Hi, everyone! I’m new to Pokebeach, but I’ve been writing fics for quite a while. I participated in this year's Yuletide event over on Serebii, and was given a prompt to write a one-shot about Aarune, the secret base expert, and how he got started! I may come back to this one day since I still have a bunch of ideas about his adventures, but for now, please enjoy!
He found his first Secret Spot when he was ten.
Aarune’s family had just moved from Floccesy Town to Castelia City, and it felt like a completely different world. He found himself enjoying life in the big city - Castelia was alive! There was always something happening on every corner, with new people to meet and places to see and things to experience. It was a bit overwhelming, yet exciting and grand and new. But the young boy found himself missing Floccesy Town; it had a peacefulness he couldn’t find anywhere in Castelia, and sometimes he just wanted to unwind. In Floccesy, the houses had luscious lawns, and there were fields to play in left and right. It was easy to find a tree to climb and relax in for hours, a spot by the river to watch the water flow, or a hollow in the cliff where he could sit and do homework. There was no shortage of places to go that he could claim as his own, and it was easy to take some time to himself and find some peace. He hadn’t realized how open and free he had felt there until they had moved for his mom’s new job.
The kids at his new school were nice, at least, and when he mentioned wanting to explore the city, a whole bunch of them volunteered to join him. Together, they went on little adventures after school, a small team of kids in the big city. He got to see the whole of Castelia; they were shown around the residential area by Tina and Ricky, Ingrid gave them a tour of the financial district, they got to know their way around Castelia Central thanks to Mickey, and Raymond introduced them to the piers. Everyone got to see different parts of the city, and there was something thrilling about not only learning about Castelia himself, but watching his friends’ faces light up as they discovered new things about the place they called home.
But through it all, he never quite found a place that he could claim for his own. Even if he could find a secluded space on one of their outings, there were so many people always coming and going in the city that the place would never be his for long. Still, he couldn’t end his search. Castelia City was so huge that there had to be a spot somewhere that he could claim as his own.
Of course, most of his new friends didn’t have the same passion for exploring. Slowly, their expedition groups got smaller, and their adventures started happening less often. Only Sammi continued joining him on adventures throughout the city, and that was partly because she just didn’t like being at home. Still, together the duo continued as best as they could to explore what Castelia had to offer.
They found the secret spot completely by chance.
“C’mon, the construction crew’s on break, we can sneak in now!” Aarune whispered from their hiding spot, one hand shielding his eyes from the sun while the other tugged on Sammi’s sleeve. The squawks of Wingull and the blaring of ship horns filled the air, and the salty smell from the waves lapping up against the pier filled their noses. It was the perfect day for an adventure.
“Do you really wanna go, Aarune? I hear there’s nothing but Grimer down there!” the young girl protested wearily, eyeing the array of bright orange pylons and striped barriers in their path.
“It’ll be fun! Have you ever seen a Grimer up close?”
“Well, no…”
“Then now’s our chance!”
At a loss for words, Sammi let the blond-haired boy drag her towards the entrance to the Castelia Sewers. Their shoes scuffed against the hot concrete as they dodged the abandoned equipment and obstacles, ducking past the single remaining construction worker completely absorbed in his C-Gear, nibbling absentmindedly on a casteliacone. Thankfully, it was noisy and busy enough that two kids could easily go unnoticed.
As they entered the mouth of the sewer tunnel, they left the sun and sea behind for darkness, and instead were met with a smell that made the duo’s faces twist with disdain. The two hesitated at the top of the stairs, trying to hold their breaths against the impending stench, squinting through the abyss before them. Aarune glanced back towards the entrance, eying the back of the worker’s bright orange vest in the sunlight. They had made it too far to turn back now! He beckoned Sammi forward, and starting making his way down the stairs into the underbelly of the pier. Clenching her jaw, she followed him wordlessly.
Buzzing halogen lights greeted them as they reached the landing, illuminating the humid, dank world. The place was secluded, Aarune had to admit that. It was also big - just how big, they couldn’t tell. Dark waterways flowed past the walkways in every direction, creating a rushing sound that reminded the boy of the white noise on some TV channels, but louder. Accompanying this were the drip drips of condensed water splashing into small puddles, and they could hear the faint echoes of scampering paws.
“The water levels are higher now, ‘cause it’s the spring. There’s less of it in the fall,” Sammi said quietly, breaking the mesmerizing silence.
