A/N: Hi! I'm not gonna do too much of a long author's note here because it's pretty unnecessary. I'll only mention that I'm adding a preface of sorts to this handbook in order to make it seem real, as though it were actually written in the pokémon world. You'll definitely see some familiar names pop up through the course of this fic. For more details regarding why in depth I'm starting this, see the beginning author's note in the next chapter. Thanks, and enjoy!
PRAISE FOR Of the Pokémon League: A Handbook
"A must have for all imminent trainers. Nothing is sugarcoated - they clearly set in stone what they're looking for in Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and Champions along with other workers and regular trainers without sounding insistently over-the-top or hard-to-please." - The Saffron Times
"The principles on which our Pokémon Leagues are founded are neatly covered in every section of the book, from respecting ourselves and our pokémon to serving them and other human beings. Get a copy, even if you're not a trainer." - The Jubilife Journal
"With writing from the actual figures that we know and love-from Champions to Leaders to Elite Four trainers to renowned Pokémon profs - we get a true, legit guidance. No doubt you'll want a copy if you get to read stuff from the trainers you see in regional tournaments and on TV." - The Hoenn Herald
"Although it is mostly a guidebook for trainers who want to become employed by Leagues, both the trainer and non-trainer alike should read. Other than mentioning what is mandated by Pokémon League professions, we get to read about the values that tie together and unify our world." - Pokémon Magazine
"Very adamant about its goal to educate future trainers and push out harmful individuals and criminal organizations from the places they're not supposed to be. Or, preferably, to make them realize their wrongdoing." - The Olivine Olive Press
"It's pure genius. You wonder why such a work was not thought up of before. It's the book that all Pokémon Leagues should have worked together to concoct decades ago when they were just establishing themselves. But now here we have it. And it's been written by all our favorite pokémon public figures, no less." - The Castelia City Messenger
...are just some of the positive reviews our Pokémon Times Bestselling Book has garnered!
PREFACE.
Pokémon are creatures whose wondrous powers and capabilities are awed at, admired, respected, and utilized for the greater good of our world. For that reason, we are all raised to uphold the honor of for pokémon without question. Their relationship with us humans has been one that has lasted for millenia, with the juxtaposition of their powers and ours. One phenomenon in which their abilities and ours work in conjunction is the sport of pokémon battling, which has developed greatly in terms of the methodologies employed behind it over time. It is a pursuit that mandates camaraderie with pokémon. Its existence can be traced to primeval times, even before the humble origins of our now illustrious Pokémon Leagues. Be that as it may, our relationship with these longtime companions may be also described as an unequal one, a brutal one. What am I alluding to when I say this, you ask? Although we live in a culture where they are revered and honored, as they should be, we have still masses of people who abuse of these powerful creatures today, and who have been doing so for a long time. The presence of these people has been made known primarily in the evil pokémon organizations, which have notoriety for doing the things they do, although those who are abusive to pokémon certainly exist individually outside of these corporations. I think you all remember the peak of Team Rocket's power in the Kanto and Johto regions as one infamous example; I myself remember the extreme fear and darkness of those times having been witness to a few incidents, of which I write in my autobiography. Such delinquents have tried and even successfully infiltrated regional Pokémon Leagues in the past, as shown by how some have managed to pass as relatively good people and earn jobs as gym leaders, and to a lesser extent, Elite Four members and Champions. It is clear that these individuals crave to reap the privileges of these prestigious positions for their own ulterior motives. With that in mind, Pokémon Leagues all over the world would like formally establish the values and principles under which they are based in order to drive away these sort of people from our institutions, and to a further extent, from accessibility to pokémon. Even though we acknowledge that merely having this in print will not be a completely effective means of pushing out dangerous people, it will firmly put forth what we want of individuals who wish to be employed by us through an easy-to-navigate handbook. Worth noting is the fact that although we seem to be demanding a lot from prospective referees, Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, Champions, and other workers, we are extremely accepting of all sorts of people as long as their values regarding both pokémon and other humans align with ours; we do not discriminate. Our biggest purpose with this book is to weed out those who will create toxic environments in our Leagues–and we seek to do that in a very establishing fashion.
Thank you, and remember to always demonstrate empathy and understanding to fellow humans, pokémon, our environment, and the world as a whole.
-Professor Samuel Oak
Notice
In order to maintain the authenticity of the topic we're writing on, this handbook has been collaborated upon by many members of Pokémon Leagues all over the world, including League officials, Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and Champions. Therefore, you'll definitely see writing by famous trainers you may or may not have met and battled with before. You may even find something from me in here, not including this note! Everyone who worked on this had lots of fun doing it, so I hope this handbook will not only be an instructive read, but an enjoyable one too!
With love,
Sinnoh Champion Cynthia (and her Garchomp)