Chapter 5
"Alright. This might actually work! Ok start the machine!" Cara Liss signalled, and the fossil machine booted up. "Good luck, mopey kid, dye job kid, mouthy cat. We're rooting for ya."
"Might?!" Foster squeaked out in alarm, but it was too late. A laser beam launched out hitting the heart scale Shane, Thea and Meowth all held. The beam deflected off in two directions catching both the fossilized Jessie and James. Engulfing them in a rainbow aura.
The laser cut off and the machine booted down. Had it worked?
The stone bodies of Jessie and James began to dematerialize as soft flesh and clothing fabric took it's place.
Amber Leaf and the whole team looked on in amazement as two humans took the place of two rocks. Tracey's jaw fell open, dropping his sketch book in awe.
Thea, Shane and Meowth turned around slowly, dropping the heart scale. The two latter eyes bulged wide and teared up.
A middle-aged woman with long vibrant magenta hair, deep blue eyes and ruby lips stood dumbstruck. She was dressed in an out-dated white and black Team Rocket uniform. Next to her a handsome middle-aged man with cropped blue hair styled in curtains and brilliant green eyes in a matching outdated white uniform, with a matching confused expression.
"James … are we?"
"Back?"
"Back to beautiful!" The two burst out in unison as tears flowed from their eyes. They grabbed each other in a pure emotional outburst.
"Mom … Dad …" Shane's lip trembled.
"Shaney!" Jessie reached out and grabbed her son, pulling him into their embrace. "Oh Shaney, my son, my handsome, perfect son. Finally, I get to hold you in my arms again."
"Shane my own boy. How you've grown. I'm so proud." James hugged his son tighter.
He had been just a small boy when they had last held him in their arms. Now he was a full-grown man.
"Hey don't forget Meowth!" The cat pokémon called out and jumped onto Shane's shoulder getting in on the family action.
"Meowth! Old chum. Your safe too." James petted his head.
"Meeeoooowth, that's right!"
Thea, Amber, Leaf and the others all watched the heart-warming scene with misty eyes.
"It worked … it really worked." Foster mumbled to himself in disbelief, his chest swelled with warmth and pride. "You crazy 'ol gal you did it!"
"Of course it did. Could there be any doubt when an ancient prophecy and master's degree math is involved?" Cara Liss folded her arms over her chest and nodded with confidence. "When something rhymes, it works all the times."
"You just made that up." Foster gave his colleague a tired look, who sweat dropped in response. The two laughed, this occasion was too precious to spoil with an argument.
"Oh my baby boy, we'll never leave you again I swear, never ever, ever." Jessie swung the boy side to side in their hug. "I thought this day would never come!" James wailed out, tears appearing in his eyes. "But here we are, here forever!"
Shane smiled, pulling away from his family. He headed towards Thea but instead grabbed Amber by the arm and pulled her over.
"Mom, Dad. This is Amber Ketchum. She's the daughter of Ash and Misty Ketchum. You're old friends. They have been funding the research here."
"Friends might be pushin' it a little." Meowth chirped.
"We never would have figured out how to bring you back without her." Shane smiled sweetly at Amber, who blushed slightly at the attention.
"Is that so? Heh, saved by a twerp." Jessie smirked. "That's one for the history books." James added with a smile.
"So, Ketchum's little girl huh." Jessie circled the young teenager. "Yep, I see the resemblance. Twerp through and through. Figures you'd be the one sticking your nose in, getting involved."
Amber frowned slightly at the remark but said nothing.
"Really, it was the least they could do for us." Jessie folded her arms.
"That's our way of saying thanks." James grinned at Amber.
Amber looked to the floor and blushed. She pushed the dirt of the floor around with her foot "Um you're welcome. But I really didn't do anything…"
"No way. If you hadn't said about the heart scale, we wouldn't have figured out the prophecy. I am so thankful you found that fossil and came to Galar." Shane gave the girl a brilliant smile and held her wrist, giving it a gentle squeeze. "We owe you so much. Really."
Amber blushed harder.
"And over there is my girlfriend." Shane pointed over only to see his love red face and seething, an aura of flames raging around her. Shane gulped "… Thea?"
"Am I your girlfriend? Really? Because it seems it is her you want after all!" Thea pointed accusingly at Amber. "I don't know why I tried to kid myself to thinking I had a chance, it all makes perfect sense. She's rich, comes from a good family, naturally cute. Belongs! Not like me. How could I compete with a Ketchum. I've been an idiot."
