Chapter Thirty-Four: Revelation

Aaron stared up at the bedroom ceiling a few mornings later, finding that Marcus had already gotten up for the morning while Aster slept soundly. It still hadn't fully dawned on him that his team had beaten Clay's of all people. Assuming that wasn't a one-off event, that made his team one of the most powerful in the world. That was a high they were still riding.

And yet, there was the unspoken truth. His team had done phenomenally well to even be on the same field as Clay's for more than a few seconds, but the fact was that they had been losing that fight pretty steadily – until Nora. Her skills had been sharpened, turning her into a fighter that could hold her own against any team. And to think Sofia had traded her away for her 'lack of battling capabilities.' All the training with Adira had paid off greatly; in truth, without that, Aaron doubted she would have made it past Knox alone, much less the other two. With that in mind, it seemed as though the latias had swept Clay once again, this time indirectly.

He slipped a t-shirt on and trudged towards the kitchen to start the coffeemaker. The television was already going with those damn workouts. He rolled his eyes and headed out there, seeing two pairs of eyes stare at him like deer in the headlights. Aaron paused, fully awake, and snickered at the scene. Brooke was sitting on top of Marcus' back while he was frozen in a pushup position. The floatzel hurriedly got off while Marcus stammered out some sort of excuse. "Am I… interrupting something?"

"No! Nothing like that!" the lucario stated. "I just needed some weight for an exercise, that's all!"

"I mean, I'm pretty sure Krista's awake. Heard her talking with Nora when I walked past."

"…I don't need that much weight." Aaron shrugged. Any other time, Brooke would've laughed, but right now she averted her gaze.

"Gotcha. Well, you two carry on. I'm going to make the coffee and get stuff ready for breakfast." He smirked upon turning around.

It didn't take long for Nora to join him in the kitchen, sipping at her mug as she leaned against the counter. The workout routine in the living room had reached a dead end following his walk-in, and that was fine by him: it was really annoying to hear that trainer always counting down.

"Any particular reason you're staring?" he asked as he whisked the eggs.

"Hmm? Oh, no reason at all."

"…I'm doing this wrong, aren't I?" he asked.

"Only a little bit." Aaron rolled his eyes, returning his focus towards making breakfast. A few seconds later, her arms went to his side. "That's okay, though," Nora added. "I find it really attractive that you're trying."

"Uh huh, sure." She guided him through the process, and it didn't take long for that wordless affection to permeate between them. Aside from her species, Aaron found himself experiencing many new things with her. Maybe that's what truly being in love was like: constant new discoveries that only made one grow fonder of the other. "You know what I find pretty damn attractive?"

"Hmm?"

"You sweeping half of Clay's team like a total badass." She rolled her eyes, though a smile was still on her face.

"And here I thought you were about to say something romantic…"

"What? That's totally romantic," Aaron rebutted as the eggs fried. "I mean, think of it this way: most the guys I know got girls who are only into partying or shopping or social media..."

"And how's all that working out for them right now?" Nora asked.

"Not very well. But you, on the other hand, absolutely kick ass and manage to look hot while doing it." Her ears flattened against her head as she looked away shyly.

"Even though I'm a typhlosion?"

"Especially because you're a typhlosion." She placed her hand to his cheek, standing tall and almost closing the distance when his phone rang. Glancing over, Aaron saw that his father was calling.

"I'll finish up here," Nora stated. "After you take care of that, we can pick up where we left off." He pecked her on the cheek before taking the phone outside. Aaron managed to answer the call right before it went to voicemail.

"Hey Dad." Aaron could hear the clinging of silverware against porcelain.

"Is there something you've been meaning to tell me?" The trainer froze upon hearing that. After a momentary pause, Aaron spoke up.

