I was running a diagnostic on the newly acquired Key Stone at a private terminal within the Rustboro City Pokémon Center. The smooth, dark metallic stone felt heavy with history and immense potential. Just as I was admiring the faint shimmering light it cast on the desk, the center's loudspeaker chimed, drawing my attention.
"Trainer Stephen? Please report to the video communication unit. You have a call from the Petalburg City Gym Leader, Norman."
A hush fell over the small crowd near Nurse Joy's counter. Norman was a renowned name, and my heart gave a slight thump. I moved quickly to the screen.
Norman's face, stern yet kind, appeared on the monitor. "Stephen," the Gym Leader said, his voice carrying the authority of a veteran. "I'm calling personally to thank you for your actions near the Petalburg Woods. The situation—the Whispering Woods incident—could have escalated significantly without your quick thinking and aid. You handled those rogue trainers and their overcharged Pokémon brilliantly."
"It was nothing, sir," I replied, feeling a flush of pride. "I just followed protocol. And my Pokémon were ready."
Norman nodded slowly. "Roxanne mentioned your recent victory here in Rustboro. It seems Mr. Stone's faith in you, and the responsibility he placed in your hands," his eyes flickered down, implicitly acknowledging the Key Stone, "was not misplaced. Continue to travel wisely, Stephen. The Hoenn League needs trainers with both skill and honor."
The line clicked dead. I stood there for a moment, the weight of Norman's thanks settling on me. I hadn't realized my small intervention had reached the ears of a Gym Leader so quickly.
As I turned from the communication screen, I found Roxanne, the Rock-type Gym Leader, standing just a few feet away. She had her arms crossed, and a shrewd, contemplative smile on her face. She was still wearing the clean-cut blazer and skirt that reflected her professional, scholarly demeanor.
"Norman's praise is high praise indeed," Roxanne remarked, stepping closer. "I was just finishing my patrol. It seems I didn't just beat a skilled opponent yesterday; I welcomed a true hero to Hoenn."
"Thank you, Leader Roxanne," I said, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sudden attention.
"Listen, Stephen," she continued, her tone shifting to professional urgency. "I know you're keen to press on toward Verdanturf, but I have a favor to ask. I often mentor at the Rustboro Pokémon School—it's just a block away. It's where the next generation of trainers gets their start. They know the theory, but they lack the practical perspective."
She paused, gesturing toward the center of town. "You've proven you understand things beyond simply type-matching. The incident in the Woods, your gym battle, your access to the Key Stone—you possess a unique insight into Pokémon potential."
"My students," Roxanne leaned in slightly, lowering her voice, "are starting to believe that strength is defined only by level, rarity, and raw power. They dismiss the common Pokémon, the strategy, the bond. It's an infectious, lazy way of thinking that stunts growth."
She locked eyes with me. "Will you accompany me? Come and observe the future of Hoenn training and perhaps offer an outsider's opinion. They need a successful young trainer—a peer—to shatter that misconception. Just a quick visit, I promise."
Roxanne's enthusiasm was convincing. I saw an opportunity to not only help these students but also to solidify the strategic philosophies I was developing. "I'd be honored, Leader Roxanne. Let's go."
The Rustboro Pokémon School was a sleek, modern facility.
Roxanne led me into a brightly lit classroom where about twenty students, ranging from ten to sixteen, were engaged in a lively debate. The instant Roxanne entered, the room fell silent. When the students spotted me—a trainer who had just beaten their local hero—a mix of awe and competitive curiosity filled their faces.
"Good afternoon, class," Roxanne announced. "I've brought with me Stephen, a League traveler and a new Hoenn victor. He's here to listen to your current topic of discussion. Please, continue your debate on the metrics of Pokémon strength."
A confident-looking boy with a neatly pressed uniform and an air of arrogance, who introduced himself as Eric, stood up immediately.
"Our consensus remains, Leader Roxanne," Eric stated clearly, addressing me with a slightly condescending glance. "The greatest trainers focus on acquiring the strongest species—the pseudo-legendaries, the rare starters, the high-level evolutions. We spend our time preparing for expeditions to find Axew or Bagon. We don't waste time on mundane route Pokémon."
A girl named Mia chimed in, holding up a data pad. "My data confirms it. Statistically, a fully trained Salamence will always outperform a fully trained Swellow. Time is best invested in high-potential captures. Anything below a certain threshold of rarity, like a Poochyena or a Zigzagoon, is strictly fodder for exp-share."
A murmur of agreement went through the room. I felt a familiar annoyance. This was the same kind of narrow thinking I'd encountered from arrogant trainers throughout my journey. They were forgetting the core lesson great trainers like Norman had proven: Respect all Pokémon. Norman himself was a master of common Normal types like Vigoroth and Slaking. He had proven that common Pokémon were anything but weak.
Roxanne turned to me with a slight, challenging smile. "Well, Stephen? You've heard the prevailing wisdom of our scholars. Do you agree that the greatest trainer is merely a collector of high-level, rare monsters?"
I took a deep breath, my hand unconsciously resting on the Key Stone beneath my jacket. "With all due respect to the data," I began, my voice calm but firm, "that's a philosophy that guarantees failure when you face a truly prepared opponent. You're confusing potential with strategy."
"Prove it," Eric challenged, stepping forward, a smirk playing on his lips.
I met his gaze, a quiet determination settling over me. "I can. I'm willing to bet that I can take one of the common 'fodder' Pokémon you just dismissed, use strategy over stats, and defeat the best Pokémon any of you have here right now."
The room erupted in excited chatter. Roxanne gave me a nod of silent approval. The stage was set.