"Sorry trainers," the Ace Trainer shook her head. "Gym Leader isn't here at the moment. She headed down into Route 20 just an hour ago. You'll have to either come back later or look for her yourselves. She tends to do what she wants most of the time."
"Alright, thanks," I nodded, sighing as we left. "Well, luckily we still have a week until the League. I guess we can do a bit of forest searching."
"Yeah," Alex sighed as well. "Though I was hoping to battle today. Oh well, can't be helped."
"You might still be able to," Robert pointed out. "If we find the Gym Leader quick and get back here soon enough."
Clara snorted. "You'll have to be lucky to find her that soon. As that trainer said, this Gym Leader does what she wants. Finding her is one thing. Getting her back here before she wants to is another thing entirely."
"Oh shaddup," Alex moaned. "You're such a downer all the time."
Clara rolled her eyes. "I still don't see how the three of you can be so positive all the freakin' time."
"Now now ladies," Robert grinned, holding up both hands. "Let's save the cat fight for later shall we? We're on a mission right now."
Alex and Clara exchanged looks and both acted in unison.
"Seriously," I said a minute later, walking in the back with Robert, who rubbed his arms gingerly as both the girls lead the way into the forest known as Route 20. "You think you would learn by now."
"Well, I just can't help myself," he chuckled as we entered the slightly warmer embrace of the forest compared to Snowbelle City. His eyes lit up suddenly. "Hey, I have an idea!"
"Yeah?" I glanced at him.
"Why don't you try having Lucario sense for the Gym Leader?" He said, grinning from ear-to-ear. "I heard they can use their aura like that. Makes rescue operations during natural disasters much easier when someone has a Lucario on hand."
"Huh," I enlarged his pokeball. "Could always give it a try."
"Girls!" Robert called ahead to them and flinched when both shot him a warning glare. "Hey, don't give me that look. We're stopping for a minute."
"What is it?" Alex asked as I tossed out Lucario.
"Hey, Lucario," I knelt. "I have a job for you."
Lucario nodded absentmindedly, looking at the forest around us. His eyes widened slightly and he growled.
"What?" I scanned the area. "What is it?"
Lucario shook his head quickly, kicking the dirt. I raised an eyebrow. This was unusual behavior for him. "You okay, Lucario?"
He hrred softly, nodding.
"Okay," I said, still concerned. I would have to ask him later. "Okay, we need to find the Gym Leader somewhere in this forest. Are you able to use your aura for that?"
Lucario nodded, kneeling on the ground, placing his paw flat on the earth. The pebbles around him shook slightly and he stayed like that for a solid minute before opening his eyes. He glanced to his left, nodding.
"Good boy," I said, standing. "Lead the way."
We followed a different path than the one we were on originally and set off further into the woods. Lucario ran ahead of us, but made sure to glance behind him to check to see if we were keeping up. The forest soon got thicker and the path narrower. Then we entered a small clearing, stone steps cut out of a rock wall leading up to an elevated part of the forest.
Lucario began walking up the stairs, so we followed suit. Once at the top we spotted a woman who was likely in her mid-twenties running her hand through her long brunette hair as she gazed around her surroundings worriedly. Despite the rather cold temperature, she only wore black shorts and a white t-shirt with a blue jacket tied around her waist.
"Uh, hi," I said, holding my hand up in greeting.
She swiveled to face our group, surprise etched across her features. "Eh? Where'd you all come from?"
"The trainer in front of your gym said you were in this forest," Alex explained. "You are the Gym Leader, right?"
"Uh, yeah," she nodded, then she saw Clara. "Oh, hey! I remember you!" Grinning, she walked over and sized Clara up. "Our battle the other day sure was a cold defeat for me."
"Hold on," Robert rubbed his chin. "I've seen you somewhere before, haven't I?"
"Now that you mention it," I cocked my head, trying to remember.
"Tch," the lady wagged a finger. "Lucky for you I tend to remember faces quite well, but not so much names." She grinned. "My name is Caren, daughter of the previous Gym Leader of Snowbelle City. I was knocked out of the Alolan League only in the second round by your friend Hau. I think that's his name. It was nearly a year ago."
Robert snapped his fingers. "That's it! Yeah, I remember you now. That one chic with the Mega Abomasnow."
"That's me," Caren said proudly, fingering the icicle earring in her left ear, a small orb nestled in it. "You three made it pretty far in the tournament. I guess I have some amazing battles to look forwards to."
Suddenly her eyes widened. "Oh shoot! I nearly forgot!" She whirled around, eyes searching. "I came out here because I needed to check up on the village!"
"Village?" Alex asked. "What village?"
