Rho

**Rho**, also known as **Riptide**, was the founder of the organization known as Rune during the Glitch Arc. Due to the Glitches causing errors, he was changed into a human until they were defeated, after which he returned to his Phione form.

## Personality

Rho, or Riptide, is usually cold and formal, but becomes very defensive and even angry in conversations about Raine. As a human, he often wished he could have more time that way, in order to help Raine... Now that he's become his true self again, he's been shown to have a fair amount of self-loathing, believing himself far more useless as a Phione.

## History

### Before Prism

#### Early Life

Riptide was born in an aquarium with several other Phione. When he was almost a year old, Team Rocket infiltrated, and Riptide was stolen. He was given to an agent known as Red Angel. Despite the nature of their meeting, they seemed to bond.

#### Team Rocket

Riptide considered his role as Red Angel's Pokémon to be a far greater purpose than some display in an aquarium. Though initially finding his Trainer's split mind to be unnerving, he grew accustomed to it and did his best to become a worthy partner to both sides.

### In Prism

#### Grunt 652

Red Angel's other half joined Team Prism as Grunt 652 due to the nudging of Rocket, who wanted a spy in Prism's ranks. When Riptide learned of Admin Neffy's fear of Manaphy and Phione, he took great joy in frightening the Admin.

#### Twice Broken

When 652 was discovered to be the same person as Red Angel, he was banished from the Team. Riptide was growing increasingly distraught about his Trainer being forced to live a split life, neither side ending up happy. In an attempt to retrieve stability, Raine returned to Team Rocket.

### After Prism

#### The Stone

Almost immediately upon Red Angel's return, Team Rocket dismissed him from the Team. Rather than letting him go, they took his Pokémon, sending them to all to different Grunts. Riptide spent some time with his new Trainer, but refused to accept that Raine was gone.

One night, he managed to slip away, and discovered Ŗ̵͗̍͗͂̍̍̃̐̀̾̿͂̀̚͝E̸̢̘̖̱̺̽̌́͒͜Ḏ̴̡̨̲̣͕̘̘̈ͅÅ̴̛̛͎̦̼͑̓̅͌̎̿̾̍̓̑͝Ĉ̸͉͉͍̱̠͉̭̐̾́̌͗̿̃͝͠Ţ̸̢̛̞̘̜͚̟̙̲̝̘̱̲̉̈̎̌̌̅̇̀͒͜Ę̸̭̫͎̙̝̤̘̙̼̖̐̿̅̿̇͠D̷͎̘̼̱̤͚̎̌̌̌͑̂̽̽͝. Horrified, he made it his mission to somehow set Raine free, as well as undo what Rocket had done to him. While he was gradually trying to regather the rest of Raine's team, Raine escaped.

### In Rune

#### Rune Defog

Rho was first encountered when Prism Grunt 40 hacked the missing Admin Neffy's phone, with the help of Stephen Melching. Through the phone's cameras, she saw almost all of Rune's members, including Rho. Not long afterward, Team Prism confronted Rune.

Rho explained that he had gathered individuals from many regions in the hope of stopping the Glitches' progress. Prism Grunt 40 attempted to get Rho to explain his connection to Raine, who she assumed to be former Prism Grunt 652. Rho refused to give much information, but was notably agitated.

After that, Rune, Ketamis, and Team Prism joined forces against the glitches.

#### Infinite End

Rho met with the volunteer party and helped to give everyone a protective Unown charm. He was noticeably quiet and distant.

When the party returned after defeating the Glitches, Rho was nowhere to be found...

Admin Merci found Riptide crying in front of the chamber that contained Raine, and revealed him to be Rho. The Glitches altering reality had turned him human, but after they were defeated, he was returned to his true form. He expressed the feeling that he could do nothing to save Raine this way, but Admin Merci reassured him, and convinced him and the rest of Raine's Pokémon to rejoin Team Prism.

## Relationships

### Romantic

Rho has never had a romantic partner, and does not seem interested.

### Platonic

#### Raine

Rho is very protective of Raine, and wants nothing more than to help him return to his true self.

## Pokémon

### Current Members

Riptide is a Pokémon, and thus does not train any.

### Former Members

#### Ace (Male Noctowl)

Ace is calm and collected. He seems to know how to use phones.

#### Tear (Female Shiny Scyther)

Tear is a White City variant of Shiny Scyther. Her body is blood-red.

#### Thrasher (Male Electivire)

This Electivire seems familiar somehow...

#### Control (Female Alakazam)

Control is cruel and arrogant, and often argues with Rho.

## Trivia

* Rho was the only member of Rune who was not a canon Pokémon character.