I'm Baaaack, did you miss me? I hope so, cause I really missed you lot. I hope y'all are doing well today, or whatever day it is that you happen to be reading this. Nothing really to report, just the standard thanks for staying and reading. Now I'm gonna shut up and let you read.
"Ok, seriously, this ain't funny no more!" I shouted to the giggling Kirlia as he dangled me over the edge of the top tier of the Tower of Mastery using his Physic. The kid developed an extremely twisted sense of humor with his evolution and this resulted in plenty of sick jokes that he started playing on all of us. Sadly, this meant that he upgraded from jump scares to actually putting us in danger for sake of entertainment.
"How's it hanging brother?" Lee laughed at his own lame joke and I felt myself fall ever so slightly.
"Oh, very funny, now let me go you sadistic little bastard!" I seem to have chosen my words very poorly since his grin started to grow and that's when I felt gravity come into play. I screamed in an octave I probably wasn't able to hit since before puberty. I jerked to a full stop when his hold on me returned and I shot him a glare while he just kept on laughing.
"LEE, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" I heard someone shout and looked to see a very pissed off Braixen storming up behind him. His control wavered once again as I felt fear begin to emanate from him from being caught by someone like her. He knew to never tick off Lilly for the sake of his own health, messing with her mate was not a good way of avoiding harm to his person.
"Oh...hey Lilly" He said with a nervous chuckle and a small wave. Lilly didn't respond or even acknowledge him until after she had reached out over the edge and pulled me back on to solid ground, but after I was safe, he was not. She actually grabbed him by his collar and chucked him over the railing without a word. I shot back over to the edge to check on the boy to make sure he didn't die from the good twenty story fall. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that he had landed in Axel's arms. I was glad that he just happened to be there so that Lee wouldn't have turned into a green and white paste on the cobblestone floor.
"Little prick" Lilly said before wrapping her arms around my waist and pulling me closer to her and away from the edge.
"Agreed, but be easy on him, he is just a kid." I said in an effort to sooth her anger. She scared me just as much as everyone else when she was mad.
"Go easy on him, how can you say that Aaron, he dangled you over the freaking railing!" She seethed and tightened her hug around me. I shrugged and held a paw over my stomach, the stress from the event finally getting to me.
"He's at that age where he straight up turns into Satan incarnate, he'll grow out of it…hopefully." Lilly sighed in exasperation and led me down the ramp towards the ground floor.
I wondered why I liked the top of the tower so much, going there to meditate every other hour for the couple days we've been stuck here. It seems Lucario liked it as well and often met me on the balcony to join me during my sessions. I gotta say that she is actually a pretty good Pokémon to hang out with. She was quiet, polite, and loved to train like I did. It was scary to see just how much in common we were, but she didn't seem to see me in any way I should have been worried about. I'm not dense like a lot of guys are, I pick up on the little things, which I hadn't caught from her during the time we spent together. This meant that I had nothing to be concerned over, or she was just really good at concealing her emotions from me, hopefully the former.
"I still don't understand how you can be so calm about things like this, you could have died if he had dropped you from that height"
"But he didn't" I replied and hugged an arm around her waist. "I'm still here, he didn't drop me, and you got to satisfaction of throwing him over the side without the guilt of killing him." She smiled and rolled her eyes at my answer.
"Hey guys, how's it going?" I heard Caleb ask from his spot on the mat he sat on when he was talking to Korrina, who was also there for whatever it is she did when she was there. I blinked and looked around, surprised I had actually gone so far without even realizing it.
'Guess I was lost in conversation longer than I realized.' I thought while I threw my trainer and the gym leader a short wave. I forgot to mention how much progress everyone seemed to be making while we were here. I'm not talking about the training, but everyone has been busy one way or another. Long story short, Caleb owes me five bucks after we figured out that our two companions had actually hit it off pretty early while Caleb has been making some surprisingly decent headway in getting a date with Korrina. Apparently, he wasn't the first trainer to ask her out since she was actually only about a year older than most of the trainers she got in here, which were usually around 18 years old.
