Solaceon Town

One-year-post rescuing the riolu

On the anniversary of the day Felix had met a bit of a violent little riolu was the day of yet another exciting encounter!

Felix sat comfortably in the gymnasium of their modest little school, Angie and Keira jittering in excitement as his mind strayed into daydreams as he often enjoyed doing.

Six-year-old Felix had been very silly, seven-year-old Felix decided wisely. After rescuing the riolu he'd come to name Keira from the schoolyard they'd not thought of the reasonable action to take her straight to the Pokémon Centre.

No, that would be too sensible. He nodded to himself, brushing his chin on the top of Keira's head. She glanced up at him once before returning to jittering.

They didn't take her to Angie's home either, nah, Felix's foster home with Miss Norrie was closer and Miss Norrie was even a former nurse! That's the excuse they used when she caught them because Keira didn't want to be placed in a closet and made a big racket.

Miss Norrie had taken one look at Keira and marched the three of them right to the Pokémon Centre.

Probably the scariest night Felix had ever survived, he thought to himself. He believed that was the case for Keira too, she had gone all quiet when Miss Norrie glared at her. His caretaker was a wonderful lady, but he'd never seen her that cross before.

Nor had he ever gotten in that much trouble before.

Angie's mother and father were waiting for them by the time they arrived at the Pokémon Centre and Angie got grounded as well. They pinkie promised to not squeal on the other before she was pulled away, although both of them were unable to bear the pressure from their parental figures.

Since they both broke it and got in trouble it balanced out and friendship was maintained.

Although it was tricky since they were both grounded for a month and could only see each other in school, they weren't barred from playing together and even if they had been that would be one rule they would have broken.

Instead, Felix had a different target of his after-school energy. Convincing Miss Norrie to keep the riolu he'd saved.

He'd begged and pleaded and tried to barter with her, but she was a pillar of frost and gave little acknowledgement to his absolute commitment.

Felix had been forced to go to the other foster kids for help. Jemima and Luke helped him figure out a cunning idea to barter for Miss Norrie's good will.

He'd even gone to Gabriel to fact check the brilliance.

"So, if I do this she'd believe I can do that, right?" Felix had asked hopefully.

His big smart responsible genius clever big brother nodded slowly. "I… I guess, are you sure it's right for you to take on everyone's chores though?"

"I can do it!" Felix said. "I'm an expert."

Gabriel, eight years old but seemed at least ten to Felix, pursed his lips. That was good enough confirmation for Felix, and he danced off to Miss Norrie.

"I will do everyone's chores! That way I can prove I am an expert," he said confidently.

"An expert?" Miss Norrie asked. "At sweeping the floor?"

"At being response!" Felix explained. "Because that's what you need to be to be a Pokémon Trainer. Response. And care. Care. Nice! You gotta be nice and response."

"Responsible, Felix."

"Responsible."

"Hmm."

She didn't say yes which disheartened him. He sulked a little while, but then decided he had to prove it. So, he started doing the chores for all the foster kids. Gabriel didn't have many to do, which Felix might have thought was weird since Gabriel was the oldest, but he was also the smartest, so he probably had to read lots of books all the time.

Gabriel wouldn't tell him that he helped Felix without him realising. Doing as many of his own chores, as well as Luke and Jemima's, as he could. Miss Norrie, of course, knew what Gabriel was doing but Felix's commitment for the next week did lay in her mind.

When the riolu was given the clear from Nurse Joy, her booster shots and a lot of curious injuries healed. "She appears to have been abused and ran away," she whispered to Miss Norrie, who had seen the signs when she had taken the riolu to the centre that night.

Felix was permitted to come with her to the centre to collect the riolu. It hadn't occurred to him yet what that meant.

"Felix," Miss Norrie said strictly. Felix glanced up from where he was laying on the floor, staring at the riolu as the riolu stared back. "It is not your job to do your housemate's chores." Felix wilted a little under the sharp tone. It then softened. "However, you have shown commitment to your idea and haven't shirked your work these last seven days."

