Pokemon fan comic: 'A Change of Heart' Part 3 Inspired by a Fanfiction by zorkbork
Characters: Lucario (Luke), Zoroark (June), Aidan (Part-timer at a cafe next to the pokemon center and a pokemon trainer), Cinderace (Ace), Greninja (Kunoichi), Gardevoir (Ms Maiden), Nurse, Wigglytuff
Cover: The Lucario named Luke and the Zoroark named June hold hands together, looking at the viewer with warm smiles on their faces. They are part of a group portrait photo with Aidan behind them with a happy expression on his face, a Cinderace named Ace winking at the viewer while holding a bouquet next to June and a Greninja named Kunoichi looking at the viewer with a peaceful expression next to Luke. The background of the portrait is then behind a modern house that Aidan lives in.
Page 1: 6 panels
Panel 1: June walks out of the pokemon center and into the town. It is late at night and the town lights are up.
Panel 2: The Zoroark looks worried as her mind is racing on about her and Luke's mutual feelings towards each other. June (in thought): 'Did I hear that right? Did I confess too early? Surely I'm mistaken. It must have been the medicine or something because there's no reason he should like me, let alone date me. After all, I did try to kill him...'
Panel 3: June hears someone calling for her off-panel and she turns around to see who it is. ???: 'Hey!' June: '!'
Panel 4: Aidan walks up to June, wearing regular clothing instead of his cafe uniform and holding a grocery bag. He smiles cheerfully as he greets her while she looks shy. Aidan: 'It's good to see you again. Had a good talk with your friend back there?' June: 'Um, y-yeah.'
Panel 5: Aidan and June shake hands as they introduce themselves. Aidan smiles at her while June smiles back nervously. Aidan: 'It's alright. You don't have to be nervous about those who help you out. I'm Aidan by the way.' June: 'June. Nice to meet you.'
Panel 6: Aidan invites June to his house for the night, still smiling at her. June accepts his offer. Aidan: 'Looks like it's getting late at the moment, so would you care to stay at my place for the night?' June: 'Oh, that would be nice. Thanks.'
Page 2: 5 panels
Panel 1: Aidan and June chat as they walk along the street to his house. Aidan: 'This walk won't take too long. My house is about two streets over to the right.' June: 'That's good. Hey, thanks for helping out earlier.' Aidan: 'No problem. Though I had gotten into trouble for not telling my manager after being late like that, it was worth it anyway.'
Panel 2: June asks Aidan some questions about him while they're walking, to which he happily answers them. June: 'So you live here?' Aidan: 'Yeah. I just moved here about two weeks ago. I wanted to have a place to myself in this quiet town.' June: 'What about that outfit you wore earlier?' Aidan: 'Oh that was my uniform at my part-time job. I usually do deliveries on good meals from the cafe next to the center you exited.' June: 'I see.'
Panel 3: Aidan and June arrive at his place. He shows it to her to which she looks surprised. Aidan: 'Well, here we are.' June: 'Woah...!'
Panel 4: Aidan and June stand in front of his house. It has a modern appearance with a bicycle. June looks at Aidan with amazement while Aidan laughs while rubbing the back of his head. June: 'I didn't know you had a home like this!' Aidan: 'Haha! You like it, don't you?' June: 'Of course!'
Panel 5: Aidan opens the front door, inviting June inside. June smiles nervously as she proceeds to go in. Aidan: 'Well then, after you, June.' June: 'Oh. Thank you very much.'
Page 3: 6 panels
Panel 1: June walks into the house while Aidan follows her and closes the door behind them, calling out for his pokemon. June's expression is curiosity as she observes the house. Aidan: 'I'm home! And I brought over a guest to stay here for the night.'
Panel 2: Ace welcomes Aidan back with a cheerful expression, waving to him off-panel. He is wearing a blue apron. Ace: 'Welcome home, Aidan! You're very lucky to do that because we made an extra serving by mista-'
Panel 3: Ace looks shocked to see June standing in front of him. June looks nervous as she tries to greet him. Aidan chuckles as he explains that June will be staying for the night. Ace: 'HUH? Hey, it's you!' June: 'Uh, h-hi there.' Aidan: '*chuckle* There's no need for that expression, Ace. This Zoroark is called June. She needs a place for the night so I'm letting her stay here with us. I assume that she'll need to visit her Lucario friend tomorrow.'
Panel 4: Ace and June shake hands greeting each other as Aidan walks past them to the dining room. Ace: 'Oh. Well then, I'm Ace. It's nice to meet you, June.' June: 'The pleasure's all mine, Ace.'
Panel 5: Aidan walks into the dining room where Kunoichi is sitting at the dining table and a Gardevoir named Ms Maiden is serving Galarian Sweet Curry. Aidan: 'Mmm, smells good. I take that it's the sweet curry from Galar, Ms Maiden?' Ms Maiden: 'It sure is. Welcome back, sir.'
