Ash's Realization

by SuperPokeGal123

AU. After the Kalos League, Ash learns things about himself and his abilities after finding out he is linked with someone of his past. Strangely, he doesn't remember her and aspires to figure out what's wrong with his life. Over time, his power increases and... so does his problems. Deviates from anime as lore is revealed. Read and you'll understand. Amourshipping. Aura Ash.

16. Shattered

A/N: Hello, my lovely readers. Welcome to the latest update to the story. Last chapter... let's just say archnemeses are amazingly antipathic. Let's see what happens.

Disclaimer: Same as previous chapters. Pokemon is not mine; I am merely using it for entertainment purposes and for a reader's delight. The story itself is owned by me.

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"Why does the mind do such things? Turn on us, rend us, dig the claws in. If you get hungry enough, they say, you start eating your own heart. Maybe it's much the same."- Margaret Atwood

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Chapter 15: Shattered

Charles looked heavily exhausted, but he was intent on finishing off the weakened guardian. Aurora looked up at him weakly. Charles had a vicious and crazed look in his eyes. He raised her high in the air with his psychic grip and narrowed his eyes. Aurora held her neck with her hands tightly as her air was suddenly fleeting. Aurora could feel herself losing consciousness. She could only shed a single tear before her eyes began to waver even more. She did not have any more air remaining. Her eyes quivered shut completely. While in the air, all of her Poke Balls were rumbling even more fiercely than before. Eventually, one of her partners was released and tackled the aged psychic immediately.

The tackle was enough for Charles's grip to subside. Aurora fell on the ground roughly, but her eyes were closed and she wasn't moving. Charles looked enraged and moved in to finish what he started. However, before he was able to, the Pokémon blocked him from her trainer. Charles was very shocked, but wasn't going to let any Pokémon get in his way. Charles brought his hand out and attempted to force the Pokémon back into her Poke Ball. She shot a line of fire at the old man in retaliation. Charles had his hands up and created a force field in front of him. Upon the fireball making contact, the shield broke. Charles stepped back in awe.

"I can't believe her Charizard came out on its own. Get back in your Poke Ball!" Charles growled. He brought both of his hands forward and Chari felt his will being exerted onto her. Her body began to glow red in response to the unnatural beckoning call of her ball. Her form wavered as she fought to stay outside her capsule. She closed her eyes and tried to fight off his effect, moving her head at a weird angle. She snarled loudly and opened her eyes again. Her red eyes were intense and her pupils were narrowed. The blue flame on her tail grew very large and tall and was flowing intensely. Much to the aged psychic's dismay, Chari charged up a fire attack in her mouth. He tried to press his will on her further, but the Charizard was not deterred. With a loud roar, she shot an incredibly powerful line of fire at Charles.

Charles had to roll out of the way to dodge. The fire missed his body by a hair, but his beard was not spared. His beard was flame-tinged. Chari could feel his concentration slipping and pressure of his will lessened. Her form stabilized completely. With large flaps of her wings, she created a gale strong enough to push Charles onto the ground. He tried to hold onto something to keep him from moving, but the Charizard's wind was too strong. Chari raised the intensity by engulfing her body with white-hot flames. When she charged at the human, the flames changed to be a very bright blue. It was blinding to anyone seeing it, including Charles. Charles closed his eyes and teleported away from the fire.

Chari stopped in place while cloaked in fire. She flapped her wings and expanded the heat emanating from her. It was enough to make Charles sweat in seconds. He panted as the heat began to get to him. Combined with the fact that he was exhausted from his previous scuffle with Aurora, the fire affected him more than normal. He looked up at the Pokémon making the unbearable heat with a hateful glare. Chari glared right back.

"Stupid… Charizard! How the hell… did you break through my power?" He panted in fatigue. Like other experienced psychics and guardians, he could understand Pokélanguage perfectly.

"(She's weakened you enough to where I can break out from your influence. I will not allow you suppress my bond with my sister any longer. My connection with her is too intimate for anyone to comprehend but her. I will always be her Strength… through life… or death. Burn in the Distortion World, you despicable bastard!)" Chari swooped down to collide with the weakened psychic.

Each time she came close, Charles teleported out of the way. He knew he couldn't keep up with Chari's steam for too long. His face was beading with sweat and he was trembling with fatigue. On the last time he teleported away, he took out a Poke Ball and threw it. Out came a primarily white and green Pokémon with long legs and piercing red eyes.

"You won't take me! Gallade! This Charizard is picking a fight with the wrong psychic! Use Stone Edge and shoot her down!" Charles commanded. The psychic and fighting type summoned stones to surround him. Then he shot them directly at the draconian. Chari didn't make any attempt in dodging the rocks. She growled as her body became engulfed in flames. Immediately when they came near her, the rocks melted away. Chari ferociously smashed into Gallade. Gallade did not take the attack well at all. Almost instant was the result: Gallade was blown back brutally. The psychic type barely looked like he could stand up. Charles had his mouth open in shock. Chari landed on the ground, shooting a line of fire in the air triumphantly.

"Damn! Seeing it up close when it isn't holding back is terrifying. I've got to get out of here before this Charizard roasts me." Charles growled in his thoughts. As much as he wanted to show his belligerence against the Charizard, he knew he couldn't take her on at his current strength. Chari's body once again became consumed with flames as she set her sights on the old man himself.

"Your trainer is dead, stupid lizard. There's no point in attacking me now." Charles taunted with a smirk. A palpable roar of pain could be heard from the Pokémon. Charles smirked as he backed away slowly from the enraged fire type and towards his Pokémon. With a flap of her imposing wings, she launched herself to strike the old man.

Chari's eyes twitched from within the flames. If it was possible to make her flames hotter, it happened. She roared loudly, "(DIE!)"

"Gallade, teleport us outta here!" Charles said in a rush. Gallade smirked deviously at the Charizard before teleporting away instantly. Chari stopped her attack once she realized the duo vanished, roared furiously, and slammed her tail on the ground in outrage. Her eyes returned to normal and her tail flame reduced in size. Her anger morphed into worry as she tended to Aurora's limp body. She checked if she was breathing. She couldn't feel anything... not even a heartbeat. Chari was shaking her head in disbelief. She constantly muttered aloud, "(No… Please... No...)"

Chari was frozen at her spot. She was having flashbacks of seeing Aurora like this. Her trainer looked exactly like this when Chari found her on the Viridian Forest floor on that infamous day nine years ago. She hadn't been breathing... and her scent reeked of the wretched man the lizard now sought to destroy. Chari was trembling, struggling not to break down and cry. Chari looked around for anything she could use to help Aurora. Chari didn't know what to do to help her... at least until she remembered Aurora's bag. With renewed hope and vigor, she melted her away from her spot and sat by Aurora.

Every time she looked at Aurora, she had a cold shiver down her spine that grew colder the longer nothing was done. Aurora's feeling of warmth and love was fading fast... and she couldn't feel Aurora's bond with her. It was a horrible feeling. Chari felt as if she was dying herself. Despite having a shiver down her spine, Chari quickly rummaged through Aurora's pouch and released her comrades from their capsules.

The rest of the partners immediately came out, ready to fight. However, they quickly realized there was nothing left to fight. They noticed their trainer in a comatose state. They all were in a state of shock and fear, but quickly shook it off the best they could. They all focused their efforts on healing her. Rio quickly sat by Aurora and held out his paws. He began to use Heal Pulse as furiously as he could. The rest of the partners scattered to see if they could find any more berries in the area.

---

Chari flew up in the air to see if she could spot Happy. Within a few minutes, she noticed Happy scurrying the streets of the city, trying to return to the Pokémon Center. Happy chirped with a mix of excitement and distress when she noticed the Charizard in the sky. Chari landed on the ground and smiled sadly. They both were in a relatively empty alley.

"(I sense Aurora's aura is incredibly low… almost non-existant. Is she in danger?)" Happy asked urgently.

"(Charles... decided to make a surprise visit.)" Chari grumbled through her fangs. Happy widened her eyes.

"(What?!)" Happy didn't hide her surprise. She thought about the two shady men she'd encountered today and scowled. If she knew Charles plotted Aurora's death, she would have run back to her immediately. She was kicking herself for not acting on her abject feelings instantly.

"(I'll explain as I'm flying there. We need your help. She's…)" Chari turned her head from Happy and closed her eyes. Happy got the message.

"(I see. I'll try my best.)" Happy nodded with conviction. She hopped on Chari's back and the duo flew back to the Pokémon Center. On the way there, Chari explained what happened as quickly as she could. Happy said nothing and nodded grimly.

---

When the duo returned to the back of the center, they noticed Rio was still hard at work and there was a growing pile of berries behind him. Happy jumped on Chari's head and leaped right to where Aurora and Rio was. Happy touched her feelers over her head. A small star twinkled in the sky and Aurora's body began to glow vigorously. Chari sat down right beside her trainer, looking at her with concern. She placed her head right near Aurora's head. She nuzzled her trainer as softly as she could. She crooned softly with sadness.

