Chapter Text
The holidays came and went, back in Pallet Town, where a good time was had by all. Being surrounded by friends and family was a welcome break from Mt. Silver's cold, lonely heights, for Ash and Pikachu. Delia, Professor Oak, Tracey, and even Gary listened to the dynamic duo's tales; some wove excitement, and others brought complaints that Ash would bring them gray hairs with worry. Professor Oak didn't forget to reprimand Ash for breaking his word, either; Though, no one could argue with the fact that he was still here in one piece. His burn scars didn't help his case, but several weeks off did heal them up nicely.
Christmas and New Year's meant caroling, feasting, and festive decorations abound - all of that was plenty to keep Ash busy, luckily, since he was under a strict 'no training' moratorium until the festivities were over. He'd huffed and pouted but played along; the ability to socialize and chat with anyone who could respond with more than 'Pika Pika' helped him through his recent social withdrawals. Astoundingly, that'd been enough to pacify him.
But, as all good things came to an end, so did the winter cheer. Gary departed to continue his work under the esteemed Professor Rowan, and Ash had some business overseas of his own to attend to.
The trip from Kanto to Sinnoh by ferry seemed to last longer than an ordinary day, with excitement building in Ash's beating heart. He arrived in the northernmost region by nightfall, watching the sun sink into the horizon in exchange for Sinnoh's shores. Cool mist surrounded Canalave City, springing from the port's chilly waters. He and Pikachu departed once more for Iron Island, leaving as soon as the connecting ferry allowed them.
A second, shorter trip followed, most of which was missed by Ash and Pikachu, as they slept the night away. As soon as they'd woken, the duo rushed to have their fill of the buffet made available to travelers. Right on time, it seemed, as a voice rang over the intercom just as they were finishing their meal.
"Attention passengers: The ferry has arrived at Iron Island! Please collect your belongings and step onto the pier in an orderly fashion! The bridge to the dock will be lowered shortly."
Quickly wiping his face of syrup, Ash stood, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "Alright, buddy! Are you ready to go meet up with Riley?" He grinned, watching Pikachu down the last of the ketchup he'd poured onto his trainer's plate.
"Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu licked his lips, hopping atop his trainer's shoulder. He sniffed a little, and found that he still had a bit of ketchup around the corners of his mouth. He came close to burying his face in Ash's jacket, before Ash's index finger pushed him back by the nose. "Pikapi!"
"Okay, what you're not gonna do is wipe your face in my new jacket. Mom just stitched this thing!" Ash scolded. Even so, a bit of mirth slipped into his voice, and his harsh scowl couldn't quite hold together, with a smile poking at the corners of his lips. "And Mom says I'm the slob, between us."
Pikachu muttered a sheepish apology, before Ash wiped his face clean with a wet napkin. With that, they slipped through the small crowd of passengers. Thankfully, this ferry was less crowded than the one to Sinnoh had been. It wasn't all that difficult for the two to navigate down to the concrete pier that bordered a small cluster of buildings against the rockier portion of the isle.
Slipping past the railing, Ash rushed down the small bridge between boat and land before sliding onto the pier. "Well, here we are! Now where's…" Ash's eyes skimmed the populace.
~Here!~
Ash froze. A faint, high-pitched voice had run past his ears and right into his head. A warm, nebulous feeling of belonging. "Pikachu, did you say something?"
"Pi?" The mouse tilted his head, and then shook it. "Pikachu."
"I didn't think so," Ash muttered. How odd. The feeling left as quickly as it came, and the voice went with it. Maybe he hadn't gotten enough sleep?
"It's nice to see you," a familiar voice spoke, rousing Ash from his musings. "But you're not going to spot us, staring into space."
"...Riley! And Lucario!" Ash spotted the man and his Lucario, running over to them with a bright smile.
Riley smiled, his demeanor a bit more reserved than Ash's. "I've come to the pier every day for weeks now, but I'd say it was worth the wait. I'm happy to see that you've accepted my request." Blue hues turned away from the sea, looking toward the island itself. "Now, it'd probably be best if we discussed our endeavor in private. Shall we head to my home on the island?"
"Yeah, sure!" Ash agreed, following the Steel-type trainer along as they navigated through tourists, and others visiting the island. Their path soon led them away from civilization, and into the puzzling maze of coal and stone.
