Pokémon: Above the Top

[Shadownight Gym was trending again! The youngest Gym Leader in the League, Sato, had infiltrated a Team Rocket base alone in the middle of the night and captured every member by himself, including two of the "Seven-Star Hunters", Poison and Gale…]

Early the next morning, while Sato was still training, calls started coming in one after another from Drake, Lance, Ryoko, and the others.

"That was reckless! Are you hurt?"

---

"Nice job! What's the fun in being a Gym Leader? Why not come join me as a Investigator?"

---

"You always do things that blow people's minds. You've progressed so fast, I've already given up trying to catch up to you."

"Catch up to me?" Sato grinned. "You'll never catch up in your lifetime…"

"…SHUT UUUP!" Ryoko gritted her teeth and hung up the phone furiously.

In the end, Sato wasn't able to continue his morning training, because a flood of visitors came knocking bright and early: the mayor, village heads, investment firm bosses… With that many people, Sato couldn't exactly refuse them.

Then came a wave of flattery in every imaginable form: genius youth… future Elite Four… rising leader… the spiritual pillar of Shadownight Town… and more.

Sato raised his hand to calm the excited crowd, stating that it was all just routine.

After wasting his entire morning, the visitors, realizing their entourage was a bit much, were too embarrassed to stay for lunch. But since none could agree on who would host the meal, Sato ended up sending them all away.

"Here we go again. I can already feel a huge wave of new Challengers coming," Mark said with a cheerful smile.

Joseph glanced at Mark. "It wasn't guaranteed… but now that you said it, it definitely is."

"True!" Mark nodded in agreement, feeling quite proud of himself.

"How's the Mimicry space construction going?" Sato no longer cared whether there were many or few Challengers, so he changed the subject.

"Money's not a problem, but Shadownight Town is still too remote. We're stuck on material transportation. A lot of the materials specifically used for Mimicry spaces can only be bought in Goldenrod City," Joseph replied seriously.

"You'll still have to handle that yourself. The Gym is newly established, and we're still short on capable people," Sato said as he patted Joseph's shoulder with a helpless expression.

"I'll do my best to train them. Sina can more or less take care of the logistics side now, and I'm not that busy," Joseph said casually.

"Well, the capable get more work. Useless ones like me are totally unreliable anyway~" Mark said with his usual annoying tone, clearly asking for a beating.

"You tough enough to take a hit?" Joseph asked.

"Nope, nope~ Weak as hell! Boss, I'm outta here, my mom called me home for lunch!"

Mark instantly chickened out and bolted away like a flash, his goofy scamper making both Sato and Joseph want to laugh.

"I remember you still only have five Pokémon, right? Haven't found any new ones you like?" Amid their idle chat, Sato decided to check in on Joseph.

"None that I'm really into…" Joseph hesitated before answering.

"I've always thought you shouldn't just stick to being a Breeder. If you wanted… I could even get you a pseudo-legendary," Sato said meaningfully.

"Forget it. Being a Breeder suits me just fine, and so does Shadownight Gym," Joseph smiled and left it at that.

"Up to you. I'm feeling a bit itchy, think I'll go test whether they've made any progress lately," Sato said with fading interest, waving as he headed toward the training grounds.

Joseph continued smiling as he followed behind. There wasn't much technical skill in beating up weaklings, but it was very satisfying to watch.

Very soon, cries of pain echoed from the training grounds. So piercing they made people passing by the Gym quicken their pace.

"Man, this Gym Leader Sato is great and all… but when it comes to training, it's brutal. I heard that chubby Akira from the Kinoshita family recently turned into skinny Akira!"

"For real? Training can slim you down that much?"

"Just go stake it out tomorrow and see for yourself. I guarantee you won't recognize Akira anymore."

---

Kanto Region, outskirts of Saffron City, inside a large Team Rocket base, Voya was being escorted by two Team Rocket grunts into the rookie training camp.

"Lady Ariana said this was the only favor she could get you. With your ability, you'll stand out again soon enough. You'll just be starting over. She said she'll be waiting for you."

One of the escorts was clearly an insider. While the other wasn't paying attention, he whispered hurriedly to Voya.

Voya didn't respond at all, she just walked forward with a blank expression.

Because the Research Camp in Olivine City had been completely destroyed, and two Star Hunters plus a researcher were "lost", someone had to step up and "take responsibility."

And Voya, who directly caused Sato to take action, was naturally the best scapegoat. The competition within Team Rocket was ruthless, and even Ariana couldn't cover for her forever.

…But when Voya thought about the teammates who had gone through countless life-and-death situations with her, her heart twisted in pain.

This was Team Rocket's punishment for her. So-called "starting over" obviously meant she'd no longer be allowed to keep her powerful Pokémon.

Those who were obedient might get reassigned to other Team Rocket members. Those who weren't… Team Rocket had ways of "breaking" them.

And Voya knew all too well: any Pokémon that had been "broken" like that would basically lose its soul, becoming nothing more than a machine for battle.

Clang~

The iron gate closed behind her as Voya was pushed into the dormitory of the rookie training camp, where three rookies were already living.

"Hey, newbie. Do you know the rules of the camp?"

"Tail… guys… you all better wait for me." Voya ignored the speaker completely and walked straight to the only empty bed.

"What the hell are you muttering about? I asked you a question. Do you know the rules or not?!"

Voya was shoved hard. Her train of thought was immediately cut off, and she suddenly looked up, her bloodshot eyes locking onto the one who pushed her.

"You wanna die?"

---

"My lady, Voya 'Star Hunter' has already been transferred to the rookie training camp."

The Team Rocket escort who had brought Voya now stood inside an office. Sitting at the main seat was none other than one of the three Admins: Ariana.

"Why are you still calling her Star Hunter? After all the mistakes she's made… the only reason she's not dead is because she still has some use left. Now get out. I don't want to hear her name again."

Ariana's tone was flat, as if she truly didn't care at all.

"Yes, ma'am!" The man bowed respectfully and left. Only after closing the door did he let out a quiet breath… talking with someone like Ariana was overwhelming.

" 'Don't want to hear her name again?' …If you really didn't care, you wouldn't have sent me. I'm definitely holding onto this connection!" the Team Rocket member muttered to himself, already having made up his mind.

Inside the office, Ariana looked toward the door.

"Smart-ass kid…"