Because Ash was asked not to leave his seat, and Pikachu and the others went to play with Mew or were enjoying the party, all he can do now, besides teasing Ralts, is enjoy his talk with Ilene and study the Aura Staff more closely.
In fact, he and Queen Ilene were getting along really well, even teasing each other and calling each other by their first names and no honorifics.
"Why… Why… Why…"
The same questioning voice has sounded in Ash's mind again now, three times this time. The voice was filled with rage, but also mixed with deep attachment and confusion.
At this time, the dance was stopped, and Her Highness Ilene stopped their conversation and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby announce that tonight's banquet ends here—I, Queen Ilene of Rota, and our brave Aura Guardian, Sir Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town, will take our leave!"
Ash stood up, holding the Aura Staff high, and placed one hand on the crystal. This was the required form he had to do when his power over the Aura Force was still in its infancy, and was to be controlled and used through the palm of the hand.
At this time, the power of the Aura Force in Ash's body automatically flowed and was injected into the beautiful blue crystal. The light shone brightly and the whole staff began to vibrate. However, Ash forcibly suppressed it from breaking open.
"Now that you're awake, show yourself!" Under the startled gaze of everyone, Ash held up the Aura Staff and shook it hard. There was a ray of light shooting out of the crystal and falling to the ground, revealing a silhouette.
This was a humanoid Pokémon with a head like a jackal. It raises its head with its eyes closed, its Aura very strong, enough for the naked eye to see it.
Seeing this Pokémon, Ash's eyes lit up.
It was Lucario.
This was one of the—no, without the doubt the Pokémon that best suited Ash, an Aura Guardian.
Lucario's ability to control and use Aura is unmatched by other Pokémon.
Judging from Ash's current understanding of the power of the Aura Force, the power of Aura was a powerful combination that let the user understand the body and soul, increase their natural vision and hearing abilities, and also give them an increased ability in offense and defense.
At the basic labels, Ash and Lucario can sense each other's Aura as well as read each other's thoughts and actions. They can also use their Aura to strengthen their attacks to the point that just a simple tap can crush a huge boulder like it's nothing.
He had already decided during his Hoenn journey that after finishing it he'll go to the Sinnoh Region, and on that bucket list was that he must catch a Riolu or a Lucario then.
But when he met Scott, he decided he wanted to challenge the Battle Frontier before leaving Kanto again, so Ash had to put this idea of his on hold for the time being. Unexpectedly, he encountered a Lucario here, and it was also one of a very high-level one.
At this moment, Lucario closed his eyes and scanned the entire banquet hall with the power of his Aura. In his Aura Vision, Ash was like a gigantic neon sign in a dark room.
Whether it's Ash's Aura Force that was constantly surging like a blazing flame or his overall form at this moment, it is clearly bright to its perception.
"Master Aaron!"
He jumped up to Ash and asked, "Why did you abandon Cameran Palace?!"
Ash understood, "So you can use Telepathy…"
Telepathy in itself was a special ability that only a very few Pokémon with outstanding abilities can awaken. This is not a skill unique to a single species. During the journey, Ash has also encountered many Pokémon that can use Telepathy. Both regular Pokémon and Legendary/Mythical Pokémon.
Like the Slowking in the Orange Islands and Jirachi he met back in Hoenn.
"You mean to tell me that Sir Aaron ran away from Cameran Palace and Rota Kingdom?" Ash frowned, but he didn't want to believe that Aaron, one of the most well known Aura Guardians, would do such a thing.
He also possesses the power of the Aura Force, so he naturally knows that this was an ability that required absolute bravery and a spirit of dedication unmatched by any regular man.
And it's not like the legends surrounding Aaron can be falsified, there were far too many records of him doing heroic stuff that put his life at risk. There was no reason for him to run away from the palace. However, if it was falsified, Ash had to give that person credit where it was due. To be able to make all that stuff takes serious effort.
Anyhow, the title of a true Aura Guardian is not something one is casual about.
Hearing Ash's voice, Lucario finally opened his eyes, but saw that it was not his Master Aaron in front of him, though they looked quite similar in height and hairstyles.
He was stunned for a moment, then heard Ash ask in turn, "Do you really believe that Sir Aaron would do such a thing?"
"What did you just say?" Lucario became irritated by Ash's words before he had time to observe the things around him.
"You should be his companion, right? Your trust in him… is the bond between you and him so little?" Ash's powerful Aura burst out, pinched its neck, and smashed Lucario in the wall.
Lucario, who possesses the Steel-type and was a very powerful Pokémon in general, hit the wall, causing cracks on the wall of the decorated banquet hall.
"Who are you?" Lucario was now restrained by Ash's Psychic Force and flailed slightly. He could have never imagined that a human could have such power.
'Moreover, his Aura Force is exactly the same as Master!' Lucario thought.
"I don't know what happened to you and Sir Aaron in the past, and how you came to be sealed here with that belief, but now that I'm the one who woke you up and since you are a companion of an Aura Guardian, here me out!"
Ash's words rang like bells in Lucario's ears, and it seemed like he was almost enlightened.
Of course, subconsciously, he would not believe that Aaron would abandon Rota Kingdom and his beloved Queen Rin in Cameran Palace, so it asked over and over again. It lowered its head, "Then why did Master Aaron say that, and why did he imprison me in his staff?"
Ash shook it off, "That I don't know about. We have to investigate first before coming to a rash conclusion!"
