Amid the ashes and still-burning remains of what had once been a beautiful island, full of lush plant life and nesting grounds to some of the less contentious Legendaries, two beings crouched around a third, far smaller, barely a hatchling. The larger of the beings keened, a high, broken sound.

A long, flexible tail curled carefully around the cool and still form of their hatchling, their nose gently nuzzling the corpse, white skin coming away splattered with crimson. On the other side, a great rack of antlers, coated in blood, shuddered with the sobs of the being they belonged to, a hoof gently pawing near their hatchling's body. Their power could not bring their hatchling back, not from this, and it burned.

Farther away, yet more Legendaries, reeling from the sight of broken eggs and broken hatchlings, tears flowing as parents desperately checked on their nests only to find that their hatchlings were all gone, not a single one spared.

The world was silent aside from the grieving parents, stunned in the slow, awful realization of the loss.

Then, from above, a voice that shook with fury, with heartache.

"Look at what you foolish children have done."Arceus had never been so appalled by the actions of his many children, grandchildren. Their fighting had never before spread this far, escalated to such a disastrous level, not even between Kyogre and Groudon. To get to this point… "Did not one of you ever think to spare a thought to your surroundings? To ensure that the nesting isles were kept away from your petty squabbles? How many hatchlings have we lost today? How many precious little ones?"

The world shook with the anger and grief of the Creator, and Arceus let out a long, slow breath, the force of it whipping away the smoke and ashes. Not even Dialga or Celebi could go back to save the hatchlings－there was simply too much sheer power woven into the turning point. No, those souls would have to be reintroduced into the reincarnation cycle of mortals, be it the newly developed humans, or Pokemon.

Well… perhaps not that one… For all that Arceus intended to punish the Legendaries involved in this awful battle, there were two who had done nothing wrong, who had lost everything while trying to defend the hatchlings, and whose' own hatchling had sacrificed their life trying to do the same, never knowing that their parents had been just seconds away.

Using his Sight to bear witness to the tragedy that occurred just minutes ago, Arceus turned his gaze to the grieving parents.

"Lugia… Xerneas… Your hatchling did you proud. He stood guard in front of the nests, used everything you've ever taught him to protect his cousins. The nature of his sacrifice means that his soul will take longer to be reincarnated, but… he will be able to return to you. And to those of you who have also lost their hatchlings, yours will also be brought into the reincarnation cycle. It will not be the same, but you will always know how to find them."

Lugia keened again, nodding slowly in acknowledgement of the Creator's words. His son, his beautiful, wonderful son… his and his mate's firstborn… He would wait as long as it took to have his son back. And when he found him again, he would never let go.

Xerneas dipped her head at Arceus' words, still unable to tear her eyes away from her son's still form. She, bringer of life, had been unable to bring life to her son's body this time… and she swore to herself that it would never happen again. No, she would become stronger, so that when her precious one had been returned to her and her mate, they would never again be in danger of such death. She knew all too well that it was likely their son would be reborn a human, having been part of structuring the reincarnation cycle along with her brothers, Zygarde and Yvetal－the name made the muscles along her flanks ripple with tension, increasing her hyper-awareness of the blood on her antlers.

But human or not, he would still be their son. Their firstborn, their beloved Azuro… Her tears fell onto her hatchling's－he was so young, barely in his eighth decade－body, coaxing the earth around him to return to life. Soon his body was covered in flowers, the likes of which had never been seen before and never would be again.

"We will wait for him," Xerneas vowed, voice thick with her grief, though in the silence it carried to all her kin. "And we will welcome him home, no matter what he becomes."

"And we will ensure the world he is reborn into will never see this level of strife again," Lugia joined, his words a promise and a threat that none were willing to challenge－the perpetrators of this tragedy particularly.

One by one, the parents of the murdered hatchlings joined the Vow, adding their power and their hearts to bolster it. Never again would such a great loss of life occur, even if they had to fight tooth and claw to protect it.

