Alex's POV
Lila woke me before the alarm did.
I heard soft footsteps in the hall, the sound of her knocking lightly on my doorframe, then her voice—small but steady:
"Alex? It's morning…"
I wasn't a heavy sleeper to begin with—years of field missions made sure of that—so I was already sitting up by the time she finished the sentence. Infernape stretched beside me, letting out a groggy rumble that vibrated the mattress.
"Yeah," I said quietly, rubbing my eyes. "Let me get dressed."
By the time I stepped into the hallway, Lila was waiting with her hair tied back, Arcanine's Poké Ball clipped tightly to her belt. She looked determined. Nervous. Older than twelve, but still just a kid.
Kai stumbled out behind her, blanket wrapped around his shoulders like a cape.
"I'm ready," he mumbled, eyes half-open.
I smiled, messing up his hair. "Sure you are, hero."
We made a quick breakfast—toast, fruit, something sweet for Kai because he ate like a starving Growlithe. Lila drank tea. I tried coffee, regretted it immediately, and poured it out. The island's water filters needed replacing.
Another thing to add to the list.
By the time we stepped outside, the morning sun had begun warming the volcanic stone under our feet. The wind carried the faint scent of ash from the mountain, the same way it always had when I was their age.
"Is it gonna… look bad?" Kai asked as we walked.
He didn't need to say what "it" was.
"The Gym?" I exhaled softly. "Probably. But we'll deal with it. Together."
He nodded, gripping my hand.
Lila stayed slightly ahead of us, walking carefully but with purpose. Whenever she wasn't looking, I saw her thumb brushing the surface of Arcanine's Poké Ball. She was steadying herself.
I knew the feeling.
The Gym sat near the base of the volcanic ridge that split the island in two—a wide brick structure with large glass windows and banners that once proudly displayed my parents' insignia: a stylized flame curling into a protective arc.
Now?
The left side of the building was collapsed inward. Support beams jutted out like broken ribs. The windows were shattered. The once-bright banners hung in tatters, swaying limply in the warm wind.
Kai stopped walking.
"...Whoa."
Lila's shoulders tensed, but she didn't freeze. "It's okay," she whispered to herself. "Mom and Dad would want us to see it. To fix it."
I stepped up beside her. "They would."
Infernape walked ahead, scanning the area with that instinctive alertness he had developed after years in the field. Even damaged, the Gym's air buzzed with old power. Battles happened here—hundreds of them. Thousands, maybe. Each one left a mark.
The League's yellow tape hung around the perimeter. A few scaffolds had been erected. Tools lay nearby where workers had paused their repairs.
But the workers themselves?
Not here yet.
They started at 10 a.m. Island time. We were early on purpose.
"Stay close," I said gently as we passed under the tape.
Inside, the Gym was a half-finished dream turned nightmare. The floor was cracked. The arena platform caved in slightly at one corner. The scent of burnt stone still lingered.
I could almost hear the echoes—crowds cheering, flames roaring, my parents shouting commands to their Pokémon. I grew up in this room. I learned to fight here. Learned to fall here. Learned to get up and try again.
Now it was silent.
Kai stayed glued to my side, eyes wide. Lila walked ahead, fingertips brushing the scorched edge of the battlefield.
"Mom battled right here," she murmured.
"Yeah," I said softly. "Dad did too."
"She said someday I'd have my first Gym match here," she added. "Said I'd surprise everyone."
I swallowed around the tightness in my throat."You still will."
Her jaw clenched. "Not like this."
"Maybe not now," I said gently. "But this Gym isn't gone. It just needs help."
She nodded, but her eyes stayed fixed on the collapsed ceiling.
Kai tugged at my sleeve.
"Alex?" he whispered. "Are we gonna fix it for real?"
"For real," I promised. "The League already approved the budget. They're sending engineers and specialized Pokémon to stabilize the foundations."
Kai perked up. "Like Machamp and Golem?"
"And maybe even some big ground types," I said, smiling. "Depends on who's assigned."
"I wanna meet all of them!"
I laughed softly. "Yeah, I figured."
It was then that a faint metallic clink echoed from deeper inside the Gym. Lila stiffened. Kai hid behind me.
Infernape perked up instantly, flames rising—not aggressively, but alertly. He stepped forward, muscles coiled.
"Easy," I murmured. "Probably just workers."
Still, I followed Infernape toward the sound. Old habits die hard.
We rounded the corner into the back storage corridor and froze.
A man stood there—lean, white-coated, adjusting a data pad. His hair was tied back, his glasses slightly tilted.
He looked up as we approached.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, blinking rapidly. "You must be Alex Hale."
"In the flesh," I said cautiously. "League inspection team?"
"Yes—yes, precisely!" He scrambled forward, nearly tripping on a loose toolbox. "I'm Inspector Rowan Finch. The League assigned me to oversee structural assessments and safety regulations. And, ah—my condolences. Your parents were… exemplary Gym Leaders."
My throat tightened. "Thank you."
