Note: Apparently, I screwed up majorly on the location of Santalune Forest. But how about we say Aiden started in Aquacorde Town, hm? After he returned from Lumiose...
X.X
I can't thank you again for helping me find Miyu." Vivienne said.
"Vee!" Mica, who was being held in her Trainer's arms, yipped.
Aiden nodded. "And I can't thank you enough for saving my Froakie. If anything were to happen to him then I don't know what I would do."
Vivienne giggled. "I guess we're even now." she said with a wink.
"I guess so." Aiden chuckled.
"So you're going to be heading over to Santalune City now, huh." Vivienne said.
"Yep. But we're are you two heading off to?"
"Mica and I are gonna travel Kalos for a while. So we're going to stop at Aquacorde Town next."
"Sounds pretty neat." Aiden said, "Well it was really nice meeting you."
"Same here." Vivienne nodded, "Good luck on your journey."
"Same here. Hopefully we'll run into one another again."
After waving each other goodbye, both Trainers went their separate ways. Aiden continued walking down the path through the forest. The events that had occurred last night was still fresh in his mind. If Vivienne hadn't called out her Totodile, who knows what might've happened to Froakie and Miyu. Aiden then noticed more sunlight ahead. He smiled once he was finally back in the open land. He stretched out his arms a bit and embraced the warm sunlight.
"That's good." he said to himself before sighing in relaxation. A few minutes later he soon arrived in Santalune City. The small city was bustling with activity. Trainers of many age differences were busy battling with one another or just strolling around. Aiden couldn't help but marvel at the variety of different Pokemon around him. The walk through Santalune Forest certainly was worth it. The young man approached a building with the Pokemon League insignia on the front.
"This must be the place." he said to himself before approaching the door. There was a sign tapped on the front.
The Santalune City Gym is currently closed for the day.
Please come back another day.
We apologize for any convenience.
- Santalune City Gym
"What the hell!?" Aiden cursed aloud. Attracting some unnecessary attention from the people around him. "I traveled all the way here, only to find out that the damn place is closed!? Arceus damn it!" Aiden angrily stomped his foot on the pavent. Shoulders hunched and a fuming expression on his face, Aiden turned on his heel and angrily stomped away. He was known to have quite the temper when things didn't go his way. Something he's been trying to work on since childhood. He hoped this journey would help him break the habit. But so far it isn't doing a damn good job. The young man eventually took a seat by the fountain and cooled down. Slouching on the bench, he placed both his arms behind his head and stared up at the clear blue sky. Pondering on what he should do since the Gym Leader was gone.
"Arceus, damn." he sighed softly to himself. Who would've guessed that a journey would be so hard. Then again, no one said it would be this easy.
"Is something troubling you?" a kind voice asked.
"Huh?" Aiden languidly turned his head over just a woman sat in the empty spot beside him. She wore the kind of clothing someone who delt with nature would wear. She had blonde hair and dark green eyes that held a determined look in them. facade gave Aiden a kind smile as she looked at him. "Can I help you?" Aiden drawled.
"I saw you sitting by yourself and figured something must've been wrong. I'm sorry if I disturbed you or anything." the woman replied.
"What? Oh. No, no. You weren't disturbing anything. I was only thinking." Aiden replied as he sat up, "I'm Aiden by the way."
"Viola." the woman replied, "I'm a local photographer here."
"Nice to meet you, Viola." Aiden replied as he shook her hand.
"So what brings you over to Santalune City? Are you here to challenge the Gym?" Viola asked.
"Yep." Aiden sighed, "But when I went over I saw that the place was closed for the day. Boy, was I pissed."
"Yeah? You're not the only one." Viola said, "It's just Gym Leaders have a life beyond Gym leading. They need time to themselves, too."
"I guess. It's just I have nothing else to do. I already battled some Trainers in Santalune Forest so that's enough."
"Hmm." Viola suddenly had a pondering look on her face. She crossed her legs and cupped her chin in thought before clapping her hands together. "I know! Why don't you be my assistant for the day?" she asked.
