For those who reviewed, I'm glad you're receiving this story well! And I hope you continue to enjoy Gloria's adventures all the more! That said, familiar faces ahead. Oh...and please don't bring up the Scottish meme. Gloria is not that and does not speak like that. Please and thank you!

Chapter 2

A Companion

The first thing Gloria felt as she regained consciousness was a searing headache, forcing her to groan as she opened her eyes slowly. She was somewhere far softer than the ground she remembered collapsing on.

Her vision still blurry, she rose to a sitting position and rubbed her forehead, trying to make the pain go away. As she did so, she noticed a very familiar white spot at the edge of her vision, laying right next to her and snoring softly.

"Ngghh..." As the pain subsided just a bit, she nudged the spot gently. "Scorbunny...?"

After a few attempts, the white bunny slowly opened his eyes, looking just as dizzy as she was.

"Bah...?" The Bunny Pokémon let out a yawn, and finally became aware of his surroundings as he turned to Gloria. He tackled her into a tight hug. "Nibbah! Nibbah!"

"Hey there, buddy, no need to get all worried. I'm okay...I think..." Gloria hugged him back, both trainer and Pokémon happy to find each other unharmed. As she continued to embrace her Fire type, however, Gloria finally realized where she was, tilting her head.

Instead of the Slumbering Weald, or anywhere close to it, Gloria and Scorbunny were laying in the girl's messy room, right on top of her bed, surrounded by posters, Galar League memorabilia, and general disorder. From the window, she could see the midday sun shining brightly in the sky as the few citizens of Postwick went to and fro around its dirt roads as part of their daily routines.

As they split up from the hug, Gloria noticed that Scorbunny was just as puzzled as she was, the same question clear in both their minds: how had they gotten there from the Slumbering Weald? The last thing she could remember was falling unconscious as those strange wolves approached her and Hop, a bolt of lightning keeping them at bay, and then a voice calling for her. Trying to recall anything more than that, however, only made her head spin more. Did someone manage to find and rescue them? If so, where had Hop and Wooloo gotten to?

Was their little experience in the Slumbering Weald nothing but a dream? It sounded ridiculous to even consider. The excitement and fear she felt had been far too vivid to be just a trick of her mind. Yet, she couldn't find any other way to describe what she saw in the mist. No Pokémon could just phase through attacks like that, after all.

But then, what were the odds she and Scorbunny could imagine the exact same thing, anyway?

"I don't get it..." Gloria grumbled, massaging her temple as all that came to her was another painful headache. "Ugh...I need some water..."

Upon hearing that, Scorbunny hopped off the bed and turned her way, offering his paw to his trainer.

"Scorbun!" the white bunny said happily, winking at his trainer and touching over her hand. Understanding her Pokémon's intention, Gloria chuckled out, and she allowed Scorbunny to help her stand.

"Thanks," she told him, and her trusty partner led the way to the kitchen.

Just as the duo was about to enter the room, however, both trainer and Pokémon overheard a conversation happening inside. They stopped just short of entering, inadvertently eavesdropping on the conversation within.

"I really can't thank you enough for what you did here, I can't imagine what would've happened to Gloria otherwise," she heard her mother say.

"It's no big deal. I'm glad things ended well."

Gloria jerked, her feet anchored to the spot outside the door as she was caught off guard by the male voice. He didn't sound like any of her mother's usual friends, yet she could swear to have heard it before. Overcoming her initial shock, Gloria was likewise spurred by her curiosity and walked straight into the kitchen, Scorbunny right behind her. Upon setting foot inside, the trainer once more froze on the spot. Her mother and her guest turned around, both sitting at the table and taking tea together, with the former glaring at Gloria from behind her thick glasses.

"Well, look who decided to wake up! Honestly, Gloria, what were you thinking, entering the Slumbering Weald like that?! You're lucky there was someone around willing to help out!" she snapped. Gloria felt like she was more annoyed than angry, but her attention was hardly on what her mother was saying, instead concentrating on the blue-clad man sitting across from her at the kitchen table.

He looked familiar, that was for sure, and Gloria found herself squinting and blinking, until her brain's switch appeared to flip. It took a bit, but as the details coalesced, Gloria managed to piece out just who the man inside her house was.

He looked to be in his twenties, wearing a red cap and with spiky black hair and peculiar birthmarks on his cheeks. A Pikachu sat on his shoulders, munching away at some biscuits from the table. They weren't altogether uncommon details, on their own, but together, Gloria's mind was racing towards a singular conclusion. Flashes of shows she'd seen and unimportant breaking news bulletins that had interrupted Gym matches came to her head, putting those details together. Only one person fit the description of those images and the person in the room, impossible as it was.

Gloria's mouth fell open. He looked so real in her kitchen, yet thinking about that fact only raised even more questions. Not that she had time for them, for words began to tumble from her mouth.

"No way. No way!" Gloria mouthed, trying to collect her thoughts as she stared right at the man. A shaky finger rose in his direction, her lips flapping. "That face! That Pikachu! I...I know it! You're...you're from the global telly! You're Ash Ketchum!"

"Yeah, that's me," the man confirmed with a nod, a grin plastered to his face as he spoke to her. He stood up from his seat, the Pikachu leaping off as his trainer got closer to the girl. "How are you feeling, though, Gloria? Are you hurt?"

Gloria didn't respond immediately, still trying to put all the pieces together, her lips flapping uselessly. Ash Ketchum, hugely respected Pokémon Master and very well-known Pokémon trainer, was just a few steps away in her kitchen, and was talking with her. While he wasn't some household name in Galar, the enormity of his presence was still felt, his extra-regional exploits being those of whispers, rumors and legend. At least for those who gave it the time of day. Gloria attempted to collect her thoughts.

She felt like she needed to say something special for the occasion, but her mind had gone completely blank. It took Scorbunny poking at her cheek to finally get Gloria to focus on the now, blushing in embarrassment. She looked away, hoping to hide the agitated flush.

"I'm fine." She scratched her neck with her meek words, still failing to keep eye contact with the man. "Though...How do you know my name? Why are you here? Like, I don't mind at all, and it rules, but I'm sure you're a busy person and-"

"Don't forget to breathe, Gloria."

