Calling from Beyond the Aura
Alec's POV
On route to Pomace Mountain, Alec, along with Ethan and Arco, were watching a battle between Korrina and Ash and were closely watching Lucario to see his actions. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded and Lucario dodged the attack. Lucario then went in with Bone Rush and Pikachu dodged before counter striking with Iron Tail. Lucario used Power-Up Punch to counter, but he again did it without command, which Korrina notices.
"Okay, that's enough training for now. Clemont says lunch is ready, it's time to eat," Bonnie calls out and the three head over to the table Clemont set up.
"Hey Korrina, you've been with Lucario since you were very little weren't you?" Ash asked.
"That's right, but back then it was still a Riolu," Korrina answered.
"So what kind of training have you done so far?" Ash asked.
"Well, you know, the Shalour Gym is a fighting type gym, so trainers and Pokémon alike work hard so we can be really strong. I've battled my grandfather's Lucario lots of times," Korrina explains.
"Wow, that sounds like really good training for you," Clemont says.
"Yeah, I guess. Grandfather has also introduced me to multiple trainers in the past and some, like Alec, have had Pokémon that can Mega Evolve," Korrina says.
"Woah, what Pokémon did you Mega Evolve Alec?" Ash asked.
"It was probably his own Lucario," Serena guessed.
"No way, it had to be Ampharos," Bonnie countered.
"You're both wrong. It was my Charizard," Alec tells them.
"So Charizard is able to mega evolve?!" Ash asked excitedly.
"Yeah. I remember when you beat grandfather. That battle was amazing," Korrina remarked. The group then finished lunch and Alec lead them to a cave system.
"We'll have to go through this to get to Pomace Mountain quickly," Alec tells them.
"Sounds good. Let's go!" Korrina says as she enters the cave. As they head down they find a fork in the path.
"Which way now Alec?" Ash asks.
"This way," Alec tells them and leads them down the right tunnel. As they continued down the tunnel, they were surprised when a Noibat swarm came from behind them and started messing with the group. In the confusion, they got split up. Alec looked around to see Ash, Serena, Arco and Korrina's Lucario.
"Where's Pikachu?" Ash asked.
"And where's Bonnie, Clemont, and Korrina?" Serena wondered.
"Ethan's gone too," Alec told them.
Ethan's POV
Ethan ran out of the cave and looked around for Alec but only saw Pikachu, Clemont, Bonnie, and Korrina. [Where's Ash?] Pikachu asked.
[Alec! Are you out there?] Ethan called out.
"Where's Lucario?" Korrina asked.
"Ash and Serena are gone too," Clemont said.
"So's Alec," Bonnie said.
"We should look for them," Korrina said and the group went back in. After being unable to find the rest of their group they headed back outside and prepared to settle down for the night.
"You're worried about Alec, aren't you Ethan?" Bonnie asked. She tried to pet Ethan, but he saw this and jumped back.
[Please, leave me alone,] Ethan said, knowing that Bonnie couldn't understand him and jumped up onto a tall rock and watched the sunset.
Alec's POV
After an hour of pointless searching, the group got settled down for the night. "I think we'd better look for them in the morning," Serena tells them. They get some dinner, but it certainly wasn't Clemont's cooking. Alec and Serena noticed that Lucario wasn't eating. "Don't you want your Poké Puff?" Serena asked Lucario.
"Lucario's probably worried about Korrina. I know I'm worried out Ethan," Alec told them.
"Ethan's probably with the others," Serena tried to reassure him.
"That's what I'm worried about. You see, when I met Ethan he was being pursued by a hunter. Since then, Ethan has always been a little jittery around others. When I'm with him it's not as bad, but he won't let you touch him," Alec explained.
[Ethan can handle himself, and he's got capable trainers with him,] Arco told Alec.
"You're right Arco," Alec said then sighed.
"Hey Alec, I've been wondering something. Do all your Pokémon have their own names?" Serena asked.
"Yeah, every last one of them" Alec answered.
"Why though? I've never heard of Pokémon having their own names" Serena says.
"It's because of my father. He's extremely anti-Pokémon and doesn't approve of me being on a journey. But I stopped caring about what he thought ages ago. I guess I started doing it just to spite him but now I feel it makes members of my team more unique" Alec explained.
"I guess that makes sense," Serena said.
"Still, we'd better get some sleep. We're going to need it" Alec says. The group agrees and falls asleep.
Morning: Ethan's POV
Ethan awoke to see everyone getting ready to get moving. "Now, I think we should start looking for them," Clemont said.
"Okay," Korrina agreed. Ethan then heard a noise and saw a small box heading their way.
[Look out!] Ethan warned. His warning came a little late, as the box opened to send an electric net down; fortunately, the net missed.
"What was that?" Korrina asked. As if her words had summoned them, Team Rocket appeared and started to give off their motto.
"Team Rocket!" Clemont shouted
"Not you jokers again," Korrina remarked.
[These guys just don't give up, do they?] Ethan said.
[You have no idea,] Pikachu told him.
"Taking your keystone and Pikachu is no joke," Jessie said.
"And while we're at it we'll grab that Umbreon too," Meowth added.
"You're not taking anything!" Korrina shouted while covering her keystone.
"I'll make sure of that! Bunnelby I need your help!" Clemont shouted as he threw a Poké Ball, summoning the small rabbit. Team Rocket then released Inkay and Pumpkaboo, who were both wearing some kind of device and Meowth and Wobbuffet both put on devices as well.
