our time,” Piers’ voice met your ears, causing you to open your eyes. He was closer than you thought, his face unexpectedly close to yours. It caused your face to flush, and you lightly pushed him back. He huffed in response, and you rolled your eyes.

“Hope you prepared yourself for this,” you taunt, walking down the hall to the field with him. He smirks, glancing at you with a look that makes you blush intensely. What had gotten into you?

“I have th’ type advantage,” he returns your taunt before taking his respective side of the field. Your eyes meet as you both fall into place, your heart skipping. It had been ages since the last time you and Piers had battled each other. The feeling was practically foreign to you, and honestly, this might be where you’d falter.

Your eyes scanned the crowd as you thought over which Pokémon to bring out first. You paused, gaze landing on a box up at the top of the stadium. That purple hair. Leon. So he really had managed to make it. You shook your head, swallowing down the feelings that consumed you. He was sitting next to Rose. Damnit. A huff left you, and without thinking, you threw out your one and only Gengar. Second to Chandelure, Gengar was one of your strongest Pokémon. And it was blood thirsty.

“Startin’ strong, hm?” Piers hums, still smirking. He seems… incredibly calm. Maybe he’s hoping to beat you so he can give Gloria a taste of her own medicine. Your brows furrowed at the thought. Naturally. He brought out Skuntank, and you felt your odds grow slim. With his type advantage, you weren’t sure how this would end. Yes, you were skilled, but Piers was crafty. Sly. If he saw a flaw in your movements, he’d exploit it. He was going to watch you close. You could already feel his eyes on you.

The battle begins, and you instantly find yourself struggling. Gengar is barely able to move. It manages to finish off Skuntank before giving in to Malamar’s relentless attacks. You frowned, staring down at your Pokéballs. Realistically, your next best option would either be Polteageist or Cursola. Reluctantly, you bring out the latter, hoping this move would pull you out of the rut you were in.

And it did. Cursola had no issue taking down Malamar and the following Scrafty. You could hear Piers groan, weighing his options. The noise was music to your ears. Now you had flipped the switch, reversing your odds onto him. As he contemplated, you glanced up at Leon, making eye contact with him. A smirk graced your lips, your gaze slowly returning to Piers. His next best thing. Toxtricity.

Poison and Electric type. Meaning you could use any one of your Pokémon to eliminate the current threat at hand. You sent Cursola forward, watching it fight intensely against Piers’ Toxtricity. You knew it wouldn’t make it out of this one, so you let it take the defeat, smirking as you brought forward your one and only ace. Chandelure.

Within the blink of an eye, Toxtricity had been defeated, leaving Piers with his Obstagoon. It was ace against ace, and you took it upon yourself to keep it even. Piers never dynamaxed, so therefore, you would refrain from doing so yourself. A fair fight between peers.

Chandelure and Obstagoon fought ruthlessly, the fire attacks filling the stadium with smoke. You coughed, waving it from your face, watching as the two Pokémon continued to hash it out. Your only option was to use fire type moves to stay ahead of the type disadvantage. You dodged most of the dark type moves thrown at you, but some managed to land, which meant that both of your Pokémon were in a critical state. A couple more hits from either side and it’d all be over.

More smoke obscured your view, and you felt yourself connecting to Chandelure on a different level. Its sight was yours, and you could hear its thoughts. The two of you became one in the final moments of the battle, sending both Piers and his Obstagoon back with the sheer force of your attacks. Piers had to take a second to collect himself before sending more attacks your way, only for you to reflect them. With a swift, final move, you rendered Obstagoon unable to battle.

Your connection with Chandelure faded, and you stared out at the field in awe. Piers met your gaze, a light blush on his cheeks. You realized you were drenched in sweat, and incredibly out of breath. With a gasp for air, you recalled Chandelure, waving to the crowd in victory as the announcer roared over the speakers.

There it was. Contender for one of the most intense battles this season. You were sure videos of it were going to be shared everywhere by tonight. Hopefully it’d rack up some good press for Piers.

The other gym leaders congratulated you as you passed them, but you were far too exhausted to register their words. All you knew was that you needed a shower. A cold one. You were gross.

You mumbled where you’d be to Raihan on your way out, wishing him luck for his next battle. You grabbed your things and headed for the locker rooms, taking a second to collect yourself once you were finally alone.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

Leon had been observing the battles from afar, glad that he could make it today. The only major downside was that he had to sit next to Rose, who had a… strange look about him. Something just felt off, and he didn’t like it. When you came out to battle Bea, he sat upright in his seat. You against Bea was a matchup he never saw coming. He found the matchup to be slightly unfair, seeing as Bea said t stand a chance against you. She could give it her all against you and never win. That’s just how you were.

The second your battle against her started, it was clear to everyone that you had an unspoken advantage. It was the same for Raihan, too. The way you two carried yourselves on the field was something that could never be topped. Fellow trainers could work to be exactly where you were, even reaching your level of strength, and they’d never beat you. It had always been impressive to him that you and Raihan maintained your statuses so well. It seemed that the challengers got stronger each year, but many dropped out because of the two of you.

He leaned back, thinking to himself. He wondered what things would be like if you and Raihan ran a gym together. It’d be like you were guarding the entrance to Leon’s lair. He chuckled at the thought. You’d kill each other.

The first wave of battles had finished, the bracket being updated on the screen above the field. You were set to go against Piers, and Raihan was set to go against Melony. Gloria against Kabu. His brows furrowed at the sight. Now these were interesting matchups. Melony could very well defeat Raihan in battle, and if Piers played his cards right, he could knock you off kilter. According to the bracket, your battle was first.

Leon watched you as you walked out onto the field, noticing a change in your demeanor. That was right, Piers had the type advantage. How could he have forgotten that? Maybe he would win this after all. His golden eyes observed the two of you closely. He could feel the tension from all the way up there. In truth, it made him nervous for you.

Twenty minutes in and things were starting to get worse. The two of you looked like hell, sweat sliding down your face as you stood strong under the pressure. You didn’t reveal your feelings on your face, but Leon could tell that you were getting anxious. He noticed your refusal to dynamax, keeping things even between you and your opponent. He smiled to himself, covering it with his gloved hand as to hide it from Rose. You were something else.

Forty minutes and you finally managed to take the lead, knocking Piers off balance. You pulled out Cursola, then replacing it with Chandelure. Throwing out your ace when you have several Pokémon left? A bold move. A good choice. There was a glint in your eyes as Piers brought out his Obstagoon. Leon had never seen you battle like this. He was impressed.

