Aogen looked at Teacher Lu, who was still bargaining, feeling somewhat bewildered.

Is this really the Aura Guardian he once knew?

The upright, kind-hearted, self-sacrificing man… the same Teacher Lu who quelled Regigigas and saved Snowpoint City?

“Alright, can we change the condition?” Cresselia spoke in a gentle female voice.

“That works too. No need for the feather, just dance instead.” Lu Ye replied.

Why does this feel like a villainous mastermind?

Not like an Aura Guardian at all—more like the leader of an evil faction conquering legendary beasts!

Aogen was stunned for a long moment, lowering his gentleman’s hat as his eyes flickered.

He vaguely felt he had grasped some previously unknown truth.

If one rigidly sticks to old ways, who could possibly stop those rampant villains?

Only by understanding their schemes better, acting more decisively, and even borrowing the power of legendary beasts,

can one wield this force on the path of righteousness.

“Do you want Cresselia to bestow the Lunar Power to your Pokémon?” Aogen asked.

Lu Ye was surprised: “How did you know?”

As expected, Aogen smiled, “As an Aura Guardian, I have ways to recognize it.”

Then Aogen turned to the shimmering Cresselia. Its ring-shaped wings emitted silver light circles in the night.

“Respected Cresselia,” Aogen said, pressing a hand to his chest, “this is Mr. Lu Ye, an Aura Guardian who has resolved many crises in Sinnoh.”

“You should also sense the unique aura energy emanating from him,” Aogen added. “I believe he will carry the name of Cresselia to comfort many more in distress.”

Aogen’s gaze was sharp as a torch: “I swear by the name of Aura.”

During the battle at Snowpoint Temple, Teacher Lu had met Aogen briefly.

At this moment, Lu Ye looked surprised at Aogen’s side profile.

Carry Cresselia’s name to those suffering?

How do you know my Sylveon loves Casual Tournaments and the Baby Cup!?

“Wow… that really affects my reputation,” Lu Ye said, gaining his first real sense of what ‘fame’ meant.

Cresselia’s slender eyes were calm and peaceful as they fixed on Lu Ye.

Aogen’s words stirred a ripple in Cresselia’s heart.

So he wasn’t threatening me just now.

After all, an Aura Guardian couldn’t possibly be a bad person… right?

Teacher Lu and Cresselia locked eyes.

Lu Ye spoke sincerely, “I’m not good with words. What he just said is exactly what I meant.”

Aogen stood aside, nodding confidently.

“…”

Cresselia finally believed them.

After all, this trainer had just mediated the battle between it and Darkrai.

If he had selfish intentions, he could have easily allied with Darkrai to defeat and capture me.

There was no need to drive Darkrai away;
that would be pointless.

“I can offer a fragment of the Lunar Dance.”

Cresselia lifted its head to the bright new moon, then looked down at Lu Ye.

“Which Pokémon needs the blessing?”

“Can’t I just buff them all?” Lu Ye asked regretfully.

Cresselia’s holy face showed a slight wavering.

I see you want me to die~ (つД`)

Aogen whispered, “Teacher Lu, by dawn, the fragment of Lunar Dance will probably not hold…”

The battle with Darkrai had drained Cresselia’s energy.

The effect of Lunar Dance also weakens greatly during the day.

Lu Ye gently nodded, releasing a red light from the Poké Ball in his palm, revealing Sylveon’s outline.

Sylveon lifted its head, the pink ribbon bow at its collar swaying under the moonlight.

Its cry was ethereal and gentle, like a silk veil blowing through dark clouds or moonlight scattered on a lake—

“Bui! (`皿´)” (Hurry up!)

Aogen and Cresselia: “…”

“May I ask, has it always had this personality?” Aogen whispered, curious.

“Yes,” Lu Ye answered plainly, “pretty cute, right?”

“Bui~ o(´^｀)o” Sylveon proudly raised its head.

“If you want help, you still have to be polite.”

Lu Ye crouched and rubbed Sylveon’s head, then looked seriously at the hovering Cresselia.

“Thank you, Cresselia!”

In an instant, gentle ‘Aura Energy’ transformed into misty blue light particles that flowed into Cresselia’s body.

This pure aura, like the tree at the world’s beginning, stirred no resistance in Cresselia.

Aogen’s eyes widened.

Transferring one’s own aura to another life…

This was an advanced technique, like the way his ancestor Aaron used it!

“On the path of Aura Guardians,”

Aogen pressed his gentleman’s hat, thinking, “I still have so much to learn…”

Cresselia felt the filling aura energy.

H-How could this be! This aura… feels so familiar!