"Witness our Mecha Evolution Power-Packed Amplifierama Mark II!" Jessie shouted.
"Using science to amplify a Pokémon's power is wrong!" Clemont told them.
"Wrong? Proof positive is my powered up Inkay it's way!" James command and Inkay fired a Psybeam at Bunnelby. Before the attack could hit, however, Ethan jumped in the way and took the attack, apparently receiving no damage.
[Sorry, but no matter how powerful the psychic attack is, it won't harm me,] Ethan said confidently.
"In that case, eat my Fury Swipes!" Meowth shouted and charged at Ethan, who countered the attack with Iron Tail. Ethan was then surprised when Meowth overpowered Ethan and landed multiple Fury Swipes on him and set him to the ground.
"Ethan!" Bonnie shouted. Pumpkaboo then fired a Dark Pulse at Bunnelby. Bunnelby jumped into the air to dodge, but the attack curved and slammed into him. Inkay then came in with a Tackle and hit Bunnelby while he was falling and the rabbit slammed into the ground with swirls in his eyes. Clement quickly returned Bunnelby as Team Rocket celebrated their easy win as Ethan tried to stand.
[Come on Alec, where are you? I could really use the help,] Ethan said. Clemont then threw out Chespin and had him use Tackle on Inkay, but Inkay dodged it and Meowth hit Chespin with Fury Swipes. Pumpkaboo then used Shadow Ball and Chespin hit the ground hard.
[Korrina, we need to help out,] Pikachu told her before turning to Ethan. [Can you keep going?]
[Yeah, just get ready. This is going to be tough,] Ethan answered him as he finally got up. Bonnie then came over to him.
"I'll fight with you, okay Ethan?" Bonnie asked. Ethan, reluctantly, nodded. Pikachu and Ethan then got ready to battle. " Ethan, use Dark Pulse!" Bonnie commanded.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Korrina commanded and the two aimed their attacks at Team Rocket, but Wobbuffet used Mirror Coat and sent the attack right back at them. It thankfully missed, but it was too close for Ethan's liking.
"With Amplifierama Mark II, our defenses are too much for you," James told them. Chespin then used Pin Missile, but Wobbuffet again countered the attack and it, again, missed. Pikachu then used Quick Attack and Inkay dodged it. Pikachu and Ethan then both went in with Iron Tail, but both attacks missed their marks.
"Okay, now Pikachu!" Korrina shouted.
[Now what?] Pikachu questioned as Pumpkaboo fired at Pikachu with Shadow Ball.
"Ethan, use Night Shade on that Shadow Ball!" Bonnie shouted and Ethan launched the attack that destroyed the Shadow Ball. Pumpkaboo then fired Dark Pulse and it hit both Chespin and Pikachu. Meowth then jumped in hit Ethan with another batch of Fury Swipes before jumping to Korrina. He was then stopped by Korrina's Lucario, who used Bone Rush to block the attack. Ethan then turned to see Ash, Serena, Alec, and Arco run up.
[Alec!] Ethan shouted and ran to him.
"Good to know you're okay," Alec said as he put Ethan in his arms.
"Their Pokémon have some weird power-up device," Clemont explained.
"Alright. Thanks, Clement. Pikachu, use Electro Ball and aim for that machine!" Ash commanded, but Wobbuffet deflected the attack.
"Ethan, Psychic on the attack!" Alec shouted. Ethan sent the defected Electro Ball back at Team Rocket but Meowth cut it with Fury Swipes.
"We can't get near them. All our moves get deflected back at us," Clemont explained.
"So what do we do?" Ash asked.
[Korrina, we need to use it,] Lucario told his trainer, pointing at his mega stone.
[He's right, it may be the only way to break threw their attacks,] Ethan told Alec.
"Now? Mega Evolve? I'm not sure," Korrina told Lucario.
"He's right. We have to use it," Alec told Korrina.
"You're right," Korrina said. The two then turned their Lucario's and touched their keystones.
"Mega Evolve!" they both shouted. With their transformations done, the two Mega Lucario stood at the ready. Korrina's Lucario then goes for Bone Rush while Arco goes for Ice Punch: both attacks hit their targets. Korrina's Lucario then lost control and started to attack the group. He was about to hit Alec and Ethan when Arco ran in front of them and fired a close-range Aura Sphere that sent Lucario flying straight into Korrina.
"Stop it Lucario!" Korrina shouts. Lucario then turns to her and tries to strike her with Bone Rush, but it stopped just moments before striking her. Lucario just stood in place like he was frozen in time. Lucario then suddenly moved away from Korrina and Ethan could sense he was back to normal. "Lucario, Bone Rush!" Korrina commanded and Lucario slammed the attack into Inkay and Pumpkaboo, destroying the devices.
"Arco, finish this with Flash Cannon!" Alec called out. Arco fired right into Team Rocket sending them into a blastoff.
"Lucario, I'm so glad you heard my voice," Korrina tells him when Lucario then suddenly collapses and returns to its normal form. Arco then reverts back as well. "Lucario, you okay?" Korrina asked.
[I'm fine, just tired,] Lucario responded.
"You still have a ways to go, but you're on the right track," Alec tells them and Ethan and Arco nod in agreement.
[Still, I wonder what it will take to get Lucario to master this power,] Arco says.
[I suppose all we can do is watch, and help whenever we can,] Ethan replies.