Whenever Volkner comes here, it always means that there is a lot on his mind.
Franky stood loyally beside his friend and trainer on the top of one of the numerous mountains that surrounds Sunyshore. The view of the city is the best from here. From where they are, they can view the entire city in its full glory. They can see the lighthouse, the port, the marketplace, the gym, and even the little cottage that they live in.
From here, they can all view the city that they call their home and had protected ever since Volkner became the city's protector.
The view is nice, especially with the sun shining down on it. They can all see people and pokemon alike going about on their daily business. Children are laughing and running about freely without fear of bad humans going about making trouble, unlike how Franky remembered Sunyshore to be when Volkner was still a child. People can now freely travel from one point of Sunyshore to another, a sight that would be hard to witness due to the lack of bridges before.
And isn't this something worth scratching your head about? There are bridges now, bridges that Volkner and Jarvis had helped design the concept behind it. They linked the entire city together, uniting them and giving Sunyshore's residents a stronger sense of identity to the city. According to Jarvis, they helped the city harness the power of the sun. If anyone were to mention 'solar power' and 'city' in one sentence, the first city they would think of is Sunyshore.
All of these became possible because of his trainer, Volkner.
The entire team crowded around Volkner where he is sitting cross legged on the peak of this unnamed mountain. He is simply gazing down at the city that he is tasked to protect with an unreadable look on his face. They had just returned from Johto from their much-needed vacation, and it is time to go back to work soon. Volkner had climbed up here the first thing when they arrived instead of heading to the cottage or to the gym to relieve Flint of his duties.
They all know that something is on Volkner's mind.
"Part of the journey is the end, huh." Volkner said softly as one of his hands idly stroked Jo's sleek fur from where she is snuggling contently on his lap. "People call me the Sun, and just as the sun rose, it will inevitably set. It's time to start thinking on how to properly leave Sunyshore now that the city is starting to be able to stand on its own without me. What do you guys think?"
'Wherever you go, we will go.' Franky said out loud, prompting responses from the rest of the team who agreed with him. They all know Volkner have the unique ability to understand electric types to a certain extent, and most of them are electric types.
"I really want to go to Johto and live with her for the rest of my life. Quietly, the simple life, maybe the occasional challenging battles every now and then. I had done so much these five years, and the results showed. The city wouldn't need me for long anymore, the League will no longer have a use for me once the darkness has been driven out. It's time for me to quit."
'Can you really leave everything behind? Everything that you had poured your blood and sweat into?'
"You ask a hard question, Franky." Volkner mused as he gave him an amused sideways glance. "But I won't know until I try."
People call his trainer lazy, irresponsible, irritating, troublesome, and a whole list of negative descriptions but Franky knew better. Volkner loves to talk to them in his free time, his team and pokemon companions, and Franky remembered clearly one of the conversations they had. He told them that he had heard of a saying in his past life, that everyone has three faces.
The first face, you show to the world. That is the face that everyone knows Volkner as. The lazy, irresponsible, irritating, troublesome, and yet a brilliantly capable leader and trainer with a soft spot for pokemon and children.
The second face, you show to your close friends and family. That is the face that he shows to people like Kayla, Jasmine, and Flint. The supportive friend and mentor. The brother that will stick by you through thick and thin. The confident, playful, childish, loving, and sweet man to the woman he loves. These are the people that Volkner will show his second face to, people who he confides in and shows them his weakness because he trusts them.
The third face, as Volkner mentioned, you show to no one. It is the truest reflection of who you are.
That is the face that Volkner had only shown them a glimpse of. Who he truly is. The man who had lived another life before he became Volkner.
And Franky really felt touched and honoured that Volkner trusts them enough to show them a part of his third face, even if it is just a little. He didn't even show Jasmine and Flint this side of him, saying that it is a secret that should not be known to anyone else in the world.
Who would believe if someone goes up to them and tell them that this world is a fictional one?
But Franky doesn't care. Neither did the team. To them, Volkner will always be Volkner, and that is enough for them. He is their trainer. He is their friend. He is their sun. He is their world.
There is another side to Volkner's second face that he never admitted that he has, and this side of the second face is pretty much opposite to his first. Franky knows better than anyone the sense of responsibility that Volkner has. He doesn't like to be saddled with one, but when responsibility comes and sits on his shoulder to say hi, he never once avoided or shirked it. Franky knows that Volkner always took up his responsibilities like a true man.
Having lived in Sunyshore for his entire childhood, Volkner knows better than anyone that a change is what Sunyshore needs. Having known Sunyshore as a fictional city from his first life, he knows what it could evolve to be. Having travelled extensively across the entire Sinnoh in his second life, his new reality, he recognises the hidden danger and threat Sinnoh has in the form of rampant crimes, be it petty ones or organised ones.
More than anyone, Volkner knows that Sinnoh needs to change if people want to live a carefree life without a constant need to check over their shoulders for any signs of danger. A life where people need not worry that they would be mugged the moment they step out of their house. A life where pokemon need not be wary of humans due to the bad things that could be done to them. A life where pokemon and people can truly live in harmony.
A carefree life that Volkner himself had dreamt of ever since he was given a second chance to live again.
Flint was genuinely being helpful when he nominated Volkner as a candidate for Gym Leader, genuinely thinking that Volkner should get the recognition that is in accordance to his strength, so Volkner didn't blame him. It was an entirely different reason that he was so pissed at the League.
Volkner was furious that he got sabotaged to be a Gym Leader. When he attracted the League's attention through Flint, the League thought Volkner was too capable, too strong, and impossible to be controlled should he decide to not give a hoot about Sinnoh. It caught the attention of the wrong kind. The power that he and the team wield has the potential to be Sinnoh's greatest threat should Volkner ever decide to go rogue for whatever reasons.
At least, that was one reason Volkner speculated on why he was chosen to be a Gym Leader. Franky himself found the entire thing too complicated for him to understand. He's more of a fighter than a thinker, thinking about complex problems is more of Jarvis' or Myst's job.
