FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Disclaimer: Pokémon is copyright of Nintendo, Game Freak, etc. Individual characters are my own imaginening, and are not intended to be any part of main cannon / plotline. Individual characters like Aaron, Song, Zin, etc, are my own creations, so please ask before using. Thank you.

Chapter 11: Flight or Fight

I tried my best to stargaze, to do something to occupy my mind. I couldn't help but think what could have been what appeared in front of me. There must be plenty of nocturnal Pokémon around here. I must have just encountered one that was curious as to what we were doing. Nothing wrong with that, as long as they didn't bring more friends. Whoever it was, it seemed content enough to leave us alone. The occasional ruffle of feathers and cries of Pokémon overhead made it clear that the nights around here weren't all quiet. Though I didn't know from where or who, I still felt watched.

I distracted myself with the fire, gently prodding the burning logs with a stick. I already ate what was left of the soup, though I had nothing to clean it with. We'd take care of that later, before we left. I had put a lid over it though, to make sure that the smell wouldn't attract more unwanted visitors. All of my Pokémon had shifted, Xola waking up and demanded to be curled up around me. Song, Akalia, and Zin all wanted to be somewhere on me, as well. And me, being so compliant, agreed to their requests as best I could.

I had my Pokédex in hand, seconds ticking by as I watched the numbers change. I shook my head, as Song snuggled closer in my arms. Her legs and arms were wrapped around me, hugging me tightly against her body. I felt my cheeks warm, remembering how we joined together. I felt my body respond accordingly, and closed my eyes to suppress it as best I could. Didn't need to give Joy more reasons to think I was weird. I didn't know how she felt about Pokémon and human relations, nor was I going to tempt fate.

I leaned back against Xola's scales, looking skyward. As tempting it was to close my eyes, I knew what I was getting into. Slightly. I've never been up with nothing to do, though. If I was this up this late, it was because I was helping mom or dad with something. Can't forget when I had to clean my room, or to study for all those stupid tests. This, on the other hand, felt extremely boring.

"You can always speak with me," Mist echoed softly.

I chuckled, feeling Song clench my shirt tightly as I moved underneath her. I stroked her back a few times until she calmed down, trying to address Mist without waking up anyone.

"Remember, you can use your thoughts to communicate," she said, reminding me.

I nodded. I still didn't feel comfortable doing so, but I might as well try. Focusing on what I wanted to say, I did my best to project my question to Mist.

"Am I enjoying the night?" she asked, repeating my question. "Yes, I am. It is a wonderful night. Other than our uninvited guest earlier."

The thought jolted me. I had put it completely out of my mind. Strange. I didn't feel threatened, and I would imagine that by now they would have come back if whatever it was wanted us out of here. Not knowing what it was unnerved me more than anything, though. Especially when Mist said that she couldn't detect what it was with her powers.

"It was probably another ghost Pokémon," she said dismissively. "We can tell when a powerful trainer is around."

I didn't want to feel proud of that statement. I sure didn't feel that way, that's for sure. But what if it wasn't? I thought this concern to her, and she laughed.

"Well, could you tell me what else hides in the... oh. Yes, I understand your concern now," she said, her laugh fading into the silence. "If I may be allowed to say, if it was Darkrai, I do not think he would hesitate to attack."

That was true. He didn't hesitate to attack me inside the Celestic Ruins. Why would he bother now? Especially here, in the middle of nowhere, where no help would come fast enough. Sure, Jonathan and Joy might wake up in time, but to what? My corpse?

"Please, do not think like that, Master," Mist said softly. "Nothing like that will ever happen again. This, I promise you."

I nodded. Yeah. We were being prepared. Every day we grew stronger. We'll be ready next time. We have to be. Not just for my friends, but for myself, too. Facing Darkrai was a nightmare that while I didn't ask for, yet I had to deal with regardless. Wishing it away wasn't going to work.

A rustling sound came from behind me. I turned to see Joy step out of her tent, stretching languidly. I immediately turned away, noticing that she was wearing a tight shirt, and no pants. I didn't know if she was wearing underwear, but I didn't want to gamble on a second look. I didn't feel a hit on my head, so I guess she didn't see me look. Grateful for the reprieve of getting hit, I brought my Pokédex to eye level, noticing it was close to midnight now. I didn't know when everyone went to sleep, so I couldn't imagine that it was her turn already.

