Episode 25: Mystery of the Vision! The Gym of Ancient Egypt!
"Aurora," called a voice. The Lucario looked around, seeing nothing as a storm blew around her, the wind roaring in her ears and sand choking her breath. "There is a chaos in the world that you and your friends will face in the near future. Seek out the ways of your ancestors to find new power to face this chaos."
The sandstorm raged, but through the veil appeared a great pyramid, Lightning striking behind it. The electric zapped down the sides, before a figure sparking with electricity appeared before Aurora. While she couldn't get a good look at the creature, she saw a flash of white fur before-
"…And that's where her vision ends," Delphi said, looking away from the fire at the end of her wand. "By my best guess, heading to Egypt is the best course of action."
"So that's why you asked me to join you all," Brandon said, the Frontier Brain following behind the trio as they stepped out of the airport into Cairo. "Well, as an archeologist, you've got the right man for the job! I'll make sure we find what you're looking for as safely as possible."
"How are you holding up, Aurora?" Dylan asked.
I'm fine, just a bit shaken by my vision, Aurora replied. But being here in Egypt, it almost feels like coming home in a strange way. Like there's a part of me here, waiting to be found.
"Zorua!" Inari chirped, hopping out of his ball and onto Aurora's head.
Don't worry, Inari, I'll be fine, Aurora smiled, picking up the Hisuian Zorua and snuggling him.
The group got a jeep and drove out to the pyramid from the vision. The desert sun fell down on them, so Dylan called out Poli'ahu to give them some snow to cool off. Kris brought Maui out as well, the two Hawaiian Pokémon happily playing in the back as they drove over the sea of sand. After only an hour the team made it to their destination, with Brandon calling out Regirock to stay with the car.
"In case a sandstorm happens, you need to make sure the vehicle doesn't get blow away," the Frontier Brain said, Regirock giving a beep of understanding.
"This is so cool, getting to go inside a pyramid!" Kris said.
"Just be careful, kids," Brandon warned. He pulled out a different Poké Ball, summoning a Dusclops to find a way into the structure. "While this particular pyramid has been carefully excavated by archeologists, there could still be a number of hidden traps for grave robbers."
"Not to mention Ghost Pokémon," Ashton added. "Gravesites are always home to a few of those."
Entering the pyramid, Ashton called out Vulcan for some light, with him and Delphi leading the way as their natural sources of fire let them illuminate the passages. Aurora kept her senses open, a paw pressed to the wall to feel for an unnatural aura within the structure. The Lucario eventually stopped, her eyes flashing as her paw felt a loose stone.
There's something hidden behind here! Aurora called out.
The group gathered around as the Lucario pressed the stone inward, causing the wall to move and reveal a hidden passage. "Ooh, secret rooms. So mysterious," Delphi giggled.
Following this new path, the group gasped in awe when they came out inside a room filled with various ancient treasures. Delphi squued in delight, wanting to jump into the piles of gold and swim in it, but was held back by Brandon.
"Let's not get too hasty here," he warned. "This much treasure surely means there's a trap."
"Hmph, you're no fun," Delphi huffed.
"There's a lot of stuff here," Kris said, holding up her Pokegear to scan the area. "Elemental stones, various items used in evolutions, not to mention sold gold coins."
"Is that a mummified Purrloin statue?" Ashton asked.
"Yes, the Ancient Egyptians held their cats in high regard, and would have them mummified as well," Brandon explained.
"And check out this stuffed Absol," Ashton noted, pointing to a visage of a sleeping Absol. "It looks so real!"
Suddenly the Absol sat up, eyes flashing as the door to the room slammed shut. The Disaster Pokémon gave a growl, causing the other Pokémon to take a defensive stance. A chill blew through the room as on a golden throne appeared an Egyptian Pharaoh, his body glowing with ghostly energy.
"Who dares disturb my tomb?" the pharaoh questioned.
Aurora stepped forward. I do, pharaoh. I am Aurora, and I was called to this place by a vision. I believe that there is a power here that I must obtain.
"You speak of the power of the Medjay," the pharaoh said. He gestured to one of the walls, revealing hieroglyphics. "I built this place as the final resting spot for the bravest and most loyal Medjay in my court, a Lucario in fact. They were blessed by Ra himself with a great power."
"Brandon, what do those symbols say?" Dylan asked.
