Chapter 18

Fatherhood

'This time for sure.'

Liam bent down, scouring the trail's bed of flat rocks for the perfect one.

'That one!'

He scooped up the right sized hunk of rock, refocusing his attention on the small lake in front of him. His grip on it tightened as he slowly pulled his throwing arm back.

'Come on…'

The Riolu chucked it, watching the stone soar across the lake and rapidly skip across it. He held his bated breath, counting down each individual skip.

'One, two, three- dang!

The rock failed to make the fourth jump, plunging into the lake's depths. Nonetheless, Liam rebuffed his efforts, bending down to grab another flat looking stone.

'Okay, it's this time for sure.'

He cocked his arm back yet again, before lowering it, slowly realizing his forgotten mission as of now.

'Shoot. What was I supposed to be doing right now?'

"Liam!"

He gulped, '… Right.'

Hearing the gruff voice of a certain Shiny Lucario, Liam dropped the stone, spinning around to see the owner of said voice stiffly marching his way, carrying a perturbed look as he spoke.

"The passage we were originally going to take has been blocked off by rocks. We will coordinate our new route and make a detour to the right. As for now, we'll stay with our camp on this plateau, conserve our energy, then get back to climbing at dawn."

Jackson scoured their surroundings for signs of their camping equipment, arching a brow. "… I do not see the tents that I asked you to place." He squinted at the sweating Riolu. "Care to explain why?"

"I… uh, I." Liam dropped his shoulders, tail drooping. "I got distracted. Sorry, Guildmaster."

Jackson went silent for a moment, allowing Liam's anxiety to spike, before breathing in a sigh and walking over to the nervous Riolu.

"It's fine, kid. We'll rest here for a bit, then set up camp once nighttime hits." He looked up, squinting his eyes at the mountain's tallest summit. "By then, the peak will be in our sights the following day."

Liam collapsed in relief, huddling his legs together, a joyous smile tugging at his lips. "I heard on the ELE that the other groups were getting close, too. Do you think we'll reach it first?"

Jackson sat down as well. "Possibly, but don't get your hopes up. Reaching the peak isn't really our primary mission."

The two went silent, quietly taking in the sounds of flowing water and the rush of mountain wind on their fur.

"… So, you like skipping rocks, huh?"

Liam snapped out his daze. "What?"

Jackson got up, "Whenever I felt overwhelmed or angry as a child, I would break out of my room and head off to the local lake and skip stones across it." He kneeled on the bed of stones, picking up a decent sized one.

The Lucario's wrist snapped almost faster than a bullet, sending the stone soaring above the pond. Once it neared the water, it bounced, rippling across its surface at impossible speeds. Liam counted the number of skips it made in amazement, losing track not long after fifteen.

"Wha- What!?" The Riolu jumped up, an incredulous look on his face. "How'd you do that?!"

Jackson smirked a little, picking up another stone. "Practice, obviously. But the key is angling all your throws." He replicated his last toss, producing the same steadfast skips as before.

Liam, not one to be outdone, copied the Lucario's actions the best he could, sending another flat stone hurdling across the lake - fourteen skips.

The Riolu pumped his arms in the air. "I did it!"

Jackson chuckled lightly, retrieving another smooth stone. "Yeah, but you've still yet to even match me."

The glint in Liam's eye was enough of a rebuttal. For a brief few minutes, they partook in this friendly match, attempting to outdo each other by way of adjusting their pitches. This moment of peace would be broken by Jackson, his mind still curious of the Pokemon beside him.

"Ever since we began this hike, I've noticed you staring off into space quite a bit. There's always a reason for something, so you might as well tell me what's been bugging you ."

Liam threw another stone, watching it glide across the water as his illusion of sport was torn down by the Guildmaster's inquisition. He brought his gaze to the earth, knowing full well that hiding anything from the Lucario was seemingly futile.

"A few nights ago, right when we arrived in Elysium City. I… I had another memory."

Jackson snapped his attention to the Riolu - astonished. "You called it... a memory. Does that mean you've chosen which path you'll take?" He finished with a sullen look.

"Yeah, I think- no, I know I found myself in there." Liam kneeled, fetching another rock. "It felt so good to know that I was something before, y'know? But I… I'm not sure about a lot of other things."

"... Do you feel overwhelmed? Like you're being tugged in two different directions?"

The answer to that question was pretty obvious to Liam. On the outside, he showed as much vigor as he loved to exude, but on the inside, his mind was broken so much by these glimpses of memories that not even he could fathom. The Mystery Dungeon and its threat against this world was one thing, but he was battling something else within all this time.

The Riolu squeezed the stone, releasing his inner frustrations into it. "I want to know more, and I just know something is leading me to it. There's gotta be a reason for this, right?"

Jackson didn't answer immediately, boring his eyes into the pond. "... I did tell you there's always a reason for something - bad, good, doesn't matter." He studied their surroundings, spotting their rectangular backpacks laying in the tall grass. "Grab your stuff - we're gonna get back to climbing."

"... Got it."

Liam gave the stretch of water a parting glance, walking over to heave the hefty backpack over his small shoulders. After the two were situated with their belongings, the Lucario pulled out an aged looking map of the mountain's right hand side, taking the time to plan out their next move.

Meanwhile, a distracted Liam found himself ogling the broad expanse of natural terrain above and below them, brimming with adventure, discovery, and a sense of limitless freedom. Despite everything he had and still is going through, being here right now to experience it firsthand was a stroke of luck he would never regret.

'I can't wait for-'

His vision blurred for a split second, a feeling of sharp and prickly pain flooding his nerves. All of this was familiar to him, which led to the conclusion of only one culprit.

'So soon?!'

He nearly bowed over in pain as strands of blue and yellow curled around his perception, bleeding into spots of black. Nonetheless, the Riolu managed to stand straight amongst the assault on his body, embracing what was about to come next.

It was this unknown that he was now accepting of, eager to know more of his past.

