Chapter 2: Having Regrets
Normally, it only took about a day to travel Route 19. The reason Alex and Lucario weren't already in Aspertia City was because they stopped to sleep by a river half-way through the night. Well, that, and Alex's ankle was beginning to bother him. He reasoned that a nice long rest would do him some good and he'd be ready to go by morning.
Naturally, Alex awoke to a pain burning with the intensity of a thousand suns.
Lucario, up to this point comfortably curled up under the shade of a tree, groggily opened one eye to examine his blonde-haired tagalong. By now Alex had taken his brace off the swollen appendage and chose to cope with the considerable pain by loudly moaning and muttering incoherent babble. With a mental sigh, the blue-furred pokemon got up and lumbered over to help the hapless human.
Alex stopped babbling when he noticed Lucario next to him. "Um, morning Lucario," he said. "I didn't wake you up, did I? Because if I did, I'm really sorry and didn't mean to, it's just that my ankle really hurts and I don't know what to do about it because it's driving me crazy and—"
Lucario held up a paw for silence. Then he looked at the boy's ankle and winced. It was a deep red and swollen to the point you couldn't really tell where leg transitioned into foot. Lucario contemplated what to do for a moment before an idea came to him. Hold still and let me try something…
Lucario sat down beside Alex and placed a light blue-glowing paw on the injury. Alex winced as an icy sensation burned against his skin. Eventually the swelling went away and Alex noticed that his ankle didn't really hurt anymore.
Ice Punch, Lucario explained. It should take care of the swelling for now. Let me know if it starts hurting again and I can ice it some more.
Alex rolled his ankle experimentally. It hurt like hell, but the icy touch numbed it to a relatively comfortable level. "Thanks. Now I feel embarrassed…that's twice you've helped me out of something that was my own fault."
You're welcome, Lucario replied. He got up and started towards the forest. I'm going to go find some berries to eat. Do you want me to try and find some for you?
It then occurred to Alex he hadn't brought any supplies with him. Somewhat meekly, he answered yes and thanked Lucario again, who ran off to scrounge for food. Alex soon shifted his attention back to his foot and then to the decisions he made last night.
No supplies, hiking on a sprained ankle…not to mention he didn't have any money. It was slowly dawning on him that running away last night was a terrible decision. But if he turned back now, his father would probably never let him out of sight again. To give up now was to admit Alistair was right, and there was no way in hell he would do that. At the very least, Alex decided he would make it to Aspertia figure everything else out later. Besides, he had Lucario to help him fight a few trainers, get some money, buy a few Pokeballs and…
…and Alex realized he was being horribly selfish. He'd already slowed Lucario down by coming with him on his trip to Aspertia, not to mention the thing with the Scolipede. To keep asking for favors after he'd been extremely kind—and extremely patient—wasn't fair. Lucario…there was a lot Alex didn't know about him. The chronic fevers, his traveling across Unova, even the fact he was a wild pokemon—now that he thought about it, he'd never heard of a "wild Lucario" in Unova or any region. Maybe he wasn't always wild? That would explain a few things, like why he talked to humans and how he knew Ice Punch…
By this point, Lucario was back and brought Alex out of his musings by unceremoniously dumping a mix of Oran and Sitrus berries onto the ground. With an over-exaggerated gesture, he motioned towards the pile and invited his companion to dig in. The two ate their fill in silence, Lucario iced Alex's ankle again, and then they set off towards Aspertia City.
In contrast to the cliff-filled Route 20, Route 19 was a flat and relatively straight path of grass and forest. The beginnings of the autumn chill made the air cool and crisp, but warm rays of sunlight descending from a cloudless sky balanced it out. Needless to say, it was a gorgeous day to travel.
For a long while, the pair walked in silence. It made Alex uncomfortable, but seemed to suit Lucario just fine. Alex recalled his questions and decided a little small talk wouldn't hurt. "So, Lucario, how long have you been having those fevers? Do you know what causes them?"
