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Bettie strode down the street off Patio with a smile on her face. One of the best things about living on a man made island was the fact that even the weather here was always nice. That meant it was a good time for practically everyone to be out and about.
She gave a bright smile and wave to Steven and Wallace chatting off in a corner. They smiled and waved back to her merrily before they continued their very deep conversation.
She noticed Larry walking by and she made sure to give him the happiest smile and wave to hopefully help him through a long work day. The man gave her a slight smile and nod, a motion that told her it was appreciated.
‘Being around so many trainers from so many places is so amazing!’
The amount of exciting battles, unique friendships, and even hearts on the mend of changing and healing only from being in such a place made it feel magical, alive, amazing!
‘I wonder who’s here today…’ She thought as she entered the Pokémon center. The main hub for trainers, no matter who they were, always showed up there at one point.
As the doors slid closed behind her she took a moment to look around.
There was Cynthia in all her powerful glory currently looking over the stock of items for sale off to the side. Korrina was at the front desk talking while her Lucario stood by her side tapping it’s paw waiting for her to be done. On the other side of the room was Galar’s Champion Leon talking and smiling with his younger brother Hop. Whatever it was about they both were happy about it no doubt, and she couldn't hold back her warm smile as the older man ruffled the boy’s hair making him laugh.
“I’ll be back in a bit Hopscotch!” She could heard him tell the younger. “I need to tell Cynthia about the brilliant idea of battle towers to be put in Pasio that Lear chap came to me about yesterday!”
“Okay Lee!” Hop nodded and took a seat on one of the chairs as his brother walked away.
As she passed deeper into the room, Hop perked and gave her a happy smile and wave. She returned it with equal vigor and as she passed by a few ace trainers testing their battle stratcgeties, she suddenly heard a voice call to her.
“Ah, Bettie over here!”
She peered past the refreshment station to see none other than Grimsley, in a brand new outfit that was so sharp and stylish she had to gush about it.
“Wow Grimsley that suit is amazing!” She said as she walked over. It didn’t take her long to notice something about it. “Is it a Sync Suit?”
“Sharp as ever dear Bettie…” The man chuckled. “Yes, this is a Sync Suit. One for my newest partner Sharpedo.”
Her eyes widened. “Whoa you caught a Sharpedo? If you ever run into Archie I’m sure he’d love to battle you sometime!”
The man may have a Kyoger but she’s heard May speak about how his ace before had always been the very Pokémon Grimsley is talking about.
“Hmm perhaps, that does sound rather interesting.” His eyes got that gleam they did when something peeked his interest. He then turned to her and smiled wider. “Do you know what they say about Sharpedo?”
“Hm?”
Grimsley chuckled and crossed his arms. “They say that Sharpedo is the bully of the seas, known to be quite vicious. They’re also quite well known for their strong sense of smell, especially when it comes to blood.”
At the mention of that Bettie grimaced. It made sense the Pokémon being a carnivore and all but still…
Grimsley let out a laugh. “Ah, I know it does sound rather ghastly doesn't it? A bit harsh, but in a way I actually like that about it.” Grimsley looked to his hands and began playing with a coin, maneuvering it with his fingers with ease and grace.
“It makes such tactics, vicious as they may sound, very helpful in battle. Rather useful to help one come out on top against those who’re stronger… and weaker…”
His eyes drifted off to the side and as Bettie followed them, she frowned as she saw it was Hop he was eyeing.
Hop, who had been happily chatting with the woman and sipping on a drink she had handed her, suddenly shivered. He glanced over his shoulder and while he smiled to Bettie, it became strained as he noticed Grimsley’s stare. He turned back to the woman at the stand, clearly trying to avoid the intense eye contact.
“Grimsley… what… why are you looking at Hop like that?” She asked warily. The look in his eyes looked as if he had found prey he was about to attack.
Yet the man didn’t turn to her as he gave a chuckle. “I’m testing fate. I flipped a coin and saw that doing this would bring me a powerful challenger.”
“Grimsley… Oh Grimsley no… Please don’t.” Bettie groaned. This man and his love for chances was seriously one day going to get him hurt or worse and it worried her to no end. He had people looking out for him thank goodness, but none of those people were here. She probably should be one of those people right now but something told her that was a terrible idea.
Especially because she suddenly felt a dark, looming presence over them that caused her to shiver.
“Huh? Hey what’s wrong Lucario you seem stressed.” She could faintly hear Korrina's confused voice over the sudden thick tension.
“Excuse me.”
A Galarian accent made her freeze and she instantly recognized who it was.
They slowly turned to see it was none other than Leon. The man was in his Battle Tower outfit, eyes closed to with a smile as he moved his hands to his hips. He seemed bright and cheery… but from the tension she was feeling coming off the man in waves seemed to disagree.
Leon was absolutely not as happy as he looked.