'I'm ready for this!'

A flurry of familiar voices, whistling wind, and shuffling leaves graced his ears. He braced himself for the onslaught of memories that were now being unleashed yet again.

Morning had just dawned over Southern Appalachia, bringing the sun's warm golden rays through the canopy of thick trees dotting the Blue Ridge Mountain. A perfect day like this was most suitable for ambitious hikers to ascend its green peaks. And with the local wildlife now awakening to the morning sun, there were many diverse critters to identify and examine.

'Just a lil' closer!'

Liam carefully tiptoed through the grass, planting his back against the rough bark of a spruce tree. He held his trusty notebook and pen close, taking careful peeks around the tree's berth. He had already applied his pine smelling deterrent before engaging in the hunt, but he needed to be sure.

'Well, if things get outta hand, I still got the spray…'

The young boy bided his time, before sucking in his fears and shifting his body to get a better look behind him. He twisted his head sideways, staring at the large clearing behind him, hoping to spot that coarse black fur amongst the natural backdrop of greenery. Disappointment swiftly overtook his excitement, with only an empty glade to be witnessed.

'Awww, dang. It must've wandered off already…'

With his efforts to track down the black bear that had wandered the nearby forest, he began packing up his supplies back into his quite full backpack of hiking essentials, throwing it around his shoulder as he embarked back to his camp's location. Even though he was unable to spot the fleeting beast, he kept his head high at the thought of seeing more of the mountain's wildlife.

'And maybe… I'll even see those rare red wolves!'

Through an opening in the trees, he could see the remnants of last night's campfire, and the legs of his father pacing back and forth as he scrutinized the map in his grasp. Liam wandered over, keeping a hand firm on one of his backpack's straps.

"I'm back! Did ya plan our next route?"

Robert's attention was stolen by the returning boy as he folded the map back up. "Yeah, we're gonna head out now. The path I was gonna take had some knocked over trees blocking the trail, so it looks like we're gonna have to take the detour."

A smile then stretched across Liam's face. Detours were always the more fun option than planned out pathways.

"So… we can head off now?"

The older man nodded, lifting up his own backpack off the ground, slipping it across his shoulders. "I've already gathered up our camp's belongings, so yeah, we're going now."

Liam was already way ahead of his father, blazing down the wooded trail opposite to their camp.

Robert chuckled slightly, "Other way, son."

"O-Oh, right!"

The boy quickly swiveled around, changing directions in the blink of an eye, with his father treading along his sides. With the two finally back on the trail up the mountain again, Liam, like many times before, began to immerse himself into their surroundings. Whether it was the lingering smell of pine and morning dew, or the cool winds that occasionally swept through the forest.

All of it seemed to quell the burning anger that resided within the boy. Being here right now with his father gave him the hope that things might just turn around.

"Liam… there's something I wanna show you ahead. Are you up for it?"

It took a moment for his distracted boy to respond, who seemed to grow delighted at the proclamation.

"Of course I do!"

Robert nodded, "Alright, just follow me closely. It's a place that's... special to me."

Liam jolted forward as the rush of memories came to a sudden close. He took deep breaths, steadying himself back into reality. Before, he would still be in shock from the visions, but now he just wanted to extrapolate more knowledge of his past identity.

'I was with… my father, and-'

The Riolu halted his thoughts, sprinting from his position, towards the Lucario still prepping up their voyage on the map. He needed to tell him of what just occurred.

"Guildmaster! I had more of my memories appear!"

Jackson looked up, shocked. "You're saying…"

"Just now! It-"

A raised paw interrupted the excited Pokemon. "Compose yourself; you're likely to receive more memories in the coming minutes."

Liam simmered down, his mind still buzzing with a single thought. "Do you think… What you said before is true?"

Jackson's gaze met the floor as his orange ring flashed - he sighed. "I told you before that someone or something is possibly lighting a path before you, and now it seems you're following it." He advanced over to where his backpack lay, picking it up. "We have a lot of ground to cover today, so we're heading off now."

"... Right. But what if I have more me-"

"You'll tell me about them along the way. Now, we're burning daylight."

Liam understood the Guildmaster's haste, angling his head upward to see the massive cliffs they had yet to climb past. He gulped, realizing the grandiose gauntlet that lay before them. However, his love for adventuring the unknown thwarted that imposing feeling. With a jostle of his hefty backpack, he followed his Guildmaster deeper into the mysterious mountain.

'One step at a time!' he told himself.

As they trekked this new path, the Riolu waited and waited for the next wave of memories to surge through him. While their forested surroundings coaxed him into relaxation, only then did those familiar tendrils of blue and yellow creep into his vision again.

"Gah!"

Robert misjudged his fall, causing him to lose his balance as his foot slipped off the rock. His legs plunged into the rapid currents of the river, thoroughly soaking his pant legs. The man scowled, slogging through the stream's powerful tide, all to the tune of his son's laughter behind him.

"Go ahead, laugh it up." The man chuckled, reaching the river's opposite end. "Let's see how well you do."

Liam knew he could do better than his father, approaching the small speedily flowing river that blocked his path. Stones of various sizes were tall enough to crop up through the water, providing a pathway for the boy to safely hop across if her were agile enough.

'I totally got this.'

He wasted little time jumping from his spot, landing carefully on the first rock. The boy briefly stumbled, trying to regain his footing.

"Ten more to go, Liam!" his father said jokingly.

"Uh, don't worry! I got it!"

There was another leap.

"Hurry up, Liam! And don't look down!"

The Riolu nodded, feeling the sweat trickle down his face at the task. There was slight apprehension as his hindpaws started moving by themselves, but he was quick to rectify his confidence.

A large wooden log was balanced between two jagged cliffs, with the log being the only bridge to the other side. Just below was a river of surging water that led downstream to a waterfall. Wherever it led, it was certain that if you were to fall, it wouldn't be a trip unscathed.

