Secrets of the Night
DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokemon!
Chapter 15: Ever-changing Skies
Nimbasa City, Unova
After their agreement, Faye Lin and Aeron headed to the pokemon center in Nimbasa City to talk further. Beyond the desolate streets of route 4 was a new city. Both of them couldn't picture what it would be like, but judging from the lively music echoing in the distance, it would be nothing like they've ever seen.
And they were right.
The bustling downtown setting was replaced with a light and cheerful mood. And instead of silver-gray skyscrapers like those in Castelia City, the buildings in Nimbasa City were less tall, and they came in an assortment of fun vibrant colors. It was like an urban version of a wild flower field. And the biggest attraction stood grandly at the very heart, a giant rotating wheel with pokeball-shaped compartments.
They walked awhile in the streets and soon located the pokemon center. Faye Lin went to the counter with Aeron's two pokemon, Noir and the Snivy who woke up just after their arrival in Nimbasa City. The duo were getting along well with the young heiress, who also in return, was growing fond of them.
Meanwhile, Aeron found a secluded corner in the lobby. He took in a calm breath and turned on his Xtranseiver. With his mission over, he was required to report in to Lord Tristan. He listened to the dial tone while shooting glances at the passing trainers nearby, as a form of precaution.
"Yes?" The voice of the Black Scythe leader drew back his focus. Aeron shifted his silver eyes unto the screen on his Xtranseiver and saw Lord Tristan, enjoying a cup of tea in his office.
"I'm here to report that the item has been successfully delivered," Aeron informed.
Lord Tristan nodded with a contended smile. "Yes, I know. Our client confirmed it hours ago. You did well for your first unofficial job. Your dear father would be proud."
The last part didn't sound like a compliment. It was more like a foreshadowing of some sort. One that made the air tense and heavy. Aeron averted his gaze and wondered. What should he do now? End the talk? He had done what he needed to do so there was no more reason to continue the conversation.
"Lord Tristan—"
"How is that girl you were with?" The redheaded man interrupted while grinning cunningly.
Aeron was startled for a moment. His eyes shifted sideways towards the direction of the counter. He couldn't see her, but assumed Faye Lin was still there. After a small pause, he returned his gaze back unto Lord Tristan and answered him, "She is …well."
Lord Tristan chuckled. "I see. That's good."
Aeron wanted to ask why the man didn't order Bellatrix and the other two to kill her. Faye Lin was a witness after all. But the words wouldn't come out. He wasn't scared. He just felt like he shouldn't ask about it. So instead, he blurted out the next thing that he was concerned with.
"Shall I head back?"
"You should enjoy your freedom for now," Lord Tristan encouraged with his version of a fatherly demeanor, caring with a dark vibe radiating from his voice. "Think of it as an extra reward for accomplishing the mission …As for the one we agreed upon."
Aeron recalled the deal: his cooperation for information about his father's connection with the Black Scythe unit. Remembering it again made him restless. Lord Altair didn't seem to have a deep hatred or grudge over the assassin division. He just avoided them as much as he could, as if he was hiding something.
"I shall be waiting for your return in the Shadow Pagoda." Lord Tristan chuckled softly. "Also, if there is anything you need, feel free to ask. After all, you are like a member of the Black Scythe division."
The comment was uncalled for. Aeron felt his blood boil over in an instant. Clenching his fists, he glared at the man. "I am not like you. I am not a member and never will be."
Lord Tristan chuckled amusingly. "Oh, yes. My mistake... That was all in the past."
"What?" His words startled Aeron considerably, to the point his blood turned ice cold. What did Lord Tristan mean? Could he have said that only because Aeron went on a mission to assist the Black Scythe assassins? No. Somehow, the boy felt there was something much more. A voice behind his head was persistently nagging at him. He wanted to know. He needed to know.
"Lord Tristan, just what-*beep*"
The call ended, and Aeron was left staring at the empty black screen of his Xtranseiver, with his questions left unanswered.
"Aeron, I have wonderful news!" Faye Lin rushed over with Noir gliding behind her and the Snivy following closely near her feet. "There was this kind person-Is there something the matter?"
Aeron turned his head towards them. For some reason, he appeared rather pale. Noticing this, the two pokemon quickly went over to him, with concerned expressions. Noir chirped and landed lightly on the boy's shoulder, while the Snivy tugged his pants and looked up to meet his eyes.
