Paradise... is in shambles? Hm...

The fire that Braixen started continued to burn next to me. The moon shone down as I stared into the flames. I thought more about what Braixen said...

"... if you're not going to come back to help any of us, then do it for Eevee!"

But, I wasn't sure what to do... Would just the simple mention of my return be enough to fix everything? I don't know. How do they know? What if I went back and things didn't get better? Hmph, it would suck even more if I went back, nothing got fixed, and they greeted me with their hatred. But, even if I did go back, and they weren't angry, there's no way I could make-up for Eevee's death... I'm just a miserable failure. Plus, why would they want me back now? I lost my powers, my sword is nothing but a dull blade, and it's because of me that Paradise is a mess... I can't do anything to help now.

I looked over towards that thing that Braixen threw to me. It gleamed in the moonlight. I picked it up, noticing it to be some kind of medallion. Hm... A gold base, a deep-blue sapphire, a light blue string...

Wait... hm?

Why does this look so familiar?

I can't remember... What is this? My head began to tense as it tried to search out what this thing was. Why can't I remember? Ugh... A blue sapphire pendant. It holds a power... Yes... That's right! It holds a special power to it... But what was it? I took a deep look into the sapphire. My eyes mirrored off the reflection in the gem... But then I remembered... I've picked this up before... I have seen this before... In the tree... outside the entrance to Paradise...Wait a minute!

There's no way... This is...

Eevee's pendant...

I slapped my face. Why didn't I notice it earlier?

Suddenly, wave upon wave of emotions and nostalgic memories flooded my mind. I was the one who found this for Eevee when she lost it. She then taught me, and the team, the six verses that needed to be chanted in order to activate it's power. This pendant was the key to winning our battle against the Bittercold... I took my sword, and brought a crashing blow to the Bittercold... I remember seeing Eevee's bright, happy face after that... We saved the whole planet on that day...

I stared down at the pendant in my hands. This was definitely Eevee's pendant. But why did Braixen have it? She said she was told to give it to me. Did Mienshao and Dewott tell her that? But why? Did they think I would really want it? Hmph... I don't deserve this. I don't deserve the power that this pendant holds. I can't even use the power without... Eevee... Did they want to give me this so I'd come back?

I remembered Eevee's verse...

"O' melody, beckoning towards the abyss..."

And then I quietly said my verse, to myself...

"O' violent strings that render demons to ashes..."

Render demons to ashes... My sword was capable of doing that...

I picked up my sword and stared at it. This cold blade, once used to rend the infinite darkness, is now nothing more than just a shadow of what I used to be. I closely examined the insignia on the blade: an arrow facing left, with a zig-zag going through it... It's still there... but now this symbol means nothing. It holds no potential, no special ability, nothing. Just like me... I remembered when I first met Eevee, she questioned why I used a sword. And I remember telling myself it was foolish for me to entrust my strength to a weapon. Thinking back on that now... I was right. Without this sword, I'm weak. But now that the sword is weak, I am nothing.

I began to feel rage build up inside me; I clenched my hand into a fist. Why did I put all of my trust in a weapon? Why wasn't I like any normal Pokémon? Why was I cursed to live with this? I never asked for this sword... Why didn't it make me stronger!? Why wasn't I stronger!? Why... couldn't I save her!?

I shouted up at the night sky.

"WHY COULDN'T I SAVE EEVEE!?"

I felt tears well up in my eyes.

"Damn this stupid weapon! Agh!"

I took all my pent up rage and I hurled my sword at the base to a nearby tree. It crashed loudly as the side of the blade collided against the bark. I stared at the small mark the blade made on the tree; It only reminded me of how weak I was... After feeling my frustration leave me, I fell on my hands. Tears slowly began to flow out my eyes. There's nothing I could do now...

Nothing...

I stared up at the bright, full moon.

"Eevee... I'm sorry... I'm sure you'd know what to do now. Heck, you were the leader. You always knew what to do. I was just there to help fight..." I looked down and closed my eyes. "Please, help me..."

