Part 4
Two weeks later
Under the terms of Heroot's blackmail, Aiden would have to attend either the Opelucid Sky Academy or the Mistralton Sky Academy for the next four years. Opelucid was generally the stricter school. Students there were more involved with the Sky Knight force in Opelucid. Most alumni went on to work for the crown.
Aiden had figured out why Heroot made the offer in the first place: to disgrace his father. Aiden wouldn't fit in at either academy; he would disgrace his father's name. Aiden didn't know why, but he felt great determination not to let that happen.
Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad thing, he thought. It would mean he would get to spend more time riding Fallon, and he knew, deep down, he needed the push to do this. Seven-year-old Aiden, who wanted to be exactly like his dad in every way, was still there inside.
"I've decided my school. I'm going to study in Opelucid and become a Sky Knight."
Aiden's parents were in a state of disbelief.
"Well, that's a shocker," his mum said, almost laughing.
Aiden's father was smiling, "Good choice, son. Opelucid Academy will be a lot harder, though."
"That's fine," Aiden said, straight-faced, "I want to prove that I can do this."
"Oh, I will miss you sweetie, but you will look cuter in an orange neckerchief," his mother said, squeezing his cheek. The neckerchief worn by Sky Guards and Knights was dependent on which island they were positioned on; for example, Aiden's father wore the green one, representing the Striaton Island guards.
"I think I still have my father's orange one somewhere," she said. "It's in my parent's box upstairs. I'll be back in a minute." Mrs Beakel hurried away to find Aiden's grandfather's neckerchief. He had forgotten that his grandfather was a Sky Knight; he had only met the late man a few times in his childhood.
Henry whispered to his son, "I know you have to do this, but I'm glad you're making the most of it."
Aiden had, for the first time in a long time, made his father proud. He had forgotten how good it felt.
...
"Welcome, Cragspurs, to the Royal City of Opelucid!"
Brandon's parents happily cheered as their Wailord landed into its loading bay. Brandon, personally was glad the trip was over. Their guide had been extremely annoying the whole time, pointing out to them any floating rocks she could see. On the other hand, Lily, Brandon's little sister, had loved the trip. The ship's staff had had a hard time stopping her from climbing out onto the Wailord. Their parents also had an aura of excitement the entire trip up (which was understandable, considering their greatest wish had just come true).
Their oldest child, Monica, was to marry the heir to the Sky Throne, Prince Makoll, in less than three weeks.
Monica had a smile on her face, but for very different reasons than her parents' smiles. She had been plotting since the night of their announced engagement to throw the wedding between her and the prince. She saw it as the biggest 'fuck you' she could give to the royals and her family. She had only told Brandon about it, who had told her his honest opinion: her throwing the marriage would disgrace their family for centuries to come. Brandon didn't care terribly about his family name, but it was his to wear as well.
She hadn't listened, though, as she was still planning on going through with not going through with it.
"Be careful as you disembark from the Wailord. My associate on the ground will guide you from now on. It has been a pleasure to meet you. I hope you enjoy your time in Opelucid," the guide said as the Cragspurs gathered there belongings.
Brandon was thankful to leave the guide, but was scared for what the next guide had to offer. These people were obviously employed for their annoying personalities, Brandon thought.
The five Lords and Ladies disembarked from the carriage atop the Wailord down the ramp that had been positioned at the beast's side. Servants carried their bags behind them and their household Lugia, who had been flying beside the Wailord for the trip, landed beside them.
Brandon was already sweating in the sweltering heat of the city. His parents had made him wear an extravagant outfit of many layers and the material stuck tight to his body, making him very uncomfortable.
"Where are we?" Brandon asked.
"Silly Brandon, we're in Opelucid!" Lily cheered.
"No, I mean where are we in Opelucid? I thought we were going to the big castle."
"The Golden Alcazar is five minutes from here," a woman standing next to a carriage explained. "This is the closest private Wailord landing site to the Alcazar. My name is Bethan, and I will be your carriage driver today."
