A Late Start

The Gym Challenge

As I sat on the bench on the lookout spot I kept gazing out to the forests down below, I had watched Ethan from here for as far as I could see. It wasn't far to Floccesy, maybe about 20 minutes walking. but it was always boring in town whenever Ethan wasn't around, he was the only link to the world outside town I really had, well besides TV anyways. Sometimes he'd even take my dex out with him so I could have more data to study. Maybe someday mom will finally let me leave town. despite how dangerous she thinks it is. I glanced down at my Dex, the screen lit up with footage of the fight at the gym. I kept watching it again and again between daydreams, the Buizels movements were so practised, clearly, it had seen its fair share of battles despite only throwing two attacks it had Royce against the wall, impressive even given the type advantage, it should have been an open and shut battle. but the creature's balance was so easily disrupted the crater formed by magnitude was only small, but a mix of their posture from attacking, and the sudden tip caused all traces of its moxie to vanish for just long enough to let Royce turn the tables. I may be good with ideas but Ethan's instinct burns so much brighter than any strategy I could think up ahead of time. He has what it takes to beat Cheren, I don't doubt that at all. Part of me didn't want him to win though. Everyone knows that when a trainer beats a gym leader it's time to move on to the next one, a new chapter in a new location. When he beats Aspertia's gym he'll be off past Floccesy to Virbank. until he beats Roxie too, then to Castelia and the rest of Unova. he'll find all sorts of new pokemon we don't see here, Aspertia, Foccesy and Virbank were pretty disconnected from most of Unova. Maybe he would even make new friends. who knows how long it'll be till he returns to Aspertia, months? Years? Maybe never. He'll still call sure, I don't doubt that he will, but still, it won't be the same. We'd both dreamed of being trainers since we were just kids, travelling Unova completing the gym challenge, maybe even going so far as the Pokemon League. I'd just always assumed that we'd do it together.
"I should really stop thinking like that," I muttered to myself. he's my friend. the least I can do is support him, give him the best farewell I can. I'll be there with him when he defeats Cheren, and I'll see him off on his journey after that. I glanced down at my dex screen again, checking the time. 11:35, he should be back by now. Hope he didn't get held up somehow, today is supposed to be his big day. I'd hate for him to be late to his own challenge, or worse. I ran down the stairs from the lookout to go check the route entrance for him. he wasn't there. Chill out Lex, he probably just went straight to the gym. besides, he can take care of himself I felt myself fighting with my own inner voice. but I was probably right, I should just go to the trainer school. at the very least I can wait for him there. I went back down the main road, turning into the trainer's school. pulling open the door for the second time today, the school section was quiet, there were only a few young trainers with their noses in the books. I walked past the bookshelves, slowly pulling open the door to the gym. The skylight was open, illuminating the three practice fields, with Cherens Personal "Challenger" field lit by its own lights a blue haze fading over it.
"Hey, Alexis. come to watch the challenges again?" A deep voice queries from behind me.
"Oh, jeez Cheren, you scared me. I thought you'd be.. you know, up there?" I pointed to the stand in front of the challenger stage.
"challenges don't start for another 10 minutes. I was out surveying the challengers for today. You know, I hear your friend Ethan is supposed to be coming in today. he's really coming along as a trainer then huh?"
"Year, he's gotten pretty strong. I'm looking forward to seeing you two going against one another. Wait, is he not here yet?"
"Not that I noticed, he could be off somewhere I just haven't seen though."
"No. that's really not his style. He's always up in the front."
"Maybe he's just running late, his Geodude looked pretty beat up after that battle earlier."
"Wait, you saw that?"
"Of course I did, this is my gym remember?"
"heh, yeah, I guess that makes sense."
"Well, I gotta get up on stage, hope Ethan shows up today."
"Yeah... me too" I muttered quietly.