Chapter Sixty – Closure

Hailey and Colin sat side by side in the waiting area, each with a plastic cup of water as they tried to adapt to being in a much quieter and far safer environment. However, the doors of the Pokémon Centre suddenly opened automatically as Daniel, Daphne and Peggy, still wearing their Striaton Academy uniforms, hurried into the building with a fairly flustered Piper flying steadily behind Peggy. Hailey and Colin soon spotted the three children and left their seats, neglecting their water cups, to meet them; Peggy immediately ran into her mother's arms, who couldn't help but smile at her children's arrival.

"Hey...!" As she held onto Peggy, Hailey looked between Daniel and Daphne, who were equally surprised to see their mother's hair hanging loosely for a change. "I didn't ask you guys to meet us here...!"

"It-it's okay, we signed out properly, w-we're not going to get in trouble for this," Daphne said nervously. Hailey held an arm out, inviting her twins into a cuddle; as soon as they moved in for the hug, Colin joined and cuddled his children from behind.

"I don't think you kids have any idea how happy we are to see you," he said appreciatively.

"Were things really that bad?" Daniel asked worriedly. "Mum, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, baby," Hailey said gently as she stroked her son's hair. "Everyone's okay..."

"And the Pokémon?" Daphne questioned as the family embrace slowly began to break. "Are they okay?"

"Some got hurt more than others, but, really, it's nothing a Pokémon Centre can't cure," Colin smiled confidently as he stood up and stretched his back.

"W-Where is everyone?" Peggy asked with concern as she looked around the lobby. Piper spotted Keenan, Hayden and Lily making their way into the area, though they didn't seem to notice anything or anyone in the lobby itself.

"Ti-ruuuh!" Piper called. Hearing the Altaria's cry caused Hayden, Lily and Keenan to halt in their tracks as they were finally made aware of the presence of Peggy and the twins in addition to Hailey and Colin. The two families approached one another, despite Hayden's being relatively startled to see Peggy and the twins out of school.

"Hey, guys," Hayden greeted. "What brings you here?"

"Mum told us about what just happened," Daniel explained. "I just felt compelled to see how she, Dad and the rest of you were all doing for myself."

"All three of us did, Uncle Hayden," Daphne added worriedly. "W-We signed out, so the school knows we're gone this time!"

"Are you all okay, Uncle Hayden?" Peggy asked with concern. Hayden smiled kindly at her as he crouched down to meet her level.

"I think so, sweetie. We were just on our way to find Alexa to find out if she's okay," he explained as he stood up carefully, making sure he didn't bend his spine too much.

"What about you, Keenan? Mum mentioned you were involved in the whole thing," Daphne said fretfully.

"Keith, Alex and I were all involved at first," Keenan replied despondently. "Keith and Alex, th-they saved me from Adelina... ...well, Jollie did, technically..."

"Saved you?" Daniel asked with a very small element of terror in his voice. Hayden and Lily watched with concern as Keenan rolled up his sleeve, showing Daniel, his sisters and his parents the same pink mark he previously revealed to Alexa; seeing the mark horrified Hailey in particular.

"Oh, my God...!"

"Is that-"

"From her Jellicent," Keenan sighed in response to Daniel's would-have-been query as he pushed his sleeve back down his arm. "I was freed not long before our parents got to Entree Forest..."

"Oh, Keenan, I am so sorry...!" Hailey said tearfully. "I-I knew you were being attacked, but I didn't think she'd...she..." She trailed off as she redirected her energy into stifling her guilt-riddled sobs.

"I-It's okay...I've already spoken to Alex about it...I just wanna move on from it now..."

"I don't blame you," Daniel said kindly. "What about Alexa?"

"And Troy?" Daphne wondered.

"Troy's still with Xavier; he didn't get involved in anything, so he's perfectly fine," Lily answered Daphne.

"As for Alexa, we're about to find her, like I said not too long ago," Hayden continued.

"She should still be with Keith; he looked really upset when she and I found him and I haven't seen her since I left her to talk to him," Keenan explained.

"Want us to join you?" Colin offered.

"If you want to," Hayden said indifferently. "Keenan knows where she and Keith should be, so it's not really a hunt."

