Chapter 17: Elliot! Korrina! Through the Bonds of Mega Evolution!
So on Gurkinn's orders we began our journey to Pumice Mountain, after travelling for a day we were taking a quick break in some grassy area with a lot of rocks. Korrina and Lucario were training with Ash and Pikachu, whilst I was training seperately with Blaziken.
"Use Flamethrower!" I said.
"Bla...Blaziken!" The pokemon breathed a powerful stream of fire over our training rock.
"Hmm...you still hesitate on my commands..." I noticed. "Do you not trust me?"
Blaziken crossed its arms and looked sideways, indicating a yes. "Froakie..." My partner sighed.
"I can't say I blame you." I shrugged. "I'm not even your proper trainer. But, I'm confident I can bond with you in time, Blaziken!" It glanced at me briefly.
"Hey! Elliot!" I turned to see Bonnie waving at me. "Lunch is ready!"
"Cool! I am getting hungry, let's grab some food, guys." The two pokemon nodded as we walked back.
OCXY
We all ate lunch together, before once again setting off, we managed to find a cave that was a shortcut to Pomace Mountain. There were a lot of twists and turns, but Korrina led the way saying we should 'trust our instincts'.
We hadn't got very far when we heard a lot of noise behind us, we turned to see-
"Noibat!" I cried as they surrounded us, with Ash getting out his Pokedex.
'Noibat, the Sound Wave Pokémon. Noibat's ears emit ultrasonic waves that can disturb its prey's sense of hearing and damage opponents.'
"Froakiiiiie!" My partner flailed around as a group of Noibat picked him up, whilst the rest swarmed over us.
We made a mad dash for the exit, finally coming out into sunlight, however..."Huh? Where's Froakie?" I asked.
"And where's Lucario?" Korrina added, as I saw we had been reduced to myself, Korrina, Blaziken, Pikachu and Clemont.
"We must have gotten seperated whilst running!" Clemont gasped.
For the next hour, we were searching the cave and outside for the rest of our friends, but with no dice. "Any luck, Vivillon?" I asked as she floated down, though she sadly shook her head. "Okay, thank you anyway." I returned her to her Pokeball.
"It's getting late..." Clemont noted the setting sun. "We can't risk looking for them at night, let's try in the morning."
Both me and Korrina looked back at the cave.
"Froakie..."
"Lucario..."
Meanwhile, The two Pokemon were doing the exact same thing whilst with their group of Ash, Serena, Bonnie and Dedenne.
"Elliot..."
"Korrina..."
OCXY
Our shortened group sat next to the campfire as Clemont gave me and Korrina some hot chocolate and bread for tea, a fulfilling meal I'd say. Pikachu was obviously worried about Ash, and I couldn't blame him, I was really worried about Froakie. But at the same time I would always keep an eye on Blaziken, at least I still had him, and I would notice him glancing at me every now and then.
As the fire began to die down, we all started to settle down, though I noticed that Korrina was sitting on a small ledge, looking up at the stars, so I walked up to her. "Korrina, are you okay?"
She seemed slightly startled. "Elliot! Y-Yeah, I'm alright..."
"Your a bad liar." I said as I sat next to her. "Are you thinking about Lucario?"
"Yeah..." She admitted. "I'm worried about him...we've been together for so long and...I just want him to be okay..."
"I know how you feel." I nodded. "Froakie has been my partner for a long time, we've rarely been apart ever since we met. And not knowing where he is is...worrying..." I thought for a second. "But...I guess it's worse for you. You've had Lucario since you were little, right?"
She nodded. "We did everything together, slept, played, trained, even after he evolved from a Riolu. We've always been together. And to be honest, I don't doubt that's the same for you and Froakie."
"You got me there." I chuckled. "Me and Froakie have done all those things too, always promising to grow stronger together...and that's the same for Ash and Pikachu as well! So, if they're with Ash, I'm not worried."
"I guess that's true." She looked up at the moon. "The thing is...I just can't sleep without Lucario around."
"Really?"
"Yep, kinda embarrassing, huh?"
"I don't think so." I shrugged. "That just shows how strong a bond you two have. How about I stay up with you?"
"You don't have to do that!" She said in a slight fluster.
"Well, I can't leave you awake alone. Besides, I'm wide awake." I lied.
Korrina paused for a moment, before smiling. "Thanks Elliot."
We sat in silence for a moment, before Korrina looked down. "That thing my Grandfather said...I still don't get it..."
"You mean Lucario not being able to control its aura?"
