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The back room of the Canalave Gym was decorated with many ancient Pokemon. Fossilized remnants of prehistoric Pokemon covered the shelves and desks. Replicas of long extinct Hisuian Pokemon sat proudly on display in the room.
Deep in thought, Riley stared at the life-like Wyrdeer.
Being in this room was like living in the past.
He knew the people of Hisui valued Wyrdeer, for it was a Pokemon that made their lives possible. Their coat kept them warm; their antlers sought out safe paths in the treacherous environment. Even if it was a time where many people and Pokemon were at odds, Wyrdeer was always treasured—and yet, one day it met its end as a species.
Not even thinking, he reached out a hand to try and touch it.
The sound of a gruff throat clear made his hand freeze in place. He didn't even realize Byron already walked into the room, which was a bit embarrassing due to his keen senses of perception.
"Good morning, Byron. What is it you wanted to talk with me about?"
"Take a seat," he said, pushing a messy stack of papers in his hands. Observing them, he noticed they were permits for fossil excavation in Mt. Coronet.
"You're not here to ask me to go fossil hunting with you again, are you?" He remembered the last time he asked; he declined wishing for him to spend more time with his son, Roark.
"Guahaha, not why I'm here today, but if you can come along if you want!" He smiled a large, toothy grin. But then the smile on his face quickly faded, and he spoke seriously. "But I'm here to talk with you about something else. Precisely, your lack of ambition."
Riley swallowed, sitting up a bit straighter. "What do you mean?"
"You're an excellent Pokemon Trainer—far superior to me and Roark. And yet, other than training and the occasional battle, you don't seek anything higher. You let opportunity pass right through your fingertips time and time again."
"Is this about me declining your invitation to becoming a Gym Leader again?" He tilted his head, a small frown on his face. "There was your son to consider first. He makes a fine Gym Leader, you know?"
"Riley, both you and I know I asked you that before Roark was even born."
He nervously fiddled with the rim of his hat. "My, how time flies..."
"Ever since I met you, you've been a mystery. I reckon your low ambition is linked to that, but just in case its not, I want to ask: are you okay?" His gaze pierced right through him. Even if he couldn't see the aura in things like he could, it was obvious he had a hunch about him.
"I'm fine. There's no reason to start doting over me like a parent; we're old friends." he said, fiddling with his hat again.
It wasn't only Byron's gaze that pierced his soul that made him uncomfortable. It was the gazes from the life-like Hisuian Pokemon replicas in the room. They stared right through him. In a different time, in a different place, those Pokemon were once alive. But now they were gone, non-existent in modern Sinnoh.
Feeling as though the walls were closing in, he stood up. "Excuse me, but I could use some fresh air. Do you mind if we visit the canal?"
He, Byron and Lucario sat on the the edge of the canal, watching boats rock to-and-fro in the water.
"So when did you figure me out?" Riley asked, taking off his shoes to dip his feet into the water. Small fish Pokemon darted around his feet.
Byron gave him a rough nudge. "Guahaha, I had a feeling for a while now. You not aging in over fifteen years was a big tip off."
"I suppose it was only a matter of a time you'd figure I was a living fossil," he said, smiling wryly. His gaze drifted to an anchored boat in the middle of the canal. A person stood on it, fishing.
"Just to make sure," Byron looked at him, a bit unnerved. "You are alive, right? Not a vampire or something?"
He lifted his hand and chuckled. "Oh no, nothing of the sort. Physically, both me and Lucario are alive. Well, kind of." He looked around, focusing on the boat in the canal. "For us, there's no changing or moving on. In a way, we're like an anchored boat. We just float on top, watching life pass us by."
"You don't want to," he paused as if it was difficult to say. "Die, do you?"
"It's true it's a fine line between a blessing and a curse." He gripped his pant leg. "There are times where it feels more like a curse than a blessing...after all, you can't have 'living' without 'dying.'' We're just something that's here. Something that feels...not truly alive. However, rest assured, dying is not something I desire."
"You know, what'd get your blood flowing and heart pounding again?" He placed a fist on his chest. "If you had a goal! Doesn't matter how big or small, it'd make you feel alive again!"
Leaning back, he took in the sun's rays. He thought back to his invitation for becoming a Gym Leader. "Why should I take things from the living?"
"You're probably one of the most selfless people I know," he could hear him stroke his scruffy chin. "But you know, there's nothing wrong with wanting things."
"I suppose...but for right now, I'm happy meeting other people and seeing how they interact with Pokemon. It's a wondrous thing, you know? How humans and Pokemon now share life together. Just being able to see that and to experience that...it makes me glad we're here. I don't need anything more than that."
"Well, if you're content with that, I s'pose I can't pressure you too hard." he said, putting the topic aside. "Anyway, lets plan on fossil hunting in the near future."
"Hahaha, yeah. I'll look forward to it." He said waving him farewell.
He laid back down. As time went by, it was harder and harder to look forward to things.
Time. He and Lucario had been granted with so much of it, and yet he always felt his presence was taking it away from others. It was because of that, he preferred to stay isolated, getting only close enough to observe from afar.
"'Nothing wrong with wanting things,' huh..." he said, recalling Byron's words. Deep in thought, he sat up and put his shoes back on.
He was about to head to Route 218, when he passed by a confectionery store. He passed by it perhaps over a hundred times during the time he spent there but never once ordered anything.
He was going to pass by it yet again—
But this time, he made a 180 degree turn and headed into the shop.
Walking out with a chocolate bar, he tentatively broke off a section to try. It was sweet and rather creamy. He felt his lips curve into a smile, and he quickly broke the rest of the bar in half to share with Lucario.
"Try this, Lucario," he said, handing him the candy bar. "Yeah, it has been a long time since we've eaten anything, hasn't it?"
Plopping another piece into his mouth, he thought about how he promised Byron that he would go fossil hunting with him. In truth, he was planning on declining again, in favor of Byron spending more time with his son—
But he supposed it wouldn't kill him to try and stay connected to others—
After all, sharing in all the joys and sorrows was how people and Pokemon lived in Sinnoh.