Author's Notes:
Sorry for posting this chapter a day late; I had much more to write than I estimated!
A special shout-out for Plastic Hair and dag16b6 for expressing support for this fanfic even in its dormancy! And I give everyone else a heartfelt thank-you for gradually getting my story to 1000 hits! As I'm in a crunch right now, I'll keep the AN short.
Enjoy reading!
TurboBolt99
The morning rays bathed the Hill of the Ancients, where a single Xatu positioned his raven eyes in front of the rising sun. Never did he make a single blink as the Mystic Pokemon stood atop a dusty cliff. Against the stubborn gales blowing across the pillars of sandstone separating the Xatu and the horizon, his feathers stood firm.
Quetzal Shining, as he was named, was immersed in a construction of the events ahead. The Psychic-type was renowned by the townsfolk as a reliable and intelligent fortune teller. Every week, hundreds of his followers gathered around his nest to learn what lies in the times ahead. However, the farther he looked into the future, the vaguer his visions were, and the more the psionics required. The warm sunlight fueled his clairvoyance, which dove into the uncertainty of the future. His mental vision slowly formed black silhouettes of ambiguity.
What's this? Quetzal thought as the silhouettes took shape. He focused on the sun with all his will, till he was treated to a giant figure engulfing the skyline of Square City, surrounded by a ghastly aura.
Oh, Arceus... he lamented as tears accumulated in his eyes, The world is going to fall into chaos again. After a long, long time... The malevolent figure had an angular outline so amorphous, he could not determine what Pokemon they are, let alone if they actually are one. That made Quetzal's heart sink deeper.
Suddenly, a ball of light emerged from the stone tower which defined Square City's skyline, emanating the same aura as the threat. The ball stood still for a second, and then suddenly exploded in a blinding burst which filled Quetzal's mental vision. The light quickly dissipated to reveal the skyline, the same as before. The threat disappeared without a trace.
Hope swelled in Quetzal's bosom. A...hero? he remarked, Or the fighting spirit of monkind? Either way, this light...It feels...unnatural. What could this light be?
His tears died down as a smile of relief formed around his beak. This will be a landmark announcement, he decided, A new chapter is going to be written in our world's history. Every Pokemon must be informed of this as soon as possible. Even if the main participants are yet to be determined. I will make this statement:
In the approaching future, an evil sprouts.
An evil from parts unknown to mon.
Through elaborate ambitions begets a new age of darkness.
Fret not, monkind, for a champion will spark light in this darkness.
And when this champion is brought to their knees.
An otherworldly power awakens.
Quetzal was not alone.
A Baltoy levitated several paces behind him, and teleported away once he finished his bout of precognition.
Later that same morning, Luke was in the middle of a Scyther's flurry of Fury Cutters. Duking it out atop the roof of a tavern, his body thrashed from side to side as he narrowly dodged scythes tinged with green energy, which intensified with each strike. It was not long before the Scyther overtook his pace and socked a fierce, luminous slash across his chest.
Luke recoiled a few inches and stepped backward to keep a distance from the reptilian mantis. Right when he considered an Aura Sphere, the Scyther lunged at him with a yell. The Lucario threw himself onto the coarse wooden tiles of the roof as his foe dove through thin air.
Contented with his dodge, Luke rose himself and turned around to clarify his claim.
"THWAAAAAAA!" The Scyther was already lunging at him once again, brandishing both of her sharp scythe-claws. Luke barely got off his knees when two more slashes streaked across his torso.
"Extreme Speed!" Luke dashed a few meters backward as his afterimages flickered in front of his opponent's eyes. He wracked his brain for a tactic to defeat her. The Scyther's attacks did not faze him too much, but they were fast and fierce. They reminded him of the Aura Sphere spam he inflicted upon Hammer a week ago.
"Aura Sphere!" Luke launched a projectile of bright blue energy at the Scyther. He followed up with another Aura Sphere, hoping to slow the Scyther in her tracks.
"Wing Attack!" The Scyther pushed her foot back and spun her body around, swinging her left wing like a sword. That wing cleaved through the first Aura Sphere like a hot knife through butter. She completed her spin and split apart the other Aura Sphere with her right wing in similar fashion. Luke watched flabbergasted as aura spilled out of his fruitless attacks like confetti.
"Razor..." the Scyther said as she pulled back one of her scythes and pumped energy into it.
Luke seized the opportunity to charge a stronger Aura Sphere.
"...WIND!" The Scyther swung her scythe and released a blade of air.
