The radiant glow of the Tree of Beginning was now beyond Lucario's sight.
Sometimes, misunderstandings are born at the most unexpected moments.
Because Lucario had closed the Time Flower before leaving, Ash and his friends completely missed their chance to learn the truth.
It felt like watching one of those overly dramatic soap operas on Golden Channel—
the kind who
Where the audience wants to jump into the screen and shout, "No! Let me explain it all to him!"
When the Time Flower's vision finally faded,
Ash didn't hesitate for a second—he ran off in pursuit of Lucario.
The others stayed behind.
"Ash, will he be okay?"
"Believe in him. He's Ash, after all."
"So… everything Lucario said was true," Brock murmured, sighing.
"Then… does that mean the legend was wrong?" said Kido, the adventurer, beginning to doubt the story of the Hero of Aura.
Compared to myths, seeing was believing.
"But Sir Aaron doesn't seem like a bad person at all."
"Maybe Aaron only sealed Lucario away to protect him," Max said, trying to comfort May.
He, too, couldn't believe Aaron would ever abandon Lucario so coldly.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the valley, toward the direction Lucario and Ash had gone.
In the valley, Lucario knelt weakly on the ground, supporting himself with trembling arms.
Memories of the past flashed through his mind—
the more beautiful the memories with Aaron, the deeper the pain of that final "betrayal."
And at that moment, Ash arrived, just in time to see it.
Hearing footsteps behind him, Lucario turned.
When he saw who it was, he froze for a moment.
He must look pathetic right now, he thought.
Was Ash here… to mock him?
But instead—
"I'm sorry…"
Ash's voice broke the silence, his words sudden and sincere.
Sorry? Sorry for Lucario: What?
Was he… apologizing to me?
Lucario was stunned.
"Yesterday, I didn't understand your feelings. I said things I shouldn't have.
Being betrayed by the one closest to you—it must've hurt terribly.
I didn't believe you, and I even lashed out… I really am sorry."
Ash's shoulders trembled.
Even though the brim of his cap hid his face, Lucario could still see the twin trails of tears sliding down his cheeks.
Ash… was crying.
That strong, unyielding boy… was crying.
Crying—for him.
Even the audience watching through the light curtain fell silent.
From the start of this broadcast until now, Ash had always been portrayed as endlessly optimistic and upbeat—
but now, he was showing his true heart.
Apparently, Pikachu's disappearance had hit him harder than anyone realized.
[Lusamine: What a sensitive child. I never thought I'd see Ash cry.]
[Dawn: Same! I thought he'd just punch Lucario and yell some sense into him.]
[Ash: Hey! I'm not that violent!!!]
[Bruno: Ash, I acknowledge your bond with Pikachu. You two have long since surpassed the normal Trainer–Pokémon relationship. You're family! Friends! A bond that cannot be severed!]
[Steven: Yes, every flashback proves it. They've been through thick and thin together. It's honestly touching.]
True emotion moves people most deeply.
Ash's tears did not lie.
And through this moment, the audience understood—
Ash and Pikachu's connection was something fated.
The vision shifted to
Lucario, caught off guard by Ash's sudden tears, didn't know how to react.
He had seen countless battlefields, countless sights…
but this—this was new.
It's me who should apologize, he thought.
I shouldn't have doubted your bond with Pikachu. But promise me this—you must never abandon him!
After a long silence, those were the only words Lucario could force out.
What emotional intelligence he had, he used it all there.
Truly, he and Ash were a perfect match.
"I know. I'll never abandon Pikachu!" Ash said firmly.
"But please believe this too—Aaron would never abandon you either!
Just like I'd never abandon Pikachu, he must've had his reasons.
Keep searching—you'll find the truth!"
Ash wiped his tears, eyes burning with conviction.
Lucario looked into those determined eyes.
Whatever words he'd been about to say… died in his throat.
Fine, he thought. Let's wait and see.
Perhaps… he didn't really want to believe Aaron had betrayed him either.
And in that moment, the rift between the two vanished completely.
Just as Ash was about to say more,
Lucario suddenly closed his eyes—
the fur beside his ears began to tremble.
Aura was activating.
Something was wrong.
Before Ash could even ask, Lucario darted off!
"Lucario, what's happening?!"
Ash ran after him, just as the others spotted them from afar.
"See? I told you Ash could handle it," May said proudly, as if she had been the one to comfort Lucario.
But that proud look vanished when she saw Lucario's expression—
serious, tense, grim.
Lucario stopped abruptly before the group, Ash at his side.
"Lucario, what's wrong?"
He didn't answer. Instead, Lucario's eyes snapped shut again—
and in one swift motion, he shoved Ash aside!
The ground where Ash had been standing cracked open—
something shot out in a spiral, rock and dust exploding into the air!
The shape spun into the sky before slamming down hard, shaking the earth.
When the dust cleared, everyone's eyes widened.
A Pokémon made entirely of gray stone stood before them,
its body is studded with orange crystals at the shoulders, chest, and thighs.
Seven crimson eyes gleamed on its head, arranged in the shape of a bold, blocky "H."
Massive limbs.
An Aura like a mountain.
Impossible to forget.
Byron: "!!! That's… Regirock! One of the three Legendary Titans!"
[Byron: Incredible! There's a Legendary Pokémon guarding the Tree of Beginning—it's Regirock! No wonder no one's reached it all these years!]
