Chapter 2 - Rough Start

Irena's face twisted as her uncle revealed Lucian's occupation. The Mayor extended a hand, which he took thankfully without noticing Irena. "A Gym Leader?! Are you mad?"

"Irena, please, just give him a -" before the mayor could finish she had turned to stomp away. He looked sad and slightly embarrassed. "Sorry, please forgive her, she…" he sighed and shook his head. "Anyway: let's show you the town, yes? I'm sure you'll want to see the gym and the house." The man put his hat back on and led Lucian through the town. They walked up to the Observatory, and right on in.

"Good morning, Mr Mayor." The receptionist said with a polite smile. "A guest today?" The mayor returned her smile and tipped his hat.

"Indeed. This is the new Gym Leader. Lucian here wanted a tour of the Gym." Her smile dropped, turning fake. She didn't even bother to mask her discomfort. "Lucian, this is Tyna. She runs the museum side of the Observatory, and will direct challengers towards the Gym." Tyna nodded slowly. Lucian nodded.

"It's good to meet you." He said. She said nothing in return. The Mayor cleared his throat and smiled. With a nervous chuckle, he led Lucian to the back of the Observatory. Underneath the massive telescope was a door leading into a massive, circular amphitheater. The room was in horrible condition - trash, graffiti, discarded gym badges and more. The walls and floors were cracked and damaged. None of the windows had any glass left.

"I…apologize for the state of the place. The temporary Gym Leader tried to clean it up a bit, but…he didn't stay long." The Mayor led him through the destroyed place. "I'll ask some of the townsfolk to help clean up. I believe there is a few months before the start of the next League Championship, so there is time to renovate."

"Don't worry, I can work on this myself." Lucian said, his heart dropping at the sight of the place. It felt cold and hostile. Even the Pokémon seemed to avoid this place. The mayor nodded and turned to leave.

"So, tell me, what made you want to be a Gym Leader?" The two men kept pace as they walked around the museum and Gym, looking at the extent of the damage and discussing possible renovations. "Surely one doesn't just up and decide that."

"I was a pretty avid trainer, loved it. I won the Kalos League Challenge after a few tries, and tried the Sinnoh League. I visited a few other regions, but didn't wasn't able to participate. But it was during the Kanto League Challenge a few years ago that I made up my mind. There was one leader I just couldn't beat. Just when I was about to give up on the challenge, he stopped me." Lucian chuckled and the mayor looked at him. "He said to me 'kid, you got guts, but guts alone won't win a war. Change up the battle plan'. After that, he offered to train me. Put me and my team through Hell, but at the end of it I was able to beat him. I want to help others become better trainers."

"I see. If you don't hold true to your convictions, what point is there to having them?"

"Exactly…so, what happened here?" He asked as they passed a broken building. The construction crew muttered some curses under their breath, and not even their Pokémon ventured more than a look towards him as he passed.

"There's a gang on this side of the region called 'The Crossbones'. They make their hideout in the desert to the southeast. They got into a disagreement with our last Gym Leader." The mayor didn't continue, and simply walked past the rubble. Lucian felt a deep sorrow from his words. Lucian decided to let the topic drop and continued following the mayor with the tour. The rest of the city seemed in good condition. A few shops, a full sized Poké Center, a daycare, and a plot of land reserved for a Contest Hall. The city was growing, and the people looked happy…well, as long as he wasn't involved.

The mayor finally brought Lucian to a house a short walk away from the Gym. He offered his hand to Lucian and smiled. "And here is your house. Welcome to Old Sun City." Mayer Wilkins handed him the key to the house. "Please make yourself at home. It's properly furnished, and if you need anything else let me know." Lucian was ready to call it a night, but just as he was about to say goodbyes, a girl ran up to the mayor. She had long red hair, and wore a school uniform. Two Pokéballs hung from her bag, and a rather large Slowpoke lumbered behind her.

"Grandpa, mom says…oh." The girl stopped mid run and stared at Lucian. Her gaze seemed to burn a hole into him.

