Pokemon: Gym Leader

Doduo...?

While the "Duo" in the nickname was straightforward enough, the "bird" part left Lance puzzled. His sharp, chiseled features twisted into confusion. He had an inexplicable feeling of foreboding about the nickname, as if it carried some hidden malice aimed at him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Nearby, Lorelei's gaze flickered with a faintly amused look as if she had figured out the joke.

"Done. One week, right?"

True to his word, Lance took out his phone and updated all his social media profiles, changing his username to "Doduo." He then turned to Dylan with his usual stoic tone.

"Ha! That's why you're the real deal, Lance—what a man of honor!" Dylan laughed heartily, giving Lance a big thumbs-up. He was clearly enjoying himself.

"Lance, I'd love to have a full-scale official battle with you someday. All-out, no holding back! I've even carefully prepared a team specifically tailored to counter you—and I promise not to use Reshiram."

Dylan's voice carried both sincerity and a mischievous undertone.

"Hmph. You're getting cocky, Dylan," Lance said, his brow arching as he flicked his black cape dramatically.

"Dragons aren't afraid of counters! Fine then, once I have the time, I'll personally come to your Rota Gym. I'm curious to see what kind of lineup you've prepared."

With a sharp smile, Lance gave Dylan a warning glare.

"The next time we battle, I'll show you the true might of my Dragon Army at full strength!"

"Next time, Lance, you might end up losing even worse than today. Just giving you a friendly heads-up so you can mentally prepare," Dylan teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Hmph! As I've already said, I'm not someone who's incapable of accepting defeat." Lance's voice turned colder.

"And make no mistake, Dylan—next time, you will be the one to lose!"

Lance's declaration was firm and unyielding, brimming with the pride of the Kanto Champion. He had built a stronger Dragon Army than ever before, and it was about time to remind this cheeky junior of his place.

"We'll see about that, Lance. I'll be waiting," Dylan replied cheerfully. He was already scheming his lineup for their rematch. Four Alolan Ninetales, followed by Articuno, and then Kyurem? That should keep Lance on his toes.

"Ha-ha! Be sure to call me when you two battle next time!" Charles Goodshow interjected, laughing heartily. "I'm looking forward to seeing a full-power showdown between you two."

Charles Goodshow, ever the jovial elder, found the budding rivalry between Dylan and Lance delightful. It filled him with hope that Lance's strong and extreme personality might soften over time through bonds like these.

The group returned to the League building after their battle. Charles had already arranged for Dylan and Lillie to stay in a luxurious suite.

That evening...

"Brother, let me help dry your hair!"

Fresh out of the shower, Lillie grabbed a hairdryer and smiled sweetly at Dylan.

"Thanks, Lillie." Dylan sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone. He couldn't help but chuckle as he browsed the comments under Lance's social media account.

Although Lance rarely used his accounts, his sudden name change to "Doduo" had caused an uproar.

Comment Section:

"First! OMG, I'm so touched that Lance actually updated his profile. But what's with the name?""It's kinda cute, though, haha! Doduo hugs~""This doesn't seem like something the cool and aloof Lance would pick. Did he get hacked?""Maybe it's a hint? Like, what if Lance secretly likes Flying-types too?"

"Pfft." Dylan couldn't hold back his laughter. The internet had no idea of the inside joke, and the wild theories people were coming up with were too much.

"Brother, what's so funny?" Lillie asked curiously, sitting beside him after finishing with the hairdryer.

"Lillie, think about Lance's team today. What type do you think dominated his lineup?" Dylan asked, lightly ruffling her hair and sliding a bit further away from her on the couch.

"Hmm... Dragons? Wait, no—it's Flying-types!" Lillie's eyes lit up as she put the pieces together.

"Exactly. Back when Lance first became Champion, there weren't enough Dragon-types in Kanto. His team was more of a Flying-specialist lineup," Dylan explained with a grin.

"But over the years, with Kanto League resources and the Johto Dragon Clan's support, his roster has definitely evolved. He didn't even use his main lineup against me today. Next time, in an official match, he'll bring his full power for sure."

Dylan set his phone aside. The name prank was just a bit of fun, but he never underestimated Lance.

Today's sparring session had shown Dylan just how formidable Lance's top-tier Pokémon could be. If Lance brought his true main roster, it would be a battle to remember.

Later, Dylan released two Poké Balls, revealing a pair of rare Pokémon.

On the left was a dark blue quadrupedal dragon Pokémon, its shaggy black fur covering its eyes—Deino, the pre-evolution of Hydreigon.

On the right was a fiery caterpillar-like Pokémon with white fluff around its head and five red antennae—Larvesta, the pre-evolution of Volcarona.

Lillie's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at the two Pokémon.

"Brother, these two look so unique! What are they?"

