Hard Enough - Chapter 317 - Journey to the Tree of Beginning

I hadn’t gotten a chance to wander around the Cameran Castle, so I hadn’t had any chances to seek out the various crystals that had a lot of uses in the movie. 

That being said, as soon as we started walking through the forest I started to notice small veins of them popping up every now and then. I paused a few times and recorded images of them in nature along with taking a few samples.

I kept a close eye on them, however as while they were currently blue, I recalled that they were also part of a much larger network that could lead to an immune-like response.

If the crystals turned red this far out, I’d have to retreat with Sabrina and come back later, but I felt it was best to check for any response first.

One thing I hadn’t been expecting was to be able to start feeling Aura from the crystals the further we went. I drew out my pokedex and started recording the environment as I felt like it would be interesting to see the way the landscape shifted the closer we got to the tree. 

Lucario stared at my pokedex. “What in the Kingdom are you doing? Are you laying signals for the Crusher Army?” he asked suspiciously.

I turned. “Oh, just recording some things for science,” I replied. “This is a tool that’s useful for that. Here, watch!” toggled the scan feature on Lucario and the Pokedex voice chimed out.

“Lucario, the Aura pokemon. A well-trained Lucario can wield the energy within themselves known as Aura. With this ability, Lucario is said to be able to read the hearts and minds of beings. It is said that no foe can remain invisible to Lucario. This Lucario knows Aura Sphere, Detect, Force Palm, Swords Dance, Bullet Punch, Aura Sweep and Reversal!” 

I frowned, wait, what was second— Lucario narrowed his eyes as a growl erupted from him.

“So it is a spying device!” he declared, hopping back to draw space from me. He curled his fists and sunk into a pose that could see him charging or retreating at a moment’s notice.

Sabrina turned her head slowly but otherwise didn’t react.

I tilted my head. If Lucario did try anything I knew in a one on one against me he’d destroy me, but I didn’t have anything to worry about with Sabrina here. Even if she weren’t, I was confident in my pokemon.

Also Mewtwo was here as well I suppose, but I wasn’t about to count on him to defend me.

Still, I needed to de-escalate this situation I’d stumbled into. Lucario wasn’t being unreasonable, if I thought about it from his perspective. He was just very out of touch with how things were.

“You know, until this moment I hadn’t ever thought of it that way, but I suppose you’re right it could be used that way.” I offered him a shrug. “Sorry, I didn’t consider how it might appear to your… older sensibilities.”

Lucario remained in a fighting pose. 

I sighed. “So, I’m going to have to ask you about the whole Crusher Tribe thing. We have a display on them in the Pewter Museum, but you looked at me with Aura and with your eyes and you called me a Crusher soldier. Can you explain that to me?” I asked as calmly as possible. 

Lucario continued to watch me before scoffing and straightening up. “You…” he grit his teeth and sighed. “Your aura is that of a Crusher. They are notorious for their dark typed energy. I have only ever fought one like you that had both rock and Darkness however.”

I hummed. “Which made you think I was the same?” I prodded.

Lucario looked away, a small twitch serving as a nod. 

“And you said I even looked like one? What about me?”

“Your narrow, deceitful eyes, your hair, your facial structure, even your skin tone,” Lucario growled, fists clenching at his side. 

I blinked at that. “Huh, maybe a few hundred years ago my ancestors were part of the Crusher Tribe,” I said thoughtfully. “But My family isn’t now. We run the Pewter Gym, serving as the defender of the city along with primary challenge for young trainers.”

“Young trainers?” Lucarion asked.

I straightened up and glanced towards Sabrina who’d been carefully observing Lucairo and I’s conversation. I hummed. “Right, well there’s going to be a lot to fill you in on,” I said knowing this was already a topic that would run face first into his ancient sensibilities.

Explaining to him the concept of sending young trainers out for a Journey of growth and self discovery was actually rather amusing.

“But I don’t understand, why do they not simply pledge their services to their local lords and ladies? Shouldn’t they be joining the workforce as apprentices?” 