"Ah, yes. This is my great-niece, Havila. This is Lucian, the -"

"Gym Leader. We don't need you. We don't want you. Just leave." Havila said plainly. Plenty of hate in her words, but hardly any emotion in her voice. She stood there, giving her Pokémon a chance to catch up. Irena was certainly better at hiding her displeasure. Mayor Wilkins was horrified. He put on a stern, fatherly look.

"Young lady, that is no way to talk to anyone, especially not a neighbor. Apologize to Lucian." The girl looked at him, then back to Lucian, then back to him.

"...dinner will be ready soon. Come home when you're done here." She turned and pat her Slowpoke. "Come on, Artemis, we're leaving." The Pokémon stared blankly ahead, a dopey smile on its face. Havila ran off.

"I'm so sorry, she's had it just as bad as her mother…" the Mayor looked on with sadness and fondness as the girl ran off. "It's not my right to say…but please, Lucian, be kind to them. Havila especially. I ask as her family, not the mayor." Lucian nodded slowly.

"I'll do my best."

"Good. Then, I'd best be going. Goodnight, Lucian.". The mayor left, patting the Slowpoke who hadn't budged an inch yet. Lucian turned to open the door, stopping and looking over his shoulder.

"You should go home now." The Pokémon didn't even blink. Lucian watched it for about a minute more.

"...mmmmmpoke…" it sighed before slowly turning around and trudging down the hill towards home. He entered his house and lay his Pokéballs out on the table. It was cozy - a small table, small kitchen, bed, TV, PC. He liked it, it reminded him of home. The yard was pretty big too. Maybe he would build a fence and small barn or something for his Pokémon. Lots of potential.

He sighed and sat on the edge of his bed. The looks and words of the people rattled around in his head as he unpacked his bag. The essentials, everything else would be coming tomorrow. But at least he was here, and he could sort everything else later. Once he was unpacked, he took Koffing with him to the Poké Center. The nurse greeted him warmly.

"Good evening, Leader Lucian. You're out late. What can we do for you?" She said, genuinely happy. He smiled and placed the Pokéball on the counter.

"My Koffing was hurt during a battle. I figure he'll need to spend the night." The nearby Blissy took the Pokéball over to a machine. As it beeped, the nurse looked over the readings.

"Not too badly, but quite tired. He'll be fine after a night of rest." She smiled. "So I assume it was you that helped Irena? Thanks to you, her Slowpoke will make a quick recovery." Lucian nodded and blushed a bit. He wasn't used to getting praise.

"I'm happy I could help."

"I'm Doctor Aisha. My nurse, Arron, had to leave for Unova but he should be back within a week or two. He's eager to meet you, actually. He spoke about watching your mock battle, and had nothing but good things to say about you." Lucian nodded and shook her hand. Once Koffing had been settled in, he left the center and started walking back home.

"Hey, leader!" A familiar voice called out. He turned and saw Havila with Artemis. She pointed an accusatory finger at him and shouted. Her face was determined, not angry. "I don't care what you did for mom, but I won't thank you!" She put her hands on her hip, Slowpoke standing up to mimic her actions. "We don't need a Gym Leader, and tomorrow I'm going to prove it. You and me will have a battle on Route 8." Lucian opened his mouth to try and talk to her but she didn't give him a chance. "One-on-one: bring your Ace and when you lose - just leave." She turned and ran off, prompting her Slowpoke to slowly waddle after her.

Lucian stood in the quiet street for some time, a small chuckle escaping his lips. Not how he expected his first challenge to be, but he had to make a good first impression. But what Pokémon was his Ace? He hadn't really thought about it, but looking back he guessed that all Gym Leaders had a signature Pokémon. He poured through the small batch of Pokémon he had brought with him. Each one was special to him, but some were pets. Others he had been with for awhile but they weren't very strong.

There was one, however. One that would qualify as his Ace. He grabbed a weathered Pokéball and rotated it in his hands. Kalos, one of his first and easily one of his best. This would be it - his Ace. Pangoro.