Good readers, here is the next chapter of the story, very important things are coming for both characters.
The sun had already reached the valley and the flying pokemon had already left their nests for their morning hunt, but the blue knight and his companion had already left to the top of the hill to follow the trail that Lucario had detected the day before.
"Are you sure you sensed its presence?" Ash asked his companion who was guiding them through the rocky terrain, "Yes Master, I could feel a dark presence around this area. Now if it bothers you can shut up a little I must concentrate" Lucario replied a little annoyed.
Ash only mumbled at the attitude of his companion "Show-off". They continued advancing along the path, while behind them followed the girl they had left behind.
Serena had made the decision to accompany them even if they didn't want to, she knew that they would look for the monsters that had taken everything from her, she and her Braxien followed the pace of both of them.
"These two won't slow down, I'll lose them" Serena said to herself tiredly, but she remembered her motives and what was driving her, "No I won't give up, I must keep going" She exclaimed forcing herself to follow the path of the two aura guardians.
The hours passed and the aura guardians continued to cross the mountains, difficult terrain, mountains and even a river with a fast current but somehow Serena kept up with them, despite the watering and injuries she received along the way.
As the day wore on, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting its warm rays upon the rugged landscape. The blue knight, Ash, and his loyal companion stopped in their tracks, waiting.
"So, you want to wait for her?" Lucario asked his master. "I guess so, I didn't think she'd follow us here, not everyone would have" Ash replied somewhat impressed by the girl's gills. "I must admit, you both have a courage that surprises me" Lucario admitted to him.
"Stubbornness can take you a long way, but it makes you very stupid" Ash told him his point of view, "You know better than anyone about that" Lucario reminded him of how he used to be when he was young or even now.
Suddenly they heard noises meters behind them, it was Serena who from exhaustion was already crawling on the ground, holding on to a tree, still wanting to move forward. Braxien, who was barely on his feet, tried to help her but tiredness did not let her either.
"Keep…going" Serena whispered before collapsing but the blue knight already had her in his arms to help her as well as Lucario with Braxien. "You don't know when to give up do you" Ash told her as he carried her but before he could answer she had already collapsed from exhaustion, "great" Ash exclaimed irritated.
She could only see a gray field, the trees covered with ashes, there was a lot of ash, as if the whole place had burned, "Where am I" Serena wondered as she advanced, she saw nothing and no one, just a gray and empty place. Until suddenly she could see a group of figures in front, when she approached, she realized that they were statues, of people and Pokemon.
"But what is this, what happened here?" Serena exclaimed in horror, suddenly she could see that a huge shadow covered her and heard a loud flapping, this before falling back into an emptiness.
Suddenly she woke up, she realized that everything was a dream, now she could see that she was in front of a fire, like a few days ago she was in front of the blue knight and his pokemon, "What happened" she asked him.
"You fainted from exhaustion, every time I see you, I have to bring you to our camp unconscious" He told her very annoyed for carrying her. "Did you know we were following you" Serena asked him still dizzy.
"Of course, I did, we can sense everything that moves in a wide radius, that's our power" Ash reminded her, "We are surprised that you have come so far, it is very difficult for any human to reach us in terrain like this" Lucario told her with admiration for her tenacity.
"It's nothing new for me to go through the mountains, I used to go far away from home to have some peace" Serena confessed.
"You almost die coming here, "You abandoned your family to follow me, and for nothing. You're not capable of keeping up with our mission," Ash coldly reproached her for exposing herself like that. Serena, unlike yesterday, didn't try to convince him of her reasons, but she said the following:
"Listen, I appreciate that you've saved my life on more than one occasion, but what I decide to do is my decision. I know you can find those who did this to me, and I know you can handle them alone, but I must do this. For my people and for my mother," Serena explained her reasons, regardless of whether he agreed or not.