"Yes...Lucario was in so much pain, and I couldn't do anything..."
I thought on the matter for a moment before speaking. "I think the reason Lucario couldn't control its aura, was because it couldn't hear your voice."
"Hear my voice?" She echoed, before looking forward. "Maybe your right...Lucario's aura was too strong and it was suffering so much it couldn't hear me! I thought we were in perfect sync with each other, but I didn't really know how Lucario felt..."
"Well, that's what your travelling to Pumice Mountain for, isn't it?" I asked. "I know you can do it Korrina, perfect your bond with Lucario."
"...Elliot, you got dragged into this too, didn't you?" She thought aloud. "To be able to Mega-Evolve Blaziken before meeting up with Grandpa again...it's worrying, I don't want you to-"
"Please, don't worry about it." I cut her off. "I hope that I can get a strong bond with Blaziken, and if I fail, then it'll be my fault. Not yours. But...I have faith in Blaziken. And I know that that is one major thing to have at least."
Unbeknownst to me, Blaziken lay awake, overhearing the conversation, thinking on it deeply, before falling asleep.
Elsewhere, staring up at the same moon, was Lucario. He sighed before creating a Bone Rush, and swung it around in training to distract himself, however, this only led to him remembering how he acted once Mega-Evolving, and he looked down in shame.
"Your still up?" The voice took the Aura pokemon by surprise, and he turned to see a familiar Bubble Frog.
"Oh, Froakie." The Bone Rush disappeared. "I just...needed time to think..."
Froakie hopped over next to him. "Are you worried about Korrina?"
"Of course." Lucario nodded. "Are you worried about Elliot?"
"Definitely. But...I know he's alright, Elliot is strong like that."
The two simply sat, glad of each others company, before Lucario spoke. "I'm scared."
"Huh?"
"I'm scared...of Mega-Evolving. The first two times I did it I...couldn't control myself. I was in so much pain...and I hurt those around me...next time, it could be Korrina! I can't..." He clenched his paw, unable to finish his sentence.
Froakie looked at him. "You were suffering too...I get it, you don't want to hurt anyone close to you. I wouldn't. But you should know that your not alone in this."
"I know that." Lucario said. "Korrina is trying to help me."
"Not just Korrina." Froakie gained the other pokemons attention. "Why do you think the rest of us came along? It's because we all want to help you Lucario, we all want to see you overcome this. How you do it, is between you and Korrina, but we will back you up every step of the way. We're friends, aren't we?"
"Froakie..." Lucario breathed, before smiling. "Your right...I, no, me and Korrina, will overcome this. And...I know that you all will help me."
"Hehe..." Froakie grinned. "Glad to hear it." The two pokemon smiled at each other, before gazing back up at the starry sky.
OCXY
We got all our stuff together on the dawn of a new day to once again search for the rest of our friends, Vivillon already on the case.
"Now, let's resume our search." Clemont said, the rest of us nodding, when suddenly an electric net fell towards us, forcing us to jump out of the way!
"What was that?" Korrina gasped, when I heard the motto.
I don't need to tell you how it goes, right? Good.
"Oh Arceus, not you guys again." I groaned.
"It is indeed." Jessie unfortunately affirmed. "And this time we'll be taking both Pikachu AND your keystones!"
"Your not taking anything from us!" Korrina rebuffed.
"That's right!" Clemont added as he got out a Poke-Ball. "Bunnelby, we need you!"
"Bunneeeeelby!" The pokemon said as it appeared.
"I need a teammate too!" I realised, reaching for a Poke-Ball.
"Blaziken." Suddenly said pokemon stepped forward.
"Blaziken? You want to battle?" He nodded to confirm my thought. Why was he volunteering? Didn't matter, as long as I could battle with him. "Okay, let's fight together!"
"Inkay! Ten-hut!" "Inkay!" The familiar pokemon of James' appeared, though for some reason it had a strange looking contraption around its head.
"Pumpkaboo! You too!" "PumpkaBOO!" Jessie's pokemon appeared, and it was wearing a contraption that made it look like a UFO!
"Don't forget this dyna duo!" I only just noticed that Meowth and Wobuffet were equipped with metallic claws and a sun-dial like device respectively!
"Like them? These are our Mecha-Evolution machines." Jessie stated proudly. "Guaranteed to boost a pokemons power up a bunch!"
"Using machines to strengthen pokemon is just wrong!" Clemont shouted.
"Just try it on for size! Inkay! Psybeam!" The pokemon launched its attack, looking a little stronger due to its equipped robotics.
