"This is where our story starts—Well, for you at least."
Lucifer stood outside a large and grand castle. Mew was still a cute Pichu on his shoulder, and she jumped down, leading him inside.
"Are we allowed in?"
"Of course," she said with a little flick of her tail. "I'm always welcome here. Now be quiet and listen!" Lucifer resisted the urge to roll his eyes, instead following dutifully behind her despite the strange looks some people gave them.
"Now, it all started when Sir Riley gained his closest partner. That would be his Lucario. They were the best of buds, inseparable, really. The were the quickest, most talented, deadliest duo around!" Mew trotted, and Lucifer threw threatening glances to any trainer who eyed her cuteness too closely or started to pull out pokeballs. With one steely glare from Lucifer, they all retreated exceptionally quick.
"There was a great strife between two armies, dressed in mighty green and valiant red. They clashed in battle not far from the castle and the Tree of Beginning, and it seemed peace could not be reached before the palace was threatened to be overrun. Are you listening, Lucifer? Stop giving people death glares!"
She never ceased to surprise him with how she knew exactly what he was doing without ever looking at him. "I am listening," he grumbled.
"Good! Now, Queen Rin knew that she must share the same fate as her castle and its people. Sir Aaron left to find his Lucario out in the field amongst the danger, however, he cared too much for his faithful partner." Mew stopped in the middle of her walk down the castle halls, scratching her ear. "Sir Aaron told his Lucario that he was abandoning the palace and the Queen, and he threw down his scepter. Functioning much like a pokeball, the scepter encased Lucario in a bright and shining light, sealing him inside. Sir Aaron, however, proceeded to the Tree of Beginning alone, satisfied to know his friend would not try to stop him."
Mew paused, licked her paw a moment, then continued. "I was sick from the magnitude of the fighting outside, and it affected the Tree of Beginning too. However, Aaron flew on his Pidgeot to find me in the heart of the tree. He passed his aura to me, saving my life and the tree's life, and I was able to go through the restoration period. With this period, all the fighting stopped because they were all in awe at what was happening."
Mew trotted along again, and Lucifer followed, processing his thoughts about this. So, if Mew were dying, he could give her his aura and save her? The thought warmed him.
"However," Mew said slowly, "giving up one's aura comes with its price. Aaron died, turning into crystal in that room where he gave him his aura." It didn't matter—Lucifer's original thought remained the same, that he would willingly die for her. "That was why he sealed his Lucario inside his scepter and lied to him. He did not want his friend trying to stop him."
They entered a large hall. "So now, every year at Cameron Palace—where we're at—they celebrate with a festival to honor Sir Aaron's honorable actions, considering him the True Guardian of Aura."
She stood in front of a picture in the ballroom, and Lucifer stared up at the man in the picture. He held his staff high above his head, dramatic and imposing. His Lucario was with him. "I take it that is Sir Aaron," Lucifer stated.
"Yeah," the tiny Pichu next to him replied easily. "That's him." Then, Mew took him to the opposite side of the room. Lucifer had to blink twice as he stared at a painting of what looked to be a younger version of Sir Aaron—but no. There were distinct differences, Lucifer could see it now. They weren't the same person. Also, the same Lucario was actually in the background of this picture, but faded and spirit-like.
"This is where our story picks up," Mew said. "That is Ash Ketchum, and that is Sir Aaron's Lucario in the background. Ash won the festival's competition for who would be the Hero of the Year, and he was presented with a scepter—the same scepter that held Sir Aaron's Lucario captive."
Mew suddenly jumped up on a side table with decorations, looking him sharp in the eyes. "Now, listen up, this is where it gets interesting."
Lucifer set his jaw, refusing to roll his eyes. "Yes, Mew, I'm listening."
"Now, remember, Lucario knew nothing of Sir Aaron's motives—he thought he had betrayed him. So, when Ash got a hold of the staff, Lucario saw his aura. Luckily, for some reason, Ash's aura bore a remarkably close picture to Sir Aaron's. So close, in fact, that Lucario mistook him for his master."
Lucifer frowned. "What happened?"
"Lucario left the staff with a great flash of light, but he became extremely confused when he realized Ash wasn't his master. He was still in the past." Mew sighed. "The poor dear was nearly traumatized . . . Eventually they got it all worked out, but me," and she giggled a bit nervously. "I was young. A couple Weavile's attacked me in the castle, and I teleported myself away as well as a couple of pokemon that protected me. The two were a talking Meowth and Ash's Pikachu."
He grunted, leaning against the wall. "Why did you take them? Wasn't this trainer worried about his pokemon?"
