The world around him was a swirl of too bright, too sparkly colors. Once again, his senses were ripped away, only to return after a few moments. Lucario could tell there was some kind of grainy surface pressing against his snout once touch returned to him. His ear twitched picking up the sound of some wild Pokémon nearby. After a second, he finally felt like the world had stopped spinning enough to open his eyes and get to his paws. There was no crystal chamber surrounding him now. There was only forest, if the many numbers of trees around him were any indication.

Sir Aaron let out a small hiss through his teeth as he back stood up, having been thrown back to the ground as well. Lucario watched his friend and winced. Clearly the teleportation had been just as hard on the guardian, if not more so. Perhaps it was due to the knight's longer time in the crystal.

"Are you finished?"

Ah, yes, the Mew copy. Lucario was beginning to not like him. The lavender Pokémon floated near the tree tops, arrogantly looking down at them. An expression of boredom on the pale purple face. The Jackal like Pokémon sent an unamused glare at the mythical. Teleportation, without warning, is not something anyone can recover quickly from, apparently the copy was unaware of this. Or he knew perfectly well and was just taking enjoyment out of the guardians' misery.

"Apologizes," Sir Aaron, ever the peacekeeper, said.

"The boy should be with in the area. I trust you can find him on you own?"

"You won't be accompanying us?" Sir Aaron raised a brow.

"I'll be watching from afar, but I'd rather not be in the presence of your kind more than I have to."

Do you have distain for Aura Guardians? Lucario glared.

"I have distain for humans."

"Then why are you working to save them?"

"The short answer, sir knight, is debt."

Debt? The jackal Pokémon titled his head and gave an unamused stare.

"I've only ever trusted two humans, one is dead. The other still remains, and I own him greatly. If Team Rocket were to succeed, he would die. Mew knows of this, and that is how she strongarmed me on to this train wreck of a plan. Need I explain further?"

"So, you're certain the lad is here?" Sir Aaron asked, wisely changing the subject.

"I have an easier time keeping track of particular humans than Mew. A perk of not having to return to a certain spot on the planet for certain periods of time. I know he's here, and once the girl shows herself again, I'll know where she is as well. This was my part; I'll leave you to do yours." The Pokémon vanished in a flash of light.

Cheery fellow. Lucario deadpanned sarcastically.

"He must have his reasons," Sir Aaron said, "Can you sense the lad?"

Lucario closed his eyes. The world of black slowly came to life with ghostly whispers of the physical world. Shapes and shades of silvers and blues rushed past him swiftly. It took a moment longer than he expected, but eventually the familiar figure of a brighter fiery blue came into his vision. Along with a smaller similarly colored figure stand next to him. Ash.

He's here.

"How far?"

Not very. The mew copy spoke the truth.

"Is he distressed?"

No, actually his Aura appears quite relaxed. Lucario opened his eyes, pulling out of his aura vision.

Sir Aaron nodded, "I suppose we should start towards him."

Walking through the woods, it wasn't all that foreign. If it wasn't for the odd circumstances, it would've been exactly the same as the adventures they shared, before their 'deaths'.

"Lucario, you have spent time in this era, correct?" Sir Aaron finally asked.

Yes, master I did, the jackal Pokémon didn't miss the flinch that the knight made.

"Is there anything that you had learned that could possibly aid us?" Sir Aaron asked, before rubbing the back of his neck with a hiss through his blunt teeth.

Sir Aaron, are you alright?

"Don't worry old friend, I am merely sore," the knight snorted, "I suppose that sleeping inside of a rock for 700 hundred years would do that to one's body."

Lucario nodded, I am afraid that I don't know much about this time. I was only awake for a few days, and did not see much. The most differences I had seen was in the clothing and technology.

"Clothing?" Sir Aaron raised a brow.

The maidens dress more like the men, and seem to be much more comfortable with showing their skin, Lucario explained, remembering the outfit the May had chosen to swim in.

Sir Aaron cleared his throat, "What of the lad? Have you met him?"

Lucario nodded, I have. Ash is…impulsive, energetic, and at times foolish, but has a good heart.

"Sounds like you're fond of him," Sir Aaron said.

He pushed me into a lake, while trying to fight me.

