Chapter 6: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

Long ago, in an era when the Pokeball did not yet exist the land was in danger.

In a misty terrain, a lone Pokemon was running through the fog.

It looks a Pokémon to with a resemblance of a dog/wolf/jjackal mixed with a racoon. Its fore-paws are black and it has large pointed spikes There is also a third spike protruding in the middle of its chest. And it appears to be wearing a "mask".

It jumps from boulder to boulder to a spot overseeing a wide expansive valley. Closing its eyes, it places its paw on its chest spike, unlocking a never before seen power in its eyes.

In the distance an army of men and Pokemon in red armor was matching in its direction.

Turning around the Pokemon looked in the opposite direction to reveal another army filled with men and Pokemon but in green armor.

The Pokémon grits its teeth, then heard a squawk in the air. Looking up high, it sees the legendary rainbow Pokémon, Ho-oh flying the the sky. But it's vision was cut off by 3 Houndoom in red armor appearing before it.

Acting fast, the blue canine Pokémon runs to the top of a hill and found a crystal lying on the ground. Placing its paw on it, it began to speak telepathically, ("Hear me, please Sir Aaron.")

..

Zooming faraway from the mountains, there was a castle overlooking the fog called Cameran Palace.

At the balcony a man in a black and blue outfit was standing next to a woman dressed in royal clothes when the crystal glows behind them.

"Lucario." Sir Aaron gasps running to the crystals. "Lucario what's happening?"

("The two armies are about to clash. If we are caught up in them the castle will be overrun.") Lucario warns.

A look of horror appeared on Sir Arron's face as he turns to the woman, who looked solemn and spoke in a silent voice, "There is nothing we can do to stop this war now.."

Back at the mountains, Lucario was trying to outrun the Houndoom when one leaped onto the rocks and swings Iron Tail.

As Lucario jumps back the attack kicks up dust making it go right into Lucario's eyes causing him to be temporarily blinded.

Thinking they had this won, the three Pokemon release Flamethrower but at the last second Lucario leaps up dodging it.

Holding out his hands glowing spheres of blue light shot out defeating all three of them.

Lucario continues on its way when it felt a familiar presence nearby. Its eyes were still closed from the dirt, but found it easily with its Aura.

Running around the clifftops, he "saw" the person in question. ("Sir Aaron!")

"Lucario, your eyes." Aaron said worried.

("I'm fine.") Lucario assures but Aaron turns away.

"Lucario, leave this place." Aaron orders confusing him.

("But Sir--")

"Don't call me that. I'm no longer your master. I have left the queen and the castle and I will never return." Aaron declares.

("W-what? What are you saying?") Lucario couldn't believe what he is hearing, Aaron runs off.("Master, wait!")

Lucario tried running after him, but Aaron throws down his scepter, which absorbs Lucario into a jewel at its top; from within the jewel. ("SIR AARON!!") Were the last words Aaron ever heard from Lucario before it was gone.

As the two armies met on opposite ends they began to charge, but what they didn't notice was from the large tree overlooking them a Pidgeot flew out of it.

But from another opening Ho-Oh flew into a room filled with crystals before a bright light engulfed it revealing the Pokemon Mew.

At the battlefield the two armies charged in and clashed beginning the battle.

Meanwhile the Pidgeot from earlier flew back to Cameran Palace and gave Queen Rin the same scepter that contains Lucario

"Sir Aaron." Queen Rin frowns when suddenly a bright green light emitted from the giant. "The Tree of Origin." She gasps.

As the light shined all the crystals scatted around began to glow before shooting beams of light into the sky and suddenly both armies stopped fighting.

Instantly Rin started to sob knowing full well what this meant.

"And so ends the tale of Sir Aaron, who According to legend, is believed to be the hero who had used the power of the Tree of Beginning, where Mew is said to live. The two armies stopped their fighting, their hatred replaced with understanding and returned to their lands and peace was restored. Aaron became known as the True Guardian of Aura, without whom peace would have not been restored. To this day, the legend is commemorated every year in the town of Rota and the same Cameran Palace."

Many and many eons into the future...

The kingdom of Rota is planning a festival in honor of their legendary hero; Sir Arron. And the main reason they've come is because they're all going to participate in a tournament to decide who will be the "Hero of the Year."

Ash and company walk along a bridge to Cameran Palace. They are dressed in their regular clothes while the townsfolk are in renaissance outfits.

"All these outfits are so pretty. I wish we had some." May said.

"The guidebook says they have some prepared at the castle." Brock read.

"That sounds awesome." Max said as Ash was looking to the castle.

"It's been a long since I've been here." Ash smiles.

"You've been here Ash?" May asks interested.

"Yeah when was a little kid my dad brought me here." Ash said.

That got a surprised look from Brock, "Y-your dad? You never brought him up before."

"Yeah well dad has a very important job. Mom and I don't talk about him much. He really appreciates the privacy. It's because of him I wanted to be a Pokemon Master in the first place." Ash smiles.

"Wow, I bet he must be a great trainer." May said.

"Pfft, I bet not as good as our dad." Max scoffs.

"I wouldn't bet on that Max." Ash smirks. "He used to bring me and my best friend here every year and he holds the record for being Hero of the Year most times in a row, but now it's my turn to be the hero."

"That strong to hold his title," Brock whistled impressed.

"I would love to meet him." May said as they entered the castle.

Up above a Taillow flew in and landed atop the tower before it glowed brightly turning into a Pichu. It hopped into the castle windows. In the lower level window we see the group inside a costume room.

"Wow look at all of them." May smiles.

"This is awesome." Max said.

"Where's that hero costume?" Ash asks.

As they all went to go try on costumes, Pikachu waited by the window.

"Pichu!" Looking over Pikachu saw a Pikachu from behind a curtain.

"Pikachu?" He walked over, before seeing a quick flash.

"Treecko!" A Treekco took its place.

Confused Pikachu watched as the Treecko climbed out the window and scaled the castle with ease.

"Pika?" Pikachu asks.

"Hey Pikachu how do I look?" May asks walking out in a beautiful dress and her bandanna tied in a bow.

"Pika!" He liked it.

Max came out in his outfit which appears to be one of a young prince with a beret and a cape. "May?"

"Tis I indeed," May replied acting like like proper royal.

"Looks great on you." Brock said walking out dressed like a priest.

"Thank you." May smiles when Ash walks out in an outfit just like Sir Aaron's.

"And now I really look like a hero." Ash grins.

"Alright Pikachu your turn," May said to the mouse, who flinched.

"Pika?" He looked at them like if they were crazy.

They put him in a jester like outfit. "There, now you look the part."

In the arena, May, Max and Brock were in the stands as they were eager to see Ash battle.

"May I present Queen Illene!" A man calls out as a woman who bared a strong resemblance to Queen Rin walked out with her Mime Jr.

"She's beautiful." May said in awe.

"Now in honor of the Hero Sir Aaron we will begin the tournament! And this year as our special judge may I present last year's hero, the Masked Master!" She declares as a man in a blue mask and a gray and red hero's outfit walked out.

"Ready begin!" The Masked Master declares as for the first match Ash and Pikachu ran out to face another trainer and his Breloom.

"Let's go Pikachu!" Ash said as Pikachu leaps up and with a Thunderbolt he zaps his outfit off and hits Breloom.

"I don't believe it." The Masked Master smiles softly as Pikachu rams into Breloom with a Quick Attack.

Breloom sends him backwards with use Mega Kick. Hands glowed green, Breloom fired a green tornado at Pikachu to use Giga Drain.

Swinging his tail up, Pikachu broke out of Giga Drain and whacks Breloom with it. Breloom couldn't get up and fainted. Making Ash the victor of the first round.

The next challenger was wearing a night in armor suit. The opponent throws out a Tropius and the knight throws out a Pokémon that resembles a Sneasal, only has red hair on the top of its head.

Up in the royal box, Queen Illene and her Mime Jr. were cheering when her maid noticed a second Mime Jr, confused she rubs her eyes but when she closed them the second Mime Jr turned into an Aipom surprising her.

The tournament went on with trainers using Ninetales, Misdreavus, Hitmonlee, Aggron and so on. Left and right match after match.

Ash and Pikachu were making their way to the top, which gained the interest of the Masked Master who kept watching his matches.

Soon the final match came and it was down to Ash and Pikachu vs the Knight and their Pokemon.

"Weavile Metal Claw!"

"Pikachu Iron Tail!"

Leaping up into the air both Pokemon clash steel attacks before landing.

"Quick Attack!" Pikachu dashed towards the dark type with great speed.

"Double Team!" Weavile creates copies of itself, confusing Pikachu. "Now use Ice Beam!"

As all the Weavile fire Ice Beam Pikachu leaped up at the last second causing a giant ice crystal to form.

"Pikachu Thunder on the ice!" Firing Thunder straight down it reflected off the ice zapping away all the clones and hitting the real Weavile.

"Weavile!!" It screamed in pain.

'Not bad,' The Masked Master said with interest.

"Weavile Shadow Ball!" Creating a dark sphere, Weavile fires it at Pikachu knocking him out of the air. "Now Metal Claw!"

Charging in, Weavile sprinted towards Pikachu as he fell with glowing claws ready to strike him down.

"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed.

"Pika!!" Pikachu holds up his paws in defense, but once he did a barrier appeared in front of him, surprising him and Ash. Weavile was bounced off in the process. "Pika?" Pikachu gasped looking at himself.

"W-what was that?" Ash gasped.

"T-that looked like Protect!" Max gasped recognizing that attack.

'It learned a new move in the middle of battle.' Masked Master thought impressed.

"Way to find a way to stay in the game Pikachu." Ash grins.

That made Pikachu grin as well, ready to continue to win.

"Weavile Ice Beam!"

"Thunderbolt!" Firing both attacks Ice Beam and Thunderbolt clash in the middle and are in a struggle to overpower the other.

"Pi...PIKA!" Pikachu roars overpowering Ice Beam and zapping Weavile causing sparks to shoot out the top of the arena.

Which made a massive explosion. When the smoke cleared every one sees Pikachu still standing while Weavile has fallen on its back, defeated.

"Weavile is unable to battle! Pikachu wins! Meaning our new 'Hero of the Year', goes to the winning trainer, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"

"Alright!" Ash yelled in victory as the stadium cheered.

"We did it Pikachu." Ash ran to his Pokemon but before he could the Aipom beat him to it.

Walking up to him, the knight took off their helmet revealing him to be a girl with long brown hair.

"That was an amazing battle Ash." She smiles.

"The knight was a girl?!" May exclaimed, but she realizes Brock was missing.

"Thanks, uh I never gotten your name." Ash replied.

"It's Kidd. Kidd Summers."

"And I'm Brock." Brock said appearing next to her startling them. "And the only thing more shocking than Pikachu's attacks is your beauty."

Suddenly Max grabs him by the ear. "No what's shocking is no one has filed a restraining order against you."

"Oh Brock." Ash said when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Looking over he saw the Masked Master gesture to follow him.

Raising an eyebrow, Ash decides to follow as they entered a nearby stairway.

"I must say young man, you put up quite the show for all to see." The Masked Master said.

"Oh uh thanks sir, just doing my best." Ash answers.

"You must be a pretty good trainer." He said.

"Well right now I'm currently taking on the Battle Frontier, but one day I hope to be a Pokemon Master." Ash said.

"That's quite a dream." Masked Master said.

"Thanks, but is there a reason you wanted to speak with me?" Ash asked.

"Yes there is, you look just like a trainer who competed in this tournament years ago. He had hair just like yours and even used a Pikachu." He said.

"That was my dad." Ash said.

