Hello, little pokemon

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Not far into the route, two figure's could be seen sitting cross legged on the ground. Sweat pored from Ash and Lucario. It was hot, and both were in deep focus, trying to find one pokemon. Ash was talking about it the day before, and Luc was now going crazy because he wanted that one pokemon as a friend. The pokemon that Lucario, and even Ash wanted, was a Charmander.

It was unlikely that the would find one in the wild, unless it was hurt, or lost. Ash was known for helping pokemon, and becoming friends with them. Most of his pokemon he had, he befriended them. He didn't want to change that. If he had to fight, he could protect himself. Now, Ash hoped that if he and Luc concentrated hard enough, they would draw out the pokemon they wanted.</sub>

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[PBK]

A Numel was walking off in the distance. It seemed to be enjoying the heat of the Fiery Path. The pokemon didn't even notice Ash.

In the other direction, there were some claw-like footprints. They went up into some burnt bushes.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Ash rose, unable to sit around any longer. His concentration was lost again. He noticed the Numel walking down the route, and, when he turned, some footprints.

Luc, keep you senses open. I We are going to fallow these prints and hope for the best. Lets go.

Lucario rose from the ground, and nodded to Ash. Luc's eyes were closed, because he was seeing everything with aura. Ash's mind was still long gone, and he was still inexperienced with the power.

The two started fallowing the tracks to burnt bushes. He didn't know what would pop out, if anything at all. Luc was on his guard though, so there could be something there. Perhaps it would be what they were searching for.</sub>

[/sub]

[PBK]

Behind the bush, there was nothing. Well, unless of course, more foot prints counted as something. They continued up the slope, which was going up at an increasingly steep angle. At the hill's peak, it was almost like a cliff. The little footprints continued up almost all the way, and disappeared close to the top.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

_{[b"]How the hell can we make it up there? Luc, any ideas?"
<We could climb it all the way up, or I could see I can make it up there alone.>
"Try that. I will catch up with you."}

[/b]

Lucario and Ash started up the hill, and it was getting harder to climb. Lucario had no trouble at all. (As a Riolu, he could cross three mountains easy.) When he reached the near cliff wall, he started climbing it. Ash was still behind, catching his breath. This was going to be fun.

When Lucario was near the peak, Ash just started the climb. Not long afterwards, Luc reached the top, and took in what he saw. Ash was way to far behind, and could hardly sense Lucario, who's he had a strong relationship with.[/center][/sub]

[PBK]

Oddly enough, the footprints ended at the top. Perhaps whatever pokemon it was had been carried off by a Charizard or Pidgeot or Fearow or Swellow or Swablu or Staraptor or you get the picture now. All of the final footprints were grouped close together as if the pokemon, whatever it was, had been pacing. But that pokemon was no where to be seen.

Oh wait, what was that orange lump at the bottom on the other side of the cliff-like hill?

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Lucario smiled slightly and shook his head. This was a great day. He walked back to the edge of the cliff to look at Ash, who had climbed only about 10 feet.

<Ash! There is nothing up here, but there is something on the other side of the hill! I will check it out. Just get back to the ground!

Luc ignored the swear words that were being yelled by Ash, and walked to the other side of the hill to look at the orange lump. After a moment, he walked off the cliff. His body was shifted so he could run down the side, and he did when he was low enough. He has quite a lot of speed, and he crash-landed near the lump. Ash was now attempting to walk around the hill.</sub>

[/sub]

[PBK]

The lump was, indeed, a Charmander, badly scratched and bruised. Little dots of dried blood were scattered on its coat. The pokemon was hardly alive, though its chest did rise and fall from time to time. The pokemon's eyes were closed tightly, but the body tensed up as the Lucario approached. Then, it loosed again. The pokemon was far too hurt to even be on its guard.

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

<sub>Luc was in shock at how the Charmander looked. Something very strong must have done this. Being careful, Lucario picked up the lizard pokemon, and started making his way around the cliff as fast as he could, and almost ran headlong into Ash. He hadn't made it that far around.

"What happened?"
<It must have been attacked. Here, take him. What did id could still be around here.>

Ash took the pokemon, and keeled to the ground, unstrapping his pack as he did so. Ash brought out a potion, and sprayed the Charmander with it. Just after, he let out Transer. The Raticate looked for something to fight.

"Luc, Transer, be on your guard. He need to get this little guy to a pokemon center. Lucario, if you sense something, tell me. If its on the ground, Transer, because you are the fastest, make sure that we can get away."</sub>

[/sub]

[PBK]

Unfortunately, the potion didn't do any good. They only worked on minor wounds. The ones the Charmander had obtained during its fall could be fatal. The pokemon winced because the liquid still burned. Whatever had happened, it would take a miracle to allow this pokemon to live.

<Why?> the little Charmander moaned. (Though it could just have easily been pie or sigh or guy...'twas hard to tell, the poor thing was so injurred.)

[Aura Guardian Ash Lightning]

_{Ash Ran as fast as his body would allow him to, and that was pretty fast for a human. The potion didn't looked like it did anything to the pokemon, but he just hoped it was enough to make it to the pokemon center in Shellau. Soon, he neared the edge of route 4. He just hoped that nothing would happen to the pokemon, and that nothing attacked him.}

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