Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Control
"I am tired."
Aeron spoke as he looked at the two girls beside him, panting for breath.
"How are you so strong?" Misty got up on one arm as she looked at Aeron, who wasn't even sweating after wrestling with the two of them. He held his arms and pressed them as hard as she could. "It's like they are made of steel."
"Trust me; he used to be very fragile just a little over a month ago," Nessa spoke as she looked at him from the corner of her eye.
"Puberty?" said the boy, and the girls rolled their eyes. Misty dropped back down on the bed, and the three stared at the ceiling above. Silence took over the room as none of them said anything for a while before Misty spoke up.
"What are your plans for the Gym Battle?" she asked, and Aeron's eyes gained focus as he went into deep thought.
"My best bet would be Growlithe and Larvesta with their Fire-type Moves. I will keep Axew as a hidden card for last." The Dragon was Aeron's strongest Pokemon, and even if it didn't have any Type advantage, it would undoubtedly wreak havoc. "But it won't be easy since Jason would expect as much."
"He is a great Pokémon Trainer, and although people take him easy since his Gym falls under Tier 1, he will battle you rather seriously."
Gyms in every region were divided into three tiers: [Tier 1] > [Tier 2] > [Tier 3]
[Tier 1] Gyms were 'easier' since the Gym Leaders were supposed to test a trainer's capabilities rather than outright battle them, though it did not mean they would go easy on them. They were also called Beginner Gyms since they were the only Gyms a Trainer could challenge when they first began their Pokémon Journey.
[Tier 2] Gyms were tricky since a trainer needed at least three or more badges to attempt a challenge. The conditions were higher for tier 3 Gyms.
Jason was a [Tier 1] Gym Leader who fought new trainers, and thus some thought he was weak...a misconception and Aeron dubbed these people as fools. No Gym Leader was weak since they all were A-class Trainers, each having won different Pokémon Conferences.
The Pokémon used by Gym Leaders were also not on their main roster. They used Pokémon registered under the Gym itself but trained by them. They would only use their main roster if the challengers were the winner of a Pokémon Conference before, and even then would not go all out. Typical A-class trainers had 14 slots in their roster, and thus they used their weaker Pokemon to battle the Conference winner's strongest.
The goal was to test a trainer, not defeat them unless it was an Elite Four Challenge.
"Why would he give you such importance?" Nessa turned around and looked at Aeron, her hand unconsciously resting on his body. "Previously, he did something like this for Princess Cynthia Shirona, and last time I checked, you are not a prince...though you look like one."
He did look like a prince, and she knew how his face affected the girls around him. Although he might have ignored others, Nessa saw how girls squealed when they looked at him; Misty was the same. The youngest of the Waterflower Sisters had a massive crush on him in a matter of minutes, and she wasn't the only one since she herself had suffered the same fate.
After the Viridian City incident, something within Aeron had changed, but Nessa could not put her finger on it. His aura changed along with how he handled everything as if he was more refined and had a meaning behind his actions. His calmness was scary, and when he became serious, one could feel a noble presence radiating from his very being.
She knew the boy was hiding some secrets and wanted to explore them all, but she decided never to pry into his secrets until he told her himself.
'This just makes him more appealing.'
The mystery around the boy named Aeron Duskborn made her heart tingle. Women were strange creatures; they wanted to know everything, and if they could not...they would keep obsessing over it.
"He indeed is handsome." Misty agreed with her friend, and Aeron ignored the two girls who were probably messing around with him.
"No need to overthink about it since it won't change anything. My Pokémon and I will rest for the day and be ready for tomorrow." He looked at the Pokémon, who were fast asleep once again after goofing around just like the three of them. "Nurse Joy recovered all their injuries, but they are mentally exhausted."
Aeron stayed like that for a while until he heard no response from the girls. He turned to look at them, only to find them fast asleep. They were also tired, and their sleep last night was not enough.
He wanted to get off and restart his physical training, but before he tried the move, a pair of legs locked him in place, followed by another.
The Duskborn looked down at the two beautiful girls sleeping, using his shoulders as pillows while their arms and legs were wrapped around him. Worse of all, he still didn't have his shirt on, and the two girls, who were about a year older than him, barely wore any clothes, so he could easily feel their touch.
He looked at the ceiling without showing even a semblance of his emotions, and only one thought rang out in his mind.
