Pokémon: My Name is Lucario

Chapter 11: The Cold-Hearted Scyther

After learning from Machop and witnessing a real battle, Riolu realized it was almost noon. He absentmindedly reached into his backpack and pulled out a regular Berry. He bit into it, enjoying the sweet taste and juicy goodness. These berries, which he had worked hard to collect while wandering through the forest, were as big as cantaloupes in his past life—sweet and refreshing with every bite.

However, Riolu wasn't focused on the fruit at the moment.

"The Pokémon at the valley entrance, and the one who can use Quick Attack... Hm, could it be that one?"

A sharp image flashed in Riolu's mind, and his fur began to bristle. He was filled with unease. But mastering moves was essential for Riolu's survival in this real Pokémon world, and he had no choice but to push forward.

By noon, most Pokémon had returned to their dwellings to enjoy the peaceful afternoon. The valley entrance was silent except for the soft sound of a babbling stream.

Riolu nervously walked out of the valley entrance, glancing around before moving towards some nearby bushes.

Gulp.

He unconsciously swallowed, feeling the weight of the ominous atmosphere. There was an underlying menace hiding within the silence.

Swish.

Suddenly, a faint sound made Riolu whirl around, only to spot a figure behind him. The sharp, deadly gaze was unmistakable.

"Thud."

Reacting instantly, Riolu dropped to the ground, pressing his hands against the earth and shouting, "Big brother, don't kill me!"

A chilling voice cut through the air, "What are you doing here?"

Riolu slowly raised his head to see the Scyther glaring at him with cold eyes, its scythe-like arms twitching in readiness.

Riolu carefully stood up, taking a cautious step back from the menacing arms. A forced smile spread across his face as he said, "Well, Machop told me that you, Scyther, are good with Quick Attack, and that I should learn from you."

"…"

Scyther gave him a cold, silent stare, making it clear it had no intention of responding.

Riolu's heart sank as he thought his chance to learn was slipping away. In a moment of desperation, he pulled out a large Berry and offered it with a pleading expression, "This is for you, big brother."

The sweet scent of the Berry caught Scyther's attention. Its eyes flickered slightly as it watched Riolu holding the fruit like a helpless beggar.

Without warning, Scyther raised its arm and swiped the Berry away, sending it flying.

Riolu's spirits plummeted. He felt a wave of frustration wash over him.

"Why am I so unlucky? In my past life, I had to quit my career because of heart disease. And now, in this new world, I still can't seem to catch a break—unable to learn moves and struggling to survive here?"

As he stood there in disappointment, a sudden shift in the air caught his attention, and his breath caught in his throat.

Instead of leaving, Scyther lowered its body slightly, its muscular legs tensed as it gripped the ground. Its wings began to vibrate more intensely.

"Swish!"

In an instant, Scyther shot forward, moving with lightning speed. A trail of white energy followed, leaving afterimages in the air.

The Berry, still hanging in midair, was sliced into pieces before it even had a chance to fall.

Scyther's figure froze in place, and the tree fruit pieces now clung to its arms, the force of its speed dissipating into stillness.

Riolu watched, eyes wide with astonishment, his mind suddenly clearing. "So this is Quick Attack... Speed and stillness, effortlessly transitioning between the two!"

Excitement bubbled inside him as he instinctively mimicked Scyther's posture—slightly bending his knees, tightening his core, and focusing all his energy. A warm current flowed through his body as he felt his strength intensify.

"Is this my Fighting energy?" Riolu thought, noticing a faint reddish-brown glow emanating from his body. His excitement grew, and his pulse quickened.

"Quick Attack!"

With a burst of energy, Riolu shouted the move's name, and his body flickered like a streak of lightning. He shot toward Scyther, leaving a brilliant trail in his wake.

Scyther, seeing Riolu's swift approach, showed a glimmer of appreciation in its eyes. But it remained calm, unhurried, and released another move of its own.

"Boom."

Riolu collided with Scyther, but to his surprise, he didn't hit anything solid. He passed right through the Pokémon's body like an illusion, and Scyther seemed to shatter into pieces.

"Gul... Boom!"

The momentum sent Riolu tumbling forward, rolling uncontrollably until he crashed into a tree.

Dazed and lying on the ground, stars filled his vision. "Was that... Double Team?"

Realizing what had just happened, Riolu barely managed to keep his thoughts together as Scyther landed back on the ground, giving him a brief glance before ignoring him completely. Scyther's wings fluttered, and it disappeared into the distance.

"Using moves like that... I need to practice more. If I can't control them, I'm going to end up hurting myself," Riolu muttered, wincing from the crash.

He pondered how Pokémon in this world utilized their moves like his old boxing techniques—powerful only when mastered for both offense and defense. If one couldn't control their abilities, they might inadvertently hurt themselves.

"But, wait, Scyther seemed pretty happy to eat those tree fruit pieces...?" Riolu thought, recalling the smile on Scyther's face as it licked the fruit from its arms.

"Probably just a hallucination," Riolu shrugged. "But hey, at least I've learned how to use a move!"

After a moment of lying on the ground, Riolu stood up, squinting at the clear blue sky. Although his body felt a little drained from the energy expenditure, he couldn't suppress the joy swelling in his chest.

He lay there on the grass for a while, letting his excitement subside, and then sat up, resting his paws on his head and contemplating his next steps.

"Powerful moves need ample energy to fuel them, and strong Fighting energy comes from rigorous training of the body. So, building my physical strength is the first priority. Then, I need to practice more to improve my control over Quick Attack."

Thinking of Scyther's graceful use of Quick Attack, Riolu felt his heart race with anticipation.

"As for physical training... I've had plenty of experience in that from my previous life to become a professional fighter," he smiled confidently.

Unable to suppress his excitement any longer, Riolu sprang to his feet and dashed back toward the Sunshine Valley, eager to start his training journey.