Chapter 2: I don't know if he would remember you...
Not too far away from the building Ethan and Phosphora had walked out of, a middle aged couple could be seen, as well as a young adult, possibly in her early twenties, going for a harmless stroll across the streets of Violet City . At a first glance, one could say that the parents were in their fifties. The somewhat elderly man could be seen wearing a black fedora with a white stripe in the center to hide his unusual hair color, as well as wearing a grey trench coat, the belt adjusted for a formal look, as well as a pair of slacks and loafers. His wife walked beside him, her long dark red hair moving slightly with each step she took, dressed in a more simple fashion of a dark blue pair of jeans, and a brown hooded jacket. "Do you think he's really here, Selina?" The aged Lady had asked her daughter. "Yeah, Mommy! I know I saw him somewhere on the rooftops last night!" The young woman, simply called Selina, had replied eagerly. Despite her appearance, she possessed an attitude that could almost be compared to a young child. "It's been so long since we've seen him and..." "Selina, calm down please." The man she called her father had asked kindly. Knowing by instinct to listen to her father, she had taken a deep breath as she calmed down. "Okay, I'm sorry to tell you this, but it's been so long since he's seen you, I don't know if he would remember you." Upon hearing what her father said, Selina looked down and frowned. Hugging her, and rubbing a hand through her bright red hair. "But don't cry. I promise you that we will meet him again, it's just not time yet. Although I'm sure that his Aunt and Uncle would still remember us..." "Walter, you know they haven't seen us in twenty years." His wife had replied, as they walked through an alleyway to get away from the pedestrian traffic. "But do you think that Hilda would be happy to see us, let alone you, given what happened back then..." "No one could possibly hold a grudge for that long, dearest. And you two know better than anyone that I'm a changed man. I still have her abilities, and have been able to put them to good use, and I promised her back then that I'd only use them if we really needed to..." he had calmly responded. Wanting to change the subject, he had asked "Now that that's settled, why don't we get breakfast?" Without a word, Mother and daughter silently agreed on their father's request, having always loved the many places where they could purchase food. Continuing their walk, Selina had noticed Ethan walking into a chain restaurant simply known as "Aurora's". A burger place that had started off several decades ago by a human and a Lucario couple from the Sinnoh Region in the far north. What caught her attention was the yellow fleeced Pokémon that was following him, whom appeared to carry a cane of sorts, with her brown haired trainer possibly guiding her. "Something wrong, Selina?" her father asked, noticing how she was staring at the Aurora's restaurant. "Sorry, Daddy. I was just noticing this place. Could we give it a try, please?" she quickly exclaimed, trying to regain her patience.
"Okay then. Just don't run on us, please? Your mother and I are getting too old for that." He responded. Walking into the building, the three took in the scenery that lay before them. Looking up, a dome stain-glassed skylight let the morning sun shine through, shimmering red and blue light visible on the floors below. Many statues depicting the Pokémon found in Sinnoh dotted many of the tables, as well as several statues of Lucario that appeared to be holding up the very ceiling. "I like architecture as much as the next person, but can we at least get a seat?" Walter had asked the two, trying to get their attention away from the sights of the statues. As he looked around, he had taken notice of whom he believed to be Ethan with two Pokémon with him. If only he were here to see you now, Ethan. He thought to himself, as the three ordered breakfast. And his mother...no, I'm sure she's been watching over him ever since he was little. "Something on your mind, dear?" Selina's mother had asked Walter, noticing how he had been seemingly watching Ethan converse with his Pokémon, and attempted to eavesdrop as to what the three were talking about. Turning back to his wife and daughter, he replied "Sorry. Just got distracted." In the midst of their conversation, neither of them noticed Ethan glancing in their direction, hearing everything they had said. Having ordered their breakfast, they ate in silence. Soon after, Ethan had begun to walk out of the restaurant, and Walter watched as he recalled his Ampharos, leaving him with the Milotic as the two left, looking content... As soon as the two were a good distance away from the Aurora's place, Beleza turned to Ethan as they strolled, and she asked "What was your idea for today?" Putting the family he overheard in his mental backburner, he replied as they walked into an enclosed parking lot "Well, I was thinking..." "Ethan!" the two had heard, calling out from their left, where they noticed Nathan and his dear Christine running up to the two before stopping. Panting, he spoke "It's....been a....while....si....since we.....we've seen you." Assuming the possibly obvious, Ethan had looked towards Christine with a smirk, and asked her, looking into her pure red eyes "Have you and Nathan been doing things that would..." "I swear we have not!" she suddenly replied, failing to hide a blush that stood out like a sore thumb, as she used her telepathy to speak. "Tell that to the Nurse!" Nathan panted. Half-smiling, Ethan had asked "Can't you just channel your Aura into him, and restore his energy?" Upon hearing that question, Christine couldn't help but paw palm herself, and put her paws onto her mate, as he glowed with a bright blue aura. When her power wore off, Nathan had opened his eyes, and he looked more awake. "Uh, thanks?" Nathan asked, not sure exactly what to say. Ethan just shrugged his shoulders, and replied "Anytime. Since you and Christine are back from your two year trip, any special reason for coming back aside from saying hi?" "Well, there's a few reasons. Couldn't we talk about it over breakfast?" Nathan had asked, still impressed by the energy boost he had received. "Not a problem. Since I'm feeling generous, it's all on me." Ethan replied. Beleza, on the other hand had looked down at Ethan, a glance of surprise on her face. "Uh, Ethan? We just ate. You can't be saying that you're hungry again." She argued. Beginning to grin, she asked "Or are you slowing turning into Thor?" Noticing the Milotic's grin, Nathan had asked "Anyone care to tell me what she's saying?" His question only prompted a laugh between his cousin, and their two Pokémon. Calming down, Ethan explained "Sorry about that, Nathan. Beleza was just asking if I was turning into Thor, since my girls and I just had breakfast." Turning to his beloved snake, Ethan continued "Well, Beleza. I'd already be speaking in an old English dialect if that was the case, and I'd probably also be smashing mugs onto the floor screaming 'Another!'" Pretending to smash an imaginary cup, Christine burst out laughing at the visualization they were given. Checking the time on his watch, Nathan had asked the three "Let's go get breakfast, then. I'm already starving!" "Not a problem, I know a good place here." Ethan responded, the four of them walking to the restaurant where Ethan and his girlfriends were at earlier. Trying to shrug off his hunger, Nathan proceeded to chat with Ethan about what they've been doing respectively. For personal reasons, Nathan decided to start off with how their morning went, prior to catching up with Ethan. Far off at a Lemonade shop known as Lemons of Sparta, a young woman could be seen reading a newspaper, keeping an eye out as she had been looking for a certain person. Soon, she had seen the man she was looking for, clad in a navy blue Pea Coat, with black jeans. And she noticed another individual, his cousin to be exact, along with two Pokémon right behind them. She had a mission, and she was determined to accomplish it, no matter how long it took for her, and anyone working with her. Sonic the Hedgehog 2006: Event- The Black Shadow Smiling darkly, she threw the hood of her blood red jersey over her head to cover her face, as well as a pair of sunglasses, adjusted her white belt-less trench coat, and left the shop, as she walked away, putting her left hand on an earphone. "Ethan's here." She whispered. "I might need backup, sir." As she treaded out of Violet City, a massive oak tree caught her attention. Her smile growing bigger, she put both of hands on the bark as they glowed with an unsettling purple hue, and watched with a sick smile as the possibly hundred year old tree wither away, it's leaves and bark turning into a dark grey, and die, along with any Pokémon living within the tree.