A/N: My fanfic has an illustrated cover for each chapter, but since FFN doesn't allow inserting images nor does it accept links within the fanfic itself, please head over to my tumblr (carefreejules) if you'd like to see the covers!
Note: For this chapter, when you see the music symbol, look up the song "Changing me" from Persona Q to get the full immersion.
Chapter 22 - The Ties That Bind
When the memory faded away, Leon felt tears well up in his eyes. Juliet didn't forget. She remembered. She remembered every second of their time together. And, she treasured every moment. To think that all this time he thought that she had forgotten about him because she didn't care or that she didn't mean any of the heartfelt words that moved his heart; but how could he think such a thing when one of her most prized possession was the photo of them, with their arms around each other, holding up their Hearts Scales, as they beamed at the camera.
He didn't know, but he should have had more faith in her, just like he had promised her. He wasn't going to make the same mistake ever again.
"...I think now we understand why Juliet wanted to remember so badly. Even if she couldn't remember, she knew in her heart that she was missing something so important to her." Mary noted with a hand over her heart. "You can take away someone's memory, but you can't take away the feelings associated with them."
"Maybe that's why Juliet is always enamored with stars - because deep down, she associates them with Leon because of that night." Tessu sniffled. "That's so cute…"
"Even at night, she's always looking up at them like she's looking for something. I guess in this case, she was really looking for someone." Vanquil added with a grin.
"I'm sorry...I thought...I thought memories only mattered to the person they belonged to but...now I understand. Some memories don't belong to one person. They're...connected to other people...Prince Charmi-I mean, Sir Leon, I'm sorry to you too…" Maya apologized bowing remorsefully to the Champion. Leon knelt down to Maya and gently lifted her head so she was looking at him. Her bright blue eyes were just like Juliet's, deep like the ocean but sparkling with curiosity.
"Everything's going to be OK. Besides, it's my fault too. I said some things to Juliet that...I shouldn't have said. But, I'm going to be better from now on, and you can be too."
Drowning…
It felt like she was drowning…
Except, she was floating, somehow…
A deep sorrow filled her heart and she couldn't feel anything else.
Deeper, and deeper…
Was this the end for her? Was this how she was going to die?
Alone, with no one by her side?
That thought only intensified her despair…
Expanding…
…
Until it burst.
The ground suddenly began to rumble underneath them, throwing some of them off balance and falling to the ground in shock. The hidden room they were in was starting to crumble, making them flee out of the room immediately, making sure to carry out Maya as well, and back out onto the field of forget-me-nots, but they weren't prepared for what was emerging from the sea. The thick, red clouds that shrouded the sky sparked with ominous lightning and thunder that shook them to the core.
Slowly, something massive began to emerge from the sea, and they watched in horror when the Dynamaxed being was finally revealed. Its pitch black body stretched with long, spiked limbs; its eyes a sickening violet that struck terror in their souls; its wisp like head protruding with purple blue flames; and sticking out from its back were skeletal wings that bear the same characteristics as Eternatus.
But, what horrified them the most was the crystal embedded in its chest and they could see the dark silhouette of someone inside.
There was only one person it could be.
"Wh...What the hell is that?!" Vanquil gawked fearfully.
"G...Gigantamax Darkrai…?" Tessu muttered shakily.
Maya hid behind Darkrai and peeked out with widened eyes. "D-Darkrai...What's that?" Darkrai turned to Maya and placed his hands firmly on her shoulder.
"Stay right here, Maya. And don't go anywhere."
"What are you going-"
Darkrai didn't let her finish and stood in front of Raid Prism and Leon with Juliet's Pokemon lined up beside him, all staring up at the Gigantamax Pokemon with resolve burning in their eyes. The was completely outside of what they were used to seeing, but there was no way in hell they were going to back down now after coming so far.
"I'll control Hajime. Tessu, you control Odin. Leon, you control Tiki. And Mary, you control Darkrai." Vanquil ordered. They all nodded and got into positions with their designated Pokemon.
"Ummm...What are your-" Mary began to ask Darkrai.
"Dark Pulse, Nightmare, Hypnosis, and Brick Break." He answered quickly. Brick Break? He knew a fighting move? That was going to be useful against...another Darkrai? Everything was happening so quickly and it was hard to process the logic of it all, but they had no choice but to roll with it or else they were going to be swept away.
This was likely the only chance they had.
"Everyone ready?!" Vanquil shouted.
"Yeah!"
"Then, let's beat this Max Raid and save Juliet!"
What was happening?
Why...Why was there so much noise?
Stop...I don't want to hear those voices anymore!
I already know...I'm a fake…
I deserve this…
They had no idea how much damage they were dealing but the Gigantamax Pokemon immediately put up its barriers after enduring a few of their attacks. This is where the situation could get unpredictable depending on what their next course of action was going to be. It was especially dangerous for Odin, being part psychic and Gigantamax Darkrai dishing out Ghost and Dark type moves, even if the Alolan Raichu had the incredible speed to dodge attacks.
