#☆;; dyn. ree / skullkxd

[danderosa]

@skullkxd asked: “Leon? … do you think I’m bein’ a good champion? Do you think I’m doin good?”

❝ I do. I'm very impressed with how well you've taken to the role. ❞

No time is needed to think of an answer. Leon likes to think he's made no secret of the fact that he's proud of Ree, and is deeply honoured by the chance to be a part of their journey thus far. It's been a real pleasure to watch them flourish and develop not only their own battle confidence, but that of their teammates as well, and he's certain that the grand heights of Championhood are something he'll thrive under equally well.

Every region has a good Champion. That is, after all, why they're Champions.

The question is, of course: why are they good Champions? They're strong, naturally, but there's far more to the role than mere battling skill alone, a fact any one of them will be quick to confirm.

❝ But, if I may offer some advice... I think you need to decide what makes a Champion good. What makes you a worthy bearer of the title, versus any other Trainer in Alola? How are you going to make your mark on the communities around you and improve the region? That's what you should start thinking about. ❞

❝ You've gotten yourself a whole lot of power and influence, and now it's time you considered what you're going to do with it. ❞

[invictarre-archive]

@skullkxd replied: You’d do that for me, leon? 🥺

                     ❝ Yeah, course I would! While it'd be better to have things like the mountain actually be accessible for you, if that's not an option, we need to find ways to keep you able to work around the obstacle. Flyin' pokemon are the most obvious choice. ❞

                     ❝ ...Though, if you ask me, every Trainer should have a whole set of field helpers. One able to swim, one that can fly, one that can cut or crush obstacles, one to illuminate dark places like caves... I could go on for a while. I don't mind supplyin' you these teammates if it'll help you out on this journey. ❞

[danderosa]

Leon and Char share a fond, amused glance before they, too, take the to the sky. It's nice to see that King Bowser is excited by all of this, even if she could benefit from learning a little patience.

The pair follow just behind Flygon, staying at a lower altitude just in case something goes awry and they do need to catch Ree. It's unlikely, but all the same... It's better to have and not need these safety precautions, rather than disregard them altogether.

❝ You're doing well! ❞ Leon calls.

❝ Lean forward, like you're going to lay on your stomach. Let her help to balance you. ❞

“It’s a good thing I weigh about as much as a sack of potatoes, then.”

They’re only being half sarcastic. King Bowser lowers herself to the ground so Ree can pull themself up properly. It’s a little difficult, given their ever lasting injuries, but Ree’s getting stronger and more stamina every day. They pull themself up and grab onto the Flygon’s shoulders.

“Okay. Ready? One —”

King Bowser trills excitedly, and before Ree can even invigorated the countdown, she’s off — clearly invigorated by the encouragement from Leon and Char. Ree yelps, fingers trying to grab tighter, as they lift off.

“Woah!”

[invictarre-archive]

time for this again :)))))))))

#☆;; answered#☆;; in character#☆;; out of character#☆;; inbox memes#☆;; musings & aesthetics#☆;; dash commentary#☆;; dash games#☆;; headcanons#☆;; muse relevant imagery#☆;; dyn. ree / skullkxd#☆;; dyn. guzma / onlyheartaches#☆;; dyn. dani / jocundcompany#☆;; dyn. allister / ghxsthide#☆;; dyn. james / spikemuthtoothfairy

and probably loads of others I'm missing

[invictarre-archive]

@skullkxd asked: [ text ] (it’s an image of Ree’s acceptance letter to battle the league!!) ur coming, right? You’ll come?

[IMG. ATTACHED:] It's a photograph of Leon at the Akala Airport. He's clearly a bit frazzled from the long airplane ride over, hair pulled up in a messy ponytail and his smile just a little more weary than usual, but he doesn't look unhappy. Boonadette hangs off of one shoulder, still clutching the popcorn bowl she'd been eating from earlier.

[TEXT:] Just arrived, as a matter of fact!

[TEXT:] If you want me to drop by before the big day, say the word! There's still time for a little last-minute practice if that's what you're wanting, or we can take it slow and make sure you're all rested up. Otherwise, I'll see you at the League on Saturday! ⭐

[TEXT:] I'm so proud of you. No matter what happens this weekend, I want you to remember that.