Ash once again felt a sense of sympathy, which was unusual for him. He used to fulfill his objectives without caring about emotional matters, much like during his time as a professional mercenary. But things had changed; he had people he cared about and who helped him regain his humanity.
"For now, we can't move forward. Tomorrow, we'll decide what to do, Serena. Rest for now," Lucario exclaimed, Serena just nodded and close her eyes to rest more, since she really need it.
Ash remained very uneasy about what had happened. It wasn't communicated to Lucario, but he hadn't been able to detect Serena's aura on the path. He knew she was coming because he could sense Braxien's aura, but not the girls.
He could only see her physical body without any trace of her aura, but he knew it wasn't her, otherwise Lucario would have said something. It was very strange for her to be like this, but he didn't want to risk making a mistake and seeing her as an enemy.
"I've never experienced this before, but well, her color isn't red," Ash said to himself before closing his eyes and trying to fall asleep.
Suddenly, morning arrived. Serena and Braxien hadn't moved from their spot. Despite being on the ground, Ash could sense that Serena was calm. But everything changed abruptly when he felt something forcefully lifting her up. She tried to scream, but a hand covered her mouth.
"Shh, don't speak. Something is approaching," Ash whispered, trying to keep her silent. Serena didn't understand what was happening, but her questions were answered when she saw a wild Pokémon pack arriving at their campfire, accompanied by three men.
It seemed that the men were on a reconnaissance mission, but they had already spotted their camp. "This fire is recent. Our Lord ordered us to keep everyone away from these mountains, so find them," the leader of the group ordered, and his subordinates nodded in agreement.
"They're the men who attacked my village," Serena whispered with concern and anger. "Stay calm. It looks like they're scouting the area. There must be more of them," Ash told her, trying to calm her down. "Lucario, we need to act quickly. They'll likely find us soon," Ash instructed his companion, who was ready to attack.
"You must stay here. You'll only slow us down," Ash ordered Serena. "You're crazy if you think I'm staying behind. Besides, they deserve to pay," Serena retorted. "You're not capable of helping us with this. If you don't want to put us in danger, stay here with your companion." Ash ordered.
Serena was about to protest, but her companion grabbed her arm, indicating that Ash was right. "Fine, but please... Don't leave us behind," Serena pleaded.
Ash didn't usually care about what others needed, but when he looked into her eyes, he could tell that she was genuinely serious. It was as if her gaze was pleading for his protection. "Alright, we'll take care of it and come back for you, but I repeat, don't wander off anywhere," Ash replied before leaving with Lucario to another part of the forest.
Serena nodded and remained alert for any movement or person approaching her location.
While the men continued searching the area for the intruders, one of them had separated from the rest to attend to his needs. Without thinking and with his guard down, he was swiftly and effectively subdued by the blue knight.
"Make sure you don't make a sound, or you know what will happen," Ash said sharply and quickly, applying pressure with his sword against the man's neck, implying that he could end his life before anyone noticed.
"Tell me who's here and how many," Ash interrogated him. The man, struggling to speak, had the audacity to respond, "There are many more than you can handle, Aura Guardian. You have no idea what's coming."
Ash didn't care about his mockery, as he didn't really need his cooperation. He could use his aura to find out. He looked directly into the man's eyes, and with a blue gleam, he put him in a trance, allowing him to show what he knew.
He could see through the man's eyes what he had done, how they had traversed the mountains for several days with a large group. He could see the banners they carried and recognized their flag—the Dark Order. He could see a man among the group, accompanied by a Bisharp and a mount. It was clear that he was their leader, but Ash couldn't recognize him, not even for the wanted list in
After delving into his mind and extracting the information he needed, he disconnected his mind. "You have no idea what you're up against, Guardian," the man exclaimed with his last bit of strength. "I never truly know what I'm up against. Thanks for your concern," Ash replied mockingly. The man tried to respond, but in an instant, the knight ended his life with the dagger he carried.
