In the Footage—
Cameron's expression turned solemn as he looked at the panting Riolu. He knew better than to underestimate the small pup now.
Riolu's attack, speed, and raw Aura output were higher than any Lucario he had ever seen at that level. To end this, he needed to bring out the big guns.
"Go, Hydreigon!"
A fierce wind whipped across the beach as the Brutal Pokémon appeared. Covered in blue scales and black fur, the three-headed dragon hovered ominously. Six wings beat the air, and its two arm-heads snapped at nothingness.
Hydreigon—the Unova Pseudo-Legendary. While it was a Dark/Dragon type and technically weak to Riolu's Fighting-type moves, it possessed the ultimate advantage: air superiority. It was a flying artillery battery. For an exhausted Riolu on the soft, shifting sand of the beach, this was a nightmare matchup.
"Riolu, can you still go?" Ash asked.
"LEO!!" Riolu growled, his fighting spirit burning even brighter.
"Very good! Preemptive strike! Vacuum Wave!"
Riolu threw both palms forward, sending two rapid-fire air blades toward the dragon. They were faster and wider than before, locking onto Hydreigon's flight path. The dragon took the hits, grunting in pain, but stayed airborne.
"Don't let him lead! Dragon Pulse!" Cameron commanded.
Hydreigon's three heads gathered brilliant, multicolored energy, unleashing a massive, dragon-shaped ripple of power that roared toward the ground.
"Dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Riolu took off, but Ash's face darkened almost immediately. Riolu's feet were sinking! He had never trained on soft sand before. The shifting terrain acted like a tether, preventing him from reaching his top speed.
Cameron saw the opening. "He's slow! Three heads, fire again!"
A second Dragon Pulse joined the first, chasing Riolu across the beach. Riolu realized he couldn't outrun the blast on this terrain.
He skidded to a halt, spraying sand, and turned to face the oncoming draconic energy. He gathered every ounce of Aura into his paws and...
He caught it.
Riolu's small paws grabbed the glowing "jaws" of the Dragon Pulse, the blue energy of his Aura neutralizing the dragon's power to prevent it from exploding.
[Drake: Using Aura to neutralize the kinetic energy of a Dragon Pulse to hold it with bare hands? Does such a thing even exist?]
[Cynthia: Aura is a miraculous power, but Riolu is at his limit. He can't sustain that kind of neutralization for long.]
[Lance: Look at Cameron's face! It literally says: 'Is this a move a normal Pokémon can do?']
[Caitlin: Ash needs to switch. Riolu is running on fumes.]
[Marshal: Hmph! You don't understand the spirit of a fighter! Riolu has the soul of a martial artist! He won't back down until his heart stops!]
[Korrina: Marshal, don't use your 'map cannon' (broad generalizations) on women! We have fighting spirit too!]
[Marshal: Sorry... my scope was a bit too wide there.]
In the Footage—
Riolu was trembling. Catching the Dragon Pulse was a feat of legend, but the physical and mental drain was catastrophic. His eyes began to glow a deep, resonant blue. His body flared with an aura that pulsed in time with Ash's own heartbeat.
Aura Resonance.
It was a state nearly identical to the "Bond Phenomenon." The two were one. The sheer volume of Aura being channeled through Riolu's small frame began to overflow, spreading from his paws, through the Dragon Pulse, and traveling back up the energy stream toward Hydreigon.
"BOOM!!"
A massive backflow explosion occurred on Hydreigon's end. The dragon was engulfed in thick smoke; its own attack turned against it via the Aura connection.
Riolu slumped to the sand, his energy completely spent. He had used everything—his own stamina and the power Ash had gifted him.
Despite the cool move, Hydreigon emerged from the smoke only slightly bruised.
"Haha! My Hydreigon won't fall that easily! I've won! Dragon Pulse one more time!"
The three heads unleashed a final, decisive beam. Lana and Mallow turned their heads away, unable to watch. Riolu lay in the sand, his head hanging weakly. He had no strength left to move.
'It's up to Pikachu now,' Riolu thought, closing his eyes. 'I tried my best...'
"RIOLU!!!"
Ash's voice cut through the sound of the crashing waves. He had his hands cupped around his mouth like a megaphone.
"DON'T GIVE UP! It's not over until the last second! We never throw in the towel! AURA... IS WITHIN US!!"
The words hit Riolu like a lightning strike. A dormant, ancient power ignited within his core. A steady, infinite stream of strength gushed from his soul. He looked up, the Dragon Pulse inches from his face, and roared.
A blinding pillar of blue light erupted from his body, engulfing him completely. He reached out and caught the Dragon Pulse again, but this time, he didn't just hold it—he crushed it.
Cameron stared, his jaw hitting the sand. What kind of cheat code is this?!
But the light didn't fade. Riolu's silhouette began to stretch and change. His limbs lengthened, his torso broadened, and the "mask" on his face shifted into a regal, canine shape.
The light shattered like glass, revealing a brand new warrior.
The Aura Pokémon. The companion of legends. Lucario had arrived!
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