Had he done the right thing?

This question was burned into his mind ever since that terrible day.

He had done his training with his friend, his sister-in-arms, to fight back against those who would dare to strip away their freedom. Honing his fighting skills and aura with her, it hadn't been until he stood above a trainer that he realized what he had truly done. Looking down at his paws, he smelled the blood on him, seeing how it speckled across the nearby ferns and his fur. It brought him out of his rage, and a nameless terror swept over him.

The Fierce One wept, and his only comfort came in the form of ebony scales. Rippling around him, doing their best to ease his weary mind.

Yet he was alone.

While he carried Kairi to the cave, the revelation of what she had found out from knocking her head, he had been deep in thought. By the time that he laid there on the bedding, staring up at the moonlight that went through the cracks in the ceiling, he was glad that he had averted a potential disaster like so long ago.

But three things bothered him.

Firstly, the Graceful One seemed protective of the girl more than being commanding of her. When she didn't show up, he couldn't recall a time where Milotic had been genuinely worried about the wellbeing of anyone that wasn't herself.

Secondly, someone had tended to Kairi's wounds. The thing that struck him as deeply unusual was that the splints, and makeshift bandages were enough to not only stop the bleeding, but also sped up the healing process. This alone had been perplexing, as Pokémon on this island never approached humans.

Thirdly, and most concerning, as he took a closer look at Kairi's wounds, he couldn't help but wonder if it was her that was responsible for this.

He couldn't protect her at every moment of the day. Being everywhere at every moment of the day was an impossibility. Inevitably, Kairi would meet some less than desirable Pokémon, some who may want to harm her.

Which meant that she had to protect herself.

On the fourth week after he arrived, the Fierce One bided his time. Patience, alongside a healthy dose of focus, the priority was to ensure that she was in good health. Once she was able to go and retrieve the food, water, and what else she needed to do her day-to-day tasks, he returned her to the training that they were initially planning. The only thing that he had to make sure of was that he didn't stretch her as thin as he did last time.

Yet, despite him trying to keep it scaled back, he was impressed with how focused she was. From her breathing, to slimming up, and even watching her pluck berries from several branches without breaking a sweat. All these observations made him feel more confident in that he could push her further.

He had to push her further.

As he woke up one morning, he knew she was ready for the next step.

Laying there in the cavern, amongst the bedding of ferns and leaves that Kairi had made, he stared at the darkness of the ceiling above him. With that smooth rock formation above, he could see the cracks where the rain and wind would pour through on those particularly strong days. It was still dark, just as he expected with this early wake up time.

Rolling on his back, he leapt up to his feet with barely a sound. Balancing himself, stretching his limbs, and rolling his shoulders. Once he was comfortable, the Fierce One walked just as he did every morning. Stepping out of the bedding, then across the cavern floor, he could see the frame of Kairi laying belly down on top of Milotic's scales.

As he stepped towards her side, Lucario had been about to raise his paw to nudge her shoulder. Until he locked eyes with her.

"Morning to you too."

Swiveling herself upright on top of her mistress's scales, Kairi managed to surprise him. Hesitating, he observed his student as she landed on her feet, regaining her balance as her damp feet slid on the cave floor. Arms outstretched, she gasped, then recomposed herself. Her shoulder-length hair, dyed crimson from the baths, clung to her face and shoulders. He already noticed the delighted grin already plastered on her.

"You're up early." Offering a hand towards her, aware that she had difficulty seeing in the cave at this early hour, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swell up within him. She took a moment to recollect herself, then to lean down to grab the basket, before finally taking his paw. "Did something wake you?"

As he led her through the cave, that sense of anxiety flooded through her as she remained quiet. It wasn't the first time that she had done this. From four weeks ago, when she hit her head, there had been moments where she woke up, reluctant to say what bothered her. At least, not in front of her mistress. Not until they reached the exterior of the cave, where the fresh air swirled around them, that she spoke up.

"I had a dream, or maybe it was a memory? I don't remember, it's all so foggy. But it had to do with a woman."

"Was it your mother?"