"Dodge, Bunnelby!" The little pokemon jumped back to avoid the attack, but it followed it and hit dead on! "Bunnelby! Are you alright?" He quickly got back on his feet and nodded to his trainer.
"Pumpkaboo! Dark Pulse!" The pumpkin pokemon launched its attack at Bunnelby, but I wasn't going to let that happen!
"Blaziken, use Flamethrower!" "Blaziken!" The pokemon let loose a stream of fire from its mouth that stopped both of the moves in a large explosion.
'The hesitation it had yesterday is almost completely gone!' I thought. 'Blaziken...are you starting to trust me?'
"Now Inkay, Tackle!" "Iiiiiinkay!" The Dark/Psychic type charged forward.
"Bunnelby, Mud Shot!" "Buuuuuunnelby!" Clemont's pokemon launched several globs of mud that hit dead on, but Inkay still charged through and hit the Normal type! "No! Bunnelby!" The pokemon shakily got up, obviously injured.
"If only Lucario was here..." Korrina muttered whilst Team Rocket taunted us. "I can't stand watching Elliot and Clemont fighting whilst I do nothing!"
"Bunnelby, rest up for now." Clemont returned the pokemon and got out his other Poke-Ball. "Chespin, come on out!"
"Chespin!" The pokemon cried with vitality.
"Use Tackle!" "Chespiiiin!" The starter rushed forward.
"Dodge, Inkay!" The pokemon floated out of the way, leading to Chespin falling.
"Time for my powered up Fury Swipes!" Meowth declared as he jumped up and slashed Chespin twice, causing it to cry out in pain.
"Help Chespin out with Blaze Kick!" Blaziken leapt into action instantaneously, igniting its feet to not only kick Meowth away but redirect a Shadow Ball from Pumpkaboo back at itself.
"Yeowch! That's hot!" Meowth yelled as he crashed down face first.
"Why you-!" Jessie fumed as her Pumpkaboo floated next to her.
"Ches..." The pokemon thanked Blaziken, who simply nodded.
"Pika!" Pikachu pointed at himself. "Pikapika, Pikachu!"
"Okay, Pikachu!" Korrina nodded. "We'll work together! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Piiika...chuuuuu!" Ash's partner released its powerful electric attack, but Wobuffet Mirror Coated it back with double strength!
"With our machines at Mark-Two, we're too strong for you!" James chuckled.
"Ngh, Chespin, ready to go?" Clemont asked, making his pokemon nod in determination.
"Blaziken, are you prepared?" The pokemon nodded at my question.
"Pin Missile!"
"Flamethrower!" The two attacks were once more reflected by Wobuffet, making us dodge once more.
"If ranged attacks won't work, use Brick Break!" Blaziken's fists glowed white as it ran forward.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Pikachu charged forward with a white aura, which Inkay dodged!
"Wooooo!" Wobuffet panicked as Blaziken chopped it in the face, smashing it into the ground.
"Iron Tail!" Pikachu quickly followed up with a swipe of its glowing tail, which Pumpkaboo also dodged!
"Solarbeam!" "BlaaaaaaaaaziKEN!" Golden orbs of light gathered around Blaziken's mouth before he fired it as a beam of solar energy, hitting Inkay dead on.
"Way to go, Elliot!" Korrina praised. "You and Blaziken are doing great!"
"Yeah, it finally feels like we're in synch!" I smiled.
"How dare you hurt our Mecha Evolved pokemon!?" Jessie yelled.
"They can't win even with robotic power-ups." I muttered to myself.
"Dark Pulse!" Pumpkaboo fired its attack at Chespin and Pikachu, but Blaziken jumped in the way and took the hit, shrugging it off due to type advantage.
"Have a round 2 of Fury Swipes!" Meowth shouted as he dived down, Blaziken prepared itself...
But Lucario jumped forward and blocked it with Bone Rush!
"Lucario!" Korrina gasped happily as the aura pokemon greeted her, with Blaziken sharing a thankful nod with it.
"Froooooakie!"
"Froakie!" I smiled as my partner jumped into my arms. "Your okay! Ah, what am I saying? Of course you are!"
"Pikachu!"
"Big brother!"
Ash, Serena and Bonnie with Dedenne ran over as well! We were all back together again!
"It appears the twerp group has reassembled." James observed.
"Vivillon!" My pokemon fluttered down gently onto my head.
