Romina

**Romina** (Japanese: **ロミナ** *Romina*) is a top-level agent of the Pokémon Inspection Agency from the Kanto region. Per her role, Romina is sent by the agency to check if the rules established by the Pokémon League are being followed and examine if the Gym provides Trainers with the challenge they need to become participants of a Pokémon League Conference.

## **New Era**

### **Frontier Challenge**

Romina arrives at the Viridian Gym, requesting to talk to Robyn Oak, whom she believes is the current Viridian City Gym Leader. However, Romina instead meets Edge, Dwayne, and Jade. Edge explains that Robyn retired and gave the Gym Leader position over to him, but Romina informs him that neither she nor the agency received any notification of the Gym Leader change, meaning that in her eyes, Robyn is still the official Viridian Gym Leader, much to Edge's shock, who quickly mentions that Robyn had given up the mantle for about a year now, and questions how the agency never bothered to learn about it until now, and Romina explains that the Gym Leader is supposed to contact the agency to inform of the Gym Leader change, instead of the other way around, and Edge curses Robyn under his breath for forgetting to officialize the change, and Romina explains that since Robyn had been away for a year, it technically counts as him abandoning the Gym, therefore giving her enough proof to shut it down, but Edge pleads with her to merely officialize him as the Gym Leader, and challenges her to a battle to prove his skills, and Romina agrees to his challenge.

Romina brings out her Zangoose and Edge brings out Azumarill. Edge tells Azumarill to use Ice Beam, but Zangoose uses Double Team to avoid it. Zangoose then uses Thunder Wave to paralyze Azumarill. With Azumarill unable to move, Zangoose takes the opportunity to use Belly Drum, draining half of its health in exchange for maximum attack power. Seeing that Azumarill was finally able to move again, Edge issues a Hydro Pump attack, but Zangoose counters with Rock Climb, and the difference in power being the deciding factor, Zangoose defeats Azumarill. Romina informs Edge that she will not be giving a good review based on the battle and that he should expect bad news. She informs him she will be remaining in the Pokémon Center until the next day and to come see her if they have any questions or comments.

Later that day, Edge heads to the Pokémon Center to speak to Romina in her office. Edge asks her to give the Gym another chance and to test him as a Gym Leader for the inspection again. Romina says that she has to think it over. Just then, Nurse Joy comes into the office and says she has a problem and Edge helps her exactly with her issues. Seeing this, Romina decides that she will give Edge another chance, solely based on his care for Pokémon, and reminds him to truly think about the purpose of a Gym Leader. The next day, Romina and Edge prepare to battle. Edge brings out Eevee, while Romina brings out the Gratitude Pokémon Shaymin, shocking Edge, Dwayne, and Jade. Dwayne sees Romina's ownership of a Mythical Pokémon as a true sign of her being a top-level agent. Knowing that Shaymin is a Grass-type, Edge orders Eevee to transform into Flareon. Romina becomes utterly shocked at seeing Eevee change into Flareon, especially without the use of a Fire Stone. Edge then commands Eevee to use Fire Blast, but Shaymin dodges the attack, but a second Fire Blast hits its mark. Flareon then uses Heat Wave, which Shaymin counters with Dazzling Gleam before using Synthesis to heal itself.

Edge swears to protect the Viridian Gym and orders Flareon to use Overheat. Shaymin dodges behind some rocks before using Seed Flare, scoring a direct hit on Flareon. As Flareon struggles to get back to his feet, Romina tosses Shaymin a Gracidea flower, allowing it to change into its Sky Forme, and subsequently orders Shaymin to use Air Slash. Seeing this, Edge tells Flareon to switch into Jolteon, further shocking Romina, and orders him to use Dig, hiding underground and avoiding the attack. While Shaymin tries to locate it, Jolteon resurfaces and uses Thunder, scoring a direct hit. Romina tells Shaymin to use Synthesis again while Jolteon once again hides underground. Shaymin is unable to locate Jolteon, until he resurfaces again and strikes Shaymin with yet another Thunder. Edge prepares to finish the battle with another Thunder, but Shaymin uses Dazling Gleam to stop it. While Jolteon is able to deflect the attack, the resulting shockwave knocks some debris into the air and distracts him, allowing Romina to command a Hyper Beam, and Jolteon gets blasted onto the wall, which knocks him out.

Edge goes to attend to Jolteon, who has reverted back into Eevee, and Edge asks Jade to get some Sitrus Berries so that they can heal him. Romina informs Edge that she was impressed with the battle and that she will give a much better review than before, so they can expect the Gym to keep running, with Edge as the official Gym Leader. Romina also questions Eevee's ability to switch into any of his evolutions at will, and Edge tells Romina the story behind Eevee's past as an experiment of Team Rocket's. Romina says that she was glad that Eevee found him as a Trainer, and tells Edge that she was glad to have met him and nominate him as the Gym Leader. Romina then takes her leave, as Edge thanks her for the compliments. Two days later, Edge receives his official review from Romina and the PIA, as well as the official confirmation and paperwork that nominates him as the official Viridian City Gym Leader.

## **Character**

Romina is a strict, yet fair individual, taking her duties as an agent of the Pokémon Inspection Agency very seriously. She's also straightfoward and blunt, not afraid to confront others on their foolishness, such as when Edge informed her about Robyn Oak handing the mantle of Viridian City Gym Leader, without officially notifying the agency about the change, Romina was unfazed by Edge's pleas to simply officially name him as the Gym Leader, but was lenient enough to accept his challenge to a battle test his battling capabilities.

After Edge convinced her for a rematch, and despite Romina besting him yet again, she recognized his skills as a Pokémon Trainer, both for his ingenious strategy and care for his Eevee both during and after their battle, stating that a Gym Leader's true purpose was to be a role model for both challengers and Pokémon.

True to her status as a top-level agent of the PIA, Romina's battling capabilities are extraordinarily high, surpassing even those of Edge's, who himself was an extremely talented and experienced Trainer. Her go-to strategy is incapacitate her opponent's Pokémon, before unleashing a full-on assault with the maximum of her Pokémon's strength for a certain knockout. Her ownership of a Mythical Pokémon further proves her talent, seen as when her Shaymin was obediently following Romina's orders.

## **Pokémon**

### **On Hand**

Zangoose's known moves are Double Team, Thunder Wave, Belly Drum, and Rock Climb.

Shaymin's known moves are Dazzling Gleam, Synthesis, Seed Flare, and Air Slash.