POKEMON RANCH, OAK'S LABORATORY.
"Alright, Ash my boy, we're here." Oak informed the young boy as he stood at the wooden gate to the Pokemon Ranch. It was a tall structure, standing a metre taller than Oak, with a double gated system that meant you have to open two gates to get in, to try and minimise escapes from curious Pokemon. There was no point installing sturdier gates, as the wooden ones were enough for the calmer Pokemon in the grassy biomes - and if the heavier duty Pokemon from the rocky biomes marched up to the gate, a metal one wouldn't be enough anyway.
Ash looked slightly nervous, yet very excited at the gate. He was wearing his scruffiest hoodie, as well as being decked out in the grey protective pads Oak had bought for him. "What are we going to see, Professor?!" Ash asked enthusiastically.
Oak chuckled. "Straight to the rock biome, my boy!" The Professor stated, and then laughed properly at seeing Ash's shock. Calming down, he spoke again. "No, no, Ash, we're going to the grass plains which is right here at the gate, see?"
Ash gave a nod at that as he perked up once more. Synergy was stood beside the two of them, watching as the Professor opened the gate and ushered Ash in, before holding it open for her. Nodding at the man, the Pokemon stepped through before closing the gate behind her - and then opening the next one.
"Just over the crest and then a straight walk through the little forest, right Professor?" Synergy questioned as she looked to Professor Oak.
"Hmm?" Oak turned around as he finished closing the gate before registering Synergy's question. "Oh, yes. That's exactly right. Try not to stir anything up now, much of these Pokemon belong to my students, or former students, and there's a comfortable system in place I'd rather was not disrupted."
"Fear not Professor." Synergy answered back before looking to Ash. "Have fun with Professor Oak, Ash. I'm going to the rock biome to meet some Pokemon there."
Despite looking put out at first, Ash gave a smile before waving. "Ok, bye Synergy!" He called out, gaining a wave from the robotic Pokemon before she marched off. Oak looked at the proceedings for a moment before beckoning Ash over to him and beginning to walk round the left of the Pokemon enclosure with his hands behind his back.
"You'll notice that the more calm Pokemon are kept in the front area of the ranch, Ash. Don't worry really about aggressive Pokemon here, they're all more tame in the ranch being trainer owned than wild." Oak began. "The nicest being the grassy plains we're in now. I often take walks along here, it's rather calming for an old man with the Pokemon in it being such an inspiration. Though I imagine you're more interested in playing with the Pokemon, right?" Oak asked as he looked at Ash.
Ash gave a wide smile as he nodded. "I'd most certainly like that, Professor!"
"Good, my boy, good." Oak stated. "That'll put you in good stead for your own journey. Being friendly around Pokemon is key, Ash. Roughly two thirds of all Pokemon species are non-hostile and will only react after you, such as should you disturb them, or provoke them, or sometimes even if you just appear to be dangerous. Therefore, learning how to be friendly is key."
Ash drank all that in, trying to commit it to memory. Even Ash knew that receiving advice from such a wizened figure was a great thing, and so listened intently.
"What I will show you today is the different species of Grass, and other types of Pokemon I have in the ranch in the grassy plains. Mostly Kanto based types, but we might get lucky and spot a Chikorita or something else maybe." Oak spoke optimistically. "There are common traits among all grass, bug, and other types, and I'll be informing you of them. Differing moves they may have, their weaknesses, strengths, what they like to eat and so on. Don't worry about retaining the info, I like to ramble anyway and it is your first day in the Pokemon enclosure - so long as you have fun and remember some of the basics, that's all that matters."
Ash and Oak wandered along the edge of the fence some more, Ash looking out at the maintained lush environment. It was a thick bed of grass, roughly ten centimetres high with lots of different coloured flowers and plants sticking up out of it. Trees dotted the landscape and provided quite a bit of shade at intervals, with quite a few Pokemon hanging out under them - Ash was pretty sure he spotted a throng of Metapod in the branches of a tree, but they were hard to really make out in all the green leaves. The forest biome was roughly a hundred metres away from the fence, tress standing about 3 or 4 metres tall making up the average height of the forest, and Ash definitely recognised the Butterfree that came ducking in and out of the trees now and again.
"Oh, look, it's Bulbasaur!" Oak's voice interrupted then, shaking Ash out of his thinking. "If I'm not mistaken, that's my sons'. Why, yes it is! I recognise that gormless expression they both share!"
"Bulba?" A green Pokemon spoke out then, as a four-legged green Pokemon with red eyes, pointed ears and a wide mouth looked round then. It stood no taller than Professor Oak's kneecaps, and it was hefting a big seed-like bulb on its back from which two vines extended at the creature's command.
"Ah, Bulbasaur! Over here, if you please!" Oak called out to the grass-type as he slowly walked over with Ash, the Bulbasaur responding with a nod and call of its name as it walked over too. The two parties met as Oak crouched down to the seed Pokemon, before beckoning to Ash to watch closely as the boy leaned down lightly too.
"Watch this, Ash." Oak instructed as he held out his index and middle finger together on one hand. "There are specific things each Pokemon like that differs from one another. With Bulbasaur, for example, it is that the his bulb can actually be petted. But, the trick is, only light petting works as anymore is too rough, so do it gently." With that, Oak ran Bulbasaur's seed with his two fingers lightly. "Give it a try, my boy."
Holding out a hand slowly, Ash hesitated for a second before gently placing it on the Pokemon's bulb - before a satisfactory call of Bulbasaur's name spurred him on to begin petting the Pokemon.
"That's it, Ash." Oak stated with a smile. "Now, as you can probably work out, Bulbasaur is a grass-type. Since typing is very important in the Pokemon world, yet ever so simple, let's being with that. Now, do you know any of a grass-type's weaknesses?" Oak asked, waiting for Ash to respond who thought for a moment before he did. "Fire, yes, the most well-known one. How about another?..."
WITH SYNERGY.
The black and blue armoured Pokemon was currently marching through a bare, rocky environment. Several hilly outcrops were all over the place to provide cover within the environment, caves built into several of the outcrops. There was only a few bits of greenery about the place, which is what made the big oak tree on the left so visible.
Synergy passed a snoozing Charizard, briefly standing still to analyse the orange dragon as an eye flicked open to see what all the clanking was about, staring at the robotic Pokemon for a second before giving a huff and going back to sleep. Interested for a second by the dragon's apparent dismissal, logging it in her system before then continuing to stomp over the landscape.
It was not long after walking some more into the environment that it became obvious that Synergy had drawn attention from the local residents. Several rock-types watched Synergy as she passed but she paid no regard to them - Onix, despite being as big as it was, was not a carnivore. It only challenged others when it wanted the challenge, but it seemed that the Pokemon on Professor Oak's ranch at least knew their typing knowledge as none approached the steel-type.
Synergy's only confrontation was by a Rhydon, the bipedal grey ground-type Rhinoceros Pokemon glaring at the robotic Pokemon with a challenging gleam in its eyes as it spun the drill on its snout. Synergy only glared back unimpressed, before hissing refutably back at the Rhydon. It only roared back, before the drill on its head cranked up to a high level of spinning and it rumbled forth into a charge - Drill run.
Synergy's unimpressed expression continued for a second, the surrounding Pokemon looking curiously to her to see what she'd do - when she suddenly moved. Synergy's face slipped into one of action as her left arm shot forth, and covered her hand in the aura energy she'd talked about with Oak - directing it at the Rhydon. It gave a panicked roar as it suddenly found itself lifted off of the ground by some unseen force, head swerving all over the place as its limbs desperately thrashed about - before Synergy swept her hand right and dissipated the energy in it.
