This... is it! The final chapter of 'Lasting Friendships'! Although it saddens me to know that the story is finished, it makes me equally happy that it is! It's been almost exactly a year since I've started writing this, so it must be good to finish it at last!

I'd like to extend thanks to SpiritBlueWolf and Minami/Tougara Lyn for keeping up with this story.

And lastly, I'd like to extend a special thanks to Eeveeleah, for her constant support.

Enjoy the final heartwarming chapter!

Chapter twenty-five: A Friendship That Lasts

"It has definitely been more than two hours," Keith looked at the clock on his Styler. "Oh well, that's too bad. We're buying afternoon tea for Kellyn."

"That's nothing to what he's going to here once he gets back!" Rhythmi shook her head.

The two were sitting at the café still, but not before going out on a one-hour on-call service. Rhythmi had to work at the operating process for one hour while Keith went into the field on a Quest to initiate a controlled rock slide at Peril Cliffs, so it wouldn't endanger people and Pokémon alike.

Initially, the plan was for Keith and Rhythmi and the internal investigations board principal to meet up with the two unsuspecting Rangers, but the board principal didn't want to wait for too long. Instead, Keith and Rhythmi would wait for Kate and Kellyn to show up, and by then they would notify the principal of the Rangers' arrival.

One hour they've waited, and the two Rangers should arrive in mere minutes.

Minutes later, they did.

"Hey! Guys!" Kate shouted.

Keith and Rhythmi turned their heads to look at the Ranger Union lobby entrance. To Keith's happiness, he saw Grotle and Kirlia walk in behind Kate first. That was good news! That meant that the appeal was a true success!

"You got them back! That's… GREAT!" Keith shouted back.

It felt like a dream, but it was reality, because Keith saw Kellyn and Kate return with the same group of four Pokémon behind them. To make it more real, as Kellyn sat down opposite Keith, Kirlia teleported beside Keith to give the Top Ranger a hug.

"Aw…" Rhythmi touched her nose with both hands. "That's so cute!"

"She missed you," Kate said, as she took the seat beside Keith. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Kirlia and Keith for the moment, and then Grotle snugged beside Keith's foot. "Ha, Grotle missed you too," Kate added.

The two Pokémon felt better to be in familiar company; Kellyn, Kate, Pachirisu, and Pachirisu aside, if not counting the entire Ranger Union HQ. For Keith, he was left speechless at the two Pokémon's gestures of affection, and he didn't know what to do but wait.

Fortunately, Keith's Partner Pokémon Buizel saved the day.

"Ah, Buizel seems pleased to see you guys too," Keith said.

It was true what Keith said, because Buizel chose to converse with Kirlia and Grotle. The Pachirisus, completely aware they were missing out on the social gathering, joined in on the conversation too, and soon enough the five Pokémon were sitting together around a glass table. Keith then seized the opportunity to buy four teas on his tab – plus several iced red beans with frozen fruit.

"Milk tea for me, Keith!" Kate shouted. Keith nodded.

"Keith! I'd like a Horlicks," Kellyn called out just loud enough for Keith to hear.

"You got it, Kellyn!" Keith replied.

As Keith placed his orders, Rhythmi stared – for lack of better word – appallingly at Kellyn. "They serve Horlicks at the Ranger Union café? WHAT?"

"Well, yeah," Kellyn raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't they? It's got to be one of the greatest classic drinks of all-time. I usually add one packet of sugar with mine, and especially when I'm on a morning rush here at the Union."

Two minutes later, when Keith had retaken his respective seat beside Rhythmi and Kate, he had to break down to the important stuff. Since the café order would take some time, Keith made the most of it. Plus, he'd love to hear the outcome.

"So? How did it feel? Getting back Grotle and Kirlia?" Keith asked. The way Keith said it, it didn't sound like a question, but more of a motive for a story.

"It kind of felt weird," Kellyn said. "I mean, Pachirisu and I have only been separated from them for about a day or two, but we both wanted them back. They're as close as you, Kate, and Rhythmi are to me. They were really, really, happy when they heard they could come back."

Kate scoffed.

"He's understating," she said. "It's not close to 'weird'. You won't believe the tears that flowed out of his eyes when he got them back. If you were there when Kellyn recaptured those two, you'd understand the joy that appeared on their faces. They were – like – beaming! It was like the sun was shining its light right on their faces, and it was a dark and stormy night…"

She then became aware that Keith and Kellyn were staring at her as if they were worried about her sanity. To make up for it, Rhythmi smiled widely.

