Pokémon Sword: Genetic Mutations

Chapter Two.... The Poké Hybrid Champion!

"I-I'm REALLY sorry about telling my sister, honest! I didn't think it was THAT bad for you..." Victor apologized for the umpteenth time since we left Wedgehurst station. When Gloria arrived, he began to spew the whole story to Gloria, only stopping when Hop scolded him, and smacked him over the head. "It's fine..... I guess.... Just don't tell anyone else!" I sighed, a little annoyed with his constant apology. "No it's not, Lele, you didn't even give him PERMISSION to tell!" Gloria said, shooting daggers at the already embarrassed boy. "I knew it was going to happen, just be fortunate nobody else heard." I replied, looking distant. We had decided to meet up at Victor and Gloria's house after returning Hop to Sonia to get to know the two better. Once we reached their house, Victor opened up the door, and announced in a booming voice, "MUM! WE'RE HOME!" "Ahhhh! How's my beautiful, champion of a daughter doing?" A woman asked, striding into the room, and embracing Gloria. "I've been well Mum, Cinderace and I have been going on some AMAZING adventures, and I can't wait to tell you ALL about them!" "That's wonderful darling! Oh, how we've missed you. And what's this? You've brought company over!" The woman exclaimed, beaming as she came over to greet me. "A-Alola ma'am." I stuttered bashfully as she set her hands on my shoulders gently. "Oh yeah! That's the new girl who moved to Postwick yesterday. Her name's Lele, and she's from the Alolan region!" Victor explained. "Oh, what a delight! Welcome VERY much dear to Galar. It's not much like what you're used to, but it's lovely all around I assure!" "Th-Thank you ma'am..." I replied, disdain boiling within me as I tried to keep a polite composure. "Oh! Where ARE my manners?! Lele, sweetheart, are you hungry? Thirsty prehaps?" "Oh, no, I'm fine... Really...." I replied awkwardly, hiding my face from her. "Alright, then you kids head on to your room, and get to know Miss Lele here while I straighten up a bit. Shall we be expecting Hop for lunch?" "Definitely. He said he wouldn't miss out on your cooking for the WORLD!" Victor replied, laughing. "How wonderful! I hope you kids have fun in the meantime, alright?" "We will Mum!" Gloria called, dragging me to a bedroom; Victor following behind me. "Pardon our Mum's brash behaviour. She means well, Honest!" Gloria began, plopping down on her bed. I took a seat on the floor nearby, and Victor sat backwards in a desk chair, leaning forward on it to get comfortable. We all sat in awkward silence for a few minutes, unsure of what to talk about when I cleared my throat. "Your..... Umm.... Your mom called you "Champion". What does she mean by that?" I asked quietly, looking up at Gloria. She seemed stunned as she asked, "Have you heard of the Gym Challenge?" I shook my head, and she explained, "The Gym Challenge is held every year, here in Galar! It's a pretty big deal when it starts too, what with the opening ceremony, and the introduction of our beloved Gym Leaders. During the challenge, you collect badges, and those of us that remain end up facing in the Finals and Semi Finals at Wyndon Stadium!" "Oh, so it's like the Kahuna Challenge we have in Alola! Only, of course, we're rewarded with something called "Z-Crystals" by our respective guardian Pokémon if we're deemed worthy of such." I replied, writing down notes in my journal. "Kind of, yeah! How many Kahunas have you fought?" Victor asked, eyes lighting up. I sighed as I said, "My mom never let me attend. She'd never even let me out of the house without fearing that someone would turn me in for being what I was! I suppose that she was right all along..." I trailed off, and Victor's eyes fell as he replied, "Oh.... I-I'm sorry for offending you if I did...." "It's just that...... For a split moment I can picture how talented I'd be in a duel, then her voice comes to me on the edge of my hearing, warning me that it wouldn't end well! I'm not great..... I'm not anything!" "Don't be silly! Even Gym Leaders and Kahunas start from nothing! Here, I'll prove it." Gloria replied, digging into her backpack to pull out a red and blue album before taking a seat on the floor next to me. "Look here!" She began, opening up the album, and placing it in our lap. She pointed at a picture of a burly looking man, with