The morning in Mount Moon was quiet, save for the dripping of water echoing through the cavern walls. A faint mist curled along the stone floor, catching glimmers of sunlight filtering through cracks above.
Tharion stood in the middle of an open cavern with his team gathered around him. Charmeleon stretched its claws, sparks of fire dancing at its mouth. Pupitar hovered with an almost smug rumble, as though still savoring its victory against Riolu. Ferrothorn's vines creaked softly, its eyes glowing with quiet watchfulness.
And then there was Riolu—standing in front of Tharion, fists clenched, eyes sharp as steel.
"You see them as rivals," Tharion said, his voice calm but firm, "but they are also your allies. Pupitar, Charmeleon, Ferrothorn—they're not here to overshadow you. They're here to fight beside you. Rivalry is good, Riolu. But never forget—rivals become your greatest friends in the end."
Riolu's red eyes flickered with hesitation before it nodded. Still, its gaze lingered on Pupitar, aura shimmering faintly with defiance.
"Good," Tharion muttered, stepping back. "Then let's begin."
The training started.
Charmeleon unleashed bursts of flame at falling boulders while Riolu was ordered to dodge and counter with Ice Punch. Ferrothorn launched its vines to entangle targets while Riolu had to shatter through them with quick strikes. Pupitar rammed stone pillars into place, forcing Riolu to adapt, leap, and use the battlefield itself to his advantage.
Sweat dripped down Riolu's face, but its aura grew stronger with each passing moment. Blue energy rippled faintly around its body—its natural gift slowly awakening under Tharion's guidance.
"Feel it," Tharion called. "Don't fight your aura—flow with it. Let it guide your fists, your feet, your mind. Your strength isn't just muscle, Riolu. It's will."
For a brief instant, Riolu's aura flared fully, coating its fists in a shimmering light beyond Ice or Thunder. Its punch slammed into a stone wall, cracking it clean through. Riolu staggered back, breathing hard, but its eyes shone with pride.
Nina clapped excitedly from the sidelines, Butterfree fluttering above her and Luxio barking encouragement. "Riolu, that was amazing!"
But just as Tharion was about to call the session to an end, Riolu froze. Its aura pulsed—sharp, insistent, like a signal. Slowly, it turned to Tharion, staring straight into his eyes.
Tharion narrowed his gaze. "What is it?"
Riolu stepped closer, its aura reaching out, brushing against Tharion's like a whisper. Images flickered through his mind—dark tunnels, a hidden chamber, and something buried deep within the heart of Mount Moon.
"You want me to come with you," Tharion said softly, piecing it together. "There's something you left behind… something important."
Riolu nodded, fists tightening. Its aura trembled with urgency.
Nina tilted her head, worried. "Tharion? What's wrong?"
He glanced at her, then at the team. "Riolu has a hiding place here in Mount Moon. Something he's kept secret until now. And he wants me to see it."
For the first time, Tharion saw something in Riolu's eyes beyond rivalry or pride—trust.
"Very well," Tharion said, extending his hand. "Lead the way, Riolu. Show me what you've hidden."
Riolu gripped his hand tightly, aura flaring. Then, without hesitation, it darted into the tunnels, Tharion and the others following close behind.
The path ahead was dark and twisting, but Tharion could feel it—this wasn't just a simple hiding spot. Whatever lay at the end of Riolu's path would be something far greater.
Something that would test them all.
The tunnels of Mount Moon narrowed as Riolu led Tharion deeper and deeper. The faint glow of moss lit the walls in emerald shimmer, but it was the aura guiding them that pushed them forward. Tharion could feel it pulsing faintly in his chest—ancient, steady, and immensely powerful.
At last, they entered a vast cavern. The air here was different—thick with an energy that felt alive, humming faintly like the heartbeat of the mountain itself. In the center lay a small altar of natural stone, carved long before humans walked here.
On it rested two objects, gleaming faintly in the dim light.
A Lucarionite, shimmering with crystalline blue light. And beside it, a Keystone, dull at first, but glowing faintly as Tharion stepped closer.
But before his hand could reach them, the shadows stirred.
From the far end of the cavern stepped a tall, battle-worn Lucario. Its fur was faded, its frame thinner than it should be, but its aura burned brighter than anything Tharion had ever seen. It was old, ancient almost—and yet there was no mistaking the resemblance.
Riolu froze, eyes wide, fists trembling. "Rio…" he whispered in a low growl, aura quivering with emotion.
Tharion's breath caught. "Your mother."
The old Lucario's eyes softened as they fell on Riolu, though her stance remained guarded when they shifted to Tharion. Aura waves radiated outward, sharp and probing, testing his resolve, his intent.
Tharion stood tall, not flinching under the weight of it. He let his own aura pulse gently—not as an attack, but as proof of who he was. Calm. Steady. Unyielding.
The Lucario's hostility waned. Her eyes glimmered with faint recognition.
Riolu broke the silence, aura trembling as it reached out to hers. Images poured into Tharion's mind through their bond—Riolu showing her his battle against Pupitar, his training under Tharion, the moment he chose to join his team. Every strike, every lesson, every word of encouragement replayed in flickering aura light.
Lucario's gaze softened further. She stepped forward, resting a paw on Riolu's head. A faint smile touched her tired expression.
Tharion realized it then. This Lucario… she was the reason Riolu already knew Ice Punch and Thunder Punch. She taught him. Pushed him. She wanted him to grow stronger, even before they met.
But as Tharion's aura touched hers more deeply, he felt it—a weakness in her body. Her life force was flickering, frail from wounds and age.
"You've given everything to raise him," Tharion said softly, bowing his head. "Let me take the burden from here."
Lucario studied him in silence. Then, in a gesture of rare trust, she picked up the Lucarionite and Keystone, placing them before Riolu and Tharion. Her aura pulsed: He is ready.
Tharion crouched, looking her straight in the eyes. "If you wish… come with me. I can't promise battlefields anymore, but I can promise you peace. I have a place—one blessed with healing air, a sanctuary where you can recover. Where no wound festers. Where Pokémon grow without fear."
For a moment, her aura wavered—hesitation, then acceptance.
With slow grace, Lucario tapped the Poké Ball Tharion offered. Light swallowed her, and with a soft click, she was captured.
Nina gasped softly. "You… you caught her?"
Tharion stood, staring at the ball in his hand. "Not for battle. For rest. She deserves that much."
He clipped it to his belt, knowing she would appear in his villa, surrounded by healing atmosphere. His mind flickered briefly to the hidden truth: the blessing of the Nature Goddess that lingered on him, a divine thread that made Pokémon trust him faster than any normal trainer. But it was a secret he would never speak aloud.
He turned back to Riolu, who stood taller now, pride glowing in his eyes. Beside him, the Lucarionite gleamed with quiet strength, and the Keystone pulsed faintly in Tharion's hand.
"Your lineage runs deeper than I thought, Riolu," Tharion murmured. "And now… it's time to forge your own."
The cavern seemed to hum in agreement. The legacy of Aura had chosen its successor.