Posted On: 2-1-18 At: 3:17 PM
(USA CST; GMT: -6:00)


A/N:

Hi! I'm sorry this update is about a week later than I had planned. Something held me up and I couldn't proofread/edit it till now. I hope you are all doing well. As stated in the chapter before this one: this chapter (#7) is the final one for this story. I could have tried to stretch it to 10 chapters. But if I did, I might have ended up with lower quality, boring content. So, I hope this ending doesn't seem rushed. I also hope that I managed to smoothly blend it with the parts from the movie. I did my best. Transcribing right from what I was seeing and hearing in the movie at certain parts.

There will be a short A/N after this chapter about which of Rin and Aaron's children Delia and Ash descended from. I can't really think of much else to say here. If you enjoyed the story, please let me know. I would appreciate it. Also, in you are not already aware: the stories: Temperance #1(100% Completed)+The Pokéshipping Christmas special (100% Completed), Temperance # 2 (85% Completed) & Temperance #3 (25% Completed) all follow this story, but they can all be read in whatever order you'd like!


Chapter #7: Overcoming...

.

While patrolling near the border, Aaron and Lucario found an encampment of soldiers and Pokémon. Aaron was alarmed by the size of the group. All were armored in blue armor and heavily equipped with weapons. Aaron went to report to Rin, and sent Lucario, with a note, to alert the knights at the nearby outpost.


The maid was finishing doing Rin's hair, as Aaron arrived back at the palace. He walked into their shared bedroom and waited somewhat impatiently as the maid finished and finally left. Rin did not realize he was there until she turned and saw him. Before he could say why he was back so early, she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. He dropped his staff, while his hat fell off his head as he stumbled back a few steps. He caught his balance, and rested his hands on her hips to push her away. But lost himself in the feel of her lips against his. He kissed her back as he normally would, before he got his wits back and gently broke the kiss.

"Rin, we n-"

"Aaron! This is fantastic! You are back much earlier than you planned!-"

"Rin-"

"- Helena and James just came and asked me to-"

"Rin, pl-"

"- take them on a picnic in the garden, you can come with all of us, and we ca-!"

She chattered happily, he tried a few times, to get a word in, but finally, he sighed softly, and then he placed his palm sideways over her moving lips, she blinked wide blue eyes up at him.

"There is a serious problem, Rin. I need you in queen-mode, right now. Not mother-mode..."

He said calmly, she blinked a few more times, then he saw her eyes turn serious and harden, a bit. He removed his hand.

"Got your attention now, do I?"

She nodded as she backed away from him to give him room. He picked up his hat, and put it on his head. Then he grabbed her hand, and his staff, and lead her out onto the balcony that was connected to their room. He took her by both of the shoulders and stood behind her, from there, he pointed in a direction.

"There is an army camped within our borders there, and they-"

She listened intently as he gave her the report.


Along the way to the outpost that Lucario was heading to, he came across another encampment... These Pokémon and soldiers wore different colored aura. It was golden yellow. And it was also within the Rota border. He considered what Aaron would do, as he could not contact him through their link. His mind made up, Lucario searched for more danger with his aura. First, he distanced himself from the yellow group and after he stopped, he saw the Ho-oh fly past him.

'Do what you must, to protect your master and his family, I am leaving. I will return when it is safe.'

He heard those words whispered in his mind. He didn't respond to the Ho-oh. If the mighty Pokémon had not abandoned them, if he had been there when Aaron sought his advice... Lucario shook his head. He didn't need his anger affecting his arua sensing ability. He sighed, trying to calm his mind. Then he closed his eyes.

'Aura is with me...'

He thought, using it like a chant to calm and steady his mind. Then he sent out his aura in one direction, searching. The farther he looked, the more he sensed hatred and blood lust. Finally, he found it. This army was moving. They were all dressed in red armor and there were more of them than what Lucario had seen in the blue and yellow armies. He pulled his aura back, then turned in the last direction he had left to check (blue army north of Rota, Yellow army was west, red army was south and now, the east-) he sent out his aura again, once more he soon found a large army. This one was greenish. It was also moving, and large.