"Mum!" Gloria's face grew five shades of red as she screeched at her mother. She only sipped her tea in response.

"Hey, there's no need to get so worked up. I just stumbled on what happened," Ash Ketchum chuckled out, his attention going to the window. "I just got to Galar for a League assignment to meet up with the Champion. We were supposed to see each other in Wedgehurst, but hours passed and he didn't show up at all..."

"Yeah, that sounds like Champion Leon alright..." Gloria let out a nervous laugh, still unsure of how to respond to such a respected figure. It forced her to think of something familiar, such as their own legendary figure and his just as well-known horrible sense of direction.

"I heard that he had family in Postwick, so I thought I could find him at his home, but he wasn't there, either." The older trainer looked back to Gloria, a grin on his face as he sized her up, much to her continued embarrassment. "They suggested looking for his brother, and after some search around town I met your mom, here. She seemed pretty worried and when Pikachu noticed something by the gate to those woods, I figured that's where you and the Champion's brother would be. I followed, and then I found you passed out in the mist. Of course, I would've been there sooner, but I thought I saw a Dunsparce, ha ha."

"Pikapi!" his partner called out, slapping himself on the forehead at his trainer's words. Of course, Gloria barely knew what a "Dunsparce" was, outside of some other regional nature shows her mother watched from time to time.

"Oh, well, guess we'll look another time. I'm just glad Pikachu was able to help you guys out!"

"Pika!" Pikachu held a paw and puffed his chest proudly. Seeing that, Gloria managed to remember the bolt of lightning she saw, just before losing her consciousness.

So that's what that was, she thought to herself.

"After finding you, I brought you two here and waited until you woke up," the raven-haired man concluded. He nodded, appearing satisfied with his storytelling skills. Having heard the full story for herself, however, Gloria just sighed.

"Man, and I thought we covered our tracks so well...What did we even leave behind?"

"Just some disturbed grass and stuff. Looked odd for a place no one enters, right, Pikachu?" Pikachu nodded, returning to his biscuits. Gloria sighed again, then shrugged and placed her hands behind her neck, smiling gratefully.

"Well, thanks a bunch, then. Sorry for taking your time."

Ash shook his head. "No problem. Like I said, I'm glad you and your Pokémon are safe. Besides, like I said, you covered pretty well, but nothing can get past me and Pikachu...most of the time."

"Pikachu."

"Scorbun!" Gloria's partner suddenly called, as if to confirm that he, too, was alright.

Gloria remained silent, nervousness washing over her once more as silence interceded. Not knowing what to say or do, she twisted her lips and tapped her foot. She was grateful for the help, of course, and she knew he was kind of a big deal, but anything she could say at the time felt so meaningless. She felt so small compared to someone with much more experience than she had, especially after he had wasted time saving them from their misadventure. Thinking of that, however, Gloria perked her head up, turning around as she realized how someone in particular was missing from the room.

"So...wait. Where's Hop?"

"He woke up earlier than you, and immediately went home thinking he could meet Leon," her mother answered, as deadpan as ever and continuing to sip her tea.

That reply hit Gloria with a sack of bricks, realizing the full implications of her mother's words. Hop had left to find Leon. And he didn't wait for them.

She traded a glance with Scorbunny, and she found her partner just as horrified as she was.

"No way. No way, no way!" Her face scrunched into a raging scowl and she clenched her fists tight enough to pop her veins. "Hop, you idiot!"

"Hop's your friend, right? In the forest with you? He-" Ash's confused words went ignored as Gloria's irate state grew.

Without thinking, she rushed towards the door outward, slamming it open and running through the front garden, straight into Postwick's main road. Her speed caused her to almost trample a man with a wheelbarrow, but she didn't stop, Scorbunny hopping after her.

"Where are you going!?" Gloria heard her mother shout for her, prompting her to turn just enough to see her and her visitor at the door. The former was exasperated, but the latter looked more confused than anything.

"To kick Hop's arse!" the girl declared, sprinting even faster than she already was.

As she did so, Gloria tuned out everything around her, even her partner Pokémon keeping pace and racing at her side, only thinking about Hop and the path to his house. How could he be so stupid? She knew how important meeting Leon was! How could he forget?

Any chance to ask herself any more malicious questions about him were put to a halt as the familiar pink-roofed, two-story tall stone building that was Hop and his parents' house came into view, prompting her and Scorbunny to stop. Sweat was pouring down their faces as they caught their breaths in unison, but Gloria was quick to rub the sleeve of her cardigan over her face and head for the front door, knocking on it repeatedly and with considerable force. That was enough to get the homeowner's attention, with the door opening to reveal Hop's mother on the other side.

"Oh, hello Gloria. I heard you and Hop got into another wild adventure, huh?" she asked, looking more bemused than anything.

Gloria scratched at her arm, feeling embarrassed for her hurry. "Sorry, ma'am, we'll have to catch up another time! Are Hop and Leon home?"

"Sorry, dearie, you just missed them."

"What?!" Gloria's jaw hung open from the shock, but she shook her head, her frown returning on her face. "Where did they go?"

"Bun bun!" Scorbunny added out, leaping on the spot with increased hurry.

Hop's mother scratched her cheek as she thought back. "Well, Leon had an appointment but he couldn't meet whoever he had, so Hop convinced him to go together to visit Professor Magnolia's Laboratory in Wedgehurst's outskirts. Figured it was as good a meetup spot as any."

"Professor Magnolia?" Gloria titled her head; if she recalled correctly, that was the old scientist that had been on the news in recent times due to her breakthroughs on Pokémon research. As she tried to remember the topic, however, she suddenly realized another thing she had lost track of since she woke up, her face growing even paler than it already was. "Wait. Did Hop have some weird purple rocks with him?"

"Huh? I think so, yes. Hop was saying he wanted to ask more about them."

Those words were enough to bring Gloria to dig her nails into her balled fists again, the girl only barely refraining from very unkind remarks. She did an about face as she sprinted back in the direction she came from, a hand raised in salute. "Thanks for telling me! Gotta jet!"