He couldn't have done it without my help though. I've been going out of my way to make sure he at least had a decent shot with the girl. I did everything from getting them alone in a somewhat romantic setting to giving him lines during those times. Believe it or not, I actually know a thing or two about romance and pretty much carried that boy to where he was now, which was pretty much just up to where all he had to do was ask her out.
Why did I do all of this for them...cause I was bored…that's pretty much it. I didn't want to train here since it could give away our fighting style, Lilly was usually off doing God knows what with Yuki and Kaen, and there was absolutely no way I'd hang around the hell spawn known as Lee. This left me very few options in the form of entertainment and, since meditation got pretty boring after an hour or two, that left me the only remaining option, meddling with another person's love life.
'Not bad, little hiccup with Lee, but other than that nothing really been going on.' I told him after taking seat beside him.
"What did he do this time?" Caleb asked with a sigh. I wasn't the only victim of Lee's latest hobby of evilness, he got Caleb just as much as he did me.
'Dangled me over the top balcony, nothing major.' He looked down at me with surprise before another sigh escaped his lips and his hand landed on my head.
"You confuse me sometimes bud...I'm honestly scared to figure out what you consider major." He said while he kept petting me. I smirked and picked myself up so I could look like I was whispering in his ear. I gave him a subtle wink and covered my muzzle with a paw. This got a laugh out of Korrina and, once Caleb caught on, he played along and we soon got the girl giggling.
'You got the best wingman ever' I told him after ending our little charade and sitting myself back down beside him. He rolled his eyes and gave me a low five in thanks before watching me head off with literally no destination in mind. Lilly stayed behind for whatever reason she had, leaving me to simply walk around the tower.
My walk ended up leading me outside of the tower where I was instantly assaulted by the fresh sea breeze blowing through my fur. The sun shined over the horizon as it threw out its beautiful sunset rays across the water as I walked along the beach. I usually ended my day here, simply enjoying nature and its beauty.
"Nothing like a day at the beach eh?" I heard from behind as Lucario appeared beside me. I wasn't at all fazed by her appearance since I was already used to how quite she tended to be when she walked. I smiled and held my arms out wide, trying to soak up as much of the sun as I could.
"Indeed...I've always liked the beach, ever since I first saw it." I told her and cracked an eye open to see she was copying my every movement.
"As have I...it's always been a very peaceful place for me to go." She said as she fell to her knees with her paws folded in her lap. I nodded and took a seat on the snow-white sand with my legs crossed in my meditation position. That's how we were for quite a while, simply sitting in silence while we watched the waves crash upon the shore in a calming rhythm.
"...Soooo..." I started in some poor attempt to break the silence between us. She looked at me in amusement.
"So…" She said back with a grin, making me blush a little in my sudden lapse in social skills. Thankfully, she didn't let me suffer long before finally letting out a small giggle at my sudden cold-feet. "Are you excited about the battle, won't be long until the gym is all fixed up." I blew out a sigh of relief and leaned back on my paws.
"Yeah, I have no idea how any of you battle, it's really exciting." She nodded and moved so her legs were to her side while she sat on the sand.
"I could say the same for you and your team, me and my partners have faced many trainers and their Pokémon. Everyone is different on their approach to a battle, it will be quite interesting to see how all of you perform against us."
"Indeed, I can already feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I can hardly sit still anymore" I pushed myself up from the ground and threw a few punches in an attempt to let out a little bit of that energy. She smirked and did the same before stepping in front of me with her paws on her hips.
"Well why don't we help get rid of some of that energy?" She suggested before popping her knuckles in a show of attempted intimidation. I shot her a smirk of my own and shook my head at the offer.
"No way, you'd see my fighting style, that's a big no-no" I said with a wiggle of my finger...nub...whatever. She looked legitimately surprised from my denial and blinked before her smirk turned into a half-smile and she chuckled.
