Story Notes:
Standard Disclaimer: I own the character Jack as well as the plot of this story, Pokemon and other known characters are their respective owners. This story contains sexually explicit content. Go away if you're offended or too young to read such revolting literature.
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Jack was like a blaze on wheels as he sped downhill on his rented bike. It was late and any trainer on the bike road now was either in camp asleep or in camp for some private time. It was all lost on Jack. The lit path of the bike road made for easy travel, and the downhill slope meant he could rest his exhausted legs for a moment to coast around some of the many gardens that dotted the landscape. He was focused on the growing lights of Fuchsia city up ahead. Still a good few hours away, but near enough to catch the lights cascading around the heavily forested area and the seascape far off in the distance ahead of him.
It wasn't until he had to make a sharp turn much later to get to the city's western gate that his focus changed from straight ahead to falling and tumbling. In his absence he had been going so fast that when he turned he had to lean so far to his left that his wheels skidded out from under him and he scraped along the ground, tearing up his jeans and shirt and cutting himself deeply on the gravel on his entire left side. He flew in that direction for several meters before coming to a stop. His whole body ached and flared with a dirty pain, but he hardly noticed. He picked up the bike again and pedaled all the harder. When finally he burst through the doors of the city's Pokémon Centre, he was both bleeding and exhausted and with his last ounce of strength he tossed the Pokéball containing Lucario to the ground and collapsed into darkness.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly to regard her surroundings. She was on something soft and altogether comfortable. Not like her forest bed of ferns and grasses. She felt dizzy and could hear in the distance a steady beeping noise, two of them actually.
"Where am I?" she thought she said, though no sound actually left her lips.
Just then a door whooshed open and in stepped a short plump Pokémon with a little white cap on, followed behind by a human wearing a pink and white skirt outfit. It was a Chansey, she noted, a very rare, and very tasty Pokémon. Her mouth watered at the thought but quickly stifled it as the other Pokémon hopped over to her and leaned over to regard her form.
"Oh my goodness!" she said in a sweet and high pitched voice. "Nurse Joy! Nurse Joy, looky! Awake! This one's awake!" The Chansey looked into her eyes and smiled a big fat Chansey smile, "You were asleep for a long time, yes? It's so good your trainer got you here when he did. You may not have made it!"
The Lucario stared at the Chansey incredulously. "I have no trainer." But when the Chansey answered her with a nod to her side she turned her head to regard Jack lying on the next bed beside her. He was unconscious as well, his eyes closed and a breathing tube in his nose. She was filled with a sudden rage at the boy. "He captured me?"
"That is what trainers do, isn't it?" said the Chansey, oblivious.
Then the Lucario looked down a bit and there was Riolu, her own daughter, snuggled right up against Jack's side, hugging his arm to her body and licking his fingers in her sleep. She wore a contented and serene expression on her face that heightened Lucario's anger all the more. Chansey followed her gaze to the pup and noted obliviously again, "She's hardly left his side at all since he got here. We could hardly get her to stay away when we had to get him into the emergency room."
The Lucario lifted a hand towards her baby and willed her to come to her side, but the baby Riolu didn't wake. The Chansey smiled and hobbled over to the little Riolu and picked her up, waking her in the process an exciting a myriad of barks and yelps and playful squirms against her restraints before being deposited beside her mother. Lucario smiled at her baby, losing all focus. Riolu looked at the Chansey for a moment before turning to her mother. When she saw the Lucario's eyes she lit up and pounced onto her mother's chest, licking her chin in playful puppy kisses before sitting back up on her mother's chest and staring into her eyes much more seriously. A tear began to well up in Lucario's eye before Riolu beeped her nose and hopped down, clambering up the side of Jack's bed and nosing at his belt. Lucario felt outraged that this trainer had taught her baby to do things like that but then realized what she was really doing. His other Pokeballs were clipped to his belt and the pup yanked them off one by one and tossed them to the ground, bringing up his other Pokémon one after the other.
They all stretched, their eyes still closed from their long stint inside their Pokeballs and didn't at first notice where they were until Maya piped up.
"Oh Jack!"
The Chansey was right by her side and quickly patted her on the back with reassuring coos even as the other two regarded him with a worried fervor. "Now now, ladies, he's going to be just fine. We took care of the cuts and scrapes. He won't even have any scars. He's just exhausted. He's been asleep for days, just like your other friend here." And she motioned towards the Lucario, who stared back at all of them angrily.
"They are no friends of mine," said the Lucario weakly.
"He just saved your life, you could be a little more gracious you know," said Sasha, balling her fists at her sides. Laura too was right beside her offering condescending phrases, but Maya chose instead to go around the other side of Jack and hold his hand in hers. Nurse Joy smiled at her, seemingly unbothered by the bickering going on at the Lucario's expense. Finally, when the voices seemed to be getting to their crescendo Joy scolded all of them.
"All right, that's enough! All of you!" they turned to regard the small woman with a mixture of surprise and anger. "You're all being terribly selfish. I think it's time to all go back into your Pokéball to cool off." She grabbed up the two balls for Laura and Sasha and pressed on the little buttons, sending both of them away, but not before each of them let one last cry and shot a glance back to the Lucario. When they were safely away Joy clipped them back to Jack's belt and began to motion for a third one, Maya's.
"Please, can I stay out for a little while? I'll be quiet. And I'll go back myself," she pleaded. Nurse Joy looked at her for a moment and smiled.
"Of course sweetie. Just don't antagonize Lucario and let them both get some sleep okay?"
Maya nodded and pulled up a stool close to Jack's bed, where she held his hand in hers and gently rubbed her cool fingers over his, measuring the length against hers and smoothing over his skin. Lucario watched all this from her bed and turned away, facing the ceiling. She said nothing, even when Riolu again curled up under his arm and fell asleep, making little puppy noises. It was late at night when Jack's eyes suddenly flared open. He was sore all over and felt groggy. His hands opened and closed and felt the Riolu's warm leg in one, where she had curled herself around his arm to sleep, and a cool, slightly damp hand in his other. He slowly turned his head and looked down at Maya, who had fallen asleep next to him, her hand clenched firmly with his. Someone had draped a light blanket over her back and tucked him in as well. Despite his fatigue he could feel the strength returning to him and all the memories of what put him here in the first place rushed back. He took his arm carefully away from Riolu, who latched onto the blanket and turned herself around in it, and then felt his other side. All the scrapes and cuts were gone, and he didn't feel any the worse for wear. He sighed and looked to his right at the sleeping Lucario, whose heart monitor beeped with perfect regularity that set his mind at ease.
