#steelfedora

[napopk]

[2021] dot dot \dot

[hexawingeddemons]

@clefartist

HAPPY DAY OF BIRTH MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND <3 

[fyeahsteelfedorashipping]

(Unnamed) Short Pokemon Fanfiction

I was feeling brave enough to upload a fic for the first time! It’s not necessarily romantic so non-Steelfedora fans can hopefully enjoy as well, but it does feature Steven and Riley so I’m uploading it via this blog.

Many, many thanks to @vermilion-city-gym for proofreading!

Steven stood at the shoreline, a cool wind whipping at his side. The waves pounded against the rocks, scattering seafoam across their gleaming surfaces. Winter frost had not set in over the salty coast of Iron Island, but from here, he was greeted by the view of Sinnoh's mainland coated in layers of pure white. It was quite the sight to behold, especially for a man used to tropical climes.

Far out here, away from home and the pressures of his working life, it was so easy to lose track of time. He felt like he could have been staring over the waves for an eternity, watching as they swept forward and sank back again, over and over and over. When the wind picked up, it aggravated the sea in turn. Suddenly, the water would lunge high and fall down heavily, breaking against the boulders with a resounding crash. For Steven, it only brought back terrible memories.

He tried not to think too hard about it, lest he start taking himself back to Sootopolis- the very thing he'd come out to Sinnoh to forget about. Instead, he turned his attention to the Beldum floating patiently at his side. A little Pokemon not much longer than his forearm, not very expressive to those unfamiliar with its kind. But Steven had been with these Pokemon for many years, and he knew all their quirks and expressions. Until now, the iron Pokemon had been hovering quietly, but now it was swaying side-to-side and emitting a subtle buzz. It knew someone was approaching.

A man, clad in blue, strode elegantly over the rocks. He maintained his poise even with such unsteady ground beneath his feet. Trailing behind him was a Lucario, even taller than he was, with alert ears and a magnificent mane of fur about its neck. It paused every few moments as if surveying the environment, then continued to bound gracefully over the rocky shore in pursuit of its trainer.

"You're just on time, Riley." Steven greeted. The other man tipped his hat, simultaneously tucking a Pokeball into the belt hidden underneath his smartly-fitted jacket.

"I take it this isn't the setting you had in mind for our battle?"

"The weather could have been better, but as long as you don't suspect it's a danger, I don't see why we can't add a little challenge to the playing field?"

"Certainly. I'm sure Ren would appreciate the practice."

The corners of Steven's lips rose slightly, which did not go unnoticed. Riley leaned back, arms folded, a playful expression on his face.

"Alright, I think Ren's ready to go. Now show me what you told me about, Steven. I've been very excited to see it."

Not missing a beat, Steven pulled a Pokeball from his belt and released the clasp. A heavily-built, four-legged Pokemon crashed down to the ground, leaving small craters beneath its claws. The smooth metal body of the Metagross, broken only by a scar along the top of its steel carapace, glinted in the light of the sun emerging behind the clouds. No sooner had the Metagross entered the field, than Riley's Lucario had jumped in front of its trainer, ears pricked and eyes focused.

Neither man wasted any time on starting the battle.

"Ren, start with a Blaze Kick! Get a feel for its weak points."

The Lucario sped across the rocks. Its foot landed between the opponent's eyes, engulfed in a hot flame. It was a hard hit- one that the Metagross withstood, but it knocked the steel Pokemon's balance for a moment. Ren didn't waste a second getting back on his feet after launching the move, observing the Metagross carefully as it re-adjusted its position in light of the attack. Clearly, it was a very well-practiced battler, but Ren had trained extensively too.

Steven's expression remained neutral. He did not retaliate immediately, which knocked both Riley's and Ren's guard a little- Riley was, admittedly, used to faster-paced battles, but having watched Steven's Pokemon in combat before, he knew to expect something different. Steven's Pokemon could take a few hits, and often did, before launching back with nigh-unbeatable force. Riley didn't even expect to win- least of all knowing what Steven was planning to show him- but he was going to put his all out nonetheless, if only to see Steven in action.

"Okay, Titus. Let's not hold this back any longer. Are you ready?"