"What?" Aiden asked, not really realizing what just happened.
"If you got nothing better to do, then why not help me out in the field? As I said, I'm a local photographer. But even photographers need help! What do you say?"
Aiden blinked. "But I know almost nothing about cameras!" he said.
"That's alright! I can teach you. It's really not that hard."
Aiden didn't feel so sure. But in the end he managed to put up a smile and nod. "Why not? Since I'm here I might as well learn."
"Great!" Viola shot up and grinned happily, "I can take you to my studio now and then head on out to
Route 4."
"Sounds good." Aiden said as he stood up, "Lead the way."
...
A Skitty happily ran by. Wagging its tail as it curiously sniffed an orange flower before jumping back in surprise. The flower rose up to reveal that of a Flabebe.
Click
The sound of the camera shutter clicked silently after Viola snapped a photograph. "That's a nice shot." Viola whispered lowly so the Pokemon wouldn't hear. She raised up her camera and took another picture before the skitty and Flabebe went into hiding. "You have to be very quiet when it comes to photographing wild Pokemon." Viola instructed softly.
"I can see that." Aiden said.
Viola then removed the strap that held her camera around her neck and placed it over Aiden's instead. "Now you try." she said.
Aiden held the camera in his hands before looking for anything that would make a good picture. He looked over to a waterfall that was nearby and spotted a Azumarill and Marill playing near it. Raising the camera, he steadied his focus on the two Pokemon before snapping a photo.
"That should make a good picture." Viola praised, "Not bad for a rookie."
"Thanks." Aiden replied, "How long have you been a photographer?"
"Since I was seven." Viola replied, "The camera you have in your hands is my first."
"Really? That's cool." Aiden said. Rustling was suddenly heard. Aiden and Viola looked over their shoulders and noticed a Pokemon rummaging through Aiden's bag. "Hey!" Aiden barked. The Pokemon immediately pulled it's head out and blinked at the two before scurrying back into the woods. Aiden handed Viola her camera back before heading over to his bag to clean up the mess it made. "What the hell was that Pokemon?" he asked.
"That was a Zorua." Viola replied, "They're normally found in the Unova region. But they can be found here as well. But rarely, though. I've never seen one on Route 4 before."
"Could it be a Trainer's?" Aiden asked, remembering how he first met Mica.
"No. I doubt someone would just let their Pokemon out of their Poke Ball just to have them cause trouble. Zorua's are known to be little pranksters sometimes."
"Hm." Aiden stared in the direction the Zorua ran off in before heading back to the hiding spot with Viola.
"Let's get a few more pictures and head back to town for some coffee." Viola said.
"Sounds great. I could really use some coffee right about now." Aiden chuckled as he and Viola walked beside the river.
In the brush, that same Zorua poked his head out and looked curiously at Aiden. Jumping out of the bush, he shook some twigs off before running after them.
...
After an entire afternoon of photographing, Aiden was more then happy to head on over to a cafe and take a nice break. He even let his Pokemon out and fed them some Pokepuffs. "You have nice Pokemon there." Viola said as she watched him.
"Thanks. I've only had Froakie for a day or two. But I've had Torchic for a few months already." Aiden said as he petted the warm bird.
Viola suddenly lifted her camera. "May I?" she asked, "See this would make a great snapshot."
"Sure." Aiden said before he backed away and Allowed Viola to take a few snapshots of his Pokemon. Even getting one or two close-ups as well.
"Marvelous!" she said once she was finished, "This is certainly going in my album."
"So what are you going to do with those pictures once you're done developing them?"
"I donate them to Nature magazines or scientists." Viola replied before finishing her coffee. The woman then got out of her seat and smiled at Aiden. "You've been a great help today. I really appreciate it. Hopefully I'll be able to see you sometime again. See ya!" with that, she left.
"What a peppy woman." Aiden said as he finished his coffee.
"Chic!" Torchic chirped.
X.X