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.

He was about to respond for Alex, to mellow down the situation. His brother could speak for himself, however.

"I guess that's me," Alex responded. He looked at Chris and his Azumarill from the short distance away. "You must be Chris Marsh."

"The Second," Chris Marsh II corrected him. "Doubtless you've heard about me."

"A little," Alex smiled. "Nothing much." Leo couldn't help but notice how calm his half-brother was. He wished he could be like that. Nothing ever really bothered Alex.

But that seemed to bother Chris. The cocky lord-in-training shared a look with his Azumarill and took a step forward. "Isn't this ship for First Generation only? I'm surprised they let you come on deck."

Alex looked down at the deck. For a second, Leo thought that he had taken offense. Dusclops still stood as stoic as ever, packed chests floating in the air, waiting.

To everyone's surprise, Alex snorted with laughter. "I'm surprised you still haven't realized you stepped in Wingull shit."

Chris looked down, and lifted his feet up. "I didn't! What are you japing at?"

"Oh, then it must be just your smell," Alex said as he began to walk down the ramp to the dock. Leo couldn't help himself but to laugh as he turned away from Chris and followed Alex. He waved one last good-bye to his companion from the capitol, who responded with a scowl and a quick wave of his own.

"Where does that ship go next?" Alex asked as they made their way down. They were each carrying one of Leo's chests to help out Dusclops.

"Mauville," Leo answered. "That's where Chris's mother lives. Don't let him get to you. He's just testing you."

Alex just smiled back at him. "Nothing ever gets to me."

"Some things should get to you," came a new voice: a woman's with a scathing tone. "Like how you should address your superiors. That boy you insulted will one day be a Lord Governor, and once again, you bring shame upon the Specter name. Shouldn't you be fulfilling your father's wishes with the investigation, instead of dishonoring another noble boy?"

Leo let out a breath. Why does she always have to be like that around Alex? Leo loved his mother, as hard and stern as she could be. He couldn't help but notice how she always found fault in Alex, ever since they were both little. It's not fair, Leo would tell Dusclops some nights. Why can't she see how good of a brother he is? Father does. Leo didn't like it when Alex fell under scrutiny, especially from the mother they didn't share.

Once again, Alex responded with nothing more than a respectful smile. "My lady," was all he said before he turned back to Leo. "I'll leave you to your mother, then. She's right. Father's given me an assignment and I guess I've spent too much time here."

Leo's body language slumped along with his Spirit Pokémon's. He was hoping they could spend more time together tonight, like they used to. He had wanted to go fishing with Alex and just pass the time like in the old days. "Investigation?" he asked as Alex put down one of the chests.

"I'll tell you later," Alex said before he turned around and made his way back up to the arching tunnel of Mt. Pyre's entrance. Banette bobbed in the air behind his brother in rhythm with every step.

Leo and his mother followed towards the entrance at a much slower pace. "Do you see that? Your father gave him important task, and the boy just blew it off," his mother said. She scowled. "Even his Spirit Pokémon is a spite on your father's name."

"He didn't," Leo argued back, quietly. "And it's not like he chose to bond with Banette when he was a baby. Besides, he just wanted to see me."

"Well, we can't always do what we want," his mother scolded, fingering her blue pendant.

"Are you jealous of him?" Leo asked, his voice raising a little in volume. Sometimes it seemed that way. Leo's mother never answered nor allowed any talk of Alex's mother. To think her husband had once had a wife before her must rub her the wrong way.

"Me? Jealous?" she snorted with laughter. "He'll never have any meaningful position in life. He's been disowned. He's less than my hairdresser. Alex will never be as important as you are, my son." His mother stopped. She reached down and grabbed his hand. "He'll never marry an important wife, or father important children like you will, my sweet Leo."

Leo was confused. "Dusk?" his Pokémon inquired. The surprise of his mother's sudden change in mood made the levitating chests that Dusclops controlled waver in the air.

"Haven't you heard the news?" his mother asked. "You must have."

Leo shook his head.

"Your father and I have finalized a very powerful marriage contract." She smiled mischievously and her voice got high and squeaky. "You've met Elizabeth Tidall? She's also part of the First Generation."

Leo's mouth dropped open. It's too good to be true, he thought. Elli was definitely the popular girl during the First Generation instruction. Most of the time, Leo was too shy to talk to her, especially with her being closer to Alex's age than his own. She was the pretty older girl; more than he ever could dream of. Sure they had conversed once or twice. If I could see the look on Chris's face right now, he thought with a grin.

"I knew you'd be excited," Leo's mother said. "Come. Your father wants to speak with you; he's so proud of you."