Chapter 26

White's footsteps were muffled against the bright green grass as she walked through an enchantingly beautiful forest. She had been here on several occasions, though her last visit stuck out in particular. She was currently just wandering through the forest aimlessly, unsure of what to do.

I've never been in here this long without meeting some sort of being, White thought as she ventured deeper into the forest. What am I dreaming about?

As a child, she often dreamt of being chased by violent, horrific creatures that reassembled Mightyenas, but they were always chased away by her Guardian, which was a Pyroar. The year before, she fell into a coma where she was chased by a great, malicious dragon with seven headed dragon. That too was chased away by the Pyroar, which White soon learned was the greatest being in the universe. She had not had a dream like that since.

Then a certain sound reached White's ears. It was faint, but she was able to follow it. It sounded like crying, more like sobbing. Who would be crying in such a place?

White steered away from the direction she had been walking and took a left. Her pace quickened as the crying got louder. She began to hear the rush of a river or a stream.

She then came to a rushing stream. It was bright blue with pebbles if ever color scattered at the bottom. Standing next to the river side was a small figure. It wasn't a human, but a small pokemon that probably reached to White's waist.

It was a short, blue, canine pokemon with black fur on its neck and back. It also had a yellow collar around its neck and it had two bumps above each paw. The black fur around its face made it look like it wore a mask.

A Riolu.

White merely watched it. The pokemon didn't seem to realize she was there. The Riolu just stood by the river, crying.

Then it did something that made the trainer's heart stop. The Riolu suddenly threw itself into the river with one miserable, heart wretching cry. With a splash, it sunk into the stream and clasped onto a large rock at the bottom.

"NO!" White screamed, immediately running toward the river and jumping after it. The stream might not have been deep for her, but it was for the little Emanation Pokemon. She grabbed the little pokemon around the waist and forced it to the surface.

The Riolu gasped for air as the trainer dragged it back to shore. White spat water out of her mouth and let go of the Riolu. It choked and spluttered before curling up in a little ball, rocking back and forth.

After regaining her breath, White straightened up and demanded desperately and concernedly, "What were you doing?! You could have got seriously hurt if not-"

She stopped, realization clutching her heart.

"You...you were trying to kill yourself?" White stammered.

When the Riolu didn't answer, she put her hands on its shoulders and looked into its eyes. She noticed that the Riolu had bright blue eyes, which was odd since Riolus and Lucarios usually had crimson red eyes.

"Why would you throw away your life like this?" she whispered, putting her real hand on its cheek and lifting its chin. "You live in such a beautiful relm, it's much better than the world I live in, where everyone is cruel and cold."

"Nobody loves me here..." the Riolu whimpered. White was taken aback, more by his voice than anything. It was strikingly familiar.

"You are loved more than you realize," White told him, suddenly coming up with an idea. "Hey, have you heard of the being that roams these lands?"

When the Riolu shook his head, the trainer continued, "Well there is a great ruler of this land, and he loves every single living being in existence. He loves everyone as his children and protects us fiercely from his nemesis, a seven headed creature, which will sometimes venture around his borders. Sometimes the being is a great Pyroar while other times he is a cloaked traveler. Nobody knows his true appearance, but their is no word to describe his beauty or kindness."

The Riolu tilted his head and stammered, "I-I've heard of him, but I've never seem him. Where do I find him?"

"We can find him together if you'd like," White offered, helping the little pokemon to his feet. "I may know where-"

The Emanation Pokemon suddenly wrapped his short arms around her leg. White smiled slightly and gently prided his paws away. She took him by the paw and led him away from the riverside. The Riolu was a very chatty pokemon and was very energetic. It was like walking with a little boy, around ten years old.

"Where do we go now?" The Riolu asked as the trainer and pokemon reached the side of the river now.

"There should be a bridge around here," White told him, looking around the area.

"What kind of bridge?"

"Well it was made of magma, but I can carry you across if we don't find it."

They looked around the area for a few minutes. White was about to give up until she heard the Riolu cry, "I found it!"

"Great," White called, straightening up and looking over at the little Fighting Type. He was peering behind a large bush near the stream. She looked over it to see a bridge of hardened lava stretched across the stream.

