#i never did figure out why yamper barks at him | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

somepinkthing · 4 years

Text

I Choose You!

AO3 LINK

POKEMON AU POKEMON AU!!!

Collaboration with @tissueboxesforseals who pitched the idea and did some amazing art!!! Go check it out!!! So glad we went on this pokemon adventure together :3

Summary: Jiang Cheng meets the most beautiful boy on the planet while trying to fight off a Natu. Which is funny because Wei Ying also has met the most beautiful boy on the planet while mud wrestling a Yungoos.

Huaisang and Wangji just want to know who these two idiots fighting random Pokemon in front of their brothers' gyms are.

---

Blocking Jiang Cheng's path to the gym was a group of the pinkest, roundest Pokemon Jiang Cheng had ever seen. Also… was that a feebas? In a fishbowl?

Well, at least he knew they weren't wild then.

"What little girl left their pokemon laying around? Why do we even let irresponsible children keep pokemon if all they're gonna do is this?" he grumbled to himself as he tried to shoo the pokemon away by nudging them with his feet. The issue was that as soon as he managed to move one, another scrambled to take up the empty spot. Then, when he turned to move that one, the first one slipped right back in. It's like they had an agenda against him. Finally, the Natu decided it was going to take horrible offense to being shifted from its resting spot and pecked harshly at his boot, causing Jiang Cheng to flinch back with a curse and almost lose his footing. Natu looked almost smug about it. God, Jiang Cheng hated birds.

Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue. What a waste of time.

"Hello? Which little girl do these things belong to?! Come collect your Pokemon! Who the hell owns these guys?!"

"That would be me," a gentle voice came up from behind him.

Jiang Cheng whirled around and got an eyeful of the prettiest boy he had ever seen. Large golden eyes framed by thick, silky hair the color of the darkest chocolate. A slim figure covered in an olive green cape, a color that matched his slightly tanned complexion perfectly. A narrow nose, curated eyebrows, long eyelashes, and plush lips all perfectly melded together on his face to create a cute expression that just screamed ... annoyance and disdain.

"My apologies for not being a little girl. Those Pokemon are mine though."

Ah. Right.

"How long have you been standing there?" Jiang Cheng asked sheepishly.

"Not too long," the boy said in a sharp tone that definitely implied that he'd just watched Jiang Cheng insult him under his breath while trying to lightly nudge his Pokemon out of the way (...with his foot) for roughly five minutes.

"Yeah. Um. Sorry about that. I just need to get through to this gym. I'm here to challenge the gym leader, you see, and I really just want to pass."

The boy nodded and made up the stairs, toward Jiang Cheng and his pokemon.

"I thought it'd be okay to leave them here for a minute or two while I grabbed something," he explained politely, but managing to still sounding supremely unimpressed to Jiang Cheng. "The front entrance is all the way around, after all. This one behind me is closed to all but staff so this path is rarely taken by anyone. Evidently, it was irresponsible of me."

Jiang Cheng's eyes widened. "I-I didn't know. I'm new to the area? I mean, I'm not from around here. I mean, I'm from Yunmeng. Do you know the region? Lots of water and beautiful in the warmer seasons--"

Jiang Cheng knew he was babbling uselessly. The other boy did too. Not paying Jiang Cheng any mind, he ordered his Pokemon aside with a wave of his hand. Immediately, Stufful and Togepi clambered onto his slim shoulders and the birds took to the air, landing on the railings at the sides. Steadying them, Pretty Boy leaned down for Hattrem, who climbed into her master's waiting arms after shooting Jiang Cheng a truly nasty look. Wordlessly, the boy then moved past Jiang Cheng and picked up his fishbowl (and that was definitely a Feebas), putting it to the side of the pathway before shifting aside himself.

"Go on then. I'm sorry to have kept you," he said with a sweeping 'after you' gesture.

Jiang Cheng was about to squeak out a thank you and book it but his plans were interrupted with a loud bark.

