Body, Mind and Soul

[Dawnika Snow]

Lucario took stance. Foot foward, Iron Defense active. Machoke was a reckless but tough opponent; not even he would take the hulking mass of muscle lightly. The blue adversary stepped carefully around his opponent, who did the same; both waiting for the opportunity to strike. After a few more seconds, Machoke rushed in, taking a wide right hook towards Lucario’s head. He returned the motion, but it was a fake veiled with a feint. With a quick duck and sweep, the adroit fighter’s foot slid under his opponent, knocking him to the ground. Lucario’s fist threw up dust when his hand connected with ground, attempting to greet Machoke’s face politely. The bulky Pokemon, however, was rude and rolled away.

Machoke got to his feet much quicker than anyone his size could boast. For his hefty size, he was actually quite nimble and light-footed. Even so, Lucario was faster and much more skilled. Without giving Machoke even a second to breathe, he was upon him again. His palm rammed into Machoke’s chest, sending him sliding back through the dirt.

“Just as fast as ever, ‘Master’” The brawny Pokemon mocked Lucario’s prestigious title. “You’ve definitely earned the name ‘Blue Blur’ didn’t you?”

“No one calls me that anymore.” Lucario responded, adopting his defensive stance once more. Machoke followed suit.

“You would be wrong there.” He said, slowly edging himself towards his opponent. Lucario made a quick move, but Machoke was ready. He ducked from Lucario’s straight and grabbed hold of the master’s arm. The bulky Pokemon twisted his arm and turned them both, throwing Lucario on his stomach. He quickly sprung to his feet though, iron defense absorbing most of that blow with the ground. “Most of my ‘men religiously fear your skills as a fighting type.”

With a dusty cough Lucario quickly pulled himself to his feet. He reeled a bit from the heavy toss, but nothing he couldn’t deal with as long as his Iron Defense was up. “Your companions are poorly trained adolescent children. I have spent years of meditation on this mountain and I’d sooner die before I let you take it from me.”

“That can be arranged.” Machoke said with a grin as he hustled to his enemy. Lucario prepared himself to finish this pointless tussle; with feet stationed firmly in the dirt, he drew back his fist for a heavy haymaker. The gray tower of muscle closed in with opposite fist drawn. Once in range, Lucario lunged in, ducking under his opponents heavy fist and delivering a gruesome blow to his chin. Machoke’s entire body flew a few feet from the ground, landing on his fore-side with a loud thunk! This fight was finished.

Lucario stepped up to his nearly unconscious enemy and loomed over him as he tossed around in the dirt. “Machoke.” He announced in a deep, authoritative tone. “Leave my monastery and don’t come back. I’m tired of your games for you can’t even play them correctly. If you want this mountain so bad, train you people to fight correctly and show me what a true warrior’s spirit is. Your aura is nothing but corrupt and untamed. So long as you remain that way, you will never defeat me. Now leave my home.”

Machoke had no words, instead he spit at Lucario’s feet with terrible aim. Blood was mixed in his saliva. As the towering mass of muscle limped away in pain, Lucario watched him leave. Just in his view of the trail that bent down, another figure came up the hill. A very small, round figure. It’s aura was pure, clear and beautiful, something that was quite uncommon. It clearly had no ill intentions.

“Halt.” Lucario called out as he approached it. It stopped dead in it’s tracks at the sound of his heavy voice as if it had nailed her feet to the ground like a hammer. “What business do you have at my monastery, small one?”

It took a moment for the Togepi to come into view, it looked as equally scared as it did excited. “Um, hi.” She whimpered nervously. It became increasingly apparent that she never believed she would have actually made it to this monastery, as she was speechless on how to present herself. Hefting up her gumption and bravado, the tiny Togepi puffed out her chest bravely and said, “I wish to train with the master of this island!”

Lucario’s brow furrowed. This tiny Poke’mon, with appendages one could hardly call limbs, actually wants to undertake the study of the body, soul, and mind? Was this a prank? “On what faith do you believe you could pass such a vigorous experience. This is not a game young one; you would do best to return home.” With his point made, Lucario turned around and began to walk off. There was no need to continue this conversation.

Togepi was speechless to say at the least. She never believed that there were some who were actually denied the right to try. “Hey!” She yelled out, but Lucario kept walking. She began to say something else, but her pleas were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Machoke was coming back for a last resort. Togepi instinctively acted on this, casting Reflect in front of the Machoke. He crashed into the forcefield, causing it to shatter and him to scatter. Lucario turned to see what happened just in time. With a mix of quick attack and force palm, he charged into his opponent, jamming his palm into the gray masses midsection. Machoke flew back, sliding far down the hill. It would be stupid of him to try and come back up.

Lucario glanced down at the tiny pokemon who was moving up next to him. He hated to admit it, but this puny child had some potential. She was a ball of clay, and he her sculptor. It was clear she would not leave until he at least attempted to teach her. In his authoritative tone, he said two words Togepi thought she’d never hear.

“Follow me.” With that, the two walked towards the monastery. Togepi a little more jittery and ecstatic than Lucario. He simply shook his head; he was going to regret this decision one day.