The white-painted carriage was drawn by two Rapidash, obviously bred for the task, as they were very tall and strong. The carriage itself was big enough to fit twenty, but he expected now that they would be related to royalty, his family would travel in such style.
"Very lovely, isn't it, Arron?" Brandon's mother Lillian asked, leaning into her husband.
"This is all so surreal."
The two adults were jumping around like giddy children. They hopped into the carriage, soon followed by Lily. Monica and Brandon followed gloomily.
Bethan followed them into the carriage and spoke just as the carriage departed. "Just to let you know, there is a large crowd gathered outside of this landing area, waiting for you. Don't worry, they are all just fans. Many people are very interested in the lives of the royal family and so really any event surrounding the royal family garners a lot of public attention. If I were you, I would get used to it."
The last thing Brandon wanted was more public attention. He would much rather discuss the lives of lords and ladies than be one himself.
"Monica," he said edging closer to his sister. "You know what we haven't talked about?"
"What?"
"The Yaksha House, remember?"
The gossip had slipped Brandon's mind, and he had no real idea how it had, considering it was quite an odd story.
"Oh yeah. what happened?"
"Whole family dead. Their house here in Opelucid burned down, with apparently all family members inside."
"Oh my goodness, Brandon, that's horrible! Was it an accident?"
Brandon didn't say anything, but raised his eyebrows at Monica instead.
"It wasn't an accident?" Monica guessed.
"An assassination, or at least the evidence suggests that. Someone purposely started the fire with Pokémon."
"Who could have done that?!"
Brandon shrugged his shoulders, "Probably some crime king. The Yaksha clan were known for the dodgy dealings, after all, so it really wouldn't surprise me if they had upset some underground boss so much that he wanted the whole family dead."
The carriage rolled out onto the street, and the Cragspur Lugia flew overhead, attached by rope to the carriage. Out of the window, Brandon could see hordes of people flooding towards them. They were stopped by guards stationed around the outside of the carriage, who also cleared the path that led to the large bridge Brandon could see at the street's end.
Monica did her princess act, waving to the crowd. She had maintained the image that was expected of her, and Brandon's parents did the same. They had been full-on noble mode since the ball two weeks before, insisting that that would just be the way they would act from now on. Lily excitedly stuck her top half out of the window, screaming to the crowds. Brandon sulked at tried to keep himself from the view of the crowd, ducking from the window.
"Come on, Brandon!" Monica sarcastically jeered him on.
"Oh leave your brother alone; he's just a little shy," Brandon's mother said in his defence.
The carriage made it past the crowd, and started rolling onto the golden bridge, over which Brandon began to see a wondrous building come into view.
…
"You're going to be gone for four years. What the hell am I going to do with my life for four years?"
Grant and Aiden sat on the edge of Striation, for the last time they would in a long, long time.
"Well, in three years we will both be twenty and would have been out of school anyway, so you would be living your life, regardless."
"I know, but I thought I would be doing it with you," Grant sighed.
"You could sign up too, for Knight Academy I mean. You could come with me to Opelucid next year. If you apply now, you could get in next fall."
Grant laughed, and fell back onto the grass. "There's no way in a million years I'm going to be a Sky Knight."
"Well then, what are you going to do Grant?"
"I'm going to fly down, to the ground."
"What?!"
Aiden jumped to his feet, and then pulled Grant up to his.
"We both know there's something down there, and I feel like it's my future to find out what is."
"And you think you're the first person in history to think this! It's against the law, Grant. If you don't end up dead then you'll be jailed or killed!" Aiden was getting angry at Grant, something that rarely happened. He loved his best friend, and wasn't going to hold anything back.
"Aiden, you've made your choice to go away to sky school for the rest of your teenage years; let me choose what I want to do with mine."
Aiden knew there was nothing he could do to convince Grant to not follow his own path, he just hoped Grant would see sense like he eventually always did.
"You're right. Just please try and stay safe while I'm away. Are you coming to wave me off?"
"I'd rather not." Grant couldn't look Aiden in the eye.
"Well then, this is goodbye."
"See you, Beakel."
Aiden walked away from the edge, not feeling the way he hoped he would.
