Chapter 26
"You're back?" Amy curiously asks her brother walking into their Pokemon Center room. They were lucky to not lose their room while they were gone for a week since their stuff was still in the room and no one had checked out. Amy thought her brother wouldn't be back for a few more days, but here he is after being gone for 3.
The boat from Vermillion City landed in Goldenrod City. Ash knows Liza, so Dillon was able to send Coal to her through the PC rather than travel all the way to the Charicific Valley. Apparently Coal likes it a lot already. Coal always wants to be stronger. "Yeah." gruffs out the boy.
Amy can tell he's upset. But it's a different kind of upset. It's the kind that scares her because she's reminded of old Dillon. "Is everything okay?" She quietly asks.
"Where's Jane? The contest is starting soon."
Amy sighs. She knows Dillon hates talking about his problems. While she has no idea where he's been the past few days, she will trust her brother. "Out perfecting her last minute strategies. She should be back soon so we can go to the contest hall together. After arriving in Goldenrod City, Romeo exchanged pokemon back with Amy and disappeared to a hotel room again. Amy is sad to see everyone reverting back to their old cold ways. She really thought they were all starting to get along again.
Soon, the door opens to reveal the person they were just talking about. The raven haired girl's eyes open wide in shock. "I thought you said you would miss the contest, Dillon?"
He shrugs without looking at her. "I finished early." And he said he'd support her, but he disappeared to help Amy last week. However, old Dillon doesn't keep his word. No. He's not old Dillon anymore. His values are newer and better. It's just his attitude towards others is the same. He will guard his cold heart.
Jane, though, thinks Dillon finished his tasks early for her. It makes her blush as her heart beats quicker for him. Her crush on him grows. Forget that jerk Romeo. Now, Jane feels invincible, like this contest is nothing. She will take down Romeo and win the ribbon today! With Dillon and Amy by her side, Jane feels less nervous. "Let's go!" She excitedly tells her friends.
At the contest hall, Jane turns to her friends before they're separated. "Thanks for cheering for me today, guys."
Dillon spots her nervous smile, so he gives her a genuine one that makes her heartbeat quicker. "Take a deep breath, Jane. You'll do great."
Jane takes in a deep breath, and when she releases it, her smile is a lot more confident. She beams at her friends. "You're right! I got this!" Amy gives her a hug, and then Jane rushes off backstage with the other coordinators.
Amy raises a confused eyebrow at her brother. He's been behaving strangely since they came back to their time. Is this the right Dillon? "Dillon?" She asks as they walk to the stands.
"Hn."
"Are you okay?"
Pika worriedly eyes his trainer. The mouse knows Dillon is not okay. Dillon is hurting a lot, but at least Dillon isn't releasing his frustrations on anyone. "Yeah." the boy replies.
When they sit down, Amy notices a text from her mother on her pokenav. Misty knows they're watching Jane's battle, so the woman doesn't want to interrupt them with a call. How is Dillon? She looks back up at her brother's stoic gaze. Why is her mother asking about him? Did something happen? "Are you sure you're okay, Dillon?"
"If you ask me again, I'll move somewhere else." grumbles the boy.
Sighing, she texts her mother back that she'll find out later. Amy doesn't want to push her brother away or worsen his mood. Right now, they need to support Jane. Fortunately, Pika cuddles with her to make her feel better. "Thanks, Pika." Amy giggles as she scratches him under the chin.
Vermillion City
"Lok is so big now!" Aurora grins while holding the babbling baby.
"He's cute!" LayLay stands on her tiptoes to get a better look of Lok.
"He's not cute when he keeps you up all night." Ash yawns, earning him a kick in the shin from his wife. Because Misty is a gym leader, she works every day. Ash just has the random occasional League stuff, so he's the all time babysitter.
Footsteps from the stairs get the Ketchums' attention. "Here comes the triplets." Aurora mutters.
As if on queue, the three Lightfield boys are in the room talking Ash's ear off. He is technically still the champion, and he's the only champion the region really ever knew. Dillon was only a champion for a few hours before resigning. Thus, the triplets love asking Ash questions. Pikachu jumps onto Misty's shoulder as Ash gets carried away by the triplets.
Sweatdropping, Aurora gives Misty her monthly apologetic smile. "Sorry about that...again…"
Misty giggles. "It's okay. I know Ash loves telling his stories." She's heard them enough, and she was even in some of them. With the triplets asking him questions nonstop, it saves Misty from Ash talking her ear off.