He sat on the edge of his seat, peering forward so he could get a better look at you. You moved with such skill, each step in sync with your Chandelure. His jaw dropped at the sight. A technique from Kalos had found its way into battles within the Galarian league. It was incredible. He wondered if you even knew what you were doing.

Just as the battle hit the hour mark, you came out on top, holding yourself up high with your victory. It was evident that you were proud of yourself. The cameras zoomed in on your face, the announcer coming over the speakers to congratulate you. He announced a twenty minute break. Leon knew why. People were growing restless. And with Raihan’s battle against Melony coming up, he was sure they would want to take a moment. That battle would probably last longer than yours against Piers did.

Rose left shortly after the break was announced, and Leon followed suit. He decided to head down to the first floor, hoping to chat with some of the gym leaders that were still in the running. He just wanted to see everyone. He felt bad for missing out on yesterday’s matches. He heart clenched at the thought. Arceus, he felt so bad.

As he walked down the hall to the weight room, he ran into Piers, who looked exhausted. He was drenched in sweat, a tired look in his eyes. He eyed Leon, offering him a simple nod.

“You fought well,” Leon hummed, turning to face him. “Honest. Spikemuth should be proud.” Piers stopped in his tracks, shooting Leon a confused glance before sighing.

“Thanks. But I think that was my last battle as gym leader,” he shrugged it off. “At least it was a good one. That woman fights like she’s got her life on the line,” he paused looking at the champion. He ran his eyes over his body, scoffing to himself as he turned back around. What was that for? “Gotta focus on music now.” He shuffled away, heading out farther down the hallway towards the locker rooms. Leon sighed, watching as he left. He shook his head, dismissing it as he opened the door to the weight room.

Melony, Raihan, and Kabu all looked at him, offering him smiles. Raihan ran up to him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “Well look who decided to show up!” He roared, shaking Leon to the side. Melony laughed. “Lemme guess, you had to watch me beat Melony in real time, hm? That it? You wanna watch your good ol’ pal Raihan beat the old hag to dust!” He threw out his arm, as if basking in the glory that was to come.

“Very funny, Raihan,” she chuckled, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she spoke. Very well composed. Cool as ice, one might say. She took great pride in being able to defeat Raihan, seeing as none of the other gym leaders could. Aside from you, obviously. Leon smiled, noticing that you were nowhere to be seen.

“Wait where’s—“ He turned to Raihan, who interrupted him.

“Locker rooms. Said she needed a shower,” his friend eyed him up and down before dragging him out of the weight room. Leon protested softly, huffing as Raihan dragged him into a private room. He turned around, facing the dragon type gym leader with furrowed brows. “I think Piers wants a piece of your girl.”

“She’s not my girl, Raihan,” he sighs in response. “We’re hardly anything,” he throws up his hands in defeat. He opens his mouth to speak, before closing it and turning away. “You think…” he stops, “you think I’ve got competition..?”

Raihan laughs, full on, the sound echoing off the walls of the room. “I knew you’d be worried,” he smirked, watching his friend’s face flush. “Just wait it out. You kissed—“

“Once. It was barely a kiss,” Leon interrupts.

“You kissed. Once,” Raihan hums, “you’ve been spending an awful lot of time with her, helping out around her house and whatnot. You’ve even made it a point to visit her gym. You know how to get to Ballonlea without getting lost,” he chuckles. “You know she and I are friendly,” he eyes his friend up and down. “Ditch the hat and the cape.”

“What?! You know I can’t do that—“ He stops as Raihan raises a hand to silence him?

“Hate to say it pal, but I’ve been reading articles on you,” he smirks. Thanks, Raihan. Totally not stalkerish of you. “Let’s just say, stats are in your favor when you’re wearing the champion uniform flat out.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” He raises a brow.

“Dude I’m trying to help you out here stop questioning me,” Raihan groans, throwing his hands up. “All I’m saying is, leave the hat and cape here, and go talk to her in the locker rooms. Trust me.”

“Raihan come on—“

“Shut up. She so wants a piece.” His words cause Leon’s face to flush a light shade of pink. He nearly chokes. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s totally obvious. Now for Arceus’ sake get out of here and go speak to that woman! Gah!” He rolls his eyes, shaking his head as Leon just stands there. “Go, dumbass!” Leon nods quickly, sighing as he ditches the tacky cape and big ass hat, setting them on a nearby table before he leaves.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

Piers stands outside of the locker rooms, his forehead pressed against the door as he contemplates opening it and speaking to you. Something about battling against you… did something to him. And he can’t tell if that’s good or bad just yet. A sigh leaves his lips, his hand hovering over the doorknob as he contemplates his next move carefully. He definitely doesn’t want to freak you out. And he knows you’ve got a connection going with Leon.

Ugh. Leon. How could he ever compete with such a hunk of a man? A stupid, beefy hunk. Piers stopped himself. He needed to stay focused.

With a deep breath, he gathered up his courage and opened the door, walking into the locker rooms without a care in the world. Well, he hoped it came across that way. He didn’t want to look like a mouse. Or a creep. Both would be bad for him at this point. His gaze lands on your stuff, resting on a bench not too far from the door.

He just stands there, conflicted. Should he talk to you? Is it even worth it? What if you drove him away?

“Ladies and gentlemen the upcoming battle between gym leaders is about to commence!” The voice caused him to jump, a small gasp escaping him as his eyes widened. “You’re not gonna want to miss this one, folks!” He rolled his eyes. It was Raihan versus Melony. Nothing too crazy.

Piers took a second to collect himself, getting himself back in the zone. The showers were on the other side of the locker room. He could hear the faint sound of running water, along with you softly humming. He began walking that way, slowly, his mouth opening to say something before immediately closing it. He felt like a creep. But why? He wasn’t there with ill intent. His brows furrowed.

The sound of the door opening nearly made him jump out of his skin. He rushed to hide behind a row of lockers, hiding his face in his hands with a silent scream. He felt so stupid right now. Taking a deep breath once more, he lowered his hands, peering around the lockers to see Leon walking past. Oh come on. He really didnt stand a chance. He held back a groan, resting his head against the lockers.

Leon called out for you, and you responded, sounding startled. Piers wouldn’t have startled you like that. He peeked out from the lockers again. Leon wasn’t wearing his cape… or his hat. Interesting. With a soft huff, Piers rose to his feet, clearing his throat as he left, causing Leon to startle.

You wouldn’t pick him. Never in a million years would you pick him and he knows it.

He just can’t find it in him to give up.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

“What’s up?” You asked, the water still running. The stadium’s showers had been designed for maximum privacy, with doors touching the floor as well as both walls. They were spacious, allowing for a comfortable shower. The money had been spent well when it came to the interior design of the stadium. It was nice. You could hear Leon on the other side of the door, probably leaned up against the wall. You pictured his expression as he stood.