He returned to his house. The southern Wailord bus was coming at five, destined for Opelucid at nine. Aiden took a guess that it was maybe three o'clock now, giving him two more hours on his home island.
He didn't feel sad about leaving, just... awed. It was all so sudden. A placement at Opelucid was open to Aiden by birthright, or since whenever his father became Head of the Guards on Striation, so it only took a few days for everything to be worked out. The academy didn't mind that he was joining so late in the year either, or that he didn't have his license. They knew he was a capable flyer, and trusted he would achieve his license with the academy. Aiden felt honoured, almost.
As he arrived home, he couldn't help but feel the beauty of it all. The orange sun cascaded the picturesque wooden home in a warm glow. The family's birds were perched on their stand outside. Fallon's mother, Henry's Braviary, seemed to know that Fallon would be leaving, as she was fixing his sons feathers.
His mom's Pokémon, a swanna, wasn't there meaning Anges, Aiden's mother, was out.
He went inside, said hello to his dad, and walked up the stairs. Aiden found in his room his travelling clothes: a warm purple jumper; double-layered dark cloth trousers; black boots and a black winter coat. Riding the Wailord in the night would be very cold, and it was best to be prepared. The other clothes Aiden was taken were all packed away. He wasn't taking much, as most of the time he would be wearing guard gear.
His father's old training clothes would do. The training knight's uniform consisted of a white cloth tunic, brown cloth pants, a black belt, reinforced boots and a brown leather jacket. On the back of the jacket was the emblem of trainees: the talon of a bird with a golden band around the bird's ankle. The same mark appeared on the belt and on the pocket of the jacket as well. Leather gauntlets were optional, but Aiden's father's had broken, so he wasn't bothering with them.
Aiden got changed into his travel wear after he got washed and packed what he would take with him on the Wailord bus into a satchel. When his books and belongings were packed, he met his father and his mother, now returned from the village shop, who were waiting for him downstairs.
"All set?" Aiden's father said, getting up from his seat. He held Aiden's holdall in his hands.
"I didn't think we were leaving just yet."
His mother explained, "We are going to Auntie Adelaide before you go; she said something about wanting to see you."
Aunt Adelaide wasn't Aiden's aunt, She wasn't even Aiden's mother's aunt: She was the aunt of Aiden's grandfather on his mother's side, making Adelaide Aiden's great-great-aunt, in actuality.
Despite this, everyone referred to the old woman as Auntie, related or not.
She lived at the eastern edge of Striation Island, in her 'dreamyard.' She was a seer of beyond, and knew lots of knowledge on subjects of lore and magic. She apparently also held the secret to eternal life, since the woman was by far the oldest person alive on Striation, possibly the whole southern sky.
Adelaide's dreamyard sat on the island's edge. It was a rather unimpressive shack, built in the ruins of an old temple. Legend has it that Adelaide built the shack herself to be as close as possible to all of the energy and aura present at the temple. The 'dreamyard' name came from the candle of Munna that floated to the island peak every year. The Munna had already left the island for the year, but a few always stayed behind with Adelaide and Aiden could see them float around her house as he walked up the path.
Adelaide's always felt particularly peaceful. Guests were expected to walk right in, as Aiden did. He wiped his feet on the mat reading "Sweet Dreams" and stepped into the warm home. The place smelt of baked goods and Munna's dream mist, a smell Aiden loved after his many visits.
Adelaide was sitting in her rocking chair, reading a book. She smiled when she saw Aiden and his parents. The little woman got up and hugged the family. She was smaller than any of them, reaching only to Aiden's waist.
"Aiden Beakel, I knew you would choose this path. I saw it when you were young, in Munna's mist. I'm glad that vision has come true, you will make a great guard or knight."
"I want to be a knight."
"As I thought. In my visions I have saw you wield another Pokémon, an attacking Pokémon. Only a sky knight would have such need."
"Can you tell me which Pokemon I will use, Adelaide?"
"I cannot."
The old lady walked over to a sleeping Munna, who was producing a pink vapour that filled the room.
