Chapter 1: Heartfelt Promise
Five-Years-Old…
Aaron could not understand.
Hands small and grubby like every other five-year-old his age, the green-haired boy stared with awe at the differing types of Pokemon — beings that inhabited their planet other than humans themselves — all displayed in vibrant pictures for all of them to enjoy. But yet it was that, that the chartreuse child could not understand.
Noticing his pulled expression of leafy green orbs, his teacher crouched to his eye-level, her kind brown eyes boring into his with mirth-filled questioning, the lime ones innocently oblivious, too focused upon the task before him. When the boy made no notion to move or follow his classmates after choosing their favorite type of Pokemon, she had decided to confront her young student. Taking the cards to display before the boy, each situated within equal length from each other, she smiled as lime orbs finally saw her.
"Is there something wrong, Aaron?"
The boy shook his head, grassy locks framed softly over his alabaster cheeks.
"Is there a type of Pokemon you don't like?"
He frowned, pale pink lips twitching a bit, unsure how to answer.
"Are you, maybe, scared of Pokemon?" She asked, with an understanding look on her face as the frowned expression of the six-year-old morphed into a curious one as if to ask, 'there are people like that?'
"Then, can you not choose for the types you see?"
"No." Aaron said finally as he fell silent once more as if in a deep conflict was undergoing in his mind. Seeing the boy's expression, the teacher could not help but smile. Lips pulled into a small pout, his lime orbs were large with concentration, small fingers drumming the surface of his green colored desk as if to help him in his tedious quest. His short Granny Smith colored locks framed his pouting cherub face, dusted with light pink on the pale alabaster, a single lock standing up from the top of his crown, like a small sprouting blade of grass. Aaron did not know just how adorable he was.
After a small silence, the teacher watched her cute student lift a shy finger, pointing, after making sure that none of his classmates had suddenly entered the classroom without his notice, to a single card off to the side. Following the fragile digit, she found it indicated to a harmless Wurmple, munching greedily on some random vegetation.
Before she could speak, Aaron rushed out of the classroom, a light dust of red on his cheeks until he came to a stop, finding himself in a desolate area of the playground, the climbing rope. Grabbing the braided plastic, the chartreuse boy swung with such ease that an Aipom would have cooed in jealousy as the ease he was able to maneuver himself to the lowest branch of the tree. Even after pointing out and admitting his love for Bug-Types, it still confounded him.
Well, yes; it had meant the same as being confused. His mother had used it once to his father, explaining it to him.
But, to the point of the matter; he was confused. His classmates, friends alike, all, really now that he thought about it; had taken one look at the pink Wurmple and had tossed it aside like it was something foul. But Aaron could not see why. Wurmple was pink, didn't girls like pink? And he was by no means losing in the beauty category. So, why did everyone scorn the innocent Wurmple as disgusting and beings to used as 'training tools'?
Everyone reacted like they had seen a wild Grimer.
Piles of poisonous goo that lived off waste and pollution.
Aaron wrapped his thin arms over his small frame as a chill ran through his spine, pausing in his thoughts as his lime orbs became a dark forest green.
Nothing, was more horrid than wild Grimer and the Muk that sired them.
Eight Years Old…
The same chartreuse boy fiddled with his pencil, ignoring his teacher and allowing the wooden thing to tap mindlessly on his workbook. Having finished the homework earlier due to utter boredom and frustration over the pitiful state he was in during the weekend, Aaron bit back a flare of guilt, gnawing insistently on his heartstrings, barely woven back together by sheer will.
He had done what he said he would never do.
Blame his Pokemon for his shortcomings, that they were at fault rather than him. It was never; ever; his Pokemon's fault. It was his fault as a Trainer and as a person for being so weak. His Pokemon, his beautiful Bug Pokemon, were beauties in display for the nature of the world to view. The fault was not on them.
The words that he shot to Wurmple after that battle carved themselves onto his already regretful chest, his heart tearing once more as the boy unconsciously gripped his pencil, desk creaking at the small white knuckles that gripped it's side. Wurmple had left. Gone and left having taken his angered and frustrated words to heart when he had returned that night, realizing in the following hour in horror as to what he had done.
The ring of the last bell echoing in his ears, the walk back home and then informing his mother of him running out for a short walk was a blur, Aaron found himself before the tree that he had met his first and true friend. Crystalline tears formed glowing orbs as they trailed his cheeks like they had that night he blamed his friend of his folly, but unlike that night, he wiped them aside; forcing back the tears as a sad smile colored his lips.
"Wurmple, I know you're not here. But I'm sorry." Aaron forced his voice steady. "I did what I promised not to do."