"Aura Sphere!" Luke responded with his own projectile, bigger and more incandescent than the first two. The Razor Wind blazed across the sky faster than the Aura Sphere. Once the two projectiles approached each other, the Aura Sphere engulfed the Razor Wind and raced toward its target.
The Scyther crouched in an attempt to evade Luke's attack. The Aura Sphere instead bent downward and came crashing on its target.
Luke conjured a Bone Rush, hoping to deflect the Scyther's attacks from a distance.
"Are you sure you're gonna use that move, bonehead?!" the Scyther gasped in annoyance as she got up without much difficulty, "You're holding back or what?!"
"I'm not holding back, monstress Slice," Luke replied, his paws gripping his glowing bone rod, "I'm giving it my all!"
"What do you mean, you FORGOT THE TYPE CHART?!" Slice screeched, "FURY CUTTER!" She charged at Luke and unleashed a long, long chain of progressively stronger slashes which never left any room for escape. Even once Luke fainted, Slice never let up.
Only after the 101st Fury Cutter did Slice leave Luke's body alone. She then beaned her unconscious opponent with a Reviver Seed.
As Luke rose to his senses, compliments slid down his eardrums:
"YOU DITZY, GOOD-FOR-NOTHING DWEEB! I HAVE WASTED THREE PRECIOUS MINUTES OF TRAINING ON A WEAK NUMBSKULL LIKE YOU! IMAGINE IF I FOUGHT A STRONGER MON! I WOULD HAVE GAINED MUCH MORE EXPERIENCE! YOUR 'FIGHTING STYLE' IS THAT OF A WET NOODLE! GO HOME AND GRIT THOSE FANGS!"
Luke put his paw to his head in dizziness as the Scyther flew off the roof, There's a long way to go before I could get far enough in the tournament... he ruminated, Under all that unwarranted rage, I understand that I am not aggressive and fast enough...Well, what did she mean by 'the type chart'? I think that plays a decisive factor in battles too...
He got onto his feet and jumped off the roof. I will never fulfil my promise until I subject myself to a rigorous training regimen, he decided, Athletes undergo all these drills to prepare themselves for the field, don't they? Like them, I have to train myself into fighting gear. I'll stop by at the Hotshots, then I'll go to the gym and ask Hammer for some specialized workouts...
At a table in Hotshot Bakery, Luke and Shade were having their shared breakfast, a large apple pie with assorted fruits, courtesy of Cannon and Snowball themselves.
"How's the pie, Shade?" Luke asked as the glaze of his chewed pie slice glistened.
"Okay," Shade replied in her usual monotony as she shuffled her tiny nose at her slice.
"Okay? You haven't even laid your tongue on it!" Luke replied with understanding concern before he took a ravenous bite out of his slice.
Shade barely opened her mouth and tore out a morsel of pie from her slice.
"How is it now?" Luke watched Shade slowly chew the morsel.
"Uh...okay..." Shade mumbled after swallowing her morsel.
"So, you're right after all, Shade," Luke chuckled, attempting to cheer her up, "That's nice!"
Shade only gave a stoic nod.
"Shade!" Snowball called from the counter, "Eat your food quickly and come to the kitchen. A customer will come and ask for your seat!"
To Luke, it was clear that Shade was dragging the time. He picked up a Pecha Berry slice and showed it to her, "Want this?" he cooed.
Shade collected the slice with apathy and chewed it with her usual sluggishness.
Come on, Shade! Luke remarked, You must eat enough to gain strength!
After they both finished the pie, Luke and Shade entered the kitchen. Cannon and Snowball demonstrated their cake recipe.
"Shade, watch us," Snowball convinced her, preparing the cake mixture, and explaining the procedure.
"Are you trying to make her occupied?" Luke asked.
"Of course!" Cannon woofed, "We're gonna make tastier cakes to get more sales!"
Shade stared at the tin containing the cake mixture as it was placed in the oven. Cannon walked to the oven and used Flamethrower.
Shade made a piercing scream upon seeing the fire. Luke's fur rose and he scurried to the Absol to comfort her, along with Snowball.
"Are you okay, Shade?" Luke gasped, stroking her head.
"N-n-no..." Shade stammered, shaking, "I-i-it's s-s-c-cary...I-I can't-"
"Easy, Shade, easy!" Snowball calmed her down, "We're just baking a cake, not attacking you. Never in our dreams we would do that."
Shade took a long time to look at the coursing fire. Luke watched her. Has fire played a role in her past?
"Luke, how was the morning?" Snowball asked as Cannon blasted the oven with Flamethrower.
"A Scyther destroyed me..." Luke said in shame, pawing his feeler.
