Before becoming a member of the Unova Elite Four, Caitlin was once the owner of the Battle Castle in the Sinnoh region and one of the Frontier Brains of the Battle Frontier.
However, she never personally battled challengers. Instead, her butler Darach would battle on her behalf.
This was because she couldn't perfectly control her psychic powers—once she lost a match, her psychic energy would spiral out of control, causing immense destruction.
No one could say for certain whether the psychic powers bestowed upon her by the heavens were a blessing or a curse at the time.
In the original story, after gaining stronger control over her powers, Caitlin left the Battle Castle and traveled alone to the Unova region to temper her strength. In a very short time, she became one of the Unova Elite Four!
"How interesting," Lucas thought to himself as he glanced at Caitlin, who was quietly standing nearby with a polite smile on her face.
This future Sleeping Beauty... perhaps he could make arrangements involving her?
After all, Caitlin's talent was truly extraordinary. While she had never defeated her "sister," Cynthia, if she could one day surpass Cynthia, would she still be merely one of the Unova Elite Four? She would have already dethroned Alder by now.
Cynthia stood among the absolute peak of the world. That much was beyond dispute.
Still, trying to recruit someone like Caitlin would depend entirely on opportunity—it couldn't be forced.
Besides, strictly speaking, his trip to Michina wasn't exactly a casual visit.
"Mr. Lucas, since we've met here, why don't we tour the ruins together?" Cynthia invited with a faint smile, unaware of the subtle shift in Lucas's expression.
Caitlin was about to set out on a journey of training and self-discovery. As her friend all Cynthia could do was offer her blessing.
That was why she invited Caitlin to admire the view and visit the ancient ruins. In the past, Caitlin rarely went out due to her unstable powers.
"To be able to travel with you two is truly an honor for us," Lucas responded like a gentleman with a courteous bow. He didn't refuse—after all, their destination was the same.
The Michina Ruins—a temple of ancient god that had stood for over a thousand years.
Though referred to as "ruins," they were not abandoned. They still had caretakers, and the current guardians were Sheena and Kevin.
The Michina Ruins were located at the peak of the massive Mount Michina. Architecturally, the ruins bore no resemblance to modern buildings and were instead steeped in an ancient, timeworn atmosphere.
But they weren't dilapidated either—since they had keepers, repairs were made from time to time.
"Welcome, everyone! Champion Cynthia, I didn't expect you to arrive so soon."
Dressed in white and blue, Sheena stepped out from the temple with a gentle smile. Her delicate features and hazel hair were tied up in two buns. She wore white shorts and black leggings that hugged her legs, giving her a youthful, vibrant appearance.
Just by looking at her, it was hard to imagine she was a guardian of ancient ruins.
Behind her stood the other guardian, Kevin.
"We're the ones intruding. Thank you for your trouble today, Sheena," Cynthia returned the smile warmly. She had always been fond of mythology and history, and it was during one of her travels through Sinnoh that she had met Sheena.
"No need for such formality. It's our honor to be visited by the Champion of Sinnoh," Sheena said with a laugh as she stepped aside and gestured for them to enter.
Aura
Lucas's eyes flicked briefly to Sheena. As someone who possessed Power of the Dragon, he could sense something special about her.
It was Aura—the power to communicate with a Pokémon's heart and even soothe the rage of legendary beings!
Many people used to believe that Cynthia had Aura. But in truth, Cynthia had nothing to do with Aura. Though she was born in Celestic Town, she had no special powers herself.
Among the regional champions, aside from Lance with his Viridian Power (in special editions), and Wallace with his identity as a descendant of the ancient people of Sootopolis, the rest were all ordinary people—only exceptionally gifted and strong-willed.
Today, the only confirmed person in the world who still carried the power of Aura was Sheena, the guardian of the Michina Ruins, having inherited it from her ancestors.
The group entered the ancient temple. Sheena and Kevin warmly introduced everything within.
The temple had stood for over a millennium, preserving an immense amount of history—and the structure itself was nothing short of remarkable.
Soon it was lunchtime. Kevin continued showing the group around, while Sheena stepped aside to order food from a local restaurant in the town.
Lucas glanced at Cynthia and the others, who were still engrossed in exploring the ruins, and smirked slightly. He quietly stepped away and walked over to Sheena's side.
"To think that the descendant of one once blessed by the gods now lives such an ordinary life. Your Aura is still so strong—how curious," Lucas said with a soft chuckle as Sheena hung up her phone.
His sudden voice startled her. When she turned and saw it was Lucas, she exhaled in relief.
"Phew... Mr. Lucas, it's quite rude to sneak up on someone like that," she scolded lightly, patting her chest.
Being startled like that—anyone who's experienced it knows it's no fun.
"My apologies," Lucas said insincerely with a shrug. "I just assumed Miss Sheena would be able to sense me."
Sheena gave him an annoyed glance. "Aura is only the ability to communicate with Pokémon hearts. It's not some bizarre sixth sense like you're imagining."
She'd never kept her identity a secret. Even though Aura users were rare, she never believed they had to hide.
"An ability to communicate with legendaries... I wouldn't call that simple," Lucas replied.
