Bonus Chapter Part 9
(Taka)
Adrienn: You're early.
Taka: Not early enough, apparently. I was hoping not to keep you waiting.
Ash and Taka are now at the Grand Stairway, with Adrienn already there waiting for them.
Adrienn: I had other business. (Bows) Adrienn Flores. Despite my best efforts, I've done a woefully incomplete job of meeting each of the members of my community since this reconstruction got underway. I've seen you in the Nightclub, but missed the chance to make your acquaintance properly. Nevertheless, I understand you've been a good friend to Ash. Thank you for that.
Taka: I've missed too many opportunities for that and many other things myself. Don't worry about it on my behalf. But I'm glad Ash could introduce us now. Did you already hear my proposal?
Adrienn: Not the details. (Turns to the grand stairway) A cultural center, was it?
Taka: That's right. My father felt quite strongly about preserving the history and origin of the region. He was prepared to fight until his last breath for it- and he most certainly did. I still have quite a few feelings about not having been able to do more to stop that, but... I realize now that he had the wrong idea from the outset. Instead of struggling against progress, we should guide the people and teach them how to grow and respect everyone on this land.
Adrienn: Well, I have to say, I certainly much prefer your approach to your father's.
Taka: I'm starting to see how he was as much a hurt child as anyone else. Elias has told me a lot about my grandfather recently. He said that to lead is to walk with kindness and strength, hand in hand. I think this is what our family was always supposed to do. My father just got too caught up in his own pain and lost the plot for it. It's my responsibility to set us on the right path again.
Adrienn: Well, aside from the family legacy aspect, I'd say that's basically most of my opinions on the matter in a nutshell. Kindness and strength, hand in hand... I'd like to make that motto the core of this cultural center of yours.
Ash: So you would approve it, then?
Adrienn: If there were any doubt about that before, there isn't now. We're getting some deals going in other regions that can probably sustain the costs. The only concern is the space...
Taka: I don't think that'll be an issue. Actually, that's why I asked to meet you here.
Ash: I'm sure you know what the Grand Stairway is above. I think we can build up from there. This and the Grand Gate take up a needlessly large space. The lower floors can be for the preservation of the ruin, the middle can be an open terrace traffic-way for access to Route 1, and community facilities for recreation and education can be on the upper floors.
Adrienn: It sounds like you've gotten quite the jump on this. (Turns to Taka) And what would you say if I offered you a position leading and directly managing its development?
Taka: I'd say that would be very kind of you.
Adrienn: One's kindness; another's strength.
(Terra)
Terra: Mom, Dad, you here?
Terra is now back to her normal self as she brings Ash to her house, where her parents are waiting for her.
Mom: Honey, how've you been?! It's so nice to see you! How long has it been? We've seen you on the posters, and you know we are SO proud. I love the hair, but I can see those roots!
Dad: To what do we owe the pleasure all of the sudden?
Terra: I brought a friend. This is Ash. He's the champion.
Ash: It is nice to meet you all.
Dad: Well, well, well... Nice to meet you, Champion. Thanks for being a friend to our daughter. Just a peach, isn't she?
Terra: Stop it, Dad. Actually, there's something I should tell you guys... I brought Ash because I thought it might help to have someone else who was involved, and who's trustworthy. But I got mixed up in something I shouldn't have, and I did some... less than great things.
Dad: Oh, come on, the circus isn't that bad.
Mom: Not now, darling...
Dad: Right, right... Sorry, go on?
Terra: Before I left, I was bored. Actually, maybe more like depressed.
Mom: Depressed? I mean- honey, that's serious... Did we... do something?
Terra: Probably not. I don't know what could have been done. I just realized how inconsequential everything was. A normal family with a normal life and perfectly reasonable parents... To a lot of people, I'm sure that's way more than they ever had, and I'm just selfish and spoiled. But then, at least they had a reason for their problems. Stories are full of heroes and characters with zany powers, and this was just... School. Home. Sleep. Just like however many billion other people. I wanted to do something different.
Mom: Sure, I don't see the problem...
Dad: And that's why you left. Do you still feel that way now?
Terra: No. Not at all.
Dad: Then I'd say the lion-taming was worth it!
Terra: ...This isn't about the circus, Dad. I got over it, and I'm still having lots of fun with the people I've met. I'm lucky to have people like Ash who appreciate me. But there's a lot of guilt that I have to take responsibility for and still find a way to move forward with.
Mom: I don't understand what you mean.
Terra: ...So, do you guys remember that girl that stayed with us for a bit?
Mom: Of course! Quite a character she was!
Terra: Yeah, so, turns out she actually kind of became god for a while.
Dad: ...She what?
Ash can only smile at Terra and her reaction to her parents, and he decides to join in the conversation as they talk about Lin.
