When memories are shackled, fate remains the only hope for a monochrome’s future.

         Penned by Aurora

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Headcanon #53

A silvered blurred phantasm of life. In mere blinks, the gentle mirage faded—leaving behind the vivid landscape. For fear resided the unknown; apparitions were rarely met with pleasantries. Premature judgements were not uncommon—a constant reminder that indirect resistance followed every journey.

More than visual differences caused the cloudy mirage this kindhearted Pokemon left in its wake; mannerisms and leisurely activities fed this outward image. The soft, unheard crunches of nature with every articulated step forward. The mute, almost breathless momentary interactions that accompanied the jackal’s boundless curiosity. Eyes that mere mirrored those who would gaze upon them. Only under their twinkles could one discern personality and identity in the creature.

Unaware of such presentation, the monochrome continued forward through every outlined starlit path. Never wavering under self searched guidance, a neutral expression best fit regardless of experience. No bitter resentment, nor disdain. For even rejection meant a glimpse of recognition among the trees and wind. Proof of uniformity among all that normally stood out by comparison.

Being trapped under the guise of a ghostly figure did not dishearten; only an innocent spark to learn and add colored vibrancy on one’s own perceived life.

aotoreiki​:

The manner of this pale Lucario; the careful and deliberate way they carried themselves, unrushed but meaningful, hesitant yet not without purpose; it prompted Ice to respond similarly. The number of Lucario he’d met in his life was small, let alone wild encounters like this, but there was something beyond this Lucario’s unusual colouration that made them feel unique.

The first question, he answered with a simple nod. Hopefully if they already knew human speech, they would also understand this gesture. If not… he guessed they’d still be able to pick up on what he meant, right?

Why come here? If Ice had been having this conversation with another human, or even with a Pokémon such as Espeon, he would have repeated the phrase aloud, just to fill the space before he answered. Here, though, he remained silent. Somehow it didn’t feel right to speak unnecessary words.

His deep blue eyes shifted down toward his notebook momentarily, before looking back at the Lucario. “I’m… practising, practising sensing it.”

Not just anywhere was a good place for him to practise, thanks to his sensitivity. He needed somewhere that offered enough for a good exercise, but not so much or so close together that he was overwhelmed. Out here, it was alive enough that he was given plenty to work with, and spacious and calm enough that he was able to concentrate without too many problems.

Then a faint smile appeared on his face as he added, “I’m still not very good at it, though.” Not anywhere near as good as they certainly were.

Utterly starstruck; the subtle feeling overwhelmed one’s inner core. Not only was mutual communication of the sorts a seldom rarity, but the act of talking about aura-related activity was a first. Not once could the jackal share such things with another. After all, humans just…didn’t seem to harness their capabilities. Not till now.

Grays glittered; Aura was enraptured by this new individual—even without otherwise expressing it. Right now, in this vacant piece of space, nothing else mattered. Attention fixated, and eyes slightly dilated as the human’s words escaped. Something about the simple act of sensing the surrounding aura colored the jackal’s gray mind. A response couldn’t linger inside any longer.

「…What do you…see?」 Everything that Aura understood came through his honed lenses; their unique perspective mattered. Were the points of interest as vivid, as clear as through the canine’s own? With all that humans appeared adept at, only guesstimates could be made for their potential. It was this meter Aura wished to gauge.

Upon listening to the other’s words with perked ears, a gentle shake of the head motioned out. It was fairly awkward in execution, but the symbolism ringed clear. With a gentle movement, the monochrome’s dark paw created a fixed point of aura energy along the base. A circulating sphere that grew in minuscule amounts every few moments. A harmless act, meant more as a demonstration exercise.

「You…are good.」 Supplemented with a nod, Aura brought the paw containing a sphere closer to his midsection—as if using it as an figurative extension of the canine’s own life energy. 「It’s…always different. There is…only getting better.」 With those final vocals, the miniature aura sphere dissipated.

While the true meaning intermixed in those cryptic sentences remained difficult to understand, the thought and care behind it tonally showed. Through his own eyes, the act of perceiving any aura meant exploring an entirely new realm of possibilities. To convey the severity of that was nigh impossible for such an asocial being. It wouldn’t stop the honest attempts, however.

syllusion​:

With snow crunching audibly underfoot, her natural hunched stance allowing her to conserve what little body heat slipped through her coat, Sylvia found herself having a surprisingly easy time navigating the frigid landscape. Aura’s guidance, even if he didn’t mean for it to be that per se, allowed her to figure out where she could step safely, and her claws provided the grip she needed.

All in all, the only real complaints she might have were the particles of snow and ice accumulating in her mane, nose and ears, and the fact that her eyes dried out more quickly than usual in the cold, dry breeze.

