Mewtwo and Lucario met each other's gaze. Then they clasped hands and smiled.
Mewtwo (Individual Zero) said, "I'll leave the title of [Martial God] to you. You really are Nagamasa's Pokémon. No matter the era, you're incredibly strong. Your bond is just as powerful, too. In terms of Synergy, you're at one hundred percent. No, perhaps you've reached an even higher level."
Lucario replied, "I don't entirely understand what you mean, but thank you. From now on, I'll always remain with them."
The two Pokémon continued their friendly conversation, recognizing one another as kindred spirits standing at the pinnacle of the Fighting type.
Individual Zero had even found a small sense of belonging in this era. Simply put, they had fought each other and become friends afterward. It was as simple as that.
The atmosphere among the humans, however, was a little strange.
"Lance left, and Queen Ilene is dealing with something urgent too..."
This should have been the moment when the victor was presented with the Hero's Staff and raised it high above their head. Instead, Queen Ilene had left her throne, her brow creased with worry after receiving troubling news.
Bruno and Karen, two members of Johto's Elite Four, also wore thoughtful expressions.
"Your Majesty, has something happened?"
Lucario from a thousand years ago used Extreme Speed to reach the queen's side, then dropped to one knee and addressed her like a knight.
Her answer left it stunned.
Queen Ilene had previously learned some details about the Tree of Beginning from Lance. More accurately, the Champion had come to her seeking confirmation, but unfortunately...
"Even as the queen who inherited this kingdom, I know very little about the Tree of Beginning," Ilene said. "All I have are the fragments of knowledge passed down by my ancestor, Queen Rin. I cannot use Aura, I possess no special powers, and the kingdom no longer maintains an external military force..."
"The Tree's cells identify intruders as bacteria and eliminate them. But this disaster has caused the land around Cameran Palace to collapse. It has spread throughout the kingdom and even begun affecting the Indigo Plateau."
"The cells have assumed the forms of Pokémon and are advancing in this direction. Some are climbing the cliffs, while others have flown up here. The Champion said they appear to be under some sort of influence and are transmitting an unidentifiable signal. Their ultimate destination seems to be Goldenrod City, at the edge of the sea."
Lucario was shocked. After a moment, it sank into deep thought.
"The World Tree's crystals mutated into cells. In other words, those crystals are extensions of the Tree's power. Long ago, we used those crystals to transmit Aura across battlefields and relay messages..."
Queen Ilene nodded.
"The World Tree's crystals are spread throughout the northern lands. It would not be unreasonable to say that the Tree's power created that entire region. It has long existed in symbiosis with us. Outside the core area, the surrounding mountains and land are merely unimportant offshoots."
"But why have they suddenly awakened like this...?"
Lucario's eyes widened.
"Could they be searching for [Aura]? The collision of Aura here produced an immense amount of life energy. It pierced the heavens, penetrated the earth, and stirred the oceans. Did the World Tree sense it?"
"Your Majesty, I heard humans speaking of a similar legend. In the distant land of Ferrum, a colossal stone suddenly appeared and nearly caused the entire region to collapse. Could the World Tree's destruction be similar to the Shadow Synergy Stone Calamity that struck that distant land?"
"But now I know how to suppress it!"
Lucario recalled what Hikaru had told it about the truth behind Sir Aaron and the hero's final words. Combining that with the information Queen Ilene had just provided, it suddenly understood.
"The explorer operated alone and never passed through the kingdom's official channels, so no one could know when she would appear. That was why this tournament was meant to train as many Aura apprentices as possible, preparing them for a catastrophic collapse that might come at any time."
"Perhaps they weren't trying to defend Rota itself. Perhaps their only goal was protecting the Indigo Plateau, but even then, it was necessary. The explorer truly did appear, however, and through some unknown method... Well, the northern lands have always been sparsely populated. Even with Aura, finding someone is extremely difficult if you don't know the frequency of their Aura."
"More importantly, she traveled light and uncovered the World Tree's secrets. Even if the Indigo Plateau sealed off the surrounding region, it couldn't stop someone who had already entered."
Lucario finally understood everything.
"Sir Aaron sealed me away until this era. The Aura I cultivated was taught to me by him."
