Chapter Text
Jing rarely saw Hop so excited. To be fair, it had been two years since she had moved to Postwick and this was the first time his big brother had come home since then.
“Jing, hurry up. Lee’s train is here,” Hop said, waiting impatiently for her further down the dirt path. He was smiling that bright, cheery smile of his as always.
“W-Wait,” Jing replied nervously, hugging Bunny tightly to her chest.
Hop ran back to her and took her hand, “Come on- we’ve been to town a hundred times before, mate. No need to get scared.”
The small, dark haired girl took a few deep breaths, Hop’s hand was a comforting balm to her anxious nerves as always. She followed him obediently, still clutching the creepy black plushie to her chest.
“You’re going to love Lee- he’s amazing!”
Jing didn’t respond.
Hop had introduced her to the Galar Champion League when they first became friends. She found it fascinating.
Gym Leaders and battles and things existed back in Johto and Kanto of course, but they weren’t seen as a huge public sport event like in Galar. And of course, on the top of that totem- were the Champions.
Hop had showed her each and every one of Champion Leon’s matches and they both studied each battle meticulously.
As they got closer to Wedgehurst, they saw that a crowd had already gathered in front of the train station.
Jing did not like crowds.
At all.
“It’s okay- do you want to wait here?” Hop asked.
Jing hesitated and shook her head. She clutched Bunny with her sweaty palms as she stuck closer to Hop as they closed in on the cheering fans.
“Lee! Over here!”
She watched as Hop and Leon greeted each other, wondering just why he was wearing a big velvet cloak. It was mid-summer.
He was certainly very flashy.
In her mind she couldn’t help but compare him to the stern, serious Lance.
“Ah, you must be Jing!”
Jing’s brain short circuited at once and she planted her face into Hop’s back in an attempt to hide.
Hop just laughed, “Jing’s a bit shy around people. Anyway- come on! Let’s go- mum’s waiting! Try not get lost, Lee.”
They started off back to Hop’s house and Jing had thought it was just a running joke in his family about Leon getting lost. After all- how could anyone get lost on a straight path towards the very visible cottage on the hill?
Jing paused as she realised Leon was no longer following them.
“Ah- he’s gone,” Hop stated in good humour.
Leon suddenly reappeared from the wooloo fields with his Charizard guiding him.
Okay, so it wasn’t an exaggeration.
They made it back in twice the time it usually took. Leon greeted his parents before Hop managed to get hold of him.
“Come on then Lee- you said you were going to bring us a present! It’s a pokemon, isn’t it?” he said excitedly.
Us?
Jing was confused. She had simply been trailing after Hop, clutching the hem of his jeans jacket.
What did he mean us?
“Right you are, Hop,” Leon said cheerfully, drawing out the pokeballs.
Bunny twitched in her grip with interest but otherwise, continued her charade. Meanwhile, Jing peeked over Hop’s shoulder, curious despite her anxiousness, to watch the three playing pokemon.
They were all so small and sweet.
“You go first, Jing. You’re our guest after all.”
Jing jumped before stepping back, nearly tripping over her own ankles. “Wha- no- I-“ she stammered, unable to put together a sentence, all the English she had learnt since arriving in Galar evaporating from her mind.
“Go on, Jing. I’ve already got wooloo after all.”
“I-I have a pokemon too,” Jing said before she could stop herself.
Leon didn’t quite manage to catch what she said because of how tiny her voice was. But Hop frowned, linking his hand behind his head casually.
“You do? Oh- do you mean Munchy? Your Aunt’s Munchlax?” he said.
Jing simply nodded, hiding her face in Bunny.
Sure, they could go with that.
“Munchy isn’t really a pokemon for battling though, is he? Go on then, pick a partner,” he coaxed.
They were both looking at her.
Was she taking too long?
Oh Arceus- they probably think she was stupid-
Maybe she should have brought her old pokedex.
No, she wasn’t supposed to be using it-
“I think I can see smoke coming out of her,” Leon commented, watching as the little girl’s pale face turned redder and redder.
“She’s a lot better now. She once passed out when our teacher called her name.”
Jing took a few deep, steadying breath that her aunt had taught her to do. Looking to Hop, he gave her a reassuring smile, giving her enough courage to approach the three pokemon.
She knelt down next to the Scorbunny and held out her hand, “D-Do you want to be friends?” she asked it softly.