"I knew you'd find them, Vivillon. Thank you." She smiled at my praise whilst Clemont explained the situation to Ash.
"Okay, Pikachu, use Electro Ball!" Pikachu launched its attack, but Wobuffet once again reflected it!
'Still no good.' I thought. 'Blaziken seems to be the only pokemon able to hit them!'
"Rah." Lucario gestured to its Mega Stone wristband, which mae Froakie gain a worried look.
"Mega Evolve?" Korrina questioned. "I don't know..."
"Korrina." She looked at me. "I know it must be difficult, but you have to believe in Lucario with all your heart, and try to help him hear you!"
She gained a determined look and nodded. "Alright. Lucario! Mega Evolve!" The two stones were connected by trails of energy, evolving Lucario into his Mega form. "Use Bone Rush!" Lucario complied by creating an energy bone and jumping forward.
"Blaziken, help Lucario out with Blaze Kick!" He nodded before running forward with feet of fire, the two combined easily beating back Pumpkaboo and Inkay. But when they landed, Lucario regained its evil look and roared in anger.
"Lucario!" We all gasped.
"Froakie!" Froakie cried out to him.
"Raaaaaaahh!" Lucario generated a Bone Rush before he went to attack Ash and Clemont! Luckily they managed to evade just in time, but he continued attacking everything wildly!
"Lucario, stop!" Korrina shouted causing him to turn on her!
"Korrina!" I gasped.
"Froakiiiiiie!" Froakie shouted.
But juat as he swung down, Lucario stopped just before the move hit Korrina. "Lucario!"
Lucario snarled, frozen in place, obviously having a fierce internal mental battle with itself. "Froakie! Froak, Froakie Fro!" Froakie continued talking to it, as if trying to pull it out of the mental state it was lost in.
"Korrina, call out to him! Make your voice heard!" I yelled.
"Lucario! Lucario!" She repatedly yelled. "You have to listen to my voice, Lucario!"
The Mega Pokemons eyes changed from its horrible look back to its true nature, and it lowered its weapon and nodded to her. "You can here me!"
"Froakie! Froakie!" The Water type cheered, making Lucario smile.
"Now, use Bone Rush!" Lucario immediately complied by beating down Inkay and Pumpkaboo.
"Now! Blaziken! Flamethrower!" "Blaaaaaaaaazikeeeeeen!" The pokemon shot powerful flames from its outh that resulted in a large explosion, sending Team Rocket blasting off again.
"Lucario...I'm so glad you heard my voice." But just as Korrina said that, Lucario's eyes turned animalistic once again, and it roared before passing out and changing back to normal. "Lucario! Are you okay?" The aura pokemon smiled weakly to show he was okay.
"Froak..." My partner croaked sadly.
'They still have a way to go...' Me and Blaziken looked at each other. 'My bond with Blaziken has strengthened, but like Korrina, it's not complete. There's only one place we can get answers...Pumice Mountain.'
OCXY
We travelled for another day, until we finally reached Pumic Mountain, the grasslands around it filled with flowers, and a large tree which housed...well, a house! With several sections and bridges to traverse. We walked up to the impressively crafted wooden door and called out, to let us be greeted by a Mawile with a Mega Stone as an accessory on its head. Being myself, I got out my Pokedex.
"Mawile, the Deceiver Pokémon. Mawile's horns form a huge set of jaws strong enough to chew up an iron beam."
"So, who's your trainer?" Korrina asked.
"Over here!" We turned to see an old woman on a small wagon towing a bunch of flowers, before she got off to be greeted by her Mawile, thanking it for watching the house.
"Excuse me, miss?" I greeted.
"Why hello there! It's so nice to see visitors here." I noticed her wooden cane had a Mega Stone in it. "My name is Mable." We each gave our own introductions. "I was told you were coming, so why don't we see how strong you are?"
"Sure." Korrina and Lucario smirked.
I choose not to go into detail about the battle, as I bet you can guess the outcome. Mable's Mega Mawile was definitely very impressive, and Froakie and Blaziken agreed.
"I know your gonna be just fine." She comforted her defeated Pokemon. "Don't worry, we came here to learn how to control your power, remember?" She turned to Mable. "We'll do anything you say. Please help us, Mable."
"Miss Mable." I stepped forward. "I too wish to learn the secrets of Mega Evolution. Even if what you teach me is little, I will be incredibly greatful, please." Me, Froakie and Blaziken bowed.
"Do not worry." She assured us. "I shall happily help both of you. Come now, let us go inside."
