Salvador here folks. And I have a new chapter for you. Hope you like it. Enjoy.

Newfound Strength

Riolu charged through the streets of Pallet Town, eyes glued on the large building the human pointed to. Every few seconds, he'd steal a glance at the boy who lay shivering in his arms before refocusing on his destination. This human had risked his life for him. He couldn't let him die now. Not now. Not after what he's been through. Plus… something about him feels… special. Like… an energy that his Meema had taught to him. Was this a human who could control…? The thought kept rewinding and replaying in his mind all the way up to the large wooden doors of the lab.

As Riolu snapped away from his thoughts, and blinked back into reality, he stared up at the daunting wooden doors as if they were huge bombs. The small fox gulped, glancing back down at the child in his arms, who was now beginning to sweat. He looked back up at the doors, and focused on the large brass knocker above his head. He focused his vision, then lifted the large metal ring with his aura, allowing it to slam against its rest to clang as loud as a screeching Whismur, alerting anyone inside to the arrival.

Slowly, the door creaked open, and out stepped a large human with platinum, near white, hair came to the door. The human wore a red shirt and beige trousers, with a white coat draped over his shoulders. He had a kind face, but his expression quickly dropped at the sight of Riolu holding Ash in his arms before him. Riolu, instinctively, recoiled defensively, holding onto Ash a tiny bit harder, as if her were a child being threatened with his favourite toy being confiscated. But the man's expression wasn't one of anger, or accusation. It was one of worry and concern.

"Ash…" He breathed, unbelievedly – as if he couldn't bring himself to accept the sight of the sweating, now slowly convulsing, human boy in the Pokémon's arms. "What happened to him?" The man asked the fox. The tiny Mon lifted its gaze to meet the concerned man's, and pulled a face to imitate an Arbok. "An Arbok attacked him?" The human adult gasped, which Riolu replied with a nod. "We better get him in, and treat him as soon as we can." The man exclaimed, hurriedly. He sidestepped, allowing Riolu to usher himself into the lab. After closing the door, the man showed Riolu to the medical bay, walking pretty spritely for a human of his age.

The blue fox sat on the foot of the bed, sitting on his knees, looking over at the small, weakened, human child who had, but half an hour ago, saved his life. His eyes were closed and his mouth was still. He looked like he was just having a peaceful lie-in. But he wasn't. He was, and there's no other way of putting this, on the verge of a coma. From what Riolu had heard from the older human, who was frantically looking at readouts and Monitors not far away, this was like a human version of 'fainting'. But there were some fatal differences. From what he'd heard, Riolu could guess that fainting… well, it sucked for him. But… it sucked even more for humans. Apparently, the longer a human stays fainted, the less likely they are to wake up again. The little Pokémon shuffled himself forward, so he was now kneeling by Ash's side. He crawled his little paw, timidly, down to rest on one of Ash's hands. The skin felt smooth and soft behind his fur-covered paw. But it felt a little cool. Too cool, maybe. The fox was pulled out of his thoughts and back to reality by the soft flickering of Ash's eyelids, and a light – croaky – moan he was able to squeak out.

Slowly, Ash managed to wriggle his torso up and off the sterile white mattress on the medical bed he was rested on. He sat himself up, and leaned against the headboard, colleting his thoughts. Riolu's little ears perked up in happiness, as he couldn't help but beam at the recovered child before him. Professor Oak had noticed Ash waking up as well, and he made his way to the bed, popping a thermometer into Ash's mouth, and resting a glass of water on his bedside table.

"How are you, Ash?" He cooed, softly. In response, Ash just moan softly, and flopped his head into his hands.

"Like I've been headbutted by a Tauros." He whined, gently circling his tiny fingers round his tender temples. Riolu sat himself next to the child, and pulled him into a soft hug, patting the reeling child softly on the back. Ash returned the hug, not quite awake enough to take in the fact he was being hugged by a fox. Professor Oak couldn't help but observe the scene before him in great curiosity. This Pokémon – Riolu, was it? – seemed to feel quite connected to Ash already. The professor had only ever heard of Riolu through his old friend and colleague Professor Rowan, as Riolu are meant to be native to Sinnoh only.