Sir Aaron failed miserably to hide the snort of laughter that bubbled up his throat, "You must be very fond of him if he still lives."

He grows on you. Like a weed.

They stepped into a clearing, between the trees. Thick green brush stuffed between the surrounding tree trunks. The bright sun high overhead, suggesting that there were at least a few hours left before dark. Lucario stopped and closed his eyes, trying to search for the boy again through Aura, but after a moment, he stopped and growled.

"Lucario?" Sir Aaron asked concerned.

Something is wrong.

"Is the lad in trouble?"

No, it's just. I am having difficulty keeping track of him.

"Are you alright?"

Yes, master, I feel fine. It's just for some reason, he is just getting lost in between all the other Auras around us.

"Getting lost?"

There was a sudden rustling of something running through a bush. Lucario turned around just in time to see a small pup run into Sir Aaron's leg. The small blue and black Pokémon rolled backwards, landing on the ground. The pup shook his head, before staring up at Sir Aaron. The tomato berry eyes widened and tiny mouth dropped open, gaping in awe.

"Who are you little one?" Sir Aaron asked, raising a surprised brow.

The pup only blinked.

"Riolu!" Someone called from behind the trees.

Lucario's ear twitched; he knew that voice. Suddenly, popping out the bushes was a boy. A very familiar boy. Ash. He was maybe a few years older than Lucario had last seen him, definitely not a boy any more, but almost a young man; maybe even a little taller. His hair was clipped a little shorter, but still in the same messy, black, almost navy, cut that was mostly hidden underneath a ridiculous bright red hat. The tanned complexion was the same, even if the outfit was different.

"Riolu! You can't run off like…" Ash froze where he stood, eyes widening.

Those dark brown eyes caught Lucario by surprise, the utter shock and sorrow in them wasn't what the jackal Pokémon thought he would see. Ash's eyes weren't blue or grey like the usually aura user, but they still reflected all the emotions and power of his aura. The eyes always gave everything away.

"Pikapi (ash?)" A small yellow Pokémon exited from the brush behind Ash, "Pika!? (What!?)"

The young user gave no indication of even hearing the fluffy lightning wielder. Seemingly frozen, in a trance.

Ash-

"Are you real?" Ash whispered cutting him off.

Lucario's ears stood high. That wasn't the reaction the aura Pokémon expected. He had thought there would be maybe a snarky remark, maybe anger, but not the fear and sadness.

Lucario nodded.

…And the aura Pokémon was immediately pulled into the tight embrace of the lad's hug. Lucario froze for a moment. Then Ash abruptly let go, pulling away.

"Sorry," Ash mumbled, rubbing his nose with his finger, "I just needed to make sure that you were real."

And why wouldn't I be?

"Because the last time I saw you, you were literally fading from existence in my arms," Ash deadpanned, "And there's been a lot shit since then and now, so forgive me if I didn't believe what I was seeing. I'm glad to see you."

Considering the circumstances, it's understandable. I am happy to see you too.

Sir Aaron was stunned into silenced, a rare occurrence due to the number of odd and strange situations he had been in. However, this was an exception. The lad, maybe of 16, in front of him was his descendant. His family. And an aura user no doubt, the knight could sense the raw power that came off of the lad. Untamed and wild, but full of potential, like he had once been. The only other familial Aura User Sir Aaron ever had interacted with was his father, and even then, the elder guardian didn't really pay much attention to Sir Aaron as a child, other than training of course. His father gave even less love to his dormant Mother and Emily who had taken after her.

As for creating a family of his own in adulthood, while the idea had appealed to the knight. Sir Aaron never had the time to actually find a bride of his own, and his parents didn't set up a match for him (not that he was upset with that) like his mother tried to do for Emily. Besides, by age 30 he knew that any suitor his mother might find would probably be younger than Emily. He didn't like the idea of having a wife that would be more of a child than his younger sister. Though apparently, even if he didn't remember it, the lack of a marriage didn't seem to stop him from continuing his blood line.

Even though Ash wasn't an exact copy of him, Sir Aaron could still see the similarities. Their hair was identical, even if in different styles. While the lad's eyes were of a deep brown (that seemed oddly familiar) and not a pale blue, they seemed to have the same spark in them that Sir Aaron's had. Finally, Lucario had been right, the lad's Aura seemed to mirror his own, and right now it was flaring in frightened confusion.