"Don't worry. You'll find your way with enough hard work," Snowball replied, "Just remember to use your time wisely, okay?"
"I understand, Snowball," Luke smiled before he gave one last glance at Shade. Every second he gazed through her crimson eyes, the beatdown at Sneak Street clawed his consciousness. How did a mediocre mon like him trounce five opponents in a single battle? He was able to recall a jolt of aura through his veins upon the sight of Shade's blood. Now, he wanted to experience that strength again. A strength that was worthy of a professional battler. A strength that can be a weapon against the unjust. A strength that would make everyone beckon upon him.
"Shade, I'm going to train," Luke said softly, "I'll be back only at lunch. You stay right here with Cannon and Snowball. Okay?" He gave her a smile and a pat on the head.
"Okay," Shade nodded.
With a bag of poken and a supply of Reviver Seeds, Luke bid goodbye to the Hotshots and set off for Smackdown Gym.
The morning was bright, bold and delirious. Scores of Pokemon scampered across the streets as Luke walked on his way to Smackdown Gym, looking around his frisky surroundings. Some Pokemon were minding their own businesses, some were locked in little battles, and others simply joined the rhythm of liveliness. The grunts and growls of the crowd did not irritate Luke as much as the incessant car horns he used to deal with as a human, for he accepted the display of camaraderie. However, disproportionate attention was being paid to something:
"A tournament hosted by the Rock Foundation, ain't that cool?"
"Imagine the world's best battlers in one place..."
"I can't wait to see Spectro fight Gill! No more of those silly debates about which ghost is stronger!"
"Just listen mons, I will get far in that tourney and become ten times as powerful as I am now!"
"Then what would you do if you're drawn against Terra? Or Etna? Or any of those super-powerful Pokemon from the other continents?"
"Meow, that Geovil Rockwrecker...First he invented the television, built an empire of a revolutionary company, and now this? Never since the Age of Legends have we witnessed such an influential mon..."
"What will Lord Mewtwo do? Will he be the final opponent?"
He knew it. The combination of warrior monsters, fighting tournaments and television coverage cannot be any less fitting. Luke kept his creed. He would see the Ultra Brawl as a quest to save a needy couple rather than a battle paradise or an opportunity for fame and money. And to complete that quest, he was ready for any challenge that stood in his way, no matter how tough.
It was not just the voices. Every other building and tree trunk Luke passed had a poster of the Ultra Brawl plastered on it. The Lucario stopped for a moment. What's the prize money? he thought, considering Shade's medical fee. He walked to a nearby tree and inspected the UBT poster nailed on it. Amidst the Gengar and Ampharos whose intimidating stare-off hogged the majority of the poster, all he could find was a snappy slogan.
Just then, Luke heard a gruff humanoid voice.
"Hey, you! A wannabe pro battler, aren't you?"
Luke ignored the voice, assuming it was directed at another Pokemon.
"Where are you going, monster Lucario?" the voice said again, "It it you who I am calling!"
Me? Luke turned around to see what appeared to be the back of a brown sponge with arms and clawed legs, standing a few feet in front of him, "Excuse me?" he asked, "Are you asking me for a battle?"
"I am, but answer my questions first," replied the brown sponge.
"All right," Luke clenched his fists in preparation.
"Are you aspiring to fight in the Ultra Brawl?"
"Yes."
"How far do you want to get in the tournament?"
"To a stage where I can receive more than 30 million poken as prize money."
"Okay. How is your fighting form as of now?"
"Not good. This morning, I was overwhelmed by a Scyther's speedy attacks. She took no prisoners. I was too cautious and slow."
"Is that so? Then I will test your reflexes! You'll never get past the preliminaries if you hold back your fighting spirit! I, Roundhouse DiMelee, challenge you to a battle! HA!" The brown sponge made a dramatic spinning jump and faced Luke with a determined crouch, revealing himself as a Hitmonlee and constantly making little hops in place.
"Uwah!" Luke was frightened by his tiny eyes and lack of a mouth.
"MEGA KIIIICK!" Roundhouse stuck out one of his legs, which expanded and bent to Luke's right like a spring.
Luke, fueling himself with determination, launched an Aura Sphere as the Hitmonlee's large sole raced toward him, across the distance separating the two Fighting-types.
Roundhouse's sole crashed against Luke's snout. At the same time, the Aura Sphere hit the Kicking Pokemon in the face. As the two opponents were knocked to the ground, the Pokemon in the midst turned their heads in attention.