His stomach growled and suddenly he realized just how hungry he was. "How long was I out?" he whispered to himself, freeing his other hand and gripping his stomach with it. He carefully shuffled his way off the bed, being careful not to make a sound and slipped on his regular clothes, which had been stitched and folded and left at the foot of the bed. He smiled at the service provided by Pokémon Centers and was immediately grateful for their existence. He slunk out of his room and closed the door behind him, going out into the main ward of the building. The room looked almost exactly like every other Pokémon Centre, except that he had never had to stay as a patient before. Even this late at night it was well lit and was still staffed, if lightly so. A Chansey pranced by with an empty tray and took no notice of him, singing to herself in her own name like most Pokémon. He came to the front desk and looked over. Nurse Joy, because the must-be-cloned family was all named "Joy" was busily picking a sheaf of fallen papers from the floor.
"Um... excuse me?" asked Jack, careful to catch her attention slowly so she wouldn't rise up suddenly and bump her head.
"Ah!" came a surprised cry and then a crash as she rose up as fast as she could and clipped her head on the side of the desk. Jack winced and looked away apologetically and looked worriedly at the woman, busily fixing her hair and her composure and trying to ignore the pain obviously throbbing on the back of her head. "Yes, what can I do for you this fine evening?" she asked pleasantly. "Oh, you're Jack, the patient over in room C. You must be famished. Would you like something?"
Surprised at the woman's tenacity and a little bewildered that she had taken the words right out of his mouth he simply nodded. Before he had a chance to reply she was already away from the desk and down the hall, though he watched as she tripped over nothing and landed on her face before quickly picking herself up again and brushing her skirt, which had flown up to reveal her panties, back down. She rushed off embarrassed and shut a door behind her. Jack raised both his eyebrows at the spectacle but turned away and went back to his room. There he could see the Lucario eyeing him right back.
"You're awake," he said in surprise. She stared at him and watched as he clambered back into his bed, still careful not to wake anyone. There was a long and awkward silence between the two of them before Jack tried again. "I know you must-"
"-Don't patronize me human. I-"
Jack continued undeterred. "I know you must despise me for capturing you, but I'm not going to apologize for it. You can hate me for as long as you want, you can never forgive me if it will make you feel better. But I don't regret it. I had a lot of time to think of all the reasons not to catch you on the way here and not one of them outweighed saving your life. I couldn't care less what you think of me right now, but know that my decision wouldn't be any different. And don't think for a second that I will tolerate insolence towards me or any of my other Pokémon. If nothing else, respect them."
The Lucario stared incredulously at Jack for a long time before speaking. "I do not respect your value as a trainer, human. But I will stay with you for my baby. Even if I do not, she loves you. For her I will stay. But only for her."
Jack nodded his agreement at their spoken contract and then fell silent. Just in time for Nurse Joy to push in a cart with a tray of food on it. Lots of food in fact.
"I figured you'd all be hungry so I brought enough for everyone, if you want to call them out, you can all dine together."
Out came Laura and Sasha, both of whom looked around a bit curiously before the scent of food hit their noses, and then they grabbed a plate for themselves and made quick work of their meal. Maya too, once she was awake, followed closely by Jack, who put some on a separate plate for Lucario as well but let her sleep on for now.
"Jack?" said Laura in a concerned voice, "How much longer will you be here? In the hospital I mean?" The other's put their plates down to listen to his response as well.
He finished chewing and cleared his throat, looking them all over one by one. His party truly was getting large. Not a bad thing by far, but he noted that he had spent far less time with each of them than he would have liked. "It depends on when Lucario is well enough to travel. She's part of our team now too, and I don't want to expose her to danger before she's ready to get on the road."
"Lucario. You haven't given her a name yet?" asked Maya.
He regarded her for a moment before replying. "Not yet. She doesn't trust me. Doesn't even like me, so it feels in bad taste to call her something other than her species. I think she just wants-needs-space right now to adjust."
That seemed to quell their interest for now, but both Sasha and Laura gave Jack a deep, long, passionate kiss before returning to their Pokeballs. When he turned to Maya, who was blushing like mad and couldn't look him in the eyes he took her hand in his. He kissed the back of her like a gentleman and when she looked at him in surprise he caught her on the lips, holding her there with his other hand and forcing her mind to swim and her whole body to swoon. When finally he took his lips away she was still puckered and her eyes only slowly fluttered open to regard him. He leaned in again but this time turned to the side to place his cheek against hers in a soft caress. "We haven't had much time together, but I promise, the next time we're alone, I'll show you a night you'll never forget. Just you and me, okay?" he backed away and with a gentle smile she nodded and tapped her Pokéball, sending herself back with the image of pure happiness on her face.
Then he slid himself back onto the bed and took one last look at the Lucario, sleeping peacefully yet somehow still on edge. He noted the corded muscles in her arms before turning over and closing his eyes, the baby Riolu curled up with him in his arms again for the night.
The next morning both Jack and Lucario woke at about the same time, the sunlight shining down into their eyes as it made its way into the sky. "Good morning." Said Jack, his voice nonchalant. "You must be hungry. Last night's dinner is probably spoiled by now, but I'll go see what the cafeteria has." Before she could object or make any sort of reply at all he was gone and had closed the door behind him. Riolu woke up then and stretched and looked around surprised. She stood and whined, looking frantically for Jack and not seeing him anywhere. She hopped down from the bed and was scratching at the door to leave. Lucario watched with a mixture of amazement and resentment towards Jack for making her baby love him so much. She called to her baby and she only reluctantly crawled up her bed. Never once though, did Riolu take her eyes from the door.
When he did come back he set a tray of steaming hot food down on the used cart and handed Lucario one plate, taking the other for himself. When he had finished he asked her. "Do you think you're ready to get going? I'd like to be leaving the centre soon."
"I am healed fully." Was her quick and only reply.
He sighed, knowing that he wasn't about to get anything else out of her for the time being. When they were both finished he made to grab for her Pokéball and watched as she tensed her arms around Riolu.
"You know what? Why don't you just walk with me?" She noticeably relaxed when he said that and only curtly nodded her head for him. She kept a firm hold on Riolu, who seemed to soak up the attention. As they were leaving Jack made a point to thank the nurse and the Chansey graciously for their attention in healing Lucario and with a bow and another thanks they left on their way.
