c13 – Riolu, The Training of the Power of Waveguide
Saying goodbye to A.J., Alex continued to walk deeper through the Viridian Forest. Although the trail was familiar, the dense fog and twisted roots made orientation difficult. After walking for what felt like hours, Alex released Pidgeot to avoid getting lost again.
"Pidgeot, scout ahead and find the best route out."
Pidgeot took off with a piercing cry, slicing through the branches above. After a few minutes of aerial reconnaissance, it returned, motioning for Alex to head northwest. Trusting his partner, Alex followed, but after a long trek with still no end in sight, he recalled Pidgeot.
"I'm exhausted. The sun's setting fast too… Looks like we're camping here tonight." Alex gathered some dry branches and lit a fire with the help of Charizard's Ember. He then unpacked a vacuum-sealed ration from his supply kit and began heating it.
By 7 PM, after a simple dinner, Alex lay back, watching the stars twinkle through the gaps in the canopy. Peace settled over the campsite until suddenly, a glow burst from inside his backpack.
Startled, Alex sat up and unzipped it quickly. The Pokémon Egg from Professor Oak's special research program—awarded to him through the Trainer Advancement System was hatching!
Cracks formed on the blue-and-black egg. With a sharp crk, a tiny, puppy-like Pokémon emerged. Its black mask, red eyes, and aura-sensing appendages marked it unmistakably.
"A Riolu," Alex whispered, breath taken.
The newborn Pokémon slowly opened its eyes and looked at him. Just then, a voice—faint, gentle, childlike—echoed in his mind.
"...Dad?"
Alex's eyes widened, sitting bolt upright. He scanned the clearing no one was there. Only Riolu sat, staring curiously.
"That voice… Was it... you?"
He looked at Riolu, who tilted his head, as if puzzled. Then it clicked.
Waveguide the mysterious energy force that connects the hearts of Trainers and Pokémon. According to Lucario's Pokédex entry and legends from the Sinnoh and Kalos regions, Riolu can sense and even communicate emotions through aura from birth. Trainers attuned to it can sometimes hear their partners' thoughts.
"This Riolu… It's special."
Alex tapped his Pokédex, which immediately scanned the newborn Pokémon:
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Name: Riolu
Nature: Brave
Ability: Inner Focus (Note: "Heart of the Brave" may be a mistranslation—Inner Focus prevents flinching)
Potential Rating: Elite
Known Moves: Quick Attack, Force Palm, Power-Up Punch, Counter, Detect, Endure, Aura Sphere, Bullet Punch
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"Already knows Aura Sphere?" Alex murmured. "That's Lucario's signature move it usually takes months of training before a Riolu can master it!"
The Pokédex also noted that this Riolu's aura levels were unusually high for a newborn. No doubt it was the system egg he won from the randomized lottery one tied to a unique waveguide lineage.
Alex knelt beside Riolu. "Listen, I'm not your dad… but I am your Trainer. From today on, we'll grow stronger together. Deal?"
He reached out his hand. Riolu stared at it, then broke into a soft smile and pressed his tiny paw into Alex's palm.
That night, instead of returning Riolu to a Poké Ball, Alex let the little one sleep curled against him in his sleeping bag. Riolu, still newly hatched, shivered occasionally but relaxed in Alex's warmth.
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The next morning, Alex rose early to find Riolu still snoozing. Gently patting him awake, he said, "Come on, sleepyhead. We've got training to do."
With supplies packed and fire out, they made their way toward the forest's edge. After several hours, the dense canopy finally parted—sunlight streamed in, warm and dazzling.
"Finally out of Viridian," Alex said, stretching. "Vermilion City's still a good way off. Time to train."
He looked at Riolu with determination. "Ready?"
"Lii! Luu!" Riolu chirped eagerly.
Alex scanned the area and found a suitable clearing.
"Come out, Charizard!"
With a mighty roar, the fire-type behemoth appeared, wings outstretched and eyes gleaming. The sight startled Riolu—he scrambled up Alex's leg and clung to his shoulder.
Alex chuckled, patting his partner. "Don't be scared, Riolu. This is Charizard—our teammate."
Riolu peeked from behind Alex's shoulder. Charizard gave a quiet grunt and lowered his head gently. Riolu's eyes widened, sensing no malice, only strength.
Cautiously, the little Fighting-type hopped down, circling Charizard curiously before finally looking back at Alex.
For the first time, Alex felt it a pulse of warm energy, soft but clear, linking them. His aura resonated with Riolu's.
