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Chapter Ten: Awakening

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Aura Guardians:

During the great global war of 1800, two hundred and forty-nine years before the initialization of Rangernet, there existed an enigmatic but humanitarian organisation known as the Aura Council. At its peak just before the resolution of the war, the Aura Council consisted of some hundred-odd members, collectively known as "Aura Guardians", all from various different regions of the world. They are the first recorded association of Aura users, and indeed believed to be the first known authors on techniques to enhance quantum cognition: the thought process that is now known to allow humans and certain Pokémon to manipulate their surrounding energy.

It is an undisputable fact that the organisation existed long before the war began, perhaps as early as the 1700s, nearly a century before. The techniques of manipulation and special meditative states appear to be, without a doubt, extensively tested and refined over a period of time. The copies of the manuscripts and scrolls are distributed at various public libraries around the globe, although a majority of the originals are archived at the Planetary Library of Canalave City, in southern Sinnoh.

A further analysis reveals that the intricacies of Aura manipulation, as well it's mathematical and quantitative understanding were unknown to the Aura Council, leading to the conclusion that the understanding of the Science was achieved mainly by trial and error as well as intuition. This reinforces the truth of the Aura Guardians as an ancient and slowly growing organisation, given their largely non-mathematical knowledge base.

Most of the Aura Guardians themselves are not believed to have been anomalies, except for a very low fraction of the total numbers. It is believed that the Council decreed tests to those who claimed to be worthy of learning quantum cognition. Due to their not being many anomalies, the Guardians had to undergo rigorous training in an effort to bring out their manipulative abilities.

It is a known fact that every last Aura Guardian and most of their partner Lucario were either killed or had sacrificed themselves during the war. This seems to be consistent with their philosophy of self-sacrifice and working for the betterment of Humanity and Pokémon. Indeed, the damage that would have ensured if the war had lasted without their intervention would have been cataclysmic. The Aura Council has been established as one of the first organizations that eventually led to the planetary unification of 2005, centuries later.

- Rangernet History Archive

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'Okay Ash,' said Meir, 'this battle is a way to get Lucario up and running. You need to do this exactly as I tell you, understood?'

Ash nodded, numbly gripping Lucario's Pokeball with his gloved hand. The other two took positions facing each other near the large Yoshino tree; Bliss went back to her place under the tree and invited May to sit down with her. The two coordinators relaxed as the trainers took their battle stances. Everyone was exhausted from the day's ordeal – both mentally and physically. Aura sensing required every asset of the mind and body, and thus fatigued both.

'Alright Ash,' Meir said, 'I have to somehow make sure that your Lucario wins this battle, but this is the only time you're winning against me!'

'We'll see about that!' Ash grinned, and threw the Pokeball. 'Go, Lucario!'

The blue-black jackal-like creature came out. At a first glance, it was easy to notice that Ash's newly evolved Lucario did not carry the air and authority that the species usually displayed. Instead, it's pose was rather child-like and loose, and acted more like an overgrown Riolu rather than its truly evolved form. The Pokémon turned to face the trainer.

'Lucario,' Ash said, 'I know you can't use your attacks buddy, but just listen to Meir and we'll get you fixed up alright?'

The Aura Pokémon gave Ash a playful nod. He turned to face the other trainer, who was scanning his appearance thoroughly. Meir mumbled under his breath and gave the Pokémon opposite to him an approving nod.

'No physical deferments, slight personality backlash and inability to completely connect with Aura.' thought Meir, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. 'he did use that Aura Sphere back in Sinnoh though...it's probably something psychological rather than an evolution defect.' The trainer shook himself out of his thoughts, now knowing what to do.

A sudden gust of wind sprouted out spontaneously from all over the battle field. Everyone, Ash's Lucario in particular, could feel the gentle pattern of an invisible silk as it flowed through the air. The wind seemed to weave into the silk as it transmitted what seemed to be a current of heat. The air seemed to get thicker, but not uncomfortably so. The temperature quickly settled at a cool and comfortable level.

'Aura pulse.' Meir explained shortly, taking out a Pokeball. This one was half yellow and half blue, but otherwise the same as an ordinary red-white Pokeball that most trainers possessed. It was merely a colour-change that identified the Pokeball containing the world champion's Pokeball. Meir gently placed the Pokeball in mid-air as the invisible silk seemed to hold it right there, as if it was ignoring gravity completely.