"I knew it, it's just like looking in a mirror." He smirks lifting his mask up to reveal a face that bared a strong similarity to Ash causing him to gasp. "Long time no see...kiddo.."

"D-D-DAD!" Ash smiles giving him a big hug. "What are you doing here?!"

"They called me, the Queen asked if I would be willing to judge, apparently because I won this thing so many times they had to set a limit for how many times you can be the hero." He chuckles rubbing the back of his head.

"I just can't believe you're actually here! I haven't seen you in so so long!" Ash said clearly happy with tears of joy.

"I felt the sqme way, look how big you've gotten. You're a spitting image of your old man." Red smiles giving him a hug.

"You have to come with me to meet my friends." Ash said.

"Oh will, but first things first I gotta get you to the ball for your prize." Red said.

"Right." Ash remembered there was a dance after the tournament.

That night, everyone was in the ballroom watching as the Queen presented Ash with Sir Aaron's staff.

"This staff belonged to Sir Aaron himself and only the winner of the Hero's Tournament is allowed to hold it." Queen Illene said.

"Wow..thank you," Ash smiles holding onto it with amazement. "To think Pikachu, thus staff belonged to THE Sir Aaron."

"Pikachu." Pikachu was surprised as well. They looked at the crystal inside of it and saw a feint glow within.

("Why..Why have you betrayed me Master?")

A voice suddenly was heard in their ears. "Huh?" They look over, but couldn't find the one who said it.

"In honor of Sir Aaron, let the festivities begin!" The Queen announces the ball starts.

On the dance floor, May was dancing with a very nice gentleman, Brock had managed to ask Kidd to dance with him and Max was enjoying the food.

"Quite nice isn't it? Sitting in the big seat." Red asks standing near Ash with his mask on.

"Yeah makes me feel like royalty." Ash chuckles before looking to see Pikachu dancing with Aipom. "Hey who's to say all my other Pokémon can't enjoy the party?" He releases his 5 Pokéballs and Grovyle, Corphish, Phanpy, and Noctowl all came out.

"Yeah makes me feel like royalty." Ash chuckles before looking to see Pikachu dancing with Aipom. "Hey who's to say all my other Pokémon can't enjoy the party?" He releases his 5 Pokéballs and Grovyle, Corphish, Cyndaquil, Phanpy, and Noctowl all came out.

"Hmm not bad." Red took out two Pokeballs. "You two go join them." Tossing them up a Pikachu and Espeon appeared.

"Pikachu?" Ash's Pikachu saw Red's Pikachu.

"Pika Pikachu." Red's Pikachu smiles.

Seeing this May smiles. "Excuse me for a moment." May takes out her Pokeballs and lets out Combusken, Squirtle and Munchlax.

"That over is May, she's traveling with me to enter the Grand Festival." Ash points out.

"A Coordinator huh? Nice." Red said when he saw Brock and Kidd. "Hey that's the guy who got pulled out by his ear after your match."

"That's Brock, he's also with me." Ash said a little embarrassed. "He's trying to be a Pokemon Breeder."

"A breeder, not bad." Red looked over to see Max eating some of the fancy food and snickered. "Let me guess him too."

"That's Max's, May's little brother and warning the kid's too smart for his own good that I'll irritate you." Ash whispered.

"I've been there." Red cringed. "All in all, they look like good friends."

"Yeah, don't worry I haven't told them the big secret." Ash said.

"Thank you, Ash so how's your mother?" Red asks.

"Oh the usual." Ash said.

"That amazing huh?" Red smiles. "Sorry I haven't been home in a while. I can't seem to find room to breathe."

"It's alright. You got a big job and you can't ignore them." Ash says.

"Hey how about you and I go grab some of that food?" Red offers.

"Now you're talking." Ash grins about to get up when the maid stops them.

"No you don't! As the current and former hero, you two must stay here and watch." She said.

"All night?" The two whined in unison before groaning head facing down. They're gonna be bored. Like father, like son.

Little did either of them know in the ugliest disguises of all Jessie and James were on the dance floor.

"Isn't now a good time to steal Pokemon?" James whispers.

"I wanna dance some more. I'm too pretty to let this go to waste." Jessie smiles and ends up switching partners with May.

Jessie got May's handsome partner. "I must say, you dance beautifully." He complimented her.

"Oh thank you. This is best day ever!" Jessie squeals spinning him around.

"Have we met before?" May asks looking up at James who was trying to look away.

"Uh impossible. I've never seen you before in my life." James gulps.

Now where was Meowth? Answer was, he was in some knight armor under a table eating. "Personally I prefer dining over dancing!" He happily ate before hearing the Pokémon.

Nearby Brock and Kidd came to a stop.

"Brock do you mind getting me a drink? I'm a little thirsty." Kidd asks.

"Right away." Brock said running to get it.

Thus giving Kidd the chance to get out of the room.

In the hallway, Meowth was following the Pokemon but as they went through a room Espeon closes the door slamming it right in Meowth's face causing him to crash into the fireplace. Groaning Meowth was about to get up when Kidd takes out a microphone.

"It's morning there already isn't it? Banks have you finished breakfast?" Kidd teases.

Outside the castle a van with a satellite was rerouting Kidd to somewhere on the other side of the globe.

"Very funny young lady and for your information, I've been ate hours ago." An elder man's voice said on the opposite end. "Anyways how's the party?"

"It's great, too bad you had to miss out for cardio." She teases again.

"Says you. I'm doing it now." Banks said revealing he was on a treadmill.

"I need you to transfer a map of the castle to me." Kidd said.

"Found something 'eh? Well it better be good, otherwise we'd be canned." Banks said.

"Relax, this plan is going to be a big success. You know what they say, either go big or go home." Kidd said.

As Kidd climbs out a window Meowth followed after her.

In the ballroom, Max was on the lookout for the Pokemon when he saw Munchlax come back for some food and decided to follow.

"Ash I might have an idea to get you out of that chair." Red said before whispering something to him.

"Uh excuse me." Ash said looking to the maid. "Look I know I can't go down to eat but could I please step out for a second. Really need to use the little hero's room."

"And unless you want things to get ugly you better let him." Red said.

"Oh fine but make it quick." She said letting Ash get up.

As the music came to a brief stop May looked to see Ash sneak around back.

"Uh excuse me," she told her dancer as she lets go and followed him.

Stretching Ash groans as he puts the staff down. "Oh man that was torture." Ash said getting feeling in his body again.

"What are you doing all by yourself hero?" May asks.

"The queen's maid wouldn't let me leave my seat. I had to tell her I needed to use the bathroom just to get a few minutes." Ash said.

"Aw stuck in the seat all night while watching us dance, big bummer." She teases.

"May," Ash groans.

"It must have stunk watching all of us have fun dancing, eating food and just have a great time while your only company was the masked guy and the painting." May giggles.

"Well actually that was the best part of this whole thing." Ash smiles.

"The painting?" May asked.

"No, the masked guy." Ash chuckles. "May, that's my dad." He points.

"W-what?!" May exclaimed. "You're kidding?! That guy's your dad?!"

"I know! This is literally one of the best days of my life. After the ball, I'll introduce you guys to him." Ash smiles.

"Ash that's amazing!" May said excited for him.

"Thanks, you wouldn't believe how happy I was."

"So uh why the mask?" May asks.

"You'll understand when you meet him." Ash said when a slow song started to play. "Man I wish I could have gotten something to eat. I'd even take a dance."

Pausing May smiles. "May I have this dance good sir?" May asks making a formal bow.

Eyes widening, he turns to her, "H-huh?"

"You said you'd like to dance. Now's a good time don't you think?" She asked.

"B-But I've never danced before.." Ash admits embarrassingly.

"Is that it?" May shook her head. "I can show you. Just put your arms around me like this." May said putting one hand on her shoulder and one on her waist. "And just move to the music."

Ash looks to his feet, nervously that he might stumble and step and May's foot. "Don't look at your feet Ash." May giggled, seeing him being silly. "Just focus on me."

As the music played; May and Ash slowly started to dance around the balcony, moving to the music.

Looking up at May as the moonlight reflected off her and her dress. Ash was simply blown away, he's never seen May like this before in his life.

Meanwhile May had to admit, Ash looked very dashing in his hero outfit. As the stars shined brightly under him, May thought Ash looked like a hero out of a fairy tale.

Without thinking, Ash twirled May. "Whoa!" May said surprised before she was pulled back in.

"S-Sorry was I not supposed to do? I saw a few people do that earlier." Ash said nervously.

"N-no it's fine, I was just..amazed." She blinked at him. "That was a perfect twirl."

Looking from inside, Red couldn't help but chuckle. 'Hmm looks like that one might be more than just a friend. I might have to give Ash "the talk" after all.' He thought.

The slow song soon came to an end, as well as Ash and May's dance.

"Well that was really fun May." Ash said.

"Yeah best dance I've had all night." May smiles.

"I uh guess I better get back to my chair before the maid starts hunting me down." Ash said.

"Yeah, oh Ash don't forget the staff." May points.

"Right, thanks." He sighed with relief, grabbing it.

Meanwhile upstairs all the Pokémon had found some old toys in the attic and were having fun playing with them.

Grovyle was resting on some boxes with Noctowl; Combusken was playing with a carousel, Phanpy was on a rocking horse, while Corphish, Squirtle and Cyndaquil were playing with a transet.

"Corphish!" Corphish yells as they crash into the dresser spilling balls eveywhere.

As Pikachu and Aipom hop on two Aipom glows bright turning into a Pikachu surprising him.

Red's Pikachu along with Espeon were both watching every one have a good time on the window seat.

Down at the ball, Ash was telling his dad a funny story.

"And then Mom caught that Mr. Mime just by making it a homecooked meal." Ash said.

"That Pokemon has good taste, that's one of the reasons I fell love with her." Red chuckles.

Nearby Brock was holding drinks looking for Kidd but saw no sign of her.

When actuality, Kidd is on the roof of the palace, with Meowth still spying on her. Firing a grapple gun, Kidd swungto another part of the castle.

"Oh man I could never do something like that." Meowth said when he ended up slipping and just before he fell off the roof his tail snagged a weather vane before falling down and crashing in through the window where all the other Pokemon were playing.

All of the Pokémon stopped what they were doing and saw Meowth unconscious on the broken glass floor. "PikaPika?" Ash's Pikachu gasped, saying Meowth's name as they huddled around him.

"Pikachu?" Red's Pikachu asks as Espeon pokes him with her tail.

Suddenly the third Pikachu glowed bright before turning into Mew.

"Pika?!" Pikachu and the other Pokémon were astonished to see a Mythical Pokémon with them. The Mew tried tapping onto Meowth to wake him up.

"Mew.." It wiggled its tail on his nose.

"Huh?" Meowth groans waking up. "You guys? Wait who are you two?" Meowth said looking at Red's Pokemon before noticing Mew. "No way! Mew!"

Suddenly bursting in through the broken window were two Weavile who immediately went after Mew.

Mew dodges their assaults easily. In an attempt to stop Mew, both of them use Blizzard just as Mew flies towards the door. At the same moment, Munchlax comes into the room, holding a bowl of fruit, and finds itself frozen in a block of ice. The door also freezes at its hinges and cracks.

Charging on one Weavile pins Mew to the wall while the second one readied a device.

"Espe!" Espeon roars firing Swift knocking both Weavile away from Mew.

"Pikachu!" Red and Ash's Pikachu charged up and zapped them both with Thunderbolt and Thunder.

Mew escapes, making the Weavile growl at the Pokémon's interference.

They fired another Blizzard attack. "Pika!" Both Pikachu gotten in front of everyone. Ash's Pikachu uses Protect, while Red's used Light Screen to send the Ice Beams on different sides of the room.