Knowing this, the best thing Odin could do to raise all of their defenses was to use Light Screen, lessening the damage of special attacks. But, as if to cruelly stomp over their strategy, the Gigantamax Pokemon unleashed Brick Break, which shattered through the Light Screen.
At least they knew it had the same moveset as the regular Darkrai had. Knowing this was a double edge sword, and Darkrai could use the same fighting move against itself.
That's what he hoped anyway.
But, because they were in a dream, they had no items to speak of. No potions, no berries, no battle items. Each of them wished long and hard, hoping an item would miraculously appear out of thin air to aid them, but there was nothing. With that at the back of their minds, they felt their morale begin to wane even though the battle had barely started.
"Damnit! We're off to a really bad start!" Vanquil hissed.
"We have to keep trying! We still haven't broken through its barriers yet!" Tessu shouted back. "Odin, use Electro Ball!"
Odin surfed across the rocky waves to build up momentum before forming a sphere of pure electricity and using his psychic powers to accelerate its speed as he sent it flying with a flick of his tail. The attack landed directly on the crystal, though not causing any physical damage to Gigantamax Darkrai, it left a tiny crack in its wake.
"Raichu! Raichuchu!" Odin exclaimed, flailing his stubby arms before pointing at his chest to reference the crystal.
"He's telling us that his attack left a crack in the crystal!" Darkrai alerted.
"Looks like we'll have to literally break through! Tiki, aim for the crystal and use Dragon Claw!" Leon commanded. Tiki swiftly swerved past every attack from Dark Pulse, getting up close to the crystal where she could see Juliet floating unconscious more clearly.
The sight made her heart Flygon felt so close yet so far from her trainer, separated by a crystal barrier that appeared more sturdy than it looked. Tiki stared at her claws for a moment, wondering if she could just claw at it with all her might, or even make enough noise to jolt Juliet awake.
That's when her mind flashed back to her first encounter with her trainer, back when she was just a baby Traphinch, and she had accidentally rolled on her back and was stuck in that position, until Juliet found her, despite the heavy sandstorm that raged through the desert of route 111, and gently rolled her back over. The young trainer carried her to a nearby cave where she set out a bowl of berries and water just for her.
She never forgot the smile or hospitality that Juliet gave her that day.
"There you go! Are you OK? Here, you must be hungry. Eat this!"
Tiki's eyes burned with tears from the fond memory, which made her Dragon Claw that much more powerful, resonating with love for her trainer, and unleashed heavy swipes against the crystal, creating more cracks on its surface.
"Hajime! Use Hammer Arm!"
Hajime swam through the murky waters and pushed through the waves and currents that tried to get in his way. Once he gained enough speed, he propelled himself out of the water, leaping with his fist raised, ready to unleash his attack.
His mind flashed back to his first encounter with Juliet, back when he was a rowdy and disobedient Mudkip who had been abandoned by his previous trainer. He remembered giving her so much trouble, having experienced his fair share of suffering and trust issues, but as frustrated as she was with him, she always came back to him with a patient smile.
He never forgot the compassion she showed him during those times.
"I'm sorry for being angry, Hajime. I promise that I'm not like your other trainer, and I just want to see you do your best. I believe in you so let's keep trying!"
Hajime growled with confidence, feeling a surge of power burst within him, before slamming his arm on the crystal and deepening the cracks that built on the surface.
"Hajime! Look out!"
The Swampert snapped his head to the side to see a fist flying right at him, making him cross his thick arms over himself in defense and braced himself for the oncoming attack.
But, it never came.
Hajime opened his eyes to see Odin, struggling but somehow, pushing back the punch with Psychic. He weakly told him to get out of the way because he couldn't hold on for any longer. The Swampert got out of the way just in time, but he watched in shock as the fist connected to the Alolan Raichu and sent him flying and into the ocean.
"ODIN!" Tessu shrieked. Tiki didn't waste another second and flew after him, only to see him weakly pull himself out of the water with electricity surrounding him sporadically.
His mind flashed back to his first encounter with Juliet, back when he was an eccentric PIkachu back in the Safari Zone. His kind always looked at him funny, and often left him out of their games and shared meals. He spent most of his days training by himself, coming up with flashy moves in hopes someone would notice him. And someone did. When Juliet stumbled upon him training by himself, she didn't make fun of him or give him a weird look.
He never forgot the carefree laughter she let out, entertained by his antics.
"You're working hard, aren't you?
Odin concentrated all of his electrical energy from his paws, to his cheeks, and let out the mightiest Thunderbolt he had ever summoned. It wasn't quite as strong as a Max Lightning, but it was almost as big as one. The massive lightning bolt struck Gigantamax Darkrai - it looked like the crystal only needed to be hit one more time and Juliet would finally be free.
But, that only seemed to anger the Pokemon even further.
It violently swiped away the Pokemon, sending them skidding across the water and onto the sand by their feet. To add insult to injury, it raised a hand over the crystal, so none of them would be able to reach it.
"What...What do we do now…? No matter how many times we attack, its barrier won't break at all…" Mary heaved tiredly, looking to the others for any answers. But they couldn't think of anything. At this rate, they were only going to keep digging themselves further into a fight that they probably couldn't win.
