INTRODUCTION
I'm gonna start this thing off by saying that "The Photographer's Tome" probably isn't a good title. No, like, I KNOW it isn't. Perhaps something more fitting would be "The Photographer's Nutty Ramblings," or maybe "The Manifesto of a Kooky, Leon-Obsessed Photographer That Chairman Rose Hired For Some Reason," but those don't sound that good, do they? I just like the idea of someone finding this book washed up on a beach, seeing the title, and thinking that they're about to read some grand adventure, and then get bitterly disappointed whenever they see that it's just the diary of a painfully average teenage girl. Dad said that writing about my adventures is a good idea…but to be honest, my adventures aren't often worth sharing. If you're still here, this is going to be a bumpy ride, so buckle your seatbelts and prepare to be disappointed. Don't say I didn't warn ya. I just did. Why…why am I writing this down? It's not like this thing is interactive!
Should also point out that I'm not documenting every bloomin' day of my life in this thing. So, if I write "Day 1" and it suddenly skips to "Day 47" afterward, there's no pages missing or anything. I guess I just have a stupid way of labeling things. But, enough rambling on my end. It's time to actually get this thing started, I guess…
DAY 1- 29/5
My knuckles were clenched so hard that I thought the skin was going to rip. Hands trembling, I made my way into the League Headquarters. My legs felt like they were going to give out on me. I don't know I was so worried about. I've been to Wyndon many a time…but today felt different. For once, Wyndon felt like less of a "been there, done that" situation and more like the big stinkin' city it truly is. Dad was over in Hammerlocke doing his thing. I was here by myself. I felt the anxiety starting to bubble up.
"Hello! I have an appointment with Chairman Rose," I said, trying to give the lady at the front desk a friendly smile, but I probably looked like some kind of deranged maniac in doing so. The elevators here need a key to get into, which I obviously didn't have. She looked up from her computer.
"Could I have a name, please?" She asked with a friendly disposition. However, before I could even open my mouth to give her my name, the elevator doors opened. The air immediately smelled of posh, musky perfume, and I could feel the negative energy RADIATING from the area. My worst nightmare proceeded to walk out. Crap.
"Well, Castellana! You decided to show up. You're ten minutes late, you know. You should know better than to worry the chairman like that," Oleana scoffed, her hand on her hip. I hate that woman. I bloody hate her. For one thing, the chairman has my number, so if he really was worried, he could just, y'know…call me? Besides, it's not like I don't have Pokémon or anything. Whatever. I did what Dad recommended and held my tongue instead of snapping back at her.
Oleana proceeded to grab my arm and practically yank me into the elevator, making me nearly drop my bag. I don't know how the chairman even puts up with her. She's the nastiest freaking woman I've ever met. I've never liked her, even when I was a child. The elevator ride felt like it lasted about fifty years, and I seriously thought that Oleana's talonlike nails were going to rip my skin off. I expected her to scold me even more, given that it seems to be a hobby of hers, but she was surprisingly quiet. Not like I'm complaining, though.
By the grace of Arceus, the elevator finally stopped, and I was led down a familiar hallway to a door that had Chairman Rose's name, as well as some photos and other miscellaneous decorations on display. Oleana knocked a few times and in seconds, I heard the chairman's voice from the other side, telling her to come in. She practically chucked me through the door, finally letting my poor arm go. The skin that she was holding onto was nearly as red as her nails. I checked to make sure I wasn't bleeding.
Upon making eye contact with Chairman Rose, his face lit up and a smile spread across his face. He didn't look worried about me at all. That whole spiel was just another one of the Devil Woman's lies to try and get me to feel bad about myself. She does that a lot…and I've fallen for it more times than I wish to admit.
"Ah, Maddie! You're finally here! Good morning, my dear! I'm so excited that you've decided to take this job seriously after all. As you know, the Gym Challenge is starting very, very soon. This year, I figured that the League had the extra funds to hire an official photographer…and I couldn't think of a better candidate!" Chairman Rose exclaimed, enthusiastically folding his hands together. He couldn't think of a better candidate…? I could probably name about five off the top of my head, but I wasn't going to doubt him. It felt nice.
"Now, I understand that your skills shine brightest when your subjects are Pokémon, but I should remind you that with this position, you'll also be dealing with people. Not just ordinary people, however! As you know, these are some of the most beloved people in our great Galar region! The Gym Leaders, and, of course, our own Leon! Exciting, isn't it?" He continued. My heart immediately sank right into my stomach. Leon. I kinda forgot that I was going to have to…associate with him, I guess. Don't get me wrong, I love Leon…but I might love Leon a little too much. Actually, just forget I said anything about that. Scratch that.
"Well, I, uh…I'm honored to have this position offered to me, but…are you sure I can handle it? I mean, I'm only sixteen years old, after all," I said with a nervous smile. I felt heat radiating from behind me, and when I looked over, Oleana looked like she was about to explode. I swear her eyes turned red for a minute. For a split second, her human disguise faded and the demon she truly is popped out.
"Chairman Rose offers you such a prestigious question and the first thing you do is question him? What's the matter with you?" She asked, looking like she was going to attack me at any minute. I looked over at Chairman Rose, who just raised his hand as a way to tell his secretary to calm the heck down.
"Oleana, please, Maddie makes a valid point," the chairman said calmly. Oleana didn't see it, or at least I don't think she did, but I stuck my tongue out at her, and at the very least it made me feel better. "After all, she is only sixteen, and the job is a big responsibility. However, I think she can do it! Truth be told, creating this role was a bit of a last minute decision, but I believe that I was called to do so. After all, this gives my lovely goddaughter a chance to fulfill her dream of making it big in the world of photography!" I couldn't help but blush as he finished. Way to hype me up.
"Well, if you believe that I'll be able to handle it, I don't see any reason to refuse! If you'll have me, I'd love to become the official photographer," I said, giving the chairman a small bow from my chair.
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect! Though, before you officially start, I think you should go break the news to our Gym Leaders! I understand that you already know most of them, but it wouldn't hurt to pay them a visit, would it? You can introduce yourself to the ones you don't know in the process! And I'm sure Leon would love to have a chat with you, too. These people are going to be your greatest companions throughout your career, so I recommend you maintain good relationships with them!" Chairman Rose said, making me blush even more. He said the cursed name again. Leon. The Leon. The Leon I've practically worshipped for longer than I want to admit. The same Leon that I fantasize about marrying sometimes. The very same Leon that I've known since I was four years old…that Leon. Well, I guess this was officially my first task as the new photographer, so it wasn't like I could say no…
"Oh, Maddie! One more thing before you leave," Chairman Rose said. "For the sake of the League, you'll only be covering important matches, and later into the Gym Challenge, will be assigned certain Challengers to follow. This means that you'll have a lot of downtime. Now, keep this between you and me, but I'd be willing to offer bonus pay for you to go into the Wild Area and photograph specific Pokémon for me! Of course, this won't be reflected on your League paycheck, but I'm willing to pay you out of my own pocket. And, if you do an exceptionally well job, I may have…more bonuses in store," he explained, letting out some kind of nervous chuckle as he said the last part.
"Thank you, chairman. I'll keep that in mind," I replied. Hey, I won't be getting paid a ton of money for being the photographer, for obvious reasons, so I wouldn't mind getting some extra money. Even if they technically are backwoods deals. And kinda nepotistic.
"Now then, off you go! Oleana, please escort our new photographer back downstairs," Chairman Rose concluded our little meeting, waving goodbye to me before I felt Oleana gripping my still-hurting arm again. I was then dragged out of the office and back to the elevator for another terribly long ride.