"That makes sense," the blond Operator agreed.

Keith and Kellyn reserved the right to remain silent.

"Anyway, it was a really good feeling I can't describe in words," Kate said. "If you were there, you'd understand. It's… like – wow."

"And you know what?" Kellyn added excitedly. "When I captured both Grotle and Kirlia, I really didn't need to do anything! I just had to make a single loop for each of them, and that was that. You know what I mean?"

Keith blinked, so Kellyn took that as a no. "Go on," Keith said.

"When I initiated the capture," Kellyn said, "I was surprised to see that the Friendship Gauge on the monitor was at full, as if by default. I don't know why it was like that in the first place, but I think that's because of the bond Grotle and Kirlia share with me and Pachirisu!"

"Seriously?" Keith sounded amused. "I'm not surprised. You ever noticed how loyal these Pokémon have been to you? If that Friendship Gauge was even slightly depleted, I'd have been really surprised. But anyway… congratulations, Kellyn! That's awesome!"

The café waitress approached the table with a circular tray in hand. First of all, she started off by placing a cubic porcelain box containing packets of sugar and sweetener, and then a miniature cup containing cream.

"One Horlicks," she placed a white mug on the table with a metal teaspoon. Kellyn then ripped open a packet of sugar and stirred the contents in.

"Two teas," she placed two mugs of steaming dark-coloured tea on the table. Keith added a bit of cream and two packets of sugar into his mug. Rhythmi, on the other hand, added a lot of cream but only one packet of sugar into her tea.

"One milk tea," the waitress placed the last mug in front of Kate. With the need for cream non-existent, Kate added one and a half packets of sugar to her drink. The remaining half-packet she gave to Keith, which he happily accepted.

"And a few iced red beans for the Pokémon, with fruit," she placed five glasses of red bean, with mounds of crushed ice on top and a diced fruit base at the bottom, beside each Pokémon. For Grotle, she specially gave him a bowl to eat from. Afterwards, she winked at Keith and walked away.

"Are you sure I don't owe you anything, Keith?" Kellyn said before he picked up his mug of Horlicks. "This seems… expensive."

Keith waved him off and brought his tea to his lips. After sipping his tea, and some afterthought, he said, "We had a deal, remember? You lost."

The Pachirisus were busy chewing away at the bits of crushed ice and tried very hard to get to the red beans and fruit at the bottom. Grotle looked like he was enjoying himself, eating away on the ground, whereas Buizel and Kirlia took the more civilised manner: they ate the frozen treat with a spoon.

As the group was happily enjoying an afternoon tea break, Kellyn said, "By the way, what's this 'good news' you were talking about earlier?"

"Oh! Right! I forgot to tell him you arrived," Keith said, and almost spilled his tea. "Well… I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell him now."

A shadow loomed over Keith, and Kate, Kellyn, and Rhythmi put down their mugs.

"No need, Keith," a voice said over Keith's head. "I saw them coming."

"Sir!" Keith said, surprised. "Right…"

The principal of the internal investigations board was standing before the group. Beside him, Professor Hastings beamed at the group, and the professor was holding what appeared to be stapled documents. Had Keith and the others been working behind the scenes?

The principal shifted to look at Kellyn.

"You've probably heard about the news, although not in detail," he said. "I'll be happy to break it down to you, as Professor Hastings here has the official document."

"But I have no idea what it is!" Kellyn protested.

Instead, Professor Hastings passed the document for Kellyn to read. But before Kellyn even had time to start looking at it, the board principal broke the news first.

"Of course you wouldn't know what it is," the principal snapped – softly. "You left the Union building before I could even tell it to you, so I told it to Keith and the others instead. You know your two Pokémon are your Friend Pokémon now?"

Kellyn nodded.

"After you made your appeal, I personally forwarded a recommendation to the Ranger Union for the two Pokémon to have equal status with your Pachirisu," the principal explained. "And you know what? The recommendation passed. Get the picture? Your Grotle and Kirlia are now permanent Partner Pokémon to you."

Time froze for Kellyn. At least, that's what it felt like. In the moment of frozen time, Kellyn processed exactly what the principal had said. Permanent Partner Pokémon? Impossible!

"But…" Kellyn started, Professor Hastings cut him in.

