After absorbing all the Aura within itself, Mew twirled once in midair, then dove straight into the pillar of light that shimmered with a warm orange glow.
In that instant—
the World Tree, which had been burning away, was reignited by a touch of life-filled green.
That emerald light spread outward from the pillar, coursing through the entire World Tree.
At that moment, countless green lights burst forth from the many crystals embedded throughout its trunk—
just like when Sir Aaron once sacrificed himself to awaken all the Pokémon from their frenzy.
The verdant radiance continued to expand,
and under its glow, the World Tree gradually returned to tranquility.
May and the others, who had been hiding from the danger, finally stepped out.
They gazed upon the serene World Tree and smiled softly.
Jessie and James were no different.
After reuniting with Meowth, they'd immediately been caught up in the chaos of the World Tree.
They thought they would be separated again—
yet in the end, danger had turned to safety.
The two of them and Meowth held each other tightly, tears streaming down their faces.
Everything seemed to be heading toward a happy ending.
But beneath that beauty… lay a sorrowful farewell.
Lucario.
[Korrina: My good boy! My sweet boy! You're too kind… too gentle!]
[Professor Kukui: Indeed. Lucario, as a Pokémon of Aura, can feel its Trainer's emotions more keenly than anyone.]
[Steven Stone: You know… I think I've fallen for Lucario too. I'll head to the Daycare soon and pick out a Riolu egg.]
[Delia: I just hope Lucario's okay. If it could survive, that would be the best ending of all.]
[Cynthia: I wish that were so… but the Aura Lucario released at the end burned away its very life.]
Cynthia didn't finish her sentence—
but everyone understood.
Lucario's death… was inevitable.
[Lusamine: Nooo, my ship sank! This livestream is the devil!]
[Caitlin: Tell me about it! If only Lucario had accepted Ash's Aura and shared it with Mew, maybe both could've survived—and Lucario might've become Ash's Pokémon!]
[Sabrina: Impossible. That Lucario had already lost the will to live.]
[Audience: ...]
Classic Sabrina—
always so heartless and to the point.
Yet her blunt words somehow made the sadness easier to bear.
If Lucario had truly lost the will to live,
then its fate had been sealed long ago.
All they could hope for now
was that Lucario would see its beloved Trainer again in the afterlife.
That, at least, would be a happy ending.
In the image—
the World Tree had returned to its original state.
Blue crystals illuminated the cavern in a tranquil glow.
Everything seemed peaceful once more.
Alice, her conscience awakened, used her device to contact her companion Banks,
instructing him never to release the World Tree's data to the public.
Perhaps this was her small act of redemption—for Lucario's sake.
Though their adventure had ended perfectly,
her future would forever be haunted by regret.
Lucario, its life force nearly spent, staggered and collapsed beside the crystal that held Sir Aaron's remains.
Faint blue sparks flickered across its battered body.
Its form was on the verge of collapse.
But even so—
at least it would die beside Aaron.
And at the very end, it had learned the truth of that fateful day.
There was nothing left to regret.
Ash hurried to Lucario's side.
He stared helplessly at the Pokémon's fading form.
"Lucario…"
Before he could say more, his hand brushed against another Time Flower near the crystal.
The residual Aura flowed into it, and the flower bloomed once more.
The world dimmed, shadows folding around them—
And there, beside Lucario, another figure appeared.
Sir Aaron.
The Aaron from a thousand years ago lay quietly beside Lucario.
Like Lucario, faint blue arcs of Aura flickered across his body.
Both stood at the edge of life.
"Lucario… I'm sorry."
"In that situation, if I hadn't sealed you away, you would've followed me.
And if you had, you would never have let me sacrifice myself—you would've died too."
'Of course I would have!'
Lucario wanted to protest.
Even if it meant sharing the same fate—
it wanted to stay by Aaron's side.
"But I didn't want you to die," Aaron's next words froze Lucario in place.
Aaron gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with calm light—
as if he could see the Lucario he had sealed away long ago.
Even at death's door,
his final thoughts were of Lucario.
'Sir Aaron… I'm sorry!'
"War is meaningless. It's taken so many lives.
If ending it requires a sacrifice… why shouldn't that sacrifice be me?"
Lucario's words could no longer reach him.
Even if they had, this was only an illusion—
a memory left by the Time Flower.
"I have no regrets.
My life may have been short,
but the time I spent with you and Princess Alice in that castle…
those were the happiest days of my life.
Thank you, Lucario.
Every moment with you was pure joy."
"Teaching you—that was the happiest time of my entire existence.
For the first time, I truly felt alive."
"If… I had another chance,
I'd want to see you again.
To tell you, in person—thank you.
My friend."
Lucario trembled, looking like a faithful dog watching its master fade away.
'Sir Aaron…'
'I was such a fool to doubt you!'
'We were friends—family! How could I ever think you'd betray me or the queen?'
'After everything we went through together…'
Tears streamed from Lucario's eyes, unstoppable.
[Ash: Why… why am I crying?]
[Lillie: Don't die, puppy! Please!]
[Elaine: Maybe this is for the best. Lucario and Aaron cleared their misunderstandings, and now… they can finally reunite.]
[Bruno: Damn, that hit hard. Lucario—you're going to be my next Pokémon!]
[Gary: For some reason, I feel like Lucario was killed by chocolate.]
[Misty: Be serious for once!]
Pallet Town, Kanto Region.
Ash's eyes were brimming with tears.
