Now that Whitney was officially Kanto's new Normal-type Gym Leader—and Red had (begrudgingly) been drafted to replace Blaine—Blue had five more gaps to fill.
Bug. Flying. Steel. Dark. Dragon.
"Damn it," Blue muttered, pacing across his office. "No wonder business leaders always whine about the talent pool…"
The problem was clear: he was running out of qualified trainers. Fast.
"If push comes to shove," he muttered darkly, "I'll just poach them from other regions."
Bug-types weren't the issue. Kanto was swarming with bug catchers—every kid with a Beedrill thought they were the next big thing. It'd be a popular Gym, maybe even a solid training ground. Not the strongest in the League, sure—but with the right structure and leadership? It could thrive.
But then there was Viridian City.
He'd promised Whitney that spot. But technically... Viridian was large enough for two Gyms. One uptown, one downtown. A dual-Gym city. Johto had done something similar before.
Still, the thought of Whitney anywhere near Giovanni's old hideout?
Blue scowled.
"No way. Absolutely not." He folded his arms, leaning back in his chair. "The last thing I need is Whitney tripping over Rocket leftovers and trying to pet them."
Sure, he could deal with Team Rocket himself—or wait for Red to reduce their HQ to ash, like the walking natural disaster he was—but that felt like a waste. A waste of people. Of potential. Of talent.
Even if that talent occasionally stole Pokémon and disrupted the peace.
"One problem at a time, Blue," he murmured, grounding himself with his own name. "Step by step."
What he really needed wasn't just more battle junkies. He already had Red. He had enough overpowered Pokémon to stock a small army and still field a full belt. What he needed now was soft power. Influence. Image.
Not everything could be solved with brute force. Not anymore.
And how do you build that?
With famous people.
Charismatic. Confident. Telegenic. Trainers the public adored—the kind whose mere presence turned challengers into fans and casual Trainers into believers. Media darlings. Style icons. The kind of people who could sip lemonade on a bench and still trend across the region.
"You want the League to matter?" Blue muttered, staring up at the ceiling like it might hand him answers. "Then people need to care. Not just fear."
He didn't want just strength. He wanted style. A League of icons. Legends in the making.
And then the name came back to him—clear as crystal.
Karen.
Stylish. Deadly. Enigmatic. The kind of woman who made kids idolize Dark-types and adults question their life choices.
She was influence. The perfect fit for a Dark-type Gym—or maybe even a future Elite Four seat.
"I need her," he said aloud. And he'd need more like her. People underestimated how much culture could shape power. America pulled it off with nothing but movies—suddenly, the whole world wanted to be them.
Strength was the foundation. But being the coolest region?
That was endgame.
So not just Gym Leaders—cool Gym Leaders.
With that thought, Blue stood, already reaching for his jacket.
"Time to go recruiting."
———
Karen sat quietly at the edge of the beach, sunglasses shielding her eyes, a glass of red wine balanced gracefully in her hand.
Truth be told? She was bored.
She loved battling with her Pokémon—the thrill, the tension, the moment before a decisive move. But lately, there was no one left in Johto who could truly challenge her. The trainers had grown predictable. Tame.
She'd already been in touch with Lance. He'd offered her a spot in the Elite Four—prestigious, well-paying, exactly what many Trainers dreamed of. And she wanted to accept. But there was one problem.
Lance had vanished into the mountains.
Losing to a Water-type specialist had been a devastating blow to the pride of Johto's champion. He hadn't taken it well.
Joining the Elite Four was probably her best chance to find real competition again. At the very least, it would provide a stage for serious battles. And the money? Excellent.
But lounging around, doing absolutely nothing for weeks on end? That was starting to fray her nerves.
"Well, well. What a surprise," came a voice behind her, smooth and amused. "Didn't expect to see you in a bikini."
Karen sighed. Another one.
She turned—and her mood shifted instantly.
A young man stood there, relaxed, confident. Brown hair tousled by the breeze, a sly smile playing on his lips.
Oh no.
Wasn't that...?
Yes. Blue Oak.
The new Champion of Kanto.
The same one responsible for Lance's sudden disappearance into self-imposed exile.
"Blue Oak," Karen said coolly, offering him a seat beside her. At last, something—someone—interesting had entered her life. And Blue Oak wasn't just interesting. He was the spark she hadn't realized she was waiting for.
No ordinary Trainer became Champion at his age. And Lance, for all his theatrics and love for Dragonite, hadn't been an easy opponent. He was a powerhouse—the kind who ruled not just one, but two regions.
"I'll be quick," Blue said with a sigh, sitting beside her. "Because honestly, your current attire is far too distracting."
