Me: Wow! I actually got this one out a few days after completing the other one! O.O;
I guess I felt compelled to give you all something to chew on until I get the next one out there. You'll have to read the note at the end, about what it'll take to make it happen a little faster, because I don't feel like explaining it here.
Allan: What? Feeling lazy are we?
Me: I'm always lazy. Which is why I never do the 'Disclaimer' or the 'Review Call' at the end.
Allan: I thought it was weird how you always seem to have someone lined up for the jobs...
Me: No ship! Take it away, Suzie!
Suzie: Um, well... Lady would like to thank the creator's of Pokémon for a change. If it weren't for them, much the world's fantasy creatures would be plain and typical montsers. So, Lady says, 'Domo Arigato Gozaimasu', and hopes that they will continue to delight, and charm us, with their original ideas.
Me: On with the reading! :D
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Chapter Nine:
We won't Forget
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"Bu-Budewwww!" A tiny Budew was running faster than it had ever run before, chased by a much larger, and immeasurably angry, Torterra.
"Grraaawwrrrr!!!" Torterra crashed through brush and bramble trying to get it's small target. All reason lost, the once gentle Pokémon charged on, unwary of any impeding branches that tore and scratched at it's body.
The pain from the scratches only increased it's wild behavior, and blinded it further to the damage it was causing all around. From Torterra's own body, many leaves had been shorn off in it's mindless rage. Other Pokémon were laid out behind, indiscriminately wounded or killed. The maddened Pokémon raged on. No longer aware of why, or what, it was doing.
Suddenly, Budew dropped over a ledge, but Torterra didn't stop going. The senselessness that enveloped Torterra completely, body and spirit, blocked any chance of it's instincts warning it off. The maddened Pokémon raged on.
In the distance, far behind the scenes of chaos, a band of green-wigged men and women laughed uproariously. No one knew, except they, what had befallen their tortured victim. The maddened Pokémon raged on.
The ledge was coming still closer, as Torterra continued to approach it at a mad run. There were only ten yards left. Panting and heaving, with a thick lather about it's mouth, it put on an extra burst of speed. Five yards. Unlike it's large pursuer, Budew had dropped to safety just beyond the edge of what was really a steep cliff. Three yards! Letting out a victorious roar, Torterra jumped... But there was nothing to land on!
"Gwaaarrrgghhhraaaa!" It screamed once, and was silent. Gone...
Budew looked down from the ledge it was perched on. Far to the earth below, lay the huge Torterra. Peaceful once more.
The little Pokémon, in spite of it's earlier fear, began to descend the cliff.
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XXX
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Having left Eterna city behind them around noon, Allan and company had traversed deep into the mountainous foothills that completely surround the fabled, Mt Coronet. Evening shadows were closing in now, and even the peaks of some of the medium sized hills were totally covered by dusk. Night was falling over the area fast, and they would have to set up camp soon, if Allan was going to get some proper rest for the next day's hike.
This much, Gallade chose to voice aloud through telepathy, 'M-... Allan... Shouldn't we be looking for a place to get some rest soon?'
"What do you mean, 'we'? You're already in your Pokéball," Although Allan didn't want to hear anything about quitting for the night, he suppressed a smile at the thought of Gallade actually stopping himself from saying 'Master', for a change.
'I mean that we should stop, gather some supplies from the local plant life, and set up camp.'
"You make this sound like a picnic!" Allan rolled his eyes, "Besides, I don't want to stop and rest, until I can feel Veilstone's presence without sensing long-distance for it."
'Allan...' Gallade felt as though they were making a backwards slide, with Allan's refusal to stop and find a good place to catch some rest.
Allan sighed and said, "We've wasted enough time as it is, Gallade. Don't you understand that we are almost three day's late?" He stopped to let Gallade out, and looked him in the eyes, "Even with the trip always being two day's minimum by foot, Team Galactic will already have him there, no matter what we say about it. For all we know, they took him there by helicopter! And then where would we be?"
'... You... Are you genuinely worried about the Knight?'
"Why do you ask that?" Allan felt perplexed
Gallade shook his head, and answered with eyes wide, 'The day you put someone before Lapras, myself, or even you... I never thought I'd see you worried about anyone who would normally be an enemy...!'
Feeling a blush coming on, Allan scoffed as best he could, "Hah! Yeah right, Gallade! I'm not worried about him, he can take care of himself, for all I care... I just don't know if he can take torture, as well as me!"