Luke got up. Roundhouse didn't; he leaped, his legs stretching like streamers. A dozen feet above Luke, he yelled "Jump Kick!" and curled himself into a pirouette. Meanwhile, the townsfolk huddled around the combatants with astonished grunts and chatters.
"Meteor Mash!" Luke sprinted to the diving Hitmonlee and jumped with his rising fist covered in silvery energy.
Roundhouse's soles tore through Luke's fist and flung the Lucario to the ground.
Luke managed to get up just as Roundhouse landed in front of him. The crowd around them was slowly ballooning.
"Mach Punch!" announced Roundhouse, splitting his legs apart and brandishing his arms. Luke crossed his forearms in response as Roundhouse delivered two Mach Punches which pushed him back, each punctuated with a shrill yell that disturbed his ear drums, but not theirs.
Luke kept his guard as a third, stronger Mach Punch rammed against his bones. "Extreme Speed!" He rammed his body past Roundhouse at high speed as a trail of afterimages skirted across his opponent, and stopped only a few feet away from a flinching Grookey, his feet braking against the ground.
Luke turned around and charged an Aura Sphere.
"BOUNCE!" Roundhouse made a swift twist and sprang high in the air. The spectators raised their heads in awe.
Luke released his paws, leaving the Aura Sphere to dissipate. He raised his head to see the high-rising opponent and stood his guard.
From several dozen feet above him, Roundhouse shot down the sky with his elastic foot aiming for his opponent.
Luke made a few steps back, sprinted forward and launched himself into a Meteor Mash.
The Meteor Mash overpowered Roundhouse's foot, toppling him, much to the thrill of the audience. Luke attempted to follow it up with a kick, but Roundhouse had already fallen past his jutting foot.
Roundhouse splat on the ground. As Luke fell, Roundhouse jumped back on his feet and shot his elastic leg at Luke. Luke tried to block the kick with a forearm, but Roundhouse's sole squashed Luke's snout before he could fold his arm.
"ROLLING KICK!", Roundhouse stepped backward and vaulted with his legs sweeping in a vertical arc. The fallen and worn Luke made a backward Extreme Speed to dodge them.
Making the most of his time, Luke cupped his paws, about to shoot an Aura Sphere. Roundhouse stretched his leg in retaliation, which expanded by more inches per second than Luke's Aura Sphere. In a blink, the humanoid's sole was less than a foot away from the jackal's snout.
And then the sole stopped.
The crowd went jubilant.
Luke had burst his arms out and gripped Roundhouse's ankle with both of his paws, making a grimace. Roundhouse widened his tiny eyes.
He swung the Hitmonlee round and round with as much vigor as a speeding car about a traffic circle and then let go of him. Roundhouse was sent flying into a the trunk of a Victreebel spectator, bringing him and the sentient pitcher plant to the ground.
"What determination!" Roundhouse remarked as he bounced off the Bell's soft trunk and got onto his feet, staring at Luke from afar, "From what you convey in this battle, you're not as slow or cautious as you let on!" The spectators gave a roar of applause.
"Thank you...monster...Roundhouse," Luke replied, hunched and hanging his tongue out. He had the perfect chance to finish off his opponent, but he never approached this idea out of respect.
"Now, let's finish the fight!" said Roundhouse, moving back into his fighting stance.
Luke cupped his paws again to generate another Aura Sphere. Roundhouse made a grand beeline toward him as his feet bounced against the ground, and the audience gasped.
Luke focused on the growing ball of aura enclosed in his fingers, preparing a point-blank blast. He anticipated Roundhouse to strike at close range.
To his surprise, he heard a scratchy yell of "JUMP KICK!" much sooner than expected. Luke rose his eyes. A wide, clawed sole filled half of his sight.
Amidst Roundhouse's humorless glare, Luke released his paws, only to puff out an Aura Sphere half as large as he wanted. The Jump Kick smashed into his face, while his incomplete Aura Sphere made an impact with Roundhouse best described as a finger poke.
The final play set off an explosion of cheers, gasps and howls, as Roundhouse, with whatever little stamina he retained, stood on his crooked legs beside an unconscious Luke. He pumped up his clenched fist and screeched in victory.
After the audience died down, Roundhouse gave Luke a Reviver Seed.
"How did I fight, monster Roundhouse?" Luke asked for his opinions.
"Let me say, you have raw talent," Roundhouse replied, rubbing his legs, "Even in a pinch, you displayed iron will!"
"Well, thanks for the compliments," Luke gave him a pawshake.
"BUT, as you inferred from your battle with the Scyther, you are indeed lagging in reflexes," Roundhouse let go of Luke's paw and pointed to him, "Had you landed those missed attacks on me, you would have won the battle!"