"Uhm, Pardon me?" Sir Aaron spoke up, as the Riolu hopped up onto his paws and ran over to Ash's leg. So, the little one was with the lad.

Ash turned to Sir Aaron, jaw still loose and slightly panicked, "You…you should be dead," Realization shifted in his eyes, and then suddenly they appeared tired, a hand coming up to rub his face, "Why am I even surprised by this point?"

Alright not the first impression Sir Aaron had wanted, but he was going to make the most of it.

"Well, actually…" Sir Aaron paused, "I suppose you should be right. I am still getting used to the idea of being alive as well."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ash raised a brow, as the Pikachu jumped up on to the lad's shoulder.

"Well, uhm…" Talking shouldn't have been this hard, "Let's just say I wasn't planning on returning."

"So, we're not dead, and I'm not insane?" Ash said.

"No," Sir Aaron shook his head a little forcefully.

"Good…because I thought for a moment that everything has finally gotten to me," Ash let out a strained laugh, "So why are you here?"

"olu?" the little pup exclaimed, rapidly swapping back and forth from looking at the knight and looking at the lad.

"It's a long tale, one we might not have the time for. However, Mew was able to bring us back for the incoming threat," Sir Aaron said.

"Incoming threat? Please don't tell me the world is ending again," Ash said, sounding unamused.

Again? Well, that wasn't at all concerning.

"Pi Pikachu."

"Hopefully we can prevent it. At least that is what Mew's Partner said," Sir Aaron explained.

Ash raised a brow, "Mew's partner?"

"I'm not sure who he was. I have never even heard nor seen a Pokémon like he was, but he did seem to have many similarities with Mew," Sir Aaron said.

And a personality problem. Lucario grumbled.

Ash's brows suddenly furrowed, "Wait, did this Pokémon have long purple tail, violet eyes, was over 6 feet tall, and used telepathy?" he said with wild gestures.

"Uhm…yes. Are you familiar with him?" Sir Aaron raised a brow.

"Yeah, we've met. His name is Mewtwo. He killed me about six years ago," Ash said, nonchalantly.

"Riolu!?"

The pikachu nodded and shrugged.

Ash!

Ash waved them off, "Don't worry I got better. Besides it was kind of my fault. I rushed in front of his attack."

Sir Aaron resisted the urge to flinch. Lord Arceus, please tell him that he didn't pass on the self-sacrificing impulsiveness of his youth to this child. Oh, who was he jesting, there was a reason that most Aura Guardians died young.

Who was he fighting that you had to stop him? Lucario said wide eyed.

"Mew. Look it was a really big complicated mess, and it not the first time. I mean it was technically the first time-no wait there was that incident when that chandelier fell on my head and I was a ghost for a hot minute- but I've died since," Ash said, nonchalantly.

Well, even if Ash hadn't been trained. He was clearly living the life of an Aura Guardian. A life filled with constant danger and one in a million chances happening almost every fortnight. Just the fact that the boy was still alive, at the moment, was a miracle in itself.

"I am sorry," Sir Aaron said, shaking his head.

"Why?" Ash said with a confused face.

Sir Aaron, sighed, "Aura users tend to attract the attention of powerful mythicals and legendries. Why this happens no one knows, but some believe that it is due to our ability to harness partial amounts of Arceus's energy. It also why many of us die in childhood due to unusual circumstances, if untrained."

"That actually explains a lot," Ash said, blinking.

"I suspect your parents never had the gift of aura, did they?" Sir Aaron said.

"My mom? No, she's a completely normal restaurant owner, and…Well, I can't really speak for my grandparents, but I'm pretty sure they were normal," Ash rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"And of your father?" Sir Aaron asked.

Ash shrugged, "No, idea. He died when my mom was pregnant with me. I never knew him, and she doesn't talk about him," Pikachu nuzzled the boy's cheek.

Sir Aaron suddenly felt sorrow for the boy. It was a sad fact of this world that death had broken many families. It was the duty of a father to protect and provide his family. However, sometimes it was impossible for a man to fill his role. Sir Aaron believed he had already missed his child's life, his grandchildren's, and all who came after. Now only Ash was left. He wouldn't make the same mistake.