'Torture? Do you really believe they would do that to him?' The Pokémon became fidgety and anxious.
"Um..." Not sure how to answer this question, Allan turned to look at the pristinely starry sky, "That... I don't know."
Moving on again, they walked in silence.
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XXX
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'So, what do you think of this?' Rex, the Lucario, powered a huge 'Aura Sphere' as he asked this of his unwilling audience.
'Size doesn't always mean it's strong, you know.' The other Lucario, a female, answered.
'What is that supposed to mean?' Rex asked again, annoyed this time.
'You heard me,' Lucario seemed satisfied, as she carefully hid her smirk, 'Just because it's big and shiny, doesn't mean it's strong, too!'
After this, their almost-civil conversation, dissolved into an 'Aura Sphere' contest to see who could make the strongest, and biggest!
"Hey, you two! Don't fight! We've got guests." Maylene had come running when she heard the clash of sphere on sphere, with a shock wave that almost broke several windows, "Did you hear me!? Rex!"
Both Lucario felt abashed. Letting themselves get competitive at a time like this... How disgraceful!
'Here I am playing, when I may never see Master Riley again...' Lucario put a paw to her forehead to hide her shame.
'I'm sorry,' Rex said, feeling just as put out.
'That won't help. We need to find a way to get him out of there,' Lucario's eyes were bright as she said this.
"Hey, Lucario... Didn't you want to see Riley's parents?"
Lucario looked up in surprise. Standing there, right behind Maylene, were the two people who could help fight the odds. But how Maylene had somehow understood, Lucario would never guess. Still...
"Hello, Lucario. I take it Riley's gotten himself into a big one this time." Rhonda said with a sad smile.
"Of course he has, honey. Why else would he send Lucario out with the SOS?" Baily, Riley's father, answered, leaning down to look Lucario in the eyes, "Tell me... What has befallen our son?"
Rather than speak, Lucario placed her paw on his forehead and transferred, by 'Aura Telepathy', everything of importance she could think of since the 'Iron Island' incident. Sharing what he learned by holding hands with his wife, Baily was both shocked and amazed, at the strange behavior of Riley and Lucario's target, among other things.
"Lucario, you should be proud of yourself. You got away and managed to get into contact with us, and now that we know all, we'll be alerting the council immediately about the direness of the situation." Baily ruffled Lucario's ears, and stepped aside with Rhonda to call the Aura Knights Council.
When they came back later, Maylene was the first to ask, "Hey, so... What happened to cousin Riley?"
'Ah, right. She's still out of the loop because she isn't nearly as aware as others in her family.' Rex shrugged, 'Not like telling her will make much of a difference, though.'
'Maybe. But have you ever known her to be satisfied, when she couldn't know something?' Lucario asked, pretty sure that Rex would be exasperated by this.
'Even if that's true, she isn't in on the whole, 'Aura Knights', trade.' Rex rolled his eyes, and added, 'Besides, you know how she gets when people tell her that her current abilities, 'just aren't enough'...'
'For an ordinary person, her abilities are fine. Better even, than the usual average Joe.' Lucario chuffed.
"... And anyway, Maylene, what would we tell your father, if you got hurt?" Rhonda was saying, when Lucario and Rex turned back to the main conversation.
"At any rate, because we are family, we're not actually allowed to go and try to save him... It's out of our hands, but they're sending someone over who can make better decisions about the situation." Baily added, though he seemed a little put out himself.
A long silence followed, as they reflected on their predicament.
Then, Maylene asked, "And what're we supposed to do? Just sit around here, waiting for a call that might not come for days!?"
Rex put a paw on her shoulder, and shook his head.
"Then what, Rex!?" Maylene shrugged his paw off and glared at him. Rex glared back, and took a fighting stance.
"What? You want to fight now? At a time like this!?"
Maylene didn't have time say any more, as Rex threw the first punch followed up by a volley of fast jabs and kicks. Neither Rhonda, nor Baily, nor even Lucario tried to stop Rex from attacking Maylene.
Not pleased that her own partner was attacking her, Maylene quickly took the offensive in the fight, and began pushing Rex back. The fury of her fists, and the grace with which Rex deflected and dodged her attacks, soon made it seem like they were synchronized in an elegant dance.
Not relenting in her attack, Maylene panted out, "Okay, Rex. *pant*pant* I get it now."
'Do you really?' Rex wondered, as he turned the table on his Trainer's efforts.
'Come on now, Rex! You know she can't hear you... Or me, for that matter,' Lucario rolled her eyes at the absurdity of the situation.