She shook her head, letting go of his paw while she placed the basket over her head. "No. I can't remember who she was, but she was rude… Or maybe hateful. It's hard to tell."

"Do you remember anything she said?"

A moment later, and he could already tell that Kairi had become uncomfortable with the subject. She shifted her feet, a telltale sign he noticed when it was a memory that seemed to strike her entire being. Haltingly, she shook her head.

"I don't remember much of what she said. I just remember that she said a lot of stuff. My heart felt like when we run, and my hands were all sweaty."

Nodding deliberately, he walked with her along the stream, keeping his gaze steady on her. "Well, whatever they said I can assure you that they're wrong." When his eyes caught sight of Kairi producing a meek smile, he couldn't resist the impulse to nudge her along the shoulder. "You don't think that they have any merit, do you?"

"No, of course not." Brushing a hand through her hair, pulling it back out of her eyes, she averted her eyes from him. "But… Do you ever think that sometimes, there's that voice in your head that tells you that you aren't good enough? Or that you don't deserve anything good?"

For an instant, he was dumbfounded. Lowering his ears, the Fierce One crossed his arms, still walking but doing his best to keep himself composed. Part of him wanted to agree with her, that there had always been moments that he deeply regretted. But now was not the time. He gleamed over her again.

"You're probably overthinking it." He picked up the pace, a sudden grin flashing across his face. "Now follow me!"

Caught by surprise, Kairi ran after him. He kept his pace steadily ahead of her but evaluated how fast she was at this time. Her pace had improved as well, albeit not as marginal as he would have liked. But given enough time, there could be a solid chance that she trailed him. Swiveling through the island, he led her along a path he knew that was much safer, more accessible for someone like her.

Finally, they arrived. Walking along a worn path, he slowed his pace as he observed the bamboo poles sweeping up towards the early morning sky. The sun had barely began to poke out, and he heard Kairi panting behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, she had her hands on her knees, hunched over.

"That. Was. F-"

"Don't worry, you'll get faster in no time."

Pressing forward, he recalled the moments he spent here when he and the Graceful One were much younger. His paws brushed up against some of the poles. He could recount the times where she had accidentally snapped his when he tried different maneuvers, attempting to get the upper hand in their spars. Or how she taught him how to meditate here, after so many attempts that didn't work. He gazed up towards the leaves above them.

SNAP

Immediately broken from his thoughts, he twirled on his paws. That profound fear suddenly crossing him. Had she been following them this whole time? Had he let his guard down?!

"Kairi! Get d-"

They locked eyes with each other, and Kairi blinked dumbfoundedly. Her hand clutched onto something, and for a moment she was unsure. Then, she dropped it. His terror faded instantly as she saw what it was that she discarded.

A sharpened rock.

His eyes trailed to where her hands were, and that's when he noticed a gash in the bamboo. Loosening himself up, he huffed.

"I-I'm not doing anything wrong, am I?"

"No. What are you doing?"

Flicking her gaze between him and the bamboo, Kairi placed her hands behind her back.

"I was just getting some water for us. Aren't you thirsty too?"

That idea hadn't crossed his mind. Raising his ears, he stared at her curiously. It was surprising that she would offer, but it was one that he wouldn't refuse. Folding his arms, he nodded.

For several minutes, he observed as Kairi took the rock. She crouched beside the bamboo stalk that already had that strike carved into its side. Each crack that sounded when she struck it hard rang through the forest. As the pole came crashing down, she stepped out of the way. It was apparent that she had done this before, especially as she grasped one end, pressing her foot down in the middle, and used her weight to snap it again.

"So, who taught you about how you could get water out of this? Seems oddly specific."

As Kairi quickly tossed one part of the stalk towards him, catching it as deftly as ever, she shrugged.

"I had a hunch."

That knowledge alone was too precise. The way she moved and took care of it completely on her own was folly in the face of that comment. As she gulped down the water that poured out from the inside of the shoot, holding it over her head to let it pour out, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.

