Pokemon X & Y Reimagined

Chapter 20: The Aura Storm

Despite Lucario's jubilation at finding a piece of Lucarionite, Ash grimaced at their defeat. Xerosic had them at his mercy with his horrifying insult to Mega Evolution. The trainer sighed despite Lucario's embrace. Serena and the others looked little better. It was not until Bonnie chimed in that the tension finally broke.

"Well, if we're here. Why not take more stones?" Bonnie pointed to the other mega evolution stones.

Ash stared at them, and the premonition of aura returned. It was as if several of them called out to him like the Lucarionite. After a nod from Pikachu, Ash approached each gem that gave him the feeling. With his aura armor and Pikachu's Iron Tail, he ended up taking five more in total, while Serena and Clemont likewise stared at a stone formation.

"Go on, you guys should take some too." Ash said, forcing a smile.

Serena and Clemont hesitated, both insisting they probably were not meant to mega evolve pokemon and had none that could. Despite this, Ash guided them over and helped them each take one. Clemont trembled but Bonnie's scolding steadied him.

Despite getting what they came for and more, the party was silent upon their return to Geosenge town. Xerosic and his deformed Mega Malamar's image ingrained into their minds like a plague. However, that was not the only thing that afflicted Ash. He glanced at Lucario more than once, and a cold sensation overtook the usual warmth of their bond. The way Lucario stared at his Lucarionite emphasized the feelings of pride, desire, and ambition through their aura bond sent a shiver down Ash's spine. Nor was he alone.

Ash's other pokemon kept a watchful eye on their teammate, but none more so that Charizard. The fire lizard looked more than a little worried and growled something to Lucario in a tone that was unmistakably concerning and cautious. Yet, the aura pokemon did not heed them. Instead, his glittering eyes remained fixed on his Lucarionite.

"Welcome back!" McGinty rested in the same spot had stood hours earlier and waved at the party. His smile vanished as they waved back without a word. "Is everything alright? Were you unsuccessful?"

"No, we did find the Lucarionite, and more." Ash sighed and gestured to Lucario.

He then explained everything that happened. McGinty stroked his scrubby beard and nodded. Taking a deep breath he glanced back at the mountainside and spoke.

"These are troubled times indeed. Forced Mega Evolution is an abomination. These will be consequences for that poor Malamar and his foolish trainer. Still at least you lot are unharmed. Perhaps it would be for the best if you called it a day."

The prospect of resting sounded wonderous to Ash and the others. However, Lucario let out an indigent grunt before racing over. He almost shoved the Lucarionite into Ash's face while groaning and nudging his keystone.

"Oh yeah, Ash why not Mega Evolve Lucario now." Clemont said.

"Yeah! I wanna see it!" Bonnie added.

"I-" Ash hesitated. His aura bond with Lucario did not feel right. It was as if the premonitions were warning him against it. Serena saw his anxious look and frowned in similar concern when he said. "Maybe-maybe we should wait until we're rested, Lucario. I-"

"Grou!" Lucario growled and nudged Ash harder despite the other Pokemon's attempts to stop him.

"You ought to listen to him." McGinty said with a stern expression toward Lucario. "Mega Evolution is not something one goes into lightly, young pokemon."

Korrina's warning seemed to echo in the back of Ash's mind, but Lucario pleaded and looked ready to cry. Gritting his teeth, Ash relented and placed a bracer on his pokemon's wrist. He avoided McGinty's sharp look while his other pokemon stepped back alongside the party. Lucario was almost jumping and howled as Ash set the Lucarionite in place.