"Aaron, you seem a little distant."
Dawn's voice pulled me out of my thoughts and as I looked up to the blunette, I could see the concern in her eyes. We were sat outside the pokemon center, on one of the benches on the sidewalk while the festival raged on throughout the city.
Even amongst the commotion, my mind was calm and my thoughts silent. Truthfully, I was thinking about Arcanine and how he was getting along back in Kalos. A day had passed since he parted ways and I hoped that everything was going smoothly, even if that meant I had to wish support for the man I spent years fighting against.
"Is everything ok? You keep spacing out."
"Uh, yeah, I'm good. Just, you know, thinking."
The blunette shuffled a little closer to my side of the bench, tucking a loose strand of hair under her beanie. She looked up from her feet to the city ahead of us where families and young couples were enjoying the festival.
I followed her gaze, thinking about how different my life would have been if I wasn't troubled with the likes of Team Flare and now, Team Galactic. But this was part of the life I lived and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
The sun had just reached its peak, meaning that there was only half a day remaining before the festival week came to an end. By all means, we had enjoyed our time, using this as a getaway from everything else that was going on in the region.
Elaine and May had rushed off, using these few remaining hours to squeeze every ounce of fun out of the festival. Red had opted to spend the time with his pokemon, offering to watch over our teams while we indulged in the activities of the human world.
"Hey, are you guys still here?" May's familiar voice called out to Dawn and I, her and Elaine at the other end of the street. The rushed over to us, the festival's excitement still flowing through them. "We should go see the fortune teller, there's one here!"
Dawn and I exchanged confused looks. I, for one, wasn't too big on fortune tellers but I was slyly hoping to be proven wrong. May pulled Dawn to her feet, not taking no for an answer. Before I could say anything, I realised I was outnumbered.
"Ah Red! You're here, that's great!" Elaine turned to me just as the silent trainer exited the pokemon center. He flashed me an uncertain look and I only half smiled back to him before I was pulled to my feet by the light blonde.
The five of us made our way through the crowded city, lead by May and Elaine who had become familiar with the town during their time here. As we passed through the streets, I noticed that there seemed to be a lot more people about, noting that the city hadn't been this busy at all during the past week. When I mentioned this to May she only shook her head, saying that they were all gathered here for what would happen later at night.
"Here we are!" May proclaimed in an excited tone, clearly intrigued by the mention of a fortune teller or psychic or whatever they were going to call themselves.
"This is it? It's just someone's house." I spoke the last part under my breath, not wanting to give the impression that I was already giving up on this. Neither Elaine or May seemed to care about what I said, knocking on the front door.
There was no response and after a while I contemplated leaving. But just as I turned around, the door opened up, revealing a tall violet haired man. He wore a deep crimson suit and purple tinted shades over his deep lavender eyes. He didn't say anything at first but he seemed to recognise Dawn.
"Ah, Dawn, it's a pleasure to see you again." The man looked over the rest of us, no doubt analysing us with his calculating brain. "What can I help you young trainers with?"
I turned around the moment I heard his voice, my eyes flaring up under the sunlight out of habit. The man's name was Lucian and it was clear to see that he was way better than the street magician I had in mind for this fortune teller. I didn't have time to read any further, not wanting to pry into his privacy.
"We heard you're a fortune teller of sorts and we were hoping-"
"Ah, right. I guess while I've been here for the past week I have been doing as you say. Please, step inside." Lucian stepped back, holding the door open for us.
The girls led the way, Red following behind. As I approached the doorway, I felt Lucian's eyes on me. I looked up to him, seeing a half smile on his face as our eyes met.
"Maybe you should leave the fortune telling to me, young Aaron."
---
"Lucian, sir, read my fortune first!" I didn't wait for any of the others to interject, sitting at the table on one of the cushioned seats. When I had even caught scent of a fortune teller in the city, I knew that I wanted nothing more than to have my future read out to me.
"Uh, alright." Lucian looked a little sheepish at my excitement. Even if he wasn't a traditional fortune teller, he was still an elite four member who specialised in psychic type pokemon. Undoubtedly, he must have picked up a thing or two while training with his pokemon. Psychic type specialists had a reputation for this sort of thing and I couldn't think of anyone else in the region who was more suited to this.