[danderosa]

@skullkxd asked: they hold out a ticket for Leon. It’s to — the alolan champion conference. “you’ll come. Right?”

❝ Of course I will! ❞

Said with the kind of immediate confidence Leon exudes in many areas of his life. Supporting his friends is second nature-- there's no situation in which he wouldn't accept the ticket. Ree's come very far in a short time-- farther, he expects, than they themselves could have predicted at the start of this journey --and Leon wants to do all he can to keep them chugging forward.

Champion conferences aren't the most exciting thing in the world (or at least, the ones he'd attended weren't) but he's determined to make sure they have a fun time.

❝ I'll arrive a couple days early. If you need anything in the interim, just let me know. ❞

[danderosa]

❝ It is, yes. Charmander's popularity in Galar shot through the roof when I became Champion. People want to emulate the region's strongest, and picking the same ace is a rather easy way to do that. ❞

❝ It's why regions with monotype Champions tend to have a disproportionate amount of Trainers with the same type specialisation. ❞

“Seven different kids came up to me today and said that they want to choose Litten as their starter pokemon when they get one ‘cos of the league match.

… is that normal?”

[invictarre-archive]

He can't help but laugh. Okay, maybe the offer of violence was a little too eager (not to mention presumptuous - Leon is more than capable of dealing with Rose himself), but it's nice to hear nonetheless. It's nice to know they have his back.

                     ❝ I'll remember that. Thanks, Ree. ❞

But he doesn't need Rose on his mind right now.

                     ❝ We can do doubles! It's a little different to battlin' by yourself, since now you've got to watch out for your allies as well as your own team, but you'll get the hang of it in no time. ❞

Leon pauses for a moment before pulling Duke's pokeball out of his pocket, releasing the Mr. Rime in a burst of red light. He's an even-tempered pokemon, just as happy to follow as he is to lead, and he's sure to be the perfect introduction to double battles.

(He's a pokemon foreign to Alola, too. A deliberate choice.)

                     ❝ You lead the first match, I'll lead the second, and I'll give you some pointers before the third. Keep going like that, and you'll get more confident keeping track of both pokemon and adjusting your next move accordingly. ❞

                     ❝ Remember: it's all about controlling the field to give both of you an advantage, and learning how to work with someone, not just alongside them. You won't always know your doubles partner, nor is there any guarantee you'll get a chance to discuss strats before the match starts. You'll need to to cooperate on the fly. ❞

“yeah! I remember you… talkin’ about galar … hope it’s better now that you don’ have that shitty chairman anymore. If you spot him tho, tell me! Skull will take care of him.”

Maybe they’re a little too gung-ho about turning to violence. It’s a cute little quirk of theirs. Ree hums and nods, though, leaning back on their cane as they look towards the ferry boat that would take them to poni island, and then the battle tree.

“I … well… I was kinda hopin’ we could do double battles together? I don’ think we’ve ever fought together, an’ I’ve never really done double battles… i wanna be ready for the league when it starts. If, uh. If you’re cool with that?”

[invictarre-archive]

❝ That's the same for most everyone, you know. The entire Trainer-Pokemon dynamic is built around helping each other out and covering for weaknesses. Not even just in a battle sense, either: look at how many firefighters use Growlithe as rescue dogs, or the Chansey nurses in every PokeCenter. Teamwork's vital to success. ❞

❝ But pokemon can't do everything. They try, of course they do, but they're not the jack of all trades that humans are. That's why we need to step in sometimes, help each other out. ❞

Encourage potential where we see it.

It goes unsaid, but the meaning is there all the same. It's no secret that Leon's been a major push in this journey, the first one to really encourage the idea of attempting the Trials and feeding the ambition they held. There's still years of journeys ahead of them, should they choose to take that path, but... He can see that they're tired. He would be too, after a show like that, and they deserve the chance to rest up well.

Leon holds one arm out in an offer of a hug.

