You went to the hospital as soon as you heard the news.
Last night, the gym leader was patrolling route 215 when a swarm of Scythers ambushed her and her group. Everyone survived but she and some of the gym's trainers were severely wounded.
Until now, the news of pokemon becoming more aggressive in all major routes around Sinnoh were not much more than just rumors… But this incident turned them into full-blown panic. It seems that this situation was happening all around the region, but the routes around Veilstone were the most dangerous for inexperienced trainers. Some people were starting to question if the youngest gym leader in Sinnoh was doing her job properly or if her own lack of experience was putting people's lives in danger.
As you walked through the crowded streets, now hearing little snippets of people talking about the news, you felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, you want to defend your friend. You want to tell everyone that she is a great trainer and gym leader… On the other hand, you still remember what the doctor told you. He wanted Maylene to step down from the position. Not because she wasn't good enough but to protect her from the burden of being responsible for the protection of the innocent in a time of crisis like this.
You knew she was overworked, you remember how she was tired last time you trained with her… Was this the reason? Was she going out every night to patrol the routes? Is that why she wasn't at her gym yesterday? You can feel a pressure in your chest and cold sweat on your back. She was risking her life and something, deep inside, made you wonder that maybe it was your fault. She was being reckless because you got seriously hurt too.
You needed some… answers? You were not sure. In your mind, you only knew that you had to talk to her soon.
⁂
Once you reached the hospital, finding Maylene's room was easy. The nurses had instructions from your friend to tell you where to go… She already expected you to rush there.
You arrived at the correct floor and walked through the white hallways in silence, not wanting to disturb any of the other patients by running or making noise. Of course, the one in front of the door didn't need sound to know you were there.
Lycium, Maylene's Lucario, was in front of her door waiting for you. His arms were crossed over his chest and had a relaxed posture, keeping guard to make sure no one approached without permission. You raised your hand as a greeting and he nodded in your direction, eyes closed and relaxed using his weird aura tricks to see. You found that really cool.
To your surprise, he stopped you before going inside, telling you to wait for a moment. You were going to ask why, but then you heard someone talking inside. It sounded like… The hospital director, the one you met the other day. You weren't trying to eavesdrop, but being so close to the door and with everything so silent… It wasn't hard to listen to their conversation.
"… reckless." The man with a deep voice said almost with a sigh. There was some edge there but it felt more like exasperation than anger.
"Someone had to do it. The reports of Scythers getting braver were too important to ignore." You heard someone say in a cold voice trying to contain her anger… Maylene. She was mad, really mad. Maybe at the doctor or at herself, but you could only feel relieved to hear her talk.
"You are a gym leader, Maylene. That means that your job is to lead, not to throw yourself at the danger because it's your duty… If not for your aura you would' lost that arm." He replies, leaving a heavy silence behind. You even stop breathing for a second realizing how close she was to get seriously hurt like that.
"… I know. I know but thanks to me we managed to scare them away! No one died and the route is safer now. I don't see how I did a bad job even if I got hurt. Getting hurt to keep others safe is what I should do as a Gym Leader." She answers proudly. A bit of the edge in her voice gone.
"Maylene, that's not how things work. Things are getting more dangerous and out of hand. You went there out of desperation and, while you were hunting Scythers, there was another Houndoom attack near the Veilstone Pond. Not everyone has aura… A kid lost an arm yesterday." He says somberly, you can hear Maylene gasp at the news. "Please, let someone else lead. Train for some time or do something else. You are too young to have this kind of responsibility." He pleaded.
"I… I'm not just going to give up…" It was hard to hear her answer, much softer than how she was talking before.
"Kid, I've been taking care of your health since you were a baby. Your mother… She was a good doctor, one of the best. I can't let you stay as the leader while things go bad like this. I don't want that burden for you." As he talked you felt kind of sympathetic for him. He wasn't telling her that out of malice but trying to protect what he saw as just a child for being responsible for people's deaths. Maylene said nothing so he kept talking. "The council talked… The situation is getting worse. You might think everything is under control but we are raising the threat level to 3… My wife will take care of the city until things calm down." He said in a solemn tone. You didn't exactly understand what the threat level was or who was his wife.
"Your w-? Wait! You mean that Bertha is going to take charge?! Why?!" Maylene asked raising her voice. Bertha… wait, isn't Bertha one of the Elite 4?
The man made an affirmative sound. "It's standard procedure… It's been a long time since we had an alert three. Before you were born. When it happens a member of the Elite 4 takes charge. You will still have your duties but will have to follow Bertha's orders…" He sounded a bit apologetical, probably unable to stay cold in front of her. "The council decided… And even if I voted against it, it wouldn't have changed anything. I'm sorry."
Again, silence for a moment… Until she replied. "When can I start training again?" She asked decided.
"In a week." He replied flatly. "Bertha will arrive next week and when she does… You could use some time for yourself. I'm not just telling you as a friend but also as a doctor. You've been stressed since you took your master's place. You can leave her in charge for a week. You know she wouldn't mind if it's for your health… And I heard your friend is around. You could spend more time with him." As he talked he sounded more cheerful, trying to make her feel better.
"I will… think about it." She said deflated.
They exchanged some words and goodbyes. You panicked realizing you were in fact eavesdropping, so you did the most non-suspicious thing possible and hid behind a vending machine. Then tried to act casual… In a stroke of luck, the doctor walked away in another direction once he was out of the room.
This time Lycium allowed you to go inside with a weird smile. In the room, you found Maylene with a… Complicated expression on her face. It was a mix of sadness, understanding, and determination. She was clearly deep in tough. So much that she didn't react to you until you sat down in a chair next to her bed.
"Oh! Hi Haru… Your aura is really bright, you know?" She said looking past you. It took you a moment to understand but, as you followed her gaze, you realized she was looking at the same spot you were standing on the other side of the wall. When you looked back she had a knowing smirk on her face. "Too bright to be sneaky around me."
You sputtered and tried to make an excuse but couldn't. You knew and she knew you knew. Probably Lycium also knew that she knew that you knew that cheeky bastard.
Now that you had that information… You didn't know what to say. "Do you… Want to talk about it?" You asked carefully.
"… No, not right now." She said, her mind clearly not made yet about the whole situation. You had to do something to make her smile again…
"And… what if we talk about that time we went looking for treasure?" You asked. Her difficult expression slowly turned into a smile as she looked at you.
"That poor guard had no idea how to handle us." She said before laughing.
⁂
You spent the whole day with her talking and laughing. They allowed her to leave before sundown so you also walked her to the gym. In contrast to how much you talked at the hospital the walk home was… Silent. She had her arm in a sling and bandaged. The damage would heal fully in a week. It wasn't that hurt but she wasn't going to move it until then just in case.
When you arrived at the gym she turned around trying to say something before parting ways. It seemed difficult for her. She was conflicted… Then you realized why. She was doing something she always refused to do.
Asking for help from you.
"Haru…" She finally said. "What… what should I do?"
You didn't need more. You knew what she meant.
[] Leave the leader position for some time. Let Bertha in charge and focus on learning more about how being a leader works.
[] Keep trying and don't leave the position. It might be hard but you can't just give up at the first sign of trouble.
[] … I don't know.
