Unsanctioned (Gladion X Fem! Reader)

The True First Battle

"You WHAT?!"

Hau, Lillie and I sat together at a table in the Pokémon Center café, discussing our recent experiences as Pokémon trainers.

"Yeah... I was forced into an unfair battle with these strange men, and then this boy came to save me," I reiterated, taking a sip of my Tapu Cocoa. The events from the night before played over in my mind, still fresh and vivid.

"Who even were these people?" Lillie asked skeptically.

"I don't know, they didn't tell me their names," I admitted. "Though... they said something about being a part of Team Skull..."

"Team Skull?" Hau echoed in confusion. "What's that?" I looked over to Lillie, who bore the same confused expression Hau did.

"Beats me," I sighed. Rowlet began to nudge at my arm, which was his way of signaling that he wanted poke beans. I complied, putting a few green ones on the counter in front of me. "I want to find a way to thank him, but I really have no idea how."

"You have to be more careful," Lillie scolded. "Next time, you might not be saved by some random mystery man."

"I know," I sighed. "After this, I'm going to go train up in the gated fields nearby. Then, I want to try to take on Ilima's trial."

"Yeah, that's the spirit!" Hau exclaimed, putting his hands behind his head. "You gotta keep going, no matter what! There's always something to look forward to! Especially malasadas!"

Lillie and I turn to each other and giggle. "You're right, Hau. Let's do our best."

---

"Here you go, (y/n)," Hala smiled as he handed me the small diamond shaped crystal. "This is the fightinium Z crystal." He then demonstrated the motion needed to trigger the Z move.

"Thank you!" I exclaimed gleefully as I put it in my bag. Since I had just beat the island kahuna, it was time to travel to Akala Island. I was worried about traveling so far from home, but I knew it would be ok with Rowlet, Hau, and Lillie at my side.

"Congratulations, (y/n)," Professor Kukui smiled as he ruffled my hair. "Let's meet at the marina in Hau'oli City, ok?"

"I'll be there," I nodded as he healed my Pokémon up. Rowlet flapped his wings in glee, chirping happily.

I met up with the others at the dock, Hau and I standing at the edge of the boat together as it took off into the open sea. Hau's popplio clapped its fins together in delight, and we both giggled at its happiness.

The new island had a different feel to it, but it wasn't too strange nonetheless. After exploring the city a little I decided to brave the next route and go on my way to the next trial. Hau tried to keep up, but he fell victim to the wrong distraction of Malasadas.

"Hey, you," a voice called to me, somehow familiar in a way. A boy approached me, a stern expression on his face. Suddenly, I realized that he was Gladion, the boy who saved me the night before!

"Alola friend!" I exclaimed, a smile on my face. "I just wanted to say thank you for last night. I wanted to give you something as a token of my appreciation, but I-"

"Shut up!" He exclaimed, my eyes widening in shock as I jumped a little. He approached closer to me so we were standing a few inches away and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. "We aren't friends, kid. I told you not to mention it again."

"I-I just wanted to thank you..." I stammered, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. A single tear fell onto his hand, and he suddenly let go of my collar. He had a sincere frown on his face, but he couldn't muster the courage to say anything. He then put his fingers under my chin, tilting my head up slightly.

"Don't worry about it, kid," he reassured me with a small smile on his face. Stepping back, he took a pokeball from his bag and held it in his hand.  "You can thank me by battling me. I won't take no for an answer."

"Rockruff!" I yelled as I let the small brown Pokémon out from his ball. He took down Gladion's Zubat with ease, only taking one shot to knock it unconscious.

"Heh, not bad at all," he smirked as the Pokémon went back to his ball. "But I'm not done yet. You have yet to meet my closest companion-- Go, Null!"

And with the throw of his pokeball, a strange Pokémon erupted in front of me. It was hard to pinpoint who-- or what-- it was supposed to see, as it borrowed parts similar to that of other Pokémon.

"Type: Null," the rotomdex chirped, its voice eerily happy. "Normal type. Not much information known on this Pokémon."

"W-what?!" I gasped. I had never had something like this happen to me. Gladion remained with a sly smirk on his face, and I pointed at him in accusation. "What are you plotting?"

"Nothing," he said playfully. "So are you going to battle, or what?!"

"Fi-ine," I groaned. "Rockruff, use rock tomb!" The Pokémon put forth its best effort, but unfortunately barely scathed the opposing one. I felt my knees begin to weaken, as worry filled my veins. Was I going to win this battle?

"Tackle, null," he barked, the Pokémon putting minimal damage on my rockruff. After a few turns of attacking like such, I was finally able to take Type: Null down.

"Impressive," Gladion admitted as he forked over the prize money. "At any rate, I want you to have this."

"What?" I asked as the boy took an object out from his pocket and placed it in my hand. It was a pink, papery flower, which shone ever so slightly in the sunlight. "What is this?"

"You'll find out sooner or later," he smirked as he turned away and chuckled. "Anyways, see you on the flip side, (y/n). I've gotta go become stronger so I can beat you next time we meet."