Gladion stood in front of the mirror in his room at Vortex Manor, adjusting the collar of his sleek black suit.
Today was no ordinary day. It was the coronation ceremony for the new Indigo League Champion, Lance Wataru.
Lance would take a vow and officially step into his role as the most powerful trainer in Kanto and Johto. Gladion had to look the part, not just as a Gym Leader but as one of the key players in the region's power structure.
The past week had been busy for him. Gladion's phone hadn't stopped ringing, and his schedule was packed with meetings.
Supporters of the former champion, Pryce, had been calling him nonstop, begging for his help. They were terrified that Lance, now the champion, would replace them with his own allies in the League's administration.
These officials had enjoyed cushy positions under Pryce's reign, especially in Johto, where he'd favored his region. With Lance, a proud member of the Blackthorn Clan, taking over, they feared losing their jobs, influence, and perks.
Their only hope was to rally powerful figures who could stand up to the new champion. In the Indigo League, only a few people had that kind of clout. First was Agatha, the veteran Elite Four member. Even in her old age, she was a force to be reckoned with. Her sharp mind, decades of connections, and terrifying Ghost-type Pokémon made her untouchable. She'd outlasted champions before, and no one dared cross her.
Blaine might've been an option, but he was on his way out. Gwen, Gladion's sister, was set to replace him as an Elite Four member, and Blaine's influence had dwindled as he prepared to become a Cinnabar's gym leader.
Then there was Bruno, the muscle-bound Elite Four member known for his Fighting-type Pokémon. Bruno was strong, scary strong but he didn't care about politics. He'd rather punch a boulder than sit in a meeting, so he was no help to Pryce's supporters.
Among the Gym Leaders, only three in Kanto had real power, while Johto's Gym Leaders were mostly young and tied to clans, not the League itself and thus did not have much political power.
The first was Giovanni, the Viridian City Gym Leader. His wealth was unmatched, his connections stretched across the regions, and hisstrength as a trainer was nothing to scoff at.
Gladion had no doubt Giovanni was already scheming, offering his support to Pryce's allies in exchange for favors.
He couldn't complain, though, he was doing the same, trading his influence for promises of support in future League decisions.
Next was Koga, the Fuchsia City Gym Leader. Koga wasn't just a trainer; he was a ninja with a not-so-secret shinobi force. Everyone in the League knew about his network of spies and assassins. During the Infinite Pokémon War, stories had spread of Koga's agents slipping into enemy camps at night, their blades silent as they eliminated threats. People still whispered about trainers waking up to find their Pokémon poisoned or their plans leaked.
One wrong move, and you'd find a ninja's kunai at your throat before you could blink. Koga's support was a double-edged sword, valuable, but terrifying if you double crossed him.
Then there was Gladion himself, the youngest of the bunch but no pushover. He was officially the richest person in Kanto, Johto, and even Hoenn.
His alliances with Koga and Agatha, plus a few other Gym Leaders, gave him serious pull. And it is said that only his Alpha Tyranitar can match Lance's Alpha Dragonite.
Gladion wouldn't admit it out loud, but he was thrilled when Pryce's old-guard supporters came groveling. These were the same people who'd dismissed him as a "newbie Gym Leader" when he first took over the gym, mocking his ideas for type-specific challenges and his focus on rare evolutions. Now, they were begging for his backing in League meetings and elections to keep their jobs.
'Karma's a Beautifly,' he thought, tying his shoes with a satisfied grin.
He shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. Today was about the future, not settling old scores.
The first day of Lance's reign would be monumental. The champion would sign critical documents and announce policies that could shape the Indigo region for decades.
Gladion was sure Lance would focus on balancing the inequality between Kanto and Johto. Under Pryce, Johto had gotten the lion's share of the League's budget better stadiums, more funding for trainers, lower taxes.
Kanto, meanwhile, was stuck with higher taxes and crumbling facilities. If Lance wanted to unite the regions, he'd need to even the playing field. That could mean redirecting funds to Kanto's cities, building new training centers, and ensuring trainers and businesses from both regions had equal opportunities. It would boost Kanto's economy but ruffle feathers in Johto.
Gladion's mind raced as he grabbed his jacket. 'There'll also be talk about replacing Lance in the Elite Four,' he thought.
'Gwen's taking Blaine's spot, so she's out. Koga's a possibility, but Lance might push for someone unexpected. Giovanni would definitely try to slip one of his allies into the role, someone he could control. I'll need to keep an eye on the candidates,' Gladion mused.
A wrong choice could tip the balance of power in the League, and he wasn't about to let Giovanni or anyone else run the show.
"Well, with this, both Hoenn and Indigo have new champions," Gladion murmured to himself.
In Hoenn, Wallace had taken the champion title earlier this year, replacing Drake, who'd stepped down to join the Elite Four. Wallace was a contest superstar, and his flashy performances had made him the most-followed trainer on PokéGram.
Gladion had to admit, the guy was a genius at marketing. 'He's got half the region downloading apps just to watch his reels,' he thought with a chuckle.
He knew it wouldn't last. Steven Stone, the steel-hearted heir to the Devon Corporation, was rising fast. It was only a matter of time before Steven claimed the Hoenn championship.
Gladion was about to head out when the floor beneath him rippled. A figure phased up through the ground, materializing beside him with a huff. It was Gwen wearing a sleek purple dress for the ceremony.
"You take longer than a princess to get ready, Glady!" she said, pouting. "We're gonna be late now!"
"We won't be late since I can teleport us there," Gladion said with a sigh. "And can you knock next time?"
-----Author Notes------
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