Chapter 51
April
The overwhelming stench of smoke wafts in the air. The only noise is the crackling of the huge fire before us and the occasional sob from someone nearby, most likely from a friend of someone in the flames. The deaths that occurred were great, we realized. There were too many injured pokemon to carry the bodies back to Skyborne for an official cremation, so we had to do it here. Some of our warriors that know fire-type moves unleash their flames on the pile of bodies in the middle of a circle we form around it. They probably will be doing this same thing in Skyborne, but, for now, we hold our own ceremony here.
What would the rest of their lives would have been like if they had never fought a war? What would they have been like if their lives were their own to do with as they pleased? But, they were killed in battle. Fate has taken it's toll and left it's mark. I watch as each body is reduced to a pile of ashes that once made up a warrior, a heart, a mind. Each one gone forever.
All of us step forward and crowd around the pile of ashes, smoking and still warm. Breathing bodies squish me, but we do not fuss or fight like when we were scrambling for a meal. Instead, we each receive a handful of the ashes. Those that have hands scoop them up and hold them. Those with only wings are given baskets that have already been filled. I hold the handle of a woven basket in my mouth and fly up and out of the crowd to the pokemon already waiting in the sky above. I spot Dawn and Blake together in the sky and fly up to join them. Once I am level, they nod to me and face back towards the horizon, colored with hues of vibrant pink, orange, and yellow. A strong gale blows at me from my back, towards the setting sun. The last one to fly up to join us is Grayos. He has gotten a lot of rest and is flying independent of Rashi. His right arm is in a sling, but is left hand holds a small pile of ashes. I thought he would be among us, but he flies up and faces the warriors instead. He is his usual strong self except there is something else in him. In a word, he looks peaceful.
"We have come here to honor those that were incredibly brave and selfless that they would give their own lives in battle. They are the heroes of this battle. Without their valiant sacrifices, the world would have been brought to ruin. I cannot thank everyone here enough for the courage you showed to day. You saved both me and the rest of life on earth. Those that have perished will still be among us. They fly with the skies as their home. They have lived lives and done things that are the most honorable of acts in the world. Now, they are free from it. Now, they are free from the hardships that life and war brings forth. They are free to fly with the wind as they please." With that. Grayos turns around with his back to us, facing the blazing sun peeking over the treetops. A strong gust picks up and he holds his hand out, letting the wind take the ashes from his palm.
One by one, we follow his lead, holding our hands high and releasing the ashes into the wind. I hold my basket up high and move the handle with my teeth until the basket has flipped over, the contents catching the wind and following it's path. The ashes swirl above our heads and quickly make their way away from us and towards the sun. It looks beautiful, watching warriors be freed to follow the wind. It's an old tradition we have followed before anyone can remember. It is a bittersweet moment that I've never witnessed before. Now, I realize why it withstood the test to time. It is symbolic and precious.
Somewhere within the crowd, Rashi announces in a soft voice, "We are going back to Skyborne." Despite being so quiet, everyone hears it clear as a bell. We turn in the opposite direction, flying against the wind, and take off. Flying in the harsh wind conditions almost seems as if it is nothing with my new wings. I can fly faster than I ever dreamed possible and I do not tire out. Grayos catches up to the three of us with tears fresh in his eyes.
"That was a nice speech, Grayos." Dawn says. Grayos only nods, but he turns to us.
"While I was giving the speech, I was thinking about what it must be like to fly with the wind like that. In fact, I've been thinking about it for a long time now" he whispers just audible enough to be heard over the wind. "Sometimes I think... when the war ended, I sort of died, too."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"All my life, I've lived in Skyborne. I always had a purpose to stay in it. Especially in the past ten years. The only reason I ever accepted the leadership role was so I could make sure that you three were safe. I was never meant to be a leader. Now, I am banished from Skyborne. My goal of protecting you has been achieved. I can never go back to the life I once had. In ways, that's a good thing. For once, I truly feel as if my life is... my own." His voice trails off, but Dawn is quick to jump in.
"Grayos, you were a great leader. Maybe, now that the war is over, you can come back and-"
"No, Dawn" he interrupts. "I can never go back. I can only go forward. However, Skyborne does need a leader. A real leader that is willing to devote him or herself entirely to Skyborne and not just for other purposes." He stays silent until I blurt out the question that has been buzzing in our minds.
"So, what are you going to do, then?" Grayos smiles and looks back to where we were.
"I think... I might fly alongside the wind. I don't know where I'll go, but I'll be alright." He becomes more drawn to the direction of the wind like a puppet to a string.
"So, is this goodbye, then?" He turns back to me.
"No. I'm sure our fates will cross once again. For now, though, this is goodbye." Grayos turns his wings sideways so the wind pulls him backwards like a sail. We twist our necks to follow him as he turns around and flies with the wind as his guide.
