A New Kind of Journey: Kanto (Inconsistent Updates)

Chapter 16: Aria of Palermo

They walked into the venue about forty-five minutes before it was set to begin. Serena gave Ash a quick peck on the lips and ran off to the changing rooms. Ash started through the hall towards the theater to see if there were any good seats left, but a hand grabbed his shoulder.

"Gah!" He spun around, surprised, and saw none other than Palermo, behind whom was . . .

"Mom?"

Delia smiled and waved. "What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised. "I came here to see these Performances you've told me so much about, then I ran into miss Palermo here."

Ash looked at Palermo, who was smiling at him. "I've invited you and your mother to the VIP booth. It's the least I can do for a hero of Kalos."

Ash shook his head. "I was hardly the only one there," he protested. Palermo held up a hand. "But you were still there when most weren't. In my eye, that makes you more deserving than any of the others up in the box."

Ash scratched the back of his head, embarrassed by her praise. Delia simply smiled. If miss Palermo only knew, she thought to herself. Ash and Delia followed Palermo through a door to one side of the room. The dark suited guard nodded at her and let them through. Then she led them down one hallway, up some stairs, down another hallway, around a corner, up some more stairs, and finally stopped outside one last door.

She opened it and motioned for them to enter. Delia did so quite easily, going with the flow as she always did. Ash stepped through the doorway and blinked. The VIP room had its name for a reason. The floor was lush carpet, the seats were richly upholstered, there was a buffet table to one side with a large array of hors' d'oeuvres, and the view of the stage was unparalleled.

Ash eyed the buffet table, then decided against it. He was too excited for Serena and too nervous about being honored like this. "I'm assuming this isn't what you were expecting when you entered the building?" Palermo inquired, entering after him.

He turned around and shook his head. "I don't deserve all this. Quite frankly, it's a little overwhelming. When I helped fight against Lysandre and Team Flare, it was because people would have gotten hurt if I hadn't. Something had to be done, and I was in a position to do it."

Palermo shook her head. "The fact that that is how you see it guarantees your place here. The other guests cannot claim to have done anything close." For the first time, Ash registered the presence of the other people in the room. He recognized very few of them, other than-

"Aria?"

Aria turned around and her eyes lit up. "Ash! It's so good to see you!" She ran up and hugged him, drawing a chuckle from Palermo. Aria backed up a bit and shook his hand. "I never got to thank you for everything you did for Kalos!" Ash shook his head, embarrassed that so many people were calling him a hero. Aria continued when he didn't respond. "I wasn't expecting to see you here. Although . . ." She leaned in and a sly grin crossed her face. "I should have known you wouldn't be too far if Serena was here".

Ash colored slightly, something that set Aria laughing. "So," she said. "You a thing yet?" Ash nodded, embarrassed despite himself. Aria laughed again and clapped her hands together. "About time!"

Ash, not for the first time, privately berated himself for being so oblivious back in Kalos.

Palermo pulled out a pocket watch and nodded to herself. "You'd better find a good seat for your lady's performance," she whispered in Ash's ear. Ash was profoundly grateful for the VIP box's dim lighting as he found a place with a good view.

Only five more minutes until the performance.