The first thing Burgh did was send out his Orbeetle. A faint, shimmering dome of psychic energy instantly went up around us. It was hardly noticeable, but the main point of it was to keep sound blocked in. More people were starting to walk down Liberty Pier on evening strolls at this point.
Now with a little more privacy, our important conversation was on track to continue.
“Kayden,” Burgh started, but then he stopped. His expression was one torn between wonder and curiosity as he struggled to form words. “I admit… having a Bug Specialist like you take over the Castelia Gym would be most ideal. I would be more than happy to endorse you based on your character and skill as a trainer alone, but being a Gym Leader is more than simply being strong—”
“I know,” I assured him. I felt Burgh’s gaze on me sharpen as I reached into my bag and pulled out a small folder, one that was then offered to the man standing across from me. “Trust me, I know. I’ve listened to your experiences these past two weeks after all. I understand that I’ll have to help kids grow as trainers, and I’m ready to learn everything I need to. I do have some prior experience under my belt at least.”
One of Burgh’s brows rose as he accepted the folder from me and opened it. His other brow soon rose to join its kindred spirit.
“This is…” he trailed off. Green eyes moved rapidly across papers full of black-and-white text.
I smiled sheepishly. “Well… no recent experience, but hopefully this helps persuade you even a little.”
The folder I’d given Burgh, the very one that he was currently perusing— in it was a copy of my trainer profile, a resume I’d updated after a whole decade, and as many reference letters as I’d been able to cobble together in a short period of time.
Back when I was still starting out as a trainer, I’d quickly realized that the easiest way to get the strength and knowledge I wanted was to learn from more experienced Bug Specialists. I applied for internships and part-time jobs at various Bug type gyms I came across while traveling the world. I never stayed for longer than half a year anywhere, but it was enough time for me to sponge up what I wanted from different Bug Gym Leaders and their respective wells of expertise. At some point during my teenage years, I stopped gym-hopping and focused more on deepening my own understanding of the type as I knew it.
Now here I was, dare I say it, as the greatest Bug Specialist in the world. Every Specialist had pride in the craft they’d honed for years, and I was no different. I certainly had the skills to back up my confidence.
Back to the folder in Burgh’s hands. I hadn’t been kidding when I said no recent experience. All of that had been years and years ago. During that period of gym-hopping, I’d done everything from simple errands like cleaning floors to taking care of gym Pokemon or fighting challengers during gauntlets. I had more than a basic understanding of the inner workings of gym life, so I had a foundation to work off of… albeit a dusty one.
“It gives me an edge over the retired Elite Four candidate, right?” I said out loud in a hopeful voice. “Unless… you’re going to say something like how she used to be a Gym Leader.”
Burgh shook his head in a slow and distracted manner. He was still reading. “She wasn’t.”
Whew. I needed every advantage I could get if I wanted Burgh to endorse me. My prowess as a trainer was the biggest thing I could brag about, but like he’d mentioned already, the work of a Gym Leader encompassed so much more.
Since Burgh was still silently flipping through pages in the folder, I went ahead and filled the silence.
“I know this was really sudden to spring on you,” I began, “and I realize I’m far from a conventional candidate who’s had formal training, but I can learn. I pick things up really fast even for a Bug Specialist. I can get myself ready by the fall— no, in less than a month.”
It wasn’t an empty claim. Nowhere close. I understood my own capabilities the best, and I knew I could do this. I was more than willing to put in the work.
“If the Unova League needs someone to help guide and protect Castelia, then here’s my application. I have the passion and strength needed for the role, and the determination to see it through.”
My pitch ended there. I’d said what I wanted to, and now everything depended on Burgh’s decision. Like I’d said earlier… this was an application. I might have finally discovered something I really wanted to pursue in life, but I had to reach the starting line first.
Cries from passing Wingull mixed with quiet murmurs from the sea. People passed by in a steady, indistinguishable stream, but I paid them no attention. I stood tall, relaxed, and with all the patience in the world. The whole time, Burgh remained engrossed in reading.
He finished sooner than I thought he would. Thin fingers curled around the spine of the folder and snapped it shut. When he raised his head…
The corners of his lips were stretched wide in the largest smile I’d seen from him until now.
“I’ll stay a little longer in the city to teach you,” Burgh announced.
I hadn’t been too nervous, but I still let out a breath I hadn’t known I was holding. That meant—
“I’ll endorse you as my chosen candidate for the next Castelia Gym Leader,” he helpfully finished, still smiling. “If it’s you, I think I could rest easy knowing the gym is in good hands.”
