Hot Springs
The group consisting of three boys and Pokemon made their way up the mountain. Lucario lead the group through the rocky terrain and the heavy fog that was a predominant presence in the sacred place. Riley, Red and Green followed Lucario as he led them through the low visibility terrain with the Pokemon either flying or running beside them.
Lucario observed the three, 'Hmmm.. At least they can keep up with my speed.'
Pikachu and Eevee were running beside the Jackal like Pokemon while Litten and Charmander were with the three boys. Fennekin, Snivy and Alakazam ran behind them backed by the young Riolu in the end. Red and Riley were both using their auras to sense where they were going while Green kept them together using his psychic abilities.
Green huffed, "You know, if Lucario wasn't here we would probably be lost for quite a few days in this fog."
Riley sweatdropped, "I can imagine."
Red snorted, "Understatement Green, I just wonder what those two are doing right now."
Riley looked at his student, "Don't worry Red, I'm sure they are safe. If what you told me about them is anything to go by then, Mew would never hurt them."
Red gave a small smile, "It's not the Pokemon that worry me."
Lucario soon ran out of the rocky ledges that were covered in thick fog and came across active geysers. He stopped by the edge of the geyser and looked over the field filled with hot bubbling water. Red and the others stopped to marvel at the natural wonder infront of them. The geysers were bursting with a lot of hot water coming out that added to the fog they had left behind.
Green pointed to the side, "Guys look over there, it's a hot spring."
Riley grinned, "I heard of the hot springs here. They are really good for your health and rich in minerals."
Red looked at his tutor curiously, "You didn't train here."
Riley shook his head, "I did my training on Iron Islands. That's where I was born."
Red nodded understanding, "It was safer."
Green picked up Eevee and Pikachu, "Hey little buds, let's clean you guys up yeah? Gary and Ash would be upset to see you dirty when there is a really nice hot spring nearby."
Eevee wanted to move further but after listening to Green relented, -I suppose so.-
Pikachu nodded as well, -Yeah, they would fret over us instead of us worrying about them.-
Lucario came back from his inspection, -The geysers will be active for a few hours, they should settle by evening however.-
Red grinned, "Awesome! Thanks Lucario, you are Arceus send."
Lucario simply nodded, -Thank me after we find your siblings.-
Red simply smiled at the Jackal Aura Pokemon before setting his bag down and taking out a few bottles. Green sat the sulking Pikachu and Eevee near the hot spring before going to his own bag and taking out the grooming kit he always made sure to have. Red started to grind the herbs into a paste as Riley watched the two work like a well oiled machine and set things up for the Pokemon to wash.
Riley, "That's very interesting. Do you do this all the time?"
Green smirked, "Not really but following our trouble magnet siblings around we picked up a lot of things."
Riley grinned, "Now this I want to hear about."
Red finished making the paste and moved to the side of the hot spring that had water flowing into a smaller hole. He poured the paste slowly into that area and watched the water turn slightly orange before motioning for Litten and Charmander to get in. The two Fire types lit up and jumped into the water relaxing into it. Red then turned to Green who was telling Riley about one of the incidents back in Pallet town when Mew and his siblings had first taken their younger brothers.
Lucario who was sceptical, -There are more than one Mew. Now that's hard to believe.-
Riley, "I have to agree with Lucario here."
Green laughed, "I know it is hard to believe, trust me my Grandfather looked like he was about to have a stroke as well but I have proof."
Green then proceeded to take out his favourite photo album and showed the flabbergasted Aura Guardian and Pokemon the photos of the three Mew playing with the young boys. Green gave a smug little smirk, as they looked through the album speechless and observed the three different Mew. Green continued with his tale of how the Pokemon league had reacted to this finding and how their parents and grandpa were worried about it.
Riley frowned as well, "I can understand their worry quite well. Are you sure, they are not aura users?"
Lucario nodded as well, -They definitely sound like they are albeit young still.-
Red shook his head in negative, "Uncle Luc confirmed they were not aura users. Which is one of the biggest worries for us. If they were simple Aura or Psychic users like us, then we would be able to help them and protect them better by making them join one of the two groups."
Green sighed, "Unfortunately though, they don't fall under either of the groups so that's not possible. It doesn't help that the legendaries are interested in them, legendaries that are being hunted by organizations."
Lucario was frowning, -What are these organizations you speak of? And why are they after the legendaries?-
Red then explained what he had learned over the few years by sneaking around the adults and listening to their conversation. This earned an amused look from Riley but that look disappeared soon enough as Red explained what happened on Cinnabar Island. He also explained what his Dad had to go through just a few months ago, about the poachers and human traffickers and the unlucky trainers. Riley grimaced when hearing about that, he knew about some of those things as sometimes Aura Guardians were required to help in tracking. Lucario growled as he heard about how the trainers and Pokemon were treated in those camps and Red's suspicions about the organizations.
Lucario hissed, -Unbelievable! Is this the future my Master sacrificed his life for?-
Riley was grim, "I'm afraid no matter how much we try, there will always be cruel people who want to hurt others."
