Raina happily made it to the outskirts of Uxie Forest. She sent out all her Pokemon.
Toast, Ink, Aria, and Azuru all happily came out, jumping around.
All of a sudden, Aria began glowing!
"Yes! You're evolving!" Raina pumped a fist, watching the fluffy Pokemon grow even fluffier.
"Al! Al!" She crowed happily.
Raina was starting to believe her Pokemon were growing stronger.
After all, now she had an Altaria, an Azumarill, her Quilava, and Swadloon, whom she never would evolve.
Raina made her way to Valleyville, and entered the gym.
She read a sign.
'Zemlyo is the Gym Leader of Valleyville! He's famous for having two gym leader sons! The rock-type master, Oris, and the steel type gym leader, A-' Raina read. Unfortunately, some Team Shadow member wrote, "Team Shadow is the best!" over the name. She remembered Oris, whom she'd barely defeated. She didn't know who the steel gym leader was though. Raina shrugged it off, and entered the gym, seeing a middle-aged man sitting of a mound of dirt. Next to him was a Sandslash, Dugtrio, and a Donphan. The man, known as Zemlyo, looked strangely familiar. Raina shrugged it off.
'Maybe I just heard of him on the news?' She thought, thinking nothing of it.
The man in question gasped at the sight of the young trainer, but kept his face hidden under a rough, blank face.
He had brown eyes like the ground types he loved so much. His hair was a dark jet-black, with streaks of silver grazing the top. He had some gray and black stubble. The man's eyes were watery; his hands dry and calloused from the things he'd done and seen.
"Her," he muttered, thinking of him.
He'd held that kid as an infant. The appearance was uncanny.
'The gray eyes, determined look, and red hair... it's her," he thought.
'Acer was such an idiot to give her and Scarletta up," Zemlyo thought of Scarletta and her kid, Raina, who was right in front of him.
"Um... You're the gym leader right? If so, I wanna battle you!" Raina said, unsure but excited.
"Yup. You...You ready, Raina?" Zemlyo asked.
'Lord Helix, she's definitely Acer's kid...'
"How do you know my name?" Raina asked, confused.
'Crap.' Zemlyo thought.
"Uh, Oris told me about you! That's it!" He exclaimed.
Truthfully, Oris never remembered her fights and she always forgot to call him.
"Oh. Okay. Well, let's battle. Go! Azuru!" She said, shrugging it off.
Azuru ran forwards, tripping on her tail.
"Kay. Go Dugtrio!" Zemlyo commanded.