“Well, no we don’t really use child labour,” I said only to think of the times I’d employed my siblings as trainers for the Gym or had them working with pokemon. That wasn’t the same thing though… right?

“Much,” I decided to tack on with a cough. 

Sabrina shot me an amused look only to join in on the explanation. “Most children don’t truly finish growing until they are at least sixteen to as late as twenty two. It can vary from gender to what their circumstances are.”

Mewtwo scoffed. “Human kind are pathetic, taking that long to develop fully,” he said with a shake of his head.

I decided not to attempt to argue that point. “Yeah, compared to pokemon we can take a while. I think only Pseudo-legendaries that develop in the wild take as long as us to fully evolve, but that’s not really the same thing as that can be shortened due to pressures or training.”

Lucario ignored that in favour of processing what we’d been talking about while walking towards the Tree. 

I knew in the movie they’d taken a humvee of all things which would have drastically sped up their trip. I’d suggested riding our pokemon for a while only for Sabrina to shake her head, more interested in the simple pleasure of being out and about with me once more.

With us taking the overland route we were making up some time due to not needing to divert. We made our way further north following a game trail that would eventually see us encountering a herd of Stantler from what I could deduce from the tracks.

We walked without making much noise, Lucario shot me distrustful looks occasionally while Mewtwo had started floating along with us rather than walking.

Sabrina took the lead, hair billowing in the breeze and looking completely at ease. When she turned her head to look at something, I caught sight of her glowing eyes, giving away that she was conversing with Mewtwo.

I let them talk, Mewtwo probably had a bit on his mind after everything that had happened with the joust.

I instead turned my attention towards the trees with a growing sense of nostalgia. 

One thing that a lot of trainers don’t talk about is the monotony that can build up walking everywhere, but that was only in the early days. After a while you got used to it and learned how to space your day out so natural events occurred like meals, training, or even just stopping to investigate an interesting landmark or pokemon.

Now a new trainer would simply see the trees as part of the forest, but as an experienced Gym Leader I could pick up all the little things scattered about.

It wasn’t all that special though, as any trainer that had attended my training camp could pick out the herbs and plants growing in patches every now and then. They’d be able to spot the tracks of small pokemon and hear the trills and squawks of some pokemon announcing their territory. 

I could tell that to the west there had to be a flock of Spearow, meaning there would likely also be Fearow with how deep into the forest we were now. There were also Beedrill and Butterfree about.

I paused when I caught sight of a heavily laden berry bush that the trail curved around. The oran berries looked to be perfectly ripe.

I didn’t need to pick any out but that didn’t stop me grabbing some for a treat for my pokemon later on. I hefted the oran berry up and down only to stash it away for later, making sure to leave the majority of the berries still on the bush. 

“What are you smiling about now?” Lucario said, marching up to be level with me once more.

I stared at him, a bit surprised by the aggressive tone that was persisting despite our previous talk. I was about to sigh and explain myself when I paused to consider his actions.

In some ways he was acting like an overzealous protector, but at the same time he sort of came across as being very young. I gestured at the forest behind him.

“I was just taking in the forest’s bounty. It’s rather interesting to see what is growing. This forest must be rather untouched as despite walking along a trail, so far there are several plants that don’t do well near humans.”

Mewtwo huffed from where he was floating and I rolled my eyes at his back. “Yes yes, I know your feelings about this,” I said drily. 

Mewtwo cast me an annoyed glare. I shot him back with an unimpressed look. I’d seen worse from him. 

I turned back to Lucario. “Hey Lucario, how old were you when you were sealed away?” I asked. 

Lucario blinked. “I was five years old.”

“Huh, that’s really young. Don’t Lucario normally live as long as fifty?” I asked Sabrina.

“They average that long,” she agreed easily. 

I looked back and smiled at Lucario. “So you’re a—” was I about to call him a kid when I spotted the tension in his shoulders and paws. I reconsidered what I’d been about to say. Lucario wasn’t human. He was a pokemon. Also, it sounded like he’d grown up around battles.

