Join my p@treon for more chapters
p@treon.com/Tempest_29
It turned out that the effects of Pokéblocks were equally potent whether given to ordinary Pokémon or legendary Pokémon. The treat's appeal seemed to transcend the boundaries between common species and mythical beings.
After Chris offered the Pokéblock to Mew, the legendary Pokémon became so enchanted that it nearly abandoned the Tree of Beginning to accompany him on his journey. The pink psychic-type floated around Chris with obvious affection, clearly torn between its duties and its newfound fondness for the young trainer.
Chris, sensing Mew's internal conflict, decided to extend an invitation. "Would you like to come on an adventure with me?" he asked hopefully, knowing full well the significance of such a request.
Mew paused in its playful hovering, its large blue eyes reflecting genuine consideration. For several long moments, the legendary Pokémon seemed to weigh its options, floating silently as it contemplated the offer. Eventually, however, Mew shook its head with what appeared to be genuine regret.
Chris suspected he understood the reason behind Mew's refusal. The Tree of Beginning wasn't just Mew's home—it was a sacred place that required constant protection. As much as the mythical Pokémon might desire to explore the world beyond, its responsibilities as guardian likely bound it to this ancient sanctuary. Without that obligation, Chris felt certain Mew would have agreed without hesitation.
What a shame, he thought to himself. He had just lost the opportunity to travel with one of the most powerful legendary Pokémon in existence.
If Mew had truly decided to follow him on his adventures, Chris wouldn't need to wait for gradual improvement or additional training. He could have challenged the Elite Four immediately! There would be no need to study the detailed information his senior brother had provided, no need for careful preparation or strategic planning.
"Whoever stands in my way, bring it on!" he could have declared boldly.
Then he could have moved directly to challenge the Champion himself!
Unfortunately, such thoughts remained nothing more than wishful thinking for now.
Having obtained what he came for, Chris prepared to leave the Tree of Beginning. His primary purpose in entering the Aura Secret Realm wasn't treasure hunting, but rather training his Pokémon to harness and develop their aura abilities.
While the Tree of Beginning provided an excellent environment for Pokémon to absorb aura energy, it wasn't suitable for practicing the more destructive techniques associated with aura manipulation. The ancient tree was too precious and sacred to risk damaging during training sessions.
Chris had specific plans for developing a new technique—teaching his Pokémon to create a spiral-shaped Aura Sphere. Given the destructive potential of such a move, attempting it near the Tree of Beginning could result in catastrophic damage. He could easily imagine blasting a massive hole through the sacred tree's trunk. If that happened, even his status as an aura user wouldn't protect him from the wrath of the legendary guardians. The three Regi titans would probably launch him out of the secret realm without a second thought!
Furthermore, maintaining constant aura flow throughout his body proved exhausting, even with the assistance of the aura gloves. Chris knew he couldn't sustain such intense energy output for extended periods without proper rest and recovery.
Therefore, Chris had devised a training schedule that would maximize his time in the Aura Secret Realm. His Pokémon would spend part of their time near the Tree of Beginning, absorbing and strengthening their connection to aura energy. Then they would move to a safer distance for skill development and technique practice, where any accidents wouldn't threaten the sacred landmark.
He was particularly eager to perfect Greninja's combination attack—merging its golden Water Shuriken with a spiral Aura Sphere. Chris had been working on this technique for some time but hadn't achieved the level of precision and power he desired. This extended training period in the Aura Secret Realm presented the perfect opportunity to refine the move.
"This is my last Pokéblock," Chris said softly to Mew, offering the treat with genuine warmth. "Take your time eating it. I promise I'll visit you often during my stay here." Along with his words, he handed over all of Wobbuffet's expertly crafted Pokéblocks, knowing how much Mew had enjoyed them.
From inside its Poké Ball, Wobbuffet's muffled voice could be heard: "Wobba-wobba-wob!" The patient Pokémon seemed to be protesting the loss of its carefully prepared snacks, though its tone suggested resignation rather than true anger.
Chris chuckled at his Pokémon's reaction. Since Mew clearly appreciated the treats, he could always make more later. While unique, top-quality Pokéblocks might be difficult to reproduce consistently, excellent-grade ones would serve perfectly well as occasional snacks for his new legendary friend.
Upon hearing Chris's promise to return regularly, Mew's demeanor brightened considerably. The mythical Pokémon stopped its playful pestering and instead began floating in happy circles around the trainer.
"Mew mew!" it chirped joyfully, the sound echoing pleasantly through the chamber as it prepared to escort Chris from the Tree of Beginning.
The journey back through the tree's interior passed quickly, with Mew providing cheerful company along the way. Soon, Chris found himself approaching the same meditation area where he had first encountered the elder from the Fang family.
