#clefstarwriting

Trainers arrived on the winds, and with them, rumors. Rumors of Team Galactic gaining speed; a threat made in Pastoria. Byron arrived a few days later confirming it: he heard from Crasher Wake that a bomb could be planted at Lake Valor and it needed investigation. Riley was brought back with him to Canalave, where they went their separate ways. Byron had two challengers to prepare for; Riley needed to make way east. It was then that the earth shook and the Aura screamed. He heard Azelf cry out, followed by Mesprit and Uxie. Lucario quickly made a forcefield around the two of them, enough to quiet the aura around them. Riley called out Salamence and quickly boarded. He wished he could make it in time. It was too late for Azelf. Riley couldn't clear the mountains before their scream vanished. He turned back for Mesprit, since their scream only grew louder from the loss of willpower. Salamence landed with a thud by the lakebed. Grunt members moved away from Riley quickly, continuing their work away from the ferocious dragon. Lucario and Metagross joined in as all three began attacking, moving their way to the center of the lake. "So you're the famous land guardian Riley." She smiled as one hand pet her Purugly. Behind her Mesprit was still in the air as energy bound its form. "You might be hiding yourself from the public eye, but we knew to expect you." "Release Mesprit." "If you're here then Azelf must be captured already~ You were too late, hmm?" Riley's aura thundered, arcs of energy burning the ground and steadily radiating outward. "Very well Aura reader, try THIS!" Her hand, gloved and cloaked in red light, shot out at him.

He can't remember what happened once he hit Verity. His body was heavy. His skin was cold. The room was dark. He... he couldn't feel. Impossible..! There was no way he couldn't feel! Aura is always there! It was in everything, even inorganic material! So why? Why couldn’t he sense any Aura?

-

Even Steven felt the tremor from his villa. When he confirmed his suspicions his heart sank. The explosion at Lake Valor could only mean another Sootopolis incident was inevitable. His bad feeling only got worse when he heard the crash landing outside. A Salamence lay in a crater of dirt with a Lucario, both injured and exhausted. They were Riley’s pokemon! Steven was able to stabilize Salamence, but Lucario was erratic. He was struck with spasms, refusing Steven to touch him. Metagross had to pull Lucario unconscious in order to bring him to Nurse Joy. “Lucario is showing signs to aura deprivation, but I’ve never even heard of a case this fatal. What happened?!” “Please, take care of Lucario!” “Wait, Steven!” He crashed out the door. “Skarmory, we’re flying!” What he saw in the sky was horrifying. Smoke billowed from Lake Valor. The fallen trees surrounding the lake defined the blast radius. From what he could tell Verity seemed untouched, but unmarked aircraft were around the lake. He probably couldn’t do much at any of the lakes now, but he could stop them at the source… He quietly landed outside of Veilstone City, sneaking into the warehouse held by Galactic. He would’ve preferred blowing the place down, but he didn’t have proof that Galactic was behind any of it. He only heard of the small incidents they caused on Iron Island and at the Valley Windworks. At sight of the entrance he noticed a sturdy leg behind an opposite shipping crate. “Alexius?!” he choked out when he reached Riley’s Metagross. It was in bad a shape as Salamence was. “Where’s Riley?” He could understand Metagross at least, keeping his hand on the smooth body as it trid to explain what happened. The lake explosion, fighting Team Galactic with Riley at the lake, and then, “Red, binding, pain? I don’t understand.” Metagross got more and more restless. <Red bindings, hurt Riley, hurt Lucario, took Riley, followed Riley. Red bindings, pain.> “Riley is here, correct?”   <Yes, red binding, pain> “Get to the Pokemon Center. I’m going to get Riley.” As he got up, Metagross stopped him short. <Careful, red bindings, spirit loss> “Spirit? Do you mean Aura?” <Yes. Spirit loss, Sight dark. > Metagross seemed… sad. <Lucario hurt. Riley hurt. Spirit loss> Steven couldn’t help but hug the steel type, for both of them. “I’ll save Riley, I promise. Lucario’s safe. Salamence is safe, they both found me. That’s why I’m here. I’ll get him back.” One last squeeze. “I’ll get him back.”