Needless to say, the noises of the Rhydon gave way to a large impact as it had been launched dozens of metres east. Throwing a look at the surrounding Pokemon as if to say 'anyone else?', she found no more challengers as the stunned faces of the Pokemon around her merely let her be as she began marching off again.
Five minutes later, she had reached the oak tree, and looked left of the tree - finding the dark cave within the outcrop that was as tall as the tree itself. Enhancing her senses, Synergy detected movement within the cave, no matter how adept the bipedal, metre-tall Pokemon within was at moving in the shadows inside it. She was being watched.
Stomping slowly over, Synergy leaned down a bit to look into the cave meant to house five-foot tall organisms - and quickly put her hand forth to dispel energy from it to form a Protect screen as a blue orb of energy slammed into it. The protective move held strong against it though, causing the energy sphere to dissipate against the shield and disappear. Cancelling the screen as well, Synergy only continued looking inside as her senses calibrated against the momentary flare of light and could now see once more.
A blue canine-like Pokemon stared back at her, the crimson in her eyes obviously easier to spot than if an organic was looking in - but her senses could see the creature clearly. Two spiked ears on top of its head stood up, with glaring red, narrow eyes looking back at her. A short black snout had a range of small yet deadly sharp teeth, coloured by a black stripe in its blue fur which ran across its face and gave way to a cream furred torso. A spike on the back of each closed fist stood prominently with the hands and legs being coloured by black fur as the rest of it gave way to the dark blue colouring, as it stood upright on two hind legs.
"What do you want?" Came the deep-toned question of the canine, an indifferent voice which merely sought to evaluate the Pokemon before them.
Synergy looked at the Lucario for a second more, briefly flickering her eyes to the back of the cave where another Lucario stood beside three much smaller copies of the canine Pokemon, denoting it as the pre-evolution Riolu before she looked back to the one stood before her. "Information on aura techniques." Synergy stated truthfully, and simply.
The canine's ear twitched at that, losing none of the defensive posture it had. "Oh?" It stated. "And why would you come to me for that? You are speaking human language. There are surely many other humans, or even Pokemon knowledgeable to a degree on the subject." The Lucario asked, still in a neutral tone.
Synergy only looked at the Lucario for a second more before speaking. "I already have consulted a particularly wiser than most member of the humans about aura, and even then they did not know much. I wish to ask a member of the species most notorious for being able to wield the energy."
Lucario gave a grunt before nodding at that, before turning around and yipping to their partner at the back of the cave, who responded. Turning back, Lucario spoke to Synergy. "You truly mean no harm to us?" It questioned.
Synergy only nodded her head. "I merely wish for a beneficial exchange."
The Lucario's ears perked up at that. "It has been long since my trainer came here to utilise me for anything, so this is sounding interesting in this otherwise boring landscape where I defeat most others." The Lucario spoke with a bit more eagerness in his tone now. "What do you offer?"
"Name it, and I'll try." Synergy answered back without hesitating, facial plates sliding back for a second before coming back into place.
Nodding their head again, the Lucario seemed to assent to further conversation. "Very well. Let us move our conversation outside so as not to disturb the children anymore."
"As you wish." Synergy spoke as she stood up again and moved back a few paces as Lucario then stepped forth from within the cave, the children and other canine within now moving about rather than huddling together. Lucario pointed to some boulders close to the oak tree.
"Sit. We shall establish cordial terms with one another to allow for smoother proceedings." The Lucario instructed, making Synergy blink at the seeming demand before her system then calculated that she would be giving up absolutely nothing by acquiescing to the canine's demand.
Stomping over and sitting down in a fluid motion on one of the taller rocks, Synergy watched as the Lucario leapt up onto a similar sized rock opposite her and crossed legs on top of it.
"So." The Lucario began. "My first question will be to ask what you wish to use aura for, especially as most Pokemon can't even sense the energy, let alone then use it for anything at all."
Synergy processed the question before establishing that the truth was the best way forward. Besides, some isolated family of the evolutionary line were hardly going to pass it on, or likely even do anything given that they were tamer than their wild brethren. "I can utilise aura, too." Synergy stated straight up, drawing an eyebrow from the canine Pokemon, before they then motioned to a boulder some metres away. Seeing the challenge in the Pokemon's eyes, Synergy could pretty much see the 'prove it' in the dark orbs.
Charging up a sphere of blue energy in her hand, she flung it at the aforementioned boulder which promptly exploded upon contact with the energetic projectile. Chips of stone scattered about the stony clearing the oak tree stood in, as the small dust plume cleared to reveal that a quarter of the boulder had disintegrated in the attack, as more of it had broken off as what remained was a deeply cracked and chipped rock.
"Impressive." Lucario idly commented. "How much power did you put into that?"
"Give or take about 31%." Synergy responded, making the canine nod.
"I can tell with practice and better shape formation that it will take much less energy to form the same destructive potential in future." Lucario stated, before looking Synergy square in the eyes. "Where did you learn that you could use aura?"
"You know of human machines, yes?" Synergy questioned, getting a nod from the canine. "Good. Then know that I am like a robotic machine, but with a proper mind of my own. I was granted the knowledge of the move when I needed it in battle."
The Lucario gave a grunt as it thought. "That must've been some battle, I imagine, to have just 'unlocked' a powerful move like aura sphere."
"It was, actually." Synergy spoke with an amused tone in anticipation. "Toughest battle of my three week old life. I was battling Moltres, you know?"
"Moltres?!" The Lucario seemed to choke a bit then, shock heavily present on its face as it then flustered. "But - you - you fought the legendary bird-?"
"More than that." Synergy stated cheerfully. "Decapitated him."
The Lucario's shock had transitioned into something completely above that emotion. "You can't have. They are not known as a legendary species for nothing-"
"Funny that." Synergy interrupted the canine's ramblings as she pulled out a golden further from a box-like attachment on her torso. "Because if you see this feather, it still has his fire-like properties." Shaking the golden, gleaming feather in between two metal fingers, several embers fell from the feather to prove its authenticity. "I wonder where I got that from?" Synergy spoke sarcastically as she looked to the somewhat horrified Pokemon before her.
Lucario cleared their throat, becoming somewhat more guarded as they tried to regain their cool. "I- I see. That must've been some battle." The Lucario commented, only getting a nod from Synergy as she put the feather away. "Well, what would you like to learn of aura then?"
"Everything I possibly can." Synergy answered without a second's delay as she sat up straighter to get how serious she was across. "I have a duty to somebody, that I will protect. And fortunately, I have been gifted six and a half years by the fates that be to learn. If I am satisfied with what I hear now, I will teach it to them. Unless, of course, we come to even better consensus, where I get to actually learn straight from you rather than in talk."
The Lucario gave a hum as the last vestiges of surprise fell from its face. "We shall see." The Lucario said in response. "I know nothing of the context of aura, what its made of, nor its history - I only know what I learned from my father. But, what I do know is techniques and how to wield it - offensive, defensive, healing, and aura bonds. Since I am a trainer-taught Pokemon, I perhaps know a bit more than the average Lucario. You wish to know everything? We would be here for some time, and you cannot learn moves by talk."
"That is just fine with me. As I said, I have over six years to learn." Synergy answered, the facial plates sliding back as she processed her thinking. "I guess it all comes down to this deal on how we proceed?"
The Lucario only nodded. "Yes, let us discuss terms, and how we can aid one another to get what we both want."
"Very well." Synergy stated, before bringing up a leg to grip with both hands as she had seen Ash do in a protracted conversation. "I will ask you first. What do you specifically want out of this deal?"
