Renewal

I sat there in the rain, watching the flames leap up into the cloudy sky. The remaider of the tower collapsed to the ground, leaving only the outer walls of the bottom level. Then the rain began to take effect and the flames sputtered in the damp.

A few Pokémon sent half-hearted water blasts at the wreckage, but there was hardly any point now. The Brass Tower had fallen.

Everyone remained watching in silent disbelief as the final plumes of smoke died away. Even the rain seemed to lose heart, subsiding to a faint drizzle. Hitmonlee/Mew was still sitting beside me, and Mark had appeared beside us.

The crowd began to disperse. There was no reason to be here any longer, standing in the cold rain. But I didn't move. I had lost all strength in my body and mind. Besides, the cool felt good on my brint skin.

Mark remained also, staring at the smoking wreckage. He was silent and still.

I'd failed. I couldn't save them. I'd been so close, and hadn't been able to help.

It wasn't your fault, Mew said.

I knew the place would burn down, I said dully. I learned it in the future. I should have warned them to stay out of there.

You knew? Mew asked, surprised. Then she continued, But you didn't know it would be tonight. And how could you expect to stop the building from burning? You're no more at fault than I. You went in there to help while I was sleeping. When I woke up, it was too late.

You got me out of there. I wondered if I'd had any of my Pokémon team with me if I could have made a difference. Gyarados and Blastoise with their water attacks, or Alakazam that could have teleported in and freed them. What about Mewtwo? He could have stopped the whole thing with a flick of his wrist.

I looked up at the gray sky. Was it still night? Maybe dawn was approaching. I couldn't tell.

Then I saw the second off to the east: The Tin Tower. It was still standing tall and sturdy. But there was a light coming from it.

Automatically dread flooded me. Could the Tin Tower have caught fire too?

No…No, this was different. This wasn't fire light. It was a golden glow coming from the top of the building. It grew brighter, and then a huge shape came from the Tin Tower, outlined against the gray clouds. It flew towards us, flapping its beautiful sparkling wings.

Ho-Oh.

He opened his beak, letting out a beautiful, keening call. Everyone who was still outside watched as Ho-Oh circled over the smoldering rubble that remained of Lugia's tower. With each circle, he came closer and closer to the glowing cinders. His wings scattered the smoke and made the coals flare slightly.

Then Ho-Oh gripped the broken black wall with his claws. It held under the bird's weight as he landed.

He continued to sing in the beautiful, sorrowful voice. Then he spread his golden wings wide and let out a long note that soared between pitches and octaves in a beautiful dance.

Ho-Oh lowered his neck and touched the hot ash with his beak. Then he raised his wings again and took to the air.

He circled higher into the air, the raindrops scattering off of his feathers.

And then something changed among the Brass Tower's wreckage. There was a slight stirring from the rubble as though the building were trying to put itself back together.

I watched, tense, at the spot where the ash had moved. Then something burst from under the ash and coal. No, there was more than one. There were… three.

I sat up, my mouth open slightly. Could it…

One of the figures landed to the west of the building, one on the east side, and one in front. For a moment, thre three of them stood there, their manes billowing out behind them. They glanced around, looking at each other. Their eyes flitted over the small crowd of humans in front of them. Then Raikou, Suicune, and Entei each raised their heads, let out a howl, and took off in different directions, vanishing into the forest.

A beam of sunlight broke through the clouds on the horizon and fell on Ho-Oh, casting a dazzling rainbow in the air. Ho-OH flew on, his wings blending into the colors of the rainbow until he faded from sight.

…

I don't remember going back to the house. I might have passed out right there on the street, once I'd seen the legendary Pokémon disappear. I guess Mark and Mew brought me back to bed.

When I finally woke up, I found Mew curled up besides me. The curtains were drawn, but it didn't seem to be light out. So either it was still cloudy, or I'd slept through to the next night. I wouldn't be surprised if I'd slept two entire days.

