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Battle of Evolution

(Route 203 - 8pm, Normal POV)

After Jake's battle with Will, the four friends (including Riolu and Charmeleon) continued to make their way to Oreburgh City. They walked for two more hours before deciding to stop and build the campsite. Jake asked Riolu and Charmeleon to help him find some branches while he and Ryan preparing the tent and dinner.

"Are you sure Riolu will be okay with Charmeleon?", Ryan asked concernedly.

"Don't worry, Charmeleon won't do anything. I talked to him earlier, and what can I say, we kinda made...a deal.", Jake replied with a grin as he place one of his hand to Ryan's shoulder, making him tilt his head questionably.

As they finished dinner, Jake remembered that he had made a mental note to talk to Ryan about Riolu's unusual glow, so he decided to let Riolu and Charmeleon sleep in the tent while he and Ryan talking to each other.

...

"I see...", Ryan mumbled as Jake told him about what happened earlier with Riolu..

"So you know what that white glow is?", Jake asked curiosly.

"Yeah... A sight. Riolu is going to evolve soon."

"REALLY???", Jake shouted excitedly, but immediately covered his mouth in fear of disturbing the two sleeping pokemon. Even Ryan couldn't help chuckling as he saw his friend's excitement, "Yes."

"This is so cool. I've always wanted to know what Riolu will look like when he evolves."

"Okay, let's see...", Ryan opened his pokedex and scanned for something, "Here! The requirement for Riolu's evolution is 'friendship', and he will only evolve during day..."

"Friendship?", Jake tilted his head.

"Yup, friendship. How long have you and Riolu been friends?", Ryan questioned while still gazing at his pokedex.

"Uhm, about five days."

"Five days?", Ryan said with disbelief in his eyes, "Impossible! How can your friendship reach that level in only five days?"

Jake blushed. Deep in his heart, he knew the feelings he and Riolu had for each other had long surpassed friendship. It was something even more special. It was pure happiness to have each other. It was love.

"Maybe because...I rescued him.", Jake muttered while looking away, trying to hide the visible blush on his face.

"I don't know what you did, but I know that you did a great job.", Ryan smiled, "Well, we'd better get some sleep, cuz I wake up very early in the morning."

"Okay."

"You and Riolu can have the tent. I'm used to sleeping outdoors.", Ryan offered as he took out a sleeping bag from his backpack.

"Thanks. But I think you should let Charmeleon sleep together with you. It's a beautiful night, and I think he can enjoy a natural sleep.", Jake suggested and Ryan nodded.

As Jake and Ryan got inside the tent, they couldn't help smiling at the adorable scene of the sleeping pokemon. Charmeleon curled himself next to Riolu while the the fighting pokemon snuggled to the fire pokemon's warm belly. Ryan then lift Charmeleon up with his two arms and carried the fire pokemon outside, much to Jake's surprise.

"What? I'm used to carrying him anyway, and he's not that heavy.", Ryan said as he noticed Jake's staring at them.

"Right...sorry.", Jake smiled smugly and rubbed the back of his head. He then looked at Riolu and smiled. He hadn't been able to sleep with his pup for the last two days, and he really missed the feeling of holding Riolu in his arms, having the soft fur of his press against his body. The trainer then softly lift Riolu up, carefully not to wake up the pup and let the sleeping fighting pokemon rest on his chest.

"Good night, Riolu.", Jake whispered into the fighting pokemon's ears and kissed his muzzle softly, "I love you."

...

Riolu slowly woke up as he felt something warm and soothing pressing against his body. Opening his eyes, the fighting pokemon saw that Jake was hugging him, letting him rest on his chest and sharing their body warmth. If this were the first time, Riolu would have jumped out and started to blush immediately, but why bother now? He wanted this. He wanted to be in Jake's arms, wanted to melt into his loving embrace, so the fighting pokemon just laid still and snuggled to the trainer's neck, letting himself being drifted to a deep sleep again.

(The next day, 6 am - Nornal POV)

"Jake...wake up, time to go!", Ryan called from outside the tent.

"Yeah...", Jake yawned lazily and shook Riolu's shoulder, "Wake up, pup!"

...

After having breakfast and cleaning up the campsite, the four continued to head to Oreburgh City. According to Ryan, if they could keep up their current pace, they should arrive at Oreburgh Gate tomorrow .

"So Jake, where did you get that pokemon translator?", Ryan asked.

"Well, I bought it in a pokemart near my home town. They're prototypes, so I guess they aren't popular to trainer, and they're expensive as hell.", Jake replied while stroking Riolu's head.