The blue jackal, previously lost in thought, regarded Alex coolly for a moment before projecting, It's been happening to me for about a year now, typically once a month or so. As for the cause…I don't really know. Weak constitution I suppose… That last thought had a bitter tone to it, and Lucario's expression matched. I don't really worry about it much, so you shouldn't either. It is what it is.
Alex shrugged. "I just find it weird, that's all. It's not really normal for anybody—person or pokemon—to get sick all the time." He paused for a moment and pressed on with another question, "Were you always a wild pokemon? I don't know much about the ones not native to Unova, but I don't think I've ever heard of Lucario roaming around in the wild."
Lucario raised a brow. You can be awfully nosy, you know that?
Alex held up his hands defensively. "I don't mean anything by it, I swear! It's just, well, again you're a Lucario, and you don't seem to mind humans, and you know a move I don't think Lucario learn naturally and…"
Lucario rolled his eyes with a small smile. Fair enough, he projected. You're right though, I wasn't always a wild pokemon. It's actually part of the reason I'm headed to Aspertia City in the first place.
Alex crooked his head to the side. "What do you mean by that? That's actually what I wanted to ask next."
Lucario chuckled lightly. Of course you did. The reason I'm heading to Aspertia City is because I'm trying to find my trainer.
Alex did a double-take. "Wait, your trainer? That means…but you said…why is your trainer letting you travel by yourself?"
A deep, sad sigh escaped the Aura pokemon. We were…separated, a long time ago, three years after he hatched me. He was travelling Unova preparing a team to challenge the gyms, so I never actually got to see where he lived, but I remember him telling me it was in Aspertia. I didn't know how to get there until recently, and I'm hoping he still lives there.
Alex mulled over that minor revelation for a moment. "So when you told me you wouldn't let me catch you…what you meant was I couldn't catch you, because you already belong to another trainer?"
Yes and no, Lucario replied. Technically, I could be caught right now; my pokeball was destroyed. Like I said though, it's a long story and I don't really want to go into the details.
Alex caught the unease in Lucario's mental voice and agreed not to press the issue. He remembered hearing about an organization called Team Plasma and their efforts to "liberate" pokemon from humans. It sounded like Lucario and his trainer were victims, and if that was the case they really had been separated for a very long time.
Alex asked no more questions and chose to somberly reflect on this revelation. He'd already accepted the fact Lucario wasn't his pokemon and didn't wish to be caught, a wish he intended to respect. Why did knowing he had a trainer make him so…upset?
Lucario naturally felt his emotion and regarded the boy worriedly. Alex, what's wrong now?
Before Alex could answer, something small and purple jumped on his head. It messed up his hair before jumping onto Lucario, who flailed helplessly to try and pull whatever-it-was off of him. Finally, black paws found a grip and flung the attacker away from the duo, who took the opportunity to gather their wits and examine their unusual adversary.
Bright green eyes, purple fur, cream-colored muzzle, chest, and back, a vaguely scythe-shaped tail attached to a distinctly feline body: to their surprise, the assailant was a Purrloin.
Surprised and confused weren't really good enough words to describe how Alex felt right now. "What's…going on exactly?" he asked, even though he didn't really expect an answer.
Lucario was equally confused. Currently Purrloin was making weird gestures with its paws, taunting them in a language only pokemon could understand. I'm…not sure…he admitted. He…er, she rather, appears to be making fun of us. I think she might think you're a trainer and wants to battle.
Purrloin continued mocking them and launched into a long tirade of meows and growls. Naturally Alex understood none of it, but Lucario became increasingly angry with each syllable uttered. Hey, it's not my fault my species' sexes both look the same! Lucario argued indignantly. And you leave my mother out of this!
Purrloin responded by coyly meowing something involving Lucario's mother, cheap motels, the police department, a couple of Garbodors, public indecency laws, and a Ditto. Lucario snarled at the small feline. Fists glowing with blue Aura, Lucario rushed to deliver the strongest Force Palm he could muster. He struck the Purrloin dead-on and promptly phased through what he realized to be the afterimage of a Double-Team. Lucario barely noticed the real Purrloin, wreathed in a blue glow, close in from behind with her paw drawn back in a very familiar manner…
Thwack! Boom! Lucario was hit by Purrloin's own Force Palm and sent flying a few feet away.