'Even if she can't, I know she understands why I'm attacking her. She has just enough maturity as a warrior, to grasp this much,' Rex ducked a punch and brought his tail into Maylene's stomach, 'Beside that, she's supposed to be training for her next gym battle right now, and she's been putting it off...'
"Oof! Geez, Rex! Lay off on the tail sweeps!" Maylene gasped.
'Well, just as long as she gets her training in,' Lucario smiled slightly.
When the fight was over, both Rex and Maylene lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling while catching their breath. Baily and Rhonda chose to approach them then.
"Well. Have you resolved your problems?" Baily asked gently.
"Yeah... I think I know what Rex was trying to say to me now," Maylene had had her eyes shut, and now, she opened them to look up at her uncle, "I forgot that I have my responsibilities as a Gym Leader to think about too. You, and the people you contacted, are doing the best you can. Me getting upset over it isn't helping any, and I'm not a baby anymore either, so..."
"Don't worry. I didn't raise my son to be a helpless weakling." Rhonda winked, and Maylene giggled.
"No, I guess not!" The young Gym Leader agreed, "I've never actually beaten him in a battle yet, either. And he promised me we'd have another match sometime when I'm stronger."
"That's the niece we know and love!" Baily laughed.
"Uncle Baily, I'm your only niece."
"Exactly why we can spend more time adoring you." Baily smiled again, and with his wife Rhonda, bid Maylene a fond farewell, as they had to return to their flower shop at the Lake Valor Resort.
"Yeah, and I have to concentrate on my training... Lucario, what are you going to do?" Maylene asked, when there was just her and the two Lucario left.
Lucario, by way of a simple explanation, pointed to a west-facing window, indicating that she had something to do in that direction.
"So you're leaving, too... Well, I guess I'd better wish you luck." Maylene packed some easy open Pokéfood cans in a cloth napkin, and handed it to Lucario, "It's so you know you have to come back. To return the napkin... And then have a battle, of course!"
Lucario smiled, somewhat.
'Humans like her are quite strange sometimes.'
'Tell me about it,' Rex responded.
'Maybe I'll let you win next time,' Lucario snickered
'And maybe I'll marry you!' Rex snapped.
Lucario waved goodbye as she walked out of the gym toward the foothills of eastern Mt Coronet.
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Later...
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The afternoon passed in a lazy mid Autumn hum, with many small Pokémon dashing about, gathering the various nuts and fruits that had dropped to the forest floor where they were in easy reach. With some of the younger ones chasing each other around, in little games they invented to make their small misadventures more entertaining, Lucario rolled her eyes at their willy-nilly playfulness. This was Autumn at it's richest; Leaves in brightly colored hues of red and gold, berry plants and fruit tree's were full to the bursting, and all around was the excitement of the young ones, who had never seen their world in such a vibrant state of being, squealing and dashing about, flying into leaf piles, while their parents looked on in amusement.
A few Pokémon cast curious looks at Lucario, as she passed them by, but none challenged her passage through their part of the forest.
Continuing on, she found that there was much damage on distant trees and foliage, much higher up the hill. Wondering what could have caused such destruction, Lucario proceeded to climb higher, and see what it was that had happened.
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XXX
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Dawn broke over the horizon shortly after Allan and Gallade stopped to catch their breath.
"It looks like Buneary's Trainer was misinformed about the time it takes to travel from one place to another, in Sinnoh."
'Maybe, Allan, but you needn't have pushed yourself so hard, all this way.'
"Gallade, we might not be that far from Solaceon right now, but I can finally sense Veilstone city. It must be huge!" Allan gave a low, appreciative whistle.
'It would have to be, to give off such a concentration of Aura's that we could sense it... Even here.' Gallade sighed, and nodded his agreement.
"Then again, though, it could have just been a very lazy Hiker who made that earlier assessment about the time it takes to get to Veilstone, from Eterna." Allan rolled his eyes and straightened up, ready to keep going until sometime later in the day.
The Pokémon tensed, 'Allan... The sun has just risen. It's morning. Don't you think you should get some rest now?'
"You're right, Gallade, but I don't want to stop just yet. I'm getting the feeling we have to keep going... Like there's something we're missing, and we won't find it here..."
'You mean you're getting a premonition? Only proper Aura Knights have ever been recorded having premonition's about the future, or a sense that they had to keep going, and discover why they felt drawn further than their bodies were willing to travel.'
