Chapter 021

Clan approached Nurse Joy from the lobby. She casually smiled when he saw Clan. "Welcome back, Mr. Eclairé. Finally finished your training for today?"

"Yeah." Clan yawned in exhaustion as he handed her his pokeballs. "I think Solaris and Anguisa are too tired to continue on training anyways. We've progressed a lot, most important of all that advanced, however, was that Anguisa was now more open to me and Solaris. I'm very confident to say that, she had already began to trust us, although not completely."

"I think she will eventually see the kindness and comfort you had been giving her, Mr. Eclairé." Nurse Joy gently smiled towards Clan's direction. That smile really do wonders, it always had eased his nerves. She took his pokeballs and gave it to her Chansey on a tray. "I have to congratulate, Mr. Eclairé, for his glorious winnings at the training facility."

"How'd you know about that?"

When she saw the clueless expression on his face, Nurse Joy chuckled as she explained. "With all the Pokemon Trainers you had defeated, their pokemons will obviously be given to me for a quick recovery. As to the reason why I know, a lot of those trainers you had beaten were quite sore from their loss, complaining out loud how strong and shrewd you were at the battlefield, despite only having started this season."

Clan nodded in understanding, he had been so focused on the challenges and training that he hadn't had the chance to notice. He was about to response, but was cut off by a voice that sounded behind him, he turned around curiously to see who it was.

"I had to agree, boy. I've been watching your matches in that training grounds since the early afternoon, I couldn't help myself but watch all of it because of such briliant use of skills. You had talent that's for sure." The owner of the voice was an old man who's eye brows long flapping downwards, wearing a green baggy jacket with a blue paw print on the right chest area and yellow undershirt as well as white pants. Underneath, he wears sneakers and also wears a bowler hat with green highlights. "Hello there! Sorry to interupt your conversation with the beautiful Nurse Joy."

Nurse Joy couldn't detect any malice when the old man had complimented her, his words were sincere and honest whoever may had listened to it. Her smile brightened as he turned her head towards the old man and asked. "How may I help you, sir?"

The old man gave out a light chuckle and glanced at Clan who was also staring at him. "Oh, I'm not here today for the Pokemon Center, my purpose for coming here is you." As he said that he pointed his wrinkled finger at Clan. "Young boy, what's your name?"

"My name's Clan, from Twinleaf Town. why are you looking for me, sir?" Oh wait, he mentioned he had watched my matches against the trainers in the training field, it must be connected to it. Clan thought.

"Well, I don't want to be rude. I'll introduce myself first. My name is Mustard, the Dojo Master of Master Dojo from the Galar region. I'm pleased as cheese to meet you." The old man, Mustard, hunched forward as he gave Clan a jovial smile. "As the Dojo Master, how do you feel in joining my Dojo?"

...

Clan stared blankly momentarily at the old man, he was at loss for words. 'A... dojo... ?'

He didn't know who this old man was. But that wasn't the case for others.

He turned around when he heard a gasp behind the counter. Nurse Joy was standing there with a look of shock as she covered her mouth. "Do you know him, Nurse Joy?"

Nurse Joy's eyes were wide as she stared intently on the old man, Mustard. "Mustard? Wait, as in the - Ex-Champion of the Galar region, Mustard? The respectable fighting-type master and Dojo Master of Master Dojo situated in 'Isle of Armor', that Mustard?"

"The very same." Mustard seemed to be very amused by the nurse's surprise. He turned towards Clan. "You seemed to be a new trainer, are you not?"

Hearing that, Clan's eyes slowly began to widen hysterically. This jovial, friendly old man used to be a champion of a region? With that realization dawning on him, Clan began to panic when he saw Mustard's eyes staring at him, waiting for his response. What does he say? How should he react?

"Yes-yes, I am!" Clan stood in attention, as he responded with a shaky voice. He was a fan of every champions, they were individuals who are reknowned and respected by their coresponding regions. Most importantly, they were the few of the many people still standing strong, who had lived Clan's dream of becoming someone great.

Each Champion is always stronger than the Elite Four members and most other Trainers. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to become a Pokemon League Champion.

One can only become the Pokemon League Champion when a Trainer has defeated a region's Gym Leaders, won the seasonal conference, defeat the Elite Four and the former Champion holding the throne. One can become the most recognized face in Trainer history by becoming the Pokemon Champion. Currently, Lance Wataru of the Indigo League, Wallace of the Hoenn League, Shirona Cynthia in Sinnoh, Alder of Unova, Diantha in Kalos, and Leon of Galar are the known Champions to Clan's knowledge. They were his idols and inspiration.