Fuchsia City was a marvelous site to behold. The Centre was on the top of a low hill and overlooked the rows of short buildings and to the south, the grand blue sea stretching out to Cinnabar and beyond. Jack paused for a moment to take in the site and looked back to Lucario, happy to see that she as well was absorbing the cityscape with a certain awe. When Jack finally did set off again he was on his way to the market to resupply. He needed almost everything because he had dropped quite a bit on the road into Fuchsia, now left with only a few of the basics and a torn up back pack. He was inside, followed closely by Lucario, who was sure to dispel any more than casual glances her way with snarls and defensive posturing. When he was done he smiled at his full bag and slipped it on.
"All right. All finished. To the gym."
Lucario nodded again, refusing his advance to conversation with her shoulder.
When they arrived they weren't sure exactly what to think. The building itself was a bit run down, and there was a certain odor to the place that neither of them could place. Riolu covered her nose and made coughing noises, but they continued inside undaunted. Inside was much of the same, but the odor was more pronounced and offended Lucario's senses.
"I prefer to wait outside if it's all the same to you. There's no reason to have my baby in here."
Jack, his eyes a bit watery from the smell replied with his fingers closing his nose, "In another circumstance I would let you Lucario. But the Gym here is all about Poison types, and since you're part Steel... well."
The Lucario scoffed. "I know. Resistant. Very well. Let's get this over with before the smell burns away the rest of my senses."
Jack made his way through the gym's odd architecture and often low hanging clouds of stationary purple vapor with less than curiosity and finally came to an open area in the back with a large circle cut in halves for battles. He looked around and saw no one and so called out. When that went unanswered he called again and again, about to leave when Lucario, not wanting to have wasted her time roared out ferociously for the hidden person to show themselves.
"Such a clever Pokémon to have seen through my disguise," said a wall, suddenly disappearing and taking on the appearance of a man dressed in a similar coloured cape and matching clothes. "I suppose I should congratulate it for seeing through me so very effectively. I am Koga, Ninja Master, and trainer of Poisonous Pokémon. I assume you are here to challenge me, and so I would have your name, trainer, that I might record it on my walls as those who have been turned away defeated."
Jack liked this man less than the stench of the gym and through blurry eyes blinked and regarded the man.
"The name's Jack, ID 58374. Though you'll have to hold out on that losing thing until you actually see our power."
"Please, that is what they all say. You cannot even stand the smell of the Poisonous air you breathe. How could your Pokémon fare any better?"
"Enough!" yelled Lucario. "Let's get this over with so we can leave. He calls me first."
This made Koga smile. "You would do well to heed the call of your master little Pokémon. We were not speaking with you."
"Actually, she kinda took the words right out of my mouth. Lucario, take your place," said Jack a little bashfully, taking hold of the Riolu. Lucario stepped into the ring and Koga smiled. "Very well. I accept your challenge. One-on-one with a maximum of three Pokémon each. Begin! Come out Wheezing!" As he tossed out his Pokéball two platforms at either end of the ring began to rise, forming the areas where Koga and Jack could stand away from the fighting and the noxious fumes. Out came the large, bulbous Pokémon and out came the Poison gas immediately after. Lucario waded through it like nothing and began a quick fighting routine of rocket fast punches and quick attacks to move around the Wheezing, keeping it disoriented. All the while Jack shouted orders and all the while Lucario ignored him, eventually dropping the Wheezing without taking a single hit, merely puffing a cloud of smoke away with a breath from her nose. She took her place again.
"Lucario, listen to my calls, you hear me?"
The Lucario gave no indication that she could hear him, took no notice at all while Koga called out his next Pokémon, a Muk, which slithered lazily across the floor towards Lucario with a methodical pace not intended to seem at all threatening until it was too late. Jack knew of such traps and called out to Lucario to keep her distance. But she wouldn't heed him and rushed in headlong, launching into another set of furious punches and low leg sweeps that were all but ineffectual against the blubbering mass. Then the Muk rose up and with a crash came down hard with a formed up fist, swatting Lucario like a rag doll to the other end of the ring, landing a major hit. Lucario rebounded fine and continued to feel the niggling tug in her mind as Jack protested her moves and commanded other ones, but again she ignored him and rushed in, firing off a ball of ki and then bounding away, repeating the move again and following up with a quick attack and another low kick. None of which proved at all effective.
Jack was becoming angry now and grabbed her Pokéball, squeezing it hard and pressing the button to send the full force of his command into the brain of its attached Pokémon. "Back up Lucario, and stay out of reach. Charge up an Iron Tail and when I give the signal, release. Now do it!"
The effects of his possession were obvious, as his mental command could no longer be ignored. She took her distance and went down with one paw on the ground, her tails shaking furiously as they gained kinetic energy and transformed into rods of solid steel. When the Muk was almost upon her Jack yelled his command and she ripped the floorboards apart with her momentum. So fast was the energy released that she skidded to a stop behind and through the pile of refuse that was Koga's Pokémon, and scattered remnants of the grimy blob all over the stadium. It was stunned for the moment and that's when Jack called out again. "Now Lucario, Aura Sphere to keep it apart and then use a Close Combat to finish it! While it's stunned!" She did exactly that, firing off another glowing sphere of ki, keeping two of its bulbous halves, now that its body had been sundered apart and then landing solid hits to it's main body, doing incredible damage now that it's protective layer of fatty grime wasn't in the way of her blows anymore.
When her move had finished Muk lay in a quivering mass on the floor and Koga called it back, smiling at Jack with a hint of malice. "You've done exceptionally well thus far 58374, but you will no longer be able to defend against my poison attacks by type. Come out Hypno!"
From the next Pokéball came a tall jester like Pokémon, hunched at the shoulders and yellow coloured, holding a swinging pendulum and speaking its name in a slow, soothing way. Jack himself almost felt a little sleepy but quickly shook it off.
"Lucario, you can't fight this one! Come back!"
"No! Poison effects will not affect me! I will finish this my way!" she said as she received the biggest shock of her life as a mental wave of nausea and pain wracked her body fiercely.
"That's right Hypno. Punish her with your Psychic attacks."
