Snivy and I arrived at Floccesy Ranch at around sunset. I walk in through the open gate and am greeted by a young man slightly older than me, by about two years.

I ask politely as Alder suggested and he says, "Sure, I'll talk it over with ma and pa but, I'm sure they'll agree too."

"Thank you," I say.

After my heartfelt gratitude to him, I am escorted inside by the husband and wife who own the place. I explain my situation and my intent of staying for multiple days.

"I was told there are wild Riolu that like to hang around in the forested areas around this ranch. If I can, would you let me stay until I've caught one. I was looking around earlier as I was coming in, but I didn't see any."

The ranch owner laughs and then says, "Riolu rarely appear here, but they do appear. They like to play with the Mareep and the other pokémon here from time to time. But, sure, you're more than welcome to stay with us for as long as you want."

"I can help out with the ranch work as well. I have some experience."

"Oh, you don't have to, sweetheart," the owner's wife says.

I counter by saying, "I've helped out Alder on his farm for a day only but, it felt satisfying knowing I did something."

"Haha!" the owner says, "I love the enthusiasm!"

"I say, let her help out," says the owner's son.

"Okay," the wife says, "but don't overexert yourself."

"I won't. I'll be fine."

For the next few days, I helped out on the farm, doing the work I did at Alder's farm plus caring for the Mareep, Mudbray and Mudsdale. They needed replenishing their straw bedding, feeding them their grains, brushing and washing them. I met David's (the young man's) sister, Molly, younger brother, Kenny, and the ranch hand, Orville, an old man who had been with the family for a long time. I learned he and the owner knew each other since they were children.

Molly says, "Lets do our best today, Catheri!"

"Yeah, let's do it," I reply rather less enthusiastic.

Day in, day out, for two days, I spent working in the morning and sitting outside of the wooden fence after the day's work, cross-legged on the grass staring at the tree line trying to see a distinctive shape moving about.

"No luck today, huh?" David says behind me.

"No. Nothing."

"Dinner will be ready soon."

"Thanks. I'll be there."

I get up and leave empty handed for another day.

On the third day, as I was tending to a Mudsdale with Molly, we both heard the screams of Kenny. We dropped everything and ran to where his screams were coming from. We found him tussling with a man. Kenny's Poochyena was in the middle of the scuffle.

"Let go of Poochyena, you jerk!" Kenny says.

The man replies, "Give it up, kid. Do you know who we are?"

"Hey!" Molly yells as we come forward.

I follow her exclamation with, "Let go of that pokémon!" while brandishing my pokéball.

"A trainer? Hmph!"

With those parting words of his, he lets go of the pokémon and runs away into the woods.

"Are you okay?" Molly asks Kenny, checking to make sure if he and Poochyena are all right.

"I'm fine," Kenny responds. "Thanks, Catheri."

I nod.

David arrives late on a Mudsdale.

"Are you guys alright? What was that commotion about?"

"Some weird guy," I answer. "He disappeared into the woods."

"It was Team Plasma," says Molly.

"Again?" David says in disbelief. "Those guys just don't let up."

"We should head back," she suggests.

"Yeah," he responds, "come on, we'll go back on Mudsdale."

"Actually," I say and insist, "I'd like to walk back along the tree line. I'll be okay. If I see that guy again, Snivy and I can take him on."

"Okay," David says, "if it's fine with you. Be safe."

I nod.

He clicks his tongue and Mudsdale takes him and the others back to the homestead.

The woods nearing dark are eerie. It feels like I'm being watched. I let out Snivy from his pokéball to walk with me.

"If you see anything moving, tell me, okay? They gotta be somewhere around here. Third time's the charm?"

I return back empty handed yet again. At the front, I hear a familiar voice speaking with David at the front door.

"Catheri."

It's Hueso.

"Hey," I say. "What are you doing here?"

"I waiting for you. Here you go."

He hands me a watch.

"It's more than just a watch. It's an xtransceiver. It functions as a calling device too. Bianca forgot to give it to us at the hill. I ran into her at the pokémon centre back in Aspertia."

"Oh, that reminds me."

I search through my bag and take out the extra town map.

"Here," I say handing it over.

"Oh, thanks."

"Your sister was waiting for you at the pokémon centre to give you that."

"Really? I never saw her."

Probably because you're always in a rush.

He says, "What brings you here? David told me you've been helping out on the ranch for some days now. What? Did you give up on being a pokémon trainer already and started pursuing your true passion?"

