On the second day after the disaster, Lucas took Gengar and the others to help the villagers rebuild.
The villagers were clearly very skilled at post-disaster reconstruction; in less than a day, the houses had been mostly cleared. Severely damaged houses were repaired enough to be temporarily habitable, with the rest to be fixed slowly over time.
Lucas sat on the mountaintop with Cynthia, watching Akari help her grandparents cultivate the farmland at the foot of the mountain.
Akari wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked up. Seeing Lucas and Cynthia sitting on the mountaintop, she waved at them.
Lucas waved back in acknowledgement.
Akari giggled, then bent over to continue her work.
Celebi lay atop Lucas's head.
"Sha~"
I can feel it coming soon.
Lucas nodded slightly.
"The other Celebi is coming soon."
Both Cynthia and Lucas were wearing their original clothes. Cynthia was currently sitting cross-legged, one hand propping up her cheek as she watched the people working below, giving a soft hum of agreement.
"Did I ever tell you about the other Celebi?"
Cynthia shook her head, then turned to look at Lucas.
Lucas leaned back on the grass with his hands propped behind him and said, "That's the Celebi from Crown City. Even though we only met once..."
"Just once, yet when I needed help, it didn't hesitate to send Lugia back."
"Pokémon have always been very pure creatures."
Cynthia said with a smile.
Lucas laughed too. "That's why I love Pokémon the most."
Cynthia stared at Lucas.
Lucas's tone shifted.
"Just like I love Cynthia."
It was a very blunt statement. Cynthia turned her head away unnaturally, and Lucas grabbed her hand.
"Don't make me wait too long."
Cynthia said softly.
Lucas's eyes narrowed.
He knew Cynthia was waiting for someone to completely defeat her.
Should he let Ash win the championship early? At worst, he could take a shovel to find Tobias, call upon Lugia, Moltres, Zapdos, Articuno, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Darkrai, and Latias.
Even if Tobias's remaining Pokémon were also Legendaries, he could just call upon Palkia and Dialga. A worse option would be summoning Lugia from other timelines; he didn't believe he couldn't bury the guy alive.
Cynthia looked at Lucas; why did it feel like he was thinking about something very dangerous?
Behind Lucas and Cynthia, Darkrai, Gengar, and Latias were desperately holding back Garchomp, who looked like she wanted to skin Lucas alive.
Confessing right in front of me? See if I don't chop him to death.
Gengar: No, don't! Don't!
Darkrai: Let's talk this out, talk it out calmly.
Latias: You can't! If he dies, I won't get to eat delicious food anymore.
As soon as Latias finished speaking, the entire scene fell into silence.
Latias snapped out of it and found Garchomp, Gengar, and Darkrai all staring at her.
Latias's face turned red.
Heehee, how embarrassing.
Gengar's eyes lit up.
"Gengar!"
I'll give you half of my snacks, how about it?
Garchomp looked at Gengar with contempt.
Who do you think she is to me? She's the little girl I've watched grow up since she was small. You think you can bribe me with half your snacks?
Gengar: Are five hundred cans of snacks not enough?! (*)?!
Garchomp: Don't talk about half, even a mere hundred cans—cough, cough—
Even Darkrai and Latias on the side were stunned.
How many?!
Half is five hundred cans?!
Darkrai had no idea, while Latias hadn't expected Gengar to have so many. Although Gengar always prepared many snacks for her, that was only when she said she'd run out.
She didn't expect him to be secretly hoarding them.
You despicable guy, I was wondering why I had so few snacks; it turns out you took them all.
Latias was indignant.
Garchomp took back her words and looked at Gengar, shaking her head slightly.
Not enough.
Six—six hundred?
Garchomp continued to shake her head.
Gengar: !!! ∑(°A°)
Then—seven hundred?
Garchomp still shook her head, finally using her scythe to write a character on the ground.
Gengar looked at the number nine and fell into silence.
.·.）·..
My snacks—
Gengar glanced at Lucas and finally nodded with great difficulty.
Garchomp narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, while Gengar squatted in a corner, looking like he had been completely burned out.
Just then, a figure flew through the sky, drawing the attention of everyone and every Pokémon present.
