The Castle's Guardian

Red sat in the metal chair with a bored expression plastered on his face. From his seat, he watched his friend Leaf walked across the lab to fetch the notepad on the desk. She flipped through the notepad scanning for the information she was looking for.

Red let out a rude yawn as he shifted his attention to the aides that were in Professor Oak's lab. All too engrossed in their work to even pay little attention to the teenage boy loitering in the lab. They didn't even seem to mind that a child was bored in a laboratory that belonged to the most renowned scientist in the entire world.

Red fidgeted in his chair. He has done nothing in the past week besides the little training he did in the forest. Emily left a few days ago to finish collecting the badges she needed to enter the Indigo League. He wanted to go but he wanted to stay with his mother for awhile since he didn't want her to deal with such a drastic event by herself. He convinced Emily to continue as he stay back to take care of things.

He showed his mother to her suite in Vermilion City and overlooked the reconstruction of the house for a few hours a day. He came to the lab when he got bored just to visit Leaf, but she was always too busy that she sometimes only greets him and leaves him.

"Pardon me, but do you happen to be Red?"

Red woke up from his daydreaming. One of Professor's Oak assistants had approached him without him noticing. She was brunette woman who looked like she was in her late twenties. She held wooden clipboard close to her body with one arms and a worn out pen in the other.

Red looked up to the brown eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses. "Yes, that is me."

"Great, because Professor Oak wishes to see you in his office. Please don't waste his valuable time," it sounded as if took every cell in her to not insult the insignificant boy occupying space. She marched off in a snotty fashion.

Red saw this as the highlight of his day so far and left for Oak's office. He entered the old man's office to find him at his desk examining a normal looking rock under a magnifying glass held up by a metal stand.

Oak glanced up from his research to greet Red.

"Ah Red, it seems your loitering has finally paid off," Oak scoffed.

Red forcefully chuckled. "I thought one of these days you might need my assistance for something."

"Well, today is the day I require assistance that only you can provide," the top Pokemon researcher said.

"What is that you need?" Red asked now intrigued.

Professor Oak slid the rock sample on his desk to Red as well as his observation tool.

"Take a good look."

Red examined the rock through the glass able to see the tiny specks that made up the rock. He searched for something that might seem out of the ordinary for the Professor wouldn't have given it to him if it was difficult to find.

"Is it…these sparkling green gems?" Red said noticing emerald colored specks that shined in the light.

Oak nodded. "I ran some tests on these minerals to found out they give off this special energy that similar to evolutionary stones. These energy signatures are different from the other evolution stones that have been previously discovered."

Red pushed the sample back to Oak. "Where did you exactly find this rock specimen?"

"One of my aides followed an abnormal energy signature that has appeared in Pallet Forest which led him to find this remarkable rock," he explained.

"So you are telling me that there could be more of this "special energy" in the forest close to here?"

"Of course, and there might even be a stone made of pure energy," the old man sounded more excited by the second. "If we can get a hold of pure stone, it might provide some more information on the mystery behind the power evolution emits."

Red recline into his chair. "I now see what you want from me. My Dragon Pokemon has that special ability to track down evolution stones."

"Spot on boy," Oak said. "That is if you don't mind…"

"I have nothing better to do so-"

"Excellent! I need you to go to the old castle in the forest-"

"Wait a minute!" Red interjected astonished. "There is a castle in the forest!?"

Oak blinked in disbelief. "Yes, the abandoned castle that has been in the forest for hundreds of years."

"Hundreds of years! Until now I'm told about an ancient medieval building is close to where I have lived since my birth!" Red exclaimed.

"That' strange. I was under the assumption that everyone in Pallet Town knew about the castle has been owned by the Lannister family in the old ages," Oak remarked.

"Well, my mother didn't tell me anything about such a place existing," Red said believing everything he knew was a lie.

"It doesn't matter now," the Professor said. "It's just an old stone brick building that is completely empty besides the wildlife that taken back the place. Abandoned but if your search leads you to the castle, be wary of the wild Pokemon that lurk in there."

Red stood up from his chairs. "I think it's time I pay this abandoned castle a visit for the first time. I'll return with that stone for you even if it takes me a whole year."

