TEAM: ...
Hook's POV
My entire body ached. To breathe, to feel, to move, there was a lot to recover from. Time would be kind to my pain, kind to the blood that I was still fortunate to have. All my pain would heal one day, one way or another. It would heal me, and almost everyone I knew. Except them. Time was unfortunately not kind to them. No matter how much time had passed, they were still gone.
The first time I felt the chill of these Watchtower Ruins, I was a troubled Slowpoke who clamored for an overwhelming strength he could call his own. And now I stand here again, revisiting this site as someone who had the power to face life on my own two feet, revisiting the site of two who could no longer do so.
I supposed it was easy to feel alone in the silence of the world's cold bite, but I was accompanied by three others who also felt the need to linger. Three, not five. I wasn't sure what beckoned us all to come back here, at just such a time, but I didn't question it. We didn't need to share words, the four of us simply stood where we were.
A looming figure of comfort that smelled of berries. A smaller one that carried much promise and courage. An even smaller one that quietly crawled onto my head. I half expected a disgruntled remark from someone hardy, or a fun fact from someone excitable, but that was too much to ask for right now.
I'll miss you.
We were all thinking it. We were all feeling it. We were breathing, our hearts beating, feeling what they couldn't feel anymore.
I stepped forward, taking a breath, my gaze dropping to where a dear companion rested far below. "Your rugged soul was a kind one, and I hope you know that. You were kind to invite me to your niceties after all I've done, all I've been. Despite my envy, I am proud to have been one of your closer allies. In our last few games, my wit may have triumphed over yours, but regardless, with how hard you've fought, you will always be the true victor in my heart. In all our hearts. I know how much you enjoyed tranquility, and I hope you enjoy the peace and quiet you deserve."
I half-expected a smirk and a gruff response back, but none such came.
Twigs carefully laid down a flower. "You will always have my gratitude. For bein' our sunshine, for bein' our shelter, for always bein' yourself. You learned so much, helped us learn a thing or two, but it will be difficult to carry on without your smile. But we will, for you. I hope you're proud of us, because we're all so, so proud of you. You were too good for us. Rest easy, now."
I half-expected a heartfelt smile and giddy reassurance, but none such came.
We all stepped away. We all spoke our long overdue words, and even in the disbelief that lingered, nothing changed. Our associations were about to grow distant, our paths to drift, but before that, Twigs glanced back at the forlorn scene once more.
"May the King of Bountiful Harvests be kind to you."
As she uttered the words, I followed her gaze. Amidst the other burials, the other patches of dirt, one stood out. Close to a distantly familiar site, there was a sprout. Odd, germination should supposedly take longer.
Zap was looking up at Twigs, still clinging to her side. "What's… the king of harvests?"
A faint smile rested on her face. "Just some legend Chloe read to me back in the day. Started to remember it now for some reason." She scratched at her chin before continuing. "He was a being full of mischief, mercy, and foresight. The harvest part came from a legend of him bringing back the green to all the wastelands of Galar. There was a whole dance he did to restore crops and bring bloom." She brought her eyes back to Watchtower Ruins. "With how he was able to restore a frozen land's harvest, to tame harbingers of frost and shade alike, he became associated with matters of life and death. And I'm hoping his blessing reaches our friends as well."
What a legend that must have been. To bring such life in dire moments, one must certainly have an immense amount of power to make that all happen. Perhaps that power could have protected them, protected everyone.
… I almost didn't notice the Duskull that had joined us at the scene. Must've been a docile wild Pokémon. Whatever the case, we didn't have much reason to linger.
All at once, the four of us remembered the calling that rang out in our heads. No words, only sentiments. It was definitely that same flush of emotions that brought us all here to mourn, and now it was beckoning us to return to the source. To the tie that let us all meet in the first place. We didn't need to speak of it, we simply shared our stride, making our way back to where it all began.
It would be difficult not to look back, missing those bygone times, but all we could do was keep moving. Time might not be kind to all of us, but it still allowed us this one last goodbye.
Farewell, Spike. Farewell, Tilda.
Flare's POV
All eyes were on me. The tense air on the pitch still lingered, and I was surrounded by an audience who had all sorts of things to say about me. And I loved it.
Leon's Dragapult darted around the arena, but I kept my eyes on it. It had been a challenging battle so far, but the thrilling sensation that coursed through my veins kept me and my Pokémon going. The Champion's Pokémon were formidable, absolutely expected of a champion like him, but me and my Pokémon could fight through anything. This would be a battle that would go down in history.
"Dragapult, Thunderbolt!"
"Spike, Max Rockfall!"
My Drednaw was weak against the electricity, so I Dynamaxed him early to make sure he could set up a sandstorm. The massive rock crushed the Dragapult and roused up the sandy weather, which I knew would bolster Spike's resistance against Charizard's special attacks.
Out came Leon's Charizard, who he Gigantamaxed immediately. I had to spend a turn healing up from the Thunderbolt, which meant Spike had to take a Max Overgrowth. It was close, but the sandstorm pulled through, allowing Spike just a sliver of health. I healed him up again, and the Charizard used Max Overgrowth again, and while we didn't have an opening to use Max Rockfall, at least we were using up Charizard's Dynamax turns.
Spike eventually shrunk down, but Charizard was still in charge, at large. One turn left.
He could take one more Max Overgrowth, right?
No, I came up with an even better idea, and my confident smile grew. Charizard unleashed a Max Overgrowth again, and as that happened, I swapped Spike out with masterful speed. Tilda emerged in the grand explosion of green, completely fearless in the face of the massive Charizard, and the Grassy Terrain ended up healing her more than she was hurt.
Charizard shrank back down as well, and as it sent out a Fire Blast, I swapped Spike in, who also greatly resisted it. Then came Charizard's Grass move, which was Solarbeam, and it spent a turn charging it up.
Gotcha.
"Spike, Rock Slide!"
But no attack came out.
My voice was silent. My opportunity was gone.
I looked up at the sun, and there was no sun. The sky that Charizard was drawing energy from was clouded in a storm. I blinked, and Charizard was Gigantamaxed again, and Spike was still shrunken down, as if nothing happened.
He… he could take one more Max Overgrowth, right?
Everything was foggy, and I couldn't think of any other way. But it didn't work. My voice disappeared into the shadows.
The Max Overgrowth hit, a horrible blast that left nothing there, and Spike was gone.