Rio and Happy had never seen Chari like this before. Although they would never admit it, they considered Chari as the de-facto leader of Aurora's Aspects. They looked to her for guidance and strength. Seeing how Chari was not doing anything else was demoralizing to both of them. As they could sense each other's distress, Chari decided to try her best to look strong. Chari gave Aurora a small kiss on her cheek and got up. She looked up at the sky and at nothing in particular. Her claws were smoking.

"(He will pay...)" Chari growled under her breath. Each word she spoke released unintentional blue embers. Chari never released her fire without any control unless she was livid. Her eyes changed into dragon-like slits as she rumbled, "(I'll make sure he'll burn in the deepest pits of hell the next time I see him.)"

"(Chari…)" Happy murmured softly.

"(If I had come out earlier… none of this would have happened. I could have saved her. I failed her… I wasn't strong enough to break through his will until he was too weak.)" Chari growled at herself, but Happy interrupted her.

"(Hey, this isn't your fault. Don't be too hard on yourself.)" Happy said as soothingly as she could.

"(I almost had that old prune. I literally had him sweltering in my heat. If I had been faster with Flare Blitz… Aurora wouldn't have to worry about him. Now she's… she's... GRAHHH!)" Chari couldn't finish her own statement. Chari roared with rage. She created a great line of fire in fury. It illuminated the sky harshly.

"(Don't say that, Chari. You got us out of our balls in time. She still has a bit of aura left. As long as you still have a spark of life in you, you can make it. We'll make sure she'll make it.)" Rio said while concentrating on Aurora. Due to the combined efforts of the Lucario and Sylveon, Aurora began to breathe once again, but her breaths were slow and she was still unconscious. They could all sense her aura levels rising again. Everyone widened their eyes and sighed with relief. Her eyes returned to normal upon hearing this and she could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She immediately blinked them away. Not wanting to stand there uselessly, Chari began to slice the small pile of berries with her now cooled down claws.

Chi-Chi and Suzie suddenly teleported to the back of the Pokémon Center while and Kairyu flew down from above a few moments later. They all returned to the Pokémon Center with various berries in their clutches. They had Razz Berries, Sitrus Berries, and Oran Berries. Even Kaiyu had some Oran Berries in his mouth. They increased the size of the pile. Chari continued to slice up the berries with her claws. Chi-Chi helped her with the effort while Kairyu decided to see what he could do for Aurora. He used his ability to create auroras to help keep Aurora's body calm and made it easier for Happy and Rio to aid her. Suzie took the shape of Aurora's body and entered the Pokémon Center, heading toward the kitchen.

As Chari sliced more berries, she asked, "(Where did you find all these?)"

"(Once Kairyu was able to sense some berries, we had to go to the Berry Fields from off this city with some fancy palace in it. Although the owner was surprised to see us, he didn't mind letting us take some of his berries. We did look pretty distressed.)" Chi-Chi told her.

"(Nice man. I wish we could give him our thanks…)" Chari said slightly gloomily.

It was in this time Suzie returned with a mortar and pestle in her hands. She also had a spoon and some natural herbs she sniffed out in the kitchen. She changed back to how she originally looked and placed the pestle near the berries. Chi-Chi and Chari placed all the sliced Oran, Sitrus and Razz Berries in the mortar. Rio stopped using Heal Pulse on Aurora and grabbed the mortar and pestle. He began to grind the berries into a soft mush. Once the berries were properly grinded, Chi-Chi used Psychic to make the bowl airborne. With a small breath, Kairyu and Suzie used a weaker version of Flamethrower to heat up the bowl. Once the bowl was warm, Chi-Chi directed the bowl over to Chari.

The Charizard sat down and fed Aurora the now liquid-like berries with the spoon. It was an arduous task for a Pokémon of her size, but she managed to. Aurora slowly drank some of the Pokémon-made medicine. All six party members waited with anticipation. Aurora coughed slightly from the unexpected spiciness of the concoction, but then, her hands started to glow yellow. She slowly opened her eyes and noticed six worried faces looking down at her.

Aurora sat up and held her head groggily. She was surprised when Chari gave her a huge lick on her face. She giggled softly and caressed the fire type's snout. The rest of the partners got close to her and snuggled against her. Suzie shifted her body into looking like a Zorua, so both Happy and Suzie was on her lap. Kairyu wrapped his body around Aurora, leaving some space. Chi-Chi and Rio simply settled on being on either side of Aurora and Chari held down her neck. Aurora found herself getting overwhelmed, but she was thankful she could see her partners. She enjoyed being in their company.

"I… I legitimately thought I was gone this time…" Aurora said with tears in her eyes. Her hands were trembling. "I'm indebted to all of you…"

"(Easy there… Aurora.)" Suzie said gently. They noticed that they were speaking in their regular Pokélanguage, which surprised everyone. Aurora purposely wasn't letting them speak aloud. They guessed she just wanted to hear them in their natural voices after what had transpired.

"(Besides… you should be thanking Chari. She managed to drive Charles away before he could kill you.)" Rio noted.

"I don't know what to say… other than the fact that I feel blessed." Aurora said with a humble smile.

"(I may have driven him out, but I didn't save you alone. We all pitched in.)" Chari grinned, poking out one of her fangs. All of her Pokémon were beaming at her with grins on their faces. Aurora picked up the mini bowl and continued to drink up the medicine her partners made for her. She seemed to enjoy it.

Between slurps, she said, "Mmm… where did… you guys learn to… make this? In fact, where… did you even get… these materials?"

Suzie snickered and jumped off of Aurora's lap. Closing her eyes, she changed her body shape once again. She grew taller, her hair grew darker, and she adopted clothes. Aurora gasped when she was gazing at the now human Suzie. She looked exactly like Aurora. Aurora widened her eyes slightly, then began to smile. She giggled upon seeing the illusionary fox turned into her.

"(I decided to use your likeness to get some supplies in the kitchen. You've made a similar herbal medicine when one of us was sick or weakened. We figured we could help you just as you've helped us. Thank Arceus that it worked.)" Suzie answered.

"Wow… I'm impressed with all of you." Aurora whistled with a compliment. She attempted to stand up, but all of her partners immediately responded and sat her down.

"(Even though we managed to revive you, it seems you and Charles injured one another pretty badly. Some of your lacerations will need you to rest for the rest of the afternoon. That large cut on your arm would normally take a few days for you to heal if you were by yourself, but if Happy and I heal hard and fast enough, I think it will only be reduced to being only being sore by nightfall. I know you don't want Ash to see you banged up, do you?)" Rio said.

"I definitely don't want him to know about this encounter with Charles. I don't want him to worry about anything other than getting home." Aurora replied immediately. She looked down at her Aspect of Emotion, "Happy, you stopped the two thugs trying to get Ash?"

"(Yep. Pikachu joined in the effort. It was pretty fun to trick them.)" Happy snickered and began to wag her tail.

"Really? Pikachu helped? You two managed to save all of us by doing that, friend. Thank you." Aurora beamed in appreciation.

"(Don't make me blush…)" Happy giggled and rubbed her behind her head with one of her feelers. Suddenly, Chari lifted Aurora above the ground. She carried her bridal style. The fire type had a firm grip, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Suzie took out a blanket from Aurora's pouch. Aurora's eyes demanded an explanation.

"(We need you to rest. If you don't want Ash to know about this, you'll need to do as we say.)" Chari stated authoritatively. Aurora found herself interested in what Chari was planning. "(Suzie, take Aurora's place as she rests up. If you see any of the kids… you know what to do.)"

"They won't even know a thing. Illusions are my specialty." Suzie said in Aurora's voice. The trainer found herself impressed with the authenticity of it, but Suzie had a hard time syncing the voice with her telepathy. She hadn't spoken aloud like this in a long time. She practiced until the echo in her voice dimmed down and she was syncing her words nearly flawlessly. She smiled when her voice matched up with her mouth.

She rubbed her head bashfully. "Sorry… speaking without your assistance feels a bit foreign to me, but I think I can match my words with your voice a little better. It's been a while since you've had me do this, but I think I got it again. You need to rest up."

"Fine. If you are to be like me, then you'll need to carry my bag." Aurora took off her bag and handed it to the transformed Suzie. Suzie walked to the fire and flying Pokémon to get it. When she put on her bag, Suzie looked exactly like Aurora normally. Aurora smiled and offered, "As an alternative, Chi-Chi can just teleport to my house and get similar clothes to these ripped ones. I'll change once she gets back." Chi-Chi decided to teleport straight away upon hearing that, "Finally, Happy, I need you to go back to Ash. How long have you've been away from him?"

"(I lost track of time trying to get rid of those thugs and finding you.)" Happy admitted.

"He must be worried, especially since I told him to keep an eye on you. Head back to him to avoid arousing suspicion." Aurora said with a soft voice.

"(He was sleeping last time I saw him, but I'll still do what you ask.)" Happy asked her.

"Remember, Ash can't learn of what happened and you being gone for too long will make things a bit more complicated when he wakes up." Aurora told her.