"I hope Lexa's okay," Peggy said anxiously as she began to follow the two families as they walked down one of the Pokémon Centre's many corridors, following Keenan's lead.

"Ti-ruuh," Piper said in agreement as she slowly flew behind Peggy.

Ryder and Layla managed to catch up with Jollie and Ava as the two little Pokémon ran down a different corridor of the Pokémon Centre; Ryder effortlessly lifted Jollie off of her feet while Layla scooped Ava into her arms – Ryder and Layla stopped in an instant as soon as Jollie and Ava were secure in their respective grips.

"Gotcha," Ryder panted. "Where were you two headed?"

"Bun-bun-buneary!" Jollie explained anxiously.

"I know you're worried about Alex," Ryder began as he and Layla walked slowly down the corridor side by side. "But leave her be; she'll get back to us when she's ready."

"Pichu, Pichu..."

"Keith'll be fine, too; he's with Alex, after all," Ryder smiled, his tail slowly beginning to wag again. "You saw the chemistry for yourself!" Ryder and Layla were about to turn a corner, but they spotted Keith and Alexa on the bench, with Alexa smiling lovingly. Ryder and Layla hid themselves behind the corner of the corridor they almost exited from and watched with avid curiosity as they observed the conversation between the teens. Having seen the kind of smile Alexa wore on her lips, Jollie and Ava watched excitedly.

"Yesterday was...all things considered...it was absolutely incredible..."

"Compared to today, it was pretty damn awesome," Keith admitted with a sheepish smile.

"I know, but...the way you were there for me during the heat of the battle we had against Adelina..." Alexa looked away from Keith, but her smile grew more tender and her blushing intensified a little. "It was...it was just amazing...YOU were amazing... ...you ARE amazing..." Keith suddenly felt his heart beating a mile a minute.

"Alexa?"

"If I'm honest, I...I don't think things would have worked out the way they had today if you weren't as supportive as you were," she said truthfully as she stood up. Keith watched her in complete bafflement as she coaxed him onto his feet by holding onto both of his hands and subtly tugging his arms to bring him to his feet. Alexa looked up at Keith, who felt himself blushing brightly as he found himself lost in her eyes, radiating in such a warming aura. "Really, I can't thank you enough for that."

"I-...y-yeah, n-no sweat," Keith said nervously. "Y-You know I care-"

"You care, you like and you love me...I know...I feel the same way." As soon as she saw Alexa slightly reinforcing her grip on Keith's hands, Jollie watched with high anticipation as she held both paws over her mouth. Ryder couldn't help but grin widely as his tail wagged more violently; Layla began to feel annoyed by the feeling of the Lucario's tail accidentally tapping her own in rapid succession, but she kept her eyes on Alexa before she let the frustration take hold of her. Keith felt a smile creeping onto his face as his grip on Alexa's hands was reinforced as well.

"Does that mean-"

"I love you, Keith. And...I can now say without a shadow of a doubt that I want us to be the way we were before Oblivia's aftermath threatened things between us." Keith's eyes lit up with complete delight as he smiled warmly at Alexa before literally pulling her into a loving embrace, placing one hand at the back of her head. Alexa nestled herself between his neck and shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his back. Seeing the embrace brought tears to Jollie's eyes, but the widest smile a Buneary could possibly wear. Ava, too, began to feel teary-eyed as she watched the loving union. Ryder and Layla smiled with absolute joy as Layla felt her tail intertwining with Ryder's.

"Alexa, I-I love you, too...!" Keith said lovingly as tears began to escape his eyes. "I promise I'll never hurt you like that again...! I swear on my life...!" Alexa drew herself away from his neck and shoulder and smiled at him sweetly, her own tears beginning to fall from her eyes as they ever so lightly touched foreheads and their eyes closed softly. Alexa's arms eventually wrapped loosely around the back of Keith's neck, while his arms gently wrapped around her waist.

"I believe you," Alexa whispered sweetly. After a few moments of blissful silence, Keith slowly moved his arms away from Alexa's waist and cupped her face gently in his hands...as he softly planted his lips onto hers. Alexa shifted her hands further up the back of Keith's neck as she held the tender kiss in place. Overwhelmed with glee after having witnessed such a touching scene, Jollie's tears finally escaped her eyes as she emitted an inaudible squeal of repressed ecstacy...before her entire being cloaked in a divine blue and white light.

