Strike of Team Aero

After a week of wandering around the island, Aria had finally gotten used to the feel of the Battle Frontier. Strangely, aside from Anabel’s suicide watch, the Brains were welcoming to the Mew. The friendliest being an explorer by the name of Brandon. Over the last month of summer, the two explored the island to escape Anabel’s elemental eyes. Hiding in the Battle Pyramid, Aria trained in her battle style and telekinetic abilities. Today was an examination to receive the Pyramid’s Bravery Badge. Aria took a moment to tighten the training gi she was wearing as she stared down the iron titan of an opponent. “So, this is a one on one match, right?”

“That’s correct, Aria.” The explorer nodded. “I could use one of the legendary birds that I took pains to make a pact with, but I thought it would be better to match your strength against my wits.” He laid a hand on his construct. “With my own hands, I created my own golems by research on an ancient civilization. It can only be as strong as I am clever, so it will be fair.”

Aria nodded. “I’d love to listen to this story again…” She stated, her eyes glowing with a soft malice. “But I would like to start the battle.”

Receiving a nod from the explorer, the local attendant raised a flag. “Begin the Bravery Cup Match! Aria Hasaki versus the Frontier Brain Brandon!”

“I’ll allow you to start, Aria.” Brandon offered.

Aria took a peaceful stance and closed her eyes to focus on an inner flame. Relying on her sixth sense to dodge her opponent’s metal claw, she slid under the bulky legs and turned quickly to deliver a focus punch to the base of the device. Registeel keeled over and struggled to get up, allowing the Mew a chance to land a killing blow. “I win.” She smirked as she charged energy into her hands. A large pulse of power sent the behemoth out of bounds.

As the golem failed to steady itself, the attendant raised a flag on Aria’s side. “The win goes to Aria Hasaki!”

Finally opening her eyes, Aria brushed off her outfit. “I guess that settles my training.”

“Quite well, I believe.” The brain laughed. “You earned my award.”

“Thank you for teaching me.” She bowed.

“You know…” He smiled calmly. “You could have stopped at any time. There were long amounts of time where you could have killed yourself without anyone knowing.”

“Huh?”

“You were trying to kill yourself weeks ago.”

“Huh…” She blinked. “Did I do that?”

“You forgot all about it, just as I thought.” He announced. “That’s good news.”

“Why is everyone so interested in my continued existence, anyways?”

“I’d tell you, but there would be a long list of people who would kill me.” He waived. “But anyways, I think we can go AWOL for a day as a treat.”

Aria blinked, “How are you going to pull that?”

“I’ll worry about that.” He winked. “Just be ready bright and early tomorrow morning.”

In Fortree, there was a different tone to the mood. Avery and Winona were sitting on their knees as Dragoon paced before them. “Winona, we finally came to a decision for the future of the Gym. We have decided that it was a mistake to put a young trainer in such a high position. I want you to focus on your studies until your graduation, and then we can see about you taking up the gym again.”

“What?” She gasped. “Then who’s taking-”

“I will be running the Gym.” The elder cut. “It’s obvious that I have neglected my duties when I was chasing after Yew.”

“Is this about me losing to Aria, isn’t it?” The wind trainer complained.

“A Gym leader will lose battles.” The dragon trainer barked. “That is just a part of life. And if a trainer has the Mind and Rain badges, then they will defeat you without breaking a sweat. What I’m talking about is how you treated your Mew.”

“Huh?”

“You started down a bad path when you called Aria to fight herself. After that point, you acted like she was doing this to spite you, and if you actually listened to the radio program she was on, you’d know that she didn’t want it to look like she was betraying you. You attacked both a close friend and companion because you started to lose. Your poor mark was from you abusing your opponent.”

“Father…”

“I know you’re an airhead, Winny, but I never raised you to be a brat.” He growled as he threw on his coat. “I have business with the league. The Gym is to be closed until my return. And if you need anything explained, Avery here should be able to tell you everything you should know.”

Avery’s eyes trailed along as his sister’s mentor stormed out. “That’s the first thing he says to us after seven years?”

“Is… this really all my fault?” She stammered. “I was the one wrong?”

“Winona…” The militant stood. “Let’s put this behind us. There’s a sale in Lilycove tomorrow. We can go and forget about this.”

“I’m surprised… You’re not usually that kind.”

“Kindness has nothing to do with this.” He announced. “All I do is what is needed. Nothing more.”