The Frontier Brain looked over the hieroglyphs. "It looks like a battle between the pharaoh's men and a tribe of invaders. Those invaders were conquered, but a Lucario that was part of the tribe offered themselves into servitude in exchange for the tribe's survival."
"This Lucario was trained in the ways of my guardsmen to become my son's personal bodyguard," the pharaoh explained. "The boy was still young, and one night an assassin snuck into the palace to kill him. The Lucario gave their life for my son, and in their final moments displayed a power that could have been from the gods themselves."
"Hey, that Lucario… it looks like it's under the effects of Mega Evolution," Kris pointed out.
"Indeed it does," Dylan hummed. "Maybe the bond between the pharaoh's son and the Lucario was strong enough to unlock the power of Mega Evolution?"
That must be the power my vision was talking about, Aurora said. Oh pharaoh, where might we find this power?
"It is not something I will simply give to you," the pharaoh said. "You must prove your worth to me, Lucario, so that I know this power doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Many have sought out this place, but Absol has remained here in order to drive these grave robbers out."
"So then, what do we need to do in order to pass the test?" Dylan asked.
A door on the other side of the room opened up. "Meet me in the testing grounds, peasant, and bring only your Lucario. They will be tested to their limits in order to gain this power. If you pass I will also allow you and your friends to each take one piece of treasure from this room as a sign of my generosity."
"And if he fails?" Ashton asked.
The pharaoh chuckled. "Well then, you'll find out what happens to those that trespass in my tomb."
The pharaoh disappeared, with Dylan and Aurora giving each other a nod before entering the doorway. The others moved to follow, only for the Absol to stand in their way and growl, its horn glowing with ill intent. This left Dylan and Aurora alone as they entered the passageway and emerged in the heart of the pyramid, where on a pedestal sat a sarcophagus cast in the shape of a Lucario wearing royal garb.
"This is where I buried the Lucario of the Medjay all those years ago," the Pharoah said. He floated down to the floor, producing a ghostly Poké Ball in his hand. "I understand that 'Pokémon Trainers' as you call yourselves partake in battles to determine who is the strongest? Then face three of my strongest Pokémon. Have at you!"
"Get ready, Aurora," Dylan said, the Lucario taking a battle stance as the Pharoah threw out his Poké Ball. "By the way, what is your name, pharaoh?"
"I am the great Pharaoh Khalid of the lost eternal kingdom," the pharaoh introduced. "Now then, for your first opponent, face my Heracross!"
The Single Horn Pokémon appeared, before flashing with power and transforming its appearance, becoming bulkier and gaining an even larger horn. "It just Mega Evolved!" Dylan exclaimed.
Yes, but like its master, this Pokémon is nothing but a ghost, Aurora said. She summoned a bone staff and deflected a punch from the Heracross. Still, this is my trail to face, and I will not back down!
Aurora clashed against the Mega Heracross, using Water Pulse and Aura Sphere to keep the giant bug at a distance as to not get clobbered by its Close Combat. Heracross would occasionally use Rock Blast, which Aurora sent right back at it with a Force Palm, staggering the Heracross enough for her to rush in and use a Shadow Claw. Dylan let Aurora take control of the battle, calling out his other Pokémon to encourage her on.
The Mega Heracross eventually retreated, its spirit falling away as Khalid gave a hum of approval. "You did well against an aspect of Ra, but can you handle an emissary of Horus?" The pharaoh's next Pokémon was a Pidgeot, which also immediately took on its Mega Evolved form.
"Tranquill!" Joker called out in surprise.
"Yes, my dear, that Pidgeot does have a lot of power, for a ghostly apparition, that is," Delphi nodded.
Aurora jumped backward into a handstand as Pidgeot blasted a Heat Wave her way, wincing as the hot wind burned at her fur down to her steel bones. "Aurora, Mega Pidgeot has No Guard as its ability, which means that you won't be able to dodge out of the way of its attacks, at least not fully!" Dylan warned.
Then this is a battle of outlasting through sheer force, Aurora said. She reached into herself and jumped forward, an Aura Sphere in hand and a Meteor Mash in the other. Pidgeot sent a Hurricane her way, but Aurora rode the wind to give herself even more height before tossing the Aura Sphere to stun the bird and land on its back, delivering the Meteor Mash with great ferocity before following up with a double Force Palm.