"It took you some time to answer my call. I assume you've been busy?" Riley made conversation, while Pikachu and Lucario stayed ahead, innately more agile than their human counterparts. "I sent my letter out, shortly after you finished with your league challenge. A pause for courtesy."
"Kinda," was Ash's answer, the boy reaching to rub the back of his head. "After the league, I decided to train along with all the Pokémon I've caught until now. So, Pikachu and I took on a really serious training regimen! Isn't that right, buddy?"
"Pika, Pika!" The electric mouse turned his head to the two trainers, flashing a peace sign with his paw. He'd been currently telling Lucario of their endeavors, in which the Aura Pokémon seemed to show interest. They seemed every bit as remarkable as they were reckless.
Suddenly, Ash felt another surge. No voice, but something was just… reaching out to him. Pulling him in just the direction he'd already been walking.
He thought he saw Riley stare at him, but if he had, he'd brushed it off quickly. "Well, you've certainly grown," Riley added. "I assume in mind, as well as in body? And Pikachu looks remarkably healthy, as well. Continue on your path, and you'll surely prevail."
"We'll do our best! I'm sure whatever we do here will push us further, too." It may be for Aura, but training was training, right? "Hey, nothing crazy's gone down since we left right? Wouldn't want a repeat of what happened with Team Galactic, and all."
"Oh, no. It's been remarkably quiet here. Perfect for our own training, but things have gotten a tad dull. I'm sure you'll liven things up for us," Riley teased. Just then, a small home came into view. "I'll tell you more, once we've got some privacy."
Ash blinked, the home both appropriate and inappropriate for Riley. It was beautifully cleaned, though quite simple. Flowerless but leafy briars coiled around the cottage. As they approached the door, Ash couldn't help but chuckle at the overly ornate mat, beautiful patterns of blue drawn in dyed straw. It had to be old, judging by how worn and faded it was.
"Well, welcome to our home," Riley introduced. Lucario entered his home first, gesturing to the meager living room first and then walking into the kitchen. A hall further down seemed to suggest a bathroom, storage room, a bedroom, and a spare. "The room Lucario's standing in front of will be yours. Right now, there's only a cot, but if you see fit to furnish it further, just check with me before putting anything else in."
"Sounds good," Ash agreed, standing in the middle - well, considering the low table surrounded by sitting pillows - standing near the middle of the living room. "Well, now that we're here. You said you had some secret to tell me?"
"Indeed." Riley smiled. "You, Ash Ketchum, will be my apprentice. As I'm sure you're aware, the number of humans who can sense Aura is miniscule. To be honest, I thought I was the last for the longest. With no proper heir, I'd feared our legacy had bottlenecked. But then, when you visited us..."
"...You sensed it in me?" Ash finished Riley's sentence. The man smiled and nodded.
"Do you understand? I need you to learn this. It's vital. We can never know when we'll be needed again. But the training will be grueling. No matter how good a trainer you are, this will be different. Are you still prepared?"
"That tough, huh?" Ash furrowed his brows, considering the challenge momentarily. But, predictably, he raised both of his closed fists with gusto. "Of course I'll do it! We're not ones to run away from a challenge. Besides, if Aura Guardians are heroes, it's for the greater good, right?"
"Right," Riley agreed. "…Thank you, by the way. Aside from holding this as a sacred duty, it is also my great pride to be able to share this. I had to learn on my own… but you don't have to." Riley offered a rare playful smile. "If you behave yourself, that is. Now, go get settled in, and then meet me in the den."
Ash and Pikachu headed to the room Lucario had pointed out while the Fighting-type joined Riley. After putting down his bag and rearranging his room just a bit; his sleeping bag on the cot for extra comfort, his clothes put away in the closet, and his shoes and hat put away out of respect for being in someone's home; Ash then returned to the living room as instructed with Pikachu accompanying.
Waiting on him were Riley and Lucario, seated at the low table. Curiously, there was an egg set up in the middle of the table on a pillow.
"Whoa… it's such a deep blue," Ash cooed. Pikachu hopped atop the table to approach it, curiously sniffing it.
"She's yours."
"'She?'" Ash echoed, looking up to Riley for clarification.
Riley nodded. "Inside the egg is a baby Riolu. This is your first responsibility and your most important test. She will be your partner. Most aura guardians have kept Lucario with them and have kept an extremely deep bond."
Here, Lucario barked, clearly agreeing with the sentiment.
