Long Lasting Life
"When I became new Champion, I was nervous. This was the first time I was to be permanent champion and I had worked really hard to do this, especially training my Pokémon and raising them with lots of love. It's just like being a mother to so many children and nurturing them for life. I was excited of course, I was the champion; it is the greatest honour a trainer could hold in the world!"
"But when I figured out I was to be ruler of this whole country and to pick the new gym leaders for the next ten years or so, I was scared. Rather, I was terrified; this was a huge responsibility. It could make or break a country, their subjects and people; or even the dreams of young upstart trainers who want to carve their own name in such a world. This was a life-changing, heart-rending decision. Fortunately, I knew very few people, so partiality wasn't a problem. I was also worried about how they would handle it; it was such a hard job. Especially so because I held these dramatic elections; it was so unnerving initially. But when I got to know all these lovely people and everything they had in store, I knew. I was putting my country in safe hands, secure strong hands that would bring out a whole new insight into this world and be the model example all Pokémon trainers wanted. I knew I had to go with my instincts, my natural flow; all those invaluable lessons in psychology and morality, education! You just cannot live without it..."
"I realised so much when I started doing these elections. I gained so much more confidence, inspiration and the feeling that working for the benefit of my country and all the Pokémon of the world is the greatest joy of them all and nothing in this world could replace it. It was a labour of love I was; performing, not just for them, but myself. I now truly understood the meaning of deontology; why it was needed. Not just to uphold the rights of morality, but the reason that being right and moral in your own sense, it brings a strange self –satisfaction in you; you did the right thing and nothing else can ever give you the euphoric feeling as much as clearing of guilt and being proud of all your actions so far... I have no possible words left!" Cynthia then said in between tears "I realised that I truly loved everything I do; I love people, I love Pokémon, I love everything! I will always be there for my country, now and forever! And that is a promise I will never ever break, as long as the great god Arceus bestows life upon me! And that is a fact!"
"Funny thing, faith; It really makes you feel on top of the world."
The whole city, rather whole country stood up and gave her a standing ovation. Cynthia was the most honest person in the whole world and they needed a champion like her. All the leaders cheered and applauded Cynthia, while Flint presented her the official champion trophy to keep until the best winner arrived. "I love you all!" she exclaimed before going away. The rest of the public came after her while the other leaders were in tears them, Roark too.
"I swear, are you crying?" Gardenia interjected. "Do I look like I'm crying love?" he lied. "I think so..." Gardenia replied mischievously while playing red hands with him and then secretly grasping his hands. "What better way could be there to be gym leaders of the world; loving and all?" Gardenia crooned. "Nothing I can think of." He replied while grasping her hand and then their heads bent towards each other. One guy did see this though, and who else was it but Byron himself who was smiling away on seeing the two lovers get all mushy. Then he glanced at Gardenia and passed her a look saying "Thank you, dear." Gardenia smiled back. "You're welcome." She whispered and then went ahead with her new boyfriend.
Eterna Forest was never ever this sunny, but the two felt like on top of the world playing with each other and having a few mock battles for strength's sake. Then they just flopped down like they did many times before and just stared at the sky. "We really shouldn't be doing this, you know." Roark commented. "Why not?" Gardenia asked. "If we keep staring at the sun, we'll get blind." He answered and then Gardenia just sighed. Then she plays her hands on his hair, and slowly removed his mining helmet, the getting quicker. "What the heck?" Roark interjected. "Give me back my helmet!" he yelled. "Not if you catch me!" she teased and made him chase her round for a really long time until he got tired and then flopping down; said "I give up. You win." Gardenia then pulled his hair and began ruffling it. "So there really is no bald spot... you look cute with this, you know! Don't ever change yourself; your glasses really turn me on!" she said sweetly and then started to noogie him. "You are sooo screwed!" he said and then noogied her too until both fell onto the grass laughing and watching Cranidos and Roserade get cosy too.
"Thanks a lot for doing this to master!" Cranidos said. "Oh well, it was the least I could do." Roserade sneered and then looked into his eyes. "You know, mistress really was right; you really are cute." She spoke. "Really?" he asked her hopefully. "Would I ever lie to you about that?" she asked him playfully and then cuddled up near him, making him scarlet all over. Roark smiled "Maybe when he's a little older, he just might be her perfect guy." He stated. "A bit like how I found you now?" Gardenia joked and then pulled Roark towards her. "Yeah, you could say that." He said pecking her cheek. 'You still lack the guts, don't you?" she teased and then kissed him lovingly while ruffling his hair, it was so thick and beautiful.
