It was two whole days after Lucario s encounter with Tanner and his gang. Lucario had also lost his match that Mark Toney had planned, much to Mark s shame. Lucario s opponent was a female fighter whose alias was simply Polly . He was rather embarrassed about his defeat; Polly had won by way of submit.
Colin was overseeing Lucario s training session with a look of amusement in his eyes. Colin was smiling; however, his gnarly teeth weren t being shown. The two of them had taken up to visiting the training room in the evening. To Lucario s surprise, this room had far fewer people once the daylight hours were slim.
Lucario was panting heavily, nearly exhausted from about two hours of vigorous training. He had already been through two different punching bags; one of the bags was stuffed with more material than the other. As a feeble joke, Colin found two old champion posters depicting Floyd Tanner s mugshot, when he was champion, and scotch-taped them onto the bag so that Lucario would concentrate harder . What made it worse was the fact that Colin himself was literally commenting on Lucario s every move.
Lucario gave a straight punch to the picture s face, hearing a loud thud of impact. ( You want to do that to the real Tanner, don t you? )
Two jabs were swung at the picture. ( He ll be feeling that in the morning! )
Although it seemed like Colin was just trying to make him feel better, Lucario was almost sick of hearing the man s input.
Bust his teeth out! Colin yelled after a strong roundhouse that Lucario dished out to the picture.
Shut up, Colin! shouted Lucario, stopping and staring at the man.
Colin blinked several times quickly, possibly unsure of what he just heard. His fists became clenched, looking as if he would like nothing more in the universe right now than to strike Lucario hard. Lucario glanced down at the fists, but as soon as he did
I get too carried away Colin whispered, and unclenched his fists. Lucario could tell they had been tightly balled; his entire hands had turned very white. I ll let you finish in peace.
Colin crossed his arms and stood back, allowing Lucario to continue on.
Half an hour later, Lucario had bid his farewell to Colin with an apology for snapping on him. It was already dusk, and the jackal was making his usual route down a seemingly deserted hallway, that is, until a familiar looking, bald headed male exited from a door that read Laundry .
It was Eli, the peevish, hot headed bartender. Lucario held back, ducking behind a nearby soda machine, peering out ever so carefully.
Eli was carrying a bundle of multicolored clothing items as he stared around for a few moments, apparently keeping an eye. The man wasn t wearing his suit jacket; he donned a black button-up shirt with a red tie to accompany it. Lucario was beginning to feel slightly anxious with wonder.
The bartender shut the laundry door and held up something to his face in one hand that made Lucario s eyes widen. Panties.
Lucario knew exactly what was going on here. Eli was obviously a pervert. The bartender must have had a small mountain of used panties in his other arm. Lucario raised himself up, and felt his shoulder collide with a picture frame, making a popping, scraping noise against the wall.
Who s there?! Eli boomed loudly, with a hint of his usual anger. Lucario didn t know what to do.
I m warning you, buddy! You better show yourself now! You don t wanna get on my bad side
Eli ranted while Lucario stood there with his heart hammering, hearing the man s voice draw nearer and nearer to the machine he was hiding behind. Eli was walking slowly, judging from the slight gradual increase of his every word.
I hope it s you, Colin! Give you a good reason to get your ass handed t
Eli stopped talking. Lucario held his breath; his heart was racing, pounding against his ribs as if it were a prisoner in a cell. Eli s heavy, slow footsteps had reached the vending machine, Lucario crouched in shadow. The jackal could see that Eli was again red and sweaty, carrying his small hill of used undergarments in his right arm.
Eli reached into his pocket with his left hand and stuck his tongue out, before pulling out a one dollar bill. Lucario was surprised that he couldn t be seen out of Eli s peripheral vision, until it occurred to him that the mound of underwear may be blocking him from sight at the moment.
The bartender put the dollar into the vending machine, narrowed his eyes, and pressed the top button. There was a pause, and a second later a loud THUNK indicated that the drink had been dispensed. The bartender reached into the vending machine and pulled out a bottle of water. He unscrewed it with his teeth, spit the cap out of his mouth, and drained it in a few moments.
Eli exhaled. Tonight s not my night! Idiots causing a ruckus People spying on me The bartender, to Lucario s horror, turned himself to the right and stopped dead in his tracks, looking straight into Lucario s eyes. It was completely silent for a whole second or so, Eli coming to a realization.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU RE DOING?!
In an instant, Lucario hopped up with incredible speed and leg-sweeped Eli, causing the bartender to fall heavily onto his back, getting himself covered in women s panties. This had indeed given Lucario a head start, but the enraged man seemed to collect his treasured underwear quickly, as he began chasing Lucario himself.
