FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Drake, Psychic Attack!" Max shouted, his hazel eyes intense with concentrated focus.

An indigo aura poured free from the lucario standing in front of the green haired trainer before the blue and gold canid suddenly lifted a three fingered paw.

The opposing hitmonchan flailed wildly as it found itself lifted up and then thrown back twenty yards into a nearby oak tree, the metaphysical assault rocketing its body with the force of a cannonball. The impacting thud was more than enough to cause the ground to shake yet it did nothing to drown out the yelp of surprise which echoed out from the fighting type's trainer. The pigtailed college student whipped her head backwards to watch her partner fall onto the ground, the punching pokemon knocked out cold.

“How did you…!? Lucario doesn't know that attack!!" the glasses wearing girl screeched before rushing over to her dazed partner.

“You're wrong. MY lucario does because I taught it to him." Max said deadpanned before walking over to his ever vigilant partner. “A good piece of advice to take to heart: don't expect another pokemon to only know its own types of moves, especially one that's been human trained." That little piece of wisdom, of course, went right over the girl's head as she fawned over the now unconscious hitmonchan.

Shrugging his shoulders, Max gave his partner an affectionate pat on the head. “Good job, Drake." The blue and gold canid barked its name at the green haired man before leaning up to lick the other across the lips.

Max laughed at that.

“Alright. Alright. We'll go and get you something to eat." Turning to make his way over to the stand where he and the other trainer had placed their bets, the green haired male grabbed up the poke dollars and then stuffed them in his blue jean pocket.

Nodding for his partner to follow, Max began to streak away on the skates he was wearing, the looks he was receiving from the other people who had been watching his and the younger girl's battle a fainting memory to him.

Twenty minutes later the human and lucario combo were seated at a lone booth at the back of an outdoor restaurant. Thankfully the place was accepting of medium height pokemon eating at their tables; this was something that Max had found to be a true rarity in the little country town he was currently passing through on his way back home to Unova.

“Order whatever you want, you've earned it." Said Max as he sipped on his lemonade while watching his partner literally drool over the tasty morsels which filled the menu in between his paws.

Max was far from surprised when Drake ordered a plate of rare pidgeot along with a baked potato and gold berry tea, the fighting-steel type did seem to share his trainer's expensive tastes after all.

It was halfway during their meal - Max having ordered a medium rapidash steak with a basket of honey baked buns - that a shadow fell over the table. Drake was instantly on alert. Turning, the blue and gold canid bore his crimson eyes up into the face of the elderly gentleman that stood over him and his master.

Max merely turned his head to study the other; the white lab coat the older man was wearing making him arch an eyebrow considering the warm weather.

“Excuse me, young man, but can I bother you for a moment?" the withered researcher asked, his tone very polite, if tired.

“Take a seat and let me finish this last piece of steak and then you can bother me all you want, sir." A chuckle from the older man brought a smile to Max's lips for some reason.

After the last piece of the flame horse was eaten Max wiped his napkin over his lips and then slid his gaze over to inspect the nameless person who was still waiting very patiently. Noting the lines of stress and age which had worn away at the light skinned gentleman's mustached faced, the twenty-eight year old trainer found himself automatically feeling a bit of pity for the green eyed stranger. Sparing a quick glance at his partner, he saw that his partner was probably feeling the very same thing, as the blue and gold canine had a look in his ruby eyes that he only spared for a select few.

“So what can I do for you, Mr…?"

“Monroe. James Monroe." the older man said as he offered his hand out.

“Maximus Pride." Max stated shaking the white lab coating wearing man's surprisingly strong hand. “Well, Mr. Monroe, what can I do for you?"

“If you don't mind, I'd like to inquire over your status as a pokemon trainer, specifically, how long you have been in training and how many regions you have ventured through."

“I'm a little young for you to be trying to pick up, don't you think?" the astonished look that wrote itself across the researcher's face brought a fountain of laughter from Max and a subtle grumble from Drake.

“I…uhg…I…"

“Hahah, calm down. I usually like guys around my age, no offense."

“Ahh, yes. Haha."

Max laughed for several more seconds before straightening up, “Anyway, I've been training for almost thirteen years now and have something like forty-five badges, but I don't have any interest in trying to go towards the pokemon leagues." The green haired man reached into his backpack to bring out the deluxe case holding said badges to prove the validity of his story.

“And why is that?" Monroe said after taking a bread roll from the basket.

“Personally, I don't see the point in gaining that level of notoriety, especially considering the bad elements which seem to be popping up more and more these days." The last newscast Max had watched still lingered within his mind like a curse.

“I can understand that." Monroe gave a nod. “And how many pokemon do you have?"

