I grunt as I try to stuff my tent back into its bag while ignoring the pain in my hips. Needless to say I'm failing. Leon, now back in his regular getup, is across camp putting out the fire which is one of the last things we have to do. The kitchen was the first thing I cleaned and put away when I woke up this morning, and Leon packed away his personal bag before zapping his tent back into his pokédex. So while I struggle to pack away the very last bag Leon dumps water over half dead cinders.

Finally, I managed to get the tent back into its bag. However the dread had only started, so instead of having to hike all the way back to the train station with sore hips and two bags, I kept Zarude out to carry one bag while I carried another. Leon, being the smug bastard he is, smirks every time I feel a pinch of pain.

It's just about noon by the time Leon and I get to the train station, So while I get us tickets to Wedgehurst, Leon zaps out bags into his digital storage. Mostly because I threatened that if I had to put the bags away on the train in my condition it's going to be a very long time before he gets any of the causing situation ever again.

With our bags practically non existent I hand Leon his ticket and zap Za back into his pokéball. "I think my mom will like you," Leon smiles as he sits down in the train, "Oh?" I hummed digging through my personal bag I made sure he didn't zap away. "Yeah, you kind of remind me of her in a way. Great cook, kind of a neat freak." He chuckles, I shot him a playful glare as I pull out some more appropriate clothes. "I'm going to go change Lee." I wave, Leon nods his head as I slip away to the train bathroom.

I slip on some fitted black slacks, However I debate myself at the black tank top. I look at the mirror and kiss my teeth at all the purple markings, unknowing if they're coverable or not. I slide on the tank top and to Leon's credit all the marks stay under the tank top. So I tie on my navy scarf before pushing it off to the side and pull my hair into a simple updo. I fold my old clothes and exit the bathroom, Leon smiles as I come back, eyes soft and molten.

"You are so lucky I don't have any visible marks," I hiss, stuffing my older clothes into my bag, Leon grins before shrugging his shoulders bashfully. I scoff and push his hat down over his head, no where near fooled by the seemingly innocent expression. Leon grumbles something as he pushes his hat back up right in his head, but I can't bring myself to care as I sit down in my seat.

"Are we going to get bombarded by people when we get there?" I question, "Probably," Leon mumbles. I let out a sigh and leaned my head against his shoulder, "The woes of fame." I muse sarcastically. Leon chuckles and presses a chase kiss to the top of my head. We road the rest of the train in silence, soaking up all the peacefulness while we still could.

Once the train stopped I grab my bag and Leon lead us out of the station, even before we stepped out I could see the crowd of people swarming the entrance. "Show time Champion Leon." I smirk, Leon gives me a small smile and nods. Leon pops Charizard out of his ball before making his way out of the station, I hold in a snort watching the man strike his famous pose to the crowd of people. I am never going to get over that.

The crowd cheers loudly as I stand behind Leon, his Charizard beside me. "Hello, Hello Wedgehurst. Your Champion, Leon, is back!" He greets, I roll my eyes, I forget how caught up in the attention he can get. "I promise I'll keep doing my best to deliver the greatest battles for all of you to watch!" He goes on to promise. "And I promise to keep him from going mysteriously missing." I muse to myself, however I grin when Charizard snorts from beside me.

I watch Leon continue to interact with the crowd, one man even going so far to strike Leon's signature pose. I'll give him one thing, his fans sure are devoted. I watch Leon with a soft smile, as he tells the crowd about his dream to make Galar the strongest in the entire world. I never knew that was his dream, I always thought getting stronger was his dream. I jump as Charizard lets out a loud rawer from beside me, glaring as the Pokémon snickers afterwards.

"LEE!" A voice calls, my eyes follow the sound of a voice to a boy. He doesn't look any younger than twelve but definitely no older than fifteen. He had purple hair that matches Leon's and golden eyes to match. "Hop!" Leon grins, the crowd parts like the sea for Leon to step through. "So my number one fan in all the world has come out of his way to pick me up?" Leon chuckles, "Look at you Hop! I bet you've grown exactly an inch and a quarter since the last time I saw you." Leon continues to fawn over the boy.

My eyes widen at Leon's very specific guess, there's no way he can get that right...can he? "Bingo! That's the sort of sharp eye that's kept you undefeated so long. Eh, Lee?" The boy grins, How the hell did I not notice that Leon's eyes are as sharp as that. But then again, I get lost in them every time I look at them. I should make a mental note to be more careful.