"I can only tell people certain things of what I see. You know that, Aiden. The future would unravel itself if I told everyone of everything I saw."
"Is it strong, at least?"
Adelaide laughed as she looked into the mist. "Very strong, Aiden. You and your pokemon will do great things."
"Why is it that you asked us to come?" Henry asked as he sat on Adelaide's couch.
"I have a parting gift… for Aiden."
"Oh, hear that, Aiden!? Exciting," Anges said, shaking her son.
The old woman walked to her mantelpiece above her log-fuelled fire, and took down from it a jewellery box.
"Oh, I remember that!" Agnes squealed. "My father talked about that box. He said it was our claim to nobility. He always went on about how he would have it when you were dead, Adelaide."
"Yeah well I outlived my nephew, the old bastard. Even if I was dead, I would never let him get his hands on this," Adelaide grumbled.
"Why is that?" Agnes asked.
"Our family history is not something that should be brought up. It is better laid to rest."
Agnes said nothing more. Aiden could see Adelaide was unusually grumpy about that topic of conversation, and he could also see his mother didn't want to upset the old lady.
A quiet song played as Adelaide opened her box. She lifted from the box a pin.
"This is for your orange neckerchief," she said, and she clasped Aiden's hands around it. "In my visions, I have seen you wear this exact pin. It is a rare event that I must make the future happen itself, but alas, the mist has shown me this pin and it isn't my place to go against the mist."
Aiden's mother looked, wide-eyed at the pin from over Aiden's shoulder as he opened his hands. It was a purple hexagon, with six silver lines from the corners meeting in the shape's centre.
"What does it mean, Auntie?" Agnes asked, holding the pin to the dim light of the fire.
"I have no idea. It is one of the few items in my collection whose origin I can't explain. I like it that way, though," Adelaide said with a faint smile. "It's nice to have some mysteries left unsolved in the end, yes?"
Aiden nodded in agreement. While his grandfather had wanted the answers to his family, Aiden liked it Adelaide's way.
"Shall I make us some tea, Beakels? Henry, we have much to discuss."
"That would be lovely, Adelaide. We still have an hour or two before Aiden and I are off to Opelucid. Spending it with you would be lovely."
…
"Thieves shouldn't be working in the day. This is a terrible plan," Q protested. The three protégés of Miss E were running across rooftops, jumping between the buildings with relative ease. Y was running out in front, as almost always, while Farrah jumped slightly behind the other two, since she wasn't as fast on her feet as the other two were.
"It's a brilliant plan, Q, I can assure you that. Everyone in the city is at the southern side at the bridge, awaiting the arrival of the new princess-to-be. No one is around these northern parts. Look to the streets and see."
It was surprisingly quiet. Q saw hardly anyone, and they were moving too fast to really be noticed by anyone, themselves. Of course, if her dragon, Soot, had been with her, that would have been a different story.
Her two sneasel, whom she named Vix and Trix, were running alongside her. Despite their evolutionary stage, they were capable enough for whatever task they were going to handle. Y's crobat was somewhere around, probably flying below in side streets. Farrah's Pokémon, a Cofagrigus, couldn't easily be seen in the daylight, as it was a ghost type Pokémon. Q could just see its faint outline hover next to Farrah as she awkwardly jumped between the gaps in the roofs.
Technically, the trio hadn't figured out what they were planning on doing when they caught the mysterious man. Miss E had told them to deal with him however they see fit, so Q assumed they would get him into a comfortable position and then figure out what they would do from there.
"There it is," Y called back to the other two. "The Avia household."
Four high noble houses lived in Opelucid: the Avia household in the north; the Viperia household in the east; The Terrera household in the west and, formerly, the Yaksha household in the south.
On a day like this when all the city, including the members of the Avia family, would be in the south in and surrounding the Alcazar, then the Avia household was the perfect one to rob.
The trio of bandits made their last jump onto the roof beside the high noble house. Y blew into the whistle wrapped around his mouth and his crobat came up from a few streets away. It sped over to the roof.
"Ok, so how do we do this?"
"First off, we see if there are still any guards positioned in the front of the house."