"On Mr. Rose's behalf, I'll notify everyone involved that you are coming. Don't make them wait…like you did to the chairman," Oleana scowled, nearly tossing me out of the elevator. Before I could regain my strength and run right back in that elevator to knock her bloody lights out, she pressed a button, the elevator doors slamming in front of her. She's lucky. I would have fought her. I really would have.
I was about to leave, but the same receptionist from earlier stopped me before I could head out the door. "Ah, Photographer! My apologies for not recognizing you earlier. Chairman Rose just rung me and told me to give this to you," she said, handing me a card. It kinda looked like a fancy hotel key card.
"This is yours. It's not as flashy as a League Card, but Chairman Rose said that he designed it himself according to your tastes. This will be your key to not only get into the elevator here, but you'll have to have it to get into the stadiums. Please take good care of it!" She said cheerfully, handing me a card. I ran my finger over the raised lettering. "Maddie Castellana: League Photographer." Dang. It felt so…official now. Well, at least I would have a way to get into the League HQ by myself. I wouldn't have to rely on the Devil Woman anymore.
'Well, Wyndon Stadium isn't too far away from here…and Leon's probably expecting me now. I guess it wouldn't hurt to go and pay him a visit…' I mumbled to myself, running my fingers through my hair as I slipped the new fancy card into my bag, heading out.
WYNDON- LEON
Upon walking to the stadium, I scanned the new card and was immediately granted access, despite it being locked to the public. Well, at least Chairman Rose was serious about me being an official member of the League. As soon as the door opened, I felt my heart dropping down into my stomach again. This stadium is pretty much legendary. Not many people get to see this stadium in full…and not many folks get to see Leon outside of his public appearances. However, I'm one of the lucky few…I guess.
I expected the stadium to be completely empty, at least minus Leon, but to my surprise, I ended up bumping into a security guard, which admittedly made me have a miniature panic attack. Before he could even say anything, I yanked my card out, showing it to him as a way of trying to prove that I wasn't some kind of criminal. He looked a bit startled at first, but he quickly nodded, giving me a smile.
"So you're the new photographer that Ms. Oleana said would be coming! Pleasure to finally meet you. Leon's in the gym doing his daily workout. Just go all the way down this hall and take the first door to the left," he said, pointing me in a direction. DANG IT! I couldn't use getting lost as an excuse anymore. Dear lord, Leon's going to be working out? I'm gonna have to see him all hot and sweaty now? Fan-tastic.
I sheepishly walked down the hall that the guard directed me to, trembling as I got closer and closer to the door. I heard some noises coming from the room, so it was obvious that Leon was still there doing his thing. My hand barely able to keep itself still, I knocked on the door. There was a bit of silence, but then I heard the sound of something heavy being put down. I wished that he'd take that weight and hit me over the head with it.
When Leon opened the door, his sweaty face immediately lit up and without saying a word, he pulled me into a massive bear hug. Feeling his warm, muscular arms around me…my pale face lit up like a nice, ripe tomato. Even when he was all sweaty from lifting, he was still so…gorgeous. I felt like I was going to deflate like some kind of balloon. Noise included.
"Hey, Mads! I heard all about the new job!" Leon said, a very enthusiastic tone to his voice. I couldn't stop blushing. I was feverish! Hot to the touch! I was sweating as much as Leon was at this point! I probably looked diseased!
"W-Well, it's a blessing, that's for sure!" I stuttered, wiping sweat from my forehead. "I can't say I understand why Chairman Rose chose to hire me for the position…outside of nepotism…but I'm glad to finally get recognized for my photography, so I'm happy to take the role. I'm certainly not complaining!" I said, chuckling like some kind of maniac the whole time. I felt more sheepish than a heard of Wooloo.
"League Photographer Mads…has a nice ring to it, don'cha think?"
"Yeah, I think it does! Heh…"
"You know, this just means that you get to spend even more time with your ol' pal Leon! Me and you are gonna have a real champion time, that's for sure!" Leon said, ruffling my brown, curly hair. My face got even redder. The bag on my shoulders felt like I was trying to carry a Snorlax. My brown eyes accidentally looked into his golden ones. Leon is the most beautiful man I've ever seen. I felt like yanking my bag open, ripping out the few dollars in cash I had, and just proposing to him there on the spot. Granted, that's not necessarily legal, considering that I'm sixteen and he's twenty-one, but it's the thought that counts…right?
"Well, I suppose I shouldn't keep the others waiting. After all, from what I heard, you have a lot of stops you're going to be making! You know, Mads, if you really put your all into this, I know that you'll be able to make all of Galar truly proud! Now…go get 'em!" Leon said after some casual conversation, After saying this, he decided to strike his signature pose. My entire body felt like it was about to implode. Explode? Honestly, both.
"Uh…will do! Thanks, Lee…"
'And, Mads? One more thing before you go."
"Try to respond to my texts more," Leon said with a wink, picking his weight back up. My brain immediately started sputtering out a million words a minute as I tried to make up some kind of excuse for his (rightful) call-out. Listen, I have a good excuse! Unlike some people, I'm not chronically online. I can actually spend time away from my phone. And sometimes I have trouble writing texts! I-I don't mean to ignore him! Do I have messages from like October that I haven't replied to? Yes. Do I mean to reply to them? Uh..sure. But, anyway, I managed to get the hard part out of the way. But, the next stop wouldn't be much easier. I was headed to the danger zone: Hammerlocke.
HAMMERLOCKE- RAIHAN
Hammerlocke is a city that I know well. My dad, John, spends a lot of time here, considering that he's a Minor League Gym Leader. Electric-Type, to be exact. Unfortunately, my role only covers the Major League, so I won't be able to follow him around as part of my job. Y'know, annoying the heck out of Dad and claiming that it's for my job sounds really fun. Shame.
Because (at least from what I've heard) my mom left my dad shortly after I was born and headed back to her home region, when I was a child, Dad decided to take me to work with him so we could spend time together. Chairman Rose usually wouldn't allow something like this to happen, but considering that Dad's a single parent…and his best friend…I reckon he took some pity on him and let him bring me. I guess it was either that or lose a Gym Leader. However, when I was a little older, work would get loud and a bit hectic, so there were times he'd leave me in the care of a group of friends: Leon, Raihan, and Sonia. Despite being about five years older than me, they treated me like I was one of them, and I loved that. Leon was already Champion by the time I met him, but during the Gym Challenge, Raihan and Sonia made up for the Leon-shaped hole in my heart.
Raihan can be a bit rough with me, but he means well. Leon, Raihan, and Sonia have been friends for a very long time, even doing the Gym Challenge together…at least for as long as they lasted, respectively. I guess he just treats me as if I'm a little sister. He doesn't talk much about his family, and as far as I know he's an only child. Leon and Sonia both have siblings, the former having a younger brother, Hop, and the latter having an older brother living in Kalos and a younger sister. I bet Raihan heard them talking about their siblings and got jealous, so he chose to take some random kid with crippling anxiety under his wing. Hence, our…strange relationship formed. But I really care about him, and despite his roughness, I know he cares about me, too.
Speaking of Raihan…before I could even make it to Hammerlocke Stadium, I felt a rough hand suddenly slam on my shoulder. Feeling like my soul shot out of my body, I jumped about 5 feet in the air as I heard Raihan's booming laughter from behind me.
