Prologue
"Here Aaron."
The little black haired, blue-eyed boy looked curiously at the clear gem that was handed to him. "What is it, mum?"
His mother smiled at the boy. "It's our family heirloom. It has gone through your father, his father and the father of his father. I want you to take good care of it Aaron, for it is now yours."
Aaron cast a shy glance to his father's portrait hanging on the stark white wall beside the fireplace. "Do you… do you think I'll be able to live up to him?"
The boy's mother looked to the strong man envisioned in the portrait. The face was serious, yet the twinkling blue eyes held humour, but with a deadly energy pulsing, bringing fear to any person who looked into them. The hands were clasped around a sturdy oak staff, which held…
Aaron's eyes widened. "Mum…" he whispered. "Is that… the heirloom?"
His mother's lips curved into a soft smile. "Yes Aaron. It is. Your father was an Aura Knight."
Aaron's mother held out the gem. A little hesitantly, Aaron took it, tossing it gently between his hands, marveling at how the subtle nooks and crannies reflected the dim moonlight. It was hard to believe that his father had only held it in his hands a few days ago.
A clear ringing alerted Aaron. His head sprang up, only to look his mother in the eye. "Aaron, I'll be joining your father soon. This is yours. Fulfill your dream my child, make us proud."
In her hands was the staff shown in the elegantly painted portrait. The wood was dark, but well polished. A hollow empty dish sat at the tip. In silence, Aaron took hold of the staff. His mother's arms dropped back to her sides. Her last words scared him.
Aaron carefully fitted the clear gem into the dish. It slotted in place with a click. Aaron turned the staff around in his hands, listening to the soft sighs of the two metal teardrops that hung off the sides. They were crying.
But why? Aaron wondered. The boy was soon to find out.
The boy's mother picked the 8-year-old Aaron up and hugged him tightly to her chest. "Good night, my knight."
The little Aaron, still clutching his father's staff, fell asleep in his mothers rocking arms. Soon, the same arms lowered him into his bed and gently tucked the blankets in under his chin. The door clicked shut. Night fully descended.
Shadows. So many of them… it was impossible.
An impossible mission. But it had to be done, for the kingdom, for the queen.
My lady… I wish you well!
Shadows. So many, too many. They were overwhelming. I can't… I couldn't… Aaron! Forgive me… I was foolish…
I didn't know…
until too late… … …
The bright sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, shining in Aaron's eyes. "Mmmph…" he mumbled, turning over. After a while, he sat up.
There was something wrong.
Aaron sniffed the air suspiciously. What's going on? He hastily dressed and padded down the stairs to the kitchen. His mother wasn't there.
Aaron hurriedly reassured himself. Ever since his father left, there had been no one to do the 'man' jobs. Now, his mother had to fetch the water from the wells, to harvest the eggs from the chicken house, to reap the fields of grain. No, it was perfectly natural for his mother to be out. She was probably just getting the eggs for breakfast.
Then, Aaron heard soft murmuring coming from outside. Walking to the front window, Aaron cautiously opened it. He pressed one eye to the gap and peered out. Two men dressed in Cameron's royal colours appeared to be arguing. What were they doing here?
"It must have happened!"
"No," one retaliated. "They wouldn't dare! Not since last time!"
"But that was different," one said. "Now, it's a defenseless citizen, not some hero wannabe."
"Don't let the Queen hear you say that," one guard urgently hissed. "She'll put you on cold cabbage soup for three weeks if she did."
"Yeah, but what are we going to tell… him?" one complained.
"Hey! We still don't know if it happened or not."
Aaron's eyes narrowed. What are they talking about? It seems rather serious, maybe I shouldn't be eavesdropping… Suddenly, the boy heard it, the words that shocked him to the core.
"Ria's dead."
Aaron sank into his knees and dropped to the cold, kitchen floor. The boy felt his eyes heating, bitter water gathering in the edges. A hero doesn't cry, he told himself firmly. But this… this was different. He cupped his face with his hands and wept, shoulders shaking, tears cascading through the gaps between his fingers. Why? Why? Why did death have to take his last living relative?
Eyes red and swollen, he looked around his home. Everything looked so empty… so out of place. Where was his mother, working hard at the stove? Where was her loving embrace whenever he injured himself?Where was that woman, that woman who nurtured him?
A glimmer of light drew Aaron's teary eyes. A clear gem set in a rich, wooden staff. Aaron clambered to his feet and started towards it. Once again, he felt the smooth wood in his hands. Once again, the memories came. The boy gripped it tighter and tighter, unleashing all his pain and sorrow into that one vessel.
Finally he let go. New light shone in his eyes. "No…" he whispered. "I won't be so dependent on anyone anymore. I will make my own way into this world. I will be a hero. Like dad."
Aaron picked up the staff and raced to the door. Suddenly, it opened. A Royal guard stepped through. Aaron bumped into him and fell spread eagled onto the floor. The guard saw the boy and halted, albeit a bit awkwardly, then started to say something. But Aaron didn't stop to listen.
The boy leapt to his feet and pushed past the guard to the wild outside world. The gem of the staff in his hands glinted brighter than ever, as if preparing for its new master. He vaguely heard the Royal guard finally realizing what was happening.
The clip-clop of hooves on the sandy floor.
The deep thrumming through the earth. Aura…
He was running… running away, until he could come back again. Until the memories drained out of this now unfamiliar place.
Finally, he reached it. The hill. The majestic rock formation, or the Tree of Beginning loomed before him. Aaron's eyes flashed. Raising his staff, he made a vow. He would return, stronger than ever! He filled his lungs and released his dreams to the fresh morning air.
"The Wave is in me!"
A/N Well, what do you think so far? Took me ages, but I finally am satisfied with it! :D Reviews EXTREMELY welcome! Next chapter will be talking to you about Lucario... this is just something so you can understand a really, really, really later chapter... o_O Maybe I should of put it later in... oh well...
Me: Hah, hah! I'm so brilliant, I did it!"
Aaron: *whines* Why did you put me as a big crybaby?
Me: *slaps him across the face* Because you are. And Lucario learnt it from you!
Aaron: How?
Me: *turns on TV. TV is playing Mew and the Wave Guiding Hero: Rukario, last part* See?
Aaron: Nope... oh... *Lucario is crying at Aaron's last speech*
Me: *smiles smugly*
Aaron: ...