Strike of Team Aero

Dawn broke as the flying trainer stumbled to grab her PokeNav. “Hello?” She moaned.

“Winona, this is Volkner.” The system relayed. “You know, Jasmine’s squeeze.”

“I couldn’t sleep last night…” She sighed. “Between the lightning and thinking about Aria…”

“I’m outside your hotel. You’ll find me next to this injured kid.” He announced. “We can raid her room now.”

“Right! Just let me get dressed!” She called before tripping over the sheets.

In Fuchsia, Aria woke up with her head racing and her mouth full of golden hair. While attempting to remove the traces of the hair from her mouth, she noticed a small white puff over the horizon. In her morning ritual of figuring where the hell she woke up in, she noted the puffs growing in size until the familiar form of an Alteria was coming at an attacking speed. “Huh…” She paused. “Wonder what Winny’s doing at that speed.”

The wind mistress was tight on the reigns as the foreign electric trainer rode tandem. To avoid the imminent impact, the dazed trainer got up to open the window. The dragon landed softly as the two jumped off. “Aria! We’re here to save you!”

“Thanks…” She smiled. “I’m touched. However, I wasn’t captive.”

“But Cynthia!” The leader protested. “Do you know what she does to other girls?”

“She has the same ability as I do.” She crossed. “And people’s abilities flare during adolescence. If I didn’t let Avery take control that entire time, I assure you that you would have been used the same way.”

“What?” She blinked.

“When we were ten, I accidentally controlled you.” The Aero leader stated. “When we were training, and you were attacked by that Mightyena, I freaked out and started to yell out things. I thought it was strange, because you were doing things that you normally couldn’t. It was only after Shellgon scared the beast off that I saw your eyes…”

“My eyes?” She paused. “What’s so special about my eyes?”

Aria smiled. “I know this sounds strange from a girl’s body, but you have the most beautiful eyes, Winny. Especially when they sparkle when you’re happy. However, under my control, your eyes dulled to a dark violet… Those tainted eyes scared me so much that I didn’t return for a year, I was so afraid of my power.”

“And that’s why you never did it to me?” She pointed. “Because it scared you?”
Aria shook her head. “Not that it scared me, but for the reason it scared me.” She blinked back a tear. “I will say this once.” She sobbed. “Winona, I love you and always have loved you. However, I love more than your body, which is what I would have if I used my ability. I want to be with the whole of you, and I can’t have that if I don’t have your mind with me. Even if it’s impossible, even if you’ll hate me, I want to have you love me the honest way. A month ago, I would have said that I was doing this on my honor as a man, but I still stand by that. All I want is your understanding.”

“You lost me.” The leader laughed before pointing at the bed. “But if you love me, why is there a naked blonde in bed with you?”

The sage looked at the leader, then to the champion who just started to awaken. Turning back, she sighed. “Well. Simply put, there is no explanation that would not end without a red mark appearing on the side of my face, so I’ll just take that and head off to my work.”

“I’ll give you a lift.” Winona announced. “Then you can explain what the hell happened.”

“Let me just get changed first.” She announced as she left for the water closet. As the wind trainer turned to her dragon, she almost swore that she saw the two blonds give each other a thumbs-up.

Aboard the dragon, the wind mistress gasped slightly as her admirer tightened her grip. “Worried about falling?”

“Considering my sense of balance, I’m amazed I’ve only died once.”

“Speaking of which.” She paused. “How did you die the first time?”

“…” Aria paled. “…I really don’t like talking about it.”

“Anyways, that outfits cute!” Winona shifted. “Where did you get it?”

“Cynthia helped me to pick it out.” She brushed. “Apparently she was trying to make me look more feminine.”

“It does look good on you.” She smiled. “So, did you two…”

“No, no…” She shook. “She tried hard, though. She was getting frustrated that I was immune to her power and decided to try the old-fashioned way.”

“What do you think of her?”

“She’s a good person…” Aria smiled. “A complete yankee, but a good person.”

“I thought you’d say that…”

“What do you mean by that, Winny?”

“You always try to see the best in people, don’t you?”

Aria smiled brightly. “Weren’t you the one that always said that there is always good inside everyone?”

“When did I say that?” The wind trainer paused.

“You started saying it nine years ago when you first met Avery. Remember? You spent an entire month asking exactly who you were talking to until he saved your life.”

“Really? Was that how it happened? I remember being scared of you back then… But I guess I forgot it was Avery.”

“You know what will blow your mind?” Aria smiled. “I’m Avery.”

“What?!” She gasped as the dragon hit turbulence. “You’re Avery?!”