"That's the spirit," Professor Oak said as Red walked out the door. "Strange that he didn't know of the place since it's the only thing that kept Pallet Town on the map." He muttered as he continued on his activities.


Red brushed off the branches to find himself in the presence of an ancient medial castle larger than he could imagine it to be in his dreams. It was amazing to find such a structure in the middle of a forest but the damage it has received over the years has diminished the castle to broken down walls.

The castle still reached about three stories but the tear downed towers show signs of it once being taller.

He went around to reach the wide entrance that lead into the castle. There wasn't any wall that should have been around it to protect it from intruders in the past. The side was overgrown with vines and kudos plants. He looked up to the high towers that he believed to have probably housed royal blood.

"Time to search for that rare stone," Red muttered throwing his Pokeball in the air.

Gabite looked to the castle that lay before him, awe stricken. He licked his chomps approaching the cobble stone brick walls.

"Don't even think of trying to gnaw on those bricks," Red sternly said. "One bite might bring this place down. So don't go sinking your teeth into the walls."

Gabite sighed bringing his head down. –"My jaw still hurts from that rolling rock. I want to chew on something to soothe the pain."- He rubbed his jaw remembering the painful event.

Red placed his hands into his pockets. "Don't worry, I got something that will satisfy your chewing needs."

Gabite straightened up, looking cheerful again. –"What is it? What is it! What is it!"- He hopped up and down like a small child. He bent low to sniff Red's pockets.

"I don't have it yet," Red broke the news to him. Gabite whimpered. "But I know where to get it."

Gabite perked up. All ears…or the appendages on his head were paying close attention.

"There is this special stone around this area that gives off this unique power," Red began to explain. "With your ability, I'm sure you we can find that special stone."

Gabite twitched his head. –"The one that makes my body tingle? I sense it all over the place."- He searched the surrounding area feeling the strange power everywhere but in small quantities.

Red noticed his confused expression. That's when it hit him "Of sorry, I meant this stone has a large energy force. Don't mind the smaller energy you feel around you but focus on the big one that catches your attention."

Gabite nodded. He crouched down low swiping his head from side to side with his eyes closed. He concentrated on the energy forces that gathered around him. A swift gust blew through him. His eyes shot right open. His appendages trembled as if they were receiving signal from some unknown force.

Red noticed him tense up. He got it!

Gabite turned around to the castle's entrance. He darted inside without warning.

And it's the castle! Red thought surprised.

"Hey wait up Gabite!" Red ran after him. He ran into the courtyard of the castle. He saw Gabite paused in the middle before turning to right heading to an open door.

"Gabite, be careful! We don't know what parts of this place is still stable!" Red cautioned. Gabite jumped over a pile of fallen rubble disappearing into the building. Red followed entering into what would be considered a kitchen. A blue tail disappeared up the stairway.

"Dammit, Gabite. Slow down!" He saw the stairway looked somewhat unstable due to it missing a few bricks but if Gabite made it without bringing it down then he could as well. He went up the stairway that spiraled its way to the second floor.

He nearly bumped into Gabite when he reached to the top. He entered the hallway that lead into two different directions. Red saw the path on his right had part of the floor missing. The gap was at least three meters wide.

"Let's go the other way," Red said taking the left.

Gabite didn't listen and sprinted to the broken path. He sped up approaching the edge before doing a mighty leap over the gap in the floor.

"Gabite, stop this instance!" Red harshly yelled.

-"Hmm?"- Gabite came out of his tracking mode to look back. –"What's the matter?"-

He pointed to the gaping hole in the floor. "I won't be able to jump that, Gabite. I could get seriously hurt." He gestured him to come back. "Unless I get bionic legs, we are going to have to find another way around."

Gabite clocked his head as if he didn't understand. He observed the missing chunk and noticed the pile of old stone under it. –"You can't jump?...Then I will help you clear it."- He looked up to the ceiling three meters high.

Red saw the fire building up in Gabite's jaw. "Wait, Gabit-"

Gabite destroyed the ceiling with Dragon Rage. It felt like he was destroying the entire building as it shock violently from the blast. His trainer jumped back afraid to bit clunked on the head by a falling brick. Gabite coughed after finishing. Dust that was kicked up went into lungs.

"Have you lost it!" Red coughed. He looked up the new skylight his Pokemon made. Light poured into the hallway to help Red see the damage. He looked back at the hole to see that it was filled with rubble.

