“Is everyone ready to start?”
Tia and Aidan nodded as the sound technicians finished the mic checks and cleared the stage.
“All right,” DJ Mary said, “We’re on air in 3… 2… 1…” The “On Air” sign turned on, shining a bright red.
“Welcome to Golden Hot Rod, where we bring you the hottest hits and the coolest news!” DJ Mary said into the mic, reading her lines with feeling. “I’m your host, DJ Mary, and we’ve got a great lineup for you today, from Noelia’s brand new single to an exclusive interview with two of Johto’s top researchers! Stay tuned, and let’s get this party started!”
Tia listened as DJ Mary queued up a couple of popular songs. As the first song played, Tia thought back to just how she and Aidan ended up on the radio show.
While walking through Ilex Forest, Tia and Aidan had happened to come across DJ Mary being attacked by a small horde of Paras. Knowing how dangerous (and annoying) the Paras could be, Tia immediately sent out Summer, her Typhlosion, who burned them to a crisp in no time.
“Thank you so much!” Mary said gratefully, “I thought I was a goner!”
“It’s no problem,” Tia answered.
“What were you doing in the middle of Ilex Forest, ma’am?” Aidan asked.
“Oh, just call me Mary.” She smiled back sheepishly. “Actually, it’s kind of stupid. I was on my way back from Azalea Town when I saw this cute little Paras and decided to feed it…”
“Oh, no…” Tia moaned.
“Exactly!” Mary said. “That got the whole group chasing after me! But now, thanks to you, I’ll be able to make it back to Goldenrod in one piece, and the radio crew won’t have to send a rescue team out to get me!”
“Radio crew?” Aidan asked.
“Uh, yes,” Mary replied, “I work at the Goldenrod Radio Tower.”
“Wait a sec,” Tia said, “You mean you’re DJ Mary, on the radio?” She snapped her fingers. “I knew your voice sounded familiar!”
Mary nodded. “I went to Azalea Town to see if I could nab an interview with Kurt and his Poke Ball-making business. But he declined.” She sighed. “Now I’ll have to go back empty-handed!”
“Hmm… yeah, that does sound like Kurt, to decline an interview,” Tia said, “He prefers to keep to himself.”
“Wait,” Mary perked up. “You know Kurt?”
Tia nodded. “I was one of his students, about two years ago. I’m a Poke Ball researcher.”
Mary gasped, and the brightest, most hopeful look appeared on her face. “What about you?” she asked, looking at Aidan.
“I… uh… I research Legendary Pokemon,” Aidan stammered, a little taken aback by Mary’s sudden enthusiasm.
“Oh my goodness!” Mary exclaimed. “You two have to go on our radio show and give an interview! Please!” she begged. “I’ve been searching all week for interesting people to interview, but the show is this afternoon and I don’t have anyone except for you two!” She shot puppy-dog eyes at them. “Pleasepleaseplease!”
Tia and Aidan exchanged worried glances. This was exactly what they wanted not to happen – media attention. If people found out they were battling and capturing Legendary Pokemon, there would be no way to escape the media circus. Supporters and detractors, conspiracy theorists and the like would be coming out of the woodwork, making it impossible to do any work.
“Just how big is this radio show, Mary?” Aidan asked.
“We broadcast it through all of Johto and some parts of Kanto,” Mary replied. She noticed the nervous glances they were giving each other, and asked, “What’s up? Got any secrets?”
“Well… We’re kinda working on something that’s classified,” Tia said, “A company secret, if you want to call it that. So whatever questions you ask,” she said more confidently, “don’t ask us about our current project.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Mary replied, “Just say you’re working on a secret project! Keep ‘em wondering!” She looked serious again. “So? How about it?”
The next song ended and Mary spoke again, interrupting Tia’s thoughts.
“Up next is a real banger,” Mary said, “It’s the latest hit from Noelia, called Type: Wild. It’s been at the top of the charts for 3 weeks, with no signs of slowing down. Let’s listen and see what all the fuss is about!”
The song started with a calm stream of notes, then immediately picked up with guitar and drums. The song was incredibly catchy, causing Tia and Aidan to subconsciously bob their heads in time with it.
When the song ended, Mary continued on with a listener shout-out. “Kaylee from Violet City just texted in, saying that she uses our playlist to rock out while studying for her finals. Good luck on your exams, Kaylee, and thanks for tuning in to Golden Hot Rod!”
“And now for our exclusive interview,” Mary said, “We at Golden Hot Rod pride ourselves on bringing you profiles of hot new celebs, cool professionals, and rising stars in every field! This time is no different – today we have two young professionals who are passionate about their work – and each other!”
Huh? Tia thought frantically, turning bright red. Who came up with this script? She glanced over at Aidan, who had also turned red.
“Let’s welcome Tia Cade and Aidan Gray!” Mary said enthusiastically.
“Uh, hi everyone!” Tia spoke up, recovering quickly. “Thanks for having us!”
“Yes, thank you,” Aidan mumbled nervously.
“All right, first question!” Mary said. “What kind of research do you do?”
Tia answered immediately. “I study the functionalities of different types of Poke Balls, from the basic Poke Balls to more specialized versions.”
Aidan gulped and thought a moment, trying to organize his answer. “I… I do research on Pokemon myths, rumors and legends.”
“Wow!” Mary exclaimed, “Interesting stuff! Oh! And speaking of myths! I just have to ask – Tia, have you come across any legendary Poke Balls in your research? Anything like the Master Ball?”
Tia laughed. “If I said the Master Ball existed, would you believe me?”
