The Aura - Ch. III: A Journey Begins

       The next few days were some of the most interesting in my life. I'd never liked camping, and this was a very extreme version - no tent, no sleeping bag, and I had to forage for food. At first I thought I wouldn't last an hour in these types of conditions.

       Luckily, my new body had several perks. I had a greater sense of sight, smell, and hearing. I could sniff out some Berries in just a few seconds. My strength had drastically improved as well. I was still trying to get used to my paws, though. It was a little tough to grip with them.

       My shelter that I had built was a very simple lean-to. I found a large rock to lean my shelter against and set to work. My strength allowed me to drag logs over to where I needed them and set them up without much effort. It took me about a half hour to complete it.

       I didn't sleep much the first night I was there. So many thoughts were rolling through my mind, and I was wet and cold from the lake. I hadn't figured out a way to get back to my own world, so I figured that I'd go with what that other Lucario said to me for as long as I needed to.

       On the fourth day, I decided to go out and explore some more. I hadn't seen any other Pokémon around this area, which I thought was pretty odd. I thought that I would at least see a Pidgey or something by now.

       Crawling out of my makeshift shelter, I stood. I'd gotten pretty good at walking with my new feet. I made my way past the lake towards the edge of the forest. I stepped between the trees and moved forward, the leaves crunching beneath my feet.

       The dreadlocks on the back of my head tingled. I sensed that something was near me, but I couldn't tell what. It was about thirty yards to my left. Turning that way, I immediately froze.

       A Beedrill had spotted me. It shouted as it came towards me, stingers ready to strike.

       I jumped, and was surprised to see that I sprung really high, easily clearing the Beedrill. <Okay, I've got to fight this thing... what moves do I use?>

       I immediately thought of Aura Sphere, but I decided against it. If Beedrill was a Poison/Bug type, which I figured it was, then it wouldn't be very effective. Instead I decided on a different move.

      <Do I know Meteor Mash?> I asked. My right paw suddenly surged with power. <Oh yeah.> I turned around and sprinted at the Beedrill, nailing it square in the face with my devastating Steel type move.

      The Beedrill blew backwards. It looked exhausted, but mad as ever. It aimed its stingers and fired needles at me. I dodged the move, which I assumed was Pin Missile, my a millimeter. I followed with another Meteor Mash, which sent the Beedrill flying away.

       I stood there, not really knowing what to do. Had I really just gotten myself into a Pokémon battle... and won?

       <I'm better than I thought,> I said to myself.

       Continuing on into the forest, I spotted some more Pokémon. I saw several Butterfree and another Beedrill. I decided to avoid any confrontation, just in case they ganged up on me. I was strong, but probably not strong enough to take on several Pokémon at a time.

       Then my aura feelers began to twitch again. I felt something in the forest clearing up ahead. I peeked through the trees and saw a girl there. I also saw a Froakie and a Roggenrola. I watched from a distance as the girl commanded the Froakie.

      "Athena, use Bubble!" the girl cried, pointing her finger at the Roggenrola. The Froakie complied, firing several Bubbles from its mouth. The Roggenrola rolled out of the way and toward Athena, hitting her with a devastating Rollout. Athena flew back, landing in her trainer's arms.

      Before I even knew what I was doing, I charged at the Roggenrola. <Aura Sphere time!> I thought. I put my paws together and slowly pulled them apart, charging up my Aura Sphere. With a cry I launched it at the unsuspecting Rock-type, sending it flying back into the forest. When it hit the ground, it scurried away hurriedly.

       The girl sat, dumbfounded, clutching her wounded Pokémon. I looked at her, and she looked back. She was wearing shorts, a blue tee-shirt and a black baseball cap that sharply contrasted her dirty blond hair. "Woah," she said. She reached into her blue bag and pulled out a small, rectangular object.

       <A Pokédex...> I thought.

       She held it up and it began speaking. "Lucario. It manipulates the aura around it to unleash powerful moves during battle."

       The girl lowered her Pokédex. "H-hey, Lucario."

       I had no idea how a Lucario was supposed to act, so I just nodded, acknowledging her presence. "Are... you going to hurt me?" she said.

       I shook my head. Suddenly I had an idea. Maybe I could go with this trainer... She may not be very good now, but I could help her. We could make it to the Pokémon league so that I could find out why I was here.

       "Okay, I'm dropping the act," I said, looking away.

       The girl screamed and nearly dropped her Froakie. "It talks! It talks!" she said.

       "HE talks," I said back, relieved that she could understand me. At least part of my human life had stayed with me. "I have a question. You're a trainer right? What's your goal?"

       "Goal?" the girl asked. "I... it's a little complicated. You ready to listen?"

       "Wait, you're going to open up to me just like that?"

       "I don't understand it either, but I feel like I just need to talk to you."

       "Well... okay." I sat down in the grass. She sat, too, clutching her Froakie, which looked extremely scared of me.

       "When I was little, I was considered strange by many people. I had no interest in beauty or fashion. All I wanted to learn about was Pokémon battles. It's not usual where I come from for a girl to become a trainer. Since I was nine, I've been studying about how to train Pokémon, how to battle properly, and things like that.

       "Then on my eleventh birthday, the Professor came to my door. He asked if I wanted to become a trainer. My parents refused, of course. They love to stick to tradition. So... I ran away. I managed to talk to the Professor before he left town and got a Pokémon and Pokédex from him; that's where I met Athena.

       "So, anyway, I've been training ever since. For what? To break tradition. To prove that girls can train Pokémon just as well as boys. I'm going to the Pokémon League, defeating the Champion and entering the Hall of Fame!"