Mew giggled a bit nervously again. "Well, yeah . . . But I wanted someone to play with. Anyway, Ash was determined to find his Pikachu again, so he set off with Lucario to find him. Only Lucario could lead him to me because," and she threw a wink to Lucifer, "only an aura can track me since I can make myself look like any pokemon."
"A handy trick . . ." Lucifer muttered wryly. "Seems you can trick into being human as well."
"Of course! I am pretty talented after all!" Mew giggled. "Actually, Lucario was a lot like you. He was consumed over his late master, and had that same sour attitude of, 'I don't have any friends, and I don't want any'!" Mew giggled again.
Lucifer swatted half-heartedly at her. "Whatever, just get on with the story."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine, you little grump . . ." She ran off, and Lucifer followed. "Come on! This way!
"In short," she said, "Ash and Lucario traveled to the Tree of Beginning to find Pikachu, and through the use of time flowers, discovered what truly happened out on the battlefield. I'll let you see most of the events through the flowers—much more vivid than my talking!" Lucifer dodged around people when Mew's little Pichu form skittered between their legs. "But when they got there, there was this girl that tried to take a sample of the crystals in my tree, and my immune system reacted HORRIBLY. I got really sick with the tree as it consumed itself, coming close to dying again."
Lucifer lunged at her, grabbing her and making her face him. "Dying?" he repeated a bit breathlessly, more from the thought than the run.
Mew nodded, squirming out of his grip. "Yep! But no worries! I'll let you see the story with the time flowers." Mew jumped up on his shoulder. "Onward march," she said easily. "We've got places to go and things to see!"
Lucifer began walking, but had to way to know where she wanted to go. "Which path?"
"Eh, don't even take a path if you don't want to," she said with a shrug. She pointed. "Just get us to the Tree of Beginning!"
Just as he was about to run, he sensed it with his aura. Turning around quickly, Lucifer threw up a Quick Guard. The Fire Blast crashed against the ward.
Lucifer's eyes assessed the threat. It was a trainer, and she had a Charizard with her. She was young, had long blond hair, and her eyes were determined. With an attack like a Fire Blast, the strong attack was clearly meant for Lucifer and not Mew as a cute little Pichu.
However, he didn't care. Turning, he started to leave.
"No! Charizard, don't let it get away!"
Lucifer skidded short when the Charizard barred his way again. Lucifer snarled low, crouching into an attacking position. Mew evacuated his shoulder.
"That's right," the trainer said. "Now I'll catch a Lucario just like Sir Aaron had a Lucario!"
Lucifer's ears twitched as he heard several people whispering excitedly that the princess was going to battle again, the Queen's daughter was going to catch a Lucario. Then, he heard Mew.
"Hey! This time only use attacking moves! If you want to defend, use your aura as a shield, and keep your eyes shut! See through the aura only!"
"Right." Lucifer closed his eyes and channeled through to his aura—and jolted on the inside.
It was so precise, so clear! It had been a while since he had practiced hard with his aura, and he had expected it to be almost fuzzy, not enhanced! Heart pounding hard in his chest, Lucifer took in his surroundings with great detail, seeing farther than he had ever seen before. Sending a wild glanced over to Mew, he flinched back slightly at the sheer beauty and bright sparkling of her aura. A shaft of confusion went through her.
Absently, Lucifer held his palm up and channeled his aura into a shield. Another Fire Blast crashed into the ward, and, enthralled with the newfound power of his aura, Lucifer turned on the pokemon charging with a Steel Wing.
Using both hands, wrists close together, Lucifer shoved out the attack with all his might. He watched the Charizard's eyes widen in shock, and the newly acquired Aura Sphere crashed into it and sent it sprawling across the ground. The sheer power behind the blow made the Charizard whimper slightly before standing.
"No way! Charizard, use Smokescreen!"
Didn't know how the aura worked, did she? Lucifer dived right through with a Bone Rush on hand. Swinging hard, the attack sent the Charizard blasting out of the smoke. Not stopping, Lucifer attacked with an Extreme Speed and hurt the pokemon more before it could gather its bearings. Finally, another attack came his way, a Dragonbreath, but Lucifer cut through it with his Bone Rush. First using his Bone Rush to ward off a Steel Wing on the left and his foot to stop the other, Lucifer attack viciously once more. Slamming his Bone Rush against the Charizard's cheek, the pokemon fell over like a sack of potatoes, bested by the consecutive critical hits.
Without a second glance, Lucifer let his Bone Rush disappear. The princess was bemoaning her loss, unbelieving that he was so powerful, and he held out his arm. Mew immediately ran back up to sit on his shoulder, and people automatically cleared the way for them. Lucifer took off with an Extreme Speed to the Tree of Beginning.
"My name is Faye," Mew told Lucifer hardly an hour later.
