Chapter 28

Amira stepped outside of the Pokémon Center with talking to Liam as her objective. She had scarcely gone more than a few steps when she sensed a shadowy presence behind her. She thought it to be Darkrai and turned quickly, Poké Ball in hand ready to fight. The ominous figure spread itself wide and lunged towards her. She shrieked in surprise. The Honchkrow covered his beak with his right wing and let out a loud, over dramatic, and wholly familiar laugh.

"Pluto!"

Despite knowing his prickly nature, she ran and threw her arms around him anyway.

"Welcome back..."

He bristled under her touch and let out a low growling noise. He was displeased as ever at being touched. Amira released him just as quickly and backed away.

"I'm sorry. Still... thank you for coming back."

He said nothing in response but spent a moment to stare at her with a serious expression. Even though she had seen him through his evolution, he did not hold the same feelings for her that her other Pokémon had. He preferred her when she was pragmatic and distant. Being thanked for coming back, what he had decided was a practical decision, he replied in silence with a smug expression.

He took a few steps forward, hopping away. As soon as she started to follow, he spread his wings and took off. He flew leisurely as she followed him. He led her straight to Liam, sitting on the patio of a cafe. He had been busy typing away on his laptop but closed it shut as soon as she approached. Amira pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. Pluto had come to rest on the cafe's roof and sat preening himself, unbothered all the same.

"Pluto came back," she announced.

"I can see that," Liam replied. He sat with his fingers interlaced as he waited to hear what decision she had come to.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," she began softly. "I'm sorry for what I said about contests not being serious. I know you work hard at your job. I know my Pokémon work hard too, in both contests and battles. I wasn't trying to badmouth it... but I did anyway. I'm sorry."

"That's enough apologizing," he interrupted. "I get it already. If you understand what you said wrong, then you should know what to do right, shouldn't you? So what is it?"

Amira sucked in both her lips as she thought it over. The obvious answer would be to say she would start taking things seriously. But she didn't exactly have the desire to stick to the idol life full time. She would take her performances seriously when she had too at least... But hadn't they promised her freedom outside of that? With all her over thinking, the seemingly obvious right answer disappeared before her eyes.

She hung her head, "I... surrender?"

"No one's taking you hostage," he quickly replied. He let out a exasperated sigh.

"I can't force you to enjoy things you just don't like. That's why I think it'd be easier to find common ground. However, what am I supposed to do with you stubbornly refusing to find joy in anything at all?"

"Hey, I enjoy things," Amira interjected heatedly. "I like... uhm..."

Cake was the first thing that came to her mind. Then there was ice cream. Then there was french fries. Having skipped breakfast, her next immediate thought was waffles.

"Ooh, funnel cake," she said aloud to herself.

"That isn't the problem I was trying to get at," he added. "Rather, it's your interpretation of this job."

"Huh?"

"What does being an idol mean to you?"

"Uhm..." She sat back and thought about it earnestly. "They sing and dance, don't they? They're cute and have cute Pokémon. They're job is to be cute."

"The textbook definition," Liam began, "is an object or person that is greatly respected the point of inspiring fervent religious worship."

She let her jaw drop. This sounded like more shenanigans involving legendary Pokémon. All she could think was 'Not again!'

"I don't want to be worshiped," she exclaimed.

"That's not something you need to worry about!" He was surprised that she would look irritated at such an outlandish possibility.

"Rather, is there someone you look up to," he asked. "Is there some one you admire or want to be like? Is there someone you think of or turn to for advice whenever you need help?"

She answered without having to think about it, "my dad." She was embarrassed by her quick answer and tried to back it up. "I mean, I talk to him you know, about stuff, and he gives me advice!"

"That's not uncommon." Liam nodded that he understood. "For you, your dad would be considered your idol. Even if you don't exactly want to be like him, you still hold him in high regard. For other people, the answer is Pokémon. They may not be capable of giving advice but their presence, their existence is enough to cheer them up and their companionship gives give them strength."

"If you're saying that's what an idol is, that sounds like a bigger responsibility than just being cute..."

"No one expects perfection, either," he answered. "When Pokémon fall down or get flustered, we think they're just that much cuter, don't we? It's the same for people as well. Fans consider watching the person they admire, their struggles and successes, and how they handle them, all apart of what makes them endearing. It's sharing those feelings of experiencing both the good and bad in life that's important. For people and Pokémon, it makes life less lonely."

