Draco: Deliberately didn't upload this on Wednesday because there was no way I was gonna let an emotional ending get missed because of April Fool's Day. You guys don't mind an emotional ending, do you?

Pokémon and protagonist © Nintendo. Character designs © Koei. Ransei © somewhere in the middle.


Ransei: Homeward Bound

"When you marched up to my front door and demanded I take you to the battlefield for right of the kingdom... I confess I expected you to march on Ransei entire, with intent to summon Infinity."

Mitsuhide sighed, turning away from the shallow cave where the tower would stand. He and Lapras had come here every day, and observed the cavern from thirty paces; now Nobunaga and Hydreigon were approaching, and the Warlord was unarmed. "Did you think I would do that while she was gone?" the Nixtormer argued.

Nobunaga shook his head. "If all you'd wanted was to be able to wait here every day, and greet her when she returned," he observed, "you could have simply asked that I watch Nixtorm in your absence."

"...I suppose my thoughts were a bit... clouded," Mitsuhide admitted.

"You've every right to be worried for her," Nobunaga assured him.

"Don't say that like you're not," Mitsuhide reprimanded; he dismounted Lapras, his hand going for his katana. "Your junior Warlord and your sister have been missing for almost a year, now. Gone through a gate to another world with no certainty they'll ever come back, and you-"

"It is because my junior Warlord and my sister have been gone that I am certain they'll come back," Nobunaga interrupted. "It is in holding confidence in their eventual return that they will find their way back to Ransei."

"You don't know that," Mitsuhide growled bitterly. "It's miracle enough that no one else has gone missing. Those invaders might well be appearing less frequently, but that only means more of them have remained where they are! For all we know, they could have been in the blasts of that headless performer from Nixtorm, or buried under the bricks of that stone box, and we'd not even have anything to bury! We'd not even know to burn pyres in their names!"

"And what would you do, if you were certain they were gone?" Nobunaga hadn't raised his voice, but the retort had force to it all the same. "Would you unite the region as Evia did, and ask the Alpha to bring her back?" He started to step forward. "Would you claw your way to Distortion, and demand Antimatter return her to you?" Mitsuhide couldn't bring himself to draw his blade. "Would you let your grief overtake you, and fall into the Umbra of your heart because you had no family to stop you?"

The Dragnoran came to a halt as he stood before Mitsuhide, close enough that a sword could not be held between them.

"Or would you burn down the castle with Nobunaga inside, because I told you to respect her wishes, and that meant the enemy... was in Dragnor?"

Mitsuhide's grip faltered on his weapon's hilt, and he stumbled back, his head falling. "I... I'm sorry..."

"You have every right to be worried," Nobunaga repeated. "But that doesn't mean you should not have faith. Believe that she will return, and she shall. I swear it."

He turned away and started to retreat towards the castle, Hydreigon hovering at his side; with a heavy heart, Mitsuhide made to follow.

And Lapras cried out to get their attention - a moment before they heard a sound like crystal breaking.

In the cave where the Tower of Infinity would stand, a void of light had appeared - the same gate that Oichi, Ranmaru, and Gracia had gone through before. Mitsuhide had only a moment to regard it before a winged figure emerged from it; a pteropus figure that shone like the moon, with gold ridges like crescents upon its wings and tail. As it soared upward to clear the path, Lapras and Hydreigon were prepared to fight... but then two more figures emerged from the gate, these ones earthbound.

A Gothitelle... and a girl in a top hat.

"Father!"

"Gracia!" Concern vanished in an instant, and relief took its place; Mitsuhide dashed forward, and Gracia rushed up to meet him in a joyful hug.

The next pair of individuals were similarly familiar - a Lucario who looked relieved to see his surroundings, and a young man wearing blades in imitation - and Nobunaga stepped forward. "Ranmaru!"

"Lord Nobunaga!" Ranmaru stepped up to him. "Forgive me if I've worried you."

A Zoroark came through the gate, looking stiff somehow; and behind him, Kotarō of Yaksha emerged, hands raised in surrender. On seeing the Warlords who stood there, a bitter smirk rose on his face. "Ha... Forced in at bladepoint, and warmongers on the other side."

"No talkin' smack about the Fool of Dragnor!" The voice revealed someone else had come out behind Kotarō; the trio of troublemakers who had served as Evia's battle escorts in her first conquest, with a Krookodile, Bisharp, and Haxorus following close behind.

