Heroes of Darkness

III

LEO

"You'd better keep up the training," Chris said to him with the same cocky smile as he always had. "Next time we see each other, I want you to actually be a challenge for me."

Leo Specter was directing the ship's crew on which chests were his that he needed to take back to Mt. Pyre. They had been docked for around an hour now, but he and Dusclops still had things to pack. Leo tried to hide his scowl at Chris's attitude.

Life isn't all about sparring, he thought to himself as Dusclops was busy folding his clothes with a psychic energy. He gave Chris what he wanted, and put on a competitive face of his own. "Next time we see each other, I'll be bigger than you."

It was probably true. Leo was big and strong for his age, but fifteen is still younger than seventeen as far as maturity went. Leo's father, the Lord Governor of Mt. Pyre, was large as well. Leo and Chris sparred often during their time together in the capital, and even once or twice on the voyage back home.

When their Spirit Pokémon would spar, it was almost a dead even fight. Chris Marsh's Azumarill was strong and fast, but Leo's Dusclops was deceptive, quick, and methodical. When it came to human against human, Leo almost matched Chris as far as strength, speed, and skill. However, Chris Marsh II surpassed everyone he had ever seen in terms of ferocity. Well, he was Ahab's pet.

Leo recalled waking up during sleepless nights, only to hear the ringing of steel in the courtyard of Sootopolis' marble castle. He could tell that Chris enjoyed fighting. Leo just wanted his year of instruction with the First Generation to be over so he could go home to his family. He missed Mt. Pyre and the early morning fogs. He missed his father and mother. Most of all, he had missed his older brother, Alex.

"Let's go, Dusclops," he told his grey Spirit Pokémon. Its eye glowed as it began to levitate some of the surrounding chests. Leo playfully brushed past Chris and his Azumarill on the way out of his cabin.

Chris laughed. "I'll remember that, Specter. You'd better be ready!"

Leo chuckled as well. He had always gotten along with the Lord Governor-to-be of Slateport and Mauville, unlike a lot of the other young First Generation. Then again, Leo got along well with most everybody. "We'll keep in touch. That is, if you finally learn how to read, I might send a Swellow."

Chris smiled but inside Leo knew he had pushed a button. His teachers often tried to get Leo to influence Chris better in the classrooms. Leo knew it was a lost cause.

"Look at all this stuff!" came a voice. Leo's heart skipped in his chest in excitement. "You pack like a girl. Which one is your makeup, and which chest of yours has all your dresses in it?"

Leo turned to the ramp of the ship, and sure enough, his big brother Alex was standing there. Banette floated by his side with the same big, zippered grin it always had. It had been almost a year since he had last seen his older brother. Leo heard his boots hit the wooden deck as he ran up to embrace him.

"Look who's calling who a girl," Leo said as they shared a quick hug. "I'm not the one who has such pretty hair." It was true. Alex had grown his hair out a little since he had last seen him. They used to have the same short, cropped hair. Now that it was longer and partially covered his older brother's ears, Leo noted how Alex's hair was much darker than his own. It must be their different mothers. It doesn't matter, Leo thought to himself. A half-brother is still a brother.

Chris's voice called up again. "You must be the Disowned One."

Leo sighed when he heard those words. He didn't like it when people were disrespectful to Alex. Sure, Leo was younger, and unusually the heir, but Alex was a better young man than everyone Leo met in the capital. As long as he could remember, Leo was always tugging along behind Alex. He loved his big brother, who was always there to help him lace his boots or fix a cut or scrape when they were younger.