“Now that’s something,” the boy whistled. He was slowly adjusting to the strange underground world, and it seemed once you got used to the smell and the heaviness of the air, it wasn’t too bad down here.
They picked a direction and they started walking, both still somewhat tense. They said nothing, partly out of fear of being caught and partly because neither was sure what to say. As if hypnotized, both found their eyes drawn to the rushing waterways running parallel to them, the halogen lights reflecting off the dark, frothy surface. So focused were they, that Aarune was caught completely off guard when his shoe brushed something small and furry on the ground.
“Ratta!” The screech was piercing through the static of the sewer.
“Ah!” Both kids jumped and released yelps they hadn’t realized they had been holding in.
The two froze, wide-eyed, and for a moment all was silent again - a much heavier silence than before, it seemed. They held their breaths, muscles tensed. The Rattata scampered away, its curled tail disappearing around a corner.
“Gri…” moaned a voice behind them.
“Wh-what was that?” Sammi asked, wide-eyed.
“Gri…” came another moan, this time from their right. With it came a powerful, rotten stench that invaded their noses and nearly made them gag. They clamped their hands over their mouths and noses, but it it was a persistent smell.
“Might be a good time to leave,” Aarune rasped out slowly, the sound muffled by his hand.
“Gri…” The moan sounded closer and more persistent. Muscles tensed, the two were paralyzed.
“Up ahead!” Sammi suddenly cried, pointing with her free hand to a staircase leading upwards. Exactly where it led didn’t matter, so the kids raced towards it.
Trying to run with one hand over their faces wasn’t easy, and Aarune couldn’t help but feel surprised when Sammi overtook him, leading the way up the concrete stairs. The moans of the sewer-dwellers echoed off the concrete walls, coming right for them. Heart pounding, it was all Aarune could do to keep up as he scrambled after her, trying his best not to slip during the long ascent and instead focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Finally, the end was in sight, and Sammi thrust her free arm out at the top of the stairs, flinging open the door and nearly blinding Aarune as his vision flooded with light.
The kids fell forward, collapsing on the ground in a heap. Dazed and struggling to catch his breath, Aarune blinked back as his eyes adjusted to the brightness, realizing only as he shaded his face with one hand that they were back outside.
“Hey, Aarune, I think we found what you were looking for,” Sammi said in a hushed tone.
Taking his sweaty hand, the girl hauled Aarune to his feet, his shoes sliding over the damp grass. His vision slowly returned, and the boy’s grey-blue eyes widened as he drank in the sight before them. From the sewers, they had somehow wound up in a small park, with a single, huge tree standing as a sentinel over a garden of flowers and lush, tall grass. They were surrounded by apartment buildings on all sides, towering above them and protecting them from all of the usual hectic sounds of the city. The place was serene, quiet in a way that was impossible for such a huge city. They could faintly hear the buzz they had grown accustomed to from the big city, but it was if it was all coming from very far away. Here, all they could hear was the chirping of Pidove in the tree, its branches rustling in the breeze.
“Well hello there, kiddos,” a gruff voice rang out. The two started, and turned to see an older man, a cap on his head, a bag of mulch in hand. “It looks like you’ve found Castelia Park, fancy that!”
“Sorry, mister, didn’t mean to-”
“Not at all!” the man cut in before Aarune could finish the thought. “Nobody comes ’round these parts much - not a pleasant walk through the sewers, after all! But anyone’s welcome.”
“Well thanks, sir! It’s really pretty here,” Sammi said, gazing about in quiet awe. A tiny green face poked its head out from the tall grass, tilting its head quizzically. “Peti?” it trilled, the leaves on its head curling.
The man smiled. “Apparently this is where it all began for Castelia City. I just keep it tidy,” he said, dropping the mulch on the grass before leaning down and petting the Petilil. He beckoned to Sammi to crouch down and try scratching the bulb Pokémon under its frilly collar. Hesitantly, she joined him, and nearly squealed with delight as the Petilil hummed in response to her touch.
“It’s so peaceful here. Like the rest of the world is gone,” Aarune mused quietly, meandering around the perimeter of the park. It smelled sweetly of flowers and cut grass, and a light breeze tickled his blond hair. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, and for a moment it was like being in the open gardens of Floccesy Town again, and he couldn’t help but feel a wave of calm wash over him. Suddenly, he just wanted to curl up in the shade under the tree and take in the little world around him.