The Lucario was silent for a moment, before speaking. "I wish to only aid my family. We have good lives here in this enclosure run by the humans, where we have food and necessities readily available, even having the option to forage from different 'biomes' as they keep calling them. However, it grows... monotone." The Lucario stated in a pondering tone. "We as a species spend our lives mostly training and dedicating ourselves to our families, living to protect them and to defeat challenges. But here, where the necessities are provided and the Pokemon don't challenge me anymore as they are accustomed to backing down like their trainers do from stronger challenges, it just gets boring."
"So how will you change that?" Synergy asked, knowing it tied into the deal somehow.
The Lucario's eyes blazed then. "I know my trainer is unlikely to come back for me soon, especially as I have a family to raise. Therefore, you will visit every three days, and we will talk. At least once a week, I wish for a battle. We wished to establish cordial terms, no? And you wish for training in aura? It will take time, and this will help both of us, for changing this boring landscape and making us both stronger."
"That sounds certainly feasible." Synergy responded with a short statement.
"And a final couple of things. You can talk to this Professor, no?" Lucario asked, receiving an affirmative nod from the robotic Pokemon. "Then I wish only for things to make my family's cave better. Please acquisition us some bedding and perhaps even decorative things, oh- and a heater. The young ones would love treats, too."
Synergy raised an eyebrow, or the best she could do with her facial movements. "You thought of all that on the spot, didn't you?"
"Yes." Came Lucario's unashamed answer.
That amused Synergy somewhat. "And in return, you wish teach me all you can on aura? How to wield it, and moves and everything you know?"
"You have my word." The Lucario spoke back, thumping their chest.
"Excellent. Then you would not mind if I brought another along to our sessions to learn aura too, do you?" Synergy asked, dropping the question out of the blue.
The Lucario looked to Synergy for a moment before shrugging. "That will not be a problem if you really do have as much time as you say, and if they mean no harm to my family."
Synergy gave an eye-smile then. "Oh, I can assure you. He's practically loves Pokemon. He'll adore the Riolu."
"Right..." The Lucario answered, before then sticking a paw out. "So do we have an accord?"
Briefly flickering her eyes to the outstretched limb before reaching out with her own hand and lightly shaking it due to the size differences in appendages, Synergy confirmed the deal. "Indeed, my friend. And a rather good one at that."
"I look forward to moving forth with this deal of ours, and establishing friendly affiliations." Lucario spoke. Leaping off of the rock, the canine only inquired into one more detail. "What time will you next come then?"
Her system spat out an answer, to which Synergy utilised. "Tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock should do nicely." Synergy stated.
The canine scratched its head, before shrugging. "I don't know when exactly three o'clock is, but I'll wait for you after the sun goes past the middle of the sky."
"Perfect." Synergy spoke. "Thank you very much, Lucario."
"And to you, miss-?" Lucario paused.
Giving a snort, the robotic Pokemon responded. "Synergy."
"Very well, Synergy. I bid you good-day." The Lucario walked off after saying that, disappearing back into the cave as Synergy watched, before standing up herself and walking away from the area.
Fortunately, she had no interruptions on the way back.
THE NEXT DAY.
Ash was scribbling away on the question paper Oak had printed off for him whilst he did his studying in the afternoon. One of the books from the Pokemon pack Oak had given him when he moved in, entitled Caring for Pokemon, a Beginners Guide, was opened to a page next to him as the young boy consulted it every so often. Synergy was sat next to Ash, having already read over the book within an hour and found it lacking in proper information, having instead found more satisfactory information in the laboratory's library. However, she completely understood that Ash was just beginning to learn - and that correctly identifying which berries are which would be basic but quite important knowledge to know when scrounging for food.
He was hovering over the last question when the boy frowned, sticking his pencil on the book to trace the lines containing the information he needed - but they didn't. Turning to Synergy who turned her own head slightly to look at Ash inquisitively, Ash spoke his woes. "Hey Synergy, it doesn't say which berry is used most often by trainers!"
Synergy actually smiled at that as her logic unit supplied the answer, not the computer. "That's because it's a common sense question, Ash. It's not asking for the mathematical question of which berry has been used most often out all berries in total, but rather which berry would be used for more situations than any other."
"Oh." Ash let out with realisation in his voice as he re-read the question, realising he'd misunderstood it. "Well that's easy, that's an oran berry!"
Synergy eye-smiled at the boy. "Indeed. You're getting the hang of this, young one." Synergy ruffled Ash's hair, getting a laugh from the boy as he had finished.
"Cool, let me show Mr Oak-" Ash began, before Synergy reminded him.
"Don't you remember, Ash? The Professor won't leave the lab until six tonight, he's quite busy with a project right now." Synergy clarified, making Ash look put out as he paused getting out of the chair. "Don't worry though, I have already got something for us to do."
"Really? What are we gonna do?" Ash asked the robotic Pokemon.
"Well, I'll leave the actual activity as a secret until we get there." Synergy stated, getting Ash to cock his head in slight confusion as it seemed like they were leaving the lab. "But I can tell you we're going to the ranch."
"Are we allowed to do that?" Ash asked, his face unsure.
Synergy only looked amused. "I'd like to see Oak's expression when we do do it without telling him. Especially when we're going to the rock enclosure."
"The rock enclosure?!" Ash squawked, looking both excited and alarmed. "You gotta be joking, Mr Oak said I can't-"
"Nonsense. You have my permission, and that's all we need." Synergy stated with a dismissive gesture. "Besides, you've got me to protect you, and I'd say that I'd be able to handle anything in there."
"But that's where the strongest Pokemon live!" Ash insisted.
"And I defeated one of the strongest Pokemon in Kanto." Synergy countered with an amused tone. "I've killed bigger birds than any that are living in there, remember?"
"Oh, yeah." Ash spoke with realisation again. "I forgot about that."
Synergy only laughed at the young boy, who smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "Go on, get your protective pads and Dratini. We'll take her out for the walk too." Ash gave a nod before hopping out of the chair and running from the room.
Bursting into his own room, Ash sidestepped all over the scattered papers and drawings on the floor and instead jumped onto the bed. An animal on the bed gave an immediate start at the movement, the blue head of Dratini shooting up from out of the covers and looking around in alarm - before seeing Ash and giving a coo at him.
"Hey, Dratini! Sorry, that was me!" Ash laughed, only laughing harder as the blue serpentine wriggled up to him and licked his face. "OK, OK! C'mon, we're going out."
Looking inquisitive, Dratini gave a trill, but Ash didn't understand as he opened the top drawer from the wooden chest of drawers and grabbed the grey protective gear from within. Slipping them on, the boy quickly then stuck on his trainers and waved at Dratini. "C'mon, girl!" He shouted, before darting out of the room, the serpentine giving a trill before leaping off and slithering after her soon-to-be trainer.
THE RANCH ENTRANCE.
"Hey, aren't you a little too young to be going in there?" One of the Pokemon caretakers asked as they observed Ash and the two Pokemon approach the entrance.
"Meh." Ash shrugged. "I've been here before, and besides, I'll be fine!"
Looking to the tall, armoured Pokemon just behind him, crimson eyes looking analytically at him and making them slightly nervous despite no hostile intention being clear, the caretaker spoke. "Yeah, I suppose you will be. Good luck."
"Thanks!" Ash responded before trying to push open the heavy first gate, only to then pout as Synergy reached forth with a hand and easily opened it with a couple of fingers. Going through the entrance, Dratini gave a coo at the feel of the well maintained grass that she slithered over.
