Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Lucas gets an upgrade to his aura abilities and a legendary Pokemon gives him a present.

Chapter 50

Lucas and Sabrina arrived in Saffron City.

They had used Saphira once more to travel to the city. He still hadn't gotten enough of the pure sensation of flying through the air. However, beyond the thrill of flight, a practical purpose drove his choice. Saphira needed to fly fifty thousand kilometres to fulfil one of her evolutionary bonus conditions. Because it would take a while, he needed to use her as much as possible.

Sabrina succumbed to his whims, despite her obvious impatience. She would rather have used the teleport tower to see her uncle sooner. It reminded him that he needed to tell her about the teleportation device at some point. He was sure she wouldn't mind if he kept such a secret, and she would most likely ask him to use it herself. Perhaps he could persuade Bill to make her one as well.

Their flight took them directly through the city to the Prime Minister's official residence, where Shichiro worked and lived with his family. Shichiro was married to Masumi, and the couple had a teenage son named Takeshi. He was in the Hoenn Region, trying to earn badges for the Ever Grande Competition.

When they arrived, Shichiro's aide, Malcolm, a young man in his mid to late twenties, greeted them. He was immaculately dressed in a crisp white shirt and grey vest, exuding meticulous grooming and an air of superiority on his face.

"Shichiro is currently in a meeting with an important guest," Malcolm stated, casting a disapproving glance at Lucas' way. "I will take you to see Mrs Kuroi."

They followed him from a distance as he marched down the hallway to the building's residential wing.

Lucas leaned in, whispering to Sabrina. "I get the feeling that he doesn't like me very much."

Sabrina raised an eyebrow. "Already making assumptions after only just meeting him?"

"First impressions can say a lot. Am I mistaken?"

"He's probably jealous."

Lucas paused, grasping her implication. "So, he has feelings for you."

Sabrina nodded. "He once asked me out."

"What was your response?"

"What do you think? I turned him down."

"It's funny," Lucas remarked, glancing at Malcolm. "I had imagined he might have been your type."

"Are you trying to insult me?"

"That was before I realised how truly wonderful you are once you opened up," Lucas added. "I consider myself fortunate that you rejected him, allowing us to be together."

Sabrina snorted at his attempt to dig himself out of a hole.

"So how many more secret admirers do you have?" Lucas asked, trying to sound casual.

"Too many to count."

"Are you messing with me?"

"A little."

Her aunt was in the kitchen, preparing some food. Masumi was a dainty woman, standing about five feet tall, with dark grey-touched hair, and dressed in a blue kimono. Lucas wondered if she influenced Sabrina's fashion sense. If that were the case, then he could only thank her.

Masumi turned around as they entered and rushed to embrace Sabrina. "My dear Sabrina, you look radiant. Are you expecting?"

Lucas's head snapped towards Sabrina in surprise. "Sabrina?"

After a moment of shocked silence, Sabrina shook her head in exasperation. "Don't mind my aunt. She enjoys saying shocking things to people to get a reaction out of them."

Masumi grabbed Sabrina's face and looked at her intently. "I wasn't lying when I said you looked radiant. Lucas seems to be a good fit for you. How is he in bed?"

Sabrina's face flushed. "None of your business."

"Ah, that good, I see." Masumi winked, before turning to Lucas and enveloping him in a hug. "Hello, Lucas. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Lucas grinned as he recovered from his shock. "Hi, Aunt Masumi. You don't need to be concerned about the intimate aspect of our relationship. Just this morning—"

Sabrina punched his shoulder. "Do you want to get hurt?"

Masumi laughed and released him. "Come and sit down. I've prepared some cookies for you. Let's have a chat while we wait for Shichiro."

They sat down and spent some time getting to know each other. Masumi was a lot of fun, which confused him slightly. How did Sabrina become so formal after being raised by this woman? Was it the trauma of her childhood? Furthermore, he couldn't see how someone as lively as Masumi could be a good match for a stern man like Shichiro, but what did he know?

Shichiro arrived with a thunderous expression, interrupting their conversation.

"Did you have a productive meeting?" Masumi asked, handing him a cup of coffee.