She had changed her name again, and she had even changed her appearance. She was still of white skin, but had a cute little pug nose now. She was built slimmer and had less curves than normal, but still retained her blue eyes. However, her pink hair was stark against everything, just as long as her golden hair had been, only full of curls.
Lucifer frowned. He had been so sure that they would get to make this journey as pokemon again. In fact, he had looked forward to it. Instead, a rather disgruntled 'Dexter' followed his teacher/lover on their journey to the Tree of Beginning.
They traveled a long way in a short amount of time—it DID help that Mew was running him dry again. However, it was late afternoon before they finally stopped.
Pink hair tucked beneath a hat, Mew sent Lucifer a grin as he felt a rumble through his feet. Again and again to the front, geysers erupted with thunderous columns of water, rising high before crashing down in fury.
"Geysers!" Mew proclaimed lightly. "And we've hit our first mile-marker!" With a sudden spin, she was back in an all-to-familiar leopard swimsuit, and she winked at the momentarily stunned Lucifer. "To the hot springs!"
Lucifer rolled his eyes when she ran off, clearly ready to enjoy herself. Trudging along behind her, stripped of his clothing except for his swim trunks, Lucifer sat in the water with her.
He waited for her to speak, but she was just humming the tune to their tango. Restless and wanting to get on with it, Lucifer instead relaxed himself and focused his aura. Falling into mediation, he felt a prickle of energy. It was dormant, bundled up small, but powerful. Frowning, Lucifer opened his eyes and looked up a small drop to see the source of it.
It was a flower, small, but curiously shaped. It's color was a merging pink and blue, veins of the leaves protruding sharply. It looked like a flower turned into crystal.
Lucifer stood, letting the water sluice off him. "Mew," he asked, "what is that?"
"Hm?" She looked up and frowned. "Oh, drat. I was hoping you wouldn't figure it out for forever like normal so I could soak a while. Oh well." Mew clambered up quickly to it, grinning. "This is a time flower. It can record short periods of events, you know, help you see the past. It's activated by an aura." She gestured. "Come up here! Activate it!"
"Uh . . . Sure." Climbing up the wall, Lucifer crouched next to Mew. Unsure of how to activate it, so-said, Lucifer touched it uncertainly—immediately a deep glow started, and Lucifer started when the flower opened up, the soft glow of an aura rising out of it. With a deep toll, a sheen of energy passed around the entire area.
His brows pinched when he watched the young boy, Ash, give a shout and fall from a high area down into the hot springs they had vacated just a short while ago. The flower fell, and an unnamed girl caught it. The vision faded.
"See?" Mew said brightly. "Not much to see, but that was his first run-in with these time flowers! Just thought I'd let you know about it and see it first hand. Next, we'll see something extremely important." She shrugged, standing. "So, until then, we enjoy these hot springs!"
"Here. This is the flower I want you to see."
Lucifer frowned. It wasn't far from the springs. It was hidden beneath several bushes, but he obliged. Immediately it reacted, spreading its faint aura over the area.
"Now, watch close. See Lucario?"
He did. It was night in the vision that encased them, and Lucifer swiped his still-wet hair from his face. Ash was finishing a narration of a story, but the brooding Lucario was set apart from the fire. Lucifer frowned—he was . . . much like himself. He could understand.
Suddenly, he jolted to his feet, snarling angrily, "You humans are all alike! You can't be trusted!"
Lucifer blinked. The words sounded so much the same to the thoughts he had believed in. Ash, however, was a spit-fire, running after the Lucario that stalked off. Unbidden, Lucifer followed.
"Hey, wait a second!" Ash ran in front of him, spreading his hands. "Are you saying you don't trust me?"
The Lucario didn't hesitate, growl set on his face. "You would leave Pikachu without hesitating if you had to," he shot back scathingly, without flinching or hesitating.
"There's no way I'd ever run out on Pikachu!" Ash shouted back just as angrily, two lighted matches for the same and only coal. They fought bitterly, but the Lucario just brushed by him, unblinking.
"Your word means nothing."
Lucifer kept up with the Lucario, hearing Ash yell back, "How do we know Sir Aaron betrayed the queen like you say? Why don't you tell us the real story, Lucario. You deserted Sir Aaron and the queen! Didn't you?"
The Lucario halted, and Lucifer closed his eyes to see if he could look at his aura. It was true and as he had thought—anger was rising in him, and quickly. It blinded him.
The Lucario jerked about, snarling, "What did you say?"
"This isn't helping, Ash!"
He muttered, "I didn't start it . . ."
"What makes you think that Pikachu didn't run off and desert you?" the emotionally wounded Lucario shot back on a growl, teeth clenched tight. "Because it didn't want YOU for a master!" The Lucario stalked off again.