“I…” he sighed, trailing off. Wow this was way harder than he thought it would be. “We, uh, we should talk.” He cleared his throat, fiddling with his fingers as he waited for a response.

“And you thought that now would be a good time?” You tease, taking a step closer to the door so he can hear you better. The water washes down your body, flowing down onto the floor. It provides a surreal experience. Your heart rate increases as you wonder what he could possibly want to talk to you about. “Is this about Rose?”

“Uh- no,” he stutters, staring at the shower door. His hand hovers over the handle. He wants to see you, to look at you in your eyes and talk to you. He sighs, shaking his head and sinking down to the floor. “About… us…?” The anxiety is starting to set in, his heart absolutely pounding within his chest. “T-The kiss and uh—“ he’s interrupted by the sound of the door opening. The water is still running. He turns to look up at you, face flushing at the sight of you wrapped in nothing but a towel. He stammers over his words, quickly rising to his feet. There’s a look in your eyes that makes his heart leap.

“And here I was starting to think that you had forgotten,” you mumbled, your cheeks rosy. Your wet hair shapes your face, your eyes on him as you stand there, face to face with him. Silence filled the air between you, yet it wasn’t tense. It was awkward, or weird, or embarrassing. It just was.

Leon hesitates, reaching out and placing a gentle, gloved hand on your bare arm. He takes a small step forward, leaning in. His nose brushes against yours, his warm breath tickling your skin. You hold your breath in anticipation, body tensing as he just stared at you. He looked at you, his eyes giving away his cluelessness. He clears his throat before quickly leaning back, only to be stopped by you.

Your hand flies out, grabbing him by the collar of his uniform and forcing him to lean back in. You close your eyes, smashing your lips against his without a care in the world. He pulls your wet body against his, holding onto you like his life depended on it. Your other hand found its way to the back of his head, your fingers intertwining with his purple locks.

In that moment it felt like you finally had some closure. Like you had an answer to the very question that had been keeping you up at night. It was nice. No, more than nice. Magnificent. But—

You pulled away, your hand releasing its grip on his collar and sliding down to rest on his chest. Your eyes search his. For all you know, this might be the last time you’ll see him like this. Eternatus is set to wake any second now, and that means the entire region’s fate will be sealed. Doomed. You were doomed. You searched his eyes, desperation filling you. You were literally holding the man of your dreams, but you didn’t feel as happy as you thought you would. You open your mouth to speak, interrupted by a soft kiss from Leon.

“I know…” he mutters softly against your lips. “I… I don’t know how much time we have…” he breaks eye contact for a moment, turning away with a frown. It’s clear that he’s just as bothered as you are. “But… but I think I—“

“And there you have it, folks! Raihan comes out on top once again! A true fighter through and through!” The announcer’s voice comes over the speakers, voicing Raihan’s hard earned victory against Melony. Your heart sinks, watching as Leon takes a step back. His eyes search yours, golden irises filled with pain. He turns to walk away, and you reach for him, heart breaking. Damn it! You had been so close! So damned close!

“I-I have to go—“ he mumbles, avoiding your gaze as he rushes out of the locker rooms and into the hallway. Shit! A groan escapes you, and you hang your head. So. Damn. Close. Your fist clenches, your heart pounding as you stand there. You should get dressed. Your battle against Gloria is coming up. You turn to shut off the water, grabbing your things and heading back to your bag.

Out of the all of the times Raihan had to have a short and sweet battle. You wanted to curse him. To throttle him as you grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him the brain scrambling of a lifetime. But it wasn’t his fault. You knew that. It was no one’s fault but yours and Leon’s.

You stand there, staring down at your Pokéballs peeking out of your duffel bag. Was this what you wanted? Your brows furrowed. Whatever. You needed to get dressed.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

Gloria sat in the room next to the weight room, her head buried in her hands. Her breathing was quick and short, her heart racing. Dread came over her in waves, hitting her harder and harder the longer she sat there. She was scared. Terrified. Things were starting to get risky for her, and she didn’t know what to do. She needed this money. She needed to find her mother. What would she do with herself if she lost to you?

To be honest, going against you had struck nothing but fear into her heart. Her gym battle against you was hellish, so to think that she would have to relive that again was horrible. She knew she was ready, there was something about you that made her so damn scared. She could feel tears welling in her eyes at the mere thought of you on the field. Maybe it was your ghost types. Maybe it was the way you carried yourself, so calm, even when struggling. She admired you, but her fear was far greater than anything else.

Soon she would have to go out onto the field and look you in the eyes. She would have to stand tall and fight you. Would you fight her the way you fought Bea? Or would you fight her the way you did with Piers. Regardless, she did not want to get you at your best. She knew she wouldn’t win just head on. She needed a plan. A course of action to take out your ace before you could even play it.

She sat up, resting her head against the wall behind her. She closed her eyes, her lip quivering. This really could be the end for her. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she stopped here. If she lost.

A knock sounded at the door, making her jump. “Gloria?” Hop. She quickly sat upright, wiping the tears from her eyes and composing herself right as he opened the door. His golden eyes were filled with concern. She hadn’t seen him since yesterday.

The sight of him made her feel slightly better, her heart swelling at the sight. She smiled softly. “You came,” she mumbled. Rarely did she speak. It was an insecurity of hers. She never wanted to sound… stupid. Not when she couldn’t hear herself. She hung her head, trying to hide her watering eyes from her best friend.

“Of course I came,” he frowned, rushing over to her. His arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly. Hesitantly, she returned the gesture, laughing softly. Tears slid down her cheeks, staining his shirt. But he didn’t care. He loved Gloria more than anything. Why would he care about a little stain? “Come on now, what’s wrong?” He asked, slowly pulling back from her. His eyes searched hers. It was written all over her face. She was scared.

“I-I…” she stuttered, hanging her head once again. She was so stressed that she couldn’t bring herself to speak. She could feel the panic rising in her once again, her breathing picking up. The announcer called for the next two challengers to come to the field. Raihan had won his battle. She groaned, leaning forward and resting her forehead on Hop’s shoulder.

“Look, I’ve got something I want to tell you,” Hop grabbed her shoulders, looking her in her eyes intensely so she could read his lips. “It’s a secret I’ve kept from you for a long time.” Gloria wiped her tears, confusion shining in her eyes. “But you have to become Champion for me to tell you. Otherwise, forget it.” Hop’s tone was different, slightly serious. He knew Gloria was curious by nature, so him telling her this would eat away at her until she found out. His expression softened, a soft smiling forming on his lips. “Deal?”

