Chapter 231: The Leaf God's Forest
How did Mew recognize me? No... the Tree of Beginning recognized my Aura, and then told Mew.
Will's mind spun, and he immediately figured out what was happening.
In this world, it was possible for two beings to have the exact same Aura. Sir Aaron and Ash were examples of this. And now, Will, who had inherited Sir Aaron's Aura, was another.
Both Sir Aaron and Will were acquainted with Mew and the Tree of Beginning. Especially Will. He wasn't just Mew's friend; he was their savior.
So, upon sensing this familiar Aura again, Mew and the Tree of Beginning had to see its owner, no matter what.
They continued toward the Tree. At a certain point, the driver slowed down and finally stopped.
"This is as far as we can go. The boundary line is just ahead."
The driver pointed forward. Will and Lorelei both stuck their heads out to look.
The road ahead was blocked by a chain-link fence, and it looked like it was electrified.
"Isn't this a dead giveaway? Are they trying to tell people there's something wrong with the Tree?" Will complained silently. He felt that fencing it off like this would attract Team Rocket's attention sooner or later.
Stationing Rangers nearby was one thing; you could say it was to protect the forest. There were plenty of forests around the Tree, so that was a plausible excuse. But putting up an electric fence was way too conspicuous.
"Is it really necessary to guard it like this?" Lorelei asked.
"Of course it is! You don't know, little miss," the driver said mysteriously, looking a little proud, as if he'd planted it himself. "After that big battle, a huge forest sprang up from the ground right here. And it's not just any forest! You can only see it here near Rota City..."
"That forest is so... green," Lorelei said, staring into the distance.
"Isn't it! That's what's so special about it! The leaves on those trees, every single one, looks just like the leaves on Sceptile's tail." The driver pointed to a small leaf-shaped charm hanging in his car. "Those trees are called 'Leaf Trees.' The plant experts call them a unique species. Their characteristics are long life, vibrant green leaves, and just full of life. Here in Rota, they symbolize longevity and endless vitality."
"So, the fence is to protect these trees?"
"I guess so. Anyway, I don't think the League would bother protecting the Tree of Beginning. Everyone knows that thing is just a big rock that looks like a tree. Nothing special to protect." The driver waved his hand.
'Smart.'
Will, who had been listening quietly, had to admire the strategy. Using these unique plants, left behind by the Leaf God, as a cover. It conceals the Tree of Beginning, which everyone thinks is just a rock, and allows the League to openly set up defenses to protect the real Tree while also preventing people from getting too close and provoking the Regi trio.
Will nodded. It was a good plan. He was just curious... Where did those trees come from? They were the exact same color as the leaves on his own body in his past life.
"Where did the trees come from? Are they related to the Leaf God?" Lorelei asked.
"Of course! Why else would they guard it so closely? After that great battle, the Leaf God dropped many leaves onto the ground. Each leaf became a seed, took root, and grew into a tree."
?
Will was stunned. How did he not know about this?
The key was, he couldn't tell if this was just a story the Indigo League made up. He had lost a lot of leaves in that battle, probably hundreds or thousands. And he'd left immediately after. He really had no idea what happened to them afterward.
"Wow!! Then the leaves used for the torch relay..."
"That's right! They come from here!" the driver slapped his hand on the dashboard. He had been waiting for her to ask that! It felt good to be the one with the answer.
They arrived.
"...Let's get out," Will thought, patting Lorelei. He was the first to open the door and hop out. Lorelei followed right behind.
The two little ones stood outside the boundary line, staring blankly at the forest on the other side.
"Piplup, I think I see a Sceptile in there," Lorelei whispered.
"This place is indeed suitable for a Sceptile clan to live," Will thought, nodding. Lorelei wasn't mistaken. There was indeed a Sceptile clan in the forest. He could sense that their Aura was universally strong and each one was well-developed. They must be influenced by this forest.
Seeing the changes in these Sceptile, Will now felt that what the driver said was probably true. These trees really had sprung from his leaves.
Just then, a girl in a red uniform darted out from the side. Her uniform had the Pokémon League's Poké Ball symbol, and she was holding a device that looked like a walkie-talkie or a styler.
