Roark was very disappointed.
The moment the Referee raised the flag, the Trainer standing across from him didn't first check on his Pokémon's condition or recall it; he just hung his head, wallowing in self-pity.
A Gym Leader's role isn't just to screen excellent Trainers, award Badges, and let those with Qualification join regional Tournaments.
Educating and guiding Trainers is also one of a Gym Leader's duties.
Roark became the Oreburgh Gym Gym Leader six years ago; there were seven competitors vying for the role at the time, and the strongest was chosen through Battle— that was the rule set by the duty Examiner that day, Elite Four Bertha.
Roark was lucky; his competitors weren't nearly as standout as him, and with his Solrock, he emerged victorious.
Bertha didn't immediately declare him Gym Leader; instead, she asked Roark what kind of Gym Leader he wanted to be.
At first, Roark thought Bertha meant Type and confidently answered Rock Type; then he saw Bertha's gaze and instantly understood her question.
Roark's desire to become a Gym Leader partly stemmed from spite; his father, Byron, was the Canalave City Steel Type Gym Leader, but before that, he'd been the Oreburgh City Gym Leader.
Byron casually handed the Oreburgh City Gym to Roark, went off alone to hunt Pokémon fossils, and then settled in Canalave City as its Gym Leader, ignoring his family still in Oreburgh City.
With no Gym Leader Experience, Roark's first year saw him deemed unfit by an inspector due to his Strength, so the Oreburgh City Gym underwent an evaluation overseen by Bertha.
From start to finish, his father Byron never once discussed Gym matters with Roark; much like his beloved Steel Type Pokémon, perhaps his heart was made of iron too.
"I want to guide Rookie Trainers a bit, help them avoid some detours."
Roark's answer held no falsehood; he'd suffered this way and knew how much less winding a path a Rookie Trainer could take with a little guidance when they stumbled.
This response prompted Bertha to pull out a Poké Ball.
Bertha's battle had no testing element; the Quagsire versus Solrock fight was utterly one-sided, with the only highlight perhaps being Solrock landing a heavy hit on Quagsire despite its Ice Beam.
After losing, Roark rushed onto the field in a panic to check Solrock's condition; seeing it was fine, he felt a bit wronged— he thought Bertha was bullying him.
Bertha, who could dethrone a Champion and rule the Sinnoh Pokémon League with overwhelming Strength yet refused to be Champion, used a Type-advantaged Pokémon to test a Gym Gym Leader; under such high standards, who could become a Gym Leader?
Surprisingly, Bertha personally handed the Oreburgh City Badge to Roark.
Years later, Roark was no longer that green youth; he knew he became Gym Leader because of his answer and his care for Pokémon.
Strength grows through tempering, but character isn't so easily changed.
"Take a good look at your Pokémon; they trust your decisions and stand here believing in your judgment; yet when the match ends, all you care about is winning or losing, not your Pokémon's condition?"
Roark's shout finally made the Trainer across from him tend to his Pokémon.
After the Trainer took his Pokémon away, the Gym's maintenance crew began repairing the Rock Type field; two more matches were booked today, and if the field wasn't ready before the challengers arrived, it'd clog up the Gym challenges.
During the break, Roark returned to the lounge to hydrate and recheck his Pokémon's status.
Thinking back to that last fight, Roark shook his head helplessly.
It was just too pitiful.
His Oreburgh Gym was rated one of the best for Rookie Trainers to start with, which initially thrilled Roark— it aligned with his goal of helping Rookie Trainers grow.
But gradually, he couldn't stay happy.
Tasked with guidance and education, he faced wave after wave of Trainers unfamiliar with their Pokémon, unable to care for them, obsessed with victory; mostly young, their sense of right and wrong and values still unformed, they caused constant farce.
Those who ignored their Pokémon's condition post-battle were the better ones; some couldn't even wait to leave the Gym before abandoning their captured Pokémon.
Roark, burdened with supervisory and teaching duties, didn't know what to do; watching an abandoned Pokémon stand tearfully, lost in the field, he lost the urge to reprimand that Pokémon Trainer.
There's no sorrow greater than a dead heart— that Pokémon Trainer was truly beyond saving.
If it were just a slip off a cliff, Roark wouldn't mind lending a tolerant hand as an elder to pull those Trainers up.
But they were jumping off cliffs on purpose— utterly irredeemable.