"Woah!" Meowth skids down as he dodges. "Since when did Pikachu could use those moves?!"

Growling both Weavile fire Shadow Ball and chase after Mew.

Outside Kidd was watching from her binoculars. "Oh no, once again those two are going overboard. All they had to do was attach the beacon." She sighs.

Inside, Mew then flies over towards Meowth who is at a corner, and transforms into a Meowth. "Wait what are you doing?!" Meowth asks when he's grabbed and spun around with the other one to confuse the Weavile.

"Weavile?" They look to the other's faces.

Nodding both charge up an Ice Beam when Pikachu leaps in and tries to deflect it with Thunderbolt but since it was two against one he ended up getting overpowered.

Running up the stairs, Max arrives, but when he tries to open the door the ice caused it to get stuck.

"Hey, why's this door locked?" He growls, trying his best to open it, but only sees through the crack of it.

Inside he saw the other Meowth turn into Mew.

"It can't be. Mew?!" Max gasps.

As both Weavile fire Shadow Ball, Mew teleports taking Meowth and Pikachu with him.

"He disappeared?!" Max and Kidd gasp surprised.

The three teleport to one of the tower's steeples.

"Oh man you're a lot heavier than you look." Meowth cringed holding Pikachu.

Gasping Kidd looks up to see Mew turn into Pidgeot and fly off with Pikachu and Meowth on his back.

"Weave." Kidd's Weavile approach her and apologize.

"You two get worked up too easily." Kidd sighs sitting down.

Max finally broke open the door as all of the ice and Pokémon calmed down. "What happened in here?! Where did Pikachu and Meowth go?!" All of the Pokémon in the room were shouting trying to explain what they witnessed.

Back down in the ballroom, Ash and Red were looking up at the painting of Sir Aaron.

"I still remember when you used to read me his book when I was little." Ash said.

"Yeah and now you're actually holding his staff." Red said.

"It's a weird feeling." Ash said holding it out.

("Why?") the Mysterious voice calls out.

That gotten Ash and Red's attention. "That voice again!" Ash said looking around.

"Wait you heard it too?" Red asks.

"You can?" Ash asks looking to his dad.

Soon the music stopped and Queen Illene stepped down.

"As we end the party, the hero will now see everyone off." Queen Illene said.

"Huh?" Ash asks.

"Strike the pose." Red said pointing to the painting.

Ash looked at how Sir Aaron posed in the picture, so he did the same, and on cue fireworks exploded in the air. Everyone looked outside at the marvelous sight before them.

"Now that's a hero." Red smiles patting Ash on the back.

("Why?") The voice calls out.

Before Ash could respond the staff suddenly began to glow surprising everyone.

"W-What's happening?!" Ash gasps as the staff started to struggle against his grip.

"What did you do?!"

"Nothing! This staff is going crazy!!" Ash yelled trying his best to get a hold of it, but jewel soon glows and releases a powerful blast, knocking Ash on his back.

The blast went towards the other side of the room, and turned into a figure. The figure was revealed to be Lucario. The very same Lucario from hundreds of years in the past!

"I don't believe it. Is that what I think it is?" Red gasps lifting his mask up to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

Standing up Lucario looks in the direction of Ash and Red and sees their energy before running to them.

("Sir Aaron! How could you abandon the Queen?! And who is this?! Is he the one who corrupted you?!") Lucario asks demanding answers.

"It's using telepathy." Ash gasps.

("Answer me!") Lucario snapped to him.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Ash stuttered.

"I think you have us confused with someone else." Red said.

Pausing Lucario opened his eyes and saw Ash and Red looking at him.

Gasping Lucario looks in shock before leaping out the window.

"W-who and what was that Pokémon?" Ash said totally confused.

"Lucario.." Red answers. "So those legends were true."

"Lucario? Legend? What legend?" Ash asked.

"Lucario was Sir Aaron's student that served under him," Queen Ilene explained to them.

"No way..and it was in this thing?" Ash looked at the staff.

Outside Lucario looked to see fireworks shooting off into the sky.

("Why are they celebrating? There's a war going on.") Lucario said confused.

Running through the garden, he stopped and spotted a stone area with a large door nearby. In his mind, a flashback of him and Sir Aaron played.

'Lucario, this part of the castle will be where you will live learn and train your Aura from now on.' Aaron's voice was heard.

("My..my home.") He rushed towards it and opened the doors. Going inside, he gasped. Instead of seeing a bed and study, it turns out to be a display room. ("My room. What happened? What is all this?")He asked looking at the artifacts.

"It really is you, Lucario." Turning around Lucario saw Queen Illene, Ash, Red, Brock, May and her maid.

("Lady Rin? What's going on here?") Lucario asks as she comforted him.

"I'm sorry but I'm not her. Queen Rin was my ancestor Lucario." She declared confusing him.

("A-ancestor?") He asked.

"Lucario I'm afraid you've been stuck in that staff for hundreds of years. The war is over." Queen Illene said.

Lucario looked speechless. ("I-impossible..hundreds of years? I-It can't be!") He lets go of Ilene. ("You're lying! I was just in this room just a few days ago, are you saying I was unconscious for that amount of time?!")

"We're sorry but it's true. What seems like yesterday to you is ancient history to us." She said.

They couldn't help but feel sorry for Lucario, who looked like he was having a panic attack.

"What do we do now?" May gulps.

"You know what why don't we take this back inside? Let's give Lucario time to try and process all this." Red suggests.

That seem like the only thing they could do. They headed back towards the throne room of Queen Ilene.

"May, Brock I'd like you to meet my dad." Ash introduces.

"Nice to meet you both." Red smiles blowing them both away.

"Y-you're Ash's father?" Brock stuttered.

"That's me, Isamu Ketchum, but you my friends call me Red."

"Red? Wait where have I heard that name before?" May pauses.

"Honestly sir, it's amazing to finally meet you. But where have been all this time?" Brock asks.

"My line of work has me travel all over the place but sadly does not allow much personal." Red said.

"But dad, what I'm curious why Lucario thought we were connected to Sir Aaron?" Ash asks.

"Um..I'm not entirely sure myself," Red turns seeming to be hesitant for some reason.

("It's because both of you have a very strong Aura, just like Sir Aaron.") Lucario said walking over.

"Aura? What are you talking about?" Ash asks.

"I know what he means." Red sighs getting his attention. "I really wanted to wait until you were older."

"Dad?" Ash was so unsure on what his father was saying.

"He's not far off, you see Ash our family is actually descendant from the Aura Knights the same people Sir Aaron comes from." Red said gesturing to the painting.

"You're kidding." Ash drops his jaw in shock.

"Not even a little." Red shook his head.

"Wait, wait, wait! You're telling me Ash is from a family of royalty?!" May exclaimed.

"No, Aura Knights are not technically royalty. They were the protectors of this castle and the kingdom in ancient times but so they could help those in need they held no noble rank." Queen Illene clarifies.

"And you and Ash have it?" Brock asked Red.

"Yes we do, you see Ash--" Before Red could start Max came bursting in with all the Pokemon behind him.

"Ash! May! Mew...Mew was here!" Max calls out getting their attention.

"Mew?!" They all said surprised unaware Jessie and James were listening in on them.

"Did the little twerp just said Mew?" Jessie gasped.

"Mew? The legendary Pokémon?" James asked. "Impossible, No one has ever seen something like that out in the open." They listened closely for more as the twerps were talking.

"Max, are you REALLY sure you saw Mew? It could've been something that look like Mew?" May asked.

"May, I'm being 100% serious! It was in the room with the other Pokémon, but then teleported away with Meowth and Pikachu!"

"What?" Ash gasps.

"Mew took Ash's Pikachu?" Red asks coming into view shocking him.

"No way! It's you! I can't believe it! You're right in front of me!" Max gasps pointing at him.

"Max you know Ash's dad?" May asks shocking him.

"What?! Pokemon Master Red is your dad?!" Max declares.

"Pokémon Master Red?!" Brock and May jumped in shock.

"Max! No..ugh!" Ash cringed, holding his head. "You and your big mouth.."

"So much for the family secret." Red cringing mimicking Ash.

("Mew was here?") Lucario pushes, Ash and Red out of the way to speak to Max.

"Woah!!" Max freaked out. "W-who are you?"

"This is Lucario, he was sealed in the staff by Sir Aaron apparently." Brock said.

"Seriously?" Max gasps.

"Max focus! Are you sure it was Mew and not some other Pokemon?" May asks.

"He's telling the truth." They heard from the entrance and saw Kidd coming back, back in her formal outfit.

"Kidd!" Brock said.

"I saw Mew with my own eyes when it turned into a Pidgeot and took Meowth and Pikachu away somewhere." Kidd explained.

"But-but why? Why would it take them?" Ash asked.

"Probably as a prank. Mew comes to this castle all the time to cause mischief. Many of the toys in this castle go missing and are never seen again." Queen Illene said gesturing to a painting of Mew.

"To where?" Ash asks.

The Queen leads every one to her quarters, where they see a large tree out in the distance. "Although it looks like a tree, it is however an enormous mountain terrain."

"That is the Tree of Beginning," Jenny tells them. "That is where Mew lives."

"It's gonna be hard finding Mew in a tree that big." Ash said.

"Also Mew can change its form to any Pokemon it chooses. Most people don't even know his true form." Queen Illene warns.

"No but there might be another way." Red said looking at Lucario. "By using Aura we can see through Mew's disguise."

"It's true, Lucario is said he could even lead Sir Aaron through darkness." The maid recalls.

"Lucario." Queen Ilene looks to the thousand year old Pokémon. "Will you lead Ash and his friends towards the Tree and aid them on their quest?" She asked.

("If the queen desires, I'll do everything I can,") Lucario bowed, accepting the offer.

"Dad, I could really use your help." Ash said looking to his Dad hopeful.

"A stampede of Wild Tauros couldn't stop me." Red nods saying he'd be happy to.

"Hope you guys don't mind, if I tag along too?" They see Kidd in her spy uniform once again.

"Kidd?" Ash said surprised by her outfit when Brock let out a loud gasp startling them.

"I don't believe it! You're that Kidd Summers?! The famous adventurer?! I am so sorry I didn't recognize you! It is such an honor!" Brock said shaking her hands.

"Brock you know who she is?" May asked surprised.

"Of course!" Brock pulls out a journey, going on how much of a celebrity she is for her many adventurous feats. She has a world record for holding the most world records. Some of these records include a record for making the quickest trip around the world in a hot-air balloon, deepest one-man submarine dive, and longest independent space walk.

"Wow, she's THAT good eh?" Red said looking astonished from the info.

"Wow with an expert adventurer and a Pokemon Master we'll be more than fine." Max smiles.

"Truth is I came here because I wanted to investigate the Tree of Beginnings." Kidd smiles.

"We'll leave first thing in the morning." Red said.

Ash looked towards the direction of the Tree. Wondering if Pikachu was gonna be OK. He felt a shoulder pat, and looks over and saw May with a reassuring smile. "Ash, I'm sure he's alright."

"I hope so May." Ash sighs.

Early the next morning before the sun was even up, Lucario enters the ballroom to look up at the painting of Sir Aaron.

That's when he heard footsteps from behind. Quickly, he jumps on the ceiling and sees the figure entering the room.

Just as the figure enters the room, Lucario dives down and pins him to the ground.

"Ow! Hey! Hey watch it!" Ash yells surprising him.

("Why were you following me?") Lucario states, letting him go.

"Jeez, I was just wanted to talk to you. Is that too much to ask?" Ash said recovering from the attack.

("Why?") Lucario asks.

