Pokémon: Aura Guardian

(Unedited)

With the key stone exposed, he didn't have to wait long before Lucario had extracted it from the wall. Clasping it in his hand, he could feel a beat coming from it, not unlike his own heart. Rummaging through his back, he found the box Mew had been protecting for him. 

Using what little psychic energy he could muster while under the plates influence, he managed to open it with the bit of aura from Lucario.

The two mega stones, still as pristine as they had been, were glistening under the soft glow of the key tone.

Carefully taking out the Lucarionite, he handed it to Lucario.

As soon as his paws touched the stone, they could feel the connection between them become clearer. It was almost as if they could read the others mind without really trying anything.

It was a strange yet exhilarating feeling.

Sealing the box and tucking it back in his bag, he took out a satchel from his bag, tighting it around Lucario's waist. It was the size of a pouch, big enough to store the Lucarionite, yet too small to store bigger things.

Now with that done, Ares put the key stone away in the pendant hanging from his neck. While it served to enhance his aura, it could also store small items, such as the key stone.

Now with the important things handled, they could once again feel the life signatures of their pursuers, who had finally found the entrace of the tunnel they were currently in.

With only one way to go, they increased their pace once more, following the winding tunnel further and further in, until they eventually reached an enormous underground space.

Unlike before, where there was magma flowing everywhere along with a massive magma lake, the space before them stretched as far as the eye could see. Ancient architecture was seen everywhere, as buildings were distributed in a certain way, going from normal sized houses, to mansions, being built on the walls and the spires going to the top. Holes in the ceiling provided scarce lighting, illuminating the city. In the center itself was a structure much like a castle. A massive lake reflected the sights from above, mirroring everything as if there was an underwater city as well.

The sight before him was one he had seen before, though that one had been teeming with ancient pokemon. 

It was like the ruin he had seen near Koga's gym.

Hearing the increasing amount of footsteps coming his way, he slid down the overlook he had been standing on, running down one of the alleyways.

Running further and further, he could hear loud exclamations of awe and wonder.

Going in and out of alleys, hiding in homes, Ares spotted the occasional flight of a Salamance and Scarmory. Team Rocket grunts were soon teeming around the place, systematically scouring through every building.

It was getting harder to hide, as the places he could run to were getting fewer and fewer.

Before long, his only place to run was the palace, the one where the lake was sprawled in front of.

Surely they were waiting for him to run there, yet he had no other choice.

But did he really?

Naturally there were only so many places to hide.

Yet there was a perfect spot right in front of him that wasn't the palace.

Sneaking to one of the more obscure places near the water, he silently called out Lapras, taking out two of the re-breathers he had. Giving one of them to Lucario, they slowly slid into the water, the sheer cold of it seeping into his very bones.

Lapras waited for them to be ready and adjusted, offering her shell as a hold as she prepared to dive down. At this point, the hunter flying above them seemed to spot him. The device on her arm was pointed towards Ares, who had a bad hunch as soon as she did so.

Not waiting any longer, he grasped Lapras's shell. 

Lapras took it as a sign and dove down faster than ever before, pulling them under within a second. The current around them was strong, yet Lapras cut through it without any difficulties. Behind him, Ares could see a beam of light traverse through the water, hitting a poor Magikarp.

It didn't even have time to understand what was happening, as it turned to stone and sunk to the bottom of the lake.

Feeling a shiver creep up, both from the fact that he had escape that fate and also due to the icy temperature of the water itself. Feeling his fingers loose their grip, Ares tried to hold on. 

As soon as he felt himself slip from Lapras's back, Lucario's arm grabbed his middle, securing Ares's hold as they continued deeper into the lake.

The natural light of the city above faded, as multiple currents were coming from different directions. Behind him, he saw a few grunts jump in, only to scamper back out as a pack of Gyarados popped up around them to attack.

They were out of the heat for now.

Quite literally.

As Lapras moved about, shifting directions every now and then, taking strange turns, entering dark crevices, a stream of light was soon upon them, glittering softly on the surface above.

Slowing down noticably, Lapras moved below them and pushed them along with her back to the surface.

As they broke through, Ares gasped for fresh air, tasting the tangy scent of moss and mud on his tongue. It seems like they were out of the inner part of Mt. Silver. Where they were currently, he had no clue.

His Room phone had no signal, though it had apparently been recording everything once again, this time taking pictures as well as noting down what happened.

Ignoring the rampant pokemon phone, Ares took in his surroundings.

Unlike the ghost city from before, the place in front of them was teeming with life, plants growing everywhere, as were there many grass and bug type pokemon.

Roots were growing everywhere, though their attention was drawn by a small opening further in. Standing on a pedestal, as if it was enshrined, was another plate like he had on his body. Yet this one glowed in a healthy green light. It warmed the surroundings and provided life everywhere.

These plates...

They had a history he didn't know about.

Walking closer to it, he could almost make out words inscribed deeply into it.

"The power of Plates are shared among Pokemon"

It was inscribed in the language of his original era, one that wasn't used in the current age anymore.

Taking out the plate in his hand, words were inscribed on this plate as well.

"From all creations, over all creations, does the Original One watch over all."

If he had to guess, there would be more Plates like this, all with their own energy and power. If only he knew what they did and why there were people looking for them.

Reaching out his hand, it made contact with the green plate. It pulsed beneath his hand, slowly shrinking until it was the size of a brick. Comparing both Plates, he could see a bit of diffference in the plate he had previously found.

While the green Plate was the color of a Meadow, the other plate was white, a bit like marble. 

Wanting to put them away, a roar came from behind him, as something struck his back and shoulder, drawing blood and causing him to scream out in pain. Blood splattered everywhere, covering both plates in a deep crimson. They pulsated more frequently, as they began to glow in an ominous red.