And not the current regulated battles but instead proper fight to the death with army battles. 

That would mean he’d have been forced to grow up rather quickly. I suspected he wouldn’t take kindly to me calling him a kid. “—actually pretty young.” 

I rubbed my chin, noticing that he was still bristling, apparently expecting me to say something else. “Did you spend all that time training with Sir Aaron?” 

“Yes,” Lucario said carefully as though expecting a trap. 

I just hummed. “Huh, if you don’t mind me asking, how far along were you in your training? I’ve been working at my own Aura training and I’ve only been able to manifest it into actual abilities this last year. I’m working on sensing and reading intent at the moment.”

Lucario continued to observe me. I could practically see him weighing up my words and what he should reply with before shaking his head. “I had just finished my training with Sir Aaron,” he replied. 

I hummed, deciding that I shouldn’t push on that front any more, instead allowing the conversation to fall by the wayside. I resumed watching my surroundings, taking in everything and comparing it to what I would have seen back when I started my journey. 

There might have been one or two things that I knew to keep an eye out for, but now I picked up so much more. 

And despite that, I knew I was still missing things. I had no doubt a decade-long veteran ranger could see more. 

Well after midday we reached a valley that was surprisingly barren. I sniffed the air catching faint mineral traces with a slightly stronger smell of sulphur. 

A thoom noise had my head snapping to the side where I spotted a geyser of water shooting into the air before coming back down.

I felt a memory stir despite never having set foot in this valley. 

The movie showed this area. Ash, May, Brock, and … what was the kid’s name? Frank? Eh, it didn’t matter. 

“Let’s follow the valley for a bit,” I suggested, flickering my aura slightly to give Sabrina a subtle sign.

Sabrina glanced at me but just nodded along. “It should allow us an easier path,” she stated. 

I started to climb down the edge of the clifface only for Sabrina to levitate past me with a smirk. Mewtwo followed her with a matching expression. 

I huffed only to blink when I heard someone else mimic me. 

I glanced over to find Lucario was also climbing down the rockface. We shared a look of commiseration only for Lucario to twitch and start climbing down faster. 

I chuckled and followed after. 

The valley itself was a barren space with barely any flora growing within it. I knelt and collected some rock samples. “This looks like a dried up riverbed, the ground is quite soft with there being a lot of detritus build up.” I glanced around at the barren earth. 

“It’s been scorched off by the sun in most areas, but with the forest right there, I would have expected much of this area to become overgrown until a rain storm flooded the area.”

I tilted my head. “This doesn’t make sense… Not unless there is a Super sized rock pokemon around here carving up the land,” I stated thoughtfully.

Lucario shook his head. “No, this area was like this in the past as well. There are several areas that become barren like this.”

“Any idea what is causing it?” I asked only to get a blank look from Lucario. 

“Right, sorry medieval times education,” I said mostly to myself. Lucario wouldn’t have much idea about the significance of normal geographic events, with or without pokemon influencing them.

“So we have a valley that has remained much the same as when Lucario was here…” I murmured to myself as we started to walk north. I jotted down some notes on my pokedex while taking a scan of the area.

“Are the geysers making the area too salty for normal plantlife to grow?” I asked as we drew up to a field that saw blasts of water shooting into the air. 

I knelt next to a pool and drew out a kit to test the waters. “Huh… these are actually perfect for people and pokemon to use,” I said, noticing the rich mineral content along with the temperature being within the comfortable range.  

Sabrina  glanced around. “Want to stop here for the night?”

I glanced up at the nearby shadows and ran some calculations about the position of the sun. “Yeah we should probably set up camp for the night, it’ll be dark soon and we don’t really need to be stumbling around.”

Mewtwo glanced at me. “I wouldn’t stumble,” he declared. 

I huffed. “Sure, but you also have to contend with all the dark types, and before you say you could just fly us to the tree remember that we’re not just rushing to the goal.”