I didn't notice it at first, but a dim light began to shine within Eevee's pendant. As I stared at the mysterious light, I heard a faint voice echo in front of me.

"Believe... in yourself..."

I slowly looked up, noticing a pair of white-furred paws on the ground in front of me. As my gaze moved upwards, I saw a cream-colored mane wrapped around the neck of an all too familiar face. Her silver fur glistened in the twilight, and her face held the same peachy smile that brought waves of emotions through me. My chest froze, and my voice was lost in the awe of what I was seeing.

"E-... Eevee..."

Her body was transparent, and gave off a divine, white halo. Her unexpected appearance sent question upon question swarming in my head. How-? Why is she here? She floated towards me, taking light, graceful steps. She sat down right in front of me, while my eyes were still wide with shock... I fell backwards.

"Eevee!?" I was dumbfounded.

"Heehee... Hello Snivy!" She flashed me a smile as I slowly stood back up.

"So, it is you... How-?"

"The pendant... You see, much like how your sword use to be able to, when I died, my soul was kept inside the pendant."

"But... what brought you out?"

"Well... I had a little help from our friend... the wish-maker..."

"You mean... Jirachi?" Eevee nodded her head.

"She had to 'pull some strings' for this to work, though. I'm glad she gave us this chance..."

I looked up at the sky.

Jirachi... Thank you!

I threw my arms around Eevee in a tight hug, and she hugged back. It was so comforting to hold her again. And her voice was so soothing. I didn't want this moment to end...

"I missed you so much..." We continued to hold each other. My stress, my anger, my sorrow- all of my negative feelings dissipated as I held her. There was truly no way to describe how I felt seeing Eevee again. For the first time in what felt like forever... I could say with certainty that I was happy. The sun finally broke through the clouds...

Eventually, we did let go of each other. But, it was here when I noticed that her fur color was white and not brown like usual.

"Why is your fur white?" I asked. She laughed.

"Because I'm dead, you idiot!" She playfully bopped the tip of my nose with her paw.

"Oh... sorry."

"It's fine, but listen..." Eevee paused. Her voice turned to a serious tone. "I heard your conversation with Braixen... In addition to your retelling of what happened after I died..."

Hm... So now she knows...

"Snivy... You need to believe in yourself..." Her words brought me back to my request for her help. "You know of the dangers that exist out there in the world. You know that you're an important part of Paradise and the team. So why are you so negative on yourself? Why did you let your sorrow prevent you from going back to Paradise?"

I shook my head. I could see this conversation becoming a repeat of the one with Braixen.

"Because... I failed you. I couldn't save your life... Without you, Paradise, and the whole team were gone to me. There was nothing-"

"Snivy!" She cut me off. "It doesn't matter if I'm there or not. Team PokéHeroes depends on both of us! As long as one of us is there, then Paradise will be fine."

"But, the Legends left me... the team hates me... and I failed to protect you... There is no hope."

"But Snivy, you don't need those powers! You can still fight with your sword, even without those abilities! And everyone else on the team is there for a reason: to help you!" I let out a sigh.

"How do you know they won't hate me for not protecting you, though?"

Eevee grabbed my hand. "Snivy, I know you well enough to know that you would do everything you could to show them that you're sorry for failing. Plus, we saved them all from the Bittercold. They won't hate you. If anything, they'll probably just be disappointed that I died. But there's nothing you could have done to prevent what happened... This was our fate... Nothing can be changed now."

When she said this, I got depressed, and let out another sigh. But suddenly, she pushed her face close to mine, and I felt my face get warm. I couldn't help but give her a small smile when I saw how cute she looked as I stared into her eyes...

"Snivy, please help our team. If you don't go back, then in the next few years, there may not be any team left..."

I closed my eyes.

"Then... Then maybe that's it. Maybe it's time everything comes to an end... Nothing lasts forever..."

