Pokemon: Gym Leader

"Zekrom is unable to battle. Reshiram wins."

Alder announced the result with a sympathetic glance at N, who stood silent, head bowed, looking utterly dejected.

Yes—Zekrom had fallen.

Afflicted by Toxic, and then had nearly all its moves sealed by that sly white dragon's Imprison... how was it even supposed to fight?

Zekrom had collapsed in misery, while Reshiram stood tall, head held high, wearing a look that said, "So this is what invincibility feels like—so lonely."

[Family Group Chat]

Reshiram: Guys, guys! Well? That black dragon was nothing! Just two moves and I totally handled it! (cute.jpg)

—Yes, two moves indeed: Dragon Pulse and Imprison. Post-Imprison, it just spammed Dragon Pulse like a queen.

Kyurem: Tch. If it weren't for that Arbok's poison, you'd never have pulled it off. You oughta kneel to that snake. (disdain.jpg)

Calyrex: You did great, Little White. Be proud of yourself.

Terapagos: So strong, Whitey~ Super cool. (thumbs up.jpg)

Lunala: Meh. If we fused with big bro, that black lizard wouldn't last a single round. (tsundere.jpg)

Solgaleo (Nebby): (confused black guy.jpg)

There were more, but Reshiram didn't care anymore. It felt like it was ascending—its entire existence validated.

So satisfying. So, so satisfying.

Ever since their split long ago, it had been competing with Zekrom. Now, at last—it had crushed Zekrom in an official battle. For the first time!

It proved one truth loud and clear: Ideals can never surpass Truth. Truth is what stands in the end.

While Reshiram was living its best life...

"..."

N silently returned Zekrom to its Poké Ball, staring at it with a complicated expression.

He had lost. And not even in a close match.

Dylan's "truth" was… overwhelming.

When Zekrom fell, so did his spirit. He had risked everything in that battle. It was more than a fight—it was his ideals, put on the line.

He had known the odds, known Dylan was the stronger one. But even in defeat, he had hoped to go down with dignity.

Instead… his dragon had been poisoned, sealed, and demolished. No dignity to be found.

"N, how are you feeling?"

Dylan approached with a smile.

"..."

N's face twitched. He didn't know how to respond. Because if he opened his mouth, he feared the words would be—

"This isn't the kind of battle I wanted."

But N was a gentle soul, raised to be kind and well-mannered. He couldn't say something so… rude.

This had been a formal, regulated battle. Dylan had followed every rule—even if his battle style was a little dirty.

But N had felt it—Dylan's truth. The depth of it. The power of it. Something beyond what he could reach.

"…I concede."

N sighed and finally spoke.

He had no reason to continue. His remaining Pokémon, Turtoshell and Zoroark, couldn't possibly take down Reshiram.

The moment Zekrom fell, so did his chances of victory. And though it hurt to give up, N would never send his Pokémon to suffer a hopeless fight. That wasn't who he was.

Nobody present was surprised. Zekrom's fall had spoken volumes.

With the match concluded, Dylan stepped forward, Reshiram softly landing behind him. Its pristine white feathers shimmered in the light, and it dipped its head slightly, sapphire eyes radiant and serene.

This was N's first time seeing the white dragon so closely—and it really was beautiful.

"A wonderful battle, N."

Dylan offered his hand, his tone calm and warm as always.

"Thank you," N murmured, shaking it.

"…I'm not your equal."

He had come to terms with it. This battle had shown just how large the gap between them still was—but that wasn't something to feel ashamed of.

If anything, it reminded him how much farther he had to go.

"You've changed a lot. I'm glad," Dylan said with a smile.

"I used to be too extreme," N admitted. "Now I think… I understand what true ideals really are."

He thought back to his former self, closed off and blinded by his convictions. There was a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

But at least now—he'd grown.

"That's the best outcome." Dylan nodded. "This world… it needs all of us working together, whether we walk in truth or in ideals. One can't exist without the other."

N blinked.

"The world needs truth," Dylan continued. "Without truth, everything is a dream—a fragile illusion. That's terrifying."

