Yup, part two of my series where I pick out game and anime characters and decide whether they deserve a gym leader, elite 4 or Champion position. Today, I'm talking about Riley.

Riley, a young and canonically handsome young man, is from Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum & Legends Arceus best known as the iconic Lucario trainer. In the film, Lucario & The Mystery of Mew, a Lucario trainer by the name of Sir Aaron was a fan favorite. Years later, Riley, a man of whom we assume is a descendent of Sir Aaron, is introduced within the games with his own Lucario and he isn't any push over.

Riley is introduced as the owner of an abandoned mining colony within the Sinnoh Region, named the Iron Island. After Team Galactic infiltrated the island, Riley bumps into the player as asks for some aid in taking care of the pests. Surely enough, the player & Riley defeat every last trainer on the island taking back what was rightfully Riley's. This is the last you'll see of Riley within these games UNLESS you challenge the Battle Frontier where you can challenge Riley in battle.

Throughout the story as well as your short time spent with Riley, you learn that Riley was offered a gym leader position in the past. That should be hint number one that Riley ain't no pushover. However, Riley respectfully refused the offer as he felt Roark, Sinnoh's Rock Gym Leader, was a better fit for the position at the time. This isn't to say Riley didn't want the position, he respectfully thought someone else deserved the position and was a better fit. Some part of me assumes he denied the position due to his STRONG independence. I mean Riley lives, alone, on an island only with his Lucario to company him by.

So CLEARLY I feel robbed that Riley never took on some sort of trainer title be it gymleader, elite 4 or champion. If Riley were to become a gym leader or elite member of a particular typing, I feel that he'd clearly specialize in the fighting type as his team puts an emphasis on attack stats. He even owns MANY fighting types OR pokemon that use fighting moves like Lucario, Machamp, Infernape, Blaziken, Ursaring AND more. Furthermore, MandJTV made a video on YouTube exploring What If the Champions from each region got dethroned and Who would take their position. Through lots of research, Riley beats Cynthia BY A MILE!!! In fact, Riley is capable of defeating multiple regional Champions with ease especially Diantha and Steven.

So why isn't Riley a Gym Leader, Elite 4 Member or Champion? Cause he's too much of a lone wolf. So like yeah! I feel robbed that Riley never became a trainer of status!!!