Chapter 7: Running an Aaron
Cornelia and Pikachu stepped in the elevator after meeting with Cassidy who wanted the guardians and Ash to join in their trip to see the council on Kandrakar. "I have a funny feeling as to how Cassidy, or rather Halinor knew of Ash," she speculated.
("Someone you know?") guessed the mouse. Arriving at her floor, the elevator door opened and both stepped off before entering the apartment.
"Cornelia, dear," a man called. Cornelia turned to find a blond mustached man on a recliner. "Welcome home! I wanted to question you on something about Lillian." Cornelia rose an eyebrow.
"What about it, Dad?" she questioned.
"Well, Lillian's been stammering away about someone you invited over to give her a bedtime story." It dawned on the teenager that she referred to Ash's tale of Sir Aaron. "It must have been a great bedtime tale for her to act this worked up." Nervous, Cornelia laughed to her mother's information.
"Yeah, I heard Ash's story he gave to Lillian. I was… pretty impressed with it myself." 'Though what really happened wasn't as cute.' The father listened to the name, intrigued to learn of it herself.
"Ash, is it? Well, since you know him, maybe I can have a chance to meet him myself." Cornelia gulped to the idea of her father seeing someone like Ash. Pikachu remained out of sight for the most part as Napoleon motioned to the Pokémon to enter a bedroom. Ducking behind the door, the cat and the mouse were in private.
"Looks like Cornelia's finally accepted you," Napoleon studied.
("Yeah, I didn't think it would happen,") Pikachu squeaked.
"When she told me about how your partner shooed off that one girl, then trashed a few bullies- one literally, Ash is indeed something else." Pikachu blinked to Napoleon's understanding. Suddenly…
"Napoleon?" echoed Lillian. Napoleon nodded to Pikachu before walking around the door and mewing like a cat. "Did Cornelia leave catnip in her room? Not fair!" Pikachu itched his head after sniffing around, sensing nothing. Cornelia entered after, wearing a silky white nightgown.
"I'm still in some shock that Ash doesn't have a picture about his dad," she remembered as she lifted the Electric Mouse. "Makes me wonder what kind of mom raised him to have that kind of electric personality. No pun intended." Pikachu giggled to Cornelia's puns. "This will be the first time I cuddled with someone or something in a long time. I wonder if there's a Pokémon that would fit me? Phanpy's cute and Grovyle's cool, but maybe something in between..." She soon drifted off to sleep before Pikachu joined. The next day, everyone met in a park which Cassidy arraigned to meet. Ash brought out a picture of a rather young brunette woman in a pink blouse and jeans. She wore a white summer straw hat while attending to vegetables.
"That's your mom?!" gawked Irma. The guardians and Elyon awed her photo.
"Either she's that young or she's got the best anti-aging products that I want to get my mom," Will joked.
"I've taken some of her wild behavior," Ash admitted. "She's as adventurous as I am before she was pregnant with me." To Taranee, an old adage popped in her mind.
"I've heard of 'Like Father, Like Son'," she pointed out. "Not 'Mother'." Soon enough, Caleb, Cornelia and Pikachu reached the group.
"What's everyone looking at?" she asked. Hay Lin grabbed the photo and showed it to Cornelia.
"Check it out!" she urged. "It's Ash's mom!" Cornelia took the photo to look at.
"Okay, who wouldn't want to go out with her? I swear Ash, your father left a perfectly good woman." Caleb nodded in agreement.
"If I show this to my dad," he started. "He could forget about Nerissa and want to know of her location. It does help that she's eternally sleeping in the Heart of Meridian after all she did." Cassidy giggled to the grabbed the pendant and held it out.
"Let's transform to make ourselves presentable to the council," she proposed. The glowing pendant began to levitate. "Guardians, unite!" Beams from the pendant shot at the guardians, creating bubbles. They soon morphed into the guardian forms. "The heart!"
"Water!" announced Irma.
"Fire!" called Taranee.
