Authors Note:
Thank you all for the comments. I enjoyed reading them. I hope regardless of the errors I am sure I will make you will enjoy the story. Let me know If I should make the chapters longer or not. I have a idea of what content I want in certain chapters but I can definitely make them long if that is something people want. Thank you so much for read. Here is the next chapter.
-Blackmon220

Chapter -1-
The Mystery Man

Her body moved without a second thought. Echo felt the world slow as she jumped in front of the Riolu, shielding it from the oncoming flame. It got really hot. It felt as though her body was being stabbed by thousands of hot needles. The pain came fast and was excruciating. She wanted it to stop but she couldn't move. The pain held her in place. Then, as fast as the heat came, it seemed to subside. Although there was still a ton of pain on her left shoulder, it was manageable.

"WHAT?!"

"Huh. . ."

The odd people were astonished by Echo's action. After a moment they collected themselves.

"I don't know where you came from little boy, but you're getting in the way of Team Galactic. You won't like the consequences of interfering with us!", the male Galactic Grunt stated. He had a large grin across his scruffy face that made Echo nervous. The man ordered his Pokemon to attack. "Stunky, move her outta our way with Iron Tail!"

The skunk Pokemon ran towards Echo, it's tail starting to turn a shiny, silver color. Echo prepared to take the hit on the side while also turning to grab the injured Riolu. She pulled the Pokemon to her chest while putting her back to the Stunky. The force that hit her felt more like a car than a tiny skunk. Echo was thrown to the rock she originally hid behind. The pain of her left rib cage was killing her. It was painful to even breath. Looking down she saw the Riolu was limp. It was holding on to some kind of blue shard in its paw. Echo quickly grabbed it and tucked it into her pocket before looking up. Much to her demise the Stunky was charging up another Flamethrower.

"Charizard use Protect."

Echo's view of Stunky became obscured by a massive orange creature. A second later flames shot to both sides of her. Like a rock splitting a river's current, the orange dragon split the fire. Echo was amazed. This was a fire type Pokemon. She had heard of them but there were none on Iron Island. Where did it come from? Whose voice was that?

"Gust", the voice said curtly.

The fire types wings started to flap so hard gravel and sand where picked up and thrown at the Stunky and Team Galactic members. It created a vacuum of air from behind that made Echo want to move, but she figured it wise to stay still. She heard curses coming from her attackers.

"Damn it, how'd he get here?!"

"We gotta get out of here, NOW!"

Echo thought she heard the people running away but she couldn't be sure. Her attention was on something else. The Riolu had stopped breathing. Echo start to breath heavily. She wasn't a trainer. She didn't have anything to help the poor creature. She looked at the Riolu, covered in blood and dust, barely any blue on him. She realized someone was next to her. Looking up she saw a man. He was wearing a large cloak so you could not see his body. He wore a hat with a large brim that covered his face.

"Your a trainer, right?", Echo asked with a gasp. Pain spiked in her ribs when she talked. "Please, you have to help him. He's really hurt and I don't know what to do."

The mystery man's hand reached out of the cloak with a bottle. He handed it to Echo.

"Spray him, girl", He said with a deep voice. Then he returned his Pokemon and walked away in the direction of the Galactic Grunts.

Echo wasted no time. She took the spray bottle and sprayed it onto the injured Pokemon. The spray must have worked because the Riolu started to breath again. With a closer examination, Echo could see some of the Riolu's wounds start to close. Whatever the bottle was, it sure did the trick.

"Huh. .", Echo exhaled deeply when she realized she was holding her breath. She winced afterward, pain reminded her of her recently injured ribs.

Echo looked around. She was alone. No one could be seen and the cave was quiet. Echo needed to get to the mouth of the cave to hopefully get some help. And her paycheck. She shifted the Riolu to her right arm to keep weight off her left shoulder. Echo started back up the lift system. It was slow going but she finally made it to the final lift. While waiting to go up she looked at the Pokemon in her arms. He was still unconscious. Blood and dust still covered him but he seemed to be almost fully healed. The lift stopped and Echo made her way out of the cave and into the light.

There was only three buildings at the mines. One was the command building. All the big-wigs in charge sat there and drank beer while everyone else worked. The other building was the packaging building. They didn't process the iron that is mined here. It went somewhere else. Echo never cared enough to ask where. The final building was the one she headed to. That was the small medical shack. She need to see the medic.

