Disgraced Grace
Riley was sitting there plaintively observing everything until he heard a woman's voice speak "Hello, sir? Do you know where I can find Gardenia Winchell?" Riley turned around and struggled not to gape. She was such a pretty young lady with long green hair and a wonderful air of modesty, shyness and seemed like a quieter version of Gardenia. "Err, yeah. She might be battling next. Care to join me? I'm here to cheer my friend." He answered blushing. "I'd love to." She said smiling and sat near him. "I'm Cheryl. You?" she asked him. "Riley. Riley Cornwall." Said he and shook her hand. It felt really weird. Was this... nah!
They sat patiently waiting for Cynthia to pick the next contenders. Riley on the other hand, felt every moment to be an eternity with such a pretty girl by his side. This was getting really awkward for him and was tempted to leave, but didn't. Then Cynthia blared out after an eternity"Our next contenders are... Byron and Fantina!" the crowd cheered and Riley smiled too, but when he saw Roark's angst face, his happiness died down. He noticed him getting fidgety and hiding behind Wake, struggling not to make eye contact with his 'fiasco' dad. Wake of course, saw none of this and wished Fantina. "Best of luck, miss." He said. "Merci." She said and then went ahead to fight Byron who was on the other side while Roark was still hiding.
"Hey, good luck!" she called out good-naturedly to Wake who seemingly appreciated it. "My my, miss- you are stunning!" Byron called out to Fantina who blushed. "Merci." She said. "Say, how about you and I at my place, chick?" Byron suggested while winking at her, making her furious while Roark almost puked. His father was such a disgusting character! Fantina was still blushing, but carried on with the battle and sent out her first pokemon "I choose you- go Haunter!" she screamed. Byron smirked- defeating her will be a breeze. "Go Steelix!" he yelled as the huge iron snake came out and looked pretty freaky, making Roark's stomach burn.
Haunter looked excited enough for battle and Fantina smiled- she absolutely enjoyed these kinds. "Steelix, Flash Cannon!" Byron ordered. "Sucker Punch!" she screamed. Haunter was faster and then pouched the life out of Steelix who wasn't really fazed by this still worked. Byron cringed. "Not bad, miss. Now it's my turn. Steelix, Flash Cannon!" he ordered following which Steelix went ahead and then spouted out a flash of blinding light and a hard steel attack which did hurt Haunter quite a bit and made her blink at least twice. Fantina winced- accuracy was so important! "Is that all you have?" he smirked. She smiled. "Ah, but there is more, monsieur. Haunter, Confuse Ray!" "Dodge, Steelix!" yelled Byron.
This didn't exactly work, for Haunter was still dazed by that light and so missed royally, almost confusing poor Flint who blocked it with the help of his pokegear and keeping Volkner away from this stuff. Byron resisted the urge to laugh- her pokemon sucked at accuracy. Roark was getting angrier every minute- his father knew nothing about ethics at all! Fantina was cringing, but then motivated herself "Never surrender. Face every problem you have." Muttering and then she sent out her next move, yet another Confuse Ray, which would work for someone like Steelix, but Byron countered. "Steelix, Sandstorm!" he yelled and then this happened. Fantina could kick herself- he had seriously reduced her accuracy and any hopes of being confused. Yet the unexpected happened. Haunter's Confuse Ray actually worked despite being buffeted by the sandstorm! Byron was shocked- just how? Fantina smiled- her ghosts were clever.
"Alright, mon ami- now I want you to do your next bit! Shadow Claw!" she hollered while Byron watched helplessly. Then he came up with an idea. "Steelix, Flash Cannon!" he yelled. Fantina was not going to give up yet. She was still banking her hopes on the attack, but it was a double bonus for this- Haunter's Shadow Claw did hit with a critical hit and so did the Flash Cannon which successfully weakened the Haunter and almost made it blind for the moment. "Ha ha! Talk about double burn!" he scoffed while Fantina said nothing. She believed in Haunter and said "Alright, my dear- let's do this! One more Shadow Claw, darling!" Byron only laughed louder. "Like anything will actually work here? She is as nearsighted as Roark is!" That was the final straw for him. Roark got up and ran away while only Riley had noticed what was going on. "Hey!" he called out. Roark mouthed something like 'bathroom break' and ran out. Riley wanted to turn and chase him, but Cheryl was blocking the way and he wanted to see more of her beautiful face. Roark was crestfallen at his father's contempt for him. What had he done? He did everything to be the model son only to be spurned by him as he ran to pursue his first love- fossils. This only made Roark quieter and more submissive. He knew nothing about his son; Byron. Roark almost had half a mind to say that his father was dead.
Roark ran to the bathroom, for he was also sick to the stomach and just wanted some alone time. He ran to the loo and slumped onto it, locking the door and weeping. He wanted to slap himself at the moment- he hadn't cried for 2 years and now he was breaking his streak. This was the worst self control he ever had! His weeps turned louder and became real cries of everything he had so far. Even his crying at home was controlled, on fear of being called girly, but now what choice did he have? Roark cried about everything- from his fury at being weak to his break up with Gardenia. He was furious at Luciana for lying to him, Elisha for her perverted trick and himself for being so cruel to Gardenia. Everything he did was a fallacy, a sick lie. Roark was just crestfallen and down. What more did he need to compound his worries? His father was contesting for re-election and flirting with a candidate. Roark had doubts now on why his father left him- for fossils or other love?