“Technically speaking, I have eighty-five, but most of them are with family and friends. My only on hand partner is Drake here." Both humans turned to regard the lucario who was busy sipping his tea. “And truth be told, he's all I need." That the fighting-steel type sat up a little bit straighter made Max chuckle while rolling his eyes.

“I could see that by how well you commanded your companion against that trainer back there." Monroe looked from the blue and gold canid to Max, his head nodding several times as he ticked off a few facts on his mental index.

“By the look in your eye I can tell you didn't just come here to shower us with flattery, so what can we do for you, sir?"

Monroe smiled.

“I've come to ask you if you are interested in a research project involving mega stones and the evolution brought about because of them." Both Max and Drake looked to each other blankly at that statement. “I take it that you haven't heard of mega evolutions?" Both pokemon and human just shook their heads. “Haha, well this is certainly unsurprising given the rarity of the stones in questions." Reaching into the pocket of the white lab coat he on, Monroe deposited a glowing sphere before the pair, along with a stone bracelet.

Drake's eyes immediately fell on the shining sphere, the lucario's mind encapsulated by the churning gold light shimmering from the unknown material.

“This is a lucarionite, an item specifically tailored to help lucario mega evolve." Monroe stated before sweeping a hand over the accessory placed alongside the orb. “This bracelet was crafted to hold the lucarionite while also connecting a trainer's mind and thoughts with that of their partner via a psychic transmitter."

Max looked to his partner, who happened to be spacing out rather big time over in his seat, not at all pleased with how easily the little sphere had enchanted his normally aloof partner. Placing a tanned hand over the mega evolution stone quickly brought the fighting-steel type out of his trance as ruby eyes blinked rapidly up at him.

“Sounds interesting, but why come to me with this? There's got to be dozens of other trainers out there with lucario partners who you could go to."

“Yes, but not all of them possess the ability to use Aura ability as you can." Drake instantly began to growl, the fighting-steel type's hair extensions slowly rising up into the air as flickers of blue curled within his eyes.

“How do you know about my ability?" Max coolly inquired, his voice almost bored as he tried to ignore his on edge partner.

“Back when you were instructing your partner you released a small glimmer of blue light from your eyes before he initiated his psychic attack. It was very faint, however, to the trained eye it was easy enough to see. Shall I assume that you've possessed this ability for some time now, if not held it since birth?" Max said nothing, though Drake was out of his seat now, the blue and gold jackal ready to pounce on the other human if he so much as blinked wrong at his master.

That the older man knew about his abilities didn't worry Max so much as the fact that he seemed to be interested in him because of his abilities. In the last ten years of his life, those people who recognized him for having a pokemon related ability have been very, very few and far in between, yet more than half of them had wanted something from Max in relation to said abilities. It was one of the reasons why he liked to move around so much as some people hadn't taken to kindly to him blowing them off when they asked him to do things that went against his morales.

Some of them finding out the hard way that the green haired man would do whatever it took to protect said morales.

Looking over to his partner, the green haired man found himself shaking his head as the lucario's paws began to glow blue, the waiter who had staying a cautious ten paces back as she wasn't sure whether to get involved or to flee screaming.

“Please, be calm. I have no wish to ruffle any feathers, however, I would just like to say that I would be grateful if you were to allow myself and my staff to test the limits of your and Drake's abilities."

“Why would I go along in this with you?"

“What if I told you that I may be able to show you a world for which humans will never be able to see through the use of your abilities?"

“I'd say that I'm not interested." Max said, waving the other off before turning his head to look down the slowly filling street. Damn rubberneckers.

“And what if I continued with the fact that by seeing into this other world you would come to understand your partner in a way that you had never done before?"

That caught Max's attention.

“How so?"

“It's been said that at one time there were only pokemon in this world, than mankind is a strange mutation that happened to come along because of a genetic default that nature wanted to favor. Because of this, you often seen people with...odd abilities in this world who tend to stand out more than the rest. In your case," Monroe looked around, noting the onlookers before continuing. “your bond with your lucario is very reminiscent of a trait that would be of interest to...people of wealth and influence."

“I really don't really value money that much." it was this reason why Max often slept out under the stars with his partner.

“I can tell, however, affluent people have created a facility for which the evolution of pokemon/human bonds have exceeded the bounds of normal standards." Max cocked his head in question. Monroe chuckled. “I'll leave you guessing on that part, though if you wish to know more," grabbing a card from his pocket, the elderly gentleman handed the item over to the green haired trainer. “come to this address. I'll tell you more if you do." And with that the graying haired gentleman stood up and began walking away from the table.

“Hey, aren't you forgetting your toys?" Max still had his hand pressed over the mega evolution stone unwilling to allow its unknown power to bespell his partner again.