Mitsunari smacked Masanori in the back of the head. "Calling him the 'Fool of Dragnor' is talking smack about the Fool of Dragnor."

Kiyomasa shook his head as they stepped away from the gate. "Can't say he's never done anything to deserve it," he mused.

A parasol was being held before the next figure to step out of the gate; as a Volcarona emerged behind her, Okuni lifted it over her shoulder to see the Warlords who were waiting for her. "Lord Nobunaga, Lord Mitsuhide." She curtsied lightly. "It's so wonderful to see you again."

"I take it your wanderings have led you somewhere most unwelcome," Nobunaga hypothesized.

"My 'wanderings' had nothing to do with it," Okuni retorted - but she had a smile on her face.

As she and Volcarona descended from the cave, a pink figure leapt in; Mitsuhide was surprised as the Sylveon looked around and gave a cheerful cry. Then two more figures stepped out - Evia emerged from the gate with a blue Pokémon in her arms, wearing the heaviest layer of Oichi's dress, and behind her, the healer stepped out, staff in hands.

"Oichi!" Nobunaga called. "Evia!"

"Brother," Evia returned.

A quadrupedal figure landed behind them - a leonine figure that shone like the sun, with a mane lined with gold - and as the gate vanished, the Warriors stepped out of the cave where Infinity would stand.

"Welcome back," Mitsuhide greeted.

"I could hear that from Antimatter itself," Evia insisted, "and I would still say I'm glad to be back."

+x+x+x+

There was a banquet at Dragnor as the Warriors shared the stories of what had happened beyond the gate; Nōhime was in the castle when they got there, and Kotarō only joined the festivities reluctantly, at Zoroark's behest. The sun had disappeared beyond the horizon when Oichi, Evia, Sylveon, and Manaphy were the first to head home, with Evia's sword and shield in a case for easy transport on the way home.

"You've no need to depart so soon," Nobunaga insisted.

"You're too kind, Brother," Evia observed.

A chuckle from Nobunaga. "After worrying for you so long," he observed, "feeling you unnerve me with that address is a welcome sensation."

Oichi shook her head. "Wigglytuff and Glaceon will still be waiting for us," she explained. "We really shouldn't keep them any longer than we already have."

Mitsuhide reached into his pocket. "On the subject of those waiting," he admitted, "Motonari left something at Dragnor to be given to you once you'd returned."

He tossed the package to Evia, who caught it gratefully; it was a small box, with a folded card taped to its surface. "Thank you."

The two Warriors and their Pokémon boarded the blimp, and it started to soar to Aurora. As they sat down, Oichi set Manaphy down and glanced at the box. "What in Distortion would Motonari leave for you to receive while you were missing?" she wondered.

Evia pulled the card from the box, opening it; the Greenleafer had very precise handwriting that was surprisingly legible on such a small card, and she read the contents aloud. "Lady Evia. My studies on this have borne much fruit. I hope dearly for the chance to share the results with you. Motonari." Manaphy seized the arm of her chair and pulled herself up to get a look as she set the card down and opened the box.

Inside was a small sphere, segmented across the center with a button of sorts at one point, coloured crimson across the top and white across the bottom.

And the sight of it sent a strange sadness coursing through the Sea Princess.

+x+x+x+

"So, they come back, yet?"

The voice from the entrance had Glaceon breathing a chilly sigh through a mouthful of Ponigiri; he and Wigglytuff turned to find Hideyoshi and Infernape standing at the battlefield entrance. The Ignisan had come by almost every week since Oichi had departed - and with both ruling and junior Warlords absent, he had refused to challenge them for the kingdom, instead returning to Ignis.

At Glaceon's glare, Hideyoshi shook his head. "Yeah, I know the letter says I can fight you without them," he insisted. "But it just..." He pulled his three-piece staff off his back, turning it in hand one way and then the other. "It doesn't feel right, facing Pokémon for the kingdom when the Warlord's not around. It makes me feel cheap."

Wigglytuff gave an irritable cry.

"Of course I don't mean it like that!" Hideyoshi insisted. "I know how it's gonna go, me and Infernape are gonna shut him down, then you're gonna kick our asses." Glaceon opened his mouth as though to protest, and then shied away in concession as the Ignisan separated the segments of his weapon and braced them against the chain. "But me swinging this thing at you guys just feels mean and unnecessary. I'm not gonna do that to you."

Glaceon hummed in consideration.