"Children can be made anytime, lovers can't." He attempted consoling himself. "Dad can have many kids; he'll never have another love like the same one..."he muttered, but it was all failing. Everything he'd built up was breaking down and shattering. Now he had serious doubts if he even wanted to be gym leader anymore...
"Ha, baby! Your Haunter lost, I won! Still game for a second chance before I take you for dinner?" Byron taunted. Roark just opened the loo and threw up. He felt really sick as that acrid taste started overpowering his tongue and senses as he puked more and more. He was feeling terrible and so heavily disgusted- was that guy seriously his father? He was often used to his flaws, but this was the final straw. This seriously was. Suddenly he heard his phone ring and disgruntled, he picked it up. "What may I do for you?" he asked sarcastically. "Hey, Roark? Where are you?" the voice popped out. "Is this Volkner or Riley?" he asked. "You guys sound the same." "It's Riley, poppet." The answer came. "Where are you? The battle is getting to its best part!"
"Just sick. Came to the loo for some work." Roark answered tartly. "Are you okay, Roark? Your voice is hoarse!" Riley remarked. "It'll definitely be if I get to battle Gardenia- I hate that woman." Roark said coldly, Riley was worried- the last time Roark was this angry, he had to be hospitalised. "Look, Roarky; the match is really intense, if I talk anymore; I'll be kicked out.' He spoke. "Oh, alright. I'm coming, but don't; expect me in too soon!" he said quickly cutting it and throwing up again. After all was over, he left only to see Volkner standing out; surprising him. "What? Never seen a guy before?" he asked. "No..." Roark walked briskly away from there. "Hey you okay?" Volkner asked him concerned. "Not exactly, I felt a bit sick... but thanks for caring!" Roark quickly blurted while dashing off to the battle site. Volkner just shrugged and went back to business.
Fantina was pretty much beating Byron's arrogant butt. "This is nowhere over yet- Bastiodon use Stone Edge!" he yelled. "Mismagius use Magical Leaf!" she yelled. A flurry of coloured levitating leaves rose up from Mismagius' hands and attacked the Bastiodon left right and centre. It was badly injured, but Byron wasn't giving up yet, for he knew something that would freak her out. Soon, sharp pointed stones were falling straight onto Mismagius, injuring her badly and weakening her to a hard extent. This was bad, for now both were critically injured. "Now for the final gambit- Mismagius; Shadow Ball!" she screamed. "Bastiodon, Metal Burst!" he screamed. Mismagius did form the shadow ball, but the very minute she released it; she felt a sharp surge in her body, only to find that metal burst had done its job and Mismagius, unable to take the strain, fainted.
"Mismagius is unable to battle. Byron and Bastiodon win!" Cynthia spoke following which they all clapped and Fantina brought her pokemon back. "You did a fantastic job, my dear. Tres bien! Now go and rest, you deserve it!" she said and then flicked her hair behind. Cynthia then called the two to the podium. Congratulations, you two! Spectacular battle, loved it sir and ma'am! I am so proud to proclaim you as gym leaders! Now, Sir Byron, name your type preference!" Cynthia burst out exuberantly. "Steel all the way, miss!" Byron proclaimed proudly. "So, sir! You are to give out the Mine Badge to all the victors- make your city proud!" Cynthia burst out in a bubbly way and gave him the badge. "Thank you, miss." Said he as he saw Fantina then walk up to the podium. "Madame Fantina, I loved the battle! So elegant, so beautiful! Bien, tres bien! I'm sorry; I know very little French." Cynthia spoke. "That's alright. It is very good." Fantina spoke sweetly as Cynthia handed her the badge. "Name your type preference, sil vous plait."
"Ghost Pokémon, now and forever!" she proclaimed. "Ah, so that means you are to take the Relic Badge!" she said as she handed her the badge. "You both are very amazing and really wonderful! Sir Byron, I proclaim you the leader of Canalave city and Miss Fantina... you are that of Hearthome City!" she exclaimed. The whole crowd cheered, Hearthome needed someone like her. "Oh my tosh- I'm so excited!" Cheryl exclaimed squeezing Riley's hand, making him turn scarlet. Then she noticed what she dd. "I'm sorry." She said blushing. "That's alright." he said in his sweetest voice, for eh still loved the feeling.
"Yes! I always weanted to be gym leader of Hearthome- it is so beautiful!" exclaimed Fantina as she went to the others. "Congrats, Fantina! I'm really happy for you!" Wake said while the others cheered. "You did awesome for a guy who was the gym leader once.." Volkner said smiling. "Merci be coup, all of you!" she said hugging every one of them while Byron smirked. "Good job, miss." He said as she finished her hug session. She smiled at him "Merci."
"Aww, how wonderful! Cynthia exclaimed. "Now for our next contestants. They are..."
Roark was still praying "Not me not me not me! He muttered profusely while praying to Arceus and all the others combined. "Not me, not Gardenia, not me..."