Even so, I didn't move for a very long time. I sat under the warm covers, hugging Mew.

Even when she woke up, we sat there together, lost in thought about the previous days.

It was hunger that finally drove us from the room.

After taking a bath (they don't have hot showers in the past so Mew heated the water for me), I spread lotion on the various burns and scorches on my body. Whatever the ointment was, it worked wonderfully. I could feel my skin cool instantly and the pain ease the moment it was on.

"Hey, Mew," I said as I wrapped ointment-soaked bandages around my bare feet, "If I time-travel with Celebi, will she take me back to the moment I left, or will several days have passed back home too?"

She should be able to take you back to a time soon after you left, Mew replied.

"That's good, at least. I don't want Ben, Hari, and my Pokémon having heart attacks with me being gone for so long. And that also means that I can stay here a little longer to recover. I'd rather not return home covered in burns. If Ben and Hari aren't freaked out enough already, they'd be pretty shocked to see me all fried up. Hey, Mew, do you need any of this ointment?"

No, I'm all right. I didn't really get burned. Let me help you put some bandages on your forearms. Those got burned pretty badly too.

"I'm glad my hair didn't catch on fire," I muttered. "It probably would have if it hadn't been back in a ponytail."

I looked up when I heard a knock on the bathroom door. It was Mark.

"There's some good news, Cara," Mark called through the door. "I'll tell you when you're done."

I came out walking rather stiffly on my heavily bound feet. I felt like a greasy mummy with all my ointment and bandages. I was looking forward to hearing good news.

"Cianwood Island is starting to recover from the Stone Sickness!" Mark exclaimed. They said a trainer and her Pokémon brought the cure to everyone, and the sickness is leaving the island. They said that the three Pokémon were… were Raikou, Suicune, and Entei. They must have just returned from the island when… when the fire…" He broke off and took a deep breath. "I never knew that Ho-Oh had the power to bring Pokémon back from death. But I'm glad that the three of them are going to be all right."

Then he looked up at me. "Cara, you knew that Raikou, Suicune and Entei were in the tower. You went in after them. Was… was it you who went to the island to spread the cure?"

I looked away, unsure how to answer. I hadn't gotten a chance to talk about Cianwood with him since I returned. But I guess by now it was pretty obvious to him. Mew's presence was only further proof of my connection to the legendary Pokémon here.

"Yeah," I muttered. I though of what Morty had told me before I'd gone bak in time: a trainer and three Pokémon. But Mew made four Pokémon. But then no one in Johto would have recognized a Pokémon like Shaymin. And the fire would have brought the three legendary dogs to everyone's mind. Over the passage of time, it could easily be that the unknown Pokémon Shaymin (or Mew) would be forgotten and only three of the Pokémon remembered.

It was strange in a way. Although the truth never actually changes, to the people of the future, they will see a different version of events as "truth." Does that mean that the real truth is lost forever? Or is there some place where it's stored indefinitely?

…

"Thanks for everything, Mark," I said a couple days later. Most of the burns had faded, and it was time for me to go home.

"I think we should be thanking you," Mark called back. "Come visit any time."

No, I hadn't told him I was from the future.

Mew and I walked out of town, me limping slightly on my somewhat tender feet. When we were away from the city, Mew used Teleport, taking us to Ilex Forest, in front of Celebi's shrine.

I glanced around, looking for Celebi. Maybe I had to open the shrine? Then I saw her sitting on top of the shrine.

Celebi fluttered down towards me, smiling.

I hear you figured it out!

I shrugged. "The Pokémon did all the work," I muttered.

They couldn't have done it without you, Celebi said. And I heard what you did for Suicune, Entei, and Raikou. You risked your life to try to help them.

The act seemed doubly useless though. Not only had I failed to get them out, but they ended up being revived by Ho-Oh. But I wish I could have seen the three of them again before I left.

I took a deep breath and smiled. "Yeah. I'm glad I could do something to help. I wish I could have helped more."

