Chapter Seven: The Magician
"But Saturday? Why couldn't we just go on Friday?" Aaron asked. "There's gonna be a lot more people there… and I have work, too…" He wasn't even sure about going to the fair to begin with, and on a workday? What did the fair have to offer? Ridiculous amounts of fried, greasy food, rides put together in a hurry, and a bunch of rigged games. But despite all that, it had been fun… when he was a kid, at least.
"There are a few attractions that take place on Saturday. More people and all."
"You say that like it's a good thing…"
"Come on, it'll be fun," Nathan said. "So can you call off or not? I'll cover the money you'd make during the shift."
"…I'll see if they'll let me," he said with a sigh. He didn't like the idea of Nathan paying him to essentially take a day off, but he needed the money. The money from each sixteen-hour shift was necessary to take care of four pokémon and himself.
"Great. Let me know what's going on in advance." He hung up. Aaron thought it over, but then one thought stood out: even if it turned out to be a complete bust, it was still one day less of pushing carts and dealing with customers. That alone was worth it…
Rolling his eyes, Aaron sent the text to his manager, requesting the day off. Fortunately, he was reminded of the policy: it was fine so long as he could get someone to cover his shift. Jason was very good about that. Sixteen years old and hell-bent on saving up for that car. Where he would park it in the city was beyond Aaron.
Explaining it to his four pokémon was far more eventful.
"I can't believe you're seriously considering this," Aster said. "Why? All those obnoxious people…"
"True… but the rides could be neat," Marcus replied.
"And the food!" Krista chimed in. Aster cut her a glare.
"Is that all you ever think about?" he hissed. "And what 'food' do you mean? All that wretched fried crap? Nothing but a heart attack waiting to happen if you ask me."
"Well I didn't!" the audino replied.
"What about you, Nora?" Aaron asked. "What do you think?"
"Umm… I'm kinda with Aster on this one…"
"So we're three and two," he replied. His manager was willing to let him take the day off provided Aaron had found a replacement for his shift – and he had – but he wasn't about to drag his team there unwillingly. Of course, he could leave Aster and Nora here… "I'm down for it myself. I was in third grade last I went to the fair."
"Well then go," Aster replied. "But don't think about dragging me into it…"
"Huh, alright then." It was a shame, too, since there was apparently something about a regionally famous light show that Nathan had tickets to, but he wasn't about to force the serperior to do anything. But there was still one trick – a low blow that he hadn't been hoping to use. But a wicked smile stretched across his face. "And here I thought you of all people would want to see Naomi…" Aster's eyes widened a little, but he tried to play it cool.
"But… you didn't say anything about—"
"She's one of the attractions, after all," Aaron replied. "Nathan filled me in. Something about her being a ride pokémon or whatever. I'll tell her you said 'hi,' though."
"No, I'll tell her myself," he stated.
"So that's all it took? You sorry thing," Marcus said, receiving a harsh glare in response. "So much for a serperior's pride."
"Whatever. I can't wait to watch you get turned down from those rollercoasters," Aster said, holding out one of his vines above the lucario's head. "You must be this tall to ride!"
As the two bickered in the living room, Aaron approached Nora, who had retreated to the kitchen. She was scrubbing a glass, evidently one she had used to take a drink. "And what about you?"
"I can stay here. Look after the house while you guys are gone," she said.
"I mean… you could. I'd like for you to come with us if possible, but if you are uncomfortable..." The typhlosion set the glass in the drying rack. It was at that moment Aaron finally took a good look at her. The fur on Nora's back was more blue than green; her eyes favoring brown over red. It wasn't uncommon for such features to differ among members of the same species – much the same as humans. The spots on her back, meant to release flammable gasses, had fur growing over them from lack of use.
"I guess… it wouldn't hurt." She turned to face him. "Wouldn't want to be the one downer, right?" He smiled at Nora.
"I think you'll enjoy it – have you ever been?" She shook her head. "Well that puts you on equal footing with the others. I'm sure they'll go off and do their own thing, so we can do whatever you'd like."
"O-okay…"
With everyone on board, Aaron called for Saturday off, gave Nathan the news, and prepared for classes that day. In all the commotion, it felt like he was forgetting something, but he couldn't determine what.
Aaron found out when he arrived at class and saw the papers being passed out.
That week had gone by uneventfully – school, then work. Sleeping uneasily on a couch not meant for both a human and a lucario. As the weekend drew near, though, Aaron couldn't deny that he had been looking forward to the event. Aside from holidays and a few breaks here and there, he never requested Saturdays off.
Nathan picked them up around lunch. Despite the proximity of the fairgrounds – which had, until six years ago, been the location of the city's electric gym – the ride took over an hour, with traffic being the main culprit. Once they pulled into a reserved spot, it looked as though the line would take another. Nathan remained seated and sent a text message, then motioned for Aaron to get out. A few minutes passed before an employee came and slid open a back gate that was meant to allow the various food trucks in and out. Aaron watched as his friend was handed nearly a dozen blue and yellow striped bracelets. Each had a golden border, with lettering that read 'VIP.'
"Those are…"
"Favor from a friend," Nathan replied before letting out his espeon and charizard. "Now let everyone out and tell 'em to put these on." Aaron released his pokémon and did as he was told, fitting a bracelet onto his own wrist. There was a hard, rectangular piece on the front that had a prominent bar code. This must be new, Aaron thought. He didn't remember these from twelve years ago. Then again, they hadn't purchased VIP passes then, either.
And as they slipped into the side entrance, food was most certainly on his mind. Dozens of enticing aromas merged into the air as grills burned and pots boiled. Food carts showcasing cuisine from all over the world lined this part of the fairgrounds, and people mostly stood as they ate, the few tables being packed. Lines ranged from a few people to a few dozen. A massive rollercoaster stretched around half the perimeter; shouts drew closer, then further away in an instant. They all stopped beside one of the food carts.
"A'ight, so here's the plan," Nathan said, accidentally slipping into his naturally southern accent while pointing at a massive tent in the distance. "See that giant tent over there? That's where we'll need to meet up at five."
"That's… not much of a plan…" Aaron said. "That's like… well, four and a half hours from now."
"You aren't supposed to come to the fair with a plan," Trina said.
"Exactly. The plan is to have fun. Now go run and play," Nathan joked, shooing them off with his hand.
"Alright," Aaron said, rolling his eyes. "But first, I'm going to grab something to eat." He pulled out his wallet, but Nathan shook his head.
