Chapter Text
The past year has been confusing for the Galar region. No one ever expected a junior in high school to actually make it to the champion title, but kids of that age were allowed to become trainers and slowly work their way up through the gym challenges over several summers, or even start the challenge at an older age to begin with.
Having one sixteen year old reach the semi-finals was uncommon, three was unprecedented, and having one actually become the champion was unheard of in Galar. Even the great Leon was eighteen when he became champ.
But then came along Victor, and he was something like Galar had never seen before. Appearing out of nowhere after being endorsed by Leon, and sweeping through the gym challenges without breaking a sweat. He managed to clear most of the challenges using only one or two pokemon from his team, the news dubbed him the “One Pokemon Wonder.” He swept through the finals like they were a mere inconvenience and beat the “unbeatable champion,” but only after saving the nation from the Darkest Day.
It was eventually decided that (in order for Victor to continue his education) Leon would take care of anything that happened during school hours, and Victor would be excused from class if the situation called for it. He would be given permission to have his pokemon on him at all times, but to only use them with permission or in emergencies.
Champion life was hard for Victor. Not because his tasks were particularly difficult, but because of how much was piled onto him. The first few weeks were easy, his champion duties were all he had to attend to. And then the summer ended, and school was back on.
School became hell for him. Everyone went from not even noticing him, to wanting to sit next to him in class and during lunch.
Marnie had his back though. Being the star of Team Yell, she’d known fame most of her life, so she knew how to escape a crowd and find a silent spot to eat at lunch. Victor was eternally grateful, and she shared some tips with him on how to deal with his newfound fame.
“I don’t hate my fans,” She’d say, in between bites, “I love ‘em, but too much of anything can become a bad thing. Everyone needs a break.”
Hop started joining them not long after. His research had been going surprisingly well, and his grades even began to improve thanks to the practice in working and studying he’d been getting as a research assistant.
He seemed happier than ever. Excitedly sharing any new discoveries he and Sonia made. It seemed he was finally becoming his own person.
Bede was basically a different person. The trio didn’t even recognize him at first, but as the person who interrupted the finals matches and the new fairy gym leader, he started gaining similar attention. So they dragged him to their hiding place during lunch as well. He was mostly silent, but did apologize to Hop for calling him names during the gym challenge. He explained that Opal had signed him up to their school since she thought it would be better for him.
Bede was the first person that year to actually read the student handbook from cover to cover. While he despised his former father figure, he was a business man, and he taught Bede to always read absolutely everything before agreeing to anything. There’s always a loophole somewhere. And that's how he found a way to battle Victor during lunch without breaking the rules. That lasted about a month before people found out and started skipping class to come watch them before the rules were changed.
Their junior year passed and Victor’s first championship in the Champion role started and ended uneventfully. At least in comparison to the previous year. Marnie became a quick viewer favorite, particularly outside of Team Yell. Spikemuth even considered building a stadium just to accommodate the sudden influx of people wanting to view matches live in Spikemuth.
In the finals Victor faced Bede, who he beat. It was an almost embarrassing loss for Bede. All Victor did was use Corviknight and spam steel wing. Victor wasn’t even watching the battle between the two Pokemon, he just stared at Bede as if he was waiting for something. Something that, based on his expression at the end of the battle, never came.
“I’m gonna get you next year, you hear me?” Bede said in the locker room after the battle.
Victor just chuckled softly, “I’m almost hoping you do.”
Marnie and Piers had a concert that night, just for the challengers and the gym leaders. Victor and Leon were also invited, but they mostly sat off to the side where Marnie joined them during the intermission.
She looked exhausted and out of breath as she fixed her makeup and made sure her bass was properly tuned.
“Ain’t my usual crowd,” she explained breathlessly, “Less room to mess up.”
Leon nodded in understanding and handed her a small pastry, “Don’t think about it too much. If you do whatever mistakes you do end up making ‘ll ruin your flow. Roll with the punches and make that mistake part of your routine,” Marnie nodded and let her supplies down to breathe as Leon turned to Victor, “That applies to you too. It’s a champion’s job to make a bad situation a better one.”