Steven couldn’t destroy the outward appearance of the building. But inside? He had Metagross tear down walls and destroy teleports. Grunts were pushed to the wall with psychic energy as floors bloomed open, Steven quietly walked through his paved destruction. None of these grunts knew where Riley was being held; he needed to find an admin. “Team Galactic will change this world! With the power over space and time, Cyrus will control this world, and that’s when it becomes interesting!” This Charon scientist was insane…! “I’m sure his world wouldn’t let people such as you to exist, Champion.” He sneered as Steven dropped him to the floor, stolen keycard in hand. “Barging in here like you own the place, destroying it like an old toy!” The door slid open in response to the keycard, good. “We won’t be whims to your power once Cyrus returns!” The lab was already dark, with sick green liquid held in containers. There wasn’t any sign of Riley even as he made toward the back room. Three round machines stood in the far room. Extraction machines, from what Steven could tell from the monitors. They were used until recently, containing the lake guardians. Security footage showed a young boy defeating an admin before releasing them. I wasn’t the only one who caught on then. He smiled a bit as he saw the three fly away, free. Going through more security footage revealed Riley’s location. He was in a solitary cell, but it didn’t look like he was largely injured. But the exhaustion Steven saw, he never saw in Riley before. Thankfully the keycard worked on the door lock as Steven ran into the room. Riley was in the same corner the footage showed, but he was worse. He wasn’t there, not mentally. “Riley! Riley, Ri, I’m here. It’s me.” He was only going to touch his shoulder; he knew Aura could be weird when he was exhausted, but his hands were rubbing his arms, cradling his face, holding him close. Riley’s breathing was shallow, ragged. His eyes weren’t focusing. “Riley, can you hear me?” He heard Metagross set itself in front of the door, ready for Steven to hop on and leave. He only shuddered under Steven’s touch. His skin was freezing. Riley was trying to talk, but no sound was coming out. “Ri, babe, I need to know if it’s okay to move you. We gotta get out of here.” Ri slowly reached a hand out. Steven responded by holding it with his own. He weakly grasped it as he stared back at Steven. Cradily helped move Riley to the back of Metagross, and Steven had Metagross carry them both back out. The building had been abandoned, seemed all of Galactic left the building. Citizens and grunts alike stared up, as the sky was a dull orange. Clouds swirled above Mount Coronet, an ominous purple as energy gathered. Fear settled into Steven’s gut as from the cloud, an inky black form spread its wings, red talons scraping into the mountain, as the creature cried out a bone chilling shrill. Steven was useless again. The power of a Champion Trainer, and he wouldn’t dare protect anyone from that monster of a legendary pokemon. He couldn’t do a thing when the skies above Hoenn poured down torrential rain and the sun evaporated life. He didn’t do anything when Galactic first showed signs of activity. He couldn’t even protect his best friend, his boyfriend, from being tortured to near exhaustion. “Meta!” Steven snapped out of it as he saw Riley’s Metagross rumble toward them. He squeezed Riley’s hand to get his attention. “Look, your Metagross is here too. They showed me where you were. I gotta get Nurse Joy to look at both of you, you look like you were eaten by a Steelix, you know that?” Riley weakly groaned. Steven was sure he was trying to laugh. <Riley spirit. Riley spirit lost.> “Ri, can you feel aura right now?” He only curled up under Steven, eyes falling closed as his brows furrowed. His quick breath and newfound terror in his eyes confirmed Steven’s worst fears: Riley was as normal as anyone else right now. An Aura guardian who couldn’t use Aura.