Slowly, she nodded. Hop grinned, standing upright before helping her up. “Go on. Get out there. I believe in you.”

Gloria stood upright, looking at him, her face heating up as the longer she stared at him. She nodded again, speed walking past him and out onto the field. Her heart raced, adrenaline kicking in.

Her feet touched the grass of the field, the crowd roaring as she came into view. Without a second thought, she took her side of the field, doing her best to stand tall as she stared at you from across the field. Your expression was blank, your posture exuding a confidence that Gloria didn’t have. The announcer called out the current battle, announcing the start. Gloria swallowed thickly, grabbing her first Pokéball and bringing out her first pick.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

Your expression hardened as Gloria brought Dragapult to the field. Dragon and Ghost type. Technically she had an advantage, but only if she played her cards right. You hummed, shrugging it off as you made the dicey move to bring Polteageist out to the front. That was another Pokémon you didn’t use often in battle, not unless you had a specific strategy you wanted to play.

Dragapult attacked, using a ghost type move. Ah, so Gloria was aware of her slight advantage against you. Unfortunately, you had the same idea. Simple, you would use Shadow Ball until you landed a hard enough hit to knock Dragapult out of the running. Then, you’d let her take out Polteageist. You smirked, suddenly feeling much more confident in yourself than before. You were going to win. You could feel it.

You sent Polteageist forward, attacking and hitting Dragapult. To your surprise, the attack didn’t seem to do much. Actually, it didn’t even look like it had done anything. You paused, eyes widening in surprise as the illusion wore off. Zorua. You didn’t know she had one of those. You felt your heart skip a beat. Now you were at the disadvantage. Severely. Shit. You knew you shouldn’t have played Polteageist so early.

Zorua attacked your Pokémon, defeating it with only two hits. The crowd grew tense, watching you closely to see how you were going to play things out.

Well, it was a good thing you were prepared. You brought out Gengar. Gengar’s purpose was to poison Zorua and slowly take it down. A good way to move for now. Keeping things safe until you see what she does next.

“Go, Gengar use Sludge Bomb,” you called out, pointing at Zorua. It attacked, brutally poisoning the opposing Pokémon. You found your smirk returning. You repeated the attack, following it with bite. Your attacks were ruthless, leaving Gloria without room to get a move in. However, when she did, she left Gengar in critical condition.

Zorua fell to the ground, defeated. You felt a sense of relief. Now the dark type disadvantage was out of the way. You had nothing to worry about. It was smooth sailing from there. Especially when she pulled out Rapidash. Poison advantage. Maybe you did have this one in the bag.

Once again, you poisoned Gloria’s Pokémon, defeating it quickly. She didn’t even stand a chance with that play.

Then she brought out her Dragapult. Her real one. And it was violent. It wasted no time getting rid of Gengar, making it a painful watch for those in the audience. Things were starting to get rough. You were down to four Pokémon, with Gloria at three. You had to act right to win this one. Just right.

Cursola took the field, getting in some good hits before being defeated. Panic set in. Runerigus was your next best option. Yes. This would be the one to pull you out of the rut you were in.

Gloria’s eyes widened, staring at Runerigus with fear. This was rough. Horrible, even.

Dragapult didn’t stand a chance, defeated within mere seconds after Runerigus took the field. An even match this was. You were almost having fun.

Almost.

She brought Eiscue, then Roserade. Neither of them stood a chance against you. The matchup just wasn’t even, you had the advantage and it was obvious.

However, things changed once she brought out Cinderace. Runerigus was gone within the blink of an eye. You didn’t even have time to process it. She had come to play. She was going to make sure her last Pokémon fought hard.

Reluctantly, you brought out Trevenant, knowing you were at a disadvantage with the grass and fire type. You got some good hits in before being defeated. Your expression hardened, determination setting in. You were left with nothing but Chandelure. Your ace. You hummed, letting it take the field. It sized up its competition, and you felt yourself fall into sync with it.

You were ready.

Gloria dynamaxed her Cinderace, the sheer force of the act sending gusts of wind throughout the field. With a sigh, you followed suit, dynamaxing Chandelure. The two beasts were took up a grand portion of the field. The stadium raised its protective walls for the audience, so nothing would go flying at anyone. You frowned, standing upright and taking on a calm expression. If she could best you here, then she deserved to advance. Simple as that. But it would be hard. Chandelure and Cinderace were both fire types. Cinderace could learn a broad range of moves that weren’t directly within its type, however, so it was a little hard to gauge how this was going to go.

Things started out easy for you, your moves landing and doing decent bits of damage. Gloria retaliated by sticking to fire type moves. She landed one Pyro Ball before pulling out her secret. One that would have you backed against a wall.

Cinderace knew Assurance.

Your heart dropped as it performed its move, unable to dodge in time to avoid it. Chandelure was in critical condition, a few more hits and it’d be over for you. You clenched your fist, at a loss for what to do. Chandelure knew Rest, but would using it now be appropriate? Was now the right time? You huffed, calling out the move with everything you had.

Chandelure used Rest, healing itself back up instantly. It was sleep for the next two moves. But you knew you could play this good.

Gloria used Pyro Ball, followed by a normal type attack that didn’t affect Chandelure. Then, it awoke, shrinking down to its normal size in sync with Cinderace. You called out a Shadow Ball, too focused on getting the final hit in to notice that Gloria had called out Assurance.

The moves landed at the same time, smoke covering the battlefield. Your body tensed. You could feel it. Chandelure didn’t stand a chance. Your eyes widened as the smoke cleared, looking out at the limp body of your ace. Your partner. You frowned deeply, doing your best to maintain your composure. With a shaky hand, you recalled Chandelure into its Pokéball. You had lost.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like our Gloria will be moving on to the next and final battle before she faces the champion! She’s on a roll!” The voice echoed throughout the stadium, the crowd cheering as you stood there. The world spun around you, your mind racing as you grappled with your defeat. With a huff, you gave Gloria a nod, acknowledging her victory. You turned on your heels, keeping your head up high as you walked off the field.

You walked into the weight room, packing up your things.

“That was a good fight,” Raihan hummed, looking over at you with a smile. “Had me on the edge of my seat.”

“Oh shut it,” you grumbled. He had a few minutes before his battle since they were giving Gloria some time to rest. He was lucky. He was the only thing keeping her from getting to Leon. You could tell he liked the idea. “I haven’t lost like that in years,” you sighed, plopping down onto the metal bench next to your bag. “She pulled that dark type move out of her ass,” you groaned, hanging your head. How come you were able to defeat the dark type gym leader easy peasy, but the kid with one dark type and a hidden dark type move manage to kick your ass? You shook your head.

