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"Mmm Today's perfect flying weather isn't it Mr. Milo, sir," the cabbie said over the intercom as the Corviknight Taxi flew over the vast Wild Area.
Milo had to agree. Sure he wasn't a taxi cabbie, but as a farmer, he had to know a lot about optimal weather conditions. If he were tending the Wooloo flock today would be perfect. Not too hot or too cold. A gentle breeze flowing through clear skies.
A perfect day for taking it slow.
Milo leaned back into the seat of the taxi inhaling the crisp air over the Wild Area and just enjoying the flight. Next to the young gym leader was a bundle of Wooloo wool he was bringing to the berry shop in Wedgehurst.
His thoughts however began drifting to some unpleasant words he heard a few days before, while he had been in Wyndon for some pre-season business.
That Milo, he never tries does he?
Why is he even a gym leader? Hardly anyone ever loses to him.
Yeah, his gym challenge is harder than him itself!
He couldn't help the frown that was forming on his face. It was the curse of being a public figure. Everyone had an opinion. And no one was safe from the critics.
They were wrong about him, though. The young farmer was always trying to improve. To improve his skills in agriculture. To hone his battle prowess with grass types. To become the best possible leader for both his trainers and the entirety of Turffield.
He just had a different approach. Taking it one step at a time. Small gains over big leaps. Slow and steady wins the race as his grandma always liked to say.
It was true, a lot of challengers got a badge off of him. But Milo couldn't just crush them. As the first gym on the circuit, he sees the most challengers. Many of whom it's their first time being in the always critical public eye. With Galar's league being so famous it was broadcast to the entire world, there were millions of people watching the young hopeful trainers. Not to mention the massive stadiums packed to the brim with screaming fans.
It could be absolutely terrifying. Milo can't count the number of challengers he saw absolutely freeze once they got onto the pitch. Taking in the electric atmosphere, deafened by the crowd's roar. The flickering emotions of fear and regret on their face as they walked out to meet him.
Wondering if they should really be doing this.
Sure he could crush them, he had the power to do so as he was a major gym leader. But he'd be killing the spirit of potential trainers doing so, and he couldn't bear the thought of being the reason why a trainer gave up battling.
He had seen that mentality crush so many trainers the year Leon won the gym challenge, back when Duke Jack held the Galarian gym challenge in an iron grip. Nessa's girlfriend Sonia was so scarred by what Jack himself personally did to her team that she couldn't even stand to watch a casual battle for years.
Only Nessa and Leon remained trainers at all out of the 64 competitors that year. It was the same the year before them, with Raihan and Piers being the only challenges to make it out (mostly) unscathed. Both Milo and Gordie were too young to participate when Jack was champion and honestly...after hearing the horror stories from his friends...he was mighty glad he never had to face The Ripper (as the fans called Duke Jack) or any of the gym leaders that were once loyal to him.
Much like his job as a farmer, Milo felt that as a gym leader he had to nurture newer trainers. So if that meant taking it easier on the challengers then so be it. The look on a challenger's face when they had won, the surging confidence to face the gym leaders after him, was more than enough reward for him.
The soft trill of Eldegoss floating by the taxi jolted the young gym leader out of his thoughts as he turned to watch some of his favorite drift in the soft breeze, content to go wherever the wind takes them. This brought a smile to Milo's face as he realized they were nearing Wedgehurst.
He could see the small houses and barns and rolling fields and berry groves that made up the small town grow larger as the taxi made its descent.
"All right we're here Mr. Milo sir," the cabbie said as the cab touched down to the ground. The Corviknight that had carried them there gave a prideful caw
"Ah thank you so much," Milo replied as he exited the cab, using one hand to add an extra tip for the cabbie on his RotomPhone app, the other carrying his bundle of Wooloo wool.
The cab had landed near Wedgehurst's station. It had been a while since the young farm leader had taken a train usually opting for the Corviknight taxis. Since he didn't have much else to do after the trade, he figured he might as well take the train back. As long as he made it back in time for supper. Now then off to the-
"IS THAT YOU MR. MILO?" he heard a familiar voice call out to him. He turned around to see the champion's little brother running up to him. Those gold eyes, light brown skin, and purple hair were unmistakable. The boy's Wooloo was rolling next to him.
