CHAPTER 51

"Ugh, why do I always keep losing consciousness?" Rylan murmured as he opened his eyes. He was sprawled out on what felt like a dirt patch surrounded by grass. The air smelled fresh, but there didn't appear to be any light source in the sky. Rylan could barely see a thing.

"I've heard of dark nights, but this is ridiculous," Rylan said. He stood up and looked around. He was standing in the middle of a long pathway.

As he stood up, he could feel his body aching all over. He realized it was the pain from Slowking's psychic power being used against him. Immediately remembering what just happened to him and his brother moments ago, he began to feel lonely and depressed. He ran a hand through his hair.

"Huh?" He quickly realized that he was running his hand through the human hair he once had. He looked down at his body. He was human again, and fully clothed. He wasn't wearing any of his guild accessories.

"Am I…back home?" he asked. "This doesn't seem much like home at all. At least we have a Moon at night."

He started to walk slowly down the long path. Both ways led on as far as the horizon beyond, but perhaps he could find a place he recognized, or at least a place with a telephone he could use.

"It sure is cold here," he said, shivering a little. "Feels like the northern regions of Sinnoh out here. But it's not even snowing."

"I think thou shalt find that thou art nowhere near home," said a voice.

"Huh?" asked Rylan. "Who said that?"

"Rylan, my dear boy," said the voice, "thou hast shown such bravery and selflessness in recent moons. By playing the Melody of Renewal, thou hast brought about the salvation of the Pokémon world. It would seem that thou hast yet to bringeth about thine own salvation, however."

"My own salvation?" Rylan asked. "What do you mean?"

"Thine heart yearns for home, and thou art lost," said the voice. "The Key of Renewal returns one to the source of the light in their hearts. To simplify, it should return thee to where thou feel'st thee belong."

"But where do I belong?" Rylan asked. "And how do you know all this?"

"As a dear friend of thee once told thine brother, thou doth belong wherever thee choose," the voice replied. "As far as mine knowledge of the Key of Renewal… Well, I crafted it myself."

"For real?" Rylan asked. "Who are you, then?"

"I'm afraid I cannot reveal this to thee," said the voice. "The only thing I can tell thee is thou art trapped between the two worlds thou long for. Thou must choose where thee belong, lest thee remain here with nowhere to replenish thine light."

"How will I know which way to go?" Rylan inquired.

The voice chuckled. "Hearts always strive to pass the trials they face. This is simply another trial of the heart for thee. Let thine feelings guide thee."

"Trials of hearts?" asked Rylan. "I'm not sure I understand."

"In due time, thou wilst understand," said the voice. "Perhaps sooner than thee expect. For now, choose thine pathway home."

Rylan looked forward in the direction he had been walking, and then backwards in the opposite direction. Both ways led home, apparently, but one of them was the one place he had stronger feelings for. He walked a bit further forward, the way he had been traveling before the voice spoke to him.

"It feels cold," said Rylan. "But not an unbearable kind of cold. It feels comforting, like a cold you don't mind standing outside in when you're all bundled up."

Rylan turned around and began to walk the opposite direction. As he did so, the cold started to lessen.

"The opposite direction feels a bit warmer," said Rylan. "It's as equally comforting, but I'm not sure which way I should go."

Rylan took a few more steps down the warmer way. He then felt a strange nostalgic feeling in his heart. It felt like the happiness he felt from having his friends and family by his side, showing him love.

Without giving it another thought, he decided he should travel that way. The pathway didn't seem to end, but he continued walking. He started to feel more comfortable and happier as he progressed, as though the feelings he used to experience were tugging at his heart, urging him to keep walking. He put a hand to his chest, a smile starting to form across his lips.

"Why do I feel so happy?" he asked.

"Perhaps there is something beyond the horizon that thou wish to see again," said the mysterious voice. "Keep going. I daresay thou hast found the place that means more to thee."

Rylan's walk soon sped up into a run. His heart longed for whatever was at the end of the road, and he wanted to see it now.

The area around him began to illuminate, as though the Sun was rising. Rylan could see familiar trees taking shape in the distance as he ran. The dirt beneath his feet started sprouting long blades of grass. He also started to feel as though the world was rising up around him, as though he was getting closer to the ground, or the sky was soaring higher.

The Sun started to shine brightly in the sky, settling in the west and giving the area a beautiful evening glow.

Rylan continued running until he noticed a remarkably familiar structure just ahead. It was a gigantic place, crafted roughly from rock and steel, with the stone exterior neatly painted dark brown and forest green. There was a large stairway in front with torches along the sides and a metal grating at the top step near the front door.

Without any hesitation, he quickly dashed up to the first step.

"Rylan, wait!" said a voice behind him. "Give a guy a chance to catch up, will you?"

Rylan turned around and noticed who was behind him, running to catch up. He smiled joyfully as tears of happiness started to flow down his cheeks.

He truly was back where he belonged.

THE END