Blaze paced back and forth around the main hall; he was still upset about earlier. He had only intended to help, but things got out of control. As hurt as he was for the mean things he said to his son, he still thought it would be best if he were alone. However, he was starting to worry; Luke had been gone for a while now. He decided to step outside to clear his mind and watch for his son to return.
As Blaze approached the door, Tide called over to him. Hearing his friend's voice, Blaze turned around. "Hey, Tide. Something up?"
"Yeah, I was concerned about Luke," Tide responded as he walked over.
"I'm worried about him, too," Blaze said sadly. "I was just heading outside to see if he shows up. Also, I just need to clear my head a bit."
"Is it alright if I join you?" Tide asked.
"Sure," Blaze softly replied.
With that, the two stepped outside. Standing near the front door, they restlessly eyed the area. This eerie silence lasted for a while before finally being broken by Tide.
"You really think he's alright?" the concerned Feraligatr asked.
Blaze thought a moment before answering. "Suddenly, I'm not too sure. I know I upset him, but I figured he'd come back by now."
"Hey, don't worry. He'll be back," Tide said reassuringly.
"I certainly hope so," Blaze sadly replied.
The two watched the clouds drift through the sky. Though things were peaceful, Blaze was all but relaxed, having feared that his son was in some great danger. After silently gazing at the clouds for what felt like hours, Blaze could no longer wait. Without a word, he went back inside, followed by his friend.
"Blaze! What's wrong now? Where are you going?" Tide asked as he followed.
"I'm going to go bring my son back," Blaze answered coolly. "I want you to stay here in case he comes back before I do."
Tide silently nodded, indicating that he understood his friend's request. Satisfied with Tide's understanding, Blaze turned and walked away. He knew it would be wise to pack a few things in case of an emergency, so he returned to Luke's bedroom and grabbed the backpack he had filled that morning. Upon shouldering the pack, Blaze was filled with a familiar sense of anxiety; this was the same emotion he felt whenever he prepared for a mission so many times in the past. Making a mental note about something, he left the room.
Back in the main hall, Tide paced back and forth; just as he worried about what Luke could've gotten himself into, he also worried that Blaze would end up doing something reckless. After a few moments had passed, Blaze returned.
"Be careful out there," Tide said calmly.
Blaze nodded, and left without saying a word. Once outside, he looked both left and right; though he wasn't sure which way Luke went, he had a feeling that his son was close. He chose to start searching to the right; if nothing else, the familiar path would help clear his mind. Blaze walked purposefully; he kept a careful watch on his surroundings, hoping to find anything that would lead him to his son.
As he followed the dirt road, Blaze's anxiety grew; he wanted to find Luke as soon as possible, and more than anything, he had wanted to apologize for the remarks he made earlier. He eyed the path carefully for any sign that his son had ran through there. At first, he found nothing. Suddenly, he noticed some trees that had a few broken branches. His hope restored, Blaze followed the path of maimed trees. Though it initially seemed to lead into an endless maze, this search in the forest had actually yielded another clue: a trail of footprints. Recognizing them to be Luke's footprints, Blaze progressed along the path his son had taken moments before.
After following Luke's trail for a while, Blaze stopped at the entrance of a cave. He noticed that the footprints, though faded, continued into the dark cavern. Anxious to find his son and make things right between the two of them, Blaze stepped inside.
Blaze wanted to keep following Luke's tracks, but the darkness had made that difficult. Fortunately, the faint glow of the sunlight behind him provided just enough light for Blaze to identify his desired path. Along the way, he made sure to get a good look at his surroundings; he knew how easy it was for someone to lose their way, and he didn't want that happening to him. As he continued following the faint trail, the darkness increased.
He found himself in another hallway, and suddenly, he was engulfed in darkness. Amid the darkness, Blaze focused his mind, and pressed on. He initially tried to use his keen sense of sight to find his son's trail, but was unsuccessful due to the blackness around him; in his despair, Blaze now wished he had a lantern. Since he couldn't see anything around him, Blaze began calling his son's name, making sure to stay next to the wall so he wouldn't get turned around. Blaze's voice pierced the silence, but received no response; however, he had no intention of turning back now. Feeling optimistic amid the dark silence, Blaze pressed on, determined to find his son and get home. Not much longer now, he thought.
As he progressed, Blaze noticed a faint glow nearby. While it wasn't much, it was certainly welcome, and it was just enough to allow Blaze to catch a glimpse of Luke's tracks again. The trail led into a vast cesspool-like area; Blaze took note of the glowing rocks surrounding him, as well as the sound of water close by, and carefully trekked on, his spirits lifted by the positive turn his search had taken. Having plenty of light guiding him now, Blaze continued along his son's trail, calling Luke's name every so often and keeping a careful watch of his surroundings while doing so.
A few moments later, Blaze began hearing some voices in the distance, immediately directing himself toward them. Though the voices were faint, Blaze was able to discern two different voices: Luke's voice and a stranger's voice. He was relieved to hear his son, yet wondered who he could be talking to, ultimately concluding that Luke had likely met with someone who either lived in the area, or just happened to be passing through.
It wasn't too much longer when he found his son and the stranger he heard before seated by the edge of an underground lake. He stopped and sat down by some rocks close by so he could listen to what the two were saying. Now that their conversation was clearly audible, Blaze listened intently; he could tell Luke was still upset about the argument the two had earlier, remembering some of the things they had said to one another. Luke talked about all the time and effort he put into pursuing his dream of being a Rescuer and described how betrayed he felt when Blaze had told him he wasn't truly ready. Occasionally, the other Pokémon would describe some similar moments that he had experienced, and offer some advice on handling the situation better.
After he had heard enough of the conversation, Blaze nervously approached the lake. Luke, sensing his father's presence, immediately stood up and faced him.
