ruiyuki reblogged
“Then, why don't you claim your own skies?”
The words ring in his head that morning of the ceremony. Thinking on this was unusual, really— the Drayster never mulled over things for long. In the days leading up however, Drayton couldn't help being reminded of the words said to him by that guy many months ago.
— —
Cyrano introduced him as a gym leader of the Galar region, visiting Blueberry Academy to train for a while in the Terarium.
“Yo, name's Raihan. Heard you're a dragon trainer too— care for a battle?”
Headcanons / after thoughts:
- I subscribe to the hc that Raihan goes to Unova to train during Galar's off season
- If it wasn't clear, Drayton goes to train with Raihan in Galar after graduating. For probably a year? I want to believe he'd go train at the Dragon's Den in Johto with Clair too, after Raihan puts in a good word for him (via Lance who was in Galar in the anime).
- Side note: Clair would also be a REALLY GOOD influence on Drayton. If Raihan is his gym leader mentor figure
complete opposite of Drayden, Clair would be giving him a strict older sis figurecontrasting Iris... except they're all second best (to Leon, and Lance). - Personally I think Drayton's 17-ish in Indigo Disk (BBA probably enrolls kids from 14-ish regularly as first-years but they could be recommended to start earlier or recruited? Kieran is 14, Crispin mentioned he got recuited by Cyrano and the NPCs look anywhere from 11-18) He probably enrolled around 12-13 from Unova League's recommendation, and graduates at 18.
- The sister school exchange event is made up LOL I just want more content of BB kids OK 😂 I think they would have something like in JJK where post Mochi Mayhem, Clavell would invite the top BB League kids with Cyrano to Paldea and they battle as teams tournament style. They do a single bracket and doubles bracket to be fair and the school with the most points won would be the tourney winner. Its Crater Crew VS BB E4 + Kitakami sibs ofc.
- Basically the timeline in my head goes: Indigo Disk events -> Mochi Mayhem -> Sister School Tournament event -> Drayton finally moves up to 3rd year lol -> Raihan visits BBA -> graduation
- Unova being based on NY means BBA has a prom, a homecoming, and elects a Valedictorian for graduation. Lacey is Valedictorian of her year, you cannot change my mind.
- If you can't tell, I have THOUGHTS abt how the Pokemon Leagues define its champion in the context of their world. Yes its just worldbuilding, it would be really crazy to apply IRL metagame concepts etc etc BUT why are there no disciplines separating singles / doubles / multi battles?? Or League divisions??? Its essentially asking a pair of ice dance figure skaters to compete in singles, or a 100m freestyle swimmer to compete in the 400m back. (pls I just want to give my dragon son a chance to win over Iris lmao)
- The follow up idea to this fic that will never be written: Drayton coming back to Unova after 2 years of training abroad and entering in the Pokemon World Tournament Double Battles. All PWT Gym Leaders are invited to participate in any tournament division they want bc it doesnt count to their actual League status (Raihan's there as a Galar Gym Leader but also competes in the Doubles Division) and Iris as Unova Champion enters doubles for fun. That's where Drayton VS Iris happens in the finals and Drayton finally gets his win.