Age 10

Over the years, Riolu and I became best friends, and Destiny, I never saw her after I met him. She apparently became jealous, for she never showed up in my dreams, just Riolu with his aura.

Well, on my tenth birthday, my parents made sure it was special, for I was leaving on my Pokemon journey that day. They didn't do anything too big, but they did have a going away\birthday party for me with my entire hometown, Canalave City, invited to come.

The party was spread out over all of Canalave, almost like a carnival. All of my friends came, kids and adults alike, to celebrate. All of my friends brought me gifts for my journey, including potions, maps, and even a few rare candies. The other people I didn't know just congratulated me for turning ten.

But Riolu, the entire time, seemed upset.

I walked over towards him.

"Hey, whats wrong, buddy?" I asked him, but he just seemed to ignore me, and walked away. He just left me speechless.

"Hey, Riley! C'mon! We're having cake!" I heard one of my friends call.

"Coming!" I yelled back. I tried looking for Riolu so he could come too, but he was gone. I didn't want to leave my friends waiting, so I ran over towards them.

"Here!" one of them said happily, cake in his mouth as he handed me a slice.

"Thanks," I accepted, taking the cake from his grasp. I stared over in the direction of where I last say Riolu, hoping to see his smiling face.

But he wasn't there.

"Hey, Riley?"

I turned to see a friend of mine, Roark, who slightly struggled to carry a Mawile in his arms. The small Pokemon that looked like a small girl, but it was yellow, with big, black pincers sticking out of it's head, was looking delighted.

"Is something bugging you? Ugh, you want down Mawile?" he asked. I shrugged.

"Aw, come on! I can tell somethings wrong. You're staring out into space!" he continued to struggle with Mawile.

I shook my head quickly.

"Sorry, Roark. Its just... somethings up with Riolu, and I don't know what."

"Wanna go look for him?"

I smiled. "Why not? Sometimes Riolu just needs his space, but I can tell somethings not right."

"Alright. My dad's Mawile'll help too. Won't you, girl?" he looked down at her. She nodded in response. Roark put her down, but when he did, she took off.

"Mawille!" Roark cried as she disappeared into the crowd. "Aw, dad's gonna kill me if we don't find her."

"Yeah, really. Lets go," I motioned, kicking off the ground. Roark ran after me, nearly dropping his glasses, as I sped through the crowd. Too bad we didn't realize why she ran off, because in the meantime, she was hunting for Riolu.

She had found him behind the Pokemon Center, curled up into a ball. The little steel Pokemon nudged him with her paw. Riolu had looked up to see her beside him.

"Why did you come?" he asked through aura. All Pokemon have it, so she answered,

"to find you. Your master's worried about you."

"He is?"

"Yeah."

"Oh."

Riolu still didn't stir though.

"Whats wrong with you, Riolu?"

Riolu sniffled a little. "Because, I don't have a present for him."

Mawile put her paw on his shoulder.

"Riolu. You don't have to give him any sort of physical present, like a Poke'ball. I would think your friendship with him would be the greatest gift you could give him."

The tears that rested in Riolu's eyes ceased.

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Riolu stood.

"Then I'm going to give him the best present ever!" With that, he ran out from behind the center and his eyes found mine.

"Riley!" I heard a voice call me. I looked over to see my friend, my buddy, and my best pal.

"Riolu!" I yelled happily, and ran over towards him. I embraced him in a hug.

"Um, Riley?" he asked, telepathically.

"Yeah?"

"Two things. First off, people are staring."

I instantly let go of him.

"Sorry."

"Its okay. And the second thing is...I have to tell you something."

"What?"

"Well, I don't have anything I can give you. The only thing I have to offer, is my friendship."

I felt a smile creep up my face.

"Aw, Riolu. Thats the best gift yet!"

Riolu smiled, but it soon disappeared.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

"I feel, funny..." he was staring down at his small body. But then, out of nowhere,

he started glowing.

I heard a few people behind me gasp as he slowly grew taller, his ears pulled back with two others out of nowhere, his arms and legs grew longer, spikes appeared on hands and pointy things appeared on his head. He continued to glow during it all. But then, he stopped glowing and returned to normal. Well, sort of. People behind me were whispering and murmuring to each other.

"I can't believe it!"

"Riolu actually did it."

"Lucario..."

I stood there, wide-eyed, as before me stood not in the form of my fun-loving best friend, but in the serious form of the Pokemon that saved my life eight years ago,

Lucario.

"Is something wrong, Riley?" he asked. His voice was no longer its slightly high pitched, squeaky self, but was now a bit gruff, if not like he was a man now.

"Yeah.," I answered. "I'm just a bit shocked. I didn't expect for you to become Lucario so soon."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No! Of course not buddy! I'm glad you evolved!" I reached over towards him and attempted to hug him. However, he backed off.

"Sorry," I said. "I won't humiliate you. I promise."

He smiled crookedly.

"Of course."

Later that afternoon, it was time for me to set off on my journey. Everything I was taking with me was inside a khaki messenger bag. All of my birthday gifts lay inside along with some money, food and a canteen full of water. I knew I wouldn't forget this day as I walked out of Canalave City, unaware how I would do in the world. But wasn't alone. My best friend was coming with me, to remain by my side until he couldn't any longer. I turned my head to the left to see Lucario looking downward.

"Hey, cheer up! Things'll turn out alright!" I told him. He looked up towards me. It would take some time to get used to Lucario being about six inches shorter then me.

"Sorry. Its just, I never got to tell her thanks for the advice..."

"Who?"

"Mawile."

"Ohhhh, so Lucario's got a girlfriend and didn't tell me?" I loved being sarcastic.

"No! She just helped me out!"

I laughed.

"Whatever you say, buddy."

Can you imagine having practically a carnival for your birthday???!!! That would rock! By the way, I chose Roark to be one of Riley's friends because Roark is Canalave's gym leader's son, and Riley was originally going to be Oreburg's gym leader. However, he refused and said Roark should have that honor because the person who offered the job to him was Byron, Roark's dad. Also, Roark was originally going to be holding something like a Shieldon, but those were over 100 Ibs... plus, Mawile turned out nicely for giving out advice, and making a, hopefully, funny ending :) And thanks to aganstshiper for the reviews! Its kinda funny how you did a different review for each chapter, no offence! :) Oh, and sorry if the discription of Roark and Riley is too long along with this author note :)
Sheimi