Julian was completely lost in a trance of pure, unadulterated bliss. His fingers were deep in the plush fur of Lucario's forearms, and he was working the pads of the warrior's paw with the rhythmic precision of a professional masseur. In his mind, he was already composing a five-page thesis on why Lucario fur was the pinnacle of natural textiles.
Suddenly, a rhythmic sound echoed from the wooden hallway outside.
Da Da~~~ Da Da~~~
"Mr. Julian? Are you and Lucario ready for lunch? Should I bring the trays in?"
The voice of the apprentice hit Julian like a bucket of ice water. His hair practically stood on end, and he let go of Lucario's paw as if it were a live wire. He scrambled back into a seated position, smoothing his jacket and trying to force his voice to sound like a normal, functioning human being and not a man who had just been caught "illegal-petting" a local celebrity.
"U-uh, just leave it at the door!" Julian shouted, his voice cracking slightly. "We're in the middle of a very... intense spiritual connection! We'll get it later. Thank you!"
"Oh! Understood! I'll just leave the things here then. I'll be back in an hour to clean up. Keep up the good work!"
The footsteps receded into the distance. Julian slumped forward, letting out a breath he felt like he'd been holding for a century. He looked nervously at Lucario, expecting to see a face full of judgment.
Lucario, however, was a statue of stoic indifference. He maintained a perfect poker face, though the fur on his arm was currently sticking out in every direction—a silent testament to Julian's enthusiastic kneading.
"I... I am so sorry," Julian stammered, his face heating up again. "I got a little... carried away. Instincts, you know?"
"Lucario, Lucario. (It is fine. I told you I do not mind,)" Lucario's mental voice resonated, surprisingly calm.
Then, the jackal turned his gaze away, his ears twitching ever so slightly. "Lucario~ (Besides... it was actually quite comfortable. I can see why your companions are so fond of it.)"
Julian's eyes widened. Wait, did a legendary warrior just admit he likes being petted? He wasn't imagining it. With his heightened Aura perception, Julian could feel a lingering warmth coming from Lucario.
It turned out that Grandpa Aaron, for all his love, treated Lucario like a soldier—grooming him, bathing him, and sparring with him—but he never just kneaded him. When Julian had relaxed earlier, his Aura had subconsciously leaked into his fingertips, turning a simple rub into a soothing energetic massage.
"You... you liked it?" Julian asked, a hopeful sparkle in his eyes.
"Lucario. (I said it was acceptable. Do not make it weird.)"
Julian didn't care about "weird" anymore. Emboldened by the confirmation that he wasn't a total creep (or at least, a tolerated one), he gave in to his impulses. With a joyful grin, he lunged forward and pulled Lucario into a massive hug.
Lucario didn't dodge. He stood his ground, allowing Julian to practically vanish into his chest fur. He even reached out a paw and gave Julian a few awkward, firm pats on the head, like a big brother who wasn't quite sure how "hugging" worked but was willing to try.
"FLUFFY..." Julian muffled into Lucario's chest.
Then, he suddenly winced. "OW!"
He pulled back, rubbing his sternum. "Lucario, you're amazing, and your fur is 10/10, but that metal spike on your chest? That thing is a safety hazard for huggers."
Lucario gave a short, dry bark—the Pokémon equivalent of a chuckle. He pointed toward the door. "Lucario. (The food is getting cold, Guardian. Go.)"
Julian laughed, his mood completely transformed. "Right! Lunch! I'll be right back."
He walked to the door, his expression a chaotic mix of bliss and lingering pain. He likes it. Lucario actually likes it. My life's work is validated! But man, that spike is sharp.
He picked up the heavy wooden tray and brought it back to the center of the mat. On it were two bowls of steaming curry rice for the humans and a box of high-quality Pokéblocks provided by the Gym. Julian picked up one of the Gym blocks, sniffing it delicately.
"Hmm. It's decent," Julian muttered, his 'Breeder' brain taking over. "Good protein content, but the mineral balance for a Steel-type could be smoother. And the scent is a bit... industrial."
He looked at Lucario, who was about to start eating. "Lucario, you usually eat these? How are they?"
"Lucario! (They provide energy. The taste is... functional.)"
"Functional? That's a tragedy," Julian said, reaching for his backpack. "Try these instead. I stayed up last night tinkering with a blend specifically for Fighting and Steel-types. I was going to use them to bribe you into letting me pet you, but since we're already past that..."
He opened two sleek, airtight containers. One smelled of spicy Tamato berries and roasted nuts; the other had a cool, metallic tang of Iron and sweet Pecha.
Lucario leaned in, his nose twitching. His eyes lit up instantly. He took one piece, crunched it, and his entire posture relaxed. Within seconds, he was reaching for more, his "stoic warrior" persona crumbling under the weight of Julian's culinary genius.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'," Julian grinned.
"Oh! Togetic! I almost forgot you were in there!" Julian realized he was still carrying the Poké Ball of his fourth partner. He released the tiny fairy-type, who appeared in a shower of white light.
"Toge-toge! (Food? Did someone say food?)" 🐣
"Sorry, little buddy! I got distracted by the Aura and the fluff. Here's your favorite honey-blend."
As the trio sat there—a human, a legendary jackal, and a tiny egg-Pokémon—eating together in the quiet training hall, the atmosphere felt less like a Dojo and more like a family picnic. Julian ate his curry, already thinking about how to improve the recipe. Maybe more cumin? Or a touch of Moomoo Milk to cream it up?
The Request
Half an hour later, the trays were empty. Lucario looked more relaxed than Julian had ever seen him, leaning back against a wooden pillar.
"Lucario," Julian said softly, sitting beside him. "I have a favor to ask. It's about Togetic."
The little Pokémon looked up, tilting his head.
"Togekiss—his final form—is one of the few non-Fighting types that can master Aura Sphere. I was wondering... since we're here, could you show him the basics? Just so he can get a feel for the energy? It would give him a huge head start when he finally evolves."
Lucario looked at Togetic. He reached out with his Aura, sensing the tiny creature. "Lucario, Lucario. (He has been around you long enough that your own Aura has started to rub off on him. He is sensitive to it. Yes, I will show him.)"
"Really? Thank you so much!"
The afternoon became a split-session. While Julian sat cross-legged, sweating as he practiced the grueling mental "breathing" techniques Lucario had taught him, Lucario worked with Togetic. The jackal would form tiny, marble-sized sparks of blue energy, and Togetic would try to mimic the vibration, his little wings flapping with concentration.
By the time the sun began to dip behind the Veilstone cliffs, painting the sky in shades of bruised purple and gold, Julian felt like his brain was made of lead, but his spirit was soaring.
He walked back to the hotel through the cooling streets, carrying a bag of supplies and a mind full of ancient secrets.
"I hope he likes the new batch," Julian whispered to himself, looking at the extra Pokéblocks he'd prepared for Lucario's tomorrow session.
He opened the door to his room and saw Growlithe, Sylveon, and Floette waiting for him. They looked rested and happy. Julian looked at them, then at his own hands.
Open your heart, Lucario said. Don't hide the 'rua'.
He felt his face flush again. "Okay, guys... we're gonna try something new tonight. No more 'checking for burs' or 'brushing out tangles.' We're just gonna... have a cuddle session. For training! Yeah, training."
Sylveon tilted her head, her ribbons twitching in confusion, while Growlithe simply wagged his tail, sensing that his human was about to be even more affectionate than usual.
Julian sighed, a small, happy smile on his face. Being an Aura Guardian is much more complicated than the books said.