Author's Notes: Here it is, just like I promised! I had a little trouble writing the beginning of this chapter, but the more I progressed the easier it became. It also is finally a little longer than the last couple chapters. I hope you guys will enjoy reading it.
PS: If anyone wants to beta read my chapters, please don't hesitate to contact me! Four or more eyes surely can detect more errors than two!
Back to the Beginning
"I just remembered something...There is no restaurant or anything like that here in Dewford Town..." Richter suddenly remembered, "I guess we gotta eat some more sandwiches before we arrive at our next destination, Mauville City!"
"Damnit, you got my hopes up! Oh well, the sandwiches aren't that bad either...I guess," Alexander said with a disappointed look on his face, "Oh Alex, always thinking about food," Auron said a little teasingly. Alexander just rolled his eyes over that comment.
"Well, how do we get to Mauville City?" Autumn asked her trainer, "Oh uhhh, let me see real quick," Richter responded. He took out the map he had in his backpack and tried finding Mauville City on it. After a solid minute, he was finally able to locate their next destination and their current location.
"Alright, we gotta head to Slateport City, go up Route 110. That should lead us directly into Mauville City," the young man explained to everyone, "Do we have to walk all the way Slateport City?" The Leafeon asked, "No, I am sure Mr. Briney would take us there by boat. The city has a big port as you might have known," Richter gladly explained, "We just gotta ask him."
With that said, our group made its way towards the little port in Dewford Town. As they were approaching it, they were already able to spot the yacht and the captain on top of it from afar. When they closed the distance, Mr. Briney was also able to spot our group approaching him and he greeted them, "Hey there! How did you guys do?" He shouted.
Richter proudly showed the Knuckle Badge to the old man. The sun shined on it too, making the badge sparkle bright like a diamond.
The group was finally next to the ship so they could communicate with each other without shouting all the distance.
"Well done my boy! I guess I should have expected it, especially when Mr. Stone trusts you," Mr. Briney complimented our protagonist, "Thanks Sir!" Richter appreciated the compliment.
"There is one thing we would like to request from you Mr. Briney if possible?" Richter started to ask, "Let me guess, you want me to get you to Slateport City, right? Since your next stop will be Mauville City," the captain already guessed what Richter wanted from him.
"Yes exactly, that is what I wanted to request from you, if possible of course. We don't want you to do anything that you don't want or don't need to do," Richter assured him that it is not obligatory to help them.
"It's alright. Steven already told me to get you to Slateport City once you are finished here. He knew you gonna win and he knew you would need a way to get to Slateport City. I also got the yacht repaired and we are ready to depart any time. I already owe you for saving my life from that rampaging Gyarados, so this is the least I could do to repay you for that. Hop on board whenever you are ready to depart," The old man reassured Richter about his request. He was glad to help the young man in return for saving his life.
"Well we are as ready as we can get, so if you don't mind we would like to depart right now!" Richter hoped they could leave right away, "Sure! Hop on board and let's leave!" Briney responded.
Richter and his team boarded the ship and went over to their respective rooms they had when they first entered the vessel. Alexander and Auron had their own rooms while Richter, Xavier and Autumn shared one room. Everyone rested for a bit, because they were all exhausted after all those battles. Especially Xavier, who more or less, fought for the first time in his life and did so well. He not only wanted to impress his friends, he wanted to show everyone that he was not useless, that he could fend for himself. He may have never shown it, but he was sick of always begging for food, always being dependent on other, he wanted to achieve things by himself. He was really proud of his wins today, single-handedly defeated every single one of his enemies.
After about 20 minutes, Richter decided to gather everyone up again to start lunch.
"Hey you lazy bums, time for lunch!" He called out into the hallways towards the other two Pokemon's rooms.
Not even ten seconds passed and Alexander was at Richter's door and impatiently awaiting the meal, "Where? When? What?" he hysterically asked.
"Deck, now, sandwiches," Richter replied in between laughter, Alexander's insatiable hunger was quite amusing at times, "You can take my backpack up to the deck if you are so impatient and set up the blanket and pull out the boxes with the sandwiches in it. We'll be there shortly."
"Alrighty boss!" The Sceptile said and departed with the backpack towards the deck, but not before he did a military like salute.
Just as Alexander sped through the hallway, Auron was leaving his room. The two almost crashed into each other, if Alexander didn't jump over Auron's head and proceeded up the stairs as if nothing happened.