Just then, as Lucario was pulling his aura and senses back into himself, he had to duck: there were several Houndooms after him! He thought a moment, then had an idea, so he took off running. He was too far away to contact Aaron on his own power, from here. He ran, dodging attacks until he put enough distance between himself and the other Pokémon, then he found a crystal. Lucario touched the crystal and fed his aura into it.

'Hear me, Sir. Aaron!'

At the palace, Aaron was just finishing his report to Rin, about the blue army, when one of the communication crystals that were scattered all over the palace, started glowing. Aaron went to it, as Rin stayed by the railing of the balcony, what now? She wondered.

'Sir Aaron, PLEASE!'

"What is it, Lucario?"

Aaron asked as he knelt and rested his gloved hand on the stone. Through these crystals, even Rin could hear Lucario's words.

'There are 3 more armies! A yellow one in a camp, like the blue. And a green one heading to where the yellow is and a red army is heading to where the blue is. They will likely form 2 larger units, they will clash right here in Rota!'

Aaron swore mentally. They might have all been working together to gain control of the tree.

'Once the fighting starts, we will all be destroyed.'

Said Lucario. The Rota kingdom did not have a large enough defensive power. Rin turned back to look out over the kingdom.

"When their armies reach this palace, our kingdom will fall..."

She said sadly. Aaron's mind was working frantically.


Just then the Houndooms found Lucario, the 3 of them chased him, attacking as he ran. He soon found himself blinded as particles of crystal sand were thrown into his eyes from one of the other Pokémon's attacks. Lucario could still see, somewhat with his injured eyes. He used his aura to see and continued fighting them.


"Rin, we have to get you and the children out of here!"

Aaron said as he walked over to her and gently took her by the arm.

"I'm staying, Aaron..."

"No, Rin you need to-!"

Suddenly she shook his hand off of her arm.

"I am your Queen, Sir. Aaron!"

He paled, backing up a few steps. She rarely took that tone with him in public. Never in private, though... He had said that he wanted to talk to queen Rin, rather than the mother that Rin was. But still. It stung a bit having her become so formal.

"- I won't flee when I should be with my people! The only way we could make it safely out without being spotted anyway, is if you were with us to use your aura to make sure that the way out of Rota was safe, we could be attacked out there, just as easily as in this palace, at least with you here, the kingdom might have a chance. And at least we can see what's coming at us...!"

"B... But, Rin-"

"I will not flee when the palace is attacked, Aaron"

She said again, firmly.

"My fate will be the same as the rest of my kingdom!"

Aaron watched her quietly a moment, he felt a coldness settle between the two of them. He had to respect that she was placing a boundary line. Normally he referred to her in the public parts of the palace only, with her title. But he understood that she was scared, so he tried to put his own fears, hurt feelings and other emotions aside.

"But... Your Highness..."

He said evenly, choosing his words carefully.

"- There WILL be no survivors..."

He tried, carefully pressing her. She just looked away from him. She did have a point, he had to agree there. Fleeing would be useless without him. He was the last aura guardian alive in the kingdom. And she would not take him, the kingdom's best form of defense away from it. Rin was not selfish. Sighing softly, he thought a minute, tilting his head so that his hat hid his eyes. Then: course of action chosen, he raised his staff to the sky. He would have liked to have kissed her once more, before this. But-

Rin watched as his Pigeot came, Aaron jumped off the balcony, landing on its back and took off, glancing back, he saw Rin wipe the tears from her cheeks, then she headed back into the palace. He knew she would be sending the servants and the 5 children down to the cellars with some trusted guards.


"Mama, what's wrong?!"

Asked Helena after her mother ordered James to be in charge of her, the twins and Erin. Rin even gave her son a short sword. But didn't answer her daughter's question. She just hugged and kissed them all and sent them all down to the cellars with the staff. Afterwards, she went into her and Aaron's room. She sat on the bed, holding the crystal time flower to her chest.

'Be safe, Aaron! I'm sorry that I was so cold to you!'

She thought as she cried.


Aaron soared in the direction of the tree, looking for Lucario along the way. From this height he could see the tree, and the red army. Flying further, he saw the green army as well.