“I know what we’re doing!” snapped Mewtwo. 

I shrugged. “I’m just saying, your goal is to reach Mew, while ours is to investigate the tree, which means going slower,” I said as I flicked out a large tent that unfurled itself. 

“Don’t forget we’re also looking into anything Sir Aaron might have left behind,” stated Lucario.

“That too,” I said as I set about attaching some lanterns with bug type repels. Last thing I wanted was a Weedle sneaking in during the night. The little bug types were notorious for cutting their way into tents and poisoning people as they foraged for any left over food. 

While there were also tons of stories of Bug trainers catching weedles by waking up with them laying on their chest in the morning, there were plenty that didn’t wake up at all. Typically the best call was to make sure you had a pokemon or two out playing sentry, or at least acting as a deterrent to wild pokemon. 

I released Titan and Bertha which caused Lucario to skip backwards.

“A Tyranitar? You make a poorer and poorer spy the longer I know you Brock of Pewter City,” sneered Lucario. 

Titan swiveled his head to inspect Lucario, only to shift targets to watch Mewtwo. He nodded in greeting to them both, continuing to watch the greater threat.

“What’s his deal?” Titan rumbled, nodding his head towards Lucario. 

“Ah, he’s a time displaced pokemon that is retracing the steps his master used to reach the Tree of Beginning to learn more about him,” I said.

Titan nodded seriously but Bertha twitched and turned slowly, grinding the ground underfoot to dust. She started to twitch which was a sure enough sign that something wasn’t right.

Everyone started eying her warily only for her to move like an avalanche. Sudden, and inevitable in her action.

She lunged fast enough to catch Lucario. She clamped her huge mitts around his hands. 

Lucario gasped but she leaned in with a huge grin, eyes practically glittering with mischief. “Welcome to the future! Magical girls are real and protect the world from devastation!” she declared. “It’s all part of a worldwide secret though, so don’t believe anyone that tries to tell you otherwise!”

My hand shot to her pokeball to instantly return her. 

“I believe in the you that believes in maaaaaaagic!” wailed Bertha as she was withdrawn into her pokeball. 

I rubbed at my forehead in the following silence. Sometimes knowing what Bertha said felt like a curse more than a blessing. Truly ignorance was bliss. 

“That… was a joke of hers, don’t actually believe what she said,” I stated.

“I will make my own assumptions, do not attempt to trick me,” Lucario stated firmly.

Behind him Sabrina’s shoulders started to twitch as she tried to hold back her laughter. 

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Of course he was going to be stubborn about this of all things! “Just… Bertha is a bit of a wildcard prankster.”

I released Bertha again and shot a glare her way. “Not funny. He’s confused enough as it is. He doesn’t need you tripping him up with false information.”

Bertha snorted and looked away shamelessly with a huff. 

“Be good or you won’t get to enjoy the hot springs,” I stated. 

Bertha glanced over to spot the sizable pool with steam rising up from it. She bowed and mumbled something vaguely like an apology which I rolled my eyes at. 

“You and magical girls,” I said with a shake of my head. 

I clasped Bertha’s pokeball back on my belt only to catch sight of Lucario inspecting me.

“So that is the tool you use to carry your companions?” he asked, eying my pokebelt. “You have many,” he noted thoughtfully, gaze turning to inspect Titan seriously. “Are they all as strong as these two?” he asked pointedly. 

“Hmmm, Titan and Bertha are my two strongest, I’d have to say. There are a few others that come close however,” I said thinking of Empress, or Jormungandr with his Mega-evolution. 

Lucario nodded. “I suppose I can see why people might… potentially seek you out for guidance,” he said seriously.

Huh? 

Oh, he was still doubting my backstory, wasn’t he?

I shook my head and hummed, giving the hot spring pool another thoughtful look before releasing Ursaring, Link, Gawain, and Shrek. 

Lucario locked onto Ursaring straight away. “Another of their ‘Honoured three’,” he stated. 