"I heard from my dad people categorize Pokemon into certain 'Natures' which is also an indication for what they are talented in. What would you say is Alexander's nature?" The shiny Lucario asked Richter as he was approaching him, "Jolly, definitely. I read about those categorizations, but they do not represent each and every Pokemon's talents. Sure, jolly Pokemon tend to be more active and thus a little more speedy as you might see with Alexander. Autumn on the other hand is a mix of gentle and naive, that does not mean her strengths are her defenses and her speed like the categorization would say. Many Pokemon actually don't only have one nature, Alex is jolly, yes, but he is also very brave and determined. You gotta be really careful to put not only Pokemon, but people in general in categories. Even if you know someone for a long time and you think you know them well, they can suddenly turn out to be someone completely different," Richter explained to his partner the concept of natures.
"What about me then? What nature do you believe I am?" Auron asked teasingly, though he really was interested in how Richter saw him, "You...You are at times hardy and at other times rash, but your strength is definitely your physical strength. But this is just what I noticed so far in every single one of you. We do not know each other for that long, so things will definitely change soon enough. But enough talk, I am hungry and Alexander is always hungry, so let's head up to deck and start eating!" The young man said to end the conversation and started walking down the hallway up to the stairs. Shortly after Autumn and Xavier came out of the room too.
"Come on Auron, what is holding you up?" The Leafeon asked with a smile, "Huh? Oh nothing, I was just thinking a little," the Lucario simply said. In reality though, he was just admiring Richter's wisdom. He was always so modest and gentle, but if necessary he can be harsh and ruthless to his enemies. He just knows how to work with the people that surround him even though he was living isolated for the majority of his life.
"Well, then time to fill your stomach!" Xavier stated in a playful manner and gave Auron a little punch on his shoulder, which came off as a surprise since he is usually always so serious and concentrated. The evolution seems to not only change appearance and power but also character. Now that Auron thinks back on it, when he was a Riolu he wasn't much of a fighter and was always dependent on his father, rarely did things for himself, but now he has changed too. He is way more active and was able to fend himself just fine, with and without Richter's directions.
He then decided to just ignore it for now and head up to the deck too, he noticed that Xavier and Autumn also already left to go eat lunch.
As the Fighting Type Pokemon walked up the stairs, he saw the rest of the bunch already sitting at the blanket with sandwiches in front of them. They were sitting in a big circle and seemed to be waiting for something.
"What you guys waiting for? I thought you'd be finished by the time I came," Auron asked jokingly, "We were waiting for you, you dummy! We can't start eating without everyone being here, that would be rude. Now get over here and grab your sandwich of choice before Alexander finishes them all off again," Richter joked, "Hey now! I don't finish them off, I am just usually more hungry than you guys...But now that you mentioned it, anyone gonna it that Lum Berry sandwich?" Alexander tried to counter. To his dismay though, everyone started laughing heartily because of his last sentence.
Even though they were really excited to go eat somewhere else, everyone still really enjoyed this lunch. The sandwiches were great and they enjoyed each others company, they ate and talked through the whole journey to Slateport City.
"Richter! We will be arriving shortly, get your stuff ready! We'll be there in about half an hour!" The captain exclaimed, he especially was happy that no other commotion happened on their way to Slateport City, "Alrighty! We'll be ready before we are there!" The young man answered right back.
That said, our group went back into their respective rooms and got themselves ready. Alexander put his necklace with the mega stone on again. Auron decided to meditate a little in his room, he used to do that with his father when they were waiting for something. Xavier was still admiring his new form and adjusting to his new power. Autumn asked Richter if he could brush her fur a bit, it seemed it had gotten quite messy, Richter gladly complied and pulled out a little brush he always carried with him from one of the inner pockets of his coat. He carefully brushed Autumn's fur back into perfection.
"There you go Autumn, hope it looks good," Richter said, hoping that he did a good job. He wanted all of his partners to feel as good as possible. They all went through events that nobody would wish their worst enemy, "It looks great! Thank you very much!" She answered with such a bright smile that the sun would look pale in comparison.
"Well then, if everybody is ready let us head back up to deck and prepare for our arrival. I would like to be in Mauville City before sunset," our protagonist told his Pokemon. Both Xavier and Autumn agreed without hesitation.
As the three left the room, they encountered Alexander waiting outside in the hallway, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"Hope you haven't been waiting too long for us. By the way, did you check what Auron is doing?" Richter asked his scaly friend, "No, only been here for five minutes maybe. And Auron is meditating, I think at least," the Sceptile answered.
Richter got curious about that answer and decided to check on Auron. He opened the door to Auron's room and sure enough, he found him sitting cross-legged on his bed. He looked very focused and concentrated. Richter was able to see his Aura flaring up and down the whole time and also changing colors various times.