Mary laughed along with her. “Good one!”
Aidan looked over at Tia in surprise. She looked like she was in her element, speaking confidently into the mic and interacting with Mary as if they were close friends.
“Okay, next question! How did you two meet? Let’s hear from Aidan this time.”
Aidan swallowed and tried to relax and act naturally. “It was… about a year ago,” he said, “I walked into the Viridian City Pokemon Center, and I immediately saw this beautiful girl, sitting by herself and studying a handful of Net Balls.”
Tia looked over at Aidan in surprise, turning an even brighter shade of red.
“Oh…” Mary intoned, “And what did you do next?”
“I had this urge to go talk to her,” Aidan continued, ignoring the shock on Tia’s face, “and I did. About Poke Balls and strangely-colored Pokemon.”
“W-we ended up meeting again, not long after that,” Tia stammered, “I had gone to Viridian Forest to catch Bug Pokemon – for Net Ball research, of course – and found a hurt Pikachu being attacked by a horde of Beedrills.”
“The plot thickens!” Mary said excitedly.
“I did what I could to ward the Beedrills off with my Pokemon,” Tia continued, “but there were just too many. It was then that Aidan showed up, and helped defeat the rest of the horde.”
Mary laughed. “Just like a knight in shining armor!” Then she spoke up again. “You heard that, folks! Tia and Aidan are not only good researchers, but also top-notch Pokemon Trainers!”
“We do what we can,” Tia said modestly.
“I’m sure,” Mary answered. “So then, the next question. I know for many of our listeners, catching a Legendary Pokemon is something out their wildest dreams. Since we have both a Poke Ball specialist and a Legendary Pokemon specialist here with us today – have you two ever battled or caught a Legendary Pokemon?”
Tia and Aidan both looked at each other nervously. What should they say?
Tia made an interested humming sound. “I can’t say we’ve ever caught a Legendary Pokemon before. And it’s hard enough to even see a Legendary Pokemon even if you know where they live.” She laughed. “At least, that’s what Aidan says. But... we did encounter one particularly strong Pokemon at one point.”
Aidan glanced over at Tia in alarm, hoping she knew what she was doing.
“And how did that go?” Mary asked.
Tia laughed sheepishly. “It didn’t end well. We ended up with several broken Poke Balls, one broken arm, and one escaped Pokemon.”
Aidan breathed a sigh of relief, amazed at Tia’s ability to embellish the facts and tell a good story.
“Oh, no!” Mary said emphatically. “It happens to the best of us, I suppose!” She nodded, then spoke up again. “All right. The next question-”
She was immediately interrupted by the Director, who walked into the studio and whispered into her ear.
“What?” she whispered. “Are you serious?” The Director nodded and immediately left the room.
There was a moment of silence, then Mary spoke up. “All right, folks,” she said, “We just received an interesting bit of news! Several listeners have called in, saying to go outside and look at the Radio Tower. Right now.” She looked through the transparent walls of the studio and saw several people running down the hall, beckoning others to follow them.
“What’s happening?” Tia asked.
“Let’s go find out,” Mary said, switching over to a headset mic and handing two more headsets over to Tia and Aidan.
When the three of them made it outside, there was a sizable crowd gathered around, staring up at the top of the Radio Tower and pointing.
Tia looked up, squinting, then her eyes widened in amazement.
“Ho-Oh!”
Circling the Radio Tower slowly but surely, was Ho-Oh. It let out a majestic cry that echoed on the wind, and the late afternoon sunlight danced along its bright, iridescent plumage.
“Are you seeing this?” Mary called out, looking up at the spectacle with wide eyes. “For those of you still listening, you’re hearing it here first on Golden Hot Rod,” she said, speaking into her headset mic. “The Legendary Pokemon Ho-Oh is circling the Radio Tower! Oh my goodness… It’s so beautiful!”
There were more murmurs and gasps of amazement among the crowd. Many people had pulled out their Pokegears and other devices, taking pictures and video of the sight. Mary turned toward Aidan, who was staring up at Ho-Oh in awe.
“For the benefit of those still listening,” Mary said, “What can you tell us about Ho-Oh, Aidan?”
Aidan turned to her. “Ho-Oh is known as the guardian of the skies,” he said, “and has many mythical powers, such as healing wounds and resurrecting the dead.” He looked up at Ho-Oh again, smiling. “They say that the rare few who see Ho-Oh are promised eternal happiness.”
“That makes us incredibly lucky, then!” Mary said excitedly.
“There’s actually a legend,” Aidan spoke up, “that long before the Radio Tower was built, it was once a wooden tower, built to rival the Brass Tower and Tin Tower in Ecruteak City. And Ho-Oh would occasionally roost there, at the very top.”
“So maybe Ho-Oh is visiting a place it used to call home!” Tia spoke up.
“You two are even more amazing than we thought,” Mary said, “The very day we interview you, Ho-Oh comes by to say hi! You sure you didn’t plan this?”
Tia laughed. “It’s just a nice coincidence!”
“Well,” Mary said, absolutely floored. “There you have it, folks! An interview with two top researchers, and a surprise visit by Ho-Oh! You can’t get much better than this!”
Tia continued to watch as Ho-Oh eventually stopped circling the Radio Tower and flew away with a distant cry. A few colorful streaks fell through the air, landing as feathers on the ground. She picked one up and held it to the light, smiling at the glittery effect.
“It was worth it…” Tia murmured, “wasn’t it?”
“The radio show?” Aidan said softly.
Tia shook her head. “Everything.”
Aidan put an arm around her. “Yes.”