Nighttime.
The Pokémon egg containing Riolu was placed by Ash on the bedside table.
After Ash and Pikachu had fallen asleep, faint bluish light began to radiate from the egg. The glow grew stronger and stronger, until it shone like a bright moon in the dark night.
Crack!
The eggshell began to split once the light reached its peak. Riolu was about to hatch.
The sound of the breaking shell woke Pikachu, whose sleep was always light. Rubbing its eyes, Pikachu spotted the glowing egg.
"Pika?"
Confirming it wasn't just a dream, Pikachu hurriedly nudged Ash awake. But no matter how much it pushed, Ash didn't stir.
So—
"Pika! Chuuuu!"
"Ahhh! I told you, don't use Thunderbolt to wake me up!"
With a flash of sparks, Ash shot upright in bed.
Pikachu had grown so practiced that it could aim its Thunderbolt precisely at Ash without damaging anything else nearby.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu pointed anxiously toward the glowing egg.
Ash, still smoking from the shock, instantly sobered when he saw it. Shaking off the soot, he leapt to the desk. His eyes sparkled like stars at the sight of the cracking egg.
"You… you're finally going to hatch!"
The arrival of new life—it was always a breathtaking moment. No matter how many times he witnessed it, it never lost its wonder. Especially this egg, which felt strangely familiar to Ash.
But until it hatched, all of that was just speculation.
"Pika~"
"You think it's beautiful too, Pikachu?"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded seriously.
Crack… crack!
The sound of breaking shell grew sharper. A final burst of radiant blue light engulfed the egg—
And when it faded, a small, blue-and-black puppy-like Pokémon, about Pikachu's size, stood before them.
"BEEP-BEEP! Rotom Report! Riolu, the Emanation Pokémon…"
The long-silent Rotom Phone dutifully provided information.
Ash and Pikachu were instantly smitten—Riolu was simply too cute!
But in Ash's mind, another image surfaced: the words spoken long ago during his farewell with Lucario.
One day, you will meet a Lucario that is yours.
Ash's lips curved into a smile he couldn't suppress. That promise, once just a comfort, had now become reality.
Though years had passed and countless Riolu and Lucario had crossed his journey, not one had ever resonated with his Aura the way Lucario once had.
Yet now, as he looked at this newborn Riolu, he felt it—the familiar bond of Aura. It was back.
But Riolu's first reaction was far from joy. Its wide eyes reflected only confusion and wariness toward this new world. And when Ash leaned in too close, its instinct screamed danger.
Riolu thrust out its palm—
A powerful shockwave blasted Ash backward onto the bed.
Before Pikachu could react, Riolu leapt out the window and fled into the night.
Pikachu froze, glancing between the window and Ash lying on the floor, unsure what to do.
"Pika!"
It rushed to Ash's side, worried.
"I'm fine, don't worry." Ash forced a smile, though his frown betrayed him.
That strike had carried tremendous Aura—it was a Vacuum Wave, used instinctively by the newborn.
"Amazing… to be born already knowing about the Vacuum Wave."
Ash rubbed his aching stomach and slowly stood up.
Yes—this Riolu truly carried Lucario's Aura. Not its memories, but the will of Aura itself.
"Come on, Pikachu. It's dangerous out there—we have to find Riolu."
Bathed in moonlight, Ash's eyes burned with determination.
Meanwhile, the livestream erupted with reactions.
[Lance]: Wait, wasn't Riolu supposed to be Lucario's reincarnation? Why did it just run away?
[Aaron]: Probably instinct—newborn Pokémon are often wary, and Ash got too close. Riolu mistook him for a threat.
[Sabrina]: Interesting. I thought Aura sensed good and evil—yet this happened.
[Cynthia]: Riolu is still only the Emanation Pokémon. Its Aura is undeveloped and unstable.
[Professor Oak]: Exactly. Most newborn Pokémon cling to the nearest human, but there are exceptions. Some, like Larvitar, prefer solitude at birth due to natural survival instincts.
[Misty]: Togepi was the opposite—so affectionate from the start!
[Ash]: No matter what, I won't give up on Riolu. I can feel the bond between us.
[Professor Oak]: That bond is your greatest strength, Ash.
Viewers recalled the photos shown earlier—memories of Ash and Lucario. Aura may carry forward, but it didn't mean Riolu was Lucario. That would be too cruel. Still, with Ash's pure bond, Riolu would eventually open its heart.
Ash's Search
Still in pajamas, Ash ran with Pikachu into the night. Other Pokémon joined him—Dragonite, Gengar, Sirfetch'd—all worried for their new "younger brother."
Meanwhile, Riolu was rampaging through the forest. Born brimming with fighting spirit, it challenged any Pokémon it met—Poliwhirl, Butterfree, Rattata, Diglett—and was beaten every time. Bruised and exhausted, it kept pushing forward, as if searching for something forgotten.
Finally, it climbed a mountain and confronted an enormous Onix. Without hesitation, Riolu attacked with Vacuum Wave. Though weak, the insult enraged Onix, which retaliated with Rock Slide.
Riolu struggled, barely dodging, but was quickly overwhelmed. Just as Onix's Dragon Tail swung down—
"Watch out!"
Ash threw himself between them, taking the blow directly. Gritting his teeth, he knelt before Riolu and gently stroked its head.
"It's okay. You're safe."
Riolu froze. This human—the one who was there the moment it was born. Its eyes welled with tears.
But Onix roared again, summoning another Rock Slide.
"Pika!—Sirfetch'd!—Gengar!—Dragonite!"
Four voices cried as Ash's Pokémon leapt to shield him.
Their combined attacks—Iron Tail, Meteor Assault, Shadow Ball, Hyper Beam—struck with overwhelming force. Onix, realizing it couldn't win, tried to flee, but was blasted unconscious.
Ash knelt again before Riolu. Invisible ripples of Aura encircled his hand, flowing into Riolu.
"Come home with me, Riolu."
Something deep within Riolu snapped loose. A flood of images flashed in its mind—and then, too overwhelmed, it fainted into Ash's arms.
Checking with his Aura, Ash confirmed Riolu's energy was stable. He sighed in relief. Dragonite quickly offered its back, carrying Ash, Pikachu, and Riolu to the Pokémon Center.
Pokémon Center, Vermilion City
Under Nurse Joy's care, Riolu soon recovered. When it awoke, the first thing it did was place its small paw on Ash's hand.
Ash understood instantly.
Aura flared—
And thus, their bond was sealed.
The Inheritance of Aura had begun.
To read 30+ future chapters, head over to patreon:
patreon.com/ToastWizard