"Once more I should apologize, it is the duty of the elder users to teach their younger relatives. Clearly our bloodline has not honored that…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up," Ash interrupted, "Did you just say 'our bloodline'?"

Sir Aaron nodded.

"We're family…" Ash trailed off.

"You don't seem that surprised," Sir Aaron said cautiously.

"It's not all that surprising. Heck, when we first met, Lucario mistook me for you," Ash said, gesturing to the Aura Pokémon. The lad sighed, rubbing his temple.

"Are you alright?" Sir Aaron asked.

Ash just shrugged, "It's not the weirdest revelation of my life."

Honestly, Sir Aaron was thankful for the somewhat calm reaction Ash was having. The Knight knew that he probably wouldn't have the same reaction to the situation at this age. However, clearly Ash was used to these types of things. Sir Aaron wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

"ASH!"

A second boy fell out of the bushes behind them, along with another small Pokémon with large white ears. He had dark brown hair, a complexion that looked like grey ashes mixed with soil, and as he picked himself up from the ground, a pair of large soft blue eyes looked around.

The second lad took one look around and started shaking his head, "Nope, nope, nope! Leave me out of your raging insanity! Nooope!"

"Goh!" Ash called running after him, "Goh, Goh. Wait!"

"Ash! I have had to deal with you being kidnapped, poisoned and your obliviousness today! I draw the line at weird people in the middle of the woods!" The other boy, apparently named Goh, turned to the Aura guardians, "No offence."

"Oh, come on! You can't blame me for getting kidnapped," Ash said, crossing his arms.

Goh just groaned and shook his head, "Ash was is going on?"

"Well, it's complicated but the basic jest is that Sir Aaron stuffed Lucario in his staff and then died to stop a war. A few years ago, I released Lucario. Pikachu got kidnapped by Mew, so we went to rescue him. Lucario died saving the Tree of Beginning, and now they're both back," Ash rambled very quickly.

Goh's face told Sir Aaron everything, the Knight didn't even need to read his Aura. The disbelief and exhaustion that the second lad had felt was evident in his expression. The knight was between chuckling at and pitying the blue-eyed boy.

Goh groaned, rubbing his forehead, "Do you honestly expect me to believe this?!"

I can promise you that Ash and I share quite a history.

Goh eyes became wide as saucers and he jumped back, "He can use telepathy!?"

"Lucario is talented in many skills," Sir Aaron said, before reaching out an offered hand in greetings, "Sir Aaron of Rota."

Goh started to laugh, "You mean like the guy in those old children's fairytales?" He looked to Ash, "Ash is this guy serious?" the look on Ash's face said it all, and all amusement slipped off Goh's, "Oh, you guys are serious."

"Sorry?" Ash said.

"Why do you bring me into these things?"

"What things?"

"These kinds of things! The weird world-shattering things! I've only known you for a few months Ash and you have baffled me more than once! First it was Lugia! Then it was Riolu!" He gestured towards the little blue Pokémon at Ash's side, "and now this!?"

"Olu?"

Sir Aaron and Lucario shared a glance. Clearly, these the two boys knew each other, to what extent the knight was unsure. They seemed to have shared many experiences, however, it hadn't been enough to prepare Goh for this.

Excuse me. Lucario decided to speak up. I can promise you all we have told you is true.

Goh looked at Lucario suspiciously and grabbed a small flat red object from his back pocket, "Just to be sure," Goh mumbled.

The red object made a high-pitched almost echoing sound and said, "Lucario the aura Pokémon and the evolved form of Riolu. A steel and fighting type. Sensing the auras that all beings emanate allow Lucario to read mind and predicts movements."

Sir Aaron tried kept his face composed, but he felt his eyes widen. Curiosity and awe began to bubble inside of him. New discoveries and inventions always fascinated him. It had been his favorite part of his apprenticeship when he was a lad himself. His own master had brought a young Aaron on the journeys across the world and the rush of discovering something new was addicting to a child at twelve years of age.

"Okay yeah, not a psychic type," Goh grumbled, completely missing Lucario's suspicious glare towards the red object.