❝ I'll let you decide when you want to start flying and what partner you're going to be learning with. It'll probably be a bit of a lengthy process, especially if you are unused to being up there with the wind resistance, so we'll be taking it slow at first. One step at a time, just like we did with battling. Sound fair? ❞

@invictarre said:

The heavy beat of Char's wings announces Leon's arrival before he gets the chance to shout out a hello. He leaps off of the dragon's back before they've even landed, sprinting over with bright eyes and an excitable grin. " You didn't tell me about Lady! Look at her! With her and King Bowser, now you've got two potential flyers for us to work with. You'll be owning the skies in no time! " He knows defeat is unpleasant. It can hurt, especially when you gave the battle everything you had and more, only to find it still wasn't enough. He knows. But Ree has made remarkable progress for a Trainer, coming all the way to the Championship with a little over a year of preparation, and that's not something Leon's about to let pass without celebration. " Speakin' of skies: check out the heights you reached even without wings! I know it wasn't quite the result you were hoping for, but there's a lot to be learned from defeat; sometimes even more than can be learned from victory. You all did so well! "

Ree looks up to the sight of Leon and Char landing down. They smile, wiping at their eyes, before they give a little laugh.

“Surprise,” they say, a little hoarse — all this talking, right after the battle, is making their throat dry. “I wanted her t’take everyone off guard. I think it worked, yeah?”

At his comment about climbing high, Ree turns to look down the mountain landscape .. and he’s right. They have gotten a long way. But …

“I only got this high because of help,” they add, not unkindly towards themself. “If it wasn’ for everybody, I would still be on the ground.”

[invictarre-archive]

Leon waits until Ree's balanced before he crouches down, holding out a hand towards the Charmander coming his way. Sammie's growth is coming along excellently, if the colour and brightness of his tail is any indication, and he's certainly got the same spark in his eye Char did.

The Charizard himself leans over Leon's shoulder - dislodging Gengar and her bowl-hat in the process, now left to float in the air - to rumble affectionately at the little dragon.

❝ Make sure to rest up well, alright? If you have any immediate questions, you've got my number, but I think you've got just about everything you'll need! ❞

❝ You'll do great. Have fun, don't fret, and enjoy the experience! You've already made it farther than most. ❞

He looks back at them with a smile. Though he feels like he has this revelation with every milestone hit, he can't help but notice just how much they've grown. An event like this would have been a mere pipe dream even six months ago, but now...

Ah, well. He'll get all teary-eyed if he thinks about it for too long.

❝ Oh, before you go--! ❞ Leon pulls something out of his pocket, small and reddish with a smooth circular groove in its centre. ❝ It's my lucky pebble. Char found it, way back when when I started my Gym Challenge, and I've carried it through all my victories since. It's seen more battles than most veteran Trainers! ❞

That's probably not an exaggeration, considering how long it's been with him. There's very rarely an occasion he battles without it, but... Well. It's not his big day on the horizon.

❝ I want you to keep hold of it until this challenge is done. Who knows; it might just give you some of its luck, should you find yourself in a tight spot. ❞

They’re surprised they managed to run and tackle at all, honestly. But hey! They’re definitely not complaining. It just shows how healed up they’ve gotten. They pull away, mouth split into a grin that’s practically ear to ear. The charmander at their side coos excitedly, waving a stick that he found on their walk.

“Yeah! Excited. I’m leavin’ soon, but I couldn’t not come see ya before I did!”

They laugh. Sammie laughs too, toddling over to say hello to Leon again. Ree finds their cane and balances again.

“I’m gonna kick ass. I know it.”

[danderosa]

❝ Yeah, I know. Sadly, no one ever said it was easy. ❞

Arceus, does Leon know. While his story is by no means a mirror image of Ree's, nor do their regions share a mountain of similarities, both claimed their Championship titles young. And both of them, Leon believes, have the best interests of their respective people at heart. He never would've chosen to coach someone who didn't.

Though it's not going to bring much immediate comfort, he's sure that that selflessness will be its own reward, in time. As cliché as it may sound, helping others really is a joy unlike any other, and he's confident that Alola has a bright future ahead.

