1. Ash's Story (Part 10: Galar)

Chapter 46

The evening wears on, and as we wait for Leon to join us for dinner, an unusual and concerning silence lingers. Minutes turn into hours, and Leon's absence becomes increasingly apparent. Hop, usually upbeat and confident, now wears a worried expression.

"This is absurd... Even Lee's never this late. Something's not right. He always does what he says he'll do." Hop voices his concern, his tone laden with worry. "As a kid, he promised me he'd become Champion one day, and he went and did just that! He ought to be able to keep to his own dinner plans!"

Gloria, with a perceptive observation, adds, "Maybe there is something that happened to him..."

The unease in the air is palpable, as we grapple with the unexpected absence of the Galar Champion, Leon, pondering what might have caused this unforeseen delay.

In an unexpected turn of events, Piers makes his presence known on the field. With his characteristic bluntness, he remarks, "Kid's sure got a mouth on him, huh? If you were that noisy durin' battle, you'd unleash a whole new level of power, you know." I acknowledge his arrival with a polite greeting, saying, "Oh, hi, Piers."

However, Hop is visibly frustrated and doesn't hold back. "Oh, pack it in, Piers! I'm seriously worried here! So I don't need to see your smug mug looking like you're having a go at me, even though you act like you're giving me good advice!" Hop retorts, his concern for Leon overshadowing any patience he might have had.

Piers continues to offer information despite the tension. "Judgin' by appearances? No wonder you lost to your mate. If you're lookin' for the Champion, I saw him headin' to Rose Tower. Oh, he's not alone, there are two people who are with him. The other Champions."

I interject with surprise, "You mean my Mom and Dad?" Confusion fills my voice as I ask, "Why would they go there?"

Piers sheds some light on Leon's whereabouts. "Dunno what he's up to, but I ran into him at the monorail platform. He said to tell you that he had somethin' to do at Rose Tower, so he'd be late to your dinner."

The mystery deepens, prompting Victor to question, "But why Rose Tower? What could he have to do there at this hour?"

Realizing the urgency of the situation, Hop seeks assistance. "Piers, do us a favor. Take us to Rose Tower, would you? Neither of us know the way."

Elena chimes in confidently, "Hey, I know the way!"

Piers, despite his gruff exterior, appears to be willing to help. "Sheesh... What rude siblings, always so demandin' of others. Though I s'ppose... It's a real problem for me, too, if the Finals are held up for any reason. And I don't really hate the two of you little runts. You were good enough to beat me, after all. So I think I'll invite Team Yell along, and we'll all have ourselves a bit of fun. Shall we?"

Hop's enthusiasm shines through as he exclaims, "Brilliant! You're the best, Piers! Let's go make a real ruckus!"

As we prepare to embark on our journey to Rose Tower with the unexpected assistance of Team Yell, Dawn inquires with surprise, "So that really is the famous singer Piers, right?"

Alice confirms, "Yeah, he's also the Gym Leader of Spikemuth and probably the boss of Team Yell. They're all big fans of Marnie."

Heading outside, we encounter Marnie, who appears somewhat begrudgingly. She mutters under her breath, "Man, why am I here for this? I'm totally exhausted from that battle with you, Ash..."

Piers expresses Team Yell's commitment to helping us, stating, "We decided that Team Yell will cheer you on, guys. Let's help out together."

"What a beautiful display of sibling love! However, it is entirely unnecessary." Our spirits are lifted by the unexpected support, but our optimism is short-lived as Oleana approaches us. Her presence adds a layer of concern and uncertainty to the situation. Helen questions her, "Oleana, what is the meaning of this?"