Well. A one-shot for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of T/D/S. Here we go. I just call it that because I don't like saying PMD2 for some reason. Eh. Oh, by the way, the guild members actually have names in this. The species of the hero and the partner won't be stated because it doesn't affect the one-shot at ALL. Post-saving Temporal Tower, pre-hero's revival. Keron is the name of the hero, name of the partner is Oru.
After we- no, I, came back from Temporal Tower, the Guild asked about why Keron wasn't with me. I told them that he had disappeared, faded into orbs of yellow light right before my eyes. I told them about the entire event. About how my world was shattered.
"Oh my gosh! That's terrible!" Calypso the Sunflora asked.
"What? But how?" Thilda the Chimecho asked.
"He… he came from a future that doesn't exist anymore. We stopped it from existing by preventing Temporal Tower's collapse. So… he… doesn't exist anymore…" I explained, choking back tears.
The Guild was stunned at this. At least, their facial expressions looked so. The thought of Keron dropping out of existence was… mind-blowing. Shocking. It didn't seem right. And it definitely wasn't. At least to me.
Keron was my best friend. He gave me hope. Courage. Strength. He was the reason I joined the Wigglytuff Guild in the first place. Keron was the person who gave me the bravery to do so. I was too nervous to join before he came along. I was scared of not being good enough, not being up to their standards. I didn't want to seem weak, or helpless, or inexperienced. And just the thought of joining a Guild that was so famous was nerve-racking.
Keron was there for me. He'd been with me through thick and thin. Tough times, easy times, fun times, the list goes on. He made me brave when I was cowardly. He made me strong when I was weak. He gave me company and comfort when I was sad and lonely.
Keron was Keron. He brought me… joy. Everything was right in the world as long as I was with him.
And now he was gone. It just wasn't fair. We stopped Temporal Tower's collapse, we stopped the planet's paralysis, and THIS is what happens? I lose the Pokémon I held most dear to me.
Guildmaster Iggim sensed the depression and hurt that was inside me. He put a hand on my shoulder.
"Oru. I understand your pain. Keron was everything to you. Your best friend."
Mhm.
"But we can't dwell on the past. If we do, the memories we hold will bring us sadness, and that makes us weak inside."
You don't say.
"Instead, we try to be happy. We try to have fun, and make the most out of our time."
Emphasis on try.
"And you should remember that you saved the world. Both of you. Keron understood what he had to do in order to make the world a better place in the future. A happier one."
He certainly paid the price.
"Oru, you're a hero. A hero of the entire world. You brought future happiness to thousands all over it. Keep that in mind… and try to be happy yourself." Guildmaster Iggim ended with a small smile. The rest of the Guild had small smiles, too.
I knew Guildmaster Iggim was optimistic. His words were meant to comfort me. I appreciated the effort, but it failed to work.
He was right. I was a hero. I was a savior. But saving the world didn't feel right. Instead, it made me feel rotten to the core.
I feel like this sucks. It probably does. Oh, well. And I thought I was okay at one-shots.