After the tournament, there was a large party held in congratulations for Hariel winning the tournament.
Hariel nervously stood on stage as Queen Ilene walked towards her with a staff in her arms.
From the crystal of the staff, Hariel could sense something…powerful and alive.
"This is the staff of the Guardian that once belonged to the great Sir Aaron," Queen Ilene revealed. "In tradition to our contest, the winner of the tournament is named Aura Guardian of the Year and is presented with this staff."
"Incredible," Hariel breathed.
"Absol," the Dark type looked at the staff with wonder.
"On the behalf of my Kingdom, this staff is yours for the duration of your stay here," Queen Ilene said.
"I am honoured," Hariel bowed and Absol copied her action as she graciously was gifted the staff.
As Queen Ilene went to announce the start of the ball, Hariel looked at the crystal intently.
"Is something the matter, Hariel?" Steven asked as he walked over.
"This staff…no…this crystal. There is something sealed inside it," Hariel said, concentrating and furrowing her brow.
"Something sealed?" Steven asked questioningly.
Hariel probed the crystal with her magic and could definitely feel a pulse of life inside. She felt anger, resentment, betrayal, and sadness and tried to sooth its desolate emotions.
"Whatever or whoever is sealed in here is…anger and bitter. It feels sad and betrayed…I wonder what could have happened," Hariel said worriedly.
Steven wrapped an arm around her in comfort.
"Hey Hariel, I can't believe that staff really belonged to Sir Aaron!" Ash said with excitement, walking up to her.
"I can't believe it either…" Hariel said, sharing a glance with Steven.
And Steven was pretty freaked out by the portrait of Sir Aaron over all. The man looked just like a friend of his named Riley, who he himself was studying to become an Aura Guardian. Riley was a young man who studied a bit under Steven's tutelage as the former wanted to specialize in Steel Types like the Champion.
As the dancing began, Ash and May let out their pokémon for some fun and Hariel did as well.
Metagross and Skarmory were a bit big so Steven opted to keep them in their balls for now.
"May I ask the Guardian for a dance?" Steven asked gallantly, appealing to the Queen's maid at Hariel's side. Hariel was supposed to keep watch over the party as a dignified observer, but Steven's charms allowed the maid to be swayed for just one dance.
Steven elegantly led Hariel through the waltz, making it easy for the witch to follow.
"So have you had any luck figuring out that staff?" Steven asked.
"It calms down when it's just me and you, but oddly enough when Ash gets near the staff, it gets agitated again," Hariel answered.
"But Ash hasn't done anything to the staff," Steven said confused.
"It's possible that Ash's energy feels similar to whoever had sealed the being away in the staff in the first place. Everyone has a different feel to their energies, even you," Hariel said.
Which was true, but only if she was looking for it. Sensing wasn't a talent she activated all the time.
Steven decided to keep quiet and enjoy the dance with Hariel, and when the song ended, he led her back to the chair she had once been sitting on.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out," Steven said, and placed a kiss upon her hand before leaving to get a drink for the both of them.
"My, he's a keeper," the maid giggled.
Hariel blushed slightly in response.
Soon the night came to an end.
"Now the Guardian will signal for the fireworks display," Queen Ilene said.
"Assume the pose of the Guardian!" the maid whispered.
Hariel took one look at the handsome and heroic portrait of Sir Aaron and copied his pose.
Steven grinned and took a picture of Hariel.
The fireworks then went off and the crowd oohed and awed at the beautiful display.
Before long though, the merriment was disrupted when the staff started to glow brightly.
"What's going on?" the maid asked, stunned.
"The staff…whatever is sealed inside is breaking free!" Hariel explained before she was pushed back and caught by Steven.
A blue jackal-like pokémon appeared kneeling before the crowd. It then stood up and seemed to be looking around and looking for something despite the fact that its eyes were clearly closed. It ran towards Hariel before looking around once again.
It seemed to have found whatever it was looking for in Ash and dashed over to him.
"Sir Aaron! Why did you abandon the queen?!" the pokémon demanded.
