The next day Finca and I hover above my two younger siblings as we race to the tree. Veer is in danger, I just know it.
Master, Finca asks. What will the tree be like when we reach it?
I blink at my dragon's question but don't respond. Finca growls at my quietness but doesn't push the matter further.
How much longer Lucario? She asks down to the canine as he keeps pace with us.
A hour or so, Lucario answers, his words coming to both me and Finca through our bond.
I nod and Finca tells the canine that we are pleased to have him come with us for when we go into the tree to find and save Veer.
I will enjoy going with you, Lucario answers to a question that I haven't heard.
We will enjoy the company, right master? Finca asks me.
I blink and then realize that my dragon has just asked me a question.
Uh yes we will Finca, I reply, trying to hide the fact that I had not been paying attention to what Lucario and my Guardian were talking about until just now.
My Guardian chuckles after reading my thoughts and spins. I clutch tightly to the spines along her neck, trying to not fall off.
Nice attempt master, my white dragoness hums as she leans forward and scrapes the ground with her claws, the dust from her wings making it impossible for me to see.
Stop here please.
My Guardian lands and I can begin to make out the faint branches on what seem to be not a living tree but more or less a rock formation in the form of a tree.
"There was supposed to be a tree here," I mutter to myself.
Lucario growls and turns to lead us into the tree, closer to finding Veer. We walk softly, not wanting to harm anything. Finca can hardly move through this short tunnels and I feel sorry for her. Lucario stops and a dense buzzing fills the air.
"What is . . . ?"
I don't get to finish because the dark canine shoves me down to the ground as a Hyper Beam attack blasts through where I was just standing. Finca snarls and throws a ball of dark, smoky flames at the unknown creature that tried to attack me.
Get on your dragon, Lucario commands as Finca advances.
"Right," I nod and leap up onto her back.
Finca growls and launches herself upward. I close my eyes as the rock roof comes closer and closer to us.
Now dragoness.
Probably Lucario, I think as I open my eyes to find that we are now hovering in mid-air with rocks floating around us.
How did you . . . ? I begin to ask but Lucario walks out into my sight, a long slash down his right arm.
I'm impressed, the dark furred canine mutters as Finca sniffs the wound.
It is only a surface wound. I can heal it if you would like, my dragon requests, an offer I've never heard her make before.
I can handle it, Lucario replies. But thank you for the offer.
Again with the unusual behaviors of both my Guardian and this dark furred canine that I released from a very old staff. Finca lands and the rocks drop.
How did you do that? I ask.
Simple, my dragon replies. It seems I can stop time to some extent and that helped Lucario and I fend off three mineral rocks from pounding you into unconsciousness.
I nod and Lucario motions for us to follow, with me still on Finca's back.
Up ahead should be the chamber that we need, the blue furred canine mutters as we walk on.
With every step Finca takes I can sense Veer more and more. We are getting close. My starter will soon be back with me.
In here, Lucario motions as he slips into a narrow chamber.
Finca looks at it for a second before backing up.
I cannot enter it. It is too small for me to go through, the white dragoness comments.
I lift a hand and smirk.
Not a problem, I say before sending a blast of my aura, a spinning purple ball, into the rock chamber and making it wider.
Lucario stares at the now wider chamber and then back at me and Finca.
You control aura? He asks.
I nod and Finca shoves the canine aside as we enter the chamber. A purple light shines from the roof and meets with a large collection of crystals, all purple or pink.
"Beautiful," I mutter out loud.
Finca nods and Lucario slides in, his left arm holding his injured right arm.
Careful dragon, he warns before walking forward.
Lucario stops at a large crystal formation that is apart from the others. It doesn't gleam but inside just sits there. Lucario bends down and focuses his aura on the crystal formation.
It can't be!
His cry of shock causes Finca to growl and I to slide off her back.
"What is it?" I ask.
Sir Aaron, my master, he is here and is sealed in this crystal, the blue furred canine stammers as one of his paws touches the crystal.
Sir Aaron? The one who legends say saved these lands from destruction is here? Finca questions as she walks over and sniffs the crystal.
Mew!
I blink and look up as a tiny pink cat darts in. I growl and approach it, figuring this is the one responsible for my starter's disappearance.
"Tell me where my partner is," I snarl.
Mew! The pink cat replies before giggling.
A shift in the ground causes me to panic and lose my footing. I slide and try to grab anything but both my dragon and Lucario are too far away.
"Finca! Lucario!" I shout as I begin to claw at the dirt floor, which only makes things worse for me.
A distant rumble is heard and I wonder to myself if this thing is going down. A column used to keep the roof stable breaks and smashes down on the back of my neck. Stars flash in front of my eyes before the world around me goes dark . . .
Tamli! Finca roars as she sees that I am unconscious.
Her view turns to the cat and a deep growl rises in her throat.
Give back what you have of my master's! She snarls.
Lucario dodges another falling column and turns to Finca.
We have to get out of here, this place is coming down, he comments.
I know that, Finca replies as she takes flight and launches a shadow ball at the cat, who dodges the blast and giggles like it thinks this is funny.
Finca! Lucario growls as he dodges another falling column. We have to move fast.
I am going nowhere, Finca snaps back as she tries to swipe at the cat with her claws but again the pink cat dodges.
Master!
This echoing cry makes Finca pause and turn her head to the room's entrance. A tiny blue canine crouches on the floor, its red eyes focused on Tamli's unconscious form. The tiny creature runs up to Tamli and shakes him gently, trying to get him to wake up.
Master I am here! The young pokemon cries.
Finca growls and Lucario starts to talk something over with Mew. The white dragoness turns and walks over to where the tiny creature is.
Who are you? She asks.
The young pokemon squeaks and jumps back, startled by Finca's quick appearance.
Who are you? The young creature asks.
The name is Finca, I am Tamli's Guardian, Finca replies.
I am Veer, Tamli's starter pokemon, Veer answers.
A sudden flash of green light causes both Finca and Veer to turn and look. Lucario is slowly vanishing and the purple crystal that holds Sir Aaron is as well. Finca nods as the two finally vanish and turn to Veer. The young pokemon quivers and jumps back as a still unstable rock falls down and seals the entrance, covering Tamli from his chest down. Finca snarls and smashes her claws against the rock but it does nothing. Veer says nothing for a moment and then glows with a bright white light. Finca growls as the tiny pokemon is replaced by an exact copy of what just left, another Lucario.
Hang on master, Veer says as a spinning ball of blue energy shoots out from his hands and breaks the rock.
Aura Sphere, how nice, Finca mutters to herself as she grabs Tamli and the two walk out.
When I come to I see a Lucario looking at me in worry. Did we find Veer? He is safe? I get up and walk over to the Lucario.
Master, the Lucario says. I am glad you are safe.
Wait, this Lucario is Veer! Since when did he evolve?
The others await your return, Veer says as he leads me over to Tronay and Santerous, who have all their pokemon out.
Is this goodbye then? I ask.
Yes it is Tamli, Veer says, saying my name for the first time since I met him.
I nod and walk over to my dragon and my sister and brother. The three of us wave and Finca nods her head at Veer, a question he asked I assume. We walk into a glowing black portal that Finca must have made for us to go home. I am glad I could come here and meet with Veer and all the other pokemon. All that I learned here I will cherish forever so fair well Veer and my other pokemon. One day I may be able to return but until then be safe.