Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 35: Secrets

"We spent the next few days after Jeremy's release walking longer days than ever in order to make up for lost time. We didn't really have a time limit on travelling, I guess, but we were aiming for less than eight months. Everyone agreed, if my grandfather could do it in eight, we could do it in less than that. Of course, the longer we walked, the more time my mind could wrap itself around what was going on in my life currently. I know when people go through puberty their bodies change, but what was happening with me was ridiculous. We discussed it a few nights before leaving the Pokémon Centre, and ever since then, that scene had been replaying in my head for weeks to come. It never really left, although the topic in itself died down completely. But what was weirder, after making that bet with Niya, nothing weird did happen again. It was like fate was trying to put my life back towards normal once more."

"Already, huh?" asked Palmer as he sipped his coffee. He stared down hard at the ground, bouncing his leg up and down nervously.

"It would appear so," said Professor Rowan, scratching his forehead.

"He's this close..." said Nancy slowly, staring out the window.

Linda sat beside her, patting her arm.

"It's rather soon, don't you think?" asked Palmer.

Rowan shook his head again. "He was even younger," he sighed, "Though, I believe that this incident was caused by that, and not directly by him."

"Naturally," said Nancy focusing back on the conversation, "He's not trained yet, and therefore the power is unfocused. I'd be surprised if any of this is of his own doing."

"Nancy's right," said Professor Rowan, "He is simply a conduit at this point. It's that which is allowing him to use these powers."

"He's a conduit for a power he cannot control?" Palmer half stated, half asked, "Don't you think that's a bit dangerous? It means he's volatile, and it also means that once these things start happening more often, he and everyone else around him will start asking questions."

"It's not exactly like that," said Professor Rowan defensively, but Nancy interrupted.

"No, Palmer's right," she sighed, "We gave it to him in order to prevent him from being discoverable. But what we forgot was that they are going to try to save his life when it's in danger—by any means necessary."

"And if it's not them, it's going to be the other thing," said Palmer, "Shouldn't we just tell him?"

"He's not ready!" said Professor Rowan adamantly, "He's just a boy; barely even enjoyed life and its mysteries left. Aurelio specifically said that he must be told when he is old enough."

"Well, I think sixteen is a pretty fine age, don't you?" argued Palmer as he took another sip of his coffee.

"Nancy's not getting any younger, and they aren't becoming any less discreet. You know as well as I that as soon as she dies, there's going to be—"

"I know!" shouted Professor Rowan, leaving time for a pause before he continued, "I know...but we need to respect Aurelio's wishes."

Palmer sighed heavily as he sat back down at the table. "I wish he were still alive," he said, "He'd know what to do."

"Palmer, if he were still alive, none of this would be a problem," retorted Professor Rowan.

"No," said Nancy stoically, "No, these problems started long before Aurelio. They were his to inherit, but not his from the start. I'm not so sure we'd be any better off if Aurelio were alive; if anything, we'd be in the same position. He was not as strong as he once was—I needn't tell you both that. You saw him in his later years, you saw how much energy and strength he put into protecting the only hope we have of finishing him off."