“Consider it a sign of my sincerity towards getting you to come to that address, if you will." And with that Monroe walked down the street and out of sight.

It took a few minutes for everything to spin around inside of Max's head but once the information finally took root he spared a glance over to his partner, the blue and gold jackal slowly calming down as he scanned the area for anything that could present itself as a threat to his master.

“Thoughts? Opinions? Belly rubs?" the canid barked its name before reaching out to try and move its trainer's hand away from where it was still perched over the glowing gold orb. “I take it that you at least want to see what this thing can do?" a nod followed the question. “Fine, but if anything happens that I don't like I'm tossing that stone into the deepest hole I can find, understand?" the aura pokemon nodded again, knowing quite well that his human would physically pull rank if he had to.

Slowly raising his hand from off of the lucarionite, Max watched as the fighting-steel type picked up the mega stone and then brought it up to its masked face. The look of delight in Drake's ruby eyes was almost erotic in nature as glittering gold shimmered across his face. Max watched in silence, his hazel eyes contemplative, before he looked over the card Monroe had left behind.

*****

Three days later the green haired man stood in front of a chic looking building smack-dab in the middle of Helios City. Max wasn't sure exactly how he felt as he walked into the well-lit front area of the place, though he was on high alert when a chubby man wearing an expensive looking suit waddled over to him from a door hidden at the back of what could only be described as the building's receptionist area. Why a place that boasted such wealth would have no one around to give someone any help should they have questions or concerns was something that put Max on edge.

“Welcome, you must be the person Monroe was talking about…" When the chubby bundle of lard came over to offer his hand Max couldn't help the shudder that wracked his backside as he reached out to return the greeting.

“Max. Maximus Pride." He was quick to snatch his way from the other's hold, not that the darker haired man seemed to mind as he smiled up at him.

“Good name! You must be a hit with the ladies?!" a nudge from the other brought a dry chuckle from the green haired trainer.

“Who are you, guy?"

“Oh? Monroe didn't tell you that?" Max shook his head. “I'm his employer, Tore Hurth."

Looking over the other with a more discerning look, Max found himself noting several things that screamed wrong about the other. “I suppose that makes sense," He should have known that an older man like Monroe wouldn't be able afford to be so generous without having someone pull at his strings. “though I have to say that I'm impressed that you give him such freedoms." lifting up the his arm, the young man showed off the stone bracelet wrapped around his left bicep.

“Hahaha, Moroe is an old friend, so allowing him to do as he pleases is just a way to keep the peace." The vein that throbbed along the chubby man's forehead seemed to contradict that fact.

“Hmm, I see. Well, would you mind telling him that I'm here?"

“Why have you wait here when I can show you to his lab?" Tore turned to lead the way towards the back and instantly Max felt as though he was five again and dealing with the neighborhood creep who wanted to show him his 'rare pokemon card collection'.

“I think I'll stay here. I don't want to impose."

The shorter man turned to smile at him but Max could easily see the lines of annoyance which curled along the sides of Tore's eyes.

A mini standoff was waged between the two, Max's eyes narrowing slightly as he stared into Tore's still smiling face. It was only when the green haired man began to turn towards the front door of the building that the stocky man let out a chuckle of defeat.

“Alright, you win." Pulling out a small communicator from side pocket, Tore tapped a few buttons and then put the device to his ear. A second later, “Get me Monroe." Max tried to concentrate on the voice coming from the other end of the line but whoever it was sounded like they were running and talking at the same time. “Then as soon as he gets out of the bathroom tell him that Max is in the lobby waiting for him." Hanging up before the other person could reply Tore pocketed the device and then turned back to smile up at the green haired trainer. “He'll be out in a few minutes."

Max said nothing as he moved to inspect the lobby, trying his best to ignore the man whose jet black eyes were lasering onto him with the same intensity of a solar beam.

It was five minutes later when Monroe showed up, quite puzzled until he saw the young man he had spoken with earlier that week.

“Ah, so you decided to come after all." Walking over to the other, the elderly scientist completely ignored his employer, who was almost steaming at being kept waiting for so long.

“It took me a while but I decided to throw my chips in with you. I hope that I haven't crapped out." Max turned to spare a sideways glance and watched in appreciation as Monroe winced slightly.

“You haven't, I assure you."

“Well, now that you're here, I think I'll be going." Tore said as he turned on his heel. “Monroe, make sure to speak with Max here about the project you're working on before you submit that report to me today."

“Yes, sir." the older gentleman replied.

When the door to the back area open and close dismissing the chubby little man from the room Max's hazel eyes pierced the older scientist with a 'what the fuck' look.

Monroe had the good decency to turn his head to cough before turning to look back at the trainer with a slightly embarrassed smile tugging at the edges of his withered face.