Luke understood. He had seen too many sports matches where one team's mistakes cost a win.
"I will offer you some special regimens to increase your skill tenfold," said Roundhouse, "provided you visit my dwelling."
"E-excuse me!" Luke reasoned, "I-I was heading for the gym when you challenged me!"
"A gym? A gym?!" ranted Roundhouse, "How will you increase your reflexes when all you do daily is lift weights and do leg exercises? That will make you all muscle and no mobility! Your body type is suited for nimble combat, so you can't tone yourself up into a tank! Off to my dwelling!"
"Monster Roundhouse..." Luke pleaded, "Please understand that my coach is expecting me..."
"First come with me!" Roundhouse clutched Luke's paw tightly and started to run. Luke howled in agony as his snout and chest were dragged along the coarse ground and he could do nothing but watch Roundhouse's legs skip at breakneck speed. Not that the same Pokemon who witnessed their battle would turn their heads to the questionable situation of the warriors they admired.
After around five minutes of getting grovel in his face, Luke had his paw released. Relieved, he got off the ground and rose his head to see...a cabin?
This was the first time he had seen a modern house in this universe. Not exactly modern (it was carved out of timeless wood), but it was still an eyecatcher amongst the caves and treetops which exemplified the Pokemon's definition of 'home'.
"What are you wasting your time on?" Roundhouse yelled from beside the door, "Get inside now, my pupil!"
Luke entered the house's modest drawing room, sat on the couch, and asked for some treats to refuel himself after the fight. Roundhouse, reckoning a pinch of sympathy, jumped to what looked like a cupboard at one corner of the room and opened it. Luke was surprised to find large blocks of ice lining the cupboard's shelves on which items of food were placed. A primitive refrigerator? he thought.
Roundhouse picked up an orange sausage of jelly and handed it over to Luke, "This gummi is good for you and me," he explained, "It's packed with optimum nutrients for the average Fighting-type!"
"Thank you, Roundhouse," Luke brought the gummi to his snout and sniffed it before taking a small nibble. It tasted like the average gummy candy for him, albeit defying the orange flavor he expected.
"Now, I will show you my special training regimen for all five stats," said Roundhouse. As Luke chewed on his gummi, Roundhouse jumped to the drawer next to him and took out a bunch of papers.
Luke almost choked on his gummi when Roundhouse leaped in front of him, "Monster Roundhouse, why do you always jump from place to place when you can walk instead?" he said in puzzlement.
"To give my legs additional exercise at every opportunity!" answered the Hitmonlee, "Now observe these!"
The papers were placed on the table. Luke bent his head down to read the first one. Whatever diagram was drawn on it...confused him. A Pokemon being chased by an avalanche along a mountain slope? Was it a guide, an illustration or something else?
"See this!" Roundhouse pointed to the stick figure at the top of the slope, "This regimen is designed to improve your speed and reflexes! Here, you have two time bombs attached to your body."
"BOMBS?!" Luke howled upon spitting out chewed, soggy gummi pieces, "ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
"DON'T INTERRUPT!" Roundhouse protested at rapid speed, moving his finger up and down the slope, "Your objective is to activate the first time bomb at the base of Mount Steel and run to the top before the bomb explodes! Then you must activate the second time bomb and hurry to the base before that bomb blows up!"
"A-Are you serious?!"
"How will bombs kill you?!" Roundhouse slammed the table, causing the papers to jump in place, "They're supposed to be training tools!"
"M-monster Roundhouse, could you please give me some squats instead?"
"Bah, humbug! Squats can only build muscle. This special speed regimen will apply your physicality to actual situations which simulate those in battle!"
"Okay then, monster Roundhouse," Luke accepted begrudgingly, "Where is Mount Steel?"
Roundhouse went to the drawer and brought a map of the Air Continent. His finger extended from the west coast, where Square City lay, to
"This far?!" Luke wailed, "Is this even a training session?!"
"Why do you whine? You go to the woods to hunt food, don't you?" Roundhouse challenged, "Look at everyday jobs! Loggers travel hundreds of miles to the various forests around the Air Continent and come back with timber on their backs! Fire-types regularly go to Magma Cavern to power up their attacks! And even that's not getting into the pilgrimages to the Legendaries!
"I-I understand...How many miles is Mount Steel from here?"
"Around a thousand,"
"NYYYAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW!"
