Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 71: Canalave City; Battle for the Badge

"Lucario became one of my closest and favourite Pokémon. Any Trainer will tell you; they will always have a special bond with their first Pokémon, their Starter Pokémon, or ones that were the hardest to capture. I love all my Pokémon equally, and I've bonded with each of them in a special way. My first Pokémon will always hold a special place in my heart, no matter how long it's been...but there's something about being able to converse with your Pokémon. Being able to talk to them as if they're another person. You bond differently. I was as close with Lucario as much as any of my other Pokémon I've trained and owned but being able to speak with him as if he were Alyssandra, or Niya, or Jeremy, or another human, changed the way we bonded as Trainer and Pokémon. It helped that he was incredibly wise, and well versed in emotional intelligence. I've gotten a lot of good advice from my Lucario over the years...and our bond in battle was always unmatched due to our non-verbal communication."

Sam walked into Byron's gym, Lucario's Pokémon in his hand. His friends were behind him, and Aurelio stood behind Sam, slightly off to the right.

"Are you ready?" asked Sam.

Lucario grunted in confirmation through his mental connection with his trainer. "Yes, Master."

"You don't have to call me Master," corrected Sam, not for the first time, "We're friends—Trainer and Pokémon. You don't serve me."

"Is it not the same thing?" wondered Lucario.

"Not entirely, no," laughed Sam, "You'll understand eventually."

Lucario nodded in confirmation.

"The old man is following us again," continued Lucario.

"Yeah he does that," replied Sam, speaking of Aurelio.

Lucario could sense the aura of the ghost of Sam's grandfather, and was aware of his presence, if not what he was saying. Though Lucario couldn't communicate with Aurelio, or even see him in the traditional sense, he could feel him, sense his presence.

Sam had explained early on what Aurelio was, why he was there, and that it should be kept secret. Except from Alyssandra who knew Aurelio was there and existed, believed Sam, but still couldn't speak with him.

Lucario had spent almost a day talking with Sam, so Sam could catch him up on everything. In this time, Sam had been given some very good advice about Alyssandra from Lucario—advice Sam had to eventually put to use.

Byron stood on the other end of the field, talking to three other people, all of who looked incredibly familiar.

It wasn't until Sam stepped onto the field that he realized the three people Byron were talking to were Rort from the Fuego Ironworks, his granddaughter Gardenia, Gym Leader of Eterna City, and Byron's son, Roark, the Gym Leader of Oreburgh City and Head Foreman of the Oreburgh Mine.

"Sam!" cried Gardenia, running over to Sam, Roark in tow. Rort slowly walked over to the two, his leg looking stiff as he walked.

"How're you doing, Sam?" asked Roark.

"Not bad," replied Sam, "How about you guys, and you Rort?"

Rort reached Sam just as he asked. "Been better," he rumbled, "Hurt my leg a bit the other week, and I'm off until I'm healed. Still a bit stiff, but I'm managing."

"I'm guessing you came to watch me battle your brother?" Sam asked Roark.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he boomed with a laugh, "My brother's a tough Trainer. He was Oreburgh Gym Leader for fifteen years before Roark here took over. But you...you've got raw skill. I'm waiting to see my brother get put in his place."