That was the last thing Lucario heard before blacking out, completely defeated. Jack called her back into her Pokéball, despite the wailing protests of Riolu in his arm and pondered over his next Pokémon. Sasha would stand no chance against this one, being part fighting herself. But Laura was not as susceptible, and she may still be quick enough to disorient the thing before the Psychic takes effect.
"Laura! Come out! Finish this!" The Lopunny hopped up once and bent into a fighting stance, ready for anything. But she wasn't prepared for the sight, or the smell around her, and recoiled a bit when it hit her so strongly. "Ignore it. Extreme Speed! Get around it!"
She did what she was told instantly but was stopped midway by a wracking pain. Visible waves of distortion energy coursed through the room, a Psybeam and it hit her hard, forcing her to stop in her tracks and shake it off. But not before being hit by a slop of toxic sludge, poisoning her more intensely than she had ever been before. She shook off the immense pain and stood again, this time making a quick attempt at landing a solid hit. She succeeded, but only just, and was flung to the ground as the partially connected hit soared right through the air as the Hypno Teleported to the other side of the ring. She skidded to a stop and turned, just in time to see the Hypno stagger to its feet again. Luckily the graze she had made had done some damage. She gripped her stomach as a wave of nausea hit her though, and with her last ounce of strength she stumbled forward in an attempt to get one last attack in before the vicious poison overtook her. With her last breath of consciousness she whispered "Sorry jack," and fell to the floor.
He called Laura back as well, stewing over the last choice of Pokémon for this battle. Maya hadn't seen much combat, but she was tenacious in a different kind of way than his other Pokémon, and that was in the hits she could take before she finally succumbed. She was his last choice anyway, and he called her out. To her credit, she didn't seem fazed by the smell and took a battle posture instantly, ready for anything.
When the first instruction came however, she was a bit surprised, not being totally sure of where she was at the moment. She used Misty Veil just as another shot of Toxic sludge came at her, disintegrated against the veil and didn't affect her at all. She smiled at the success and then braced herself as a terrible mental force jammed at her mind scrambling her thoughts and jumbling all her words. She could feel herself losing herself and before she could even register Jack's mental command to her she screamed and out poured a geyser of water so large and so powerful that it sent the Hypno, when it connected, flying across the room and through the adjacent wall of the building. It didn't get up, didn't even budge and Maya was left standing, wobbly and in tears, but standing. Jack leapt from his perch outside the ring and came to her side, taking her by the shoulders and letting her fall into his arms, weeping and still wiggling from the force of mental energy still sorting itself out in her head.
The platforms lowered and down hopped Koga, smiling seriously but respectfully at Jack. When he got within arm's reach he extended his arm respectfully. "You have bested me in combat, and I acknowledge your power and grace in combat both as a trainer and as a friend to your Pokémon. You have earned this; the Soul Badge. The sixth of eight in the Kanto Gym League challenge."
When Jack took the badge and opened up his book to add it Koga burst into laughter. "Mine is one of two you've captured thus far?" His laugh was all mirth, "My congratulations to you Jack. If you have bested me while still so inexperienced in battle, well... You must share a rare bond with your Pokémon Jack, one that seldom ever shows itself, and few ever find. I must continue my training. If today's young people are so powerful... yes, a trip to the mountains is just the thing, and I'll..." but Jack had already turned away and left, ignoring the man as he continued to trail on about plans for a training hiatus and a lot of ninja things Jack didn't care for. He carried Maya on his back all the way to the Pokémon Centre and then transferred her to her ball so that she could be healed by the machine. When he collected his balls again he smiled and left, not wanting to take up another room and outlive their hospitality.
It was only a short walk to the beach and by sunset he had found a perfect place sheltered by a thick copse of trees just bordering the sandy beach overlooking the southeastern shore of the Kanto province. He sent up camp, pitching the tent and setting up a campfire on the sand and then called everyone out when the water was boiling in his new collapsible basin, just waiting for the other ingredients. They were elated to see him in such good spirits, except for Lucario, who sat with Riolu near the camp and separated herself from their mirth. Sasha took up a ready posture for battle as soon as she materialized and yelled out challenged to the foes that weren't there before they all explained that they had already left the gym far behind. She was disappointed, but recovered quickly when she heard about the last Pokémon's type and shuddered.
"Psychic types. They're so... so..."
"Mental," added Laura, bringing a burst of laughter from the group and setting the mood for the evening.
When dinner was ready they all served themselves and gorged on the stew. Except for Lucario, who stayed away from them all. It was Maya who got up, while the others were busily giggling to themselves as they stripped Jack naked and pulled him along to the water and pushed him in, leaping after him in fits of splashing and laughing.
Maya handed Lucario a bowl of the stew and she took it despite herself, looking at the broth like a foreign object. Maya sat beside her and calmly said, "He's not like you think, you know. He's the nicest boy I've ever met."
"I didn't want a nice boy. I wanted to raise my baby away from humans."
"He knows that, but he... he also wanted to give you that chance, but he couldn't, or...It's all a bit confusing to me actually. But I know he loves you too. Like he loves all of his Pokémon. That's why he couldn't just leave you in that forest by yourself. You may not see it yet, but Jack will never stop loving you no matter what you do, or how you behave. That's not how he is. It should be obvious by how he treated little Riolu." She laughed to herself as the Riolu plucked her pointing finger right out of midair and laughed as she playfully tugged it away in a mock tug-of-war. "Don't hate him for saving your life Lucario. Be thankful that he gave you the chance to raise your baby at all. If it had been the humans that I know, they wouldn't have given you that option. Is the life of your baby not worth it?"
Lucario didn't reply for a long while, but looked down at the cooling broth before taking it to her lips and gulping it down. When she brought it down again her eyes became misty as a torrent of unspent emotions just washed right through her. She cried an eternity's worth of stoicism away in a matter of moments and to her credit, all Maya did was lean over and hug the blue dog Pokémon, reassuring her of everything and nothing. When she finally did stop crying and began wiping her tears the remnants of the stew had fallen to the ground between her feet and the bowl was empty. She looked at it and then at Maya, who had sat back.
Swallowing more pride than Maya could ever know, Lucario said, "It was good. Could I have some more."
With a great smile Maya took the bowl and said, "Of course," and ran off to fill the bowl up again.
Lucario looked out at Jack and his two other Pokémon playing in the water, even letting go of Riolu long enough for her to escape and dash to the water to join them and she knew she could decide with all certainty. "This life is worth living, for me, and for my baby." When Maya returned with another bowl she took it and drank it all without stopping.