With great reluctance, Luke set off for Mount Steel after receiving twenty time bombs and a guide from Roundhouse and gathering a map, food and a bag from the Hotshots. Through countless hectares of untouched forest, he trekked under the verdant foliage; amidst the suffering of feet once accustomed to vehicles, he appreciated the scenic beauty and undisturbed flora and fauna which had gotten increasingly hard to come by in the human world. For every pace he took, he reminded himself of Cannon, Snowball and Shade, the challenge he will face to lift them out of financial despair.
After what felt like hours, a panting Luke approached a humongous mound of rock, which he assumed to be the foot of Mount Steel. He looked for a nearby signpost which would confirm his assumption, and he was right.
The Lucario rose his head to estimate the height of the mountain. At the summit of Mount Steel lay giant pieces of shrapnel made out of, well, steel, shining like stars. This intrigued him. Where else in his home world would such fantastic geology exist? The sun was positioned beyond the top of the sky, giving Luke the impression of early afternoon.
My feet are killing me...Luke thought, looking at his sore mode of transportation, I'll rest here for awhile and have my lunch before doing that regimen.
He made himself comfortable on a flat rock and dropped the bag he hauled on his back. That bag had the same hue of blue as his fur; it used to be Cannon's, and before Luke left he was presented with it. He found the coincidence of color humorous, as well as the bag's shape, which he likened to a marshmallow. Luke undid the black knot and took out a metal box.
Upon opening the box, he nourished himself with a pile of sandwiches filled with chicken omelets. By the time he finished his lunch, his feet had recovered. Luke got up and took out the guide from his bag.
Note : The time bomb is set to 10 minutes, Luke read the guide.
1. At the foot of the mountain, attach two bombs to your body.
2. Activate one bomb.
3. Run to the summit before the bomb blows up. If the first bomb blows up before you reach the summit, you have failed the regimen.
4. Once you reach the summit, turn off the first bomb and activate the second one.
5. Run straight back down before the second bomb blows up. If the bomb blows up before you reach the base, you have failed the regimen.
6. To pass in this regimen, make 10 successful attempts both uphill and downhill.
"How do I pass this?!" Luke whimpered, "I hope this will be a piece of cake for me..."
Luke took out a smaller pouch from his bag and collected two time bombs from it. Each time bomb was shaped like a Voltorb, had straps dangling from it, and a clock was attached to it. Luke walked to the base of the mountain and prepared to activate it.
Ready...set...go! He attached a bomb to each of his arms, rounded the clock of the bomb on his right arm, and immediately sprinted up the slope and across the rough gray ledges of rock.
Luke rushed up the mountain with all his might without even thinking of the time, adamant to reach the top before ten minutes elapse. He bent over his back to minimize drag and focused on the faraway peak.
As he kept running, he suddenly felt a loss of balance. Luke found himself toppling like a stack of Jenga, and fell on his face with a howl. He got up and came to the realization that he had tripped over a stone.
I can't waste time, He resumed his sprint to the summit, If I really care for the Hotshots, I must make it!
As the clock's ticking echoed in his ears, Luke pushed his to his word, he kept running and running.
Suddenly, a flash of light enveloped his sight, and a bang akin to a lion's roar wrecked his eardrums. Luke was caught in a fireball which engulfed his whole body.
The fireball subsided to reveal a charred Lucario, still standing in place.
Ouch! I've failed it! Luke thought, putting his paw to his dizzied head, Now how far did I go? He searched for the summit.
As it turned out, Luke had to raise his head very high to see the summit. So high, that he had to squint his eyes to see the peak. The truth had dawned upon him; he was not even close to halfway up the mountain.
Grumbling, Luke walked down the mountain to re-equip himself with another bomb.
He reached the foot, attached a bomb and activated it, prompting him to run up the mountain once again.
I must beware, he thought, scanning the terrain, I should watch out for-
Just then, his foot rammed against a tiny slab of stone he failed to notice, causing him to trip. He continued his run.
Along the way, he tripped three more times before the active bomb blew up right when he got up from his third fall.
Covered in soot, Luke traced his distance from the summit with just his eyes. He had only managed to reach well behind the halfway point. Again.
And thus Luke was confined to a cycle where he struggled through trips and falls along the way, came up with meager returns, and returned to the base in a song of groans. His relocated target was only achieved after the ninth attempt. At the tenth attempt, he brought his bomb pouch with him, and successfully crossed the halfway point before the bomb exploded only a stone's throw away from it.
Luke's body shook in exhaustion, the smell of fresh soot irritated his nose, and he panted with bated breath. Now, I'm closer to the summit, he pondered, I will reach there and then try the downhill runs. Gravity would make it easier to traverse the distance under the stipulated time.
