Since it is so likely children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave Knights and heroic courage. -C.S Lewis
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Lucario/Aaron and I stare at each other in mutual shock, and it's only when Mew lets out a pitiful whine that our attention shifts to the mythical Pokémon.
Mew's delicate tail is ensnared in the crystal, still piercing through Aaron's human form. The ethereal pink feline tugs at its tail in desperation, but it seems to be hopelessly trapped, having apparently exhausted itself with its prior display of power.
I turn back to Lucario/Aaron and wince at the wide-eyed stare he-they? are giving Aaron's corpse.
'Okay, ya. It's probably best that I give them a minute to process their new situation.' I think, hesitantly deciding to try helping Mew out of its predicament.
Slowly, I walk over to Mew with Gallade following closely behind, his wary gaze focusing on the newly transmigrated hero, while I watch the mythical Pokémon continue struggling to free itself.
With deliberate care, I manage to release Mew, but not without the unfortunate consequence of its tail being badly scratched by the sharp crystal shards from Aaron's tomb.
I quickly reach into my equipment bag and grab a super potion. I apply it to the scratches, and to my amazement, the high-potency medicine causes the injuries to visibly regenerate in a matter of seconds.
It is actually a bit unsettling to witness, as even with the strongest potions, it generally takes a few minutes to see any visible effects. Whatever Mew is, it did not have a normal physiology.
Mew seems equally fascinated with the process and, after it fully recovers, gives me an affectionate hug.
In the blink of an eye, Mew undergoes a remarkable transformation, assuming the precise appearance of a Zorua kit. I am utterly bewildered by this sudden change since I can tell this is not a mere illusion.
Even the scent emanating from Mew is that of a Zorua. Every one of my senses is convinced that the Pokémon in my arms is a tired-looking Zorua kit, and when suddenly presented with this baffling situation I let instinct guide my reaction.
Before another thought had a chance to enter my mind, I acted, stuffing Mew into my mane as if it were one of my offspring.
Only after Mew settled in did my brain finally catch up with my body's lingering paternal instincts. Freezing in place and slowly looking back, I watch carefully for Mews's reaction. What I receive in response is a happy Zorua yip as Mew snuggles into a comfortable sleeping position.
I feel as if I'd somehow accidentally strapped a bomb to my back, not knowing how to react and almost too afraid to move. I glance back at Lucario/Aaron in silent panic at my situation and find them still staring at Aaron's human corpse. Silent tears trickling from their eyes.
Eventually, a weary sigh escapes them as they turn to meet my gaze. The sheer flood of emotions on their face distracting me completely from the mythical Pokémon sleeping in my mane.
Slowly standing up from their crouched position, they focus their attention entirely on me. An odd wave of resignation crossing their lupine features.
"You have my apologies for attacking you earlier. Lucario,- I mean- I did not know why you were here, and I – Aaron, he-." they trail off briefly, seemingly confusing themselves with how to phrase who they were talking about.
Evidently, the fused entity had a more complete mixing of memories/consciousnesses than my situation. They didn't seem to have a distinct separation between them; their consciousnesses completely blended. This understandably made speaking about their former selves a tad bit difficult to articulate.
If I had to guess, Mew had turned them into something like a gestalt consciousness. In some ways, I kind of envy them. They didn't have to deal with the same existential problems that I have with Dustin's stolen memories and aura.
Getting a hold of themselves, Lucario/Aaron brush past the conversational speed bump and push forward.
"I think I understand now why you are here. If this is our end… then so be it." Lucario/Aaron says, closing their eyes and relaxing into a quieter aura 'voice.'
I'd have to ask them how they are doing that later because he sounds almost indistinguishable from an average human, and I can tell that they are making real sound waves by the way their voice echoes in the cave.
"I will not be ungrateful for the time we were allowed,… and I do not begrudge you your own duty. As long as Mew's last gift to us holds and we are allowed to pass on together…I care not which afterlife you take us to." Aaron/Lucario finish, opening their eyes with a defiant glint as if daring me to try separating them from each other.
'Wait. Afterlife? Do they think I am some sort of psychopomp-like entity here to guide their souls to the afterlife?' I think confusedly.
'Actually, if Lucario had heard my deep voice when I was pleading with him to 'wait,' it would make sense for Aaron to mistake a talking Dark-type Pokémon like me as some sort of grim reaper-like entity, especially when face-to-face with his own corpse.
'In fact, now that I think about it, some older religions made reference to deities like Giratina and Darkrai using messengers to ferry souls to their respective realms after death.'
'And here I show up, an unknown dark type with an unknown ghost type following me. It would be all too easy to assume we were here for their souls, especially if Aaron thought Lucario had died with him in the end.'
The only part that didn't fit was Kirlia/Gallade, but maybe Aaron thought he was one of Arceus's Arbiters, ensuring divine judgment was applied fairly to the dead.
"I think you might be mistaken as to why I'm here. If you let me, I can explain the situation in better detail, but before that, may I know whom I'm speaking to?" I ask them, already growing tired of trying to figure out what to call the fusion in my head.
Lucario/Aaron ponder the question, but it's not long before they simply say, "You can just call me Aaron for the time being, and if I may ask, what may I call you?"
