Pokemon Rusted Shield/Sword

Feral Failure

It was the first of the two rounds of the semi finals and Victor was facing Marnie, but one had to wonder, who did Hop face before Victor?

Well...

He faced Grant.

Which meant, for any who know how this story goes...

Grant was about to lose.

It was before the match and Hop was hyping himself up in the locker room. Leon entered, "Hey little bro."

"Hey Leon!" Hop exclaimed, "What's up?"

"Do you want to win?" Leon asked.

Hop nodded, "Yeah of course. I'm fighting my brother but I'm not holding back."

"You'll need a full team of six," Leon adds, "Here. Borrow one of mine."

Leon handed Hop a peculiar Pokéball.

"What's in it?" Hop inquired.

Leon hugged him and assured him, "You're gonna be a great champion. I love you. I'm sorry for whatever happens next."

"What do you mean?" Hop asked.

"Let's just say that's your best chance at beating Grant," Leon replied, "And you should save your best for last."

Hop nodded in understanding.

Hop entered the arena, leaving Leon to break down crying in the locker room.

"I'm a monster," He told himself, "I failed to save his parents and then I do this to him? I'm sorry Grant. I'm so sorry. You're an orphan because of me. Because I failed and now..."

Leon wiped his tears, "Your journey for a better life will end because of me."

Hop entered the arena where Grant greeted him eagerly, hugging him, "Bro great to see you! You ready for this?"

Hop nodded, "Wouldn't have it any other way. Didn't expect you to be the first person I fight in the semi finals. Hey, Victor just finished his match so whoever wins faces him! Give it your all man!"

"You too!" Grant exclaimed.

To keep a long story short, Hop got destroyed, his team ripped apart. Terrakion merely used two Swords Dance against Dubwool which walled the bundle of wool and slashed his entire team to bits.

A single slash shredded Dubwool's thick fur. Corviknight was impaled by Stone Edge followed by Cinderace following the same fate. Pincurchin was hacked to bits by Sacred Sword and not even Snorlax's bulk to stand up to a Legendary Pokémon's might.

Hop looked at the final Pokéball.

"This feels wrong somehow but..." Hop sighed, "Grant! Forfeit now or you'll regret it!"

"I'm not quitting now!" Grant cried out, "I won't let mom abandon me! I won't let you abandon me because I lose! I'll do away with the endorsement system and win!"

"I have no idea what's in this Pokéball but I tried to warn you it wasn't good!" Hop exclaimed as he sent out...

...

Grant vomited blood and bile. He screamed and tore his own hair out. Fearing for his own safety, employees rushed in to break up the match. Tears streamed down Grant's face as he screamed and was forcibly dragged away and spoke what wasn't even a real language anymore, just fearful, feral grunts. He seemed to be begging to be let go. Hop made out a few words, "It... kill... mom! It... kill... dad! It... attack... me!" He could not order his Pokémon to attack as Hop realized what his brother had given him...

Hop left in shame, and thus, the story goes as it is known.

Victor wins, captures Eternatus, and saves Galar. Not to mention becoming champion. Only after the chaos that ensued with the two legendary dogs did Hop and Leon finally get a chance to talk.

It was at the Battle Tower, where Leon talked on a phone with his mysterious and malicious benefactor, "So we're cool? I'm free now?"

"You can provide for your little family with the Battle Tower now," the women sighed, "I hate to admit it, but I can't control you now. Do as you wish. I'll merely recruit your successor."

Leon clenched his fist but sighed, "Do what you will..."

Hop entered the room with a bitter glare.

"You're rotten to the core," he glared, "Aren't you?"

"I can explain," Leon pleaded, "Just-"

"Save it," Hop glared, "That Vespiqueen, the one that attacked him, and the one who killed his parents, they're all the same, aren't they?"

"I swear I had a good reason if you just-" Leon attempted to beg but Hop would have none of it.

"I would listen to my brother," Hop replied, "But see Leon, Grant taught me something. Family is not blood, but the people you love. You rigged the whole gym challenge didn't you? You're not only pants with directions, but you're also pants at being even a half decent person. In other words..."

Hop glared daggers at the disgraced champion, "Leon... You are no longer my brother."

"Please!" Leon begged, "I-"

"Do you know where he is?" Hop demanded.

"What?" Leon asked.

"He's been locked in the Wyndon Mental Health Institute!" Hop exclaimed, "He's been in there a month reduced to a feral beast because you shamelessly exploited his trauma that you failed you prevent!"

Hop glared as he held his Pokéball, "By Arceus I should set Zacian loose on you but... that's not justice. Goodbye, Leon. You're the worst big brother, no, the worst champion I've ever seen."

With that Hop left. Leon wept and looked at the photo of him holding baby Hop as he muttered to himself, "But I did it all for you..."

So, the story is over right?

As is known Rose's plan to use Eternatus to defeat the mysterious unseen hand destroying Galar went haywire and not even Leon learned the truth of it. Grant's mind has been broken seemingly beyond repair, the Royals have been stopped by Victor and Hop, and all is well in Galar?

No.

The mysterious benefactor and unseen hand remain and...

More importantly...

Over time madness can calm and when madness begins to calm, what replaces the fear and pain...

Is rage.

Rage.

Blinding rage.

Rage.

Rage.

Against the one who took his chance.

Rage.

Rage.

Against the one who couldn't save his parents.

Rage.

Rage.

Rage.

In his cell something in Grant came to its senses and he spoke, "Rage..."

"What?" An employee asked, "Get the doctor! He's finally speaking English!"

"Rage," Grant explains, "Rage against the injustice. Rage. I feel... rage. Leon... He fought that very same Vespiqueen all those years ago. Didn't he?"

"Uhhhh..." the employee replied.

"Answer me!" Grant exclaimed.

"Yes yes he did!" The employee replied.

"Rage," Grant laughed, "Rage."

Grant looked at the employee, "I don't care about becoming champion now. I just wanna prove to everyone the scum Leon is and to myself..."

Grant smirked, "That I can beat him."

This story is not over.

For rage at injustice...

Can on rare occasions lead to justice.