It couldn't end this way…
…
"Go! Go! You can do it!" Maya cheered loudly. They turned their heads to Maya, surprised evident on their faces as the little girl jumped up and down while pumping her first in the air as if she was holding imaginary pompoms.
"Maya…? What are you doing…?" Darkrai asked.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm cheering you on! I've watched you guys do Raids all the time and even when someone's Pokemon was down, you still cheered each other on! Maybe, if you cheer loud enough, Juliet will be able to hear you too!" Maya ran up to the shoreline and cupped her hands over her mouth.
"Juliet! Can you hear me?! You can't give up! I know you can get back up and fight! Your friends are fighting for you too!"
Tessu quickly followed suit and stood beside Maya, holding her hands over her mouth as well. "Jules! Please come back to us! We need you!"
And then Vanquil. "You can get through this! We're all here for you!"
Then Mary. "We love and care about you, Jules! Come back!"
Then Leon. "J! I'm so sorry for what I said before! Despite everything, you still mean the world to me! You're stronger than this - I know you are!"
Her Pokemon cried out alongside them at the top of their lungs.
Darkrai clenched his fists. He wasn't going to run away anymore. Taking a deep breath, he looked up to the sky and shouted, "Champion Juliet! I want to see you again!"
The Heart Scale shot out a beam of light directly at where the crystal was being protected by Gigantamax Darkrai's hands, making it hiss out in pain and inevitably welcoming the warm light through to Juliet's cage.
"...can't give up!"
"...come back to us!"
"...all here for you!"
"...love and care about you…"
"...stronger than this…"
…
"Champion Juliet! I want to see you again!"
Juliet's eyes snapped open, almost as if something had popped the bubble of self-loathing that surrounded her. The voices, distorted and incomprehensible through the water prison she was trapped in, suddenly cut through, loud and clear. Those voices...they weren't the same voices that haunted her. They weren't the ones that she tried to block out by covering her ears.
Where were they coming from?
Squinting her eyes, she saw something bright, piercing through the cracks that broke through the surface of her cage. Pressing her hand up against the light, the voices came back again, and she could finally recognize who they were coming from.
She saw visions of each of them, standing on the shore far away, and screaming at the top of their lungs for her.
For her company.
For her smiles.
For her irreplaceable presence by their sides.
For her.
Maya…
Tessu…
Vanquil…
Mary…
Leon…
Her Pokemon...
And even...Darkrai…
But no, there was more, she could hear more voices coming from somewhere if she closed her eyes and concentrated hard enough. Then, flashing in front of her eyes, were projections of what was happening in the outside world. Her eyes went wide as her eyes looked over each projection that surrounded her and listened to the voices of the people she had ties with.
The people she touched.
The people who thought of her.
"You can wake up from this Juliet! All the Wooloo and Yampers on my farm are cheering you on too!"
Milo…
"There's still so much about water Pokemon that I want to talk about with you, Juliet! I want to see that lovely smile of yours again!"
Nessa…
"You've been fighting a lonely battle, but I know that the fire burning inside of you will never go out! I'm with you as well!"
Kabu…
"I admire your fighting spirit, Juliet, but you also need to take a step back and let others take care of you! You're not alone!"
Bea…
"Y-You must be going through a really scary situation right now, but don't be scared! I don't know how much help I'll be, but I'll fight for you too!"
Allister…
"To be frank, you're a bit clumsy and tend to have your head up in the clouds, but, you shine in a way that no one else can. And, I want to see you shine even brighter."
Opal…
"There's probably a huge boulder blocking your way right now, but you can count on me to help you smash right through it!"
Gordie…
"Being alone can make you feel so cold and miserable, but when you wake up, I'll be here to give you the warmth that your heart needs."
Melony...
"You always had a habit of overthinkin' everythin', but let yourself go and embrace the beat of your own drum even if some people will look away. I'll always listen."
Piers…
"No matter how tough the storm is, no matter how much you want to shield yourself from the fear, I know you can weather the storm and see the end of the rainbow!"
Raihan…
"You've always supported my research and encouraged me when I was stuck or felt like giving up. I won't give up on you either, Juliet!"
Sonia…
"You believed in me when I was doubting myself, and the things you said gave me the courage I needed to battle the way I wanted to! I believe in you too!"
Hop…
"Even though you're not a Champion anymore, seeing you able to live your life with a smile shows just how strong you really are! I want to be like you someday!"
Gloria...
"You were always taking care of me despite how bratty I can be, and it's only right that I start looking out for you too, big sis!"
Courtney…
"You were always so bright and earnest as a child, and you deserved so much more than what your parents and the world were treating you. We will never regret adopting you because we love you as if you were our own daughter."
Auntie and uncle…
And then a different scene began to play, and she could barely make out the faces of the trainers that had come to their rescue from other regions. It looked like they were crowded around tables with coloured pieces of paper splayed all over, and folded paper Swannas that piled up in the center.
"Ugh, this is harder than it looks…"
"Geez, Hugh, can't you be a little more, I don't know, neater?"