Shichiro grumbled. "Nothing good ever comes from meeting with that man."

"Who did you meet?" Sabrina asked curiously.

"Patriarch Castor. He came to express his concern about the recent upheaval in the capital."

"One of the six Patriarchs?" Lucas leaned forward. "What's he like?"

"Castor was once a member of Team Galactic, but now he is a member of the church and has been reformed for his past misdeeds," Shichiro explained, using air quotes. "An old scoundrel with a silver tongue."

"Just like somebody else I know," Lucas joked.

Masumi and Sabrina both laughed at Shichiro's outraged expression.

Shichro scowled. "I'm not too old to give you a beating, little shit."

"No, but you would probably break a hip doing so."

After some more small talk, they began discussing their reason for being there. Masumi left the kitchen to give them privacy, not interested in listening to them talk about work.

"I had the International Police interrogate Shido," Shichiro said, his mouth turned down in displeasure. "They have some interesting methods to get answers from their prisoners, shall we say. When the subject of your parents came up, they discovered something new about the reasons for the attack on their home."

"So, it wasn't just a move to destroy the foundation of the Kuroi family?" Sabrina asked. "Shido has always been an enemy of the Kuroi family before he became your political rival. Why did Giovanni want to hurt my family though?"

"That's where I was mistaken," Shiro admitted. "I thought the order to attack your parent's family came from Giovanni so he could get at me, but I was wrong. The order came from Shido himself, and it had to do with a dispute over an island your parents owned in the Sevii Islands."

"He attacked our home over a plot of land?" Sabrina whispered, looking sick. "What is so appealing about this island that Shido would want to murder my parents for it?"

"I'm currently investigating it," Shichiro said. "The island was passed down to you from your parents. Did you look over the paperwork I gave you that listed the assets they left you?"

Sabrina shook her head. "I didn't feel like dealing with it."

Lucas grabbed her hand and squeezed it for reassurance. "Why has Shido left the island alone after so much time has passed?"

"I don't know," Shichiro replied. "But I am aware that an incident occurred in the area about a year after Sabrina's parents died. A legendary Pokemon was spotted, and one of the islands was destroyed through unknown means. Fortunately, it was one of the unoccupied islands. That incident may have scared Shido off."

Sabrina slumped in her chair. "I don't care about the island. Can you let me know if you learn anything?"

Shichiro smiled. "Of course."

"Didn't Shido reveal anything else about his reasons?" Lucas asked.

"No," Shichiro sighed. "He was attempting to obtain the island on behalf of someone else, but he refuses to disclose who it is."

"What makes you think there is someone else?"

"The police have uncovered sufficient evidence to support their theory about the existence of a third party, but have no idea of their identity."

Lucas munched on his cookie while processing what Shichiro had told him. He only remembered vague details about the Sevii Islands from the games, but he knew they were home to several legendaries, including Moltres. But he wasn't sure if it was the same for this world.

"I still think Giovanni had another reason for attacking your family," Lucas said.

"Based on what?" Sabrina asked.

"Nothing. Just a hunch."

"There's another reason I called you here," Shichiro said. "Given the recent surge in legendary Pokemon activity in the region, I believe it's imperative to establish an elite task force capable of responding to them."

"How do you plan to achieve that?" Lucas asked. "Legendaries are essentially living natural disasters—dealing with them safely is impossible."

"I don't intend for the task force to engage with the legendaries," Shichiro clarified. "Rather, I require a team to handle the aftermath, such as rescuing people and managing the cleanup."

"I assume you want me to be a part of this," Sabrina interjected. "Especially now that I find myself without employment."

"This won't be a full-time commitment," Shichiro reassured her. "Your involvement will be required only when the legendaries appear and cause havoc."

Lucas glanced at Sabrina. "Aren't you concerned about Sabrina's safety, given your ongoing conflict with Team Rocket?"

Sabrina made a face at him.

Shichiro nodded in agreement. "Yes, but I didn't expect to strike such a decisive blow by gathering information on Team Rocket's operations in Eastern Kanto, so she should be relatively safe. It's still not over. I am still rooting out the corruption within the government that allowed Team Rocket to operate with such impunity. There is a chance they will retaliate, but I'm betting they flee with their tails tucked between their legs."

