Victor and Charizard joined up shortly with Leon and Hop. Though they spent the time leisurely talking their way there, mainly Victor telling Charizard funny stories about his dad. Although Leon gave them a questioning look when he saw them come together.
Hop on the other hand merely quickly grabbed Victor and dragged him before Leon. Hop just thought Charizard liked his friend. "Come on, Lee! You promised us a present! So out with it!" Hop whined. "You brought Victor and me Pokemon. You did, didn't you? I know you must have!"
Leon laughed placing his hands on his hips, "Right then! The greatest gift from the greatest Champion..." Victor's smile twitched at his words. "It's show time, everyone! Take a good look you guys!"
To their left Leon tossed out three Pokeballs. Revealing the three starter Pokemon of Galar: The Grass-type Grookey, a lax but energetic green monkey. The Fire-type Scorbunny, a energetically playful and enthusiastic white bipedal bunny. And finally the Water-type Sobble, a timid small blue lizard.
Victor and Hop smiled as the three wandered before Leon called them to line up.
Hop looked over at Victor and smiled. "Go on—you pick first. I've already got my Wooloo, after all."
Giving Hop a genuine smile that seemed to shock him, Victor turned to study the trio. Without a moments hesitation, he walked right over to Sobble.
Ignoring Leon as he named it, "That's the Water-type Sobble. It adapts to anything, as surely as water flows."
Kneeling down in front of the small lizard gecko, he spoke softly to it. "Little one would you allow me the honor of being your trainer? I can see the passion and determination to change in your eyes, and I have a feeling we'd make a great team."
The small Pokemon looked at him in shock before crawling up his outstretched hand and on to his shoulder. A happy cry emerging from it in its joy.
Hop laughed, "So it'll be Sobble for you? Nice one! It suits you having a timid Pokemon like that!" Victor rolled his eyes patting the suddenly discouraged Pokemon on his shoulder. Hop oblivious to the fact turned to the last two. "Then I'll go with...Scorbunny! You're mine!"
Victor almost scowled when he heard his friend's words. But held it back as Hop smile sat it Wooloo by his side, "I'm aiming to be the next Champion, so be ready! You and I'll be doing some serious training!"
Scorbunny jumped with glee reminding Victor of Hop. He smiled as he saw Wooloo greet Scorbunny and the two started chatting.
Turning around Victor and Hop looked at Leon who was smiling, Charizard standing just behind him, "I bet you will be, Hop. That's why I brought along these Pokemon for you and Victor. So the two of you can battle and train and grow stronger together...to try to reach me!"
Victor gave a quiet scoff that startled his starter. He quickly soothed him though whispering that he'd explain later. In his mind however he was annoyed that Leon even assumed that he wanted to become Champion. It didn't matter much because that was part of his plan but after so many lives it was annoying that everyone just assumed he was aiming for champion and never asked him.
In the midst of his complaints he noticed the sad and disappointed Grookey. He gave it a reassuring smile sending some of his aura to tell it everything would be fine. The grass-type sent him a confused look before understanding and nodding.
Leon walked passed them to the now calm Grookey and smiled down at it, "And you'll come with me! Charizard will show you the ropes. He's strict—but real strong and real kind, too!" The small monkey danced with joy.
"All right, enough of all this Trainer nonsense for one night!" Victor smiled as their mothers came out. "Dinner's ready, children. Bring along your Pokemon, and let's all eat!"
Victor enjoyed himself with Sobble. Laughing as Hop ran around with his Pokemon the three of them eating the most. As the night grew dark his mother and him bid goodnight as they returned home.