Dear Tia,
My next stop on my journey will be Cinnabar Island. Time for me to get my next Gym badge! I have one request, though. Can you meet me there? I want to meet you in person. And there’s something I want to tell you. Hope to see you there!
Shun
Tia read Shun’s latest letter for what seemed to be the hundredth time, and sighed. What a dilemma. There was no way she could ever meet him – they were three years apart, after all. How would she explain herself to Shun without hurting his feelings, or having him think she was crazy?
Tia looked at the calendar on the wall near her bed. She and Shun usually scheduled their trades every two weeks. It was a little early, but maybe she could get a message out to him. She couldn’t make it because… something came up. She was busy with her dissertation. She was swamped with work. She had a date with her boyfriend. She was three years into the future and thus could never meet him-
Ugh. Tia put her head down on her desk. Every excuse sounded either insensitive or insane. She sat in silence for a few moments, thinking. Then she sat up and grabbed a pencil and paper, an idea forming in her head.
Dear Shun,
I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to meet you. The reason is… complicated, and might seem unbelievable to you. But if you trust me to tell it to you straight, I will. Next time!
Tia
There. It was the truth, mostly, and it carried the sense of mystery along with it as well. Hopefully enough to soothe Shun’s sure disappointment.
She folded the letter and placed it into an envelope, then got up, leaving the house.
When she reached the second floor of the Vermilion Pokemon Center, she noticed a crowd of people clustered around the Time Capsule. She elbowed through the crowd and saw a large, hand-written sign posted on the door.
Time Capsule trades have been disabled until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience. For any questions and concerns contact the Vermilion City Pokemon Center Administration.
Tia blinked. “That’s weird. ‘Until further notice’?” She looked down at the Poke Ball and letter in her hand, and sighed. “I guess this will have to wait.”
Tia left the Pokemon Center, and was halfway home when her Pokegear rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Tia.”
Tia brightened. “Aidan! Just the person I wanted to hear from!”
Aidan laughed. “Oh, really?”
“Uh-huh. Do you have any theories on why Time Capsule trades are disabled today?”
“That’s awfully specific. Time Capsule trades?”
“I tried to trade with Shun today, but the Time Capsule’s disabled until further notice.” Tia’s brow furrowed. “Did something happen three years ago today that made them do this?”
There was silence on the other end.
“Aidan?”
“The eruption…” Aidan answered faintly, “Cinnabar Island…”
Tia’s eyes widened as realization set in. “Oh, my God…” She suddenly turned around and ran. “I gotta go! I need to go back to the Pokemon Center!”
“Tia...”
“I have to warn him!” Tia said frantically, “I need to tell him not to go to Cinnabar Island! I need to tell him to stay away!”
“You can’t.”
The serious, cold tone of Aidan’s voice made her stop mid-stride. “What?”
“You can’t interfere in something like this. It’s too important.”
“What are you talking about?” Tia spat at him.
“There’s a reason Time Capsule trades are disabled today,” Aidan said seriously, “The admins know what date it is three years ago. They’re trying to keep people safe!”
“I’m trying to keep someone safe!”
“It won’t be any use, and you’ll put yourself and others in danger instead!”
“This isn’t one of your stupid time-travel conspiracy theories, Aidan!” Tia told him angrily, “I’m trying to save someone’s life!”
Aidan didn’t answer her. Tia abruptly hung up on him and tore off running toward the Pokemon Center.
He was waiting for her when she got there. She tried to run past him, but he caught up to her and caught her around the waist.
“Let go of me!” Tia shouted.
“Tia, listen to me,” Aidan turned her around to face him, his hands gripping her shoulders. “You need to let it happen.”
Tia glared at him. “How can you say that? I can’t just let Shun go to his death!”
“He won’t die.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because he’s me!” The words just slipped out, and he couldn’t take them back.
Tia’s eyes widened, and she stared at him, speechless.
“He’s me.” Aidan slowly let go of her, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small picture. “I didn’t want you to find out this way,” he said, showing her the picture.
Tia looked at it, and gasped. It was creased and well-worn, but well cared-for… and was unmistakably a picture of her. The exact picture she had taken at the portrait studio on Seven Island, not even a week ago.
Tia looked back at Aidan, who was unable to meet her eyes. “How…?”
“The reason Blaze loves you,” Aidan continued, “is because he was the first Pokemon you traded to me. A shiny Charmander. You’re his Trainer too.”
Tia slowly shook her head. “Anyone could have found that out-”
“I remember every Pokemon you traded me,” Aidan interrupted her. “Charmander. Larvitar. Murkrow. Houndour. Sneasel.”
“But-”
“And every Pokemon I traded you,” he continued, “Thallium. Skye. Lilac. Overcharge. Nobunaga.”
Tia stared back at him, shocked.
“My last letter was a short one,” Aidan said. “I was already in love with you then, but I was too scared to tell you.” He laughed bitterly. “If only I knew then what would happen to me next…”
Tia said nothing for a long time. Then, she turned away and started walking away. “I’m going home.”
“Do you want me to walk you home-”
“No,” Tia interrupted. “I can’t… deal with this… deal with you… right now. It’s too much.” She continued walking without a word.
“I’ll call you,” Aidan called after her. She didn’t answer. He watched her leave and sighed, staring desperately at the ground. He had a sinking feeling that he had royally messed up.
Whew! I've been wanting to write this time travel-esque subplot for a very long time. I'm glad I finally was able to do it!