That was a lot of trust he was giving, and it moved me greatly.
“I won’t let you down,” I said instantly. “You, me, the city, or Unova itself. I really want to do this.”
“I’m well aware,” Burgh replied, a hint of mirth leaking through his voice. “You said I motivated you, but I believe it’s the other way around. Your initial speech was the most inspirational one I’ve heard in years. I’m willing to endorse you because I choose to trust in you… you, and that passion you showed me.”
I mumbled some unintelligible words, one hand scratching the back of my neck in embarrassment. Jeez… Burgh was really putting me on the spot here. Luckily, he refocused on the matter at hand.
“Anyway,” he continued, “this is only the first step. I’ll have to go back to my place and type up an official letter, then I’ll need to send that and everything you gave me to Alder and—” Burgh paused mid-sentence to stare at me. “I imagine he’ll want to meet with you before making a decision of his own. Assuming he’s willing, I’ll try to set up a meeting as soon as possible.”
I wouldn’t have expected otherwise. The Castelia Gym succession was a time-sensitive issue. I also needed the reigning Champion’s approval if I wanted to secure a formal nomination. I couldn’t get too excited yet.
In light of all this, I gave a firm nod of acknowledgement. “I’ll be hoping for good news then.”
“As will I, Kayden. As will I.”
We parted ways for the night there. Burgh had a lot to do and discuss with Alder, and he promised to contact me or swing by my hotel room the next day with updates. Meanwhile, I had to prepare for a meeting that was — in my personal opinion — long overdue. I fell asleep early with conversation starters and outlines running circles in my head… and no idea about the impending domino effect my decision today would cause.
I woke up to brisk knocking at my hotel door and a distant muffled voice.
“—den. Kayden!”
It took me a few seconds to recognize the voice belonged to Burgh, and it took me even longer to stagger out of bed. With blurry vision, I had to sidestep around countless bodies of sleeping and not sleeping Pokemon on my way to the entrance.
By the time I made it there, I’d managed to blink away a fair bit of my drowsiness. A final yawn tore itself out of my throat as I opened the door. Burgh’s smiling visage welcomed me. In fact, I would even dare to say he looked excited. It was a far cry from the gaunt, lifeless shell of a man I’d met weeks ago.
“My apologies, I know it’s early in the morning,” he greeted, but his good mood didn’t waver. I shot a quick look at a nearby clock to confirm that… yes, it was 6 AM. My attention went back to Burgh as he continued. “I just got off the phone with Alder. He’d like to talk to you at the League HQ today.”
Didn’t that mean both of them had stayed up all night? I didn’t question it, though.
“When?”
“Right now.”
Any lingering fatigue instantly disappeared. I felt wide awake as I bobbed my head up and down in a nod. This was really happening.
“Alright. Give me a bit.”
I got ready in record time. With all my Pokemon back in their Pokeballs, I shrugged on my usual hoodie and shuffled over to where Burgh and his Orbeetle were waiting. I got a single moment to wonder about what I wanted for breakfast later.
Then the world shifted seamlessly in place, and suddenly I was standing on top of the world… or what felt like it anyway.
Miles of rocky, mostly barren land stretched out as far as the eye could see. From here, I even had a view of Unova at large. Sprawling forests and hints of cities and towns beckoned in the distance. We’d Teleported directly to the front steps of the Unova League’s HQ. A downward glance revealed a terribly long and steep staircase I never wanted to use, and it bottomed out into various elevated platforms. Countless watchtowers and assorted government facilities were evenly spread out. I even caught sight of what looked like a historical, long-forgotten coliseum built into the ground itself. Interesting.
I turned in place. As for the main building itself…
It was formidable. That was the best word I had on hand to describe it. Massive walls of stone rose up, up, and farther than I could crane my neck to see the end of. They eventually met in a flat base and gave way to a gentle, olive green domed roof with a spire so sharp it could be considered a weapon of its own. From it, the flag of Unova fluttered proudly in the wind. The impenetrable stronghold — or Union Peak as it was more commonly referred to — stood at the top of an entire mountain. Though it had little ornamentation etched into its exterior, Union Peak still radiated an ancient beauty other buildings would never be able to imitate. It had long withstood the test of time, and it would only continue to do so.
Someone awaited me deep inside its walls.
Both before and after we entered the building, League Trainers on standby ran us through multiple kinds of security checks. Psychic scans for hostile intentions were the least of what they looked for. They even had Aura Pokemon like Lucario on hand to look out for any shenanigans with Zoroark and Ditto. Having them impersonate any human being, not just a government employee, was a federal offense and grounds for getting locked away for years.
