Lucario stared daggers at his opponent. The classy cat Pokémon had regained its footing. It shook its head and body as if it was getting the kinks out of its muscles. Persian opened its mouth and let out a yawn, before eyeing its opponent.

Behind his Pokémon, Giovanni smirked. It may seem like Persian took a lot of damage, but it is far from finished. She just likes to put on a show.

Across from the Team Rocket boss, Ash narrowed his eyes and his brows furrowed. Something doesn't add up. Either he's bluffing and took a lot of damage or all those attacks Charizard landed did nothing.

Deciding not to risk revealing his knowledge, he reaches out to Lucario with his aura.

"Be careful, Lucario. He isn't as hurt as he seems," he warned.

Lucario visibly flinched at the warning, before widening his stance. "Master, no need to worry. He has taken a lot of damage. I can end this thing in just a few moves." Lucario answered back, with a smirk on his face.

"Damn it, Lucario! Don't get cocky!" Ash fired back, before turning his attention back to his opponent.

"Are we going to begin or are we just going to hold a staring contest, for the rest of the battle?" Giovanni mocked from across the battlefield.

He inwardly smirked, as he saw the realization spread across his opponent's. Had he not been in the middle of a fight, he would have been impressed at how much Ash had grown in the last five years.

He's smarter now, but his Pokémon seems a bit overconfident. Giovanni thought, before speaking again.

"Well?" he purred. "I'm waiting."

"Lucario, Extreme Speed!" Ash commanded.

Lucario gave a low growl, before launching himself at his opponent, in a straight line, not bothering with subtlety. Lucario's eyes widen, as he brought both arms up, in front of his chest, as a glowing white tail countered the speedy Pokémon and sent him flying into the stadium wall. He hit the wall and vanished into a cloud of dust.

"Power Gem!" Giovanni pushed his advantage.

A red beam shot out of the gem, on the classy cat Pokémon's forehead. The attack careened into the dust of the stadium wall, causing a larger explosion and sending rumbles into the air. A victorious smiled played across Giovanni's face. as the dust began to finally settle down to reveal nothing.

"What?!" he hollered in rage.

"Dragon Pulse!"

Giovanni's eyes turned upward, as Lucario flickered into appearance, above the normal type, with two spheres of blue energy, with yellow in the middle, one in each paw.

"Dodge it quickly!" he shouted.

The first sphere was easily dodged by the Kanto Pokémon, but the dust, which it kicked up, got into its eyes. The feline began to paw at its eyes, to remove the dust, as the second attack struck its back and pushed it into the ground, causing a cry of pain to be released from its throat.

Lucario landed with a little more force on the ground than his usual soft landings. He assumed another fighting stance and began to pant. He had a few scrapes, across his fur, showing that he hadn't completely dodged the second attack.

Persian managed to lift itself off the ground; and again, shook off the dust that had accumulated on its fur. It hissed at its opponent, before lowering itself while looking ready to pounce.

Ash's eyes held a concerned look in them, as he stared out onto the battlefield. It wasn't his opponent's Pokémon that he was worried about though. What the hell is going on, Lucario?

---

"I don't get it," Max said while having a confused look on his face. "Why would Ash, all the sudden, send Lucario into a straight-line attack like that? He hasn't done that at all, throughout the tournament."

"Maybe he wanted to change up his strategy?" Bonnie suggested. "After all, Persian took a lot of damage from that last battle; and maybe, he wanted a quick victory."

"I don't think so, Bonnie," Clemont answered. "Ordinarily, if a trainer and Pokémon wanted to switch up their battle styles, like that, then you would see communication or the command stating that."

"Well, Lucario wouldn't just abandon Ash's strategy or fighting style that he has held for the entire tournament, would he?" Bonnie asked hesitantly.

"It isn't unheard of for a Pokémon to push beyond the scope of the command of its trainer," Trevor answered. "Generally, it's when the Pokémon doesn't respect his or her trainer, like Ash's Charizard or Dawn's Mamoswine. Other times, it's because the Pokémon is facing a difficult opponent. That may be the case. Ash didn't command that second Dragon Pulse; however, Lucario still formed and attacked with it."