Arceus' Will pulsed over the earth. "So it is witnessed, so mote it be."

XxXxX

As the centuries passed, the world recovered from the battle that had stripped it near bare. Humans grew and began to explore the world, Pokemon by their side, and the Legendaries began to withdraw from their fellow beings. Many of those who had lost hatchlings chose against trying again, instead waiting for their own to be reincarnated.

There came rumors of humans who earned the favor of gods, who would bring the wrath of titans against those that sought war with their villages, and later, cities and countries. Those humans kept quiet their few memories of being not human, of reuniting with parents that many had only ever heard the voices of within their eggs.

Pokemon who hatched twice, their natural aura calling to their Legendary parents, were quickly protected by their second life's families, considered an honor to have brought back into the world. Many of those grew to become incredibly strong individuals of their new species, legends in their own right.

Eventually, those Legendaries who had lost their hatchlings began to Fade, for all that they had rejoiced regaining their children－for it was only for a brief, mortal lifespan, and then the cycles of reincarnation should the souls choose it would become longer and farther apart, They could not bear to lose their children to death, again and again.

The numbers of the Legendaries dwindled, until just the strongest of their kind remained, often only one or two per kind. Lugia watched as his sister and her mate were the only ones to remain aside from him, and his own mate the last of her own kin.

Land masses shifted, and the Legendaries drifted apart to find the places that would allow them to best keep the balance world-wide. Separated from his mate, Lugia commanded the sea-ward Nexus, only rarely able to leave it in the care of his sister and brother-in-law to go visit his mate.

Xerneas had found a ley line in what would come to be the region called Kalos, that could carry her Fairy Aura around the world to keep the balance between the various Powers granted to beings－Fae magic, the Ghostly shadows, and Psychic power. Their relationship had not suffered in some of the ways many of their kin's had, but there was a distance, now, as each were left to their own grief the majority of the time. To the Guardian of the Sea, it was clear that until their dear Azuro, their flower bloomed from the sea-misted ashes of the isles, was returned to them, that distance would not close.

He loved his mate, and she him, but the pain was still too great.

Even when their brief visits brought about the Birds, their triplets, the distance remained. But they persevered. Despite the pain, they shared the story of their eldest to their hatchlings, the story of the eldest who would someday be the youngest. The Awaited Childe.

It would be six millennia until he came.

XxXxX

In some worlds, Ash Ketchum never found out about his soul's heritage. In others, it wasn't until Shamouti, until Lugia first laid eyes on him, recognized his aura and began to cry. But in this one… in this one Suicune had passed through Pallet Town, mere weeks after once again hearing the story of the Long-Awaited Cousin－every Legendary born after the Tragedy, especially in the last few centuries like herself and her brothers, had been told about Azuro, the hatchling who fell defending his fellow hatchlings during the Slaughter.

In this world, Suicune felt that subtle pattern of aura unique to Legendaries… and found the source to be a young human boy of eight. And that specific aura, like salty sea-spray, with undertones of plant life and Fairy sparks… The young Legendary's mind whirled with possibilities, and she changed course immediately.

Uncle Lugia had to know that his Childe was here, at long last. And Aunt Xerneas too, Suicune would dash right over as soon as she'd told the Guardian of the Sea.

XxXxX

If you asked the residents of Pallet Town about Ash Ketchum, they would turn their eyes heavenward in fond exasperation.

"Such an energetic young boy," they would say, possibly as the boy himself would rocket by outside, running to who knows where, but always on the move. "If only he paid as much attention to school as he does Pokemon."

Because everyone knew everyone in such a small town, and of course everybody's business was everybody's business. But of course they wouldn't hold things against each other, that just wasn't the Pallet way! Poor Delia, that brute of an ex-husband leaving her to fend for herself, clearly she was a strong young woman to take such good care of her lively young son! Bless her for being able to keep up with him. There was no room for looking down on others in Pallet, not when they could be jumping right in to help out.