"Your Majesty, the Sage once told me something."
"Sir Aaron's dying words were that anyone who cultivated the same Aura as him would eventually meet the same fate."
"Sir Aaron and I met and became friends because we shared the same Aura."
"Now, as his apprentice, the time has come for me to fulfill my mission and face that destiny!"
"My heart holds no sorrow at the thought of losing my life. I feel nothing but joy, because I'm finally going back to Sir Aaron!"
So even if it failed to obtain the Hero's Staff, win the tournament, acquire the legendary medicine, or gain an audience with the Forest Guardian, it could still fulfill its wish.
That was what the Sage had meant.
This was the ending that suited it. There could be no better one.
"Are you planning to leave immediately? I've already received a message from Lance. The information is confirmed and completely reliable."
At the sound of Hikaru's voice, Lucario's ears stood upright.
It turned around alongside Queen Ilene and saw the gathered martial artists and Aura apprentices approaching.
The Aura in this place, the vital energy gathered here, was truly immense.
"Sage," Queen Ilene said, "what are you planning...? I heard that you once defended Galar and that its people still sing your praises..."
"Rota lies in the northern reaches of Kanto," Hikaru said. "Beyond Mount Tensei and the Raizen Mountain Range, across the Indigo Plateau... It stretches through the northern reaches of both Kanto and Johto. Apart from the Kingdom of Rota, it is an ancient and virtually uninhabited land."
"The nations that once waged war here all dissolved, aside from Rota. The World Tree's immense power dispelled the people's hatred and desire for war. Everyone returned to their homes, allowing humans and Pokémon to live together in harmony."
"Because of the World Tree, the northern lands have enjoyed a thousand years of stability. Unlike other regions, they haven't suffered one ancient war after another. All of that is thanks to the Tree of Beginning."
"My homeland lies west of the World Tree. It is the land of Sinjoh, sealed away behind a wall of blizzards."
"The wall of snow and the sacred peak separate the World Tree from the Sinjoh Ruins. That's why I've also met the Mew that appeared at Cameran Palace."
"If the northern lands begin to collapse, then Sinjoh, Sinnoh, Johto, and Kanto will all face annihilation."
"The wailing World Tree will drain the land dry, leaving its people to lament as countless thousands flee their homes."
In other words, they would probably enter the timeline of Pokémon Pokopia.
Humanity would perish, leaving only Pokémon behind, just like the stories told in the ancient legends of Sinnoh.
But the World Tree's destruction would erase the Pokémon's habitats as well.
"The means to restore the ecosystem is right here," Hikaru continued.
"We have gathered people capable of wielding Aura, and we can cross a vast distance in an instant. We will give our Aura to that dying tree of stone. Our undying conviction will cross a thousand years and rescue the hero who once perished."
"History will probably change as a result."
Perhaps the ancient Pokémon that had appeared in the land of Sinjoh had migrated there from the World Tree.
Queen Ilene stared blankly at the gathered martial artists.
Traveling through time sounded unbelievable to her, but when she considered Johto's legends and those surrounding Rota...
Since ancient times, Aura Guardians had been linked to [miracles of time]. Those were ancient words passed down by Sir Aaron.
Such miracles were revealed through [Time Flowers], which grew only in the northern lands and had been nurtured by the World Tree's power.
These flowers could not be trampled to death or destroyed by outside forces. When necessary, they closed their petals, only blooming again when stimulated by Aura.
They could survive for more than a thousand years, two thousand years, three thousand years, or even ten thousand years.
"That's right," Ash said. "We're friends, aren't we? How could I stand by and watch a friend die? You said you'd sacrifice your life, return your soul to the past, and reveal the World Tree's miracle of time, but what if you returned there alive...?"
"That would be a little strange," Candice said. "Wouldn't there be two Lucario living in the same era?"
"According to the theories surrounding Celebi, history will correct itself," Riley explained. "After Lucario is sealed, the staff will begin its journey through history..."
"So it might simply disappear from somewhere near the kingdom?" Korrina asked. "That's so strange. Could it really happen?"