"Well played my friend, and here I thought I had you." She said in mock disappointment, "You definitely have better control over yourself than I did when I was a Riolu. I couldn't resist a fight if I even wanted to."
"So you can resist a fight now?"
"Nope." She answered simply and playfully punched me on the shoulder, "Come on, its probably near dinner time." I nodded and fell in step behind her. It was actually a pretty common occurrence for Lucario to join me on my trips to the beach. I didn't mind though, I liked the company.
"Daddy!" I smiled and ducked under the red and white blur that soared over my head and looked to see my adoptive daughter crouched down, ready to play. I smiled and told Lucario to go on ahead while I approached Kaen slowly. I narrowed my eyes in challenge and braced myself as she tore off towards me with a Tackle. I tanked the hit no problem and hugged the wriggling kit to my chest to prevent her escape.
"Gotcha" I laughed alongside her while she struggled in my grip. She went as far as actually biting me to try and get me to release her. I was already well aware of how rough she played and patiently sat through the little pain, her strength not quite being enough to actually hurt me yet.
"Let go, no fair!" She giggled and struggled for a few more seconds before finally calming down and choosing to nuzzle my chest instead. I caught sight of a certain Kirlia in the distance and mentally smirked before coming up with a plan.
"I can't play right now baby girl, but I heard Lee was really wanting to play." I told her and released her.
"Really, where is he, I wanna play!" She shouted and looked all around for Lee. I chuckled and pointed out his location, watching her charge towards him and tackling the unsuspecting Physic/Fairy type to the floor. I had to hold back a laugh as he struggled under the hyper fox for a few minutes until I heard someone calling my name. I looked to see Caleb waving me down from the tower entrance where he and the rest of the group were eating their supper.
"There you are bud, out walking the beach again?" He asked and set my bowl down, offering me the familiar brown pellets of the Pokéfood. I sighed, my hope for a little variety crushed. "Sorry bud, that's the only thing I can afford that will fill you up every meal."
'I know but, and I'll say it again, I don't have to like it' I growled the last part since I had already popped one in my jaws and bit down on the crunchy pellet. I still couldn't place the taste of these things, kind of tasting like a cross between a Circus Peanut candy and a Nilla Wafer...wait what are those?
I shrugged and forced the rest past my lips, finishing first I always did. I excused myself and made my way into the tower so I could go and meditate once again. I ignored the circling ramp and simply jumped from railing to railing until finally reaching the top.
'Man, I love doing that' I thought with a flex of my muscles. This body was so much more capable than that of any humans and I loved it. Sure, there are a few drawbacks like the fact that I can be captured and used for battling, I got lucky enough to find someone I didn't mind doing this for, but I'm glad I got the chance to experience it. I still don't really understand why I was chosen for the second chance that led me to me being put in this body in the first place.
This was the main subject of my contemplation during my entire session. I couldn't really meditate from the sudden onslaught of questions and riddles surrounding my life. There was so much I didn't know or comprehend, like how and when would Sunburst come into play, what was the test that Mew mentioned. I suddenly felt short of breath as my head started pounding and my stomach cramped up from all the stress that had built up so quickly.
'What if one of my friends got hurt because of me and this damn prophecy or some crap. What if I wasn't strong enough to do whatever it is I'm supposed to do. What if-' My thoughts suddenly came to a stop as the feeling of a familiar pair of arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me close.
"You alright hon?" I heard Lilly's voice ask me softly, her head resting on mine as if trying to shield me from any distress I may be feeling. I chocked down my nausea and nodded, not turning to look at her. I didn't want her to see me like this, weak and fragile. She saw right through me though and turned me around so I was facing her before gently pushing my head so it was nestled comfortably in her neck fluff.