❝ With this kind of dream, it's... often helpful to imagine it as something literal you need to build. Like a house, for example. It's not a single process, but a combination of a million different things that all work together to make the finished product. ❞

❝ You've got the foundations of the house already: You're Champion, and you know what you want to achieve. Now we need to work on placing some bricks down and laying out the rough shape of it; something we can build off of and improve in the future. My advice? Start small, and start familiar. ❞

The pad of his thumb rubs idly over Char's PokeBall as he talks, feeling the warmth and old scorch marks seared into its surface. Galar hadn't provided much chance to start small, instead opting to throw him headfirst into the tidal wave of Wyndon's dog-eat-dog mentality, but Leon had found his own ways to cope.

Chatting with campers out in the Wild Area, describing to them the experience of battling within a Dynamax Den.

Guiding younger, less experienced Trainers through the tall grasses, Charmeleon at his side and his bag weighed down by Potions he intended to gift away.

Making friendly conversation with all members of the League — not just the Gym Leaders and Macro Cosmos staff, but the Gyms' understudy Trainers; the extra hotel staff the Budew Drop Inn employed during Challenger season; the match referees and merchandise sellers stationed outside of each Stadium.

Tiny moments of respite, minutes out of his endless working hours, yet each one allowing more and more opportunity for Leon to make his mark on the region. The real Leon, that is, the person left behind once the spotlights shut off and the rows of stadium seats sat empty.

❝ Maybe there's someone else at Skull who's been wanting to try their hand at competitive battling, for example. You could test out a little mentorship of your own, pass down some of your own experiences, maybe even help them fill out their team a little.

Or there's sure to be a Trainer School on one of the islands. A Q&A with the kids there is a great way to connect with them and earn their trust, not to mention improving their understanding of pokemon! Just... Little things, like that. Community favours. They really add up over time. ❞

“No right way, huh…”

Yeah, that’s probably right, but. Man. It still kinda sucks. Ree wishes that there was a manual, or like, at the very least some sort of game plan for this.

But things are never that easy.

“But… what I wanted from a champion…

… I mean, Satoshi was a really good champion for Alola. He was away a lot of the time, sure, but like, he always made time for me, looked out for me and stuff. He was good to everybody in Alola, but … he made me feel like I was special. When I was with him, it was like it was only just the two of us.”

Sure, Satoshi had his flaws. But everyone has those kinds of things. Ree … sighs, scratching the back of their neck.

“I wanted to be champion because I wanted to make sure no other kids have to go what I went through. I don’t want them to have t’join a gang or be homeless or anything. I wanna look out for the kids that don’t got nobody else lookin out for them… like satoshi did for me. Like you did for me.”

And Ree is trying to do that. But…

“… but I’m still just a kid too. I know I inspire a lot of kids, sure, but…”

[danderosa]

❝ Well... The honest answer is that there is no right way to do this. Every Champion finds their own niche in time, and they will all take different routes to get there. ❞

❝ Outreach work is always very valuable, and of course the Battle Tree is a good location for all elite battlers. You're getting yourself out and into the community, and that's good! You should be proud of your efforts. ❞

But Leon hasn't been without his title so long that he's forgotten the sense of pressure that comes with it. The need to be a good champion even before you have a clear idea of what that looks like, the constant nagging doubts that you're not doing enough, the confusion and restlessness and sleepless nights... Oh, yes. Leon remembers it all.

And because he remembers it, he's all the more determined not to leave his young friend to suffer through these thoughts alone. He's there for them!

❝ I think an easier way to think about it is this: What would you have wanted from a Champion, back before you started this journey? ❞

Leon has always been honest with Ree, even when they have their fits of self doubt like this. Serena and satoshi are the same way, sure, but … Leon was Ree’s very first mentor. The first person that took them under his wing, the first person who believed in them.

They feel… a little better, when he says it with zero hesitation.

“…”

He also managed to nail the problem right on the head. Ree’s doubts surrounding why they’re a good champion — how to be a good one — it’s probably not that obvious to people that don’t know Ree like Leon does.

“… yeah. I — I’ve been trying! I do outreach stuff … I talk with other kids that are physically disabled in like. Hospitals. I do stuff for the battle tree too. And — I dunno, though… I feel like I should be… doing more. But I dunno where to start, I was kinda hoping … you had an idea.”

[danderosa]

Leon nods. The height itself isn't of massive importance, but it helps to know that they have gotten off the ground. Hopefully that means that take off isn't posing any issues.