"Yamper! How'd you get out?!"

Jiang Cheng watched in horror as Yamper threw her fat little body at the beautiful boy, dislodging Hattrem from her comfortable spot in her owner's arms. Hattrem's pigtails rose, entering attack-mode, but a quick hand on her head stopped her mid-hiss.

"And who is this?" The boy asked, suddenly sounding delighted. Like sunlight after a storm, his golden eyes lit up. All traces of anger were immediately flushed out by the laughter Yamper's eager bids for attention drew out of him.

"Yamper," Jiang Cheng replied, unable to bring himself to wrestle the little Pokemon away from the boy and back into her pokeball. "She was the first Pokemon I got."

"She's a bit of a brat," Jiang Cheng admitted apologetically. "I can take her if you want. Sorry about this."

"Don't be," the boy told him, nuzzling his face against Yamper's rotund belly. "I love her."

Jiang Cheng couldn't stop staring as the boy cuddled his Yamper. She loved it, of course, tail wagging furiously at all the attention she was being shown. Her wet tongue on his cheek forced a surprise, loud laugh out of the boy. He really was unfairly pretty for a guy, especially when he smiled.

Finally, the boy turned his attention back at Jiang Cheng, who immediately looked off to the side to avoid being caught staring.

“I’m sorry, I got carried away,” he apologized. Jiang Cheng just shook his head, reassuring the boy that he didn’t mind, Yamper was always like this. So far, only Wei Wuxian was immune to her charms.

“But, um,” the boy said, biting on his plush lower lip in hesitation before continuing, “Actually, do you mind if I ask to see your others?”

“Huh?” Jiang Cheng started. No, he hadn't been staring at Pretty Boy’s lips.

“I-I’m sorry. It’s just that I rarely get out of this region. And when I do, I’m always just accompanying my brother. I love to see all the different types of Pokemon that people bring to the gym,” Pretty Boy admitted, suddenly bashful. “I-If you have some time, I’d love to see yours too...”

“Oh! Yeah, I have time ...” Jiang Cheng managed to snap out of his stupor enough to rummage around in his pack for his Pokeballs and summon the others.

“So I got Eevee, Shinx, Snubbull, Chinchou, Houndour, and you’ve met Yamper. Obviously.”

Pretty Boy’s eyes lit up even brighter than before. “They’re amazing! Oh, they’re so pretty!” he exclaimed, bending over slightly in order to wave hello to the rest of Jiang Cheng's team.

Jiang Cheng glowed with pride. His team was pretty amazing and well-groomed, thank you. His team preened too, immediately taken with this new person (as they are with every person to Jiang Cheng’s dismay). Houndour was already inching over towards Pretty Boy in the hopes that he’d get pet too. He was--the boy leaned down and scratched him right behind the ears.

"But wait… You're going to challenge this gym?" Pretty Boy asked, straightening up. He was still holding Yamper in his arms with the little creature still trying to lick at every single inch of her new friend’s face. The electricity in Yamper's fur was making the boy's hair stand up at odd angles, but he didn't seem to mind it.

It didn't serve to make him any less beautiful.

Well. Objectively, of course. In the same way a Milotic is beautiful. Not Jiang Cheng's opinion, just a matter of fact.

....He was so screwed.

"I am," Jiang Cheng replied with as much pride as his dry tongue would allow him.

The boy quirked an eyebrow up in response. He looked mildly concerned, turning to look at the imposing gym then back at Jiang Cheng and his little gaggle of pokemon.

"They're strong!" Jiang Cheng justified, hackles rising at the thought that he was being looked down upon. Just because they were small, doesn't mean they weren't ready! And what right did this boy have to judge? His largest pokemon was a Stufful!

Jiang Cheng swore he saw plush, pink lips quirk up in amusement at the corners, but, before he could feel properly affronted, the other boy quickly schooled his features and nodded thoughtfully.