"D'AAII!" Ryder yelped as he unintentionally dropped the glowing Buneary. Alerted to Ryder's presence, Keith and Alexa suddenly faced him, only for them to witness Jollie's glowing form slowly morphing as her legs grew longer and slender, allowing her to touch the ground unharmed. Alexa began to shiver and held both hands over her lips as she witnessed Jollie's ears growing in length and width at the tips and her body became longer and more slender. Everyone watched with awe and fascination as the little Buneary they once knew turned into an entirely different Pokémon. Once the heavenly light finally died, Jollie's new form was revealed for all to marvel; she had evolved into a Lopunny with a skinny figure, waist very barely distinguishable and chest completely flat. Confused beyond all comprehension, Jollie examined her paws and saw how she now had three little fingers instead of the rounded paws she was used to. She hastily patted herself down, feeling her new figure and suddenly realising what had just happened to her; as soon as she came to the realisation, she smiled widely as more tears formed in her eyes – a reaction Alexa shared entirely.

"Oh, my God, Jollie...! Y-You did it! Y-You really did it...!"

"Lopunny!" Overwhelmed with joy, Jollie ran straight into Alexa's arms as the pair held one another tightly as, to Keith's surprise, they began to cry.

"I-I can't believe this...!"

"H-Hey, it's okay, it-"

"No, Keith, y-you don't understand...!" Alexa sniffled as she looked up at him; he was even more surprised to see her smiling – it was very clear that he was seeing her crying out of happiness for the first time. "Jollie and I have wanted this for so long...! N-Now that it's happened, I... ...there are no words for it...!"

"L-Lopunny...!" Jollie, too, was smiling as she wept into Alexa's shoulder. Ryder and Layla slowly walked over to the teens, Ava still settled in Layla's arms.

"All that training and it was seeing you guys hooking up again that made her evolve," Ryder chuckled as he wiped a tear from his eye. "Not sure what to say about that..."

"Pichu!" Ava reached out to Keith, who happily accepted the little Pichu from the blue and white Zangoose. "Pichu, Pichu?" she asked hopefully. Keith turned to Alexa, who chuckled as she looked up at the starry-eyed Pichu.

"Yes, we are back together."

"That's what she asked?" Keith wondered. Alexa steadily released herself from her cuddle and stood up properly, her tears falling ceaselessly from her eyes, as she nodded in response to Keith's question. "Are you okay?" he asked, laughing.

"I've seen evolution so many times, but...its marvel is never-ending...!" Keith began to stroke her hair in an attempt to settle her sobs, but he couldn't help but smile at her as she seemed to be consumed by overwhelming happiness. "I'm just so happy...!"

"L-Lop-unny...!" Jollie said tearfully as she wiped her tears with one of her newly acquired long and fluffy ears.

"We're all happy for you, sis," Ryder said lovingly. Layla nodded in agreement. Through the corner of her eye, Alexa saw Keenan walking towards her with Hayden and Lily – at the very least – following behind him; Keenan was looking up at Hayden as he conversed with his parents. Alexa smiled widely as she ran straight towards her father, who was fortunate enough to look ahead of him just before she literally flung herself at him, giving him the biggest hug she could muster whilst being careful not to agitate his back injury. Though bewildered to see Alexa brimming with such joy, Hayden wrapped his arms around his daughter as he couldn't help but smile in her embrace.

"Hey...! What's all this about?" Keenan looked ahead of him, only to find Jollie as a very different Pokémon.

"Jollie?!" Keenan ran towards Jollie to get a closer look at her new form; the only way Keenan could tell that the Lopunny used to be his sister's Buneary was the green ribbon hanging loosely from her slender neck. "Whoa, you look great!"

"Lopunny!" Eventually, Hayden, Lily and Hailey's entire family gathered around Keith, Ryder, Jollie and Layla as they, one by one, saw Jollie's new form for themselves. Alexa immediately ran straight back to Keith, who placed one arm around her shoulders and continued to hold Ava in his other arm.