Panel 6: Aidan shows June the Pokemon who live here as she enters the dining room with Ace. Aidan: 'Now that you have properly met Ace here, let me introduce to you these pokemon.'
Page 4: 4 panels
Panel 1: Kunoichi greets June as Aidan introduces her. Both Aidan and June are off-panel. Aidan (off-panel): 'This is Kunoichi, my Greninja.' Kunoichi: 'It is nice to meet you again.'
Panel 2: Ms Maiden greets June happily as Aidan introduces her too. Both Aidan and June are still off-panel. Aidan (off-panel): 'And this is Ms Maiden, the Gardevoir.' Gardevoir: 'How do you do~?'
Panel 3: June looks at Aidan with curiosity while he explains about Ms Maiden not being his partner. June: 'Does she live with you?' Aidan: 'Not really. Her partner is off for a little trip because of a request for a friend. But she'll be back to pick her up tomorrow.' June: 'I see.'
Panel 4: Aidan sits down at the dining table, announcing that it's time for dinner. Ace looks famished as he admires the sweet curry from galar. Kunoichi looks at Ace with a sweat drop expression. Ms Maiden kindly offers June a seat, to which June accepts and sits down. Aidan: 'Well then. Now that everyone's here, it's time to eat!' Ace: 'Yay!' Ms Maiden: 'Have a seat here, Ms June.' June: 'Oh, thank you very much.'
Page 5: 6 panels
Panel 1: Everyone puts their hands together in a Japanese way, except June, who looks at them in surprise. Aidan, Ace, Kunoichi and Ms Maiden: 'Itadakimasu! (Thank you for the meal)'
Panel 2: Aidan takes a bite of the sweet curry and enjoys it with a pleased expression. Ms Maiden thanks for Aidan's compliment. Ace eats his curry at a fast pace. Aidan: 'Mmm-mmm! This is a good curry, Ms Maiden. Delicious!' Ms Maiden: 'Thank you very much, sir.'
Panel 3: Ace suggests June to try the curry with a happy expression. Kunoichi advises June not to eat like Ace with her webbed hand in her face. June looks nervous but takes a spoonful of curry to try it. Ace: 'Hey, June, you don't have to watch us eat without joining in you know. Try the curry. It's really good~!' Kunoichi: 'But please do not eat as Ace does. Trust me, he will get a stomach ache soon after.' June: 'Oh, uh, alright.'
Panel 4: June puts the spoonful of curry in her mouth. She savours the taste... June: 'Mmm...'
Panel 5: ...and enjoys it! Her expression is amazed with stars in her eyes. June: 'MMM!!' FX: !
Panel 6: June eats the curry quickly, enjoying every bit of it. Aidan has a sweat drop expression while smiling as he and Ms Maiden tell the zoroark to take it easy. June: '*Munch* *Munch* This IS good! *Munch*' Aidan and Ms Maiden: 'Take it easy there!'
Page 6: 7 panels
Panel 1: Later on, everyone has had their meal. Aidan, Ms Maiden and Kunoichi put their hands together to thank for the food in Japanese. Ace and June lean back on their chairs with their stomachs full. Aidan, Kunoichi and Ms. Maiden: 'Gochisousama.' Ace: '*sigh* That was delicious...' June: 'Yeah...'
Panel 2: Aidan gathers the plates to take for washing up. Ms Maiden volunteers to help him. Aidan: 'Alight then. I'll go wash these up. You lot have a chat in the meantime.' Ms Maiden: 'I'll help you out, sir.'
Panel 3: Aidan and Ms Maiden leave the dining room with June, Ace and Kunoichi staying there. Ace speaks up by asking June some questions. June answers them with a soft smile. Ace: 'So June. How's everything with your Lucario friend? Did he feel alright?' June: 'He's doing okay. I managed to have a quick but good talk with him.'
Panel 4: Ace feels pleased for June talking about Luke's recovery. Kunoichi rests her head on her hand as she asks June what they talked about. June smiles nervously as she tries to explain. Ace: 'That's great news, June! I'm so pleased for you!' Kunoichi: 'So what did you two talk about?' June: 'Uh, well...'
Panel 5: June explains what happened with concern. Ace and Kunoichi listen in on her story. June: 'As soon as I met him in his room, he told me that he wanted to collect some berries to repay me for the hospitality I gave him.' Ace: 'Hospitality?' June: 'Yes. You see, I decided to look after him after he surrendered to me. After I... I...'
Panel 6: Kunoichi closes her eyes as she guesses what June had done. Ace looks at Kunoichi with a shocked expression. June looks down in shame as she confirms that Kunoichi's guess is right. Kunoichi: 'After you attacked him out of your instinct?' Ace: 'Attacked?!' June: '... Yes, that's right.'