“Thanks for the fill-in Steven. They leave a lot out from the news reports.” Riley was moved to Canalave for recovery, thankfully the only physical problem was exhaustion from stress. As for what happened on Coronet, Cynthia was there and was able to fill in Steven. Apparently a portal to the Distortion World opened? The lake guardians helped seal it up, with Cyrus inside. Team Galactic was disbanded. Riley hadn’t recovered his aura abilities, and neither Lucario. They were both physically healthy at least and were both discharged. Cynthia mentioned that Cyrus used a substance called red chain to summon legendary pokemon that Riley and Lucario could’ve been exposed to. If it was made from the jewels of the lake guardians, it was possible the chain could affect aura abilities. “…I have to go Steven. I have to at least TRY.” “But, these pokemon are finicky, who knows what will happen, what if you, what if…” His breath hitched as he let his head had against Riley’s chest, accepting the warm arms moving to embrace him. “I’m not much of a guardian to them if I can’t use Aura, Steven. I have to ask.” “I don’t want to lose you.” Riley couldn’t retort to that immediately, only keep his arms wrapped around him. “I can only feel you when I’m touching you Steven. I can’t tell where anyone else is, how they’re feeling, how trees outside are flourishing… I’m so blind to everything.” He let his finger run through the short hair. “If there’s some way I can get it back, you bet your ass I’m going to try.” Steven snorted up whatever was falling from his nose as he pushed away a bit. “I know. You have to do this. At least, let me follow you. ” Riley took the opportunity to plant a kiss, short but firm.   “Of course, my gem.”

Steven watched in amazement as Mesprit, the being of Emotion, danced around Riley and Lucario on that damp night. The moon reflected large and bright on the lake surface as stardust glittered and fell from the being. He watched as a blue glow beat weak; strengthening with each turn from Mesprit, begin to envelop the two of them. Lucario howled with glee, trying its best to stay in place. Riley seemed to be invigorated, a smile playing on his face as he stared into his hands. With a flick of its tails Mesprit shimmered out of sight, presumably retreating to its home below the lake. Riley murmured a few words, as did Lucario. Slowly, Steven walked toward the pair. “Ri, how do you feel?” “They gave it back Gem. They gave it back!” He went to turn around but stopped short, clutching his forehead. “Are you okay?” “Yeah, the Aura just feels stronger than normal. Just need to get used to it again.” After a few breaths he released it, accepting the other into his arms. “How does it feel?” Steven mumbled. He felt Riley hold him closer, clutch him tighter, bury his face in his shoulder. “It’s so warm.”

Riley found himself at the entrance, the chill seeping into his bones keeping him awake. He walked over to one of the containers, placing his hand on it before letting his eyes fall closed in focus.

His attention turned toward the docks and he saw the aura of sailors with their pokemon, working together to haul crates onto ships. On the far side of the docks a fisherman admired the view of the sunrise while waiting for a tug on his line. Riley let his mind wander from the shipyard into the forest edge, twinkling with the energy of hidden pokemon.

And in that sea of quiet energy there was an aura bright with anticipation. Riley knew that aura.

Wind howled in his ears as he ran past sailors and down the harbor, nearly crashing into a pole as he halted at a pier.

He caught sight of short hair and his breath was taken.

The breeze ruffled through the steel blue locks. His small back was slightly relaxed, his gaze toward the fading sunrise over the ocean. Perhaps staring beyond that.

Riley squeezed his hands and exhaled before taking a step forward.

Breathe. Focus. It was now.

“Steven.”

He watched as the man turned back. Noticed tired eyes brighten in a moment of recognition. 

“…Riley?”

“Are you leaving?” he asked.

Steven didn’t answer, his jaw tight.

“Then I challenge you to a battle,” Riley added.

His provocation was met with a wry smile. “Come on, you know I don’t.”

“I’ve never heard of a Champion that doesn’t like to battle.”

For a moment Steven’s eyes widened, shoulders tensing at the reveal of his title. In the next his face was stiff, cold.

Riley hated that he caused that.

“One pokemon each” he firmly stated. “If you win, then I’ll leave you be.” 

“Very well then,” Steven replied. “Where will we battle?”

-----

comic segment

           Riley’s shoes made no noise on the stone floor. No light shone, save for the slim crescent of the moon. He continued deeper into the building, rounding a corner.

           He walked up to a door, its nameplate blank. His hand lightly gripped the round door handle. Despite being the leading company in technology, Devon kept such old style doorknobs. Riley smirked as he extended aura from his palm on the handle, molding into the required key easily. A quiet click and Riley pushed the door open.

           A small desk lamp lighted the room. The target sat there, engrossed with what looked to be… a rock? He held it in his fingers as he looked at it through a small lens.