"They must be pretty good for you to bring them all the way here. They look well trained too, aren't you?" He could not have more obviously been talking to Yamper when he cooed that last part and started scratching her stomach. Jiang Cheng's face still lit up like he was the one being praised.

He really needed to calm down.

"I can bring you to the front entrance," the boy offered, "I know the area pretty well."

Still trying to control his furious blush, Jiang Cheng nodded stiffly.

"Thanks. That'll be ... swell," Jiang Cheng said, not trusting himself to say any more.

Pretty Boy giggled. "Swell. This way then… um. I'm sorry, never asked for your name?"

"Jiang Cheng. I'm a Pokemon Trainer," he introduced himself.

"I’d gathered as much," the boy replied with a smile that assured Jiang Cheng that he was only teasing. "I'm Huaisang. It's good to meet you, Jiang Cheng"

---

“You could have told me you were the gym leader’s brother,” Jiang Cheng pouted while watching as Huaisang fed Yamper yet another cookie. “And stop that, she’ll get fat.”

“She needs to replenish her energy after the battle she just had,” Huaisang replied.

He then turned back to Yamper and started cooing again. “Don’t you, girl? You worked so hard and you deserve a treat, don’t you?”

Yamper obviously agreed, barking and hopping up and down around Nie Huaisang's feet. Her energy encouraged the others and, soon, Chinchou and Eevee joined their friend. Huaisang didn't at all mind having bundles of energy hopping away underfoot. In fact, he seemed even more taken by them, if possible.

Jiang Cheng forced himself to quit watching the adorable scene happening right next to him. He was mad at this boy, goddammit!

“Don’t change the subject! Your brother is terrifying! Why didn’t you tell me who you were?” Jiang Cheng demanded. He really shouldn’t have had to find out from Gym Leader Nie in the middle of their battle that the guy he’d been ogling just moments before getting to the gym was his younger brother.

“So, you’re the boy who my brother brought back? The one who insulted his Pokemon on the street?”

Jiang Cheng winced at the memory and Huaisang caught the movement out of the corner of his eye.

“Hey, I can guess what you’re thinking and it’s not true. My brother would have beat you into submission whether or not you knew me, that’s just his style. He’s a big dude with big Pokemon--he and his team love to throw their dumb body mass around,” Huaisang said, fondness for his older brother and his team evident in his voice despite his words.

“And there wasn’t any point in telling you I was related to the guy you were hoping to beat,” Huaisang continued, “You’d have gone in no matter what I said. Trust me, I’ve tried to warn people about the brute.”

Before Jiang Cheng could respond, Nie Mingjue’s booming voice grabbed both of their attention.

“HUAISANG!” he roared down the hall, volume unhindered by the long distance and multiple doors between him and the target of his ire, “COME GET YOUR FUCKING BIRDS!”

If Jiang Cheng strained his ears, he could almost swear that he could hear Natu screeching triumphantly.

Huaisang hurried to the door. Sticking his head out, he yelled back in an equally impressive volume, “BROTHER, IF YOU KEEP ON LIKE THAT, HATTREM’S GOING TO--”

“ARGH!” Nie Mingjue’s surprised screech answered. Well, guess Hattrem found him then.

“Too late,” Huaisang groaned.

He turned from the door and produced a whole package of cookies from his bag. Snubbull made a swipe for them, but a stern look from Jiang Cheng reminded her of her manners. She slunk over to Houndour, properly chastised. Huaisang giggled affectionately, seeming very taken by her already. Jiang Cheng couldn’t quite keep the blush off his face looking at Huaisang giggle. He didn’t understand why he felt so embarrassed, it’s not like Huaisang’s Pokemon were any better behaved.

“She’s lucky she’s cute,” Jiang Cheng grumbled. Snubbull trilled out a sad little whine in response. Jiang Cheng ignored it--his Pokemon only thought they were sly. She knew that was no way to act.

“It’s okay,” Huaisang assured him, “I’m pleased they liked my baking so much.”