The next morning, Aria looked over the boat to the shores of the mainland. “How long has it been since I’ve seen the shore of Lilycove?”

Brandon leaned over the railing with a smirk. “Perhaps when you were trying to drown yourself?”

The Mew slumped. “I really hate this city.”

“Apparently.” The explorer shrugged. “But this is where the museum is, and I need to present my research.”

“So you’d be leaving me on my own, then?” She glanced.

“You should be able to take care of yourself.” He smiled. “We’ll meet at sixteen hundred hours at the local fountain bar.”

Avery had trouble for the boxes that he was hidden under, damn that sales guy and his Snorlax plush. All he could rely on was the wisp of purple dancing in his peripheral vision. “Starting to feel better?” He smirked.

“A little bit.” She laughed. “I figured we should do some back-to-school shopping while we’re at it.”

The militant’s eyes widened. “Wait. How long do we have?”

“Four days?”

“Shit!” He cried. “Okay, Aria! Your turn!” He whipped around to try and force a change.

“Remember…” The wind trainer glared. “Aria’s gone.”

“That’s right…” He panted. “Wait… That means I have to deal with Morty alone.”

“That’s your biggest worry?”

“Well, it’s either worry about that or worry about Aria.”

Suddenly the wind trainer quieted down. “Oh…”

“But that’s something for me to worry about.” He crossed. “How about we stop for drinks? My treat.”

The local soda bar was a small and clean joint that sat near the quiet beach of the port town. Aria sat enjoying a simple drink while examining the face in the mirror that sat behind the soda jerk. To avoid bumping into any old friends, she took time to change her appearance. She now bore plain brown hair in a short cut and she covered herself in a red apron over a white outfit. A perfectly plain and unnoticeable girl. A bell chimed as two more guests entered the store and sat on either side on her.

“Aria?” Winona asked from her left. “What are you doing like that?” Aria choked a little.
The Mew turned to her right to see the face of her brother with a wide smirk. “(How did you find me?)”

“(This was coincidence)” He replied. “(It’s really your fault for cosplaying. It gave you away)”

At this moment, Aria decided she was trapped. Turning to the wind trainer, she spun an explanation. “Well, how I normally look draws too much information. Steven stopped being a dick long enough to register me as my own Pokemon, but you can’t be too safe.”

“Oh… So how have things been?” The wind trainer grasped, trying to make conversation.

“Not too bad. After I tried to drown myself after you threw me away, I met up with a group of people who are helping me train.”

“Oh… How is tha…” Winona was cut off by Aria slamming the Bravery symbol on the counter. “A Bravery symbol?”

Avery smirked. “So, did Brandon give you that for not screaming at the top of the Pyramid?”

“Hey.” The Mew growled playfully. “I got it the old-fashioned way.”

“So you slept with him?”

“NO.” She barked. “Actually, I haven’t had any urges since I left…”

“I’m touched.” The wind trainer paused.

“But then again, I don’t remember having a period at any point, either… That doesn’t sound healthy.”

Avery sighed. “I’ll check with gramps later. By the way…” He flicked open a red database and glanced at the screen. “It’s about time for him to misplace a book on Mew anatomy, which would tell us about this.”

“Great!” Winona sounded, “Then we can head back together and-”

“NO.” Aria blocked.

“What?”

Aria sighed. “Winny, did you miss the part where you drove me to suicide?” Sitting her glass down, she seemed more intimidating as she lost her assumed form to her standard blue. “This is the second time that you have cast me aside in the past summer and our lives. The first time I can understand, forming Team Aero was a dangerous idea. However, the second time was your fault alone.”

“I-”

“Sorry Winona, but I’m going my own way.” She announced, removing herself from her seat. “Right now I need to find myself before I start another relationship. Anyways, something will happen that will make you throw me away again. Normally you don’t see a Pokemon you released.” The silence the ensued was only broken from the click of Aria’s footsteps as she walked out.

Outside, Brandon was waiting. “Sounds like someone troublesome came in.”

“Let’s just head back.”

That night there was a large rash of legendary beasts scouting the island. “That wasss the fifth Sssuicune I’ve ssseen tonight.” Lucy hissed, “I think we ssshould visssit Missss Aria, and then punt Anabel.”

“I agree, Lucy.” Scott turned. “I’ll deal with Miss Kitty, I’m sure you will take pleasure in dealing with Anabel.”

“Absssolutely.”