Once we got past initial security, Burgh led me through wide and seemingly endless halls. The building’s interior was as magnificent as its facade. Faded but beautiful murals depicting past conflicts in Unova’s history covered the ceilings. Flags, portraits, and paintings of figures and landmarks decorated the walls. Where we walked, names and dates were engraved into the stone floor under our feet. They reminded me of the historical sidewalk plaques and markers you’d occasionally find etched into Castelia’s streets. I didn’t pay too much attention to it all and focused more on where we were going. Eventually, we stepped inside an elevator.
Unsurprisingly, the Champion’s office was at the highest point of Union Peak and situated almost directly underneath its dome-like roof. There were lots of League Trainers patrolling up here when we stepped out of the elevator. Fleeting glances were directed our way, but we were free to head down the hall without interruption.
We stopped outside a set of double doors. The symbol of the Unova League had been emblazoned deeply into the wood almost like a warning. Step inside, but only if you’re on the side of freedom it seemed to say.
Without further ado, Burgh rapped sharply against the wooden frame with his knuckles.
“Alder, it’s Burgh. I’ve brought the candidate with me,” he called out.
An incredibly faint voice answered us, one made quieter by the office’s thick and nearly fully soundproof walls. “Come in.”
Burgh turned to me now. “That’s your cue,” he whispered.
“You’re not coming in with me?” I asked, surprised.
My companion quietly shook his head. “No. I believe you two have a lot to talk about in private. I’ll join later.”
“…Okay.”
Burgh squeezed my shoulder reassuringly with a hand, then turned on his heel and headed for a waiting area at the end of the passage. I was on my own now.
I wasn’t nervous. No, what I felt instead was anticipation. There was a part of me that had long dreamed about this meeting, of coming face-to-face once more with the man who’d turned my whole world upside down with just a few words. For a long time, I’d hated him.
Not anymore. I knew the truth now, and I wasn’t walking out of this office unless I got what I wanted.
Steeling myself, I grabbed one of the door handles and pushed.
The Champion’s office was as big as I expected it to be. It was shaped like an oval with a big, plushy carpet that covered nearly the entire wooden floor. Again, the symbol of the Unova League stared back at me amid a sea of creamy hues. In terms of overall decoration, there wasn’t much. The office had been kept rather simple with only a few books lining shelves carved into the walls, some houseplants, and two fluffy-looking couches on either side of a table. On the left side of the room was a familiar Pokemon.
A massive Volcarona stared at me with interest as I walked inside. Rune was pretty big for his species, but this particular Volcarona — Vesta as she was known by — greatly dwarfed him by about… two feet, give or take. Truly a behemoth to be feared, but with one glance, I knew she was getting too old. Once bright and beautiful wings were fading in color. Life still burned in her eyes, but they had long been turning into embers.
Vesta knew it, too. As a Bug Specialist and Ability Holder, I could sense it in the way she carried herself. She’d accepted her impending death, likely a few years away at best, but she was determined to live out the rest of her life with dignity. A strong and steady warmth filled the air with every beat of her wings.
For now, I turned my gaze away from Vesta for the front of the room instead. An old mahogany desk stood there in front of a row of windows. Two different flags were hoisted on short poles by the back wall, and they bore the symbols of our country and its League.
My eyes were focused on the person sitting at the desk.
He obviously looked different from the man in my memories. Time and stress had run their respective courses. Spiky red and orange hair interspersed with streaks of white in an iconic ponytail. His face was creased with wrinkles, and he looked like he hadn’t shaved in weeks. At least his preferred clothing hadn’t changed. He still wore the comfortable poncho he was known for with Pokeballs looping around his neck.
Alder Adeku, the long-standing Champion of Unova.
“Kayden Sterling,” he mused out loud. Just as I was studying him, he observed me in turn. His expression was one of wonder as he leaned forward in his seat. “I wondered if I’d ever see you again someday. I didn’t think it would happen like this per se, but color me surprised.”
So he remembered me after all. I’d admittedly wondered if he’d forgotten that child from long ago, but I was glad to see he hadn’t. I might have actually gotten pissed at him otherwise.
“Well,” I said dryly, helping myself to one of the empty chairs set aside for guests, “you and the League did send me letter after annoying letter every year.”
This wasn’t exactly how I’d planned our conversation would go, but Alder had started it. Said Champion cringed at my words.
“I’d apologize, but that wouldn’t be sincere. I’m happy they served their purpose,” he admitted.