"So does Ash even have control of Lucario?" Ashley asked in a panic.

"As of right now, yes, but their teamwork isn't how it was earlier in its battle against Gregor," Trevor answered. A look a worry crossed his face, as he thought about it some more. "With that said, I don't know how effective Lucario will actually be, for the rest of this battle."

The box got eerily silent, as those, present, took in what their friend had just said.

Serena got a determined look, in her eyes, and turned back to the battle below. "Let's go, Ash and Lucario! You can do it!"

---

"Persian, Iron Tail! Let's go," Giovanni commanded, after the brief pause in battle.

The normal type's tail began to glow white, before it ran towards its opponent, with all the energy it had. It jumped into the air and began to spin to speed up its attack.

"Use Bone Rush to defend!" Ash countered.

The staff appeared, above Lucario's hands, just as the glowing tail was sent downwards. Lucario was pushed back slightly a bit, before giving an extra push and sending the cat Pokémon flying off the staff. Persian twisted again and went for the ribs but was met by the ground type attack. Not to be slowed down, it rebounded off and did a back-flip, aiming for Lucario's chin. Lucario bent backward and barely managed to dodge the attack.

The combatants continued the battle dance, as the sound of metal hitting hardened earth echoed throughout the stadium. Lucario gritted his teeth in frustration and decided to go on the attack. He saw an opening. Taking the staff, in one paw, he lashed out and knocked away the attempt at his ribs. The deflection caused Persian to spin horizontally to the ground. Lucario created an Aura Sphere, in his free paw, and lurched forward.

Giovanni smirked, as he saw the mistake. "Iron Tail on the ground, then followed by Earthquake!"

Persian responded by hitting its tail on the ground and propelling itself upward, above the widening eyes of Lucario, who was caught off balance and falling forward. Persian purred, as it fell and brought its front paws down on the back of Lucario while pushing him to the ground. The second Lucario hit the ground, tremors erupted, and he hollowed in pain. Persian continued to purr, as the tremors stopped and he sauntered in front of his trainer, while his tail swished lazily behind.

A scowl came onto Giovanni's face. A low growl came out of the injured Pokémon, who was lying in the middle of the battlefield. He saw the aura Pokémon push itself up and back into a fighting stance, but it was barely able to stand on its own two feet.

He snorted with an air of superiority. "Give it up, Ketchum!" he exclaimed. "Your Pokémon can barely stand!"

Ash smirked, as he saw his chance. "Lucario, use Heal Pulse!"

Suddenly, Lucario began to glow, as waves seemed to emanate from the point on its chest. Ash took the moment of pause, to reach out and talk to Lucario through the aura.

"Lucario, what's going on with you? You're not acting like yourself!"

"I'm sorry, Master. I was just excited." Lucario said, with a hint of guilt.

Ash saw through the lie. There was something that his Pokémon was keeping from him, but he had to just brush it off. He had to worry about the fight at hand.

Ash continued his thought to the Aura Pokémon. "Well, we need to start working as a team, if we're ever going to finish this now, instead of later! You must trust me, Lucario. Alright?"

Lucario slowly nodded. "I understand, Master."

Giovanni shook off his astonishment. He saw, what seemed like, a quick exchange shared by his opponents.

I should have known that idiot would have an ace in the hole. He always comes up with an annoying plan, one right after the other.

He took in his own Pokémon and smirked. While Persian was panting heavily, it didn't have taken too much damage, but he needed to end this quickly.

"Extreme Speed, Lucario!" Ash yelled.

"Persian, counter with Quick Attack!"

Both Pokémon vanished from sight, only for the sound of a collision to come from above the ground. Two flashes of white bounced from each other, but only to collide on the far side of the arena, before again vanishing. The sounds of impact appeared rapidly across the stadium. The trainers' heads snapped to and fro, as they followed the hectic battle. Finally, the two Pokémon appeared in front of their respective trainer, each gasping for air. Both covered in new cuts and scuffs from the several encounters, but neither seemed to be willing to go down.