…what? Lucario picked himself up and regarded his opponent more warily than before. Purrloin responded by creating more Double-Team clones, taunting her opponent as her illusionary copies encircled the Aura pokemon.
Lucario closed his eyes and focused. He used his ability to sense aura to pick out the real Purrloin from her clones. With a loud roar, Lucario jumped into the air and prepared to deliver a high flying jump-kick to finish his opponent.
Purrloin promptly leapt to the side, and Lucario landed with a slight crash into the dirt. Then, before he could reorient himself, the purple feline delivered a kick of her own and sent Lucario stumbling away.
"Lucario, I think she's using Copycat!" Alex yelled above the chaos. "I read about it before—it lets the user copy the last move they saw in a battle for a short period of time."
A small growl escaped the blue jackal's throat. It explained why, despite the feline's low strength, her blows had hurt; his steel sub-typing ironically left him vulnerable to fighting attacks. An idea came to him and he rushed Purrloin, fists coated in aura to deliver another Force Palm. Purrloin naturally dodged and began to use Copycat again, but Lucario skidded to a stop and switched attacks. He launched forward in a burst of speed and nailed Purrloin with a steel-coated fist before she could react. Not only did it deal a good chunk of damage, but it disrupted her Copycat and left her vulnerable.
The Bullet Punch sent Purrloin sprawling a few feet away. Before she could recover, Lucario ran up to her and punted as hard as he could. Purrloin flew across the air and landed somewhere in the bushes, soundly beaten and most likely fainted. Alex and Lucario let out a sigh. They were glad to be rid of their mischievous challenger.
"Well, that was…different," Alex said politely. "I never thought I'd see a Purrloin fight a Lucario and actually hold their own."
We never speak of this again, Lucario growled quickly. Seriously, you ever mention this to anyone, and I'll feed you to an entire swarm of Scolipedes!
Alex couldn't help but snicker. "What's the matter?" he asked mockingly. "The big bad doggy couldn't handle the killer kitty?"
First, I'm a jackal, Lucario began indignantly. Second, shut up before I give you a real reason to be limping around.
Alex started laughing, and try as he might Lucario couldn't help himself and joined him. As their laughter died down, they noticed for the first time the group of buildings just over the horizon. Not too far ahead was a gate house, surrounded by white fencing and flowers, that guarded the entrance to a small suburbia.
"Aspertia City," Alex said. "We…we made it!"
So we did, Lucario confirmed. For a moment, both human and pokemon stood looking at the city before them. After what seemed an eternity, Lucario spoke again, There should be a Pokemon Center close by. I'm not really that hurt, but I wouldn't mind a rest.
Alex absentmindedly nodded. The pair made the rest of the trip in silence and soon found themselves at the gate house entrance. A few minutes later and they'd taken their first steps onto the paved roads of Unova's south-western-most settlement.
If you asked a native to describe Aspertia in one word, it would probably be "balanced." While not as small or rural as Floccesy, it was a modest town with modest assets. Brick roads and small sidewalks gave it a sense of antiquity, but the architecture was distinctly modern. There were restaurants and parks and other big-city conveniences, but without the skyscrapers or crowded streets. Most notable was a lookout at the top of a large hill. Alex remembered a rumor that the Unova League's last champion was a boy from this city, and that he'd received his starter at the top of that hill three years ago. Probably just something somebody made up, but it was a nice thought.
Sightseeing would have to wait. Human and pokemon made a beeline for the Pokemon Center, easily distinguished from the other grey buildings by its white walls and red roof. They entered, were greeted by a nurse in typical fashion, and settled into the lobby. Lucario was taken to the back and Alex sat in a corner with his leg propped on a chair, ankle brace off and a large bag of ice plopped on top. The Aura pokemon returned shortly, noticeably chipper than before.
"You look better," Alex commented as the blue jackal sat on a chair beside him. He took a glance at his ankle and laughed. "Wish they could do the same for me though."