Aeron turned away from them, hiding away any troubled emotions that was possibly showing. His stoic composure faltered after his conversation with Lord Tristan. But with every slow breath, he was steadily regaining it. When he was calmer, he gently patted his partner and glanced down at the grass snake pokemon. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
Faye Lin didn't know much about Aeron, but after all her personal experiences with feigning smiles and bravados in front of several judgemental aristocrats, she knew when something was up. Slowly, she approached him with a kind smile, "Aeron, would you like to take a stroll with me in Nimbasa City?"
The raven-haired boy looked at her, questioningly, unsure of the girl's actual intentions. Before he could answer, Noir beamed with approval and motioned his trainer to accept the offer. The Snivy also gave an encouraging smile, hoping to help the others in cheering up the boy.
Having presented with no other option, Aeron agreed with a silent nod. They all left the pokemon center and headed back out to the colorful streets of Unova's entertainment capital.
Since it was past lunchtime, their first stop was at a café serving sweet ice desserts. Faye Lin ordered Magost smoothie with ice cream and the Unova special: a parfait of assorted berries. Aeron was unfamiliar with anything on the menu so Faye Lin recommended the less sweet ones, assuming that the boy was not that fond of sugar. So it was a mini Custap cream pie and a Nanab berry float for him. As for the troupe of pokemon which now consisted of two additional members, a Fennekin and an Espurr, they shared a large bowl of the Unova Special, seeing as it's not that cold and the healthy variety of berries made it a great choice.
They settled in a long wooden table, under the shade of a large umbrella. Faye Lin and Aeron sat by each other with their pokemon directly across their respective trainer. On the human's side, the mood was tense because of the boy's constant silence. On the pokemon's side, however, the four were giving off a bright and cheery air as they happily dug in their food.
Faye Lin tried to break the ice by finding a topic, but it wasn't that easy. Sighing softly she looked to her pokemon, blissfully enjoying the berry parfait. Then her aqua eyes turned to the Snivy smiling between her Fennekin and the boy's Noibat. Struck by an idea, she faced Aeron's direction. "Have you decided on a name for your Snivy?"
Both Aeron and the Snivy in question stopped eating and directed their attention to the girl. There was a heavy pause in the air, spreading the heavy mood over to the pokemon's side of the table. But before the suspense could get any worse, Aeron turned away and exchanged looks with the Snivy.
"The pokemon doesn't belong to me."
The grass snake pokemon flinched and lowered its head in disappointment. It realized it was too optimistic and all that happened before was merely its imagination. Despite that, it tried to force out a smile in gratitude for the short time it felt happy to have a trainer. Faye Lin and Noir noticed the Snivy's saddened state and was about to speak up, when Aeron interrupted.
"Where I come from, we're not allowed to have second pokemon. Because if we do, we can't focus bringing out the full potential of our first pokemon. Only when we are deemed qualified, we can take in a new pokemon. "
The explanation made Faye Lin and the Snivy understand. It wasn't like Aeron didn't want a second pokemon. It was just that he wasn't permitted have it. That was the reason. Partly glad, the Snivy's smile widened as it told itself that maybe Aeron was not the trainer for it. Knowing the circumstance, there was no way to force the boy, nor did it want to force itself onto him.
"But that doesn't mean you cannot give it a name," Faye Lin pointed out optimistically, snapping the Snivy out of its daze. "It seems rather fond of you. I am certain that you would make it very happy if you gave it one."
The Snivy's eyes sparked with glee at the suggestion. Brimming with hope and anticipation, it turned its head and met Aeron's gaze. Noir backed it up with a chirp of approval. Even Isis and Freya followed in with smiles and nods.
All eyes were on him. Aeron groaned inwardly. He didn't like being the center of attention. He was used to it in Semira, but the reason was the envy of the people around him. This time, it was different. Everyone was smiling. That's why he found it uncomfortable.
"Noir is French for black, correct? Part of initials are from Noibat as well." Faye Lin figured, hoping to help Aeron find a name, whether he had any actual intentions. "That is quite a difficult name pattern. My pokemon are all based on the mythological characters that I've read in books." She glanced at Isis and Freya before returning her focus on the subject. "Perhaps we should begin with inquiring the gender?"