"Leave the brain-twisting questions about time travel to the scholars," Bruno said. "As a member of the Indigo Elite Four, this is the moment when I..."
"In other words, it's finally our turn," Karen finished. "We have to do some actual work, or people will start saying all we ever do is compete in tournaments."
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Koga laughed. "Tournaments are a form of promotion! That too is one of the world's truths! Without promoting competitions, we cannot secure funding for events, help our regions prosper, or encounter even more miracles!"
"How could we watch someone throw their life away?" Chuck said. "It's only a little Aura, so take as much as you want. I eat plenty of sweets. Maybe using Aura will help me lose some weight around my stomach."
"I may only be an apprentice, but this competition has helped me improve," Maylene said. "I'm truly happy. Aside from an eating contest, I can't think of any time I've ever been happier!"
"The Aura of happiness is the power Ho-Oh has been waiting for," Jasmine said. "Lord Hikaru said he saw a rainbow-colored light flying toward the northern lands. That must have been Ho-Oh. There are Rainbow Heroes here as well as Heroes of Aura."
"I'm only [Returning] the favor," Silver muttered. "There's no other meaning behind it."
Their answers varied, but every one of them intended to participate in this [long-distance journey].
The martial artists who possessed no Aura offered their heartfelt wishes instead.
Bea fell into thought.
"Eating lots of sweets can help you cultivate Aura... Hmm. I may not possess Aura myself, but I can borrow my Pokémon's power. What if I brought my Pokémon along...?"
"If you need ki, I've got plenty to spare," Marshal said. "But when it comes to Aura, it seems I've found the focus of my next round of training. I can't limit myself to Pokémon moves. I need to learn how to wield Aura too."
"Hey, this old man can use Aura," Mustard said. "How about I lend you some...?"
The moment he said that, the other martial artists were shocked and hurriedly tried to stop him.
Mustard might still be quick and powerful, but he was an old man. If he tried to lend them his Aura at his age and something happened to him, it would be a disaster.
"Master Mustard! Please give those old bones a rest!" Master Glenn shouted.
"I'll take a Synergy Stone with me in your place!"
The Master from the Ferrum region provided the final piece of the puzzle before turning to address everyone.
"I may not be the strongest Trainer here, but when it comes to wielding Aura, I think someone capable of triggering a Synergy Burst should have at least a little authority on the matter!"
"Before the competition began, I happened to mutter that something similar to Ferrum's legends might occur. At the time, I was merely confused and cautious. I never expected it to actually happen."
"But that's fine. For a martial artist, this is also a form of [training]!"
Master Glenn's declaration ignited the atmosphere.
The Aura apprentices raised their fists and cheered. Then Mewtwo lifted an arm.
Light flashed.
Like a brilliant stream, everyone flew toward the World Tree.
[Mass Teleport!]
"I was planning to ask Mew for help," Hikaru said, "but since Mewtwo is here, there's no need..."
"Mew?" Mewtwo asked. "There are other Mew...?"
"Of course. That Mew should be somewhere near the Indigo Plateau, although it may have wandered off to play somewhere else. Its partner is a girl named Leaf. That's how things are now."
"As for you, perhaps you really are a being born from Mew. You became Green's partner."
"In other words, the two of you are the same type of spin-off character. Each of you found a partner!"
Mewtwo did not entirely understand, but it knew this was a joke meant to lighten the mood, so it smiled faintly.
"I possess the same genes as Mew."
"I can locate Mew's position."
"Even if it is the World Tree's Mew, one I've never met before, I should still be able to find it!"
As for Green, the helping hands everyone extended had restored her strength and energy.
Excitement gleamed in her eyes.
"A journey with Mewtwo."
"After returning to the beginning, we'll stand at the place where everything started."
"And set out once again!"
...
Before that, everyone arrived at the Indigo Plateau.
They saw raging Dragon-type Pokémon and a blazing wall of fire holding back the advancing [immune system].
As Champion of the Indigo League, Lance had deployed his army of dragons to stop the writhing creatures.
But it could not last forever.
"Every orange slime mold you kill weakens the World Tree's immunity," Hikaru explained. "Those slime Pokémon resemble Fossil Pokémon and ancient Pokémon because this place is the origin of life and Evolution."