"My buddy was able to hook us up good. Each of those bracelets has thirty dollars for food. He's pretty well respected around these parts."
"I think I'm in love with your friend," Krista said before rushing to get in a line. Images of sweet rice cakes and other pastries were plastered on the cart. Aaron was tempted to jump in behind her.
"Y'all take care," Nathan said, walking away from the group. Adira's hand clasped his as they blended in with the crowd.
"Well… I guess we all go off and do our own thing." The words fell on deaf ears for the most part; both Trina and Aster had already disappeared. Marcus and Aiden were saying something inaudible over the commotion, then the lucario jumped on his back. The charizard flew towards a massive ride that made him shake his head. One that would raise them into the air and spin them wildly around on swings – a ride that Aaron felt would make him sick. "Guess that just leaves us, then," Aaron said to the typhlosion. "You hungry?"
"I guess I could eat something," she replied. His eyes scanned over the multitude of carts. She eventually noticed a stand a few carts down that sold typical fair food. Massive corn dogs stood in a heated glass display. "Those look good…"
"Alright," he said. They stood in line for five minutes before holding out their bracelets for the vendor to scan. Two massive corn dogs, nearly a foot-and-a-half in length, were offered to them. Nora slowly nibbled on hers as they wandered around.
He figured now would be as good a time as any to start becoming familiar with the typhlosion. The past week, as always, had been busy, and they hadn't interacted much aside from the small snippets of conversation at the end of each day. But where to start and what to say?
Nora's eyes darted around frantically, and Aaron was beginning to see why she had initially wanted to stay home. He mentally berated himself, having coaxed her into this. "Are you alright?" he asked. "You look nervous."
"No – I'm fine…" She didn't mean it. "I guess… I'm just not much of a crowd person." He nodded; that much was apparent.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to force you out of your comfort zone or anything. I just thought it might be fun." Nora released a deep breath.
"No… it's my fault. I shouldn't be so skittish." She rolled her eyes. "Not like anyone here's trying to rob us or anything."
"Well… most of these game vendors are," he joked, before pointing at a basketball game. "Look at that one over there. Notice anything off?" Nora squinted her eyes, but then shook her head. "The rim's bent into an oval."
"Oh! I see it now. That's dirty…"
"That and I'm pretty sure that's at least a foot taller than the average basketball net. The best three-pointer in the world would fail against that thing." As if to prove his point, a ball hit the rim and bounced away. The fool playing the game handed the operator another couple of bills to try his luck again. "Most of these games have some sort of catch. Those that don't tend to be pure chance and odds that don't favor you at that. You'd be better off buying the prize yourself." She nodded but said nothing. "Of course, it's meant to be fun. See any you'd like to try?"
"I don't think so…" The typhlosion took a step towards a few stalls, browsing them with limited interest, until she looked back at her new trainer. "What is this one?"
"Oh," Aaron said, "I've seen this. Same as when I was a kid. You get a ping-pong ball into one of those bowls and they give you a goldfish." She looked at him as though Aaron were insane.
"Why… would you want a goldfish as a prize?"
"No clue," he admitted. They walked away from the stand. "Wouldn't wanna walk around with one in my hands all day, either. It's dumb, but that game's as old as this fair itself." A cling sounded as a nearby man hurled a baseball at some milk jars, only managing to knock over a few within the stack. One stand had a series of water guns and targets. Darts and underinflated balloons, sideways buckets to toss balls into, and a horizontal rope latter that would have to require flawless balance to cross. Maybe Marcus might have a chance. Seeing that Nora wasn't too interested in the various games, Aaron decided that it was best to move on.
Performers could also be seen everywhere one looked. One portly man on an elevated platform took a large swig of some clear liquid, holding a torch in front of his mouth, and bellowed a large torrent of flame. She looked at the display for a moment until Aaron noticed something that he had missed.
"Look over there!" he said, motioning to one game that they wouldn't be able to rig against him. "Now that's something I can do!" He approached the stand and looked it over; it wasn't as flashy or attention-grabbing as some of the others, but there were a few people in line. The setup seemed simple enough: there was a hole in a piece of fabric to toss a football through, to which it would hit a metal plate. Three different lines had been drawn on the ground, each at varying distances from the goal. He watched as people took their shots, most of which were at least a foot off target.
"Watch when it hits," he told Nora, pointing at the guy in front of him. She watched intently; the ball contacted the cloth, causing it to deform, but the hole remained still. "See that?"
"There's a ring…" she replied.
"Yep. Only a perfect throw would make it in." He pulled out his wallet, approaching the operator – a guy a few years older and more focused on his phone than anything – and handed him three bills. That should be enough.
"First line is a small prize," the man said without looking up. "Last one is large." Aaron smirked at Nora.
"Which one do you want?" he asked, motioning towards the variety of stuffed animals hanging from the stand. All of them were based on pokémon, albeit far more cartoonish. She giggled upon seeing one of them. He smiled, liking the sound.
"The dragonite up there is cute," she said. It had comically small wings that would realistically serve no purpose. Paired with overly large eyes and a stuck-out tongue, it was without a doubt the dumbest thing he'd seen. And it was coming home with them.
Aaron's fingers took their instinctive positioning among the laces. The ball was a bit underinflated, but that was something he knew how to account for. He took his stance, snapped his arm back, and hurled the ball with blazing speed. A loud ping sounded as it bounced off the metal ring surrounding the hole. "Hey… that was really close," Nora said, receiving a nod from Aaron.
"I started football in fifth grade," he said, taking his stance once more. "Played quarterback up until I graduated high school." With another fast throw, the clatter of a metal plate sounded. The operator looked up, then shrugged, pocketing his phone as Aaron specified his prize of choice, which he handed to Nora. It was nearly as tall as she was, and had an actual dragonite seen the thing, it would likely be offended by the depiction.
"Wow…" she said, tucking the large stuffed creature under her arm. "You're really good at that."
"We won regionals my last year," Aaron replied. "Anything else up there that you like?" He had said it as though they were going shopping.
"Only one win per customer," the operator said, before ushering the next player forth. Aaron rolled his eyes before setting the last football on the counter; if he'd wanted to, he could have cleaned the prizes out. Figures they'd put a cap on the one damn skill-based game here…
The two of them wandered around the fairgrounds aimlessly. Nora kept to herself for the most part, but her eyes scanned over the various attractions. The art gallery was one of the few things she seemed to take interest in. Paintings from various skill levels were on display, few of which had received small ribbons, and another section in the corner featured a glass display with ceramics and sculptures. They laughed upon seeing a horrid depiction of a squirtle by a third grader.
