CH 20: Future, present, and past
It was early in the morning in Celadon city and the group was up in the pokemon center having breakfast.
"Four badges, that means you're half way to the Indigo league." Red said.
"I know, we're that much closer to the elite four.".
"Pika."
"So where's your guys next stop?" Korrina asked.
"Well we're going to pass through Saffron city then head to Lavander town for the showcase there." Serena said.
"I wish we could be there to see your showcase Serena, but the mentor has requested us to return to the enclave. We'll need to head out by the end of the day." Korrina said.
"Well it was nice getting to meet you guys, I always wondered what Ash's brother would be like." Brock said.
Moments later the doors to the pokemon center opened as a man came sprinting inside.
"Turn on he tv! Turn on the tv!" He shouted.
"What?" Nurse Joy asked.
"Kanto news!" He shouted. Nurse Joy took the remote and turned on the tv.
Ash and the others looked on the screen and saw a newscast. A woman reporter was standing beside dozens of Kanto soldiers in full battle uniforms and kevlar with M4 assault rifles with several several Arcanine, Charizard, and Nidoking with armor plates on them as well and a few tanks.
Below the reporter were the words "Saffron under Siege"
"Saffron under Siege?" Serena asked.
"Ladies and gentlemen around Kanto, I'm afraid the rumors are true. Saffron city has been overtaken by the criminal terrorist organization team rocket." The reporter said.
"What!?" The entire group nearly shouted.
"Pika!".
"Yes, late last night there were reports of gas attacks in the police station and across the streets. Hundreds of rocket members now occupy the city. The army has taken control of the situation and has set up a perimeter around the entire city, not letting anyone in or out. Unfortunately team rocket has given the army this message."
A video appeared of a man wearing a white shirt and pants with a red r pocked protector and short light blue hair with blue eyes.
"Hello people of Kanto, allow me to introduce myself. I am rocket executive Archer, I'm afraid our boss couldn't be here to give you the message himself. So I'll just have to do. In any case I'm here to tell you that Saffron city belongs to team rocket. To the government we say that if the army makes any attempt to retake the city, we will detonate the bombs we have placed in the hospital, the schools, the pokemon center, and the sewers below the buildings."
"Bombs!" Brock shouted.
"We will inform he army when we are in need of more supplies in the city. They will deliver them or the people of Saffron will face the consequences." Archer said.
The screen went back to the reporter.
"There you have it folks, Saffron city and its people are now under the control of team rocket. Lieutenant General Thompson of the army, who is in charge of the army's containment of the city, has urged us that the army has the situation in the best control that they can. He also reminds the people of Saffron city that they are not being abandoned and they will be rescued." The reporter said.
"By Reduka." Korrina said.
"I can't believe team rocket actually took control of a city." Ash said.
"I knew they might try something bold eventually, but this." Red said.
"Pikachu."
"This is out of control." Lucy said.
"The mentor is certainly going to let us know about this." Red said.
"We should get going now. Sense of urgency." Korrina said.
"Right, guys we need to go. I'm sorry we have to leave so quickly but." Red started.
"We understand." Serena said.
"Red, Korrina, jet let us know if and when the Mentor going to execute a mission to free the city. I want in." Ash said.
"Me too." Lucy said.
"Alright will do." Red said.
"Red." Korrina said motioning towards Ash.
"Oh right." Red said as he opened his bag and took out a rock shaped like leaved held together.
"What is that?" Brock said. Ash realized it was the same rock he saw the day before.
"The rock?" Ash asked.
"It's called a time flower. They are special plants that are able to store aura in them and hold them for thousands of years." Red said.
"How?" Serena asked.
"Even we aren't completely sure." Korrina said.
"Aura guardians from the past used them to store their memories so that future guardians could read them and learn from the past. This was given to me by the mentor and I've been reading the memories of the guardian since then whenever I can. But I've finished it and I thought you should see it too." Red said as he handed it to Ash.
Ash was intrigued by this, he remembered seeing the memories of Vaeron and how enlightening they were. He would like to see something like that again.
"Thanks Red." Ash said before the two brothers had a quick hug.