"Ey, Squishy!" Raihan said as he roughly ruffled my hair, much to my dismay. I rolled my eyes a bit as I tried to fix my curls. I swear he knows that I hate having my hair messed up. A lot of people look at my hair, which I keep about shoulder-length and usually just throw up in some way, and say, "man, she hates taking care of her hair." And they're right. I do. And when they say that, I want to look them dead in the eye and tell them to try and deal with 3C hair. Bleh. People don't tell me a lot about my mom, but from what I have heard, she's a redhead…so I probably got the curls from her, considering I'm pretty pasty. But, anyway…I may not like taking care of it, but I also don't want Raihan's greasy mitts in it. He's known for being a bit…brutish sometimes. I mean, he broke my bloody rib a few years back when he threw me into the Hero's Bath. That's why they discourage people from going in there. True story.
"You're just the lad I'm looking for," I said, pointing at him as he put me into a signature Raihan headlock. "Did you happen to get the news from Oleana?"
"I'unno, Squish. "I get so many emails a day that I just tend to ignore 'em. At least three crazy fans have imitated League staff tryna get a piece of this," Raihan teased, whipping out his trusty Rotom phone and skimming through his emails.
"Hmm…Lemme see here…What? Squishy Castellana, the new League Photographer? Well, dang, Squish! I nev-I mean…I always knew you could end up in the big league!" Raihan beamed, pulling me into my second bear hug of the day, this one completely lifting me off the ground. It isn't that hard, considering how freaking massive he is. He can lift me pretty easily. I'm a little chubby, but I don't weigh that much.
"I'm so proud of you, Squishy! I'm assuming your old man already knows?" Raihan asked, putting me down to take a celebratory selfie.
"I mentioned it before I left, but I'm pretty sure Chairman Rose has already told him all about it. Those two are best friends, after all. The chairman asked Dad to have dinner at his house a few days ago, so that's probably what they were talking about."
"He probably knows, then. You didn't hear this from me, but the chairman doesn't hold anything back when he's had too much to drink."
"Really? I don't think I've ever seen him like that."
"Like I said…you didn't hear it from me, Squish. But, anyway…what Pokémon are ya gonna go and kill yourself trying to get photos of now? I heard that some pretty rare ones are poppin' up in the Wild Area," Raihan said, finally releasing me from all forms of physical touch.
"None, unfortunately. Chairman Rose told me to go and catch up with all the Gym Leaders and let them know about the new position. With the route I planned on taking…Spikemuth is going to be my next stop," I replied with a stutter. Spikemuth. For personal reasons…I don't enjoy going there. Nothing against anyone or anything, it just brings back some memories that I usually prefer to keep out of my head.
Raihan seemed to want to offer to go with me, but given that the Gym Challenge was starting in a few days, he had a lot of preparation to do, despite being the final Gym Leader that Challengers face. I wanted to stop by and see Dad, but I figured that the Minor League would be just as busy as the Major League. Thus, Raihan and I went our separate ways for now, and I headed to Spikemuth.
SPIKEMUTH- PIERS?
As previously mentioned, Spikemuth isn't my cup of tea. The place means a lot to Dad, given that he was raised there, and he does a lot of social work with the kids living there. But for me? I really don't have the guts. It's so…dark. If Dad decided to raise me there, I don't think I would have survived.
A lot of people assume that I don't like Piers…and that's not true at all. I may not care for Dark-Type Pokémon after an…unfortunate event that happened to me last year, and it's true that Piers and I don't talk as much as we used to, or…at all, but I still like him. And even if I did hate him, WHICH I DON'T, I'd still go and talk to him because Chairman Rose told me to. I really look up to the chairman. I want to be like him. I really do. And it's not just because I want to be rich…but that would be nice, too.
Once I got to Spikemuth, I saw that the gate was shut, barring all entrance into the city. Figuring that this was some kind of divine intervention and I didn't have to talk to Piers, I was going to turn and get my butt out of there, but heard some rustling from the nearby grass. I was expecting to see some wild Pokémon that had a bone to pick with me, but I saw that it was a Morpeko. A familiar one, at that.
"Morpeko!" A voice cried as a young girl suddenly emerged, running to the small rodent and grabbing it. "Stop runnin' off like that! Ya had me worried sick!"
The girl was one I immediately recognized. Marnie, Piers's younger sister. I was always closer to her brother growing up, but we played a decent amount as kids. She's closer in age and in friendship to Maple, Sonia's younger sister.
"Ey, Maddie! Are ya here to deliver the good news! Did yer dad pick me?!" Marnie asked. Because participating in the Gym Challenge is incredibly expensive, far too expensive for most families in Spikemuth, every year, Dad chooses to endorse and pay for one Challenger to participate in the Major League Challenge. It's worked before. Dad is the one who endorsed Piers, and he's a Gym Leader now.
"Sorry, Marnie. He hasn't decided yet. A lot of kids applied this year. You should know within the next few days, though," I said. Not necessarily comforting…considering that the Gym Challenge is starting in a matter of days. I'm pretty sure Dad already chose another kid, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings. Marnie has been applying for a good few years now.
"Oh…then why didja decide to come to Spikemuth? I know ya don't fancy this place."
"I actually came to talk to Piers, if he's available."
"I'unno, Mads. He ain't in the best of moods right now. He always gets sour when the Gym Challenge is about to start. What didja wanna do? Ask him on a date or something?"
"N-N-No, no! I…I…the chairman just hired me as League Photographer, a-and he wants me to talk to all of the Gym Leaders! No d-dates or anything!" I sputtered. I already have a natural stutter, and getting worked up like this sure as heck didn't help anything. Date?
"As soft as Piers can be to you, he'll break yer heart if ya tried to talk to him," Marnie replied. And what was that supposed to mean?! Piers has never been cranky with me before. I always remembered him being gentle and kind to me, despite his disposition.
"All right. Thanks, Marnie," I said, though I didn't necessarily believe her. I hadn't had a decent conversation with Piers ever since…the incident. Maybe he has some kind of grudge against me now? Marnie told me that Piers would break my heart…but did I unintentionally break his somehow? I know that Piers is pretty quick to get over things, but I still feel bad. He's never gotten cranky around the Gym Challenge. He hasn't been the same since last year. He probably hates me.
"Well, if he isn't in the mood to talk today, I'll respect his boundaries. But is there any way I could…try to talk to him in the future? I have a lot of things I want to talk to him about," I said. For once, Marnie smiled. A rare occurrence.
"I think he'd really like that. Not today, but he'd like it. I'll be sure to tell him about yer new job, too. I bet it'll make him happy. This means that he'll get to see you more…and seein' you more should really lift his spirits," Marnie replied in a teasing manner.
"Thanks, Marnie. I really appreciate it," I smiled.
"No problem, Mads. Tell yer dad I said hello," Marnie said before she and Morpeko vanished into the dark depths of Spikemuth. I was a little upset about not being able to talk to Piers, but at least I didn't have to go into the city. At least next I'd be going to a place I know very, very well.
CIRCHESTER- MELONY
Circhester is my hometown. I was born and raised here. There's something about this old, snowy town that comforts me beyond comprehension. Though I spend a lot of time in Hammerlocke with Dad and Raihan, Circhester is still my home. Dad started out with a bass guitar and a dream, and from that, he was able to build a career, build wealth, and build a pretty luxurious cabin home for us, and I really appreciate his hustle. I'm not trying to brag or anything. He has a super impressive work ethic. One I could never have.
As I walked into the city, I breathed a warm sigh of relief. I thought of my nice, warm bed. Hanging out with some friends in my room. Listening to Dad practice his beloved bass guitar. Playing with Boltund. Lounging in the hot tub that's on our back porch. But…I had to shake off the thoughts of home. I'm not here to go home yet. I'm here to go to the stadium.
It's hard to describe my relationship with Melony. Growing up, Dad always offered to babysit Melony's kids when she was busy. Of course, not during the Gym Challenge, but when the season ended, they'd come down all the time. Being the stubborn child I was, I always opted to lock myself in my room and not socialize with the others. Leon, Raihan, and Sonia were my friends, and I didn't want anyone else.
