"Riolu, the Emanation Pokémon." Oak's Pokédex chimed. "Using its mysterious powers, it can detect and analyse the auras of other beings, allowing it to read emotions and communicate telepathically. They have been used as companions by Aura Guardians for millennia."
"There's that word again." Ash noted as he held Riolu, looking down at the little blue canine. "Aura. What exactly is it?"
Oak placed the Pokédex back on the desk. "This isn't exactly my area of study. But from what I understand, aura is a spiritual energy contained within life forms. According to legend, Aura Guardians were humans with the ability to manipulate and wield aura, though there's little evidence of them existing anymore. Riolu and its evolution have always been an elusive find; it's a wonder that you were able to stumble across a Riolu egg so easily."
Ash felt Riolu restlessly squirm in his grip. He wasn't sure what it was, but something told him that his encounter with the Pokémon egg was far more than him simply 'stumbling across' it. The flashes of memories he had felt when he first touched the egg made him almost certain that it couldn't have been a mere coincidence that he'd crossed paths with it.
"So, it's aura that's letting you talk with me telepathically, isn't it?" Ash guessed, addressing Riolu directly. "How do you do it?"
The Pokémon frowned. "I don't know. I just…" He gestured vaguely. "… do it, y'know?"
"I'm sure for a Riolu, its powers are instinctive." Oak said. "After all, their kind is built to sense and control aura; it's second nature to them."
All this talk about aura and powers was making Ash's head spin. He'd heard stories about the Aura Guardians and their faithful companions maintaining peace and prosperity in kingdoms long ago, but he'd always assumed his real life would be far removed from those old tales.
Oak carried on. "From what I gather, the aura contained in your Riolu's egg reacted to you touching it, possibly allowing you to control aura for a split second. Of course, this is just a hypothesis and I have no way of knowing for sure at the moment…"
Something had changed within Ash when he touched the egg. Something had awakened inside him, though at the time, he had no idea what it could have been. Whatever it was, Ash was certain it was there to stay.
The names 'Sir Aaron' and 'Lucario' echoed in his mind. They had a familiar ring to them, as if he had personally known such personalities some time in his life.
Ash tuned out Oak's voice as Riolu spoke to him. "Can we go back outside?"
A user of aura could be granted the power of telepathy; that's what the Pokédex had said. Ash drew a deep breath and focused his thoughts to send a message to Riolu, imagining he was sending a message though the space between them.
"Can you hear me?"
The Pokémon stared at him blankly and he sighed. Well, it was worth a try. Though he really should have known better than to leap to conclusions like that. What were the odds that he'd have the mythical power to use-
"I can, but that doesn't really answer my question." Riolu responded at last, sounding as confused as Ash was stunned.
Delia noticed his mouth hanging open. "Ash? Are you alright?"
Ash snapped his mouth shut. "Yeah, I'm fine." He said, failing to hide the excitement that was buzzing through him. "You can understand what I'm saying?" He said in his head. Riolu stared at him, confused. Ash concentrated on the words and repeated the question.
Riolu's expression cleared and he nodded. "Can we go outside now?"
"Yeah, we can!" Ash scooped the little Pokémon up in his arms and all but pranced toward the lab's doors.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Delia asked, voice filled with concern. "You kept staring into space and grimacing."
Ash shouted one last assurance that he was perfectly fine before the doors swung shut behind him. The Professor shared a look with Delia. "Delia, does he know about the armies?" He was hoping his theory wasn't true.
"No, Samuel. I've tried to protect him from that as much as possible." Delia answered honestly. She didn't want her son going out there fighting the Red and Green armies.
Oak sighed and pinched his nose. "It may be too late for that. Ash is a smart boy; give him some credit, my dear."
Outside, Riolu decided to teach Ash about Aura and how to form both empathy bonds and permanent connections with any Pokémon he may later capture.
The young Pokémon placed a tiny paw on Ash's chest and Ash gasped slightly as he felt a pull on his Aura. Riolu was forming an Aura bond with the boy and waited for him to finish it. Still unsure of what he was doing, Ash felt for his power and concentrated on it.
Noticing Riolu smile at his progress, Ash settled the bond and reinforced it for permanency.
"It takes practice. You'll get there."
Leaning forward a little, Ash pooled some Aura into his palm. He quickly released the pent up aura in a pulse that would initiate an empathy link.
The reaction was instant; his mind was suddenly filled with rushing images and emotions. A burning desire to become strong, confusion over being separated from a man, a thirst to be a Lucario again, to name a few.
Pushing past Riolu's emotions, Ash opened his heart and let it spill into Riolu. Ash had no idea what Riolu saw within him, but he could feel an overwhelming sense of belonging and loyalty build up in the jackal.
Taking this as a good sign, Ash used his aura to communicate across the empathy link. "Will you join me on my journey and accept me as your trainer, Riolu?" Hardly a moment passed between them, before Riolu nodded.
Ash let out a slight sigh of relief and pressed on. "If you and I are going to be partners, then I would like to form an aura bond between us. Will you allow it?"
An aura bond was a technique many Aura Guardians used to bond with their Pokémon in a special and very unique way.
Meanwhile, back inside Professor Oak's lab, the researcher was still discussing things with Delia when the phone rang on Oak's desk.
Samuel picked it up, answering with: "Oak's laboratory, Samuel speaking."
At first, all that could be heard on the other end were the sounds of battle. Then, finally a voice spoke. "Samuel, is that you? It's Grimsley."
"Ah, Grimsley, it's good to hear from you. How are things in Unova?"
The Unovan Elite made a noise of derision and held the phone up to the raging battle behind him. "If you can't already tell, we're in trouble. Neck deep."
"I was just making conver-" Professor Oak attempted to explain, but was cut off by Grimsley.
"I know. I apologize for my behaviour. It's just these damn armies won't leave any of the regions alone; their forces keep increasing the more they conquer." The Dark type Elite paused for a moment, trying to regulate his breathing.
"Listen, are Delia and Ash there?" Grimsley didn't want to regret doing this, but he had to make sure his family were safe.
Samuel made a noise of agreement, understanding what the 'away' father was going through. "They are. Ash is outside with Riolu."
"Please get him; it's important that he hears this." Grimsley glanced again at the letter the new queen of Cameron Palace had sent him. She had sent it to the Elite Four of all the regions, hoping one of them was the father of their reincarnated hero.
If this was true, then his son – Ash – was the key to survival for all the regions. But he had to be sure Ash wanted to do this. He wasn't going to go into this battle plan and Ash refused to comply.
Ash eventually came to the phone. "Hi daddy."
Grimsley's heart melted.
