Lifeless eyes watched the fires burn away the deceased body of Sasha. A constant ringing in his ears muffled out what would have been comforting words from Cynthia and Flint. Volkner's throat ached, his chest tightened, and tears rolled down his face unlike ever before. He wanted to be strong during the process, but he couldn't hold it anymore. Sasha was his first pokemon; he had raised her since she was nothing more than a waddling Shinx in the woods. He broke down like a mess, weeping into Flint's shoulder for the rest of his process.

It was no use; he couldn't save Sasha, and he couldn't save himself. Rather than letting his Pokémon drown with him, he left them with Flint's family. Sunnyshore's gym leader grew numb to everything around him. He was a prisoner in his own mind, blaming himself for things he had no control over. Everything he had built began to fall apart, his gym attendance hit zero, and leaving the house was a rare occasion. Simple tasks like getting out of bed or folding his laundry became a chore to even think about and were often ignored.

The relationship of eight years fell apart, and things were officially ended between Volkner and the person he had worked so hard to impress and win over. The only thing to look forward to was going out to drink the thoughts away and hoping he could dream of the touch of Sasha's warm mane. Dreary days turned into meaningless months, and nearly a year of rotting for the young man.

New Year's had hit Sunnyshore on a bitter night of record-level rain, battering any attempt at fireworks or celebrations. The shining shocking star found himself sipping on a bottle of cheap booze behind an alley, seated down and letting the pounding rain wash over him. Memories of Sasha came pouring in, the smell of her fur, the sound of her cry whenever she was begging for a treat, and... the touch of her little warm nose?.

The touch snapped him out of his daze, looking down beneath his legs he noticed the tiniest shivering shinx he had ever seen, taking shelter under him. The little guy must have been left behind by his family, a runt who was too weak to keep up with his mother and siblings to escape the storm.

Icy hands reach towards the Shinx, only to be hissed at and even clawed… even with its outburst the kitten was scooped up. A look into its fearful little eyes sparked something within Volkner. The despair, the pain, the loneliness- it subsided for moment. A child abandoned on a cold rainy night by its mother… looking into its own eyes he saw that same little boy who grew up in the orphanage wondering why he wasn’t good enough, why he had to be left behind, and why no one ever came to save him.

Speaking softly, he said, "Hang on little guy. I got you.”

Pokemon centers were closed for the holiday, but Volkner knew he still had heating pads, formula that hadn't expired, and blankets to coat the Shinx in. Tossing the bottles away, Sinnoh's strongest gym leader rushed home and spent the night watching over the little runt and nursing him back to health.

Days would pass, and the garbage and bottles cluttering his home vanished, replaced with beds, forts, and toys for the little pokemon to enjoy. Little by little the old Volkner returned, working hard to earn back all he had lost, so he could touch little Amp's life the way Sasha touched his.

But one day, while bedrotting in his home, he saw an ad for the Veilstone game corner. For the first time in months, something had caught his eye. He jumped from his bed and took off, not even taking the time to change out of his pajamas or do his hair. Behind the gilded doors of the casino, the blond passed by the blackjack tables, the slot machines, and multiple games of roulette until he arrived at the exact spot he needed to be. The fifty-dollar seafood buffet. Only Arceus knew how long it had been since he had eaten something other than protein shakes and instant noodles.

After what could only be described as a gruesome gorging of crab legs and chocolate milk, Volkner was ready to take his leave after paying and leaving a tip, but before he left, they gave him a complimentary ticket for one of the slot machines, hoping to hook him with the offer of something free. He had driven all this way; why not do one and done?

A pull on the lever sent the machine rolling, clack, clack, clack, seven... seven... seven?! Dimmed hues shot up with life. Confetti, festive music, and cheers from the staff all caught the poorly groomed man by surprise like a deerling in headlights. Being dragged from his by the glamorous staff to pose for pictures by an oversized check left him feeling humiliated; he could've sworn he still had bits of butter and crab in the unshaven beard he was sporting at the time.

Everything became a blur after Sinnoh's strongest gym leader saw the number written on his check; he had never even seen a number that high in his life. From that moment, Volkner would always remember two things. The amount of adrenaline that had coursed through his veins from the victory against all odds... and to never let his grooming standards fall that low again.

To his benefit, that hideous beard on his chin and unkept hair helped conceal his identity and victory; to this day, people think some random slob won the jackpot, there was no way it could've been the Shining, shocking star of Sinnoh. Rather than brag or change the way he lived with all that money, Volkner tried to donate a healthy chunk of the winnings to the Hearthone Cathedral but Mother Chiri refused the money once she learned where it had come from.