Roark got ravaged by a Passerby... but the good news is Vacation time!
Roark waved his fist, "I'll win and come back, Uncle!" Ace nodded and smiled, waving from Noivern's back, Faye looked at Roark and snorted, "Don't disappoint Ace-sama, four eyes!" Roark nodded and left as Noivern flew back to Oreburgh.
The next day
Ace was battling in the gym as Faye held her Rotom Phone watching the Conference battles.
After using the newest clown as a mop to clean the Gym, Ace dusted his hands and looked over at Faye, "And?" She looked up and nodded, "Well, Four Eyes isn't bad! A bit good looking during battle…" Ace's lips twitched, did I ask you if he looked good or not???
Roark isn't bad looking! Just a little bit of a baby face.
No! That's not the point!
Ace coughed and said helplessly, "The matches!" Faye blinked, "Oh. He won his first game." Ace nodded and another challenger ran in, "You despicabl-"
Another day, another fanboy to throttle!
A week passed just like this!
Roark came back, rubbing his glasses as he sat down in the Gym, sighing.
In the end, he was cut off in the Semi-Finals!
Ace shook his head, patting his shoulder in comfort, "Well… What can you do…" Roark clenched his fists, "I was so close! I…" he sighed in the end. Faye looked at him and shook her head.
Really!
What can you do!
Ace didn't know if it was a World Law or something… But a random passerby won the Sinnoh conference! That's right!
A random passerby like in the anime!
One minute, you're full of hopes and dreams, the next… Well, some guy shows up, no idea where he came from, who he was… But he sends out 3 Legendary Birds and 3 Legendary Dogs and teaches you how to doubt life!
Ace watched that game and was so angry! He wanted to climb through the screen and beat that passerby to a pulp!
Who are you?!
You didn't get my badge, okay?!
No, this won't do…
He snorted, next time he sees someone using Legendaries to fry the fish in the pond, he decided to teach them how to be a man! That's code for Slaughtering the enemy 6 for 1 with Noivern!
What? You said Articuno and Suicune counter-sweep?
Buddy, don't joke around!
Even legendary pokemon are ashamed of these two guys, okay?!
Anyway, the Good news was that Roark got valuable experience. The Bad news was that he was going to have nightmares for a few more nights.
Moving on from that modern tragedy, Ace still had full confidence in Roark's ability as a Gym Leader! So much confidence, in fact, that he was going to run away!
Ahem!
No no, he was going on Vacation!
Ace patted Roark's shoulder, sighing 4 times in a row before Roark looked at him helplessly, "Uncle, are you going to run away…" Ace almost replied, yes! Before controlling himself, "Nonono! You're mistaken! I'm going on Vacation!"
Roark nearly cried, "Is there a difference!?" Ace nodded seriously, "Of course! I'll come back one day! If I ran away, you'd never see me again!" Roark slumped and muttered with tears in his eyes, "Oh… Oh!"
Ace rubbed his nose and slapped his back, "Alright! Cheer up! You only got stomped by a cheater! It happens to everyone! I'm leaving the Gym in your hands for a bit! Take the time to train yourself against the newbies- Ahem! I mean, the Challengers."
Roark looked at him, pushing up his glasses, asking, "Where are you going?" Ace crossed his arms, "My student is starting his journey soon! I'm going to surprise him. I won't be long… If I'm gone for more than 2 months I ran away."
Roark's lips twitched as he muttered, "Should you be saying that…?" Faye ignored Roark, looking at Ace, upset, "Ace-sama, you're leaving?! Are you gonna leave me behind!?" Ace rolled his eyes at her, waving, "Okay, okay, don't start the crocodile tears! You have to help Roark run the Gym! If you run away, then you're leaving him behind alone and that'll make me upset!"
Faye patted her chest and said instantly, "Don't worry, Four Eyes is in safe hands!" Ace rolled his eyes and looked at Roark, giving him a thumbs up.
Roark, I can only help you so much!
Roark: ???????????????
I don't want this lunatic near me!
Ace: Just give up, they're relentless!
Ahem!
Ace left his Sub Team in the Gym, looking at them as he said seriously, "Help Roark run the Gym, okay? If he needs your help, then follow his instructions. If some guy comes to fry the fish pond… just beat him hard but send him to Nurse Joy later…" Tyrantrum nodded a whole bunch, but Ace was sure this guy didn't listen.
Mainly because his head was full of rocks!
Ha! Get it?
Anyway…
Ace instructed all his Pokemon one by one, "Kabutops, you're new to the team. Try and get along with everyone. Also, the safety of the Fossil Pokemon around the Gym is your responsibility!" he turned to the rest, "The Town safety is left to you guys, okay?"
They all nodded and Ace smiled, holding out his hand as they all put their hands(???) on top.
Ace smiled at them, "I'm counting on you guys. See you in a bit." before leaving them alone. He came to Roark and gave him some instructions, "Blah Blah Blah Blah…" Roark nodded over and over while Faye blinked on the side, muttering, "Is he just saying 'Blah' over and over…?"
With that!
Everything was set!
Ace took to the skies and left Oreburgh!
It wasn't long before he was on a ship back to Kanto!
What? You thought he was going to fly all the way to Kanto with Noivern?
Are you sick, buddy?
As he was sitting on a Specialized Transport Ship, he looked out at the sea, letting out a breath of relaxation.
Sure enough, Vacation is the best! No wonder Cynthia had a beach house in Unova where she wears sexy bikinis alone!
Speaking of sexy Bikinis…
Ace looked at his Rotom Phone, staring at Elesa posing in a Bikini, with a finger on her lips and a wink on her face. He sighed contently, taking a few more glances before putting his Phone away.
His girlfriend was really sexy!
No! She's a stalker!
But… this stalker is really something else!