“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. You were saying Sharpedo was bully of the sea?”
“Why yes…” Grimsley gave the man a coy smile and nodded. “I was just telling my friend here all about how unique it is. It’s rather dangerous, but that’s part of the thrill. Especially in battle wouldn't you say?”
“Hmm…” Leon hummed, not really answering his question. “I also noticed you’re eyeing that young trainer over there… Are you planning to battle him in that way?”
Grimsley let out a laugh. “I suppose you could say that… I was waiting for a stronger opponent but challenging him first may be some fun.”
A dark shadow cast over Leon’s eyes, yet even then his smile remained in place. “Ah… you think that do you?”
“Why not? I’ve been wanting to battle more with my new partner. Perhaps if I battle with the boy there the challenger I’m waiting for will come out.”
“Oh?” Leon chuckled flatly. “Well, then how about I be that challenger huh? I am Champion of Galar. I’m undefeated, so I’d say that qualifies for a strong opponent yeah?”
Grimsley perked. “You are? My, my I was sure I’d have a strong battle but I never realized it’d be against a Champion. Haha, it seems my luck truly is on high today.” He gave Bettie a grin, while she winced and looked away.
‘I feel like you have no idea how wrong you are…’
The Champion tilted his head and let out a round of chuckles. Bettie could tell they were through clenched teeth.
“Mmhmhm….but I have one requirement before we have a battle of any kind…” Leon’s eyes opened into slits as his smile tuned sharp. The dark aura around him became practically suffocating as he stared down the man dangerously.
“Gah! Lucario you’re shaking!” Korrina cried out in shock. “There must be some mega scary emotions here!”
As Leon lowered his head to Grimsley, Bettie could hear the shift of his tone turning as dark as the very type the elite four member specialized in.
“Don’t ever imply, don’t ever say, don’t ever even THINK about what you were going on about earlier towards my brother you sneaky Sneasel scum…” His voice low but the threat behind the words made him sound thunderous.
Leon leaned closer, eyes practically glowing from all of the darkness that practically surrounded his aura.
“Unless you want to become a typing similar to my Dragapault…” He growled viciously in a whisper.
Bettie watched as the color drained from Grimsley’s face. His ever famous smile was still there, but from the way his legs trembled along with his fingers it was easy to tell Leon’s threat rang clear.
“Do we have an understanding?” Leon muttered coldly. Grimsley nodded rapidly and Leon’s eyes narrowed more as he pulled back. “Good…”
In a flash he turned away and strode over to Hop, a big beaming smile on his face as he threw his arms around him and hugged him tight from behind.
“Gah!” Hop yelped, only to relax as he looked back and saw it was his brother. “Oh hey Lee! Don’t tell me you got lost in the Pokémon Center!”
“Haha, no I just missed you!” Leon pressed his cheek against Hop’s and hummed happily as he gave his little brother a great big squeeze. Hop laughed and squirmed his arms around to wrap them as well as he could over his brother's arms.
“Leehehee! You were only gone for a bit!”
“I know but being here we’ve finally have been able to catch up all that time we missed together! Being away from you at all makes me miss my Hophip!”
Hop’s smile dimmed to a grumpy look. “Ah no not that nickname…!”
Leon just laughed merrily, pulling Hop out of his seat and playfully spinning him in circles that had the boy laughing right with him.
Bettie smiled at the sweet scene, glad to see the Leon she was used to than the one that had been right in front of them before. As she looked over to Grimsley, she was surprised to see how shaken he looked.
“Grimsley?”
“The boy is his younger brother?” He choked warily. “Agh… It seems my luck… did not go in my favor for that…”
“Yeah no…” She crossed her arms. “That was what I was trying to tell you. Hop’s off limits around here when it comes to that kind of teasing, especially if Champion Leon is around.”
She looked back to the two brothers and watched as Leon stopped his spinning to hug Hop closer. Though she stiffened as Leon looked over his shoulder, expression flat with gold eyes glinting towards the elite four member with a promise if he ever did try what she said. A very dark promise.
Grimsley clutched her arm as his legs nearly buckled. “Er, Bettie could you help you to the seats over there? Preferably at the other side of the Pokémon center?”
“No problem…” She led him along to across the center. She couldn’t help but notice Korrina hovering over her Lucario, who was rubbing its head looking almost as traumatized as Grimsley.
As she held the man get to his seat, she could see Leon finally put Hop down and ruffle his hair again. His arm curled around the boy as he guided him out of the center, acting like the very shield he was for him as they left. Once they were gone she looked to see Grimsley staring at his coin with a grimace.
“We better get ready Grimsley, Champion Leon accepted your challenge which means we’re going to have ourselves a battle today.”
The man let out a weak groan and she chuckled. She hoped this experience would help the man realize not to take too many risks… Then again this was Grimsley so probably not….