Ash ran after him. "Take that back!" he cried out. Lucifer was startled when the human ran up and tackled the Lucario. Taking off after them, Lucifer slid down the slope they rolled down. They splashed in the water, and a struggle was seen. Then, Ash was thrown out by Lucario, hitting the ground hard. Lucifer jerked his head over as the Lucario leapt out of the water and up the hill, a lone wolf as he strode angrily away.
The vision ended soon after that. Lucifer stood, staring at the present-day waters, utterly still.
He felt Mew's arms envelope him from behind, bare skin against bare skin. Her breath tickled his ear as the sun began to set. "Kinda reminds you of someone, doesn't he?"
Lucifer swallowed, looking down at the rim of his swim trunks. "Yeah . . ." he finally said quietly. He reached up and rested his hands against the back of hers. "Was I . . . as bad as he was?"
Mew shook her head and kissed his shoulder. "No, not quite. Though you were your own royal pain in the rear nevertheless." Lucifer's hands tightened. He related to the Lucario so easily . . . It was almost frightening. "Sometimes I like to wonder if you guys are related," Mew said absently, resting her head against his muscled back, "but I don't know if Lucario had any children. He doesn't seem like the type, so it's probably just wistful fantasy."
Lucifer turned around, locking his arms around her. Her breath caught. "Do I look the type?" he muttered quietly.
Mew's breath quickened. "No. Of course not."
He chuckled, leaning low to nip her lip. "How can I repay you for putting up with my royal pain in the ass?" Lucifer kissed her, trailing his mouth down her neck. Her pulse raced under her skin. "Surely, I don't have to be a pain there, maybe something else . . ."
Lucifer could feel the heat of her skin and didn't have to see her face to know she was blushing brightly. He groaned low in the back of his throat, hands tugging at the skin-tight swimsuit she wore that still carried water. It stuck like an extra skin, but that didn't stop Lucifer. Carefully peeling the fabric from her, Lucifer delved into another unforgettable experience of a lifetime.
"Lucifer . . . Wake up. Today. Right now. I'm tired of waiting."
He roused drowsily, but didn't get up. He turned his face into her neck, nuzzling her affectionately. "But I don't want to get up," he said as playfully as he could while still half-asleep.
He felt her chest heave as she gave a little 'huff' beneath him. "Don't make me throw you off. You know I don't like to be mean."
On the contrary, Lucifer thought Mew liked it more when he was defying her. So, though he knew he would feel the pain in the next couple of instances, Lucifer trailed his nose up and down her neck with a deep hum. He licked her cheek with a little kiss, murmuring, "You're a mean person."
In response, and just as he expected, a light Psychic tossed him flat on his back. He groaned slightly, but it was overtaken with a laugh.
"And what's so funny?"
Lucifer looked over at her and could only laugh more. Her pink hair was thoroughly tousled, she was still glowing pink after their lovemaking, and compound that with the fact she was trying to be serious with her arms crossed across her chest, Lucifer couldn't stop his mirth. Laughing harder, he heard her huff again.
"Ungrateful wretch—Get up! We've got stuff to see, and I want to see if we can get it all done today so we can be at the Tree of Beginning by nightfall." When he still chuckled, Mew narrowed her eyes. With a flash, they were dressed again. "Keep laughing like that and that's the end of nighttime fun."
Lucifer, however, played her bluff. He chuckled, crossing his arms and raising his eyebrows. "Oh, really?"
"Really."
Preferably, they would never stop their nighttime fun, and Lucifer found himself cocky with the fact. "I take that as a challenge," he said, shaking his head. Deliberately, he said, "Ha. Ha. Ha." Then, at her face, he really did laugh. "We'll see how long you can keep yourself from me tonight. And then we'll see just how long my stamina really is."
Mew's face blushed a vibrant red at his jibe on sex, and she scowled, flouncing away. "You'll eat those words."
Lucifer chuckled again. "And maybe something else—"
"And today!" Mew interrupted quickly, scowling deep again, "We get to watch another time flower."
Lucifer rolled his eyes. "I already know the outcome of the story. Why must I watch it?"
"Because!" she said impatiently. She began to run, and Lucifer followed willingly. "I said so! Besides, it's much more interesting, and I wanted to show you how strong auras are."
"Power enough to save a life," Lucifer said easily, keeping up with her from how much experience he had gained.
Mew didn't respond for some time before she gave another irritated breath and said, "Let's be pokemon, we'll get there way faster."
In response, Lucifer grinned and took after her with an Extreme Speed. How he loved being a pokemon!
The grounds ripped by quickly. Curiously, there weren't any other travelers on the road with them, and Lucifer used his aura to assess his surroundings . . . as well as take another look at the glorious pokemon ahead of him.
