"Lucian!" Patricia Dayrider called. "Master Juniper called. Bianca is here with a Pokédex. It's time for you and Galen to leave to join the war."
Lucian Dayrider took a deep breath. With his father in Sinnoh he could finally leave to fight in the war. He knew it was going to be hard, especially since he was still just a Padawan, but he would have his friend Galen to help him. Galen had just passed his test to be a Knight, so Lucian's father had agreed to let him go with Galen.
"Alright! Come on Leaf!"
"Snivy." Lucian smiled. He got Leaf two years ago for his fourteenth birthday. His father caught Leaf just for him.
He went outside and saw Galen. "Hey Galen! My mother just got a call from Master Juniper. Bianca is finally here with our Pokédexs."
"Great! Let's go find her. The sooner we do the sooner we can leave." They found her at the city's outlook.
"Oh! You must be Reshkari Knight Galen Marek and Reshkari Padawan Lucian Dayrider." Bianca said.
"Yes." Lucian said.
"Here's your Pokédexs then." Bianca handed them each a Pokédex.
"Thank you." Lucian said.
"Thanks." Galen said.
They went to Route Nineteen to catch Pokémon. Lucian caught a Patrat ad named her Boring. When they got to Floccesy town they met Alder.
"You two are Reshkari aren't you?" Alder said. He jumped down.
"And you're Alder. The former Champion of Unova." Galen said.
"That's right." Alder said. "I was officially kicked out and replaced by Iris for refusing to support the war. Because of that things have started to get worse."
"Hmp. I will be the one to end this war." Galen declared.
"That is a fine goal, but you must ask yourself why you fight." Alder said.
"I fight because I want to avenge my master." Galen said. "He was murdered by Team Plasma for refusing to join them."
"Hmm…"
"Um, I'm going to go catch more Pokémon." Lucian said. He went to Route Twenty and caught a Sewaddle. He named him Worm. He caught a Lillipup at Floccesy Ranch and named him Ordinary. While training at the ranch Galen caught up.
"There you are!" Galen said. "Why did you run off?"
"I said I was going to catch more Pokémon. You must not have heard." Lucian said.
"That doesn't matter. Master Juniper and your parents entrusted you to me. I need to keep an eye on you." Galen said.
"I don't need you to watch my every move." Lucian said.
"Perhaps, but I really want to stay on your father's good side. I made a promise to him and I will keep. No matter what." Galen said.
"Hey! I hate to interrupt but have you trainers seen a Herdier around here?"
Galen and Lucian looked and saw a man and a woman.
"No." Lucian said.
"We're the owners of this ranch." The woman said.
"We have two Herdier and one has run off. Could you help us look for it?" The man asked.
"Sure!" Lucian and Galen went to look. Lucian found it chasing a Team Plasma grunt.
"Arg! Leave me alone!" The grunt yelled.
"Herdier. Leave him alone." Lucian ordered.
The Herdier listened. Lucian went to arrest the grunt when he escaped.
"Patrat!" Lucian said.
"You found it?" Galen came running.
"I also found a Team Plasma grunt, but he escaped." Lucian said.
"What?! You have to be faster than that!" Galen said. "Whatever. The Herdier is safe. Let's take it back to its owners."
They took the Herdier back to its owners.
"Here. Keep a closer on it" Galen said.
"Thank you." The ranch owners said.
After that they trained for a bit. Lucian finished first.
"Galen, I'm going to the gym." He said.
Galen hesitated before giving in. "Alright. I'll be there in a bit."
Lucian went to Aspertia's new gym. There Cheren waited.
"You must be Lucian Dayrider." Cheren said.
"Yes." Lucian said.
"I'm Cheren. Lenora retired, so I'm taking over for her. Prof. Juniper has said a lot about you. I may be supporting the Reshkari in this war, but I will not hold back. Prof. Juniper wants me to test your resolve. Now get ready!"
Cheren sent out Patrat. Lucian chose Worm. Worm used Bug Bite. Patrat chose to set up woth Work Up.
"Come on! You can't hold back on the battle field!" Cheren yelled.
"Alright. Worm! Finish it!" Lucian yelled.
Worm used another Bug Bite and killed Patrat. Lucian was shocked by the blood, but knew he had to keep going.
Cheren sent out Lillipup next. Worm used Bug Bite. Lillipup used Work Up. Worm used another Bug Bite to kill Lillipup.
Cheren nodded. "Good. You seem surprised by blood. Have you never seen it before?"
"Not really." Lucian admitted. "My father never let me out of town before. It's because I was nearly kidnapped by Team Plasma as a child. My parents, Galen's parents, and Master Rham Kota saved me."
"I see." Cheren said. "Well here's your badge."
Lucian took his Basic Badge. When he left the gym Bianca was there.
"Hey! Did you battle Cheren? Did you win?" She asked.
"Yes and yes." Lucian said.
Cheren came outside. "Hey Bianca. It's been a while."
"Hey Cheren! It has been a while." She turned to Lucian. "Oh! You mom said you don't have Prof. Juniper's number. Here. I'll register her for you."
"Thank you." Lucian said. His xtransciver rang. It was Prof. Juniper.
"Hello Padawan Dayrider." Master Juniper said.
"Hello Master Juniper."
"Hello Cheren. How's being a Gym Leader?"
"Hello Professor. It's tough. Part of the problem is that I support the Reshkari over the League, so I'm given far less funding. I only got the position because Lenora retired and they needed another Gym Leader." Cheren said.
"It is hard, but don't give up." Prof. Juniper said. The call ended.
Galen finally came over. "You must be Cheren. I challenge you to a battle!"
"And you must be Galen. Very well." Cheren led him to his gym.