'They are both massive! We'll all be annihilated. They're tired of toying with us,"

He thought with dread sinking into his stomach. Looking around, he tried to find his friend. But the green army had spotted Aaron. They sent several Scarmory after him. One of the Scarmory attacked his Pigeot. The large bird struggled to stay upright, it wobbled to a ledge near the ground and let Aaron off, then it crashed into some bushes and trees. Aaron was worried about his bird friend, but... He sensed Lucario was heading his way. Turning, he saw a shape racing towards him, it was running and jumping from rock to rock. Lucario still could not see, he was letting his aura guide him.

'Sir. Aaron, I knew you'd come!'

He thought, at his human friend as he came to a stop.

"Lucario, what happened to your eyes?!"

'Don't worry about me, Master-'

"Don't call me that!"

Aaron said, his hat hiding his eyes... He hated it when Lucario called him master! And now more than ever, he hated it!

"I'm no longer your master, I've abandoned the queen and the kingdom!"

Lucario knew that couldn't be right. He sensed something off in his master's words and there was a lie tainting the color of his aura. But he wasn't sure why his master was lying.

"- I'll never return!"

Said Aaron.

'But... Th-thats impossible!'

Lucario thought at him. Aaron did not answer, though, as he turned away from Lucario. He knew what he was about to do would be harder to do, if his lover and his best friend knew what he was planning... He had to protect them, and the children. At any and all cost. The Ho-Oh's words to him about sacrifice finally made sense to him. He took off running.

'Master, WAIT!'

Lucario called out to him as he tried to follow Aaron. Suddenly, Aaron rounded on Lucario, his eyes still hidden, and he flung his staff at the wolf. It landed in the ground at Lucario's feet. The gem on the staff glowed, and Lucario started feeling strange.

'Sir. Aaron-!'

He called out as his body started glowing, then he was sealed within the crystal of the staff. From inside, he watched, with his aura, as Aaron started running away from him.

'Why, Master?! Why?!'

He thought as his view of the outside faded, and then he only saw darkness. His eyes still blinded by the shards of crystal sand.

'I'm sorry, Lucario!"

Aaron thought as he continued running.

'I'm sorry Rin!'


Inside her room, Rin heard a wailing cry: she sat the flower safely on her bedside table and rushed out to her balcony once more. Looking around, she realized where it was coming from-

"That wailing... It's coming from the tree! Its crying-"

Clasping her hands together in front of her chest, she worried about her lover and his partner. Meanwhile, just out of her view, two of the 4 armies met. Not far from the tree, they had started killing each other! Rin tried to see through all of the mist, but she could not. It was frustrating! Suddenly she saw his Pigeot! Relief washed over her, Aaron was back! But, as it landed on the balcony, she realized the bird had no rider. It offered her Aaron's staff, then took flight once more.

"Aaron..."

'What's happened...?'

She thought, feeling scared! She didn't want to do this alone! Rin turned her eyes towards the tree once again.


When Aaron got to the center of the tree; there was a horrible wailing sound all around him. It was as if the walls and floor and ceiling above him were all crying out! It was making him dizzy. Looking around, he did not see Mew. The cat-like Pokémon who he and Rin had befriended as children. It was no where to be found. At a loss, Aaron started screaming.

"Where are you?! MEW?!"

He shouted, looking around as his voice echoed.

"- MEW?! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Just then there was the sound of a birds trill. Looking up and over his shoulder, Aaron saw the Ho-oh as it landed on a ledge, then it changed form, to that of Mew.

Aaron realized with shock: Mew looked ill. It flew weakly down towards the aura guardian.

"Mew, I realize that you and the tree are one."

He held out his arm, palm towards Mew.

"- Please, take the power of my aura to save the people!"

"Mew?!"

It said, and Aaron knew it did not want to do that. He would have to force the issue.

"Now! Take the power of my aura! The power of aura will prevail!"

He created an aura-sphere in front of Mew. As the sphere grew, Aaron groaned, he started feeling pain in his chest. While still pushing aura through his right hand, into the sphere, he grabbed his chest with his left hand. Soon the sphere grew larger, surrounding Mew- the pain intensified for the guardian. Aaron screamed from the force of the pain. It felt like his body was ripping apart! His legs could barely hold him! The sphere grew larger and larger until the guardian was blown away. He screamed as his body was slammed into a wall. He slid to the floor with a hiss of pain.


