Welcome to Gaia! ::

[One day after the conclusion of the World Champion Cup.]

The World Champion Cup is now behind the world and a new champion, Green of Kanto, has been crowned. The trainer will now tour the world going from region to region to unite the globe under her year-long reign, her title largely symbolic. While most trainers who partook are enjoying a relaxing break there are two who will not be allowed to do so.

[Location: Budew Drop Inn, Galar]

It was morning, the day after the conclusion of the World Champion Cup, the trainers who had made the Budew Drop Inn their home for the duration of the tournament now waking up and facing the grueling challenge of packing their belongings and heading home. Two Snagems however would wake up being presented to a much different challenge, a knock on their respective doors first thing in the morning. Opening their doors to see who would be up this early and what they wanted they would be confronted each with a Corviknight with a letter for them in their beaks. Once they took the letter the bird would squawk and bounce off down the hallway. The letters would read:

"Dear Reno/Terashi,

Congratulations on your participation in the World Champion Cup! While neither of you may have won you still fought valiantly, so much so that we have taken a keen interest in you and your capabilities. As such we are inviting you to join us on the Isle of Armor to take part in a different challenge, the selection of the next Psychic Gym Leader.

If you are unaware the Galar Pokemon League is unique in that there is a Gym Leader for every Pokemon type, however only eight are selected as the 'major league' which gives out gym badges and are allowed a region sanctioned and provided gym. The other ten are considered the 'minor league' which are seen as reserve Gym Leaders who are allowed to once a year participate in a tournament for the right to challenge the lowest ranking Gym Leader for their major league position. Outside of this they are encouraged to train themselves, take on pupils as possible future gym trainers, travel the region to advocate for their future gym for public support and sponsorships, as well as other occasional events.

While your presence is not required we do hope you will join us. No response is needed, if you wish to accept the challenge simply take the train ticket enclosed and head to the nearest train station, it will take you to Armor Station on the Isle of Armor. The challenge will take place over three days and lodging and meals will be provided to you.

We eagerly await your arrival.

Sincerely,

The Galarian Pokemon League

Reno would barely even need to get off his nice, cushy bed when the Corviknight arrived at the door. A quick flick of the wrist towards the door and a small amount of slime would extend off and quickly open the door before snapping back. Another launched tiny hand would grab the letter from the Corviknight, and a third would give the bird a small pat on the head before it went on its way back down the hall. Cracking open the letter, Reno would quickly browse over the contents and immediately give a sigh. It was going to be him and Ter for this? Welll....he could leave behind his arm for this. Make it a fair match.

It would only take a few moments to gather his supplies and start off towards the train station, getting a free listen to Ter and his father doing their best to make sure Ter got lynched somewhere between the lobby and the station. Well, that would have certainly been one way to take the win here and get standing in a second major Gym league. Either way, Reno would quickly hand over the ticket for his train ride out to the island and begin to sit back and wait. Out of all the supplies he grabbed, the one thing he had forgotten was a book to read while being transported. This was suddenly going to be a much longer wait than anticipated.

Once the train came to a stop, I let Luna out of her ball. As she was using her Dream Mist, I turned to Mister Top Hat and gave him a peace sign with my left hand as Psion Mirage manifested, rendering me invisible and leaving behind an illusion of myself sitting there holding up the peace sign. This would give off quite a bit of Psychic-type energy, but the bus was full of Channelers and Psychic trainers so there was plenty of Psychic Energy emanating in the area. Only mind readers like Reno and Psychic experts would be able to see what I did. Psion Mirage was meant to fool the mind, after all. That said, Luna's Dream Mist couldn't feasibly cover the entire route leading up to the Master Dojo, so once I was out of the bus I was out in the open. Even if I had a cloud of Dream Mist surrounding me, the Psychic energy alone would be tip off all the wild Pokemon in an open field, so there wasn't a point to keeping up the mirage.

As I headed north through the route, I couldn't help but pick up on a few signatures of Psychic energy. It wasn't just the trainers that came from the bus, either. This route was home to some wild Psychic-type pokemon, as well. Abra and Kadabra, Slowpoke, inkay and Malamar, Starmie, and even Ralts. However, i wasn't interested in fighting wild Pokemon and avoided tall grass as much as possible, opting to weave my way through the route and avoid conflict as much as I could. I even used Luna's Dream Mist to avoid getting sucked into battles with some of the locals that were roaming around. Of course, I couldn't evade battle entirely. Eventually, I found myself on a narrow path that was being blocked by a very odd Slowpoke, both in the way that it looked with a weird yellow crest on its forehead and in the way it behaved - standing on its hind legs and glaring right at me. At first, I thought it was just standing forward, but attempts to walk past were met with resistance that made it clear that this Slowpoke had a problem with me specifically. Confused, and curious about the crest on its forehead, I did something I haven't needed to do in a very long time.

