Darkest Day (Pokémon Sw/Sh fanfic - rewrite available and in progress)

Prologue

Poor Sobble was losing. And to a Charmander, of all pokémon. Its rival gave a triumphant growl, tail flaring. Sobble then began weeping.

"No! Not now, you dolt!"

"What's the matter? Can't control your own pokémon?"

Eliana looked up at her opponent with a harsh glare. Leon gave her a smug grin, as if daring her to say something back.

"At least my pokémon has a better sense of humor than you," she muttered. Of course, she didn't even know if Sobble had any humor, but it still meant she won the argument either way.

Leon frowned a bit. "Ember!"

Charmander summoned a small plume of fire, launching it at Sobble. The water-type's tears alone caused enough moisture that it evaporated the flame almost immediately.

At least it's good for one thing.

"Sobble, Water Gun!"

The pokémon gave a small squeak, almost like it had been startled out of its emotional shock. It then let a long stream of water blast from its mouth. Charmander was hit square in the face, ensuring an immediate win. It's knees quaked slightly, then it fell to the ground.

Leon made a sound halfway between surprised and appalled. "Return!" he shouted, putting his partner back into its respective pokéball.

Sobble was just as surprised. It blinked, looking at itself almost as if to say I did that?! "Sob?"

"Told you I could take you on," Eliana huffed. She crossed her arms and waited for Leon to turn to face her.

When he did, however, he was smiling. "Type advantage or not, that was a great battle," he stated calmly. "But that'll change when I become Champion."

Eliana barked a laugh. "You? Champion? When Grumpigs fly! You're not even in the Gym Challenge yet."

That was very true. Leon, who had just turned twelve, was finding it very hard to find a sponsor for entry in the Challenge. He had met all the requirements so far; Coming of age, obtaining a partner pokémon and all that jazz. He just needed one itty bitty sponsor and he'd be as good as gold.

Eliana, on the other hand, didn't have time for anything like the Gym Challenge. While she herself had just obtained her partner — Sobble — she knew that her parents would never let her leave. That, and they were due to move to Sinnoh next month. Maybe there she would run in the Challenge.

She was very upset when she learned about the move. It would mean leaving home and her best friend. She and Leon had basically grown up together, dreaming of the day they could become rivals in the League. Now that dream had been crushed. The worst part about it was Leon had no clue.

"I hear the Challenge is opening for new admissions next month," Leon said happily. "Thinking about signing up?"

Eliana's heart could have broken right then and there. How could she say no to her best friend? But she had no choice. She couldn't lie to him.

"No," she replied sadly.

Leon nearly dropped his pokéball, in which Charmander resided. "What? We were supposed to go together!" he cried.

"You'll be fine without me. Besides, Raihan will most definitely be there, so you won't be without a rival."

Her friend's happy demeanor faltered. "But you promised. You said we'd do it together, you and your Sobble." While he was too proud to cry, tears were still threatening to fall. "Why won't you do it?"

Eliana hesitated. "I'm moving to Sinnoh," she said quietly.

"But you said you never wanted to leave Galar. Sinnoh is so far away!"

A couple thousand miles apart, she told herself, too brokenhearted to say it out loud. "At least it's not Unova," she tried, shrugging. Unova was on the other end of the planet from Galar. Sinnoh was at least one of the closest regions besides Jhoto.

Leon didn't reply. A forlorn expression was cast on his usually determined face. He was never like this. Not Leon, the soon-to-be unbeatable Champion of Galar and his stupid-looking Charizard pose.

He sighed, at a loss for words. Eliana still waited, though. Her dreams of battling in the stadiums and listening to the crowds cheer her and Leon's name were suddenly burned to ashes. Was this the kind of future she looked to in Sinnoh without Leon battling at her side? Did they even have stadiums in Sinnoh? She heard that Alola didn't even have Gym Challenges. What kind of nonsense was that?

"When?" Leon finally asked, not looking up.

"Next month." During the Challenge admissions.

Leon shook his head, giving the Sobble that was still looking around with a bewildered expression a hopeful smile. "Maybe I'll see you when we become Champions?"

"Champion?"

"Yeah. Champion of Sinnoh. That's your plan, isn't it?"

"Kinda, yeah."

Leon put both hands on his hips, back to his challenging attitude. "Then promise me this; When you become Champion of Sinnoh, you'll come back to Galar and battle me! Charizard and I will be waiting!"

"And Intelleon and I will be happy to smother you into the dirt," Eliana snickered. Arceus, she was going to miss this kid and his impossible dreams. The world would definitely be empty without him.

I'm coming Sinnoh, she promised silently. And when I do, you better be ready. There's a new Champion coming to town.