Morning at the Valora City Pokémon Centre carried a certain vibrancy.
The day was still fresh, the halls still carrying that polished scent of disinfectant and gentle soap, with busy trainers flowing in and out of corridors like river currents.
Aiden descended the marble staircase quietly, his steps composed, his jacket neat, hair brushed back cleanly.
There was no sign of nervousness in him.
Only a deep, focused stillness.
At the front desk stood a nurse — a woman with soft green hair tied into a practical bun, her uniform crisp and immaculate.
She noticed Aiden immediately, a slight sparkle of recognition lighting her eyes.
"You must be here for Gym Registration?" she asked, smiling warmly as he approached.
Aiden inclined his head respectfully.
"That's right."
"Follow me," she said, stepping out from behind the desk with smooth efficiency. "I'll guide you to the Registration Office."
As they walked through the bright corridors, the nurse chatted lightly.
"First Gym challenge?" she asked, glancing sideways with genuine curiosity.
Aiden nodded once.
"First official one," he replied, voice steady.
The nurse gave a soft laugh.
"You look calm for a first-timer. Most are either bouncing off the walls or pale as ghost-types."
"Preparation helps," Aiden said simply.
The nurse smiled approvingly.
"Good attitude. You'll need it."
They turned a corner, and in front of them loomed a solid oak door with a golden plaque reading:
Trainer Affairs and Gym Registrations.
The nurse gestured toward it.
"Inside you'll meet Officer Klein. He handles Gym Battle scheduling."
"Thank you," Aiden said, giving a small, courteous bow.
The nurse grinned.
"Good luck, trainer."
Then she disappeared down the hall.
Aiden took a slow breath, steeling himself — not from fear, but sharpening his focus even further.
He reached for the door handle, and pushed through.
Inside, the room was clean and functional.
A single broad desk stood at the far side, behind which sat a middle-aged man with a square jaw and steel-gray hair.
The nameplate in front of him read:
Officer Klein – Senior Registration Officer
Klein looked up sharply as Aiden entered, assessing him with the quick, unblinking gaze of someone who'd seen thousands of trainers pass through his doors.
"Trainer registration?" Klein asked, voice clipped but not unfriendly.
"Yes," Aiden confirmed.
The officer beckoned him forward.
"Name and League ID."
Aiden produced his League Card without hesitation, and Klein scanned it swiftly.
As he typed, Aiden's mind flickered briefly — a flashback from long ago:
His father's voice, calm but firm as they sat by a crackling campfire:
"Gym Battles aren't about raw power, Aiden. They're about composure under pressure. Expect misdirection. Expect surprises. You lead your Pokémon with your heart and your mind. Always both."
His mother's voice, gentler but no less firm:
"The first loss isn't a shame. The real shame is letting it shatter your will."
Aiden's eyes sharpened slightly as the memory faded.
He was ready.
Klein's voice brought him back.
"You're eligible to challenge Valora City's Gym under the One-Star category," the officer said, matter-of-factly.
"You'll need to earn three One-Star Badges before you're allowed to register for any Two-Star challenges."
Aiden nodded silently.
Of course.
Fifteen Gyms across Sinnoh — not the mere eight that fantasy shows spoke of.
The real Sinnoh was vast, filled with minor towns, hidden villages, and cities carved into mountainsides.
Fifteen tests, fifteen battles.
He would climb them all.
Klein continued, his fingers still tapping across the holographic interface.
"Valora City Gym specializes in Bug-types. Gym Leader Gareth."
Klein glanced up, gauging Aiden's reaction.
Aiden merely tilted his head slightly.
"Badge?"
Klein smiled thinly.
"The Carapace Badge. Symbolic of resilience, patience, and the ability to adapt — like many Bug-types."
The officer swiped a few more windows open.
"Gareth usually selects his team from a roster of seven Pokémon."
He listed them smoothly:
Sewaddle (Bug/Grass)
Venipede (Bug/Poison)
Dewpider (Water/Bug)
Scatterbug (Bug)
Wimpod (Bug/Water)
Spinarak (Bug/Poison)
Combee (Bug/Flying)
"But," Klein added, giving a pointed look, "don't expect it to always be the same.
Gareth sometimes pulls different Pokémon depending on his mood, or the particular trainer he's facing."
Aiden raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning," Klein said, leaning back in his chair, "you might prepare for Venipede and end up facing something entirely different. Gym Leaders are allowed a flexible selection, within reason."
Aiden's lips quirked slightly upward.
He liked that.
Chaos within structure.
Keeps everyone honest.
Klein continued.
"Typically for One-Star battles, you'll face three Pokémon — Three Pokémon that he selects, usually from that main pool. Of the seven regulars, three are trained up to Intermediate Stage in their respective growth, the rest at Youth or high Child stage."
Aiden filed the information away carefully.
"So," he said quietly, "not an easy first battle."
Klein's mouth twitched in amusement.
"It's not meant to be easy."
He finished entering the data and handed Aiden a slim folder.
Inside was a printed confirmation slip, a set of battle regulations, and a Gym Leader profile.
"Battle scheduled for two days from today," Klein said.
"Morning slot, local Arena Hall 2."
Aiden accepted the folder with a nod.
"One last thing," he said, almost casually.
"If a trainer loses... is there a penalty?"
"Losses are recorded," Klein said, voice now serious.
"Too many, and your League License gets flagged.
You'll still be allowed to continue battling, but your reputation among Gym Leaders and potential sponsors... won't be good."
Aiden nodded once, crisp and sharp.
"Understood."
Klein leaned back and smiled faintly.
"You're calm. I like that.
Most kids your age swagger in here like they're already champions."
Aiden shrugged lightly.
"Dreams are fine," he said. "Preparation's better."
Klein gave a rare bark of laughter.
"Wise words.
Now go prepare. Gareth won't go easy on you just because it's your first badge."
"Wouldn't want him to," Aiden said simply.
Then he turned and left the Registration Office, stepping back into the sunlight flooding the Pokémon Centre's lobby.
Outside, the city bustled:
vendors hawking breakfast treats, trainers running battle drills in quiet corners, children tossing Pokéballs at practice targets.
Aiden tucked the registration folder into his pack carefully.
Two days.
Two days to refine his team, his strategy — his will.
He lifted his gaze toward the distant silhouette of the Gym Tower rising in the skyline, its spires sharp against the rising sun.
This was just the beginning.
He smiled — a quiet, dangerous smile.
Let the games begin.