Epilogue

Six months later, Alice walked from her bedroom and collapsed on her couch. She'd just finished her shower after her evening run and her hair was still wet. She was wearing her favorite flannel pajama pants and a tank top, her hair in a careless ponytail.

Umbreon laid down next to her and Mandibuzz settled on the back of a chair. A month into production, her parents decided they were going to move full-time to Castilia and Alice convinced them to hand over the deed to their house to her. They pretty much left everything in it, so she now had a fully furnished townhouse to do with what she pleased.

She grabbed her remote and turned up the volume on the news.

"…Last night was the world premier of Curse of Shadows and the highly anticipated movie is already hailed as a 'modern classic' and 'the smash-hit movie of the year.' At the center of the critical acclaim is an actress new to the big screen and a Virbank Native, Alice Meyers."

They cut to an interview of Mr. Deeoh from after the premier, "Oh, her? She was absolutely phenomenal! That tyrant gave me chills! Like, ooh la la, dah-ling!"

They cut to a scene from before the premier, with Alice stepping out of a limo with Cress and his brothers in tow as the reporter's voice informed, "The rising star also caused a stir when she brought not one, but three dates to the premier. And not just anyone, but former gym leaders…"

Alice stopped paying attention when she heard the doorbell ring. She muted the TV and got up. She walked through the door and looked through the peephole. When she saw who it was, she quickly undid the deadbolt and threw open the door.

"Cress!" she greeted, wrapping him in a hug, "What are you doing here? I didn't expect you back so soon."

"Well," he began, "Once we saw how well your movie was doing, I had the idea to cook you a celebratory feast and— what can I say?— my brother's just had to go with it."

Alice hadn't even noticed Chili and Cilan until they pushed past her carrying armfuls of groceries.

"Excuse us," Cilan apologized as he walked past. Alice and Cress followed.

"We're gonna use your kitchen, 'kay?" Chili informed as they sat their ingredients on the counters.

Cress looked at her outfit and said, "No. You will not be eating the best meal of your entire life in flannel. Go change. Into something as pretty as you are. Now."

Alice decided not to protest as Cress walked into her kitchen.

None of them ever actually said as much, but Mira got the feeling that after they day they saved Umbreon, the brothers had regained most of their old closeness. Even watching them shuffle around the kitchen chaotically looking for cutlery and dishes, wiping down the counters, and rearranging ingredients had something of a rhythm to it.

Alice smiled, glad to be friends with all of them.