Just behind him, there was a shorter figure trying to catch up with Hop's long legs. She had dark brown skin, thick brown hair styled into two afro puffs with red ribbons attached, and bright green eyes. She was wearing a red dress and sandals.
"Hop will you slow down!" the girl whined. In her arms was an adorable healthy Budew. Milo noticed that the tip of the Budew's head was slightly glowing.
Ahhh, it must be ready to evolve soon, the gym leader thought as he observed the baby grass and poison typed Pokemon.
"Not my fault your short, mate" was the sassy reply Hop gave, earning him a raspberry from the girl.
"Well if it isn't Hopscotch," Milo said beaming ear to ear. He hadn't seen Leon's little brother in person in since his Wooloo ran off. "How are you and Wooloo getting on"
Hop blushed sheepishly at the remark as his friend looked on quizzically.
"Yeah Thor and I are getting on really good. Thank you again Milo for finding him and helping him get home" Hop said earnestly, though he avoided looking into the gym leader's eyes. Hop's friend's eyes widened and her mouth fell open in shock.
"Thor got lost!?" the girl exclaimed
"Y-yeah...that was a whole thing," Hop said obviously trying to dance around what had happened.
It was clear Hop's hadn't told his friend about this and now it was being laid out in the open.
Whoops. Way to go, Milo, the gym leader thought, time to change the topic.
"Say, Hop. Why don't you introduce me to your little friend here" Milo said while sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
"My name is Calla" piped up the girl "and this is my partner Sabi the Budew!"
The Budew chirped happily as Milo reached over to pet it. He was always happy to see young kids taking care of grass types. So many wanted fire or electric or dragon types as their starters.
"You've raised an excellent Budew there Calla. Looks like it's close to becoming a Roselia! I suppose if you're Hop's friend you want to take on the gym challenge too?"
"Yup" Calla beamed "Me and Sabi here are going to find a whole bunch of other poison typed friends and we'll show that poison types aren't scary at all"
Awww okay, so she was there for the poison type and not the grass type. But still, she's so adorable...Milo thought he always loved seeing trainers show affection for their favorite types, especially the not-so-popular types like poison.
"Whoo, those are some strong words little lady" Milo laughed "I'll have to watch out for you when you come by my gym!"
"She's not the one you need to worry about" Hop butted in, grinning ear to ear "after all my brother's the undefeated champion. I'm going to be the next champion. Los hermanos Villalobos will make history as back-to-back champions!"
"Of course! Can't sleep on Leon's little brother now can I" Milo responded causing Hop to puff his chest out proudly.
"Say why don't you two come with me to berry store to give the nice folks there some Wooloo wool? I'll get you smoothies there while we're at it" asked Milo
The two kids' eyes sparkled with joy at the prospect of hanging out with one of the major gym leaders. And free food.
"YES PLEASE!" they shouted in unison. Sabi the Budew and Thor the Wooloo made noises in agreement.
As the trio made their way up the hill to the store they were stopped by a few townspeople who wanted pictures or autographs with Milo. Milo never shied away from greeting his fans, even if it meant getting to his destination a little later. Outside of Turffield, Postwick and Wedgehurst really loved Milo in part due to his own rural background.
When the trio finally made it to the berry shop only to be greeted by a giant bale of hay stuck in front of the stand. Which...wasn't a problem considering how easily lifted bale of hay out of the way with one arm.
"Wow Mr. Milo you're so strong" Calla explained, her Budew chirping in agreement
"Yeah almost as strong as Lee is" Hop added
Truth be told, Milo had beaten Leon in a number of arm wrestling and actual wrestling matches...but he wasn't about to tell Hop that.
"It's all thanks to honest farm work," Milo said sheepishly.
The owner of the shop was of course, immensely grateful to him for taking care of the bale of hay. Apparently, it fell off the wagon of a passerby but no one could move it. As thanks, the owner gave him extra berries for the wool he brought and offered him, Hop and Calla smoothies on the house.
The trio enjoyed their smoothies and conversation...which was admittedly mainly dominated by the two kids. Milo was just content to watch the younger ones chat eagerly about Pokemon. Both of them took a very academic approach to the talk, it reminded him a bit of what Nessa described Sonia or how Raihan approaches his strategies.