She knelt down, bones creaking a bit. "I want you to ask Riolu what she wants."

Felix's eyes had widened as he caught onto what she was saying and turned to the riolu excitedly. "Did you hear that!? Do you want to come home with me? I promise I'll be super nice and responsible!" He flashed Miss Norrie a proud grin at knowing the word now. "And we can play games and eat candy on good days and play around outside and be the best of friends!"

Riolu seemed a little overwhelmed by the excited barrage of words and didn't respond.

"What do you think?" he asked. "Do you want to be my pokémon?"

"I won't lu anyone's pokémon," Riolu snapped. "I already… riolu ri lu."

That was another thing. The weird double speech hadn't stopped since that day. He heard pokémon chattering around him and sometimes the words he heard he understood in his head. It made him a bit dizzy at times, but he hadn't told anyone, and no one had noticed yet. He was sure of that.

"I promise I'll be your friend," Felix said, bordering on pleading now. "I pinkie promise! You can sleep in my bed o-or anywhere you want! I promise I'm nice. Please?"

Riolu had half turned away, her shoulders rising slightly. Felix might not have understood her body posture or the way her tassels fought to raise or remain inert, but both nurses and the chansey there saw things they wished they didn't.

However, whatever the riolu was thinking seemed to come to a different decision and she gave a brief nod. "Fine."

The word had sounded curt to Nurse Joy and Miss Norrie, but Felix immediately brightened up. Joy glanced to the chansey who nodded.

"Really? Thank you!" He almost scampered over to hug her, but an innocent little six-year-old Felix might have been, he could still see that Riolu didn't want to be touched. She'd given him her thoughts on that the night they'd met.

She almost seemed to smile at his restraint before walking over to the door and barking. "Well?" She began to walk out of the room.

"Thank you, Nurse Joy!" Felix called, getting to his feet and hugging her. "Thank you, Chansey." And a hug for her too. "Thank you a million times, Miss Norrie!" And an extra-strong hug for her. "We need to get you a name, Riolu!"

He dashed after her and challenged her to a race home, one he couldn't lose since he knew where to go. He still lost.

Miss Norrie allowed herself to smile as the young ones raced out.

"This should be good for that riolu," Joy assured her as Miss Norrie stood up and collected her things. "And likely for Felix as well."

"For some reason that riolu already reminds me of Angie," Miss Norrie said with a sigh. "She'll be a terrible influence on him." Yet she was smiling at the thought.

Nurse Joy giggled softly and returned to her work as Miss Norrie walked home after them. She'd dust out a pokéball to place the riolu in as that was a rather rare pokémon that opportunistic trainers might try and snatch. Technically, the riolu would be hers, but she would be Felix's responsibility until he was old enough to have a licence of his own.

She looked forward to what was to come.

Felix was pulled out of her daydreaming as the kids around him erupted into cheers, as did the riolu on his chest. Keira, he'd decided on the name after a few days, turned her paws around and smacked the nubs on her wrists together to create as much noise as possible.

Angie, in response, yelled louder.

Champion Cynthia waved as she walked up the podium, next to her walked two pokémon, a terrifyingly cool garchomp and a mysteriously smiling roserade.

"Hello, Solaceon Town!" Cynthia greeted with a beaming smile. The kids all called out her name. Everyone knew Cynthia's name. She'd defeated the previous champion in a battle basically everyone in Sinnoh had been glued to the television watching.

Angie had decided she was the Actual Coolest Person.

This day, the anniversary of Felix meeting Keira had started out so innocently. The school kids knew there was a surprise waiting today, they had no idea it was this until they were all gathered in the gymnasium.

To think that CHAMPION CYNTHIA would come to Solaceon Town! To their school! It was almost impossible to believe until she walked out with her super-powerful pokémon.

