The Vagabond.

Chapter 17: Final goodbyes.

(I recommend reading this while listening to "on the precipice of defeat" by Shiro SAGISU)

Lucario stood in one of the corners of the treehouse, silently watching Cain and Petros converse as he supported himself against the wall.

If it weren't for his current state, he'd gladly join the conversation. Unfortunately for him however, he was busy thinking.

Or maybe not unfortunately, as curiosity is what brought the humans to such greatness today.

The image of the strange woman in a lab coat could not leave his mind, as if mocking him with a wide grin.

What was she doing? Why was she getting information on him? What kind of organisation was she working for?

It couldn't have been a normal one, or at least not a good one. Sol and Luna both said that they've lost many other vessels to them.

That's what he was to them. A vessel, nothing more. He was a vessel for them to use as means of travelling the Earth...

An empty shell, made simply for their own use... They want him to do their dirty work that they cannot accomplish...

Krash shook his head before the dark thoughts could embed themselves in his mind. He has to be careful what he thinks of.

No, he's not just a vessel for their power. He's a Lucario who can think on his own! And that means he's not entirely empty.

"And I assume you've already grown fond of Krash, haven't you?" Decidueye's voice suddenly ringed through his mind.

Lucario swiftly jolted his head up to look at the two other Pokemon in the treehouse staring at him; one with a smile, the other with a small frown.

"I have, yes." Petros responded and took a sip of his tea. "Of course I have. I even had the occasion to see how powerless he is."

Krash growled deep in his throat, only mere moments away from baring his teeth... Before he stopped himself.

"That's not the way to go about this." Sol reminded him, floating down and sitting on his shoulder. 

"Don't stoop as low as others have, Lucario." Luna went in tandem with Solgaleo and sat on his other shoulder.

He sighed and nodded to himself, before walking up to his two elders and sitting down cross legged, opposite of Cain.

Weavile stared at him with a slight scowl, hiding it behind his hands he supported himself on.

Lucario stared back, his glare intensifying by the second. Any more, and he would have learned the move itself.

Decidueye chimed in cheerfully, completely oblivious to the silent rivalry. "So! Petros, what have you been up to recently?"

Weavile shrugged. "Nothing much. I've been studying in a library with a human." He looked back into his cup.

"A human, you say?!" Cain laughed, holding himself by the stomach as he did so. "And? How is it? Living with a human, I mean!"

Petros shifted nervously on his legs, chuckling lightly. "Well, it's not the worst. I have free food, free bed... Everything is free."

Decidueye widened his eyes and released a long and drawn out gasp, nodding in affirmation. "I see, I see..."

He stroke his chin with his feathers, now turning his head over to Krash. "Krash! How was your first outing in the city?"

Lucario shrugged nonchalantly. "It's been alright. The architecture that the humans adapted really captivates me."

"The spotless white modern skyscrapers are especially beautiful. It's as if they're built for the humans to reach above the skies."