The girls walk into the living room where Aurora lets LayLay hold Lok. Of course, LayLay is sitting on the couch, and Pikachu and Pachirisu are helping her. After some small talk and catching up, Misty learns that Duke saw Connor again in Saffron City where Duke lost in another battle. This time, Connor said some pretty mean things to Duke, so Aurora had to encourage him not to give up. Aurora will keep the whole 'hanging out with Braxton' thing this week a secret for now. She'll only tell Misty if she ever agrees to date Braxton.
"Connor is a lot like his father." Misty tells Aurora. "I know he's trying to live up to his family's name. It's hard being the child of successful people." She knows Amy struggles with this a lot, but fortunately, Dillon helps with that. Dillon! "Oh, Aurora!" Misty grins. Dillon is terrible at communication, so she's been looking forward to hearing how his visit here went a few days ago. Misty is surprised Aurora hasn't mentioned it yet.
"Yeah?" Aurora answers. Why does Misty sound so excited? Does she know about Braxton? Oh no.
"Dillon visited us a couple of days ago." Misty grins thinking about her son. Apparently, Dillon and Ash are making up. They've moved forward in their relationship, which she loves.
"Dillon?" Aurora raises a confused eyebrow. He was in town and didn't say anything? She knows he called Granite earlier this week, but he couldn't call her or even see her? What's wrong with him?
Now, Misty curiously looks at the girl. Based on Aurora's reaction, it seems like Dillon didn't come by at all. Aurora is frowning and in deep thought. Unless something happened? "Yes. He and Ash spent time together. Apparently, he traveled back in time, and it made him appreciate Ash more."
Aurora nods. "That's good." Maybe he was too busy to stop by and see her? He does need to be in Johto with Amy and that new girl.
"I'm sorry he couldn't come see you, Aurora. I know he would if he could." Misty makes a mental note to talk Dillon's ear off later. He said he was going to see her! Did he lie to Misty? The woman won't let him hear the end of it! How can Dillon do this to Aurora?
The girl gives Misty a reassuring smile. "I know he's busy, Misty. I'm glad he's doing okay."
"I'll give him a call later so we all can talk."
"There's no need for that." If he wanted to talk to Aurora, he would've called her. She really doesn't want to force him to talk to her.
"Aurora-"
"No, Misty, it's okay. I know Dillon and I are both busy." Aurora stands up. Her heart is aching too much and she's trying hard to keep up this smile. "Let me get you some water." The girl then rushes off to the kitchen where she lets some tears slip. It hurts. Although she wants to be strong and act like Dillon's negligence doesn't hurt, it definitely hurts the worst. She hasn't felt this abandoned since her father left.
Misty sighs when Aurora runs off. Pachirisu had left earlier too, so the white mouse now scampers down the stairs and onto the couch beside Misty. Misty scratches her behind the ears. "I'm sorry my son is an idiot." Misty smiles at the mouse. "He gets it from his father."
"Pachi!" Pachirisu raises the item in her paws towards Misty.
Curiously taking the cloth, the woman sees it is the handkerchief she used to wrap Dillon's wound this week. What's it doing here? Was Dillon here? Misty's surprised eyes meet Pachirisu's nervous ones. "Dillon?" the woman whispers.
"Chi." Pachirisu nods.
So Dillon was here? How come Aurora hasn't said anything about it? She is talking like he wasn't here. "Did Aurora see him?" Pachirisu shakes her head, indicating that Aurora did not see Dillon. Just what is going on? Did Dillon have an emergency and he had to leave? However, Amy would've told Misty if something was wrong. What happened that made Dillon leave when he was already here.
"I found that earlier. Is it yours?" Aurora's voice shocks Misty.
The woman sits up straighter as she is startled. Smiling innocently at Aurora, Misty replies, "Yes. I was looking for this. I think we left it the last time we were here."
Aurora warmly smiles back. She made sure her tears were done before she returned with water for them. "I'm glad we found it."
"Me too."
Goldenrod City
The Goldenrod City contest is large and full of many competitors; thus, there are multiple rounds in the contest. Jane, along with 15 other coordinators, including Romeo, advance to the second round. However, Jane is paired up to fight against Romeo. Therefore, someone's contest will end soon today.