As she silently looked at the paintings, Aaron did his best to look attentive, but it was impossible to convince himself that he was anything but bored. Pictures of natural scenery and landscapes were no different to him than portraits and still-life. Then there was that abstract crap that looked like someone flung colors onto the canvas without any real precision and called it a day…
But she enjoyed it – or at least she seemed to – so he remained silent, pretending to look at the artwork with her. One painting showed a prominent sunrise peaking over a city. Buildings were hollowed out, overtaken by plant life and falling into dilapidation. It hadn't won anything, but at the bottom was a bold message.
You wouldn't like it if it was your home.
It was morbid, but he understood it to be a statement regarding the constant conflicts like the ones at the Desert Resort between wild pokémon and construction workers. Pierce had mentioned a fight with some other members of his evolutionary line against workers surveying their territory for a project. Humans won. They always did.
"This one's nice…" she all but whispered. A blue and white setting of Mount Lanakila showed two ninetales and several kits which were young enough to only have individual tails. One was receiving a loving nuzzle from the presumable mother while another looked out towards the world without any fear. Though Aaron didn't want to be here, the painting did offer a happy feeling. How it had only received third place was beyond him.
"Yeah, it is."
"They were a common sight where I was from," Nora said with a tiny smile. "Of course, they weren't the Alolan kind, and they tended to keep to themselves. The older ones never let anyone too close. They were very protective."
"And what about your species?" Aaron asked.
"Very similar, but we weren't nearly so adventurous. We tended not to travel around or stand out in plain sight. We hid in our caves and our forests. Better to avoid humans," she explained. That made him curious.
"But it isn't legal for a trainer to just march in and start catching. You'd be jailed for kidnapping."
"And yet people do it," Nora replied. "Trainers sometimes don't care. Then you've got the poachers… and our species is often sought after." Aaron nodded; while they had been here, he had noticed the looks she had received. Those deemed 'starters' were prized, and she was even more so given her foreign origin.
"Then… why did you join a trainer?" She looked away from the painting, the dragonite plush nearly touching the ground, and quietly swallowed.
"I… would have been dead weight to my group. Another mouth to feed without contributing anything. I knew I couldn't make fire. I didn't know why, but… I always knew." She gazed in his general direction, seeming to focus on his shoes. "But I also knew that most humans weren't bad – not all pokémon are good, after all – so your kind wouldn't be any different. And then there was always that chance of getting that trainer who would love you more than life itself. I saw Sofia one day, and she looked… happy with her team." A sigh escaped her, but then a small smile. For a moment, it seemed as though the people heading in every direction ceased to be, and it was just the two of them. But then her eyes squinted shut. Nora shook her head. "They were all welcoming. But… I didn't know they were looking to go professional. I'd already adjusted, and… I was too scared to say anything. And maybe they could fix me – at least, that was a hope I always held. But nothing changed. I left my home so that I wouldn't be a burden, only to be someone else's."
The trainer gulped. This had been more than he'd heard from her since she joined them. Aaron only wished that it had been under better circumstances. He didn't really know how to deal with situations like this; everything had more or less fallen into place with the others. All he could do was be supportive and hope for the best.
"You aren't a burden, Nora. Don't ever think you are for one second." He scanned the room, looking for a way out – it would be better for him to find something to use as a distraction. Something to take her mind off such horrible thoughts. And he knew just what to use. "Let's get outta here. I think I know something you'll enjoy." She nodded, seemingly just as ready to chance the subject. The plush was pulled against her side tightly.
The fairgrounds were opposite to the amusement park that was always present in Nimbasa. Whenever the state fair arrived, the two merged into one massive attraction with a certain amount of proceeds going to the city as a result. He led her through crowds and into the corner of the park where an age-old attraction – one that the city was known for – was stationed.
"Have you ever been on one before?" he inquired, seeing her shake her head.
"No. I've seen it before but never ridden it."
"First time for everything then, right?" The Ferris wheel was among the tallest in the world and had witnessed countless fairgoers and young couples over the past half-century it had been in service. Aaron hadn't been on the ride himself but had heard that the view of the city was well worth the line.
Or at least he hoped so upon looking at the size of it.
When it came time for them to get on, they were the third passengers to board the massive wheel. A young couple stepped off as the operator ushered Aaron and Nora into the pokéball-shaped cabin. A curved glass ceiling closed over them, and shortly after the next passengers were let on. Their cabin climbed higher with each stop. Aaron did his best not to look towards the ground.
It was when they had reached the halfway point that he accidentally did, a knot forming within his stomach. People were still being loaded onto carts, one or two at a time, and once the last had boarded, two more rotations would commence. "There's the university," Aaron said, pointing to the series of buildings that he was quite familiar with. She nodded, likely having known the location from Sofia. "What do you think of the view?"
"It's very nice," she said, then noticing his death grip on the rail. "Are you alright? You… you're pale."
"Yeah, I'm fine," he grinned. "Just not a big fan of heights…" Her head tilted.
"Then why did you pick a Ferris wheel of all things?"
"I dunno – thought you might like it. Seemed like a good idea at the time." Nora laughed, then shook her head. Aaron decided to distract himself and initiate the conversation he had wanted to for several days. Hopefully, she would take to it well. "So, Nora… what are your thoughts so far?"
"My thoughts?" she asked. "About what?"
"On everything, really. Let's start with the others."
"Well… they're nice," she said. Maybe she was hoping to end it there, but as Aaron remained silent, the typhlosion continued. "Krista is… a bit much at times, but she's a good friend."
"Yeah, I can get that," Aaron replied with a grin.
"I haven't spoken much with Marcus or Aster, but they seem cool. So does… what's your human friend's name?"
"Oh, Nathan?"
"Mhm. He also seems really nice. Him and his pokémon." She gripped the dragonite plush against her side, staring out the window towards their city. Several flying-types coasted throughout the cityscape, and a trainer could be seen coasting on her salamence without a care in the world. Even the thought of that could bring Aaron into a sweat. "But—"
"Hmm?"
"His wife… something seems… off…"
"Oh, Adira? Do you mean the fact that she's mute?" Aaron asked.
