I choose you.

[Syrrus]

Lance blinked as he got pulled along by the surprisingly strong little girl by the hand. He hadn't expected her to be this excited about traveling around with him, after all he had sort of forced her to do so. Dragonite seemed to be just as excited as he bounced after his trainer and their new friend, growling to the Dedenne that appeared, happily.


Lance assumed that Dragonite was extra happy because he could finally talk to some new faces. The Dragon Master did admit to himself that he indeed did miss the time when he caught and trained pokemon himself, but after becoming part of the Elite Four he sure had almost no time doing so and even if he did there was little point as his team had to be the set six of which he had chosen a long time ago. Not that he ever wanted to replace any of them.


Lance looked around as they walked towards one of the houses. It looked empty to him but so did the entire village if he had to be honest. He was used to the big dome that was the Gym and he was also used to live in a big city, top floor in the tallest building. He did indeed miss his home something awfully. "Is someone actually home?" He asked, frowning slightly.

 

[juuchanisu]

"Whaaaaaaaat?" An irritated voice answered the door as Riel did a small double-take. A young male, around the age of 19, stood there. His brown hair was ruffled as if he just woken up and his hazel eyes gleamed with annoyance. Gavin leaned against the doorway, with his hands in his short pockets. "Oh it's you, Riel. What are you doing back in Geosenge?"


Riel turned to Lance, a bright smile plastered on her face, "Yep! Hiii Gavin~!" she smiled, stretching out the i in Hi because she knew he hated it. Gavin grunted in response, glaring daggers at her. "May we come in~?" she asked nicely, folding her hands behind her back. Gavin rolled his eyes.


"You're gonna come in anyways, even if I said yes or no..." Gavin grumbled.


Riel giggled, "You know me well! Come on Lance, don't worry! Gavin isn't a big meanie~" she said, then glanced at the said male, "Sometimes." She then pulled the Elite Four inside the house, shocking Gavin as he watched Lance enter his own home.


"Wait, do you mean Lance the Dragon Master of Kanto?!" He asked, his voice filled with sudden excitement as he watched THE Lance enter his lame home.

 

[Syrrus]

Lance was pushed inside with the same surprised as earlier, almost falling to his face. Thank the stars that his sense of balance was so good, he just wobbled for a while before frowning slightly at the young girl. She was adorable, yes, but he did enjoy having his arms attached to his shoulders and would she pull any harder they'd pop right off.


Dragonite walked up to the door and roared the stranger called Gavin straight in the face with his dopy happy smile. Answering the man's question. Of course his Master was Lance, who else could it be? The dragon waved with a big stubby armed and pushed himself through the small door, bowing his head to fit better and waddling up to his trainer.


"Yes. That would be me." Lance said as he started to dust himself off, trying his hardest not to sound a bit frustrated over the whole situation, he didn't at all feel in charge and it was a new and intimidating feeling. "How do you do?" He asked the man, mostly out of politeness as he bowed his own head in greeting and instantly having to battle his own Dragonite who just realized how cute his trainer looked when he was annoyed and simply had to lick him all over his newly washed cloths and face.

 

[juuchanisu]

Gavin just gawked in awe, before trying to compose his posture, "I-um..I'm good, thank you," he managed to stutter out. He glanced around his house and his face heated up in embrassament at how messy it was, "Forgive me for the mess, uh Mr. Lance. I haven't had the time to clean up well since this visit was so unexpected." He shot a look at Riel, who smiled in mischief. He walked over to Riel, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her a bit further away from Lance so he can talk to her in private. "Riel...why are you with the Dragon Master of Kanto?" he asked in a hushed voice.


She shrugged, "I was kinda forced to travel along side him...anyways! Gavin, we came here to ask you some questions!" she chirped. She walked over to the couch that was laid out in the living room and plopped herself onto it, a big grin on her face, "Lance wanted to know more about Zygarde, a third legendary of Kalos?"


"Zygarde? I heard of it before..."

 

[Syrrus]

Lance pushed away his Dragonite with enough forcie to knock the thing off its feet. Not that it seemed to bother the dragon who simply growled with laughter and curled its tail around its master and pulled him down too. It ended up with Lance using the stubborn thing as a chair, sighing heavily.