Tilda came out on her own after that. The Fire Blast hit, razing everything into ashes, and she was gone too.
The overwhelming grass and fire left me crumpled on my knees, gasping for air, reaching for Pokéballs that weren't there. The ground could barely hold me, and all I could do was look up at the skies.
There were no heavens above, only the crimson red clouds. The pressure of that immense weather and the weight of it all continued swirling, to the point of suffocating me, and-
I lurched awake.
"Urgh…"
I was back home. I was lying in bed, clutching my aching head. No stadium, no Charizard, no clouds. It was quiet back in Postwick, and I had every right to feel safe and sound, but…
Was… was there really more I could do to save them?
The memories came rushing back, as it always did with the recurring nightmare. There was no mistaking it all. The Dynamax energy that took over Leon at Wyndon Stadium. The intense struggle of my Pokémon against his frenzied ones. My collapse after it all. And then… and then what?
My breaths were still heaving. My mind was still clouded and foggy, and I wasn't sure what were actually memories and what were just fabricated dreams.
I felt for my Pokéballs. Four. Spike and Tilda were gone. I remembered the trip back to Watchtower Ruins. The trip to return books to Ballonlea. The lingering dismay on my Pokémon's faces. The rest of us may have survived Wyndon, but there was no denying the emptiness we all felt. Even if things seemed to have settled down since, it still felt like the past few days have been rough. Or maybe it was more than just a few days. I wasn't sure.
I didn't remember much else other than being cooped up in my room. No movies, no games of anything, no meet ups with anyone else, nothing. My phone probably had a bunch of missed calls on it.
Nobody else got into any danger since then, at least…
I threw my head into my hands and pulled my knees close. I wanted to cry, but the past had already stolen away my tears. Stolen away friends who should've made it. Stolen away… other things.
It seemed like there was something else I was forgetting, but my mind was still pulling blanks. Maybe I should've gone back to sleep. It was morning, but my curtains were closed and made everything around me feel dark. I still felt out of breath and was called by the urge to collapse unconscious again. And then, my door slowly swung open. A light.
"Mom…?" I croaked out.
But she wasn't there. In the darkness, there was a sort of ghostly flame that drew closer, and closer. My vision was still blurry and I kept blinking just in case I was still seeing things. But it still kept shuffling forward, all the way until it hopped onto my bed. Right before my eyes, further illuminated by the sole ray of light peeking in, the pale face of a Litwick looked up at me.
"Heya! I'm not your mum." She grinned. "I mean, I know I'm pretty hot stuff, coming from a Fire Gym and all, but I'm not that kind of mum material, if you know what I'm talking about. Nice Clefairy jammies, by the way."
The Litwick kept nudging me by the leg, and I had no idea what she was talking about. "Do I know you?"
"Eeyah!" Her waxy expression drooped. "What the ballyhoo do you mean by 'do I know you'?" She gestured to herself proudly. "I'm only the great Lumos, the top percentage of Litwick in all of Slowmobloke!"
"You mean Motostoke?"
"Yeah that." Lumos kept grinning as she snickered to herself with a hand over her face. "Fufufu… You won't find a better Litwick anywhere, because I was born and raised to be Gym quality! The most epic! The most spectacular ever!"
"Oh, right, that Gym quality Litwick…" Memories of that self praise started coming back. "Well… I'm Flare. So how do you laugh like that?"
"It's just a matter of making sure your lips don't touch." She floated up to my shoulder and started rubbing her hands together. "Now, Flare, you may not remember me, which hurts almost as much as the time I got kicked in the face, but I'm willing to put that aside. I was raised to be top Gym quality for top Gym trainers, and I hear some positions opened up in your team."
"Oh… right…" I groaned as I clutched my aching head. "It's a bit too late for the Gym Challenger stuff though. Pretty sure the Gym Challenge officially ended after I 'beat' Leon." Heavy quotes on that. The outcome was still too bewildering for me to grasp.
Lumos gasped again, though this time with the dramatic act of passing out before she righted herself. "Does this mean you're a champion now? Then that means I'll have to work twice, thrice, no—eight times as hard to become a champion quality Pokémon! Maybe even twelve!"
"I mean, you really don't have to…"
"Well, poppycock to that I say!" Lumos floated towards my face, putting her little waxy hands on my cheeks. "I may be a Litwick, but I'm not here to leech off of your life force, nope!" She turned around to extend her arm, pointing at nothing in particular. "I'm here to light up your day and also to light up your enemies, so if you need the help of a hardworking epic Litwick like me, just say the word! Though if you need me to stand on a birthday cake or something I'm pretty sure I have to be paid to do those things."
She shoved a Great Ball into my hands. I blinked with surprise as I stared down at it. "Wait, I thought I told my mom to release all the other Pokémon I caught."
"Oh, she did!" Lumos proudly declared, hovering and batting at my hair. "But once I remembered what I was here for, I insisted on staying! By my duty as only the best Gym quality Pokémon, I made it my mission to stick around and help out the trainer I was caught by! To be the special miracle descending on shadowy angel wings, the wings of darkness to come and sever night from day, to turn your frown the other way around, all so you wouldn't feel sad!"
"Well, okay." I felt the slight urge to chuckle. I could tell Lumos was as theatrical as she was, well, luminous, and she at least seemed like she would be fun to have around. "Maybe I could just train you up for a little bit if that's what you want." It couldn't hurt. Just as long as we didn't have to do anything dangerous.
"Yes!" Lumos whooped, and it looked like her flame burned a bit brighter. "Now, let's get out there in a fire's flash!"
"I still have to eat breakfast first." I rubbed my eyes and put on my glasses, which let me see that Lumos had resorted to trying to push me from the back of my leg. I almost didn't feel it, and seeing how hard she was physically trying to shove with no result at all made me smile a little. "Just one more thing. Why all the dark and shadowy wing metaphors? Last I remembered, angel stuff isn't so ghastly."
Lumos snickered and smirked. "Because it's sicker that way."
I was still a bit hesitant about it all, and for a moment, the haunting silence seemed to linger when Lumos gladly recalled herself into her ball. I stared at the Great Ball in my hand. A Pokéball with a Pokémon in it. It was a kind of warmth that I hadn't felt in a while, and even though I wasn't all too close to Lumos yet, there was still a warmth there. One that I wanted to nurture and see grow.