If anyone in Pallet Town had known of the reason for Ash's energy, you can bet they would have been chomping at the bit in order to support him. That was the thing about Pallet Town, it always had the most intriguing residents. The genius professor, the Champion Red, the little god-child. All Pallet born and bred, truly.

As for Ash himself, all he knew was that his hometown was full of life, all around, in everything and everyone. At times it was too much, like he was overflowing with it all, and all he could do was run and wish he could fly, trying to let out enough that he might be able to sleep. And that, no matter where he started, he would always end up at the sea, off to the side of the docks south of Pallet.

Sometimes the water would come up to greet him, tugging playfully at his ankles.

Come play, the waves would bubble. It's been so long since we've seen you.

Always as if it had been way longer than just having been there the last day. The woods were like that too, in a way. The plants, twining around his hands, brushing gently over his shins.

Come plant roots, the plants would rustle. It's been so long since we've grown with you.

Ash knew that it wasn't normal, the things the world said to him. The things he could do－reviving dead plants, pulling water up into the air－were not normal in the least. Part of him knew that he had to hide it, so he never said anything, using his struggles in school as a sort of cover to ensure no one bothered to look closer.

He was smarter than most people gave him credit for! He was just constantly overwhelmed with the senses and voices and energy all around, he could never focus on much else.

And then the day came, where things made sense, where he finally got his answers. He had been at the beach again, this time where the woods slowly gave way to rugged bushes, then hardier plants dug into the sandy slope leading down to the water.

He was playing in the water, an Oddish on his shoulder, the little Grass type having taken a liking to him and they'd been playing together the whole afternoon.

"It's going to be great," he was chattering, excited about his upcoming journey－only a year and a half left, and then he'd be old enough to get his starter and go on an adventure! "I'll get to see all sorts of places, and meet so many Pokemon!"

"So much like your mother," a voice that both was and wasn't the water said softly, trembling the way Delia's did when she was about to cry.

Ash's head jerked up, brown eyes meeting ruby ones, shining with tears. And, somehow, it was enough. He knew those eyes. He knew those eyes, he knew that Pokemon, that Legendary.

"Vaati?" Azuro whispered, aura rising and thrashing as old memories awoke and the new memories flailed, trying to keep some sort of order. To brush past the memory of death, of Between, and to make sense of things when last he'd known he'd been the oldest of the youngest, placing himself in the path of destruction despite his terror.

The Battle. The Pain. So long ago, yet so fresh in his mind.

"Oh my son," Lugia breathed, water sloshing as he practically threw himself up onto the sand in order to curl around his now-human son, choked laughter escaping him. "My son, my precious Azuro, my hatchling!"

The Oddish had long since gone still with awe, quickly hopping to the ground, and then after a moment of thought, bowing to the Legendary before scurrying off to tell the whole Pokemon population of Pallet Town the news of the god-child they'd so often played with.

Barely noticing his little friend's disappearance, Ash/Azuro immediately clung to his father, his first father, the contrast between hands and the hooves and wings he used to have suddenly jarring.

"Vaati, I was so scared, everyone was fighting and the others were screaming but I was the oldest, and I had to protect them, and it hurt, it hurt so much," he babbled, hot tears pouring down his cheeks. "I wanted you, I wanted Matim, but I couldn't find you, and then－"

"Hush, my son," Lugia crooned, nuzzling him just like he used to when Azuro had first hatched. "The battle is over, you are safe now. I am here, precious one, I am here. You are safe."

Slowly, the sobs eased, until Azuro was able to settle and just breath, relishing being protected by his Vaati. Slowly, his aura surges calmed, and he pulled it back in, blending who he was with who he became－Ash, and somehow that was more fitting.

"How long?"Ash asked, because Matim had said a little about the reincarnation cycle, but he'd been too young (was still young, even younger than before) to really understand all that he'd been told. All he knew was that a lot of time had to have passed between his first… death… and being reborn as Ash.

