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"Alright, and if I just do this...."
Juliana revved up her Miraidon. The pair then launched into the sky, gliding around the mountains. Not far behind was Arven, who was tagging along with Juliana on a vacation to Kitakami.
"H-hey! Wait up!"
Arven stopped for a moment to catch his breath, inhaling and exhaling at a fast pace.
Juliana landed right in front of him, she got off her Miraidon and walked up to him.
"Oh, sorry!" She sheepishly grinned and stood beside Arven for a bit.
"It's fine, no need to sweat over it!" He smiled back at her, still sweating bullets from the run.
The two sat down against the rocky mountains in silence. They were on a vacation in Kitakami. After the whole depths of Area Zero incident, Juliana had decided she wanted to take a break from being the champion. She had asked her friends if they wanted to come, but each came up with their excuse. Penny said she was busy EV training her eeveelutions, Nemona was working to become an Elite Four member, Carmine was busy with schoolwork, and Kieran was in therapy. Everyone had something to do, except for Arven. That's how they ended up in this situation right now.
"So...wanna take a ride on Miraidon? Trust me, flying on it is really easy. I mean look at me! Miraidon had just gotten the power to fly a few hours ago, and now I'm like a professional at it!"
She gestured Arven toward Miraidon. He shook his head.
"Maybe another time? You said there was something you wanted to show me in Kitakami."
Juliana's expression turned into shock, "oh! I completely forgot! Here, get on Miraidon!"
She grabbed Arven's hand and pulled him onto Miraidon. Before he could protest, they took off, soaring through the sky. Arven held onto Juliana as she steered the pokemon toward a crystal pool.
"You see? I got the hang of-"
They crashed into the lake, and all of the wild pokemon surrounding stared at them.
"Sorry! I didn't...mean to-"
Arven shook his head and smiled at her.
"Don't worry about it, little buddy! Let's just get out of the water."
She smiled back, a pink tint appearing on her face.
Arven dragged Juliana out of the pool, Miraidon came out of its pokeball soon after.
"We should probably go back soon, getting sick in a foreign place doesn't sound pleasant."
Juliana simply nodded in agreement. She stood up, trying to wipe off the dirt stuck to her wet shorts.
The two were engulfed in a thick smog of mist, it was almost impossible to see each other.
"Juli?"
Arven reached out to her, touching a figure.
"Juli, is that you..? You seem..different."
The smog disappeared ever so slightly, revealing Professor Turo.
"D-dad?!"
Arven jumped back in surprise before bursting into tears.
"Dad! I-I, y-you're here! I thought you were-"
It was then Arven noticed that his father seemed confused.
"Who are you exactly?"
These words hit Arven like a brick. His happy tears turned into sorrowful ones.
"Dad..it's..me..Arven!"
This garnered a reaction out of Turo. One into surprise.
"Arven? You're....so old?"
The two stared at each other in silence. Juliana then came running in, preparing for a battle.
"Arven! Are you okay? I heard cry-"
She turned to see the professor and her jaw dropped.
"P-Professor Turo?"
She walked up to him, eyes completely widened.
"Yes, that is me."
Miraidon came out of it's pokeball, Turo once again seemed shocked.
"The...Iron Serpent?!" Turo walked up to it, examining Miraidon.
Arven mumbled something to himself, "he's more interested in the pokemon than me..."
Turo turned toward Juliana and noticed the book in her possession.
"Miss...may I have a moment in private with you?"
"Stop!"
Arven shouted this at the top of his lungs, tears still falling from his eyes.
"Please...let me know one thing before you go.."
"Yes? Please hurry."
"...Do you love me?"
Turo stood in silence for a moment.
"You were never there for me when I needed you most, I grew up by myself, hoping every day that you would come back and be an amazing dad to me. That day never came, so now I ask you, do you love me?"
He responded, "Arven..."
"Yes. I love you, you are my son. My only son, the only family I have left in this world. I've always cared about you, my time has always been taken up by work and-"
"Then why did you never say hi?! I missed you so much, dad!"
"Arven, I was busy....I'm sure future me will see you once I'm finished with my work."
"That's....not possible..." Arven's voice was heartbroken.
"And why is that?"
Juliana tried to signal to Arven that this was a bad idea, he decided to speak it anyway.
"It's because you're dead."
Arven's last remark rang through the pool. Even the pokemon were shocked.
"Dad...you die protecting one of the future pokemon. That's why I couldn't see you again..."
A tear formed in Turo's eye.
"Arven...I'm so sorry."
He walked up to Arven and hugged him.
"I'm so sorry for everything..."
"Thank you, Dad..."
The mist suddenly began to thicken again.
"I believe my time is almost up."
He looked over at Juliana.
"May I look at your book?"
Juliana seemed shocked by this sudden question but obliged.
The two talked for a bit, Arven could barely hear it through the thicket.
When they walked back up to him, Turo was holding the book Mrs. Briar had written. Juliana was holding Turo's book.
"What...did you guys do?"
"We made a trade!" Juliana smiled.
"O-oh...that's cool!" Arven forced a smile on his face and then looked at Turo.
"Dad....are you going to go now?"
He nodded sorrowfully, "yes, it's time for me to go."
"But Arven," he continued, "there's one last thing I want to say."
"Yeah, dad?"
"I love you, Arven."