He had helped in making her who she is, and he anticipated how she would develop further down the line. Her chub had been lessened, and although she still appeared soft, she was on her way to becoming a healthier, vibrant individual. In the face of adversity, she thrived. Once he had his fill of the water, which was light and somewhat sweet, he saw how Kairi crouched down to pick up the basket.

"No. Don't worry about that. Keep the pole." He gripped his own, pointing towards the discarded stalk she tossed aside. "I'm going to teach you how to fight."

Plucking herself back up, her eyes met his with bewilderment. In that early morning light, she was perplexed.

"That's a joke, right? I've seen you fight." Sweeping up the pole, she held it in front of her, looking at it up and down. "Besides, nothing has happened in a while. I should be fine." Taking it in one hand, she swung it in front of her, whooshing with a firm presence.

She did it once more, then again. He knew that this had been an unusual request, but he prickled with that anxiety. If she couldn't protect herself, that meant that she may fall prey to that one creature he feared meeting. He gripped his own pole and planted it into the soft ground before them.

"For now, that is true. Yet the future is uncertain. If I, or your mistress, cannot arrive in time to protect you from any threats, it may mean life or death for you. Has she ever told you about how Pokémon react on this island?"

"Yeah. That they all seem to hate humans." Her eyes followed the tip of the pole as she adjusted her hands, shimmying it down so she can investigate the inside. Clenching one eye shut as she did so. "But why? I've been here for a while, haven't I? Surely they wouldn't view me as a threat… Right?"

"Do you trust me to teach you."

That hadn't been a question. It was a firm, affirmative statement that he expected her to answer in kind. Finally, she caught his gaze, and nodded in approval. Settling the pole into the ground before her, Kairi took a more limber stance.

"Of course. But you didn't answer my question."

"Let's just say that there are many things on this island that wouldn't hesitate to kill you on the spot. Victreebell. Seviper. There are Pokémon that migrate back and forth from here between the seasons. There are too many risks to simply be complacent about your own safety. Regardless of how long you've been here.

"So. Are you ready?"

"I said yeah, didn't I?"

As soon as she confirmed, he swiveled on his feet, pole in hand. Promptly, his pole swung up with that familiar whoosh, then cracked down on the top of her head. Restraining himself, he knew that it wouldn't hurt her long-term, but it still caused him some semblance of guilt as she fell onto the ground. On her knees, she groaned.

"Sorry, but you let your guard down." Offering a paw, she grasped it, hoisting her back up. Kairi rubbed her head with one free hand, clenching one eye shut as she hissed in pain. "You've become too relaxed. If you want to be my pupil, you must always be vigilant. Grow too complacent, and you're inviting yourself to be killed."

Locking eyes with her, Kairi grumbled while she returned to grasp the pole with both hands. He pondered on what she had at this moment. Even if she was in some form of pain, to have a mentor to pass on this kind of knowledge was a luxury he didn't have. It was part of the reason that he accepted this offer to begin with.

But also, part of the reason that drove him away so long ago.

Once Kairi appeared ready, he loosened up, returning to a proper stance. "The first thing you need to consider, when forced to fight, is your positioning. If you leave vulnerable spots open, you won't be able to defend yourself." He bent his knees, pole in hand as he shifted his paws along the length.

"Give me your best shot."

She hesitated. Even the air around them grew still with anticipation. Her hands were near the bottom of the pole, as if she was clutching to a blade. The muscles on her arms twitched, and again he instinctively acted. Before she could act, he swiftly poked her on the stomach, merely nudging her with the end of his pole.

"Hesitation will get you killed."

"Really? I didn't even have a chance to do anything." As the pole receded back, Kairi placed hers by the side, nudging the end into the soft soil. "Is it really that relentless?"

"Sometimes, yes. There are always going to be those, no matter who you turn to, who want to do harm." He twirled his beam, sticking it into the ground beside him. "Do you need a moment to recollect yourself?"

Closing her eyes, Kairi sucked in a deep breath. He flicked his ears, observing her carefully while her body eased up. Shaking her arms and legs, she hopped up and down, slapping her face lightly. When she plucked her pole back up, she took that stance again.

