“So you’re the one…”
Nina was currently in a musky old room within the Sprout Tower, studying under candlelight. Because although Zuki couldn’t suay her brother, she did have enough pull to get Nina access to the monk’s repository of knowledge — the less important part of it at least.
“Lord Falkner!” The girl jolted to attention and frantically got up to greet the Gym Leader, only for the man to stop her with a casually raised palm.
“You may abstain with the formalities, girl.” The dignified Gym Leader sauntered over to sit on one of the spare chairs as he glanced down at the scroll that Nina was studying.
Falkner looked different than what Nina remembered in the games — older and more mature. He wore a somber blue montsuki — kimono for men — decorated in the winged crests of his clan, in place of the more practical short sleeved haori and hakama of his youth.
Additionally, his light blue hair was slicked back with traces of silver strands instead of the emo bangs that the game Falkner had. Overall, the older Falkner looked every bit the regal patriarch of a great clan, as befitting his stature.
“I see you’re studying the Sprout Tower…” Falkner mused, pulling Nina back from her state of shock.
“Y-yes, sir.” The girl sputtered. The scroll in front of Nina contained the original designs for the Sprout Tower — an absolutely precious piece of history that she could scarcely believe was so readily accessible.
“It’s quite the wonder isn’t it?” Nina continued, after composing herself and regaining some of her wits. “To think that someone from that era was capable of such ingenuity. The original architect must have been a genius.”
Falkner nodded with a faint smile on his face as he pointed towards the various aspects of the tower. “Indeed… Take note of the space between the central pillar of the tower and the segments of each floor, calculated precisely to allow adequate space for the building to wobble — without compromise on integrity — when subjected to an earthquake.”
Nina nodded. “What I find more incredible is how each of the floors are so clearly segmented, allowing them to move independently of each other and yet perfectly attached through this complex latticework of wooden beams in between — forming a cohesive yet flexible whole.”
Falkner chuckled. “Much like Bellsprout, one must be flexible to endure the tides of change. Such is the key to building an everlasting legacy.”
“Just like the Tsubasa clan…”
Nina mused. It was a part that was left unsaid, but she picked it up all the same, based on what she learned from Zuki. “Is it true that the Sprout Tower was built without the use of a single nail?”“Miyadaiku,” Falkner added. “It is true indeed. Or at least it was in the beginning. As the Sprout Tower aged and material sciences advanced, it eventually became impractical to stubbornly cling to tradition. Some renovations have been made over the years in the interest of maintenance. And as such, the tower isn’t as pure as it used to be… But it is of little consequence.”
“Flexible like a Bellsprout…” Nina murmured, eliciting a smile from the stoic Gym Leader.
“Indeed. My sister tells me that you are an avid historian. Her judgement was not wrong.”
Nina returned the smile. “My dream is to become an explorer, so I’m quite passionate about learning.”
“Is that the reasoning behind the flimsy request you posed to my sister?” Falkner asked, with an indecipherable look in his eyes.
Nina responded with a sheepish chuckle. “My apologies if it came across as flimsy. But please be assured that I had no intention of offending your pride as a Gym Leader. It was a request borne of practical considerations, to avoid wasting your time with repeated challenges. I’m unsure of your Gym’s rules but Misty would offer similar considerations in the Cerulean Gym if our schedules are particularly stressful.”
Falkner scoffed. “Such indolent challengers are only enabled by leniency. The key to avoid wasting one’s time is to utterly and thoroughly grind their spirits to dust. That way they shan’t think of coming back for a rematch until they are truly worthy.”
Nina simply smiled, opting not to reply and choosing to divert the conversation instead. “Certainly… And before I forget, Lord Falkner, I was wondering if you might extend your blessings for me to gain access to the Ruins of Alph. I have already gathered all the necessary paperwork from Professor Elm. But given that the ruins are under your family’s purview, it is only appropriate that I seek your permission as well.”
Falkner’s expression softened with a curious glint in his eyes as he assessed the girl before him. “I appreciate the respect you have displayed and yes, you may venture into the Ruins of Alph. Though if it is rare Pokemon you seek, I’m afraid you will find naught but the Unown within its bowels.”
“That’s fine. The Unown are exactly what I’m looking for. I’m actually studying them at the moment, you see. Purely out of personal fascination and academic interest.”
Falkner nodded and reiterated his support, even willingly sharing his limited knowledge with Nina on the subject, though it’s mostly what the girl already knew.
“The fact that even an ancient clan like the Tsubasas don’t know much about the mysteries of the Unown is really telling… Or maybe he’s just holding out on me to safeguard some sort of secret.”
