After a long talk with Froslass she had decided to go and stay with the Professor for a while as a means of a holiday. She had told me that she was satisfied with her one victory and had enough pride in herself to last a lifetime, or at least in so many words. In any case, I was sad to let her go to the professor but he assured me I could call her back any time I needed her.
So with Froslass safely with Professor Oak, now a completely changed Pokémon, I could focus on finding my way back to Ash and the others. In my call to the professor he'd informed me that after Ash's victory at the Petalburg City gym against Norman, they were now moving on to Ash's next gym battle and stopping off for May's next contest.
He sent me reports on Froslass, telling me that she was calm and peaceful, happy to just float around admiring the grounds at Professor Oak's lab so I didn't worry about her too much, though I made sure that he knew that she was very particular about being clean and tidy so not to let her in his office unless he wanted everything to go missing into files that he'd never be able to find again. I left the Pokémon centre and started walked down the path away from the town so that when I called out Latias for a quick flight, I wouldn't shock anyone or draw too much attention to ourselves.
I found myself facing a large cliff, rising high up off the road and I instantly saw it as a challenge. Why not? I haven't done something like this in a while, it could be fun! Besides it's faster than walking the road path. I gripped onto the rock at the bottom them pulled myself up, beginning my ascent.
Climbing up the rock face I paused and looked down, surprised by how much higher it looks from this position but still I continued to climb. Reaching out I gripped a stone to pull myself up, however with a sudden jolt it came away from the face of the cliff and I inhaled sharply, trying to grab for a different hold but my foot slipped and I began to fall.
Crying out I swiped at the air in a miserable attempt to try and grab another rock for support but I missed by bare inches, so I went to grab a Pokéball. "Latias I need…" But then firm arms curled around me and curled me up against something furry and warm, the Pokémon huffing with each leap it took back up the cliff face until finally, I dared open my eyes. "Lucario?"
"Lucario…" He nodded his head gently then put me down on my feet, walking over to then stand with his trainer.
"Seems you like the dangerous route." Sam noted to me and in the light of the sun, I noticed exactly what he was wearing. Thick combat boots, a long black coat with the hood drawn up over his head with his hands tucked deep into large pockets. "Why am I not surprised?" He gave a warm smile as I blinked at him then looked at him curiously.
"What're you doing here?" I questioned him, placing my hands on my hips and tried to look as proudly defiant as possible, but he merely chuckled.
"I watched your performance." He revealed and I was instantly speechless. "Have to say, I wouldn't want to go against your Froslass. Impressive battle, especially against a Pokémon as strong as that Manectric. Your Pokémon must have a lot of faith in you." He'd come to watch? Well I guess that's nice of him, but I don't get it. He hates Pokémon contests. Or at least that's the impression I got. "The way you'd defended your love of coordinating, I thought I'd come and see exactly what you were talking about. I wasn't impressed by most of the others, but you completely transformed my opinion. Your use of your Pokémon's abilities to turn something that's meant for battle into something beautiful is very admirable."
"Thank you." I said finally, unsure of what else to say.
"So, I've decided that I want to battle you. I've seen you battle for show, now battle me for real." Instantly my heart rate kicked up a gear as I smirked competitively, adrenaline firing up my spirit as I clenched a fist and nodded my head.
"You got it. How about a one on one knock out?"
"Good. I'll battle with Lucario." Sam informed and Lucario jumped forwards. "A Pokémon I have travelled with for a long time and one of my most trusted." He added so I made my decision quickly.
"In that case, I'll battle with my first Pokémon. Charizard, its show time!" I called and he appeared with a roar, flapping his wings to create a large gust then landed on the ground, making it tremble slightly from his weight and size. Sam arched an eyebrow then nodded his head, impressed. "Age before beauty." I called out with a smirk and Sam suddenly laughed aloud, a rich and rumbling laugh as he smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling from where he'd smiled often.
"Very well. Lucario go, use Power-Up Punch." Sam began and Lucario instantly darted forwards with intense speed, hitting Charizard hard in the snout and he roared.