Volkner had said that the League probably wants a leash over him and put him on an even tighter watch, because to them, that is the best way for them to control an uncontrollable element. Keep your allies close and your enemies closer. To the League, anything that cannot be controlled is a possible threat.
Volkner simply thinks that they are all paranoid idiots, and the entire team agreed with him.
The other reason that Volkner became a Gym Leader was that he was threatened.
There are not many things that Volkner truly cared about, but the fact is there are things that he does care a lot about. The orphanage he grew up in is one. Jasmine is another.
The League had threatened to pull out the funding from the orphanage, to drastically reduce it to the bare minimum. Volkner was furious when it was mentioned, but there's nothing that he can realistically do in the small room that he was called into to meet that human. Unless Volkner wants to go on a killing spree (which honestly, the team wouldn't mind helping him but Volkner is too kind for that), he was stuck.
Volkner had mentioned afterwards that while the decrease in funding won't make life for the children there impossible, it will make it so much more difficult. He knows that very well because he used to be one of those children that had depended on the funding to live through his childhood. The orphanage can get by with the minimum legal funding, but it won't be the most optimal condition for children to live in. Volkner also cannot possibly support the entire orphanage by himself back then, for he had nothing to his name other than his ability as a trainer. The situation is a lot different now, but back then, Volkner was a nobody. He cannot help or support anyone if he is a nobody.
The second reason was Jasmine.
Back then, Volkner's mate was one of the few that was considered for the position of Gym Leader as well, and to the best of Franky's understanding towards the confusing laws set by humans, the Sinnoh League claimed to have some sort of power or sway to affect the selection process even in another region. Volkner and the team knew how important being a Gym Leader is to Jasmine, and the team also knew that Volkner will never want to be the reason why she couldn't be one.
From what Myst had rationalised to the rest of the team about the complicated ways the human brain functioned, Volkner had wanted to call out on the League's tauros crap, but at the same time, the Volkner back then doesn't know enough about politics and the actual power the Sinnoh League actually holds over Indigo. He was apprehensive, for even when he was confident that his thinking was right and the Sinnoh League was simply telling a bold-faced lie, he simply cannot ignore the small part of him that keeps reminding him on 'what if it's true?'
And the entire team know Volkner will do anything for Jasmine, even if it's becoming the one thing that he doesn't like to be.
The human that Franky cannot remember the name of, the one that lay out these terms to Volkner, gave him an ultimatum. Either accept the position of Sunyshore's Gym Leader right there and then, or be prepared to face the consequences of his actions should he walked out of the room and choose not to comply.
Volkner was stuck, unable to even find out more information to help him make a more informed decision or find something that may be able to get him out of that bind. He was caught surprised and totally unprepared since he didn't even know beforehand what that meeting was about when he was called there. He cannot simply leave to take some time to think about it because he was not allowed the chance to do so. The moment he did that, the League will assume that all talks are off and they will carry out their threats, threats that Volkner back then would not be able to fight against if they were indeed real. Volkner and them are strong, but a different kind of strength is needed in this case.
Franky knew that even if it was just a ridiculously miniscule chance, Volkner will never ruin such an important moment for Jasmine, and he will also never do anything to harm the children. So, even if he was 9 out of 10 berries sure that the entire thing was an empty threat, he still played it safe and stayed his hand. He took on the title of Gym Leader to protect those that he cared about, even if the threat may not even be there at all.
Volkner is protective of those he cares about and sometimes, he became a little dumb and impulsive when his loved ones are the ones in danger.
But Volkner had vowed to never make the same mistake. He knew that he had let his emotions clouded his judgement and that his ignorance about the League's capability and scope of jurisdiction was his downfall, and he will never let it happen again. Right after he became a Gym Leader, he read up on everything about the Sinnoh League with Jarvis helping him to find the right materials to read up on. Myst had helpfully explained to the team that what their beloved trainer is doing is to understand the system on how laws of human society works in Sinnoh, so that he would not be caught unaware again.
Volkner tried to find out about the dealings between the different Leagues in different regions, to understand if they really have some sort of sway over the other. Like he had suspected, the Sinnoh League being able to influence Indigo's decisions in choosing their Gym Leaders was a complete lie, but at least now he knows for certain that it was a lie. The next time, that same lie won't work anymore, because Volkner now understands just what the Sinnoh League can and cannot do. It was also why Volkner focused so much on his efforts on what he calls 'charity efforts', to get people to help those in need, so that the orphanage would not need to strictly rely on the funding given to them by the Sinnoh League and the Government. They would have some sort of independence if there is some sort of network supporting it.
The third secret reason that everyone on the team knows, but Volkner will never ever admit to anyone due to his pride, is the fact that he actually cares about Sunyshore.
Despite how his third face usually shows otherwise, Volkner cares, and when he cares, he really does care. Everyone on the team knows this because they are his pokemon. They all had been raised under his care. Volkner had grown up in the ugliest part of the city and he knows just how unsafe it can be. Volkner abhors responsibility but that doesn't mean that he cannot take it. He does have a sense of responsibility. When he first became a Gym Leader, he had told them that since he is now one, he might as well make it the best city ever. Since he is stuck being a Gym Leader, then he will make something out of it, both for the city and himself.
If not him, then who? If not now, then when?
Volkner takes pride in what he does and he does not want anyone to belittle his capability. He does not want his hometown to continue to be known as 'the most dangerous city in Sinnoh', or 'the poorest city in Sinnoh' like what other humans always refer Sunyshore as back in the days. He reluctantly took on the responsibility of being a Gym Leader because he also wants things to change, and since he is now someone saddled with the power to bring about change, he might as well be the one to do it. He just didn't expect that he will be the one to make the change, he had always assumed that somebody else would do it until then.
And Volkner did change the city.
The old gloomy Sunyshore of before is no more. This new Sunyshore is a bright one, where crimes no longer fester and people live with smiles on their faces. People form more connections with each other instead of living in their own world on the small landmasses that made up Sunyshore. Volkner made Sunyshore bright, because he was driven with a sense of responsibility that he was saddled with even if he doesn't like it.