"We understand that these two Pokémon are extremely valuable to you," Professor Hastings said. "They've followed you pretty much wherever you went since your career started. Save for underwater missions. The Union has made a verdict that Grotle and Kirlia may be your Partner Pokémon. Furthermore, and we all agree we are pushing the rules TO THE LIMIT here, our verdict stipulates that Grotle and Kirlia may travel with you as legal Partner Pokémon alongside Pachirisu."

Keith and Kate stared at Professor Hastings.

"He didn't tell us this, did he?" Keith whispered.

"Of course he didn't," Kate made a face. "The principal only told us they were Partner Pokémon. Hastings didn't tell us they could travel with Kellyn!"

Kellyn, on the other hand, read the document he was given. Indeed, it specified exactly what Professor Hastings and the board principal had been saying.

"This does not mean, however, that you can capture seven extra Pokémon with you," Hastings warned. "We're not going to push the rules that far for you to carry ten Pokémon! But, you can leave them somewhere else – like a park or somewhere – without having to release them. Otherwise, you'll have reduced your capturing capacity by two. Overall, this Partner Pokémon verdict is effective immediately."

"Hear, hear," Kellyn said. "Wow. Thank you!"

Kellyn shook Professor Hastings' hand so rigorously that the professor worried Kellyn might break his hand. After that, Kellyn started to reach for the board principal's hand, but the latter refused the handshake.

"I think I'm going to save my hand," he said. "Have a nice day, Rangers, nevertheless."

The board principal smiled and walked away to the upstairs floor, and left the others to themselves. For everyone, a warm and fuzzy feeling could be felt from under their skin. It stretched from everyone's arms, and all the way to the tips of their fingers and toes.

A sigh of relief could be heard from Kellyn, as he fell back on the chair and closed his eyes.

"I don't believe it," he smiled. "It's… incredible."

"Don't be surprised, Kellyn!" Professor Hastings shouted. "Keith made a good point in the appeal – stating Grotle and Kirlia deserve a place beside you and Pachirisu. When the board told the Union this, how could we say no? Anyway, what's done is done. You have new Partner Pokémon with you now, but I'm guessing they were always your Partner Pokémon to begin with!"

At that, he walked away.

The five Pokémon sitting together heard the entire conversation that had occurred near their table. Grotle and Kirlia both had tears in their eyes. It was unreal! To make them feel better, the Pachirisus and Buizel made reassuring remarks.

"Kellyn, you might want to finish your Horlicks," Rhythmi reminded. "It's going to get cold pretty soon."

"Well, Grotle and Kirlia are your Partner Pokémon now, alongside Pachirisu!" Kate cheerfully said. "What will you do now?"

Kellyn looked to Keith for support, largely because the former couldn't think of a clear response. The way Keith's expression showed: they both had no idea. The main difference was: Kellyn's thoughts were at a standstill, and Keith's mind was barely moving.

In the end, Kellyn spoke first.

"I'm going home to Chicole Village," he said. "Now that I think of it, there's a place I want them to see. You haven't seen it, nor has Keith or Rhythmi. You're all welcome to join me, if you're interested."

Rhythmi finished her tea and stood up. "I've got nothing to do. I'm in."

"For the first time in history," Keith mocked, "Rhythmi has nothing to do. When she isn't behind the desks and computers of the Ranger Union HQ, she can't find anything better… except eat and sleep."

"Keith," Rhythmi glared at him. "If you don't keep quiet, I – will – BITE YOU."

Keith did not heed her warning. "Rhythmi, in short, has no life outside the Ranger Union HQ's walls, let alone the third floor where she has worked for so – OW!"

Before Kate's eyes and before Keith could react, Rhythmi was biting on Keith's arm. Keith yelled out in pain.

She warned you! Kellyn thought.

All the Pokémon ended up laughing at Keith in the end.

Rhythmi had no experience flying on a Staraptor, and unsurprisingly she had a lot of trouble trying to mount on one. Before the journey to Chicole Village had even started, Rhythmi absolutely insisted that she walk or travel by Doduo.

"Rhythmi," Kate said. "Travelling by Staraptor is a lot faster than by ground. It reduces the journey time to about a quarter of the time, let alone distance!"

"It's only because you have experience!" Rhythmi argued. "No way! No way am I going to Chicole Village by air!"

The Pokémon shook their heads, and Grotle was the first to step up.

"Take Grotle for example," Kellyn said. "He was even more afraid of travelling by air than you are! Plus, a Staraptor has to carry him! At least you have the benefit of mounting one!"

