The Barefoot, Fighting Genius!

[Kyuuketsuki]

Surprisingly to Maylene, Chuck was very supportive of her decision to temporarily go back to Sinnoh, even saying that she deserved a break. She had only spent a little over five months in Cianwood, with her first month constantly being interrupted, whether it was her accident, the storm, the Candice and Gardenia situation, or Brawly’s revelation, but Chuck said that she had trained harder than everyone else, and she was the one most deserving of a rest.

Brawly seemed too emotional when he said goodbye to Maylene, while Nob hoped to one day visit her when she becomes a Gym Leader. With a final word to Chuck, promising that she’ll be even stronger when she comes back, and more dedicated, Maylene left Cianwood.

Another surprise to Maylene was when Floatzel managed to carry the entire group, even though it was Crasher Wake who carried the three children above him, and each of them carried their Pokémon. The world around them shifted and turned; Cianwood disappeared into the horizon, the ocean water got darker and darker as they swam over deeper areas, they passed some islands with a heavily damaged boat on one of them, they saw some of the strangest creatures swimming alongside them, Pokémon that they had never seen before, and as Maylene, Candice, and Roark observed the world around them, they imagined it slowly turning to Sinnoh, just as quickly as the scenery was shifting.

But they knew it wasn’t that simple, and when they reached land, they took the boat back to Sinnoh, as Crasher Wake and Roark were both Gym Leaders, they were allowed a free ride, as well as an accompanying guest.

“Did anything change back in Sinnoh?” Maylene asked once they had sailed.

“Nothing of importance,” Crasher Wake said. “Cynthia just got tougher and tougher!”

“Gardenia is missing, “ Roark added. “Some say she accidently went into the Old Chateau and got killed.”

“She’ll never go there,” Maylene grinned. “She’s scared of Ghost Pokémon.”

“I hope we find her,” Roark said. “This is our chance to finally reunite, after five months.”

“I hope you four reunite as well,” Crasher Wake said. “Even though I don’t like it when you use my Gym as a swimming pool!”

“I forgot about that!” Maylene boomed. “We have to do that once I get back in Sinnoh!”

“And make the trip to Snowpoint!” Roark said. “See if that weather in Johto broke you or not!”

“And go to contests!” Candice said. “The way we always used to!”

As the groups discussed what nostalgic activities they were going to do, Candice hoped they would find Gardenia, as these things wouldn’t be complete without her ranting, and she had to apologise to her for what she did. Roark started thinking about how he was going to teach Maylene about being a Gym Leader in Sinnoh, and hoped to see their entire group eventually becoming Gym Leaders, or more. Maylene, as much as she wanted to meet Riley, was more exited to see her mother, and show her how her little girl grew up.

*

It had just been a few hours, but they passed like minutes as Maylene reminisced with her friends. Being so focused on her training and becoming a Gym Leader completely consumed her; she had forgotten how much she missed her friends, and even though she met in Ice Path, she felt as if she has just met them on the boat ride.

Roark had to attend to his duties as a Gym Leader, and Candice, with her new goal, decided to follow him, and learn about the occupation. Roark couldn’t be happier; if there was anything he loved more than following his father’s footsteps, it was learning and teaching.

Maylene climbed onto Crasher Wake’s back, just like she always did, and commanded him to run to Veilstone. This time, it was different, she appreciated the tree she had thought was too small, she enjoyed the sight of the Pokémon she once thought were stupid to approach a tree covered with honey, she loved the pipes that ventilated the Underground, the Trainers battling in the cold weather, the girl dressing their Pokémon for contests, and heading off to start the journey to Hearthome, and Crasher Wake, who had always been there to take her on this ride to her home.

Maylene jumped off as soon as they set foot in Veilstone, and ran towards her Gym, passing many people that exclaimed with happiness at her sight, but they knew that the person she wanted to see most was her mother. Riolu ran right behind her, and the pair found themselves to be faster than before.

She crashed through the door of the Gym, and then through the door to her home, where her mother jumped out of her seat with shock, then jumped with joy towards her daughter.

“Maylene!” she cried tears of joy as she wrapped her arms around her daughter, as if she had been dead all this time. “You won’t believe how much I missed you! I felt horrible for leaving you on Cianwood and touring Johto! I’m sure you wanted to see all the clothes and fashion with me!”

She let out a gentle laugh; she knew her Maylene, and that she wasn’t interested in clothes and fashion. “Mom!” Maylene whined. “You know I don’t like those things!”

“I love you so much!” her mother said as she planted many kisses on her daughter’s face. “I’m sure your father will be delighted to see you!”

“Is he here?” Crasher Wake asked.

“No, I don’t know where he is,” she said. “And how are you, Crasher Wake? I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

“Catch up later!” Maylene shouted. “Crasher Wake needs to do something right now! And I need to help him!”

“I know you’re so busy becoming the Strongest,” her mother hugged Maylene again. “But come back in time for dinner.”

“I will, mom!” Maylene said. “I’ll tell you about everything that happened!”

With a final hug, Maylene led Crasher Wake out of the Gym, and instructed him to take her back to Pastoria, where they were supposed to meet Riley. He ran back to his Gym, Maylene on his shoulders, and Riolu in her arms; she had just sent him out after a long rest in the Poké Ball.

They passed through the same scenery again, and for the first time in her life, Maylene saw the things she used to ignore; she had taken Sinnoh for granted all of this time, and it is going to be harder than before when it is time to go back to Johto.

They eventually reached the Gym, and as they expected, Riley was already there. He was tall, and didn’t look very old. His black hair was covered with a blue hat that matched the rest of his outfit, which consisted of a blue jacket and black trousers. He had a soft smile on his face that extended slightly as he saw the approaching pair.

