"-Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.-" -Dylan Thomas
When morning arrives, Altaria moves away from the entrance, causing sunlight to pour into the den and waking the occupants within.
The Swablu eagerly fly out the mouth of the den at the first opportunity, following their parent as it takes to the sky, gently flapping its downy wings to keep aloft as it waits for all its offspring to take to the air with it.
One of the Swablu had gotten a bit too comfortable last night and found itself tangled in my mane upon waking up. It takes almost a minute to untangle it, and I have to have Kirlia help me free the poor thing before the waiting mother Altaria, could get angry with me for 'distressing' one of its young.
With a sigh of relief, the last pseudo dragon bird is freed and takes off to join its brethren in the 'sky'.
As the family takes off to forage, I exit the den and try in vain to tame the wild mess my mane had become.
With a sigh of resignation, I give up on the attempt and instead break out a few food rations for my team and me.
After a quick breakfast, I spend several hours recollecting as many berry and plant samples as I can before reluctantly deciding to move on from this paradise sanctuary.
The sad fact was that after only two days of exploration, there really wasn't anything else I could do here. Additionally, If I remained out of communication for any longer, the rest of the team would probably assume I'd died.
So reluctantly, I climb into one of the many outer tunnels leading to the surface and follow the path upward. The flow of air and the scent of the outside world telling me that I am on the right track.
The tunnel is longer than expected though, and upon reaching the surface, I realize that it had taken me nearly to the halfway point of the tree. This zone was where the layers of rocky 'canopy' started to be covered with green growth, giving the Tree of Beginning its moniker.
Without the radio transceiver from my capture styler, it would be a bit more challenging to contact base camp, but thankfully, Rotom had a transceiver of his own.
The only issue is that Rotom's drone body is better at receiving signals than it is at transmitting them—well, at least in the encrypted frequencies used by the league for covert missions like this, anyway.
This shouldn't be an insurmountable issue, though. If I can just let base Camp know our exact position, we should be able to get a tight beam link going. That would allow us to transmit our findings without having to encrypt the data first.
Planting my feet and exerting dark energy outward, I cast an incorporeal net into the air. Fluttering in the wind like an advertising banner, my message: 'Point radio dish here for report,' ripples with prismatic colors, trying to gain anyone's attention down at the base camp only a few miles away.
Hopefully, the banner isn't too large to be noticed from a significant distance; I only wanted the ground team to notice this, not some random civilian in Rota who just happened to look at the tree at the wrong moment.
Thirty seconds later, the signal is bridged, and I dissipate the banner to initiate communication.
"This is Ranger Echo reporting in." I state professionally through the new com link
Almost instantly, Brandon's voice tries to reply, but in the background cheering and celebration from the rest of the team drowns him out.
Ah, it feels good to be appreciated. As the excitement continues for the next couple of minutes, an exasperatedly satisfied smile creeps onto my face.
After the fervor finally dies down, Brandon speaks, and I can't help but imagine the rest of the team crowding around the radio to hear our conversation.
"Echo, we are glad to hear back from you. We were getting worried when you didn't report in after the first day. I assume you found some interesting things in there?" Brandon says with evident relief
"Oh, you know. I might have found a thing or two." I drawl. "Give me a moment to send you what I have, and then you guys can tell me what you think." I say, eagerly awaiting their reaction to the data dump I am transmitting
It is no exaggeration to say that they were floored with what I provided to them. There were dozens of specialists recruited for this expedition and all of them were clamoring to talk with me. It sounded like they were not above shoving Brandon out of the way either.
Instead of the praise I was anticipating, I am bombarded with dozens of excited questions as the research teams pounced on the data like a pack of wild poochyena.
Carefully and systematically addressing every inquiry to the best of my ability, fully aware that my every word is being documented, potentially destined for inclusion in the annals of history.
Hours later as their relentless questioning about my discoveries and observations drew to a close, the sun hung low in the sky, surrendering to the encroaching darkness of night.
As the sun fully descends below the horizon, the night sky is adorned with the gentle glow of the stars. It seems as though the moon has completely vanished, engulfed by the darkness of a 'new moon' unilluminated by the sun.
This phase of the lunar cycle signals prime hunting time for dark-type Pokémon, and I am aware that any attempt at rest tonight will be futile, as my instincts dumped adrenaline into my system in anticipation of a hunt.
'Ah well, I got plenty of sleep yesterday anyway; it wouldn't kill me to explore a bit more during the night.' I think to myself
I let the team know that I am going to scale the tree a bit to see if there are any more cave entrances further up in the tree's rocky 'canopy'. After getting confirmation and approval for my plan, I cut the connection and proceed to climb the near-vertical rock wall.