"Flamethrower Charizard at close range!" I countered, seeing that Lucario was now close and wouldn't be able to move away fast enough.
"Aura Sphere." What's that? I've never heard of that kind of move before. Suddenly Lucario twisted around and pressed his paws outwards, a glowing orb appearing between them and it shot towards Charizard's Flamethrower, breaking it apart and slammed into Charizard, who roared as he took the hit. Oh…so that's what it is.
"Fly up Charizard and use Wing Attack!" I sliced my hand down with a smirk, focusing on the battle as Lucario landed on the ground and stood at an angle, body relaxed but I could sense he was ready to move in the blink of an eye.
"Hold your ground." Sam said and I instantly snapped my gaze to him and he returned it levelly, wearing a similar expression to me. What's his next move? Charizard swooped down and with a glowing wing tip, powered for Lucario. "Now, use Bone Rush." Lucario created a glowing bone in both paws then swung it at Charizard.
"Dodge by spinning." I returned and Charizard instantly spun around, twisting like a hurricane and dodged Lucario as he leaped up, swinging his bone but then he jumped after Charizard. "Now swing your tail!" I quickly ordered so Charizard swung out his tail without looking, trusting my judgement and it slammed into Lucario, making him grunt from the impact before being struck back to the ground. "Oh yeah, strike one!" I cheered, giving a laugh. "Now Charizard, use Flamethrower!"
Charizard swooped around and blasted at Lucario with his flaming breath, Lucario still lying on the ground but Sam called out calmly. "Lucario, Aura Sphere again." Lucario's eyes snapped open and instantly he moved, springing backwards with a flip over his head to avoid the Flamethrower then used Aura Sphere on Charizard who roared.
"Batter up." I told him and he nodded his head as the sphere came rushing at him. With a swing of his tail again, he knocked the sphere back and Lucario had to dodge it. "Strike two! Let's go Charizard, Inferno and spin!" I said, clenching a fist tightly in front of my face as I continued to feel the excitement pounding through my body, anticipating the great battle to get hotter and hotter as Charizard used Inferno, blasting intense flames out of his body and then spiralled down, tucking in his wings as he carried the flames with them for a more accurate attack.
"Lucario go, use Dragon Pulse, let's go." Sam remained calm and Lucario instantly thrust his paws outward, forming a powerful beam of purple energy which rushed at Charizard who didn't see it coming until it was too late.
With a roar he tumbled to the ground and landed with a heavy thud, the flames going out as he groaned softly. "Charizard! Are you okay buddy?" I asked and in answer, he got back to his feet, glaring at Lucario. "Awesome, that's the way. Let's use Wing Attack, now!" Charizard flew up then shot forwards but Lucario leaped up and literally flew over the top of Charizard, making him halt in surprise and turn around, but by then Lucario was already moving with Sam's next attack call.
"Aura Sphere." Within the blink of an eye, several Aura Spheres pounded against Charizard, knocking him down to the ground and he lay there, smoking slightly with his eyes closed so I sighed and raised my hand.
"It's over. You guys win." I said then ran over to Charizard. "Charizard! Come on buddy, speak to me." I pleaded with him, kneeling down and hugged his face. "I'm sorry you got hurt, I totally didn't know what was coming. We were both a little outmatched." In answer Charizard opened his eyes then lifted his head, growling softly at me then began to lick my face, making me giggle as I lifted my arms to shield myself. "Stop it! Charizard, you know that tickles! Hey!" I laughed before flinging my arms around him, holding him tight. "I'm proud of you, you battled hard and that's all that matters."
"Indeed. You two are very close, I can see that now." Instantly Charizard was snarling, glaring at Sam as he tried to get a little too close for Charizard's liking so Sam instantly stepped back as I flicked his nose.
"Hey. Be nice." I scolded him. "If it weren't for Sam, I may not even be here right now." I said as Charizard stood up but protectively curled his tail around me, signalling that Sam wasn't allowed to pass that point. "Sorry, he's very protective."