“I’m Sammi, and that’s Aarune. He’s new to Castelia City, and he’s been looking for a quiet place since he got here,” the girl explained matter-of-factly, glancing at the young boy.
“The name’s Irwin, pleased to meet the both of you. The park’s really a great place to get away from the city in the city.” He stopped petting the grass-type and smiled up at the kids. “You’re both welcome here whenever you’d like.”
Sammi’s eyes lit up, and Aarune stopped. “Are…are you for real?”
“‘Course I am,” Irwin said, feigning insult. He hauled himself to his feet and dusted his hands off on his trousers. “Long as you’re respectful of the park. It’s always great getting some young blood ‘round here!” The man chuckled to himself. He put his hands on his hips and stretched out his back, looking about with a soft sort of fondness. “Now it’s starting to get late, so why don’t you two head home? You can come back again tomorrow. I’ll tell the boys on the pier to let you through.”
Sammi and Aarune both looked up to realize the shadows were growing longer, and the sky had started turning into a warm rainbow as the sun started to dip behind the buildings in the distance. “Good idea,” Sammi said, getting to her feet. “I’ll come again if you will, Aarune.”
Aarune grinned, eyes shining. He turned to the old man. “Thanks, Irwin. I’ll definitely be back.”
Aarune and Sammi took Irwin up on his offer. They got used to travelling through the sewers and continued visiting him, and after awhile the trek didn’t seem quite so scary. Irwin showed them how to easily navigate the sewers and how to deal with the resident Pokémon (avoid loud noises and be sure to give them some space). Castelia Park became a special place for them, an oasis in the huge city, and it became an invaluable place to hide from their troubles, decompress after a tough school day, or just sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet. Any season, any weather, the park was always waiting for them.
Over the next couple years, Sammi stopped coming as frequently, and eventually left Castelia altogether to start her Pokémon journey. Sometimes it was just Aarune, alone in the park aside from the native Pokémon. He didn’t really mind; Castelia Park was still a great place to get away, and he still felt fortunate for having stumbled upon it. But he started to find himself longing for something new.
“I dunno, I just…I remember when this place was so new and exciting, and feeling that thrill at discovering it. I still love it here, but I wish I could feel that way again,” Aarune said on a brisk autumn morning as he helped Irwin water the grass.
“Hmph,” said the older man, inhaling the sharp, cool air. “Sounds like you could use a change of pace.”
“I’ve tried,” Aarune insisted, running his hands through his blond hair. “I still explore the city, and I go back to Floccesy Town once a year. It’s just…not enough. I dunno what’s wrong with me.”
“Maybe you should change things up,” Irwin suggested, sprinkling water on an energetic Cottonee. “All the kids your age are on Pokémon journeys, it might do you some good.”
“Everyone keeps saying that,” Aarune grumbled, his grip tightening on the Jellicent-shaped watering can. “I don’t really want to be a trainer, though. I like Pokémon, but I don’t want to battle or anything. The travelling part does sound like fun, though. I dunno what I want,” he said, shrugging helplessly. “I’d love to explore the region and find more spots like this one.”
“Well, the park is pretty unique,” Irwin said with a slight chuckle, moving on to water the small flock of Cottonee that had started joining their sister for a shower.
“I know,” he murmured, hanging his head.
“But,” Irwin said slowly, thoughtful. “Have you considered searching for hidden grottos?” he asked over the grass-types’ delighted titters.
“Hidden grottos?” Now he seemed interested.
“Yep, they’re little areas dotted around the forests of Unova. They’re hard to find, but rumour has it they’re unique little spaces where you can find all sorts of things, from rare plants and stones to special Pokémon. Nobody knows much about ‘em except that they’re very secluded and quiet.” Just the sort of place Aarune loved most.
The boy stopped what he was doing and turned to look at his friend. “That…” he started to say, and found himself breaking out into a wide grin. “That sounds like an adventure!”
Irwin grinned along with the boy. It seemed Aarune already had some of his old spirit back.
And so, at 14 years old, Aarune finally left home to explore the region.