Happy got off of her lap and saluted eagerly. "(Yes ma'am, Mrs. Mistress ma'am.)"

"Don't call me that!" Aurora coughed. Aurora winced and held her neck uncomfortably. All of her Pokémon immediately became concerned. Aurora took a few breaths and made a small reassuring smile. She said in a slightly strained voice, "Don't... worry about me. I'll manage. Just do what I ask please."

"(Sorry I got you worked up, Aurora.)" Happy said more seriously.

"It's fine. Run along as soon as you can to Ash and come back to me when he's done with whatever he's doing." Aurora assigned to her. Happy nodded eagerly. She tried to leave from Chari's clutches, but Chari held onto her tighter than before. Getting tired of being babied, but not having enough strength to properly retaliate, Aurora settled for just pouting. Chari sighed.

It was in this moment, Chi-Chi teleported back with some clothes in her paws. They looked exactly similar to the clothes she was wearing. She noticed that Chi-Chi was also carrying an open black cloak. Aurora was confused about the cloak. After a moment of thinking, she decided she would wear it with her regular attire when she had a chance. Aurora decided to grab the clothes from the electric type, but not before thanking her. She tried to leave from Chari's grasp, but once again, Chari held her tightly. It wasn't enough to make her uncomfortable, but it was enough to let the guardian know that the lizard meant business.

"(I know you're one to want to do things yourself, but let us take care of you. I'll fly you and Rio to a nearby grotto so you can rest up. Suzie can act as you until you feel well enough to converse with those kids again. Happy will head back to Ash. Kairyu, Chi-Chi and I can try to further heal you and lessen the strain on Rio. Everyone in agreement with what they need to do?)" Chari regarded the entire group.

"(Yes!)" Everyone but Aurora stated. Aurora couldn't help but be impressed with her Pokémon's teamwork.

"(Great! Suzie, we're counting on you, alright? You know Aurora's mannerisms, right?)" Chari asked.

"Naturally." Suzie nodded seriously. Chari giggled.

"You really do put my alternative name as the Masked Master into use. Too bad you don't need to actually wear a mask here. Then, it would be perfect." Aurora joked. Her face turned more serious, "Do you know everyone's names and looks and things like that? Clemont is the light blond boy, Bonnie looks like him, but she's a lot smaller and more eager. Of course, you know how Ash looks and Serena is the darker blond headed girl. They all went and hung out with one another. You haven't really been out of your Poke Ball as much as everyone else, and I want to make sure you…"

"Stop worrying. You worry too much, friend. Instead, focus on recovering." Suzie put a hand up to stop her trainer from speaking. Aurora nodded and decided to confide her trust into the Zoroark.

"(Spot on impression, Suzie. You got her down perfectly. Good luck, alright? Everyone else, let's head out.)" Chari commanded. Rio hopped on Chari's back while Aurora folded her arms. She didn't like being carried like a baby. All of the partners and Aurora headed towards Santalune Forest except for Suzie and Happy. Happy waved off Suzie, sniffed the air and started to head back into the city. Suzie walked towards the Pokémon Center, nervous, but had an uncharacteristic smirk on her face. She stood right outside the center doors and inspected the illusion she put herself in.

"It's showtime…" Suzie thought as she cracked her knuckles and properly entered the center.

---

Suzie sat down in the Pokémon Center just lounging around. She didn't see any of the kids Aurora mentioned and figured they weren't here yet. She looked bored and had an urge to just run around instead. She had to keep in those urges, but it was hard to do that, especially when she had to stay still for a long time. To distract herself, she decided to take a random Pokémon magazine and act like she was reading it. It ended up being harder than she thought.

She sweat-dropped when she tried to open the thin book. She could do a lot of things in human form, but reading was not one of them. Just trying to hold it was a struggle because she never held a text before. She had to mentally train herself to stop fidgeting and hold the magazine straight. She may have walked upright as a Zoroark, but the Illusion Pokémon really didn't have hands. When she wanted to move fast, she ran on all fours paws, not on two legs. Paws and hands were completely different. Just sitting down and using newfound hands confused her, but excited her all the same. She wanted to learn how a human worked better. She was surprised that the pages weren't ripping because her claws weren't claws at the moment and she wanted the illusion to remain as real to the naked eye as possible.

Eventually, she stopped fidgeting and she held the book as normally as she could. She tried to focus on the pictures she recognized. She recognized many of the berries because of her trainer's fondness for them. She also recognized different regional treats from her travels in Hoenn and Sinnoh. Just seeing those treats made her crave some Poké Bars. When she turned the page, she was surprised to find pictures of the same food she craved. It made her want to eat the book, but she didn't want to find out what would happen if she did. Instead, she decided to go into Aurora's bag and helped herself to a bitter tart. She instantly perked up and her urge was satisfied. She spent the rest of the time just browsing the book and enjoying the different pictures.

A few minutes later, Bonnie and Clemont returned to the Pokémon Center. Bonnie looked excited and Clemont looked exhausted. Suzie was so engorged in the different pictures; she didn't even notice that the siblings walked in. Bonnie had to tap on her shoulder. Suzie perked up and smiled immediately upon seeing the girl.

"How was your outing?" Suzie asked them.

"I think a better question is why are you holding that magazine upside-down?" Bonnie giggled and corrected her. She turned it back right-side-up for the elder lady. Suzie scratched her head slightly and laughed nervously.

"Oh… right. Thank you… er, Bonnie. I just like looking at the different pictures." Suzie said.

"In a cookbook edition of a magazine?" Bonnie questioned. Suzie immediately relaxed as an answer formed into her head. Aurora herself actually did this.

"Yep. From different cookbooks, I try to learn to make different foods from different regions. It adds on to the variety of discovery I get every time I visit a new region. To truly become a master guardian, one must understand nature and culture," Suzie chuckled.

"Really?" Bonnie asked. Suzie nodded.

"Yep. I find culture really important when visiting new regions." Suzie stated. She noticed that Ash and Serena weren't with them. She acknowledged it, "So… where are Ash and Serena? You guys split up, yes?"

"Yeah, we split up after the hat boutique. I dragged Clemont to come with me to the training school. It was very fun and educational and I got to compete in a quiz competition."

"Quiz… competition?" Suzie reiterated with confusion.

"When she was growing up, Bonnie was known to be the Quiz Queen by everyone in Lumiose. No one could beat her with a good quiz and she proved herself today." Clemont elaborated for the Aurora look-a-like.

"I actually learned a few things I didn't know and that makes me excited when I finally become a trainer! I met some pretty nice people at the school, too and we exchanged our numbers after the competition was over. I also got these." Bonnie recounted excitedly. Bonnie displayed her new Shell Bell and Soothe Bell, indication of her victory against Sarah. She shook them and they both made a melodious sound. Suzie found her head moving subconsciously with ecstasy, but quickly recovered from her Pokémon-like tendencies. She had to remind herself that she was still in an illusion.

"Despite meeting some hyperactive kids and a rude parent, Bonnie knew way more than I thought she did." Clemont blurted. Bonnie gave him a stinky look, but Clemont raised his hands in defense. "That's a good thing. I knew you were really smart, but I didn't know you knew so much about different statuses and abilities like that."

"Thanks, Clemont." She beamed.

Suzie placed a finger on her chin and asked, "So Bonnie… you think you have what it takes to be an excellent trainer?"

"Of course," She said excitedly.

"Good. Conviction of your caliber will make you shoot for the stars. Remember to stay dedicated to your goals. Dedication is the key to success." Suzie giggled. Bonnie nodded. "So now that you've come back to center, what are you planning on doing?"

"Nothing really. We'll just have to wait until Ash and Serena get back," Clemont shrugged.

"Hey, Clemont? Can I groom your Luxray's fur? His fur is so thick!" Bonnie asked her brother. Clemont smiled as he brought out the Pokémon mentioned. Luxray had heard the conversation from his ball and sat down under Bonnie to allow her full access. She squealed with delight as she took out a brush and began to brush through. Clemont sat down and began to tinker around with some machine parts he always brought with him.

Suzie watched the siblings with slight fascination and slight envy. She thought, "I wish Aurora would groom my coat right now. I'm happy these kids seem friendly. That's a relief. "

---

For the next few hours, Bonnie, Clemont, and Suzie sat idly in the Pokémon Center, doing some tasks to keep themselves busy. Bonnie started to groom all of Clemont's Pokémon after she did Luxray's. When Bonnie asked Suzie to groom her Zoroark's fur, Suzie sweat-dropped and told Bonnie that she preferred her trainer to do it. Clemont continued to tinker with his machinery while Suzie kept on glancing outside.

Not wanting to feel bored, she offered to help Nurse Joy with some of the Pokémon coming in. The pink haired nurse expressed her appreciation in the added effort. Since Aurora carried a lot of berries in her bag, Suzie gave the nurse the appropriate berry for any Pokémon with a status condition. The nurse was impressed with Suzie's knowledge about healing medicinal berries and herbs. Suzie talked to her about Aurora's nomadic style of traveling when she was younger and the different berries she'd seen and used over the years. Suzie also helped out with the maintenance of the center and cleaning. She helped to straighten out the damaged room from earlier to the point where it looked semi-manageable.

