Chapter Text
Being the first Gym Leader, Milo had seen his fair share of challengers over the years. He thinned out the ones who didn’t have what it takes or needed to build up more confidence before they could hope on challenging the rest. It took a certain amount of mettle to take on the league, after all.
He knew about the pair of teens endorsed by their very own Champion. Leon’s younger brother had this sort of enthusiasm that he could appreciate. Even as he tasted defeat, Milo had a ton of fun battling against his Pokemon. That was what he loved the most about this job. He wasn’t entirely interested in being a serious, fully fledged Trainer that aimed to become the strongest. To him, the most important part was the enjoyment shared between Trainer and Pokemon. If they had a fun time, the outcome didn’t matter to him.
So when he found out that the other teen -- Victor, if he remembered correctly -- had completed his Gym challenge, he looked forward to another fun battle. Anyone that Leon saw potential in would give that sort of impression. Milo gave his team a final check before he stepped into the stadium. The audience roared upon seeing his arrival, holding up banners and decked in green.
Milo went to his spot on the field, waiting for the challenger’s arrival after they announced his name. Yet the teen standing by the entrance didn’t move. He could see Victor in full uniform but he remained rooted in place, face hidden by the shadows. The crowd shared his growing confusion until he squinted, trying to properly make him out. His shoulders were hunched together, chest heaving as if--
Ah. Milo would have smacked himself for missing the obvious sign. Just because both of them were endorsed by Leon, it didn’t mean that they shared the same enthusiasm for battling in this kind of setting.
He quickly rushed over to the other side of the stadium. Something in his chest ached to see the challenger look so anxious. This was not the first time, nor would it be the last yet the innate caring nature of an older brother jumped out still.
“Hey, Victor was it?”
The teen flinched, finally looking up with terrified doe eyes. “I’m sorry,” he squeaked. “I-- just give me a moment to--”
“Hey, hey I’m not mad. I just wanted to make sure you’re doing alright.” Milo drew upon his years worth of experience to sport a gentle, assuring smile. After a moment to consider, he placed his hands on Victor’s shoulders, giving slow rubs to help ease the tension from them.
“I know this can be terrifying,” he began with a soothing quality to his tone. “But believe me when I say that you can get through this! I’m rooting for you, bud.”
Victor stared at his heartfelt smile for what felt like minutes before his shoulders slowly sagged. With a shaky exhale, he stood up a little straighter, a certain kind of fire burning in his eyes now as he gave a firm nod.
Milo consider that as a personal victory. With a grin and a thumbs up, he made his way back to his position, pleased to see the challenger making his way onto the field. Despite the rough start, a part of him believed that Victor could make it in this League.
When his Cinderace took down his team with little effort, that thought only cemented itself.
Nessa had the pleasure of battling the trainers that went through her rival. If these challengers had what it took to defeat Milo, she believed that they would be the sort who had a certain kind of grit to survive in this league. She had seen for herself what went down in competitive battling, from the good, the bad and everything in between. A tough environment to be in but she thrived at the challenges thrown her way in her journey to become the best that she can be.
Thus when another challenger made their way through her Gym challenge, Nessa felt that familiar spark settling in, her eagerness in testing her strength against another. The fact that this was one of the challengers endorsed by the Champion made her even more excited. It would be satisfying to beat someone who could potentially help her Pokemon grow.
Initially, she admitted to a level of confusion when the challenger, someone named Victor stepped onto the field and kept his gaze stationed to the ground. Amidst the excited cheers of the crowd, a mix of her battling and modelling fans, the teen didn’t even try to get his Pokemon out after she released her Goldeen.
Now Nessa prided herself in having a keen eye to details. A useful skill to have when she swam in Hulbury’s seas alongside her Pokemon, and when it came to her modelling career. It only took a few more seconds before she spotted it.
The absolute fear and nervousness in his eyes, the way his legs shook slightly, trembling lips-- ah, the challenger was afraid.
She knew that her competitiveness could be quite intimidating to some but she thinks that she was not the reason for Victor’s fear. Or so she hoped. Nessa could guess that the loud cheers from the audience and the sheer energy within the stadium that made him feel overwhelmed.
A part of her can sympathize with what Victor was going through. Being a Gym Leader required her to have thick skin but add on a modelling career on top of that? It can be downright terrifying to maintain a certain kind of image to the public. Having all eyes on her, where they observe her every move, either praising her actions or shaming her for a mistake that she did; it can still shake her up from time to time.
So Nessa had her Goldeen stay while she calmly made her way over. Ignoring the confused audience, Victor snapped up upon seeing her close in, eyes swimming with fear. She flashed him a faint smile before pulling him into a soft embrace.