"It's an honor to meet you Aaron. My friends call me Echo, and just to be clear, you are not dead… Well, technically, your former human self's body is dead, but I think you understand my meaning. It's been a long, long time since your human half died, and I must confess I don't know what to tell you other than Mew has given you a second chance at life." I say to Aaron, feeling completely out of my depth at the situation.
Aaron looks down at his paws in contemplation momentarily before returning his gaze to me.
"If you are not here for our souls, then…may I ask you a few questions?" Aaron asks me, and I answer immediately, "Of course, ask as many questions as you wish."
"What exactly are you, and why are you here? You are evidently not what I thought you were, yet I do not understand how you can speak as you are. You aren't even using aura to talk, so that rules out a bonded using projection speech." Aaron states warily
Huh, I wonder if 'bonded' meant the same thing as a trainer in Aaron's era.
"It's a long story, but I am what's known as a Zoroark, inadvertently infused with an explorer's aura and memories, not unlike your own situation. I was tasked with exploring the Tree of Beginning since the tree has become hostile to all human incursion since your disappearance some 700 years ago." I explain
There is another pause while Aaron processes my response.
'…700 years is a long time. Tell me, does the kingdom of Rota still yet stand?' Aaron asks with slight trepidation
"It does indeed, and in no small part thanks to your efforts at ending the war. In fact, there was an additional task the royal family gave me if I found your final resting place." I say while carefully reaching for the time flower case from within my equipment bag.
Aaron watches with curiosity as I take out the organic-looking crystal recorder from its reinforced travel case and hold it out.
With reverence, I intone to the resurrected hero:
"It has been over seven hundred years since your fall, Sir Aaron, yet the kingdom of Rota has never once forgotten your sacrifice. They tasked me with bringing this message to your final resting place." With those words, I activate the flower, a sphere of projected imagery and sounds surrounding us in translucent light.
I hadn't viewed the entirety of the recording while practicing aura techniques with Illene, so it surprises me when the first recorded eulogy moved on from one set of people to another and then another.
Each generation of Rota's royalty having apparently added onto the flower's recording, thanking Aaron for his sacrifice and vowing to uphold the ideals of peace he had died to protect.
There are almost two dozen generations in total, each with a unique perspective and each eliciting fresh tears from both of us as we watch.
This must have been a secret tradition of Rota's Royal family. They had no expectations or political agenda tied to the act; they simply gave thanks, and I can see that it means the world to Aaron; he hasn't blinked once since the recording started.
After enduring the lengthy recording session, I was overwhelmed with exhaustion. Having ascended halfway up the tree, recovered from severe head injuries, and maintained a prolonged aura-powered projection, I felt on the verge of collapsing right then and there.
"I-that, I can't believe it. So much time has passed, and yet, after all this time they still…" Aaron trails off, at a loss for what to say next.
As Aaron takes his time to process everything, I maintain a respectful silence. It must be incredibly difficult for him to come to terms with the fact that everyone he once knew has been gone for so long.
The decision he makes next will undoubtedly have significant implications, and I am prepared to stand by him, no matter which path he chooses to take from here.
He may choose to make his home within the ancient tree, living a life of solitude like a hermit, disconnected from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
Alternatively, if he emerges and shares his presence with the world, I would eagerly and unreservedly follow the path he paves, even if it goes against the wishes of the league.
As soon as he regains his composure, he hits me with a barrage of questions. His first inquiry is about Rotom, as he vividly recalls battling it from the perspective of his Lucario half. I make an ill-advised decision to explain that Rotom is a species of Pokémon with the ability to inhabit electrical devices.
The situation takes an unexpected turn as I now have to delve deep into detailed explanations of what electronics are, which then leads to me explaining modern industrial manufacturing practices, which inevitably leads to international trade, and, finally, the formation of the league.
It is unexpectedly enjoyable to share these concepts with one of Dustin's childhood heroes, especially since his genuine curiosity seems to have no limits.
Almost like that first day, I inherited Dustin's aura and realized the depth of even the most mundane objects, like lightbulbs.
It's also painfully easy to see that Aaron is using the barrage of questions to help mentally distance himself from the pain of having lost what was essentially his whole world.
Still, he genuinely seems to enjoy hearing my answers, so I gladly acquiesce to a long crash course on the modern world.
As we delve deeper into specific topics, I soon realize that I cannot answer his questions completely anymore. My knowledge, gained from Dustin's memories, is simply no match to Aaron's insatiable curiosity.
By the time I finally have to stop our conversation, the sun was likely beginning its slow descent toward the horizon based on the light coming from the crystals surrounding us.
Mew, having never left my mane, nestled further in and starts dozing again, a picture of contentment. Despite the peaceful scene, I can't shake off the creeping concern about the team's possible reaction to my prolonged absence from communication. When I inform Aaron of the people waiting for me, he declares that he will join me on my return.
His decision might have been influenced by the fact that one of Rota's Royalty, Illene, was waiting at the camp and Aaron felt the royal family deserved his thanks, regardless of the consequences of revealing himself to the league.