Rhythmi shook her head and turned away, but Kate chose the more friendly approach. First, she put an arm around Rhythmi's shoulder.

"Trust me," Kate assured. "Staraptors are extremely reliable. During Operation Brighton, they could last hours flying without getting tired and they're sure not to let you fall. If you're not confident, you could always mount with one of us."

Keith had an idea.

"Kellyn! Get Kirlia… and Grotle to mount with Rhythmi! They can teach her how to fly!" he said. "Uh… hold that thought. Maybe just Kirlia, and while I'm at it I'll throw Buizel in the mix too. Rhythmi will have more confidence. I'm sure of it!"

Kellyn scoffed. "Kirlia and Buizel is a possibility. But Kirlia, Buizel, and Grotle? That's going to be a heavyweight, Keith, and you know it. Here, we'll go capture a total of… five Staraptor. Then we'll allocate who rides who."

Rhythmi's argument was a total failure, as she watched Keith, Kellyn, and Kate race to see who could capture the Staraptors the fastest ("CAPTURE ON!"). Kellyn and Kate captured one apiece, but Keith attempted a daring group capture and caught three Staraptors in one swoop. Even Kellyn, who saved the Almia region capturing Darkrai on the night of the operation, and Kate, who defended Kellyn from an army of Pokémon that same night, could not match the speed of Keith's capturing style.

"Capture complete!" he shouted.

"Show off…" Kate and Kellyn grumbled.

Without any need for argument, Keith took charge of organising who rode who. Grotle would have a Staraptor to himself, as usual. Kate and her Pachirisu would ride one as usual. Kellyn and his Pachirisu would ride one. Keith alone would ride one by himself, whereas Rhythmi would be sharing one with Buizel and Kirlia.

"I don't want to go!" Rhythmi cried. "I'll bite all of you!"

"We warned her," Keith shook his head, and then flatly said, "Fine, we use force."

Keith, Kirlia, and Buizel then together hauled a struggling Rhythmi onto the waiting Staraptor. It was a struggle in itself to get Rhythmi mounted!

It had been at least an hour since they departed, and Rhythmi had her head buried on the back of the Staraptor's neck from the time the flight started. Apparently, she was frightened silly by seeing the clouds beside her, the open sky above, and the small-sized Almia region from below. Kirlia and Buizel were certainly not frightened, and the other three Staraptors were flying as normal.

"Really, Rhythmi!" Kellyn yelled. "It's not that bad!"

"Enjoy the view!" Kate screamed. "You'll like it!"

"If you don't look," Keith warned, and partly joking, "I'll make you fly on the return trip!"

Slowly Rhythmi lifted her head, feeling the cold gusts of wind blasting against her face and hair, and she slowly opened her eyes. Looking below, it was a long way down. Butterfrees filled her stomach, and she ended up screaming.

"See? It's not that bad," Keith rolled his eyes.

"This is scary!" Rhythmi yelled. "How can you fly like this?! At least it's fast! But…!"

Kirlia and Buizel smiled.

The southward direction told everyone they were in the direction for Chicole Village. Since the direction was identical to travelling to Vientown, Keith and Rhythmi looked ahead to see they were flying over familiar ground.

"And there's the Vien Forest below," Keith said. "Hey! I can see the Lady of the Ridge! Did you know she was the one who tended my wounds on the night of the operation? She's still here."

"I know," Kate said. "I talked to her about it on the day I did my survey of the forest."

The flock of Staraptor continued to fly across Vien Forest, and would eventually pass over the edge of the forest and over Vientown.

Below, at the entrance to the Vientown Ranger Base, Barlow stared at the sky above.

"You think anyone would be interested to see this?" he asked himself.

As coincidental as it might be, the crew of the Vientown base appeared beside or behind Barlow. They too were staring at the skies above as if on cue. Barlow, in contrast, stared at the ground.

"I really didn't mean it…" he mumbled.

"That's a lot of Staraptor," Crawford remarked. "Doesn't it appear strange that one of those Staraptors seems to be struggling a bit? It's carrying a heavy load of some sort."

Luana tried to focus on the slowest Staraptor. When things came into focus, it occurred to Luana that she knew what it was.

"That's a Grotle, all right," she said. "There's only one Grotle I know who flies on a Staraptor, and there's always at least one more Staraptor that accompanies him when he's flying."

"Voicemail! Voicemail! Barlow here!" the voice chirped off the Vatonage Fine Styler.