"Yeah, enough with the history lesson, Gallade... I just... Know." Allan turned away, not wanting to see his partner's disbelief.
'No, Allan. I do believe you,' Gallade insisted, trying to help his friend understand, 'But you're tired. And right now, I can sense a huge threat from down in Solaceon town. For some reason, there are many strong Aura's there. All at once!'
"'All at once'... Well, that's interesting, but... I don't have the time or energy to worry about them. I want to do what we both agreed to do, and keep going until we're sure the Knight is fine." Allan nodded, and added as an afterthought, "And maybe we'll find out why I feel drawn to the eastern foothills."
Gallade thought about it in silence, and then said, 'Fine. We'll continue. But only because you're tired, and couldn't run away from a new Aura Knight if they suddenly showed up from Solaceon town, to the south of here.'
"Yeah, when I get my energy back, remind me to smack you." Allan turned and began to walk east once more.
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Later...
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'What do you think it was that called to you out here?' Gallade asked after some time had passed, and they were well and truly back in the wilderness.
"I can't be sure... But something about this feeling is familiar." Allan answered, looking around and about himself, ahead the lay of the land seemed as normal as it ever was.
'... I sense a wrongness, Allan...' Gallade was looking at a distant cliff as he said this, 'This... I know I've felt it before.' Gallade stared determinedly in that direction.
After a moment of silence, Allan said, "There. I'm being drawn there."
'What?' Gallade looked at Allan like he was just saying that to mock him, but when Allan looked back at Gallade, he had a somber expression.
"I think something tragic has occurred here."
Following quietly, Gallade watched as Allan slowly approached the foot of the cliff.
"Bu-Budew!"
"What the-!?" Allan ducked suddenly when he heard the Pokémon's cry, and a shower of 'Bullet Seed', passed safely overhead.
'Master Allan! Are you alright?' Gallade rushed to Allan's side and looked out at the surrounding trees, 'Where did that come from?'
"I really hoped you'd kicked the habit, you know," Allan stated dryly, " And you don't have to worry; The one who did it, was only firing a warning shot, to let us know we were getting too close."
'Too close to what?' Gallade asked, mystified.
By way of answer, Allan pointed to a large, something, that lay alee of the stone cliff.
'Oh,' The Pokémon put a hand over his mouth, and sensed about for the smaller Pokémon that shot the 'Bullet Seed', 'We won't hurt you, or the other one. Please, come out now!' Gallade called.
Stepping out from behind a small bush, the tiny Budew looked up at Allan and his partner, then it cried, "Bu-Budew, Budew-dew-dew!" : 'Why are you here? Leave Torterra and me, alone!"
"Torterra... That large shape is a Torterra?" Allan looked again at the Pokémon that was sheltered at the bottom of the cliff. Although it didn't move, or acknowledge that it knew they were there, Allan could still sense life in it. Though how it survived what caused it to be so injured, he would never guess.
"Budew! Bud-bud-Budew!" : 'Stay away from Torterra! He didn't do anything wrong to deserve you humans torturing him!'
'Tortured by humans?' Gallade knelt and held a hand out to the small Pokémon, 'What do you mean, little friend?'
"Budew..." : 'I'm not sure...'
"Does he know anything about these humans. Like their appearance, anything they might've said, or something unique about their actions?"
Gallade asked the smaller Pokémon these things, then turned to Allan, 'He's not so sure about what they did, and didn't really learn what they might've been saying. All he knows, is that they looked a bit like 'Grass type' people, because of their green hair.'
"Grass type, huh? I think I have a pretty good idea about who's behind this one," Allan turned to the Budew, "You have to believe... We aren't here to hurt you, or Torterra. We want to help."
The Budew looked at Allan long, and hard. In the distance, a flock of Staravia were squabbling over a bush of berries, arguing with a pack of Scyther about who needed the ripest one's more. A Staraptor swooped out of nowhere, and swatted the lot of them away from the bushes to let some smaller Pokémon, including, Bonlsy, Mime jr. and Skitty, as well as a small flock of Starly, get at the berries. The bigger Pokémon sighed, and, realizing their mistake by Staraptor's example, decided not to argue again for a little while.
Still concentrating on Allan, Budew finally answered, "Bud-Budew." : 'Okay, I'll try.'
'It's alright! He's agreed to let us help Torterra.' Gallade smiled in relief; Allan probably wouldn't have let it go, if he hadn't been allowed to help. This was better for all four of them.
