[When Red doesn't write anything back yet, Cilan assumes that he's waiting for more, and thus keeps writing a little more.]
Admittedly, I will say that there are some Gym Leaders who might not feel the same way, or don't have the same sense of duty. Or maybe they just don't know how to handle the responsibility of the position. [Skyla...] Those are the ones who don't realize that gym matches aren't just about proving who's the strongest. A Gym Leader's job is to figure out the challenger's nature and the strength of the bond with their Pokemon. A gym badge isn't just proof of the opponent's victory, it should be a medal that fills the challenger and their Pokemon with pride for their beautiful teamwork and dedication to one another.
...And yes, it the defeat of one's own Pokemon can be regrettable. There are times when, as a Gym Leader, you question whether or not there's more that you can do to help the challenger when they lose, or even a moment of doubt when you're the one who has lost. However, above that, the pleasure of being a Gym Leader lies in the joy of being able to taste high-leveled battles. For me, battles against opponents who think of unexpected tricks are truly enjoyable, so even if I've lost, I want to be able to say "At least it was fun" at the end.
[Which, honestly, are all things he has wanted and tried to convey to Chili too, when his brother was doubting his own skills as a Gym Leader. He's still not sure if any of that got through to him at all when he was here, but...]
[written, 20th July] 1/2
Admittedly, I will say that there are some Gym Leaders who might not feel the same way, or don't have the same sense of duty. Or maybe they just don't know how to handle the responsibility of the position. [Skyla...] Those are the ones who don't realize that gym matches aren't just about proving who's the strongest. A Gym Leader's job is to figure out the challenger's nature and the strength of the bond with their Pokemon. A gym badge isn't just proof of the opponent's victory, it should be a medal that fills the challenger and their Pokemon with pride for their beautiful teamwork and dedication to one another.
...And yes, it the defeat of one's own Pokemon can be regrettable. There are times when, as a Gym Leader, you question whether or not there's more that you can do to help the challenger when they lose, or even a moment of doubt when you're the one who has lost. However, above that, the pleasure of being a Gym Leader lies in the joy of being able to taste high-leveled battles. For me, battles against opponents who think of unexpected tricks are truly enjoyable, so even if I've lost, I want to be able to say "At least it was fun" at the end.
[Which, honestly, are all things he has wanted and tried to convey to Chili too, when his brother was doubting his own skills as a Gym Leader. He's still not sure if any of that got through to him at all when he was here, but...]