Violet eyes stared back at her from the reflection she looked into as she finished the second braid of ashy brown hair. Today was a big day, her childhood best friend would have an exhibition match. Well, any day that he battled was a big day. But it was an even bigger day as it would mark the opening for the Gym Challenge, where regular every day trainers battled their way all the way to battle against the current champion, and her best friend.

Robin tied her braids off with black and gold ribbons, marking her support for Leon, the Undefeated Champion. Leon had won his championship when he was ten, he was nineteen now. Robin wasn't much younger than him at seventeen. She had never participated in the Gym Challenge when she was younger, though she had been one of the ones that had been picked as a heavy hitter when she was old enough to join the Gym Challenge.

A lot of people had been disappointed to hear the news of her withdrawal, but most of them understood the reasoning. Though, they didn't know the whole story. Robin turned and poked at the little black and yellow Rookidee that was perched on her desk, smiling when it gave a grumpy tweet at her. "C'mon, Knightwing, it's time to go to work."

She set the small bird on her shoulder as she slipped from her room, taking a moment to look at the picture next to her door of a younger version of herself posing with a young Leon and her father. She tried to be quiet, especially when she worked early in the mornings like today. But there was her mother, quietly sipping coffee as she leaned against the counter. "Oh, morning." Robin got her ashy brown hair from her mother but got her striking violet eyes from her late father.

"You're getting ready for work."

"Uhm… yup."

"I thought we were going to Hop's to watch his brother battle today?"

"Cherry can't run the store by herself and Bernadette text me last night saying she wasn't feeling well, I told her I would cover her morning shift for her."

"Robin… you never watch the exhibition match. Every year you slip out of watching it."

"I don't slip out of watching it, mom. I just… don't feel like watching Pokémon battles, alright?"

Her mother set her coffee mug down and started to move towards her daughter. "Sweetie, you have to let go of what happened to your father. I miss him just as much as you do, but he would want you to get out there and battle and maybe even challenge Leon-"

"Mom." Robin ducked away from the open arms, grabbing her bag and swinging it over her shoulders with a frown. "This has nothing to do with dad. I just don't feel like watching the battles this year." Before her mother could harp on her more, Robin slipped from the house. She ran down the slight slope, glancing over at a Wooloo that was using tackle on the gate that led to the Slumbering Weald. "Oh, hey little guy. You don't wanna go in there."

Robin easily grabbed the Wooloo, ignoring its' annoyed huffing as she pulled it away from the fence and down the hill some. "Go on, shoo." She waved her hands at the small sheep-like Pokémon, watching as it gave her a mean look before trotting away to join its' friends. With a nod, Robin turned and headed towards Wedgehurst and to the boutique where she worked.

"I can't believe you really don't want to watch the match, Robi." Cherry, a sweet girl with long blonde hair and dark brown eyes, gave Robin a pouty look. "It's pretty much over."

"Yup. And I bet Leon wins by using his Charizard, again." Robin huffed as she folded some of the clothes on the table. If she were being honest with herself, Cherry didn't need a second body at the store. They wouldn't get any customers today with the exhibition match airing. "It was over before it even began. Raihan doesn't stand a chance if he doesn't change his line-up."

"I thought you didn't care for Pokémon battles." Cherry purred, crossing her arms under her chest as she grinned at Robin. "Yet here you are, critiquing the eighth gym leader. Do you think you could take him?"

Robin gave Cherry a look, opening her mouth to protest when Cherry suddenly perked up and started twirling her hair around her finger. "Oh, boy." Cherry only shut up and stood straight when Leon was nearby. "I guess the match is over." She turned her attention to the door, giving her old friend a grin. "Lee."

"Robi." Leon was leaning against the door to the boutique, grinning at her. His beard was coming in better than it had been last year, and his long dark hair was collected behind him in a loose ponytail; which meant that he had flown home on his Charizard. His cape fluttered in the light breeze beneath the doors as he moved, he gave Cherry a wink; to which she responded with a dreamy sigh.