Hideyoshi scoffed. "Yeah, but that's Shingen and Kenshin," he retorted, "you can't make calls based on those two."

Infernape yelped, slapping Hideyoshi in the side to get his attention. The Warlord turned, confused - and when he saw the blimp flying towards them, he turned back to the other two. "Hey, hey, speak of Antimatter!"

Wigglytuff and Glaceon traded looks before dashing out of the battlefield; Hideyoshi and Infernape elected to follow them to the landing zone. The doors were open almost before the airship had touched down - and the Warlords inside had smiles on their faces as they stepped out. Something was sitting in Oichi's arms, which were poised as though hiding it.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Hideyoshi greeted. "Looks who's back!" Then, as he realized what they were wearing; "Woah, what happened in nowhere, cutie?"

Evia glared and made to wind back her weapons case.

Hideyoshi raised his hands in surrender - which is slightly less effective with a weapon in your hands, but the point was made. "Sorry, sorry," he insisted, "we already established I'm not supposed to call either of you cutie."

The two Warlords made their way down the ramp as Glaceon and Wigglytuff came up. "Hey, you two," Oichi greeted. "You been doing alright?"

Wigglytuff was fine; Glaceon leapt when he saw Evia, and the Warlord barely having time to drop her case and catch him to avoid getting knocked to the ground. "Woah," she murmured, "hey. I'm so sorry for what happened."

Glaceon landed and gave a cry of acceptance. As Evia picked her case back up, Glaceon's attention was turned to the pink figure coming down the ramp behind her; Sylveon stepped up awkwardly, looking nervous.

There was a moment of confrontation; then Glaceon nodded, nuzzling up in appreciation.

Sylveon cheered happily as Oichi turned to the Ignisan. "Don't tell me you've been sitting pretty in the castle while I've been gone."

"I wasn't gonna do that without the right!" Hideyoshi retorted. "I've been coming by every so often waiting to see when you two got back."

"I did say you could-" Oichi was cut off by Wigglytuff's cry, glancing at her and then back to Hideyoshi. "Why wouldn't you fight if you knew it was valid?"

Hideyoshi shook his head. "I don't want to fight you because I want the kingdom," he insisted, "I wanna fight you because I want to fight you two again."

Evia nodded. "Fair enough. You in the mood for a late night?"

"Sure," Hideyoshi conceded, "but what about them?"

Glaceon and Wigglytuff looked uncertain. Sylveon gave a cheer, and Evia nodded. "Maybe," she conceded. "Give me a sec to get changed."

"You had anyone coming with you?" Oichi asked. "I can let you two have a one-on-one if you're on your own."

"Like you're gonna fight me if Wigglytuff ain't in an excitable mood," Hideyoshi accused.

"Maybe she doesn't want to," Oichi admitted, "but we've got someone else who'd be up for it."

She shifted her arms to reveal the sleeping figure between them. "If I were inclined to wake a Princess, anyways."

+x+x+x+

"Okuni? Are you quite alright?"

Nōhime's voice coming into the bathroom had Okuni breathing a sigh of relief from her position in the furo. "I'm fine, Lady Nō."

She'd anticipated this well enough; her clothes were folded and up against the wall, along with her parasol, and thus were not a tripping hazard as Nō stepped in, her dress singing as she moved. "Are you sure?" she asked. "You've been in here for a couple of hours, and..."

The Spectran trailed off as her foot collided with something; her gaze fell to the floor of the shower area, where she was mildly concerned to find several soap bottles scattered before her. After a moment, her gaze went to the shelves, which caused her concern to grow when she found they were completely empty. Okuni took a deep breath, shifting her position in the furo as she raised a hand before her to find her fingers had earned a good deal of wrinkles from her time in the water.

Nō took a deep breath. "Okuni?"

The wanderer turned to her Warlord. "Yes, Lady Nō?"

"Would you care to explain why you've used up several dozen bottles of body soap and shampoo over the course of a single shower?" Nō demanded.

"...Because I spent four months in a forest with abusive beasts that exploit those affected by their pheromones," Oichi observed, "and another... seven travelling between the habitats of other beasts, some of which were less-than-favourable for Volcarona and I to fight."

With a concerned sigh, Nō glanced at the bottles again. "Am I to understand that you've had some... experiences that have left you feeling like you would never be clean again?" she asked, worry in her voice.

Oichi hummed thoughtfully. "...I wouldn't say that," she admitted. "It just felt so nice to actually clean myself properly that I didn't really want to stop."

