Looks like I'll need to catch an Ice-type Pokémon.
Aaron thought back to his past experience with Skill Cards. The better the match between the card and the Pokémon, the more likely it was to produce something powerful.
Sceptile's Wood Release was one example. Charizard's Dragon Slayer Magic was another.
Satisfied with Demon's Extract, Aaron lay down on Snorlax's belly and called to the others.
"Alright, everyone. Time to sleep. We might have a fight tomorrow, so get some proper rest."
"Grenin..."
"Graaah..."
"Scep..."
The Pokémon answered one after another, then gathered around him and settled down near Snorlax. Gyarados coiled around the outer edge of the group, forming a protective circle around everyone.
"Good night, Corviknight."
"Kraa..."
Soon, everyone drifted off to sleep.
...
The night passed quietly.
By sunrise, Aaron was already awake. After washing up by the river, he recalled all his Pokémon except Charizard, climbed onto its back, and headed toward the massive city in the distance.
Crown City... here I come.
...
About an hour later, they arrived.
From Charizard's back, Aaron looked down at the capital below. Towering buildings rose everywhere, traffic flowed along wide roads, and the whole place seemed to pulse with life.
"So this is the capital."
A smile appeared on his face.
"It really is something."
Before long, he would be coming here for college. Honestly, he was looking forward to it.
Aaron took out his phone and opened a group chat.
The chat name was: Secret Zone Squad.
It was the group he had made with the friends he met in the Insight Secret Zone: Braveon, Blaze, and Liora. They had kept in touch ever since, and the others already knew he was coming. They had made him promise to message them once he arrived so they could pick him up.
Aaron smiled slightly and sent a photo of the city from above into the group chat.
Aaron: I'm here. Come welcome me.
They were close enough now that a line like that only counted as normal trash talk.
Blaze replied almost instantly.
Blaze: Our missing son finally shows up.
Blaze: Old Town entrance. Ten minutes.
Braveon followed right after.
Braveon: On my way.
Simple and direct, just like him.
Then Liora's message popped up.
Liora: You're already here?
Liora: I just woke up... give me a few minutes.
Blaze immediately jumped on the opening.
Blaze: A few minutes?
Blaze: You never take that long for us. Aaron gets here and suddenly you care?
Liora: Blaze.
Liora: Want me to tell Drake?
Blaze folded on the spot.
Blaze: I apologize.
Blaze: Take all the time you need.
Blaze: Please don't get me killed.
Aaron laughed when he saw that.
Blaze might act fearless most of the time, but everyone knew how protective Drake was of Liora. Annoying her was one thing. Annoying her enough to bring Drake into it was suicide.
A few minutes later, Aaron landed near Old Town.
The district preserved an older architectural style and was one of the capital's major attractions. Courtyard houses, tiled roofs, carved wooden gates, and narrow stone streets gave the area a deep historical atmosphere. Tourists came here specifically to experience the long history and culture of Hualis.
At this hour, the streets were already busy. People moved in and out of shops, vendors called from their stalls, and the whole district felt lively without becoming overwhelming.
Aaron sat on the railing of an old pavilion, looking out over the old city with a faint emotion in his eyes.
Before long, he spotted three familiar figures walking toward him.
A smile spread across his face.
He hopped down from the pavilion and waved.
"Braveon! Blaze! Liora!"
The three turned at once.
The moment they saw him, their faces lit up, and they hurried over.
"You finally made it, you brat!"
Blaze reached him first, pulling him into a hard hug before thumping him lightly on the chest with a grin.
"Took you long enough."
Braveon stepped forward next and held out his fist.
"Welcome to the capital, Aaron."
Aaron bumped fists with him and smiled a little sheepishly.
"Yeah, sorry. Ran into some trouble on the road and got delayed."
Liora stood beside them in a white dress, her hair tied into twin ponytails. She had put on light makeup, just enough to make her look bright and neat without feeling overdone.
"Aaron," she said with a soft smile, "you're finally here. We're really happy to see you."
Aaron looked at the three of them and smiled.
"Yeah. I'm here."
For the first time since the Insight Secret Zone, the four of them were together again.
...