"Be careful out there, Gloria! And tell my sons to give me a ring!"

Gloria barely heard the woman's words, too focused on racing away from the house to respond. Her heart was thumping against her chest and even Scorbunny was struggling to keep up with her. She didn't care how tired she was or how much she needed to rest, as her mind was focused on one thing alone.

"Hop, you idiot! This was supposed to be our chance, not just yours!" she muttered to herself, digging her nails deeper into her fists, her frustrations reaching a boiling point as she knitted her brow.

He knew how much she wanted her endorsement! Why couldn't he have waited for her before departing with Leon? Did he legitimately forget? Or was he just trying to claim both Wishing Stars for himself? It didn't make sense. Hop could be arrogant, absentminded and a bit obnoxious, sure, but he was a loyal friend and knew how she had been looking forward to her own chance to face the Gyms. That behavior was absolutely inexcusable coming from him.

"Nibbah!"

Gloria turned to her side to find Scorbunny finally catching up with her as his feet sparked fire over the path, the white bunny giving her a confident grin. Immediately, she knew what he wanted to say: less moping, more moving.

The brunette grinned back, finding herself in agreement as she eyed the road northward, to Wedgehurst, not too far from where they were. "We can still reach them. We just need to go to the Lab ourselves!"

Scorbunny nodded vigorously, and both trainer and Pokémon sprinted back towards their cream-colored house on the other side of Postwick, once again narrowly dodging any and all villagers impeding their progress. Time was of the essence, and they could rest all they wanted after they managed to catch up to Hop and Leon.

Upon reaching her home, the eager trainer slammed the door open, with enough force to send it beating on the floor. She noticed how only her mother was in the house, a mop in her hand as she cleaned the floor. Ash was nowhere to be seen, but the girl had no time to waste wondering where he could be.

"Hi mum!" she said curtly, hands on her chest as she caught her breath again, running on sheer adrenaline.

Her mother was only mildly surprised, glancing at her and Scorbunny. "Ah, Gloria, you're ba-"

"No time! I have to go get my endorsement!" She and Scorbunny immediately took a right, heading for her room with enough speed to almost trip on the cleaned floor.

Gloria immediately zoomed towards the edge of her bed, where her brown travel bag and her green beret proudly stood, putting the latter on and tossing the former on the bed. In perfect sync, both Gloria and Scorbunny split duties as they placed several essentials inside the bag, from a couple of spare clothes to a flashlight, a couple books and pens, and any other things they deemed necessary. The bag quickly filled itself to the brim. After sharing a high-five with the white bunny, Gloria grabbed the bag and put it on, grinning at her reflection in the window: she was ready to go, and soon, everyone in Galar would know her and Scorbunny's names.

As the excitement surged inside of the brunette, she and Scorbunny stepped outside the room at a moderate pace, catching sight of her mother along the way, looking after Gloria like she wanted to tell her something.

"Can you wait a-"

"Nope! My trainer career begins here!" She raised a hand, sending a quick wave in her mother's direction. "I'll write, call and get cool trophies! Bye mum!"

"Scorscor!" her trusty partner said, waving as well as they both sprinted out of the house towards Postwick's main road once more. This time, however, they took the first left turn they could, staring with confidence at the way leading to both the town's outskirts and Wedgehurst. Route One. The start of adventure.

Gloria stopped on the path, taking in a moment to observe the road ahead. This was it. She may not have had an endorsement letter yet, but she was finally ready to write the first word on the first chapter of her journey. After years of waiting, it was finally her time to shine. She took a deep breath, putting on a determined grin.

"Finally, our adventure is beginning!" She pumped a fist to the sky, her confidence growing. "We'll show Leon, Hop and everyone else who's the strongest in Galar! Right, Scorbunny?"

"Scorbun!" The white bunny threw both of his hands up, matching his trainer's grin. The duo then resumed their march towards the next town, ready to pursue their goal. They barely made it a couple steps.

"Man, your mom wasn't kidding when she talked about how energetic you are."

Hearing the familiar voice, Gloria and Scorbunny both stopped, turning to their side. There, leaning on a lamp post, a familiar raven-haired man was waiting, both he and the Pikachu on his shoulder raising a hand upon being noticed.

Gloria tilted her head as the older trainer approached her. "Mister Ketchum? Don't know if they told you, but it looks like Leon already left Postwick."

"I heard. I could've met him earlier." The man rubbed his neck, sighing. He quickly recovered his grin, however, as he looked at the girl. "But it's okay, I was waiting for you, anyway."

"For me?" Gloria furrowed her brow, unsure of what the man could want from her.

"The moment you left, your mother had a feeling you would try to follow Hop and Leon." He pointed towards himself, his smile only growing wider. "She asked me to keep an eye on you, and since I was going to meet Leon anyway, I said yes."

Gloria's eyes went wide in shock, stepping backwards as she stared straight at the man. She just as suddenly knitted her brow, however, fists pumping fiercely.

"What?! Does she really think I need a babysitter?" she grumbled, all while Scorbunny nodded along, adopting just as intense a scowl on his cute face.

"Hey, it'd only be up to Wedgehurst." Ash said, his smile unchanging as he adjusted the rim of his hat before slinging his hands behind his head. "Being on the road together can make an adventure more fun. You can see me as your traveling companion."

Gloria continued to frown, staring up at the more experienced trainer as she considered his words. She couldn't say that she liked the idea of getting shackled with someone else before she even took her first step towards freedom. At the same time, she could admit that he was one of the most famous professional trainers of the last several years. And he was offering to travel with her. Even with how little she knew, it sure felt like a tempting offer...but there was someone else she wanted the opinion of, first.

She exhaled, her expression softening up as she glanced over at her Pokémon partner. "Well, Scorbunny...what do you say?"

"Nibbah..." The Bunny Pokémon placed his paw over his chin, frowning towards the man and his Pikachu. Then, he smiled, turning back to Gloria to nod.

"Heh, you're right." Gloria wore a confident smirk, adjusting her beret as she stared back towards Ash. "Why not? You don't get to spend time with a Pokémon Master every day."