"Expensive? How much does a translator cost?"

"5000 bucks.", Jake said calmly, almost making Ryan fall backward.

" 5000!!!?? Oh man, there's noway I can affort that!", Ryan shouted and let out a sigh of disappointment.

"Now that's no fun. Don't you think it's cool being able to understand your pokemon. Beside, I think you should get one, cuz there is a 'certain' someone who is dying to tell you 'something', heheheh...", Jake said and secretly winked at Charmeleon, making the fire pokemon blush and growl at him.

"Someone?", Ryan tilted his head questionably.

"Never mind. Let's keep going. I can't wait for our next battle.", Jake grinned, but suddenly felt someone grasping his hand. He turned aside and realized that it was Charmeleon.

"We need to talk.", the fire pokemon whispered while tightning his grip on Jake's hand, making the trainer grimace.

"Oww...okay , okay I get it.", Jake winced, "Riolu, I need to talk to Charmeleon in private. Can you keep Ryan busy for a while?"

"No problem. I'll do it...for three chocolate bars.", Riolu grinned.

"Whoa, there's noway...oww! *Charmeleon tightned his grip* fine!", Jake shook his head in the defeat. This was the first time Riolu managed to own him, and the trainer swore that he so gonna make the pup pay dearly for it.

"Hey Ryan!", Jake called, "Can you do me a favour and hold this annoying pup for a while. He's been pleading me to give him chocolate for a while now, and I'm really fed up with it.", the trainer then pat Riolu's head and gave him a playful wink. (I called that 'payback', heheh)

"Okay then.", Ryan smiled happily as Riolu jumped into his arms again. Jake waited until the distance between him and Ryan was far enough so that Ryan wouldn't hear anything he and Charmeleon said, before turning his attention back to the fire pokemon, "So?"

"What da fuk was that?", Charmeleon scolded, "Are you fooling around with me?"

"Eh, I was just trying to help.", Jake replied, trying to sound innocent.

"Help?", Charmeleon growled and bared his claws, "What kind of 'help' was that?"

"Uh oh, he is pissed.", Jake thought dreadfully, "Calm down, you really don't get what I was trying to do? If I can convince Ryan to buy himself a translator, it would make it easier for you to...confess to him.", Jake said, trying to make his excuse sound as logical as possible.

"How's that make it easier for me to confess?", Charmeleon tilted his head aside, his anger started to subside.

"Think of it this way: If he has a translator, you two will be able to talk with each other more often, then your bond will be strengthened, then Ryan will realize your feelings for him and...presto, we have a happy couple.", the trainer winked.

"Really? That sounds...amazing!" (wow, Charmeleon is really easy to deceive ^-^)

"See. I was just trying to help."

"You're right. Sorry.", Charmeleon said, looking to the ground. Jake smiled and pat the fire pokemon's shoulder, "It's okay. No point taken."

"Hey Jake!", Ryan called, "I think we have trouble.". Jake and Charmeleon quickly ran over to Ryan.

"Trouble?", Jake tilted his head questionably, "Oh...I see."

Standing before them was a young man, wearing a blue cap, white T-shirt and blue jacket outside left open, blue jeans and blue running shoes (so overall, you can imagine a young man with his whole body painted blue, except for his face and hands ^-^). He was about the same age as Jake.

"So, you want to battle?", the young man asked while tossing his pokeball up and down.

"Uhm...okay. What's the rules?", Jake asked.

"Two on two. No switching during battle."

"But I only have one pokemon...", Ryan and Jake whined at the same time, but Ryan soon got an idea as he whispered into Jake's ears, "Jake, I got an idea. How about letting Charmeleon join your team?"

(Jake's POV)

"Charmeleon? In my team?", I shouted, "You've gotta be kidding me?". Ryan placed one of his hands on my shoulder, "No, I am not. I think you two will make a great team."

"But...I don't know if he would even listen to me or not?"

"Leave it to me!", Ryan smiled and walked over to Charmeleon, "Charmeleon, can you please, just one, do it for me?", Ryan said softly as he placed both of his hands on Charmeleon's cheek and stroke it gently. The fire pokemon blushed violently, but managed to nod. Ryan then turned around and winked at me, as if he wanted to say 'problem solved'.

I nodded, "Alright. I accept your challenge, two versus two. But first, can you at least tell us your name."

"The name is Jackson. Are you ready?", Jackson asked and I nodded, "Ok, then let's do it! Come on, Mightyena!", he threw the pokeball to the ground, and boom...the hyena-like dark pokemon appeared, letting a loud howl and showing off its sharp teeth.