"Hey JC?", Echo called as she opened the door. JC was the medical worker at the mine. He was about 22. Echo thought he was funny. He was always nice when she visited.

"Echo! What's crackin?", JC said as he turned. "Didn't get hit in the head again, di- Oh nards! What happened to you?"

He rushed over and tried to take the Riolu from Echo. Echo held up a hand and set the Riolu down on the chair next to the door. JC guided her to the exam table.

"There was some people in the mines that called themselves Team Galactic who attacked this Riolu. I stepped in", Echo explained as she sat down.

". . . You interfered with Team Galactic?" JC asked quietly as he prepped a cleaning agent. He want to clean the burn he could see first then do a full body assessment. "I've heard they hunt down people who interfere with them. . ."

JC trailed off. He was to focused on cleaning the wound. Echo hissed every so often as the cotton swab hit sensitive points of the burn. Echo looked over at Riolu thinking about JC's last comment.

"Well, that's gonna be a problem", Echo stated blankly.

"Ya kiddo, you got a serious problem. From what I've heard Team Galactic ain't nobody to fool with. Heard stories of people disappearing all mysterious like after getting involved with them."

Echo was about to talk when Riolu moved. Both people watched as Riolu moved off the chair weakly and looked around. His body went stiff when he noticed the two. A feeling of danger washed over Echo. She didn't understand why. Her body just shivered. The Riolu took what looked like a battle stance.

"Hey there little guy", Echo said. She got off the table with a small wince and went to her knees. She didn't want to scare the Pokemon into attacking. It still looked worn out. "C'mere and we can see about healing you up some more huh?"

Riolu seemed to relax. He seemed to recognize Echo from the cave. Riolu's eyes went wide and he started to look around the chair he was previously on with desperation.

"What's the thing doin over there", JC asked.

"It looks like he's-", Echo stopped before answering. She quickly reached into her pocket and pulled out the small blue stone. It made her feel weird when she held it. She felt despair. She looked at it briefly before getting Riolu's attention. "Hey!"

Riolu turned to look at her with sad eyes. They immediately lighted up when they notice the blue stone she held out to him. Rushing over he grabbed it, taking a moment to examine the stone. Echo looked up at JC who looked smiled. He started to wrap her shoulder in a large bandage. When he finished, JC turned away and walked over to a cabinet. He started rooting around in search of something. Echo felt something grab her leg. Looking down she saw Riolu was giving her a hug. Echo smiled.

"Is he ok?", JC asked as he walked back with a bottle.

"I think so. Just tired. What's in the bottle?"

"These are steroids that will help you heal. They will also relieve the pain in your ribs. Take two a day.", he explained. "You should probably leave the island in the next few days. Those Galactic people will want some revenge and I don't think you'll want to receive that dish."

"Ya. . . Thanks JC. I appreciate the help"

"Anytime kiddo, anytime"

Echo took the bottle and threw it in her pant pocket. She looked down at the Riolu who was busy looking at the stone.

"Hey Riolu, wanna head home with me?"

The Riolu nodded. It seemed to understand Echo well enough. She left the hut with Riolu in tow. He looked around curiously as Echo led them out of the mine complex and to the path to her house. It felt like a longer walk then usual to Echo. That was probably because she was really tired. The walk to her home was almost a mile. As she trudged up to her small house she fumbled for the key in her pocket. It was a very small house. More like a shed really. Only one huge room that was her bedroom, kitchen and dining room. Echo's bed was in one corner. She had a small kitchenette in another corner. There was a small bathroom off to the side.

Echo slumped down on a chair once inside. She motion for Riolu to take a seat. He probably didn't understand but he sat anyhow, visibly exhausted. Echo started to take off her mining gear. It was a slow process but she finally got out and into sweatpants and a old t-shirt. It was a good thing she was on those pills since the motions of undressing and dressing caused sharp pains under her bandaged shoulder and hurt ribs. Looking over at Riolu she notice he had fallen asleep against the wall. Echo smiled. He looked cute when he slept, even with being covered in dirt and blood. She picked Riolu up gently and laid him down on her bed before crawling in after. Echo was so tired the grime left on the two didn't bother her. She barely closed her eyes when sleep swept her away.