Robert scratched his head. "I don't remember there being a village around here. I've looked at several maps and haven't seen a mention of one at all."
"Of course not," Caren said, sighing. "It's a secret village that few know about. With my dad retired, it's up to me to check up on the Pokemon Village and make sure everything is alright. Thing is, I felt that something was off this morning, so I came looking." She looked sheepish. "I tend to be bad with directions sometimes though. I've been lost for a while now."
"Hm," I tapped my chin, looking at Lucario. "Couldn't you use your aura to sense it? Something of that size ought to be easy to find."
Lucario's gaze seemed troubled as he looked away from me. Then his shoulders sagged and he nodded, but he didn't bother trying to spread his aura as he began running down the stairs.
"Follow him!" I shouted behind me and heard everyone else start to follow. The trees flew by and we entered a clearing and left it just as quick, dodging around a tree in the middle. The further we went, the more that I could notice Lucario look agitated. Then he slowed to a stop, the forest thinning ahead.
"Aha," Caren pushed her hair out of her face. "Yep, this is the place. Just ahead is the Pokemon Village." She frowned, tensing slightly. "This feeling... I don't like it."
Lucario went ahead a little and knelt behind a bush, peering over. I carefully made my way over to him, my senses on high alert. Whatever was beyond this stretch had spooked both Lucario and the Gym Leader. And what I saw made me sharply suck in a breath. "Cultists."
There were dozens of them, moving about through a field of tall yellow flowers. They were stabbing long poles into the ground and had Lampents strike the top with purple flames, the fire licking the air ominously. Just beyond the immediate group of the Chaos Cultists were a gathering of more of them. Part of the flowers had been burned away to make a circle where I could see a bunch of Pokemon within, surrounded by Chandelures and Lampents who kept them within. Many were small Pokemon that didn't look like they could do much, but there was a Snorlax, Zoroark, and Blaziken already looking fatigued, shielding the weaker Pokemon.
Caren was beside me, eyes narrowed. "What are bloody cultists doing here!? What have they done!?"
"After evading International Police for so long, we just have to be the ones to stumble across them," Alex muttered. "Just our typical luck."
Robert asked the one question none of us really wanted to ask. "What are they planning doing to the Pokemon."
Suddenly, the Blaziken lunged forwards, grappling a Chandelure before kicking it away. Snorlax barreled towards a cluster of them, aiming to bulldoze them. Then something rose from the grass, sending three blasts of energy that slammed into Snorlax, making him fall on his back. The newly arrived Hydreigon then grabbed Blaziken by the shoulders and slammed her to the dirt.
Something flew past me, crashing through the bushes and into the field. It was Lucario.
"Dang't!" I leaped over the bush, rushing after him.
Lucario held back both paws while running, sending an Aura Sphere shooting towards the Dark and Dragon type. It smashed into him, making Hydreigon turn towards us. Along the way, I slammed two cultists to the ground by the heads, catching them by surprise.
Lucario threw himself forwards, fist glowing brightly. He swung it, only to be met by a beam of draconic energy. He hung there for several seconds, his momentum trying to overcome the energy, but with the addition of two new beams, he was blasted backwards, creating a groove in the flowers.
"Greninja!" I shouted, throwing him out. He appeared and narrowed his eyes, throwing two shurikens that brought down a Lampent. My friends, Caren, and their Pokemon had caught up to me, but we were all to quickly surrounded.
"I hate this Cult," Clara muttered, her Scizor by her side.
Someone stepped forwards, pushing the hood off his head. It was that old man from the attack on the Tower of Majesty. Sebastian.
"It's you again," he said calmly, as if he might have been expecting us. "This is perfect. While we do have a different sacrifice planned for bringing back Chaos, you are still a prime candidate." He grinned widely. "If we can bring about Chaos now, then there is no need to wait! We will bring her rise here and now!"
A figure leaped above him, fist raised. The Hydreigon shot forwards, grappling Lucario with two of his heads. The Fighting type roared in pain and as I stepped forwards, flames erupted around my feet and Greninja pulled me back while also leaping forwards. Two giant columns of fire erupted from the ground in front of him and he was barely able to leap back, but not before being scorched by the heat.
Lucario struggled, punching Hydreigon's middle head, but the Dragon type ignored him, blasting him into the air. I heard an explosion to my right and I saw the Blaziken vault over the Chandelures, foot ablaze. With a yell, the Fire type brought her foot down on Hydreigon's back, releasing Lucario.
"Greninja," I crouched. "Wa-hrk!"