Meanwhile, Serena tried to stay hidden. She couldn't see the men who were searching for them ortheir Pokémon, but she felt as if someone was already stalking her. "Is he taking too long? Is he alright, Braixen?" Serena whispered, trying not to draw attention.
She was so nervous that she didn't notice Ash and Lucario already behind her. "I'm back. Has anything happened?" Ash asked, causing her to jump in surprise. "N-no, nothing has happened," Serena replied, still startled. "Good. If they knew we were here, they would have already made a move," Ash explained their situation.
"We found out that these men are indeed the ones who attacked your village, and there are many more of them than I had thought. We need to find a way to flank the mountain to avoid being surrounded," Ash explained his plan. "Wait, if they are the ones who killed my mother and my people, we should go after them," Serena objected, forgetting her fear.
"Look, we're not in the best position to attack them, and their leader isn't here. So we need to get out of the danger zone and plan how to approach them better," Ash explained his plan, not caring if she agreed or not.
"But..." Serena would complain again, but this time she would be interrupted by Lucario. "Listen, my lady. More enemies are approaching. It will be pointless to seek justice for your people if we all end up dead. So please, listen to us," Lucario reasoned, being calm yet firm.
Serena saw his expression and understood what he was trying to say, so she stopped protesting. "Alright, we need to get out of here," Serena said, resigned. Ash nodded and surveyed the surroundings for any presence.
Sensing that no living beings were near enough to discover them, he took Serena's hand and led her out of their hiding place.
The knight and the girl advanced through the underbrush and trees without being seen, despite being surrounded by different individuals. They managed to traverse much of the foliage until they reached a river that blocked their path. "Darn it, how are we going to cross now?" Serena asked in frustration, but before she could say anything more, Ash had lifted her from her legs and back, "Hey, what are you doing? Ahhh!" Serena screamed as she saw the knight run toward the river and make a powerful leap.
She didn't understand how, but he had reached the other side with a single jump, while Lucario did the same with Braixen. "How did you do that?" she asked him, but he didn't answer. He just kept walking. They continued on the path, trying to go around the mountain, but they encountered another problem, a cliff.
"I don't think we can jump without hurting Serena and Braixen, Master," Lucario exclaimed. "I suppose you'll say we're dead weight again, right?" Serena complained about the situation. "No, but your noisy mouth will give away our position," Ash told her as he tried to come up with a plan to descend the mountain.
Serena was about to reprimand him again, but suddenly she felt him grab her forcefully and put her in a bush. "Quiet," he whispered, indicating that something was approaching.
Moments later, a Houndoom and several Fearows appeared, lurking in the area. Serena felt great fear when she saw the beasts that had almost made her their dinner a few days ago, but then she focused her attention on a man who looked aggressive and terrifying, unlike the other individuals she had seen before.
This man wore several fur ornaments and carried a large whip. His appearance indicated that he was a hunter and used that whip to discipline his own household creatures. Ash quickly deduced what was happening; they were being hunted.
"He's a beast tamer," Lucario communicated telepathically, "a master. He knows we're here, so we must assume he's waiting for us to make a mistake, like turning our backs to him," Ash responded through telepathy.
"What do we do then, Master? It's not advisable to fight so close to the girls," Lucario expressed his concern. "Maybe, but it's better if we take the initiative against him," Ash told him the decision he had made.
Serena, on the other hand, was unaware of what was about to happen. "Listen, no matter what happens, run to the other side and do it quickly. We'll keep them occupied," Ash whispered to her. She didn't even have time to respond as she saw that he and Lucario had already initiated the attack.
Lucario leaped several meters and unleashed an aura sphere at the enemy Pokémon, while Ash charged at the hunter. The hunter attempted to strike him with his whip, but the knight quickly evaded it. Ash tried to strike the man with his katana, but the man defended himself with his own metal, blocking the attack.
