The former Castelia Gym Leader sat on the exact same bench as yesterday.
Once again, he’d brought a canvas and tubes of paint, but they were all untouched. I slid into the empty seat next to him while Kricketune darted off to busk, this time with Flygon for accompaniment. A weary yet genuine smile was directed my way.
“Hello, Kayden.”
“Hey.”
We chatted idly for a bit. Even though I was struggling with the weight of newfound revelations, I made sure to be present in my conversation with Burgh. I paid close attention whenever he spoke in his quiet, raspy voice.
He didn’t mention his Leavanny at all, and I didn’t ask.
There was something nagging at the back of my mind the whole time we spoke, though, and eventually I made myself say it during a lull in the conversation. I wanted to hear the perspective of a former Gym Leader.
“How do you feel about Unova today?” I asked suddenly.
Burgh had enough strength in him to raise one brow.
“That’s a very broad question. I don’t suppose you could narrow it down a bit for me?”
“Ability Holders,” I supplemented. “How do you feel about them? Do you think Unova is heading in the right direction? Do you believe the League can ever make up for past mistakes?”
“Hmm…”
Burgh didn’t respond right away to the loaded questions I threw at him. He stared out at the sea and tapped a bony finger in long, fragmented intervals against his knee.
“I’m not particularly close with any Ability Holders,” Burgh finally admitted. “I’ve worked with a few of them in recent years, though, some Rangers who sometimes came by and helped patrol the Desert Resort. They were good people. One of them had actually been exiled by the old administration — the previous Champion’s reign — many years ago, but she came back after new laws were passed and decided to stay.”
I stared at him.
“Didn’t she feel any outrage?”
“Oh, she definitely did,” Burgh replied with a grave nod of his head. “But that outrage gave way to a quiet determination after she met Alder. Our Champion is more charismatic than he might initially seem. He can light a fire in the hearts of others. I heard he apologized to her on behalf of his predecessor and asked a question not unlike the one he asked me many years ago.”
My voice was a mere whisper.
“And what was that?”
Burgh actually cracked a small smile. “I still remember it clear as day. After the previous Castelia Gym Leader, Marcus, passed away, Alder chose me of all people to inherit his position. He called me to his office and said to me…”
He paused, lifeless eyes shining for a moment in the dark. They resembled stars as he carefully recited word after word.
“‘I’m tired of being told what I can and cannot do. For a country that values freedom, we bind others with so many restrictions. I need people on my side, brave souls who haven’t forgotten the true ideals of Unova: a place where everyone can be happy and equal. I only have one question for you, Burgh Arty. Will you join me in my endeavors to forge a better future with our own hands?’”
It was strange. Burgh’s words almost seemed to echo and resonate in the warm evening air.
Thump.
Had that sound come from the passing waves, or had it come from my own heart? I had no way of knowing. Burgh turned now to look at me. That small smile still remained on his face.
“Inspiring, isn’t it? You know how the rest of the story goes. I joined the ranks of the Unova League, and I’ve never regretted it. We fought our hardest against the old administration, and Alder made good on his promise to make Unova a better place in the end. We’re in a peaceful, cooperative era with Ability Holders and even the continent on the other side of the world now,” Burgh chuckled. “So yes, I do believe Unova is heading in the right direction. Now, could the League ever fully make up for the wrongdoings of the past? No. Some wounds dig too deep.”
I jolted in place. I hadn’t expected him to say that, but Burgh wasn’t done yet.
It was then I got a glimpse of the old Castelia Gym Leader, a version of Burgh that brimmed with life and passion as he clenched a shaking hand.
“But we must do our best everyday to try. We owe it to ourselves, to those who were hurt, and to those who could get hurt in the future. It’s as they say: Unova is the land of freedom, but it is also home to the brave. We must have the courage to defend our rights, to pave a path of our own and carve out a future where people have the freedom to live as they’d like.”
It was almost poetic. I found myself repeating Burgh’s words in my head like a quiet chant.
The courage to defend our rights, to pave a path of our own…
While I was lost in thought, Burgh went back to looking like a former shell of himself. I didn’t even have time to blink. He had turned to gaze at the city in the distance in the time it took me to refocus on him.
“It’s a neverending fight they’ll have to carry on without me,” he finished, voice barely above a murmur.
So much life. So much passion.
Yet all of it had seemingly burned away with a loss that stung too hard.
My throat felt dry, so very dry. I had to clear it once, twice, three times before I could bring myself to speak.
“What made you want to be a Gym Leader?” I rasped out, hoping it might bring some life back to him. “What motivated you?”
I’d found myself wondering this yesterday, too. I’d seen glimpses of the old Burgh in between small gaps of conversation whenever we’d talked about the Castelia Gym. He obviously still cared a lot for it even though he’d retired.
“Another interesting question,” Burgh mused out loud, smiling. “I never dreamed of becoming one at first. I was content to be under the tutelage of an esteemed Bug Specialist like Marcus, and I spent most of my free time painting. But then…”
He sighed, rubbing his hands together. “Marcus fell ill. They said he wasn’t going to make it past the month. Talks of who would inherit the Gym began passing through both our walls and the League’s. Most of the other gym trainers thought it would be me, and that terrified me at the time. I didn’t think I could do it.”
“But you took up the mantle in the end. You accepted Alder’s appointment.”
“I did,” Burgh nodded. “Alder might have inspired me, but it was my passion for Bug Pokemon that mattered the most in the end. As you might already be aware of as a fellow Bug Specialist, Bugs aren’t the most appreciated Pokemon in the world.”
I tried not to frown but failed. “Yes.”
Fortunately, my reaction also made Burgh laugh a little. “I understand your feelings. In my case, I decided to use my new position as Gym Leader to not only help Alder achieve his goals, but to show people the beauty of Bugs. I find them beautiful both inside and out, but it’s disheartening how many people seem to think they’re ugly, frail creatures with nothing to show. They don’t see past their exterior for the beautiful souls they have and the meaningful lives they live.”
Life returned to him for every word he spoke. The Gym Leader of Castelia still lived deep within the hollow shell, and he pointed to the city glowing in the distance.