I stared at him. Since we were on this topic already, I figured I’d get some closure for myself. “Why did you not give up after the first letter? Why keep sending them when I obviously didn’t care at the time?”
A low sigh echoed in the office. “Maybe it was a bit selfish of me, but I was proud of what we’d accomplished. I wanted you to know you had the right to return whenever you felt like it. I wanted you to know you hadn’t been forgotten.”
My breath caught in my throat. I wanted to say something, but I found I couldn’t. Alder’s eyes gazed somewhere beyond my shoulder, lost in the fog of distant memories.
“Throughout the years, I’ve had to sit and watch as countless Ability Holders were sent away. I still remember every single one of them. A ten-year-old who caused a city-wide blackout in Nimbasa when he lost control of his Pokemon and powers. A middle schooler whose Ability manifested late and endangered his parents in a fire. So, so many others. But you… you were the youngest. A six-year-old child… exiled… for trying to save people.”
A shuddering breath left him.
“You were the last straw,” he rasped out. One of his hands clenched so tightly into a fist that his skin turned white. “I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t become Champion to watch my people suffer. I became Champion so that I could protect them. So I begged harder, argued more, and made a thousand speeches straight from my heart. I did everything I could all in the hopes that someday… others would share my vision of a truly peaceful future. Years later, here we are.”
With some difficulty, he dragged his gaze away from that invisible something he’d been looking at. Alder’s eyes locked onto mine once more.
“Here we are,” he repeated softly. “Kayden Sterling. On behalf of the Unova League, our government, and the country itself…” He paused, hands grasping his thighs as he bent forward in a deep bow. My eyes widened in shock. “I would like to apologize for the wrongs done onto you. I’m sorry it took so long to keep my promise to make Unova a better place and one you could return to. I don’t expect your forgiveness.”
He didn’t let up from his bowing posture. Silence reigned in the wake of his genuine apology because I was too busy staring at the crown of his head. A lump had formed in my throat, and I had trouble swallowing it down. My mind was rapidly trying to process all the new information.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
So the reason Alder had suddenly fought harder against the government six months after I left Unova… was because of me? I had been the catalyst for all the changes made in the defense of Ability Holders nationwide?
It was a lot to take in, but it made sense if I put myself in Alder’s shoes. To have to watch as people were wrongfully banished out of fear, to see even someone so young forced to bear the same fate… all because of a lack of power to stop it. That would drive anyone crazy.
I was still staring at the crown of Alder’s head. Although I could not see his face, I found myself visualizing it easily enough.
Alder Adeku.
A man who’d guarded his highly coveted position for decades because he simply could not fall, not when he had people to protect and goals to accomplish. A man who apologized for the wrongs of his predecessor even though he didn’t have to. A man who, in his relentless pursuit of true Unovan ideals, had never stopped fighting…
And was still fighting even now.
The thoughts swirling around in my head settled. Even my heartbeat, which had quickened to an almost nervous staccato, calmed down. I knew what I wanted to say.
“You don’t need to apologize, Alder. I didn’t come here for that,” I told him. Maybe it was a bit informal of me to just up and use the Champion’s first name, but I didn’t care right now. “It’s not like you wanted to banish me or the others. You’ve been the one fighting this whole time to get stuff done in Unova. In fact, I want to thank you for never giving up.”
Alder jolted in place. Slowly, he raised his head to look at me with astonishment. His eyes studied my face as if looking for signs of dishonesty.
He wasn’t going to find any.
“Now, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to forgive… not with you at least. The assholes who voted for my exile can go fuck themselves,” I continued. Fortunately, Alder didn’t mind the language. “I’m always going to be pissed over what happened to me, but I’m not going to let that anger bog my life down any further. Like you said, I have a right to be here in Unova. I get to choose what I want to do, and I want to fight alongside you and your supporters.”
I stared meaningfully at him.
“You already know from Burgh, but I want to be the next Castelia Gym Leader. I want to inspire people. I’d like to show everyone that Ability Holders shouldn’t be feared and that they’re capable of doing good in this world like anyone else.”
It would also annoy any politicians who were hell-bent on getting rid of Ability Holders, but that was low on the list of reasons why I wanted this position. I was doing this for myself first and foremost. I wanted to do something significant with my life and make an impact on others.
Alder had since straightened back to a normal sitting posture while I spoke, and he regarded me now with a curious smile.