Q looked over the edge of the roof down to the front entrance. She could see the large front door already open.
"Looks like the mystery man walked right on in the front door," she said.
"Then we should probably do the same."
Farrah, Y and Q jumped off the roof and landed on the steps of the Avia household. The large mansion was a Jade green colour, at its house stood tall above the other nearly houses. Its large white doors were wide open, and inside, Q could see guards knocked out on the floor.
"Our mysterious thief could do with a lesson in subtlety." Q joked.
Y walked confidently into the mansion, followed by an excited Q and Farrah trotting behind. Her Cofagrigus became more visible in the inside light. Its glistening silver and purple coffin floated behind Farrah, two of its long, shadowy hands rested on Farrah's back, which just freaked out Q. The Pokémon was constantly watching over her, keeping itself as close to the girl as possible.
Y put his finger to his lips as he tiptoed up the central staircase. Q and Farrah followed with silent steps. Trix and Vix jumped around from side to side, but because of their tiny feet, they made no sound.
Q could hear rustling from upstairs. The sound of drawers being opened and ransacked and closed. There source had been right: he was here for sure, the uninvited vagabond they were instructed to take down. They were going to sneak up on him, knock him out an-
"Eeep!"
It was a Pokémon, a small one by the sound of the high pitch. It jumped from the top of the staircase to along the corridor. It was off to warn its master their thieving had been interrupted. It had moved too fast for Q to accurately distinguish which Pokémon it was.
The trio quickly followed, caring no more for the element of surprise: the little Pokémon had already blown their cover.
The fast-moving Pokémon had ran into the end bedroom, and Miss E's squad quickly followed. The sheer size of the bedroom identified it as the master suite. Q thought of how the bed would be perfect for Soot; he could easily fit.
The thief was already trying to climb out the window, followed by his shedinja and zorua. It was clear that that was what the crying Pokémon had been, now.
Farrah pointed at the window, and her Cofagrigus quickly hovered over to pull the young man back in. The shedinja and zorua tried to intervene, but Trix and Nix had already circled around the zorua and Y's crobat had bashed itself into the side of the shedinja before it could move.
The cofagrigus wrapped its four arms around the boy and pulled him back from the window which he desperately clung onto, and threw him over to the bed.
The thief quickly sprung himself back up, however, bouncing off the bed and landing on his feet.
"Zorua, Illusion ability, go! Shedinja, Phantom Force!"
The zorua transformed into a sneasel, quickly jumping over Trix and then back flipping over Nix. Q had lost control over which two sneasel were hers.
Farrah pointed to the shedinja, her way of asking her Cofagrigus to deal with it. shedinja had already disappeared, though. As a ghost Pokémon, they should have expected a move like that. Farrah's Cofagrigus had already spent a shadow ball its way and the attack hit Y's crobat, knocking the Pokémon against a bookshelf which then promptly fell on top of him.
Y darted over to his Pokémon, but the thief was now standing over him. He kicked Y in the face before he had the chance to respond.
"Get the zorua!" Q called to her Pokémon. The Sneasel were as confused as their master was, however. "Fury Swipes!"
"Copycat!"
After one slash, the zorua was able to pick up the ability and all three Pokémon were slashing at each other furiously, each Sneasel slashing each of the others with its claws.
The thief had pulled a knife out, and as now running at Farrah. Her cofagrigus jumped in the way quickly, blocking the attacker with its shadow hands. The boy's shedinja, however, quickly crashed into the side of the cofagrigus and toppling the phantom Pokémon over.
The scuffle between the sneasel had left one still standing. One of the knocked out Sneasel morphed itself back into a zorua.
"Trix? Nix?" Q asked. The Pokémon responded with a strong T sound, indicating it was Trix who had won the battle. "I really should get you guys bandanas, or something."
"Shadow Ball!" the boy said, as he ducked behind the bed. The shedinja prepared a powerful orb of dark energy, much stronger than the one Farrah's cofagrigus had controlled moments before, and launched it at the cofagrigus. The ghost Pokémon fell back, the shadowy mist surrounding its body fading. The Pokémon looked like an inanimate object, a large sarcophagus, when unconscious. Farrah ran over to it, nodding her appreciation to her Pokémon.