I got into my usual jumper and pants for the first time in a while. I reached over to get my satchel and held onto its straps for a moment longer as I put it on. There were probably a bunch of leftover items and spoiled food cans in it by then, but that familiar weight felt… empowering. After slipping on my loafers, I opened the door, and that familiar light brought more of the warmth that spurred me forward.
After taking a second to make sure my hair was really combed right, I stepped out. I peeked into the dining room, which was empty. Banana was napping nearby, but Sheep wasn't home. I shuffled my way past the table and towards the main door, where I saw my mom talking to somebody.
"Oh, good morning Mom, good morning Professor Magnolia…" Seeing her sophisticated self here at a time like this already had me shrinking into quiet meekness. "I was just about to ask if we had any cornflakes left. I hope I'm not interrupting something."
Mom giggled with a wave. "It's alright Flare dear, we were just wrapping things up."
"Good day, Flare." Magnolia stepped past her, cane tapping against the floor as she approached me. "If you don't mind, there are some things I'd like to discuss with you now that you're here."
"Well, alright." I tried my best to hide how I was scratching the back of my head. It was a bit hard to stay steady with her aged and narrowing eyes looking at me. "Was there… something I did wrong?"
She shook her head and I made out a faint smile. "Quite the contrary. My granddaughter's insights into the history of Dynamax and the Darkest Day have gotten me quite interested in it all, you see. I take it you were the one who captured Eternatus?"
"That's me, but… I don't have it anymore." I sighed, feeling hollow about it. "I'm not sure what happened. I was pretty sure I still had its Pokéball with me, but it must've escaped or something after I passed out in Wyndon Stadium."
The professor's smile fell. "That is rather troublesome… Based on my understanding, keeping its energy safe and contained is the best way to make sure it doesn't escalate out of control once more. Considering the lack of incident since that Darkest Day, I thought it was all under your control."
I probably shouldn't be in charge of keeping all these important things… It's a good thing I left the Rusted Sword in Hop's care, at least.
"I swear I'll get Eternatus back." I mustered as much promise as I could. "If I caught it once, then I can do it again. And after I do, I'll be sure to keep it somewhere safe." I still wasn't sure what I was going to do, but I knew I had to do something, at least. Even if I didn't know where to start.
My lip must've still been quivering, because Magnolia's stare softened. "Given what you've accomplished, I have utmost faith that you will. You still have my gratitude for putting a stop to those schemes of that no good Chairman Rose. That being said, there's one more thing the league entrusted me to bestow onto you."
She took my hand, then placed something in my palm. When I looked at what she gave me, my eyes were widened at the sheen of purple I never thought I'd see in person.
"It's a Master Ball," Magnolia continued. "Capable of catching almost any regular Pokémon, though the policy gets a bit complicated when it comes to those stronger and more mysterious types. It's also a symbol of status, only given to champions of Galar… and lottery winners."
I was still entranced by the very idea of holding a Master Ball that it took me a moment to process her words. "Wait, I can't possibly count as a champion, right? I know I beat Leon and all, but I don't think that was… official."
"I'll tell you something I happen to know." Magnolia's tone was gentle. "Back in the day, Leon's often trekked through Wedgehurst to visit me. In fact, he's visited my abode to ask me about matters to the point where I know just how dedicated he is to the pursuit of strength. I also know he believes there's more to being a capable trainer than just being the strongest."
With her knowledgeable eyes still looking at me, she took my other hand and carefully placed it over the Master Ball.
"Being a champion isn't about having the strongest Pokémon. There's the heart that comes with it, the willingness to keep improving, and I had figured that's why he was so intent on seeing a new generation of stronger trainers. Even if Leon is still recovering, I know that if he were here, he would've gladly bestowed the honor upon you. The word of the Pokémon League says as much, as does mine, so consider this moment special."
I could only stand in silence as I felt her words fester. Deep within, as if trying to rise from the ashes, I felt my pride trying to make itself known despite it all. Was I still allowed to feel proud of myself and believe just how much I've accomplished even after all I've lost?
The Master Ball in my hands seemed to be proof enough. Yes, yes I was.
As I mustered myself a smile, staring at my rightful prize for just a moment longer, my mom had already shown Magnolia to the door and waved her off. Then, mom turned on her heel with a hand on her hip.
"It seems that's not the only reward you've gotten since becoming champion." She took out a letter and a Pokéball from her apron. "These just came in today. They're from Mustard, apparently."
I was still spacing out, but that name broke through the blur. "Mustard…?" I was at a loss for words once more, but that only made me more interested.
"Pleased as cheese to present Galar's new champion with a gift! Simply put, his name is Foo, and he's been looking forward to meeting you for quite a bit now. He's a special one, if not a bit reserved, but just know that his kind is the island's pride and namesake. When you think he's ready to evolve, do come back to the island. There's someone there who finally wants to meet you face-to-face."
I kept looking back and forth between the letter and the Pokéball. So… this is Foo? Sure enough, I felt the presence of a Pokémon inside, but I still felt that same sense of disbelief that came with anything that had to do with Mustard. I wondered if this was just another ploy for island tourism or something. What's next, is he gonna teach me how to use Aura Sphere too?
And yet, having another Pokémon with me continued to give me that warmth. Another friend to meet and get to know and see in action and everything. A certain number rang out in my head with newfound certainty, like something clicked. Just like that, I was back to a team of six now, and I let myself feel proud again.
I'm sure the others would love to meet you guys.
With everything safely kept in my satchel, my eyes slowly drifted to the main door. I was back to a full team, though I needed to find where the other four of my party were. It felt a bit odd having to replace two of my beloved teammates, and recalling it all had me hesitate for a moment longer.
Is it really alright for me to just go on without them?
"Just one second, Flare."
I glanced back to see my mom with a subtle pout, hands on her hips.
"You haven't eaten breakfast yet, remember?"
"Oh." I breathed out an unexpectedly heavy sigh. I took a wobbly step back to the dining room, returning her smile the best I could. "I'll go do that before setting out, don't worry."
Her eyes seemed to give way to a warm smile. "There's nothing for me to worry about." Before I knew it, I was pulled in as she wrapped her arms around me. "I just want you to know I'm so, so proud of you. I'm… I'm just so happy to see you out and about again. I'm not the only one who's been worried about you lately. Champion or not, hero or not, you've still become a fine trainer after it all, and I couldn't be prouder of my daughter. I'm sure your father feels the same."