It's contradictory, but that's who Volkner is. The man who hates responsibility more than anything but yet never fails to understand the true meaning of that word. When it comes down to it, he's reliable.
But Sunyshore doesn't really need him now. Volkner was chosen as Gym Leader because of his capabilities, capabilities that the League back then needed him for as it was vital in helping Sinnoh improve the region's wellbeing. Now that most of the darkness in Sunyshore had been driven out, the importance of his abilities is slowly being diminished. Not that Volkner mind, but he knows that a different Gym Leader will be needed to lead the new Sunyshore. Volkner was best suited to lead and improve a chaotic and poverty ridden Sunyshore, but that Sunyshore is no more. His era is coming to an end and he knows it is time for him to step down. Volkner had chosen Riley, saying that he is the new Sun best suited to lead a peaceful and prosperous Sunyshore.
The League don't agree with him, saying that Volkner's abilities are still needed. Volkner said that he couldn't give a pachirisu's ass about what they think. Scrat got very offended by that, saying what did he ever do to Volkner to receive such a remark?
Naturally, Scrat's opinion was ignored by everyone.
The recent appearance of the funny looking bad humans known as Team Galactic got Volkner very worried. He feels that if anyone can bring the whole Sinnoh down and destroy their five years of hard work, it will be them.
So, he is now back to a dilemma similar to the one he faced five years ago.
Should he stay, or should he go? Does Sunyshore and Sinnoh still need him?
"Come on." Volkner said as he patted Jo to signal her to get off his lap, which she did so reluctantly since she was comfortable with her previous position when she snuggled herself there. "Let's leave Flint to run the gym a little longer, we have somebody to meet. She gave me an unrefusable offer five years ago, it's my turn to return the favour."
Volkner stood back up just as the sun shines brightly overhead, lighting up the city.
"We have one last thing to do, then it's time for the Sun of Sunyshore to set."
Ashley Wells pushed open the door to her office on the Lily of the Valley Island, only to be taken aback for a moment when she spotted a yellow-haired man sitting on her chair. His legs are propped up on her neatly arranged desk and he is munching on an apple that he had definitely taken from the fruit bowl placed at the corner of her office desk.
"Volkner." She greeted as she closed the door behind her. Volkner may be a Gym Leader, but that does not explain how he managed to get past all the security that had been put in place and reached her office undetected.
After all, she is the President of Sinnoh, the leader of the Sinnoh Government. She is given the highest form of protection no matter where she goes, especially at her workplace. No one is supposed to reach her office unannounced and undetected.
"Ashley." Volkner drawled in that usual lazy tone of his as he took another bite out of the apple he is holding in his hand. His pachirisu is munching on another apple in an obnoxious manner and the crumbs are flying everywhere, dirtying the papers on her desk.
Ashley held in her annoyance. She knows that her relationship with Volkner is not on the best of terms. It will also not be wise to piss off the strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh, one whose loyalty to them is not guaranteed.
Volkner is loyal only to those that he cares about. She would know. She had made use of that weakness of his to shackle him with the duty of a Gym Leader. She is not a fan of that method, but it was necessary. She knew Volkner would be good for Sunyshore and Sinnoh when Flint first recommended him to the League as a potential candidate to succeed the previous Sunyshore Gym Leader, Mark. Volkner's addition into their Thirteen Pillars had been nothing but beneficial for them, speeding up the development in Sunyshore's economy by at least a decade.
It was an achievement bordering that of a miracle, one that not many Sinnoh's Thirteen Pillars can boast of throughout Sinnoh's history. Droves of criminal organisations had been wiped out by Volkner's hands ever since his rose to power. People are now able to leave their homes without having to worry about being mugged or whether their loved ones will reach home safely before sunset.
Volkner had single handedly drove down the crime rates in the entire region. His name alone is deterrence to those from the underworld. No one dares to mess with him because of how good he is in his job.
There is power to his name. Volkner of Sunyshore is a name feared by all of Sinnoh's evils.
Because of his contributions, Sinnoh is now rated as the safest region for people to travel among the seven member regions that made up the Pokemon World League. The way he revolutionised the method Sinnoh train their special forces and the SPF was a tremendous boost to both the League and the Government in helping to enforce law and order across their lands. It is a stark contrast to what Sinnoh was before Volkner became a Gym Leader.
Sinnoh needs him. Sinnoh needs Volkner, the reluctant Gym Leader, the Sun of Sunyshore.
"Nice apple, by the way." He said before tossing it into the bin after he is done with it.
"You could have just made an appointment with me if you want to talk." She responded as she took the seat opposite him.
"Talk? Since when did you let others do the talking?" Volkner scoffed as he put his legs down and leaned in closer. She stood her ground, unflinching. She may not be a trainer, but she cannot show any signs of being intimidated by an obviously infuriated Volkner.
"Volkner, I know what we did to you wasn't fair-"
"I'm surprised you actually knew what 'fair' means." He replied, his voice sharper than daggers.
"Usually, we would have let you go by now, but there is the new threat of-"
"Team Galactic, I know. I faced them on more than one occasion." He cut her off. "They have the ability to somehow instantly rile up groups of wild pokemon at a whim, stage invasions on cities willy-nilly, the knowledge to manufacture high-tech machineries good enough to suppress mythicals and possibly legendaries, among many other things. This is why I am here today. On a side note, you and Cynthia really need to start working on how to better protect our legendaries and mythicals. I will protect shaymin and manaphy on my side, so don't worry about them."
"In that case, I'm glad we can come to an agreement."
"I haven't lay out my terms yet."
The room went deathly silent once more.
"I am really sorry that I have to do this to you, but as President, I did not regret my decision that I made five years ago."