"No. I mean… I don't know, but I just feel like there's something strange about her." She looked at him, almost as if hoping for an answer, but he shrugged.
"I've known them for two years and I haven't seen anything too weird. Well… other than the fact that she's apparently smarter than Nathan… without a college degree." He shook his head; that only suggested that she was intelligent and assertive. He strongly doubted Nathan would have lied about something like that, especially when it had come from such a trivial conversation matter as help on a particular homework assignment.
"I understand," Nora replied, content to let the matter go. They hit the highest point of the wheel, seeing Driftveil over the river and the mountain range behind the port city. To think that the distance between these two cities – polar opposites – was only a bridge away, was a strange thought to him. Two of the most powerful people in the world, intent on destroying the other, and yet they were only a few miles apart.
Aaron wanted to ask more – especially on how well she was settling into her new home – but maybe that would be moving too quickly. Nora would open up whenever she felt ready. All he needed to do was to provide the nudge from time to time. She seemed to be content with the others, and that was more than enough for now.
Marcus and Aiden were the last ones to join them at the tent with only a few minutes to spare. A few people were crowded around the massive structure, but admittance was only permitted for those who had tickets – an event within another. A few were still being sold by a price gouger around the premises.
"Looks like it's a full house," Aaron stated. He looked at the back of his ticket, now with the end portion ripped off. On the top it said the name of the show: A Lugia's Tears.
"Yeah. It's a popular event," Nathan replied. "Surprised you haven't heard of it." It was difficult to hear anything inside of the tent with all the loud ongoing conversations. The interior had been set up to resemble an amphitheater with large bleachers stretching around in a semi-circle. Most people had already taken their spots. Nathan pointed to an open section of adjacent seats within the central seats.
Aaron gripped his jacket against himself as they shuffled between both human and pokémon onlookers to their seats. The bleachers had small signs designating each ticket's number, and the nine of them found their respective places. It was dark; a vendor traversed the room, offering freshly baked pretzels to anyone interested. Nathan ended up sharing one with his wife.
Aiden leaned over and said something to Krista over the noise of the crowd. She nodded, and the two of them switched places, the charizard now being beside Aaron. "Hey," Aiden said cheerfully. The audino had settled into her new spot. Behind her was the reason for the switch: a small child who likely wouldn't have been able to see over Aiden without standing.
"Hey. You and Marcus have a good time?" Aaron asked.
"Yep!"
"That's good." He clasped his hands together, grateful for the small amount of warmth that radiated from the dragon. The cold bite within the air had worsened as the night drew near. "What's this show about?"
"No telling! They change it every year," Aiden said with a smirk. "Besides, even if I did know, that would ruin the surprise!" It wasn't clear what surprise that would be – there was absolutely nothing to see. No performers, obstacles or even people. Just a blank stage. There were very few seats left unoccupied throughout the bleachers, so he imagined it wouldn't be much longer, but for what, he wasn't sure.
"And what about you, Aster?" Aaron asked the serpent next to him. "You kinda disappeared on everyone. Did you have a good time?" The serperior tightened his coil, his head peaking out on top, giving a slight nod.
"It was alright. I look forward to crawling under a blanket when we get home."
"Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't know the show would be this late." It wasn't exactly hard to determine why Aster didn't enjoy the cold. Once again, Aaron regretted encouraging a member of his team to tag along, but then again, the grass-type had changed his mind upon hearing of Naomi's presence, and he had lived in Unova long enough to know how cold it got late into fall. He was about to offer to switch places with him when a heavy tarp was pulled over the circular opening.
"Shhh. It's starting," Aiden said as the room went dark. Mostly dark – the flame on his tail, while not actually a source of significant heat, did produce some light. The charizard quickly stuffed his tail under the bleacher before eagerly looking forward. Everything fell still as voices came to a hush. Aaron felt like he was missing something until a thin purple mist began to swirl around the tent.
Small lights shimmered amidst the fog, condensing into glowing spheres that hovered in place. One was right in front of them, almost close enough for Aaron to reach out and grab it. They started moving, revolving around the stage, and picked up speed until they were whizzing around the tent. Violet clouds thickened into a vortex in the center, spreading out until it began to draw close to the frontmost members of the audience, causing many people to gasp. And then they were gone.
"What the hell is this?" Aaron asked, bewildered by what he was seeing. He looked over to Nathan, who only smiled and gave a shrug in response, and then to his own pokémon as if they had the answer. Marcus curiously looked at the scene before him as it worked its way outward, enveloping audience members into a purple abyss.
'None of it's real…' the lucario's voice sounded within his head.
'Then what is it?' Aaron questioned back.
'I don't know. An illusion of some sort – and an impressive one at that. I'm not sure who's making it, though.'
'You can see through this?' Aaron asked.
'When I focus. Now get out of my head. I want to watch.'
'You literally started this conversation,' the trainer replied, rolling his eyes. The mist took over their row. He could barely make out the figures of the pokémon on either side of him. He almost felt like holding his breath, uncertain whether or not it was safe. A moment passed before he assumed the entire room was overtaken by the fog. But as quickly as it came, it began to collapse towards the center, and once it passed Aaron's face, that was when everything changed.
He was inside a cave, only able to see faint outlines of those around him. Wavy sand, soft as silk, stretched along the ground where the stage was, carried into the cave by the gentlest of tides which licked the shores before retreating. A pair of large fish were positioned on a large rock smoothened by countless years of erosion. But the main feature was in the center. A slim stream of light shone from the tiniest of holes within the cave ceiling, highlighting a pristine nest that had been built by something large. A sapphire-blue egg lay there.
Ripples spread as a pair of white heads peaked above the water's surface, treading towards the nest with heavy yet gentle footsteps. Wow… Aaron thought as the two massive creatures came to a halt by the nest before taking their place around the egg. Illusion or not, this was likely as close as he would ever come to seeing a legendary pokémon… The larger male nuzzled his mate before they let sleep overtake them.
Another mist – this one being like the steam from a hot shower – rose from the ground, clouding the display once again. It soon fell, revealing a plethora of water-type pokémon at the cave entrance. The two lugias leaned in close to the egg, eagerly waiting as thin cracks spread along the crystalline shell. A small segment was smashed out. The tiniest of chirps came from within, and after a few more pokes and prods, a hatchling merely a foot tall with a lighter blue coloration looked out into the large world around him. Cries of joy sounded from the other pokémon as the newborn lugia's parents showered him with affection. Aaron heard his audino practically squeal from the display.