We take a few last moments to gaze at Aaron's crystalized human remains. Fulfilling my obligation, I place the time flower on the ground as if placing flowers before a gravestone. As I step back, Aaron puts a paw on the crystal and closes his eyes briefly as if in prayer.
Once that is done, he picks up his aged and crumbling satchel from the ground and slings it over his shoulder. The worn material surprisingly holding together even after all this time. With a nod of confirmation, we are off.
As we venture through the sparkling crystal tunnels, we are met with the melodic cawing of bird Pokémon nesting in the lush canopy of the trees. Emerging near the treetop, we are treated to a breathtaking panoramic view of everything within a fifty-mile radius. In the distance, Cameron Palace stood proudly, its distinct silhouette appearing somewhat altered since Aaron's previous visit, yet unmistakably occupying the same timeless location.
"Are we to camp here for the night before heading down or do you have a flying mount we can call upon?" Aaron asks me.
"Neither, actually; Gallade and I set a teleport point back at the base camp. I'll have to return myself to a Pokeball first, though, since teleportation is nearly impossible due to my dark typing causing interference." I explain.
"What exactly is a Pokeball? From the context, I assume it's something like a capture staff?" Aaron asks in response.
"Essentially, yes, it's another type of capture device, just a bit more compact than you are used to is all," I explain to him as I pull out my Pokeball necklace from its hiding place within my chest fluff.
"There might be some shock from the camp personnel when we teleport in, just stay calm and release me when we arrive. Everything should work itself out from there. The people who work for the league are genuinely good people, but they will swarm you with questions once they realize who you are, I guarantee it." I warn him.
"Good to know and completely understandable given the situation. Even I find this all hard to believe and I'm living it…I almost wonder if I really did pass on, and this is my afterlife." Aaron says before trailing off.
As if called by his words, Mew suddenly flies out of my mane and boops Aaron on the nose hard. The sudden hit shocks Aaron out of his thoughts, and he quickly tries to grab at the snickering pink menace.
As he takes a few swipes at the Mythical entity, Mew dodges the quick attacks with supernatural ease, moving effortlessly around the hits like water, playfully giggling all the while. Mew flies off into the sky the moment Aaron stops 'playing,' giving us a disturbingly human hand wave gesture before disappearing into one of the numerous fluffy white clouds above.
Staring at the spot Mew disappeared in, I can't help but ask, "You seem to treat Mew with some familiarity. Did you interact with it often in your previous life?"
"Only a handful of times. Mew can be… capricious, and I dared not bother it with trivial matters. Invoking its aid can cost a steep price, as you can tell from the body I left behind…But in the end, I suppose it must have some fondness for me if it brought me back." Aaron answers wistfully.
A moment of companionable silence passes between us before I glance toward the waning sunlight and sigh.
"Well then. Are you ready to head out?" I ask, turning away from the sky
"Yes. I think I'm ready to face this new future now. Whatever it may have in store." Aaron murmurs with a smile. I smile back and clap his shoulder reassuringly before giving Gallade the command to teleport us all back to base camp and returning myself to my Pokeball.
After being enveloped in a blur of dazzling, multicolored light, I find myself suddenly thrust into a scene of controlled pandemonium as the base camp swiftly responds to our unexpected arrival.
Security teams immediately establish a perimeter, creating a clear, designated area that separates us from the rest of the personnel. A standard practice when confronted with the abrupt appearance of unfamiliar Pokémon in the camp.
As I emerge from my Pokeball, there is a hush that falls over the camp. I look around and see Princess Illene standing next to Brandon. A smile spread across my face as I acknowledge them both.
"All objectives completed, I'm ready for debrief whenever but I think my friend here might want to speak a few words first," I say into the shocked silence, having noticed Aaron locking gazes with Princess Illene.
Aaron approaches Illene with deliberate, unhurried steps. He halts at a proper distance from her before gracefully sinking to one knee in a display of submission and reverence.
"Princess Illene of the Kingdom of Rota. I, Sir Aaron, the first of my name, redeclare my vow of loyalty to the royal family. Though I am not the same as I once was and much time has passed, your family's message to me has proven that you still embody all the values that I once gave my life to defend…"
If possible, the camp becomes even quieter as Lucario's aura projected declaration resonates throughout the camp, the revelation of just who this is dawning on the camp's personnel.
Only a few individuals seem to have enough presence of mind to pull out recording equipment, and I am unsurprised to see Ontario from the ghost sector among those unfazed by this unprecedented revelation of a hero of old returning from the dead.
"I hereby declare my unwavering intent to defend the innocent, to uphold the codes of honor and chivalry in all things, and to once again serve Rota as its guardian." Aaron vows, never once breaking eye contact with Illene.
Illene seems almost lost at what to say before finally getting a hold of herself, mentally evaluating the situation for only a few seconds before walking right up to Aaron and forcefully pulling him up to stand.
"Rota gladly accepts your declaration, Sir Aaron, but there's something I need to make absolutely clear." Illene proclaims while holding him by the shoulders, eyes blazing fiercely with conviction.
"You kneel to no one, not even to me. Understood?" She all but demands of him.
His reply is a single solemn nod of acceptance.
