Gladion sat on the couch, yawning lazily while he watched the morning news on the big television. Beside him sat his three apprentices: Daisy Oak, Milo, and Lila.
The female reporter spoke with high energy, her voice full of excitement.
"While the Pokemon world is reeling from a single trainer having two legendary Pokemon — yup, I am talking about Gym Leader Gladion Vortex and his Latias and Latios , there is news coming in of a trainer who has three legendary Pokemon."
She paused dramatically.
"Yup, you heard that right. A trainer has three legendary Pokemon. THREE!"
Daisy, Milo, and Lila gasped at the same time. Milo nearly dropped his juice box. Lila's mouth fell open. Daisy's eyes went wide as she whispered, "Three? That is impossible."
Gladion yawned again, longer this time, and scratched the back of his head. He looked half-asleep. The three apprentices turned to stare at him in disbelief. Milo pointed at the screen. "Boss, did you hear that? Three legendaries!"
Gladion shrugged. "Yeah, I heard. Pass the remote if you are done gasping. The channel is getting boring."
Daisy blinked. "You are not even surprised?"
"Seen one legendary, seen them all," Gladion muttered, eyes half-closed. "Wake me up when they find someone with six. That might be interesting."
Milo and Lila exchanged shocked looks. Daisy shook her head slowly, still staring at her calm mentor. The reporter continued talking excitedly on the screen while the three apprentices tried to process their boss's complete lack of reaction.
Gladion simply reached for his coffee and took a slow sip, looking like he would rather be napping than listening to world-shaking news.
A photo appeared on the television. It showed a tough-looking man standing confidently with three legendary Pokemon beside him: Regirock, Registeel, and Regice. The reporter's voice rose again.
"This trainer is Brandon, an explorer and a former military sergeant. And these three are his legendary Pokemon — Regirock, Registeel, and Regice."
Inside Gladion's mind, Latios snorted loudly.
'Like those braindead pieces of metal or ice or rock could even match us in power. We are the eon duo for fuck sake.'
Latias chimed in gently.
'Language, dear. And yeah, what he said.'
Gladion chuckled quietly to himself. He thought, 'I still don't know how Ash managed to beat Brandon. Heck, how can any trainer be clearing the Battle Frontier with such powers? Either they hold back a lot or it is just for the sake of plot. The real world would be so much different.'
The reporter kept going.
"There is another trainer in the Hoenn region with a legendary Pokemon. Someone with an Articuno. With a total of four legendary Pokemon under trainers in the Hoenn region and only two in the entire Indigo region, does this indicate a shift in the power?"
She continued with more energy.
"In response, the league has decided to have these trainers become Frontier Brains. They would be stronger than gym leaders and trainers can challenge them after they have competed in the league tournament. Thus ace-level trainers can also challenge them."
The screen showed explanations of the Battle Frontier system.
"By completing the Battle Frontier, a trainer would gain immense prestige, seven unique Frontier Symbols, and recognition as a master-level trainer equivalent to an Elite Four member. It proves their ability to overcome varied, specialized, and high-level battling styles, solidifying their reputation beyond standard gym leagues."
The reporter added, "Unfortunately, Gym Leader Gladion has rejected this position since, and I quote, 'he likes his gym a lot and he has already set up his business and affairs in Moonwood Town and it would be difficult for him to move.'"
"But the other two legendary trainers have accepted to become Frontier Brains to maintain the power balance between the regions."
The reporter's face became more serious.
"We have witnessed what a single legendary Pokemon can do when Moltres rampaged on Mt. Silver. How can we, the ordinary people, rest easy when such power is in the hands of one person? How can the league guarantee our safety if the legendary trainers go rogue?"
At the mention of Moltres, Gladion's mind drifted back to a memory.
---Flashback---
Gladion had brought Moltres' egg back to her at Mt. Silver. The great fire bird carefully took her egg, inspected it, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.
[Thank you, human. You have kept your promise. There is surely a reason why those two selected you as their companion.]
She continued, [I understand that you had used a favor from Zapdos that she owed to you to help deal with me. I would do the same for you. I give you a favor too. Call on me whenever you want.]
---Flashback end---
Gladion returned to the present. The reporter was still talking, trying to paint legendary trainers including him as dangerous, powerful beings who could destroy the world at any moment.
Gladion yawned once more, picked up his Pokedex, and dialed a number. When the person on the other end answered, he spoke in a bored but firm voice.
"Oi, Damien. Fire your reporter on News ChanseyX 8 am show. I will pay your channel two hundred million for it. Got it? Good."
He cut the call without waiting for a reply. Daisy, Milo, and Lila stared at him in complete shock. Their mouths hung open.
Milo's juice box slipped from his fingers and landed on the floor with a soft thud. Lila blinked rapidly as if she could not believe what she had just heard. Daisy looked between Gladion and the television, her face a perfect mix of awe and fear.
Gladion noticed their expressions and grinned. "That, my dear apprentices, is the power of money."
The three apprentices continued to stare. Milo whispered, "You just… fired someone on live television… with a phone call… for two hundred million…"
Daisy added in a small voice, "And you sounded like you were ordering coffee."
-----Author Notes------
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