"What … no …that's not true." Shane was crest fallen, gutted he'd allowed Thea, his most special person, to think and feel that way.
"SAVE IT! I hope you'll both be very happy together." Thea glared. She turned to Leaf. "Looks like you were right all along." Overcome with sadness the teenager covered her eyes with her forearm and ran off, leaving the scene.
Everyone turned to look at Leaf. The woman put her hands up. "Don't look at me! I'm not the redheaded homewrecker."
"What exactly did you say to her?" Shane narrowed his eyes.
"Nothing really, just an astute observation. You two were acting rather chummy with your secret little talks and one on one time." Leaf shot back accusingly at Shane and Amber. "You put your girlfriend on the backburner. We could all see it."
"Say what?!" Shane was outraged. Amber's face puffed out and reddened in a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
"Oh Leaf …" Tracey looked at his beau with disappointment. She should know better than meddle in the love lives of teenagers …
"Oh dear I should have known my sweet handsome boy would grow up to be heartbreaker." Jessie put a hand to her cheek. "Not sure I approve of his choice though." She narrowed her eyes at Amber who gulped in response.
"It's really not what it looks like!" The redheaded girl sweat dropped.
Shaned looked down at the floor. The heart scale was still in once piece although slightly charred. He bent down and picked it up. "It really is not!" Shane growled as he clutched the trinket and stomped off from the group.
"Hey wait where ya goin?" Meowth cried out seeing his best friend leaving once again.
"To find Thea! I gotta fix this stupid mess."
"Wait for meeee darling!" Jessie ran after her boy. "After all these years I can't stand to be away from you!" "Me toooo! Don't leave Meowth!" The cat pokémon bounded after the pair.
"I should have known not to trust a twerp. They always bring trouble." James remarked over his shoulder at Amber as he left to follow their son.
Amber looked to ground sadly; her eyes fixed on the dirty ground. She furrowed her eyebrows and released Raichu. "Raichu, help me find Thea."
"Rai rai!" The pokémon began to sniff the ground and bounded off. Amber followed her trusted friend. She had to put things right.
Tracey turned to Leaf. "You know it's not that kid's fault she looks like her and by my recollection she didn't even do anything wrong. You've got to stop looking back Leaf. Otherwise, you'll never go forwards and see what's right in front of you! I like you Leaf. I really do. But I can't be with someone who's still so hung up on the past." With that the pokémon watcher walked off joining the search party.
Leaf gritted her teeth, feeling slightly guilty.
*** Flashback ***
Ash and Misty joined hands and began to slowly move together on the dance floor. It was their first dance as newlywed husband and wife and despite a few missteps by Ash and trodden on toes, the two were smiling and laughing, thoroughly enjoying their special day.
Sat at a guest table several feet away, Gary Oak turned his head from the dance floor and sipped on his drink.
"My my. What do we have here? Legendary ladies' man Gary Oak dateless at his best friend's wedding? How can such an anomaly be? Unless you were keeping your options open for the bridesmaids?" Leaf smirked looking over at Misty's three sisters, surrounded by a small horde of suitors prying for a dance from the Cerulean Waterflowers.
"Huh? Oh it's you Leaf. Meh go away I'm not in the mood." Gary shooed off the young woman. But the tenacious trainer wasn't about to give up so easily.
"Come on, don't be so dull, you're making this wedding seem like a funeral."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"Then show me a bit of life! Come on Oak. Let's dance."
"No thanks Leaf, I just had a refill on my! Omph!"
"I wasn't asking." With that Leaf pulled the pokémon researcher up onto his feet and dragged him onto the dance floor. Gary reluctantly took Leaf's hand in his and placed his other hand on her waist as she draped her arm around his neck. The two began to sway to the music. "So, why so glum, chum?"
Gary sighed. "It's just … well … my whole childhood I looked down on Ash."
"You looked down on everyone Gar." Leaf interrupted.
"Well yeah, but more so Ash. He was this incompetent, uncouth, well nobody. He didn't ever seem to put in any effort. He just goofed through life. Oblivious and ignorant. It really grated on me."
Leaf nodded for him to continue.
"Ok he got better, and the bitterness mellowed. But still."
"Yep. I get it." Leaf rolled her eyes slightly.