An invisible force slammed into me, sending me crashing back into Alex and Robert. Greninja made to help, but fell to the ground as an ominous aura surrounded him and what looked like a dozen nails jam into his body. He croaked in pain and fell to his knees, a Dusknoir looming over him. I heard the sound of battle off to my right and saw an Avalugg get blow back alongside a Scizor.
I heard Sebastian laugh as I made to stand, feeling as if my body was much more heavy. "After all this time, don't you think we wouldn't have come prepared for a surprise attack!?"
The force of gravity seemed to intensify, pushing me down to my knees, the same thing happening to my friends. The Cultists moved around us freely and unhindered by the sudden gravitational effects, robbing us of our possessions, including my knife which had the Keystone attached to it.
Another explosion and I saw Blaziken being blasted back and crashing to the ground. Lucario howled with fury and leaped into the air, but Hydreigon blasted him with so much energy, he flew back into the forest and out of sight.
Sebastian was standing over me now. "Oh, how easy this was. To think you've managed to stop our plans before. But not this time." He knelt and wrapped his hand around my arm, tugging me along with surprising strength. "Now come along. We have a ritual to attend. One where you'll help us give rise to Chaos herself!"
"No!" I heard someone behind me yell, struggling to stand, but yelped and I had no other choice but to allow myself to get dragged, still unable to stand.
"No," I thought, trying to feel Greninja's presence. "We can still-!"
Something slammed into the back of my head and instantly I was thrust into a world of darkness.
...
I was standing in a field of flowers, the scenery around me hazy and warm. I watched as Lombres and Poliwhirls played along the riverbank, water being splashed into the air. A huge Snorlax rested beneath a small hut constructed of sticks, leaves, and ferns as the sun beat down overhead. A shout came came to my attention and I turned to see a Zoroark swiping at a couple of small Pokemon, who were running away from the annoyed Pokemon's den, appearing to be enjoying themselves. A Banette, Gothorita, and Riolu.
I watched them frolic around in the flowers, annoying nearby Pokemon. I smiled, then suddenly I was standing beside a cave entrance. Looking inside, I saw a Blaziken sitting in front of another slightly taller Pokemon. I couldn't make out this new Pokemon's features out, as if some sort of force was trying to obscure it.
I came to realize that the Riolu from before was by my feet, peering into the cave curiously. Blaziken nodded her head and stood alongside the unidentifiable Pokemon, leaving the cave. Purple eyes seemed to regard me for just a second as the Pokemon passed by me, before blasting off into the sky.
Blaziken clucked and picked up the Riolu in her arms, carrying the small Fighting type back down to the flowers. The scene shifted once more and now I was in the forest. Riolu was running, crashing through bushes and leaping over logs. A Hoothoot flew down from above, beak glowing. Riolu skidded to the side and jumped, blasting the Flying type furiously with a flurry of fists.
Once he landed, Riolu kept running and I could feel his rush. The end was close, so close. He burst through the bushes and back into the Pokemon Village. Blaziken was waiting for him, alongside the Zoroark and Snorlax. Blaziken smiled and kneeled, rubbing Riolu's head. A trial completed efficiently and swiftly.
Now it was night. Torches flickered with small flames as they encircled a small area where Riolu stood. He hopped from foot to foot, pumping his fists. Zoroark stepped into the area to face him, a sneer curling on her face. A final trial to prove himself.
The fight started off well, with Riolu dodging Zoroark's attacks and landing a few good hits. He leaped back to avoid her claws, right foot pushed back further than the left. He crouched, growling. Something flickered around his foot, then it burst into flames. He ran, leaping and swinging his foot around, kicking Zoroark in the face. The Dark type took a couple steps back, still able to fight. Riolu was prepared to strike again when the flames rose around his foot. He tried to quickly stamp them out, but they only grew bigger and hotter until they obscured my vision.
Riolu sat alone now at the river's edge, kicking his feet in the water, staring sadly at his injured foot. Blaziken came over, offering a comforting hand, but Riolu jerked away, heading off towards the forest. I felt a pang of sympathy for him, already realizing what I was seeing.
He practiced alone, night after night, each time having to quickly stamp out his fire before it got too bad or dip it into the nearby stream in the forest. He challenged Zoroark over and over, each time ending in defeat, with him being left burned. Riolu cried out, punching a tree over and over in anger. He then swung his foot in a fit of rage, flames sparking to life. They skidded across dead leaves, a fire instantly starting. Panicked eyes widened, Riolu tried to put them out, but the fire only grew more intense. By the time he tried putting it out with water from the stream nearby, it had grown out of his control.