"Hey, I'm trying my best here!"
"Wow, Serena! Your Swannas look perfect!"
"Hehe, you think so? I do design my own clothes so I'm pretty crafty!"
"When we finish making 1000 Swannas, I wonder what Juliet is going to wish for…"
"Knowing her, she probably wouldn't use the wish on herself."
"Yeah, that does seem like her, huh, May?"
"...Red. Are you trying to make a Charizard?"
"..."
"I don't think Charizard counts for this cause, man."
"Oh, Anabel and Looker! Fancy meeting you two here."
"Ah! Selene! It has been awhile. I hope you don't mind if Looker and I join you all."
"Of course we don't mind! More hands means faster work! Here, I'll show you two how to make one!"
The prison she was trapped in, suddenly felt so much warmer and less lonely, with projections from all over Galar displaying in front of her eyes, where fans, complete strangers - all cheering her on to fight through her darkness. Lighting through the darkness, as she lifted up both of her hands, she saw so many strings wrapped around each of her fingers. Every gesture, every act, and every encouragement she gave to people over the course of her life, was a tie that had binded completely with her and established a bond that couldn't be severed. Everyone's collective voices reached out to her and silenced the haunting voices that often invaded her thoughts.
Everyone she touched, every bond she made - they all wanted the same thing.
For the first time, she finally believed that she mattered to people, and that she didn't have to force herself to live up to someone else's ideals just to keep her around.
She was enough.
She wasn't going to let herself get trapped in someone else's twisted expectations anymore.
With newfound determination and courage coursing through her veins, and her desire to break free from her cage at an all time high, Juliet kicked her feet off of the crystal over and over. As more light began to shine through the cracks, the more confident she felt in her own power.
I won't let myself be swayed by other people's words anymore.
Kick
I won't deflect anyone's gratitude anymore, because there are people who rely on me.
Kick
"I won't...I won't let anyone take this life away from me! I'm going to carve out my own future with my own hands!" Juliet shouted from the bottom of her heart. With every ounce of energy she had left, she put it all into one last kick that finally shattered through the crystal. Gigantamax Darkrai recoiled back from having its crystal destroyed from the inside out, allowing the light from the Heart Scale shine through to Juliet.
It was quite a drop from where she was, until she remembered that she was in her dreams. And finally recognizing that she could do anything she wanted, she steeled herself and jumped. As she dropped closer and closer to the rocky waves below, a single thought crossed her mind.
I'm free to fly wherever I want to.
And she did.
Juliet flew across the sea with ease, and she followed the light that guided her to where her loved ones were waiting for her. As she got closer to the shoreline, their eyes lit up joyfully and eagerly waved her over to them. Tiki and Odin couldn't wait, flying and gliding towards her and practically catapulting themselves into their trainer.
"Tiki! Odin!" Juliet cooed, cradling her Flygon's head dearly while wrapping an arm tightly around the Alolan Raichu. She lowered herself into the shallow waters, letting Hajime bound towards her and tackling her into the water.
"It's good to see you too, Hajime!" Even as Juliet pulled herself out of the water, she was only tackled back into the water by her team. She laughed warmly, holding her friends close and rubbing their backs as they cried with relief.
"OK, OK. We can continue this later! The battle isn't over yet." She told them.
"R-Right...Sorry." Mary sniffled.
"Also, what's with the outfit? You kind of look like a magical girl! Not in a bad way or anything." Tessu giggled.
Juliet blushed lightly. "I'll tell you guys later. For now…" She shot them an encouraging grin. "Seems like you guys are having a bit of trouble." She turned around to face Gigantamax Darkrai, who finally regained its composure despite it's barrier finally crumbling into nothing. There was nothing that could bring its defenses up now that she had broken free and opened her eyes.
Opened her eyes for real.
"Thank you...Thank you for...all your support. I heard you guys, I even heard everyone outside - I hear you all, loud and clear. You all worked so hard, but let me finish this." Closing her eyes and reaching her hand out, her Champion attire that she dreamed about as a child, lit up, allowing the shimmering stars to shine through the stormy clouds above.
She was a League Champion no longer, but she would always be a Champion in her own right.
Deep within her heart she believed that once a Champion, always a Champion.
A Champion of hopes and dreams!
"Hajime, Tiki, Odin, Darkrai…" Juliet looked up to the sky. "Takumi, Hubert, Hilda, Soleil, Flora, Felix, and Pistachio! Are you ready?!"
As if answering to her calls, she felt a rise in magical energy coming from Hilda's fairy powers. A star-bound bow appeared in her hands with a quiver of flame arrows strapped across her chest. And though Pistachio didn't have any combat prowess, she swore she could feel him affectionately nudging her ankle.
They were always with her.
Drawing her bow with a flaming arrow, she carefully aimed it directly at Gigantamax Darkrai's chest. "Hajime, use Hydro Cannon! Tiki, use Earth Power! Odin, use Electro Ball! And Darkrai, use Brick Break!"
