The throne room was silent as a tomb, when the Lords of Westeros strode in. Lords of the North, West, Vale and Stormlands slowly made their way over to the Iron Throne, in awe of both the sights, and the realizations of what they had done. Dragon banners littered the ground, torn and burnt and dirtied. The air was heavy and thick with the scent of incense and blood. The sounds of combat were distant now, as the Rebels were taking out the final pockets of resistance throughout the city. At the base of the Iron Throne was the Mad King himself, laying in a pool of his own blood, his face twisted with pain and rage.

But what caught their attention was the young man sitting all the way at the top of the throne. One Jamie Lannister sat well above the gathered nobles below, enjoying a view very few have ever enjoyed. His own sword laid on his lap, a wet cloth stained red with the blood it was removing.

Ned was about to tell him to get off the throne, but Tywin beat him to it. "Get down here, Jaime," He called, "That seat doesn't belong to you."

"Oh, but father," Jaime teased, "It suits me so well."

"Get your ass off, boy," Robert growled, "Before I make you get off."

The kingslaying kingsguard sighed, rolling his eyes as he got up and descended the steps. "You're welcome, by the way." He told them as he approached, gesturing to the body of Aerys. "He was planning on setting the entire city on fire. He lost his mind, and would've taken all of us with him if I-"

"Silence, boy!" Tywin snapped, "You don't have to explain yourself. The battle isn't over just yet, not while the rest of the Royal Family is still unaccounted for."

"Speaking of unaccounted things," Ned asked, "Where's Lucario? He should've beaten us here."

Milords. A voice called out into each of their minds, causing the unexperienced Lannisters to flinch. The nobles turned around to see Lucario walk into the throne room, blood covering his face, holding something round in his paws.

"Seven Hells," Robert swore, "What the fuck happened to you?"

Are you Tywin Lannister? Lucario demanded, ignoring the Baratheon. Does House Clegane serve you?

The Lion of the Westerlands was caught off guard, looking back at the lords next to him in surprised confusion. "Yes," He stated, "He is."

Did you order him to go after the Queen and her children? He demanded. Did you tell him to kill them?

The lords all turned to look at Tywin. He looked back at them, raising an eyebrow. "No," He insisted, "Of course not. I wouldn't have my-"

LIAR! The Pokemon snapped, throwing the severed head of Gregor Clegane at him. Skull met shoulder with a THWACK!, and Tywin went down with a cry as the bloody head bounced and rolled, leaving a trail of blood across the floor.

A dog does nothing without his master's orders! He growled. You set a monster upon innocent women and children! You KNEW what he was going to do! I lost an eye so I could put an end to his wickedness, so don't think for a second you can stand there and lie to us all!

"How dare you!" Tywin hissed, grabbing his injured shoulder. "You would -ah!- you would turn on your brothers-in-arms to-"

"Lucario," Robert interrupted, "Where's the Queen and her children?"

Hmm? He blinked, remembering the others were still here.

"Lucario, where are they?"

I let them go.

"You WHAT?!" Robert roared, his face beet-red. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!"

Do you? Lucario challenged. Is having a mother and her children raped and murdered going to make you a better king? Is allying yourself with men who do going to make the kingdoms more just? More peaceful?

"That's how wars are won, friend." Jon said.

That's how barbarians and beasts fight wars. Lucario growled. I want you to be better, if I'm going to continue serving you.

If the lords weren't paying attention to him when he threw the Mountain's head, they definitely were now. I fulfilled my oath by helping you win this war, He continued, And as I've learned, I'm entitled to some land in the Vale, where I can live in peace. But if you wish for me to continue serving, then I need to know the ones I serve have honor.

"Alright then, you fuckin' cunt," Robert declared, "What do you want, then?"

Leave the Royals alone, He said, They have no power here anymore. The old Queen knows this land is no longer safe for her children. Let them live their lives in peaceful exile, and show your kingdom you are not without mercy.

Robert clenched his jaw, for a moment looking a spitting image of his brother Stannis. "...Fine." He growled, "No harm will come to the incestuous shits."

Good. Second, I will become one of your Kingsguard. Let me be there to help you be a good and righteous king, one they'll write songs about.

"We were going to do that anyway." Lord Arryn interjected. "You're the strongest thing this side of a dragon. We would be fools not to keep you around."