"I'm gonna go see her." Amy tells her brother. There is a break in between rounds for coordinators to get their Pokemon ready. Amy is surprised when her brother remains seated. She expected him to want to help encourage Jane too since he's taken both her and Jane under his motivational guidance. Pika at least hops on Amy's shoulder. She won't question her brother because he seems to be upset. It reminds her of when she would be scared to interact with him for too long.
Once she finds Jane in the lobby, Amy quickly approaches the nervous girl. "Congrats on making it to the second round, Jane!"
"Thanks, Amy." Jane smiles. Pika hops on her shoulder to congratulate her too, but Jane is looking around for her other friend.
"Dillon's not coming." Amy awkwardly tells Jane. Seeing Jane's disappointed face makes Amy feel bad. She really doesn't want to upset Jane in the middle of the contest, so she says, "He's in the bathroom. I think he ate something bad."
Jane nods. "I hope he's okay."
Grinning, Amy exclaims, "Yeah! He'll be back to watch you in the second round! He said good luck!"
Jane feels better already getting her crush's support, though he isn't here to tell her in person. "Thanks, Amy."
"You better be rooting for the winning team, Amy."
That annoying voice makes Jane scowl, and Amy turns around to tackle her cousin in a hug. She didn't get a chance to see him when they arrived prior to the first round. "Hey, Romeo! Good luck to you too!"
Romeo's fangirls are glaring at Amy for being so close to Romeo. The girl figures they must not know who she is, but she likes it this way. She doesn't need the unwanted attention of coming from a famous family. Romeo smirks at the raven haired girl in front of him. Groudon, she annoys him the most. "Don't forget our bet."
"I can't wait to beat you." Jane narrows her eyes at him. She doesn't get why he needs to go back to being a jerk now that Dillon is around again. Romeo was so nice while they were searching for Dillon and Amy. Ever since Dillon came back, Romeo has changed to Jane's first impression of him.
"Don't say false things." Romeo chuckles. "A beginner like you can't possibly beat me."
"You're so arrogant, I'm gonna wipe that smirk off your face."
"You're not even worth my time." Romeo looks back at Amy. "I'd root for the winning team if I were you, Amy." He ruffles her hair and walks off, leaving Jane to glare daggers at him.
"He's so annoying!" the older girl exclaims.
Sweatdropping, Amy says, "You should use that anger to beat him." What is going on? Why is everyone in such a bad mood? Is she missing something here?
Jane nods determinedly. "I will, Amy. I'm gonna beat him." Romeo is going to acknowledge that she's a strong coordinator, and he's going to stop hating Dillon.
Unfortunately, Romeo utterly destroys Jane with his Marshstomp against her Bayleef. Romeo was so cocky that he called out a pokemon at a dual disadvantage against Jane's just so he could beat her in a humiliating fashion. She lost in such a short amount of time that she ran off the stage before her tears could fall.
Amy worriedly turns to her unamused brother. Why isn't he angry at Romeo? Why isn't he concerned about Jane? Why is his face so hard to read? "Dillon, we should go after her."
He stands up to follow Amy out of the contest hall; however, that's as far as he follows her. Amy turns around to see her brother slowly walking behind her as they're headed towards the Pokemon Center. Why isn't he running with her? Jane shouldn't be alone right now. "C'mon, Dillon!"
He glares at her, sending shivers down Amy's back. She hasn't seen a glare like that in years. "Stop bothering me."
"Pikapi!" Pika scolds his trainer, but Dillon pushes the mouse off of his shoulder.
"I'm tired of running after crying girls." Dillon coldly tells his shocked sister. "You deal with it if you want." He then walks off in a different direction, leaving Pika and Amy.
Amy looks at Pika. "What happened?"
Pika hangs his head low. Dillon told Pika and Pachirisu to not let anyone know he was at the Vermillion City gym. "Pi…"
Amy picks him up. She really needs to find out what happened. Why is everyone acting so weird? But first, she needs to check up on her friend who is most likely locked in their Pokemon Center room. "Let's go find Jane, Pika."
They've been stuck in Goldenrod City for 10 chapters now lol. I swear things will pick up once they're out. I just had a lot of ideas and character developments I wanted to do here. Plus, Goldenrod City is huge, so there's so much to do.
Also, I hate typing action, like contests and battle scenes. I'll only do it for the final battles or important ones, but I didn't want to do it for this one. Deal with it. :P