"I have enough of being a slave to the League and to you." He hissed dangerously. "You wanted me to improve Sunyshore into what it rightfully should be, I did that. You wanted me to wipe out the hordes of thieves and criminals infesting Sinnoh, I did that. I even went the extra mile to help train your special forces on every weekend for two years, to make sure that they can handle themselves even without any support from the Thirteen Pillars. I had worked tirelessly 24/7 for the past five years since you put me into that damn position. I have enough. It's time I take back what is rightfully mine. So, this is what we are gonna do. Think of it as a concession, or a bargain, whatever you prefer."
Volkner paused for a moment before he continued.
"Two years. I will wipe out Team Galactic within two years, or at least weaken them enough for the League and the Government to be able to handle them by themselves even without me around. After that, I want out. You and the League will not stop me, obstruct me, or disturb me ever again and most importantly, you lay your hands off Jasmine and the orphanage. Am I clear?"
"Volkner-"
The whistle of a sharp object piercing through the air got her frozen in shock as she found a razor-sharp yellow tail millimetres away from her neck. She didn't dare to move, but the gaze of her eyes slowly travelled along the tail and she found a raichu giving her a silent snarl. She has no idea how she didn't notice the raichu until now.
"Am I clear?"
"… Yes."
Ashley gritted out her answer. She doesn't like the way Volkner threatened her, but she knows that she had asked too much from him in these five years. Five years ago when Volkner was called into this office in their attempt to convince him to take on the mantle as the next Gym Leader of Sunyshore, Cynthia wasn't free since she was saddled with duties that took her elsewhere.
Across the world, the region's Government, which deals with non-pokemon related affairs, and the region's League, the side which deals with anything related to pokemon, usually do not work so closely with each other to the point that their authorities intersect. However, the Sinnoh Government and the Sinnoh League had always been an outlier in this aspect.
In Sinnoh, both the President and the Champion had worked very closely with each other throughout the region's history. Thus, there is nothing out of the ordinary when Ashley had volunteered to help Cynthia convince Volkner to join the ranks of Sinnoh's Thirteen Pillars, saying she alone will be enough to convince him to take on the job. Being a Gym Leader is a great honour, no one had turned down such an offer before in the PWL's history. It was supposed to be an easy task.
Of course, Volkner just had to be that anomaly. She wasn't expecting Volkner to be so adamant against taking up the position.
No one else was privy to their conversation when she forced Volkner to take on the position of Sunyshore Gym Leader five years ago, in this same room, and gave the list of tasks she imposed on him, because if such a method wasn't employed, Volkner wouldn't have took up the position and the responsibilities it entails.
Not even Flint or Cynthia are aware of that. It was the secret agreement she imposed between Volkner and her. She had done a thorough background check on Volkner even before she met him for the first time. She knows Volkner will not breathe a word about their arrangement to anyone else because he would never want Jasmine to find out that she was the reason why he took up this position. Ashley had exploited that to its fullest effect.
Volkner has the right to be mad.
In fact, she was surprised it took him this long to snap. Volkner is arguably the most overtaxed member of their Thirteen Pillars, sometimes even more so than Cynthia. It's just that he had hid it very well behind the lazy façade that he usually put on display when he walks around in public. He had complained, he whined, he had rebelled, but he always got his work done. Very often, he had gone far above what his duty entails. She knows that.
And she also knows that she shouldn't push her luck any further. Volkner has the ability to not only become Sinnoh's greatest asset, but also her greatest threat. No one short of Cynthia can stop him if he really wants to rebel, and even Cynthia herself had admitted that it is not possible for her to emerge unscathed if they ever fought seriously. Ashley cannot risk two of Sinnoh's strongest trainers killing each other. It would greatly weaken Sinnoh's military might and reputation.
That's why she wasn't surprised when he is giving her the death threat now.
"Good. Remember your promise and I will uphold mine. And if you ever dare to go back on your word-"
The yellow tail disappeared from her neck in a yellow blur. The next thing she knew, her desk had been cleaved cleanly into two and fell apart. She didn't even hear the sound of raichu's tail splitting her desk.
"I will make sure you will live to regret it."
Volkner stood up and walked in his usual casual manner towards the door, his pachirisu and raichu following after him. He opened the door and walked out of her office, slamming the door shut after him.
It was only then did Ashley let out a breath that she didn't even knew she held. She looked at her sweaty hands, which are still shaking from the scare she received from Volkner.
She nearly jumped in her skin again when the door to her office suddenly swung open. Volkner poked his head in with the usual sleepy expression on his face, looking as if he didn't just give the President of Sinnoh a death threat less than a minute ago.
"And oh, please send a crate of those apples to the orphanage. I think the kids will love those. Thanks."
She leaned back onto her chair when the door shut once again. To sacrifice the needs of a few for the sake of the majority is something she never liked doing, but this time, it is obvious that she had gone too far.
Then again, Volkner is just too capable. Nobody could have completed the tasks she imposed on him to improve Sinnoh. Not Cynthia, and not even Flint, who is supposedly his equal in strength. Being good in pokemon battles is not the sole criteria they assessed in choosing their Thirteen Pillars. It is a given that each member of the Thirteen Pillars are good in pokemon battles. Each member must have additional unique skills or abilities that they can bring into the group in helping the League to maintain the peace in their region. Volkner has a special kind of talent no one else has.
Even before he competed in his first conference, he had busted a considerable number of criminal groups on his own as a child. He is too smart, he is too competent, and he has the ability to get people to help and listen to him. He is surprisingly charismatic and can be very deceptive. He has every quality that a member of a Thirteen Pillar should possess despite his laid back personality. Volkner is a splendid leader through and through even if he never acted like one. Anyone who got fooled by his lazy exterior often found themselves regretting underestimating him. The loyalty his gym trainers have towards him is enough proof to her about his leadership skills. Some of them had decided to stay on working in his gym even if they had better prospects elsewhere. His head gym trainer Kayla is a prime example. That is a rare sight to see among gym trainers since most of them only took the position as temporary jobs to hone their skills before enlisting into the League's forces or competing in the next conference.
Volkner has the right to be angry for what she and the League did to him, but for the sake of upholding the peace in Sinnoh, she would bear the brunt of his anger. It wasn't easy maintaining the peace in her homeland and across the world for more than 500 years. Many hard and unethical choices were made by her and her predecessors. This is one of them.
