Altercation Divine
Roark thought he was unnoticed, but little did he know what was really going on. The minute he departed from Cynthia's house, Riley had seen his departure and followed his movements closely, and coming to think about it, so did Gardenia.
"Hey, Roark; is this good enough for the prom?" Gardenia asked her bespectacled friend, rather companion.
Roark analysed the dress baselessly and calmly. It was a rather pretty dress; long and reaching her ankles, chrome green and had tons of sparkles with a sweetheart neckline, surprisingly deep.
"Will this make Nando crazy over me?" she asked hopefully.
"He already is your boyfriend, sweetheart. What's there in it? Besides, you are going with him!" Roark said calmly. "You?" she asked. "Forever alone, love." He answered making Gardenia a bit wistful. "Then why are you going?" she asked her suited friend. "Well, it'll still be worth it, won't it? I can get to see the others have a blast." Roark answered making her a little uncomfortable. "But is this dress right? Am I pretty enough?" she asked while twirling like a young bride in her wedding attire. Roark smiled- Gardenia was always pretty; this dress was perfect! Except it had a little problem...
"Your dress is amazing, Gardenia! You look pretty in anything! But if you really want something, I have it right here." He said sweetly as he pulled out a jade necklace intertwined with a few green shards and walked towards her. She was confused- what was he doing? Then he went ahead, with his mouth near her ear and applied the necklace onto her neck. Analysing it for seconds, he then spoke "There you go; all perfect!"
Remembering this often stirred her soul. She blushed a lot that day, his voice was angelic and so was his shyness and modesty; so serene, so pure. Of course, she dismissed those feelings because she loved Nando, but now she was open; and Roark was leaving. All because of her. She was not sure if she really was the cause, but all the same, she was going to do something even Nando had no grace of. Gardenia was giving Roark another chance.
Gardenia now realised that she really loved him, no matter what. He truly was someone who could care for her forever even if his life were at stake. She kept running after the redhead, but was failing steadily as he was faster, taking as much as his legs could carry, away from there, never to be seen again. He was out of there, either way. His work was done; he fought a valuable, wonderful fight and may have lost, but he finished it and did his best. He was a total jerk to Gardenia, but what was there in it now? She'd found somebody her type at last, so what was there to regret? Gardenia was worth everything and he definitely didn't deserve her, no not in the least. As much as Roark loved her, or realised he did, he was done with this world.
He had no qualms in renouncing his gym title and even less in anything else for that matter. All he wanted was freedom and final salvation, which of course he would find his way. Running for his life; he went ahead and jumped onto the first Rapidash he could see and rode for his life. Gardenia was still at it, but lagging behind. She was steadily losing strength until she bumped into Byron. "Oh, sorry sir!" she apologised before running off. "What makes you in such a hurry?" he asked her. "I am looking for my love!" she said. Then seeing a retreating figure, he said "You may want to borrow this..." saying which he released his Bastiodon out to her "I trained him to ride. Go get him, girl!" he said as he told something to him. "Thanks so much!" she exclaimed kissing his cheek, making him a bit confused- who was she after?
Gardenia was tearing after Roark on Bastiodon, running faster than life itself and then following Roark who clearly had no desire to have this done. Then again, what was he to lose? He wanted nobody after him. Gardenia was still persistent and went after him, until she saw him get off the Rapidash and speak into his phone. "I'll be there, but whatever you do, keep me free!" Gardenia was still confused, but then got off Bastiodon and ran off behind him. Roark knew he was being followed, so he took a detour. Then lifting his bags up, he slung it over his shoulder and ran off until he found his real destination- the train he was to take. Long, fast and sleek; this was his answer; running away, renouncing everything; rather doing the same thing his father did- abandon. He grabbed onto the handle of the train while cursing "Shit, I'm late!" while holding onto it for dear life with a now revived Cranidos in the backpack on his back. "Hold on tight, dear. It'll be hard otherwise." he warned while they were ready to face a totally new journey, far from prying eyes and cold hearts; a world of their own. Roark had grabbed on and found a place to sit, but it was occupied the very next minute, following which he just shrugged and grabbed another handle, this time out of the train and clinging onto it for dear life.
He braced himself as the train slowly started to move and he let his Cranidos nuzzle him. "It's okay, sweets. It's okay." While feeling the wind slowly blow into his hair until he heard someone scream his name. "Hey Roark! Where on earth are you going?!" Roark turned round, but it was slowly picking up speed. "Must be Cynthia. I'll thank her later." He deduced. After all Cynthia was being heavily applauded for the picking of such efficient leaders and was probably going to be champion forever if the public could choose. Then he heard that voice again. "Roark!" he turned round in shock and horror. It was Gardenia!
"What now? You won, what more?" he shouted while waiting for the tunnel to come there. "Roark, please! Come on out! Where are you going?" she asked him. "I don't know and I don't care!" he answered. "But you have to tell me!" she insisted. "Forget it, the train's leaving. I wish you best wishes for your life and a great life with Volkner. Now I must be leaving Goodbye." Roark answered before splashing a tear and watching the train slowly move away faster and faster till no return. Gardenia was distraught, there had to be a time and place when she could get him. "Why are you going?! You can't possibly go anywhere!" she screamed. "At least not without me!"