Irwin didn’t see Aarune much over the next three years. They kept in contact and chatted every so often on the Xtransceiver. Occasionally, Aarune would stop by the park during his travels, and each time the older man couldn’t help but marvel at how much older the teen seemed. He kept his mess of blond hair tied behind his head now, and he had started developing bags under his eyes, yet the boy was still remarkably energetic, and spoke of his travels with great passion. He had encountered all kinds of Pokémon, found all sorts of items, and had because close friends with many collecting maniacs (their word, not his) around the region. He had even bumped into Sammi a couple times, and reported her thrill when he had shown her the hidden grottos and taught her how to find them. Irwin liked that part a lot. Sometimes, when he visited, Aarune would give Irwin the little treasures he found on his journey, though the old man had no use for rare stones or shards – the mulch was great for the park, though. The teen seemed significantly happier than he had before, and it warmed the older man’s heart.
It was something of a shock when Aarune declared that he was leaving.
A light dusting of snow was falling from a grey sky, leaving thin white layers over their hats and on the branches of the tree. The tiny flakes melted on their faces as they sat on the cold ground with cups of hot chocolate.
“I’m heading out for warmer weather,” Aarune said rather suddenly, as if he had just wanted to get it out.
Irwin blinked back his surprise. “Oh?” He took a sip of chocolate.
“For Hoenn,” Aarune said slowly. “It’s not that I don’t love Unova, I’m just…getting a bit restless again. I met this girl on my travels who told me about these secret bases scattered ‘round the region, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve gotta go.”
“I see,” Irwin said, leaning back and tilting his head up to watch the snowflakes drift by. That certainly did sound like Aarune – he couldn’t turn away from an adventure, especially not one like this. The old man had to admit that the idea of the teen leaving the region saddened him a bit, and he would miss his intrepid little friend. But Aarune had that wandering spirit that would never be easily satisfied.
“You should go where your heart takes you,” Irwin said, turning back to face his baggy-eyed friend. “But promise me this. Whatever you learn on your travels, share with others. You have a knack for discovery, and that could help a lot of people. That’s a gift to be shared.”
Aarune couldn’t help but laugh. “I try to do that every day, but for you, I’ll try even harder. I’ll become an expert, and teach people everything I know. Maybe I’ll start a guild to support anyone who wants to explore and live a life of adventure!”
Irwin smiled, and had to wipe a snowflake from his eye. “It makes me proud to hear you say that. I know you can do anything you put your mind to, and you’ll be a great leader someday.” He clapped a hand on the boy’s back.
“Thanks, Irwin. That means a lot.” There were snowflakes in Aarune’s eyes, too. Together, they sat and watched the snow fall as they sipped their drinks, both optimistic about the future.
Sharing Secrets
He found his first Secret Spot when he was ten.
Aarune’s family had just moved from Floccesy Town to Castelia City, and it felt like a completely different world. He found himself enjoying life in the big city - Castelia was alive! There was always something happening on every corner, with new people to meet and places to see and things to experience. It was a bit overwhelming, yet exciting and grand and new. But the young boy found himself missing Floccesy Town; it had a peacefulness he couldn’t find anywhere in Castelia, and sometimes he just wanted to unwind. In Floccesy, the houses had luscious lawns, and there were fields to play in left and right. It was easy to find a tree to climb and relax in for hours, a spot by the river to watch the water flow, or a hollow in the cliff where he could sit and do homework. There was no shortage of places to go that he could claim as his own, and it was easy to take some time to himself and find some peace. He hadn’t realized how open and free he had felt there until they had moved for his mom’s new job.
The kids at his new school were nice, at least, and when he mentioned wanting to explore the city, a whole bunch of them volunteered to join him. Together, they went on little adventures after school, a small team of kids in the big city. He got to see the whole of Castelia; they were shown around the residential area by Tina and Ricky, Ingrid gave them a tour of the financial district, they got to know their way around Castelia Central thanks to Mickey, and Raymond introduced them to the piers. Everyone got to see different parts of the city, and there was something thrilling about not only learning about Castelia himself, but watching his friends’ faces light up as they discovered new things about the place they called home.
But through it all, he never quite found a place that he could claim for his own. Even if he could find a secluded space on one of their outings, there were so many people always coming and going in the city that the place would never be his for long. Still, he couldn’t end his search. Castelia City was so huge that there had to be a spot somewhere that he could claim as his own.
Of course, most of his new friends didn’t have the same passion for exploring. Slowly, their expedition groups got smaller, and their adventures started happening less often. Only Sammi continued joining him on adventures throughout the city, and that was partly because she just didn’t like being at home. Still, together the duo continued as best as they could to explore what Castelia had to offer.
They found the secret spot completely by chance.