"I hope we can see each other soon again." Korrina said. She and Red left the pokemon center as the others finished their breakfast with their pokemon.
"Hey I just realized we have a problem." Lucy said.
"Does it involve team rocket and Saffron city?" Brock asked.
"Yes, it does. We were planning on heading to Lavender town through Saffron city. How are we suppose to get there now?" Lucy asked. The others all realized the same thing.
"You're right! My showcase!" Serena almost shouted in fear.
"It's alright let me just take out my map." Brock said as he took out the map of Kanto.
"Aha here's what we'll do, we head west through route 16. The go south until we hit route 18. Then we go through Fuchsia city, then take route 15, then 14, then 13, then 12 and then we'll finally be there." Brock said.
"Brock , the showcase is in 4 days!" Serena shouted.
"Ok that's not an option?" Brock said.
"Oh what are we going to do?" Serena said.
"Well there is another option, but it would mean separating the group temporarily." Ash said.
"What is it?" Serena asked.
"Well Charizard could fly you and me around Saffron city right to Lavender town. But we'd have to be separated from you guys for a long time." Ash said.
"Not necessarily." Brock said.
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked.
"Well Ash's idea just gave me an idea. What if Lucy and I travelled underground using Onix's dig to burrow under Saffron city." Brock said.
"You can do that?" Serena asked.
"I've done it before, it's just hard to ride more than two people." Brock said.
"Eh, I'm willing to try something like that." Lucy said.
"Really you'd guys do that." Serena said.
"No problem, this showcase is important to you." Brock said.
"Thanks guys." Serena said. Ash turned to Charizard.
"Charizard we're going to need you to fly us for quite a ways today." Ash said.
"Grauu." Charizard said nodding indicating it wouldn't be a problem.
"Thanks Charizard." Ash said. After the pokemon finished their breakfast before the group made their way just outside of Celadon city.
"Alright Charizard is going to take us up and north of Saffron city , I'm guessing the army will have a no fly zone over the city itself." Ash said.
"Onix will burrow us directly under the city." Brock said.
"We'll see you there." Brock said.
He and Lucy climbed onto Onix's back as Lucy wrapped her hands around Brock's waist and the massive rock snake began to burrow his way underground.
"Hold on, this will get bumpy." Brock said.
Once they were gone Ash let out Charizard.
"Maybe those two will finally get together down there." Serena said before she took out Eevee's pokeball.
"Sorry Eevee, but flying is a little to dangerous, I don't want to risk you falling." Serena said as she put him in his pokeball.
"Thanks again for this Ash, after what happened in Saffron city. Then again I suppose the people there have bigger things to worry about." Serena said sweat dropping.
"It's alright, I'm sure the guardians and army will be able to stop team rocket eventually. In the mean time we have a showcase to get you to." Ash said as he let Charizard out.
"Alright ready Charizard?" Ash asked.
"Grauu." Charizard said nodding.
Not a moment later Charla came out of her pokeball.
"Char." She said.
"What? Charla what are you doing out of your pokeball?" Serena asked.
"Char." Charla said looking at Charizard and slightly blushing.
"Pika?" Pikachu said as he explained to Ash what Charla said.
"Alright Pikachu says that Charla wants to fly with Charizard to get a feel of it. So that when she fly's some day it will feel more natural." Ash said.
Pikachu , Ash, and Serena sweat dropped as Charizard closed his eyes and let out a small exhale.
"Charizard do you mind?" Ash asked.
"Grauu." Charizard said shaking his head.
"Char!".
Ash and Serena climbed onto Charizard's back as Pikachu leapt down onto Ash's lap. Charla climbed up onto the top of Charizard's neck and held onto the sides of his head.
Ash held onto Charizard as Serena wrapped her arms around Ash's waist as Charizard kicked off the ground and flew into the air.
Charizard flew high above clouds with the wind moving against his face. It had been some time since Charizard had been able to fly freely like this. He enjoyed the freedom of the air and the wind in his face.
Charla had never flown before and like Charizard took great enjoyment out of it.