[Gary: Wait, is it really that strong? It doesn't look that impressive. My Blastoise could take it.]
[Byron: YOU FOOL! That's REGIROCK! Created by Regigigas itself! Its power is immense!]
[Steven: And here we go again.]
[Wallace: Yep, say "Legendary Titans" and Byron becomes unstoppable.]
[Misty: A Legendary Pokémon?! Ash and the others are in danger!]
[Cynthia: Don't worry. That Lucario is strong enough to hold Regirock off.]
Cynthia rested her chin on her hand, calm.
Ash's safety didn't concern her—
After all, if he were gone now, the Ash from five years later couldn't exist.
Still… she watched with curious eyes.
So this is when your bond with Lucario began, huh?
Interesting, Ash. Don't disappoint me.
Back The vision shifted to
Regirock wasted no time.
Without warning, it grabbed a nearby off-road vehicle and hurled it straight at the group!
Inside that vehicle… Jessie and James were cowering in the trunk.
The impact rattled their bones. They wanted to flee—but Regirock stood right outside!
And when one attack failed, Regirock began charging Hyper Beam!
A Normal-type move with a terrifying 150 base power—
the signature finisher of many Dragon Masters.
Orange light gathered in front of Regirock's mouth—
and in an instant, the devastating beam shot toward Ash!
"Lucario! Aura Sphere!"
Ash didn't even hesitate.
The words burst from his lips instinctively.
Hearing his command, Lucario didn't doubt for a second.
He planted his feet, cupped his hands, and launched a brilliant blue Aura Sphere straight at the incoming Hyper Beam!
The two forces collided midair—
blue against orange, energy writhing violently.
Everyone expected the Aura Sphere to be overwhelmed.
But instead—
Lucario's attack pushed back Regirock's Hyper Beam,
and the blue light smashed straight into the Titan's chest,
sending it crashing backward!
[Byron: Impossible! That's REGIROCK! One of the Legendary Titans! How could its attack be overpowered by an Aura Sphere?!]
[Steven: Calm down, Byron. Remember, this Lucario once served the Hero of Aura himself—it's no ordinary Pokémon.]
[Byron: Still! If my Regirock used Hyper Beam, the result would be nothing like that!]
[Lance: Perhaps its energy is unstable without Regigigas nearby.]
[Professor Kukui: That's possible. But even so, Lucario's strength is extraordinary. A power that could rival the gods.]
[Cynthia: Indeed. Truly worthy of the Hero of Aura. Though, I still think my Lucario is the strongest.]
[Ash: Wow! Lucario's amazing!]
[Leon: And you, Ash, surprised me too. You managed to command that Lucario—he clearly acknowledges you now.]
Leon's words made everyone realize something—
not long ago, Gary had mocked Ash for failing to command a Charizard during the Indigo Conference.
And yet now, at about the same age,
Ash was commanding Lucario!
Such growth in just a year was beyond belief.
"Genius" didn't even begin to cover it.
The vision shifted to
After fending off Regirock's attack, Lucario led Ash and the others through the canyon, weaving between cliffs until they found a cave.
For now, they were safe.
"There's a Regirock near the Tree of Beginning? Why would it attack us?" Ash asked.
It was a warning, Lucario replied. It's telling us to stay away from the Tree of Beginning.
"So Regirock is… the Tree of Beginning's guardian?"
Probably.
Inside the cave, Lucario expanded his Aura, searching ahead.
Soon, a glimmer of light appeared in the darkness.
Following it, they emerged from the tunnel—
and the sight before them took everyone's breath away.
Mountains, rivers—
countless Pokémon living freely among them.
Even ancient Pokémon still roamed here.
Omanyte and Omastar splashed in the stream.
An Armaldo munched contentedly on berries.
The scenery brimmed with life.
"Paradise" wasn't enough to describe it.
The Tree of Beginning sheltered these Pokémon, preserving a pure, untouched ecosystem.
Here, the ancient and the modern coexisted in harmony.
[Professor Oak: Truly worthy of its name—the Tree of Beginning that maintains balance in the world. To preserve Pokémon from ancient times so perfectly… this is a sanctuary.]
[Lance: Queen Irene, I'll be stationing an Alliance Guard unit in Orudoran City to protect this site. I hope you understand. This beauty is sure to attract poachers.]
[Queen Irene: Champion Lance, Orudoran welcomes your assistance. Protecting the Tree of Beginning is our shared duty.]
Lance wasn't exaggerating.
Poachers were the most detestable kind of humans.
Even Team Rocket despised them.
They slaughtered and captured Pokémon without restraint,
treating them as nothing more than profit.
Such vermin deserved no mercy.
The vision shifted to
While the others were still awestruck by the scenery,
Ash wasted no time.
He immediately set out to find Pikachu—
his true purpose here.
Lucario followed silently behind.
Meanwhile, Kido took out a strange device.
With a few quick taps, small drones lifted into the air,
flying toward the Tree of Beginning to begin scanning.
She intended to collect data and samples for research.
Her partner Banks began controlling the machines remotely,
extracting material from the Tree's glowing crystals.
But the moment he did—
the once-blue crystals turned a terrifying shade of orange-red.
Before Banks could react,
The entire machine was swallowed by the molten crystal fluid.
They had made one fatal mistake:
The Tree of Beginning was not some ancient ruin to be studied.
Their actions had enraged it.
And so… the collapse began.
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