"Just needed to wake up is all."

"Good."

They sparred. Every time she hesitated, he struck. The moment that she swung high, he ducked and tapped her shoulder. Strike low, he bounced up and knocked her on the head with his paw. Never hard enough to crash her down, but enough to encourage her to keep her wits about her.

When she fell down, he offered his paw, and she came right back up. The clack of bamboo resonated through the forest. At first it had been a one-sided endeavor. Yet she took moments to recollect herself, and he'd give advice on how to hold the pole. How to strike it effectively or block his shots.

And she did.

After nearly two hours of this training, with the beads of sweat rolling down her naked form, he eased up on his stance. She clutched the pole with a vice, with some bruises apparent on her arms and sides. It would toughen her up, but he knew that she needed a break.

He clapped his hands and closed his eyes.

"Ten minutes."

Clenching her eyes shut, Kairi loosened up, slumping onto a nearby boulder to seat herself. Her pole clattered to the ground, and he couldn't help but admire how hard she breathed. How far she pushed herself when she didn't have to. That talk of how it was safe here, that she shouldn't have to worry, faded in the face of training.

Truthfully, it's what he admired most about Kairi. Talk can only go so far before she must act. She must realize it as much as he did.

Setting the pole gently along the boulder, he sat alongside her, perching himself on top of it while he pondered. The sun had greeted them, and the light felt good on his fur. Shutting his eyes, he took in a deep breath.

As he exhaled, everything else seemed to fade. Alone, yet together. Powerful, yet helpless. Peaceful, yet antagonistic.

The paradox of his existence.

Had he done the right thing? All those years ago. When he and the Graceful One found two humans wandering the island, antagonizing Pokémon, and searching for specific ones to bolster their own egos, they didn't feel too bad initially when their minds were shattered. It was only when the boy was shouting, screaming in agony as blood pooled around him, reaching out for help, that it snapped him out of the bloodlust.

This question plagued him ever since that day.

The power he held in his paws, his aura or the fighting methods he used. They were dangerous. It was one thing to use it on other Pokémon, who could handle the blows. But humans were frail. Their flesh is easily torn asunder. Bones crack under pressure.

He hated it.

He truly loathed the notion that his training culminated in that.

"Um… Teacher? Fierce One?"

Snapping his eyes open, Kairi was standing before him. Pole in hand, she held it behind her back while her eyes glanced at him up and down. He sighed.

"Has it been ten minutes already?"

When she nodded in acknowledgement, he tipped his head back, raising his paws to rub his eyes. It was easy to get lost in his own memories when he meditated. What should have been a peaceful session of keeping one's mind calm and sharp instead seemed to transform into a nightmare. It was a problem that he knew had to be addressed at some point.

Hopping off, he walked over to the pole he stuck into the ground.

"Say, if you don't mind me asking, what should I be afraid of on this island? Mistress mentioned in passing a while back that she was concerned that my injuries could have been from Shaadvesh. Who is that?"

As he yanked his pole out of the ground, clasping it with both paws, he refused to look at her. Not because of any semblance of pride, but instead because he didn't want her to see his nervousness upon hearing that name. Tracing his paw along the shaft, he spoke solemnly, but softly.

"Shaadvesh is an old rival of hers. A Seviper who didn't particularly enjoy the fact that the Graceful One took the role of guardian. When we found you by the stream, then looked over your injuries, we weren't entirely sure who had taken you or scared you enough to run." He looked over his shoulder, then turned, taking careful steps forward. "There are also several others who may have been the culprit as well, but one thing is certain-"

"They must devour the weak. It is the natural order of things." Lowering her head, she kept her eyes on him. "That's what mistress said when we were going to hunt some Buneary out there. It's what that Victreebell would have done. But if it wasn't for Serperior, then-"

"Serperior?"

He flicked his ears and tapped Kairi's shoulder with the bamboo pole. A small sort of smile came over him.

"You're sure of this? A Serperior is nothing to sneeze at. They may not be as strong as the Graceful One or I, but they have inherent strength in their speed and agility. What happened?"

