Gladion charged straight up the mountain through the smoking scar Collosus had carved.
The path was clear for now, but the roars of the tide echoed on both sides. Elder Green's wings beat steadily beneath him. The heat from Moltres grew stronger with every meter they climbed.
He never thought the day would end like this. This morning he had woken up excited for Lance's coronation. He had planned to shake hands, smile at cameras, close new business deals, and gain more political support.
He wanted bigger contracts for his gym ranch, more sponsors for his evolution-stone exports, and stronger ties with the Johto clans. That was the plan. A normal day of building an empire.
Now he was racing toward a legendary bird that could burn him to nothing. And the truth hit him hard. If he did not have Latios and Latias hidden in their Poké Balls, he would probably die today. All the money in his accounts would stay in the bank.
All the companies he started would keep running without him. Being one of the strongest trainers in three regions would mean nothing when his body was ash on the mountain.
Dead is dead. Money cannot buy another breath. Titles cannot stop fire. Fame cannot bring back a heartbeat. Everything he had worked for would turn to dust the moment his heart stopped.
No one would care how many zeros were in his bank account when they lowered an empty coffin into the ground because there would be nothing left to bury.
Gladion felt his chest tighten. He had been chasing power and success so hard that he forgot to live.
He came to this new world with memories of a past life where he had been ordinary. He promised himself he would become extraordinary this time. He would be the strongest, the richest, the most respected. But in chasing that dream he forgot the small things that actually made life worth living.
He rarely sat down for breakfast with his family anymore. He could not remember the last time he ate dinner without checking emails on his phone. Milo and Lila used to drag him to play dollhouse or battle with toy Pokémon, but these days he was always too busy. Gym battles, training schedules, business meetings, Aura Guardian missions.
He told himself it was all for them, for a better future. But when was the last time he actually asked them about their day?
He even forgot to buy Dad a birthday gift last month.
Then there was Sabrina. She had been by his side for years. She flew with him across Hoenn searching for Mega Stones and rare fossils. She used her psychic Pokémon to scan ruins while he dug.
She stayed up late helping him plan gym challenges. Whenever he felt lost she found quiet ways to cheer him up. She never asked for much. He gave her one mega evolution stone as thanks, but she had helped him find hundreds more.
And when she finally told him how she felt, he turned her down because he was too focused on his goals. He broke her heart.
Maybe after today he would change that. Maybe he would give them a real chance. Maybe love was worth more than another business deal.
Gladion looked at his Pokémon running and flying beside him. Guy pumping four fists with endless energy. Hydros marching with cannons ready. Lee floating with ghostly rage. Zeus crackling with excitement. Tengen slicing the air. Elder Green carrying him without complaint. And Collosus leading the charge like a moving mountain.
These were the ones who had been with him from the beginning. When he was just a kid with big dreams, Guy taught him how to throw a proper punch and made every training session feel like an adventure.
Collosus was only a tiny Larvitar back then. Gladion used to carry him to the river and scrub sand off his back while the little guy splashed and laughed in his own grumpy way.
They used to have picnics on the gym ranch. They played tag in the fields. They watched sunsets together. Those were the best days.
Now he barely talked to them outside of battles. He hired specialist trainers for some of them because he was too busy. He told himself it was for their growth, but deep down he knew the truth. He had forgotten that being their trainer meant more than giving orders. It meant being their friend.
Grandpa Maren wanted him to become a gym leader and make the Vortex name shine, but he always said family came first. Pokémon were family too.
Gladion could almost hear Grandpa's voice telling him he had lost his way. If Grandpa were here he would probably spank him for forgetting what really mattered. The most important thing to any Vortex was Family.
Gladion took a deep breath. "No more," he whispered. "After this is over I will change. I will live better."
He looked at his team and spoke aloud. "Hey team, I am sorry. I have been neglecting all of you since I became Gym Leader. I got so caught up in goals that I forgot the fun we used to have. Once this is over let us have an ice cream day. My treat. As an apology."
His Pokémon turned their heads. For a moment the battle noise felt far away.
Nyx grinned, [Hey now, who is being negative? Cheer up boss. We still love you.]
Zeus laughed, sparks flying. [Mint chocolate chip for me! Arsenal would probably melt his again with his flames. Haha!]
Mystique flipped her tail happily. [Cotton candy flavor please. It matches my scales.]
Guy struck a pose. [Ah the sweetness of youth! But all that ice cream means extra training to burn those youthful calories tomorrow!]
Lee floated closer and gave a rare gentle pat on Gladion's leg but said nothing.
Hydros nodded. [Vanilla for me. Simple and strong.]
Tengen clicked his claws. [Strawberry. And extra sprinkles.]
Elder Green rumbled softly. [Banana flavor. Obviously.]
Collosus slowed just enough to look back. The giant alpha Tyranitar gave Gladion the biggest smirk a rock dinosaur could manage.[Triple scoop rocky road with chocolate sprinkles on top. And extra nuts. You owe me big, Glady.]
Gladion laughed. Real, warm laughter that pushed away the fear for a moment. His eyes felt wet but he blinked it away. His family was right here, running into fire with him, and they still wanted ice cream day.
Collosus thought to himself as he turned back to the path ahead, 'Took you long enough to realise it, Glady.'
-----Author Notes------
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