"…What do you mean?" He knew Robert wasn't exactly a fan of guessing games – or being kept in the dark about something, for that matter. And there were quite a few things he was unaware of…

"A certain video has been going around," his father stated. Aaron sighed; nothing too serious. At least, not compared to the other stuff…

"Oh, yeah – sorry about that. I just learned a few days ago that somebody filmed that whole thing…" And that was the truth.

"A bit on the crass side." Robert's fork touched the plate, and after a moment, he continued. "But you were right. Everyone who isn't in one of these two dumbass groups is pretty tired of them, especially since one of them tried to storm the cities a few nights ago."

"Yeah, no kidding. And I can assure you they'd have had no problem killing anyone they thought had something to do with Delta. Clay seemed pretty damn intent on it, anyways…"

"…It was you, wasn't it?" Robert asked. There was a silence between them as Aaron realized the point of the call.

"How…"

"Alexander mentioned a trainer managed to stall them out while reinforcements arrived. That was you the other night, wasn't it?"

"…I didn't want you and Mom to worry."

"Oh, we're way past that," Robert said. "Playing this little game with Omega is one thing – they don't kill people. But Alpha and Delta?"

"Look," Aaron interjected, "it wasn't exactly our choice. We were headed to you when we got captured. Had I not stalled Clay for time, I probably wouldn't be talking to you right now. What happened three nights ago was the last thing any of us intended."

"Son, you need to stop testing your luck. I'm begging you." Robert sounded sincere with that comment, and that scared Aaron. "I don't want to see you dead. To hell with Unova. You and your mother are all that matters to me."

"Dad… we can't stand by while these people tear everything apart. Clay was willing to level Nimbasa and Castelia if it meant putting an end to Delta. I wasn't about to let him shoot through nine innocent people to kill one bad." And that was that. If his father didn't like it, that wasn't Aaron's problem. Robert sighed.

"Stubborn as always. No idea where you get that from." Aaron rolled his eyes.

"No clue."

"Still… Clay. That's impressive as hell." Hearing that comment perked the trainer up.

"You should've seen the team – they were amazing. Nora kicked absolute ass – she damn near killed his garchomp." Maybe that wouldn't have been the best outcome, likely leading in their own deaths, but the fact that she had torn down one of the strongest teams on the planet spoke for itself.

"What I'd pay to see the look on that inbred's face when his ground-type team was knocked out by a typhlosion."

"He was scared as shit!"

"I bet he was!" Aaron laughed at his almost juvenile excitement about the event.

"You scare the shit out of your mother and I, but… what I'm trying to say is that we're proud of you, Aaron. These three groups are all fighting for some cause or another, but you're protecting and fighting for the average guy."

"Thanks, Dad." Aaron's smile dropped upon realizing his choice. He could keep things going the way they were, shifting conversation towards more casual topics and ending on a good note. And that was tempting. Or, Aaron realized, he could take advantage of Robert's happier demeanor and choose now to come clean about one other thing…

"Everything good?" Robert asked.

"Yeah," Aaron answered. "You know, Dad… there is something else I've been meaning to tell you." He regret the tone in which he'd said it; immediately Aaron's father shifted his focus back towards his son.

"What is it?" Robert's voice dropped. "What did you do?"

"Nothing bad! It's just… something I felt you and Mom should know." All the jubilance from their previous topic seemed to be lost.

"I'm listening."

"Well… it's actually about Nora, you see."

"Alright?"

"…After that whole thing where I nearly died, we started talking, and… well, we're… kind of a thing now." Robert dropped his fork and started coughing.

"Robert? What's wrong?!" Sarah said in the background. The trainer looked towards the ground, hoping for a much better reaction than that. He managed to either dislodge or swallow the food stuck in his throat before returning to the phone.

"Please, son – tell me that was some sort of stupid joke. That shit isn't funny…" Definitely not the response he'd hoped for…

"No, Dad. It's not a joke. Nora and I are together." Apparently his mother had heard this upon coming closer to the phone. After a pause, she was the one to speak.