Visibility was pretty good in spite of that, though, allowing the Zoroark to spot the cave up ahead as soon as she had a clear line of sight. She couldn’t see the Lucario’s face very clearly from where she walked, but if she had to guess based on his tone, this must be where they’d been headed all along.

“You live here?” The question had been intended as a rhetorical one, but she found an answer in his silent invitation.

A simple glance was all it took to both interpret his gesture, and notice how naturally it seemed to come to Aura. Yet another thing to think about… had he practiced this one particular gesture for some reason, or was there more to it?

Claws clicked against the smooth stone floor, leaving wet prints of molten snow in their wake. She seemed just as cautious to avoid the chalk markings as she had been to avoid the flowers outside, but couldn’t keep some droplets from landing on the drawings of what almost looked like a miniature night sky.

Why Aura had drawn a Pokémon’s closest approximation to a star map on the floor of this seemingly random cave, she could only wonder… and her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of the stuffed toy on the ground. Somehow, the sight of it sent a small shiver up her spine that she knew couldn’t be because of the cold. She hadn’t had her arms wrapped around herself for warmth since entering the cave, as the air here was noticeably mild compared to outside and the wind couldn’t touch them here.

But even if she’d wanted to ask Aura about it, she wouldn’t even have known how to formulate the question. That was why she let it rest for now, and, upon hearing his words, moved to the back of the cave and sat down as comfortably as she could. Not that she minded humid underground spaces – this was nothing if not a larger, more spacious version of a vulpine’s den.

“Uh. This place is… nice.”

Far from a lie, but not quite the complete truth either, it was all Sylvia knew how to express for the time being. Part of her was hoping for him to say something… even if it ended up just being more of the short, cryptic statements she’d come to expect from him.

Situated in a unique time capsule, their segregated location marked a strange deviation from the rest of the world. Time, as normally perceived, diminished to a halt. The dull grays that filtered through their eyes painted a cave of mystery. While unbeknownst to the monochrome, nothing about the home’s essence was natural.

From an unseen flower variety, to the lack of visible life and aura signatures—these mountains harbored profound secrets waiting to be discovered.

With a soft swoop of one’s left paw, it glided along the surprisingly silky ground surface. Creating a lunar motion, Aura briefly grew distracted outlining what he believed to be constellations through each drawn star. While normally reserved, hints of activity sparked in that little mind—causing unique behaviors never before seen witnessed. The finishing spectacle? Both eyes closed themselves throughout the exercise—showcasing just how rhythmic and systematic it truly was.

Of course, the Zoroark’s presence wasn’t forgotten. Far from it, words would soon follow as that dark paw held its position on the sixth star.

「Apologies. I’m…trying to see…something.」 Normally this space was permanently vacant—allowing for all kinds of strange behaviors to take place. With Sylvia now part of it, certain social customs were taken into consideration. Thus, the words that Aura wished to express.  「I…want to know what’s…next for me.」

While innocent in execution, the reality was far more heartwarming. These little details were given to allow the Zoroark a closer view into Aura’s mind. These motions, these actions—it all had meaning, to him. Understanding his path forward required this, to him. Thus, allowing her presence presented new opportunities.

「Sylvia.」 Once again, an actual name came out. In pairing, those illuminating grays opened themselves—gazing closer in the Zoroark’s direction. 「How do you…plan ahead?」 Asked with genuine curiosity, it would be the first of a few questions. Now that their destination was reached, a chance for deeper communication.

aotoreiki​:

Continuing to reach out into the intangible landscape of passing presences and ambient energy, Ice succeeded in making contact with the aura again. The change in wavelength immediately told him that they’d taken notice of his discovering them. Having not been in another aura user’s presence for over a year, the contrast between the indifference he normally experienced when touching upon others — who were oblivious to his searching mind — and this sudden, immediate recognition now, was striking. It felt…

Strangely reassuring. They were curious and surprised, just like him.

Before he knew it, they had approached the hilltop where he was sitting. Having shifted himself just enough to face them, Ice found his blue eyes resting upon a Lucario; although not one like any he’d seen before. They sported a muted colouration, and had a quiet and inexpressive way of carrying themself. Despite the lack of expression, having left his reception to the other’s waves open, he could pick up on their faint anxiety.

Another tremor of surprise would run through Ice’s own aura at the sound of the Lucario’s voice, soft as it was. Them approaching was one thing; but speaking out in human tongue was another, and wholly unexpected.

“…the same way you do,” he responded simply. He couldn’t think of a better way to word an explanation right now. It was basically true, right?

Under normal circumstances laid a thick misty curtain between onlookers and the canine-like mirage. With just a blink, the faint figure could disappear from sight—leaving behind near untraceable footprints. Opportunities to interact with the achromatic shade were synonymous with witnessing a shooting star. To many humans, Aura’s existence was nothing more than a myth.