The next scene showed a slightly older legendary, having gotten comfortable with the concept of walking, and exploring the cave – though there wasn't much to see down here. Various flashes showed that the small lugia often looked at the light – a small window into an uncertain world. But that train of thought was interrupted with the arrival of his mother, who swam into the cave with a plump pink fruit in her mouth. The small lugia abandoned all other thoughts as he chirped in excitement.
Scenes came and went in a similar fashion, portraying small fragments of the young lugia's life. He learned to swim through the ocean waters with all the grace and etiquette expected of his species, and once he was large enough, flight came with the careful guidance of his father. One day the three of them went to an island; though it was not large, a small village was there. The buildings were made of clay, stone and wood and were occupied by humans and pokémon alike. No words were spoken within this illusory play, but the villagers, the humans among them being Asian based on their complexion, all bowed on their hands and knees with the various species of pokémon doing the same.
The young lugia tilted his head in curiosity. His mother leaned forward to an older man who appeared to be an elder or representative of the village who clutched a twisted wooden staff with various engravings. Without so much as a word, she nodded, somehow knowing all that needed to be said, and with her mate, they spread their wings and took off, launching themselves into the sky. The child followed suit, doing his best to keep up. The illusion panned out, giving a view of them all circling the island overhead; the two adults released a cry that shook the heavens.
Shimmering droplets rose from all around. Aaron reached forth and held his hand out, watching as they passed through him like he was not there at all. They all rose to the same point: above the island. Large, swirling columns of the clearest water sprung up from the ocean and spread out among the skies, forming large, dense clouds. The child opened his mouth and released a happy cry. He did not know what was going on but was excited from the display all the same.
The water kept coming, making the clouds larger and denser until they spread around the island and were unable to withstand any more pressure. It began raining – a small drizzle at first, but it gradually turned into a torrential downpour that filled irrigation systems, wells, and any other container left out for collection.
Years pass and the lugia slowly grew to the height of the average human, though not nearly as large as either of his parents. Under the loving care he lived in secrecy, away from the prospective eyes of trainers or technology. He could fly without any issues and had become adept over his own elements.
But one day adept hadn't been enough.
The three of them were flying when the clouds condensed. A tremendous rumble boomed throughout the sky; clouds condensed, but unlike the ones they had made, these looked dark and raced in every direction. Wind whipped at their wings, and the mother looked to her mate in fear. None of them knew what was happening; this wasn't their doing.
There was little indication as to the time period of this story, but when the earth shook and the waters raged, the setting of the story became far clearer. The behemoth and leviathan, while not in the immediate vicinity, had made their effects known all the same.
The father cried out, signaling for them to try and find a place to land. There was nothing. But there was even less time to dwell on that fact. The wind threatened to fling them out of the air. Droplets hit like bullets as waves several stories rose. He motioned for them to take refuge in the water. The effects would not be as severe and given their species could hold their breath for an impressively long time, the depths were by far preferable to the hurricane and tsunamis. The older male tucked his mighty wings and dove towards the sea.
The younger one released a startled shriek as he was pulled into the air, slung by the wind as though he were nothing more than a pidgey, and as his eyes went wide, he found himself experiencing pure terror for the first time in his life. He was mortal. Now, he knew that more than ever. His mother rushed towards him before being hurled aside from a similar draft. He flapped with every ounce of strength in an effort to get to his parents. The lugia screamed. His muscles all quivered as his own element had turned against him. Vortexes sprung out of the water, twisting into wicked pillars that towered into the sky. He refused to give up, and with a strength he didn't know he had, the lugia furiously flapped until he reached his mother, clasping his wings around her frame and crying out in fear. She pulled them both towards the churning waters below.
And upon submerging, they realized that there was no safety to be found here, either. Colossal boulders and corpses of every creature within the sea were flung around in a deadly barrage. Two smashed one another not too far away from the three legendaries. What sounded like nothing more than a crack would have killed without effort, and while the strength of their species was unquestionable, they were forced to face the realization that they were not all that different from many of the other species whose corpses littered the waters. Mortal. If they stayed here, they died. It was as simple as that.
They surfaced once again, fighting the forces of nature that they used to command in an effort to retrace their path. The young lugia squinted his eyes as his wings felt like they would be ripped from his frame. He didn't want to die here. Every flap of his mother's wings became another jolt through his own. There was no telling how far they had moved or how far they had yet to go, and it was impossible to see far beyond their immediate vicinity. A shrill screech sounded ahead of him as the older male tried in vain to pull up. A wave crashed into them and pulled them into the dark abyss, where the quaking of the earth below and the chaos within made it impossible to determine up from down – or to see the remnants of a fishing boat hurling towards them.
A muffled sound was heard. The lugia could barely make out the details, but a shrill, scream-like cry from his mother brought his attention to the scene ahead of him. The blade of a propeller had embedded itself within his father's neck. The older lugia was scared, and as blood was swiftly carried away by the torrent around them, he looked to his mate and child with a gaze that equally showed fear and regret. A gaze that became frozen on his face.
The young lugia sobbed into his mother's chest as she wrapped her wings around his smaller frame, intent on protecting the child from the world around him. And as darkness closed in, the mother hummed the sweetest tune. A song made by humans for them. One that she had often sung to her baby. With a tearful resolve, she closed her eyes, tightening her grip on the child as darkness closed around them.
Aaron shifted in his seat as the illusion stopped for a brief moment. The room was pitch black, and to his side he heard Krista sniffle. But eventually the sound of mild waves spread throughout the tent.
He woke and found himself face down on an unfamiliar shore. Several krabby scuttled away upon seeing his eyes open, and as he shook his head, trying to regain his bearings, the memories of what had happened rushed back. There was no ear-shattering roar. No impressive display of rage or anguish. Instead, he made no attempt to get up as tears streamed down his face. The young legendary sobbed into the sand.
A scene skip showed him wandering back to his home, which had been seemingly untouched by the chaos outside. The village his parents helped had been destroyed as the inhabitants fled to higher ground. There was nothing left for him here. Not on this island nor any of those around it. It all served as a reminder of what he would never have again. But what the lugia wanted to flee the most was the sea. It had, in the blink of an eye, taken everything from the young legendary, and he would now go somewhere the waters could not find him. Propelling himself from the ocean, the lugia spread his wings and climbed into the air, soaring by starlight towards a new land.