“I can tell that you are a person of principles, Nina…” said Falkner, directly addressing the girl by name for the first time since their impromptu meeting. “Which is why I am willing to consider your earlier request pertaining to the Gym challenge. But only if you prove yourself worthy.”
“And how would you like for me to do that?”
With a smirk, Falkner rose and beckoned for Nina to follow.
***
“Ha!”
Nina’s eyes sparkled at the neat gathering of monks and Bellsprouts before her, each practicing their unique brand of martial arts in sync.
The movements of the human monks wavered, looking almost flimsy at times, only to lash out at the most unexpected moments with violent ferocity, akin to a Vine Whip.
“Man, the way they bend their bodies like that, at such impossible angles, you would think that those monks had their spines surgically removed or something.” The girl remarked.
However, Falkner did not respond. Instead, he approached one of the older, supervising monks by the side, with Nina in tow.
“Enlightened one, we have a challenger for the Trial of Ascension.”
The sage nodded and cried out to his disciples to halt their training, before turning to face Nina. “Very well, young one, are you prepared to endure the sixty nine steps to nirvana?” He asked, eliciting a confused frown from Nina who, in turn, looked towards Falkner for an explanation.
The Gym Leader let out a light sigh. “The Trial of Ascension is in essence a gauntlet of battle trials,” explained Falkner. “Challengers will have to prevail against sixty nine monks and their Bellsprouts in succession, with increasing difficulty. Succeed in the trial and I shall grant your request.”
Nina’s frown deepened. “Why 69? Also, are there any other rules I need to be aware of?” Otherwise she could just sweep through the monks with either Nitey or Espy, maybe even Sir Clodington. No matter how well-trained they were, Bellsprouts were just Bellsprouts after all.
“69 is the Pokedex entry number for Bellsprout which, incidentally, is also a symbolic number for the tower’s order of sages.” The Gym Leader answered. “Additionally, it is also customary for challengers of the trial to use their weakest Pokemon — you’ll find that the ascending difficulty of the gauntlet is also beneficial for the growth of less experienced Pokemon.”
Nina flipped open her Pokedex to make sure that the man wasn’t messing with her. And sure enough, there it was; Bellsprout, number 69, the flower Pokemon. “Huh, would you look at that? Quite ironic for a group of ascetic monks under a vow of celibacy.”
“But the weakest member of my team is my Popplio who I’ve had for around a month at most,” said Nina, tone filled with uncertainty. Not to mention, the Type disadvantage she would be faced with.
“Then use your second weakest.” Falkner rebuked with a huff.
Nina held back her groan and looked towards her shadow that came to life to reveal her perpetually sad looking Gastly, seeming equally reluctant to engage in such a strenuous series of battles.
“Hey buddy…” Nina embraced the Ghostly ball of flames with a warm smile. “Do you think you can help me out here?”
“Gas…” Gastly whimpered but still agreed to the request with a shaky nod, eliciting swoons and kisses from Nina, turning the girl’s lips blue from frost.
“Alright, we’ll take the challenge.” Nina declared. “But I’m assuming we are allowed to withdraw halfway? The wellbeing of my Pokemon is more important to me than some arbitrary achievement.”
The elderly monk nodded with a genial smile and gestured for his disciples to organize themselves.
***
True to Falkner’s words, Nina and Gastly’s first opponent was, of course, a Bellsprout — one being handled by a young monk that was around Nina’s age.
The kid cried out and struck the air with a few flashy martial arts moves before sending out his Pokeball with a dynamic pose, eliciting snickers from both Nina and Gastly, and a blush from the young monk in response. The kid was probably not used to interacting with girls her age, especially one as pretty as Nina.
“Gotta buckle up, buddy.” Nina mused. “Can’t reach nirvana or whatever if you can’t keep it together.”
To the side was the elderly monk that Nina spoke to previously, who declared the start of the round with a wave of his hand.
“Haiyahhh!!!” Right off the bat, the young monk screeched and struck another pose, prompting his Bellsprout to rush forwards with uncanny speed and launched into a roundhouse kick with its flimsy roots.
Gastly, being a Ghost Type, was obviously impervious to such a mundane attack, merely allowing the Bellsprout to phase through her with a cold shiver. The Grass Type didn’t even infuse itself with Aura so there was no way it could harm Gastly.
Nina suppressed the pang of disappointment she felt and held back her quips. Falkner did say that the difficulty was ascending and this was only the first match after all.
“Alright, Gastly, Brucey strats. We’ve still got 68 of these matches to go, so no point wearing yourself out this early on.”
“Gasss…” Gastly hissed in affirmation and began to bombard her opponent with Confuse Ray and Mean Look…