Me: Well, I took my sweet time writing this one up! :( Really, I'm feeling a bit uncool about it. I just hope my loyal readers are just that, and that they aren't too fed up to forgive me for the unscheduled lateness.

Anyways, I'll tell you one thing: I have made it my sole assignment to always write (at least) 14 pages for you to enjoy. It's true! I'm stubborn like that, but it's probably because I refuse to cut corners about it. I treat it like real writers training, and go with it.

Riley: Are you going to get around to the disclaimer... Or will someone else have to do it?

Me: Yeah, about that... The first character I asked caught a nasty cold, so I asked someone else do it, but they haven't gotten here yet...

Sam: I'm here!!!

Me: Oh, she's just arrived. Never mind, then.

Sam: Hi, Riley! So, do I just do the disclaimer, and that's it?

Riley: Er, that's right! (What's she doing here!?)

Sam: OK! The disclaimer goes as follows! Lady does not own: Pokemon, any location you can find on the official Pokemaps, Character's that aren't her own originals, and finally, she does not own butter... Wait! Isn't it supposed to be toast!?

Me: Um, enjoy your reading! ^.^;

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Chapter Five:

Did that just happen?

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Allan and Gallade were running, from what, was still a fresh shock of disbelief for the two.

Neither of them had expected to run into an Aura Knight so soon... Especially that particular Knight! Puffing and panting, Allan was having some difficulty taking it all in. 'It was amazing, though, I didn't think those two Pokemon were that powerful just because they were enraged... But I do know that they were stronger than me; Surprise was the only way to take them, otherwise I'd have lost too...'

'Those are valid points, Allan, but I think you made the right choice. Charging in there to stop those wild Pokemon before they could do something they'd regret, I mean.' Gallade signaled that they should slow down

"I know we did the right thing..." as testy as Allan felt just then, there was something nagging at the back of his thoughts, "Gallade..."

'Yes, what is it?'

They had both stopped moving altogether to catch their breath, and Allan indicated they should move into the bushes and trees off the road. 'Damn! We were running on an easily followed track this whole time!'

'Oops...' Gallade agreed, having heard that thought

"But that's not why I wanted to talk," Allan shook his head and sat to calm himself, "I'm positive I felt a group of smugly satisfied people as we were running towards the Knight that was under attack."

'Now that you mention it...'

"I wonder now, if it was Team Galactic. If it was them, then that would explain why they were feeling satisfied during all that unrest. Even ordinary people should have felt the danger that pervaded the forest when those Pokemon went berserk!"

'You're right,' Gallade nodded, 'But what are you going to do about it? The fastest way back to them is past that Knight...'

Here, Gallade stopped and became concerned, 'Master Allan, that Knight was very beaten up when we ran away...'

"I don't think so!"

When Allan had caught on to what Gallade was saying, he immediately rejected the idea. It was one thing to think that the pleased group of people might be Team Galactic, but quite another to think that if they were, they'd go after a beaten Knight and his Lucario.

'But Allan, that would be just what they do next-'

"And I'm saying that because the Knight isn't dead, he'll be fine healing himself and his Lucario with the power of his Aura, without us! And don't say he might get caught in that case, because it's unlikely a more experienced Knight will fall prey to a small gang of jerks who were experimenting on wild Pokemon!"

'... Unlikely... But not impossible,' Gallade seemed even more distressed than ever, 'Are we going after the people who did that to the Ursaring and Abomasnow?'

"Wait, rewind a minute!" Allan said, suddenly thinking of something

'What, what's wrong?' Allan looked at Gallade with an accusing expression

"You've got that Knight's signature, haven't you?" Gallade didn't respond, and Allan continued, "It's because you evolve from the Ralts family, I'll bet... So, what, is he still in trouble or something?"

'I...' Gallade seemed to be looking for some explanation, but then answered as clearly as he could, 'Well, he might be.'

"So instead of, 'they're past the Knight', it's; 'he's possibly in danger with the people we needed to pass him by to investigate'..."

Allan rubbed his forehead, and let out a mix between a groan and a sigh.