Amira let out a thoughtful murmur. This sounded way more calculated than what she had originally thought. This even went past what she had seen or heard at the Jubilife TV Station.

"So in other words... I have to be someone that people can look up to? I think they'll just be disappointed," she answered honestly.

Liam clicked his tongue but held in his lecture.

"I'm not saying you have to go around solving other people's problems. Your job is to show off the joy of being with Pokémon."

"The joy of being with Pokémon..." She was sure she had heard them before. But it wasn't from an idol. They were same words she had heard from Alder. When they first met. When he first introduced himself.

"The joy one feels with being with Pokémon is real strength," she repeated.

"That's a good line," he responded with a snap of his fingers. "Do you think it's possible for you to use something like that as motivation?"

"Mm-hmm." She nodded while forcing a smile. In her mind, she felt as if the task she had been given had become that more monumental. "I've got it. I'll work hard to be someone who can other people smile."

"I'd like you to start with yourself first," he added sharply. "But at least you understand. Now for our next order of business," he continued. "The gym challenge."

"You mean about Byron," she asked. "I still have to train."

"Exactly."

He handed her a ticket for the local ferry service. The destination was for the local mine, Iron Island. Though it was defunct, it was still well maintained. It was used as a habitat for rocky Pokémon and a training ground for the local trainers. The gym leader himself was a frequent visitor.

"We're going here to train?"

"We're going here to train," he repeated. "Get breakfast now, then we'll be off."

Along with Pluto, she summoned the rest of her Pokémon out of their Poké Balls for breakfast. After scarfing down a meal from the cafe, they all set out for Iron Island. The ferry docked at the island's only port. It used to be a small settlement of boarding houses for the miners and a canteen. Now only one of boarding houses was still in use and the canteen was more for storage then actual use. They made a pit stop at the boarding house and made arrangements for just a day. Then Liam instructed her that it was time for another outfit change. This time, she traded in her school uniform for more practical attire. She traded in her skirt and blouse for leggings and long sleeved top to protect her skin from the dust and dirt they would find inside. Keeping in mind fashion as well as function, Liam had arranged for her to have a matching set in bright colors. He likewise changed from his business attire to similar athletic wear with a tracksuit modeled after Togekiss.

The sailor who had ferried them over had also stopped at the boarding house for a rest.

"If you're going into the mines, be careful," he told them.

"We will," Amira answered assuredly.

Liam took the warning with a bit more caution.

"We were told the mines are open for trainers who wish to train. Is that no longer so?"

"It is," he answered. "It's just that the Pokémon have been real agitated lately. The Gym Leader's been checking it out so that's why the mines are still open. But it don't hurt to be a bit more careful then usual, you know?"

Amira's ears perked up and a small scowl came over her face. She immediately had her suspicions of who or what the culprit was.

Liam also began to wonder but didn't let it show on his face.

"Thank you for the warning," he said.

"What do you think it is," she asked him once they were outside.

"Let's hope we don't find out," he answered. "If the gym leader's handling it, we have no business poking our nose in it, understand? Focus on your training."

"Fine" she grumbled. She was beginning to think he was less like a manager and more like an annoying parent.

Once they reached the entrance of the mines, she called out Empoleon to lead the party. He still held the type advantage over rock and ground Pokémon and she was still her first choice when it came to fighting Byron. Liam readied his camera and after a thumbs up, they went in to explore the old mines.

The ferryman hadn't been talking lightly when he told them to be careful. The local Pokémon seemed to attack them at every turn. They encountered hordes of boulder Pokémon called Graveler. Bonaparte battled one after the other. He kept them at bay with Steel Wing, cutting through them with the steel-like blades that hemmed the end of his flippers. When they grew too numerous, he swept them away with a torrential wave using Surf. Amira kept him in fighting condition with a steady supply of potions to replenish his health when he got hurt. However if he used his moves too often, there was nothing she could do to cure his fatigue. Liam signaled that it was okay for them to keep going. He had also brought along his Pokémon just in case and as long as they didn't stray too far from the entrance, they could always retreat if they had to.