"Well then." There was a threatening smile on Nō's face as she spoke once more. "When you're done, you'll meet me in the dungeons." She turned and started out of the bathroom.

"You have no idea how nice it feels for that to actually be a possibility again," Okuni observed.

Nō halted at the doorway; when she turned to face Okuni, there was a softer smile on her face - a joyful smile. "I suppose I don't."

+x+x+x+

"I do wish Lady Oichi had chosen something a little more low-profile."

Ranmaru and Lucario were up early the next morning; while Nobunaga was asleep, they had collected their stones and returned to the junior Warlord's chamber, and were currently contemplating what do with them. Lucario had managed to free Ranmaru's stone from the necklace Oichi had fashioned; the mounted pocket was an easier matter, needing only to open the pocket and pull out the jewel.

With a hum, Ranmaru held the larger stone in his hand. "What are we to do with these?"

Lucario gave an inquisitive growl.

"Well, of course they've been useful," Ranmaru insisted, "but they see a little overt. To use that... power in amicable battles here in Ransei would be unnecessary."

The Aura Pokémon shot him a look.

Ranmaru rolled his eyes. "Yes, Kotarō would deserve it," he admitted, "but we're more than capable of overpowering him without it."

With a sigh, Lucario took his stone from the Warrior.

"I... suppose that's a possibility," Ranmaru conceded, picking up his smaller stone. "If those beasts continue to attack Ransei, there is no such thing as overcaution." His gaze fell. "But... at the same time, I don't know if-"

"Beasts, you say?"

Ranmaru and Lucario both yelped, turning towards the voice; Ranmaru's grip tightened on his stone without thinking before he even had time to register who was there. The brilliant light surged from his stone and Lucario's as he scrambled to his feet, taking a hand-to-hand stance; the prismatic sphere had formed and shattered before he realized that Nobunaga was standing in the doorway.

"...Lord Nobunaga." Ranmaru glanced at the changed Lucario awkwardly before turning back to his Warlord. "I...

Nobunaga smirked. "As secrets forced into the open go," he observed, "this one seems... a little less personal than most."

+x+x+x+

"Well, look who it is!"

The voice from behind earned a smirk from Kotarō. He and Zoroark had elected to march back to Yaksha from Dragnor; no sooner had he reached the edge of the castle courtyard than the free-spirited voice had called on him, and he turned to find Keiji - the wanderer who had served as Warlord of this kingdom once before already - standing there with his Bastiodon at his side.

"Finally come back, did you?" Keiji mused.

Kotarō huffed. "Did you... miss me?"

Keiji shook his head. "Me, not especially," he replied. "But a kingdom whose Warlord has run off isn't in the safest of moods."

"Ha..." Kotarō glanced around the town surrounding the castle. "They'd never caused too much chaos without me, before Evia did her work," he observed.

"Oh, you're gonna act like it was so much better like that, are you?" Keiji demanded.

Kotarō sighed. "As much as I would like to take the credit for my own departure," he informed the wanderer, "vanishing off the face of Ransei entire was not my own choice. And after the terrors I've been through on the other side of that gate, the labours of ruling a kingdom are welcome."

"Then the kingdom's yours, like it should've been," Keiji insisted. "As long as you're not gonna try and drive it to the edge of Distortion again."

"Oh, how I'd love to," Kotarō observed, "but I believe a change of tactics is in order where my ruling a kingdom is concerned."

Keiji's expression fell. "What."

"Quite," Kotarō insisted. "If I cannot even make a sacred vow and be trusted not to bring harm to those who serve a common interest, it appears I need do something to make clear there are certain boundaries even I am unwilling to cross. Should I need to change the way I hold the throne, so be it."

"Regionwide news, that is," Keiji mused.

Kotarō smirked. "Perhaps, if I have a junior Warlord to vouch for me, Warriors will be more like to accept me as a man of my word."

"Hope you find one," Keiji argued. "But I'm not one to be tied down, if there aren't people who need me."

"Surely you can linger long enough to offer me hospitality?" Zoroark took a ready stance, and Kotarō raised one set of claws before him. "I would welcome the opportunity for an... amicable fight between Warriors."

Keiji grinned, and Bastiodon stomped the ground. "You and I have different ideas of what hospitality entails," he argued, "but I think I can give you that much."

+x+x+x+

"I don't care how well you fight, Haxorus was still about to knock out Bisharp before the clock went off!"