“I do apologize for that."

“I know there's some things you can't help in life, but damn, I feel slimy just being in that guy's presence." Max wiped down the hand he had given Tore along the sides of his jeans in an exaggerated attempt to show just how serious he was.

“Be nice," Monroe chided. “he's the reason that so many of my experiments were able to be green lighted."

“Yeah, but at what price? That's not the kind of man who does things for charity's sake. A tax evasion, maybe."

Monroe sighed, shoulders slumping.

“Never mind. Anyway, I wanted to thank you for letting Drake and I use that lucarionite earlier. We had a lot of fun testing out his newfound strength and stamina after he evolved again." Just thinking about feeling the strength of his partner as he clung onto the fighting-steel type's back brought a stupid-silly little grin to Max's lips.

“Ahh, I see. I'm glad you both found it so useful." Monroe nodded.

“Yeah, so now I think it's time I repaid you for the gift."

“You don't owe me anything, Maximus." it was the sincerity of those words which made Max shake his head.

“In my mind, I do, so let's just leave it at that and get this show on the road." Said the green haired trainer as he moved to the door Tore had stepped through.

Not seeing any logical reason to argue Monroe chuckled and then lead the way into the back area. Max was unsurprised to see an elevator hidden at the end of the hallway, though after he and the older researcher rode down to the basement floor he found himself gaping in awe at the number of see through rooms standing parallel to each other on said floor.

“Impressive setup you have here," Max's astonishment grew in magnitude as he watched numerous pokemon and human working together on various activities ranging from practicing martial arts to looking through various books together to...bonding through other acts which brought a bright flush to the green haired man's cheeks. “I take it that none of this is being funded by the local Pokemon League?"

The elder man didn't reply.

After the short tour of the underground facility, Max found himself being taken to a small resting area and given a stack full of papers to sign. NDAs all of them, not surprising. Thankfully, being from an affluent family had long since prepared him to deal with the various legal terms which decorated the paperwork before him. Once he finished looking over and then signing the last form, Max handed the paperwork back to the older man, but kept his hold over them, puzzling the scholar.

“Monroe, will you make sure to take care of Drake if anything happens to me?"

“Why would you expect something to happen to you?" the glare that appeared on the green haired trainer's face was so profound Monroe felt a suddenly animalistic fear overtake his aged heart.

“Don't play with me on this." Max whispered, azure light burning bright within his eyes. “I read over those forms, and am well aware of what I've gotten myself into, however, I want your word that Drake will be seen to if something were to happen to me, or I promise you that you're going to get a chance to see those Aura abilities in a way you don't want, sir."

Monroe swallowed thickly at the thinly veiled threat, having never expected such venom from the previously cheery man.

“I…promise that I'll do that, but rest assured, the worst that going to happen here is maybe a few days of boredom."

Releasing the papers to the older scientist Max watched Monroe leave from the room, the white electronic door leading outwards sealing shut behind him.

“You heard all of that, so let's hear your opinion." that the pokeball by his side expanded and then released all on its own wasn't a surprise to Max, though most would have been shocked to see the the lucario manifest it itself into being by his own volition.

Rolling his shoulders several times to bring feeling back into his body, Drake looked around the very quaint looking sleeping area before turning to sniff at his partner's face.

“I'm fine. I promise." the aura pokemon didn't seem to believe him as the other's cold canid nose moved up and down the side of his neck and shoulders before returning to his master's face. A quick lick to the human's cheek brought a laugh from Max. “Love you too. Now about my question." the lucario grumbled a bit, the fighting-steel type's ruby eyes lowering in thought as it reached up to cradle its chin into one of its palm.

“If you want, we can leave now." Drake growled at that. A few seconds of waiting found Max getting another series of barks. The trainer chuckled before shaking his head. “Alright, we'll stay, but you know what to do if anything happens to me, right?" the fighting-steel type let out a nasty snarl at that comment. “Hey, shit happens. We both know that." Drake merely crossed his arms, his head turning away almost petulantly.

When warm arms reached out to encircle him, the aura pokemon murred happily as he received a kiss to the top of his head.

An hour later the pair were freshly washed and sitting naked together in meditative positions on the pulldown bed within the room.

“Are you certain his abilities are really that powerful?" Tore inquired as he looked somewhat skeptically to the trainer/pokemon duo on screen monitoring them via a hidden camera in the wall.

“I know that they are." Monroe replied, his green gaze clinical as he looked down at the pair spiritually harmonizing with each other.

“I'll be disappointed if he doesn't live up to your promises, Monroe."

“Have I yet to let you down, Tore?"

“Only once."

“I have no control over human nature, you know that."