Wonderful. Third, that man will have no place in your Court. He pointed at Tywin Lannister, who did his best not to react even as he nursed his injured shoulder. A man who sends monsters to kill women and children will just as easily betray you when it benefits them.

"You know he's the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms." Jon pointed out. "He funds the entire continent."

And he can still do that... back home. He insisted. There's nothing here that he can't do there.

"Lord Baratheon," Tywin interjected, "Are you seriously going to humor this thing's demands? You're the King now."

That is your choice, Lord Baratheon. Lucario stated. You can have me, or you can have him, but you can't have both.

Robert considered his options. He needed Lannister gold. Running a kingdom wasn't cheap. The Rebellion was going to cost an assload of money to repay his men and repair the capital. And Tywin did take King's Landing for him. Running Westeros without the support of the Westerlands would be... difficult, to say the least.

But Lucario... could he rule without him? Everything went to shit after the Targaryens lost their dragons, and this blue canine was as powerful as any dragon. Rumors had already spread of "The Warrior Incarnate" and his victory at The Trident. Once word spreads about what he did to The Mountain... could he afford not to have him around?

Robert turned to Ned, looking for any hints or guidance. Stark glanced at all the men around him, then looked at Lucario. His gaze pierced his very soul. After a moment of silent contemplation, he nodded... and stepped closer to the Pokemon.

"So be it." Robert said, turning to face Tywin. "Thank you, Lord Lannister, but we will no longer be needing your service. Collect your army and go home."

Tywin blinked. "Surely you can't be serious?"

"Do I look like someone who makes idle jests?" He growled, drawing himself up to his full height.

"Do you honestly think spurning me and my family is a good idea?" Tywin challenged, even and restrained. "You think you can run the Seven Kingdoms without my gold? Without me?"

"I don't know," Robert admitted, "But I know that I'm going to need him more. He is my dragon."

The two lords stared each other down. The throne room fell silent, as the entire world seemed to hold its breath as they waited to see who'd blink first. Jon kept glancing back and forth between the two men, as Eddard tightened his grip on his sword. Things could go any number of ways, a lot of them bad.

The Stag stared down the Lion, and to everyone's surprise, the Lion blinked first. "Very well," The old man stated, all emotion removed from his voice, "If that is what you wish, then that is what you'll get. But know this, Your Grace: House Lannister will remember this moment. Jaime, come, we're leaving."

The younger Lannister looked between his father, Robert and the Lucario, making the Pokemon think of a Rattata caught in an Arbok's Leer. "But father," He said, "I swore an oath. I can't leave the Kingsguard unless I'm released."

Tywin turned to Robert. "If he doesn't want to go," Robert said, "I'm not going to make him leave. He's one of the best swordsmen in Westeros. I'd be an idiot to let him go." The older man gripped his shoulder tighter, grimacing with pain and anger.

"...FINE." With that, the old man turned around and walked out of the throne room.

"Good riddance." Ned said, after the Lannister was out of earshot. "You made the right call, Your Grace."

Bah!" Robert waved his hand. "That fucker's a right proper asshole. I didn't want to work with 'em anyway."

"If that's the case," Jon said, turning to Lucario, "I believe that there's just one last matter we need to attend to. Lucario, kneel." The Pokemon kneeled, as Ser Arryn drew his sword. He tapped the canine's shoulders, and intoned the words: "I, Jon Arryn, Lord of Vale, in the eyes of the Old Gods and New, do hereby knight you... Ser Luc, of House Cario. Now rise, Knight of the Vale."

Luc rose, a new Pokemon and a new man. As he got to his feet, he knew what his decision with Jimmy would be. This world needed him more than his home did. Jon would need him, as would Robert and Ned, and so many others. Not everyone had the ability to live by and back up their moral code and stand by their honor, but he did. Not everyone could make a world a better place, but he could. It might be an impossible, uphill battle against the world, but it was a battle he was prepared to dedicate himself to.

After all, The Aura Lived Within Him.

The End

A/N: And so, after many years of hiatus, and nearly a decade since I started coming to this site, I finally, FINALLY, finished a story that I published. I want to thank everyone who favorited and followed this over the years - y'all were the reason I didn't drop and delete this, even after I lost my original notes and story ideas for this thing. Thanks also go to George R.R. Martin and the Pokemon Company, for creating fun and engaging yet completely different universes to mess around with.