Road Trip chapter 15
"Hey Aurora… You know what I just remembered?"
Aurora looked up from the gravel road. "What's that Riley?"
"Back on the ferry ride, you dragged me to that window to see something… What were you looking for Aurora?"
"Oh." She shifted her back pack a little so it sat on her shoulders a little more comfortably. "I was looking for a Phione. I met one once… Sweet little thing…"
Riley was walking besides her trying to make sense of what she was telling him. "You just wanted to see a Phione, because you thought it was sweet?"
She shrugged her shoulders and started to walk as though she was on a tight rope, arms outstretched. "That, and because we connected our hearts. It was magical… those experiences always are…" She sighed contently.
Riley just muttered an "oh," unsure of what to say. So onwards they walked up the path to Snowpoint city. The fact that he was this far in his training was almost overwhelming to him, and the fact that he was traveling with someone he enjoyed only made things that much better for him. He felt a warm and content grin spread across his face. He adjusted his pack and slowed down his pace a little. He wanted this to last as long as possible, never end. He was a good two inches behind Aurora before she turned to face him with her puzzled face.
"Riley? Why are you slowing down? Don't you want to get to Snowpoint soon as possible?"
"No, not really..." He looked at her eyes behind his hat, wondering if he'd ever have the courage to say what he meant. "Maybe we could even detour a few times on the way up! I figured you'd know a bunch of cool places to check out."
Aurora pondered on that thought for a little while. "Come to think of it… There are a bunch of awesome caves we could check out on our way up north… You like caves right?"
Riley could feel himself just beaming. "Heck yeah I love caves! You should know that by now Aurora."
She smiled. "Yeah, I guess I really should huh? There is also a lake I want to show you… one of the three lakes of Sinnoh?"
"Really now?" Riley raised an eye brow. "One of the lakes huh… I must admit the only large body of water I've ever been close to is the ocean."
Aurora smiled softly. "Yeah I kind'a figured as much… and did you know that there are actually four lakes of Sinnoh? Really exciting! I hope to find it one day…"
Riley looked at Aurora, her eyes were fixed on the empty path in front of her, and a smile faded from her face. He looked down at his feet, and dropped his shoulders. "Why are you sad Aurora? I thought you were just excited about it?"
"Oh I am, but I… I'm just afraid that once I explore for it, it won't be there, and my efforts will have been for nothing." She looked down.
Riley looked at her. "I'm sure it won't have been for nothing, I think so mainly because you would have proved one of two things. Either that it doesn't exist or that it does!" He looked at her reassuringly.
Aurora returned his gaze, and smiled. Only a few seconds later Aurora flew in the air due to a net trap. As she was flung up in the air Riley watched in awe and shock. She swung inside the net by the tree branch before Riley tried to get her down. Right as he was about to call out his Skarmory someone grabbed him from behind immobilizing him. Just before he was flung to the ground, he heard Aurora call his name. Riley got a mouthful of dirt before he could try to stand back up again. When he looked up at Aurora, he saw her in bindings and fighting to break free from the grunts' grasp. She was thrashing and wailing about with a gag in her mouth.
"Shut her up! Just shut her up already!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying! She's squirming too much! I can't inject the sedative!"
"Aurora!" Riley slowly got to his knees and tried to lunge at the two grunts, but with his dumb luck, they moved out of the way and he crashed into the tree. By time he had gathered his bearings, Aurora had grown silent, and the grunts were already making a run for it.
Riley stared in shock, instinctively he got up and tried to run to catch them but they eventually out ran Riley. When they were out of sight, Riley put his hands on his knees and struggled to catch his breath and fighting back tears. When he looked up, he saw something that caught the sun. He walked over to it and examined it, it was a Pokéball. When he picked it up and looked at it closer, he recognized it as Aurora's.
"A- Aurora… Lucario! C'mon, help me out here!" Just as Lucario was emerging from his Pokéball so was Aurora's Pokémon. Standing before Riley was his Lucario, and Aurora's Gardevoir. Her eyes were sad, and her face grim/ Riley quickly understood that due to their bond as trainer and Pokémon, Gardevoir understood what had happened to Aurora. "Gardevoir… You're helping us too right?"
Yes Riley, I am. Aurora is my trainer and I cannot abandon her!
Riley looked all around him, to see were the voice was coming from, he was a little shocked. Then just as he realized were the voice came from, he turned slowly to face the determined Gardevoir. "D- Did you just… talk to me?"
Telepathically yes I did Riley. Aurora and I always talk like this hence forth I could be a great asset to your search. Now if you do not mind, we have to find her! Gardevoir started to walk forward.
Riley and Lucario followed the Gardevoir, and they slowly broke into a jog. "Lucario… Try that… trick we were learning… as a surprise!" The Lucario gave a grunt and a nod, and then gave a focused look ahead. "Gardevoir, wait!" They halted.
What is the meaning of this? We need to find her! Riley we do not have time to stop or wait!
"Just be patient Lucario is working on that… But I want to know why you can talk to me telepathically all of a sudden." His face was stern.
Gardevoir gazed at him. I always could, but most of the time people do not want to hear me… But you and Aurora do. I also trust you; you've built up a bond between Aurora and her Pokémon. If given permission, you could command her Pokémon.
Riley gazed at Gardevoir. Lucario broke the silence by grunting, and pointing in a direction. "You sure Lucario?" He nodded and Riley nodded in approval. "C'mon let's go find her!" They all ran, Riley leading the two Pokémon along. The forest was letting up finally, going from its thick brush and logs that could cause you to trip, so a more open space, almost rocky. Riley was gaining speed. Finally they stumbled upon a dirt road.
Riley Looked both ways, then when he was looking down towards the right, he heard a jeep rushing towards him from behind. He turned slowly, and moved out of the way just as he recognized the driver, and two passengers. "Lucario quick, you have to use aura sphere to stop the jeep! Gardevoir, you have to immobilize the two men!" With the Pokémon in play, Riley ran to catch up with the jeep. He winced at the loud bang the sphere gave when Lucario jumped in front and blasted the jeep, and watched as the two grunts froze. He got in back as the car started to slow down. He looked at Aurora, she was still out cold, and he couldn't carry her away, in enough time to get far from these grunts as possible.
Riley looked up at the grunts, and he saw them want to quiver. He opened each door and kicked the two grunts out onto the ground, leaving them still immobile. "Lucario, Gardevoir get into the jeep now!" He turned the key hoping it'd start after the blast that Lucario gave it to the front. His luck prevailed and it roared to life. He punched the gas and they took off.
Are you insane? You're only 14 years old! Do you even know how to drive this thing?
"Not a clue! But we're getting somewhere aren't we?" Just then Lucario pointed ahead with the widest eyes Riley has ever seen. It was a small ledge that leads right into a giant mountain, with a little cave entrance. They all looked in terror and screamed bloody murder. Riley tried to steer the car away but only caused it to spiral out of control, and they all flew into the cave jeep and all.