I pulled out my Academy Pokedex.

Slowpoke, the Dopey Pokemon.

Although this Pokemon is normally zoned out, its expression abruptly sharpens on occasion. The cause for this seems to lie in Slowpoke's diet, which has not only numbed the pain in its tail, but has given it a spicy flavor. Because of this, the Slowpoke native to Galar have a reputation of being skilled fishermon.

This only amplified my curiosity, so I looked up the data of Galarian Slowpoke's evolutionary line. The Slowpoke in front of me didn't take well to being ignored, but Luna graciously floated around me until she was between me and Slowpoke, taking the hit meant for me and giving me time to discover that not only was this Slowpoke not a Water-type, it evolved into a Poison/Psychic type - an intresting combination, Further study showed that evolving a Galar-native Slowpoke required items that could only be found in Galar, which killed my interest in this Pokemon entirely - I had no intention of setting foot on this region again once my business here was done. Sighing in disappointment and putting away my Academy Pokedex, I mentally reached out to the Betyl Stone in my pocket. I then reached out to Rala and used her mind as a soundboard to broadcast my thoughts telepathically to Slowpoke. "I don't have anything against you. Let me pass and you can go about the rest of your day unharmed," I said simply, trying to calm it down so I could get to where I was going. It didn't work, however, and Luna had to take another attack Slowpoke aimed at me.

I shrugged at that point. He was asking for it by now. "Imprison," I said simply. Luna cooed and charged up Psychic-energy, creating an energy seal which she placed on Slowpoke's forehead, around the crest. This would prevent Slowpoke from using any moves Luna knew. That should block off some of his stronger moves, or so I thought. This only further enraged Slowpoke, however, and while it wasn't part-Water, it still had access to some Water-type moves, like Water Pulse, which it immediatly used on Luna to hold her in a pulsating water sphere. She was already floating before that, so only the water damage really affected her.

"Alright, if that's the game you REALLY wanna play," I muttered, pushing my glasses up to my face. "Use Shadow Ball," I told Luna. With the best nod she could do with no neck (which was basically just floating counter-clockwise and then clockwise, Luna gathered Ghost-type energy in front of her into a ball and launched it at Slowpoke, hurting him immensely if his emotions were any indication - even though he didn't look too hurt. -I wasn't interested in catching it at this point , but I could at least be merciful enough to use a normally effective move to do so to not amplify its emotional response any further. That said, it wasn't done fighting yet, and launched itself at Luna, striking at her with Dark-type energy via Foul Play. Luna hadn't used any stat-boosting moves prior to that attack, but it was still a super-effective move and she'd taken a few hits prior to his, so she was on the ground not long after getting hit. She hadn't fainted just yet, but I was getting tired of this nonsense, anyway.

The second Luna was back in her ball, Rala was standing beside me and charging a Moonblast. "I tried being nice. Stand aside or faint. I really don't have time for this," I huffed, pinching the bridge of my nose. Slowpoke still stood there with an imposing glare, and while it looks like he was preparing another attack, in no universe was he outspeeding Rala. The Moonblast flew, crashing down on Slowpoke like a meteor and exploding like the kind of bomb you'd see in fantasy video games.. Wasn't sure if that was a personal touch of Rala's or commonplace for Moonblast - or just my imagination. Slowpoke was on his back once the energy from the explosion scattered and dissipated, but he wasn't out yet. If anything, he was still determined to stand his ground even though he wasn't entirely capable of that anymore. I didn't know what his beef was with me or this tract of land, but honestly, I had to kind of admire his determination at this point.

Then I picked up something from him that left Rala with a crestfallen look. Apparently, he had sensed my energy as I was avoiding the locals and liked what he felt, I had to imagine his opinion of me went down a peg when I decided to resort to brute force to getting him out of my path, but since his determination hadn't wavered a bit, that was just a guess. I still wasn't entirely sure that I wanted to raise something that needed to be in Galar to see its true potential, but the look Rala gave me at this point basically sealed my fate. "Screw it," I muttered to myself, taking a Poke Ball form my bag and tossing it lightly at the collapsed Slowpoke. Part of me expected the Slowpoke to burst out of the ball shortly after being engulfed by it, but that didn't happen until after the telltale click of a successful catch, whereupon Slowpoke latched onto my shoulder in a hug, smiling happily before being whisked away via Teleport to the Snagem Pokemon Storage System.

