FSE

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It didn't take long for everyone to settle into the train ride. Kyo had already fallen asleep, Ashito watched the world go by through the window, and John held Lucario as if though he were his child. Lucario had cried himself to sleep in John's lap. John slowly and gently stroked Lucario's head like a father would an infant.

"How do you do it, John?" Ashito asked in a hushed voice.

"Do what?" he responded, not taking his eyes off Lucario.

"How can you be so tender? Your past is simply mortifying, yet you are such a calm being. I can't see any anger in you at all."

"I was wondering the same about you." Ashito wasn't expecting that. He turned his head to look back out the window.

"There were times I asked myself the same thing. But after I met all of you and trained under Sensei, I realized I can't go through life hating. I'm an anthropomorphic husky now, and nothing's going to change that. Joining Team Rocket was a mistake, but I can't beat myself up about it. Plus it's not so bad, being a husky I mean. I'm taller than I ever used to be, I've got soft light blue fur, and I can understand animals and Pokémon. Things almost seem better now. I've always been a sucker for animals anyway." John smiled and looked up.

"Ach weh nicht des leiden." He said.

"What does that mean?" Ashito asked.

"It means don't suffer the pain. My mom always used to say that when I was a little kid and I got hurt or something. She would hold me, patting my back, repeating 'Ach weh nicht desleiden.' That's how I get through my hardships. I just remember what mom always used to tell me, and I get by fine." A tear escaped the corner of Ashito's eye.

"You know, I did a lot of terrible things in Team Rocket. One day I was sent on a mission to... well, the town's not important. Another agent and I were sent there to retrieve some information. Needless to say, the people we were trying to get it from were less than cooperative. I remember my partner pushed them down on their knees and I stood over them holding a blade in my hand. I gave them one last chance, but they only fought us even more. I had had enough; I lifted the blade and.... and I... I..." tears rolled down Ashito's face and he began to cough.

"Ashito, it's ok. That's all behind you now. You're not a thug anymore; you're a kind and gentle person. It's because of your previous life you're the way you are now and that's a good thing, you said it yourself." John tried to comfort him. "Ach weh nicht desleiden." Ashito gained control of his cough and wiped his eyes with the sleeves of his trench coat.

"You're right, John. That's all gone now. I have my friends and wonderful teacher, and I have a new outlook on life. I'm an animal, not a beast." John nodded with a grin. Ashito smiled and began to stand up. "I'm going to see if they have anything to eat on this train, would you like something?"

"No, I'm fine." John insisted. Ashito put on his hat and left the cabin, quietly closing the door behind him. The door made a clink sound, waking Lucario. He slowly opened his eyes and looked up at John, who was still stroking his head. "Hey buddy." John said quietly. "How're you doing?"

"I feel rested." Lucario answered, his eyes only half open. "Are we still on the train?"

"Yep. I think we're in Johto now, but I'm not sure. Kyo fell asleep a little after you did, and Ashito's getting something to eat. Do you want a candy bar? I don't think you've eaten today."

"That would be nice." Lucario answered. John reached into his bag which lie at his feet and pulled out a candy bar. Lucario sat up straight on John's lap and accepted the candy. He slowly and quietly ate his bar while John scratched behind his ear. "Master, what if we don't find the Society?" Lucario asked. John continued to scratch behind Lucario's ear and spoke into his ear with a soothing tone.

"Don't worry Lucario, we'll find them. I'll make sure of it. You deserve to see where you came from and I'm going to make sure it happens." Lucario smiled and set the candy bar down.

"You're so good to me, Master."

"You're all I've got Lucario. Just remember that I love you buddy." John's words were gentle to the ear, which relaxed Lucario even more.

"I love you too, Master." Lucario said with a lick to John's nose. John smiled and began rubbing Lucario's belly. Lucario happily continued eating his candy bar. "Master, why do you suppose we met?" Lucario asked. John had never thought of anything like that.

"I don't know, maybe.... hm.... yeah I don't really know. I guess God just blessed me with a wonderful friend in my time of need."