The scene unfolds as though a dam has burst, with a flood of scientists swarming around us, eager to seize the historical moment with a relentless barrage of questions.
Despite the chaos, Aaron handles the situation with remarkable poise, answering swiftly and to the best of his ability without showing any signs of being flustered by the sudden onslaught of people. Meanwhile, Brandon walks up alongside me as the rest of the camp directs their focus toward Aaron.
"That's really him then? This isn't some elaborate prank." Brandon asks me, a strange mix of calculation and wonder in his tone
"Yes sir, and no, this is not a prank. When I found him, his human body was encased in crystal, and his Lucario was preserved in stasis. I believe Aaron's aura was preserved by the Tree of Beginning. Long story short, Mew arrived, did something to fuse Aaron's Aura into his Lucario, and now we have this situation." I say, gesturing toward the crowd of people bombarding Aaron with questions.
At the mention of Mew, Brandon's eyes widen and I can see him making a visible effort to remember the league's guidelines for mythical encounters. The league's standard operating procedures for such events were purely theoretical, as there were no recorded encounters in modern history. As a result, most people never bothered to memorize those procedures, myself included.
"Alright, first things first, get Aaron out of that mob and bring him to the quarantine tent on the north side of camp. I'm going to initiate a lockdown and have the two of you looked over before anything else. I'll stop by with the veterinarians and specialist researchers in a few minutes." Brandon says confidently half a minute later.
"Understood." I say before turning toward the crowd and yelling, "All right! Hold off on the questions until later, people. Yes, I see your disappointment, and I don't care. HEY! Back away from the Lucario, or I will start biting people!" I say, quickly pushing my way through the crowd and pulling Aaron away, heading toward the designated quarantine tent.
The quarantine tent resembles the medical tent but is distinguishable by the presence of plastic sheets and air vents that serve as a makeshift airlock at the entrance. As we enter, Aaron's eyes light up like a kid in a candy store, as he marvels at every detail with childlike wonder.
"What is this material? It's as transparent as glass yet strangely flexible?" Aaron asks, taking one of the plastic flaps at the entrance and squeezing it lightly with one of his paws.
"It's kind of like an organic alloy; I don't know the exact process, but materials such as oil and resins are mixed and heated, and the result is called a plastic. It's non-reactive to most other substances, so it's quite useful for a lot of things." I say before diverting his attention inside.
"Listen, we may have to stay here for a day or two, so let me show you where everything is before the researchers show up, and I get stuck having to give my mission debriefing," I say as Aaron reluctantly nods in assent.
In the brief moments of solitude, I guide Aaron to the location of essential provisions, such as food stores and water. The living conditions seem modest to me, but Aaron's excitement makes me realize that he probably endured much harsher circumstances in his time period and that these living conditions are akin to royalty for him.
Eventually, Brandon arrives with several key researchers and veterinarians, all of whom, with their scrubs, latex gloves, and even hairnets, almost resemble characters from medical TV shows.
The researchers separate us into two adjoining sections to 'not interfere with scans,' and Brandon starts by asking if I have any footage from Rotom that I could share. He had already noted the drone was missing from my person but he is pleasantly surprised when I provide the intact black box.
Releasing Rotom from his little bunker cube, and after a few minutes of reviewing the raw footage later, Brandon praises me.
"Echo, that was some good work out there. This is far beyond anything we could have expected from this mission. The league won't forget this anytime soon, and I hope you realize this entire operation will be going down in the history books."
"I figured as much; there wasn't really any chance of keeping all this under wraps," I say, gesturing to Aaron in the other room as a veterinarian has him opening his mouth wide to check over his teeth.
"When do you think the league will have to release this all to the public?" I ask, not at all troubled by the upcoming reveal of my existence, utterly certain that the mission's results would get leaked one way or another.
I always knew this day would come; the only difference now was that I am no longer alone in my situation. This kind of secret could only be kept for so long, and the league would be foolish not to mold the narrative by releasing the info themselves.
"We've already started the process of trickling down information throughout the league's hierarchy. Various high-level political figures are also being read in as we speak. I give it a month at most before everything is brought into full public view." Brandon explains.
"On that note, the princess wanted me to invite you to stay at Cameron Palace until the public reveal occurs. Aaron is being given permanent residence there, and I imagine your experiences might help him adjust to his new circumstances. If I were you, I might also consider asking for some public speaking tips if you intend to address the public directly."
"That's actually not a bad idea, and you don't have to ask me twice. Ya, I'll gladly accept to stay in a luxurious historical castle, thank you very much." I say all too quickly, feeling more than a little excited at the prospect.
Eventually, Brandon has me give a full verbal debrief of the mission in excruciating detail. When we get to the part where Mew fell asleep in my mane, Brandon halts my speech with a raised hand and immediately calls in some of the researchers from the other room who are in the process of scanning Aaron with sophisticated-looking Pokedex.
Brandon orders the researchers to scan my mane for some reason, and their eyes almost bug out of their heads as the scanners start beeping in alarm.
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What could possibly be giving that kind of—and then it hit me. Mew had had a damaged tail shortly before it had transformed and been stuffed into my mane. It was entirely possible that there were residual hairs left behind.
