The region of Galar. A fantastical place filled with people and Pokemon of every shape. Located to the west of Sinnoh, separated from the other regions by a vast distance over sea, their culture developed much differently compared to the rest of the world. Namely, their Pokemon battles. Each trainer still still may have a conventional team of six Pokemon, however the trainers also face each other in armed or unarmed combat during matches. As such, citizens are legally unable to become Pokemon trainers until they turn eighteen. And, in a little town named Wedhehurst, a young girl just turned eighteen.

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"(Y/N), hurry up! Leon's coming back today!" Hop calls, beckoning for me to speed up.

"Getting there before him just means more waiting for us. Slow down a little, why don't ya?" I say. He just pokes his tongue out at me and runs on ahead, leaving me in the dust. I smile and shake my head, picking up the pace a little. Hop's brother, the champion of Galar, was finally returning after a year of travelling around other regions. We had all been eagerly awaiting this day, Hop and I most of all. See, we wanted to become Pokemon trainers, just like the champion. We had been sneaking away more and more to fight with each other and hone our skills while Leon was gone, and were looking forward to surprising him with our progress.

The little town of Wedgehurst comes into view. I could clearly see the train station, though quite a crowd was gathered around the front. Hop was right at the edge, bouncing from one foot to the other, trying to see over the people gathered to catch a glimpse at his brother.

"Leon! Over here!" He calls, waving his arm in the air. I reach his side and raise a hand in greeting as Leon pushes through the crowd and appears before us.

"Hop? Is that really you? Man, you've grown! And you, (Y/N)! I hardly even recognise you!" Leon exclaims, staring at us in disbelief. I grin, shifting my weight to one foot and placing my hand on my hip.

"Speak for yourself. Are you growing a beard?" I tease, noticing the light fuzz he had on his chin.

"You two seem a bit more muscular too. I definitely remember you being a bit fatter when I was leaving." He continues, not phased at all.

"We've been training hard with each other! We're ready to become Pokemon trainers now!" Hop exclaims.

"Well, before we bother anyone about that, how about we go back to your place and let Leon wind down a little?" I suggest before the champion can respond. He gives me a slightly grateful look and calls to his charizard, who I didn't even realise was there. The orange dragon Pokemon walks beside us as we go back up the hill to Postwick, entering the two brothers' house and sitting together at the table. Hop's mother was in the kitchen and hardly noticed us until Leon embraces her from behind.

"Oh! You scared me!" She exclaims as he laughs. "I didn't realise you'd be home so early!"

"Happy to see you too, mum." He laughs. I watch the exchange through lazy eyes, my cheek resting on my palm, as the two come sit with us. Hop and I ask lots of questions about the regions Leon visited. What surprised us the most was that trainers don't attack each other during their battles.

"You mean they just... Stand there, shouting orders to their Pokemon?" Hop asks, quirking an eyebrow.

"Yep. I nearly made the first poor guy I had a battle against crap himself from fear! Definitely made me learn the hard way!" Leon laughs. I imagine the scene and can't help but snicker to myself.

"Speaking of matches and battles and stuff- OW!" Hop begins, only to be cut off by me stamping my boot down on his bare foot under the table. He glares at me and pulls his legs up, sitting cross legged on the chair now. Leon laughs.

"I'm interested in what you have to say now. Please, go on."

"Hop and I want to become Pokemon trainers. I thought we AGREED to let you settle in first though." I say, giving Hop an accusing glare. He laughs nervously and rubs the back of his head.

"Ah. Are you certain? It can be very dangerous at times." Leon says, a bit of worry in his eyes. We both nod. "Well then, I was also going to hold off on this for a while, but I guess there's no better time than now. Come with me, you two."

Leon leads us outside to the fighting mat their mother had bought a while ago but never let us use. She follows after us, waiting to see what Leon does next. He pulls out three pokeballs, throwing them upwards to release the creatures within. One of them, a blue frog of some kind, hops into the small decorative pond nearby and disappears under the surface. The second, a green monkey, scales the large tree behind the pond. The third, a white and red bunny Pokemon, stops and stares up at me before running off.

"Well, go ahead and take your pick. Which ever you choose will be your very first partner Pokemon, to train and strengthen as you grow together." Leon says, tearing our attention away from the three Pokemon.

"You mean it?!" Hop asks excitedly. Leon nods, smiling.

"Now hold on just a minute! Being a Pokemon trainer is tough and dangerous work! It's bad enough that Leon is one, you don't need to go following in his footsteps!" their mother says to Hop, preventing him from moving. Meanwhile, the white and red bunny was approaching me again. "If you think I'm letting you go and get yourself injured like Leon does, you've got another thing coming!"

"But, mum-"

"No buts! You are not choosing a-"

REEE!!

We all look up at the three creatures. The monkey had accidentally fallen into the pond, startling the little frog that made that noise. The bunny simply watches the two squabble from in front of me before turning to look up and squeak in delight, jumping up into my arms.

"Well. Guess he chose you, not the other way around." Leon laughs, handing me the pokeball for this little Pokemon.

"Okay, great, but what is it?" I ask, turning the rabbit around so it's facing outwards, it's arms draped over my own. Like a child holding a teddy bear.

"He's a scorbunny. A fire type Pokemon."

"Well, in that case, I'll go with the grookey!" Hop announces, reaching for the green monkey. It yaps and scrambles towards him, jumping into his arms.

"Absolutely not! You let that creature down right now or I'll-"

"Mother. They've already made up their minds. Please stop trying to force Hop to back down - you know he was always going to leave the nest one day."

"It doesn't have to be today!"

"You're right. It can be tomorrow instead. Come on you two, it's starting to get late." Leon says, gesturing to the already orange sky. I smile and nod, turning to go home. "Oh, and (Y/N)? Say hi to your mother for me, please."

I raise a hand in acknowledgement without turning around before returning my grip to the tiny scorbunny in my arms, who in fact was already asleep. I smile and gently pat its head, its fur surprisingly soft. My mother was waiting for me when I enter through the door, though she was surprised by the Pokemon in my arms.

"Let me guess, a gift from Leon?" She asks, "Honestly, that boy spoils you and his younger brother."

"Well, you know I've always wanted to be a trainer." I say, setting the scorbunny down and helping her with cooking dinner. My dad wasn't in the picture so I had to help out whenever possible.

"Yes, but so soon after your eighteenth? I thought you'd at least wait until next year - it's almost new year's eve anyway!"

I think about that in silence for a while. She did have a bit of a point - wouldn't it be better to start this new lifestyle in a new year, with nothing to hold me back? But when I thought like that, I knew I was just too impatient to wait even one more month.

"I'm sure, mum. I've been waiting my whole life for this." I say truthfully. She sighs and nods, turning towards me.

"I know. I'm just not sure if I'm ready to let you go yet."

"Hop's mum said the same thing. Just... Angrier. And more cryptic."

"Pfft. That woman could hardly deal with Leon becoming a trainer. She'll do all she can to keep Hop close to her." My mother says, scoffing. They don't get along well, if you hadn't noticed. "Make sure that boy doesn't listen to her, right?"

"Right. Though we don't need to worry - he doesn't listen to anyone." I say, winking at her. She laughs and nods. We finish creating dinner and sit down to eat, both of us trying to sneakily slip the little scorbunny some food when we think the other isn't looking. Afterwards, I help clean up and go to my room, turning on my rotom phone and texting Hop for the next hour before passing out.