"Uhm, you go first, Charmeleon!", I said and opened the pokedex to check his moves, "Scratch, growl, flamethrower, fire spin, fire fang...That's a lot of moves. Okay, let's try them one by one."

(Normal POV)

"Here I go! Mightyena, bite Charmeleon!", Jackson ordered and the dark pokemon complied, charging toward Charmeleon.

"He's fast!", Jake thought, "Come on, Charmeleon, dodge and use scratch!". Charmeleon was able to sidestep and dodge the dark pokemon's fangs just in the nick of time. The fire pokemon then attack Mightyena with his sharp claws, but due to Mightyena's incredible speed, none of Charmeleon's attack was able to connect.

"Is that all you got?", Jackson taunted with an evil smirk, "Then how about this! Mightyena, take it down!". After the commend, the dark pokemon swiftly got behind Charmeleon with one leap and slammed its whole body against Charmeleon's back. The attack was so fast that before Jake even realized it, Charmeleon had already been hit and the impact send him flying on the air.

"Charmeleon!", Jake shouted, "What should I do? This Mightyena is too fast...", the trainer mentally talked to himself, "Come on, there must be a way to lock its speed ....That's it, the move Ryan used on Riolu when we first battled."

"Charmeleon, use fire spin!", Jake commended. The fire pokemon then jumped towards Mightyena and realeased a powerful pillar of fire from it mouth, right at the dark pokemon. As the pillar of fire hit the ground, it became a giant tornado, trapping Mightyena inside.

"Good thinking, using fire spin to limit Mightyena's speed.",Jackson said in amusement, "However, still not good enough. Mightyena, dig!"

The dark pokemon obliged and started to dig underground with its front legs. As the fire tornado subsided, Jake and Charmeleon noticed that Mightyena had disappeared. The trainer ran his eyes at the battle area, trying find any sight of the dark pokemon, but there was none.

"Darn it! Where did that hyena disappear to?", Jake muttered in frustration. At the same time, Charmeleon felt something rumble underneath him.

A loud breaking sound could be heard as Mightyena suddenly emerged from the ground right underneath Charmeleon, their bodies were merely inches a part.

"It's time to finish this! Mightyena, hyper beam!", Jackson shouted, and Mightyena complied as an orange energy ball started to form in front of its mouth. The dark pokemon then fired the ball as a beam right at Charmeleon.

"Charmeleon, flamethrower at full force!", Jake shouted, and the fire pokemon complied, firing a power strem of orange flame at Mightyena.

The two mighty attacks collided, resulted in a massive explosion and a huge cloud of dust. As the dust slowly disappeared, everyone could see Charmeleon and Mightyena laying emotionless on the ground, both with swirly eyes and mouths slightly apart while having their tongues sticking out.

"It's a draw!", Ryan shouted.

Jackson chuckled, "Not bad, consider that Charmeleon isn't yours. Guess I should get serious!", he then returned the unconcious Mightyena to the pokeball and reached his belt for another one. Jackson smirked and gave Jake a thumps down, "There is noway you can beat my ace pokemon. Come on, Typhlosion!", he threw the pokeball on the battle field, revealing the mighty beast. Typhlosion let out a ear-spliting roar, the fire collar on its neck blazed up furiously.

"Great! Another fire pokemon. Just my luck!", Jake thought as he returned Charmeleon to his pokeball, "And this one looks very strong. Well, Jackson did say that it was his ace, after all.". The trainer could feel the incredible pressure coming from Typhlosion and without a doubt, Jake knew this would be the toughest opponent he and Riolu had ever faced.

"You ready, Riolu?", Jake asked and Riolu nodded. There was no fear on the fighting pokemon's face, but instead pure determination. The trainer smiled and got on his knees to pat Riolu's head, "This will be the greatest challenge we've ever faced, but remember no matter what the outcome is, I'm still proud of you. Let's do it together!"

Riolu blushed softly, but smiled, "Definitely. I'll do my best!"

...

"You are telling me that you will use that pup against Typhlosion?", Jackson said with a mocking tone, "Heheh, this should be fun."

"We...we'll see!", Jake stammered, to which Jackson smirked, "Getting a little apprehensive, aren't we? In that case, I'll let you have the first move."

"You'll regret belittling our strength, Jackson! I'll make sure you'll pay for it!", Jake thought angrily, "Okay Riolu, use quick attack!", the trainer commanded.

The fighting pokemon quickly responded to his command as he got on all four and ran to Typhlosion at high speed. The fire pokemon just stood motionless, not bother to move a finger as Riolu charged toward it. With a leap, Riolu got behind Typhlosion, but as the fighting pokemon was about to launch a kick, his foot was grasped by Typhlosion's hand in a brieft moment.