The researchers have me lie on my stomach as they meticulously comb through my mane with fine-toothed brushes. As they do their work, the sensation of several people gently brushing through my mane has me almost purring in bliss. The only thing that kept me from embarrassing myself is that Brandon has me continue giving my report while this is happening.
After I finish presenting my report and receive Brandon's go-ahead to resume my seat, I glance back and notice three delicate glass vials resting on an aluminum tray. Each vial houses a solitary pink strand of hair, with the follicle containing DNA still perfectly preserved.
"Holy shit." I say, barely comprehending the magnitude of what was in front of us
Even bringing back a long-dead legendary hero might not compare to this. While I wasn't an expert in genetics, Mew DNA could potentially answer many of humanity's questions on how life truly originated on the planet. Were all Pokémon truly descended from Mew, and if so, how did anyone actually know that for there to be legends about it?
The Mew we encountered appeared to be the very same Mew Aaron had known over 700 years ago, suggesting that Mew might be truly immortal. Alternatively, it could be transferring memories to its offspring or utilizing a similar mechanism. Its demonstrated ability to manipulate Aura implied that anything was within its capabilities.
"I've sent word to the Champions about what we found, they are sending Lance and Professor Oak to pick up these samples immediately. They should be here in less than 20 minutes." Brandon tells me seriously.
Considering how far off those two people should be compared to Rota, I realized that ETA didn't make much sense.
"How are they getting here that fast? Isn't the flight here like an hour minimum?" I ask confusedly.
"Well, those two are the only people on the continent with tamed Dragonite at their call," Brandon answers lightly.
Aaron's checkup finishes a few minutes later, and he peeks in to check out the Mew hair samples we are staring at with mildly amused interest. It seemed like nothing out of the ordinary for him, perhaps due to a lack of scientific context regarding the potential capabilities of such samples in the hands of modern-day researchers.
Almost exactly on the 20-minute mark, a boom-thud reverberates through the air, and I can tell that something super-sonic has just arrived in our airspace.
Barely half a minute after the sonic boom, a wind-blown Professor Oak steps into the tent, his hair looking like he'd flown through a tornado. He holds a fancy pair of goggles and earmuffs in one hand while carrying two sleek silver mini-suitcases in the other.
Before even acknowledging anyone in the room, he opens both suitcases and reverently puts two of the Mew hair vials into one case and the last sample into the other case before quickly closing them both. With a heavy sigh of relief, he slumps on the hospital bed next to me.
"Heya Professor, how's it going." I ask in a chipper tone, and Oak groans in response
"I'm getting too old for this kind of thing, Echo," Oak responds before sitting up and taking in the people around him with a slight blush
"Ah, apologies; I needed to secure the samples as quickly as possible to make sure they did not decay." Oak then turns to Aaron with a bright smile, who is assessing the professor with keen interest
"And you must be Sir Aaron. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Oak states offering a hand to shake.
Instead of shaking hands conventionally, Oak clasps Aaron's mid-forearm in a weird version of a handshake, and Aaron nods in apparent approval.
Another boom-thud shakes the walls of the large tent, and as expected, Lance walks in soon thereafter, looking barely ruffled from the supersonic flight.
"I'm sorry I won't be able to stay and talk, but I have a long flight ahead of me, and I would like to use as much daylight as I can while I have it." Lance announces, and Oak nods before getting up and handing Lance the suitcase with the singular sample within.
After Lance's quick departure, I ask Oak, "What does he mean by a long flight? Isn't he going back to Indigo?"
"No. There's a bit of political maneuvering we have to dance around for situations like this. I will be taking samples to Hoenn and Indigo while Lance is taking a sample to Unova, these being the three regions that funded and enacted this mission." Oak explains
Oak stays a bit longer to talk with us and catch his breath before he, too, inevitably departs.
As night descends, the veterinarians, researchers, and other team members respectfully depart at my request, granting us the peaceful solitude needed for proper rest and relaxation.
In the days that follow, Aaron finds himself constantly bombarded with questions from the researchers. The intensity of the inquiries escalating to the extent that a group of historians are brought to the camp to ask even more detailed and specific questions.
It is understandable, considering that this is an exceptional chance to provide insight into a time period with very limited written historical records.
He is relentlessly questioned, and every ounce of his knowledge is extracted, from the political figures in power at the time to the unexpected uses of Pokémon in crafting longswords. Aaron responds with unwavering professionalism and poses just as many, if not more, inquiries about the modern world.
As the camp starts to pack up, Aaron and I hop into Illene's vehicle for the journey back to Cameron Palace. Aaron can't tear himself away from the window, his eyes drinking in the ever-changing landscapes as we transition from rugged terrain to smooth, paved roads.
His attention seems to intensify as he eagerly takes in everything around him, his gaze darting from side to side to capture the passing sights.
Illene and I share a knowing glance as we watch his reaction. About midway through town, Illene has the driver roll down Aaron's window, and I raise a questioning eyebrow at her in response.