The pokemon master looked up at the man, trying his best to not let his frustration shine though. "Lance... Please just Lance. And in fact I am not looking for information of a typical kind." He shot a look towards Riel who was awfully difficult. "I simply need to know if there is any clue to its whereabouts. Professor Oak only knew so much and I need a way to track it." Yveltal, why couldn't it have been Yveltal?

 

[juuchanisu]

"Zygarde's whereabouts? Ah, sadly I have no information about that. Though, I believe there is a researcher who's job is solely to find Zygarde in Alastair Town if that helps?" Gavin suggested. "I haven't met him yet, but I heard rumors. I'm pretty sure if you ask around, the people of Alastair will be able to help."


Riel pouted, "Am I the only one who haven't heard about this Zygarde until now?" she asked, crossing her arms in a childish manor. Gavin rolled his eyes.


"Of course. I'm pretty sure you didn't know who Lance was until you asked him." Gavin sighed, rubbing his forehead. The way Riel's face heated up in embarrassment meant he caught her. "Well, Riel. I wish you good luck on your journey, and Mr.– I mean Lance, I wish you well on your hunt for Zygarde," he shot the two a smile.


Riel smiled, "Well thanks for..nothing Gavin," she said as she quickly hugged him before turning to Lance, "I haven't been to Alastair yet, but I heard that is where the seventh gym leader is..." she hummed. "Too bad I don't get to challenge her yet..." she sighed. Then a smile broke onto her face to hide her disappointment. She waved goodbye to Gavin as she impatiently waited for Lance, exiting the house while glancing over her free shoulder(since Devon was on her other shoulder) to see if Lance had come.

 

[Syrrus]

Lance got up, not too surprised that the visit had been, in short, a waste of time. He bowed before the stranger who he unfortunately already had forgotten the name of. He left, close behind Riel with his Dragonite close behind him. The bumbling thing seemed all to happy to get to be outside in the sun again, it didn't seem as if he got to go our often.


Lance knew exactly what that face was, the face Riel had just given him. Sighing he tried to decide in the back of his head what to do. Looking over at Dragonite who was staring back, smiling big the Dragon Master decided that it couldn't be helped. "Five badges you said?" He mumbled as he continued to rub his temples with two fingers. "I suppose I could... take you to your next gym... would you be ready to battle." He looked at her with his brown eyes, waiting for an answer.

 

[juuchanisu]

"Four." Riel corrected. "Four badges. I was suppose to battle the gym leader back in Lumiose," she explained. She smiled when Lance allowed her to battle the next gym, squealing as she went up and hugged him tightly, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she giggled. She turned to her pokemon, "You heard that Devon? We're gonna battle Clemont! And we're gonna beat him this time!" she grinned. Her pokemon cheered as well.


"Team Rocket shouldn't be in a rush, should they? If they are, I'll try and wrap it up as quick as I can but most of my pokemon are a bit weak to electric types..." she giggled nervously. The only chance she got at winning is her Espeon, Fennekin and her Dedenne which are at high levels. She just doesn't know if she can wrap it up in a few turns.

 

[Syrrus]

"Lumiose?!" Lance said, a bit louder than he intended to. They were going all the way back to the capital?! Where he insane?! It was then Dragonite came into view, waving happily at his trainer almost as if it knew what was going through his head. Sighing Lance climbed up on the Dragons back and reached out for Riel, it couldn't be too bad, after all. "I suppose they aren't..." He mumbled. Team Rocket was probably in the worse possible way rushed but he decided not to say anything about it.


The girl mentioned being weak to electric types, causing Lance to frown a bit more. Wonderful. He didn't say anything that time either, because she looked far too happy for him to mention anything negative. "Riel... here..." He removed a pokeball from his belt and handed it towards her, looking her straight in the eyes. "You may barrow Flygon. I know, I know, he's mine but... Well, if you managed to use him you sure should have the badge."

 

[juuchanisu]

When Riel stared into deep pools of brown eyes, she blushed and took the pokeball, "A-Are you serious?" she squeaked out. She looked at the pokeball for a moment, "Are you really letting me use him for this gym badge...? What happens if Flygon doesn't even listens to me?" she asked. She then shook her head. Lance was giving her one of his pokemon to use to battle against Clemont. A smile graced her face once again as she looked up at Lance, "Thank you so much Lance!" she giggled, grabbing his hand and climbing onto Dragonite.