With an affirmative grunt from his partner, Steven reached under his coat, unhooked the stickpin from his jacket, and raised it to his lips. The beautiful stone embedded into the stickpin began to glow as it made contact with his skin. Simultaneously, the marble-like stone fixed to a brace on Titus' leg lit up, and within moments, both trainer and Pokemon were enveloped in a golden aura.

Riley had never felt anything like it before. It was like feeling a Pokemon evolve- something that he had born witness to on several occasions, and honestly one of the most intriguing yet indescribable feelings he'd ever sensed. But there was yet another layer to this mega evolution. From within the glowing mass, he could feel Titus growing and changing; the Pokemon began to fill with new sensations, new emotions and a determination so strong that for a second, Riley was almost shaken by it. He could also feel Steven, unshaken as ever in battle, but welling with energy and emotions that Riley found unfamiliar in him. Rage, fear, excitement, euphoria, all crossed through Steven's aura as the light of the transformation engulfed him. And when the golden glow died down, Steven looked as steady as before. To any other observer, there was no change, but Riley could feel the boldness of their auras, the heightened life energy that pulsed through both of them.

In place of what had been before, Titus now boasted a new form, larger and sturdier, with four claw-tipped arms at its disposal. Any weak point Ren had uncovered was most certainly not a concern for the Metagross now.

Still trying to get to grips with the intensity of the sensations he'd felt, Riley focused for a minute on the opponent Pokemon. Its life force was incredible, nearly comparable to that of a trained aura user like himself or Ren. What intrigued him more was that there seemed to be an overlap between his aura and the aura of his trainer; like the energies of the two had mingled together. This was everything Steven had assured him it would be and more.

"Okay, Ren. I assume you can feel the same as I can. Let's give this our best, in any case."

The Lucario let out a grunt of agreement, and leapt up onto slightly higher ground. Then again, it wasn't really higher now that the Metagross had increased so much in size. Riley issued a command, but the Metagross was already positioned to take the attack, using all four arms to shield its face. Ren's punch was deflected easily, tossing him down into the sand between the rocks.

"Back on your feet, Ren. Let's try keeping some distance. Bone rush!"

Between his palms, the Lucario gathered a bundle of energy, shaping it into an elongated bone. Ren extended his weapon like a sword in front of him, steadying himself before making a careful, precise strike at the other Pokemon. It hit its mark- at the joint between one of the arms and the body, causing the Metagross' heavy limb to drop. That momentary slip gave leverage for the Lucario to strike the other joint on the same side, and then to leap atop the body, where the Metagross was unable to reach. Despite its thrashing, Titus could not shake the Lucario off its back.

Titus stopped, dead still, allowing the Lucario to hit it again and again. Once the attack had finished, and Ren's weapon dissipated, the Metagross was still standing. Its two arms had recovered, clicked back into place, and its body was unscathed. From across the battlefield, Riley could see Steven's expression was unchanged. Though it was hard to read him through the haze of trainer-and-Pokemon's auras intertwined, Riley could tell from experience alone that Steven was calculating his moves carefully.

By this point, even Ren clearly wasn't comfortable. The Metagross seemed infallible, and though the Lucario knew it couldn't truly be unbeatable, he didn't know how to get around it. He was especially uncomfortable with the fact that his trainer was taking so long to respond. Riley had always been very attack-focused, a hard-hitter with a quick pace. Now, both sides were just waiting.

For once, Riley was totally unable to predict his opponent's next moves, and didn't even have the advantage of their aura on his side. He couldn't pick up slight changes in their mood, no fear nor confidence that might hint at their plan of attack. Most uncomfortably, Steven seemed totally in control, like he knew exactly what was coming and exactly how he was going to win against it. Riley wasn't used to this- an opponent who equalled and, in fact, surpassed his own intelligence in battle.

"Giga Impact, Titus."

There wasn't even a moment to respond to the attack. Ren was quick- he heard the words and lunged to avoid it, but the Metagross tilted its body just at the right instant. The Lucario attempted to jump to a nearby boulder, only to drop right in the path of the Metagross' thick claws as it lurched into him and tossed him violently against the rock. Pitifully, he slumped down on his side. He regained his footing quickly, but not fast enough to avoid the Metagross' next strike. After the second hit, Titus was forced to pause and rest.