"Now look at him. He's Champion of Alola, a Pokémon Master. He beat Leon, world's number one, meaning he's now world's number one. He has a kinship with legendary pokémon, tons of friends who'd give their lives for him and." Gary took a deep breath and looked over to see Ash dipping Misty down in a comedic romantic gesture, the two laughing brightly, eyes full of love for each other. "He got the girl." Gary looked back at Leaf "Whilst me, the grandson of the great and famous Samuel Oak, stuck here no further forwards in life, researching rocks."
"Oh." Leaf looked over as Ash clumsily twirled Misty into his arms and back out. She then looked back to Gary. "Yeah ok, looking from the outside in, Ash is kinda living the dream right now. We all left Pallet Town swearing we'd be Pokémon Masters, and as unlikely would have it, he's the only one who's done it. But you know what? We all underestimated him. I'm proud of the little Sunkern, but yeah I suppose can't help feeling a little jealous either. Though honestly, he just fires me up to better. So much so, I've decided I'm going to participate in the Kanto League this season."
"You are?" Gary looked Leaf in the eye, surprised at her new ambition. Though this was Leaf Greene they were talking about. She never failed to surprise him.
"Sure am. I'm finally going to finish what I started, and I'll make it through to the Elite Four. Just watch me."
"Wonder if Ash will be competing in Kanto this year …"
Leaf and Gary looked back over at Ash, who had outstretched his arm allowing his Pikachu, dolled up with a small matching dickie bow, up onto his shoulder to share in the wedding day fun.
"Maybe he is a Champion. Maybe he is a Master. But maybe he doesn't have to be the only one. And hey Gary." Leaf drew her lips to the young man's ear and gently whispered. "Maybe he isn't the only one to get the girl either." With that Leaf planted her lips softly against Gary's jaw, leaving a light but lingering kiss. "Maybe it's not too late for our dreams to come true too." Gary's eyes widened in shock as Leaf let Gary go and sauntered away. She looked back giving the researcher a cheeky wink before melting into the crowded dance floor.
Gary stood dumbfounded and held his hand to the side of his face, still tingling from the contact.
Maybe it's not too late.
"Congratulations Leaf! Champion of the Kanto League!" Gary raised a glass to his friend who had just won the Pokémon League competition.
As with any trainer to make a splash in pokémon league competitions, a party was held at the Oak Corral with all the residents of the small town in attendance.
Leaf gushed. "Thanks Gary."
"Man Leaf, watching you battle in that final was awesome. Makes me wish I'd been competing." Ash complimented his friend.
"It would have been fun to compete against you Ash." Leaf smiled at her friend.
"Well, we had a lot going on this year, with Ash beating Leon in the World Coronation Series and you know us getting married. But hey maybe next season Ash could compete for Kanto again? It would be cool to see you defend your title Leaf." Misty smiled warmly.
"I'd be more worried if Misty was competing than Ashy Boy." Gary quipped, giving Ash and Misty a side eye with his teasing. Ash pouted whilst Misty giggled. Leaf noted the interaction and narrowed her eyes. Jealousy rearing it's ugly head.
Sunlight illuminated Misty's natural fiery red hair, long and flowing. Her aquatic like eyes glistened with joy, her smile and laughter lighting up her natural beautiful face. Long, lean frame accentuated by a simple yet pretty yellow sun dress. Misty was perfect. And Leaf hated it.
"How come you've never competed Misty?" Leaf leaned back on her chair.
"Oh well … it's not that I've never considered it. I guess my duties to my gym, my family, my friends." She gazed lovingly at Ash. "Always took precedence. I never found the time to take on the league challenge myself, and now I guess I feel I don't really need to." She placed her hand lovingly on her husbands. "I have everything I want."
"So what, you just sit second to your man? Supporting him through his dreams, giving up on your own? I thought you were supposed to be this great water master? Yet I've seen nothing to back that up. Just a run of mill gym leader, letting the men pave the way for all the glory."
"What?!" Misty growled, her famous temper flaring up.
"Leaf!" Gary scolded the girl, she was going too far and everyone knew it.
"Maybe we can see how good you really are with a little one on one?" Leaf pulled out a pokéball and spun it on her finger. A signature intimidation move of Gary Oak.
Misty frowned. "I'm more than happy to back that up. Leaf. Let's battle!"
Misty and Leaf faced off.
"Not only am I going to beat you Misty, I'm going to beat you at your own game. I choose Seadra." Leaf released her strong water type.
Misty gritted her teeth and pulled out a pokéball. "I call Staryu."
"Ok let's start things off Dragon Dance, Seadra."