This was only the beginning of their waveguide bond.
Riolu's Brave Heart erupted as waves of luminous blue aura surged from his body. The energy pulsed outward in concentric circles, like ripples across water. Alex instinctively stepped back, his heart pounding—not in fear, but awe.
This was pure waveguide energy untamed, radiant, and strong for a newly hatched Pokémon. The sight of Riolu bathed in his own aura reinforced Alex's decision: he would train Riolu to become one of his main trump cards, a true partner in both aura and battle.
"Riolu, use Aura Sphere on Charizard! Charizard, use Protect!"
Hearing the command, Riolu brought his small paws together. A sphere of pure aura, glowing a brilliant blue, condensed between them. With a determined cry, he launched the Aura Sphere. Charizard, towering behind Alex, raised a claw a translucent green barrier formed instantly, deflecting the projectile with a dull hum.
"Keep going—Continuous Aura Sphere!"
Alex's battle philosophy, honed through countless encounters, had always been consistent: combat creates growth. Repeated exposure to battle pressure reveals strengths and weaknesses.
Riolu obeyed, hurling one Aura Sphere after another, but soon, his breathing became ragged. Sweat dripped from his fur. After five consecutive blasts, his knees buckled.
"His stamina can't keep up yet," Alex noted, kneeling beside him. "Still… not bad for a newborn."
Suddenly, Alex remembered something: the Gravity Training Band he had received from A.J. a specialized weight-enhancing device used by seasoned Trainers in Pewter City to improve endurance.
"Time to take this further."
He secured the device around Riolu's torso. Immediately, Riolu collapsed to the ground, the artificial gravity magnifying his body weight severalfold. He groaned.
Alex stood nearby, grinning slightly. "What's wrong? You said you wanted to get stronger, didn't you?"
"Lii… Lii…" Riolu grunted, struggling to rise. His fur was soaked in sweat, and his forelimbs trembled under the pressure.
"You've got this, Riolu! I believe in you!" Alex encouraged him, voice firm yet warm.
Teeth clenched, Riolu slowly pushed against the ground. His limbs trembled but he stood up.
"Lii—OU!" he shouted, as if declaring war on his limits.
Alex smiled. "Good. Now let's train properly."
From that moment on, Riolu began daily sessions wearing the Gravity Band, alternating between Aura Sphere practice and mock sparring with Charizard. When the strain became too much, Alex would pause, remove the device, let him rest, then resume. This regimented cycle continued for a full week.
After seven grueling days, Alex felt the time had come. "Let's see the results."
Together, they returned to the Viridian outskirts. This time, they weren't exploring—they were looking for wild Pokémon to battle.
"Let's go, Riolu. Aura Sphere!"
A Beedrill that had been hovering near a flower patch didn't see the attack coming. The blue orb smashed into its thorax and launched it into a nearby tree trunk with a dull thud.
The bushes rustled violently—Alex's heart sank.
Dozens of Beedrill, enraged by the attack on their comrade, burst from the underbrush. Alex's memory sparked—in the manga, wild Beedrill are aggressively territorial and often swarm in large groups.
"Damn… I forgot they never travel alone."
But he didn't panic. "This is a perfect test."
"Riolu, Double Team! Follow with continuous Aura Spheres!"
With a cry, Riolu split into a dozen shimmering clones, each of them mimicking his stance. Aura Spheres began raining down on the swarm. Many Beedrill were knocked back—stunned but not defeated.
Suddenly, the illusion broke.
Riolu's attacks had power, but lacked knockout force. The Beedrill regrouped and swarmed him. Their Poison Stings rained down like darts.
"Riolu!" Alex shouted, rushing forward.
The tiny fighter fell back, purple bubbles of poison forming on his skin. His limbs twitched, and his breathing grew weak.
"Li… li…" Riolu whimpered, barely conscious.
Alex's jaw clenched. His aura flared unconsciously.
"Charizard! Ancient Power—now!"
With a roar, Charizard summoned a cluster of greenish-white energy stones from the air and hurled them into the sky, each one homing in on a Beedrill. The impact was explosive—the entire swarm dropped instantly.
Alex didn't wait. He pulled an Antidote from his belt pouch and sprayed Riolu's wounds. The bubbling faded, the poison neutralized.
Riolu blinked and gave a weak but determined cry: "Lii… Ou…"
Alex exhaled deeply. "You're safe now."
He scooped Riolu into his arms, heart pounding. "You did great… We've still got a long way to go but you're already stronger than you were."
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