Ash groaned and his eyelashes fluttered gently before showing crystalline blue eyes. "Did anyone get the number of the bus that hit me?" he groused carefully reaching a gloved hand up to rub at his temple.
"Ash!" A yelp burst from his lips as he was knocked backwards by a whirlwind of black and yellow fur barreling into his stomach.
"Hey buddy." He mumbled carefully shaking hands carefully scratching Pikachu behind the ears.
"Don't you ever do that again you brat!"
"I will make my best attempt not too." he muttered dryly before he and Pikachu looked at each other in shock.
"Pikachu...did I just understand you?" A stupefied nod was his only answer Ash peered around the cavernous room in interest absently noting Lucario beginning to stir next to him, but that wasn't what had caught his attention.
"Hey Pikachu, what happened to Kidd and Mew?" Pikachu glanced up from where he had been cuddling against Ash's side.
"Lady Mew left saying she needed to check on the Pokemon that live here and Kidd said she needed to go and left right before you woke up." Ash made a noise of understanding and nodded thoughtfully. "And the basket?" He said directing a curious look at the basket that appeared to have been woven out of what looked like reeds.
"Lord Arceus left that for you, I have no idea what's in it." Ash nodded again eyes thoughtful. A quite groan distracted him and his eyes shot toward Lucario whos bright red eyes flicked open, the jackle like Pokemon jolted upright in shock when he saw Ash awake next to him. It wasn't a dream! They where still alive, Arceus had brought them back like Lady Rin said.
"Ash."
"Yeah Lucario?"Ash said with a weak grin.
"You should be proud to call yourself Aaron's son."
"I know." His expression closed off eyes gaining a glint of sorrow before he reined his emotions back in.
"Trust me, I know." Lucario just nodded crimson eyes showing nothing. Pikachu grimaced at the tension in the air and tried to figure out a way to change the subject. Grinning slightly when he remembered the basket Arceus left his trainer.
"Hey Ash are we gonna check out what Arceus left you or not?" Ash glanced up rousing himself from his thoughts.
"Oh yeah I forgot about that." Pikachu hopped off of him and with a grunt of effort he was standing. Ash wavered for a moment before getting his bearings back and slowly moving toward said basket. Crouching down in front of it, Ash didn't bother to glance up when he heard the slight shift of gravel next to him signifying that Lucario and Pikachu had followed. Reaching forward he quickly undid the buckles holding it closed and levered the top open. Lucario grinned slightly when he saw what was in there while Ash blinked in surprise before grinning along with his friend. Before he removing anything out he reached out and grabbed the note laying on top of the neatly organized pile.
-My chosen one
I forgot to have Aaron tell you, You are to go to Iron island of the Sinnoh region and find a man named Riley. He is a aura guardian and will train you, while Lucario is capable of teaching you some of the simpler things he will not be able to show you anything more complicated than Aura sight.
-Arceus
"Well, I guess we're going to Iron island." Ash muttered not in any mood to disobey Arceus and make him even angerier than he already seemed too be. The other two just nodded in agreement having the same feelings as Ash on the matter.
"So are you gonna put it on or what?" demanded Pikachu gesturing with a flick of his tail at the basket. Ash smirked eyes glittering. "Eh...sure why not?"
LINE BREAK. I AM A LINE BREAK. MWHAHAHAHA BOW BEFORE ME!
Ash tugged carefully at his gloves then spun around holding his arms out for Pikachu and Lucario's inspection. A midnight blue tunic fell almost to his knees cut in the triangular way that Arron had favored. Dark blue and bronze boots came almost up to knees and were laced tightly.
Instead of the gray breaches and undershirt his father had worn, Ash's own were pitch black and the entire outfit was completed with a black cloak that fell almost to the ground with the inside lined with some form of fur, Along with his fathers gloves and a dark brown leather belt and satchel.
He definitely looked the part of a Aura guardian, the only thing truly different between his fathers outfit and his own was the fact that Ash no longer had a hat.
Apparently while he and Lucario had been saving Mew his eyes had been changed colors and his hair had grown about five inches and now hung about his shoulders in a spiky wave. He asked Lucario about it but he just shrugged and said he didn't know how human bodies reacted to depleting themselves of aura followed by dying before being brought back to life with half of Lord Arceus soul.
Ash decided to wait until they met Riley before asking Lucario any more aura related questions.
"So what do you guys think?" The look on Lucario's face was sorrowful as he gazed at the boy with a faraway glint in his eyes, remembering something.
"You look great Ash!" Pikachu chirped brightly not noticing the somber feelings coming from the other two.
"Thanks Pikachu." He said smiling wanly at the yellow mouse like Pokemon. After a moment Lucario came back to himself with a small head shake.
"I agree with Pikachu, you actually look like a guardian now." Ash wondered if he was imagining the slightly taunting tone in Lucario's voice but decided to ignore it. There was no doubt in his mind that the jackal like Pokemon could kick his butt if he managed to get on his nerves.
"Come on," He murmured after a moment of silent contemplation "Let's go find the others."