"You like that?" Synergy inquired, getting an affirming call of the Pokemon's name. "I see. It does make sense, given the noted habitats of the Dragonite evolutionary line being situated close to plains and coastal regions where food is available for them next to aquatic environments."
The serpentine only cocked her head at Synergy, who blinked back, before shrugging and showing the party the way forth. Skirting around the bug forest as she didn't feel like dealing with the constant intrusions that bug-types were known forth, they arrived in the rock enclosure ten minutes later where at least the Pokemon wouldn't bother her unless they really wanted a challenge. Something she would just swat aside so as not to be annoyed with no longer than necessary.
After all, most Pokemon left in the ranch weren't actually of the big-time strength seen in the League tournaments. There were only a few since most trainers only a few years in the business would be expected to fall by the top 16, and the Pokemon that did belong to such category wouldn't logically challenge her since they already knew of their own strength over most Pokemon.
Synergy was happy to let them keep that illusion.
Dratini gave a trill at the rough surface on her smooth scales, which only made Synergy shrug at her and for Ash to look at the robotic Pokemon to see what she said. Synergy only eye-smiled, deeming him too young to hear the language Dratini had somehow picked up from Lance.
"It'll do you good to get used to new environments." Synergy spoke in response to another noise from the blue serpentine. "Besides, we'll be doing this often from now on. So get used to it, and stop complaining."
Only an indignant warble from the Pokemon reached her, making Ash giggle.
They eventually reached the oak tree, before Synergy made Ash and Dratini wait there before taking a couple of steps towards the cave and stand expectantly in front of it. Sure enough, after a few moments, a blue canine Pokemon emerged from the darkness, getting Dratini's intrigue and Ash's amazement.
"Wow! That Pokemon looks strong!" Ash whispered to Dratini, who only dipped her head in acknowledgement. Indeed, the tall Pokemon, just taller than Ash, was impressive - merely from the way it held itself and looked confident of its own abilities.
The canine and Synergy seemed to converse for a few moments, before the dog-like Pokemon gave a nod of its head and the two started to walk over to Ash and Dratini. The canine held itself with a strong, silent approach as Synergy merely walked over with the quiet clanking of her metal frame.
Sweeping an eye over the human and serpentine, Lucario looked over to Synergy. "You brought a human here?" The canine asked. "Is he your trainer? He looks really young to be so, though..." Ash looked confused as all he heard was the occasional, deep call of 'Lucario' and the rough-sounding bark-like noises that emerged from the canine Pokemon. The young boy stayed quiet though, as Synergy clearly understood as she nodded her head.
"That's because the boy isn't really a trainer yet, but I'm his Pokemon all the same." Synergy responded casually, furthering confusing Ash as he was being talked about in a conversation he could only understand half of.
"Fair enough." The Lucario responded, before taking a look at Dratini and bending down slightly to observe the serpentine who trilled at him. "Don't worry, I'm just looking. You're looking quite healthy, aren't you?" Lucario asked of the serpentine, who gave an affirmative coo. Standing and looking back to Synergy, the Lucario spoke again. "At least she's old enough to begin training, though we'll have to take it easy. I didn't know that the Dragonite line could learn aura, but if you say she can-"
"Actually, the Dragonite line can't learn aura, just as you thought." Synergy responded with an amused tone, confusing the Lucario before realisation dawned on its face and it turned to look at Ash. Ash had been getting slowly impatient, until the Lucario looked right at him and it vanished to be replaced by slight nervousness. Synergy only then took a step towards Ash and put a hand on his shoulder to reassure him, and point him out to the canine. "It's the young one here I wish for you also to teach."
The Lucario had a few moments of thinking before looking at Synergy with a paw extended forth in a gesture. "Are you sure a human, much less a young child of their species, can be taught aura?" The Lucario asked.
Blinking at the canine, Synergy's expression only became amused as she shrugged. "I can't guarantee he can, its only a theory of mine. But, its a good one, because he has the same type of aura as me."
Synergy spoke truthfully as she activated a small trick of hers, recalibrating her optical senses slightly as she looked down to Ash. Sure enough, the young boy's aura could now be seen by her, the confused expression on his face being slightly marred by the sifting blue energy now visible in his skull. It was like a wash of uncontrolled, yet powerful waves colliding with one another that formed a general loop around the boy; being coloured a dark blue.
Lifting her hand off of Ash's shoulder, she saw the aura within her appendage, flexing the finger joints to see the thin streams of blue that was the exact shade of colour that made up Ash's own. Putting the limb down and looking to Dratini, who blinked up at her, the serpentine had only a very slow movement of light blue energy within her, all linked back to a mass storage of the energy in her body. Then finally, the Lucario had a darker tint of light blue aura, but it was the fastest stream of the energy she could see out of the four of them. It was refined and controlled, denoting the probable years of experience the canine had in using the energy.
Lucario raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't comment. "Very well. How much does the boy know of aura?"
Reverting her eyesight back to normal, Synergy looked to Lucario. "He knows nothing of aura."
Seeing he was being spoken of again, Ash called out. "Hey! What are you talking about? What's all this about aura?"
Synergy only smiled to the boy and patted him on the shoulder again. "All in due time, Ash. For now, let the Pokemon speak."
Ash grumbled and folded his arms together, but otherwise remained silent. Lucario looked amused at the exchange, before speaking their mind. "This is actually a great opportunity for me." The canine spoke, drawing the robotic Pokemon's attention. "You see, my eldest child, a Riolu of three years of age, has been taught by us for some time now, and has learned basic moves like growl and scratch. However, they know nothing of aura. With your permission, it'd be a great way to begin their training in it, since the human child knows nothing of it either."
Synergy only looked interested as she nodded her assent. "Sure. Go ahead."
The Lucario nodded their head before ducking back to the cave, and calling out their eldest Riolu. The other Lucario seemed to question if it was safe to do so, but the original canine seemed to find that funny in that if Synergy had wanted to hurt them, she'd have done so by now, given her strength. Synergy's system found that behaviour interesting in that her strength had already gained their cooperation, rather than her intentions or actions.
It seemed that things had proceeded smoothly as the Lucario walked out with a smaller version of themselves, a Riolu that reached up to Ash's own torso, roughly two feet tall. The Pokemon seemed to be somewhat shy, trailing after their parent as they walked over to the group. The lighter blue canine looked round with wide brown eyes as they stayed hovering behind the Lucario.
The Lucario gave a snort before reaching forth and gently tugging the Riolu round to the front, where it seemed nervous and looking round at Ash and Dratini, whose long body only reached up to Riolu as Dratini only stuck her head up that much; before casting a weary gaze at the towering Synergy.
"I believe introductions are in order." The Lucario spoke briefly, before motioning over to Ash to start.
Synergy gave a nod and looked to Ash to translate. "Lucario asks for your name, Ash." Synergy spoke, before giving another pat to Ash's shoulder to urge him on.
Ash looked to Synergy before looking over to the Lucario, who looked down slightly to the child they were just a few inches taller than. "Hey! My name's Ash Ketchum, and I hope to become a champion!"
The Lucario looked intrigued. "Champion? Well, I wish you luck in that regard." The barking tones only made Ash look to Synergy, a bit lost.
Synergy only eye-smiled. "This, Ash, is Lucario. They are one of the few species on this planet adept in the art of aura. He wishes you luck in becoming champion."
Ash smiled at that. "Thanks, Mr Lucario!" He thanked the Pokemon, who only nodded back.
Dratini gave a trill then, getting another nod from Lucario before he then patted his child on the back. The Riolu looked at their father before turning to Ash and Dratini, and muttered out a small call of their name. "Riolu."