"Yeah, maybe he sent me to you. Maybe he saw what pain you were in and needed a friend; maybe he thought you would be the right one to raise me." John smiled; he'd never heard Lucario talk like this before. He took Lucario's paws and held them together.

"Let's thank him for our friendship." Lucario nodded and closed his eyes.

"Lord I thank you for bringing Lucario and I together. Thanks to your glory God, we have become best friends, brothers, and we have grown because of one another. I've done my best to raise Lucario, and he's done more than excellent in teaching me as well. You are great Lord, thank you for all that you have done for us, God. Amen."

"Amen." Lucario echoed. John sat back in silence and stroked Lucario's head. Lucario smiled and closed his eyes, savoring the time with his friend, his brother. Slowly but surely, Lucario nodded off once again.

Lucario opened his eyes to reveal a light purple haze surrounding him. There was nobody else around and it didn't look like the train. He looked around and tried walking, but saw nothing and gained no ground. Before him appeared a floating silhouette, which made itself clear as it came closer. It was an Alakazam.

"Lucario," It spoke in a low, stoic tone. "You have set out on a journey with your Master, John. I warn you now; on this journey your loyalty to him will be tested. Your entire party will undergo challenges that you each must face. But yours will determine his fate."

"I will never leave my Master. I will remain loyal to him to the end, no matter what! No test or challenge will ever change that!" Lucario was upset. Who was this Alakazam, and what did this dream mean? Was it a dream at all? The Alakazam continued to float in front of Lucario, silent and staring.

"Very well. On this journey, you will encounter eight inner challenges. Some will be easy, they will agree with you. But there are others who will stop at nothing to change you. These eight forces will judge you, force you to choose. What you do is all up to what your heart tells you." After the final words, the Alakazam began to float back into the haze. Lucario chased after it.

"Wait, what do you mean inner challenges? What are they?" he yelled as he perused. But the more Lucario ran, the less visible the Alakazam became. Alakazam was out of site, and the haze became thick. It began wrapping around Lucario's body, tightening its grip until Lucario's consciousness faded.

Lucario opened his eyes; he was still on John's lap. Ashito was sitting opposite eating a sandwich and Kyo was reading something. John started scratching behind Lucario's ear.

"Are you tired today? That's the second time you've fallen asleep."

"I... I must be. I just had the strangest dream." Lucario rubbed his head.

"Really? What about?" John asked. Ashito gulped down a huge swallow of sandwich and pointed out the window.

"Look! The station! We're here!" Kyo looked up from his paper and John turned his head. The train began to enter a new platform; bigger than the one in Saffron. John reached into his pocket and pulled out a Poke' Ball.

"Sorry bud."

"I know. I'll be fine." Lucario assured. John withdrew Lucario and stuck the ball back in his pocket. A voice called over the speaker above.

"We have arrived inGoldenrodCity. Thank you for choosing the Magnet Train." Kyo stood up, opening the door.

"Alright, we've made it to Johto. Now our journey really begins."

Outside of the station, John and Kyo were able to let their Pokémon out of the balls. Lucario jumped to John's leg shaking. Ninetales chuckled.

"I guess it can be hard the first time. I'm just used to it by now."

"How can anybody get used to that?!" Lucario cried. Everyone laughed at his statement; he acted like it was torture. John lifted Lucario up and put him on his shoulders.

"I'll carry you, how about that?" he teased.

"Anything's better than those evil balls!" Everyone laughed again. Kyo pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and began to unfold it, turning it into a large map.

"I picked this up before we left the station. We're in Goldenrod now, so we should go north to the park, and from there head east toVioletCity. From there we'll head toCherrygroveCity, then on to Route 29, then up to Route 46. Finally, on Route 45 we'll go off road into the mountains; that way we can make assure we're not being followed." He explained.

"A PARK?!" Ashito beamed, disregarding all the other info. "Of all the places I get to go, I get to go to a park first! This is going to be great!" Ashito bolted north towards the park while Kyo pursued telling him to stop. John, Lucario, and Ninetales laughed as they slowly tagged behind. Ninetales found enough breath to get in a word.