The Scorbunny nodded excitedly and leaped onto her lap to hug her.
“Scorbunny huh? I would have thought you’d go with Sobble,” Hop teased.
Jing carried Scorbunny up in one arm, smiling faintly as she cuddled it, “She reminds me of you,” she said.
“I can see the resemblance,” Leon said with a grin.
“Are you gonna give her a name then?” Hop asked.
Jing thought about it for a moment, “Hop.”
“What? You can’t name her Hop. I’m Hop.”
That was true.
“You can be human Hop,” she told him.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Leon said.
Hop disagreed strongly, “Why do I have to be Human Hop? I was here first!”
“Calm down now, Human Hop.”
“Lee!”
Once they were done teasing Hop, he picked a Grookey for himself. Leon took Sobble back to join his own team.
Hop looked like he was itching for his first battle but Jing’s Aunt Li Wan appeared at the garden gate with her famous chocolate sponge cake.
Jing ran over to her at once.
“Oh- how adorable! Is that from Leon then, Jing?” Li Wan asked.
She nodded.
“Did you remember to say thank you?”
She had forgotten.
Jing went back to Leon shyly and bowed, whispering her thanks before hurrying back to her aunt to hide. She was worried Leon would be offended that she hadn’t thanked him at once- what if he was mad at her now?
She had gone and made a terrible first impression.
She had wanted to badly to get along with Leon because Hop liked him so much.
“Jing, come on- I need help getting the lemonade from the kitchen,” Hop said.
The little girl felt relief as she hurried after him, clutching the back of his jacket again.
“Do you want to put your toy down?” Hop’s mother asked but she shook her head vigorously, holding Bunny even tighter to her chest.
It was a lot quieter in the house now that everyone was out in the garden, getting the barbecue ready. But Jing’s hands were still trembling as she tried to hold the jug of homemade lemonade.
“You okay?” Hop asked, noticing right away.
She nodded.
He didn’t look like he believed her and seemed to take a little too long to get the ice out. Jing was just happy to be in the quiet, warm kitchen for a little while longer.
By the time Hop had the ice in the bowl, Jing had calmed down a little more.
The long, warm summer evening was lovely. With the delicious scent from the barbecue wafting through the air and a new pokemon friend, Jing started to genuinely enjoy herself. She sat there quietly, listening to Hop chatter away to his older brother.
She thought of her own older siblings and was quietly amazed at Leon and Hop’s bond.
Amazed and envious.
They were so close, able to laugh and tease each other. It was clear that whilst Hop obviously thought the world of his brother, the feeling was mutual.
After the food was polished off, including Li Wan’s incredible cake, Jing and her aunt remained a little longer to help clear up. Once that was done they bade Hop and his family goodnight and headed home.
“It must be nice to have a new pokemon again,” Li Wan said kindly.
Jing was hugging Bunny with one arm and holding Rabby’s hand with the other as the Scorbunny trotted next to her.
“She’s really sweet,” Jing agreed, looking down at Rabby who was skipping along happily.
“The Gym Challenge is starting up soon, isn’t it?”
Jing nodded, looking down, “Hop has always wanted to join,” she said.
If Hop went on the Gym Challenge, she wouldn’t see him for the rest of summer.
“Maybe one of these seasons, you could join the Gym Challenge yourself,” Li Wan said, “It’s been such a long time since the Johto and Kanto League.”
The little girl turned red, “But… father and mother said…”
“You let me deal with your parents,” her aunt said, sounding grim, “It’s something you love and you’re good at. So, if you want to join the Challenge, you should.”
Jing didn’t look very sure.
Some of the best memories she had back home in Johto was taking part in battles. But she remembered the aftermath when her family found out what she had done…
They had been so angry.
Li Wan let her think things over as they arrived home.
“Alright, why don’t you go take a bath and get ready for bed, okay? I don’t want you staying up too late playing with your new pokemon.”
Jing was on her knees, greeting Munchy and introducing him to Rabby.
“Okay, auntie,” she said, “Bunny, can you start a bath?”
The toy she was carrying suddenly lifted its head, its zipper mouth breaking open in a yawn as it stretched. Bunny hopped onto the ground, rubbing its eyes before nodding and flitting off to the bathroom.
Rabby looked gobsmacked but Jing picked her up, “Come on, I’ll show you where our room is.”