"Char." She said before she looked down at Charizard's face and blushed a little.
"I haven't gotten to fly on Charizard in a while. I've missed this." Ash said.
"It always was fun riding Charizard while he flew." Serena said as she held onto Ash.
"Pika." Pikachu said as he looked up at Ash. Ash looked down at Pikachu.
"Pika, Pikachu." Pikachu said. Pikachu reminded him about what he had talked about with Red and Korrina back in Celadon city. He brought up that now might be a good idea to talk to Serena about the whole thing.
"I guess you're right Pikachu." Ash said.
He turned his head back towards Serena.
"So Serena I was talking with Red and Korrina back in Celadon city about their future. Red said he's probably going to ask Korrina to marry him in about a year." Ash said.
"Really?" Serena asked.
"Yes and apparently Korrina is in on it. They said they wanted to spend at least another year doing as much work for the brotherhood as possible."
"Why can't they be married and still do work for the brotherhood?" Serena asked.
"Korrina said and quite "Once we get married it won't be long until we start having kids, and that will take up more time."" Ash said sweat dropping with Pikachu.
"Wow." Serena said also sweat dropping.
"Well you know Korrina she's always been very much in love with Red , and passionate about it." Ash said.
"Remember the time she tried to sneak into the shower with him." Serena said.
"I never heard Red scream like that before." Ash said. Before the three laughed a little.
"You know Serena, it actually got me thinking more about us." Ash said.
Serena blushed.
"Ash, what are you saying?" She said nervously.
"I'm just wondering about our future. I do love you Serena, and we're not teenagers anymore. I'm going to be twenty one in 2 months. We've been together since we were 14, that's almost 7 years." Ash said.
"I guess it has, I guess you just loose track of time when you're in love." Serena said blushing.
"Yeah, I guess it does." Ash said.
Meanwhile underground Brock and Lucy were ridding Onix as he burrowed his way under Saffron city. In a large cavern Onix was taking a rest while Brock and Lucy laid next to each other up against him. Brock gave him some food to help him recover some energy.
"I can't believe we actually found an underground cavern, this place is beautiful." Brock said.
"This is fun, I've never ridden an Onix underground before." Lucy said.
"I remember my dad use to do this with my brothers and I when we were younger." Brock said.
"You got along with your siblings well didn't you" Lucy said.
"Yeah, I had a great childhood with so many little brothers and sisters. I was never alone when I wanted someone to play with, and they always had someone to be with when they were having a hard time. Even if I was the oldest I could come to them if I was having trouble." Brock said.
"I wish I could have had a similar childhood." Lucy said.
"What? But you have a sister , Barbara." Brock said.
"Barbara and I didn't always have such a special relationship." Lucy said.
"But she seemed so protective of you. She scolded me when I didn't call you queen Lucy." Brock said.
"Here's the full story. Neither of my parents were aura guardians, but my father's mother was. When I turned 6 we found out that I could use aura, but Barbara took too much after our mother and couldn't. My grandmother wanted my to become a guardian like her and my father's brother, but my father who was the battle pike frontier Brian since I was older. Because of all this I got most of our father's attention and my grandparents attention instead of Barbara." Lucy said.
"Well I can sort of relate to that, my father always seemed to give me a bit more time than my siblings when he started training me to become gym leader." Brock said.
"You ever get the feeling that your siblings were mad at you because of it?" Lucy asked.
"Forest a little, but he was more frustrated with my dad than me." Brock said.
"I just wish Barbara would have talked to me about it. She kept her frustration kept inside. I was her amazing so much better than her older sister, the future frontier brain and aura guardian and she was just the little sister."
"That's so sad." Brock said.
"I wanted to try and get close with her again but I had to spent so much time training to become an aura guardian and a frontier brain. It certainly didn't help that my parents kept putting in her mind how great I was going to be. The frontier brain and Pike queen. By the time we were both adults she saw me more as Pike queen Lucy rather than her sister. It's part of the reason she doesn't want people around me. " Lucy said.
"I'm so sorry Lucy, I couldn't imagine being that estrained from any of my siblings." Brock said.