"The Tree of Beginning exists in symbiosis with Pokémon, but it identifies humans as invasive bacteria. If the orange slime molds acting like white blood cells continue to decrease, it will be as though a human body has lost all its white blood cells. The Tree will destroy itself and die."
"That's why Lance built a wall of fire. There's only one thing left for us to do."
"And now, we'll add one more participant..."
The card in Hikaru's hand began to shine.
Wrapped in blue light, a Lucario manifested within a crest drawn across the heavens. Behind it appeared the illusory King Soul of the Blue-Clad Prince.
"The Blue-Clad Prince... You were the first Guardian!"
Riley's pupils contracted in astonishment before his expression transformed into pure joy.
"By drawing a crest of light and adorning the heavens, we summon... the forebears of Aura!"
He roared so loudly that he seemed like a completely different person from his usual refined self.
But he was simply too excited to contain himself.
Perhaps the ancestors of the Hero Clan had left this place and traveled to Sinnoh because they wanted to escape their fate.
Now, however, it was time to face it.
["An army of thousands stands before us. This is the moment for us to display our strength!"]
The First Lucario closed its eyes and sensed the slime Pokémon ahead.
Those squirming orange creatures were the wailing figures it had seen within the World Tree's painful memories.
And now...
The soul of the Blue-Clad Prince raised one hand.
Dozens of enormous Aura Spheres appeared in front of the First Lucario.
In one overwhelming push, they would return these sorrowful cells to their proper forms.
["Return to your crystalline forms... All of you, be still!"]
["Aura Purge!"]
Blue light illuminated the Indigo Plateau.
High above the plateau, Lance saw that blue radiance pierce through his wall of fire. It passed through mountains and swept across the land, restoring every moving orange Pokémon to the form of a crystal.
"That Lucario... How incredibly powerful!"
Lance was stunned. Cold sweat rolled down his skin as he stared at the ethereal spirit in shock.
"And that person dressed in blue... No. It doesn't look like you're actually human."
Lance received nothing but a silent smile in response.
The Champion quickly understood the other party's circumstances. He nodded to Hikaru and the others, then watched them depart again.
"I'm counting on you!"
"With that Pokémon helping us, we can restore any number of immune cells without harming them!"
"You've saved us. No, I suppose you already had a plan for dealing with them, didn't you?"
Lance's voice echoed through the skies above the plateau.
Before Hikaru vanished, Lance heard his answer.
"We simply met by chance, and I made a few preparations afterward."
They performed a second Mass Teleport.
The only reason they had stopped at the Indigo Plateau was to rest, since their destination was so far away.
By locating Mew's presence, Mewtwo brought everyone directly into the World Tree's heart.
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
Within the Tree of Beginning, the ancient Pokémon were constantly fleeing as the massive structure weakened.
The three Legendary giants pursued the culprit responsible for the disaster, but they could find no clues.
Regirock, Regice, and Registeel tried to stop the World Tree from collapsing, but their efforts had no effect.
No one knew where the three had come from or when they had first appeared.
They had simply remained here as the World Tree's guardians.
Yet even beings as slow-witted as them sensed that something had entered the Tree's heart.
Flustered, they hurried toward the core like drowning men reaching for a lifeline.
At the same time, everyone finally [heard] the Tree of Beginning's cries for help through Aura.
Then again, perhaps it was not truly the World Tree's voice.
Perhaps it belonged to Mew.
Whenever the Tree wailed, Mew suffered and grieved alongside it.
"The Tree is wailing," Riley said.
"Mew is... over there!"
The World Tree's heart contained a colossal cluster of crystals.
When Ash saw it, he froze for a moment.
Its shape resembled the Sea Crown, although it was far more irregular. This was something that had grown naturally, after all.
A huge crystal stood nearby, and an ancient glove rested on its surface.
Mew lay weakly beside the glove.
Its eyes would not open, but it seemed to be trying to use the glove to accomplish something.
At that moment, Mew remembered the hero who had once appeared here.
And now...
"Mew?"
It slowly opened its eyes.
It saw many people, along with a Pokémon that resembled it but was much larger.