"Earth!" shouted Cornelia.
"Air!" voiced Hay Lin. Transformed, Will opened the veil before it revealed bluish-purple bricks of a castle. Ash blinked to their destination.
"We're going to a castle?" he wondered.
"You'll see," Irma nudged. Everyone entered the tear and soon found themselves in a giant castle above the clouds. Waiting for them was Halinor and a silver-haired woman who had the face of a cat. She wore the same robe as Halinor.
"Welcome, guardians," Halinor greeted. "Though, I wasn't expecting Nerissa's son to join." Caleb dismissed Halinor's surprise.
"I came on my own terms," he claimed before turning to Ash. "However, he's the one you wanted, right?" Halinor glanced to Ash who stood forward.
"So, this is the storyteller to the one holding the Heart of Earth? I'd imagine him to be a few years older." The cat woman wasn't too eager about Ash.
"Control yourself, Halinor," she calmly snapped. "Anyway, Ash Ketchum, welcome to Kandrakar. My name is Luba. You'll meet a few others like the Oracle." She guided Ash around the castle. At one point, the came across a podium with five colored glowing orbs, four circling one.
"Those are the aurameres. They're the source of the guardians' powers." Ash an Pikachu knew these were dangerous, especially if it meant protecting the guardians. Soon enough, they entered another room. Two men stood, one obviously older than the other. One was white-haired with facial hair similar to Julian but the other was bald with a devil chin and a circular tattoo above an ear. That man came forward to meet Ash.
"Welcome, young visitor," he greeted. "I am the Oracle. I aid the guardians in protecting the universe." In a surprise, Yan emerged from behind a wall to greet the guardians.
"Grandma?!" gawked Hay Lin.
"I'm part of this council as well, Hay Lin," Yan explained. "Even I'm rather curious about this Aaron. I wonder what kind of a wild man he was." Halinor snickered to Yan's fantasy.
"Seems I'm not the only one a little excited about the story," she related.
"Who isn't?!" joked Elyon. "Anyway, Ash… tell them about Aaron like you told the rest of us." Ash explained the tale of Sir Aaron after telling the fantasy to Lillian. The council listened intently and grew curious to the story. Hearing the name of the Pokémon, Will made a request.
"Is Lucario in the Dex's database?" she asked. Ash paused to give the Dex to Will. "Thanks." She opened the Dex. "Search Lucario." The picture of a blue jackal emerged, black fur over his eyes and forehead. It had cream fur for its torso with a spike embedded in, as well as spikes on its paws.
"Lucario, the Aura Pokémon," it registered. "No further data available." Irma came over to see the picture of Lucario."
"A little fierce, per say," she surveyed. "Maybe I could ask Dex if Ash is dating anyone at this time." Will jumped to the question, turning to Irma in shock.
"Irma, this is a hand-held Pokémon encyclopedia!" she snapped. "Not some social networking device. Like it knows if Ash is seeking anyone." Unknowingly, Dex listened.
"While he is traveling with a female companion," it computed. "Ash is not in a relationship whatsoever." Hearing this information, Irma snickered in glee while Will groaned. Luba had questions about Ash's tale.
"What fascinates me is how Lucario mistaken you for Aaron?" she pointed out.
"When he came out of Sir Aaron's scepter, he still couldn't see out of his eyes," he answered. "Instead, he sensed my aura and assumed I was him. He used telepathy on me in asking why I abandoned him. I didn't know at the time what he meant and that's when he did open his eyes." The Oracle pictured the possibility of the error.
"Were you dressed as Aaron at the time?" he asked.
"Yeah, right down to the hat and gloves." The Oracle gave Ash's explanation a mental picture
"Let me see if I can picture Aaron on the wall." A hand wave over the wall, the Oracle created a picture of a grown raven-haired man in a blue suit, blue fedora and white pants. He held a scepter with a sapphire at the head. Elyon and the guardians gawked to the man they're seeing.
