I'm practicing my writing skills by making some short stories. I watched a few videos by Brookes Eggleston on youtube, and he made a lot of good points in lots of them. I decided to start small, or small enough, to figure some things out before I get into the ham and cheese of writing a story.

'HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH-'

'Get over here, Jake, you little shit!'

I leapt forward, narrowly dodging the bone staff he threw at me. I scrambled back up, only to see he was right behind me by the time I went back to running. To throw him off, I used Double Team, the many clones moving in and out of my way. Then I used Substitute three times, gave the dolls to some clones, and made them all run different directions. With the substitutes, Orion had no choice but to pick one of the aura signatures and chase after it. He chose wrong, and bashed one of my dummies, moving to the next dud.

Boy, was Orion pissed. And I mean pissed-pissed. If he had his mega stone on him, he'd absolutely use it, just to get to me. Oh, without a doubt, I deserve what'll eventually come my way, but why was he this angry?

Eh... nevermind, I know.

Today, our trainer and his friends went camping. I personally thought this was pointless, since we went camping every day anyways, but they were insistent on visiting Lake Valor for some ungodly reason. Some big festival or something, I don't know.

Just earlier, they decided it was a good idea for their teams to practice with each other. For the most part, they were right. I even got a few fighting tips from Crest, but the gallade got distracted by some wild pokémon watching. He eventually told me to take a break, and went to chat with them. That was half an hour ago, and even more wilds appeared to talk with him. I swear, that guy has been in so many places, he may as well be a celebrity to wilds.

Then I was left to my own devices, and saw Orion and Talia sparring. I went to watch them, then I noticed the lucario pulled some punches... then the blaziken did the same. Putting two and two together, I concluded they had the hots for each other. I know it was a bit of a leap, but based on past encounters, along with this overwhelming rage Orion's got brewing, this little clue was the biggest piece to the puzzle in my head.

I couldn't help myself after realizing it. They were so easy to tease, so so easy. I made all sorts of jokes, Orion even started flinching in the middle of battles, adding to the frustration I sensed from him. My last stunt was what drove him over the edge.

I took the liberty of yanking our trainer's pokétech and pulled up a video of a guy shooting some guns at a shooting range. As they took a break, I showed it to Orion and Talia. Initially confused, they looked to me and asked why I showed it. That was when I pointed finger-guns at them, then shouted 'Bang-Bang!' and immediately ran off.

Man, I was scared to death, but at the same time rode the high of how hilarious that all was, even now I was laughing at the sex joke. The looks on their faces were totally worth it, too. Talia blushed mad, as did Orion, who from then on chased me.

Maybe my next victims will be our trainers...

While I plotted and ran through the woods, I snuck a look at the lucario trying to chase after me. I was outclassed in almost every way, but I wasn't gonna give up! I'm as good as dead if he catches me now! But ever since I hatched, I plotted so many work-arounds to my shortcomings. Or rather, his superiorities. It started as my way to spite man or 'mon I didn't like, but it ended up becoming a part of my daily life with how many times I do it.

When it came to Orion's speed, I could use Quick Attack, but he would use Extreme Speed, which is why I said what I said in the woods here. He can't twist and turn as great as I could, so he had no choice but to chase me casually. He'd occasionally rip off tree branches or grab rocks to throw at me with insane strength, even using the bone staff as a spear like earlier, but I can always dodge. A big problem was his unavoidable Aura Sphere... was. These days, I just use Dig; the ball of energy hitting nothing but grass and dirt as I popped back up elsewhere.

Now the biggest problem wasn't a move, but stamina. I know I'm supposed to be the 'mon that can run in circles for an entire night, but I'm not that friggin' energetic. Those pokédex entries are a flat out lie! That, or I'm just lazy... nah. The dex is wrong.

Thankfully, I had yet another work-around to this shortcoming.

Ha! Bet he never expected this!