“See the city?” he urged me. “Not everyone is fond of sprawling metropolises. Some find them dirty, dreary, and full of concrete and pollution, but what I see is a city teeming with vibrant life. A city full of movement, chaotic as it is, and people busy trying to live their lives the way they know how. It’s a beauty in my eyes some may never understand, just like the beauty I perceive from Bugs.”
He lowered his arm, deflating once more as he turned to face me.
“A Gym Leader cannot run a gym or their community without passion to guide them… and my passion only burned as brightly as it did because I had my Pokemon with me. That’s why I decided to retire even though people were against it. Forgive my language, but I don’t want to do a half-assed job with a hole in my heart I don’t know how to fix,” he muttered.
“And that’s perfectly fine,” I followed up in a slow, calm voice. “That’s your decision.”
Burgh cracked another smile, and I felt proud of myself that I’d gotten so many out of him tonight.
“I appreciate it, Kayden. Not just for that, but for everything. You’ve never once tried to change my mind or offer solutions. You’ve always acknowledged my feelings and listened,” he told me.
I gave a smile of my own, hands tucking themselves into my hoodie pockets.
“I’m here,” I said simply. “Whenever you want to talk, I’ll be here.”
Burgh acknowledged my words with a grateful dip of his head. It was as he was making himself more comfortable on the bench that he finally threw back a question of his own.
“What about you? Why did you become a Bug Specialist?”
I wasn’t too surprised. I’d half seen it coming given the direction our conversation had taken.
“Well…” I paused, humming out loud in thought. My gaze eventually drifted to the Castelia skyline. “I’ve always had a special connection with Bugs.”
That was a bit of an understatement, but I moved on. “It’s not always easy living in a big city like Castelia. My family had trouble making ends meet. Even though they always told me not to worry, I worried anyway. Every day was a brand new struggle of its own with seemingly no end in sight. My whole life has kind of been like that, actually. That’s why Bugs resonate with me.”
I smiled softly to myself.
“Bugs can have short and limited lifespans. In spite of that, or precisely because of that, they’re tenacious. They struggle. They fight. They do everything in their power to survive because they have the will to live and make the most of their time. They can survive almost anything and even thrive anywhere. We’re a bit alike in how we both find Bugs beautiful. For me, what I find most beautiful of all is their resilience.”
Burgh’s eyes glistened.
“It’s remarkable how no two Specialists ever think exactly alike, huh?” he murmured. “Very eloquently put, Kayden. I’m honored to walk the same path as someone like you.”
I shot him an incredulous look. That was the best compliment you could get from a fellow Specialist, especially someone who used to be an active Gym Leader.
“I could say the same to you. I wish more people appreciated Bug type Pokemon like we do,” I sighed.
“If only,” the man next to me agreed with a wry smile.
Our current topic made me recall what I’d heard from him the day before and things I’d gathered from online. I quickly opened my mouth again.
“Do you know who’s going to take over the Castelia Gym now that you’ve stepped down?” I asked him.
“No,” Burgh confessed. “I left it up to Alder since I hadn’t trained anyone to be my successor. The public has their eyes on him and the League now for who they’ll choose.”
“I heard that they’re deciding between an old Gym Leader and a retired Elite Four member.”
“They’re the most likely candidates at the moment, yes. Although…” Burgh’s brows scrunched. “While I am not allowed to divulge names, I can still tell you a bit. The Gym Leader you’re referring to was nominated by Alder, but I fear he will most likely decline any offer sent his way. He’s content living out his old age in retirement. The Elite Four member on the other hand…”
Here, Burgh’s brows knitted themselves together even further. It was the most troubled I’d seen him, and that was saying something considering how haggard he already looked on a day-to-day basis.
“They were nominated by the civilian side of our government. When you take that information and combine it with the fact that this Elite Four member initially served the previous Champion, well… I don’t wish to get too deep into politics, but it’s obvious the civilian government is trying to gain any edge they can. They don’t have much leeway in the League right now.”
“You don’t seem all that fond of that former Elite Four member,” I remarked. His face had his feelings written all over it.
“If you can keep a secret… no, I’m not. The Unova Gym Leaders strive to uphold the ideals of our nation, but she’s… very rigid to say the least.” Burgh ran a hand tiredly down his face. “It’s a tricky situation for Alder right now. He has enough people to vote his candidate into office, but if that candidate doesn’t want the position, then it’s meaningless. He might have to appoint the civilian side’s candidate if only to make sure we have a strong trainer as part of our national defenses. But… then he’d have to deal with having a little thorn in his side. Most of the League supports Alder already, but letting someone from the opposition be a Gym Leader would not be ideal. Each Gym Leader holds a lot of power, part of which includes the ability to help govern entire cities and towns.”
“And it’s more important than usual because it involves the capital of the country,” I finished with a look of realization.
Burgh nodded. “Precisely. Castelia’s the symbol of Unova and home to millions of people. It’s a huge responsibility to safeguard such a large city. That’s partly why it’s taking the League so long to decide on who should take over. They need someone strong, but it also needs to be someone whose mindset aligns with the ideals we currently pursue. The Elite Four member only fits one of those criteria, and it’s not the second.”
Burgh’s grim words made it clear the power struggle between the League and the civilian side of our government was still going full throttle. It would never truly end, but each side persisted. They held onto as much influence as they could to make their respective ideals a reality during their lifetimes.
It made me wonder what the Twin Heroes would think of present-day Unova if they were still around.
Since Burgh looked like the political talk was tiring him out, I veered back into lighter territory again. “What’s being a Gym Leader like? Or… your personal experience of it I guess.”
“Tiring,” Burgh instantly replied, but the smile he paired that single word with suggested otherwise. “Countless young and aspiring trainers aim for the Vertress Conference every year, and they all flock to Castelia in droves. To be an inspiration for them… to hopefully impart knowledge and newfound appreciation of the craft you’ve honed for years… it’s tiring yet incredibly rewarding, Kayden. I know not everyone walked away from my Gym liking Bugs, but I still felt proud back then knowing I at least made an impact on some of them.”
He waved a hand through the air energetically.