❝ Alright, that's good. We'll stick close when you are in the air, monitoring your average height and acting as a spotter. Think of us as your safety net! ❞

As he talks, Char chuffs a friendly greeting towards King Bowser, his flamed tail swaying lazily from side of side and swiping broad strokes into the sand. He enjoys the company Ree's pokemon offer, and he's excited to finally share the skies with one of them. Maybe one day they'll be able to race.

❝ We'll be watching out for King Bowser, too. Flying can be energy intensive for those not used to doing it, and carrying our weight only adds to that strain. Of course, I trust you to keep an eye on her condition and know if it gets to be too much, but some extra vigilance has never hurt. ❞

“The beach, then.”

As they say this, Ree withdraws King Bowser’s friend ball, tossing it up in the air. The Flygon bursts out in a flash of light, and as she lands, she croons happily, tail pounding against the sand. She’s happy to see Leon and Char!!! Those are her friends!!! Ree snorts a bit, resting their hand against her torso.

“I haven’t gotten high up, I think… maybe ten feet? Twenty? Iunno, it’s hard to tell with the, uh…” they point to their left eye. Depth perception is something they’ve never gotten a handle on since back then. “I always feel like I might fall, but she’s got like… a spindly bump? Right by where I sit, so I haven’ actually fallen or nothin.”

[danderosa]

❝ Wherever's easiest for you! Char can take off from anywhere, so the terrain makes little difference to us. ❞

Summoned by the sound of his name, Char moves to stand beside Leon and crouch down, wings spread out. He's low enough to the ground that Leon has no issue climbing on and settling comfortably in his usual position on his back. The warm leather of the dragon's wings rest against his legs as they tuck themselves back away, kept neatly out the way until it's time to take off.

❝ So, before we start, tell me: How's the practice been going? Have you gotten very far up into the air, or are we focusing more on the initial take off and stability? How easy are you finding it to actually stay on King Bowser without feeling as though you're going to fall off? ❞

“Really? You’d do that for me?”

Ree is — actually, they’re not all that surprised. After all, Leon has done a lot for them over the last two years — of course he would do this for them, too. Ree grins, rubbing the back of their neck.

“Okay! That sounds like fun. We’ve been practicing over on the beach right past the edge of Po town cause nobody ever goes over there. Do you wanna practice there? Or should we go somewhere else? King bowser has an easy time in the sand, so…”

[danderosa]

❝ Yeah, there's only so much that can be self-taught. ❞

And while Leon finds the Alolan Ride Pokemon system to be a very helpful thing - it features Charizards, of course he loves it - it never hurt to train your own, independent transport. How his horizons had widened, once he'd mastered Galar's skies! How free he'd felt, up there with the clouds and the flocks of wild Wingull!

Well, that solves it.

❝ I could help you out! Char and I learned to fly when I wasn't that much younger than you, and you're sure to pick it up fast once you have the basics down. ❞

❝ You won't have our speed or tricks - that'll take years of practice - but we'll spot you in the air and guide you through the starting steps. ❞

@danderosa said: ❝ You have a Flygon, right? Have you ever thought about learning to ride it properly? ❞

“I mean … I thought about it when you mentioned it after the league championship.

but … I don’ really know how to go about that. Everybody’s been kinda busy with their own thing, anyway. King Bowser an’ me have been practicing a little on our own, but I don’t think we’re ready yet…”

[invictarre-archive]

                     ❝ It's been a bit of a wait, yeah! Galar's reachin' it's peak right about now, so I don't have much free time as I used to. Once that Gym Challenge kicks off, we'll need all hands on deck to keep things running smooth. ❞

Which mean that Leon would have to put his region-hopping on pause for a moment to focus on Galar and its various ceremonies. Not that he minded - it'd be great to see his friends and family over there again!

                     ❝ But that's enough about that! Let's get going! ❞

                     ❝ What type of battle are you looking for? The tree offers a couple different options, right? ❞

@invictarre liked for a starter !!

“Leon!!”

it’s so good to see him again!! Ree grins wide, wheeling themself up to him. They’re beaming, stopping short just in front of him.

“Dude! It’s been forever! — I mean, not really, maybe like a month or two — but hey! Did you wanna go do the battle tree together?”