"She finally evolved, huh? Wow, congratulations, Jollie," Hayden said kindly. Jollie was completely consumed by flattery as she hid her face behind both ears, which she held over her whole body like a pair of drawn curtains.

"Lopunny...!"

"When did this happen?" Lily asked, awe-struck at how elegant Jollie now looked.

"Only a minute or so ago," Keith answered.

"Nya-yah nyah-nyah nii-yah!" Layla sang merrily as she held onto Ryder from behind; the Lucario didn't seem to argue with the sudden cuddle.

"You and Keith are back together?!" Keenan asked in shock. Harmoniously, Keith and Alexa nodded in confirmation.

"I think she saw the whole thing and it was enough to trigger her evolution."

"Aww, that's so sweet, Lexa!" Peggy said delightfully. Both Keith and Alexa looked down at the young girl, but Keith looked at her in confusion. "She was happy that you were happy!"

"That's exactly it, yeah," Alexa nodded as she wiped her eyes again. "I-I just didn't think it'd happen like this...!"

"Alexa, who's-"

"Oh, right..." Alexa took a deep breath before smiling at Keith. "Keith, this is Peggy, my youngest cousin." Peggy looked up at Keith with a cute smile.

"Hi!" Keith waved at her in response. Alexa turned her attention to Daphne and Daniel.

"And those two are her twin siblings, Daphne and Daniel."

"Daniel and I've already met," Keith laughed nervously.

"So, you and Alexa are really back on?" Daphne asked curiously.

"Yep," Alexa reiterated.

"Good; maybe now you won't be so depressing," Daniel said with a cheeky little grin. Keith scowled at him, but it was short-lived as he heard Alexa giggling; he looked at her in alarm.

"I hope not," she said in agreement. She suddenly spotted Hailey and Colin behind the twins and her smile waned slightly. "Aunt Hailey?"

"I'm all right, honey, don't worry about-" All of a sudden, Alexa ran straight towards her and wrapped her arms around her aunt. Her guilt rapidly returning to her, Hailey returned the embrace she'd received from her niece as, for a moment, her tears fell from her eyes. "I-I'm so sorry, Alexa...! I didn't mean-"

"Don't dwell on it."

"Hm?" Hailey and Alexa established eye contact; the older blonde was alarmed to see a smile on the younger's face.

"It'll only eat away at you." Hayden smiled warmly at Alexa as she repeated a piece of the advice he had given her several hours ago.

"That's my girl." Hailey huffed a chuckle as she smiled at Alexa as well.

"Thanks. I'm sorry I almost ruined a touching moment."

"I'm okay, Aunt Hailey," Alexa said happily as she reversed back to her original position under Keith's arm. "How did everything go, may I ask...?" Hailey's smile sweetened.

"It's over, Alexa...it's done; she's not going to hurt anyone anymore..."

"You defeated her?!" Keith asked in shock. Hailey nodded.

"So, Keith and I bought you enough time after all?!" Alexa asked wishfully. Hayden nodded once at her.

"And then some, sweetie," he added modestly. Alexa sighed with relief.

"Thank Arceus..."

"Yeah, I mean...things were getting heavy just before your Farfetch'd showed up," Keith said with a nervous chuckle as he looked at Hayden.

"I'm just glad it's all over now..."

"No arguments here," Colin agreed merrily. He suddenly looked over at Hayden and Lily. "We should let Xavier-"

"Been there, done that," Hayden laughed. "But he'll want to know about Alexa and Jollie."

"Oh, man, that Zoroark is going to be high as a Mantyke after all this," Ryder said happily. "C'mon, let's go!" he said keenly as he and Layla began to lead the whole group down the corridor. However, the excitement got the better of Jollie as she sped down the hallway. Alexa laughed as she began to follow her Pokémon, placing her arm around Keith's waist.

"Someone's eager," Daniel said...jokingly. Daphne laughed.

"Was that a joke?"

"So what if it was?" Daniel shrugged. Daphne laughed again and happily flung her arms around her twin as they walked along the hallway with the rest of the family.

"Thanks, we'll be sure to let him know if we see him," Troy said courteously to a male nurse with solid black hair. The nurse nodded as he quietly made his way out of the room; once he left, Reese literally jumped up and down with excitement.