Had it seen that Pokémon somewhere before?
No. It did not seem to be the same one.
Mew was puzzled. Then...
Aaron?
No.
There were two people who looked just like him, one a boy and the other a young man.
Mew called out to them.
Immediately afterward, it saw someone even more familiar.
They had only met once, but the friend from that meeting had returned.
[My friend from Sinjoh!]
[You came back!]
Mew's cheeks burned with the heat of a fever.
Although its head spun and it could barely remain conscious, it still affectionately rubbed itself against Hikaru's palm.
[I ate the golden apple. It's thanks to that apple that I managed to hold on until now.]
[My friend, you came back! You really came back!]
"My friend, we were always destined to return here and meet again beneath the World Tree," Hikaru said. "And I've brought you many new friends."
At the same time, Lucario from a thousand years ago recognized the glove.
It reached out with its Aura and detected a human-shaped figure within the crystal.
"Sir Aaron's... glove!"
Even after a thousand years, a fragment of Sir Aaron's soul remained here.
Then Ash heard Hikaru's voice.
"Your Aura is the same as Aaron's, so you should use this glove!"
"Leave the power of your Aura here. Then let those feelings cross time and space before this [Tree of Time]!"
Ash did not hesitate.
"Yes!"
It was the same choice he had made after witnessing the images shown by the Time Flower in the movie.
But this time, the Aura would be far greater than before.
It would not only quell the disaster in the present. It would also quell the disaster of the past.
Affected by the Aura, the Time Flowers revealed scenes from the past.
The hero's final words echoed through the chamber.
"Could the World Tree be undergoing Evolution?" Master Glenn wondered.
The Synergy Stone hanging from his chest was humming, while the reactions from Korrina's and Green's Key Stones were comparatively weak.
Seeing their confusion, he grinned.
"This is the difference between a Synergy Stone and a Key Stone. In other words, the World Tree itself may be an unevolved Synergy Stone."
"This really is the birthplace of life and Evolution! Now, accept our Aura!"
They would not allow this land to repeat the tragedy of Ferrum.
Everyone raised their hands.
Their rippling energies entered resonance and transformed into a mighty surge of Aura.
If one person was not enough, they would use two.
Then ten.
Then ten thousand.
Aura connected people to one another, linking both their bodies and their souls.
"Release an immense surge of Aura!" Hikaru called out. "Soothe the fear, rage, and pain within the World Tree!"
"Stop the Pokémon from fleeing in panic. Ease the sorrow within human hearts. Let every living being return to where it belongs!"
"Everyone, repeat the same invocation."
"All the Masters together."
"The power of Aura!" Riley cried.
Thump!
A sound like the beating of a heart reverberated through the World Tree.
Riley, the first orthodox Aura Guardian among them, became the starting point.
Beginning with his Aura, ripples spread one after another until they overflowed into the world.
"The power of Aura!" Master Glenn shouted.
"The power of Aura!" Korrina cried.
"The power of Aura!" Green called.
"The power of Aura!" Ash yelled.
Lucario from a thousand years ago lowered its voice.
"The power of Aura...!"
The other martial artists, tournament participants, Aura apprentices, and their Pokémon repeated the words within their hearts.
[The power of Aura!]
The tournament had begun to determine a hero.
Now, at its conclusion, its light and souls calmed the World Tree.
Thus, every person present had earned the right to be called a [hero].
Victini remained invisible and quietly placed a hand on Hikaru.
It had never left its friend's side.
When the moment came, it would always lend him its strength.
Hikaru laughed.
"This light has crossed a thousand years. This is what it truly means for feelings to transcend time and space!"
"The Aura is with me!"
These feelings would carry everyone's memories across time and return them to the homeland within their hearts.
Mega Evolution!
One thousand years ago, the ancient kingdom that inhabited these lands stood on the brink of war with another nation.
The Kingdom of Rota had been caught between them.
To stop the conflict and prevent the deaths of countless living beings, Sir Aaron made his decision.
He sealed his friend inside the Aura Staff and wished for Lucario to live forever.
Aaron would sacrifice his own worthless life to quell the hatred gripping the land.
He alone needed to bear this fate.
