I do not own Pokémon. Any events that mirror events in another person's fanfiction is completely coincidental.

Chapter 1: The Beginning

This story is told by a young Pokémon. That young Pokémon is me. My name is Riolu. This is what happened…

First of all, I hatched in an orphanage, so I don't remember either of my parents. My best friends are Vulpix, Feebas, Turtwig, Wooper, and Tynamo. Our guardian is Blissey.

I wanted to be a PokéGuardian ever since I was a very young hatchling. I had heard about all kinds of stories about three famous PokéGuardians: Lucario, Machamp, and Gallade. I've always wanted to meet with Lucario! I want to ask him about how he became a PokéGuardian, because he joined as a Riolu!

I left the orphanage at just before the sun peeked above the mountains. My spirits danced like the shadows on the ground because I knew that I would become a PokéGuardian-today!

It was a long walk to the castle. Bellossom was out doing her duty as the Luce Village Gardener. She owns the Gardening Shop. She was kind enough to give me a free apple as I passed by. Bellossom's apples are the best!

Everything seemed to be going right for me today. I finally got up to the castle. I was a little short of breath, but I was okay. Then I saw the training PokéGuardians! I bet they were up before I was! But then I saw someone that came only rarely: Princess Gothorita and her Royal Guardian, Sawk! Queen Gothitelle died a few days after I hatched, so I don't remember her.

I hid behind one of the really tall shrubs so I wouldn't be accused of staring. And I didn't know how to react. Just then, three Pokémon passed right by me without a single glance. I couldn't believe my eyes! They were Lucario, Machamp, and Gallade!

They marched right up to Gothorita. The Princess looked up at them and her eyes grew as wide as mine and her lip trembled.

"L-Lucario!" she whispered.

The three Guardians knelt. Lucario spoke up.

"Your highness," he said without opening his eyes, "We request that our duties be given back to us."

Sawk stared at him with angry eyes.

"Do you really suggest that you get your jobs back after you ran away?" he half-shrieked.

Lucario got up and exchanged an indifferent glance.

"We did not run away," he calmly replied. "Hitmonchan gave us permission to train, and train we did. I needed to gather myself, and Machamp has physical evidence that we did train."

Sawk turned back to the Princess.

"Your highness," he said slyly, "these buffoons, even though they were of high rank before, should still go through the requirements of becoming Royal PokéGuardians!"

At that moment, Gothorita ran to Lucario.

"Lucario," she said sweetly, "I want you to be my new Royal PokéGuardian. My mother's death was not your fault."

Sawk turned a really dark color and started growling.

"This is… not FAIR!" he cried, "You are being completely irrational, your highness!"

Lucario turned to Sawk and said, "Or is it… Zoroark?"

At this, Gothorita gasped. Sawk returned to his normal color and laughed.

"You really are older than I thought you are, Lucario!" he howled. "You're a senile, old, foo-!"

He was stopped there as Lucario turned back to the Princess.

"Your highness," he softly said, "have you ever wondered why your tantrums didn't affect him, when it should have sent him to the hospital?"

Gothorita looked at Sawk and started shaking and backing up to Machamp.

"You traitor!" she shrieked.

This got the attention of all of the PokéGuardians. Everyone grew incredibly still and angry.

Everything was still for a while. Then, a dark cloud enveloped Sawk and faded as Zoroark came into view. I was shocked and sank lower behind the shrub.

"You dratted… how did you-?" Zoroark began.

Lucario stepped forward.

"Leave Luce Village," he demanded, "and leave us alone."

Zoroark lunged. Lucario quickly jumped out of the way and shot off a volley of Aura Spheres.

"Get the Princess to safety!" he cried.

Gothorita jumped into Machamp's open arms as Gallade guarded them from the reflected spheres. I ducked down to avoid getting hit by the spheres Zoroark was hitting back. I must have been really hidden, because Lucario jumped over the hedge, over me, and threw a Bone Rush at Zoroark.

Sooner than I knew, Lucario charged at Zoroark and threw him over me and against the outer wall. Zoroark struggled to get up.

"You win this time, old man," he growled. "I will be back!"

He jumped over the wall and escaped.

I looked through the hedge at Lucario. He seemed only a little tired. He signaled to a Makuhita.

"Tell Hitmonchan that I'll come talk to him," he said, "I need to catch my breath."

That made me remember. I need to talk to Hitmonchan! I got up and ran to the Captain's building.

As soon as I walked up the stairs to Hitmonchan's building, I was amazed. There were so many flags! Hitmonchan must have gone through a lot of battles to grab all those flags from his fallen opponents!

I walked up to Hitmonchan's desk.

"Um…" I said, "Hitmonchan? Sir?"

Hitmonchan looked down at me.

"Yes… Riolu?"

His tone of voice scared me.

"Um…" I quivered, "I… I want to be a… a P-PokéGuardian."

Hitmonchan sat there and looked at me. It was uncomfortable.

"Hmmm," he said, "you don't seem to have the qualities of a PokéGuardian."

My heart sank.

"But, sir!" I protested. "I've been training myself! And-and preparing!"

"Come back when you're older," Hitmonchan said.

I had to fight to keep myself from collapsing and crying.

Then I felt someone right next to me. I turned to look. It was Lucario!

"What seems to be the problem, Hitmonchan?" he asked.

Hitmonchan stood up from his chair.

"This child is too young to be a PokéGuardian," he said calmly. "He'll be killed in the first training."

I've never felt any warmer than when Lucario looked down at me. It felt like just his looking at me would catch my fur on fire. Then I felt like I was sinking. What if Lucario said the same thing?

"His posture makes him look like an excellent apprentice," Lucario said. "Don't you agree?"

Hitmonchan stared at him blankly.

"You heard my answer, Lucario," he said.

Lucario didn't flinch.

"I will train him," he said out of nowhere.

That nearly made me fall over. Lucario would train me? Lucario would train me? Apparently, he said something to me and was trying to get my attention.

"Riolu, are you listening?" Lucario asked.

"Erk! Umm… Yes!" I said, embarrassed. "Sorry, sir…"

I quickly, almost silently apologized. Lucario smiled and nodded to accept my apology. Were celebrities really this nice? Or is it just Lucario?

"We will leave early tomorrow morning," Lucario said.

"How early?" I asked.

Lucario smiled.

"Pack up tonight and get a good night's sleep."

Riolu = d'Artagnan

Lucario = Athos

Machamp = Porthos

Gallade = Aramis

Just so you know.

Not written in any part of story: Queen Gothitelle was killed by Zoroark