Synergy said nothing then as Lucario patted the Riolu on the back once more, before Ash turned to the robotic Pokemon who looked back. "Hey, Synergy, what's this aura that you keep mentioning?"
The Pokemon was about to acquiesce when Lucario stepped in then, speaking to Synergy with urgency. "Before you explain it to him, it is better that the children experience it for themselves first. It is better done when they have no actual concepts of what to expect, and only focus on what we tell them."
Looking oddly at the canine, Synergy shrugged before giving a short answer to Ash. "You'll find out for yourself, Ash, when Lucario says what he wants you to do."
Lucario looked satisfied at that, before gently pushing Riolu further towards Ash, who reluctantly complied and stopped before Ash with questioning eyes at the boy. Ash looked back with awed eyes, only looking excitedly at the Pokemon.
"Hold out your right hand." Lucario said to their child, who nodded and stuck out a small paw to Ash, who then blinked at the action, looking lost. "Tell young Ash to do the same."
"Hold out your right hand to Riolu, Ash." Synergy instructed, translating the canine's command.
Doing as his friend said, Ash held out his hand slightly so that it stopped before Riolu's own paw, making Lucario nod satisfactorily as the canine stepped forth in between them both. Synergy looked on analytically as Lucario gripped the wrists of both Pokemon and human, before a shroud of blue aura overtook Lucario's hands - making the energy harmlessly spill over the hands he gripped.
"Memorise this feeling." Lucario spoke to his child, before then nodding at Synergy.
"Remember as best as you can to how that feels, Ash." Synergy spoke, getting an affirmative response from the boy.
Lucario then put both hands together, and kept feeding the aura as he did so. Giving a grunt, Lucario stood there like that for a minute to allow the two to get a feel for how it felt before snapping off another command. "Try and channel this feeling yourself." Lucario stated to the two, looking to Synergy who looked questioningly back. "Trust me. It's better they try and do it themselves. Life energy is not something that can be guided on words alone. It is better to feel it and to try and channel it themselves with support than anything else."
Giving a nod, Synergy relayed the instruction to Ash who then stuck out his tongue and put on a face of concentration as he felt what the warm, tingling sensation felt like, and pictured it in his mind. Trying to somehow command that to his arm, Ash was shocked as Lucario suddenly let go.
The blue shroud instantly dimmed to see-through levels around the two hands, but even Riolu's face screwed up as he concentrated as Ash reciprocated with his own determination. The feeble energy cloaking both hands lasted a second more, before giving away and dissipating into nothing. Lucario, however, looked extremely pleased by that development as he patted Riolu's back and gave praise, drawing a smile from the young Pokemon. Synergy as well eye-smield at Ash.
"Congratulations, Ash. Your first time with the energy that is aura, and you managed to sustain it briefly. It shows you have a feel for it, both you and Riolu." Synergy congratulated, getting a smile from Ash before she then looked inquisitively to Lucario who had turned to her.
"Well, this proves that young Ash here can indeed wield the power of aura." Lucario stated, getting a satisfied affirmation from Synergy who looked pleased at the development.
Lucario looked to Riolu before stepping back into place. "Again." The Pokemon commanded. "That was a brilliant first try. But the aura connection is not yet complete. To start upon developments in aura, one must discover the core value of the energy, which is mostly done through aura bonding. Riolu and Ash must bond through aura if they wish to get anywhere with the energy."
Synergy nodded, figuring that clarification would come later as she guided Ash to hold out his hand again - which was gently gripped at the wrist again. Connecting Riolu and Ash's hands together again, the blue shroud of aura once again conjoined over all three being's limbs as Lucario waited a minute again for them to feel. "Sustain the feeling." Lucario instructed once more, getting a determined look from Riolu and a nod from Ash once Synergy had translated.
Lucario's paws ocne again let go without warning, with the shroud noticeably dimming again to the same see-through levels, but Riolu let out a growl this time as he focused upon it - with Ash responding in kind as he gripped the Pokemon's paw harder. Lucario watched on as it was sustained for two seconds this time before fading.
Getting a disappointed look from his son and a wondrous look from the human boy who was looking at his hand, Lucario repeated his earlier command. "Again."
It took quite a few tries, but in the end Ash got the feeling down as Riolu looked confidently back at Ash. The two seemed confident this time, and Synergy could denote why - they had managed to sustain this new development for at least thirty seconds at a time now. Lucario gave a grunt, before looking to Synergy and grasping both appendages of Ash and Riolu and putting them together.
However, Synergy immediately frowned as the blue aura shroud that appeared was noticeably weaker than it had ever been before as it emerged from in between the clasped hands - before Synergy eye-smiled as she activated her special trick to be able to make the energy visible. Indeed, Lucario wasn't inputting any energy into the conjoined limbs, but rather smirking at the concentrating faces of both Ash and Riolu from whom the energy was emerging instead.
Ash gave a start as a new, much high-pitched voice than the deep bark-like tones of Lucario or metallic voice of Synergy spoke then. "What's wrong with this, father?"
Ash immediately let go and looked round to see where the unfamiliar voice had come from, making Riolu drop his own paw as Lucario only smirked at seeing Ash's reaction. "Nothing at all son, nothing at all. In fact, everything's good. The aura connection has been established."
Ash looked round to see Lucario speaking in the deep, nonsensical tones again with occasional calls of the Pokemon's name - before his eyes bulged wide as he heard Riolu's response. "You mean we've done whatever we've been trying to do with this?"
Lucario wasn't put out in the slightest as Ash shouted out, in fact only giving an amused grin as further proof of the achievement was displayed by the spluttering child. "You!" Ash pointed at the Riolu, who did look put out then at being pointed to by Ash. "You-you talked!"
"Eh?" The Riolu stated confusedly, before looking with a weird expression at Lucario. "What's going on, father?"
Giving a rough chuckle, the evolved Pokemon answered. "Try talking to Ash, son. You may be pleasantly surprised at what will happen."
Synergy looked intrigued at what was going on, making sure to analyse all that was going on between the smug Lucario, lost Riolu and freaking out child, before reaching over and planting a hand on Ash's shoulder again. "Try talking to Riolu, Ash."
"But, how did that happen-" Ash tried to get out, but was cut off by Synergy.
"All in good time, Ash. For now, just calm down." Synergy commanded, patting the boy's shoulder who took a moment to process that before taking in a deep breath. "Better? Good. Now talk to the Pokemon, and no excuses." She demanded with a no-nonsense tone.
Ash only looked at Synergy once more, but upon seeing the determined eyes of his friend, turned back to Riolu who was looking at him silently. "Er, hi." Ash began slowly, getting a cocked head look from the small canine. "Can you talk?"
"Well, yeah. I've always been able to talk." Riolu stated matter-of-factly.
"But not like that!" Ash stated, amazed at what he was hearing where before all he heard were Pokemon calls and nonsensical tones.
"What do you mean?" Riolu asked back, before looking to his father who chuckled at him at seeing it click in the young Pokemon's mind. "Wait, can you understand me?"
"Yeah!" Ash answered back, still amazed. "You're talking like a human and everything!"
Riolu scratched his head. "But how's that work?"
Ash only shrugged in his own confusion, before Lucario stepped in then with a barking laugh. Taking up Ash's hand with his own paw, Lucario gestured for Ash to repeat what he had done as the canine began channelling aura as well - as Ash focused upon the feeling again and literally tried 'tugging' it to the surface again, as his mind had envisioned.
It seemed he had succeeded once more, as the Lucario withdrew then with a smirk, before actually speaking to Ash in a way he understand like every other human. "Congratulations, young one. You have succeeded in beginning the very first step any creature undertakes when learning aura - drawing it out of your being, and channelling it."