-"Come on! Onwards to tasty rock!"- Gabite joyfully said.

Red gave his Pokemon a confident smile. "Just warn me next time when you are about to blow stuff apart," Red said. He jumped onto the shaky pathway Gabite made. It gave him a closer footing to jump onto the other side of the hallway.

Gabite turned heads to continue the search. He turned around the corner to continue. He held his head high looking straight ahead to focus on his goal.

Red looked through the window slits building into the wall as they ran. He noticed a large room that could fit an entire village inside. He saw small strips of cloth at the far side of the room over small raised platform with a wide stairway leading to it.

That must be a king's throne, Red thought. He didn't have time to admire it when his Gabite did another sharp turn. This time into another set of stairway. Red was more wary of these stairs when they made a creak sound under his foot. He sped up the steps hoping to avoid a terrible fall. He arrived at another hallway lit by the light that peered through the cracks of the old stone wall.

This hallway was littered with many doorways that lead to different rooms. He saw Gabite standing in front of one doorway. Red approached him peering into the place.

The room was a meter wider than his own room he once had. The place was, however, completely bare. The floor was made of aged wood to Red's surprise. The floor creaked under his weight as walked into it, Gabite in close pursuit. A window led to a balcony that he could use to see the top of trees.

Red ran a hand across the bare gray walls hoping the stone will be in the structure itself. He wiped the sweat of his brow, fixed his cap and then faced Gabite.

"Why did you lead me her?" Red asked. He looked around but found nothing significant about the place. It was just an empty, abandoned room from medieval times.

-"Strange…I could have sworn I felt it come from here,"- Gabite muttered. He tried to sense the stone again.

Red heard rustle behind him. He turned just into to see a green cloak fall from the ceiling. He realized in a split second that a person was actually inside the cloak. Two hands poked out from it and raised large brass rod above his head. Red caught glimpse of a spherical device at the end of it before he held up his arms to defend himself.

Gabite rushed to his trainer's aide. He jumped in front the mysterious person and raised his scythe like arms. Metal and scales clashed in the room. Gabite held them up to stop the staff from going any further. He eyed the green sphere at the end seeing it glint in the light.

Red lowered his arms to take a good look at his attacker. The hood came off during the assault helping Red see it was an elderly man who looked like he was in his fifties. Silver hair brushed to the back looking as smooth as chrome. Gray hair outlined his defined jaw and met with his mustache. Blue eyes that resembled refined sapphire locked with Red's. His black gloved hands trembled as he pushed his weapon down on Gabite.

Gabite formed a Dragon Claw to strike back. He didn't notice the second figure that attacked from the shadows. A jackal-like Pokemon jump kicked Gabite right in the face. He knocked him straight into the wall stunning him for awhile.

The accomplice turned to Red, sent him a fierce stare with his deep red eyes, and raised a paw donned with a thick, sharp spike. Its eyes flashed blue which sent a strong telekinesis push to Red. The boy was sent flying into the wall.

-"Don't hurt him!"- Gabite lunged at the psychic user. The strong Pokemon vanished in the blink of an eye. He appeared behind to grab him around the neck and placed him in a strong headlock.

-"You seem to be adept at using biting moves. I will disable you while I can,"- the jack Pokemon said in a monotone voice.

"Lucario, let's not take it that far," the assailant said in a deep, silvery voice. "I want to make sure of something first."

-"As you say,"- Lucario muttered lessening his grip. He pushed him onto the ground to stop him from squirming as he placed his weight on him.

The old man approached Red who was rubbing his head hoping he didn't get a concussion from the hit. He paused to stare at the boy.

"What is that you want with me old man?" Red asked without respect. He received no response. "Or do you just attack travelers to steal their stuff? Answer me!"

He doesn't look like the one…the elderly man thought observing the boy. His wise eyes stared into Red's.

"Stop with the staring, its creeping me out," Red barked getting up. "And let go of my Gabite!"

And he has such a rude attitude. A calm, composed character must be required but…this boy is the opposite. Still, I can only make sure in one way…The stranger raised a hand.

"What…are you doing?" Red witnessed the man's hand glow bright blue. He couldn't believe his eye when he saw him produced a small sphere the size of an egg with the same glow as his palm. The orb looked alive as it expanded and shrunk like a beating heart.