Sucking in a breath, Kairi explained what occurred. He concentrated on what she had to say, from the chase with Victreebell, to seeing Serperior initially, then when she woke up by the stream he had been over her, tending to her wounds. How he made the basket, taught her how to search for water, and intended on teaching her more about alternative food sources, making her own tools, and plenty of other things.

As she exposited this, all Lucario could think as she did so was how strange that was. Pokémon here, especially one as powerful as a Serperior, didn't simply help humans with no strings attached. He had known that there were Pokémon like them around here, but this was unusual. Was there something about Kairi that attracted similar attention? Had the grace and beauty lessons that her mistress made her do have an adverse effect?

Once she finished, Lucario slowly assented, lowering his pole from her shoulder.

"You should be proud of that accomplishment. It's not easy to befriend Pokémon on this island, much less someone like him. That explains how you knew about the water in the bamboo." He tapped her foot, nudging her back. "However, even with that said, you still must keep your wits about you. It's good to have allies who can assist, if need be, but if they fall, you're the last bastion between living to see another day, and being greeted by the void."

Returning to his defensive posture, Lucario gripped the pole, balancing the weight while he shifted his feet. "So, are you ready?"

Acquiescing, Kairi bent her knees and posture, readying herself.

He waited for her to strike first. The air was calm. Not a sound coming from any corner around them.

Sharply, Kairi's bamboo pole shot for his shoulder. Shouldering the whack, he shot for her side with his paw. Her feet swiveled, and she spun around him, taking the pole with her. It had gone so quick, he leapt forward to escape. Circling around to face her, the speed she took at that moment shocked him.

He knew that they had been sparring for two hours, but that was fast.

Gripping the pole with a vice, he waited for her next move. Somehow, he was on the defensive. Kairi bounced on her feet, trying to keep the momentum going while her eyes flicked in multiple spots over him. Looking for an opening.

She sprung forward, mimicking the way he used the pole to shoot for his head. The air whooshed past him, and Lucario swept forward. Everything in his body told him to fight. This wasn't a spar, it was a fight.

A fight that ended as soon as his paw pounded straight into Kairi's stomach.

The sound was unmistakable. It was a hard hit. Bouncing back, it took him a moment to realize what he had done.

Kairi's pole clattered to the ground as she sunk to her knees, hands clasping over her stomach. A horrible wheezing escaped her, coupled with sputtering and spit puddling out of her mouth. When she collapsed on the ground, gasping for air, his hair stood on the very ends.

It happened again.

Why did it happen again?

Stepping back, everything prickled with intense fear. Kairi, crumpled on the ground, wheezing and gasping, couldn't utter a single word. He could barely move, as if his entire body turned to stone. His heart, crushed in his chest, as he recalled the words his friend said to him.

"Isn't this what you wanted? We trained for this day. This is what humans deserve."

Clenching his paws into fists, he sucked in a deep breath. He had to calm down. There wouldn't be anything good that comes from panicking. To allow himself to fall into that pit again, that alone would be catastrophic.

He was here.

Kairi was on the ground. She needed help.

He reaffirmed himself. He was here. Kairi needed help. He was aware that she was hurting. She was hurting because of him.

He let go of his pole, gently placing it on the ground, as he squatted down. His paw pressed against her bare shoulder, and he nudged her.

"Hey. Are you okay? You caught me by surprise."

Grunting, Kairi slowly cracked her eyes open. She was finally starting to catch her breath. One of her hands brushed the spit from her mouth, and she could barely talk.

"I'm fine."

Her voice was hoarse. Guilt flooded him through him. He receded his paw back as she wheezed, getting back up onto her knees. Her hand clutched her stomach, quivering as she coughed, while her free hand clasped his shoulder. Kairi's eyes met his, and she tried her best to grin.

"Let's keep going. Right? This place is relentless. I should. Be able to. Press on."

As she said that, her body was trembling. Shaking his head, he clamped his paw on her head of red hair, ruffling it up.