"Hi, leader," Kate said.

In the middle of a flight, Kate was having a voicemail conversation. That didn't occur often.

"We at the base can see Grotle from here!" Barlow said. "The crew of the Vientown base send their regards, by the way. Figure, why do you have so many Staraptor with you?"

Kate looked aside to see her friends, and looked back at her Styler to talk with Barlow.

"Kellyn and I are heading home for Chicole Village, and we thought if Keith and my old Operator classmate would like to drop by," she said. "It's my classmate's first time flying, so she's frightened, so Kellyn's Kirlia and Keith's Buizel have to ride with her."

Rhythmi could hear this, despite the wind, and made a face. Kate ignored her.

"Anyway, I have to break some news to you while we're talking!" Kate's face grew into a huge smile. "Did you know that Grotle and Kirlia have been approved by the Ranger Union to Partner Pokémon status?! We just got the news an hour ago!"

When Kate looked at her monitor, she saw shocked expressions from Barlow, Crawford, and Luana. Clearly, they were surprised.

"Are you serious?!" Barlow shouted so loud that Kate could hear the air shake beside her. "I'd never thought that'd be possible! That's illegal!"

"Imagine how happy Kellyn must be," Kate said. "Keith's really happy too, since he's also missed them. It's not bad."

"Well, tell Kellyn and Pachirisu he has to drop by Vientown sometime!" Barlow shouted. "We'd all like to see him with his fresh Partner Pokémon, and to think we only knew them as Friend Pokémon from before! Hahahaha! We all send our regards. Barlow out."

"Roger," Kate switched off her Vatonage Fine Styler voicemail.

The flight was silent and enjoyable. Currently, the group had passed over Vientown and were flying over the Chicole Path. As Chicole Ville was in plain view, the Rangers motioned their Staraptors to begin their descent.

They landed in the village centre in admirable fashion. As usual, the Rangers dismounted first alongside their Partner Pokémon, and then Grotle would be the last to dismount. Not this time, though, because Rhythmi needed some time to get used to gravity again.

Kirlia and Buizel dismounted first, and the three Rangers had to help Rhythmi off the bird.

"It's really not that bad…" Kate sighed.

Keith took the opportunity to look at the surroundings. Many residential blocs, not many commercial buildings… this was a village, no doubt.

"That's my house over there," Kellyn pointed forward in the right-side direction.

"And that's my house over there," Kate also pointed forward but in the left-side direction.

Keith scoffed. "That's so predictable of you two. You're next-door neighbours! Could there be anything more obvious than being neighbours?! You two have been co-workers from the time you met at Ranger School! Now you've been neighbours since… WHEN?"

In Kate's opinion, Keith had been in the Fiore region too long to notice what kinds of changes had occurred since his time there. True, neither she nor Kellyn had told Keith they had moved to Chicole Village, but did they really have to?

"Our families moved in around the time we graduated from the school," she said.

"I KNEW IT!" Keith hollered.

This outburst of sound did not go unnoticed. Multiple faces showed up to see the commotion.

"What's going on out there?" a Chicole local said.

"Oh, it's just Kellyn and Kate," said another.

At the mention of those two names, everyone waved to the well-known local Rangers and went back to doing what they did before. All Kellyn and Kate could do was smile and wave back. When the noise died down, they both shot death glares at Keith. How dare he embarrass them in their hometown!

As a result, Kellyn and Kate gave Keith the right to remain silent. To enforce this, the two Pachirisus were given the right to exercise electrical shocks if Keith made a sound, or so much as to sneeze. The shocks had to be applied twice.

"By the way, Kellyn, were you going to take us somewhere?" Rhythmi asked.

"We'll be there," Kellyn said.

Before long, or not too long, they walked past Kellyn's house to the gate of the Partner Farm. Keith raised his hand.

"What do you exactly do with this 'Partner Farm', Kellyn?" he asked.

Kellyn wanted to answer, but Kate wanted to do the answering. "This farm is a place where Kellyn and I keep our Partner Pokémon. Whatever Pokémon we capture bond with either me or Kellyn, we always send them here, and it's always Kellyn's dad who takes care of them when we're away. In most respects, this is the place where friendships last forever."

Kellyn led the way for the group to follow, and he passed his dad on the way.

"Hi, dad!" Kellyn greeted.

"Hey, Kellyn!" his dad said. "Do I see Grotle and Kirlia behind you?"