Lucifer's brows puckered as he looked at Mew's aura. So many things she was feeling this morning! Taking his time to sort through her emotions, he first came across irritation. Yes, that was clear enough, everything had been bothering her this morning. Then, he came across the source of that irritation—and he had to give a cocky grin to himself. She was worried about not being able to resist him. The thought that he was too much temptation for her sent his blood rushing.
Mew was still faintly aroused, but it was draining from her now that she had her mind on other things. Lucifer felt that maddening grin spread. He had such a hold over her! Sorting his way through others, he found that Mew was also a bit sheepish. Interesting. Digging deeper, he found her embarrassment on his comment on his stamina. Lucifer's desire grew—he would show her tonight—!
Lucifer skidded to a halt when he found Mew stopped right in front of him. With a startled yell at her sudden stop, Lucifer bumped into her and they fell on the ground.
She gave an annoyed groan. "Get off of me you lumbering Lucario."
Lucifer chuckled and nuzzled the back of her neck. Curiously, she had chosen to be a Lucario as well. "As you command."
He got up and extended a hand to Mew, but she had already jumped to her feet. She pointed excitedly. "See there? That's the most important time flower around!" Her brows puckered suddenly in thought. The sight was endearing, and she said, "Well, possible the second most important. But important nonetheless!" She transformed back into a cute pink cat. "Remember Lucario's claim about Sir Aaron being a backstabber? Now watch the flower!"
Lucifer shrugged, and he leapt up to the flower. Brushing it, the familiar haze enveloped them, and he started to attention at the scene in front of him.
Lucario was running after his master, eyes closed, and it seemed there was some grit in his eyes. Lucifer stared as the man threw the staff back into the ground. A flash of light blasted from the crystal on the staff, and Lucario cried out one last time.
"Sir Aaron!"
With a magic flash of light, Lucario was sealed into the staff before Lucifer's very eyes. Sir Aaron leapt onto his Pidgeot, flying away.
However, the vision inside a vision didn't end there. Lucifer started when he realized that he and Mew weren't alone—there were other kids around watching, Ash amongst them, and the Lucario was on his hands and knees in front of the staff. The scepter began to tremble.
Lucifer jerked when an army came running up, passing through the area. He jerked out a Bone Rush, caught up in the intensity of the vision, but Mew reprimanded him.
"Calm down, it's just a vision. You are SO like Lucario."
To accentuate her point, Lucario's eyes were wild with fright, and he gave a roaring cry, raising his hands above his head. Lucifer's heart rate picked up when he attacked, and Lucifer swung at the attack that came for Mew—but it passed straight through him AND her both, exploding on the ground not far away.
The danger, however, was real for the other humans with Lucario. They had to dodge his wild attacks that did nothing to the soldiers that were nothing but ghostly images.
"Stop it Lucario!" he heard the Ash kid yell. "It's not real! It's a vision from the past!"
Lucario gained his senses back, breathing hard, his next Aura Sphere dwindling to nothing. He trembled as he backed away, seemingly both horrified by the situation and the way he had lost control. After a few more brief seconds, he turned and ran.
Lucifer didn't think twice but ran after him. "How far do these things record?" he asked her.
She darted through the air next to him. "Oh, I dunno, a mile or so. If you really wanted, you could watch the armies collide . . ."
Lucifer ignored her, chasing the Lucario he felt so close to. The first vision faded without Lucario's aura powering it, but the same image of Lucario dashing away remained. For a while they ran, so fast that Lucifer thought they would pass the limit of the time flower, but eventually the Lucario dropped to his hands and knees, panting, shaking with suppressed emotions.
He spoke aloud to himself, struggling to comprehend it all. "He was my master!" Lucifer set his jaw to control his own emotion when he saw the turmoil in Lucario's face. His eyes opened, revealing impassioned eyes, something dead inside. "And he betrayed me."
Lucifer felt his paw clench. Abandoned . . . He knew the feeling.
His ears twitched when he heard someone's footsteps. He looked back when he saw the Ash kid, puzzlement surrounding his senses. Lucario gasped and jerked up from his hands, feverish eyes colliding with Ash.
"Lucario . . ."
The kid dropped his head. It took Lucifer a moment to realize that he was trying not to cry. "I'm sorry I said all that stuff last night. It wasn't right."
Lucario stood, intrigued.
The boy began to cry in earnest, shoulders shaking, tears dripping down his cheeks. "S-sorry . . ."
Lucifer saw a new light dawn in Lucario's eyes. "Ash," he said slowly. "Promise me you won't ever desert Pikachu."
The boy wiped his eyes, taking a deep breath to control his crying. "I promise," he said strongly, if with a rather weak smile. Then, with a start, Lucario utilized his aura, running off. Lucifer started to too, but he was startled to find the vision fade out.
