The blue light faded from the battlefield, leaving Eevee and Lucario on opposite sides. Their black and red eyes met, each gaze carrying a fierce emotion...
The early spring sky was clear, and a brisk breeze swept across the field, smoothing away the last waves of dust.
"Oh! Evolution! Riolu has evolved into Lucario!" The host stared at the transformed Aura Pokémon below. "Even the air seems to tremble before it! Is this the power of Aura?!"
"So it is the power of Aura." Cheren closed his eyes and felt for it. An invisible force seemed to pulse through the battlefield, strong enough to make his scalp prickle.
His face darkened as he compared what he sensed with what he knew. This Lucario was extraordinary.
"That Foresight, that Aura Sphere..." Cheren recalled how Riolu had snatched the Thick Club from Teddiursa's paws before launching an Aura Sphere. "Yes, this Riolu—no, Lucario—has an exceptional understanding of Aura and how to use it."
He glanced at Lucario's Trainer, his gaze turning thoughtful. "An Aura Guardian?"
"This feeling..." Dawn rubbed the goosebumps on her arms, a little embarrassed as memories of her childhood came back to her.
"So he finally evolved." Alex breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. He nodded to himself. Coming here had been the right choice. Perhaps Riolu had held off evolving because he had been waiting for this moment. "Yingyue, this is Lucario's own special way of saying thank you."
His voice deepened. "Lucario, Close Combat!"
"A thank-you... What a peculiar thank-you." Dian watched red light flare in Lucario's eyes as he appeared beside Eevee like a shadow, ready to unleash a furious attack. Dian closed his eyes, felt the fighting spirit surging from Lucario, and said calmly, "Foresight!"
"..." Eevee closed his eyes as though Lucario were