Prologue
Riolu breathed out heavily with a touch of impatience. He was standing in front of the local dojo and was waiting for his late friends to turn up. Riolu burned with the mixture of frustration and exhilaration and could not wait to start training under the famous Master Machamp, who was world champion many years ago, who retired and now teaches younger generations how to fight.
Of course, that won’t happen unless they turn up Riolu thought with anger, kicking the dojo lightly.
He had to admit, for a small-town dojo, it was crafted with architectural beauty. Four large columns made of wood sat at a corner of the square-shaped three story wood dojo with sloping roofs, each crafted in the form of a different legendary deity. Riolu could only recognise one, which was the closest, was Arceus. The others looked like strange and frighting deities from other regions. Riolu only recognised Aceus because he was born in the Sinnoh region, he didn’t understand why there was foreign deities on this dojo. The one that resembled an Ekans with two front legs frightened Riolu the most, with its gaping mouth and furious eyes.
Riolu sat down at the stairs and observed the landscape. The sky was still slightly blue, but with the sun setting rapidly in the west it was slowly turning blood-orange and yellow. Many trees surrounded the large pond in which the dojo was built in the middle. The water was clear and had a refreshing glow about it. Occasionally Riolu spied a lost looking Magikarp that bubble through the water, only to disappear into the shallow depths. The dojo was situated in the Thorny Woods, which was only a short walk from town. Riolu thought it was stupid to give to woods that name, he had never even seen thorns in these woods and he has lived all his life here.
If it gets too late, I will have to go back Riolu thought moodily as he started to stand and pace on the stairs.
“You look annoyed” said a voice.
Riolu swore he jumped three feet in the air and looked around annoyed.
“Chimchar!” Riolu barked. “Where are you?”
Riolu heard laughter and turned to find Chimchar on the first roof of the triple roofed dojo. Chimchar smiled cockily and slid down the column nimbly shaped like the scary Ekans and ran to Riolu.
Riolu half-shouted with annoyance. “Where have you been! And where are the others?”
Chimchar smiled that infuriating smile at Riolu. “They are all at home. Master Machamp called our parents to let them know he is out of town and too come back Friday. You must have run off to the dojo before your dad got the chance to tell you” Chimchar said.
Out of town until Friday? Riolu sighed out with exaggeration. I have to wait another four days? Riolu was both annoyed and curious. I wonder what Master Machamp is doing out of town?
Chimchar gave Riolu a friendly punch. “C’mon. We need to get home. It’s getting darker” Chimchar said as he passed Riolu and walked down the stairs and to the wooden bridge across the large pond. Riolu took one last look at the magnificent dojo and followed Chimchar away. As Riolu crossed the bridge he heard the familiar sound of bubbling again. Curious, he walked to the edge of the bridge and found that the Magikarp earlier was observing him with staring eyes. Riolu stared back for a full minute before it slid under the water and disappeared from sight.
I wonder what that was about Riolu thought, as Chimchar called out to him and Riolu called back. Tearing his eyes from the spot the strange Magikarp disappeared, Riolu ran to Chimchar and they both left the dojo in its silent peace.
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