The clash between Ash and the beast tamer intensified as their weapons clashed with a resounding metallic clang. The hunter was skilled and agile, using his whip with precision to keep Ash at bay. Each strike of the whip crackled through the air, creating a menacing atmosphere.
Lucario, meanwhile, engaged the enemy Pokémon, launching powerful aura spheres that exploded on impact, driving the creatures back. His movements were swift and calculated, a testament to his training and experience as Ash's loyal partner.
"Well, well, I didn't expect an Aura Guardian to be following us all the way here, but no matter, your head will make a great trophy for me," the beast tamer exclaimed viciously. Ash didn't lower his guard and kept his distance. He could see that this was no ordinary lackey, and he didn't sense that he could manipulate the aura.
"I suggest that if you want to keep breathing, you surrender now," Ash coldly warned him. Without warning, he drew his bow and nocked four arrows. The beast tamer merely brandished his whip and destroyed the arrows before they could reach him.
"Quite the Aura Guardian you are, not just any Aura Guardian it seems. We were warned about a ruthless guardian who's dedicated to hunting our order. I believe it must be you, and that makes it much more interesting," the hunter exclaimed before launching another attack.
The battle between Ash and the beast tamer raged on, both adversaries determined to gain the upper hand. The hunter's whip cracked through the air with precision, but Ash's agility and skill with his katana kept him out of harm's way.
Lucario, on the other hand, continued to fend off the enemy Pokémon, ensuring they wouldn't interfere with Ash's duel. His aura spheres struck with precision, forcing the creatures to stay on the defensive.
Despite the hunter's aggression, Ash remained focused on keeping distracted to let Serena escape, he didn't like the girl, but it was his duty to defend the powerless.
While the warriors fought, Serena obeyed Ash and started to flee with Braixen, but she stopped. In that moment, she realized that she no longer wanted to run away. She had always fled from danger, and it had only been a few days since tragedy had entered her life. She remembered how she had assisted her savior earlier. It was a moment of madness and irrational bravery.
She knew she had the courage, and she had to do something. She had to risk her life and help the knight.
Ash continued to battle the beast tamer, who turned out to be a much more skilled adversary than he had initially thought. Meanwhile, Lucario had already defeated half of the enemy Pokémon, but there were still more, and he was vulnerable to the flames of the Houndoom.
In a moment of carelessness, Lucario was nearly attacked from behind by the flamethrower of one of the hell dogs, but another fireball intercepted the attack and shielded Lucario.
Everyone presents halted their confrontations to see where the attack had come from. The smoke cleared, and Serena and Braixen announced their arrival defiantly.
Ash cursed the girl's stubbornness. He had kept the battle subdued to give her a chance to escape, but she had decided to return. "Silly girl," he muttered.
"Well, well, what do we have here, huh? Your companion? She doesn't seem to be much of one," the beast tamer exclaimed, seizing the opportunity to distract Ash with a small explosion so he could approach Serena.
Serena tried to defend herself with Braixen, but one of the remaining Fearow attacked Braixen to keep her away from her trainer. At that moment, the beast tamer subdued Serena and held a knife to her throat to stop her from fighting. Ash couldn't react in time to prevent his intentions.
The tension in the air grew palpable as the beast tamer held Serena captive, his knife dangerously close to her throat. Ash's heart raced, and he knew he had to act swiftly to ensure Serena's safety.
"You've got what you wanted," Ash said, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation. "Release her, and I won't pursue you."
The beast tamer chuckled darkly, his grip on Serena tightening. "You Aura Guardians are all the same—so willing to sacrifice yourselves for others."
As Ash weighed his options, Lucario stood ready, his aura senses heightened, and his eyes locked onto the beast tamer's every movement.
Serena, though terrified, managed to keep her composure. She glanced at Ash, silently pleading with him not to give in to the beast tamer's taunts.
"I won't ask again," Ash said firmly. "Let her go."