"He's the real deal, Goh," Ash said.

"And you met him, by releasing him from that guy's magic staff and then pikachu was kidnapped by mew, which you did not tell you have met! Then you went to rescue pikachu and he died?" Goh said very slowly and strained.

"Well, you missed the part where I was eaten by a giant killer magic rock tree ameba but yeah," Ash said.

"Pikapi," Pikachu said, with his ears lowering.

"Riolu!?"

Goh just sighed, a hand coming up to rub his forehead, "You do realize how insane all this sounds?"

"Well, compared to the rest of my life? Not really," Ash said.

"I wished I could say I was more shocked," Goh groaned, "but considering we met on the back of a lugia, I guess I should have expected things were going to get weird with you."

"Yeah, and apparently it normal for people like me," Ash chuckled rubbing the back of his neck.

Goh looked to the apparently alive elder aura guardian, for confirmation.

"I am afraid it's true. Aura users tend to attract more attention from mythicals and legendries," Sir Aaron said.

Goh raised a brow at Ash, "So, Mew and lugia, huh?"

"Well, there were others," Ash said, before listing off, "Diancie, Hoopa, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zekrom, Reshiram, Entei, Suicune…"

"Pika Pika!" Pikachu pointed his ears and pulled on his eyes.

"Celebi!" Ash said pointing to the mouse Pokémon.

Alright was the universe trying to get this lad killed? Even Sir Aaron hadn't encountered all of the ones Ash was listing off, and he had seen quite a few in his time.

"Okay! I got it! I understand what's going on," Goh sighed, before turning to the others, "Now why are you here? Don't tell me we're in danger or something."

That's exactly why we're here, Lucario deadpanned.

"Great," Goh said, with much snark.

"Mew has freed us due to a more recent development," Sir Aaron said.

"Let me guess," Ash interjected, "Team Rocket?"

How did you know?

"Well, I was recently kidnapped and poisoned by them, less then and hour ago. Not to mention the woman who was in charge mentioned Aura users," Ash said.

What?!

Ash shook his head, "Don't worry I'm fine. Riolu and Goh got me out."

"How are you so calm with this?" Goh asked.

"Goh my stalkers are part of this group. Those red 'R's I would recognize anywhere," Ash said, "This really isn't anything new."

"Uhm...Stalkers?" Sir Aaron said mildly concerned.

Ash just waved it off, "Two nutcases, and their talking meowth. They're nothing more than an annoyance these days."

Really, Ash? Lucario raised a brow.

"You met them. Jessie, James, the talking meowth? They were in the tree with us," Ash said.

The aura Pokémon looked to be grabbing at memories, trying to recall.

"You weren't kidding when you said those guys have been following you since forever," Goh mumbled.

Sir Aaron took a moment to try to understand the term 'nutcase' and how a meowth could talk, before shoving the thoughts out of his head. No time for that now, he had a much more important matters at hand.

"Merely an annoyance or not, they are clearly a different force then the rest of their allies," Sir Aaron said, "And while you have managed to evade Team Rocket's grasp, I'm afraid our fellow Aura user hadn't shared your luck."

"Wait, their going after other people now?" Ash said.

"Only Aura Users, but yes," Sir Aaron said.

"Wait, wait, time out!" Goh chimed in, "Someone, namely me, is missing some very important context! What's an Aura User?"

Sir Aaron was about to answer; however, Ash spoke first.

"You know the Move Aura Sphere?" Ash said.

"You want to talk about battles now?!" Goh nearly screamed.

Alright now the Knight was lost. Battles? What battles were they speaking of? Had an Aura war happened in his absence? He looked to Lucario, only to find that the Jackal Pokémon was just as confused.

"Just answer the question," Ash said.

"Yeah, I've seen you and Riolu watch matches online, and in between your onomatopoeia and your stomach, you literally never talk about anything else," Goh said.

"Well, it's similar to that, but humans can use it and it can make shields and stuff. You got it?" Ash said.

"I'll probably need a more detailed explanation later, but yeah I think I got it," Goh rubbed his face tiredly, "So you can do that?"

"Technically yes, but I haven't really done much with it," Ash shrugged.

