Aurora

Evolution, Part Two

Sorry I had to split this into two parts because it was way too long. Also, if you read chapter six before Sunday, October 23, I recommend going back and reading it again because I added a few things that explain some stuff about AquaClan territory, how much time has passed since chapter five, and stuff like that (mostly to clarify the continuity). Obviously, this chapter and the last one occur the day after chapter six.

Still blushing, I hurry over to the border to meet Ash. The part of me that isn't cringing over the talk is wondering what he will have evolved into. Well, I think, I'll find out soon.

When I reach the river, I don't see him. Hurt, I glance around, wondering if one of us went to the wrong place. Where is he? I don't understand why he wouldn't be here. Then my heart sinks. The talk. I hadn't given what my father actually said much thought. That annoying small voice in my mind starts chanting illegal, illegal, illegal.

What if he doesn't want to be friends anymore now that we know it's illegal?

Just as I'm about to leave dejectedly, I hear a rustling on the other side. A Flareon emerges, glancing around as he does so. My heart stops.

Ash looks amazing. His handsome black eyes narrow as the patch of reeds I'm hiding in rustles suspiciously. Seemingly deciding it was nothing, he looks around and sighs.

"BOO!" I cry, jumping out from the reeds. He jumps and falls over backwards. Shaking out his thick coat, he grins sheepishly. Then he looks up and meets my eyes. The smile dies on his face.

"Wow," he says softly. "You look beau -um - great!"

I blush. "You too." Frowning, I notice that he hasn't come into the river. Stepping in myself, I ask, "Why are you sitting over there? Come in the river!"

Ash shuffles his paws nervously and sticks a foot in the water. Yelping, he leaps backwards. Oh. I'm such an idiot! He's a fire type! Of course he doesn't want to come in the water!

"Wait," he says. "I know how to fix this." Coming to the edge of the river, he coughs up a chunk of lava, which instantly cools in the water. Wrinkling my nose, I can't figure out whether that's cool or disgusting.

He repeats the process until he has made a bridge to the center of the river, and then makes an island in the middle. Suddenly understanding, I back out of the water, then come back in, and this time my ice powers freeze the surface of the river where I step, and I walk out to the island, making a bridge as I go.

We sit on the island together, sharing a smile at the success of our teamwork.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come," Ash confides. "After the talk." I assume he got the same one.

When I don't answer, he says softly, "Do you want to stop being friends?"

Shocked, all I can do is stutter like an idiot for a moment.

"No!" I finally burst out. He looks relieved and also slightly nervous.

"This is going to be tough to hide," I murmur. He nods. There's an awkward silence.

Blushing, he turns to me. "You really do look beautiful."

I feel heat rising to my face. Because I'm an ice type, this is quite uncomfortable.

Another awkward silence. "I wonder what time it is," I say.

To my surprise, he looks up at the sun in concentration. "Almost five." Huh, I think. Must be a fire-type skill. Then I process what he said.

"Wait, what?!" I yelp, leaping up. Building the island must have taken longer than I thought. "I need to go!"

He seems to understand. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Running back to my family, my annoying brain turns back to our conversation about our now-forbidden friendship. I've never questioned the law before, but I suddenly realize: if I always obeyed it, I would never have met Ash. Then a disturbing thought comes to mind. What if the law is wrong?

Dun dun duuuun! If you want a good laugh, zoom in on Aurora's eyes in the chapter header... 😂