Robin rolled her eyes and put a hip on the table she was working at, her arms crossed beneath her chest and an eyebrow cocked with intrigue. "Did Hop guide you here?"

"Hah. Very funny. I had Charizard land in front of the store."

"Let me guess, you didn't want to get lost from the street corner to your house, so you came to ask me to hold your hand all the way home?"

"Again. Hah. Very funny. I'm not that bad with directions." Leon huffed at her, obviously becoming flustered as pink now dusted his tanned cheeks. "My mom called me after my match ended, we're having a bar-b-que and she invited you and your mom. They told me to pick you up on the way home."

"My shift doesn't end for another-"

"You can go. I'll probably just close up shop anyways, there aren't any customers today." Cherry gave Robin a shit eating grin, knowing the younger girl wasn't a fan of get togethers. "Anything for Leon, the Undefeated."

"Why thank you…" Leon glanced to Robin, his golden eyes secretly pleading with her to mouth the other girls name. When she did, he grinned and winked at Cherry again. "Cherry."

Cherry winked back before turning and disappearing into the back of the store. "Tootles, Robi. Enjoy your B. B. Q." She slowly pronounced each letter, wiggling her fingers at Robin.

Robin grumbled but turned a dark smile to Leon, but her smile changed to something lighter when Knightwing flew by Leon, snatching his snapback hat from the top of his head and carrying it over to Robin. "And you are that bad with directions, Lee. Remember that time you were headed into town and got lost in the wheat fields next to your house. How did you manage that, by the way?" Robin put the hat on and grabbed her bag, leading the champion out of the store.

The two froze when a crowd cheered for their champion as they walked out of the store. "Gee. They just follow you everywhere, don't they, Lee?"

Leon grinned and pulled Robin into a half hug as someone snapped a picture. "Back in town to see your girl, Leon?!"

Leon let out a laugh as he took his hat back and mused Robin's hair. "Maybe!" He did his signature Charizard pose, twisting his body and throwing one hand up with his thumb and first two fingers out. "I'm just here to have a Champion Time!"

Robin gave a small grin as she slowly stepped back, not wanting to be in the spotlight. "Lee, can we go?"

Leon grabbed Robin's hand, pulling her away from the crowd as Charizard and Knightwing followed after them. "C'mon! I'm starving! And I'm sure Charizard is too!"

As if in response, Charizard let out a weak roar, his short arms patting his large torso. "Oh, you're pathetic, Char." Robin reached into her pack and pulled a berry out, tossing it to the large orange and white dragon. The beast caught the berry, a sound similar to a purr escaped his throat as he trotted behind them. Robin couldn't help her smile when Knightwing landed on Charizard's head. "What oddballs."

"Lee! Robi!" Hop ran up to them, grinning at the two as they rounded the stone wall. "Welcome home, Lee!" Hop was fifteen, and small for his age. He had had health issues when he was younger which made it difficult for him to participate in the Gym Challenge, but he was healthier now. Older. He had been talking Robin's ear off all month about how he was going to finally do the Gym Challenge and take his brothers spot.

"Hey, kid!" Leon and Hop did their secret handshake, a series of fist bumps, high fives, hip bumps and other things that Robin couldn't follow all the way, only to end in the popular Charizard pose. "I have presents for you!"

"Really?! What is it?!" Hop gasped, coughing a little when he got too excited.

Robin rubbed Hop's back, smiling at Leon. "Don't keep him waiting, Lee. What is it?"

"Well, it's actually for the two of you." Leon gave a sheepish grin as he slowly pulled out three pokeballs, keeping his gaze fixed on Robin, waiting to see her reaction.

Hop watched the three pokemon that popped out of the balls, a small red and white rabbit known as Scorbunny; a small green monkey known as Grookey; and lastly, a small blue gecko known as Sobble. "Wow! No way!" Then his eyes lit up and he stared intently on his brother. "Wait! You're giving us pokemon! That means… are you going to endorse us in the Gym Challenge?!"

Robin felt a tightness in her chest as she stared at Leon, waiting for his next words before she spoke. She could see the worry in his eyes as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, I would like to. But mom has one condition for you going through the Gym Challenge."