“C’mon, the construction crew’s on break, we can sneak in now!” Aarune whispered from their hiding spot, one hand shielding his eyes from the sun while the other tugged on Sammi’s sleeve. The squawks of Wingull and the blaring of ship horns filled the air, and the salty smell from the waves lapping up against the pier filled their noses. It was the perfect day for an adventure.
“Do you really wanna go, Aarune? I hear there’s nothing but Grimer down there!” the young girl protested wearily, eyeing the array of bright orange pylons and striped barriers in their path.
“It’ll be fun! Have you ever seen a Grimer up close?”
“Well, no…”
“Then now’s our chance!”
At a loss for words, Sammi let the blond-haired boy drag her towards the entrance to the Castelia Sewers. Their shoes scuffed against the hot concrete as they dodged the abandoned equipment and obstacles, ducking past the single remaining construction worker completely absorbed in his C-Gear, nibbling absentmindedly on a casteliacone. Thankfully, it was noisy and busy enough that two kids could easily go unnoticed.
As they entered the mouth of the sewer tunnel, they left the sun and sea behind for darkness, and instead were met with a smell that made the duo’s faces twist with disdain. The two hesitated at the top of the stairs, trying to hold their breaths against the impending stench, squinting through the abyss before them. Aarune glanced back towards the entrance, eying the back of the worker’s bright orange vest in the sunlight. They had made it too far to turn back now! He beckoned Sammi forward, and starting making his way down the stairs into the underbelly of the pier. Clenching her jaw, she followed him wordlessly.
Buzzing halogen lights greeted them as they reached the landing, illuminating the humid, dank world. The place was secluded, Aarune had to admit that. It was also big - just how big, they couldn’t tell. Dark waterways flowed past the walkways in every direction, creating a rushing sound that reminded the boy of the white noise on some TV channels, but louder. Accompanying this were the drip drips of condensed water splashing into small puddles, and they could hear the faint echoes of scampering paws.
“The water levels are higher now, ‘cause it’s the spring. There’s less of it in the fall,” Sammi said quietly, breaking the mesmerizing silence.
“Now that’s something,” the boy whistled. He was slowly adjusting to the strange underground world, and it seemed once you got used to the smell and the heaviness of the air, it wasn’t too bad down here.
They picked a direction and they started walking, both still somewhat tense. They said nothing, partly out of fear of being caught and partly because neither was sure what to say. As if hypnotized, both found their eyes drawn to the rushing waterways running parallel to them, the halogen lights reflecting off the dark, frothy surface. So focused were they, that Aarune was caught completely off guard when his shoe brushed something small and furry on the ground.
“Ratta!” The screech was piercing through the static of the sewer.
“Ah!” Both kids jumped and released yelps they hadn’t realized they had been holding in.
The two froze, wide-eyed, and for a moment all was silent again - a much heavier silence than before, it seemed. They held their breaths, muscles tensed. The Rattata scampered away, its curled tail disappearing around a corner.
“Gri…” moaned a voice behind them.
“Wh-what was that?” Sammi asked, wide-eyed.
“Gri…” came another moan, this time from their right. With it came a powerful, rotten stench that invaded their noses and nearly made them gag. They clamped their hands over their mouths and noses, but it it was a persistent smell.
“Might be a good time to leave,” Aarune rasped out slowly, the sound muffled by his hand.
“Gri…” The moan sounded closer and more persistent. Muscles tensed, the two were paralyzed.
“Up ahead!” Sammi suddenly cried, pointing with her free hand to a staircase leading upwards. Exactly where it led didn’t matter, so the kids raced towards it.
Trying to run with one hand over their faces wasn’t easy, and Aarune couldn’t help but feel surprised when Sammi overtook him, leading the way up the concrete stairs. The moans of the sewer-dwellers echoed off the concrete walls, coming right for them. Heart pounding, it was all Aarune could do to keep up as he scrambled after her, trying his best not to slip during the long ascent and instead focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Finally, the end was in sight, and Sammi thrust her free arm out at the top of the stairs, flinging open the door and nearly blinding Aarune as his vision flooded with light.
The kids fell forward, collapsing on the ground in a heap. Dazed and struggling to catch his breath, Aarune blinked back as his eyes adjusted to the brightness, realizing only as he shaded his face with one hand that they were back outside.
“Hey, Aarune, I think we found what you were looking for,” Sammi said in a hushed tone.
