Chapter 10: Nessa Rurina

"Elekid, use [Thunder Punch]."

"Horsea, use [Bubble Beam]."

A yellow Electric-type Pokémon spun its arms and ran toward the Water-type Horsea, partially submerged in water.

Elekid skillfully jumped on the platforms built within the pool while dodging all attacks sent towards him by the Water-type Pokemon.

Elekid's trainer smirked as he saw the young gym leader trying to use long-range moves against them.

Elekid closed in on Horsea, and just when the Water-type Gym Leader thought a [Thunder Punch] was about to hit, the Elekid jumped in the air and went over Horsea before turning around and using a different move.

[Thunder Shock].

Elekid spun both arms and sent an electric current at Horsea's unguarded back. The Water-type Pokémon cried in pain as it was hit by a strong [Thunder Shock], which was also Super Effective against it.

Horsea groaned, but the Electric-type Pokémon did not let it rest.

"Now finish it with a [Thunder Punch]."

Following his trainer's command, Elekid wrapped Electric-type energy around its fists and struck the paralyzed Horsea, sending the poor Water-type flying toward the feet of the gym leader.

"Horsea is unable to battle; Elekid is the winner."

"Ele Elekid." The Electric-type Pokémon flexed its muscles and roared, celebrating an easy win.

"The victory goes to Lexus from Wydon town."

The referee raised the flag and declared the trainer's victory while the Water-type Gym Leader approached her unconscious Pokémon.

"You did a great job; now rest." She returned her Pokémon to the Pokeball before walking toward the challenger and his Elekid.

"Congratulations on winning."

"It was our easiest battle so far."

"Kid, Kid."

"But thanks anyway."

The golden-haired boy and his Elekid took the badge and left the gym with smug faces under the watchful eyes of everyone present.

The gym leader clenched her fists as she looked at the back of the challenger.

"This is your thirtieth loss. Nothing has changed over the last two months." A man in a silver suit, followed by a woman who appeared to be his secretary, walked toward the defeated Gym Leader. "A Gym Leader is there to test the capabilities of trainers. If you cannot put up a fight, how can you even be considered a Gym Leader?"

The defeated girl gritted her teeth as she heard the man's words.

"I know how it feels to inherit the Gym of your dead father, but this cannot go on for long, especially when the Gym Leader of Hulbury Town needs to have the battles in the Stadium. We are on a private battlefield now, but for how long?" The Chairman of Galar Region had a thoughtful look on his face. "Your career as a model, on the other hand, has reached a new height."

He held a few magazines that showed the pictures of the Water-type gym leader on the front page.

"Do you think you can follow two paths and be good at both?" He took out another magazine with Galar's Gym Leaders on the front page. The Gym Leader looked at the cover, and her eyes landed on a corner where she could see her photo, but it was so small that it was almost invisible if one did not pay attention. "Nessa Rurina, how far do you think you can reach?"

[Image: Nessa]

Nessa, the Gym Leader, held her head down as she could understand what he was trying to say. Then, the Chairman said the words she did not want to hear.

"Starting today, effective immediately, the Water-type Gym of Hulbury Town will be closed. But you will be given one last chance to prove yourself to the League." He looked at his wrist before continuing. "It's the month of June. Next year, in February, you will fight again, but in the Hulbury Stadium, you can forget being a Gym Leader if you lose."

With those words hanging in the air, the Chairman walked away with his secretary while Nessa stood in the same place, trying to control the tears that were about to fall from her eyes.

-0-

"He is saying that I should quit modelling."

Within a restaurant, Nessa sat on a chair with her best friend in front of her, eating her favourite snack. It was her habit to eat something sweet whenever she was sad.

She used her fork to cut the pastry in half and put all of it in her mouth. Frustration was visible in her eyes.

"Aren't you overthinking it?"

"I am not."