'Sirnight,' he said, releasing his hold of the Pokeball, thereby allowing it to float in mid-air. 'Realise!' A flash of light revealed the tall humanoid form of a green-white Pokemon, as it serenely announced its name.

'Gardevoir,' Meir said, 'We need to perform a psychic de-block on that Lucario.' He looked into the Pokémon's eyes. 'Are you up for it?'

The psychic-type gave a small nod, turning to fix it's gaze on the curious blue-jackal standing across the field.

'Hey Meir?' Ash called out. 'Do you give your Pokémon nicknames?'

Meir chuckled at Ash's observation. Most trainers didn't give a nickname to their Pokémon because of the well known fact that it often confuses their fellow team-members or even the Pokémon themselves. For instance, a captured Pikachu would always be called a Pikachu by any person or Pokémon that happen to talk to it. Changing the name after a capture that may as well have been in the prime years of a Pokémon's life was a bit of a problem, and the said Pokémon would have to go a rather costly therapy for renaming – which was done by a select few experts around the world. Meir definitely wasn't one of them, nor were Bliss or Cynthia for that matter.

'They're not nicknames Ash,' Meir replied, waving his hand in dismissal, 'They're codenames. I make my Pokémon remember them just like they're made to remember attack names. I only started to give them these names after I became World Champion. You can say they're a kind of security measure – my Pokémon only come out of their Pokeball if I say their codename first. It prevents any ... misunderstandings that would otherwise occur if someone finds out that my Pokémon are in hands other than my own. When I'm taking to my Pokémon, I always use their normal names.'

'Oh, I get it now.' Ash said, nodding. He paused. 'So what am I supposed to do?'

'May come over here.' Meir said, motioning to the coordinator, who promptly hopped up and jogged towards him. Meir told her something softly which neither Ash nor Lucario could hear. She nodded slowly and stepped backwards so that the battle could finally start.

'Can we start the fight now?' Ash said impatiently, tapping his foot. His hands were curled in a fist – it was something he did out of habit whenever he was in a battle. It was his anchor of focus and determination.

'Sorry to keep you waiting.' Meir said, his demeanour changing quite suddenly. The feeling of an invisible silk hanging in the air reappeared with full force, wrapping itself around the combatants. 'You have the honours, Ash.'

'Alright! Lucario, charge in and try to use Aura Sphere!' Ash commanded, remembering that his attack options were severely limited.

The Pokémon nodded and began to gather up the energy required for the move. It could be done, but it would take a long time due to the premature evolution. Meir frowned as he noticed the flaw in the attack.

'The energy lobes – the four black projections on every Lucario's head,' he thought, 'that seems to be the problem.' Energy lobes were like antennas. They did the job of collecting dark energy from the surroundings – particles of matter that were invisible, but their effects could be felt as Aural waves. This was the enormous amount of energy that powered any Lucario's attacks. The problem was, only two of the four lobes seemed to be operating. This was because a Riolu has only two energy lobes, and Ash's Lucario didn't seem to be able to access its new pair, a side effect of the premature evolution.

'Gardevoir, Psychic.' Meir said quietly. With a soft sound, the Embrace Pokémon glowed a pale violet, lifting her opponent into the air. Lucario was confused as his body hung a few feet off the ground, seemingly supported by nothing but air. He gave a growl as he felt the pressure on his skin increase and decrease, first slowly, then rapidly. The Aura Pokémon could feel a tingle at the sides of his head as it managed to slowly raise the two unused energy lobes. The unformed Aura Sphere glowed with a flash before exploding briefly, sending both the Pokémon flying before they managed to correct their balance. Bliss sitting beneath the tree gave a smile as she read her PDA. Lucario had managed to get all his lobes up and running. Now came the task of controlling that extra power.

Meir nodded at Ash who instinctively guessed what he had to do.

'Alright Lucario, try another Aura Sphere!'

With a mighty grunt, the blue-black Pokémon brought forth its hands, pouring energy into their intersection. The blue ball now reached a good size, but it was wildly unstable. Lucario struggled to focus as his opponent's Psychic attack was still disrupting his ability to concentrate. Luckily, the sheer energy that he drew from the surroundings was enough to break the psychic barrier that Gardevoir had formed around him. With a rippling noise, the two Pokémon fell back to the ground as the unstable Aura Sphere exploded in mid-air. The battlers were unfazed at their crash-landing and simply got up again despite their weakened state.