Karen smirked. If anything could rival her team's power, it was her own allure—and she wielded it just as skillfully.
"I'm here to recruit you. I want you to work for me," Blue said, pointing east. "In Kanto."
Karen raised an eyebrow. "Wow. You're certainly not shy. Lance already offered me a position with the Elite Four—in my region. You really think you can top that?"
"Oh, I know I can," Blue replied with a confident grin. "The only question is: will you realize just how much better my offer is?"
Karen's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Well then. I'm listening."
"Are you free?" he asked. With a flick of his wrist, he released a Poké Ball.
A Starmie emerged in a burst of brilliant light.
Karen's breath caught. She felt the presence of the Pokémon immediately. Its aura radiated raw, disciplined power. No average Trainer could raise a Starmie like that.
This one was dangerous.
"I'm intrigued," she said, already reaching for her cover-up, slipping a dress over her swimsuit. When the Champion of a region shows up in person, you follow. If nothing else, you see where the story is going. "Where to?"
"A very dark and spooky place," Blue replied, tone casual, almost playful.
Karen laughed. "Lucky for you, I happen to love dark and spooky places."
Starmie shimmered with psychic energy.
And then they vanished.
———
Kanto – Rock Tunnel
Karen gasped as her feet touched the rocky ground. The air was different here—drier, cooler. Even for a Trainer of her caliber, teleporting across regions wasn't an everyday occurrence.
Most didn't realize: the distance of a Teleport depended entirely on the strength of the Pokémon.
And this? This had been a very long jump.
"We're at the end of Route 9," Blue explained. "Entrance to Rock Tunnel. Let's head in."
Ah, caves. Karen smiled. Every serious Trainer knew them well—long, winding, exhausting. Often dangerous. Always unpredictable.
But the moment they stepped inside, she knew something was off.
This cave was different.
It wasn't just dark—it was a void. The kind of blackness that seemed to swallow light whole. Not even the faintest glow from the entrance remained. It wasn't normal darkness; it was a complete, unnatural absence.
Even Karen felt a chill.
"Do you understand why I brought you here?" Blue asked, his voice echoing through the pitch-black beside her.
"Oh," she said thoughtfully. "I'm probably one of the few Trainers who actually does."
A place like this—thick with shadow, oppressive and quiet—was a natural haven for Dark-type Pokémon. A rare one.
It was, in a word, perfect.
Blue's voice carried a smile. "I really don't want to walk through Rock Tunnel again today. Just trust me—this cave is huge. And it's only the first—and smallest—part of what I want to show you."
There was a pause.
"Would you mind if we continued this conversation somewhere... more comfortable? Say, a restaurant?"
Karen's smile widened. "Are you inviting me on a date, Champion Oak?"
That's when it hit her again.
A second Teleport.
Dizzy from the sudden surge of light and energy, Karen blinked—then realized she was sitting. On a stool. In front of a table.
In a restaurant.
She chuckled, the surprise washing over her with a strange sort of delight.
If nothing else, Blue Oak had style. Even if he was a little… brutish.
The first course had already arrived. Her glass of wine from the beach was gone—replaced seamlessly with a fresh pour. This meeting hadn't been improvised. It had been planned, carefully and precisely.
"Like you noticed," Blue sighed, leaning back slightly, "we do have a natural habitat for Dark-types. A very special one, actually. I don't think there's anything like it in any surrounding region. Rock Tunnel is a good start. But do you know what the real problem is?"
Karen took a slow sip. "No native Dark-types in Kanto," she replied. "It's the biggest headache for any Dark-type trainer. In Johto, we have—what? Technically five species? And even that is considered impressive. Still not enough for a full team."
"Exactly," Blue said, a grin playing at the corners of his mouth. "And that's what I want to change. Entirely."
Karen raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"I want to convert the whole of Rock Tunnel into a dedicated natural habitat. A haven for Dark-types. And not just one or two lines. I'm talking twelve different evolutionary families."
"Twelve?" Karen laughed in disbelief. "You're insane. Do you know how long I've been hunting for every Dark-type in my region? Years. You know how many I actually caught? Three. And you want to fill an entire cave with twelve species?"
Blue didn't flinch.
Instead, he calmly reached into his satchel and placed a small metal case on the table. With a click, he opened it.
Inside were six Poké Balls.
Karen's expression shifted.
"Go ahead," Blue said, picking up his fork to resume eating. "Open the first one. In this conversation, only action speaks."
Karen hesitated, glancing around.
"Is it really okay to summon a Pokémon in the middle of a restaurant?"
