@Scytherwolf; @Soups;

Episode 50a: Lost Leader Strategy (part 1)


"There it is!" Ash pointed out the spires of skyscrapers towering over the mountains in the distance. "Veilstone City!"

"Maybe a little shopping would get my mind off of Contests for a little while." Dawn mused. "Hope you guys brought your wallets!"

"So long as you don't make us carry a million packages, shop all you want." Brock smiled.

Just then, a blue orb of energy zoomed past the group. "Hit the dirt!" Brock called as the group dove to dodge another one of the orbs.

"They're all coming from the same place..." Dawn noticed as another orb whizzed over her head. "What are they?"

"Aura Spheres!" Ash remembered. "Where there's Aura Spheres, a Riolu or Lucario is close by."

"Clear!" Brock called, signaling it was safe for the group to get up.

[Come on, everyone! Let's go see where this Lucario is!] Tintri called as he hurried down the road to the outskirts of the city.

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As the group rounded a corner, they noticed a fenced off field. "Looks like something attacked the fence..." Brock noticed as he spotted a large hole in part of the fence.

"Let's use it as a lookout point." Dawn suggested as she found some rocks for her and Ash to stand on so they could see. Brock, being taller than his companions, could easily see over the fence.

Once everyone was in position, Ash smiled as he watched a pink-haired woman in training clothes nimbly leap away from a blue and black wolf Pokemon. "That must be the Lucario and its master." he smiled as he read up on the majestic Pokemon:

"Lucario, the aura Pokemon. By reading the auras of all things, it can tell how others are feeling from over half a mile away.

"Nice." Dawn smiled. "You said before you guys had an adventure with a Lucario before?"

"Ooh, I still need to play you my song cycle about that..." Brock remembered. He watched the young woman leap, twirl, and dance away from the various sized Aura Spheres.

"Whoa!" Ash gasped as the woman kicked an Aura Sphere back to her Lucario, who gracefully dodged the attack.

"Basically, all aura is is concentrated ki, the spirit or life energy in all things." Brock explained. "Being able to channel aura is one explanation for magical powers."

"So a fireball spell is balls of fire aura?" Dawn asked as the woman braced herself.

"Something like that." Brock replied. "An Aura Sphere is a ball of pure aura energy--and the Lucario family is famous for this move." He let that hang as the Lucario prepared a Bone Rush. The woman seemed to know her companion's next attack, and somersaulted away from the bones.

"This can't be training." Dawn mused as the battle raged on. "This is much too intense for training."

Suddenly, a Thunderbolt exploded near the fence! [Whoa!] Kori yelped as she went flying onto the field.

[Kori!] Tintri hurried to assess the dazed Piplup on the ground. [You okay?]

[Well, well well, who have we here?] a familiar voice snickered.

Tintri whirled around and gasped at a familiar Electabuzz. [Surge? Is that you?]

[Yeah, it's me.] the Electabuzz replied. [Fancy seeing you here, Weak-achu.]

[You take that back!] Kori snapped as she ran and headbutted Surge. But her strength was not enough to move the massive striped feline Pokemon.

The Lucario suddenly noticed Kori flying back, followed by Tintri sparking angrily. [Should we intervene, Maylene?] she asked.

"Go ahead, Kiiroha--this could get bad." the woman replied.

[Stop this!] the Lucario demanded, sending an Aura Sphere into the impending battle.

The woman approached Ash. "I didn't mean to hurt your Pikachu--I just wanted to step in and prevent him from getting into a scuffle he likely couldn't win."

"It's okay--Tintri was trying to help my friend's Piplup." Ash explained.

Just then, a boy with neatly slicked back lavender hair arrived. "Maylene, is everything okay?" he asked as he reigned in the Electabuzz.

"Yes, Reggie--Surge was trying to stir up trouble." Maylene replied.

The Electabuzz's name snapped Ash to attention. "Wait, Surge evolved? Is Paul here?"

Reggie nodded. "Yes. Paul is my little brother, and Surge is one of his best fighters."

[I knew it!] Tintri gasped.

Reggie, meanwhile, studied Tintri for a moment. "Your Pikachu's been through a lot--not only did he get Disarming Voice, he also knows Volt Tackle."

"H-how do you know that?" Ash gasped in amazement.

"As a Pokemon breeder, you develop a knack for it." Reggie replied. "Paul will sometimes leave some of his Pokémon with me."

He looked Ash over for a moment. "You must be the 'Wonder Boy' he keeps referring to..."

"That's me." Ash replied. "I'm Ash, and you've met my partner Tintri."

Once sure Tintri was on his shoulder again, he introduced his companions. "These two are Dawn, an aspiring Coordinator..."

"Hi." Dawn smiled.

"...and Brock, our navigator and aspiring Loremaster." Ash went on.

"Nice to meet you." Brock smiled as he and Reggie shook hands.

"So is Maylene able to take challenges now?" Ash asked. "Has Paul has already won a Badge here?"

"Yes--he handily defeated Maylene." Reggie replied, prompting Maylene to sigh.

"I'm...not taking challenges now." she softly replied.

[What?] the Lucario gasped. [You're starting this again? I know you are stronger than this! The Maylene I know would never give up!]

"See, Maylene took her loss to Paul hard, and so her Lucario Kiiroha is simply trying to encourage her." Reggie explained.

Dawn watched as Kiiroha continued "speaking" to Maylene. I see...she's in the same boat as I am!

To Be Continued...