Chapter 37: Parting
It was almost sunset. The past hour, the Salamence brothers had been off flying together. Bonding. I hadn't been present, but from far away I had heard the bellowing wails of gigantic beasts. The mourning of Dragons.
Everyone was in front of the church. Dawn and I were standing together. Piplup stood by her side, seeming uncertain with all the tension in the air. Aaron had his bag fully packed and stood talking to Robert and John. There was a new light in his eyes. A seriousness replacing his uncertainty. Demi and Roric whispered to each other, looking at me every once and awhile. It was odd to think of saying good bye again. It would be a simple good bye. Nothing like earlier.
I looked at my uncle's Electivire, who was watching the sun. Nothing like earlier whatsoever.
"Are you ok?" Dawn asked for the tenth time since we've arrived.
"Yes." I said, mostly meaning it. I decided to add, "At least I will be."
She patted my arm, "I'm proud of you. It takes so much courage to change like you have."
I turned my head and let my nose brushed against her hair, planting a kiss in it before pulling away, "Thanks, Dawn."
My uncle's Electivire let out a grunt. I looked up to see two blue shapes flying towards us. Right on time for departure.
I went over to John, Robert, and Aaron first while Dawn went to Demi and Roric.
"Thank you so much. Both of you." I said to John and Robert, opting to hug them. I had already made today into a hug day. Might as well continue after the giant change.
"Call if you ever need anything." Robert whispered into my ear before pulling away.
"Especially if you need a handy man." John smiled.
"Naturally." I returned the gesture, then looked at Aaron who no longer seemed intimidated. I addressed him, "I'm sorry for being rude to you. You're actually a nice kid. I don't doubt that you're off to do very important things for a cause I don't fully understand yet."
His mouth dropped open before he stood up straighter, "I'm hoping I do a good job."
"I'll pray for you then." I said, suddenly realizing how extremely awkward that felt to say. Sure, I would. I wasn't sure exactly what praying would do for him still, but I would pray nonetheless.
"Thank you." He smiled, seeming to remember how Demi's offered prayer had started this whole ordeal for him.
I gave him a nod before moving to where Roric and Demi were. Their eyes were both intense, as usual. For what they were about to do when they left here. Full of what this good bye meant to them.
Wordlessly, I hugged Roric. His grip was strong. I returned it full force, working through the pain of knowing I wouldn't get to spend all tomorrow talking with him. Wouldn't be able to joke around with him, something I was still getting used to. He pulled away, holding onto my shoulders, "I really didn't give you a good encouragement earlier, did I?"
"Maybe you shouldn't." I warned, hinting at how it would end the same way as our walk.
He gave a wry smile before becoming solemn, "Live in the present. Don't stay in the past and don't wander off into the future. Emotions are real, but that doesn't mean you should let them rule your life. If you're feeling bad, do something for someone else. Talk to God about it. I don't care about if you think it sounds like a stupid idea. Do it. And don't keep it secret. Tell someone if you're struggling. Communicate with everyone- with yourself, with us, with strangers, and with Dawn. Don't just leave here and go back to old habits. Be disciplined. And never, Paul, stop fighting the good fight."
He gripped my shoulder. I'd used to find it an odd gesture, one I would have shrunk away from. Roric stared at in all seriousness, desperately trying to convey everything he felt necessary. It was almost fatherly. I nodded to him, knowing there was nothing more to say now.
I turned to Demi next, who just hugged herself against me, "You have to call me all the time."
"Of course."
"And always tell me where you are and what Pokemon you see. Especially if they're cute."
I couldn't help but smile despite her sadness, "I'll think of you every time."
Her hug tightened. I hugged her back, taking a deep breath and memorizing the moment before releasing.
The Salamence had arrived, landing near us. Their faces were both darkened with grief. Their wings brushed together. The realization that my Salamence had a brother, a brother raised by Roric, still astounded me.
Paul. Electivire came to stand in front of the Salamence, You ready to fulfill your promise?
I nodded.
One of his wire-like tails snaked in front of him, carrying my uncle's satchel, Here. This belongs to you.
My hands were frozen at my sides, "...Electivire, I can't take that."
He'd want you to have it.
"You don't have anything else to remind you of him."
Electivire's eyes gleamed, You're wrong there. I have you.
It felt like a lead weight had been placed in my throat, which fell down to my stomach. I pushed past the bag and hugged myself to him. He picked me up, embracing me fiercely. I imagined my uncle here, hugging us as well.
Eventually, we broke apart. I forced my hands to stop gripping his fur, letting my fingertips brush against it gently. He lowered the satchel into my hands, which I accepted.
Take care, kiddo.
