To WyldClaw: Thank you. Since Miguel is in his early 40s, he most likely has.
Louis' legs pumped as he sprinted across the old, wooden bridge. It creaked under his steps, as a motion in the water to his right drew Louis' gaze, and he turned, mid-sprint.
"Hey guys," he said.
The Gyarados' barely registered his presence, and the boy was long gone before they spoke.
"That was quick," one of them said.
The forest was dark and cold in the early morning light. He was only a few steps in when he stopped. The last time he passed this area, he'd been guided by the girl from the Ho-Ken temple, but now, the correct direction evaded him.
"Hmm," he pondered. "If I remember correctly...I go left at the yellow-tree, right at the green bush then straight ahead at the pointed rock."
The boy's recollection was spot-on, as a large, wooden and ancient structure soon appeared before him as he followed Taki's directions.
"Bingo!" he cheered.
The temple, now a familiar sight, sat peacefully in its ancient seat. Around it, numerous temple folk dressed in bright ceremonial attire milled about their daily lives, and Louis even spotted some Pokémon amongst the denizens.
At that moment, something tapped Louis' shoulder, something cold, chitinous, and heavy. Startled, the boy spun on the spot. There stood Scizor. ‐ The temple's guard.
"It's you," spoke the large Pokémon.
– "I suppose you are looking for the girl?"
Louis nodded.
"Yeah. It's really important," he said.
"Probably in the crowd," Scizor pointed a claw toward the temple's grounds.
"Great, thanks," said Louis.
As Louis approached the mass, he saw everyone, except the girl with black hair.
"Where is sh-"
"Hey stranger!" a voice, happy and cheerful met his ears.
Louis spun around and saw the familiar youthful face, smart eyes, dark, near-void black hair, powder blue yukata and black knee-length skirt he had grown to remember.
"I'm not strange!" said Louis before smiling at Taki.
"Do you still just eat curry exclusively?" she jibed.
Louis scratched his head and stared at the chirpy girl. He missed this.
"Um...Taki..." paused Louis.
"...remember how you gave me Totodile's old Pokéball and said it was just in case I changed my mind about being a trainer?"
Taki shifted on the spot, now intrigued.
"Yeah?" the girl replied.
Her eyes widened immediately after.
"Wait! You did?!" she questioned, smiling.
Louis scratched his head, grinning.
"Uh...close…" he responded. "...I got a letter."
Louis opened up his backpack and withdrew his recently acquired letter from the National Pokémon Academy. He handed the official-looking document to the girl.
As her eyes gazed through the official document, something similar to pride built within Taki.
"This is...incredible," proclaimed Taki.
"Yeah, I knew you'd say something like that," replied Louis. "Did you get one too?"
Taki paused.
"...no," she answered.
"Wha-! ...why not?" the boy questioned, confused.
A mixture of sadness and hope crossed the girl's face.
"They probably don't think I'm ready…" she responded. "After all it was you that lifted the darkness from the land."
"It was us..." Louis corrected the girl. "...and you deserve this as much as I did. You and Totodile."
At the mention of the little, blue Pokémon, the boy looked from side to side, searching for it.
"Speaking of Totodile...where is she?" the boy asked.
Taki shifted on the spot.
"Uh...well…" she paused.
Taki raised a finger, pointing.
Nearby, something danced around with a spritely Butterfree, something with a pink bow on its head, but it wasn't Totodile.
It had the same colour scheme as Totodile, but it was a much bigger crocodile-like Pokémon, blue and fanged, with red spikes adorning its head and tail.
Louis' jaw dropped.
"She...evolved into a Crocanaw?!" he exclaimed.
"Pretty soon after we got back, actually…" replied Taki.
"It seems whatever we did out there was enough for her to change."
Taki called over to Crocanaw. It stopped dancing with Butterfree and saw Taki waving, with Louis standing next to her.
Glee filled the creature's face as it trotted over to the pair.
"Hi, Louis!" the Pokémon said, in a much deeper voice than Louis recalled her having.
"Hey Crocanaw," responded Louis.
"Are we going somewhere?" Crocanaw asked.
Taki thumbed at Louis, smiling.
"He is," she said. "He's off to the academy!"
"Really?" replied Crocanaw. "Which one?"
"...the National Pokémon Academy," answered Louis.
"That's amazing!" The Crocanaw exuberantly replied.
"You won't... leave us forever...will you, Louis?" the Pokémon's raspy voice turned cold.
Both humans paused, shocked at the question.
"N-...no. Why would you say that?" The boy asked.
– "...nothing."
A smile crossed the beast's lizard maw, its teeth glistening in the light.
"...so you're gonna be a trainer!" proclaimed Crocanaw.
"Yeah, seems that way," answered Louis.
Another thought popped up in Louis' mind.
"Hey Taki, is the chief around?" the boy inquired.
"Yeah, he's inside," replied the girl.
The trio, for the first time in a while, walked toward the ancient building. The cavernous temple was again scented with sandalwood and wisdom.
As Louis entered, he took an almost worshipful silence.
Ahead, a solemn figure slowly lit candles near a dark alcove. The group quietly approached the man with the round, straw hat.
Louis was about to say something when the elderly man, whose face was built to smile, spoke.
"Welcome back, boy," the frailed-voiced man said.
The Chief turned and smiled.
Louis grinned.
"Hehe. How'd you know it was me?" he questioned.
"We could say it was the wisdom of this place," the chief said.
"...or we could say it was your heavy steps here, the same from a while ago," he continued, wryly.
Taki giggled.
"What brings you here, Louis?" inquired Chief Tanaka.
"Well, I got some pretty good news," answered the boy.
He presented the chief with his letter from the academy. The chief squinted, aged lines appearing at the corner of his eyes, and viewed the document.
"My my," said the chief. "That is quite an achievement."
"I know," replied Louis.
"By the way…" the boy paused. "Is my grandmother here?"
"I kinda want to tell her the news," he continued.
"Ah, you just missed her!" answered Chief Tanaka.
"I'm sorry, what?" said Louis.
"She left to visit her family, I imagine she is at your home right now!" explained the chief.
"I leant her Rapidash for the journey. It will bear her well and keep her safe," he finished.
Somewhere, many leagues away, two women hugged, and one placed a fresh pot of tea upon a freshly-lit flame.
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