After entering the battle grounds and taking a look around, Auron Vale discovered that while there were a few suitable opponents, they were all pre-arranged matches between friends and wouldn't battle him at all.
There wasn't much he could do about that. He couldn't exactly walk up and tell them, "Our eyes met—so let's have a Pokémon battle," could he?
And so, after a few days of training like this, Charmander and Corphish had both improved a great deal in their command of their moves. Every time Charmander came, he would start with a running workout to build his body, and then, just like Snorlax and Corphish, he trained his move mastery. Recently, under Snorlax's tutelage, he was on the verge of learning Fire Punch.
......
"Is everything packed?"
Dad raised his voice and called to Mom.
"Alright, alright—coming!"
Dad and Auron exchanged a helpless look on the sofa. This was the third time Mom had said that.
The two of them had finished packing an hour ago and were ready to leave.
But since they had to wait for Mom, they'd been sitting there for a while.
Later, when Dad couldn't stand it any longer, he went in to ask if there was anything he could help with.
Mom pushed him out, saying he'd only get in the way.
With no other choice, the two sat back down on the sofa to wait. And wait, and wait—until a long time had gone by.
They were moving today. The whole family was heading up to the capital. Today they would bring some smaller household items, driving them over together. As for the larger pieces that were hard to move, they'd just buy new; anything they couldn't buy, they'd send by courier. And if, someday, something came up and they had to come back, it wouldn't be a problem to stay here a few days either.
The Pokémon at the Nursery had already been transferred over; Dad's equipment had been shipped to the capital a few days ago. Now all that was left was for the people to go.
"Hm? Weren't you leaving?"
From the open doorway, Jace Rowan poked his head in and asked.
"Sigh—"
A moment later, Jace sat down between Dad and Auron with an equally resigned expression.
"Okay—let's go."
Another hour later, Mom finally emerged from the room.
With a big backpack on her shoulders and a suitcase in hand, she stood before the group.
Dad checked the time and could only smile wryly. The plan had been to leave around eight in the morning and arrive by eight or nine in the evening. But now it was nearly noon. There was nothing for it; they'd just have to stop for the night on the way. It was the holidays anyway, and no one was in a rush—they could take it slow and enjoy the trip.
"Let's go, let's go!"
Jace was already getting impatient. He sprang up from the sofa and shot for the door.
"Rotom, navigate to the capital."
"Okay, Roto~"
Once Auron, his parents, and Jace had all gotten in the car, Dad took the wheel first. When he got tired, they'd switch and let Jace drive. At Mom's insistence they bought some prepared food, snacks, and drinks, and at last they merged onto the expressway.
Highways are actually pretty dull. They spray Repel along the sides of the expressway expressly to keep Pokémon from accidentally wandering onto it. So Auron only occasionally saw a few Pokémon in the wide-open fields, or flying Pokémon up in the sky.
Thanks to the Repel, Pokémon wouldn't venture near the roadside.
That night, after getting off the highway, they had dinner, slept, and set off again early the next morning.
Finally, by afternoon, they arrived at their home in the capital.
"Grandpa!"
As soon as he got out of the car, Auron ran forward and threw his arms around Ashford Vale.
"Whoa there—!"
Fortunately, Ashford was still sturdy for his age; he wrapped Auron up in a hug as well. Grandfather and grandson hadn't seen each other in a long time—last year, when the new year came around, Dad hadn't brought them back because one of his research projects had reached a critical stage.
"Grandpa, where's my present?"
Auron's eyes shone as he looked at Ashford.
Back then, Dad had told him that once he got into Skyspire, he'd be rewarded with a Pokémon egg. Auron had not forgotten. Their exam scores weren't out yet, but he'd already checked the answers for the written test, and his results looked good. Add in his performance on the practical exam—barring any surprises, Skyspire was in the bag.
"Haha, so that's why you're being so enthusiastic with me!"
Ashford laughed heartily.
"Hehe, well, you did promise."
Auron slung an arm around Ashford's shoulders, grinning.
"Alright—come on, let's go inside."
"Got it!"
Delighted, Auron walked into the house with Ashford. Mom and Dad followed behind the two of them. The moment he crossed the threshold, Auron got fidgety and asked Ashford at once:
"Grandpa, where are Dad's Aggron and your Electivire? They haven't seen each other in ages either."
"In the backyard."
"Got it."
With his answer in hand, Auron dashed off toward the back.
"Come on out—Crobat, Snorlax, Charmander, Corphish!"
The instant he reached the backyard, Auron released his Pokémon, then charged straight toward Aggron.
"Aggron, long time no see—!"
He flung himself onto Aggron. Aggron lowered himself slightly, letting Auron lie on his armored back in safety.
"Keh!"
At last, Gengar found an opportunity. It slipped out of Auron's shadow into Aggron's shadow and suddenly popped out, trying to give Aggron a scare.
But Aggron had practically raised Gengar—how could he not know what Gengar was thinking? Gengar's sudden appearance didn't startle him in the slightest. Aggron merely looked at him out of the corner of his eye with a hint of amusement.
Gengar: (_)
"Huh? Aggron, is this your kid?"
Seeing the Aron snuggling at Aggron's feet, Auron slid down off Aggron's back and curiously poked Aron's head.
Aggron watched them with gentle eyes. With Gengar and Auron standing side by side—boy and Pokémon both bending down in curiosity to peer at the little Aron on the ground who looked a bit scared—Aggron's gaze softened even more.
Aggron had been staying at Grandpa Ashford's place for some time now, taking care of her child. And really, whether it was Gengar or Auron, Aggron had watched them both grow up.
But Aron was the first Pokémon she had given birth to herself. Dad didn't particularly need battle power at the moment either, so Aggron had settled down here to look after her little one.
"Cha-ma!"
A streak of yellow lightning flashed by, and Gengar jumped in fright.
(Where's Auron!? That big Auron—where'd he go?!)
"Hahahaha—Electivire, hold up, hold up!"
Perched on Electivire's shoulder, Auron laughed aloud. He was happy, but the jostling made it hard to breathe.
When he was a kid, this had been his favorite thing—Electivire would hold him while sprinting at top speed, and he'd feel that wind-like rush.
Electivire came to a stop and set Auron down in front of him. After giving him a once-over from head to toe, Electivire scooped him up in a great big hug.
Auron hugged Electivire back, burying his face against the warm fur at Electivire's neck.
"Long time no see, Electivire."
Emmm, sorry it's late again today. I have sinned; I reflect on my mistakes (-----___-----)
(End of this chapter)