You did amazingly, Mew said. Bye Cara. I'll miss you. I'll never forget you.

"I won't forget you either," I said, hugging her. "Thanks in advance."

Advance for what? She asked.

I smiled. "I can't tell."

Mew cocked her head, confused.

Are you ready? Celebi asked.

I took one last look around me before nodding.

Mew floated back out of the way as I stepped towards Celebi. She flew above me and began to glow. Gold and green light folded around me and Celebi called out, "!"

I looked back at Mew and raised a hand in farewell.

Just as our surroundings began to disappear, Mew called out, I'll see you again, Cara! I promise!

And then the world of the past disappeared.

I shut my eyes as I felt the time travel engulf me. I was determined not to pass out this time. I could feel things brushing past me, like gentle breezes or soft leaves. Then the pressure subsided and I felt normal air around me once again. My feet touched grass and I opened my eyes.

There was a stunned audience in front of me, consistinf of Ben, Hari, Ponyta, Espeon, and Umbreon.

For a moment we stared at each other. Celebi was still there, hovering over my shoulder. Then Hari ran towards me.

"Waaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" He shouted, hugging me tighty. "Cara, you disappeared! We were so scared!"

I hugged him back, looking over at Ben. He looked torn between relief and shock. I gave him a guilty grin.

"You," Ben started, "You-you stupid idiot!" he exclaimed suddenly.

I blinked at him, surprised. I rarely heard Ben shout.

"Do you know what it's like to chase someone and then arrive only to see them sucked into some weird portal? Do you know how worried everyone was? Hari waas freaking out! Polaris, Eon, and Uber were having fits! And…" he broke off, but I understood what he meant.

"I'm sorry," I said, smiling slightly. "I wasn't quite intending for that to happen." I scruffed Hari's hair and made a mental note to cut at least a few inches off of it. "How long was I gone?"

"About five minutes, I think," Ben said, glancing at his Pokégear clock. "Man, is that all? Why? How long were you gone?"

Hari let go, sniffling a bit. I went over to greet Polaris, Eon, and Uber. Polaris nuzzled me and Eon and Uber rubbed against my legs.

"Almost a week," I said, counting the days on my fingers. "It's a really long story." I hugged Polaris's neck.

There's one other thing I want to show you, Celebi said. She pointed into the trees. Something rustled, and then a shape appeared in the clearing in front of the shrine.

Suicune.

Then Entei and Raikou emerged besides her.

I stared at them for several moments before taking a step forwards.

Did they remember me? True, Entei was the reason I came to the shrine in the first palce… but how much did they remember? After all, they'd died and come back to life…

The three of them stood side-by-side, watching me. Then Entei gave a small nod of his head.

I fell forwards and threw my arms around Suicune's neck, which was closest. She closed her eyes and nuzzled me. I turned to hug Entei and Raikou too.

"You're all right," I whispered. "You're okay."

We never got a chance to thank you, Entei said.

I guess what has been a century for us has been a very short time for you, Raikou continued.

The burns are still fresh on your arms, Entei noted. Celebi can heal them for you.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you in the tower," I said, trying not to cry in front of Ben and Hari.

It's fine, Suicune said. It's fine. I'm glad we got to see you again.

Even if it is after a century, Raikou said, amused.

Cara?

I looked up at the familiar voice. It was Mew. She'd come too.

She floated down to greet me. I guess you know now, huh? The reason I looked after you when you started your journey?

I nodded. "Yeah. I know now."

It's been hard waiting so long to talk to you about it, Mew said. A lot more has happened since then, huh? What with Giovanni and Mewtwo.

"No kidding," I replied, grinning.

Which reminds me. Mewtwo sends a message. He's doing fine.

"That's good. I'm glad he's okay." I hoped to see him again soon. I worried about him a lot.

I glanced back at Ben and Hari, who were looking quite baffled by all this.

"There's some people I'd like to introduce you to," I said, laughing. "And stuff I have to tell all of you!"