"What? I don't understand?" Ash replied with nervousness and confusion.
The pokémon then opened its eyes and jumped back in shock once it got a good look at Ash. It looked around in great confusion before running away.
"What was that?" Ash asked.
"That was a Lucario," Steven answered, looking amazed. "But I've never seen a Lucario who could use Telepathy. Incredible!"
"Lucario is a pokémon, who according to the legends, served under Sir Aaron," Queen Ilene answered.
"In there?" Ash asked incredulously, gesturing to the staff still in Hariel's hands.
Ash's group, Steven, Hariel, and the Queen gave chase to Lucario and eventually found him in a mausoleum full of antiques in glass classes.
"Lady Rin!" Lucario exclaimed, perking up with joy.
The maid turned on the lights and Queen Ilene smiled sadly.
"Unfortunately I'm not who you think I am. I am Lady Ilene, and Lady Rin was an ancestor of mine," Queen Ilene clarified as she slowly walked up to the pokémon and hugged him. "You've been asleep for a long time, Lucario."
"Is it possible?" Lucario asked, stunned.
"I'm telling you the truth," Queen Ilene said sadly.
"But I was just in this room a few days ago!" Lucario denied.
"Believe me, it may have seemed like a few days to you, but the reality is that you haven't walked inside this palace for centuries," Queen Ilene explained.
Lucario looked absolutely gob smacked and looked around the room at all the artifacts. Everything, despite being well taken care of, were old and clearly aged. Nothing new like he had once seen.
"According to the legends, a few days before the end of the battle, you disappeared," Queen Ilene said once everyone had been sent home except for Ash and his friends, Steven, and Hariel.
"The two armies were on the move, and the palace was right in between them. I was sent out to see if I could stop the battle…but it was hopeless," Lucario revealed.
"But then, how was Sir Aaron able to make peace?" Ash asked curiously.
"What?"
"Our legend said that Sir Aaron found a way to end the battle and save the palace," the Queen explained.
"Impossible! Sir Aaron deserted the queen! He fled and trapped me inside the staff," Lucario said with a slight slump.
"Could it be that the legend is wrong?" Brock asked.
"Clearly we're missing something," Hariel sighed.
"We'll look into this further and determine what is truth and what is fiction," Queen Ilene said finally.
"I will do my best to help you," Lucario promised.
"Lucario, one thing hasn't changed," Queen Ilene smiled. "This palace is your home. Please feel free to stay here for as long as you like."
"I am deeply grateful to you," Lucario said, bowing to the queen.
"Hey Lucario, how come you thought I was Sir Aaron? Does this costume make me look like him?" Ash asked.
"No, it's because your aura is similar to Sir Aaron's," Lucario answered.
"So I was right," Hariel said.
"Right? About what?" May asked.
"When I was near the staff, I could sense that something, or rather, someone was inside the crystal. I could feel Lucario's emotions and I did my best to soothe them," Hariel said. "Lucario was calm near me, but whenever Ash was near the staff, he became agitated again."
"How can you tell something like that?" Brock asked.
"I've come from a long line of Psychics," Hariel explained.
"Like Sabrina!" Ash said suddenly.
"Sabrina?"
"Sabrina was the Saffron City Gym Leader who specializes in Psychic pokémon. She herself is a Psychic as well," Ash explained.
Brock shivered at the memory of the woman.
Then the conversation was interrupted when Max and all the pokémon came running into the room.
Max then got into a big spiel about how he saw the legendary pokémon Mew, and another woman, Kidd Summers, had confirmed Max's story. Queen Ilene and her maid also backed the two up, saying that Mew would come every once in a while to play, cause mischief, and even take toys.
However, the most astonishing thing was that Absol, Pikachu, and a Meowth were taken by Mew as well.
"Lux Luxray," Luxray's tail drooped. He didn't like his rival gone.
Milotic also cooed in sadness.
Queen Ilene and her maid showed the group to the highest balcony in the Palace where one could see what looked to be a giant tree on top of a mountain in the near distance.
