"So, where are you headed next?" Professor Rowan asked, his voice carrying that familiar mix of curiosity and authority.
"Oreburgh City," Luther replied. "If I've got this right, the Black Gold Gym there is a Rookie Gym, isn't it?"
"In Trainer circles, that's the term they use, yes," Professor Rowan nodded. "But according to the official Pokémon League records, the Gym Leader doesn't quite fit that label."
In the world of Pokémon, Gyms are split into three tiers: Rookie, Intermediate, and Advanced. What's funny is that this system didn't come from the League itself, it's something Trainers cooked up over time through debates and battles.
Some Gym Leaders get pegged as "Rookie" for nitpicky technical reasons, while others earn the title because they're welcoming to greenhorns, only bringing out teams with decent training to test new Trainers.
Luther had dug up some info on his Pokédex earlier, and it seemed the Black Gold Gym Leader had a soft spot for fresh-faced Trainers just starting out in Sinnoh. That made it a perfect proving ground for someone like him, still finding his footing in this region.
"I'm curious about the kind of Pokémon you're planning to raise," Professor Rowan said, eyeing Luther thoughtfully. "Take Cynthia, for example, she's a master of variety. Her team spans all sorts of types, leaving almost no gaps to exploit. Most Elite Four members stick to one type, but I'm betting you won't go that route."
"I'll go with flashy Pokémon," Luther answered, half-expecting Professor Rowan to sigh in disappointment. But it was the truth, plain and simple.
After years of playing Pokémon games as a stats-obsessed kid, Luther couldn't shake his love for power and pizzazz. Sure, he'd told himself this world didn't run on effort values or levels, but old habits die hard.
That number-crunching instinct wasn't going anywhere fast. And neither was his taste for Pokémon that looked awesome, both in their base forms and after evolving. Maybe living in this world long enough would mellow out his shallow streak, but for now, it was what it was.
Professor Rowan's mouth twitched open like he wanted to say something, then closed again, keeping whatever it was to himself.
Luther clipped a Poké Ball to his belt and started cramming the Rookie gear, courtesy of Professor Rowan, into his oversized backpack.
"Oh, by the way, Professor," He said, pausing mid-shove, "Are there any Heracross around here?"
Professor Rowan scratched his head, frowning slightly. "Not really. No one's spotted a Heracross near Sandgem Town lately. You might have better luck closer to Oreburgh City, though, Rock, Ground, and Steel Types dominate that area. Are you after a Heracross for the Gym?"
"Nah, it's for the Lily of the Valley Conference down the line."
Heracross was a must-have for Luther. It wasn't just about how cool it looked, those Bug and Fighting moves were tailor-made for his plans. He'd know about Tobias, the legendary Trainer with Darkrai and Latios in his lineup. Darkrai's Dark typing and Latios's Dragon-Psychic combo were tough nuts to crack, but a Heracross could hit both where it hurt. To stand a chance against Tobias, Luther needed to start building his team now.
Professor Rowan watched as Luther finished wrestling with his overstuffed backpack. "Heading out already? It's less than two hours till sundown, you could crash here and leave in the morning."
"I checked the routes," Luther said, slinging the bag over his shoulder. "There are two buses to Oreburgh City tonight. I'm hopping on one and getting a head start on catching Pokémon once I'm there."
"Fair enough. I won't hold you up. Pass me your Pokédex real quick."
Luther wasn't sure what the professor had in mind, but he fished the device out of his pocket and handed it over.
Professor Rowan slotted the Pokédex into a machine, where a web of circuits lit up, linking to it with a soft hum and flickering colors. After about thirty seconds, he pulled it out and handed it back. "I've synced it with research labs across the region. Out in the wild, you can use the sensor to ping other Pokédex holders nearby. Oh, and I set the teleport point to my lab. Can't wait to see what Pokémon you end up with."
Luther thanked him, then added, "Just one thing, please don't tip off the Pokémon League about me yet. I'm not ready for that spotlight." With that, he stepped out of the lab and boarded the bus to Oreburgh City.
Professor Rowan glanced at the wall clock. If the schedule held, Luther would roll into Oreburgh just as night settled in.
After Luther left, Sachiko poked her head in to confirm his departure. Professor Rowan started pacing the room, with his hands clasped behind his back. Eventually, he stopped and shuffled over to the video phone, dialing a number.
He wasn't expecting her to pick up on the first try. Usually, she ignored calls or was off in some signal-dead zone, chasing whatever caught her fancy. But today, after three rings, a sleepy, slightly surprised voice answered.