"Lucario, Bone Rush! Get in close!" Lucario grunted, before sprinting at his opponent, with staff in paw.

He swung down but was easily dodged by a backflip from the normal type, before barrel-rolling away from the red beam, which was his opponent's counterattack. With the staff in one paw behind his back, he assumed a three-point stance, before again launching himself at Persian.

Giovanni continued the onslaught of Power Gem. He sneered with every dodge, every deflection, and every flat out miss that proved unable to hit the target.

Lucario ducked to avoid the first attack and rolled, before using his staff to propel himself into the air, to avoid a second beam. As he had done against Paul, he began to spin the staff, like a fan, and drive off the attack.

Finally, in close range, he took another swing, but only for it to be dodged again and again. Persian ducked, sidestep, and jumped away from every jab, swing, and hay-maker that came from the Aura Pokémon. The dance continued in a natural rhythm as if they were partners, who had been elegantly moving on ballroom floors for years with each other. Ash noticed as he smiled upon this site.

"Now Lucario!" he shouted.

Lucario took a natural one-paw swing with the club but broke the rhythm to form an Aura Sphere. He launched it and made perfect contact with his opponent's chest. Persian heaved and gasped silently while being rocketed in the stadium wall. The already battered wall was enveloped in further debris, as another section slowly crumbled.

---

"It seems Ash and Lucario are on the same page again." Cynthia nearly cooed, next to Lance.

She would admit that she was disappointed that Diantha was the champion that would have the chance to get challenged by Ash, as he had won the Lumiose Conference, and not the Lily of the Valley.

"It would seem that way," Lance retorted mildly, "but I'm still not convinced that Giovanni's Persian is down for the count. We saw what it could really do. Throughout the entire tournament, it has been Giovanni's ace-in-the-hole, as it were."

Cynthia shrugged. "Still, with the Seismic Toss and the Aura Sphere being on point, it had to have taken a lot of damage."

"A lot of damage is different than enough damage," Lance responded.

Lower in the suite, the enthusiasm was palpable.

"Alright! I knew Ash and Lucario would figure it out!" Max exclaimed. "They now looked like what they have been throughout the entire tournament! Suddenly changing the pace and hitting them hard. No way Persian's going to come back from that!"

"Ash and Lucario have been fighting on a completely different level during the tournament! No one has come close! Finally, Ash is going to bring down Giovanni!" Misty shouted.

"What kind of stories do you think he has from the last five years?" Dawn nearly squealed. "I bet he met a whole bundle of new legendary Pokémon that people have never even seen before."

"Knowing Ash, it's probably not that far off," May answered.

The rest of the group laughed at the comment, before turning their attention back to the battlefield below.

"It seems Ash is ending this, right now!" Brock stated, with a beaming smile on his face. The same smile could be seen on everyone else, inside the suite.

---

Ash looked on with a smile. Lucario approached the prone figure, lying on the ground, with rubble, covering it, from the destroyed wall, around the combatants.

"Lucario! Finish this with a Hyper Beam!" Ash commanded his Pokémon, with all his might.

Lucario's vigorously nodding head was clearly visible to Ash, across the battlefield. The orange ball formed, between the Aura Pokémon's paws, before being sent at its target, but only for the target to suddenly vanish.

Ash's thoughts began to race, upon seeing their opponent disappear. No. It can't be. Not a Double Team!

"Persian use Power Gem, Earthquake, and then, finish it off with Iron Tail!" Giovanni yelled out, without hesitation.

Ash silently screamed, as the normal type suddenly appeared to the side of Lucario. Its gem, glowing red, before a beam was sent hurtling into Lucario's side. Ash's heart broke, as it seemed the once conscious form of Lucario collapse, only for the ground to shake. Ash's eyes widened. The shock-waves, created by the ground attack, send the fighting and steel type hurdling into the air. His eyes traced the form of his Pokémon, but only for his head to snap down, after Lucario was sent crashing down by a brutal Iron Tail.