She took the pokemon by the paw again and led him over to the bridge. White felt the hair on the back of her neck rise up. Someone or something was watching them.

The Riolu also seemed to sense it because he let go of her hand and began turning in circles. He was shaking violently and looked fearful.

"Riolu, what-" White started, but barely got the words out of her mouth as an arrow shot near her head and made a loud thunk as it hit a tree.

White heard the Riolu yelp as the thudding of advancing creatures echoed around them. The trainer scooped up the small pokemon in her arms and immediately pelted toward the magma bridge. She felt the Riolu hug her neck as she ran across the magma. She didn't look back till she heard screeches and high pitched chittering noises.

At least seven, giant, purple scorpion-like pokemon were running across the magma, their pinchers snapping widely. The Drapions all wore black saddles and bridles as if they were Ponytas and Rapidashs. Hooded strangers were seated on the Drapions. Each of them were armed with different weapons, like swords, daggers, and bows and arrows. She even saw glinting shackles hanging from their belts. They looked like medieval rangers, but another title came to White's mind.

Bounty hunters.

White and the Riolu both yelped as another arrow zipped past their heads and hit another tree. She heard the strangers shouting to each other over the crashing of trees and the Drapions' screeching. The trainer didn't quit running even though the arrows were beginning to miss them by centimeters. The strangers reminded her greatly of the inky Mightyenas that stalked through her nightmares. Whatever they were, they were obviously bad news.

"WATCH OUT!" the Riolu screamed, making White snap out of her thoughts.

She yelped as she realized that she was about to run into a rocky cliff side. She skidded to a stop and dug the heel of her boot into the ground to prevent her from falling over. She was about to start running to the left and out of the deep forest, but the rumbling and screeching of the Drapions were surrounding them.

White heard the Riolu whimper and his grip tighten around her neck as the seven Drapions emerged from the forest and cornering them. The trainer backed away from the strangers who were now jumping off their steeds. However she found herself up against the rock wall as the seven strangers drew out their weapons while advancing on her and the Riolu.

"Whitney Gropius," the tallest stranger in the center hissed, making her believe that he was the leader. "the Girl Who Escaped Death. We've heard so much about you, but you haven't visited this realm in so long."

White didn't say anything. They reminded her of Mawiles, the Deceiver Pokemon. Mawiles lulled their prey or victims into a false sense of security before chomping down on them with their huge steel jaws.

She held the Riolu close to her before snarling at the strangers, "What do you want?!"

A shiver rose up her spine as the hooded men hissed in unison.

"Why are you here?!" White repeated, holding the Riolu tightly and shielding him from the rangers.

"There is a price above your head," the leader growled, coming closer to her. "You were supposed to die long ago. Our client has a special award for anyone who apprehends you. Now, come quietly, or there will be consequences, like that little scumbag's death!"

White felt the Riolu shake violently and press the top of his head against her chin. This was a dream. They couldn't really kill her...could they? What if she died in her sleep? But she couldn't just betray the Riolu. He had no friends besides her. He didn't deserve to be thrown in the middle of this.

Finally coming to a decision, White slowly set the Riolu down and whispered to him, "Run."

"W-What?!" he stammered.

"Run away," she repeated. "It's dangerous here, and I can't risk you getting hurt. Go get help if you can."

"B-But I don't want you to leave! We have to find the loner still!"

White put her hand on his cheek and said, "He'll come, I promise."

"What if he doesn't come?"

"He hasn't failed me before."

White kissed the little Riolu's head and straightened up. She then slowly approached the seven bounty hunters. She winced as two of the strangers grabbed her arms and wrestled them behind her back before applying heavy shackles to her wrists. White felt utterly ashamed that she was surrendering to these sins so easily. She was failing her Guardian, her father. She was sacrificing herself for the safety of an imaginary creature.

"Get moving!" one of the rangers hissed, pushing her roughly toward one of the Drapions.

The leader put his hand around the back of White's neck threateningly as she stumbled forward. Then a low growling noise rose from behind them, making the bounty hunters turn around.