Then he turned to the Pokemon and wagged a scolding finger at them.

“But these aren’t for you guys," he told them, "You’ve all eaten your share. These are for your trainer.”

Jiang Cheng startled, blinking a few times. He had to have heard that wrong. For him?! But Huaisang held out the cookies towards him, clearly expecting him to take them, and, holy shit, this guy really baked Jiang Cheng cookies? After the first impression he’d left on this boy, he went back home and made him food? And he’d wrapped them in such cute, dog-print snack bag too.

Jiang Cheng was pretty sure his face was actually glowing by the time he found his tongue again. It wasn’t his fault he was so caught off guard though! People did things like this for Wei Wuxian, not him!

“Y-You don’t have to! I haven’t gotten anything for you,” Jiang Cheng squeaked out.

“It’s a gift,” Huaisang explained, “You don’t have to give me anything back. Anyways, you need to replenish your energy too. My brother is way too hard on his opponents.”

“He’s fair,” Jiang Cheng protested, “And he gives excellent advice after. It really shows how much he cares about the trainers that come to him. You should really respect how he takes everyone seriously, no matter who they are.”

Huaisang blinked, surprised that Jiang Cheng would stand up for the man who just handed his ass to him. Jiang Cheng groaned inwardly at the silence that followed his mini-lecture.

There. He’s done it again.

But instead of being upset, Nie Huaisang’s smile stretched wider. Tenderly, he took one of Jiang Cheng's hands and placed the cookies onto a waiting palm.

“You’re overestimating him, he really is just a maniac,” Huaisang said fondly, “But, yeah, he does care a lot about his trainers. He just doesn't always know how to show it. Not everyone always sees that though and a lot of people tend to be upset with him after their battles, so…”

So Huaisang made sure to smooth things over with the trainers before they left, probably all too used to hearing angry insults spat out about his brother. He’d have long since learned to keep a straight face in the face of them, but they still sucked.

Jiang Cheng knew the feeling all too well. How many times has he had to listen to some Pokemon breeder rant on and on after his brother’s infamous curiosity got him into trouble yet again, poking his nose into private property? How often has he had to reassure yet another furious trainer that Wei Wuxian would not be touching their Pokemon again after his brother just had to see the interesting new Pokemon up close and personal? And each time, Jiang Cheng had been unable to even counter the harsh words; they were right to be mad, after all. Wei Wuxian was chaos given human form and he had the tendency to leave destruction in his wake for others to deal with. Jiang Cheng himself has shared more than a few choice words with his older brother about his behavior over the years. Still, knowing that Wei Wuxian probably deserved it never made it any easier for Jiang Cheng to stomach some stranger calling his brother “a filthy reprobate”.

So yeah, Jiang Cheng knew the feeling. He was secretly a little glad that he could ease that tension for Huaisang. He had such a nice smile and he shouldn’t have to be so tense.

Out loud, all Jiang Cheng said was, “Speaking of your brother…”

“Oh! Right! Here, take these cookies. I have to go check on my brother…. Or not.” Huaisang cut off mid-sentence to wave nervously at someone behind Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng turned around to find Nie Mingjue glowering from the doorway.

Damn, the man was humongous. He seemed even bigger when angry.

“Huaisang,” Nie Mingjue ground out through gritted teeth. In one hand, he held Hattrem by her tails. She didn’t seem to mind it one bit, gleefully cheering as she batted at him with her tiny little arms. In his other hand, he held Spritzee by her feet, dangling her like a chicken. Again, the Pokemon hardly seemed alarmed. On his shoulder sat Togepi, which seemed to be Huaisang’s least dastardly team member. Lastly, there was Stufful, who had attached herself to Nie Mingjue's left leg and appeared totally content to be dragged along by the man as he marched into the room with all the rest of her friends in tow.

But wait, there was one missing. Jiang Cheng almost opened his mouth to ask about Natu but a horrid chirping noise cut him off.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Natu flew in behind Nie Mingjue, free and unbothered, before landing right on Nie Mingjue’s head. She looked disgustingly smug.