Eventually, the sun had set and it was dark outside. Nurse Joy thanked her for all of her help while Suzie thanked her for allowing her to use her time better. Once it was nighttime, Joy asked her to stop helping her, but just to relax. The illusionary fox couldn't help but think about her trainer and had to stifle a tear. When the nurse asked her is she said something wrong, Suzie replied that there was a lot going on in her mind. The nurse gave Suzie her regards, escorted the illusionary woman out to the lobby.

---

Suzie's ears twitched when she heard flapping from the back of the center. It was so subtle that no one else heard it but her. She excused herself from Bonnie and Clemont to check it out. Much to her delight, Aurora was on Chari's back, beaming and mostly restored. The rest of her partners came a few moments after Chari. Everyone else looked exhausted, but happy with their work. Suzie immediately turned back into a Zoroark and gave her a trainer a hug. Aurora was caught off balance, but quickly caught herself from falling and returned the hug. Aurora kissed Suzie on her forehead.

"How are you, Suzie?" Aurora greeted with a smile.

"How am I?" Suzie asked incredulously. She pointed to Aurora, "I think… I should be asking you the same question, Aurora. How are you?"

"Much better." Aurora subconsciously rolled her arm around. "Rio advised me to keep moving my arm to help get rid of the stiffness I feel now. It definitely feels sore right now. Everything else feels wonderful."

"I'm glad. I was really worried about you." The Zoroark said with a sigh of relief.

"We all were," Rio added. He explained to Suzie, "Aurora should be completely fine in the morning. We each transferred a little bit of our aura into her, even Happy. We got her when she separated from Ash again and sent her back without him realizing. However, the process is a still bit incomplete. Suzie, if you will."

"Oh right…" Suzie nodded.

Suzie knew exactly what Rio wanted. Aurora looked a bit hesitant to allow her to do that. Before she could protest, Suzie touched her with both of her paws. Then, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Suzie's body became to glow in a bright aquamarine. Aurora's body began to glow in different colors. Her body first glowed a fiery red, then shifted to a crimson red, then beige, then dark blue and finally bright pink. Her body then began to glow aquamarine to signify the success of the transfer.

Aurora closed her eyes, slowly levitated high from the ground and released a large amount of energy. Aurora curled her fists tightly as she made them glow yellow. She returned all the auras back to their respectful owners. All of her partners looked up at her, surprised, then in awe. The aura spread around in the shape of each partner, then traveled to each respective Aspect. All of them started to glow a slight yellow in response. Aurora slowly landed on the ground and opened her eyes. She felt slightly drained, but overall pretty happy.

She beamed at all of them. They wondered what she did to them. She said in a calming voice, "Consider that as my thank you."

"What did you do?" Kairyu asked.

"By restoring my health, I was able to do the same to you. It wasn't fair that you guys worked so tirelessly so that I could be alright. I wanted to show you my appreciation for your hard work and dedication to me." Aurora explained. She tapped Suzie's and the rest of the Aspects on their foreheads. They each had a small symbol appear right above their head. It resembled a 'z' found on Aurora's and Ash's faces. It disappeared after a few moments, but each partner felt different.

"The Mark of the Ketchum…" Rio noted.

"Yep. It is any guardian's specialty to grow stronger after they recover and this is a benefit. I have no idea if we will properly feel those effects anytime soon, but that's the sense I get when I read everyone's auras." Aurora described.

"That's great news! Charles won't stand a chance next time he attacks you." Chi-Chi said excitedly. Aurora made a sad smile and shook her head.

"We may reach even more of a stalemate now. A psychic undergoes the same effects as a guardian if he or she becomes heavily injured. Since he is many years my senior, the injuries I inflicted on him may have been more severe. He's going to get even stronger than today." Aurora elucidated. Everyone looked disappointed. Aurora noticed their emotions and clapped once. It was enough to snap their attention back. "Hey guys, chin up! We will overcome the Zurui's hold on Hokori and help Ash get over his amnesia. We achieved being master guardians and partners, right? As long as we get better, there's nothing that can stop us!"

"Yeah!" All of them chanted.

"Let's use our newfound power for everyone's benefit, not just our own." Aurora continued.

"Right!" They said happily.

"I love each and every one of you. Never forget that. Now… I want you to rest up until I call you again. Can you do that?" Aurora asked with a smile.

"We know how much you love us. I know you're feeling a bit drained right now and a good night sleep should allow you to recover everything." Rio reminded her. Aurora nodded in agreement.

"Got it. I'll summon all of you again later tonight so you can check my progress." Aurora told them. She then turned to the Zoroark, "Suzie, what happened in the past few hours?"

The Illusionary Fox Pokémon told her about how Clemont and Bonnie came in the afternoon and how she decided to help out Nurse Joy as she waited for her trainer to recover. Suzie noted Ash and Serena didn't come back from their jaunt yet to which Aurora responded by shaking her head and smiling. She had a good feeling what happened with them.

"Awesome. Thanks for the info. So… Clemont and Bonnie are still in the center?" Aurora asked. The dark type answered with a nod. "And they didn't suspect anything amiss?"

"They never suspected a thing. Did… did I do well?" The fox asked with a hesitant voice. Aurora paused and looked at the fox with a serious expression. Suzie grew more nervous. Then, Aurora started to grin proudly.

"You did amazingly. You got my look and voice down to perfection. I knew I could count on you." Aurora rubbed Suzie on her head. She regarded the rest of her partners, "Alright, you guys. See you later." Aurora said as she returned each Pokémon in their respective capsule. She said nothing else as she entered the Pokémon Center.

---

Bonnie greeted Aurora as she came in, but it was clear she was beginning to get tired. She yawned almost every other sentence. While in mid-speech, she grew woozy and feel asleep on the lobby couch. Both Aurora and Clemont noticed she was tired, but Clemont took action. He decided it was time for her to go to bed. Clemont tried to lift her up, but he didn't have the best physical strength. Aurora decided to help him out by lifting up the blond child herself with ease. Bonnie immediately curled under Aurora and grew comfortable in her arms.

Aurora and Clemont walked the sleeping Bonnie to her room and placed her on the bed. Clemont chimed with appreciation and Aurora responded with a nod. Clemont then told Aurora good night and went into a much cleaner version of the room he'd been in a day before. Clemont looked shocked, but happy. Aurora smiled as she closed the door and walked back to the lobby of the center. As soon as she entered, she was greeted by an extremely happy fairy type jumping up and knocking down her trainer on the floor. She wagged her tail profusely as she licked Aurora's face. Aurora laughed and got her off of her. She sat up, took out her ball and returned Happy. She figured Ash and Serena must be coming soon and began to walk to the backyard.

As soon as Aurora went outside, Ash and Serena entered the lobby. It was in this time that Ash and Serena finally came back from their day together. Pecking him on the cheek, she wished her boyfriend good night and walked to her room to fall asleep. Ash was about to head to bed before he remembered something. He peered outside in the back. Ash noticed Aurora in the backyard and decided to follow her. Pikachu jumped off his shoulder and followed him.

---

Once Ash and Pikachu went outside, they noticed that Aurora was stretching her body. Aurora stretched her body in the middle of the battlefield/backyard and stopped suddenly. They both stood in an awkward silence, waiting for the other to act. Aurora decided to break the silence, "So… it seems you remembered my request. I hope you enjoyed your date with Serena, young one. I also hope you managed to use the money I gave you."

"Uh… it wasn't a date. Um…at least... I'm not sure…? Maybe it was? Being with Serena was pretty nice." Ash said with a blush. He was glad that Aurora couldn't see his face at the moment, "Thank you for the money. I'm glad I didn't let her down. You knew-"

"'I would need it?' Of course. I'm a girl. I have some idea of their tendencies." Aurora turned around and chuckled slightly. Her face turned to one of more seriousness, "I'm really happy you sought me out yourself. You're eager to learn more about your aura?"

"Yeah. What are you planning on showing me?" Ash said out of curiosity.

"I was debating with myself on this for the last few hours, but I think both Aru and I agree on this. We want to show you something very special tonight. It's our most powerful quirk and our greatest weakness. We connect with ourselves and fully accept an irrefutable detail that both sides of the guardian agree on. If temptation is great and the feeling is intense, the two sides merge to form into one. This is called the aura allegiance. There's another version of this technique called the psychic allegiance that can only be found in the primordial psychic family." Aurora told the boy. He was completely shocked and wanted to find out more. Aurora continued, "For guardians, this technique is only found in our family, as it is a blessing from Lady Mew, our patron."

"Wait… Mew is our what? So you actually know her?" Ash asked. Aurora giggled a little.

"Mew is our benefactor. She's the one responsible for us being aura guardians in the first place and is one of the first Pokémon to have ever existed. She helps to keep us safe if it is within her providence. That's something to be explained further another time, but yes, I do know her. You most likely do, too. I bet you've seen Lady Mew at least once in your life. She watches over all Ketchums, but will only visibly show herself sparingly." Aurora told him.