**"But it also needs ideals. Ideals give people something to strive for. They're the light we chase."

"Truthless ideals are just fantasy. But truth without ideals… that's a world without a future."**

N stood stunned.

Weren't Truth and Ideals always in opposition?

But… Dylan's words made perfect sense.

"…I understand."

After a long silence, N inhaled deeply and nodded.

"The road ahead will be hard," Dylan said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Let's keep working at it—together."

Now assured that N's spirit was intact, Dylan nodded in satisfaction.

Maybe he'd gone a bit hard on him, but N was tougher than he looked.

After the battle, Dylan invited Alder, Iris, and the others to his dojo's courtyard for a break.

"Wow~ Your gym has such a big backyard! Kinda impressive," Iris said as she wandered around, curious as ever despite her elegant outfit.

"My dad bought it back in the day. But now with the number of Pokémon I've got, it's starting to feel a little cramped."

Dylan shrugged.

"I actually bought a plot of land last year. Figured I'd let my Pokémon live there—it's more spacious, and I think they'll like it."

He was talking, of course, about the World Tree area. He'd already purchased it through the League and even set up warning signs and patrol routes outside the region.

There were still Regice and Registeel waiting to be caught there… if only he had time to go deal with them.

He'd bring Regirock, Regidrago, and Regieleki for a little family reunion one day.

"Tch~ must be nice being rich."

Iris couldn't help but click her tongue.

Dylan's background was no secret anymore. He was the heir to Silph Co., stupidly rich, freakishly strong, the Champion of Kanto, and stupidly handsome to top it off.

The internet was overflowing with fangirls drooling over him.

"By the way, Iris, I've put together a brand new team recently. Wanna spar a bit?"

Dylan turned to her with a grin. What could he do? He did want to test her skills.

After all, in the Black 2 timeline, she was the Champion. And Dylan's newest main team was built around Fairy-types—perfect for testing against her dragons.

(Yes, Iris was the "girl who understands the heart of dragons," but her team in the games was never full-Dragon.)

In Black 2, her Champion team included: Hydreigon, Druddigon, Archeops, Aggron, Lapras, and her ace, Haxorus.

Even in the post-game rematch, the only change was swapping Druddigon for Salamence.

So yeah, she loved dragons—but her team wasn't full of them.

"Huh?" Iris blinked. She hadn't expected Dylan to challenge her himself.

She had wanted to battle him after watching the match with N, of course—he was the strongest Champion in Kanto.

But after seeing that brutal beatdown… she wasn't so sure anymore.

Dylan's battle style was a bit different from what she was used to.

"Next time, I promise!"

She smiled brightly but seriously.

She needed prep time. She didn't want to end up like N—poisoned and demolished.

"Alright. Then what about you, Alder?"

Dylan turned to the elder Champion. "That Larvesta you gave me back then? It's fully evolved into Volcarona now. I thought we could—"

"Ahem… Dylan, I don't think my old bones can handle your kind of battle."

Alder laughed awkwardly.

He still had mild PTSD from battles. And Dylan? If they fought, Alder doubted he'd ever want to battle again.

Dylan frowned. That was kind of rude.

He always put his heart into every match. How could it be called torture?

Still, he didn't like pushing people. If they didn't want to battle, that was fine.

Afterward, Dylan took everyone to stroll through Rota City for the afternoon. They stayed the night at his gym before heading off, reportedly to tour the Indigo Plateau.

After all, they were in Kanto—they had to see the League HQ at least once.

Three days later.

"Ready?" Dylan asked.

"Mhm~ All packed up, big bro!"

Lillie tied her golden hair into a ponytail. She wore a white hoodie and a gray plaid skirt, a cute backpack bouncing behind her.

"Let's go then."

Dylan helped her tidy her bangs with a smile.

They picked up Ilene at the castle and took off for Vermilion City on Reshiram's back—where Leaf was waiting for them.

And so…

They arrived in Lumiose City.

The heart of Kalos, the city of light—where technology met beauty and bustle.

The most populated city in the Pokémon world.

Yup. Dylan and the others had finally arrived in Kalos.