I looked back up at Eevee, only to see her with her eyes closed. She was shaking... in frustration? Suddenly, she lifted her paw up and smacked me right across my face. The sharp stinging pain on my face not only made me dizzy, but because it was so unexpected, I spun around three-sixty degrees and fell on my back. I could feel the pain from her strike beating off my face. I felt tears well up in my eyes, on the verge of crying. But I was still in so much shock I couldn't... I put my hand over where she hit me.

"I'm sorry Snivy... But, I hope that knocked some sense into you." Eevee looked down at me with a disappointed look. "Even after everything we went through, you're still going to decide in favor of yourself? I expected much better from you. Did you not even realize that Braixen, some complete stranger, came all the way out here, just to ask for your return? Did you ever stop to think about how sitting here and doing nothing has affected more Pokémon than just yourself? You aren't the only one grieving over my death..."

Suddenly, I felt so stupid. Like... really stupid. More stupid than a Slowpoke running a marathon... Eevee made it perfectly clear. I've done nothing for the past few years, and everyone else back at Paradise has been working hard to keep it alive... Man, I really am a selfish bastard. Eevee spoke to me.

"I'm sorry for having to end things like this..." I saw her turn around. I assume she's about to leave.

"Wait! Eevee!" She didn't face me. I let out another sigh. "I know I can't really make up for it just with words... but if it does make any difference, then I want you to know I'm sorry... You're right; I never did think about how the others at Paradise felt. And I really made a bad impression with Braixen... I've wasted so much time here; watching over your gave, so that nothing happened to it... I guess I haven't learned anything from all those adventures we had..." I paused. "I really deserved to be smacked in the face." I chuckled.

I sat back up, and rubbed the back of my head. I noticed Eevee was facing me now. She gave me a small smile, showing her approval with my epiphany. I smiled back. Then, she walked up to me and gave me my sword.

"If you do finally understand that Snivy, then I think you know what to do..." Eevee gave me a wink. I nodded my head, and wrapped my sword around me.

"Hey, Snivy?" Eevee asked.

"Hm?"

She stared into my eyes, then quickly looked down, blushing. I don't know why, but I felt myself blush, too.

"A-Are you okay, Eevee?"

She slowly opened her eyes at me.

Then she unexpectedly placed her lips against mine, locking us into a kiss. It was so warm and comforting, it brought waves of nostalgia through me, again. I haven't felt her kiss in a long time... It was like a last sign of assurance from her, and I could feel my self-confidence return to me. Eventually, we pulled away from each other.

"I should thank you for watching over me these past few years, Snivy. However, now it's time for you to get back to work. I'm strong; You don't have to watch over me, anymore."

She then wrapped her arms around me, and we hugged each other, again. I felt her fur brush against me, bringing a relaxing warmth. I wanted to hold her forever... Unfortunately, I noticed specks of light began to flow out of Eevee's body; She was beginning to fade away. I knew this moment wouldn't last forever...

"Eevee... I miss you so much..."

"I miss you too, Snivy..."

As I held her, while she slowly faded away, I heard her giggle.

"Well, what do you know? Looks like our places have been switched."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Hahaha... Remember? Snivy... 'Don't ever forget...'"

Instantly, I remembered the time when she was holding me in her arms, and I was fading away.

Don't ever forget...

Those were the last words I had said to her on that day... I felt more nostalgia build up in me. She looked into my eyes with a smile, as the specks of light began to rapidly flow out of her body.

"Eevee... promise me we will see each other again..."

Before she was completely gone, she gave me a wink... And then I felt her grasp leave me. I looked down at my hands, and I laughed to myself. Once again, it was Eevee who came to help change who I am.

I truly do owe her my life...

But... I just remembered about Braixen. She joined the team, and came all the way out here to try and bring me back... and I completely blew her off. She's a rookie, and going back to Paradise as a failure... I know what that feels like. I have to go find her. I guess I better apologize, too.

With my sword wrapped around my back, Eevee's pendant around my neck, and my cloak covering my whole body, I ran into the forest, looking for Braixen...