"I know, I've tried to reconcile with her lately, but I just can't seem to get anywhere with her." Lucy said.
"You know maybe some day if we meet back up with her I can try and help you two. Having as many brothers and sisters as I do I've gotten pretty good at helping siblings reconcile with each other when they are in a hard place. I could probably help you two" Brock said.
"Really?" Lucy asked.
"Of course." Brock said. Lucy blushed a little.
"Well when that day comes, I should warn you. She might try to drag you away from the queen." Lucy joked.
"Well maybe she won't if we're together." Brock said before he took her hands and his face turned red.
"We're meant to be together my love. Let is happen today." Brock said as Lucy blushed even more.
"Just do it you idiot do it now." Lucy said to herself.
"I know that we're meant to be together, we just need to." Brock started before Lucy put her hand behind his head and kissed him.
"Hmp!" Brock shouted with Lucy's lips on his.
Almost 20 seconds later she withdrew as both their faced stayed completely red.
Neither said anything as Onix stared at them both.
"Groo." He said looking confused.
"Sooooo." Lucy said sounding nervous.
"Yeah." Brock said putting his hand behind his head sound just as nervous.
Elsewhere in a small clearing just north east of Saffron city , Charizard was taking a rest while drinking some water.
Ash and Serena were resting up against his stomach with Serena's head rested up against Ash's shoulder. Charla too was laying down beside Charizard's head.
"Char." She said slightly blushing.
"Gar." He said back.
"Char." Charla said asking him more about his early life.
"Grrau." Charizard said talking about Damian and how Ash rescued him from the storm.
"Char." Charla said before looking over at Ash for a moment.
"Char." Charla said asking a rather direct question. Had he ever been in a relationship before.
"Grr." Charizard growled sounding like he was sighing.
He tried to tell her not to ask him about that, he also noted that she needed to stop her persistent advances towards him. Saying that he was too old for her and it would never work.
"Char!" Charla growled with a rather firm tone.
Charizard turned to her as she growled again. She claimed that a certain someone had told her to be confident in who she was and to never give up, on anything.
Charizard gave a slight hint of a smile, slightly impressed with what she had just done.
"Grauu." Charizard growled telling her a bit about Delphox and how he thought they were going to end up together.
"Char." Charla said not liking the sound of Delphox, despite the fact that she was Serena's starter pokemon.
"Grauu." Charizard growled saying it was for the best, that she was much happier with Zoroark.
"Char." Charla said claiming that maybe it was for the best, that there was someone else out there for him.
"Grau" Charizard growled sighing again.
As this was happening, Ash, Serena, and Pikachu were watching the two talk.
"Look at those two love birds." Serena said.
"I wonder how the other two love birds are doing underground?" Ash asked.
"Good I hope." Serena said.
"So Serena, like I was saying earlier. Have you ever thought about us, in the long run. What the future looks like for us?" Ash asked with his face turning slightly red.
"I really don't know, I always thought we'd just stay together. I mean there's no one else I want to be with more than you Ash." Serena said with her head still resting on his shoulder.
"But would you want to spend the rest of your life with me?" Ash asked nervously.
Serena brought her face in front of Ash's.
"Ash, after everything we've been through I feel like that shouldn't need an answer. I couldn't imagine life without you." Serena said.
Ash blushed a little more before putting his hand behind her head and kissing her.
Later that night Charizard landed near the end of route 7 where he saw a large hole in the ground. Outside the hole were Lucy, Brock, and Onix.
"There you guys are, you made great time." Serena said.
"Onix loves digging." Brock said.
"Well we aren't far from Lavender town. We should make camp here and head get there in the morning." Lucy said.
"Sounds good." Ash said. After setting up camp and having dinner, Brock was nervously sitting outside Lucy's tent waiting for her to come out.
She came out for a moment when she saw brock.
"Brock." She said as her face turned red.
"Lucy." He said nervously as his face turned red.
"So uh, neither of us have talked about what happened earlier in the caverns and well." Brock said nervously.
""Sigh" You're right, it did happen and we have to address it. Eventually, but what's say for now we just stick with friends. But just maybe a little bit closer." Lucy said.