I probably should have unpacked my climbing equipment from my bag, but I found that my claws dug into the solid rock easily enough, allowing me to climb a bit quicker than a human climber would have been able to with all their safety equipment.
I figure if worse came to worse I could grab onto Rotom and have him produce drag to mitigate the dangers of a fall. Actually, now that I thought about it, that could be a rather useful selling point for when Rotom devices are introduced to the open market.
I spend hours steadily making progress up the side of the Tree, nearly three-fourths of the way up to the top when my claw suddenly slips straight through the rock cliff face as if it's not there.
Struggling to hold on, I felt my grip slipping away. At the very last moment, I managed to regain my hold. Gathering my senses, I fixed my gaze on the part of the tree where my arm had plunged through, almost as if it had vanished into thin air.
It acted almost like a Zoroarks' illusion, bending light to hide the opening from the outside world.
I stared at the area for a while, trying to figure out what it was. Finally, I decided to have Rotom land on my hand and stick him inside to record what's on the other side.
Just as I finish sticking him inside, Rotom is pulled out of my grip by something. In a panic, I stupidly stick my head through the false cliff face to see what happened.
The area inside is a long tube-like structure with transparent green globs of something flowing upward against gravity.
Higher up, I see that Rotom has been caught by one of the green globs and is having difficulty escaping. Without thinking, I climb into the tube and start jumping off of the green globs, trying to reach Rotom before he gets out of sight.
Thankfully, the glowing green globs proved to be stable and sturdy enough to support my weight as I made my way towards Rotom. As I carefully freed him and balanced on top of the pulsing glob, I couldn't help but marvel at the strange beauty of the scene before me.
After consulting Rotom's scans, it became apparent that the green globs were actually condensed energy organelles of the tree, adding an intriguing layer to the mystery surrounding them.
We find ourselves in a space that resembles a bizarre interpretation of a circulatory system. The floating green globs are reminiscent of giant chloroplasts or mitochondria, and it's possible that the opening we entered from provides the tree with essential gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both.
The scene is nothing short of stunning as the dark tunnel is illuminated only by the radiant green energy globs. Our tunnel appears to intersect with other "arteries," up ahead, converging around a central point before diverging in various directions.
Reluctant to ride the globs any longer, I spot another permeable air hole and gather enough courage to hop through, praying not to end up in an even more treacherous part of the tree's bizarre alien physiology.
As I emerge from the tree's circulatory system, I stumble upon a striking sight – a thirty-foot-tall blue and purple crystal monolith housed in a chamber glowing with an ethereal green light.
The area surrounding this monolith is adorned with vibrant green crystals that seem to organically branch out, creating an enchanting spectacle. I can't help but wonder about the extent of the crystal lattice and whether it reaches the surface.
If it does, the entire area would be bathed in a mesmerizing glow once the sunlight hits, possibly filtering through the tree all the way down to the ancient Pokémon that dwells at its roots.
Additionally, as I gaze around, I notice intriguing side tunnels on the opposite side of the room. The air carries a distinct scent, hinting that I could easily navigate my way back outside by simply following the trail of fresh air to the surface.
With measured steps, I approach the immense crystal structure, feeling the tree's condensed energy pulsating through this central hub. It's as if I've stumbled upon the tree's nervous system. As I walk around the monolith of crystal, a surprising sight brings me to a halt.
The weathered leather pack, worn and cracked from the passage of time, looks like a relic from a bygone era, looking more like a museum piece than anything.
As Rotom diligently documents every detail, I carefully kneel next to the pack and closely examine the worn and tarnished crest. Despite its age, the crest proudly proclaims its allegiance to the ancient line of the aura guardians.
Cautious not to disturb the priceless artifact, I task Rotom with a thorough scan, which uncovers only remnants of half-disintegrated cloth inside.
Feeling a twinge of disappointment at the lack of any substantial findings, I rise from my kneeling position. Just as I begin to move on, I am suddenly transfixed as my gaze lands on the striking silhouette of a man seemingly trapped within the crystal.
As I stand there, my heart pounding and my breath catching in my throat, I can't help but fixate on the unmistakable form of Sir Arron. He lies perfectly preserved in a reclined position, as if trapped in amber like an ancient mosquito, holding a crystal staff close to his chest with reverence.
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His frozen expression portrays a sad, resigned acceptance.
Had Aaron known he'd be crystalized like this? What exactly had he done that the tree did this to him?