"How cute...Anything else?, Typhlosion said with a deep masculine voice, giving Riolu a menacing smirk. The fire pokemon then loosened his grip, allowing Riolu to escape, like he was toying with the little guy.

"Riolu, double team!", Jake yelled and the fighting pokemon immediately complied, running around Typhlosion and as he did, Riolu created multiple 'clones' of himself (Naruto referent, just for fun ^-^), surrounding the fire pokemon.

"Now, focus blast!", Jake ordered. Riolu and his clones all had their paws put together, forming blue energy spheres. But when the 'real' Riolu behind Typhlosion released his energy sphere, the fire pokemon quickly dodged it with a sharp spin.

"Is that all?",Jackson smirked, "Then it's my turn."

"Shit! Quick attack again!". Riolu nodded and charged at the fire pokemon. The fighting pokemon then jumped towards Typhlosion again, attemping to get behind the fire pokemon for another attack.

"Typhlosion, use flamethrower.", Jackson said with an dangerously quietly voice.

"Oh no...", Jake thought dreadfully, "Riolu, stop!!!", the trainer shouted as Riolu was still airborne

"Too late!", Jackson exclaimed, cutting Jake off, "Now go, flamethrower!". Typhlosion nodded as he opened his mouth wide and gathered small flames, soon built up a giant stream of red-orange fire.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion. With a mighty roar, the fire on Typhlosion's back lit up as the fire pokemon released his stream of fire right at Riolu. A direct hit and ...BOOM...The impact created a huge explosion.

Jake felt his eyes get wet as he couldn't do anything but watch his best friend got hit by Typhlosion's flame and landed the ground on his back with a loud thud, his whole body was covered in burn marks.

"Riolu, no!", Jake cried out as he saw the fighting pokemon laying motionless on the ground.

"Consider being a pup, you ain't bad. But you're still one hundred years early to face someone like me.", Typhlosion grinned evilly.

"Au revoir! Look like victory is min-...", Jackson said, but suddenly paused, his mouth slightly gaped as he couldn't believe what he was seeing, " What?".

There was only silence, an annoying silence...

"R...Riolu.", Jake muttered with disbelief in his eyes as he saw the fighting pokemon slowly got on his feet, "Can you continue to fight?", the trainer asked concernedly, and was replied by a stern nod from the fighting pokemon.

"This pup...he just doesn't know when to give up, does he?", Jackson said rather mockingly and smirked at Riolu, "Well fine, he won't be able to last much longer."

Jake felt his hands clench into fist and tremble violently as he heard Jackson's cocky comment, "What da fuk with this guy!!? His arrogance really gets on my nerves now!". But the trainer shock his head and quickly turned his attention back to Riolu. Jake hated to admit, but Jackson was right. Riolu couldn't hold much longer, but nevertheless, the trainer knew that he had to be more careful, because just one more direct hit and Riolu would be a goner.

"I'm fed up with your stubborness, pup. Typhlosion, flame wheel!", Jackson ordered and Typhlosion immediately obliged, running towards Riolu while having the fire on his back lit up and covered his entire body.

"This time I won't go easy on you! Prepare yourself!", Typhlosion roared as was about to tackle the fighting pokemon.

"Riolu, dodge it!", Jake shouted, but much to his surprise, Riolu didn't seem that he wanted to dodge Typhlosion's attack. Instead, the fighting pokemon just stood there, putting both arms in front of his face, like he was going to...

"It can't be...he wants to...", Jake thought as Typhlosion's attack hit its target. The trainer closed his eyes as he didn't want to see Riolu being blown away. But as seconds passed by, there was only silence. Slowly opning his eyes, Jake gasped at what he was seeing.

Riolu was able to block Typhlosion's flame wheel. The fire surrounding Typhlosion started to disappear, or to be exact, it transformed into a black energy aura and was absorbed by Riolu's paws. At the same time, everyone could see the fire pokemon panting heavily and groaning, as if he had a low fatigue.

"What is he...Oh no, drain punch! Typhlosion, get away from him!", Jackson shouted, but Typhlosion was too tired as his energy was drained too much by Riolu. The fighting pokemon growled softly, " This...is for making a fool out of me!"

After that, Riolu fired two light green blasts from his paws, causing Typhlosion to fly backwards and landed the ground on his back with a loud thud.

"Alright!", Jake shouted excitedly as he knew that the battle was about to end, "Riolu, finish him off with focus blast!".

