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The train’s whistle roared as it came to a slow halt, steam rose from its chimney, pooling down towards the ground. A man, dressed in a denim jacket stepped outside the car and took a deep breath before walking down the steps of the station.
“Feels good to be home…” He laughed as he gazed across the familiar buildings that stood Wedgehurst. “It’s been nearly four years...but I’m home.”
“Hop...a little help please!” A voice appeared from behind him as a woman with orange hair stumbled with luggage in hand.
“Oh, sorry Professor! Here, let me…” Hop held out a hand and grabbed one of the suitcases from her hand as he smiled at her. “You know, you didn’t have to bring everything back home.”
“Are you kidding?” She exclaimed, “Do you know how many books we acquired while on our trip? And Hop.”
“Yea-” Hop felt the woman squeeze his cheeks while she pouted. Despite being substantially taller, she pulled at his cheeks with such force it caused his dark skin to turn a hue of pink. “Professor!! That hurts!!”
“Oh shove off, Hop! You and I have known each other for years, drop the Professor nonsense and just call me Sonia…” Sonia let go of her pupil, who rubbed his cheeks as she let go.
“Sorry, Sony…”
“That’s better.” She nodded and picked up a suitcase and looked around. “Hmm, no one’s around; makes sense, since we arrived super early.” She looked to Hop, who fiddled around his bag. “What’s that you got there, Hop?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing! Nothing!” Hop shoved whatever contents back into his bag and shook his head at Sonia, who giggled and punched his side.
“Ohhh, I see, keeping secrets from your Professor now…”
“It’s not a secret! It’s a...er forget it...we should get going back to the lab…” Hop adjusted his jacket and slapped his cheeks as he walked towards the lab. He gazed at the old structure and smirked as it towered over him.
Hop, now age twenty-three, barely remembered the time he began his journey: At the bright age of fourteen, Hop was so ready to take on the challenge and win it all. It seemed easy on paper, but of course, life had other plans for him. The road to one’s goal is never an easy one; Hop experienced the full brunt of the hard path or rather, became collateral damage to it.
Loss, suffering, and pain were some of the things he experienced. But there was a light at the end of the tunnel. He learned what the true meaning of becoming a strong trainer was...it was to protect the one he loved the most. Hop looked down at a red bracelet that adorned his hand, a pair of slightly faded stars danced as he shifted his wrists. “I can’t wait to see you again…”
“See who again, Hop?” A voice appeared from behind the young man, who jumped in surprise as he nearly hit the wall with his back.
“Gah, who...Vic???!!” Hop’s heart thumped as he saw a slightly shorter male in front of him, his brown hair danced in the morning breeze along with the red hoodie that covered his body. “Is that really you?”
“Of course it is! I came to see you arrive, but I got the time wrong it seems…” The brunet blushed and scratched his face as he stared at Hop. “It’s...good to see you aga-”
Victor froze as Hop nearly tackled him in a heavy hug. The pair embraced each other, allowing the warmth of their bodies merges seemingly as one. Victor whimpered and hugged Hop closer to his face as he cried in his arms. “I missed you, Hop.”
“Missed isn’t enough to express it, Vic…” Hop released his grip and kissed his boyfriend’s forehead. “I know we called each other every day but I missed you, I missed your scent, your presence, your hugs, your everything!”
“There there, Hoppert…” Victor patted Hop’s back and wiped a tear from his face. “You’ve grown taller, and…buffer…” Victor felt Hop’s arm and immediately blushed a bright red as he squeezed it.
“Oh, thanks! I’ve been working out since I was exploring the other regions! Oh man, I have so many stories to tell! All from Kanto down to the Lentil region! I’ve learned so much and gotten so much stronger!”
“Really? That’s great!” Victor hugged Hop’s arm and giggled as he looked up at him. “Well, I’ve been busy, training with Lee, and Master Mustard as well, I’ve defended my title multiple times! I guess you can say I’m the strongest trainer in Galar now!”
“Oh really? Prove it then…”
Victor blinked and took a step back and raised a brow at his boyfriend. Hop’s face dropped to a more serious expression as he stared down Victor.
“What?”
“You heard me, Victor Domnic Hoshino...I challenge you to a battle!”
Victor quickly smiled and held out a Pokeball and pointed it at Hop. “Fine, I accept your challenge, but...meet me at Wyndon Stadium! If I’m going to battle my number one rival, I gotta do it in front of an audience after all!”
“I don’t remember you being this flashy and confident, Vic.” Hop scratched his chin and pushed up his glasses. “Very well, let’s meet up in about a few hours!”
Flames and rain spilled out around the field of Wyndon Stadium as the roar of the crowd shook the stage. Hop chewed his bottom lip as he recalled his Cinderace. He looked up at the scoreboard and sure enough, he lost three to six.
“You’ve really gotten stronger haven’t you…” Hop chuckled and shook his head as he looked at Victor, the champion of Galar, a title he so deserved.
“So have you, Hop...you’ve gotten plenty strong and I’m so proud to call you my rival, my best friend and boyfriend…”
“I don’t want to be those anymore…”
“What?” Victor gasped as Hop fell to his knees in defeat. “Hop??!!” He sprinted towards his boyfriend, not sure if those words were true to him. How could he say that, Victor wondered. They’ve been together for a decade and he just wants to end it like that?
“Hop what are you saying?”
“I don’t want to be your rival, or boyfriend anymore…” Hop looked away for a brief moment and pulled out a small black box.
“Hop…”
“We’ve been together for so long, we became fast friends, great rivals and loved each other through everything...being away from you...made me realize that, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, Victor Dominic Hoshino...will you marry me?”
“Yes!” Victor tearfully laughed as Hop picked him up and gently swung him around while kissing him. The stadium was now filled with even louder cheers as the two men embraced each other.
“Vic, I love you so much.”
“Me too, Hop…I always have and always will.”
“And that’s how your Papa proposed to me!” Victor closed a photo album as he held Hop’s hand. “He was so romantic.”
“Ohhh that’s cool Dad!” A young boy with plum-colored hair bounced in Victor’s lap as he giggled at the two men. “Papa, why’d you wanna marry Dad?”
“Easy,” Hop laughed as he kissed Victor’s cheek. “When you love someone so much, you want to spend the rest of your life with them! Someday you might experience it too, Oliver...but you know a fun secret?”
“What?” Oliver looked up as Hop whispered in his ear.
“You exist because of the love between me and your dad.”
“Then that means you guys must’ve loved each other tons then!”
“That’s right, son!” Hop ruffled his son’s hair and looked to Victor, who held his hand. He looked out the window and smiled as a shooting star fell from the sky. A star that signaled the start of Hop’s journey, now ending it with where he’s at.
“Papa, can we watch the meteor shower?” Oliver stood up as he looked out the window.
“Sure, let’s all go together then!” The Professor smiled and thought to himself.
‘My journey’s just starting…’