Why is it that they can't anyway? Lucario asked. I've never really understood how that works.
Alex shrugged. "I dunno. It probably has something to do with the fact you guys can spit lightning or fire or whatever. I never really thought too much about it." Both were silent for a bit before Alex broke it by asking, "So how are you going to find your trainer? Aspertia's not a huge city, but it's a lot of ground for one pokemon to cover."
Lucario's face scrunched up. I…hadn't really thought that far ahead, he admitted. I suppose I'll just ask around until I find somebody that knows him. In a city this small, he shouldn't be too hard to find. The Aura pokemon looked thoughtful for a moment before asking, Now that you're in Aspertia, what are you going to do?
Now it was Alex's turn to look contemplative. "I hadn't really thought that far ahead either…the more I think about it, the more I realize I hadn't thought about it at all." The teenager sighed and continued, "I kind of made a snap-decision last night, and honestly I'm starting to regret it." Alex didn't add he was starting to think his father was right about him, and that he was too rash and impulsive to make it as a pokemon trainer. "Just another mistake I suppose…just like all the others."
Lucario squirmed in his seat. He didn't exactly mind having the blonde-haired teenager tag along, but he agreed that his acquaintance had a tendency to make rather poor decisions. Choosing the most diplomatic response he could think of, he projected, Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will work out in the end. Thanks for the company, but I think I'll be going.
Alex grimaced for a moment, but forced it away with a smile. He knew this moment was coming, where Lucario would leave and go find his real trainer and Alex would be left alone to figure things out for himself. "Tell your trainer I said hi when you find him. And thanks for putting up with me; I know you kind of got the short stick in our little 'deal,' and I'm sorry about that." Lucario smiled and told him it was fine. With one last goodbye, Alex watched as the pokemon he met on Route 20 left the building and vanished into the streets.
Alone and without other distractions, his thoughts became mutinous. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Leaving home without money, without food, without even a spare change of clothes to go hiking to Aspertia on a sprained ankle? Alex grabbed his hair and pulled; it was a force of habit developed from mentally beating himself up like this. And then there was Lucario; he'd completely weighed him down, and if not for his good-natured patience Alex would have been screwed several times over. Weighed him down…dead weight, that's all he was.
Alex groaned and leaned his head against the wall, staring upward at the ceiling, and closed his eyes. The Pokemon Center had rooms they loaned to trainers; maybe with a little luck he could convince them to let him use one. But what then? He could spend the night, rest up his ankle, and probably make it back to Floccesy by noon tomorrow…but that left him facing the same problem he'd been contemplating all day. To go back home now was to admit his father was right about him. Maybe his father was right though, and Alex was just being stubborn. However, he knew that if he had his way Alistair would never give him another chance or even try to teach him how to be a pokemon trainer. Trial by fire; it was the only way he could learn. He just never realized how badly the flames would burn.
Hours passed during Alex's brooding. During that time, a tall man entered the Pokemon Center and talked to the nurse for a bit. He eventually noticed Alex sitting in the corner and approached, his long shadow creeping across the boy's body unnoticed. He wore a white lab-trench coat hybrid unbuttoned at the chest and waist, a black shirt with blue trim, black pants and shoes, and a pair of white gloves. His blonde hair was very short, save a single strip dyed blue and styled to wrap around his head like a metal screw. Golden eyes peered from behind sleek square glasses and a gentle—yet somehow unnerving—smile dominated his face.
Alex opened his eyes and regarded the stranger warily. "Um…can I help you sir?" he asked.
"My apologies if I startled you," the man began. His voice was quiet and even in tone, but endearing in its friendliness. The man radiated affability, and Alex felt his nervous suspicions drift away. "I know it seems rather nosy of me, but I just happened to notice your injury and was stricken with curiosity. I'm a scientist you see, and I'm afraid it's hard to resist my nature."
Alex smiled and assured him it was fine. He started from the beginning and told the man everything that happened. His desire to become a trainer, his father's refusal, meeting a Lucario, running away…it was therapeutic to vent like this. All the while, the man absorbed everything, especially when Alex talked about Lucario. He asked if the man knew Lucario somehow, and was assured he was just fascinated that a Lucario was running around by itself.