"Love you." I whispered.
Love you too.
My uncle's first partner messed up my hair gently, walking behind me where Robert and John still stood. Aaron, Demi, and Roric were already sitting on their Salamence. I looked at my own as I slung the leather satchel on my shoulder. His eyes were watering.
I put a hand on Salemence's side, "We'll see them again soon. No one can keep brothers away from each other for long."
His growl was full of despair.
"Say good bye on good terms." I murmured, "So your brother doesn't worry about you."
Roric's Salamence looked even worse, shifting anxiously at the sight of his brother's pain. Salamence shuffled his wings and stood taller, letting out a determined growl and a puff of smoke.
"There you go. Tell him you love him and we'll leave." I said, going over to Salamence's side to find Piplup sliding down the scales. I pushed him up, for once not feeling repulsed as he gave me a sheepish grin and hurried into Dawn's arms.
I made my way to my seat, feeling like it had been a lifetime since I'd been on my Dragon's back. Everything had changed since this last moment. Absolutely everything.
I looked over to see Roric trying to calm his Salamence. Demi hugging him from behind, staring at me with watery eyes. Aaron sat in front of Roric, resolute. Ready.
"Are we still headed where you said?" Dawn asked.
"As planned, yes. That's where we need to go."
She nodded, "Alright. I'll trust you."
"Good. Because I don't know what in the world I'm doing now."
"Well, I think I'll enter a Contest while you figure it out."
I couldn't help but smile, "Sounds like a plan."
Salamence let out a roar. A tongue of fire. His wings flared out and he jumped, immediately flapping to get airborne. I noticed John and Robert waving. Electivire smiling. And they all got smaller to the point where I saw where the garden was at the church. The little white building. I heard the bells go off for some reason despite never hearing them before- but then it was rushed away by the sounds of wind and another roar, this time from Roric's Salamence.
"Good bye, brother!" Demi shouted, calling out to me, "I love you!"
Me? Brother? My heart warmed, though I didn't yell. Instead, I sent, Love you, little sister.
My eyes met Roric's despite our distance. Everything was right between us. The Dragons roared again, one last final good bye.
And then they turned in different directions and I no longer saw any of them. Not my tiny little Demi, not my blunt friend Roric, and not even the other Salamence who was so protective of my own. Red wings strained forward, increasing the distance.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. Wind kept me from feeling too uncomfortably warm, but there was that piece of me that felt like it was missing as the distance grew.
But then my heart froze as the wind began to batter us. Dawn gave a little yelp, squeezing herself against me.
Not again. I thought, trying not to panic, It's time to leave. It's not time to repeat the past.
Then don't. I heard, the voice simple and kind.
Immediately, the wind stopped buffeting us. Instead, a thermal whipped us up. Salamence, startled, steadied his wings, riding the thermal with ease. It continued far longer than a thermal should and was more powerful than I knew them to be. Plus the air was suddenly warmer-
"Aren't we off course?" Dawn asked worriedly.
I checked where the sun was setting and shook my head, "Actually, we're going in the perfect direction now."
"Because of this wind?"
"Sure." I said lightly, trying to keep from grinning, "Because of the wind."
Don't repeat the past. That was the advice.
Fine, I thought, sitting back and allowing all the pain of separation drain from me as I remembered just how much I had to be thankful for, As long as you don't stop repeating yourself, we have a deal.
The last rays of sun poked out of the horizon, somehow brighter than before. I watched them contently, a warmth radiating inside me, knowing that the wind would continue to carry us past the light as far as we needed to go.
The End
I really can't believe this story is over. I really poured my heart into it and I hope that you got something out of it because it was meant to be more than entertainment. As much as I love reading, and entertainment, it can be very distracting to the things that are important. It reminds me of how Paul felt ashamed of how he treated both Electivire, and how he didn't tell Demi he loved her until it was time to leave. I think we do that in our lives a lot too with spending time doing things that don't actually mean anything- at our funerals they won't say "Oh, they had expensive clothes, had the most likes on Facebook, and caught all the Pokemon". It's not about that stuff. It's about going out there and making a difference in people's lives. It's about love. That's what always makes an impact on the world, no matter what you believe.
Thank you for reading this book. Please take time to really dig into the big questions in life and find out how to live for what is truly important- because we only have so much time to figure out what we believe and to live life to the fullest.
I love you all! If you ever want to talk about anything, random or serious, PM me. I don't bite. But you are a loved, unique person and I'm glad you're alive. You're here for a reason.
Hoping you find your faith,
Flips
PS- I'm posting a bonus chapter after this in Roric's POV.
Pokemon Question of the Day: What gives you hope in the world?