Panel 7: Ace looks at June with worry, asking why she would do such a thing. Kunoichi's expression is calm and collected as she explains that June was from a bad neighbourhood with her kind. June looks sad as she also confirms this. Ace: 'What?! Why would you do that?! There's no way you can defeat a pokemon in a battle and make friends with them after they surrendered to you!' Kunoichi: 'I can assume that you are from a habitat forest of Zoroarks that leave their children at birth to let them survive by themselves, are you not?' June: '... That's also right.'
Page 7: 5 panels
Panel 1: June covers her face with her paw as she continues her story. Ace feels sorry for her as he listens to Kunoichi, who is still calm and collected. June: 'So after I heard him saying that he wants to repay me, I got emotional and apologetic. As I apologised to him, I admitted that I was a selfish pokemon who let others get hurt. And that I should have taken him into care to treat his leg. But then...'
Panel 2: June uncovers her face from her paw and rests on both of them as she tells Ace and Kunoichi Luke's feelings. June: '...he calmed me down, saying that there's no reason to be upset. That I did so much for him and that I acted out of instinct.'
Panel 3: Ace looks at June with curiosity as he asks her what happened next. Kunoichi keeps looking at June, still looking calm and collected. June is off-panel. Ace: 'And then?' June (off-panel): 'And then we... We...'
Panel 4: Ace and Kunoichi look at June, waiting for what she has to say. June is silent as she still rests her face on her paws. Ace, Kunoichi and June: '...'
Panel 5: June closes her eyes as she drops the bombshell, making Ace and Kunoichi's eyes widen as their expressions are shocked. The background becomes a cracked glass as they hear what June said. June: '*sigh* We confessed our love.' SFX: CRASH!!
Page 8: 6 panels
Panel 1: Ace and Kunoichi look at June in shock, blushing red. June puts her hand on her forehead, blushing in embarrassment. Ace: 'W-W-W-W-W-WHAAAAT?!' Kunoichi: 'A-alright, h-hold it right there. W-why did you confess your love to a Lucario?' June: 'I-I don't know. I only just met him last night. I think it was out of instinct...'
Panel 2: Ace stands up from his chair telling June straight out, still blushing. June looks nervous and frightened as he talks to her. Kunoichi tries to calm Ace down. Ace: 'INSTINCT?! I think not! There is no way a pokemon can confess out of instinct!' Kunoichi: 'Ace, calm down!'
Panel 3: Ace tells June the truth with a serious look on his face. June looks at Ace with sudden realisation. Ace: 'The way I see it is that even though you've just met him and it happened in an instant, you have feelings towards the Lucario. And because you tried to help him get better he started to feel that way too!' June: '!'
Panel 4: Ace sits down again, taking breaths as Kunoichi calms him down. June is frozen in place, still looking shocked. Ace: '*Pant* *Pant* *Pant*' Kunoichi: 'There there. Deep breaths, okay?' June: '...'
Panel 5: June looks down in sadness as she admits Ace's truth. Ace and Kunoichi look at June in surprise. June: 'I... I guess you're right. But...' Ace and Kunoichi: '!'
Panel 6: June feels worried as she is unsure what Luke said was true. June: 'Since he confessed his feelings back after I confessed mine, I started to have some doubts as soon as I left him there. I mean...'
Page 9: 8 panels:
Panel 1: June looks down as she shares her worries with Ace and Kunoichi, who look at her with sorry feelings. June: 'What if he doesn't like me in that way? He said he loved me, but what if it is as a friend? Or a sister? What if he doesn't want to be my mate?'
Panel 2: Ace and Kunoichi blush again with confused looks after what June said. June blushes in embarrassment while she covers her mouth, realising what she blurted out. Ace and Kunoichi: 'Mate?!' June: '!!' June (in thought): 'Why can't I keep my big mouth shut?!'
Panel 3: Kunoichi leaves the dining room, feeling like she needs some sleep after all that happened in a day. Ace calls for Kunoichi to come back, still blushing from what June said. Kunoichi: 'Alright, that does it. I am going to sleep in the bedroom. Ace, you sort it out.' Ace: 'Kunoichi, wait!'
Panel 4: Ace and June look at Kunoichi as she closes the door off-panel. Ace has a sweatdrop expression in panic, still blushing. June feels embarrassed while she still blushes. SFX: SLAM Ace and June: '...'
Panel 5: Ace and June look at each other, not knowing what to say.
Panel 6: Ace and June sigh heavily, both feeling like they're going too far in the conversation. Ace and June: '*sigh*'
Panel 7: Ace looks apologetic as he apologises to June for his overreaction. June waves her paw at Ace, telling him not to apologise. Ace: 'June, I'm sorry I overreacted. I was just too-' June: 'No. No. It's alright. I just have... mixed feelings.'
Panel 8: June looks to her side, feeling conflicted about whether what Luke said was true. Ace looks at June with concern, thinking about what to advise her. June: 'I mean, after what happened to him, I'm not sure if he's telling the truth about his feelings or not.' Ace: '...'