The pokémon began to move her body, increasing her attack and speed.
"Staryu use bubblebeam! Let's slow Seadra down."
Staryu let off a powerful stream of bubbles, bursting on Seadra with force, cancelling out the speed buff.
"Seadra Laser Focus."
"Staryu, go all out with Psybeam!"
The move launched full pelt hitting Seadra, knocking her back.
Leaf called out to her pokémon, which was still able to battle. "Seadra, are you ok? Use Dragon Pulse."
"Staryu Brine!"
Staryu geared up to attack but the powerful dragon move struck Staryu, dealing critical damage.
Staryu's jewel flashed as it drooped, feinted.
"No Staryu … you did your best, I'm proud of you. You deserve a good rest." Misty gently patted her pokémon and recalled her into the ball.
"Guess you couldn't cut it in the league after all." Leaf retorted smugly. "Leave it to the real trainers honey."
"Wow Misty! That was amazing!" Ash and Gary complimented the red head.
Leaf's jaw dropped. Misty tilted her head. "But I … didn't win?"
"Yeah but it was super close. If Staryu had got in that last brine attack, Seadra wouldn't have stood a chance." Ash commented. Gary nodded in agreement. Leaf gritted her teeth. Seething.
"You went toe to toe with the Kanto League Champion with no preparation and using an unevolved pokémon and you nearly won!" Gary added to the compliment.
"Right, you didn't even use your Gyarados!" Ash spun his wife around. "You always get me so fired up when you battle! I love you!"
"Whatever! I still won! AND WITH A WATER TYPE!" Leaf stormed off.
"Leaf wait!" Gary called out.
Not for you. Leaf thought bitterly, fighting back rogue tears threatening to spill.
*** End ***
I've been a jealous fool. All over again. Leaf looked down at the floor, before raising her head up. "But there's still time." With that the ex-champion also went on the search for the teenager.
"Oooh so much drama!" Cara Liss put her hands to her face, eyes piercing. "Drama Karma."
"Are you going after them?" Foster turned to the old scientist. She closed her eyes and shrugged. "Honestly. No. I couldn't give a grookey." And with that the pair walked off back towards the base camp. The rest of the scientific team following them.
Raichu dutifully followed the scent trail and ambled over a sand dune, soon he spotted a familiar bottle blonde figure sat hunched over on a small rock. He signalled his trainer and hung back, allowing her to approach Thea first. Amber took a deep breath. She petted Raichu on the head for a job well done and walked up slowly to the side of her former enemy. "Hey."
"Ugh. You. Don't you think you've taken enough from me? Now what? You want my breathing space too?!" Thea snapped at her unwelcome visitor. "Bug off kid."
"Hey hear me out." Amber sat down next to the hostile girl. "I don't know what you think, but you've got it all wrong. Shane doesn't have feelings for me. He loves you. And only you."
"Ha If you truly believe that you're even denser than I thought." Thea deadpanned.
"It's true. He told me so himself. He said his feeling for you were clear. No reservations, no complications. You're his number one."
"And he told you this, why?" Thea questioned not buying the story.
Amber looked ahead and took a deep breath. Time to be a friend and do the right thing. "Because I did have feelings for him. At least I thought I did. I was confused for a while, and when I finally confessed how I felt to him, he didn't reciprocate for a second. He talked me through everything and that's when I realised my feelings, they weren't what I thought. Not like the ones you have for him." Amber paused and looked at Thea. "And not like ones he has for you. He loves you, Thea. I'm nobody to him."
Thea looked Amber in the eye, her facial expression softening. "You really are telling me the truth."
"Um hum. I'd give anything to have someone in my life who looks at me the way Shane looks at you. … and only you. Truth be told … I'm jealous. You two are perfect together. I don't think I'll ever have that …"
"Amber …" Thea sighed. "Thank you. That couldn't be easy for you to say."
The two teens exchanged soft smiles.
"You're a better woman than me Ketchum."
Leaf appeared from over the dune. "I'm sorry I stirred things up." The woman stepped forward and bowed her head. "I guess I fell victim to my past demons and allowed them to take over. I projected my own insecurities on to you guys, that was wrong of me. Mew, I'm old enough to know a lot better." She turned to Amber. "I painted you with a brush that was never your colour. Amber. I apologise." She then turned to Thea. "And Thea, I had no right to plant those seeds of jealously in your head. Your relationship was solid enough without an old bitch like me meddling. I'm sorry."
