The next day, Hunter and Lucario were standing at the entrance to the canyon. Lucario looked at Hunter. Are you ready?
Hunter nodded. The ground was already shaking.
They've started, Lucario said. When I say go, try to go through without opening your eyes.
"And if I don't manage to dodge them all?"
Someone will have to save you. I'll do it, like always.
"Are you sure about this?"
Trust me. I'll be right beside you.
Hunter shrugged and closed his eyes, sensing the Aura emanating from the landscape. He got ready to run.
Ready, Lucario started, set, go!
They both took off together, weaving through the canyon, dodging boulders thrown by Rock Pokémon high above them.
Lucario eventually started to pull ahead, nimbly moving left, right, left, out of the path of falling rocks.
Hunter, who was by now very good at judging locations by Aura, mimicked his teacher's movements. He narrowly avoided some rocks, but managed to get out of the rocks without becoming a splatter.
We're getting to the water now, Lucario said in his head. Get ready.
I'm ready, Hunter thought back.
The ground began shaking. It tore up in huge chunks as Hunter moved around the isolated geysers of water. Once a piece of ground he was running over shattered and he had to vault away from it to keep from being fried, but he made it through to join Lucario on the other side of the canyon.
Lucario was smiling. Good job.
"Thanks."
Let's go back to the glade now. I'll teach you some more there.
They ran back to the mountain, this time along ledges of the canyon.
Hunter stood in front of Lucario back in the glade, watching him.
Try concentrating your Aura in front of your body.
Hunter closed his eyes, willing his Aura to form into a semisolid mass in front of him.
Lucario readied an Aura Sphere and fired it at Hunter.
Hunter attempted to keep concentrated.
The Aura Sphere hit the barrier, breaking it and sending Hunter back a few steps.
You didn't concentrate enough in the end. When you get used to me attacking you, you will be able to keep the shield up.
Hunter opened his eyes and nodded.
They continued until sundown like always.
Around the fire that night, Hunter looked at Lucario. "How long have you been on your own?"
A very long time, it seems. A few years at least.
"Where are your parents?"
Possibly dead, by now. I left while they were still alive. They taught me everything I know.
Lucario looked up at Hunter. When I first met you, you said that your life was messed up enough without me in it. What made you say that?"
Hunter sobered immediately. "Three years ago, I was at home alone. The only other living thing in the house besides me was Buizel."
Upon hearing its name and recognizing the story, Buizel came to Hunter and curled up in his lap. He scratched its back absently as he continued.
"About a half hour before my parents were supposed to come home from an outing, it got agitated and managed to scratch me a lot by trying to get out the door. About two hours after my parents were supposed to have been home, I got a call from the hospital in Veilstone City. Both of my parents had died in a collision with a semi truck. Just like that."
Lucario placed a paw on Hunter's shoulder. I'm sorry. Do you remember them?
"Three years on the road can make you forget a lot of things. Maybe when we're done with my training, if it's not gone by now, I can take you to my house."
I hope you can. Lucario suddenly brightened. Maybe we can go now.
Hunter closed his eyes. "There is a train station that goes to the suburbs of Veilstone. That's where my home is. Let's go tomorrow. But you'll either have to stay on the roof or be in a Poké Ball."
I'll be on the roof. I can hold on.
"Good. It's settled then. Tomorrow, we go to Veilstone.
The next day, Hunter approached the ticket office for the train station. "One ticket to Veilstone City, please."
The cashier looked at his messy hair and clothing, but otherwise handed the ticket over.
Hunter walked onto the train when it arrived. He could see Lucario watching him from the roof.
As he sat down in a cabin, he released Buizel and laid back to talk with Lucario. It'll be a few hours before we get to Veilstone. Ten, at the most.
I can wait. I enjoy the wind on my face anyway.
You're going to be feeling it for a long time then.
I won't mind.
I have another idea. Once we're underway, you can open the window and get in here.
There was a moment of silence. If you insist.
Within fifteen minutes the train was speeding across the countryside. Hunter looked up when he heard knocking and noticed Lucario hanging upside down outside the window. He pulled it inwards and Lucario flipped in. Hunter quickly shut the window.
Lucario looked out the window at the setting sun. We probably won't be at Veilstone until tomorrow. We should both get some sleep.
Hunter nodded. "You're right."
Both reclined on the seats opposite one another, and quickly fell asleep.
Yep, Hunter's goin' home. Climax is coming up, people! R and R, please! Autumnchronicles, thanks for all your reviewing.