Mew floated beside Julius, its pink form almost blending into the soft glows of the tree around them. It didn't speak, but Julius could sense its presence brushing gently against his mind—curious, ancient, and kind. Like Kurama from Naruto could feel malice and hatred, this Mew could feel emotions too. It must have sensed no hostility in him. Only calm, wonder, and a quiet acceptance.
Below them, the massive roots of the Tree of Beginning pulsed faintly, alive and breathing like a giant sleeping creature. As they hovered near the mossy ground, Julius paused. His foot hovered just above the surface, but he didn't step down. Something in him told him not to.
Then, realization dawned—not from logic, but from memory. He had seen this before. The way the tree responded to intruders. He remembered it from Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. In that story, those who stepped directly on the tree were absorbed, mistaken as invaders by its natural defenses. That knowledge now served as a silent warning. Julius chose to stay floating, just a few inches off the surface, trusting what he knew.
That was when he understood.
This tree was no ordinary place. And this Mew... this wasn't just any Mew. The aura of familiarity around it, the way it danced through the air and watched with childlike curiosity—it all pointed to one thing. It was the same Mew from that story. The guardian of this place, ageless and gentle, still keeping watch long after the tale had ended.
Mew tilted its head, pleased. Its tail curled like a question mark, and then it spun once playfully. In a small flash of psychic energy, a glowing sphere appeared in front of it. From within it, Mew slowly pulled out something precious—something wrapped in an aura of time and care.
An old book.
The book floated toward Julius, cradled in a soft shimmer of psychic energy. It looked ancient—bound in worn leather, its edges trimmed with deep blue and black linings that curled like waves of ink. It was thick—thicker than any dictionary he had ever seen—its presence alone felt heavy, not just in weight, but in meaning.
Julius's eyes followed the slow descent of the book into his hands. The leather was cool to the touch, but pulsed faintly, almost like it was alive with sealed memories. His fingers traced the faded crest on the front—an old symbol that resonated deep within him, though he had never seen it before. Not with his eyes, at least.
"You have quite the amount of aura," Mew said, its voice gently echoing in his mind. "More than any Aura Guardian I've ever met."
Julius looked up in surprise.
"Yes," Mew continued, floating closer. "Even more than Sir Aaron himself."
The words hit Julius like a stone in still water. Sir Aaron—one of the most legendary figures in aura history—someone revered across the world… and he, a boy still learning, already held more aura than that?
"This book belonged to Sir Aaron," Mew added, voice soft but certain. "It holds knowledge passed down through generations of those who mastered aura—those who lived, trained, and gave their lives to protect harmony. He asked me to give it to someone who shows true promise… someone who walks the path not out of glory, but instinct."
Julius didn't speak, but a part of him swelled with something quiet and warm. To be entrusted with this… by Mew… by someone who had known Sir Aaron…
"I can feel it," Mew said. "There's something inside you. A spark… something even you haven't understood yet. It's faint now, but deep. Connected to aura in a way that's rare. This book might help you find it. Shape it. Control it."
Julius ran his hand over the cover again. It was heavy, yes—but it felt right. Like something he had been meant to carry. Not just for himself, but maybe for what's ahead.
He looked up at Mew, who hovered with a playful spin, then returned to watching him with those curious ancient eyes.
Julius gave a nod. "I'll take care of it."
The tree around them hummed quietly, as if it, too, approved.
Still seated beneath the soft glow of the Tree of Beginning, Julius gently rested the ancient tome across his lap, its pages humming faintly with the legacy of aura. Mew floated nearby, curiously circling him like a slow, playful orbiting moon.
Then, with a calm breath, Julius looked up at Mew. "There's one more thing I want to ask."
Mew halted mid-air, eyes locking with his, expression unreadable but attentive.
Julius hesitated, then said, "Do you remember the staff used by Sir Aaron?"
Mew blinked, ears flicking. "Yes… the one with the soul crystal, from Cameran Palace," it answered in his mind. "Why do you want it?"
Julius's fingers tapped the book gently, thoughtful. "I'll tell you… after you bring it."
That earned a blink and a moment of silence from the mythical Pokémon. It didn't push further, sensing that the boy's intent wasn't selfish—just cautious. And perhaps, a little sentimental.