He made a slow trek to the top to alleviate his overworked muscles. As he traveled higher up the mountain, his breaths became deeper and his muscles became slower. The falling oxygen concentration is taking its toll on me, he deduced.
After a stretch of time, Luke reached the summit, and was wowed by the giant metal fragments. There's another time for sightseeing, he reminded himself, turning to face the bottom of the mountain. He activated the bomb on his left arm and dashed down the slope. It went without a hitch in the initial minutes, before he mistimed a jump and tumbled across the shreds of the terrain. After two more flubs, Luke was only a hair's breadth away from the halfway mark when his hopes were shattered by a bomb blast.
Luke was arrested in his self-imposed struggle. Every time he ran to the top, the bomb exploded before he was even close, and the same for the downhill runs. Each of his runs was marred by a string of blunders, though to his credit the blunders decreased after enough tries. To make matters worse, he became wearier with each attempt. Why would he waste time getting bombs blow up in his face, when he could sit down with Shade and make the solemn Absol feel better? Or have a friendly conversation with Hammer in the middle of a workout? Or even get occupied in battles and at least gain some experience?
The sun was now setting, and Luke stood on the summit, desperate to eke out a success. He had only one bomb left, and he didn't want to show a score of 0 to Roundhouse. He couldn't bear the thought of shame; the shame of failing his emphatic promise. This was only the first time, but he understood that first impressions matter after all. Luke took a deep breath, activated his last bomb, and sprinted down the mountain, keeping an eye on the terrain.
He coasted across the rocks, stalagmites and edges with much more competence than he had ever achieved, the exact kind of performance he worked for. He stared at the bottom with the attention of a laser as he strode past the halfway point.
Down, down and down he ran. Soon, the end was well within his sight, and Luke aimed to finish with a flourish. "Extreme Speed!" he said, making one last dash to the foot.
Right in the middle of the dash, he heard a loud drone and he was swallowed in fire.
The bomb had exploded right in the middle of the Extreme Speed.
With fried fur, Luke tumbled to the bottom and whimpered as he punched the rock underneath him.
"GET! ME! THE! HELL! OUTTA HERE!" he howled to the sky.
The night had already set in when Roundhouse opened the door to his cabin. "How wonderful," he muttered, "Tesla has come a long way. She's gained more confidence in her battling. Guess my charge buildup regimen has worked wonders for her..."
The Hitmonlee rested himself on the couch when the door opened once again. A fatigued and singed Luke trudged into the drawing room with his bag.
"Luke!" Roundhouse stood up, "From the looks of you I can tell you struggled!"
"You were spot on...monster Roundhouse..." Luke mumbled, hanging his tongue out.
"Anyway, can you please show your guide?" Roundhouse asked.
Luke dug out his guide and presented it to Roundhouse. The guide had boxes where the number of successful attempts for each path was written as well as a space to write comments.
"Total score: 0," Roundhouse read the results, "Comments: All of my runs were marred by trips and falls; I was only able to reach the halfway point after nine tries; On my final try downhill the bomb exploded right before I reached the bottom," He took a good look at Luke.
"This...is what I'm...made of," Luke whispered in guilt, lowering his head, "Could you please...give an easier...regimen?"
"Don't be so down on yourself!" Roundhouse goaded, "Remember that the first experience is the hardest. As you continue to engage in intense activities like this, you'll become used to it! You can't become as powerful as Etna Kickpunch in a day. You'll need gradual progress to even come close to her level!"
"But the prelims...will begin...in only two weeks..." Luke brushed grains of stone off his chest.
"The prelims ain't a big deal, Luke! It's only the tournament that matters. Have you ever heard about Mayor Hazard's regimens? He flies through an avalanche of rocks! And as you know, he's one of the strongest Pokemon in Square City! Since such stalwarts will definitely show up in the Ultra Brawl, I'm giving you regimens like these!"
Luke reasoned with him. When he first arrived in this world, he couldn't aim his Aura Sphere properly and his Extreme Speed used to end up in a collision every time. He was only able to use his moves properly after training from Cannon, Snowball and Hammer.
"Thank you for your advice...monster Roundhouse," Luke smiled and gave him a bow in spite of his exhaustion, "Now could you please...give me the location...of the bathroom?"
"Hm?" Roundhouse crossed his arms and noticed his blackened fur, "Go to the smaller door upstairs."
After washing away the soot and his fatigue, Luke was now refreshed. After bidding Roundhouse goodbye and being asked to come to his cabin tomorrow, he made his peaceful way home. The streets were now more evenly populated as most Pokemon were either staying in their dwellings or out hunting. On the flipside, the hubbub surrounding the Ultra Brawl refused to die.
