Second Chances (Sequel to Hearts of Gold)

A Battle of Will

It's a dark and solemn sky under which I advance up the tower. There are no others here- just the giant, marble Lucario staring ruefully down at me. He almost looks disgusted, if that's possible.

I wonder to myself what the people who made it were thinking.

Pich soars overhead, stopping to sit on the snout of the scowling Lucario and preen her feathers.

Rune is just trying to get up the stairs, one thrust of a stick into the ground after another. He pants furiously as he does so, his tongue lolling out.

"Are you okay? I did put Chrona in the Pokeball, I can do it for you too..."

"FINE." Rune says loudly.

Pich chirps, "I'm good."

I look at my two Pokeballs. Four... it's a team of four now. I bite my lip, inwardly thinking that this may have been a mistake. Then again, if Korrina challenges me up here, I can always decline. I'm not going to seal myself into a death trap.

Not after Mimsy and Gaile.

I finally reach the top and open a door, hoping it's the right one. Wind rushes in from outside, and I step out onto a dimly lit balcony overlooking the town. A balcony, naturally, just large enough for a good fight. Korrina is sitting there, slouched back with a disinterested look in her eyes. She looks up when she sees me, suddenly returning to consciousness. "You're late."

"10:03 PM." I say. "Not that late."

She claps twice and the lights go out. I have a few seconds to adjust to the darkness before Rune runs his stick along his robe and catches it on fire, like lighting a match.

"What did you need me here for?" I ask, instantly regretting how rude I sound.

"Well, I was going to teach you how to Mega Evolve." she said. "Unfortunately, we need to make some preparations first, if we're going to have a fair fight."

"Alright. What should I do?" I ask.

"Put them in their Pokeballs." Korrina instructs, pointing at Pich and Rune.

"What?!" I say, confused.

"More Pokemon out is cheating. It messes with how fast you can form bonds with a Pokemon. I want to see your skill, not theirs."

Pich and Rune both look terribly indignant.

"I'm not going in." Rune says with an upward tilt of his nose.

"Do we have to? It's so tiny... and dark..." Pich buries her face under her wings to muffle her voice, "and cold..."

"Listen, I can't force you to do anything. I can promise that what I learn right now can make or break us. I don't want anyone else to die... and, well, Mega Evolution may have something to do with... home." I sigh the last word. Home seems light years away now.

"And where is home?" Korrina asks.

"Johto."

Her eyes widen. "Oh Arceus. You don't know."

I give her a look of shock and disgust. "Know what?!" I'm almost crying. "What do I not know?! Everything?! I'm just... I'm just stuck here! In this body, in this region, in this freaking universe! I want to be home!"

"You're from... Johto." she says. "Nico! Hazel! Come on out!"

Two Lucario come from her Pokeballs in one stream of blue light that splits into two, ending with the two Lucario facing each other across the field.

The wind blows furiously over the four of us.

"Is she lying?!"

The taller, most likely older Lucario looks at her and dips down to one knee. "No, she isn't. Her aura indicates that this is the one we're looking for. One out of two, at least."