"Oh boy!" awed Yan. "That is a fine young man to have around."
"Agreed," the girls gulped with drool falling from their mouths. That's when Luba saw the image.
"Aaron!" she gasped. "How long has it been?" All turned to the cat woman, curiosity in mind.
"I nearly forgot," Yan remembered. "You've been around for many centuries."
"Yes, and I know Aaron. He was a human raised in Meridian, the same as Julian and Caleb. I still remember a thousand years ago when wars waged between worlds. I met young Aaron and sheltered him while battles hit close to his home. That's when I discovered him glowing. I realized that we're near the aurameres upon this and believed he enveloped their essence. I helped summon the guardians at the time, also five girls from Earth and from different continents: Sophie from Europe, Nojiko from Asia, Angina from Austrailia, Imam from northern Africa and Lilly from North America." The names gave Will a chance to give this team a name.
"S.N.A.I.L.?" she abbreviated. "Really?" To Taranee, she saw a little light to the team from a millennium ago.
"Then again, better than C.H.K.Y.N.," she pointed out. Will scoffed in agreement.
"Nojiko had fallen for him, much more than the other guardians," Luba continued. "However, she feared for his safety and asked Sophie for help. She opened the veil and sent Aaron somewhere while the guardians tried to quell the war. We didn't know that he had been sent to the world of Pokémon. Five years later, the guardians found Aaron with a Pokémon that spoke telepathically." Ash had a guess to who Luba referred.
"Lucario," he fitted.
"The same. Their reunion couldn't have been timed better as a kingdom declared war on Kandrakar. Aaron and Lucario trained in what I feared he inherited: Aura. He and the guardians stopped the kingdom and defeated the ruler. However, other worlds saw the overthrow of the kingdom and wanted Aaron's aura for themselves. The guardians faced a difficult dilemma, both involved Aaron." Elyon assumed the ordeal for S.N.A.I.L.
"A Catch-22," she named. Ash turned to the young queen for a clarification.
"Catch-22?" he repeated.
"Basically, a no-win situation. It's like when you wanted to give Pikachu to the tribe: you wanted what was best for those Pikachu but you'd lose your best friend. I bet there were some Pikachu who would've been happy for him to stay." Pikachu looked astounded to the definition.
("You learn something new everyday,") he squeaked.
"Thus leads to what you've learned about Aaron," the Oracle summarized. "Or as you know, Sir Aaron." Taranee had some questions about this.
"I do appreciate 'Story Time' from time to time," she murmured. "But what does this have to do with Ash?" The Oracle nodded, willing to explain.
"If I am correct, it would seem that Aaron has returned in a new form. Sure, a thousand years may have passed and he's long been deceased..." Yan wanted to add to the Oracle's belief.
"Luba has saved one more auramere that was created by Aaron for when he returned," she clarified. "If you're the descendant of Aaron, the auramere will react to you." To Ash, this would uncover a secret within his family.
"Where is this last auramere?" questioned Cornelia.
"It's this way," Luba started before walking off. The rest followed with Cornelia beside Irma.
"I now wish I was Nojiko back that millennium ago. I wouldn't have wanted him to leave." Irma didn't think Ash would be part of a repeat performance.
"I hate to see Ash leave before I have some more time like a date," she wished.
"Good luck on that." They arrived in a hidden room unseen within Kandrakar. On a podium was a bright blue auramere.
"Here it is: Aaron's auramere," Luba presented. "It's been held in secret for many centuries. If what we've heard is true, the auramere will accept Ash. If not…" To Ash, he wanted to end the escapade.
"If the auramere doesn't like me, that's fine," he shrugged. "Just tell me what to do."
"Simple," the Oracle readied. "Approach and offer your hand, but don't touch it." Ash nodded to the single instruction. "However, Pikachu doesn't need to be within range. Call it a precaution." Pikachu heard the Oracle's premonition and dashed to Cornelia who hoisted him on her shoulder. Ash faced the auramere, the moment of truth arriving. He reached the podium and reached out with one hand. It appeared the auramere didn't detect Ash but that changed in a moment. The auramere grew and morphed as Ash's body began to glow. Everyone watched in awe.