"Are you trying to claim you won, or convince me that I lost?"

Kiyomasa groaned, shaking his head in exasperation. He and Haxorus, Masanori and Krookodile, and Mitsunari and Bisharp had enjoyed a little friendly match in Aurora - and, as it tended to, the battle had escalated before too long. All three of them were bruised, scratched, and generally roughed up, and they'd elected to travel to the beach to relax; the Greenleaf/Fontaine border was practically neutral territory at this point so that Warriors could enjoy themselves at the shore.

As they got closer, it was clear they weren't the first ones to get there; the sun gleaming off a familiar pair of horns got Kiyomasa's attention, and he grabbed his friends' shoulders to stop them. "Hey," he warned, "look."

Evia and Oichi were sitting at the water's edge, footwear set aside so the tide could wash over their feet. Wigglytuff, Glaceon, and Sylveon were still playing in the water, but a familiar blue figure was resting in Oichi's arms, and the three seemed to be talking.

"All the Pokémon in that nowhere kingdom," Masanori mused, "and they decide to bring the freaking Sea Princess back to Ransei."

"If they were gonna host a Pokémon like that," Mitsunari observed, "they should have started making a basin of their own."

Kiyomasa shook his head. "The basin was already there when Nagamasa showed up as a kid," he recalled, "and he barely left the castle after he found her. It would take way too long, take up way too much space, and the edge of the region is only a few hours' walk from the castle. Better to just let her spend the time in the ocean proper and visit her every so often."

"Maybe you've got a point," Mitsunari conceded.

Masanori hoisted his kanabo over his shoulder with a sigh. "Let's see what the beach is like further into Greenleaf," he suggested. "Evia gets pissy if we interrupt her while they're being all lovey-dovey."

Mitsunari scoffed as they started westerly. "Can you blame her? No one wants their date interrupted."

+x+x+x+

"Gracia?"

Gothitelle turned towards the call first; Gracia only sighed, lowering her hands from Solgaleo and Lunala as she glanced back to find Mitsuhide and Lapras approaching her at the castle battlefield. It was nearly dusk, and she couldn't blame him for being concerned, with how long she'd been out here. "Father," she greeted.

"Is something the matter?" Mitsuhide asked as he dismounted. "You've been coming out here for the past week."

"Yeah," Gracia admitted. "I just..." She turned back to Lunala and Solgaleo. "Did I tell you about how they evolved?"

Mitsuhide nodded. "The Blinding One's light," he confirmed. "What of it?"

"Necrozma said it had gotten its light when the sun and moon healed it," Gracia mused. "And it gave that light to the Cosmoem so they could help us." She sighed. "But it was worried that, if they tried to give light back to it too soon, they might... devolve into Cosmoem again."

"Devolution?" Mitsuhide echoed. "Is that... possible?"

Gracia shook her head. "With legendary Pokémon, there's no reason to believe it's not," she admitted. "But... it's been too long, now. Necrozma said it was enduring - it shouldn't have to endure any more." She raised her gaze. "You two should go - back to that battlefield where we found the Blinding One. Give its light back."

Lunala gave a worried cry.

"She's right," Mitsuhide admitted. "If it's true, and they take that risk, and it's too soon... they won't be able to meet you again."

"I know," Gracia insisted. "But..." She sighed.

Mitsuhide set a hand on her shoulder. "...Do you want to go with them?"

"...No," Gracia proclaimed. "I don't... think I want to." She raised her gaze to the legendary Pokémon. "But I want to ask a favour. If you restore Necrozma, and you're not hurt... I don't want you to come back to Ransei. I want you to keep Ransei safe."

Solgaleo gave a concerned growl.

"You guys can control the gates, like this," Gracia observed. "The beasts have still been attacking Ransei - they're never here very long, but they're still scaring people. If you can, I want you to stop them from coming here. And stop people from getting lost, like Evia was."

The two traded glances, and then turned back to her and nodded.

"Okay." Gracia smiled. "Thank you." She raised her hands towards them again.

Lunala and Solgaleo nudged her palms gently - and this time, a light wrapped her channel bracelets. Gracia and Mitsuhide started as her weapons started to change; when the light faded, the two were no longer mirror images of one another. The bracelet on her left wrist was a bright orange, with the emblem of the sun imprinted upon it; the one on her right was a deep blue, with the emblem of the moon.

