Aden looks from his phone to the building he's facing. Then back at his phone. This is the place Pikki had directed him to, all right. He just never expected a veteran Gym Leader, of all people, to live in a dated apartment complex. Then again, he doesn't really know how Gym Leaders live. Not even Crasher Wake.
He heads up a few flights of stairs and down a hallway, looking for the specified apartment number. When he knocks on the door, he's greeted by Byron, who appears tired, disheveled, and rather intense. "Uh, hi," Aden says, holding up a hand in a wave. "I dunno if you remember me from Spear Pillar… or from when I challenged you… but Pikki gave me your address…" He stops talking as Byron just stares at him.
"Mm, yeah. Come in," he says, stepping aside. "She's not here right now though."
"Hello, Aden," Riley welcomes him from the sofa.
"Hey." Aden nods at him and Roark, who is seated on the floor on the other side of the coffee table. "You feeling alright?" There's a bandage wrapped around Riley's head, and Aden recalls him walking with difficulty even after being touched by Arceus.
"Yes, much better today," answers Riley with a calm smile. Byron plops down next to him. It appears that the three of them were having some kind of discussion, likely centered around the three Ultra Balls on the table. Aden shrugs off his jacket and backpack, sitting on the floor next to Roark.
"We were just figuring out what to do with these," Roark explains. "Of course, Dad and Riley will take Registeel back to Iron Island, and I'm trying to convince them that Pikki and I will be fine taking Regirock and Heatran back to their homes by ourselves."
"You two are going to the Battle Zone?" Aden asks.
"She wants to go talk to her mom in person. And I said I'd go with her. So while we're there, it only makes sense to take these Pokemon back—"
"S'too dangerous," Byron grunts.
"Stop," Riley says softly, placing a hand on Byron's bare, muscled arm. "I think they've more than proven they can handle it. Anyway, Aden himself just took Regigigas and Regice to their rightful places… didn't you?"
"Yeah. Well, Candice helped. She did most of the work, really." He pauses as a twinge of guilt stabs him in the chest. "Anyway, Pikki's going to visit her mom? Before the last Gym? Isn't the Tournament just a couple weeks away?"
Roark nods. "There should still be plenty of time. I think she'd like it if you waited to challenge Volkner with her."
With a sigh, Aden scowls. "I feel like that means I should go see my mom. Got something to take to her, after all."
"That's a fine idea," says Riley. "I'll come with you, if you don't mind."
"You want to? Why?" Aden asks.
"Oh, I just thought maybe you wouldn't want to have that conversation alone. And I'd like to meet the woman who's been hounding Khaled all these years."
A knock on the door interrupts whatever Byron was going to say in response to that. Roark springs to his feet to answer it, almost as if he knows it's Pikki. She follows him inside, looking more subdued and pensive than Aden ever thought she could.
"Welcome back, dear," Riley welcomes her, to break the ice.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Roark asks.
"Yeah," she answers, and manages a small smile. "I did."
Later, as they're all eating a take-out dinner, Riley invites Aden to stay the night, making Aden wonder just whose apartment this is. "I'm afraid space is a bit limited right now, but a resourceful Trainer like you can find something," he says.
"There's the couch, right?" Aden asks.
"True, but that's where Pikki has been sleeping. And it doesn't pull out into a bed."
"Aden can have the couch," Roark pipes up. "And Pikki can sleep in my room."
"The hell she can!" Byron yells, slamming his hands on the table.
"What?! We're not going to do anything with you guys under the same roof!"
"I'm still not lettin' that happen!"
"How come you and Riley can sleep together and we can't?"
"Because we're adults!"
"I'm an adult!" Roark rises from his chair, leaning over the table.
"No you're not!" Byron jumps up as well, shaking the table as he smacks it again. "An' she sure isn't!"
"Sixteen is a legal adult!"
"You're both teenagers an' you're not sharin' a bed!"
As their voices raise, Aden isn't sure whether to be terrified or amused. He didn't think Roark had it in him to fight his own intimidating father like that. But the way Riley rolls his eyes and Pikki shields her embarrassed face tells Aden that this kind of thing happens all the time, and that both of them are blowing it way out of proportion.
"Guys, I'll just go to the Pokemon Center," Aden announces, waving his hands to get their attention.
"Nonsense," Riley says. "You— sit down, Byron! Honestly…" He sighs as father and son both plop back down in their chairs, silently steaming. "Listen, Aden, after everything that's happened, you shouldn't be alone. We're a family, and you're Pikki's brother, so you're part of our family too. So stay here with us, don't go off on your own. If we all have to sleep on the floor in the living room, so be it. But we'll be together, dammit."
Aden chuckles. "How can I refuse?"
"I think sleepin' on th' floor is a fine idea," Byron says.
"Oh, come on, Dad," protests Roark.
"Don't you take that tone with me, boy!"
"I will when you stop assuming I'm a sex-obsessed kid!"
Aden holds back a laugh, silently raising his eyebrows at Pikki. She holds a hand to the side of her mouth. "I regret everything," she whispers to him.