Right then, he found a perfect opportunity to speak to Hammer with aura telepathy. As he kept walking, Luke pressed two of his fingers on his forehead and focused.
"Hello, Hammer?" he thought as his finger pushed against his fur.
"Hey, Luke! Where've you been all day?" Hammer's voice echoed in his mind, causing him to smile.
"When I was on the way to the gym, a noisy Hitmonlee challenged me to a battle. I lost that battle by only a small margin. However, he dragged me to his house and subjected me to a ridiculously hard training regimen!"
"What was it?"
"Your mind will be blown. I had to run up Mount screaming Steel with bombs attached to my body before they explode! And they exploded every, single, time! I only came close to succeeding once. And at that moment, my last bomb blew up just before I reached the finish line!"
"What's wrong with that, mon? This morning, I carried a giant boulder on my back across some 1000 paces! A trip to a gym would keep you fit and improve your physique, but higher-tier training in the wilderness allows you to apply your skill to real-time situations, study the effects of the environment on your moves, and learn self-defense against hazards, among other things. It's also much more flexible than gym training."
"What?" Luke's jaw dropped, "If you subject yourself to regimens like these, then why are you running a gym in the first place?"
"Aww, mon!" Hammer chuckled, "Higher-tier training costs a heck of a lotta poken, 'cause you've gotta go outta town in the first place! A gym is cheaper to run 'cause it's close by, and some mons prefer to train near home, whether due to time constraints, convenience or bad weather. Even I can't go to places like Grand Canyon since I've this gym to put up with."
"Oh, thanks, Hammer. I thought it was just the Hitmonlee's quirk...Let's end the conversation for now."
"Well then. See you next time, Luke."
By the time Luke released his paw, the vertical door leading to Hotshot Cavern was right in front of his feet. Luke opened the door and descended the stairs.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Luke yelped, his feelers jumping and his pupils shrinking, once he got off the stairs.
He was treated to the sight of Shade's fur stuffed with hundreds and hundreds of herbs and flowers, complete with a bundle of orchids in her mouth. It was jarring to see a carnivore like her decked out in vegetation.
"Shade, when did you become a Grass-type?" Luke walked to her and rose her chin.
"...Cannon did this," she replied as the bundle fell to the floor. A Rock Foundation commercial was blaring on the television.
Just then, Cannon came zipping out of the kitchen in an Extreme Speed and crashed on the floor.
"Hey, Cannon!" Luke said, "You forgot something? And why did you doll Shade up in flowers?"
"Uhh, it's something Snowball calls 'aromatherapy'!" Cannon mumbled. "Right? Right?"
After the bakery closed for the night, Luke narrated the crazy training he was fed with to Cannon, Shade and Snowball during dinner, and lamented about his inability to spend more time with them. Snowball consoled him, saying that he was already devoted enough to his cause, even if said devotion only resulted in explosions to the face. Luke appreciated the Hotshots' support, admiring how they never took him for granted. Before they went to bed, Luke hoped that Roundhouse would be generous enough to give an easier regimen, let alone allow him to go to Hammer's gym, to make up for his abysmal performance in today's regimen.
The very next morning, Luke found himself in Magma Cavern, panting and crawling across a cliff surrounded by rivers of molten rock, entangled in a regimen 'to develop resistance to Fire and Ground-type moves'. The heat radiating from the lava was strangling his body. He couldn't even lean on the piping hot rocks which made up the insides of the cavern, as they were bleeding with veins of magma. He inhaled enough smoke to fill around a dozen gas cylinders, wishing that Pokemon were immune to gases like sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and other nasty fumes. If Mount Steel was the frying pan, Magma Cavern was the fire. And Luke was realistic about being thrown into the metaphorical sun. He fell to his knees and wailed at the stalactites above.
"ARCEUS HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
Author's Notes:
This chapter is inspired by my own experiences in college. I struggled to grasp the new concepts and was often reluctant to study. My fear of failing in the exams inadvertently sucked attention out of my academics. So I aimed to convey the difficulties of new beginnings through Luke's ordeal.
On another note, I've been thinking about rewriting the earlier chapters since they feel less polished than my latest ones. I also wanted to make this chapter a little longer, but time constraints limited me.
Anyway, feel free to leave some reviews if you like, but please be polite and constructive. The first review I received in two months...turned out to be some crass nonsense from an anonymous troll, which I deleted upon sight. Imagine if that happened to you!
TurboBolt99