Darien the Riolu didn't understand what had just happened. He had gone to pluck a sunflower for a friend of his, and when he returned, the village had been razed. All that remained of his old home was a smoking ruin.
"What could even desire such an end to our peaceful home?" he had asked. Using the aura he had developed, he had scanned the area, and found traces of a Dark-typed dead zone. He was tempted to chase it down… but he knew he was too young. He might put a dent in one of them, but in the end, he was mincemeat for something that could destroy a village so thoroughly, and he probably couldn't kill anyone in the party. He instead settled for wandering aimlessly about the country, vaguely looking for someone who could help him.
Serena the Ralts picked herself off the ground. Raye the Panpour had outpaced her yet again. This time, however, she had taken a tumble around a sharp turn, and fallen down into this odd place. She heard a rustling in the bushes.
"Please don't hurt me…" she whispered, crawling backwards from the sound. A Bidoof emerged from the shrub.
"Intruder! Intruder!" it called out. Several more Bidoof, alongside some Rattata, Sentret, Zigzagoon, Patrat and Bunnelby, emerged from the grasses. There was also a Raticate, a Furret, a Linoone, a Bibarel, a Watchog and a Diggersby. Serena whimpered.
"That poor Ralts… I'm not going to let this happen!" a voice called out. The Pokemon looked up, as a Riolu jumped right next to Serena.
"If you're going to pick on someone, pick on a group your own size!" the Riolu cried out, activating his aura. Serena clung to the side of his arm.
"Ralts, how good are you at combat?" the Riolu asked.
"Combat? What's combat?" Serena asked. The Riolu took that to mean 'terrible'.
"Try to perform a Confusion attack on that Bidoof," the Riolu suggested. Serena looked at it, and nothing happened. Bidoof leaped to perform a Super Fang, before the Riolu knocked it aside with a Force Palm.
"Didn't work?" the Riolu asked. Serena nodded, and nervously began to quiver.
"Relax, Ralts. Try to practise, and I'll deal with the dangerous enemies," the Riolu said. Ralts nodded, and stepped back. The Riolu took a step forward, and began using his Force Palm talent. The enemies that were within his reach found themselves being used to knock over the enemies behind them, and that Riolu had dramatically reduced the enemy presence with that motion.
"Oh my…" Serena said, feeling a strange warmness inside her. The Riolu turned to look at her, causing her to blush.
"Nyet nyet nyet… what do we have here?" a deep voice asked. Serena cried out, as a Diggersby waddled out from the bushes. The Riolu stood his ground in front of the Diggersby.
"I have no clue for what reason you seek to harm this maiden, but I assure you it won't go well for you," the Riolu said.
"Nyet nyet nyet… she simply entered our territory, Riolu. That's all the reason I need, right, boys?" the Diggersby asked. Every Pokémon in the vicinity laughed, and voiced their assent.
"You dare… murderers… why you little-!" the Riolu said, before charging. He pressed a Force Palm into Diggersby, and then flipped into the air. He slammed into the ground, blasting aside everyone in the nest. The few that remained standing fled in terror.
"Wow… my hero…" Serena said, looking at him wistfully.
"They shouldn't hurt you now… but we ought to leave their nest, just to be safe," the Riolu said.
"Thank you, Riolu…" Serena said.
"The name's Darien. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm training to avenge my fallen brothers and sisters," Darien said.
"I can help you! I'm not so good at battling, but my sisters are! They'll be able to help you with this!" Serena said. Darien looked at the blushing form of Serena.
"…I'll go see your sisters, then," Darien said, in a tone that signalled he knew what Serena actually wanted.
"Great! I'll show the way! Come on, Darien!" Serena said brightly.