Pokemon: A Gym Leader's Rise(SI)

Four years had passed in a blink for the reincarnated Gladion, though those first moments of shock and confusion felt like a lifetime ago.

He had fully adapted to life in the Pokemon world of Kanto, despite the unconventional circumstances. Yes, he finally figured out which region he was born in. In fact, he figured it out when he was just one after seeing the Pokemon that were around.

Gladion was quite happy with this though. If he ever went on a trainer journey, Kanto Pokemon were the OGs and the best. The only other region that could rival it's Pokemon was Sinnoh and to a certain extent Hoenn.

While he missed some aspects of his previous modern life, there was no denying the sense of awe and excitement he felt watching Pokemon roam freely through Moonwood Town.

"Look, look! It's a Butterfree!" Gladion exclaimed gleefully one sunny afternoon, pointing an eager finger at the fluttering Bug-type creature. He hopped up and down animatedly, spewing out facts about the Pokemon.

No doubt that he had lost the maturity that he got in his previous life. Though, he was still a teen when he died.

"It can learn awesome moves like Sleep Powder and Stun Spore! A pretty underrated Pokemon in my opinion." Gladion exclaimed

Erza and Ben exchanged a bemused look as their son rattled off this encyclopedic knowledge about a simple insect Pokemon.

For any normal 4-year-old, his dialogue would seem precocious and strange. But for Gladion, reliving parts of his Pokemon-obsessed teenage years felt utterly natural.

"Well someone's been studying up, haven't they sport?" Ben chuckled, ruffling his son's shaggy blonde locks affectionately.

Gladion beamed with pride up at his father.

Unlike most children who picked up interests through play or storybooks, Gladion's vast knowledge stemmed from his past life's obsession with Pokemon video games and anime.

Even the most basic details about type matchups, abilities, and evolutionary lines sprang to mind with practiced ease now that he existed in the actual world of Pokemon.

"Too bad you can't keep a Butterfree as a pet right now, sweetie," Erza said, placing a hand on Gladion's head to halt his excited bouncing. "you are too young for one right now. But maybe your birthday present will tide you over?"

She reached into her pack and produced a vibrant colored sphere - a Pokeball keychain of the Bug-type variety.

Gladion though was disappointed at not getting a Pokemon but he was still happy that his mom got him a gift. He did not want to be rude so he gasped in delight, immediately snatching it up and mimicking the trained motions to "catch" an invisible Pokemon with its spherical container.

"My, he really is going to grow up to be quite the Poke-Maniac, isn't he?" said Grandpa Maren, cackling his signature creaky laugh as he joined the family in the town square. "Better put some muscle on those noodle arms, boy, if you wanna be able to throw a Pokeball with gusto!"

He delivered a playful jab to Gladion's skinny bicep, causing the still slightly frail 4-year-old to wince and recoil protectively. Just because he possessed an older psyche didn't make his fresh new body any less puny.

"Aww it's okay Gladibun, let me give it a toss instead!" Gwenyth suddenly bounded over, curly auburn pigtails bouncing as she skidded to a halt. In typical annoying little sister fashion, she made a great show of plucking the keychain out of Gladion's hands.

"Hey, that's mine! Give it back!" Gladion protested, cheeks flushing red with indignant anger. While he did not like the gift that much, it was still HIS GIFT.

But Gwenyth stuck out her tongue impishly and flung her arm back.

"I'll show you how it's really done, ya dumb bab-"

THWACK!

A solid cry of pain split the air as Gwenyth's overzealous throw nailed an unsuspecting townsfolk square in the forehead with the keychain Pokeball. She froze, eyes wide as an old farmer doubled over, clutching his face and howling profanely.

"Gwendolyn Benjamin Vortex!!!" Erza roared, dismay and fury etching her features as she stormed over. She snatched a giggling Gwenyth up by the arm and swung her around, cheeks burning with embarrassment at her youngest child's antics.

"We. Do. NOT. Hit. People!" she scolded severely, swatting Gwenyth's behind lightly but firmly as the little girl danced from foot to foot.

In the midst of the chaos, Gladion couldn't help but burst into peals of laughter. Sure, he was irritated at having his new toy swiped...but there was something deeply satisfying in watching his mischievous twin face justice for once.

"And just what do you think is so funny, young man?" Erza whirled on him, brow furrowed sternly as she juggled the squirming, unrepentant Gwenyth.

Gladion had to stifle his chuckles, not wanting to incur his mother's fiery wrath himself.

"N-Nothing! I'm, uh...glad you're raising us with a good head on our shoulders...?" He grinned sheepishly. Nearby, the gruff farmer tossed the keychain to the ground in a huff and stormed off, muttering curses.

"See? You ought to remind your dear sister that Pokemon tools are not playthings to fling about willy-nilly!" Grandpa interjected, bending over and swiping up the keychain before tossing it back to Gladion.

"You already got the tenacity part down pat for being a trainer, sprocket. Next we just gotta work on things like aim and strategy..." He gave Gladion a knowing wink, gesturing towards Gwenyth who was still receiving Erza's stern lecture.

Gladion smirked back at his grandfather, carefully clipping the keychain onto his belt loop.

All the childish embarrassment and headaches were worth it for moments like these, where his newfound knowledge and passion for Pokemon lore allowed him to savor the world's charms in a way his past self could only dream of. And having a troublesome sister like Gwenyth to keep him on his toes? He wouldn't trade it for anything.

As Gladion lay in bed that night, his thoughts drifted to his future in this world.

In his past life, being an expert on Pokemon had just been a consuming hobby - something to immerse himself in through video games, comics, and shows.

But now that expansive knowledge granted him a true strategic advantage. Gladion could draw upon memories of type matchups, move stats, evolutionary trees, and battling strategies that most novice trainers wouldn't even begin to comprehend until years later.

Yes that's right, he had reborn way before the canon started. So a lot was yet to be discovered in this world right now.

He could become the strongest trainer, he could become the richest person, he could become a renouned researcher. But Gladion wanted all of them.

He grinned up at the plastic glow-in-the-dark Pikachu stickers plastering his bedroom ceiling, their luminescent yellow outlines burning bright. With his mind's encyclopedic databanks of Pokemon facts, tactics, and experiences...he could become one of the greatest trainers the Kanto region had ever seen. No, scratch that - one of the best worldwide! 

Clutching his new Pokeball keychain, Gladion daydreamed about receiving his official starter Pokemon.

A powerful Charmander, mimicking the Fire-type he always favored choosing in the games? Or maybe a trusty Bulbasaur, when he realized the advantages of teaching it status moves.

From there, the possibilities were endless. He could chart a path through the Kanto region, taking on every Gym Leader from Brock to Giovanni. Well, he didn't know if they were present in this world or not. Maybe it was an alternate universe where Giovanni was a girl and was married to Professor Oak.

Anyways, With his past life's expertise giving him an edge, the world of Pokemon was Gladion's oyster to command in a way most could scarcely fathom.

Gym supremacy, battle mastery, capitalizing on fame and clout - it was all just a matter of time and proper strategizing. For now, he could only look forward to each new milestone with a weary but determined excitement. Oh and before all of that, he had to grow up.

"Ughhh" Gladion groaned at that thought