If the Knight really is in trouble, then Allan had overestimate him. But if the Knight was fine, going back there risked getting into another fight to avoid being caught. And if they ended up in a fight, Team Galactic or not, those people were criminals and would, possibly, exploit the situation.

As far as Allan could see, this didn't play out well for him in any sense. Going back, even for all the right reasons, would get him into a spot too tight to simply slip away from. There wasn't any point taking those risks when a fully qualified Knight could take perfect care of himself, by himself!

Coming to his final decision, Allan said, "We're moving forward without investigating those strange people... I will not be argued with."

Gallade blinked his surprise, but didn't say anything. It was pointless now, to try and change Allan's mind. But maybe after they both cooled off a bit, they'd be able to examine the situation more calmly, and maybe, Allan would try to make sure the Knight was fine after all.

Picking themselves up, they moved away through the trees, off of the thin dirt road that led to the fateful gorge. Although Gallade felt no less worried about the fate of the Knight, he quietly admitted to himself, 'It will be alright, and if something does happen, Allan won't just let it slide... He'll fight for the justice he was denied growing up.'

"What are you smiling about all of a sudden?"

'Nothing. I just think things will turn out fine, even if you don't get as worried as me about the Knight and his partner.'

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XXX

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"It's fine this way Lucario," he sighed and stood up, "No one who's truly evil would have helped us, when they had a chance to watch us suffer."

'And maybe he plans to exploit your ability to forgive...'

These words were still fresh in the minds of the two that exchanged them. But rather than bicker over the choices of a stranger, they'd prefer to ask the boy himself, in person. It would save needless arguing, and it didn't hurt to have the honest truth, though Lucario doubted they'd get it, even if they did ask him!

And yet, her senses couldn't lie to her. She'd sensed something she wouldn't have associated him with before, if he hadn't come running up suddenly to save them.

'I'll just have to believe that the boy's Aura wasn't playing tricks on me... It felt... As though he were truly concerned, not just for us, but for the two Pokemon as well...'

"Are you tired, Lucario?" Riley asked looking back at his friend

'No, Riley, I'm fine... I have a lock on the boy's Aura since we were in close enough contact.'

"Really!?" Riley was stunned by this news; Having a trace on the boy's individual Aura signature, would provide an easy way to locate him if he was less than a day away, "You're sure it's his?"

'Master Riley, I don't know if you realized this, but his Aura is heavily laced with his history and emotions... I couldn't mistake him for someone else even if I wanted to.'

After a pause Riley said, "I did sense that his will is a very confused, but strong, source for his mastery of the Aura within him..."

'I wouldn't pity him until he's safely locked up in a holding cell!' Lucario dismissed Riley's concern with a scoff, 'I mean, that he's no more trustworthy than he was on Iron island, until he comes to us himself and surrenders.'

"And did he indicate any pride in having destroyed that ship at Iron island?" Riley's tone had a warning edge to it, telling Lucario to drop the matter until it could be properly addressed

'I'm sorry, Riley.' was all Lucario said in response

Riley sighed and said, "It's fine. I just think we need both sides of the story in order to pass fair judgment."

He was right. Whenever Riley said things like this, he was at his wisest, and it has served him well in the past to ask both sides what their situation was, to make them easier to understand. And that dues would be payed out with balance.

"At any rate, I think we should be going on now. We won't catch up to him by just standing here."

"Yeah, except that being stationary would make you easier to capture!"

Looking up the craggy wall of the small cliff, Riley and Lucario saw several members of Team Galactic closing in on them, with their Pokeballs at the ready! As they moved now to get away, one of their attackers leapt away from the cliff calling out an Armaldo, and commanding it to use 'Rock Tomb', trapped them in a moving wall of stone!

"No!" cried Riley and Lucario simultaneously

Neither of them had the strength to fight off a pack of Team Galactic thugs, and their Pokemon! It was now that Riley regretted his lack of recent training to keep him limber. He knew that he'd been doing one too many missions lately, but crime was at an all time high in Sinnoh, and the AKC couldn't afford to spare any willing, or able, Knights to fight it back down. He was needed.

"Oh, yes! We've got 'em!" shouted a grunt enthusiastically, "We are so getting rewarded for catching him alive!"