Ash seemed stupefied for a moment at the Pokemon talking to him, before he got cross. "Ok, thank you, but what's going on?! How come your all suddenly talking?"
The Lucario looked to Synergy before laughing and speaking in a rough tone to Ash. "This is the power of aura. Sit down please, I shall explain further to everyone present about what I know of the basics of what makes up aura."
Ash looked further lost for a second, before even his young mind rationalised that the Pokemon was about to answer his question and so plopped himself onto the floor. Riolu walked over a bit and sat next to Ash as Dratini slithered over and coiled up next to Ash, giving a coo and making the boy smiled as the blue serpentine nuzzled him.
Synergy, meanwhile, walked a bit closer to behind Ash and sat down on a small, outcropping rock as she raised her leg a bit as before. Lucario took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. "Aura is an energy every creature on the planet has. Don't know why, don't know how, but it's been so for at least four generations of my family - meaning there has been at least one hundred and fifty years of my species being able to utilise aura."
"Two thousand, actually." Synergy spoke then, grabbing everyone's attention as her facial plates slid back to express what she had to say. "I was speaking with the Professor in charge of this ranch, and he talked of a human called Sir Aaron who lived two thousand years ago, and he had a Lucario who was said to be the strongest aura utiliser of the evolutionary line."
The Lucario only looked intrigued. "Well, that's something." The Lucario commented, before turning back to Riolu and Ash. "Anyway, this aura means every single living being on the planet has something in common. Aura can be thus used to connect individuals together by bonding aura 'signatures', the specific aura energy pattern a being has, with another individual. That's exactly how you can hear me and Riolu talk, Ash, because your aura has bonded with ours. However, the power of aura is much stronger than just to be used for connections. One such strength, for a human, would be that should you become adept enough in the ways of aura, you could understand any Pokemon without having to bond with them."
Ash looked a little stumped, which is why Lucario paused and allowed Ash to ask him a question. "So, aura connects people together?" Ash asked, getting a nod from the canine. "How?"
"It is not some physical sense I could literally show you." Lucario stated. "Perhaps you are a bit young to fully understand the complexities of this energy, but I will put it in simple terms as best as I can. Basically, by sharing your aura energy with a Pokemon, you will be able to understand them. You can understand their speech, and by further training in aura, you will even be able to understand what they are feeling and where they are by trying to 'sense' them. Like I said before, this is how you can understand what I am saying, by allowing your aura to bond with mine. And of course, should you get strong enough in the art, you'll able to understand what any Pokemon says. Do you get it?"
"Mostly." Ash responded, getting a satisfied nod from Lucario, before Ash then brightened up. "Does that mean I can talk with Dratini?!"
"No." Lucario stated, getting a disappointed look from Ash before the boy perked up at what he had to say next. "At least, not yet. It is harder to communicate with Pokemon who can't channel their own aura, which is the absolute majority of Pokemon, same as your Dratini. That's because you have to channel your aura into the Pokemon to allow it to bond with them, or you have to be adept enough at the art to instinctively understand what a Pokemon is saying, as I've said before."
"Oh, OK." Ash said, settling back down to not annoy Lucario.
"Worry not, child." Lucario spoke with a more assuring manner. "You have more than six years before your journey, yes?" Receiving a nod from Ash, Lucario continued. "Very good. That is enough time to learn most of what encompasses aura should you train twice weekly with us. You should reach such a level in a few years if you dedicate yourself to aura."
"Wow." Ash spoke. "Don't worry, Mr Lucario, I'll learn all about aura!"
"I'm afraid you can't learn it all from me, child." Lucario spoke. "I can only teach you how to wield the energy. Moves, techniques, and other - if you want to learn what aura actually is, you will have to consult other humans."
"OK." Ash chirped.
"Now, if you don't mind, I would like to talk with Synergy in private. You and Riolu continue bonding your auras together, and get a better feel for channelling the energy." Lucario commanded, getting affirmation from Ash and a quieter one from Riolu, before Synergy stood up and walked over to the oak tree as Ash turned to the smaller Pokemon.
"What did you want to talk about?" Synergy asked as she looked down at the canine, who watched Riolu offer a paw to Ash who took it with his own hand.
"The rate at which they got aura down was only half expected to me." Lucario mused.
"Half?" Synergy pressed, sounding interested.
"You must understand, my species and evolutionary line have specifically adapted to better sense aura and wield it than any other living creature on the planet. It is of no surprise that my son could summon aura up and channel it but for a few seconds after just half an hour of trying." Lucario explained, tapping one paw against an arm in contemplation. "For a human to do so, however... It's downright surprising."
Synergy looked at the canine for a second, logic processors already deducing that the Lucario wanted a possible answer even if he hadn't voiced it. "Why is it surprising?" Synergy asked instead, seeking further clarification to have better knowledge for herself.
Lucario gave a grunt. "I never knew humans could even use aura, and since my species are the ones notorious for it, you'd think I'd have known out of anyone. Thus, whilst you've proved humans can do it, the previous fact only makes me think it should be difficult for humans to learn. Yet a young boy of all things picks it up at the same rate as my son does." Looking over, Lucario voiced his thoughts. "You said you had theories on the boy using aura, which was proven right. You must have an idea on this, then."
Sliding back her facial plates, Synergy internally admitted that she was impressed. "I do." Synergy casually admitted, getting a raised eyebrow from the Pokemon opposite her. "When I told you me and Ash have the same type of aura as me, I meant it. Right down to the aura signature."
Lucario's interest turned to shock. "Impossible." The canine stated. "It can't be - no Pokemon's aura signature can exactly match another's, not matter how similar. It's what makes a Pokemon unique, part of the differences between even family."
Synergy gave a chuckle, the robotic sound making Lucario want to know exactly how this armoured being knew he was wrong on that account. "I was created, you know." Synergy said out of the blue.
Lucario raised an eyebrow, confused at the divergence in topic. "So? Every Pokemon is created and born, though I'm not sure how you steel-types do so-"
"Not that. I meant I was artificially made by the humans." Synergy clarified, looking amused at Lucario's utter shock and even limited horror.
"What?!" Lucario barked out. "The humans have done such things like defiling the natural order in such-"
"You know, by saying such things, you are referring to me as a defilement to nature itself." Synergy interrupted then, making Lucario splutter, before beginning to apologise for his 'lapse in judgement' as Synergy merely cut him off, amused. "Forget it. I care not for where I came from, nor who did it, perhaps because I am a little less attuned to the empathies of most other organics. But, long story short, during the final stages of my creation in this very town, Ash and his mother were there. Somehow, in some way, Ash became exposed to my aura - and merged his signature with it." Synergy stated knowingly, before turning to Lucario and ruining it with a smile. "At least, that's the theory."
"Right." Lucario said slowly. "Moving past - all that." He started. "Are you saying that you are more in tune with your aura to the extent that you more easily learn it?"
"Perhaps." Synergy spoke in agreement. "That's why I need someone to at least guide me on how to properly wield it, so I can test this out and know if I'm doing it right. And of course, if it is right, then Ash has picked up on this trait."
"But you already know some bits about aura, right?" Lucario asked. "Like how to channel it, and the aura sphere move? As if aura had come naturally to you?"
"To be fair, my system points out that the stresses of combat may have accelerated the progress of learning aura significantly. There is also the fact that the computer in my system granted me pre-determined knowledge, as well as that my composition is different to organics. It may just be... easier, to use aura for a more synthetic being like me, than an organic who has to train their very body. As such, I would pick it even faster than Ash or other humans." Synergy rattled off. Lucario looked blankly at the robotic Pokemon for a few seconds, before shrugging.
