A/N: Yes, I rewrote this. I needed to find a way to make this chapter longer, so I added a battle scene to make it lengthy and to give Roark and Riley some time to shine.
Reviews are welcome, but flames aren't and everytime you flame, a puppy dies. D: So don't flame!
"So...what can I do? I'm trying to get Roark to train his Pokemon well...but he's so...reluctant." The brown-haired man turned to the man sitting next to him. "Even the school said he's not doing so well...I don't know what caused him to suddenly drop like this," he added, watching his coffee cup.
The Oreburgh Gym Leader's eyes looked a bit more downcast than usual, but it was due to the stress imposed upon him that caused his weariness. For the past few months, there'd been something wrong, just something he couldn't pinpoint, in the behavior of his 8-year old son.
Somewhat luckily for Byron, the Jubilife Pokemon Center always provided a great meal in case he was running late picking Roark up from the school. Nurse Joy came and refilled the coffee cups, her red hair bobbing as she bowed slightly to the two Gym Leaders at the table.
Crasher Wake shut his eyes and crossed his arms. "You know, Byron...It's not good to force it upon him. Children are often stubborn when their parents make them do things," he told the other Gym Leader, opening an eye to look at Byron.
"So then what can I do? His mother and I are expecting him to be a great Gym Leader someday," The other man sighed. "Something's up with him, but I just can't figure out what's wrong..." Byron said, running a hand through his hair.
It wasn't like him to be so worn out, and this bothered Wake. "Couldn't you try letting someone else influence him?" The masked Water Gym Leader suggested with a shrug, taking a drink of his own coffee along with a steaming cinnamon roll that the Pokemon nurse came to drop by for them.
"I've already tried introducing him to some kids of my friends. All of them have great pride in becoming Gym Leaders someday," Byron replied dully. "For some reason, he doesn't feel so competent compared to them," he told Wake, blowing lightly on his drink and sipping it.
"It's likely the pressure of being surrounded by what he wants to be. Maybe he sees them as competition?" Wake asked, raising an eyebrow and biting into the roll.
Byron looked at Wake with a frown. "Roark's not a wild animal, for one, and also, you're not a psychologist," he told him flatly, setting the cup down on the table.
"But what I'm saying is that he needs a friend that isn't as intent on becoming a Gym Leader," Wake replied back, not really bothering to cover his mouth as small bits of cinnamon roll flew out. "He's being pressured because he thinks others will beat him. Things like his battling might seem inferior to others, and that because he won't be doing so well, he knows he won't be doing well enough to be seen as worthy of inheriting your Gym."
Byron cast his eyes downwards, then sighed and handed Wake a napkin. "Really, I thought you had better manners..." he rolled his eyes, looking at his glove. "So what should I do?" Byron asked, watching as a boy rushed into the building clutching a fainted Bidoof.
Wake smiled at Byron as an idea came to mind. "There's an orphanage in Hearthome City, Byron. I'm sure that there'd be someone suitable there, find someone who can encourage him to battle hard. Oh, and while you're in Hearthome if you go..." he added, then cut off. "Ask Fantina about the orphanage, because she visits frequently," he said, his words flowing a little too quickly for any hints to pass on by.
"Wait, the Ghost-using, foreign, Contest-loving Gym Leader?" Byron asked in surprise, then looked at Wake again, studying his face for a few seconds. The fossil-obsessed man grinned and laughed. "I can read your face like a book right now, Wake!"
Wake blushed, glaring at Byron for a few seconds. "You caught on that quickly...?" He asked weakly after a few seconds of trying to intimidate his friend, his head dropping in embarrassment. "Even my Pokemon can tell these things..." he added in an embarrassed voice.
"Too obvious," Byron pointed out with a smirk, then jumped as a beeping noise was heard and checked his watch. "I'd better go pick up Roark now. I told him that I'd take him to Eterna City so Dad can accompany us on a trip to the Underground," he said to Wake, standing up and stretching. "I have to find an anniversary gift too," he added to the water specialist, his eyes widening as he remembered.
"Ooh, then you'd better pick something good," Wake commented, now able to grin back at Byron as he looked outside the window. He stood up as well. "I'll be seeing you around, Byron," he said, clapping him on the back on the way out of the Pokemon Center.
Byron followed the Pastoria Gym Leader outside and headed westwards instead of north where his friend was going. Byron hummed lightly along the way to the Trainer's School. His anniversary was coming up and he had to decide on a present for Lena. His hair ruffled impatiently as he blew at his bangs.