"Oh, wow," Ash gently whispered, reaching out to take the egg in his hands. As he did such, a strange sensation washed over him. He felt… connected, raw and unguarded. He felt an odd sense of foreboding, but also a warm tenderness. It washed over Ash for several moments, before fading as quickly as it'd come. He realized then that he felt compelled, more than before, to protect and nurture the egg. He clutched the blue egg with a dark gray underside to his chest. For a reason he couldn't quite explain, Ash felt reluctant to let it go.
"An extremely deep bond, huh...?" Ash echoed Riley's words almost distantly.
Pikachu stared at his trainer, head tilted. He'd never seen him in such a state, before!
Grinning, Riley spoke. "Well. If I've ever seen such a pleasant reaction to sensing aura, that'd be incredible. Now… there's something you should know about that egg. It's… unusual," he finished, choosing his words carefully.
"Unusual?" Ash frowned. "Why, is there something wrong with it?"
"You could say that," Riley replied. "This egg is actually remarkably old. It's been in my possession for about… a year and a half, with no signs of hatching."
"A year and a half!?" Ash exclaimed. He felt the egg wobble and lowered his voice. "What do you mean? It just moved, right now; I could even feel it, in there. Wouldn't anything sitting in an egg that long be…?" The last word got caught in Ash's throat. He didn't want to finish the sentence.
"Typically, that would be the case, yes. But there are rare exceptions to the rule. Some Pokémon lie dormant, for one reason or another, even their prenatal functions slowing to a crawl, until they feel fit to hatch. I believe your partner is one of them."
Pikachu leaned over towards Ash, sniffing the egg again, and nudging it with his paw. Ash could assume he didn't feel the same sensation he had when Pikachu shrugged and sat back down. "Do you have any idea why?"
"I have but one hypothesis, and truly, it is, in large part, why I called you here," Riley answered. "During the Galactic Crisis, I'll admit, it was my oversight not to notice your pronounced Aura. At least, not at first. We were focused entirely on protecting the island. It was towards the end of your stay that something caught my eye."
"Several times, while you stayed with us in wait for your ferry, the egg moved. I'd wondered what the variable for this could be, and in my meditation, I felt your unique life force. You had a natural affinity for something you'd only acknowledged in passing. I considered asking you to train, then and there. But I decided against it; your mind was clearly on the Sinnoh League, and my training requires nothing less than full dedication."
Ash nodded along, absorbing the information. "I wouldn't have been able to accept back then, yeah."
"Right," Riley agreed. "Though, what was more; when you left, the egg ceased activity, once more. It was then that I came to the conclusion I hold now; that egg's purpose is to align with you, Ash. Fate has decided that for you."
The suggestion - that fate was waiting for him, an entire life hinging on his presence - felt a little daunting to Ash. He shrunk under the pressure, hugging the vessel to his chest. Yet, at the same time… he oddly felt compelled, and obligated to do so. "Now that you mention it, I remember feeling something funny, last time I was here. Like something was poking me on the shoulder, but when I looked over, nothing was there. Thought I was just being paranoid," he admitted. "If that's the case, though…" He clutched the egg and met Riley's gaze with determination. "I'll live up to that responsibility. That's a promise!"
This time around, he was determined to keep his word.
"Pi…?" Pikachu tilted his head at ash, nudging his side. The mouse looked concerned.
"Huh? Oh! It's nothing, Buddy!" Ash laughed. "Just psyching myself up for this. It's a big deal, you know?"
Pikachu was satisfied with this, and so seemed Riley. "Indeed. I'm glad you understand the gravity of this, Ash. With that said, the training can begin."
There was one thing Ash kept to himself, though, in that moment. An itching feeling that he couldn't quite rationalize or justify, so he didn't bother embarrassing himself with a clumsy explanation.
It was the egg's life force; he could swear he'd felt it somewhere, before.
Thus, started what Ash could only describe as Hell Week.
Laying in bed on the fourth morning, he waited for the sun to inch high enough for Riley to knock once on his door. (Ash knew better than to sleep in. That'd only add to the day's regime.) Quickly slipping from his sleeping clothes and into his exercise gear, he noted how roughed up his feet had become. If he didn't know how sharp some of the rocks could be, he would have gone barefooted for how calloused they were already becoming. By the end of this, he'd probably be able to.