"Because I want to make sure I can count on you to help me find Pikachu." Ash said.

("Are you Pikachu's Master?") Lucario asks.

"Master? No way, I'm his friend." Ash said picking his hat up.

("Friend?") Lucario turns.

"Well yeah, Trainers and Pokémon look out for one another. Wasn't that like with you and Sir Aaron?" Ash asked curious.

("He was my mentor, my ally.") Lucario said walking to the door.

"That's not what I said. A friend is someone who's always there for you. Didn't you have anyone like that?" Ash asks.

Lucario pauses his walking. ("I have no friend.") Was all he said before walking away in the night.

Leaving Ash in a perplex situation. "No friend?" He wondered why Lucario was acting so cold? Then he turned over to the painting of Sir Aaron. Slowly he walked towards it and places his hand up onto it. "So..I have this Aura like you did?" He asked the painting. 'But I don't feel anything, how can me or dad have power from an Aura Knight like this guy?'

"Ash." He heard his father calling out to him.

Turning around, Ash sees Red wearing ablue shirt with a black jacket with light blue pockets, black jeans with red flame details on them, sneakers that match his clothes. He also wears a black wristband, and carries a blue backpack. And had on a black and blue cap with a red flame badge on the front.

"Time to go." He said.

"Right." Ash nods.

As the sun rose and mist covered everything, Lucario was running ahead while everyone else was following behind in a van being driven by Kidd.

"I can barely see anything in this mist," May said looking outside.

"It's not a problem for Lucario, he's got Aura to help him out." Kidd says.

"I keep hearing about Aura over and over, but I don't know what it really is," Ash asked.

"Ash, Aura is like the energy in all living beings. We all have it, but only a select few people and Pokemon are able to harness it. Like Lucario, Aaron and the other Aura Guardians." Red explains.

"OK, but I don't know how to use it," Ash said.

"It would seem your power is still laying dormant." Red guessed.

"So how do I activate it?" Ash asks.

"That's a hard one. I unlocked mine when I was 16." Red said.

"Mr. Red, Can Aura like change a person?" Max asked, joining in the conversation.

"Of course, Aura is a power and power has the ability to change people for good or worse. You have to be careful and make sure you don't let it change you for the worst." Red said.

"Is that why you never told me about it?" Ash asks.

"One of the reasons. Your mom always told me about your travels how you struggled through Kanto working your way up slowly to better yourself. Be honest, did you think you were a good trainer?" Red asks.

"Well...no if anything I was pathetic. I did so much stuff wrong and messed up so many times, it was embarrassing." Ash admits.

"But when you learned from it, you appreciated it. You didn't have power before so you know its value. All Aura Guardians are not great, if anything they're weak when they start off, but it's because they were weak that they never let their power corrupt them and they hold onto who they are and the things that matter to them." Red explains.

The 4 heard the story and felt intrigued about it, including Ash, listening to his father's words and wondered of the truth.

"Wow...so that means I actually have the potential to be an Aura Guardian?" Ash asks.

"If I can so can you." Red chuckles rubbing his head.

"Hmm.." Ash thought to himself.

"So Ash, how come you never said who your dad was?" Max asks.

"Because if I did, I'd never be taken seriously. Everyone would compare me to him." Ash said.

"Not to mention if I used my real name all my fans would go crazy, my family would never have any peace or quiet. You have any idea how crazy fans can get if they're even in the same town as someone famous?" Red asks.

"Oh yeah." All of them cringed remembering Petalburg City.

"So that's why I decided I had to to keep myself and family hidden from the public eye." Red said.

"Well that explains why you never use your last name." Max realized.

"Wow Max, Ash's dad is way stronger than our,s but unlike you he's never bragged about it once." May smirks.

"What?! G-you!!" Max fumed with anger as his sister laughed at the burn.

"You have some interesting friends Ash." Red chuckles.

"Tell me about it." Ash nods.

Hours later as the sun was high in the air they all took a break to eat.

Lucario was on a rock eating berries alone while Brock was preparing everyone's food. "Alright everyone, food's ready!" Brock finishes and started to pass out the plates. "And now for Kidd's pl-" Brock reached out to pick up Kidd's plate, but found the spot empty. "Hey, where did?" He looked under the table and found a small brown Pokémon that had the shape of a bonsai tree. "What's this Pokémon?" He saw it began eating from the plate. "Hey you that's Kidd's plate!" Brock scolds.

"Bon.." The Pokémon started to shed tears from being yelled out.

"Wow Brock, and I thought you were gentle with little Pokémon," Ash chides, making him flinch.

"That's a Bonsly." Red said surprised. "Those are really rare in Kanto."

"Bonsly Bonsly." Bonsly said trying to run off with the food but Lucario stops him.

("You shouldn't take things that aren't yours.") Lucario said giving him some berries.

"Bonsly!" The little Pokémon takes the berries and runs off.

"So Ash I saw in your battle your Pikachu learned Protect on top of his other moves. Your team looked pretty balanced." Red said.

"Thanks I'm trying to learn some more attacks to help me in my next battle." Ash said

"Are you interested if I could help you a little?" Red offered.

"Really?" Ash asks interested.

"I might know a few attacks that can help you out in a tight spot." Red said taking a bite of his food.

"I'm all ears," Ash said almost instantly.

Taking out a Pokeball, Red throws it into the air and from it a Charizard appeared.

"Hey Charizard. Look who's here." Red said gesturing to Ash.

Roaring surprised Charizard smiles happy to see Ash.

"Hey long time no see big guy." Ash smiles.

The dragon-like Pokémon started nuzzling Ash by the head and licked him, making Ash laugh. "Ok! Ok! I missed you too!" He chuckles, trying to push him back.

"He has a Charizard just like Ash." May said.

"Like father, like son." Brock smiled.

"Hey Charizard how about we show Ash a little of our power?" Red suggests.

Roaring Charizard made his way towards a river with some large rocks in it.

"Watch carefully. Charizard Fire Pledge!" Roaring Charizard slams his fist down and pillars of fire shoot out of the ground surrounding the rocks before destroying them.

"Holy cow.." Ash along with the others were blown away at the fire power they've witnessed. "What was that?!"

"Fire Pledge. A powerful attack that can not only trap your opponent but all do tons of damage. You'd have to be a super-fast Pokemon to avoid an attack like this." Red said.

"Hey my Cyndaquil's pretty fast. I bet he could learn it," Ash said taking his Pokéball out.

"Cyndaquil." Cyndaquil said looking up at Charizard.

"Alright Ash watch me. The trick is concentrating all that fire power into your fist and releasing it all at once." Red instructs.

"Pay attention too Cyndaquil." Ash said to him, in which the Johto starter nods.

As Lucario watched Red and Charizard train Ash and Cyndaquil he remembered his training.

"Alright Lucario come at me." Sir Aaron said taking a fighting stance.

Lucario charged while he raised his fist, but Aaron quickly catches it. He twists and flipped Lucario over, who managed to catch himself from falling onto the ground.

"Again." Sir Aaron calls out.

Lucario attacks Sir Aaron again and again but Aaron blocks them all before delivering a powerful roundhouse knocking him to the ground.

"You won't always be able to use your attacks, you have to be able to defend yourself." Aaron said offering him a hand. Grunting, Lucario grabs onto it.

"Now watch me." As Aaron stood next to him they did a series of punches and kicks.

Fading out, he sees in their places was Cyndaquil and Charizard.

"Now Cyndaquil Fire Pledge!" Ash said as Cyndaquil slammed his fist down and 3 pillars of flames shot out.

"Only 3, not bad for a start." Red said. "Keep going."

"I should think about asking my dad to show me some moves sometime." May said.

"Nothing wrong with a little help from family." Brock agreed.

"And how often do you get a lesson from a Champion?" Max asks.

"Guess your friend must've had a good life with his father in the past." Kidd said.

"We think so, but this is actually the first time Ash ever brought up his dad before." Max admits.

"But I will admit. He does look happy." May said looking at Ash's smiling face.

He was having a blast, spending time with his father.

Soon they were back on the road, heading to the Tree of Beginning.

"So May, your dad's a gym leader?" Red asks interested.

"Yeah he specializes in Normal types." May said.

"He's Norman, one of the toughest Gym Leaders in the entire Hoenn Region." Max added.

"Which he neverlets us forget." Ash sighs.

"So if Norman was a gym leader does that mean you battled him?" Red asks.

"Oh yeah, twice." Ash nods.

("Gym...leaders?") Lucario was silently listening in on their conversation.

"I may not win all the leagues but I've managed to collect all 8 badges in every region." Ash said.

"That's my boy." Red smiles.

"And now look at him, already has his first Battle Frontier Symbol." Brock said.

"Sir you should've been there, Ash used his Charizard to take out the legendary Articuno!" May said.

"Articuno? Now that's impressive. Maybe someday you'll be ready to challenge me." Red said.

"Oh I will. Remember our deal, you have to keep your title until we battle because when we do I'm going to beat you and take it myself." Ash grins.

"Woah, you take on the World Champ?" Max said.

"Before you try and bring me down Max, it won't happen." Ash said. "I've been wanting this since day 1."

"Wow Ash I gotta admit when you dream you dream big." May said.

"That's us Ketchum men for you," Red grinned.

Suddenly, Kidd slams on the breaks causing them to stop.

"Whoa what's going on?" Ash asks startled.

"We have a problem." Kidd said as they looked ahead to see the path ahead was full of erupting geysers.

"Yikes, geysers all the way out here," Ash cringed. "Are we stuck?"

"For the time being. No way we can continue while they're like this." Kidd said. Then May notices something off to the side, a hot spring! Smiling, all of them decided to take a dip for a nice soak.

In the water, everyone was relaxing along with their Pokemon.

As Red walks over he opens three Pokeballs letting out Pikachu, Espeon and Blastoise.

"You use Pikachu too?" Max asks.

"Yeah, I was surprised when I saw Ash use one as his main." Red chuckles. "This little guy was the first wild Pokemon I ever caught."

Red's Pikachu walked over to Ash. "Pikachu?"

Pausing Ash smiles remembering him.

"Well if it isn't my first babysitter." Ash chuckles causing him to smile.

"Pika." Red's Pikachu chuckles.

"Babysitter?" Max asks.

"Ash always loved Pikachu in fact most of the time he played with him more than any Pokemon." Red said

"Gee what I wonder why?" Brock smirked.

"This little fella must have been in the back of my mind when Prof. Oak offered Pikachu as my starter." Ash said.

"It's pretty wild how similar you two are." Max said.

"You sound like Delia. She says that every time I call her." Red said.

Not a minute too soon, as May comes out of the Humvee from dressing into her bathing suit, the Bonsly from earlier drops upon her head. "Ow!" She found it in her hands. "Oh hey it's you. Were you following us?"

As May walked down to the water Bonsly got nervous and started to wiggle free.

"Hey what's Bonsly doing here?" Ash noticed.

"It caught a ride with us on the Humvee." May said before noticing it fled behind Phanpy. "But why dosen't it want to get in the water?"

"It's because Bonsly is a Rock Type, that's why it hates water." Red beats Max to the punch and picks up the little guy. "There, there. You don't have to swim if you don't want to." He pats it's head.

"You know I bet Pikachu would have loved this." Ash said.

"I bet he would have." Max agreed.

As Lucario watched them all relax, he thought back to a time when he and Sir Aaron came to these hot springs.

"Come on Lucario, take a break with me in the springs," Aaron offers.("I'm fine.") Lucario brushes off.

"Come on." Aaron grabs Lucario and has him sit down next to him. "Put your feet in the water, it feels nice."