Well, I didn't socialize with most of the kids. Whenever he was old enough, Melony's oldest child, Gordie, started taking bass guitar lessons from Dad…and something just clicked with us. Gordie's the oldest, so he has a bunch of younger siblings, and I'm around his sister's age, so maybe he was used to spending time with her. But as for me, most of my friends are older than me. It's just what I'm used to. So, I guess I saw that in Gordie. But our friendship was more than needed. Whenever Leon, Sonia, or Raihan weren't around to watch me, Dad would always drop me off at Melony's. Of course, I usually sat and sulked instead of playing with the other kids…until Gordie would offer to let me hang out with him in his room, where we'd do "big kid stuff," like playing video games, eating sour cream and onion crisps right out of the bag, and staying up past my bedtime. Gordie and I still try to hang out, but considering that he's a Minor League Gym Leader and has a girlfriend, it's a bit difficult.
Gah, look at me rambling about bloody Gordie! I'm not here to see him! Anyway, like I said, my relationship with Melony is…interesting, I suppose. I guess she just feels bad for me not really having a mom. That, and I guess I always yearned for having an older woman pay attention to me, so I may have…purposefully been extremely needy around her as a child, and she probably noticed. She probably noticed how I would go from bright and bubbly around Dad to suddenly down in the dumps and desperately needing to be held around her. Melony's the closest thing to a mom I have. She and Dad are very close friends, so it makes sense. But..sometimes I feel like I overstep my boundaries. Even as a teen, I still tend to act this way around her. And I think she's too nice to tell me to stop. But Melony's a Gym Leader…we're coworkers now.
I made my way to Circhester Stadium, but once I scanned my new card and entered, I didn't have to go far. The Gym Leader herself was standing right in the lobby. Once Melony saw me, a smile spread across her face and she signaled for me to come over and talk to her, just as she would when I was a child and would go crying to her.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Pokémon League's official photographer! It's always nice to see another parent-child duo in the League," Melony said, though there was a hint of bitterness in her voice. She had a major falling out with Gordie a while back, so maybe that was the reason?
"Yeah…Dad hasn't really talked about it much, but I've never really said anything to him, either. Raihan said that he probably knows, but I'm not sure," I said.
"Oh, trust me, Maddie. Your father knows full well. Actually, we had a conversation on the phone not too long ago. He, my husband, and I have had extensive conversations about this over the past few months. We really think that you'll flourish, and you know I don't say that to just anyone. For the chairman to hire you at such a young age…Love, I fully believe that you were born to be a photographer," Melony said, a warm smile on her face. I blushed again. What was with all the bloody compliments today? I can't take it!
"Really? Thanks, Melony," I stuttered, trying to smile but also trying to make my face look less…red. Once again, I resembled a tomato more than a human.
"It's nice to see, actually. You're taking a vastly different path in life than your father, but you two still get along so well. He's so, so proud of you. Your relationship with him…inspires me, I suppose. I often wish that my Gordie and I were more like you two…but I suppose we have different plans. But regardless, he's my son, and I still love him. I just wish he would stop by from time to time," Melony said, a hint of bitterness coming back as she said this. Well, that just made me feel bad.
"Oh…I'm sorry you feel that way, Melony," I replied a bit sheepishly. I didn't really know what to say. I'm not good with family conflict or anything like that! I'm really not even part of her family!
"But, that's nothing that you should be worrying about, sweetheart. I just want you to know how proud I am of you as well. I watched you grow up, and now, here you are, formaally recognized by the chairman. Even if he is your godfather, it's still an amazing feat," Melony said with a smile, outstretching her arms. Without hesitation, I went in and hugged her. Physical touch is my love language, and it was nice to have someone who didn't show their affection through selfies, headlocks, and throwing me into hot springs.
"Ms. Melony," a League Rep from the stadium said, "I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but we need your approval for some Gym Challenge advertisements that are going into circulation tonight."
"Oh, you do? Well, I'll be over shortly. Maddie, we're both awfully busy women now, so I'll let you go. Though, as a little treat, meet me at Bob's around suppertime. Your father will be there, too. He and I want to congratulate you more," she said. I excitedly thanked her and headed out, staying in Circhester for a little longer before heading to my next destination.
BALLONLEA- OPAL
Ah, Ballonlea! A city that has captured the hearts of many. But to me, it's sickening. Literally. There's a special kind of mushroom that grows in Glimwood Tangle and Ballonlea…and I happen to be terribly allergic to them. As beautiful as they are, they turn my brain into soup. I can't think straight, the world spins, and I end up passing out. The episode I have depends on the mood I'm in, but it all has the same effect. It can be pretty dang dangerous too. One time I made the mistake of going into Glimwood Tangle and I ended up passing out, waking back up, and continuing the cycle until I finally stumbled my way to Stow-on-Side until someone finally thought to call Dad. Yeah, the forest is bad for me, so that's why I called a taxi. At least in the city, there's people around in case I end up collapsing.
However, the moment I arrived in Ballonlea, my mind immediately started clouding up again…the allergic reaction's first stage. I tried to make my way to the stadium the best I could, which was hard, considering that I was entering some Arceus-forsaken stage of euphoria. Most times I just kinda gave in, but dangit, today was different! I had something to do! The chairman had given me a task, and by gosh, I was going to do it! I pressed on, but by the time I got to the stadium, I was getting clumsier, tripping over myself, and stumbling around like some kind of drunk maniac. Though, I did manage to throw myself through the door.
Once I was in the stadium, I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief as I inhaled the fresh air. I didn't want to look like some kind of lunatic in front of Opal, so I decided to keep my eyes closed and let the allergies subside, but by the time I opened them, I saw that she was now staring directly at me, which made me jump. When did she even get here? A lot of people have started rumors that Opal isn't human, and sometimes I believe them. She could probably sense that I was coming. Heck, she probably knew that I was coming to Ballonlea before I did.
"Ah, I was expecting you, Little Miss Castellana. Though, you should really tell me before you decide to pay me a visit. You wouldn't want to sneak in and end up giving little old me a heart attack, would you?" Opal asked. I was still loopy, but the way she talked made me feel even loopier. I felt like I just woke up after being operated on or something.
"I'm sorry, Opal. Though, if you were expecting me, then why would you have a heart attack?" I asked, though my speech was a bit slurred and some words didn't come out right. Opal promptly ignored my question.
"Oh, dear…seems that the Ballonlea air's starting to get to you. I nearly forgot about your poor little allergies. Come sit down. I'll treat you to some tea, then we can chat," Opal said, hobbling her way further into the building. I quickly followed her.
"Now, tell me about this fancy new role that the chairman gave you," Opal said, taking a sip of her tea. It was still piping hot! How in the world did she not burn herself?
I explained the day's previous events to her, just as I had to everyone else. But…it was kinda hard for me to read her expression. Even when she's neutral, Opal always smiles. I really couldn't tell if she was happy for me or if she really didn't care.
"Well, I'll be! League Photographer? That Rose, always innovating for the sake of the League. We wouldn't have even thought about something like that when I first started out. I guess photography really has evolved since dinosaurs roamed the earth when I was a child," Opal teased.
"I suppose it has! I'm honestly a little surprised that he hasn't thought about doing something like this before. I mean, we've always had photographers, but they're usually outsiders. I'm honestly not sure why this year he suddenly decided we needed one…it seems kinda out of the blue, to be honest. I didn't even know that he was considering it until he came up and asked me if I wanted to do it," I said, finally taking a sip of my own tea. Sweet and milky, just how I like it.