Page 10: 8 panels
Panel 1: Ace's face lits up as he shares his idea with June, who looks at him with surprise. Ace: 'Hey, I have an idea! Why don't you talk with him disguised as someone else?' June: 'Huh?'
Panel 2: Ace explains his vision of the idea with a happy expression. June listens carefully with a curious expression. Ace: 'Hear me out. You're Lucario's friend-- Actually, does he have a name?' June: 'Yeah, it's... Luke?' Ace: 'Got it. Luke told you his feelings, but you're not sure if that's true or not. So how about you disguise yourself as a nurse - or anyone that can suit you - and then visit him to check on his feelings?'
Panel 3: June ponders Ace's idea, wondering if it'll work. Ace smiles at June as he assures her that his plan will work. June: 'Would that even work?' Ace: 'Of course. As long as you keep it positive.'
Panel 4: June looks at Ace with sadness as she gives him an example of what she could say. Ace holds up his paw to stop her, saying that negativity will do no good. June: 'But what if I tell him that I was to run off and never return? If I feel too guilty for-' Ace: 'Not happening. Negative comments will get you nowhere.'
Panel 5: Ace smiles calmly and convinces June to be positive when disguising herself to talk to Luke. June pauses in thought, her claw touching the tip of her mouth. Ace: 'Just give him a good talk. Tell him you're not feeling well enough to talk to him if he asks about you. Then ask him if his feelings towards you we're real when you have the chance. Trust me on this.' June: 'Hmm...'
Panel 6: June smiles at Ace, acknowledging his idea. Ace smiles back as he shakes hands with June. June: 'Alright. I'll take part in your idea.' Ace: 'Sounds good to me!'
Panel 7: Ace rubs the back of his head, mentioning one thing June should know. June looks puzzled, wondering what it is. Ace: 'Oh, and uh, there's one other thing I'd like to mention. You're a Dark-type pokemon, right?' June: 'Well, you could say that. Why?' Ace: 'Well... How should I put this?'
Panel 8: Ace has a sweat drop expression as he explains that June and Luke have different species types, making them impossible to make an egg. June's jaw drops as she has a shocked expression with colour failure. Ace: 'If your lover is a Lucario, then he is a fighting and steel type pokemon. That means that if you were to have kids, you'd be out of luck. Because you and Luke are not actually in the same egg group. Heh heh...' June: '!! Wh-wha...?!'
Page 11: 7 panels:
Panel 1: Ace gets up from his seat and walks to the dining room door, inviting June to come to bed. June pauses for a bit then agrees. Ace: 'Well, I guess it's time for me to go to bed now. It's already late. Care to come?' June: 'Uh... Sure.'
Panel 2: Ace and June head to the stairs to see Aidan about to climb up. Aidan greets the two with a cheerful expression. Aidan: 'Oh hey you two! You coming up to bed?' Ace: 'Yeah. June and I had a little but nice chat.' Aidan: 'That's nice.'
Panel 3: Aidan, Ace and June walk up the stairs, talking about what happened. Aidan: 'Oh June, I heard from Kunoichi that you had some mixed feelings towards the Lucario earlier. What happened? June: 'Well...it's kinda complicated.' Ace: 'But I did talk her into having confidence for her next visit tomorrow.' Aidan: 'Oh. Alright then.'
Panel 4: Aidan walks down the hallway to his room once he reached the stairs with Ace and June. He bids them a good night with a happy expression. Ace and June bid Aidan good night too with happy expressions. Aidan: 'Well, down here is the way to my bedroom. Ace will show you the pokemon bedroom you'll be sleeping in. Sleep tight you two!' Ace and June: 'Good night!'
Panel 5: Ace holds the doorknob to the pokemon bedroom, giving June an exciting look as he prepares to show her. June has a curious expression, wondering what could be inside. Ace: 'This is the bedroom I share with Kunoichi. It's a fun bedroom made for us pokemon.'
Panel 6: Ace opens the door to let June see the bedroom. June's reaction has an amazed look. Ace: 'Ta da~!' June: 'Whoa!'
Panel 7: The scene cuts to the pokemon bedroom. It has some plants on the windowsills, two double beds on both sides of the room and some pokemon plushies to go with them (there are three for each bed. The bed on the left has the plush of a Riolu, a Zorua and a Rockruff, while the bed on the right has the plush of a Froakie, a Scorbunny and a Pikachu). Kunoichi is on the right bed, resting on its right side while holding a Froakie plushie in her arms. There are two sub-panels in this panel. The sub-panel on the top left has June looking excited to see the bedroom while the sub-panel on the bottom right has Ace with a cheerful expression. June: 'I never thought that pokemon rooms look good like this!' Ace: 'Well, any trainer can make their pokemon bedroom however they like. As long as their partners like the appearance.'
