//------------------------------// // A cold past // Story: Aura Within // by GallopingWalrus //------------------------------// "Aw come onnnn, pretty pleeeease?" The young Riolu looked up to his mother with the best puppy eyes he could muster. He walked over and started pawing at the bottom of the Mother Lucario's leg. She had been focusing on her aura, and keeping track of any hostile predators within the area. She had opened her eyes, sensing no enemies within the area. She looked down and saw the young Riolu's eyes and chuckeled. "Well, alright." She gave a smile. Almost instantly, the young Riolu's eyes grew wider, as he turned around and jumped with excitement. "YAY! We're gonna go crusading through the forest, and I'm gonna find the biggest berries this time! Right, momma?" The young Riolu said with anticipation. "Of course, honey. But just don't scamper off too far, you have to be wi-" "Yeah yeah, within your aura's distance, I know momma. I'm a big riolu now. I ain't a scared of no big meany pokemon. I could probably take down a whole Entei with one arm." Riolu said confidently. He then thrusted his right paw out and pushed a small aura wave through his right paw, burning a small dandelion slightly. Riolu shot a look back at his mother, as he thrusts his arm back, as if he had just won a battle effortlessly. The mother couldn't help but hold back a small giggle. "Well, honey, you should go off and play with your friends. Remember to come back before it gets too dark." She said, starting to return back to her focusing position again. Riolu nodded, as he turned around and ran off to find his friends. A cold breeze blew through the air. Riolu's eyes shot open as he jumped to his feet, shaking all the snow off him. His aura had detected that hostile enemies were nearby. He had been in this new forest for what felt like months. He slowly ventured forward to find a new safe area, hoping to not make any noise to bring any hostilities near him. He knew these creatures. He had encountered them before and knew they were trouble. Riolu encountered one of these wolves for the first time about a month ago. It had viciously jumped out of a bush and latched onto Riolu's small frail body. The wolf chomped onto the Riolu and threw it to a nearby tree, blood trickiling down as he slid down the branches. The world had spun around him as he got up to his feet and tried to run, only the feel the heavy weight of the wolf, slamming him to his back as it went in for the final bite. Just before it had the chance, Riolu had Force Palmed under the wolf's jaw, splitting the front of its head off, wooden shards flying in all directions, as the body fell to the side. Riolu never had fighting experience before, so the sight off seeing something he had just killed for the first time caused him to whimper. When he heard the many howls of the other wolves recognizing their comrade has fallen, he immediately ran, knowing they would take pursuit. The cold breeze brushed against Riolu's face, making him shiver. He looked back through the dark snowy forest. He could hear them getting closer. Their wild barks and howls echoing through the trees. Lucario continued forward and saw something else moving through the trees. It was cart. "H-help!" Riolu called out in desperation, tears in his eyes. "P-please, somebody!" He got closer as the wolves heavy breaths and snarls grew closer and closer. Riolu had reached the end of the tree line and had collapsed, his vision fading. The last thing he saw before he had passed out, was large red pony, running towards him. -boop- It had felt like something was pushing Riolu's nose. "You awake there, little feller?" ... -boop- Riolu had put his paw up in an attempt to shoo away whatever was messing with his nose. -boop- Slowly Riolu opened his eyes to see whatever was disturbing his sleep, only to see a snout and two big eyes, with a hoof about to go in for another boop. "What the!?", Riolu announced in confusion as he jumped to his feet, he held up his paws in self defense as he scanned the room around him. A barn... But wasn't I just in the forest? "Woah, you okay there, partner?" The voice from behind him said. He jumped around and saw a small pony with a ribbon on her head. She jumped back, barely dodging a rotating upper kick. Riolu landed, his front right paw on the ground, prepared for another attack. "Who, are you!?" He demanded, lowering his head, preparing to charge. "My momma Lucario told me to self defend against anyone who is mean!" The pony that he had almost struck was hiding behind a wooden pillar. Her tail and ribbon can be seen poking out from both ends of the pillar. "A-Applebloom. I'm not mean, I promise!", She said, her hooves over her head. A few seconds and nothing happened. She then poked her eyes out of her hooves and saw Riolu's eyes glowing yellow for a few seconds before returning to their normal colors. She closed her eyes again. Until she felt something boop her on the nose. She opened her eyes and looked up. The creature that had almost taken her head off, put his front paw out in a friendly manner. "I'm sorry for earlier, I was just a little startled, that's all." He said, putting on a reassuring smile. Applebloom put her hoof out and allowed herself to be pulled up. "Aw shoot, it's nothin' pal, what's your name?" Applebloom said as she gave back a smile. Riolu put one of his paws behind his head. "Well... I don't really have a name. I'm a Riolu. I'm guessing you're of the Ponyta species right?" Riolu had guessed, putting a paw under his lip. "A ponyta? You mean Earth Pony, right?" Applebloom said, cocking her head slightly. Riolu was about to respond until he heard more voices coming near outside the barn. "Cutie Mark Crusaders unite!" Two high pitched voices squealed outside. Riolu immediately went back to self defense until Applebloom wrapped a hoof around him. "Woah there partner, they're jus' mah friends. Easy..." Applebloom said calmly. Riolu felt the aura retreating out of his paws as he calmed himself. Two other small ponies popped out of the corner of the barn and both let out a loud gasp. "Fellers, this is mah new friend, Riolu." Applebloom said, as she shoved Riolu to the other two small fillies. "Wooooaaahh." Scootaloo said as she and Sweetie Belle saw the sight before them. All of them had stood there silent for a moment. Sweetie Belle was the first to react. "I'm Sweetie Belle, and this is Scootaloo." Sweetie Belle said. "Yeah, and together we're..." Scootaloo started before they all announced in unison, "The Cutie Mark Crusaders!" "The what crusaders?' Riolu asked in confusion. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders, everypony's got a Cutie Mark, it shows them what their special talent is." Sweetie Belle said said with overwhelming joy. She then paused and asked, "Wait... What exactly are you, Riolu? -End of Chapter 1-