Felix had watched the battle himself and he agreed she was the coolest person in the world, except for Miss Norrie, and Gabriel. Keira too. He thought Angie was pretty awesome too, but she actually disagreed when it came to Cynthia.

Keira agreed that she was at least the same amount of cool as Cynthia. It was the closest thing Felix had seen to the two of them agreeing on something.

Even with the barrier of language between Keira and Angie, they didn't agree on anything. It made Felix sad since they were so alike otherwise. He had thought they'd be the best of friends. He was best friends with them both, so why…?

He was pulled out of his musings again because Cynthia had said something that got all the students around him raising their arms hopefully.

Keira even raised her paw before remembering and nudging Felix. "Ask Cynthia if I can battle her!" she whispered excitedly.

"What? Why?" Felix whispered back.

"Why?" Keira squawked. It drew Angie's eye before she rolled it, seeing that Felix and Keira were talking a conversation she couldn't follow again. "Why not?"

Felix could count the reasons why she shouldn't, but they couldn't talk too long out in the crowd like this. Angie might have known about Felix's 'magical abilities' but that didn't mean anyone else had to. It was their secret.

"Uh… strawberry," Cynthia answered after pondering her preferred flavour of chocolate for five minutes. She pointed to another. "Yes?"

"Who's your strongest pokémon?"

Cynthia laughed. "Now, now, I can't answer that."

"Why?"

Garchomp next to her began to puff up and Cynthia grinned. "They'll start fighting again."

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Who won the last time they did that?"

Garchomp raised her claw.

"Hush," Cynthia chided but Garchomp just smirked. The crowd began to chatter, talking about Cynthia's pokémon for a good few minutes. The general consensus was Garchomp, but everyone got a vote.

Roserade up there rolled his eyes as Garchomp's grin grew and nudged him a few times. Felix couldn't hear them from how far away he was, but Keira was grinning as her big ears were twitching.

"Raise your hand, come on Felix pleeeaase!"

Reluctant, Felix did as requested as the teachers called for order. As the students settled, her eyes narrowed onto Felix.

He was the only person there with a pokémon by his side. The rest of the children either being too young, didn't have pokémon, or left them in their pokéball's. Keira wasn't allowed to be with Felix in class, but otherwise, the school was lax with restrictions on pokémon.

"You there, young man," Cynthia called, Felix realising she was pointing at him. "With the riolu. Yes?"

Felix's mouth immediately went to ash as he stared up at Cynthia in nervousness. This was Cynthia! How could he talk to her?

Angie nudged him, as did Keira, as they both hissed, "Say something!"

"U-Uh. Battle," Felix blurted out. "Keira wants to battle."

"Oh?" Cynthia asked as more than a few people stared at Felix, only flustering him further. "Is the riolu Keira?"

Keira barked an affirmation, standing up with her first raised. She made a few gestures, some pokémon sourced, others human referenced.

The principal was in shock as Keira appeared to raise her middle digit at Champion Cynthia before planting both paws on her sides with a cocky grin.

Roserade's eyes had gone wide as well with the rather… direct challenge while Garchomp laughed. Cynthia grinned as well, brushing some hair out of her eyes. "That's a very spirited challenge there, Keira. I'm afraid I am not supposed to be battling anyone out here, so I will have to decline."

Keira replied something that made Garchomp snort and wheeze. She placed a claw on Cynthia's shoulder and the school were witness to how a master trainer could understand their pokémon without the need for words.

Cynthia turned back to the crowd, with a sweep of her arm she threw a third pokéball into the air and it split open in a flash of light and an echo that thrummed through the whole gym.

Forming in a kneeling stance was a lucario.

He straightened up, eyes scanning across the awed crowd. THREE of Champion Cynthia's pokémon. "What have you called me for?" to most it was a powerful growl from a patient creature to Felix he heard the roughness as well as the smooth baritone of the lucario.

Garchomp took flight, sweeping over the crowd to land next to him. More than a few kids shrieked as the land shark flew over them, but she didn't even come close to hitting one. Cynthia still chastised her for that.