Odin charged up a massive Electro Ball and sent it flying towards Gigantamax Darkrai, while Hajime reeled back to unleash a devastating stream of water, which pushed against the Electro Ball and accelerated its trajectory. When the electrical attack connected, it exploded into a flurry of sparks, paralyzing the Gigantamax Pokemon completely. Then, Tiki slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave into the ocean that erupted sharp rocks from the sea up into the opposing Pokemon, sending it flying high into the air. Darkrai flew towards his doppelganger with his fist drawn back, building up the culmination of all of his struggles, his regrets, and insecurities, into a single punch.
This wasn't just a moment for Juliet to face her darkness head-on; it was also his moment to defeat the monster that he always thought he was and had to be.
"You're not who I want to be - I will decide that for myself!" Darkrai proclaimed bravely, swinging his fist directly into its chest, pushing it back across the sea.
"Now, Champion Juliet!"
Darkrai got out of the way just in time just as Juliet fired the charged up flame arrow that whisked through the air, burning brightly and surely, and pierced into Gigantamax Darkrai's chest. The Pokemon cried out in pain before finally exploding into a cloud of fiery smoke and dissipating away with the wind until there was no trace of the monster left.
Once it was gone, the sky cleared up, letting the star-filled sky shine down on their victory. The sea gradually calmed, the turbulent waves relaxing into gentle tides along the shore.
It was finally over.
I wasn't able to draw my very own map
Because I couldn't blame anyone else for it
Juliet could hardly believe it that all she could do was drop to her knees. The first thing she could feel was an overwhelming wave of relief, but underneath it all, she was physically and emotionally exhausted that she couldn't find anything to say.
"J! Are...Are you OK?" Leon asked worryingly as he crouched down into the shallow water. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but when she turned to look at him, she gave him the brightest smile he had ever seen from her.
I could never find the right answers
All I'm good at is making excuses
"I...I can't describe what it is I'm feeling right now but...I will be OK."
His eyes softened and he offered a hand out to her, which she took gingerly and allowed herself to be pulled back to her feet with his help. But, rather than let go of her hand, he gave it a comforting squeeze.
If I'm going to get hurt otherwise, I'd rather stay as I am
But because I met you, I found myself
"Juliet...I...I'm so sorry...for what I said before…" Leon frowned. "I was so caught up in the past and I couldn't stand the thought of not being able to trust those who mattered to me because of how much trust I had in Rose. And yet, I wanted you to trust me, but I shouldn't have forced you to tell me everything especially if it hurt you…"
"Lee…"
"No one is the same person they were 8 years ago. You, me - the both of us have changed in different ways since then. But, even with those changes, and learning new things about you, the one thing that stayed the same about you that still moves my heart more than anything else, is your compassionate heart." He then smiled at her tenderly, with all the adoration and love swimming in his golden eyes.
Your voice, your weakness, your gaze
Even the bold front you put up, and that smile of yours - those will become my wings
"I'm so glad I got to see you again. I wouldn't trade the Juliet I know now for anything in the world."
Juliet's eyes widened and burned with another round of tears.
But, this time from happiness.
Let's set flight from this never ending night, shaking ourselves free from the border of cowardice for changing by me
Let us seek the light of tomorrow
"...I'm sorry. I...I never understood what was wrong with me. I wanted to trust the people around me too with all my heart but I was so afraid of losing that. I've pretty much lost the people that brought me into this world because I wasn't who they wanted me to be, so...I've never really...felt like I had a place to belong." Juliet balled up her fists and just let the tears run down her cheeks because she wanted to bare her soul to everyone. She trusted them. "I've always felt that...listening to people's problems and being there for them, it made me feel like I was needed. That I was reliable. That I had a place in someone else's life. I just..." She tried to smile, even if it looked crooked from her trembling lips. "I just wanted a place to belong and be remembered."
"And you do have a place to belong. Right here." Leon smiled and opened his arms out to her. "I remember you. I've always remembered you. How could I ever forget someone who accepted me as I am even all those years ago?"
"But-"
"So, what if you didn't remember the times we spent together? I mean, it did hurt a little but, what matters now is the present. You still accept me for who I am, and I'll always be grateful for that. So..." He took a step forward, with his arms still stretched out for her. "I don't want you to ever feel like you don't belong. When I said you meant the world to me that one time, I meant every word."
Juliet choked out a sob before throwing herself into Leon's arms and welcoming the warmth and comfort of his embrace. She wailed and wailed, letting out all of her ugly cries, as Leon held her tightly and gingerly stroked her hair. "I'm so...I'm so sorry! For not telling you sooner about-"
"Shhhh...It's going to be OK. I'm here now and I see now why you've always kept to yourself but please, I want you to rely on me for emotional support. I can take it, and just as you've always held my feelings with care, I'm always here to do the same thing for you." Leon smiled against her hair. "You know, this isn't the first time you cried in my arms, but the last time, even though you were crying your eyes out, I had a feeling you were still holding yourself back for my sake based on how you were able to crack jokes after. But this time, I feel like I truly understand you now."
"I..." Juliet sniffled and couldn't help but snuggled deeper into his arms. "I'm glad...It...It doesn't bother you, does it?"