"And you never thought to mention this?" Goh raised a brow.

"It never came up until now," Ash said.

"So why is team rocket now taking Aura users? Usually they're only after powerful Pokémon, at least that's what the three we're used to are usually after," Goh turned back to the others.

"According to mew they have recently uncovered old texts for a failed ritual to summon Arceus," Sir Aaron said.

"Summon Arceus?" Ash gaped, sharing glances with the Pokémon on his shoulder and the one standing next to him.

"Failed Ritual? That means it doesn't work right?" Goh asked.

"According to the historical texts, I've read," Sir Aaron said, glancing at Lucario "Neither of us have witnessed it personally. However, they don't know that."

Not to mention the version they have is incomplete. Making it more volatile.

"So, they're rounding up people like you and Ash?" Goh asked.

Sir Aaron nodded, "They need four. They already have one, a young man by the name of Riley."

Ash's eyes widened, "They got Riley?"

You know of him?

"Yeah, we met on Iron Island a few years back," Ash said.

"Let me guess, it's another long story that never came up?" Goh said.

"You have no idea," Ash said.

"Pika Pikachu."

"Okay," Goh said, "you said they need four. Ash, you and this Riley. That's only three."

"Yeah, who's number four?" Ash said.

All we know of her is her name.

"Which is…" Goh said.

"Amanda Gen, apparently she is Riley's sister," Sir Aaron said.

Goh pulled out the red object again and started to fiddle with it.

"Riley has a sister?" Ash muttered.

"Pikapi, pika pika."

"Yeah, you're probably right, no time to mention family when the island we were on was blowing up," Ash said.

"The Island you were on was blowing up?" Sir Aaron said.

"Regular Friday for us, right?" Ash said, with a laugh, "Riley's family too, isn't he?"

Sir Aaron nodded, "I probably don't have to explain that he's your cousin."

"Oh wait," his dark eyes suddenly widened with realization, he pulled the satchel on his back off, and rummaged around in it, "I think these belong to you," He pulled out a pair of blue gloves. Sir Aaron's gloves.

Sir Aaron took them, silent surprise in his movements. How had Ash?

"Lady Ilene let me keep them, after everything," Ash said swinging the satchel back onto his shoulder.

"I had been wondering what had happened to these," Sir Aaron said.

"You just keep a dead guy's gloves in your backpack?" Goh said, looking up from the red object, with a confused and slightly concerned face.

"Yeah," Ash said.

"Ash that's not normal," Goh shook his head.

"Yeah, I'm weird. We've established that," Ash deadpanned, "So, what's google say?"

"All I'm getting is about a Professor Lorelei Gen, and maybe one or two articles about your Riley guy, nothing about an Amanda though," Goh said, "Could be a relative, but you never know."

Ash leaned in closer, looking at the red object, "Professor?"

"Yeah, she specializes in Pokémon genetics and how it relates to evolution. She also was a student under Professor Oak," Goh said.

"You thinking Professor Cerise might know her?" Ash said.

"Maybe, but Ren can probably do a better internet search then me," Goh said before shoving the red object back into his pocket, "We need to contact the lab. I don't have a signal out here; we need to get closer to the resort."

"Alright, let's go," Ash said.

"Ash, wait what about…" Goh gestured towards the Aura guardians.

"Calm down Goh. We'll just say their LARPers."

A/N:

Well, here's the reunion! I re-worked this scene three times! Hopefully it lives up to ya'll expectations.

So, considering that aura is in everything and to my understanding Arceus made everything in the Pokémon world, it's quite possibly that there linked in some kind of way. And by proxy linked to the aura guardians. So, I'm going to be fleshing out the connection between the two as we get deeper in to the story. Especially when it comes to Aura Guardian's culture and religion.

As for Sir Aaron's interest in modern technology, I thought it would make an interesting quirk for him. There's not that much I can get from the scenes he got in the movie, but one line from his death scene stood out to me: "…What will it be like? I wonder I…?" This seems to me clear interest in what would a future world would look like and work. So, I think he would be very interest in human advancements, like tech. Not to mention Ash was always impressed by Clemet's inventions and they are related so….

Next chapter, is the introduction to someone we've never met, hope ya'll are ready to meet Amanda.