Mega Pidgeot was stunned, Aurora not letting up was she punched the bird to the ground. She summoned a bone staff and held it to the Pidgeot's neck, the Bird Pokémon nodding before fading away. "You have overcome even the mighty Horus as well," Khalid complimented. "Not bad for a servant of Anubis."
"Lucario does look like Anubis, doesn't it?" Dylan noted.
"Anubis gave us Lucario to be protectors of the people," Khalid explained. "They serve as guardians of the people, as their senses open them up to the world beyond what we can see."
While I can't say I believe in Anubis as you do, my powers do let me see what others cannot, Aurora said. And it is with that power that I made a promise to protect Dylan and his friends, as both his servant and as his sister.
"Sister? You call this Pokémon family?" Khalid questioned.
Dylan nodded. "Aurora is as much a part of my family as my flesh and blood brother is back home. And it's the unbreakable bond we share that gives her all the strength she needs to win!"
"Then come and face my final Pokémon," Khalid challenged. He snapped his fingers and one of the sarcophagus on the wall rose up, its face forming a grin as multiple ghostly hands came out of it.
"It's a Cofagrigus!" Dylan exclaimed. "Stay back or else it'll mummify you!"
Aurora nodded, but found that facing this Ghost type became a lot harder when she couldn't simply use Shadow Claws on it. The Cofagrigus smirked, giving out a ghastly shriek that chilled Aurora to the bone. A strange aura mixed with her own, making the Lucario stumble as her life force started to drain rapidly.
"Servant of Anubis, your final test is to overcome death itself," Khalid said with a dark chuckle. "Face your imminent death with dignity!"
Aurora struggled, firing off a Water Pulse at Cofagrigus to do damage, but her life force wasn't going to hold up long enough to get past its defenses. Am I truly not strong enough? She thought. The Lucario shook her head. No, everyone is cheering me on, I can hear them now! Dylan, Vex, Delphi, Poli'ahu, Joker, even Ashton and Kris! I will not fall now!
Aurora gave off a shout of power, summoning a bone staff and rushing forward. At the last moment she tossed the staff, slamming into the Cofagrigus and giving her time to dig a Shadow Claw into its case. Mummy wrappings came out of the coffin, but Aurora summoned another Shadow Claw and dug into the other side. The Lucario, in spite of being slowly consumed my mummy wrappings, pulled with all of her strength to wrench open the Cofagrigus.
Just as the curse overtook her, the Cofagrigus gave a cry of despair as its lid was torn open, the spirit inside retreating and leaving the coffin empty. Aurora panted, falling over as she felt he foul aura leave her. "Aurora!" Dylan called, rushing over to help his partner up.
I did it… Aurora gasped.
"Don't speak, dear, it'll only hurt more," Delphi said, coming to Aurora's other side to help her up. "Oh, I didn't realize how much strength you had on your muscles!"
"Focus, Delphi," Dylan chided.
"Congratulations, Lucario, you passed my test," Khalid said with a nod. He stood aside and gestured to the tomb. "The power you came for is yours for the taking."
Getting back on her own two feet, Aurora walked up to the tomb. She placed a hand on the tomb, feeling the aura emanating from inside, before slowing opening it up. A bright light shone from the sarcophagus, and everyone looked away as it consumed Aurora. Once the light faded, Dylan and his team looked in awe at Aurora's new form.
Aurora was now decked out in Egyptian garb, with golden bands on her wrists, biceps, dreadlocks, and just below the thigh. A gold sash with a chain on one side and a red jewel in the middle was wrapped around her waist, with a green Usekh collar and matching headdress, a Poké Ball symbol hanging on her forehead. Aurora's body had changed as well, her fur turning completely black, save for portions of white on her arms, chest, and legs that resembled mummy wrappings. Her spikes were gone as well, replaced by purple gems that radiated ghostly energy, and her dreadlocks had grown out to the length of Mega Lucario.
"Aurora?" Dylan asked.
The transformed Lucario turned to him, before opening her mouth and speaking, not using telepathy. "Yes Dylan, it is still me. Though as you can tell I have been transformed."
"Talk about a makeover," Delphi said, giving a whistle. "You are rocking that outfit, Aurora."
The Lucario looked a bit flustered. "Thanks for the compliment, Delphi. It's more than an outfit, though. I no longer feel the connection to the Steel typing, but the otherworldly energy of the Ghost type. My senses are enhanced, and it's as if I can see directly into the souls of the living."