Even if I was still unsure about that last part, the blanket of comfort that soothed me was too much for me to feel bothered. I always did love a good embrace, and I just melted into her arms as I hugged her back. I knew she was the reason I set out in the first place, partially at least, so I had her to thank for all the things I've accomplished and the friends I've made. And I definitely wasn't planning on stopping now.
I'll always keep growing to learn all I can, and never stop even in the face of fear and danger. It's what I want, and I know it's what they would've wanted as well.
Mom kissed the top of my head and combed through my hair. "Go on then, those cornflakes aren't going to make themselves soggy at this rate. I even heated up your new favorite drink. Hot chocolate, was it?"
I'm really doing this… again. Going to head out. I hope I haven't kept everyone waiting for too long.
After a hearty helping, my mom told me my Pokémon usually lingered around the backyard, and after another hug, I figured that's where I was headed next. It was the very same one where our Budew lounged around the garden, and I waved hello to them as I walked past.
Considering how attached to the hip we usually were, I wasn't sure how they'd react to seeing me after I isolated myself. Hopefully they didn't think I abandoned them or released them too or something. Not that I had any reason to doubt them, but with the way I kept searching and only meeting the breeze, my pace was starting to slow down.
They couldn't have run away, right?
"Nice to see you up again, Goldilocks."
I turned around, and there they were. My Rillaboom, my Toxtricity, my Slowbro, my Vikavolt, all in the flesh and alive and well. With the way they were all lined up to see me, it almost felt like another surreal dream, but then Twigs stepped forward for an embrace. There was that familiar warmth again, the kind that felt so, so real.
"You guys…" Everyone was joining in, and I felt my eyes watering. Slowly, as I leaned into Twigs' bushy self, I started to feel whole again. "How long have you been waiting here for me?"
"Not too long, actually," Hook spoke up. "We were all just meandering about and doing our own thing until we just… decided to come back here."
Cress crawled onto his head to nod. "Definitely not some psychic stuff. It was either some sort of coincidence, or it was something else entirely."
Zap looked up at me, gingerly tapping his fingers together. "My dreams… told me to come here."
Twigs gazed over them all with a warm smile, then cast it over me. "You could say we just had a feeling. No matter what, we're still here for you."
There was a bit of silence that lingered after that, the kind that made my heart ache, but despite it, my tears were happy. The pain was still there, but by just being here, wrapped in what I still had, that gave me hope to keep going. To keep me and my team going as well. Not all was lost, but there was still more for us to gain. I remembered the extra Pokéballs I still had.
"Hey team, I'd like you to meet two more Pokémon who wanted to join us."
Lumos' POV
Now, wasn't this a dream come true? All my training was paying off in shades of spades, and I was finally going to take my place as the very best, like no one ever was! Granted, I was standing in a humble backyard and was advised not to torch anything, but we all had to start somewhere!
Getting to know the rest of the team was expected, I remembered how the procedure of being a good little Pokémon went. They were all leagues ahead of me in levels, but my time to level the competition will come soon, I bet! They may be my superiors now, but soon, I know I'll be catching up to be somewhere around that skill!
"Greetings, compatriots!" I let my grand audience know who they were staring at, and who would be staring into them in return. "You may or may not have heard of me, but I hope you have! I am Lumos, the most epic Litwick of all time, here to illuminate what needs illuminating and be the most astounding while I do it!"
The Slowbro with a bug on his head seemed to react with a grimace. Hook. "You remind me of how I used to sound like…" He said that like that was a bad thing.
"You're a wee Litwick, aren't ya?" Twigs, or… Tara? The Rillaboom didn't seem too impressed by my introduction, either. And my flame was so proudly blowing in the wind, even!
"That's not a bad thing." The Vikavolt hopped off of her living perch to give me a nod. Cress. "Don't mind them. We might be a blunt bunch, but really, we all like to have fun here."
"Pleasure to be of measure!" I gave her long mandible thingies a shake, and as I did, the Toxtricity leaned down for similar blessings. "I might be small now, but one day I'll burn as bright as the starry night, just you see!"
"You sound fun, Lumos." The surprisingly little Toxtricity gave me some applause at that, and I found myself bowing at his generous praise. Zap.
"Nice to have you on the team, Lumos." There my trainer was, joining the cheer as well. I got a smile out of her, which was good, very good progress. "Oh, and before I forget…"
I knew well enough about the league rules to know about the partnership system, so it was only natural I knew this next Pokémon was to be my new battle buddy. Out from Flare's Pokéball emerged a furred figure of grey. A little bear Pokémon with those cub-like eyes and muzzle. He stood a bit taller than me, but his soul didn't seem to like having so many eyes directed at it. I looked a bit closer, and I learned that he was a Kubfu, who went by Foo.
"Heya." He looked like he was shivering, so I decided to place my hand on the quivering paws he kept close to himself. "Name's Lumos. You cold?"
He glanced at me and shook his head. Strong and silent type, was he? Instead, he was looking up at our trainer, as if he was seeing something else in that friendly smile of hers. There was a pressure in his spirit that seemed to be… afraid? There was something he had been dreading for a while, it seemed.
"Hey." I gave him a little shake. "Don't worry. I get it. It's only natural to feel intimidated in the face of such awesome destiny." I took his other paw. "But don't forget, we're battle buddies now, and we're going to reach that awesomeness together, y'hear?"
That seemed to fire up his spirit, rekindling that focus he harnessed within. Those shy eyes were there, but I still got a cute little smile out of him. Excellent, very excellent.
"Y'know, Lumos lass, I've been meaning to ask you something." Twigs was back. "You're a well and proper Ghost type, is that right?"
"Well, proper, and then some!" I may have been trained to be the best Fire type, but I was a pretty good ghosty goo as well.
"Good stuff." The big Rillaboom lady sounded intrigued for some reason. "Just wanna know, how do you Ghost types eat?" She had reached into her big bushy hair for something and tossed me something from it.
I called upon my ghostly powers to catch the berry midair. Oran. "I'm guessing you're wondering because I'm not organic like you guys. Well, just because you asked, even if I'm just a wisp that wandered its way into a weird flesh prison, I gotta take care of my flesh prison!" I flaunted the floating berry for a bit before sending it down the hatch. It still didn't taste like anything, but my wax seemed to like absorbing it. "Why'd ya ask?"
