Epilogue
And so ends the story of what would come to be known as the "New Orange Pass" sparked by the destruction of Vault 18 and two of its denizens who changed everything.
While the destruction of Fort Daggerpoint denied the NKR military resources and a powerful stronghold, the destruction of the Aether Enclave and their Cosmeon Engine proved to be more important. Ranger Kerry Vargas and Captain Jameson led the military to scour The Pass and eventually exterminated the last of the Ultra-hybrids and rooted out the remaining members of The Aether Enclave, Team Skull and what was left of the raiders. No Mewtwo were found, either perishing at Fort Daggerpoint or having fled the pass after the battle. Eventually the region became stable and fully annexed by the NKR.
Having grown up thanks to his Grandfather and humbling himself before his old bullying victim, Maxwell Silverman settled in as Sherrif of Trovitopolis. His lessons led him to be a fair lawman who gave even ex-raiders a chance if they were truly repentant.
Melany and GR-0-WL headed west with the report squad for the heart of NRK territory. Her pardon ensured she was able to live in privacy and open a repair shop where she found her true calling as a mechanic. Eventually, Melany and GR-0-WL uncovered a plot from the still existing Silph Co. to destroy Shady Sands, the capital of the NKR, in order to force people to become dependent on them. With help from their old friend Zade from the military they thwarted this plan which led to the final destruction of Silph Co. Melany quietly denied any fame and just took a small lump sum payment so she could avoid the spotlight and gave all credit to Zade.
Lieutenant Zade returned home to the relief and welcome joy of his family and finally proposed to his boyfriend. The two married shortly thereafter and adopted two eggs that they hatched and raised as a family. When Melany brought him in to stop Silph Co.'s plot, Zade received all the credit and was hailed as a hero of the NKR which would promise him a fast track up the ranks. He wisely kept his family out of the limelight so that when he could return home it was to a peaceful life.
Gertrude stayed in Trovitopolis and was relieved when her husband, Alex the Ninetails-man, returned home shortly after the battle of Fort Daggerpoint. Alex stayed home for a year, long enough to see their son hatch and help look after him until he set off with Kitun Caravans again. Gertrude continued to work as a town doctor, often employing her friend Jeremy's help in babysitting to the point that Jeremy became an honorary uncle to her son in addition to his godfather. She still misses her husband while he's out on the caravan trail but knows someday they'll realize their dream of opening a restaurant in Trovitopolis.
When Lauren's enlistment ran out, she retired from the military to become a freelance caravan guard. Her lack of commitment to a single caravan company often made it hard to find work but her combat experience got her enough to get by. Despite this, she missed her tribe and some days regrets not returning to being Volca of the Moltres' Embers
Shortly after the battle of Fort Daggerpoint, The Moltres' Embers packed up their tribe and left their home, only those few who did not want to travel stayed behind and were eventually assimilated by the NKR. Helios left with them with only a promise to Dee that they'd see each other again. Their old home became the subject of study by NKR scientists to try and find out if the legendary bird Moltres truly had roosted there during the Final War but no conclusive evidence was ever found, and yet the few humans who were brought there to test the theory always hybridised into Fire-types.
And as for Dee, she joined the Kalos Express as a courier, wanting to see the world beyond The New Orange Pass. Her once life as a male human in Vault 18 far from her thoughts as she delivered packages on dangerous trips. Despite the dangers of travelling alone, her parasite's healing factor let her take the most treacherous routes and survive. No one noticed that she always returned with no injuries. She still hopes that one day, she and Helios will be reunited someplace far from any conflict.
For though peace may have settled in the New Orange Pass
War… war never changes
