Hi, everyone! This is the third story in the series. In this one, Aaron makes an unexpected friend. Let's get to know this Pokémon.

Chapter 3: Aaron's Best Friend

After a long and exhausting training section in the forest, Lucario and his son Aaron settled down for a break. "Come on, Aaron. It's time to rest." Lucario said as he put his paw on his son's shoulder. Aaron calmed down and sat next to his father.

The two of them had accomplished so much today: Aaron had learned Copycat! With it, he managed to beat even his dad in a fight.

"I'm very proud of you today, Aaron." Lucario said to his son, "I can't wait to tell your mother about this."

Aaron smiled. He learned a new move today and beat his dad in a fight. If he can beat his dad, then he can beat anybody! His thoughts of victory were interrupted by his need for water. They'd been sparring for so long that his mouth was as dry as a dune. "Papa. I'm thirsty." He stated.

"I think there's a stream close here." Said Lucario pointing north from their position, "Hurry on. And don't stray too far."

Aaron quickly got up and ran off to the stream. When he got there, he noticed to quiet and smooth the waters flowed. He kneeled and cupped up some water in his little paws. He eagerly slurped up all the water. "Refreshing!" he sighed.

"Hello?"

Aaron looked around at the sound of someone calling out. He didn't see anyone.

"Where's there?"

Aaron decided to call back, "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. Whoever you are."

"Well, in that case…"

POW!

Aaron took the full impact of that punch to the head. He turned angerly at whoever hit him, and he immediately gasped when he saw a Riolu.

A girl Riolu.

She giggled in her Pokémon-Talk, "I got you!" She pointed at the Pokémon she just hit. "Another opponent taken down by the best fighter in the whole wide forest!"

Aaron got cocky, "I'm not taken down yet, whoever you are! If you wanna fight, then fight fair!"

He lunged after her and she used a Counter on him, caused his to collapse on the ground. "Had enough yet?" she taunted, sticking her tongue out at him.

"I'm just getting started!" he got up and gave her a Force Palm to the chest, sending her back a few yards. The Girl Riolu gripped where she was struck, "Wow! You're pretty strong! But not as strong as me!"

Aaron smirked, "You're right; I'm not. I'm much stronger!" He lunged at her again, this time both of them caught each other's punches. They couldn't move without loosening their grips. "Who are you?" Aaron asked bitterly.

The Girl Riolu winked, "My name is Aura."

"Aura…" Aaron repeated, "You mean like the waves we can sense."

The two lowered their fists and let go of each other as Aura replied, "Yep. My Mommy and Daddy named me that because they say I 'give their lives meaning', whatever that means,"

"Cool." The Boy Riolu simply said, "My Papa and Mama named me after Papa's old trainer, Sir Aaron."

Aura blinked, "Aaron…you don't mean the Sir Aaron from Cameron Palace, do you?"

Aaron nods.

"Impossible!" Aura blurted, "Both Sir Aaron and his Lucario died a long time ago."

"My Papa did die, but he was given a second chance to live." assured Aaron.

Aura skeptically snarked, "You must think I'm stupid or something!"

Aaron started to get upset, "Okay! I'll prove it to you. Papa! Papa! Come here!"

Lucario ran to his son's call, fearing that something bad had happen, "What‽ What's wrong‽"

Aaron points to the girl, "This girl doesn't believe you are Sir Aaron's Lucario."

Lucario looked at Aura with a bit of surprise. Another Riolu? But how? He and Lucaria had lived here for years and had never seen another member of their kind anywhere near here. Where did she come from?

"Papa!"

Lucario turned to Aaron, "Hmm? I'm sorry?"

"Prove you're Sir Aaron's Lucario!"

Lucario simply smirked and turned to Aura, "Young Lady." He bowed respectfully. "I am the Lucario of Sir Aaron."

Aura folded her arms and scoffed, "You really do think I'm stupid!"

"I don't think you're stupid." Lucario assured, "I understand if you don't believe, but it's true. By the way, do you leave here by yourself?"

"No way!" Said Aura, "I live with my Mommy and Daddy."

Lucario dug a little deeper, "We've lived here for years and have never anymore Lucarios. How long has your family lived here?"

Aura answered, "A few days. We lived in a cave just up the stream. Where do you live?"

"In a cave on top the forest's mountain." Lucario answered.

"Aura! Where are you‽"

Aura turned around, "Uh oh! My daddy's calling!" She starts running toward her father's call. "Coming, Daddy!"

"Wait! Come back!" Aaron began to run after her, but his father stopped him.

"Let her go, Son." Said Lucario, "I have a feeling that we'll see her again."

The next day, the Lucario Family were walking in the forest toward the home of that Girl Riolu and her family. Aaron, who had his mother holding on to his paw, looked rather upset. "Why are we seeing that girl again?" he asked grumpily.

"We're meeting her family." Informed Lucaria, "Since there hasn't been any other Lucarios in this area, we should introduce ourselves to them."

Lucario then spoke, "Besides, they're new here. It's only courteous to welcome them to our forest."

"But she's mean!" Blasted Aaron, trying to escape his mother's grip. "She attacked me and didn't believe me when I told her you were Sir Aaron's Lucario!"

"Now, Son! Don't be upset!" His father told him sternly, "She's new here. So be nice to her."