The elderly man seemed to sense something different in the air. His eyes snapped open suddenly, fixing first on Chris, then shifting to observe Mew floating beside the young trainer. Finally, his gaze settled on the gloves adorning Chris's hands, and his expression grew thoughtful.
As a member of the Fang family, he had known about Mew's existence for many years. The legendary Pokémon's tolerant nature toward humans had allowed his family to establish communication and maintain a respectful relationship with it over the generations.
However, he had never witnessed anyone develop such an obviously close bond with Mew, especially not on their first visit to the secret realm. The level of affection the legendary Pokémon displayed toward this young man was unprecedented in his experience.
"What is your name?" the elder asked, his curiosity clearly piqued.
"Chris," the young trainer replied honestly, showing proper respect to his elder.
"Chris?" The old man's eyebrows rose with recognition as he looked Chris up and down more carefully. "Are you Chris, the old professor's student?"
The way the elder spoke suggested he was well acquainted with Chris's mentor, which came as something of a surprise.
"You know my teacher?" Chris asked, both curious and pleased to discover this unexpected connection.
"Of course I do," the elder replied with a warm chuckle, slowly rising from his cross-legged meditation position. "Your ability to enter this Aura Secret Realm was arranged in exchange for a favor I owed him many years ago."
He brushed dust from his robes before continuing, "You may call me Uncle Landen. Your teacher and I were classmates during our younger days!"
"Uncle Landen," Chris repeated respectfully, recognizing the wisdom in addressing someone of his teacher's generation with proper courtesy.
Landen nodded approvingly, then shifted his attention to the gloves Chris had recently acquired from Mew. "Did Mew give those to you?" he inquired, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
Chris glanced at Mew, who responded by floating closer and nuzzling his cheek affectionately.
"Yes," Chris confirmed simply.
Landen nodded thoughtfully, then made a surprising statement. "Those gloves once belonged to my grandfather."
"Oh, I..." Chris began, suddenly worried about the implications of possessing someone else's family heirloom.
"Don't be concerned," Landen interrupted with a dismissive wave. "Since Mew chose to give them to you, they rightfully belong to you now." Without warning, he reached into his robes and produced another glove, extending it toward Chris.
"This is the matching glove," he explained. "It serves no purpose for me at my age, so I'm giving it to you as well. They make a proper pair this way. Consider it a meeting gift from your uncle, so your teacher won't have reason to call me stingy!"
Chris accepted the second glove with gratitude, immediately noticing that it also emanated aura energy, though not with the same intensity as the one Mew had provided. The difference suggested that while both gloves were crafted from special materials capable of channeling aura, the one from the Tree of Beginning had been enhanced through prolonged exposure to the sacred tree's concentrated energy.
"After you leave this place," Landen continued, "be sure to show these gloves to the guard at the entrance to the Aura Secret Realm. He will escort you to our family's private library, where we keep our collected research on aura manipulation. Since you possess the rare talent for aura usage, it would be wasteful not to provide you with proper guidance and instruction."
He gestured toward his meditation spot as he spoke. "I spend most of my time here in contemplation and practice. If you encounter any difficulties or have questions about aura techniques during your training, please don't hesitate to seek my advice."
"Thank you so much, Uncle Landen!" Chris exclaimed, genuinely moved by the unexpected generosity. This development represented far more than he had hoped for when first entering the secret realm. Originally, his exploration of aura abilities would have required painstaking trial and error, slowly building understanding through personal experimentation.
Now, with access to generations of Fang family research and the guidance of an experienced master, he could avoid countless mistakes and setbacks. Instead of fumbling blindly toward progress, he had been handed a clear path to advancement.
No more wandering in circles—he could proceed directly toward mastery!
Eager to begin studying the collected knowledge about aura manipulation, Chris prepared to take his leave from the Tree of Beginning.
"Very well, you may go," Landen said, settling back into his cross-legged position to resume his meditation practice.
As Chris departed from the Tree of Beginning, Mew accompanied him only as far as the entrance, respecting the boundaries of its sacred duty.
"Mew mew!" the legendary Pokémon called out, waving a tiny paw in farewell.
"Goodbye," Chris replied, returning the wave with genuine fondness for his new friend.
Once he had moved beyond the "surveillance" range of the three Regi guardians, Chris allowed himself a deep breath of relief. His aura reserves had nearly reached their limit, and he estimated that remaining in the tree's presence for even two more minutes might have resulted in the legendary titans personally escorting him from the premises.
Chris reached for his Poké Ball and released Gardevoir, the graceful Psychic-type materializing in a flash of light.
"Gardevoir, we need to get some distance from the Tree of Beginning," he explained to his trusted partner. "Please use Teleport to take us toward the entrance crack where we first entered the Aura Secret Realm."
Gardevoir nodded elegantly, its psychic abilities already beginning to glow as it prepared to transport them both safely away from the sacred tree and back toward their planned training grounds.