After a quick breakfast of juice, eggs, and toast, the four - Riley, Ash, Lucario, and Pikachu - headed further up on Iron Island to enter the caves. The morning started off with weight training. After Riley realized Ash could easily manage carrying two Geodude at a time, it moved onto pushing Gravelers around. Ash completed the task with ease... or, at least he completed the task in under two hours without cramping up.
Next, they headed into the hills where rocks jutted out between plateaus. Following Riley's irritatingly graceful lead - Why was this man just able to leap effortlessly from rock to rock? - Ash found today he didn't bust his ass a single time on the gravelly ground. While he was on the verge of exhaustion after all that jumping after exerting his upper body during the weight training, it was better to be tired than banged up from falls.
However, Riley would push Ash to his typical breaking point… with the pull ups in the small grove near the house. Trembling arms brought Ash up and then let him down until it was lunch time.
Riley was merciful enough to include time for a nap, which was all Ash wanted after eating and checking on the egg.
After a decently long break, it was time to go swimming. Admittedly, this was equal parts leisure and work. It mixed meditation underwater with fighting waves to stay at sea… and a healthy dose of just enjoying the tide while floating.
The final part of the daily routine was running until sunset in the open areas of the island.
Each afternoon, Ash was given free time. He usually spent it resting and tending to the egg, himself, and his party of Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Wartortle, Charizard, and Misdreavus. The lot of them socialized among one another and sparred without needing Ash's supervision.
Such was the general routine Ash followed while under Riley's training.
"Now, your next test." Riley began, standing a decent distance from the modest home, amongst rocks, the rare flora, and the occasional wild Pokémon going about its business. "I'm going to have you and Pikachu get in battles with the wild Pokémon in the area…"
"That's it? No problem! Pikachu and I'll be fi-"
"Without fighting back."
This stipulation earned two tilted heads.
"If you're going to be properly trained to read and understand Aura, you'll first need to read your surroundings. If your aim is to simply defend yourself, you'll be forced to focus on your opponent's movements and predict them. If you can master this art, then you'll be one step closer to honing yourself as an Aura Guardian. Now, I know this might sound quite daunting," Riley acknowledge. "Of course, if it's a life-or-death situation, I do expect you to fight back as a last resort. Lessons are replaceable. Life is far more valuable."
"Well, I guess that makes sense," Ash hummed. He and Pikachu exchanged a look, and nodded. "Right… That does sound tough. But we can handle it!" He pumped a fist in his enthusiasm. "But, uh, just one more thing. How are we gonna find Pokémon to fight us?"
"Oh, don't worry about that." A meager, mischievous smile played at Riley's lips.
Shrugging, Ash ventured off into the rocky maze, arms folded behind his head as he walked around. "He said we can't attack… Wonder how we'll get Pokémon after us." Pikachu shrugged, and he continued. "I'll tell ya, this is gonna be weird. Fighting back has always been our strong point!"
Ash's complaints were interrupted by a rather loud, metallic roar. Cringing in discomfort, he turned toward the source of the screech.
A Lairon stood in the duo's path, one of their tough, armored feet brushing the gravelly rock. Much like a Tauros ready to charge his prey. "Lairrr!" They cried, clearly raring to engage the two. Riley's promise was fulfilled; metallic jaws parting to fire a brilliant silver projectile towards the two.
"That's Flash Cannon!" Ash signaled, as he dove left of the gleaming blast. Letting out a huff, he landed with his best foot forward. "Man, that was close… We're gonna have to be more careful, Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu acknowledged; ears up and alert.
Frustrated that they'd missed their target, Lairon roared, charging both of them with Take Down.
"Okay, it looks like they attack in a straight line… We'll just have to watch out for that!" Ash warned, crouching in wait.
Pikachu gracefully leaped over Lairon at the last second, whilst Ash opted to jump on top of Lairon's back. He ran across their metal plating, one foot in front of the other, before hopping off of their tail to land behind them.
Lairon grunted in annoyance. He found himself on a path too narrow to move about in, but just wide enough to give Ash and Pikachu room to dodge. The Steel-type decided that charging them was more trouble than it was worth, and wandered off.
"Nice! We made it through the first one!" Ash cheered, offering a fist to Pikachu. The mouse hopped up to smack his tail against it.
"Pika-chu!" Pikachu cheered, before landing on all fours. Then, his ears stood up, alert. "Pika... Pikapi!"
"Pikachu?" Ash asked, frowning. "What's- Woah!" Ash yelped, interrupted by a Geodude flying right past his face. Just a few inches closer and Ash would have been out like a light. "Man, that was a close one…!" Just as he'd been regaining his bearings, a second grunt caught his ear.