"That one." This time Felix could hear her voice, it was even deeper than his but unmistakeably female. He froze up as she was pointing that sharp talon at him. Or, rather, at Keira. "Wants to fight."

"Yes!" Keira shouted and leapt from Felix's lap to rush over the to side of the gym where they were. She began to hop back and forth on her feet, raising her fists. "Which one of you? No! I'll take you both on at the same time!"

"Keira!" Felix cried, rushing after her to scoop her up. "No! You can't fight Cynthia's pokémon!"

"I totally can!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"NO!"

"Y-"

"Felix!" Miss Sandy shouted, rushing over. "Back to your seat immediately!" The principal was having to take a shot of his Ventolin pump to compose himself, apologising rapidly to Cynthia.

She raised a hand to stop his babbling. "No apologies needed, sir," she assured, stepping down from the podium. "For whatever reason, Garchomp appears interested in whatever Keira had to say."

Felix had managed to pull Keira into his arms and snare her arms and legs. She began to shake her head, whacking him with her tassels instead. "Ow! Ow! Ow! Keira!"

"Young man," Cynthia said, and he turned and froze. She was right in front of him. He met her eyes. "It is a custom among some that when two trainer's eyes meet they must battle."

She smiled kindly, however. "You are rather young, however, and you seem a little nervous. Might I ask, then, if you'd want to watch?" Her eyes turned to Keira. "She seems quite determined and ready to bite."

"I will," Keira warned.

Felix swallowed and slowly put her down. "N-No, Miss Cynthia," Felix said shakily. "If Keira wants to battle and… that means I gotta be there to support her."

"Felix," Miss Sandy whispered firmly.

Once again, Cynthia raised her hand. "Very well."

Keira grinned and Felix looked like he'd been told his days were numbered in minutes. Cynthia strode across the empty soon-to-be battlefield as the kids behind Felix began to cheer, calling on Cynthia to mop the floor with him as well as Felix to do his best.

"GO FELIX WOO!" Angie cheered the loudest, she would accept nothing less.

"Is this right?" Miss Sandy demanded of the principal. "Cynthia fighting a seven-year-old child?"

"She surely will go easy on him," he replied nervously. What was the protocol here? This was the CHAMPION, but Felix looked ready to pass out.

Cynthia smiled at him and offered a word of comfort. "Is this your first battle?"

Felix shook his head.

"Splendid. I will choose Lucario." Garchomp stepped back for the lucario to step forth. He nodded respectfully to Keira, she was back to bouncing from foot to foot. "You may have the first attack."

"My name is Keira, and I will beat you," Keira declared.

He smiled. "My name is Orion, and I will not fall to you today."

Felix swallowed three times before he could choke out a command. "O-Okay. Keira, l-like we trained, okay? Quick! Attack!"

Keira kicked one last time before boosting forth rapidly, her body glinting with a white sort of energy as she raced for the stalwart lucario. Cynthia didn't even speak as Keira leapt up in a flying kick, one that Orion just tilted his head away to dodge.

Keira's flew well past him and even past Cynthia and landed on wobbly legs, flailing her arms for balance. "Hah, it was a trick!" she declared, spinning around with another Quick Attack.

This one he also dodged easily.

"Are you not taking me seriously!?" Keira growled, raising her fists angrily and returning to hopping in place.

"My trainer has not given me a command yet," Orion replied, standing still but relaxed.

Keira glanced away, right to Cynthia who then nodded.

"WATCH OUT!" Felix shouted.

Keira's eyes widened, a gasp pulling from her lips. She spun back to Orion and ducked. His punch went far, too far to have hit even had she not ducked. The reason was clear, just from the shockwave of his motion knocked Keira onto her back.

She stared up at him in shock before, to Felix's surprise, a snarl built on her face. She jumped up with a shout, slamming a fist right into his belly.

Or tried to, he dodged that too.