Lucas looked at the pink, slender, feminine-looking Pokémon above him.
It had four sharp pink horns on its forehead arranged in an inverted trapezoid, with white hair and two whisker-like structures extending upward from the top of its head to form a heart shape.
There were two pointed pink ears on the sides of its head, with a lock of white hair hanging by each ear, and its lips were white. Its pink upper body was covered in deep pink raindrop-shaped spots, and its chest was pink, consisting of two connected diamond-shaped pectoral fin structures.
Its shoulders, elbows, and navel were decorated with raindrop patterns. Its arms were slender with five-fingered hands, and its entire lower body was completely wrapped in pure white clouds.
A long, python-like tail swayed out from the clouds, wrapped around its body; it was brown with pink, black-outlined heart patterns, and the end of the tail was enlarged, looking like a python's head from a distance.
The moment this Pokémon appeared, it spread its arms. Subsequently, countless buds of life began to appear across the land.
Seeds in the farmland began to sprout, green grass on the mountaintop began to peek out, and buds and flowers on the trees also emerged and bloomed.
Cynthia looked at Lucas, who had already taken out the camera and handed it to her.
He held her hands, pointing the camera at the pink Pokémon, and said, "Enamorus. Legend says it crosses the sea to the Hisui Region when the harsh winter is about to end. It's said its compassion causes new life to sprout across the Hisui land, so it's known as the God of Spring."
"The God of Spring who brings life—"
Lucas felt somewhat sentimental; he hadn't expected to have the chance to see it.
He didn't know why Enamorus didn't exist in the future Unova Region.
However, a Pokémon known as the God of Spring must be very well-loved by people.
The click of the camera caught Enamorus's attention, and it looked toward Lucas and the others.
"You do not belong here?"
Enamorus's voice was very gentle, like that of a kind older sister.
Lucas shook his head. "We came here to find it."
Following Lucas's gesture, Enamorus saw the Celebi lying on his head.
When Enamorus saw Celebi, its gaze became gentle.
The God of Spring and the God of the Forest.
Though these were titles bestowed by humans, they were both beings that loved life. Thus, Enamorus felt great goodwill toward Celebi, and Celebi liked Enamorus as well.
Enamorus suddenly looked up and said with a smile, "Your other friend has arrived."
As soon as it spoke, a Celebi emerged from a ring of light that suddenly appeared in the sky.
Upon seeing Lucas and the others, it dove straight into Lucas's embrace.
"Sha~"
Long time no see, Lucas.
Lucas smiled and patted its head. "Long time no see, Celebi. And, thank you."
Enamorus watched Lucas, who was so well-liked by Celebi, with some curiosity.
But if he was so loved by the legendary God of the Forest who could travel through time, then he must be a very good person himself.
"Lucas."
Akari's voice drifted over. Lucas looked over to see Akari running toward them at full speed.
"Did you see that Pokémon—are you... leaving?"
Akari looked at the clothes Lucas and Cynthia were wearing; they were the same clothes they wore when they first met.
Then she also saw the second Celebi in Lucas's arms.
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
Lucas nodded with a smile.
"Alright then. Be careful on your way, and remember to come visit me often."
Akari wiped her tears and said with a forced smile.
Lucas and Cynthia exchanged a look. Cynthia decided to let Lucas speak. Lucas sighed, walked up to Akari, and said softly with an apologetic tone, "Akari, I'm sorry."
Akari looked at Lucas, sobbing.
"You've probably guessed it too; we aren't people from this era."
"Does that mean... you can't come visit me anymore?"
Akari's tears fell drop by drop.
Though Lucas didn't want to admit it, he still nodded.
"Akari, remember what I told you?"
Cynthia stepped forward and took Akari into her arms.
"You will become very strong and protect this beautiful land that we both love so deeply."
Cynthia stroked Akari's hair and said gently, "Even if we aren't in the same time, we live on the same land. Perhaps when you look up at the sky, we are looking up at the sky too. At that moment, you'll be able to see us."
"Really?"
Akari's voice came from Cynthia's embrace.
Cynthia gave a gentle hum of affirmation.