“Still, I count it against you."

Nothing more was said as Tore turned to leave the room, his communicator ringing within his pocket.

Once the other was gone Monroe continued to watch the pair breathing slowly together for several minutes, finally turning away just as Drake's head turned to look directly into the camera's face.

****

The next day a knock woke both Max and Drake from their slumber, the pair grumbling like feral dogs as they lifted their heads together before turning to look at the white barrier.

“Give us a minute." the green haired trainer said, his voice husky as he let out a yawn of annoyance. Beside him, his lucario partner growled. Unsurprisingly the muscular blue and gold canine tried to hunker back down, his long tail curling around his left thigh as he tried to return back to the calm warmth of sleep. “Sorry, but we've got things to do today." Max chuckled as he unfolded his arms from around the canid pokemon's waist, the fighting-steel type whimpering as he desperately sought to return back to the land of dreams. “Not gonna work. Maybe later." a bark of frustration was Drake's only reply.

It took twenty minutes for them to get decently but once they were presentable Max went to open the door, the smiling face of Monroe staring back at him knowingly.

“I apologize for waking you so early, but it's best we start things before the day gets away from us."

“I understand, though can I ask for breakfast before that."

“Of course." the older man reached into his pocket and then presented two capsules within the palm of his hand. The trainer and pokemon blinked at the objects. “It's a new food pill we're working on. It'll give you the nutrients you need for the day without weighing you down." to say Drake was skeptical was an understatement, the blue and gold canine looking up at his master as though wanting to say that the other human was insane.

Max, ever the adventurous one, took one of the brown and white pills and then swallowed it. Drake barked his head off at that. When nothing happened a second later, hazel eyes turned down to look at the aura pokemon with a lopsided smile.

“It's not bad and it's not good. So try it and if you need to throw up later, you have my permission to do so." the sour look the fighting-steel type gave the taller man could have made a lesser person feel two inches tall.

Thankfully, Max was immune to such looks.

Snatching the pill up and swallowing it, the lucario glared as he received a pat on the head from his master.

“Now that we've been fed," hazel eyes turned to look into Monroe's green gaze with a determined look. “why don't you show us exactly what we're supposed to be doing here?"

Monroe nodded as he lead Max from the room he had been assigned down the hall to a medical lab where two males in nurse's scrubs seemed to be waiting for them. “To begin with, we're going to need to give you a short physical examination. After that, we'll be testing you and your partner's ability to channel the energy known as aura." Humming the pit of his throat, Max slowly reached down to begin disrobing, mildly shocking both examiners.

“Come on, it's not like you weren't going to ask me to get naked, right?" he winked to the pair, causing both to shift in place somewhat uncomfortably.

“Behave yourself, Max." Monroe chided.

The green haired man laughed out loud at that.

It took about an hour for all the poking and prodding and drawing blood and other fluids from them before Monroe decided that the trainer and his partner were ready to move on to the next stage.

“The series of tests I want you and your pokemon to undergo will involve trying to stimulate what I believe is the root source of both of your abilities." Monroe stated as he watched Max redress himself.

“What do you mean 'root'?" Max asked as he and Drake were lead out of the medical room back down the cold hallway.

“Every pokemon has the ability to channel energy throughout their body; this energy, in turn, allows them to utilize what we call 'special moves and/or attacks. However, their is, I believe, a source to this power. One that humans share but has been 'sealed' off thanks in part to certain genetic traits which have allowed us to evolve as we have."

“Some of these traits aren't present in people who can use the aura ability?"

“Very good." Monroe nodded. “Yes, I believe so, however, what we are here to do today is to test that theory."

Getting to a gray walled room filled with an array of different machines circling a plain looking metal table and chair Drake immediately started to growl, the white coat wearing people within the room turned their heads to look at the others, blank expressions on their faces.

“I take it that we're supposed to sit in the chair to get hooked up like a dvd player?" Max chuckled, though the mirth never reached his eyes.

“Indeed, but don't worry. You both will be fine, I promise." the lucario turned to stare at the older human, his fangs bared, his head extensions lifting slightly.

Max said nothing as walked over to the chair, Drake barking at him like mad, and then plopped himself down. When nothing happened a second later, the fighting-steel pokemon stopped his furious yapping to glare quietly at his master.

“I must say, you are the most agreeable person I've had the pleasure of dealing with while here within this facility." Monroe chuckled in some mild amusement before nodding. The others within room quickly began scurrying around like a bunch of worker beedrill - Max watched in slight boredom as someone came over to place wires and electrodes onto the green haired man while the incensed lucario watched on in rising annoyance. “We're ready to begin." said he walked over to a massive machine glittering with various colored knobs and bulbs, all of them a mystery to both trainer and pokemon alike.

