Luke Branson looked up at the rusted, crooked sign on the steel building that read "Alum Island Gym". Red dirt was piled up around the door, as if it wasn't used very often. This wasn't a bad guess. Ever since the two black holes ravaged parts of Pruie three months ago, many gyms hadn't been visited. Most people were helping in reconstruction efforts. But Luke felt as if he needed to finish his journey. His dream of becoming a Champion was what brought him to Pruie. And being in Pruie was what had dragged him into this mess. If he didn't become Champion, then all of the mental strain and emotional trauma he had endured would have been for nothing. And he didn't simply owe it to himself. He owed it to his team.
Aurus the Lucario. Aurus had hatched from an egg when Luke was little, and grew up with him. When Luke was old enough to go on a journey, there was no question which family Pokemon would come with him. It was Riolu all the way. When Riolu evolved, through the bonds of friendship, Luke felt something more. An aura. And Aurus had always been by Luke's side. When not physically, he had been there in an aura. And he had saved Luke's life.
Caesar the Infernape. Caesar had always been a fun-loving Pokemon. From a rascally Chimchar into a confident Monferno. Then finally into an Infernape. When he evolved into Infernape, a certain maturity was instilled. Perhaps it was forced by circumstance. Caesar had to step up and be a leader when Aurus was at the Aura Shrine. Luke could always count on Caesar.
Horus the Xatu. Horus was always a special member on the team. He was caught as a Xatu, and could see glimpses of the future. It was he who warned Luke of Ursa's shadow form. And let Luke see images of victory that kept him going.
Doragon the Kommo-o. Doragon was caught as an adorable Jangmo-o, and raised into a powerful Kommo-o. His rally cry of "Kom! Kom! Kom-OOOOO!" always gave Luke courage.
Finally, Ursa the Ursaring. Ursa had begun as a small, innocent Teddiursa. She couldn't battle anything without being distracted by a Beautifly, and usually just acted as the team mascot. That all changed when she became Ursaring. She was a force to be reckoned with. A powerhouse. After Luke saw the vision in which she was a Shadow Pokemon, he became protective of her. But it was no use. She had become a Shadow Pokemon, thanks to Soren's villainous role on Team Shadow. Luckily, Luke's close, loving bond with Ursa brought back the old Ursa. But she retained her black fur, and silver ring.
All of the Pokemon held special places in Luke's heart and soul. He owed it to them, and himself, to finish what he started. And to do that, he needed to continue challenging gyms. The Alum Island Gym was the seventh out of eight gyms he would need to face. He walked in.
The gym leader, Acer, leaned against the back wall, which was rusting. He had straight, gray hair that came down to his eyes, and gray stubble on his chin. There was a smoldering cigarette in his mouth. He glanced up at Luke, and smirked.
"Kids still do the gym challenge, eh?" Acer grunted. Luke simply nodded. He took a Pokeball from off of his belt. Acer raised an eyebrow.
"What, you don't talk?" Acer asked, "You mute? Or just a fan of that Red kid?"
"I t-t-talk," Luke managed to say. His experience in the void left him with a permanent, yet minor, stutter.
"Good to know kid," Acer said, "So let's get down to business. You ready?"
Luke nodded again, and tossed up the Pokeball. Doragon popped out.
"Kom! Kom! Kom-OOOOO!"
Acer sent out Magnezone.
"Drag-gon Claw."
Luke uttered this order with virtually no emotion. It had been so long since Luke had battled, and most of the joy he had once known from battling had disappeared. Doragon noticed this, and was shaky when performing the attack. Acer was clicking a button multiple times, as if communicating with Magnezone in a strange language.
"-- .- --. -. . --.. --- -. . --..-- / ..- ... . / --.. .- .--. / -.-. .- -. -. --- -."
Morse Code. But Luke didn't understand Morse Code. Magnezone's magnets whirred, then Doragon was blasted with electricity. Zap Cannon. Doragon charged again with Dragon Claw, this time landing a hit.
A small bit of adrenaline coursed through Luke's veins.
"Doragon, use Dragon Tail," Luke said, slightly louder than his first order. Doragon grinned. He could feel Luke's old fighting spirit emerging. He leapt up, and swung his tail at Magnezone. A perfect hit. Magnezone crashed into the ground, then let out an electrical explosion. Doragon was thrown back, unconscious. And Magnezone was defeated as well. The excitement in Luke's eyes disappeared as he saw his crippled friend.
"R-R-R-Return Dor-r-ragon."
Acer silently recalled Magnezone, then sent out Scizor. Luke let out Horus without a sound. Horus struck a heroic pose, and cawed. Luke almost grinned. Almost.
Scizor and Horus brawled for the next few minutes. Every time Horus would land a good hit, Scizor would strike back twice as hard. Eventually, Scizor defeated Horus. Luke sent out Caesar next, who easily took out the Steel Type Scizor. However, when Acer sent out Aggron to combat Caesar, the going got tough. Aggron was aggressive to an extent Luke had never seen. He mopped the floor was Caesar.
"G-Go Ursa," Luke said, losing any hope of victory. The black and silver bear appeared. She had a long scar across her snout. She turned to give Luke a confident look. But Luke didn't think they would possibly win. Ursa fought bravely, and finally defeated Aggron with Hammer Arm.
"Go Metagross," Acer said. It was his first spoken words since the battle had begun. A massive Metagross shot towards Ursa, and blasted her back. It then spun over, whacking her with its arms. Ursa fainted.
"Come back-k-k Ursa," Luke sighed. It was over. He had lost. There was no way Aurus could take down Metagross. But he might as well try. As soon as Aurus exploded out of his Pokeball, a blue shock wave rippled through the room. The moment it touched Luke, his dull eyes brightened and his frown grew into a grin.
"Let's go Aur-r-rus!" Luke shouted, "Use Aura Sph-ph-phere!"
Aurus grinned, and created a massive blue orb. Larger than any aura sphere Luke had ever seen. As soon as Aurus released it, Luke realized the battle truly was over. But he had won.
Metagross was thrown through the back wall. There was no way Metagross could continue in the battle. Acer walked over to Luke, and silently placed the Dek Badge in his palm. Luke graciously accepted it, then gazed into Aurus's bright blue eyes. And Luke Branson smiled.