Whether it's the Hisui land or the Sinnoh Region, it is the land we love.
Akari left Cynthia's embrace and wiped her tears. "Don't worry, Cynthia-san, I will become very, very strong and protect this land."
Cynthia nodded with a smile.
The two Celebi also flew into Akari's arms. Seeing this, Lucas said, "Don't worry, maybe Celebi will come visit you often in the future."
"Isn't Celebi..."
Lucas shook his head. "No, Celebi isn't my Pokémon. They are free; they are travelers of time. My relationship with them is just like yours—we are just friends. They've left a mark on me, and they've left a mark on you too. So, Celebi will come visit you in our stead, but the time won't be fixed, because to them, time is just time, and only time..."
Akari nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Lucas patted her small head, then pulled a wooden plaque from his pocket. On it was written "Akari" along with a chibi avatar of her. "This is for you. I believe our thoughts will be transmitted through this little wooden plaque."
After saying that, Lucas pulled out the wooden plaque at his chest, and Cynthia also showed her wrist.
Akari took it solemnly and wore it around her neck.
"I will treasure it."
Lucas nodded in satisfaction, then stepped back a few paces and looked at Akari. "Well, Akari, it's time to say goodbye."
Even though she had tried to accept it, Akari still couldn't help but let the tears flow.
"Goodbye, Lucas. Goodbye, Cynthia-san. And Celebi, Gengar, Darkrai, Latias, Lilligant, Gothitelle, Ninetales, Dash, Luxray, Garchomp... everyone, I will remember you forever. Forever and ever."
Lucas and Cynthia showed reluctant smiles. "We will remember you too, Akari."
They would always remember that slightly silly but exceptionally strong and kind-hearted girl.
Mirror-like ripples appeared. Lucas took Cynthia's hand, turned, and walked inside.
"Cynthia-san, if he's not good to you, tell me! I'll come find you and help you hit him! And Lucas, you must be good to Cynthia-san—!"
Akari shouted loudly.
The mirror shattered.
Akari squatted down, burying her face in her legs.
She began to cry loudly.
"I'll miss you guys."
When she finished crying and stood up, she found Enamorus was still there.
She wiped her tears and looked at Enamorus. "Thank you. Thank you for bringing life to the village."
Enamorus just gave a gentle smile. It flew in front of Akari and reached out to gently wipe away her tears.
"Don't cry. Look at the wooden plaque he gave you."
Enamorus's voice sounded in Akari's mind. Akari was somewhat shocked that it could speak, but she followed Enamorus's instruction and took out the wooden plaque.
"Open it."
Akari did as told.
The wooden plaque opened to reveal a group photo of her with Lucas, Cynthia, Gengar, Garchomp, and the others.
"When did he draw us—"
Akari was incredibly surprised and happy.
"They were very reluctant to leave you, but they had no choice. They are not people of this era."
Enamorus spoke as it helped Akari close the wooden plaque.
As Enamorus closed the plaque, its movements suddenly paused.
Scenes flashed through its mind.
The battle between the girl and Giratina.
The appearance of two figures.
A Dragonite with wings on its head and a—Chimecho that looked like a keyring?
Enamorus snapped out of it, looked at Akari, and said gently, "Akari, my name is Enamorus. If you are ever in need, you can hold the wooden plaque tight and call my name."
"I am with you."
Akari nodded, not quite knowing why.
After that, Enamorus departed.
Akari calmed her emotions and left the mountaintop.
Deep in the forest, a nine-tailed fox sitting on the ground slowly stood up and walked deeper into the woods.
Lucas and the others stepped through the time mirror and returned to the courtyard. Seeing the familiar buildings and scenery, Lucas squeezed Cynthia's hand.
"I'm still a bit unaccustomed to it."
Cynthia narrowed her eyes and pulled her hand from Lucas's. "Did you hear what Akari said?"
Lucas grinned, then looked at the group photo in the camera and nodded.
"Don't worry."
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Thoughts on where the plot is heading? Let me know in the comments! If you're enjoying the ride, please leave a quick review and toss a few Power Stones my way. Every bit of support means the world! 🙌