“I apologize if there's any discomfort during the next few minutes."

Max could only nod as one of the men within the room placed a depressor was placed within his mouth.

Once all of the equipment had been set up, Max was treated to a series of mental tests to gauge the level of control he possessed over his barely tapped powers. Most of them were rather rudimentary – being forced to stare at visuals of pokemon battles to measure spikes within his adrenaline, given small electrical shocks to test his natural response to pain, and then asked various personal questions to invoke an emotional backlash – and proved to do little more than make a faint blue glow encompass the young man's body for a short span of time, the effect of which made some of the machines screech. However, when one of the men went over to Drake in an attempt to reach out to touch the other, Max's hazel eyes flared blue.

The aura pokemon didn't allow anything to happen though as he grabbed the man's hand, twisting the other's wrist until the human was forced to his knees.

“Dun du dat." Max said with his tongue still stuck out into the air.

“It seems that you're adrenal and pineal gland are secreting a number of chemicals through your body at an alarming rate. Shall I assume that you don't want anyone touching your partner?"

“Dats rite."

Monroe nodded, waving for the other researchers to back off.

Once the others were far enough away Drake slowly released the whimpering man, stepping away from the kneeling human with a scowl on his face.

A few more tests and then it was Max was released from the chair. The green haired man grunted as his pokemon came over to sniff him. “I'm ok." Max said as he reached out to pat the four foot canine on top of the head.

“It's his turn now." Monroe said, and instantly the room grew deathly silent.

“I think we should skip that part of the tests." Max suggested, knowing damn well that Drake would never allow it with how angry he already was.

“We will need to document his reactions to certain stimuli in order verify their resonance with your own reactions." Monroe stated authoritatively.

The aura pokemon growled, the tension within the room growing even thicker as the machines surrounding everyone began to moan slightly as the blue and gold canine's eyes began to glow with a ghostly bright azure color, its head extensions lifting.

“How about you show us to a training room? I think you could get some decent data if you were to measure us as we workout together." Drake offered.

Monroe thought about this, his brow wrinkling slightly.

“Or you can show us to a couple of people willing to spar with Drake and I, it's been awhile since I've boxed with someone."

The older man hummed deeply within the pit of his throat, his mind working furiously.

And then a ringing broke his concentration.

Reaching down for the phone within his pocket, the older man flipped it open and then brought it to his ear. “Monroe, here." the sound of desperate squawking could be heard on the other end. A few minutes later he shut the device back, stuffing it into his pocket. “I believe we'll go with those ideas." Drake lowered his grip on his power, his head extensions gently falling to the back of his neck.

Taking the pair from the examination room to a gymnasium, nothing was said by Monroe as he watched Drake and Max workout together, the two falling into a coordinated rhythm as they exercised in time with each other. Of course the human wasn't able to keep up with the strength and stamina of the pokemon, however, from the looks the fighting-steel type gave to his master it was almost as if Drake willed his trainer to go a lift a little more and run just a bit longer as they went from weight bench to treadmill to doing pushup to finally meditating together on the floor side by side. Monroe documented all of this, noting how Max's body would glow from time to time as he strained his body while lifting the iron weights. The older man also noticed how the blue and gold canine would radiate a pink aura whenever the lucario would brush against the other, though it never lasted long.

A quick break to eat, real food this time, and then the pair were pitted against several researchers who felt confident enough to go up against the two. All of them were easily dispatched though, Drake utilizing abilities that seemed to be super effective against most types of pokemon he was faced with while Max displayed superior dexterity and agility while boxing against men equal in age with him. The only exception came when the lucario was pitted up against a pure ground type.

The blue and gold canid found himself more than once flying into the air after being tossed around by a dugtrio digging into the ground only to pop out to assault him. Yet being the adept trainer that he was Max was able to overcome this tactic, the green haired trainer ordering the lucario to call forth the spectral bone ability Bone Rush and then waiting. When the dugtrio attempted to pop up from the ground the lucario jumped up using its blue weapon as a vaulting stick and then flipped around to bop the triple headed pokemon onto its center head.

Everyone was shocked at the strength of the assault, the ground shaking slightly as the fighting-steel type attacked the other pokemon head on, however Max simply congratulated his partner and then called him back over to pet his head once the dugtrio was called back into its pokeball. The blue and gold canine nuzzled his master as he panted hard from the exertion.

Once Monroe was ready to call an end to the day the trainer and pokemon pair were led back to their room.

“If you want dinner you can use the phone that was installed within your room to ask for something. Just dial 412 and someone will take your request." the older man stated before turning to go about his way.

“Are you still mad about not testing Drake today?" Max asked, his hazel eyes concerned.