Mable's house was even more impressive on the inside, it had beautiful crafted furniture and walls, with flowers neatly hung or potted in almost every available area, it was like a mansion!
"What pretty flowers!" Bonnie cheered.
"Thank you, I just couldn't resist putting a few in my home with how beautiful they look." She said. "That's why I plan to have Elliot, Korrina and their pokemon arrange some of them for me." That was news.
"Um, excuse me, but I think our time would be better spent training." Korrina argued.
"No need to be so hasty." She replied. "Would you all like to make some flower arrangements too?"
"Wow, really!?" Bonnie squealed.
"We can do it too?" Serena smiled.
"Of course." Mable nodded. "But I'd like you to do it with your pokemon partner."
"Dedenne! Yay!" "Denne denne!" The two cheered.
"That sounds like a lot of fun, whaddya say, Pikachu?" "Pika!" Ash and his own partner agreed.
"Froakie? Blaziken? Wanna all work together?" The two pokemon cried in agreement.
And so we set to work around the house, me and my two pokemon carefully arranging them in different pots. "I reckon reds and whites together would work well. What do you think, Froakie? Blaziken?"
"Froakie!" He nodded as he put one more purple flower in a pot I'd finished earlier.
"Blaziken." He also nodded, delicately holding some petunias for the next vase.
It wasn't until later (and after another one of Clemont's failed Clemontic Gears) that we all finished, with the sun beginning to set. "Well done everyone." Mabel commented. "Your arrangements are a reflection of your personalities." She managed to see some good things from both Ash's and Korrina's arrangements.
"And Elliot, your arrangment is a vibrant mix of flowers that work well together. This shows how you and your pokemon each have your own strengths that tie you together, and form the strong bonds you clearly show."
"Thank you! From all the time me and Froakie have soent together, we've really become a lot like each other. And Blaziken working so hard together with us shows how we want to broaden our bonds." "Froakie!" "Blaziken!"
"I see." She smiled. "I look forward to even more arrangements tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Ash echoed.
"No way! What about all of our training?" Korrina asked.
"Oh, no need to be so hasty." She reused the line. "How I look forward to tomorrow." She said as she walked out.
Next day we were now setting off to pick our own flowers, when Mable stopped me, Korrina and our Pokemon. "I hope you two notice how pretty the mountains are with your Pokemon."
"The mountains?" Korrina repeated.
"And if you do, something wonderful will happen." I thought about her words for a second before she spoke with me. "And Elliot, I hope to see those bonds with all your pokemon you showed me with your flowers."
"My bonds?" I thought about that even as we seperated from everyone else to pick our own flowers, before I decided. "This'll be good! Everybody, come on out!" I threw my five Poke-Balls into the air.
"Chimchar!" "Vivillon!" "Honedge!" "Espurr!" "Tyyyyyrunt!" The rest of my pokemon appeared.
"Okay everyone, let's work together and make an awesome bouquet!" All my pokemon cheered as we started picking.
"Chimchar! Chihihihimchar!" Chimchar sang innocently as he picked flowers, keeping a close eye on his flame so as not to burn any flowers.
"Vivilloooon!" Vivillon would fly off and carry back bunches of pretty flowers at a time.
"Honedge, Hon." "Espuuuuurr." Honedge, using his self skills, delicately cut the flowers by the stalks and gave them to Espurr to hold, happy to be working together.
"Tyrunt!" At first Tyrunt would come back with crushed flowers in his jaws, but after I taught him how to, he came back with one flower at a time because of his stubby arms. He really was sweet at heart, just had a temper towards anyone who wasn't me or Bonnie.
Me, Froakie and Blaziken all picked together, helping each other out when possible, and thanks to our teams work, we got so many flowers Froakie and Blaziken had to carry some back!
And so we once again made an arrangement...and again we were going to do it tomorrow. And so we spent the next few days repeating the cycle of picking flowers and then arranging them, but my pokemon looked like they were enjoying themselves, and that was all that mattered to me.
I would keep looking at the mountainside to try and find the wonderful thing Mabel had mentioned, without success. But I never stopped searching for it.
One night, I was pacing back and forth in my room, trying to solve the building questions. Why were we arranging flowers? What was the wonderful thing? And what did any of it have to do with Mega Evolution?
Whilst thinking I happened to glance out of the window shaped hole and noticed a platform where Korrina and Lucario were standing. "Korrina?" I headed out of my room, followed by Froakie and Blaziken, until we found where they were. "Hey."