Now, I know hiding is sort of pointless against aura-reading lucario; with a very select few being exceptions. But here's the thing; I'm part of that group. Being a riolu, I had a vague idea of what he was sensing. All I had to do was focus, and I can match my aura with something around me, like a tree.

That's exactly what I was doing at the moment. After getting some distance, I jumped high in the air and hid in the leaves of a particularly, uh... leavy? Yeah, leavy tree. All I had to do was stay still, and I'll just look like another branch to his aura-sensing skills.

And wouldn't you know it, my trick worked! Orion frantically looked in bushes and around trees, popping in and out of my sight over and over again. He looks shocked, and even began checking spots he already glanced at. The goofiest grin was plastered over my face, damn near bursting into a laughing fit at this point.

Thankfully, slow-as-hell-Tal came rushing to the scene before I gave myself away. Orion glanced her direction, looked away, then shot his eyes back at her when he realized it was her.

'T-Talia,' He stammered out. 'What are you doing here?'

'You and Jake decided to run off, so Liz told me to fetch you two.'

'Oh. Well, I lost Jake. Maybe you can help me look for him?'

'Lost him? Weird... ah well. Sounds good to me.'

Yes! I wanted to pump my fist at my little accomplishment, but I obviously couldn't do that. Instead, I kept watch as the two searched together.

Well, only the lucario continued searching. Talia's father must have had keen eyes or something, cause she spotted me in a flash. Instead of ratting me out, she rolled her eyes and gave me a thumbs up. Then, she mouthed "keep quiet."

Hell yeah I will. You asked for this, and I've been dying to see you two break the damn ice. Better hurry up, too. Orion can only stare at the same tree for so long.

The bird went to search through a random bush as she cleared her throat. 'So, about that fight...'

'Yeah, sorry about that,' He immediately answered. 'Jake usually behaves well enough. I don't know what has him so riled up today.'

'No, I meant the battle itself.'

'Hm?'

'I have to admit, I wasn't expecting you to throw the staff like a spear, or actually use Dig. I was honestly impressed.'

Orion looked dumbfounded at the complement, and I could sense he felt embarrassed. 'Oh, well, that was nothing. It was just something I picked up.'

'From who?'

'Mm... Jake. As much as I hate to admit it, he's smart. If you need any proof, he found a way to hide from my aura sense.'

Ha, I'm smart. Totally not gonna let this get to my head.

'So that's how you lost him?'

'Among other things.'

Ah, that was music to my ears. Their conversation turned to the lucario telling Talia of some times I out-smarted different pokémon. That's right, I'm awesome. Too cool for school and all that. Well, I don't go to school, being a 'mon myself, but you get the gist.

'...There you are!'

What?

I screamed as Orion leapt right at me. I tried to jump myself, away from him, but he already caught my leg, pulling me down to the ground. 'Not this time! '

'How?! HOW?!'

'Thank your stupid ego!'

Oh shit, I really did get a bit carried away. I must have lost focus on my aura, and he sensed my giant balloon of confidence. I held onto the nearest branches in vain, pulling those out as Orion pulled harder.

Now I was hanging upside-down by a leg, right in front of the angry lucario. Boy, that stare was scary. 'What were you thinking!' he yelled as he shook me.

I smacked his arm with the branches I still held onto, but that did nothing to the the fighting-steel type, who continued to flail me around. 'A joke! I swear, I didn't mean it!'

'You think that makes it any better?!'

We both sensed Talia finding amusement at the scene, but thought nothing of it. 'I'm sorry!'

'Sorry does no justice! I'm taking you to Alex!'

'Ah, wait, no!'

Alex was our trainer. Not like that detail mattered, though. There's no doubt I'm gonna get grounded for this, especially if Orion eggs him into it. But being in my pokéball all day was boring! I tried swatting him with sticks again, but he wouldn't budge to my pleas or attacks.

Before he started marching me back to camp, I glanced back at Talia. Once again, the blaziken held a thumbs up at me, this time mouthing "Thanks."

Ah well, mission accomplished. At least they aren't complete strangers anymore.