GET BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE RUNT! bellowed Eli, running as fast as his little legs could take him.
Lucario made a sudden detour around a corner, into another hallway; he found that there was a solid wall at the other end, causing him to abruptly come to a halt. Eli was going to murder him on the spot.
I ve got you now!
Charging like a bull, entire body bent forward, Eli was ready to tackle Lucario into the wall and crush him against it, undoubtedly. Lucario looked onward; he stepped onto the left side of the hall, Eli changing his route quickly.
It was as if karma was after Eli; a door opened on his side of the hall, and without much time to plan a sudden collision into a very strong, metal object, sent him to the floor where he moved no more; Eli s unconscious leg stuck out from behind the door as far as Lucario saw.
Out of the doorway waddled a tall, obese man with a chestnut colored moustache and ruffled hair. He peered around the door, saw Eli s unconscious form, and scoffed. Lucario had not seen this man on the premises before, but he could care less at the moment.
Excuse me The large man s voice was rather high pitched as he caught sight of Lucario.
Yeah? Lucario said nonchalantly, wondering if the man was going to question Eli lying on the floor, covered in panties.
Lucario watched as the beefy man took his time ambling to where he stood. As the mustachioed fellow came in close, Lucario noticed that he held a very noticeable scar running across his forehead.
Harold McMullan. Inspector. I m going to be rating this place over the next few days. This rating is based on a scale of 5 stars. The large man said pompously. And who might you be? he added, showing his teeth, which were the exact opposite of Colin s; Harold s teeth were the whitest Lucario had ever seen on a human being.
Lucario looked up into Harold s pudgy face. Lucario.
Luke Carrio?
Lucario shook his head.
Lou Carry O? Harold prompted.
The jackal shrugged. Close enough.
Well, Lou, Harold put his hands on his waist, twitching his moustache. Could you tell me where Mark Toney is, currently?
Lucario shook his head curtly. I haven t seen him.
Figures! Harold shouted, making Lucario jump. What about Francine Sprague?
Lucario, again, shook his head. No
Well, Harold said, obviously pouting over this. You d think they d greet me if I showed up to their little
If it isn t the traveling quack, Harold McMullan! A familiar voice shouted.
Colin was rushing up to greet them, looking at Lucario prominently, grinning, ugly teeth blaring.
Did you do that to Elijah? Can t say he didn t have it coming, eh?
Harold McMullan looked flabbergasted at being insulted by a man who was, in a manner of speaking, smaller than he was.
Excuse me, Harold growled sourly, tapping on Colin s shoulder. Would you be able to show me where Mark Toney is?
Of course, of course! Colin cried, clapping a shoulder on Harold s back, to which the large man promptly knocked Colin s hand off.
If you could escort me Harold started, but Colin butted in.
Lucario, why don t you come with us, eh?
Lucario nodded, following the two of them, Harold looking positively disgusted.
A few minutes later, the three of them were traveling to Mark s office down the strips of hallway. Colin, of course, ran his mouth the whole trip.
You re here to judge, right? You won t find much wrong here
Inspecting. Harold corrected coldly.
Of course, of course! Colin said yet again, raising his eyebrows as he talked.
As the trio approached Mark s office door, a glass paned wooden frame that had Mark s full name engraved into it, they could hear loud speech. Lucario put his ear up to the door, listening.
Beatrice Be reasonable. Don t cry
Lucario had backed away from the door just in time; a woman with stringy hair had burst through, sobbing thickly. She disappeared down the hall a moment later.
Hello, Mark sighed, catching sight of the three of them outside his office. Get on in here, then.
The three of them obliged, and Colin snapped the door shut.
So you re Harold McMullan! Pleased to meet you! Mark Toney
Lucario had tuned out of their conversation, catching sight of Colin, and then remembering Elijah and the panty raid.
Mark, Lucario said at an interval when the two men had stopped talking, ready to explain the events that had happened earlier.
Mark shook his head and waved Lucario on.
Maybe it was a good thing that he hadn t said anything, Lucario thought as he walked away. Nobody liked a snitch, after all.
Colin didn t stop Lucario from exiting, possibly having something to say to Mark himself, waiting patiently. Lucario could care less.
It was a drowsy walk back to his little sleeping room, and Lucario opened his door and sat on his bed. He caught sight of the photograph on the floor of him as a young Riolu, standing with his Lucario parents, making his eyes water as he lay down, resting at last.