Page 12: 8 panels
Panel 1: Ace hops into bed next to Kunoichi, gesturing June to the bed next to them. June thanks Ace and heads to the empty bed. Ace: 'I usually share this bed here with Kunoichi. You can sleep in that one over there.' June: 'Thank you.'
Panel 2: Ace bids June good night as he snuggles with his Scorbunny plush. June does the same as she gets under the covers. Ace: 'Sleep tight, June.' June: 'Yeah. Good night.'
Panel 3: June watches in curiosity as Ace falls asleep with his Scorbunny plush in his arms and Kunoichi still sleeps with her Froakie plush. Ace and Kunoichi: 'Zzz...' June (in thought): 'Is this how they sleep? Maybe it's like holding your future child in your arms...'
Panel 4: June reaches for the nearest plushie on the bed to cuddle with... June (in thought): 'Maybe I should sleep with one too...'
Panel 5: ...and takes the Zorua plushie. She looks surprised. June (in thought): 'Oh!'
Panel 6: June looks at the Zorua plush in awe as its cheerful look reminds her of what she used to be. June: 'That Zorua. Its expression reminds me... of my young days...'
Panel 7: June smiles warmly as she cuddles with the Zorua plush. June (in thought): 'Well, even though I've learned that we aren't in the same egg group, he and I would be a perfect couple for raising our kids.'
Panel 8: June falls asleep in bed with the Zorua plush in her arms. A full moon can be seen in the starry sky outside the window beside her. June (in thought): 'I hope he's okay. And that he's telling the truth that he loves me the same way I do him...'
Page 13: 6 panels
Panel 1: The scene cuts to the town in the daytime. It focuses on the Pokemon Center. Textbox: The next day...
Panel 2: Inside the Pokemon Center, the nurse does her checklist to see if anything is in order.
Panel 3: Aidan enters the Pokemon Center in his cafe uniform, greeting the nurse with a happy smile. The nurse greets back happily. Aidan: 'Hello nurse!' Nurse: 'Oh hello there! Welcome to the Pokemon Center. Is there anything I can do for you' Aidan: 'Yeah, I was wondering if you can let me see the Lucario today. I want to check up on him to see how he's doing?'
Panel 4: The nurse shows Aidan the waiting room. Aidan goes in to have a seat. Nurse: 'Certainly. Please wait here for a moment, sir.' Aidan: 'Thank you so much.'
Panel 5: Aidan sits in the waiting room, waiting calmly. He breathes a sigh of relief. Aidan: 'Phew~!'
Panel 6: However, it is actually June using her illusion ability to disguise as Aidan as she shares a concerned look on her face. Her real form is transparent while her disguised form is physical. June (In thought): 'Sorry that I'm doing this Aidan. I'm doing this until I'm ready to reveal myself to him.'
Page 14: 7 panels
Panel 1: Back in the patient room, Luke is staring out the window, thinking of someone...
Panel 2: The nurse enters the room to inform Luke of his visitor. Luke obliges the nurse with a smile. Nurse: 'Excuse me, sir. You have a visitor today. This time it's the trainer that helped you.' Luke: 'Thank you, nurse. Please let them in.'
Panel 3: Aidan (which is June in disguise) comes into the room with a happy greeting. Luke greets him back the same way. Aidan: 'Hi there! It's good to see you're doing well. Luke, was it?' Luke: 'Yes. Thank you for seeing me.'
Panel 4: Aidan sits beside Luke as they have a lovely chat together Luke: 'So, you're on break?' Aidan: 'Yeah. I thought about meeting you to pass the time. My Pokemon want to meet you too as soon as you get better.' Luke: 'Well I hope I get better enough to meet them.' Aidan: 'Yeah.' Aidan and Luke: '*Laugh*'
Panel 5: Luke feels peaceful as he tells Aidan that he reminds him of someone. Aidan looks puzzled as to what Luke meant by that. Luke: 'You know, your rescue reminds me of someone else.' Aidan: 'What do you mean?'
Panel 6: Luke fantasizes his dream cloud as he recalls about a young-adult female trainer who rescued him as a Riolu. The female trainer wears a summer dress as she carries the Riolu, looking bruised and battered. Luke: 'Well you see, about a year ago, I was a young and reckless Riolu who tried to survive in the wild. However, I got beaten up and left to rot by bigger Pokemon. Then a female trainer came to my rescue and carried me to her home for treatment.
Panel 7: Aidan smiles as he is interested in Luke's story. Luke smiles back as he continues to recall his days with the trainer who rescued him. Aidan: 'That's amazing. You were so lucky to have her.' Luke: 'Yeah, you're right. I had that same thought when she helped me.'
Page 15: 8 panels
Panel 1: Luke fantasizes more about his time with the female trainer in three moments. One moment being the time she healed him with bandages and medicine, one moment being the time she helped him practice Aura Sphere and one moment where they had fun in the sun together. Luke: 'She was kind and caring. She helped me to become smarter and stronger. In fact, she helped me master my aura sphere technique. She was my only best friend.'