“I’ll make sure to win for ya,” he winked, teasing you. Yeah, because that’s what you needed right now. “Fighting in your honor or whatever,” he paused, “I’ll avenge you?” It was clear he was trying to think of the right words. You chuckled, sitting upright and looking at him.

“Don’t get arrogant,” you grunted, rising to your feet. You slung your duffel bag over your shoulder, turning to look at him. “She’s gonna kick your ass and you’re not gonna see it coming,” you warned, opening the door and leaving without looking back.

You walked down the hall towards the back exit so you could avoid the crowd. There was a lingering thought in the back of your mind as you passed by your private room. Should you stay a gym leader… or was it time for you to take a break? Your heart was heavy at the thought. You loved being a gym leader. You loved the thought of being third in the entire region. It made you feel… special, in your own way. The whole reason you had even taken it up in the first place was because Opal had left her gym to you. They had threatened to close it when she died, so you stepped up, turning it into your own.

But… you didn’t feel like you could continue to do her justice. You thought back on the sight of Bede in Opal’s uniform. Maybe… you shook your head. Now wasn’t the time to think about such things.

You worked your way through the streets, politely walking past fans that begged for trainer cards and autographs. The sun was beginning to set. You hadn’t realized that today’s battles had gone on for so long. You should’ve anticipated it. Each gym leader going head to head at full potential, the day was bound to be long.

You pushed yourself into your hotel suite, a sigh leaving you as you set down your duffel bag. Exhaustion hit you, along with many other things. You laid down on the couch, relaxing into the cushions. Your mind went to Leon, and how he went out of his way to go to the locker rooms to try and talk to you. Your heart throbbed. You weren’t going to get a moment like that for a while. Or maybe ever again.

Bit by bit, your exhaustion overcame you, leading to you falling asleep on the couch. Hours had gone by before you came to, the sound of your phone buzzing pulling you from your slumber. Quickly, you sat upright, running a heavy hand over your face as you tried to get your eyes to adjust to the screen. You groaned, realizing it wasn’t anything from Bede or Allister. You had thought it was important. A sigh escaped you as you opened up your phone, reading the message Leon had sent you.

Raihan had lost. Gloria would be fighting Leon for his title after all. Tomorrow, at seven PM, the stadium would be filled to the maximum capacity. Adoring fans would scream at the top of their lungs. It was going to break the sound barrier.

You froze.

It was going to awake Eternatus.

#x reader #pokemon swsh #champion leon #Leon pokemon x reader #leon pokemon #pokemon x reader #Leon x reader #character x reader

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rougepancake · 2 days ago

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The Summoning (ch. seven)

FT. Leon x Gym Leader!F!Reader

series m.list

WARNINGS/NOTES: Hey so long time no see. Fun fact, I’m eighteen! And I took a break from writing for my senior year of high school. Now that I’m going off to college, really want to finish the projects I was deeply interested in. This being one of them. This work means so much to me genuinely even if it itself is not performing well. It’s the longest fic I’ve ever written and will probably continue to be until I find something that captivates me more than this. Anyways, I’m sorry to suddenly leave you guys hanging, but this is the start of a new beginning. For all of us.

“Three… two… one! Ready or not here I come!” The sound of her voice echoed throughout the room. There was no response. Not even a giggle, which was very much unlike Gloria. She searched meticulously for her daughter, each spot turning out to be empty. Panic set in, her heart pounding in her chest as she threw open the door to her laboratory.

The sight before her was a horrifying one. A rift had open up in the middle of the lab, with Gloria standing right in front of it. Curiosity had always won that child over, which led her to reach out a hand to it.

“Gloria!” Her mother shouted, reaching for her daughter and pulling her away from the rift. She froze, looking into her eyes. For some reason, she was fixated on the rift, something that deeply worried her mother. “What have I told you about coming in here?!” She raised her voice, checking her to make sure she wasn’t hurt.

“Mama… I heard a voice,” Gloria whispered, looking up at her. “It spoke to me.”

“Listen to me, child. You are not to come in here alone, do you understand? It’s dangerous.” Her mother’s tone caused her to flinch. This was a side of her that Gloria had yet to see. And she didn’t like it. “Just think of what could’ve happened to you if you had touched it! I could’ve lost you, Gloria.”

That night, while Gloria was asleep, her mother had gone back to the lab. She was determined to figure out the reason behind the sudden appearance in the rift, as well as meet the voice that had been calling out to her child. While conducting her research, the rift opened up, and her mother vanished. Gloria was no older than ten.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

Bright light broke through the curtains, forcing you awake. You could hear Bede and Allister talking in the room over, providing you some comfort in your struggle. Sitting up in the bed, you grabbed your head, drowning in the guilt that washed over you. It almost didn’t feel real. Hell, you could hardly tell what was real and what wasn’t anymore. It was starting to drive you insane.

Slowly, you rose from the bed, tossing the blankets to the side. Your phone lit up. It was Leon, naturally.

‘𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺. 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.’

You frowned at the sight. Of course he’d see you today. You were participating in the challenges. And you’d be damned if you let anyone beat you today. In a way, you felt prepared, despite not wanting to fight at all. You knew what you were going up against. Each and every one of those trainers on that list you had fought personally, and not one of them had been able to beat you.

The challenge would end with you. At least that’s how you were predicting it, anyways.

With a sigh, you set aside your phone, stumbling towards your suitcase. You pulled out a few things and then began to get changed. You were confident in your skills, but that didn’t stop the dread that filled your heart. You knew something big was coming, whether it be Eternatus or Arceus itself, it was going to happen. And you were anything but ready for that.

Leon. He had become everything to you in such a short period of time. As dumb as it sounds, he brought out a new side of yourself. One that you had left behind long ago. He made you happy and understood the words that you could not find the words to say. You just hated that these circumstances were what led to you finally interacting. The thought is enough to make you damn near ill. To think that you can have everything you want but with the downside of literally having your region get wiped out by a god you accidentally pissed off made you feel much worse than you already did.

Did you love him? Dunno. You hardly knew what love meant. Actually it was a foolish jump to say that you loved him. You’d probably be better of saying “I like him!” and leaving it at that. But that didn’t make things any easier to face. It kept you up at night.

And what about Piers? What were you to do about him now that you’ve reduced your thoughts on Leon to nothing more than friendliness? What were you supposed to think about Piers?

A sudden knock causes you to gasp, jumping slightly at the sound. You look up over at the door and see Bede. How long had he been there?