This sentence made Gardenia blush like a tomato. This was never something she expected to say; but now where was the turning back? She just confessed the fact of facts, she loved Roark and nothing in the world could stop her. Roark himself turned scarlet; was this what she really felt all this time? Was she always critical of Luciana because she loved him? He suddenly felt a surge straight in his heart. It was that of love and affection, but what could he do? There was no stopping of the train!
"Goodbye, Gardenia! I'll miss you!" he confessed as he slowly started to cry. Gardenia was distraught and could do nothing but flop down. "Please Roark!" she cried. "Don't go, don't go!" she wailed before breaking down into tears. Roark was feeling terrible; he hated seeing girls cry and he broke her heart yet again. But what could he do about it? There was nothing and leaving her would only compound the situation, but he had no worries as such. His heart was filled with regret, but he hoped to make it up to her. "I love you Gardenia!" he blurted out unthinkingly, yet scarlet and blew a flying kiss to her. Gardenia seemed to feel it, for her face was now red and seemed to get hold of it. Yet her face was flustered with tears and she could do nothing, except cry that her true love was gone, and so could he do the same.
Gardenia did nothing but weep as her Roselia came out. "Ro ro?" she asked her. Gardenia saw her and stroked her face. "It's okay, dear. I'll be fine... but I hope he will too." Said she before breaking into tears again. Then Roselia hugged Gardenia. "Thank you, dear. I love you too!" Gardenia said embracing her closest friend. Then Roselia suddenly grabbed hold of the thing Roark last gave her and held it. It was pretty beautiful and shimmering, but suddenly Roselia felt something all around her. It seemed like a magic aura, something so beautiful. Then in a few minutes, she landed to the floor as something, rather someone totally different. She was now a Roserade.
Gardenia was amazed. "Oh, Roselia! You've evolved!" she exclaimed as she hugged her passionately. Then while hugging, she whispered. "I thank Arceus for all of this blessing that was bestowed upon me... By Roark!" she realised what happened at last. Now there was no way he'd ever escape her! Feeling a surge of power by this epiphany, she then looked at her Roserade and said "Wanna play?" Roserade immediately understood and said "
Ro rose!" and then showing off a full trail of leaves, indicated to Gardenia to run. Gardenia figured it and started to run, faster than the wind itself.
Gardenia and Roserade ran hand in hand, as quickly as they could. Nothing in the world could stop them from reaching their loves; rather Gardenia's love an even nature couldn't stop this sudden burst of passion itself. She kept running even while her feet ached, over hill and dale, (trainers have done that before) and all over to see Roark again. At times, she tripped, but Roserade would lend in some of her grass magic to her. Suddenly, she came across a grassy field and meadow, where she saw the train fly past and Roark standing over there. He was shocked to see her; were his eyes really that bad? He saw this in amazement; it really was her! Roark was astounded out of belief, but he had no idea what to say.
"Gardenia?! The heck?!" he exclaimed while seeing her run. "How did you get here? The train just went over 22 kilometres!" Gardenia smiled while seeing Roark. "I know that I can never match up with this, or the girl of your dreams; but I know that no matter what happens, you are always mine, now and forever!" she confessed. "I love you, darn it! I do!" she confessed clearly and throatily. Roark almost cried. "But how can you, Gardy? You love Volkner and he is everything I'm not! He's your equal and I'm-?" Roark was cut short when Gardenia suddenly just pulled him off that speeding machine and he injured his kneecaps. The train sped off apathetically, leaving the twosome to the buttercup and paddy fields. Gardenia helped the dazed Roark up who was still amazed by Gardenia's strength. He looked at her, eyes filled with love and admiration for the bespectacled young miner, who was the handsomest guy on earth.
Pulling his jacket towards her, she clung to him until they were just millimetres apart. Gardenia blushed doing this, while Roark was just as scarlet and smiling like an idiot until Gardenia spoke up "Roark, you were always my equal since adolescence! Volkner has nothing you do, that I know!" she said. Roark was stunned by what she said and it only increased when she planted her lips onto his and closed her eyes, feeling that soft tender touch. Roark finally felt no regret and closed his eyes too, holding her in embrace and continuing with that locking of lips for long, romantic and true; his first kiss of his life and Gardenia's first one of true love. After it was all over, she let go of him and moved away. Blushing still, she said "I don't know... did you like it?" Roark just smiled and caressed her face. "Would I ever say no to a beauty like you?" he joked and then hugged her romantically.
"Either way, that was the best moment of my life, so no regrets. None at all." Roark confessed. "All the same, what do we do now? In the middle of some random meadow?" he asked confused. Gardenia punched him. "Moron! Couldn't you at least tell me you were running away?" she screamed. "I ran away because I lost you, Gardenia!" he admitted, making her blush. Then she pulled him in again. "Still feel the same way?" she asked him seductively. He looked round for a few seconds. "Nah. Not anymore." He said before being kissed again.
A few days later, Cynthia was in Canalave City where she was being interviewed by the press. "As new champion, you have gone ahead and done the most efficient job ever! How do you feel about your selections?" they asked her. "I think it's the best decision I'd ever done!" she confessed. Then she went ahead and cleared her throat for a speech.
While all leaders in all formals were listening, Cynthia took a deep breath and began...