Liam swallowed his fears, keeping his arms to his sides as he tiptoed along the felled piece of timber. He kept true to the Guildmaster's words of advice, not daring to take a gander downstairs at what could be his watery fate. But it didn't take long for him to surpass this challenge through use of his delicate pawsteps, and even find some enjoyment in doing so.

Soon the curls of blue and yellow would suck him into another forgotten memory.

'Ah, could this be…?'

Liam hastily brushed aside the thorny thickets and branches in his path, emerging into a new area of the mountain that he could describe as totally dead.

It was a wasteland of life that seemed to extend for miles, with spindly and blackened remnants of trees that rose like charcoal colored pillars - a far cry from the verdant and bountiful forest behind them. The ground was ashen, covered with soot and the scattered remains of once tall and proud pine trees.

Robert promptly caught up, "This is the easiest path towards what I wanted to show you, so just follow my lead and we'll get outta here very soon."

"Uh… sure."

The two journeyed through the scorched earth, occasionally stepping across ash covered stumps or logs. Eventually, Liam spoke up with a question that was plaguing his mind.

"I, um, read about the fire here before we left. Do you think it was natural, or if someone else did it by accident?"

Robert looked back momentarily, "Could be either in my eyes. But I've known quite a few people from my youth who would even do it on purpose."

The boy frowned, "... Why?" He couldn't understand someone who would destroy for no reason.

A shrug, followed by a shake of his father's head was the response. "Can't rightly tell you. Could've for curiosity's sake, to release some frustration, or to just have some fun and watch the flames."

"Even if it harmed the environment around them?" The boy could only imagine the homes of animals destroyed, or the ones that couldn't escape - it sickened him.

The man nodded, "When you have nothing, that's when you stop caring about your surroundings. Happened to them, and it happened to me too."

"But you aren't like that anymore. That's why you became a police officer, right? To stop people like them from harming others?"

Robert inhaled sharply, caught off guard. "... Yeah. It was because I had you and-" he stopped himself, changing the subject, "Liam, do you still want to become a forest ranger?"

"Of course I do!" the boy replied, grinning widely.

It was always a dream of his to become a forest ranger, to protect this beautiful land and the creatures that called it home. There was no way in the world that you could convince him otherwise that it wasn't his calling.

"I'm glad, because... I don't want to see you living a life without purpose. I want to see you be successful."

"Thanks, dad."

The two wordlessly went back to wandering the desolate land, with Liam keeping his eyes glued to their surroundings. Mrs Lachaise has mentioned something akin to a forest fire like this - the idea of perseverance and rebirth through devastation.

'No matter how much you burn something down, it will rise from the ashes stronger and more determined than before…'

WOOSH!

The rocky tops of geysers began to erupt around them, spewing forth a great volume of boiling water that rose high into the air, most of it evaporating into pockets of hot steam. This spectacle happened multiple times, like natural fireworks that rattled the skies.

Liam couldn't keep his eyes off the stunning event, pointing at each exploding opening while Jackson followed his gaze, a slight smile tugging at his features. Their trip through the sea of bursting hot springs eventually ended, now standing before a vantage point of their entire journey so far.

While the view of the vast lush forests and rocky bluffs were impressive, Liam's mood was stifled by something else far more visible. Scattered like the jacks, dark shadows dotted the terrain, spanning from small blips in caves to expansive acres of pure darkness - the mark of a Mystery Dungeon.

Jackson observed the land below with a flat expression. "Liam, when you look at this… what do you see?"

The Riolu didn't respond instantly, opening and closing his mouth until he found his voice. "I… I see potential being stolen - all the possible experiences or adventures there now gone. Like… this world's being robbed from us."

Jackson inhaled, narrowing his eyes. "I see a disease that has sunken its roots deep into this world long ago, slowly suffocating us throughout time." His eyes shifted to the upset Riolu. "Perhaps there is a greater purpose to them that we are blind to, but, Liam… what do you think their purpose is to exist?"

That was a difficult question for Liam to comprehend - a reason to exist, for the Mystery Dungeons no less. He tried to wrap his mind around it, but couldn't come up with any feasible reason for them to be here.

"I don't know. But they shouldn't exist, right?"

"... Possibly."

Jackson began walking away from the grassy ridge, waving for the Riolu to follow. "Whatever the true answer to that question is, we're just gonna have to find out on our own someday."

Liam gave the cluster of the shadows behind them one last glance. "Yeah. We will."

It wasn't the tallest cliff in the world, but it might as well have been to the small and inexperienced boy.

"W-Woah!"

A medium size piece of rock tumbled off the eroded face, nearly hitting Liam as he changed hands. He clung to the surface of the rough wall, looking up to see his father slightly ahead. Trying again, the boy grabbed another section of the cliff that was sticking out, finding it difficult to do so.

Robert was near the top, but glanced below to see Liam struggling. He immediately swung left, holding out an outstretched hand for the boy to grasp and hold onto.

"Grab my hand, son."

"Grab my paw, kid."

Liam briefly stared at the extended paw, clasping onto it with his own. With the Guildmaster's superior strength on his side, he was easily pulled up to the cliff's topside, along with the Lucario.

"Did we… make it?" Liam forced out, falling on his backpack and catching his breath.

Jackson nodded, wearing a somewhat distressed expression as his orange ring flashed. His stare lingered on the Riolu, before he uttered something. "There's... something I want to show you just ahead."

Liam's eyes widened, keen on finding out what exactly it was. "What is it? Some sort of ruins?" The curiosity was evident on his face.

Jackson turned his back against the cliff, treading ahead. "... Sort of. We got one more dungeon before we reach it, so I need you at your best."

"I'll show you then!"

With newfound furor, the Riolu immediately stood up, following the Lucario down another winding forested path. Along the way, the Pokémon swore he remembered catching a glimpse of a deer-like statue, but brushed it off as just his excitement getting the best of him.