A tap on my shoulder made me sit up straight. I turned to see Joy smile at me, shaking her head. She was wearing pants this time.

"Why didn't you put them all inside their Pokéballs?" she whispered.

I shrugged. "They didn't want to," I answered. "They wanted to keep me company."

She nodded and smiled at me. "You can go to sleep now," she said. "It's my turn to keep watch."

"Already?" I asked, blinking in surprise. "It wasn't that long ago that you all went to sleep."

She shook her head. "It's midnight, right?" I nodded to answer. "We went to sleep at around eight."

Now that made sense. "Well, I guess so," I said, shaking my head. "Now to untangle myself."

I grabbed the Pokéballs that were attached to my belt, recalling everyone one by one. No one stirred as they went inside their Pokéballs to continue their sleep. Joy gave me a hand to get me off the ground, and helped dust my body off.

"Anything strange?" she asked.

I nodded. "Well, now that you mention it, I did see something," I said, frowning in concentration. "I didn't get a good look at it. The moon was covered by clouds, and it stayed far enough away from the firelight to not be caught in it. Though I know for sure there was a pair of eyes watching me."

"How sure are you?" she asked.

"Positive," I answered. "Even Mist noticed it."

She took my word for it, nodding. Joy brought out a Pokéball and gave me a grin.

"Don't worry, I'll be safe," she said, tapping the side of her head with a finger. "You go to sleep. Jonathan will have the last watch."

I nodded, double checking my Pokéballs on my belt before bidding Joy goodnight. I unzipped the entrance of my tent softly, remembering that there was a slumbering Flygon inside. As quietly as I could, I closed it behind me, wincing every time that familiar zipper sound became loud in my ears. Claws encircled me, and for a moment I froze. A gentle cooing sound made me relax instantly, as Spirit dragged me down into her. I was still surprised how large this tent was. It allowed Spirit to lay comfortably without needing to curl up on herself. Though now she did so regardless, as her tail lay on top of me.

I hugged her back as best I could, resting my head against her chest. The feeling of her heartbeat began to quickly lull me to sleep. The soft stroking of my hair, and the almost haunting song in my mind only sped up the process. I yawned widely as Spirit wrapped her tail around my legs. I couldn't be safer right now. With the knowledge that everyone was alright, and Joy was informed of what's happened, I fell asleep.

And prayed that my mind wouldn't play cruel tricks on me.

"Your dreams will be filled with wonder this night, Master," Mist's voice echoed. "As long as I am here, you will not have reason to fear the night."

====================== ==================================

I woke to my tent being shaken. My eyes widened in surprise, before being pulled down. Spirit clenched her arms around me, cooing softly. Joy's voice rang through the morning air.

"Hey, you awake in there?" she asked. "Breakfast is ready, when you get out."

"Yeah, I'll be there," I said, rolling my eyes to myself. "As soon as Spirit lets me up."

I heard Joy laugh at that, and her footsteps retreated away. Gently stroking Spirit's neck, her eyes slowly opened. A rather cute yawn came from above me as my Flygon slowly woke up from her slumber. She snuggled against the top of my head, but reluctantly let me get up when I struggled against her hold.

"Sorry girl," I whispered. "I'd love to stay here, but we got another busy day of flying. Are you ready?"

She smiled at me and nodded, licking my cheek. I chuckled and nodded, crawling over to the door and unzipping it. The day outside was cloudy, sunlight barely breaching the dark clouds above as I began to stretch. I waved at Joy when she walked over to me with two plates in hand.

"Here," she said, handing me a plate. "Pass that one to your Flygon. It's Pokémon safe food."

Spirit snuck her head over my shoulder, and practically started salivating at the smell that came from the plate. I laughed as I moved over so she could exit, handing the plate over to the hungry dragon. She let out a soft squeal of glee as she tried the concoction.

"What did you put in that?" I asked.

"My own personal recipe," she said, grinning widely. "Jon asked me to make some energy intense stuff, just to make sure we can get to our next stop safely. I agreed, after that talk about Flygons last night. Not that I doubt her, but just to be on the safe side."

I smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate it, and I'm sure Spirit does, too."

She turned to see the Flygon licking the plate clean. "Well, judging from her reaction, she sure does!" she said with a laugh.