Lucario slowly puts his feet in the water, at first it felt weird to him, but slowly he put a relaxed smile on his face.

"See? It feels good doesn't it?" Aaron smiles.

Lucario nodded, obviously saying it felt nice.

"It's fine to train hard, but what's more important to your Aura is finding time to take a break and rest. Otherwise, your Aura would deplete."

Zooming out of the memory, Lucario looks out.

"Hey Lucario come join us." Ash calls out. But Lucario simply walks off, ignoring him

"Boy he is one stubborn Pokémon." Ash said.

"Does he not like us or something?" Max asked.

"Just give him his space. He'll come around eventually and if not it's his loss." Red said.

"Ash! Come over here for a sec!" They heard May call out to him.

"What's wrong May?" Ash said coming over.

"Look up there," she points up to a strange looking plant sitting high up on the rocks. "You think that's some kind of flower?"

"Hang on let me have a look." Going to the rocks Ash climbs up with ease.

"I swear Ash climbs just like an Aipom." Brock chuckled.

"He's so nimble, he could be one of us," Kidd acknowledged his skill.

"You should have seen him when he was younger. I swear I don't know where he got this skill from." Red said.

Pikachu giggled along with Red's other Pokémon. Ash makes it to the top and found the strange flower.

"I've never seen a flower like this before." Ash reached out to touch it when it suddenly glowed bright causing Ash to fall into the water while the flower landed in May's hands.

Luckily Red's Blastoise picked him while it was swimming by. "Blast?"

"Ugh yeah I'm fine, thanks Blastoise." Ash cringed rubbing his eyes.

"You okay Ash?" May asks.

"Thank goodness this wasn't shallow." Ash groans.

"You didn't had to grab it though," she said a little concerned as she looks at the flower.

"I didn't mean to. It fell out when I fell." Ash said.

After their soak, May put the flower back in the ground.

"I think it's gonna sprout into something more beautiful than it is," She said.

As May pulled back her hand touched the flower causing it to glow surprising everyone as the moment when Ash fell into the water played around them.

"Wait that's me." Ash gasps.

The light and video died down. "W-what was that?!" Max said.

"May, let me see that flower." Red came over and held May hands it over to him. "So that's what it was..a Time Flower."

"A Time Flower?" Ash asks.

"It's a very special flower. When you touch it the flower preserves the memory before it closes." Kidd explains.

"A little flower can do that?" Ash said looking to it with amazement.

"Hey I held it, but it didn't play the memory. Why's that?" May asked.

"It's because Ash was able to activate it. The flower reacted to Ash's aura and recorded the memory until you caught it." Red explains.

"Wow Ash your Aura must be really tying to let itself be open." Max said.

"I wish I knew how to harness it." Ash said looking at his hands.

"It's not easy that's for sure son," Red tells him. "Learning how to control your Aura takes alot of time and practice. Only if you have the right mindset."

Sighing all of them headed back to the car.

Lucario on the other hand was still looking down at the flower remembering another moment with Sir Aaron.

'Time Flowers only open to those who's Aura have fully reached their potential. They can replay memories from one's past event.'

Later that night, all of them were by the campfire.

"Let me tell you something, when Pikachu and I first met we were very different. I got zapped more times than I can count. He was the most disobedient, annoying, pain in the neck I've ever met and he totally hated me." Ash said telling the story of his first day as a trainer.

"Pikachu? The most cutest and perfect partner did that to you?" May said in disbelief.

"Don't believe me all you want, but it's the truth," Ash said, confirming it.

"Wow sounds like your first day almost ended in a disaster." Red said. "Makes me wish I was there to help you."

Ash pats his father's shoulder. "Dad, it's OK. You were really busy back then." He reassures with a smile and continues on with the story. "Later, we were attacked by a Spearow flock." He said seeing the looks of surprise and suspense on everyone's faces aside from Brock and Lucario (who was sitting away from them.) "Then I risked it all to save Pikachu, even if it killed me. And Pikachu saw how much I really cared for him, he saved me in return." He finishes with his eyes closed, recollecting his near death experience. "And from that day, Pikachu and I formed a special bond that no one could break. I had his back, and he had mine."

Hearing this Lucario thought back to his time with Sir Aaron.

As multiple logs came flying in a blindfolded Aaron dodges them all with ease before leaping out of the way.

"Alright Lucario, your turn." Sir Aaron said taking off the blindfold.

Once Lucario puts its over his eyes, he unleashes the aura inside of him to dodge the logs just like Aaron did.

"Alright that's enough." Aaron calls out as Lucario leaps out of the way.

Taking off the blindfold, Lucario looks to see Aaron smiling at him and he briefly smiles back.

Zooming out of the memory Lucario looks to Ash.

("You can't trust anyone.") Lucario declares getting their attention.

"W-what?" Ash piped up, but Lucario walked away from him. "Hey, wait!" Running after him towards the end of a walkway, he gets in front of him. "What did you meant by not trust anyone? Were you talking about me?"

("If things look grim as it is, it would be best for you to abandon and forget about your Pikachu.") Lucario says, shocking Ash.

"What?! I'd never abandon Pikachu! You're crazy if you think I'd do that!" He snapped.

("How could you know?") Lucario said, making the boy's eyes lit up. ("How would you know if your Pikachu just went up and left you? Betrayed you and your so called trust?") He said riling up Ash.

"You're pushing it Lucario.." Ash growled, trying his best to hold his anger. "How could you say that? Aren't you supposed to be the partner of Sir Aaron? I thought you and him were the best of friends!"

"Ash, that's enough." Red said placing on his shoulder, holding him back.

("Perhaps Pikachu chose to leave by his own will because he couldn't stand being around a foolish trainer like yourself.") Lucario declares.

"Well if anyone knows lousy Pokemon it must be you!" Ash declares shocking everyone. "You know what I bet the reason Sir Aaron sealed in that staff was because he couldn't take another second dealing with a lousy Pokemon like you!!" Ash snaps.

Something in Lucario's mind snapped. 'Lousy Pokémon!' Those words repeated in his head, making Lucario snarl loudly before anyone could react, an invisible wave of energy flew out of his body and knocked everyone backwards. ("You insufferable little whelp! You dare say that to me in my face?!") Lucario throws an Aura Sphere right, at Ash.

Yelping Ash drops to the ground dodging it before standing up.

"Why?! Angry because it's probably true?! Since the moment you came out of that staff you've mocked, insulted and complained about everything! And you get off calling me a lousy trainer?!" Ash glares as his eyes glow blue.

"A-Ash? Y-your eyes.." Brock stuttered seeing them, in front of the anger.

("If I had to say anything, I'd say you ARE a lousy trainer!") Lucario argued with his eyes glowing as well. ("I cannot believe that Sir Aaron's Aura is the same as this child, who can't let go of the fact that he's not intelligent, mature OR couldn't understand the pain I went through those years ago!!")

"THAT'S IT!!" Ash snaps breaking out of their hold and tackling Lucario down the hill and into the river.

"Ash!" "Lucario!!" The others ran down and saw their fighting, pushing and shoving each other in the water.

"You want to talk lousy partners! Look in the mirror!" Ash said shoving Lucario down to see his reflection in the water.

Just then another scene from his and Sir Aaron's past played.

By the river, Sir Aaron was watching as Lucario was angry.

"Lucario everyone messes up. Don't let it get to you." Aaron said.

("How could I not?!") Lucario wipes away water from the river. ("I'm weak, no matter how much I try, I'll always be weak!")

Slowly Sir Aaron walks up to him and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"You're not weak. You just need practice. I promise until you master it I will not leave your side." Aaron vows.

Lucario turns to his mentor with a questionable look on his face. We zoom out to show Lucario was in the same face position in the present.

"Take it back! Take it back!" Ash orders when Lucario breaks free and pushes him into the water.

As Ash glares Lucario in the eyes, Lucario leaps back up onto the hill before walking away causing Ash's eyes to return to normal.

Without a saying a word, he grunts and gets back up, without giving his friends a glance as he made his way to the Humvee.

"W-what just happened?" May said.

"A falling out, that's what." Red answers, looking at both retreating sides.

"Why would Lucario suddenly say all of that stuff to Ash? Not to mention Ash attacking him in the process?" Kidd said

"Lucario may not choose to admit it, but I think what Ash just said is his worst fear." Red said.

"Fear?" Brock said.

"Right now, its probably best to just give them both their space," Red suggests. "If not, I'll talk to Ash."

"What about Lucario?" Brock asks.

"I think he wants to be alone." Red said as Lucario leaned against a tree.

That was basically all they could do at this point.

Back at the Humvee, as Ash dried off his hair, he punched the car. "Stupid Lucario.." He growled. "Loyalty to Aaron my ass. Saying I should abandon Pikachu? Who does he think he is?!"

"You might want to watch how hard you punch, Kidd might send you the bill for damages." Red said walking over.

"I'm not in the mood for jokes dad." Ash rolls his eyes. "I know what you're gonna say, it was stupid of me to attack Lucario like that and it was even stupider to say all those things."

"You know me well, sit down Ash." Red said, motioning to sit next to him on the log.

Sighing Ash sits down next to him.

"Look I'm not saying Lucario didn't deserve that back there, but even so you can't let stuff like that get to you." Red said.

"That's easy for you to say dad, when was the last time anyone ever called you a lousy trainer?" Ash asks.

"Actually...when I was about your age. The first person to ever call me an idiot was Prof. Oak himself on the first day of my journey." Red said surprising him.

"H-huh? Prof. Oak? Why?" Ash said dumbfounded.

"Well I kinda sorta accidentally released all the Pokémon and we had to go all to Viridian city to get them all. Took us three days to catch them all and during the whole time Prof. Oak insulted me every chance he got." Red admits rubbing the back of his head.

Ash stood there, with a look of astonishment on his face. Then he remembered back when he first started his journey, his mother said something similar to that. Saying how it took only 3 days for his dad to reach Viridian, when it shouldn't have taken him so long.

"By the end of it I had found the last Pokémon, a Bulbasaur who had a run in with a wild Machoke. It nearly wiped the floor with us when at the last second Bulbasaur used Solar Beam and saved us and as luck would have it Prof. Oak let me keep him." Red finished.

"Wait…a Bulbasaur. You mean Venasaur?" Ash gasps.

"The very same." Red nodded, holding out the Pokéball for Ash to see and hold.

"Wow so you and I really had the worst starts for our journey." Ash said.

"Tell me about. People would always make fun of me saying how can someone like me become a Pokémon Master? I was a joke, but the biggest mistake I ever made was this horrible, sneaky girl conned me out of all my money and my gym badges." Red said.

"Geez she sounds like the worst." Ash cringed.

"She was your mother." Red declares.

That dropped the bomb, "Say WHAAAT?!" Ash jumped. "M-mom?! No, you're lying!"

"I swear I'm not." Red holding up his hands in defense.

"Mom? A con artist? That makes no sense at all." Ash said.

"It's true, her partner in crime was a Wartortle that she used to make all her escapes with before she eventually gave to me." Red said holding out Blastoise's ball.

"T-that was Mom's Pokémon?"

"Don't let the housewife bit fool you. Your mom was quite the trainer. Why do you think that Mr. Mime is trained so well?" Red asks.

"All this time I thought it was because she cooked for it." Ash said blown away.

"Oh you wish," Red shook his head. "But that's not the end of it all. There was one last person. One more that really got me to where I am today."

"Who?" Ash asks.

"Like me he chose a nickname while he was on the road, I called him Blue and he was my rival. He always seemed to outdo. I got a badge, he had one more. He always caught way more Pokemon than me and always put me down." Red said.

Ash's eyes widen. That sounded strangely and coincidently familiar..