The Riolu was on his knees, his face darkened. His lips were curled menacingly as his growl grew louder. Then his growl turned into an angry roar as he suddenly glowed teal and white. When surrounded by the light, the Riolu suddenly began to grow taller. His ears were more sharp and tall while his fur turned a darker shade of blue. His chest was tan and three thorns grew on his paws and chest.

The Riolu had evolved into Lucario, but he wasn't stopping there. He continued to grow taller and grew new features. White had only seen this form of Lucario once before.

As the light subsided, a Mega Lucario stood in the Riolu's place. White noticed something odd about him. The Riolu's eyes were blue, but when it was temporarily a Lucario, his eyes were violet. Now as Mega Lucario, his eyes were dilated and the color of blood.

The Mega Lucario roared ferociously and howled, "LEAVE HER ALONE!"

However the strangers raised their weapons to the Lucario while one of them pushed White to the ground. She coughed and struggled to straighten up as the Lucario formed an Aura-made sword and swung it at the strangers. As she watched the Lucario fight the enemies off, she couldn't help but feel horrified.

Lucarios didn't just immediately Mega Evolve right after evolving from Riolu. It would be too much power for a newly evolved Lucario to handle. When Lucarios Mega Evolve, they have a much harder time controlling their powers since their aura instincts and their Mega Evolution powers conflict against each other. It sometimes caused insanity.

White rolled onto her back and tried to straighten up. She felt around the shackles for anyway of getting free. Her fingers then felt the lock on each cuff. If she had some kind of wire she could possibly get herself out without a key.

Struck with a sudden idea, White took her real hand and began to pull metal pieces away from her fake one. Her mechanical arm wouldn't do her much good in a dream. It wasn't like she was breaking the real metal one since she never wore it to bed.

She finally peeled away a long wire from it and did her best to shape it into the keyhole. She placed the wire in one of the keyholes and heard a slight click. The shackle around her real hand fell off and laid on the ground.

White scrambled to her feet to see the Mega Lucario still fighting the bounty hunters. He still looked insane and out of his mind as he continued to fight off the strangers. The Drapions were even joining the fray.

The trainer put her hand under her overcoat and on her shoulder. She untied the straps on her shoulder that kept her mechanical arm on. The limp arm crashed to the ground as White untied it. She picked it up and charged toward the fighting group. One of the strangers shrieked as White swung the mechanical arm against its head.

It gave a screehy roar and rounded on White. She snarled, grabbed the stranger's arm, and swung him toward the cliff wall. After making sure it wouldn't retaliate, White turned to assist the Lucario. Most of the strangers were dazed from the the attacks, but the Lucario was still fighting the leader.

The Mega Lucario leapt away from the leader as it tried slashing the pokemon with its sword. The Fighting Type then formed a sphere of aura that looked evil and dark. Shock shot through White's body like a knife at the sight of the large Aura Sphere. She knew that aura all too well.

The aura of a troubled, conflicting soul.

The aura was at its peek when an earth shaking roar like a lion's shook the entire forest. Everyone looked up to see the shadow of a great creature standing on top of the cliff. The lion-like pokemon's fiery mane blew around furiously and its eyes were narrowed with anger.

The strangers screeched in fear and fled toward their Drapions as the Pyroar leapt down from the cliff with two other figures. One was a girl a little younger than White and the second was a Lucario.

However the arrival of three allies didn't stop the Mega Lucario from attacking the strangers. He hurled the aura at them as they were getting on their Drapions. The Poison and Dark types shrieked as the sphere exploded at their feet. The Pyroar landed in front of the Mega Lucario and roared once again while the second Lucario chased the strangers off. Meanwhile the girl was trying to control the Mega Lucario.

"They're gone now," the black haired girl tried assuring the Lucario while holding onto his paws. "They're gone, White's safe, now please turn back!"

But the Mega Lucario gnashed his sharp teeth while his dilated red eyes twitched. White watched in horror as the Lucario threw the girl off him and swiveled around. His arms were hanging limply by his side as he crouched over. His eyes kept darting from the second Lucario returning from his chase and the Pyroar.

A sky blue aura blade like Deborah's appeared in his paw as he began running toward the unprepared second Lucario.