"He really likes you," Rala said telepathically with a smile on her face.

"Yeah, apparently," I replied, straightening up the sleeve Slowpoke was on a second ago before taking a step forward. "Let's get going," Shortly afterward, I made it to the Master Dojo with Rala by my side. I wasn't surprised to see quite a few of the people that were on the bus had already made it here. There were still stragglers, though, so there was waiting to be done before we could start the next step.

Reno and Terashi would be some of the first to arrive, just two others there before each of them, one being that snooty looking top hat wearer, the other a Psychic whose dress probably finally clicked for Reno as a gym trainer from Saffron, didn't seem like he recognized Reno though. The final trainer was the tourist looking one, the man clearly having taken his time and greeted the risk of them with an 'Alola!' in his most thick Kalosian accent.

With all eight trainers now standing inside the dojo, the resident yellow draped trainers giving them looks, an old man would enter from a door to the side of the room, slowly making his way to the front and center of the gathered eight, an elderly Mienshao following close behind.

"Greetings! Thank you for coming, I'm a little surprised that each of the invited showed up. Not the first time but it isn't unusual." The old man in the green jacket chuckled. "My name is Master Mustard and I'll be your proctor, so to speak. As a former Gym Leader myself and a former Galarian champion I am charged with recommending future Gym Leaders, though my 'recommendation' has yet to be denied so you might as well say I select Gym Leaders." Master Mustard laughed.

"With that said the eight of you will undergo a trial here on the Isle of Armor. At the end one of you will be selected to become the next Psychic Gym Leader." Master Mustard began to explain, walking down the line of trainers. "The purpose of my trial will be for you to display your capabilities as a trainer, particularly when wielding Psychic type Pokemon. Furthermore, while many of you appear to possess psychic abilities yourself having such abilities are not required of the next Psychic Gym Leader." He said, stopping to give the 'tourist' looking trainer a wink.

"Before I get into explaining how the trial will proceed why don't we first introduce ourselves." The old master would stop in front of a platinum blonde haired trainer wearing a purple jacket. "You first. Step up and face your opponents. Tell us where you're from, something interesting about yourself, and one of your prized Psychic Pokemon."

Scoffing the trainer rolled his eyes and took a few steps forward before turning around to face the others. "I'm Bede, born here in Galar, you don't need to know my hometown." He scowled. "I'm going to be the next Psychic Gym Leader and my Hatterene will destroy all your Pokemon." Bede said in a matter-of-fact tone before getting back in line. He was certainly a cocky one. The next trainer would then step up and continue on.

"Bonjour! I am Dexio from Lumiose City in the Kalos region. I am assistant to our region's Pokemon professor and a passionate traveler. While I indeed do not possess Psychic powers like some of you I do pride myself in my battling skills, having placed high in Alola's Battle Tree." He beamed with pride. "My Espeon is very dear to me, he sleeps in bed with me every night and no matter where I am in the world I make sure to import his favorite treats from back home in Kalos."

"My name is Johan, I am a Gym Trainer of Saffron City Gym as well as a native of said city in the Kanto region. As a young boy my powers manifested early and I was sent to the gym to learn how to control them. Our gym leader, the great Sabrina, has taught me much and I owe it to her standing here today, of which I hope to make her proud. My Kadabra is my greatest partner. I have decide to not evolve it until I one day before a gym leader myself, an equal to my great leader and her own Alakazam." The man said before bowing.

"Greetings, my name is Divit, born on the outskirts of Lilycove City, Hoenn." The first of two hybrids in the group spoke up, a Medicham hybrid to be exact. "For the past three years I have been in seclusion in meditation, only rejoining society to participate in the World Champion Cup after receiving word of it, hoping the experience would prove enlightening. I am a student of Grand Master Maya of the Mirage Islands and hope that after three long years I may return to my teacher as a Gym Leader. My dearest Pokemon is my Medicham, the humor not lost on me that I am a Medicham hybrid who also uses a Medicham."