Yet, here upon this warmly lit hilltop—a chance encounter. Only moderately distanced, the full view of the jackal became visible. No escapes, no removals. An interaction reciprocated himself.

Initially, exchanging waves was the primary form of communication gathering. Words were seldom let out for minutes that followed. There were no threatening disturbances that required caution. Instead, the Lucario’s paw reached out towards seemingly empty space. Aura entered a subconscious trance that aligned oneself closer to thoughts and emanated vibrations; something near incomprehensible to the average being. Yet, this small quiet moment gave clarity—and hope. Almost signaling the path forward was safe.

「You…can learn, too?」 Segmented words carried through, curiosity spiking. While a possible mutual understanding could be achieved through aura and sensory-related sharing alone, answers still remained locked behind complex conversation—a particular weak point. 「Why…come here?」

Sentences trailed. Something about the differences between this figure and others of their kind piqued an interest. There were no blaring prejudgments, neither difficult thoughts that damaged the dull one’s already frail sense of vanity. Speaking, while a heavy task, had a sort of flow that couldn’t be reciprocated with other humans. Something unknown was voicing to the monochrome internally—this was the right path forward.

team-destiny-rp​:

While he did want to show off the results of his training, Vance felt that this was a more important revelation.  He steeled his nerves and took a deep breath.

“What I’m about to show you… Just please don’t over react.” 

The jackal then untied the bandana covering his eyes, and slowly took it off.  What was there to greet his mate was a face full of scars around his eyes.  A rather nasty set of three slash marks that traveled from one side of his head to the other.  Vance then briefly opened his eyes, revealing to Aura not the deep red pupils he was so used to, but instead eyes that were missing them completely, his pupils becoming the same as the whites of his eyes. 

Vance would then close his eyes again, and would cover them with the red bandana once more.  The Lucario let out a deep sigh.  “So… Yeah.  This happened during training.  While trying to learn my Ren, I got blindsided.”  He rubbed his arm up and down.  “My dad always told me that having scars is a sign of shame, at least in my family.  So the bandana… It’s not just for remembering my master… But to also cover the scars…”

「…When have I ever overr—」

Time didn’t halt for even a moment. With the bandana slipping off the jackal’s features—a disturbing discovery.

「C-crk!」 A sympathetic groan escaped the monochrome. A sharp painful gash multiplied over the Lucario’s already mistreated eyes. Front teeth grit in response; nothing about this looked right. Unfortunately, their shared realities usually came with followups. As Vance opened the pair, the absence of pupils was nothing short of terrifying.

A sweat drop slid down the side of the canine’s discolored cheek—an environmental shift in mood took place. All one could do was subject themself to the accompanying story. Ears erected, ready for anything.

「…I see.」 Lack of words for the growing concern of his past. Something irked the inner recesses of Aura’s mind. A simple thought: this must’ve been one of many encounters over the years. This observation welled discomfort inside. A minor pain in the jackal’s stomach was felt. If only he’d been there.

As things seemed all but gloomy, Aura distanced a dark spiky paw over—tapping the Lucario’s forehead. A symbol, followed with words of pure encouragement.

「Shame…no, that’s not right.」 Words came out without thought. Almost instinctually what vocalized next stemmed from his warm, gentle heart. 「You’re here…and alive. It shows no matter what the world has thrown, you came back.」  While hints of remorse for not being there lingered on, a little twinkle in the monochrome’s gray glowed. A soft expression, one that pierced right through Vance’s bandana.

「…much stronger, too.」

aotoreiki​:

Since sensing aura was always simultaneously Ice’s strongest and weakest point, Espeon had written him up a list of tasks to hopefully improve at it. Therefore, today, he’d dragged himself out off the beaten track and sat himself down on top of a sunny hill to do a “survey” of the area.

Sounded easy, but it was actually a pain in the backside, thanks to the condition that he had to write down as much as he could figure out from every single thing he picked up on. One by one. He’d been at this for hours now and managed to fill about three and a half notepad pages.

He had a headache.

Just one or two more. Then I’ll call it a day. Hopefully this would be enough to satisfy the psychic cat. After pressing his hands to his head in an attempt to get the headache to clear just a little, he reached out again.

…Huh?

Barely five seconds in, the search was interrupted; Ice jolting as his half-shut eyes snapped wide open. He had come across something… unusual, unexpected. A wave that was equally as receptive as his own.

An… aura…? He pressed his hand to his forehead, eyebrows scrunching down as he reached out to the presence again. No… a Lucario?

Colors washed from his sun-kissed fur during the ventures east. monotone hues dulled as yellows pierced; eyes had to redirect from the blaring shine that brightened the land. Subtle winds carried this canine through to his next destination—often the environment lead him to the next vantage point.

It was moderately peaceful; those that roamed the area did little to hinder Aura’s travel. There wasn’t a great need to scan the surroundings in these conditions. After years of solitude, signs presented themselves without the need for aura.