"You will be needing this to control this power," Khalid said, handing over a stone to Dylan. It was a Mega Stone, but purple with a blue and yellow swirl in the middle. "A Lucarionite-A. I'm sure you know what to do with this."
"Yeah, my necklace already acts as a catalyst for Vex's Sync Bond, so it can function as a Mega Evolution Keystone as well," Dylan nodded.
"Then I will let you leave this place in peace," Khalid said. His spirit faded away with some parting words. "Go out and protect others as the great Lucario of the Medjay did, Aurora. I'm sure you will make them proud."
With the pharaoh's ghost gone, Dylan recalled his Pokémon with the exception of Aurora, the two returning to the treasure room to meet back up with the others. Everyone was surprised by Aurora's new transformation.
"Incredible, an all-new Mega Evolution!" Kris gasped. "And it seems that Aurora changed from a Fighting and Steel type to a Fighting and Ghost type!"
"We're thinking of calling this 'Ancient Mega Lucario,' or perhaps 'Medjay Lucario' after the first user of the ability," Dylan explained.
"So is this permanent?" Ashton asked.
"I don't believe so," Aurora replied. She focused her energy before the mega Evolution faded, though she kept her new Egyptian garb. "The outfit seems to stay, though."
"As it should," Delphi said, coming up from behind and giving Aurora a hug. "I'm so proud of you, darling. We'll have lots of training in order to make you the strongest, and you better believe I'll be there to give you a thorough examination. He-he!"
"Why do I get the feeling that she doesn't mean anything wholesome with that statement," Kris sighed.
"You sure do have an interesting group of friends, kid," Brandon chuckled. "But let's not forget that the pharaoh is letting us take a piece of his treasure with us as a reward." The Frontier Brain grabbed a scroll and opened it, revealing what looked to be a map to some temples. "I think I'll be taking this for myself. While I have Regirock, Registeel, and Regice, there are more Regi out in the world that I'd like to discover."
"Oh yeah, there is a dragon one and an electric one," Ashton mused. She looked around before grabbing a pale purple stone with a red and purple core. "Hey Phantasm, looks like you'll get to Mega Evolve as well!"
"Gengar!" Phantasm chuckled.
"I think this Ice Stone will come in handy," Dylan said, holding up the cold stone to the light.
"As for me…" Kris said. She looked at the Absol as it went back to its resting place. "This Absol must be part of a family of Absol that have guarded this pyramid for thousands of years. It must be lonely just sitting here alone with only ghosts." She went over to the Absol and looked it in the eyes. "How about you come with me and see the world? I have a lot of training I want to do before I can achieve my dream, and I bet there's a lot you could teach me as much as I can teach you."
The Absol tilted its head before nodding, letting Kris catch it in a Dark Ball. "Welcome to the team, Shedu," Kris said.
"Where'd you get that name from?" Ashton asked
"The Shedu is a mythical beast said to be a protector spirit," Dylan explained. "It had the head of a man, the body of a lion, and bird wings."
"Which is what Absol has when it Mega Evolves," Kris added, pointing to the Mega Stone hanging on Shedu's collar.
"Guess all three of you have a Mega Evolution now," Brandon said. "Now then, let's get out of here. I think we're all done exploring this place."
As the team left, Dylan felt something fall into his pocket. Pulling out, he was surprised to find it was a gym badge, depicting the golden head of a pharaoh. "Take this Pharoah Badge as a sign of your conquring of my challenge," Khalid's voice rang out. "It is the same as is used at the gym in Cairo, so it should suffice in your quest."
Dylan smiled, giving a whispered. "And that's my fifth gym badge!" with his Pokémon all posing before following the others back out into the desert.
Author's Note
Pharoah Khalid is an original Gym Leader I came up with for this story. He's based on the idea of ghosts that haunt pyramids, with his team all being symbols of Ancient Egypt (Heracross as the Ra Beetle, Pidgeot as Horus, and Cofagrigus as the sarcophagus).
Aurora's Ancient Lucario is a mix between the Ruins Style Holowear in Pokémon Unite as well as giving Lucario more of an Egyptian/mummy look to resemble Anubis more closely. It also becomes Fighting/Ghost type in this form with a new ability that I will elaborate on in a future chapter.