"No reason." Twigs looked satisfied at that, but not in the happy way. "There was just a friend of ours who always wanted to know."
What a nice question for a friend to have. I'd like to be that friend's friend.
There was something strange about the way Twigs looked away after that. She was smiling, but when I narrowed my eyes, I was able to sense deep sorrow in her soul. Even looking around, I was able to see the same miserable blues that simmered in everyone else. It was the same I sensed in Flare. It wasn't something they seemed too keen on talking about, either. That bit got me concerned.
You all look so sad, like someone accidentally burned down your birthday cake…
I slammed my nub of a hand onto my other nub of a hand. From then on, I decided that I wasn't just going to make my trainer happy. I was going to make all my teammates happy, too! I didn't like seeing them sad, so I needed to get stronger so I'd be more capable of doing what I do best!
It started to feel like we were about to set out for real, but before that, the Slowbro looked like he wanted to say something.
"I've seen your face before."
I only met his admiring gaze with the proudest of flames. "Fufufu, does my reputation truely precede me-"
"Not you." It turned out Hook's eyes were not admiring. That was just the bug on his head. Instead, he had narrowed them elsewhere. "Him."
It was my battle buddy he was looking down at. I couldn't get quite the read on this Hook guy, so I hopped on over to protect my Foo friend just in case. Foo seemed to like hiding behind people.
Then it turned out Hook was just holding something in his floaty psychic hold. "My friend and I recognized the faint traces of seawater's scent." He floated the lumpy-looking purple rock towards Foo. "I was from that place too. Perhaps you'd have more use for this than me now."
I didn't know what this rock on a string was about, but whatever it was, it seemed to hold a lot of meaning to the big Slowbro. Foo was really excited to put it on, and I was more than happy to cheer him on through his squeaks of joy. High morale was good for training, after all!
"Fufufu, Foo! Look, the team loves you already!" My outer flame burned brighter just as his inner flame did.
Maybe I should get a cool purple rock of my own…
Feeling all fired up, I levitated onto my trainer's shoulder. "So, champ, is it training time yet?"
"Well, sure." Flare quietly chuckled, but there was still some uncertainty in her soul. "But uh… I'm not a champ."
Champ, no champ, my waxy nubs were still ready to throw some punches. "Those legs of yours have brought you through all of Galar, haven't they? Must mean you've been to some great places that'll help me get some great levels!"
She seemed to be mulling the idea over for a sec. "Maybe just some quick level ups to help you evolve will do. I could call my Flying Taxi, but I don't really know if my cabbie is still on duty since the Gym Challenge is over and stuff." She scratched at her head with a sheepish smile. "After everything that's happened, he probably needs all the time he can get to spend with his family, anyway. We can just take the train somewhere close."
What a considerate girl with a considerate soul.
Guess I better considerate harder!
I wasn't complaining about the no-fly zone thing, I was content to take any levels I could get. Plus, that meant I got to ride a train! And it had windows! There weren't many moving windows where I was raised! It was so spectacular!
Then it was time for the magic of the Wild Area. To think all these rolling hills and dappled groves were right outside of Motostoke! Though with all the craters, it kinda looked like a bunch of stuff exploded everywhere, which was not what was in the pamphlet. There was probably something important I missed, but listening time would come later!
It took a little bit, but Flare told me to sit still for a little while by some meetup point while she wandered around those green greens for a passing while. But it was a good thing that while passed good, because I got a flash new TM for my patience, which made me even more fired up to make some influential waves!
I glanced behind me to see if any of my champion-level teammates had their champion-level eyes on me. They didn't. My battle buddy was still hiding behind my trainer's leg. But this was all still a good thing! With all this training time for me, I could earn everyone's eyes, maybe get strong enough to make my battle buddy feel safe enough to battle!
Our shadowy angel strikes!
Even before I floated into action to the great wild beyond, I was playing out my victory in my head, all that praise, all those pats on my back! With a hand, I proudly slicked my flame back, and as I began my advance, I knew it was time for action!
"Get ready for an absolutely Lumos time!"
Flare's POV
"Lumos, the Metapod patch isn't that way…"
… and there she goes. Off to fight that wild Bunnelby.
"Salutations, oh worthy foe, oh Bunnel of Bees! You face Lumos, the most epic Litwick you'll ever see, and-"
… and there's the Mud Slap.
"Dinnae worry none." I felt Twigs give me a gentle pat on the back before she followed my coughing Litwick. "I'll keep an eye on 'er. Somethin' tells me she wasn't raised here in the wild."
"Y'know what, I'm coming along." Cress was crawling after her, and Twigs let her onto her arm. "I like her energy."
"Heat Wave! Shadow Ball! Confuse Ray! Will! O! Wisp!"
I had the urge to giggle at that. Sudden whoosh of flames aside, I was sure Twigs and Cress had this under control. The thought crossed my mind to do something about Lumos' "call out every move she uses" schtick, but it still got a laugh out of me. Maybe she meant to do that.
The little Kubfu, Foo, was still clinging to my leg all the while. He was watching Lumos' admittedly very flashy rampage, but from the way he hadn't spoken up a peep, it looked like he was uncertain about something.
You and I both…
I leaned down closer to the grass to meet his eye, and as I did, there was something that shifted in his expression. I had definitely seen him somewhere before, but I felt like telling him that wouldn't help with the shyness. So instead, I sat down by the hill and gestured for him to join me.
"Are you alright, Foo?" I asked him. "It's alright if you're scared." I let out a breath, and I tried to bring my eyes ahead. "There's been a lot I've been afraid of, too."
Losing things, mainly… friends I could've saved… friends I used to see…
But I didn't want to let down my smile. Foo was looking up at me, and it looked like his everything was quivering. His eyes, his muzzle, all he could do was inch closer to me as he clutched at himself with his arms.
"I'm afraid…" Foo spoke. His voice was soft and raspy, but it was still there. "I was told I was destined for great things… but I'm afraid about not being ready yet…"
My lip almost quivered at that. My poor little Kubfu was leaning against my elbow, looking for guidance. I wish I had something to say to help, any advice, but…
I'm afraid of that, too.
That was still something I needed to work on. All I could give Foo was my silent nod. When I tried to reach out to caress his shoulder, a small purple hand was already there.
"I'm also scared." Zap sniffled. "I visited Hulbury the other day. There were these statues I remembered of Toxtricity who saved the town. I wanted to be heroes like them. To save the world. But I haven't been able to save anybody recently."
