Daisy's head was spinning as she took in the sight of so many Pokémon from all three regions, Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn.
Even her grandpa's ranch back in Pallet Town, famous as it was, mostly housed Kanto Pokémon and those belonging to trainers he sponsored.
But here, at Gladion's gym, the variety was overwhelming.
Right now, Daisy was surrounded by half a dozen Milotic, each one vying for her attention.
One Milotic twirled gracefully, another posed with its tail raised, and a third nudged her gently, practically begging for praise. Daisy laughed, overwhelmed but charmed. "You're all so beautiful!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands. "Your scales are like gems, and you move like you're dancing on water!"
The Milotic preened, clearly delighted, and Daisy couldn't help but smile. She glanced at Gladion, who was watching the scene with a faint smile.
It was clear he cared deeply for every Pokémon here, whether they were part of his main team, gym Pokémon used for battles, or even the Milotic he used for business ventures.
Daisy knew that she could not miss this opportunity.
'Grandpa would not like this, but he'll have to deal with it unless he wants another one of my tantrums,' she thought, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
She could already picture her grandpa, Professor Oak, sighing dramatically as she pouted and stomped her foot, demanding her way. It worked every time, well, almost every time.
But more than that, Daisy saw an opportunity. Gladion wasn't just a Gym Leader; he was one of the best trainers in the three regions, with rare Pokémon like Kleavor and Annihilape. She could learn so much from him, how to discover new evolutions, train her Pokémon to be stronger, and master battle tactics.
Maybe, just maybe, he'd even toss in some evolution stones or special items. Those things cost a fortune, and Daisy's wallet was feeling lighter after her last shopping trip.
'Imagine if he gave me evolutionary Stones for my Pokemon for free!' she thought.
She pictured herself skipping through the market, her bag stuffed with rare items, while her Pokémon evolved into unstoppable powerhouses. Then she imagined her grandpa's horrified face when she told him she'd switched sponsors.
'He'd probably lecture me about loyalty,' she thought, giggling. 'But I'd just shed a few tears and say, 'Grandpa, it's for my Pokémon!' and he'd cave in eventually.'
Her daydream was interrupted as Gladion approached. Daisy took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and marched toward him. Before she could lose her nerve, she bowed deeply and blurted, "Can you please apprentice and sponsor me, Gym Leader Gladion?"
Gladion raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard. His eyes studied her, and for a moment, Daisy wondered if she'd been too bold.
Sponsoring and apprenticing a trainer was a big deal. It meant Gladion would have to mentor her in her chosen Pokémon field, guide her through her journey, and even provide space at his gym's ranch for her Pokémon if she caught more than six or needed them to rest.
In return, Daisy would have to take on missions for him. Like how her grandpa had asked his apprentices record every Pokémon he saw for the Pokédex.
She'd also be expected to promote Gladion's gym, his company, and any products he endorsed in tournaments. It was a partnership, but one that could boost both their reputations.
Gladion tilted his head, considering her request. 'Sponsoring trainers would increase the gym's reputation if she performs well in the Pokémon League,' he thought.
'And I'm pretty sure she'd at least make the top eight, given how she battled today.' A small smile crept onto his face. 'Plus, the fact that she's Professor Oak's granddaughter and still chose me over him? That's a nice little feather in my cap.'
It wasn't every day someone from the famous Oak family ditched their grandpa's sponsorship for a Gym Leader's.
"Are you sure about this?" Gladion asked, crossing his arms. "Aren't you already sponsored by Professor Oak? Wouldn't this break your contract with him? And why do you think I'd add more value than someone as great as Professor Oak?"
Daisy grinned, undeterred. "Yes, I'm sure! And don't worry about my grandpa. He'd be more worried about breaking my heart than me breaking the contract." Her smile grew even wider, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Besides, you'd pay way better than Grandpa. And I just realized being a trainer costs so much money. Hey, does your sponsorship mean free Pokémon items from your shops?!"
Gladion blinked at her shamelessness, then let out a dry laugh. "You know I haven't accepted you as my apprentice yet. But fine, I'll do it. And no, no free items, you'll get a small discount, though. I'm running a business, after all."
Daisy bowed again, practically bouncing with excitement. "Thank you, Gym Leader Gladion! You're the best!"
"Don't try to butter me up," Gladion said sternly, though his lips twitched with amusement. "You're still not getting anything free."
"Aww," Daisy pouted, sticking out her lower lip for some effect. She clasped her hands together and gave him her best puppy-dog eyes, hoping to sway him. "Not even a tiny little Dawn Stone? Or maybe a Shiny Stone? They're so expensive!"
Gladion shook his head, unmoved. "No freebies. You'll earn what you get, just like every other trainer."
Daisy sighed, but her disappointment was short-lived. The idea of being mentored by Gladion was thrilling enough to make up for it. She imagined herself training alongside his powerful Pokémon, learning the secrets behind his rare evolutions, and maybe even battling him again with a stronger team.
'I'll show him that I'm worth sponsoring,' she thought, determination bubbling up inside her.
Gladion pulled out his phone. "I'll contact your grandpa to discuss this and get the documents ready for the sponsorship. For now, you're welcome to stay at our home for today."
Daisy's eyes widened. Staying at Gladion's home? That was like being invited into the inner circle of a Pokémon legend. She nodded at the invitation eagerly.
Gladion's voice snapped her out of her fantasy. "Besides, it would be a learning experience for you to watch Lance vs. Pryce for the title of Champion, which is today."
-----Author Notes------
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