I laughed with her, and began to eat my own plate. It was the same as last night, but no less amazing. I greedily ate, as Spirit passed her plate back to Joy with a chirp of thanks. Joy giggled, gently petting her on her head, before heading back to our campfire.

Spirit stood by me, waiting patiently until I was done. I imagine that she wished to be proactive, so I put my bowl down. She instead grabbed it and began to greedily eat my breakfast!

"Hey!" I said loudly, but laughed as a long thin tongue slurped along her lips. I couldn't fault her for being hungry, could I?

I pulled out my things from inside the tent, quickly dismantling my portable home and securing it to my backpack. Both Joy and Jonathan smiled at me as I walked up to them, ready for our journey.

"Well, that's nice of you," he said, smiling. "Good for you to notice our visitor."

I blinked. "Who?" I asked, bewildered.

"You mentioned to Joy that you saw something," he said, standing up. "Though I didn't see anything myself, the monks from the monastery have made similar reports to me in the past."

"And that means what, exactly?" I asked him.

"It means that they're right," he said, shrugging. "Though I didn't have a reason not to believe them before, it's hard to argue when it happens to someone you know better."

"So, you only know these monk guys by association?" Joy asked, frowning.

Jonathan nodded. "Yes," he said. "I'm their liaison to the Sinnoh area, since I've been put here until further notice."

"So it's more than just a casual acquaintance," I said, nodding.

"Yeah," he said with a smile. "I spend a lot of time with them, so it's only natural. I've known Aiden now for a few months, and the master for a year or so."

I nodded. "Hopefully they'll be willing to explain all this to us."

"Yeah. They know I'm here to investigate Darkrai, but they've put all my reports with nonsense. Hopefully, your experience will show them that the Night Walker is among us again."

"Alright, enough of this talking, and let's get moving!" Joy exclaimed, interrupting. "Aaron has his stuff all packed up, and we need to put down our tents. Let's go Jon."

"Wait, I'm not done eating!" he exclaimed. Joy wasn't buying it, grabbing his hand and pulling him along.

"Oh no you don't!" she said loudly. "You're not making me tear down your tent. That thing was a pain in the ass to set up!"

==================== ======================= ==============

We were up in the sky, staying under the cloud cover this time. Forest canopy stretched all around us, the peaks of mountains hidden beneath the green sea. In the distance, I could start making out higher mountain tops, white snow covering them. The problem was that's exactly where we were headed.

At least Jonathan had warned me before we took off. I swapped my short sleeved shirt for a long sleeved one, and was immediately thankful I did. The cold could still be felt, but at least I wasn't shivering. I hid my face using my collar, finding the cold air harsh to my lungs. I adjusted my grip in Spirit, taking in the sights that flew past us. To my left, a group of flying Pokémon was flying parallel to us. I couldn't tell what kind they were, but they looked like nothing like the Sinnoh flying Pokémon.

At least it wasn't a humongous one, like the legends. That made me think, what is their role within the mythos? It isn't like they have been disproved not to exist. Photographs of Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno have been shown before, and even reliable researchers have made claims that yes, these three exist. Both Lugia and Ho-oh were also proven to exist in our world. Heck, even Rayquaza has been seen before. Yet, why not Dialga, Palkia, or this third one, Giratina? What was their purpose, within this grand scheme? I would think that Arceus had something planned. It isn't like he just created everything just for the sake of creation. I mean, I would think so, anyway.

But then again, there's Shuckle.

I wasn't going to dwell on this. Just pondering about it lightly made my head hurt. I didn't want to bother Mist, as she was still within me as we flew. Not understanding her seeming need to be bonded, I let her regardless. Forcing someone to do something they didn't want was the fastest way to get on their bad side. And I really didn't want her to be mad at me. After how she handled Joy, I definitely felt the need to ease her back into her comfort zone. If this is the way she wanted to do it, I'm all for it.

Though I wondered how she felt about it. The whole bonding thing brought questions alone. Why did she feel the need to be bonded? Is it because she knows I won't say no, or is it because she honestly likes it? I thought possession would rob me of my free will, but that hasn't been the case. I still think clearly, and my body responds to my demands. My thoughts, though read I'm sure, are still my own.

I think.