Devon looked at Riel, poking her with his tail. Riel turned to look at her tiny pokemon before rolling her eyes, "Just get in the bag. You're gonna pop out by the time I land anyways." She sighed. The Dedenne chirped in response before climbing into her backpack that was was carrying. Riel gently set the pokeball she recieved into the bag as well then glanced up at Lance, smiling.


"Thanks again Lance!"

 

[Syrrus]

"I will make sure he does." Only the presence of Lance was needed to make every... most, of his pokemon to behave. Dragonite was still a bit tricky out in public. Loving pokemon was one thing but Dragonite was getting a big ridiculous. Lance wrapped his arms and cape, once again, around the little girl and made sure to place one steady hand over her bag, just to make sure the little Dedenne didn't get flattened against the earth, would she fall out.


They landed shortly after, just in front of the Gym of the beautiful capital city. Lance peered up at the tall building, smirking slightly. Yes, gym leaders sure didn't have a shortage of money. He almost envied them a bit, to be able to decorate and shape their stadium however they wanted. He was only allowed to decorate his own room... If even that.


The Dragon Master jumped off Dragonite and held out his hand for Riel, smiling up at her. "I can wait out here, if you don't want me."

 

[juuchanisu]

Riel took Lance's hand, "I don't think I can get used to Dragonite's speed," she laughed as she jumped off. She smiled, "It's alright. You can come with me," she said as she tugged at Lance's wrist, indicating she wanted him there. Her bag made a ruffled noise as Devon jumped out of her bag and onto her shoulder, scaring Riel a bit. She looked at her pokemon, before up at the tower. She's seen and been inside Lumiose Tower various of times, it didn't really imitate her as if it was for a challenger who came to Lumiose for the first time.


As the girl entered the large tower, she stumbled back as a small girl embraced her into a big hug. "Rieeeeeel!" the young blonde girl squealed out, drawing her name out. "You finally came! You're late! By four days!" she scolded.


Riel laughed as she patted her head. "Sorry BonBon. Kinda...got caught up with some things. Where's your brother? I would like to get this battle done and over with...kinda in a rush," she smiled sadly. She wish she wasn't so she could battle Clemont all out, by she didn't want to bother Lance anymore than she has.


"Oh. Cleeeeeeemont! Riel's here!" Bonnie called out as she tugged on Riel's wrist, telling her to follow her. Riel giggled as she followed her friend's little sister into a large room with a battlefield. "Cleeeemont!" Bonnie repeated, walking into the middle of the field.


"I'm coming! I'm coming!" He cried out as he exited one of his various rooms and onto the battlefield where Bonnie and Riel stood waiting. "Oh hi Riel. You actually came," he laughed. Riel stuck her tongue out, crossing her arms before laughing. Clemont smiled at her childish greeting, and walked over to the two, shaking Riel's hand.


"Of course I did! I'm excited to battle you and finally beat you at something!" she grinned.


Clemont's eyebrow rose as he smirked. "Is that so? Well how about we get to it?" Clemont said, walking over to his side of the battlefield. Riel gave a large confindent grin as she did the same thing, walking over to her side across from Clemont. She had clipped her pokeballs back onto her belt, along with her additional new one that Lance had given her. "Just because you're my friend doesn't mean I won't go easy on you! In fact, I'll be at my full strength!" Clemont called out as he fished out one of his pokeballs and enlarged it, ready to throw his.


"Yeah! I'm glad, because I'm not weak anymore! Faith, let's start the battle!" Riel remarked as she threw her pokeball. The elegant Espeon meowed as she appeared, bouncing into battle stance as she waited for her opponent to appear. Her ruby eyes gleamed at the chance to battle, haven't being able to battle a strong trainer in awhile. Riel grinned, "I've been training hard for this day. I'll finally beat you~!" she giggled.


"An Espeon, huh? Emolga!"