He bobbed his head, then turned the data pad around. "We've begun drafting a full restoration plan. The quake caused extensive subterranean shifting, likely destabilizing the magma channels beneath the arena. The Gym's heat dispersal systems need complete recalibration."
Lila frowned. "Is that bad?"
Rowan blinked. "Oh—no! I mean, yes. But no. Well—somewhere in the middle. It's fixable. Just… complicated."
Kai whispered to me, "He talks funny."
I stifled a smile. "He's nervous."
"Am not!" Rowan protested, then immediately tripped again, dropping his stylus. "Agh—sorry. I'm better with machinery than people."
"Same," I said.
Infernape snorted like he disagreed.
Rowan continued adjusting his data pad. "League Champion Lance specifically assigned me to this project. He said to give you whatever support you need. Said you were one of Interpol's best assets."
I raised an eyebrow. "Did he now."
Rowan nodded. "He also said you'd probably hate being praised, so I should stop talking."
Lila giggled quietly. Kai did too.
I sighed. "Sounds like Lance."
The inspector softened. "We'll get this place rebuilt. I promise."
"Thank you," I said genuinely.
He gave a clumsy little bow. "Feel free to explore. I'll be doing scans in the lower level—careful around that area, though! Some tiles are unstable."
With that, he disappeared down the hallway in a flurry of scribbled notes and muttered calculations.
Kai stared after him. "He's weird."
"He's helpful," Lila corrected. "And nice."
"Still weird."
I chuckled. "Weird is fine. We can use all kinds of people right now."
We walked further into the Gym. The training rooms were dusty but intact. The badge case behind the registration desk was cracked but salvageable. I could almost see Mom's handwriting on old scheduling notes pinned to the corkboard.
Then we reached the back training arena—the one only Gym staff used.
It was the most damaged room yet.
Half the ceiling had collapsed. Light poured through the broken tiles, painting the ground with slanted beams. Char marks scorched the walls. A support beam lay crushed on the floor, cracked cleanly in two.
Lila stepped through the debris carefully."I used to watch Mom train Arcanine in here," she whispered.
I felt the ache rise again."Yeah… I know."
She unclipped the Poké Ball from her belt. "Can I…?"
"Yeah," I said gently. "Go ahead."
She pressed the button.
With a burst of light, Arcanine emerged—tall, majestic, fur flowing in waves of orange and cream. But the fire-type didn't roar or bark. He lowered his head, sniffing the air, stepping forward slowly.
His eyes scanned the room.
Recognition.Memory.Loss.
He let out a low, mournful rumble.
"Hey, boy…" Lila whispered, placing a hand on his flank. "We're here. You're not alone."
Arcanine nuzzled her gently, then lowered himself so Kai could pat his mane. The kid hugged him immediately.
Infernape approached Arcanine, bowing his head in that respectful way he used before. Arcanine returned the gesture.
Two aces.Two survivors.Two guardians trying to recalibrate themselves in a world without their original leaders.
I watched them, feeling the weight of something settle on my shoulders—not a burden, exactly. More like a mantle.
This Gym wasn't just a building.It was a legacy.
And now it was mine.
Not because I wanted it.But because the kids needed it.Because Arcanine needed it.Because my parents would've expected me to protect the flame they built.
"Alex?" Lila said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think we can really fix it?"
I looked around the room—at the cracks, the rubble, the dust floating through the sunlight.
"Yeah," I said. "I do."
She studied my face, searching for doubt.
"But it'll take time," I added. "Work. Effort. Maybe tears."
Kai nodded solemnly. "I'll help!"
Lila smiled faintly. "Me too."
Arcanine barked softly.Infernape gave a determined grunt.
I placed a hand on Lila's shoulder. "We'll fix it. One step at a time."
We stayed in the Gym for another hour, exploring, talking, imagining what could be rebuilt. For the first time since arriving, the future felt less like a cliff and more like a hill—steep, but climbable.
When we finally stepped outside, sunlight washed over us. The island air smelled of salt and ash and beginnings.
Lila shielded her eyes. "What now?"
"Now?" I stretched slightly. "We go home. Clean a bit more. Eat lunch. And tomorrow, we meet the League engineers."
Kai cheered. "Yeah!"
We began the walk back. Arcanine trotted protectively near Lila. Infernape matched my stride, watching the path ahead.
Halfway home, Kai tugged my shirt.
"Alex?"
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Are you gonna be the Gym Leader now?"
I hesitated.
"I don't know yet," I admitted. "But… if I am, it'll be because I want to protect you. And Lila. And the Gym. And this island."
He nodded thoughtfully."I think you'd be good. Mom always said you were strong."
Lila looked over her shoulder. "She said you had a good heart too."
My throat tightened."Yeah… well… I try."
When we reached the house, Lila turned back toward the Gym."We're going to fix it," she whispered to Arcanine. "All of us."
I glanced at the cracked building in the distance, the afternoon sun outlining it in fiery gold.
One day, it would stand proud again.
And so would we.