Epilogue
Dawn
The tribe of Skyborne has always been the ultimate powerhouse of the skies for centuries. All others trembled in fear at the very thought of challenging the great and powerful Skyborne. That is, until Giratina and the Wings of Legend struck one year ago. Sure, we managed to defeat them. We were able to prevent the world's destruction and save the world. However, one third of our Skyborne population perished. Many more were mentally scarred for life. The war left a wound that we all believed would never heal. We have higher hopes for it today. It will take time, perhaps decades, to recover ourselves until we are as powerful as we were before. However, the scar will not be forgotten. Not ever. I believe that is partially good. It would be nice if we try to forget the war, but we will not. I hope we don't remember the deaths of those who perished, but the life that they lived, regardless of the war. Yes, like everything else, it will take time to happen and to heal.
The operation, I've heard, was a success on the homefront. However, many more pokemon died because of it. Skyborne's warriors were holding them up, but Skyborne was losing. Then, all of a sudden, the Wings of Legend stopped fighting. They said the legendaries were looking around as if they were terribly confused. Skyborne warriors arrested them and they were taken into custody with no struggle or objections. This was around the time group six defeated Giratina.
Once we got back, we were immediately chewed out by Leyorra. We apologized a million times and she punished us by forcing us to tell everyone, not just group six, about our story. We gladly accepted our punishment. An explanation was needed, however hard. After a few days, Leyorra organized Skyborne into a meeting. I remember I wasn't afraid anymore. I wasn't fearful of what they might think. Let them hate me. I don't care if they shun me like they did when I was a Dratini. I have something now that I didn't have then. I have friends who would stick to me no matter what. So, we spilled everything to all of Skyborne from when we were rescued as children to our solo journey to Spear Pillar the first time and finally reporting our battle and our success to all of Skyborne. In a way, I am very grateful that Leyorra had us tell how the battle was won because, when we announced that the war was over to Skyborne, the joy and celebration that erupted in that cavern was a beautiful moment I will keep in my memories forever.
Then, there was that task of restoring Skyborne to it's former self. Leyorra and Kitiro were quickly losing their sanity due to taking up a leadership job with two pokemon that was meant for three. After they couldn't take it anymore, they announced they were going to have to choose a new leader. I volunteered for the position, but they quickly pushed me away and asked that Rashi assume leader of the Dragon squadron. He declined it and, instead, pointed to me. Frustrated, they said "no" again. They asked other older dragon pokemon to volunteer, even asking my former teachers, Lilia and Herona. Both declined again. Torik then pushed the two leaders to consider me once more. He said that the leadership I showed at Spear Pillar proved my worth. Reluctantly, they agreed to let me be their leader-in-training of sorts.
I was not the only one that was moved up to a new position of leadership. Many matters had to be taken care of now that the war was over and things could be done again. The superiors that perished in battle had to be replaced. Kitiro assigned Blake as the superior of the primary Raptor squadron, the same position that his old teacher had. Amidst our busy schedules, we still talk to each other since, of course, we live in the same room as each other. He tells me all about how immature his students are, their reckless acts of bravery that are really just reckless acts of stupidity. One day, when I brought up the fact that we were like that once, he told me of some of the acrobatics he performed with his friend. He tells me that, even though the children can be pains sometimes, he feels honored to be in the same position his teacher was once in.
One day, I was saddled with my first task as a real leader. What do we do with the six legendary pokemon locked up in our dungeons? We have the five from the last battle and Moltres who has been cooped up and, as I have been told, on the breaking point of chronic insanity. The others are not too far behind him. I realized that they are like us in many ways. They are winged pokemon of the sky, just like us. It is possible to make them part of Skyborne to an extent. I decided to send them to where they claimed their home was, which were places scattered all over the world. I started a new program for them. Our soldiers would visit each of them every month, ensure that they are transitioning well from their mind-controlled state to their former selves and to also look out for any signs that another war between legends might arise so Skyborne can move quickly to stop it. In return, the legendaries have sworn their allegiance to Skyborne. If we ever enter another war, we will have six legendaries in our arsenal. Kitiro and Leyorra agreed to my idea and the last variable left was for how many warriors had to be assigned to this world-wide monthly journey. In the end, only one pokemon was needed.
I rarely see April since I assigned her to this new position. She says she is happy with it because she has found a position where she can be a healer without hands. She leaves early in the month and does not return until late in the same month. She stays and rests in Skyborne for about a week and takes off again. I miss her a lot and she says she misses Blake and I, too. However, she says that she does not travel the journey completely alone. She reports that, every month, Grayos joins her in the skies for a few days. It is never constant on which days of the month he does come, but he will always fly at least once with every trip April takes. She says that Grayos seems happier to be free. He does miss Skyborne, but he can never return to our home. I have not seen him since he left the night after the war ended. The only connection I get with him is through April's stories. However, it still feels like he is right there next to me as she speaks.
The hatred that I thought I would feel from the rest of the tribe never once came. I anticipated it every day. When I woke up in the morning I would always wonder "would this be the day that Skyborne will hate us for what we are?" Yet, that day never comes. Forgiveness is a funny thing. We stay silent as if it is no big deal, but inside we are seething until we have to scream and vent where no one can see or hear. Is that what they are feeling now? When will they burst? Will they ever show their true feelings? The questions plagued me in the morning but, being leader, I realized that yesterday's mistakes are set in stone, but the thing that matters is now. Now is the time for our generation to rise. We are no longer the tribe that has been famed for triumphs and shamed for defeats. We are stronger than what we were. We will rise to our own limits, fly in our own way. Our new era will be great. We are powerful.
We are Skyborne.