She hasn't elaborated on what she gains from being within me. Peace of mind? Perhaps she doesn't like being inside her Pokéball? I'd have to ask her, when she's more active. She's being very quiet recently, since last night's sighting of whatever it was. Mist hasn't made any mention of it, and neither did Joy or Jonathan after our morning chat. Hopefully nothing happens during the rest of this trip, flying or otherwise.

My attention was caught by Jonathan's dragon, Storm, all of a sudden making a loud crying sound. I didn't know what could cause her to yell loudly enough for me to hear it, but she suddenly took off. I urged Spirit to pick up her pace, though my Flygon was already a step ahead of me. Spirit leaned forward, and I tried to match her stance to make the wind not drag us down as much. Wasn't sure if it made any difference, but every bit helped.

"Do not look behind us," Mist intoned softly. "We're being followed."

What?! Who or what would follow us? As much as I wanted to investigate this claim, I silently urged Spirit to go faster. The Flygon's wings seemed to double the pace, her breathing matching her new labored pace.

"Mist! Is there any way to loose whatever is following us?" I yelled to the wind, hoping that she heard me.

"Not right now," she answered back. "We must keep our pace to reach Jonathan. We'll be safe together. If we split up, our chances of survival are slim."

Survival? I gritted my teeth, and forced myself to look straight ahead. Knowing I was being followed, but not seeing it was maddening. It was broad daylight! It couldn't be hard to spot, would it?

Against the better wishes of Mist, and to her outraged cry in my skull, I turned around anyway. My throat dried instantly as a black mass swarmed towards us. I couldn't tell how fast it was moving, but either it was getting bigger or moving closer to us.

I turned away, trying to keep my panic from rising and making me lose my self-control. The first thought that crossed my mind was to make Spirit go faster, but that would only exhaust her. No, I had to remain calm, and not let Spirit feel my panic. I could feel her muscles tense under me, slight changes that I just began to understand. Shaking my head, I rubbed her neck slowly, trying my best to calm both of us down.

Spirit's breathing steadied, but it was still heavy. I looked forward, Zefyra and Joy not that far ahead of us. Storm was barely visible, and I hoped that Jonathan was able to slow her down, or notice that we weren't keeping up with his Dragonite's pace. And let's not forget about that... thing following us.

I didn't know what Pokémon would move en masse at this time. Then again, I wasn't an expert researcher. But nothing I've read in books, or seen on television, could explain this phenomenon behind me. Zefyra and Joy began a sharp decent, and I held tightly as Spirit quickly followed. The land below us was still densely forested, but the leaves were beginning to fall. Some trees were bare, skeletons reaching towards the sky. I saw Joy pass through an opening in the sea of green, and we quickly followed.

Spirit landed gracefully next to the Hydreigon, but Jonathan was nowhere in sight. Joy leapt off Zefyra's back and quickly recalled her Pokémon.

"Hurry! Get off and hide her!" Joy hissed at me. I quickly did as she demanded, Spirit nodding as I recalled her back within her device. Following Joy, we encountered tall grass that was easily as tall as we were. My heart was pounding in my chest as I tried my best to keep up. Joy grabbed my hand and pulled me along, doing my best not to stumble. Breaking out of the tall grass, Jonathan was standing there and waved at us towards him. He was holding up what looked like a door.

As soon as we were inside, Jonathan shut the entrance behind him. I fell on my knees, panting for breath. All I could hear was the pounding of my blood in my ears, though I could see that Joy and Jonathan were talking.

"What... what was..." was all I could get out, before Joy shook her head.

"Catch your breath first," she said. While she could be easily tired, she didn't show it. I nodded, after taking a few deep breaths.

"What was that?" I asked them. "You saw what was following us, right?"

"Yeah, I did," Jonathan answered. "It's why Storm freaked out. There's a murder of Murkrows and Honchcrows around the area. They don't take kindly to people waking them up."

A wave of dread washed over me as soon as he said that. I wanted to melt through the floor. Though the area around us had very little light, Jonathan must have picked up on something.

"You did it, didn't you," he said. It wasn't in the form of a question.

"When I was getting timber for our fire," I whispered. "There was a whole flock of them. I apologized, and they seemed to get the message. They didn't bother us after that."

"Then this has to be something else," he said. I heaved a sigh, grateful that he wasn't angry.