"My family has a number of Lucario and exotic Pokémon in our possession, so it won't look strange to anyone if they see me with you two. So long as you guys don't start talking while the window is down, I don't think we will have any issues, " she says as Aaron unhesitatingly sticks his head out the now open window, visibly sniffing at all the odd scents permeating the air and looking exactly like a barely tamed new capture.
As we approach the castle, we pass an inviting ice cream shop. Aarons's keen sense of smell kicks into overdrive, and he leanes out of the window so far that I have to tug him back by his tail. As I roll up the window, Aaron turns to me, and I see his pupils fully dilated.
"I don't care what you say; I must have died and gone to the heavenly realm. Nothing so euphoric smelling could ever exist in the mortal plane." Aaron says in a daze, a bit of drool gathering at the corner of his mouth.
"Be that as it may, please avoid eating chocolate if possible. The last thing we need is to have you die of theobromine poisoning." I say exasperatedly as I think of my own physician's medical advice.
"Actually, while we're on the subject, don't eat Avocados, cherries, grapes, onions, or garlic either," I say seriously.
Taking in my no-nonsense tone, Aaron nods, brushing away excess drool with the back of his paw sheepishly.
"We can get you some specialty lactose-free ice cream after dinner tonight; we have a chef who likes to make some extra for our Lucario sometimes," Illene promises to Aaron's enthusiastic agreement.
As we approach the final stretch of road leading to Cameron Palace, Illene asks me a question.
"Did you know that since the last great war, many of the noble families of various regions have kept in close contact to aid international relations?"
Blinking at the sudden non sequitur, I respond slowly.
"Nooo, I wasn't aware of that. It makes sense, given the governmental sway you royals still have in some places, but why are you telling me this?" I ask slowly
"When I learned about your existence and did some digging, I discovered that you'd given up one of your children to the Unovan Royal family. I wasn't allowed to tell them anything due to the league's non-disclosure agreements, but now that the information ban is set to be lifted soon, I was allowed to contact them." Illene says leadingly
My heart rate picks up at the mention of my kit. With the league's insistence on keeping my existence secret and the private nature of Unova's Royal family's life, I hadn't had any news about how my male offspring was doing.
"I wanted to show you Rota's appreciation for the dangers you undertook on our behalf and for returning our greatest hero back home to us. They arrived this morning; your kit is with their son N right now, playing with the Riolu pups in the front yard." Illene says, pointing out the front window toward the open grassy lawn in front of the castle's entrance.
Just as she said, several Riolu pups and the signature green hair of the Unovan Royals were on the front lawn, guarded at a distance by several private security personnel and an elegant Serperior coiled lazily close by.
The two green-haired adults sat on a picnic blanket a little distance away from the rambunctious Riolu hoard. Running around and playing with them was a twelve-year-old boy with long green hair and an all too familiar Zorua frolicking at his side.
Eyes locked on the image, I don't process the vehicle's halt until Illene stepes out and gently tugs at my arm, guiding me to where the Royal family are seated. Aaron follows closely behind, a happy glint in his eyes as he watches the Riolu pups playfully wrestle and nip at each other.
As we neared the Royal family, they immediately notice our approach. It is evident that they had already seen our vehicle arriving. Meanwhile, their child N is completely engrossed in running around with a rope, trying to entice the Riolu to play tug-of-war with him, and has not yet noticed our presence.
Although I had intended to initiate a conversation with the royal family first, they preempt any conversation when they see my gaze constantly flicking over to my offspring, who is only a few feet away.
"We know how long it's been since you've seen your child. It would be cruel to force you to wait to make introductions with us." The queen of Unova speaks with understanding kindness.
"Go on, there is no need for formalities here. Zorua is family, and that makes you family by extension." The King says in agreement while putting his hand out to pet the Serperior that had stealthily slithered behind them, eyeing us with its slitted pupils as if debating whether or not we were a threat.
With a grateful nod to the couple, I slowly walk toward the distracted younglings, and almost immediately, I see my kit catch my scent on the air and whirl around, dropping the rope he was playing with and causing a Riolu to fall on its butt as all tension from its opponent had been suddenly lost.
Without hesitation, Zorua bolts toward me, his eyes glinting with excitement, and out of instinct, I go into 'play' mode. Dropping to all fours, I lead Zorua on a short chase around the grassy yard before eventually letting him catch me. Dramatically dropping to the ground, I lay on my back as Zorua climbs all over me, his tail wagging a mile a minute as he sniffs every inch of me, likely due to all the new smells I've been around.
After that, he rushes to my face nuzzling against my head, and I return the affection by hugging him into the crook of my neck.
Looking up, I see Prince N standing awkwardly a couple of feet away, looking toward Aaron's figure. Who had apparently run interference for me by personally distracting the Riolu pups. Currently, he is being piled on by every single one of the remaining Riolu as he lies on the ground, allowing the tiny canines to ineffectually chew on his limbs as he playfully tosses one or two through the air, only for the Riolu to immediately get back up off the ground and jump right back into the pile.
Aaron seems to be thoroughly enjoying the experience too, based on his happy expression.
Looking back to N, I kind of feel bad for the boy, who was suddenly left out due to our interruption. So I speak, catching the boy's attention immediately.