“Can I talk to you about something?” He asked, looking at you shyly. Shy. That was a new side to Bede that you didn’t think you’d ever encounter. You nod, gesturing for him to sit next to you on the bed. Reluctantly, he does, avoiding your gaze and staring down at his shoes. “I want to participate in the battles today. I… I want to win.” He mumbles, hanging his head. He’s got your gym’s uniform on, to symbolize that he represents you and your business, but it doesn’t reflect who he is, and how he feels. You remember the uniform Opal made you wear when you were young, and how it was a stark contrast to your actual being.

You pause, mulling over his words. You can’t let him crash the placement battles. It’s against way too many rules. And you didn’t want to be fined for it, given that you were the one training him. With a sigh, you rise, placing a hand on his knee as you stand. He looks up at you, a glimmering light in his eyes. He’s hopeful. And he’s right to be so.

“Call the gym back in Ballonlea. Tell them you want the alternate uniform shipped to the hotel in Wyndon,” you point your finger at him, staring him down intensely. “Sneak in through the back door of the Stadium. Gym leaders have their own personal rooms next to the workout rooms. Sneak into mine and wait until they announce the first placement round.” You take a second, debating on whether or not you really want to be telling him to break the law or not. In the end, you shrug it off, deciding to take the fall should he get in trouble. “You didn’t hear this from me,” you whisper sternly. Bede nods in response,

He gets up, rushing out of the room semi excitedly. You can’t help but roll your eyes. What did you just sign this kid up for?

The next few minutes you spend getting ready. Nothing too exciting, seeing as all you have to do today is watch the participants battle each other. In all reality, you don’t even need to be there, but it was recommended for image purposes that you attend every big event in the region. Naturally.

You and Allister would be sitting next to the other gym leaders, your seats reserved in a private box above the stadium. It was a big deal, really, since the gym leaders were rarely all in one place at the same time. The kids saw it as their opportunity to show off, even though they already had by fighting their way up to the chain. It was a big event all around.

A part of you hoped you’d be seated next to Piers, but you knew the seating was based off of rankings. Naturally, you’d be parked right next to Raihan, and Piers would be on the other side of him. Your eye twitched at the thought. Raihan. A friend, yes, but also incredibly annoying. There was only so much of him you could take before you wanted to throw yourself off of a ledge.

Right as you finish lacing your shoes, your phone buzzes. Your heart leaps, hoping it’s a message from Leon. Upon looking at it, you groan. Raihan. Of course it’s Raihan. Why would it be anyone else.

𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐇𝐀𝐍: 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐮𝐡? 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐮𝐧 :𝟑

𝐌𝐄: 𝐲𝐮𝐩. 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐧

You’re about to set down your phone when it buzzes again, the words on screen causing your face to flush.

𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐇𝐀𝐍: 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐲 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬

𝐌𝐄: 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤

𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐇𝐀𝐍: 𝐈’𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧. 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦

𝐌𝐄: 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲…?

𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐇𝐀𝐍: 𝐬𝐞𝐞? 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐞 ;𝟑

𝐌𝐄: 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 :𝟑

Raihan leaves a heart on your message, causing you to groan. Is your thing with Leon that obvious? You pause, thinking. Well, he and Raihan are kinda best friends. Damn. How come you didn’t think of that sooner? What if Leon’s been reporting to Raihan, and now he wants to play matchmaker? You could practically feel the dread setting in. Leave it to Raihan to be such a nosy ass.

Now you aren’t so sure if you even want to leave the hotel room. What if Raihan mentions something in front of the others? You’d probably have to refrain from beating his ass in front of everyone. At that point, he’d have it coming.

You collect your things and head out, Allister at your side. Naturally, the press swarms the two of you, asking for opinions on the matches to come. Microphones are shoved in your faces, reporters shouting at one another. You pause to give a diplomatic answer before heading to the flying taxi. You slam the door closed in the faces of the reporters, watching them as they slowly fizzle out.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

Raihan has just finished one of his streams, giving his camera a cute little wave and smile before powering it off. He’s stoked for the upcoming battles. He only attends so he can size up the competition. He wants to see who has changed and who has grown since he faced them last. Y’know, the important stuff.

He takes pride in watching them progress through the gym challenge. It’s different every year. No two participants are the same, and he loves it. He can’t help but get a little too excited when the end of the challenge begins to roll around. The stakes are high now, and he gets to watch his best friend flawlessly defend his title as champion each time. He knows Leon will win, because there are only a select few trainers that can beat him in battle. Leon, You, and… Melony. Yeah he’s a little embarrassed about that last one. He was sick that day, okay?!

He finishes up his stretches, scrolling through his notifications mindlessly as he receives a text from Leon.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏: 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲

He wipes his eyes, double checking to make sure he read the words right. Can’t make it? Today of all days? Today was huge for him, and he couldn’t make it?! He was more confused that anything. Leon took great pride in presenting the children with their next challenge. He enjoyed surveying them and watching them fight their way up until they face him. Why would he bail now?

𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐇𝐀𝐍: 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥?? 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏: 𝐧𝐨. 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟. 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞. 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲/𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞

𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐇𝐀𝐍: 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞? 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲?? 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭??? 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏: 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐠𝐨

Raihan stared at his phone, baffled by the response he received. Rose taking over Leon’s job for the day? There’s no logic behind that. Usually Rose is way too busy to attend the placement matches. He’s even been known to skip out on champion battles some years because he “knows Leon will handle it.” He can’t help but be intrigued by the situation.

He looks out the window. Gloomy skies. He should probably get to the stadium before it starts to rain.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

The time has come. The moment he’s been waiting for his whole life has come, and he doesn’t know how to feel. He stands in the weight room, staring at his partner’s Pokéball in his hand. He’s doing this to prove himself. He’s doing this so that he can be someone living outside of his brother’s shadow. He’s doing this so that people hear his name and cheer, just like they do with Leon.

“Hop?” He turns around, startled. It’s Marnie. He hasn’t spoken to her much since she and Piers helped him find Leon. “You don’ look so good. Need somethin’ t’ eat?” She extends her hand, revealing a sandwich. Honestly, Hop hadn’t realized how hungry he had been until that point. He mumbles a soft ‘thanks,’ taking the sandwich.

He takes his time unfolding the parchment paper wrapped around it, listening to Marnie ramble in the background. She’d become increasingly talkative over the past few days. Maybe the challenge had helped her come out of her shell some. He wondered if Piers was proud of her. He wondered if Leon was proud of him. His heart sinks as he takes a bite out of the sandwich.

