A few days later, Hunter woke before Lucario. He got out of his sleeping bag carefully, not waking Buizel. Lucario can probably see me, he thought.
He looked outside. It was still dark. The sun didn't come into the mountain this early. He closed his eyes, practicing locating things in the glade by Aura alone. He then opened his eyes and walked out of the cave. The place was dark, though when he looked up he could see a pink lining to the sky. The sun's coming up. It'll be light soon. He sighed and heard something coming up behind him.
He turned and saw Lucario standing there. You're up early. I didn't have to wake you.
"I'm still thinking about that dream I had."
I told you, it was probably nothing. But you can do something for me.
"What's that?"
Go into town and see if you can find a book store. There has to be a book somewhere about ancient Pokémon.
Hunter nodded. "I'll do that."
Do you remember the jumping lessons I gave you?
Hunter remembered. A few days ago, he had learned that by concentrating Aura around his feet, he could be every bit as agile as Lucario.
He walked out of the cave and went to the cliff edge. He closed his eyes and began to jump down the slope to the cable car station. He was much more comfortable on it than on the mountain slope. Here, if he slipped and fell, people would only stare for a bit. If I slipped and fell on the mountain, there wouldn't be enough of me to fill a frying pan.
On the ride down, people stared somewhat. Hunter didn't blame them. His hair, unkempt from the days he had spent training with Lucario, hung into his eyes. His clothes were somewhat dirty as well. He had a lean look from the constant training that he underwent each day. At the cable car station at the base of the mountain, Hunter ran out of the building and down the street. He skidded to a stop outside a bookstore, and went in.
The place was filled with shelves. He asked an attendant for help, and she led him to a whole selection of books covering ancient Pokémon. He picked one at random titled Legendary and Mythical Pokémon in the Sinnoh Region.
He returned to Lucario's glade, and his teacher, who had been meditating on the rock, swung his legs over the side for Hunter to sit beside him. What does it say?
"Apparently, the two Pokémon that I saw were Dialga and Palkia, two deities that were the masters of space and time. Their power apparently can open holes into other dimensions. Which means they could come into this one and cause a lot of trouble."
Relax, Lucario said, placing a paw on his shoulder. I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.
Hunter nodded. Lucario stood up. Come on. I know a place that'll make you feel better.
They both walked into a small cave in the cliff face that Hunter had noticed but had never been into. They eventually came out of another small cave to reveal a hot spring.
Hunter looked at Lucario. "Do you ever use it?"
Lucario shook his head. No. I don't care much for hot springs.
Hunter went behind a rock. He soon came out wearing nothing but his shorts. Buizel, who had tagged along, was already in the water, the float sac around its neck fully inflated to keep it afloat. Hunter jumped in, reveling in the soothing heat of the water.
Lucario sat down and started meditating. An hour passed like this, until Lucario heard a panicked cry from Buizel and opened his eyes. His dreadlocks had not fanned out, as there was nothing to look for. He flared them outwards now, and saw Hunter, his body curled up, floating under the water. He opened his eyes. Hunter. Wake up.
Hunter didn't move.
Lucario shouted his next thought. Hunter! Wake up now!
Still no response. Lucario knelt close to the water trying to peer into the depths.
Suddenly, Hunter popped up, grabbed Lucario by his long, pointy ears, and pulled him into the water.
Lucario had been dunked completely under before he finally surfaced, glaring at Hunter. What are you doing?
"See? Doesn't this feel nice?"
I thought you were drowning! Don't ever do that again!
Hunter floated onto his back and started kicking around the pool. "Relax, Lucario. Buizel could have gotten me out."
Lucario clambered out of the hot spring and shook himself. He saw the sun glimmer off of something. He walked over and picked it up. It was a large cobweb.
The last time he had checked, there had been no cobwebs near the glade.
Hunter!
Hunter looked up and saw Lucario waving to him. He got out of the spring and walked over to Lucario. He looked at the webbing. "What's it from?"
Judging by the size, I think it's an Ariados.
Hunter's eyes widened. "What are we going to do?"
We'll go back to the glade. You'll get redressed, and you'll stay there while I hunt it down.
"You need me, though!"
Not right now. I'm capable of handling myself.
Hunter glared at Lucario, but gathered up his clothes and started drying off with a towel that had been in his backpack.
As the two entered the glade, Lucario looked at Hunter out of the corner of his eye. Don't come after me unless I call you.
Hunter hesitated, then nodded. As Lucario left, he sat down on the slab of rock.
Hours passed. Hunter was napping when he heard a large explosion.
A second later, Lucario's voice, with effort, rang in his head. It was interspersed with grunting and screeching. Hunter, I need you! Get down here!
Hunter, along with Buizel, ran down the tunnel where the explosion came from, grabbing a large rock as he passed so. He turned right down a tunnel and came into a large, circular chamber. Lucario was on his back on the ground, trying to hold the Ariados's fangs away from his neck. As Hunter watched, the Ariados sprayed a Poison Sting into Lucario's face at point blank. Hunter threw the rock as Lucario went limp.
The Ariados looked towards him, then jumped at him. Bad idea, Hunter thought as he raised his arms. Buizel fired a Water Gun that hit the Ariados in the side, throwing it across the cavern to slam into the wall.
Hunter ran over to Lucario, yelling back to Buizel. "Use your instincts, Buizel! You're on your own for now!"
Buizel fired a Sonic Boom from its tail, and it hit the Ariados, forcing back against the wall. It launched another Poison Sting, which Buizel nimbly dodged.
