The mountain was quiet that day. In a glade in the hollow center, a young man stepped out of a cave, followed by three Lucarios, two male, one female. The man walked up to the marble slab by the glade's small pond. He sighed and put his hand on the dome of Aura that surrounded his teacher's body.

Ten years. It had been that long since Hunter had first met Lucario.

Taren walked up beside Hunter and looked at his real father's body. That's him?

Hunter nodded. "Yeah. Time can't reach him in there. I'm sorry it took me this long to take you here, Taren."

It's okay, Dad. It was worth the wait.

Hunter smiled and ruffled Taren's ears. "I'm doing what he wanted. Teaching the next generation of Aura users."

Can I…touch it?

"Yeah. You deserve to."

Taren slowly walked forward slowly, stopping just short of the dome. He gently placed a paw on the barrier, closing his eyes. My real dad…I'm sorry I never got to know you when you were alive. But if you made Hunter what he is today, you were a father to us both. Sleep well.

He opened his eyes and stood there for a while longer. After a while he turned, tears glistening in his eyes. Hunter walked over and hugged his son, smiling. "You've grown up so much. He's proud of you."

I hope so, Dad. Taren whispered, burying his head in Hunter's chest.

They stood like that for a while until Lucar spoke up.

Uncle Hunter? Lucar said from behind them. It's getting late. Aunt Bianca will be waiting and you know she doesn't like to wait.

Hunter smiled. "Okay, okay. We're going."

They left the glade, though as Hunter entered the cave, he could see Lucario standing beside the dome, giving him a thumbs-up.

Hunter returned the gesture, grinning.

As he, Taren and his family, and Bianca, her stomach noticeably swollen, rode the train back to where they would return to Johto, he laid his head back and smiled.

Thank you, Lucario. he thought. I wouldn't have done all of this without you. I never would have met all of the friends I've made. Never would have done the things I've done.

He smiled again and took Bianca's hand, kissing his wife softly on the lips as the train continued its route, taking them all home.

The End

So it's finally done. I really enjoyed working on this. Nothing else has quite the same flair that this series did. I know I can write a whole bunch of other stories, but I'll remember writing these for a long time. I hope you all have enjoyed the series and are going to miss it just as much as I am. So for the last time on this series...Read and Review.

It started out as a feeling,
Which then grew into a hope.
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a word.

And then that word grew louder and louder,
Til it was a battle cry,

I'll come back,
when you call me,
No need to say goodbye.

Just because everything's changing,
Doesn't mean it's never
Been this way before.

All you can do is try to know,
who your friends are,
As you head off to the war.

Pick a star on the dark horizon,
And follow the light,

You'll come back,
When it's over,
No need to say goodbye.

You'll come back,
When it's over,
No need to say goodbye.

Now we're back to the beginning,
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet.
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget.

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger,
Til they're before your eyes,

You'll come back,
When they call you,
No need to say goodbye.

You'll come back,
When they call you,
No need to say goodbye...