"It only bothers me by how much you beat yourself up about it, but I want to be there to help you through it. Can't you tell I've already accepted you with open arms?"
I thought I was stuck in a dead end
Trapped, unable to go anywhere
"...Yeah. You're right. I should have realized that a long time ago. But... I know that I can finally work towards being a better person that others can rely on, but also be someone that will accept the genuine love and care that people have for me because I do deserve it…" Juliet pulled back back to look up at him expectantly,
"Thank you for loving me, Leon."
His cheeks flared up from her loving gratitude, but that only made him hug her tighter.
"Of course. I'd do anything to make sure that you're always happy and smiling."
Juliet smiled gently before giggling. "Right back at you-"
"Juliet," Maya called softly. Juliet turned around curiously to the little girl, but kept her hand laced with Leon's. She regarded Maya with a small smile and tilted her head quizzically.
But, you told me the path was always open
"Yes?"
"...I'm sorry for keeping your memories from you. I was so sad with how short my life was...I wanted more. But, now I learned how wonderful my own memories are and how happy they make me." Maya smiled tearfully, as glowing orbs began to envelope her body.
It was time for her to move on, and be with her family.
Once I stepped forward on my own
I feel the gentle breeze on my cheeks, carrying me forward
"Maya!" Juliet exclaimed in surprise, reaching out to her. Maya reached out and took her hand, even though her hand was starting to fade away with the lights.
I'll share these wings engraved upon my back
With you, struggling amongst sadness and suffering
"Thank you, Juliet. Thank you for sharing some of your life with me and being my friend. I'm so happy that…" Maya's eyes wandered over to each of them, regarding everyone with kindness. "...my last memories are with all of you."
I hope that you'll soar to even greater heights in these endless days for changing about you
And so I pray
Juliet squeezed the little girl's hand, despite it feeling like she was clutching on nothing but air. "Y-You're welcome, Maya...You'll always be my friend."
Maya's smile widened, even as her feet began to disappear. "You'll always be my friend too." Her eyes fell on Darkrai and she held her ghostly hand out to him. Darkrai breathed unsteadily and held it gingerly.
Though there were lonely nights when I cried
I know that, in the ongoing future, there is someone waiting for me
"Thank you, Darkrai. For being my first, precious friend."
"...I should be thanking you, Maya...Thank you for accepting me...for who I am. Thank you...for being my friend."
Maya beamed through her tears and looked at Juliet one last time.
"Will you remember me?"
A simple question, but held some much weight and meaning.
It was a tender wish.
Juliet choked out a sob and nodded furiously. "I'll always remember you. And not just me - all of us will."
Maya's body was completely engulfed in a cluster of glowing lights, but her smile never left her face. She knew that a part of her would continue to live on in each of them, meaning that she would never truly disappear from the world.
Knowing that, she had no reason to be afraid.
In this long journey where everyone falters
I'll take a step forward with thoughts of you in my heart and my faith in dawn
"Thank you...everyone...I hope we can meet again someday. But, for now, I hope that...you'll all be happy for eternity!" The cluster of lights collected into a single, bright burning soul.
"Bye, bye!"
The soul of Maya ascended into the sky and disappeared over the horizon, which slowly brightened with the rise of dawn. They all huddled close together, sharing in their grief from the bittersweet send-off of a kind little girl who cherished life.
It was probably the first time Darkrai had cried.
But...everything was going to be OK.
"Hey, Juliet. I think this belongs to you. Maya gave it back to us." Mary said gently, holding out the polaroid photo to its rightful owner. Juliet's eyes widened and then softened in recognition. When she held the photo in her hands, she felt wrapped in warm nostalgia as those lost memories fitted into the spaces that they belonged in like missing puzzle pieces.
"...Do you still have that photo in the real world?" Leon couldn't help but ask. Juliet's smile widened as she held the photo close to her heart.
"I do. It's been awhile since I looked at it, but I know exactly where I kept it. I didn't want to ever lose it so I hid it somewhere that only I would know. A place where I knew it would always be safe."
"And that is?"
"Swing by my place and I'll show you." She winked cheekily.
Leon laughed warmly. "Always full of surprises as always."
Hey, I want to tell you something
To the fact that you were born, the fact that we met
Juliet looked at everyone with tender joy before turning back to the sun rise and the gentle waves rising and retreating along the shore. Her heart felt empty no longer, now overflowing with love and gratitude. She gained a new appreciation for her life, and all the precious people in it.
None of them were alone, and neither was Maya.
"Darkrai," Juliet addressed suddenly. The Mythical Pokemon took a moment to compose himself before answering her.
"Yes?"
With a grin, she grabbed one of his hands and gave it a light shake. "Welcome back."
He blinked. And then let out a chuckle. "I believe that's my line."
"Fair point, but I said it first!"
"Yeah, but we can top that! One, two, three-!" Vanquil counted down.
"WELCOME BACK, JULIET!" They all shouted in unison.
Juliet laughed heartily at their combined greeting. She was home, and there was nowhere else in the world she'd rather be. As they laughed along with her, the sky grew brighter, filling their hearts with hope.