Panel 2: Aidan looks puzzled at what the Lucario has said. Luke sighs as he recalls the last time he got to be with his trainer friend. Aidan: 'Only? What do you mean?' Luke: '*sighs* Well, I thought that I would be together with her for a long time. Until one day...'
Panel 3: Flashback to see Luke as a Riolu hugging his trainer with tears in his eyes. The trainer pets his head to assure him it will be okay. She is also lying under a tree in the middle of a field. Luke (off-panel): '...my rescuer fell into sudden illness. I tried the best I could to help make her better, but I couldn't find any ingredients to make the medicine to cure her. I felt helpless as I apologised to her for not being much useful. But she rested her hand on my head and said:'
Panel 4: Riolu Luke's face still has tears in his eyes but he doesn't cry as he looks up at his trainer off-panel, her hand stroking his head. Luke (off-panel): '"Don't worry. Whatever happens, I'm glad to be here with you."'
Panel 5: Aidan looks sad as he asks what happened next. Luke responds with a grief expression. Aidan: 'What...happened then? Luke: 'Well... *sniffle* She died after a few days. I was heartbroken after that.'
Panel 6: Aidan puts his hand on Luke's paw, feeling sorry for the Lucario. Luke has a sad smile as he assures Aidan that he is alright. Aidan: 'Oh dear... I'm so sorry to hear that...' Luke: 'Oh please don't be. I'm alright now.'
Panel 7: Aidan looks curious now to know what Luke means by what he said. Luke explains what kept him going after his trainer's death. Aidan: 'How come?' Luke: 'Well after her death, I made a grave for her under a tree we usually played. And when I was done I tried to think about what to do now that I don't have her.'
Panel 8: Luke looks up with an inspired smile as he remembers the one thing his former trainer said. Luke: 'Then I remembered something she once said to me. She told me that as long as I never forget the good times I had, I will keep living. When I did that, I promised on her grave that I will keep on living.'
Page 16: 7 panels
Panel 1: Luke smiles at Aidan as he recalls that as how he evolved into the Lucario he is. Aidan looks surprised to hear that part of the story. Luke: 'At that moment, my promise to her is what caused me to evolve into this. Since then, I became a lone wanderer, protecting pokemon with pure hearts from the ones who are corrupted.' Aidan: 'I...I had no idea...' Luke: 'It's okay. Come to think of it, I might have forgotten that promised when I was pinned down from June that night.'
Panel 2: Luke remembers June and asks Aidan how she is. Aidan ponders on what to say. Luke: 'Speaking of June, how is she doing?' Aidan: '! Oh. June. Well, uh...'
Panel 3: Aidan sighs as he tells Luke about the reason June couldn't come. Luke looks puzzled as he asks what happened. Aidan: '*sigh* You see, June couldn't bring herself to talk to you. In fact, she decided to stay at my place while we're at work.' Luke: 'Really? What happened?'
Panel 4: Aidan explains June's feelings with a sorrowful expression. Luke pauses at what Aidan has said. Aidan: 'Well, she spoke to me that she couldn't help but feel guilty for what she put you through. She wanted to run away from it all, but I convinced her to stay and have a think about this.' Luke: '...'
Panel 5: Aidan is about to finish telling June's feelings towards Luke when he started to laugh. Aidan: 'I think she has feelings toward you but it seems like she can't bear with-' Luke: 'Pfft!'
Panel 6: Luke laughs with his eyes closed. Aidan looks at him in confusion, asking why he's laughing. Luke: '*Laugh*' Aidan: 'Wh-why are you laughing?
Panel 7: Luke crosses his arms as he smiles at Aidan, exposing his identity. Aidan's eyes widened as he has a shocked expression. Luke: 'Sorry, it's... kinda funny to me. Considering the fact that she's right in front of me.' Aidan: '?!'
Page 17: 5 panels
Panel 1: Now that June's identity is exposed, her disguise glows as she transforms back into Zoroark. Luke looks away, squinting an eye as her transformation is a bit bright. Luke: 'Ah!' Luke (in thought): 'So bright!'
Panel 2: June, now reverted into her Zoroark form, looks shocked and confused. Luke turns back to June, smiling warmly as he begins to tell her how he saw through. June: 'H-h-how did you know that?!' Luke: 'Well...'
Panel 3: Luke explains how he knew June's plan, still smiling warmly. June looks annoyed as she points at herself. Luke: '...I had a hunch that you would be using your illusions to trick me into talking with someone else at some point. So I decided to play along until your disguise tells me about you.' June: 'So you tricked me like THAT?' Luke: 'Pretty much.'
Panel 4: June folds her arms and looks away from Luke, pouting as she does so. June chuckles as he apologises. June: 'You are so cruel. WAY crueller than I was.' Luke: '*chuckle* I'm so sorry.'