"SLOW DOWN!" Keira shouted, lashing out violently with savage punches and kicks. At least he had to move his feet to dodge, dancing around her savage flurry of blows like a dancer. Keira ignored Felix as he called her name, first in support, then in concern, then in fear.

"KEIRA STOP!"

Keira wasn't listening, her tassels were raising, and Orion raised an idea. She leapt up, swinging her fist that began to glow.

He caught it this time.

"You lack discipline, young one."

"FUCK YOU!"

Orion raised an eyebrow. "I am not your enemy, you recognise that, correct?"

Keira blinked. Her tassels shivered and then fell, she stepped back, the rage slipping out of her face like water. "I-"

Felix came running onto the battlefield and grabbed Keira again. "Please stop," he said, pulling her into a hug. She didn't resist. "That was really scary, Keira."

"I… I'm sorry."

Cynthia's presence behind them became felt and Felix looked back fearfully. His fears were unfounded as she was smiling comfortingly at him. "You both did well," she said, offering her hand for a shake.

Felix took it after a moment, unmindful of his sweaty hands. Keira also took it after a moment of hesitation.

"Excuse me Principal Ets for a few minutes. Best if we take Lucario and Keira to the school nurse if that's alright, I'll be back soon."

She smiled at the kids. "Make sure to think up lots of questions for me when I'm back. No more battles though, I always tell myself I shouldn't. Garchomp and Roserade would be happy to answer questions in my place I'm sure." Both pokémon looked horrified at her statement as kids started whispering amongst themselves for questions they could answer, and Cynthia led Felix out with Miss Sandy joining them.

"Cynthia, I must ask… why did you accept that challenge?" Miss Sandy asked once they were outside, trying to sound calm and not furious. Felix was quiet, focused on carrying Keira who was uncharacteristically silent as well. Orion followed up behind them.

"Sometimes I'm a little too easily convinced," Cynthia replied. "Whatever Keira was saying, Garchomp wanted to see her fight. And I see why."

She looked down at Felix who was frowning at the ground.

"Felix?" He looked up at her. "Do you know why Keira wanted to fight?"

"…no," he answered, honestly.

He looked down at Keira, who didn't speak.

"Do you know why she grew angry?"

"No."

"Why not?" she asked gently.

"I-I don't know," Felix answered, looking up at her at last. Some tears had developed in his eyes. "She just wanted to! And… and… why did you get angry, Keira? You didn't get angry when those starly were flying around not fighting you."

Keira didn't respond.

"Young one," Orion said. Felix twitched, still at times unprepared to hear a strange pokémon speak. Especially one that had made Keira act like that before. "I will not claim to know what you have faced in your life. However, for a riolu that behaviour was an embarrassment."

"Do NOT talk to her like that!" Felix snapped without thinking.

Both Miss Sandy and Cynthia glanced at him curiously.

"I… he sounded mean," Felix said, getting quieter with each word.

"…young one." This time Orion was speaking to Felix, and he could feel it in the tempo of his tone. "Your partner is a damaged creature."

Felix bit his tongue, but this time it was Keira who responded. "Do not fucking dare." Felix gasped at the bad word.

"Do my words anger you as my dodging did?"

Keira snarled.

"Keira don't!"

She bit her own tongue.

"Miss Cynthia," Felix pleaded.

She glanced sharply at Orion. "Enough."

He nodded and fell silent.

"Felix? May I ask what you've learned about what a trainer of pokémon does?"

He looked up, relieved at the change of topic. "Train their pokémon?"

"Yes."

"And, uh, battle with them. And care for them. Brush them, give them berries. Make sure they're healthy and happy. Gives them lots of exercise. Exercise too. Be a team not a… uh…." He looked to Miss Sandy.

"Not a master and servants," she reminded.

"That."

Cynthia nodded with a smile. "That is quite good indeed. There is one thing that a lot of trainers miss."

"What's that?"