Lucas grimaced. "I don't envy your job."

Shichiro smiled. "There is also the fact that Giovanni lost Mewtwo, which has completely changed the outcome of our fight in our favour."

"Do we have any leads on Mewtwo's whereabouts?"

"No. Mewtwo was last seen heading south from Celadon City."

"At least it's not going on a rampage," Lucas muttered. "Can't say I would blame Mewtwo if it did."

Shichiro grunted. "Team Rocket's focus has likely shifted to Western Kanto, where they have another headquarters. It will present a new set of challenges trying to remove them as they might find some unlikely allies."

"What do you mean?" Sabrina asked. "Is it related to the Johto faction?"

"Yes," Shichiro sighed wearily. "The main seat of power for United Kanto is in the east, but this means that the western region is frequently left to operate without much oversight. I set up a semi-government there that I thought would be good caretakers for the area, but there are signs that even they have been swayed by the Johto faction."

Lucas was taken aback. "A Johto faction? Are there individuals advocating for a return to the pre-war separation of Kanto and Johto?"

Shichiro nodded. "Indeed. They are seeking to divide the United Kanto back into two regions. While their identities remain unknown, it likely has some influential figures from Western Kanto in their ranks, possibly even the Western Elite Four. They aren't doing anything illegal, just protests, but it's inciting the citizens into supporting their cause."

To maintain stability, some aspects of the two regions remained separate when they became one. The Elite Four was one of those aspects. The two groups, known as the Western and Eastern Elite Four, were responsible for their respective territories.

"Who else is joining the task force?" Sabrina inquired, circling back to the topic.

Shichiro shrugged. "The usual suspects. The Elite Four have agreed. I also have a retired International Police Member who is interested but they won't be on the frontline."

Sabrina glanced at Lucas. He didn't need to be a mind reader to figure out what she was thinking. He told her about his meeting with Mew at the house last night. She wanted an explanation for his cryptic remarks after encountering Mew on their way to Saffron City for the public address. He didn't tell her that Mew had spoken to him because he didn't believe he should reveal information given in confidence, such as the fact that Arceus had withdrawn his influence from the world. But it was enough already that a legendary Pokemon was willing to meet him.

She likely wanted him to volunteer his services. Normally, he wouldn't be considered for such a position, but his strange relationship with Mew meant that he could potentially become the most important member of the task force. Imagine if he could develop a stronger bond with Mew, who could assist them in dealing with any incidents involving the legendary Pokemon. Mew has already shown a willingness to protect humans.

Lucas sighed. "I guess we can tell him."

Shichiro looked between the two of them. "What are you talking about?"

As Lucas recounted his interaction with Mew, Shichiro's excitement grew palpable.

"You must join the task force as well," Shichiro insisted. "If there's a chance to collaborate with a legendary Pokemon like Mew, we must seize it. Mew's intervention in Lavender Town saved a lot of lives."

Lucas grinned. "And Mew was caught on the national news, laying the smackdown on Giovanni."

"The repercussions from yesterday are still being felt," Shichiro said. "Did you know that Mew has already been hailed as a hero on the news and in the streets for his actions?"

Sabrina snorted. "I can already imagine the church weaving their narrative, claiming they prayed to Arceus to send Mew to help save Lavender Town."

"They cannot use Mew's actions for their benefit," Shichiro said. "Since the chaos was sparked by another legendary Pokemon the church claims to worship, people will no longer easily fall for their propaganda."

Lucas felt a surge of satisfaction at the thought.

"Of course, people are calling the two of you heroes as well," Shichiro smirked as he noticed their dismayed expressions. "You will be as popular as Mew. People are already demanding that you be recognised for your heroism. I'm still thinking about an appropriate reward."

"What about Lance?" Lucas asked.

"He was already popular. He won't receive the same amount of attention," Shichiro replied. "Brace yourselves when walking around the city. You are going to be ambushed by adoring fans."

"Maybe we should start a religion of our own." Lucas laughed. "Give the Church of Arceus some competition. Do you think Mew would be interested in being our church's mascot?"

Sabrina groaned and her head fell onto the table.

