Chapter 11: Time for practice

Riley was sound asleep on his bed and didn't even stir the slightest bit. Aurora took this time to get showered and ready for the day. She was drying out her hair with a towel when she caught a glimpse of the sleeping 14 year old. She laughed at herself when she decided that he could be considered cute when he slept. She put the towel back and decided that it was time to try and wake the sleeping teenager.

Aurora knelt down next to his bed and began to poke his cheek. "Riley? You have to get up sooner or later there Riley." She began to play with some of his hair, coiling his black hair around her finger and rearranging his spikes. "Riley…" She got closer to him and whispered in his ear. "Wake up Riley!"

The boy's eyes opened hesitantly and Aurora pulled away. He sat up right away the moment he saw her face. "Huh?" Aurora just closed her eyes tightly and smiled a huge grin. He rubbed his eyes trying to wake up. "What are you doing Aurora?"

"It's time to go! C'mon Riley, get showered and dressed! If you don't get cleaned up in time you'll have train without breakfast! And believe me Riley, that isn't a fun thing to do."

Riley gave a moan and hid his head with a pillow. Aurora stood up and took a good look at him, then tore the sheets off of him exposing his warm body to the cold air outside of his bed. "Hey! I'm coming, I'm coming…"

"Well then hurry up! We can't wait forever lazy bones!"

"Lazy bones…? What?"

Riley got into the shower and Aurora got breakfast started out in the yard of the Pokémon center. When Riley came out of the shower he decided that he should wear just average clothes for that day. He walked out and found Aurora cooking and Gardevoir setting out plates and dishes for Pokémon. Aurora turned around and smiled. She giggled when she saw his pale blue T-shirt and black jeans and sneakers. "Is today casual Friday?"

Riley felt red run across his face and looked at Aurora. "No, I thought that maybe I should wear something a bit more practical for today."

"Well it certainly isn't your suit looking thing! And… You're just in time for breakfast!" They both smiled and Riley took a seat.

They both had their Pokémon out for breakfast and Aurora studied each and every one of them. They each got some fresh and warm Pokémon food. Riley and Aurora had pancakes. Over breakfast they talked about what they were going to do for that day's training. Aurora had told Riley about running and Riley didn't seem to enthusiastic about it. He mentioned battling Aurora, but she didn't think that it would be fair. So she had the idea of Riley trying to battle himself.

"What? How would that help me?"

"Well… If you can't predict yourself, how is anyone else supposed to predict your next move? If you switch from your side to the opponent's side then you can get an idea for how they see your openings. See, you're both the trainer and trainee this way."

She made sense… But it still confused Riley. "So… I battle myself, do something unpredictable, and master a battle technique that I myself can't predict?"

"Essentially yeah. That's about it."

"Okay… So where would I start so I can master this?"

Aurora stood up and took care of the dishes and smiled at Riley. "That's easy…"

The next thing Riley knew; he, Lucario, Gardevoir, and Aurora had gone off running. They leaped over boulders, scurried up steep rock faces, and slid down the other side. Riley was exhausted and Aurora and Gardevoir were just running out of breath. Lucario didn't seem to mind the vigorous exercise at all though. It was then that she told him that many Lucario that she had seen in her life love to run and train. But they also enjoy a good aura connection with their partners.

"Is this right buddy?" Riley looked at his partner hoping that he would disagree, but to his dismay he completely agreed with Aurora. Riley looked back at her and saw her huge triumphant grin.

"We… Should… Practice… On your… Battle… Techniques now…"

Since Riley was fresh out of breath he nodded his head even though he really didn't want to. "Okay… By the way… How many miles did…? We run…?"

"About… Four miles… That was… Nothing though… Trust me…" She flashed him another smile as they walked over to the Pokémon center trying to catch their breath.

Five hours passed and Riley wasn't getting anywhere in his battle against himself. Aurora had to practically drag Riley away for lunch. Riley was devastated, but eventually his exhaustion caught up to him. So he tried to wrap up the battle, but he kept on predicting his next move. He could never manage clearing his mind for the battle. That was something that Aurora would most certainly try to teach him.

"C'mon Riley… I think you've had enough for today. By tomorrow you'll be so tired I won't be able to get you out of bed. We can't have you over doing your practice now can we?"

"I… Don't… Know… Arg, I'm tired." Riley slumped down in his chair not wanting to move.

"Well, do everyone a favor and take a shower will you?" She smiled but they both knew that she was right. He had been running and yelling, and falling over in dirt all day today and what used to be his pale blue shirt was now sweat stained and a dark grayish color. To save Aurora from the disgusting state of his clothes he put them in the wash straight away then got into the shower. Little did Riley know just how grateful Aurora had been for him doing that right away.

Once Riley came out in his white T-shirt and pajama pants Aurora chose that she too should get cleaned up. Riley sat on the bed and debated whether to ask her something when she came out. He sat there for a long time and waited three minutes after the water was turned off. He walked up to the door and was about to knock, when suddenly he changed his mind and turned around. The door was opened a few seconds after he turned around.

"Riley! Was there something you wanted? I see you were over here."

Riley turned around and shook his head no. "There was something I wanted to ask you but…"

"But what?"

Riley lied. "I answered my own question."

"Ah, okay then…" Aurora made her way to the light switch and turned it out. The light of the full moon light the room perfectly. She made her way over to her bed and said goodnight to Riley.

"Goodnight Aurora…" Riley watched as she closed her eyes on the bed across from him, and watched as she fell into a blissful sleep. He watched her, until he could no longer keep his eyes open, and he finally drifted off into a deep sleep.