The battlefield was quiet after the match.
Gary walked over to Paul, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"It was a great battle. Paul, your Pokémon are very well-trained."
Paul didn't return the compliment. His eyes were as cold and stern as ever.
"Is that all you have to say? If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."
Typical Paul—blunt, uncompromising, and unwilling to accept anything that sounded like sympathy.
Gary didn't let the response bother him. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the Earth Badge, and held it out.
"This is the Earth Badge. Even though you didn't win today, I recognize your strength. You're qualified to participate in the Indigo Plateau Conference. Take it."
Paul's eyes narrowed. His hand lashed out—not to take the badge, but to slap it away. The badge flew from Gary's palm, clattering to the floor.
"Huh?" Hannah, who had been standing nearby as referee, gasped. She didn't understand Paul's reaction at all.
According to League rules, Gym Leaders could award a badge if they felt the challenger demonstrated sufficient skill—even in defeat. It was a sign of acknowledgment, not charity.
But Paul's voice was firm and cutting.
"I don't want your pity. I don't need a badge handed to me. Goodbye."
Without another word, he turned and strode toward the exit, his Primeape's Poké Ball still clenched in his hand.
Gary watched him go, thoughtful.
(As expected… Paul is exactly the opposite of Ash. When Ash started his journey, he often received badges from Gym Leaders without winning. But Paul… he rejects even a fair recognition if it feels unearned.)
It was consistent with Paul's reputation. Gary even remembered hearing about his infamous challenge at the Sunyshore Gym, where Volkner—lazy and disinterested at the time—had been willing to give Paul a badge without a real fight. Paul had been furious, refusing it outright.
Hannah bent down, picked up the badge from the floor, and handed it back to Gary.
"Gary, here. Don't let it get scuffed."
"Thanks," Gary said, pocketing it again. He released Gardevoir, who bowed gracefully before beginning to help Hannah tidy the battlefield.
Hannah was still buzzing with emotion. "Gary, that Paul guy… he's proud to a fault. I think he'll come back. He won't let things end like this."
"Maybe," Gary admitted, watching the empty doorway. "If he does, I'm sure he'll be even stronger than today."
Gary left the clean-up to Gardevoir and Hannah, then headed to the Pokémon Center to tend to his team. His mind was already moving on.
Time slipped by quickly. Two months had passed since Gary had been appointed the temporary leader of the Viridian Gym.
Paul never returned. Word around Viridian City was that he had already left Kanto, continuing his own training elsewhere.
Gary's own days had become routine—challengers, training, and paperwork. But today, he was free at last. The Pokémon League had chosen the official successor to Giovanni's vacant position, and Gary's substitute tenure was coming to an end.
The doorbell to the Gym rang loudly.
Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong!
Gary frowned. "That's insistent. Must be a challenger."
He opened the door, expecting another Trainer with dreams of the Indigo Plateau. Instead, a boy around his own age stood there, smiling with confidence.
"Hello. My name is Jaden, and I'm here to take over as the Gym Leader of Viridian."
Gary blinked in shock.
"You?!"
He had received notice from the Trainer Association that someone named Jaden would succeed him, but the documents hadn't mentioned anything about his age. He had expected a seasoned Trainer, not someone barely older than himself.
Jaden chuckled. "Haha, I know what you're thinking. I'm young, but don't underestimate me. I fought my way past plenty of candidates to earn this role."
Gary's instincts kicked in. "Do you have ID?"
"Of course."
Jaden pulled an official card from his bag. Gary inspected it carefully. It was genuine: Jaden, age 16—just one year older than Gary.
"Well," Gary sighed, "I guess you'd better come with me to the Pokémon Center. We'll confirm everything in the League database."
At the Center, Nurse Joy guided them to the League terminal. Gary logged in and searched the registry. Sure enough, Jaden's information was there—officially recognized as the incoming Viridian Gym Leader.
Gary leaned back in his chair. The Kanto League really is getting bold… putting someone this young in charge of a major Gym.
After the confirmation, Gary handed Jaden the large brass key to the Viridian Gym's main doors.
"Alright, Jaden. The Gym's yours now."
Jaden took the key with both hands, bowing slightly. "Master Gary, please don't worry. I'll make sure the Viridian Gym lives up to its name. I won't let your expectations down!"
Gary blinked, caught off guard. "Expectations? I never said I had any expectations."
Jaden grinned. "Maybe not today. But I saw you battle at the Indigo Plateau Conference. During your interview afterward, you said the Kanto Gyms weren't living up to the standard of the League. That stuck with me. I want to change that."
Gary was surprised. "You… watched my matches?"
"Of course. I didn't compete in that tournament, though. I started my journey outside Kanto—traveled through Hoenn and Sinnoh instead."
"Oh? And how did you place?" Gary asked.
Jaden scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "Not amazing. I made it to the quarterfinals in Hoenn… and runner-up in Sinnoh."
Gary let out a low whistle. "You call that not amazing? If results like that are 'bad,' most Trainers would cry."
"Haha, maybe. But compared to you, Gary, I still have a long way to go."
Jaden's respect was genuine. He knew Gary had already become a three-time Conference Champion—a feat few could dream of.
Gary gave a small smile. "Well, the Gym's yours now. Make of it what you will."
With that, he slung his bag over his shoulder, gave a final wave, and left the Viridian Gym behind, riding off on his bicycle.
Free from the weight of being Gym Leader, Gary didn't return to Pallet Town right away. Instead, he stayed at the Viridian City Pokémon Center for one last night.
Most of his Pokémon were teleported back to Professor Oak's lab. For himself, he kept a streamlined team:
MagnezoneWeavileGlaceonBlastoiseGarchomp (still in training)And, of course, Moltres, his main flier.
Blastoise and Garchomp were especially important. Garchomp had only recently evolved from Gabite during his Gym Leader tenure and was still just around level 30. It would take serious training to bring it up to full strength.
Gary knew pseudo-legendary Pokémon like Garchomp required patience. Even though it was one of the faster-evolving species, it wouldn't reach its final form until at least level 48. Still, that only motivated him more.
He lay awake that night, thinking about the path ahead—the Sinnoh League Conference was coming, and he wanted to be ready.
The next morning, as dawn painted the sky orange, Gary mounted Moltres and soared north. The Legendary Bird let out a piercing cry, wings blazing like the sun.
"Cawwww!!" Moltres's flames trailed behind them as they cut through the air.
Gary's destination was Pewter City. Beyond its outskirts lay the first facility of the Battle Frontier: the Battle Factory. Nestled near the base of Mt. Moon, it was remote, a place few ordinary Trainers bothered to visit.