"Catch!" He surprised Red by throwing the strange power to him.

"Gahh!" Red used his reflexes to cover his face with one arm and used the second to try and catch the ball of energy. He felt it touch his hand and he, on instincts, closed his hand. He felt it erupt in his hand sending pain throughout his hand.

"Shit!" Red recoiled shaking his hand. He turned it over ready to see bleeding and probably some bone sticking out. To his utter surprise, it looked completely fine.

The old, yet powerful stranger took interest in Red's hand. He saw it was unharmed as well, heightening his interest.

"You passed the first test," he muttered loud enough for Red. But it he really the one?

"Lucario, it's your turn." His voice clearly rang.

"Right!" he carelessly threw Gabite into the wall. It knocked him out for awhile.

Red backed away still holding his as he tried make sense what just happened. He took his last step when his back touched the wall. He saw he couldn't run anywhere as the doorway was blocked by the powerful man. Lucario eyed Red as he cupped his hands.

"Forgive me, young man, but your death will be for a noble cause," the man said in a gentle voice sounding a bit sad.

Red eyes widen when Lucario formed a larger sphere similar to his master's but it radiated with more power. Red held his arms in front of him, eyes clenched, and prayed for his safety. He apologized to his Gabite for not being bringing him into this.

The snapping noise sounded before Red felt the sphere hit him. He doubled over in pain and collapsed on the ground, writhing. The energy consumed him and felt it travel throughout his body. The pain was nothing he ever experience before. His eyesight darkened and his mind went black.

"Sorry Gabite," he whispered for blacking out.


Red felt powerful waves were going through his body. As if he was at a concert and the powerful bass was shaking his insides. The waves weren't painful but pleasurable. Each time a wave passed through his body he felt better each time.

"Grr…" Red groaned as he began to wake up. He could fee again and felt cold stone touching his face.

"He is coming too, Lucario. Leave him be and his body with heal itself," the familiar clear voice announced.

Red felt some pressure lifted off his body and the energy pulsing through his body stopped. He now felt coldness as if winter has taken over his body. He finally opened his eyes. He found himself lying on the floor.

Red looked up to see throne in front of him. The man in the green cloak was above him looking down on him.

"Wah!" Red yelled rolling back.

-"He looks fine to me,"- Lucario remarked standing behind his trainer.

"Wh-where is Gabite?" Red asked. He got to the edge of the throne platform.

The mysterious man got up from the throne, staff in hand. He approached Red and raised his metal staff. Red flinched in response.

"Your Dragon companion is resting over there," he said.

Red followed his brass staff to find his Gabite lying on the steps of the place. He didn't look hurt and seemed to be sleeping peacefully. He was curled up like a lazy cat smiling in his dreams. Some drool dripped out of his mouth.

Red breath out a sigh of relief. He returned his attention to the old man. He didn't seem to cause him any harm now but he could be deceiving him.

"Now, what do you want with me?" Red questioned him as he got up. The man remained silent, staring at him. "I asked you a question." He said more forcefully.

Red backed off seeing Lucario give him a death glare. He reached to his belt ready to get a Pokeball if a battle arises. He looked between the man and Lucario wanting them to do the first move.

The old man finally moved by letting out an exhausted sigh as he rubbed his forehead. "I just still can believe it. You are the child we have been looking for," he said in a disappointed tone.

"The child you been looking for?" Red said in question.

"Yes, you are the child from the prophecy," the strange trainer told him.

Red looked perplexed. "Wait, a prophecy foretold about me?"

"I'm afraid so," he replied in disapproval.

"Woah, woah! I'm sure you got the wrong guy," Red shook his head. "This is some mistake. Maybe the kid of your tale is in another castle."

"I'm one hundred percent sure you are him," he remarked.

"How are so sure?" Red retorted.

"Because you passed the two tests I put you through," he explained. "I have given you the test of an Aura Guardian."

"Aura Guardian?" the word clicked in Red's head. "Wait, you mean I'm a legendary Aura Guardian that have disappeared since hundreds of years? When did you test me for this?"