To be a leader is to sacrifice. She had sacrificed her youth and her dreams of starting a family. Volkner had sacrificed his time and freedom. She and Cynthia had recently agreed to declare an unofficial secret war against Team Galactic after recognising the threat they posed to Sinnoh. Team Galactic needs to be wiped out pronto before they grew to be too big a threat, because it is obvious that they have large plans involving their region's legendaries and mythicals. Whatever that plan is, nobody knows, but everyone had agreed that Team Galactic must be stopped.
For Sinnoh's sake, Ashley really hoped that Volkner's voluntary participation in their fight against the new threat that Team Galactic poses to their region can end as soon as possible.
Omake: The Ecruteak Festival
"I'm warning you, Volk! D-Don't mess it up!"
"Geez, have a little faith in me, won't you?"
She held in her urge to whine when he continues to apply foundation on her face. He turned her back to the mirror because he told her to have trust in him to help her with the makeup. She has no idea what she looks like right now because of that.
"Open your mouth, say ahh."
Volkner is definitely enjoying this too much.
Still, she opened her mouth as she allowed him to apply the lipstick on her lips. Everything went by in a blur as he helped her with her eyelashes, eyebrows, applying the finishing touches on her face with the various brushes and even going so far as to do her hair for her.
Internally, she's praying to Ho-oh that her boyfriend didn't just transform her face to something like those of a muk.
"Done!" Volkner clapped his hands happily before turning the chair she is sitting on around to face the mirror on the wall.
"Tada!"
Jasmine's jaws dropped.
As it turns out, her boyfriend does have a talent in makeup after all. How did he do it? Where did he learn it from?
They are both planning to attend the biggest annual festival in Ecruteak, where tourists and locals alike will flock to in order to celebrate the festival held in Ho-oh's name. The two of them just want to bask in the festive mood one last time before they are separated by the length of an entire ocean for Arceus knows how long. This will be their last big date before Volkner have to return to Sunyshore.
None of them knows when will be the next time they will be able to see each other face-to-face again.
"Like it?" He whispered into her ear as he gently wrapped her arms around her waist from behind. Both of them stared into the mirror as Jasmine slowly turns her head side to side to inspect her boyfriend's handiwork.
"I do." She answered with a soft smile as she tilts her head up and gave a light peck on his cheek.
Volkner had taken great care in doing her hair. He had made her hairdo resemble those of a shrine maiden, which the Johto locals refer to as 'miko'. Mikos are the priestess that maintains the shrines that worships their region's legendaries. Her long hair is tied into a low ponytail with a piece of cloth. Her pigtails are gone, and instead they fall to frame the sides of her face.
"My turn!" She said excitedly as she got out of the chair and forced her boyfriend to sit on it. She picked up a comb and a small container of wax that he always brings along.
"What hairstyle do you want?"
"Hmm…" Volkner adopted an exaggerated thinking pose that got her to giggle.
"What about a mohawk?"
"That doesn't go well with our attire later. Try something else."
"Surprise me." He said with a large grin and Jasmine's eyes narrowed. Is that a challenge?
"I'm going to tame your messy hair today. Just you watch, Volkner Tide."
"I'm so scared." He drawled lazily, which earned him a yelp of pain when she purposely jerked at the comb when she was combing through his messy yellow hair.
"Jas! Lighter! Ow!"
It may be only ten minutes, but it was an uphill battle to get his hair to stay down. She had to apply a lot of wax.
"Is this the kind of hairstyle you like to see me in?" Volkner inquired as he peered at his reflection in the mirror.
"It is a nice change, don't you think?" She replied excitedly as she scooted to his side. His yellow hair is now slicked back, giving him a more refreshed look from his usual lazy and sleepy one.
"In any case, I doubt anyone in the crowd can recognise us at first glance. They are probably too used to seeing us in our usual outfits and hairstyles that we can pass off as some ordinary couple with our current appearance."
"You didn't style my hair into pigtails." She pouted as she looked up at him in mock anger, her favourite hairstyle gone thanks to Volkner.
"Your pigtails are too recognisable. We are supposed to go incognito here, Jas."
The sun outside is about to set soon. The festival is one that only starts when the sun fully sets and only stops when the sun rises again. It will last for an entire week. In this one week, the whole of Ecruteak will experience seven sleepless nights as they celebrate the festival held in Ho-oh's name from dusk to dawn.
"Quick! It will start soon!" She hurried him as she pushed him to the wardrobe where the yukatas they bought are hanged within.
"I have no idea how to wear that thing." He told her truthfully. While Sinnoh is home to many ancient myths and tales, it is not big on tradition, unlike Johto. Out of the known seven member regions of the Pokemon World League, Johto and Alola are the regions that places the most emphasis on tradition.
"Take your shirt off. You won't need it since it will be too hot for you if you wear it underneath in this warm weather." She commanded and he obeyed without question. She tried not to stare at his toned upper body too much as he did so, but from the sudden rise in heat of her cheeks she knows her reddening face is giving her away.
"Like what you see?"
Judging by how Volkner is wagging his eyebrows at her, she probably failed to be subtle.
"Yes." She admitted as she held his yukata in her hands. Now what is the best way to fit this on him that can bring out his charm in the best possible way?
"Do I need to take off my pants too?"
"Go ahead." She said absentmindedly. If he thinks this is going to get a reaction out of her, then he is wrong.
She made him spread out his arms in a T shape as she helped him put on the yukata, ignoring the fact that he is now only in his briefs and trying not to ogle at him. She took a step back when she finally finished tying the sash around his hips.
He looks so handsome in it.
Volkner himself is inspecting her handiwork, moving his arms about and taking a few steps around the room of the inn that they are staying at.
"It's… surprisingly comfortable and not restrictive."
"I was the one who helped put this on you, of course it will be comfortable." She retorted as she made some final adjustments to his yukata and tugged his clothing into place. There, now it's perfect.