"I see you are able to manifest your Aura, but you still have trouble keeping it stable. It is flaring up sometimes while at other times it is almost non existent. On top of that you seem change emotions rather rapidly, how come?" The Exiled asked his Lucario, "I just have a lot on my mind right now, that is probably affecting it," Auron tried to dismiss Richter's concerns.
"The amount of Aura you can use and manifest is not only linked to how concentrated you are, but also by your resolve. The colors represent the different emotional statuses you go through, every color represents a different emotion. At times you are doubting yourself, while at others you seem to know what you want. While you are happy at certain times, you are angry at others. Tell me, what is it that bothers you this much?" Richter questioned him further, he wanted to know what is causing this much pain on his friend.
"It's...It's...It's because of my father...," he finally spoke up, "He is the reason."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Alexander asked as he stepped through the door too, behind him Xavier and Autumn.
Auron switched his gaze from Richter to Alexander and the rest as he heard that familiar voice.
"It is just that, when I meditated I remembered all the other times I meditated before. All those times were with my father back then, back when I still had not much to worry about. When I remember those times I get happy, but then I remember the fate he suffered and I get sad and then angry. Angry at myself for not being able to help him at all. My resolve diminishes to a minimum because of that," Auron explained how he feels, "And what lets your resolve rise again?" Richter inquired further, "You...All of you. This second chance that you have given me, this family that we have established here. My dad would want me to seize this opportunity, he always was an optimistic person. It would do him no justice if I didn't at least try to make something out of my life and you guys...you guys have given me this chance and I cherish it very much. You all are the reason for my resolve and I will do everything to protect the ones that are important to me," the shiny Pokemon said in tears. Those were not tears of sadness but of happiness and joy.
"Shhh, it's alright Auron. There is no shame in crying. In fact crying is a very important thing in life, it keeps your heart soft. Because once your heart hardens and your feelings mean nothing to you, your Aura will vanish. Emotions are the key elements to any Aura user there is. If you ever feel sad, angry or happy or any other emotion, don't hesitate to show it, to feel it. The important thing is to not let the emotions overtake you. Going into a blind rage will be as destructive to your body and soul as not feeling anything at all. It is a healthy balance between everything that helps you," the young man explained, while petting Auron's back to convey safety and comfort to his partner.
"My goodness, Aura sure is a complex thing. Being affected by resolve and emotion," Alexander chimed in to give his comment, "Actually there are a couple more things that affect the Aura of a single being, but that is for another time. The different emotions also enhance certain strengths of an attack conceived by Aura. Anger enhances strength, but reduces your speed. Happiness is the opposite as it increases speed but lowers strength, while sadness makes it unstable and not easy to form attacks with. There are a lot more emotions of course and every single one has its own effect on you," Richter tried to further explain everything as best as he could right now.
As he looked back to Auron, he could see a strong, big and green Aura around Auron. This indicates high resolve while the color represents the color of joy.
A voice suddenly echoed through the ship, "We have arrived in Slateport City!" It was 's voice that echoed throughout the ship via the speakers installed in it.
"Richter, before we get to Mauville City. Could we maybe go visit him?" Auron asked his trainer, "Sure, I was planning on doing that either way," Richter reassured him about his request.
The others on the other hand were confused about whom they were referring to with "him", but dismissed it for now.
"Alright guys, time for our next destination!" The man in the coat exclaimed cheerfully to cheer up the crowd. This caused everyone to smile, even Auron who wiped away his tears just recently. Both him and Richter stood up from the bed and headed out of the room and up the stairs, the others followed closely.
Back on the deck they could see a walkway lowered down to the port from the yacht, right then the captain approached our group of friends from behind.
"Hope you have a safe journey from now on and thanks again for helping me out. Peeko and I appreciate it," the old man said, "No problem, really! I mean it was also in our interest to not die there after all," Richter jokingly said, even though that was pretty much the truth, "Yeah I guess you are correct there," The captain responded with a slight chuckle.
"Well, I hope you have a safe return to Rustboro City and send Steven my regards!" Richter said as he was going down the walkway, his Pokemon right behind him. The old man was waving goodbye at the group as they were leaving, while Peeko was exclaiming his own goodbye, "Thanks for helping us, have a safe journey!"
The troop appreciated their help on their journey, but it was time to part ways.
Back in Slateport City, memories started to come up again, both for Richter and Auron.
"This is where my journey started. Shortly after I left the ship that brought me here I encountered Reese and she showed me the way towards Littleroot Town, where my parents live. On my way there, I encountered Auron and his father," Richter told his friends, "We too came with the same ship but were hidden in a compartment in the ship and traveled over here to explore the region. Not with any particular reason, just to see a bit more of the world. We quickly ran off to the closest route we could find and well...that is where the accident happened. We were not even an hour in this region and I already lost my last family member. You could say it was not the best start into the day, region or anything really," Auron told his side of the story.
"My goodness, that is terrible! I feel sorry for you...my sincerest condolences " Autumn said, hanging her head low.
"It is alright, Autumn. You don't need to be sorry for anything, there is nothing you could have done. There is nothing anyone could have done. Sometimes life really is just cruel," the shiny Pokemon answered, his eyes fixated towards the route all that went down.
"Alright let us head out. Auron and me want to visit his father's grave and polish it up a little. I made a grave for him in a hurry because I had to bring the Riolu I found there to a Pokemon Center as soon as possible and as you might have guessed already that Riolu turned out to be Auron," Richter explained further, "But lets not waste any more time, I still want to be in Mauville City before sunset even with the little detour."
Right after he said that, he started marching towards Route 103, Auron right beside him. The others on the other hand stood there for a moment before following the two.
"You know, it has been some time since I have seen those two so serious. The last time Richter and Auron were so serious was when we were attacked in Rustboro City and when we went through Petalburg Woods," Alex whispered to the others, "Well it is the place where both of their lives connected, both of their destinies intertwined. It was clear that this is not a matter they would not be serious about," Xavier whispered back.
"Don't you think you are exaggerating it a little with their 'Destinies being intertwined' ?" The Leafeon asked Xavier, "Well I can see why you would say that, but it just seems too 'convenient' that Richter would meet a Riolu and Lucario on his and their very first day here in Hoenn, don't you agree?" Xavier responded.
Autumn still wasn't sure about that, but she didn't think too much into that. Same goes for Alexander, he just accepted the situation and decided to live it out. Right then, they also decided to finally follow Richter and Auron.
Back on Route 103, the two leading the group are feeling relatively anxious. Certain memories are coming back to their minds, becoming more detailed and vivid with every step they make towards the accursed place. Soon enough, Richter located the little part in the woods where it all went down.
"Its over there!" The young man said and pointed in a certain direction and started walking towards there. After another minute of marching they did arrive at their destination and it still looked just the way they left it. A simple grave with a stone marking that it is a grave.
"This is it...This is where he is lying..." Auron said under his breath.
Everyone gathered around the grave and Auron, trying to comfort him as much as possible. The emotions just overwhelmed him and he collapsed down on his knees, he couldn't help but to cry from the bottom of his heart. Everyone decided to sit down with Auron and just try to make him feel as good as possible.
"Hey! Who is making all this noise here?" A rough voice was calling out from in between the trees. Richter and Alexander stood up and turned around to see who was shouting that. Sure enough, it was a face that Richter quickly recognized.
"You...You dare to comeback?!" Richter sounded like he snapped for a second.
The Pokemon the voice was related to, was a Luxray. But it was not any Luxray, it was the one Luxray that was responsible for the death of Auron's father.
Right when the Luxray heard and saw Richter, he immediately took a couple steps back and a cold sweat started running down his face and back. He started to shake in horror as he saw who was standing before him.
"Hey, n-n-no need to show any kind of hostility. I didn't d-d-do anything!" The quadrupedal Pokemon snarled back, trying to act tough and not show weakness, but that isn't very successful when you are starting to stutter and sweat like a Snorlax on the beach.
Meanwhile, Auron was still too self-absorbed to notice what is going on behind his very back. Alexander and the rest stood by him in this time of sadness.
"Nothing?!You are trying to tell me that killing his father and almost killing him is considered 'nothing' to you?! Is that what you are trying to tell me?" Richter screamed, "Tell me ONE, one very good reason on why I shouldn't gut you right here and now and make you our next dinner!"
"Dad, what is going on? Who is that screaming guy, do you know him?" a soft and female voice said from behind the Luxray. Suddenly a little Shinx appeared from behind the Luxray's hind legs, it looked anxious and worried because it didn't quite understand what was going on.
"Nothing sweety, just go back to our pack. Daddy will handle this real quick," the father of the Shinx reassured its child and gave it a little kiss on it's forehead.
"Look, I have a child myself now. It was born just a couple of days ago, would you really rob her of her father she knew for only so long?" He tried to argue with Richter.
"Did you stop and think the same when you attacked his father?" Our protagonist talked back while slowly approaching his enemy who in return started taking small steps back.
"No, I admit I didn't think about that back then, but that was because I didn't know what it meant to be a parent, a father to be precise. I was naive and dumb and didn't know any better back then, but I do now. I know how it feels now to risk everything for your offspring, please forgive me," the Luxray begged as he bowed down his head to the ground as a sign of submission.
"I am not the one you should apologize to, I am not the one to forgive you, but he is!" Richter said and pointed towards Auron.
The second Richter pointed at Auron, he stood up from the grave and turned around and slowly started walking towards his trainer and the canine-like Pokemon. Tears were still flowing down his cheeks and his Aura was flaring in a deep dark red. Anger has completely taken over Auron by this point.
When the Luxray locked eyes with Auron, all he could see was a fire burning within and a feeling of dread befalls him.
"Please, please forgive me! I will do anything, but please don't hurt my child. I beg you!" The pack leader wailed, his head still bowing down before the two.
"Anything you say? Would you...die for your child?" Auron asked with a monotonous voice, no emotion could heard from it, but everyone knew by now how he truly felt.
For a moment the Luxray froze in his place, he was completely taken aback by that question, but he still answered, "Yes, yes I would!"
Both Richter and Auron were intrigued by that answer, they didn't expect that, rather they expected him to run after that question.
"I too have some pride and I know when I have to atone for my mistakes, for my ignorance," the father said and began laying down on his back, exposing his stomach, "As long as you promise that nothing happens to my daughter, I am fine dying right here and now. Just make it quick, please..."
"What are you doing, daddy? Why do you want to die? I don't want you to die, daddy!" The Shinx nuzzled herself next to her father's head, "Shhh, it's alright sweety. Dad did some mistakes in the past and now he has to suffer the consequences. Just promise me to not bother your mom too much, OK?" The father tried to calm his daughter down. That didn't help at all though, she still was absolutely perplexed about what was unfolding in front of her.
"No please, Sir! Don't take away my father, I only know him for a couple of days! I don't know what he did, but please spare him!" The little Shinx exclaimed towards Auron, with tears running down her face, but Auron's expression didn't change at all. He seemed as determined as before to end it now.
The shiny Lucario cocked his right arm back and aimed for where the Luxray's heart would be. He just stood there, menacingly for a moment before finally speaking up again, "Tell the world how you know it goodbye!" He loudly exclaimed and rammed his fist towards the Electric-Type Pokemon, the little Shinx closed her eyes and looked away in disbelief.
The earth rumbled from the impact of the fist, it cracked under the pressure of the punch.
Shortly after, the daughter wanted to look at what has happened to her father. She was absolutely shocked about what she saw. She began to cry even more than before and covered right next to her father's body.
"Wha-What? What happened?" A voice spoke, "Am I dead?"
"No you are not," Auron responded, "You are as alive as ever."
The Shinx wasn't crying because her father died, but rather because he was spared.
"Why didn't you kill me? I don't understand," The Luxray himself asked in disbelief, he was still unsure if he was alive or if he already entered the afterlife.
"Killing you would not accomplish anything, it wouldn't bring my father back. No, it would cause more harm than solve anything, there would be one more Pokemon in this world without a father and I can't live with such a guilt," the Lucario explained, "I just needed to relieve some of that anger and stress I have build up against you. Come on Richter, let us leave for Mauville City." The Pokemon with golden fur said and turned back to walk back to his other friends.
"I knew you couldn't bring it over you to kill someone's parent," Alexander said as Auron approached, "I really was about to kill him, not gonna lie. But I also remembered what I just said, it would not have changed anything. My dad would not have wanted that to happen either," Auron replied.
Meanwhile Richter was having one last little talk with that Luxray.
"Listen up well, we have no intention to kill anyone of you. I knew he wouldn't kill you that is why I didn't stop him in the first place and I only kill if I have to. There is one condition though," the hooded figure said, "What condition?" The Luxray quickly asked and got back up on his feet, "You won't simply attack anyone who stumbles into your territory as well as you will protect this grave here with all your pack, pride and life! That is the least you owe us, no, that is the least you owe him!"
"Y-Yes of course, I'll do that!" The father was a little hesitant at first but gladly agreed to the proposal.
This made Richter smile. He crouched down to the height of the Pokemon and started petting its and its daughters head, "Never underestimate the value of family. You will truly appreciate it once you don't have it anymore, but I hope that will never happen to you. So, please, be more considerate with others. Of course you have to hunt for food and you guys are carnivorous, but that doesn't mean you have to attack anything that moves or breaths," the young man tried to explain this basic concept of life to the Pokemon, "Alright, thank you Sir!" The Shinx replied.
Everyone was glad that this situation was dealt with, without spilling anymore unnecessary blood and causing any more pain and grief than there already is.
Together, the group, fixed up the grave even more. They put more stones around it and made the earth even. Then they finally left and headed towards Mauville City, their next stop!