Chapter 2: CHAPTER TWO
As Victor entered Hop's home he took the chance to look around. Despite coming here often in the past it was before his memories awoke and he'd never really been observant despite his seemingly quiet nature.
The first thing he noticed was the complete lack of photos of one Hop. The house was filled with photos of Leon, his trophies, signed merchandise. It took all his control not to show the disgust he felt on his face. A similar situation had occurred in his first time in Unova; when he became Champion. His mother had filled the house with his things and practically ignored his sister, Hilda. He had gotten into a huge fight with their mother and after which despite being the Champion she disowned him and instead spoiled Hilda acting as though he never existed. Not that he minded at that point. Instead he had been busying watching his 'new' self Nate on his journey.
He ended his ponderings when Hop dragged him over to his mother and yelled, "Mum! Is he here?!"
Victor set aside his dislike for Hop's family, and almost laughed when his mom sighed in exasperation, "There you are at last, Hop!" She then saw him and smiled, "Oh, and you've brought along Victor. Hello, dear."
Victor smiled softly, one that could easily pass as real, before it truly grew to one as he shook his head with equal exasperation as Hop's mother, "Yeah, yeah, but where's Lee? Have you got him crammed in a cupboard?" There were moments that he couldn't believe how stupid and impatient Hop was.
Hop's mother obviously agreed with him. "He's still not here yet! For the hundredth time... Honestly, Hop, you must learn some patience! He's probably only just arrived at the station in Wedgehurst."
Hop practically jumped with excitement, "Then that's where I'm going! You know Lee is hopeless with directions. I'll make sure he doesn't get lost on the way!"
"Oh, will you? Yes, that probably is for the best..."
Hop having gotten his permission (though even if he didn't have it probably still would have gone) turned to Victor. "You've got to come with, Victor. You've still never met my big bro, right? You can't miss out on your chance to meet the undefeated Champion!" Hop rushed out but not before saying, "I'll wait for you out on the route!"
Victor grit his teeth in extreme annoyance. He really didn't want to meet his friend's older brother. Likewise the title 'undefeated Champion' made him want to scoff. There was no such champion even he himself lost battles sometimes though that was generally in the early stages, the only other times he lost was to the other Champions or to himself. He'd always remember how much he struggled to beat the first gym in Kalos, him and his partner Greninja swore to never speak of it as it was generally considered the easiest gym there. Viola still laughed at them in private though about how they had taken around eight try's before they finally won against her.
With another sigh he said a quick bye to Hop's mother and chased after his friend again.
This time Hop was true to his word and had waited for him at the start of the route to town outside his house. Not that Victor understood why they needed to get Leon as they could see the town from the house as well as the other way around.
Hop with his hands behind his head couldn't hid his excitement from Victor as he shouted, "Let's get a move on! Only remember, Victor... Wild Pokémon could come out of nowhere if you walk through patches of tall grass. I've got my Wooloo with me, so I'm ready for battles against wild Pokémon, of course. But not you, Victor! So well steer clear of the tall grass as we go."
The deadpan expression that made its way to his face was missed by Hop as he took off again. His friend was quite stupid to think he needed to be told common sense. But still he followed after him.
When he arrived at Wedgehurst, Hop staying back to battle a wild Nicket, Victor was annoyed to find a large crowd gathered. His annoyance only grew when the crowd cheered as Leon walked out of the station and did his signature pose, Charizard beside him. "Hello, hello, Wedgehurst! Your Champion, Leon, is back! I promise I'll keep doing my best to deliver the greatest battles for you all to watch!"
Victor merely glanced at Hop as he arrived before turneing to listen to the comments the people made.
"It's our unbeatable Champion! Leon, you and Charizard are the greatest!"
Leon laughed, "Well, thank you for that! I hope you'll all carry on training up your Pokémon and never shy from battle. Then come challenge me for the Champion title!"
"We're on it! We've all been working on our battle skills just like you've taught us to, Lee!"