"Yeah. Now Master Cyrus can 'question' him about who he's with." agreed another with a dark chuckle

These men were not making themselves very popular with Lucario, who, was doing her best now to fight back anyway. She would never surrender willingly to a bunch of cowardly bullies! But it was futile, and both Riley and Lucario had pushed themselves well past their natural limits. They were exhausted from the previous fight. It seemed now, that they were going to be caught and imprisoned... Was there any chance of being saved twice? The odds were too slim.

Lucario had fainted, and Riley dropped to one knee beside her. Picking her up and holding her to his chest, he silently promised to get them out of this, even if it meant risking his very life... He could not allow an enemy to learn of the Aura Knights, or the role they played in fouling up Team Galactic's recent destructive plans. Recalling her to the Pokeball, Riley stood... And surrendered.

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XXX

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'Master Allan, wake up,' Gallade nudged his friend and then said, 'It's the second day since that close shave with the Knight... And you need to eat something.'

Allan sat up, and glared at Gallade for disturbing him, "We had a deal that I would sleep until after dawn, to keep up my strength, because you insisted that it would be fine..."

'Yes... I'm sorry,' Gallade looked at Allan with a remorseful frown, then said, 'I found some mushrooms by a tree that still had lots of ripe nuts on it.'

Holding forth his spoils, Gallade continued, 'I also caught some trout, and found some peaches.'

"Jeez, what's the occasion?" Allan cried incredulously

'Nothing...' Gallade seemed to blush, 'I just thought an extra wide variety of food today would help with keeping up your health.'

"I heard that," Allan's tone turned hard, "You got these peaches at that other tree, didn't you?"

Gallade gasped at being caught so easily. It was true that he had just been thinking about what he was looking for, when he went back to the area where they had helped the Aura Knight and his partner.

'I... I just...' lost for words, the Pokemon went silent and waited

"Why?" Allan asked after a long pause

'Because, I felt something strange on the same day that we ran away from them.' Gallade looked at Allan straight on, and continued, 'I knew you would never agree to backtracking if it meant risking discovery a second time. So I waited 'til you were too tired to notice me leaving, to check for myself that things were alright...'

"Is that why you weren't nagging me to rest those first two nights since..."

A statement. And Allan seemed to be brooding about Gallade's actions, glancing over now and then, to size his Pokemon up for honesty.

"You weren't followed?"

'No,' Gallade answered

"You found traces of another struggle while you were back there?"

'Yes,' the Pokemon frowned now

"And you're certain now, that it was Team Galactic, and that they actually captured the Knight?"

'... Yes,' he looked Allan in the eyes now, showing his very real worry

Sighing, Allan stood up, "Then we will just have to find the losers who would dare attack a fellow Aura user."

'You mean it?' Gallade looked at Allan with hope that he was true to his words

"I never say anything but the truth," was the dark answer the Pokemon received

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Later...

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'This river is very refreshing,' Lapras smiled, and then said, 'But, Gallade, why didn't you get me to help with the trout? I would've liked to get to swim in water sooner...'

From within his Pokeball, Gallade replied, 'Yes, well, I had to leave you with Allan in case he needed protection from wild Pokemon, and I wasn't around to be the one.'

'I see,' Lapras seemed content with Gallade's answer

Earlier that morning, they had been looking for a trail to follow. Team Galactic had been very thorough, though, and the trail that they had decided on was faint, and probably a dead end. But, Dark Squire or not, Allan was a trainee of Aura, and would not surrender the search easily. Even if it meant choosing random Grunts that weren't aware of the situation, one way or another, Allan had to learn if the Knight had been taken to a common somewhere, that all prisoners of Team Galactic eventually arrived at. The probability of this wasn't too high, considering the intelligence of the man who leads the Galactic, but then, it probably wasn't all that unusual to catch him in a double, or even triple, bluff!

'Master Allan?' Lapras paused his swimming to look back at Allan, 'Gallade and I were just asking if you think we should go back for a bit...'

"Why?" Allan was puzzled by this

'Because there's nothing more along this route, and Gallade thinks we should backtrack a little to see if we missed something... I agree.'