To accomplish that goal, he had to reach the heart of the World Tree alone and offer all his Aura to Mew, awakening the Tree's hidden power.
"I know the truth. The Tree of Beginning is the origin of all things, and the two of you are one!"
"If I unleash its power, then every human and Pokémon will feel as though they have returned to their own home. The anger and pain in their hearts will be soothed!"
"Their hatred and sorrow will disappear as well!"
"The great Tree is weeping. Fully armed humans and [armored Pokémon] are about to clash! Massive casualties can no longer be avoided!"
"Mew, I came here to meet you!"
"Accept the power of my Aura!"
Sir Aaron transformed all his life and soul into Aura and poured it into Mew's body.
The act should have shattered his soul.
His body should have been unable to endure, crystallizing until nothing remained.
Yet at the very instant his life was about to disappear, an overwhelming power erupted within the World Tree's heart.
Even after a thousand years, later generations would continue to remember the hero's tale.
They would inherit that story and make it shine once more.
"This is... Aura?!"
A sudden flood of Aura crossed a thousand years, arriving from the future and surrounding the hero.
Fragments resembling memories and dreams began appearing beside him.
An endless tide of recollections took on the shapes of countless people.
[The memories of future descendants who wield Aura, polished by an age yet to come!]
[One day, we shall return to the homeland of life and Evolution beneath the Tree of Beginning!]
...
[Good grief. This is my ninja way!]
[This is a sword technique meant to sever enemies without form!]
[Ominous darkness is merely light concealed beneath the fears of humanity.]
[Fighting spirit! Feel why this person chose to learn the art of battle!]
[As long as you believe in yourself and your Pokémon partner, fighting spirit will continue surging from within you!]
[I only wanted us to get along.]
[Steel tempered a thousand times will never rust.]
[There are experts in this world who are even stronger than me! If there truly is some ultimate secret technique, then it must be the bond between the hearts of humans and Pokémon!]
[Remember this well: Absolute sincerity can move even metal and stone!]
[Calling it my friend hardly feels sufficient. It is part of my family! When I look into the distant sky, I feel as though there is nothing I cannot accomplish!]
[Feel the many different human hearts. Let yourself be shaken by the countless clashing emotions around you, and use them to temper your own spirit...]
[Without question, I, Mewtwo, exist here!]
[Soar across the blue sky and the ocean! My dream will never end. Escape the endless darkness. These are all the roads we have traveled!]
[We're friends, aren't we? I'm only fulfilling your wish. Next, I choose you!]
[I'm going back... to Sir Aaron's side. Ash... "we" will meet again.]
[Maintain your connection with Pokémon and uphold the proper order... The time for the opening ceremony has come! Offer the heroes a thunderous ovation at their birth!]
...
[The Aura is with me!]
Sir Aaron felt it.
He heard it.
The memories of the Aura Guardians from the distant future, filled with the Aura of happiness, had crossed a thousand years to help him.
A doorway of light appeared behind Aaron.
A furry paw rested against his back.
The hero spun around in astonishment. Then his expression softened into helpless relief.
The figure he saw was the friend he had sealed within the staff.
That friend had crossed a thousand years and endured the passage of countless ages. No matter how many hardships stood in its way, it had crossed time once more to return to his side.
"My friend!" Aaron cried.
"Sir Aaron, we'll always be together," Lucario said.
"I am here."
The World Tree erupted with emerald light.
That radiance spread across the land, shot into the heavens, and covered several regions, calming the wars and fury that had raged since ancient times.
The hero survived and was praised by the people of the world.
The Lucario beside him also seemed to reveal a different form.
Humans and Pokémon stopped fighting.
Never before had their hearts experienced such tranquility.
They laid down their weapons and removed their armor.
Then they returned to the places where they belonged.
Once everything had settled, Aaron left several things within the World Tree.
He and Lucario then returned to Cameran Palace.
The staff Queen Rin received still existed.
However, Lucario no longer seemed to be sealed within it.
Perhaps only a vast and powerful Aura remained.
The future could influence the past, while time itself was merely one tributary among many.
"In a distant place filled with light, I believe someone once said something like that," Aaron remarked.