Two Pokémon were left standing. Trix the sneasel jumped onto the dresser table and sharpened its claws while the shedinja hovered over to where the boy stood behind the bed.
"A fair fight?" Q asked. The boy nodded, putting the knife he carried back in his pocket.
"Shedinja, Metal Claw!"
"Trix, Ice Shard!"
The shedinja's claws glowed silver and, at an unanticipated speed, the Pokémon hovered towards Trix. Q jumped out of the way as Trix took a deep breath in, and then promptly blew twenty shards of ice in the shedinja's direction. The ghost Pokémon remained unfazed and carried out its Metal Claw attack, launching Trix to where Y and his crobat lay, unconscious.
Q couldn't think why her Pokémon's move hadn't done anything, but then remembered: She remembered the Shedinja who she had met before in the forest outside of Opelucid. That Pokémon had been unfazed by similar ice type attacks, but easily fell to a dark-type attack.
"Use Feint Attack, quickly!"
The boy's face looked scared. "Dodge now, Shedinja!"
It was too late. Although the Shedinja was faster than Q had expected, it was nowhere near the speed of a dashing Trix. The dark- and ice-type Pokémon was already slashing into the Shedinja before the command had finished, leaving the boy's mouth agape.
The bug type fell, crashing through the floor of the mansion as he did.
Farrah was up against the boy before he noticed, holding her own knife to his neck.
"Finished?"
The boy's head sunk.
…
As calming as the dreamyard was, Aiden couldn't help but feel anxious. His stomach was eating itself. His parents were inside talking to Adelaide while Aiden was out the back, resting against a stone wall far older than anything else on the island. Fallon, was lying across his legs as Aiden unconsciously stroked his head.
Fallon would be excited. He would be doing what he was meant to be doing: A Braviary was built to defend the skies. It was an incredibly fast and strong Pokémon, and Fallon was a prime example of a braivary. Aiden had won many races on Fallon, and the bird was able to carry up to five humans, if it had to.
Munna floated between the crumbling walls, letting off precious dream mist as they did.
"Dream mist is supposed to make you sleepy," Aiden rhetorically stated. "So how come Auntie Adelaide sees her visions in it. Like, I get she has a gift or whatever, but how come she can see what she sees?"
Aiden shook his bird off his lap, and the Braviary went off to peck after Munna. He jumped up and cautiously stumbled over to the munna. Aiden and Adelaide were related; there was a good chance Aiden had the gift too, right? He realized he was trying to convince himself he had some sort of power, but why on Earth hadn't he stuck his head in Munna mist before now? It was worth at least a shot, he thought.
With a big breath, Aiden head-butted the dream mist, which enveloped his whole being and put him into a deep, deep sleep.
…
Red fruit fell from a tree, and was caught by a nidorina before it hit the ground. It ran over with the apple to a woman, who sat between the roots of a very old tree. She radiated beauty. The foliage caused the light that shone past the branches to turn green and wave from side to side as the leaves did.
The woman took the fruit, and split it in half with her hands. She bit into one juicy half, giving the other to her pokemon with a smile. The poison pokemon gobbled up her portion in one bite, making her trainer smile. The women picked up her pokemon, and snuggled it into her. She eternally sat against the old oak tree.
…
When Aiden woke he was cold, but wrapped in many blankets. It was dark, and he was lying on hard wood. His head hurt as he cranked it up.
His father was sitting on wooden bench that Aiden could just make out in the dark. Fallon and his father's Braviary were lying on either side of the sky guard.
His father laughed as Aiden managed, very groggily, to stand up. Aiden realized they were flying in the carrier of a Wailord.
"W-what happened? We were at the dreamyard, weren't we?"
"Yes, but then you thought it was a good idea to stick your head in some dream mist, and you fell asleep. Adelaide said there was nothing to worry about; said your mother did it all the time when she was a child. We tried to wake you, but the mist got you good. So, we boarded the Wailord while you were still out. Right now we are on course for Opelucid. I think we just flew over Nacrene Island ,but there is no way to tell."
