[ Yellow's POV ]

It was a cold, chilly night as I stand by the side of the road. The wind was whipping through my hair and I could see my breath in the air as I exhale. My fingers were numb and I rubbed my hands together, trying to generate some warmth with Dratini cuddling around my neck, but the cold still seems to seep through, making me shiver.

I look around, trying to get my bearings, but all I could see were a few streetlights and the empty road stretching out in front of me. I can hear the sound of cars passing in the distance, but none of them seem to be stopping.

I couldn't help but think of the stunt that Ash had pulled but what was the point?

Hmm, he must have his reasons.

( ~ Brrr ~ )

Hearing the sound of a motorbike, Yellow turned to see Karen riding on a Harley Davidson bike with a minibike where an umbreon sat.

" Hello there yellow," Karen said as she stopped in front of the star-eyed Yellow.

" H, hello."

" Want a ride ?"

" Ahem, thank you but I am waiting for my friend."

" Oh, so romantic waiting for your boyfriend."

Karen's words caused Yellow to blush.

" A, Ash isn't my boyfriend."

" When did I say it was Ash," Karen asked causing Yellow's blush to increase.

" Haha, don't worry I am just teasing."

" .... " Even with Karen's words, Yellow's blush didn't go away.

" So do you want me to wait with you until your boyfriend arrives?"

" No, he will be here. I don't want to trouble you."

Before Karen could even say something, Umbreon jumped up and shot a dark pulse to the side.

" Pika !" From that side, a bolt of lightning tore through the dark pulse sending Umbreon onto the ground beside Karen.

" Umbreon, stop this," Karen ordered causing Umbreon to stop as she glared as Austin and Pikachu came up to them.

Austin was carrying a grocery bag in his hands with Yellow's favorite Udon filling the majority of the bag.

" Quite the powerful Umbreon you have there," Austin commented.

" I could say the same." Karen returned as Umbreon jumped back into her minibike.

" Well, I don't have the time or I would have loved to chat."

" Thank you." Yellow squeaked out causing Karen to smile before she pointed at Austin.

" You, Ash right."

" Yes ?"

" Are you participating in the Pokémon league ?"

" Yes."

" Good, then I'll love to battle you in the league," Karen said as she twisted the handle causing the Harley to speed off.

" Hmm," Austin noised as he looked at Yellow.

" Let's go home, I even bought Udon."

" Yay, did you buy a cake ?"

" Yes, I bought your favorite cake."

" Hehehe, did you buy yourself something ?"

" Other than a pack of cigarettes."

" Yes."

" I didn't."

" ..... Then you can share with me." Yellow said as she adorably tapped her fingers.

" Don't want to."

" Please."

" Ok, fine."

" Yay !"

.......

Karen Ainsworth drove her Harley Davidson down the road, the wind rushing past her as she felt the power of the bike beneath her. The open road stretched out in front of her and she felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration. Suddenly, Karen felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She glanced down at the screen and saw that she had a call.

Karen considered ignoring it, but decide to pull over to the side of the road to check it. She brought the bike to a stop and dismounted, pulling out her phone.

" Hello there Grandma Agatha," Karen answered in a cheerful voice causing Umbreon to look up at her trainer and sigh.

Of course, it was that old hag.

" Stop with that fake voice, Karen."

" Oh, I don't know what you mean ?"

" That respectful tone of yours, I don't need fake respect from my granddaughter."

" Ok, what do you want old hag ?" Karen answered in a cold voice.

" Looks like you're still mad."

" Oh, and whose fault was it that I almost died learning that stupid tactic?"

" Karen, you were the one who approached me to teach you about Mega Evolution and I warned you about the dangers."

" Ha, do you tell that to fall asleep at night that because of the dangers with Mega Evolution, you put your only granddaughter in danger!" Karen shouted into her phone causing Agatha to remain silent for a few minutes before speaking.

" Well, my sleeping pills do help me a lot at night .... you know I wish I was young so that I could fist myself to sleep but now only powder shoots out of there."

" Grandma !" Karen shouted in embarrassment causing Agatha to chuckle.

" Well, looks like I got your attention."

" What do you want ?"

" I got the league to agree to have you battle the current Elite four to see if you are worthy of the ranks."

" .... "

" Karen ?" Agatha frowned as she heard silence in response from her granddaughter.

" I don't need it, you old hag. I can win the league this year and challenge the elite four all on my own."

" Karen ...." Before Agatha could even speak any more words, Karen turned her phone off and climbed back on her bike, and rev the engine, she can't help but frown as Karen thought.

' I don't need your help, old hag. I prove to you that I can walk the path of being a dark-type specialist with or without your help.'

Karen's necklace swayed in the wing revealing a smooth stone in the middle. It glinted in the light, catching the eye of anyone with its shimmering surface.

Karen Ainsworth took off down the road, the thrill of the ride pushing all other thoughts out of her head.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

[ Morning - 5 AM ]

[ Stone Town Forest ]

Austin in a blue tracksuit stared at Lucario standing in front of him.