Aaron groaned but sighed in submission, "Okay, Papa…"

After a few more paces, the Family finally found the cave the Girl mentioned the day before. There was nobody around, however. "They aren't here." Said Aaron, "Can we go now before she sees us?"

Lucario had just about enough of his son's behavior, "Aaron! We're greeting our new neighbors. And you are going to be on your best behavior or else no training for a week. Is that understood?"

"…Yes, Sir." Aaron pouted.

"Hey! You!"

The familiar sound of Aura's voice flooded Aaron's ears.

"So, you came for a rematch?" She cockily taunted.

Aaron became a bit aggressive, "Nobody won that match yesterday!"

Aura grinned smugly, "Then let's settle it."

Quickly, the two of them ran off and began to do battle, to settle once and for all for the stronger pokémon was. Lucario called out to Aaron, "Be easy with her, Son!"

"Give him all you got, Aura!"

Lucario and Lucaria turned to way that call came from. And low and behold, another pair of Lucarios stood a couple yards away from them. "Oh! Hello, Strangers." Said the male, "Haven't seen you in these parts. You live here?"

"For a few years, yes." Lucario answered, "I'm Lucario, and this is my mate Lucaria. And over there by that girl is our son Aaron."

"I see." Said the other female, "Well, my name's Mary, and this is my mate Joseph. And the girl you mentioned is our daughter Aura."

"She's very spunky." Said Lucaria, "As well as overconfident."

Joseph apologetically laughed and rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah, we encourage her to do her best in battles. She kind of takes it overboard."

Lucario and Lucaria nod. "Of course, well, we came to welcome you to the forest." Lucario bowed respectfully, "Do you mind if we stay a while and talk? You know, to get to know you better?"

The two other Lucarios nodded as they walked into the cave to talk.

"You think you're so strong! You can't even beat a Jigglypuff!"

"Like you're one to talk! I fought Igglybuffs tougher than you!"

Aura winked at him tauntingly, "Then way haven't you beaten me yet?"

"Because you won't play fair!"

"I used Counter on you whenever you attack me. It's a move."

"But you keep using it!"

"You're just mad because I'm beating you."

"I'm mad because you keep using the same move over and over again! That's not fair!"

"Aww. What's the matter? Tired of getting beaten by a girl?"

Aaron growled at that last insult. Aura's been spitting hurtful things at him since they started fighting. And up to this point, he had just about had it with her. Aaron roared at her, "Oh yeah‽ Use Counter on me again! I dare you!"

Aura, feeling cocky, winked at him tauntingly, "You'll have to attack me first."

Aaron, without any hesitation, charged after Aura. And as expected, she used Counter on him; but to her surprise, he too used Counter to…uh, counter her move.

Aura shockingly responded, "How did you do that?"

"I know Copycat!" Said Aaron, "I can use any move you can!"

"Impossible!" Aura shouted, "I'm the best fighter in the forest! Nobody can beat me!"

She charged after Aaron, but no matter what new move she used, Aaron used Copycat to mirror her actions, as well as counter her moves. When she used Counter, he used Counter. When she used Force Palm, he used Force Palm.

"Hey! That's not fair!"

Aura realized what she just said.

Aaron stated, "It's not so fun when others do it to you, is it."

"…"

Aura sat down, a few tears ran down her face.

Aaron scoffed, "Crying about it won't make me feel sorry for you."

"…I know." Lightly said Aura, "It's just…you're right. I don't play nice or fair with other pokémon. They all hate me for it. That's why I don't have any friends!"

Aaron couldn't help but frown at that. And frown in an "I don't care" way, but in an "I'm sorry" way. "…why do you always play mean with everyone?" Aaron asked.

"My Mommy and Daddy always told me that I'm very powerful for my age. So, I thought I was better than everyone else. That is until you came along." Aura wiped away some tears. "You probably hate me. It wouldn't be surprised if you did."

"I don't hate you." Said Aaron, "Actually, I kind of believed that I was the best fighter, too. So, I guess we're both guilty."

Aura stopped crying and got up. She smiled a bit. "You don't hate me."

Aaron assured, "I was upset with you, but I never hated you. Actually, I'm impressed with your fighting! And I think the two of us can be fighting buddies."

Aura smiled really big at this, "I like your fighting too. But, maybe we can be more than just fighting buddies. Do you…want to be my friend?"

Aaron grinned, "Sure."

"Um…do you want to be…best friends?"

"…"

"I mean, we don't have to if-"

"Sure!"

Aaron give Aura a big hug. "We can be the best pair of friends in the whole wide forest."

Aura paused but hugged him in return, "Thank you, Aaron."

The two of them raced back to their parents, eager to tell them about their recent friendship.

Thanks for reading this chapter. So, it turned out Aura was just being a 'Boastful Brittney' and her behavior was driving others away. It's a good thing Aaron showed kindness when she explained herself. And yes, I'm aware that Aura is a rather common name for a female Riolu/Lucario in the fandom, but I took something old and made something new out of it. I think. Sorry if this chapter's a little short, but here's to the next one. Also, I'm still expecting y'all to tell me what you thought about it, and to leave a comment on what lesson Aaron should learn next. Anyway, thank you again for reading and catch you later!