A/N: Well, I need to tell you about the world.
This is all about the Pokémon world and the gym structure. Of course, I am not doing this because my mind is completely blank today… brain fog and all that, along with dizziness and headaches, I guess.
Stay hydrated and stay safe. If you have AC, even better.
…
There are officially three ways to become a Pokémon Trainer in this world.
1. Recommendation
If a trainer is recommended or is in contact with a Pokémon Professor.
Let's take Professor Oak for example.
The trainer would need to send the Pokémon they capture to the professor, who would study them and try to provide them with the closest possible environment to their natural habitat.
Then there are additional requirements.
The trainer needs to either:
Win all 8 badges, or
Remain active within a 1-year period
If a trainer is caught mistreating their Pokémon:
First offense:
They would be heavily fined. Depending on the injuries, it might only result in a fine.
Second offense:
Their trainer license would be terminated, and they would spend the next 2 years in jail.
Severe case (death or disabling injury):
They would be sent straight to jail. Most of their Pokémon would be taken by the League, and the associated professor who recommended them or gave them a starter would also be punished for negligence.
2. Poké School
You've seen it in the anime, but here it's a bit different.
There are actually two types of Poké Schools:
Junior and Middle School:
These teach essentials like calculations, geography, and basic Pokémon theory.
High School / Trainer Academy:
This level is solely focused on Pokémon and branches into real-world jobs such as nurses, officers, and trainers.
The Trainer Academy teaches everything essential. However, while studying there:
Students are allowed to own only one Pokémon
The top 10 students can own up to three Pokémon
After completing the academy, trainees are tested both mentally and physically.
These exams focus more on the nature and character of the person rather than pure theory.
However, the exact details are undisclosed due to NDAs.
3. Internships (Most Dangerous / Most Flexible Path)
This is the last—and either the most dangerous or the easiest path. It depends entirely on where you intern.
The most dangerous tier options include:
Charizard Valley
Blackthorn Dragon Valley
The trainee must work for at least one year, or until their advisor approves.
This path teaches trainees:
How to take care of Pokémon and the dangers involved in handling them.
Most people choose:
Minor gyms, Pokémon Centers or safer paths
Because high-tier internships require character recommendations and strict background checks.
After the person finally becomes a trainer.
After a person finally becomes a trainer—
Gyms
There are two types of gyms:
Minor gyms
Official gyms (like the main 8 or 9)
They have different badge levels, ranging from 1 to 8 stars.
(A/N: Shout-out to Rise of the Gym Leader. Don't mind it—I just liked a bit of this system.)
The first two gyms, like Rock and Water, can only go up to:
3 stars (Rock). 4 stars (Water)
Of course, Pokémon battles are not the only way to earn a badge, though they are the easiest.
Other methods include:
Tasks
Completing 50–100 Poké Quests, or even more, within that specific town or city. This not only boosts the economy and tourism but also helps the trainer grow stronger.
Recognition by the Gym Leader
A trainer can earn a badge by gaining the gym leader's recognition.
However:The leader must submit a formal explanation of why the trainer earned their respect. They must also provide video or other evidence of the interaction to the League
This method does not apply to Rock and Water gyms, as they are meant to help beginners adapt to the system.
Merit-Based Method
The final method is earning merit, such as:Eradicating major threats
Receiving a recommendation from a member of the Elite Four
There is no Lance in this system yet , so the current Elite Four has been changed.
Almost all our ancient fossils
Except Bruno.
The members are:
Bruno (considered the second strongest)
Agatha (the strongest)
Pryce (a Johto racist , past his prime)
Blaine (laid-back, but nearly on par with Agatha)
Gym leaders can recommend candidates they believe can win the Junior League.These candidates are then named the "Favorites of the Year" after a background check.However, this check only covers criminal records, so it is relatively low-level.