"Well, I'm sure he knows what he's doing, Little Miss Castellana. Since when has he ever done something BAD for the League?" Opal cackled. The tone of voice she said that in…it was strange. She sounded as if she knew something that I didn't. She sounded…a little foreboding? I wanted to be confused, but then again, it's Opal.
"It's such a pleasure to sit down, have tea, and chat with such a fresh, young flower like yourself, Little Miss Castellana. I do have to thank you for taking the time to have tea with this old wrinkle. Just don't go around snapping pictures of me all day. Nothing against you, but you know I don't fancy being photographed too often," Opal said after some more tea and some more conversation. Despite her strange energy, she's easy to talk to. We talked about a ton of things. Pokémon, photography, and Galarian life in general.
"The pleasure is all mine, Opal! I had a lovely time sitting with you. I'd love to pay you some more visits in the future!" I smiled. Yeah, she's a bit scary sometimes, but she's a very nice lady if you actually take the time to sit and talk to her.
"I would love that, dear. Best of luck with the new job. Please, stay here until that taxi of yours comes. I don't want those mushrooms getting to you again," Opal said. It would be nice to stay just a bit longer, though I primarily agreed because I didn't want to get all loopy again. Once the taxi arrived, I said goodbye to Opal,, quickly getting into the cab before the spores could make my brain go numb again. Well, onto the next destination.
STOW-ON-SIDE- ALLISTER
Once I arrived in Stow-on-Side, I took a huge breath. I mean, the desert here is pretty stuffy, but at least it feels better than breathing in funky mushroom air and going insane. Stow-on-Side isn't really a city I visit much, mainly because it isn't super popular for photography and it's pretty dry, but Allister is a very close friend, so I try to stop by and visit sometimes.
I made my way to the stadium, scanning my card and making my way to the back. Allister won't come to me…I knew that I'd have to go to him. But that wouldn't be very hard. I knew where he'd be. I know where he hides.
"Al?" I called, opening the door to the locker room and stepping inside. The lights were off, and considering that the locker room doesn't have windows for obvious reasons, the place was shrouded in darkness. There was this kind of eerie presence that filled the air. I'll admit it, I felt kinda spooked. "Al?" I called again. No response.
I was going to call out to him again after some more silence, but before I could even open my mouth, I felt a huge, hot tongue run up my back, as well as the loud, booming laugh of a Gengar that pierced the room's silence. Of course. That thing really gets a kick out of picking on me.
"Gengar…be nice…" I heard a soft, boyish voice mumble. Definitely Allister's. I watched as some kind of shadowy figure shuffled through the room before the lights flickered on. Al was standing there, holding his mask in his small hand. He was there the whole time?! This child's going to be the death of me.
If I'm being honest, I have no idea how Allister and I even met. Honestly, he just….appeared one day. There's just this point in my memories where he just started showing up. I have no clear memories of actually meeting him. Sometimes I swear that he shows up in pictures that didn't have him in them before. There's been so many times where I've asked myself if he's even real.
"I'm sorry about him…he just really likes you, is all. He must see what I see…" Allister said, burying his head in my chest. He's…kind of a troubled child, to put it kindly. He's an extremely talented Trainer, but a lot of people consider him a bit problematic. Around me, he's pretty grabby and clingy. He doesn't really show many signs of attachment towards other people, but for some reason, I'm an exception. I first thought that he was so clingy because I'm a bit chubby and he liked the squishiness, which embarrassed the heck out of me, but now I think it's more than that. I think it's because I remind Al of his mom. He doesn't talk about his parents a lot, as he lost them at a pretty young age in some kind of tragic accident, or so it's said. He always tends to grab at my chest and bury his face in it. Don't get weird ideas in your head…he's ten. And I'm sixteen. I've theorized that he remembers clinging onto his mother's chest when he was just a little lad, and because I remind him of her, it just makes him feel comfortable when he does it. Yeah, it's a little weird, but if it'll give the poor kid a single ounce of happiness, he can do it all he wants. So if he is being a little perv, he sure has me fooled. I doubt it, though.
"Well, I'm assuming you already know the news, considering that you seem to know every single aspect of my life," I teased, gently stroking his hair, which made him lean into me even more. He didn't say anything, but I saw a small nod.
"Now, the Gym Challenge starts in a few days, and I want you to do a huge favor for your best friend Maddie and cooperate with me. I still feel like I need to prove myself to the chairman…and especially his bloody demon of an assistant," I chuckled a bit nervously.
"Oh…please don't tell me you're going to try and make me take my mask off for the photos…all the photographers that the chairman brings in try to get me to do it. It's starting to make me mad," Al mumbled, looking up at me. I saw some kind of freaky hatefulness flash in his eyes as he said the last part. It was super brief, but it still creeped me out. He then reverted back to the soft-spoken and somewhat lethargic young boy I know and love. He leaned into me once more.
"Oh, what am I saying? I know that you'd never make me do that. You care about me," he said, hugging me even tighter. This kid seriously has an iron grip. He could probably break a few of my ribs if he tried hard enough. I mean, it wouldn't be super hard, considering that bloody Raihan already broke one.
"I won't make you, Al. I can promise you that," I smiled, beginning to stroke his hair again. Yes, I want to be good to him and respect his boundaries, but at the same time, I'm also not ready to have Allister curse me or something. He stood there motionless for a while, seemingly taking in my warmth, considering that he seems to have a bit of trouble taking in his own sometimes. He's ice cold all the time, I swear. Though, it couldn't last forever…I soon had to tell him that I needed to head out.
"Promise me you'll still come and visit me sometimes. It's not often that I want company…but I want you…" Al said, seemingly having to force himself to get off of me. As Gengar rejoined him, he looked like he was considering putting his mask on, but he decided against it, at least for a little while longer.
"Of course, Al. You're my little buddy, after all. I'll try to come and see you when I can!" I smiled brightly, gently ruffling his hair. He smiled back, which melted my heart. Yeah, he's a little spooky, but he's a sweet kid.
"Okay…that makes me feel better, then. Just turn the light out when you leave, okay?" Al said, giving me one last hug and giving my cheek a little kiss. I then did as he asked, leaving the dusty desert town for my next destination.
MOTOSTOKE- KABU
In just a few days, I'll be here taking photos of the year's Gym Challengers. The thought's pretty frightening, but also oddly energizing. Motostoke's a pretty average-sized town, and it's one that I'm relatively used to, considering that it's incredibly close to the Wild Area, which is a place I frequent very often. When I find myself horribly exhausted and don't want to deal with Raihan's shenanigans over in Hammerlocke, I find myself in Motostoke.
Still, Kabu makes me kinda nervous. I know that they're not related…like at all, but he kinda reminds me of an old man version of Dad. I have no idea why I thought they looked so alike when I was a child, considering that they're completely different races and came from different backgrounds, but to my stupid kid brain, I thought they looked so alike that I thought he was my grandpa. And I called him Pappy Kabu. And I don't know why I did! I KNOW my grandpa on Dad's side! I love my Nonno Romano very much! I've never claimed to be smart. Seriously, I never have.
But…I guess that things were different when I was a kid. He seemed to get a kick out of me calling him that, so he let me do it. I guess I just always thought he was sad and needed cheered up because he never smiled. I didn't realize that he's just a pretty stern person. He was gentle with me when I was a wee little lass, but if I were to call him Pappy Kabu now, he'd probably slap me.
Trying to hide the nervousness, I made my way to the stadium and did my thing. In just a few days, I'd be here once more, finally starting off my official job. The League Reps were beginning to decorate for the occasion. I could sense that excitement was at an all-time high. But…where was Kabu? I made my way to the Rep who seemed to be in charge of the preparations, lightly tapping on his shoulder. Once he turned around, he gave me a wide smile.