"Dude!" Another Geodude shot by, swinging at Ash.
Ash was quick to duck, wincing as he felt the wind rush by just over his head. His messy bangs were ruffled, giving a testament to just how quick and powerful the Geodude were. "Sheesh! Normally I'd shoot for 'hey, how's it going?' but I guess a knuckle sandwich passes for a greeting 'round here!"
"Pika!" Finding himself to be the target of another Geodude's Mega Punch, Pikachu sprang out of harm's way, landing on a stone jutting from the ground.
"Pikachu, behind you!"
Pikachu heeded his trainer's warning, and turned around. Another Geodude was already sneaking up on him, forcing the mouse to dig his tail into the ground, springing himself above the attacking Pokémon.
"This is getting dangerous!" Ash watched the horde of Rock-types circle in on him and Pikachu. "We better make a run for it if we wanna catch a break!" With that, Ash sprinted down yet another pathway, bordered by greater, onix heights. The Geodude they'd fled from quickly fell behind, unable to compare to the duo's remarkable speed. They weren't out of the woods yet, however.
"Geo! Dude! Dude!"
More grunts of the same name gave Ash a sweat, his eyes turning up towards the rocky plateaus. The same species of Pokémon lined the edges, every one of them fixated on the trainer and his Pokémon. "Oh, great… Now there's more of 'em! Keep your eyes peeled, buddy!"
Rather than catapulting themselves, however, this gravelly bunch opted to lift up boulders roughly their size, tossing them at the duo. "Geo! Dude! Dude!" They tossed in a slow succession.
Two pairs of eyes grew giant, a shared yelp of panic leaving them as they sprung to safety. Following each pair of arms, Ash and Pikachu dodged left and right, narrowly managing to avoid harm.
"Pika Pika." Pikachu drew Ash's attention, pointing to his own beady eyes, and then up to the Geodude, themselves.
"Their eyes... that's it! We have to watch where they're aiming!" Ash acknowledged. "Good thinking, Buddy!"
They were more attentive to the Geodude lining their path forward, from that point onward. Each throw could be tracked and evaluated for their intended angle, making dodging them a simple matter of being faster than a Geodude. Luckily, Ash and Pikachu were up to the task.
They rounded a corner, giving them a moment's reprieve. Ash leaned up against a rock wall, catching his breath.
"Man... So this must be like Pokémon battles are like, huh?"
Pikachu, meanwhile, was darting to and fro, distracting the Geodude to cover for Ash. "Pika, Pika," he nodded. Unlike Ash, he was quite used to the constant pressure. He'd even begun to jump from rock to rock, to make an exhilarating game out of what was causing Ash so much trouble,
"Dude!"
Another cry caught Ash's attention, forcing him to leap forward, barely scrambling to his feet. The call had come from above him, where another rock had fallen. "Okay, gotta remember from now on… I've gotta use my ears, too!" Pokémon typically made noise when they put effort into an attack. Another similar cry caught his attention, forcing him to jump backwards.
Quickly losing breath, he turned to Pikachu. "I think…" He panted. "I think we're gettin' the hang of this… But unless I wanna end up squashed flat, we'd better move!" With that, he sprinted through the rest of the passageway, ignoring the pain in his legs until he was sure they were clear of Geodude.
He finally stopped when their path opened, free of Geodude. Ash hiked himself up against a rocky wall, holding his chest as he caught his breath. His heart was racing with the speed of a Rapidash. "Man... that was close!" He huffed. "But hey… We really… Held out there, didn't we, Pikachu?" He smiled down upon his companion, proud of himself. He was really starting to get the hang of it! If only he wasn't so tired.
"Pi-Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered, using his signature phrase that came with a victory. For him, this had been a simple speed and endurance session. For his trainer, though, that had been a true test of his perception. With hearing less impressive than a Pokémon's, Ash had to put in much more effort.
Luckily enough for the duo, a minute or two of peace passed. Ash was back to breathing steadily, his heart rate eased, and his vigor had returned. "Man, wait 'till we tell Riley about how well we did! He's gonna-"
Once again, Ash had spoken to soon. A loud, earth-rumbling roar assaulted the duo's ears. They recoiled in pain, and turned to face yet another terrifying foe. The silhouette towered over them like small skyscraper, adorned with steel plates. An icy-eyed Aggron glowered at Ash and Pikachu.