"So it's my turn to help you get dressed?" He whispered into her ear in that husky voice of his, making her ear itch when his breath tickled her sensitive ear. She can feel her face heating up even further.
"I-It's fine! I can do it myself!"
"I'm sure you will need an extra hand or two…" He purred out as he took her yukata and looked at her with a sly expression.
"Fine, just do it properly. Especially the sash, don't mess that up or everything will come loose."
"Can't have the whole world see your beauty now, can I?" He said suggestively as she took off her dress, leaving her in her undergarments. He had already seen her in a bikini before anyway, this is not much different.
"Huh? I thought girls don't wear bra underneath a yu-"
"Just get on with it, Volk." She glared at him for the umpteenth time that day, demanding him to hurry with it.
"Yes ma'am."
"Wrap the right side to my left hip first." She began to guide him as he dutifully starts to dress her up. "Then the left side over my right."
"Uh huh." He said as he did just that, holding her yukata in place when he is done.
"Check the bottom of the yukata, are the lengths even?"
"It is, Your Majesty."
Holding in the urge to laugh, she continues.
"Tie the sash around my waist."
She used her hands to help him hold her yukata in place as he wrapped the sash around her waist three times, leaving just enough length to tie the sash into a bow.
"Is it too tight?"
"No, you did it right. I'm a good teacher, it seems."
"Of course you are. You want to tie the bow at the front or back?"
"Back."
"Alright, one beautiful bow for Your Majesty coming right up."
A few seconds later, she twirled herself in front of the mirror, inspecting his handiwork.
"Not bad, a seven out of ten."
"Seven? That's it?"
"One point deducted for being too slow. Two points for ogling at me while I was undressing myself."
"How about you deduct all ten points but I get to see you naked?"
She gave him the harshest glare she can.
His jaws dropped and he got onto his knees in a dramatic manner.
"Your Majesty! I'm wrong! Please forgive your humble subject!"
She laughed when he did a poor imitation of a bow befitting of said humble subject.
"Come over here, you big dummy." She pulled him over to the front of the mirror and positioned themselves nicely. The warm orange glow of the table lamp is just the lighting she needs.
She picked up her phone to take a picture of their reflections in the mirror. She had made sure to take as many pictures as possible during the course of their one true vacation after five years, and she wants to use whatever remaining time they have to take as many more as possible.
She wants to create many more memories with him. The memories of their time together where they can put down their status and responsibilities as Gym Leaders and just be themselves. Right now, they are just ordinary people living ordinary lives.
She leaned into him as he supported her with an arm around her waist. The sound of the click of a shutter captured this very moment and saved the image into her phone.
It's not every day that she gets to have her hair done beautifully by the man who she loves so much.
"One more!"
"As many as you like, Jas."
He leaned in and pressed a kiss onto her cheek, and she wasted no time in capturing that moment as well.
"Another one!"
"What happened to not wanting to be late for the festival?"
"I don't care! Another one!"
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Like Volkner had said, people somehow don't recognise them the moment they had a drastic makeover. Maybe it's because Johtonians are too used to seeing her in pigtails and the colour of her hair is a common enough colour. To add on, she is now wearing a yukata, an attire that she had appeared before the public before. She blends in very well into the crowd.
"That one! Let's go!"
She dragged him towards a game booth, a stick of dango in hand.
"Ring Toss?"
"Uh-huh." She nodded and pointed at a specific prize with a finger, her other hand resting on her hips.
"Win me that."
His gaze followed her outstretched finger until he saw the object in question.
"A mareep doll?"
"Yes. So that I have something to hug to sleep at night." She said adamantly.
"You already have like, five different dolls in your bedroom."
"I don't care. I don't have a mareep one yet."
He let out an amused huff, but still went up to pay the fee required to play the game. The stall owner handed him five rings.
"Let's see, to win the mareep doll, I will need to hit my rings on any of the three mareep targets. Jas? Can you pick an easier target? There's only three targets for me to choose from if I want a mareep doll."
"Stop complaining, at least I didn't ask for you to win me the ampharos doll." She pointed at the only ampharos wooden target lying waaaaay back.
"Mareep doll it is then." She witnessed as her boyfriend resigned himself to his fate. He took a stance and held a ring in his right hand in a throwing stance.
The first ring missed spectacularly.
"The next one will hit. I promise."
It didn't.
"How did you catch your pokemon if your throwing skills are that bad?"
"They usually fainted by the end of the battle. I didn't need to throw my pokeball from so far away."
Even Scrat is laughing openly at Volkner's lack of skill as the rodent rolled about by their feet, laughing so much that the electric type can't even stand properly. Squeaky and Molly are also too busy laughing right now to care about anything else.
"Oi, you three. Shut it." He grumbled at their pokemon but they only laughed even louder.
The third ring flew out of the store, it was definitely flying in the wrong direction. Jasmine is starting to wonder how Volkner became a pokemon trainer with such abysmal throwing skills. Mastering how to throw a pokeball is a must-have skill for any trainer.
Her boyfriend is a Gym Leader. The strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh.
And his throwing skills are non-existent.
"Throwing a ring is a lot harder than throwing a pokeball. Really."
"I understand." She nodded her head but at this point, she is really just playing along to save her boyfriend some face and whatever is left of his pride.
The fourth ring missed as well.
"Volk? I understand. Really, I do."
"This one will hit. Fifth time's the charm."
She can only watch as her last hope of adding another doll to her collection flew off into the night sky. He used too much strength for that last throw.
"Let's just go to the next stall." She sighed as she tugged on his yukata to drag him away.
"One more try!"
"Volk…"
"One more try, Jas! I'm sure I can win the mareep doll this time!"
She sat down by the side as she watched Volkner trying again to win the doll she had wanted to add into her collection. She had lost count by now the number of times he had attempted.
She peered down at the collection of dolls in her arms. He never did manage to win a mareep doll for her, but he did win a few dolls by accident in his quest for obtaining that mareep doll she had asked from him.