But, I promise you something else. The chartreuse boy assured, the orange-red rays of the sunset watching the boy with his vow as his thoughts traveled back to the topic that had befuddled him four years ago.
Within those years, Aaron had made certain of something. No one had the time to scorn the all-powerful Dragon and Psychic types, and yet they still had the spare time to criticize his Bug Pokemon as one of the worse types to consider for defense or offense alike. Trainers, or 'experts of Pokemon' had all said the same.
"They're not very useful. Too low Defense. Weakness to Fire, Flying, and Rock. And offensively one of the worse. Their type advantages work against them. The weakest among the types of Pokemon."
All of them said the same. That it was useless. And pointlessly futile.
But the eight-year-old held no grudge. Nor did he blame them for it. No, the child hadn't even considered it.
…Well, maybe for a couple of immature minutes, yes; but that was besides the point.
Being that if others could not see the beauty and serenity of his future to-be specialty and mastery, then he would just have to show them then. Just how beautiful an adorable Wurmple could spin herself into an indifferent Silcoon, elegant with her silk threads enveloping her round form; until finally, the aerial lady herself made her transcendence as a solarian Beautifly.
He would show them and the world to see.
It was a warm morning in Hearthome, Aaron's plans for the day clear. Throwing on a navy tank top over cargo beige shorts along with a wild grab for his Butterfree net, the grass-haired boy was out the door, stuffing a piece of toast that he mother had hollered for him to eat, a large childish grin over his lips as he waved and blew a crumbed kiss her way. The morning had only risen for half an hour, so there was little action happening in the town as of late, just as the eight-year-old had liked it.
"Ledy!" A cry greeted the little boy as he looked up, his wide orbs glittering wider as he grinned at the sight of the Ledyba, who welcomed him back to the hidden forest area of Route 208, introduced to him by the lovely lady before him.
"Good morning, Lady Ledyba!" Aaron replied, fully converse with the language of his beauties, as his guide giggled before speaking.
Hello, Aaron. You are adorable as ever.
The subject of the teasing pouted, ignorant of the increased cuteness of the protrusion of his pale pink lips as a small blush colored his cheeks. "Now, you're just teasing me!"
My apologies, my dearest Aaron. Ledyba chuckled with a small giggle. But you make it all too easy. Now then, I have some Pokemon who wish to meet you.
"Meet me?" The lime eyed boy echoed in the language of humans, his head tilted to the side as if questioning the given statement for existing. "Why me?"
Well, I don't know. Ledyba replied with slight sarcasm as she rolled her eyes at the human boy. Maybe because you are the first child to actually understand Bug Pokemon? Or that you look like a tasty blade of grass? It could be anyone's guess at this point.
"That's mean, Ledyba." Aaron teased back with a grin as the Ladybug Pokemon appeared to have snorted at that, tackling the boy to a hug as she latched onto his abdomen, all six of her box-gloved hands tickling mercilessly as the boy cried surrenders in between short laughs. Humming in mock displeasure even though he was well aware that he invited the tickle attack, the human boy pointed at his now dirtied clothing, rising an expectant eyebrow at the enlarged ladybug on his chest.
"You're explaining this to my mother."
Just like you will explain the theory of relativity to Rock Types. Don't try the impossible, little one. Ledyba snapped back as she huffed at his statement, wiggling on his chest. And don't move. I'm comfortable.
"But we have guests expecting us." Aaron replied, moving to get up, shooting a disgruntled Ledyba off his small chest with a sheepish grin as he waved for the female Pokemon to lead the way.
"After you, my lady."
Buzzing with a soft flutter of her thin wings, she obliged, stealing a nuzzle from the human boy's cheek before flying deeper into the thick forest, a grinning Aaron close behind her, net dancing in the morning wind. Coming to a small clearing of soft beds of grass and the forest enveloping them, the little boy bit back a gasp.
Before him, swarmed a number of Combee, the small insect Pokemon resembling three pieces of honeycombs attached to one another with a set wings on either side forming three smiling faces, all of them curious and welcoming to their guests.
It's a human! One buzzed by his head as others gathered, black eyes curious as they surveyed him, as if curious to his presence so much, he fell over from their sudden swarm toward his person. The human we've heard so much about!
The green-haired boy smiled as he introduced himself, sitting up on his fallen bum, minding the grass stains on the yellow fabric."Hello! My name is Aaron."
You understand us?! Do you like honey? Will you serve the Queen like a good little human? Or else we would be forced to attack! The Combee bombarded, allowing the boy to flush at the attention he was given.
Why does this human have grass for hair? Pouting at the barbed question, the eleven-year-old was about to retort when he was sorely interrupted. His eyes are the same color too!
Hey, human; do you understand us?! I don't think he can understand us. He stopped talking back. Another one demanded, coming a bit too close to his face for comfort as he collected words for an answer.