"Is it?" gasped Halinor. Ash stood with his outstretched arm as both he and the auramere shone a glowing veil. The auramere floated to Ash from the podium and flew around. That's when a voice came over.
"It's been a long time, Luba," a young man's voice echoed.
"Aaron?" gawked Luba. "Aaron, is it you?"
"Yes. I'm sorry for making you wait all this time. I never had a chance to apologize to Nojiko after I left for the Pokémon World." The guardians couldn't believe the voice speaking to them. The Oracle never reacted.
"Aaron, I apologize for bringing someone to your auramere, the one you created before sending you to that world for safety." Aaron chuckled to the apology.
"No, I knew one of these days a descendant would find my auramere. Funny enough that it was the same descendant who helped reunite me with Lucario, my friend beyond the grave." Hearing this detail, it confirmed the beliefs of those around.
"So Aaron is Ash's ancestor?" gulped Taranee.
"That's… fascinating," Will awed before stepping up. "Aaron… or rather Sir Aaron, did you fall for Lady Rin before you left for the Tree of Beginning?" The others nearly stumbled forward with the confronted question.
"Will, not appropriate!" scorned Yan. Aaron chuckled once more.
"It's quite alright," he scoffed. "I admired Lady Rin with my heart, much like Nojiko when I was on Meridian. To think, a thousand years since my death, my aura is still present. However, I can't stay. Please protect my descendant as much as he needs." With that, the glow vanished. The scene returned to normal and Ash relaxed himself.
"So that was Sir Aaron," Hay Lin blinked. Luba came forward and knelt to Ash.
"It's been so long since I heard Aaron's voice," she reminded. "Ash, by coming here and awakening the auramere of Aaron, I can rest more peacefully. Thank you." After a few more exchanges, Will came forward.
"That's incredible that you and Aaron are related," she awed. "Next thing we know is that you and Pikachu could communicate like brothers." Ash itched his head in embarrassment.
"Funny thing about that," he started. "I actually was once turned into a Pikachu." The girls jumped at the information.
"Really?!" gawked Irma.
"I met an upcoming Pokémon Magician who tried to do a spell which would allow people and Pokémon to understand each other like that, but the spell went awry and I became Pikachu, but only for a short time." Humored, Elyon hugged Ash while laughing.
"If you could stay that way, I'd sleep with you everyday!" she cackled.
"I think we all would," Cornelia chortled. After a laugh, Will approached Ash with a request.
"Anyway, I wanted to have a turn taking care of Pikachu," she wished. "My mom's at work and I hope she doesn't come home before I do. So, can I?" To Ash, it was a harmless request.
"I don't see why not," he allowed.
"Thanks." Pikachu crawled up Will's shoulder, willing to go with her. Meanwhile, there was a staircase that led down. One was a troll-like creature much like Blunk but with more white hair around the ears. Joining the passling were two humans in white uniforms with matching red "R" emblems, a crimson redhead woman and an ice-violet man. Along with the two humans was a white cat with a curled tail and gold oval charm stuck on its forehead.
"What do you want from us down here?" asked the redhead.
"Jeek told to find humans to free Meridian Lord from dungeon," the passling grunted. "Find fascinating to see and hear talking cat."
"Hey, I'm not just a cat, Jeekster!" the cat growled.
"Settle, Meowth!" the ice-violet-haired tried to ease. Soon enough, the group found a wall of prison cells with bars made of a blue energy. Hearing commotion, a white-haired man in a black robe emerged from a cell.
"Don't tell me you're throwing us in one of these," the redhead gulped.
"Jeek no throw Jessie into dungeon cell," Jeek tried to clarify. The white-haired man looked down and saw the group.
"You brought these humans down into the dungeon, Jeek?" he spoke. All turned to find the man with Jessie immediately drooling.