Later, he met someone from Hoenn who sought a power beyond Evolution.
History had changed.
"You wish to cultivate Aura...? Could you be one of the Draconids?"
"I see. So such a disaster occurred in Hoenn. Mega Rayquaza... and a giant guided you in a certain direction..."
"A descendant of the [Lorekeeper], drawn here by the World Tree's light? Even if you say that, I don't know what a Lorekeeper is..."
"Never mind. I'll teach you how to cultivate Aura first."
"And I shall bestow upon you the title of [Successor]!"
"A new scene unfolds. We took a long detour, but at last, we finally met."
"You cast magic upon my clouded heart."
"And opened that heavy door."
"Set out now. This is the beginning of an adventure. Run toward the far side of the sky."
"We will draw the blueprint of our future. As long as I am with you, we can surely make it real."
The doorway of time, the melody of time...
Aura crossed through time and space, carrying the Lucario who longed for the past back to its own era.
Perhaps that was the World Tree's power.
Or perhaps it was the power of Celebi's crest and flute.
Either way, Hikaru knew two different Celebi.
The Forest Guardian of Ilex Forest and its friends from another world must have helped them.
By borrowing the World Tree's strength, they had accomplished a feat that transcended the ages.
"So there really is a miracle capable of crossing time," Green said. "Does that mean the scenes recorded by the Time Flowers have changed too?"
"And the Manager really wasn't concerned about Celebi. So the Forest Guardian helped us as well."
Everyone searched the surrounding area for Time Flowers.
When their buds opened, they revealed scenes completely different from before.
Then, as if the hero himself still stood in that very place, Sir Aaron appeared before the shining Mew and the heart of the World Tree.
He addressed everyone.
"Heroes from the future! Everything began with Mew!"
"Through the Time Flowers, I am able to speak to you across a thousand years."
"Thank you. Thank you very much!"
"Aura Guardians can witness the miracles of time through the Time Flowers. The voice and image I leave here will pass down through the ages until the day they finally encounter all of you."
"I saw your battles and memories. I came to understand your world. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I pray that the era in which I live will grow in peace until it reaches your beautiful future."
"All living beings have returned to the places they call home."
"That's right. This is where everything begins. Shake the earth beneath your feet and believe that even the smallest dream will never be lost. Our companions are waiting for such a world."
"When you are alone, loneliness is inevitable. That is precisely why we search for kindred spirits. We use Aura to connect the world."
"I once tried to bear my fate alone, but now I understand the true meaning of Aura."
"Courage is still surging endlessly within my heart!"
"I am not alone!"
"My soul will always remain with all of you. These feelings that transcend time and space will surely reach your world!"
"The Aura is with all of us! Every one of you is a hero!"
"From the distant past, I offer my ovation to you heroes!"
"I will leave the secrets of Aura training within the castle. You must inherit them."
"Farewell, my friends from the future!"
"After crossing time itself, I am certain we will meet again somewhere!"
Those were the words Sir Aaron had left behind.
The hero turned in a certain direction.
Though he could not truly see them, it almost felt as though he could.
Aura transcended time and guided his gaze.
The first direction was where Riley stood.
"Grow well, Guardian of Aura."
The second was Ash's position.
"You must become the strongest Trainer."
The third was where Hikaru stood.
Aaron's voice was warm and resonant, filled with hope for the future.
"Thank you for your help, fellow son of the same homeland."
"Until we meet again."
"Hero of Aura, strongest master in the world!"
Hikaru watched Aaron's image disappear.
"Of course we'll meet again, although it will also be the first time we meet."
"Everything began in this land. These are the words the hero left behind."
"They are the [Song of Beginning]."
The tide of monsters on the Indigo Plateau receded.
The Tree of Beginning released an emerald radiance that illuminated the earth and the entire world.
However, the incident had shortened its lifespan.
The destruction of the surrounding ecosystem, caused by the immune system's collapse, filled the World Tree with guilt.
Zygarde Core No. 5, still clinging to Hikaru, sternly criticized it.
[You created your own isolated ecosystem, but who was supposed to take responsibility if something went wrong? Look at this! The entire northern region nearly collapsed!]