       <Yes! She's not a contest trainer! And a bit feminist, too!> I said in my head. "Wow... I've always wanted to get into the Hall of Fame, too. But I'm just a Lucario. There's only so much I can do myself..."

       My ploy seemed to be working. Her face lit up, and I could tell she was thinking. "You know... there are several open spots in my party."

       "Really?" I said, imitating surprise.

       "You're going to join?!" the girl said.

       "Woah, woah, I don't even know your name yet!"

       "It's Valori, but you can call me Val." she stood up and reached in her bag.

       "Okay, I can come with you. But no Poké ball for me. They get really uncomfortable."

       "You've been in one before?"

       "I was. I've since been released, thank goodness."

       "Oh... alright," Val said, immediately accepting my lie. Athena climbed onto her shoulder. "Athena here doesn't like her Poké ball either."

       "Am I the second Pokémon in your party?"

       "Yep. Let's get going; I hear that there's a town near this forest. We can all get some food and supplies there. I'm about to use my last Potion to heal Athena..."

       Val took out a purple spray bottle and sprayed the Froakie. It immediately relaxed and it seemed perfectly healthy in just a few seconds. Val sat then sat Athena on her shoulder.

       Val and I began walking back into the forest. I could hear music in the distance. We followed the melodies and came to a pathway.

       "Left," Val said. "And hurry; right is where my parents live."

       "Got it," I said. We continued down the left path.

       "So are gonna tell me why you can talk?" Val asked.

       "It's a pretty crazy story, and I'm not sure I feel like going into details right now," I said slowly.

       "Alright..." said Val, obviously skeptical. "Oh wait, I haven't given you a nickname yet! What do you want?"

       "Um..." I thought for a moment. Maybe I should go undercover for whatever mission I was sent here for.

       "What about Apollo?" I said.

       "Sure. Apollo it is."

       We came upon an archway the led into a small, yellow, cobblestone-paved town. There was a small sign that read, "Welcome to Aquacorde Town".

       <Aquacorde... that means we're in the Kalos region,> I determined, stepping through the archway. The smell of freshly-baked bread filled the air. I saw several people walking around, entering buildings, and talking with others. It was like a small town square. There was even a fountain in the middle of it all. Seeing this town for real was weird. I was always looking at it from above. But seeing it now, from a real first-person perspective... It's breathtaking.

       <I probably shouldn't talk out loud... that would raise suspicions. Maybe if...> I said to myself. I directed my next thoughts at Val.

       <Can you hear me?> I asked.

       She jumped a little. "What was that?"

       <It was me, uh... Apollo,> I said, still getting used to the new name. <I can communicate telepathically. We should probably keep my talking a secret, so in crowded areas, let's use this. Try and direct your thoughts at me.>

       <Okay... is it working?> Val said.

       <Beautifully,> I said back. She looked at me and I smiled.

       Athena jumped down from Val's shoulder and looked around. "What is it, Athena?" Val asked. Athena pointed towards a bakery, saying, "Let's get some food!"

       I was about to ask why Val's Froakie could talk as well when I stopped myself. I was a Pokémon; I could understand Pokéspeak, duh!

       <She's hungry,> I said to Val.

       "Alright, let's get you something to eat!" Val said, picking Athena up and placing her back on her shoulder. We walked into the bakery, and a rather large man behind the counter greeted us. "Welcome!" he said. "What can I get you today?"

       "How about a loaf of Oran Berry bread?" Val said.

       "Great," said the man. He reached under the counter and pulled up a rather large loaf of bread that looked quite appetizing. "That'll be 200 Poké."

       Val paid the man and we headed outside to eat the bread. She handed me a big hunk of it.

       <Ever had Oran bread before?> she asked.

       <Never,> I said.

       <Best stuff in the world,> Val said. <Dig in.>

       I pulled off a chunk with my paw and put it in my muzzle. My taste buds went crazy. It was really sweet and had the slight taste of focaccia. <Man, that is good,> I thought, tearing off another piece. Val gave a smaller portion to Athena, who happily ate it. She ate the rest.

       "Alright, you two," Val said once we had eaten our fill. "Now we're going to buy some supplies. We need Poké balls and Potions."

       "Cool!" Athena said.

       <Great,> I told Val.

       "Follow me." Val stood up and walked across the stone street to a small shop sandwiched between buildings. We entered, and the door dinged as we walked in.

       Val talked to the woman at the counter for a minute. Soon after, Val turned around, stuffing something in her bag. "Five of each," she said. "I'll need some more Pokémon if I'm going to beat the first gym. Oh, I also got a map."

       She pulled out the map and unfolded it. Sure enough, I saw the unmistakable design of the Kalos region. She pointed at a small dot labeled "Aquacorde Town". "This is where we are." She moved her finger up a ways to another dot. "This is where we need to go - Santalune City. I hear there's an awesome hat shop there; maybe the'll have one fancier than mine."

       Val folded up the map and slipped it into her bag. <You can fit everything in there?> I asked her.

       <Yeah,> she replied. <Really nifty how they made these. They've got pockets and pouches for everything in here.>

       "Now let's go!" Val said, walking out the door. I followed her. Before I stepped out the door, however, I felt something.... dark. I don't know how else to explain it. It was a feeling of dread and suppression. I decided to take extra care not to be discovered, even by Val. I stepped out the door, moving a little bit quicker to catch up to Val.





       "Who is that Lucario?"

       "I don't know. He appears normal, but his aural readings are off the charts. He's the most powerful being we've ever seen! Besides you, of course."

       "Right. I want our spies following this Lucario and the girl. They can never let them out of their sights. I want to know every piece of information we can get about them. And then, if possible, capture the Lucario."

       "And what of the girl?"

       "The girl? Well... if she sees, hears, or does anything that would compromise us... kill her and that Froakie."