"Oh, Kyo's always been so prompt in things like this. I still can't help but laugh when things don't go according to his plans." She giggled. Lucario put his paw to his eyes.

"I can't even see them anymore. Master, is this park really that great?"

"I don't know. I've heard about it before, but I've never seen pictures or anything." John answered.

Ashito's eyes were huge. He looked around him to see people and Pokémon alike, all playing in the tall grass, around the benches, or near the large fountain in the center of the park.

"It's so beautiful! Just look at all the wonderful Pokémon! And the people all seem so happy! And that fountain! This is all so fantastic!"

Kyo lay exhausted on the ground from trying to catch up, but Ashito hadn't even realized; he was too busy admiring the world around him.

"It's amazing what a few months stuck in the dojo can do to someone." John snickered. He and the others had finally caught up. "But be careful Ashito. Remember who we're supposed to be."

"Oh, that's right! But don't worry nobody's talking to us, so we shouldn't have much of a problem." And he went right back to admiring everything. John chuckled and set Lucario on the ground. Lucario took a look around and liked what he saw. Little Pokémon were playing in the grass, kids playing with each other and their Pokémon, and a young couple holding hands. He looked at them for a long time. John took notice and reached into his bag.

"Looks like I forgot something." He said as he pulled out a Poke' Ball. Out of it emerged Celia. Lucario instantly threw his arms around her and Celia giggled.

"Did you miss me?" she asked with a kiss to the snout.

"You already know the answer to that." John teased. Everyone seemed very happy. Ashito was marveling being back in the world, Ninetales comforted Kyo while he caught his breath, Lucario and Celia were happily together, and John was glad just to see everyone happy. 'I've defiantly found a good group.' He told himself. John looked to the sky and noticed were the sun was. From the looks of, it wouldn't be up much longer.

"Hey everyone, I know we're all having a good time but we need to keep moving. I don't think it'll be too long before sunset." He pointed out. Ashito let out a whimper but helped Kyo up and the group headed west towards the second gate building.

A man was leaning on that same building. He was pretty tall, had large muscles, and short brown Mohawk hairdo.

"This place sure is boring." He yawned. "Don't know why I came HERE for some fun." But then something caught his eye. A group of people were coming his way. It looked like two teenagers, a tall guy in a trench coat, two Lucario and a Ninetales. "Hey, maybe I might have some fun after all." The man pointed his finger and called them out as they approached. "Hey you there! I need some entertainment, hows about a battle?"

"Oh I'm terribly sorry sir, but my friends here only speak German." Ashito explained.

"Es tut mir leid, aber wir müssen gehen." John said. The man chuckled.

"Don't give me that, I know you aint no Germans. That kid looks like he's Japanese!" he pointed at Kyo. "And yur trying to tell me he's German?"

"Ok mister, that's enough!" Ashito barked. "Kyo here is a Japanese-American for your information! But I'm pretty sure John has German blood!"

"Whether we're German or not isn't the point." John stepped in. "What's your name and what do you want from us?" The man snorted and but his fist to his chest.

"Mah name's Pete. Seeing as yu're the one to step up, I wanna battle." He ordered. Ashito shook his head in protest.

"Absolutely not. We're on a tight schedule. Besides, you shouldn't fight in here, it'll disturb the peace."

"You callin' me a brute, Mr. Shadow? What 'chu hiding under there anyways?" Pete questioned as he grabbed Ashito. He was about to undo the coat when a small flame met his hand. He shot back in pain, sucking on his hand.

"That's enough." Kyo said as he and Ninetales stepped forward. "We'll battle you outside the park grounds."

"Like hell you will!" Pete shouted. "I aint fightin' you, ya dirty Jap!" Ashito growled.

"Watch what you say Pete." Pete took a step back.

"Did... did you just growl?"

"That's enough. I'LL battle you." John said. Lucario stood by John's side, glaring at Pete.

"Fine. Let's just get this the hell over with." Pete said as he turned to leave the grounds. John and Lucario followed silently.

"Nobody insults our friends." Lucario growled.