Kellyn made happy fists. "They're my Partner Pokémon now? Isn't that great? I think it'd be best for them to live with us now. Little Sis is going to love this!"

Kellyn had never told his dad the kind of turmoil he had just gone through for the past several days. Only Kate, Keith, and Rhythmi understood. But as far as Kellyn's dad was concerned, Grotle and Kirlia were well-suited to living at Chicole Village. Their stay during the week after Operation Brighton was proof of that.

"They've always been welcome here, Kellyn," Kellyn's dad grinned.

"Like I said at the Union, there's a place I want to show Pachirisu, Grotle, and Kirlia," Kellyn said while walking through the field-and-dirt grounds of the Partner Farm. "I only discovered it when I moved into Chicole Village, and that was the first and last time I've been there. It's a beautiful place, and I've never shown it to anyone. Not even Pachirisu."

"Don't get us anxious, Kellyn!" Kate said, frustrated.

Kellyn crossed the boundary of the Partner Farm and carefully walked past a series of forgiving trees. No one, not even the Pokémon, had a clear idea if Kellyn was going in the right direction, but they supposed they had to trust what he was doing.

After walking through the trees, they approached a clearing of grass.

"We're almost there," Kellyn said.

They began to walk up a rolling hill covered in nothing but emerald green grass. The slope was gentle, which was ideal for climbing up. Kellyn walked up the hill first, with Pachirisu on his shoulder. Kate took the liberty of walking beside her co-worker with her Pachirisu on her shoulder. Keith, Buizel, Grotle, and Kirlia followed. Last but not least, Rhythmi walked up the hill.

Was that the sound of ocean air they were hearing? Or was that the wind of a nearby meadow? Either way, it was a refreshing feeling to hear and feeling the wind on their skin.

Kellyn… this is a nice place, Keith thought.

But when Kate and Kellyn got to the top, they stopped. By the time Grotle, Kirlia, Keith, Buizel, and Rhythmi had gotten there too, they all wore expressions of awe.

"Awesome." Kate said. There was no other word to describe it.

They stood at the top of the not-so-tall hill, but the hill gradually rolled down far to the grass field at the bottom, where rocky shores met the ocean far below. From this view, there was only one thing that stood out – a massive cherry blossom tree not far from the group. Far away, there was an unprecedented view of the ocean, where the sea met the sky.

"That's…" Rhythmi started.

"It's a nice day," Kellyn tilted his head up to see rolling white clouds decorating a blue sky. "I thought maybe this would be the best place to relax for the day. If anything, I'd like to think of it as a… friendship retreat. Come on!"

He led the way walking down the hill and past the cherry blossom tree first. Pachirisu was on the ground at this point and turned around for Grotle and Kirlia to follow. On second thoughts, Pachirisu scampered over to rest on Grotle's shell, and Grotle could happily oblige carrying Pachirisu on the way down. Kirlia simply walked.

"Let's go," Keith said to Kate and Rhythmi.

They walked downwards in a serene manner.

After walking many paces, when the cherry blossom tree was well above and behind them, Kate and Keith found Kellyn sitting on the hillside grass. Kellyn had one knee lying flat on the hill, while the other knee was bent so Kellyn could sit up. Kellyn had both his arms stretched back to support himself, and he was staring down at the ocean below before looking behind.

"Having a good time?" Kate asked.

"Definitely," Kellyn answered. "You should have one too, Kate. You too, guys!"

Kellyn's Pachirisu curled up on the grass below Kellyn and – adorably – went to sleep, with this Pokémon using his own tail as a cushion. Grotle rested on the grass beside Kellyn, and Kirlia sat cross-legged behind the Ranger.

"I've never seen a place a beautiful as this…" Keith remarked, as he sat down on the grass beside Buizel. "Good call, Kellyn."

Kate sat down on the hill's lower ground beside Rhythmi, with her Pachirisu plopping herself on the hill grass and watching the ocean view.

"I can't believe I've been missing out on a lot," Rhythmi said. "Day after day I'm stuck in a room looking at computers and talking to Rangers… and now I'm looking at this!"

"You should come out of the HQ more often," Kate looked at Rhythmi sympathetically. "Trust me. You'll like Almia a lot better when you get to places like these. I'm glad Kellyn picked the right choice."

Rhythmi was about to say something when her focus turned to something else: cherry blossom petals. The wind was blowing the blossom petals from the tree above and to the ocean below.