“It’s enough.” Cresselia’s telepathic voice trembled slightly.

“Not more?” Lu Ye asked, surprised.

“Not impossible…”

After a moment, Cresselia lifted its head to the bright new moon and restored to its peak battle condition.

“Woo~!” Its ethereal cry echoed as Cresselia flew into the sky, scattering bright moonlight.

Sylveon looked up, its deep blue round eyes reflecting Cresselia’s figure, kindling a growing belief within.

I will definitely become as strong as it… and even surpass it.

In the night sky, Cresselia flapped its ring-shaped wings, its veil-like feathers shedding silver starlight and moonlight.

The dark clouds silently dispersed. The new moon hung in the sky alongside Cresselia, casting a clear beam of moonlight that illuminated the grass near Sylveon.

Sparkling light particles fell onto Sylveon. Bathed in moonlight, Sylveon closed its round eyes and stood quietly.

“So beautiful,” Aogen couldn’t help but say.

Lu Ye nodded slowly: “Like weaving a beautiful dream.”

Cresselia’s Lunar Dance interwove veil-like moonlight, spreading over the entire Suimài City.

Near the library, at the police station,

Officer Jenny yawned and rubbed her eyes.

“Did I just fall asleep?”

Looking at the schedule on the wall, Officer Jenny suddenly straightened and perked up.

“Today’s heading to the library exhibition hall. Professor Oak, Professor Rowan… maybe I’ll even see Teacher Lu.”

“Keep it up, Jenny, another hardworking day on duty!”

In a residential home in Suimài City,

A little girl with pigtails hugged Marill, dozing on her grandmother’s lap.

The elderly woman woke from a light sleep, gently patting the girl’s back and looking out the window.

“Is that you, Darkrai…”

She softly asked, recalling the fairy tales from her childhood.

No response.

The old woman shook her head with a kind smile, soothing the girl and waiting for dawn.

The traffic light at the street corner switched from red to green.

Professor Hiroshi stretched with a groan:

“Such a comfortable sleep…”

“Strange, it’s already dawn?” Kris rubbed her eyes and looked toward the rising morning light.

“It seems Darkrai and Cresselia flew across the night sky,” Professor Oak in the back seat said solemnly.

“Eh?” they said in unison.

Professor Oak crossed his arms, closed his eyes, nodded, and suddenly said loudly:

“Sweet dreams and nightmares, koalas on stumps, are definitely asleep.”

“I don’t get that haiku…” Hiroshi scratched his curly hair, embarrassed:

“Anyway, let’s go to the library first!”

Outside the dense forest, a clearing of grassland.

Cresselia’s Lunar Dance ended as the east brightened with pale light.

Under the blessing of the Lunar Power, Sylveon’s ribbons glowed faintly silver, its pure white fur shimmering softly.

“This,” Cresselia’s voice was a bit tired, “is the limit of what I can do.”

With the buffs provided by Cresselia, Sylveon’s Moonblast and Dazzling Gleam would be greatly strengthened.

Though its actual battle strength was unknown,

The team order next time would definitely undergo a major update.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Lu Ye nodded and rummaged in his pocket, pulling out a dark green plant:

“Want one?”

Cresselia was stunned: “What’s this?”

“Revival Root.”

“I mean, why do you carry this with you?”

Lu Ye sighed deeply: “That’s a long story…”

“If you fall into a near-death state… I can use Healing Pulse and Revival Root to bring you back.”

The Dive Ball on his waist shook. The team’s nurse Torkoal, wearing sunglasses, silently gave a thumbs-up.

Though it was planted by him, it hadn’t been clinically tested yet.

Letting other Pokémon try it first shouldn’t go wrong…

Cresselia: “…”

Is this the crisis awareness of an Aura Guardian?!

“I’ll pass.”

Cresselia politely declined, lifting its crescent-shaped head to the dawn sky.

“My time here is done. It’s time to leave.”

Aogen nodded involuntarily.

This Cresselia, residing on Full Moon Island, was the spiritual symbol of the island’s people.

Every year, it accompanied Darkrai to bring healing to those troubled by nightmares.

Now that the mission was complete, it returned to Full Moon Island. The journey from Iron Island had not been in vain.

Legend called Cresselia the symbol of the new moon, but its combat presence was somewhat faint.

Teacher Lu had no intention of capturing it.

Firstly, the little one already possessed Lunar Power, and with the Lunar Wing equipped, there was room for growth.

With Sylveon around, nightmares at night were no longer a worry.

Secondly, he still had an egg waiting to hatch.