Taking in that abandoned Pokémon, then late at night silently writing "Recommend canceling Qualification" in the Pokémon League's Pokémon Trainer files— that's all Roark could do.
Roark knew the Pokémon Center near Eterna Forest was packed daily with Trainers scouring the woods for suitable Pokémon; blinded by utilitarianism, they fixated on trades, ignoring their own effort and Pokémon nurturing.
They boasted about being the next Cynthia, arrogance oozing as they looked down on everyone; after defeat, they doubted their Pokémon, the Gym Leader, others— never questioning if they were a worthy Trainer themselves.
They camped in the Gym's spectator seats daily, filming with phones, claiming they'd figure out their Battle Rhythm and study their weaknesses; days later, they'd return with entirely different Pokémon, brimming with Confidence, telling Roark they'd definitely snag the Badge this time.
Seeing it too often, Roark's advice to them dwindled to just in-battle encouragement and guidance— unless he met a Trainer he admired.
Thankfully, there were still plenty of Trainers with great character; recalling Ash and Paul, who left two months ago, Roark felt sticking to his principles was right.
Paul was harsh on his Pokémon, but it was clear he just over-pursued Strength; with guidance, he could get on track— just a matter of who and how.
Ash was pure— a kindhearted, excellent Trainer; given time, Roark believed he'd absolutely shine in the Champion Pokémon League.
The Gym's bell rang; field repairs were done.
Roark glanced at the computer's standby screen— a profile for a young man named Luther.
Nearly twenty-one, with a medical history of pokemon phobia, a Pokémon Trainer for less than a month, and no other data.
"A blank slate," Roark mused.
Roark prepped Geodude, Larvitar, and Graveler for battle.
He was lenient with Rookie Trainers' first Gym battles; unless their lineup was wiped out, forcing a swap he couldn't dodge, he'd stick to his carefully trained Pokémon.
Confidence is a Trainer's most vital asset; unlike other Gyms, since Oreburgh Gym was seen as a Rookie Trainer starting point, Roark couldn't go all-out every fight.
Crushing Rookie Trainers in seconds would be easy— bring out his backyard Lunatone, Solrock, Aggron, Probopass, Rhyperior, and who'd fear losing a Gym match?
Shattering a Rookie Pokémon Trainer's belief, bullying the weak— Roark deeply despised that.
When Roark returned to the match field, it was noisy.
Spectator Pokémon Trainers wielded phones, indignantly taunting Luther at the challenger's spot, saying odd things.
"Give me back my points."
"You two scammers."
"I curse you to crash out of the Gym match!"
Not much profanity, but in their fervor, a few Trainers even tried climbing over the railing.
The Referee released Onix; its massive body glared at the impulsive Pokémon Trainers, forcing them back to their seats.
Utterly clueless about the situation, Roark was baffled; Luther shrugged, and Mai, yesterday's successful challenger beside him, looked sheepish, leaving Roark sensing these two had done something naughty.
"Oreburgh City Gym Rules: Limit Four, three usable Pokémon, challenger First Move, no issues?"
Luther nodded.
Roark decisively tossed out Larvitar.
Mai eyed the green little cutie, elbowed Luther, and said, "That's the famously lowest-win-rate Larvitar in Oreburgh City; your Luck's good. Looks like Roark thinks you're a newbie and is going easy."
Luther hesitated, pondering his first pick.
Mai's eyes darted, and she leaned to Luther's ear, whispered something, and Ralts— perched on Luther's shoulder— shivered hard.
Luther gave Mai a deep look and asked skeptically, "Really?"
"Try it; I swear it's like I said; a girl's intuition is spot-on— trust me."
"Fine, didn't expect this; now I've got a headache," Luther said, troubled.
"At least for your Gym match now, it's good— they'll fight hard, give it their all."
"And after the Gym match?"
Mai shrugged, "That's up to you; harem on fire— you've got to put it out; for now, you can redirect the flames elsewhere."
Luther clutched Misdreavus's Poké Ball, murmuring softly to it, "This match is all on you, Misdreavus."
Suddenly, a Poké Ball at Luther's waist flashed white, the beam shooting straight onto the battlefield.
After the glow faded, a puffed-up Jumpluff appeared before Larvitar.
Mai faced Luther, her grin plainly spelling out,"Told you so."
(End of Chapter)
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