"Professor Rowan? What's up? Feeling chatty today?" A yawn crackled through the line. It was barely evening, but she sounded wiped out.
"Cynthia, you free for a video call?"
"Sure, gimme a sec to throw something on."
Professor Rowan pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering why she felt the need to announce that.
He heard the rustle of fabric over the line, and after a moment, he hit the video button.
Cynthia popped up on the screen in a light blue T-shirt, her golden hair a tangled mess spilling over her forehead. She held a hairpin between her teeth, wrestling her locks into some kind of order as the call connected.
"Just rolled out of bed?" Professor Rowan asked, blinking. "What time do you think it is?"
"I was up half the night battling in a game," She mumbled around the hairpin. "Realized it was 3 A.M., figured I'd already blown it, so I stayed up. Went out at dawn to see if that Darkrai I ran into a few days back would show up again."
"As Champion, you're supposed to be a role model," He grumbled. "If people knew you were this laid-back, it'd throw them off."
Professor Rowan wasn't actually worried about Cynthia's reputation tanking over a few quirks. What, her love for games and sleeping in would stop her from crushing challengers? No one claimed O'Neal's hot dog obsession kept him from ruling the court, or that Jordan's fried chicken and soda habit cost him points.
Ever since Cynthia burst onto the scene, the big question was always 'when' she'd finally lose. People raved about her talent, her knack for raising Pokémon, her unbreakable bond with them, her tireless drive, painting this Sinnoh Champion, barely in her twenties, as some larger-than-life figure. Only those in her inner circle knew how absurd half those stories were.
Tireless drive? Please. She didn't waste energy on pointless grinding. Bonding with Pokémon was supposed to take years, but Cynthia had this uncanny way of clicking with hers right off the bat. And her battle instincts? Pure, raw talent, proof that hard work alone couldn't touch what she was born with.
Lucky for everyone, Cynthia was sharp enough to keep that side under wraps. In interviews, she'd smile and say she clawed her way to the top through sheer effort, preserving the dreams of starry-eyed kids everywhere. It was her unspoken rule, and she stuck to it.
"Chill, I've got it under control," Cynthia said, waving him off. "You and Diantha keep me in line. Outside this house, I'm Champion Cynthia. Inside? Let me be a slob in peace. Anyway, what's up, Professor? Why the call?"
"Jumpluff's got a new Trainer."
Cynthia's sleepy eyes snapped wide, locking onto him through the screen. After a beat, she asked, "What kind of Trainer?"
"I promised him I wouldn't tip off the Pokémon League or mention him to them for now," Professor Rowan said, shrugging helplessly.
Cynthia grabbed a comb and started taming her hair with slow, deliberate strokes. "No worries. At home, I'm not the Champion, just a Trainer kicking back."
"Exactly. His name's Luther. I've got his info logged. He passed the Blind Pick test, earned his Pokédex." Professor Rowan had zero qualms about spilling the beans.
"What format? 3v3 with a four-move cap?"
"6v6. If I hadn't thrown in the towel, he might've swept me with Team Support."
Cynthia's eyebrow arched, a spark of interest flickering in her gaze.
"Got a recording? Knowing you, someone's got it on tape. Send it my way."
"No problem. Here's the kicker, he's got a phobia of Pokémon. During our match, he faced it head-on, turned the tide, and beat me. Afterward, he said the Blind Pick doesn't test a Trainer's full skill set and turned down my League recommendation. Ring any bells?"
"Like me five years ago?" Cynthia grinned.
"From what I dug up, he's twenty, and fifteen of those years he spent terrified of Pokémon, totally clueless about battling. Our match was his first, he stumbled at the start, but once he found his groove, he took over. Won with a solid pre-battle plan."
Cynthia's face lit up with admiration. "That's some raw talent and quick thinking! So that's why Jumpluff picked him?"
"Vileplume helped nudge things along. It spotted Jumpluff acting off and quietly pushed it toward Luther. Honestly, it's for the best. Since Jumpluff lost its top spot here, it's been too wound up, stressing out the other lab Pokémon. Traveling with Luther might mellow it out."
"Is he still at the lab?" Cynthia asked, clearly itching to meet this rookie who echoed her own start.
Professor Rowan shook his head. "Took off for Oreburgh City tonight. Should get there in about an hour and a half."
Cynthia grabbed a planner, flipping through it fast. After a moment, she sighed. "Ugh, no dice. My schedule is packed, so I have to prepare for the Champion match against one of the Elite Four soon."
(End of Chapter)