"This is the Leaf God's Forest. You can't enter without permission." The girl stood in front of Will and Lorelei. A Grovyle stood at her feet.
"Who are you?"
"I'm the new Ranger for the Leaf God's Forest, Solana. This is my partner, Grovyle. Please stop here." The girl, Solana, puffed her chest out, introducing herself.
"Vyle," the Grovyle nodded coolly.
"A Pokémon Ranger! This is my first time seeing one!" Lorelei's eyes lit up, full of admiration.
"Ahem." Solana rubbed her nose, looking a bit embarrassed. But, this was why she and Grovyle had worked so hard to pass the exam, wasn't it? She still felt a little thrill of pride.
"Anyway, please turn back. Ahead..."
VMMMMM!
As Solana was speaking, a nearby blue crystal suddenly began to glow.
"Huh?! The Tree of Beginning is speaking?" Solana's eyes went wide. This was the first time she'd seen this happen; she'd only heard stories from her seniors.
She immediately grabbed her device, but just then, she saw the Piplup place its flipper on the crystal.
At first, she wasn't concerned. Nothing should happen just from touching it.
But the next second, she couldn't help but be concerned.
Solana watched as the Piplup closed its eyes, and a blue light began to glow from its body.
Clack.
The device fell from her hand. Solana's mouth hung open, her eyes wide as she stared at Will.
"Piplup?!" Lorelei yelped, about to run over and grab him.
"Don't go near him! He's communicating with the Tree of Beginning!" Solana quickly grabbed Lorelei's arm.
"What?! Why can Piplup talk to the Tree of Beginning?"
"Because he has awakened Aura Power!"
"Ah?!" Lorelei was shocked, then dazed. Come to think of it, Piplup had spoken to her directly in her mind before. At the time, she just thought they were "in sync." She'd even wondered if she had awakened psychic powers. She had never imagined that Will was the one with a special ability.
"Aura Power..." Lorelei swallowed.
The legend of the "Aura Guardian" had once been a local tale in Rota. But after the "Leaf God" appeared, the Tree of Beginning and Rota City had become world-famous. As more people came to learn about the Tree, they naturally learned the legend of the Aura Guardian.
But Lorelei never could have imagined that her own little penguin was connected to it.
The more she thought... the prouder she became!
"Wahahaha! I knew it! The penguin Grandma picked for me wasn't a dummy! I'm destined to be someone great!"
Solana glanced at Lorelei, wondering what was wrong with this kid. She turned her gaze back to the Piplup, her eyes filled with nothing but shock and confusion.
She was shocked because this was the first time she had ever seen Aura Power, and the first time she had seen the Tree "speak." The Tree must have lit up because of this Piplup, right? And it looked like their conversation was going smoothly?
She was confused because... why would Aura Power appear in a Piplup? Throughout history, all recorded Aura-wielders were either humans or Lucario. For it to appear in another Pokémon... this was a first.
"Maybe I should ask Queen Fulin," Solana muttered, looking toward Cameran Palace.
On the other side, Will finished his conversation with the Tree.
It was just as he'd thought. The Tree had sensed his specific Aura and initiated contact to find out who he was. Will had openly admitted it was him and asked the Tree to tell Mew he had arrived.
According to the Tree... Mew was already flying over, unable to wait.
"? What's that white thing in the sky?" Suddenly, Lorelei, who had been laughing at the sky, spotted a white creature speeding toward them.
In an instant, the white creature appeared next to Will, grabbed him, and flew off toward the Tree of Beginning.
"PIPLUP!!"
Lorelei shrieked. Her head went hot, and she kicked at the electric fence, apparently intending to knock it down and chase after her penguin.
"Don't! That's Mew! It's a good Pokémon! Your Piplup will be fine!"
"I don't care who it is, they can't take my Piplup!"
"It won't steal your Piplup! It was probably just attracted by his Aura Power and wants to play! He'll be back in a few days, I promise!"
Solana frantically tried to calm Lorelei down. But in truth, she had no idea. They all knew about Mew, but no one had ever seen it.
But today...
"What in the world is happening today?" Solana felt like there had been way too many surprises.
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