“So I’ve heard,” he murmured. Heavily calloused fingers clacked away at the keyboard on his desk. His eyes darted left and right across a computer screen. “Burgh sent me everything you gave him. Your trainer profile is quite impressive to the point that I’m sorry I didn’t keep tabs on you after you left Unova. You’ve defeated two different regional Elite Fours and Champions, won numerous professional tournaments, are ranked within the top ten worldwide at the IBC… is there anything else you’d like to add?”
His voice was still cordial, but it held a far more serious undertone than before. Sensing the shift into the real crux of today’s conversation, I subconsciously sat straighter in my own seat. Small talk and reminiscing about the past were over. We were reviewing my application now.
“I haven’t participated in any official League Circuits since I was a teenager,” I admitted, “but I’ve fought and defeated other Champion-level trainers since then. You’d be surprised how many hidden masters there are who seclude themselves in the corners of the world. I also have experience fighting against Guardian and Ruler Pokemon if that’s of any interest.”
Across from me, Alder’s thick brows nearly flew up to his hairline.
“I shouldn’t have to tell you that that’s incredibly dangerous. It’s also trespassing—”
“I’m here healthy and alive to tell the tale,” I interrupted politely. “And it’s not trespassing if it’s outside the Alliance’s boundaries.”
The Alliance, or the World Alliance as it was formally known, was a global organization that consisted of the major regions of the Kinjoh Area (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh) and Galovea Continent (Alola, Unova, Kalos, Galar, and Paldea). One did not typically seek out Guardian or Ruler Pokemon if they wished to live. Once referred to as Alphas in the distant past, they were dangerous wild Pokemon. Some were so old they’d lived for centuries and others powerful enough that they could contend with the world’s strongest trainers. Most were zealously tracked by the countries whose borders they lived within and treated like bombs that could go off at any time, but there were many who lived outside their influence in self-made territories.
My journey to become the best possible Bug Specialist had led me to visit some of the world’s most obscure places… as well as chasing after legends and unorthodox sources of knowledge. Guardians and Rulers had interested me greatly back then. They still did. Existence, power, and life went hand-in-hand in our world. The more powerful a Pokemon was and the more they etched themselves into the world’s history, the longer they could live.
And for a Bug Specialist and his Pokemon, life was a truly precious commodity.
I offered Alder another meaningful look. “My experience with Guardian and Ruler Pokemon could prove useful if I’m appointed as the Castelia Gym Leader. I’m sure I could help with safeguarding any secrets or handling any issues, say… in the Desert Resort for instance. Maybe even the Relic Castle.”
It was a not-so-subtle way of telling Alder I knew the secret of the Relic Castle.
No one had ever explicitly told me, but with enough context clues from Rune and childhood memories over the years, I’d pieced together a certain theory once I was older. I was almost certain I knew of the secret lurking deep within its depths.
To his credit, Alder’s face or overall body language did not have any visible shift. He could and would not reveal any hint of confidential information to those without proper clearance.
“Hmm,” was all he said. I wasn’t particularly disappointed by the lack of response. This was a topic best revisited when I inherited the Castelia Gym.
When and not if. I wasn’t leaving unless I won Alder over.
“I don’t doubt your official records or your personal word, but I’m the type who likes to see things with my own eyes,” Alder decided. His fingers drummed against the tabletop. “That Larvesta— er, Volcarona now I suppose. The one who followed you out of Relic Castle. May I see him?”
My way of answering him was reaching for one of the numerous Pokeballs on my belt and clicking it, all without looking to see if I’d chosen correctly. I didn’t have to. I knew every little scratch or discoloration by heart and whose Pokeball was whose.
The air-conditioned office turned up in heat as Rune’s form solidified from red light. The Volcarona only needed a moment to get his bearings, and then he angled himself to hover by my side in a protective manner. Blue eyes first narrowed at the other Volcarona in the room, then at the man sitting in front of us.
He didn’t say anything, but the skepticism Rune radiated was as clear as day.
Alder didn’t mind. His eyes swept over Rune’s figure twice before he was satisfied. Any experienced trainer had skill in assessing how much a Pokemon had been trained, and none more so than Alder. It helped that he’d raised a Volcarona of his own.
“Strong. Very strong,” he praised out loud. An almost childlike wonder permeated every inch of his face. “To think the child and Larvesta from back then were able to reach such heights… this is the first time in years I’ve wanted to battle someone so much. Even Vesta agrees with me.”
I didn’t have to look over my shoulder to know he wasn’t exaggerating. There was a certain pressure pressing down on my back, one that had been birthed by the hunger for battle. Alder’s Pokemon had been resting quietly off to the side of the room this whole time, but I could feel her eyes drilling holes into me and Rune. Even old age could not quell one’s competitive spirit.