Ash felt his anger begin to slowly rise; but he wasn't angry at Giovanni, he had done what needed to be done; instead, he was mad at himself. Idiot! You cocky, arrogant idiot! How could you let this happen? How could you just stand by and watch your own Pokémon, someone who put his own life in your hands, be tossed around like a rag doll? How could you be so stupid?!

Ash closed his eyes. His fists clenched, as he heard the ref begin to make the call, while mentally preparing himself for the walk to pick up his friend's unconscious form. He listened as every letter, every syllable stung; until suddenly, the ref stopped. He was confused. Why didn't the ref finished making the call? He opened his eyes and gasped in shock and horror.

Lucario managed to pull himself from the crater. Cuts and bruises adorned his body, his left arm hung freely, clearly dislocated. Yet, with a clear amount of pain and damage, he managed to rise back up. From where Ash stood, he could clearly see the grimace that never let up. The wince of pain that came with every slight movement, every twitch of any muscle, and every labored breath. He couldn't take it anymore.

"Lucario return! You're done, buddy!" Ash yelled, at the top of his lungs, while pleading for his friend to return to his side, even if he had to carry him back.

But there was no response, no movement.

"Lucario! It's over! Let Pikachu-"

"No." The response was barely a whisper, but Ash still heard the faint call.

"Lucario, you don't have to do this!"

"I must. For you, Ash." The voice held pain, but it was laced with defiance, along with Lucario's determination to keep on fighting.

"And I said no!" Ash was now, beside himself, even Pikachu pleaded for the aura Pokémon to quit, to end the slaughter.

Ash strained to sense a response of any type, before a faint 'I'm sorry' passed, and then, nothing. No warmth could be felt from the Pokémon, who struggled to move. No connection, as he tried to reach out to him through the aura. Their connection had vanished, and for the first time in five years, he could not sense Lucario.

Lucario felt the darkness envelop him. Cutting himself off from Ash, from the person who meant more to him than anything in the world, was tough. He hadn't felt this loneliness in so long. He had forgotten the pain that came with it. The feeling that there was no one left to love him. He had felt that way once, but he refused to feel it again.

Please, forgive me, Master, but I have lost everything once before. I cannot go through that again.

---

There was a bright flash of light. His eyes were shut, but he could tell that his surroundings were different. He felt something cold move across his body that made him shiver. He felt cold and alone until something touched the top of his head.

It was a soft touch. It lasted only a second, but it had such an impact on him. A surge of warmth washed over him. The feeling was soft and pleasant. It drove away from the cold and the loneliness. He finally opened his eyes, for the first time, and looked up. A smile made its way across his newborn face. He was staring into the eyes of his mother, a fully grown and beautiful Lucario. He felt the feeling strengthen, as he stumbled and was caught by her soft paws. It was her aura that he was feeling, and it made him feel happy.

On his shoulder, he felt another touch. It was harsher, but not cruel. Firm, but not mean. With this touch, came an almost overwhelming feeling of strength and will. This feeling made him feel safe, secure that nothing could harm him. He turned and gazed up to the Lucario, whose paw was still on his shoulder. The steely gaze of his father met his twinkling and curious eyes. The gaze may have been steely, but he too saw love, like that in his mother's eyes, in his father's. He knew that he would be safe, with him always near. He was happy.

So, life carried on for the young family. Each morning, he would wake, while in his mother's arms, still sleeping against the wall of the cave, which they called home. He would glance around and search for his father, but never found him. Well, not by sight, of course, but through the aura. He could sense his father away. How? He didn't know. He just allowed this sixth sense to carry him and he always found his father, at the base of a small waterfall, training. He would excitedly jump into the river and attempt to spar with the Lucario. The response was the same. He would smile and play with his son in the river.

This would continue until he felt the aura of his mother approaching, while she always carried a makeshift basket of berries and nuts in her paw. The small family would sit, by the stream, and munch on the light breakfast, before his father would go back to training, while the youngling and his mother would go walking around the forest.