I blinked before recalling the mural that had depicted the pokemon that the Crusher tribe were said to have which featured on the wall. 

“Oh, I know this one from the murals we found about the place. You mean Tyranitar, Ursaring, and Mightyena, right?” 

Lucario eyed me, and his ear twitched. 

I suspected he was trying to use his aura sense to catch me in a lie, only for no lies to be. 

Eventually, he huffed. “Indeed. When they were raiding our kingdom, they relied on Mightyena. I have had to fight my fair share back from our borders. It wasn’t until they solidified their army into one cohesive group that we were unable to repel them,” he stated seriously.

“Huh, as a fighting type pokemon you’d have been perfect counter to their ‘Honoured Three’, I mused.

“Indeed, Sir Aaron’s other companion Pidgeot had many difficulties,” Lucario announced proudly.

I made a note of that and was about to ask another question when something glinted on the rock face above the pool. “Hey! Is that one of those Time Flowers?” I asked, pointing at the small plant that was flickering as the sun hit it just right. 

Everyone looked up and Lucario nodded. “It is indeed,” he declared. 

I started to make my way over to the wall to start climbing it up, only for Sabrina to levitate up and pluck the time flower out of the ground. She brought it back to me with a smile that had me nodding at her. 

The flower itself was an interesting shape with it being almost helix shaped with how it twisted. Within the centre of the flower a small orb hovered, tingling at my forming aura sense.

“Huh, I wonder how you—” I started to say as I reached out with a trickle of my own aura only for the flower to twist so that the top petals opened upwards revealing a hole that the orb of aura rose out of. 

The small orb pulsed once and then with a flash the surrounding landscape gained a slight greyscale to it. 

My pokemon squawked and when I turned to look I was surprised to find myself standing among them only for me to be looking up. “Hey! Is that one of those Time Flowers?” Memory-me asked, pointing upwards before scampering forwards.

The memory continued for a few more seconds until reaching the point where I activated the Time Flower.

The flower’s orb retreated back within itself, growing smaller as the petals folded around it.

“Huh, that was something else,” I declared. 

Lucario nodded. “Depending on your skill with aura manipulation, you are able to see different time points,” he lectured. 

“Any chance you could show us how it’s done?”  I asked. 

Lucario scoffed and shook his head. “Most flowers have a limited amount of Aura within them. Each plant typically can only sustain one viewing of the past every few weeks,” he stated.

“Interesting,” I stated rubbing my chin. “I wonder if it’s possible to raise these elsewhere. They make for amazing aura training tools,” I said as I worked at sensing the tiny speck of aura within the plant. 

Sabrina hummed. “It could also be a useful tool for investigators with crimes.”

“Hmmmm it could be, if there’s not a way to trick them,” I stated as I remembered various plots of movies like this from my first life. 

I shrugged. “Eh, I think that will be someone else's job.” I started taking pictures of the Time Flower and narrating my thoughts to my pokedex. 

Lucario sniffed, crossing his arms across his chest. “Your poor bloodline reveals itself.”

That took me a little aback and most of my pokemon paused in their own chatter to give Lucario a stink eye. 

“Wow you’re just full of salt aren’t you?” I replied, knowing that if I said nothing one of my pokemon would step up for me. Ursaring, who was typically one of the softest pokemon around, was even baring his teeth and growling.  

Lucario stepped back at the wave of aggression directed his way. “I was merely stating a fact?”

I stared at him for a long moment, then shook my head as I gestured for my pokemon to calm down. “Yeah, maybe don’t insult someone’s education level via their bloodline. Lots of people are going to take issue with that.”

Lucario blinked at me and it took him a moment but he bowed his head. “I must beg your apology. My words were not meant as an insult to you, I merely meant that your understanding of Time Flowers was lacking.” 

He waved a paw towards the flower. “Time Flowers only grow near the Tree of Beginning.” 

