Chapter 9: Departure
Normally the mornings over at the Black residence were generally quiet, save for the occasional sound of young flying type Pokémon chirping for food as their parents worked almost exhaustingly to ensure their young were nourished. However, was a citizen willing to listen closely, he or she could hear a pounding or a beating of sorts in the basement. A pounding of human flesh against leather. Whoever had been exerting themselves must've been rather stressed out about something. But what?Being an early riser, Hilda was the first to hear the sound of multiple punches being thrown at speeds only a few Pokémon could match as she woke from her sleep. Much to her surprise, Cheren didn't seem to hear the sounds. Sighing, she knew exactly who was throwing the punches, as she threw on a pair of socks and shoes and the aging mother left her bedside to check on him. She could almost tell exactly who it was without having to take a guess.As she walked towards the stairs, she could also hear what sounded like moans from Nathan's bedroom. The fourty-eight year old mother couldn't help but sigh rather loudly, realizing exactly what Nathan and Christine were doing. Much to her amusement, the moans had stopped completely after Hilda had sighed. Perhaps the two had heard her outside, and feared the worst. "Who am I to judge them?" Hilda thought as she walked down the hallway, finding something intriguing of having Riolu for grandchildren. "Cheren and I were the same way when we were their age." Granted, she and Cheren would've preferred having human grandchildren, but as far as she had known of Christine's species, her and Nathan were mates for life, and nothing would ever change that. And Ethan didn't have many positive experiences with normal women as far as she remembered.Heading downstairs, she strolled through the house, the punches getting louder and louder with each step she took as she got to the basement door. Opening the door, she heard the cackling of electricity, followed up with the sound of chains shattering, and the thud of something hitting the wall. "Why is this happening to me?" she heard, a distinct sniffling in his voice along with another thud. She always knew he nephew as one that didn't get fazed by many things, but something must've disturbed Ethan to be sounding distraught. ***Having fallen on his knees, Ethan had put his hands over his face, trying to put the pieces together himself as he tried to replay the last few images in his head. Too distracted by the thoughts he was having, he didn't notice his Aunt wrap her arms around him, in an attempt to make him feel better. When he opened his eyes, he noticed his Aunt holding him in a hug trying to comfort him. Wiping his eyes, Hilda gave him some space as she asked "Is something wrong, Ethan?" Never being great at lying, he replied as he turned to his Aunt, "It's complicated, Tia." Gesturing for him to go on, he continued
"Two nights ago, I had a nightmare of Beleza dying in my arms. I know it was only a dream, but it felt....so real. And after our encounter with Amanda, I've been growing fearful over what she had said of people getting hurt. And what you mentioned about people capable of using this Dark Aura." A thought came across his mind, and he couldn't help but laugh, if sadly. "Ten years of mastering electricity, and it now feels like it's been all for nothing." Hilda was almost about to say something, but she was stopped by the rustling of footsteps upstairs. Having heard the same thing, the two got on their feet, and walked back upstairs without a word.A few minutes earlier...Nathan and Christine had looked at the door to their bedroom out of fear of Hilda walking in on what the two were doing. Christine's heat had begun, and Nathan couldn't help but oblige to help out the one he called his mate. Much to their surprise, they heard her footsteps head in a direction, before the two heard nothing. "She's gone." Christine acknowledged, watching Hilda's aura walk away. Looking up at her mate, she said "I'm sorry about this..."Getting off of her, Nathan got his feet off the bed as he replied "Don't worry about it, dearest. Somethings just can't be controlled. And only one person terrifies me more about knowing us being together other than my Mom.""I'll try to explain it to him. I won't let him hurt you, Nathan." she replied, knowing whom he was talking about.Smiling, he was almost about to say something until his iPhone had gone off on a nearby drawer. Grabbing it, he noticed Andrea's name on it. Shrugging, he pushed an onscreen button as he said "Morning!""Hey, Nathan. Sorry if I'm...disturbing you, but the Council wants a...report on the presence...of Dark Aura that was...detected in New Bark Town." she explained, sounding a bit tired with an occasional pause as she spoke, no doubt thanks to the timezone differences between the two regions. "Couldn't I just explain what I know and you do the rest?" Nathan asked.Hearing a sigh on the other end, she explained "I already asked them on that, but they'd prefer...to hear your report.""Uh, sorry to disappoint, but I had no involvement on that one. My cousin and mother had bested and scared off the Dark Aura user. But I'll ask them what I know, and use that as a source." he explained to the Guardian that had trained him. Looking down at his nude self, along with Christine laying on his bed, he continued "We'll need some time, at least an hour or three to get ourselves ready.""You have the rest of the day to do that, over." Andrea responded. "And sorry...to end your vacation so soon. I believe it's time I taught you some more..." And with that their call ended.Far away in the night sky of Shalour City...Ms. Lucia had put her phone on a nightstand as she had gotten herself ready for bed. It must've been at
