Everything seemed to have returned to its original, beautiful state! Except... for the Lucario who was about to depart!
In the footage—
The scene shifted to where Ash and the others were. Kidd Summers instructed Banks not to leak the data regarding the Tree of Beginning.
She ultimately decided to protect the nature of this place, though... it might be a bit late.
Lucario's body was radiating blue light, with arcs of blue electricity crackling across his form from time to time. This was the precursor to his physical collapse.
Lucario leaned against the crystal where Aaron was entombed. He had decided—if he was to go, he would go here. Ash came before Lucario, looking at him with unbearable worry.
'Ash, I...'
Just as Lucario wanted to say something, his overflowing Aura touched a nearby Time Flower. The flower bloomed, the surrounding light dimmed, and a figure suddenly appeared beside him! It was none other than Sir Aaron!
Aaron was sitting slumped next to Lucario, his body also crackling with blue electricity. Like Lucario, he had overexerted his Aura.
"Lucario... I'm sorry..." "At that time, I could only seal you. Otherwise, no matter where I went, you would have followed me." "In the end... You probably would have suffered the same fate as me!"
Aaron stared into the distance, his eyes filled with apology as he murmured. Even at the brink of death, he was still thinking of his loyal partner.
Lucario's heart shook; he tried to touch Aaron, but his hand passed through thin air. This... was merely an illusion of the past.
'Sir Aaron... the one who should say sorry... is me!!''To think... I actually doubted you!!'
Unfortunately, Aaron could no longer hear Lucario's words of regret. But even if he knew, he likely wouldn't have minded. After all, Lucario wasn't at fault—Aaron was the one who sealed him without a word.
The phantom Aaron from the Time Flower took off his gloves and placed them gently on the crystal. "To exchange one's life to end a meaningless war... my life alone is enough."
"Of course, I have no regrets. Although my life was not long... in that castle, with you and Lady Ilene, I spent a wonderful time. And... I successfully protected you." "That time is the proof that I lived."
"Thank you, Lucario... the time I spent with you made me truly happy!"
"Teaching you, training with you, eating, chatting... if I could, I would really like to see you one more time! My... friend..."
By now, Lucario was weeping like a lost puppy. Waves of remorse crashed against him! 'Sir Aaron... he considered me a friend! He said the time spent with me was wonderful!!''But I... I doubted him! I thought he betrayed me and the castle! I'm sorry! Sir Aaron!!' Clear tears fell from Lucario's increasingly blurred face.
At Cameron Palace (Real World):
The real-world Lucario was weeping just like the one in the footage. His stoic face was twisted with agony.
He hadn't exhausted his strength like his counterpart, but the pain in his heart made him wish he could vanish from the world! The emotional trauma he suffered was far greater than that of the Lucario on screen!
"Lucario, are you alright?" 'Lady Ilene... I want to find Sir Aaron so badly!' "Find Aaron? But he's... do you mean you want to follow him to the afterlife? No! Absolutely not!" Ilene's face turned pale.
"Following Aaron" usually meant death. "Lucario, the you in the footage had no choice. You in the real world are alive and well! Don't think such foolish things! You are the friend Aaron gave his life to protect!"
Lucario: ... A thousand words weren't as effective as one mention of Aaron. Ilene successfully talked him out of his suicidal thoughts.
Yes, his life was saved by Aaron. If he threw it away now, what would Aaron's sacrifice mean? But... living was so painful now!
'Sir Aaron... Ash... what should I do...' Ilene looked at Lucario with a complex expression. Better to live a hard life than to die. She couldn't watch him end it, hoping only that time would heal his wounds. Besides... the inventory hadn't ended yet! Ash and Lucario had the most screentime; reasonably speaking, Lucario might receive a reward! What if... just what if?
In the footage—
After saying the word "friend," Aaron's phantom disappeared. Whether it was the Time Flower's effect ending or Aaron truly moving on was unknown. However, within the crystal, a trace of Aaron's Aura remained—perhaps a final gift from the Tree of Beginning.
Lucario knelt before the crystal, consumed by regret. 'I was so foolish, Sir Aaron! I don't deserve to be your follower!' Ash couldn't take it anymore.
He grabbed Lucario's hand. "Don't say that! Lucario, you are a true Aura Guardian!" "Aaron used his power to save the world, and you used yours to save the Tree! Just as Aaron said... he sealed you because he didn't want you to walk the same path as him!" "But a thousand years later, destiny still led you to the path of an Aura Guardian. You are just like Aaron... a true hero!"
'Ash... ugh!' Lucario tried to speak, but violent blue currents surged through him again, leaving him slumped against the crystal.
"Lucario, don't... don't die!" Ash cried. Even knowing it was coming, he couldn't accept it. They were friends! The misunderstanding was cleared! Why did it have to end like this?!
'I'm... not dying... I'm just... going to Sir Aaron's side!''Ash... sorry, I can't be your partner... but I believe... as an Aura Guardian, you will find your own Lucario!''Becoming your friend... made me very happy...'
With his last breath, Lucario's body dissolved into light. But where he stood, a blue orb of light appeared—his remaining Aura.
Simultaneously, the Aura within Aaron's crystal broke free. The two orbs spiraled around each other and flew toward the top of the Tree.
"Ash... was that...?" Kidd asked. Why was Aaron's Aura still moving? It had taken Lucario's Aura with it. Ash watched the pair of lights vanish. "I think... Aaron's Aura stayed behind because it was waiting for Lucario."
[Catlin: Waaaah~ Such a good dog, why did he have to go!! My handkerchief is soaked!!]
[Drasna: This ranking even makes an old lady cry~ Lucario must have gone to find his Sir Aaron!]
[Cynthia: I hope that in the other world, Lucario and Aaron can travel together happily.]
[Professor Kukui: Since Ash is Aaron's reincarnation, I believe there is a reincarnation of Lucario somewhere in this world! They will surely meet again!]
[Leon: Exactly! I believe the reincarnated Lucario will follow Ash to the top of the world!]
The audience now firmly believed in reincarnation. If Ash was Aaron, then Lucario had to return, too!
In the footage—
Ash and Kidd emerged from the Tree. The others were overjoyed to see them safe, but their smiles faded when they saw that Lucario was missing. Ash looked at the horizon, hand over his heart. "Lucario... must be with his friend now." "Aura is with me!"
The screen dimmed. Just as everyone thought it was over, a new scene appeared! In a world of thick mist, two figures stood on a cliff. As the mist cleared, the audience gasped!
There stood Sir Aaron, wearing his hat and smiling, and beside him... was Lucario! Was this a flashback? But then, Lucario took out a bar of chocolate, broke it in half, and handed it to Aaron.
The world froze. That chocolate... was the one Max gave to Lucario!
Does this mean... Is Lucario still alive?
The scene shifted back to the palace. Ash looked at a painting that used to show Aaron alone on a Pidgeot.
Now, the painting showed Aaron standing on a cliff with the Hero's Staff, and Lucario was standing right beside him! Ash's sad expression turned into a look of pure joy. "Lucario... you found your friend."
—End—
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