"You should give yourself a minute."

"No."

Flinching, this firm, affirmative statement caught him off guard.

"Excuse me?"

Clasping one of her hands onto his shoulder, Kairi spoke directly to him. Her voice was surprisingly filled with that innate frustration. He recognized it inherently, the kind of tone that he was all too familiar with.

"You tell me. That I must train. To get stronger. Then when it gets. Too rough. I need a break." She gulped down some air, then continued as her body shook more. "I couldn't do anything for four weeks. How do you think I felt when you and mistress were constantly checking up on me? Worried that I was too frightened or unable to go on my own to pick berries? I felt. So hopeless. So worthless!

"I just want to be able to do what you guys need me to do without having you all worry!"

Kairi shouted that last bit, and she furrowed her brow. He could see how the tears welled up in her eyes, It was the same kind of look that her mistress gave him many years ago. That sheer determination, bundled up with frustration. A combination that proved to be quite devastating.

Catching her hand with his, he pulled her up to her feet. Kairi wobbled, but otherwise seemed fine. Once she was up, he placed both paws on her shoulders, and sighed.

"I understand your frustration, Kairi. When I was a young Riolu, it felt like a constant uphill battle. It's been an incredibly rough time for you, yes, but if you try to keep pushing yourself harder and harder, something will break." He beamed. "It truthfully reminds me of a Feebas long ago. They were so adamant in getting stronger, making sure that they could become the most powerful Pokémon on the island. Those words touched me, and so I fought with them. You know her now as the Graceful One, but even she began as a helpless Pokémon."

Quieted up, Kairi stared back curiously. He patted her shoulder, then let go.

"We'll continue with this training later. Your mistress wants you to do your beauty lessons as well, presumably."

Before he could turn to lead her away, Kairi's lips quivered.

"Was… Was she really like that?"

"Of course. What, do you think even Pokémon are born powerful?" He led her towards her basket, which laid beside the boulder. "Feebas are a weak fish. Brown. Not that attractive looking. Powerless. When she spoke about protecting this island from other humans, well, I couldn't help but be amused by it. It gave me the motivation I needed to snap myself out of my rut."

"What are other humans like?" Recollecting herself as much as she could, she furrowed her brow, seating herself on the boulder again. Her legs still quivered, and he could sense that she had many emotions burning within her mind. As he placed the basket back into her hands, she looked at him intently. "You and mistress seem to have such a negative view of them. But not me? Am I different? Or is it because of the association?"

"That's for another time."

"Come on!" Kairi tapped her heels together, gripping the basket a little more. "I've been a good student! You can tell me a little more!"

"I don't think your mistress would appreciate that." He smiled and plucked up the bamboo pole. Admiring it, he spoke with some more confidence. "She already wouldn't enjoy the fact I told you that she was a Feebas. But, with that said." Swiveling on his paws, he walked towards Kairi, and held out his hand. "If you keep at it, I'll tell you more. How about it?"

Hopping off the boulder, Kairi lowered the basket into one hand by her side. She puffed out her cheeks, somewhat disappointed with the comment, but nodded.

"Fine. Just don't chicken out on me, alright?"

"Of course not."

Kairi clasped his paw, and in that instant his heart skipped a beat. Her fingers grasped him by the wrist. A gentle pulse flowing through her.

He recognized it. It was like his own, but different. Warmer. Softer.

"Fierce One?"

Gently placing his other paws over hers, he slowly nodded. Perking his ears up, he couldn't help but be surprised. It was a pleasant one, but a surprise nonetheless. Once he let go of her, his eyes stared at her.

"How about this? If you beat me in a spar, I'll answer anything you want."

"That's a change." Kairi lowered her hand, placing it on her hip. "I thought you said training was enough?"

"At first. But you want to protect yourself, correct?" He handed her the pole, observing her take it. "To prevent Pokémon from harming you, successfully winning in a spar should be enough to prove that you're ready. Deal?"

As Kairi placed the pole along her shoulder, she grinned. It was that enthusiastic one that he looked forward to every time they trained. Puffing out her chest, she pounded it with the other hand, the basket clattering against her stomach.

