I can't believe it's been almost a month since my return to Four Island. Time certainly does fly - especially now that Elio's overall health has become my utmost priority. It's certainly been a hurdle to get him re-accustomed to a life of normalcy - but I'm determined to exorcise his demons, one by one. The island's residents, mostly kind, elderly folks, have been instrumental in helping him to socialize again - albeit at the cost of incurring their occasional, but sometimes inquisitive, teasing.

"Lorelei, I refuse to believe that he is just your friend!"

"He is, Mrs. Caines," I wearily reiterate for the umpteenth time.

What should've been a leisurely stroll along the strip of bone-white sand bordering Four Island's western shores has turned into an interrogative session for Elio and I, conducted by Meredith Caines, the island's biggest gossip fiend - and judging from the red tinge of visible embarrassment on Elio's cheeks, he's just about had enough of her prodding.

"Oh?" Meredith blurts in disbelief, clutching her back as she suddenly gestures at Elio's face with the tip of her cane. "Then why are you blushing, dear? There must be a reason - just come out with it, now."

Startled, Elio can hardly find the words to say. "I - um - Mrs. Caines, I - "

"I'm in love with her - that's what you meant to say, did you?" she cackles, a triumphant grin splitting her wrinkled face.

I glance at Elio's face - and he looks utterly mortified.

He glances at me for help. "No, that's n-not what I was going to say - "

"No need to be embarrassed about it, dear," Meredith murmurs as she winks conspiratorially. "You couldn't have fallen in love with a kinder person - see, she's fattened you up quite well - and you've got a lovely little twinkle in your eyes - they used to look so scared. But don't worry, darling, I won't tell a soul - "

A wave of nausea promptly washes over me - because I know that's total bullshit. She's going to tell the entire island - and I'm going to end up looking like a thirsty cougar, or worse -

"You're too much, Mrs. Caines," I sigh out of sheer exasperation. "He's recently gone through a really rough time in his life and I'm simply here to help him get back on his feet - "

"Graaaaaaaaaah!"

The roar, explosive and abrupt, drowns the remainder of my words as a large shadow temporarily blocks out the noonday sun above us; then a voice, loud and familiar, cries from above.

"Lorelei! Elio!"

Glancing up, our eyes widen as we behold the large, cream-colored underbelly of what appears to be a Dragonite. Sitting atop its back is a a tall, thin man with spiky, crimson hair - and a long, flowing cape.

"Lance?" I cry out. "Is that you?"

Of course it's him - and his sudden appearance here quickly sows a seed of anxiety in my gut. It only grows as his Dragonite plummets from the sky like a rock, before roughly settling on the warm sands barely ten feet away from us.

"My, my, my," Meredith blurts excitedly, glancing at Lance, then at us. "I think I see it now - I see the truth!"

Casually strolling up to us, Lance has no idea what he's getting into - and he blunders right into it.

"What truth?" he inquires, smiling curiously.

"Aha!" Meredith cries jubilantly. "You're Lorelei's ex-boyfriend - and both of you recently broke up, so Lorelei decided to get a little boy toy to keep her company!"

Lance, Elio and I merely stare at her, blankly, until she gets the message.

"Hmmm, maybe I was wrong," Meredith mutters, visibly perturbed. "I'll just leave you three alone, then."

She hobbles away, somewhat hastily, as embarrassment, perhaps, begins to set in.

"I'm glad that's over," Elio breathes. "She's so insatiable."

"And I'm glad both of you are safe and sound," Lance remarks, chuckling. "Both of you have literally dropped off the grid."

"There's a reason for that," I snap, shooting him a frigid look. It may seem unwarranted - but if the League's sent him to coerce us into returning - I won't have any of it.

"Why are you here, Lance?" I demand. "Are you here for me - or Elio?"

Sensing my rising hostility, he holds his hands out placatingly. "Relax, Lorelei - I'm actually here for neither of you. It's just that there's been a number of events that've recently occurred that I think you'd like to be aware of."

"What events?" Elio inquires, eyeing him distrustfully.

"Well," Lance begins, tapping his chin with his index finger, "It appears that when word of what took place at Celadon City finally reached the League, Agatha didn't like it at all. She then approached the higher-ups with a simple proposition - drastically revise the regulations regarding the the age of entry to the League challenge so as to prevent similar situations from recurring in the future - or risk receiving her swift resignation."

"Let me guess," I interject, smirking. "They didn't care."

"Not one bit," Lance replies, sighing. "She resigned the very next day, which means that we currently have two vacant positions for the Elite Four - seeing that you obviously don't have any intentions of returning. I dont blame you, either - their unwillingness to change and address these issues has finally begun to grate on my nerves."

"See," Elio mutters under his breath. "I told you, Lorelei - we're just idols - or magnets - for thousands of trainers - "

"Yes," Lance agrees, his brows furrowing. "Due to our battling prowess and allure, we keep the Poké Marts and Pokémon Centers in constant use and ensure that the Gyms never go out of business - while ensuring that the League, who owns these properties, never finds itself out of funds."

"Then, if you don't like it, why don't you resign?" Elio queries.

