MASSIVE Spoilers for Scarlet and Violet's finale. Also, hi, I'm back again and simply had to write this. Florian is the male player character's default name, by the way. Lastly, this is mostly made up of memories of S/V and SuMo's plot, so if some things aren't fully accurate, that's why.
Arven had set up his picnic table close to Porto Marinada. After doing another auction for Old Man Kofu's Gym Test, he had learned where the port town's finest ingredients could be found for his recipes. Rather than a sandwich, he had settled for making a soup and slowly letting it finish on his portable gas stove. This was not just because he craved more variety, but also because soup was a dish compatible with his state of mind right now. Scovillain and Toedscruel were playing ball, but as always, Mabosstiff sat close to him. Even his big buddy couldn't quite ease his thoughts right now. He stood up to idly stir the soup, but it didn't distract him enough from the big question circling his brain like a hungry Veluza.
What WAS all of that business in Area Zero?
First, his mother had been contacting both Director Clavell and Florian behind his back. When he finally came into contact with her again, the only thing she asked was a favor. Not how he was doing, not what he thought of his Pokémon, his studies or his friends. No, only opening that stupid lighthouse laboratory. And then, when the long and dangerous journey in Area Zero was coming to a close, he discovered that his mother had been mauled by a primal Pokémon she foolishly brought into the present. Apparently, she was trying to create 'paradise' by bringing the ancient Paradox Pokémon to the current day with a self-made time machine.
His mother being dead wasn't a terribly shocking conclusion, he supposed. He went so long without hearing from her he already feared that might be the case.
But seeing that almost-perfect AI replica of his mother go berserk. Hearing her familiar voice glitch and compress under Terastal energy and its own defensive programming. Hearing a last-second parental "I love you and I'm proud of you" as it ascended into the time machine, fulfilling its dream of living among primal Pokémon. He had no idea how to feel about it. He had no idea how to talk about it. He tried with Florian for a bit, but he was too young to understand what he was truly going through. Even if his father had been absent for years, something they had in common. He didn't dare tell anyone else for fear of being called crazy. Penny and Nemona were good friends to him now, but he didn't really consider them fitting to talk about something like this. He cursed as a splash of hot soup hit his hand, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Getting out several bowls, he made sure each of his Pokémon had some. That was a lot he just made, he noticed. As he filled his own bowl, he heard a stranger pass by.
"I know you're hungry, little one, but restaurants aren't far away. Can't you go just a little further?" A young blonde woman said to a Pokémon Arven recognized as an Alolan version of Vulpix. Mr. Jacq would be proud. The white fox was stubborn and refused to move. Arven bit his lip.
"If it's hungry, I have some soup you c-could borrow!" He realized how awkward that sentence was, mentally smacking himself. "I mean, soup you can have."
The young woman smiled. "Any for me? I'm hungry too, I must admit." Oh Arceus, she was coming over. Just relax, Arven. He thankfully had enough bowls for all of them, and soon he and the woman were sitting down, eating together with Pokémon. Picnicking with strangers was pretty normal in Paldea, but Arven had never really gotten into it. Somehow, though, this young woman seemed very inviting, her bright green eyes shining with kindness.
"It's quite lovely, Mr…?"
"Arven. You can call me Arven." He said.
"Alola, Arven. My name's Lillie."
"Alola? I've heard of that place. You live there? I know plenty of folks who'd rather spend their entire life there. It has lots of delicious food, right?" Arven blurted out, causing Lillie to laugh.
"Yeah, it's a lovely region. It's much better, now that Team Skull and the Island Challenge tradition have reformed themselves. A real tropic paradise, some might say." She said. Arven wanted to laugh with her, but hearing that word 'paradise' again hit him like a punch to the gut, his breath hitching. He swallowed nervously and began spooning the soup quickly in an attempt to make his new amigo forget what just happened.
"Hey… What's the matter?" She asked, scooting closer and looking worried.
"Oh, uhhh… I almost burped." Arven attempted, but she didn't seem convinced. She looked down at Mabosstiff, as if asking if it was okay to get a bit closer again. Mabosstiff didn't move, making a low 'boof' as she moved again.
