PokeStones of the Dead - Epilogue
Temperance opened his eyes. Another day. But a special one – he had plans for this day. The chill breeze of air-conditioning was refreshing, waking him up completely. His Poke Balls lay on the dresser, and Temperance quickly dressed, clipping them to his belt. He needed to be ready at all times during challenging hours. While those hadn't started yet, and the chances were low that a trainer would come knocking in the first place, it never hurt to be a little early. And after all, his job was not restricted to defeating other people. Entering his office, Temperance walked the distance to his desk, where he booted up his computer. There were a few daily tasks to do – simple stuff, just observation – before he could start his preparations.
Mail… nothing of note here, just the monthly reports from the Gym Leaders… oh yeah, the search for new Celadon and Vermillion Gym Leaders has begun… and the subsequent rebuilding of the two PokeStones will follow… Yeah, there wasn't really anything new. Temperance attended to some documents that needed his attention, signing over some of them, writing carefully crafted replies for another few, and crumpling them up and throwing them away for others. Eventually, he was done, and the morning had yet to pass. Checking the electronic board at his quarters for a final, just-in-case time, Temperance confirmed that there were no trainers that needed his attention – whether for queries of for battle. Sighing, Temperance strolled through the rest of his quarters, grabbing a drink and a sandwich, then walked towards another destination. It almost seemed like too slack a life after all the action he had experienced since his return to Kanto, but he knew that while a desk job didn't suit his nature, the work was certainly important. And besides, the trainers would come knocking soon enough.
Temperance walked along the corridor, past other rooms, his right hand unconsciously twirling the ring on his left ring finger. He had found it after the battle, glad to have the heirloom back again, even if he had managed fine without it for the latter half of his adventure. Sliding the back door open, leading to a private garden, Temperance walked out, the winter breeze causing some chill, but nothing his fur jacket couldn't handle. Light snow was falling. The trees in the garden were adorned with snow and icicles on the bare branches, and Temperance heard the unmistakable crunch of ice as he walked down the path. The garden was well-maintained, and somehow felt lively even in winter. Except for a single corner, where a few gravestones lay.
Temperance walked over to them, paying his respects to each one, saying a few words of blessing. His parents' bodies had been found – mercifully unspoilt by the rampaging Dead – a few weeks ago, and they had been laid there at Temperance's request. Touching his ring to the stone, Temperance knelt in prayer – not to any specific deity, but rather to his parents' spirits. Then he turned to the next few graves, and said a few words of apology, for his crime, for his madness. Would the three legendary birds forgive him when it was his turn to pass to the afterlife? It was yet early days for such thoughts, and Temperance did not allow himself to get consumed by self-doubt. He did still have a few decades to ask for forgiveness, anyway.
"Temperance, sir. You have a visitor."
Temperance rose from his position, and turned to the butler, who usually would not have been allowed to interrupt Temperance's actions during his lunch hour. "A trainer?" Temperance's first instinct was to think that a trainer had come knocking already, but a quick check on the electronic board above the back door showed that no such thing had taken place.
"No, sir. It's someone who threatened to knock you out if you didn't go back in to grant an audience."
"And rightly I should, Temperance. You haven't forgotten about me, have you?"
"Lillette! You're supposed to be in hospital!" Temperance exclaimed, as he signalled to the butler to excuse himself for a while. Turning towards the door, where Lillette had obviously followed the butler to, Temperance motioned for her to come out, until he realised that she wasn't wearing anything remotely suited for the cold. "Uh… I don't think that's standard attire for the weather."
"Taxi journey from the hospital to here, Temperance. I was discharged early, as you no doubt realise by now, if your reaction times have improved one bit. I never had to go out into the cold." Now, before my arms freeze and fall off, perhaps we should like, go in?"
Temperance led the way, moving through the corridors of Indigo Plateau, before he climbed up a series of spiral staircases to the observatory, where they could see a perfect view of Viridian and the cities beyond. When he reached the top, he pushed open a door onto a balcony, where several comfortable couches were placed. About to sit down on an armchair, he took a glance at Lillette's askance expression and quickly shifted his movement so he landed on the lovers' seat instead.
"So, what's up?"
"Nothing much, completely healed, and I've come to take a look at what the Champion of Kanto was doing. Not very much, from what I saw. Don't you have like, more important work to do?"
"Very funny. If you're not happy with my work, I can always resign and then you won't get a chance to be First Lady."
"First Lady? Is this some sort of joke?"
"Well, assuming no one beats me in battle, and I get re-elected by the Gym Leaders two years from now… And another four years later…"
"Marriage at 22? You presume a lot, Temperance, sir. But I think you won't be beaten for a few years at least – trainers are still starting off, and – don't let it get to your head – you ARE a decent Pokemon trainer. As for election…" Lillette motioned over the railing, where trainers could be seen battling wild Pokemon and each other – just like the old days. "I think you'll be re-elected."
Temperance laughed, before drawing his lips close to hers in a kiss. "I'll take that to be a yes."
END