"... Your mother and I have waited for six thousand years for your return," Lugia whispered, "Though your sisters and brother have only waited three of those millennia."

Something in Ash ached longingly. In his first life, he'd been the only hatchling, and while all his cousins－oh, Arceus, all his cousins－had been a joy to play with, it hadn't been the same.

"I have siblings?" He beamed, tightening his grip on Lugia's neck. His life as Ash had taught him some things, enough for Azuro to fit the pieces together. "The Birds?"

Lugia chuckled wetly. "Yes, precious. Your sisters, Articuno and Moltres, and your brother Zapdos. They have been anxious to meet you."

"And where is Matim?"

"She has been in Kalos," Lugia explained, pressing a gentle, chirping kiss to the side of his head. "The ley lines there allow her to keep the balance by herself. Many of our kin… they have Faded, my son. There are not many of us left."

Dismayed, Ash fell silent, taking in the implications. The battle must have… it must have done more than kill him and his cousins. Oh Arceus above, it must have done so much more…

"But that was their choice. As it was mine and your mother's choice to stay, and wait for you－"

"AZURO!"

The sudden shout, frantic and half choked with stifled sobs, caused both of their heads to fly up, watching with slightly wide eyes as a golden ring－Hoopa's, Ash recognized the pixie's signature ability－spun into existence just yards away, the great rack of antlers nearly catching on it as Xerneas leaped through.

"Matim!" He called reflexively, squirming until Lugia loosened his hold enough for Ash to get up and run over to meet his first mother.

She dropped to her knees in front of him, frantically nuzzling him all over until he was giggling from the ticklish sensation. Her Fairy Aura enveloped him tightly even as she rose with him clinging to her neck, one leg raised beneath his thighs to hold him there as she managed to awkwardly hop over to her mate, curling into Lugia's side so all three of them were cuddled close.

"Azuro, my hatchling, my baby, I have missed you so," Xerneas wept, already attempting to groom Ash's wild hair. "My dear one, my precious one, oh my son…"

"I missed you too, Matim." He hugged her tighter, reveling in having both of them here with him. In Azuro's last moments, all he had wanted was his parents, but he… he had fallen before they could arrive. "I'm sorry I took so long."

"No! No, hatchling, don't blame yourself, there was nothing you could have done," Xerneas insisted.

"You're mother Is right, it is simply how the cycle works. We are simply happy to have you back," Lugia added softly.

Ash basked in their presence after that, for a long while. However, eventually, he did have to ask what this meant. For him, for his Legendary family, for his human family, though to his knowledge it consisted only of his human mother and uncle.

It was Lugia who explained the system Arceus had put into place, for Azuro specifically－he would be reborn as a human, but his own Legendary aura would eventually grant him the ability to 'ascend', once he had decided to give up his mortal life. Meaning, that he could live out his human life (with some extra perks, but that was just how aura worked), and at the end of it return to his true form.

A human lifespan wasn't so long, in that sense, and Ash quite liked the thought of being able to keep both families. He loved Delia－she wasn't his Matim, but she was his Mom, and she had always done right by him. It helped that the idea of still going on a human journey appealed to him, though now it felt a little funnier. The humor was shared by his parents, who also hinted that perhaps he could, if successful enough, begin helping bridge the gap between humans and Pokemon when it came to how they were treated.

And Ash, Legendary or human, loved Pokemon, and so was more than happy to try and improve how Pokemon were treated. It wasn't like all humans treated them badly, but he wanted to get more protections for his lesser kin.

The rest of the evening was spent catching up, Lugia and Xerneas explaining everything that had happened in those six long millennia, from human civilization to which Legendaries Ash was directly related too. That included his newest cousins, the 'Legendary Beasts', as Suicune had been the one to recognize who he was.

