Author's Note: Hello, all! College is really keeping me busy...luckily I remembered that today's post-a-chapter day! XD Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this one, even though it's sad. D:

Seven Nights

Night Seven: Epiphany

Jirachi had woken up early that morning.

Watching the sun rise for the last time for a thousand years, he thought about all the things he'd seen and learned. Every time he woke up, the world was so different, and it was hard to see more than a little of it in the short time he had each time.

But this time...

This time he had seen more than just the world. He had seen pain, he had seen sorrow, he had seen joy and exhilaration and... and whatever that feeling was when Celebi touched him or held his hand...

He had learned about death, and time travel, and wishing fountains...He'd never experienced so much in seven days before. As the orange sun began to rise in the sky, painting the horizon in soft pastels, he glanced at Celebi, his eyes clouding over with sadness.

He'd never wanted to stay so much before. He'd never had so much to say to a Pokémon, and yet have no idea how to say it. What was it he would say when he fell asleep? His mind raced with all the possibilities. Farewell. Thank you for all you've taught me. Sorry I could not stay with you. I never wanted this to end.

Please don't leave me.

That was the one he always came back to. He knew she wasn't leaving him by choice, and neither was he, but it felt like that was the thing he wanted to tell her the most: he wished she'd never leave. He wanted to stay in this place forever, with its many-colored trees, its plentiful berries, its sandy beach, its cities, its endless sky...

And Celebi.

How could he possibly wake up again without Celebi? Her kindness, her song, her warm hand and comforting arms? How had he woken up every other time without her? It made his heart sink to just think about a world with no Celebi.

Celebi had told him once, when he was sad for Sachi's loss, that she was never really gone as long as he remembered her. Would that prove true for Celebi as well? Would she be there with him as long as he held fast to the memory of her?

His eyes took her in, trying to memorize her.

She stirred, and he jolted a little, startled by the movement. Was she waking up already?

Celebi turned over, her face screwed up in an expression of pain, murmuring and whimpering in her sleep. Jirachi scooted closer to her with concern, trying to make out what she was saying.

"Don't go," she repeated, over and over again. "Don't go. Don't go." She trailed off into a series of whimpers, and Jirachi took her by the shoulders and shook her gently. Celebi started and cried out, sitting straight up.

"Celebi, it is okay," he whispered as she panted, looking around frantically. "I am still here. It was just a dream."

"Jirachi," she said, relieved. She searched him with her eyes. "How long have you been awake?"

He shrugged. "About an hour, perhaps more," he answered. Her eyes looked sympathetic, and he knew she hadn't gotten much sleep either.

"Well, as long as we're both up, we might as well start the day," she said, getting to her feet.

(-o-)

Both Pokémon were somewhat subdued that day. They kept their conversations light and happy, but after each laugh, there would be a long silence in which each thought sadly of the other.

Celebi reminded herself that she'd never really spent this long in one time before. She was used to skipping ten or fifty years in either direction as often as she pleased. But now that she had seen what it was like to simply enjoy the day-to-day life in one constant time, she realized how much she had liked it. The life of a time-traveler was a lonely one, and Jirachi had filled the void in her life that she hadn't known existed.

They did all their normal activities. Celebi took Jirachi to the beach a final time, and they sat on the shore side-by-side. Celebi watched the waves slowly creep up to wash over Jirachi's feet. It was almost as if they were trying to reach up and hold onto Jirachi; like they were reluctant to let him go.

(-o-)

"Celebi," Jirachi said softly as they ate Mago berries halfheartedly for lunch, "There is so much I have not said to you that I want to say." They sat beneath the Cheri tree under which they had met, though none of them had really thought about it. It seemed quite nostalgic. Had it really only been a week?

Celebi glanced over at him, intrigued. "Well, say it now," she suggested with a shrug.

He looked down at his feet, shuffling them a little awkwardly. "If I knew how to say them, I would," he admitted. "But it seems I cannot even find the words."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," she sympathized, watching the leaves rustle as a gentle breeze blew by.

"I mean to say..." Jirachi started again, playing with the swaying blades of grass, "Thank you, Celebi," he finally managed, looking up at her. "Thank you for showing me so much of this world. I am truly grateful."

"Hey, no problem," she said casually, hugging her knees to her chest.

"And more than that," Jirachi continued, struggling to find words, "Thank you for showing me what it's like to have a true friend." His voice thickened a little. "I will never forget that."