As he ran for the Pokemon Village, the flames spread faster and faster. Smoke clouded his vision and filled his lungs. Coughing, he emerged back in the village to see the Water types trying to put out the flames. He saw Zoroark there, sneering at him with disdain and Snorlax shaking his head, lumbering off back to sleep. Worst of all, Blaziken's expression of sadness and grief.
Riolu took a step back, passing through my faded body. His eyes were wide, feeling frightened and rejected. With a cry, he ran and ran and ran. Back into the flames, ignoring Blaziken's calls. He coughed, tears running down his face as he left behind the only home he ever knew.
...
He staggered down the snowy road, shivering and feeling dull pain from the burns. He struggled to continue, collapsing outside of a building. In his weakened state, he barely saw the pink-haired woman stumbled across him and hurry him into the building. His eyes fluttered close and let himself drift off.
When he awoke, he was in a medical room. He sat up, examining the bandages on his arms. He stretched, surprised at how good he felt. He looked around, seeing that he was trapped in this room. Then he saw the window behind him, near the ceiling. Crouching, he leapt and crashed through the window and into daylight. His landing was softened by the snow and he shivered. He heard frantic footsteps near him, so he ran. He had no idea what he was running from or where he was running to, but he didn't care.
Life from there on consisted of sleeping in dark corners and living off of scraps. He found a particular interest in stealing stuff whenever it caught his eye. He had the bad habit of trying to challenge strong Pokemon he came across, whether it be a trainer's or just a wild Pokemon. He won some, but most of the time he ran, on the verge of being beaten. He continued to practice Blaze Kick, determined to master it. He took extra precaution this time, always making sure he had a surefire way to prevent a wildfire like last time. He had been burned so many times, he had gotten mostly used to the pain, but many times he found himself back in that strange red building, miraculously healed. But over time, he had begun to notice slight marks, signs that he wasn't fully getting healed. So he stopped, realizing he could no longer use flames.
An unknown amount of time passed and he ended up in a large city. Smiling, he found that he enjoyed the thrill of snatching things out of people's pockets at high speed and rushing off to disappear into the back alleys. He had stored up quite the collection that he was proud of. Then one day, he stole something that changed his life. The thing itself wasn't something that did it, but the people he stole it from. They gave chase, forcing him to flee the city and try to hide out in the wilderness. To his amazement, they kept up with him and even trapped him. But, instead of dishing out a punishment that he had been expecting, he had been asked to a battle.
Winning had been easy, defeating that Froakie in no time at all. Satisfied, he was going to leave without the thing he had stolen, but then that boy asked him something. Something that made him stop. He knew full well a trainer like him could just quickly capture him in one of those capturing devices and force him to be a part of his team. But no, not this trainer. He offered Riolu the chance of joining him and experiencing even more thrilling battles.
Having always seen the pleasure in battling, having one's heart race in the heat of battle, Riolu knew he couldn't pass this chance up. On a whim, he decided to join the boy and became his Pokemon. His name was Zeno. And he had delivered exactly what he had promised. Battle after battle, seeing many new sights he had never experienced before. He made new friends in the Pokemon in his company and soon the thought of the joy of stealing was behind him, forgotten.
He became stronger, faster. So with one reckless thought, he believed he could do it. So he used Blaze Kick and was reminded of the fact that he was just simply too weak. But Zeno didn't seem to see that in him. He helped him grow and over time, slowly come to an understanding with his fire. Yet he remained unable to use it to his full potential. Then came the thrilling power of Mega Evolution and he realized that was an even greater power, one he didn't think he could hope to control. He went insane, blasting attack after attack, and could only hope he was attacking the enemy.
Still, Zeno didn't get angry, didn't give up on him. He continued to push him, to help him overcome his weakness. And in time, Mega Evolution was his to control, his aura under his command. However, Blaze Kick still was out of reach and the fires of that night would haunt him forever.
...
Lucario stood, gripping his injured arm. He stumbled forwards, seeing the cultists drag his trainer away. He gritted his fangs and stumbled, realizing he was outmatched. He wanted so desperately to save them, to save Zeno, to save Blaziken. But he couldn't. He just wasn't strong enough. He hung his head, ashamed.
"Lucario."
A whisper, carried along by the wind, leaves fluttering past him. He turned and found himself in a void of darkness. He felt his aura heightened, reaching out around him. He hadn't realized he had done that.
"Lucario."
A figure now, kneeling, holding out his hand. "I promise you, if you come with me, I can give you more battles like that, harder, tougher battles that'll make your heart race. What do you say?"
Lucario felt a hand reach out and settle on his head. "Hey. Look, I'm going to do to everything I can to help you master Blaze Kick."
...