His curiosity drove him to interactions with the various forest Pokémon. Each more unique than the last. Some seemed happy with his presence, while others were annoyed, but he always found a new friend to play with. After a while, it would be time for lunch; and again, they would go to the river and have berries and nuts, as a family. Once lunch was done, it was followed by a nap, where he'd be sitting in between his parents and leaning into his mother's soft fur, which smelled of sweet berries.

They would finish the day with a pleasant stroll through the forest, before returning home to their cave, as the sun would begin to set. This was always his favorite part of the day. His parents would walk side by side, as he ran from one side of the forest to another, zig-zagging in each way that piqued his curiosity. The sounds of his parents' laughter ringing through the forest, and the ever-present security of their aura, made him happy. It was this happy stroll that would prove to be dangerous.

It was a week after their first walk, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. They were starting their route back to their cave, laughter still ringing with their voices: his mother's sweet and soft and his father's husky and prominent. Suddenly, the two older Pokémon's laughter died down; and that's when the little Riolu noticed it, the strange silence. He had never heard such silence before. Their part, of the forest, was always pulsating with excitement and noise.

A twig snapped and faster than he ever saw his dad move, he was in a defensive stance between his family at the sound of the twig. He bared his teeth and snarled. The young Riolu started to be scared. He had never seen his father snarl, like that, before. He went to grab his mother's leg and noticed her normally soft features were rigid and hard.

Suddenly, multiple people, dressed in military clothing, came out of the tree line. Fierce looking Pokémon, who the young Riolu had never seen, stood in front of them, with their teeth bared. The leader stepped in front, his smile sends chills up the emanation Pokémon's spine.

"Now, now, there's no need to be tetchy there, big guy." the man said. He raised his hands into the air, to show that he meant no harm.

The snarling Houndoom and Mightyena, at his sides, said something else. "Why don't you leave this barbarian lifestyle, out here in the woods, and come with us. We'll make sure that your little family stays together. I'm sure someone will pay good money, for a family set."

His response was a snarl from the older Lucarios. He looked taken back from the insinuation that he was lying. Again, he took a step forward, only for an Aura Sphere to land, at his feet, and caused the man to land on his butt.

He brought his hands up to his mouth, to cover his mouth from the debris, as he coughed. He gave his own snarl.

"Fine! I tried to play nice, but the client only called for a Riolu, not two Lucarios, with an attitude problem! Boys!" He gave a motion, with his hand, and all hell broke loose.

Before Riolu knew what was happening, a metal claw grabbed him by his chest and pulled him from his mother's legs. He screamed out and tried to grab for his mother's paws. Both his parents turned in shock, before leaping at their baby. A pack of Houndoom and Mightyena blocked their way, but they wouldn't be denied.

The young Riolu looked on and cheered, as he watched Pokémon after Pokémon, being sent flying by his parents. With each combatant that was sent flying, they took a step closer to where he was. Yet, with each step, another Pokémon stepped up.

Riolu cried out again, as a collar was put around his throat, and chains were tied to his arms. He was thrust into a crate, chained dead center. The sounds of battle could still be heard outside. He continued to cheer, as each passing second his mother and father's auras drew closer and closer. His cheers were cut off, as two loud bangs sounded through the air. His sensitive ears rung, and he felt dizzy.

Once his senses found equilibrium, a sense of dread spread over him. He felt cold and alone. He reached out to where he last remembered the spot of his parents' auras were but could feel nothing. No warmth and softness of his mother. No firmness and security of his father. Nothing. Only the cold bite of darkness met his attempts. He cried out for his parents, pleading for them to come and take him back to their cave, to their home. No such thing would occur, as he felt a lurching sensation take hold of the crate that he was in.

And so, the young Riolu stayed in that crate, in the darkness of his imprisonment. The only thing he knew of the outside world was that they were moving, to where he could only picture in his nightmares. The darkness that surrounded paled to the darkness that he felt. He was all alone.

Once loved; but now, isolated from everything that he had ever known, even in his relatively short life. He felt his heartbreak and the darkness grow with each passing day. There was no hope at all. How could there be? He no longer sensed the aura of his parents. Without that, how could he keep on hoping?

