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Lucario, who had just cried out in confusion, suddenly froze in place.
The fur on the back of his head began to float as he channeled his Aura to scan everyone present in the room.
He could not detect the Aura of his master, Sir Aaron.
"Lucario..."
Queen Ilene approached him slowly, calling his name in a gentle voice.
Hearing the familiar tone, Lucario gradually opened his eyes.
"Queen Rin..."
"I am not Rin. Rin was my ancestor. My name is Ilene," Queen Ilene explained softly, shaking her head.
Lucario stepped back in disbelief, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the gathered guests.
Then he turned and ran toward the main hall.
"Please excuse me. I must go after him," Queen Ilene apologized to the guests before following Lucario.
"Piplup, let's go!" Steven called out, then nodded to Wallace and quickly followed alongside Riolu.
"Queen Ilene, where do you think Lucario will go?" Steven asked as he caught up to her.
"He should head to the residence he once shared with Sir Aaron," Queen Ilene replied, leading Steven and Wallace to an exhibition hall.
Lucario stood motionless before a display case, staring at a pocket watch under the glass cover.
Inside the open watch was a photograph of a woman who looked remarkably like Queen Ilene.
Click!
The lights flickered on.
Lucario spun around sharply.
When he saw Ilene—who resembled Rin so closely—he calmed down somewhat.
He watched as she walked toward him step by step until she wrapped her arms around him.
"Lucario... you've been sealed away all this time..."
Upon hearing this, Lucario pulled away from Ilene's embrace, stepping back in shock.
"Time has passed," Ilene said gently.
"How can this be? Yesterday, this was still our room..." Lucario looked around at the familiar yet foreign surroundings, struggling to accept what he was hearing.
"Perhaps for you it was yesterday, but for us, it has been a very long time."
Steven and Wallace remained quietly in the background, observing the exchange between Ilene and Lucario.
After Lucario gradually came to terms with the truth, Ilene led him, Steven, and Wallace to another room.
Only when Ilene asked what had happened did Lucario slowly recount the events of the war—including Sir Aaron's abandonment of the kingdom and his supposed escape.
"That's strange. Didn't the legend say that Sir Aaron stopped the war?" Wallace asked, surprised.
"What?!" Lucario turned sharply to face Wallace.
"Yes, it's said that Sir Aaron saved the castle," Queen Ilene confirmed with a nod.
"How is that possible? Sir Aaron abandoned the castle and fled. He even sealed me inside his staff!" Lucario lowered his head, closing his eyes tightly.
He didn't want to believe it, but this was what he had witnessed himself.
"The events are too ancient. The truth may never be fully known now. In any case, Lucario, you may stay here until you decide what you wish to do."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lucario knelt on one knee, placing a hand over his chest in sincere gratitude.
"Um, Lucario. There's something I'd like your help with," Steven spoke up once Ilene and Lucario had finished their conversation.
"Hmm?" Lucario stood and looked at Steven.
His gaze then shifted to the Riolu at Steven's side. After a moment of consideration, he nodded in agreement.
"My Riolu told me that I have four different Auras within me..."
"That's impossible!" Lucario interrupted with a shocked exclamation before Steven could finish.
Lucario closed his eyes, and the fur behind his head rose as he focused his senses.
After a moment of concentration, he slowly opened his eyes again.
"I'm not certain whether you truly have four types of Aura, but your Aura is definitely unusual. It's unlike any normal person's Aura I've sensed before. What your Riolu said may very well be true."
Even this experienced Lucario couldn't fully identify the anomaly in Steven's Aura, though he could sense that something was off.
After all, being capable of using Aura for telepathy meant this Lucario was quite skilled in the use of Aura.
"Even you can't tell?" Steven fell silent for a moment.
It seemed he would have to find Mew after all.
Mew was known as the ancestor of all Pokémon because its genetic code contained information from every Pokémon species. It was said to be able to learn any Pokémon move.
If that was true, then Mew should also understand Aura.
Moreover, there was no telling how long the Mew that lived at the Tree of Beginning had existed. Perhaps it could identify the anomaly within Steven.
"Steven, what do you mean by having four types of Aura?" Wallace's brow furrowed as he questioned him.
"Is this why you came to Rota?!"
"Yes." Steven nodded slightly, not denying it.
"Every living being has only one Aura—their own," Lucario explained through telepathy.
"Even if someone or a Pokémon transfers their Aura into another being's body, it will merge with that being's existing Aura. Four distinct types of Aura... I've never heard of such a thing."
Steven sighed quietly. "Now, my only option is to find Mew. I hope it can figure this out."
"Mew?" Queen Ilene repeated thoughtfully, then explained, "Mew occasionally appears in this castle to play pranks. Toys often go missing around here. Though it hasn't shown itself recently."
"If you're looking for Mew, doing something fun might attract its attention."
Steven understood. That should be simple enough—after all, he had the little troublemaker Piplup with him!
"Piplup, just..." Steven looked down but didn't see Piplup anywhere.
"Wallace, did Piplup not follow us when we came out here?"
"It seems... not."
Steven's eye twitched. It appeared that Piplup had already been taken by Mew to play.
Come to think of it, Steven had been so focused on following Lucario that he hadn't noticed his own Pokémon being "kidnapped" right under his nose.
He was a bit of an unqualified Trainer, wasn't he? Next time, he'd have to keep Piplup right by his side!
In the castle attic, Piplup watched as Mew revealed its true form and pushed a rocking horse back to its original position.
"Piplup~" It's getting late. I should head back now. I had a lot of fun playing with you, though!
"Mew?" Mew floated in the air, tilting its head as if reluctant to let Piplup leave.
"Piplup..." I'd like to keep playing too, but... how about you join our team instead?
My Trainer is pretty nice—he just likes to pat my head a lot! There's also the very reliable Metagross, and my best friend Aggron. I can introduce you to everyone!
"Mew..." Mew shook its head gently.
It couldn't leave often. It had a symbiotic relationship with the Tree of Beginning.
"Mew!" How about I show you my toy collection instead?
"Piplup?" Piplup thought for a moment, glancing at the moon visible through the window.
It still seemed early. Maybe he could take a quick look?
"Piplup!" Piplup drew his tiny sword with a cheerful flourish. Let's go, little Mew!
"Mew!" Mew responded enthusiastically.
Immediately, both Piplup and Mew vanished from the attic.
The scene before Piplup shifted from the wooden attic to the base of the Tree of Beginning.
"Piplup?!" Piplup stared at the massive pile of toys gathered beneath the tree's hollow, his face full of surprise.
There are so many!
"Mew~" Mew covered its mouth, giggling softly. Come play with me!