"That's quite the tale young man," the golden-eyed scientist began. "Forgive me, you practically shared your life story and I've yet introduced myself. My name is Colress." Colress offered a gloved hand to the wispy-haired youth, who accepted it with a firm handshake.
"Alexander Andrite. Nice to meet you." Their hands parted and Alex continued, "So, what do you think I should do? If I go back home now, I'd basically have to run away again or wait until I move out. Although at this point, I'm beginning to wonder if my parents would even let me move…"
A bemused smile crept across Colress' face. "Young man, just how badly do you actually want to be a trainer?"
Alex considered the question. "All of my friends left years ago to start their journeys. Everyone I know has their own pokemon and gets along with them. They don't all want to become champion or even win badges, but either way they get to have these really cool adventures while I'm stuck in Floccesy trying to find something I'm good at that my father approves of."
Colress nodded understandingly. "It sounds to me less that you want to become a trainer and more you want the freedom being one affords—the freedom to find your place in the world." Colress allowed a pause for his words to sink in, and his ever-present smile widened when he saw that they did. "There are people in this world that feel mankind should know its limitations, that we should play it safe and never venture into the unknown. I disagree!" His declaration was punctuated by a thematic swooping of his arm before he continued, "The only way we grow is to push ourselves beyond our limits. Sometimes, it's at great cost…but I'd like to think the results are worth it."
Alex didn't entirely understand what he meant. "So wait, are you telling me you think I've got what it takes or that I don't? I'm a little confused here."
Colress surprised him by laughing. "Dear boy, you've missed my point entirely!" he cried with great mirth and then paused to adjust his glasses. "I'll be blunt; no, I don't think you have what it takes. Your decision to run away was rather half-baked, and the fact you're debating whether or not to remain out on the streets with no way of providing for yourself means you're either naïve, stubborn, foolish, or all the above. You would likely starve yourself if you began a journey-proper right now." Alex winced, but Colress paid him no mind. "However, that's you right now. The you of today is not the same man as the you of tomorrow, no more than an adult is the same person they were as a toddler. If you never venture from your comfort zone you'll never grow as a person, and the fact your father failed to teach you this makes him the greatest fool of all."
The light hit Colress' glasses at just the right angle to make it appear as if they were glowing. It was a little intimidating. "I dream of a world where mankind brings out the full strength of pokemon. To do that, we must be willing to bring out the strength in ourselves. If you crave that strength—either to obtain the freedom you desire or to prove your own worth as a person—then I suggest you find Aspertia's gym leader and challenge him for his badge."
Alex actually balked at that last suggestion. "Are you sure you're not a mad scientist? I don't even have a pokemon to challenge him with! How do you expect me to win a badge?"
Colress chuckled. "My, my, your father has done his level best to keep you in the dark. Tell me, how old are you exactly? Sixteen? Seventeen?" Alex answered the former, and Colress' cocky smile broadened. "I thought so. There's a law in Unova for people in your predicament. Anyone above the age of sixteen can challenge a gym leader to earn a trainer's license as well as the gym badge. The idea is if you can defeat a gym leader, you have what it takes to raise pokemon and the exams would be redundant. The battles are typically harder than what would be issued to trainers without badges, but such is the system of checks and balances. I've heard a great deal of good things about Aspertia's leader Cheren. His gym also doubles as a school, and I have no doubt he'd be willing to teach you anything you might be lacking before you challenge him—I suspect he'd even rent you a pokemon for the battle." Colress reached into his pocket, fiddled in it for a moment, and pulled out a wad of money. "Here, take it," he said as he offered it, "I have plenty to spare, and it sounds as if you need it much more than I do."
Alex stared at the outstretched gift, but didn't accept. "That's really generous of you. But I've got to ask, why me?"