"Wait—what's happening?"
Mew floated into sight, rolling her eyes. "Well, the time flowers do have a limit. They can't record everything. I suppose that if they brushed the flower again they would have recorded whatever happened next too, but that's all right. We'll head to the next check point."
Before she could get away, Lucifer grabbed her long tail. "What about me?"
She looked back, puzzled. "Huh? What about you?"
Lucifer's grip tightened on her. He hadn't really thought about his future. What would happen when there was no more for Mew to teach him? What would happen then? "Sir Aaron deserted Lucario," he stated, passionate eyes boring holes into Mew. "Ash pursued Pikachu. What about me? As my master, how do you view me? Worthless enough to throw away, or prized enough to run after?"
Mew hesitated before answering. She floated down close, touching her nose to his in sincerity. "Considering the past two nights," she said softly, "I am no master to you. That's twice now I've bent to your will and you have dominated over top of me." She blushed a little as she said this, but did not remove her eyes from his. "And, contrary to what you think, you have taught me some things I hadn't thought about before."
She said nothing else though, and Lucifer tugged gently on her tail. "Mew . . . You didn't answer the question."
She still didn't answer for some time. Instead, she rubbed her cheek tenderly against his, long tail wrapping itself around his knuckles and wrist. Her tiny pink tongue licked him several times on the neck and then the cheek before she nuzzled her nose against his again. The affectionate gestures made Lucifer's heart pump harder.
"You are . . . more to me than I want to admit."
Lucifer's grip on her tail tightened, and his other paw came up to stroke her miniscule and fine hair. Something tightened in the back of his throat. "Truly?"
She nodded. Cuddling close into his chest, she murmured, "I do love you after all. I would pursue you to the ends of this planet and beyond."
Lucifer's throat bobbed hard, and he buried his face in Mew's fine fur. After several long minutes of indulging in her sweet scent and soft body, he finally heard her say playfully, "Well, now that I've satisfied your ego, how about mine?"
A trembling breath left Lucifer's mouth. "You are my everything. I would die without you."
A pause, and then Mew gave a short laugh. "Well, no need to be so melodramatic." She twisted from his grip suddenly, causing Lucifer to grasp out to the air. "All right, none of this melancholy stuff, we're close to the end of the story now! Come on!"
Lucifer took off after her when she suddenly became a Lucario too, racing inside the base of the tree. Lucifer didn't mind much the crystals in the area, or the beauty of the tree—he couldn't take his eyes off the Lucario in front of him.
"This is where things get more interesting!" Mew chirped cheerfully. "So, my Regirock who helps guard my tree started to cause a ruckus when he started attacking the invaders—Lucario and those humans. Only, it wouldn't have been that bad if the one girl hadn't tried to take samples. That was when my immune system reacted HORRIBLY."
Lucifer swallowed, following her quick pace. "So horribly that you almost died."
She gave a careless shrug. That she had so little care for her safety caused Lucifer's blood to boil.
"By this time I was realizing things were really off. I wasn't really feeling good, but I passed it off—stupid me. Pikachu kept saying his friends were here, so I was trying to help him find them." Mew took him to a perilous drop with broken rock bridges. "This is where Pikachu finally saw Ash, but they were still running from my furious Regi. They disappeared down another passage, and we were forced to find a different way." Lucifer looked down on the steep drop. A wind gusted his face. "Lucario managed to ward them off as they all tried to find a way out of my tree, but as you can see . . ." and Mew threw a suggestive wink to him. "My tree is very big. Easy to get lost in."
Lucifer craned his head around. To say it was massive was the understatement of the year. He was sure he could fit all of Saffron AND Sunyshore City in here! Not to mention still have extra room!
"Jump!"
Lucifer blinked when Mew vaulted over the huge gap in the road. He blinked, eyeing the feat uncertainly—it was EXTREMELY far across.
"Come on! Come on! You can do it!"
Wrinkling his nose, Lucifer took a running head start and jumped as far as he could. He flew through the air for several seconds before he realized that he was a few feet short from grabbing the edge.
"Damn it."
His alarm was minor, because just as soon as he started plummeting to whatever waited below—too far below to even see—Mew teleported as a Lucario, grabbed him, and teleported them back up to where they were.
"Good try anyway," she said, and then they were running again, her still narrating. "So, the Tree of Beginning started to produce anti-bodies . . . Hm. I guess they're kinda like white blood cells. Anyway, they began, so say, "eating" up all the viruses in the tree which it just so happened to mistake as anything living, breathing, or moving inside the tree that wasn't me! Well, except pokemon, of course—there's tons of pokemon living in here."
