Houndoom bursts through the door fully Mega Evolved and the man who stood ready to greet us falters in his confidence upon seeing the Pokémon with me. "Where. Is. He?" I question slowly, "Look here princess, I'm not supposed—" The man starts puffing his chest up. "Me? Princess?" I mock, Zarude charging forward, the man screams and stubbles back to get away. Only to trip and fall to the floor, with Za hovering over him with fangs bared. My heavy steps echo the room as I make my way over to the trembling man. "No Honey, I'm the queen and from this moment forward, this is my castle. So I'll say it again. Where. Is. He?" I hiss.

"Take the lift he's on the top floor Ma'am— your highness." He answers hurriedly only to stop and correct himself in fear. I hum and move past his form and over to the lift, "You might want to make an announcement not to stop the lift, because if one person stops me I'll wipe this tower clean off the map with everyone in it." I chime opening up the lift, I gesture for my Pokémon and party to hurry along inside. The man shoots up from the floor and over to the desk where he issues a tower wide announcement. When he finishes I step into the lift and press the top floor. The elevating room still in tense silence, "You're...really scary." Marine mumbles. "Only to those who entice my wrath dearest." I chime watching as the number above the door rises.

Eventually we reach the top floor, where I'm met with Oleana. She looks worse for wear, make up running and her clothes disorderly. "Are you going to stop me?" I question simply, "I don't want to," She whispers, "Then don't. Step aside Oleana," I advise. "Then what will become of me? I'm too far deep." She rasps, "You'll become someone better, don't be afraid to let him go Oleana. You're never too far deep to pick yourself." I soothe. I watch Oleana grip her pokéball tightly, and I prepare myself for her attack. Only it never comes, her pokéball drops from her hand and she falls to her knees.

"Piers," I call softly, "Look after her for me," I mumble before moving forward and brushing past her defeated form. I charge further into the large space, where I finally see the purple hair of Leon. "Leon!" I call rushing forward, Leon whips around to face me, the Chairman turning ever so slightly. "Arceus Lee! One text! On text is all it took to tell me you were okay! Do you know what I had to go through to get here?" I rant as the sting of building tears rises. "Hey, (y/n)! I'm sorry!" He laughs scratching his cheek, my heart drops, did he really not understand my worry? My throat closes up and my vision to blur, I can vaguely see Leon's bashful expression turn to one of shock. "No Leon, just...no." I whisper painfully. "You two have dinner with Leon, I'm going home." I mumble brushing past the two children as I zap my Pokémon back into their balls.

I sit in front of the tv in my living room, watching as the opening sequence of the final battle of the Gym Challenge pays across the screen. Houndoom curls into my lap, my hand running over his fur.

I could barely bring myself to get out of bed this morning, especially when I spent all night crying, not just about the fact Leon is clueless but the fact that he didn't even bother to acknowledge that he might have done something wrong. Not one text or Phone call since I'd seen him the night before, so here I sit on the couch of my living room watching the event start. Leon then comes across the screen, giving an opening speech in the place of The Chairman who he excuses to be busy. I scoff and scratch the back of Houndoom's horn, but I can't help but notice the little things. Like the way his Champion gold eyes seemed dulled over, or the fact I see that I see that one line that creases under his eyes when I know he doesn't get enough sleep. His smile forced in a way that fools even the toughest show judges, but not the people who've used that same smile too.

Eventually the screen cuts to Gloria and a small smile pulls on my lips, only to snort when Bebe takes to the field, challenging Gloria one last time. Betting his entire career if he loses, I have to admit the boy has grit, not to mention the fairy type gym uniform gives him bonus points for style. The battle is grand, as one of such two people could be, not so much in power but definitely in style. A true performance if I've ever seen one. But Bebe lost, not that I'm all that shocked, but I watch as Bebe is moved by the support of the crowd. I smirk as he announces his training as the Fairy type Gym Leader, it seems Opal approved of my recommendation.

From that point on Gloria took on every gym leader starting with Nessa and building all the way to Raihan before she finally came face to face with Leon. My heart clenched in my chest, but before the battle could start my screen was taken over by Chairman Rose. My heart dropping to my stomach as the urge to puke washes over me, his plans finally come to light. It explains everything, the power outage at the Gala and cities, the abundance of Gigamax Pokémon all over the place, Leon being dragged around like a chained Houndoom to clean up every little mess he made.

My thoughts are broken by a text from Hop, nothing but an address was sent, but I don't hesitate to stand up and rush to the door. I pull on some shoes as Houndoom carries my bag with my other pokéballs inside. I rush outside and run until I find the first taxi, "Just give me the Pokémon! I need to get to Hammerlocke asap!" I demand. "Lady I can't just—" He starts, "GIVE ME THE DAMN POKEMON!" I scream. The man jumps at my outburst but hurriedly straps to unstrap the Corviknight, "Just make sure to be careful alright? I can't have this on my record." He pleads as I take my bag from Houndoom. "Trust me, this is going to be the last thing on anyone's mind today." I huff hoisting myself up and zapping Doom back into his ball.