"You will be Teddy." She said resolutely to the teddiursa doll before turning to the next one. "You are Shucky." She used a hand to make the shuckle doll nod back at her in response. Satisfied, she turned to the last doll, a chikorita. "And your name is chiky."
Chiky stared back at her with unblinking eyes.
"Get along with each other, okay? I will introduce you guys to the rest of the family when I get back home. I'm sure you guys will love each other."
She then carefully stores them in a drawstring bag she had brought along. It looks small, but it has enough space on the inside to store items bigger than its volume. It is the same type of technology utilised to store pokemon into pokeballs. With this technology, people can bring along a large volume of items but not feel the weight. It is one of the most important inventions that revolutionised the way the world works.
Once she is absolutely sure that the three new additions to her doll family back home is safe and sound in her drawstring bag, she walked back to Volkner.
"Volk, it's fine." She said as she pulled on the sleeves of his yukata to get his attention. There's only one more ring left in his hand.
"No, it's not fine." He said with a determined gleam in his eyes as he glared at the mareep target with burning determination. "This is now a matter of principle. I promise I can win that mareep doll, Jas."
She sighed. He had burnt through a small sum of money just for trying to win that mareep doll for her. She appreciates the length he will go just to make her happy, but this is enough.
"Last throw, Volk. I still want to go sightseeing."
He nodded back absentmindedly, still too fixated on winning that mareep doll for her. Bringing him here was a wrong choice to make. Now he's too determined to get that mareep doll no matter what.
He tossed, and they both watched with bated breath as the ring flew through the air.
The final ring got closer and closer to a mareep target and she can feel her eyes widening in anticipation.
The edge of the ring hit the mareep target, and the anticipation turned into disappointment when the ring bounced off the mareep target and flew off course. The edge of the ring hit a pidgey target next before it bounced again, this time up into the air.
Jasmine and Volkner both have their eyes fixed on the ring, and she knows that the few onlookers nearby are also watching it as they all held their breaths when the ring seemingly flew in slow motion.
And then the ring landed straight into the ampharos target at the very back, the ring circling uncontrollably like a hula hoop around the ampharos target before coming to an abrupt rest.
"What?"
"You did it! You did it!" Jasmine jumped on her feet happily as she squealed and wrapped her arms around Volkner's neck, who is still dumbstruck at how the whole thing played out. The stall owner passed an ampharos doll into his hands, and it was then Volkner finally realised what had really happened.
"Uh… not really what we aimed for, but I guess we can make do with this?"
She grabbed the ampharos doll he passed over as she squealed and hugged it close to her. This is one of the hardest prizes to win! And he did it!
"Thanks, Volk." She said when she looked up at him and the ampharos doll in her arms.
"Anything for you, Jas." He replied with that tender smile on his face as they both walked out of the area.
"You are… the name Amphy is already taken, so is Fluffy." She held the ampharos doll in front of her and talked to it seriously. She tilted the doll slightly to one side.
"Am-pha-ros... How about Rossy? Do you like the name?"
She made the doll nod at her happily.
"Okay! Your name is now Rossy!"
"I still don't get why you name your dolls."
"Don't hurt Rossy's feelings!" She pulled Rossy back into her arms, hugging it protectively and glared at Volkner. She covered the sides of Rossy's head with her hands, blocking out those hurtful words as she looked back at the ampharos doll.
"Don't listen to him, Rossy. Volk is just plain mean."
"I am mean? How?"
They spent another two hours exploring the various stalls, and when she got a little tired from all the walking they did, they decided to head to the Ho-oh shrine at the northern part of town. Praying for good luck at the Ho-oh shrine is a must-do thing here at Ecruteak.
They dropped some coins into the box outside when they finally reach the shrine's entrance. It is a beautifully made shrine that houses the stone statue of Ho-oh which stood about twenty metres in front of them. She rang the bell at the entrance on their behalf before they entered and guided him through the process.
He followed her example when she bowed twice before clapping her hands twice as well. She clasped her hands and closed her eyes in a silent prayer for a short moment before bowing one last time.
"What did you wish for?" He asked her when they turned around to exit the shrine, her hand in his.
"Secret." She winked at him. "Prayers don't come true if you say them out loud."
She let him guide her out of the crowd. The both of them made their way to one of the many hills that surrounds Ecruteak. They found an isolated spot that is far from the crowd as they watched the city shines brightly in the dark night as the festival goes on. Right here, they have their much-needed privacy.
They both sat down on the grass as they let their pokemon out to relax as well. They have all the space they need here.
"The fireworks should be starting in a few minutes." She said as she leaned her back into him. He wrapped an arm around her while his other arm held a flower he picked from the ground nearby.
"Hold still." He said as he carefully placed the flower into her hair.
"There, you are so much prettier now. A jasmine flower for you."
She let out a silent laughter as she turned around to straddle him and cupped the sides of his face.
"You are an incredible dork, Volk."
"I'm your dork."
"True." She hummed as he brushed some stray strands of hair with his hand and tucked them behind her ear. She moved her face closer to him, to the point that their noses are touching each other.
"I love you, Volk."
"Me too, Jas."
They kissed, their tongues fighting for dominance and she eventually surrendered and let his tongue into her mouth. The dark sky suddenly lit up, and they parted for air as they both turned to watch the fireworks lit the night sky with colourful displays of fire and light.
He hugged her from behind from where they sat on the ground, their pokemon around them as they too are drawn to the beautiful display. The crowd in the city below are also cheering, their cheers can be heard even from where they are at the edge of the city.
The display of fireworks eventually ended, much to her dismay, reminding her once more that the end of their vacation is drawing near.
She doesn't want it to end. It's been so long since they can be together in such a carefree state.
"Volk?"
"Hmm?"
"Can we just sit here for a little longer?"
"Sure thing. We can even watch the sunrise here if you want to."
She turned her head up to meet his face.
"I have you. You are my sun. Why would I need to watch the sunrise when I can just watch you?"
He blinked in amazement.
"Jas, since when are you a fan of cheesy lines?"