The sun had risen and he was still gliding. There had been no indication as to how much time had passed, but as he flew North a large chain of islands was the first thing he saw. Though he was not familiar with the area, the lugia had learned how to navigate using the stars, and while he sought a more landlocked location, a glimmer in the sky caught his attention. A diamond amongst the clouds pulled him off his path. He drew closer to it, unable to remove his gaze until he passed through a lone cloud, coming face to face with the cause of his distraction. Several other sets of wings.
The lugia tilted his head as the far smaller, blue birds investigated him. The air felt frigid in their presence. Several chirps sounded from their short beaks as they circled him, nearly a dozen in number, and eventually they dove towards the series of islands, marked by large jutting rocks and an obvious cave system. One of the birds looked over its shoulder towards the young legendary, though he wasn't sure if that was an invitation. He took the chance and hoped that it was.
The sky dissipated and reformed into a massive cave system that twisted in every direction. As the lugia went deeper, the temperature dropped and ice clung to every structure. Salt water had not entered this place; the waters were crystalline and chilled to the very bone.
Time went on and the lugia came to associate with the articunos at every opportunity. It was from them he learned to form ice and manipulate the temperature to his content. But they tended to be a very stoic and indifferent population; each member kept to their immediate family and rarely associated with the others outside of hunting, leaving the lugia nearly as alone as he had been before. He didn't regret his time here, but it was not what he sought in a home. So, after several months, he left.
Caves gave way to a forest and a distant mountain range. He passed over a human settlement with ornate and traditional buildings, avoiding sight by doing so during a stormy night. The lugia climbed higher into the air as the towering rocks drew nearer. An occasional sighting by humans could be possible this close to one of their cities, but the mountains offered seclusion for flying types, and anyone who dared to challenge him at such heights would be making a grave mistake. Young or not, he knew that he was far more powerful than the average pokémon.
Lightning lit up the black clouds as droplets slammed into his cheeks. His eyes narrowed. Something wasn't right here. He had seen many storms before, even watching his parents create them, but none of them were like this. Thunder was a constant occurrence; once a jolt launched towards him, he realized that this storm had not been naturally formed. Electricity coursed through his body. A shrill screech escaped his maw and he tucked his wings, diving towards the ground and turning to escape the painful bolt. A look over his shoulder revealed the zapdos closing in on him along with several others. With a mighty roar, the lugia commanded the storm around him, pivoting around and thrusting his powerful wings forth, launching a blast that rivaled the thunder in volume. Water pulsed into cascading ripples as the wind obeyed his command, slamming into each of the electric-types who dared to attack him.
He singled out the one who had first attacked and charged as the zapdos tried to regain his bearings. Tried, but failed to react in time. The lugia nailed him with his full body weight, which even at this age was far more then a zapdos could hope to match. Unconscious, his opponent fell out of the sky, and once another member of his species grabbed him, the lugia was hot on their trail, intent on making them regret ever striking him.
But as soon as they reached the ground, the zapdos who had saved what he presumed to be their leader bowed before him, throwing herself at his mercy. His aggressive stance lightened once he noticed that all the others had done the same.
Their species was a peculiar one; vehemently aggressive to any outsiders – a stance that the lugia had come to understand – but fiercely loyal to each other. They had not known who it was that they had attacked that night on account of the dense storm and his smaller stature but had been quick to accept him as one of their own. They helped him hone his senses and master the art of controlling the weather. Under their example, the lugia learned the value of camaraderie.
Over a year passed as indicated by the changing of seasons. Cherry trees colored the landscape pink. A single ornate tower stood prominent above all, even when the human city was somewhat concealed by foliage. Apparently there had been another nearby made for his own species.
He stretched out his body in a manner more befitting of a persian than a lugia. His time here had been nice. Far from the ocean he despised, it could even be considered a home of sorts.
But it was not his. This land was not meant for one such as him; a zapdos could survive off of fruits, seeds and insects. A lugia could not. There were several streams nearby, but those in the mountains did not have fish large enough for his diet. Those that did were far too close to humans.
For the second time he decided to leave. This time, he headed southwest. The day the legendary took flight, there were several zapdos there to see him off.
The mountains in this new place had few scraggly trees; basalt and ash were everywhere one looked. Some places were even coated grey like a dusted snow. The lugia found a river quite some distance away from human routes or settlements, and the prominent volcano hosted several species he had not seen before, one of which seemed to be the very spirit of fire itself. The flames from their wings danced wildly, licking up the air and flaring out at even the smallest of excitements. But they did not burn. He found himself marveling at their biology from afar, knowing that there were many things he did not understand about the world, until one of the three he was observing noticed him and approached.
It looked to be a small family, and the female had been the one to greet him. The lugia had not been expecting this and shuffled nervously. The other two times he had been met with either indifference or hostility, so this was new. Nevertheless, the bird extended a warm wing in greeting, and a cheery grin adorned her face. A grin that, for the first time since the accident, the lugia found himself replicating.
The three moltres had led him to their communal nesting site within the Mt. Chimney. Ledges along it served to keep him from direct exposure to the somewhat-active volcano. But it was hot; that much was clear. That was a sacrifice he was willing to make, though. Anything to avoid the sea.
Their population was far more vibrant. Everyone shared everything, looking after both old and young, strong and weak all the same. They were a jovial bunch full of life and he witnessed no aggression from anyone there. Maybe it was just this particular group of pokémon. Whatever the case, the lugia did not care, venturing in and out of the volcano as he saw fit, returning after visiting the river every so often. Trainers sometimes were nearby – mostly hikers who had few, if any, pokémon on them, and none had seen the legendaries who had become adept in the matter of concealing their presence.
It became clear that something else resided there. Every so often, a member of the group would venture into the depths of the volcano and would return hours later. One day he decided to see for himself what was down there.
Magma churned and spewed throughout the large caves which had no floor. He didn't know where he was going, and the interior of the cave system seemed to be a maze, but the lugia eventually came across a massive open space where the molten rock trickled into a large crater. In the middle was an enormous creature standing upright. He cried out to get the behemoth's attention. The moltres he had trailed seemed to panic upon seeing the uninvited guest.
The conversation between the two was unheard to the audience, but the general exchange was clear. The lugia found out what this creature was, and upon learning of his involvement in the crisis, he became enraged. Groudon was not affected one way or another, but rather responded with patience and understanding; his actions had not been his own at the time. Neither had his ocean-dwelling counterpart's. Images of the battle flashed in the air. The misguided people responsible clutched orbs made by the darkest secrets of ancient humanity in an attempt to control forces they couldn't even comprehend.