“It wasn’t just about helping trainers either but Castelia itself. At the risk of sounding ‘cheesy,’ I endeavored to make myself and the Gym symbols the locals could take pride in, to unite people from all walks of life in a common love for Pokemon and the spirit of battling…”
It was nice seeing Burgh light up instead of being glum, but a strange feeling wormed its way into my chest at the same time. I struggled a bit to identify what it was. Halfway through Burgh’s long-winded rambling, I finally figured it out.
I felt a little envious of all things.
The way Burgh talked so animatedly about his former career reminded me of how Hayden had proudly told me about his work at the Unova Liberty Center. Then and now, I was in the company of someone who was happy with the things they’d accomplished. Both Burgh and Hayden had lived meaningful, fulfilling lives so far with specific goals in mind.
They looked content. It made me wonder…
What was it like?
Over the next two hours, Burgh and I took turns sharing bits of our lives. He would share anecdotes and memories from his Gym Leader years while I recounted my adventures around the world. There were so many instances where he interjected and asked curious, almost eager questions about the people and places I’d seen. He seemed quite interested, so I didn’t mind all the interruptions.
Toward the end of our conversation, I told him something I’d wanted to get off my chest from the very first meeting.
“Burgh.”
“Yes?”
“There’s something I didn’t tell you yet. I’m an Ability Holder.”
The man sitting next to me didn’t blink.
“How wonderful.”
I barked out a laugh. No words could describe how happy I felt from the casual and almost indifferent compliment Burgh handed out. If only people had reacted like that twenty years ago…
But the past could not be changed. We had to walk in the present.
I eventually said goodbye to Burgh for the evening with, once again, another promise to visit. As I headed back to my hotel now, it was with a clearer head than I’d had going into my conversation with Burgh. I’d had time to think while chatting with him.
There was just one more person I really wanted to speak to.
Ring. Ring—
Dad picked up nearly instantly like I thought he would.
“Kayden?” his voice drifted from the other end of the phone. I held it close to my ear. “What’s up?”
The confusion I heard in his voice was understandable. It was nowhere close to our next bi-weekly check-in, and he’d probably thought I was busy traveling around a new region like usual.
“Did you know?” I asked him instead of the greeting he expected. My voice was level, but it didn’t remain that way for long.
“Know what?”
“About Unova. Alder and— and the League and civilian government being at odds with each other, the opposing parties— all of that. Were you aware of everything? Is that why you eventually forgave the League?”
The more I spoke, the faster and faster my words came out. They didn’t drip with accusation but the sheer desire to understand instead.
“Is that why you encouraged me to visit Unova?”
Silence followed my heavy question, a long one.
After what felt like an eternity—
“Yes. I was aware of everything,” Dad finally confessed. “While you traveled, I even kept up with Unova political news on my own.”
I knew it. A suspicion had started to form in me ever since my initial conversation with Hayden. I’d also seen dad occasionally hiding newspapers when I came back home early from trips, but I hadn’t thought too much of it over the years.
I closed my eyes.
“I spent two decades resenting the Unova League and government, dad. Why… Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“Would it have changed anything if I did?” came dad’s gentle reply. “You were hurting. You didn’t care about Unova to the point where it was a taboo topic around the house. You shut your heart out. Even if I’d tried explaining things to you, you still wouldn’t have cared. All you knew was what you experienced firsthand.”
I opened my mouth to counter, but no words ever came out.
He… he was right. I wouldn’t have cared, especially not when I was younger. I probably would have cut dad off after three or four words.
I’d needed someone to be mad at, someone to take all my anger and negative feelings because I didn’t know what else to do with them. I wouldn’t have known how to proceed with my life otherwise.
“When you were angry, I let you be. When you said you wanted to travel, I let you go,” Dad continued in a patient voice. “I’ve never once tried to stop you from doing whatever you thought was right because it’s always been YOU, son. It’s your life and your feelings. You get to decide what to do with them. Only you know the best path forward.”
Dad had told me the same thing I’d wanted to tell people who talked bad about Burgh.
Only I knew what was best for myself.
“I just— I just…” I struggled to form a coherent sentence. With a sigh, I let my head fall back against the wall. “Now that I know the full context behind everything, I feel kind of ashamed.”
A mental image of Hayden protesting for Ability Holder rights in the middle of a crowd appeared in my mind. So did an image of Burgh fighting with Alder and their allies against the old administration.
“While I closed my eyes in regard to Unova and traveled the world, people here were fighting for what they believed in. They worked their asses off so that Ability Holders — people like me — would no longer be seen as people to fear. Meanwhile, what did I do? I lived in ignorance while resenting the wrong people the whole time.”
“You were young, Kayden, and they did you great wrong,” Dad replied softly. “Everything Unova has done over the years? Those are all things that should have happened sooner rather than later. You and other Ability Holders deserve all the rightful changes they’ve made. They owe this much to you.”
My fist clenched as Burgh’s words came to mind.
We owe it to ourselves, to those who were hurt, and to those who could get hurt in the future.
They owed it to us, but I wanted to tell dad that I should have owed it to myself to fight for my own rights. That chance had been robbed from me.
“I’m grateful, but I’m still angry,” I said out loud instead. A bitter laugh escaped my throat. “At least I know now who the real assholes are.”
“Son—”
“I’m not mad at you, dad,” I interrupted gently. “I’m actually really glad you waited this long to bring up Unova with me. I’ve had years to travel the world and experience lots of different things. I’m old enough now that I can think and process things in ways I couldn’t before as a kid.”
“…Just know I’m always a phone call away, alright? I’m here if you want to talk about anything, anything at all.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing right now?” I cheekily quipped back.
Peals of laughter burst forth from the device in my hand.
We put a pause on the grim conversation there. Dad had already had an inkling from our conversation, but I clarified for him that yes, I was back in Castelia. He got so excited once I confirmed it and bombarded me with questions about the city and what had changed. After all, he, too, had not been back to Castelia once since my exile. He could have gone back to visit any time, but he’d always been resistant to the idea since I wouldn’t be able to tag along. Dad had always been considerate of me.
