Chapter 7: Gym Leader talks

Chapter 7: Gym Leader talks

Sabrina was easily considered one of the toughest gym leaders in the area to secure a badge from. The others were Giovanni of course, Blaine and Koga.

She had a known policy of not accepting anyone with less than three badges, which made all of her matches mean a lot more. It also meant that she faced far fewer challenges than other gym leaders. This made her no less popular to face however, and most sought to add the Marsh badge to their collection if for no other point than a point of pride. It was a mark of a good trainer if not a great one.

She wasnt alone in having a slightly different set of requirements to challenge her gym. Again, however, more often than not it was those seen as the toughest that had their quirks.

Blaine was technically the toughest opponent to face. Which was to be expected as a retired Elite Four member. Hed taken over the old Gym upon his retirement and also taken up a research facility. One that was highly restricted according to the gossip and news surrounding the man. He was held in the same regard as Professor Oak though. Which said things to those that understood that Oak was a class of his own.

Koga was a ninja with poison types as his speciality. He was ruthless in his battling style and the smallest of slip-ups in his matches were capitalized on. Fuschia enjoyed the multiple attempts that it took trainers to secure his badge as the man typically became a roadblock with trainers needing to set aside weeks if not months to work on bettering their skills. Koga also typically knew each trainer by name before they even reached his city. You typically were greeted at his gym with a profile on yourself along with all of your weaknesses made abundantly clear. It was highly unnerving, to say the least. Then they asked if you wanted to continue your challenge. It reminded me of the Black ops psychological warfare methods Id read of in the past. Needless to say, everyone respected Koga and his information network.

Giovanni had Earth pokemon. His other quirk was that he had limited availability at the start of the circuit. It annoyed everyone, but he was seen as a Philanthropist and he got away with things like that thanks to his charitable contributions to the local community. I always made sure to be very relaxed around him. You couldnt always tense up and watch him too much. I suspected that I wasnt the only one in my circle of Gym leaders that at the very least suspected he was not on the up and up, but proving that was much tougher. He also paid out more handsomely for any takers of his gym challenge, with certain caveats. Caveats, such as wearing helmets that monitored vital signs or taking part in experiencing the pain that pokemon go through during fights to throw you off. He then would take handsomely from you if you lost.

By comparison, the other four gyms Pewter, Cerulean, Vermillion and Celadon accepted any and all takers who entered our doors. This made us seem weaker in some eyes. Less exclusive. Being comparable to Cerulean as it currently stood wasnt a good thing. The Cerulean sisters were great performers. They had the best Contests around by far. But their battling aspect was sadly lacking. They didnt have enough depth for their gym with dedicated trainers or with pokemon to handle more than four to five trainers a day.

The other four gyms were invariably standoffish to the big gyms despite any attempts on our part to reach out to them.

Of all the gym leaders in the Kanto region however, I seemed to click best with these two.

Sabrina, the Psychic mistress of Saffron, and Lieutenant Surge, the Thunderbolt of Vermillion.

Surge had been one of the only people to reach out to me when I had taken over my fathers gym. Hed been brash, arrogant, and altogether way, way too loud for my liking at the time, but Id realized after the fact that he had taken time out of his schedule to come over and give me pointers in his own way. Some of it was not really applicable and some of it was gold that had seen me not faltering as much during my first circuit as a gym leader.

Weird to think that had been almost three years ago now.

Sabrina well Id just have to mark our interactions as complicated and leave it at that for now. I respected her despite any previous annoyances and emotional issues I had with her. She just operated differently.

Gym Leader Sabrina, thank you for taking the call. I need to plan how to demolish him.

She inclined her head, a usual behaviour for her. She usually disliked talking at all, and forcing her to talk by using the phone usually resulted in short calls. Her usual form of communication was thought projection, which had initially not worked on me. Which had made my challenge for her gym rather awkward and educational for both of us at the time.

Heh! So youve called both of us huh? Well I suddenly feel like a third wheel! Sabrina and I both said nothing to that which merely encouraged Surge to fill the void. You need to meet this challenge Brock! Lance might be the Champion but theres a way to speak to gym leaders, and that was way out of line! Surge started to build himself up. One of his pokemon must have been nearby as sparks started to fly as he spoke. You need to step up to the plate and swing for his jaw!

I ignored the mixing of sports metaphors. I agree, thus the call.

Sabrinas gaze intensified on me and for a moment I thought I felt an itch in my mind flare-up. I shook it off. Sabrina was too far away to link with, wasnt she? Surge leaned forward. Ho? It sparked something in you did it? Made you feel the pulse? Get your blood running hot!

I rolled my eyes. No, I was watching it with my family. They heard everything.

Surge leaned back, a spikey Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder and growled. Huh yeah, that would get me out of sorts as well. Just thinking about those snot-nosed little brats tearing up and sad cause of what Lance said. Thats starting to make me fired up! He launched out of his chair and started yelling about how he wasnt going to stand it. He would march down to the League office at Indigo and demand Lance fall on his sword and apologize for disrespecting me and my family like that. His pokemon again got caught in his wake and between breathes a growl of Chu! punctuated his tirade.

Surge! I have a plan. I dont need the league to arbitrate for me. You know how that would go anyway. Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

It is something I am working on. I understand that this helps as you are emotional. Hugs help.

I smiled, enjoying the moment of having some support, both emotionally and physically. Eventually, I had to speak my mind. Did you read that in a book?

...yes. I have been working on my social skills. There was a moment of hesitation that I interpreted as do you think I am improving?.

Youre getting really good at it. Funny how social skills can be weak or strong no? Before long, youll be a socialite at all the fancy Saffron parties.

Sabrina physically shuddered and I had to hold in another chuckle. She wouldnt appreciate being laughed at. She did like laughing though. Hey what do Haunters eat for lunch?

I have no idea? She said, leaning back to see me.

I grinned. Boo-longa sandwiches. Get it? She bit her lips and looked away. How do you get a Pikachu onto a bus?

Stop it! She said while stepping back and hunching in on herself.

You pokeemon!

Pfft! She said while hunching in on herself further.

Did you hear of the pokemon pirate? It was an Arrrrrr-bok!

Pu! Hahaha! Sabrina gave up on holding in her laughter as I grinned and mercilessly continued to tell her worse and worse jokes. She eventually sat on me and buried her head into my shoulder. Those were terrible jokes.

I hugged her and rocked her back and forth. Yeah, they were. But they made you smile.

She touched her face and nodded, Urgh. Youre not supposed to find such jokes funny.

Said the books? I asked. She nodded, getting a shrug from me. Who cares? You shouldnt. If you find them funny then laugh. Youre cute when youre enjoying yourself.

She sat back and stared into my eyes. Are you flirting with me?

A little. Mostly Im just enjoying myself with a friend.

She sighed and stood. I feel like I have made a fool of myself acting this way.

I merely smiled at her. Thanks for coming Sabrina. It means a lot. I offered a hand towards the door. Want to stay and have an early lunch with my family?

Sabrina shook her head quickly. No. I have duties to perform. I will speak again with you soon. She vanished in a flash of light and I sat back in my chair. I pushed aside the disappointment and glanced towards my computer.

She was right. I also had jobs to take care of, beyond just plotting Lances defeat.