Ash thought about a time where he could have seen Mew and realized he had seen Mew quite a bit since becoming a Pokémon Trainer. He saw her fight against Mewtwo and again when he went to the Tree of Beginning. He wondered how she watched over him. It certainly didn't feel like he was being watched by Mew, especially considering how many times he'd risk his life trying to save other Legendary Pokémon.

Aurora noticed Ash's thoughtful expression. She could tell he has seen Mew, but he didn't really know what to think of it. She wasn't surprised, especially considering how she was meddling in their lives right now, but didn't want to worry about that. She decided to continue, "The aura allegiance is our greatest strength when the balance and counterbalance work together as one. Both sides of the guardian's consciousness are active and as a result, our true potential shines."

"That sounds awesome! How is it our greatest weakness, though?" Ash tilted his head in confusion.

"It's our greatest weakness because it leaves us vulnerable. To maintain such a continuous connection between our regular and opposite sides can be harder than you think. Working together with someone, who is basically you with a different perspective, can be quite a hassle. The minute either side argues, the connection is severed, leaving us immobile for about a minute. This is enough to leave us wide open to a counterattack. Ash, when Ashton tells you whatever he wants to tell you, do you feel his influence becoming dormant afterward? You have that nagging feeling he's still there, but you don't hear him, right?" Aurora asked.

Ash didn't really think much of it before. He thought about it for a moment. Aurora's question was oddly accurate. "Yeah. One minute I feel him in my head and the next I don't. I know he's still there, but it's like someone is looking from the side of my eyes with peripheral vision. He can still see what's happening with me, but I can tell it's faint. It's weird. I don't feel like there are two sides of me most of the time, but I know there is."

Aurora's eyes suddenly turned red without warning. Ash stepped back in alarm, but Aru raised her hands harmlessly. Ash tilted his head to the side in confusion. Aru sensed this and tried to put him at ease. "I mean you no harm, Ash. Rather, I'm here to help Aurora teach you this. It wouldn't be the same if just Aurora taught you this, nor it would be if only I did. Trust me, I won't do anything to you."

"R-R-Really? Does this mean you won't attack anymore?" Ash asked.

"I didn't say that, young one. When I do come out to properly release all my rage, try your hardest against me. Aurora and I have a temporary armistice to show you the allegiance because we both really want to. For now, don't worry about anything." Aru said with a smile.

If Ash didn't know any better, he would think he was speaking with Aurora. He knew they were the same person in essence. He also knew that counterbalances preferred to speak with a slightly altered voice to differentiate themselves from their counterpart. He should know. Ashton preferred to speak with a deeper voice than Ash. Aru sounded incredibly similar to Aurora when she spoke normally. It gave him a chill down his spine. The only difference was that Aurora's voice carried out to be more serious than Aru's. As a result, Aurora's voice was a smidge deeper.

"To answer your initial question, Ash… it's because a counterbalance is usually respectful of a balance when they're in control. Yeah, we can hear and see the world through the balance's eyes, but everyone wants some piracy. Even from themselves." Aru chuckled a little to herself. "The aura allegiance is our greatest weakness not only because of our increased vulnerability, but also our aura usage. Our aura drains a lot faster while both sides of a Ketchum is conscious. When Aurora and I are working together, our attacks are incredibly potent, much more than they normally are. However, even though we have amazing stamina, it lasts for about thirty minutes if you don't cut it off early. This applies to any person in our family, novice or master. After thirty minutes, we revert to our balance no matter what is happening around us. However, there can be major consequences."

"And what are those consequences?" Ash asked.

"There are only three notable drawbacks that I know of. Aurora already mentioned the first drawback. Another one is the aura itself. Since our aura is draining faster under the allegiance, we are more likely to expend too much of our aura. Overuse of your aura will burn you up from the inside. I hate that, but it does teach a sense of discipline when using aura in such a heightened state. You can't just spam your powered up aura like crazy. Aurora will explain the final drawback when she takes back control. This technique is pretty easy to do, even for a novice… as long as the balance and counterbalance are willing to try. If one side is unwilling, even a little bit, it is impossible to even attempt... or sustain. You need to keep in mind of your body's limits and be smart with not only yourself, but your tactics. Only then you'll be able to show your true capabilities." Aru explained. Ash was taking in the information and listening intently. He thought it was cool to have so much power, but he could understand why Aru said to use it wisely.

Aru closed her eyes and concentrated. Her hair started to flow wildly in the air as it moved seemingly with a life of its own. She started to become surrounded by a yellow aura. However, one side was darker than the other. When she opened her eyes, one eye was yellow and the other eye was red. Her cheeks were also glowing yellow. She raised her hand high in the air. Aura was protruding from her hand furiously. She brought it down and curled it into a fist. She looked down at Ash earnestly. Ash was completely flabbergasted as to what's going on. He didn't know Aurora had the same marks on her face as him. They were a similar shape, but the z's were slightly smaller. Why were they glowing like that?

Aurora brought out her hand. Ash looked down at it steadily. Despite having two eye colors, Aurora's face looked inviting. He could tell she wanted him to touch her hand. With a hesitant shake, he followed his instinct. He grabbed her hand. Immediately, he felt her knowledge of the technique pour into him like a fountain. She had so much power, so much experience… it made him giddy with excitement. He felt Ashton feeling the same way. Slowly, Ash's marks also started to glow dark blue. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Ash and Ashton felt themselves molding into one. They both wanted to learn more. They both wanted to experience more. They both wanted to try out the aura allegiance. Concentrating deeply, Ash took a deep breath. Ashton also took a deep breath.

Aurora slipped her hand away from her young student. She still had different colored eyes, but she was smiling with pride. She knew the deed was done. All she had to do was wait. Ash continued to take deep breaths. They felt heavier… as if he was two people breathing at once.

In... Out…

Ash's breathing began to stabilize. He started to get used to the few feeling swelling up inside. He felt a lot more powerful and efficient. The final deep breath he exhaled was finally stable. Both of his fists were clenched together tightly and his eyes were still closed. Nothing mattered to him at the moment. He took the time to listen to the nightly wind. He felt the crispness in the clouds that caressed the sky. He could feel the electricity crackling in them, wanting to be a storm, but not being strong enough. He could feel the rocks and ground beneath his feet. He could feel the grass dancing to the wind. He could feel the tiny tugs in the stagnant ponds. He could feel his fighting spirit flaring with a burning passion.

His senses were heightened, no doubt about it. He felt stronger… faster… far more sufficient. He'd never felt so in tune with nature before. The feeling he was having was absolutely indescribable. He opened his eyes and looked up at the nightly sky. His left eye was red and his right eye was brown. Aura began to formulate in his hands just like Aurora's. It came naturally to him.

Pikachu looked up at his trainer in awe. Ash had a new air to him that he never felt before. The Pokemon shuddered at the boy's power. Just being in Ash's presence made him want to bow... which felt weird considering Ash was his best friend. Pikachu oddly felt stronger as well. He wondered if it had something to do with Ash's aura, especially considering they were partners. They stood together in sync.

Ash looked down at his hands and then Aurora. He could tell she was pleased with this new development.

"Ash… How do you feel?" Aurora spoke with two tones. Together, Aru and Aurora oddly sounded more relaxed. They sounded more harmonious together. They weren't singing, but their voices complemented each other well. Ash couldn't put how he was feeling into words. It took him a few moments for him to respond.

"This… this feels incredible! I've never felt so alive! We've never felt so alive!" Ash said with a large smile on his face. Just like Aurora, Ash and Ashton's voices combined to be harmoniously in tune. He clenched his fists eagerly. Aurora noticed this and shook her head. Ash wondered why she was shaking her head. Then, she started to float above the ground and look up at the sky. She sighed sadly. She closed her eyes. She just hovered in the sky for a minute without doing anything. Ash was waiting for her to say anything, but she just floated there. He wondered if they were in disagreement about something. Once she opened them again, they were lustrous red. She still had the marks on her face, but they stopped glowing. The moon reflected in her eyes.

"We can show him more. He has so much potential."

"No… it's too premature. He's just a novice."

"You're always so hesitant."

"And you're always so rash," Aurora grumbled to herself. Her eyes had been switching colors as she talked to herself, but it stayed yellow this time.

"Ruru? What's up?" Ash asked. Aurora was surprised at Ash's use of his nickname for her, but then remembered that the Ashes were resonated together at the moment. Some part of Ashton would be shown. The thought excited her. Aurora started to laugh suddenly. Ash was confused by the action.

"Aru wants to show you more, but I know we shouldn't. We were immobilized for a little bit as a result. I'm glad I showed you this, though. I'm glad I imparted the allegiance to you. Some of the knowledge of previous generations of our family have now been passed down to you and I'm happy for that." Aurora stopped hovering. "I'm glad Aru and I could agree long enough to show you this. I felt whole for a few precious moments, but now… I feel hollow again. Part of me resents me. It's weird. Reminds me I'm still in conflict with Aru."