The next morning (after a relatively drama-free night where Aden slept on the floor while Pikki took the couch), they all head to the Canalave Gym so Pikki can unofficially challenge Byron to a battle. One of his apprentices, a tall and athletic young lady with a long ponytail named Breanna, takes an instant shine to Pikki, especially as their two Azumarill meet and size one another up. Then she insists on refereeing the match.
Aden and Roark watch together from the bleachers, while Riley stands on Byron's end of the field behind him. Pikki seems back to her old self, determined in battle and cheery whenever her Pokemon land a hit on Byron's sturdy team. "I wonder if she can do it," Aden comments. "I'll admit your dad gave me some trouble, but my fire and fighting moves got me a win in the end. Just barely, though."
"She might. Her team isn't the best matchup against his, however. It's defense versus defense." Roark folds his arms. "I'd hate to see her lose… but she's not actually fighting for a Badge. This is just for fun."
"That was cool of him to give her a Badge like that."
"Yeah. He finally likes her now. So much that he's treating her like his precious daughter, and I'm some terrible influence who's going to steal her innocence away." He scowls. "Give me a little credit, I'm a good guy."
Aden snickers. "Yeah, you're alright. Hey, I'm sorry I trashed your Gym when I fought you. I was kind of an asshole too, I apologize."
"It's okay. My Gym got fixed in the end. That's what sponsors are for." Roark pushes up his glasses. "Although, Herrera Company was my sponsor, so I dunno what's going to happen with that. I'll probably have to find a new one."
"Well, somebody's got to take his place to run the coal mine, right? I'm sure you'll be fine."
"True." As Byron's Bastiodon charges at Maren, the Azumarill dodges away, unharmed, on Pikki's command, and launches a strong Water Gun at her opponent. "Good evasion, Maren!" Roark calls out to her. Pikki beams at him, holding up two fingers for victory. He grins back at her.
"So you're dating for real now?" Aden asks him. "You do care about her, right? Not just after one thing?"
"Oh my gods. Yes, I care about her! I have for months! Why does everyone think I'm like that all of a sudden?"
"Hey, I'm just making sure. She's my little sister, so if you hurt her, I'm gonna kick your ass."
"I promise I'm not going to do that! You're really protective. Even before you found out you're siblings, you kept threatening me."
"Yeah, I know. Maybe I sensed we were related this whole time, deep down. Somehow. I dunno." Aden laughs it off.
Roark laughs with him, a little nervously. "Good thing, or I might be jealous."
"Heh… I'm serious, though." Aden fixes his sister's boyfriend with a stern look. "She's cried over you enough this summer. Any more, just one more time, and I will murder you."
Roark gulps.
Byron winds up the winner of the battle. But he announces to everyone that Pikki should join his Gym as an apprentice. Aden wonders if that's just his way of keeping her apart from Roark — or getting Roark to come visit him more often. He really is a great dad, Aden realizes, with a sharp pang in his chest.
}{}{}{}{}{
Pueltown seems too bright and too hot, Aden thinks as he dismounts from Desert Rose's back. He stands with her for a moment on the docks, just staring at his hometown and the beachfront passersby. Has he really been in Sinnoh for so long that his home — the warm, beautiful, lively city he's called his home for seventeen years — feels foreign?
A Salamence soon lands behind him, and Riley jumps down. "You look thoughtful," he remarks.
"Yeah. Got a lot on my mind all of a sudden."
Riley pats his shoulder. "Lead the way."
With their Pokemon safely recalled, Aden takes Riley through the town and to his home. He rings the doorbell, just in case. And when his mother answers, she hugs him close. "You look exhausted! You should have called first, I would have had food waiting. Did you get all those Badges?"
"Not quite yet," Aden answers, pulling away after a long enough hug. "I, uh, got kind of sidetracked. May we come in? This is Riley. He's… well… a friend of mine."
"O-oh." Maya blushes a little as the handsome Riley tips the brim of his hat to her. "Of course, right this way. Can I get you anything to drink? Lemonade, or iced tea?"
"No, Mom, I have—"
"Lemonade would be delightful," Riley speaks up. "Did you make it yourself?"
"Haha, oh no! But I always have some on hand for these hot summers." Maya pours three glasses, and hands over one to Riley a little more slowly, smiling at him. Aden holds back a gag, since Riley is closer to his age than hers — never mind that he's happily involved with another man.
"It does hit the spot," Riley continues politely after taking a sip.
"Mom," Aden says impatiently. "I have to talk to you."
"Oh my, so serious." Maya takes a seat at the kitchen table. "What is it, dear? Related to whatever got you sidetracked from those Badges?"
"Yeah." Aden plops down in a chair across from her, while Riley takes his seat in a more dignified manner. "I met him."
"Who's that?"
Aden fixes her with a hard look. "Him. And I did what I swore to you I would do."