“It’s so much cleaner, dad, it’s crazy,” I said at some point, waving my hands through the air even though dad couldn’t see. “Oh! And you know that deli we used to go to sometimes? It’s still there. The owner’s son took over.”
“Really?! I loved that place. Their sandwiches were the best…” Dad sighed wistfully. “Well, it sounds like you’ve been having fun. I’m glad.”
“Yeah,” I agreed with a smile. I pushed myself away from the wall and toward my bed, letting myself flop onto the soft bedding back-first. “More than I expected, but it’s weird.”
“What is?”
“I actually ran into another member from the IBC today. They wanted to battle and, well, you know how I am. You’re probably thinking I immediately agreed.”
“Let me guess: you didn’t.”
“Yeah. Battling is one of the things I love best, but I haven’t felt very enthusiastic about it lately. It’s not just today, either. I felt this way when we called a few nights ago and several times across the last year… I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Do you want my honest opinion, Kayden? Or are you just looking to rant?”
“Opinion please. I might be an adult now, but I still need the intuitive power of a dad.”
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
I waited patiently for dad to finish laughing.
“You remember when I asked you if you were happy with your current lifestyle?” Dad reminded me, slipping back into a more pensive persona.
“Uh huh.”
“I don’t know if you noticed it yourself, but you seemed hesitant. Constantly traveling the world, trying new hobbies, fighting every trainer you come across… you’ve been keeping yourself busy, maybe too busy. I know your philosophy has always been to live life to the fullest, but… hmm. What’s that one saying you like again? The one you learned from the locals of Otonoki Village or whatever that remote place was called.”
“‘All good men die eventually, but it's the life we live that defines us,’” I faithfully recited without missing a beat. I absolutely loved that quote.
“Yes! That one. It fits with what I want to say. You’ve spent years trying to make every moment count… Have you thought that maybe you’ve been searching for something more fulfilling this whole time? What kind of life do you want to live, Kayden? What is it that you really want to do? I think those are questions worth thinking about at this stage in your life. Knowing you, you’ll probably manage to reignite your passion for battling among other things.”
“Hmm…”
I was deep in thought long after I ended the phone call with dad an hour later. My conversation with him had been very helpful.
It was a little scary to admit, but… maybe dad was right. This wasn’t a simple case of burnout from battling too much and getting bored like I’d initially thought. This issue ran a little deeper.
What kind of life did I want to live?
Well, my biggest goal had been achieved already.
I’d honed my craft as a Bug Specialist. For a good part of my trainer career, I’d been hyper-focused on helping my Pokemon get stronger. It had consumed my whole being when I was younger because I was terrified they’d die early if I didn’t do a good enough job. I didn’t have to worry about that too much anymore considering the heights we’d reached, so that was one fear off my chest.
As for traveling… My Pokemon and I enjoyed meeting new people and visiting places, some so breathtaking that they seemed like they were right out of fairy tales. Along the way, we lived off the thrill of beating up any and all trainers and proving our strength. All of it was fun, and yet…
Could I keep doing it forever? Could I look back on my life on my deathbed one day and say I was truly satisfied with it?
In a sobering moment, I realized I couldn’t.
As much fun as traveling was, I was admittedly a little tired of constantly going everywhere and doing everything. I felt like I’d be okay settling down somewhere now. That didn’t mean I regretted everything I’d done thus far in my life, though. Far from it. All the memories and experiences I had, both the good and the bad, had shaped me into who I was today.
But thanks to dad giving me a nudge, I was starting to realize I wanted to do a little more with my life.
I wanted to be like Hayden and Burgh, to do something in my life that could impact the world and influence others in positive ways… to find something that called to me and gave my life true meaning. Something I could take pride in until the day I died… a legacy that I could leave behind for future generations to remember.
Probably a little too ambitious, but maybe something meaningful like that. I considered it a good start to pondering over the big questions dad had thrown me at least.
Satisfied, I got ready for bed. This vacation wasn’t going to enjoy itself.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, I settled into a certain daily routine.
In between sightseeing, I spent the mornings and afternoons talking to random strangers with my hoodie covering my face. I’d ask them how they felt about Ability Holders as part of personal research I was conducting. I might have gotten a rundown of how things had changed in Unova from Hayden, but I also wanted to see how public perception had changed for myself.
The responses I got were a wide, wide mix.
“Ability Holders? They’re pretty neat! I wish I had a special power of my own. It’d be really awesome if I got one that could help me write essays faster.”
“Bah, the League shouldn’t be welcoming them with open arms. They’re unpredictable. We had that incident twelve— no wait, was it thirteen years ago? Can’t remember, but some Ability Holder in hiding robbed a bank in Nimbasa and killed three people.”
“An Ability Holder saved my cousin before from a stampede of Bouffalant. Certain politicians can kiss my ass. They paint them as dangerous individuals, but that’s not the case at all.”
“I mean… they’re still humans like us, right? I don’t think it’s right to fear them all just because of the notorious history of a few. That’s what Burgh always said.”
Those were just a few of the answers I got. I noticed the younger generation was more likely to say positive or neutral things about them compared to older folks, those who remembered actual incidents Ability Holders had caused during their lifetimes. Not too surprising. Overall, public reception leaned toward the positive end.
I also noted that many people’s opinions were influenced by the drivel politicians spouted. The civilian side of the government had doubled down on efforts in recent years to try and reverse everything Alder and his side had achieved.
Slimy little bastards.
While my daylight hours were spent busily walking up and down Castelia, I enjoyed quiet evenings at the pier with Burgh.
There were times where we didn’t chat at all and sat there in silence. When we did talk, our conversations generally spanned a wide range of topics, everything from cooking recipes to deeper topics like philosophy or battling strategies. I was content to discuss whatever Burgh was in the mood to talk about.
It was on day five of my trip when he brought up his Leavanny for the first time.
“I found a box of old VHS tapes while cleaning out my gym office today,” Burgh told me. His eyes misted over with nostalgia. “I watched them, of course. There was one of Vania where she helped the gym Pokemon train. The memories it brought back…”
He’d never had the heart to bring up his deceased partner again after our initial meeting. I took this as a good sign.