All four pokemon nodded in agreement. Aeron followed a moment later, confirming that he was indeed showing interest in the subject. Satisfied by the response, Faye Lin directed her attention to the Snivy and asked. The grass snake pokemon answered by shaking its head or nodding.
Result: Male.
"Alright then. Names with Sni or Vy… And they should either be associated with green or a similar shade." Faye Lin thought deeply. The name pattern was indeed very difficult. "Verte? It's French for green."
The Snivy shook its head and glanced over at Aeron who was facing away from everyone. It wanted a name from him, but it didn't seem like it was going to get it. But he was proven wrong the next minute.
"Viridian." Aeron added in, unexpectedly.
Faye Lin giggled softly. The boy showed more interest than she expected. But other than that, she found something else amusing. "Very nice, but it is four times as long as Snivy. It should be shorter, shouldn't it? It is a nickname after all."
The Snivy briskly shook its head in protest. It didn't care about the length. What mattered more was Aeron's effort to even give a name.
Faye Lin's expression softened at the Snivy's innocence. She wanted to agree with it, but the name was indeed longer than it should be. There had to be some way for everyone to come to an agreement.
Then she got it.
"How about Vivi? It's far simpler and more adorable."
It was acceptable. With quick nod, the Snivy smiled and turned to Aeron, with anticipation. The boy didn't meet his gaze, leaving the little grass snake in suspense. The mood began to thicken. The Snivy lowered its gaze and started to think negatively. Did he not like the name? Is he upset? Maybe, Viridian was good enough.
Faye Lin was growing pessimistic as well when she looked over at the Snivy slumped of the table's surface. What else could she do? She sighed and smiled encouragingly at the little grass-type. "Let's call you Vivi for now. Then when the day comes that Aeron can have you, he can give you a proper name himself. In the meantime, you can stay with me."
The Snivy frowned but agreed. It almost forgot that Aeron wasn't going to be his trainer yet. So how long did it have to wait? Should it still wait? What if Aeron finds a better pokemon in the future? Will he still want the little grass-type?
"Vivi is okay," The boy murmured, burying his mouth in his palm.
Its heart skipped a beat. The Snivy almost couldn't believe it. Its expression shifted dramatically from crestfallen to ecstatic. It stood from its spot and approached Aeron. And with an innocent smile, Vivi placed his frail leafy hands on Aeron's arm and nodded in acknowledgement.
After that, they continued their late lunch. Vivi stayed by Aeron's side rather than rejoining his fellow pokemon. It was agreed that for the remainder of the day that Aeron would be the Snivy's trainer. When the time comes that the boy had to leave and go back, Vivi would stay with Faye Lin, till the day Aeron comes back for him. The girl even provided him with a pokeball of his own, since he didn't have one and Aeron didn't carrying any.
Vivi understood the situation. It was saddening but for the meantime, he wished to make full use of the time he had. His first act, since he was far from the bowl of his share of the berry parfait, was taking a bit of food from Aeron, mainly the Custap pie and eating it. The raven-haired teen didn't mind, giving the little grass snake the notion that doing it was okay. Vivi smiled and continued to pick off small portions of the tasty treat.
Noir, who was currently sitting in the corner, with a noticeable gap between him and Faye Lin's pokemon, was now growing envious. He was the first to encourage Aeron and Vivi to be close, but now he feels like he was being left out. Pouting, the Noibat stood up and made his way over.
Vivi was startled by Noir, but nevertheless, he welcomed his new friend. He scooted over and offered a place beside him. Happily, he watched the Noibat sit down. Then his smile turned to a look of shock when Noir suddenly grabbed a mouthful of the creamy pastry and shoved it down his throat.
Aeron sighed at the sight of the cheeky purple bat and noticed the bits of cream stuck to the fuzz on its face. Without a word, he reached for a table napkin and cleaned his pokemon, gently wiping near the cheeks, mouth edges and chin. Noir grinned and purred at the gesture while nestling playfully against his trainer's hands.
Seeing the response, Vivi had a sudden yearning to be treated the same. He mimicked Noir and devoured a sizeable portion of the food, purposely leaving cream on its muzzle. And as predicted, Aeron also cleaned him up, despite seeing through the pokemon's childish intention.