Ren staggered to his feet. Once he was up, it only took seconds before he was ready to go again. Not much could knock down a determined, aura-wielding Lucario so easily- which Steven knew perfectly well, and neither he nor Titus were prepared to let the Lucario have so much as a moment's advantage. Indeed, it was remarkable how in-sync they appeared to be. Once or twice, Riley had taken note of the fact that Titus' motions seemed to match very subtle movements made by his trainer, such as a glance in the other direction or a near-invisible twitch of his fingers- whether the Pokemon could see Steven or not. It was something he did himself with Ren, but that was hardly unusual for a pair who could share a wealth of information via aura.

"Repeat the attack, Ren. Bone Rush, but don't stay close to him afterwards."

Ren tried to do the same thing, though already hindered by exhaustion from the battle. Riley winced as Ren's first attack missed its mark. Never, ever had he seen Ren begin to slide so early in a match. At least not since Ren evolved into a Lucario, and they had trained their auras together.

Okay, Ren. Let's give them a challenge, shall we?

Affirmative, master.

Let's see how Steven deals with us sharing orders privately. I think he'll be able to cope.

Ren jammed his weapon into the joint, retreating suddenly when he noticed his opponent's response. Titus swung his arms out, hoping to knock the Lucario aside, but Ren barely dodged the hit. He leapt back, pausing to breathe heavily as he awaited Titus' inevitable next attack.

Whatever he tries next, it will require close contact. I know this isn't usually our style, but your primary goal is to keep as far away as you can. Make the attack miss. See if you can catch them off guard.

The Lucario crouched, faking preparation for another attack. Titus saw through it, waiting just long enough to guarantee that the Lucario wasn't about to strike, then it lunged. Ren bolted in the opposite direction, pausing to check his opponent's position. Not unexpectedly for such a smart Pokemon, Titus hadn't put its all into the attack; it had faked a strike to get Ren running, and was instead bracing itself for a long-distance attack.

By the time Ren had started powering up his Aura Sphere, Titus was already shielded by a barrier of psychic force. Normally against a Pokemon like Metagross, Ren would've had speed on his side, but now he had no choice other than to resort to a battle of attrition. In any other case, Ren's strength and skill might have given him the upper hand; against Titus, he highly doubted that his powerful attacks would do anything at all.

The Aura Sphere grew brighter and brighter in his paws. Suddenly, it accelerated towards the Mega Metagross, colliding with the barrier with a searing flash. The barrier shattered like glass, shards of psychic energy bursting outwards and vanishing into nothing as the ball of aura exploded against the opponent Pokemon's steel surface. Ren's most powerful attack knocked the floating metal titan back several feet. Thick claws scraped up the ground below, dragging a dent through the rocks.

Ren repeated the attack. This time, it was smaller and weaker, but on the back of his last shot it was enough to destabilize his opponent. Titus sank down, the base of its body now lying on the boulders below. But the expression in its eyes was unchanged. Not moments later, Titus was back in the air, and its psychic barrier reset.

At this point, Ren and Riley knew better than to waste energy on another Aura Sphere. It was clear that the tactic wasn't working, and their only option was to get close to Titus again- which would, most likely, result in defeat. It would be an honourable defeat at the least. Exchanging an acknowledging nod between them, Riley and Ren paused to take in the aura of their opponents one last time. Words couldn't quite describe the excitement they felt in it, the liveliness of both participants despite how utterly calm they appeared. Riley could see the familiar fire in Steven's eyes, a subtle but brilliant determination that always emerged as his battles drew to a close.

Ren came half-way across the battlefield, letting the Mega Metagross meet him there. He hadn't given up, still putting what energy he had left into his last Close Combat attack, but deep down he knew it was never going to be enough. Titus crashed down on him like a landslide, pinning him into the gaps between the rocks. Ren felt the waters of the incoming tide lap at the tip of his ear, as he lay immobilized beneath the victorious Champion's Pokemon. As Titus pulled away, leaving Ren exhausted, the heated scene returned to its natural tranquility. By now, the wind had turned into no more than a subtle breeze, and the waves had calmed to a gentle crawl up and down the shore.

