Magic & Transvolution

Chapter 20: Farewell, Majestic City.

Ada and Justin eye each other, their brows raising. "Come again?" the two say.

Clinton turns to Justin. "I met your mother, Delia Phoenix."

"YOU WHAT!?" Ada and Justin yell, Ramon lowering his ears.

"Yeah. I met her the same way I met you three." Clinton looks off to the side. "How déjà vu is that?"

"Very," Ada answers.

"When did you meet her? Like at what point in time was this?" Justin questions.

The elder stares at the ceiling. "A...couple of days after the Synchronic Village incident. From what she told me."

"So a few months back..." Justin grips his fist, shaking. "Why didn't you tell us sooner about this?" His voice shakes.

Clinton looks at the boy for a moment, shrugging. "My memory can slip up sometimes because of my age. So I end up forgetting about things until something reminds me of it."

Justin pushes his chair back, standing. "Yet, you can remember all of the injustices going on in this city!?" he shouts, frowning and clenching his teeth. "She's my mother, dude! I want to know if she's okay! If she's with the others. And to...to..." Tears slide down, stroking the table. "Hug...her."

"Justin..." Ada lays her hand on the boy's arm as Ramon whimpers.

Clinton looks away, squinting. He then sighs. "Kid: I didn't know that you, Ada, and Ramon were going to come here in the first place." He gazes down. "...With that said, I should've told you all about it after you've gotten here. Despite my age, I've let this city's poverty and crime issues blind me. I was so focused on it, so eager to get the whole ordeal done and over with that I've forgotten about Delia."

Justin sniffles, arms and fists trembling more and more. Clinton looks up at him, staring in his brown eyes before saying, "I'm sorry."

Ada stands up, resting her hand on Justin's shoulder. The boy turns his head a bit: The two looking at each other, silence rising. Justin's eyes tremble, more tears shedding. Ada's eyes tremble, uneasiness spreading throughout.

Justin then turns back to Clinton, wiping his tears. "I'm sorry, too. I...shouldn't assume you'll know about us, man." He sits back down, Ada following along.

Clinton nods as everyone remains quiet, staring down at the half-finished meals. Eventually, the elder breaks the silence. "By the way, you asked if she was with the 'others', right?"

Justin drinks his water. "Yeah?"

"Well, I saw her with two people: A teen around your age and a Leafeon wearing a cloak."

The two gasp. "Merlin and Serene!" they say.

Clinton's eyes widen in surprise. "Ah, you know those two?"

"Yes: They're great friends who used to live at Synchronic Village, too," Ada answers. "It's...good to know that they're with Mrs. Phoenix after what felt like centuries hearing about them."

Justin hits Ada's arm softly. "Ah come on, I told ya that you can call her by her first name." He smiles.

Ada whines. "But it'll feel wrong and unacceptable! Have you ever called X's mother by her first name?"

"Heck yeah, all of the time."

Ada squints. "And you're wondering why she doesn't like you."

Justin gasps, jumping a bit. "What!? Beckham doesn't like me!?" His hand rests on his chest, falling over on Ada. "I thought she looooooves me, man!"