The tree had started glowing brightly! Every crystal in the kingdom reacted to the glow, even those embedded in the palace. Rin watched it glow all around her, the lights shooting high into the sky. The green light spread from the tree, connecting to the other lights. The warm green light washed over everything within Rota. It was then, that Rin knew what the man she loved had done, her eyes stung and overflowed and she clutched his staff tightly as she cried.

The anger, ambition and hatred that had been driving those to attack them, had been replaced by understanding and hope. After that, the armies went to their respective homes and peace would soon return to all of the kingdom's.


Aaron sat there stunned for a while, then, as Aaron became aware once again, he shifted his body and screamed from the pain shooting through all of the nerve endings. Just breathing hurt. Looking around, the cavern was no longer red. Aaron blinked, his vision was blurry.

'R... Rin. I-I need to ge... Get b... Back to her, and the children... If I ca-can...'

He struggled to his feet while clutching a crystal time flower in his hand. He had picked it up earlier, intending to take it back to James.

Using the wall to support himself, Aaron tried to walk. After a few steps he wobbled as he pushed himself away from the wall. He stumbled, but kept his feet under himself. Aaron walked a bit further, then: leaning against a crystal sticking up from the ground, his legs gave out, and he lowered himself to the floor of the cavern. He took his gloves off, looking at his hands: at his own aura, he realized it was dangerously weak and that it was attacking his body because of that. Pressing his hand to his chest once again, he struggled to breathe through the pain.

'I... Is this a heart attack?'

He wondered. He wanted to get home to Rin... But- he wouldn't fool himself. If he even managed to survive long enough to make it from here to outside the tree... He'd never make it across the land between here and the palace... He'd die somewhere between... Staying here was best.

'I'm so sorry, Rin.'

Managing to get his breathing to calm a bit, his thoughts went to Lucario... Poor Lucario probably felt betrayed. He made sure that the time flower crystal was activated.

"Lucario... Forgive me,"

He said, then set the flower on the floor of the cave. He paused though, as another spark of pain racked his body.

"- Please understand... I had to seal you inside the staff. I knew that if I didn't, you'd follow me here and suffer the same fate. I only wish... Y-you could have known the real story... One day you will be released, in a distant and more peaceful time. What will it be like? I wonder if-"

Suddenly he cried out as more pain spiked throughout his body. He huddled in on himself from the pain.

"I have... N-no regrets! My journey has been good... I s-served a beautiful queen-"

'I'm sorry Rin!'

"- And you a-and I s... Shared many adventures! Those memories will always be with me... L-Lucario: Farewell. You were more to me than just my student in aura. You were... M-my closest friend,"

The pain had finally stopped, resting his head back against the crystal behind him, he felt suddenly sleepy.

"- Who knows... One day... It could be... Maybe we will see each other again... I... Hope so, my friend..."

He closed his eyes, a tear sliding down his cheek.

'Rin... That goes for you, as well...'

In the next instant, he took his last breath.


Meanwhile...


Rin collapsed to her knees as the realization fully hit her, screaming and crying her heart and soul out. Just then, James rushed up to her. He had left their hiding place when Helena had suddenly said that something happened to their papa- she couldn't feel his aura anymore!

"Mama?!"

But all the queen could do was mourn the loss of Aaron. She was completely shattered. James knelt beside his mother, seeing his papa's staff in her hands. He assumed something had, indeed, happened to Aaron. He started crying as well as he hugged his sobbing mother. In the room that she shared with Aaron, her crystal time flower that was sitting safely on her night stand, just shattered, for no reason at all.

Inside the crystal on the staff, Lucario could sense that he was with Rin. But he could hear nothing and see nothing, and he had no way out. How could his master have done this to him?! And why?! Everything he did to try to free himself was useless.