"Ray!" White cried as her old partner growled and formed his own sword.

Then as the two Lucarios were about to clash swords, both the Pyroar and the girl shouted at the same time.

"LOWER YOUR ARMS!"

"SKYLER, STOP IT!"

Ray lowered his blade immediately but the Mega Lucario merely froze. White covered her mouth with her hands as Kelly Azul screamed the Lucario's name. Skyler? Skyler Azul?

The Mega Lucario looked at White from the corner of his eye. He stared at her for a minute before falling to his knees and dropping the sword. The Mega Lucario's entire body was shaking and a small whimpering was coming from it. Ray watched the Mega Lucario with sympathy and pity before he picked up the blades and made them disappear. The Pyroar sighed before looking at White and tilting his head toward the Mega Lucario.

The trainer slowly approached the insane pokemon and stood next to Ray. The Mega Lucario's dilated eyes were wide and filled with tears. A great cloud seemed to surround his eyes and turned from red to violet, like dye dripping into clear water.

White knelt down in front of the Mega Lucario and put his paws into her hands. Barely containing her own tears, she looked into his eyes and stammered, "S-Sky Blue?"

The Mega Lucario squeezed his eyes shut and let out a howl of misery. Then his howl seemed to turn into a puppy's as the Lucario began to glow and shrink. He seemed to be evolving backwards into a regular Lucario, but it didn't stop. He continued the grow smaller and smaller until he passed the stage of Riolu.

Now his Riolu features were turning into human features. He continued to glow as the Riolu's mask turned into navy blue glasses and his black ears turned into hair. White felt his paws turn into fingers that were gripping her hands. After a minute, the Riolu was now the person White least expected to see.

The Riolu had turned into small, ten year old Skyler Azul. He looked just as he did on the same day of the beginning of the Kalos incident. His clothes were messy and torn while he was covered in scrapes and bruises. His eyes were tightly shut while he continued to grasp White's hands. Everything was making since. The Riolu's voice, the aura, the changing of his eye color, all belonged to the young and even current Sky Blue.

Even the Mega Lucario's insanity was his.

Before she could stop herself, White broke down sobbing and hugged the little Sky Blue tightly. Horrible memories of his suffering were returning to her with the force of a train. The suffering he endured, the breakthrough, the false hope she had given him while he was isolated from the world and miserable, Ray telling her Sky Blue's true condition and who he was, the possibility of a group of strangers taking him away from her, and their escape from Kalos. Sky Blue never deserved the suffering he received because of White's own weakness and stupidity. All the feelings of anxiety, fear, and concern for her best friend and brother were now overwhelming her for the first time.

White felt Ray place his paw on her shoulder as she continued to hug the younger version of Sky while rocking back and forth. She then choked out, "Why?! Why did he have to suffer like this?! Why must he suffer because of me?! He doesn't deserve this! He NEVER DESERVED THIS!"

"Whitney, I-" Ray started, but he was interrupted by the Pyroar, who told him and Kelly, "If you'd please, I'd like to speak with Whitney alone for a moment."

The two of them nodded and left into the forest. The Pyroar then approached White and the little Sky before sitting next to her. Unlike last time, Yahweh seemed to prefer being the Pyroar instead of turning into the purple hooded wanderer.

After a moment, the Pyroar finally spoke and said, "Skyler Azul loves you very much."

White sniffed but didn't reply. She already knew that, but it actually meant something to her when hearing it from the creator of the universe.

"You are angry with me," Yahweh continued calmly. "You believe it is my fault that he suffered the way he did and does. I assure, he did not go through these trials because I am angry with him. I love him just as much as I love you and the rest of my children in both life and death."

"Then why did you make him have an illness like this?!" White snapped. "It's his illness and his own genes that made him this way! Why did you make him this way?!"

The Pyroar didn't flinch nor look angry. White then realized what she said and felt horrfied. She gasped, "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to lash out, I-I just feel so angry right now!"

"Why?"

"If he wasn't what he is and didn't have that mental disorder, he wouldn't have been through all that pain!"