 

[Syrrus]

Lance and Dragonite watched the greetings from afar. Even though Riel had pulled him with her he had still managed to keep his distance. He didn't witch for this Gym leader, Clemont, who Lance already knew everything about to notice him. Mainly because Lance felt tired but also because he didn't want anyone to know that he had a possible friend in Riel and not because she was a bad girl, the opposite actually. If the world heard about their friendship she would have to live through a lot of pain and it was something he certainly didn't wish upon her. He had chosen this life, she had mearly bumped into him.


As Lance looked around the room, he wondered to himself as to why Gym's always were so unpractical. They were impossible to just spend some time in, there was no chairs, no proper lighting... nothing. He did however recall that his Elite Four room were the actual same so he decided to keep quiet about it.


Dragonite was watching the battle with great excitement, roaring in happy tones, cheering their new friend on. Lance peered at him but couldn't help but to smile. Him and his pokemon battles every day, it was a day to day routine for all seven of them. He was simply happy that everyone still seemed to enjoy it, after all these years.

 

[juuchanisu]

Riel's number one passionate things that she loved is battling with her friends. Her emotions are what her pokemon's emotions are. Excited, happy, anger anything when it comes to a battle.


Faith, Riel's Espeon had taken out Emolga with ease, but was exhausted from all the dodging. Riel nibbled on her bottom lip as she watched the battle between her Espeon and Clemont's Magneton. She shouted in protest when Faith was thrown back harshly by a strong mirror shot. She gritted her teeth together as she quickly returned her pokemon, thanking her for her efforts.


"You sure are strong, Riel. But if I recall, you have two others that are weak to electric types?" Clemont smiled as he watched Riel debate what pokemon she wanted to bring out.


"I am? Well thank you," she gave him a smile as she threw her pokeball. "Fenny! Take Magneton out with Flamethrower!" she called out as her starter pokemon popped out from her bottle. At the command, the fox pokemon blasted the Magneton with a strong Flamethrower, taking it out. Clemont grunted as he returned his pokemon and threw his last one.

- - -

​

It didn't take long for Clemont to wipe out Fenny of the battlefield with a strong Thunderbolt, making Riel worry for a bit. She then remembered she had an extra pokeball on her, and hesitantly grabbed it. "Umm..." she mumbled, thinking if she wanted to do this or not. It wasn't fair to Clemont, but she always wanted to battle with a strong pokemon, so she set the thought aside for a moment, "Flygon, battle along side me!" she called out as she threw the pokeball.

 

[Syrrus]

The Dragon and ground type that was Flygon emerged from its pokeball with a loud pitched roar. It bussed around, making a back flip before turning its long neck, craning it towards the trainer who so gently had called upon it. Flygon was surprised to see - instead of its straight backed, head held high, redhaired master - a blond haired girl with big eyes to challenge its own. It roared in confusion for a moment and turned its head to look at the challenger. Flygon had just as every other pokemon that belonged to Lance, seen it all and it greeted its challenger proudly.


Flygon wasn't as friendly as Dragonite. It was proud with a head held high but it wasn't proud enough to refuse a trainer in need. In fact it had already spotted its actual trainer in the corner and noticed him mouthing the word 'Goggles' its way. It was ready to do at it was told, pirouetting in the air and showing off its beautiful wings as much as it possibly could.


Lance was smiling from where he stood. Proud to see one of his jewels behave so well in front of a stranger. It then hit him that Riel had no clue what his Flygon actually could do. Picking up his holocaster he quickly typed away four move sets.


'Earth Power. Draco Meteor. SolarBeam and U-turn. Goggles likes to show-off, so do be careful'.

 

[juuchanisu]

"Flygon? I'm surprised Riel, you have quite a strong pokemon." Clemont grinned as he watched the Flygon float above the battlefield. Riel shrugged, not bothering to say anything, then looked down at her Holocaster that gave a soft ding from her wrist. She picked it up and checked the message, before smiling.


"Goggles? Cute name," she smiled as she looked at the Flygon–Goggles, with calm eyes. "Alright," she grinned. "Goggles, use Earth Power!" Riel ordered, not too strongly but enough for the Flygon to do what he was told.


"Quick Heliolisk, Quick Attack!" Clemont called out.