Zap…
He blinked, and his shut eyes didn't do much to hide his tears. "I don't know if I'm a hero. I don't even know how old I am."
Right, that's a thing with Dynamax energy, isn't it? Areas with weird time… or something like that. Was Zap affected by it more than us? I wish I knew…
I couldn't bear to see any of my Pokémon crying like this. I was supposed to be their trainer, the one who was supposed to take care of them, keep them safe. I picked Zap up so I could place him by my other arm, hugging both him and Foo.
"It's okay. It's okay, you two… It's all okay…"
I hoped I was able to comfort them, but I still wished I could do more, or even knew more about all of this.
"If I may…?"
Almost appearing like the looming shadow of someone older and wiser, Hook took his place sitting next to us. There was a calm smile on his face as his eyes rested ahead, and he took a deep breath.
"I recall when I first set my sights on these wild greens. I was fresh off a similar declaration of destiny, and I believed my fate lied differently to where I am now. And that's not a bad thing." My Slowbro brought his eyes to us. "The pressure of the weight of the world is not your fault. We may all have destinies in store for us, but whatever it is, it can come in unexpected ways. Please don't blame yourself for not living up to standards thrust upon your young selves."
I never expected to be on the receiving end of such touching insight from Hook. Yet, there was a guilt I felt about it all. "But… I'm your trainer. You're my Pokémon. I should be the one taking care of you guys."
Hook's smile was gentle. He looked to his Shellder arm, then lay his free hand on my shoulder. "It's more than that now, Flare. As someone with more experience, I've taken it upon myself to guide those who need it." He looked lower, towards Foo, towards the Eviolite necklace he was wearing. "I know these destiny matters aren't easy for everyone. We aren't all born so fortunate. But whatever destiny you have in store, it's up to us to protect you along the way."
I blinked at him, and I could've sworn I felt my eyes watering. Hearing that made me feel like I had more breathing room, like I was reassured, even… safe.
"You…" Foo spoke up again. "You're all… so strong."
"We're all strong in our own ways," Hook continued. "And you can be, too. Would you like to be?"
Foo nodded. I caught Zap nodding, too. I had the urge to do the same.
Zap squirmed away from my arm, excitedly getting to his feet. "I can help train!" He looked towards Foo, pressing his fists together. "I was taught how to fight, and now I want to teach you how to fight too!"
That got an eager squeak out of Foo, and then he was up on his feet as well. My Toxtricity and my Kubfu looked at each other excitedly, and before I knew it, they were off.
"So…" I looked Hook's way. "Have I been doing a good job throughout all of this?" With my arms free, the best I could do was return the shoulder pat.
"Of course." Hook's encouraging smile was accompanied by a quick glance down at his neck, likely where his Eviolite charm used to be. "From the beginning, you were always there to believe in us, weren't you? And that hasn't changed, has it?"
I blinked, looking back at him with a firm clarity in my stare. "Not in the slightest."
"I had a feeling." There was a sort of fulfilled tranquility in his tone. "Your belief took root in me and brought me far ever since, almost as if it's a link I can… physically feel. I'd imagine it's been the same for all of us, and will follow similarly for these new recruits."
"You're right." I smiled as I gazed ahead, scoping out the sight of Zap teaching Foo how to punch while Twigs and Cress were chasing a rogue volley of floating flames. "Thank you, Hook."
"I should be the one thanking you. It's been a pleasure all the same." The Slowbro breathed out a chuckle, leaning back a little. "Listen to me, I think I'm starting to sound like him now." He sniffed for a silent second. "Wherever he is now, I hope I'm making him proud by talking to you in his stead. I know he'd still be proud of you."
That got another sniffle out of me, which was enough for me to lean into my Slowbro's side. I needed an embrace, and so did he, and I was met with a whirlwind of bittersweet pride as I brought my arms around the big guy. I was proud of him, and I was proud of everyone. It was just starting to sink in how many were proud of me too.
"Are you two okay? Your souls are somehow happy and sad."
I heard Lumos' voice, and I was then face-to-face with a Chandelure.
"Here, take this really cool purple rock I found on the ground, I hear purple rocks cheer people up." She held her black flame-coated arm towards me, which held nothing, and it took her a second to realize that. "Oh, the stone is gone. And I'm a Chandelure now for some reason." She tapped an appendage against her chin. "I should be really happy about this, which I absolutely am, but I could've sworn I had a neato trinket on me to help cheer you guys up…"
That got a giggle out of me, and I stepped ahead to throw my arms around her as well. "I'm proud of you, Lumos." She was really warm to the touch, like how I imagined hugging a fireplace would feel.
"Aww, thank you." Lumos hugged me back, almost squealing at that, and she was surprisingly gentle about it given the big flames on her arms. "Making my trainer proud is the highest honor! I will continue to make you proud, master!"
"... just 'Flare' is fine." Could be worse, at least she's not throwing any bits of my full name into this.
"Okay, Clare Flannery!" Never mind. How did she even know that…?
It was hard not to smile now, something I thought would take a lot more effort just a couple of hours ago, but having my Pokémon with me really felt like being blessed with a miracle. I was starting to get back into the swing of things, feeling that warmth of a burning fire again, and for a moment, I was wondering if I was ready to go above and beyond like I did before. To surprise myself and the world once more.
Maybe, just maybe, I really did have the prowess of a champion, the heart, and maybe even the heroism of one. I still had to find out what happened to Eternatus, didn't I? Whatever mysteries were left, I was ready to believe in myself and my team every step of the way there.
The incidents from before… I'm going to make sure nothing like that happens ever again.
So it turned out that canned food could keep itself preserved for a pretty long time. After a long day of training in the Wild Area, it felt refreshing to kick back, relax on the grass, and get a cooking pot set up for a nostalgic curry-making session. Twigs supplied the berries, some of the others got some firewood, and Lumos supplied the flame. I didn't know why it took me this long to use a Fire type Pokémon.
I looked at the scene before me, watching all my Pokémon calmly sitting around the pot. Over the sounds of the bubbling curry, I heard the sounds of an exciting tale being regaled, one I leaned closer to get a better listen to.
"... and so, I blazed through the Wild Area, leaving chaos in my wake!" Lumos' eyes were wide, illuminated by the nearby fire. "Two of my compatriots were hot on my trail, dropping bombs to finish off every foe I vanquished!"
