Asher's Team:

Lago - Rhydon

Sebastian - Nidoking

Selena - Nidoqueen

Seraph - Clefable

Death - Marowak

Colossus - Steelix

Clamps - Gligar

Ivor - Mamoswine

Jet - Flygon

It's times like this... where I wonder if becoming a Gym Leader was a good idea. It seemed like a good thought around two years ago when I took the job, but it ended up being much more different than I thought it would be.

Oh don't get me wrong, there are times where I love my job, however the demanding workload stacked on top of actually having a job made me sometimes wish that I'd not taken the responsibility which comes with the position.

One of which would be the fact that, unlike Giovanni, my Gym is actually open for any trainer with any amount of Gym badges. With Viridian City being as big as it was, and the amount of people who were starting their journeys in the city every year, that meant that, during those first few weeks, I was working non-stop with minimal breaks battling with nothing but one and two badge level pokemon.

It was mind numbing to say the very least. Most of them were also criminally terrible at battling in general, and I'm definitely going to end up doing something about the quality of Kanto's trainer's in the future.

Then there was also the fact that a ton of the other other Gym Leader's just didn't like me all that much. Not sure why, considering that I never did jackshit to any of them, but it wasn't much of a concern.

I could name a few more, but just one more example would suffice. Such the monthly meetup of the Kantonian Gym Leader's.

"Alright, now that we're all here, we can begin." The only Johtonian on the call, Lance as the recently crowned Champion, spoke with a voice that made my brain zone in on him, and I made an effort to give the guy my full attention as I joined on video using my computer.

Blaine complained out loud." It took ya long enough, what were you doing that was more important than taking your duties as a Gym Leader seriously, boy?"

I rolled my eyes in response." My name's Asher, not 'boy' you senile old coot. And, if you must know, there were a ton of Nidoking and Nidoqueen on route 22 were acting up for some reason, so I had to go and give my help where it was needed. So please do excuse me if the safety of my city is more important than being exactly on time for a meeting which we do every month, grandpa."

The grey haired man seemed to bristle at my words, but Lance cut off the possible argument by steering the conversation in a different direction." What do you mean they were acting up?"

I shrug in response." Exactly what that sounds like. Nidoking and queen can evolve naturally, but the process is very rare, and there were a horde of them heading right for Viridian. They weren't very strong, even by the standards of wild pokemon, but they were fighting like maniacs and I had to use a ridiculous amount of force to put them all down."

Lance's eyes seemed to sharpen at my words." Maniacs, and they all came from route 22?"

I nodded, thinking back to said encounter, and the dozens of Nidoking and Nidoqueen I had to defeat, and took in a breath as I gave my report." Yeah, after beating them I figured I'd catch a few to see what was wrong with them, and I've gotta say they were not healthy at all. Their scales were brittle and deformed, they were malnourished, and they were completely insane. Someone did something to them."

Gaining a thoughtful look, and pausing for a moment, Lance just said." Make sure to investigate what happened to them. Route 22 should be blocked off until someone gets to the bottom of this."

I nodded, already planning to do so anyway, and did my best to pay attention as the other Gym Leader's gave any reports they had worth of note. Yet, my eyes still found their way onto Sabrina as she sat and listened to our fellow pillars speak.

We hadn't exchanged a single word since that night two years ago, and the way I handled the entire situation back then did leave a bitter taste in my mouth that no amount of mouth was going to dilute. She be sixteen in a few months.

But, it was probably for the best that she stay away from me. I was still too weak, and the image of Giovanni standing over me as the three of them died was something I couldn't stop thinking about. About my arrogance and the horrible decisions I made.

I just couldn't help but wonder. What if... someone else died because of me? What if my weakness was enough to kill the people near me?

What if it was enough to kill her?

I had to cleanse myself of my weakness, my flaws, if I wanted her anywhere near me. She wasn't safe with someone like me.

"-At any rate, we've finally managed to carve Kanto and Johto's first links with Sinnoh, and we can expect to have them publicly connect with us in time for the next Gym circuit."

My eyes widened in shock at Lance's words, and what this meant for the whole region. Indigo and Sinnoh actually weren't that far away, in a plane it would probably take a few hours, but they'd refused to budge on the issue for years, and I wondered what changed their mind.

Flint was the first to comment." You're saying that in just four months a whole other region is gonna be accessible to the public?! What's Sinnoh like anyway? Are their trainers strong?"

Lance ignored the man, following up with another announcement." One of you will also need to be sent as an agent of Kanto in order to show the world the strength of our trainers. One of you will be in Sinnoh for a whole month before your return, think of it as us showing the world our strength as trainers of Indigo."

I frowned at that, not seeing the logic in sending one of us when an Elite Four member would definitely be a stronger showing, but I didn't need to answer as Lance elaborated on who would be going, his voice serious and steady.

"Asher, you are the best choice out of everyone here. You will be sent to Sinnoh in one week, prepare for your departure in Lavendar town by the coast."

I jumped at that, more than a little surprised by his words." I'm sorry what? You want me to go to Sinnoh?"

Lance just nodded as he began to explain why." Of course. You're easily the strongest Gym Leader in Indigo, and your young age will show the world what the next generation of Kanto's trainers will look like. You just need to show up, win a few battles, then head home. Simple as that."

I rubbed a hand across my face to soothe the eyebags that I could already feel forming above my cheeks. It's not that I didn't want to go to Sinnoh, but the amount of work I'd need to put in as an envoy for Indigo would probably suck the fun out of any trip I had planned. Would I even have enough time to catch any more pokemon?

Lance seemed to notice my clear lack of enthusiasm at the mention of such a task." If you're worried about the workload then you shouldn't be. You'll hardly need to do more than battle a few of their pillars, it'll be more of a vacation than anything else."

I took a moment to weigh the pros and cons.

I guess going to another region could be cool, plus there are a number of good ground-types in Sinnoh that would make good additions to my team... you know what-

"I'll do it." I decide, figuring that I could use the opportunity to improve as a trainer.

Lance merely nodded at my decision, looking satisfied with my answer as he continued speaking with the other pillars, rattling on about details to do with the implications of opening Indigo to Sinnoh.

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