- - -

​

Riel knew it wouldn't take long for Goggles to wipe out Heliolisk, but when he did, Riel couldn't help but squeal and run up and hug the pokemon, "Thank you!" she grinned, backing up. "Thank you for helping me, Goggles. I appreciate it," she gave the pokemon a big smile, before returning it to it's pokeball. She decided to give Flygon back to his trainer after she received the gym badge. She turned to her best friend and the gym leader, who grinned.


"Great job, Riel. You came pretty far. Here you are, the Voltage Badge, your fifth badge, right?" Clemont smiled as he handed her the shiny badge.


Riel stared at it with awe, before nodding. She took the badge, thanking Clemont for the battle before inserting in her badge case, then put it back into her bag. "Thanks again, Clemont for the battle!" she smiled, hugging her best friend. Clemont smiled, hugging her back.


"Yeah, you're welcome. Good luck on your next gym battle, okay?" Clemont smiled as he watched Riel walk back to Lance, who he just noticed. He did a double-take at who he just saw, but shook his head, not wanting to stop Riel to ask since she was already exiting the gym.


Riel waved goodbye to her friend, before exiting the gym, Lance following her.

 

[Syrrus]

Lance couldn't help but smirk, the poor kid stood no chance. It wasn't his thing to gloat, but to see his pokemon, in the hands of a complete stranger, do that much damage to a Gym leaders prime? It made him feel extremely good about himself. He looked up at Dragonite who was clapping excitedly as the battle ended, his short arms barely touching. "Remind me to buy some extra big puff for later, okay? I feel like spoiling the lot of you."


The badge was given to the winner, who had done very well for herself. In fact, Lance was quite surprised. Perhaps one day she would challenge the Elite Four of Kanto, it would be a day to remember at any rate.


As Riel exited the Gym, Lance followed, and as soon as they stood outside he'd look up towards the top of the tower. It was indeed impressive. He turned towards Riel, smiling at her. "Great job in there. I am actually quite surprised... Not that I thought you would be a bad trainer, but you managed to earn Goggles trust quite quickly. I like that. Very impressive."

 

[juuchanisu]

Riel turned around at Lance's voice, before smiling, "Is that so? I'm glad! Oh, here you are." The young trainer unclipped Goggles' pokeball from her belt and handed it back to Lance, "You should reward him being great. He's really strong," she smiled. "May we stop at the pokemon center? I want to quickly rest up Faith and Fenny. They battled pretty hard back there," Riel said, brushing a hand over the two pokeballs that contained her friends.


She looked at Lance with a big smile, "And thank you! Thanks to your Flygon, I manage to beat Clemont. He was always a really strong trainer and I never stood a chance," she laughed. "Then again, I always choose the pokemon that wouldn't do much damage to electric types."

 

[Syrrus]

"Type advantage is important but it isn't everything." Lance said as he looked down upon the pokeball containing one of his oldest friends. Smiling slightly. It was true that all his pokemon were Dragons, but most of them wasn't pure dragons. But he would still get run over like a train wreck by a fairy pokemon... That new type seemed to have it all. Everything that he didn't have, well... Except his Charizard of course.


He nodded at her request. "Of course, I would have it no other way. Lets go." He gestured towards Dragonite to follow them as began walking. He had a feeling that with some training Riel would become a great pokemon trainer. Perhaps not better than himself, but good enough to beat any gym.

 

[juuchanisu]

Riel smiled as she folded her hands behind her back and hummed. She was glad to have a friend, some one that wasn't just her pokemon, to tag along with during her adventures...even if that means hunting down an organizations full of criminals. The blonde never had any real friends when she was younger. Sure, Gavin and Clemont were her friends, but they were just...friends that she really didn't know much about. A small frown made it's way onto her face when she realized something. Would Lance be considered as her friend?





She shook her head to clear the thought, entering one of the many Pokemon centers in Lumiose. She greeted Nurse Joy with a smile as she handed her pokemon to the beautiful lady to heal. In a few minutes, Riel got her pokemon back and they were at full health. She then turned to Lance, "So what now? Off to Anistair City?"


((haha I knew I got the name wrong xD ))

 

[Syrrus]

Lance couldn't help to get confused as he looked upon Joy's familiar face. What was she doing there? It confused him something awful, of course he knew about the Joy's family tree and how all of them looked the exact same, but he could never have dreamed that her family was this big. Nodding as a greeting he handed the nurse the pokeball containing Goggles. She even had the same voice.