"Yes. It would all be worth it."
Jack was like a blaze on wheels as he sped downhill on his rented bike. It was late and any trainer on the bike road now was either in camp asleep or in camp for some private time. It was all lost on Jack. The lit path of the bike road made for easy travel, and the downhill slope meant he could rest his exhausted legs for a moment to coast around some of the many gardens that dotted the landscape. He was focused on the growing lights of Fuchsia city up ahead. Still a good few hours away, but near enough to catch the lights cascading around the heavily forested area and the seascape far off in the distance ahead of him.
It wasn't until he had to make a sharp turn much later to get to the city's western gate that his focus changed from straight ahead to falling and tumbling. In his absence he had been going so fast that when he turned he had to lean so far to his left that his wheels skidded out from under him and he scraped along the ground, tearing up his jeans and shirt and cutting himself deeply on the gravel on his entire left side. He flew in that direction for several meters before coming to a stop. His whole body ached and flared with a dirty pain, but he hardly noticed. He picked up the bike again and pedaled all the harder. When finally he burst through the doors of the city's Pokémon Centre, he was both bleeding and exhausted and with his last ounce of strength he tossed the Pokéball containing Lucario to the ground and collapsed into darkness.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly to regard her surroundings. She was on something soft and altogether comfortable. Not like her forest bed of ferns and grasses. She felt dizzy and could hear in the distance a steady beeping noise, two of them actually.
"Where am I?" she thought she said, though no sound actually left her lips.
Just then a door whooshed open and in stepped a short plump Pokémon with a little white cap on, followed behind by a human wearing a pink and white skirt outfit. It was a Chansey, she noted, a very rare, and very tasty Pokémon. Her mouth watered at the thought but quickly stifled it as the other Pokémon hopped over to her and leaned over to regard her form.
"Oh my goodness!" she said in a sweet and high pitched voice. "Nurse Joy! Nurse Joy, looky! Awake! This one's awake!" The Chansey looked into her eyes and smiled a big fat Chansey smile, "You were asleep for a long time, yes? It's so good your trainer got you here when he did. You may not have made it!"
The Lucario stared at the Chansey incredulously. "I have no trainer." But when the Chansey answered her with a nod to her side she turned her head to regard Jack lying on the next bed beside her. He was unconscious as well, his eyes closed and a breathing tube in his nose. She was filled with a sudden rage at the boy. "He captured me?"
"That is what trainers do, isn't it?" said the Chansey, oblivious.
Then the Lucario looked down a bit and there was Riolu, her own daughter, snuggled right up against Jack's side, hugging his arm to her body and licking his fingers in her sleep. She wore a contented and serene expression on her face that heightened Lucario's anger all the more. Chansey followed her gaze to the pup and noted obliviously again, "She's hardly left his side at all since he got here. We could hardly get her to stay away when we had to get him into the emergency room."
The Lucario lifted a hand towards her baby and willed her to come to her side, but the baby Riolu didn't wake. The Chansey smiled and hobbled over to the little Riolu and picked her up, waking her in the process an exciting a myriad of barks and yelps and playful squirms against her restraints before being deposited beside her mother. Lucario smiled at her baby, losing all focus. Riolu looked at the Chansey for a moment before turning to her mother. When she saw the Lucario's eyes she lit up and pounced onto her mother's chest, licking her chin in playful puppy kisses before sitting back up on her mother's chest and staring into her eyes much more seriously. A tear began to well up in Lucario's eye before Riolu beeped her nose and hopped down, clambering up the side of Jack's bed and nosing at his belt. Lucario felt outraged that this trainer had taught her baby to do things like that but then realized what she was really doing. His other Pokeballs were clipped to his belt and the pup yanked them off one by one and tossed them to the ground, bringing up his other Pokémon one after the other.
They all stretched, their eyes still closed from their long stint inside their Pokeballs and didn't at first notice where they were until Maya piped up.
"Oh Jack!"
The Chansey was right by her side and quickly patted her on the back with reassuring coos even as the other two regarded him with a worried fervor. "Now now, ladies, he's going to be just fine. We took care of the cuts and scrapes. He won't even have any scars. He's just exhausted. He's been asleep for days, just like your other friend here." And she motioned towards the Lucario, who stared back at all of them angrily.
"They are no friends of mine," said the Lucario weakly.
"He just saved your life, you could be a little more gracious you know," said Sasha, balling her fists at her sides. Laura too was right beside her offering condescending phrases, but Maya chose instead to go around the other side of Jack and hold his hand in hers. Nurse Joy smiled at her, seemingly unbothered by the bickering going on at the Lucario's expense. Finally, when the voices seemed to be getting to their crescendo Joy scolded all of them.
"All right, that's enough! All of you!" they turned to regard the small woman with a mixture of surprise and anger. "You're all being terribly selfish. I think it's time to all go back into your Pokéball to cool off." She grabbed up the two balls for Laura and Sasha and pressed on the little buttons, sending both of them away, but not before each of them let one last cry and shot a glance back to the Lucario. When they were safely away Joy clipped them back to Jack's belt and began to motion for a third one, Maya's.
"Please, can I stay out for a little while? I'll be quiet. And I'll go back myself," she pleaded. Nurse Joy looked at her for a moment and smiled.
"Of course sweetie. Just don't antagonize Lucario and let them both get some sleep okay?"
Maya nodded and pulled up a stool close to Jack's bed, where she held his hand in hers and gently rubbed her cool fingers over his, measuring the length against hers and smoothing over his skin. Lucario watched all this from her bed and turned away, facing the ceiling. She said nothing, even when Riolu again curled up under his arm and fell asleep, making little puppy noises. It was late at night when Jack's eyes suddenly flared open. He was sore all over and felt groggy. His hands opened and closed and felt the Riolu's warm leg in one, where she had curled herself around his arm to sleep, and a cool, slightly damp hand in his other. He slowly turned his head and looked down at Maya, who had fallen asleep next to him, her hand clenched firmly with his. Someone had draped a light blanket over her back and tucked him in as well. Despite his fatigue he could feel the strength returning to him and all the memories of what put him here in the first place rushed back. He took his arm carefully away from Riolu, who latched onto the blanket and turned herself around in it, and then felt his other side. All the scrapes and cuts were gone, and he didn't feel any the worse for wear. He sighed and looked to his right at the sleeping Lucario, whose heart monitor beeped with perfect regularity that set his mind at ease.