"We'll have to arrange a Gathering," Xerneas mused, absently resting her chin on Ash's head. "Would you like to invite your human mother? She has raised you well, I would love to meet her."

"Yes," Ash nodded decisively. He didn't want to leave Delia out, and she would worry if he vanished for a week or so for a Gathering.

"I suppose we can do that now," Lugia said dryly, lifting his neck to motion with his head towards the trees. "She's come looking for you, with… Is that Samuel Oak? He once challenged your sister to a battle, he and his Charizard, it was quite impressive."

Ash waved to his mom and the professor, both of whom looked more than a little shocked at just who they'd found him with. "Hi, Mom!"

"Hi, honey," Delia replied, a little weakly even as she visibly steeled herself and trotted over. "Have you been here the whole day?"

Checking the sky, the sun now touching the horizon, Ash grinned sheepishly. "It's… kind of a long story," he offered, because really his past was now ancient history, and that was still disorienting. He'd only been eighty back then! And now the world, humans especially, had changed so much, and he was a human now. Technically.

"Please do have a seat," Lugia encouraged offering his tail so that Delia and the professor wouldn't have to sit on the wet sand. "We have much to discuss, and I feel this could take a while."

"I… yes, thank you," the woman managed, sharing a lost look with Samuel.

Xerneas let out a soft giggle. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Delia. As you might know, I am Xerneas, of the Aura Trio. My mate is Lugia, Guardian of the Sea. And of course, you know Azuro… Ash, as he is now."

"As he is now…?" Samuel blinking in confusion, before his sharp mind began to grasp the implications, and he paled a bit. It didn't take Delia long to follow, and Ash felt a flash of pride for his human mother, no matter how much she'd given up she was still as smart as ever.

"I was reincarnated," Ash answered quietly. "So, as I am now, I am the human Ash Ketchum. But before that, I was Azuro, firstborn of Lugia and Xerneas. I regained my memories of that time today."

Something in his expression must have alerted his human mother to the nature of the reincarnation, as without hesitation she stood and approached, not at all bothered by Xerneas looming behind him as she hugged him.

"Are you alright?" Delia fussed, falling into the familiar motions of checking him over. "I can't imagine what sort of effects… remembering… has, do you have a headache? Any confusion?"

Hiding a grin even as he felt the approval of his Legendary parents, Ash shook his head. "No, Mom, I'm alright. I little disoriented because of how different things are from last time, but I'm fine."

"It's certainly a change," Xerneas agreed, gently nudging Delia with one slender leg until the woman was also sitting with Ash, back to the great Fairy type's chest, forelegs curled around them both. She clearly approved of Delia's treatment of their shared son, as well as the woman herself. "It has been six thousand years since then."

"The reincarnation cycle is complex, and can take a very long time to complete," Lugia explained for the humans' benefit. "Given the nature of what happened… Ash's took longer than most."

"I… I see," Samuel murmured, somewhat shaken, and Ash felt a pang of sympathy for the old man. Most humans didn't know anything about Legendaries other than names, and what they look like. Samuel was one of the few that had interacted with more than one, and had an idea of the magnitude of their duties. "May I ask…?"

Lugia dipped his head, grief flashing in his ruby eyes even after so long. "It was back in the days our kin were far more numerous, and far more prone to fighting over things not of true consequence. There was a battle, lasting seven days and seven nights, but those who fought were careless. There… there was once an island, that we nested on. Those who fought… they destroyed it. The island… and the nests."

"Our son fell, protecting the youngest hatchling and the eggs, barely the eldest of them by a mere decade" Xerneas whispered, dipping her head to nuzzle Ash's again. "And the great Creator ensured that someday, we would see our Azuro again. The reincarnation cycle itself is, as my mate said, complex, so we knew from the beginning that he might not be as he was. So here he is."

Ash leaned sideways, into Delia's shoulder, one hand stroking the soft fur on his Matim's leg. "At the end of my human life I'll regain my true form, but this way I can have both of my families. We were actually talking about inviting you to the next Gathering, Mom, when you got here."