“No, it’s just been a while since I saw your shocked face.” The Aero leader laughed. “But in a different way, it’s a similar situation.”

“So you’re saying that your betraying me is the same as your brother being a brute.”

“No, that would be a stupid way to attempt weaseling out of what I did.”

“Then you’re saying…”

“It’s rather amazing that you haven’t thrown me off of Alteria, especially after you almost killed my number two.”

“I almost killed who?”

“You know that shadowy guy that appears randomly to talk with me? Apparently you broke his arm two nights ago.”

“I couldn’t do that!”

“We’ll talk about that part later…” She smiled. “Since we’re over our destination, I need to start acting like a leader.” Putting the last few strands of hair in place, she braced for entry.

On the ground, apparently there was a different sense of urgency as swarms of crimson, blue, green, and black were crowding the streets in search of the missing leader. “There she is!” A team of Rockets called as their search Pokemon rallied in unison. Aria’s eyes grew wide as she turned and ran for it. “Sage Aria! Where are you going?”

With her oldest friend in tow, Aria ran through street after street until she hit an alleyway. From that point, the noble sage of Team Aero curled into a ball. Winona had to blink at this. “What’s wrong?”

“It couldn’t have been any of the elemental groups…” She sobbed. “It had to be the Rockets and their…”

“Raticate!” A swarm cried as Rockets filled the alley.

“Miss Aria…” Giovanni’s voice erupted as the sea of black split in two. “The three of us were worried about your disappearance.”

Aria’s speech was completely incoherent.

“We have a meeting this morning, if you remember. I have my limousine outside, so we can get there shortly.”

Aria still was without a response.

“Is there something wrong, Miss Aria? Perhaps you would prefer something a little less showy?”

Winona blinked as her violet eyes darkened to deep sapphires. “Listen, Giovanni.” She shot. “Have your minions call back their Pokemon and disperse, then we’ll continue discussion. If there is a problem, I can easily break a few of your men.”

Giovanni snapped his fingers as the entire battalion recalled their Pokemon and ran for it. “Now, as we were saying, Miss Winona.”

“I will be transporting Aria, and if we’re late, fuck it.” She stated. “The meeting will not start until we arrive, and we might just take our time with some breakfast.”

The Rocket leader sighed. “Are you sure you’re not Yakuza?”

“Just because I’m a princess doesn’t mean I’m not leading a syndicate.” She smiled. “You can go on ahead and wait for us.”

“Very well.” He nodded, “I’ll follow your command this time.”

Winona sighed as she poked her fallen comrade. “Are you getting up?”

Aria uncovered an eye. “Are the rats gone?”

“Yes.”

“I really, really hate Raticate.”

“What would cause you to be that put off?”

“Allow me to explain…” The admin appeared from the shadows. “It’s because of how Aria died the first time.”

“It was our understanding that she was stillborn.” Winona paused, looking to her friend.

“Our?” She blinked.

“Then I assume that there are two personalities inside one body to match Master and Mistress Ariaver Hasaki.”

“Well, that would seem so.” The girl nodded. “I’m her ‘dark’ half for the sake of it.”

“Regardless…” The admin continued, “You are incorrect. When Mistress Aria was three, she was lost in a forest where one of those.” As he motioned to where the Rockets stood, “Killed her for food.”

“That’s strange…” She paused. “I thought they.”

“That breed eats everything.” The admin cut. “That includes little girls. Fortunately, I was there to take what was left of her and bound her to Master Avery.”

“Why were you there?” She blinked.

“I am her fairy godfather, of sorts.” He explained. “Mistress is an important person, and it has been my duty since before she was born to keep her. However, because of the rules of life and death, I couldn’t stop her from that fate.”

“You see…” The dark Winona growled. “This is why I broke your arm.”

“Trust me.” He leered. “I’d break every bone in my body and grind it into dust if it would make it all go away.”

“That’s touching…” Aria laughed as she finally stood up. “But I need you in one piece. Could you teleport us into the meeting place? I want to take care of business quickly.”

“Very well.” The subordinate nodded as they found themselves looking across a table from Giovanni, Maxie, and Archie. “We will now start the meeting. Who has any new business?”
Aria stood up. “I have new business. I am stepping down.”

Everyone blinked.

“In my place, my second in command will assume all duties.” She announced.

“You can’t do that.” Giovanni hissed before seeing a pair of demonic eyes belonging to the soon-to-be Aero leader.

“I will do as you wish, Mistress. Your cause is safe with me.”

“Great!” She smiled. “Now Winny and I are going to get something to eat. See Ya’!”