"Why must his gift be seen as a burden?" Yahweh asked. "His ability was never meant to be a curse. I knew it would cause trials and obstacles for Skyler Azul, but it will do more good than harm. Seven years ago, Regulas Ray told you of Sky Blue's people and how rare it is to find one of them, even if he is only partly related. My dear daughter, there are two sides to every issue, though it is much easier to see the bad."

The Pyroar then bent his head down and whispered in White's ear, "I didn't abandon you or Sky Blue then, nor have I ever left you. Why would I leave you now or ever? I care so much about my children, I would never let them walk through their trials alone."

Yahweh then stood up and began to walk toward the forest. He stopped and then called, "Remember, my child; carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

With that, the Pyroar left the clearing. White sniffed again and buried her face in little Sky's messy black hair. She felt more encouraged and assured now and she had stopped crying a bit. She could still hear the little Sky Blue sniffling and crying so she continued to hug him with her one arm.

She heard footsteps behind her but she didn't see who it was. After a moment, she heard Ray's voice ask, "Whitney?"

White looked up to see Ray the Lucario and Kelly Azul standing in front of her. Her former partner pokemon looked just as he use to. He was taller than most of his kind and was over five feet tall. He looked intimidating, but he had a very kind heart.

Kelly Azul was Sky Blue's real little sister. She was two years younger than him, which made her around sixteen years old if she were still alive. She looked just like her brother, and she even wore his sense of fashion. She had long, slightly curly black hair and wore lightning blue glasses. Kelly also wore punkish clothing like a leather jacket, white tank top, ripped jeans, and leather army boots. However, her personality was slightly different than her older brother's. She was more thoughtful, calm, quiet, and serious than Sky Blue. Right now, she looked as if she had been crying.

Ray looked from Kelly to White before directing to the trainer, "Whitney, I thought maybe you would like to talk about the... current situation, involving Sky Blue's aura."

White thought for a moment before saying sniffily, "His aura is blue, violet, red, and has the speck of black, just like the first time. A-Alan put a mind barrier over the contamination and is making sure Sky can't remember how to fully use his ability, b-but the contamination is trying to break through..."

Ray made a thoughtful sigh and scratched his chin. Kelly moved closer to White and the little Sky while watching him sadly. The girl bent down in front of the little boy and stared at him. White felt him push closer to her as Kelly tried touching his cheek.

"I'm...I'm not going to hurt you," Kelly told him. "I just want to see you...please..."

The little Sky looked up at White for reassurance before letting Kelly touch him. The black haired girl smiled as she put her hand on his cheek. She looked at the trainer and said, her voice cracking, "I know this isn't really him and he'll disappear when you wake up, but I feel like I'm actually with him again..."

"The real Sky misses you, Kelly," White whispered. "But the two of you were always inseparable if you ask me."

"So the mind block is breaking, Whitney?" Ray inquried, steering the conversation back to the more important matter.

"Yes."

"Well that shows that it'll break eventually and he'll lose all common sense if it does. The best I can recommend is to continue to keep him from feeling intense negative emotions. That will at least slow the process down."

"What if it breaks? That knowledge he holds could help him hurt people!"

Ray thought again before saying, "Do you remember the discussion we had when Sky Blue had his first outburst?"

"Yes, why?"

"Remember what I told you about the mystery of the aura?"

White searched her memories and remembered the conversation. She then answered, "You said that a person's aura was almost like a powerful thermal energy. It radiates from living beings, and certain people and pokemon can sense and manipulate it. You also said that in theory, the aura was like the dead skin of the soul, and it contains bits and pieces of a person's personality, memories, beliefs, and feelings."

Ray nodded and gave her a small smile.

"Very good," he praised. "Well if Sky Blue's mental block happens to break, he will at least need a teacher to help him control his power. The first person I would recommend is my brother, Ringdog, but you wouldn't want him to know, would you? Then in northern Kalos, there is a colony of Psychic Type pokemon. There are actually three, but they are united as one. The colony leaders are well informed of the knowledge of aura. Ask Alan or Shane about their home colonies and they will probably give you an exact location."

"Ray, how long do you think the mental block will hold?"

"A few weeks at most, long enough for you to find the colony. Again, ask Alan and Shane where you can find them. They grew up in the colony."