[I strongly advise you to reflect on your mistakes! I'll send some Cells here to keep watch in the future. Only a little surveillance...]
Buzz!
A beam of fairy light tore through the sky and streaked across the clouds.
It had risen from a distant land like a blazing meteor in broad daylight and now poured into the World Tree's crown.
Illumina light!
A tremendous amount of life energy flooded the ancient stone life-form.
At the same time, an almost inaudible voice echoed within Core No. 5's consciousness.
Aura!
An immense Aura, and it carried [Heal Pulse]!
[Who is that?! This power feels so familiar! Xerneas?! Impossible! That Pokémon had its life energy stolen by Yveltal. It should still be sleeping in the form of a withered tree!]
[Could there be a second Xerneas in this world?]
Hikaru thoughtfully observed the immense stream of life energy flowing from the distant horizon.
"If you're asking whether a second one exists, then yes. There really is another."
[Big Brother, what did you just say?!]
A will revealed itself within the distant pulse.
[I apologize for the delay. Sending aid across half the world takes time. But if you wish to heal it, you must calm it first.]
Xerneas (Illumina) continued:
[It appears that you are someone capable of fighting beside me in this era. You stopped the World Tree's collapse. Well done!]
[I am the Tree of Life of the Lental region, the origin of the Illumina Pokémon! I once existed alongside the ancient people of Lental, sheltering the land and the world! If you ever require my power, call upon me!]
[As long as it is used to protect life, I have no objections.]
[I will lend you anything, whether it is [Earth Power] or [eternal life]!]
Core No. 5 was horrified and hurriedly tried to dissuade it.
No, no, this was unacceptable!
How could such an aggressive Xerneas exist?
Its personality was nothing like the one Core No. 5 knew!
This Xerneas had even lived alongside humans.
According to the Core's memories, the Xerneas of Kalos had no such history.
As for Hikaru...
"What an unexpected surprise. The deity of Lental briefly awakened."
"Was it because of the similarities between the World Tree and the Tree of Life?"
"I wonder whether the one in Kalos will react."
"Or will it continue struggling endlessly against the [Cocoon of Destruction]?"
"In any case..."
"I've obtained Xerneas of Lental's [Trail of Light]!"
Several ordinary-looking stones inside Hikaru's bag seemed to undergo a slight change.
Cracks appeared across their surfaces.
If they were exposed to the appropriate type of energy and then used by compatible Pokémon, they might trigger entirely new Evolutions.
Core No. 5 was still muttering its objections when it suddenly sensed the energy within those stones.
It stared thoughtfully at Hikaru's bag.
[Wait... Is one of those stones meant for me?]
[D-Damn it! Whether it's the Tree of Beginning or some Illumina Xerneas, don't think you can tempt me with something like a Mega Stone!]
[I will never use it! Participating in a few battles is one thing, but as far as I'm concerned, this would disrupt the world's balance! I firmly reject such corrupting temptations!]
...
Near Queen Ilene's throne in Cameran Palace, the portrait of the hero now included a Lucario standing beside him.
And seemingly, far into the future...
A descendant of the hero's descendants, separated from him by an unknown number of generations, followed the instructions left behind and retrieved an Egg from a certain place.
The Egg emitted Aura at the same frequency as the Hero's Staff.
It was preserved within the kingdom before being taken to Johto for unknown reasons.
Queen Ilene suddenly realized that new memories had appeared within her mind.
She stared in astonishment before understanding everything.
Looking at the Pokémon Egg that had suddenly appeared beside her, Queen Ilene knew exactly what Pokémon it contained.
"The feelings that crossed time and space... You successfully returned to Aaron's side. Have you now returned to us as well?"
"Welcome home, Lucario."
"A homeland is something remembered from afar, a distant place that always remains within the heart."
"Now you will set out from your homeland once more. This time, continue accompanying the hero's reincarnation."
"Please look upon us, Creator of Stars and Moon."
"Witness this deed and this ending. Behold the past the hero obtained and the history he will bring into being!"
"The future can often be foreseen, but the past can only be remembered. The time we experience gathers into memories, history, and fairy tales."
"And they are passed down from one generation to the next."
(End of Chapter)
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