"Ah, Photographer Castellana! Ms. Oleana told me you'd be coming! What can I do for you?" He asked. Well, as evil as she is, she sure is good at getting the word around, I suppose. It felt like everyone knew me already. But then again, I guess that was best, considering that League Reps probably wouldn't appreciate some random barging into the stadium and demanding to see the Gym Leader.
"Hello! Would you happen to know where Kabu's at?" I asked.
"Oh, he went out on a jog earlier. He should be coming back any minute now, though," the Rep replied. Motostoke Stadium is a bit different than the others, so whilst we waited for the Gym Leader's return, he decided to give me a small tour, giving me the information I needed to know for the opening ceremony.
"This is where you'll be, photographer. I'm sure that Chairman Rose has told you about this already, but as part of the opening ceremony, you'll be snapping official photos of this year's participants. Mr. Rose is so excited to have an official photographer, so I really hope you'll take this job seriously!" The Rep said. I promised him that I would. Money definitely isn't an incentive here, considering that…honestly, I don't get paid very well, especially for an official League job, but I've always wanted to make a career out of photography…and here I am! I'm really hoping that if I do a good job, Chairman Rose will raise my pay a little, but that's not important, at least for now. I'm still young. Dad still provides for me.
Whilst I looked around my post, I heard the doors to the stadium open. One of the League Reps said that I was here and that I had been looking for him…the "him" in question had to be Kabu! I made my way to the entrance, where Kabu stood, wiping some sweat from his forehead with his towel. While he still didn't smile, he seemed…kind of happy to see me. As I grew up, we started seeing each other less and less, so it's definitely been a while.
"Hello, Photographer Castellana. You look well," Kabu said, opening his water bottle and taking a rather large drink.
"No need for formalities, Kabu! You can just call me Maddie," I said with a smile. "You look very well yourself. The chairman recommended I come and visit you before the Gym Challenge officially starts."
"Ah, I see. I must say, it's very impressive for someone your age to be formally recognized by the chairman, and even more impressive for someone your age to be given a professional position. I must congratulate you. I think that if you work hard enough, you really will thrive. Though, I expect nothing less than greatness from John's daughter," Kabu replied with a nod. Ah…John's daughter. So…he only thinks I can do well because of Dad?
"Thank you, Kabu. Your words mean a lot to me," I said. Minus the last part, I appreciated the praise. Kabu's pretty stingy with compliments, so I knew that his words were genuine. Maybe deep down in his heart, he still feels some kind of love for me…the same love he felt for me when I was but a wee lass and called him Pappy Kabu. Maybe someday, he'll be able to break his façade of being shallow and at least give me a smile.
"Well, Miss Castellana, I'm terribly sorry, but I have some work to do with Mila today. Excuse me, I must be going," Kabu said bluntly before pacing off. Well, there goes that idea. Who the heck is Mila? And why does he call her by name and not me?! Maybe he doesn't actually like me…
'Well, I'll just try again some other time…' I thought as I left the stadium. I don't want to give up on Kabu, though. I like to think that I can make anyone warm up to me, but with him? I really don't know.
HULBURY- NESSA
I then left Motostoke and made my way to Hulbury. Hulbury's a pretty nice city. I love the salty sea air, the market, the incredible food at the Captain's Table, and the homely atmosphere that the city gives off. It's a breath of fresh air compared to a place like Motostoke, with its smoky air and…unfeeling Gym Leaders.
Nessa's not a Gym Leader that I know super well. I mean, I know her, everyone in bloody Galar does, but I've never really seen her in person. She's undoubtedly the most popular Gym Leader in Galar with men and women alike. I often stumble across her beauty and fitness vlogs, accompanied by their millions of views and borderline unhinged comments, when I surf the Internet. I have an account myself where I upload music-related stuff, such as song remixes (mainly sped-up remixes of Piers songs, to be honest…) and demo tapes that I find at charity shops, but I'm no Nessa, that's for sure. I don't want anyone to find out that I'm behind the channel. If Piers finds out that I'm the one who keeps doing that to his music, he'll probably kill me. And as for Nessa…I was actually pretty nervous to meet her. As stupid as it sounds, I'm terrified of pretty girls. She's a woman known for her beauty, and I'm…not. I'm pretty ugly, to be honest.
I wanted to make an excuse to not go in. I wanted to skip Hulbury and just head straight to Turffield and see Milo. Listen, it's not that I don't have experience with pretty girls. Sonia's pretty. My friend Emma is very pretty. But Nessa? She's like…advanced levels of pretty. And she's friends with Sonia! Sonia loves me, but she probably only tells Nessa about when I act like a little gremlin around her, especially when it comes to things like bra shopping. But I'M not the little gremlin when it comes to bra shopping, Sonia is the one who goes absolutely feral. I swear, that's where I wear baggier clothes around her. But, against my better judgement, I made my way to the stadium. Of course, the League Rep was able to recognize me, thanks to the Devil Woman.
"Good afternoon, photographer! If you're looking for Nessa, she's probably at the lighthouse!" She told me. I thanked her, making my way out of the stadium as quickly as I'd gone in. Arceus had given me a second chance to run away and bolt to Turffield, but…pleasing the chairman is my driving force. No matter how Nessa treated me, I wanted to make him proud. I still do.
Once I got close to the lighthouse, I didn't have to look for Nessa, considering that I bumped into her almost immediately. If I would have been patient and waited about five minutes, I could have met her in the stadium. She seemed to be walking back. We made eye contact. While she waved at me, I felt like I was going to turn inside out.
"Hey there! If it isn't the new photographer! I've been waiting to finally meet you in person," Nessa said with a smile, extending a hand. I nervously took it. She's…way more attractive in person.
"Yeah…you too. It's nice to meet you, Nessa. My name's Maddie," I introduced myself to her, my pale, clammy hand shaking hers. My stutter had gone into overdrive during this conversation. I probably sounded deranged.
"Nice to meet you, Maddie. You probably already know this, but I'm Nessa. It'll be great to have another girl around here. Sonia's been telling me about you, y'know!" Nessa smiled. My heart felt like it was going to stop. She…was still talking? Why? Can she not see that I'm a mess?
"So, uhh…what has Sonia been telling you about me?" I asked as the two of us began to walk back to the stadium. The last time I even talked to Sonia, she was trying to find a bra that fit me properly and I was throwing a temper tantrum because she kept making me try them on. That's one of the perks of having a single dad. Ever since I met Sonia, she's been a mom friend. And to her, this includes doing things that a mom would usually do.
"Only good things! She thinks that the three of us should get together and have a girls' night sometime!" Nessa said with a smile. Girls' night?! I'm barely hanging on here! Just talking to her made my heart feel like it was going to burst. Well, I suppose she's…just trying to befriend me to make things easier. I mean, I'm not opposed to that or anything.
"Oh, sure! I'd love that. I never turn down an opportunity to have fun, after all," I chuckled sheepishly. Nessa could 100 percent tell that I was nervous. I was sweating up a storm. That's obviously why she was being so gentle with me.
"You know, Maddie, I see the start of something great between us! I think that we're going to become great friends. From what Sonia's told me about you, you need some strong women in your life…and what better option than myself?" Nessa bragged as we finally arrived at the stadium. I couldn't help but blush. Sonia said that? Way to talk behind my back.
"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to getting to know you," I replied. It's…a half-lie. She seems nice enough, but I'm still terrified of her. I was agreeing with her so I wouldn't make her mad. She could probably kick me to the moon and back if she wanted to.