(Titania)
Titania: "The chandelier plumetted. One thousand glitzing crystal ornaments blitzed through the air to adorn themselves atop the dragon's head, and then crash to the ground like the crown of a king before the guillotine. The beast was slain. The knight exhaled, and knew that she had no more to do but step over the lamellar corpse languishing on the foyer floor and ascend the tower to her prize. One kiss, and they would live happily ever after."
Ash is with Titania at the Beryl Library, he is also wearing his Steel-Type outfit as they are having a story telling for the kids there.
Punk: Ack, it started already?! I didn't realize I was late! (Rushes in) Sorry- sorry for the interruption, sorry for the late! Gosh, I lost track of time. But I'm super excited for the reading- I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world! I read your book twice already myself. I'm not... too old to be here, am I?
Titania: ...Not in spirit, at least. Fairy tales are only seen as being for kids because they have historically been used as a method of moral education and imperative. A truly good story can be enjoyed by all.
Kid: But it's over? You said, "happily ever after," so- That means it's over, right?
Titania: I did say that. But you see, that was only the prologue. "Chapter 1: The Princess with a Heart of Glass"
Ash smiles for Titania, their relationship is actually a hard one compared to Amaria, but they're surprised that she would be earlier than Amaria to confess her relationship to Ash. Mostly because of everything that happened in Never After. Titania was just too shy and hot-headed to confess, but Ash is the only one who manages to access to her soft side, besides Amaria.
(Victoria)
Victoria: Everyone can see this bowl, right? So, I'm going to put some rocks into this bowl.
Ash is now with Victoria at Apopyll Beach, Ash is in his Fighting-Type outfit as he is watching over Victoria's lecture. Victoria is now putting the rocks into the bowl.
Victoria: ...There, that should do it. Does anyone think I can fit more into the bowl? (Looks to the students) Anyone?
Hiker: Looks full to me.
Blackbelt: Yeah, no way.
Victoria: Right. Except... Say, rather than rocks, I now fill it with sand (Puts the sand inside) There was quite a bit of room in there after all, wasn't there?
Hiker: I, uh, assumed you meant rocks...
Victoria: Gotcha~ But, now- I mean, it's packed to the brim. There's no way anything else will fit into it, right?
Youngster: No...?
Nature Girl: It's full.
Victoria: Tsk, tsk, tsk. But what if I were now to pour some water into the bowl?
Nature Girl: Okay, that's cheating.
Victoria: Perhaps, but then, who is making the rules? Now let's do something else. First, I'll empty the bowl; we're starting over... (Empties the bowl) Okay, now as you can see, I've filled the bowl with sand from the get-go. Can I fit any rocks into this bowl?
Hiker: If it's specifically rocks, no. Surely not.
Victoria: Correct. When we start with the rocks, there's room for the sand. When we start with the sand, there's no room for rocks. You can think of the sand as our everyday responsibilities. Work, house chores, and so on. If we prioritize them, we have no room for other things. But if we prioritize the rocks, which we can think of as things we truly enjoy- our passions and aspirations... Well, the sand finds a way regardless, doesn't it?
Youngster: What about the water?
Victoria: The water... (Smiles at Ash, who smiles back) I prefer to think of it as the people we care about. There's always room for them.
Just then, the lecture is interrupted by two people who come in.
Ranger: Excuse me?
Victoria: How can we help you?
Ranger: We're from the Johto Region... Er, we heard something about some kind of famous spiritual counselor out here? We were hoping to study with her.
Victoria: ...Ah, I'm sorry. If you mean Kiki, I'm afraid she's no longer with us.
Ranger: No, no, no that ain't it- Her name was, uh, Victoria?
Victoria: ...Oh? ...Oh! Yes, that would be me. Please, take a seat; you're very welcome!
Ash is now smiling at Victoria, she also confesses her feelings to Ash a few days after the battle with Lin, even though she has been tired with the work from Apopyll and Grand Hall, Ash would always help her out and she's grateful. And that's when they also confess to each other.
(Yancy)
Yancy: So what do you think we should do with this Ebony Stonepiece?
Ash: I think we should make it into an item as well?
Ash is now in his Rock-Type outfit while with Yancy. The two of them are now having a discussion with the four keys and the Ebony Stonepiece that Yancy found the other day. But when Ash touches the stone, he starts to see a flashback. He sees Lin falling into Citae Astre as she's wounded until the Arceus offspring comes and heals her
Yancy: Ash, are you okay?
Ash: I'm fine, it is just that being the Arceus, I think I have some flashbacks about how I met Lin for the first time...
Yancy: You mean the Arceus' offspring?
Ash: Yeah, but it is just a memory, so we shouldn't think about it at all.
Ash and Yancy continue to check through the items, and Ash also remembers how he also confesses to Yancy after showing her around Victory Road and collecting some jewelry there. And whenever Yancy has a fan meeting, he would be there as her bodyguard as well, much to her delight.
And that's all of them, the next chapter will be the final chapter of the whole story, and there will also be an author's note in the last chapter.