Then they just sat backs touching each other and started dreaming about life in general. "Really, Roarky; there is so much to think about and be amazed by." She expressed. "Come again, love?" Roark asked. She blushed- "I mean, look at it... One minute you were a gym leader of a wonderful city and then you were abdicating the very next." She confessed. Roark was cringing a bit "Don't make me feel guilty about this, you know." He scoffed. "Really? How do you think I felt?" Gardenia argued while ruffling his hair yet again to irritate him. "You really don't stop irritating me ever, do you?" he teased when she let him go. "Well, of course I won't!" she teased making him sigh in frustration yet couldn't help but giggle; his girlfriend was such an angel and he wouldn't want her any other way. "Especially because we are lovers, irritation should be mandatory, don't you think... So say goodbye to this helmet!" she screamed and then attempted flinging in the lake, only to be caught by Roark. "Not so fast, sucker!" he scoffed and then chased her round and then beckoned for the Pokémon to join too. After an hour's chasing, they toppled onto the grass yet again, now really bushed until Gardenia suddenly put her head onto Roark's shoulder from behind. "You know, I love the idea of us dating; I'd been dreaming about this since high school!" she confessed. Roark turned scarlet "What? Seriously?" he blurted. "Yeah, it's true. I never thought too much, but it was far too overpowering, you know." She confessed, making Roark blush and then burst into a tinkling laugh. "Guess I really am that handsome then!" he said giggling a little bit and then playing with her hair. Soon the sun was setting and they were staring at it like many times before.
"You know, when we were still contestants, I dreaded the day that we would never get to be together." Gardenia admitted. "Yeah, I know. I thought we'd be too caught up with our own work." He admitted. Then Gardenia leaned in more and said "Well, it only strengthened being gym leader. And thanks so much for giving me the shiny stone; I never expected that, really!" "Oh please, Gardenia! It's only fair, owing to the fact that I finally got to be and discover myself being with you, don't you think? It does sound condescending but you know what I mean, right?" he replied crimson while leaning into her. She blushed in amazement "Really? You thought so?" she asked wide eyed. "Well, yeah. Else would I change in front of you like that day?" Roark laughed, followed by her punching his arm hard.
"Ow!" he moaned. "Serves you right, sucker!" Gardenia laughed then noogieing him and then suddenly pulling him to her. "All the same, it's this stuff that makes you cute, right?" she spoke and then kissed him really hard and long, while he joined in and hugged her back. It was longer than usual, for even though they'd been together for a few days, they felt like they knew each other for eons. Actually, they did, but that's a different matter. Soon the sun had set after hours and then some flower petals blew into their faces. "Reminds you of those movie scenes, right?" Roark asked. "All the privacy in the world..." Gardenia then playfully hit him. "Don't ruin the moment." She scolded as their Pokémon fell asleep. Then she said "But you know, isn't it because of the fact we are equals it makes the relationship even more exciting than it already is?" she said making him smile.
"Although it's true, it is really private..." she said hugging him romantically until she heard someone say. "Awww! Look at my boy! So grown up now!" Roark froze- someone saw them! Then he turned round to see his father there, in shock. "Dad! Hi!" he said. Then Byron smiled "I never expected this for so long! Aren't you a man now?" he said sweetly and then smiled "Congratulations, Roark! I'm so proud of you!" and hugged his son, who now cried. "Oh, son! You have no idea how I really felt! You never did!" he said, himself crying. "I can't believe... I love you dad!" Roark confessed as his father hugged him harder. "Son, no matter how much fossils are my first love, nothing in this whole world could ever tarnish the joy I had seeing my first born transcend from a boy to a man... nothing at all will ever. I love you, son. I really do."
Gardenia just smile herself, almost crying until Roark saw her. "Baby! I swear I saw you crying!" he insisted. "No I was not!" she insisted and then kissed Roark's forehead. Then he put her head on his shoulder as Byron kept smiling. "Getting clumsier, are you?" he joked, making Roark blush. "Come on to my house! Been a long time since we've been this close, have we? Nit such a bad idea bringing your girlfriend exploring now, will it?"
Roark's eyes widened- he accepted this; his dad really did care all along.
"Come on, son! Let's proceed!" he said as they all walked off into the sunset with their Pokémon asleep on his back. Roark was holding Gardenia's arm and cherishing everything she did for him; as his best friend and lover. She did the very same things he never could; bring back his family or making him feel stronger. Then he remembered a poem that his female friend composed once
Taste the sea, feel the wind
In its natural caress
As the earth showers you with her bountiful
To the child skirting her dress
Strawberry tongue, sour salt
The beauty of it all
Butterfly's touch, it means so much
As it blows on its angelic clarion call
He now understood the real meaning of it. He was now much richer by a beautiful lover and his father reunited. And that was the whole idea- to be in touch with your senses and be as free as the wind. And what wasn't there that Roark had? He was a leader, had a wonderful Pokémon, a free spirited lover and family. He accomplished everything he needed to so far.
He felt the butterfly's touch.
I especially thank malory79080 for her invaluable support and motivating me to wirte through her reviews. I was really happy and I thank you a ton for it. I also thank bravobravo for his constructive review and his support,SuperDaikenki too plus all my favouriters and followers. You've been a wonderful support, it is really touching! :')
Now that this is over, write to me about your favourite parts, I'd love to know. Now I'm out people! Peace!
