Shipping:EnergyShipping

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This article is about shipping. As hints and evidence for ships are mostly speculation, this page may contain POV.

EnergyShipping (Japanese: デンヒョウ Denhyou) is the theory, belief, or hope that the Sinnoh Gym Leaders Volkner and Roark are or will become romantically involved. Its name apparently comes from the fact that both characters are invested in the use of energy, as Roark runs a coal mine and Volkner's gym uses a great deal of energy to operate.

The ship became one of the most popular in the Japanese online community after the initial release of Diamond and Pearl. This may be because both characters are memorable as they have back stories, with Roark trying to live up to his father's expectations, and Volkner planning on challenging the Elite Four.

Roark is generally considered the uke (submissive) and Volkner the seme (dominant). Roark is painted as a young, vulnerable character: his own father thinks of him as a weak Gym Leader who still has a lot to learn. Volkner, on the other hand, is the strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh.

Roark also seems to have a generally happy disposition, as he enjoys exploring the Underground and overseeing the Oreburgh Mine. Volkner's official art seems to depict him as an angst-ridden and forlorn sort. This archetypal pairing rides on the hope that the naive character can bring joy to the other's empty life, not through battling but through love.

Given all this, Roark and Volkner are never seen together, or even mention each other.