"We're in a private room," he said casually. "I am the Champion, Karen. Highest authority in the region. Basically Officer Jenny in a better suit."
She couldn't help but laugh at that, albeit a little awkwardly. Then curiosity won out. She picked up the first Poké Ball and activated it.
What followed was pure, primal awe.
A massive dragon materialized beside them, towering and coiled with menace. Its presence seemed to pull the very air from the room.
Three heads.
Six wings.
A sleek blue body cloaked in black fur, every inch radiating power and barely restrained aggression.
Karen froze. She had never seen anything like it before.
It was terrifying. Monstrous.
And, to her surprise…
Utterly beautiful.
"This," Blue said, his tone calm but weighted with pride, "is Hydreigon. Dark-type, with a secondary Dragon typing."
He paused, letting her take it in.
"And, dear Karen… this is your ace Pokémon…"
"…if you decide to work for me."
Karen didn't reply right away. She couldn't take her eyes off the creature. Hydreigon stood like a demon summoned from some ancient place. Majestic. Wild. Dangerous.
"That's bribery, you know," she murmured, though her voice was barely above a whisper.
"You can think of these six Pokémon as your signing bonus," Blue replied smoothly, sipping his drink.
Karen glanced down at the other Poké Balls, as if trying to imagine what other monsters lay sleeping within.
"There are really six other Dark-types in there?" she asked, still half in disbelief.
"You think I'm joking?" Blue grinned. "So… ready to make a deal?"
Karen felt a chill slide down her spine.
It felt like a deal with the devil.
But how do you say no—when the devil offers something this good?
"Alright," Blue said, setting down his fork. "Now that I've shown you the benefits… let's talk responsibilities."
Karen's expression shifted immediately—her posture straightened, her focus sharpening.
"What do I provide you?" Blue gestured toward the six Poké Balls still resting open in the case. "A full personal team. Six Dark-types. Each one docile, well-trained, and battle-ready. Don't be surprised if they wipe the floor with your current lineup. All that's left is for you to bond with them."
She might have dismissed that as bravado—if the three-headed dragon hadn't been standing right beside them, calmly looming over her with silent menace.
Karen had no doubt. That Hydreigon alone could take down her entire team without breaking a sweat.
"I've got more than these six," Blue continued with a grin. "Enough Dark-types to fill Rock Tunnel to the brim. If you don't believe me, I'll show you after this."
Strangely enough, she believed almost everything this charismatic young madman said at this point.
"Your first task," Blue said, tapping the table for emphasis, "is to build a dedicated Dark-type Gym. Right in the heart of Rock Tunnel."
Karen blinked. "You want to build a Gym… inside a cave?"
"Silph Co. has the tech. I already checked," Blue said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Don't worry—you won't be sleeping on rocks. We're planning a full settlement. And you'll be the one in charge."
It sounded insane. But it also sounded exciting.
"As Gym Leader, your first responsibility is containment. You'll be overseeing hundreds of Dark-types in that tunnel. You know how vicious they can be. That's why most regions refuse to let them spread—too much power, too much chaos. Not a single one can be allowed to escape. Control is key."
Karen nodded slowly. She knew the stigma. People feared Dark-types—sometimes for good reason.
And that, of course, was why she loved them.
"Your next task," Blue continued, "is recruitment. You'll form a team. A guild, if you like. Train other Dark-type specialists under your command. The better your Gym, the stronger your people, the more support you'll receive from the League."
He pointed at himself, smirking.
"And remember—I am the League."
Karen groaned, half-joking. "That's a massive workload."
"But you see the vision," he said. "A centralized habitat solves the biggest issue every Dark-type trainer faces: scarcity. No more hunting through five different regions to piece together a decent team. We give them the tools, the location… and you as a mentor."
Blue reached into his bag again, this time pulling out a sleek black book.
"Everything you need is in here. Profiles on all new Dark-type Pokémon, operational details for the Gym, outlines for your authority and responsibilities. But make no mistake—it's still going to be tough. Especially since the Dark Gym is likely to become one of the most… volatile in the region."
"Sounds like you're assuming I've already agreed to this madness," Karen said, raising an eyebrow.
Blue grinned. "You agreed the moment you saw that dragon."
Karen laughed, leaning back in her chair. "True enough."
She swirled the wine in her glass, glancing back at the Poké Balls—and the massive Hydreigon, still looming quietly nearby.
"Well then," she said, raising her glass in a mock-toast, "I suppose we're working together now, Blue. No matter how insane this all is…"
"…I just can't say no."
Hours ago, she had been sitting on a beach, wine in hand, praying for anything to break her boredom.
She never expected this.