The cardboard boxes stacked in the corner of the office reminded Kayla that it is all too real.
Volkner is stepping down soon.
She had thought that it was just another prank or joke, because Volkner always talked about stepping down all the time but yet it never happened. But this time, it is real. He is really leaving soon, passing on the gym and the title of Sunyshore Gym Leader to Riley's hands. Not many knew how Volkner finally managed to convince the League to let him go. Riley had resigned from the SPF to take over the job. The official handover is scheduled to happen a week later.
She really doesn't want to bring herself to believe this, but it is happening.
Volkner is more than just her Gym Leader, her superior, or her mentor. He is like an older brother figure to her at this point. He is the reason why she stayed on in this gym as his Head Gym Trainer for as long as she did, even when he keeps telling her that there are better prospects elsewhere and she should really consider them for the sake of her future. He kept telling her that she could be so much more and she should not let herself be constrained to the small Sunyshore Gym. She declined every single job offer made to her from elsewhere. She can understand why Riley held Volkner in such high regard. She does too. Volkner is the only one who she will want to work under.
And he is leaving.
He had tried to source for better jobs for her. Not only her, but for Marco and Vicky too. Like her, they had initially decided to stay on in Sunyshore Gym out of their immense respect for Volkner. The lazy, insufferable, annoying Gym Leader that they all talk about behind his back, complaining about his flaws and toasting to their shared annoyance and pain in having to deal with him as his unfortunate subordinates. Yet, they would never hesitate to complete his orders if he asked them to. If he asked them to help him take down Team Galactic, they would immediately put down whatever they are doing to help him out. That's how much they respect him.
He is more than just their mentor.
Volkner had gotten extremely busy during the two years after the first siege on Sunyshore done by Team Galactic. The siege where she nearly lost her life. Volkner was mad at her two years ago and that was an understatement. He literally chewed her out the moment he returned to Sunyshore after repelling the siege with Jasmine, saying that she better prepares herself for a gruelling training regime he will purposely design for her the moment he has the time to do so. The moment he got back from his vacation, he held true to his promise and put her through hellish training so that such an incident will never ever happen again. The same goes for every single gym trainer that came and went during these two years. Volkner cares for them despite how often he trolls and annoys them. Putting them through hellish training was the only way he knew how to keep them safe. So, no one complained.
They all got stronger because of it.
She, Vicky, and Marco are the only 'veterans' of Sunyshore Gym left. They came to a unanimous agreement that they will also leave when Volkner left. That also meant that Riley will have to find his own gym trainers. Vicky and Marco took Volkner's offer in getting a job at a trainer's school, teaching children aspiring to be trainers how to be a proper one. Volkner was inspired by how Roxanne from Hoenn had recently done it for her region and hence, despite his crazily insane hectic lifestyle, still somehow managed to find time and worked with Candice, the Gym Leader of Snowpoint City, to do something similar for Sinnoh. Candice did most of the planning and designing of the curriculum, while Volkner and some of the other Gym Leaders gave input on the administrative side of things when needed. Candice is extremely knowledgeable about pokemon even among the Thirteen Pillars which was probably why Volkner asked for her help. Their efforts were also supported by their fellow Thirteen Pillars, especially Cynthia (and wasn't that a surprise, Cynthia actually supporting Volkner's idea), since everyone can see the benefits behind such a proposition.
The school still isn't ready yet, but it has passed the conceptual stage and the plan should be ready to be implemented within the next year or two. Right now, they are finding the necessary staff for the future schools that are to be set up across Sinnoh. Candice and Volkner both agreed that they must be strict in their employment requirements, insisting that these future teachers must know what they are doing. They must have deep knowledge about pokemon, how to handle them and not only that, know how to actually teach properly. They are even trying to convince well-known retired trainers to help teach, to share their experiences with the future students who will be going on the very same adventure that they all did. Volkner and Candice are hoping to set up at least one of such schools in each major city at the very least. If all goes well, Vicky and Marco will be teaching at the school that will be set up in Sunyshore.
But Kayla isn't sure if she wants to be a teacher. The offer is still up there for her, Volkner had told her many times that wherever she wants to go and whatever she wants to do, all she needs is to give him a call and he will personally write in a recommendation for her. The pay is good too. He told her that she is way beyond her peers and is capable enough to go anywhere she wants to go.
But the point is, she really has no idea what she wants to do that is not being Volkner's Head Gym Trainer.
Volkner will be moving to Olivine for good, to live with Jasmine where the two lovebirds are planning to start the next chapter of their lives together. Kayla is sincerely happy for them, so is Vicky and Marco. Vicky and Marco had also entered into a relationship with each other, they are her best friends and Kayla is also happy for them. They all lament at the fact that Volkner is leaving Sunyshore but they know that he had given a lot during his short time here. Volkner had sacrificed too much to help protect and develop Sunyshore into what it is today. He deserves his rest.
