Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Pokemon, its characters, locations, or names. All of them, with the exception of original characters, ideas, and places, belong to Nintendo.

Credits: Vanika, Silvanus, Gwen, Carina, and all locations involving Nara belong to me.

AN: Here we are. The final ending point. I do realize this just brought up...like, two, three new things that weren't in the story before. XD But I did that purposely, so that either A) If the case becomes that I write a story that goes after this one, I have some things to work with or B) It gives you all something to chew on and think about.

I didn't want to make this too long, it's about the same length as the Prologue or just about anyway. I do realize it sounds really odd compared to the rest, but it didn't seem to want to work out any other way then this. Plus, the whole thing with Delia, I'd been contemplating having that as the Epilogue, or as part of it, for the last few chapters, so I didn't want to throw it out. Plus it just gave me a chance to relax and not have to worry about fitting it all into a normal scene set-up with tons of dialog that no one in their right minds would say. It'd just be "blah blah blah, did this, did that..." "That's nice, sweetie." XD Not as interesting as this, I think.

As for the first half, that was a last minute thought. I was just going to have Delia's scene and be done with it, then decided it might be a good idea to have a scene with Ash and May. And I figured being back "home," they'd probably act a tad different then..say, at Pallet Town or in one of the cities. And an odd thing that actually happened here a while back gave me the inspiration for the scene, so...yeah. XD It has a real story behind it, though the inspiration is a bit creepier. Yes.

In the end, the total word count of DG is...ehhh, 72,118 if one doesn't count the author's notes and warnings, credits, and disclaimers. Or its something like that amount. Pretty long by my standards of writing. x.x 149 pages...

Warning: None.

- Epilogue -

Ash had to stifle his laughter, as he crept through the shadowed forest quietly. He heard a rustle nearby, and voices, and took off for them, going serious as he felt Pikachu run past him. There were shouts of rage from the newest intruders, as Ash assumed that May had gotten to them first.

"Son of a bitch!" one of them cursed when he leaped onto the first man's – boy's, Ash couldn't tell how old they were - back, toppling him, then darting back out of their view, crouching down behind one of the trees. He saw May fall back into the bushes, and pulled her over and out of the way. They knew that the group was no actual threat, which was actually why Silvanus wasn't attacking them with the couple; from what they could see, it was only a group that was out for a thrill, and was using the legends for it.

Ash and May gave them the thrill all too happily, having the cover of night to hide in and that made it easier for them to live up to the rumors and myths. He found it ironic; as well known as he was in Nara, the small part that Wicker Maiden Forest resided in didn't realize that their second "spirit" was actually just their Pokemon Master. Half the time he didn't know whether to be proud of being able to be part of the lengthening stories of the forest, or to cry in sadness that people were so gullible as to believe them.

Smirking evilly, Ash took his hat off and slapped it into May's head, jumping up and scaling the tree, gesturing for Pikachu and Surskit to follow. "Thunder Shock, String Shot," he mouthed quietly, pointing at the group that was looking around warily.

Eyes glinting, Pikachu charged up his red cheeks, sparks flying, as Surskit shot a long thin string out. The electricity ran the length of it as it wrapped stickily around them, shouts and screams of fear and pain resounding around them. Ash pointed to where May sat watching the action, pointed at them, then back, before crawling out on one of the limbs, wrapping his legs around it before swinging sideways to be upside down. Out of the group of six, only one was left string-less, and he grabbed her by the shoulders, grinning. "Nice night tonight, isn't it?" he asked, and she screamed, wiggling out of his grasp and running back the way she had entered. "Was it something I said?" He looked at the others, before climbing back up.

May pulled on his arm when he sat next to her again. "That was mean," she said quietly.

"I know." Ash grinned, and nodded back. "Care to have another run? Get them out of here so we can go to bed?" She smiled.

"Sounds good to me." Stalking around the remaining five, Ash pulled a poke ball out, and released Charizard out behind him.

"I need you to use Flame Thrower," he said quietly. Charizard stretched his neck, wings outspreading, and let out a long tongue of flame. It sheared through the branches that were in the way, and singed the frightened people as they ran to get away from it, shouting. More strings shot out from another direction, and they were driven off. "Great!"

Returning his yawning Pokemon, Ash turned to look for May, wondering from which direction she was going to be returning from. "Piiikachu," the yellow creature at his feet cooed, looking up. He shrugged, and yelped when something tackled him from above, and they rolled forward, only the foliage stopping them.

"Dammit May! Didn't I tell you to warn me next time you planned on doing that?" Ash protested, but smiled nonetheless when she bit his ear. He choked back a laugh when his league hat fell over her eyes, and she had to push it back up. "Then again, I think I like it when you don't."