“I know that all of this can get overwhelming. I know how that feels,” she uttered, only for his ears to listen. The crowd went wild but Nessa forged on, wanting to impart the words that helped her battle through some tough waves in the past. “You don’t have to battle this drowning sensation alone. Let the roar of the crowd empower you, and keep your eyes on me.”
A slight thrum of pleasure coursed through her when she felt the shaking subsided. At the nod, Nessa pulled back, finding that Victor looked a little more assured, his quietly burning eyes settled on her form. That excitement to battle came rushing back so strongly that she had to stamp down this sudden urge to laugh.
Nessa took her place on the field, expression set in that battle ready look her fans went crazy for. This was going to be a good one, she could tell as Victor brought out his own Pokemon.
And as frustrating as her defeat was, Nessa still wanted to root this kid on and see just how far he can get.
Ever since he came to the Galar region in his mid twenties, Kabu had seen and experienced a lot throughout his life and through his career as a Gym Leader. When he battled challengers as a Gym trainer, he got to see all sorts of characters, ranging from the calm ones to the overly confident. That didn’t change much when he was appointed as Motostoke’s successor and took up the Gym Leader mantle. Every type of challenger under the sun came to battle him but only the top percentage managed to earn a victory.
Kabu disliked the Rookie Killer moniker that some had given to him, yet he can’t deny that his gym acted as a divider between rookies and the ones who can strive further in the league.
To the ones that does get a victory over him, Kabu held a certain amount of respect for. It usually meant that this particular challenger had raised their Pokemon to such a degree that they were capable of beating his own trained partners. Such losses often provided him with insight on his own battling style or what he can improve on. To Kabu, winning or losing still benefited his growth as a Gym Leader and as a Pokemon trainer.
Yet before the battle, Kabu will always ensure that the challenger was fit for it. That was why he made it a habit to come into the stadium with the trainer, often times youths who sometimes still experienced nervousness even if this was the third stadium in.
Now, Kabu had gotten word from both Milo and Nessa that one of the challengers coming his way tend to get stage fright before the penultimate battle. Or as Milo put it, being a ball of anxiety. It was one of the teenagers endorsed by their Champion, someone that garnered more attention than other challengers because of that attachment to Leon’s name.
Kabu could immediately tell who they were talking about and why they described him as such. Victor had gotten through his Gym mission relatively quick but right now, as they waited in the corridor for their names to be called, he could see quite plainly that the lad didn’t look fit to battle at all.
Slight trembles wracked his frame with his fists clenched by his side. Over the dull roar of the crowd, Kabu could barely make out the faint mutterings, something about how ‘this should be easier’ and ‘why am I still like this?’
It pained his heart to hear this promising young man spiral in his own anxieties. His conscious would not allow him to head out into battle until he made absolutely certain that Victor was alright.
“Victor, was it?” He called out, to which the kid looked up with wide brown eyes. Before he could trip over an unneeded apology, Kabu raised a hand.
“I can see that you’re quite nervous.” An understatement really. “If you truly find yourself unable to step into the pitch today, I can arrange a private battle between us. Ultimately, your comfort and well being is my top priority. I would not force a battle if you’re not feeling your best.”
“N-No! It’s alright! Mr Kabu you don’t have to do this for me. I just-- I need to get used to this .”
Kabu might not have children to call his own yet he still adopted a sort of parental role to his Gym trainers and youths alike. It felt as natural as breathing when he carefully breached Victor’s personal space to place a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“If you wish to better yourself, that is an endeavor that I would support you on. But if it is too much to handle at this moment, there is no shame for you to take a step back and focus on your well being.” Kabu flashed him an assuring smile. “Whatever decision that you make, I’ll be behind it.”
Victor seemed to be considering his words now. Kabu gave him all the time he needed to make a decision. Eventually, he spoke up in a low, hesitant voice.
“Um, I… want to battle on the pitch but…” He looked down at his shuffling feet. “Can I… ask for a hug?”
Kabu felt warmth blossoming within his chest at the request. A huff of laughter bubbled out of him, and he opened his arms.
“Of course my boy! Come here.”
For the first time, Victor gave him a tiny smile that honestly made Kabu’s day. He wrapped his arms around the boy, giving him a brief yet firm hug. A couple of pats and the Victor pulled back, appearing calmer now.
Oh, his hands still tremble slightly, don’t get him wrong. It was the look in his eyes that convinced Kabu to proceed with the battle. Fear still shackled the boy but with a little nudge, he felt like he helped unleash something that had the potential to grow into something unimaginable.
Kabu gave him one last encouragement. “Drown out the crowd, and put trust in your Pokemon to lead you to victory.”
And Victor did achieve victory, giving Kabu a loss that he could easily accept for he witnessed the makings of a trainer that the Galar region could be proud of. Just as he stated, he will give Victor his full support to go even further.
Kabu hoped that Milo and Nessa would arrive in time so that they could send this promising young one off. He deserved that, at least.