The Lucario's ears twitched and he looked up at the sky. Kelly also jumped and looked around. White began to feel a tingling sensation around her body and her eye lids felt heavy. She yelped as the little Sky Blue suddenly began to fade away.

"You're waking up," Ray told her, his voice suddenly tense.

"Please hold on, White," Kelly said nervously. "I'm sure things will work out. But even so, please take care of my big brother for me!"

"Visit the colony, White," Ray urged his trainer as the world began to darken. "We'll be with you both in spirit! Until next time, we all wish you luck!"

"Be careful!" Kelly added. "We love you both!"

"I love you all too..." White stuttered as her eyes darkened. She closed her eyes and continued to hug little Sky Blue tightly as she fell into darkness.

*~*~*

"White?"

White gasped for breath as she bolted upright. She breathed heavily as she took in her surroundings.

She was in the girl's room at the Pokemon Center. She shared it with Mira, Margaret, Leia, and Fiona, who were all asleep already. There had only been three beds so Fiona shared a bed with Margaret while White decided to take the couch.

White rubbed her eyes and yelped after seeing the crouching figure next to the couch. She then realized it was Alan the Alakazam.

"Alan!" White yelped, pulling her blanket over her head. "This is the girl's room!"

Alan blinked and merely said, "I can't find my trainer."

"What?"

"I can't find Sky Blue. I wouldn't be so worried, but he's been more depressed than usual. I'm worried he might do something...drastic."

White sighed and threw her blanket off. Usually she would dismiss this fact, but times had officially changed. She made sure not to wake up Hamycus, who was sleeping beside her soundly, as she got up. She rolled her mechanical arm out from under the couch and began attaching it to her stump.

"When was the last time you saw him?" White asked as she put on her boots and overcoat.

"Midnight." Alan answered simply.

"Seriously? What time is it?"

"Three or four in the morning."

White groaned and fell back on the couch. They were going to start traveling to Cyllage City in just a few hours. She honestly didn't want to go looking for Sky Blue this close to dawn.

However she sucked up her feelings and sighed irritability, "Fine, fine, I guess I'm going lunatic hunting..."

"Thank you," Alan thanked the trainer as she put on her pokeball belt. "I'm sorry for disturbing you, I just have a feeling that I won't be able to help Sky Blue if I do find him."

"Don't worry about it, I'd actually prefer it this way..." White muttered after picking up the blanket off her bed and shoving it in her bag. "Just teleport us to the front of the Pokemon Center already..."

Alan nodded and enclosed his long fingers around White's mechanical arm. A strange, sensation filled the air around them as everything turned dark momentarily. The air seemed to disappear around them as they moved out of the building. The oxygen was restored a few seconds later after reaching their destination.

The Alakazam and the female trainer had appeared outside of Ambrette Town's Pokemon Center. The town was deserted of life and was covered with darkness. The only sources of light were from the street lights scattered through the roads and the lights from nearby buildings.

"Where would you guess he would be?" White asked the Alakazam as she looked around at their surroundings.

"My guess would be that he is somewhere around Route 8," Alan suggested as he held out his arm out to White like a gentlemen. "Shall we?"

White smirked but took his arm. He was still levitating himself with his psychic powers and she could feel his aura radiating from his arm.

Aura...

"Alan?"

"Hmm?"

"We have known each other for eight years now, and it occurred to me that I never found out where you and Shane lived before meeting me and Sky."

"You do not want to be bored with our childhood stories."

"On the contrary," White replied seriously as they walked down the street. "I have reason to believe they would help our current situation very much."

Alan's long mustache twitched as he thought. He then told her, "Very well then. Shane and I grew up in different colonies of Psychic Type Pokemon. There are three well respected colonies in northern Kalos. There is a colony of the evolutionary line of Riolu, a colony that consists of the evolutionary forms of Ralts, and a colony of the evolutionary line of Abras."

"So you and Shane lived in separate colonies?"

"Of course. Unfortunately, a war broke out between the three colonies while we were young. My father was the leader of the colony, and when he told me I would someday continue the fight, I came to the conclusion that I didn't want any part in the war, so...I ran away."