"Bui-bui!"

"Great news indeed," Troy said happily as he caught the bubbly Buizel mid-jump. "Things are looking up!"

"And the view is looking awesome!" Xavier added teasingly. Iara laughed, but she rolled her eyes all the same.

"Doesn't it just!" Harvey laughed.

"I'm happy for him, I really am," Naomi said sweetly. "Keith's going to be so happy to hear this...!"

"No doubt; that guy loves his Pokémon almost as much as we do," Troy said praisingly. "Though, between you and me, I think he loves Alexa a little bit more," he winked at Harvey.

"We'll see," Harvey laughed. Suddenly, the door to the room literally burst open as the newly evolved Lopunny charged into the room and flung her arms around the alarmed Zoroark.

"G'AAH! What's-"

"LOPUNNY!" Jollie squealed with delight as Ryder and Layla soon made their way into the room with the rest of the family. Xavier, Troy, Harvey, and the other Pokémon in the room looked at the Lopunny with immense shock, but Naomi was mostly confused.

"Jollie?! That can't be you, can it?!"

"It's definitely her, Troy," Alexa said happily as Colin closed the door behind the group quietly. Harvey laughed again.

"Things are just getting better and better, aren't they!?"

"What do you mean?" Hayden asked curiously. Troy spotted Keith and smiled at him.

"We just spoke to the nurse who assisted with Robbie's emergency care; he's out of surgery and is currently in a recovery room of his own," he said proudly. The news brought relief and joy to Keith's heart as he spontaneously hugged Alexa again.

"Thank Arceus!" Alexa was more than happy to return the hug, as sudden as it was.

"When did you hear that?" Hailey asked.

"Just a few moments ago," Naomi replied gently.

"When did THIS happen, sis!?" Xavier asked as he stared at Jollie's Lopunny form in awe.

"A few minutes ago, apparently," Daphne answered.

"Keith and Lexa got back together!" Peggy said with childlike delight.

"Oh, wow, really?!" Keith and Alexa nodded at Troy. "That's great! Congrats, you guys!"

"Thanks, Troy," Alexa said bashfully.

"So, let me get this straight...Adelina's been put in her place, Keith and Alex are back on, Robbie's gonna make a full recovery and my big sis is finally big?" Xavier sighed with absolute content as he leaned back onto his bed, smiling cheerfully as he looked up at the bare white ceiling above him. "It doesn't get much better than this!"

"Don't count your Torchics yet," Alexa giggled as she searched her pockets and walked over to Xavier's bedside, flushing out the Luxury Ball she took from Entree Forest; Xavier sat up again and looked at Alexa in confusion as she held the Poké Ball in front of him. "Here; tell me what you think." Curious, Xavier picked up the Luxury Ball and examined it from all angles he could think of.

"Where did you get that?" Daniel asked.

"Entree Forest," Alexa answered.

"Adelina was going to use it to capture Ava after discovering her Lightningrod ability," Keith continued. "Then Alexa found it and just took it without a care in the world," he added with an amused chuckle.

"What? She owed Xavier and I a new Poké Ball!" Alexa explained in laughter. Xavier smiled as he examined his potential new Poké Ball.

"I can see why she chose this one, but..." Alexa drew her attention back to Xavier. "I think it matches my mane a lot better than it does a Pichu's colour scheme."

"Does that mean you approve?" Alexa asked.

"Sounds like it to me," Keenan laughed. Alexa smiled as she accepted the Poké Ball from Xavier.

"Well...here goes..." Alexa gently tapped Xavier's shoulder with the Luxury Ball's button, causing it to open abruptly as Xavier's entire body became engulfed in a red light; the Zoroark's form was soon sent into the Luxury Ball through the energy that had enveloped him. The Luxury Ball closed suddenly, the central button briefly flashing red once to indicate the successful capture. Alexa held the Luxury Ball close to her heart as she smiled warmly, relieved to know that her Zoroark was still officially hers. Keith walked behind her and lovingly held her from behind, nuzzling her cheek before kissing it softly. Hayden, Harvey and Hailey all dotingly held onto their respective partners as everyone began to realise...things were finally returning to normal.

To be concluded...