I smiled, gazing at Lucario as I touched his head. "You have done so well, Lucario. These scars, these burns are from your past. Letting yourself be engulfed in the flames of your shame won't let you grow any stronger. You have to accept them and let them guide you."
I felt sympathy for him, a kinship. "Having a past you're ashamed of isn't new, not for me. Feel my aura, Lucario. I know you have before. It may seem bright, shining like a good person, but I know there's darkness there still, deep within. A past life where I've done terrible things. But I had to let that all go." I embraced him, feeling a tear fall onto my shoulder. "Now it's time for you to let the mistakes of your past go. Now, overcome that fear, that shame, and get out there. We're all in danger and we need you."
I stood back, looking into his eyes. "I need you, Lucario."
...
My eyes opened, groggily at first as I felt myself be placed on a drawn circle with candles all around me. My gaze drifted to the forest in the distance and even with gravity pushing down on me, I managed to hold out my hand and whisper, "Now, heal those burns and show me what you're truly capable of."
...
Lucario stood, eyes closed. He sensed the forest around him and the Cultists heading in his direction where they had seen him get flung. Letting out a breath, he relaxed his fists and reached out further with his aura until he found Zeno's. He had darkness in him, but so much more light.
Lucario knew it was time, so he finally let go of his mistakes, his worry, and let his aura mix with Zeno's as the orb on his left wrist began to glow. "Let our trust never wane, our spirits never falter. Let's show them that our bond is one that cannot be overcome! Let's show them that the past no longer defines us! Lucario!"
...
Lucario howled and burst from the bushes, his aura blasting away the Cultists and Pokemon that were heading towards him. Light enveloped him before bursting away and his aura grew in strength. Eyes narrowing, he appeared above me, swinging his leg in an arc, the force from his aura blowing out the candles and releasing the pressure of the intense gravity. I coughed and sat up, holding my chest.
Lucario didn't waste time, rocketing forwards and blasting Dusknoir with a glowing metallic fist. He slammed both paws together, his aura blasting around him, throwing Cultists of their feet.
"Kill the Pokemon!" Sebastian shouted, pointing to the ones they had captured from the Village. "Quickly! We can still complete the-!"
Lucario passed by him and with a flick of his wrist, knocked the old man onto his back. All the Chandelures started to blast jets of flames, but Lucario swung his arms, his aura sending the flames up into the sky. He glanced back at Zoroark, who stayed crouched, already injured. He glanced away, focusing his attention on the horde of Chandelures. He formed two long bones, twirling them and then lunging forwards, knocking several of the Ghost types back. He flung the weapons and they collided with several more of them. He slammed his fist into the ground, his aura suddenly increasing with power, flipping his appendages wildly. A pulse of pink light emanated from him, healing the various injuries on the Pokemon he was protecting.
I saw Hydreigon loom over me, prepping his energy beams. Then Greninja was there, grabbing onto one of the heads, turning it so the beam would blast into his other heads. He was thrown off and collapsed near me, the curse inflicted on him having worn him down greatly. Unfortunately I didn't have his pokeball since the cultists took it all away, so I couldn't return him and let him rest.
I turned to look for my friends and was relieved to see them back on their feet, them and their Pokemon fighting back. Lucario meanwhile had engaged the Hydreigon. He threw punch after punch, either dodging or blocking incoming attacks. He was blasted back and he skidded along the ground, coming to a stop on all fours. He narrowed his eyes, sliding his right foot back further. He blasted forwards, flames streaking behind him. Howling a battle cry, he arced his foot upwards and brought it smashing down upon the middle head, slamming the Dragon type into the dirt as fire blasted upwards from the impact.
Lucario leaped away, the flames immediately disappearing from his foot, not leaving so much as a tiny burn behind. He stood tall as he surveyed the chaos around him slowly die away as the Cultists fled, disappearing into the forest.
I took a step towards Lucario, then stopped, letting Blaziken meet him first. She stood a good 2 feet taller than him when she faced him. She knelt slightly and hugged him. Lucario welcomed the embrace and the aura I felt from him reflected that. He was happy and fully content, having overcome his longest weakness. Much of the Pokemon Village had been destroyed, but we had managed to stop the Cult once again and that's what mattered. And Lucario had a long overdue homecoming, one that finally completed him.
"You did it," I whispered, smiling, staring at him. "Good job, Lucario."
And over 4000 words again. Boy, how do I manage to do this all the time!? Well, I'm not complaining. It gives me something to do for a couple hours. After a while, the Cult has reemerged and escaped again. Who knows what they'll be plotting next? Next chapter, the final Kalos Gym Battle. Then, if all goes according to plan, the Kalos Pokemon League. Till then my ever faithful readers. Toodles