“I’ll remember that.”
—
They were a fourth of their way through their senior year when Opal passed.
Even though she was eighty-nine, no one expected it. Almost everyone expected her to make it to at least one-hundred. After a long night of searching, Marnie found Bede deep within the Glimwood Tangle. He was wrapped in his old magenta trenchcoat and crying. “Bede-?”
“Go away,” Bede choked out, “I’m cursed.”
“I doubt that mate.”
“But I am!” He lashed out, “Every adult in my life has either left me or died!”
“That’s never stopped you before,” She said, her media training kicking in even though there were no cameras present, “You may not have Opal anymore, but you do have us. We’re not perfect, but we’re probably better than being alone.”
Bede stayed silent.
“We won’t leave you like the previous adults in your life. We won’t exploit you like the Chairman did, and we’ve still got our youth,” she placed a hand on his shoulder, “How ‘bout a battle mate?” Marnie extended a hand to Bede, “Will that cheer ya’ up enough to talk?”
Marnie lost, of course. Bede had a type advantage on her, and he was one of the few trainers in the region who held even a fraction of the strength Victor did. For some reason though, she didn’t mind. Even though she lost, the silence of the tangle was unfamiliar, but calming. She didn’t know why.
Bede stayed with Victor and his mom for the rest of that year, unable to face his gym or the house that Opal had left for him. That little cottage in Postwick became his safe haven.
“Everything’s gonna be okay Bede,” Victor said, as he held Bede’s head to his chest one night, “I’ll gladly place my honor as champion on that statement.”
—
Bede was the first of the group to turn eighteen. They all went out camping in the wild zone to celebrate, staying up late even though they had school the next day. Seeing Bede happy was worth whatever exhaustion they would face the next day.
“You know,” Hop said suddenly as they were watching the stars above Galar slowly shift across the sky, “Humans are kinda like pokemon. In a way.”
“How so?” Bede asked.
“Like- normal/fighting types specifically. A lot of the moves of those types are things that humans can do.”
“That doesn’t make us pokemon,” Marnie replied.
“But we are,” Victor stated confidently, “You know how Mew and Ditto can transform into any pokemon? That’s because they have the DNA of every pokemon, so anything they can transform into is a pokemon,” Victor retrieved his box-link from his bag and retrieved a poke ball, summoning a Ditto. After a moment the Ditto transformed into a second Victor.
A simple, “Huh,” Was all Bede could muster up.
“Additionally, there are legends back home that when the first poke ball was created it could catch humans as well.”
“Back home?” Marnie asked.
“Vic was born in Sinnoh,” Hop answered, “That’s why his family has a shrine for Arceus in their backyard.”
“Is that what that thing is?” Bede asked, recalling the small pedestal he’d seen numerous times in Victor’s backyard. He’d just assumed it was a weird decoration.
“That’s usually where you can find me before a match. It’s the only one I’ve seen in Galar.”
“Oh so you win because you pray for victory?”
“Never,” Victor said softly, raising his hand to the sky. The chain of a pendant gently twisted between his fingers. The symbol of Arceus dangling at the end, almost glowing in the moonlight “I pray for equality. For both trainers and our pokemon to be on the same level.”
The pendant reflected something new as four soft beams of light flew overhead, landing nearby. All four of them stood up to see what had just landed and found a small colored band and a note in front of each of their bags.
Victor approached first. It was his duty as champion to make sure these items were safe to protect his friends. He grabbed the small note.
“It’s written in Unknown?” He muttered, starting to slowly decipher it.
“For Masaru,” It started, and his eyes widened at the use of the name he was given at birth and the name his relatives back in Sinnoh still used for him, “The power of rock. This is your first step.”
Bede grabbed his next.
“For Bede, the power of Leaf. This is your first step.”
Marnie followed after him.
“For Marnie, the power of electricity. This is your first step.”
Hop was last.
“For Hop, the power of Ice. This is your first step.”