Just for a moment, there was another rush of energy- and then all returned to normal. Riley could feel both Steven and Titus distinctly, each slowly calming down from the excitement of the battle. Titus tucked its legs beneath its metal shell, nestling on the ground and listening to the faint sound of Wingulls over the beach. Steven paused to gaze over the length of the shoreline ahead, regaining a sense of the environment he was in. It was easy to get lost in the intensity of such a battle.

After allowing Steven and his Pokemon a moment to recover, Riley strolled across the rocks towards them, pausing beside his worn-out Lucario. "Well, you kept to your word, Steven."

"Yeah... Yeah, it's an intense feeling, wouldn't you say?"

Riley pulled out a few items from his bag, and began applying them to Ren. A low rumble of thanks came from deep in the Pokemon's throat.

"If you don’t mind me asking, how does it feel for you when you do that?"

Steven climbed down and perched on a boulder besides Riley, extending an arm out to his Metagross to give it a firm rub in its favourite spot. "Different. I suppose it's hard to say how, but that is something I hope to understand better as I train more."

Riley smiled, watching as his friend pulled the Pokeball from his belt, and let his partner return to the comfort of its ball. "Thank you, Titus." He murmured as the Pokemon vanished in a flash of red light.

"Even I couldn't quite explain how you felt from my perspective. And I know Ren felt the same." The Lucario gave a snort of agreement. "Going by your auras, it was honestly quite difficult to tell you and Titus apart."

"That makes sense. It's very hard to explain, but... There's a connection of sorts between me and Titus, when we mega evolve. It feels like you are drawing energy from one another. And sometimes, the connection... Relays sensations between us, if that makes sense. Though I suppose that makes it sound as if I’ve gone completely mad." Both Riley and Steven chuckled.

"Honestly, with the way I'm able to feel the world, nothing like that comes as a surprise to me. It's almost like you're having a taste of it yourself."

"Well, I suppose you're used to it by now. It's all a lot less confusing. I'd like to think I will keep this up and understand it better, but honestly, I don't feel like battling a lot right now."

They stared out over the peaceful waters, across to the mainland, which was overshadowed by a dense layer of cloud. The last hint of blue sky hovered over Iron Island, allowing a little sunlight onto the beach.

"I can understand. Perhaps it's better to take a pause and focus on your other passions. It'll make you appreciate battling all the more later."

"That's true." Steven pulled his coat tightly around himself, feeling the nip in the air. Riley glanced upwards at the former Hoenn Champion, as smart and handsome as he ever had been, but looking a little tired and drained. Whether it was due to the events of the battle, or much deeper troubles, Riley could not tell. Steven's aura was not always necessarily a simple one to decipher. But, at the very least, Riley was glad to be a person that Steven could trust when he needed someone.

"If you would like, though, I could do as I said and get you acquainted with a keystone of your own. I trust that you enjoyed the battle and would still like one." Riley saw Steven's grin out of the corner of his eye. "I know the people who presented me and Titus with our stones would welcome a trainer like you."

Leaning back and folding his arms, Riley replied, "It was an inspiring battle, no doubt about it. I suppose it would be foolish of me to not take up such an opportunity, especially as an aura user."

"Then it's settled."

"Although I don't suppose it will be easy, getting used to all those new sensations. It would be nice to have a familiar face around, to help tutor me through the process."

A grin appeared on Riley's face. Steven sighed and nodded, letting his hand reach towards his keystone without thinking; he ran his fingers over its smooth surface, for a second lost in his thoughts, then nodded. "I suppose by the time you have access to a keystone, and no doubt you will get one, I'll feel a renewed passion for battling. If you wouldn't mind putting up with me a little longer, perhaps I could be of some help."

"Why, it's always a pleasure having you here, Steven."

They stayed for another few minutes, though it felt to Steven like it could have been hours; both trainers, the Lucario, and a little floating Beldum, relaxing their bodies and minds to the ambience of the waves and Wingulls crying in the distance.

[hexawingeddemons]

@clefartist  here’s your dirty ship sailing away.... <3