As they approached what seemed to be their last Mystery Dungeon before arriving at this supposed place, Liam was pulled into yet another memory.

"Here it is, Liam."

The boy in question excitedly hopped off the mossy ridge, sliding down a gravely slope to get a better view of the spectacular waterfall. The sound of crunching shale behind him made him momentarily glance to his side, seeing his father join him in witnessing this sight. It was no Niagara Falls, but the deluge of water was colossal, and its roar thunderous. It spilled from all sides of the tall cliffs, sparkling in the afternoon sun, and producing the illusion of a blurry rainbow through its hazy mist.

"You know… your mother always wanted to come out here and see this."

"… She did?"

Robert stepped closer towards the falls, taking in its amount of force. "Whenever I told her about moving down here, that was one of the things she wanted to see." His shoulder slackened as he sat down with a relaxed sigh. "Maybe she would've seen it that summer, but… well, at least you get to see it now."

After a brief minute of silence, the man's rest was soon joined by his son, who took a seat next to him.

"... Thanks for showing me this, dad."

"Don't thank me - thank your mom for telling me about this place."

Liam huddled his legs together, observing the waterfall pound into the earth, over and over. It was these kinds of moments that you couldn't capture by seeing a picture, or reading about it in a magazine somewhere. Simply being here to experience it all in its majesty made everything along the way worth it in his eyes.

'And you never got to see it for yourself… mom.'

These brief few minutes of peace amongst the loud crashing of water were nice to Robert, but he found his attention averting to his son, instead of the spectacle in front of him. The boy suddenly stood up, gripping the straps of his backpack as he peered into the forest beyond the falls.

"I think we should go back to hiking, dad. We might even reach the peak before the end of tomorrow."

"... Yeah, I think we've seen enough."

But to Liam, seeing these amazing things with your loved ones seemed to be the most memorable of all.

From the depths of an inky black shadow, a Riolu and Lucario emerged, adjusting to their new surroundings.

"Are we there, Guildmaster?"

"Yeah, I think we just might be. This area looks… familiar to me."

Exiting the Mystery Dungeon's shadow had transported them to a new, more open clearing amongst the forest. Boulders littered the landscape, wedged into the ground over time. But the most noticeable thing was a massive opening in the mountain's side just ahead of their location.

Liam stepped forward, "Do you see that over there?"

"I do…" Jackson's orange ring gleamed as his eyes snapped to it. "Drop your stuff and follow me."

The two dropped their backpacks on the grass, reaching the large fissure not long after. Like something was forcefully ejected from the earth, the crevice splintered all the way up the cliffside, producing wide cracks in the mountain's side. White wallflowers marked the entrance that led into the unknown.

Liam was perplexed, "It's a cave? What's down there?"

Jackson peered into it, "I call it the 'World's Eye', for it burrows as deep as I can imagine a Pokemon could feasibly explore. And one day… I entered it, and came out a different man than before. That was when I decided to create the guild."

"Wait! You came to Celestial Mountain before?"

The Lucario slowly nodded, "My team came here with a mission, a mission to discover the truth of the ley lines that had annihilated our village. We searched hard for what we wanted, but didn't get the answers we deserved here."

Liam crossed his arms, "But how does this place tie into it? How did it change you?"

"... You could fight for so long against a force, then change your perspective on a whim when your loved ones are involved. They're the most important things in life, right?"

The Guildmaster was always vague before, but this was something unprecedented to Liam. The Riolu approached the cavern's entrance, hoping to see more, only for Jackson to block him with a paw.

"Not yet. It's not your time."

"What do you…"

Jackson's four aura tassels spasmed erratically as he whipped his head around, seeing a pink misty projectile rocketing towards their location. He reacted instantly, shoving Liam out of the harm's way as he dove to the sides himself. The blast of psychic energy zoomed past them, disappearing into the crevice's abyss.

Liam quickly picked himself up. "Wh-What was that?!"

Jackson growled, glaring at the clearing's outskirts. "An ambush..."

The Riolu was going to respond, but took notice of the rustling trees and bushed around them. After a few seconds of eerie silence, swarms of Pokemon emerged from their hidings, encasing the pair inside a circle. Blue and yellow colored clothing adorned their bodies, along with strange anter-like protrusions tied to their heads.

"W-Who are these guys?! And why…"

"Save your breath, kid." Jackson backed up, analyzing his foes. "Don't think - just fight!"

An angry looking Granbull then beelined for a still stunned Liam, lifting its paw to strike down upon the Riolu. With a sudden twitch of his aura tassels, Liam was catapulted out of his stupor, ducking the swipe and pivoting to his left.

'These guys are for real!'

Majority of the attacker's assault was focused on Jackson, with a Bastiodon being at the vanguard, attempting to wrestle the Lucario to the ground with its substantial weight. However, its attempts were halted by a flurry of Fire Punches into its shield-like face, forcing it to back up. A Skuntank attempted to replace its stricken ally, only to receive a swift kick into its stomach, sending it flying across the clearing.

Firing up his twin Thunder Punches, Liam had no choice but to go on the offensive. He slammed his electrified paws into the Granbull's sides, following up with a well timed uppercut, knocking the frenzied Pokemon to the ground. But his victory was short lived, as a nearby Beedrill collided into his chest, forcing him to halt his attack and leap backwards.

'How am I… shoot!'

It seemed the group of assailants had realized the two weren't going to go down easily, now closing in faster than before. Jackson and Liam found themselves back to back, watching their enemies charge up physical or special attacks.

"Kid, I hope you've been practicing your aura well..."

The barrage of combined moves would eventually reach them, causing both of their aura tassels to go haywire. As if a switch was turned on in them, they began ducking or evading each blow with steadfast snaps of their limbs. Jackson, being the expert in aura manipulation, was able to heed his body's warnings completely, while Liam attempted to emulate the master's movements beside him.

For a moment, it seemed like they were invincible to their foes - dancing around them with ease.