“Y’know, this entire challenge, I ain’t felt nervous once,” Marnie admits, tearing Hop from his thoughts. “But now that things are comin’ t’ an end, I feel like it’s life or death.” A sigh leaves her lips. “I don’t know if I have it in me to knock you guys out of the running.” She looks out at the other children in the room. There’s around eight kids in there. Aside from Marnie and Gloria, Hop didn’t know any of them. A part of him wished that Bede could have joined them for this today. Who knows, maybe he would have made it somewhere…

“I get it,” he frowns, trying to ignore the dread that settles within his stomach. “I don’t know what I’d do if…” he stops himself, looking down at the sandwich in his hands. 𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩.

Marnie hums. She understands where he’s coming from. He’s been so optimistic this whole time that she never stopped to wonder how he truly felt. She glanced at him. The look in his eyes was… unlike him. It was like he was sure he was going to lose. Like he had lost all hope in himself. She opens her mouth to speak, but is cut off by the sound of the intercom cutting in.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU MAKE YOUR WAY OUT TO THE BATTLEFIELD. THE CHALLENGE WILL BEGIN SOON.”

Nausea washes over Hop. Maybe the sandwich was a bad idea after all. He sets it on the bench and grabs his Pokéballs, attaching them to his uniform belt. He’s doing his best to pretend that everything is going to be fine. But he knew how this was going to end. His eyes landed on Gloria briefly. She looked so… determined. Like nothing could stop her. Not even him.

She met his gaze, offering him a wave as she grinned at him. He sucked it up and returned the gesture. Forcing a bright smile onto his face, he turned and headed down the tunnel that lead to the field. As he and the other challengers set foot onto the grass, the crowd roared. His eyes searched the crowd, a panic beginning to grow within him.

Would there really be this many people who would watch him fail? What would they think? The unbeatable champion’s unstoppable little brother meets match? He didn’t know if he could live with that.

It’s then that Chairman Rose walks out onto the field, standing in front of the children with a soft smile. What? Why’s he here? Hop looks around, waiting for his brother to join him on the field. But he doesn’t show.

Chairman Rose announces the start of the final moments of their time as challengers. He mentions in passing that Leon was unable to make it to oversee the matches today and Hop’s heart sinks.

And to make matters worse, Hop had the first battle.

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

There you sat, up in the box next to Raihan and Alister as you watched Rose come out on to the field. What? You could hear the confusion in the crowd as he addressed the challengers. Gordie even rose from his seat, coming to the balcony to get a better view of the scene.

The order of the battles was announced, the image of the order on display on the big screens. Nothing too exciting. Just Hop up against some kid you have no recollection of battling. Hop would probably win. He was pretty skilled, all things considered. The only downside was that he was a tad bit… air headed. Nothing that could really prevent him from coming out on top.

You sighed, leaning back in your seat with your arms crossed. You could pretty much predict how this was going to go. Or so you thought.

Gloria was up next, wiping the floor with her opponent. Then Marnie, who Piers loudly rooted for from his seat. Both won their matches, progressing to the next stage. Hop versus another stranger, and Gloria versus Marnie.

However, before Marnie could come out to face Gloria, a new face appeared. You sat upright, staring down at Bede as he strutted across the field. He spoke to Gloria, pointing at her before ultimately challenging her. You watched him closely, your hands gripping the armrests of your seat tightly. He had worn the alternate uniform. Opal’s gym uniform. The sight of it did something to you. You could practically hear Opal’s voice. She’d laugh, calling him too bold for such a move. Then, she’d root for him. That was how she operated.

Bede comes down to his final Pokémon, looking far from stressed. He knows he’s going to lose, but he’s put that behind him now. He seems… at peace with himself. Less angry. You smile at the sight, watching as he gets defeated. He hangs his head, expecting to hear booing from the crowd.

Yet, the exact opposite happens. The audience roars, cheering for him, commending him for his performance. Gloria smiles at him, which he returns. Then, he leaves.

The tension left your body as he exited the field, causing you to let out a heavy sigh. Raihan chuckled to himself. He’d never seen you this into the matches before. To be fair, this year’s challengers were really something else. Each of them carried a skill that was unique to them. It was refreshing, almost.

Marnie came out onto the field, and Piers sat upright straight in his seat. He looked on edge, and you couldn’t blame him.

The battle started, both girls giving the other a run for their money. You could tell that Marnie contemplated playing a little dirty against Gloria, but she didn’t. She stood her ground fairly, taking out Gloria’s Pokémon one by one until both of them had nothing but their ace left.

Then, it happened. The finishing move. Morkepo charged at Gloria’s Cinderace, only for it to dodge the move last second. Cinderace retaliated, both Pokémon attacking each other at the same time. Piers stood abruptly, the smoke obscuring the view of the field. The smoke cleared out slowly, revealing Morpeko on the ground, defeated. Gloria’s Cinderace stood proudly, before collapsing to the ground itself.

You glanced at Piers. He was in utter shock. Again, you couldn’t blame him. You were surprised that Gloria had managed to come out on top. Actually, you had gone into this fight rooting for Marnie. Your heart sunk. That meant that Gloria and Hop were next. That battle alone would be enough to rock the entire stadium.

Piers left the box, rushing down to go speak with his sister. Raihan sighed next to you. “That was rough,” he hummed, mindlessly scrolling on his phone.

“This next one is about to be even worse,” you grumbled, feeling a sense of dread begin to settle within you. You had to battle whoever won this match. You didn’t have the heart to win against them. It’d make you feel terrible. It’s never made you feel terrible before. But these two… they were so determined and full of life. They reminded you of yourself when you first did the gym challenge. You glanced at Alister, who was sitting with Mimikyu in his lap. He looked… content. He seemed to be soaking in everything he was watching, storing it away in his brain for future use.

“Who do ya think will win?” Raihan asks, posing for a selfie as he waits for your response. A heavy sigh left your lips in response.

“Y’know… I actually have no clue,” you shifted your weight in your seat. You watched the field closely, observing the challengers as they brought them back out. Their break was over. Things were about to get real.

The announcer’s voice came over the intercom, causing the crowd to cheer in excitement. He introduced the two final gym challengers, commending them for making it this far on their own. It was truly respectable. They each had put in countless hours of work into their training, having started their journey together at the same time. This battle was going to be one for the ages, and the crowd knew it.

Hop and Gloria faced each other on the field. You watched as he copied his brother’s warm up routine, his hands slapping his cheeks lightly to get him in the spirit. Gloria’s expression looked grim, as if she didn’t want to be the one to potentially knock her best friend out of the running. The two met in the middle, shaking hands before taking their respective sides and throwing their starting Pokémon out onto the field.