"He always got the best because he was Prof. Oak's son. Ugh he drove me crazy." Red said.

"Wait...Blue was Prof. Oak's kid as in Gary's dad?!" Ash said.

"Oh yeah, little Gary." Red recalled. "Man I haven't seen him since you were such a squirt."

"Yeah well he grew up too. From all the way to Johto he constantly mocked and said he was better than me. When we faced in the Johto League and I finally beat him it felt so good." Ash smiles.

"That's exactly how I felt when I beat Blue back in the Indigo League." Red chuckles. "After years later, that's when he decided to take a training trip to hone and become a better trainer. He left most of his Pokémon to Oak, but before he left he wanted me to have something."

"What?" Ash asks interested when Red took out Charizard's Pokeball. "Wait, he gave you Charizard?"

"It was his way of saying that whenever I used him in battle it was like he was battling alongside me." Red said. "Ash look, as you travel you're gonna find more and more people who will find ways to make you feel awful about yourself make you so angry you want to teach them a lesson. But as painful as it is, you have to try and be the better person."

"But I want to, but..their words really really get to me.." Ash frowns.

"I know, trust me I've heard it all, but Lucario is different Ash. Look at you, you have tons of great friends, a team of awesome Pokemon and a family that loves you. Lucario doesn't have anyone." Red points out.

What Red said was right.

"I guess I didn't really think about that." Ash admits.

"Ash taking the high road is never fun, trust me I know, but sometimes you have to be willing to take the first step to fix a problem." Red said.

"Do I have to?" Ash asks.

"Heavy hangs the head." Red said putting Ash's hat back on his head.

"OK, ok, I'll talk to him."

"That's my boy." Red smiles as they stood up. "By the way, I did not expect you to unlock your aura like that."

"I used my Aura?" Ash said surprised.

"You didn't notice it? It was exploding all around you."

"I guess I was so angry and focused on Lucario I didn't notice." Ash said.

"Well Aura is focused on your emotions. So that should probably explain it." Red figured.

Meanwhile with Lucario, he was looking out at the view when he saw Max approach him.

("What do you want?") Lucario asks not in the mood to talk.

"Thought you might want some." Max said taking out a chocolate bar. "You've never had chocolate before have you?"

Lucario said nothing looking at the sweet, that gave Max his answer. "My mom back home told me eating sweets could help you after feeling angry." He offered him a piece.

Pausing, Lucario took a bite and smiled.

"See? It's good right?" Max smiles.

Not saying anything Lucario looked away but Max could tell he liked it.

That night...

Everyone in the Humvee were sleeping.

Well...almost everyone.

Slowly Ash, snuck out and walked to the cliff where he could see the tree of beginning.

Little did he know, Lucario saw him.

"Don't worry Pikachu, wherever you are I'm gonna find you." Ash vows.

He wasn't going to throw away his promise, and no one was going to stop him.

Ash looks to his palms and thought to himself out loud. "And..and I may need some help from this to help me.." He said talking about his Aura.

Eyeing him curiously, Lucario watched as Ash tried to concentrate his aura, but struggled.

"Come on.." He grunts, trying to hold his hands out, but nothing worked. Sighing, he sat down. "How can I use this dumb Aura if I don't know how to activate it?"

Frowning Lucario saw Ash had the same frustrated look on his face when he was struggling to learn.

We go right into Lucario's head as he has his palms out in front of a target on a tree. With Sir Aaron from the sidelines.

"Concentrate Lucario. Channel your Aura into the palm of your hand. Focus on one point and expand." Aaron instructs.

Lucario closed his eyes and focused while in front of him was an Aura Sphere, expanding slowly. Becoming larger and glowing more and more in seconds.

"Now release it!" Aaron orders as Lucario fires an Aura sphere causing it to fly towards the target destroying it.

Back out of his flashback, Lucario looks to Ash still struggling.

"Come on! Come on give me something!" Ash said thrusting his hand forward before groaning annoyed.

Dropping to his knees he heard footsteps. Turning around he sees Lucario behind him.

"Come to laugh?" Ash assumes.

("You're doing it wrong. It looks like you're just punching the air.") Lucario said.

"Then how do you do it then?" Ash asked. "Every one keep saying I have Aura, but I just can't bring it out." He groaned. "I don't wanna disappoint the others, including dad."

("For the sake of Aura, I can't let you keep doing this. Get up.") Lucario said yanking him up to stand alongside him. ("Look at my stance and do exactly as I do no questions.")

Ash silently look at Lucario placing his feet apart, his hands open and straight in the middle.

Standing next to him, Ash adjusts himself to match his stance.

("Now concentrate. Channel your Aura into the palm of your hand. Focus on one point and expand.") Lucario instructs using the same words Aaron used with him.

Ash closed his eyes and focused with his hands wide open. In the darkness in his head, he was starting to see some surroundings that look weird to him.

Slowly a small blue light began to shine.

'What is that?' Ash thought before shaking his head. 'No, can't lose focus. Concentrate Ash..concentrate..' He thought as the light began to expand.

In the palm of his hand an Aura Sphere began to form. ("Now release it!") Lucario orders as Ash fires the Aura sphere as it soared across the river.

"I-I did it? I just used Aura." Ashsmiles in awe.

Lucario nodded, ("It's done.") And he walked away.

"Hey Lucario." Ash calls out. "Thank you and I-I'm sorry for earlier."

Lucario stops in his spot. "Maybe you're not as bad as I thought you wee were." Ash said.

("I suppose my actions were less than acceptable.") Lucario said walking away.

From a little help from his father and the last person he thought he would get advice from, Ash felt more determined to rescue Pikachu.

The next morning they were back on the road towards the Tree of Beginning.

"We should be there soon." Kidd said as they neared the tree.

Ash looked up at it determined when suddenly they came to a grinding halt.

"What is it this time?" Red groans.

Looking ahead they saw Lucario looking up at a small hill.

"Lucario, what's wrong?" Ash asked.

("This..this is the place..") Lucario said.

"Place?" Red asked.

("The place where..I was sealed..") Lucario announced.

Surprised everyone watched as Lucario dropped to his knees not noticing a Time Flower in front of him.

("Why? Why?") Lucario asks when suddenly the flower began to glow.

Gasping everyone saw the memory of Sir Aaron looking down at Lucario.

As Aaron turns around he throws the staff down in front of Lucario.

("Sir Aaron?") Lucario gasps before being sealed in it.

Everyone (including Ash, who felt even worse for what happened the other night), were severely shocked that they were seeing what made Lucario despise his master..he was telling the truth. Aaron did betray him. They watched Aaron fly away on his Pidgeot.

Suddenly the ground started shaking. From the two pathways on the road, the green army charges through the small pathway which is where they were.

"What is all this?!" Max screams scared.

"This was the big war that Sir Aaron was famous for stopping. This whole area must have been the battlefield." Red realized.

Lucario, horrified at seeing the war once more, yelled in agony and begins blindly throwing Aura Spheres around the area, almost hitting Ash. "Lucario!" Ash yelled. But he didn't listen. "Lucario! Stop it's not real!!"

Snapping out of it, Lucario steps back and touches the flower causing the memory to stop.

"That was..intense.." May said still shooken up about what happened.

"I can't believe Lucario was right all along. Aaron wasn't a hero?" Brock asked.

"Could the legend be wrong?" Kidd asks.

"If it is then how did the battle stop?" Red asks.

There were still questions that haven't been answered yet. Ash however wasn't paying attention to them, because his sight was on the shooken up Lucario.

("Aaron..I don't understand..") Lucario choked, still hurt.

"I'm sorry." Ash said walking up to him. "I never even once considered what you were going through but to see it with my own eyes. I get why you're so angry and confused."

Lucario stood up. ("Ash..never abandon Pikachu.")

"I won't." Ash vows.

Lucario was about to respond when he sensed something. ("Look out!") Lucario pushes Ash out of the just as something shot out of the ground.

It was a large golem-like Pokémon made of brown and orange rocks and it has a pattern of seven orange dots on its face that resembles a capital letter "H".

"A Regirock!?" Red gasped.

"Everyone this way!" Kidd screams as Regirock charged up a Hyper Beam.

Acting quickly Lucario fired an Aura Sphere canceling it out.

They ran into the gorge from earlier.

"Did you and Mom ever deal with things as crazy as this on your journey?!" Ash asks.

"More often than you think!" Red said.

Along the way Lucario tells them to make a turn at a tunnel. They follow the tunnel, and by now it seems as if they have lost Regirock.

"Why did that Regirock attack us?" May asks.

("It must be protecting the tree from intruders.") Lucario guessed.

"It's a guardian?" Brock asked.

"Seems like it," Red said. "But let's hope for our sake we don't run into any of the others.." He muttered softly.

Coming to an end, they exit the cave only to see they were inside the tree.

It was humongous, it was filled to the brim with beautiful illuminating crystals, a giant lake and a huge forest resided within it.

There were wild Pokémon all over the place, some we normally see..while some were extinct!

"I-I can't believe what I'm seeing.." Red gasped.

"This must be directly below the Tree of Beginnings." Kidd said putting some high-tech shades.

"So that means Pikachu must be nearby right?" Ash said eagerly.

("Must be up above.") Lucario figured.

"Guess we better start climbing." Red said turning his hat backwards.

"You do that too?" Brock asks.

"Where do you think I got that from?" Ash asked with a smirk.

"How did we never see it until now?" Max asks

"Lead the way Lucario." Ash and Red followed Lucario up the hill.

"We might need some extra eyes." Kidd said taking out some devices.

"What are those?" Brock asks interested.

"Survey Modules. These babies will help me get the info we need on every area in tree." Kidd said pressing onto a button, making all of the modules fly away in random places. "Hey Banks, you up?" She activated her communicator.

"I am and I cannot believe what I'm seeing." He said on the other line.

"Seems like the Tree of Beginning has been protecting all of the Pokémon under here for over thousands of years, that includes those that are extinct. You think you can run an analysis on the area while I check it all out?" Kidd asked.

"Of course, well done Kidd. This is going to be revolutionary to the both of us, no the whole company!" Banks said typing away.

"Let's save the congratulations until after we've figured out the mystery." Kidd suggests.

Hanging up, the last two ran after their friends who went after Ash.

The probes that Kidd deployed attached themselves onto one of the crystals that were wedged inside of the ground.

Suddenly a large metal golem Pokémon that had dots in the shape of an octagon appeared and crushed the drones.

Looking to the other drones, the Pokémon saw the crystals turn red along with something gushing out of it.

Inside the tree's caves, the group were climbing up the road when Kidd gotten word from Banks, "Kidd, the mountain is alive! The area around is given energy from the Tree of Beginning allowing everything here to live for centuries." Banks explains.

"Astounding.." Kidd said blown away before telling Banks to keep it up. "You know my hunch maybe be right." She said telling the others. "The mystery of this tree could really be connected to Mew somehow."

From where he was, Banks was getting red alerts from his system. "What?" He gasped, pressing buttons all over. He sees the diagram of the tree was all turning red for some reason. "What is going on?"

At the end of the next tunnel, Ash, Red and Lucario finds themselves outside of the lower levels of the tree, on some of its "leaves".

"This has to be close.." He said before shouting. "PIKACHU!" His echoes were heard throughout the tree. "CAN YOU HEAR ME?! I'M HERE!!"

From the very distance, Ash could hear a faint and yet loud cry echoing in the air, "PIKAPI!" Making Ash smile widely, knowing he was almost there to see his partner again.

But just as Ash was climbing up a cliff,a large ice golem with dots in the shape of a "" sign appeared in front of him. It fired an Ice Beam down at his feet, which sent Ash flying back.