"The first one is Deino, a Dragon/Dark-type. The second is Larvesta, a Bug/Fire-type. They're both rare Pokémon with immense potential," Dylan explained.

Larvesta was a personal gift from Alder, the Unova Champion, as thanks for Dylan's help in capturing N and Ghetsis. Dylan wasn't one to refuse such a precious gift, especially since Volcarona was a powerful Pokémon on par with pseudo-legendaries.

With these two additions to his team, Dylan's preparations for his rematch against Lance were coming together nicely.

He couldn't wait to see the look on Lance's face when the "Dragon Master" faced an icy onslaught of counters.

Volcarona is undeniably a very powerful Pokémon. Its Pokédex entries are so impressive that one can't help but wonder if it's actually a Legendary Pokémon. The sheer grandeur of its description elevates its mystique to an entirely different level!

Another peaceful night passed.

The next morning, after finishing his morning routine, Dylan called out to Lillie.

"Yo, Dylan, you're up so early!"

As he entered Charles Goodshow's office, he found the League President already hard at work.

"Are you always this dedicated, Mr. President?"

"Haha, it's not too bad. This old man is just used to waking up early. Are you heading back to Rota today?"

Charles Goodshow smiled warmly as he spoke, signaling his secretary to prepare breakfast for three.

"It's been nearly a week since I left. I really should head back. The challengers have been complaining for the past two days that I'm neglecting my duties as a Gym Leader."

Dylan's tone was lighthearted as he joked.

"Hahaha! That just shows how popular your gym is, Dylan," Charles replied with a hearty laugh.

"Still, Dylan, are you absolutely sure you don't want to take on the role of Champion? I could arrange for you to serve as an Elite Four member first. Kanto's Elite Four team isn't fully staffed, and the workload isn't as heavy as it seems. Being a Gym Leader feels like a bit of a waste of your talent."

Charles tried once again to persuade Dylan.

"No need to try and convince me, Mr. President. I feel like being a Gym Leader is the perfect fit for me—free and easy," Dylan replied with a smile.

Being a Champion or even an Elite Four member was a completely different responsibility from being a Gym Leader. Dylan didn't want to bind himself with such restrictions.

Perhaps with Dylan's strength, he wouldn't need to worry about those constraints. But holding those titles came with significant responsibility, and Dylan had no interest in becoming a target for baseless criticism from ordinary people.

Being a Gym Leader was far more enjoyable. He could train and teach aspiring Trainers, watching them come in with excitement and leave in frustration—it was oddly satisfying.

"Alright then, Dylan. But there's one thing this old man would like to ask of you," Charles said hesitantly.

"Please, go ahead," Dylan replied.

"It's about Lance. You've probably noticed that Lance holds you in very high regard and treats you differently than others," Charles began, his tone serious.

"That's true. Lance has been very kind to me," Dylan acknowledged with a nod. This was a fact—Lance had always treated him with exceptional respect, and Dylan genuinely appreciated him for it.

"Ah... I don't know how to put this. This is more of an internal matter, but Lance's relationship with the Kanto League hasn't been very harmonious lately," Charles said with a wry smile, his expression tinged with melancholy.

"What do you mean by that?" Dylan raised an eyebrow, and Lillie, standing nearby, appeared visibly confused.

Not on good terms with the Kanto League? What could that even mean?

"Lance is a proud and aloof individual. He's never gotten along well with the League Council, but the friction has grown significantly over the past two years," Charles explained.

"Especially after the Celadon City incident. Some council members accused Lance of letting the Team Rocket boss escape. The same thing happened after the Saffron City event. They've been using these incidents as ammunition against him."

Charles rubbed his temples in frustration, clearly fatigued by the situation.

"That doesn't seem fair. Team Rocket's boss is incredibly strong. It's not Lance's fault if he couldn't capture him," Lillie interjected, her voice tinged with indignation.

"Exactly. No one despises Team Rocket more than Lance. If he could, he'd eliminate their leader without hesitation," she added passionately.

Lillie vividly recalled the Saffron City event, where Lance had fought the Team Rocket boss to a standstill.

"This is more about the ongoing conflict between the Elite Four and the council. The council is using these events as an excuse to criticize Lance," Charles explained with a sigh.

"Lance has always been ruthless toward those who harm Pokémon. Over the years, his resolve to eradicate Team Rocket has only intensified. Unfortunately, this has made him more extreme in his actions," Charles continued.

"But the root of the problem lies with Team Rocket. They've crossed too many lines. I won't hide it from you—my grandson was aboard the S.S. Anne recently, and his Darkrai was stolen by Team Rocket."

Charles' brows furrowed deeply, his frustration evident. His tolerance for Team Rocket was wearing thin.

Dylan was momentarily speechless.

(To be continued...)