"I was leaving berries. For the Pokémon," Twigs corrected her, shaking her head with a smile.
"Same thing." Lumos waved her flames at her. "And then! I engaged in combat with a Morbeeple-"
"Orbeetle," Cress spoke up from her usual spot on Hook's head. "And that was the part when I warned you those Pokémon knew Mirror Coat."
"But your cries fell on deaf ears! Or no ears, because I don't have any!" Lumos gazed at all of us to build up suspense, right as the campfire intensified the bubbling. "Still, something clicked! Or misclicked! Because I wouldn't be swayed by such tricks, and I used Confuse Ray instead! Saving the day!"
"... that checks out, actually." Cress almost sounded impressed.
I almost dropped my ladle with how intense that story got. I didn't know whether or not it actually happened, but it was definitely amusing to see Lumos floating and cheering for herself with everything she probably made up. Maybe it was just the fire, but it was nice to see how things how much brighter things were with her around. Even Foo seemed at ease, and with him leaning by me, I could see the stare of admiration he was giving her. Even after she decided to consume a plate of curry by pouring it into her head.
Foo was already trained up well, mainly thanks to Zap cheering him on and even teaching him one of his moves. Foo's moves were now Drain Punch, Close Combat, Focus Energy, and Counter, an absolutely strong moveset, but I was kinda expecting him to evolve somewhere along the way. Not that I didn't have experience dealing with late bloomers, but still…
Wait, what did that letter say about evolving Kubfu again?
For a second, I wanted to slap my forehead for not bringing the letter with me, but I was able to rack my brain enough for something. Mustard said something about going to the Isle of Armor to evolve Foo, right? It worked the same way for Hook, so I felt it made enough sense. That would mean calling a Flying Taxi to take me there, but since the Gym Challenge is over, I wasn't sure if that was a thing I could still do. Still worth a shot, I guessed.
Hopefully he doesn't mind.
As I took out my phone, looking for Mr. Pilot's contact, I thought of getting back in touch with the other few contacts I had, but I didn't know how long it had been. With how much everything's changed with the Gym Challenge being over, they had probably been busy for a while. Worried, too. Not to mention all those missed messages might've been a lot for just such a moment…
Maybe later. It'll be nice to surprise them once I'm sure I'm back on my feet.
Thankfully, Mr. Pilot didn't mind. Like nothing ever changed, I got to ring him up, ask him to bring me to the Isle of Armor, and he showed up with his same cab, Corviknight, aviator hat and everything. All with that goggle-stared smile, it was like he was always ready for a job or something.
"Don't worry 'bout it none, I'm just happy to be doin' ya a service!"
Didn't you tell me you had a wife and daughter to come home to? I wondered for a good while if he ever got to go on vacation or if there was a way I could pay him for his surprising help lately, but he insisted this goodwill had no strings attached. And all while he agreed to pick me up at an evening hour, too!
When we landed back in the Isle of Armor, it was dark, quiet, pretty empty, as I kinda expected, but at least I brought my own guiding flame with me. A guiding flame with a lot of questions.
"Whoa, this is your training spot?" Lumos' eyes wandered just as much as the floating wisps surrounding her. "It's so… far away from anything I've seen!"
"I guess you could say it's a training spot? But really, I'm just here to help Foo evolve." I looked down to the little Kubfu who was holding my hand. "Do you know anything about that, Foo?"
Foo blinked up at me, his eyes quivering for a moment, before he shook his head.
"It's okay." I gave him a pat on the head to assure him. "Being here never really answered any questions for me either."
"Your destiny is so close, battle buddy!" Lumos nodded his way. "Once you evolve, you'll be awesome and spectacular like me, and we'll be unstoppable!" Lumos pumped her flames like fists, and a dazzled Foo quickly followed suit.
Aww… As much as I wanted to revel in the moment, join them even, I figured I probably shouldn't stick around too long.
Meandering in the dark for a while probably wasn't a good idea, so I followed Lumos' ghostly pale glow and started to approach the closest landmark, which was the Master Dojo. As I drew closer, I saw the depiction of a bear Pokémon on the roof, a sign I remembered seeing the first time I came here. With each passing step, I wondered what exactly Mustard was planning by leaving me a Pokémon like this, a super special Pokémon that was supposedly the namesake of this island. Whatever the case, if anyone was going to give me a clue on where to go, it would probably be someone from this dojo.
"Ooooh, this place has got some spooky atmosphere." Lumos still hovered nearby, smiles and all. "Is there some some super splendid high stakes reason why we're training and getting things done here? Ooh, does the world need saving? Or still need saving?"
I let out a heavy breath, facing the dojo doors as I mustered the courage to knock. "... I'd hope not."
"Such talent and strength… perhaps the time has come."
The voice whispered like a breeze in the wind, but I caught it. I whipped myself around at the sound of that wispy tone to meet none other than the wisped-hair one himself.
"Hello there, Flare!" Mustard stood in his jovial demeanor, hands behind his back like nothing was wrong. "You just happened to catch me talking to myself during one of my nightly walks. It's nice to see you here again!"
"Uh… hi, Mustard." Even in the face of his usually jolly attitude, I was half-tempted to put up my best attempt at a fighting stance. I just waved instead. "I… got your letter. And the Kubfu. Please don't fire any Aura Spheres at me."
"Fuhaha! Has my last appearance left that much of an impression on you?" Yes. "Oh, but please, you needn't worry about that. I'm not the one testing you today."
I raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean, test?"
"Hee hee!" Mustard turned away from the Master Dojo to face the other sprawling sides of the island. "You came here to evolve your Kubfu, didn't you?" He glanced back at me before gesturing to follow. "Follow me, you three."
He started making his way towards the wilder wetlands of the area, and I glanced at Foo and Lumos before we all followed. I matched his pace, and with Lumos' light, I noticed how barren these areas were tonight. It was probably another one of those rest days for everyone.
That did leave things quiet for sure, but that was probably a mainstay with how nightly strolls on this island went, I imagined. I wasn't sure where Mustard intended to lead us, but wherever it was, we were meandering for a while. So much so that I think I heard a total of one bird Pokémon flying over us at some point. All the while, I kept both Foo and Lumos close, and with my Chandelure's glow, I sometimes glanced at Mustard, continuing to wonder what mysterious thoughts hid behind that smile of his.