Of course, these infrequent periods of slacking often led to sudden encounters.

「…Cr?」 Noised with moderate silence, eyes fixated off in the distance. Almost like a disturbance in the very fabric of space; the sudden collection of one’s signature unconsciously triggered a response. Antennae slowly perked, given an almost instantaneous view of the perpetrator. However, what the jackal would find would be far from the norm.

It was a human, capable of something unusual.

Ticks of this nature generally only occurred when another scanned the monochrome’s presence. Under normal circumstances this was usually a Pokemon. However, for the first time ever, it was a humanoid figure. Their distance? Scarily close.

In a twist of pure irony, what possibly could be perceived as invasive actually gave off opposing signals int he jackal’s mind. Rather, a blatant curiosity stemmed. Whoever they were, he wished to understand them. And in this sudden thought, a rarity occurred. The jackal quietly moved closer to get a better view of this aura-user. Nothing in their wavelengths signaled any danger. The systematic pulses almost felt…soothing, although strange as well. As their shared distance closed to a conversing length, it was but the Lucario who opened his maw first.

「How…did you do…that?」 Spoken soft; it was clear speaking in the human’s linguistic tongue always brought a hint of nervousness—even if non-present in his features. Aura’s desire for understanding allowed for this breakthrough in communicating. A seldom moment not often granted.

team-destiny-rp​:

Vance was a bit taken aback when Aura moved in to embrace him.  He knew that he had missed a lot over the years.  But to see his mate be more comfortable in making contact, it brought a smile to his face.

“I’m happy that you’ve never stopped believing in me.  I promise that I’ll keep you and Noel safe from harm.  No matter what it takes.  And I’m so happy to see you doing much better than when I left.”

He would break off from the hug, taking in a sigh.  He was nervous about this next part.  Showing something that happened during his time away.  “Now… Let’s head to the room.  I… I need to show you something.”

As those tender moments passed, Aura’s mind filled with prior thoughts—something important to be shown. As soon as the jackal’s maw creaked open to speak of such, Vance himself uno reversed the entire situation. A staple between them.

「Our room? Sure…lead the way.」 Unfortunately, Aura’s own never came to surface—not yet. Instead, hints of nerves circulated throughout the other’s wavelengths. Whatever this was, it possibly wasn’t as positive. Steeling oneself for the potential outcomes, Aura moved alongside Vance together. No time like the present.

Rather than maintain silence, the monochrome decided to oblige their mention of catching up. This was the perfect opportunity to showcase just how much more social the canine had gotten.

…even if it was still minor.

「…I hope you’re…prepared to show what you’ve learned.」 Spoken unlike the usual Aura; hints of flair and personality shined. Even the creases of his mouth shaped into a smile—albeit still soft in expression. 「Noel and I have been doing some training of our own. I’m…not the one you should be afraid of..!」

team-destiny-rp​:

Vance sighed. “It was intense. And I’m sorry that I had to be out of yours and Noel’s lives for so long. I traveled back north, came across another Lucario who trained me. The bandana… He wore it all the time, and he ended up passing away during the three years. He was so kind… And this is all I have left of him.” He grabbed onto the bandana covering his eyes. “It helps me to focus. Gives my eyes the much needed protection they need.”

After a lapse of silence, Vance walked up to Aura and gave him a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you again. Again… I’m sorry about the sudden exit. But it was for the better. I’m much stronger now. And more capable of protecting you and Noel from danger. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. So we can catch up as much as we need to.”

「…You’ve been through a lot.」 Words came out in a soft tone; the monochrome’s form lowered to tend to the mess on the floor. A few stains here and there—nothing that couldn’t be remedied later. This task was only briefly halted to give some attempted heartfelt words in response. 「But you…never left us.」

A dark paw extended out, only to press itself along the jackal’s chest. It wasn’t entirely the right spot, but the sentimental thought behind it carried regardless. 「You’ve always been here.」 Those words were met with the gentlest of smiles—something only a particular achromatic Lucario could manage.

It was only after elevating oneself to a standard position when the contact with Vance ensued. Under normal circumstances Aura would’ve felt tinges of discomfort; however, years changed things. In a strange twist, echo blue arms slowly wrapped themselves around the jackal’s upper region, leaning in to give a hug of his own. It was…almost natural!

This tender moment allowed for both misty eyes to close; it was a long awaited moment to cherish—years in the making.

「Your strength, I can feel it.」 Truthfully spoken, it was difficult to facade strength with a canine adept at visually gauging it. Of course, it was more than just their aura that he wanted to vocalize. 「I’ve…never stopped believing in you.」 Their embrace tightened with those final words. While there was much more to say, every question and thought would only slowly trickle out over time. Sharing this peaceful contact was all the simple jackal could ask for.