"Alright, just remember you may be my friend that's just a little bit closer." He said before taking her hands.
"But you're also the love of my life." He said.
Lucy's face turned red before she put her hand behind his head and kissed him.
"I'm still allowed to do that." She said.
Elsewhere in Ash and Serena's tent, Serena was already fast asleep, as was Pikachu who was on his pillow.
Ash had a lot on his mind after talking with Serena.
"She wants to spend the rest of her life with you, and you want to spend the rest of your life with her. Should I, no, you're only 20 years old. You should at least wait until after the pokemon league. " Ash said to himself. He was about to go to bed when he remembered the time flower.
"Right." He said before he reached into his bag and took it out. The time flower had a definite aura presence around it. Ash took a deep breath and connected with this aura.
The time flower began to glow and Ash felt a strange sensation. His senses began to fade as his vision turned white for nearly a minute.
Ash's vision returned to him. He saw the vision that he had seen with Vaeron. He looked down at the person before him and saw it was an aura guardian. The aura guardian wore a blue and grey hooded robe with patches of armor on it.
He had light skin with blue eyes and Dark blue spiky hair. Something about this aura guardian seemed all to familiar.
The aura guardian looked like he was around 18 years old and was ridding on the saddle of a large Rapidash. Sitting behind him was a young Lucario with his arms around his trainer's chest.
"We're almost there Lucario." He said before they saw it. A massive mountain shaped like a large pine tree stood ahead and above them.
"What is that?" Ash thought to himself.
"The tree of Beginning Lucario. It's even more magnificent that my father described it. I can feel the power even from here." The aura guardian said.
"Yes, I can feel it's power too." Ash heard.
"What the?" Ash thought when he realized it was the Lucario. Normally an aura guardian could communicate with each other in a way that the guardian could know what the pokemon was thinking or translating what they could say.
But this was something completely different, this Lucario was using his aura to directly talk outloud.
"Amazing." Ash thought to himself.
"The Kingdom of Rota." The aura guardian said. Ash looked down and saw at the base of the massive tree mountain was a large city village surrounding an island surrounded by a small lake with a massive castle in the center.
"Cameran Palace." The aura guardian said as approached the village walls.
At the main entrance a pair of guards in blue tunics with gray armor places on their chest , parts of their arms and legs brought their hands up informing him to stop.
Beside them were a Nidorino and Arbok wearing armor plates on part of their bodies.
"Halt, state your business." One of the guards said. The other guard looked closer and saw the Guardian's robe.
"Open the gate you fools this is one of the guardians his majesty has been expecting." The other guard said. The gate opened as Rapidash walked inside.
The city/village itself seemed to be flourishing. The buildings were in good repair, the shops were filled, and many healthy people and pokemon strolled the clean streets.
"Quite a kingdom. It's not as big as Viridian city though." The guardian said.
"True, but this one is less overwhelming. There is more natural life here." Lucario said.
The Rapidash continued through the streets until he reached the bridge that lead to the castle. A pair of Guards with an Arcanine stood at castle gates at the end of the bridge.
The aura guardian and his Lucario dismounted from the Rapidash.
"Welcome guardian the king is expecting you inside. " The first guard said as he signaled for the gate to be opened.
The guardian and his Lucario walked in as one of the guards took his Rapidash to a stable area. The guardian and his Lucario walked through the courtyard past several servants, guards, and a few pokemon.
Once he walked inside the castle the guardian saw another aura guardian with a Blastoise beside him. The guardian looked like he was about 40 with black hair and green eyes. He had a black mustang goatee. He wore black and blue hooded robes with armor around it. The man was over 6 feet tall and covered in muscles with a barrel chested body type.
"Aaron there you are. We've been waiting here all day." He said.
"Sorry Maximus, we couldn't fly of ride the river here." The guardian said.
"No pokemon is faster on the water than Blastoise." Maximus said as his Blastoise stood up tall and looked proud.
"Perhaps we shouldn't keep the king and mentor waiting." Lucario said.
"Right let's go." Aaron said as the 4 walked into the throne room.