"Since now." She told him cheekily. "Like it?"
"Very. Say it again."
"Don't want to."
"Aww, don't break my heart, Jas."
"Too bad. I'm cruel like that."
"What a cruel iron wall, blocking out all the sunlight."
"Someone among the two of us has to live up to their title."
She continues to stare into those mesmerising blue eyes of his. It is the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes on.
"Volk?"
"Yes?"
"Kiss me? I won't get any hugs or kisses from you for a long time when you go back to Sinnoh."
He smirked as he lowers his face down closer to her.
"Your wish is my command, Your Majesty."
She gave a lazy yawn and used a hand to rub her bleary eyes. They had turned in late last night due to the festival. Her arms instinctively fumbled for the person sleeping next to her and she latched onto him the moment her hands found him, wrapping her arms around him and latching onto his body heat.
"Morning, Jas."
"Morning." She mumbled back as she rested her head on the crook of his neck.
"It's going to be noon soon."
"A little longer…"
It's too comfortable right now for her to get out of bed.
They stayed in bed for another hour before they are forced to get up because they are starting to get hungry. She washed up, changed out of her nightgown and into her usual white dress, combed her hair nicely, and ready to head out.
Today is the last day of their vacation. He will be heading back to Sinnoh tonight.
They headed back to Olivine in an unhurried manner, taking in the sights along the way on Simba's back, chatting with each other and trying to create as many memories as possible before their separation again.
Alas, the fated time arrives no matter how they tried to delay it. Before she knew it, they are both at Olivine Port, with her sending him off as the sun starts to set.
"Here." She held Teddy up in front of him, the teddiursa doll that he had won for her. "You can bring Teddy back with you so that you won't be too lonely when you are sleeping at night when you are back in Sinnoh."
He looked at the doll before looking back up at her.
"Jas-"
"Just take it."
He looked at the doll shoved into his hands, a clueless look on his face.
"I have no idea where I am going to put Teddy in my bedroom."
"I don't care." She huffed out loud. "And make sure you take care of Teddy. If not…"
She left her threat hanging in the air, looking at him expectantly.
"Got it. Teddy here will get the best five-star treatment I can find for him." He nodded in agreement before looking at the doll in his hands. "Right, Teddy?"
The teddiursa doll stared back at him in silence.
"Make sure you give him regular baths."
"Yes Jas. I will make sure I will give him the spa worthy of a king."
"And don't make him feel lonely."
"Got it."
"Teddy enjoys hugs, so hug him regularly."
"Will hug him to sleep every night and sing him lullabies."
They both stopped and stared at each other in sudden silence before bursting out into laughter again.
"I'm serious, Volk." She tried her best to put on her serious face as she said that.
"I know. I will take care of Teddy so well that he will evolve into a big bad ursaring when you see him again." He said in equal seriousness.
"But he won't be cute if he's an ursaring."
"I will make sure Teddy will still remember how to use Baby-Doll Eyes and Fake Tears, so he will still be cute. If not, using an Everstone on Teddy will do too."
"You better."
"I believe this is where you use Sweet Kiss on me." He said in that usual sly look on his face whenever he tries to get cheeky with her.
"I must have the Oblivious ability, since I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Did you see that, Teddy?" Volkner gave a dramatic sigh as he began to talk to the doll in his hands. "What am I gonna do?"
She took a quick glance around. Thankfully, there aren't any people paying attention to them at the moment.
She guess she can give him this last gift.
Without warning, she tiptoed and gave a peck on his lips.
"There, happy?"
"I must have accidentally used an Amnesia, cos I cannot remember what just happened. Can you do that again?"
"Take it or leave it, Volk." She crossed her arms. No way is she going to do any more such open acts of affection in such a public area. She is a Gym Leader and she has an image to uphold!
He surprised her when he pulled her into a hug.
"Take care of yourself."
"Dummy, that is what I should be saying to you. You barely have any time for yourself." She chided back. "At least try to eat three meals a day. Stop making me worry about you so much when I'm not there with you. Don't hurt yourself when you are beating up criminals, okay?"
"Understood."
She watched as he boarded the ship, and she continues to watch as the ship began to slowly leave the port and he waved her goodbye as the ship departed. She waved back and continues to see him off until the ship became a small speck on the vast sea.
Their vacation is over, and now she has to resume her duties as the Iron Wall of Olivine, the Gym Leader of her city. It will be a long time before they can see each other face-to-face again, but she will wait patiently for that day to arrive.
Amphy tugged gently on her dress.
"Sorry for the wait." She apologised to her starter as they turned around to head back home. Amphy nuzzled against her cheek, prompting a laugh out of her.
She will wait for their next big vacation.
AN: The ecruteak scene was supposed to be part of the story, but I realised putting it right at the very beginning of the chapter will make the entire pace very draggy and slow, so I decided to insert it as an omake. Not sure if it works as intended, but hopefully you guys enjoyed it.
As usual, hope you guys enjoy the story thus far.
Pokemon and trainer list:
Volkner Tide: Gym Leader of Sunyshore, Electric Specialist
Titles, Accolades and Achievements: Tie for First Place with Flint in the 521st Lily of the Valley Conference, Sinnoh's strongest Electric Specialist, Thirteen Pillar of Sinnoh, The Sun of Sunyshore, The Yellow Flash
Main team:
1. Electivire (Franky), male
2. Luxray (Simba), male
3. Jolteon (Jo), female
4. Magnezone (ISpy), genderless
5. Gallade (Myst), male
6. Rhyperior (Tec), male
7. Probopass (North), female
8. Gyarados (Puddle), male
Pokemon used for Gym challenges
9. Raichu (Squeaky), female
10. Pachirisu (Scrat), male
11. Heliolisk (Bask), male
12. Ampharos (Fluffy), female
13. Vikavolt (Vik), female
14. Eelektross (Whirr), male
15. Lanturn (Glowy), female
Pokemon used for Sunyshore's security
16. Rotom (Prime), genderless
17. Porygon-Z (Jarvis), genderless