The two teens looked at each other and back and Leaf.
"I think, maybe, it's time we all had a fresh start." Amber smiled gently. "And leave the past where it belongs. Behind us." The other two women nodded in agreement. A new understanding formed between the three.
"Thea!" Shane came running over, his parents, Meowth and Tracey in tow to see if the girl was ok after her outburst.
Thea and Amber stood up as Shane reached them. He put his hands on his thighs and caught his breath before rightening himself. Confidently he strolled up to Thea. Amber and Leaf moved to the side and retreated from the couple, joining Tracey and the Rockets. Leaf held her arm out and embraced the young red head, hugging her into her side.
"I'm so sorry I hurt you, that was the last thing I ever want to do." Shane spoke out sincerely to his best friend.
"I just saw red … literally …" Thea side eyed Amber who ruffled her red hair. "You've spent so much alone time with Amber since she arrived here, leaving me out, being so concerned about her when we went into the cave to get a shiny stone … and then introducing her to your parents before me and giving her so much credit. It's like despite all we've been through together; you view her as the best thing that happened to you. It hurts." Thea looked down sadly.
"Thea." He grabbed his girlfriend's hands and looked her in the eye. "Thea, no. That couldn't be further from the truth. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. That day that I left my house, the day I met you. It couldn't be coincidence that I ran into you of all people. You and I were destined to meet and be together. I could never have done, well, anything without you. You've always been at my side. Through all the bad and the good. I'm sorry I took that for granted." Thea looked up at her boyfriend, Shane carried on. "That's why I never worried about you in the cave. I view you as my equal, my partner. You're so capable and strong. I guess with Amber, I felt protective, she's younger than us, naïve, and I guess because I do still feel guilty about that time on Victory Road when it was our fault she nearly died."
Thea and Shane both grimaced slightly at the unpleasant memory.
"But. The only reason the revival would ever work in the first place was because of this." Shane put the heart scale back into Thea's hand. He thumbed off some of the charring revealing it's beautiful untarnished finish.
"Hey! It didn't break!" Thea exclaimed, looking at the treasure in her hand.
"No, it survived the process because of the love it holds within. The love from the giver to the sender. The love we hold for each other. That's what saved it. What saved my parents. Our love. I love you, Thea. You and only you. Forever and always." Shane smiled warmly and pressed his head against Thea's.
"Shane …" Thea's eyes watered but she softened and warmed into the embrace. "I love you too."
"Thea. You saved my parents. Thank You."
"You're welcome." The blonde whispered back with a giggle.
"I'll never be able to repay what you've done for me. But well, I was wondering … if … well …. maybe I could spend a lifetime trying?"
"What? What are you saying?!" Thea's eyes went wide.
The whole party gasped as Shane knelt down before Thea. The bottle blonde covered her mouth in shock.
"OHMYARCEUS IS THIS HAPPENING?! JAMES IS THIS HAPPENING?!" Jessie grabbed her husband by the collar and began to absent minded shake him as she watched the events unfold before them. The poor man's eyes spun.
"Thea will you marry me?" He pulled out a small round ring of twined grass from his pocket. A daisy stuck out acting as a diamond.
The group all stood, jaws on the floor, awaiting Thea's response.
"Shane … Of course I will!" Thea accepted the trinket and jumped into Shanes arms, they hugged tightly. "But not till we're in our mid-twenties and you get me a proper ring. OK?" The girl winked.
"Haha sure." Shane grinned widely as he put the grass "ring" on her finger. The two leaned in closer and shared a kiss.
Amber softly smiled seeing her fantasy played out in front of her. Only she wasn't the starring role …
"Arww Jessie would you look at that. Our boys all grown up and in love." James wrapped an arm around his loves shoulder and pulled her in close to him. "19 and with the world at his feet. What a time to be rejuvenated."
"Isn't it just wonderful James. He's found his true love and I'll be the most youthful looking in-law yet! People won't believe I'm the mother of the groom!" Jessie pulled out a vanity mirror and admired her age-paused complexion with sparkles in her eyes.
"Yeah dey won't believe ya not his Grandma." Meowth blurted out.
"What was that!" Jessie growled before pummelling the cheeky cat.
"I'm glad you all sorted it out, you kids are mature for your ages. More mature than us adults I'd say." Leaf winked.
"Well some of us." Tracey smiled at the beautiful brunette, he reached out to give her hand a secret squeeze and exchange a cheeky wink. She'd done the right thing in the end.