"You two..." Gracia touched her palms together, and a power flowed over her hands - a spectral blue glow wrapped her right hand, and a radiant orange surrounded her left. Then she touched them again, causing the power to fade; and when Gothitelle tried to wrap them in psychic power, it was channeled just the same. "This is..."

"Something to remember them by," Mitsuhide observed.

Gracia raised her gaze. "Thank you," she praised.

Solgaleo and Lunala nodded; then they turned away, and light filled their forms. A gate appeared in the air before them; Lunala soared through it, and Solgaleo leapt in after her.

As the gate vanished, Gracia closed her eyes.

"Good luck, you two."

+x+x+x+

"So you were raised by a Trainer?"

With almost daily visits to the shore to see Manaphy, it didn't take long for Evia and Oichi to notice the sadness that the Sea Princess was hosting. Almost a month after they'd returned to Ransei, Oichi worked up the courage to ask - and was surprised by the answer.

Manaphy nodded in response to the healer's question. "Big mountain, cut two." She swept her hands down to indicate the division of the region she was describing. "Water nice, but... lake. Little beach."

"You're meant for the ocean," Evia observed. "Spending time in freshwater would help, but... it wasn't good for you in the long-term."

"Uh-uh." Manaphy shook her head. "Sick. Mama worry. Papa scared."

Oichi sighed. "Nagamasa was lucky," she pointed out. "The basin behind the castle meant he could keep you in an ocean environment. But Brother said Trainers spend a lot of time travelling. And even when they don't, they can't always stay at the shore."

"Not that Warlords always have the luxury," Evia mused. "If your Egg had washed up in Ransei before we went on that conquest against Nobunaga, I wouldn't have been able to raise you properly, either." She glanced down at the ball Motonari had given her. "These things would be the only reason you were able to spend as much time with your Trainer as you did."

"Um." Manaphy looked awkward.

Oichi blinked. "Didn't your Trainer...?"

"Papa friendly," Manaphy insisted. "Carry arms, spend time. Cold, wrap warm."

"But..." Oichi shook her head. "Nagamasa didn't want you out of the basin for a whole day."

"Careful," Manaphy observed. "Know, not want worry. But okay."

The three of them fell quiet, turning back towards the ocean.

"Do you want to see them again?" Evia asked.

Manaphy turned. "Huh?"

"Your Mama and Papa, in that region of Trainers," Evia mused. "Do you want to go see them again?"

"...Mhm," Manaphy admitted.

"Then you should go back," Oichi insisted. "You've spent enough time in the ocean to have healed from what happened - and I know they won't make the same mistake again. You should go see them."

Manaphy looked up to them. "Sure?"

Evia nodded. "We're sure. But... could you maybe wait a little bit? I want to give you a message for them."

The Sea Princess nodded. "Mhm. Wait," she assured them.

+x+x+x+

To the Trainers of the region divided by mountain;
If you are reading this, the Sea Princess has found you; I hope with all my heart that it is not the first time you have seen her face, and that it will not be the last. Manaphy has roamed the seas, and seen a great deal - experiences I hope she has the chance to share with you. But she has returned to seek the people who raised her from an Egg, that she might spend time with them once again.
Let her spend time in the ocean waters; meet her at the shore, and spend your time together there. So long as you do not keep her from the waves, she will not suffer - and she will be free to come to you, time and again.
I hope you are never made to part again.
~Oichi, junior Warlord to Evia of Aurora in the region of Ransei

Motonari's research had revealed more than one use for the balls that Trainers carried. In addition to hosting Pokémon, for ease of having a team to accompany, they could also be used to hold small items within themselves, so long as they weren't already occupied. The space wasn't terribly large, but it was more than enough for a letter - and with the ball closed, the containment was watertight.

Evia set the ball upon a cord, that Manaphy could wear it as a necklace, and she and Oichi brought it with them to the shore when they came to see Manaphy off.

"Thanks," Manaphy praised as she accepted it. "Okay?"

"We'll be okay, Manaphy," Evia insisted. "Watch yourself, alright?"

"Mhm. Careful." She started to drift backwards in the water. "Come back?"

Oichi nodded. "Of course you can come back," she assured. "As long as your Papa knows you're okay."

Manaphy smiled, waving as she swam off. "Good-bye!"

"Goodbye, Manaphy," Evia called back.

As she started to descend beneath the waves, Oichi whistled out to the water - the same four-note tune that Nagamasa would share with her.

And as Manaphy began to swim off, she called the same four notes back.