But a single powerful punch by a Rhydon into Liam's chest would break his concentration, punting him across the field. The Riolu weakly inclined his upper body, seeing the group of aggressors encroaching on Jackson.

"Guildmaster!"

The the incredibly confident eyes of the Lucario met his own, before the Pokemon abruptly rose one arm into the air, the glowing orange band on his paw blinking rapidly. But Liam's attention was more focused on the rainbow colored stone that was indented into the ring - a strange swirling pattern in its center. It seemed to swell and crackle with a white energy, enveloping Jackson in its blinding glow.

Pebbles began to slowly hover above the ground as the group of attackers backed up, eyes wide at what was now transpiring. A solid sphere of white then encased Jackson, churning and radiating a bluish energy. It got bigger and bigger, expanding until cracks appeared in its all encompassing frame. The fractures in the large orb intensified, the entire thing exploding in a violent unfettering of forceful power, the swirling symbol from before briefly flashing above.

Liam shielded his face, cracking open a single eye. 'What is this?!'

The striking Lucario that stood undetermined held a different resemblance altogether, now sporting elongated aura tassels that swayed in an invisible wind. More sharpened spikes jutted out of his limbs, his tail more bushy, and his fur also now taking a golden-greenish tint.

Silence filled the air, but was swiftly replaced by the sound of a charging attack. More specifically, four Aura Spheres bursting with immense power around Jackson's body. They flew at impossible speeds into the shocked crowd of Pokemon, barreling into them and sending multiple into the treeline. At such a colossal display of power, the group of Pokemon quickly began to flee, dragging their fallen comrades and disappearing into the forest, or simply leaping off nearby cliffsides. Seeing this, Liam hopped up, slowly approaching the intimidating Lucario with pure unfiltered shock on his face.

A single glow of white light shooting across Jackson's body would revert the Pokemon back to his normal form.

"What even… how did you… what?!"

Jackson held up a paw, showcasing the rainbow stone embedded in his ring from before. "Mega Evolution. With this stone, I am able to briefly tap into its power and transform into a Mega Evolved state for a small amount of time. That attack you just witnessed is only a peek into what is capable with Mega Evolution."

Liam's jaw dropped, "Is it possible that I could Mega Evolve someday?"

"If you have evolved into a Lucario by then, and acquired a Key Stone, then it is entirely possible."

"Key… Stone?"

Jackson marched towards their forgotten belongings, grabbing his backpack. "An artifact that will allow you to Mega Evolve at any time. Only certain Pokemon are lucky enough to find one at all, or even master the technique." He picked up Liam's backpack, tossing it behind him. "Feel free to have a short rest, but we're gonna need to change directions for a while."

The Riolu caught it, tilting his head. "Why?"

"Because... we're going after them."

"-And then you suddenly created these ginormous Aura Spheres and threw them at 'em!" Liam gushed, earning a chuckle from Jackson. "I've never seen a Pokemon get launched that far!"

"Few get to see what else I can achieve in my form, but that is typically the case for most Mega Evolved Pokemon."

The sun had begun to set in the horizon, bringing with it an orange tint that shrouded the mountain's open fields in its warmth. The hale pair of Pokemon that wandered this rocky meadow would liven it up a bit through friendly exchanges and laughter.

"I know! But-"

Liam was cut off by a ring of harsh static that exploded from the ELE clipped to the side of Jackson's backpack. The Lucario stopped walking upon hearing its chatter, reaching behind to snatch the Minun-like device. He held it and waited for the stark voice that emanated from it.

"Guildmaster, are you there?"

Jackson flicked the device's side switch, pulling it closer to his mouth. "Loud and clear, Scizor. Has your team located anything of note during your travels?"

The reply back was ecstatic, but wary. "Yes! But… I have also come to inform you that a group of strange Pokemon showed up and attacked us while we were investigating a site. Have you encountered-"

"Yes. Liam and I were able to successfully deter them." He changed the subject. "Now, tell me more about this 'site'."

"Guildmaster… the site was an underground mine used as a base of operations for Legendary Pokemon thousands of years ago - all to investigate the sudden appearance of Mystery Dungeons, and how to stop them." Scizor's words were laced with pride

Liam's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets, his jaw hanging loose. 'You've got to be kidding… Legendaries… and they investigated the Mystery Dungeons?' His head was spinning even trying to wrap his mind around it.

Whatever it was, he was sure to pick Gloria and Roark's brain to get more information about this.

Jackson realized the implications of this find, now pacing back and forth. "Scizor, tell me right now. In this site, was there any mention of shrines."

The response was delayed, "... Shrines? No, we've already combed the place clean of new information. However, Gloria was able to uncover a possible second loc-"

The ELE's side switch was flicked, ending the communication between Scizor.

Jackson's paw shook with rage as his breath came labored and ragged, the grip on the device becoming murderous, producing cracks in its delicate frame. He then tossed it to the ground, slamming his hindpaw into it over and over, until it was nothing but bits of scrap metal.

Liam watched with horror, eyes shifting from the now destroyed ELE and the enraged Lucario. "Guildmaster! You-"

"SHUT UP!" Jackson roared, whipping his head back.

Liam flinched, yet still wanted to help calm him down. "But they could be wrong! They might've missed something! Or maybe-"

"STOP PRETENDING EVERYTHING IS FINE!"

That was enough to shut the Riolu up, who just stared at him in shock. Jackson glared back, breathing in and out. Eventually, he would turn back around, crouching and clenching both paws to contain his fury, only to place them against his skull as he looked outward to view the golden tinged terrain in hopes of finding relief.

"... What the fuck is wrong with me."

A shift in the mountain's wind brought a cool and relaxing breeze that swept through the field, coursing through the tall grass and fur of the two Pokemon on it.

"... Fuck."