Panel 5: Luke then starts to tell June what he knows about her appearance. June looks at Luke, blushing a little. Luke: 'But what I really know about you is those eyes.' June: 'Huh?'
Page 18: 6 panels
Panel 1: Luke blushes as he gives the Zoroark romantic eyes as he expresses her beautiful appearance. June looks surprised, blushing a bit harder. Luke: 'You have those gorgeous, unforgettable eyes. And though you may change your appearance, you can never hide your aura.' June: 'L-Luke...'
Panel 2: Luke spreads his arms wide, inviting June for a hug. June still looks surprised, keeping that blush.
Panel 3: June smiles warmly as she finally understands Luke's feelings. Happy tears welled up in her eyes.
Panel 4: June wraps her arms around Luke the same way she did the night before. Luke wraps his arms around June and they lock themselves in an embrace.
Panel 5: Luke and June nuzzle together, expressing their love even more. Luke: 'I love you my Zoroark.' June: 'I love you too, my Lucario.'
Panel 6: Luke and June rest on the hospital bed, both smiling warmly as they cuddle each other.
Page 19: 6 panels
Panel 1: Luke and June are talking to each other during one of her visits to the Pokemon Center as the days go by. Textbox: 'Luke spent the next few days in the Pokemon Center with June coming in to visit whenever she could.'
Panel 2: Luke is introduced to Aidan properly as he meets Ace and Kunoichi. June shows Luke that they brought gifts. Textbox: 'One time she brought Aidan and his Pokemon over to greet him, bringing him gifts to lighten the mood. Luke knew that this was the real Aidan, but kept his promise to June to keep what happened a secret.'
Panel 3: June talks with Luke at night, laying on an extra bed next to his. Textbox: 'Sometimes she would stay with him for a night or two, telling him about some events that happened during his stay or have some illusion shows to entertain him.'
Panel 4: June helps Aidan and his Pokemon with his part-time job, delivering goods from the cafe. Textbox: 'Sometimes when they weren't together, June would help Aidan and his Pokemon with his part-time job, delivering goods...'
Panel 5: Luke lays dormant in his bed while the nurse and her Wigglytuff treated his injuries. Textbox: '...while Luke would stay in the Pokemon Center, laying dormant in his bed while the nurses treated the multitude of injuries he sustained.'
Panel 6: Split Panel: Top Panel: June looks happy as she thinks about Luke while doing her job. Bottom panel: Luke smiles as he closes his eyes and thinks about June Textbox: 'Regardless, they were most certainly thinking of each other.'
Page 20: 7 panels
Panel 1: The scene cuts to the Pokemon Center during the daytime. Textbox: 'Then at long last...'
Panel 2: Luke exits the Pokemon Center, a temporary cast surrounding his leg as it continues to heal. He feels relieved to be leaving the place.
Panel 3: June walks up to Luke with a happy expression, waving to him as she does so. Luke waves back to June, also having a happy expression. June: 'Heya Luke~!' Luke: 'Hey sweetheart~!'
Panel 4: Luke and June embrace each other, finally together again.
Panel 5: Luke and June look each other in the eye, telling how much they missed each other. They also blush a bit. Luke: 'I missed you so much at night when I'd be all alone in the clinic.' June: 'I missed you too. Sorry I wasn't there for you at those times.' Luke: 'It's alright, June.
Panel 6: They separate from their hug and are now holding paws, still looking each other in the eye. Luke: 'Well, what do you want to do now? Any plans in mind?' June: 'How about we visit the cafe Aidan works at? There's a celebration to your recovery, and anything you want is on him.' Luke: 'Sounds good to me. Looking forward to having some yummy food after having so much boredom eating the garbage they served me.'
Panel 7: Luke and June giggle as they head to the cafe next to the Pokemon Center.
Page 21: 8 panels
Panel 1: Luke and June enter the cafe. But it's kinda dark in there. Luke: 'That's odd. Aren't they open already?'
Panel 2: The lights come on as Luke was greeted by party poppers and ribbons. He has a surprised expression on his face. SFX: POP! Luke: '!'
Panel 3: Aidan, Ace and Kunoichi are at the table, congratulating Lucario on his recovery. Aidan and Ace have party poppers that were already used, while Kunoichi holds a banner saying, 'Congratulations!' All of them have happy expressions. The table has some delicious baked goods, treats and a drink placed for each seat. Aidan, Ace and Kunoichi: 'Surprise!' Aidan: 'Congratulations on your recovery, Luke!' Ace: 'You pulled through!'
Panel 4: Luke feels happy as he is being brought by June to the table. Aidan smiles at Luke as he explains the reason for his idea. Ace pulls a chair for the Lucario to sit in it. Luke: 'Aw, you guys! You didn't have to surprise me.' Aidan: 'Well, we wanted to make sure you have the best time out of the Center.' Ace: 'Not to mention that you should have asked for a celebration in the first place.'
