The Rise of the Outcasts (Offical revised/rewritten book) | Pokemon Fanfiction

Chapter Three | The Aura

1608 words
Lurix looked between the poster and Xeno, then back at the poster. "Oh, yeah, isn't that you, big bro?" he said. "Aren't you, like, a really big criminal who steals from rich, important Pokemon and you also kill them?" All the while, his voice sounded very innocent and casual, like this was just an everyday thing.

"Uh- Lurix! No, I don't, uh... That's-" Xeno rubbed the back of his head and stared at Cinder, whose mouth was wide open from this new piece of information she received from Lurix. "Y- You know kids, they... They get confused. That's a- That's a completely different lucario! Actually, I think that may be my, uh... Yeah, that's my cousin, Anubis! I don't... I don't kill people..."

"But brother, I remember one time you told me a story about how you stole General Blaziken's tamato sandwich and you also snuck into the palace and stole a bunch of money from the King and Queen. And you also accidentally killed a-" Xeno quickly put his hand over Lurix's mouth, his eye twitching in annoyance.

"That's enough now, Lurix... Be quiet..." he whispered with an irritated smile plastered on his face.

Cinder clapped her paws together and smiled warmly. Her eyes were filled with pure excitement and happiness. "Oh my Stars, that's amazing! Xeno, you absolutely have to come with me!" she beamed. Xeno stared in confusion.

"I- My brother just told you that I committed very serious crimes, why do you sound so excited? Are you mental?" he questioned, a little suspicious.

Cinder nodded very happily. "My friend, Comet, tells me that I am a lot. Okay, let's go!" She took Xeno's hand and tried to pull him away, but he quickly jerked back.

"No!" he shouted angrily as he scooped Lurix into his arms, causing surprise by both the riolu and cinderace in the room. "You can't take us away, you can't!" He held onto Lurix even tighter and started to breathe heavily. He bit his tongue and closed his eyes, falling into a state of hyperventilation.

Meanwhile, Cinder shifted from foot to foot awkwardly, glancing to and from Xeno. "Uhh... Was I too eager?"

Lurix tried to comfort his brother by gently stroking his ear. He sighed at Cinder's question. "No. My brother said that it's called a trauma response. He told me about it when a delphox accidentally triggered one at Fire Mart," he explained. Cinder gasped and her ears flopped down.

"Oh... I'm so sorry, I- I didn't know," she apologized. Lurix nodded.

"It's okay, he just doesn't like being touched. Well, unless it's me. Then he's fine with it." He looked up at Xeno. "It's okay, big brother. I'm here." He patted his brother's cheek comfortingly and started to breathe louder to help Xeno ease and regulate his breathing. "Sh, just breathe..."

A wave of guilt washed over Cinder as she watched the young riolu try to calm down his older brother. Was this something they had to go through everyday? She wanted to do something to help, but the fear of making it worse prevented her from doing so, and she stayed back, allowing Lurix to do the comforting.

After a few minutes, Cinder sighed and turned around to the exit of the burrow. "I think I'm just going to leave... You two seem to rely on each other, and I just feel too bad taking away your brother-" She began to climb out of the burrow.

"Wait," Xeno called out. He stood up shakily, his legs trembling. "What was it that you needed me for? The... prophecy, correct?"

Cinder gasped, immediately turning her head back. "I never told you about the prophecy," she said hesitantly. "How did you-?"

Xeno sighed. "I've... I've known I was supposed to be a part of the prophecy. I realized the moment I heard about it." He turned away in shame. "I was just scared. Scared to leave Lurix, scared to face Corviknight, scared to face... my own mother." He looked back at Cinder with determination in his eyes. "But if it'll stop the war, I'll go with you. I'll fulfill the prophecy."