2 months after those events, Rin realized she was pregnant. She might not have been able to pull herself from the deep depression that she had settled into, if she had not turned up pregnant. Since that faithful day, she had placed her advisers in charge of the kingdom. Too riddled with depression and extreme guilt. Guilt because if she had not chosen to stay here, Aaron might not have had to sacrifice himself. Her depression, however, slowly started to lift after Rin realized she was expecting, again. Aaron had left her one last gift. The midwife estimated that Rin had likely gotten pregnant a few days before, or even the night before, Aaron had vanished. Then, roughly 9 months after Aaron vanished, she had another baby girl.

Meanwhile, in the kingdom there were whispers of Aaron having run off with another woman and left their queen. Other rumors said he betrayed the kingdom and changed sides. Rin and the children, the knights who knew him and palace staff tried to ignore the rumor mill. But as time went on, things were getting more exaggerated. So, after her last child, princess Araina (Rain) was born, Rin sat at her writing desk and wrote her account of what happened. She told of the legend that the tree of beginnings had special powers, she told of Lucario contacting Aaron. Of the small argument that she had with her lover. And that, while she did not know what he had done with the tree, she told that after he left, the tree had activated its secret powers and saved them all.

After that, she had a proclamation made that Aaron was to be viewed as a hero. He had been the last living aura guardian in their kingdom and whatever he did to save them all, it had burned away the last of his life energy to do it. She announced that he was dead, and the birth of her newest daughter on the same day. Days later the notes she had penned were released in the newspapers. The rumors quieted, then vanished completely. Things were peaceful once more. A year after Aaron's announced death, Rin returned to full power once more, as queen. Taking control back from her advisers.


6 years after the near destruction of Rota...


James, now 16, had been traveling back and forth between the snowpoint kingdom in Sinnoh - his blood father: William's kingdom- and the Rota kingdom for 3 years now. James did not remember William. He knew of him. But held no memories of him as his father. He only ever remembered Aaron as his father. But he was aware of the fact that Aaron had only stepped in, to act as his father after William died.

James' grandparents had insisted that he spend part of the year there learning how to rule. Since he was their heir through William. Every year he had to go to the Snowpoint kingdom for that training. The training could not take place in Rota with tutors from Snowpoint. So, 6 months out of every year (minus the holidays important to Rota, as well as birthdays and anniversaries...) He spent that time there and then, the other 6 months, plus those events mentioned, he stayed with his mother, sisters and brother. That started when he was 13. Currently, he was in Rota for Helena's 14th birthday. He would soon be 17. Once he was, marriage talks would start between his mother, his father's parents and the families of potential future brides from Sinnoh, Kanto and Johto.

Rin had just given Aaron's staff to Helena for her birthday. About 2 years ago, Aura guardians came from Sinnoh and Kanto to rebuild the destroyed monastery. Rin had met with them. And after talks, they agreed to send monks to train Helena. As well Aaron's other children with Rin. Currently, the twins were around 11. Erin, Aaron's only biological son, was 10 and little Araina would be 6 in about 7 months. All of them were trained to use their Auric abilities. In Helena's case, she was trained only to manage and control her own powers, rather than to use them for much. But since she wouldn't be a guardian and WOULD be a queen, all she needed was control, so that her emotions did not make her lose control of her powers at the wrong time.

"Well, Helena?"

She was holding Aaron's staff. Glancing up at her big brother, the 14-year old shook her head.

"I'm not able to put my energy into this crystal, for some reason. I'm not sure why..."

He frowned. None of the siblings had ever been able to use the crystal in the staff. Not the way Aaron could.

"I'll send for master Jackson, then. I think its time that we have a full Aura Guardian look into what is wrong with that staff."

Said Rin, who had been standing by the two. Since Aaron's death, she had donated all of her wardrobe to charity and had a new one made for her. Her gowns and less elaborate dresses and other clothes such as for riding horses and that sort, had all been remade for her in black and various shades of gray with dark and light blue embellishments on them. Rin had also had most of her near knee-length golden hair cut off. Her hair now went to her shoulder blades. It was clear to most, that she might have ended her own life when Aaron died. Had her children and her kingdom not needed her.

Helena looked at her mother's eternally sad face. James remembered holding her as she cried her heart out over their father's staff, that day. All of them wondered if Rin had broken it somehow, with the desperate sadness she had expressed that day. But none of them stated this thought.