As if to answer the unspoken challenge, the air around Rune distorted from the increased heat of his wings. He looked like he was ready to go at a moment’s notice.
I dipped my head and hid a smile. Alder and his famed starter had acknowledged our strength and saw us as rivals. That was enough to make anyone proud. I almost wanted to challenge Alder here and now, but…
I wasn’t here for that. Not today at least.
“It’s not just Rune. My whole team is strong,” I declared. “I’d be a huge asset for the Unova League.”
“You would,” Alder easily agreed. Rune buzzed smugly in response. “Strong trainers are already hard enough to come by, but Champion-level trainers are especially few and far in between. Wandering ones like you are a true anomaly.”
Another point in my favor then, and I said as much out loud.
Alder smiled, clearly not minding my confident attitude. It even seemed to amuse him. “I think we’ve settled your capabilities as a trainer. I’d like to ask about your Ability next if you don’t mind. I imagine you’ve developed it greatly in the last two decades.”
His inflection curved upwards toward the end and almost turned it into a question.
I might not have known Alder very well, but I knew the Champion of our nation wasn’t going to spill my information everywhere. I also needed to earn his trust if I was going to work with him in the future.
“It wasn’t exactly easy for me to develop it,” I confessed. Old memories flashed behind my eyelids. “You know every Ability Holder is a bit unique, right? There’s not exactly a universal crash course out there for how to control or refine your powers… you can’t really ask someone to give you the answers either. It was a lot of trial and error over the years to figure out what I could do.”
“But you can control it, right?”
“I can. You don’t need to worry about that. You already know a bit from what happened in my childhood, but I can communicate with Bug type Pokemon or related species. Uh, I also have better than average hearing, eyesight, reflexes…”
I even told Alder about the Sterling Network. A figurative light bulb went off in his eyes, and it made me wonder if he was recalling my childhood incident. He stroked his chin with a thoughtful expression.
“Fascinating…” he muttered. “We’ve got quite a few different Ability Holders who work for the League, but none of them have Abilities remotely similar to yours.”
I smiled wryly, hands stuffing themselves in my hoodie pockets. “I’ll say it now: I refuse to be a lab rat.”
I said it only half in jest, but Alder took it in full seriousness and blanched at me.
“Nothing of the sort will ever happen to you or anyone else here in Unova. That would be a violation of many, many rights.”
At least I knew for sure now that he was a man of strong and unyielding morals.
Alder was satisfied with the brief overview I’d given him and wanted to focus on something else now: my actual resume.
“I see you have prior experience working at gyms as well as…” Alder paused, brows scrunching together as he reviewed the text pulled up on his computer. “A surprising number of certifications for first aid, CPR, boating, scuba diving, bartending…”
He rattled off about a dozen more miscellaneous items before he stopped and stared at me. The look of sheer confusion would have been hilarious in any other situation.
“I’m a Bug Specialist,” I threw out casually. “We’re the type who like to keep ourselves busy, you know? Trying every new hobby or experience that we can, enjoying life, all that jazz.”
With enough time dedicated to their respective paths and Pokemon, Specialists naturally became attuned to their chosen type energy. It could influence them in a myriad of ways. Sometimes they adopted certain personality traits, other times they picked up hobbies or new outlooks on life related to their specialty… it differed from person to person.
Alder squinted at me. My elaboration was perhaps not as helpful as I thought it was, but he took it in stride and moved on.
“Your reference letters,” he brought up. He even dug out printed copies from a drawer and laid them flat on the table. “You had more than I would have ever expected. Some from major forces like Katy Kalino of Paldea or the previous Santalune Gym Leader, and others from minor leagues scattered across the continent. They all had good things to say about you.”
Oh yeah, each one of those had been accompanied by a more than slightly awkward phone call.
I’d contacted every single Gym Leader I’d apprenticed under in the past — even those I’d known for less than a month — and asked if they could provide letters in support of my character and previous work experience. I wasn’t particularly close with any of them, but thankfully they’d been willing to oblige. Most of my former employers still remembered me after a decade… some with blurrier memories than others admittedly. It had been awkward trying to get them to remember me.
Whatever got my foot in the door.
“I know my work experience and reference letters are all old, but Burgh said he would help teach me stuff before he leaves on his trip,” I supplemented. My voice was steady. “I really believe I can be the Gym Leader that Castelia needs.”
Instead of saying something in response, Alder stared at me.
He really stared at me, too, with a gaze so intense that he could have been a human psychic peering into my soul. I was not afraid to meet his eyes head-on. I wanted him to see the resolution that burned within me.