“Da-Ge,” Huaisang greeted sheepishly. He hurried to signal all his Pokemon towards him. To their credit, they immediately hopped to it, leaving Nie Mingjue alone with just a wave of Huaisang’s hand. They’d obviously had training, it seemed as if they were simply very finicky about who they obeyed.

“Da-Ge, go easy on them,” Huaisang soothed, “They’re just bored.”

“They could join us for training if their that bored,” Nie Mingjue grumbled, but still deflated a bit.

“Da-Ge, not this again,” Huaisang groaned, exasperated.

Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes but didn’t push the issue. Instead, he turned to acknowledge Jiang Cheng's presence.

"Take your time to recover. Your Pokemon deserve it after a job well done. Your little guys may not have beat me, but taking out Gyrados is no small feat. Be proud."

Jiang Cheng straightened up.

"Yes, sir. I'll work hard on my trip and come back when I'm more ready."

Nie Mingjue nodded his approval, but didn't immediately divert his attention like Jiang Cheng expected him to. Instead, he looked Jiang Cheng up and down, humming to himself as he did. Jiang Cheng puffed up, trying to meet the Gym Leader's scrutiny. The man really reminded him of his mother and Jiang Cheng couldn't help but try and meet his standards.

"You say you're on a journey?" Nie Mingjue asked, a glint in his eye that had Huaisang watching his brother suspiciously from the sidelines. "Am I right to assume that's for the gym challenge?"

Jiang Cheng nodded. "Yes. My mother thought it would be good for me."

"And? Has it been?"

Jiang Cheng didn't understand why he was being interrogated, but he didn't dare leave the man hanging either.

"So far, yes. I've seen many different Pokemon and…" Jiang Cheng found his eyes sliding over to Huaisang, "... and I've met many interesting new people. I'd never have gotten this experience if I had stayed at home."

Nie Mingjue nodded. He appraised Jiang Cheng one last time before turning towards Huaisang, who was busying himself while they talked by fussing over Natu and petting Yamper who, once again, found her way into his arms.

"Huaisang, go with him when he leaves," he ordered his younger brother.

"I always see them out," Huaisang assured his brother.

"No," Nie Mingjie shook his head. "I mean grab that bag you've had packed for ages and go. With my blessing, as long as you stay with this young man."

….. what?

WHAT?!

"Da-Ge?!" Huaisang asked, sounding as confused as Jiang Cheng felt.

Suddenly, a hard slap landed on Jiang Cheng's shoulder. It easily almost pitched him straight off the bed he was sitting in, how strong was this guy?!

"Take care of him and bring him home in one piece, kid. And don't coddle him, he can take care of himself despite the whining."

He had to be joking, right? No way was The Nie Mingjue just casually pitching his notoriously-beloved younger brother at Jiang Cheng. No way. This was definitely some weird joke and any minute now Nie Mingjue would let the two of them in on it.

"Da-Ge, you cannot be serious.” Huaisang spoke for the both of them since Jiang Cheng was finding himself at a loss for words.

"You've wanted to go on an adventure, right? Get out of the house more?" Nie Mingjue asked Huaisang. Huaisang sputtered for a response.

"Not-Not like this! You can't just-just shoehorn me out the door!"

Nie Mingjue merely laughed in the face of his brother's distress.

"I think you'll find I can. Get your bags, Huaisang! Actually, I'll get them for you. You two catch up!"

"Wait! I said wait, you oaf! Hey!"

---

The sun was already setting by the time they made it to the end of the very path Jiang Cheng had met Nie Huaisang on just earlier today.

"... you don't actually have to stay with me the whole way. My brother's just an overprotective idiot, I'll be fine without a babysitter."