Ash swallowed, standing up to face the Pokémon, as if it would make him look any taller in comparison. Alas, he was still well within Aggron's shadow. "Guess I should have kept my mouth shut…" He exchanged glances with Pikachu, each of them nodding. As always, they would take on whatever overwhelming challenge that was thrown at them together.
"Alright, Aggron! Give us your best shot!" Ash cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting.
He would soon eat those words. They raised an arm; their long claws taking on a brilliant silver shine. Metal Claw threatened to rip them to shreds.
"That Metal Claw's heading right for us! Look out, Pikachu!" Ash shouted, diving off to the side. Dust and debris were thrown his way, clouding him in a gray shroud that allowed him to scramble to his feet. The attack had missed its mark, and Pikachu had landed on the other side. "That was close…! But hey, it looks like we're fast enough to dodge 'em! We've just gotta keep our eyes peeled!"
The giant Pokémon turned their hips, and their entire tail took on a shimmering metallic hue. Once they built up their momentum, Aggron swung their body around, attempting to hit a home-run with Iron Tail.
Pikachu had little trouble escaping, leaping over to land on a rock adorning the darker heights.
Ash, however, wasn't so agile. Staring at the metallic limb that could easily spell doom for him, Ash scrambled for the familiar nearby boulder, climbing upon it to wait for the Pokémon's strike.
"Alright! Here it goes!" Ash crouched before leaping into the air, springing off the elevation in an effort that just barely brought him out of Iron Tail's range.
Ash stumbled upon landing, nursing a rapidly beating heart. He could hear the 'crash' of Iron Tail shattering the boulder he'd just favored.
"That was a close one… Hey, Pikachu! Look out! He's coming after you again!"
Metal Claw struck at the ground once more, though it was hardly a match for Pikachu's speed. Several more metallic strikes chased the yellow blur, only leaving scrapes along whatever rocky surfaces Pikachu had previously perched upon, and a frustrated Aggron in the assault's wake.
This continued three more times before Pikachu was finally too high for Aggron to continue pursuing with physical attacks. Snorting, the Steel-type turned their attention to Ash, who had been using his time out of Aggron's sights to recover his stamina.
Horns glimmering something sinister, Aggron turned and charged at Ash. This particular portion of the labyrinth was much wider, perfectly suited to such a titan… rather unfortunately for Ash.
Letting out a yelp, the boy dived out of the way of Aggron, watching with terrified curiosity as its horns stabbed into the valley's rocky heights. He watched the rocky shelf crumble before his very eyes. "Alright, Pikachu, we better ditch!" He scrambled for a nearby escape route...
Only to have the silver skinned beast skid in front of him, teeth clacking together. Ash looked back. The way they'd come into this particularly large portion of the maze was blocked by the beast's tail.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried, jumping down onto Ash's shoulder. Heavy stomps shook the earth and the creature's maw opened.
"... Hyper Beam?! Isn't that a little extreme?" Ash exclaimed. "Forget this! Pikachu, Electro Ball!"
Quicker than the blast of all-powerful energy could be spent by Aggron, Pikachu had produced and launched his own speedy attack. Between the massive speed difference of the two and - unknown to Ash and Pikachu - Aggron's relative youth and inexperience, the attack was plenty of deterrent.
Aggron groaned, holding his face to tend to the buzzing static that Electro Belt had dealt out. He took several steps back, recoiling from the blast, and leaving Ash and Pikachu and open path to take.
They took advantage of the opportunity, hearing only the rattling echo of Aggron's roar behind them Soon, the trail seemed to come to another wide spot… and just when Ash was beginning to worry, Riley stepped out. A tiny Zubat rested on his shoulder.
"Well, given what my little informant told me," Riley began, "you did very well. However, you shouldn't gamble with reaction time like that. What if Pikachu's Electro Ball hadn't fired before Aggron's Hyper Beam?"
"Well, I was trying to play by your rules," Ash argued.
"Even so, it's as I said," Riley replied. "A life is more valuable than any one trial. You'll learn to read your risks faster. Or you'll pay for it."
When Riley said he would be a tough teacher, he wasn't kidding. Shoulders slumping, Ash nodded along. "Yeah, I know… We'll definitely do better, next time!"