"I didn't even get to say goodbye," Aiden sulked.
"Don't worry, your mother has already booked her ticket for the next Wailord bus tomorrow. I'll be staying with you in Opelucid while we wait for your mother."
"That's ok, then." Aiden wrapped his blanket closer around him, and trundled over to sit next to his father between Fallon and Henry. Fallon dumped his head on Aiden.
"You scared, son?"
"Terrified."
"Good." Henry wrapped his arm around his son. "I would be worried if you weren't. If you just keep cool and actually listen to people, you'll be absolutely fine."
"Thanks, dad."
Aiden had been asleep for five hours, but to him it felt like a second. He had briefly dreamed of a woman and a tree, but the vision disappeared as if it was mist, itself. Aiden couldn't remember which Pokémon the woman had with her. Did she eat an apple? Maybe a pear? The more he tried to remember, the faster it fled from his mind.
...
The Wailord docked in an inner city stop in the early morning. The night had been cold, but Aiden could feel the heat of the city as he stepped off the carrier.
It's much warmer than Striation Island, he noticed. The buildings of the city were a yellow creamy colour, and there was always a bird in flight if you looked to the sky. Aiden liked it. He liked the constant sun, rare in the more southern isle of striation.
"This way!" Henry called as he departed from the bus station. Aiden followed, hauling his holdall with him.
The academy was a ten-minute walk from the Wailord station, but Aiden found it hard to navigate between the crowds of the city. The streets were packed with both humans and Pokémon. Aiden was careful to follow his father and watch his belongings. He was sweating, as he was still wearing his warm travel clothes.
The Opelucid Sky Academy was an old red brick building, which sat behind a large wall. Atop the wall sat guards with their birds. The school looked pretty well defended. Although the Sky Knights of Opelucid's main base of operation is the citadel on the crown's northern side, this school also served as a secondary or emergency base of operations.
The guards at the front gate let Aiden and his father inside the school after his father had shown them his neckerchief and the badges attached.
"Henry Beakel! And his son, the new student!" The gate guard called up to a guard on the wall, who on, hearing his friend's voice, cranked the gate open.
With shaking steps, Aiden walked into the school grounds. The training grounds of the sky guards and knights took up the schools surrounding land. Aiden could see battles between strong Pokémon take place. He watched excitedly as a Pidgeot drilled with its beak into the body of a togekiss, to which the fairy-type Pokémon responded by blasting the Pidgeot to the other side of the field with an aura sphere attack.
Fallon wasn't so much of a fighter, but if he was to be a Sky Knight he would have a second pokemon, an attacking pokemon, who would handle situations where a fighter would be needed.
Henry, Aiden and their Braviary arrived at the school entrance. The birds were told by their trainers to wait outside with the nearest guard, and father and son walked into the school together
Young boys wearing the uniform Aiden would soon wear were running all over the old building. Aiden saw the occasional girl trainee among them.
"As it's the weekend, trainees have no classes," Henry informed Aiden.
Aiden could feel the eyes of the students watch him as he walked behind his father. He tried his best not to look back, but the few trainees whose eyes he did meet gave him glares that would rival an arbok's. They could tell he was new. I guess I'm just fresh meat to them, he thought.
"Now you'll be starting training as soon as you get your full license son, which shouldn't take too long considering how well you fly Fallon, and how much time you will have to study for the theory test."
Aiden had failed his theory countless times before. He had never really taken the flying exam too seriously, but this time he would have to.
Henry stopped walking in front of the headmaster's office. The name plate on the door read, "Mr. Martell." Aiden's father knocked, and a booming voice from inside the office told them to come in.
Henry looked to Aiden, who nodded, and he opened the door.
Behind a large wooden desk sat a middle-aged man, muscular and moustached. He was the largest Sky Knight Aiden had even seen; the uniform he wore looked like it would explode.
"Beakel!" He charged himself at Aiden's father, wrapping his large arms around him and picking him up, "It's been a long long time! God, Henry Beakel! It must be, what, ten years?"