Lucario was silent for more than a few moments before gesturing to Ash. "I wish to feel both of your auras. What you say has merit, but I am afraid I am still in some disbelief."
"Lead the way." Synergy spoke without hesitation, getting a nod from Lucario as they then both moved back over to where Ash and Riolu were trying to channel aura and occasionally commenting.
"Ash, can I have your hand please." Lucario stated, getting a look from Ash before easily complying to the action they'd repeated many times over the past forty minutes. His expression became more confused, however, as Lucario's other paw took hold of Synergy's own hand. "Right, now both of you channel aura."
Ash stuck his tongue out again as he complied, focusing on the feeling of dragging up the energy as Synergy had a more impassive expression, merely commanding her system to begin channelling the aura. Lucario did note with some personal satisfaction that the robotic Pokemon's aura felt a bit unrefined, somewhat inexperienced and certainly not as good as his own experienced flow. Pushing aside his feelings, Lucario bonded his aura with both so as to get a 'feel' to the energies.
Dropping the two appendages after a few seconds, Lucario thanked Ash and sent him back to Riolu before turning to Synergy with an impressed expression. "You were right. I didn't note a single difference."
"Not one?" Synergy asked as she cocked her head a bit.
"Not one." Lucario confirmed. "The same shade of colour, texture of the energy, among others. The only way to tell them apart is the fact that the flow of yours is much more refined."
Synergy contemplated on that before eye-smiling. "Good." She spoke happily. "It's a good sign for both me and Ash." Getting over that, Synergy then posed a question. "Does this mean Ash could learn more within the six years?"
"A bit more if his progress does match Riolu's, which would make him very adept in aura - but not a master." Lucario stated. "Besides, much of the time will be spent learning how to wield aura not just by channelling it, but by forming the shape correctly and being able to directly input it in a way that does not blow up in his face. Not to mention the physical attributes to, like how to utilise an aura weapon correctly like our bone rush move. He will need all the time he has in these six years, and there will still be more to learn after he leaves on his own journey."
Synergy nodded her head, before grasping Lucario's hand and shaking it firmly to some of the canine's surprise. "Thank you, my friend. You don't know how much it means to me that you are teaching Ash and me of how to be able to better protect him for his journey. I will see it to that our deal is more than upheld on my end."
Lucario gave a smirk then. "Well, if you say that, then my children do have quite the sweet tooth. A few pecha berries would be a treat for them if you return, in say, two days."
"Done." Synergy automatically agreed - she'd only have to ask the Professor, or twist his arm, or raid a store cupboard. Easily done on all accounts.
"Well then." Lucario spoke, gesturing to Synergy herself. "Let's begin having you refine your own aura flow by channelling it with more experience. It will allow you better control of your aura in future if you refine its flow. By the time we're done today, you should be able to coat your hand in a stable aura - and I expect Ash to be able to summon it for some time at least. Here, start with this-"
FIVE HOURS LATER.
Ash, Synergy and Dratini arrived back at the lab, walking back up the path to the main entrance. Dratini gave a trill at the welcome sign of home and dinner, making Synergy chuckle and Ash to smile at how cute the serpentine was to the young boy. However, Synergy re-processed her thoughts as she sighted an impassive Professor Oak walking out of the main entrance, hands behind his back. His face may not show it, but Synergy's system analysed Oak's body language to be unimpressed.
"Back at last, are we?" Oak called out as the party neared the doors.
"Hey, Mr Oak!" Ash waved at the old man, who looked to the boy with a hum.
"Do you know how much I was worrying about you, young man?" Oak calmly stated to Ash, making the young boy's face falter. "Five and a half hours you've been gone, and made only worse by the fact that I get a report from my staff that you entered the ranch of all places, without me! The only reason I didn't send for you at once was because I knew you had Synergy here with you!"
Synergy said nothing as Ash gave a nervous look to the professor. "Er, I'm sorry, Mr Oak. I didn't mean to make you worry, honest! We only went to see Lucario, that's all!"
"Lucario, hmm?" Oak questioned, getting a small nod from Ash who looked worried himself now. "Well, that is better than other actions you could've done I suppose, they're friendly creatures. Don't worry, my boy. I just want you to promise me, that you'll never enter the ranch without me, or at least without telling me first! There are dangerous Pokemon in there! OK?" Oak asked Ash with a firm impression on what he wanted Ash to do.
"Yes, Mr Oak! Of course!" Ash hastily agreed.
Giving a nod and a friendlier smile, Oak gestured to Ash and Dratini. "Good. You two go on upstairs, I'll have dinner sorted out soon. I just need a word with your friend here for a few minutes, Ash."
Racing in hurriedly with Dratini slithering in speedily after him, the boy and Pokemon disappeared up the stairs as Oak began walking back in slowly himself as Synergy fell into step with the old man.
"What is it, Professor?" Synergy questioned, breaking the silence.
Oak gave a grunt as they walked to his office. "You know, part of the deal with Lance was I keep an eye on you. Taking a young boy into the Pokemon enclosure not only means I can't do that, but you've potentially endangered him to a whole host of strong Pokemon, not matter how much tamer they are than their wild counterparts. Especially since its the rocky biome. I'd like an explanation."
Synergy only looked to the Professor out the corner of her senses as she walked down the corridor with him. "You should know that I could protect Ash from any threat in that enclosure, Professor. Me and my system deemed it well worth the risk to further Ash's preparation for his journey. We weren't even challenged on the way through the biomes."
"Because you skirted past the forests and managed to not tread on the toes of any of the stronger Pokemon in the rocky enclosure, right?" Oak responded, getting a nod from Synergy. The researcher gave a sigh. "Even if I wanted to, and having an idea of what you're up to, you're not going to stop, are you?"
"No." Synergy spoke immediately. "Me and Lucario have reached an accord. I will not stop now, even if you don't agree with the risk, Professor. My apologies, but it really is for the best."
Oak hummed then, not put off at what some people might take offence to. Having travelled all over the world, working almost daily with a variety of many different people and tending to thousands of Pokemon had meant Oak had become resilient to remarks people didn't really mean in a bad way. "I'll be the judge of that when you tell me what you were up to in the ranch." Oak said in a decidedly manner.
"You already have a very good picture of it though, don't you, Oak?" Synergy mused to the man.
"It'd be hard not to considering all of the factors aligning with our conversation two days ago, like visiting Lucario when I was the one who told you specifically where to find the family." Oak stated leisurely, as the two arrived at his office. "Come, tell me all about you and Ash's little excursion, then we can talk of how much I like it."
Synergy gave a grunt. "You really are proving fit for the parent role, Oak." The robotic Pokemon stated, drawing another unimpressed look from the man as she walked into his office.
Oak sat himself at his desk before turning to view the still-standing Pokemon, taking a moment to consider before starting to speak. "So." Oak began. "I'm guessing that you took Ash up to the rocky enclosure, where you started to learn about how to wield aura from the Lucario family there. I don't know how you can do it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they agreed, they're a calmer species than most."
"An over-simplification into how to wield aura, but ultimately, yes." Synergy acquiesced. "Though there is one thing you probably haven't foreseen."
"Enlighten me then." Oak stated, putting his hand into his elbow.
"I've had Ash start learning it too." Synergy admitted, awaiting the Professor's response, but without a single regret.