bright, shiny green eyes, and ginger hair like Ms. Sonia. "I wonder if they're related. Sonia and this man you show me?" I asked, to which the two laughed in response. "Good GRACIOUS no! That's the Grass Type Gym Leader: Milo of Turffield. He started out as a farmhand for his family, which developed his love for Grass Type Pokémon, and eventually, Turrfield's Gym Leader!" Gloria explained, and it captured my interest as I breathed, "Oh.." "Here! Have a look at Lee's card! Before he became champion, he was a small town country boy that took part in the Challenge when he was only ten." "Facinating!" "And finally, let's have a look at THIS Gym Leader." Gloria replied, flipping the page, and pointing to a picture that made my heart stop dead in it's tracks! The picture was of a boy around our age, if not a year older, with fair skin, and gorgeous, platinum colored curls. He bore the colors of pink and pastel blue on his uniform, which suited his figure nicely, and in his shining, amethyst eyes there was a certain confidence and determination that outmatched the levels of my own! "Wh-Who is THAT!?" I asked, growing a little TOO interested. "His name is Bede!" Gloria replied, smiling as her brother added, "He's a stuck up snot." "He's adorable!" I fawned, my heart beating as I practically ignored Victor's comment. "Well, he was a Gym Challenger himself before he became Gym Leader in Ms. Opal's stead. Endorsed by the chairman he was before he was turned away!" "Turned away? Why on EARTH would someone turn away someone so charming looking!?" I asked, admiring the picture a little longer. As if connecting the dots, Gloria's face produced a teasing grin as she leaned in real close to me, snapping me out of my daze. "M-May I help you?" I asked, feeling uncomfortable, and the bombshell that left her mouth made myself jump! "You're smitten, aren't you?" "Pardon?" "Smitten! You know, "Oh, look at how charming that boy is! Be still my beating heart, you'll burst!". SMITTEN!" "WH-WHAT?! NO, I- HUH?!" I replied, my cheeks burning as the two laughed at my blithering, sorry attempts of a sentence. "L-Let's change the topic, right now!" I demanded, covering my face as I began to sweat, and Gloria replied, "Relax! It's just in good fun, and if you're smitten, it's okay. In fact, who knows? He might just feel the same about you too." "Me? No, he wouldn't! Why would anyone want to go out with a Poké Human?!" I replied, stinging myself a little bit internally. "Don't say that! I bet LOADS of people would find that amazing. I sure do!" "And I!" Victor added, smiling a goofy sort of smile. "Hello hello! What'd I miss?" Hop asked, peeking through the doorway. "We discovered Lele here's got a crush on the Fairy Type Gym Leader." Victor teased. "H-HEY! VICTOR!" I screeched in embarrassment, making Hop giggle as he replied, "THAT posh jerk? Really?" "Come now you two, Bede's changed since Opal's taken him under her wing!" Gloria defended firmly. "Not that much. He's STILL got that insufferable "I'm more superior than you" attitude he likes to display!" Hop said, settling down on Gloria's bed as he pinched my shoulder in a teasing manner. "Oh, quit it Hop! I bet you're only jealous." I said, bringing my knees to my chest as I continued to jot in my Diary. "Jealous? Me? Nah, I think he'd be more bearable if he HAD a lovely thing like you around to put him in check." Hop laughed, and I rolled my eyes at him as I focused on my journal. "If you'd like, Lele, we could go see him at one of his matches! He lives in Ballonlea, just past Stow-on-Side." "I'm good, thanks Gloria. What I AM interested in is the fact you mentioned "Endorsement", correct? Where could one get said "Endorsement"?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion. "Hop, my sister, and I ALL received ours from Leon when he was champion during our rise as Gym Challengers!" Victor responded fondly, and Hop added, "Those days were my favorite ones!" "And aren't you the champion of Galar now? Would I still need an Endorsement to battle the Gyms NOW?" "Yes, and like I said, it's only every year! Why do you ask?" Gloria asked, raising a brow to me. "Think about it! Me in the stadium; my opponent in front of me when BAM! I transform into a Pokémon before their very eyes." "Are you seriously suggesting-" "That I take on the Gym Leaders with only myself? Absolutely!" "But