His stomach growled and suddenly he realized just how hungry he was. "How long was I out?" he whispered to himself, freeing his other hand and gripping his stomach with it. He carefully shuffled his way off the bed, being careful not to make a sound and slipped on his regular clothes, which had been stitched and folded and left at the foot of the bed. He smiled at the service provided by Pokémon Centers and was immediately grateful for their existence. He slunk out of his room and closed the door behind him, going out into the main ward of the building. The room looked almost exactly like every other Pokémon Centre, except that he had never had to stay as a patient before. Even this late at night it was well lit and was still staffed, if lightly so. A Chansey pranced by with an empty tray and took no notice of him, singing to herself in her own name like most Pokémon. He came to the front desk and looked over. Nurse Joy, because the must-be-cloned family was all named "Joy" was busily picking a sheaf of fallen papers from the floor.
"Um... excuse me?" asked Jack, careful to catch her attention slowly so she wouldn't rise up suddenly and bump her head.
"Ah!" came a surprised cry and then a crash as she rose up as fast as she could and clipped her head on the side of the desk. Jack winced and looked away apologetically and looked worriedly at the woman, busily fixing her hair and her composure and trying to ignore the pain obviously throbbing on the back of her head. "Yes, what can I do for you this fine evening?" she asked pleasantly. "Oh, you're Jack, the patient over in room C. You must be famished. Would you like something?"
Surprised at the woman's tenacity and a little bewildered that she had taken the words right out of his mouth he simply nodded. Before he had a chance to reply she was already away from the desk and down the hall, though he watched as she tripped over nothing and landed on her face before quickly picking herself up again and brushing her skirt, which had flown up to reveal her panties, back down. She rushed off embarrassed and shut a door behind her. Jack raised both his eyebrows at the spectacle but turned away and went back to his room. There he could see the Lucario eyeing him right back.
"You're awake," he said in surprise. She stared at him and watched as he clambered back into his bed, still careful not to wake anyone. There was a long and awkward silence between the two of them before Jack tried again. "I know you must-"
"-Don't patronize me human. I-"
Jack continued undeterred. "I know you must despise me for capturing you, but I'm not going to apologize for it. You can hate me for as long as you want, you can never forgive me if it will make you feel better. But I don't regret it. I had a lot of time to think of all the reasons not to catch you on the way here and not one of them outweighed saving your life. I couldn't care less what you think of me right now, but know that my decision wouldn't be any different. And don't think for a second that I will tolerate insolence towards me or any of my other Pokémon. If nothing else, respect them."
The Lucario stared incredulously at Jack for a long time before speaking. "I do not respect your value as a trainer, human. But I will stay with you for my baby. Even if I do not, she loves you. For her I will stay. But only for her."
Jack nodded his agreement at their spoken contract and then fell silent. Just in time for Nurse Joy to push in a cart with a tray of food on it. Lots of food in fact.
"I figured you'd all be hungry so I brought enough for everyone, if you want to call them out, you can all dine together."
Out came Laura and Sasha, both of whom looked around a bit curiously before the scent of food hit their noses, and then they grabbed a plate for themselves and made quick work of their meal. Maya too, once she was awake, followed closely by Jack, who put some on a separate plate for Lucario as well but let her sleep on for now.
"Jack?" said Laura in a concerned voice, "How much longer will you be here? In the hospital I mean?" The other's put their plates down to listen to his response as well.
He finished chewing and cleared his throat, looking them all over one by one. His party truly was getting large. Not a bad thing by far, but he noted that he had spent far less time with each of them than he would have liked. "It depends on when Lucario is well enough to travel. She's part of our team now too, and I don't want to expose her to danger before she's ready to get on the road."
"Lucario. You haven't given her a name yet?" asked Maya.
He regarded her for a moment before replying. "Not yet. She doesn't trust me. Doesn't even like me, so it feels in bad taste to call her something other than her species. I think she just wants-needs-space right now to adjust."
That seemed to quell their interest for now, but both Sasha and Laura gave Jack a deep, long, passionate kiss before returning to their Pokeballs. When he turned to Maya, who was blushing like mad and couldn't look him in the eyes he took her hand in his. He kissed the back of her like a gentleman and when she looked at him in surprise he caught her on the lips, holding her there with his other hand and forcing her mind to swim and her whole body to swoon. When finally he took his lips away she was still puckered and her eyes only slowly fluttered open to regard him. He leaned in again but this time turned to the side to place his cheek against hers in a soft caress. "We haven't had much time together, but I promise, the next time we're alone, I'll show you a night you'll never forget. Just you and me, okay?" he backed away and with a gentle smile she nodded and tapped her Pokéball, sending herself back with the image of pure happiness on her face.
Then he slid himself back onto the bed and took one last look at the Lucario, sleeping peacefully yet somehow still on edge. He noted the corded muscles in her arms before turning over and closing his eyes, the baby Riolu curled up with him in his arms again for the night.
The next morning both Jack and Lucario woke at about the same time, the sunlight shining down into their eyes as it made its way into the sky. "Good morning." Said Jack, his voice nonchalant. "You must be hungry. Last night's dinner is probably spoiled by now, but I'll go see what the cafeteria has." Before she could object or make any sort of reply at all he was gone and had closed the door behind him. Riolu woke up then and stretched and looked around surprised. She stood and whined, looking frantically for Jack and not seeing him anywhere. She hopped down from the bed and was scratching at the door to leave. Lucario watched with a mixture of amazement and resentment towards Jack for making her baby love him so much. She called to her baby and she only reluctantly crawled up her bed. Never once though, did Riolu take her eyes from the door.
When he did come back he set a tray of steaming hot food down on the used cart and handed Lucario one plate, taking the other for himself. When he had finished he asked her. "Do you think you're ready to get going? I'd like to be leaving the centre soon."
"I am healed fully." Was her quick and only reply.
He sighed, knowing that he wasn't about to get anything else out of her for the time being. When they were both finished he made to grab for her Pokéball and watched as she tensed her arms around Riolu.
"You know what? Why don't you just walk with me?" She noticeably relaxed when he said that and only curtly nodded her head for him. She kept a firm hold on Riolu, who seemed to soak up the attention. As they were leaving Jack made a point to thank the nurse and the Chansey graciously for their attention in healing Lucario and with a bow and another thanks they left on their way.