"I can't say I'm surprised. Not after what all I saw over Thanksgiving and Christmas…" Robert released a sigh, somewhere between shock and disappointment. "You know what? That typhlosion happens to be the nicest girl he's ever brought home."

"But she's a pokémon." He returned his focus towards Aaron. "How long has this been going on?"

"…Well, it was the night I got out of the hospital, so… about four months?"

"And I'm just now hearing about this?!" Aaron flinched at his tone. He should have quit the conversation while he was ahead. But this was bound to happen eventually…

"I'm sorry! I didn't really know how to say it! I was scared that you'd react… well, like you're reacting now…" There was another pause between them. Aaron's throat felt dry as his father began a video call. He hesitated before allowing his camera to activate. Robert had his hands folded together and pressed against his chin as though he were trying to solve the most complex phenomenon in the universe – or maybe to contemplate where he'd gone wrong as a parent. Sarah stood behind with her arms folded, though she didn't look disappointed upon hearing the news. Maybe disappointed in him waiting so long to tell them, but not in his choice of being with Nora. Robert's voice croaked as he uttered the next words.

"Do you see yourself marrying her?"

"…I think I intend to."

"Arceus…"

"And you know what?" Sarah said. "You'll have our support if you do. Right, Robert?" He didn't respond to that, still taking a minute to process everything.

"I'm sorry for keeping you both in the dark about it. But… I'm not sorry about Nora. I can't be. She's the first person I've made it this far with – and without even doing anything serious – and she's the first person I've ever felt this way about." His father squinted his eyes shut, a heavy sigh escaping his lungs.

"I just… when I pictured my future grandchildren, the last thought I had was a bunch of little typhlosions running around."

"Cyndaquils," Aaron mumbled.

"What?" Robert asked.

"They'd start out as cyndaquils, Dad."

"Son?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

"…Okay." Sarah took the chance to jump in.

"Well, whatever they happen to be, they'll have a loving family to support them. Right, dear?" Robert's eyes seemed to be frozen over, but he slowly nodded. Maybe this wasn't the outcome Aaron had wanted, but this was far better than what Nathan got.

"So I'm not getting disowned?" Aaron asked jokingly.

"Haven't decided yet."

"Robert!" his mother snapped. Aaron grinned.

"I just… need a bit to process all this. That and my blood thinners…" If his father was resorting to dry humor, that was a good sign. At least, a much better one than him nearly choking on his breakfast…

The call ended on a decent note after all. Knowing that his mother, at the very least, was fully supportive – and that his father would likely come to terms with everything – made Aaron feel like everything would be alright.

When he returned to the dining room, their own breakfast was set before them. Nora took her spot beside Aaron readily, still in a great mood from earlier. A mood that was increased once he broke the news that his parents were fine with what they had going on. Once they had finished eating, the motion she gave for him to join her in the kitchen was wry and flirtatious.

As he helped clear the table, though, Aaron couldn't help but notice Aster staring down at a half-eaten plate. He looked drained of life and joy. Worse than his father had upon hearing the news, even. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly, placing his hand on the serperior's back. Aster looked down at the table.

"Seems like everyone gets their happy ending but me…"

That Sunday had every reason to be perfect. Or at least, as perfect as things could be given the current events. Nearly everyone woke up in good spirits, ready to join Nathan and his team at the church near his place – a drive made easier by the fact that Omega had brought Groudon to raise massive stone pillars in place of the destroyed segments of the bridges. The earthquakes they'd felt when that happened, though, had been anything but convenient. Aaron held Nora's hand, giving it a gentle rub as he passed through empty roads. He felt that it would be a great day.

And then they had to turn on the radio.

Nora fidgeted with the touch screen between them until she got to the news channel. Of course, that happened to be the only channel that actually was able to broadcast right now. Malva's voice seemed to be ingrained within every person across the planet – the Kalos Elite Four member who had now sided with two villainous teams. Well, at least one; he wasn't exactly sure what words could be used to describe Omega anymore.