Hearing this, Lucario nodded slightly and excused himself out of the banquet hall, as if he wasn't being stared at by all the shocked guests.
He left the banquet hall and ran around the now Rota City, which is no longer a kingdom. At this moment, the moon was dim and there were gorgeous fireworks blooming in the sky. Everyone was commemorating Sir Aaron's great achievements even with the surprise Lucario visit.
But Lucario, who had accompanied Aaron, just felt like he was in another world, and the Pokémon and people here were infinitely different from the ones he remembered.
Following the memory as if it was just yesterday, Lucario found the room next to the garden with ease, where he and Aaron had trained and spent most of their time together.
It was Aaron who brought him to this city and taught it everything about being a true Aura Guardian.
But now this room, the former residence of the legendary figure, has been transformed into a showroom, with many things related to Aaron being displayed in glass.
"Lucario!"
The gentle voice called, and Lucario turned around suddenly, only to see the familiar figure in the darkness,
"Your Highness Rin!"
However, the light was turned on, and it was Queen Ilene who came over with Ash, practically hand-in-hand, "I'm sorry, I'm not her. Queen Rin is my ancestor. My name is Ilene Ketchum Belserion III!"
The moment Ash heard her full name, he was left stunned.
'Babe, did I just hear that name correctly?'
[Yes, baby. She just said her name was Ilene Ketchum Belserion III. But maybe it's just a coincidence—] Ciel was cut off.
"Ketchum?!" Lucario asked in even more surprise than Ash. "Are… is Master Aaron…?"
Ilene smiled. "Yes. In the diary of Queen Rin, she mentioned that not before you and Sir Aaron disappeared, she found out that she was pregnant with his child—"
"That scoundrel!" Lucario yelled in anger. "Not only did he seal me away, but he also left his wife and child away? I will destroy that statue of his with the same Aura Sphere he taught me!"
"Don't! Queen Rin said that she never got to tell him. He never knew of their twin children."
"Twins?" Ash and Lucario asked in unison.
"Now talk about being a double deadbeat."
"Yes, I agree. To think Master Aaron would become the thing he hates the most—a deadbeat father!"
"Hmm… such a shame."
Irene looked at the two figures talking ill about her ancestor with a small smile.
"Ash, I can see your confused eyes. The truth is we are both related, in a sense. I'm a descendant of the older son, and you are a descendant of the younger sister."
Ash just nodded along to whatever she said, he didn't have much of a clue on who his dad was, not to mention his family. "So, what does that make us?"
Irene smiled at him, a little too sweetly. "Well, certainly not blood related. Our blood is so different that even the best doctors wouldn't be able to tell we are connected. But don't worry. You're more than any blood relative."
The way Ilene said that made Ash a little worried, but he didn't know why.
'Ciel—'
[Oh my, how lewd, inces—ahem—ah, dear, looks like my mom is calling me to bed. Goodnight, my love!] and there she went, escaping whatever was going on.
Seeing Ash come to accept his part royal identity, even if it's a long shot, Ilene nodded.
'Oh Ash… yes, don't worry, we're not directly related by blood… there will be no consequences… it's a prophecy…' she thought as she had a very lewd smile.
'…Maybe it would have been for the best if I was just sealed away…' Lucario thought, looking at the descendants of the two humans closest to him, his family.
She quickly got herself back in order, she walked over gently and slowly embraced Lucario in his arms, calming down the restlessness in his heart as he woke up in a strange yet familiar place.
"You have been sleeping all this time. To you, maybe it just happened yesterday, but to us, it was a long, long time ago."
Ilene was trying her best to help Lucario accept the world at this moment and finally calm down his emotions.
At this time, the main celebration was over, and the traveling Trainers were leaving one after another, retiring to their hotels, and the three Cerulean sisters had also left.
The main group came to the side hall, and Lucario knelt down on one knee in front of Ilene and Ash, the only two people related to him.
Before any heavy topics, Ash revealed his new connections to Ilene, with May smiling but already knowing what's to come when she looked at the way Ilene was looking at Ash.
'I thought he would slow down a little after Risa just a week ago, but I can't expect anything less than Ash. Looks like I'll have to call for a meeting soon.' May just sighed, but also happy at their new sister-in-arms.
Brock wasn't even paying attention, being depressed about his beloved knight in shining armor leaving to who knows where, with Max trying his best to comfort him.
"According to legend, your whereabouts were unknown during the end of war. What happened?" Ilene asked for details.
Lucario replied, "The armies on both sides were gradually approaching, and the Kingdom of Rota was about to be forced to be involved in the war. I went out to investigate the war situation, but at that time I understood there was absolutely no way to stop the war!"
After hearing this, Queen Ilene said, "The legend records that then Sir Aaron saved Cameran Palace and all of Rota!"
Lucario, who had been taught a lesson by Ash before, no longer insisted that Aaron abandoned the kingdom and escaped on his own. He looked at Ash and said, "Master Ash, you have an Aura Force that is more powerful than Master Aaron. I am begging you to help me find out about this matter, please!"
Ash smiled, "I am bound to do this, think of it as making up for my ancestor. And please don't call me Master Ash, it makes me feel something weird. Just call me Ash."
At this moment, Kidd broke into the side hall, and she put on her costume again, "You really are here, Ash. It's bad, I saw Mew playing with Pikachu and Eevee, and then suddenly transforming for no particular reason and flying away!"