Whether it was minutes or mere seconds, the peace of silence was lost as Jackson abruptly stood up, marching through the fields again as if nothing had happened. Liam wordlessly followed; the Lucario was still his Guildmaster after all. There were no more exchanges along the way, but that didn't stop the creeping blue and yellow tendrils from invading the Riolu's vision once again, bringing him back to a world he didn't recognize anymore.

They were closer than ever to reaching the peak, but first they had to go through a portion of the swampland, which meant a change in wardrobe.

"C'moooon!"

Liam struggled to get into a pair of pants he had specifically brought along for this moment, which to any observer, would see that they were far too small for him. Nonetheless, with a little tenacity, he managed to slip them on.

"There we go! I'm all ready now, dad!"

Robert had already assembled his getup, and was rearranging his pant straps, only for the boy's antics to make him stop and question his son's selection of leg wear.

"Liam, why did you bring the small pair?"

The boy blushed, "I, uh, well, this is was all I could find in my closet!"

The man grinned knowingly, "Which is because your closet is a huge mess, right?"

"N-No?" the boy attempted to lie, clearly not doing a good job at it.

"Well, if those pants tear during the hike through the water, I might just have to carry you on my shoulders like you were a toddler again."

"What?! No way!"

Robert laughed heartily, preparing another quip, but heard a buzzing noise from his backpack. Instantly knowing it was his phone, he dropped his backpack, hurriedly opening up a zipper to retrieve the vibrating device. He flipped open the phone's cover, giving his son a hand signal of needed privacy.

Liam understood completely, quietly retrieving his notebook and jogging over to sit on a rotten looking stump. While his father spoke words that he could not decipher from this distance, he decided now would be a good time to run through his 'Nature Notes', as he described them. Along with a short physical description of the various plants and animals he'd find, he also sketched them to the best of his young and very inexperienced abilities.

'Chicory, Daylily, and even the Rhodo…dendron? Did I spell that one right?'

He wanted to check his book of plant life to check if that mouthful of a name was correct, but simply laughed it away as he flipped to another page. But after a while of glossing over his notebook, he would soon stumble upon his old diary entries.

'Ugh, my handwriting was so bad back then.'

Truth be told, it was still horrible according to his father, but he could totally differentiate the two.

Like a gateway to the past, he read the countless mundane or even thrilling adventures a younger version of him would embark upon in his old home's backyard. Whether it was accidentally touching some poison ivy, or hunkering down underneath an overgrown tree root, there was something about this life that an older him desired so much to return to. It was simplicity, the near limitless freedom it felt like he had to explore this new and exciting world that hadn't yet shown its true colors.

Innocence.

After a while of flipping and reminiscing, he would stop upon a tiny passage with more neat handwriting - his mother's no doubt. It was a poem she wrote after her own father had died, and shared it with a young Liam. The small but beautiful verse talked about imagining yourself in a familiar forest, surrounded by all the friends and family you've come to meet in life - a paradise to call home forever. But she had only told him half of it, and said she would tell him the rest when he got older and more mature.

The boy would never get to hear the other half.

Tears would fall and stain the worn out pages as he read the poem over and over, fantasizing over a place that would never exist. A yell from across the clearing would break his emotional trance, looking behind to see his father pacing back and forth near the ridge.

Robert slammed the phone down, ending the call. He heaved in and out, feeling a toxic bile rise in his throat. His hand's grip on the phone clenched, before he hurled it off the cliffside in a blind fit of rage, screaming loudly to the heavens.

No matter how far he ran, how hard he fought, it didn't seem to matter.

The man crouched, burying his face into his hands. "What the fuck is wrong with me... " He blinked away angry tears, trying to tune out his inner thoughts.

"God…"

He would fail to register the pitter patter of soft footsteps behind him.

"... Dad?"

Robert immediately straightened up, whirling around to see an aghast Liam staring up at him. Time seemed to slow for the man as he realized there was no escaping this anymore. This was the hardest truth a father would have to tell his son. With a few solemn steps, Robert kneeled to meet Liam's height, gripping his shoulders as he focused on the boy's worried appearance - his own fear and sadness staring back.

"Liam, your mother… she's dead because of me…"

The man was able to grapple the small hand before it could pound into his chest, holding it firmly as he kept his attention on his son, who was fighting back his own angry and confused tears, uttering a whisper of a demand.

"Why…"

There was no response.

"WHY WOULD YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!" Another enraged fist was thrown, but caught again by his teary eyed father.

"Because there's no point in hiding it anymore - from you or myself," The man admitted. "And because… I'm scared."

"Scared?! What do you even mean?!" the boy shouted, trying to break his hands free.

Robert let go of his grasp, standing up again. There was so much he wanted to say, to explain, to make the rightfully angry child understand, but even the anger towards himself was far greater.

"... I'm scared of becoming someone who doesn't care, someone whose only goal is violence and revenge. Liam, you-"

"SHUT UP!"

The boy realized what he said and backed off, collapsing into a kneel and letting loose the flood works he's kept in for so long. Every day he would try to find a glimmer of hope in things - to pretend that there was still a life left for him, and that everything would turn out fine in the end. He cried for as long as he wanted to, not even noticing Robert silently leave to collect their belongings and walk ahead, towards the swampland, alone.

Liam would eventually look up, finding his father gaze back expectantly, waiting for him to follow along, just like many times before. The boy picked himself up, wiping away his tears with an arm as he sluggishly accompanied the man, for he was still his father at the end of the day.

Dusk was setting in, and they still had a ways to go before they could catch up with their attackers.

Jackson shattered a large stone in their path with one mighty Brick Break, reducing it to bits of rubble as he trudged past it, tagged along by a vacant looking Riolu. Whenever the Pokemon would fall into a trance of memory intakes, it gave the Lucario's scattered thoughts enough space to breathe.

However, no matter how hard he tried, the events from earlier couldn't be scrubbed from his mind. It was the first time in a while that he had an outburst like that. Years and years of scouring this world had finally seemed to take its toll on him. But a flash of his paw's orange ring would remind him that he was not alone in this fight, not for long.