“What was she like?” I asked gently.
The man next to me clasped trembling hands together on his lap, but he smiled. “Vania was kind. She had a habit of being like a sort of mother for the gym Pokemon. Every morning and night, she would make her rounds and ask everyone how they were faring…”
It wasn’t the last time Burgh spoke to me about his Pokemon. In the days and chats that followed, he willingly brought up his starter more in conversation. He was opening up his heart once again to me and the rest of the world.
Together, we celebrated the memories and life of Vania the Leavanny.
When I finally got back to my hotel suite at the end of each day, I’d stay up late to do research online. I read up on new laws. I caught up on past and current events. I’d scroll through social media platforms and monitor the Castelia Gym situation since it interested me.
The League stayed silent. Candidates were still being considered.
On the morning of my sixth and second to last day in Castelia, the situation finally changed.
I shoved the last bite of my toasted bread into my mouth and stared down at the screen of my phone.
‘ELIJAH MEISARCH REVEALED AS CANDIDATE, TURNS DOWN CASTELIA GYM LEADER NOMINATION’ was what I read.
Burgh’s premonition turned out to be right. The retired Gym Leader nominated by Alder had ultimately turned down the official offer sent his way, and now the League was scrambling to find someone else they wanted for the position. The other candidates they had their eye on weren’t as strong as the retired Elite Four member endorsed by the civilian side of the government.
It was looking more and more like the wrong people would sink their fangs into Castelia, and that left me with a very unpleasant feeling.
I made a note to bring the news up with Burgh as part of our evening conversation later. Surely he’d have some sort of opinion on it, and I wanted to hear what he thought.
For now, I got ready for the day ahead.
There was no talking to random strangers today on the streets of Castelia. I wasn’t in the mood for it after seeing the news this morning. Instead, I tried to focus on having fun with my Pokemon. We spent the better half of the day at Eli Park.
In the afternoon, we switched locations and trudged through the streets of Lower Castelia. Galvantula stayed by my side while we explored random neighborhoods and stores. As we walked, a small desire gradually surfaced within me. It was one I’d thought about a lot over the years, but it was now that I could actually entertain it.
My aimless wandering abruptly turned into purposeful steps.
Through a maze of streets I went without my phone to guide me. I didn’t need it. I knew where to go even after twenty years. I turned corners, wove through sidewalks crowded with pedestrians, and made my way deeper into Lower Castelia.
Sleek and modern buildings eventually gave way to older and rundown ones. Graffiti splashed their facades and the cracked sidewalks with color and sometimes vulgar messages. Less people walked by for every block I passed, but I paid them no heed.
My feet traveled well-worn concrete in a familiar path. As we approached a certain street, my heartbeat sped up. I turned the corner—
“Oh.”
I’d sometimes dreamed about the place where I used to live with dad, Berry, and… someone else. A part of me had yearned to see it again someday.
Unfortunately, our old apartment wasn't there anymore.
The whole building was gone. So were a few others on that side of the street. What filled my gaze now was a stretch of desolate land filled with weeds, broken rubble, and a crap ton of trash. A quick Zoogle search on my phone revealed they’d torn down buildings in this area years ago to make room for a shopping center, but the project had fallen through.
Only abandoned property was left.
Disappointment filled me. Just a little. I walked further down the street to where I estimated our apartment unit used to be, and then I stood in that spot. I craned my neck and looked up at empty air.
I stood there for a long time, long enough that Galvantula eventually nudged my leg and let out a series of clicking sounds. She asked if I was alright.
I nodded, but I didn’t look away from the sky. “This is where I used to live, Tula.”
The spider perked up at that. Slowly, she rotated in place so that she faced the abandoned field like me. Curiosity emanated from her in waves. I’d told all my Pokemon stories about my childhood before and even shared memories through the Sterling Network… I just found it a shame I couldn’t show them around in person.
In my mind’s eye, I saw the rundown apartment we used to live in.
The door whose hinges needed to be constantly replaced… The rotten floorboards that constantly creaked and groaned under the slightest weight… The moldy wallpaper full of questionable stains and cracks in the walls…
I imagined child me sitting in the cramped space that was my bedroom. Dad and… the woman we lived with had given me the biggest room and taken the smallest one for themselves.
I imagined child me diligently doing my homework while Berry crawled around on my desk. I saw myself walking over to the window to take a break, resting my head on the windowsill while I watched people and cars pass by below.
Like I’d told Burgh, living in Castelia wasn’t always easy.
I was able to bear it back then because of my family. So long as dad and Berry were with me, I was happy. We were happy. We struggled, sure, but we struggled together. I’d had a pleasant childhood all things considered. I wouldn’t have changed anything about it for the world.
Twenty years later, I was back here as an adult. I’d come so far since then.
I’d struggled, fought, and clawed my way up to the top, to prove to myself and to Unova that I could make it in this world. I was a powerful trainer and Bug Specialist now, and dad and I didn’t have to worry about money anymore. I’d made sure of it.
So why did I still feel like I was at the bottom of a hole sometimes?
I stayed there a little longer to gaze at empty space. I even got a few weird looks from people leaving their apartments down the block, but I stared until I had my fill.
Then, quietly, I turned and walked away without another glance back.
We left the shady neighborhood behind for a safer one. There was a suspicious-looking passerby who eyed my bag, but a hiss from Galvantula made him wisely turn away. You didn’t want to mess with a trainer and their highly skilled Pokemon.
Somewhere else in Lower Castelia, I bought drinks for me and Galvantula — two mango milk teas — and took us to a public park nearby. It was small, but it was quaint. It even had a playground area further back for kids. I used to come here in my childhood with dad.
I was halfway through my drink when a scrawny kid ran up to our bench. He couldn’t have been older than seven at most.
“Can I play with your Galvantula?” was the first thing out of his mouth. How blunt. Were all kids these days so unafraid of strangers?
I looked at his excited expression, then dragged my gaze up and over his head in search of a certain figure. Yep. There was a lady back there looking around for where her son had run off to.
“You should probably ask your mom first, kid,” I gently reminded him.
He blinked three times. “Oh!”