Inside there were a dozen guards, a guard captain and a pair of Poliwrath wearing armor over their chests with a hole in the center.
By the throne were several people. An older man with a white beard wearing expensive looking blue robes and a bejeweled crown. To his right was a boy who looked about 10 years old with thick black hair and blue eyes.
To his left was a young woman with long blonde hair and green eyes. She wore a long blue and light blue gown with a gold belt around her waist, below her chest and a large gold necklace with a jewel in the chest area.
Sitting in her lap was a Mime Jr.
The young woman looked about 17 years old and immediately caught Aaron's eyes. Lucario noticed his partner staring at the princess.
Standing beside the throne were a trio of aura guardians. Two of the aura guardians wore black and white armored hooded robes with cloth over their mouths. Beside them were an Alakazam and Gengar.
The third Aura guardian was clearly the oldest of the guardians there. He looked about 48 years old with brown eyes and a face with many small battle scars on it. He had rather lengthy graying raven black hair along with a mustache and beard. Not a long beard but not short either.
He wore a hooded robe that was either black or very dark blue, it was hard to tell, that had the aura guardian spade symbol on the stomach area. It also had a black cape with a red inside and multiple pieces of metal and leather armor over the guardian's shoulders, arms, and chest.
Standing beside the aura guardian was a massive and older looking Charizard. The Charizard was about the same size as Daniel Rian's Charizard.
Ash couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something very familiar about the older aura guardian and his Charizard. But what?
"Aaron at last you have arrived my son." The older aura guardian said.
"That voice!" Ash thought to himself.
"Forgive your son Vaeron, he can only move so fast on a Rapidash." Maximus said.
"Vaeron! It's him! Wait if Aaron is his son, then that means." Ash thought to himself.
"Sorry father, we came as soon as we could." Aaron said.
"It is quite alright, I'm glad you could all be here." The elder king said as he picked up his scepter and stood up.
Ash looked at the scepter and saw a large gemstone attached to the top.
"Wait a minute, is that?" Ash asked.
"Sir Aaron, I would like to introduce you to my children. My son Domenico, and my daughter Rin." The king said as both his children respectfully bowed to Aaron and Lucario.
"Welcome to the kingdom of Rota." Rin said softly.
"Thank you for welcoming us." Aaron said as he respectfully kneeled before the royal family with Lucario.
"It means so much to us that the legendary aura guardians would come here to defend our kingdom. It means even more that Vaeron the Great, Savior of the Kalos region would personally come here to defend us from the house of Giath." The king said.
"We work to defend the people and the pokemon of the world. If the ruling body of Kanto won't recognize the house of Giath as a threat, we will." Vaeron said.
"We thank you for that. Our kingdom guard alone could not possibly stand alone against the Giath's army." Rin said.
"Rin our other guests are settled in, would you mind showing Sir Aaron to his quarters." The king said.
"Yes father." Rin said.
Ash saw Vaeron noticing how eager his son was following the princess.
The three were walking down the hallways of the castle.
"This is quite a kingdom." Aaron said.
"Thank you Sir Aaron, and again for all you and your brotherhood are doing to protect us." Rin said.
"It is our duty as aura guardians. To protect the innocent people and pokemon of the world. For countless generations, my bloodline has been in the guardian brotherhood. My father did so much, I only wish I can accomplish half of what he has done." Aaron said.
"I'm sure you will do great things some day Sir Aaron, just you being here is a sign that you are a man who is willing to put his life on the line to protect innocents. Most who he will not even know. That in itself is a greater accomplishment than most will achieve." Rin said.
She eventually lead Aaron and Lucario to a room with a bed , a few drawers and closet in it.
"Here is where you will stay." Rin said.
"Thank you for your hospitality." Aaron said before Rin walked off. Aaron watched her as she walked away.
"You desire her Aaron." Lucario said.
"Huh, what? No, I do not." Aaron said.
"Yes you do, you desire her like a Mankey desires a banana." Lucario said smiling.
"Very funny, I'm here to protect her and her family." Aaron said. Moments later they were joined by Vaeron, his Charizard, Maximus, and his Blastoise.