It was true because Lucifer had seen them. They climbed higher. If not for the hard runs up the Jagged Pass, Lucifer would be exhausted by now.
"Well, realizing what the tree was doing, I tried to stop it, but I was feeling worse and worse by the minute. It took me another minute to realize that since the tree was sick that I was sick TOO. Oh—excuse me, Ash and Pikachu met up again." Lucifer rolled his eyes at her apparent lack of organization. "Whelp, I didn't know how to stop the tree, and I didn't really, eh, realize that anything was wrong. It was normal for my system to try to clean itself like the time before. Only, boy was I surprised to find those white blood cells eating up the humans!"
Lucifer snorted. "Indeed."
"Shut up and listen. Lucario tried to stop them, but Regirock and Registeel had him pinned. When all the pokemon started crying for their friends, I was . . . moved, you could say." Lucifer shot her a look, but with her back turned as they went deeper and deeper into the tree, he couldn't gauge her reaction. "So, I restored all the humans back when I realized the pokemon missed them. But . . . That's when I got really sick."
Lucifer's heart pounded hard. This was where it took a turn for the worse.
"The pretty blue crystals? They all started turning a burning orange and red and breaking down, disintegrating really. The tree was dying, and so was I. I led them to this chamber."
Lucifer halted in the room. It was gorgeous and blue, a giant neon-blue crystal in the center. It reminded him of a watered-down version of Mew's aura, and that was to be expected—she did share a symbiotic relationship with the tree.
"Look here, you doubting twat."
Lucifer looked to where she gestured—and jolted.
"Those are . . . !"
"Sir Aaron's gloves," she said with a slight smirk. "Of course. You horrible doubter. Look in those two crystal formations."
Lucifer did, and that shocked him even more. Unable to process what his eyes were seeing, Lucifer burst, "But—How are they both—Encased in crystal?"
She nudged him. "Touch the flower and watch the last thing it recorded."
Lucifer swallowed, suddenly wondering if he wanted to or not. Curiosity won out though, and he brushed his paw above the flower. It activated immediately, encasing them.
"Where are you?"
Lucifer jumped at Sir Aaron's yell, focusing immediately on him. As a faint background detail, he realized once again that he was watching a vision from within a vision, Lucario and Ash and another with them.
"Mew!"
A shocking cry from a Ho-oh split the silence, and it transformed down into a cute fluffy cat. Mew—and she was so sick it strained Lucifer to even watch.
"Mew, I realize that you and this tree are one." He raised a hand to her. "Please, take the power of my aura to save the people!" Lucifer watched a growing blue orb centered itself at Sir Aaron's hand. "Now! Accept the aura! The power of aura will prevail!" Sir Aaron's aura was pushed from his body and around Mew, and she began to glow with a bright blue light. He began to struggle, and Lucifer realized with a sudden start that it was painful when one let go of their own aura. Sir Aaron began to scream, but the image faded out with the lights nearly beginning to overtake everything. Lucifer turned to see Lucario's reaction.
"Sir Aaron sacrificed himself," the woman said, "in order to save the kingdom and restore peace. He was a hero like the legends say."
Lucifer set his jaw against his emotions when Lucario turned back to the crystal formation of his master, kneeling. "Forgive me for doubting you! Master . . ." He fell on his hands and knees, hanging his head low with shame. Lucifer swallowed at his sheer devotion.
The tree was disintegrating in the image though. It showed Mew coming to the overwhelmed Lucario, saying something. She was asking for his aura.
"There's a way to save the tree?" Lucifer watched Lucario's expression change. He wanted to live up to his master's expectations, and what better way to do so than save what he had once saved before? "If we use the power of aura? I'll help you, Mew."
"Hold on Lucario!" the woman cut in. "If you use your aura to reverse the damage, you'll end up in the same suspended state as Sir Aaron!"
Lucifer felt his admiration of the Lucario grow when he was unflinching. "Yes, I know." He turned to the sick Mew—sicker than the time before. "The aura is with me," he said to her. He held out his paw. Lucario immediately started the process, but Lucifer watched with puckered brow. His aura was too weak—it flickered and struggle to encompass Mew.
He let it go with a gasp. "It's not working. I'm not strong enough."
Lucifer was shocked when Ash came, saying, "You remember what you said about me before?" He grabbed Sir Aaron's gloves for some reason, putting them on. "You said my aura was like Sir Aaron's. It's time to test if it's really true."
With their combined efforts, the aura grew strong enough that Mew was able to possess it. At the peak of the transfer though, when Ash was crying out in agony and Lucario was clenching his jaw tight, growling, Lucario lifted his head to Ash. With a start, Lucario knocked Ash out of the way.
