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Ryan finishes getting his Coke when he sees Aden coming his way. "Impressive win. have to admit though, you had me worried a few times there." Ryan says with a smile.

"So tell me, Bugsy...what got you on this tangent in the first place? Didn't I tell you a few years back that you were going to get shown up one way or another if you kept this up? And my God, I can only wonder how your Pokemon feels about it." I said.

"Leave my Pokemon out of this." Bugsy said.

"The hell, I will. They deal with your bullcrap every time you start this, and now not only they took a heavy blow, especially Scyther, but oh GOD, if I only had a mirror to show you what you look like right now..." I said.

"Why should I listen to you?"

"You hadn't got up and left yet." I said. "Something must be striking a chord somewhere."

"......never mind..." he said, turning his head away.

"Bugsy, I'm here because I give a care of what happens within these gyms. As far as I have been taught, Gym leaders are a role that people take up, almost like a badge of honor. Not...an excuse to have a god forsaken chip on their shoulder. If you're just going to continue end up like this, then you may as well resign from being a Gym Leader, right at your supposed prime no less. Aden beat you, not because he simply by some margin out classed you there at the end, you let the idea of him getting the better of you...well...get the better of you. And what makes it hilarious is the fact that Falkner more than likely saw it coming from a mile away. He let Aden go, just so he COULD do a number to you. That is of course apart from showing whatever potential Aden has and the fact that he did in fact end up like you to a degree; that Aden is my pupil of sorts, and he was going to give well...I guess you can say the traditional apprentice trial by fire.."

Bugsy looked back at me...something struck him like a ton of bricks. "I should have known. Falkner whenever he decides to be smart, he always sends a messenger bird of some kind, like a Pidgey, or a Hoot-hoot, to state his point on something. He sent you, I guess."

"Falkner is a magnificent b*****d like that." I said.

"Yeah, I've been hearing a little about that. I still don't think it can be quite as bad as it's made out to be." Oh how little Aden knew.

Ryan raises an eyebrow. "not that bad? Over half of all trainers who start out from New bark Town every year QUIT because of that Miltank. Don't let Whitney fool you. She may be very cute and personable, but she takes defending her Gym very seriously. And that Miltank of hers is stronger than you are giving it credit. It almost one-shot the Machop I had at that time of facing her with ONE stomp. It would not be wise to underestimate any of your opponents like that from here on out. Goldenrod on, it's going to be unforgiving. Falkner saw your potential and let you move on. Busgy, although you won, was not focused. The breaks end now. The next six gym leaders will not be so forgiving or distracted." Ryan explains in detail, issuing that warning at the end.

"I just. Just. I don't know." Bugsy said, leaning on the table. "I feel like Im lagging behind now. And someone like you isn't helping." He said.

"Jealous, much?" I asked.

"I guess I am." He said. "While being proud of the fact that I am one of the younger gym leaders, I felt that I was put in the position for a REASON. It's...a badge of honor, and heck. Serious bragging rights. But when some of the apprentices are being held in higher rega-"

"Bugsy, shut up." I said. "Don't even finish that sentence. Keep in mind something. Some of us, me for instance, then we have Kristy, as well as Alexi in Blackthorn, we've been around a while. A LONG while. I think I'm the oldest of the apprentices out of all the gyms here in the region, only beating Alexi by...what...a year? And we've held the apprentice positions for...at least a decade? It would have been a matter of time that some of us would have gotten a bit of limelight." I said. "The world does not freakin' revolve around you and there's always going to be at least ONE person better than you, like there is at least one person better than I am, which we both know, there is more than one, to be sure."

"I guess."

"Your jealousy with the apprentices does not excuse your ignorance with your position. And your Pokemon are probably feeling the same way right about now." I said. "Your Pokemon depend on you as you depend on them...likewise, trainers look up to you supposedly as you are supposed to spur them on forward, win or lose, at your gym. Forget who there is within the gym circuit, and just worry about your own self and YOUR Pokemon."

"......." He looked back staring at the table. "I can't believe that I needed you to remind me of that."

"I think you know what you must do now." I said.

"Where is he?"

"Went to get a Coke...he should be with Ryan." I said. "Somewhere around the front."

He got up from the table and started his way out of the cafeteria. As he left, I gave a sigh and looked at the table. "I'll see you soon, teacher..." I said.

"I don't think it's that strong. I just kinda saw myself when I was fighting Bugsy... I think I know exactly.what Blizz was getting at now." He said, find it hard to deny now.

Ryan spots Bugsy coming their way. "I think I'll go meet up with Blizz. Meet us when your done. " he says to Aden and starts to walk away to find Blizz.