Slowly, Ash pulled himself out of the hug he and Riolu had been sharing, and slowly opened his blissfully closed eyes. As his vision cleared, and he could clearly see Riolu's face, his eyes snapped wide open in surprise. He was struck stone dumb by the sight before him. There, before him, was a small, blue fox Pokémon, about as tall as him, looking deeply into his eyes.

"Riolu." The fox chirruped, smiling happily at the sight of Ash recovered from that Arbok's Toxic attack.

"I remember you." Ash whispered, airily. "You must be the one who left those berries for me." The Emanation Pokémon blushed, and nodded in confirmation. Ash's eyes started to well a little, and a small smile slowly snuck its way onto his lips. "Nobody's ever done something like that for me, except my mummy." He sniffled, joyously. Riolu misinterpreted the boy's tears, and thought it had upset him. He looked away from the child, and made to jump from the bed. He was stopped in his tracks, however, when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck, softly but firmly, pulling him into a hug. Ash smiled as he nuzzled his cheek into the soft, fuzzy fur on the back of Riolu's head. As he let go of the pleasantly surprised Mon, he slipped himself out of the bed covers, and sat cross legged on the mattress.

"So… what's your name?" He asked, sweetly.

"Riolu." The fox cheeped, smiling happily at the boy before him.

"Riolu, huh? Cute name." Ash beamed, making the Pokémon blush. He held out a hand. "Nice to meet you. My name's Ash." He introduced. Riolu stared at Ash's hand, quizzically, wondering what he was holding it out for. Ash saw the curious look on the Mon's face. "Oh. You don't understand handshakes, do you?" The Pokémon baby shook his head. "Well, just hold my hand with your paw…" Ash instructed, reaching a little further towards Riolu's paw. Slowly, Riolu lightly gripped Ash's hand, and the human child lifted their hands up and down a few times, demonstrating a human handshake. "And that's a handshake." He chimed, a satisfied smile adorning his sweet face.

"Lu." Riolu cooed, feeling rather satisfied that he'd learned something new.

"This Riolu is rather unusual." Professor Oak mused, scratching his chin with his thumb and index finger. "For a start, he's the same height as you. Riolu are normally little over two foot high." Ash stared in awe at the fox, who only cocked his head, curiously. "And he seems so familiar with you, my boy." The Pokémon professor further mused, humming under his breath in deep thought. "I wonder…" He muttered to himself. After a little contemplation, Oak sat down on the bed, scooping up the two infants that were sat before him, and plonking the pair of them down onto his lap. "Did anything happen between you two when that Arbok attacked?" Ash wondered why the professor would be asking such a question out of the blue, but still mulled over his reply.

"You mean… like something weird?" He enquired, not quite clear on what the professor was looking for as a response.

"Yes. Did anything strange happen?" Ash went back to contemplating his answer. He could remember the attack. He could remember being struck with Toxic. But… beyond that… nothing. No memory after that at all.

"All I remember is seeing Arbok going to attack me after it poisoned me. But… then… I don't remember any more than that." The boy looked at Riolu. "Do you know what happened, Riolu?"

The Pokémon fidgeted a bit, twiddling his paws, as if conflicted as to whether he should answer of not. He could feel the curious stares of the two humans bore into him, as if searching for the answers alone. Riolu's gaze fell upon Ash's midsection. It looked so flat, and smooth. Maybe he could show them what he could see in Ash with his aura energy. He leaned over to Ash, and pressed a paw to the boy's abdomen. The boy gave a short, sharp gasp of surprise, but was instantly silenced when he noticed his tummy was glowing in a light blue hue. He looked up at the professor with a touch of worry in his eyes. He wasn't hurting, but he was a little nervous as to what was going on.

"Grampy? What's happening to me?" His wavering voice enquired. Oak looked into the child's eyes and gasped in surprise. His eyes were glowing in the same shade of azure as his belly was.

"Ash. Don't be alarmed. But your eyes are glowing blue." Terror overtook the boy's face upon hearing this.

"What does that mean, Grampy?" He asked frantically, tugging hard at the collar of the professor's lab coat.

"Well… there's only one theory I can deduce from this, Ash." Professor Oak stated. The slightly panicked child looked into his eyes, expectantly. "And that is that you have a very strong aura."