"Yes, Ash has been long awaited by the extended family. We do not wish to cause his human family any worry by taking him to the Gathering, and thought it would be best to invite you to come. You are, after all, Ash's mother," Xerneas declared. "It is only your right."

Delia exhaled slowly, gathering her composure, still taking in all this information. "I would love to, Lady Xerneas."

"Not of that, you are family," the great deer gently chided, twisting her neck to nuzzle Delia as well. "It is through you that Azuro was reborn, and we honor you for that. Our other hatchlings would love to meet you too."

"The Legendary Birds are my younger-older siblings," Ash elaborated, his young age showing through again in his elation. "And the Beasts are my cousins. Though… Sorry, Vaati, I forgot how you're related to Uncle Ho-oh, again?"

Lugia chuckled. "Lugia and Ho-oh are two sides of the same coin; when we are born, we are born in pairs, and whether or not we shared the same parents is irrelevant－our very essence means we are mirrored twins. That is why my younger sister Lugia is also my sibling, but her sister Ho-oh is not mine. My brother Ho-oh was the one who gave life to the Suicune, Entei, and Raikou of Johto, and is as such their father, making them your cousins."

"Right. That," Ash said to Delia, who just stared at her son for a long moment before a giggle sputtered out, then another.

"You have always been the brightest part of my life," she said, but did not explain, though both his mothers shared a look that meant they understood each other perfectly well. At least there was that!

By this point, the sun was almost below the waterline, and it was getting hard to see. Lugia was quick to offer the humans a ride home in the dark, but not before the grown ups had hashed out a plan.

The Gathering would be called at the end of the month, so Delia had that long to decide whether she wished to include her brother in the revelations that had occurred, and Samuel had also been invited to the Gathering, as he had been proven to be someone who would not hesitate to protect Legendaries from those who sought to take their power for themselves.

Lugia would be swimming between Pallet Town and Shamouti every three days in order to help Ash begin controlling his aura, as his returned memories had kick started the surges that all young Legendaries had to deal with. Xerneas would remain for the next two weeks, staying in the woods, while working Fairy magic into wards that would hide Ash and all of Pallet Town from any who sought to harm their Childe.

Ash wouldn't be able to meet his siblings until the Gathering (which would be at Shamouti, as all three of the Birds could not leave the Nexus at this time of year), but his cousins would probably drop by on their messenger runs. Learning about the roles his Legendary family held had been somewhat inspiring to Ash, as he was able to comprehend just how important they were, and it was just plain delightful for Professor Oak, even if he knew he could not share the information.

After his Legendary parents had dropped the humans off at the Ketchum cottage, bidding them all goodnight before departing, one to the woods and one to the Orange Islands, Delia crouched down in front of Ash.

"I knew you were special," she said with a helpless smile, "but I have to admit, I did not expect this."

Ash shrugged, having no response to that.

XxXxX

Xerneas hummed to herself as she monitored the ley lines, still riding the giddy high of having her son back, seven months later. The Gathering had gone wonderfully, reintroducing Azuro to the Legendaries, and properly inducting Delia as a Nestmother, as was her right for being the one to return Azuro to the world. It had been also been amusing to watch the human woman almost aggressively mother some of the more stubborn Legendaries into socializing more.

As expected, Azuro had been beloved yet again to all of them. Her brother-Yvetal had made a point of Blessing her son with Immunity to his own power－something that had eased some of the tension she had grown used to, ever since the first Yvetal had murdered her son. She had killed him for that, her brother Xerneas and his sister Zygarde having chosen to Fade that very day after being unable to stop their counterpart's rampage.

And the triplets had been ecstatic to finally meet their brother, behaving for perhaps the first time in their three millennia. Not only that, but Articuno especially had taken a liking to Delia, appreciating how the human woman could get anyone to listen to her by adjusting her voice just so.