Lele! You can't!" Victor exclaimed nervously. "Yes I can! Having a Ditto is like a jack of all trades. You'll NEVER know what you'll be facing, and I know a few Fire Types from Alola! YES! This is GENIUS!!" I said, my head up in the clouds in thought. "That sounds like a wicked idea, Lele!" Hop supported, grinning wide. "It WOULD be wicked, if she had experience in an actual Pokémon battle!" Gloria said matter of factly, to which Hop quickly said, "She's taken on a wild Bewear when she was younger and WON Glor." "Yes, but you must understand that there is more complexity and strat when it comes to an ACTUAL battle than just a random encounter she lucked out on." "Not ONLY that, Hop, but she's also got ZERO Pokémon, and she's planning to just waltz up to a Gym Leader and declare a battle using only herself! They'd look at her like she was mental before kicking her to the curb." Victor pointed out. "That's WHY I must prove it to them that, not ONLY can I beat them with only myself, but that I'm capable of handling my own without imprisoning Pokémon in a little torture device! Honestly, do you people ever ASK what it's like in there?" I said, placing my hands on my hips. "I'm worried about this Lele." He muttered, setting his head down on his arms. "Lele? Are you only doing this so you can meet Bede in person? I'm telling you we could just go to one of his exhibition matches, and meet him afterward!" Gloria exclaimed, to which I replied simply, "Once again, I thank you for your offer but do you have ANY idea what it's like to be a Ditto? You get looked down by other Pokémon who think they're FAR more superior because they look cool, or can learn better moves, but that's not the case! Ditto can look however, and whatever it wants to be, AND we can even learn moves for ourselves." I replied, determined to carry out my plan. "I find it great that you wanna try the Gyms, Lele, but what about your secret? The stadium is usually chock filled to the brim with spectators!" Hop said, to which I replied instantly, "We could ask for a private battle! It's not like it's some big event or whatever, so I'm sure that, if they accept, they can accommodate to my conditions." "I still don't feel right about throwing you out on the pitch with no practice, but as you've clearly said, your mind will not be swayed. Very well, meet me in the Slumbering Weald after lunch! You know the location, Vic, so you're in charge of seeing her to the meetup spot. There, we shall prepare you for the first Gym Leader!" "Alright!" I cheered, leaping from the floor, and doing a little dance. "Aw, I wish I could be there to help out, but I'm swamped to the knees in work for Sonia!" Hop whined, slouching his back. "Don't worry, you can take me to the first Gym tomorrow morning! You're off, aren't you?" I asked, patting him encouragingly by the shoulder. "I suppose, but I won't be able to watch!" He moped, to which I said quickly, "I'll make it up to you, Hop. I PROMISE to give it my all for you, and for you two, so no holding back!" "That's the Champion spirit!" Gloria laughed, and Victor added, "Break a leg, cheeky thing!" "I can see it now guys: Lele the first Ditto Human from the Island of Alola! AGAINST THE GREATEST CHAMPION OF ALL GALAR!" I cried, excitedly throwing myself in Hop's arms. "I'll look forward to that claim, Lele!" Gloria boasted, and we all shared a laugh as Victor and Gloria's mother entered. "You kids getting on alright?" She asked, coming in with plates of sandwiches. "We sure are ma'am. Thank you very much!" I chirped, taking a plate from her. I took a bite into the sandwich, the flavors spreading in perfect harmony, and I sighed as I savored the taste. "You seem to enjoy eating as well!" Victor laughed, and I waved him off playfully. Once we finished lunch, we saw Hop off to Wedgehurst before heading through a gate near Gloria and Victor's house. It took a bit before we reached the designated spot, and I was in awe at the gorgeous sight of the venue! "Wow. This place looks like a bride's dream!" I breathed, taking in the scene of sparkling river, and ancient ruin. "Pretty for certain!" Victor agreed. "Snap out of your trance you lot! Time for training with Champion Gloria and her trusty Cinderace!" Gloria pepped, and the training began. It was intense, and I took a few hits, but all seemed worth it if I wanted to reach my goal!