Within the blink of an eye, Gloria had wiped Hop’s team out, leaving him with just his Rillaboom. You were on the edge of your seat, watching the two so intensely that you looked like you were trying to cast a spell on them. Gloria brought out her Cinderace, making you cringe at the type advantage she gave herself. You could see Hop recoil at the sight of it, the defeat already in his eyes.

But that didn’t stop him from giving it his all. You could tell he wanted to win. No one could fault him for that. It was practically wired within him, a part of him he wouldn’t be able to leave behind no matter how hard he tried. You felt your heart racing as you watched the two battle, nearly falling out of your seat in the process. Your body was tense, and you had begun to hold your breath as the final moments of the battle rolled around.

Rillaboom couldn’t take it anymore, it was obvious to any onlooker that it was exhausted. Gloria wasted no time finishing it off with a pyro ball, causing it to cry out in defeat before fainting and falling to the ground. You quickly stood up from your seat, rushing over to the edge and holding onto the balcony like your life depended on it. The announcer came onto the intercom once more, voicing Gloria’s victory. But she didn’t look happy. In fact, she looked like she was on the brink of tears.

Your gaze shifted over to Hop, who had crumpled to the ground, holding his head in his hands. His shoulder shook violently as he sobbed inconsolably. The sight alone was enough to break your heart. Raihan and the others rose from their seats, staring down at the sight with widened eyes.

“Oh my Arceus…” you muttered, unable to find the proper words in the moment. The crowd’s cheering had toned down some, trying to affirm Hop, trying to tell him he did his best. But you knew that wasn’t enough for him. He worked so hard to get this far, just to lose to the one person he’d been losing to his entire journey.

“You know he’s going to avoid Leon for the next few weeks, right?” Raihan hummed, his eyes betraying how he felt about the situation. “Leon probably already knows about his loss. But he won’t care. Everyone knows that. Everyone but Hop,” he frowned slightly before standing upright and stretching. “It’s a shame. Now we have to fight that Gloria. It’s got me on edge.”

“You’re telling me,” you shrug, pushing yourself away from the balcony and turning to face Allister. However, he wasn’t there. How long had he been gone? And how come you hadn’t noticed that he’d left? You frowned, knowing that he would be safe, but missing the sight of him. The crowd had begun to clear out, leaving you with your thoughts. You made your way down to the first floor, passing by the weight room.

You saw Piers comforting Marnie, his arms wrapped tightly around her as she cried softly. You had forgotten that the challenge was about more than just the winner. You squeezed past them, rounding the corner to see Leon, horribly out of breath. Your eyes met with his, and he rushed over to you, panting as he tried to catch his breath.

“I… got here… as soon as I could,” he wheezed out, placing a hand on your shoulder as he regained his composure. Your brows furrowed, and you suddenly found yourself to be at a loss for words. “Where is he?”

“I don’t know,” you frowned, searching his eyes as you spoke. “He should be in the training room, but who’s to say he hasn’t left by now?” You watched as Leon digested your words. You could tell he was beating himself up over missing the battle.

He swore under his breath, removing his hand from your shoulder and running down the hall to the training room. You turned your head, your eyes following him. You couldn’t seem to tear your eyes away from him. He had been in such a hurry that he didn’t even have time to put on that cheesy hat of his. You wondered if Rose had put him up to something to get him out of the way.

But that didn’t matter. Not now, anyways.

You turned your head, a somber expression on your face as you left the stadium. You walked down the street a ways before coming to a stop.

“Wait!” You turned to see the man you couldn’t stop thinking about. Leon. “I couldn’t find him. Gloria said he might be at home,” he took a second to catch his breath yet again. “But… he needs some space… so I figured I’d take this chance to talk to you about something.” His golden eyes met yours, and you felt a heat rush to your cheeks at the contact. Was he…?

“Is this about what I think it is?” You raised a brow, your mind drifting off to the brief kiss the two of you shared before the final stages of the challenge had begun.

Leon nodded, and your heart nearly soared. “Yeah. It’s about the Chairman. Can we go somewhere private?” And just like that, your heart sank again. Right. The chairman. What else could it have been?

꧁ ༺ ─── ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ─── ༻ ꧂

So there you were, sitting on the couch across from Leon in your hotel suite, listening to him ramble on about the Chairman and how he’s suddenly been pushing all of his duties onto him. You take every word he says seriously, nodding along as he speaks so passionately about his day. You’d love to strangle him. To shake him about and yell at him. But that would do you no good. Especially with bigger issues at hand.

Like the impending end of the Galar region.

“Rose sent me out last minute to take care of the wild Dynamaxing Pokémon,” he sighed, leaning back in the chair. He rests his head against the cushion, staring up at the ceiling with a frown. “I tried so desperately to get him to send someone else out there so I wouldn’t have to miss today, but he insisted that it had to be me. And now…” he groans, “and now I look like a total piece of garbage for missing out on one of the biggest days of my brother’s life.”

“I wonder if he’s trying to keep you away to purposefully ruin things between you and Hop,” you muse. It’s a bold statement, but anyone that knew him knew Rose was weird when it came to family ordeals. Or families in general. “It sounds to me that he’s trying to make your life miserable before Eternatus descends.”

“… maybe. But that doesn’t make feel any better. He still could have sent someone else out.” Leon was far from angry. He was livid. Rarely was he ever something other than happy. The sight was new to you.

You watched him as he stood up from the couch across from you, now pacing around the room as he tried to fathom the words to speak. Thunder rolled in the distance.

“What if it’s related to Eternatus..?” You asked slowly, turning your head to the side as you thought about it. “What if he knows it’s going to wake soon? What if—“ you sat upright almost immediately, embarrassed that you had even considered such an option. Leon turns to look at you, as if urging you to continue on. “What if he’s trying to frame Eternatus’ awakening on you?”

He freezes, his jaw hanging open as he considers your, very real, suggestion. A noise of frustration escapes him, and he throws his hands up. “Of course. How hadn’t I caught on to that?!” He grabs his coat quickly heading towards the door. What is he planning? He slips on his coat and hovers his hand over the doorknob turning back to look at you, a soft smile on his lips. “Thank you,” he looks like he’s going to say something else, but closes his mouth. He turns once again, opening the door.

“Leon, wait,” you rise, staring at him. Your eyes meet, and you can see the longing in his eyes. You want to invite him to stay the night. After all, there’s a storm rolling in. It’s not safe, especially with his tendency to get horribly lost. You want to bring him back into the room and talk with him some more. You just don’t want him to leave.

“What is it?” He asks, waiting for you to say the words so he can turn around and come back.

“Stay safe.”

“Safe is my middle name.”

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