Sonia (Japanese: ソニア Sonia) is a recurring character in Pokémon Journeys: The Series. She is Leon's childhood friend and later succeeds her grandmother as a Pokémon Professor.

In the anime

History

Sonia and Leon as children

Pre-series

Prior to Pokémon Journeys: The Series, Sonia was a childhood friend of Leon, and the two began traveling together when they became Trainers, and shortly after, Sonia faced Leon in a battle, and ended up winning, giving Leon his first-ever loss, who still found battling exciting and decided to devote his life to it. Eventually, however, a rift was formed in their friendship when Chairman Rose took an interest in Leon's potential and began mentoring him, while Sonia felt she couldn't keep up and decided to retire as a Trainer, opting to carve a different path from Leon's.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Sonia meets Ash and Goh

Sonia debuted in Toughing It Out!, where Ash and Goh met her in Wyndon, introducing herself as Professor Magnolia's assistant and telling the two boys about her research regarding the Darkest Day.

In Sword and Shield, Slumbering Weald!, Sonia followed streaks of Dynamax energy flying across the sky, running into Goh along the way. The two decided to travel together to find out what was happening in the region, without realizing that they were being followed by one of Oleana's subordinates.

In Sword and Shield: The Darkest Day!, Sonia and Goh visited Turffield to see the town's famous geoglyph and make theories regarding its connection to Dynamax. While traveling to Wedgehurst next, Sonia revealed that she was not only Professor Magnolia assistant, but also her granddaughter. In Wedgehurst, they witnessed a Wishing Star near them. While Goh talked with Professor Magnolia, Sonia fashioned the Wishing Star into a Dynamax Band, which she gave to Goh. The next day, they traveled to Stow-on-Side to see its famous mural. Soon after arriving, however, Oleana's subordinate attacked them using a Gigantamax Garbodor, which Goh responded to by Dynamaxing his Raboot. During the ensuing battle, Raboot accidentally destroyed the mural, revealing statues of Zacian and Zamazenta behind it.

Sonia becomes a Pokémon Professor

In Sword and Shield: "From Here to Eternatus!", after Goh had driven the subordinate away, he and Sonia examined the statues and learned the names of the Pokémon they depicted. On Goh's suggestion, they then headed to the Slumbering Weald to find them and get their assistance in stopping the Dynamax outbreaks around Galar. While in the forest, they learned of the start of the Darkest Day. They encountered illusions of Zacian and Zamazenta, who led them to the Rusted Sword and the Rusted Shield. After Goh had collected the artifacts, he and Sonia headed to the Darkest Day's epicenter in Hammerlocke. Sonia managed disperse the Macro Cosmos employees blocking the entrance to the Hammerlocke Stadium and staying behind to hold them off. Before the employees could attack her, however, she received unexpected help from Raihan. In the next episode, after Raihan had saved Sonia from the Macro Cosmos employees, she hurried to the Tower Summit, where she found Leon being hurt after his failed attempt to catch Eternatus. While taking care of Leon, she witnessed Ash and Goh summoning Zacian and Zamazenta to their aid, defeating Eternatus, and catching it, ending the Darkest Day. Later, Sonia was seen discussing the aftermaths of the Darkest Day with her grandmother and accepting the title of Pokémon Professor from her.

In Meeting Up with the Monarch!, Sonia met Goh again during her research on the Wild Area's Power Spots and took him along for the ride. Along the way, she told Goh various things regarding Leon and his childhood. Later, she and Goh reunited with Ash and Leon at Wyndon.

She reappeared in Just a Scone's Throw From Here!, where she met Ash and Goh at Wyndon Stadium. In A Flood of Torrential Gains!, she joined Hop in the stands to watch Leon's battle against Ash.

Character

Much like her game counterpart, Sonia is quite intelligent, though a little distracted. She is also quite a bad driver, although she refuses to admit it, often blaming the car's condition for the poor performance, and feels offended when others say she's the problem. In the past, she was Leon's childhood friend and traveling companion, but their relationship changed as Leon became closer to Chairman Rose. This made Sonia decide to pursue her own course, far from what Leon was looking for.

During the time she was traveling with Goh, Sonia developed a good relationship with the young Trainer, even encouraging him to continue his research and suggesting that he could be a Professor in the future.

Pokémon

This listing is of Sonia's known Pokémon in the anime:

Status unknown

Formerly trained

Traveling with

Artwork

Artwork from "After the story" [1]

Voice actors

In the manga

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Sonia appeared in Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken! (Part 1) and Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken! (Part 2).

Trivia

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