She and her partner turned to us. "Oh, hey Elliot, Froakie, Blaziken. Couldn't sleep?"
"Nah." I answered. "You?"
"Me neither." She sighed. "It's just...this doesn't make any sense tome. If we just keep arranging flowers at this rate, we'll never be able to control Lucario's aura." Lucario sighed. "When are we gonna start training?"
I leaned over the railing next to her. "Mable has a good reason for doing this, at least that's what I think. I don't know if it's connected to Mega Evolution or not, but I feel as if it is important somehow..."
"I hope your right..." Korrina sighed before looking upwards. "The moon...looks amazing from here."
"Yeah, full season." I agreed staring at the disk in the sky. Just staring at it got me thinking...
And then it clicked. Me and Korrina looked at each other, and I could tell she remembered too.
How we knew each other.
OCXY
One day, when I was five, I ran out of the house to play with Sis' Scatterbug. "Make sure he stays out of trouble, Scatterbug!" Sis called after us.
"Skrip!" She nodded.
"I promise I won't get in trouble, Viola!" I waved as I ran.
I played Chase with Scatterbug down the road, until I heard a noise, that sounded like skates. "Huh? What's that?"
"Hey! Look out!"
"Huh? Ahhhh!"
Somebody crashed into me and sent me tumbling down. "Owwwww! That hurt!" I cried, sitting up. "That hurt! Really hurt!"
"Oh no!" A voice said. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay!?"
I looked up to see a weird girl with blonde hair. "Well, it hurts, but I'm brave, so I'm fine!" I proclaimed.
"Sure? I didn't mean to!" She said.
"Promise!" I nodded. "Hey...I've never ever seen you before, who are you?"
"Me? I'm Korrina!" She greeted. "Me and my Grandpa are staying here for a week for our super special training!"
"Super special training?" I echoed, getting starry eyed at the thought. "So you and your Grandpa do special training? My Grandpa just gives me sweets."
"No, not my Grandpa!" She said. "Me and Riolu!"
"Riolu, Ri!" I then noticed the small pokemon next to her.
"Wow! You have a Pokemon?" I leaned in close to look at it. "My mum says I can't have a pokemon till I'm big, your lucky!"
"Me and Riolu are best frie-ah!" She suddenly slipped then straightened herself. "Sorryyyyy! I just got these roller skates and I'm learning how to use them!"
"Oh, I can't ride roller skates." I said. "But you seem nice!" I then felt Scatterbug tugging at my leg.
"You too! Is that a Scatterbug?"
Yeah! It's my sister Viola's!" I picked it up. "Korrina! I've gotta go now, but you wanna meet up again next day?"
"Sure! Uh...what's your name?"
"Elliot! Elliot Vanette!" I smiled.
"Okay then! See you, Elliot!" She waved before poorly skating off.
"Yay! I have a new friend!" I cheered. "Like Liz and Tom-Tom! But she'll be my secret friend, that NOOOOBODY knows about! So you have to be quiet too, Scatterbug!"
So I qould meet up with Korrina every day, and we'd talk and about her training and my family, and I'd always pester her to see some of Riolu's moves. We had fun together, but the week soon ended and Korrina would have to go back to Shalour. So, on her last day, we both snuck out and sat on a bench together, looking up at the moon.
"It's not fair." I sniffled. "I don't want you and Riolu to go, why can't you stay?"
"My Grandpa says we have to go back, we were only here a week." Korrina said, Riolu nodding in agreement.
"But...but..." I tried to give an excuse for her not to go. "...But I never beat you in a battle yet! S-So you can't go until I beat you!"
"You don't even have a Pokemon." She pointed out.
"W-Well I...I..."
"Okay, how about this?" She said. "So that we can see each other again someday, you have to promise to find me and battle me and Riolu!"
"Riolu! Riolu!" The Pokemon agreed.
"F-Fine!" I agreed. "I'm gonna get a Pokemon, then I'm gonna find you and beat you! That's a promise!"
"Now you HAVE to do it!" She laughed.
OCXY
In time, I forgot about Korrina and the promise I made because of how young I was at the time. "We promised to battle..." I mumbled.
"When we were little..." Our pokemon looked at us in a kind manner.
I thought for a minute before looking up. "That settles it."
"Huh?"
"I need to keep my promise to you, and battle you as a challenger of the Shalour City Gym!" I said. "And to do that, I need to pass Gurrkin's trial, and learn the secret of Mega Evolution, with Blaziken!" I looked at her. "I'll never go back on a promise."
