*1 hour later
~ Lucario Manor; Realm of Lucina
~ Ryu
"Lucina?"
"Oh Ryu. I haven't seen you in a couple of weeks. You've been neglecting your training. May I ask why?"
"I've been seeing someone. She barely lets me out of her sight."
"Oh a girl. Is she a Lucario or another pokemon?"
"She's a Fennekin."
"A Fennekin. Alright, but you're not really explaining why you haven't been training with me. You do realize you need daily training right grandson?"
"Okay I know there's no excuse. It's just been difficult in my life lately and my declining control of my aura makes me feel even worse. If I feel any at all."
"How long has it been since you felt your aura without struggling?"
"A long while. And I have no idea why."
"Maybe you just need a break. How about we just meditate and practice aura control some other day?"
"Well I've got nothing to lose."
Lucina gave me a forced smile in response and sat on the floor with her legs crossed. I did the same and we quietly sat there not saying a word.
Her aura pulsed from her body throughout the entire room. It was intimidating to just be in her presence.
Meanwhile I struggled to bring out a small flicker.
Why was it so difficult for me?
"Ryu stop thinking negatively and concentrate. Be positive and try to counterattack it."
"Okay."
"I want you to actually do it. I literally feel negative emotions pouring out of you right now."
"Yes Lucina."
"Breathe in and out. Calm and tranquil. Like still undisturbed water. Imagine it in your mind."
She said as she opened her eyes, completely glowing in pure white aura.
I closed my eyes and breathed in and out to relax. The only sound being my heartbeat.
Thump thump Thump thump Thump thump Thump thump Thump thump
Then nothing.
"There you go. And don't worry you're not dead. You're just locked in your aura temporarily. Stay calm and breathe."
It was true I could feel it. All of it. But how do I bring it out?
"Don't think about it Ryu. Just stay calm. That's all you have to do."
I nodded and continued my breathing. My aura slowly flowed through me and I was growing stronger. I stood up and felt powerful.
It was back. For sure this time. I could feel it inside me.
"Lucina look I did it! Lucina?"
I looked at her and she had fallen sideways on the floor.
"A-Are you okay?"
"Yes sorry I'm okay. Don't worry. Anyways, that's great Ryu I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you. Here let me help you up."
I walked over to her and held out a paw. She chuckled and accepted my help up.
"You helping me up brings back memories of the Final War. With my comrades fighting beside me and willing to aid one another in battle no matter the cost."
"Really? Who were they?"
"Ryu don't tell me you don't know the Tale of the Four Champions from the Final War 100 years ago?"
"Well I do know...only some of it. And that you were one of them."
"Let me tell you then. The first two champions were Roman and Emilia. The Flareon and Vaporeon that would never be seen without the other. Soulmates or as history would eventually call them The Lovers."
"Were they powerful?"
"Alone maybe not. But together they were a force to be reckoned with. His flame with her water. An odd opposites balance that somehow melded together like nature itself was in love. Then there was Obsidian. Or The Loyal as history says. The Absol that taught me everything I know about Mega-evolution since he could do it himself. Powerful and completely asexual. And didn't really believe in love unlike the rest of us."
"And finally you."
"Yes. Lucina the might and beautiful. Or The Friendship in history. We all perished forces of a thousand times all four of us together. It's exaggerated when they say I destroyed twice a hundred thousand with a single wave of my aura. Back then we vowed to keep our side, the Celestials safe."
"What was the name of the opposing side?"
"The Remainors. The side that refused to change the old ways and wanted to continue bowing to the will of the humans. The Celestials wanted freedom and independence. While the Remainors wanted to destroy every single Celestial. But that didn't start the war. It was when our superiors betrayed us."
"What did they do?"
"We obeyed the orders of them willingly. It was when we had found out we had unknowingly killed innocent we stopped obeying them. And unable to take that grief, we attacked them all together and destroyed them. That same day the whole world was divided. And the Final War began."
"Lucina that's terrible."
"This tale has a semi-happy ending. We fought every pokemon or human who was truly evil or corrupt and annihilated them for the good of the pokemon. Since there was no sides who it was didn't matter. Including some pokemon who we originally thought were our friends. It was horrible but it had to be done. For months pokemon fighting pokemon or humans and vice versa, those were dark times and we never expected what would happen next. Eventually the humans had enough of the fighting and committed the ultimate genocide. The humans launched nuclear bombs attacking cities, forests, and civilizations. Many lives were lost and we all gave our lives to protect the few pokemon that were left. As a last resort we called for the aid of the legendaries who are now gods and angels and they made us powerful but it was not enough to keep ourselves alive. Roman and Emilia died together and Obsidian soon followed. And I died protecting my mate and newborn hatchling. The gods gave us our power and after we all died they finished the war. In the afterlife, I made an agreement with Mew to have my soul left in a temple of worship, to one day train my worthy descendant for the God's Tournament. The rest of the champions families were compensated and honored by the gods for our bravery and perseverance to defend those worth defending and fight for what was right. The Lucario family grew and we expanded our wealth. While the remaining champions families were selfish and their names became a mere memory. And to apologize to the gods they made temples of worship for Roman, Emilia, and Obsidian. The Gods Tournament was created as a reminder that without their help the world you live in now would not exist and so they could pay back for their selfishness. As for my friends I have no idea where their temples are but I can just say I really miss them."
Lucina turned to me with tears coming down her face. I felt ashamed and I know that the rest of the world should be too.
"I'm sorry I don't know what to say to you."
"Say nothing. Come on let's get back to training."
Before she could say or do anything else I hugged her tightly trying my best to fight the tears in my eyes.
I just wanted my century grandmother to know her sacrifice was not in vain or just provide comfort or I don't know. She seemed to understand and she held me back for a few minutes before we resumed our training.