The kid immediately dashed all the way back to his mom. The park was quiet enough that I could hear him ask for permission even from this distance. I saw the mom glance up and look at me first before she gave the okay.
Much to my amusement, the kid ran back to me like a speeding Sharpedo.
“Can I play with your Pokemon now?” he asked again in a breathless voice.
I tried not to laugh. “You should probably ask her instead of me.”
And for the second time, the kid let out an emphatic oh. Funny kid. He did listen to me, though, and asked Galvantula for permission.
She had a soft spot for children and was more than happy to oblige. For the next fifteen minutes, I dealt with loud laughter and whoops echoing in my ears as the kid played tag with Galvantula around the park.
Eventually, he tired himself out and had to be ferried back to my bench. He plopped onto the seat next to me.
“Your Galvantula is bigger than Burgh’s, mister!” he said with a bright, toothy grin.
I raised a brow at him. “And how do you know that?”
“‘Cuz my mom took me to see gym matches! I sat in the front once and got to see his Galvantula up close,” he bragged. “Bugs are the coolest.”
“You like Bugs?”
“Yeah! They can run fast, fly through the air, and beat up Pokemon bigger than them.”
My lips quirked upwards into a smile. “Heh. You have good taste.”
“I know, right?” he beamed at me, but then he deflated like a balloon that had been popped. “I was supposed to hang out with my friends today, but we got into an argument. They said Bugs are gross and weak. I mean, yeah, Dragon and Fire types are cool, but so are Bugs!”
“You should show them videos of Burgh fighting trainers then. Maybe they haven’t seen what they can really do yet,” I suggested.
“I already tried,” the boy sighed. “They didn’t want to watch. I wanted to take them to the gym to see a live match instead, but mom told me the gym’s closed. Burgh’s not gonna be Gym Leader anymore.”
“…”
Unfortunate timing on the kid’s part.
“I asked mom who the next Gym Leader is gonna be, but she said she didn’t know. Do you know? Do you think they’ll use Bugs, too?”
I wavered a bit on the inside when I saw his hopeful eyes.
“I don’t, but you never know. They might use Bugs,” I finally said. “Maybe you can go watch a match with your friends then.”
He kicked his legs back and forth excitedly. “That’s a good idea. I want to be a Bug Specialist someday, so I gotta watch as many matches as possible to learn what I can. I’m studying really hard in school right now. Mom said if I get good enough grades, she’ll let me join the Castelia Trainer Academy.”
I stared at him. “You want to be a Bug Specialist?”
He gave me a grave nod and a serious expression to go with it. “Uh huh. I want to be like Burgh. He helps small Bugs get bigger and stronger. He’s also nice to everyone, and he teaches his Pokemon how to fight while looking cool. Someday, I’m gonna be a trainer like him. I’m even going to raise a strong Leavanny like Vania!”
…Okay, that was actually really touching.
“You wanna know a secret?” I suddenly asked. The boy looked at me with confusion but nodded. So, I leaned in and raised two brows in an exaggerated way. I whispered, “I’m friends with Burgh. I’ll let him know you said that about him if you want.”
“You’re lying,” he said instantly, but his eyes were wide.
“Nuh uh. I’m a Bug Specialist, too. We’re really friends,” I shot back with a grin.
He studied me for a moment with narrowed eyes, then—
“Okay, tell him I said hi then and that I think he’s really cool and that I’m gonna come find him when I’m older for a match—”
He prattled on excitedly in a single breath, all suspicions gone in the wind. I nearly snorted out loud. Kids could be fairly cute and amusing when they wanted to be.
“Ben!” a woman’s voice called in the middle of his rambling. It was his mom. She waved for her son to come over.
“Oh, mom’s calling me. Bye, mister! Bye, Galvantula! Thanks for letting me play with you! Don’t forget to do what you promised!” the boy named Ben grinned at us, waved hastily, and then barrelled toward his mom. He almost tripped on the way over. I heard his mom scolding him in an affectionate tone as they left the park.
I watched them go with a heart torn between fondness and sadness.
Burgh might have retired, but he’d left a lasting impact on people. I’d met one of them today, and…
The way Gym Leaders could inspire the people around them stirred my heart in a way I hadn’t known was possible.
Thump.
That evening, I was right on time for my daily chat with Burgh and fast approaching the usual place. I raised a hand in greeting—
—and abruptly halted.
Burgh wasn’t alone at the bench today. There was an Orbeetle hovering in the air around him as well as a psychic barrier. As for the man himself, he was on the phone. Judging by the tired expression on his face as his lips formed inaudible words, it probably wasn’t a happy conversation.
He was done talking by the time I approached the bench. When Burgh saw me, he said something to his Orbeetle with a smile and recalled the Pokemon. The psychic barrier disappeared as if it had never been there.
“Everything okay?” I asked cautiously, taking a seat next to him.
Burgh looked like he wanted to feign a smile for a moment but ultimately decided against it. A long sigh escaped him as he leaned back.
“They asked me to come back and be the Castelia Gym Leader again,” he admitted with a voice full of exasperation. When I stared at him in disbelief, he quickly elaborated. “Not Alder. He already accepted and respected my decision a month ago. The call was from some League officials who support him.”
“Is it because they’re running out of options now that their top choice, Elijah Meisarch, declined?” I questioned.
“Ah, so you already heard the news,” Burgh sighed once more. “Indeed. They really do not want to appoint the civilian side’s candidate if possible. Still, to ask me to come back, it’s— it’s—”
He broke off, panting.
“I can’t. I really can’t. My mind, it’s— it’s still a mess. I haven’t figured anything out yet, I’m still overwhelmed, I…”
I stayed silent and watched as Burgh closed his eyes, breathing in and out in a long-practiced rhythm. When he felt calm enough again to speak, he opened them.
“I apologize. I’m a tad more stressed than usual because of the Castelia Gym succession issue,” he muttered.
I was quick to shake my head.
“It’s fine. I understand that it’s a pretty important issue,” I reassured him. Now that I was looking more closely, Burgh’s eyes looked more bloodshot than normal. Was he getting enough sleep?