"I can go, Mother."

Said her son softly. She looked at him, he looked very much like William. More times than she cared to think, she had wished that fate had not taken both: William AND Aaron from her. She didn't even have the ability to bury Aaron. She had forbidden anyone from going to the tree anymore. Afraid of what state his body would be found in, if his body still existed at all.

"Mother?"

She blinked.

"Sorry darling. I just let my thoughts needlessly wander..."

Helena's birthday was also the anniversary of William's death, as well.

"- Anyway, no. It's a rare treat to have you home during your 6 months in Snowpoint. I'll send Timothy out."

She told her son, softly. Timothy was a young Knight who had idolized Aaron. With that said, she turned on her heel and left the room. Helena rubbed the crystal thoughtfully... She felt something strange whenever she touched that crystal. James looked at his sister.

"You look like you're thinking about something...?"

She blinked out of her thoughts and looked up at him.

"Lucario... I sense Lucario. But I don't know why..."

He just frowned slightly at that. His eyes fixed on the blue crystal.


"There is definitely a life force inside. It feels agitated. Betrayed. Scared. And like a creature. But I cannot contact it."

Said the aura guardian/monk: Jackson. He was around 19 and Helena had a crush on him. Rin looked startled at that news.

'Is that why Lucario never returned either?! Maybe he can tell us what exactly Aaron did...'

"Can we release him if we shatter the crystal?!"

Rin asked Jackson suddenly, her voice excited. He and her two oldest children looked at her. Jackson closed his eyes and reexamined the crystal once more, he was deadly silent. Finally, he opened his green eyes and shook his head.

"No, My queen. I think it might do the opposite: Kill him. Or trap him in there forever... The best way to release him was if the person with the aura, the person who sealed him in here, were to reverse it."

Rin closed her eyes, clenching her hands together tightly in front of her.

"T... That's... N-not possible. The..."

She trailed off, squeezing her eyes more tightly shut.

'I will NOT cry!'

"Sir. Aaron owned that staff, he... He's presumed dead."

Said James softly, Helena looked like she was barely holding it together, just like her mother. Jackson nodded his understanding.

"I'm sorry I said something painful."

Rin took a few moments more to get a grip on herself. Then she opened her eyes.

"It's ok. I-is there no other way?"

"You could attempt to find an aura similar to Sir. Aaron's. Though, that won't be easy."

He suggested. Rin nodded. Helena and the other children had all attempted to place auric energy into the crystal. None of them had released Lucario. She thanked Jackson then he left, after handing the staff back to her. She would have to think about this issue.


When James was 19 he married a princess from Sinnoh, who was 17 at that time. A number of years later, Helena married Jackson, when she was 20 and Rin stepped down: crowning Helena, queen, in the process. Rin stayed in the palace, though. Staying with Helena, Jackson and Rin's remaining children. Meanwhile, Helena had 3 children. James had 2 in his own country. Each time Helena had a baby, Rin could have sworn she either saw the Ho-oh in the distance. Or heard its cry. Rin had seen the legendary creature just after each of her children were born, as well, except for when she had James. Rin never told her children this into, however... But she wondered why he seemed to be watching her children.

Several years after naming Helena the new queen, Rin asked her daughter if she thought holding a festival would be ok? It would be a cover for looking for someone who could release Lucario. Together, the mother, daughter and son-in-law worked out all of the details. There would be a festival, it would honor Aaron and there would be a small tournament. Whoever won the tournament would be made hero for the next year, and asked to sit and hold the staff. If it was the right aura wavelength, then Lucario would likely be released. Even if the person's aura was weak, it would likely work... They never found the right person...

Then, when Rin was in her 60s (quite elderly in their era), after watching many festivals, and never seeing Lucario released... With all of her children now grown, married and happy with their own families, her health was failing badly. She knew that she world die soon. So, one night, she slipped out of the palace and did what she had not allowed anyone else to do: she went to the tree of beginning. It was a slow journey that took most of the night, even though she was riding a Ponyta. The journey cost nearly all of her remaining strength... Then, after wandering around in its caverns for some time, she found Aaron. He was covered in a thin layer of crystal.