"I see, you are very passionate about that."
"Mabel." We both acknowledged the old woman.
"It's alright, you needn't worry, your almost there." She said. "Soon, you'll be able to control Lucario's aura during Mega Evolution, and that in turn will show you the meaning of Mega Evolution."
"Does that mean you'll teach us now?" Korrina asked excitedly.
"I've been teaching you all along." She replied. "The reason why I asked you to look at the mountains together and make all those flower arrangements was because it was the most effective training for all of you. What's most important to me is the way you percieve things. You and your Pokemon are obviously very close, you think and act alike, and that, Korrina, is why Lucario used moves without your command, and made its own decisions during battle, and both of you were alright with that."
"So it wasn't a bad thing after all." I smiled. "It was proof of how alike you two are."
"Trainers and there pokemon are partners." She continued. "While they may work together for the same goals, their roles are quiet different. Although you all may be looking at the same thing, perhaps your viewing it differently. One heart, two viewpoints, you have to bring them together and transform that into strength. There is no doubt in my mind that the two of you can do that with your pokemon."
'One heart...two viewpoints...to bring them together...' I thought on the matter deeply.
Suddenly there was the sound of smashing, and two cries! "That's Pikachu and Mawile!" I gasped. "Froakie! Blaziken!" The two nodded and started running. "Korrina!"
"Right!" The five of us ran down and out of the house, where we saw the rest of the group. "What happened?"
"I think something crashed through that window!" Serena exclaimed.
"Whatever it was took Pikachu and Mawile!" Bonnie panicked.
"My stars, what happened?" Mable asked as she joined us, followed by three familiar, annoying cackles.
I don't even have to say it, do I? Nope, didn't think so. They were in their balloon with Pikachu and Mawile in a glass case below them as Clemont explained them to Mabel.
"Now, time to catch Lucario too!" James declared as he pulled out a claw shot and fired it at the aura Pokemon.
"Dodge it!" Lucario instantly jumped away on Korrina's command. "Let Pikachu and Mawile go!"
"Please, as if THAT will ever work." Jessie smirked. "Pumpkaboo, let's go!" The Pokemon appeared with a cry of its own name.
Lucario nodded to Korrina. "Your right, we have to stop them quickly, let's do this together, Lucario! Mega Evolve!" Touching her Key Stone, Korrina Mega Evolved Lucario.
"Blaziken..." We both knew we weren't quite at that level of a bond yet, but that didn't stop us from helping out. "Let's go! You too, Froakie!"
"Froak!" He agreed as he jumped next to the fully evolved starter.
"Power-Up Punch!"
"Blaze Kick and Water Pulse!" Lucario and Blaziken jumped skyward whilst Froakie threw a sphere of water upwards.
"Not today! Inkay, Psybeam!" James' pokemon appeared and blasted Lucario with the attack, grounding it, allowing the two floating pokemon to swerve around Blaziken and Froakie's attacks.
"No good!" I hissed.
"Pumpkaboo! Shadow Ball!" "Psybeam, Inkay!" Lucario and Blaziken just barely avoided the attacks.
"Rrrrrrgggghhhh..." Lucario growled as it released a small but powerful wave of aura.
'It's aura again!' I thought as Lucario roared.
"What do I do know?" Korrina thought aloud, when Mable held her wrist which had the flower bracelet she made around it.
"I have faith in you." She said.
"Me too, Korrina." I agreed.
She gained a serious expression. "Right."
Lucario charged forward, dodging a Shadow Ball from Pumpkaboo but being hit in the side by a Foul Play from Inkay, knocking it back down to earth.
"Raaaaaaaahhhhh!" Lucario roared again before charging once more, but Korrina stood in front of him! Freezing for a second, he then bit down on her arm!
"Korrina!" I yelled.
"Lucario...please listen to me." She spoke clamly, unfazed by the pain. "One heart, two viewpoints, remember that? We've got to bring them together and transform them into strength!"
"Froakie!" Froakie called.
Lucario's growled slowly lowered, and its look returned to normal.
"Save it for later!" Jessie interrupted. "Pumpkaboo, Dark Pulse!" Her Pokemon launched its attack, but Lucario blocked it with a Bone Rush, giving Korrina a confident smile.
I smiled. 'So her voice got through.'
"Alright, ready?" "Rah." The two stood firm.
"Inkay! Third Psybeam's the charm!"
"Quick, counter!" Lucario jumped up to face it.
"Shadow Ball!" Pumpkaboo went to attack from behind!"