The color drains from Maya's face. "Oh, Aden…"
"That's not the half of it. After I did it, I— I forgave him. Mostly. Then I followed him into a battle against the most powerful Pokemon in existence. And then he—" He glances at Riley, who sadly closes his eyes.
"He what?" Maya probes. "What did that man do this time?"
"He's gone," answers Riley. "He traded his life for my evil father's. He was my best friend, Ms. Lawley. At the end, he wanted nothing more than to be in his children's lives — Aden's and his half sister's. And he chose to sacrifice himself instead."
Maya stares with her mouth open. "I don't believe you. He did it to get out of my lawsuit!" She pounds a fist on the table, shaking the lemonade glasses.
"No, Mom. In fact, he had this made just for you." Aden reaches into his backpack, handing her the Coronet Ball.
Maya looks at it numbly. "This can't be real."
"Genuine House of Flabébé," says Riley. "Straight from Lumiose City, Kalos."
She sets the jewel-encrusted PokeBall replica on the table. "So, what, you want me to agree with you that he's some kind of hero? He left me pregnant and alone! Didn't even have the decency to break off the engagement in person! And what's this I hear about a half sister? When exactly did he do that? He better have left her mother too, or I will go straight to hell myself and give him exactly what he deserves!"
"Mom!" Aden exclaims.
"Ms. Lawley, please," Riley says more calmly. "I understand how upset you are. I never condoned Khaled's behavior with women. But I did see all kinds of good in him. He was a true friend to me when I needed it most. And I saw the way he acted around Aden and Pikki. He loved them, he wanted to change for them. He went on a very dangerous and covert mission to be able to pay your demands so he could move on with his life and turn over a new leaf. Don't you think you should take his gift and move on with yours? After all these years?"
"No!" Maya cries. "I want my revenge!"
Aden has seen many a tantrum from his mother over the years, but none quite so heated as this one. "I think it would be better to let it go," he says. "I know it's hard. I hated him all my life too… mostly because you convinced me to. But hating him didn't do me any favors — in fact, it made me feel worse because my actions made my sister cry. And I never want to feel that way again. So I changed my mind."
"Don't you turn on me too! You're all I have!"
"Maya," Riley says somberly. "Listen. I hated my father for most of my life too. I still do. He subjected me to verbal and psychological abuse since I was a child because I wasn't the son he wanted. He had an immensely strong Pokemon attack me — nearly killing me — not three days ago because he couldn't accept my lifestyle choices. So I know all too well what it means to hate. My father is a terrible man who's done terrible things, and not only to me. Khaled was nothing like him. Yes, leaving you alone with child was an awful thing to do… by a self-absorbed idiot who was only twenty-one. He grew up since then, he matured greatly. I witnessed it myself. He wanted to atone for his past mistakes — which I think he did, in the very end. And if Aden forgave him, maybe you should too."
She glares at Riley. "I will never forgive him for what he put me through. Would you forgive your father?"
"Of course not," he answers, bristling. "The point I was making is that Khaled is leagues above my father."
"Maybe to you. But not to me. And you seem to have brainwashed my son about him, too!"
"Okay, Mom." Aden scoots back his chair, standing up. "It's time for us to leave. I need to go back to Sinnoh and get that last Badge."
"What?" Maya asks, looking pained. "Aden, please. Stay with me so we can talk about things. At least for the night."
Frowning, he looks to Riley, who gives him an encouraging smile. "Fine. But I think Riley wants to head home to his boyfriend, so I'm gonna see him out."
"Alright— wait, what?"
Aden walks Riley outside, exhaling heavily as he shuts the front door. "Sorry about all that. I don't think you convinced her."
"She's blinded by her feelings. If she can ever open her eyes to the truth, then she'll understand." Riley pauses, looking up at the sky. "Something I learned only recently, the hard way."
Aden raises an eyebrow.
"Well," Riley says with a subject-changing smile, "I'll be off, then. I've got a lot of work ahead of me." He reaches into his jacket for Salamence's ball.
"Wait," says Aden. "Uh... can I just say... I'm sorry. About everything. I'm sorry I attacked you at the Eterna hospital. I was blinded by my feelings, too."
Riley's smile widens. "Apology accepted."
"I feel like all I've been doing lately is apologizing to people."
"Then you're on the right track." Riley claps his shoulder. "Is there anyone else?"
Aden thinks about it. "Actually, yeah. There is. Guess that'll be my next stop."
"Good. Best of luck with your last Gym. I'll watch for you and Pikki at the Tournament."
"Hmph. I don't even care about that."
"You're going just to cheer her on?" Riley holds out the Ultra Ball, releasing his Pokemon. "What a good brother you are."
"Yeah, I guess..." Aden mumbles, scratching the back of his neck.
Riley climbs on Salamence's back. "Be sure to take time out of your Ranger schedule to visit us, alright? The couch will always be open."
"You gotta talk Byron into getting an actual house with guest rooms."
"I'm working on it. See you, Aden."
"Adios."
He shields his eyes from the bright sun as he watches Riley ride off on dragonback. Then, with a sigh, he heads back inside.