"If there was any music, I'd get it," Aaron said as he crossed the crude repairs to what had once been a several billion-dollar bridge. "But why the news? I feel like we've earned ourselves a break from all this…" After all, there weren't any missions going on throughout the week. Omega seemed to be more occupied with rounding up people from both Alpha and Delta.

"Still isn't a bad idea to keep up with everything," she said. The typhlosion's hand found its way back to his on the center console.

"I guess." Nobody really said anything as the current events were told, most of which were things he already knew: the pursuit of the two opposing teams, an increasingly purple Europe and Asia, and the fact that Omega was now at the Unova metropolitan area's backyard, all but surrounding them from three sides. Hearing more updates about how they were essentially losing wasn't exactly what Aaron had in mind to keep the mood up.

But then there was that speech.

They had ignored it the first time around, not answering the call as he drove back to his house the morning they had stopped Clay. His entire team slept in their balls as though they hadn't for an entire week, and he himself was pretty tired considering all that had happened. The fact that Alexander's speeches were often rebroadcast was of no surprise, either; they had heard several of them repeated before. Aaron glanced at his typhlosion as it began.

"I knew when I started this invasion that there would be resistance. That much is fair, and the mortal condition dictated that such would happen." Alexander, to his surprise, sounded tired in every sense of the word. "I don't know what to do with you people anymore. I put out the fires you all have set across the world. Even those who hate us with every fiber of their being cannot deny the fact that Omega has been the single greatest humanitarian success in all of human history. It isn't enough for you that we have been willing to work with populations where they are to achieve peace and prosperity for all. No; almost every single one among you has to have their way. Most of you have become nothing more than spoiled kids in adult bodies. A group of such people nearly destroyed Unova – and would have – had it not been for the actions of a single trainer who put himself and his team in danger in order to stall time for our arrival." Everyone in the car listened intently. Aaron now knew how his father had learned.

"We've gone through this multiple times. I'm not so certain that me repeating myself will be of any value at this point. Despite all the destruction that Alpha and Delta have spread, a significant percent of the population has flocked to their radicalism because they are little more than spoiled children who can't get it past their thick skulls that they aren't right about everything. Your teams have redefined good and evil to suit your own goals, and frankly, I'm tired of it.

"Delta started this war. And it makes sense; progressives innately must be instigators. They seek to change the status quo, whatever it may be. Unfortunately, the form that has taken throughout modern history has been the dismantling of all traditional and religious values. They have defined intolerance and bigotry as any opinions contrary to their own, citing the paradox of tolerance as their excuse. They have spread degeneracy and immorality everywhere they have gone, because according to them there is no such thing. And while many of their economic points have merit, they say so from the comfort of their middle-class houses and apartments, getting their worthless degrees and complaining about a system far more prosperous than those they support across the world. Either that or their arguments are perpetuated by lazy individuals who refuse to engage in hard work. I am almost tempted to drop both groups off into the socialist countries that I have toppled and let them experience starvation and widespread corruption for the first time in their lives." Aaron shrugged at that. It was a funny thought.

"They cannot accept any mantle of personal responsibility, producing excuses and red herrings of every sort. Suggest that they control their urges rather than murder their unborn and they accuse you of infringing on women's rights. Tell them to manage their money wisely rather than wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars on degrees that will never serve them and they accuse you of being controlling. Heaven forbid you suggest any particular demographic change in any manner; you'll be called racist or bigoted.

"And yet I've never seen a larger group of hypocrites in my life. The party of science ignores that which contradicts their causes, the 'compassionate liberals' turn on and attack minorities who vote differently than Delta wants, and for a group who wishes to expand the right to vote to people who pay nothing in taxes and know nothing about politics… they have no issue forsaking that very right from those they dislike. Of the two teams, Delta undoubtedly is the more irresponsible and lacks even the slightest amount of common sense. Given the chance, they would tyrannically destroy the very world they claim to be saving, repeating the mistakes of the very dictators I have overthrown. Between them and Alpha, I will enjoy destroying them more."

