Leaders at Leisure
1 - Shed Skin
There were two main reasons why Bugsy hated visiting Goldenrod City. One reason was the fact that the city was full of nothing but buildings and skyscrapers, and that there was a definite lack of trees in the area. And a lack of trees in the area meant a lack of bugs. Any place with a lack of bugs was a place Bugsy rarely visited.
But today, Bugsy had to come to the city with an errand to accomplish.
"Oof! Unhand me!"
Bugsy found himself deposited unceremoniously onto a stone pink floor. A hand with glittering nails grasped one of his wrists sharply. Bugsy looked up, and saw a woman sitting with her legs crossed on an ornate chair, leering down at him. This woman was the other reason he hated coming to Goldenrod.
"Oh, Bugsy, it's you again?"
Bugsy scowled and wrenched his arms from the beauty's grip. He glared at Whitney, pointing his net at her in an accusing gesture. Whitney tried to look unamused, but Bugsy was too used at deciphering her poorly masked emotions by now. That quivering at the side of her lips gave it all away.
"How many times have I told you not to have your trainers abduct me whenever I enter your gym?" said Bugsy angrily.
Whitney waved a hand, slouching further down into her chair.
"I've told my trainers to find and bring anyone they think is cute to me and I'll see if they're gym trainer material. It's not my fault that my trainers find you to be adorable."
"Can you tell them not to capture males, or at least not me, specifically? I don't want to become vilified whenever I step into your gym."
"That's impossible," Whitney said immediately. "I have trainers coming and going every other day. Do you know how much that makes it difficult to get a universal message across?"
Bugsy rolled his eyes. No doubt that Whitney's trainers - and challengers - came and left not at their own expense, what with all of the gym leader's incessant crying, ditziness, and endless egotism. These personality quirks of hers made dealing with her simply unbearable.
"Well, then maybe you should post up a notice saying that you have a limited roster and only accept trainer applicants that stay for longer than three days," Bugsy said.
"Whaaaat? No way!" Whitney sat up straight in her chair and peered at Bugsy, furrowing her eyebrows in bewilderment. "Doing that would just limit the amount of people able to appreciate and spread tales of my beauty!"
Bugsy bit the inside of his mouth to prevent any tongue-in-cheek comments from escaping. He forgot to add stubbornness to her list of bad qualities. Never would she change her methods.
Sighing, Bugsy decided to quickly finish up his business. He pulled out a Poké Ball from his belt - the only Poké Ball he had on him, as last time he had his Pokémon with him, Whitney demanded that they have a battle - and held it out towards Whitney. Whitney leaned forward to gaze at it with curiosity.
Unable to resist, her eyes sparkling, Whitney asked, "Ooh, what is this? A present? For me?"
Bugsy's eyes bulged out at her.
"Don't tell me you forgot. This was the Dunsparce you wanted," said Bugsy.
Whitney straightened back in her seat and tilted her head at him, but not without grabbing the Poké Ball from his hands first.
"Did I ask for a Dunsparce? I don't remember," Whitney cooed, lifting up the Poké Ball above her head to gaze at it closely.
Bugsy slapped his forehead. "If you don't want it, I'll take it back, then."
"When did I ever say I didn't want it?" said Whitney.
Bugsy was about to shake his head in response when a red beam of light suddenly appeared at his feet. Shouting, Bugsy recoiled and stepped back, hearing Whitney squealing with glee as she let the Pokémon out.
In a moment, a Dunsparce was crawling on the gym floor, looking up blankly at its new surroundings. The beauty standing in the room only had to take one look before dropping her purse and run screaming out the door.
Within a moment, Whitney had scooped the Pokémon up and began to cuddle it near her chest. Bugsy couldn't help but turn slightly pink as he saw the Dunsparce wriggle in Whitney's grip.
"It's. So. Cute!" Whitney said, squealing once more.
"I have to admit, you have an interesting take on what's... cute," said Bugsy. "Most girls that want something like a bug to take care of would prefer a Caterpie or Venonat instead..."
Whitney looked up from her squealing and cuddling to glare at him.
"Are you saying my sense of cuteness is weird?" Whitney said in a trembling voice.
Bugsy shook his head frantically. "N-No, that's not what I meant at all - "
Whitney put a hand up, interrupting him. Her eyes full of tears, she said to him:
"I've heard enough! Beauties, take him away!"
A pair of scantily dressed women dashed into the room from out of nowhere. Bugsy, pulling his net back close to him, began waving the tool at the two women in desperation. To his dismay, however, the two women grabbed ahold of him before he could do anything, and without a moment to spare, brought their captive to a hidden door behind Whitney's throne. They paused before entering.
"What can we do with him, leader?" asked one of the beauties.
Whitney wiped her tears with one of her sleeves. The side of her lips quivering slightly again, she answered:
"Do with him what you will. You can dress him, if you'd like. There's a brand new closet featuring the newest dresses from Goldenrod Department Store."
Bugsy let out a fearful cry.
"Whitney! Is this how you repay me, for having done you a favor? You owe me!" he shouted.
Whitney continued to snuggle the Dunsparce, but looked up disgruntled at him and said aloud, "I'll send you a coupon for Moo Moo Milk by mail. There, is that enough?"
"Wha - ! That's not the point," said Bugsy.
"Too bad," said Whitney, as she began to attach a bow onto the Dunsparce's head without regard to its gender.
Still screaming, Bugsy was brought into the room without another glance. Music to her ears. Whitney began to hum.
And Bugsy never visited Goldenrod Gym without carrying some of his Pokémon with him ever again.
A/N: Oh, poor Bugsy. I didn't mean to torment the guy. But well, that's how things rolled out. No one can stand up to Whitney, really.