Professor Oak gave a chuckle then. "Actually, that's where you're wrong." Oak stated as he wagged his finger at the curious Pokemon. "It's wasn't as easy to string together as you just waltzing up to the Lucario cave, but it was certainly feasible in my mind. Firstly, you're overprotective of Ash and recently you've been exploring the dangers he'd face on his journey. You mention you want to teach him self-defence. Then, you explore into aura - and specifically ask if a human can wield it. As soon as you found out that its possible, you then pressed for details. And finally, you went out seeking somebody who could teach you aura. Don't underestimate my intelligence."
Synergy gave a grunt, but gave no comment.
"Very well, I can't say I like Ash going into a dangerous enclosure, but so long as he's with me or you and doesn't stray, I suppose it's fine." Oak spoke with a bit of a resigned tone. "Though, speaking of aura, it's got a real lack of research into it. Tell me, how easily were you and Ash able to learn however much you did in those five and a bit hours?"
Synergy gave an eye-smile to the man as she held up a robotic hand, which then became shrouded in a cloak of shimmering, light-blue energy. "I picked it up easily enough, Professor." Synergy responded with a bit of a happy tone. "Though, Lucario mentioned that he was impressed with how quickly Ash picked it up too, with him being able to channel the aura for a period of time."
Oak looked entranced at the blue energy, having never seen anything like it in his life - before the researcher's face perked up as an idea dawned on him. "Say." Oak mused. "Did it feel like it naturally came to you, Synergy?"
Synergy blinked at the question, but then shrugged. "I wouldn't say it was natural." She spoke. "More like that in the heat of combat, it came to me when I needed it and I could use it ever since. The, under watch from Lucario, I managed to fully summon it by myself without assistance of my system. But it certainly wasn't too hard, either. I got it down at a good rate."
Oak listened closely as he picked out a file from a shelf next to his desk, and flipped through the pages contained within. Synergy looked interested at what Oak was doing, focusing her eyesight onto the pages to see what the researcher was looking for before her system paused. Taking a step closer, and making the Professor's eyes flicker to her, Synergy properly looked at the file - and saw it was all about her. "Where did you get this, Professor?" The question asked by the robotic Pokemon sounded neutral, apathetic, but even Oak could tell it had a guarded tone.
"After you emerged from the Ketchum residence, investigators combed the place. These documents were found in the basement section, written almost exclusively by Delia Ketchum." Oak answered, hoping that was a satisfactory answer to the Pokemon as he continued flipping through the file.
The Pokemon remained silent for a few moments before posing another question. "Who else has these documents?"
"Just one person." Oak answered without hesitation, seeing the guarded expression on Synergy's face slowly start to fade as she detected no stimulus acting within parameters that denoted fake intentions in the old man. "One Professor Bill."
"Very well." Synergy spoke, before tapping the file. "You will tell me if this file is shared with anyone else - and it is definitely not to leave this lab, nor this 'Bill' person's place; and most especially it will not be made public."
Professor Oak seemed to have found his desired page as he looked up at the Pokemon. "That's standard procedure for this most part anyway." He stated calmly. "And yes, I will tell you." Flipping the file round for Synergy to see normally, he spoke. "Tell me, do these energy channels match up with perhaps how you channel your aura?"
Focusing upon the hand area where the Professor had pointed, with vein-like structures numbering in the hundreds running through the hand and fingers alone; let alone the many that traversed up the arm and then split further into the torso. "Yes." Synergy answered as she recognised the aura pathways which see could see herself when she wanted to. "Yes, that exactly matches up with where the aura in my limb travels."
Oak gave a satisfied hum. "Thank you, it answers a few questions, you see." Oak decided to explain, before he pointed to a handwritten paragraph in Delia's writing pointing at a collection of the designated 'aura pathways'. "You see, in Delia's own writing, she couldn't identify what these many similar pathways were for, as you certainly don't need blood as a synthetic. She had called it an 'unknown energy', see?" Oak tapped an underlined phrase on the paragraph as he did so, drawing Synergy's interest.
"Well, congratulations Professor." Synergy stated with some amused sarcasm. "You solved the mystery of the unknown energy, and figured out it was aura."
Professor Oak ignored the sarcasm as he pondered. "For Delia to have detected the pathways and for there to be energy within them throughout your building process, then that means you always had aura - you were literally being built to utilise the energy." Oak slowly stated aloud to the Pokemon, who blinked back at him as something her system had never considered was being spoken about. Indeed, she listened close and didn't interrupt. "I doubt Delia was going to ever, ah- take possession of you in the end, no, she was never a trainer. No, whoever you were intended for had the specific purpose of creating a powerful Pokemon that could wield no aura. I mean no offence, but that's what it's looking like."
Synergy pondered over it as she responded. "None taken Professor, on the contrary - I thank you for being honest with me about such a concerning subject." Synergy stated, before regarding the old man seriously who awaited her next words from the expression. "And were you not talking of a man who could wield aura, and is connected to both Ash and Delia?"
"My word." Oak breathed out as the implications set in. "If that's true, then he really is a lost cause..."
The duo remained silent for a minute as both thought. Oak seemed heavily disturbed and concentrating fully on what to do next, as Synergy analysed rigorously as her system drew up new protocols.
"It goes without saying, of course, that we cannot let such a thing come to pass." Oak let out, with Synergy's full agreement as she nodded. "For that end, we'll need to know more - I'll see what I can dig up, who I can contact..." He paused as another idea came to him, and he turned to Synergy. "Which reminds me. These documents are really incomplete, and we haven't really... 'classified' you yet, so as to speak."
"What do you mean?" Synergy spoke with a bit of a confused tone. "You've already got data on me both from those documents, and more from the laboratory scans you took of me."
"Yes, that's true." Oak said, before he pointed out more. "But there's still a lot of complications. Much of your composition remains a mystery, and I'm afraid metal work and that isn't my area of expertise. Combined with the fact that you've been listed as a 'potential legendary', and well, I need outside help." Oak stated resolutely.
Synergy only raised an eyebrow. "What do you require? I take it I'll have to be examined all over again."
"Yes, I'm afraid so. Sorry." Oak spoke. "And I'll require at least someone who's an expert in steel-type Pokemon, and can give me more... I think I know who to call on that regard. Plus, I'll need two other scientists with me to verify you on the classification - all legendary verifications require the sign-off of a least three League verified scientists. Plus, if I bring Bill round, you can meet him and we can determine more of your composition and biology. We do think you have a second type as opposed to just steel, after all."
Synergy said nothing at that, allowing Oak to scribble down a few things. "Yes, a man called Steven Stone should do nicely. He's an expert at steel-types, have you heard of him?" He asked as he looked round to the metal Pokemon.
"Steven Stone?" Synergy rhetorically stated as her system flagged the known name. "Yes, he's the Hoenn region champion. Why would you bring a champion down just to know more about me?"
"Several reasons." Oak commented off-handed. "For one thing, he's a proper expert, almost like a scientist given how he's a part-time archaeologist. Another is that he already knows of you as a champion, given that you made quite the stir here in Kanto, and so we don't have to clue in more people than necessary. Oh, and that he's a friend and champion again, he'll keep things on the down low, which is good for you and good for the League."
Synergy hummed at that, before nodding her head at the Professor, Oak looking glad that the robotic Pokemon was being cooperative.
Tucking away his recently made notes, Oak stood up and made to leave - before pausing and wagging his finger at Synergy to get her attention. "One last thing. Continue doing this aura training of yours, it'll be good for both Ash and you, so long as you promise to take care of any risk involved. It'll be good for research purposes into aura and seeing what you can do, and proving you right on the front that it gives the boy more protection."
Synergy only eye-smiled. "I've already said how I wasn't going to stop anyway, Professor."
Oak only sighed.