'Allan, do you really think we have the strength to help them? What if our Aura's are too weak from over traveling, and on no sleep, no less?'
"I know what you mean, but I guess I'm on a roll with helping out those who've got nothing to do with me, lately." Allan replied, moving to kneel by Torterra's still form.
It was true. Allan had been doing quite a lot of good deeds lately. Was this the sign that things were starting to turn around? Was Allan, maybe considering a break from the Dark Knights after all?
"You know as well as I do, that thought's like that will get us killed..." Allan said quietly, from where he was by Torterra's head.
'Yes, Allan,' Gallade sighed. Although things had been different lately, it was still true that they weren't out of the fire yet.
"Bu-dew, Bud-dew-dew?" : 'He fell from the cliff, so I don't know, is he really going to be alright?'
'If my friend, and partner, has anything to say about it, you can very well bet on it, Budew!' Gallade tried smiling for effect. It seemed to work, as the little grass type Pokémon perked up and offered to help, by finding some supplies that they might need.
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A little later on...
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"I'm starting to feel that lack of sleep," Allan took a moment to wipe his brow on his sleeve and continued, "I can't say for sure whether or not Torterra's come back to his senses, but at least he's opened his eyes, proving that he's still very much alive."
'If he didn't have the move 'Ingrain', he might not be able to support himself, at this point. But at least he's using it by instinct.'
"Yes, that makes our part easier. But it doesn't solve things like a broken back. We have to keep going, Gallade."
'Right, Allan.'
While they worked to heal the mighty Pokémon, many other wild Pokémon had gathered to watch, and lend their silent support. A few, like the local Kadabra, offered to help refresh their energy while they worked to heal Torterra. On and on, they pushed their Aura's to the limit, and on and on, the Kadabra would use their powers of recovery to restore them. Finally, it was dusk, and yet Torterra's body had yet to be fully healed.
Gallade, at Allan's insistence, was sleeping to recover his power more naturally. When it got to be late enough, Allan promised, they'd switch and he would sleep for a little while, until it was time for him to take over again. Although Torterra was recovering somewhat on his own now, if they stopped assisting, then all their efforts would be wasted, as Torterra's strength, and life, slowly slipped away.
Lapras felt sad that it was unable to help, but held the fervent hope, that Allan and Gallade would somehow succeed.
Budew watched silently. Wishing very hard, that Torterra would be the same gentle giant he had once been.
"No, I can't hold out for much longer... But Gallade still needs to rest." Allan felt his Aura power beginning to wane. As much as he hated to admit it, he conceded that Gallade had been right, the previous night. They really did need to sleep properly.
'It is true, that the strain you're putting on your bodies is too much to be believed. But we know you can do this. You've been pushed much harder, before.' A Kadabra said solemnly, carefully reviving Allan's power as best as she could.
"I'm not worried about the strain. I'm worried about shortening our lives, or at least, Gallade's life." Allan answered tiredly, but was still grateful for the help.
An hour after the sun set beyond the mountains, admitting defeat, Allan asked Budew to check if Gallade was recovered enough to take over.
'I'm here, Allan. Let me handle this until midnight; I believe that I can last, at the very least, that long.'
"Yes... I'll try to get some sleep. Don't hesitate to ask for my help again, though. We can't lose after all that effort!"
Moving to a soft pile of leaves, set up by the concerned Pokémon who'd been watching them, Allan let out a groan as he lay down and was instantly asleep.
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Me: Well, I do believe this is some kind of record. I didn't deliver as early as I'd hoped, but this does tie in to what I was meaning to do.
Anyway, all, I have to ask you... In your reviews, could you answer me this: Should I introduce Cyrus in the next chapter, or just leave him unseen? That's right! It's the popular vote, from you, the readers! It'll be my tenth chappy, and I was wanting to do something special. Either way, I have it all planned out, but the sooner you review, the sooner I get started!
Allan: Yup. And let's just hope that I get to kick his butt, too!
Me: Su~re, Allan. I'll let you kick his butt. 9.9
Allan: What!? I can dream, can't I?
Me: Well, not that I expected any less after my bad performance, but I didn't actually get any reviews for my last chappy. That was a total lack of love from my favorite readers, but what can I do? You've all got lives, too, I'll bet. So while I can't do the Review call this time, let me remind you that any OC's submitted, have the potential to show up at any time during my fic. (Actually, depending on your answers, I may let another one or two out of the bag!)
So, when you have the time, review and tell me what you think!