"Why do I get the feeling we're being watched?" Joy asked softly.

"Because we are," Jonathan said, chuckling. "We don't have to worry about those birds finding us, if that's what your worried about."

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"This area is the home of a few Pokémon tribes," he said, grinning. "No Pokémon enters or leaves without them knowing. And they know we're here. We actually made good time, too. Maybe it's a good thing we were chased."

"Why do you say that?" Joy asked, hands on her hips.

He motioned us to follow him as he turned and walked. I looked around as best I could, trying to make out details of our surroundings. I sighed when it became dark enough that I couldn't see the hand in front of my face.

"Because I was expecting to get here about late afternoon," Jonathan said, answering Joy. "I'm just glad we made it here in one piece, though I'm curious why they haven't greeted us yet."

"Maybe it's because of us," I offered.

"If that was the case, they would have been all over us, regardless of me being here," he said. "Either way, this tunnel isn't very long. We'll get our answer soon enough."

"This tunnel, what is it made out of?" I asked.

"You didn't feel the climb up, didn't you?" he asked, laughing. "There's a valley through here, and the only way to get through it is by finding one of the entrances, or flying in. Unless you prefer to climb."

"So, we're inside the mountain?" I asked.

"No, we aren't," he said. I was confused, and voiced it. "The problem with the valley is that it is sacred to them, because this is where they believe that Crescelia gave them this land as their home. In order to protect this place, the Lucario requested the grass types of the area to make a maze so complicated, that only if you're allowed inside will you have access to the village."

"So that only begs the question, are we allowed in here?"

"As long as you're with me, we should be fine," he said, laughing. "Oh, and it's dark because of the tree cover. These trees have been here for generations of Pokémon. I personally don't think they die, but more likely the grass types keep them healthy."

We kept following Jonathan through the darkness, occasionally just having me talk nonsense to avoid feeling claustrophobic. I'm probably just being paranoid, but I didn't feel safe. My hands felt numb, and tingles went up and down my spine. I could feel the beginnings of a headache starting up.

"Calm down, Master," Mist said softly. I jumped, startled by her voice.

"You alright there?" Joy asked me.

"Yeah," I answered. "Yeah, I'm fine. Mist startled me."

She didn't press the issue of where she is, but was satisfied with that. For now, anyway. I focused on breathing, trying to keep my cool. Nothing was going to happen. We're safe, and we'll get to this place, wherever and whatever it is.

"Hold up," Jonathan said. I bumped into him regardless. "Well, that's one way to tell if we're all together."

"Why are we all traveling in the dark? Can't one of your Pokémon bring some light?" Joy asked.

"There's always Zin," I offered. A collective groan came from around me at the mention of her name. "What?"

"Fine," Jonathan said. "Just don't have her burn everything down."

I fumbled around for Zin's Pokéball, going by instinct as to which one it was. I regretted not customizing them, but I imagine I'll get a second chance. Opening the device in my hand, we were greeted by the usual welcome.

"It's about time, Master," Zin said, huffing. "Where are we, and why is it so dark?"

"We're in a tunnel, I guess," I offered. "Could you use Flash?"

"Well, well, well!" she admonished, her voice toned with surprise. "I didn't know you felt so adventurous!"

"Zin, I don't think that's the safest topic to bring up right now," I said, trying to stem the overzealous Houndoom's enthusiasm for sex.

"Ooooh! THAT Flash. You know I can't, right?"

I covered my face with my palm. Well, didn't I feel like an idiot.

"Wait! Here, this will help. Hold out your hand, alright? And hold still, so I don't burn you."

I did as Zin asked, and I felt something round fall into my grasp. I closed my hand around it, feeling the rough texture of bark against my fingers. A spit of flame ignited in front of me, blinding my vision. I covered my eyes with my free hand, rubbing the spots that danced behind my eyelids.

When the spots stopped dancing, I was left with a small fire in my hands, at the end of a wooden stick. Everyone was chuckling for a moment, and Zin laughed.

"Well, if you count that as Flash, I guess I know it!" she exclaimed, before laughing again.

"Thanks, Zin. I owe you one," I said, chuckling.

"No, you owe me two!" she exclaimed.

I wasn't going to argue, shaking my head and urging Jonathan forward. Passing the makeshift torch to him, we continued on.