           Riley walked toward him. He twitched his wrist slightly, letting the concealed knife fall in his hand. This job was surprisingly easy. A company heir that stares at rocks all day? Riley raised his arm toward his neck.

           With this, it would be the end of Devon corp.

           As he raised his hand, his target’s aura shifted in alarm.

           Riley stepped back in response before his target jumped up, arm extend and a slim silver object streak past his face. He heard a soft thunk from the throwing needle as it dug into the wall.

           Compromised, he gripped his knife and dashed forward. His target stood there as he jabbed right for the jugular. His knife only cut air as his target dropped down, leaving a blow behind Riley’s knee.

           Riley felt himself slip as he teetered backward and his target slammed into him, both keeling over to the floor. In a struggle to get up, he felt his wrists be pinned to the floor and his waist straddled with thin legs. He struggled against the grip as his target panted faintly above him. He looked up to find him staring down at him with blue eyes. A smirk played on his face.

           “I must admit you’re the first assassin to get this close.”

           Riley tried his wrists one more time before he gave up, eyeing his knife on the floor some feet away.

           “So what are you going to do now, Steven Stone?” Riley spat in reply.

           He looked away as if in thought. “Well, I would call security.” The smirk above him only turned into a grin. “But I have my hands full at the moment.”

           Riley only had two choices now. He would either have to wait before Steven lowered his guard from fatigue, or weaken it himself.

           “Full of what?” He coyly asked. He stretched his neck as he regarded the face above him.

           Steven’s eyes darted down. “A feisty assassin, apparently.”

           “Hey, I only go for the heads with the big reward.” Riley unclenched his hands, still feeling resistance.

           “Big reward?” Steven hummed. Riley watched as his eyes dragged over his neck and up his jaw, meeting his own. “So how much were you paid to kill me?”

           “Confidential, your highness.”

           The bark of laughter he heard in response startled him into viewing his aura.

           Their talk was entertainment to him.

           "Very well then, I will pay you double my bounty.” Riley felt the grip on his wrists tighten. “But in return, you’ll be my bodyguard.”

           He felt his eyes widen. This man had no need for a bodyguard. This was pity.

           He let his head roll on the floor, defeated. “…Fine.”

           Steven tilted his head questioningly, smirk plastered on his face.

           “I’ll be at your service, Mr. Stone.”

           At those words Steven released his hand and rose on his knees, standing up fully. Riley followed suit, putting away the knife on the ground and weakly rubbing his wrists.

           “Report back to this room at nine a.m. sharp.” He fiddled with a button on a shirt cuff. “We’ll figure out details then. You may leave.”

           Riley turned on his heel at the order, closing the door behind him. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked down the hall he was sneaking through minutes before.

Riley recalled Lucario, calmly smiling at the pokeball. “You definitely know how to read your opponents, Steven.”

“That was a noble battle you fought, Riley.” Steven said as he recalled Metagross back.

“Fantastic!” Palmer got up from his seat and strode toward the two battlers. “Both of you were magnificent!”

The two regarded the taller man. “Ah, thank you, Palmer.” Steven replied. He felt his cheeks warm.

“So Steven,” Palmer eagerly clasped his hand on the other’s arm. “Are you ready for the main battle?”

“It would be best if I healed my pokemon first, Palmer.” He noted Riley heading toward the door.

“Ah, true.” He released his shoulder and moved away. “I’ll be waiting here for you, then!”

“I’ll be quick.” He fixed his jacket before heading out the door himself, taking long strides to catch up with the man in front of him.

“Riley.” At the sound of his name, the man turned toward Steven.

“Steven. That was a good battle.”

“Ah, thank you, but you were great as well.“

Riley continued walking without giving a reply. Steven kept with his stride, the silence becoming unbearable.

“I… never thought you came to this kind of place.”  

“I come by occasionally to test my skills.”

“Oh, I see.” The conversation was dropped again, much to Steven’s disappointment.

“Are you nervous about Palmer?”

Steven perked up at the question. “Ah, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. It’s been some time since I battled.”

“I apologize for him. He can’t have a challenge with the regulars, so he often picks up random trainers to fight.”

“Have you battled him before?”

“Haven’t won once.” The words sighed out of his mouth.