"That's ok." Thea smiled. "If we hadn't had the fight, we might not have made up stronger." She leaned her head on her fiancés shoulder and flashed her grass ring. Shane kissed the top of her head affectionately.
Leaf wrapped an arm around Amber shoulders and pulled her in for a little hug. "Well then, all's well that ends well I say. Shaney Boy got his parents back, Thea got a ring on it, Dr Foster, Cara Liss and the team made a huge scientific breakthrough, Nobel prize for sure, Jessie, James and Meowth got their lives back and Amber here got her pokémon." Amber slightly deadpanned at the thought of her Dracozolt. "I'd say this calls for a big celebratory party! Let's pop the champagne!"
Everyone cheered in unison. It was definitely a time to celebrate!
It was the morning after and with everything tied up, it was time for Amber to use her return ticket and go back home. Shane, Thea, Leaf and Tracey had all accompanied the young pokémon trainer, seeing her off at the airport.
Amber booted up the video phone. The signal wasn't brilliant, but it managed to call out to Oak Laboratories. It wasn't long before the familiar face of Gary Oak emerged, although fuzzing with occasional distortion.
"He – ey Squirt. How's Galar?"
"Really good Uncle Gary. We managed to revive the pokémon fossil you gave me. Turned out it was only partially complete, but we found a way to combine it and make a whole new pokémon!"
"Wow! I really look forward to seeing the newly rejuvenated pokémon when you get back."
"You say that …" Amber muttered under her breath thinking of Dracazolt.
"Anything else to report?"
"We brought back Shane's parents back."
Gary sipped on his coffee. "Who?"
"Oh, you know those Team Rocket people from the past. The ones who got turned to stone."
Gary spurted out his drink, his eyes bolted wide. "Jessie and James?! Those Team Rocket Agents?! They're alive? Again?! That's … that's unbelievable! Arceus, that's amazing! Human rejuvenation. They did it! Have you spoken to your father yet? I can't wait to hear more about this!"
"Not yet, I"
"Hey! Is that Gary Oak?!" Leaf stormed over to the video screen interrupting Amber. "Gary Oak is that you?! What excuse have you got then for like ZERO contact over the past DECADE?"
Gary paled; he was not ready for this. The usually cool researcher panicked and began to shake the monitor imitating poor signal noises with his mouth.
"Czzzzzk. Oh. Czzzzkkkk. Look at that. Poor signal. CZZZZZZKKKKK. Gotta go!" With that the monitor went blank.
Leaf grabbed the now blank screen and yanked it up. "GARY OAK! I SWEAR YOU GET BACK HERE AND FACE ME YOU COWARD!"
Amber, Tracey, Shane and Thea all sweat dropped.
Amber pulled on her backpack and looked up at the screen, her gate was ready, and the plane was boarding. Time to leave.
"Give your parents my love. Mew knows I haven't seen them in ages, but Ash and Misty are never far from my thoughts." Tracey gave the young redhead a gentle squeeze on her shoulder.
"I'll definitely pass on the message ... umm." Amber was stuck, what was his name again?
"Tracey! My name is Tracey!" Tracey's eyes streamed. Why doesn't anyone remember me?! I was a main character.
"Hey Ambs. Don't be stranger." Shane held out his hand and the two exchanged a little handshake. Before the older teenager pulled the red head in for a hug. "I mean it. Friend."
"See ya. Friend." Amber smiled as she pulled away. Friend. That felt right.
"Hey Chimchar."
"Um?" Amber turned and looked at Thea, her face was stern. Amber gulped. The bottle blonde broke out into a genuine smile, she winked and stuck up her thumb. "You'll come back for the wedding, right? I'll put you down for a plus one?"
Amber smiled back. "It's a date."
With that Amber boarded her flight and left the Galar region.
"Byeeeeeeeeee, Byeeee Amber, safe flight!" The small group chorused as their friend left.
This isn't goodbye, this is till next time.
Amber leaned on her hand and watched the ground become smaller beneath her as the plane took off. She smiled warmly thinking of her time in Galar. Leaning back gently in her chair the young trainer closed her eyes, content and happy with their closure. Suddenly her eyes bolted open.
"I didn't get any training in for the pokémon league!"
Authors Note: That's it! That's the side story done. I hope you guys liked it. I feel there wasn't much pokémon in it or action but hopefully it was entertaining enough. Now back to the main story - and the pokémon League!
Electric Tales, a pokémon fanfic | FanFiction