Huaisang bit his lower lip and shot Jiang Cheng a self-deprecating smile. Jiang Cheng's heart clenched at seeing so much insecurity and doubt mar the other boy's features. If Jiang Cheng were being honest? He'd found himself really hoping Huaisang would want to come with him ever since Nie Mingjue had returned with a heavy pack and a still-protesting-Huaisang in tow. He got lonely sometimes, he could admit it. He missed having company, and he could do worse than Nie Huaisang for company. A lot worse.

But he couldn't exactly just say that, could he? He'd just met the kid, he'd definitely creep him out if he seemed too eager to have him follow along.

Jiang Cheng put his hands in his pockets, awkwardly trying to find the words. In his pocket he found the small package that Huaisang had gifted him with earlier, still filled with cookies. He'd almost forgotten about that that--he'd carefully tucked them into a pocket in the middle of all the confusion, promising to try one later.

"It's fine," Jiang Cheng finally worked up the courage to reply, "Just think of it as a thank you for the cookies."

Huaisang blinked at him incredulously.

"I'll be in your hands, partner."

173 notes · View notes

samsonet · 4 years

Text

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

Sonia was somebody, once. Maybe she'll be somebody now, too.

Title from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 43, "How Do I Love Thee?"

Galar has one hero. Everyone knows this.

One hero, wielding the legendary sword and shield, saved the region from the Darkest Day.

One hero, rising above all others, gaining glory with every victory.

Everyone knows this.

When Sonia was fifteen, she wandered into the Slumbering Weald.

She was lost. She was tired and cold and hungry. Leon was Champion, Nessa and Raihan were training to be gym leaders, and Sonia was —

Sonia was —

nothing and nobody.

She was lost, that’s all.

Gloria twirls her hair the same way Sonia does.

She holds herself the way Sonia does, like she’s not sure if she’s really allowed to be here, to be doing this.

She leans on Hop the way Sonia leaned on Leon, always walking two steps behind.

Sonia worries for them.

She watches the kids’ journey, in person when she can and on the league channels when she can’t.

Of course, the media picks up on how Hop and Gloria reflect Leon and his childhood rival — what was her name again? Professor Magnolia’s granddaughter — oh, yeah, Sonia. They broadcast every parallel, from how long it takes them to reach the gyms to which moves they use in different situations.

One cruel Chattr account sets up a poll about how long it will take Gloria to drop out.

Sonia blocks them.

She and Leon used to be close.

They pretty much grow up together, sipping hot cocoa in Gran’s lab and talking about their futures. Leon has high hopes — he’s always had high hopes, especially for a nobody from a town the rest of the region forgot.

She calls him Leo because she wants to give him a nickname and Hop’s the only one allowed to call him Lee. Leon calls her Sunny in return.

They’re kids. They’re happy.

Then one day, Chairman Rose arrives.

Who knows what he saw in Leon? The story goes that Leon had something about his eyes, but if he did, wouldn’t Sonia have noticed it first?

Whatever the case, Leon holds onto the sponsorship letter with both hands. He rushes home to say goodbye to his family, and an hour later he’s at the station, leaving her behind.

Gran hands her a letter, too, because apparently the regional professor can do that. “He’s your friend, isn’t he? Then become the best rival you can be, to help him get stronger.”

Sonia runs after her friend.

It’s the first time she has to catch up to him. It won’t be the last.

They grow stronger together, for a while. But every time they fight, Leon wins.

They battle.

He wins.

They battle.

He wins.

They battle.

Sonia loses.

She loses to him.

She loses him.

Leon becomes the Champion. Sonia goes home. Suddenly they never have enough time to just hang out. They try battling for cups and exhibition matches, but the skill difference is so big that it’s no longer fun for either of them.

Leon remains in Wyndon. Sonia goes home.

She leaves voicemail messages, mostly things like how tall Hop has grown or how the weather is. He leaves his own messages in return.

Everything changes, but at the same time, it feels like nothing did.

Gran sends her to research the Darkest Day.