And then he looked back at me. "You know, I had a feeling you would be the one to surpass Leon one day."
I was already surprised, but mentioning that Leon battle didn't help with the disbelief. "Oh, right… wait, what do you mean, you had a feeling?"
His grin grew subtly wider at that. "There are great things that await those who are chosen." I caught him glancing down at Foo. "Even before you set foot here, I knew you were brimming with potential, and seeing as how you were able to bring out the best out of your Pokémon, we all made the right choice. The visions were proof enough of your successful link. Though I can't imagine your journey has been easy."
We? What… what visions?
But despite my questions, I lingered over that last part. "N-No, it really hasn't been easy…" My gaze trailed down to where it was darker. "I've been trying my best, but there's still a lot that's happened, a lot that I haven't been able to understand, a lot I…" I trailed off. I was already feeling pretty lost as is. I didn't think pouring it all out in front of Mustard of all people was going to do me any good, but… I let out a breath. "Still, I must've made it this far for a reason. I'll keep trying." Not all was lost, and we have all the more to gain.
Mustard's stare was… unusually understanding. "I understand if the pain of loss has left you uncertain of your capabilities. Even I share the feeling, back when I reached similar peaks you have. Even if you're young, your spirit is strong. Don't worry. The time for guidance is near. We're almost there."
I'm not… that young. I'm at least old enough to drive! I just can't.
All of a sudden, he turned to walk a different way with a lot more insistence in his pace. We stopped by a fork in the plains. One path led deeper into forests and caverns, and the other led towards an open beach.
"Both you and Foo have grown more confident. You bear strength that none of my best students have ever mustered before." Mustard looked back at me with a nod. "Not even Leon, because he got lost on the way here! Fuhahaha!"
I wondered if that was his way of lightening the mood. And thinking about how I was technically surpassing Leon… it was working.
"The Tower of Two Fists serves as special training grounds for Kubfu," Mustard continued. He swept an arm towards his right. "The red tower is the Tower of Darkness." He swept an arm towards the his left. "The blue tower is the Tower of Waters." And then he turned to face me. "Both reveal two different sides of a Kubfu's potential. As for which style you choose, it will be up to what you and Foo yearn for."
It was a weighty choice, especially given how many questions I had about the process. But at the same time, as I pondered the two towers, one of darkness and one of water, one of those types spoke to me. I looked down at Foo, seeing that lingering stare of admiration that I shared in my memories, and I could tell he made his choice as well.
"I see your resolve is shared," Mustard spoke. "While I would love to see this outcome through with you as well, your tale unfolds differently." He gave me another calm look before turning away. "I was right when I said you'll be able to bring the stars back to the sky and finish what he started. But now, you'll be able to meet him, so that he may continue to help you going forward."
And just like that, he was gone. I expected as much at this point.
"Oooooh, that guy was cryptic," Lumos chimed in. "Don't know why I feel like I've seen him before. Reminds me of these old champion posters I used to see back home, this cool shirtless guy who had a similar-looking hat."
I appreciated Lumos' remark, pleasantly surprised by the familiarity, but as I looked down the path me and Foo were intending to take, I took out her Great Ball. "Waves are going to get pretty dangerous where we're headed. You should rest for a while."
"Ohhh, alright." She looked to the path ahead, then at me, then back at the path again. "You sure you don't need help lighting the way?"
"We'll be alright." I nodded with certainty, sharing the confidence with Foo beside me. "This time, I know where I'm going."
"Okie dokie!"
Off the wetlands, now onto the wet sands.
The scene felt oddly familiar, but I wasn't sure why. I was on the move, leaving footprints on the sand with Foo alongside me. I was accompanying him, and he was accompanying me, all throughout this path that I could just feel had something big awaiting the both of us.
"I see it in you… you'll be the one to neutralize the coming threat…"
As if that talk with Mustard brought back echoes of distant memories, I recalled that declaration he said about me. The sandy path Foo and I walked on was narrow, between the rolling waves crashing on either side of us, but we continued through the turmoil. Ahead, through my vaguely uncertain stare, we witnessed the Tower of Waters awaiting us. A several-story building, bearing layers and banners as blue as… as water.
"... and bring the stars back to the sky."
There was a weight in my steps as I drew closer. I used to have a Water type. My gaze searched the night sky for solace or comfort, but there were no stars. The grief of loss echoed, but even if I didn't understand what was in store for us all, I kept moving forward. The tower's powerful presence beckoned to me, as if climbing that thing would help me, help Foo, help all of us climb back up from everything else.
I wasn't going to be handling this alone. I had Foo. And Lumos. And Twigs, and Hook, and Zap, and Cress. I was going to be lead and protect them all, just as they have led and protected me. For them, for all my friends, for everyone, I was going to keep growing, keep learning, and even in the face of danger, I was going to face it.
"Finish what he started."
Mustard told me it was about time for some guidance. With Foo by my side, we picked up the pace, stepping into the wooden tower and bringing ourselves even further. Past the wooden floorings, we ascended each empty floor, making our marathon of a run to the top of everything. Being as unstoppable as the raging eaves outside. One floor. Two floors. Three floors. Four.
Another flight of stairs, and this was it. What faced us at the top was another battlefield-sized room, but the peak had something different in store than the other floors. By the opposite side of the room, a large scroll was hung up by the wall, bearing writing alongside the distinct image of a wave, appearing like a prize. But that wasn't all.
It's him.
I stepped closer, narrowing my eyes at the person awaiting me there. The two hanging lanterns cast a warm orange light on a figure I knew well. I knew mystery man's blue shades anywhere. I was about to say something to him, but there was something else about him that the lights showed to me.
"Mystery man…?" I blinked, stunned not by the presence of his blue shades, but by what was on his head. Instead of a helmet, he was wearing an aviator hat.
He cleared his throat, shaded gaze as unreadable as always. "It's time you knew the truth, Flare." His voice sounded completely different now. That wasn't his accent, but even then, the distinct watchful eye of his Corviknight was right beside him. Almost hesitant, he reached for his shades and hat, and what lied beneath left the both of us silent in breath.
Even with the room's vague lighting, there was no mistaking it. Standing right before me, as if appearing out of a distant, bygone memory, I came face-to-face with golden hair and blue eyes that made me feel like I was looking at a mirror. Instead of mystery, what I saw was someone who seemed as vulnerable and uncertain as I was.
"Uh… hi. It's been a while… kiddo."