"Eh, I'd best stop by Veilstone later..." he thought. Byron stopped and sat down on a bench to think about what to get for his wife. A few minutes later, he smiled as an idea came to mind. He'd have to consult her first on the matter, however. "I wonder how Roarkie is doing right now?" He asked himself.
~::~::~::~::~.ヒョウタ. .x. .ゲン.~::~::~::~::~::~
"Alright class, today we're finally going to get the the final stage of Double Battles; the battles themselves," Mrs. Yuka announced to the students in the room, causing a loud cheer to erupt. "I've come up with randomized Poke Balls, all containing low-leveled Pokemon so that they may listen to you. I've made a list of who the partners are at the board, so take a look before retrieving a Poke Ball," she told the group, glancing to one of the boys.
His eyes were usually half-open because he was half-asleep.
"Awesome! I can't wait to tell Dad about this!" One of the boys thought excitedly. This boy had brick-colored hair that flared and spiked slightly at the ends, the top part of his head concealed by a too-large, red hard hat with a flashlight in the middle of the front part of it. His matching wide eyes were hidden by large round glasses that glinted in the school's lights. A salmon-colored cape covered his back and shoulders; an imitation of the cape his father wore. Beneath was a black T-shirt, grey canvas pants with large pockets holding a yellow stripe, the bottoms tucked into a pair of gumboots; another imitation.
He bounded to the board and scanned for his name. He found it with a smile, then looked to his partner's name. "Riley? Hey...who is Riley?" He asked himself out loud, then jumped as someone prodded his arm lightly. "Ehhh, don't scare me like that!" He exclaimed, turning around to see who surprised him.
The boy in front of was clutching a dark blue egg with a strange V-shaped black stripe going across it, along with a pattern of yellow ovals running along the bottom length of it. He had black hair that spiked slightly but prominently in the back, almost like a lion's mane. He had blue eyes, as far as the surprised boy could tell, but with half his face hidden by his long bangs, it was hard to say. He wore a long-sleeved black shirt and navy blue slacks that seemed slightly too baggy for him, covering the heels of his black shoes. He also wore a gold necklace with a strange "M" pattern that seemed too flashy to be wearing in school, but it seemed precious to the boy.
"You are Roark, aren't you?" The boy asked timidly, holding the egg more closely as if for reassurement. The boy's eyes had a shy expression in them, as if he wasn't a social person at all.
"That's me!" Roark exclaimed, making Riley jump a bit. "So you're Riley, right? I think this is the first time we've seen each other in class! So, ready to battle with me?" The enthusiastic red-head asked.
"Sure," Riley smiled nervously, still a bit shaken from Roark's enthusiasm. "Let's go pick our Pokemon," he told Roark, much to the happiness of the Oreburgh Gym Leader's son.
"I'll pick...this one," Roark said happily. "I think that this one will do really well for me," he smiled, then turned to Riley, looking at the boy in confusion. "Why are your eyes closed?" He asked Riley, cocking his head.
Riley's hand hovered above each Poke Ball, then finally stopped on one. "I'll pick this one," he announced, then opened his eyes and looked at Roark.
"Trying a random guess?" Roark laughed, then he led Riley to the practice field outside. "Come out!" He exclaimed, tossing the Poke Ball in the air. Out of the ball emerged a Cranidos, and it turned to Roark and squealed. "Cool!" Roark exclaimed. "A Cranidos! And it's a fossil Pokemon too!" Roark couldn't help but shake in excitement.
Riley unleashed his Pokemon, smiling as he knew what it was. "Rio!" The bipedal dog cried, then walked to Riley. "Hi Riolu," He said, holding out the egg carefully to the school's Riolu. The Pokemon's eyes grew wide, then it smiled and hugged the egg, making Riley chuckle. "Yeah, you know there's another Riolu there," he said softly.
"Awesome, we got good Pokemon!" Roark told Riley, smiling widely.
"Team 3! Your battle against Team 5 is waiting!" An outside speaker blared, causing everyone to jump.
"That's us! We should hurry," Riley told Roark, grabbing the egg and running in the direction of the battlefield. Roark followed him quickly, running alongside Cranidos.
"And now the students! Team 3 consists of Roark with Cranidos and Riley with Riolu!" Another teacher, Mr. Meuda, announced. "Team 7 consists of Lisa with Abra and Gardenia with Budew!"
"So we meet again Roark!" Gardenia yelled at him, a confident smile on her face. "This is just Gym Leader training for us, agreed?" She asked.
Roark grinned. "Of course! No way I'd give up a chance of being Oreburgh's Gym Leader when Dad lets me take over the Gym!" He called back.