"With pleasure!", Riolu replied as he ran toward the fuzzy Typhlosion with his paws put together, forming a blue energy sphere. And just when Typhlosion could get on his feet again, the fighting pokemon released his energy sphere at Typhlosion's belly, and without a doubt, knocking him out.

"Typhlosion!!!", Jackson cried out desperately, "Darn it! Get up now , you piece of shit!". Jake flinched, but soon regained his composure as he suddenly felt extremely angry towards Jackson. No one had the right to call his pokemon like that, even when that pokemon lost a battle.

"Hey! Don't say such terrible thing to Typhlosion. Isn't he your ace pokemon???", jake shouted angrily at Jackson, who only replied by a wicked smile, "So what? Pokemon are just tools, and when they lose, they're nothing more than trash!"

Typhlosion slowly woke up as he heard the two trainers arguing. But his eyes widened in shock as he heard Jackson's words. So after all they'd been through, together; after everything he'd done for Jackson, in the end he was nothing more than a tool. Tears started to stream down his face as his body trembled violently, almost like he was going to fall face-first to the ground. Ryan could only shake his head, feeling sorry for the fire pokemon, while Jake felt like his blood was boiling: Jackson really reminded him of the bastard who abused Riolu. (for more details, please read chapter 1)

"Oh now you're crying, you pathetic piece of shit. I don't need you anymore!",Jackson shouted as he took out a pokeball, apperantly belonged to Typhlosion and threw it on the ground. He then made his way to Jake. Pulling out some cash, Jackson handed it to Jake, but the trainer just looking at him furiously, as if he was going to punch Jackson in his face (and he desperately wanted to do it).

"You don't like cash?", Jackson asked mockingly.

"I don't need money from a filthy punk like you. Now that I won, get the fuck outta here and never appear before me again!", Jake shouted, but Jackson only smirked, "Fine." as he turned back and quickly disappeared, leaving behind a crying Typhlosion. Jake sighed and made his way to the fire pokemon and placed his left hand on the fire pokemon's shoulder, "Are you okay?"

"I...I don't know. What am I going to do now? Jackson had abandoned me. I have nowhere to return, I have no one to belong to...I...", Typhlosion managed to say between sobs. Jake didn't say anything, but instead pulled the pokemon to a hug.

"It's okay...You can go with me if you want to. But the choice is yours, I don't want to force anyone.", Jake whispered warmly while rubbing Typhlosion's back for more comfort. Riolu somewhat felt jealous as he saw his love hugging another pokemon, but nevertheless, the fighting pokemon didn't say anything as he knew it was a right thing to do, and he would properly to the same thing if he were Jake.

Eventually, the sobbings stopped as Typhlosion was looking at Jake intently, deciding whether to go with him or not. As minutes passed by, the fire pokemon made up his mind as he hugged the trainer, "I'll go with you...master."

Jake smiled as he hugged back, "Alright then, but call me Jake, okay?"

Now that all settled, Jake and Typhlosion made their way to Riolu and Ryan. The trainer almost forgot about Riolu's big victory if it wasn't for a 'certain' fighting pokemon reminded him.

"Ahem *cough* forgetting something?", Riolu said.

"Oops, my bad. Come here pup!", Jake smiled as Riolu jumped into his chest. The trainer gently hugged his pup and rubbed his ears, making the pokemon purr in delight, "I'm so proud of you, Riolu. I trust you, and I know you can do it. And as a special reward, you'll get six chocolate bars for lunch.". Riolu smiled and rubbed his head against the trainer's chest. Jake had finally said that he trusted him, and nothing would make him happier than that.

Suddenly, Riolu's body started to glow, and soon was covered by an extremely bright light as everyone had to cover their eyes.

After a few minutes, the white light died down as Jake slowly opened his eyes, only to have his jaw nearly dropped at what he saw.

Riolu wasn't in his arms anymore, but instead a bigger pokemon with cream-colored torso, a spike on his chest and two others on the back of his forepaws. His muzzle and ears were also a bit longer than Riolu's, and he had four small, black appendage behind his head instead of two. Jake stood there, speechless. This pokemon...looked exactly like the one he used to battle Ash in his dream. (please read chapter 1 for more details)

"Ri...Riolu...", Jake muttered, but the pokemon smiled and hugged him, "No, I'm Lucario..."

"Riolu...evolved!", Ryan said in surprise.

"Lucario...Can I still call you my pup?", Jake whispered as he stroke the fighting, no, aura pokemon's back gently.

"Yes you can. I'm your pup and I'll always be...."

...

(To be continued)