Taking his sweaty hand, the girl hauled Aarune to his feet, his shoes sliding over the damp grass. His vision slowly returned, and the boy’s grey-blue eyes widened as he drank in the sight before them. From the sewers, they had somehow wound up in a small park, with a single, huge tree standing as a sentinel over a garden of flowers and lush, tall grass. They were surrounded by apartment buildings on all sides, towering above them and protecting them from all of the usual hectic sounds of the city. The place was serene, quiet in a way that was impossible for such a huge city. They could faintly hear the buzz they had grown accustomed to from the big city, but it was if it was all coming from very far away. Here, all they could hear was the chirping of Pidove in the tree, its branches rustling in the breeze.
“Well hello there, kiddos,” a gruff voice rang out. The two started, and turned to see an older man, a cap on his head, a bag of mulch in hand. “It looks like you’ve found Castelia Park, fancy that!”
“Sorry, mister, didn’t mean to-”
“Not at all!” the man cut in before Aarune could finish the thought. “Nobody comes ’round these parts much - not a pleasant walk through the sewers, after all! But anyone’s welcome.”
“Well thanks, sir! It’s really pretty here,” Sammi said, gazing about in quiet awe. A tiny green face poked its head out from the tall grass, tilting its head quizzically. “Peti?” it trilled, the leaves on its head curling.
The man smiled. “Apparently this is where it all began for Castelia City. I just keep it tidy,” he said, dropping the mulch on the grass before leaning down and petting the Petilil. He beckoned to Sammi to crouch down and try scratching the bulb Pokémon under its frilly collar. Hesitantly, she joined him, and nearly squealed with delight as the Petilil hummed in response to her touch.
“It’s so peaceful here. Like the rest of the world is gone,” Aarune mused quietly, meandering around the perimeter of the park. It smelled sweetly of flowers and cut grass, and a light breeze tickled his blond hair. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, and for a moment it was like being in the open gardens of Floccesy Town again, and he couldn’t help but feel a wave of calm wash over him. Suddenly, he just wanted to curl up in the shade under the tree and take in the little world around him.
“I’m Sammi, and that’s Aarune. He’s new to Castelia City, and he’s been looking for a quiet place since he got here,” the girl explained matter-of-factly, glancing at the young boy.
“The name’s Irwin, pleased to meet the both of you. The park’s really a great place to get away from the city in the city.” He stopped petting the grass-type and smiled up at the kids. “You’re both welcome here whenever you’d like.”
Sammi’s eyes lit up, and Aarune stopped. “Are…are you for real?”
“‘Course I am,” Irwin said, feigning insult. He hauled himself to his feet and dusted his hands off on his trousers. “Long as you’re respectful of the park. It’s always great getting some young blood ‘round here!” The man chuckled to himself. He put his hands on his hips and stretched out his back, looking about with a soft sort of fondness. “Now it’s starting to get late, so why don’t you two head home? You can come back again tomorrow. I’ll tell the boys on the pier to let you through.”
Sammi and Aarune both looked up to realize the shadows were growing longer, and the sky had started turning into a warm rainbow as the sun started to dip behind the buildings in the distance. “Good idea,” Sammi said, getting to her feet. “I’ll come again if you will, Aarune.”
Aarune grinned, eyes shining. He turned to the old man. “Thanks, Irwin. I’ll definitely be back.”
Aarune and Sammi took Irwin up on his offer. They got used to travelling through the sewers and continued visiting him, and after awhile the trek didn’t seem quite so scary. Irwin showed them how to easily navigate the sewers and how to deal with the resident Pokémon (avoid loud noises and be sure to give them some space). Castelia Park became a special place for them, an oasis in the huge city, and it became an invaluable place to hide from their troubles, decompress after a tough school day, or just sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet. Any season, any weather, the park was always waiting for them.
Over the next couple years, Sammi stopped coming as frequently, and eventually left Castelia altogether to start her Pokémon journey. Sometimes it was just Aarune, alone in the park aside from the native Pokémon. He didn’t really mind; Castelia Park was still a great place to get away, and he still felt fortunate for having stumbled upon it. But he started to find himself longing for something new.
“I dunno, I just…I remember when this place was so new and exciting, and feeling that thrill at discovering it. I still love it here, but I wish I could feel that way again,” Aarune said on a brisk autumn morning as he helped Irwin water the grass.
“Hmph,” said the older man, inhaling the sharp, cool air. “Sounds like you could use a change of pace.”