At that confirmation, the man beamed back to Gloria as he came closer to her, raising a fist to the sky. "Well, then it's decided. Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and his partner Pikachu are ready to set off!"

"Pika-pikachu!" the Electric-type Pokémon on his shoulder said, thumping his chest with pride.

"In that case, Gloria from Postwick and her partner Scorbunny are just as ready to go!" Gloria pulled off a just as sunny grin, shooting a fist skyward as well, in tandem with Scorbunny.

The two trainers traded another glance, and in a silent agreement turned back towards the road for Route One, taking the first step together in their shared journey.

To Gloria's surprise, it felt relatively mundane rather quickly. As if they hadn't just randomly met, the pair continued along the linear path in each other's company, silent, but comfortable. Or as comfortable as she could be. Still feeling a bit awkward, Gloria turned her attention to her surroundings.

There weren't a whole lot of things to see or do in that patch of land, mostly composed of farmland at their left, where most Postwick citizens worked, and several thickets of woods at their right, hiding a different path that few people traveled through. There were some Pokémon popping in and out of the tall grass at the edge of the road, but nothing that Gloria didn't already know like the back of her hand. Uninterested in the familiar environment, her attention intermittently moved to her unexpected traveling companion, finding the man turning around to take in the local sights with wonder, like he'd never seen farmland before.

Gloria tried to ask something, but she closed her mouth as soon as she opened it, turning the other way. Truth be told, and though she didn't dare say it aloud, she didn't really know that much of Ash Ketchum.

She knew he was a famous trainer, involved in some particularly notable incidents in the last decade or so, with major achievements and a 'Pokémon Master' title to his name (whatever that truly meant). She'd never really followed him close enough to know more than the fact he was a supposed big deal in the trainer world outside of Galar. She did know, however, that he was someone that, unlike the family-loving Leon, had no business being in Postwick.

And definitely someone that really shouldn't have wasted time following a random girl on a trip to the next town.

She gulped, feeling a knot in her throat the more she tried to think of what to say. She wanted to know more of what he was doing in Galar, what it felt like to be a Pokémon trainer, perhaps even some tips for a beginner that she couldn't pick up from the telly, but none of the topics she could think about were something she felt she could ask. Wanting to put an end to the silence, she tried to look at Scorbunny, hoping for her partner to have the miraculous solution to her awkwardness.

Her Pokémon stared back to her for several seconds before shrugging and sighing with a, "Scor..."

Then, suddenly, the silence was shattered as Ash stepped forward, a giant grin plastered on his face as he observed each and every Pokémon around him. "Man, so many Pokémon we've never seen! Isn't it exciting, Pikachu?"

"Pika pikachu, Pikapi!" His partner nodded as he answered, a giddy smile plastered over his face.

Gloria was taken aback by that reaction, looking at the gleaming curiosity in the man's eyes. He was quite a few years older than her, yet he had the same eagerness and excitement of a kid in a candy store as he kept running around, trying to get a closer look at all the native Pokémon in the area. She blinked, staying in place, unsure of what to tell the man. Why was he so enthusiastic about it? Didn't he come to Postwick using the same path?

And then, he jerked his head towards her, his smile only growing larger. "You know all of these Pokémon well, right?"

"Huh?" Her whole body went stiff, realizing that he was looking at her, waiting for an answer. She gulped and turned around, scratching the back of her neck. "W-well, yeah, well enough, Mr. Ketchum."

"Just Ash is fine." The older trainer put his hands on his hips, turning to the farmland next to them and the several Wooloo rolling along the fields. "So, what are they called?"

Gloria gulped, looking back at "Ash" and the Sheep Pokémon next to them. She took a deep breath, trying to keep the jitters away from her as she pulled off a confident smirk. She knew everything she needed to say there.

"Those are Wooloo. They're commonly used for farm work around here, and Hop befriended one as his first Pokémon long ago." She chuckled to herself as she remembered all those mock fights years ago, with Scorbunny and Wooloo fighting each other as she and Hop pretended to be Gym Challengers. They really were thick as thieves, which made it all the more baffling how he could just run off.

Thankfully, Ash's piqued curiosity was enough to distract her from that, and she brought her attention to a nearby bush. A stubby, blue-and-white bug with gray eyes that resembled shiny glasses poked its head out, all while a maroon fox with black accents and white markings streaked through, nimbly shifting between the patches of grass. "That one's a Blipbug, a smart Bug-type that likes to collect information, and the other is a Nickit, a Dark-type pest that keeps trying to steal food from stores and fields."

"I see." The man nodded, following the Fox Pokémon with his eyes before his attention returned to the brunette. "You really know your stuff."

"Only because I've been stuck here for years." Gloria laughed it off, restraining the annoyed, bitter edge to her voice. She walked past Ash, tapping her foot down firmly as she observed the horizon beyond the buildings of the nearest city. "I have no idea what truly lies beyond Wedgehurst, aside from a visit to Wyndon when I was a small tyke. Barely remember that, though, so I only know what I saw on the telly."

She shook her head, her smile turning into a thoughtful frown, remembering who she was still chasing. Her journey wouldn't truly start until she managed to get ahold of Leon's endorsement, no matter how she felt about it now. As she thought that, Ash walked closer, standing by her side as he also gazed at the settlement in the distance.

"I get it. I spent ages waiting to start my own Pokémon journey and yet I barely knew anything of Kanto beyond my hometown." He adjusted the rim of his hat, facing Gloria with interest. "You're planning to challenge the Galar League?"

"Of course!" she said, pumping both of her fists skyward. "Me and Scorbunny are ready to kick every Gym Leader's arse! We'll be the ones to end Leon's flawless winning streak!"

"Scor Scorbun!" her partner shouted, hopping up on Gloria's arm and dangling from it with excitement.

"That's the spirit!" Ash gave her a thumbs up. "There's nothing better than stepping forward and seeing the world for yourself, working to be the very best."

"Right?!" Gloria jumped on her feet, folding her arms with nonchalance as she glanced at her hometown from the corner of her eye. "Don't get me wrong, Postwick is very nice, but it's a bit too small for me. I want to see what the rest of Galar is like, carving my path as a Pokémon Trainer."