“It is. It might be selfish of me to say this given my inability to help, but I hope for the Castelia Gym to end up in good hands,” Burgh replied in a hoarse voice.
“It will,” I told him, hoping my words wouldn’t turn out hollow. “It surely will. They’ll find someone other than that Elite Four member.”
Burgh didn’t look convinced, but he smiled anyway. I decided this was as good of a moment as any to tell him about my little encounter today. Arceus knew he needed a pick-me-up right now.
“Burgh, I met a kid named Ben today…”
I didn’t leave a single detail out. I told him everything: the fact that this kid wanted to be a Bug Specialist, that he admired Burgh and Bug types, that he wanted to raise a Leavanny… everything.
I don’t know what I expected when I finished recounting the tale.
Maybe I thought Burgh would smile.
Maybe I thought he would laugh.
It was neither.
Burgh broke down sobbing. He buried his face in his hands and slumped forward, crying his heart out. I was worried but only for a fleeting moment.
Those weren’t tears of sorrow but indescribable joy.
“I wish I could tell Vania… we inspired even a child like Ben…” he managed to choke out. “I… I couldn’t be prouder than how I feel right now…”
My heart clenched as he wept into the long, long night.
Burgh and I didn’t talk more after that. I just sat there with him as he sniffed and wiped away any remaining tears, but the poignant silence was an entire conversation of its own. It was another step on the path to healing. We stayed there until it was close to midnight.
When I finally said goodbye to him for the day, I didn’t head back to the hotel like usual.
Rune took flight in the sky with me on his back. Past the piers, past Lower Castelia, past countless buildings—
He flew ever onward to a magnificent suspension bridge in the east, the largest in the country: Skyarrow Bridge.
Many bridges existed in Unova, and there was a reason for it. Architects had designed them beyond being simple means of transportation. They were physical representations of the ideals of our nation and symbols of what we stood for. They connected people, cultures, hopes, goals— everything that made Unova diverse and beautiful. They united cities and towns around the region as one: a single country where people were free to live as they pleased.
And now, as we approached the one that linked Castelia to another part of the mainland, I found myself deep in thought about my own life.
Trucks, cars, and bright yellow taxis blipped past on lanes far below, but they grew larger as Rune slowly descended. He dropped me off at a point about halfway into the pedestrian walkway. I could hear faint wind rushing past from vehicles down on the lower level. At this time of night, most people were home sleeping and getting ready for the next day of their lives.
It was just me and Rune here.
Together, we shifted our bodies so that we faced the direction of the city. Like I’d said before… the Castelia skyline had always remained the most striking to me, and never more so than at night.
The skyscrapers that seemed so intimidating during the day had transformed into gentle silhouettes and beacons of hope. They reflected a million different lights, a sea of stars far closer than the one in the sky and one that humans could actually reach. Every light and every glow symbolized a person, a story, and a life someone had lived deep within those concrete walls. Out on open waters, those lights mixed with the glimmer of ships coming back home.
It was magical, and it was alive. Castelia was not simply a concrete jungle but a living, breathing being that housed the hopes and dreams of millions of people. As much as it could discourage, it also nourished them.
Burgh and his predecessors had dedicated their lives and careers to making sure Castelia, and by extension Unova, kept their ways of life and freedom to dream.
Someone had to carry on the torch and keep their ideals alive.
“I only got to show you this sight once before we left Unova, huh?” I mused out loud, interrupting my own thoughts.
Rune rumbled softly in agreement. We’d had to pack quickly and leave the country back then, so there hadn’t been any time to show him around.
“I missed this place more than I realized,” I went on. “So much and yet so little has changed in Castelia, but it still feels like home to me. It’s almost like twenty years haven’t passed at all, but you and I both know better. We experienced everything that happened in between together. All the struggles… all the hardships…”
I leaned against the railing, turning slightly to look at him. “All those struggles — the life we’ve lived so far — guided us back here.”
Unova, the land where I was born and raised.
Unova, the land I had been exiled from.
And now it was Unova, the land I had rightfully returned to.
Anger still burned within me, but it was high time I did something with it now that I knew truths I did not know before. I wanted to channel it into something meaningful and use it as fuel for my own future.
The wind caressed my cheeks and hair. Excitement and anxiety coursed through my body in equal parts as I inhaled deeply. I’d asked Rune to take us here so we could talk about something important, something that was probably and irrevocably going to change the course of our lives forever.
I knew I was on the right track because when I thought about the idea that had slowly wormed its way into both my heart and mind, it sent shivers through my body. I even felt excited about battling in general again.
“Rune. There’s something that’s been on my mind this past week, an ambition that’s taken root within me. I think it’s something I want to try pursuing, but I don’t know how you’ll all feel about it—”
I snapped my mouth shut when the air bloomed with warmth. Rune had rapidly beat his wings twice to get me to stop talking, and faint embers now flew through the air like fireflies.
Blue eyes stared into mine as he buzzed with all the wisdom an oldest companion could give.
He said he and the team would follow whatever I decided. They always had, and they always would. It was time I lived for myself now after spending years of my life helping them.
We’re not going to die anytime soon, he assured me. So do what you want instead of worrying about us.
Just like dad, he told me only I knew the best path forward for myself.
My eyes felt suspiciously moist.
“Okay.”
Against all odds and promises initially made to myself, I stayed well past a week in Castelia.
I was pretty close with Burgh at this point. It helped that we were both Specialists with the same type specialty, but our personalities also meshed pretty well. He was like an older brother I’d never known I had. I talked to him every single day without fail at the docks. He never cried again after that one night, but he looked increasingly better with every day that passed. I felt like something had changed within him.
Since I’d decided on something, I also dedicated a few days to getting shit together. I’d reached out to contacts on my phone I hadn’t talked to in literally years (some even up to a decade), made and redid papers I also hadn’t touched in years, and formulated the beginnings of a conversation in my head. Two, really, if I managed to make it far enough.
Finally, I believed I was ready.
On the eleventh evening of my stay in Castelia, I headed for Liberty Pier with determined and purposeful strides. I had everything planned out for what I wanted to tell Burgh.
All plans flew out the window when I got to our usual spot. Burgh’s bench was empty.