Leaning towards Riel he whispered in her ear. "How large is Joy's family?" He asked. It was perhaps a rude question but he had to know. It made far too little sense for them all to look exactly the same and even manage to work in every pokemon center around the world. "Yes." he said, deciding to actually respon to the question, even if he was far too preoccupied with the whole Nurse Joy business.

 

[juuchanisu]

Riel laughed at the question, "To be honest, I don't know," she answered. Devon had popped out of his pokeball once again and was now sitting on the girl's head, nibbling on a cracker Riel had given to him. She thought for a moment, "I heard that her family works at every single Pokemon center in the world," Riel said. "Gee, that's a big family." The girl then shivered. They all look the same as well.





She yawned, stretching her arms upwards and almost hitting her pokemon off her head. Riel giggled nervously as she managed to catch him and mumbled an apology at the annoyed Dedenne who lost his food. "Sorry Devon..."

 

[Syrrus]

Lance took a quick look at a nearby clock and almost jumped out of his skin. It was getting on, he was late... Not that he had an appointment but the idea of not being out there chasing Team Rocket down made him feel awfully stressed. "We better get going. We have spent enough time here." He said, quickly as he exited the pokemon center and bumped straight into someone awfully tall.


The letter on the lady's jacket looked awfully familiar but before Lance could realize what had happened, the woman had told him to what himself and hurried along. She had vanished down some alleyway with Lance staring after her.


Team rocket was in the capital! He fumbled for Dragonites pokeball. If someone could change that team member down quick enough it was his beloved Dragon.


"Wait--" Lance frowned but then his eyes widened and his expression dropped. The red-haired Dragon Masters faced turn pale and he quickly removed pulled on his cape to get it out of his line of vision. There on his belt, between Goggles and Salamance hanged... nothing. An empty space glared back at him and it caused his heart to stop for what seemed like forever.


"Drag- Dr- No... No! Come back here you son of a--" Cursing like a sailor the Dragon Master began to run. He couldn't think straight, the only thought ringing in his head was to get his childhood friend back from that awful thief.

 

[juuchanisu]

"We better get going. We have spent enough time here." Lance spoke in a hurried tone. Riel nodded.


"Give me a second," she said as she quickly organized her things, but when the blonde looked up, the Elite Four member was gone. "Lance?" she called out as she exited the pokemon center, Devon shifted onto her shoulder. "Hey Lance!" Riel called out as she watched Lance's figure run off toward one of the dark alleyways. "Lance!" Riel called out again, running after him. But no thanks to slow speed, the girl quickly fished out her Pidgeot and jumped onto him.


"Asaek, stop in front of Lance!" she called, pointing to the trainer. The bird pokemon nodded as he flew low to the ground, slowing down as he neared the redhead. Riel jumped off with ease in front of him, stopping him by just standing in front of the guy. She put both her hands on her chest to pause him, "Lance! Lance? Are you alright?" she tried calling out to him again, her eyes filled with worry as she examined his face. He was unnaturally pale, and out of composure, which was odd because the whole time Riel knew him, he was always calm and composed.


"Lance?"

 

[Syrrus]

"No!" He screamed form the top of his lunges with fear in his eyes. He didn't actually mean to respond to her question, it was merely a 'no' in panic that something now stopped him and that the thief probably had gotten too far away for him to catch up, if he could even find where she had gone off to.


Stumbling, because he completely lost compossition he ran a few steps past her, just so he could peer into the ally way. The Grunt had ran in there with such speed, it was a dead end.


Lance heart sank as he fell down on his knees. Feeling the echoing sensation of pain when his bones slammed down against the concrete.


The ally was empty.


He had never lost a Pokemon before. In fact, he had never lost a friend before but the Grunt was gone and so was his hope of finding Dragonite again. Slamming his curled up fists into the ground, over and over until the knuckles cracked up with thick glistering blood and his voice, which had been screaming the loudest they could to get this pain out of his chest, cracked. Two drops - but not more - fell onto the ground beneath him. Sparkling in the sunlight as they fell through the air and dotted the street.


"Da-- Damn it..."