“Looks like it’s going to be tough then.” Anticipation rose up his chest.

“Steven…” Riley stopped walking, Steven a step later.

“Hmm?” Steven turned, facing Riley from the front.

It was then he noticed a green blur beside Riley’s arm, and it was rapidly closing in on him.

Suddenly Riley was grabbing his arm, moving them to the side.

“STEVEN” was the only thing heard before Palmer crashed into the wall of the PokeCenter.

“Palmer?” Steven exclaimed. “I thought you were waiting at the Battleground!”

He peeled himself off the wall, rubbing his forehead. “I just got a call to head back to the Battle Tower. Sorry, looks like we’ll have to hold off on our battle!” He wore a wide grin.

“It’s important, isn’t it? I don’t mind holding off.” He felt a tinge of relief of not having to battle him.

“Next time I see you, you better expect a battle! And Riley, good reflexes as always!” And with that, Palmer ran off again.

With him gone, Steven turned back to Riley. “You were saying something, Riley?”

He returned focus to Steven, pausing a moment. “It can wait until later. It’s getting late.”

Steven looked up at the sky. “True.” The sky was now a dull orange as the sun set behind the trees. “I should head back to my place.”

He let Skarmory out in a beam of light before slowly gliding onto its back. Positioned comfortably, he looked back down at Riley.

Steven gave a small smile. “I look forward to our next meeting, Riley.”

Riley nodded in agreement before Steven let Skarmory into the sky.

After flying for some time, a familiar tan villa on the edge of the Resort Area came into view.

“Land here, Skarmory.” With a flap of its wings, the steel bird carefully landed in front of the villa. Steven easily slid off his back and returned him to the pokeball. Shifting his bag on his shoulders, he took out the key.

“Steven.” A familiar voice called out to him. She waited before him, at the top of the stairs.

“Cynthia. What brings you here?” Last he heard she had a challenge back at the League.

“I just received a phone call that should interest you.” Her voice was serious.

Steven looked her straight in the eye. “Just tell me, Cynthia.”

Her lips moved to a slight frown. “A man from Hoenn named Wallace called. He said he was to become the next Hoenn Champion by the end of the year.”

He felt a lump form in his throat and his face stiffen. “What does this have to do with me, Cynthia?”

“He mentioned to contact him if I ever saw the current Hoenn Champion.”

“And did you tell him anything?” The words came out harsher than he intended.

“I didn’t, but Steven, you need to-“

“Enough!” He walked past her and shoved the key into the lock. “Keep the arrangements the same. I don’t need him here.”

For a small time Steven was right by his father' side as he worked, every day. The company had changed a bit from his youth, but it was still the Devon his father taught him about, the Devon he would inherit.

His father was soon put on permanent bed rest. Steven picked up his laurels easily. He knew this would mean he wouldn't be able to travel as much as he'd like, but no one else could handle Devon like a Stone.

The news came to Steven in his father's office, glancing over some paper work as a light rain was splashing against the window. He had died in his sleep. His father said to not visit him every day, to focus on his future. But now Devon was all he had left of him. There was nothing else Steven could do except return to his work.

It wasn't long until Silph made stable grounds in Hoenn. Devon was slow on the uptake on new devices and production was slowing. In one fell swoop Steven was left face to face with a Silph representative and handing him signed documents of ownership of Devon.

Thankfully his employees were able to keep their jobs, but they watched with solemn faces as Steven walked out the doors.

For the most part, he stayed within his thoughts. Skarmory flew him to Mossdeep at first, but soon enough he was wandering in the skies of Hoenn or deep within a cave. Occasionally he would sit on Metagross, watching the stars above him, wondering if his father was up there.

He still had the estate he could go back to, as well as his place in Mossdeep. But why go back to an empty house, knowing he was the last of his family left, nothing lasting to remember his father by.

He dismissed those at the estate, collected the few belongings he wished to keep moved to Mossdeep, and then packed a smaller bag for himself.

He boarded a ship at night and found himself days later at a different port town, somewhere far from his old home.

The region was covered in dust, wild pokemon sparse, but it never bothered him. He walked among its sands and breathed it foul air as he felt his very being sink into the darkness.