"Are we there yet?" Zin asked.

"No, we aren't," I answered.

"When?"

"Soon."

"How soon?"

I sighed. This was going to be a long walk.

============ =======================================

We didn't find ourselves running into anyone through the tunnel. We did manage to find the exit just fine. However, the feeling of being watched didn't go away. It only felt like it intensified when we made our way outside of that passage. The sun was already beginning to hide away behind the mountains as we took in our surroundings. Luckily, we managed to find more suitable replacements for Zin to light as makeshift torches. I had forgotten about my own flashlight, and I pulled it out with some effort.

We followed the path downwards, the trees lining to our sides but not covering above us. The air was cold, and easily cut through my clothes and made me shiver slightly. Zin walked close to me, her body heat trying to warm me. I smiled down at her and quickly scratched her neck. "Thanks," I whispered. She nodded and smiled back at me, quickening our steps so we wouldn't fall behind.

Leaves of different shapes and sizes covered the path we walked on. Some of the trees surrounding us were beginning to shed their leaves, some leaves clinging stubbornly to their branches. Others seemed to be evergreens, as new leaves seemed to even replace the old ones being left behind on the ground. We walked in silence, the thick trees only allowing us to move along the path that lay ahead of us. I maintained an eye behind us, in case someone decided to catch us unawares. So far, so good.

Jonathan raised his hand, and we all stopped behind him. The rustling of leaves made it obvious that someone, or something, was close by. Before any of us could react, my hands were caught behind my back and my face forced against the ground. From the various cries around me, I guessed that Joy and Jonathan were in similar situations to mine. Zin didn't take being grabbed lightly, a blast of heat from above telling me that she was resisting.

"Lay your filthy paws off my Master!" she declared loudly, before the weight on my back disappeared suddenly. I shuffled for a moment, getting on my feet as fast as I could, to see six Lucario surrounding us. My hands moved unconsciously to my waist, grabbing a Pokéball and expanding it in my hands. Zin growled next to me, my legs feeling the heat pulsing from her body.

"Wait, Aaron! Don't do anything stupid," Jonathan exclaimed, as he get off the ground. One of the Lucario was helping him up. Was this a setup?

"We did not wish you harm, esteemed guests. We were only made aware that someone would appear down our patrol path."

I looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. It wasn't Mist. She didn't sound so gruff. The voice wasn't in my head, either. I blinked, looking around me as the Lucario dropped to their knees, heads bowed with us in between them all. I looked at Jonathan, and he shrugged at me.

"Well, I think we're fine, if a little worse for wear," he said with a shrug. "I don't blame you for doing your job, that's for sure."

"We are grateful for your understanding. We wish to escort you for the rest of your journey. There are rumors that the Dark One has awakened into our world recently."

Alright, I was convinced by now that it was the Lucario speaking. The same one, if I was going to judge by listening to the voice. It was odd, because none of their mouths moved. I couldn't tell from where the voice was coming from, as it seemed to come from all around me. It was extremely uncomfortable.

"Lucario speak telepathically to whomever they wish to communicate," Mist said, her tone softly echoing. "They're strong willed Pokémon, and are rarely heard of, even less seen."

No kidding. I knew what a Lucario was, but this was the first time encountering one in the wild, for obvious reasons. Though not many articles regarding them existed, it was speculated that Lucario formed tribes outside of normal human areas, for reasons only the Lucario knew. Only a handful of trainers were public of owning one, and even rarer were the ones that were public battlers. If a trainer was known to have a Lucario, they were usually swarmed by breeders and media like a Vespiqueen over their honey.

Nobody else talked as the Lucario began escorting us toward... wherever we were going. I walked up to Jonathan and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned his head to face me, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Where're we going?" I asked, whispering.

"We are going to escort you to your destination, human," the Lucario said. "You do not have to fear us, for we are not going to harm you."

My throat dried instantly as I heard those words. They must have amazing hearing, or maybe I wasn't as subtle as I thought I was. Either way, with my question answered, we continued onward in silence. Zin looked at me curiously, and I shook my head. She frowned and heaved a sigh. I didn't need these Lucario knowing about a talking Houndoom, and definitely not about the Mismagius residing inside of me.

