Aura

The next morning, Bonnie wakes up with a bigger spring in her step than normal. Max grumbles as her excitement wakes him up as well. The two get dressed, then meet with Megan in the main lobby, where they go and get some breakfast. They finish eating just as Korrina rolls into the Centre. She sits with them and chats for a bit while they wait for the tide to go down low enough. Both Max and Bonnie can barely contain their excitement for this match. Bonnie, because she really wants to battle Korrina and then match her with Clemont. Max, because this will be his first time seeing Mega Evolution in person.

Eventually, Korrina checks her watch and informs them that it's almost time for the water level to be lowered enough for them to get into the gym. The four of them stand up, and Korrina leads a practically bouncing Max and Bonnie, and a giggling Megan, to the place where they can access the Gym. They arrive just in time to watch the sandbank appear. Max stares in awe as the water level lowers and the land bridge reveals itself. Bonnie can't help but giggle at his wide-eyed excitement. Once it's fully revealed, the four of them walk across. Max can't help but feel slightly nervous that the bridge will be gone by the time they finish. Korrina must've noticed this, because she tells him, "Not to worry, if the bridge is gone, we can always take my grandfather's boat." "And why don't we use that to get over here?" Megan asks. Korrina shrugs. "Dunno," she admits. "This is just how it's done I guess."

They arrive on the island where the gym sits, and Max takes a moment to admire just how cool it is to see a building built into an island like this. Korrina leads the way up the stairs and almost leaves Max behind, if not for Bonnie tapping him on the shoulder and startling him back to reality. Everyone laughs at this, then continue up the trail into the Gym. Once there, they are greeted by a much older man with the same kind of hair colour as Korrina, except he's wearing a green top instead of white. "I do wish you'd stop wandering off like that Korrina," he reprimands as they approach. "One of these days, a challenger will show up, only to find that you aren't here." "Sorry grandpa," she says. "But I've been in that gym too long. I needed to stretch my legs a bit."

Korrina's grandfather rolls his eyes at that, then looks at the other three who accompanied her. "So, which one of you will be challenging this gym?" he asked. Bonnie steps forward. "I am!" she says. Korrina's grandfather looks her up and down, then says, "I think I remember you. Aren't you the younger sister of the Lumiose Gym Leader?" Bonnie nods. "That's me!" she replies excitedly. "I was here 4 years ago watching my friend challenge Korrina. Now, I'm here as a challenger." Korrina's grandfather then moves on to Max and Megan. "Are you two going to challenge the gym too?" he asked. "Or are you here as spectators?" "The latter" Max replies. The old man nods. "Then, you will head that way to the spectator's area." The two nod then do just that.

The Gym is just as Bonnie remembers back when she watched Ash battle Korrina four years ago. As she steps forward to the field, Korrina goes to the other end. Max immediately pulls out his notebook, prepared to make notes on whatever Mega Evolution Korrina uses. The old man notices this, and comments, "My, my, you sure have a keen eye for details." Max rubs the back of his head bashfully. "Oh, thank you sir" he says. The old man chuckles. "Please, call me Gurkinn," he says, extending his hand. "No need for pointless formalities." Max shakes his hand and introduces himself, with Megan doing the same.

Back on the battlefield below, the referee steps forward and goes through the usual rules. Both trainers accept them, so he calls for the two to release their first pokémon. Korrina sends out Mienfoo, with Bonnie sending out Fletchinder. Then, the battle begins. Mienfoo charges in with brick break, which Fletchinder just about manages to avoid, before swooping in with brave bird. Mienfoo is struck by the super effective attack but grabs onto Fletchinder and uses her momentum to send her flying towards the wall. Luckily, she catches herself in time using gust, then spins around and hurtles towards Mienfoo using flame charge. But Mienfoo counters the attack with drain punch. Fletchinder cries out in pain, then throws Mienfoo off with gust. Mienfoo stumbles back, giving Fletchinder an opening to use brave bird again, knocking it out.

"Mienfoo is unable to battle!" the ref announces. Korrina smiles, then returns Mienfoo. She thanks it, then sends out a Machoke. The battle resumes with Machoke going in for a high jump kick. Fletchinder charges up to meet the attack with flame charge, then adds peck in for extra damage. Both attacks collide, severely injuring both pokémon. When they return to the ground, Machoke charges in with Mach punch. Bonnie grins, then orders Fletchinder to use brave bird to end this battle too. However, Machoke quickly switches to thunder punch, taking Fletchinder off guard. She isn't quick enough to dodge the attack and is hit full force, knocking her out.

"Fletchinder is unable to battle!" calls the ref. Bonnie returns her and thanks her for a good battle. Then, she sends out Kirlia. Luckily for her, Korrina's Machoke is damaged quite badly from its fight against Fletchinder, so Kirlia should be able to win. But Machoke isn't keen on giving up yet and goes for another high jump kick. However, thanks to Max's strategies, she has a counterattack at the ready. As the Machoke comes closer, Kirlia uses teleport. She gets out of the way of the strike, causing the Machoke to hit the ground hard, doing a lot more damage. Before it can move away to try another attack, Kirlia launches a Psybeam, knocking Machoke out.

