Where it all began
Bugsy was sixteen years old when he took over the Azalea Gym. The handover happened on a day no less important than his birthday the same year; the previous leader wanted to retire but couldn’t until someone else was able to take his position. Bugsy had been studying at the Gym since he could read, working as a Gym Trainer since he was nine and was well on his way to becoming an established researcher by age fourteen.
While the boy was still young, he had already developed a healthy amount of charisma. For the weekend of the handover the Gym was closed to trainers, simply so that Bugsy had the opportunity to get used to the idea that he was in charge; the League were going to be monitoring him closely for his first year as Leader, simply because Johto had never given such a position to someone of his ages before. With the Gym open only to visitors, Bugsy was able to speak with potential challengers for when they reopened, he couldn’t think of a better way to spend his first weekend as the Azalea Gym Leader.
It was on Saturday evening that he noticed them. He had been talking to a few trainers that promised to visit on Monday and preparing to close up for the night. Standing only a few feet away from him, Bugsy had no idea how they had managed to end up where they had without him noticing earlier. He recognised the smaller one, Falkner of Violet. He was with another man that Bugsy didn't know, talking to him in what seemed like, from a distance at least, a noticeably stern tone of voice. Bugsy stood watching them for a moment; Falkner seemed less stern the longer he watched, more caring. The taller one appeared to have given in, he shrugged and leant forward to kiss Falkner’s head; Morty. He must be Morty, Bugsy realised. He had no idea how he’d never met the Ecruteak Leader when he’d spent what felt like his whole life preparing to take over the Gym in Azalea.
Finally, Falkner and Morty approached him and introduced themselves. Or rather, Falkner introduced them both while Morty walked his fingers up and down his arm and laughed into his hair from behind. It was a simple conversation, full of questions about Gyms and towns and families. It took a more serious turn when Morty led Bugsy aside and told him something that he could never repeat to anyone; he wasn't to ask questions. ‘I have to be able to trust you, can I do that?” Morty said. Bugsy had simply nodded.
Bugsy didn't know what he'd been expecting as Morty led him through some of the trees towards the back of the greenhouse. Of course, he was wary but Morty seemed too far off in his own world to do anything dangerous. His minimal expectations, however, left him entirely vulnerable to surprise when Morty revealed the purpose of their walk, hidden between a variety of other plants it was easily overlooked unless you knew what you were looking for.
‘I don't sell it, I don't send it out onto the streets,’ Morty explained. ‘The Leader let me grow it here so I didn't have to keep getting it from the streets.’ Bugsy had simply nodded again, still in mild shock. Morty was also happy to share, if he wanted. He had declined that offer but made it clear that he wanted no responsibility for the plants, Morty had agreed.
So Bugsy’s first official duty as leader of the Azalea Gym was then, by default, to become caretaker for Morty’s illegal plants. Morty, on the other hand, felt a weight off his chest; Bugsy was young enough to see the novelty in a secret crop. Morty had never told the previous leader what it was he was growing, simply that he wanted to make a hobby out of growing plants and needed a place to do it. It was just as well that a friendship grew rapidly, or Morty’s continued visits to Azalea Town would have begun to look suspicious.
While the boy was still young, he had already developed a healthy amount of charisma. For the weekend of the handover the Gym was closed to trainers, simply so that Bugsy had the opportunity to get used to the idea that he was in charge; the League were going to be monitoring him closely for his first year as Leader, simply because Johto had never given such a position to someone of his ages before. With the Gym open only to visitors, Bugsy was able to speak with potential challengers for when they reopened, he couldn’t think of a better way to spend his first weekend as the Azalea Gym Leader.
It was on Saturday evening that he noticed them. He had been talking to a few trainers that promised to visit on Monday and preparing to close up for the night. Standing only a few feet away from him, Bugsy had no idea how they had managed to end up where they had without him noticing earlier. He recognised the smaller one, Falkner of Violet. He was with another man that Bugsy didn't know, talking to him in what seemed like, from a distance at least, a noticeably stern tone of voice. Bugsy stood watching them for a moment; Falkner seemed less stern the longer he watched, more caring. The taller one appeared to have given in, he shrugged and leant forward to kiss Falkner’s head; Morty. He must be Morty, Bugsy realised. He had no idea how he’d never met the Ecruteak Leader when he’d spent what felt like his whole life preparing to take over the Gym in Azalea.
Finally, Falkner and Morty approached him and introduced themselves. Or rather, Falkner introduced them both while Morty walked his fingers up and down his arm and laughed into his hair from behind. It was a simple conversation, full of questions about Gyms and towns and families. It took a more serious turn when Morty led Bugsy aside and told him something that he could never repeat to anyone; he wasn't to ask questions. ‘I have to be able to trust you, can I do that?” Morty said. Bugsy had simply nodded.
Bugsy didn't know what he'd been expecting as Morty led him through some of the trees towards the back of the greenhouse. Of course, he was wary but Morty seemed too far off in his own world to do anything dangerous. His minimal expectations, however, left him entirely vulnerable to surprise when Morty revealed the purpose of their walk, hidden between a variety of other plants it was easily overlooked unless you knew what you were looking for.
‘I don't sell it, I don't send it out onto the streets,’ Morty explained. ‘The Leader let me grow it here so I didn't have to keep getting it from the streets.’ Bugsy had simply nodded again, still in mild shock. Morty was also happy to share, if he wanted. He had declined that offer but made it clear that he wanted no responsibility for the plants, Morty had agreed.
So Bugsy’s first official duty as leader of the Azalea Gym was then, by default, to become caretaker for Morty’s illegal plants. Morty, on the other hand, felt a weight off his chest; Bugsy was young enough to see the novelty in a secret crop. Morty had never told the previous leader what it was he was growing, simply that he wanted to make a hobby out of growing plants and needed a place to do it. It was just as well that a friendship grew rapidly, or Morty’s continued visits to Azalea Town would have begun to look suspicious.