Aria was in her room, sobbing softly to herself. How could Winny act like there was nothing wrong? She couldn’t be that much of an airhead, but that couldn’t be the reason. She had to have been teasing her. Aria forced herself to look at the night sky so she could collect her thoughts. Looking at the old sight, she came upon a new option that she forgot about. “Maybe she’s just a selfish person… Or am I being selfish?”

On the other side of the door, Scott was calling. “Miss Kitty! Put on some clothes. We’re stepping out.”

The door opened to see a limp Mew standing with a disappointed look on her face. “We aren’t going to the mainland again, are we?”

“No, of course not.” He smirked. “We’re going to a place that only I go to.”
Whisked away to this secret area, Aria’s expression improved to a growing excitement before she saw the secret. “Right, this is a place where only you would go.” She sighed.
Inside the place was a bar loaded with girls in Pokemon suits. The two sat down at a table to be waited on by a girl bearing a pair of Buneary ears. “I’m a person of simple tastes, Miss Kitty. I make an entire empire so I can have good drinks and beautiful girls. All of these girls and many more work for me here to ensure everything goes the way I plan.”

Aria’s eyes tightened. “What’s your skill?”

“I just make it so… People can use their skills for intended purposes.”

“Really.”

“Lucy was a rogue ninja and assassin. Now she runs a tournament for me and is a formidable trainer.” He answered. “Most of my brains were either criminals, orphans, or people that agree with my vision.”

“So where do I fit into this picture? I’m pretty sure that Anabel was looking for me before.”

“I can’t say much.” The local boss shrugged. “But I met you when I was twelve- the past you, that is.”

“Any more on this?” She glanced. “I’m getting bored with these secrets.”

“Hey, I was young and it was fast.” He brushed. “But I knew that I wanted to have a Mew of my own.”

Aria immediately stood up. “I knew this was coming.”

Grabbing onto her sleeve, Scott corrected himself. “Listen to the whole thing. In your last life, you were the pet to an idol in the Orre region. She used you like a tool, but you followed because you had fallen in love with her. You had built your entire life around her and couldn’t think of anything else.”

“So you think that I was the exact way.” She hung. “I guess I am like that…”

“I can’t say much else, but your clinging onto that woman lead to your death, and with that the near destruction of the entire world.” He took a sip of the provided drink and leaned forward. “When I first met you, I knew I needed a Mew more than anything. When you died, I knew the world needed you more.”

“I’m touched… kinda.”

“That’s why I’m helping you. I made an oath to the night’s sky when I next saw it that I would make sure such a thing never happened again.”

“And you bring me to your personal bunny bar because…”

The tycoon laughed heartily. “Your fate ends up sealed because you base your life on a single girl that you later cannot live without. Look here, there are fifteen girls working tonight, and each has a different costume.”

Aria blinked. “So?”

“There are almost five hundred Pokemon in existence, and if I worked hard enough I could have one for each Pokemon, don’t you think?”

“So you’re saying that there are more than enough girls for me to worry about one.”

“Might not be what you need right now, but it needed to be said.”
Aria lit up for the first time in a long while. “Thanks, Scott. I feel a little better now. I think I should go back and start packing for school.”

As Aria stood, Scott followed. “I’ll escort you back.”

“Thanks.”

Under a canopy of bright stars, the two stopped by the waters. “This reminds me…” The boss turned. “I canceled your room with Anabel. I noticed you two don’t get along.”
“Thanks.” She nodded, “I don’t think I could stand the suicide watch every night. What do I owe you for all of these favors, anyways?”

“Nothing if you don’t want to.” He laughed, “But there is something you could do.”

“As long as it doesn’t involve getting me in a Mew outfit.”

“Spenser’s been talking about retiring. The season’s almost over, and I’m touring next summer, so the Frontier will be closed. But the next summer, I would like it if you would join as the holder of the spirit symbol.”

“Why me?”

“Because, no other trainer in the world understands a Pokemon’s heart like you can. You can master the style in a heartbeat.”

Aria refused to make eye contact. “I’m not too sure about understanding anyone’s heart.”

“Don’t worry about that. There is plenty of time, and if you don’t want to take the job, I won’t force it. Next summer’s for finding other trainers for the position.”

“Well… I don’t know how things will turn out, but I’ll try.” She sighed. “But why don’t you take the position.”

“I don’t actually train Pokemon.” Scott announced.

Aria could feel the cogs in her head grind. “What?! In this day and age?”

The boss smirked. “Why should I train Pokemon? I find training humans just as much fun if not more so.”