"And Shane?"

"His situation was the same. His parents were the leaders of his colony. He was supposed to lead his tribe if anything happened to his father. I ran into him a few days after I left, and we decided to travel together. We made it all the way to south western Kalos, and that's when we met you."

White didn't reply. She was remembering when she first met Alan and Shane. Most people believed that it had been Sky Blue that had found them since they were his pokemon. The truth was that Sky and the two Psychic Types wouldn't have met if it weren't for White.

"Your dad," White continued after a minute. "How much does he know about aura wielding and harnessing its power?"

Alan looked surprised and responded, "As a matter of fact, it is a sacred art among all three colonies. The four leaders and most warriors were taught how to manipulate one's aura. Unfortunately, Shane and I were too young to start our training. I now wish I had insisted on learning it."

White waited for the Alakazam to realize what she was going to suggest, and she was not disappointed. A look of shock and bewilderment crossed his face and turned once again to look at the female trainer.

"You're not suggesting that Sky Blue should be taken to see them, are you?!" Alan demanded, sounding horrified.

"They are the only ones who can help him," White sighed. "You just proved that you and Shane were never taught the knowledge of aura, and Sky Blue is one of the last of his people. We've run out of options."

"But if I know one thing, my tribe at least was taught to avoid beings with dark auras!" He protested. "Any being with a dark aura is supposed to be terminated! I think we both know that Sky Blue's aura falls into that category!"

"Do you think I want to take him there?" White snarled. "Do you think I came to this decision lightly?! All I want is to put these incidents into the past, but if the mental block is breaking, we have to prepare for the time when an Aura wielding madman replaces the Sky Blue we know and love! Ray isn't here anymore, Alan! He was the only one who could help Sky, but he's not here anymore! We can't risk asking Ringdog in case Leia finds out! The best option I can think of is taking Sky to see one of the three colonies! I'll even take him there myself!"

Alan didn't press the matter. They were now at the foot of the stairs that led up to the cliff side of Route 8. The pink aura around Alan dispersed as he landed shakely on the ground. White helped guide the Alakazam up the stairs. She felt a wave of sadness fall over her as she looked at the weak Psychic Type. He was actually only nine years old, but the stress of his multiplying brain cells was now giving him the strength of an old man.

"You never forgave yourself, have you?" Alan said unexpectedly as they made it to the top of the stairs and he levitated himself up again.

"What?" White asked uncertainly.

Alan looked at her dead in the eye and whispered, "What Sky Blue went through was terrible, especially at such a young age, but it wasn't because of you."

"Well no offense, but you weren't there! You don't know what is was like seeing him in such a state!"

The Alakazam bowed his head. He didn't seem insulted by what White said.

"I may not have seen the incident begin, but I saw how it ended," Alan told her. "I might have seen a traumatized boy, but I saw him recover with the help of a good friend who never left his side. Skyler knew the risks when he protected you that day. Some of the risks no one could foresee, but I'm sure if he had to do it again, he would do it in a heartbeat. Besides, the incident helped us prevent that same thing from happening again, and we will find a solution to this problem."

Alan didn't say anything after that. White knew he had a point. The incident may had scarred both Sky and herself, but it helped them prevent further incidents. But how many more could they stop?

"This way," Alan suddenly instructed White after a few minutes, guiding her down the path and leading her toward one of the ledges.

White could see a light shining on one of the nearby ledges. She also heard squeaking noises coming from the same ledge. Then two small pokemon came scurrying out from behind a large rock. She recognized them as Toro the Eevee and Scotty the Squritle. They seemed to have been playing tag. They skidded to a stop in front of White and Alan.

"Where's your trainer?" White asked, smirking a little.

Scotty and Toro, unsurprisingly, both pointed toward rock where the light was shinning instantly. White nodded and turned to Alan.

"Can you take them somewhere else?" She asked. "I want to speak with him alone."

Alan bowed his head respectfully and told the two little pokemon, "Come on, you two."

White heard Toro ask where they were going as Alan, Scotty, and Toro left. She gave a small sigh and approached the ledge and looked over the large rock.