Lucas stepped outside, allowing Sabrina to catch up with her aunt. He sat on a secluded bench in the front gardens and summoned Meowth from his pokeball. Meowth looked around, taking in his surroundings, until his gaze fell on the prime minister's residence, a greedy glint in his eyes.

"Don't even think about it," Lucas warned.

Meowth hopped onto the bench. "Spoilsport."

"I have a different opportunity for you, one that doesn't involve any thievery."

"That's the best way of obtaining loot. Making others cry when they realise they have been robbed."

"Why do I like you again?"

"Because I make life interesting, Meowth."

Lucas pulled out the treasure hunter capsule and showed it to him. "This will allow you to hunt for hidden items like I do. I'll share fifteen percent of the profits with you, but any unique finds will be mine."

Meowth considered the offer for a moment. "Thirty percent. After all, I'll be doing all the work."

"True, but this chance wouldn't exist without me," Lucas countered. "Let's settle on twenty percent."

"Thirty percent," Meowth insisted.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "I could always find another Pokemon for the task."

"Fine, twenty-five percent," Meowth conceded.

"You have a deal."

Meowth spat on his hand and extended it to Lucas. "Let's shake on it, partner."

Lucas shuddered. "Let's not. Now, swallow the capsule to unlock the ability."

Meowth threw the capsule into his mouth and swallowed it. Nothing happened for a moment, but then he grabbed his head, groaning. "What's with that incessant beeping?"

Lucas chuckled. "That's the signal alerting you to nearby hidden items. The faster it beeps, the closer you are to finding it. In urban areas, the item will appear as a faint pokeball shadow on the ground. Why not give it a try? Just remember to be discreet."

As Meowth scurried off, Lucas observed him as he searched the immediate area, eventually finding the item about ten feet away. It looked like he had picked up an invisible object. He returned with a puzzled expression.

"Where's the loot?" Meowth asked.

Lucas checked his inventory. He found a Full Heal that hadn't been there before. "The item automatically goes into my inventory."

Meowth narrowed his eyes. "You better keep track of all the loot I find, Meowth. I don't want you to rip me off."

Lucas retorted, "Have I ever let you down before? For now, stick to scouring the yards and nearby streets. Don't go inside any buildings."

With a mischievous grin, Meowth dashed off.

"I may need to expand my inventory to accommodate the influx of items," Lucas considered. "I'm not exactly short on pokedollars."

He accessed his menu and invested 100,000 pokedollars to expand his inventory by forty slots, bringing the total to one hundred slots. Although an option to add another hundred slots for three hundred thousand pokedollars was available, he decided to hold off on further expansion for now.

While he was at it, he spent another 100,000 pokedollars to improve the Region Maps function. The upgrade provided more detailed information on the interactive map, which he intended to explore later.

Then he looked at the Arceus Emporium, debating whether to spend pokedollars on some additional ingredients. A combined expenditure of 300,000 pokedollars and experience points would elevate the shop to level two. He was already a third of the way there.

Hesitating no longer, he spent 200,000 pokedollars on ingredients. The emporium underwent an upgrade, now offering a ten percent discount on most items along with an array of new products.

Lucas frowned. The item descriptions were hidden and couldn't be purchased because they were tied to specific requirements. Two such requirements were to improve his guild rank in the Adventurer and Alchemist guilds.

"What a scam!"

His attention was drawn to another requirement, which was much easier to meet. All he had to do was finish mastering his aura sight skill and level his profession up. He was so close, he should be able to finish it in a day or two.

Lucas opened his eyes and examined the surroundings with his aura sight activated. He could see everything as if it were daytime, but it was the middle of the night. Sabrina lay peacefully beside him, her breathing steady.

Lucas opened his menu, discovering that his Aura Guardian profession had increased to level two. Lucas smiled in satisfaction. It took longer than he expected, but it was worthwhile.

He also learned a new aura skill. He retrieved his guidebook from his inventory so he could get the description of it.

Skill: Aura Barrier Level: 1/5 Next: (natural growth) Type: Active Aura: 10/min.