Celebi stared at the ground, trying not to give in to impulse and burst into tears. "You're welcome," she said softly. "I should be thanking you too, Jirachi. I've never had a real friend, either. Just people and Pokémon I've helped or who have helped me. But knowing someone really cares about me... Knowing someone will actually be sad to leave me..." her voice broke a little, but she still refused to let the tears come out. "That really means a lot to me, Jirachi."

He looked at her, his eyes large with emotion. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again. Silently, he reached his small hand over and clasped hers. She jumped slightly at the unexpected contact and glanced at him. He was smiling at her with an expression that was intended to be reassuring, but looked to Celebi as if it was just hiding sadness. She said nothing as she looked at the ground again, softly squeezing his hand.

(-o-)

When the sun began to sink from the sky, Celebi felt a growing sense of dread. It was getting close to the time it had been when she had awakened Jirachi, and she knew she didn't have much time left. Like Jirachi had said, there was so much she hadn't told him— yet how could she say it? "Thank you for showing me what it's like to have a friend"? "I'll never forget you"? Everything she thought of seemed corny and unnatural— like it didn't really convey what she wanted.

She glanced over at Jirachi, with whom she was sitting in the branches of the Pecha tree. They had flown around the forest a few hours prior, and now they were both sufficiently tired out. Celebi knew this could have shortened her time with Jirachi, but wanted to make sure they spent their last hours together doing something they enjoyed.

"Celebi," Jirachi mumbled, breaking the silence. "I am beginning to feel drowsy..."

Celebi's heart clenched. "I know," she said. "It's okay."

"No, it is not," he murmured. "I want to stay here forever..."

"Me too," she admitted, choked. Both Pokémon gazed at the sunset, just as the sun dipped below the horizon. The moon was just barely visible in the hazy sky, still painted in shades of pink and orange. How could the sky be so beautiful at this moment when her time with Jirachi was rapidly coming to a close?

"Celebi..." Jirachi whispered, and then suddenly he swayed and fell out of the tree.

"Jirachi!" she yelled, swooping down and catching him, gently lowering him to the ground. He looked up at her, his eyes glazed slightly and half-closed. The slit on his belly seemed to be opening up a little. "Jirachi...what is that?" she asked in hushed tones.

"My...true eye..." he said sleepily. "It opens... when I go to sleep..." The slit opened a little more, and Celebi glimpsed a bit of the piercing blue iris in its center. All of a sudden, panic crashed down around her as she fully grasped what was happening.

"Jirachi!" she said desperately, holding his limp form. "Please don't go yet!"

"Celebi..." he said, struggling to keep his eyes open. "I know it is my job, but... will you grant me... a wish?..."

She looked into his eyes as her vision swam before her, blurring with unshed tears. She blinked them away. "Anything," she said, struggling to keep her voice from shaking.

"Sing me... your song..." Jirachi requested faintly, a ghost of a smile flitting across his face. His true eye had opened almost all the way, opening more and more as Jirachi's eyes eyelids drifted downward slowly.

Celebi made a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob. "Of course," she said, and began,

"Forest, oh so deep and green
Hide me so I can't be seen
Your high-up boughs will be my bed
Your leaves a pillow for my head
Your rustling my lullaby."

The song was sad and slow, not sweet and light as it usually was. But Jirachi listened intently all the same, relishing the sound of her voice. His true eye stared at the stars, which were beginning to appear in the night sky, unblinking and emotionless.

"Forest, oh so green and deep
Branches rocking me to sleep
Your hidden fruits, which feed me well
Within your sacred hollows dwell
For nothing will I wont or sigh..."

A peaceful smile drifted across the face of the small Pokémon in her arms as she sang. Celebi's voice was choked and wavering, not nearly as pure and sweet as it normally was, but Jirachi seemed soothed by the sound all the same. He let out a sigh as she continued.

"Forest, with your secret charm
Your canopy will keep me warm
High above in branches tall;

The ones below will look so small
When I sleep so close to the sky..."

Jirachi's eyes began to flutter, and suddenly a glow appeared around him, and a piece of violet quartz-like crystal appeared around his feet, encasing them. Celebi choked out a sob, but would not stop her song.

"O, Your rustling my lullaby,
For nothing... w-will I wont or sigh
When I sleep s-so close to the s...s-sky..."

Almost without noticing, she had broken down into sobs, tears rolling down her face as Jirachi listened peacefully. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm not singing it well..."