“Hmmmm, apology accepted then.” I noted down Lucario’s statement but added some question marks to it. That theory would need to be tested. Although it was another point for actual professionals to look into.

I looked up at the top of the valley where some flowers were growing along with a clump of Oddish. “Erika might like to come up here.” 

Sabrina hummed. “There would be a lot here for her,” she declared as she nudged me towards the tent. “Come, let’s change so we can enjoy the hot springs,” she declared. 

She pushed me into the tent just in time to avoid a deluge as Bertha jumped into the pool. 

By the time we came out, the pool had surprisingly refilled but there was a lot of mud. I was about to chastise her when I spotted Lucario who was soaked through as only a wet dog could be.

Bertha shot me a smirk and I gave her a small thumbs up which Sabrina caught. 

We slipped into the water and sighed together as warmth radiated through our bodies. “This is bliss,” I sighed aloud.

Sabrina and I splashed around a bit while our pokemon enjoyed the heat. Before long Bertha hopped out to wallow in the mud which earned a chuckle from me. I noticed Mewtwo hovering slightly away from the group and considered him thoughtfully.

“Would you like to give it a try Mewtwo?”

Mewtwo turned his head and inspected me. “I…” His face twitched for a moment.

Sabrina glanced up. “You don’t need to submerge your head. It should not feel like the tubes that you were created in Mewtwo, as the consistency and temperature will be different.” 

Oh, right. There might be some underlying trauma there.

I kept my mouth shut as Mewtwo lowered himself to dip a toe into the water. He paused, considering it for a while. 

He took so long that Bertha sat up and waved at me to gain my attention. She mimed throwing a ball of mud at him and I made a big X at her with my arms to deny the idea.

She huffed and flopped back. I turned back to find Mewtwo had submerged more of himself. “This… this is rather pleasant.” 

“You almost sound surprised,” I said. 

“Humanity can be terrible,” he replied easily. 

“They can be,” agreed Lucario. His gaze fixed on the hot springs. He stalked up to the edge where he sat, dipping his feet into the waters. He stared into the water like it had answers for him. 

Ah, right, there had been a flashback of Lucario and Sir Aaron dipping their feet in a pool together hadn’t there?

I worked my jaw for a moment wondering if I should speak up. Lucario had been pretty standoffish with me and might not like me prying. I glanced to Sabrina and she shook her head, indicating Mewtwo.

Right, she was focussing her attention on him, leaving me with the out of time jackal. 

“You sound like someone I know who gave up hope,” I said.

Lucario glanced up at me with narrowed eyes but didn’t speak.

I continued, “Your situations are pretty similar. It was due to a battle with an intense foe who left an injury upon him. His companion, noticing the injury, sought out a herb said to have restorative effects. They foraged high and low within the frost covered mountains in the depths of winter. Despite all of this against them, they found the herb.

I sighed, “Sadly, before he could return with their prize, the ice underneath them broke and sent them deep into a chasm where they became frozen for many years.” 

I rose up out of the water. “Now, the injured man had two things to be bitter over. His injury which plagued him, along with the thought that his companion of many many years had abandoned him.” 

I tapped at my chest. “The thought was like a poison, seeping through him and consuming him, turning him bitter and jaded to the world. He lashed out at many who only wanted to help him. He closed himself off to the world and became less for it.” 

“Eventually he was confronted by another and they called him out on his words and actions. The other man challenged the man with one of the hardest things that could ever be asked of him,” I rose out of the water and patted Lucario on the shoulder.

“Have some hope, what you had with your companion wasn’t fake, believe,” I said simply, moving through the mud towards the tent where I quickly set up a fire, some food for everyone, and several towels for them all. 

Lucario watched me work in silence, but a glance in his direction revealed that he was merely tracking me subconsciously. His eyes were glazed as he considered what I’d said.

I didn’t say anything else to him as I cooked dinner, making sure there was enough for all of my pokemon by making it up in a huge pot. I’d bulk up the pokemon meals with normal pokefood for each of them but they’d still get a good taste of stew.