He marched ahead to survey their surroundings, wondering if they should go for the highlands, or stay low in the forests to track down their past enemies.

"My mom… she's... she's dead."

Jackson stopped in his tracks, his fur bristling with horror as he sharply inhaled. He stood in silence for a solid minute, before slowly turning around to face a grief stricken Riolu, tears sliding down his muzzle.

"I can't even remember her name… or who she was… but she's dead, and I…" Liam collapsed to his knees, hyperventilating. "Is everyone I know gone?! Why am I… even here. Why..."

The Lucario calmly walked towards the upset Riolu, kneeling to reach the Pokemon's eyes. "Do you remember when I told you about my own family?"

Liam tightened a paw, "... Yeah."

"And you remember... when I told you about the son that I had lost?"

A nod was Liam's answer, "I… I do. But…"

"Get up."

"H-Huh?"

Jackson extended his paw, "I can't promise there's a light at the end, but I can't have you giving up just like this." His awaiting paw was kept still. "You and I - we're the same. We fight and fight; that is who we are. We both have duties and dreams to uphold, despite our constant setbacks in life."

The Riolu sniffled, hesitantly reaching out and grabbing the paw. The Lucario would then pull him back up to his hindpaws, looking him firmly in the eyes.

"Are you ready to accept it?"

"Accept… what?"

Jackson flipped around, resuming his hike. "That we're in this cruel world together."

Liam blinked, trudging behind his Guildmaster. "I… I guess we are, right?" He wanted to know something, to understand. "Can you… maybe tell me more about your family."

There would be no answer back as their travels into the dusky mountain continued, leading them further and further up its heavenly heights. Only when the stars became visible did the Lucario crane his head up to gaze at them, finally speaking.

"We have the whole night to talk, don't we?"

Liam lifted the lantern up, letting its smoldering flame brighten up their swampy surroundings with its radiance. Using its luminous light as a guide through the dark, he gently slogged through the murky water that nearly reached his stomach in height. His father was close behind, checking the boy's blind spots for a possible exit point.

"I remember running so far away from South Carolina, anything to just get away from the orphanage, or the violence I was so accustomed to…"

"... When did you meet mom?" Liam asked, moving aside a thorny wet branch.

Robert smiled sadly in remembrance. "I went so far as New York City, and what a crazy place that was to a country bumpkin like me." He sighed. "We, uh, met in this dinky little pizza parlor, and things just started from there."

The lantern was lifted higher, exposing the small fireflies that danced around them, their abdomens flickering to the tune of croaking frogs, buzzing insects, and a man's pained chuckle

"I told her it was cliché for a city girl to want a simple life out in the South, but she was a woman who knew what she wanted, and she got it." He inhaled, wading through deposits of algae in the lake. "I changed my name and moved back to South Carolina - built a house on the prairie with the money from my… past work, and tried to live a life I never had before."

Liam absorbed this information as he stepped onto the first piece of dry land for quite a while, removing the bits of leaves and twigs that clung to his clothes. Despite everything he heard, he knew there was more pain to uncover; there always was.

"But… that's not the full story, right, dad?"

"No, it never was."

The rocky bluffs of the greater Celestial Mountain heights proved quite difficult to navigate through in the thick of the night, with only a pale moon and a whisper of chilly wind to accompany them. Luckily, Liam had stuffed a Luminous Orb into his backpack for the trip, now using it's natural yellow glare as a beacon to guide them.

"As a kid, I was always fascinated with the stars. My mom… bless her soul, would even go out to buy me a telescope." Jackson gritted his teeth, breathing heavily. "I watched my own father strangle the life out of her one night, and all I could do was watch through a crack in the closet door - terrified. That… single fucking night was when I couldn't pretend that things were fine anymore."

Liam cringed at the details, looking down. "What, um... when did you decide you would become an outlaw?"

The Lucario snorted, "Nobody just becomes a criminal on a whim. It's always for something or someone - for money, power, fame. Every other reason under the damn sun."

"... What was yours?"

"Truthfully - chaos, the adrenaline, the rush. When you're always beaten down, it feels good to beat someone else down in return. To me, the world was nothing, and I was nothing, which meant that I could be anything if I took it by force."

They stopped a section of the trail split into two by a ravine's splintering chasm. Thankfully, the Lucario was able to scale a hill adjacent to them, lending Liam a helpful paw for him to clamber up as well, finding themselves in a place doused with deposits of rainwater.

"But you mentioned finding a Pokemon that wanted to change you?"

Jackson nodded, "That woman… I thought it was all bullshit, but she really showed me that family was everything, that I should be fighting for a better tomorrow instead." He stared into a shallow puddle, observing his distraught face. "Even now, when I'm trying to make the world a better place, I always just see past victims."

Robert stared into the puddles' reflection of him, seeing a man he didn't want to recognize anymore. But he would end the staredown with himself not long after, returning to the small alcove they ducked into a while back.

The rain from their initial arrival had come back with a vengeance, pounding the Appalachian forests for what seemed like hours. Liam wanted to brave the downpour, but was swiftly prevented by his ever so protecting father, leaving them stranded until the storm had subsided. It wasn't all so bad for the young boy, however, as there was a gap in the leaves of quivering trees that allowed them to see the gleaming stars, free from a city's light pollution.

"I had never seen your mother so happy before, until you were born." Robert couldn't shake the smile appearing on his face. "She wanted to do so much more with you, and even wanted another little monster around the house - a little sibling to add into the mix."

Liam could feel the painful tears coming again, but resisted against them. He had only one simple thing one his mind, and wanted to know.

"Dad," the boy almost choked on his words. "What were you going to name my sister?"

"It was… June. She wanted to name her June."

Now came the flood of tears from Liam, who huddled his legs together, crying for the little sister he would never play with, teach things to, or grow up with.