Fuchsia City was a marvelous site to behold. The Centre was on the top of a low hill and overlooked the rows of short buildings and to the south, the grand blue sea stretching out to Cinnabar and beyond. Jack paused for a moment to take in the site and looked back to Lucario, happy to see that she as well was absorbing the cityscape with a certain awe. When Jack finally did set off again he was on his way to the market to resupply. He needed almost everything because he had dropped quite a bit on the road into Fuchsia, now left with only a few of the basics and a torn up back pack. He was inside, followed closely by Lucario, who was sure to dispel any more than casual glances her way with snarls and defensive posturing. When he was done he smiled at his full bag and slipped it on.
"All right. All finished. To the gym."
Lucario nodded again, refusing his advance to conversation with her shoulder.
When they arrived they weren't sure exactly what to think. The building itself was a bit run down, and there was a certain odor to the place that neither of them could place. Riolu covered her nose and made coughing noises, but they continued inside undaunted. Inside was much of the same, but the odor was more pronounced and offended Lucario's senses.
"I prefer to wait outside if it's all the same to you. There's no reason to have my baby in here."
Jack, his eyes a bit watery from the smell replied with his fingers closing his nose, "In another circumstance I would let you Lucario. But the Gym here is all about Poison types, and since you're part Steel... well."
The Lucario scoffed. "I know. Resistant. Very well. Let's get this over with before the smell burns away the rest of my senses."
Jack made his way through the gym's odd architecture and often low hanging clouds of stationary purple vapor with less than curiosity and finally came to an open area in the back with a large circle cut in halves for battles. He looked around and saw no one and so called out. When that went unanswered he called again and again, about to leave when Lucario, not wanting to have wasted her time roared out ferociously for the hidden person to show themselves.
"Such a clever Pokémon to have seen through my disguise," said a wall, suddenly disappearing and taking on the appearance of a man dressed in a similar coloured cape and matching clothes. "I suppose I should congratulate it for seeing through me so very effectively. I am Koga, Ninja Master, and trainer of Poisonous Pokémon. I assume you are here to challenge me, and so I would have your name, trainer, that I might record it on my walls as those who have been turned away defeated."
Jack liked this man less than the stench of the gym and through blurry eyes blinked and regarded the man.
"The name's Jack, ID 58374. Though you'll have to hold out on that losing thing until you actually see our power."
"Please, that is what they all say. You cannot even stand the smell of the Poisonous air you breathe. How could your Pokémon fare any better?"
"Enough!" yelled Lucario. "Let's get this over with so we can leave. He calls me first."
This made Koga smile. "You would do well to heed the call of your master little Pokémon. We were not speaking with you."
"Actually, she kinda took the words right out of my mouth. Lucario, take your place," said Jack a little bashfully, taking hold of the Riolu. Lucario stepped into the ring and Koga smiled. "Very well. I accept your challenge. One-on-one with a maximum of three Pokémon each. Begin! Come out Wheezing!" As he tossed out his Pokéball two platforms at either end of the ring began to rise, forming the areas where Koga and Jack could stand away from the fighting and the noxious fumes. Out came the large, bulbous Pokémon and out came the Poison gas immediately after. Lucario waded through it like nothing and began a quick fighting routine of rocket fast punches and quick attacks to move around the Wheezing, keeping it disoriented. All the while Jack shouted orders and all the while Lucario ignored him, eventually dropping the Wheezing without taking a single hit, merely puffing a cloud of smoke away with a breath from her nose. She took her place again.
"Lucario, listen to my calls, you hear me?"
The Lucario gave no indication that she could hear him, took no notice at all while Koga called out his next Pokémon, a Muk, which slithered lazily across the floor towards Lucario with a methodical pace not intended to seem at all threatening until it was too late. Jack knew of such traps and called out to Lucario to keep her distance. But she wouldn't heed him and rushed in headlong, launching into another set of furious punches and low leg sweeps that were all but ineffectual against the blubbering mass. Then the Muk rose up and with a crash came down hard with a formed up fist, swatting Lucario like a rag doll to the other end of the ring, landing a major hit. Lucario rebounded fine and continued to feel the niggling tug in her mind as Jack protested her moves and commanded other ones, but again she ignored him and rushed in, firing off a ball of ki and then bounding away, repeating the move again and following up with a quick attack and another low kick. None of which proved at all effective.
Jack was becoming angry now and grabbed her Pokéball, squeezing it hard and pressing the button to send the full force of his command into the brain of its attached Pokémon. "Back up Lucario, and stay out of reach. Charge up an Iron Tail and when I give the signal, release. Now do it!"
The effects of his possession were obvious, as his mental command could no longer be ignored. She took her distance and went down with one paw on the ground, her tails shaking furiously as they gained kinetic energy and transformed into rods of solid steel. When the Muk was almost upon her Jack yelled his command and she ripped the floorboards apart with her momentum. So fast was the energy released that she skidded to a stop behind and through the pile of refuse that was Koga's Pokémon, and scattered remnants of the grimy blob all over the stadium. It was stunned for the moment and that's when Jack called out again. "Now Lucario, Aura Sphere to keep it apart and then use a Close Combat to finish it! While it's stunned!" She did exactly that, firing off another glowing sphere of ki, keeping two of its bulbous halves, now that its body had been sundered apart and then landing solid hits to it's main body, doing incredible damage now that it's protective layer of fatty grime wasn't in the way of her blows anymore.
When her move had finished Muk lay in a quivering mass on the floor and Koga called it back, smiling at Jack with a hint of malice. "You've done exceptionally well thus far 58374, but you will no longer be able to defend against my poison attacks by type. Come out Hypno!"
From the next Pokéball came a tall jester like Pokémon, hunched at the shoulders and yellow coloured, holding a swinging pendulum and speaking its name in a slow, soothing way. Jack himself almost felt a little sleepy but quickly shook it off.
"Lucario, you can't fight this one! Come back!"
"No! Poison effects will not affect me! I will finish this my way!" she said as she received the biggest shock of her life as a mental wave of nausea and pain wracked her body fiercely.
"That's right Hypno. Punish her with your Psychic attacks."
That was the last thing Lucario heard before blacking out, completely defeated. Jack called her back into her Pokéball, despite the wailing protests of Riolu in his arm and pondered over his next Pokémon. Sasha would stand no chance against this one, being part fighting herself. But Laura was not as susceptible, and she may still be quick enough to disorient the thing before the Psychic takes effect.