She could see him quite clearly. The crystal was just a thin covering over his body. He was smiling slightly. He looked peaceful. As if he were sleeping. She sat beside him and sobbed with her head resting on his shoulder. This proved that what she had assumed all of those years ago, was right: he had sacrificed himself for her kingdom. If she had been willing to take the children and leave... If she had asked him to go with them- would he have still been with her all of these years? She would never know.

After a short while, she felt a peace settle over her after she found him. And soon her crying had quieted, but her breathing was still harsh. It was then, that Mew found her. It tried to get her to respond to it, but she was too tired. She could barely move and her words were very weak when she tried to speak. The creature managed to hear a small bit of what she said, but it didn't understand. However, just then, there was the sound of wing beats somewhere behind and above Rin. The next thing she knew- she saw the Ho-oh walk over to stand before her. He bent down and eyed the elderly queen mother. He saw recognition spark in her tired eyes.

She tried speaking, once more:

"T- take m... My b-body home. Don't let my family wonder wha... What happened to m-me, like I won~d...ered a-about Aaron... I... Just w-wanted to s... See him one... Last time..."

Ho-oh blinked at her and stood up to it's full height. She watched as he started to glow. Moments later, and with a flair of rainbow light and much less fanfare than when he had transformed before Aaron that time, the Ho-oh was gone and in his place stood a little old man with a staff. He wore a robe of gold. His beard was huge and white. He was small, happy looking little man. He knelt before the fading queen. He gently touched the cheek that was not resting against Aaron's shoulder. She watched him weakly.

"My good queen... I hear your request and as a favor to Mew and to your Aaron, I will see to it that you are conveyed home. Aaron was a kind and helpful man. Loyal to the last and I expect great things from the family you had with him. I will take your body home so that they do not wonder what happened to you..."

She smiled and reached up, gently touching the hand he had resting on her cheek.

"T... Tha-nk y... Yo-"

Then the light faded, and her eyes closed. She died with her head resting against Aaron's crystal encased shoulder.


The next morning, Helena and Jackson and their teenaged daughter found Rin in her room. She looked as if she was only asleep. But they all knew she was gone. Jackson had alerted his wife and daughter that Rin's aura was no longer sensed.

She was buried beside Aaron's empty grave in the royal cemetery. They continued the search to find the person to free Lucario. As the decades and eras passed, they continued looking. New generations being told of the real reason for the festival. But they believed it less with each generation. It became more, a fairy tale to them, than facts.


In a location on no map- a place frozen in time:


"- in...?... Rin!"

The blonde woman's eyes snapped open. A breeze brushed against her face as she blinked up at the man leaning over her. Slowly, her eyes filled with tears, and she reached up with both hands and caressed his face.

"Aaron...?"

He smiled.

"Yes?"

"I... Y-you...?! W-where were you?!"

"You knew what happened..."

He said simply. She sniffled and he helped her to sit up. Looking around, she saw a misty meadow surrounding them. Looking back at him, he saw her sigh.

"You haven't come home. It wasn't a bad dream... I came to you... Didn't I?"

He nodded and pulled her into a hug.

"You died, Rin... Now, we just have to wait for Lucario... I have a feeling he will find his way here whenever he finally gets free of my staff."

He said softly. She would ask him later, why he had sealed his friend in the crystal of the staff. But for now- she pulled back from the embrace, to kiss Aaron softly. They were together again. Finally! She would never let him go again!

.

~FIN~

.


Rin's Child With William:
Prince: James

Rin's Living Children With Aaron (Note: She miscarried 2 times):
Princess/Queen: Helena (almost 3 years younger than James)- From her came the current queen in the movie timeline: Lady Ilene.

Princess: Mirai & Princess: Eternia were a few years younger than Helena. Mirai married a man from Johto. Eternia married a man from the whirl islands, also near Johto.

Prince: Erin- around a year younger than the twins. He married a unknown girl from Sinnoh.
Riley from the anime & games, an aura guardian in Sinnoh is descended from Erin.

Princess: Araina - About 6 years younger than Erin. She married the child of one of the palace staff... Delia and Ash are descended from Araina.


Disclaimer shortcut:
I don't own Pokémon in ANY way.