"Hollow? Ruru..., are you feeling OK?" He asked. Aurora nodded.

"Don't worry about me, Ash. I want to show you more, but time has grown short. I can sense no one is here, but I don't want to take any more risks." Aurora stated somberly. "If you are ever in danger, try not use the aura allegiance... at least... not at first."

"Why not?" He asked. Aurora seemed to be deep in thought and pondered how she should phrase herself.

"Should you use it and get injured, you run the risk of dying more easily. You sacrifice some of your natural durability for more potency in this state. I don't see any harm being done using it when you're not in danger, but keep in mind your aura levels, Most importantly, make sure you stay responsible with your powers. Even if you aren't in trouble, you can't abuse or showcase it to the world, either. I know you are a trustworthy boy... otherwise, I wouldn't have shown you this so soon." Aurora explained. Ash nodded grimly. He closed his eyes. He felt Ashton's presence slipping away as he started to feel something missing. That missing feeling eventually subsided and he felt normal again. He sensed everything dulling out around him and it made him sad. Once he opened his eyes again, his eyes were back into chocolate gems.

"One more thing…. If you knew this would lead someone like the Zurui to us… why'd you show me this so soon?" Ash asked.

"Good question. I knew this process would release an incredible amount of aura. Aru and I decided to show you this because the Zurui already seems to know where you are and... I imagine they will be a little more reluctant after today to come after us." Aurora said with a hidden smile. Ash noticed something else in her tone, but decided not to question it. He figured it was probably Zurui related. Still, it made him wonder what she did during the day.

"If a spy can be at the Pokémon Center this morning, I imagine more will be sent near us eventually. Be on guard, all right?" Aurora said earnestly. Ash nodded his head. Aurora stretched her body again and started to yawn. Now that she'd have time to relax, she didn't realize she was so tired. She waved Ash goodbye before jumping on the same tree she slept on the previous night. Almost immediately, Aurora laid down on the tree.

Ash waved his hand slowly, but made it hang in the air. He still had questions, but he knew she wouldn't answer them. He thought about the Zurui. He had no idea who they really are, only that they caused Ash's and Aurora's separation. He knew they had to have special powers like aura guardians, but he had a feeling they weren't guardians. He suddenly felt Ashton's presence in his head, wanting to tell him something.

"You're on the right track. Gosh, you're smart when you want to be." Ashton said sarcastically.

"Haha. Very funny." Ash was not amused at Ashton's remark even though he acknowledged him. "Who are they? Who are the Zurui?"

"The Zurui are psychics, Ash. You know, the same psychics Ruru mentioned that almost killed her? Psychics and guardians… they are two sides of the same coin. We can do a lot of the same things, but we are overall very different." Ashton told him. Ash nodded. It made sense for them to be similar. He wondered if he ever met a true psychic after his amnesia.

"How are we different?" Ash asked.

"How am I supposed to know?" Ashton snorted slightly rudely. This caused Ash to visibly frown.

"You just told me they are psychics," Ash stated incredulously. He thought Ashton knew more and that he was withholding information just to be a jerk.

"Yeah, but I only know of them because I remember the separation. I actually know almost as little as you about psychics. Ruru knows a lot about them, though. Maybe you should ask her when she wakes up or when the opportunity presents itself. I don't think she would hide what psychics are to you." Ashton suggested. He could tell in Ashton's tone that he really didn't know any more. Ash huffed with disappointment.

"I guess I have no choice. Thanks anyway, Ashton." Ash was not satisfied with the answer. Ashton seemed to shrug in their head.

"Whatever," Ashton answered brusquely. Something else popped up in his mind, "Hey… Ash?"

"Yeah?"

"When you and I were together in the aura allegiance…, it was fun. I liked it a lot. I actually felt whole. It was amazing."

"Me too. I hope we'll have the opportunity to do it again sometime."

"Agreed. Later Ash." Ash felt Ashton's presence leave his mind. Ash didn't know what to think of today. On one hand, he woke up from a nightmare and ended up hurting his friends because of the rage of his other side. He was glad that Aurora helped to calm him down and heal his friends afterward. On the other hand, he got to spend today with his awesome girlfriend and learn a new technique from Aurora. Today was a mixed bag, but he definitely enjoyed the latter part of the day more. He could feel himself getting tired, too.

Pikachu jumped on his shoulder and nuzzled against his cheek lovingly. Ash patted his eldest partner on the head. He was reminded how much he cared for the mouse and enjoyed his company. Yawning, he made his way to the Pokémon Center, intent on falling asleep.

Aurora lazily watched the younger Ketchum head inside. She cogitated to herself, "He has so much promise… I can't wait to start training him properly again. I'm so happy he has the same learning aptitude as when he was younger. I'm scared, yet I'm excited. I've got to continue to do what I think is right." She lied down again and looked up at the sky. She placed her hands under her head and was just feeling the breeze. Aurora made sure to hide her 'z' shaped marks on her face as well. The stars were twinkling brightly and she felt a warm feeling in her heart. She felt as though that was a good sign.

Once she made sure no one else was around, she jumped off her tree branch and threw out all of her Poké Balls in the air. The rest of her guardian partners appeared almost as fast as she threw them. They all had felt Aurora showing Ash the aura allegiance and didn't hide how impressed they were with Ash. They could sense both of their auras all around them. Kairyu was the first to speak up.

"Ash and Ashton were at one and it makes me so happy! Their individualities melded together wonderfully. It made my wings flutter with excitement." The dragon type commented.

"True. He has a lot of promise. With the combined efforts of all of you, I feel almost completely normal again. My arm is definitely still as sore as earlier, and it's not in pain. I don't feel any pain anywhere else, either. For that, I'm grateful to all of you." Aurora bowed in respect to her Pokémon.

"Anytime, Aurora. We are your Aspects. We are your friends." Kairyu said with a smile.

Aurora made a small smile, "Do you want me to take you all to Nurse Joy so she could heal you further? Just because I'm better, that doesn't mean you guys need to be tired. I don't want to benefit from your fatigue."

"No. First off, we aren't tired anymore. Secondly, I do not want any Joys even near my ball. I don't trust them and I think we all agree." Chari said firmly. All of her other partners were indeed nodding their heads in agreement.

"The nurses in Kalos are different from the ones in Hokori, Chari. They wouldn't hurt you." Aurora argued, but Chari shook her head obdurately.

"I don't care that they are nice to you; they are still susceptible to change just like their cousins in Hokori. I only want you to heal us and I think that will happen when you feed us tomorrow morning. Your Pokémon food always does the job. Do… you mind?" Chari asked with a bit of hesitance.

"I don't mind feeding and healing you guys. It makes me sad that Hokori affected you that much, but I respect your decision." Aurora sighed and gazed at nothing sadly. Rio picked up on it and frowned.

"I understand your reason for showing Ash this, but you're acting like you won't see the next day," Rio noted with concern.

"Well… today made me realize how inadequate I really am. I'm… weak." Aurora admitted. When she said that, all of her partners was about to refute her, but Aurora raised her hand. She didn't want to hear any of it. She said harshly, "Do not try to cover up what happened. I overwhelmed Charles just fine. I'm not talking about my physical strength. I'm talking about mental strength. I choked and it nearly cost me my life. I fell for some reverse psychology and I feel really stupid over freezing up."

"Still, you can't let Charles get in your head. If you do, you'll be even more vulnerable." Rio countered. Aurora started to look down.

"He's not in my head!" Aurora immediately denied. All of her Aspects flinched. Aurora said with a much smaller voice, "Let's… not talk about this anymore. I have much to think about tonight."

Chari nuzzled her with a smile. Aurora made a small smile, but then immediately frowned when she thought about earlier. She returned every Aspect back into their Poké Balls. She smiled to herself as she kissed every single Poké Ball she had with her. She gasped in surprise when one of the capsules opened on its own. Chari came out with a nebulous expression. Aurora was caught off guard with her eldest partner's sudden appearance.

Chari approached the raven haired woman and gave her a large hug. Aurora didn't return it at first because she was in awe. Once the initial shock subsided, she returned it wholeheartedly. She could feel water dripping on her shoulder and Chari held onto her tighter. Aurora broke the hug and noticed Chari was crying. The trainer wasn't used to seeing her like this and was at a loss for words. She did the only thing she could think of. She caressed the fire type's snout. Chari was blushing with slight embarrassment.

"I… thought I'd lost you. I really thought I'd lost my soul sister. You... are everything to me..." Chari said with tears flowing freely from her face. Aurora widened her eyes upon hearing that. "For a moment, I felt a part of me was gone… like our bond was lost. It was an awful feeling. All I could feel was emptiness without you."

"Chari…" Aurora said softly.

"When I saw him dump your limp body on the ground, it stirred an anger in me I never thought I possessed. It caused me to go out for blood. All I could think about was revenge. I probably would have killed him had he not teleported with Gallade. I've never dealt with Charles before, but I now understand why you hate him so much."

"Chari… I may hate him, but at the same time, I want our fighting to end. Aura guardians and psychics shouldn't continue on like this. We should stand together, not be enemies." Aurora said.