"Hello, handsome!" she flirted. Meowth and the ice-violet-haired man gawked to the reaction.
"I see. I am Lord Phobos. I was wrongfully removed by a coup from the throne that I rightfully own." The ice-violet-haired and Meowth wondered about Phobos' claim.
"I wonder what occurred to get him removed," the ice-violet-haired started.
"Beats me, James," Meowth shrugged. "What's your story anyway?"
"If I must," Phobos sighed. "I ruled this kingdom before the guardians turned on me and threw me into here. My little sister, Elyon, now runs and I believe she's ruining this world as we speak." Swayed, Jessie wanted to help Phobos out.
"You must be back on your throne," she proposed. "Perhaps I can be your lady when it's back in your hands." Phobos smiled, hoping his freedom came. "Now, how to free you from there?" That's when she turned to Meowth… and a sinister sneer appeared. "I know!" She grabbed Meowth by the scruff and chucked it at the energy bars. Striking, Meowth suffered a shock. However, it was enough as it stopped the flow of energy. Phobos leaped out and landed on the platform.
"Thank you. This is the first step in returning to my former glory." Meowth shook off the shock and returned to the platform.
"Dat wasn't so bad," he scoffed. "Not as bad as all dose times Pikachu shocked Meowth." Phobos didn't mind the ones helping him.
"What about us?" hissed a man like a snake. Looking up, they saw a hairball with limbs and a green snake with a red mask. Phobos groaned to the two in the same cell.
"Of course, the two who stabbed me in the back when I tried to reason with the council of Kandrakar," he explained. "Cedric and Miranda." To the two, they had a reason.
"Cedric tried to keep you safe before the guardians would attack," the hairball pleaded. Phobos didn't believe Miranda's attempt to reason.
"I nearly was digested in his stomach. It will not go unpunished." Forcing a palm forward, the energy from the bars blasted the two in the cell. They screamed in pain and fear, scaring James and Meowth. Jessie gulped while other prisoners cowered in corners of their holding cubes. The screams forced Jeek to retreat from the dungeon and out the hidden area where Blunk and Charizard saw, staying hidden in either shrubs or a statue.
"Blunk not like screams," Blunk cringed. "Something in dungeon is bad, and Jeek is involved." Charizard flew off, thinking whatever happened in the dungeon wasn't pleasant. After a minute, the screams died down. In the cell, Cedric and Miranda's bodies stopped moving. No breath drew.
"That is punishment fit for treachery." The three that stood gulped. They needed to comply if they wanted to live. Back on Earth after their adventure in Kandrakar, Will and Pikachu arrived in an apartment where a note hung on a piece of tape. Will took the note from the door.
"Will…" she began to read. "Out with Dean again. Wished you'd tell me that you'd be out this late. Leftovers are in the fridge. Won't be back until late. Love, Mom. PS: Your turn for laundry." Will had a deadpan look that Pikachu felt bad for.
("I see what you put up with,") he squeaked. Entering, Will reached the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
"I forgot that we had tacos last night. Maybe I can make some and share with you… or maybe some fresh fruit would be better. Mom must have been at an outdoor market with sweet corn and cucumbers..." Looking inside, they also found grapes, pears, bananas and other fruit. Pikachu took a pear while Will grabbed leftover taco meat and cheese. "I highly doubt you'd enjoy tacos, Pikachu. Hopefully, we're in bed by the time Mom comes home, especially after the time I had Mister Huggles over once."
("That couldn't have been good.") That's when Pikachu saw a picture of Will and a grown purple-haired woman near a pool. Will wore a blue one-piece swimsuit. ("What's this?") Will turned to find Pikachu eyeing the photo.
"That's me and my mom after a Swimming Meet. Came in second place." Pikachu awed her accomplishment of her swimming. He'd enjoy the night with Will, unaware of a danger back in Meridian from Meowth's words.
TO BE CONTINUED...