Roughly five days had gone by… and Ash had burned through his food supplies. Miserably realizing all he had left was some rice and bread, the teen meekly turned to the living room, where Riley and Lucario were already eating their moderately portioned meals. Pikachu sat on the counter top, waiting to see what would happen.
"Hey… Riley. Do you think I could maybe borrow some chow…? I'll take a ferry to go pick up some more tomorrow…?"
"No." The man continued eating, unfazed.
"B-But Riley! If we don't get some meat, I'm gonna be starving, tomorrow!" Ash whined. "I need my protein!"
He remembered at least that tidbit, from the classes he'd mostly slept and daydreamt through, at school.
"You should have managed your food better," Riley said flippantly, lifting his cup for a drink.
Ash looked toward the egg sitting atop the table. "A lot of good I'll do taking care of that egg, if I've already croaked..."
"A new shipment of supplies comes in next week. You can live a few days on bread and rice." Seeing that Ash still wasn't placated, Riley sighed. "If you're really so hungry, you'll forage. Every night, the Zubat and Golbat leave the caves to go down to a beachside groove towards the southernmost point of the island. It's very fertile there. Follow them and you'll have more to eat."
Ash looked out the window. The sun had almost set. "Looks like it's about time. Guess I better get going." He grabbed one of the burlap sacks that were used to carry vegetables, and slung it over his shoulder. "C'mon, Buddy. Let's break for it!"
"Pika!" Peeks dashed after his trainer.
When he got outside, the first of what would become a swarm was already taking to the dull inky-purple sky. He followed Riley's directions to his best approximation, stumbling on occasion over rocks until he remembered where he was and followed the trails that he navigated every day.
Eventually, the path became more tangled, and he had to feel and move quietly, listening for the squeaks of Zubat above. Thirty minutes of miserable slow walking in the dark eventually put him far away from the Zubat and Golbat, partially lost.
"Crap," Ash muttered. He slid down, resting. How would he know which way was south? He closed his eyes, concentrating. Maybe… maybe…
He lucked out. A particularly loud screech - maybe a pair of Golbat fighting over something - faintly reached him. He stood up, continuing his path until his feet hit roots. Eureka!
"We should have brought a flashlight," he muttered.
Pikachu saw this as cue, realizing Ash couldn't see as well as the mouse could in the dark. His cheeks exerted a faint glow that intensified into a bright gold, casting ambient light over his immediate surroundings. There were fruits on trees, and vegetables poking out of the soil. Some of them were being nibbled upon by Zubat and Sableye, who scattered when they were spotted.
"Sorry, guys. We'll be out of your way, soon!" Ash apologized, as he yanked some root vegetables out of the ground, and gathered fruit to throw into the sack.
Pikachu collaborated, scurrying up trees and plucking various nuts and berries out to knock into the bag from his perch.
"Well, that was some work." Ash whistled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "But it looks like we got to the 'root' of the problem, huh?" A cheeky smile all but nudged Pikachu, begging for some sort of amused response.
All he got was a judgmental glance, and an amused roll of the mouse's eyes.
Riley looked up from where he sat, meditating, when he heard the creaking of the front door opening. Ash and Pikachu walked inside, dusty and dirty.
"You didn't wait until daylight to come back? There was nothing to guide you."
"...Huh. Yeah, I guess that would've been the smart thing, huh?" Ash scratched his cheek. "I just..." His eyes drifted to the egg that sat atop the table.
"I just... felt my way home, I guess."
Riley smiled. "You're progressing fine. Eat your dinner and then get to bed. You're not getting a break tomorrow even if you're hungry."
The genteel sanctity of Riley's small home had been abandoned once more for the more rugged isle rows, this time leading Ash and company into a rather dim cavern. Cracks of light dared to shed some visibility through ragged rock, guiding the small group into the center of the chamber.
Riley and Lucario came to a halt, turning to face Ash and Pikachu. "Our training will proceed here. I trust that you've adjusted to the limited visibility you've been forced to navigate?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued. "You've made impressive gains in anticipating and tracking the movements of others. Without fighting back, you've survived well enough. Now, I think it's fair that you'd be allowed to fight back."
"Fighting back? Isn't that just like any other battle?" Ash tilted his head, puzzled.
"Not quite. Your Pikachu won't be doing the fighting. You will." A small smile appeared on the Aura Guardian's lips. "Now that you can hold your own, you'll fight my Lucario. He's already volunteered to act as your partner, for the time being. In due time, your own will take that place."