"I don't see why we have to waste our time doing this." The top hating wearing trainer complained first. "Whatever. I am the great Avery, successor to the previous Psychic Gym Leader, my late uncle. The Psychic Gym of Galar belongs to my family, which we have a long unbroken line of Psychic Gym Leaders. You can all leave because I do not intend on letting that line be broken." He huffed. "My Slowbro will make sure of it."

Shaking his head at Avery the other hybrid would step up, the Mr. Rime hybrid giving everyone a nod as he put his hands on his hips. "Name's Ian. I'm in my late sixties and I live in Spikemuth here in Galar, though my family originally comes from Circhester. I am a retired officer of the Hybrid Task Force. I loved my job but the mean streets of Spikemuth was just taking too much of a toll on my old man body and the wife talked me into retiring a couple years back. Since then I went in hard on training my Pokemon, even competed in the World Champion Cup. Proud of that. My best lad of a Pokemon is my Indeedee, the best partner an officer can ask for."

With the other six done it was then time for Reno and Terashi to speak.

Reno would look at the gathered people for a moment, taking in each of their introductions as he began to place where each of the rest of these competitors would likely be challenge-wise. Nothing too surprising, although there being three students of Maya here was certainly something to keep note of, especially given how weird time on that island was. And that was Ter finishing up his own introduction, so now it was his turn. "Hi there. I'm Reno. You probably saw me in the World Champion Cup doe my little.....explosive show that I ended up putting on. Or from the.....two major world altering events I was Co-Leader of Snagem for. Or.....a lot of things honestly. I am also a student of Maya's and my partner is my Wynaut. I'm not as gung ho about the reward for this particular challenge, but I ain't one to back down from a challenge so lets all do our best." Giving a curt nod and a smile to the rest of the gathered trainers, the redhead would look towards Ter for a moment longer before hooking a thumbs towards the blonde bespectacled man. "Also, his channeling partner is his Gardevoir. Since we all played nice, he's getting forced to do so as well. By me. Because I'm his boss. Good? Good."

Reno had this in the bag. Hunting for edible foodstuffs was half of a Houndoom's life. And the others wouldn't expect him to bust that out so he would have advantage if anyone tried to rob him for a Max Mushroom. But then he heard the mention of Psychic type specifically and that plan immediately died. And just before it wouldve exited conception too, what a shame. Well, that left onw other choice. If there wasnt gonna be a natural way for him to fins things, he was gonna try computational. Opening up a Pokeball and hopping up into the air, Reno and the Metagross he was now astride would be taking off for the Forest, giving a few tests to see how quickly they could move and identify edible things as they went along. It wasn't the advantage he had initially conceived he had but it was at least something.

Both Reno and Terashi would enter the Forest of Focus at the same time at the same entrance, before some contestants but from the foot prints ahead they were not the first. Likely they would split up, perhaps one giving the other a parting comment before taking off. Eventually they would find themselves heading down different paths, away from each other's gaze and ears.

Reno would come upon a dead end, a thick of brush standing in his path and a small cliff with a tree perched on top of it, its branches hanging low overhead, just barely out of arm's reach. Upon closer examination it was a berry tree, small green Lum Berries blending into the similarly colored leaves. Reno didn't need the field guide to know what these were. There was even an Emolga up there snacking on some, though it didn't seem to mind Reno's presence.

As for Terashi he would come up to a river, a bridge much further down and out of sight. Examining the shore of the river he would spot some interesting looking plant, kind of resembled carrot tops. If he pulled one up it looked kind of like a carrot, but bumpy, it was some type of root. Checking the field guide it told him it was a Pungent Root, a favorite curry ingredient. There were a cluster of six of them, a good start. He just had to pull 'em and be careful not to stumble into the water.

I made a point to keep my mouth shut when Reno and I met up at the entrance to the Forest of Focus, breaking away to take my own path at the earliest opportunity.

Sure enough, with the help of Luna's nose, we came across a collection of growing carrots with weird bumps on it. Curious, I checked the field guide, and learned that these little vegetables were rather popular. Smiling, I pocketed the field guide and grabbed hold of one. As I pulled it up, I noticed Luna using Psychic to uproot the entire bunch just before I felt my balance shift. Some quick thinking and quick feet helped me re-position myself so I wasn't at risk of falling into the river.

After putting all six in my duffel bag, I pet Luna in thanks for the help. "Come on, let's see what else we can find out here," I told her, and with a cheer in Pokespeak, the two of us kept moving.