Aaron glanced in the rearview mirror. Everyone but Aster – who was in his ball – stared blankly at the radio. Brooke spoke up. "He's not pulling any punches today, is he?"

"Guess not." Aaron left the bridge and headed for Undella. He slowed down; they were already going to be early for the sermon, and there were actually a few cars on these roads.

"As a result of Delta's immorality and their vigor to force the world to change, Alpha was formed. A reactionary counterforce, if you will. Conservatives are the ones to play defensively, after all. But their enemies held great power, controlling the media and education systems alike. Alpha had its violent and hateful members to start out with; there are thousands within their ranks who simply could not wait for this war – an opportunity to murder those they hated. But many were forged into beasts of resentment by the constant attacks and being vilified. That, however, was no excuse to abandon decency or compassion.

"Alpha values their traditional principles, and we in Omega find ourselves in agreement in that regard. Where we differ, though, is in why we do what we do. I have noticed many within Alpha ride their high horses, wielding their religious principles as a weapon against others. Even if they are right in what they practice, they are wrong in why they practice it. For them, it has become nothing more than pride – and pride is dangerous. Delta hates the idea of submitting to a higher moral power than themselves, but Alpha has twisted the true religion into a sword to wield against those who disagree with them. And I find it awfully convenient how fast they are to condemn others for their conduct all while overlooking the basic tenets of Arceus: to love Him above all else and others as ourselves. Delta outright does neither; Alpha pretends to do the former while utterly forsaking the latter.

"How many of you – all of you – would go to a restaurant and spend more money on a single meal than what it would take to feed a hundred people in Veranas? But they aren't your neighbors, are they? What about the family down the street who cannot afford clothing or medicine while you drive around in sixty-thousand-dollar cars?" Alexander sighed. For the first time, it didn't sound like he had his words prepared ahead of time, and he was not nearly as composed as his prior speeches. Aaron stopped at a red light.

"I just… I've grown tired of this. The path forward is simple, but that requires you both to surrender something. The left must learn to be responsible for themselves; the right must learn to be responsible for others. But neither of you want to do that, do you? You would rather burn this world to the ground – and you both have tried very hard on that front – than to admit that you were wrong. I started this invasion knowing that anyone can change, and I still hold true to that. But your actions throughout this conflict have proven to me that not everyone will change." The trainer looked at the radio, his eyes freezing over.

"So you know what, Clay and Elesa? You win. I can't change you. I can't convince you – I can't save you. I won't bother anymore. I could have killed you both multiple times, and it was likely to the world's detriment that I did not. But unlike the two of you, I don't seek to eliminate those who I disagree with. So here's the new plan." Despite the light turning green, Aaron was frozen solid.

"I am going to finish what I started, and I am going to make a new world deserving of those who would live in it – a world with no borders, no selfishness or widespread suffering. Just people living in harmony, all serving Arceus as was intended from the very beginning. Alpha and Delta, though, only serve themselves. I think that's all they can serve at this point. So I'll let you. We will designate territory for those who wish to abide under the moral repugnancy of Clay and Elesa, allowing them to live as they see fit. But they will be cast away from the new world, unable to ruin it and unable to interact with each other. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

"Aaron?" Brooke said quietly. "Light's green…" He gently tapped the gas, somehow already feeling drained. That is, until he heard those next words.

"Maybe I was a fool to think I could dismantle the two of you and make something better, bringing you into harmony under a common cause. I thought I could make it work – I really did. But Clay and Elesa have proven over the past years that there might not be any fixing this. The pieces can't be put back together. If the two sides can't play nice, then they shouldn't play at all."

A/N: This marks the end of the second part of the story. Please be mindful not to leave spoilers in the review section. Three days from now, I will upload the next chapter. Special thanks to FuryWrites for beta reading this chapter.