"But with people like the Malladus family, it's a vision that's seemingly impossible," Chari argued.

"If you have revenge in your heart, darkness will spread. No matter how badly he may bruise us… no matter how much he may beat or torture us… you can't let thoughts like that filling up your mind. Revenge is, in essence, a dark temptation. Don't follow that temptation, no matter how much it embraces you." Aurora murmured in a soft voice. Chari looked somewhat annoyed at her trainer.

"I don't know how you can still say that after what he's done to you. He's taken Ash away from you and now's he's almost killed you… twice even. I don't know how you don't feel the urge for revenge." Chari pointed out.

Aurora closed her eyes, slightly trembling, "I… I feel it every day, actually. That dark temptation. I fight it every day."

Chari frowned faintly and shivered. She thought she heard a mix of Aurora and Aru. Aurora kept her eyes closed. "I… feel the urge to do things I don't want to do. I hold back because I'm afraid of what I will do. I want to do it… but if I do, his voice will win."

"His… voice?" Chari echoed in confusion.

"He tells me to do it every night…" Aurora mumbled, but she seemed to be in a world on her own.

"Aurora, are you-" Chari was beginning to get concerned.

"He tells me not to hold back…" Aurora opened her eyes and Chari noticed the cold dead look in them. She also noticed that Aurora's eyes were yellow and red and instantly became worried.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"He tells me to unleash my power. He tells me to kill…" Aurora continued to ignore her.

"…" Chari didn't know what to say. She didn't know something was affecting her trainer so deeply, but she wanted it to stop.

"He gives me the urge to kill everything… and everyone. I try to block him out, but it's hard when he's constantly chanting it in my dreams… and in my thoughts." Aurora continued to whisper.

"A-Aurora, snap out of it!" Chari said, shaking her trainer.

"When I don't hold back, someone dies at my hands. When I do hold back, I give in to my own weakness. He feeds on my anger. He feeds… on me." Aurora continued with a deadened tone.

"Snap out of it, damn it!" Chari said, scared to death. Not knowing what to do, she followed her instinct. She readied a fiery blast in her mouth and shot it at her trainer. Aurora was blown back by the move and landed on the ground. Her eyes returned to normal, but she seemed more dazed than hurt.

She coughed up smoke, "Wow… you pack a powerful punch, Chari..."

"Aurora! Are you alright?" Chari asked worriedly and helped her back up.

"I'm fine… I think." Aurora held her head groggily.

"Aurora… what did you mean by 'his voice'?"

"I've always had nightmares for years, but they've grown worse since reuniting with Ash. For the last couple of days, I've been having nightmares about him and the terrible purple dragon. He tells me to kill. He tells me to destroy. He tells me to rage." Aurora's eyes gleamed red as she finished her sentence. The gleam disappeared almost immediately. "I try not follow that urge.I… I'm normally able to fight it, but Charles stripped me of much of my will to fight him doing our fight. I'm much more vulnerable now."

"The terrible purple dragon… you mean... the Reptile Reaper, right?" Chari asked. Aurora nodded.

"The Reptile Reaper is one of his many aliases, Chari. His actual name is Nyxcipher. Mew told me about him when I first started getting nightmares nearly a decade ago. He uses the noxious gasses in the air, no matter how small, to invade others' dreams. He's the fabled Pokémon said to have ended the last world by pitting the human race against each other though their ambitions of power. Not wanting to destroy any creation Mew made, Arceus had to recreate this world and Mew crippled Nyxcipher to be in his incomplete form. Now, out of pure resentment of Mew, Nyxcipher is trying to destroy this world with the creations closest to her: aura guardians and psychics. Sadly, I think it's beginning to work." Aurora told the draconian.

"I'm sorry for egging you on like that. I didn't realize you were dealing with him of all Pokémon." Chari apologized.

"Don't worry about it, bud. I've been acting like everything is fine and I will continue to act like that." Aurora rubbed her shoulders and looked away from Chari. Chari smiled soothingly and placed a claw on her shoulder. She forced the raven-haired woman to look up at her.

"Auru… that dragon is known to play on a person's insecurities. He's going to keep using Ash or anyone else close to you against you in your dreams. If you're feeling this shaken up, you need to talk about it. Holding it in will only make it worse." Chari told her.

"I... don't want anyone to worry about me, Chari."

"When you say that, that's when I worry the most. We're in this together. Always."

"Thanks, Chari…"

"Hey…, if you don't want to talk about it too much yet, I'll respect that. Always know that or any other Aspect or I will listen. We only want the best for you." Chari mentioned. Aurora nodded, but looked down. "Still, I think you may want to take your mind off of this. Maybe you can do something tomorrow morning other than training?"

"True… I've got an idea of what I want to do tomorrow morning. I want to show my appreciation towards those kids for letting me travel with them. They don't know how much that means to someone like me… someone who has always been either hated or feared because of what she has. Here, they accept me like nothing despite knowing my power and how strong you guys are. I'm still surprised about that." Aurora said with glistening eyes and a small smile. Her marks glowed faintly before disappearing again and she wiped her eyes. "I'm not sure if that will change, but... I have to treasure it while it lasts. Still, I don't want to fall sleep yet. I don't want to see him again…"

"You have to rest. Tell ya what: How about you sleep with me tonight? Since our bond is so potent, if we sleep near each other, we'll have the same dream… permitted you let me in, of course. I don't think he'll come out if I'm there."

"If you want to sleep near me, I don't mind.…" Aurora said with a smile. Chari grabbed Aurora's hand and gestured her towards the middle of the battlefield. Before Chari could lie down, Aurora took out a blue blanket and set it down on the floor. Chari laid down on her side. Since she was so large, she took up the most space on the blanket. Her tail curled up slightly, but her flame was away from the sheet. Aurora decided to lie right under the Charizard.

Chari immediately draped her wing over Aurora to cover her up and winked. Aurora curled against her in appreciation. It was hard to be cold when sleeping under a Charizard. After a few minutes, Chari lulled herself to sleep, but Aurora was still awake. She couldn't fall asleep. She was afraid of what she would see. She then turned and looked at Chari. The fire type slept so soundly. It put the ebony haired guardian at ease. She decided to trust in Chari's words. Eventually, her eyes grew heavy and she fell asleep.

---

Several hours earlier…

A lone man and his Pokémon suddenly appeared on the back of an alleyway with nothing else near him. They looked up and noticed that the sky was clear, with the occasional noxious fumes of industry. The man immediately knew where he was, but wondered if his Pokémon was smart enough to take him to the right place. His Pokémon helped to keep him standing. The Pokémon knew how close to unconsciousness his partner was. His eyes were half-lidded. His breathing was slow and he was barely moving. Each breath looked like it was a chore to do. His Pokémon looked highly concerned for his trainer and went to the only place he knew that may be able to help him.

The Pokémon himself wasn't feeling too well, being seriously burned and almost close to fainting. His red eyes struggled to stay open. Never in his life had he seen a Charizard so strong or vicious. Those eyes unnerved him… and served to increase his hatred of the fire type. Still, he shivered at the recent memory. He vowed to train endlessly to beat that Charizard himself. He had to take a few moments to focus his thoughts. The most important thing to the Pokémon was making sure his trainer stayed alive, not some stupid Charizard.

Helping his trainer to keep his footing and wrapping his arm around his shoulder, the two trekked through the hidden passageways of the city. Each step was grueling and agonizing, but both of them ignored it the best they could. Thankfully for the injured duo, the Pokémon had teleported his trainer close to a safe place. They just needed to find the secret entrance after walking a few hundred feet. The city they were in was very crowded, but everyone was thinking for themselves. No one tried to help either of them, but that was to be expected. The man would have been surprised if someone actually did try to help.

After traversing past a few buildings, the duo managed to reach the building they sought. It was a small two gray story building with plenty of graffiti painted on it. Other than the graffiti, it looked fairly new and renovated. This building wasn't like other buildings in the city where people could just walk in. It was always locked to the general public. The Pokémon knew that his trainer wasn't part of that group. The Pokémon knocked on the door as hard as he could. They waited several moments for an answer. Eventually, two eyes peered through a hole. A gasp slipped. Then, a distressed female voice.

"Charles?" She said in utter shock. She immediately undid a series of security checks and locks and opened the door. Her face lost color when she noticed that what she was seeing was real.

"My dear comrade… heal… me." Charles coughed out hoarsely. The lady instantly snapped her fingers and took control of Charles's body. They went through a large corridor, then down some steps. They both went deep into a room underground, filled with other Zurui grunts. The room had a mostly purple paint scheme, but it was really a poker room. There was a large green table in the middle where the grunts had been smoking or playing cards. They all stopped what they were doing abruptly. They were shocked to see their boss's state. They all immediately everything off the table to give Charles a place to lay down. They gingerly placed the white-haired man on the table and quickly began to their best to heal him. As soon as his head hit the hard surface, Charles succumbed to his enervation and slipped into unconsciousness.