It’s an excuse to get her out of the house, probably. Sonia knows she’s been moping. She did the work to get her master’s degree, but even that doesn’t give her a sense of direction. It’s just something she does, because that’s the path her story takes.

Galar has one story. Galar has one hero.

When the people cheer, they’re yelling Leon’s name.

Opal says, “You had more correct answers than Leon did.”

It’s the first time since the beginning of the challenge that Sonia has actually done something better than Leon. She looks up at the gym leader, eyes wide.

“You obviously have talent,” Opal observes, “but you give up too easily. I suppose it must be hard being Professor Magnolia’s granddaughter, yes?”

“Haha… I guess…”

Opal laughs. “I wish you luck, child. Though with your skill, you might not need it.”

It’s pure luck that she’s there when the mural falls and reveals two statues.

Two statues.

The theory forms in her head like an arrow reaching a target. One hero — two youths — history is written by the survivors — a sword and a shield — one hero — the Darkest Day — history can be covered up — one hero — who knew about this? — who changed it? — why?

Galar has one hero.

Everyone knows this.

Right?

Maybe not.

She meets Nessa at the opening ceremony, but it’s at Hulbury when they actually become friends.

“I know water-types like the back of my hand!” she boasts, spreading her arms wide. “This is my city, and I’m gonna shine in the gym battle!”

“Oh yeah? Well, I’m gonna win, too! My team is strong!” From Sonia’s arms, Yamper barks. He knows what he’s here for.

But Nessa laughs, trying to hide it behind her hand.

“What’s so funny?”

“If I can give you a word of advice? The gym leader’s got a Palpitoad. You need to figure out a way to beat ‘im without Yamper.”

Sonia bites her lip, considering.

She spends the rest of the day on the route back to Turffield, catching an Eldegoss.

When Sonia leaves the Stadium victorious, she finds Nessa and thanks her. “It was nice of you to tell me that. You could’ve just let me walk in there and lose.”

“I like you,” Nessa says, sticking out her hand. “If you wanna repay me, think about this: be my rival all the way to Wyndon!”

Leon is already my rival.

But Sonia has two hands.

She reaches out and shakes Nessa’s.

“I accept, rival!”

It doesn’t have to be like this, Sonia muses, back at the lab. She pictures the region as the outline of a hand, holding onto its story, holding onto its champion. When it can be like this. Galar has two heroes.

She snorts.

Her grandmother asks, “What’s so funny?”

Sonia finds she doesn’t quite have the words.

Sonia writes.

She writes everything. She writes like it’s all she knows how to do. She pours her heart on the page and backs it up with sixty pages of citations.

Her gran’s publisher picks up the book. Part of it is her name, probably, but Gran reminds her that academic presses are strict. If the research wasn’t credible, they wouldn’t have accepted it no matter whose name was on the cover.

Sonia takes some pride in that.

When Sonia was fifteen, she wandered into the Slumbering Weald.

She was lost, but somehow she felt called farther up and further in. Farther up and further in. Farther up — and then she finds it.

It’s a crumbling ruin. That in itself isn’t strange; Galar is full of ruins, after all.

But this spot…

There’s power here. She can feel it.

The fog surrounds her.

She reaches out.

The fog whispers, you are not the hero of this story.

“Hop and Gloria know what they’re doing with their lives,” Gran says. “You should be more like them.”

Gran, Sonia wants to say, They’re twelve. When I was twelve, I knew what I was doing with my life, too.

What she says is, “I’ve got time, don’t I? I’ll figure something out.”

Once, during a very sad off-season, Sonia and Raihan go on a date.

They spend the entire time talking about Leon.

She’s not sure what she expected.

When Sonia is seventeen, Nessa visits. She’s come out all the way to Wedgehurst, so it must be big news.

Sure enough, she doesn’t disappoint. Nessa grins, bright and beaming, and says, “It’s official! I’m a gym leader, Sunny!”

Oh. “That’s -- that’s amazing! I’m so happy for you!”