"But what really surprises me is that someone descended from Aura users... is this timid. When Arceus descends, are you going to run and hide?" he teased with a crooked smile, locking eyes with her.
In an instant, Sheena's expression changed.
How did he know about Arceus's impending descent?
"You... how do you know...?" Sheena's wide, clear eyes were filled with shock as she stared at Lucas.
Impossible.
The truth that Arceus would descend again was an absolute secret of their guardian lineage. Sheena had never told a soul.
Kevin, too, understood the gravity of the matter—he would never leak it. Besides, revealing it would only cause panic and would do nothing to change the outcome.
Because...
Arceus was coming to unleash its wrath—an apocalypse.
"Few would believe it, right? That a god, out of mercy for a barren world, would lend the source of its life to humanity... only for humans to greedily try to keep it for themselves."
"Even worse—they used the god's trust to lay a trap, severely wounding it."
Lucas's lips curled into a cruel, malicious smile as he stared at the increasingly pale Sheena, his voice low and filled with mockery.
Sheena was a descendant of Damos—the one who betrayed Arceus.
A thousand years ago, in order to prevent the collision of a doomsday meteor, Arceus had appeared from the Hall of Origin to intercept it. But the impact was so great that all of Arceus's elemental plates—its very power and source of life—were scattered.
It was Damos who recovered the plates and saved the gravely wounded Arceus.
Grateful for his help and moved by the barren earth, Arceus combined five of the elemental plates into a single item—the Jewel of Life—and entrusted it to Damos to restore fertility to the land.
But...
"Isn't that right... descendant of Damos?"
In the end, it was laughable. Human darkness was revealed in full—taking advantage of Arceus's trust, they set a trap and grievously injured it when it came to reclaim the Jewel of Life.
Arceus barely escaped and returned to the Hall of Origin to recover. But when it awoke, the betrayal and hatred it felt festered into a desire for vengeance. It would deliver its judgment upon the world!
"We've been repenting all this time. When Arceus awakens, I'll return the Jewel of Life and beg for its forgiveness..." Sheena whispered, her voice trembling.
"You think a simple apology will stop Arceus from taking revenge?" Lucas cut her off with a cold chuckle, staring at the pale girl.
How naive. This is the descendant of Aura users?
But perhaps it made sense—Sheena had grown up in a peaceful, secluded town. She had no real experience with the world.
That's also why, in the original story, she was so easily deceived by Marcus.
"I'll beg sincerely. The sins of my ancestor can only be borne by me."
Sheena's lips trembled as she spoke. Her expression was heavy and dim. She had always believed that Damos betrayed Arceus.
To her, the identity of an Aura guardian was no honor—it was a curse.
Because Arceus might return at any moment to take vengeance. And at the root of it all was the crime committed by her bloodline.
"You? Bear it? You think you can?" Lucas sneered without a shred of pity. "Have you considered what will happen if Arceus refuses to forgive mankind?"
Some things couldn't be resolved with empty words.
Arceus was the origin of this world. Even without five of its plates, even with its powers weakened—it still stood above all legends.
If it returned with vengeance in its heart, the world would face its greatest nightmare.
Even if Sheena had Aura, it couldn't reach Arceus.
If Arceus refused to forgive, what could she do?
Nothing.
Sheena's face turned even paler.
Yes. If she returned the Jewel of Life and Arceus remained unforgiving, it would spell doom for the world.
"So, what are you trying to say? You're just here to mock us?" she snapped, her breath ragged and her tone visibly upset.
Did he find it amusing to taunt her?
"Of course not. I'm just saying—we need to make more preparations, don't we? Arceus is now the enemy of all mankind."
"The Jewel of Life is still in the Michina Ruins. So, how about giving it to me?"
Lucas's lips curled into a wicked smile as he looked into her eyes and said slowly.
Yes, one of the main reasons he had come to Michina—was for the Jewel of Life!
"What did you say?!"
Sheena's heart skipped a beat, unable to hide her emotions anymore. She instinctively cried out in shock.
Her sudden outburst instantly drew the attention of Cynthia and the others, who had been admiring the ruins nearby. They frowned and turned toward Sheena and Lucas.
"No way! The Jewel of Life can never be given to you! Please give up on that ridiculous idea!"
Realizing her loss of composure, Sheena gritted her teeth and lowered her voice, hissing angrily.
She was furious.
As a guardian of the ruins, she had been taught since childhood to remain calm. But in this moment, even she couldn't contain her rage.
What was he saying?
He was coveting the Jewel of Life—the sacred relic her clan had protected for generations!
The Jewel of Life was their most sacred treasure—and the only thing she believed might soothe Arceus's fury.
She would never hand it over.
Never!
"Oh? How righteous and dignified your words sound. But let's be honest—was the Jewel of Life ever truly yours to begin with?"
"You people—driven by greed and desire—betrayed and wounded Arceus. What right do you have to hold onto that jewel?"
Completely ignoring Sheena's increasingly grim expression, Lucas spoke in a calm, unhurried tone as he adjusted his white robe, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer lingering on his lips.
But what was most laughable of all—
Was that the Jewel of Life, which Sheena treated as sacred, as though it were her very lifeblood, and which had supposedly been passed down from a thousand years ago—
Was fake.
(End of Chapter)