When I handed Lucario a bowl he accepted it easily. He blew on it a few times and took a sip before stiffening. “This is incredible!” he hasped, his other hand shooting up to cup the bowl protectively.

“You have included herbs? This is wonderful!” he began lapping up the stew. “Sir Aaron never made anything this delightful!” 

I chuckled. “Wonders of the modern age I’d say. In the past I imagine you would have gotten by on pepper and salt.”

“If we were lucky and Sir Aaron stole from the kitchen without getting caught!” Lucario admitted easily. 

I chuckled at that idea. “Somehow I doubt that story got mentioned much,” I said, noticing that Lucario had finished his bowl. I spooned out a second and watched as Lucario’s tail egged quickly as he resumed devouring his meal. 

“Heh, if you like this wait until dessert,” I announced, drawing out a mixing bowl. I quickly made up a safe chocolate dish that Lucario and other pokemon could stomach. 

I placed it before him and waved a hand like I was a magician conjuring a trick, “Chocolate mousse!” I declared only to turn and find Bertha trying to sneak off with the mixing bowl I’d used. 

“Hey! None of that!” I said, spooning out an edible plate for her to use. I spread the mouse across it like butter and then gave it to her.

I’d just finished dishing out dessert when I felt a rumble that had me looking up at the rock faces in concern. 

No one else reacted though. I frowned. Had I just imagined that?

It had sounded like the start of a small avalanche.

Another rumble that swept through me caused me to stiffen.

I had sensed that. 

I glanced around, tracking the sound only to blink. No, I wasn’t hearing it so much as sensing it.

Something was approaching, something that resonated with me.

It wasn’t coming from the sides of the valley but rather up ahead. 

I continued to stand, feeling the approaching rumble, a stirring of hope rising in my chest as I dared to hope.

“Everyone, stay out of this,” I announced as others began to turn to see what had my attention.

A beeping noise sounded out next, and I stiffened as seven orbs glinted out of the darkness. 

They were arranged in an H shape. 

A grin stole over my features. I knew exactly what was stomping towards us.

Regirock, the Rock Peak pokemon.

“You want to have it join your team, don’t you Brock?” Sabrina asked to which I nodded.

Lucario stiffened. “You can’t! That pokemon is too strong!”

“I’ve fought tougher,” I replied as my heart began to beat quickly. 

Sabrina didn’t say anything more, merely waving a hand and causing the assembled campsite to rise into the air to reposition it out of danger.

I recalled almost all of my pokemon after a moment’s thought. I wanted this Regirock to join me, for that it would need to respect me as a trainer which started with fighting it, pokemon to pokemon in a display of skill.

More would be required of me with this being a Legendary pokemon.

My heart thundered within my chest as Titan, the only pokemon I’d left out stomped out ahead of me. 

A growl from him caused hairs on the back of my neck to stand up while the rocks underneath my feet trembled. 

Regirock stopped, straightening up to its full height. The same beeping sounded out and I felt a thrill rush through me.

Regirock was declaring me an enemy that he would destroy. 

I licked my lips before inhaling. “REGIROCK! MY NAME IS BROCK AND I WANT YOU TO JOIN MY TEAM!” I bellowed. 

The eyes blinked in a different sequence as the beeping started up again. It seemed I’d confused it as none had ever announced themselves and their intentions like this.

I grinned, drawing up my aura and allowing it to radiate out of me in a declaration of challenge. 

Regirock straightened up once more and slammed its slab-like arms into the ground before bobbing its head up and down once, accepting the challenge.

It beeped a quick sequence and then began to charge.

Titan and I both grinned. 

Earlier today I’d been thinking about how much things had changed from where I’d started my Journey from. 

Now? I was about to face down a Legendary pokemon and try to catch it. 

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A.N. Thanks go to my patreons for your support!

Also, you’re welcome. I made sure to set this one up for an odd chapter so you know what is coming tomorrow!

Thanks also go to Twmmy for proofreading the chapter!