"Understand their pokémon," Cynthia said. His heart leapt into his throat, a thousand thoughts ran through his head in a moment, most of them wondering if Cynthia could understand like he could. Could all trainers? Maybe just champions. What did that mean for him?

"To understand I mean to know them," Cynthia explained, seeming mindless to Felix's inner storm. "There are things that pokémon will tell you, through their tone and body language. But there are other things that you only know when you know them. They are people, just like you and me. With wants and desires, dreams and fears. There are some things only time teaches, and you shouldn't try and rush things."

She was saying many important things, but Felix was seven-years-old and a little dumb. Miss Sandy was noting it all down in her head to remind Felix of. Words of wisdom from a champion were priceless.

"I would also like to add… you were quite brave today, Felix."

"I was?" Felix asked. "I was scared, actually."

"What do you think bravery is?"

"Uh…." He looked down at Keira. "Uh… not being afraid and charging ahead? Like Keira! Oh, Angie is really brave too. She just goes ahead no matter what it is. She's really cool."

Cynthia smiled and chuckled softly. "To me, bravery is being afraid of something and doing it anyway. You could have watched from the sidelines, but you chose to be there with Keira anyway."

"Of course I did!" Felix replied hotly. "I wasn't leaving to fight Orion alone!"

There was the briefest of pauses. Cynthia had never said Orion's name. "Exactly, Felix. I think that was very brave."

"Oh… are you brave, Miss Cynthia?"

"That would imply I'm ever afraid of anything!" Cynthia laughed and Felix giggled as well, the tension finally slipping. "It's hard to say. Those who call themselves brave can sometimes… overestimate themselves, let's say. But yes, I would say I'm brave. I stand in front of crowds and answer questions!"

"You're scared of that too?" Felix asked excitedly. "I'm so scared when I have to do a presentation in class no matter how nice Miss Sandy is and all the cards I can bring to read. I once accidentally messed a pokémon card game card in my notes and got confused and started reading its moves and people laughed."

"Everyone does presentations, Felix," Miss Sandy reminded.

"Very brave indeed," Cynthia said lightly. "I think we're here." Miss Sandy opened the door to the nurse's station.

"I think Keira still wants to battle you, Miss Cynthia," Felix said quietly as the pokémon were being checked out by the nurse. She was a nurse for humans of course and neither party had been injured besides maybe Keira's wrist, this was really just so Felix could breathe without being in sight of all the people in the world that he knew.

"Does she now?" Cynthia asked. "She must be very determined."

"Yeah. She is."

"Do you plan to battle me too?"

Felix flashed her a smile. "I'll go anywhere Keira does! If she wants to beat you, then you better watch out!"

Cynthia grinned. "I'll look forward to your challenge then. May I have your name so I can remember it?"

"You already know my name is Felix," he said confidently. She waited for a moment, then glanced to Miss Sandy who silently nodded. "Champion Cynthia already knows who I am!"

"Well then, Felix." She wrote it down in a little journal with a Keira/Riolu circled underneath. "Until we battle again."

"I'll meet your eyes right away!"

"Like the trainers of old."

Cynthia stepped out to return to the little meet-and-greet. She had stepped away from champion duties and press conferences and big publicity stunts for just one day to sneak down to a little town chosen mostly at random.

Just to remind herself of places outside the buzz of the Pokémon League and meet some excited kids who might cherish the day. She'd be back to business tomorrow once she returned the frantic calls from her press manager.

Felix would certainly remember the day. As would Keira as she swore to defeat Orion one day, and the rest of Cynthia's team. The ambition of the children would carry them forwards.

This is the only chapter of Epoch that properly follows a linear path of sorts, since it is important I think to see some of the results of the previous chapter before leaping forth a few years to the next one and then to who knows when?

The original version of this chapter was very different, but still involved the same sort of parties. Cynthia is nice. She normally wouldn't accept a challenge from a seven-year-old no matter how spunky they were, but she listens to her pokémon.

Now. Why did Keira respond like that? Well… we'll learn eventually.