Iron Island—Riley and Byron (BONUS)

Sinnoh, Iron Island.

Gengar tearfully bid farewell to Gyarados.

"Ka-kaah~~ o(TヘTo)"

Goodbye, my dear ride.

"Garrr~~"

Gyarados also shed tears of relief.

Finally free!

This was too much! Life was too hard!

Seeing Gyarados cry, Gengar wiped its eyes and couldn't help but suggest:

"Ka-kaah?"

How about I just catch you in a Poké Ball?

A Pokémon catching a Pokémon?

Gyarados froze for a moment at the suggestion before diving deep into the water.

Run! Fast!

It splashed Gengar with water in the process.

So cheeky.

Gengar wiped its face.

"To enter the Iron Ruins, we need to meet someone first," Looker said as he led Johan and the others further onto the island.

"Cha!"

The Poké Ball on Johan's waist suddenly popped open, and his Tinkaton, hammer in hand, appeared beside him.

Her hammer buzzed like a scanner.

Metal detected!

And possibly valuable metal at that!

Johan quickly pulled the little one back.

That's private property!

That's the Pokémon Center!

Meanwhile…

Inside a house on Iron Island, a young man dressed in a suit and top hat, exuding a gentlemanly air, suddenly opened his eyes.

Beside him, a Lucario meditating with closed eyes did the same.

Man and Pokémon locked eyes, both seeing the same hint of surprise.

Aura!

It was the presence of another Aura Guardian.

And not just any Aura—it was pure, as if it came from the very source of Aura itself!

So, he wasn't the only one in this world!

Riley looked at Lucario, a rare excitement on his face, and spoke in a deep voice:

"Lucario, I am not alone in my path!"

"Luca!"

Lucario nodded firmly.

There was something else it wanted to say.

That presence…

It felt even purer and more familiar than Riley's own Aura.

If anything, Riley might actually be the junior one here.

Even though the newcomer's Aura wasn't particularly strong yet.

"Let's go, Lucario. Time to welcome our guest."

Riley stood up and opened the courtyard gate just as Johan and the others arrived.

Johan narrowed his eyes slightly before realizing—

Iron Island's Riley?

The last known Aura Guardian?

Suddenly, he understood why Looker brought them here.

Iron Island, large as it was…

It was Riley's private property!

Not only was he a mining tycoon, but he was also the island's owner.

To enter the sealed mining tunnels that led to the Iron Ruins, they needed his permission.

And Riley wasn't just anyone—he was a descendant of Sir Aaron from Cameran Palace, inheriting his Aura.

In a way…

Johan and Riley's Aura abilities shared the same lineage.

After all, Johan's Aura came from Aaron's disciple, Lucario, and from Mew—or rather, the Tree of Beginning.

While Riley's Aura came directly from Aaron himself.

The question was—

How much of Aaron's power had Riley inherited? Could he throw Aura Spheres by hand?

"I am Riley. Welcome to Iron Island."

Riley tipped his hat with a smile.

"Mr. Riley, we are…"

Looker and Riley had some prior acquaintance, so after a brief introduction, he explained their purpose.

"Investigating the ancient giants?"

Riley appeared thoughtful.

But he didn't refuse Looker's request. Instead, he readily agreed:

"Of course, no problem."

He then led the group toward the central mountain of the island—the entrance to the Iron Ruins, and once one of the mining tunnels.

Along the way…

Riley realized he had underestimated Johan.

Johan's Aura wasn't just purer than his—it carried a sacred presence that commanded reverence.

However, Johan showed no intention of revealing that he possessed Aura at all.

So, Riley remained silent on the matter.

After all, he himself rarely disclosed his Aura abilities unless necessary.

Except…

Why was that sacred aura growing stronger?

It was almost like…

At the back of the group, Johan's expression twitched.

…Hungry again?

He discreetly channeled some Aura into the Rainbow Feather.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but…

Under his Aura's infusion, the Rainbow Feather seemed to be growing more alive.

…Surely it wouldn't hatch into a baby Ho-Oh, right?

If it did—

Who would be considered the parent?

Ho-Oh?

Or him?

Johan shook his head at the thought.

It was just a feather—no way it could be that powerful.

Once he sensed the feather was "full," he stopped.

But up ahead, Riley was shaken.

That sacred aura was so in tune with Johan—it even seemed affectionate toward him!

This man was undoubtedly a brave and righteous Aura Guardian!

Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows far behind them…

A small Marshadow leaned on a wooden stick, quietly observing Johan.

It had long since grown used to the Rainbow Feather's presence.

In fact…

"Marsha…"

That Aura of his…

What did it taste like?

Even Marshadow was tempted to try it.

—

"Please wait a moment. I'll check if the tunnel is still safe."

Near the summit, Riley spoke.

Since the tunnels hadn't been used in ages, their condition was uncertain. To ensure safety, he decided to inspect them first.

"Much appreciated," Looker said.

The group took a seat on nearby stone benches.

"…So, how strong is this Riley guy?" Drake asked the question that interested him most.

"Not weak."

Before Looker could answer, Cynthia spoke first.

"Indeed," Looker nodded. "If he wanted, he could easily be a Gym Leader in Sinnoh."

And, Johan silently added, he might even reach the Elite Four level one day.

Drake's eyes lit up.

"If he's that strong, I have to challenge him!"

Johan noticed Cynthia subtly exhale.

He nearly laughed.

Seems like even Cynthia was getting fed up with Drake's constant challenges.

Fair enough.

After being challenged over a hundred times by the same person…

Anyone would be annoyed.

"Cha! Cha!"

Tinkaton swung her hammer, searching excitedly.

And she actually found something!

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar's eyes sparkled. It leapt out of Johan's shadow and, in a swimming motion, dove underground where Tinkaton had pointed.

Moments later, it popped back up, nodding furiously.

"Cha!"

Tinkaton called over Ninetales.

"Oowoo?"

Ninetales stretched before trotting over.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar pointed at the ground, ready to dig.

Johan noticed them but didn't stop them.

The area was abandoned—it should be fine, right?

"Oowoo!!"

Ninetales, using Dig, quickly tunneled underground.

Gengar and Tinkaton followed.

A short while later…

Ninetales burst out from another location, shaking itself clean of dirt and dust.

Tinkaton climbed out, grinning, holding a high-quality metal chunk.

The trio cheered and high-fived.

Excited by their success, Tinkaton eagerly resumed searching.

Then—

A loud, gruff voice boomed out:

"This… This hole!"

A towering, muscular man in a gray short-sleeved shirt, black cape, and holding a shovel knelt beside the hole Ninetales had dug—his face full of awe.

"I love this hole!!"

His expression was as if the hole were a work of art.

Johan and the others turned toward the voice.

Gengar and Ninetales glanced over as well.

"Gym Leader Byron?" Looker recognized the man.

It was Byron, the Gym Leader of Canalave City!

Yesterday, Anabel had tried contacting him during the Pokémon hunter operation, but he had been unreachable—likely busy digging for fossils deep underground.

"Who dug this? I must learn from them!" Byron asked, eyes shining.

"Oowoo…"

Ninetales hesitantly raised a paw.

Byron rushed forward to grab it—only for Ninetales to dodge and scurry behind Johan.

"Oowoo…"

Is this guy okay?

Johan's mouth twitched.

…No.

This was just Byron being Byron.

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Powerstones?

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