The days passed. Every so often, he was fed with vile food that made his stomach churn and had him yearning for the delicious berries and nuts, which he enjoyed in the forest. It was on such an occasion that his life again took a drastic turn.

He had been fed his usual meal and slapped around, something that was becoming a norm. He sat in the darkness of the crate, a small light, coming from the crack, that the two men had left. He continued to whimper, before the sound of the crate opening drew his attention, once again.

He looked up to see another human, peering into the crate. He said something that he couldn't understand, before a yellow Pokémon appeared, with its tail glowing white. The tail struck the chains; and immediately, he began to flail around, while attempting to remember the lessons that his father taught him.

The sound of chains hitting flesh reverberated before he was suddenly grasped into a tight hug. He froze immediately. He felt it. Warmth and softness mixed with strength and willpower. He felt his parents' love being poured back into him, as he felt a pat on his back, with reassuring words being said. He broke down and wept. He cried tears of sadness and joy. His heart ached, for the softness and scent of his mother's fur and the strong touch of father's paw. He was happy that his darkness was finally being taken away. He felt love, warmth, and safety, once again, after experiencing such a horror that was beyond hell itself.

He heard more men, coming their way. Before he knew it, the strange person, who held him, ran, while carrying the emanation Pokémon, in his arms, as he went. Left, right, and all over the place, they ran. His grip never yielding from the person, whose arms were around him.

He came into the light and saw the man, who he had first encountered. They were surrounded, but the man, whose arms he was in, wouldn't back down. His will burning bright, just like his father's.

An explosion and a mass of movement followed; before finally, the sound of attacks and screaming died down and was replaced by the gentleness of a breeze. He looked up at his savior's face and his heart dropped at what he saw; at what he did. Across the man's face, there was a gash that dripped blood, but his auburn eyes didn't show any hatred towards him. Instead, there was love and the promise of protection.

The male talked of family, his own family, and how he could join him. Riolu felt his heart soar with hope and happiness; but still, he saw the wound and the pain that it caused to this person, who had saved him.

Acting on instinct, the young Riolu reached up and began to lick the wound. He promised himself; at that moment, that whoever this person was, he would protect him until his very last breath. He had given him his life back and would forever hold this person close to his heart.

---

Lucario's eyes shot open. He touched his chest and began to pulse with light. His wounds were slowly healing. He wasn't given much time though, before breaking the move and leaping off to one side. The only noise, that he could hear, was the thumping of his own heart. He howled while lifting his head to the heavens, before taking off, as fast as he could.

"Dodge it, Persian, and use Iron Tail!" Giovanni commanded, without hesitation.

Giovanni was enjoying watching Ash squirm, after losing control of his loyal Pokémon. To see his enemies struggle, beneath his power, always brightened his day.

The normal type sidestepped, before doing a front flip, as his tail began glowing white. The attack met resistance in the form of a single-handed Bone Rush. Lucario gave another push that sent the Kanto Pokémon back a little, but only for the Pokémon to be sent skidding across the battlefield, after having been hit in the shoulder of the Aura Pokémon.

Lucario winced and fell to his knees while grabbing his bad shoulder, which he used to ram its opponent. He was gasping for air. With each breath, it made him feel the presence of cracked ribs and making the clearly dislocated shoulder move around painfully.

Again, he howled in pain, as he was hit with another red beam of energy. He hit the wall. His head snapping back and hitting the wall with full force. Using his one good arm, he pushed himself up into a barely standing position. He formed another Bone Rush, in a single paw, and threw himself at his opponent. He thrashed about wildly, to deal as much damage as possible. Every swing was easily dodged by the normal type, while the swings were getting slower and slower with each strike.

Persian, at this point, had a smile that stretched across its face. It was enjoying watching the Pokémon, in front of him, struggle. He was ignoring his trainer's commands, to finish the battle, choosing, instead, to toy with his opponent. Its smile vanished. Lucario threw an uppercut with the staff, while not fighting in his momentum. He took it into a spin. As his back was turned, he formed a small Aura Sphere in his bad paw. The spinning strike missed, but it gave him the perfect opportunity. With his opponent on the back foot, he went straight, out of his spin, and into a desperate lunge that resulted in a cry of pain, from the target, as it was sent flying across the battlefield.