- - -

Delia bumped the door shut with her hip as she rifled through the mail, scanning over the addresses and senders quickly, before her eyes fell on the lone envelop that held no noticeable return address. She smiled, recognizing the scrawl that barely resembled decent handwriting, and tossed the rest on the coffee table, plopping down on the couch as she tore open the letter, carefully pulling the paper out.

"I wonder why he doesn't just call. It's been a few months," she said to herself, scanning over it, and felt her eyes moisten as she read it.

Dear Mom,

I'm sorry that we had to leave so abruptly. After the whole thing with Carrie, we just needed away from everyone for a while. A long while. I'd give you a call if someone would stop hiding my Navigator and if that same someone had not broken her phone. Then again, it might be better off just going with this for now. Back to the basics and all.

We're back in Nara already, made it pretty slowly since we didn't have to stop anywhere in particular, so we could just wander around a bit. I doubt Silvanus liked that we kept running off in different directions then we planned to. It makes me wish I could find a new tournament to try battling in, but that's not going to be happening any time soon. Not so soon after the Nara Tourny, anyway.

"Ever the wanderer," she said, smiling when she saw the sad face that he'd drawn in the margin next to 'Not so soon.'

Everything is alright around here. The people here seem to be a lot nicer then I had thought they would be. I came back expecting to be mobbed like in Transia and the other city, but it seems Wicker is big enough that I don't stand out as much...though it helps not going into town much! That's actually why I can't just use the phone at the Pokemon Center.

May's doing alright too. I think it's a little easier for her around here, what with not having to do any flips to be normal or any of that stuff. Though I am regretting giving her that Surskit. Ever since we left she's been trying to act like a Trainer or something even though she obviously disagrees. This is the last time I let her help me write a letter, she likes drawing on it too much.

Delia laughed, seeing the little star next to the statement, then another one in the margin, with "I am not! Stop being mean!" next to it with an angry face, the handwriting smaller and loopier then Ash's.

We do have a few problems, nothing major though. The main one is that I can't seem to shake the feeling that I have a second and third shadow. I'm used to May following me around, but now I have her little sister doing the same thing half the time. I need to make some money soon and buy some rope, and yet I've a feeling Vanika would claw my eyes out if I tied her kid up. It's a nightmare.

There was another drawing beside the writing, that one of a small reptile; even though, it looked more like a very strange stick figure. Delia jumped in shock. "I thought she couldn't have any?"

I think that trip back here was most likely the last one for them, at least for awhile. Ironically now May has been saying she wants to go back to Kanto. She can't seem to make up her mind for longer then a few weeks or months. I don't even want to know if we'll ever actually manage to settle down at some point.

The thought of her only child settling down was laughable. He liked running around and seeing new things too much to stay in one place for too long.

We're still considering whether or not to, it'll depend on how things go with Vanika and the new demon, and on whether or not she wants to marry a murderer, because I'll be one after I get through with her brother. I'm still mad at him for what he did, that bastard.

Delia noticed that more and more little notes were appearing in the margins, the newest one being "Be happy!" with a smiley face next to it, that one with hair. She guessed the drawing was supposed to be of May.

...I did mention that I proposed, right?

She snickered, seeing the "Noooooo, you diiiidn't." next to the question, with the face sticking its tongue out. The only difference was that next to it was a stick figure Ash had apparently drawn as a reply; its arms was crossed, head turned to the side – she thought it was, anyway, it didn't have a nose or any other facial features to be able to tell! - and "Hmmph." wrote next to it

Well, I did, after we got back here again. I think I gave the guy at the jewelry shop a heart attack when I bought the engagement ring. I ended up spending all of my money on it, which is why I can't get the phone repaired...anyway. We'd met him before. I think when I told him who it was I was getting engaged to, he near fainted...er, we really didn't get a good first impression with him.

Chewing on her index finger, Delia nodded thoughtfully. "Congratulations, my little boy," she said quietly.

I've not told Misty or Brock yet, though you all probably knew it was going to happen eventually. Thanks to him blabbing about it. Gah.

Next to it were two stick figures, one pointing at the other, and the words 'Ha ha' next to them. Delia wondered just how much they tormented each other, if they managed to taunt one another in a letter to her...

Tell Professor Oak we said hello. We miss you both.

Love Always,

Ash and May

Under the names was another set of stick figures, and Delia couldn't tell whether they were supposed to be hugging or smacking each other; she, thinking on it, realized she didn't want to know the answer. Folding it up, she leaned back, closing her eyes. We miss you too, she thought.

- - -