"No, Celebi," he murmured. "If I must leave this world for now... I am glad the last thing I hear will be your voice." The crystal crackled and spread up to cover his waist, and Celebi hugged his form, sobs wracking her small body as she squeezed the crystal.

Jirachi's peaceful expression wavered, and his eyes filled with tears as well. "Please, Celebi... do not cry... I...I cannot bear it..." His chrysalis spread to cover his true eye.

"I'm sorry," she wept, holding him close. "I'm sorry," she repeated, and she wiped her eyes vigorously with one arm, rubbing away all the tears that would not stop. "Please, Jirachi... please don't go..." Her heart felt like it was being torn in two. There was something she just had to say to him...but what? Her heart was too consumed in anguish to allow her brain to sort out her thoughts, and she merely found herself babbling to him pitifully. "Please don't leave me. Stay here. Just a little longer. Please..."

He looked at her sadly, the heartbreak in his eyes reflecting hers. "I cannot, Celebi..." he said, and as his eyes blinked sleepily, tears spilled down his cheeks as well, down the turquoise trails that led from his eyes as if following a course. His cocoon spread to cover his neck, leaving only his head visible.

"I'm sorry, Jirachi!" she cried out, not knowing exactly what she was sorry about. Sorry that she couldn't stay with him. Sorry that they hadn't done more. Sorry that she couldn't stop this endless stream of tears like he had asked her to.

Jirachi's chrysalis closed around his head, and his face was the only thing left for her to see. She hugged the warm crystal uselessly, tears pouring from her eyes. Jirachi's eyes were almost closed now.

"No, Celebi..." he whispered faintly. "It is I who am sorry." His voice was very soft, and Celebi had to listen closely to understand his words. She struggled to quiet her breathing so she could hear him.

"What do you m-mean?" she asked, swallowing her reflexive sobs.

He gazed at her, so sadly, and spoke, his voice as soft as a breath of wind. "I never got to tell you that I..." and then his eyes fluttered closed at last, and the violet quartz covered his face, silencing him.

"Jirachi?" she yelled, shaking the crystal as if she could wake it. She gasped desperately, her eyes sweeping over the object in her arms with panic. "Jirachi!" she repeated, his name a prayer. "JIRACHI!"

She trailed off into an endless stream of sobs and gasps and whispers of his name, clutching his chrysalis as if she could awaken him again with sheer will. She tried to slow her breathing a bit, her breaths coming quick and shallow. She gulped several times, trying to take deeper breaths. What had he wanted to tell her? What would he have said if he just had a moment longer? Her mind was drowning in questions and her heart thudded painfully.

What had she wanted to tell him? she asked herself, but her anguished mind could not answer her.

Jirachi was gone. This was the thought that kept returning to her. He was gone and there was nothing she could do about it. The only Pokémon that had been by her side consistently, the only Pokémon she had grown close to, the only Pokémon she had wanted to stay with forever, was gone...

Forever? she asked herself. Is that what she had truly wanted? To stay with Jirachi forever? Nothing she had ever known was forever...Yet the thought rang true. She had never wanted these seven nights to end. But why? Simply making a friend had changed her so much? No... that wasn't it...

She clutched Jirachi's cocoon to her chest, rocking back and forth slowly as if trying to soothe a fussy child in her arms. Jirachi was different, she thought. Jirachi was special. Jirachi had been worried for her. Jirachi had held her hand and flown with her and done things no one else had ever done for her. She was a different Pokémon for Jirachi. She treasured him. She cherished him. She... she...

Oh, Arceus, she cursed to herself, more tears spilling from her eyes. The forest seemed to spin around her. I love him, she concluded at last. I love him.

The trees and twinkling stars the only witnesses to her heartbreak, she buried her face in the unforgiving crystal and wept.

Author's Note: THE END.

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Juuuuust kidding! SURPRISE! There's another chapter! :) Don't worry, my dear beloved readers, all will end well.

Speaking of my dear, beloved readers... Special thanks to doggiefan, VivianShadowGirl, and HappyHereford, as well as someone who has reviewed previously that forgot to sign in...XDXD I'm sorry, whichever lovely person you are! Thank you so much for reading anyway! XD I wish I could give you all rainbow unicorns and lollipops in flavors that do not actually exist, like Awesome Incarnate. I want to give you an Awesome Incarnate lollipop. :3

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