Dawn had arrived and thus, the nightmare came to an end.
And this world with you
Thank you
"The Dynamax levels are dropping!"
"Wait, is that a good thing or a bad thing?!"
"I think it's good - look!" Matthew pointed at the monitor displaying Juliet's brain activity. Unlike a short while ago where it was fluctuating - now it was slowly easing into normality. All of their heads turned to the sound of someone groaning, seeing Raid Prism and Leon, slowly regaining consciousness.
"Ow...my neck is all sore…" Tessu complained.
"That's the price we pay for sleeping upright in chairs…" Vanquil grumbled.
"You're all awake!" Sonia cheered, scrambling over to them to make sure they were OK. "Did...Did you guys-"
"Sylveon!" Hilda's screeched pierced through the air, alerting them to Juliet's bedside. They haphazardly yanked the cords and devices that had them hooked up to her dreams, and crowded around with their breaths stuck in their throats as they waited for her to open her eyes.
Slowly, but surely, her face scrunched up, making her eyes clench and then relax, before her eyes fluttered open. Her vision was blurred, but she could make out the silhouettes of many people standing around her bed, on top of recognizing the weight on her lap and something coiled around her right arm.
When her vision cleared and she could see everyone in the room, they all screamed out in joy. She barely had a moment to prepare herself for how her Pokemon jumped onto her hospital bed with their arms, wings, and various other limbs, wrapped around her as they cried.
She felt smothered by their love.
Quite literally, in fact.
"Need...to...breathe!" Juliet gasped out. Her Pokemon immediately loosened their grip, bowing their heads apologetically much to her amusement.
The door to her room suddenly slammed open, revealing a shocked Raihan with the other Gym Leaders crowded behind him and trying to take a peek at Juliet thanks to Raihan's tall stature blocking the way.
"Juliet's awake?! Hey! Stop pushing!"
"Stop blocking the doorway then!" Nessa hissed. They comically squeezed through the door, much to Raihan's annoyance, and approached Juliet with thankful smiles on their faces. Some of them were fighting back happy tears, but all of them were practically beaming from ear to ear. It made her heart swell fondly. All of these people loved and cared for her, and she no longer hesitated when acknowledging their love with a bright smile.
...Although, as loved as she felt, it was a tad overwhelming to have so many people come see her at a time.
Fennel must have sensed this and politely shooed them a few steps back. "I know you're all excited and relieved to see Juliet awake, but give her some room to breathe! She went through quite an ordeal, you know!"
"S-Sorry! We got a little carried away." Milo apologized sheepishly.
"It's OK, Milo." Juliet reassured. It felt...so nice to see everyone again. "Thank you, everyone...for thinking of me and caring about me."
"Of course, dear! We're...We're just so glad you're OK." Melony sniffled.
"Mum, are you crying?" Gordie teased.
"Oh hush, you were crying as much as you did the day you were born."
"What?! No, I wasn't!"
"And, there they go…" Piers noted while rolling his eyes.
"Juliet," Cynthia greeted happily. "I'm happy to see that you're finally awake. How are you feeling?"
"C-Champion Cynthia…" Juliet stuttered.
"Please, just Cynthia is fine."
"I'm...well, I'm honestly feeling really groggy at the moment, Cynthia." She admitted.
"Understandable. I can only imagine the ordeal you had to face while you were asleep. Just one more thing before I leave for the time being - where's Darkrai?"
"Darkrai? He's-" Juliet didn't realize she was holding an Ultra Ball in her left hand in place of the Mythical Pokemon's hand. She tossed it in the air curiously, revealing the aforementioned Pokemon. The Gym Leaders flinched back in surprise from witnessing the Pokemon of nightmares for the first time, minus Allister who looked up in awe at finally seeing the Pokemon outside of when he saw it in Juliet's consciousness.
"You're that Pokemon I saw before!" He exclaimed.
Darkrai approached the young Ghost-type Gym Leader, surprising the others of how unfazed Allister was by him, on top of his apparent familiarity with the Mythical Pokemon. "Ahh, I remember you. You're that boy with the tremendous sixth-sense ability."
"I-I wouldn't really call it tremendous…"
"Everyone, this is Darkrai! Darkrai, these are my friends! Let's all try to get along, OK?" Juliet announced cheesily.
"Y-Yeah...Easier said than done…" Raihan sputtered. "But, is no one else freaking out that this Pokemon can talk?!"
"Raihan, are you forgetting that we just saved our region from the apocalypse? Once you've seen that, you've seen them all." Kabu reminded bluntly.
"But, still…!"
"Alright, alright everyone! I think that's enough excitement for now. We have to perform some tests on Juliet to make sure there aren't any internal injuries." Fennel then pointed at Leon accusingly. "And you, Mr. Champion - you need to go back to your own room!"
"R-Right…"
"Don't worry, Doc. I'll make sure this guy gets plenty of rest. Come on, Champ." Raihan wrapped an arm around Leon's shoulder and carried him out of the room, but not before the Champion sending a concerned glance over his shoulder at Juliet, who smiled gently and mouthed, 'I'll see you later'.The other Gym Leaders and Raid Prism followed them out, but Juliet noticed someone else trying to sneak out with them who looked like another doctor.
