Galar Region, Wyndon.
Inside the Pokémon League office, phones rang incessantly as staff hurried about.
"Mr. Leon, here's a proposal from Leader Milo about promoting agricultural development in Turffield that needs your signature."
"Mr. Leon, Spikemuth has refused challenges for three months. Many Trainers have filed complaints."
"Mr. Leon, at 2 PM, there's a Champion speech scheduled for the charity hospital..."
Leon clasped his hands together, listening attentively to each report with a faint smile.
His golden eyes shimmered with a profound emotion—hope—while weariness and melancholy lay buried beneath his passionate gaze.
"Don't worry, everyone."
Leon's voice carried a reassuring strength as he smiled.
"I'll handle it."
The staff's expressions softened, and for a moment, the office fell silent.
"Understood!!" they responded in unison.
Immediately, they redoubled their efforts, diving back into their busy work.
Galar might be barren and struggling, but it had the strongest Champion.
Leon.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Leon finished his Champion speech at the charity hospital, gently patting children's heads under a flurry of camera flashes.
Waving to the cheering crowd, he swept aside his logo-covered cape, raised a finger to the sky, and disappeared into the backstage passage.
Amid the applause, Rose, dressed in a silver suit, leaned against the wall, fiddling with his curly hair as he waited for Leon.
Falling into step beside him, Rose scoffed:
"Tomorrow, there'll be another flood of headlines about the Champion's publicity stunts."
Leon kept smiling. "Negative publicity is still publicity."
Rose halted, watching Leon's solitary back, and sighed helplessly.
"You're going the wrong way. The exit's the other direction!"
Leon paused, then turned with an embarrassed chuckle. "Ahaha, my bad. Got lost in thought."
The two boarded a Galarian Flying Taxi.
Corviknight's wings beat steadily as they soared through the twilight.
Rose flipped through financial reports while Leon propped his chin on his hand, gazing out the window at Galar's resource-rich lands.
"Take the night off. How about it?" Rose suddenly said.
"Sure, no problem," Leon replied absentmindedly. "I'll handle the rest."
Rose massaged his temples and raised his voice. "Not me—you! I meant you should rest!"
Seeing Leon's slight frown, Rose straightened up. "Tonight's work is trivial. Forget about it. Take Charizard out, relax for once."
"Battle Raihan. Visit your girlfriend. Chat with Mustard on the Isle of Armor. Play some games."
Rose counted off each suggestion, grinning as he slung an arm over Leon's shoulder.
"Galar's Champion should take a page from Hoenn's book. Learn to rely on your companions."
"Companions..." Leon murmured.
Rose's eyebrow arched, his slick curls gleaming. "You don't trust me."
"Of course I do!"
"Then take the damn night off."
Rose smirked, his sharp yet warm gaze locking onto Leon. "Starting now, until sunrise tomorrow, you're not Galar's Champion. Got it?"
"I'm... not..."
Leon stared blankly out the window as Corviknight climbed higher. Through the misty clouds, a Charizard emerged.
A caped figure rode atop it, drifting aimlessly as he whispered to himself:
"Galar's Champion..."
...
Night enveloped the Isle of Armor.
"Ugh! I played ranked all night and still dropped spots!"
At the wooden dining table laden with delicious food, Mustard clutched his bowl and chopsticks, grumbling about his losing streak.
"Did you run into Natsume-sensei again?" Klara, her purple eyeshadow glinting, asked around the chopstick in her mouth.
Mustard's eyebrows twitched as he shoveled rice into his mouth. Outside, Avery's voice called from beneath his magician's hat:
"Master! Champion Leon is here to see you!"
"Oh! Leon!"
Mustard slammed his chopsticks down like he'd seen a savior and hurried to the door.
"Master really plays favorites with that apprentice of his, huh?" Klara muttered to Mrs. Honey.
"Maybe," Honey mused, "he just wants Leon to help him grind ranked."
Klara blinked, then puffed her cheeks. "Well, he's still no match for Natsume-sensei in strategy games..."
Red lanterns swayed at the dojo's entrance as the distant cry of a Wailord echoed across the sea.
"Leon, my boy! What brings you to the dojo today?"
"I, uh… got lost," Leon admitted with an awkward chuckle, scratching his head. "Next thing I knew, I was here on the Isle of Armor. Haha!"
Mustard sighed, shooting him a sidelong glance before folding his arms. "Come with me. I've got a favor to ask anyway."
Leon followed, silent for a long moment before speaking.
"Master… I've been thinking about something today."
"Let's hear it."
"What if… I wasn't Galar's Champion? Would someone else be better suited?" Leon smiled faintly, eyes downcast. "Like Wallace succeeding Steven, or Iris taking over for Alder..."
"I'm not a perfect Champion. I nitpick, I get too emotional. Rose's vision might bring Galar more prosperity, but I… I just want to see people and Pokémon living happily together."
"But even if I weren't Champion, I could still do that, couldn't I?"
Leon shook his head, laughing softly.
"Sorry—just ignore me. Guess I've got too much free time!"
A calloused hand settled on his shoulder. Leon looked up to see Mustard's weathered face, his gaze deep and knowing.
"There's no one better suited to be Galar's Champion than you, Leon."
Mustard thumped a fist against Leon's chest, then ambled toward the living room's handheld console.
"Because you're the strongest Champion."
Leon stood frozen for a second.
Then, slowly, his lips curled into a bright, boyish grin.
"No more work tonight, Leon! Help me grind ranked!" Mustard bellowed.
"Let me warm up with my own account first, Master!"
Leon laughed, sweeping his cape back as he strode toward the living room.
"Time to show you what a Champion Moment looks like!"
...
The entire dojo crowded around the couch.
Klara, cheeks cupped in her hands. Avery, adjusting his tall hat. Honey, watching with gentle concern. And Mustard, buzzing with excitement.
"Come on, come on! This season's my shot at World No. 1!"
"Masteeeer—" Klara drawled, "you're really making the Champion do this for you?"
"It's fine," Leon said cheerfully. "I'm off duty. Until tomorrow, I'm not Galar's Champion."
Avery pushed up his monocle. "That explains the weekday gaming, at least."
Honey fretted, "Keep an eye on your master, Danny. Don't let him stay up too late."
"Don't worry, Mrs. Honey."
Leon's competitive spirit flared as he selected his Gigantamax Charizard and queued up.
To everyone's surprise, a match was found in under ten minutes.
The opponent's profile loaded—a sharp-featured, black-haired young man.
"Natsume-sensei?" Leon blinked.
"OH NO! NATSUME-BOY?!" Mustard wailed.
Klara's eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushing as she clasped her hands together, her expression almost… suggestive.
Avery adjusted his glasses. "Statistically, Natsume-sensei is likely running Rain Perish Song today."
"Rain Perish Song, huh…"
Leon's lips curved into a grin, his golden eyes alight with battle lust, his scruffy face suddenly boyish with excitement.
Even if this was just a game… against Natsume-sensei, he had no reason to hold back.
"Let's give it a shot!"
Without hesitation, he dragged his most trusted (and type-disadvantaged) Charizard into the team.
"Come at me, Natsume-sensei."
With Mustard whooping beside him, Leon pointed dramatically to the sky—childish, charismatic, utterly Leon—and shouted:
"WITNESS OUR CHAMPION MOMENT!"
--------------------------------------
No More Waiting - The Story is Complete!
Love what you're reading? Get instant access to the entire story—all 250+ chapters are available right now!
👉 Unlock everything: patreon.com/PokemonStoryWeaver
--------------------------------------