Mew hovered quietly, tail curling, before giving a tiny playful flip and nod. "Alright," it replied with a smile in his mind. "I'll retrieve it."
As Mew's form shimmered and vanished in a flash of light, Julius exhaled slowly, gaze turning upward to the high domed ceiling formed by living crystal branches. His fingers tightened around the book just slightly.
If it's really still there… then Lucario must still be inside the staff… just like in the movie.
A soft wind stirred through the chamber, as if the Tree itself was listening.
And if he is… then I'll make sure he's not forgotten, and dies a death he doesn't deserve.
He closed his eyes, waiting.
Just seconds after vanishing, a soft ripple of light shimmered in the air as Mew returned—cradling in its small arms the staff of Sir Aaron.
It was just as Julius remembered it from the movie: long and regal, carved from dark polished wood, with elegant silver inlays coiling like vines up its shaft. At the top, embedded in an ornate crown-shaped head, rested a large, glowing blue crystal. Inside the crystal, faint waves of aura pulsed slowly—like a heartbeat frozen in time.
Julius stepped closer, his eyes locked onto the staff. "Can you sense anything inside?" he asked, voice quiet.
Mew hovered near the crystal, eyes narrowing in focus. Its tail curled tight as it concentrated.
"…There's something," Mew finally whispered into his mind. "It's Lucario… Sir Aaron's partner. But his aura feels… dormant. Like hibernation."
Without hesitation, Mew floated the staff toward Julius. The moment Julius's hands wrapped around it, the crystal flashed brilliantly—blue light spilling into the chamber.
A hum filled the air.
Then, from within the glow, a shape began to form.
Standing tall and still, the figure of a Lucario materialized in front of him. Its eyes were closed, and its arms remained at its side. The moment its senses stirred, it turned its head slightly toward Mew, recognizing the aura. But then, it stiffened—sensing something unfamiliar nearby.
"…Mew?" Lucario's voice echoed, gravelly and calm, but with a weariness beneath it. "Where… is Sir Aaron? Why did he… seal me away?"
The question was heavy. Painful.
Lucario opened his eyes, golden irises shining as he scanned the chamber. "What happened to the war?"
Julius, steady and gentle, stepped forward. "The war… was stopped. Sir Aaron is remembered as the one who ended it."
Lucario's eyes narrowed, and a growl escaped his throat. "Liar!"
His aura flared sharply, a pulse of frustration filling the air.
"He sealed me… and fled the battlefield! He left me there! You think I wouldn't remember?! I trusted him!" Lucario's fists clenched, and his voice cracked with anger. "He never told me why… He just vanished. Is that… what they remember him as?"
Mew hovered forward, placing a soft paw on Lucario's shoulder, transmitting a gentle wave of reassurance.
Lucario's breath slowed slightly, but the confusion in his eyes remained.
Then, he turned slowly to Julius. "And… who is this?"
He scanned Julius up and down—his expression hard, but not hostile. Then he blinked.
His aura… It's overwhelming, Lucario thought, stunned. More than any Aura Guardian I've met… but completely untrained. It's raw. Untamed. Is this… why I was awakened now?
He stood silently, watching Julius with cautious eyes.
And Julius… simply met his gaze, steady and calm.
Lucario's heavy stare lingered, but Julius simply smiled lightly before turning to Mew once more.
"There's something else I'd like to ask," Julius said, his voice polite but certain. "Could you take us to the Time Flower? The nearest one should still be around Cameran Palace."
Mew blinked, tilting its head in confusion. Time Flower? The thought echoed through the psychic bond it shared with Julius.
Sensing the uncertainty, Julius quickly explained, "It's a crystalline flower—bright green, shaped like a blooming star. When touched by aura, it shows visions of the past. I saw it once… in an old story."
He kept the movie a secret. It was easier to explain it this way.
Mew floated back a little, thoughtful now. It chirped softly, thinking hard.
"There should still be one left in the forest outside Cameran Palace," Julius continued, calm and patient. "It's important. I need to show something… to Lucario."
Lucario, still standing silently beside them, raised his head slightly, watching Julius with a curious but guarded expression.
Mew tapped its chin once with a small paw, and then gave a nod.
In a flash of bright pink light, the three of them vanished—off to find the hidden fragment of the past Julius hoped to reveal.