For the next several hours, Charles remained in a comatose state, completely unaware of what was happening to him. He felt one primary emotion in his dreams: hatred.

By nightfall, everyone in the room was tired trying to resuscitate their leader, but willing. Eventually, the old psychic slowly began to open his eyes. Everything was blurry and it took a while for his vision to stabilize. He awoke to a bright light flashing down upon him. He instantly got himself up and sat on the edge of the table. He felt significantly better, but was slightly puzzled. Charles noticed there was a group of many members swarming him with concerned expressions.

One of the grunts spoke up for everyone, "Boss… are ya OK?"

The old man decided to try to put everyone at ease. He rose his left hand high in the air and released a shockwave of white energy. Everyone was blown back slightly. They were always impressed with his power, but to see it up close… they never thought they would be worthy. Charles slowly clenched his fists and they were glowing white. He stretched his body out and got off the table. Everyone else began to give him some space.

"My dear comrades… thank you…" Charles said with genuine appreciation. His eyes began to glow white and everyone felt an urge to just bow down. His psychic power was that imposing to anyone exposed to it. "I'm feeling stronger than ever, that's for sure… and I plan on using that strength to take down that oppressive Champion."

That elicited a hearty cheer from his underlings. Charles smirked proudly, but his face quickly darkened. He clenched his fists together with anger. "Look what she did to me. She attacked me… broke my bones… and burned my body. My beautiful beard is halfway burned off. If I wasn't skilled at healing, I would still be unconscious, if not dead. If you had any doubt Aurora is evil, you certainly can put those doubts at ease. The image she shows to the Green Zone is false. If she was truly this perfect little angel, she wouldn't have done this to me."

The shower of grunts began to grumble with distaste. Most of them were completely loyal. Nearly all of them were convinced that Aurora was cold and shrewd, but some of them were unsure. The unsure grunts were the newbies. Charles assumed this would happen.

He decided to continue, "She's gotten a lot stronger than I remember. I'm never going to underestimate Aurora again and I expect you all to do the same. If you don't believe she's the one who nearly killed me, look at how Gallade was when he first came here. We both were barely able to move and yet he pulled through for me. The fact that he himself was injured from the Champion's Charizard speaks volumes of how malicious they are."

It seemed those words were enough to make the indecisive more supportive of him. They never imagined the Champion ever ruthlessly harming a Pokémon and did observe Gallade's condition when he first came in. Many of them agreed on one thing: Aurora had to be stopped. They didn't want her to continue to harm innocent people and Pokémon. Charles smirked at their naivety, but the grunts mistook the smirk as one of pride.

Charles began to look around for something. "Speaking of which… where is my beloved partner?"

"We tricked the Joy of this city to heal him without her realizing whose Pokémon she was helping out. Gallade should be in his ball right now." The lady who Charles assumed to be the leader of these group of grunts told him. Charles smiled and took out Gallade's Poké Ball. It seemed to sparkle under the low light. He had his partner for several decades and although he thought of Pokémon as useful living weapons, his bond with Gallade transcended any bond he had with any other Pokémon. The psychic and fighting type was the one exception to that philosophy. Charles nodded his head in thanks.

"What are you going to do now?" The same lady spoke up.

"Well, the best thing to do is be humble," Charles said immediately. Everyone seemed confused by his response, so the elder decided to elaborate. "I mean, respect her strength and challenge it when necessary. From our most recent exchange, I can tell we are evenly matched. We both managed to wound and surprise the other. We both will get stronger through our injuries and experiences, so... we may reach even more of a stalemate."

"So…?" Another lady was beginning to speak, but Charles cut her off.

"Christiana… I mean, Christa, that means we analyze. We examine the Tauros instead of trying to collide with its horns. I was being a bit too hasty in trying to kill her. I legitimately thought I was stronger than her, just like last time. She's clearly trained herself up well, I hate to admit. The next time we face Aurora, we need to know what she can do. I'm going to assign you and your two partners to reconnaissance. I know there are some things that she didn't show me." Charles told her.

"But sir-" Christa once again tried to voice her opinion, but one icy look from Charles cut her off.

"You, Xanthos and Daniel and are some of the best Zurui members in illusion making. I can entrust you to do a stellar job gauging at Aurora's and Ash's abilities. If you feel like you can strike Aurora, go for it, but be careful. Her Charizard can break through my will and you saw Gallade's injuries, right? She did that in one Flare Blitz. Do not challenge her Pokémon unless you know you can keep them inside their capsules and tackle her while she is alone. Numbers are important against the Ketchums."

"Yes, sir." Christa bowed and affirmed. She felt anxious about being near Aurora, but a little less anxious knowing that she would be near her two best friends.

Charles suddenly became surrounded in white aura announced in a cloudy voice, "Every grunt in this room must leave now and return in approximately ten minutes. Everyone except Christa, Xander and Dan will leave."

Absentmindedly, all the grunts saluted and left in a huge hustle. None of them seemed to know what they were doing and all of their eyes with cloudy. By the time everyone left, Christa and two other men stood there, completely shocked at what they just witnessed. They never saw mind control being used on so many people at once. Charles looked slightly drained at the effort, but otherwise, looked fine. They bowed in slight trepidation, but mostly deference.

Xander had a rainbow colored Mohawk and kaleidoscope-like eyes, Christa had chin length, straight golden-blond hair with gray eyes, and Dan had shoulder length shaggy brown hair, brown eyes, and a goatee. Charles's eyes grew very serious.

"Listen to me closely, you three. The last grunt I told to be careful around Aurora got himself caught and his short term memory was lost." All three of them widened their eyes upon hearing this. They never thought guardians could make people, specifically psychics, lose their memory. They always thought it was the other way around. "No other person in the Zurui knows this other than you three. I do not want to alarm any other member, but I am trusting you to keep that secret… until she does it in a public area. If you don't take anything else I say seriously, understand this: do not underestimate her like I did."

"Yes, Father." All of the members saluted.

"You do not need to be so formal around me." Charles made a small smile as he relaxed his shoulders. Christa, Xander, and Dan all felt the urge to relax as well. They didn't know if they felt relaxed because of their boss or because they actually were relaxed. Charles said in an inviting voice, "You trust me, right?"

"Of course." The slim and somewhat muscular man, Xander spoke up for all of them. Christa and David nodded their heads in agreement. Charles studied their eyes for a few moments and smiled when he realized they were telling the truth.

"That's good. In order to be a cohesive unit, we must have trust. I've raised you all since you were young, despite you not being my own. Make sure you take heed everything you observe, alright? Organize yourselves. Most importantly… stay safe. I don't want to see anything happen to you." Charles said that last part with a minuscule voice. All of them were shocked to hear the soft tone. He never displayed any compassion or empathy unless it was staged. The three could clearly tell the old man was completely genuine.

"Yes, Dad. We'll be careful," Dan nodded.

"We will be smart," Christa added.

"And we will keep in mind of Aurora's abilities and her Pokémon. We have many tricks up our sleeve just in case something goes wrong." Xander winked with a bit of an arrogant smirk. Charles laughed proudly. Charles nodded and made sure they could keep contact with him and gestured them to leave. They abided by his wishes, determined to make him proud of them.

Charles still had about five minutes before the poker room would be repopulated with a horde of gambling grunts. He sat down and rubbed against his temples. He never thought she had the capacity to actually kill him. Truth be told, he was actually shaken by his encounter with Aurora and knew this was a rare time where he could unwind alone. He would never let anyone know this, especially the renegade Champion herself.

He mused, "I need to regroup and collect my thoughts. I do hope those young'uns pay heed to my advice. For now, I need to focus my efforts on building more technology against guardians. I wonder if we'll be ready with the latest weapon by the time Ash reaches Kanto… That'll be a fun surprise for them." Charles finished with a smirk. After the next few minutes, exactly ten minutes after his announcement, the grunts entered the poker room again. Charles formally greeted them and took his leave. They immediately went back to playing poker.

Charles began walking to the Weapons Headquarters in the city with his hands crossed behind his back. He was lazily cruising down Doki Doki's streets, looking up at the sky. He thought about what he saw Aurora used against him and got an idea for the weapon. He had a devious smirk on his face and a malevolent glint in his eyes. It was time to use a psychic's technical skills to his advantage.

---

A/N: I will not reveal any information on Nyxcipher other than the fact that he is a Poison/Dragon-type Legendary known in Hokori folklore as the Reptile Reaper. More will be told as time progresses.

You will get trapped in your own emotions... no matter how happy you may seem to be. One's mind is a labyrinth, almost like a cage. Your mind can and will be shattered in certain points in your life. However, it is up to you to pick up those broken pieces, deny that those pieces even exist or continue to wallow in your depression. It is up to you to escape from yourself and rise like a phoenix. I'm pretty sure everyone has felt inadequate in some varying degree depending on the circumstance.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Can you guys tell me if this story is getting worse or better? I know I can always improve and no matter how many times I edit this story, there's always some mistakes I missed. I would really appreciate the feedback :)

Happy reading, everyone~

Next Chapter: Trust

~SPG123~