And it was in that sweltering cavern – at what felt like the very threshold of hell – that the lugia finally learned the truth. He closed his eyes. The sea was not to blame for the catastrophe, nor was the earth. Neither Groudon nor Kyogre had ruined his life. Humans had.
With a slow nod of respect, the lugia flew out of the cave system, exchanging some words with the moltres population he had come to cherish, though the heat was not something he would miss. While he had learned nothing in terms of his abilities, he felt more than ever that this could have been a home for him if the environment were different. But just like before, it was not meant to be. There was only one biome suited for a creature of his design. The very place that he had been fleeing this whole time.
The sea still brought painful memories, and it was doubtful that they would ever leave him completely, but now he knew that his efforts to escape the ocean that haunted him had all been for naught. It had not been the fault of the sea. Not the legendaries. It had simply been those weak, worthless humans who destroyed everything they touched. Their incompetence knew no bounds; they prayed when it suited them and sought domination every other moment. Why his parents had ever decided to help such wretched creatures was beyond him.
With some form of closure, the lugia flew east, eventually leaving the immediate confines of the mainland Hoenn area until the familiar island came into view. His eyes closed, he pictured himself as a child once more, flying alongside the two he longed for most. Not even stopping to look at the human village, he glided along the coast until the rocky cliffs came into view, then took a sharp dive into the water. It was cool and refreshing; he could not deny that he had missed it.
The inside of his former den looked exactly as he remembered it. Their feathers still littered the nest; even the footprints and wing marks from his parents remained undisturbed. He carefully placed one of his own into a print left by his father, seeing that it would not be long until the two were of identical size. A drop fell onto the sand, joined by another. He shook his head. A gleam of moonlight streamed through the cave ceiling onto the nest. The lugia made sure not to disturb the footprints, of which there were many – they were all sacred to him. He coiled around himself within a nest meant for three and drifted off to sleep.
The scene faded to black. Aaron looked at the time, noticing that this show had gone on for over an hour. It was as though they were watching a movie in person, and after quickly scanning the room, he found everyone else to be in a similar state: fully invested. He understood why every single seat was full.
Finally, the mist rose again.
The lugia swam through the ocean depths, a massive fish in his maw. He almost never surfaced aside from the occasional breath and was content to keep it that way. The humans above had their own life and he had his.
But that didn't last. It never did when it came to them. One day he arrived at his den only to find a dewgong there. She bowed in respect though he had no interest in formalities. He walked past her into his home. Whatever she said was lost on those hearing the play, but the general message was clear. She was requesting his help on behalf of the village. With a snarl, he turned her away.
The dewgong returned a week later with the same request, and like last time, the lugia turned her down, though far more irritable than the last. He would make her regret it if she pushed the matter a third time; after what they had taken from him, there was no chance he would consider helping humans.
And she just had to push her luck.
The messenger cried and pleaded, begging him with all humility to come to their aid. In his rage, the lugia whipped up a violent wind and launched her into the cave wall before roaring as loud as he could. She sobbed, hobbling back to the water and swam away. The legendary turned away and then realized what he had done. The inside of his den had been stirred in his attack, and with it, the marks left by his parents had disappeared. He fell on all fours.
Regret quickly turned into anger. Humans had taken them from him once, and now they weren't content to leave him be. With a lowly growl the lugia made up his mind: he was going to the village.
When he surfaced, the first thing he noticed was that the land was grey and dead. Humans and pokémon there alike ran forth, recognizing him as the child of the two that had helped them before. Old and young left the makeshift houses built in place of those that had been destroyed from the storm. The elders scrambled over themselves; incense was burned and torches were lit. Everyone bowed before him, prostrating themselves on the ground. The lugia remained motionless, staring down the village elder, and when the inevitable request came – when they begged him like they had begged his parents – he gave his response.
He shook his head.
Part of him relished their reaction – an outcry riddled with fear and suffering. Just like he had felt when their kind had robbed him of everything. They had grown complacent in their position in life and as such had assumed that he would be willing to help. Creatures as weak and inept as themselves should not have created a settlement on an island without significant access to fresh water; the famine they now faced was the natural order of things. Rather than taking a better course of action they constantly requested the help of legendaries. Unfortunately for them, those legendaries were dead.
Maybe he was wrong to withhold his aid. But if his parents had to pay for the sins of others, then these humans would be no different. Their wellbeing was not his problem. The lugia turned to leave, intent on making sure he was never contacted again, when he saw a human couple. They weren't old by human standards. What he was more interested in was the young child between them. A boy who was just as scared of the world he knew coming to an end. A boy that he could empathize with, and one who, like his parents, was unhealthily thin. One that would join the others in death if things continued along their current path.
The lugia released a drawn-out sigh. These people, short-sighted as they may be, did not deserve the idea of justice he had in mind. Nothing good would come out of inflicting the same pain he had felt onto them. As the hatred and hurt left his heart, he found the peace he had sought these past few years. The legendary spread his wings and launched himself into the air.
His eyes were closed as the same path taken by his parents was flown by the single lugia. The lullaby his mother had often sung sounded within his ears as though she were right beside him, and as he drew moisture from the sea into a massive cloud, the droplets from his own eyes merged with them. Into the storm he poured his everything. All of his pain matched in equal parts by the forgiveness he had come to feel – forgiveness towards the humans for what they had taken and towards himself for the hatred he had manifested over the years.
A lowly coo to his right caught his attention. Slowly he opened his eyes and found a single articuno. The lugia's head tilted, confused as to why she would be here when he heard a shriek from his left. A zapdos replied with a short nod, and before he had time to question the appearance of a second legendary bird, a final member of the elemental trio made his presence known. Flying through the condensing moisture, the flaming wings were unmistakable. The three fell in line behind lugia and offered their own contributions.
What purpose they had here was beyond him. But a fourth and final creature had made her appearance known in a light that forced him to look away. A cry of authority that matched his very own permeated through the skies – a creature that the other birds had led to him. Her feathers glistened and radiated every color of the rainbow. She looked at him, and with a slight nod, she descended to the island. Somehow, the lugia knew what needed to be done and followed suit, joining his counterpart in circling the ruined land. The water from the clouds, rather than pouring, was brought down in large tendrils that gently permeated everything below. Sunlight beamed. The ho-oh's golden light coated the ground.