Colress chuckled, a response Alex was beginning to become accustomed to. "Consider it an investment, or even an experiment. When I first approached you, I was bored and mildly curious. But I've met a lot of trainers in my time, and the best of them always had one thing in common: determination. I can see it in your eyes Alexander Andrite, that burning desire to accomplish your goals, no matter the cost. Granted, your desires are not typical, but that's what makes things interesting."
For a moment, Alex was conflicted. He wanted to decline it, so tired he was of feeling like a drain on everyone else. However, he remembered Colress' words and realized the man would likely berate him for his foolishness should he turn down his offer. He wanted to take Colress' lesson to heart and make himself more independent…but for now, he'd have to accept Colress' other lesson; he wasn't ready yet, and it would take work before he was ready. For now he needed to rely on pragmatism. "Thank you," he said as he accepted the money, "for…well, everything just then. I promise I'll make it count."
"I'm sure you will." His smile never faltering, the quirky scientist turned and started for the door. "Take care Alexander. I do hope that our paths cross again." In the blink of an eye, Colress was gone and Alex was left to his thoughts.
What were his thoughts? Colress had a…interesting way of inspiring people. He did have a point though. Alex wasn't ready. It hurt to admit it, but he was foolish and naïve and not very good at avoiding stupid decisions. Colress didn't believe he was ready to be a trainer, but he did believe he could be ready. It wasn't full confidence in him, but it was comforting all the same.
Self-confidence boosted and consumed with determination, Alex stood up and asked the nurse for directions to the gym. He left the Pokemon Center with renewed purpose; for once he actually had a plan. Go talk to Cheren, challenge him to a gym battle, and win his trainer's license. Colress' money meant he could stay a few nights at the Pokemon Center and try again should he fail. There would be no more waiting for his father's approval; he would take back his life and carve his own path!
It was late into the afternoon when he found the gym, a large stone building with orange tiled roofing that loomed over him. Despite his excitement, Alex hesitated. The odds were very much stacked against him. He had to impress Cheren enough to allow a gym battle, find a pokemon for said gym battle, and then actually win it. There were a lot of different ways for him to mess up, and although he knew he shouldn't be afraid of failure he still was. This was important to him. Slowly, Alex reached for the handle, swallowed his nerves, and opened the door.
He didn't expect to immediately find Cheren. Really, he shouldn't have known what Cheren looked like to know he'd found him; Alex hadn't been to Aspertia since he was a child, and Cheren was a relatively new gym leader. One look at the tall young man with perfectly pressed white shirt, polished shoes, and bright red tie and somehow Alex knew it was Aspertia City's gym leader. Dark hair at shoulder's length covered the man's head, and dark blue eyes fixated on the blond teenager. That wasn't what really caught Alex's attention; what was more surprising was who Cheren was talking to. Blue fur, a cream torso, and fierce red eyes on a distinctly jackal-like head…
He did a double-take. "Lucario!?" Alex cried. "What are you doing here!?"
Author's Note: Well, that was fun. Alex has made a few tactical errors in his earnest to show his old man what's what and is starting to realize it. Maybe old man Alistair had a point…
Fun fact: Alex was originally meant to recover from his injury over the course of weeks while taking care of sick!Lucario. I decided the first chapter dragged on long enough as it was, and chose to develop their friendship via other ways. But then I realized late into writing the first chapter that, well…Alex is walking and running around on a sprained ankle. Sure, the brace should help, but really he needs to rest and let it heal. Expect some sort of training montage come Vibrank so that he has time "off screen" to rest up so I'm not plagued by that damned injury the entire story. Who knows though, maybe walking on it for so long will have long-reaching consequences in the future. ;)
Another fun-fact: I didn't know Purrloin walked on their hind legs before I started this fanfic. I stopped watching the main-series anime when I was…what,thirteen, I think? Because I never had one in Pokemon Y, all I had to go by were the battle sprites from Gen V—which had Purrloin sitting on all fours like normal friggin' cats. I still wouldn't have known if I hadn't gone to Bulbapedia to do some fact-checking. It kind of forced me to adjust how Purrloin moved around during the battle. Eh, oh well…
Next chapter, fighty time, fighty time, fun, fun, fun…!
