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Nurse Joy's eyes flickered with mild surprise, though she maintained her composure better than the others present.
The citizens watching the scene were equally astonished. They had witnessed how desperately Kaz and Yas had clung to their positions, leading them to believe that being a Gym Leader must come with substantial benefits.
Yet here was Ash, a young trainer officially recognized by the Pokemon League, flatly declining such an opportunity.
"You know, some Pokemon League champions began their careers as Gym Leaders," Nurse Joy explained, her curiosity evident in her voice. "Taking this position would already put you ahead of many other trainers."
Listening to this, neither Brock nor Misty seemed surprised. This was indeed the case—most Gym Leaders had initially been established trainers with impressive accomplishments.
Of course, this wasn't universal. Brock's Pewter City Gym, for instance, operated differently. He had never left Pewter City for extended journeys, making it impossible for him to participate in League competitions.
Many gyms operated on inheritance systems. If an exceptional trainer developed within a gym, they could become eligible to inherit leadership upon receiving League certification.
Brock was considered an excellent trainer in Pewter City—a region that didn't produce many outstanding trainers—which qualified him to lead the Pewter Gym. His father Flint, on the other hand, had never achieved particular fame during his years of traveling.
Misty's situation differed. Her three sisters had inherited the Cerulean Gym. Their parents had been accomplished trainers in their prime, but the gym's reputation had gradually declined under her sisters' leadership.
When it came to establishing gyms, some trainers like Kaz and Yas—or Anthony from the Fighting Spirit Gym they had encountered previously—built their facilities independently, slowly accumulating reputation and strength before applying for League recognition.
Other gyms were established directly by the Pokemon League, which then selected accomplished trainers to lead them. Most such appointees had achieved notable results in League competitions.
In essence, becoming a Gym Leader now would undoubtedly give Ash an advantage over many other trainers.
"I understand that," Ash replied thoughtfully, "but my goal extends beyond becoming a Gym Leader."
Even as a Gym Leader, he could continue challenging higher positions. Take Koga, for example, who used his position as a Gym Leader to further hone his skills. But Ash had no intention of remaining in one place. Perhaps someday, like Koga, he would determine his path and settle somewhere to prepare for specific battles—but that time hadn't yet arrived.
"Oh?" Nurse Joy's surprise was evident at Ash's response.
Brock and Misty exchanged knowing glances and smiled. They had already anticipated Ash's answer and weren't surprised in the least.
Only then did Nurse Joy realize her perspective had been too limited. The young trainer before her had aspirations that reached far beyond what she had imagined. The mere title of Gym Leader held no allure for him whatsoever.
The onlookers began to understand as well—simply put, this young man considered the position of Gym Leader beneath his ambitions.
"I see," Nurse Joy said, regaining her composure. "Regardless, you defeated them, so you have the right to decide their punishment."
She turned toward Kaz and Yas with a subtle smile. Her suggestion wasn't meant to embarrass them—quite the opposite, it was for their benefit.
As a Pokemon Center Nurse, even in her capacity as an enforcement officer, she remained compassionate at heart. She knew that if Officer Jenny handled their case, considering the destruction they had caused throughout Dark City, they would likely face severe consequences—metaphorically receiving a "free stay in the presidential suite" at the local jail.
By allowing Ash to determine their fate, she was offering Kaz and Yas a more lenient alternative. After all, since Ash had declined the Gym Leader position, the matter could still be referred to the police if necessary.
Nurse Joy recognized that Ash had effectively resolved the situation, so granting him this authority benefited everyone involved.
Hearing this, Kaz and Yas were momentarily stunned. They never expected their fate would rest in the hands of the very trainer they despised.
Ironically, the young man they hated had become their potential savior. They understood that once Dark City's Police Station was established, their punishment would be considerably harsher.
Despite their seething resentment over Ash destroying their gyms, they now looked at him with pleading eyes, silently begging for mercy.
Ash, however, paid no attention to their desperate looks. Instead, he surveyed the surrounding citizens thoughtfully before turning back to Nurse Joy.
"How about this," he proposed. "Kaz and Yas must help the citizens repair all the damaged buildings. They can reapply for Gym Leader status only after completing these repairs. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, their Trainer licenses should be revoked. Would that be acceptable?"
"That's an excellent suggestion!" Nurse Joy smiled approvingly. "The punishment is neither too harsh nor too lenient, and it directly benefits those who suffered from their actions. What do you two say?"
After hearing Ash's proposal, many citizens cheered in agreement.
"Yes! We'll work diligently!" Kaz and Yas responded, though thousands of objections remained unspoken.
They fully understood the magnitude of the task ahead. They had destroyed numerous buildings during their feud, and repairing them all would require significant effort. Their own gyms lay in ruins, and now they were obligated to rebuild other people's homes. The irony wasn't lost on them, but they had no choice but to agree.
Thus, the crisis in Dark City was finally resolved, with the citizens expressing profound gratitude to Ash and his companions.
Kaz and Yas dutifully began assisting with repairs. If they harbored any hope of reapplying for Gym Leader status, they had no alternative.
With Officer Jenny's imminent arrival in Dark City, even if they eventually reapplied for Gym Leader positions, they could no longer engage in their previous feuding tactics. They would need to follow proper protocols.
No longer concerned about further conflicts between the rival trainers, Ash, Misty, and Brock rested briefly in Dark City before continuing their journey.
When the time came for their departure, Nurse Joy gathered the citizens to bid them farewell. Surrounded by grateful townspeople, the trio left Dark City behind.
"Ash," Nurse Joy thought as she watched them disappear down the road, "I hope you achieve your goals soon."
Her eyes reflected genuine admiration for the young trainer whose ambitions reached far beyond the horizons of Dark City. Though she hadn't known him long, she sensed he was destined for greatness in the Pokemon world.
As Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock continued their journey, the sun shone brightly overhead. New adventures awaited them—new challenges to overcome, new Pokemon to meet, and new friendships to forge. For a young trainer with dreams as vast as the sky itself, this was just another step on the long road to becoming a Pokemon Master.