It continued like that until there was nothing left on the plate for the boy. The two rivals realized their mistake and apologized. Vivi was ultimately more sincere and bothered by his actions, while just Noir grinned sheepishly. Aeron didn't say a word and simply patted their heads before finishing his float, which was fortunately left untouched by the duo.
Faye Lin who was watching them attentively, decided not to bring up the topic of what was troubling the boy previously, fearing that it would only ruin the mood. Instead, she smiled and offered to buy Aeron a crepe for take-out. The boy was about to refuse when his two pokemon cut in and accepted the offer in his place after expressing their gratitude in advance.
After lunch, they headed out to see what more Nimbasa had to offer. Faye Lin was in front with Isis in her arms and Freya in her pokeball after the Espurr decided to take a nap after the meal. Aeron was walking behind with Noir flying over his shoulder and Vivi trailing near his feet. They visited some souvenir stalls and Faye Lin bought an Audino plushie for herself and a Snivy keychain for Aeron. Then they took a ride on the Ferris wheel.
Being in Nimbasa City was exhilarating for Faye Lin. She had never felt so free in all her life. The events that transpired at sea was almost lost in the new fun memories she made. Aeron, on the other hand, has been silent since they left the cafe. He was contented to simply walk around and see the things that never existed in Semira Isle. But partly because he was still dwelling on Lord Tristan's words.
Aeron leaned against the glass pane and looked down on the buildings slowly shrinking below. Noir was watching with him on his shoulder while Vivi dozed off as he leaned against the boy. Faye Lin took seat opposite of Aeron and gently placed her Fennekin beside her. By that time, she had calmed down from all the thrill and excitement. Now, she just wanted to enjoy the sights of Nimbasa from the height of the Ferris wheel.
"Wasn't this fun?" she asked. Aeron didn't reply, his eyes were still glued to the scenes outside the window cab. Faye Lin sighed softly and joined him in the sight-seeing. Looking down, she breathed out and relished the breath-taking scene. But little by little, she grew anxious at the height they were going. She glanced over at Aeron and saw how calm he was. "Do you like being up very high? It almost feels like we're flying."
Aeron shot her a glance and returned his attention outside. The afternoon was slowly descending into the night. His mind went to Semira Isle. He recalled the endless oceans surrounding the massive land that he called home, the forest breeze filling the air and the earthy tower called the Zephyr Pillar. Perhaps, it was time to go back.
"How's the search for your sister?" Aeron inquired.
Faye Lin flinched and faced him. She smiled and remembered what happened in the pokemon center. "I almost forgot. I was conversing with Nurse Joy concerning my sister, when a kind trainer told me that he knew her. He gave me directions to where she stayed…"
"That's good," Aeron commented plainly. His eyes unconsciously shifted towards the girl and saw her looking melancholic. It was strange. She was happy a while ago. "Something wrong? I thought you'd be happy. You'll be seeing your sister, right?"
Faye Lin collected her partner and clasped her fingers together. "I know. It's what the trainer said that worries me. He told me that he hasn't seen my sister around lately. He did leave Nimbasa a few months ago, but when he returned he never saw Maya even once. I fear she might have left."
"Well, it's worth a look. If she's not there, maybe, you'll still find a clue or two." Aeron said with a hint of optimism, lightening the girl's mood slightly. Faye Lin beamed and nodded gladly.
Suddenly, the Ferris wheel halted. The two directed their attention to the view outside and saw the night envelope the city. But then the surface lit up like a sea of multicolored stars. Even the bars supporting the cabs of the Ferries wheel streamed with an array of neon lights. Aeron closed his eyes for a moment and looked over at the girl. Faye Lin was in awe. Her aqua blue eyes appeared tinted in the reflection of the spectrum display as she etched the scene deep into her memory.
Noir, who was also enjoying the view, looked over at his trainer and then to the girl. He had grown fond of Faye Lin and knew that Aeron was gradually getting close to her too. Other than Rozalia, his trainer was never close to another girl. Most people in Semira were older than him, and those who were around his age, were avoiding him because he was Lord Altair's adopted son. It was a refreshing change of pace, having a friend whose unrelated to Semira Isle.