"I'd think so, Martell," Henry said, rubbing his sore limbs. "Joesph Martell, I would like you to meet my son, Aiden. He is your new student."
Joesph Martell shook Aiden's hand, as in he shook it up and down furiously fast until Aiden's arm was weak. "Aiden, the last time I saw you, you were five. I suppose you don't remember me."
Aiden didn't. "When your father worked in Special Rank, way in the past, we were on the same team. We went to school in Mistralton together as well. Yes, your father and I go way back."
"Do you not remember Martell, Aiden?" Henry asked, surprised. Aiden shook his head. "I suppose he wouldn't have been around much when you were young, but neither was I."
Henry looked genuinely happy. The man was often rather static, but seeing him with Martell, Aiden noticed his regular demeanour change from a grumpy frown to a smile.
"Aiden, I understand that you have yet to pass your flying exam." Aiden bowed his head. He felt disgraced he hadn't taken it more seriously now. "But that's ok. We will settle you in first. Now, let's get you to your room."
Mr Martell walked back over to his desk and opened the large glass window behind it. He shouted down to the courtyard outside.
"Gurei! Get Ward, tell him to get up here!"
Martell looked back and said, "Ward's my apprentice. He's a good guy; great with a sword. He'll take your to your room. I've put you in with him and a few other guys your age, if that's alright?"
"That's fine, sir."
"You know, you look just like your father did at your age. Don't you think so, Henry?"
Aiden's dad nodded and affectionately gazed at his son. "He's a much better flyer that I was at his age. He controls his Pokémon very well."
"And I'm right in saying you want to be a Sky Knight, Aiden." Joseph said.
"That's correct, sir."
"Then you will need another Pokémon. Have you any thoughts about which Pokémon?"
Aiden shook his head. He had given it much thought, but couldn't yet come to any conclusions.
"Well then, we will see which Pokémon you are best suited to, in time. In training, we will be able to see which type you work best with."
There was a knock at the door, and Joseph boomed, "Come in!" as he had done before.
From behind the door appeared a young man Aiden's age, if not slightly older. He was physically strong, which probably added years to his appearance. He had short, swept- back red hair and grey eyes, and his height barely beat Aiden's by a couple of inches. He was wearing the sky uniform, and from his patch on his top, Aiden could tell he was a trainee.
"Hi, sir. You wanted to see me?" said the boy as he walked into Mr. Martell's office.
"Yes I would like you to meet, Mr. Beakel here."
The boy saluted and shook Henry's hand. "It's an honour to meet such a high ranking guard."
"And this is his son, Aiden. He is a new student here and I would like you to show him around."
"Hello, my name is Tristan. People usually go by surname here, so you can call me Ward."
Aiden shook his outstretched hand.
"Hi. I'm Aiden, or I guess it's Beakel now."
"Ward, could you show Aiden to his room? He will be taking the spare bed."
"Of course, sir."
Tristan motioned Aiden to the door.
Henry spoke. "You go on, son. I'll see you again later, but I need to catch up with Mr. Martell, here."
…
Did you know a group of tapir is called a candle? I think that is the cutest name to give a group of animals. Although every time I hear parliament of owls I think of the owls in house of commons wearing suits and that's pretty cute as well.
Anyway, that was the next chapter. Updates will be slow and I know that usually means updates will be non-existent, but I'm determined to keep this one going. I have everything set out, and I've legitimately thought this one through.
Aiden's story was so focused upon in this chapter simply because his story has went nowhere, and I guess you could say that about all of them but he was the hardest to get to Opelucid, which I where I want all the characters to be.
Also, chapters may be this long or they may be the usual 3000-4000 word length that I usually go with. It just depends on how much I need to cram in.
Reviews are always a pleasure to read. They genuinely help so thank you to everyone who does review. Also big thank you to Emerald Dynamo for proofreading and beta-ing, he is very, very helpful.
Characters are still being accepted, especially noble born people. I currently have one noble character, and a few more for Brandon to associate with would be nice.
Thanks,