In the grand banquet hall, Johan stared at the Lucario, its eyes tightly shut, emanating an aura of intense frustration.
Then, he turned to look at Gengar, who was awkwardly grinning and trying to sneak back to his side unnoticed.
Johan held his forehead, exasperated.
What's going on?!
Gengar didn't know Aura Sphere nor possessed any "Aura Powers." So how in the world did it activate Aaron's staff?
Could Gengar actually be the Hero of Aura?!
But as it shuffled back to Johan, trying to act innocent, it looked more like a "criminal mastermind" than a hero.
Johan grabbed Gengar by the spike on its back, stopping it from slipping into the shadows.
"How did you do that?" he asked in a low voice.
"Ka-kaah..."
Under Johan's intense gaze, Gengar reluctantly pulled out its phone and showed him.
"You've got to be kidding me," Johan muttered, pressing a hand to Gengar's head as though rubbing its nonexistent temples.
"Don't tell me your phone uses Aura!"
He could accept that humans, Pokémon, trees, and even mountains might resonate with Aura... But a smartphone? That was too much.
Gengar nodded earnestly.
Just as Johan was about to lose it, the phone screen flickered, and an adorable chibi Giratina appeared, winking at him.
"...???"
Wait... hold on a second.
Johan blinked rapidly.
"Give me a moment to process this."
Theoretically, it made sense. Giratina could learn Aura Sphere and possessed unparalleled mastery over Aura. But why was it showing up on Gengar's phone?
Giratina was known to observe the Pokémon world through reflective surfaces like mirrors, water, or glass. A smartphone screen could technically serve the same purpose.
But why Gengar's phone?
Was it because Gengar often cosplayed as Giratina?
...Actually, that wasn't impossible.
Johan let out a long sigh, resigned to the absurdity of it all.
The screen shimmered briefly before displaying a single line of text:
[Young Man]: You're welcome.
"...What?"
For a solid three seconds, Johan was too stunned to think.
Then it hit him.
The self-proclaimed 'Destroyer' who wanted to 'take back what's his'... That was Giratina?!
He recalled how Giratina had introduced itself in their first online conversation, declaring itself the "Master of Destruction" with a slew of dramatic titles.
At the time, Johan had dismissed it as the ramblings of an edgy teenager.
What's worse, Giratina had believed him when he suggested it find a hobby, like watching TV dramas or training Pokémon.
Was that why it started "mentoring" Gengar?!
Johan inhaled deeply.
To be fair, after dealing with Mewtwo, Giratina wasn't as much of a shock.
Still, how did he keep attracting these legendary Pokémon?
At least Giratina was currently stuck in the Distortion World. As long as Dialga and Palkia didn't mess with spacetime, and Shaymin wasn't captured, it should stay that way...
"Ka-kaah," Gengar said, tugging Johan's sleeve.
It pointed at Lucario, who had emerged from the staff.
"Hmm?"
Johan turned to see Lucario glaring at them with undisguised hostility.
[What a vile Aura!]
Lucario's brow furrowed as its disdainful voice resonated directly in Johan's mind.
Wait... I can hear Lucario?
Johan froze, taken aback.
Before he could ponder further, a sudden sense of danger surged.
"Gengar!"
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar stepped forward, shielding Johan as it conjured a swirling Shadow Ball in its hands.
Lucario darted forward, its body radiating blue light as it charged toward them.
Gengar hurled the Shadow Ball without hesitation.
"Lucaa!"
Lucario deftly deflected the attack with an Aura Sphere, the two energies colliding in a loud boom.
The commotion brought the banquet to an abrupt halt as everyone turned to look.
"Johan?" Steven frowned, reaching for a Poké Ball.
Queen Ilene raised her hand, her voice calm but firm.
"Lucario, stop this! Look around you—this is no place for battle!"
Lucario hesitated, its gaze flickering to the surroundings.
When it locked eyes with Gengar, who grinned maliciously while juggling two more Shadow Balls, it froze in confusion.
[That Aura... It's gone?]
Lucario's expression shifted to one of bewilderment as it took in its surroundings.
[Where... Where am I? And... Aaron! Why did he run? Why?!]
"Gengar, put it to sleep," Johan said.
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar closed the distance in an instant, locking eyes with Lucario.
Its gaze rippled hypnotically, and Lucario's body swayed under the effects of Hypnosis.
Johan stepped closer, his voice low and soothing.
"Sleep now..."
With a soft thud, Lucario collapsed, succumbing to slumber.
As the room erupted into murmurs, Johan rubbed his temples again.
Thanks, Giratina. Really. Thanks for waking up this mess.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the hall...
"Mew?!"
The playful Mythical Pokémon froze mid-air, sensing an ominous, dark Aura.
It was far more distinct and menacing than what Lucario had perceived.
"Oowu?" Vulpix tilted her head, puzzled by Mew's sudden shift in demeanor.
Mew hesitated only for a moment before its body glowed with a kaleidoscope of colors.
With a flash of light, it vanished on the spot.
Dratini returned moments later, carrying a plate of desserts.
"Driii?! (*゜ロ゜)"
Where's Mew?!
Vulpix's expression turned serious.
Was Mew in trouble?
"Don't worry," Johan reassured Queen Ilene.
"It's just disoriented. Give it some time, and it'll recover."
The queen nodded, trusting Johan's expertise as a Pokémon psychologist.
"Sir, is everything alright?" Steven approached with Roxanne and Flannery in tow.
Johan waved them off. "It's fine. Just a little misunderstanding."
Lucario's predicament ran deep.
A thousand years ago, a devastating war swept across regions, with Cameran Palace and the Tree of Beginning caught in the chaos.
Sir Aaron, the original Hero of Aura, sacrificed his life to transfer all his Aura to Mew, who then used it to halt the war.
To protect Lucario, Aaron sealed it within his staff, leaving behind a cryptic message: I will not return once I leave the castle.
Lucario had interpreted this as desertion.
Without Ash present to inadvertently trigger the same drama as in the movie, Johan had assumed Lucario's seal would remain undisturbed.
But no... Giratina just had to meddle.
Johan sighed, glancing at Lucario's still-slumbering form.
Its misunderstandings would never be resolved unless it learned the truth about Aaron's sacrifice.
"Vulpix, help it out," Johan instructed.
"Oowu?" Vulpix trotted over, her demeanor slightly distracted.
"What's wrong?" Johan asked.
Vulpix explained how Mew had suddenly disappeared after sensing something frightening.
Johan sighed again.
Mew... Another mischievous little troublemaker.
If Mewtwo knew its genetic blueprint came from such a playful Pokémon, it would probably be speechless.
Under Vulpix's Hypnosis, Lucario's tense expression gradually eased.
Outside, Tinkatuff stood alone on the palace balcony, eyeing a massive, gleaming blue crystal.
Its grip tightened around its hammer as it tilted its head in contemplation.
Is this thing metal? Could I forge it into my hammer?
It looked expensive.
"Chu!"
Tinkatuff's eyes lit up.
Only one way to find out!
Just as it raised its hammer, the crystal's surface shimmered with dark red veins spreading ominously.
"Chu?!"
Wait, I didn't even hit it yet!
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Powerstones?
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