least midnight already in the faraway region of Kalos. She was drained from the events of the day, between teaching younger students in the study of Aura manipulating, and an argument she had with the one she called her partner earlier on. As she crawled into bed, eager to call it a night, she felt a warmth and fur on her torso. Not needing to open her eyes, she could detect the pure red Aura of the Lucario she called her own. "What...is it....Chris? We...need to sleeeeeeepppppp..."Looking at his half sleeping Trainer, the jackal rolled his eyes and explained through telepathy "Are you going to tell them about what happened twenty years ago and before that....event? You know better than anyone how much I don't appreciate of my sister being with him.""Chris, now...isn't the time...to be talking...about this....we'll talk in the morning...." Andrea replied. By instinct, she grabbed her companion, wrapping him into her arms, and the two entered the world of dreams. She thought she heard a word ring through her head, but she was too tired to think of its significance. ***Back in Johto...Getting out of the basement, Ethan and Hilda saw Nathan dressed in black jeans and shoes, along with a dark blue military style jacket getting himself ready for something. Out of curiosity, Ethan asked his younger cousin "Doing something important, Nathan?" Seeing his cousin and mother, he replied "Oh, morning Mom and Ethan. I'm sorry to do this, but I need to return to Kalos.""You've been here for three days. Why do you have to get back so soon?" Hilda had asked, surprised."My Teacher Andrea wants me to return to give a report on the situation that occurred yesterday." he explained. "And I already asked if I could just explain what I know through a phone call, but the elders tend to prefer speaking in person about dilemmas like this. From what I know, it wasn't always like that. Don't know why that was changed." Looking at a traveling bag he was carrying, he made sure he had what he needed. "And I'm sorry Mom about earlier. Christine couldn't help herself and-"Hilda just smiled and laughed, knowing what he was talking about. It took a few seconds to click in Ethan's mind. "Nathan, don't worry about it. I'm just happy you're with someone that means everything to you." she acknowledged."You're not angry about us...?""In my defense, my brother was involved with a Legendary dragoness, my nephew practices polygamy...." Hilda monologued, earning a blush from Ethan. "...so should I really be surprised that you, my own son, would be involved with a Pokémon? On that note, where's Christine?""Just making sure that we have everything we need before we head out." Nathan explained, relieved to hear his Mom's opinions.Coming downstairs, his blue furred mate asked "Okay do we have everything we need Nath-?" Stopping in mid-speech at the sight of Hilda, she quickly exclaimed apologetically
"Mrs. Black, we are so sorry about what happened earlier, and-""It's nothing, Christine. I was the same way with Cheren when I was a least Nathan's age." Hilda replied as she gave her a hug. Looking down at the Lucario, she continued "Although I've been wondering what was up with the rounded spikes on your chest and paws ever since you and Nathan got back."Remembering that unusual feature on herself, the jackal replied "I always thought it was just a genetic mutation, although my older brother has a similar characteristic." "I think they look better than spikes." Hilda acknowledged. "If I could ask you one thing; Just don't get yourself into trouble. Heck, don't let Nathan get into trouble."Grateful for his mother's concern, he replied "We've always had our backs, Mom.""Good." Hilda replied assuredly. Walking up his younger cousin, Ethan brought his cousin up to speed on what happened. Detailing of Amanda possessing and firing off blackish purple lightning from her hands, her Galvantula looking discolored, and her being granted Dark Aura by a powerful individual.