"You don't have to lie to me love, I don't want to see you in so much pain." She whispered to me, sounding like she was on the verge of tears. I said nothing as I felt all of the emotions I had bottled up suddenly burst and I let the dam break. I don't know how, but she always knew ways to help me when I needed her most, this time was no different. I needed someone to confide in, someone to tell me that everything would turn out ok. I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems, but I knew that Lilly wouldn't let me suffer alone.
Try as I might though, the words just wouldn't leave my lips. I choked up and my throat went dry from the mere thought of telling her my past. Doubt, worry, and fear coursed through me, rendering me a nervous wreck. I felt the tears coming back and buried my face back in her neck so she wouldn't see me cry.
I didn't have the guts to tell her, I was scared of what she might think of me. That and telling her would put her in more danger than she already was by hanging around me. I knew that this fear was simply a byproduct of my emotions going haywire, but this fact did little to sway me in my position.
"I'm sorry...I just...I just can't tell you...I'm sorry Lilly" I muttered, my voice muffled by her fur. She just tightened her hold on me and purred gently in an attempt to calm me down. The care she showed for me in this moment, despite my hesitation, spoke louder than any words she could ever say. I felt loved and cared for, something that I felt like I had never actually experienced before.
"Its ok love, I understand, take your time, I'm in no hurry." Her words warmed my heart and filled me with joy. I looked up into her smiling face with tear filled eyes. She dried my tears with the back of her paw before pulling me into a gentle kiss. "I love you Aaron, and I'll be there for you when you need me." She told me after breaking the kiss and placing her forehead against mine. Never before had I felt happier than I have at this very moment. I felt cared for...I felt...loved. In that moment, the joy in my heart distracted me from the world around me. That's when I realized something amazing.
I was starting to glow.
"Lilly...its happening!" I muttered after breaking the hug and looking down at my paws as they started the shine ever brighter. That's when I noticed them begin to grow longer, along with the rest of my body. My bones felt like they were getting heavier as I grew into my secondary typing, and after that, I'm not sure what happened. The light coming off of me grew too bright for even me, and I was forced to close my eyes. The light bled through my eyelids until it exploded in a flash of pure white.
Then I saw nothing but darkness. The lights had stopped and I allowed myself to open my eyes. The first thing I saw was the face of my beautiful Braixen smiling at me warmly.
"You did it Aaron" she said and reached an arm out to take my paw in hers, giving me the first sight of my new body. The paw she held in hers was a deep, charcoal black, a stark contrast between her snowy white fur. She gently touched the tip of the new spike that replaced the little metal bump that used to be there before.
"So I did...least I'm not so short anymore." I joked and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, enjoying the feeling of her head against my chest for a change. She giggled while nuzzling and relaxing against my tan furred chest, enjoying the new height difference between us.
"I'm so happy now Aaron." She suddenly stated, causing me to look down at her with my head tilted questioningly.
"Why's that?" I asked, genuinely confused. She smiled and took a step away to look up into my eyes.
"Because they say Riolu evolve when their happy...you evolved because of me...I made you this happy." She explained though teary eyes and wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down for a small kiss.
"You've always made me happy Lilly...I'm glad we met each other...I couldn't imagine living any day without you by my side." I smiled and tapped her nose with my own. She closed her eyes and inhaled my scent while I did the same for hers, it bringing a strange calming affect to me.
"Come on, we need to go show Caleb, he'll definitely want to see you now" She said and walked off towards the ramp down while she dragged me behind her. I chuckled at her enthusiasm and followed her without a struggle, eager to see my trainers reaction.
'Won't that be fun to see.'
That's another chapter, up and about that, Aaron finally evolved. What will this mean for the future, how will the others react, and how will a certain Lucario feel about this. Stick around and find out.
Do me a favor and please don't judge me too hard for this chapter. I've been having trouble lately with articulating my thoughts and putting them on paper, so to speak. Please send me your feedback for this chapter though, cause I know it can help me recover from my latest hiccup in my writing abilities.
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