"Ah, Sir Aaron, how I knew thee. What a shame to lose a hero of his caliber to such a preventable fate." I say with false sorrow even as another two Riolu get gently tossed through the air and Aaron vocally gives one of the Riolu a compliment on its bite strength.
N's mouth drops open in shock as he hears each of us speak, but he almost falls over when my words actually get processed, and he starts darting his head from Aaron to me and then back again.
I think I may have overloaded his brain or something because N seems almost trapped in a loop of looking between us before he shakes his head and, to my surprise, jumps on top of me.
Before I know it, two tiny hands demandingly shake my shoulders, almost causing me to experience whiplash with the movement.
"You! How can you-No wait, that can't be THE Aaron from the stories right?! Mom said that the rangers discovered something crazy at the Tree of Beginning, and we were going to see it, but-but-could it be reincarnation?" The young child seems at a loss for words as he can't seem to decide what explanations to demand from me.
It's impressive that he even knows what reincarnation is, but maybe he had an interest in fantasy novels or something similar.
"I don't actually know if Reincarnation or Transmigration would be the more appropriate terminology," I say speculatively while scratching my chin with my free claw. N stares at me in awe, his hands still locked on my shoulders in preparation to shake further answers out of me.
Off to the side, N's mother calls out in a reprimanding tone.
"N Harmonia Gropius! That is not how we treat others! Be nice, or else we will be going home early, do you hear me!" She shouts.
"YES, MOM!" N yells back, immediately taking his hands off my shoulders
I grab the back of his shirt and stand up.
N appears thoroughly chastised as he dangles from his shirt, mumbling an apology. I immediately accept and forgive him and gently place him back on his feet. As I reach to put Zorua in my mane, my little kit suddenly throws on an impressive illusion, perfectly copying N's form.
I can tell that my kit is trying to use illusions to avoid being put in my mane, so I look at him with exaggerated suspicion. N visibly stifles a giggle as I look thoughtfully between the two of them.
"Hmm, that's a rather good illusion, If I do say so myself. It's quite impossible tell the difference," I say exaggeratedly, and that causes N to lose composure and laugh aloud.
As he laughs I give them a shrug, "Ah well, only one thing to do then," I say mischievously before lifting the young child again and putting both of them into my mane.
N gives a startled yelp before popping his head up and looking out from his slightly higher vantage point than a moment before. Zorua follows his example a second later.
Usually, a Zorua's instincts would prevent them from leaving a Zoroark's mane, almost like a cat when grasped by the scruff of the neck, but N apparently had a strong enough bond with Zorua to cause my kit to ignore those instincts.
I walk over to try to save Aaron from his fate, but I end up trapped within the puppy pile alongside him. N and Zorua take that distraction to escape my mane, and the next several hours are spent playing with the young ones.
Finally tiring themselves out, the Riolu lay down on the grass while Zorua, following his instincts, sleepily drags an equally tired N back to my mane as I lay face down on the ground, completely exhausted by the endless energy of today's youth.
A small army of caretakers arrives to pick the Riolu pups up and take them to their homes within the castle grounds.
Illene and the two Unovan Royals greet us with broad smiles as Aaron and I lay flat on the ground, completely exhausted. Aaron had expended all his energy dealing with the energetic Riolu hoard, while I am currently playing the part of a living bed for N and Zorua.
Normally, it wouldn't be an issue to move around a bit with kits sleeping in my mane, but N was quite a bit bigger than Zorua kits and might accidentally fall if I moved too much, so I was somewhat trapped here.
There is a serene peace to the moment, however, that I don't ever want to leave, but the moment passes when N's father gently pulls his sleeping son out of my mane, cradling the small child and letting N's head rest on his shoulder without once waking him up.
My kit is left where he is at my back, and I silently thank the family for letting me have a few more moments with him as I slowly stand beside them.
"Alright, everyone. Let's head inside. Dinner is almost done, and I don't want the chef's work to go to waste," Illene says while giving Aaron a helping hand up off the ground.
Following behind the royals, I finally take in their appearance in full. They don't fit the typical royal image I had in mind. Instead of frilly suits and dresses, they wore normal, if expensive, clothes.
The casualness of their speech and displays of honest emotions really make me realize that these are just normal people and not some stereotypical cardboard cutout of what Royalty is portrayed as in the media.
The decision to entrust them with my kit almost a year and a half ago now feels even more validated. The deep bond between N and Zorua is unmistakable, and I can't envision a more fitting place for Zorua to have ended up than with a royal family.
"The palace has simultaneously changed both more and less than I would have imagined," Aaron says, speaking aloud to the group.
The Unovan royals watch Aaron with fascination at his aura speech but seem to react little otherwise.
"There have been three or four remodels over the years, but my family has tried its best to maintain historical authenticity as best we can." Illene responds with a shrug.
"I wish my parents weren't off on their diplomatic mission to Paldea right now. They could tell you a lot more about all the big renovations that were made. I heard that installing the plumbing took almost a decade because of all the workarounds that had to be done so as not to damage the original infrastructure." Illene says.