Through the projection, he saw Lucario—
and through Lucario, he saw himself and Pikachu.
"We'll never be apart!"
"Pika!"
Back in the image—
Aaron's last words, "My friend," echoed,
and his illusion dissolved into light.
The vision of the Time Flower faded.
Darkness receded from the cavern.
No one knew where these crystals truly came from.
Perhaps Aaron had sealed his own body here—
so that, one day, he might see Lucario again.
The Aura gloves he left behind…
maybe he'd foreseen this moment all along.
Aaron's disappearance was inevitable.
And Lucario would follow soon after.
'I'm sorry… truly sorry.'
Lucario whispered to the empty space where Aaron had been.
It had never doubted him—not really.
Aaron could never have meant to harm it.
Ash stepped forward and grasped Lucario's trembling hands.
"Lucario, don't do this. You and Aaron are both heroes of Aura.
You gave everything to save the world.
Even across a thousand years,
you both walked the same path—that means you share the same heart.
Aaron sealed you away to save the world.
And if you'd known, you would've sacrificed yourself in his place.
Don't blame yourself.
You're both true Aura Guardians!"
'Ash… thank you—ugh!'
A spark of blue energy surged through Lucario's body,
draining the last of its strength.
It slumped weakly against the crystal.
"Lucario, hang on! You can't die like this!"
Ash knew how this would end—
but he still couldn't bear it.
They had fought together.
They were friends now.
'Ash… don't worry. I'm not dying.'
'I'm just… going to join Sir Aaron.'
Lucario could already feel its body unraveling.
But it still had so much left unsaid.
'I'm sorry… We barely met, and I thought we could travel together… but…'
'I'm going to Sir Aaron now.'
'Meeting you has made me so happy.
Don't grieve for me.
As an Aura Guardian, you'll surely find your own Lucario someday.'
'To meet you at the end of my life—it's an honor.
We'll be friends… forever.'
'Goodbye, Ash…'
And then—
before Ash's eyes,
Lucario dissolved into shimmering light.
At that same moment,
the crystal infused with Aaron's Aura vanished too.
The two streams of Aura merged,
becoming a cascade of starlight.
Those gentle lights floated upward,
returning to the pillar of blue light within the World Tree.
Perhaps Aaron had left the crystals behind
for this very reason—
so that, in the end, he could see Lucario one last time.
Just as he'd once said:
"Lucario, your wish has been granted."
Ash murmured softly as he watched the light fade away.
[Lance: Now I understand why Ash was so emotional when he saw that egg.]
[Lance: Forms may change, appearances may fade—but Aura never lies.
Just as Lucario recognized Ash's Aura as Aaron's,
Ash recognized Lucario's the instant he saw that Riolu egg.]
[Lusamine: Finally! My ship has its happy ending!]
[Bea: So this is a bond that transcends a thousand years—
one glance, and fate is sealed.]
[Diantha: Incredible. I never knew Ash and Lucario shared such a story.]
Yes.
The bond between Ash and Lucario had been forged long ago—
perhaps even before they'd met.
Their destinies had always been entwined.
That Riolu egg…
was the key that tied everything together.
In my past life, I followed Sir Aaron into death.
In this one, I'll give everything I have to help you reach the top of the world.
Lucario—reborn through Aura.
The scene faded to silence.
The World Tree slept once more.
Lucario and Aaron had finally reunited.
Ash and Pikachu stepped out, breathing in the fresh air.
May and the others approached from afar.
But when they saw only Ash and Kidd emerge—
they already knew.
"Where's Lucario?" Max asked softly.
Ash just shook his head.
He didn't need to say a word.
May gently took his hand.
"It's alright. Lucario's back with his partner now."
Ash looked up at the sky,
his voice calm but trembling.
"The Aura… is with me."
A gentle breeze lifted their clothes.
The sky above was clear and blue—
as pure as Aura itself.
Then, as if to mark the end—
the world turned to black and white.
The final frame flickered…
and stilled.
[Aura Guardian — END]
Only Ash saw that last flash of light.
In Pallet Town, he gasped in excitement.
"I saw it! Lucario—Lucario and Aaron were together!"
"Really? What did you see?" Misty leaned forward eagerly.
They'd already noticed Ash's strange eyes during the stream—
as if he could see what others couldn't.
"I saw… a painting.
In the palace—the painting now has Lucario in it."
"The painting?" Brock frowned.
"Didn't it already have Lucario before?"
"No. Originally, it only showed Pidgeot and Aaron!
But now… Lucario's there too!"
"I get it!" Misty exclaimed.
"The World Tree must've sent Lucario's Aura back in time!"
Before Ash could respond,
new text filled the livestream's display—
[Special Feature "Aura Guardian" has concluded!]
[Reward distribution in progress.]
[Sabrina has received the Wish Gift Pack.]
[Random Q&A session begins in 10 minutes.]
[Answer correctly to earn exclusive rewards.]
[Please prepare yourselves.]
[Sabrina: It says any wish can come true. Is that really possible?]
[Livestream System: Produced by the Livestream—guaranteed. Make your wish, and leave the rest to us.]
[Sabrina: I see. Understood.]
[Brock: Miss Sabrina, what kind of wish will you make? Need a gentleman's opinion?]
[Bruno: Yeah, spill it! I'm dying of curiosity!]
[Lorelei: How crude. Try thinking before you speak. Oh wait—you don't have a brain.]
[Bruno: ???]
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