Ash fell back so that it was only Lucario forcing the aura to Mew. "Leave the rest of this to me, Ash!" Though his voice was taunt with pain, his words were exhilarated. "The aura is with me!" With a dazzling flash of light that nearly blinded Lucifer, Mew came to the center of the crystal formation and reversed the effects of the virus. Her tree became healthy again, becoming its normal blue color.
Mew came back, happily thanking them all, but it was Lucario that fell hard with a low groan that took all their attention.
"Lucario!"
Lucario fell next to the crystal formation of his master. His entire body trembled in agony, and a chill ran up Lucifer's spin—despite the pain, he would be willing to pass his aura to her. No matter what pain it could cause.
"There's . . . nothing you can do for me, Ash."
The kid however, was a kid. Simple to a fault. "Are you sure?"
Lucario winced and shuddered hard again, jerking. His hand fell near a time flower Lucifer hadn't noticed before, and he started when the vision inside a vision encompassed again.
Sir Aaron was groaning, staggering in pain before collapsing in his designated spot. He left his gloves on a nearby crystal, saying with staggered breaths, "Lucario . . . Forgive me."
The conversation Sir Aaron had with himself was one-sided, but not with the images in replay. Lucario's eyes were wide as he watched his dying moments, murmuring, "I do, master."
"Please understand . . . I had to seal you inside the staff! I knew if I didn't, you'd follow me here and suffer the same fate." Sir Aaron leaned back, staring wistfully to the stars. "I only wish you could have known the real story."
Lucario was unable to take it. In desperation to soothe his master's guilt, he cried out, "I understand!"
Sir Aaron just leaned back, closing his eyes. "One day, you will be released. In a distant and more peaceful time." A soft smile curled his lips. "What will it be like? I wonder if—" A sharp cry of pain interrupted his words, and he clenched his jaw tight, breathing coming fast and furious within the second. His body jerked spasmodically as if he were electrocuted. But, as he began to endure the pain, he shook his head, saying, "I have—no regrets. My journey . . . has been good. I served a beautiful queen, and—you and I shared many adventures."
His confession was tearing the Lucario apart, and Lucifer felt his jaw tick in the effort to control his own emotions. Sir Aaron leaned back even though he still twitched, saying, "Those memories . . . will always be with me."
Lucario's voice was a breathless whisper. "Master . . ." Then, it gained strength with raw passion, tears beading in his eyes as he squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to stop them. "If you could only hear me! I want to tell you how much you mean to me!"
"Lucario . . ."
It sounded so much like an answer that the Lucario in question's eyes snapped open as Sir Aaron finally said his last words.
"Farewell." He closed his eyes. "You were more to me than just my student. You were . . . my closest friend."
Lucario's tears grew. "I feel the same," he told him softly to no avail.
"Who knows? It could be . . . one day . . . We will see each other again . . ." Lucifer's jaw bobbed when he saw a tear streak down Sir Aaron's face. "I hope so, my friend."
The image finally ended, and it was the breaking point for Lucario. Tears streaked down his face in earnest, unabashedly, and he dropped his face into his hand, crying freely. "Sir Aaron, my friend . . ." Sobs shook his shoulders. "I'm sorry I failed you . . ."
"That's not true!" Ash denied him quickly. "You proved you're a true guardian of the aura, like Sir Aaron!"
Though unshed tears still beaded his eyes, Lucario's look was grateful. "Thank you Ash." With a harsh cry, he was seized by the ending stings of death, and he fell back. His body began to jerk with the seizures.
"Lucario! Please, hang on! You can't leave us yet!"
A sound of pain slipped from his vocals, but he leaned back, at peace with it all. "I have to go, Ash . . . Aaron . . . is waiting for me . . ."
Lucifer's throat tightened again, and he swallowed when he watched Lucario transformed into crystal right before his eyes. The vision ended, and Lucifer felt a soft paw touch his cheek. He jolted sharply to see Mew as a Lucario. A sad smile touched her face, but she was also happy.
"I told you it was a tragically happy story, didn't I?"
Trying to suppress the sheer emotion of the story was doing Lucifer no good—with a wild gasp he grasped her, pulling her close. They fell to the floor, Lucifer kissing her fervently, licking over her, rubbing his cheeks against hers, nipping her lightly here and there.
"If you ever," he spoke between affections, "need an aura—you have mine. You have all of me—my loyalty, my devotion, my love, my aura, my heart. I am yours." He groaned lowly, growling slightly with passion as Mew gasped beneath him. "I am yours . . . My Mew . . . I am yours . . ."
Lucifer trembled at the sheer extent of his passions, taking her even more ardently than he had the first. But his breathy moans would not stop.
"I am yours . . . I am yours . . . My Mew, oh, my Mew, I am yours . . ."
