Aidan brings Tia to meet his family.
“A question for you, Aidan.” Tia’s voice echoed through the icy cavern.
“Yeah?”
“Why do you go by your middle name?”
Aidan turned toward Tia, blushing. “It’s… a little silly.”
“So?”
“I have an older twin sister, Shin. And when we were little, I had a hard time pronouncing both of our names. And when we started school, everyone had a hard time telling our names apart. Shin. Shun.”
“I see.”
“So after a while, our parents gave up and started calling us by our middle names: Amelie and Aidan.”
The two of them continued through the Ice Path in silence, Blaze and Summer lighting the way and giving off warmth with their flames.
Tia looked down, shivering into her coat. “I don’t know what to expect, meeting your family for the first time.”
“It’ll be okay,” Aidan reassured her, “My parents may be traditionalists, but they won’t outright reject you.”
“That’s good to know.”
“Grandfather, on the other hand…” Aidan looked a little troubled.
Tia looked up at him questioningly. “What about him?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.” He pointed to the ice cave’s exit. “Almost there.”
They emerged from the cave, shielding their eyes from the bright light, and stepped into Blackthorn City.
When the first handful of townspeople saw them, Tia immediately felt the intensity in the atmosphere, just as she had during her first visit. The intensity of their stares unnerved her.
They soon arrived at Aidan’s house, a small, modest cottage near the lake. A cool breeze blew as they approached the front door and Aidan opened it.
“I’m home,” Aidan called out. The house was silent. “Hmm,” he said, looking around, “Mom and Amelie must still be at the souvenir shop.”
“Aidan! You’re home!” A young woman with the same black hair and blue eyes as Aidan emerged from another room, and gave him a big hug. “Mom! Aidan’s home!”
An older woman with graying black hair entered the room and hugged Aidan. Then she caught sight of Tia and smiled in surprise.
“Why, hello, dear. I had a feeling we would meet again.”
“You’re the lady from the souvenir shop,” Tia said, “The one who made all those beautiful sculptures!”
She nodded.
“You’re Aidan’s mother…” Tia said softly.
“And I’m Amelie!” his sister said, shaking her hand. She looked her up and down. “So you’re the girl Aidan left home to find. Nice to finally meet you!”
The front door opened, and an older man with graying hair at the temples emerged. Aidan turned to him and smiled.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Aidan!” His father gave him a bear hug and a shake. “Welcome home!” He looked over to Tia. “Hello there, young lady. You must be Tia.”
Tia shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
“So you’ve finally returned.”
Everyone turned to face an elderly, white-haired man. He gripped a cane, but nothing about him was weak or feeble. He stared back at Aidan with steel-blue eyes.
Aidan nodded to him. “Grandfather.” He motioned over to Tia, and she moved closer to him. “I’ve brought Tia to meet everyone.”
“Ah, yes.” Aidan’s grandfather answered, “The scientist.” He said the word as if it were a curse. He cast his steely gaze over Tia and she tried her best not to crumple under it.
Without saying another word, he turned and exited the room.
Tia looked over at Aidan questioningly. He shook his head.
“Grandfather doesn’t take well to outsiders,” he said, “Especially scientists and researchers. He thinks they don’t truly understand how nature and Pokemon are. Among other things.”
“Aw, don’t let him get you down!” Amelie said, putting a hand on Tia’s shoulder. “He’ll get used to you. I mean, if you got Aidan’s attention, you can’t be half bad!”
“Amelie!” Aidan glared at her. Amelie only laughed.
Tia, however, looked troubled. I wonder what I can do to change his mind, she thought.