***Going outside, Nathan looked at Christine as he recalled his mate apologetically. His traveling bag ready, he gave Hilda one last hug and promised "I'll do what I can to make this a short trip, Mom. I can't guarantee anything though.""I understand." Hilda said sympathetically."And I'll be staying here. Part of me wants to go through the other places of Johto, maybe build up a party, but I don't know right now." Ethan replied. Unsure of what to say, Nathan pulled out a Pokéball and said "I'll see you two, and Dad." Pushing a button on the ball, a brief flash of light could be seen as Ethan and Hilda saw the unthinkable come out. Floating a foot off of the ground, they saw a white and blue dragon.Bewildered by what they saw, Hilda and Ethan asked simultaneously asked "You have a Latios?!""Let's just say I befriended one while on a trip in the Hoenn region, but that's a whole story within itself." Nathan explained, as he pat the dragon on his head. Climbing onto his back, he said "Good bye for now!" before trainer and Legendary took off to the skies. It must've been only a few seconds before the two were long gone."I miss him already." Hilda expressed sadly. Sure, she knew it was necessary for him to leave, but she didn't like it. Attempting to assure his Aunt, Ethan had put a hand on her shoulder, saying "At least I'm here this time." Turning around to hug her nephew, she replied "I know." Thinking it would help change the subject, she had asked him "Is there anything else that was disturbing you? Because it looked like there was more troubling you than you had told me."Breaking their hug, the two went inside as Ethan explained "I think the best way I can say this is that I was seeing, or I think I was seeing a possible future....I don't think you'd want to see any
of it.""I think I know exactly what you are talking about." Hilda acknowledged, much to his surprise. "I've had similar dreams in the past. And in a way, I'm still haunted by them." Looking around their house, and back to Ethan, she continued sadly "All these years, I thought we had seen the last of Team Phoenix when Cheren and I escaped with you out of Unova. But to think they'd still be alive after all this time...."Realizing where she was going, Ethan asked "Are you saying they could've rebuilt Unova after the destruction you had seen?""Possibly.""And you think you might have an idea of who taught Amanda how to manipulate lightning?" he asked out of curiosity.Frowning, she nodded her head. "I don't know what they're after, Ethan. But we should get out of town for a bit.""Are you serious?" Ethan asked, surprised. Looking straight at Ethan, she explained "Yes. Because of Team Phoenix, we need to go somewhere to hone our powers. I'm already out of practice with my own, having not needed to use it for so long.""Did I just hear that right?" the both of them heard. Cheren had come downstairs, already dressed for the workday. "You were thinking of heading out of town? Wait, where's Nathan?"Bringing his Uncle up to speed, Ethan replied "He and Christine had to leave early, something about an urgent matter.""I see." He explained. "On that note, I heard a report on the news about an unusual thunderstorm that was occurring in New Bark Town-""Team Phoenix is alive." Hilda explained bluntly."What?""I know, Uncle. I don't know what to say either." Ethan expressed. "And what does this have to do with Nathan leaving?" Cheren asked. Closing his eyes for a second, his nephew opened them back up to explain "Yesterday, Tia and I had a run in with Amanda-""The brat that harassed you so much in high school that she was expelled?""Yes, that Amanda. Supposedly, she met someone capable of really dark powers, and decided to use them on us. Something that she called Dark Aura."Looking at Hilda, Cheren exclaimed "But I thought we stopped them twenty years ago!""We did. Or I thought we did." she replied. "For all we know, they could've rebuilt Unova, and spent those last twenty years growing stronger there!""So what do we do now?" Cheren asked.Knowing that the idea sounded ridiculous, Hilda explained "I was planning on Ethan and I getting out of New Bark Town for a bit. Go somewhere else, and train with our powers."He knew it'd be a bit of a trek, but Ethan was quick to ask "Couldn't we go to Saffron City? Sure, I'd have to call her first, but I think Sabrina could help us out on this one!""Are you sure?" Hilda asked. "As a Gym Leader, I don't know if she would have the free time to help us out."Nodding, Ethan replied "I know. I can't think of anyone else to turn to."***Far off in
Saffron...A young woman, no doubt coming close to her mid twenties, strolled across the streets of the city of gold, her bluish-gray hair blowing in the wind. For the last two years, she had been watching over the city she knew and loved for so long, watching and waiting for a dear friend to return. Closing her eyes for a second, she could see the auras of everyone in the city, but there was one that looked a bit....off. Opening her eyes, she sensed an aura of cold, frozen malevolence to the far South of the massive city. Balling a fist, she walked south, ready to stop that individual. Sure, she boasted of having a natural dislike for fighting, even with the title of Gym Leader. But when pushing comes to shoving, no; shoving comes to fists being thrown, she barely held back."You're all the same to me..." She thought negatively, as her palms glowed with a bright green. "It doesn't matter the color....Guardian..."