"So, where are you heading next?" Nessa asked.
"I'm actually heading to Turffield next. It's going to be my last stop for the day."
"Oh, that means you'll be visiting Milo next! If you haven't met him before…don't even think about being afraid of him. He may look like a big old brute, but he's gentle. Home-grown farm boy, if you ask me. Tell him I said hello…and that he still owes me a battle," Nessa huffed, giving me a gentle pat on the back before heading back into the stadium. My heart finally felt like it wasn't going to explode anymore. I can't talk to someone that pretty again. I just can't.
TURFFIELD- MILO
Ah, Turffield! Quite the quaint little town if you ask me. Gotta love it. The rustic atmosphere, the farm life, and, of course, the McGee Berry Orchard. If I end up leaving Circhester when I'm on my own, I'll probably live in Turffield. I'm not a farmer…like, at all…but it just seems nice! I smiled as I took a deep breath and let the fresh, crisp air enter my lungs.
Now, I know that Nessa clearly told me not to be afraid of Milo, but I can't help myself. I've always been a little…intimidated by his physical form. Yeah, Leon and Raihan have muscles, but Milo is on a whole different level of built. He's calm, but when he eventually snaps and punches the first thing he sees, it isn't going to be me. He's calm, but he's a little…too calm.
Though, Milo's pretty popular in Turffield. He's a hardworking farmer, Gym Leader, and a whole-hearted Wooloo lover. He takes exceptional care of the people and Pokémon in Turffield and is in a relationship with Peaches McGee, the daughter of the Berry Orchard's owners. They seem to be happy, but still, I'm a bit of a wary person. If there's someone who would be unfortunate enough to see Milo's bad side, it would probably be me.
There was a group of people by the stadium, so I assumed that Milo was nearby. I heard a lot of laughter and cheerful banter coming from the group…I didn't want to ruin everything! Was I really going to go and ruin everything? Should I wait?
I decided to walk down and eavesdrop. I didn't plan on inserting myself, I just wanted to see what they were talking about. I heard a multitude of things, such as farming, the weather, the Gym Challenge…stuff like that. I hid behind a few people, not wanting to be seen, though a few smiled at me and encouraged me to go up to the front. They assured me that Milo wasn't mean, but I preferred to stay in the back.
"I got an email from the chairman saying that he finally got to hiring a photographer this year. From what Ness told me, she's very kind, but a little on the awkward side. She should be arriving here pretty soon," Milo eventually said. I sunk. First of all, ouch. A little on the awkward side?! I should have known that Nessa was only being nice to me as an act. A little on the awkward side! That's just mean! Secondly…I'd been spotted. Instead of storing my camera in my bag like a normal freaking person, I had mine around my neck.
"Come, dear. Don't be like that. He's not mean," an elderly woman from the crowd said, trying to nudge me forward. I tried to resist, preferring to stay in the back, but my foot ended up slipping and I tripped and fell right in front of Milo. I mentally cursed the old lady who caused me to trip. Everyone was looking at me now. Well, the photographer's here.
As soon as Milo saw me, a smile spread across his face and he extended a hand. His is around…three times the size of mine. "Hi there! We were just talking about you! I knew you'd show up soon," Milo said cheerfully, helping me up once I took his hand. He probably has the strength to break every single bone in my hand just by squeezing it tight enough, but he was gentle with me. In fact, his fingers were barely around me, but he was strong enough to practically lift me up with just one hand. I always saw Milo as someone who doesn't know his own strength, but this little interaction, at least in my opinion, proved otherwise.
"Nice to meet you! I just got off the phone with Nessa not too long ago. She told me good things about you! You're…Maddie, right?" Milo asked. Okay, I want to know what Nessa said about me. It's freaking me out.
"Yep, Maddie. It's nice to meet you too, Milo," I said, brushing the dirt off my pants.
"Well, Maddie, it's my pleasure to introduce you to some of the residents of Turffield as well! Here in Turffield, we're all family. When you work with me, chances are you'll be working with some of them, too. We're all friendly, so no need to worry!"
"All right…that's good to know," I said, sheepishly waving at the farmers surrounding me. I know earlier I said that I felt more sheepish than a herd of Wooloo, but at this moment, I felt more sheepish than every single Wooloo and Dubwool in Turffield combined. Just a big, fat sheep.
"So, Milo, are you prepared for the Gym Challenge? I imagine that we'll be seeing this young lady in Turffield again very soon," one of Milo's friends from the crowd said. Hey, he's right. With my role as League Photographer, I am to follow the challengers throughout Galar's stadiums. Early in the challenge, I'll just be getting shots of the first few people to challenge the Gym Leader, but as the Galarian people start to latch onto specific Trainers, I'll be keeping up with them instead. Since Milo's the first Gym Leader, Turffield will be my first destination. From what Dad and Raihan told me, once people get to the fourth Gym Leader, Allister in this case, people start to form their opinions.
"You bet! Though it doesn't take much preparation with me. I'm kind of a pushover compared to the others, but I've learned to come to terms with it over time," Milo smiled, rubbing the back of his head. My sheepish energy must have been rubbing off on him or something. "But what about you, Maddie? This is going to be your first Gym Challenge! Are you ready?"
"I'm pretty much as ready as I can get," I said with yet another sheepish grin. "I'm definitely a little nervous, but that's probably because I don't know what to expect!" After a bit more conversation, it was suppertime, so most of the crowd decided to go home to their families. Remembering that I was supposed to meet Melony and Dad at Bob's for supper, I said goodbye to Milo. He told me that he was actually going out with some friends for supper as well, as well as how I should stop by and say hello to Peaches and get one of her famous Berry Biscuits, the Orchard's best-seller.
Wanting one of those delicious biscuits, I made my way to the McGee house, said hello to Peaches, and got not one, but two morsels of fresh-baked, flaky, buttery goodness. If there's something to know about me, it's that I have a massive sweet tooth. I'm a huge chocoholic, just like Dad, but my absolute favorite sweet is candied Slowpoke tails. Well, I suppose I'm biased, considering that Slowpoke tails are my favorite food…ever. That's probably what I'll get at Bob's. After devouring the biscuits (hey, they're best warm!), I thanked the McGee family one last time and headed back to Circhester.
SUPPER
Once I was back in Circhester, I made my way to Bob's. It's known as one of the best steak restaurants in all of Galar, but to be honest, it isn't all that high-end. It's a pretty small place, but everyone in Circhester absolutely adores it. I swear Gordie eats there every single day.
Once I walked in, the hostess gave me a kind smile. "Maddie, is it?" She asked, despite the fact that I didn't recognize her. Dad probably gave her a description or something.
"That's right, it's Maddie."
"Everyone else is already at the table. Follow me, please," she said, leading me to the table where I expected to see Dad and Melony. However, I quickly realized that they weren't the only ones there. Leon was there. All of the Gym Leaders, minus Piers, were there. Everyone that I'd talked to today…and Dad. My face flushed.
"About time ya got here, Squish! I'm STARVING," Raihan said, giving me a pat on the back as I took my seat. He was to my left while Al was to my right. I was sitting directly across from Dad and Melony.
"It's good to see you again, Maddie," Al said, leaning down and putting his head on my shoulder. I smiled and put my arm around him while we ordered our drinks. Honestly, it's nice to have everyone around. I usually get pretty lonely around this time, considering that everyone starts going back to work after the off-season…but now, I'll get to see them all throughout the Gym Challenge! I'll get to be around people instead of staying home with Mezuma all day. Oh, Mezuma! He's…my only Pokémon. A lot of people are surprised when I say I have an Urshifu, but he just kinda…stumbled into my life. But he was relatively low-key today. I felt bad for keeping him in his ball most of the day, but I had a lot of traveling to do.