The combined efforts of all five legendaries had a pronounced effect that took even them by surprise. Restorative waters and golden light covered the death throughout the island, energized by the other three, and replenished life where there was death. Leafless trees regained their essence, sprouting fruits, and withered crops sprouted anew. A faded landscape turned green as the music increased in volume. Their reservoirs full, the villages showered them with praise and gratitude, weeping in joy as they were spared from death.
Once their work was done, the lugia practically fell to the ground in exhaustion. He had outperformed his parents single-handedly using every bit of skill that he had acquired over his lifetime but yet at an age of adolescence. The three elemental birds cried out before heading in different directions. He stumbled towards the sea until he heard the gentle flapping behind. The ho-oh stayed there, a few wingspans away, and replied only with a sweet croon. He smiled as she took off. Somehow, he doubted this would be the last time he saw her.
As he slowly swam back to his den, the lugia was content. The pain might never be fully gone but he would not live his life with contempt anymore. Soft music played as the lugia drew near the cave, his movements becoming sluggish and eyelids heavy, and the waters around him spun to life. A gentle current, shining bright, wrapped itself around his form, breaking into two that spiraled around him. It carried him home as his strength faded. Once he was there, they swirled around; the lullaby rang clearly through his mind as the water briefly took the form of two familiar avians before dissipating.
The scene faded out. Everyone applauded the bittersweet story, several standing on their feet to do so, Nathan being one of them. Aaron was mesmerized by what they had witnessed and scanned the room for any hints. No projectors of any sort could be seen, and the only psychic he saw in the room was Trina – and he strongly doubted she would be able to accomplish anything like that. His answer came when a violet aura flared in the center of the stage. Air seemed to crystalize into millions of glimmering shapes the illusion was dropped. A lone zoroark stood there, holding a black and red scepter, and placed his hand over his chest, taking a theatric bow.
"Well damn," Aaron said.
"What did you think?" Nathan yelled over the roaring crowd.
"That was without a doubt the best movie I've ever seen…" He felt it was appropriate to call it that considering they'd been there for over an hour and a half. "And that zoroark did it all…" They were an incredibly rare sight; throughout the years training, this had been the first he had seen in person.
"Told you it was worth coming here on a Saturday," Nathan stated matter-of-factly. Nora rubbed her eyes, then hastily nodded.
"That was beautiful," she said. "I'm really glad we came."
As people crowded around the tent entrance, many huddled around the zoroark. Aaron decided to inspect and saw him cheerfully interact with the members of the audience, asking them what they liked and what they thought could have been better. No suggestions came as constant praise was heaped upon the dark-type.
"It brings me great pleasure to hear that you all enjoyed the show," he said, sporting a wolfish grin. Aaron was initially confused by the raspy sound of his voice until he realized that his translator had not been needed. This zoroark was able to speak English on his own accord.
Another family came in to get a closer look before a small girl around the age of four or five broke out into a run – far too late for the unprepared parents to stop her. She collided with the zoroark's leg, wrapping herself around him as the mother profusely apologized. "Oh? And might this be my most loyal fan?" he asked, kneeling down to the child's level.
He held his clawed hands open. A small light formed into a black and red poker chip which levitated in place. She tried to grab in excitement, but her small hand passed right through the illusion.
"Sometimes it's hard to separate fact and fiction," the zoroark said before reaching towards her ear, seemingly plucking another similar chip from nothingness. He flipped it with his opposable claw, snatched it out of the air, and handed it to the girl. This one was solid and had something scribbled onto it. Several onlookers laughed at the display. The child wore a beaming expression and hugged the illusionist again.
"I'm so sorry," the mother said. "She still hasn't learned personal boundaries." She managed to get her daughter, albeit reluctantly, to step back.
"Think nothing of it – she has brightened my night." He stood up and the scepter materialized in his left hand once again.
People dwindled away, and while Aaron was content to leave now, the illusionist's gaze managed to single Marcus out. "Would you look at that. Are you native to Unova?"
"Yes," the lucario replied.
"West or North?"
"West." There were two major, loosely-correlated groups where members of the lucario line dwelled; that must have been what he was asking. Aaron had found Marcus near Floccesy.
"I see. Well, I hope your abilities did not ruin the show for you." His tone made it hard to determine whether he was joking or serious.
"I didn't pay any mind to 'em," Marcus replied. "I knew it wasn't real, but I didn't see you on the stage at first. And I was too focused on the show to search for the cause of the illusions."
"So," the zoroark said pridefully, "you're saying – at least in some regard – that I managed to fool even a lucario."
"I didn't say—"
"Aww, let me have this one." He smiled triumphantly and Marcus mumbled something under his breath. "And besides, I probably could have remained undetected even if you had been looking for me. I have many tricks up my mane."
"Whatever you say," Marcus said. Aaron soon felt the touch of the lucario's mind. 'Look at him – that shit-eating grin. He's so damn proud of himself.'
'He's just messing around,' Aaron thought back.
'At my expense.' The trainer laughed; Krista was swarming the zoroark with questions.
'Ah, don't let it get to you. He's probably just trying to get a rouse outta you.' The trainer didn't forward the thoughts, but he could tell that it had worked.
"You know, it's rude to talk behind someone's back," the zoroark asked, taking Marcus by surprise, though it was clear he still wasn't taking any of this seriously. "Come on – you don't seriously think that a telepath wouldn't be able to recognize the signs from another. But in any case, if I have somehow offended, then you have my apology." Marcus said nothing but rolled his eyes.
"You're fine. It's whatever." The zoroark's hand reached into his mane and quickly withdrew something; with a flick of his hand, a card appeared between his claws and he extended it to the lucario, who took it hesitantly. Marcus looked at it, huffed, and handed it to Aaron. It was a joker from a standard deck, signed with three sharp, slanted letters that simply spelled out 'Zak.'
Once they stepped outside, the serperior asked to be returned to his ball – which Aiden grasped and bathed in a small flame as per his request. Aaron quickly stuck the warm metal sphere onto his belt. He waited for Nathan to join them, and soon, they were on their way home.
"Not exactly what I pictured when you had us meet at a big tent," Aaron admitted, "but that was awesome."
"Better than retail?" Nathan asked.
"A little bit," he replied, holding the oversized dragonite plush under his arm.
Special thanks to FuryWrites for beta reading this chapter.