"Ooh…" Rhythmi's eyes stared at the falling petals gently carried by the wind to the ocean below. Some landed on the grass, while others landed on Rhythmi's hair. For the first time, and for Rhythmi it truly felt like a first, she could relax.

Keith felt likewise. In small part due to the serene winds and the ocean air below, Keith fell asleep on the grass. His arms and legs lazily stretched out on the grass and some blossom petals fell onto him. Buizel still stared off into the distance below and watched the sea touch the sky.

Kate got up to sit beside Kellyn after a minute.

"I'm really glad to have friends like you, Keith, and Rhythmi," Kate said to Kellyn. "Now look at us! We were a group of young teens when we met, and we barely knew each other when Rhythmi started showing me around the school…"

"…and when I beat Keith at the school's entrance exam," Kellyn smiled. "Exactly. We met our Pachirisu friends from the start, and then Grotle and Kirlia. Now all of us… you, me, Keith, Rhythmi, and our Pokémon… we're all grown up to be older teens, and heroes of Almia."

Kate thought about it while the breeze brushed her hair. Come to think of it, it did clear her mind a little bit.

She breathed a relived sigh. "And to think of all the friends we've met in our career. So many friends, and I'd hate to think if we'd forget them all. I guess there might be some we'd forget, but others we certainly won't. Take Keith and Rhythmi, for example. We barely see them, and yet we think of them so often."

Kellyn was staring at the ocean below as he thought of this, and smiling too. "Our Pachirisus feel the same way. Remember that day when we first met the Pachirisus? We were separated from them for about a year! They didn't forget about us, so why should we be any different? They became our Partner Pokémon, in the end!"

"And I never wonder how Grotle and Kirlia managed to forge a friendship with you so close," Kate said. "I still can't believe they're your Partner Pokémon now. That's just… a lasting friendship you've got with them that's resulted in this. Say, Kellyn, have I ever told you I'm jealous of you?"

Rhythmi was overhearing the conversation, but she wore all smiles.

"Don't be, Kate," Kellyn reassured her, "you've still got our friendship with Keith and Rhythmi."

More cherry blossom petals blew onto the grass from the tree above. Kate looked above to see the petals fly through the sky, as if they were destined to head to the ocean. A renewed sense of serenity overwhelmed Kate, and she sighed. Could there be another place more relaxing?

"That's something worth treasuring," Kate agreed. "You know what, Kellyn? You should invite all of us to come here more often. This would be like… our own private sanctuary! Just you, me, Keith, Rhythmi, and the Partner Pokémon."

"I'll think about it, Kate, I'll think about it," Kellyn quietly said.

I hope so, Kate wanted. It'd be awesome to meet here once every so often.

Kellyn, Kate, and Rhythmi continued to watch the blossom petals float to the grass and the ocean below, never mind the sleeping Keith. The friendship between the four friends was worth treasuring, as Kate said, alongside the Pokémon. From the times of the Ranger School, where their friendship was starting out, to executing Operation Brighton, where a lot of friends were needed more than ever, it was incredible to look back at. Between them and Keith and Rhythmi, their friendship became very strong.

Speaking of which, Grotle was sound asleep on the grass. It appeared that Kirlia and Buizel chose to rest against Grotle's side, and they were also asleep. The two Pachirisus cutely curled up on the grass and rested on their respective tails.

"This is a great place," Kate remarked, as she looked down to see the hill roll to the bottom, and pink and purple petals flying downward. "It's like condensing Almia into a single picture. I like it. It kind of reminds me of home."

What am I saying?! Kate suddenly thought. This is Chicole Village! I am home!

Kellyn scoffed, and Kate and Rhythmi could hear that quite clearly.

Their friendships everyone in the Vientown base stayed, and most importantly, their friendships with Keith, Rhythmi, the Pachirisus, Grotle, and Kirlia remained too. Their interactions with each other were proof of that. Thinking about them, and blending with the veritable sights and sounds below, Kellyn and Kate knew that friendships do last.

If you like reading this, I encourage you to read my other stories featuring Kate, Kellyn, the Pachirisus, Grotle, and Kirlia! 'Cartharsis', 'Christmas This Year', 'The Quest at Home', 'The Bride's Bouquet', and some future story I'm thinking of writing. I'm also considering writing a story focusing on the Vien Forest's aftermath - a Quest called 'Wish for the Vien Forest'.

From 122 Generation, thank you for reading 'Lasting Friendships'.