"I can see. Your Pokémon all love you very dearly, Ruby." Sam said with a proud gleam in his eye. "I'm impressed with your skills, thank you for our battle."
"No problem. It was fun. Right buddy?" Charizard nodded his head once with a gruff snort. "He agrees." I translated, folding my arms then tipped my hat back a little. "Have we ever met before?" I questioned and Sam sighed.
"A long time ago, when you were just a baby. I was a…friend of your mother's." That's when I got the feeling of a hidden truth again, like he wasn't telling me everything. "Please, I'll ask you not to pry. Some things are better left untouched." He said to me and I sighed.
"Fine. I'll let it go." Sam gave me a grateful nod of his head before looking between me and his Lucario.
"Teach me how you would battle with Lucario in a contest." He said suddenly and I blinked in surprise.
"What? You want me to show you how to use Lucario's battle skills to show him off?" I questioned and Sam nodded his head silently, wearing a serious expression so I gulped. "Okay, I'll try. Charizard, you take a long rest. You've earned it." I said and he gave my cheek one last affectionate lick before he disappeared into his Pokéball. "Okay, give me one minute." I requested then began to pace, thinking over what I had seen from Lucario.
Aura Sphere, Power-Up Punch, Bone Rush and Dragon Pulse. Okay, let's think…got it! "Uh…do you want me to tell you what to say or…?"
"Lucario will do whatever you ask of him." Sam informed me then stepped back as Lucario walked to stand in front of me, turning his head to give a short, gruff bark with a nod of his head.
"Okay. Well then, let's start. Lucario, I want you to use Aura Sphere up at the sky." I told him and I tried to picture exactly what I wanted. Lucario latched onto my aura and instantly knew exactly what I wanted, so he did as I asked, sending several orbs up into the sky with great power. "Now Bone Rush!" The glowing bone like staff appeared and Lucario leaped up as the spheres began to fall and he struck them all with powerful and perfectly executed moves, causing them to explode effectively around him. "Aura Sphere." Again he knew exactly what I wanted and he held the sphere over his head, letting it grow and grow until it was easily larger than a Snorlax after his midday meal. "Now, Dragon Pulse!"
Lucario let the sphere go and instantly jumped up, twisting around and blasted it with his Dragon Pulse, growling softly as the sphere exploded with a loud bang but the sparkling shards of blue and purple rained down around him as he punched the air, performing his battle moves before holding his punch, looking directly outward before relaxing and nodding his head to me.
"Excellent. I never knew Lucario could use his attacks in such a different manner." Sam said, clapping his hands casually as he walked back over to me. Reaching out he placed his hand on my shoulder and rested it there gently. "You've certainly opened my eyes Ruby, I thank you."
"You're welcome, but it was all Lucario really." I shrugged, blushing a little. "And you're the one who trained him into such a great Pokémon."
"But you unlocked his full potential, something I had not thought were possible. I have believed Lucario to be in his final stage of his potential, but I now see that there is still a lot of training to be done." He told me, looking up at the sky as the sun began to set.
"A Pokémon's potential is something that can be limitless. They never stop surprising you, after all." I informed him simply. "I speak from experience. You think you know everything about your Pokémon, then they throw something totally new at you." Sam chuckled.
"I agree. You know, I have heard that there is another contest a few towns over to the west. Perhaps you should enter. I will be looking forwards to seeing you compete in the Grand Festival. You can be sure that Lucario and I shall be rooting for you." He said then touched my face, gently brushing his finger against my cheek and I looked at the contact quickly, finding that the gesture was not strange to me. I'd better get in contact with mom. If he won't tell me, then she will. "Goodbye Ruby, I am certain we shall meet again." He said then began to walk away.
Lucario stepped forwards and nuzzled my head with his snout, smiling as he gave a gruff but warm bark before springing after his trainer, the two of them disappearing into the forest. Okay, I have questions that need to be answered. But first…maybe that contest needs an extra contestant.