Nessa explained today's events to her friend, recounting what could be considered one of the worst days in her life. Bea looked at the other half of the pastry and used her fork to eat it whole.

"Not fair!"

Nessa complained when Bea stole the other half she was saving for later.

"Well, in any event, it comes down to what you wanna do." Bea shrugged her shoulders. She knew how much her friend cared for the Gym and how much she wanted the Rurina family to be the ones to run it as they had been for past generations.

One day, Bea would be a Gym Leader, so she could somewhat understand her friend's troubles.

Nessa did not say anything. While Bea, too, was going to inherit a gym from her family, her situation was different. Bea had the time to grow since her grandfather and father were still there to watch over the Gym; she, on the other hand, had no one.

For a girl who was left alone to fend for herself at a young age, she knew what hardships she had to face to get where she was.

The reason she started modelling was so she could gather funds for the gym. The League had stopped funding the Gym after her father's death since the gym had to shut down. And until the Gym became official, the League would not start the funding.

At first, modelling was just a job for her, but soon, it became something more. She enjoyed it with all her heart, and other than Pokémon, it was the only thing that helped her divert her attention from all her worries.

She looked down at the cup of water before her. It reflected her face and her deep blue eyes. She knew Bea was trying to cheer her, but it was not working.

-0-

"Ready, Nessa?"

The cameraman called as Nessa looked away from the lake she was staring into.

She wore a red top covering only her chest with a black cloth bottom with a slit on its left side. She was modelling for a clothing brand that had recently become popular among the girls in Galar Region.

*Click*

'This is your thirtieth loss. Nothing has changed over the last two months.'

*Click*

'Do you think you can follow two paths and be good at both?'

*Click*

'Nessa Rurina, how far do you think you can reach?'

*Click*

'Starting today, effective immediately, the Water-type Gym of Hulbury Town will be closed.'

As the cameraman clicked her photos from different angles, she was reminded of the Chairman's words.

'Do I have to give up on modelling to be a Gym Leader?'

She did not let her worries show on her face and did different poses with every camera click.

"That was a perfect shot; let's wrap it for today." The cameraman thanked Nessa before he and the crew started packing the equipment. The manager walked toward Nessa, who was once again looking into the deep lake.

"Is everything okay?"

Ina had been Nessa's manager since her carrier as a model began. She could tell the star model of the Galar region had a tough day.

"Do you think I can be a good Gym Leader?" Nessa looked at her manager with oceanic blue eyes.

Ina did not know what to say. From what she heard in the news, Hulbury Gym was on the verge of being closed or taken over by someone else. Nessa's carrier as a Gym Leader had yet to be as successful as her modelling carrier.

"We all are good at some things and bad at others. We must find what we are good at and stick to it to reach the top."

Nessa looked at her manager and then back toward the lake. She could see her face in the still water.

'You are not a good trainer. Give up and focus on modelling. That's what she is trying to say.' Nessa was an intelligent woman, and she could easily see through the words of her manager. She clenched her fists in frustration.

She looked at the lake before her. It was the largest lake in the Galar region and a famous spot for trainers catching Water-type Pokémon.

'Is she doing well?'

Nessa remembered the Feebas she had once met within this same lake. The other Water-type bullied the poor Pokémon in the lake. Just by chance, she came across the Feebas and used potions to cure her before releasing her back into the water.

'Let's become strong one day. Even if you get picked on, evolve and show them how great you are.' Nessa patted Feebas's head with her soft hands and with a smile on her face. 'I will become a great Water-type Gym Leader, just like my father, and one day, when you become a Milotic, let's swim together.'

A smile appeared on Nessa's face as she remembered the events from ten years ago.

'Let's prove them all wrong.'

With determined eyes, she walked away from the set.

-------------------------End of Chapter-------------------------

Author's Note:

- Let me know if you want to see a certain Pokémon in Aeron's team. I will see if we can arrange that.

- Drop some Power Stones to support the book.

- Peace!