They had also encountered a few trainers in the expansive caves. The ground level of the mines were used by novice trainers and tourists. As customary, Amira greeted them and they greeted her in turn, with requests for a battle. She used them as opportunities to strengthen her Pokémon that weren't effective against rock, ground, and steel-types. With their permission given, Liam also recorded these battles.

The mines also included elevators. These were kept in working order by the few workmen who lived on the island and regularly patrolled the mines. They descended deeper into the caves and were making their way through the dimly lit caverns when Bonaparte suddenly stopped in his tracks. He stared ahead and puffed up his body in agitation. Amira responded in sync by tensing up expectantly. Suddenly a ball of blue light headed for them.

"Steel wing," she ordered.

Empoleon cut through the attack and broke it apart into sparks of light that bounced off the cave walls before finally flickering out.

"Who's there," she yelled out.

"I am," came a reply. "I'm sorry about that."

A young man in a black turtleneck sweater under a blue suit with a matching fedora walked over to them. Following him was a similarly colored Pokémon, a bipedal jackal with black and blue fur.

'Lucario, the Aura Pokémon. By sensing the aura of its opponents, Lucario can read their thoughts and movements.'

Though he appeared to mean them no harm, neither she nor Empoleon dropped their guards.

"What are you doing attacking people!?"

"I apologize once again," he said. "However, you deflected it excellently. My name is Riley. This is my friend Lucario. We were patrolling the mines. I thought I sensed a hostile presence and instinctively ordered Lucario to attack. I didn't know it was just a trainer. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You should make sure of your target first instead of just attacking without thinking," Liam reprimanded him. "There are also other trainers on this island whose reflexes aren't so fast. Your Lucario could have just as easily struck one of them."

"You're right," Riley agreed. "However, may I ask how is it that you got down here? The lower levels of the mine are supposed to be off limits at the moment."

"Huh? We took the lift down," Amira answered. "There wasn't a sign or anything saying we couldn't..."

"Nor were we told anything of the sort," Liam added. "We were told to be careful of the wild Pokémon but nothing of any part of the mines being off limits."

"I see..."

They were each silenced by an uncomfortable realization. For Amira, Lucario remained fixedly staring at her, which furthered her uneasiness about the situation.

Liam broke the silence.

"We'll apologize and turn back."

Lucario let out a quick bark and locked eyes with Riley. He shook his head but no one knew what it meant except the two of them.

"Just a minute," Riley quickly called out to them. "Since I've introduced myself, might I ask who the two of you are?"

"I'm Amira. This is Bonaparte."

Bonaparte gave a small nod but like his trainer, his demeanor hadn't perked up at meeting these two.

"I'm Liam. I'm her guardian for the time being."

"Huh?" Amira quickly turned her head to look at him. Since when did he appoint himself as her guardian? So that's why he was being more annoying then necessary.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Riley smiled. "Amira, I take it you're training to face the gym leader, Byron? He's a user of steel-type Pokémon and this island is home to many of them. I'm also a steel-type user myself. I'd be happy to train both you and your Empoleon while you're here on my island. All I ask is would you accompany me for a bit? Since the native Pokémon here have suddenly become restless, I think it'd be safer."

Though he had been nothing but polite, she was hesitant to answer. Still, she did need the training. She looked to Liam for his opinion.

"I can also completely heal your Pokémon if they become injured," Riley added to quell her distrust.

She suddenly couldn't agree quickly enough. She nodded at Bonaparte to step forward, which he did reluctantly. He held out a hand and seemed to pray over him. Suddenly his hands began to glow. Her jaw dropped with an audible gasp. Bonaparte stared dumbfounded at the man in front of him. Liam looked back and forth from his camera to the scene in front of him, trying to figure out what trick of light Riley was using.

"I'm reading the aura of your Pokémon," he explained. He stared at Bonaparte with a softened expression and misty eyes. "The voices of Pokémon, the stories they have to tell always interest me."

"How did you do that," she asked immediately.

"I would... also like to know," Liam asked with a bit more hesitant. He still didn't quite believe this man was anything other than a charlatan.

Lucario sighed with exasperation and began to walk away. Riley let out a little laugh.

"Right," he agreed with a nod. "First, let's get moving. I'll explain on the way."