"Alright. If we're not getting anywhere with this direction, it only makes sense to turn back and look for another route." nodded Allan

Truthfully, though, Allan was just starting to get a creeping sense of foreboding, that wouldn't be shaken off with thoughts of the task at hand. This feeling was something that follows you, even to the restroom, on Spire island. It was certainly familiar, like the feeling you get at the hidden base of the DK's.

Shaking his head, Allan looked forward and told himself to relax. Whatever was going on quite suddenly, wasn't going to affect him if he concentrated on what he needed to.

'Is something wrong, Master Allan?'

He looked down at the Pokeball that the voice had emanated from, and answered, "No, not yet, Gallade. But, I can't quite shake this-this sense of oncoming peril."

'I sense it, too...' Gallade's tone had a frown in it

'I might feel a little anxious myself, but...' Lapras didn't complete what it was going to say, but it's thoughts were easily read

"I won't surrender a fight that can be won, but I won't risk you two either," Allan paused to think then continued, "If this feeling means that one of the other Squires have come to 'check up' on me already, then I'm going to have to clear my thoughts a bit for the... Encounter."

'Of course...' the two Pokemon agreed

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Later still...

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"The sun is starting to go down..." Allan mused blankly

His meditations had helped him to smooth away any dissenting thoughts that would get him into trouble with the Squire who would come to evaluate his status. Depending on who was sent to occasionally stalk him, Allan may find himself on one end of a very sharp sword, and a bad temper that wasn't raised to believe in forgiveness. This, perhaps, is the most terrifying part of being monitored. 'I didn't exactly make a lot of progress on the way to my assigned goal...' he thought with an unhappy sigh, 'Naturally, that will be played against me, even if I couldn't have made too much distance so soon, anyway.'

Lapras had been called back a while ago, and now it was Gallade who walked beside Allan. And though the sense of threat hadn't yet faded, they had grown slightly used to it. Therefore, it was no surprise when Kale, Master Hail's squire, stepped out into their path with a nasty smirk on his face, and said, "Boo!"

"So it was you they sent..." Allan said

"Yeah, what of it?" Kale had a manic look in his eyes that could only mean he was interested in a fight

Allan sighed, "I would hope that you understand it's impossible, even for me, to have made much progress beyond landfall, and minor penetration."

Kale lost his smirk, and glared at Allan's impudence, "You think that's a excuse for giving me lip?"

"'An excuse'. And no, I'm not giving you 'lip'," Allan shook his head, "Just a status report... Like you were told to receive, and relate, to the Highest Masters."

Kale let out a spew of colorful swear words, and brandished a Pokeball, "You, f***in' shitbag! You're just asking for it, you know!"

"Yeah, because you won't let me go without attempting to punish me for your own selfish reasons..."

Allan's eyes had a coldly blazing light, shining faintly in them now. He was starting to feel angry. Not a good way to go into a fight, which was something proven in many battles throughout history. Rage is useless to someone who truly wants to win for justices sake. Taking a deep breath, Allan relaxed, and focused his Aura for the inevitable fight that was going to break out any second now.

Glaring each other down, Kale gave an extra dirty look to Gallade.

'So he still has the grudge...' Gallade's thoughts whispered quietly to Allan

'He'd have to if he's put any real effort into training himself since,' Allan answered through thought in turn, 'I suppose we should try to expect anything, at least, based upon the simple fact that we haven't fought him for more than a year.'

"F***! You'd better quit that flimsy telepathy game and start talking out loud, or else!!"

Allan obliged, "Or else, what? Enough with the foul language, it's not very becoming."

Releasing another stream of cuss words that would've made Master Hail proud, Kale loosed his Pokemon from it's Pokeball, and commanded it to attack!

"Magnezone, use 'Sonic Boom'! Don't let that bastard get away!!"

"Gallade!" Allan cried, and Gallade, reading Allan's thoughts, moved to complete their strategic maneuver

"What the hell! There's more than one of them!" Kale was looking left and right at Gallade's doubles, that surrounded him and his Magnezone, "Wait... They're just copies!"

"Now, Gallade!"

Suddenly, all the doubles rushed at Magnezone, and then, unleashed a fast volley of 'Close Combat'! Kale swore even more as his Pokemon crashed very near to where he stood, but instead of staying down, the Magnezone rose back up into the air and crackled threateningly with electricity. The fight wasn't over yet!