"Father." Aaron said.
"Mentor." Lucario said.
"So my son welcome to your home for the next few years. Come with me, we need to talk." Vaeron said. Aaron and Lucario followed the older aura guardians down the hallway.
"You know what the king possesses correct?" Maximus said.
"Yes and we can never allow it to fall into the hands of the Giath. But why don't we just take it and put it somewhere safe?" Aaron asked.
"It is an heirloom of his people, it is not our place to simply take it. Nevertheless so long as he has it, the Giath will try and take it. The king is a good man and his people are innocent. It is our duty as guardians to protect them." Vaeron said.
"You're right." Vaeron said.
"Speaking of the royal family, we saw you take interest in the princess." Maximus said.
Aaron's face turned red.
"I don't feel that way for her." Aaron said.
"You're not a good liar my son." Vaeron said.
"You've never been a good liar" Lucario mocked.
" My son, you must not pursue her. She is of royal blood, and you are a guardian, it would never work." Vaeron said.
"But father."
"No buts my son, there are plenty of other women out there for you. Just this one is off limits." Vaeron said.
"Besides as much as I hate to admit it, I must agree with your father. You are perhaps the brotherhood's most promising young guardian. Some day when your father grows too old to be mentor , I will take his place. Then maybe someday when I grow to old for the position, I may consider you as my replacement." Maximus said.
"I look forward to that day Maximus, the day you are too old." Aaron said.
"Very funny boy." Maximus said.
Eventually the group reached a balcony where they could see the tree of begging.
"It's magnificent isn't it." Aaron said.
"More than you know my son, it's sacred. The place where Reduka created the first life in this world, and all his legendary children." Vaeron said.
"What?" Aaron said.
"It's true, that place is the most sacred ground on the planet. Some say one of his legendary pokemon still resides there." Maximus said.
"When we first arrived in Kanto Charizard and I came here to journey into the tree. When we found the heart of the tree it changed us." Vaeron said.
"I remember when I journeyed inside the tree. I was 25, Blastoise and I were different guardians when we came out." Maximus said.
Aaron and Lucario starred deeply at the tree.
"Some day when you are ready, you and Lucario should journey inside the tree as well." Vaeron said.
"Well I should get going, Blastoise and I could use something to eat." Maximus said as he and his Blastoise walked off.
"He's quite the guardian isn't he." Aaron said.
"He is, he's saved many lives and done much good." Vaeron said as he and his son looked up at the tree with their partner pokemon.
"Grauu." Charizard growled.
"That's right. Have you been using the time flower like I told you to my son?" Vaeron asked.
Aaron reached into his robe and took out the same time flower that Ash was holding.
"The time flower." Ash said.
"Good my son, the time flower will store your aura memories inside and allow future guardians to experience what you've experienced. Something that will give them guidance in the future, it has certainly helped me." Vaeron said as he took out a much older looking red time flower.
Ash noticed that the time flower had a marking made on it, a black spade symbol in the center.
"Is that your time flower father?" Aaron asked.
"No, this is mine." Vaeron said as he took out a blue one.
"Then who's is that?" Lucario asked.
"It belonged to an ancient aura guardian, one who was greater than even I." Vaeron said.
"I doubt that." Aaron said.
Vaeron and Charizard smiled.
"If you knew who it was, then you'd likely agree. However, I'm not finished with it yet. When I am I will allow you to use it." Vaeron said.
"Very well , thank you father." Aaron said as he and Lucario continued staring at the tree of begging.
Ash's vision turned white as he felt him regain himself. He opened his eyes and saw he was back in his tent with Serena asleep beside him.
"Woah, Red was right." Ash said.
Author's note:
Yup a few big things happen,
We see Brock and Lucy finally go somewhere, but Like they said they're not dating just something closer than friends.
We also see Ash and Serena talk about their future a bit,
Lastly we get to one of my favorite parts, the past guardian memories. I love writing those and this won't be the only one, but they may not happen every chapter right after each other.
So until next time, please review, comment, suggest, or ask(via PM)