" So, do I like to drink this ?" Austin asked as he stared at the strange brew that Lucario had handed over.

" Well, you were complaining that your training it's showing any results. You can barely move your aura, you can barely do anything."

" When did I say that ?"

" You didn't but I could tell from your frustration during yesterday's mediation session."

" .... "

" Lucario, I feel like a battle would be the most shonen thing to bring out the fruits of my practice."

" What ?"

" Nevermind just spar with me."

Lucario smiled and widened his stance before looking at Austin.

" I plan to but first drink the brew then come at me, boy."

Austin nodded his head.

He gulped down the elixir without any hesitation.

"Mm."

The taste itself was normal. It tasted good like honey and lemon were added to it.

At that moment Austin thought it was a relief that it tasted good.

"Hm….?!"

Thump.

His heart beat faster than normal.

At first, Austin thought that he was hallucinating, but he wasn't. Sweat dripped down his back. The most interesting fact was that…he could feel each and every drop of sweat on his back.

'What is this?'

Thump.

It wasn't just the sweat. The touch of the air on his fingers and the feeling of the ground he was stepping on. When he blinked it felt like 30 seconds.

"This…is…"

{ Effects of the elixir }

Only Lucario's voice felt the same amongst everything that felt different.

{ It slows down what you feel. It's easy if you think that it extends your time. }

It was horrible.

Austin could feel each strand of hair moving on his body. He could even feel the veins in his ears twitching. If he didn't know, he would think that he drank poison and not an elixir.

{ Can't you feel it? }

"What…are…you….talking…about?"

{ The thing moving in your heart }

Thump.

There was something there. No, something was flowing. And it wasn't blood.

It was softer and frailer than blood. But it flowed throughout his entire body from his tattoos. It was slowly spreading to my heart.

{ That's Aura }

Lucario spoke.

{ The reason you have so much trouble with aura is that you keep treating aura as a tool. You are not manipulating your aura properly. Even that aura sense you did was just you releasing your aura while your body instinctively tried to do the opposite and as a result, a haphazard aura sense was born. This wouldn't be accepted. Use this opportunity to change your mindset. Aura isn't a tool rather it is an extension of your body. }

Lucario said as he spread raised one leg towards Austin's head blocking Austin's vision of what the aura pokemon would do next.

Lucario's leg disappeared and Austin felt something crash into his jaw as he was thrown towards the ground.

Austin tried to get up but his body didn't follow his command.

'I'm slower!'

Just one step.

He felt that he could avoid the attack with just one step, but that one step was too slow.

Austin felt frustrated.

I can avoid it! I even knew where it would attack!

{ You can avoid it. Don't give up.}

Lucario spoke in a low voice.

{ Focus your Aura on your feet. Amplify your senses! Like the subconscious flow in your seals is being sent to your right foot, quick! }

For the first time in Austin's life, he felt what true aura was. How would he focus this on his leg? It was easier said than done. But…there was no other way. He had to do something.

'Move!'

The flow in his seals. It felt cool and clean, like a flowing stream. He focused on that cool feeling and tried to send it down to his right leg.

Squirm.

The Aura in his seals twitched with his efforts but-

{ It's harder than you think, huh? }

It was hard.

{ It's because there's no pathway for Aura in your body yet. The path hasn't been made! Your body can be compared to a mountain road. You need to clear it like a highway to be able to use it.}

"Hup…!"

Austin continued to focus on his right leg while Lucario babbled on. If his heart was a blocked sink, his right leg was like a cup under it. Drip. Drip. Aura slowly dripped off of the broken sink.

( ~ Woosh ~ )

Lucario's leg sailed towards Austin's head, who in a split second dodged it.

"W, What…"

Relief only lasted for a moment.

"Happen…?"

Lucario spun on the heels of his feet as he went into a right hook.

Austin focused the Aura on his upper body.

{ hm? What happens now? }

"I…make…a mountain path…into a highway…!"

It was hard. The sink in his seals was still clogged up. He didn't see water flowing from it anytime too. He was thirsty, but it was only releasing one drop at a time.

Austin clenched his teeth.

{ Mm? }

Obstinance grew inside him

"Hup…!"

Austin bent back.

( ~ Whoosh! )

Lucario swung into the air.

It was close.

He barely avoided the second attack after the first one. And Austin didn't plan on letting it get in another attack.

{ What? }

Austin gathered strength in his knees.

{ Look at you }

He focused the Aura on his dorsal body, especially his spine. Not just focus on it, but bend it.

5 seconds

3 seconds.

1 second.

It was messy, but when Aura gathered at his spinal cord.

Austin's eyes flashed crimson as he perfectly performed a mirror move of Lucario's right hook.

His form, his technique, and his timing were perfect.

Lucario's eyes widened as he deflected the attack to the side where Austin's fist met a tree's trunk but this time Austin's small fist blasted through the tree's truck causing Austin's eyes to widen and his jaw to drop.

Did I just do that?