"Piplup! Hydro Pump!"
Steven waved his hand, and the cloak behind him billowed dramatically. Piplup, gripping its small sword, unleashed a powerful torrent of water. The opponent's Aggron took the Hydro Pump head-on and collapsed to the ground, unable to continue.
Piplup sheathed its small sword, closed its eyes, and lamented dramatically:
"Piplup..." It's a pity you resemble my dearest friend, yet lack his bravery. What a shame...
Steven recalled Piplup and returned to the waiting area for the next round of battles.
"Queen Ilene is really beautiful. I saw her applauding for you," Wallace said with a soft chuckle.
Steven rolled his eyes at Wallace, maintaining a polite smile on the surface while knowing Wallace was probably snickering behind his back.
"She applauds for everyone who wins, you know."
Just as Steven finished exchanging banter with Wallace, his name was called again. Steven continued his matches with Piplup.
It really was a beginner's tournament—the other contestants' Pokémon were only at the boss level. Piplup didn't even need to go all out to defeat its opponents.
"Ice Beam!"
Facing a Breloom, Piplup immediately fired an ice-blue, spiraling beam of light. Breloom dodged twice with quick leaps but was ultimately struck, freezing into an ice sculpture and losing its ability to battle.
Upbeat music played throughout the battle arena. Combined with the Pokémon battles, the spectacle gave the audience quite a show. The constant cheers, applause, and music somewhat affected the battles, but it was a festival after all—the lively atmosphere was part of the fun!
Besides, everyone was competing under the same conditions, so it made no difference.
In an unnoticed corner, a Pokémon beside Queen Ilene danced excitedly. Its body was pink, and its nose was a small red clown nose—a Psychic and Fairy-type Mime Jr.!
A Pidgey landed beside Mime Jr., yet no one noticed. Mime Jr. was delighted to see this sudden visitor, but then the Pidgey transformed, taking on Mime Jr.'s appearance.
"Ni?" Mime Jr. was startled but quickly returned to its cheerful state. It began dancing with this duplicate Mime Jr.
The maid who glanced at the Mime Jr. beside Ilene was nearly dumbfounded. While she rubbed her eyes in disbelief, the duplicate Mime Jr. suddenly transformed into an Aipom.
Now she was truly speechless...
The battles proceeded in an orderly fashion. Without much ceremony, both sides could send out their Pokémon to battle as soon as they took their positions. With relatively few participants, the competition progressed quickly.
By evening, as a Mismagius collapsed in front of Piplup, the final battle concluded!
"Mismagius is unable to battle! Piplup wins!"
The referee, dressed in period costume, waved a green flag.
"The winner is... Steven from Mossdeep City!"
The announcement of the winner brought the atmosphere to its peak! Overwhelming cheers surged toward Steven.
"Piplup! Piplup!" Louder cheers! Let Hero Piplup hear them all!
"Steven! I want to have your children!"
"Forget children! I want a Piplup!"
Steven & Piplup: !?
"Piplup..." I feel like I'm the one who should be fainting...
Piplup turned and met Steven's gaze, and the atmosphere became inexplicably awkward.
"Isn't this a bit... much?" Steven muttered with a strained smile, rubbing his forehead.
Wallace, standing behind him, naturally heard everything. He was covering his mouth, barely containing his laughter. This trip was truly worthwhile!
Suddenly, an Aipom ran onto the field, grabbed Piplup's flipper, and began dancing with it.
"Piplup?"
Piplup was only surprised for a moment before quickly joining the dance.
After the battle festival, a grand ball was held in the center of the castle. However, before the ball could begin, a coronation ceremony was required.
Steven stood beneath a large portrait of Sir Aaron, watching Queen Ilene approach with the crystal scepter.
"This is the staff once held by Sir Aaron, Aura Guardian. Only those who win the festival battles and are chosen as the Aura Guardian may possess it," Ilene said with a gentle smile, extending the staff toward Steven. "Please accept it, Steven."
He would only hold this staff for one night, after all.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Steven reached out and accepted the staff, thanking Ilene. However, the staff showed no particular reaction—only a faint crystalline chime.
"To honor Sir Aaron, the Aura Guardian who protected the peace of this land, let us celebrate joyfully tonight!" Queen Ilene spread her arms, and her clear voice echoed through the hall.
Music began, signaling the start of the ball.
"Um... may I have this dance?"
Wallace turned to see a shy girl standing before him.
"Of course," Wallace replied with a gentle smile.
This was a ball, and Wallace didn't want to disappoint her, so he accepted the invitation.
Steven, holding the staff, sat on the raised platform, quietly watching the couples dance below.
You're in for it, Wallace. I'm going to take a picture and send it to Winona!
Steven reached for his PokéNav, but his movement paused. His PokéNav was still in his original clothes!
"The Aura Guardian must remain in place," a maid beside him reminded.
Steven sighed helplessly. Mime Jr. beside him mimicked Steven's actions and expression perfectly.
"It seems I'll have to wait until the ball ends to see if Riolu can unseal Lucario," Steven thought.
Nearby, Piplup and Aipom were enjoying refreshments.
"Mmm mmm!"
Aipom pointed toward a door with the large finger on its tail.
"Piplup?" Piplup looked questioningly, then patted its "saber" confidently. It's fine! Hero Piplup will protect you! To adventure!!
Piplup drew its small sword and led Aipom on their "quest."
Aipom guided Piplup up a long spiral staircase, arriving at the castle's attic.
"Piplup!"
Piplup immediately jumped onto a rocking horse. While rocking back and forth, it brandished its small sword triumphantly. How could a heroic knight not have a steed! Giddy-up!!
"Mmm mmm!"
Aipom bounced on a large ball in front of Piplup. The two Pokémon were having the time of their lives.
In the main hall, Steven waited restlessly for the ball to end.
"By the way, was this staff actually used by Sir Aaron himself?" Steven asked an elderly maid beside him, examining the crystal staff in his hand.
"Of course!" the maid replied with a warm chuckle.
At that moment, Queen Ilene descended from the throne, spread her arms, and addressed the guests: "Now, the highlight of tonight's banquet is about to begin. The Aura Guardian will demonstrate his unique ability!"
"Quick! Strike the Guardian's pose!" the maid beside him urged.
Steven was caught off guard. He glanced at the painting of Sir Aaron hanging on the wall and mimicked the pose.
Honestly, Steven found this stance quite awkward...
He immediately spotted Wallace below, covering his mouth to stifle his laughter!
You're really something, Wallace! When I return to Hoenn, I'm telling Winona about this!
As Steven held his pose, brilliant fireworks bloomed in the night sky outside. All the guests turned their attention toward the spectacular display beyond the castle windows.
Bang—
Riolu burst out of Steven's Poké Ball, its eyes locked onto the staff in Steven's hand.
"Can you sense it, Riolu?" Steven looked down at his Pokémon and asked softly.
"Rio!"
Riolu nodded firmly.
"Then I'm counting on you."
Riolu raised both paws and channeled Aura energy toward a crystal embedded in the staff!
Ding-a-ling—
The staff in Steven's hand trembled violently, and the sound drew everyone's attention back to the platform. The staff burst forth with intense, dazzling white light. A beam of energy shot out from the crystal, landed on the ground, and gradually materialized into a Pokémon.
Lucario knelt on one knee, then suddenly looked up and shouted:
"Sir Aaron! Why?!"
Telepathy...
After focusing for a moment, Steven realized the words had formed directly in his mind. This meant that this Lucario was indeed the one he'd been searching for!