"Blaziken! Flamethrower!" "Blaaaaziken!" Blaziken blasted Pumpkaboo with hot flames, throwing it back and stopping its attack.
"Thanks Elliot!" Korrina smiled as Lucario beat Inkay down with Bone Rush, knocking it into their balloon and freeing Pikachu and Mawile.
"We're not gonna take that lyin' down!" Meowth yelled.
"What a coincidence, neither are we." Mabel said. "Mawile! Mega Evolve!" Her own Pokemon quickly turned Mega.
"Ugh...it's wirth a shot! Blaziken! Mega Evolve!" I touched the Key Stone, and the energy beams connected, though after a second or two they broke apart. "Not yet, huh..."
"Dark Pulse!"
"Fairy Wind!" "Maaaaaaawile!" Mawile's attack easily overpowered Pumpkaboo's, blasting it back.
"Psybeam!"
"Flamethrower!" Blaziken too overpowered Inkay and blasted it back.
Lucario began gathering aura into its palms. "Lucario...you've learned a new move!"
"Rah." It agreed.
"It's a move proving its complete control over its aura." I said.
"Then let's show them it! Aura Sphere!" "Raaaaaaaaah!" Lucario tossed the ball of aura at Team Rocket, resulting in a glorious explosion.
"We're blasting off again!" The trio screamed as they disappeared into the night sky.
"Lucario, we did it!" "Rah!" The two high-fived each other, a symbol to show their hearts had truly become one.
OCXY
The next morning, we were setting off once again, only Korrina was taking a different route back to Shalour City, as me and Ash had agreed to detour for extra training.
"Mable, thank you for everything." Me and Korrina bowed to her.
"That's quite alright." She smiled. "Korrina, though you can now control Lucario's Mega Evolution, don't forget to continue to learn and get stronger with it."
"I will." She nodded.
"And Elliot, whilst your bond with Blaziken isn't yet complete, your own power to bond will reach out and connect with it. Of that I am sure."
"Thank you, Mabel." Me and Blaziken smiled.
"Guess this is goodbye for now." Ash said.
"Yeah, see you at the Gym!" She smiled as she activated her skates. "Elliot...we'll battle again there."
"I'm looking forward to it." I also smiled as she started skating off, Lucario and Froakie sharing a friendly fist bump before he chased after her. "...Hey, Korrina!"
"Huh?" She called back.
I gave her a thumbs up. "When we battle, I'm gonna beat you!"
She smiled. "You can try!" And so she skated off with Lucario.
Me and my Pokemon smiled with our friends, our sights set on our future confrontation, the one tied to our promise...
Next Time: The gang arrive at a massive canyon famous for Sky Battles! With Ash and Elliot up for the challenge, they have their first battles in the air! But will Elliot's Bug-Type Vivillon be able to overcome its Flying-Type opponent?
I did it! I finally finished this chapter! I have upcoming exams! My tech fought me EVERY SINGLE STEP of the way! But I did it! And it's a long one too!
Pawniard:...
Your...taking this surprisingly well.
Pawniard: I'm waiting 'till you finish. This is a K+ story after all.
O-Okay then...but! As an apology to those of you who have waited for so long, I have some honourable mentions to give out!
Thank you to Limeade Space Dorito, Razzorow, ctran03931, ThiefofStealth, pokemonking0924, Im leaving this site (Formerly known as many other names), NodokaLover, Devin sands, mysteryfan4ever, Cloud4012, SoulSavior71, Icecakequeen, Pokefan02, Martyn, GarionRiva, A.B 808, Ab, Guest and Zoruarkmaster for reviewing during my absence! Your support helped me to finish this chapter! Because REVIEWS DO HELP! I'M SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU GUYS!
Honourable mentions go to El Torro and 19jchoi! Their dedication to their pokemon stories is the most amazing I've ever seen! Along with their update times! I cannot compare to their dedication! You both are amazing! And Legacy918 for encouraging me and being a good guy, and DJTiki for being a dedicated worker and a great person overall!
Finally, I would like to say something for Razzorow. He has left this site after feeling that nobody knew him for his own stories, and that they didn't matter to a lot of people (sorry if I'm getting that wrong by the way). And it absolutely broke my heart to read about how such a fantastic friend and supporter of mine could feel like that. Razzorow, I am honestly getting teary writing this, but thank you for all that you have done for me, and for being such a great person.
And so, with the hope that the next chapter won't be after 5 months, I bid you farewell. I'M BACK, EVERYBODY!