Mewtwo watched Riolu intently as it punched and kicked at a small rock. The little one was learning by itself quickly, and Mewtwo had no doubt that it would learn a number of new moves upon evolving.
Don't you think it's time to quit? he asked it.
Riolu shrugged and then blushed as a growl came from its stomach. Mewtwo gave a little smile and picked a large number of berries off of a nearby bush, floating them over in front of Riolu. It took a berry and started eating.
As Riolu ate, Mewtwo looked at it. I sense someone closing on the mountain. It's not the two that are usually here, either. It appears that your trainer has come for you.
Riolu looked up at Mewtwo, a stunned look on its face. It got up and ran to the shore of the island, staring out at the empty gully that was once water. Mewtwo had not taken it below so that its trainer would not find the cloned Pokémon that were still living inside Mount Quena.
Riolu started running again, quickly traversing the distance until it came to a large cliff that looked down on the valley that Mount Quena was situated in. He could see a small cabin that sat by a river, and there was a van parked outside. Riolu closed its eyes, then snapped them open again when it saw a very familiar Aura pattern. Its eyes widened and its mouth quirked in a grin. Its trainer was here. He'd see Hunter again soon.
In the meantime, Hunter was just waking up. He looked around. He was in a room, a log cabin. In a bed. There was a washcloth on his forehead. He blinked again, then closed his eyes. He saw Riolu's Aura, near the edge of the mountain. He's close. So close, yet so far…
He looked towards the door as it opened. A woman entered. She sat down beside him and looked him in the eye. "So, how are we feeling?"
Hunter groaned. "What happened?"
"You ran out in front of our van by accident. We managed to get you here safely. You shouldn't be on foot in the valley. The weather here is unpredictable and the only safe way is by bus."
"I have to get to the top of that mountain. I have a Pokémon up there." He started to get up. The woman pushed him gently but firmly back down into the bed.
"Oh, no you don't. You're staying here until you feel better. According to the doctor you have a concussion and two cracked ribs. You won't be moving for at least three days."
Hunter sat bolt upright in bed. "THREE DAYS? I can't be here three days! Riolu can't get down the mountain by itself!"
The woman cocked her head to one side. "Riolu? What kind of Pokémon is that?"
Hunter put one hand on the side of her head, and she gasped as images of Riolu flashed through her mind.
After he took his hand away, he realized how much energy something as simple as thought projection took. Maybe I need this more than I realize.
He looked at the woman again. "What's your name?"
The woman smiled. "I'm Luna. What's yours?"
"Hunter. I'm from the Sinnoh region."
"That's a long way from here, isn't it?"
Hunter nodded. "I've been traveling for days, trying to find a Pokémon of mine that was stolen."
"That Riolu you told me about?"
Hunter nodded again. "It's only a few days old. It was kidnapped and I've been trying to find it ever since. It's here. I can feel it."
Luna looked under the blankets. "Hm. That's odd."
"What?"
"You seem to be healing remarkably fast."
Hunter threw the covers off of the bed. "Can I try walking?"
She stood up and out of his way, and, despite a small pain in his chest, was able to walk with impunity.
He went out onto the deck, feeling the smooth wooden floor under his bare feet. He smelled the air. Fresher than in Sinnoh. He looked at Luna, who had come out onto the deck with him. "Why's the air so clean?"
"It's because of the water. The water here is nice and clean. There are a lot of Bug Pokémon in the area and they're attracted here because of the water."
She lowered a bucket over the railing, then lifted it again. It was full of water from the river running beneath the balcony.
She held it out to him. "Here. Try some of it. It might make you feel better."
Hunter took the bucket and tasted the water. It was excellent, and cleaner than he thought it would be. "Very nice."
He turned his attention away from Luna for a moment to look up at the mountain. Riolu, I know you can hear me. I'm coming for you. As soon as I'm better, and maybe before that.
Riolu looked down at the people on the deck. It grew eager at the prospect of reunion, but didn't try to go down the mountain by itself. Turning, it ran back towards the island.
Hunter sat in front of his bed, meditating. Luna had rigged a small pulley with a piece of rope that was attached to a bucket. Whenever he got thirsty, Hunter would pull the rope up, raising the bucket filled with water to the window.
Hunter breathed deeply as his gaze traveled back to the Sinnoh region. He saw Maylene and her Lucario standing outside his house, Buizel darting around the yard, its head turning left, then right.
Hunter opened his eyes, then sighed. He should have brought Buizel with him. Should have told Maylene where he was going. His fingers twitched unconsciously, longing to hold the small being that Lucario had trusted him with. His little Riolu. He stood and stared out at the rising moon. The small pain in his chest was almost completely gone, and he felt stronger than he had that morning. Much stronger. The Aura is strong in this place.
He looked up at the mountain again. By tomorrow, he'd be out of here. Then he would find Riolu.
One hamper after another, eh? Anyways, story's almost over. Don't worry, there's going to be a fight scene at the end. And a surprise. R and R, please! By the way, I haven't watched Mewtwo Returns in a while, so don't say that there are continuity issues that there aren't any more Pokemon living under Mount Quena.