"Mads, I just want to let you know how proud we are of you! Getting hired by the Pokémon League at such a young age is no small feat. I know that I've entrusted Rose to take my place were something to ever happen to me, and he has taken his role as your godfather very seriously, but I want you to know that his affection for you is not the reason he hired you. He hired you because you're an exceptional photographer who works very hard. Yes, your print shop is small, but I know that many people appreciate your work. Anyone who goes to the Wild Area's website can see your work firsthand. Maddie, you're a truly talented young lady, and I'm so glad that I'm able to call myself your father," Dad said, obviously trying not to tear up. Everyone seemed to agree…even people like Kabu.
As stupid as it sounds, I guess I didn't realize how much my life revolves around my photography. It really is a passion, so making a career out of it really is going to be incredible. Like Dad said, I do occasionally sell some prints on a website I made. Not huge, but I do have a couple buyers occasionally. That, and the folks who run the Wild Area's website occasionally commission me to take photos of the area for them, probably because I've been there almost every day since I got Mezuma, which was about two years ago. I've been portraying myself as some random photographer that Chairman Rose hired on a whim, but I'm…really not. I'm not huge, but I'm known. And I think that's awesome.
"Y'know, Mads," Leon started, "I can remember when you first started taking pictures. You were about six years old and your dad got you that little toy camera for Christmas. When your dad came to give Hop and me our presents, you were so happy to show me all the pictures you took of Froggy," he said with a chuckle. Froggy's a stuffed Politoed that my Nonna Estrella gave me when I was born. He's a little rough around the edges, but I still have him.
"Then afterward, you tried to get good pictures of me and Charizard, but you got upset with Hop because he kept trying to join, too. And then eventually, you gave up and let him in," Lee continued. I couldn't help but smile.
"That doesn't surprise me. Little Squish was a dictator when she tried to take pictures," Raihan responded, ruffling my hair. "She'd bark and bark at me if there was a single hair on my head that was out of place. She'd take about twenty different photos before she finally found one she could tolerate. And this is before I was a Gym Leader! If she did that to one of her friends, I'd hate to think of what she'd do to an actual Gym Leader at the time."
"Oh, it wasn't that bad. Even as a kid, I had standards! I'm sorry that I didn't want you to ruin a good shot by sticking your tongue out or lifting your shirt up," I teased, nudging him.
"Your loss," he replied, also teasingly.
"So, do you guys know any of the Gym Challengers yet?" I asked. I assumed that Dad would know one, considering that he sponsors a Spikemuth kid every year. So, of course, he was the first one to speak.
"All of the kids in Spikemuth are incredible. It was pretty hard for me to choose this year, but I ended up going with Emile. I was going to choose Marnie, but all in all, Emile showed me incredible strength and deep devotion to his Pokémon. Don't get me wrong, Marnie's definitely a promising young girl, but I feel as if she's still a bit too young. She'll definitely be in consideration next year," Dad smiled. Though, I felt pretty bad. Marnie seemed really hopeful when I was talking to her back in Spikemuth. I don't know Emile very well, but from what I do know of him, he has a Duskull and an Applin. He really likes Mezuma.
"That's probably why Piers didn't show up. He's mad, isn't he?" I asked.
"Nah, he's just antisocial, is all. When I spoke to him about who I was choosing, he seemed to agree with me. He wants Marnie to join the Gym Challenge when she's at her full potential, and he agreed that giving her another year will work out better for her. He really wants to see her at least get to the Champion Cup," Dad replied. I still couldn't shake off the fact that Piers was mad at me, though.
"Hop's been wanting to join the challenge, too. He asked if I could sponsor him this year, but I guess I'm in the same boat as Piers. Hop just isn't a good battler yet. He's passionate about Pokémon, that's for sure, but he just can't figure himself out. Trust me, I'd love nothing more than to battle my own little brother in a televised match, but he's still too young. He promised me that he's gonna work super hard this year so he'll knock my socks off next year," Lee said with a smile. For Marnie I had hopes, but Hop? I have some doubts. He's around Marnie's age, so he's about two years younger than me. His only real Pokémon is a Wooloo, but then again…I have an Urshifu of all things and have no idea how to battle. I guess I shouldn't be judging him. Hey, for all I know, he could have his moment and end up whooping Leon.
"Other than those few, we don't really know who signed up. We usually don't meet them until the opening ceremony…or until they come to challenge us, if they make it that far," Nessa chimed in.
"Well, kudos to them for trying it. I don't think I'll ever have the courage to do something like joining the Gym Challenge," I replied.
"Different people are meant to do different things, Little Miss Castellana. Not being fit for the Gym Challenge or not wanting to participate is nothing to be ashamed of. If you did choose to participate, you wouldn't be sitting here with us," Opal smiled, taking a sip of her tea. Well, that made me feel a bit better, at least.
"Opal's right, Maddie. You're not very fond of battling, we know, but that doesn't mean that you're not a capable Trainer. I know that you struggle, but I also know that you want the best for that Urshifu of yours," Melony said.
"And trust me, Mads," Dad said with a smile, "he's a strong Pokémon. If he didn't want to be with you, he'd just up and leave. You've treated him with nothing but love and kindness. I remember how you practically begged both me and Rose to let you keep him, but you didn't want to catch him until he was absolutely sure he wanted to be with you. You and that bear of yours have loved each other since the day you met. He trains not to battle others, but to defend his beloved Trainer with everything he has." Everyone was complimenting me! I didn't deserve it! I couldn't help but gush. It felt nice, but it was so….embarrassing!
This night is one I'll remember for a long time. I honestly wasn't expecting everyone to be so nice to me. Any timidity that I felt seemed to wash away, at least for the time being. They seemed to genuinely like me…even ones whom I hardly know, like Milo or Nessa. Whatever they see in me…they seem to like it. So I have that going for me, at least. Of course I ordered the Slowpoke tail, which I enjoyed immensely. It made the ideal night even more ideal. The only thing that would have made it better would be if Piers actually decided to show up so I could patch things up with him. But…I'm sure I'll see him during the Gym Challenge, so that's not much of a problem. After eating, we all went our separate ways, Dad and I choosing to settle down for the night.
"Y'know, I really think I can do this," I said, sitting on Mezuma's back as he was doing pushups. It's part of his nightly training. He usually does it in the basement where Dad keeps his old workout equipment, but for tonight, he just decided to do it in the living room.
"That's great," Dad said with a smile. "I think you can do it, too. After all, your coworkers really seem to like you. Did you hear the stuff they said over at Bob's?"
"Yeah, I did. I'm…flattered. Do ya really think they meant all that stuff? It was unexpected, that's for sure," I asked as Mezuma rolled over, letting me lie down on his belly.
"I think they did. You're not very hard to like, Mads. I think that's another reason why Rose hired you."
"Well, at least if all else fails, I'll still have you and Mezuma."
"That you will. I'll always be here to support you. Though…I think I'm headed to bed. I have a ton of stuff to do these next few days, and now that you're part of the League, I bet you do, too."
"I guess I do! I think I'll go down to the Wild Area and practice. I want my debut to be absolutely perfect!"
"I'd expect nothing less from you. I just want you to know one more time…how proud I am of you, Mads."
"Thanks, Dad. It really means a lot to me. G'night…Love ya."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Mads. Love you too."
With that, Dad headed upstairs to go to bed, and Mezuma and I weren't much longer. Once in my room, I flopped down on the bed, Mezuma taking his spot on the floor nearby. All in all, the day was a super long one, but it was good. I got myself all snug under the covers, said goodnight to Mezuma, and turned off the lights.