"What name were you going to give your son?"

"..."

Liam lay on his back, watching the ever shifting cosmos with an undeniable sadness that ruptured him to his core. But he said nothing about it to the Pokemon next to him, watching the stars as he did in his forgotten past, dreaming about the sister that never was.

Jackson opened and closed his mouth several times, sputtering out broken sentences, and wiping the wetness staining his cheeks with both paws. It took him a while to collect himself, but eventually he would open up once more.

"When I was young, there was this lone bright star I would spot with my telescope all the time. So much so that I gave it a name - Apollo."

"Is that... "

"Yes." Jackson let loose a hoarse sigh. "That was… the name I had chosen for my son - a name that's been engraved in my mind for decades."

Liam inquired nothing more, choosing to quietly admire the view above with the Lucario beside him. He couldn't stop thinking, thinking of the little sister that was lost to him, both in memory and existence - the name that she was supposed to be gifted when brought to life.

'June.'

Daybreak had finally come for the Blue Ridge Mountains, the morning sun now revealing its blinding arches through the famous blue hued curves of greenery. At the top of its quite humble peak was a hunched man, taking in the fantastic view around him with a blank expression.

Robert took a long drag of his cigarette, breathing out the toxic yet calming white smoke into the harsh gusts of air. He made sure to enjoy the sight while it lasted, knowing full well what he would return to in the coming days - the mayhem that was occurring in the city - the 'return of the old days', as he had called it.

There was no escaping it.

He took another puff, trying to think of more pleasing thoughts. The man nodded his head to the sounds of a faint banjo that carried throughout the wind. A double take would make him stand, turning around and walking towards the campsite they had set up in the sparse woods nearby. As he got closer, the music got louder and louder, and with a brushing aside of obscuring leaves, Robert was able to witness the composer behind it all finish his work.

Liam sat upon an aged tree stump, plucking away at the strings until the song that came from his heart was over. Not expecting an encore, he hopped off the large stub of wood, unwittingly bumping into his father on his trip to stow away his instrument.

"D-Dad!" The boy nearly fell over in shock. "You scared me!"

Robert laughed, "Sorry. I just couldn't help but see you play… once again." He looked down at the banjo. "I remember when I first got you that, and you were over the moon about it."

"Yeah…" Liam held it close. " I'm still practicing, but I think I really understand now!"

"That's nice..."

A breeze ran through the trees, carrying stray leaves that floated up into the cloudy blue skies. Sadness, guilt, and other emotions panged inside the estranged father, forcing him to grab onto the boy's shoulders again, needing to speak his worn out mind one last time.

"Liam, I don't want to pretend anymore that things are okay; they're not. But I want to make things better. I want you to live a life worth living, okay? I've messed up so much as a father to you, but I want to make things up." Robert stumbled on his words. "That's why I took you fishing, and brought you out here - to prove that I still want to be that person in your life."

The banjo was dropped to the ground as the boy was brought into a hug by his now crying father, but the youth did not fight it, melting into a much needed embrace. Liam sniffled, returning the hug, his emotions overwhelming him. No matter what words he said before to the man, nothing could separate them now.

"I love you, dad."

"I love you too, son."

Liam awoke peacefully, resurrected to consciousness by the rays of the morning light that reached down into the campsite and graced his face. He raised a paw to shield away the sun's brilliance, standing up and yawning away his tiredness. A glance around their makeshift encampment showed no sign of Jackson.

'That's weird… the Guildmaster's gone. Did he go out to collect berries?'

He had little time to dwell on the whereabouts of the Lucario, as his acute hearing picked up the distant noise of music in the distance - a singing banjo. Feeling entranced by it, he wandered off in the direction in which the melancholy harmony was being played. The melody's trail would lead him out of the forest's outskirts and into an open area with a large precipice, giving an impressive perspective of the progress they've made so far. However, the Riolu's attention would suddenly shift to the creator of the harmony, who was sitting by the cliffside.

"Guildmaster?"

Jackson turned his head, placing his worn out looking banjo on the grass. "You're up pretty early."

Liam blinked, pointing at the now idle instrument. "I heard you play, and decided to investigate."

An unnoticed smirk was formed, "Well, I hope you enjoyed it. It's not often that I have enough free time to play."

"I, uh, also play a little. I bought a banjo the other day in Elysium City, but I'm still learning."

"Really now…" Jackson rose, back still against the Riolu. "Maybe someday we can play together, and I can teach you." The response was wistful, hopeful even.

Liam's heart was thumping in his chest, realization hitting him like a truck. Ever since he showed up in the guild, the Guildmaster was always looking out for him. Either through teaching him how to utilize his aura, being someone to confide in, and now again with this entire trip.

He needed to know exactly why.

Liam stepped forward, "I asked you at the start of this expedition, and you didn't respond. Why… why did you only bring me along?"

The gale in the clearing picked up, whipping the fur of the two Pokemon on it as the posture of the Lucario slumped, almost defeated, his orange ring flaring. He would search the open skies for an answer to deflect, or to hide behind, but found no reason to anymore.

"Sometimes, when a man loses something dear to him, it breaks him." Jackson finally looked back, anguished tears sliding down his face. "Sometimes… a man must pretend he still has something in life to continue."

Liam approached the broken Pokemon, now understanding completely. He didn't want to pretend things were fine anymore, because they weren't. But he wasn't going to run, nor allow the grim reminder of his past to affect him now. He was here, and here to stay for the long struggles ahead.

They embraced, squeezing each other as to hopefully never let go, releasing their inner frustrations, their agony, and desires in one drawn out hug.

"Please," Jackson pleaded, closing his eyes and forgetting his responsibilities right then and there. "Please let me pretend for just a little longer."

The hug would endure, with the sun's dawn washing away those invisible stars.

Fatherhood is difficult for those who have made mistakes along the way, and for those who could never experience it at all...

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Next Time: The Riolu At The Top Of The World