Description: The technique is a protective ability possessed by certain Aura Guardians that allows them to generate a powerful energy field around themselves and nearby individuals. It effectively blocks incoming attacks, providing the user with a layer of defence against physical and special damage. However, should the barrier sustain damage exceeding its resilience, it will shatter, leaving the wielder momentarily vulnerable. Increasing the skill level will improve the effectiveness and versatility of the aura barrier.

It wasn't a bad skill to have in his repertoire. The barrier would offer better protection than Max's Protect, which shattered after being hit once. However, he had no idea how to use it, just as he hadn't with the aura sight skill at first. He suspected that the aura barrier skill would be much more difficult to learn.

Lucas opened the Arceus' Emporium and noticed that one of the items had now been revealed, which was a book.

"Aura Infusion and Sculpting?" Lucas whispered, reading the title.

Intrigued, he didn't hesitate to spend 150,000 pokedollars to purchase it.

He opened the book to the introductory page and began reading.

Introducing the "Aura Infusion and Sculpting" technique, a revolutionary method developed by master Aura Guardians to boost aura reserves and improve their control over the energy force.

Through a series of focused exercises and meditative practices, practitioners of this technique learn to tap into latent aura reserves within themselves, unlocking hidden potential and expanding their aura capacity. It allows them to last longer in battles and use more powerful techniques.

Furthermore, the "Aura Infusion and Sculpting" technique delves into the art of shaping aura, enabling practitioners to mould this energy force into various forms and structures. By mastering aura manipulation, students can create their own abilities or improve upon existing ones.

"Interesting," Lucas murmured. "Something tells me I will need this technique for the new aura skill I have learned."

When he checked his menu again, he noticed a couple of new additions.

The main status page now displayed an 'aura capacity' stat, which was capped at one hundred. Lucas was pleased with the addition. He could easily monitor his aura usage and know when to stop when his reserves ran low.

Another addition was that his new technique developed into a skill.

Skill: Aura Infusion and Sculpting Level: 1/10 Next:(natural growth) Type: Active Aura: 5/min.

Description: This advanced technique enables the user to expand their aura reserves, enabling them to prolong the use of their techniques. Furthermore, honing this skill allows the user to manipulate their aura into complex patterns, unlocking more powerful techniques and eventually achieving mastery as an Aura Guardian.

Lucas flipped open the book to the first chapter, which focused on a technique called 'Aura Manifestation.' However, his focus was swiftly diverted as Sabrina began to stir, her eyes fluttering open.

"What are you reading?" Sabrina asked drowsily, stretching like a cat.

"It's a book for aura guardians that helps to train their aura," Lucas said. "I came across it in my bedside drawer. It seems to be a gift from someone in the Rota Kingdom."

Sabrina crossed her arms protectively. "I'm not keen on the idea of someone entering our house without our knowledge."

"I don't think they've been entering our room, or Bree would have sensed it. Perhaps it's an aura technique that allows them to deliver items without being there?"

"Maybe," Sabrina said, sitting up and inadvertently exposing her breasts, leaving Lucas transfixed. "Can I have a look?"

Lucas abandoned the book and lunged towards her, overcome by a sudden surge of desire. "I will fill you in later."

When the sound of a twig snapping reached Lucas's ears, he raised his hand in a silent signal to stop. Max, Meowth, and Ashe responded promptly, scanning their surroundings with vigilance.

A curious caterpillar emerged slowly from the foliage, its innocent gaze meeting theirs. Lucas relaxed as he saw its low level. The Caterpie wisely retreated upon realising its disadvantage against the Pokemon before it.

"Dat's right," Meowth exclaimed, brandishing a fist in mock defiance. "Run away, you cretin."

"I bet that Caterpie could hold its own against Meowth." Max laughed.

"You underestimate Meowth too much." Lucas chided, pausing briefly. "Well, maybe just a little."

Glancing at his watch, Lucas decided it was time for a break. He retrieved a blanket from his inventory and spread it out on the ground, then pulled out a selection of food for himself and his Pokemon. He summoned the rest of his team, and they started eating.

Lucas was exploring Viridian Forest, mainly to give Ashe more combat experience. He also used the time to complete more Adventurers Guild missions to advance to the next rank.

