"Cu-ra!"
...
"Cu-ra!"
...
"Cu-ra!"
A black-and-blue paw collided with the makeshift head of the dummy. It was made with endurance in mind so that it wouldn't go flying from impact. But it also had some lee-way to gauge how much a typical foe would feel pressured by basic attacks. The Lucario currently training against this dummy was not interested in its build. Rather, his frustration burned inside his veins.
He switched up to some swift kicks with his hind paws. This time, the dummy leaned forward slightly upon the impacts while its base barely curved inwards. Growling, the Pokemon did a couple back flips to put some distance between himself and his practice target. He tried to put his paws together at a set width apart. Stray thoughts of tearing a monster apart limb-from-limb made his red eyes shrink in their whites.
He ended up unleashing a Dark Pulse. The shadowy arc rattled several of the dummy's individual parts upon impact.
Xavier sighed and crossed his upper paws. I don't understand. I have the aura, and I can use the moves I know almost by instinct. So why can't I use Force Palm and Aura Sphere like other Lucario can? He closed his eyes as the locks of hair behind his head floated. I am taking a small break if you wish to talk, Your Majesty.
"How did you-? Wow, you're good." Thorax trotted over. "Pharynx commented that you looked discouraged today even though you won a practice battle against him. Is something wrong?"
Just a personal problem. I wouldn't want to impose it upon you.
"I wouldn't be asking if I wanted you to keep it to yourself."
Thorax's aura shifted shape to something else. Xavier slowly opened his eyes to verify that he wasn't 'seeing' things. When he did, a second Lucario was posing with its tongue sticking out, its eyes pointed to either side, and standing precariously on one paw.
Xavier blinked twice... before breaking into a bunch of small sounds. "Cuh! Rah-rah, cah, rih-cah, rah!" Ha... when did you learn to do that?
A column of blue fiery light surrounded Thorax, reverting him back to his default form. "Heh heh. A friend taught me that little trick to cheer others up."
It certainly caught me off guard, if nothing else. Xavier's smile thinned. There are a few moves that all others of my kind are capable of performing. Yet for some reason, I cannot.
"What kind of moves?" Thorax sat down on a nearby moss-covered rock.
Hmm... how do I describe this? Xavier idly waved his paws in circular motions. You know how it sometimes looks like I'm on fire when I use my aura sense? One such move that other Lucario have practically trademarked is taking a small fraction of that life energy and launching it at a foe or an obstacle that creates an explosion upon impact. They call this move 'Aura Sphere'.
"So... like your magic that launches love, but harmful instead?" Thorax's eyes moved as if raising a brow.
Not exactly. Xavier shook his head. If that were all it was, then my Dark Pulse would fit in the same category. Unlike Dark Pulse that draws on a pool of hatred and anger, Aura Sphere is more like... the calm, fighting spirit. But it isn't just a clear mind either. Because when I try to launch an attack with a balanced emotion or a detached emotion, it turns into Psychic. That's the move your brother compared to a strong unicorn's levitation.
Thorax nodded slowly. "Okay. So, this sphere move... have other Lucario told you what it feels like when they do it?"
I don't recall the exact reason, but I've never had the chance to speak with them personally. Xavier tapped his chest spike. All I gathered was through observation and attempts to imitate what I saw.
"Oh, I see." Thorax lightly tapped a nearby pebble with his hoof. "Say, while we're on the subject of learning, have you gotten any of the holes in your memory patched up yet?"
Xavier looked up and over at the changeling leader. Actually, something might have come back when I went to that Equestria with the Displaced dragons.
"That's great!" Thorax smiled. "What did you remember?"
It's not a complete memory, but it seems to have significant starting and end points. The Lucario held his upper paws a set width from each other. The memory starts right after I was knocked out of my home world.
---
"Wha-? AAAAAAAAAH! Where am I?! Why is it so dark?! Why am I falling?!"
'Riley' was in a dark space. He couldn't feel anything around him except the rush of air on all sides. So, he held both of his hands against his hat, bracing for an impact that had yet to arrive. He tried his best to get in as many deep breaths as he fell, but the popping in his ears made it difficult to concentrate.