"Oh, I get you. Pallet Town was pretty similar. It's my hometown and I love it, but after so many journeys all over the world it's hard to stay pinned down in one place."

"All over the world, huh? Lucky..." Gloria exhaled, kicking at a pebble on the road as she focused back on the path surrounding them. "Surprised that you find Route One exciting. I thought it'd feel boring, once you see other places."

"Seeing new places is never boring for us." The man pet his Pikachu, earning a pleased squeal from his friend. "We haven't seen much of Galar, but we want to take in everything this region has to offer while we're still here. Right, Pikachu?"

"Pika pichu!" the Mouse Pokémon agreed, nodding vigorously.

Gloria looked back at the man and his Pokémon, while Scorbunny climbed up her arms to sit on her shoulder. She couldn't believe it; they hadn't even spent that much time together and they were already on friendly terms, in spite of his age and boatload of experience. She figured he would be a hero and a veteran of Pokémon battles; grizzled and gruff, like he knew better and refused to instruct. Instead, she was finding that he was so carefree, so approachable, and almost like he already saw her as a close friend. The Postwick girl snickered alongside Scorbunny, righting her beret. Perhaps, their trip together wouldn't end up being so bad after all.

Before she could continue to talk, however, the peace and quiet of Route One was torn asunder by a loud, roaring noise. One coming from Gloria's own stomach.

She went as stiff as a statue, her face redder than a Tamato Berry, rubbing her demanding belly. "Welp."

"Bun..." Scorbunny slapped a paw on his forehead, groaning at his partner.

"Pretty hungry, I guess?" Ash chuckled out as he glanced over the girl.

She groaned, scowling as she turned the other way. "Maybe I should've grabbed a bite before leaving..."

Right after, Gloria heard Ash's steps approaching her, and she peeked back at him to see the man opening the zipper of his travel bag, producing a wrapped cloth.

"Well, you can't keep walking on an empty stomach." He unraveled the cloth to present Gloria with a fairly succulent-looking sandwich. "Here, my wife made this."

The girl's attention immediately gravitated towards the food, her mouth already watering. She snatched it out of Ash's hands without so much as a second thought, a giant grin back on her face.

"Thank you! Much appreciated!" She held the sandwich with voracious eyes, then glanced over at her partner on her shoulder. "Alright, let's make it quick! Scorbunny, take a-"

Gloria couldn't offer the Bunny Pokémon a chunk of the food, for a blur flew right between them, ripping the bread from her hands with ease. She stilled, eyes wide open alongside Scorbunny, and then bared her teeth.

"What?!" She tossed her head around, scanning every inch of their surroundings in rapturous rage. "Who stole it?! Show yourself!"

"Scor! Scorbun!" the Fire type shouted, leaping off of Gloria's shoulder and helping her in the search for the culprit.

Both the trainer and the Pokémon continued to look around, yet no trace of the food thief could be found. Gloria clenched her fists, rage boiling inside of her as she continued to search all over. Ash regarded her with a quirked eyebrow, his eyes sliding to the side. And then, suddenly, a cry pierced the calm of the area.

"Roooook! Roooook!"

The sharp chirping sound put both the Postwick girl and her partner Pokémon at attention, bringing their eyes to a nearby tree, the same Ash had been flicking his eyes to. There, perched on a branch, stood a stubby songbird, his plumage of blue and yellow feathers adorned with a face mask resembling an angry scowl around his red eyes. Said eyes gleamed with intelligence as he looked back to the trainer and her Pokémon. However, Gloria's interest was quick to move to the Pokémon's feet, where a way too familiar sandwich was being kept hostage.

Gloria glowered at the Pokémon, just as Ash stepped forward at her side. He eyed the bird as he adjusted his cap. "What's that Pokémon, Gloria?"

"A Rookidee, a Flying-type. They can be pests." Gloria's lips curled downward into a frown. She jabbed in the bird's direction, her stare growing fiercer. "Hey, you! Give me back my sandwich!"

"Roookoko?" The Rookidee tilted his head, blinking a couple times. He then observed the slices of bread held in his feet. "Rook..."

He seemed to consider Gloria's question for quite a few seconds, during which the girl and Scorbunny tapped their feet on the floor, severe stares levied at the bird. Then, he gently flew out of the branch and towards Gloria, keeping the sandwich inches away from her face.

Gloria quirked an eyebrow, but was quick to turn her frown upside-down as she moved to grab it. "Well, I'll be...you're more cooperative than I-"

In a snap movement, Rookidee tossed the sandwich skyward, flying up to it and grabbing it in his beak, consuming a large bite of it. Both Gloria and Scorbunny stood in shock as Rookidee continued the routine a couple more times, the sandwich vanishing inside the bird's belly. Not even ten seconds later Gloria's food was gone, just as Rookidee turned back to her and her partner with the nastiest, wickedest grin she ever saw.

"Roookokokoko!" the Rookidee cackled, gazing down at them. The sheer audacity of the songbird left Gloria utterly speechless, at least until her stomach replied for her with a loud grumble, which only made the rude bird laugh all the harder.

"You...! You stupid ball of feathers!" Gloria lunged forward, only for Rookidee to fly just high enough for her to miss and fall flat on her face. The bird snickered once more.

From the corner of her eye, Gloria could spot Scorbunny leaping to action as she rose back up. Ash and Pikachu, meanwhile, appeared to be staying out of the conflict. That was just fine with her and Scorbunny.

"Scorbun!" the Bunny Pokémon yelled, inhaling some air and firing an Ember in Rookidee's direction. The Flying-type veered to the side, deftly dodging the attack before he turned tail, soaring away from them.

Seeing that, Gloria shuffled back on her feet, adjusting her cardigan and beret. She glanced over at her partner Pokémon. "We can't let him go! Scorbunny, let's chase!"

"Nibbah!" The rabbit nodded back to her, hopping on his feet and pumping his fists. Without a second thought, trainer and Pokémon went on the pursuit.

"Wait, Gloria! That's the other way from Wedgehurst!" the girl heard Ash say, the man trying to keep his pace even with her. It would have been a chastisement, but Gloria was past listening. He was still following her, all the same.

