Perfecting Your Technique! Part 2
"That was an incredible history of your life, Aegislash!" The Professor from Galar said with tears welling in his eyes.
May dabbed tears from her eyes with her white bandana, before handing it over to Ash (who had been translating the story for her) so he could blow his nose. Meowth, who had walked in on the group during the middle of the story, took the bandana next to wipe its tears, but immediately dropped it after seeing the contents of Ash's nose inside of it.
"I can't imagine what it must have been like to have your first trainer die beside you in battle," Alexa said, taking the purple, cloth-like hand of Aegislash.
'Yes,' Aegislash said. 'I sat there, holding my partner, my Prince's hand. The one who trained me, raised me, and showed me affection. He was arrogant for trying to bring a continuous war of senseless violence to the Draconid People... While I could not condone his actions, he was still my friend regardless… his loss showed me what true sadness was... His Arrogance however, and sense of needless violence made me distrust human kind for at least a millennia. As a result, I wandered alone for many centuries… but those go by quickly when you are a ghost which inhabits an inanimate object. It is when you are a prisoner, when your liberties are stripped away, that you start to realize that your life truly has or had purpose. The day you rescued me from that Rocket Barge was the day I regained my justice! My honor! It showed me that the arrogance of trainers can be situational, and that I may learn to trust in human kind once more!'
"He's really gettin' hyped up about 'dis," Meowth said, leaning in to Ash.
'Lady Alexa! I pledge my undying allegiance to you!' Aegislash declared not in a romantic, but a proclomatic way. 'I shall do my part to justly fight beside you in battle!'
"Oh thank you Aegislash!" Alexa said. "Together, we're gonna make an awesome team! I know I may not be royalty, but I promise to give it my all to make sure you are just as happy as a member of our little family!"
"She's really getting hyped about this," May whispered to Ash.
'Together, we shall make a pairing for the ages!' The sword Pokemon exclaimed, bumping fists with its trainer.
Ash's Incineroar, who had fallen asleep in the middle of the Sword Pokemon's tale, finally awoken from its slumber. He shared a quick glance with Ash, who gave the Pokemon a wide-eyed stare to indicate it had missed out on something important.
'Alright! Torracat's turn!' The Pokemon bellowed, getting up to its feet and "doing a big stretch."
"Nyah nyah," Alexa's Torracat said, running up to its mentor.
'I loved the stuff out there!' Incineroar said. 'You were trash talkin'! You were moon walkin'! You were playing dirty and I was all for it! You my friend have the true heart of an Incineroar in that tiny Torracat body of yours.'
'That's some high praise coming from you,' Alexa's Torracat said. 'But next time you step in that ring with me I'm tearing you to shreds!'
'That's it!' Incineroar yelled in an angered tone, lunging forward at its opponent. Tackling it, the two Pokemon rolled off away from the group of trainers.
"Should we be worried about that?" Alexa said.
"They're just training," Ash said, causing the group to laugh. When the laughter died down, he looked at Alexa's very first Pokemon. "I guess the final battler to critique is your Lucario." Alexa's Aura Pokemon smiled, nodding at Ash. "From the moment Alexa's mother gave me a Riolu, and told me to take care of her child, I only knew that I could do so much. I am so happy, and grateful, that you were the Pokemon destined to journey alongside my sister. While my Lucario and I have trained you well, I want you to keep pushing my sister to give it her all. You're already doing a great job so far."
Alexa's partner Pokemon bowed at the trainer that brought them together. 'Thank you Guardian Ash. I shall honor your words, and continue Alexa's training. May the Aura always be with you.'
"And you," The Guardian said with a grin.
With her final battler critiqued, Alexa rose from her seat in order to speak to the group."Thank you all for taking the time to help me and my team get even closer," Alexa said with a smile to the group. "I'll take your words to heart. And with my teammates by my side, you'll see how strong I will truly become!"
"I don't think we're done just yet, Lex," Ash said standing up. Also rising from there seats were Blue and Alex. Alexa looked around at the three men circling her, noticing they had all been wearing the traditional robes of the Aura Guardian all along. Entering the circle was Ash's Lucario, Alex's Lucario, Alex's Urshifu and Alexa's Lucario. Standing outside the group with proud looks on their faces were Meowth, May and Delia.
"Guys…" Alexa said looking around. "What are you doing?" Closing her eyes, she felt the powerful Auras of the people and Pokemon around her. It had been nothing like she had ever felt before.
"Alexa Ketchum," Ash said to the teenager. His right hand radiated bright blue with Aura. "Your training has all led up to this very moment." As Ash raised his fist to the sky, the trainers and Pokemon circling around Alexa did as well, forming many orbs of blue Aura around the teenage girl. Lowering their hands, Alexa closed her eyes and folded her hands in front of her heart, as a blue glow shined from her chest. When the teenage girl opened her eyes, her irises had a much more vibrant blue tint to them.
"Your training as an Aura Guardian is complete," Ash said to his sister. "May you bring peace, balance and justice to the Pokemon world."
"Woah," Alexa said. After her initiation, a new feeling fell upon her. A sense of being intune with the universe. "I feel… good."
"Well that's certainly good to hear!" Blue said stepping forward, clasping a hand on Alexa's shoulder. Delia ran forwards, camera in hand, taking this opportunity to snap plenty of photos of her daughter's milestone.
"So this is like, official now?" Alexa said. "You guys aren't just pulling my leg?"
"Nope," Alex said. "You're one of us now, kid!"
"AWESOME!" Alexa shouted in excitement. "Thank you all so much for training me and my Pokemon. Without you guys, I don't think I could've become an Aura Guardian so quickly."
"You definitely have had some first class training and experiences," Ash said, glancing around at all the trainers present, who all had some influence on her path to becoming an Aura Guardian. "But it was your drive, determination and growth that got you here. I couldn't be more proud of you." Ash opened up his backpack next to his seat and opened it, pulling out some folded, blue robes. "And this is for you. Your final mark as an Aura Guardian. You're not required to wear these, but I think you'll come to find that it's pretty comfy."
Alexa took the robes from her brother and threw them on over her head. Alexa then leapt forwards, embracing her adoptive brother in a hug. The group of people and Pokemon surrounding the teen had wide smiles on their faces, as one of her biggest dreams had finally become a reality.
Author's Note: While there is always room for growth and learning, Alexa's Aura Guardian training is officially complete! Just in time for the upco,ing battles ahead.
-KA