"And I won't lost my chance at being Eterna City's Gym Leader from Mom!" Gardenia exclaimed, standing proudly as Budew took its place on the field.
"We're at a type disadvantage," Riley whispered to Roark worriedly, then blinked as Roark looked back to him with a smile.
"That doesn't matter right now. Just because of those obstacles doesn't mean there's no way to win this," he replied, turning to the field. Cranidos and Riolu stood side by side, facing a sleeping Abra and Budew.
"Battle begin!" Mr. Meuda shouted.
"Abra! Hidden Power!" Lisa exclaimed, and Abra summoned several glowing multicolored orbs, sending them towards Riolu.
"Dodge it!" Riley exclaimed. "If you get hit, Endure!" He told the walking blue dog. "Use Quick Attack!" He shouted, and Riolu ran towards Budew.
"Nice! Now Cranidos, use Pursuit on Abra! Rely on your speed!" Roark exclaimed, definitely pumped up for this battle.
"Teleport!" Lisa commanded, then her eyes widened. Riolu caught up to Abra and slammed into it, followed by Cranidos' Pursuit.
"Abra is unable to battle!" Mr. Meuda announced.
"Awesome! Now, let's show Gardenia that speed again! Headbutt!" Roark commanded with a triumphant grin.
"Budew, Stun Spore!" Gardenia cried, and the little green bud let loose a yellow pollen that stopped Cranidos.
"No! Riolu, Quick Attack once those spores fade!" Riley exclaimed, watching as Riolu ran to Budew, then stopped.
"Budew, Absorb!" The girl told her Budew, who stopped spraying spores and began drawing energy from the paralyzed Cranidos.
"Cranidos, Focus Energy!" Roark yelled as Riolu sped towards Budew.
"Evade!" Gardenia told Budew, who dodged the Quick Attack and left Riolu to head back.
"Roark, what do we do?" Riley asked, then looked to Riolu. "That Budew is too quick, and Riolu can't activate Steadfast..." he muttered.
"Steadfast?" Roark asked, turning to Riley.
"It's a special ability of Riolu. If it flinches, its Speed increases. But how can Riolu flinch...Headbutt!" Riley exclaimed. "You have to tell Cranidos to use Headbutt on Riolu!" He told Roark.
"What?" Roark asked in surprise. "If it works," he added. "Cranidos, direct Headbutt towards Riolu!"
The dinosaur looked confused, but did so, charging at Riolu insted of Budew.
"I think you're forgetting who you're battling!" Gardenia laughed.
"Riolu, it's OK, just take the Headbutts," Riley assured Riolu.
"Make this one count!" Roark exclaimed.
Cranidos slammed its blue head into Riolu, who fell over and caused a gasp in the crowd.
"Riolu!" Riley yelled.
The dog sat there for a minute, then jumped up and rushed towards Budew using a much faster Quick Attack. A smile spread on Riley's face. "It worked!" He yelled. "Quick Attack and then Force Palm!" He shouted.
"Stun Spore!" Gardenia shouted, but Riolu was much too fast now. The green bud got slammed headfirst and flew into the air.
Riolu grabbed Budew from the air, its paws glowing. All of a sudden, energy erupted from Riolu's hands and surrounded Budew.
"Oh no! Budew!" Gardenia cried.
"Let's finish it Cranidos!" Use Headbutt!" Roark yelled, a triumphant smile on his face.
Cranidos charged towards the weakened Budew, then slammed its hard blue head into the little bud Pokemon, knocking it out.
"Budew, unable to battle! Team 3 wins!" Mr. Meuda shouted, causing a wave of eruption in the students.
"An impressive battle!" Mrs. Yuka exclaimed. "That's what teamwork is about there! And the way that two Gym Leaders-in-training battled is stunning!"
"We did it!" Roark exclaimed, his smile much more pronounced as he looked at Riley, then frowned. "What's wrong?" He asked the black-haired boy.
"...Get inside," Riley muttered, picking his egg up and holding it protectively.
"What?" Roark asked, really confused.
"I SAID GET INSIDE!" Riley screamed, then handed the egg to Roark and stepped in front of the young Gym Leader as if shielding him.
"What's going on-AAAH!" Gardenia shrieked, pointing in the direction Riley was facing.
A blue sphere was heading directly towards the two boys, and Riley took a defensive stance, holding his hands out in front of him as if to catch the sphere.
"Riley, that's an Aura Sphere!" Mr. Meuda shouted as the blue aura approached.