"Laura! Come out! Finish this!" The Lopunny hopped up once and bent into a fighting stance, ready for anything. But she wasn't prepared for the sight, or the smell around her, and recoiled a bit when it hit her so strongly. "Ignore it. Extreme Speed! Get around it!"
She did what she was told instantly but was stopped midway by a wracking pain. Visible waves of distortion energy coursed through the room, a Psybeam and it hit her hard, forcing her to stop in her tracks and shake it off. But not before being hit by a slop of toxic sludge, poisoning her more intensely than she had ever been before. She shook off the immense pain and stood again, this time making a quick attempt at landing a solid hit. She succeeded, but only just, and was flung to the ground as the partially connected hit soared right through the air as the Hypno Teleported to the other side of the ring. She skidded to a stop and turned, just in time to see the Hypno stagger to its feet again. Luckily the graze she had made had done some damage. She gripped her stomach as a wave of nausea hit her though, and with her last ounce of strength she stumbled forward in an attempt to get one last attack in before the vicious poison overtook her. With her last breath of consciousness she whispered "Sorry jack," and fell to the floor.
He called Laura back as well, stewing over the last choice of Pokémon for this battle. Maya hadn't seen much combat, but she was tenacious in a different kind of way than his other Pokémon, and that was in the hits she could take before she finally succumbed. She was his last choice anyway, and he called her out. To her credit, she didn't seem fazed by the smell and took a battle posture instantly, ready for anything.
When the first instruction came however, she was a bit surprised, not being totally sure of where she was at the moment. She used Misty Veil just as another shot of Toxic sludge came at her, disintegrated against the veil and didn't affect her at all. She smiled at the success and then braced herself as a terrible mental force jammed at her mind scrambling her thoughts and jumbling all her words. She could feel herself losing herself and before she could even register Jack's mental command to her she screamed and out poured a geyser of water so large and so powerful that it sent the Hypno, when it connected, flying across the room and through the adjacent wall of the building. It didn't get up, didn't even budge and Maya was left standing, wobbly and in tears, but standing. Jack leapt from his perch outside the ring and came to her side, taking her by the shoulders and letting her fall into his arms, weeping and still wiggling from the force of mental energy still sorting itself out in her head.
The platforms lowered and down hopped Koga, smiling seriously but respectfully at Jack. When he got within arm's reach he extended his arm respectfully. "You have bested me in combat, and I acknowledge your power and grace in combat both as a trainer and as a friend to your Pokémon. You have earned this; the Soul Badge. The sixth of eight in the Kanto Gym League challenge."
When Jack took the badge and opened up his book to add it Koga burst into laughter. "Mine is one of two you've captured thus far?" His laugh was all mirth, "My congratulations to you Jack. If you have bested me while still so inexperienced in battle, well... You must share a rare bond with your Pokémon Jack, one that seldom ever shows itself, and few ever find. I must continue my training. If today's young people are so powerful... yes, a trip to the mountains is just the thing, and I'll..." but Jack had already turned away and left, ignoring the man as he continued to trail on about plans for a training hiatus and a lot of ninja things Jack didn't care for. He carried Maya on his back all the way to the Pokémon Centre and then transferred her to her ball so that she could be healed by the machine. When he collected his balls again he smiled and left, not wanting to take up another room and outlive their hospitality.
It was only a short walk to the beach and by sunset he had found a perfect place sheltered by a thick copse of trees just bordering the sandy beach overlooking the southeastern shore of the Kanto province. He sent up camp, pitching the tent and setting up a campfire on the sand and then called everyone out when the water was boiling in his new collapsible basin, just waiting for the other ingredients. They were elated to see him in such good spirits, except for Lucario, who sat with Riolu near the camp and separated herself from their mirth. Sasha took up a ready posture for battle as soon as she materialized and yelled out challenged to the foes that weren't there before they all explained that they had already left the gym far behind. She was disappointed, but recovered quickly when she heard about the last Pokémon's type and shuddered.
"Psychic types. They're so... so..."
"Mental," added Laura, bringing a burst of laughter from the group and setting the mood for the evening.
When dinner was ready they all served themselves and gorged on the stew. Except for Lucario, who stayed away from them all. It was Maya who got up, while the others were busily giggling to themselves as they stripped Jack naked and pulled him along to the water and pushed him in, leaping after him in fits of splashing and laughing.
Maya handed Lucario a bowl of the stew and she took it despite herself, looking at the broth like a foreign object. Maya sat beside her and calmly said, "He's not like you think, you know. He's the nicest boy I've ever met."
"I didn't want a nice boy. I wanted to raise my baby away from humans."
"He knows that, but he... he also wanted to give you that chance, but he couldn't, or...It's all a bit confusing to me actually. But I know he loves you too. Like he loves all of his Pokémon. That's why he couldn't just leave you in that forest by yourself. You may not see it yet, but Jack will never stop loving you no matter what you do, or how you behave. That's not how he is. It should be obvious by how he treated little Riolu." She laughed to herself as the Riolu plucked her pointing finger right out of midair and laughed as she playfully tugged it away in a mock tug-of-war. "Don't hate him for saving your life Lucario. Be thankful that he gave you the chance to raise your baby at all. If it had been the humans that I know, they wouldn't have given you that option. Is the life of your baby not worth it?"
Lucario didn't reply for a long while, but looked down at the cooling broth before taking it to her lips and gulping it down. When she brought it down again her eyes became misty as a torrent of unspent emotions just washed right through her. She cried an eternity's worth of stoicism away in a matter of moments and to her credit, all Maya did was lean over and hug the blue dog Pokémon, reassuring her of everything and nothing. When she finally did stop crying and began wiping her tears the remnants of the stew had fallen to the ground between her feet and the bowl was empty. She looked at it and then at Maya, who had sat back.
Swallowing more pride than Maya could ever know, Lucario said, "It was good. Could I have some more."
With a great smile Maya took the bowl and said, "Of course," and ran off to fill the bowl up again.
Lucario looked out at Jack and his two other Pokémon playing in the water, even letting go of Riolu long enough for her to escape and dash to the water to join them and she knew she could decide with all certainty. "This life is worth living, for me, and for my baby." When Maya returned with another bowl she took it and drank it all without stopping.
"Yes. It would all be worth it."