Maylene jumped off of Crasher Wake’s back, and ran ahead of him, towards Riley, who took a few steps back. She stopped just a few meters ahead of him, and studied him.

“Why did you step away from me?” she said, fearing that it had something to do with her Aura; what is she was a bad person?

“It’s nothing, really,” Riley said, slightly waving as if to dismiss her thoughts. “I just remember you punching Crasher Wake at his party a few years back, and I was worried you’d try to punch me to test me, but please don’t; I’m very fragile.”

It was at that point that Maylene noticed Riley’s Pokémon. He was a medium-heighted Pokémon that stood on his two legs in a matter similar to Riolu. His tail, arms, face, and body, all resembled her Pokémon’s but seemed like an advanced version of them. Riolu studied him from afar, and as Maylene realised that it was the evolved form of Riolu, she was overcome with a strange sensation.

This was what it takes to be strong. Riolu would have to evolve eventually, and Maylene would stand with the same Pokémon behind her, if she was to ever become as strong as she hoped to be. She couldn’t help but see herself in Riley’s place, standing in front of that Pokémon, and commanding it; did she want to be like Riley?

She let out a slight gasp when she realised that what Candice thought when she saw Pryce’s Glalie must have been similar to her own thoughts; that’s why Candice wanted to become a Gym Leader, and apologise to Gardenia. It wasn’t to prove Pryce wrong; it was to not become like him.

“I’m flattered you’re impressed,” Riley said, completely misunderstanding Maylene’s expression and gasp. “This is Lucario, which is Riolu’s evolved form, as you probably guessed, or already knew.”

“How about we go inside?” Crasher Wake said, putting a hand on Maylene’s shoulder, and leading her into the Gym after Riley held the door open for them, and stepped in after them. The group went back to Crasher Wake’s small room at the end of the Gym, and sat around a table.

“It’s nice to meet you, Maylene,” Riley said. “Crasher Wake told me you were a special girl, and it was a little obvious; I wouldn’t have the guts to punch a wrestler! I’m deathly afraid of fighting.”

“But I thought you were a Pokémon Trainer,” Maylene said. “How can you be scared of fighting?”

“Oh, no, no,” Riley chuckled. “Don’t misunderstand me. I was talking about walking up to a stranger, and punching them, because they might just hit me back. But I do battle Pokémon for fun, and it’s only light-hearted battles that I participate in. I sometimes don’t explore new areas, because I’m afraid of battling Pokémon with strangers, and sometimes, I would wait for any Trainer to come by, and I would follow them.”

“You would follow a stranger?” Maylene asked, slightly disappointed with Riley; she had expected someone even tougher than Pryce, not a coward.

“No, no, no,” Riley said, becoming more and more intimated with Maylene’s attitude. “I, well, not to brag, but I can sense Aura, and I would judge a person by that.”

“That’s useful,” Maylene said. “I hope to control Aura and sense it someday, too!”

“You can do it, too?” Riley gasped.

“Not yet, but I can learn!”

“Oh…” Riley sat back in his chair, crossing his arms, and sinking further down. “Umm, but it isn’t… I can… You will be… Umm, you’re lucky.”

“What?” Maylene and Crasher Wake said in unison as Riley’s mumbling became too low to hear.

“You’re lucky,” Riley repeated. “It isn’t something you learn, and I can judge whether someone can use Aura or not. You’re lucky you can’t, because you’ll be stronger that way.”

“I can’t use Aura?” Maylene almost broke into tears; this was one of her dreams, and now Riley said that she wasn’t able to fulfill that dream. Coming from anyone else, she would have shrugged him off, but this was Riley, someone that Pryce respected, and Pryce was someone that Chuck recognised as strong, and Chuck was a friend of Crasher Wake, the one person she respected the most.

Riley kept talking, but Maylene couldn’t listen; she didn’t care how lucky he thought she was, and what his justifications are. What if she couldn’t become a Gym Leader, either, or a Champion? She recognised that she had to work for her goal, but never the chance that she might never achieve it.

Riley was forced to stop midsentence when Maylene finally broke into tears, and ran out of the Gym, too ashamed to face anyone, not even Riolu. She ran out of the Gym, and out of Pastoria. Her feet became dirty with mud, and her clothes were soaked with rain; she had entered the area west of Pastoria where she and Crasher Wake had always trained; it could have been for nothing.

She sat against a tree and cried, eventually being joined by Riolu. He didn’t even try to comfort Maylene, as much as he wanted to; he knew it would be pointless. Riolu, the Emanation Pokémon, was much like his evolved form Lucario; he could sense Aura in the form of emotions, a weaker version of Lucario’s powers, and throughout the years, he had seen Maylene go through many feelings: happiness, worry, anger, excitement, confusion, longing, and even sadness.

But it was never to this degree. Aura might have been the one thing that remained as an obstacle between them, as Riolu had always used it to understand Maylene’s feelings. He wanted it to be the last time, Maylene’s sadness was too much for him to handle, and it was clear without the use of any powers. So instead of comforting his Trainer, Riolu sat next to her, and he wanted it to be the last time. He memorised Maylene’s sadness, and promised to never allow it to happen again, before locking his powers away.

In that moment, the world was suddenly devoid of any emotions, as Riolu tried to forget about his powers, and saw the world through different eyes. No more Aura was emitted from Maylene, and no more Aura from those approaching him; anyone could have been behind them, but there was no way to tell. Riolu turned his head to Maylene, who was deep in her sorrow. If she couldn’t use Aura, then he wouldn’t use it.