"Riley, what are you doing?" Roark shouted, then his eyes froze as Riley caught the sphere with his palms and pushed it back in the direction it came from.
Riley panted, falling to his knees. "That one was too powerful...I can't take another one...Riolu! I need your help here!" He shouted, and Riolu stood by his side. "You know what I need," he muttered, and Riolu placed its palms on Riley's arm, the blue energy flowing from Pokemon to human.
"Riley, you're an...Aura user?" Mrs. Yuka shouted, staring at the boy.
"Riolu, be prepared. I think another fight is coming up," Riley said, then turned to Roark. "Get inside and protect the egg," he told the young red-head sternly, using a much different tone from earlier.
"I'll give it to Mr. Meuda! He'll watch it!" Roark exclaimed, heading inside in a mad dash.
Riley turned back to the battlefield, where a Lucario stood. "So it's you after all, isn't it?" Riley growled. "I was warned you might escape," he told the evolved form of Riolu. Riley's rental Riolu glared at Lucario, who took a fighting stance. "If that's what it takes," Riley hissed.
"I have to go help him!" Roark squealed, trying to break free of Mrs. Yuka's hold. "Let me go, Mrs. Yuka! He said he was tired already and he needs help!"
"It's too dangerous now!" Mr. Meuda snapped at Roark, causing the young boy to flinch.
"Cranidos, use Headbutt but not too strong!" Roark cried out of desperation.
Mrs. Yuka shrieked as she narrowly avoided Cranidos' large head, but the attack caused her to lose her grip of Roark. "Roark, get back here or I'll tell Leader Byron!" She yelled, but Roark paid no heed.
Lucario let loose another Aura Sphere, aiming it at the building.
"No! Cranidos, intercept with Headbutt!" Roark shouted, and Cranidos ran to ram into the sphere. However, the blue sphere was much too strong for Cranidos to handle.
"Riolu, block any attack and use Endure!" Riley shouted.
A copper-tinted shield flew up around Riolu, who prepared to block any more Aura Spheres.
Lucario responded with a sudden burst of speed that caught both boys off guard, then punched Riolu, the energy seemingly being sapped away from the poor dog.
"Riley, get Riolu away! That's a Drain Punch!" Roark shouted, picking Cranidos up.
"Riolu, get out of there!" Riley shouted, which Riolu did. The effort left the little blue dog panting for its lost energy.
"Roark, what do we do? That Lucario's too strong," Riley asked Roark, his eyes desperate. He couldn't tell Roark the real reason the Lucario was here, but if it came to it...
"That Lucario's after my egg! That's why I needed you to protect it!" Riley told Roark, then turned to Riolu. "Return!" He shouted, calling Riolu back into its Poke Ball.
"Cranidos, you too," Roark muttered, recalling the knocked-out Pokemon. "I'm sorry..." he whispered to the Pokemon inside his hand.
"We need to get inside! We need to tell Mr. Meuda to call my mother, she knows what to do!" Riley shouted, dragging Roark back inside and slamming the door shut.
"Why your mom?" Roark asked in surprise.
"Because she owns a Lucario too! That's how I got this egg," Riley told Roark, who responded "Oh."
Riley dashed for the phone and dialed a number, but was too late as the door blasted open, a large chunk headed straight for Riley.
"No!" Roark shouted, running in the way and getting slammed before anyone could do anything about his reckless move.
"ROARK!" Riley screamed, running to the stunned boy. "Get up, get up," Riley pleaded, tugging on Roark's arm.
Roark stirred, but was still unconscious. "Floorboards..." he muttered.
"What?" Riley asked, confused by Roark's word.
"Floorboards...you and egg...hide underneath...Yuka's desk..." Roark muttered.
"I can't leave you like this!" Riley shouted, then narrowly avoided another Aura Sphere. "You'd better be safe," he whispered, then ran to Mr. Meuda and plucked the egg from his arms and went behind Mrs. Yuka's desk, pulling up a few floorboards and sliding into a nicely-dug out room.
~::~::~::~::~.ヒョウタ. .x. .ゲン.~::~::~::~::~::~
"What the...?" Byron stood up as he heard loud crashes coming from the direction of the school building, heading there quickly. His face fell as he saw a crowd gathered around the entrance. "Is there something I missed today?" He asked himself, then prodded a nearby bystander on the shoulder. "What's going on?" He asked the woman.
She looked to him pleadingly. "You're the Oreburgh Gym Leader, right? There's a Pokemon in there going wild, and it's been chasing students!" She cried. "Your son is already unconscious!" She yelled.
What could be going on here? Yay...for cliffhanger in the first chapter?