"And these bright eyes over here," Leon smiles looking over at a little brunette girl, her eyes are deep, deep in a way that can be suffocating. I bite the inside of my cheek when I don't see the wonder in her eyes, there's something else, something...intense. "You must be the Gloria, Hop talks so much about!" Leon grins, I smile as the youngest brother goes red and starts to babble nonsense to his older brother. But I smirk upon seeing some slight pink to her cheeks at his words as well.

"Don't tease him, Lee, even I know better than to mess with kids like that." I muse, Leon turns and grins. "Hop, Gloria, this is-" Leon starts, "YOUR THE POKE QUEEN!" Gloria suddenly shouts. My eyes widen as I watch her eyes sparkle in complete awe, "(y/n), is just fine honey," I laugh waving her off. "Wow it's so cool to see you in person! I watched a live feed of your debut during the Macro Cosmos Foundation Gala and your dress was amazing!" She squeals. I smile down at her, watching as she bounces on the balls of her heels. "That old thing," I scoff, waving my hand, "It GLOWED!" She argues, "Yeah I guess it is pretty cool," I appease.

Leon clears his throat, I look away from Gloria to see the two brothers looking at us with puzzled expressions. I snort, "Don't be so sour you got blown off Lee, after all, not everyone can be as good as I am." I mock. I grin wide as Hop's mouth falls open and Gloria struggles to keep in her giggles. Leon shot me a warning look but I simply shrug, "Shouldn't we get to your mother's soon. If we don't get there before dark the risk of you getting lost triples ten fold." I remind, "Right! Lee! I bet I can beat both of you and Gloria there!" He challenges. He doesn't even let anyone respond before shooting off.

"That Hop, always trying to be the best. But if he had a good rival to challenge him it would bring him to new heights." Leon chuckles down at Gloria before shooting off after Hop. "YOU BETTER NOT GET LOST!" I call after him, "Uh boys," I grunt. Gloria giggles up at me with a small smile. "Come on honey, walk with me. My heels aren't made for running through dirt." I snort, Gloria and I walk side by side chatting with one another all the way to Hop's and Lee's.

By the time we get there Hop is bouncing all around his brother like a sugar crazed Pokémon. "Come on Lee! Gloria is here now! You promised us presents!" The boy begs, Leon smiles over at me and I give him a nod. "Out with it! I bet you got us Pokémon didn't you! Didn't you! Didn't you!" Hop susses out, yep right on the nail. Not going to lie, I never asked what Pokémon Leon brought with us, so I'm excited to see them too.

"Alright, check them out," Leon calls, tossing three balls out. I watch in awe as three tiny Pokémon pop out from the ball. A Grookey the grass type, A Sobble the water type, and a Scorbunny the fire type. All very cute choices in my book, but I can't help but see a cuter less scary version of Zarude when I look at Grookey. It takes the three Pokémon one whole minute to make a scene. "Arceus Lee," I sigh, walking forward and scooping up the crying Sobble, "They're all right (y/n)" Leon chuckles. "Alright everyone, line up!" Leon chimes, and just like that the water Pokémon jumps from arms and lines up with the other two.

"Which will you choose?" Leon questions, "Go one Gloria, you pick first. I already have the Wooloo, Lee caught for me." Hop smiles, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Gloria looks over at me and I nod my head encouragingly, I watch the young girl look back at the Pokémon. Her eyes landing on the fire type first, and just like I realize, I realize why Gloria doesn't have that spark of wonder.

Gloria is a blazing passion, intense and destructive, but oh so beautiful. I smile brightly as the girl made her choice, choosing the fire type just as I predicted. "Scorbunny huh? Then I chose Grookey. You're mine." Hop smiles over to the grass Pokémon. I watch the small grass Pokémon interact with Hop's Wooloo, Hop ranting to his new Pokémon about being the next champion. But my eyes cast to the side where the water Pokémon stared between Gloria and Hop all by his lonesome, a small pinch of guilt swelling in my chest.

"And that means you'll be coming with us," Leon calls from behind me, the water Pokémon looks up and I give it a small smile. I giggle as the small Pokémon leaps into my arms, "Don't worry sweetness, Lee will make you strong and I'll make sure you're happily fed with Poképuffs." I promise, brushing my hand over it's head. "Alright enough of this trainer nonsense, dinner's ready and I'd like to meet my eldest son's girlfriend now!" An older woman's voice sharply, "You're in for it now Lee." I giggle. Leon glares at me, but I can't find myself to care.

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