Now it wasn't like Milo didn't understand their encyclopedic talk, he was after all an agricultural science major at Motostoke University. And any trainer worth their salt studied up on Pokemon. But when it came to battling, the grass-type expert preferred to use his intuition to guide him over solely relying on carefully calculated strategies. After all, a battle was much working on a farm, anything can happen. You can't rely solely on book smarts to win a battle or run a farm. Your intuition matters just as much.
"Hold on, Hold on," Hop said suddenly, breaking Milo out of his train of thought "Let's take a pic and send it to Lee. I want to show him we got to hang out with Milo today"
"Oh, that would be great!" Calla added before turning to Milo her green eyes wide and expectant "Oh please Mr. Milo sir, take a selfie with us"
Milo laughed as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Aw Shucks! Sure, why not" he said as Hop and Calla Cheered as they made moves to crowd around Milo as Hop's Rotom flew to make sure it could get the best angle for including the three humans, Budew and Wooloo. A few clicks later and there was a perfect image to send to Lee
"Bzzrt!" crackled the Rotom from inside the phone "Sent to Lee"
Milo smiled softly at that. He knew Leon would be over the moon to get that selfie from his little brother. It reminded him of when his own siblings sent him adorable selfies of them helping on the farm.
Just then, Calla's phone made a chirping noise to alert the young girl of a text
"What ah...come on" Calla pouted
"What is it?" asked Hop
"Mum's asking when I'm going to be home" she sighed, although there was a small smile "apparently my aunties are in town and we're having an early supper. I'm excited they're here don't get me wrong, I've just been having so much fun!"
"There's nothing like spending time with family," Milo said to which both kids nodded, although Milo noted the strain in Hop's smile. He knew Leon hadn't been home in a while with the chairman constantly pulling him more and more things. Both the champion and the chairman seemed more on edge lately.
"How about I walk you both home," the gym leader said to enthusiastic nods. Sure he knew the kids would be fine on their own, they both had Pokemon and Route 1 of Galar was one of the few green-zone areas, a place with mild-tempered Pokemon and an easy-to-walk environment. But still...blame the older brother instinct in him, he just couldn't leave them be!
The trio ended up making their way from Wedgehurst to route 1, talking even more (once again the two kids dominating the conversation). Before they knew it they were in the quiet sleepy town of Postwick as the sun began lowering in the sky.
Milo had initially wanted to take the train, but given the time (and how the trains were always delayed), taking the Corviknight Taxi was the best bet to be home in time for his own supper with the family.
Before long the mighty caw of the Corviknight rang out alerting everyone to its presence as it descended gracefully, gently lowering the cab to the ground with the softest of thuds.
"Well it looks like it's time for me to be heading on home," Milo said as he tipped his hat to the cabbie
"Awwww," Calla and Hop both said in unison
"Now don't you worry" Milo chuckled "I'm sure I'll be seeing you both on the pitch real soon"
"Yeah, and you better watch out!" Hop exclaimed "Thor and I are going to beat you and everyone even Lee!"
"Don't forget me" Calla piped up "I hope you'll be ready for my poison types Milo"
"Whoo-wee! Sounds like I'm in for it with the both of you" Milo laughed as he clambered into the cab before giving his final goodbyes "Y'all take care now!"
"BYE MILO" Hop screamed as the Corviknight stretched its wings out for takeoff
"BYE MR. MILO SIR," Calla yelled as the taxi began to lift into the air
It didn't take long for the cab to reach its max altitude, which is when his Rotomphone buzzed
"Bzzzt! You have a text from Leon" chirped his phone
[Hey thanks for looking after Hopscotch and his friend today]
[Aww it was nothing Leon, you've done the same with my siblings, only right to look out for yours. Also when are you going to go home? Hopscotch seems to miss you]
[I know, I know I feel awful. Just...Rose has been asking for a lot lately. But I'm coming home right after my exhibition match with Raihan]
[Good. You need time with your family. And just time for yourself you know]
[You're always looking out for me Milo, I appreciate it]
[Of course! Us big brothers from the country have to stick together]
With their conversation over, for now, Milo once again took the time to enjoy the gentle breeze all the way back to Turffield.