Ash sat on the plushie sofa in the living room, wrapped in his favourite Pikachu face printed blanket, gripping onto a mug of hot chocolate. Next to him sat Riolu, staring in awe at his own mug of brown liquid, swilling it quizzically. Across from them sat the professor, sipping slowly from his mug of chamomile tea. Riolu sniffed his hot chocolate, then gave it a curious lick. His eyes sparkled at the sweet taste that caressed his taste buds, and he downed half the mug immediately. Ash couldn't help but giggle over how giddy the young fox Pokémon got over a little hot chocolate. It was pretty cute, actually. He took a sip from his own hot chocolate, then turned his eyes to Professor Oak.

"So, Grampy? What do you mean by me having a strong aura?" The professor looked up from his cuppa, and drew a fair breath, ready to try and explain to Ash what aura is.

"Aura, dear boy, is the living essence within all things. Humans, Pokémon, flowers, trees… even rocks." Professor Oak explained. Ash cocked his head, giving the professor a look that made him think he'd grown a third head.

"Rocks have a living essence in them?" Ash enquired incredulously.

"It's hard to believe, Ash. I know. But it's true. Everything in the world possesses a living essence. So, in a way, everything on the planet is alive in its own right." Ash blinked, soaking in the idea that even a rock was a living thing. "Aura is one of the strongest forces in the known world." The professor continued. "But very few things can ever fully utilise their aura's true power. Pokémon like Riolu and its evolved form, Lucario, are able to use their aura very freely. They can use aura to defend, attack and even locate other individuals, as well as reading their thoughts and intentions." Ash's eyes fell upon Riolu again, who was sipping away happily at his hot chocolate. "If my theory is correct, I think Riolu feels a close connection to you, Ash. And I think it wants to help you."

Riolu, having heard what the professor had suggested, blushed into his mug of chocolate, and turned his face away from Ash to hide the glowing red on his snout. Ash noticed the glow, however, and crawled closer towards the, suddenly, shy fox.

"Is that true, Riolu?" Ash quizzed, curiosity burning in his eyes. Slowly, Riolu turned to face the child, and nodded. Ash beamed in joy, and engulfed the fox in a hug. Riolu sat in surprise for a second, but soon returned the embrace. Ash couldn't help but feel comforted by the soft, fuzzy sensation he got from nestling deep into Riolu's blue hued fur, and how much like berries he smelled. After a while, the children separated. Ash looked deeply into Riolu's eyes, smiling the biggest smile he's smiled for a fair while. "Are you going to teach me how to use my aura like you can?" Riolu's eyes sparkled at the question. Honoured to have been asked to mentor the child, he quickly accepted.

"Well. It looks like we've got an extra bit of training for you in the future, then Ash." The professor smiled, happy to see the hope Ash was famous for back in his eyes. "I'll let you and Riolu get acquainted, and I'll teach you more about aura tomorrow." And with that, the professor left the two children to play in the living room, while he made his way to the lab's library.

OK. I hope you liked this chapter. Now, an announcement or two, but please hear me out. I've been asked once or twice what pairing I'm going to use. I already have a pairing in mind, all set up for Ash in a later chapter. A MUCH later chapter. But I'd like to do some shipping soon, as well. I'd like ideas from you, the readers, in the reviews. I don't normally ASK for reviews, because I feel like that makes me whiney. But, in this case, I'm asking. I'd like you all to suggest a pairing you'd like to see; (I'd like to see some pairings for Misty and Brock in particular). Please note; I may not use all pairings, and some pairings I take onboard may be onesided. Pairings involving Ash are welcome, but I may not follow them. I may, however, do a fair bit of one onesiding with the Ash pairings, and make something of it later.

One more thing. I'm now trying to write an interactive fiction. It's called Truth or *Girly scream*. It's a truth or dare fiction where the readers can write questions or dares for the characters of the anime, manga and game worlds of Pokémon. If you like fictions where the reader holds the key to the characters' fates, please do check it out.

Well, that's this week's update, everyone. Hope you liked it. Next chapter, Ash starts to learn the power of aura. Until then... take care. Ta-ra.