Sky Blue had his back to White as he knelt over something he was working on. A flashlight was shinning on the metallic invention while he attached something to it. It looked a lot like a gauntlet.

"Hey," White said in order to get her friend's attention.

He jumped and his head jerked up to see who it was. Sky sighed with relief and muttered, "Thank goodness, it's just you..."

"Who'd you think it was?" She asked, sitting down next to him and opening up her bag.

"No one really, I'm just paranoid, I guess- hey!"

White had just thrown the blanket she had brought with her over Sky Blue's head. She smirked as he grabbed it and threw it on the ground beside him.

"What was that for?!" He snapped irritability.

"Your face looked cold," she answered. "Seriously, Sky, why are you up here? It's almost four in the morning!"

Sky Blue didn't answer. He picked up his gauntlet and shoved in his own bag. It wasn't until he turned off the flashlight that he finally spoke.

"I just wanted to think," he told her unhelpfully.

"About?" White pressed on.

"About...things..."

"What things?"

"Just things..."

White was about to pressure him into saying more until a loud sniff came from beside her. She looked at Sky with confusion. She then could see that tears were sliding down his left cheek.

"Sky?" White asked, moving away Sky's hand as he tried hiding his tears. "Skyler, what's wrong? What happened?"

"I-It's nothing," he stuttered. "I'm fine, I really am fine-"

He stopped as White suddenly hugged him. She had her eyes tightly shut, trying to keep herself from crying. She kept remembering the little Riolu in her dream, how miserable he was.

"I want to help you, Sky," she whispered in his ear. "Don't push me away..."

Sky Blue was silent for a moment before finally saying, "You remember the file we took from the police? The one that names my condition?"

"Yes," White replied, letting go and looking back at Sky's face. "Why?"

"I...I l-lost it..."

"You lost it?"

"I-I don't know where it is!" Sky Blue stammered, more tears sliding down his face. "Yesterday I checked my bag for it and i-it wasn't there! I-I looked everywhere for it, b-but I c-couldn't find it!"

White stared at him in horror. That file could ruin everything if someone found it. A random person might not care what it has to say, but if it had been turned to the police, everything they've been working to hide would fall apart. If the police found out that the so called 'Kalos Madman' was back...

"I-I'm so scared, Whitney!" Sky Blue continued to sob as he covered his face with his hands. "I-I don't want anyone to find it! I don't want anyone to find out about me! I-I don't want to go back! I don't want to g-go! I-I wanna stay here!"

"Skyler-"

"W-What if Mira or one of the others find out?! I-I don't want them to think any different of me! W-What if they hate me?! What if they become s-scared of me?! What if they think I'm a f-freak?! I'm still the same person I've always been!"

"Skyler," White repeated forcefully, putting her hands on his shoulders. "It's going to be ok! Believe me, Sky, if any of them found out about this, they wouldn't hate you! They know that's not the real you! Even if they did, I would never think any less of you! You're my best friend, my brother! And you're not a freak, Sky Blue! This is just as normal as you're going to get!"

"B-But-"

"Look at me, Skyler."

After Sky Blue looked up at her, White told him more gently, "We will get through this one way or another. You're not going anywhere. You're not going back to that prison of suffering. They will have to get through me if not everyone else in our group to get to you. If the others have their doubts, we will prove them wrong. We're in this together now."

Sky Blue sniffed again but nodded. White put her arms around her best friend and hugged him tightly. She felt him sob into her shoulder and hug her back.

After a few minutes of listening to Sky's sobbing and of his quiet stuttering, White hushed him quietly and began to sing softly.

I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, don't leave me here alone
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Don't you dare look out your window darling
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
La la la la
La la la la
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
La la la la

Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

White continued to hum quietly as Sky's sobbing and sniffing died down a little. She kissed the top of his head and then pulled the blanket around him. She tried her hardest to force back her own tears and sobs. Sky Blue didn't deserve to worry about such things. He didn't deserve to live in fear and worry about losing his freedom. He didn't deserve to be frightened over losing his only family. He deserved so much more than White could ever give him.

I promise I'll protect you, Skyler, she thought as she closed her eyes and cried silently along with her best friend. I swear I won't fail you again. You're not alone anymore...