I wanted him to know I was serious.
Moments passed. The only sounds in the office were the gentle fluttering of wings from the two Volcarona on standby. Alder and I did not halt our staredown.
Eventually, he opened his mouth.
“There have been wonderful Gym Leaders in the past with far less experience than you, so I’m not really worried about that,” Alder said without looking away. “Unova is a land full of opportunity. A person only needs to know how to seize such chances and make them their own… just like you. I only have one question for you, Kayden Sterling.”
The room seemed to darken as he leaned forward in his seat. Purple eyes that bordered on stormy gray stared into mine with renewed intensity.
Every word that came out of his mouth was enunciated clearly with a somber air.
“To be a Gym Leader is to be a beacon of hope, a pillar for their community, and a leader who can inspire the next generation. In a world where different truths and ideals will constantly clash, tell me: do you have what it takes to stay true to yourself and never fall?”
Thump.
My lips moved faster than my brain.
“I do.”
Two words.
Just two simple words, both of which seemed to echo in the vast office, and both with the weight of my entire being behind them.
Two words, and they altered the course of my life forever.
Alder’s serious facade cracked. Beneath, a smile emerged that threatened to split his face in two. He unclasped his hands in a slow, deliberate movement and held one of them out to me. I stared at the calloused hand hovering mid-air even as he spoke.
“Then let’s fight together,” he declared in a solemn yet somehow bright voice, “for a future we both believe in… to keep the peace achieved thus far and whatever lies beyond. You have my support and nomination to be the next Castelia Gym Leader.”
Excitement coursed through my body like a wave of running electricity.
Alder had accepted me as one of his own.
“Let’s fight together,” I agreed, and I grasped his offered hand firmly. Here was a man who’d been fighting all his life. If it was a man like this, I could follow them without any hesitation. “You won’t regret your decision. Bugs are known for being tenacious.”
We were still in the middle of a handshake when I said that, so I was yanked forward as Alder threw his whole head back. Uproarious laughter filled the air while his whole frame shook violently with joy.
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right,” he finally choked out once his fit of laughter subsided. I took the chance to rub my aching arm while he wiped near non-existent tears away. “I think we’re going to get along great, Kayden. You actually remind me of a friend of mine. He’s about the same age as you.”
I made a small sound of interest, but I was more focused on my still-aching arm. Jeez, Alder was a lot stronger than his bum-like appearance suggested. I apologized mentally to him in my head, but it was the truth.
He really needed to shave.
Still grinning, Alder whipped out a phone from his pocket and started typing on it. “We’ve got a lot to do,” he warned. “Let me get Burgh here so we can go over everything together.”
Right after he said that, the doors to the office flew wide open. Burgh marched in with heavy breaths as if he’d ran down the hallway to get to us sooner. The impatient expression on his face implied he’d been waiting forever for us to finish.
“Well?” Burgh demanded, eyes darting between me and Alder. “How did it go? Do you approve of Kayden as the next—”
He stopped suddenly, eyes homing in on the telltale smile on Alder’s face. It only took a moment for him to sag with relief.
“Legendaries,” he muttered. “You should have just started with that in your text message, Alder. I ran down here thinking you’d rejected him as a candidate. I was ready to argue with you.”
More loud laughs tore themselves out of Alder’s throat. I was starting to understand that he was a pretty jovial guy when he wasn’t having serious discussions about work.
“Good to see you, Burgh. I’m glad you’re looking a little more cheerful these days,” he greeted.
Burgh still looked a bit peeved, but he couldn’t help smiling as he took a seat of his own next to me. “It’s thanks to you, Kayden, and everyone else who’s looked out for me this last month. I only have appreciation for all of you,” he promised, and then his voice took a sharp turn. “Enough about me, we’ve got a lot to discuss.”
One last chuckle slipped out from Alder before he cleared his throat. He, too, shifted back into work mode. “You’re absolutely right. First things first: I’m going to let everyone else on our side know about my decision, and then we’ll make Kayden’s nomination official news. Next step would be getting enough people to vote for and officially appoint him as the new Castelia Gym Leader.”
Burgh and I both physically paused in place. There was nothing wrong with the game plan itself, but the way Alder had said that last sentence with a grave tone raised some alarm bells in our heads.
I was the first to ask. “Is that going to be a problem?”
Alder didn’t exactly wince, but the expression he had wasn’t fully reassuring.
