Paragon

Origin Child [3]

PARAGON

Origin Child Arc [3]

Chapter 3 : Homecoming

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They left the party immediately. Ash had fancied Cynthia a bit of a social butterfly, with how easily she seemed to converse with the blueblood in attendance, but maybe that was another aspect of her 'TV' persona. He was beginning to see a new side of her, as she snoozed away in the limo back to the airport without a care. No longer necessary to keep up the act, he supposed.

They peeled onto the tarmac of Wyndon International an hour later. Clearly airport security knew who she was, because they didn't stop at all until they arrived at a yawning hangar beside the runway. Ash got out, duffel bag in hand. All it carried was his tuxedo, which he'd changed out of when they stopped back at Wyndon Stadium to collect his belongings.

Cynthia stepped out as well, her driver carrying her luggage, and they walked toward a private jet. On any other day, this would probably be very impressive, but Ash had been driving around in limousines all day, and had reporters practically on their knees just to talk to him.

Have my tastes changed so fast? Gotta be careful about that... he thought. Albrecht had said he'd become a monster just like the others. Maybe he meant it in more ways than one.

The plane door opened from the inside, dropping to reveal a set of stairs leading in. The pilot stood at the top of the stairs, and he frowned upon seeing Ash. He turned to Cynthia and thumbed the young man.

"Not a word," she called up at him. "Head inside, Ash. I'll be up in a minute after I explain what's going on to these guys."

Ash nodded and started up the steep steps. The pilot motioned for his bag and Ash handed it to him, before clambering up and into the jet. It was dark and moody, similar to the limousine. The seats were spaced out, unlike the commercial vessels he was used to. He found a seat next to one of the windows and slung his backpack down onto the seat next to it. Pikachu scampered off his shoulder, nose twitching, already exploring his new surroundings.

Ash settled into his seat and pulled out his phone. His lock screen was covered in a wall of notifications, missed calls and messages of congratulation from his friends. He smiled. He definitely wouldn't have made it this far without all of them, coming and going as they did throughout his journey across the world. As he scrolled through them, unable to reply to all of them, he noticed a message from his mother at the very bottom. She had been the first to send him a message, but unlike the blocks of text he'd received from the others, hers was short and sweet.

Congratulations, honey! I'm so proud of you!! Attached was a picture of her, Mimey, Professor Oak, and his many pokémon kept at Oak's ranch. Her eyes were clearly puffy and red from crying. He smiled.

"Looks like you're settled in," Cynthia said, pulling herself into the jet. "We're taking off now."

The pilot followed her in and hit a button to close the door, then headed into the cockpit.

Cynthia strode over to the seat opposite to Ash. This placed her right up against the mahogany bar at the very back of the cabin. She eyed it for a few seconds, but seemed to decide against indulging. She sat down across from him.

A moment later, the engines roared to life outside, and Ash felt them taxi onto the runway. A minute later, they began their takeoff, and he felt his stomach grow weightless as they left the ground behind. Outside the window, Wyndon gradually shrunk into nothing more than a kaleidoscope of lights, like sparkling pinpricks.