Aaron acknowledges Illene's words with a nod, but I suspect that he is completely unfamiliar with the concept of plumbing. Waste management had not been one of the modern marvels that I had introduced to him when he first regained consciousness. With his inquisitive nature and access to the internet, I am certain that he will surpass my knowledge on the topic within a week or two.
Once we reach the dining hall, we see a ludicrously immaculate buffet of food before us. N and Zorua wake at the smell of the food, and N immediately gets two plates of food for both of them before the rest of us have a chance to look over what is available.
As I enter the hall, I am taken aback by the sheer number of people present. It seems like there is an entire army of staff members lined up on either side of the hall. I later discover that the royal family frequently dined alongside their serving staff.
While the staff always waited for the royals to be served first, they ate the same food as the rest of us.
After eating almost literally my entire body weight in food, I ask Illene about the communal eating.
Only after I had spoken the question aloud did I realize that none of the staff had reacted to a talking Pokémon being in their presence.
Had the Royals already informed their staff about us?
"Well, it would be a bit of a waste not to use the Dining hall without everyone here. Logistically, it works out better this way, too." Illene says.
"Ah, it's not just that, dear." N's mother chimes in. "Fostering environments like this is key to help develop social skills." She says while gesturing toward N, who is at that very moment, talking to several people at another table. At the same time, Zorua sneaks around the table to liberate uneaten scraps of food from the unguarded plates.
I laugh at the sight and watch as the two continue to work the tables as a team, one distraction and the other the cleanup crew. More than a few people caught onto the trick, but those who notice only smile and pretend not to see what is happening.
"I'm a little surprised no one here has batted an eye at us," I say, noticing how none of the people had been staring at the talking Pokémon in the room.
"The staff have been informed of your situation. All those who work for Rotas royal family are some of the best of the best. They pride themselves on professionalism above and beyond the norm, and in return, we show our appreciation by treating them like extensions of our family." Illene states with more than a little pride in her voice.
I wondered if this is what it would feel like when the secret of our existence goes public. Would I really be able to go out in a city one day with no illusions and expect to be treated like a normal person?
I really doubted it, but it is still interesting to witness a room full of people willing to outright disregard my presence; for the first time in a long while, I don't feel like a monster that needs to hide in the dark.
"Speaking of Social skills, I have to ask. Are you two planning to do any public speaking? It would definitely help the public come to terms with the new reality of sentient talking Pokémon being real and not some elaborate hoax." Illene asks us
"I have no intention of concealing anything if that's what you're asking. However, I believe I need to catch up on a lot of things before I feel confident about speaking in public. Context is crucial in such situations, and I'm concerned that I lack sufficient understanding due to my lack of knowledge of this new era," Aaron responds.
Everyone's gazes turn toward me.
"I, uh, don't suppose you guys could give me some tips in that regard? I honestly think I'd be fine with public speaking, but I can't really be sure since I've never actually had to speak publicly before now." I reply hesitantly
"We would be happy to help!" All three royals say almost in sync.
'It's almost like they were waiting for me to ask.' I think with fond amusement.
With a grin, I can't help but reply.
"Wow, is there an echo in here, or is it just me?" I say, thoroughly enjoying the looks I get from all three royals. Maybe having my kit nearby is giving me increased dad humor.
"It seems you all have much work ahead of you if this is what you are starting with. Best of luck with that." Aaron says in a deadpan.
My smile only grows wider, and I let out a howl of laughter.
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Bonus Deleted scene: Spikey Anatomy
Hearing Mew snoring in my mane affirms my decision to follow suit. This whole situation was just too much to handle at the moment, and I feared saying the wrong things to Aaron while half delirious from exhaustion.
"I apologize, Aaron, but It's been one hell of a day for me. Would you mind if I take an hour or two to rest before we continue? I promise to answer any questions you have, but I'm just a bit out of it after everything, and I don't think Mew would appreciate us waking it up." I politely ask the ancient hero while pointing to my back where Mew was sleeping
Aaron, only having just now realized that Mew was on my person, gave a tired lupine chuckle, his actual vocals being used for once before nodding in understanding.
'I understand completely. Mew can be capricious at the best of times, so it's best to wait for further discussion. I'll hold you to your word and keep watch while you rest." Aaron replies easily
He then walks a few steps away to sit in a lotus pose with his eyes closed, likely entering some kind of meditation.
With a shrug, I lie down and curl up into a loose ball on the ground with a tired sigh. After a few minutes, Gallade tries to lie down next to me, but his pointy elbows and chest crest make it almost impossible to get comfortable.
Eventually, we managed to get into a comfortable enough position, though Aaron's smirk told me we probably looked like a ridiculous tangled mess of limbs.
I wonder if Aaron experienced something similar when his Riolu evolved into a Lucario. Chest spikes are unfortunately not conducive to comfortable sleeping arrangements.
Somehow, I was able to catch a few hours of sleep, and when I awoke, Mew was gone. The only thing telling me that everything I experienced wasn't a dream was Gallade beside me and the Lucario off to the side. Aaron had also fallen asleep sometime during this interval, having used the ancient leather bag I found next to Aaron's crystal tomb as a makeshift pillow.
Part of me frowned at the priceless artifact being used like that but then I realized that it was his bag, he could do whatever the hell he wanted with it.