"Do you see that? In the distance? That may look like a tree, but it's actually a rock formation," Queen Ilene said.
"Because of its great age, our ancestors called it the Tree of Beginning," the maid said.
Steven looked especially interested as he had a love for things like this. He had never heard of this rock formation before and wondered what kind of wonderful stones could be found there.
"That is where you can find Mew," Queen Ilene said.
"Great!" Ash said with determination.
"You must remember that Mew can change into any pokémon in the world," Queen Ilene warned. "It rarely shows its true form to humans so you may have trouble recognizing it."
"Then how are we going to find it?" May asked incredulously.
"Legend says that Lucario can lead the Guardian to anyone because he had learned to see the aura inside all things," the maid said.
"Lucario, do you really have the ability to see Aura?" Queen Ilene asked.
"I do," Lucario confirmed.
"Then can you lead Ash and Hariel to Mew?"
"If that is your wish," Lucario acquiesced with a bow. "It will be my honour."
"Hey Ash, Hariel, I'll go with you guys to the Tree of Beginning," Kidd said, revealing herself in a tight pink spandex suit with pink knee pads.
Her hair was also up in outrageously poofy pigtails on either side of her head.
Brock then recognized Kidd for who she was. The woman had the world record for holding the most world records in history and was some sort of modern day superwoman.
Apparently the woman wanted to find out all she could about the Tree of beginning to set another world record.
Hariel narrowed her eyes at that.
Later on after everyone was shown their rooms for the night, Hariel couldn't sleep and decided to follow Lucario. She could sense that he was troubled as he looked up at the portrait of Sir Aaron. Before she knew it, he disappeared and if it wasn't for her reflexes honed from dueling with Death Eaters, she would have been caught off guard from behind.
Hariel immediately flared up a shield and repelled the offender, who turned out to be Lucario.
"Why did you attack me?" Hariel asked.
"You snuck up on me, and that is always a mistake," Lucario replied.
Despite being repelled, he had managed to catch himself and land gracefully back onto the floor.
"I had just wanted to thank you for helping me and Ash find Absol and Pikachu," Hariel said sincerely.
"Are you Absol's master?" Lucario asked.
"In a way, some could call our relationship that. But truly, Absol is my dear friend and companion," Hariel answered.
"Friend?" Lucario questioned as if the concept was foreign to him.
"Yes…friends," Hariel confirmed, "Tell me Lucario, what was your relationship with Sir Aaron?"
"Sir Aaron was my master. He had taught he how to use Aura and he was very kind to me…but he betrayed the Lady Rin, me, and sealed me inside that staff," Lucario said, full of resentment.
"And yet the legends say that he was a Hero," Hariel said, striking a chord within Lucario, "Do you ever think that there is more to the tale of Sir Aaron than you know?"
"What more could there possibly be?" Lucario huffed angrily.
"If Sir Aaron taught you all he knew about Aura, and was kind to you, and even gave you a home…In what world would it make sense for him to suddenly turn his back on the Kingdom and its Queen he had served so faithfully? Why would he suddenly betray you seal you side that staff? For what purpose? As it stated in the Legend, the battle ended not long after you disappeared. Clearly there is something big we're missing, and I'm sure Sir Aaron is right in the center of it," Hariel said as she made her way to the exit of the ballroom.
Lucario looked thoughtful as he stared at the portrait of Sir Aaron.
"I have a feeling that we might get our answers at the Tree of Beginning," Hariel said. "But until then, try to hold your opinion. It's quite possible that your side of the story is true…but there's an even bigger possibility that it's not."
After she left, Lucario looked at where Hariel once was.
Like Sir Aaron, Hariel was strong for a human. She too had a great amount and control of her Aura…though her power was a bit different. It was like it was more…refined in a sense. Like there something alien about it, yet Hariel herself was not malicious. It was difficult to read her mind, but he could at least discern that much.
She held a noble heart, like Sir Aaron, and she seemed to firmly believe what she had said about his former master.
Could she be right? Could there be something about Sir Aaron he was missing?
'Sir Aaron, I will find out the truth!' Lucario vowed.