Pokémon Sword and Shield: Bonds of Armor

Chapter two: The Gym Challenge

Hey guys so welcome back to my story and I really hope you guys are enjoying this story. I really hope you guys are and please share my story to anyone you want and I hope you enjoy chapter 2!

The four had made it to Wedgehurst and they made their way to the professor's lab. They arrived at a purple building with a Pokeball on the front window. When they entered the lab they were greeted by a Yamper that seemed to be friendly to the four.
"Don't mind him, he is very friendly with others." a voice said.
The four looked up to see who the voice was and it revealed a young woman around Leon's age.
"Well hello Sonia it has been a long time." Leon said.
"It has indeed Leon, how have you been?"  Sonia asked.
"It has been good I have to defend my champion title after all." Leon answered.
"Don't forget that when we were doing the gym challenge I almost had you defeated." Sonia said.
"I pulled through and I won the Championship." Leon said.
"Anyways what brings you here to Wedgehurst?" Sonia asked.
"I was here visiting family and friends and then my brother Hop and his friend, Victor, wanted to see if they were ready to take part in the Gym Challenge." Leon explained.
Sonia then looked and saw the other three.
"Well you three look like fine trainers to me especially you Hop and Victor." Sonia said.
"Thank you Sonia." Hop said.
"So why doesn't Leon want you to take part in the Gym Challenge?" Sonia asked.
"He thinks we are not ready for the challenge when me and Victor know that we are ready." Hop answered.
"Oh come on Leon don't forget we were the same as these two we begged the professor to let us go on the challenge." Sonia said looking at Leon.
Leon started to think about what she just said for a bit.
"Well you are right about that, but I want the professor to decide if they are ready." Leon said.
"Alright let us go to see the professor." Sonia said.
"Wait Sonia you are not the professor?" Victor asked.
"No, I am her granddaughter, the professor's lab is just on the edge of Wedgehurst; it is not far." Sonia said.
The five of them made their way to the Professor's lab and on their way Victor came across two Pokemon, a Rookidee and a Chewtle. Victor battled and caught them one by one and he now had three Pokemon on his team. They made it to the Professor's lab and they entered the building. Once inside they were greeted by an elderly woman wearing a lab coat.
"Hello, I am the Pokemon Professor, Magnolia, and Sonia's grandmother." the Professor said.
"Hello Professor it has been a long time." Leon said.
"Yes it has been young Leon, I can see you have been doing well, and what brings you here?" the Professor asked.
"Well you see these two here want to prove to me that they are ready for the gym challenge and we came for your opinion." Leon answered the Professor.
"Very well meet me at the area outside the house we will have a battle to settle it." the Professor said as she was walking outside.
They left the lab and made their way to the arena where Professor Magnolia explained what she wanted.
"Alright if you want to prove to me you're ready you two will battle and how you battle will determine if you are ready so give it all you got." the Professor explained.
"Alright then you heard her Victor let's give it all we got." Hop said walking to one end of the arena.
"You got it Hop I will hold nothing back." Victor said going to the opposite end of the arena.
When both trainers were ready they released their Pokemon into the arena. Hop sent out his Wooloo and Victor sent out his Rookidee. Both Pokemon fought with their might, but Rookidee was able to counter Wooloo's attack and with one final move Wooloo fainted. Hop returned his Wooloo and in his place sent out his Rookidee. Both Rookidee fought, but the match ended with Hop's Rookidee taking the final blow. Victor got his Rookidee back and sent out his Chewtle. Chewtle was very effective against the Rookidee and knocked out the Rookidee with one Bite. Hop then sent out his final Pokemon, Sobble into battle and Sobble was able to beat Chewtle. Victor got his Chewtle into his Pokeball and sent out his final Pokemon, Grookey. Grookey and Sobble battled through toughness and speed, but in the end Grookey was able to knock out Sobble with his Branch Poke and Sobble fainted in battle. Victor was declared the winner and Gloria was there to heal both of their Pokemon. After the battle the Professor came up to them to congratulate them.
"Well done you two, you have shown that you have what it takes to be a Gym Challenger. Both you not only show effort on the field, but both of you share a personal connection with your Pokemon, you show you care for them during battle and that is enough for me to say you are ready for the Gym Challenge, so Leon please endorse them for the challenge.
"Well a promise is a promise so, Victor and Hop I declare you both endorsed by the Champion to take part in the Gym Challenge, when you register just show the front desk this document and you will be registered." Leon explained handing both Victor and Hop a legal document for the Gym Challenge.
"Thank you so much Lee this means a lot and I promise I will not let you down and I will make my way to the finals and challenge you for your title." Hop said.
"I will be waiting for you Hop and I know you can do it, however, the Gym Challenge day isn't for another three days, so you two take the time to train up and prepare for your journey." Leon said.
Once Leon finished talking a star fell from the sky and landed on the arena. Everyone noticed it and went to where the star fell.
"Is that a Wishing star?" Sonia asked.
"It must not be a coincidence that when those two battled a star fell from the sky." the Professor said.
"It seems like it, so what do we do?" Leon asked.
"Tell you what Hop and Victor when the three days are up come to the train station before you leave and I will give you something for your journey." the Professor explained.
"Alright that sounds like a plan, so I guess we should head home for the day it's getting dark." Hop said.
"Good call Hop let's go home I'm sure mom is making dinner right now." Victor said.
They all decided to head to their homes for the night. Three days until the Gym Challenge officially starts and both of them could hardly wait for the competition. During this time Victor was training his Pokemon a bit and he continued to befriend his Pokemon. Gloria was also training to help Victor and Hop during their journey and she managed to catch a Wooloo. Hop of course trained harder every day. Time flew and before they knew it, it was time to head to Motostroke for the beginning of the Gym Challenge. Victor, Gloria, and Hop packed their bags with supplies and they headed to the train station. When they arrived they met the Professor and Sonia at the station waiting for them.