“A bit, though there's something else on my mind."

“Can I ask what that may be?"

“You can, but I won't answer right now."

“I see."

Max closed the door as he watched the older man walk away down the hall.

Once the green haired trainer was sure that the coast was clear he turned around to face his partner, only to receive a quick punch to the gut.

Max instantly doubled over.

“O-okay. I deserve that." he coughed as he doubled over in pain. “But in hindsight, I have not broken my promise to you."

The ruby eyes of the fighting-steel type bore holes into his human.

Max slowly raised himself back up to his full height of some six foot four inches before smiling down at the four foot tall canine. “Would it make you feel any better if I ordered you some raw pignite?" the blue and gold canid's ears twitched at that, even though his glower never faded. “I'll even ask for some gold berry tea to go with it." Drake tried to remain vigilant in his desire to be mad at his human, but the prospect of some sweet tea doomed him.

Turning away in a huff, the fighting-steel type didn't resist when Max extended his arms so that he could curl his bulk around the smaller pokemon.

“I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." The look the lucario sent his way would forever stay within Max's memory.

The next few days were filled with more of the same for Max, only adding in tests for his partner to change up the rhythm of how certain days progressed. However, come the fifth day there was an intervention that would change operations there within the facility.

To say that the air became heavier around Monroe would have been an understatement as the older man's normally bright demeanor grew dark enough to make both Max and Drake take notice of the changes happening with him. So it came as something of a surprise when the older man suddenly became chatty with them out of the blue one day while the pair were exercising together.

“I have to say, not many trainers can keep up with their partners at your age." Monroe stated while watching the pair jog together on parallel treadmills.

“Most trainers stop caring about trying after they get around twenty-five." A sad truth Max had found out while traveling the world twice over.

It was something to see just how so many bright and talented trainers simply gave up after failing to conquer the pokemon league after they got on up there in age. The level of mediocrity from those people within the green haired man's age group was one of the reasons why Max continued to roam around the world, as he truly had no desire to either sit behind a desk all day bored out of his mind, or working at some small time business hoping to support himself and his partner.

It helped that he was a pretty good hunter, so going hungry was usually not an issue for him and Drake. A slight curse left the man's lips. He had forgotten to call his mother this week to let her know how he was doing. He'd make sure to do that once he and Monroe were finishing speaking, he promised himself.

“That may be true." Monroe fiddled with the glasses on his nose as he said this. “Max?" the green haired man turned to regard the scientist. “I something I'd like to ask you."

“Go ahead." Drake shifted his head to the side to get in on the conversation while keeping his feet piloting on ahead.

“Do you know what gene therapy is?"

“It's the process of trying to repair or alter the genes of a creature, right?" science had never been a favorite subject for him growing up, but he had managed to pass schooling with the aid of his older cousin who was a teacher.

“Well read, indeed it is." Monroe was silent after that, his brow wrinkling slightly as he thought over how to next put his forthcoming words.

“You want to try and bond my genes with Drake's, don't you?" the elderly man blinked at that. “It doesn't take a genius to realize that Tore wants to see some kind of progress he can cash in on for all of this 'research' he has going on here."

Monroe gaped.

“That Tore has given you freedom to do as you please with regards to testing your findings had to come at a price. I'm going to take a wild guess and assume that he's now pushing you to try and see what more can be done with me, which includes strapping me into that uncomfortable chair again and slicing me open to see what makes me tick." The smile on the younger man's face chilled the scientist to the bone.

That Drake was now off of the treadmill howling and yapping like a feral hound went unnoticed by both me, though Max had a hand placed firmly on his partner's shoulder to keep him from tearing into the aged human before them.

“And you are…ok with all of this?" the old researcher was sure that the green haired pokemon trainer would scream at him like many others would, because who in their right mind would…

“Sure!"

Drake was now frothing at the lips, this hair extensions at the back of his head were raised fully into the air while blue light shown from across his body with an almost painful radiance.

“Excuse me?!?" the older scientist blinked, stupefied.

“Some people might find it weird, but for me, I'm kind of excited to see just how far you can go with this." Max stepped off the silent machine to pad his way up to the scientist. “But I want you to look me in the eye and tell me that you'll keep your word about that promise you made me." The seriousness within the green haired trainer's hazel orbs made Monroe feel as though he were standing in the presence of Arceus himself as flashes of blue sparked within Max's burning orbs.

“I promise you Max."

Seconds of silence passed between the two men, all the while Drake was gnashing his teeth so hard together that the ivory incisors looked ready to shatter into dust.

The green haired man pulled back almost sixty seconds later, his face beaming.

“Then let's do this tomorrow. I want to take a bath and eat before it's all said and done with."

Monroe nodded and then hastily exited the room.