Victor sneered at his words a bit of anger behind his eyes. He didn't like this undefeatable Champion, he much preferred Cynthia and Diantha who understood everyone had different dreams and that Pokemon did as well.
Although Leon may not realize it his words would result in some trainers forcing Pokemon who hated to battle to fight. It made his heart sting. He had seen so many examples of this in his previous adventures.
"But that Charizard of yours is too strong for the likes of us to take on!"
That moved his attention to the Charizard standing beside Leon. Within moments he felt a connection to it with his aura. His sneer lightened up a bit and he relaxed a bit as a feeling of nostalgia came over him he would have to make time to speak with it. The decision made, he tuned back into the Champions words.
Leon smiled, "Too true that Charizard is blazingly strong. But other Pokémon can be strong as well! That's why I want the strongest of challengers to fill the Gym Challenge and come battle me!" With his arms crossed Leon stood proud and declared, "My wish is for Galar's Trainers to work together to become the strongest in all the world!"
"Graawrrr!" Charizard roared beside him with pride as if backing up its trainers dream.
It was then with a shout beside him that Victor quickly schooled his expression back into his constant soft smile. "Lee!"
Releasing a shakey exhale, Victor had never been more relieved by his friend's obsession with his brother. However he still noticed the small amount of shocked annoyance in the Champion's face as he smiled, "Hop!"
The crowd parted for the Champion as he walked toward his brother, "So, my number-one fan in all the world has come out of his way to pick me up!"
The man looked down at his brother with affection, "Look at you, Hop! I reckon you've grown... exactly an inch and a quarter since the last time I saw you!" Victor's eyes grew sharp for a moment before relaxing as if it had never happened. A nearly affectionate smile on his face as he saw Hop preform a 'dance' that he saw his friend Hau do often. It was funny how much Hop acted like him; sometimes so much so that Victor suspected they were really brothers or at least cousins. He'd have to ask sometime.
"Bingo! That's the sort of sharp eye that's kept you undefeated so long, eh, Lee?" Leon merely rolled his eyes and turned to him Hau, er, Hop following with a smile.
"And these bright eyes over here... I've got it! You must be Victor—am I right?" Victor gave a polite smile with fake excitement that would satisfy Hop. Leon paused a bit noticing it but continued, "I've heard loads about you from my little brother."
Victor spared a light teasing glance at Hop, who seemingly didn't understand, however his brother Leon did and his smile grew brighter. "I'm the Galar region's greatest-ever Pokémon Champion—and a massive Charizard fan, too." Victor held back his snarky response to the Champions first statement choking back a laugh about Charizard. But he regretted it when his face almost twisted into a scowl, him barely able to school his expression back to a polite smile (it would take sometime before his mind and body fully integrated). "People call me the unbeatable Leon!"
Leon smiled at him before Hop interrupted, "Come on, Lee! And you, Victor! Bet I can beat the both of you back home!"
The moment Hop ran off Victor couldn't hide his scowl any longer as he mutter in exasperation at Hop's actions.
Leon shook his head, "That Hop... Always wanting to be the best, isn't he? With a proper rival of his own, I bet he'd push himself to become something truly special..."
Victor scoffed at his words his voice tinged with mockery as he was muttering. "Yeah, but only if he can handle the despair of constant failure."
Leon turned doing his signature pose saying to the crowd, "Well, everyone! I bid you farewell for today! But don't you fret... I'll always be around to make sure everyone in Galar can have a champion time!"
The crowd cheered dispersing, Leon turned around and chased after his brother who was waiting on the other end of the bridge. Victor stood still expecting Charizard to follow its trainer however to his surprise it didn't and looked at him anxiously.
Victor laughed placing his hand on Charizard's bowed head. It reminded him of a child desperately seeking its parents approval as acknowledgment. "Your trainer is strong, as are you. Your father would be proud. However you can still become stronger, in the face of your father and I, you are still nothing but a child. Work hard, I hope you can show me a fine battle in the future."
Charizard rubbed its head against his hand pleased before growling lowly looking at him with determination. It was saying clearly it would prove itself worthy of battling him in the future.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone