Well, one month but the next chapter is up. Honestly, I didn't intend for it to be that long, but inspiration struck me with this one.
Thanks to
Darkurai-lovr
HP-DG-SB-HA-RR-KB-NT-TD-LL-AJ
Swagnilla-Ice-1985
Mewtwo MLG
cook563
JLgods01
for their reviews.
Pokémon doesn't belong to me.
R&R please.
Lucario looked around once Ho-Oh had landed on their destination. It was the island that was the closest to the, by now, eight destroyed islands. They all had figured that Dark-Lugia's next attack would take place here.
"It looks even worse from this close", whispered a female voice.
Everyone turned, to find Articuno staring straight out at the ocean. Following her gaze, Lucario frowned and couldn't help but agree with her. Across the ocean, three of the attacked islands were visible to them, one looking worse than the other. Turning back to everyone else, he once again scanned the members of their group. Not everyone had come, since most had agreed that it could be possible for other Dark Sides to suddenly show up. From the legendary Pokémon only Ho-Oh, Latios, Articuno and MewTwo had joined them. The humans in the group were represented by Gary Oak and May. Both had six of their Pokémon with them, as well as three of Ash's each.
Ash's six Pokémon were Pikachu, obviously, Lucario himself, Lapras, Swellow, Noctowl and Kabutops.
"It's only a matter of time till the attack comes, isn't it?", asked Gary, breaking the ominous silence that reigned over everything. Lucario wasn't certain of his voice, mental or physical, so he simply nodded in the young researcher's direction.
"What the…"
Lucario looked up at Lapras' exclamation, to find the blue Pokémon swimming near the shore. Her purple eyes shone worriedly while she eyes the sea. "What's wrong?", asked Pikachu and leaped from May's shoulder. By now everyone had caught up that something was the matter and looked at Lapras. The blue Pokémon just shook her head for a second, then asked: "Kabutops come in here. Can you feel this too?"
Kabutops tilted his head, but the fossil-Pokémon waded into the water. The moment it reached his hip, he froze in mid-step and a shudder passed through him. "What with my ancient family!", exclaimed the Pokémon and flipped back, out of the water.
"It's not that uncomfortable", stated Lapras, locking eyes with him.
"Probably not for you, since your connection with this sea is stronger than mine", argued Kabutops back and frowned.
"Can anyone please tell us what's going on?!", exclaimed Swellow.
"I'm…not certain I can explain it", answered Kabutops.
"I cannot either. It's just…strange."
"Strange?", questioned Ho-Oh.
Both water-dual-types shrugged, to have Latios turn to Articuno and ask: "What about you Articuno. Do you feel anything strange?"
"Articuno?", asked May.
Gary nodded and explained: "Grandpa says that the legendary birds are crucial for the climate on the orange islands and, resulting from that, partly the whole worlds. Articuno's and Moltres' combined powers of ice and fire are said to be the source and cradle of the oceans, and that Zapdos' electric energy creates the currents and streams, which is why the three of them are apparently closely bound to the guardian of the ocean." "Which is Lugia", finished Ho-Oh. May nodded in understanding, as did Lucario and every other of Ash's Pokémon besides Lapras and Pikachu.
"I do feel a difference", stated Articuno. "But it's only very slight. It probably would be stronger if, and there I agree with Kabutops, I would be partly a water type. Of course, my brothers' presence could make it more potent too. Yet, I do understand what Lapras and Kabutops mean. I…cannot explain or describe the feeling either."
"Not at all, not even the slightest?", asked MewTwo.
Articuno remained silent, but narrowed her eyes, before she slowly said: "Dread…dread is a part of it. Also…"
"Panic", whispered Lapras now and Kabutops added: "Pressure."
"Yes, panic and pressure as well…and so much more", ended Articuno and shook her head.
"Do you think that's Dark-Lugia?", asked Latios. Articuno shrugged in answer and Ho-Oh declared: "No matter if it is or not, we need to be ready. No one can leave the group. If you have to, at least one of us legendary Pokémon should be with you…and no legendary should leave alone either."
"We won't swim or fly out to far either", added Swellow, his eyes narrowed when they locked at the closest island. The dark-blue bird's wings twitched a little, as if he was itching to fly over and check up on the island.
Everyone turned to mind his or her own business now. Lapras swam back to them, resting directly at the shore. Kabutops was nearby, lashing his sickles out at imaginary opponents. Noctowl was in a conversation with Articuno while Ho-Oh, Latios and MewTwo talked to May and Gary. Lucario settled himself down under a tree and started to meditate, when Pikachu's voice caught his attention. "What's wrong Swellow?"
The Aura Guardian opened his eyes, to find Pikachu looking up to the branch Swellow crouched one. The bird simply shook his head, before he answered: "I'm itching to do something, that's it. You know how I hate sitting at the side-lines."
Pikachu smirked and started scaling the tree. "C'mon Swellow, you know as much as I do that all of us hate that. I mean, look around, why do you think everyone is trying to keep themselves occupied?"
He gestured around and Swellow followed it, before sighing and whispering: "It's just…having to hear about Ash disappearing like that…reminds me of what happened in the Tree of Beginning a few years ago."
Lucario raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. Pikachu tilted his head, then asked: "Specify that please. A lot of things happened."
"I mean when those antibodies swallowed him", snarled Swellow and flapped his wings angrily. "I felt so useless there! All of a sudden he was gone! And now again!" The bird shook his head wildly and Lucario saw how he desperately tried to hold back his tears. His personality reminded Lucario a whole lot of Sceptile. Both were usually calm and collected, but, like any other of Ash's Pokémon, cared for him deeply. Even those who rarely expressed their feelings, had trouble controlling them when Ash was in danger.
Pikachu placed a calming paw on Swellow's wing and gently pressed it back against the birds flank, before responding: "How do you think I feel? I know him longer than you after all, from the very beginning and I had to watch him disappearing, getting injured or lost a lot of time." Pikachu was barely whispering at this point and Lucario had to strain his ears to hear him. "I can't count how often I we ran into some kind of danger where the chances of ever coming out were bad. But somehow we pulled through…and I just know we'll do again now."
Lucario smiled to himself now and returned to his meditation. For a few hours everything continued like that. Every now and then someone lost his nerves, but was quickly calmed, when suddenly sirens had everyone wincing.
The legendary Pokémon dived for cover immediately while May and Gary got up from their positions. Lucario sprinted to their side and then a Houndoom leaped at them. Before anyone had time to react, Pikachu leaped forward, his Thunder clashing with the dog-like Pokémon's Flamethrower. By now the rest of Ash's Pokémon had appeared and May and Gary had called out Blaziken and Blastoise.
"STOP RESISTING JUSTICE!", called a female voice now and a woman stepped out of the bushes.
"Officer Jenny?", asked May. Lucario raised an eyebrow at Pikachu, who explained quickly: "Officer Jenny is not a single woman, if you wonder that. Rather, there are many Jennys working as police officers across all the regions, they're all somehow related."
Lucario nodded in understanding, then Officer Jenny growled: "Give them back!"
"Give who back?", asked Gary.
"The Pokémon you stole! The Pokémon that were sent over to the Pokémon Centre on this island during an evacuation! You stole them!"
"We did not steal anything", cried May.
"Isn't it possible that they were already sent farther away without you realising it?", asked Gary.
Officer Jenny shook her head and hissed: "No! The electricity was cut the second the last Pokémon came over. And now they're gone. You are the only new arrivals, so it has to be you."
"We would never do something like that", argued May. "We're good people and…"
"I bet you trained all of your Pokémon to aid you in this, didn't you!"
Now, Lucario was able to brush of her idea of them being thieves. He understood what this woman went through. But accusing him on being trained to do not just wrong, but such terrible things as stealing Pokémon pissed him off. He took a step forward, to get Houndoom leaping at him. With a quick Aura Sphere, the Pokémon got blasted away and Lucario marched up to Officer Jenny.
"Lucario!", warned May. He ignored her and grabbed the woman's collar, pulling her down to his eye-level. Growling he spat: "Now listen here woman! I can sympathise with the strain you must feel from your duty! But I will not let you accuse me of being a thief. I value my honour and Aura too much for this. My kind is, through our very own species, rendered incapable of doing wrong. Neither I nor my companions caused the crime you accuse us off!" The woman stared at Lucario wide-eyed, when he finally let go of her and pushed away. She staggered backwards, while Lucario kept glaring at her.
Suddenly he felt a weight on his shoulder and glanced there. Pikachu crouched there, looking back at him. "Lucario…what was that? I never saw you that angry", asked the yellow Pokémon. Lucario shook his head and answered: "Nothing Pikachu…it was nothing, really. I just…I do not take being called a thief or anything along those lines and beyond well."
Pikachu continued looking at him and after a while, Lucario caved and looked at the two humans. They were in a conversation with officer Jenny, so Lucario turned away and walked back to the beach. Ash's Pokémon followed him and he sensed the legendary Pokémon sneaking through the trees, following him as well. At the beach, Lucario allowed himself to slide down at a rock and sit in the sand.
"Lucario?", asked Noctowl and tilted his head. "What was it with you before?"
Lucario sighed deeply, then whispered: "My kind of Pokémon…is incapable of doing evil deeds. Wrong things, yes, because we can all make mistakes, but not evil. Yet…I barely remember it, but there was a time where Pokémon were so desperate, where survival was so hard, that my kind hit their lowest point."
He shuddered at the memories and MewTwo settled down next to him. "Explain Lucario. Maybe we can help."
With a shake of his head, Lucario answered: "I doubt you can MewTwo. It is in the past, where I pray it will stay. But if you truly wish to know…" He trailed off and looked at everyone. Though some of them looked slightly ashamed, each Pokémon nodded at Lucario to continue. Taking a deep breath, Lucario began: "It were dark times. Sir Aaron and I…we felt it coming. Those terrible happenings that led to the war he died in. Humans used Pokémon to harm each other, to destroy their harvest, to poison their water. What the humans did not realise though, was that they harmed all Pokémon as well. Back there far more Lucario and Riolu were around…and those times are the reason our species is so rare now."
In a short pause, Lucario pondered how to continue, when Kabutops asked: "So in the past Lucario were common Pokémon?"
"I wouldn't say common, but defiantly not as rare as they were for a while now", answered Ho-Oh. Everyone looked at him and he said: "Do not forget, I keep watch over Kanto and I have done so since long. But I cannot interfere with everything. Yet…I do remember those dark times. And I do remember the pure energy that seemed to wash away all evil." He smiled. "Only decades later Mew told me that Sir Aaron was the reason for it."
Lucario nodded, then explained: "Even back there my kind was praised for nobility and honour. Being a Lucario…it was something you could take pride in. And I did, instinctively I did, though Sir Aaron always warned me to be proud of who I am, not what I am. I…only realised the importance of those words after…"
Lucario jerked when pain tore through his shoulder. His arm shot up to grab it.
"Lucario!", exclaimed everyone.
With a grunt the jackal forced the pain away and growled: "It's nothing…only an old injury that hurts with the memory."
"What memory?", asked Articuno softly.
Lucario's eyes darkened and he whispered: "The memory of, as the humans called it, The Betrayal of the Noble."
Flashback
"I do not understand Master. What are we doing here?", asked Lucario and looked around in the empty pub.
Sir Aaron gazed around as well, his stance showing Lucario how alert the man was. "This is one of the few places in the lower parts of town that still has great reserves of food and wine Lucario. And, if I decoded the pattern those thieves use correct, it will be the next place they try to steal from."
A growl rose in Lucario's throat, but he gulped it back down. The kingdom was suffering from not just the constant attacks, but also the destroyed crops and the poisoned fresh water. Most inhabitants of Rota had to resort to wine since it was, for now, still easy to get. It was somehow ironic that water became so much more precious than wine. The next few hours, till deep in the night, the two warriors spent in silence, ready to act upon the slightest noise. Shortly after midnight, a suddenly noise startled Lucario out of his meditation.
He leaped onto his legs and looked around. Sir Aaron nearby did the same, before the human closed his eyes. His posture went rigid and Lucario was about to copy him, when his eyes snapped open and he hissed: "Lucario leave!"
"What?", asked Lucario startled.
"Run and get the palace guard and let us pray it's not too late then."
"But Master I-"
"Lucario this is for your best. Go."
"But-"
Now the Aura Guardian glared at his apprentice and pleaded: "Lucario…don't make me order you."
The jackal took a step back, still staring at Sir Aaron, before he spun around and dashed off. He leaped out a small window in one fluid motion and landed in an ally. Reacting fast, he ran off, to almost topple over and onto the street. Behind him he had heard a startled cry from Sir Aaron, then a few crashes, before the Aura Guardian cried out once more. Lucario felt torn. He wished to follow his master's orders and get help, but his whole being pulled him back to his Aura Keeper, urging him to help the man he cared so much for. With one last cry from Sir Aaron, Lucario spun around and raced back to the pub.
He burst through the door now, not caring whether the attackers saw him or not, and rushed into the house. Speeding through a hallway, he soon reached the room he and Sir Aaron had waited in, to freeze in shock. The first thing he registered was the blood.
The human blood.
His eyes followed the trail and a startled cry escaped the Pokémon. Glazed blue eyes stared back at him, begging him to leave. Sir Aaron hat cuts lithering his arms and blood still seeped from a wound on his head. His staff and hat lay in another corner of the room. What shocked Lucario even more though were the two creatures that crouched atop his master. It were Lucario as well.
Wide eyed, he took a step back, his eyes flitting from face to face. Dread filled his heart but he pushed it away as long as there was a small chance he was wrong. Closing his eyes, he sent out his Aura, to have Sir Aaron rasp: "D-don't…"
But too late.
Lucario felt how his insides turned upside down at what his Aura showed him. One more Lucario as well as two Riolu were in the cellar of the pub, gathering whatever food and none alcoholic liquid they could find. Another shocking revelation was how dark their auras were. Even the most vile humans he'd sensed till now had not felt this dark to him.
"Well, what do we have here?", asked a female voice. Lucario's eyes snapped open when another Lucario appeared in front of him. Her aura told him it was the one that had been in the cellar. To his shock, she wore a leather-belt with two daggers and, what enraged Sir Aaron's apprentice, had put on his master's hat. Yet he remained silent. "And…where do you come from?", asked the female. "Or better for now, what is your name?"
"I do not have a certain name. I am simply called Lucario", answered the Pokémon, switching back to his native tongue, his eyes narrowed at the female.
She laughed and asked: "Well, did we trespass your territory? If so, we can share." "
What?", asked Lucario startled.
The female raised an eyebrow and by now the two Riolu had joined them as well. "You're new in this, aren't you? I can tell. You're Aura is still so bright. Well, you'll get why we do what we do when you hit your low-point as well. Till then, see you."
And then she was gone, followed by the other four. It took a few more seconds before Lucario could move again, then he rushed over to Sir Aaron, collapsing next to the Aura guardian on his knees. "Master?", asked the Pokémon and carefully placed a paw on Sir Aaron's shoulder. The man twitched before he shakily pushed himself up. Lucario helped him as much as he could, but Sir Aaron shied away soon. Pain tore through the Pokémon and he whispered: "I-I'm sorry Master…you told me to get the guards but…I heard you cry out and…and I just…I thought…"
Lucario trailed off with a sigh, then felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up, to find Sir Aaron looking back at him sadly.
"That was not the reason I just moved away Lucario. I thought you might be angry at me."
"At you?!", exclaimed the Pokémon. "Why would I be?"
Sir Aaron shook his head and explained: "I knew the second I felt their Auras what they were Lucario. I…asked you to leave to keep you from the pain of learning this."
Lucario gulped, then whispered: "I…I cannot believe…it. Why are they even down here? My kind is supposed to live up in the mountains."
Sir Aaron shrugged, then narrowed his eyes and asked: "There's something else bothering you my friend. What is it?"
Lucario hesitated, then admitted: "I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"That…I could turn into them."
The hand on his shoulder tightened and Sir Aaron growled: "You will not turn into them Lucario. You are bright-hearted and will always be."
"All of my kind is supposed to be", muttered Lucario, before he continued: "Master…this female, she asked me if I was new in this. That means…she and her group are behind most of the robberies. She even asked if this was my territory and told me that when I hit my low point, I'll turn into them. Their Auras…it felt just so wrong."
Shudders ran down the Pokémon's spine when he remembered. The next second he was pulled forward and into Sir Aaron's arms. Lucario tensed up. He was no fan of being hugged. But then he relaxed. The silent comfort this hug gave, he desperately needed it now. Finally all of his feelings burst out of him and with a chocked sob, Lucario started to cry into Sir Aaron's chest. It was the first time he'd broken down like this in his life. He prayed it would be the last time as well.
End of Flashback
With a dry laugh Lucario muttered: "That last prayer of mine wasn't granted."
"What do you mean?", asked Lapras softly.
Lucario tensed up when pain tore through his shoulder once more. Suddenly a cool hand was placed onto it and the Aura Guardian looked up at MewTwo. "Something else happened", stated the legendary Pokémon and gave Lucario's shoulder a meaningful glance.
Lucario nodded and whispered: "Something else did happen. About three weeks after this encounter the thieving Pokémon had started attacking the palace as well. Only two groups of thieves ever managed to get in. One was a group of Ghost Types. Sir Aaron and I were pretty defenceless against them. Had it not been for the Gardevoir, Gallade and Pidgeot he trained as well, who knows what could've happened. The second group…"
"It was that female Lucario, wasn't it?", asked Swellow.
Lucario nodded and explained: "The moment she broke in, Sir Aaron made a snap decision to put a plan into action he'd been hesitating to accept."
"What plan?", asked Latios.
Lucario jerked when his shoulder flared in pain once more, then whispered: "Sending me with them."
"WHAT?", exclaimed Articuno.
"You mean like those people and Pokémon in movies?", asked Noctowl on the other hand. Everyone stared at him and he answered: "You know, those who actually work for the good guys, but sneak in with the bad guys and work with them to defeat them."
Lucario nodded in agreement and explained: "When Dana's group-" "Dana?", asked Ho-Oh. "Her name", explained Lucario. "Once Dana's group attacked the palace a second time, Sir Aaron wen to face them in the court-yard with the other three. We chose this place since Pidgeot could use his Aerial attacks there. Anyhow, they fought and when it seemed like Dana and her Pokémon would lose, I came in and helped them. I fought with only half of my actual power, to make sure we would still lose, and left with them." Lucario gave a dry grin and continued: "I gained Dana's trust easily. After two months, she even made me her second in command but…day by day I felt myself changing. I had to go with them on their hunts…I had to do what they did. Dana had been right all along. I came closer and closer to my lowest point…and it changed me." Clenching his eyes shut, Lucario couldn't keep his mental voice up anymore, so he continued normally. "It got easy…so easy to harm those around me. To push care, worry and sympathy away. Then, little more than five months after I joined them, Dana decided it was time to try another attack on the palace. She knew about my actual strength by then, she knew I could keep Sir Aaron busy for a while. I agreed immediately…not because I wanted Sir Aaron's help to stop them but…simply because she said it. I-I felt so…I can't describe it…I just shut my own will down. How, I don't know. A day before the attack, I was training alone at a stream, when I caught sight of my reflection. Back there…it didn't bother me…after it and now it haunts my dreams."
Lucario fell silent and Lapras softly asked: "Why?"
Lucario simply got up slowly and walked a few feet away from the group, before closing his eyes. He'd learned how to return his Aura to the state it had been in mere days before Aaron had sealed him away. The pain in his shoulder died down once he'd started and disappeared fully when he was done. Behind him he heard the legendary Pokémon gasp in shock and Lucario took a look at his reflection in a nearby salt-water pool.
He frowned.
Just like he remembered. His normally bright ruby eyes had turned to a dark and hazy crimson, his usually bright fur was dull and his fangs and the orange fur on his torso had grown in length. A shudder ran through him when Dana's nearly black eyes flashed in his mind.
"Lucario?", asked Swellow now.
That snapped the Pokémon out of his thoughts. Ash's Pokémon had still no idea what he had just changed. Without any preparation, he spun to face the group of Pokémon and most jerked back in shock. MewTwo, Pikachu and Ho-Oh were the first to catch themselves, followed by everyone else. Lucario walked back over to the group and in a flash his aura returned to normal, his appearance following suit.
"What was that?", breathed Kabutops once Lucario sat again.
Glancing away Lucario admitted: "That was what I looked like before the attack." He felt everyone's fear through their Aura's, but continued: "In the night of the attack, we had a full moon. Of course Sir Aaron and Gallade sensed us coming from afar, so they awaited us in the curt-yard, just like five months before. Once we arrived Sir Aaron stepped forward and demanded we leave again. Dana just grinned back at him and threw some insults. She believed he wouldn't understand him. Well, the only thing she managed with that was making Gallade furious. Sir Aaron took another step forward then and…
Flashback
Lucario watched the happenings with narrowed eyes. He did remember everything he and Sir Aaron had gone through, but couldn't find it in himself to care. He did remember his mission, but it seemed so insignificant.
That was when the Aura Guardian took another step forward. Growls came from the two other Lucario behind him. One of them was called Spike, the other, like Lucario himself, by their species' name. That was when the clouds shifted, allowing a little more light, illuminating Lucario and Spike, who'd been covered by shadows till now. The Pokémon didn't managed to bite back a grin when Sir Aaron froze when he saw him.
The Aura Guardian's blue eyes were wide in shock, then flashed a bit brighter. Lucario did realised what that meant. The man used Aura Sight without closing his eyes. Once he was done, his eyes were even wider. Then he lowered his head, his gloved fists clenching. That was what Dana had been waiting for. With a flick of her ear, her whole group, by now consisting of three male and one female Riolu as well as four male and two female Lucario, rushed forward as one.
Pidgeot swooped down and managed to take Spike and two other Lucario down swiftly, but was shot down through Dana. Gallade charged directly at Dana, getting into a dangerous close-range fight with her. Gardevoir had taken a stance in front of Sir Aaron, who was still in his former position. Lucario just ran past Dana and Gallade, when the female hissed: "Now!"
Nodding the jackal sped for Sir Aaron, to come face to face with Gardevoir, who hadn't recognized him yet. She fired a Psychic-Attack at him, but Lucario easily dodged and threw a dark-tinted Aura Sphere back at her.
Whatever position he'd moved into, it had given her the last clue and she gasped in shock. Then Lucario was already in front of her pushing her aside easily, to come face to face with Sir Aaron.
The Aura Guardian's eyes were dark with regret and he opened his mouth to speak, when Lucario blasted a close-ranged Aura Sphere into his stomach. Sir Aaron cried out in pain and staggered backwards. Lucario felt three flashes of raw shock and knew they came from Pidgeot, Gallade and Gardevoir. He charged at Sir Aaron again, but this time the knight was ready for him and dodged his Shadow Claw. Then he shot an Aura Sphere back at Lucario, who ducked away from it and lashed out at Sir Aaron with Metal Claw.
The two engaged into the same close-ranged combat the Pokémon had seen between Dana and Gallade.
Despite the advantage in numbers, Sir Aaron did have the better fighters, so the battles lasted till the first rays of sunshine sent light over the sky. That was when it happened.
Sir Aaron had been about to dodge another of Lucario's attacks, having barely attacked by himself, when he tripped over a fallen pillar. Immediately Lucario took action and rammed his knee into the man's stomach. Aaron, who'd been just about to stand up, toppled over and fell onto his knees. Lucario readied his Metal Claw for a last strike, when Dana shouted: "Stop!"
Lucario froze, then glanced back. Gallade was being restrained by Spike and the other two male Lucario, while the female held Gardevoir and the Riolu pinned Pidgeot down. Dana walked up to Lucario and Sir Aaron and gave the Aura Pokémon a glare that said "back off, he's mine". Lucario complied and stepped back till he stood near Gallade.
The white and green Pokémon glared at him, but Lucario shook it off easily.
Why should he care?
Suddenly Sir Aaron cried out again. Everyone looked there, to find him holding a hand against his chest. Dana grinned evilly and lifted her right paw. Her Metal Claw glowed bluish, the shine coming from the Sky Uppercut she'd combined it with. With the other paw she grabbed Sir Aaron's hair and pulled his head up. Then she snarled: "Any last words human?"
"Yes", coughed the Aura Guardian out and directed his glassed blue eyes on Lucario, boring them into him. Lucario looked back, to have Sir Aaron give him a sad smile and whisper: "The Aura is with us."
It was only five little words, but they none the less sent a rush of raw and pure Aura through Lucario. His eyes widened and in a flash his mind cleared from everything that had clouded it the past few months. Only a second later a shocking realisation hit him. Dana was about to kill Sir Aaron. Lucario's eyes focused back on Dana and his master, to gasp.
Her claw went up, then came down.
He had no idea where the power came from, but Lucario pushed himself forward with a speed he didn't know he possessed and slid past Dana, to stand between her and the reason he had not died up in the mountains years ago. Dana's claw impaled his shoulder and Lucario let loose and agonized cry. The moment Dana had stopped, he staggered forward and fell against Sir Aaron, who was too injured to catch him in time. That resulted in Lucario sliding of and hitting the ground hard, crying out again when his shoulder hit the ground.
His senses went into overdrive, though everything was in a haze, and his Aura caused him to feel like he was watching whatever was happening from outside his own body. Dana stared at him in shock, as did everyone else. The only one who wasn't frozen was Sir Aaron, who immediately reacted and rolled Lucario onto his uninjured side. Then he started shouting out orders.
"Pidgeot get a healer! Lucario needs help! Gallade make sure no one comes to close! Gardevoir help me stop the bleeding or he'll die!"
The moment the knight's voice reached them, the three Pokémon broke away from their captors and rushed to do as he said. Gallade leaped in front of both of them, facing Dana and her group while Gardevoir went to Lucario's side, worry etched on her face. Pidgeot rushed off, trying to get a healer fast.
"Lucario. Lucario look at me."
The worry in Sir Aaron's voice surprised Dana and her group enough to keep them frozen where they were. Lucario felt faintly how hand took a gentle hold on his face and turned his head.
"Lucario please. Don't die on me", whispered Sir Aaron, his soft pleas muffled by Lucario's own heartbeat. "Lucario! Please!", cried Sir Aaron now then Lucario heard a ripping sound. The Aura Guardian had started ripping strings of fabric from his coat so Gardevoir could stop the bleeding. "Please. Lucario you can't die yet. Not before you know that I'm sorry."
The last word caught the weak Pokémon's attention and he managed to finally look directly into his master's face. Tears streamed down, washing away Aaron's blood.
"I'm sorry Lucario, I'm so sorry", continued the Aura Guardian, unaware that his student was listening now. "I should've never agreed to this plan. There was a reason that I was against it in the first place. You told me of your fear. That you fear you could change. I told you I wouldn't let that happen. No…I promised you. And yet…look were we are. I broke my promise. I sent you to those thieves alone and look what it did to you. I…I can barely recognize you right now…and it's all my fault. I'm sorry Lucario…I'm so very sorry. I wish it was different. You should still be with your family. Not here with me. Maybe I shouldn't have gone up that mountain. Maybe…"
The Aura Guardian trailed off and his eyes widened when Lucario managed to roll onto his back, before giving a faint smile.
"I…do not regret anything", managed the Pokémon to get out. "If…you hadn't found me on that mountain…I would have died. Nothing of this…was your fault…Master."
And then Lucario did something he'd never done before. Something he wouldn't remember doing for a long time. With all of his remaining strength, the Pokémon pushed himself up and slung his uninjured arm around his master, hugging him close. Sir Aaron reacted immediately and hugged the Pokémon back. A faint smile came over Lucario's features when he felt how his and Sir Aaron's Aura reconnected and he felt how purity slowly returned to his own. After a long while the two pulled apart, only for Lucario to see something horrible.
Dana's face was a mask of rage and she charged at Sir Aaron's unprotected back.
Lucario tried to warn his master, when the claws came down at them already.
Then everything disappeared in blue light and Lucario knew nothing more.
End of Flashback
Lucario fell silent for a second, then whispered: "When I woke up, Sir Aaron sat next to the bed I was in. His arms and head were still covered in bandages, but other than that, he was fine. He told me that, in our wish to keep each other safe, we accidently released a shock-wave of aura as pure as it can get. Once it died down, I blacked out. Sir Aaron did too, but he was still awake long enough to see Dana and her group look around confused, before they turned to leave…What exactly happened…we never knew, but after this night, there was no thieving anymore, nowhere in the kingdom."
"So…that's why you get so angry when someone accuses you of thieving and worse", whispered Pikachu in realisation.
Lucario nodded and answered: "I so dearly wish to forget everything that happened there, but I can't. It's forever committed to my memory." Shaking his head, Lucario got up and walked into the ocean a bit, till he was a few inches in the water. With a soft smile he ended: "When there was one good thing that came from this, it was me learning what can and will happen if I ever go against my nature again."
All of a sudden the earth started to shake and Lucario staggered deeper into the water before he had his stand again.
"What was that?!", cried Noctowl. The next second a tornado of water shot out of the ocean and high into the air. The evil Aura hit Lucario like a Tauros-Stampede and Ho-Oh growled: "It's beginning." Then he took off, directly for the Water-Tornado, Articuno close behind. MewTwo led everyone else back to May and Gary, who had called all their Pokémon out by now. They all gathered at a cliff that was close to the Tornado. Ho-Oh and Articuno circled around it.
The next second the water burst apart and revealed the Pokémon inside. Dark-Lugia stared at all of them, grinning evilly.
"Well, well", snarled the evil Pokémon and laughed. "It appears I finally get a little challenge. How…interesting."
The next second an Aeroblast came at the group.