They walked through the mines with Lucario and Bonaparte leading the way. Riley began telling her all about an energy known as aura. All living beings had a life energy but very few could actually manipulate it. He likened as being similar to psychic powers but it focused more on feelings and emotions. To her, it sounded like super powered empathy and he agreed with a chuckle. Liam dismissed it all as new age nonsense. Even though his own Togekiss could also use Aura Sphere, he didn't tie any meaning to it.

Riley became more lighthearted as they walked but Amira still refused to drop her guard around him. She found his mysteriousness to be irrationally annoying. He took her caginess in stride and instead, used it to entertain himself with her competitive streak. Whenever they encountered by a wild Pokémon, they fought to determine who the more impressive battler was. Since both Lucario and Empoleon were part Steel-type and at a disadvantage to the Ground-type Pokémon that had made Iron Island their home, he proposed that they should only use steel type moves. She resented being limited to only Steel Wing but he encouraged her to think of using the attack in new ways for both defense as well as offense. In spite of not wanting to be sociable, she couldn't deny that his coaching was still valuable.

They had gone quite a few rounds against wild Pokémon when Liam called to get their attention.

"Something's wrong with the camera," he told them.

He had been having problems with his camera from the moment they stepped in the mine but those had all been minor enough for him to ignore. Now it seemed to have gone haywire completely. The audio and picture had turned into static. Suddenly it turned itself off and he couldn't get it power on at all.

Riley turned from him and looked around with a clenched jaw.

"We're getting close then," he said. "What ever is disrupting your camera is doing the same to the Pokémon here."

Amira looked at Bonaparte with worry. He seemed fine but if it was only affecting Pokémon, than of course she would be none the wiser to it.

"Hey Bon," she called to him. "Are you okay? Are you feeling alright?"

Bonaparte slowly nodded but the tension in his face hadn't disappeared. He didn't want to worry her. Suddenly Lucario sharply turned his head and without warning, unleashed another Aura Sphere into the darkness. Empoleon squawked to get Amira's attention and the two Pokémon took off running.

"Bon!"

"Lucario, wait!"

The trio followed them and found two members of Team Galactic standing by a strange machine. It was emitting a piercing screech that was the source of pain for Pokémon but left humans unaffected.

"Who are you," demanded Riley, the sudden seriousness of his tone being more of what she expected from him. "What are you doing in my mine!?"

"They're Team Galactic," she answered.

"Yeah, we're Team Galactic, like she said! We're abducting all the Pokémon from this rusted-out Iron Island," announced one of the grunts in triumph before he took a good look at Amira.

"Wait… It's her!"

The grunt's voice took on a tone of fear as he recognized her not only from the viral video that had now become a cautionary tale, but from the increasing horror stories of a vengeful trainer that had been going around the Galactic offices.

"You're the ones agitating the Pokémon," shouted Riley. "I don't care what reasons you may have! I won't allow anyone to bring trouble into my mine!"

He seemed to grow more enraged at the two grunts. The indignation shared between him and Lucario overshadowed even her own menacing presence.

"We'll take all the Pokémon we want, pretty boy," spat back the other grunt. "You think you're going to do something about it? I'd like to see you try!"

"Amira," he whispered to her gruffly. "Let's settle this score once and for all!"

"Finally," she said with a smug smile at the chance of showing him up. "Bon, let's go!"

As the grunts sent out a full team of six Pokémon, she and Riley sent out only Lucario and Empoleon. Unlike in their training, they weren't limited to just Steel-type moves and so unleashed their full arsenal.

The battle was two on two with her and Riley facing off against the pair of grunts.

The pair sent out their Pokémon, a Glameow and a Zubat.

"Lucario, Force Palm on Glameow!"

"Then we'll use Aqua Jet!"

Bonaparte was the first to attack. He surrounded with a veil of water and slammed into the Zubat head on. Though second, Lucario was still just as fast and struck Glameow with the heel of his palm. The force of these two attacks took both of the opposing Pokémon out in a single hit.

The pairs next Pokémon were a Croagunk, a toxic bipedal toad, and Houndor, though a puppy, was still a hell hound. Croagunk was a fighting type and Houndour was a fire type. Both types had the advantage over steel type Pokémon. Unfortunately for them, both Empoleon and Lucario were still dual types.

"Amira, if you don't mind," Riley asked without elaborating.