Green nodded before getting up, "Hey, how about we all wash up while we can? I get the feeling it'll be a long hike up there."
Red smiled, "Cannonball?"
Green smirked, "Your on!"
Lucario watched the two boys rush to the hot springs taking their clothes off and setting them aside. He shook his head, -They are young!-
Riley laughed, "They are indeed. What will you do Lucario?"
Lucario hummed, -I have a lot to think about if I am being honest.-
Riley nodded understanding, "Just remember what Queen Ilene said, you are welcome to stay at the castle as long as you want. And since I'll be training Red here in Aura control we'll be here too."
Lucario accepted it for what it was and went to sit near or as close as he could get to the geysers and started to meditate. Riley looked at the two boys who started to play with the Pokemon as well as his Riolu and laughed at their antics, this should be a fun mission all things considered. He observed the young Litten and Charmander as they relaxed in the herb water without feeling any of the negative side effects that they usually feel and wondered what the paste was exactly.
Riley shook his head and decided to get the lunches out instead, 'So many questions.. Well I have the whole tutoring period to question Red.'
Red, Green and the Pokemon returned after a while all cleaned up and dressed. Pikachu and Eevee looked much more relaxed after their bath play session and sat down ready to eat the food. Red took out the special Pokefood that were tomato, spice and berry flavored ones for the Pokemon. He even set a plate for Lucario asking him to try it and if he didn't like it, they could make something else for him. Lucario simply took the plate and tried the poke food.
Lucario ate some of the Pokemon food, -This is a little strange to eat if I'm being honest.-
Red blinked, "Would you like to try something else? I have poke muffins too here!"
Lucario looked curious, -Pokemuffins? What are those?-
Green handed one pecha berry one to Lucario, "Here, try this one."
Lucario took a bite, -Mmmm... It tastes like the cakes the old baker would make.-
Red smiled softly, "I'm happy you like it. I just started to learn to make these a few weeks ago."
Lucario smiled, -This is good.-
Green laughed, "How about we show you how to make these after this mission?"
Lucario, -I don't mind... The geysers have stopped, we should move soon before they start bursting again.-
Riley got up, "Right let's pack up and move then. We still have quite a ways to go..... The sun's coming out."
Red looked up, "It's early evening already? Man time sure flies fast when you have fun."
Lucario led the way past the geysers to the fields, he looked around and realised that this was the same field Aaron had left him behind. He tutted before moving on forward not wanting to create a scene. He remembered his talk with the psychic child, Green and wanted to believe Sir Aaron had a good reason for doing what he did that day and that he had not abandoned him. Lucario took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, before relaxing.
Riley, "Lucario? Are you alright?"
Lucario looked back, -Do not worry. I'm fine, it's just memories of this place that still haunt me.-
Red looked around the field, it did not seem like much before noticing a very curious looking plant, "Hey Green? You seen something like this before."
Green looked at where Red was pointing, "No I have not..... What a curious looking plant! Want to take a sample for the two?"
Red grinned, "Pretty sure, they will sulk if we don't."
Lucario looked at the two, -What are they doing?-
Pikachu answers, -Collecting samples!-
Eevee, -Our partners love to collect any new type of plant and items that catch their eye.-
Lucario tilted his head, -Interesting. Why though?-
Charmander answered this time, -They like to grow them in their garden. Their garden is filled with all types of plants, from flowers to fruits to berries to plants I have never seen before. I'm not sure they are normal plants either.-
Litten nodded hissing, -Yeah, I swear that bloody vine in that dark corner is bloody alive. Humph! Creepy thing!-
Lucario blinked, -Curious children, I think I'll enjoy learning about them.-
Snivy, -That's a very curious sounding plant, are you sure it's not a Pokemon you are talking about?-
Fennekin, -Pretty sure..... It's very peaceful inside the garden and we all love it there it's just... -
Kadavra, -Some of the plants look like they have a conscious.-
Riolu blinked, -That is really strange.-
Meanwhile Riley watched as Green took out a bottle large enough to put the flower in. As Red dug up the flower around the root they noticed the faint glow coming from the flower when Red touched it. Green looked at it curiously as Riley explained the flower they found was probably a time flower. Red looked at it getting a really funny look on his face that made Green wary a little.
Green, "Red? What are you thinking?"
Red looked at the flower, "Green... You do realize this flower will fit in just right with the freaky plants our baby bros collect right?"
Riley sweatdropped, "Freaky plants?"
Red nodded, "There are some freaky plants that our siblings love to collect from the forest that they grow in their garden. I swear one of those vines is alive.", he shivered after saying that.
Riley looked at his student blankly, "You and me are having a long long talk after this is over."
Green laughed, "Be ready for the weirdest explanation in the world then."
The Pokemon snorted from the sidelines and the group continued to move towards the wayward kids that went missing. Riley wondered what he had gotten himself into half way through the old battlefield but shook the thought off deciding to get the answers later. Lucario meanwhile looked at the Aura user and Psychic user in training as if he found something fascinating to solve.