My heart aches at the sight of the crystal staff he is holding.
If Sir Aaron's Lucario had been contained within the staff, its life would likely have been extinguished long ago. The stasis field, lacking the support of a trainer's Aura or any other energy source, wouldn't have been capable of sustaining the life force trapped within for the hundreds of years it endured.
Was that why Aaron looked so resigned and sad? Had his partner refused to leave his side even as he was dying?
I knelt down, tears streaming through the fur on my face, as I reverently placed a claw on Sir Aaron's final resting place. Before me lay a near-mythical figure of history, separated from me by only a foot of crystal.
In that moment, I come to realize that I might be the first and possibly only person to ever witness this sight outside of a recording. As I gaze at the scene, lost in reverie, Kirlia gives me a warning impression through our connection, jolting me back to the present. With a graceful hop, Kirlia jumps out of his spot in my mane, lightly landing on the ground and perfectly poised for battle beside me.
As I turn my back to the shimmering crystal, my eyes dart in the direction of the side tunnels, anticipating the approach of a wild Pokémon. However, in that moment, I completely miss the sudden flash of light behind me.
Startled, I find myself skidding across the ground, the reverberations of a 'force palm' attack leaving my head ringing from the point-blank impact. As I struggle to regain my bearings, Kirlia rushes to my side. Together, we are met with an utterly surreal and impossible sight unfolding before us.
In front of us stands Sir Aaron's Lucario, with the staff emanating a gentle glow from within the crystal. The crystal doesn't appear to hinder the staff's release function in any way. As I look into its cold, red eyes, I can't discern any of the intelligence I had once hoped to find.
Instead, I see an expression akin to that of a protective guard dog defending its master's grave. The staff had somehow remained in stasis all this time, and now, without a capture styler and feeling concussed from its initial strike to my head, I have to find a way to deal with this situation.
In a blur of impossible speed, Lucario gracefully sidesteps Kirlia's psychic attack, swiftly knocking my legs out from under me. Dazed and unable to react, I find myself defenseless as a dangerously potent Aura Sphere materializes, its lethal energy aimed directly at my head.
"Wait!" I try to shout, but Aarons' Lucario releases the attack regardless
In a split second, Rotom interposes himself between the attack and my face, shielding me from the brunt of the damage. Chaos unfolds as Kirlia surges forward, using telekinetic force to push Lucario away from me and standing protectively between me and the angry Lucario.
The world begins to blur, the concussion finally hitting home with a nice helping of vertigo and nausea, making it nearly impossible to focus. Despite the haze, I still discern Kirlia's familiar defensive stance, heartwrenchingly reminiscent of when he had tried to protect Dustin from me.
Determined to prevent history from repeating itself, I fumble urgently through the equipment bag in search of a potion.
Suddenly, another explosion shatters the air, pulling my attention back to the battle. The fragmented remains of Rotom's drone vessel crashes to the ground, billowing smoke into the air. Thankfully I notice a glowing black cube still intact on the ground. Rotom had evidently retreated to the Drones durable black box at the last second.
Lucarios's eyes shine with 'foresight,' showing how he'd managed to hit Rotom through his ghostly immunity; Kirlia, undaunted, lands a retaliatory 'psybeam' pushing Lucario further back.
In the midst of the intense battle, a moment of stillness emerges as Lucario and Kirlia face each other with unwavering determination. Seizing the opportunity, I carefully administer a super potion directly to my head, easing the throbbing pain and pressure, although not completely curing me as I'd hoped.
The interior of the cave slowly starts to brighten as the first light of dawn filters through the myriad of crystals, casting a mesmerizing radiance throughout the space.
Lucario begins charging another Aura Sphere, but to my shock, its power is now orders of magnitude greater than all its previous attacks. It dawns on me with a jolt of horror that Lucario had been quietly stacking 'Calm Minds' during the lull, boosting its offensive and defensive powers exponentially.
As the dawns' light seems to peak, Kirlia urgently tugs at our bond, radiating a sense of urgency and desperation. Reacting on pure instinct, I draw upon my surplus of energy, knowing it might not be compatible with him yet still hoping for a miracle.
Our opposing energies clash in Kirlia's body causing him to shudder in pain. Lucarios attack fires with all the inevitable weight of an oncoming rockslide. And then, against all odds, the miracle happens.
A blinding flash of light engulfs Kirlia's form, and before the transformation is even complete, a blade infused with psychic force materializes, deflecting the oncoming Aura Sphere and causing it to explode violently against the cave wall.