"That's not what happened, is it? Listen, I may be a total stranger, but… I'm willing to help if you're having trouble with something?"
"It's nothing." When she continued to look unconvinced, he sighed, giving in. Continuing to lie only made him feel worse. "O-okay, there is something, but you're gonna think I'm crazy. Like… lick-a-Scovillain crazy."
"Try me."
Arven blinked, raising his eyebrow. "W-what did you just say?"
"Try me. I mean it." She said, smiling at him with that same inviting look in her eyes. She seemed so genuine. Arven bit his lip. Was he really going through with this? No, there was no way.
"Why should I?"
She seemed to understand that question, and her smile faded a little as she hugged her knees with her arms. The Vulpix seemed to notice and darted over, seemingly trying to comfort Lillie. Arven's confusion subsided a little, and they were quiet for a while. Not in an awkward way. Just kind of… bonding invisibly.
Eventually, Mabosstiff bumped his nose against Arven, causing him to snap out of his daze again. If she wasn't going to elaborate… He had no choice. So, he began talking. About his early memories with his mother, the adored Professor Sada. About how she just… walked away and forced him to care for himself. Then, about what he had experienced recently. His mother suddenly seeming to be alive, but stuck in Area Zero with confusing priorities. And then the last few minutes, spent with a replica of his mother that, in her last moments, still told him three words he had missed for so long before being gone for good. His real mother now confirmed to be killed by the other Koraidon.
And so, they sat. That felt good to get out.
"Y'know… I never thought I'd say this, but I know how you feel. My mother… She, too, brought otherworldly Pokémon into this world. One infected her with… something. She changed. My brother and I were nothing but accessories to her. Like puppets or clay models that needed to stay perfect for the arrival of the Ultra Beasts. You'd swear they were her firstborn children."
She said, petting the Vulpix. Arven had heard of the UBs before, and he blinked.
"How… How did you deal with it?"
"Honestly? I don't fully know anymore. All I know is… my journey with my friend Selene and my Cosmog friend Nebby helped. It helped me find my brother. It helped me gather the courage to defy my mother and save her from UB-01's control. From there, it took a lot of therapy to rebuild my relationship with Mother. But… That's not in the cards for you, is it? So… I don't know if that helps."
Arven thought about that for a while. Yeah, that was technically true. His mother was never coming back, and he certainly wasn't going to find his father anytime soon either. But he had found new Pokémon and human friends on his journey to heal Mabosstiff. Even after finding out what happened to his mother, he still considered Penny and Nemona his friends, even though he admitted they needed to grow as friends. He wondered about one thing, though.
"Therapy… Did you tell them the full story of what happened?"
She hesitated. "Only when Selene and Professor Burnet made the powers of the Ultra Beasts more commonly known."
"I may have also told you something I wasn't supposed to." Arven admitted, blushing.
"I won't tell anyone. But, Arven… you're still going to that academy, hm? Perhaps they can help you find professional help that can be trusted with the whole story." She suggested. Arven hadn't thought of that before. Considering how the whole Team Star-bully debacle was handled and how Director Clavell spoke of Area Zero, he figured the school would continue its tradition of keeping secrets at all costs. But then again, the school had begun emphasizing the importance of mental health among students. Perhaps he had been too hasty.
Suddenly, Lillie's Roto Phone went off. "Do excuse me." She said, standing up and picking up. "Hey, Gladion. Huh? You found Mr. Guzma and Ms. Plumeria? Oh, yeah, I guess it'd be cool to eat with them. I didn't expect them to invite us. Yeah. Oh, Porto Marinada? Lucky me, I'm right next to that place. Uh-huh. That's difficult to pronounce… Okay, got it. Yeah, I'll call you if I get lost. I'll be fine, though, really! Uh-huh. Sure, Gladion. Bye!"
"Packed schedule?"
"So it would seem. Perhaps you'd like to speak with me again sometime?"
Arven and Lillie changed contact info, and Lillie petted Mabosstiff with another giggle.
"Good luck on your journey, Arven. I know you can make it. I once thought I couldn't, but… It's a crazy world we live in."
And just like that, she walked off. A total stranger. Yet, one that would help him become a stronger person once more. What a coincidence, indeed.