The walk was long, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. Night had long come before we reached the entrance of a village. Small huts that were built of wood were lined with small braziers lining them along the path. Not just Lucario inhabited this village, as a few other fighting types stood out from the walking blue furred folk. A four armed Machamp stood out, much taller than all the other ones surrounding the Pokémon, while the furred body of a Primape was being held back by two Gallade. I briefly entertained my curiosity as to why the Primape would be angry, but then I remembered that they can get mad over the slightest thing.

I also wondered briefly why some Kanto region Pokémon would be in Sinnoh, but I didn't think about it too much. A number of reasons came to mind, and I didn't like any of them.

We were lead inside one of the wooden huts, corralled inside by our escort. Jonathan went ahead and began to get confortable, dropping his bag and laying his head on top of it. I looked at him curiously, and when he didn't offer an answer, I turned to the Lucario. One of the Pokémon walked up to me, giving me a disarming smile.

"We offer you a home for the night, as it was agreed by our elders," she said. I recognized the voice, as it was the same one that spoke all those times earlier. "We hope that it is to your comfort. It is not usual that humans come through here, so I apologize for the rustic appearance."

I shook my head. "It's fine," I said, smiling, "though I was afraid that we were going to be escorted away from your village."

"We are in agreement with the humans from the monastery you are headed to," she said, waving to me to follow. "They have never betrayed our trust, even throughout all the years we've known them."

"Do you know how long it's been like this?" I asked.

"Ever since I was hatched," she answered simply.

It seemed that the excitement of our appearance wore off, as there was barely anyone outside now. From what I could see, it was just me and the Lucario. A warm brush along my feet made me look down, to see Zin lean her head against my leg.

"It seems that she is very affectionate," the Lucario said, observing me and Zin.

"She can be," I answered. "Wait, how'd you know Zin's a girl?"

The Lucario chuckled, tapping her nose. "I can smell it," she stated. "I can smell you on her, too. Tell me, how does that make you feel?"

I felt my cheeks flush as she mentioned it so nonchalantly. She could smell me? Great Arceus, I feel like an idiot! Would someone already know by now? Did Joy have any Pokémon that she can communicate with easily? My heart pounded on my chest for a moment, before the Lucario beside me shook her head and patted my shoulder.

"Your secret is safe with me," she said. "I know that humans look upon such pairing with distaste, but you are not obviously one of those. I am also curious why you would allow a ghost to be within you."

How did she know that? Mist didn't react to her statement, so I was left to guess how she would react to someone else knowing. I decided to hedge into the answer as the best way to test the waters.

"While I'm not going to deny it, I'd like to know how you know," I said, trying to keep my voice from going up in pitch.

The Lucario smiled in my direction, sharp teeth obvious to me even with the low ambient light around me.

"We Lucario can see the Aura," she stated. "Everything contains Aura. The rocks, our homes, even you and me. We can detect this easily, so it made me curious how I could detect two different Aura's emanating from you. One is yours, and the other is similar to other ghost Pokémon that I have met before."

I nodded. "Yeah, my Mismagius likes to hide there, for some reason."

"She fears something," the Lucario stated. "She fears your withdrawal from her, even from your words."

"Can Lucario read minds, too?" I asked out loud.

She shook her head. "No, we cannot, but the Aura allows us to read emotions. She is fearful. Of what, I cannot say. But my intuition tells me that she is fearful of losing you."

I tried to communicate with Mist, but the Lucario placed a paw on my shoulder. I looked at her, and she shook her head. "She is resting, for the first time in a while it looks like. Her Aura is exhausted."

I nodded numbly, shivering slightly. The Lucario smiled at me. "You should go get your rest now. It's quite late into the night, and you must be prepared for the morning."

"What happens in the morning?" I asked.

"You get to greet our Elders," she answered.

I nodded numbly, Zin moving with me when her head hanging low. The Houndoom shook her head, giving me an exhausted look. She shook her head, a low growl coming from her as we went inside. I dropped my bag right next to the entrance, not bothering to do anything else. Dropping myself to the ground, using my backpack as a pillow, I made myself as comfortable as possible with the lack of facilities. Zin padded her way on top of my chest, and she snuggled close to me. I wrapped my arms around the Houndoom, as her warmth surrounded me, banishing the cold I didn't know I felt.

Tomorrow, whatever happens, will come. With an all new set of problems to boot.