"Deal!"

The journey back to the cavern was a quiet one. Kairi seemed to be quite pleased with herself, despite the sudden shock of being struck in the stomach. He did regret that sudden harsh hit, but she didn't hold it against him. They plucked their berries to munch on, spoke a little bit, and it seemed like an instant before he sat on his friend's scales, observing as she made Kairi attempt some handstands.

It was a difficult sight at first, especially as his friend would command Kairi with better instructions on how to accomplish it. Despite the unusual nature of it, with Kairi toppling over either on her back or on her front, she kept at it.

"Encouraging, is it not?"

The Graceful One glanced back at him, waving her tail towards Kairi to keep continuing. He nearly tumbled over into the water, had it not been for her fins propping him up. He raised his ears, and crossed his legs.

"That's one way to put it."

"You've been quiet this entire time." She pressed her fins against his shoulder, smiling. "Something on your mind?"

She always had an uncanny ability to sense that he had something on his mind. As Kairi toppled over again, groaning as she got on her knees to rub her back, he glanced at her. Then back to his friend. He pressed his paw against her fin, and closed his eyes.

"Kairi has awakened her aura."

"Are you certain?"

When he opened his eyes again, she had come in closer. Those large eyes of her filled with curiosity. He knew there wouldn't be any coming back from this, so he nodded.

"Yes. I sensed it myself. It must have happened when we weren't looking." Adjusting himself on her scales, he could see Kairi trying again out of the corner of his eye. He flinched when she fell again. "Are you certain that that exercise is good for her in that condition?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

As Kairi stood up, rubbing her head, he directed his attention back to his friend. She had now adjusted herself to allow his paws to dip into the water. It was cold to the touch, and he sighed. There wasn't anything he could say to make her change her mind. At least, not now.

"No reason." He allowed himself to pet his friend along the head. The scales were smooth, damp. Soft to the touch. It made him feel weird, to be in this position once again. Unsure of what to say next, she finished his thoughts for him.

"Regardless, I will be anticipating seeing how you develop Kairi further. This news raises good prospects for the future."

And that was the end of it. No more conversation. Simply observing Kairi at her training. When she was sent away to fetch berries, with Milotic accompanying her, he remained on the bedding that Kairi made. Staring up at the ceiling, with the beams of light steadily shifting towards the west, he thought.

Oh, how he thought long and hard. His eyes closed. He pondered. Focusing his thoughts as much as he possibly could.

That terrible scream. The gut-wrenching sound of a bone cracking. He returned to that moment, where he was paralyzed with terror. The blood soaking his paws, he stared down at them, the weight of what had just happened bearing down on him with that intensity.

It was raining. The sky was dark, but he could make out the figure of the trainer, writhing on the ground with that arm, bent at an unnatural angle. Another trainer was nearby, catatonic, as her eyes were glazed over. She was still alive, but nothing registered around her.

He stepped back. Lucario wanted to run. To flee. Forget about what he had just done. His stomach churned while the thoughts raced through his mind.

How could it happen like this?

Turning, he ran headfirst into his friend, who loomed over him. Her cream scales glistening in the rain, she stared down at him. Those large eyes of hers, which were once so kind, stared down with a cold callousness. He couldn't move. His breath was ragged. As she wrapped her tail around his shoulders, pulling him closer, she spoke sternly.

"Running are we?"

Shaking his head, he trembled. What was he supposed to say? His ears flattened, and he clenched his paws. "I… No… Mi-"

"Oh. I see the problem." She squinted towards him, her body tightened around him. It was discomfort, but it was so much heavier at that instant. "Did you forget our objective? Or do I have to remind you again?"

"No." He grit his teeth, heart sinking further into the pits of his stomach. Gulping, he nodded. "We- We are to protect the island at all costs."

"Indeed." She turned him to face the two trainers, forcing him to stare. It made him feel disgusted with himself.

"This is what we wanted after all. This is our objective.

"This is what we trained for."