"A Regice?!" He gasped.

Regice was about to fire another Ice Beam when a Thunder and Aura Sphere flew in and blasted it into the trees.

Turning around Ash saw Red, his Pikachu and Lucario run to him.

"We're not your enemies!" Ash said as Regice got back up.

"Ash I don't think we convince them. We gotta move!" Red said

("This way, fast!") Lucario said as they ran in the opposite direction.

Down the hill, May, Max, Brock and Kidd were looking around when Ash, Red and Lucario ran down.

"What's going on?" May asks.

"Talk later! Run now!" Red said pushing them towards the caves when an ice beam was fired narrowly missing them.

They saw Regice coming right towards them, Lucario quickly throws an Aura Sphere to slow it down. ("I'll find another cave, move!!") He ordered as everyone ran after Lucario, finding the new passageway.

Running to the end they found themselves in the base of the Tree with tons of glowing roots.

"Which way do we go?" Max asks when they heard screaming.

"Help us!" Looking up they saw Jessie and James fall down from a higher level and land in front of them.

"Team Rocket?!" Ash said surprised.

Red's eyes went wide hearing the crime syndicate's name, 'No, it can't be..'

The instant they saw Ash, they were holding his hands. "Look twerp, I know we had our differences in the past! But you gotta help us!" Jessie begged him.

"By getting them away from us!!" James points up to show them up a ledge they fell from was Regirock along with the steel titan.

"Regirock's back!" May panicked.

"And this time brought along a Registeel with him?!" Max shouts in fear.

("Everyone this way!") Lucario fires an Aura Sphere at them before they ran down a tree root.

"What the hell are members of a Criminal Organization doing here?!" Red yells.

"These guys have been following me around since the day I started my journey!" Ash yells.

Hearing this, Red gave them a mean look on his face, meaning death.

"Dad, you can kill them later!" Ash said, snapping him out of it.

"The twerp has a daddy?" Jessie heard it from behind her.

"And he looks really mad at us!" James whimpers seeing Red glare daggers at them that sent chills down their very souls.

Registeel and Regirock leaped. "Get lost!" Red turns around and held out his hand.

Looking in shock, they saw Red fire an Aura Sphere at the Regis who counter with Hyper Beam creating an explosion.

"Whoa you really weren't kidding. " Ash said amazed.

"You two are next." Red growls looking at Jessie and James. The two held each other in fear.

"Dad, focus!" Ash defended them.

Running out of the cave, they found themselves in front of a very narrow passage.

Carefully they crossed the line and didn't look down, just kept moving forward. From the upper levels, Pikachu and Meowth ran to the commotion and saw all of them running to the other side.

"Pikapi?!" Pikachu gasps.

"Jessie! James!" Meowth gasps.

Once their friends made to the opposite end, Lucario stayed behind to see the two Regi Titans still on their tail. So what does he do? Throws an Aura Sphere on the bridge, destroying their path.

Up ahead, the last of Kidd's drones were being absorbed by the crystals when Jessie and James ran in.

"Jessie wait!" James pants trying to catch up with her.

"Sheesh for a man you are totally out of shape," She rolled her eyes. As James caught up he jumps back in fear.

"B-Behind you!" James points.

"Oh please, you honestly believe in going to fall for that old trick?" Jessie mocked. Unaware that there was a red blob in the shape of a Cradily stalking up behind her. She was so caught up in her laughter, she was too late to see it glomp all over here. "What are?! Hey! What is this?!" She screamed, trying to get it off. "James! Get this off of me!"

"Cacnea, I need you!" James said throwing out his cactus baby.

"Cacnea!" The little guy tried to hug James, but he swiftly dodges it.

"Now isn't the time for hugs!" He said, telling Cacnea it was serious. He points to the thing smothering Jessie. "Use Pin Missile!"

"Cacnea!" Cacnea fired needles at the blob, but they were ineffective.

"It's not working?!" James gasps as the others caught up.

"What is that thing?!" Max gasps.

"Help me!" Jessie screams before the red blob completely absorbed her.

Before James could process what happened a red blob in the shape of an Omastar shot out and grabbed onto him.

"Chimeco save yourself!" James yells using the last of his strength to save his Pokemon.

"Chime?" The windchime Pokémon gasped as it and Cacnea saw their trainer disappear without a trace.

"What was that all about?" May asks.

"Nothing good, that's for sure." Red said when an explosion went off and Regirock and Registeel were gaining on them.

Lucario fires an Aura Sphere to slow them down.

Running down the cavern a red blob shaped like Aerodactyl flew in.

Acting quickly Red fired an Aura Sphere to make it disperse.

"Quick Run!" Red yells as they ran through it.

Noticing the red blobs form from the crystals, Kidd sent this to Banks.

"Banks, what's going on?" She asks.

"They appear to be white blood cells from the tree. Like the ones people have, they exterminate all the bacteria inside the body." Banks explained to them.

"B-bacteria?" Ash stuttered.

"So WE'RE the bacteria?" May gasped.

"So the tree is alive?" Brock gasps.

"Banks find us an escape route!" Kidd said.

"I'll try but it may take a few minutes." Banks said.

Soon the red blobs approach from behind. The others try to find another way to get past them. One of them makes it through and almost catches Kidd, but Lucario gets in the way. "Lucario!!" Ash yelled.

Lucario tried to fight out of it, however the blobs just disappear instead of taking him.

"Does the tree not count Pokémon as bacteria?" Kidd was relieved she was saved.

"That means it only goes after humans, like us." Max realized.

"We gotta get out of this tree, did you find an escape route yet Kidd?" May asked her.

"Not yet, I'm sorry," Kidd grits her teeth, still awaiting for Banks' feedback.

"We don't have time for this." Red said as they ran down the path and saw two caves.

"Which one do we take?" Max asks.

"Any path would be fine. I say we each split up." Brock suggests.

"I gotta find Pikachu, dad, Lucario I need your help more than ever." Ash said as both nod.

"Kidd look out for the others." Red orders.

"Right." Kidd nods when May sees something from above.

"Ash look out!" Moving in May pushes Ash out of the way as a red blob came down right where he was standing and grabbed her.

"May!!" Ash and Max gasped in horror. Quickly he tried pulling her hand.

"Just hang on! I'll get you out!" Ash yells trying to pull her free.

"Ash, you know that dance we had? It was fun." May said with tears in her eyes.

"Don't look at me like that! You're gonna be okay!" Ash said pulling with all his might but in horror, May slips her Pokeballs into his hands.

"Take care of them for me..." May said before she was completely engulfed by it.

"MAY!" Max cried, but Brock holds him back.

"Come on Max!" Brock yells picking him up and running out.

"May." Ash chokes tearing up as he held her Pokeballs close to him. "She saved my life."

'That dance we had..it was fun.' Her voice played in her head.

"You idiot..why.." He grits his teeth.

They had so much fun and good times together and now she was gone.

"Come on Ash." Red said as he and Lucario led him down the other path while Kidd ran to catch up with Brock and Max.

Pikachu meanwhile continues using his senses to look for Ash, followed by Mew and a very tired Meowth.

"Slow down." Meowth pants when red blobs in the shape of Omanyte and Lilleep fly past him. "What are those?"

ln some part of the tree was Kidd's group still leading Brock and Max. However, that's when the blobs caught up to them.

"Look out!" Kidd yells as they attack Brock and Max.

"Save yourselves!" Opening his Pokeballs, Brock lets out all his Pokemon before he and Max were engulfed.

"Brock, Max." Kidd hangs her head in regret. But the blobs went after her now, using her athletic skills, she tried to avoid them.

In the other cavern, Ash, Red and Lucario were on the lookout for Pikachu.

"Pika?" Red's Pikachu said hearing something.

"Pikachu!" Ash's Pikachu echoed.

Ash stopped in his tracks. "P-pikachu?" He turns his head around and felt the cry was coming from one of the caves next to him. So he ran in.

"Ash!" Red and Lucario ran after.

Running out to a cavern filled with tree roots, Ash looked around to see Pikachuon an upper level.

"Pika!" Pikachu smiles.

"Pikachu!" Ash smiles.

As he runs out a strong wind starts to blow forcing him to hang on tight.

Pikachu has no problem hopping from pillar to pillar in the wind, but Ash and his weight were a problem. He hung on tight.

"Wait for me." Ash said trying to climb when the wind picked him up.

"Pika!" Pikachu gasps when a vine shot out and caught Ash.

"Huh?" Looking up, Ash saw Red and Venasaur keeping him grounded.

"Next time wait for us!" Red calls out.

With a sheepish look, Ash gave them a thumbs up before getting back on track.

As Pikachu ran to meet him a strong wind ended up blowing him off the roots.

"Pikachu!" Ash gasps trying to catch him when suddenly Kidd swung in on a grappling hook and caught Pikachu.

"Yes." Red smiles as Venasaur pulls Ash in and Kidd lands next to them.

"Saur." Venasaur smiles happy to see him.

"Thanks Kidd." Ash said relieved.

"PikapiPikachu!" Pikachu nuzzles Ash, happy to have him back, Ash the same.

"It's great to have you back buddy." Ash said happy as ever hugging him.

("You found him.") Lucario said jumping down to them.

"Pika." Pikachu said surprised.

"Pikachu this is Lucario, it's thanks to him I found you." Ash introduced.

"PikaPika." Pikachu said thanks with a smile, with Lucario nodding while smiling in return. He's now beginning to truly understand the deeper relationship that is possible between humans and Pokémon.

"Those two are pretty close." Red smiles.

"Pika." His Pikachu agreed climbing onto his shoulder.

That's when Mew floats down to them. "Mew?"

"Mew?" Ash stepped back in surprise, then Meowth came up to them.

"It ain't dangerous kid, that Mew just wanted to play." Meowth said.

"D-did that Meowth just talked normally?" Red gasped.

"Yeah but it's getting him to shut up that's the real skill." Ash said.

"Hey! I helped protect your Pikachu and this is the t'anks I get?!" Meowth said.

"After years of trying to steal him from me!" Ash said.

Meowth was about to reply when Regice caught up with them forcing them to run.

"Kidd where are Brock and Max?" Ash asks but got no answer. "T-them too?" Ash frowned.

"I'm sorry." Kidd frowns.

"What about Jessie and James?" Meowth asks.

"Them too." Red nods shocking him.

Meowth was mortified. His friends were no longer part of this world.

"They're coming!" Kidd points to the blobs approaching.

("This way.") Lucario said leading them into a room filled with crystals.

Looking up at the ceiling they saw they were one level close from reaching the top.

("Over there.") Lucario runs to the passage but when he did Regirock and Registeel block him. They were trapped!

"Lucario!" Ash gasps when three red blobs grab him, Kidd and Red.

"Pika!" Ash and Red's Pikachu scream.

"Saur!" Venasaur screams.

"Go!" Red calls out Espeon, Charizard, Blastoise and Snorlax.

Pausing all the Pokemon look to him. "It's been quite an adventure." Red smiles before he was engulfed.

"Dad!" Ash screams in horror.

With a grunt, Kidd uses up all of her strength to release her two Weavile. "Go..be free.." She tells them before she two was engulfed into nothing.

Taking out his and May's Pokeballs, Ash throws them into the air releasing them all.

"I'm sorry everyone..I thought we were all going to go lots of more adventures but I guess not.." Ash struggled to say before looking to his Pikachu. "Buddy..take care of mom and everyone for me..I love you guys.."

"PIKAPI!" Rushing forward Pikachu along with the rest of Ash's Pokemon grab his arm to try and pull him out, but all that was left was his hat.