"Machoke is unable to battle!" announces the ref. Korrina returns and thanks Machoke, then sends out her final pokémon. Max leans forward in anticipation as Lucario is sent out. "Sorry to do this to you Bonnie," Korrina calls as she raises her right hand. "But just because you're going to try to bring me and Clemont together, it doesn't mean I'm going to take it easy on you!" Bonnie smiles back. "That's good!" she calls. "Because I wouldn't want you to!" Korrina smiles, then taps the key stone in her glove. "Alright, you heard her Lucario!" she announces. "MEGA EVOLVE!" Max nearly falls into the arena from leaning so far forward on the railings as the mega energy flows into Lucario, completely changing its form. Its fur becomes darker, with red patches added to it, and some tendrils flow out of its body. But as the transformation is complete, the strangest thing starts happening.

The transformation sends a large pulse of Aura flooding through the room. When this happens, Bonnie feels this pulse flow through her, almost like it was connecting to her. When this feeling stops, she focuses on the battle, deciding to check up on what that meant later. But things only got weirder when Korrina calls out her first move. "Lucario, use Aura sphere!" she shouts. Lucario lets out a cry in anticipation and charges it up. Bonnie suddenly realises she can almost feel Lucario's anticipation. She's so shocked by this voice that she almost doesn't act in time. Luckily, Max calls her name, snapping her out of her confusion. She orders Kirlia to use teleport, and she manages to slip out of the way of the attack in time. Kirlia reappears above Lucario and slams a Psybeam into its back. Lucario cries out, then whips around and strikes her with an Aura sphere. Kirlia hits the ground hard but is still able to get back up. Bonnie orders her to use heal pulse. But before she can finish, Lucario charges in again, with heaps of frustration emanating from it. It strikes Kirlia with a drain punch, knocking her back and out.

"Kirlia is unable to battle!" the ref says. Bonnie returns Kirlia and thanks her, then sends out Dedenne as her last pokémon. Dedenne runs in and uses nuzzle, inflicting paralysis on Lucario. However, it's still able to use some of its moves, and now Bonnie can see the annoyance on its face. And yet, she can somehow tell that it's enjoying the battle immensely. She's beginning to freak out from this and decides to end this battle as quick as possible. So, she orders Dedenne to charge in with quick attack. Dedenne disappears as he runs at Lucario. Lucario tries to track his movement but finds it really difficult. Then, it feels Dedenne crash into its back, before using thunder shock. Lucario falls to its knees as the two attacks, coupled with the Psybeam from earlier, begin to take their toll on it. Lucario charges up another Aura Sphere then launches it at the Antenna Pokémon. But Dedenne dodges it just in time then uses disarming voice, locking Aura Sphere away for now. While Lucario was surprised by the revelation that it can't use Aura Sphere, Dedenne runs in one last time and uses the most powerful thunder shock he could muster. Lucario is thrown backwards from this attack and crashes into the wall, knocking it out.

"Lucario is unable to battle!" the ref declares. "Making Challenger Bonnie the winner of this match." Max and Megan cheer for her as she returns Dedenne and leaps into the air. But she still doesn't understand what she just experienced. As Korrina shakes her hand and presents her with the Rumble Badge, Max and Megan come running down and Max pulls her into a hug, which she accepts somewhat half-heartedly. Max notices and grows concerned, to the point that he doesn't grow embarrassed from how close the two have become. "What's wrong?" he asks. Bonnie snaps out of her train of thought. "Nothing" she says quickly.

Now Max is really concerned. "It doesn't feel like nothing," he says. "You don't seem to be in as much of a celebratory mood as usual." Bonnie sighs and doesn't look at her friends. "You're going to think it's ridiculous" she says. Max laughs at that. "Bonnie," he says, "we're being chased across the region by a group of eco terrorists, who are after a magical ball that can summon a sky snake to a mountain in a different region to where it's from. We've dealt with plenty of ridiculous." Bonnie laughs at Max's description, while Korrina looks alarmed by this story. But she decides not to press the matter.

Bonnie sighs, then explains what happened. Korrina and Megan look really confused, but Max's eyes widen in shock. "So, you were able to sense Lucario's emotions?" Korrina asks. "No," Bonnie replies. "It was like I could sense his…" She isn't sure how to explain this, but luckily max interrupts her. "Aura?" he asks. Bonnie nods. "See," she says. "I told you it's ridiculous. Max shakes his head. "No, it's not," he tells her. Bonnie looks at him. "You're not the only one who can do this!" Max explains. "You're what's known as an Aura Guardian! These were people who could wield Aura just like Lucario! They could even communicate with any pokémon who uses Aura, such as those in the Riolu line or Legendary pokémon!"

Now Bonnie begins to grow excited. "You mean I could learn to throw an Aura Sphere myself!?" she exclaims. Max shrugs. "Probably," he replies. "But you'd need to ask an expert." Megan interrupts the conversation here. "But Aura Guardians are a myth!" she protests. "And supposedly they were wiped out centuries ago!" Max grins and adjusts his glasses, a sign that he knows something. "That's where you're wrong," he tells her. "There is at least one still around. That's how I know this stuff. Because I know an Aura Guardian! We can call him up and ask him to explain it better." Bonnie gets really excited here. "You know another Aura Guardian!?" she asks. "Who is it?" Max chuckles knowingly. "Funny thing actually," he says as he begins to walk back to the sandbank leading to Shalour, "you know him as well."