“Well…” he trailed off. “I convinced enough people from the neutral side of our government to support my last nomination, Elijah Meisarch, over the other civilian side’s candidate. They didn’t find any issues with him. We had enough people for the majority vote, so it would have been an easy shoo-in.”
Burgh’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me—”
“Yep,” Alder sighed, and this time he actually winced. “I’m not sure how they’ll react to Kayden’s nomination. Ability Holders are… still a sensitive topic for a lot of politicians. They’re already wary of trainers holding too much power, and Ability Holders just make them more nervous. We barely got Iris appointed as Gym Leader two years ago. I don’t know if they’ll be willing to appoint another Ability Holder to such an important position. Still, I’m optimistic.”
“What if you emphasize how much more military power Kayden would present over the other candidate?” Burgh suggested. “I know you just said they’re worried about trainers holding too much power, but there’s always a few politicians who are obsessed about our military strength keeping up with other nations. It could help sway them into supporting your nomination.”
“True. I’ll add that to a list of things I’ll talk about when trying to secure more votes…”
Back and forth Burgh and Alder went in a rapid-fire discussion. While they were busy hashing out ways to get enough support for a majority vote, the gears in my own mind were busy spinning.
Ability Holders, Ability Holders. It always came down to a fear of them in the end. What was so wrong with being one? It wasn’t like we were all evil or criminals in the making. I should have known it would be a deciding factor in getting my nomination approved by the rest of the government. I just hoped it wasn’t going to impede my chances too much. If only there was a way to utilize my identity to my advantage—
I blinked.
There was, but it was going to kick the Beedrill’s nest and put me in a possibly unpleasant situation, too.
“Publicize my story.”
My words cut through the ongoing discussion. Burgh and Alder both paused to look at me with confusion.
I raised my head with a determined expression. “Publicize my story,” I repeated, this time more firmly. “Tell the public how I got unfairly exiled because of a majority vote led by the civilian side of the government. A six-year-old kid getting banished from Unova? People would go crazy over that. They’d want those politicians to hold themselves accountable for their actions. We’d kill so many Pidove with one stone. We and the public would be putting pressure on the other side, ruining their reputations, and getting support for my appointment all at once. It’s perfect.”
Neither of my companions said anything at first. I could see Burgh and Alder’s faces shifting between multiple states of emotion as they realized the benefits of my plan, but Burgh’s concern ultimately outweighed anything else. He knew my story because I’d finally confided in him a few days ago.
“Kayden, that would put you in the spotlight,” he said, frowning. “The media would have a field day if we did that. Sure, they’d jump on the chance to get dirt on certain politicians, but they’d also target you with insensitive articles and—”
“I’m fine with that,” I countered, and I meant it. “They’d probably dig into my history after news of my nomination gets out anyway. I mean, here I am showing up out of nowhere. They would have found out about my case eventually, so isn’t it better if we take the initiative and release it first? I’m not going to care about anything they throw at me. I was never going to hide anyway or deny my identity as an Ability Holder. I’m proud of it.”
Burgh’s eyes softened. “That’s…”
He stared at me until Alder broke the silence. There was a resounding crack as he slapped a hand against his knee, grinning.
“You have guts, Kayden. I like it,” Alder told me. Still with that same wide grin on his face, he turned to face Burgh. “We should respect Kayden’s determination. He knows what he’s getting himself into. It’s a good idea anyway. He’ll get support from the public before he even becomes a Gym Leader, and we can get more politicians to vote for him once they realize the public has his back. The advantage would be ours. Plus, we can make guys squirm from sudden fire under their asses. With luck, some of them might even resign.”
It was our turn to stare at Burgh. Both Alder and I pressured him with our gazes until he finally folded, sighing.
“Very well,” he muttered. He waved his hands around in the air with a resigned expression, but he was smiling. “If that’s what Kayden wants, then let’s do it.”
I exhaled quietly. I almost couldn’t believe I’d agreed to any of that, but I couldn’t take it back now.
I wanted to be the next Castelia Gym Leader, and nothing was going to stop me.
For now, I felt tentatively optimistic about the future. There was just one thing I’d been curious about this whole time.
I cleared my throat. “So, who’s the candidate nominated by the civilian side of the government anyway? I realized I never asked.”
Alder and Burgh shared a look I wasn’t sure I liked.
“We don’t really have to worry about her,” Alder said, but he spoke slowly and with careful thought behind each word. “If we go with your plan, public opinion is going to be with you, Kayden. Sierra isn’t going to stand a chance.”
Just like that, my smile slipped right off my face and was replaced with a very, very displeased frown. Did I seriously hear that name come out of his mouth?
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
- 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