Tia and Aidan reconcile, as Aidan tells his story.
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Tia and Naito sat quietly as Aidan told his story.
When Aidan reached the part with Cinnabar Volcano erupting and the Pokemon Center exploding with him inside it, Tia gasped and took hold of his hand.
“But… but I did some research on the event,” she said, agitated. “They said there were no casualties when Cinnabar Volcano erupted! That everyone there had been safely evacuated!”
Aidan shook his head. “The news outlets covered it up. The city actually paid me a lot of money after the fact to make sure I kept quiet.”
“What did you do then?”
“I just took the money, to get them to leave me alone,” Aidan replied, “I didn’t want to be reminded of it, and neither did they. I was just glad no one else got hurt.”
Tia let out a huff and shook her head, obviously disagreeing.
When he told about waking up after two years in a coma, and learning most of his Pokemon had died, Tia broke down in tears and hugged him.
“I should have been there,” she said tearfully, “You shouldn’t have had to go through that alone!”
Aidan shook his head. “There wasn’t anything anyone could have done. And the you of that time wouldn’t have known me. I don’t remember much about that time, so I don’t let it bother me.”
An unspoken “you shouldn’t either” lingered in his words.
He told about the time he spent tracking her down, and when he said he went to Azalea Town to find her, Tia frowned.
“You were the guy Kurt and his family talked about,” she said, remembering the long-ago conversation. “The tall, handsome, tortured-looking guy with piercing eyes and a cryptic line about knowing me when the timing was right!”
“What?” Aidan said incredulously, “Is that the impression I made?” He thought a moment. “With Trainers coming in and out every day, I’m surprised they remembered me! I’m not really that memorable.”
Tia hit him playfully. “You are too!”
Aidan laughed.
He mentioned the day he finally found her again, in the Pokemon Center. When he told her how he had longed to go over and talk to her, but feared she’d think of him as a stalker or insane, Tia giggled.
“I’m glad you had the courage to say something. Considering how much I talked to myself, I must have looked like the insane one!”
Aidan chuckled, shaking his head. “No one would think you’re insane. You’re the smartest person I know.” He reached out and caressed her cheek.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” he said, “I could have spared us a lot of grief.”
Tia nodded. “It’s okay. I understand.”
“The time just wasn’t right, and most times, I was just too scared to say anything. I liked what we had, and I didn’t want to spoil it.”
Tia’s eyebrows rose and a faint smile appeared on her face.
Aidan frowned. “What?”
“Nothing,” she said, hugging him again. “Just me thinking too much. I was right about you. So right, and I’m happy.”
Aidan smiled and hugged her back, a little confused. “I’m glad you are.”
“When you said you loved me since the beginning,” Tia said seriously, “this was what you meant? The trades, the letters, everything?”
Aidan nodded. “Yes.”
“It feels so unreal. Your past, my future. It’s like a time-traveling, star-crossed lovers kind of story!”
“But it’s real,” Aidan said. “I love you, Tia.”
Her heart soared. “I love you, Aidan.”
They came together in a kiss, oblivious to everything around them – the desolate ruins, the craggy sea, the harsh winds.
Naito sat back, watching them, with an ecstatic smile on his face.
So this is the end of the "time capsule" arc, with Tia and Aidan's relationship back on track. It was hard writing this without turning into mush! ^^ It's not the end of the series, though! I still have more parts coming!