Hunter knelt by Lucario and cradled his head in his hands. "Lucario. Wake up."
Lucario groaned and looked at him. You came.
"You're my friend, Lucario. I'm not going to let you die here."
He sifted around inside his backpack as Lucario grunted in pain and arched his back.
He's been poisoned, Hunter thought as he took a spray bottle out of his backpack, spraying Lucario full in the face with it. Lucario coughed and hacked, but managed to stand up.
The Ariados fired a Dark Pulse from its mouth. The attack hit Buizel, sending it flying across the cavern. It hit the floor, rolling several times before stopping. Hunter looked after Buizel as Lucario faced the Ariados down. Lucario threw an Aura Sphere, which the Ariados dodged by jumping onto the wall. It fired a second Dark Pulse, which Lucario jumped to dodge. He landed as the Ariados lunged at him. Lucario called on Metal Claw and attacked as well. They passed one another, Lucario slashing with the claws. The Ariados twisted, dodging the attack. It turned around in midair, about to lunge at Lucario's back, when a rock hit it on the back of the head. It turned, and fired a Poison Sting at Hunter. He ducked, and the needles flew over his head. He looked up to see the Ariados lunging at him. He twirled, and the Ariados's fangs tore at his clothing. He also felt a slight tug, but turned and hurled another rock that caught the Ariados in the mouth.
The Spider Pokémon was knocked onto its back, helpless as Lucario fired successive Aura Spheres at it, obscuring it in a cloud of smoke. As it cleared, the Ariados was thrashing around like a fish. Hunter found a sharp shard of rock about as long as his forearm, and stabbed it into the Ariados's body. As Hunter stepped back, he placed an arm over his stomach. Lucario noticed nothing until Hunter fell against the cave wall. Lucario looked at him, concern written on his face. Hunter tried to smile, and his arm fell from his stomach. Lucario gasped as he spotted blood flowing from a gash in Hunter's stomach. He ran to the human and knelt by his side, looking at him. Why didn't you say anything?
"You would have been distracted."
We have to get you to a hospital.
Hunter now ground out each word with effort. "In…glade… First…aid kit… Get it…fast."
Lucario shot out of the cave. Buizel padded over to Hunter and gently washed the blood from the gash with a Water Gun.
Lucario was back a short time later, holding a small pouch. He ran over to Hunter, opening the pouch, then stopped. He looked up at Hunter, his eyes wide. I can't read! What do I do?
"I'll…walk…through it."
He then communicated by thought, being too tired to talk. Get the bottle with the blue cap and spread some of it around the cut.
Lucario sifted around for the right bottle and spread the paste inside it gently around the gash.
Bandages. Wrap them around me.
Lucario sat him up and tied the bandages in place, aided by Buizel. Hunter laid back and smiled. That feels better.
Lucario helped him up and they began to walk back to the glade, Hunter leaning on Lucario. I know about some berries that'll help the wound more.
Hunter could only nod. How did the Ariados get you on the ground?
It was waiting on the ceiling. By the time I went into the cavern, it was already on me.
You forgot to use your Aura again.
Lucario gave a nod. And I promised I wouldn't make the same mistake again.
Eventually, they made their way back to the glade. Lucario laid Hunter down on the bed of leaves that was normally his. Try to sleep. I'll be back.
Hunter didn't need to be told twice. Buizel stood by his side, looking at him with worried eyes. It let out a worried Bui as Hunter fell asleep, his breathing still shallow and pained.
Lucario stayed by Hunter's side for the next two days as the Human recovered. Lucario did not sleep during this time. Hunter never woke up.
As the sun rose on the third day, Hunter woke slowly, and looked at Lucario. "You should have slept. Buizel would have warned you if something had happened."
You're my friend. I took care of you, like I should have.
Hunter smiled.
A day later, Hunter's wound was healed. Lucario did not waste any time. They were back to training as soon as he saw Hunter was better.
Now, if you're as powerful as I think you are, this technique should be no problem for you. I'm going to teach you how to use an Aura Sphere.
Hunter smiled. "I think you've taught me enough for me to know how to do this."
It's not as easy as you think it is. Controlling the shape, being able to force the sphere from your hands, it all takes more concentration than you think you have.
"I'll take your word for it."
Lucario stepped beside him. Just do what I do.
He formed his paws so that his wrists were touching one another, his paws held in a sideways V with the open end outward. First, put your hands like this.
Hunter mimicked Lucario's stance.
Lucario then brought his paws back so that his paws were beside his waist.
Hunter followed Lucario. Now, focus on concentrating your Aura between your hands.
Hunter concentrated, willing his Aura to flow from his body to the small space in between his hands.
It came out in a fluctuating blob. Lucario looked at it with minor annoyance.
Focus. Force it to turn into a ball.
Hunter concentrated, the blob of Aura spinning madly while simultaneously undulating between his hands.
Finally, it quit spinning and settled into a smooth orb.
Lucario smiled. Good. Now, do you see that boulder?
Hunter looked at a large rock sticking out of the ground. "Yeah."
Focus on it, and tell the Aura to go there.
Hunter envisioned the Aura speeding from his hands with enough power to blow the rock to pieces.
He forced his hands forward and felt a rush of air as the Aura Sphere sped from his hands and impacted against the rock, exploding and sending smoke back at the two.
Lucario grinned. Good! Very good. Now, do it again.
Hunter repeated it with less effort.
Good. You can do it. We'll do something more tomorrow.
Close call there, huh? Anyways, I was hoping to get more reviews before posting this chapter, but I guess not, now. Anyways, R and R!