"You... You'll pay for that!" spat a thoroughly P.O.'ed Kale, "Magnezone, go one more time, 'Metal Sound'!"

But Gallade was hidden in a fast moving crowd of copies! As it moved forward again, Kale called for a new attack, "Use 'Discharge'!"

Rising up a little higher than it had been hovering, Magnezone's electrical units glowed briefly and a shock of electricity filled the air!

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XXX

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Although it probably wasn't nighttime, Riley came to in a dark, concrete-walled room.

"Un! Those jerks didn't have to hit quite so hard... I chose to surrender!"

He groaned sorely as he said this, and sat up holding his right elbow. But realizing this shouldn't be his first priority thought, he turned to examine his belt that held Lucario's Pokeball. And then, sighed in relief. They may have beaten the crap out of him, but they hadn't taken Lucario away from him yet.

'Does this mean you're finally awake?' a familiar haughty tone greeted him

"Lucario... Are you alright?" Riley asked letting her out to sit next to him

'I should be asking you that question,' she leaned a little closer and looked at his elbow, 'I don't believe this...! They really did a number on you, I think it's broken.'

"It probably is. But I'm less worried about my arm, than what may come next." Riley sighed, and settled back against the rough concrete, looking around, "It doesn't look like there're any windows in this cell."

'Or weak points,' was Lucario's dry response, 'I was awake hours before you. I spent that time trying to sense for some kind of escape route. The best bet is with the door, and I don't really like those odds with you in this state.'

"Heh, neither do I, but I don't think we'll accomplish much if we do nothing."

Lucario snorted, 'And what do you propose we do? In case you hadn't noticed, you're pretty beaten up, and I'll have a much harder time trying to protect you if we move to escape too soon.'

"I know, I know... I'm just a little frazzled right now, because I failed to protect you..."

Confusion crossed Lucario's face, 'And when did you promise that?'

"Admittedly?" Lucario nodded, "While you were unconscious. It was after you fainted trying to fight off those Galactic grunts."

'Then I guess it doesn't count as an official promise.' Lucario said rolling her eyes at him

Riley laughed at her antics. Lucario is truly the sweetest! When she feels the need to cheer him up, she really gets it done.

Reaching his good hand over, Riley placed it on her shoulder and said, "Thank you, my friend. I guess I was being a bit foolish."

'A bit?'

Riley laughed again, and shifted himself to face the door. Following his gaze, Lucario sensed the approaching grunt, and steeled herself for a close confrontation. But before anything more happened, Riley silently called he back to her Pokeball, and hid it away where it had been before.

'Why are you putting me away?' Lucario didn't like being in her Pokeball when Riley was in danger of being hurt again

'It's alright, Lucario, I won't wait for the first strike if I'm in danger of being hurt some more... I promise!' he silently thought to her

'You'd better...' she quietly answered

Then, the door opened, and standing silhouetted against the light that rushed in, stood Commander Mars!

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Me: Okay, first off, I want to ask your opinions about my typing 'Aura' all the time... I mean to say; Should I lay off on all the capitals? That includes my capitalizing words like, 'Knight', 'Master', 'Squire', and any other word like that... The Pokemon attacks, however, are not in that category, because that is how they are supposed to look, officially.

Riley: (Yawns) Yeah, I'm sure they find this so fascinating after all that sudden action you included in this chapter.

Me: Your opinion is redundant! I ask, because it's how I'll grow as a writer! And if you don't want me to have you killed off, instead of what I'm planning, I'd suggest keeping nasty comments like that to yourself!

Riley: (Totally lost for words!)

Master Shock: It's my turn to do the review call, is it.

Me: Was that a question, or a statement?

Shock: (Writes something in a black booklet)

Me: Okay! Yes! It's your turn! (Geez!)

Shock: Lady U. would like to thank the following for her most recent reviews... Sanada'srose, yuki-neechan, Yereton, Silver-Love14, and Selhyia... There really aren't too many, are there.

Me: Yeah? Well I'm grateful. And as always, remember to review, so I can get all your opinions!