'Control.'
-0-
[Good Luck. We will be watching the stream and cheering for you].
[And I am very proud of you for winning the [PKC]] Sophia pushed away her husband and brought all of Aeron's attention to her. [Where is Nessa?]
"She must be getting ready for the event; I will call you after the Gym Battle, and she will be with me next time, along with another friend I have made." Aeron chuckled at his mother's enthusiasm to meet his travelling partner. After the two had talked with each other back in Viridian City, Sophia had taken a liking to Nessa.
[Another friend?] Sophia raised an eyebrow at him before her lips curved into a teasing grin. [Is my son catching Pokémon or...]
"Oh, c'mon!"
[Ignore your mother] Ethan said while turning the camera toward himself. [Don't worry about the results; give your best].
"Yes, Dad."
[Why haven't you come home even though you are close to Florian Town? You have to walk back to Pewter City and then to Florian Town. Easy peasy] Sophia asked. After all, it was only a two-day journey from Greenwich Town to Florian Town. They were super close.
"I am not coming." Aeron shook his head before adding. "I don't know if Mum would let me leave if I returned, so I would rather not take the risk."
Ethan burst out in laughter while Sophia glared at her husband.
"Jokes aside, we will leave Greenwich Town the day after my Gym Battle and come to Florian Town." Aeron's words brought smiles to their faces.
[Really?!!!] Sophia could not hold her joy when she heard that. It had been more than three months since she had seen her son, and as much as she tried not to show it, she really missed him. She had spent so much time away from each other for the first time in her life.
"Yes, but we will only stay for a night and leave the next day." Aeron cleared that he won't be staying for too long. "There is something I want to talk to you about."
[Is it so important you are stopping your journey and visiting home?] Ethan asked with a frown since he knew his son had no plans to return home for at least a year.
"Yes." Aeron nodded before he added. "Ok, I will hang up now. I need to get going."
[Good Luck. Our blessings are with you!] Ethan said, but a worried frown was now plastered on his face. What could make their son come home so soon? He was not complaining, but knowing Aeron, he had no plans to be back anytime soon. Whatever he wanted to talk about had to be really important.
[Show that pretty-faced Gym Leader who is better looking, and make sure to sing well so you can impress Nessa...and your new Pokémon] Sophia remained excited, knowing her son was coming back.
Ethan and Sophia gave him final words of encouragement before Aeron cut the call while shaking his head at his mother's words. She had been shipping him with Nessa for no reason and now with Misty, whom she hadn't even met.
The very next moment, his door was knocked on.
"Coming." He got up from the chair and opened the door. "Are you ready?"
"More than ready." Nessa spun on her heels as she showed off her new clothes. White pants with a red turtleneck. "How do I look?"
"Pretty." Aeron flicked her forehead as he looked for the orange head. "Where is Misty?"
"She couldn't decide what to wear for the concert." Nessa chuckled, and the duo walked toward the other girl's room. "And finally, you wear something different." The ocean-blue eyes landed on Aeron, wearing a baggy white shirt with black pants and boots. "But still some black."
Aeron shrugged before he knocked on Misty's door.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Coming!" The sound of the person behind the door stumbling their way to them was heard, and the door was opened. "Five minutes?" Misty asked while peeking through the half-opened door. Aeron tilted his head and could see hordes of clothes thrown at the ground, however...
"Misty, did you..."
"Uggh!" She groaned in annoyance before opening the door and closing it as soon as the duo entered. "I don't know what to wear!"
Aeron and Nessa looked at the clothes Misty had thrown all over the room. They were all...the same—short jeans with a yellow crop top.
"You are even beyond me," said Aeron with a chuckle. He always wore almost the same type of clothes but did carry some different ones in case they needed it.
"I didn't know I would go to a concert."
"We could have bought something yesterday." Nessa walked forward and hugged her friend. "Want some of my clothes?"
"Can I?"
"Of course, silly." Nessa pinched her cheeks before she looked at Aeron. "We will see you in the lobby."
Aeron nodded before leaving the room and letting the girls be. He just hoped they wouldn't be too late.
'Hopefully.'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
astraldragon
astraldragon This was the hardest chapter i wrote so far. I had no clue what the heck I was writing but I just wanted to set up something for the future. I don't know if it came out good, so let me know your thoughts.
Thank you for showing me your support!
Peace!
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