"Pika...Pikapi!" Pikachu falls to the ground, sobbing holding his former friend's hat. "PIKACHU!!!"

His cry was echoed throughout the three.

As Lucario is let go he walks over to all the Pokemon who were tearing up.

"Mew. Mew." Mew said gesturing to the hat.

"Pika." Pikachu shook his head saying he wanted Ash back.

Mew sees how upset Pikachu is from losing Ash and flies up, touching a crystal. "Mew..." As its body glowed green, so did the entire tree on the outside with its crystals.

Throughout the tree all the Pokemon watched as their trainers were pulled out of the tree and brought back.

As Ash opened his eyes Pikachu and all his Pokemon smiled before tackling him into a hug. "Guys! Guys! OK, I'm happy to see you two!" Ash laughed.

"OK, OK! Down guys down!" Red laughed too as all of his Pokémon were hugging and nuzzling him as well.

Looking to Combusken, Squirtle and Muchlax they smiled happily knowing what this meant.

"Kidd how is this possible?" Ash asks.

"Mew told the tree you're not bacteria." Meowth explains.

"He's right. The tree and Mew both have a symbiotic relationship with the other. Each shares its power and thought for them to act as one." Kidd explained before seeing The Regi Trio walking away, knowing they weren't a threat to them.

"Hey uh dad you think you and I can not tell mom about this part?" Ash asks.

"No way, we are taking this to our graves." Red said.

"Agreed." Ash nodded.

"Mew." Mew flies in weakly to Ash holding his hat.

"Thank you Mew." Ash smiles taking the hat back but when he did Mew laid down exhausted.

They gasped, Kidd picked it up. "Mew? What's wrong?"

"It has a fever!" She felt its head.

"Espe!" Espeon gotten everyone's attention, showing them a rotting crystal.

In different areas of the tree, May, Max, Brock, Jessie and James were seeing this and getting scared.

"Brock, I'm scared." Max said holding him tight.

"Stay close to me Max." Brock said.

May in her area was doing her best to avoid them.

"Ash please be careful." May gulps.

Finally Team Rocket was huddled in fear.

"Just when we were magically brought back to life James, it's like our luck still hasn't changed.." Jessie whimpered.

"I want to get out of this tree." James whines when Cacnea hugs him causing him to scream.

"James?" Meowth said hearing the echo and running off to it.

"Return!!" Every one quickly recalled their Pokémon.

Ash was about to recall May's Pokémon, but they wanted to find her. "You're gonna see her again, I promise. But right now, you guys have to listen to me."

Pausing the three Pokemon look to Ash.

"If we want to see May again I need as much help as possible." Ash said.

"Busken." Combusken nods along with the rest of them before Ash returned Squirtle and Munchlax as well.

From her communicator, Kidd gotten word from Banks. "Sorry if I'm interrupting something, but you're in trouble Kidd! The tree's immune system is starting to become unstable!"

"Unstable?" Kidd asked.

"If something isn't done soon, the tree will collapse!" Banks said.

"Since Mew is weakened that means the tree is weakened." Kidd realized as Mew gestured for them to follow it.

"What are we gonna do?" Ash looked to his father for an answer.

"Follow Mew, maybe he knows how to fix it." Red said as they raced to the top floor.

Upon arrival they see a giant beam firing down into a large clump of crystals.

In this room, Lucario looks to the side and notices that there were a pair of gloves near some crystals. Gasping he goes to them, and notices a crystal formation with a figure within it.

("It can't be..") Using his Aura, they see the figure inside the crystal...was none other than Sir Aaron.

"What's he doing here?" Ash gasps.

"After sealing Lucario in the staff, Sir Aaron must have come here. This is the Heart of the Tree of Beginning." Kidd realized when Red spotted a time flower.

Activating it, they see Aaron arriving in the room.

"Mew! Where are you?!" Then a cry in the air was heard to reveal at the roof was Ho-Oh. It glowed, reverting itself into Mew.

"Mew, I know you and tree share one heart with the other. So please lend me your strength." Aaron holds his hand up. In which Mew nodded. "The Aura is with me!" Aaron yelled before covering Mew into a large Aura Sphere.

"What's he doing?" Ash asks.

"He's giving Mew all his Aura in order to use the tree's strength." Red released as Aaron cringed in pain struggling to give Mew his powers before the memory ended.

Lucario realizes that Sir Aaron did not abandon the kingdom, but in factsacrificed himself to save it. ("I..I was a fool..") He looks to Aaron's sealed body. ("Sir Aaron..forgive me..") He shed a tear.

"Mew Mew." Mew said flying to him.

("You want me to use my Aura like Sir Aaron did?") Lucario asks as Mew nods.

"Wait, Lucario." Kidd stops him. "If you use up all of the Aura in you here..you might end up the same fate as Sir Aaron!" She warned him.

("I know..") He nodded, knowing what must be done.

Holding out his hand Lucario makes an Aura sphere but was struggling.

"Dad let's help!" Ash said.

"Huh?" Red looks at his son.

"We have Aura too, with three people doing it we might be able to save everyone." Ash said grabbing Sir Aaron's gloves and putting them on.

"Pikapi?" Pikachu looked worried about Ash's idea.

"But Ash do you even know how to make an Aura Sphere?" Red asks.

"Oh yeah, I'm Lucario's student." Ash declares holding out his hands creating an Aura Sphere.

Red had a look of shock on his face, before he nodded and joined in by making an Aura Sphere in front of him.

"Come on! Put everything you have into it!" Ash said as they all started to glow powering up Mew.

As Mew was nearing full power Lucario looks to the father and son duo they started to glow alongside him getting weaker.

("Ash...I'm sorry.") Lucario said.

"Stow the apologies for later. We're almost there." Ash said.

("No. I mean I'm sorry but I can't let you two throw your lives away for me!") Moving in Lucario rams Ash and Red out of the way leaving him to do it all by himself.

"Lucario?!" Red exclaimed.

"What are you doing?!" Ash gasped.

("I finally understand why you did it, Sir Aaron. The Aura is with me!") Lucario roars as he gave Mew all his power allowing Mew to save the tree.

And just like all those years ago, the crystal glowed bright green turning everything back to normal.

"I-Is it all over?" James asked.

"I don't see any smoke or magma.." Jessie said ss they were still entwined.

"HEY!!" They look up ahead and see Meowth coming towards them.

"Meowth!" They smiled hugging him tightly.

In the other tunnel, Max and Brock made their way out.

"They did it." Max smiles.

"MAX!" Looking to another tunnel they saw May running to them.

"MAY!!" Max made a beeline to her and two siblings hugged. "You're alive!!" He cried.

Up at the top, Red helps Ash up with a smile on his face.

"Ash, I'm proud of you. You really impressed me these last few days." Red smiles.

"Thanks dad." Ash smiles when Mew flies down looking better than ever.

"Mew!" Mew cries with a joyful smile.

"Look at you Mew." Red said petting its head.

"We're glad you're alright Mew, thank you." Ash smiles.

"Pika!" Pikachu and Mew both smiled at each other.

"Everything is back to what it once was." Banks said on the communicator. "And boy have you made it big Kidd. With this new info, we're gonna be rich!"

"Thanks Banks, but do you think you can keep this whole thing to ourselves?" Kidd asked.

"What? You're not plublishing it?" Banks asked.

"If we did, the tree would be destroyed by unwanted tourists. And we wouldn't want a repeat of what happened here today. Alright?" She said.

"Well..I suppose." Banks agreed to it.

"You did it Lucario." Ash smiles when Lucario ends up sitting down next to the crystalized Sir Aaron.

"Lucario are you okay?" Red asks worried as they ran to him.

("I'm glad you both are okay.") Lucario cringed in pain before pressing another Time flower.

This time we see the memory of Sir Aaron sitting next to them in just as much pain as Lucario.

"Lucario, I'm so sorry." Aaron cringed in pain.

("I forgive you.") Lucario said.

"I sealed you in the staff because I knew if I didn't, you would have followed me here and shared my fate." Aaron admits.

("I had to!") "This..this was the only way to stop a pointless war from bringing chaos and destruction on the innocent kingdom; even if it killed me..but I have no regrets. I lived a wonderful life, living in the castle with Lady Rin and you. From day one when you were just starting to use Aura, it was one of the greatest moments I've ever been in. All of the struggles, laughs and perils we faced...together.." Aaron said before Lucario began tearing up. "Thank you Lucario..you've done well my student..no...my friend..."

Were the last words Sir Aaron said before his body disappeared into the crystal we see today.

("Sir Aaron, I was such a fool.") Lucario tears up.

"Lucario." Ash said taking his hand.

("Ash don't worry about me. I'm returning to meet him again, but before I go thank you for being my student...and my friend.") Lucario smiles.

"L-Lucario..." Ash felt tears fall from his face as he no longer felt Lucario as his body went disappeared and turning into an orb of energy that combines with Aaron's energy and floats up to the sky (at the same time causing Aaron's crystal to disappear).

Outside, Brock, May and Max were looking around when May spotted Ash, Red and Kidd exiting the tree.

"Ash!" May calls out.

Looking up Ash smiles seeing May run down to him.

Overcome with joy, Ash runs to May and pulls her into a big hug surprising everyone.

"I thought I'd never see you again." Ash sniffles.

A little blush appeared on her face as May looked at him. "A-Ash are you?"

"May you saved my life. When you risked your life for me I was beyond moved and all I wanted was to save you. You are the most amazing girl I've ever met." Overcome with joy Ash ended up pecking May on the cheek.

"Wha?!" Max drops his jaw in shock.

May's eyes went big as oval shaped as the blush on her face went from small to becoming larger. Ash..of all people she knew..kissed her?! "Um..uh..I..you're..you're w-w-welcome.." May stutters, trying her best to keep it together.

"Well this certainly adds to the list of surprises." Red chuckles.

"I believe these belong to you." Ash said giving her back her Pokeballs.

"Hey where's Lucario?" Max asks looking around.

"He's with Sir Aaron now." Red declares.

The three realized what he meant. "H-he's gone?" May said in disbelief as they look into the sky.

"No..To me he's not gone.." Ash said before holding onto his chest and declared, "Because the Aura is with me."

"Even so you still have a ways to go before you can master your aura." Red said.

"I'll learn." Ash said.

"Even so, these might help." Red said holding out Aaron's gloves.

Smiling Ash takes the gloves and puts them in his bag.

Eventually they returned to the castle but when they arrived they saw the painting of Sir Aaron had Lucario standing alongside him.

"They reunited after all." Ash smiles.

"Pikachu." Pikachu smiled too.

"Ash we are forever grateful for what you and Lucario did." The Queen said walking to them.

"Happy to help your majesty." Ash said.

"I don't suppose we can count on you and your father to be here for next years tournament?" Her maid asks.

"Maybe, but right now I gotta focus on what I was planning to do amyway; Conquering the Battle Frontier." Ash states.

"And I have quite the busy schedule myself. I have to go to Pallet and see your mother." Red said.

"It was great seeing you again dad." Ash smiles.

"You too Ash and remember whether you win or lose just make sure you do your best." Red said.

"But what if my best isn't good enough?" Ash asks.

"It's good enough for me." Red smiles causing Ash to give his dad a big hug. The father grew a smile and hugged his son back.

Soon it was time to say goodbye and needless to say Brock was sadder to say goodbye to Kidd than Ash was to his own father.

As they took the cable car down they waved goodbye to Kidd as she drove away in the Humvee, while Red was flying away in the distance on his Charizard.

As Ash sat down May slow scooted next to him.

After an intense adventure of discovery, reunions, new talents and new feelings Ash and his friends leave to continue on through the Battle Frontier.

The End