20. To climb the ranks

The sun had only peeked out over the horizon to mark the beginning of the day. The grass was still wet with dew but the whole Leone family had gathered outside in the little clearing, where the children have been doing their training with Dennis.

It wasn't just them in the clearing either. All members of the family had their Pokémon out as well. Dennis with his Bouffalant and Tauros lazing behind him, occasionally grunting at each other. Mariah had a Miltank beside her with a Butterfree hovering above her. The twins Stephanie and Sasha had their Snubbull standing in front of each of them. Robert had his Eevee and Vulpix sitting either side of him.

The adults stood facing the children with the three kids standing a couple of meters away facing them. Robert couldn't help feeling a little excited with so many talented Pokémon around at once. Dennis Tauros was Dark Bronze with Bouffalant being Bronze. Miltank was Light Bronze with Butterfree being dark grey. The twins Snubbull are both light silver. Vulpix and Eevee being Gold, overtaking the two Snubbull as the most talented Pokémon on the farm. There are two more Pokémon standing behind one more person. This person while not a member of the Leone family, was treated like one by all members.

Standing on the left of Dennis was Mariah but standing on the right was a middle-aged male. He seemed about the same age as Dennis but looked very different. He was tall with a rather skinny build and a long face. He gave off a stern and grave feeling, almost to the point of seeming a little cold. This was Jackson Davis. He was second in charge after Dennis on the farm and as the children had recently discovered, followed Dennis from the military.

Although he seemed difficult to approach, he always listened if you had something to say and quick to follow through on anything that needed doing. He and Dennis are very close old friends and the kids call him uncle Jack, although he would probably not admit to it he secretly thinks of all the kids as his nieces and nephew.

Behind Jack is a Tauros with Light bronze talent and a Houndoom with Dark Grey talent. The Tauros was bred right here on the farm just like Mariah's Miltank. As soon as its talent was confirmed Dennis immediately gave it to Jack. Mariah secretly told the kids that Jack tried to refuse at the time saying it should go to his children. Dennis just snorted shoved the Pokéball in his hand and walked away before he could say anything else.

Dennis looked at his three children, the twins were just looking at the three adults in confusion waiting for an explanation. Robert however seemed to be completely ignoring the people here. He was looking from one Pokémon to the other, bubbling with excitement. He almost looked like he forgot there were even other people here…

Dennis couldn't help his eyebrow twitch a little, Jack let a slight smile lift at the corner of his lips and Mariah softly laughed. Hearing his mothers laugh Robert snapped out of his little world and looked at Dennis. "ahh, so dad why are we up so early out here and what's uncle Jack doing here and why are all our Pokémon-"

"if you pay attention and listen instead of causing trouble then I will tell you, you little rascal" Dennis quickly interrupted Robert's barrage of questions. he couldn't help but think, 'Look at my precious daughters waiting quietly for me to explain, instead, this rascal forgets that I'm even here'. "now now Roby, if you stop ogling all the Pokémon in your little world and listen to your dad. Then you will find out why we are all here". Robert couldn't help but show a sheepish smile when Mariah said this. Maybe he had gotten a little carried away.

Dennis nodded seeing they were all paying attention now. "you're all out here so we can explain a few things to you. Now that Roby is over his fears and gotten himself a couple of good Pokémon and you two girls have shown an interest in being a trainer". Seeing that all the kids, the little imp included, fully focused on what he was saying he nodded and continued. "Mariah, Jackson and I have all talked it over and decided to tell you some things about being a trainer and how it works. Although Robert would normally be too young we feel that he will understand what we are saying."

All the kids perked up at this, Robert couldn't help but look at his father with a bit of extra glow in his eyes. "To be officially recognised as a trainer you must apply to be one with the union. As I'm sure you learned in Mariah's lessons each region has a separate governing body with Kanto and Johto the only regions with a joined union. These unions are jointly run by notable people in charge of large companies, notable facilities and the various leagues in their individual regions. All these people have one thing in common, they are powerful trainers. There are Different ranks to trainers, each with their own requirements. I won't get into the requirements for now but the ranks I know of are Rookie, experienced, senior and elite. I have heard that there is a higher rank, but I don't know what it is".

All three kids were now excitedly looking at Dennis with shining eyes. Dennis himself was getting a little excited seeing their enthusiasm. "All of these people who have a say in any regions union is at minimum an elite rank trainer. With the various league's elite four and champions being at the peak of the elite. I myself am a high-ranking experienced rank trainer". Dennis couldn't help but beam with pride a little when he said that.

Robert was shocked to hear this. Robert knew his father was a strong trainer. Some travelling trainers had even challenged him to battle, while some were hard-fought, none had won. Even with that, he was only an experienced rank trainer. Robert could hardly imagine what it would take to be a senior rank never mind an Elite rank. Dennis had even said there was a level above that, Robert couldn't help but feel a little horrified when he thought of this.

Dennis could see the shock in his kid's eyes, he quickly realised what they were thinking and smirked a little. "you brats are underestimating how difficult it is to rise in the ranks. The Rookie rank is for all trainers with Pokémon below level 30. while it is called Rookie rank, most trainers will never move past it. To make it past the Rookie rank and into the Experienced rank, you need two Pokémon that are level 31-40 or one level 41-50. In other words, you need Pokémon at least bronze phase talent. To be Senior rank you need two Pokémon level 51-60 or one level 61-70. Silver phase talent is the minimum for this. As for Elite rank, I'm not sure of the requirements but they would have to be above level 70, for that you need gold phase talent Pokémon".

The twins were shocked hearing how hard it was to rise in ranks. Robert couldn't help but glance at the two Pokémon at his sides. The others didn't know how talented these two were yet, but he did. With them, he already had a shot at becoming an Elite rank trainer one day.