The next morning, Hunter and Buizel walked through the streets of the town. Buizel was enjoying its time out of the Poké Ball, and walked on two legs beside its Trainer. Hunter was looking around trying to find a store. He nodded when he finally found one, then ordered Buizel to keep watch. After that, he went inside.
Lucario stood in an alley across the street from the store, absolutely still. Nobody noticed him. He could sense the human in the building, though he had quickly disappeared amongst the multitude of shelves. The Buizel was still there, looking around for anything that it might see as a threat to its trainer. Lucario closed his eyes. The boy's Aura was flaring, much like last night. It had grown slightly, however. He's growing stronger by the day, Lucario thought to himself. He sensed the boy coming out, opened his eyes, and retreated into the alley slightly, his eyes never leaving the trainer. As the boy and his Buizel left the store, heading east, Lucario noted their direction and jumped first onto a dumpster, then onto a balcony, and finally, a roof, following the human and Buizel as they walked through the streets. The boy was stuffing his purchases into his backpack.
When they reached the outskirts of the city, where houses were few and far between and pedestrian and vehicle traffic was virtually nonexistent, Lucario watched them from a tree, his red eyes never leaving the human. When they passed beneath his tree, Lucario jumped from it, landing right in front of the boy.
Hunter gave a start of surprise when Lucario dropped out of nowhere. Buizel gave a startled cry as well. After the shock wore off, Hunter glared at Lucario. "What do you want now?"
I was wondering if you'd considered my offer.
He nodded. "Yeah, I've considered it."
Lucario smiled. Good. Your answer?
"Still no. I like being just looked on as an average traveler."
The only thing that's not average about you is your Aura, and I'm the only one who can see that. You could still wander around the area. I wouldn't stop you.
"But you'd be watching me to see if I escaped."
You'd grow into it. Please. A week, see how you like it.
Hunter was silent for a long time. Buizel looked up at him, waiting. Lucario crossed his arms, his gaze still fixed on Hunter's face, which was turned towards the ground.
Finally, the human looked at him. "You've gotten me interested. A week, and if I don't like it, I leave, and you don't talk to me again."
Lucario nodded and gave a satisfied smirk. Deal.
They shook, and a short while afterward, were on their way to the mountain.
Lucario jumped from rock to rock, looking back at Hunter. Can't you climb any faster? The moon will be rising by the time we get there.
Hunter glared at him and shouted. "If you'd help me, we'd get there faster!"
Lucario rolled his eyes and reached a paw down to help Hunter up.
The human climbed onto the ridge. He looked up at the ridge another fifty feet from where they were. "Why do you have to live all the way up there?"
I like to be secluded. There's a cave up there that leads to my home. Relax.
"How can I relax? We're halfway up a mountain and I hitched a ride up here in a cable car!"
It only took you half an hour to climb this far.
"That's because I have climbing gear!"
Then there's nothing to worry about.
Hunter sighed and tossed a grappling hook up onto the cliff. He tested it, and then began to climb the rock wall. Lucario jumped on boulders that protruded from the wall, and was at the entrance to the cave a few minutes before Hunter was.
Hunter rolled up his climbing gear and waited for Lucario to enter. He did, and Hunter followed him.
He looked around as he walked. "Why are there so many crystals here?"
They can project Aura. If you decide to stay, if you need me or need to tell me something, you merely need to touch one and speak as you normally would. I will be able to communicate with you from another crystal.
Finally, the two came to the spring that Lucario lived in. Trees grew around a small pond that had various fish Pokémon swimming around it, such as Magikarp and Remoraid. There was a large, altar-like piece of white stone that stood a few feet away from the lake. It was wide enough for both Hunter and Lucario to sit on it with their legs crossed, and long enough for either of them to lie down on it.
Hunter looked around, impressed. "This is a very nice place, Lucario."
Thank you. It took me a while to find a place isolated enough. It's completely isolated except for the odd mountain climber, and even they don't come in this far.
They stopped in front of a small cave. Inside there was a pallet of leaves, which Hunter gathered was Lucario's bed. The floor was bare of rocks, and Hunter rolled out his sleeping bag and set the lantern up. Lucario watched him, sitting, with his arms around his knees, on his bed. When Hunter was done, Lucario looked out at the sun that was disappearing out of sight. Then, Lucario walked outside and sat down, cross legged, on the slab of stone. He closed his eyes, but his bundles didn't fan out. Hunter took out his sketch pad and began to draw. Lucario, sitting stock still, made the perfect picture model. Hunter took out Buizel's Poké Ball and released Buizel from it. He then looked around, and shrugged. Nothing else to do. Guess I'll eat.
He took out a small can of Pokémon food and then an assortment of human food. As he and Buizel ate, Lucario opened one eye, watching them. Hunter, his paranoia informing him, turned to Lucario. "Would you like some?"
Lucario grunted, then closed his eye. After a short time he opened both eyes and then got off of the rock, went over to a berry bush, picked most of the berries, and returned to the rock to begin eating. Hunter watched him for a moment, then continued eating.
Later that night, as Lucario laid on his bed sleeping, and Buizel laid beside him, Hunter was still awake and sketching yet another picture of Lucario. He's really photogenic, he thought with a chuckle. After he finished the sketch, he put the notebook away and snuffed the lantern, going to sleep in his bag.
Lucario's eyes snapped open the second he heard Hunter's breath deepen and slow. He quietly walked over to Hunter's backpack and, after a bit of sifting around, took out the notepad, noting the two sketches of him. He smiled. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
Don't worry, the training's going to get more interesting and the plot will start to develop in the next chapter. So, once again, more to come! R and R! (Note: As I post more and more I'm going to include a warning. Not right now, though.)