He had forgotten how enjoyable it was to explore the natural world with his team. Tracking his progress was also enjoyable, especially since he had an interactive map that provided a visual record of their journey.

Meowth abruptly rose, abandoning his half-finished meal. "There's a hidden item nearby that is driving me crazy, Meowth."

He ran off to dig up the treasure. After a week of gaining the special ability, Meowth had collected a plethora of items.

Meowth returned after a minute, his paws smudged with dirt. "There is no satisfaction in uncovering treasure when I don't get to see it."

"I am sure the pokedollars you are earning help a lot with complaints," Lucas said, rolling his eyes.

"It's not all about the pokedollars, Meowth."

After finishing his meal, Lucas reviewed his team's parameters. They had been training their stats and levelling up for the past week and their efforts were starting to pay off.

Icarus had reached level thirty-three and was learning the steel-type affinity to broaden his moves. Thanks to Melanie's Pokemon, he now had a steel-type habitat, which made training much easier. Icarus was close to evolving again, which meant he would be able to use his Mega Pidgeot form. Lucas couldn't wait to see how powerful Icarus became.

Max had levelled up to thirty-four and was working on improving his three affinities: electric, combat, and fire. The latter would allow him to learn Fire-Punch, a technical device he had been hoarding for some time.

Saphira has advanced to level 34, and her favourability has increased to the Loved status, boosting her stats even more. She, like everyone else, was focusing on her affinities. She had some difficult requirements for one of her evolution bonuses, but she had plenty of time before evolving into Dragonite.

Meowth had reached level twenty-five, and his favorability had increased to Respected. He had been working a little harder ever since he became the official treasure hunter. Lucas had Meowth focus on having Meowth work primarily on his attack and speed. The latter was particularly important, as his defences were dismal, so being able to escape was important.

Icaria was now level thirty-three and focusing on her affinities. Lucas had noticed that she had taken the more timid breeding Pokemon under her wing and was now less interested in travelling with him. He was considering making her the protector of his home rather than a member of the main team. He would continue to improve her strength, because the stronger she was, the better protected his home was. It would also give him options for adding another Pokemon to his team, adding some more diversity in terms of team composition.

Ashe had reached level sixteen and learned the move Incinerate. He had put her through a lot of battles so she could gain experience. He would like to see her catch up with the rest of the team, but he was constrained by the stat training requirements.

Dante was now level forty-five, having spent a significant amount of time training with Sabrina's Gardevoir, Garnet. He had no idea what else was going on with them, but it was none of his business.

Lucas' thoughts were interrupted when he heard a cry from above. He looked up, and his mouth fell open when he spotted a legendary Pokemon. His Pokemon's reactions were more extreme and they dove for cover.

Ho-Oh was flying above him, its vibrant, multicoloured plumage shimmered in the sunlight, casting a brilliant and iridescent display across the clouds. With every beat of its majestic wings, a trail of sparkling light followed, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle.

Lucas froze like a deer in the headlights as Ho-oh turned to look at him. The Pokemon stared at him for a moment before turning away. Lucas collapsed on the ground, his heart thudding in his chest.

Mew had told him that the legendaries would be able to detect him if they got close enough. What were the chances of him encountering Ho-oh out here? It was almost like the scene from the anime where Ash spotted the legendary bird flying in the sky.

His head turned when he heard something crash into the ground in the distance.

"Dat flaming chicken just dropped an object," Meowth exclaimed.

Lucas stood up and rushed over to the item, which had created a depression in the ground. It resembled a stone but was perfectly round in its uniformity and about the size of his fist. Furthermore, it was sizzling, indicating that it was extremely hot. What had Ho-oh given him?

His teammates crowded around him, intently watching the stone. After a few minutes, a line appeared in the centre, and it abruptly popped open, revealing the contents within. It was a pile of ash with small embers burning through it.

"Why would he give you such a useless item?" Meowth asked.

"Are we sure it's useless?"

Lucas took out his new, sleek black phone, which he had obtained after joining Shichiro's task force, and dialled a number. An operator answered, waiting for him to report any news.

"Were you aware that Ho-Oh has appeared in Viridian Forest?"

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Mew visits Lucas again.

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Thanks for reading.