Max watched as the older man scurried away, chuckling slightly before the hand he had placed on his lucario was harshly knocked away. Turning to look at the other, the green haired trainer had just enough to think 'Arceus help!' before he was tackled to the ground.

Later that night Max found himself being held down, his throat kept in a tight embrace of sharp fangs as Drake reminded him of how things were supposed to work between the two of them. The younger man found himself yelping as he was taken by his pokemon, the canid growling and clenching his teeth hard enough to draw blood as he slipped himself deep into his human before howling into Max's neck. A familiar warmth flooded Max's nethers, making him gasp as he released himself onto the golden fur of his partner's furry chest.

Several minutes passed, Drake continuing to hold onto his mate's throat before he released the lock he had on the human's soft flesh. Lifting his head to stare at the other with an unknowable look, Max let the corners of his lips tug upwards as he brushed the sides of his lover's muzzle.

“Love you." the green haired man said and the lucario could only bark his name in reply.

******

Flashes of light danced over his eyes as he looked up at the people in white standing over him.

Who were they?

The feeling leather holding him down, of metal cutting him open, of things being inserted into his body…

Why were they hurting him? Had he done something wrong?

Turning his head to see something blurry over next to him, unmoving.

Was it dead? Had it ever been alive?

PaInpAiNPAInpaiNPaInpAiNPAInpaiNPaInpAiNPAInpaiN

Darkness.

Silence.

Opening his eyes he found himself floating in green.

Was he dead?

A tap against glass grabbed his attention. Someone was beyond the veil. He reached out. A hand…no…a paw?

My paw? Why do I have a paw?

Shouting. Lots of words. Too garbled to understand.

More pain!! It hurt!! Make it stop!!!

Darkness.

Silence.

Heat! Light!

Awakened by a feeling of great warmth. Someone was over him.

A familiar face…blurry though. Something being said. A golden light in front of his face.

...I'm sorry?

Why? What happened?

Metal sliced him open. Something…hot…too hot being poured into his veins.

A feeling…comfort yet sadness.

Darkness.

Cold. Alone. A void without sensation consumed him.

I'll be here with you….

Who are you?

I am you. You are you. There's nothing else that matters.

Don't understand.

Remember…Ma…

Darkness.

Silence.

Memories flooding in!!! Too fast!! So many faces!!

Infinite colors! Auras? Friends?! Family?

A fragment of someone. Green hair. Hazel eyes. A kind smile.

That's you. You had green hair. You're blue now. But you had green hair.

I…had green hair?

Yeah.

But I don't now…?

No.

What am I?

Max…

Max…?

Maximus Pride…

Max Pride…I am?

Yeah.

...

Whose...Drake?

...forget...IM....etter...this wa…

The feeling of something...leaving overcame him.

But...Drake is...was…

You'r….Max...nothing...else...atters...

More memories…came then. The flood filling him up with thoughts and laughter.

Happy…he was happy.

…eah…

What?

…ave…o…go…

What? Wait!!

…ve…ou…

Darkness.

Empty.

Something missing…yet easily forgotten…

****

The sense of freefalling brought him to some level of awareness.

A tap on glass fully evoked him from the land of dreamless slumber.

Blinking, he opened his crimson eyes to see a haze of green clouding his vision. There was someone just beyond though. A vision of white shifting within the space ahead of him.

It hurt to look forward but he needed to focus.

Reaching out, he tapped at the glass with his hand spike to let the figure know that he was conscious.

“Are you back with us now?" the voice was garbled, but that might have been because something was filling his ears.

He nodded, ever so slowly; he hated that everything felt like it was wrapped in cotton.

“Good. I'll lower the solution now so we can get you out of there." The sounds of people talking made him realize that they were not alone, though it was hard to sense anything at the moment.

Slowly, gravity took hold of him as he gently found his feet, even if they gave out on him traitorously.

A full minute passed before someone came to help him up, a hand removed the silver mask that had been dampening his senses, as well as keeping him from drowning while within the pool of green fluid at the same time plugs were pulled from his long, pointed ears. Turning his muzzle down, he looked into the face of an elderly man, his dark eyes smiling back with a touch of worry and fear.

This man...he looked familiar.

“Are you alright now, Drake?"

That name? Was it supposed to be familiar to him?

…it didn't seem like it.

No.

It wasn't, because it was not his name.

A searing spike shot through his head making him grab his skill.

Memories flashing. Faces!! Too many of them.

And then it all stopped, recognition coming to the front of his thoughts with the force of an explosion.

'Who's Drake?' the lucario thought aloud as he found his strength slowly returning to him to the point where he could easily slip his way from the older human's form.

'My name's Max. Maximus Pride, doc.'