Giovanni was outraged at this point. His Pokémon chose to play with his food; normally, this would amuse him, but not today.

"Persian! End this with Iron Tail! Right now!" Giovanni commanded his Pokémon, with a voice of authority and anger.

The classy cat Pokémon stood up and shot daggers at his opponent. Its anger boiling over, its pride hurt, from the attack. Its tail glowed, before sprinting at its opponent.

Lucario watched on, as it was too tired to move, or even form another attack. He grimaced, as he was hit under the chin. He flew into the air, but only to be sent crashing back into the ground. He groaned from the crater that he had created. His vision was shaky and blurry. He pulled himself up onto his knees. He closed his eyes, attempting to find the energy for another Heal Pulse. His eyes shot open, as the voice of his trainer rang out in the stadium.

"STOP THE FIGHT!" Ash screamed at the top of his lungs.

He was witnessing the slaughter happening before his very eyes. Each strike to his Pokémon made him grimace. Each show of pain and hurt on Lucario's face was matched in his heart. Enough was enough; he couldn't withstand watching this display of horror and pain any longer. He looked at the referee, who just stood there, with a shocked expression on his face, over the fact that Lucario was still moving. This increased Ash's frustration.

"Well, are you going to stop this or not?! Look at him!" Ash said while motioning to his beaten and battered Pokémon. "He can barely move! You should have called it earlier! I don't my friend to die out there! So, what are you waiting for? MAKE THE CALL ALREADY! NOW!"

Lucario felt tears, beginning to well up in his eyes, as the words of the referee seems to fade into the background. He had failed. The most important person in the world needed him now more than ever, and he had failed him. He closed his eyes and choked back sobs, as tears ran down his cheeks. He felt alone in the darkness, once more.

He gasped, as he felt his trainer's aura envelop him, once again. He opened his eyes and looked up to see both of Ash's hands on either shoulder. He gazed into Ash's auburn eyes, and again, only seeing love. Ash knelt so that they were at eye level with each other.

"It's over, Lucario." he said with a rasped voice, "You've done enough."

Lucario shook his head slowly. "I-I-I . . . I failed you, Master. I wasn't strong enough."

This time, he couldn't fight back the sobs, as they seemed to overflow. His sobs stopped when he felt Ash, leaning forward, and placing his forehead against his own.

"You're wrong, Lucario," Ash said. He felt tears, of his own, beginning to well up. "You were strong enough. You did great. You succeeded because you did your best. That's all I have ever asked for. I'm so proud of you, Lucario, and I'll always be, no matter what."

A faint smile appeared on the aura Pokemon's face. "Thank you, Ash."

Lucario succumbed to the pain and passed out. His body fell forward, only to be caught by Ash.

A tear escaped, as Ash held the unconscious form of his beloved Pokémon. His grip tightened the embrace that he held the aura Pokémon in. His anger slowly began to build, as he felt the cuts and scuffs that adorned the once soft and warm fur of his friend. He moved his hands from around Lucario and held him in a bridal style. He slowly picked him up and walked to the wall, behind his trainer's box.

Ash bent down and gingerly laid Lucario against the wall. His anger came to a head, as he viewed the full state of his Pokémon.

"I've failed you, Lucario." Ash moved to cup Lucario's cheek. "I promise that once this is all over and we have won, I'll take you to any big city, festival, or party that you want to go to, buddy. With all the food you can eat." He patted his Pokémon's cheek softly, before getting up.

With his head down, he walked to his box, with Pikachu solemnly waiting. Ash ignored the jeers and insults that were being hurled by Giovanni. He looked to his starter and best friend.

"You ready?"

A simple nod was his only reply, as Pikachu trotted out onto the field, with electricity flying off from his cheeks.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Persian, use Power Gem!"