"Yes, I can." Aaron chuckled as he held up a finger. "But you all have so many questions. So, to answer all of them, I am Aaron, I have green hair and eyes from my parents, just like you all have silver wings and vibrant ebony eyes. And I love honey just like you all do for your lovely Queen."
Our Queen! The Combee cooed as they all nodded. Our Queen is our lady and ruler that we all do not hesitate to protect and please. Will you serve her as well? "If she will have me." Aaron replied with a playful grin before a small frown colored his lips. "But do you all know where Ledyba went?"
Lady Ledyba? One of the triplets confirmed as he nodded.
She's the Queen's advisor and she took off a few minutes after you were conversing with us, Aaron. Are you leaving us already?
The human boy shot the suddenly despondent swarm of Combee an odd look.
"Why would I leave?"
Many think that we are overly obsessed of our Queen within the Bug types, while the other members of our Pokemon world, do not particularly care for conversing about honey. One of the Combee stated blandly, his words flat and almost monotone. But they don't understand that it is not that we talk about that all the time. Just most of the time.
"Then talk to me." Aaron stated simply, his green orbs blinking as if the answer was obvious, giving each of the shocked triplets a short stare. "I'll be glad to talk to all of you!"
It was a full second before the boy was smothered by a frenzy of excited Combee, all talking at once with vigorous speech patterns his laughter at their antics echoing in the meadow.
That is until a stern and regal voice sounded, but definitely female.
Silence. You all are being noisy.
The voice continued, her tone soft yet scathingly harsh. So noisy that Ledyba had to inform me to order you all to be silenced. Our guest is a guest, not a prisoner for interrogation. Or at least not yet. Sweat dropping at the words, Aaron looked up from his fallen state on his bum after the assault of the overly friendly Combee who had dispersed, to see the only one who could order the triplet bees to move in such efficiency.
Her slender form an hourglass figure of a lovely yet intimidating lady in an elegant ballroom gown, the queen of the Combee gazed at him with royal ruby orbs, yellow mandibles as sharp as her words. Her ebony corset wrung tight, the yellow-black gown flared out with a hem of gold, her crown of a sole ruby signifying her royal birth, fashioned over yellow locks with black tipped ends, doubled crystalline wings shadowing her back. With one slender ebony arm bent outwards, claw on her gown; the Vespiquen gave him a look as if to ask him how long he was planning to play on the floor.
"Vespiquen, Queen and Mother of all Combee. I am Aaron, the human that you were subjects were warmly greeting." Aaron greeted with a serene grin on his face as he bowed to the Beehive Pokemon, surprising her. Never before had a human ever shown her respect, nevertheless, her titles after evolution. Then the boy turned to one of her subjects, his grin morphing to a small pout. "And you all know that I can understand you but there's just too many of you to reply to all at once; so one at a time, okay?"
Okay! Her loyal subjects crowed in unison as she bit back a smile.
It had only been a few minutes and not even a full rotation of the sun and the boy had already captured the hearts of her subjects, if she was not careful; the boy could potentially capture her as well.
Watch out, Vespiquen. Ledyba teased beside her as they watched the boy converse with her subjects. It seems Aaron has a firm hold over your subjects pretty quickly. You may need to compete with whom has control here.
The female bee snorted. Don't be foolish, Ledyba. My subjects know better than to do that. Besides, Aaron is respectful and kind; he will not lead them astray from my orders.
Oh? The cold and ruthlessly cruel Vespiquen attached to a human? And so quickly? I never thought I'd see the day. Ledyba gasped in a mocking notion.
And you still didn't. The beehive mistress hissed at her best friend. Aaron is still a child. I cannot judge him for the actions of the fools and elder members of his race. The boy is still pure and kind-hearted, I would rather keep him like that. I does not mean I am attached to him.
You never know. Ledyba warned lackadaisically as she twirled in mid-air, smirking at Aaron who had gotten Honey all over his hands when two Combee had spilled some onto his head, glazing his chartreuse locks deliciously. Aaron will one day grow up and leave this town, pursuing his dream.
Who am I to stop him? The Queen shot back, her voice thin. We've just met, just because I have yet to have ordered my subjects to return, does not mean that I am attached to him.
Very well. Ledyba conceded as she shrugged as she headed off to the subject of their conversation, who was running away from the devious Combee, eyeing his hair like it was a delicious morsel perfectly slathered in honey. But remember my words, Vespiquen. The boy is the first to understand our language, and therefore, the very first to truly converse and bond with us. Remember my words; the boy is good for you.
The ladybug smirked to the silent queen, before she flew off.
After all, this is the first time that I have seen you smile so serenely in a long time, my friend.