In all our time meeting, he’d never not been there by the time I arrived. He hadn’t even mentioned anything to me yesterday about a possible absence.
I sat down on my own for now and waited.
After an hour crawled by with Burgh still being a no-show, dread pooled in my stomach. I waited for another three hours and even walked up and down the pier at one point, but he never showed up.
To say the least, I didn’t sleep well that night. Every other hour, I woke up and checked my phone hoping not to see anything on the news.
The next twenty plus hours weren’t any better. I spent the whole day feeling jittery and practically ran down to Liberty Pier in the evening. The bench— Burgh had to be there, he simply had to be—
A familiar figure sat there.
The resulting wave of relief that flooded my entire body was immeasurable. I’d never been more glad to see Burgh before.
“Burgh!” I shouted, jogging toward him. “Jeez, you worried me when you didn’t show up yesterday.”
He stood up at the sound of my voice and turned to face me as I slid to a stop.
“I’m truly sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Burgh apologized. To my surprise, his eyes looked full of life today. “I decided on something yesterday and ran around all day taking care of various businesses, one of which was saying goodbye to people.”
I froze, staring at him. “Wait… goodbye?”
Burgh shocked me further with the next words that came out of his mouth.
“I’ve decided to go traveling,” he announced in a resolute voice. The smile on his face was a large one. “It was something I always wanted to do with Vania and my Pokemon when we were younger, but we never got the chance because I became Gym Leader so soon. I’ve decided I’d like to do it now. It’ll give me time to grieve… to heal… and to figure out what I want to do from now on. Your travel stories were what gave me the last nudge.”
He saw my shocked look and quickly held a hand up. “I won’t be gone forever. Probably no more than a year at most, don’t worry. I’d like to exchange phone numbers so we can keep in touch.”
It was now my eyes finally caught sight of the suitcase and tote bag hidden behind his legs.
He was… serious. He was really leaving.
“Burgh, I… I’m happy for you,” I finally managed to say. I hoped I was conveying as much sincerity as I meant to. “If that’s what you’ve decided on, I can only root for you. Just promise you’ll stay safe and send me updates on how you’re doing.”
Burgh smiled at me.
“I will. Kayden… I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but it already feels like I’ve known you a lifetime. I’m really grateful we were able to meet here in Castelia and become friends. I actually have something for you as a token of our friendship.”
I watched curiously as he turned and lifted one handle of his tote bag. His free hand dug something out of it, and that something was passed over to me with a gentle smile.
“It’s the first thing I managed to make ever since Vania died. I dedicate it to you,” he said softly.
I stared down at the object in my trembling hands.
He’d given me a framed painting.
It was small. The whole thing was no bigger than both my hands combined, but its size didn’t matter.
Streaks of amber, molten gold, and yellows as bright as sunflowers were reflected in my eyes. They swirled together in a single radiant mass that filled my chest with warmth and goodness. They were summer nights and new beginnings, budding life and happiness, and everything in between. I could even feel the intense emotion behind the brushstrokes, the passion that had been reignited — if only briefly — to breathe life into this creation.
He’d gifted me a painting of the Sun.
It was an incredibly beautiful and meaningful gift, one that almost moved me to tears on the spot.
“Burgh…” I croaked out, voice thick with emotion. “This is… I don’t even have the words for it. This means so much to me. Thank you, I’ll treasure it forever.”
Burgh’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“No. Thank you, Kayden.”
Phone numbers were swiftly exchanged. Burgh then grabbed his suitcase and tote bag in preparation for the journey ahead.
“I should probably get going now—”
“Wait!” I quickly blurted out. Burgh physically paused in place and stared at me. “Sorry. I know this is a bit of bad timing, but there was something I wanted to tell you yesterday.”
I took a deep breath to steady myself. All speech drafts and conversation outlines I’d prepared days ago were thrown aside.
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” I began, “about what I want to do from now on as well. I’ve lived my whole life drifting from place to place, but I think I was always searching for something more to do with my life.”
I pointed in the direction of the city.
“Since coming back to Unova, I’ve talked to all sorts of people and seen for myself how things have changed. Things are better now, I’ll admit that, but there’s a chance they won’t stay that way. There’s a chance everything could go to shit because of the actions of a few.”
One of my hands clenched into a determined fist. My eyes bored into Burgh’s.
“To forge a better future with our own hands. To have the courage to defend our rights, to pave a path of our own. To owe it to ourselves, to those who were hurt, and to those who could get hurt in the future. These are all things you told me before, Burgh. They resonated with me. They inspired me just like how you’ve inspired countless others during your career.”
My voice grew louder.
“I want to inspire people like you have, to show the beauty of Bugs and Ability Holders alike. I want to show the world and Unova that I’m still here and always will be. I want to carve my own future and protect those of other Ability Holders so that they never have to fall down a path like I did. This is Unova, and we should always have the freedom to choose. Well, I choose what I want to do with MY life, and I want to do THIS now. I wish to lead by example and join the fight to make the ideals I pursue a reality.”
All good men died eventually, but it was the life they lived that defined them.
I wanted to live the kind without regrets.
I wanted people to remember the name Kayden Sterling.
Right now, my eyes burned gold as bright as the sun.
“If you’d be willing to endorse me… I wish to become the next Castelia Gym Leader.”
Burgh stood there in utter and complete shock.
He didn’t move for a long time and stared at me with parted lips. Eventually, though, he snapped his mouth shut and looked between me and the luggage he carried.
A hoarse but genuine chuckle left him.
“Looks like I’m rescheduling my flight.”
Life is short. Live the kind of life you want and do what you want without regrets. People may influence you, but it’s up to you in the end to decide your own future.
Thank you for your support!
Kayden's Pokemon for reference purposes
- Rune / Volcarona / M
- Flygon / M
- Golisopod / M
- Kricketune / M
- Frosmoth / F
- Centiskorch / M
- Beedrill / M
- Scizor / M
- Heracross / M
- Araquanid / F
- Ribombee / F
- Vespiquen / F
- Scolipede / M
- Galvantula / F
- Yanmega / M
- Armaldo / M