If what Nurse Joy mentioned in her shock was accurate, then this old person standing in front of them used to be a champion? Clan's eyes shone brighter like stars when it fully sinks in. 'From which region was he the League Champion? Should I ask? But what if he'll get annoyed?' Clan's thoughts were in shambles. 'Wait a moment... Nurse Joy said Galar Region, right? Then was he the champion before Leon?...'

Mustard noticed Clan's state, he asked again. "I would like to ask again, Clan. What thoughts would you have in joining my Dojo?"

Clan was brought out from his state of stupefaction when the old voice registered fully on his ears. Clan took a deep breath and calmed down, but his voice was shakily still. "I... I would love to. But, I don't really want to jump right through it without knowing what your Dojo could exactly teach me. Also, I would like to ask... why me exactly?"

"It's because of your still roughed talent, my boy." Mustard said thoughtfully. "I can see potential in you, waiting for it to blossum. The Master Dojo accepts students who wish to grow stronger as Pokemon Trainers. It had it's own battle facility like Sinnoh and the other region's battle frontier, where I allow my students to fight and test each other's pokemon. From the way you fought from the matches you had with your pokemon and how hard you train. I can see your intense drive for strength, insisted on discipline, both in yourself and in your pokemon. This principles were something I had long ago back on my early career as a trainer, passing it down through the teachings of my Dojo, the legacy of my name, Mustard."

There was such an amazing Dojo in the Galar Region? Clan was in deep thought. If this invitation was presented to him before he had started his journey, he would had jump through the opportunity given the time, however, that was before.

Currently, he honestly quite like the life he was enjoying right now, he knew that he would learn a lot more from the mentorship of an elite and ex-champion like, Mustard, in his Dojo.

But, it wasn't like being free and alone don't have any merit in it either. To be straightforward, Clan don't know how to decide on this.

"Can I ponder on this longer, Mr. Mustard? I had to inform my parents and pokemon about this first and hear their thoughts, before I can decide." Clan finally gave his reply. He was enthusiastic, but did not let it blind him, he's thinking of his options for the future very seriously, being a student in a Dojo had it's pros and cons, especially in a Dojo situated in Galar, which Clan was foreign to. Of course, he knew some basics and well-known history and news about the region, but he wasn't natively updated.

"I understand." Mustard nodded, like he had already expected that response that he gave. Still with the jovial smile, the old man turned around and walked towards the building's main door. "Alright. I'll come back tomorrow morning, I would expect an answer by then. Little old me will be pleased as cheese if you accept. But, it is ultimately up to you, boy."

...

The next moment, Clan was now standing on the PC. Having an ongoing call with his parents. He quickly informed them what had transpired.

"...so that's what happened. What do you guys think? Should I step up on the offer?"

Clint and Noraima was silent on the other side of the line. Clan waited patiently as he let it sink in.

"You got scouted by an ex-champion of the Galar Region?" Clint's skepticism was something Clan had foresaw, even he was still in disbelief by meeting Mustard earlier. But, after a lot of assurance his parents finally started to believe his story.

Clint was proud of him, so was Noraima. It wasn't everyday a former champion would praise your child. Clint smiled at his son and said. "Clan, I really can't say what you should do. This partain your future, decide on your own."

Noraima, however, was oddly quite. She was looking at Clan with a multitude of emotions. Fear, relucance, sadness, pride and many more. Finally, she opened her mouth and spoken words Clan didn't expect to hear. "Find your passion. Look for what inspires you. Find what you love to do and pursue it with all your heart, Clan. Galar Region may be very far to where we are at, but if it is really what you desire, you should go for it. You love battling as much as Dawn loved our chocolate milks." The three chuckled momentarily at that comparison. She continued as she stared lovingly at her son. "If this benefits you in your career as a Trainer, don't let yourself be affected by us or any external and internal obstuctions. We will support every decision you will make."

"Thanks mom. I will inform you guys after I had made my decision. Sir Mustard will be visiting me tomorrow according to what he said. I love you guys."

"We love you more, dear."

(This chapter is a bit... meh. It's quality is so-so I say, honestly. I've been so stressed lately since school just started in our nation. I'll be writing as fast and as much as I can though, for you guys, and especially for my desire of writing. Thank you for always supporting me, this humble person is greatly further humbled.)