While that was going on, a shadowy figure floated into his vision. He squinted his eyes to try and focus on the slightly different shade of black in question. When small specks of white and red added themselves to the shape, he was even more confused. There was no way that was real, but repeated blinking confirmed that the nature of the figure wasn't going away.
It was a Darkrai, the mythical Pokemon of bad dreams. Its solitary, light blue eye stared at the falling human, and was somehow keeping pace with his descent. 'Riley' was having trouble following what this meant. As much as he wanted this all to be a bad dream, this seemed a little too convenient.
The Darkrai floated closer still. At this point, 'Riley' noticed something else. Held by this Pokemon's hands, for lack of a better term, were two objects that resembled DVDs. One was a dark teal color while the other disc looked like a cross between orange and pink. The dressed up human made a mental connection.
"Technical Machines? Why is a Darkrai carrying around two TMs and not using them?" 'Riley' didn't move his hands away from his hat, as it kept threatening to fly away in the air resistance.
Oh, I'm going to use them. A deep voice echoed through the darkness. But you might not like "how" I use them.
"Huh? What are you- GUH!"
While he was still voicing the question, the Darkrai had shoved both of the the TMs right through the human's clothes. It somehow buried the discs deep within his skin. Needless to say, this didn't feel right to 'Riley'. In fact, it felt like all of his insides were burning and freezing all at once. The human resumed his screaming as it looked like his entire body was catching on blue fire.
It would be rather interesting if you survive. The Darkrai appeared to be chuckling, even without a visible mouth. If you don't, oh well. I'll try again with the next "customer". Ha ha ha ha ha.
Eventually, the pain became too much for 'Riley' to bare, and his vision blacked out.
---
"And that eventually lines up with you turning into a blue meteorite landing in our world?" Thorax asked aloud. "Huh. ... That's a lot to take in."
You're telling me. Xavier nodded. Somehow, I was swimming through that restored memory the first time I used my Dark Pulse move.
"Wait a second!" Thorax did a double-take. "You've got semi-metal circles somewhere inside your body? Isn't that harmful or dangerous to leave alone?"
I don't think I have to worry about that any longer. Xavier shook his head. Humans weren't made to install TMs. But with Pokemon, compatible discs disappear as soon as they understand how to use the specific moves. He lightly tapped his right ear with his paw. I've already got the two moves memorized, and I don't feel the discs anywhere in me.
"Well, if you do feel any of that kind of pain, please let us know right away." Thorax's ears went flat, like he wanted to believe that Xavier was fine, but couldn't completely be sure.
Alright, if you insist. Xavier smiled politely. Pharynx was right. You're really kind and trusting.
Thorax chuckled. "You're not going to throw up on me like he does about that, are you?"
Not at all. Xavier started using his paw to playfully pet Thorax's head. I find it endearing.
"H-Hey! Stop that." Thorax looked happy, despite his words of protest.
Both the Lucario and changeling laughed while the moment lasted.
---
'Cyrus' briefly looked at his hands. He was certain he had been holding the rude man's staff a moment before. Now, he had nothing. Speaking of which, there wasn't anything in his current surroundings. There was also a sense that he was being pulled up by an invisible force.
Most would find such a nonsensical position to be terrifying or confusing. The man in long sleeves cupped his hands behind his back. He found this situation to be merely... a chore. Another presence floated into his sight. It resembled the lunar Pokemon Cresselia.
Hello, sir. Its unspoken voice echoed through the void. A collection of small, rectangular panels levitated into view before stacking into a neat and tidy pile. Could I interest you in some of my wares?
'Cyrus' looked at the Cresselia with little more than boredom in his eyes. He crossed his arms and shrugged his shoulders. Instead of wasting his time with asking to whom he was speaking or for what purpose the items were, he took the strictly intelligent approach. His mind went straight to business.
"What are your terms?"
The Cresselia giggled softly before one of her eyes briefly flashed a light blue.
---