Panel 5: Luke sits next to Ace, thanking everyone for the party. Luke: 'Well that's true. Thank you anyways.'
Panel 6: June sits next to Kunoichi, who turns to Aidan off-panel. Kunoichi: 'Now that Luke is here, would you do the honours master?'
Panel 7: Aidan raises a glass, toasting for Luke's recovery. Aidan: 'I will indeed. A toast for Luke the Luacrio's recovery!'
Panel 8: All the Pokemon at the table raise a glass with Aidan to start the party. Everyone: 'Cheers!'
Page 22: 6 Panels
Panel 1: Everyone has a good time at the party. Aidan drinks his soft drink while Ace and Luke talk to each other over some crepes and Kunoichi and June talk to each other over ice cream.
Panel 2: Aidan asks Luke and June something with a polite smile. Luke and June bend over to see Aidan with paused looks. Aidan: 'So, uh, I've been meaning to ask you guys. What are you going to do next when this is over?' Luke and June: '?'
Panel 3: June ponders about what Aidan asked, while Kunoichi helps herself to a crepe. June: 'You know, I didn't think about that. I have taken a liking living in this town.'
Panel 4: Luke ponders too, while Ace looks at him while eating a piece of cake. Luke: 'I didn't think about that too. I'm not sure If I could go back to living in the forest again.'
Panel 5: June nods her head in approval of what Luke says. Luke looks down and has a moment to think. Ace raises his hand as he proposes something. Kunoichi takes a sip of her drink. June: 'Me too. That forest brings me nothing but bad memories.' Ace: 'Then how about living with us?'
Panel 6: Luke and June turn to Ace with surprised looks on their faces. Ace happily tells them about Aidan accepting Pokemon without a home. Luke: 'Huh?' June: 'Living with you?' Ace: 'Yeah! Aidan always welcomes Pokemon who don't have a place to go. He even let me stay with him when I was a stray Scorbunny.'
Page 23: 8 panels
Panel 1: Aidan approves Ace's proposal with a smile on his face. Kunoichi nods in acceptance. Aidan: 'That's a good idea, Ace. Your thoughts Kunoichi?' Kunoichi: 'Well if Master approves, I do not see why not.'
Panel 2: Luke and June look at Aidan off-panel with paused looks. Aidan (off-panel): 'What do you two think?' Luke and June: '...'
Panel 3: Luke and June look at each other sharing a paused look.
Panel 4: Luke and June smile in agreement. June: 'Well, that house sure felt like a good home for my fresh start.' Luke: 'And it seems that our new friends are kind and welcoming too.'
Panel 5: Luke and June look happy as they accepted the proposal. Luke and June: 'We'll live with you guys~.'
Panel 6: Ace has a cheerful expression while Kunoichi smiles calmly at the two. Aidan looks delighted that Luke and June accepted. He puts out his arm in to persuade them to join in. Ace: 'Yay!' Aidan: 'Then it's decided. Welcome to the family.'
Panel 7: Ace, June, Kunoichi and Luke put their arms together and put together a hand pile, with Lucario's hand on top. They all laugh together with happy expressions. Everyone: 'Ha ha ha ha ha!'
Panel 8: A close-up look of the hand pile, with a glowing effect. Textbox: The end.
Page 24: 8 panels
Panel 1: Cut to a shot of Aidan's house. Textbox 1: 'Epilogue' Textbox 2: 'Soon enough, Luke and June moved into Aidan's home.'
Panel 2: Ace, Kunoichi and June show Luke the pokemon bedroom they are sharing. Luke looks amazed by its features. Textbox: 'After giving the tour of the house, June and the others showed him the bedroom. And Luke absolutely adored it, because it reminded him of his former trainer.'
Panel 3: Ace has a shocked colour drain when he hears that Luke saw through June's disguise. Luke laughs nervously as June and Kunoichi snickered behind them. Textbox: 'Then at some point, Luke told Ace that he sensed June's trickery on her first visit, leaving him shocked that his plan backfired in the first place.'
Panel 4: Aidan goes out with his Pokemon friends at his part-time job, all looking happy. Textbox: 'All those aside, Aidan's Pokemon family grew, and together they helped out during his part-time job.'
Panel 5: The scene cuts to Luke and June sitting in their bed together, talking while holding each of their pre-evolution plushies. Textbox: 'As for Luke and June, they couldn't be happier together. At some times, they spent time together having a mini date. But they will have a proper one. Trust me.'
Panel 6: Luke and June sleep together, cuddling with their plushies. Ace and Kunoichi also sleep in the background. Textbox: 'But for now let's leave them here. They deserve to have their time to themselves.'
Panel 7: Cut to a photo frame of the same cover page sitting on a desk. Textbox: 'As for what will happen next... Well...'
Panel 8: A close-up of a Pokemon Ranger badge sitting next to the frame. Textbox: 'That will be another story.' Textbox 2: 'End'