"That's a good question," Lance muses, "but for me, I'm afraid it's not so simple to let it all go. I will explain, however, why I choose to cling to the League."

"The League needs a face, Elio. A lofty ideal for aspiring trainers to reach - a Champion. As one of the few people who've toiled to reach that ideal - you've painfully been made aware of the responsibilities that arise as a result of being a part of that ideal."

"These responsibilities come in many forms, such as keeping the peace, tackling nefarious criminal organizations - or even putting oneself at risk of death in order to ensure the safety of the region. You see, when a Champion's tenure ends, or he leaves, as Red did - those responsibilities are transferred to the successor - regardless of whether or not the successor is capable of bearing. It's an unforgiving cycle, Elio, and it tends to break those who fall prey to it - as it almost broke you."

Lance turns to me. "To that end, Lorelei, I must thank you. I will admit that the last time I'd called you, I'd only done so with the goal of preserving this cycle - while being well shamelessly aware of what happened to Elio's predecessor, Red."

He momentarily pauses, as if unearthing an event buried beneath countless memories.

"Red was - and still is - one of the greatest Champions to ever exist. In the eyes of people far and wide, his deeds, those known and unknown, have become that of legends - but what the legends seldom speak of is his life as a young Trainer - one marred by unimaginable feats of courage and strength. The inevitable psychological and mental stress that he must have withstood both before, during and after his time as a Champion is that which no young Trainer today should never have to experience - and that brings us to the answer to your question, Elio."

He sighs deeply, as if the world's suddenly suddenly shifted itself onto his shoulders.

"I cannot resign - because you are looking at Kanto's new Champion."

Our jaws drop, whereupon his lips curl into a grin.

"Don't look so surprised, you two. Elio, you've shown the League - no, all of Kanto - that we tend to hold our young Trainers - our future - to such high standards that life tends to overwhelm them - and so, I've decided to step up, and put an end - if at least a temporary one, to such a cycle of injustice."

"Lance," I say, still dumbstruck at this revelation. "Are you sure - "

"Certainly," he replies, nodding. "Being a Trainer has a certain, special kind of magic to it - and at the very least, I'd like to offer Elio a chance to roam the world and rediscover that magic again."

"I - I don't know what to say," I stutter, and upon seeing Elio's equally shocked look, he's experiencing a similar loss for words. "You're really something, Lance."

To that, he blushes, a rare sight from him. "I like to think so," he says humbly. "And Elio, if, at some point in the future, you should feel inclined to challenge me, I will always be waiting at the Indigo Plateau."

"I'll do that!" Elio swears. "I'll get stronger - and you'd better be prepared, Lance!"

"That's what I'm here to hear," Lance reveals, smiling proudly. "Nourish that fiery passion - and there's no end to what you can accomplish."

He turns to me. "And Lorelei - you've done a marvelous job with him - so keep guiding him."

"I definitely will," I vow, nodding. "I'll keep him well fed and on his toes."

"Huh," Lance says, chuckling. "You know, I never figured you as the apron-wearing, mommy type - but maybe I was wrong."

"Lance!" I blurt, red-faced. "You know I'm not like that - "

"Mooooooom!" Elio chimes in, setting my face afire. "I'm huuuuuuungry!"

And that's when my hands reach for his neck.

"Well, I'll leave you to it," Lance chuckles as Elio's eyes bulge from the playful squeeze of my fingers. "I've got three new Elite Four members to find, seeing that Bruno doesn't have any intentions of leaving his position. I wish you two the best of luck - and pay me a visit sometimes, will ya, Lorelei?"

"Maybe," I say, lifting an eyebrow. "No promises, Lance."

He sighs dejectedly. "Fair enough."

He hops atop the back of his Dragonite, who gives us a parting roar as it ascends, bearing its waving rider into the sky. Waving back, we watch them vanish into the clouds.

"Everything's changed," Elio ponders, staring out over the lapping waves nearby. "It's a shame that I almost took my life for it to happen, but I can't complain with the results – after all, I can do whatever I want now!"

"Got anything specific in mind?" I ask, enjoying this new, optimistic side of him.

"Like I told Lance - I'm going to get stronger!" Elio cries, excitedly punching the air. "Then I'm going to travel the world and beat all the gyms - I've got so many regions to go to - Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh - "

I'd previously thought, before meeting Elio, that rising to the position of being a member of the Elite Four was my greatest accomplishment - but seeing the fire I've rekindled in Elio, knowing that he'll probably change the world - I realize that I hadn't even begun.

"And I'm going to get you started," I say, my hand clamping around his wrist as I drag him in the direction of my cottage. "Time to get some food in you, then we're off for a training match in Icefall Cave."

We're not even there yet and he's already shuddering. "But, Mooooooooom - "

"Shut up!" I playfully retort. "Call me your mom again and I'll go twice as hard on you!"

I giggle as he squirms in my grip; now that he's finally free from his role, there's no telling how high he'll soar - or how brightly he'll shine.


A/N: Well, this is it - the last chapter! I must say - I really enjoyed writing this, even though this was my first attempt at writing using the first-person POV. For those who've made it this far, I hope this was at least a decently good read. I've got a few ideas that I can't wait to write about - and until then, stay safe out there, and take care!