Aaron and the others headed into the other room, giving Lucian the quiet he needed to read into my future. Now that he was sat opposite me, I didn't know how to feel. I was nervous at first but curiosity took over and I couldn't wait for him to start.
"Could you give me your hand?"
I did as he said, extending my right hand, palm up, as he took it in his hands. He looked down, his eyebrows furrowing as he concentrated on the 'future'.
"Oh, uh, wow. I-" Lucian's stutter didn't bode well. For someone who introduced himself so eloquently, I wasn't too sure how to feel seeing him so unsure about his words.
"It's ok, I'm ready to hear it." I spoke in a calm tone, letting out a deep breath as I braced myself for impact.
Lucian looked up to me, an uncertain look on his face as if to ask if I was really sure. I nodded impatiently, now too curious to look the other way.
"The Great Marsh. That's where you'll meet your greatest ally and where your future will change forever." He paused for a moment, letting out a short breath before continuing, "The two great titans of this world will awaken and once again you will be called on."
The instant Lucian finished reading out my fortune, he let go of my hand, almost a little too quickly. Now that I had heard the fortune, I wasn't too sure how to feel but then again, I didn't know what I was expecting. The psychic specialist seemed content with the reading, asking me to call the next person in, clearly not wanting to dwell on what he had seen.
---
"..."
"Ah yes, Red. It is an honour to meet such an esteemed trainer, please give me your hand."
Cautiously, I extended my hand, wary of how May had reacted when she called on the next person. She seemed so excited to have her fortune told but when she asked one of us to step into the next room, she seemed like a different person.
Lucian took my hand, focusing on what the future held. "Wow, this certainly isn't getting any easier. I have to ask, are you sure you want me to continue?"
Quickly, I nodded, wanting to know what the psychic had seen.
"At long last, you will complete the goal you set out to accomplish all those years ago." A heavy silence fell upon the room as Lucian paused, taking a deep breath. He continued, "You will face the greatest trial thinkable for even a human but the future is too clouded for me to read any further."
"..."
Even as someone who didn't talk, I was left speechless. I tried not to think too hard about what I had been told, standing up from the cushioned chair to call on the next person.
---
"Ah, Dawn, it has been a while. Please extend your hand."
I didn't say a word, giving Lucian my outstretched hand. After seeing both May and Red return looking like different people, I was a little hesitant.
The violet haired man looked up to me, his eyes a little clouded behind his tinted lenses. But even through the shades, I could read what his eyes were telling me.
"I'm guessing you want to hear it then?" I nodded in response, waiting for the psychic to continue, "A warrior of the skies will descend from above to come to your aid."
I could sense the hesitation in his words, his voice a little shaky. But, he continued nonetheless, "The same danger that threatened to plunge our region into chaos years ago will return and once again, we have no choice but to rely on you, Dawn."
---
"Ah, Elaine, you're originally from the Sinnoh region right?"
I nodded quietly. As I looked across the table I could see in Lucian's eyes that it couldn't have been easy reading so many people's futures in such a short time. On top of that, the news he delivered didn't seem to be ideal to anyone which only made me more cautious.
I extended my hand, Lucian taking it in his as he focused. "An ancient melody will illuminate your life like no performance could." He let out a short breath, rubbing his temple before continuing, "The shadows of two ancient guardian masters will stand in your way, this trial will be like no other you've had to face before."
Now I could see why everyone looked so shell-shocked. Sure I was excited to have my fortune read, but I now I didn't know what to think. I stood up silently, making my way out of the room so that Lucian could read the final fortune of the day.
---
"I can see this hasn't been easy."
"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Lucian paused, looking into my eyes with a serious look on his face. "You five really don't have it easy."
I smiled in agreement, extending my hand as the psychic took it in his, focusing intensely.
"Uh, I think there's something wrong." Lucian looked up, a confused look on his face. I didn't say anything as he returned his attention to my palm. A moment later, he looked up again, his face blank. "There's something stopping me from reading your fortune. A dark presence lurks in the depths of your mind and I can't get through."
"Wait, so what does that mean?"
"It means exactly that." Lucian let go of my hand, looking into my eyes. "Even with all my psychic training, I can't read what the future holds for you."