17

[10:59 AM. Tin Tower Gardens. Tin Tower. Ecruteak City. Three days later.]

Morty rested on his shovel and took a deep breath of the cool mountain air that came down of Mt. Mortar.

The aging master wiped sweat from his brow. The sun climbed inexorably towards its zenith. He rested in the shade of the looming tower. The garden was in bloom. He took pride in his garden, the various flowers and bushes painted the garden in a tapestry of bright and garish colors. He took a sip from a crying glass of water next to the fence.

He coaxed his body to sit up against the tower and rest, nursing his water. Where was Alphonso? He said he'd meet him here this morning. His son-in-law was a bit fleeting with time, but he was not a truant.

He looked up at the sky, as he did every day. All his life he had spent in Ecruteak he had searched for the rainbow bird of legend that was said to call Tin Tower home. Tin Tower had always enraptured him, even from a young age, as it did to many of Johto's youth. Though he could see glimpses of the future, he had never seen the legendary bird.

"Oh, maybe tomorrow," he said wistfully.

He forced himself to stand and continued his work. From the garden, he could see the small city of Ecruteak come to life in the morning sun. The quiet city had been his pride and joy since he had inherited the gym from his father over fifty years ago. He had made it his personal mission to meet every resident, become friends with them. In his youth, he had ignored the people of his city to pursue his studies of legendary pokemon with his friend Eusine. Since Eusine's departure from Johto, he had warmed up to the responsibilities of his gym and to his people. Now, he could proudly say that everyone in this sleepy town knew him, and he knew them. He even made a point to introduce himself to the travelers who came to visit the tower.

He smiled as he watched the people go about their lives. From his spot, he could see a man walk from the pokemon center. He squinted in the sun and saw the outline of his son-in-law walking toward him. Alphonso waved as he approached; Morty returned the gesture.

"I see you're still slaving away at your garden."

Morty's old face stretched into a smile as he trimmed a bush. "Hello, Al. I'm glad you came."

"You know the sage's will take care of this, right?"

"I prefer not to trouble them with such trivial matters."

"You're still the Gym Leader, correct?"

"Last time I checked, I was."

Al picked up the shovel and began digging out an old stump. "So you should probably be training. Can't let your skill slip."

"I believe I will be more than enough for a challenge for anyone who intends to face me."

"Pokemon's a young man's game, Mortimer."

"How many times, Al? Call me Dad, or Morty, if you would prefer."

"Claudia sends her regards."

Morty's face lit up. "How is she doing?"

"As well as can be expected, with that whole mess in Celadon."

"What have you heard about that? Not much has come to this sleepy town."

"I haven't heard much; Claudia and I haven't had much of a chance to catch up since the attack."

"You say pokemon's a young man's game. Whatever happened in Celadon City is a young man's affair."

Al tossed the stump over the garden fence. He was a tall man, wide, and built like a wall. He wore a plain suit and a loose tie. He sweat in the sun as it peeked over the tower. "Whatever it is, it's not good for us."

"Who do you mean by 'us?'"

"Us, the people. You know, the little people."

Morty chuckled. "There is nothing about you, Al, that is little."

"I'd like to take you to lunch."

Morty put down the shears and raised an eyebrow. "So that's why you took this little jaunt out to my little town.

The man shrugged. "Claudia said we should get closer."

"That doesn't sound like Claudia at all,"

"I don't pretend to understand her, as you should know."

"Too true, too true. So what did you have in mind for our little excursion. There's not much in the way of eating here."

"I'm sure we can find a place. I doubt you'll feel up to trekking to Goldenrod for some real food."

"Then you know me better than I expected. Go on ahead, you know that noodle shop near the mart? I'll just have what you're having. I'll meet you there in a moment. I need to finish up some things here."

"Have it you way, Dad."

He turned and left towards the city. Morty rested again. He turned his eyes towards the sky one last time for the day. He shook his head and began to walk away.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something brilliant glimmer in the sky. He could feel his old heart stop; he turned around and saw the resplendent silhouette of a large bird streak towards the top of the tower.

"Ho…Oh…"

He dropped to his weak knees. The tears that formed were a mix of pain and overwhelming happiness. He raised his arms to the sky and cheered. Finally, after a lifetime of searching and waiting, he had seen the legendary bird. It was almost too much to handle; he could feel his heart beat in his chest. He hadn't felt this young in years.

The bird softly glided towards the peak. He cried the tears of a man vindicated.

Suddenly the bird stopped and veered away towards the horizon. Morty's eyes widened and he reached out in vain, gripping the image in his worn hands.

Morty slumped against the ground. With his ear to the dirt, he could hear a faint rumbling coming from the direction of the tower.

Suddenly a wave of energy threw him into the fence. His body wracked with pain, her cried out. He could hardly see through the stars that crashed through his vision. As the spinning in his head subsided he could hear the sounds of panic around him. His nostrils were filled with acrid smoke and he wheezed violently. Thick plumes of black ash poured from a gaping wound in the side of the tower. Fire licked at the old wood of the tower.

A millennium ago, Brass Tower burned to the ground, and now her mate would join her.