Compared to those fully grown legendary Pokémon, Teacher Lu preferred the gradual achievements starting from zero…

As long as the renovation crew didn’t show up.

“Stay in touch when you can.”

Lu Ye waved: “Come help recharge the feather or something. Price negotiable!”

Cresselia was silent for a moment, then felt a little bitter.

So in the end, you were just after my feather!

“Gengarrr~! (￣▽￣)／”

Becoming more like his trainer, Haunter also waved its tiny hands.

Cresselia glanced at Haunter, the scene just now flashing through its mind, then said to Lu Ye:

“On a new moon night, place the Lunar Wing under the moonlight. I will come when called.”

“You… should already have a Lunar Wing, which shares the same origin power as me,” Cresselia warned. “No need to take it from me.”

Lu Ye was slightly surprised.

He thought Cresselia would refuse…

But unexpectedly, it agreed in the blink of an eye!

“No problem.” Lu Ye smiled. “Until we meet again.”

Cresselia nodded slightly, flapping its ringed wings and gradually drifting toward the sky.

Sylveon looked up, softly calling: “Bui~~”

Sylveon’s gratitude echoed in Lu Ye’s ears.

Cresselia curled a humanlike smile,

Drawing a beautiful arc through the sky, as if trailing the aurora, gradually disappearing into the deep clouds.

…

The incident came to a close.

Lu Ye examined Sylveon, stroking his chin.

“Bui?” Sylveon blinked its round eyes, still glowing with ‘bulinbulin’ light.

The Lunar Power is quite beautiful…

Teacher Lu fell into contemplation.

Though the little one’s fighting style was fierce,

This ‘magical girl’ light effect unexpectedly suited Sylveon well.

“Really nice,” Lu Ye praised.

“Bui~~” Sylveon smiled, tilting its head and shaking its ears.

Having witnessed the brutal fight and the one-on-one trade,

Aogen stepped forward with respect: “Teacher Lu, I haven’t asked, why are you here?”

“Attending the Scientific Summit.” Lu Ye smiled. “Though most likely, I’m just tagging along.”

Aogen was solemn and respectful.

When at Snowpoint Temple, Teacher Lu had left a deep impression as an ancient linguist.

This time, he had a more comprehensive understanding of Lu Ye’s strength.

After some casual talk,

Lu Ye learned that Aogen was commissioned by Gym Leader Byron to investigate recent nightmares in Suimài City.

Byron himself was busy excavating large skeletons on Iron Island and could not come.

“Roark and Gym Leader Byron… their family are fossil fanatics,” Lu Ye remarked.

Aogen nodded and smiled: “I plan to return to Iron Island and report this incident.”

“I think when he’s free, Gym Leader Byron will come to thank you.”

“No need for thanks. I’ve gained something myself.”

Lu Ye glanced back at the inn behind them and said:

“It’s getting late. We have a report tomorrow… let’s part here.”

“Of course.” Aogen stepped back and bowed deeply. “Thank you again for your help this time!”

Lu Ye nodded, walked several meters toward the forest, then turned back.

“Did you forget something?” Aogen asked.

“No.” Lu Ye was a bit embarrassed. “The library is quite far… I want to borrow your Salamence.”

…

The night breeze blew.

Aogen and Teacher Lu rode on Salamence’s back and soon arrived at the inn.

Lu Ye stood on the top platform and casually infused Salamence with aura energy, smiling: “Thanks!”

“Roar!!” Salamence’s eyes glowed red as it responded loudly.

“Calm down, Salamence!”

In the end, Aogen successfully calmed Salamence.

“Well then, Teacher Lu, until next time.” Aogen wiped cold sweat.

Lu Ye nodded slightly and waved.

“Roar…” Salamence looked at Lu Ye with a hint of grievance, flapped its wings, and disappeared into the night.

“So tired…”

After clearing the ‘dungeon’ and successfully buffing Sylveon,

Teacher Lu rubbed his shoulders, shook his arms, and muttered, “No sleep all night, and have to work overtime tomorrow…”

“Suddenly I understand someone’s feelings…”

The Rotom Pokédex hovered in the air, switching between close-up shots of Cresselia and Darkrai on the screen.

“We got precious photos, Rotom!” Rotom boasted.

“Hmm… not sure if this stuff will be useful for tomorrow’s report.”

Lu Ye pondered: “It counts as organizing materials. I prepared all night… Didn’t waste Mengmengda’s favor.”

“Let’s go.”

Lu Ye swayed and turned around.

“First get some sleep, then wake up for breakfast… this time I won’t cook myself.”

“Long live understanding, Rotom! ヽ(≧∀≦)ﾉ”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read