But, why did he act so suspicious?
"Matthew! Where are you going?" Fennel asked with a raised eyebrow.
…
Wait, Matthew…?
Matthew froze in place and swore under his breath. Shit. There was no way out of this predicament. He cleared his throat, straightened his thick glasses, and walked back to Dr. Fennel's side, but with his head turned away. He felt Juliet staring at him intensely, that the sweat began to gather at the back of his neck in anxiety.
"It's been over a decade and you don't even want to look at me?"
Of course he wanted to look at her! But, he was filled with so much shame. He didn't know how he could fix their severed bond nor did he believe that she would forgive him at all. But, here she was. Waiting for him to say something, anything.
"I...I'm sorry, Juliet." His head finally turned to her, but his eyes remained fixed to the ground. "I'm sorry if me being here makes you upset or, you'd rather if I just leave and-"
"Don't put words in my mouth."
"I'm sor-"
"And stop apologizing so much."
"...Then, what should I say?"
"Why are you here? How are you here?"
Matthew swallowed the thick lump in his throat, head swimming in indecisiveness of what to say that wouldn't upset her. "Well...I'm a doctor. A colleague of Dr. Fennel's in fact. When I heard there was a case she would be tending to in Galar, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to learn more from the other doctors here since it would be my first time here. But, when Fennel said who the client was...I...I thought…"
"You thought…?"
"I thought...if you saw me, you'd scowl at me and run away. When the situation got dire, I wanted to help you in any way I could. To...make up for all the times that I didn't. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to play the hero or anything! I just...I just wanted to see you again."
Juliet breathed heavily through her nose, processing her brother's guilt and regret with narrow eyes. His studies certainly paid off if he was a doctor, but knowing that he likely still had ties to their parents, that didn't sit comfortably with her. She didn't want them to spare any ounce of detail about herself and she made it plain and clear that they didn't have any right to take partial credit for anything she did nor associate her with them.
"...Are you still in touch with them?"
"In touch? Oh…" Matthew bit his lip. "To be brutally honest, yes, but that doesn't mean I'm happy about it."
That surprised her. "You're not? But, you were always so studious and obedient-"
"I suppose, but it's suffocating. No amount of praise from them will ever make me forgive them for what they put you through, which is why as the years go on, I'm slowly cutting my ties away from them."
Juliet's jaw dropped. "Are you serious…?"
"Of course I'm serious. I'm an adult and I get to choose what and who's important to me. Sure, a part of me probably owes them for whipping my ass off to study hard to get here, but they don't get to reap the rewards if they're just going to treat other people who are less than, like garbage." Matthew confessed. He played the role of the smart eldest son to a T but once he learned his parents' true natures, he gave up that life of being leeched off of. Their praise meant nothing to him now.
"My biggest regret aside from not doing more to help you, is that it took me this long to take the initiative to distance myself from them. Being in that environment...it felt so toxic. But, I was a coward and stayed for too long. I should have reached out to you sooner, especially when you needed it the most. I know you told me to stop apologizing, but I will always carry that regret with me."
"Matthew…" Juliet whimpered, reaching for his hand which made his eyes snap to hers in surprise. "All this time...I thought you never cared about me...I thought you just pretended that I didn't exist…"
"...!" Matthew squeezed her hands. "You're my little sister; I always knew you were there! When...When I got to hold you for the first time as a baby, I thought to myself 'I want to protect her'. Some big brother I turned out to be."
"You still remember that…?"
"Of course! You were so small and...I could only pray that if I was the one who had to go through so much discipline and abuse just so you could have a better life, than that was fine. I'd take it." He confessed.
Juliet's eyes widened, horrified by her brother's confession. "That's-"
"A horrible conclusion to come to? I know, but what else could I do? When I started to see the signs of them treating you like how they treated me, I wanted to try to do something to make things easier for you. But, anytime I tried to play with you, our parents would always scold me to study instead! Hell, I would even try to give you some of my food or slide in candy from under the door, but they always caught me."
"You did that?"
"Yeah! Because, if I couldn't talk or play with you, I needed to find other ways to show that I was thinking of you. Did you ever notice how Aunt Tiffany would give you extra money on your birthdays?"
"Are you saying those were from you?!" Juliet gaped.
"Yup. I had no idea what you liked or what you wanted so you could treat yourself to something you liked with the money. I didn't want Tiffany to tell you who it was from since I didn't want you to think I was bribing you or - h-hey! Did I make you cry? Gosh, I'm so-"
Juliet threw her arms around his neck and sobbed openly into his shoulder. Feeling her body tremble against him through her sobs, he felt his throat tighten and his hands shake from being hugged by his sister for the very first time. His arms slowly wounded around her and pulled her close to his chest.
Matthew had a lot of work to do in mending their severed bond, but progress was progress and he wasn't going to take the chance for granted.
He was going to be the real older brother he never got to be.