Gloria turned around, scowling at the older man with burning intensity. "I don't care! He dared to mock me and eat my food! The food you offered me! He must pay!"

Ash's response was to give the girl a long look and a hearty chuckle, and then continued to run after her. "Can't argue with that..."

Gloria gave her companion a prideful grin and then faced onward once more alongside Scorbunny, dashing after the bird as it flew through a thicket of trees at a split in the path. Gloria knew that it led to a small forest that she had little knowledge of, but right at that moment, the only thing that mattered was giving the Rookidee his just desserts. The songbird seemed to realize he was being chased, but as he eyed the trainers his gaze didn't betray any sort of worry.

"Rook rook rook!" the stubby bird cackled again, swiftly moving through the tree branches as they reached deeper into the forest, navigating around the woods in an attempt to lose his pursuer.

Gloria frowned, unwilling to back out as she traded a look with her partner Pokémon. "Scorbunny, hop on the branches and try to catch him!"

"Bun bun!" the white Pokémon called in affirmation. He leapt for a nearby branch and launched himself forward, paws ready to trap Rookidee. The Flying-type flew straight up, leaving Scorbunny empty-handed and in freefall from the tree as Rookidee put further distance between them.

Gloria flinched, narrowing her eyes as she observed the surroundings. "Catch the branch!"

"Scor!" The Bunny Pokémon managed to grab onto a nearby tree branch, narrowly avoiding the ground. Gloria sighed in relief, but quickly frowned again as she noticed Rookidee flying ahead of them. She clenched her fists as she kept running after him.

"Fire an Ember at him!" was Gloria's follow-up call. Still hanging from the branch, Scorbunny inhaled and fired another shot of fire towards the bird, only for the Flying-type to soar downward and avoid the blast of fire, turning around to cackle at them before circling around a nearby tree. Gloria scowled at the songbird, realizing how it was toying with them, hardly bothered by his pursuers.

"You can't reach him this way. He's too fast." Ash chimed in, still right behind Gloria while her Fire-type partner landed back down and rejoined Gloria's side. Ash looked far too at home, dodging through the trees.

"Yeah, I saw." Gloria grinned, the challenge they were facing only spurring her to drive ahead once more. "Which means we make him come to us! Ember!"

Scorbunny sprinted forward, spitting another whiff of flames right towards Rookidee. Once again, the bird Pokémon navigated his way to safety, the fire instead hitting a branch above him. The fire consumed the wood, severing it from the tree as the resulting branch meteored downward for Rookidee. The bird made a sharp turn to his right, clearly taken off-guard, but still managed to avoid the falling log as he aimed further in the thicket of trees.

Seeing the momentum shift, Gloria swept her hand through the air. "Now, Tackle! Keep up with it!"

Scorbunny ran ahead of Gloria, charging onward with the Tackle as he kept tailing Rookidee. Ever nimble, the bird Pokémon tried to turn around a large, decaying tree, far away from the bunny's reach.

Gloria winced as she saw Rookidee twirling in the air, flaunting how unreachable he was. However, the tree he was circling caught the girl's attention, and before long, she grinned. "Ram into it!"

"Nibbah!" Scorbunny replied, readying his shoulder and tackling the tree powerfully. The old wood snapped on impact, the dying tree collapsing and falling groundward, right where Rookidee was. The bird scrambled to escape, speeding through the air with his stubby wings as the tree trunk fell down with a loud thud. Rookidee was mere inches away from the impact. He frowned, wiping some sweat with his wing, clearly shaken.

Gloria finally stopped running, taking a deep breath and rubbing the sweat off her own face, her grin only widening as she glanced at the bird. "Not so smug now, eh?"

"Nibbah Nibbah!" Scorbunny shouted, arms crossed in the cutest attempt to look cool he could muster.

Rookidee turned to the girl and her Pokémon, his scowl matching his face mask. The bird quickly smirked back at Gloria, however, before turning around to continue his flight deeper into the woods. Gloria and Scorbunny both rose to the challenge, continuing to pursue Rookidee. Ash followed after them with a bemused look, nimbly stepping over hidden roots and branches.

The Flying-type tried its hardest to finally leave the trainer and her bunny behind, but the duo was too stubborn to even attempt to quit, constantly tailing after him while firing Embers and leaving broken branches in their wake. The whole while, they kept Rookidee in their field of view. It was a game of endurance and skill, and one neither side intended to lose.

Gloria kept track of how long their little chase went on for, and before she realized it, they all found themselves in a clearing walled by tall rocks, with no other trees around them and nowhere to flee but up. They all looked fairly tired, aside from Ash and Pikachu, with even Rookidee's wing flaps noticeably slower. It didn't prevent the Postwick girl from giving the bird a mocking grin.

"Hah! Finally, you've got nowhere to run!" She placed her hands on her hips, confidence spiking. "You'll pay for that sandwich, now!"

"Rook..." The bird frowned, landing back on the grassy terrain underneath. He then raised both wings open, letting out a war cry. "Rookidee!"

The Flying-type took on a battle stance, legs leaning forward to lunge and strike. Both Gloria and Scorbunny were surprised by it, but neither Ash nor Pikachu were, as the older trainer stroked his chin.

"He wants to fight against you." He glanced over to Gloria, giving her an approving nod. "The way you chased him must've impressed him."

The girl tilted her head, going back to the Rookidee and his challenging glare. She could feel it, a desire to prove himself, and test her and Scorbunny at the same time. She smiled, hardly one to give up, stretching both of her fingers. "Well, well. That makes things simpler. Scorbunny, let's show this bird what we're made of and get revenge for our sandwich! He can't be anywhere as difficult as Hop on a good day, so let's do it!"

"Scor!" Scorbunny drew his foot on the grass, taking on a battle stance of his own.

Rookidee took the first move, flying on with his beak ready to strike. "Rookokoko!"

"Tackle!" Gloria answered, punching forward.

Bird and bunny lunged at each other, both ready to strike. Moments before impact, though, Rookidee took a sharp turn upwards. Scorbunny's tackle met the air before the bird dove back down, pecking him hard enough to send him on the ground.

