\\Kristen Lore//

The night's cold wind brushed up on my face. The small street of Wedgehurst was empty. I heard close footsteps, instantly knowing who it was behind me. Hop.

"Hey Krissy," Hop greeted me, slinging his arm over me, "you know, it's isn't save for you to be out here?"

"Please," I laughed, "I'm the champion. I think I can handle myself."

"Aren't you cold?" He asked me to which I replied, 'a little bit'. Hop let go of me, causing me to look at him curiously. He was slipping his jacket off, fully revealing his black short–sleeves shirt.

"Hop! You'll catch a cold!" I told him trying to stop him from taking his jacket off. Hop put a firm hand on shoulder making me freeze. He smiled sweetly at the response he got. He spun me around, sliding his jacket on me. Once it was on, I turned back around with a blush on my face. "You're going to get sick. . ." I mumbled as we started to walk to my house again.

"I rather have a cold than to have Galar's champion sick." He chuckled lightly as he spoke.

"Don't refer to me as the champion." I hugged myself.

"Why not? You are, and you refer to yourself as the champion somtimes too."

"Sometimes I do just to make my point. It's just weird to have you refer to me as that."

"Does your boyfriend do it?"

I shrugged, "Well yeah, but your my best friend."

Hop nodded in understanding. We arrived at my house sooner than I expected to. Hop stopped, looking up at the rather small house. "I'll see you in the morning." I hummed, about to take the jacket off when Hop stopped me. "Keep it, it suits you." Hop hugged me tightly, before heading off to his own house.

~

I stirred in bed, trying to go back to sleep, when my phone began to ring. I thought I coil ignore it, but it could be urgent. I sighed, rolling back over and picked it up. I pressed it to my ear, answering in a groggy voice, "Hello?"

"Hey Krissy, sorry to wake you up so early, but Sonia kinda wants your help."

I yawned, "Yep, I'll be there. ."

"Actually she wants you to meet her in the Wild Area. You know, where we first went after—"

"Yeah, I know. . I'll be there in a bit."

I packed my things in my bag, heavy jackets, thin clothing. The wild area is always unexpected with weather patterns that, most of the time, didn't make any sense. Once I had the chance I rushed out of the house, of course after explaining to my mom the things I had to do. I might be the champion, but that doesn't mean I live in my very own house or anything like that. I rushed to the wild area where I found Sonia and Hop talking.

Honestly, ever since I found out that Hop wanted to be a professor rather than the champion I was a bit bummed out. There was a certain rush of battling with my rival that I absolutely loved.

"Oh, Kirsten, it's been quiet a while since I saw you in person." Sonia smirked.

"Yeah, how have you been? Has Hop been a good boy?"

"He's a delight!" She joked making Hop and me laugh.

"So what did you need help with?"

"Well. . . There's something Hop and I think we discovered!"

This intrigued me, "What?"

"Something that we think is called Mega Evolution."

"What is that?"

Hop waved Sonia to the side, "I'll demonstrate." Hop cracked his knuckles, taking his pokeball, and doing his signature throw. I laughed slightly, throwing in Cinderace. Hop had called out a Lucario. "Now watch this!" Hop brought his fist up, showing a bracelet. He pressed it, suddenly light burst around him and his Pokémon. The flash of light was gone, unveil Lucario, but it's appearance changed. It had red streaks down its eyes, and I didn't think it was possible, but it looked even more intimidating than before.

"H–how did that happen?!" I shouted.

Either I was hallucinating because of the bright light, or that Lucario really looked like a crazed–Pokémon. Lucario snarled it's teeth at Cinderace suddenly charging without command. "Whoa! Lucario, stop!" Hop shouted to no avail. Cinderace avoided the crazy Pokémon that charged, but now it was charging at me!

A shout escape my lips. I closed my eyes embracing for the impact, but it never came. I only heard a loud thump, and a sizzling sound. I opened my eyes to see Lucario a few feet away from me on the floor. Hop ran over to me, pressing my body up against his. "Thank God you're okay! Your Cinderace acted fast and used fire charge before Lucario could get you." Hop said, putting the Lucario back in the poke ball. I mouthed a 'thank you' to my partner. Hop pulled away, placing both his hands on my arm. "So you're okay, right?!" I nodded, still my heart was pounding. Hop traced my face with his thumb making the pounding of my heart even louder.

"Goodness, you're okay! Gosh. . I really thought we had finally found a way to control the pokemon. . ."

"Was I part of your guys' test?!" I shout burying my face in Hop's shirt.

"No! I didn't expect Lucario to attack you."

"Have you tried bonding with it. . ?" I asked, my voice distorted by his black shirt(I currently was wearing his jacket).

"No, but I guess I could try." Hop said, rubbing circles on my back.

"Great! You two stay out here in the Wild area, it can bond with your guys' Pokémon as well! Tell me when you succeed. I feel safe leaving the champion with you." I slipped away from him, now looking at Sonia. She sent a wink my way before she departed into the station.

"Well, stuck here with you, huh? How much fun are we going to have?" Hop grinned, nudging me gently.