"You must be a fool if you think I'll let go of this beauty so easily. Drop your sword on the ground and tell your lapdog to back off," the beast tamer ordered while pressing the knife against Serena's throat.
Ash considered various ways to attack the beast tamer, but none of them guaranteed Serena's safety. Reluctantly, he agreed to lower his weapons. "Fine, you win. Lucario, step back."
Lucario, though reluctant, had no choice but to obey for Serena's sake.
"I knew it. You Guardians care about honor and the weak, not minding dying in the end," the beast tamer taunted before tossing Serena aside and using his whip to strike the unarmed knight.
Lucario tried to intervene, but the Houndooms blocked his path. The beast tamer continued to lash out at the defenseless knight, who struggled to get up but couldn't due to the relentless blows. Injured, Serena attempted to rise to help him. "Stop it, you fiend!" she pleaded.
She could only watch helplessly as her savior was whipped again and again, feeling utterly useless. "What have I done? I put him in danger. I'm worthless, and now we're going to die because of me," she whispered to herself as she tried to stand.
Suddenly, she felt her head pounding, her heart racing. Something strange was happening to her. "No... I can't let it happen again." Memories of the night those wretched monsters destroyed her home, tortured Kalm, and took her mother in the flames flooded her mind. The sinister look in that man's eyes, the darkness, and the despair.
Unconsciously, she stood up, and a surge of energy surrounded her body. The wind blew strongly toward her, and the beast tamer stopped his attack, sensing the pressure emanating from her. Ash, wounded and surprised, also noticed what was happening.
Lucario, who was struggling to fend off the enemies, stood in astonishment, knowing exactly what this meant.
Serena, not fully aware of herself, focused her anger, pain, and fury toward her enemy. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she screamed with all her might, thrusting her hands forward at him. Suddenly, a powerful shockwave surged toward the man, pushing him so hard that he was sent flying over the precipice.
Only the man's screams could be heard as he plummeted to his certain end. Ash couldn't believe it. He looked at the girl and saw her eyes emitting a blue aura, just like his.
Ash and Lucario stood in stunned silence as they witnessed Serena's unexpected display of power. The unleashed energy had not only saved Ash from further harm but had also vanquished their formidable adversary.
Serena's breathing was heavy, and her eyes continued to emit the ethereal blue aura. She looked at her trembling hands, surprised by what had just occurred.
The other Pokémon, upon seeing their master disappear, fled the scene, opting not to continue the battle, knowing they might meet the same fate.
Ash, still in pain, adjusted his helmet to get a better view of the scene. "This can't be. She's sensitive to aura, but it's not possible. I should have detected her power when I first saw her, and the same goes for Lucario," Ash muttered to himself before turning to Lucario, who appeared equally astonished.
Meanwhile, Serena still felt the rush of adrenaline and the overwhelming energy coursing through her. Her breathing was rapid as she gazed at her trembling hands. "But what did I do... What's happening?" she exclaimed. Suddenly, she felt her consciousness slipping away; she had expended all her strength. She could only watch as Ash lunged toward her just before she lost consciousness entirely.
Ash caught her before she hit the ground, looking at Lucario with a sense of uncertainty he hadn't felt in a long time. He wasn't sure what would happen next, but one thing was certain, "Great... I have to carry her again."
"I sense more enemies approaching, Master. What should we do?" Lucario asked nervously.
Ash couldn't believe how it had all ended up like this. He wasn't sure what would come next, but he was certain of one thing, "Great... I have to carry her again."
"I sense more enemies approaching, Master. What should we do?" Lucario asked nervously.
Ash, troubled by their current predicament, couldn't help but sigh. "Well, for now, we have to find a safe place and regroup. We'll figure out the rest later."
I apologize for the time it took to continue this story. Months flew by quickly with work, but I'm still interested in continuing this tale. It's only just beginning, and I noticed the original story has been deleted, so it's up to me to carry on Gerfliwt's legacy in the world he created.