"Bun!" Scorbunny cried as he fell. Rookidee took advantage of his vulnerable stance, continuing to unleash a flurry of Pecks all over the bunny's body, the poor Fire-type screaming all the while. Gloria flinched, frowning for her friend.

"Dodge it!" As the relentless pecking of Rookidee continued, Scorbunny finally managed to roll out of the way. He hopped back on his feet as he caught his breath, bruises all over his body. Gloria didn't waste time with her next command. "Ember!"

The blast of fire zoomed straight for Rookidee, only for the bird to soar above it, keeping himself aloft and away from Scorbunny's reach. Gloria gritted her teeth, looking around for any part of the area they could exploit, only to find nothing but soft grass and trees too distant to be of any use, all while Rookidee maintained a safe distance from the trees above the rock wall.

"Looks like that Rookidee isn't gonna fall for the same tricks twice." Ash frowned, analyzing the battlefield as his attention moved back to Gloria. "If you want to win, you need to find another way."

"Pi-ka," Pikachu agreed, nodding sagely along his trainer.

"That's easy for you to say..." Gloria gulped, trying to stay focused as she watched over the Pokémon. "Scorbunny, use-"

Before she could say anything, Rookidee went on the assault again, diving with another Peck on the ready. Both Gloria and Scorbunny winced.

"Dodge and try an Ember!" Scorbunny hopped out of the way, unleashing another fireball on the Flying-type. It failed once again, the bird deftly making his way around the flames as he closed in the distance.

"Run away! Don't let him reach you!" Gloria said hurriedly.

"Bunbun!"

Gloria's partner sprinted away, Rookidee chasing him in a reversal of their previous challenge. The bird kept trying to lunge for the bunny, but the Fire-type put his all in to go as fast as he could, no matter how tired he was. It stalled the battle, giving Gloria the time she needed to think. The girl crumpled up her hat, a frown on her face as she tried to think of something, anything to turn the tables on the nimble bird, only for nothing to come to her mind. Her gaze continued to go back to Scorbunny, hoping he could keep the bird at bay some more. Her Pokémon was clearly at the end of his rope, going fast enough for sparks to form on his feet, leaving burnt marks all over the ground-

And thus, suddenly, the right idea came to Gloria.

"I know!" she shouted, pumping both fists excitedly. "Scorbunny, run around in circles!"

The bunny listened to her orders, shifting gears on a circular path, with Rookidee still relentlessly pursuing him. Gloria's Pokémon kept going on, in spite of pain and fatigue, the girl trusting that he could pull her plan off. He circled all around, over and over, the burnt marks forming a small circle in the middle of the clearing. Rookidee's pursuit slowly got less focused as it went on, and before long, the bird moved instead right in the center of the path, eyes trained on Scorbunny, probably waiting for him to stop and strike. Gloria smirked; just as she had planned!

"That's enough! Hop on Rookidee with a Tackle!" she yelled, throwing an uppercut at the sky. Scorbunny broke off, sparks flying on the ground as he jumped up, ready to strike. Rookidee was ready, however, slapping him away with his wing, right to the middle of the circle. Immediately, the bird flew down to strike with finality. "Ember!"

The Bunny Pokémon fired another whiff of flames at the descending bird. Rookidee tried to avoid it, veering at his left- only to find himself unable to.

All around them, from the sparks Scorbunny had let out, the circle sparked with large flames, blocking any escape routes in the vicinity of the bird Pokémon. The bird's confidence melted away like snow in the sun, looking everywhere for a way out. The Ember didn't wait for Rookidee, setting the bird ablaze and forcing him to lose altitude. Right in Scorbunny's range.

"Alright, Scorbunny, let's end this!" Gloria punched forward. "Tackle, with all your power!"

Without delay, the white bunny hopped up again, reaching his blazing opponent. Scorbunny struck with his paw, hit with his kick, and finally slammed his head straight into him, sending the bird careening towards the ground. Rookidee cried in pain all the way down, cratering with enough impact to shut down the ring of fire around them. At last, he slumped, defeated. Scorbunny landed.

Gloria kept looking at her opponent, almost fearing that he would rise back up again. Then, she beamed with pride, rushing to Scorbunny's side and tackling her friend into a tight hug.

"Yes! Well done, Scorbunny! All those mock battles and studies paid off!" she said, looking her friend in the eye, trainer and Pokémon trading grins with each other. Then, they both heard a clapping of hands, and the Postwick duo looked behind themselves, seeing Ash and Pikachu watching them with pride.

"That was pretty impressive," Ash commented, getting close enough to offer a hand for Gloria to stand up. She grinned, and took it.

"Thanks. I just remembered that Scorbunny's feet make sparks fly when he's running, so..." Upon standing, the girl pet her friend on the head affectionately. "It's all on him, in the end."

"Scorbun!" The bunny gave a prideful little grin, bashfully looking down as he scratched the back of his head.

"Roookoko..."

The weak, almost whining, cry caught the attention of the trainers and their Pokémon, prompting them all to turn to Rookidee. The songbird was trying hard to stand, staring right at Gloria.

She stared back, almost rolling her eyes as she grumbled, "What do you want this time?"

Rookidee didn't say anything. Instead, he kept staring, almost as if he was waiting for something. Gloria tilted her head, blinking in confusion, unsure of what he wanted. Fortunately, Ash decided to pitch in, letting out a light chuckle.

"I know that expression. He wants to join you," he said, hands in his pockets.

"Seriously?" Gloria quirked an eyebrow, sending Rookidee a puzzled glance. Ash nodded at her.

"Maybe that's why he wanted to battle you to begin with."

Gloria continued to look at the stubby Pokémon, still watching her while he inched closer to the girl and her Scorbunny. Gloria didn't know what to say; that bird had been a complete pest, a jerk, and a pretty annoying long-range fighter...and she would've been lying if she said she didn't respect at least the last one. They did have a pretty fun battle, after all...

She leaned down, meeting the small bird eye-to-eye with a suspicious expression. "Is he right? Do you really...?"