It may have been almost a year when the next boat he jumped on brought him to Canalave. The familiar brick path and stone buildings tugged at his heart. Despite it, he continued to walk. Passing through town and cities, mountains and fields of grass. Here, in nature, was where he felt a little more like himself.

Coming upon a volcano, he watched as smoke coiled into the air, spreading ash into the air. He was reminded of the gray ash that coated the grass north of Hoenn, giving the inhabitants a slight grey hue.

It was here Riley found him. He had only come there to check on Buck, not bothering with others.

But when he saw the man before him he was horrified. Gone was the man he met, with his strong determination and a vibrant mind. No, the man before him was broken, his aura gray, clothes sullied from his travels.

When the man finally looked up to regard Riley, he stopped. And in that moment, Riley's eyes saw a flutter of that vibrant purple he loved so much.

But soon that too was gone as the man stood up.

"Steven!" Riley couldn't keep the name from escaping his throat, watching, as it did nothing to slow the man from walking away.

"Steven! What happened to you?" He caught up with the slow walk, grasping onto their arm tightly.

"Let go." the voice was hoarse, as if it hadn’t been used in a long time.

"I'm not letting you go until you tell me what happened Steven!" Riley felt his emotions get the better of him. "I'll drag you back to Iron Island if I have to, but it's about time you talked to me!"

Here Steven turned to look at Riley. His eyes were still that beautiful sky blue, but they had lost their brightness, their spark. Riley could only stare as his own vision wavered, remaining in place as tears flowed down his cheeks. He couldn't even make out the face of friend anymore.

Steven watched as Riley's tears fell. How his body visually shook, how the grip on his arm was shaky. He couldn't understand the sight before him.

"Why are you crying?"

But he only continued to sob, now grasping at Steven and pulling him into a hug. He felt the tears dampen his shirt and warmth seep into his skin.

Ah, Steven realized. This was what I wanted. He slowly returned the embrace as Riley’s head rested on his shoulder, tears pooling through his shirt fabric. He felt his own eyes pinch close as he breathed in the familiar scent.

Buck later escorted the two back to Iron Island. They sat limply on the couch, emotions exhausted. Steven looked at the piles of tissues he had strewn around as he recounted everything that had happened back at the home he left behind. Riley had quietly listened as he rubbed his hand, occasionally grabbing more tissues.

That night Riley rolled out 2 futons side by side and watched as Steven glided into a deep sleep. The next afternoon was spent giving Steven a shower, some clean clothes, and a needed haircut. Riley left the beard to Steven. He trimmed it back, but didn't remove it. It remained as thick fuzz along his cheekbones.

Steven's pokemon got some well-needed food and rest as Riley talked with Steven further.

"You should return to Hoenn, Steven."

"Riley, I have nothing left there. There isn't any need."

"There is. You need to go back, and you need to grieve. No one would blame you for it. After all, you weren't given the chance to do so."

On the condition that Riley came along, Steven came back to Rustboro, Hoenn after 3 long years. He encountered some previous employees, all of them overjoyed to see him again. Placing down the flowers he bought at the nearby shop, Steven looked down at his father.

"I clung to Devon as hard as I could for you father, but you had never meant for that to happen to me. You taught me how to run the company, but you also let me live as I wished, despite your complaints. I should have let you go sooner, dad..."

At those last words Steven turns to cling to Riley as the other receives him softly, cooing small praise. The tears fall shamelessly as Steven feels a heavy load that he carried for regions slowly release its grip.

Back at the hotel room, Riley asks what Steven would like to do now. Steven wears a small smile as he reaches to touch Riley's hand on the bed.

"I would like to stay with you, if you're willing to keep me."

"For good this time?" Riley questions, moving his hand as their fingers intertwined.

"For good this time," Steven repeated. "After all, there's nothing holding me back now, and leaving you back then was the one regret I could never act on."

Riley sighed. "I'm sorry that we could only be together again in these conditions."

"Don't be, Ri. It was the choice I had made, despite it being foolish." Steven felt his throat clench. "After all, I was the one who…"

"No more of that Steven." Riley kissed his hair. "Gem, we have the future to look forward to now." Steven felt a big smile play on his face.