Nessa’s quiet for a moment. Sonia guesses what she’s thinking: You don’t have to pretend to be happy for me. It’s okay if you’re mad or sad or something that I’m moving forward and you aren’t.

But Nessa grins and says, “Why don’t I take you out for dinner? Come on, my treat!”

Maybe Sonia doesn’t know what her friends think, after all.

(They have a good time, regardless.)

When Sonia is twenty-one, she wanders into the Slumbering Weald again.

Ah, but she’s not wandering now, is she? She’s guiding a hero.

At the stone monument, Hop is waiting for his rival. One hero of Galar runs to meet the other. He welcomes her with open arms.

They have one final battle, not as gym challengers, not as Sonia and Leon part two. This time, they’re friends and rivals. This time, they’re legends.

Gloria and Zacian strike.

Hop and Zamazenta defend.

And in the end…

“I want to become a Pokémon Professor,” Hop declares. Gloria nods enthusiastically, then hugs him. There’s no gap between them, now; they’re complementing parts, each with their own purpose.

When Leon appears, it’s all Sonia can do to keep from hugging him, too.

When Sonia is eleven, she enters Hulbury and is ambushed by a group of reporters.

“Sonia! As Leon’s rival, do you have any tips on how to defeat him?”

“Sonia! Are the rumors true that your grandmother is developing a new form of Dynamaxing?”

“Can you give a comment about why you retired from battling professionally?”

She hates this. She wants to scream.

Then the boy king himself appears. “What’re you all doing?”

Sonia gives him a helpless shrug. Go away, Leo! Let me die of embarrassment in peace!

But Leon doesn’t go away. Instead, he pushes into the crowd and stands between her and the others.

“You wanna bother her? Why don’t you battle me first!”

The reporters pause.

Leon doesn’t show any signs of joking.

The reporters back off.

Later, when they’ve lost the press and hidden on some rocks by the lighthouse, she asks, “Why’d you bother stepping in, Leo?”

Why waste your time with me? Don’t you have a new, stronger rival now?

“I dunno.” He kicks the air. “I guess… Since you don’t battle anymore… I feel like I gotta keep an eye out for you. I wanna help you.”

She gives a smile that she doesn’t feel. “You can’t always help people by winning battles, you know.”

Leon looks away.

One day, over a cup of tea, Hop says, “Y’know, I’ve been thinking.”

It’s his serious tone. Sonia sets aside her paperwork and gives him her full attention. “What is it?”

“If I’d been the one to become the champion,” Hop says, “I think I would’ve been miserable.”

“...oh?”

“I know it sounds weird, ‘cause that was my dream and all, but… if I became champion, everyone would still be thinking of me as Leon’s little brother. I’d still be trying to be like him… cool, strong, unbeatable… and I’d never figure out what I wanted for myself.”

That’s true: the media had enough of a field day with Hop as a challenger; as a champion, he would get it worse.

(In contrast, Gloria was cast as everygirl rival and not Leon 2.0. Sonia wonders if that allowed her to keep a clear mind during everything.)

Sonia smiles. “Right. Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it. And the reverse: be thankful that you don’t always get what you want.”

Hop brightens. “Yeah. Now I’m doing what I want to do, and it’s really nice.”

When Sonia is fifteen, she wanders into the Slumbering Weald.

She’s lost, but she walks forward by intuition if not sight.

She can feel the power here. This is a place where legends begin. This is a place where heroes are made.

She wants it. She wants, she wants, she wants.

The fog surrounds her.

She stands as tall as she can, the nobody from nowhere, the forgotten rival. Is she worthy?

The fog whispers, You are not the hero of this story.

“I can be! Let me, let me, please —!”

The fog whispers, You are destined to wait here while others pass on before you.

She screams. She cries. She strikes with her bare fists — but of course, whatever she’s aiming for is out of reach.

The fog whispers, Be strong, child. Your time has not yet come.

#pokemon swsh fanfic #sonia pokemon #IMOGAWMCF

10 notes · View notes