Pat: I'm in a rather chipper mood! So, we'll continue the story. Wow, four chapters in one day?

Most chapters I've ever written.

Disclaimer: I've given up on these pieces o' crap. You know I don't own it, and if you don't, look at chapter two's disclaimer, it has all you need to know.

Lucario, as per usual, woke up first, this time, from a rumbling stomach.

It occurred to him that he hadn't eaten at all the other day.

Then again, when did he eat much anyway?

Still…

Lucario searched his torso fur, soon finding the item of his search.

The chocolate bar.

Ah, good ol' caffeine.

Lucario quietly munched on the chocolate bar, savoring the sweet flavor.

Red, I completely forgive you for sure. He mumbled, feeling quite happy.

Oh crap.

Adrenaline rush.

Finishing he candy bar, Lucario stood up, stretching his back, which crackled a bit, then glanced out the window, doing a double take.

Snow?! Really?! Lucario shrieked, falling onto his bed again, groaning.

"Lucario? What…" Red asked, Lucario pointing at the window, not moving much else from his mattress.

Red blinked, eyes widening slightly at the sight of snow outside.

"Wow, the weather here is screwed up majorly!" Red exclaimed, walking up to the window. Before either could blink, he threw the windows open, surprised when powdery stuff fell from the windows, revealing a clear, sunny day. Red blinked.

"The heck?"

Looking outside, it was apparent they'd been pranked.

How do we know this?

A box of fake snow outside the windows could be one way…

Lucario groaned, yelling at himself for being so gullible.

"Err… Alright." Red said, really unable to find any other way to sum up what had happened.

A great start to a day, ne?

"Oh-em-geezus, Lu! Did you even eat yesterday?!" Red asked, glancing at the now-empty bowl that had had berries in it.

Lucario gulped, licking his chops. He shook his head, aura filters waving around a bit.

Nope. Other than the chocolate bar, I've eaten nothing for the past three days. I'm a pokemon of endurance, Red. Lucario replied, stretching. Red gawked, eyes bugging out.

"Three DAYS? Holy crap, Lu, you shouldn't stress your body like that! You could become even more ill-"

You don't need to be constantly watching over me, Red, I'm not an infant. Lucario interrupted, Red muttering a 'Huh?' in confusion.

I appreciate you watching out for me, Red, but just because you caught me- no, just because CHARIZARD caught me, you don't have to take care of me. It's nice that you do, but, I've been taking care of myself for many years. Don't worry about me. Lucario explained, eyes darkening, walking towards the door. Red tilted his head, eyes widening.

"But, I have to! You're already ill! If you don't take good care of yourself, then you'll get even worse, and you could even die from it!" Red exclaimed, Lucario stopping, glancing back at the trainer.

Perhaps that would be for the best. He said, exiting the room, leaving a confused Red behind.

"What… What could he mean by that?" Red wondered, confusion highly evident in his eyes.

Lucario sighed, looking up at the clear skies, a few fluffy clouds floating around.

'I'm already dead, technically. There's no reason for him, or anyone else to worry.' Lucario reasoned, laying down on the soft fields, looking up at the skies again, eyes watery.

'If I didn't somehow arrive here, then I'd still be with Master…' Lucario thought, eyes starting to droop a bit.

'I mean, it's nice being here and all, but, I still prefer Master over anyone else. It's simply because he was the first human I've ever met, and the only one who would risk his life for mine…'

Lucario slowly crawled towards the human child, eyes glinting. His stomach was empty, and had been for a few months, now, so perhaps this human had something on him that was edible.

A loud caw sounded through the air, making Lucario jump, the bushes rustling.

'That sounds too close for comfort.' Lucario thought, lying flat against the ground. The human looked around, and then shrugged; sitting back down on the tree trunk he had been sitting on before.

Lucario waited a moment, before crawling forward slowly, careful not to make any sounds.

All of a sudden, something hit him, hard, in the side, Lucario going flying, shrieking in pain. The human instantly stood up, looking towards where Lucario was. A small whimpering sounded, the young boy slowly walking towards the sound.

A gasp was heard, Lucario glancing up. The young boy was looking at him, shocked.

The impact of the bird's claws had left three long slashes in the aura pokemon's side, blood oozing down his torso.

Lucario whined once more in pain, before fainting, a dull yelling evident in the background.

--

Lucario stirred, a sharp pain shooting down his sides. He yelped, eyes snapping open in pain. A hand pushed him back down onto the bed he'd been on, Lucario stopping, glancing at the owner.

The boy from earlier was looking at him, concern in his eyes.

"Are you alright? A pokemon hit you really hard earlier, and when I found you, you were bleeding all over the place, and then you fainted. It really scared me." the human boy said, Lucario glancing at his side.

Three long scars lined his torso, the fur around it pinkish. Lucario started, wincing when a slight pain made itself evident. The human held him down, holding a hand near the wounds. It glowed with a powerful aura, the wounds not stinging so much anymore. Lucario glanced at the human in wonder.

"I'm Aaron. I think you'll be fine if you rest a bit. What's your name?" he asked, Lucario tilting his head.

I'm Lucario. He said, Aaron nodding.

"That pokemon… I think it was a Ho-Oh or something. It tried attacking me when I was trying to get you here. You're alright, right?" he asked, Lucario nodding.

'Ho-Oh? But, then, did he attack..?' Lucario thought, his sentence answered when he saw Aaron's hand.

A deep cut was clearly evident. It wasn't too bad, but still….

Thank you for saving me, Aaron. Can I do anything to pay you back? Lucario asked, Aaron shaking his head.

"Oh, no! Don't worry about it! As long as you're safe, that's all that matters!" Aaron said, Lucario absorbing this.

All that matters…?

'Master Aaron was so similar to Red, wasn't he…' Lucario thought, sitting up. The sky was now dark blue, stars becoming evident.

'I'd better go back now…' Lucario mused, rising. He felt guilty about snapping at Red earlier, now, but he'd fix that.

Red was still wondering what Lucario meant, when said jackal entered their room, Red nearly falling off the bed in surprise.

"Oh, Lucario! Hiya! Um, what did you mean when you said what you said earlier?" he asked, Lucario glancing at him.

…. Well… When I said that, I mean, it might've been for the best. I'm already technically dead, since I destroyed myself using aura to save a Tree of Beginning. Had it not been for the Hands, I would've stayed in stasis. Lucario said, Red actually falling off the bed.

"Wha? You were dead? Geez, no wonder you never complained much those first few days…" Red said, trailing off. Lucario nodded, sitting beside Red, leaning on the trainer's shoulder.

Yeah… I don't think I really felt anything those days… Being in stasis strips you of your senses, so mine were just returning. Lucario explained, Red nodding.

"Um… Sorry, if I've been too close to you the past few days, Lu, I just…" Red trailed off, unable to come up with anything. Lucario chuckled.

Don't worry. Looking back, you were a lot like my master. Kind, strong, brave…. You both share the same tributes. And… I'm comforted by that. Lucario said, snuggling against the trainer, who started.

I think I'll be just fine here. He finished, smiling. Red smiled back, petting Lucario's head softly.

"I hope so, too, Lu."

Pat: It's not over yet! Don't ya'll wanna know how that Pokeball got there in the first place? Tune in soon for the (possibly) final chapter!