Rookidee nodded, his stare still prideful, but the briefest hint of a smile present on his beak. Gloria faced Scorbunny again, the bunny nodding back at her, and finally, the Postwick girl was sure of her decision.

"Well, only one way to seal it," she laughed to herself, placing a hand inside her bag. "Poké Ball, g-"

Gloria froze on the spot upon feeling no ball-shaped anything inside her travel pack, a worry slipping inside her mind. Upon grabbing her bag and opening it, she realized with great horror that there was no capture device at all among the supplies she grabbed in a hurry.

She slapped a palm on her face, exhaling in frustration. "Oh, great..."

"Here."

Hearing that, Gloria glanced back at Ash, only to see a sphere tossed at her. She scrambled to grab it, and upon safely ending up in her hands, the young trainer instantly recognized the red and white device as a Poké Ball, still empty and ready to be used.

"It's one of my spares. You can have it. I've got plenty," the man quickly explained. Gloria beamed, giving him a thumbs up.

"Thank you!" She tossed the ball up and caught it in her hand, taking aim for Rookidee. "Very well. Here goes nothing!"

In a sweeping, quick motion, Gloria tossed the Poké Ball towards the Flying-type, hitting him right on the head. The Pokémon dematerialized in a red light, sucked inside the device, and the ball fell on the ground, shaking left and right. The girl, her bunny, and even Ash and Pikachu waited with bated breath, every single shake bringing chills down Gloria's spine. And then, the ball stopped, the central button's light fading out with a ding and a burst of stars. Rookidee didn't break out of it.

Pride swelled inside Gloria's chest as she grabbed the ball from the ground, jumping on her feet with excitement. "Yes! We caught a Rookidee!"

"Scorbun nibbah!" Scorbunny cried, hopping alongside her.

Gloria tightened her grip on the ball, her grin splitting her face. It was not at all like she expected, but she had finally caught herself her first Pokémon. It was an accomplishment unlike anything she ever felt before, the tiny ball in her hand feeling much bigger and more important than she could ever imagine.

"You're feeling it, right? The happiness of earning a new companion for your adventures." Ash came to her side, placing a hand on the shoulder of the girl. "It's a feeling you'll remember for the rest of your life. The first true step of being a Pokémon trainer."

"The first true step, huh?" Gloria grinned, liking the sound of that. She tossed the Ball skyward. "Rookidee, come out!"

The device opened in mid-air, and out came Rookidee, still notably hurt, but managing to fly back down, right to Gloria's face. She and Scorbunny offered him a nod.

"Thanks for wanting to come with us. Hope we'll get along, and win the Galar League together!" Gloria extended her arm, offering a perch for her newest friend. After some deliberation, Rookidee finally caved in, placing himself on it.

"Roookoko!" the bird chirped happily. He quickly shifted his gaze back to Scorbunny, a malicious glint in his eyes. The bunny replied with a confident smirk in return.

"Scorbun!" he declared, thumping on his chest.

Looking at her two Pokémon, Gloria felt something warm inside her. The feeling that even if just a bit, she had finally made some progress towards her dream. She couldn't wait to see what Hop had to say about it.

And thinking that, Gloria finally remembered something she had put to the back of her mind.

"Ah, I nearly forgot! Leon and Hop!" She snapped back to attention, forcing Rookidee off his makeshift perch and adjusting her clothes. "We gotta return to Route One, and quick!"

Gloria then got ready to dash. Or at least, she tried, because not even a couple steps in, she realized how dense and muddled the road back seemed. She tried to think back on the path they took, but could only draw blanks, her attention having solely been on Rookidee. The Postwick girl glanced over to her Flying-type, hoping for him to know where to go, only for the songbird to shake his head. Their direction and orientation had ended up completely bamboozled, the earlier battle wiping any and all traces of their dash from before. It made Gloria sweat a little.

"Uhm...Ash...do you know where we came from?" she said with a gulp, eyeing her companion.

Hearing that question, both Ash and Pikachu grimaced, their expressions telling Gloria everything she hoped not to hear. The man furrowed his brow, hopelessly checking out their surroundings. "I think...there? I wasn't paying much attention."

Gloria tried to do the same, only to yet again not understand where to go. She tossed her hands out, frustrated, and then stomped onward. "Ah, who cares! Let's go somewhere, we'll reach Wedgehurst somehow!"

"Scor!"

"Rook!"

Both Scorbunny and Rookidee followed along, one on foot and the other in the air, giving support to Gloria's decision. Ash and Pikachu were quick to join as well, and the girl could swear they seemed way more comfortable being lost than anyone should have any right to be, as if that was part of their average routine. It brought even more intrigue to the man that was Ash Ketchum, but Gloria didn't care about that as they trudged through the forest.

Instead, she shook her head, trying to keep her focus on the road back. For now, all that mattered was reaching Wedgehurst, and with it, the true first step towards her dream.

Author's Note: And Gloria captures her first Pokémon! Basic? Yeah, probably. But I'll leave Viroro to talk more about that. For now, we really wanted to establish the early dynamic between Ash and Gloria that shows their differences and how they'll get along for the future of the story. Bit of a slow burn, still, but I guarantee it'll be worth it! (And face it, Tropics was, too).

Viroro: And with this chapter, Ash and Pikachu officially enter the scene! I was a bit afraid at first at having to write not just an adult Ash but one with the legacy of Ancienverse's stories ontop of that, but I ultimately quite liked writing his interactions with Gloria as they started their journey together, and I hope they managed to give you readers a good impression as well. This is probably a fairly typical early chapter for a Pokémon adventure story, but I hope the introduction and capture of Gloria's second Pokémon was still executed well: one of our aims was to try and avoid to make Rookidee fall victim of the generic characterization many bird Pokémon risk to fall into in canon, and I took quite a few cues from the behavior of crows to try and make him interesting. Here's hoping it worked! Epicocity and I put a lot of thought on the sort of team that would accompany Gloria in her journey, and as a major part of this new story, we hope you'll enjoy each and every one of them!

Hope you had a good time reading, and see you next chapter!

Until Sunday, thanks for reading, and, as always,

Dare to Be Silly.