The ride ended and the two teens decided to resume the search for Faye Lin's sister. After buying a quick snack, they followed the directions given to them by some trainer and ventured into the residential area, beyond the entertainment center. Aeron and Faye Lin walked side by side with their slumbering Snivy and Fennekin in their pokeballs. Noir stayed close, flying between them, yawning occasionally.
Soon, they had arrived at a small wooden house. The lights were out, the grass was overgrown and the street was empty. Faye Lin clasped her arms, fearing that Maya was no longer living in the place.
"It looks abandoned." Aeron panned the area for a minute and approached the door, much to Faye Lin's surprise. He checked the door and saw that it was locked. He tried the window next and managed to open it. "Let's just check it out. Maybe there's a clue to where she went,"
Faye Lin hesitated but agreed, yearning to find her sister as soon as she could. Aeron slid in first, followed by Noir and then the girl. Dust clouds flew up when they set foot, but Noir blew them away quickly with a small whirlwind.
After a quick coughing fit, Faye Lin laid eyes on the home of her sister. They were in a place of what seems to be the living room with the other half to be the kitchen which also doubled as the dining room. The lamps were not working, but the light coming from the lamp post outside provided some much needed visibility.
With her heart clenching, Faye Lin's fingers trailed the edges of the old wooden furnishings and door frame leading to a narrow hall. Aeron tagged behind a good distance but observed the girl closely. Faye Lin was used to living in a luxurious manor so it was difficult to imagine her sister alone living in a small house such as that. Absently, she walked further up and arrived at the bedroom where a single bed stood, with sheets tarnished and undone and a small drawer beside it.
"Maya… Were you lonely?" She asked aloud.
Just then her eyes caught a glimpse of small brown notebook lying on the foot of the bed. She went over and picked it up. At close inspection, it seems to be a journal. Taking a deep breath, she turned the pages and saw entries written by her sister. Before she could start to read, she lost the courage and closed the journal.
Aeron stood by the doorway and saw her shadowy silhouette against the light from the window. He waited a couple of moments before approaching. "Aren't you going to read? You might find out where your sister went."
Faye Lin shook her head and sat down on the bed, with the leather book tightly in her hands. "I'm afraid to. All this time, she lived by herself, while I was living in a mansion, surrounded by my father and friends. I should have been there for her after we lost our mother. She's my sister…"
Aeron crossed his arms and leaned against the rusty iron bed frame. "That's right so shouldn't you be looking for her instead of sulking around, feeling guilty?"
Faye Lin flinched and turned to Aeron who was facing the dark empty space of the room. He was correct. Sitting around, feeling sorry for her wasn't going to solve anything. She had to act. Once again, she opened the journal and panned the writings. It was difficult to read under the dim light, but she tried hard to decipher the wordings. She picked off a few words but ultimately, it was hard to read in the dark.
"It's getting late. We should settle in for the night," Aeron suggested as he took a seat on the floor with his back leaning against the bed. "Since no one lives here anymore, I think it'll be fine to sleep here. Unless you prefer somewhere else?"
Faye Lin refused. She decided to stay. It would give her a first-hand perspective of how her sister had been living on her own. She dusted off the sheets and lied down. Immediately, she felt restless. It was unsettling and the lingering smell was strange to her. She glanced around the room to try and fall asleep.
Noir was flying around for a while but then he settled down below the door frame, hanging upside down like a regular bat. He let out a screechy yawn and wrapped his wings around himself. But before he closed his bright yellow eyes, he caught a glimpse of the girl looking at his direction. He shot her a grin and chirped his goodnight.
Faye Lin smiled back and bid the Noibat goodnight as well. She shifted her eyes towards the end of the bed to see Aeron but he was out of view. Nonetheless, she also said her goodnights to him. And usual, she was answered with silence. Despite that, she smiled. Finally, she took one last glance at the night sky from the nearby window.
"Sweet Dreams, Maya…"
Outside, a few houses away, a man in long billowing cloak stood on the rooftop of a building. Behind him was a blue dragon pokemon with long plane-like wings. Under the shadow of the night, he gazed down at the old abandoned house with his stone brown eyes.
"Aeron..."
End of Chapter 15
wew. that was long.
I finished 2 artworks (check Chap1)
Aspen & Lord Tristan
I finalized the storyline (in my head)
I rewrote Chapter 1 and added the summary and links for the art
Review! Please and thank you!