The light of evolution fades from Kirlia's form, and a formidable Gallade emerges in his place. With a swift, protective movement, he crosses his newly formed elbow blades in front of himself, emitting a defiant roar as he openly challenges Aaron's Lucario.
As our bond intensifies, I realize that Gallade is metabolizing my dark energy with his newfound fighting-type nature, infusing him with newfound strength.
The two Pokémon dash towards each other, preparing to engage in close-quarters combat. Suddenly, an unnatural stillness fills the air, halting all movement. A sense of unease grips me as an overwhelming pressure envelops the cave, unlike anything I have ever experienced.
What emerges is like a living sun, emanating an immense, unstoppable power. We are all frozen in place, as if held by an invisible force, as the entity soars between Lucario and Gallade, observing us with a piercing gaze, as if reprimanding us for our reckless behavior. Then, as quickly as it comes, the intense pressure vanishes.
Before us hovers a Pokémon that is shrouded in myth and mystery. Its ethereal form seems almost surreal, with whispers of its existence etched into the ancient tombstones of long-forgotten civilizations, as if they were pleading for its presence to bring them salvation.
Merely a few feet away from me floats Mew, the progenitor of all Pokémon. Some believe it to be the very first offspring of Arceus, the bringer of life and creator of the Pokémon universe.
Despite its profound significance, Mew appears as an unassuming pink cat, standing at a mere foot and a half in height, yet its gaze carries an air of expectation and wisdom.
Lucario hesitantly takes the first step, approaching Mew with its head turned away and ears flattened against its head. Showing affection, Mew gives Lucario a few gentle licks on the head before Lucario moves to stand protectively in front of Aaron's body.
As I try to stand up, still reeling from the shock of seeing the mythical being, my unsteady legs give way, and I end up toppling back to the ground.
Mew floats closer and closer until it is mere inches away from my face, its iridescent blue eyes locking onto my green ones. With gentle precision, it places a stubby front paw on my forehead, and a warm pulse of healing energy spreads throughout my body, lingering in areas that are damaged and concentrating for an unexpectedly long time in my head.
As the healing energy works its magic, I can't help but notice a shift in Mew's gaze, as if it has transitioned from a comforting presence to a focused, calculating force, as if it is grappling with a mesmerizing, intricate puzzle.
In an instant, Gallade rushes to my side, his protective nature evident as he checks to see if I am unharmed. Mew lets out a little giggle at Gallade's concern, giving him a friendly pat before fluttering over to Lucario.
Fully restored, I steady myself and cautiously make my way towards Rotom's shattered drone body, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the majestic, god-like being hovering just a few feet away.
I mutter frustrated curses under my breath as I survey the wreckage of the recording equipment. It's a bitter realization to be without a scanner at this crucial moment. After taking a deep breath and forcing myself to calm down, I carefully retrieve Rotom's black box. To my relief, he appears to be holding up fine within it.
Despite the chaos, I can't help but feel thankful that everyone on my team is still alive. The encounter with the powerful Lucario could have easily turned disastrous for us at any moment.
As I gather all of Rotom's pieces and secure them, Gallade and I make a mutual decision to quietly slip away while Mew is preoccupied with Lucario. However, just as we are about to make our escape, I halt in my tracks as I notice Mew grasping Lucario's head between its stubby paws.
Lucario seems to be in a state of deep meditation with closed eyes, and in that moment, the entire crystal structure illuminates with a powerful flare.
The entire cave brightens as power flows through the Tree of Beginning, funneling directly to Mew, which focuses all its laser-like attention on Lucario's forehead. Mew's long tail darts out, piercing the crystal encasing Aaron's corpse like a striking viper and piercing his chest with the tip.
A mixture of curiosity and instinct roots me in place as I stare at the Mythical Legend performing what must be a miracle.
When the glow of the crystals returns to its usual radiance after Mew completes its actions, Lucario, overcome with exhaustion, collapses to one knee. One of its paws is pressed against its head while the other touches the ground for support, preventing it from toppling over. In a voice that shines as brightly as a sunbeam, Lucario speaks, its words resonating with the power of its Aura.
"Mew? What-Where." A man's voice echoes into the quiet chamber
He lowers his 'hand' to his face and stares at the blue paw.
'The legends said that Aaron had given his life-his aura to The Tree of Beginning to end the war; what the stories didn't say was that the tree had held onto that aura all this time.' I think in awe-struck wonder
Confused, Red eyes turn my way, and with slack-jawed certainty, I comprehend what had just been done.
Mew had given the Aura back.