The man, whom Red saw as completely of his wits, snapped his fingers. He was able to form another blue sphere in the palm of his hand and held it out to Red to see. "This is an Aura Sphere that we Aura Guardians can create. This one is specially made with a weaker structure than usual to easier disperse on contact. A normal human being will just be blasted away by the explosion, but an Aura Guardian will have the natural ability to absorb such weak, unstable Aura."

Red snapped out of his trance when the Aura Guardian closed his hand to reabsorb the energy back into his body. He didn't know how he felt about the situation. On one hand he met a real life Aura Guardian but on the other hand he has been confirmed to be an Aura Guardian.

I can probably do that as well! Maybe, some events in my happen because of my hidden power…like when the cookie jar fell from the counter when I was young! Red began to make outrageous conclusions from his new found knowledge of himself.

Red looked up to the elderly man. "If you confirmed that I was an Aura Guardian, why did you get your Lucario to attack me?" Red pointed at the Aura Pokemon who scoffed at his question.

"Simple. I need him to make sure you were the boy the prophecy spoke of," he bluntly answered.

"So, you attacked a defenseless boy who came into this castle just to look around!" Red accused.

"It was highly likely that an Aura Guardian will come to this place," he said defensively sounding harsher.

Red went up to the Aura Guardian almost reaching to his height. "How can you be so sure, Mr. Guardian?" he jabbed a finger into the built man's shoulder.

He whacked Red on the head with his staff earning him a yelp. He shoved the sphere on his staff into pained boy's face. "This is the Guardian's Crystal." On command, the grapefruit size orb came to life with a bright green glow. It looked like it contained a small cloud inside that moved around as energy radiated from it.

"This crystal releases Aura energy that only Aura users can pick up. Rocks containing the same substance as this, but in smaller chunks, will absorb some of this aura. It stores it to release it over the course of time." He turned off his staff to use it like it should be used besides hitting rude children on the head.

-"I sense!"- Gabite jumped wide awake. He looked up to the throne to see Aura Guardian close to his trainer. –"Get away from him!"- he growled.

Red needed to calm him down before Gabite could get hurt like last time. "Gabite, don't attack. Don't move and stay calm," Red reassured him. "It's all good now."

Gabite gave the old man a strange look as to show he will be paying close attention. –"You will not hurt him, and that shiny stick will be mine."- he said back.

Disregarding the threats, the old man approached Red with a softer tone. "I have finally found you young Aura Guardian. We must not waste daylight." His cloak fluttered behind him when turned around to walk down the stairs. Lucario steadily walked behind him.

"Wait! What do you want from me?" Red asked not willing to follow him yet.

"Your questions are as countless as the scales on a Dragonair," he stopped to say. Though, I don't blame you. I understand that you are quite confused by the sudden events, he thought to himself. "I am here to train you in the way of the ancient Aura Guardians."

"Train me?" Red didn't think he was going to receive such training. "Why are you going to train me? What will the purpose be?"

The guardian grounded the staff into the stone floor. "Because you are the boy of the prophecy. I am the only one who can train you."

Red slowly descended down the stairs. "What prophecy do you speak of?" He stopped by Gabite. He petted on his head to tranquil him and to thank him from before.

The Aura Guardian turned back to Red. He tilted his head to directly face Red as he scanned his face. "There is the prophecy that was foretold by a great Aura Guardian. He saw that in the future a powerful, destructive force will appear who will bring chaos onto this world. The world will be thrown into an era of despair and destruction if it weren't for an Aura Guardian that stood in its way. He prophesied that you will be the one to save this place."

Red took a moment to absorb all what the wise Aura Guardian said. "But are you really sure that I'm the boy you're looking for?"

"Do you recall the Aura Sphere had my Lucario use?"

"Yes, I recall all too well." He replied rubbing his arm.

"The reason I had him used that because any normal Aura Guardian without any proper training would have absorbed the unstable energy, but their body wouldn't have been able to contain such immense power. I was testing for a certain bloodline that could handle that amount of power," he explained.

"And what Bloodline were you testing for that is in the prophecy?" Red asked.

The old man smiled for the first time looking vibrant and alive. "Will you become my disciple, descendant of Sir Pallet?"

Red's jaw nearly fell open. He was not at all prepared for this, yet something inside him stirred. Was it excitement, anxiety, or fear? No, he felt pride. He knew what he had to do now.

"I accept!"