"I see you three have arrived, and just as I promised for Victor and Hop take these." the Professor said, handing them bands.
"What are they?" Victor asked.
"These are Dynamax Bands, in certain battles they will increase your Pokemon's size and strength so use them well." the Professor explained.
The two put on the bands and said their thanks to the Professor.
"As for you Gloria, you are not a Gym Challenger, but watch these two when they are out there." Sonia said.
"Don't worry, I promise." Gloria said.
The two left the three for their lab, but before they entered the station, both of their moms met up with them.
"Hold up you three." Victor and Gloria's mom said.
"Hey mom what brings you here?" Victor asked.
"You are gonna need this camping gear for the Wild Area." she said handing over camping gear for the both of them. Hop's mom did the same as well.
"For you Victor I was waiting for the day you will leave home and start your journey, I have been saving this for when you were ready." she said, handing him a Pokeball.
"What is it?" Victor asked.
"It is a Pokemon you and your dad caught when you were really young and now is the time for you to have it for your journey, go on open it." she said.
Victor threw the Pokeball and out came a Dreepy.
"Woah me and dad caught this Pokemon?" Victor asked.
"Yes, your father knew one day you will start your journey and Victor you have become just like your father I'm proud of you and Gloria I'm proud of you as well and please take care of your brother." she said.
"You got it mom I won't let you down." Gloria said.
Victor's and Gloria's mom hugged both of her children and Hop's mom hugged her son. The three left for the train as it was about to depart. They settled in the train and enjoyed their ride to the Meetup Spot of the Wild Area. Hop explained to them that the only to Motostroke from Wedgehurt is by train to the Meetup Spot and they will have to walk to Motostroke. After about an hour on the train they arrived at their destination. They left the train station and headed to the Wild Area. At first glance they were amazed at how big it was and the amount of Pokemon roaming around. They made their way through the area and made it to the entrance to Motostroke. Once they got in they were amazed by how big the city is and they explored different restaurants and shops they have. The three then arrived at the Motostroke gym to register for the Gym Challenge. When they entered they saw so many other challengers in the lobby and they made their way to the front desk.
"Hello, how can I help you three today?" the clerk asked.
"We are here to register for the Gym Challenge." Victor said.
"Okay, I will need your legal document of endorsement." the clerk said.
Hop and Victor handed their documents and Gloria handed over her notice from the champion to travel with the two.
"Amazing I have never seen an endorsement by our very own champion." the clerk said.
As she said this many challengers had their heads turn to them, this made them feel nervous and looked at.
"Alrighty then please put in a number for your uniforms." the clerk said.
"01." Victor said.
"189." Hop said.
"25." Gloria said.
"Alright the official day is tomorrow there will be a Gym Staff to escort you to the Bedew Inn for the night and tomorrow come back and get your uniforms for the opening day." the clerk said.
The three headed outside and met up with one of the Gym Staff that escorted them to the Inn. Once they got inside they noticed two dudes wearing goth outfits blocking other trainers from the check in desk.
"Hey what is going on?" Hop asked.
"No one is allowed to check in, our Marnie will be the only one in this Gym Challenge the rest of you don't stand a chance." One of them said.
"That's just low, who says we can't compete?" Hop asked.
"It is our job to make sure Marnie wins." the other one said.
Before Hop or Victor could get their Pokeballs a voice came and stopped them.
"That is enough for you two, I thought I told you I don't need any help and to please go home." she said.
The voice appeared to be a girl that they saw in the lobby of the gym.
"But...Miss Marnie." one grunt said
"No buts now please leave, you are disturbing everyone here." she said.
The two grunts then left the Inn and went home.
"I apologize for those two my brother could be such a nuisance, are you three alright?" she asked.
"No worries they didn't do anything to us." Victor said.
"That is good my name is Marnie I am one of the Gym Challengers." she said.
"Nice to meet you Marnie. My name is Victor, and this my sister Gloria and my friend Hop." Victor said, introducing them to Marnie.
"It is nice to meet you three, I hope we can be friends and I wish you good luck on the Gym Challenge." she said.
"Likewise well we should head to our rooms for the night we need to be ready for opening day." Gloria said.
"Good call Victor me and Gloria will get our rooms so just wait for us." Hop said leaving Victor and Marnie.
"Well you don't mind me waiting for my friends to finish do you?" Victor asked.
"It is no problem, I wanted to relax in the lobby before heading up." Marnie said.
The two of them sat in the lobby area of the Inn and the two started talking a lot and they started to get to know each other a little more and before they knew it Hop and Gloria finished check in. Victor and Marnie said their goodbyes and goodnights. They headed up the elevator to their rooms, Hop and Victor shared a room while Gloria got a room for herself. Hop and Victor were preparing for bed when Hop asked Victor a question.
"So Victor what do you think about Marnie?" Hop asked.
"She is cool and she is really nice to talk to." Victor said smiling.
"Is someone smiling?" Hop asked.
"No, I don't know what you are talking about." Victor said, blushing.
After they finished talking they went to bed and tomorrow was gonna be a big day for all the Gym Challengers. Victor only hoped that he could enjoy his adventure with his friends and Marnie.

That is it for chapter two I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I am working on more chapters in the future and I know that I posted this story yesterday night, and I had just finished chapter 2 so I hope I can get these stories out at a good pace and thank y'all so much for reading. Please share and comment what you think and I will see you in the next chapter.
And yes there is a Victor and Marnie ship I live those two a lot.