"Fighting Lucario...!?" Ash assessed Lucario for any signs of misdirection from Riley. Lucario looked remarkably serious as always, however.
"Oh, it won't be anything you can't handle. Just trust Lucario. He is remarkably disciplined."
The Aura Pokémon nodded, his usual stoic expression traded for a small, coy smile. He turned into a more guarded stance, patiently waiting for Ash to step up to the challenge.
"Alright… You want a fight, you've got one!" A snide smile formed on the trainer's lips, gloved fingers reaching to grip the brim of his cap before flipping it backwards on his head. He stepped closer to the Aura Pokémon, raising both of his fists.
Riley would have raised a brow at the unusual gesture, if not for the notable flare in Ash's Aura. With the trainer gaining a certain competitive spark, he could at least intuit that the cap had some emotional significance. "Remember to focus on Lucario's movements while executing your own. With time, you should come to sense his intentions, and your innate sense through Aura will begin to come naturally."
With that warning, the bipedal jackal lunged forward, throwing a punch towards Ash's face.
Watching the Pokémon draw closer, Ash had ample time to turn on his feet, sidestepping the first punch, missing it by mere inches. A roar from the Aura Pokémon tipped him off again, his right arm raising to block a left hook from his attacker. Despite the numbness shooting through his forearm, Ash had defended nicely enough.
Acknowledging the boy's success so far, Lucario grunted, swinging into what could qualify for a very subdued Close Combat. Spiked fists flew, barraging Ash in a manageable flurry of strikes.
Sweating, Ash did his best to keep up, stepping back out of range when he could, otherwise raising his arms to block anything that just came by too fast. Dark hues followed rounder red orbs, trailing Lucario's intentions with every punch that came his way.
Though, competent as Ash was proving to be, he was still a human trading punches with a Fighting-type Pokémon. An awfully close call drew an involuntary shout from the trainer, sweat dripping down his cheek. 'That's it. I'm gonna show 'em that I can throw a punch, too!'
Grinning, Ash turned on a heel to regain his balance, throwing a punch straight towards the Aura Pokémon. Unable to grapple with the punch like his opponent with opposable thumbs, Lucario simply blocked the punch with his arm. A small grin formed below his snout, canines showing.
Following up on the opportunity he was given, Ash threw another punch toward Lucario's side.
Lucario dropped to one foot, holding himself upright with the opposite arm. A roundhouse kick was thrown towards Ash, who only narrowly avoided it by lurching out of the reach of Lucario's leg. His height advantage over Lucario provided him the mildest of advantages, here, he found.
"Hah. You're good, Lucario! Real good." Ash's praise was complimented with another charge forward, as he jabbed at Lucario repeatedly.
The Fighting-type held his ground, exchanging blows with the boy until even his perception hit a blind spot. A swift hook knocked the trainer in the face, putting the brawl on hold.
"Man, that smarts…!" Ash stepped back, whining as he rubbed his sore cheek.
"You had a good pace, but you became reckless." Riley criticized, interrupting the match. "While putting all of your effort into attacking can be tempting, you need to remain disciplined. Stay vigilant for your surroundings, and strike only when they offer you an opening. Against an opponent stronger than you, you can't afford to lose focus and take hits."
"Right…" Rubbing his cheek, Ash nodded along. Feeling somewhat bashful over his mistakes, he turned back to the Aura Pokémon. "Just gotta stay focused!" Once more, he threw a punch.
Riley clicked his tongue. Oh well; Ash would learn one thing at a time.
The two continued their brawl, with Pikachu and Riley watching intently. Lucario took the offensive once more, only allowing Ash to slip in a strike when he had left a notable opening. Growing tired, Ash's greatest challenge was staying focused. Continuing to block and dodge, he did his absolute best to pay attention to Lucario's movements. His efforts gradually became more fluid, Lucario's shifts and turns making its moves more apparent.
In the midst of the grueling exercise, Ash found his intuition beginning to take over. Lucario's intentions became more and more clear, passing to Ash in what came to feel like a mental link. Lucario's fist swung forward, its aim passing through Ash's mind clear as day. Shifted hips allowed him to pass by a right hook, making way for a swift jab that finally hit its mark. Lucario was hit clean in the jaw.
Ash's gloved fist hadn't moved an inch, not once leaving the boy's line of sight. "...I got 'im."
A wide smile crossed Riley's lips. "Well done, Ash. I'd say it's time for the real training to begin."