Jack was meditating. Just as the Riolu had been for the past 3 months. He was balancing next to the small stream that ran through his clearing. The clearing was small, barely big enough to accommodate the large apple tree growing in the middle of it.
As he meditated, he thought back to the day he had left home…
His father and mother saw him off. His father had given him the TM Dig as a parting gift. After a final hug, and quick tearful goodbyes, he strode out into the forest. He had turned 10 only a week ago. On that same day, he was given the choice that all Riolu are given on their 10th birthday. To remain home and train with the pack, or to leave home and train in solitude.
As was tradition, no one in the pack tried to sway him one way or the other. The choice was to be made by the child, and the child alone. He was given a week to make a decision. Instead of using the week to decide, he had used the week to prepare. Hed made his decision years ago.
Not because he wanted to leave home, but because it was the only way to become strong enough. Strong enough to join his team. The pokemon he admired most, the Lucario that led Team Insanity. He had saved his, and his pack lives, on two occasions.
The first was when time had simply stopped. He still didn't fully understand how exactly time had stopped. What he did know however, was how terrified not only he was, but his entire pack was! He was only about 4 at the time, and his pack had acted calm, but he could still remember the looks of terror in their eyes.
As the gray seeped closer to the pack's den, his elders did not panic, or run, or collapse and begin praying to Arceus for salvation. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The pack had simply, gathered together, and stoically accepted what appeared to be the end, despite the tears they shed.
The last thing he remembered was his parents pulling him close, and his father whispering to him, with tears falling off his muzzle, "Stay strong son, stay strong." and as he watched his father's tears near the ground, slow, and stop altogether, he buried his face in his fathers chest, and accepted his fate.
Then...nothing.
And then, suddenly, everything was back to normal. He was still hugging his parents, and his pack was just as they had been. Everyone looked around in confusion for a second, then they all started celebrating like there was no tomorrow! As his father tossed him around with glee, he said a silent prayer to Arceus, wishing he could thank the pokemon responsible in person.