Maybe the fact that she is currently at a loss of what she wants to do is too apparent on her face, but Volkner had offered her to come with him to Johto, to Olivine, saying that maybe a change in scenery is what she needs and she might as well help him out in the upcoming wedding he and Jasmine are planning together since she has nothing to do. The wedding will be held at Olivine's beach where the two first met and had their first battle. The last time Jasmine came over was two months ago and Volkner had proposed to her. It was a big event since Volkner had gone all out. The lighthouse literally shone 'Will you marry me' into the dark night sky on that very day as Volkner went down on a single knee with a ring in hand. As to how Volkner managed to do that to their Vista Lighthouse without getting caught, no one knew. Needless to say, Jasmine immediately said 'yes'.
That was how the two got engaged. The entire city was baffled as to who was bold enough to modify their city's lighthouse in that manner and for some reason no one suspected their beloved Gym Leader. Volkner got a kick out of being the 'secret mastermind' behind the entire affair, enjoying hearing about the conspiracies and speculations flying about on which mad genius was crazy enough to modify the beam of light their city's lighthouse shone whenever he walked into town. Those who were let in on the fact that Volkner was the mastermind simply rolled their eyes when they learned about this.
In the end, Kayla accepted Volkner's offer. Like he said, maybe a change in pace and scenery is what she really needs right now. Besides, Jasmine is a really nice person to be with. Volkner and Jasmine both said that Olivine and Sunyshore are really alike in many ways, so she does not need to worry about not fitting in there. Kayla is a single child who was raised by her mother, her only parent and family, and she passed away a year ago from an illness. It was a trying time for Kayla, but she had support from her friends and Volkner. It was their support that they gave her when she was at her lowest that made her so fiercely loyal to them now.
There's really nothing keeping her in Sunyshore anymore, so she decided to move to Olivine as well.
Volkner said nothing but ruffled her hair with his hand when she told him his decision. That action conveyed to her everything he wanted to say to her without a single word. Volkner knew better than anyone what it feels like to not have a family. He is looking out for her in his own way. He even somehow got her a small cottage a short walk away from his and Jasmine's future house. He paid for everything himself, much to her shock. He told her that it doesn't matter if she chose to stay there or not, only that should she ever want a place to return to, there will always be a place for her at Olivine where he will also be living. That place will be her home if she wishes it to be.
And that really moved her to the point of tears.
Volkner is still dissatisfied at the state of things in regards to Team Galactic. He had wanted to completely purge them, but the fact that it is simply too hard to get rid of the Galactic remnants who had taken to hiding within Mt Coronet even for someone as powerful and experienced as him. Still, Volkner had done enough. Team Galactic is no longer a big threat to Sinnoh thanks to his contributions. They still are a threat, but at least they won't be launching another siege on any other city anytime soon. Volkner passed his job on to Flint, Aaron, and Riley, who will continue to keep an eye out for Team Galactic and see to its eventual downfall.
Volkner had also paid for the tickets to Olivine for the entire orphanage so that they could also attend his upcoming wedding. The kids are all excited about it. He also gave the older kids their starters. Anne herself was especially delighted at receiving a pichu from him, one which Volkner said is Sparky's offspring. He never forgot about Anne's request in wanting a pichu even after so long. Despite how annoying he can be, Volkner is undoubtedly a man with a big heart. He is a man who shines as bright as the sun.
The Sun of Sunyshore, that's who Volkner is.
"Not packing your stuff, squirt?"
"Packed them a long time ago." She shrugged as she turned around and saw Volkner walking up to her, a hand in his pocket and the other holding onto a half-eaten sandwich.
"Finally." Volkner said while still munching on his sandwich as he surveyed the mostly emptied office with satisfaction, the office that belonged to generations of Sunyshore's Gym Leaders. "I've been fantasising about this day for years."
"How many resignation letters have you sent throughout these years?"
"Two thousand four hundred and ninety-nine."
"Wait." Kayla looked up in shock at Volkner's nonchalant face, not actually expecting an answer for her previous question. "You kept count?!"
"Well, duh."
"Two thousand four hundred and ninety-nine letters. That is so not environmentally friendly."
"I used recycled paper for every single one of them."
"Still."
"Hey, recycled paper. My letters are printed on the unused side. I can be environmentally friendly if I want to be."
"Who even prints their resignation letters on the other side of rough paper?"
Volkner pointed a finger at himself.
"You are looking at him. Gym Leader extraordinaire."
"How did you even convince the League to let you go?"
"Secret." He said with a wry smile, like holding in the truth of the universe that only he is allowed to know.
"Tch." She clicked her tongue at that statement. "Only Jasmine can tolerate all the nonsense you say on a daily basis."
"You say that now, but maybe you will end up a guy who speaks even more nonsensical things than I do."
"Won't happen."
"Famous last words. If there's one thing I'd learnt in the past twenty six years of my life, squirt, is to never tempt fate."
"Never tempt fate? What did you tempt and it actually happened?"
"That I would never be a Gym Leader. Guess who ended up becoming the strongest Gym Leader of his generation?"
"... For real?"
"Duh."
"Crap." She blurted out after a few seconds of silence. "What I just said is already tempting fate, right?"
Volkner snorted.
"Yeah, crap for you. Good luck, squirt."
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