Just as I'm settled the Pokémon takes off, "Come on bud, get me there fast, don't worry about me!" I call to the Pokémon. The Flying Pokémon takes my cue and blasts through the air. I held on tight as the Pokémon flew, nerves frazzled and fried as the worry in my chest grew. Just as I look up I see the blinding lights of Hammerlocke, "To the stadium!" I call pointing. The Pokémon lets out a sound of understandment before flying to the stadium. I look down, looking for any sign of Leon, until I spot a giant red and blue Pokémon sitting on the roof, a familiar orange Pokémon shooting blasts of fire at it. "LEON!" I scream, The man's head snaps to the direction of my voice. "(Y/N)?" He screams in return. As soon as the Corviknight gets close enough I jump right off him, Leon's eyes widen before he launches forward to catch me.

I hear him grunt when I land in his arms, "What are you doing here?" He gaps. I don't pay him any mind before tuning to the flying Pokémon, "Go home to your trainer, don't stop for anything!" I order, the Pokémon lets out a screech before taking off. "I'm here to back you up Leon," I huff, pulling myself away from him, "Why?" He questions as I pull out Houndoom. "I may be mad at you, but I'm still your shield Leon." I quip zapping Houndoom out of his ball, "Alright Houndoom let's show him the stars! Kalos style!" I call. Houndoom howls as he starts to glow, the glow consumes his body until it bursts and reveals his Mega form.

"Houndoom use fire fang!" I call, the Pokémon launching itself at the enormous Pokémon, "Charizard use Flamethrower!" Leon follows suit. The two attacks hit the Pokémon but it does little damage, "Do you think you can double up Lee?" I question. "If you think you can." he returns, "Let's go Za!" I call out popping open the pokéball. "Let's Aegislash!" Leon shouts, the two Pokémon zap out of their ball, and that's when the real battle began. Leon and I worked to grind down on the unknown Pokémon, I'll give it one thing it can take some damage. It wasn't long before the only two Pokémon we had left were Charizard and Houndoom, who is still barely holding onto his Mega form.

"Can you Gigamax Lee?" I question wiping the sweat off my face, Leon looks down at his band as he tries to activate it, only for the energy to be sucked out and right into the unknown Pokémon in front of us. I let out a ragged breath and prepare my next attack when hurried footsteps came stomping closer. I turn to see both Gloria and Hop rushing over to us, "ARE YOU TWO INSANE?" I screech. "We're here to help!" Gloria calls, "It's dangerous!" I snap, "We'll be okay Sis!" Hop calls in return. "Thanks for coming anyway!" Leon shouts, "LEON!" I chide, the man simply turned his head back to the battle. "(y/n) and I managed to weaken it, I should be able to catch it!" Leon announces, I watch him reach into his pocket and pull out a pokéball. A fucking pokéball. "Leon what the—" I don't even get to finish before he's launching the ball at the Pokémon. He holds his hand out to us as the Pokémon is zapped inside. I held my breath as the ball dropped to the ground, I glanced at Leon, who looked back at Charizard who dove for the kids and Houndoom.

The ball chimes once before bursting open, the shock wave knocks me clear across the ground, until there wasn't any ground. A scream rips from my throat when I feel myself fall, my eyes wide and open despite that all I want is to close them. I watch as Leon dives for me, my fingers brushing against his, before slipping away from him completely. I catch Leon's eyes, so wide and filled with fear, but I let myself fall into them. Not wanting to know anything else but them when it all ends. I don't hear a thing, and the only thing I can see is his pools of true champion gold.

Until the air is knocked out of me, I'm suddenly brought back to reality as my ability to breath and comprehend is forced back into me. Slowly I realize Charizard's grip around my body as he flies us through the air and back up to Leon who looks completely and utterly traumatized as he sits there on his knees unmoving. I'm set back down on the building ever so gently, Leon's shaking hands coming up to cup my face, it's only when he confirms that I'm actually sitting in front of him does tears break from his worried eyes. He pulls me close to him, openly sobbing into my body, I hold him back still not processing that I almost just died.

Instead I watch the kids battle the giant Pokémon from over his shoulder, but my hands fists tightly around Leon's cape. Terrified of letting go, terrified that if I let go I'll fall again. The urge to puke floods my body as the Pokémon above us suddenly gains a much more terrifying form, coiling around itself in a swirl before opening its mouth like a vortex. "Leon," I whisper, "I love you." I whimper. Fear suffocates me as I look up at the monster, "I love you too." He mumbles.

My body shook as he pulled away, and I watched in complete wonder as he stood. "Can't let the kids fend for themselves, come on." He whispers, almost begging, because I think he knew he wouldn't be able to do it without me just as much as I know I wouldn't be able to do without him.

I took his hand before he lifted me to my feet, Leon and I made our way to stand behind the kids, our signature Pokémon lining up beside each of theirs. I stood behind Gloria as Leon stood behind Hop. I loosen the scarf around my neck as Leon tosses off his cape, "Let's show this overgrown Weedle a Champion Time shall we?" I call, "Only if we can show him the stars." Leon calls back. "Let's do this!" Hop shouts, "We got this." Gloria smiles. Damn right we do.

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