“I’ve tried,” Aarune insisted, running his hands through his blond hair. “I still explore the city, and I go back to Floccesy Town once a year. It’s just…not enough. I dunno what’s wrong with me.”
“Maybe you should change things up,” Irwin suggested, sprinkling water on an energetic Cottonee. “All the kids your age are on Pokémon journeys, it might do you some good.”
“Everyone keeps saying that,” Aarune grumbled, his grip tightening on the Jellicent-shaped watering can. “I don’t really want to be a trainer, though. I like Pokémon, but I don’t want to battle or anything. The travelling part does sound like fun, though. I dunno what I want,” he said, shrugging helplessly. “I’d love to explore the region and find more spots like this one.”
“Well, the park is pretty unique,” Irwin said with a slight chuckle, moving on to water the small flock of Cottonee that had started joining their sister for a shower.
“I know,” he murmured, hanging his head.
“But,” Irwin said slowly, thoughtful. “Have you considered searching for hidden grottos?” he asked over the grass-types’ delighted titters.
“Hidden grottos?” Now he seemed interested.
“Yep, they’re little areas dotted around the forests of Unova. They’re hard to find, but rumour has it they’re unique little spaces where you can find all sorts of things, from rare plants and stones to special Pokémon. Nobody knows much about ‘em except that they’re very secluded and quiet.” Just the sort of place Aarune loved most.
The boy stopped what he was doing and turned to look at his friend. “That…” he started to say, and found himself breaking out into a wide grin. “That sounds like an adventure!”
Irwin grinned along with the boy. It seemed Aarune already had some of his old spirit back.
And so, at 14 years old, Aarune finally left home to explore the region.
Irwin didn’t see Aarune much over the next three years. They kept in contact and chatted every so often on the Xtransceiver. Occasionally, Aarune would stop by the park during his travels, and each time the older man couldn’t help but marvel at how much older the teen seemed. He kept his mess of blond hair tied behind his head now, and he had started developing bags under his eyes, yet the boy was still remarkably energetic, and spoke of his travels with great passion. He had encountered all kinds of Pokémon, found all sorts of items, and had because close friends with many collecting maniacs (their word, not his) around the region. He had even bumped into Sammi a couple times, and reported her thrill when he had shown her the hidden grottos and taught her how to find them. Irwin liked that part a lot. Sometimes, when he visited, Aarune would give Irwin the little treasures he found on his journey, though the old man had no use for rare stones or shards – the mulch was great for the park, though. The teen seemed significantly happier than he had before, and it warmed the older man’s heart.
It was something of a shock when Aarune declared that he was leaving.
A light dusting of snow was falling from a grey sky, leaving thin white layers over their hats and on the branches of the tree. The tiny flakes melted on their faces as they sat on the cold ground with cups of hot chocolate.
“I’m heading out for warmer weather,” Aarune said rather suddenly, as if he had just wanted to get it out.
Irwin blinked back his surprise. “Oh?” He took a sip of chocolate.
“For Hoenn,” Aarune said slowly. “It’s not that I don’t love Unova, I’m just…getting a bit restless again. I met this girl on my travels who told me about these secret bases scattered ‘round the region, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve gotta go.”
“I see,” Irwin said, leaning back and tilting his head up to watch the snowflakes drift by. That certainly did sound like Aarune – he couldn’t turn away from an adventure, especially not one like this. The old man had to admit that the idea of the teen leaving the region saddened him a bit, and he would miss his intrepid little friend. But Aarune had that wandering spirit that would never be easily satisfied.
“You should go where your heart takes you,” Irwin said, turning back to face his baggy-eyed friend. “But promise me this. Whatever you learn on your travels, share with others. You have a knack for discovery, and that could help a lot of people. That’s a gift to be shared.”
Aarune couldn’t help but laugh. “I try to do that every day, but for you, I’ll try even harder. I’ll become an expert, and teach people everything I know. Maybe I’ll start a guild to support anyone who wants to explore and live a life of adventure!”
Irwin smiled, and had to wipe a snowflake from his eye. “It makes me proud to hear you say that. I know you can do anything you put your mind to, and you’ll be a great leader someday.” He clapped a hand on the boy’s back.
“Thanks, Irwin. That means a lot.” There were snowflakes in Aarune’s eyes, too. Together, they sat and watched the snow fall as they sipped their drinks, both optimistic about the future.