"I sense them," the male Lucario announced. "They're coming now." He exhaled, gazing at the surrounding trees around him. Now, they seemed to be darker and more unwelcoming than they used to. The female Lucario next to him tensed.

"But... What about--"

"We have to get him out of here!" he interrupted her worried speech assertively. Seeing her shocked and pained reaction, he lowered his voice. "For his safety, we must." The female took a deep inhale, which soon turned into quiet sobs.

"You should do it then," she suggested between breaths. "After all, we both knew that he liked you better." She forced an understanding smile upon her face.

"No... Don't say that. He loved you just as much," the male assured. Suddenly, faint growls echoed through the area, sending shudders down their spines.

"Go! I'll hold them off if they come too close!" the female said. The male Lucario hesitated, but nodded in compliment as he ran over to the cave of his home.

In the back, a bed of leaves cradled a small Riolu. He didn't have the same yellow pelt as his father or mother, but just a regular light blue coat that covered his body. The Lucario nudged him gently, causing the little Riolu to open his eyes groggily.

"D-Dad? What's going on...?" he mumbled. The Lucario quickly helped him up.

"Listen, son. Your mother and I have sensed some trouble nearby. I want you to run over to the barren earthside. The ground there will cause a disadvantage to our enemies," he explained. "Run until you see the river, and be careful and quick when going across it." The Riolu perked himself up.

"B-but! Dad, I want to help you and Mom fight!" he pleaded. "I'm strong!" The Lucario pet his head.

"I know you are, but these foes are different from the one currently living in the forest. They are ruthless, heartless creatures who hurt with no mercy... With no purpose. They're dangerous Pokemon, and you must flee from here quickly." The young Riolu had the strong urge to argue back, but scolded himself to keep silent. He slowly took his father's paw and followed him outside into the forest. The dead leaves draped the moist ground with fear and anxiety, and their feet crunched on top of them solemnly.

The Riolu stared at the familiar grassy plains in the distance. "Remember when we used to play catch there every day when you were little?" the Lucario asked. The small Pokemon grinned and nodded.

"You were so good back then!" he beamed. The Lucario smiled gently.

"Now look at you. You beat me every time," he praised. The Riolu smiled with every ounce of pride he could muster.

"When this is all over, can we play catch again with Mom?" he asked. The Lucario tensed nervously, still plastering a calm face, but then stopped to kneel down next to his child.

"Sure we can," he said.

"Promise?" The Riolu gazed at his father with wide eyes pleadingly. Reluctantly and regretfully, the Lucario exhaled.

"One day," he managed to reply. "Now let's go, we're almost to where I must leave you." The two made their way to a big pine tree before the Lucario released his paw from the Riolu's. "Alright, it's time to go. Run as fast as you can to the river and don't look back." The small pup hesitated.

"But what about you and Mom? Will you two be okay?" The Lucario soon sensed the enemies, even closer than before. He pushed him forward.

"We'll be fine. Please go!" he ushered. The Riolu's ears drooped in worry as he scooted away. He began to walk a good distance away, only to look back at his father, whose golden-colored pelt seemed dustier than before, who seemed older and weaker than he had ever seen him, whose eyes were pained with grief and heartache. He waved to his son before turning to run back to his partner.

The Riolu, now left alone, pivoted around to follow his father's orders, letting his feet carry him to the end of the forest where the land touched the water. Still, he pondered whether or not he should be doing this, if he should have followed him just in case they needed back up or any help. He was strong! Why did his father doubt him? At that moment, he stopped, his aura sensors perking up at the sudden pulse of wild energy. His eyes widened at the immense power that was displayed before him, but did not know where it came from. The suspense creeped up him like a Spinarak as he tried his hardest to call forth the courage to speak. Still, he kept silent. A patter blindly approached him with the cunningness of a shadow until the Riolu turned around just in time to see a lean figure leap towards him. He dodged out of the way, letting it land to the ground swiftly, and fled in the other direction back towards his home. It didn't matter now: All of his bravery drained from his body. He denied every thought of fighting anyone.

No... No, wait! I-I'm not...! I can't! Not now! he refuted.

The paw steps began to catch up to him. The Riolu had the capability of fighting back: He could easily shoot a weak aura sphere or two to at least hold them back, but he didn't. He only gave in to the merciless feeling of fear and continued retreating. I can't do this!  he kept repeating to himself.

The Pokemon soon reached his cave and dodged into the opening for cover. Shutting his eyes, he cringed for it not to be the end. He longed for Dialga to somehow stop time just long enough for him to escape safely with his mother and father.

Then a fierce roar pierced his ears as the figure from before skidded to a halt in front of the crevice of the cave. Slowly, it neared itself,

Closer...

And closer...

It's red and yellow eyes gleamed maliciously in the darkness.

Suddenly, a blue ball of aura impacted the creature, causing it to roar out loud in agony. The Riolu looked to see that it was his own loving mother who had come to his rescue. She looked at him reassuringly before fleeing to cause a distraction to the attacker. He caught a glimpse of it: black and blue pelt with yellow stripes, a thin quadruped that had a spark pattern of fur on the tip of its tail. It struck fear into the poor child's heart as he left the cave to watch the battle.

His mother was now fighting the strange Pokemon with her physical attacks, striking and being struck intensely. He felt scared, for the first time in a long time. Soon he spotted his father who was taking on five Pokemon at one time. He hastily shot all of them with a focus blast before running to knock out his mate's attacker. The Riolu shook, paralyzed with terror that he knew no berry in the forest could cure.

His father was soon ambushed by the other five Pokemon, and in desperation, his mother dived into the mass of bodies as well. Their son panicked as he lost sight of his parents and whimpered worriedly for them. He mentally pleaded for Arceus to spare them.

After a while, the Riolu noticed some red liquid begin to stain the Pokemon's claws and mouths. It made him feel horrified, as if by instinct. Screams of his parents came from the pile, both crying in writhing pain that the youngling begged for to stop.

At that moment, a weak aura message echoed through his head.

"My son... You must flee from here..." It was his father.

"Go find a safe place to live full of Pokemon... Go and tell them... Tell them what happened here!" his mother's voice ordered. The Riolu did not dare to move his legs.

"We love you..."

"We love you so much..."

Scared tears began to stream from the boy's eyes.

"RUN, AVIAN!" they both cried.

Moments later, the screams died down. Muffled rips and tears could be heard from underneath the heap. More, and more red dripped from the bodies of the Pokemon.

Avian knew what had happened. He knew it all too well.

He turned and sprinted away from the gruesome scene that had once laid before him.

It couldn't be happening.

But it was.

He had seen it all.

He only had to see it once.

He knew that to prove it:

Once is enough.