'May!' Meir called out. The young coordinator nodded as she quickly sat back on the ground in the meditating position she had been taught in the morning. It was a simple, but brilliant idea. Since Lucario's premature evolution was probably triggered by the reaction to May's developing Aura, it could be given the same stimulus which would act as a metaphorical "key", which could proceed to "unlock" the various aspects of his brain and congenital abilities. A pale blue glow around the Pokémon seen in the light of the setting sun was a confirmation that the plan was working. While May was unknowingly merging her Aura with Ash in Sinnoh, Lucario, then a Riolu was using it as stimulation as it gathered energy for evolution.

Bliss recognized the significance of this immediately. It further evidenced the modern theory of Pokémon evolution. Simply put, seventy-four percent of the energy contained in the universe cannot be seen directly, but it affects us in indirect ways. This "Dark Energy" is the chief constituent of the Aura fingerprint of different people and different organisms. More so, it affects all Pokémon who unconsciously absorb and store this energy to a certain point. Beyond this point, they evolve as long as they satisfy certain conditions which their instincts deem necessary to for their progression. Ash's Lucario seemed to have reached that "evolution point" much sooner due to his exposure to unique aura, as well as its species' natural attraction towards such power sources. However, this led to some negative side-effects wherein the Pokémon's mind wasn't psychologically ready to accept evolution, blocking several neural pathways in his brain to prevent it from the same "sensory overload" that it's trainer had to bear.

That barrier seemed to have been finally removed.

Just then, Lucario passed out, exhausted from the ordeal. A red beam of light later, the Pokémon was recalled by its trainer. Ash looked at the Pokeball, his expression carrying a glimmer of worry for his battle partner.

'Is he alright?'

Meir rubbed his forehead as he nodded his head slowly. 'He should be. Just give him some time.'

Ash nodded, and walked towards May. The coordinator had passed out from exhaustion due to the stress of continually accessing her newfound senses. Ash was feeling wobbly as well, with the adrenaline from the battle no longer pulsing through his bloodstream.

He could vaguely see Meir exchanging a few words with his Gardevoir, after which the Pokémon went to seemingly explore the garden. The champion trainer walked towards Ash and gently, but firmly held his right arm, supporting him. Meir was careful not to make contact with his younger counterpart's skin, so as not to cause the trainer to pass out. Ahead of them Bliss gently picked up May's sleeping form and proceeded to walk in the direction of the Pokémon centre. She gave Meir one glance, and both he and Ash nodded in understanding.

They were done for the day. The skies were turning dark as the sun set, and May needed to be put into bed as soon as possible.

As the distance between the two coordinators and the duo of trainers increased, Meir looked at Ash. The younger trainer was visibly exhausted. It was mental as well as physical which was evidenced by his sluggish movements and drooping eyelids. His half-closed chocolate orbs seemed to be focused on the nearing lights of the Pokémon Centre and the silhouette of the two coordinators, one carrying the other in her arms.

'Protect her Ash.' Meir said quietly, causing the trainer to jerk his head up.

'What?' he asked, his tone was a tired, albeit inquiring one.

'Rainbow Valley isn't the safest of places, as I'm sure I told you.' Meir replied in the same quiet tone, his gaze shifting towards the approaching building. 'We might get separated, and you will have to protect and trust each other when the time comes – which might be just two days away.' His gaze settled upon the tired trainer, who seemed to have his full attention. 'Trust May and protect her, let her do the same for you.' He smiled as they approached the automatic doors, the two coordinators out of their sight by now. 'She's a special girl, isn't she?'

Ash matched the older trainer's gaze and returned the smile, gentle warmth spreading throughout his whole system.

'She is.' He agreed.

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A/N:

Alright guys, please don't yell at me. I know that this chapter is way too short for the time it was being written, but I've managed to make a decent enough schedule to get this story back on track after months of sparse updates. I apologize for the time it took, really! I'm going to hope against all odds that I manage to get this fic done by the end of the summer. Which means...10-15 more chapter...ish? Reviews encourage me, so try and write one for me alright? :D