"What is it?! I'll do anything! Call her every night?! After every pokemon I catch?!"

Robin's heart sank as she watched Hop, he was so excited to go on this new adventure. And if she was putting the puzzle pieces together correctly, she was the final piece to him going on this adventure. She closed her eyes, turning away from the two brothers as Leon gulped, speaking softly as to not wake whatever beast he though might be hiding inside Robin. "Robin has to go with you, keep an eye on you."

"What?! No way! Robin! You're going, right!?" The tone of Hop's voice told Robin she was getting the signature Yamper-eyed pout from the two brothers.

Robin sighed, glancing at the three pokemon that stood nearby, awaiting their new trainer. She walked over, kneeling down in front of the teary-eyed Sobble. "Guess we can be sad together, huh?"

Knightwing let out a chirp, hopping over to the scared little gecko. The Sobble pressed itself into Robin's hand, frowning at Knightwing. "Fine. I'll go. But only as both of your rivals. I won't go easy on you, Hop." Robin kept her smile as even as she could, knowing it would make Hop so happy to be able to go on this adventure.

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Robin!" Hop ran over, wrapping his arms tight around her shoulders and nuzzling his face against her cheek.

Leon watched as Robin and her mother headed back towards their house, frowning some. "Robin! Wait!"

Robin paused, glancing over her shoulder at Leon who ran up to her. "What, Lee?"

Leon looked to Robin's mom, watching her leave the two alone and go inside. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to force the challenge on you."

"It's not your fault, Lee. Mom wants me to let go of the past, and she thinks by me going on the challenge, it'll help." Robin looked down at the Sobble that was sound asleep in her arms, snoring from a hard day of playing. "Thank you, for giving me Aquo."

"Any time, Robi." Leon reached up, brushing a stray hair away from her face. "I can't wait to battle you."

"I can't wait to kick your ass." Robin gave him a playful growl before turning away from him. "Do you need me to walk you home, or will you be able to find your way?"

Leon gave her an unamused laugh before turning on his heel and walking back towards his house. "Very funny, Robi."

"Good morning, Robin!"

Robin rolled over with a growl when curtains were pulled back, forcing sunlight onto her sleeping face. "What the hell, mom?!" Robin groaned more when her pillow was removed from the protective barrier it had become by her mother. "What time is it?"

"Time for you to wake up, silly. Hop is here." The woman reached down and mused her daughters light brown hair before slipping from the room. "Today is the big day!"

Robin's cheeks warmed as she climbed out of bed, pausing when she saw a small Rookidee snoozing away despite the ruckus she had just caused. "Oi, Knightwing. Wake up." She poked the tiny blue and yellow bird, giggling when it let out a surprised chirp and jumped up. "If I have to get up, so do you." She laughed more when the little bird narrowed its' red eyes at her.

She twisted her hair into two braids that stopped just short of her shoulders after she yanked on her soft pink dress with a gray sweater over the top of that. It wasn't quite cold enough for a sweater, but it would be handy later on when night came. She picked up the pokeball that was sitting on the corner of her bed, Sobble was snoozing away in there, waiting for her. "C'mon, Knightwing!"

Robin waved to her mother as she ran out the door, just in time to see the Wooloo from yesterday tackle right through the gate heading into the Slumbering Weald. "Wa-Wait! Wooloo!" She looked over, seeing Hop gawking at the gate. "Hop!"

"We have to go get it! It could be in danger, Robi!" Hop started to run for the forest when Robin grabbed his arm, yanking him back. "Robi!"

"Hop. Stay here…" She slowly turned and stared up at the looming trees, her heart in her throat. "If I'm not back… in ten minutes…" Voices of warning echoed in her head; don't go in. Stay here. The Wooloo will be fine. Stop. You mustn't. "Just… get Leon if I'm gone longer than ten minutes."

Hop ran after Robin for a few steps, eyes wide as he watched her take off into the forest. He knew that forest scared her, he didn't know why, Leon had never told him why. But he knew they could get in a lot of trouble if they went in there. "Robin…"