The months had gone by so quickly, and soon Ash would be starting his own Pokemon journey. Over the past months he'd regained most of the control over his aura that he'd had his first life, and by the time he left Pallet he would have enough to defend himself from pretty much any human and lesser Pokemon. It was going to be hard, having to hide her relationship to her son until he and the friends he would make were strong enough to protect themselves. At least the Kanto Legendaries would all be looking out for him.

Spying one of Zygarde's cells, she inclined her head to it. Her brother-Zygarde had been working with Mew, Palkia, Dialga, and the Lake Guardians on a… special project. They had discovered through a helpful Porygon just how much human electronics were capable of, and while Xerneas and Lugia were capable of asking Delia to read off any emails Ash may send while on his journey, everyone had wanted their own way to contact him.

While she still did not fully understand the system they were building, the interface would be easy enough－a direct aura link to what the Porygon had called an 'instant messenger', capable of both one-on-one messaging, and a group messenger where they could all talk at once, even if not face-to-face.

It sounded like the perfect solution!

A/N: Famous Last Words…

XxXxX

Ash held in a sigh, glancing around the classroom. Today was the last day of school for the outgoing trainers of this year, and he would be getting his starter in two weeks. And instead of focusing on the teacher's last minute lecture on preparation, all he could think about was how much he missed having Gary as a friend.

It had started a little while back, with Gary starting more arguments then normal, and getting upset whenever Ash had more information or was right on something. It wasn't like Ash could help it, his Vaati had insisted on ensuring he knew all about Pokemon, from both their perspective and that of humans! It was because Lugia was a Psychic type, he was sure, all psychic Legendaries were like that. But in any case, Gary hadn't liked that Ash was steadily raising his grades over the course of their last year in Pallet's academy.

Then it turned to Gary trying to bring him down, by words or the occasional shove. Ash hadn't told any of his parents about it, knowing they'd overreact－it wasn't like Gary had actually hurt him. The professor's grandson was just being… stupid. Ash really didn't know what was going on with him; he missed hanging out with Gary the way they used to, making plans, talking about all the Pokemon they wanted to find on their journeys…

Shaking his head, the young Legendary reigned in his thoughts yet again, as he'd been taught. Over the last year or so, he had been training his aura again to regain his abilities, and better control. It would be really bad if he accidentally revealed what he could do to people he couldn't trust. Especially if he accidentally shifted into one of his halfling forms, an unexpected side effect of being reborn as a human with a Legendary soul－his aura was just so potent that it wanted to be more, like it used to be, and his family had been all sorts of amused when the result was a more Xerneas-like form and a separate Lugia-like humanoid form. And it wasn't his fault that he'd inherited the Fairy Aura which made him look more like a girl than he would have preferred.

Thank goodness that his Vaati had shown him a psychic trick to throw up a distortion that made him look less… sparkly.

Honestly.

In any case, he was impatient to finish up the day so he could go home and check in with Delia before heading out into the woods. While he was signed up to get a Pokemon from Professor Oak, his Legendary parents had also decided to find him a good partner that would be better capable of protecting him until he could do it by himself. Of course, that meant he had no idea who he was supposed to be meeting today in the woods, only that he had been told to wait at the one clearing with the pond and very large boulder that extended from its far edge.

When the bell rang he was off like a shot, only barely enhancing his speed with aura so as not to make it obvious until he was out of sight. While Gary was no doubt the worst of his classmates, he wasn't all that close with the rest, either. He didn't really mind, preferring his lesser kin and human family, so he tended to avoid putting himself in situations where his peers could attempt to invite him places.

The leaves and thin branches of the plants unfurled to brush against him gently in welcome when he bolted into the treeline. The power he inherited from his Matim had always felt most at home among lush plant life, healthy waters more the domain of his Vaati, and the ambient energy filled his small, human form to near overflowing. Ash was practically vibrating with it by the time he reached the meeting place.