"No. I'm trying to find a Riolu. I was told they appear here sometimes to play around with the other pokémon. I've been staking them out for the last three days."

"Good luck with that. Well, I gotta go. See you around. And good luck with your battle with Cheren, he's pretty strong."

"Wait, what? Cheren? Mr Cheren? Our teacher?"

"Yeah. What? Didn't you know? He's one of Unova's gym leaders. He's the first obstacle you need to challenge to receive one of the eight badges."

"But–but we battled him–"

"On the field behind the school," he finishes my sentence. "Yeah, great front that. It's a real Sucker Punch. It'll be against three of his pokémon. If I were you, I'd definitely catch a Riolu. Tepig's power was enough for me."

I stay shocked at the revelation.

"See ya."

"Wait, it's dark out," I state and then suggest, "don't you want to stay and head out in the day?"

"Thanks but, I'll be fine. I got my pokémon with me. Ain't nothing to worry about."

As he leaves the property, David says, "That's one brave soul."

Reckless more like.

I turn in after another day without reaching my goal. The next morning, on the forth day, after once again finishing all of the farm work, I sit down in the exact same spot as the previous three days and wait. Wait. Wait. And then, just as soon as David leaves and I am about to get up and leave to go eat dinner, I see a small frame moving between two trees.

"Ah!" I inadvertently utter out. I run towards the tree line into the dark forest. I release Snivy to help me search.

"It's got to be around here. I just saw it running past the trees in this area."

I look all around me, at the trees, at the ground hoping to see footprints. I notice a pair of footprints going towards a bush. Sticking out through the bush, very easily missable if I would not have done a double take, I see a blue triangular tip. The tail end of a pokémon? I think to myself. I go over and sneak around the tree to cure my curiosity. Snivy and I peek around the tree and see nothing but the bush. I turn around and am surprised to see a pokémon's face inches away from my own. I let out a yelp and fall on my bottom. It's a Riolu, hiding behind the trunk of the tree.

I approach with caution, as I've been warned, and say in a hushed tone, "Hey, Riolu."

It just looks at me with a blink of its eyes.

"Do you want to have a battle?"

It blinks, not saying anything.

"You're quite shy, aren't you? Truth be told, I would like you to lend me your strength. Please."

The Riolu just stares at me as if reading me. It's red eyes through it's cute black mask-like part of it's face stare back at me, searching.

Finally, it walks out to a clearer area between the trees and stands firm.

"Okay. Ready?" I ask it and also repeat for Snivy. "Ready?"

Snivy cries out.

"Snivy! Use Wrap!"

Snivy runs to Riolu. Riolu moves quick, dodging Snivy's grasp and countering back with a blow to its face.

"Tackle!"

Riolu spins on its foot, moving out of the way and dodges Snivy's attack a second time.

"Now! Use Wrap again!"

Spinning the other way round, it deceives Snivy with a Feint. Snivy catches air as Riolu lands another blow, knocking it down on its back.

"Snivy, now use Wrap!"

From the ground, Snivy coils around Riolu's legs and successfully immobilises it. Rioli struggles to break free. It unleashes continuous hits on Snivy, but it stays strong and latched on.

Now what? Throw a pokéball?

I ready a pokéball in my right hand.

"Snivy, on the count of three let go of Riolu!"

Snivy looks back with a nod.

"One! Two! Three!"

Snivy separates from Riolu and in that moment I throw in the pokéball. Riolu is caught by surprise and goes into the pokéball. The ball closes and rocks around for a while, the Riolu still having a lot of fight left despite tiring it out. It stops.

"Yes! We did it, Snivy! We got Riolu!"

I pick up the ball.

"Fourth time's the charm."

Letting it out of the pokéball, I introduce myself and Snivy.

"I'm Catheri and this is Snivy. It's nice to meet you, Riolu."

It stares back at me and then gives a smile after a short while. I smile back.

Leaving the woods and walking back to the house, late and tired, we join David out front on the porch.

"Wow, you actually caught one?"

"Yeah…finally…"

"I was about to go look for you but, I figured you'd be back soon. I saw you rushing into the forest and thought, 'Yeah, she found it.'"

"Is there something to eat for all three of us?"

"Of course, come on."

A well deserved sleep for me and my pokémon followed the late night dinner. And in the morning of the following day, after saying goodbye to everyone, I set out on the road headed back to Aspertia.