"Likewise," she replied. "Bon, Aqua Jet on Houndour!"

"Lucario, use Bone Rush on Croagunk!"

The Pokémon responded with the same cooperation their trainers used. Bonaparte used Aqua Jet to take out Houndour with the force of a torpedo to keep it from hurting Lucario. Lucario repaid the favor by manipulating his aura to give a physical presence in the shape of a massive bone club. With it, he wound up his swing and mercilessly took out Croagunk.

The grunts were down to their last two Pokémon while Empoleon and Lucario had yet to break a sweat. They called out their last two Pokémon, Stunky and Golbat. Both Riley and Amira clenched their teeth in an unconcious moment of synchronicity. As both opposing Pokémon were poisonous, and only grew more dangerous the longer they stayed in battle, they had to be dealt with quickly. The outcome couldn't have been worse.

"Bone Rush," called Riley.

"Steel Wing," Amira shouted.

The opposing Pokémon had no time to register what happened. Lucario took out Stunky with a hammered Bone Rush. Golbat was knocked out of the sky and into unconsciousness by Bonaparte's metal flippers.

The two grunts recalled their fainted Pokémon with matching looks of terror on their faces as they pleaded for mercy.

"Stop! I said stop! I feel like crying," whimpered the first grunt. "This is so sad..."

"Sick..." said the second. "Your combination is so sick! It's making me feel sick in a completely different way."

"We'll retreat," added the first through his tears as he desperately tried to keep his failing reputation. "But not because we lost… But because… We have better stuff to do! So there!"

Riley scoffed and raised his hand. Lucario joined him. A blue light engulfed the villainous duo from all sides. As Riley and his Lucario threw up their arms and the pair were sent blasting off until they were only a twinkle in the sky.

As amazing as it was, and possibly deadly, Amira only smacked her lips in annoyance at his showing off. Not content to let him have all the glory, she was about to order Bonaparte to destroy the machine they had left behind. It was suddenly struck by a white ball of light and exploded, leaving only a melted hunk of fused metal.

"Oh come on!"

She stood pouting angrily that her moment to be cool had been taken from her. Bonaparte, now at ease with the noise gone, comforted her with a gentle pat to her back.

Liam, who had been quiet for so long, stood sulking for a completely different reason. That his camera was on the fritz meant there was nothing he could record. The battle he had just witnessed would have been great footage and yet not even his phone's record button was working. He was standing around doing nothing because there was nothing to do. All he could otherwise do in the mines surrounded by rocks and dirt was think about how much he did not want to be there surrounded by rocks and dirt.

"Good shot," Riley called out while smiling at her missed opportunity.

They turned to see that approaching them was none other then Byron and his Bastiodon. Amira balled her fists and readied herself to face him.

"What're you doing here," he barked at her. "This ain't a place for kids to run around."

"I'm training," she answered back just as sharply. "I keep my word. I'm going to beat you."

"Hmph..." He stared at her with no change in expression. "Play around as much as you want."

He then turned to address Riley, "keep the kid out of my way."

He walked off and Amira had to fight herself to keep from screaming after him. Still, she was as steamed as a teapot.

"I'm so going to beat him no matter what," she said while stomping both feet.

"He can't seem to decide if he wants to treat you as a child or as an adult," Liam added.

Riley let out a polite laugh at hearing this. It was not a dispute he wanted to get between. However, it wouldn't be the first time he found himself involved in one.

"Byron's good at getting under people's skin. He's probably doing it because you remind him so much of his son, Roark."

Amira turned her head so fast that she almost snapped her own neck.

"No way, no way, no way!" she yelled. "My dad is my dad! Byron's just a super jerk!"

While she argued the differences between her father and Byron, Lucario one again took the lead in walking away. With Team Galactic and their weird machine gone, the mines were once again peaceful to the Pokémon that lived there. The party made their way out of the mines and back to the boarding house. It was there that Riley decided to part ways for the time being.

"I want to do one more walk through of the mines," he explained.

"Will you alright by yourself," Amira asked.

"I'm sure I'll be fine. But don't worry, We'll be back to training tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"We only trained one of your Pokémon. You have a party of four, don't you? As thanks for helping me back there, I'm going to help you train your whole team. In other words, you have three more passes through the mines to go."