The plane prepared to take off from Citadark Isle's precarious runway. Lyndon fell instantly asleep on Archie's shoulder. No-one wanted to disturb him. Courtney sat beside Trip. She stared distantly at the seat ahead before abruptly turning to him with a pained expression.
'I know... I'm not... Laila... and there's a big... age gap but... I want the best for Don... I swear. And I've... always... looked forward... to meeting you. He spoke... so highly... of you. Can... can... can I... come see you... play football?'
She was so bizarrely sincere, Trip couldn't help smiling. 'Of course you can. If I ever play football again, that is. I have a lot of training to do with a baby on the way. Do you have any kids...?'
'No... I... wasted 33 years... loving my Leader Maxie. He loved me... too... but he was never... going to... act on it. So... I owe a lot... to Don... for waking me up. I'd like... to... to know... your child... if you can come to... trust me.'
'So... what exactly do Team Magma do?'
Trip hoped Courtney might speak less robotically the more they talked, but she didn't. He got used to it instead. She and Laila were worlds apart... but perhaps that was why Lyndon loved her and why Trip found himself warming to her, too. Their lives weren't changing to replace what once was, but to begin again.
Anabel's Latios landed at the harbour. Before Sherles steered Alfie back into his car, they were startled by a yell that boomed over the frenzy of chattering voices.
'Alfred!'
Alfie froze. An elderly woman, brandishing a walking stick, shoved past curious youngsters awaiting the plane's return.
'If you don't have a damn good reason for showing your face again in this town, this stick is on the fast track to your ass!'
'I came to apologise to Lyndon, mom.'
Sherles nodded. 'It's true.'
'...Oh.'
She blinked. 'Well... that's a surprise. I thought you'd be after Abbey's husband again...'
'I don't even know why I cared.'
'Tauros shit.'
'Mom... I've had 17 years of barely anyone but fucking Ardos Luvaro speaking to me to realise I wasted my entire life. And my relationship with my son. And Abbey. I don't care about Leon anymore. If you want to meet Lyndon, they're taking him to Happiny Psychiatric Hospital in Phenac. Bye.'
The car door slammed. Alfie's mom, Janie, hesitated before approaching Sherles.
'And if I want to visit him...?'
'Pyrite Jail, ma'am. His visiting hours are 1PM to 5PM.'
As the plane landed, Zane peeked through the curtains at the Pokémon HQ Lab. The Orrean sun was as bright as ever. He knew the comforting hand on his shoulder was Michael's before he glanced back.
'Just like the day you came back from Citadark Isle.'
'Yeah. It sure feels nostalgic... but it's your time now.'
'I knew mom would be OK, but...'
'I know, Zane. I know.'
Zane hugged his uncle tight. They climbed with Hop onto Lugia to collect their friends from Gateon Port. Jovi collided with her son and husband in a suddenly teary-eyed hug on the runway. Cail and Lon returned home. There was damage to be repaired in Pyrite. Looker drove everyone else, except Trip and Lumir, to Phenac City. Zane warned Amber. She was holed up in the basement with her family, where those who could see auras were least affected by the shadows consuming Orre; though they no longer felt so heavy. Quinn and Cyle prepared to return to Gateon Port in the lobby. They hugged Pierre, but they wanted to thank Hop for protecting them, too, before they left. Pierre nodded at Amber.
'Draven says "bien joué."'
He smiled at her bewilderment. 'It's "well done" in Kalosian.'
'Oh! Tell him "shukran." There's something less standard than Galarian. We'll have to meet again.'
'I'm sure he'd like that.'
Amber and Bianka shook hands with Quinn and Cyle. 'We don't want to patronise you, Bianka, but we know you don't have a home to go to... and of course, you're a travelling Trainer, so you don't need one, but if you ever need a permanent roof over your head, you're welcome to come to us in Gateon Port.'
'Thanks... really. I might just do that.'
It wasn't exactly bittersweet. Bianka began the Gym Challenge being cruel to protect herself from the people she expected to reject and ignore a homeless orphan... but she had two homes to go to now. Quinn and Cyle's and Abbey and Leon's. Lugia landed outside. Amber tensed up. Quinn noticed.
'Hey, Amber... has Trip ever told you what happened after you escaped the lab?'
'We haven't... really spoken.'
'Well... as soon as you left, he broke down in tears. Saying he loved you even if you'd never love him, but he had to say something to make you go.'
'W-what?! But...'
'He was so upset. I can't imagine his feelings have changed. I'm sure every time he's rejected you, he was only trying to protect you... both of you.'
Cassia nudged her. 'For a tapu's sake, Amber! The guy loves you! Go to him already!'
Amber stepped hesitantly outside. Trip was never shy. He strode straight towards her.
'You and baby OK?'
'Yeah... Quinn just told me...'
'Oh.'
He looked down at the sun-bleached cobbles. 'She told you that, huh?'
'I thought... with what you said about me getting an abortion... and when you said that other stuff... you looked so serious...'
'I had to say something to make you go. And I'm sorry I suggested abortion. I was so depressed. I thought I'd never get out of there alive. If you'd been me, with some Zubatshit grandma controlling you, maybe it would've been the right choice... but I was only thinking of me. I wasn't thinking of you... how you'd be a great single mom with a supportive family behind you. But you won't be. We've survived. Whether you want me or not... I'll be there for you and our kid, no matter what.'
He held out his hand. 'Will you have me, Amber? As a parent? As a friend?'
'Of course I will, but... Trip...'
She pulled nervously at her sleeves. Her palms were sweaty. Was this an experience in itself? Learning to apologise as an adult in the aftermath of the almost-apocalypse? It definitely was.
'I realised something... that day I escaped... seeing you throw that pipe and thinking about how perfect I noticed your Poké Ball throw was, the first time I saw you battle...'
'It's OK, Amber. I figured.'
'No! Trip, I wondered if I was gay, too. I mean, I think I'm attracted to more girls than guys... and I thought, like you, once the novelty was gone I'd lose interest... I really did. But... that day I realised... and it made me really uncomfortable, because it wasn't in any of my plans... I realised I'd gone and fallen in love with you.'
'I hope you don't feel you have to settle for me just because we're having a kid.'
'No! It hasn't gone. It's just got worse! And you know what? You were on about how there's too much for me to explore to stay with one person forever. And you're right that I still have a whole world of places and experiences to explore. But I'd like to do that with you. If it turns out we're incompatible, well, we'll still be friends. And parents. We're never getting rid of each other! So, Trip...'
She took the hand that fell to his side. 'Will you have me? As more than a friend?'
He couldn't help smiling. 'You know damn well that since the day I met you... I would've said yes.'
This time, Amber didn't care that her parents were talking to Hop and Jovi on the steps. She didn't hear Zane's vomiting noises. Even if Lyndon had activated his Robo Groudon then, she suspected she might not have noticed when she stood on tiptoe to kiss him. It wasn't like the movies, like she imagined kissing 'the one' would set her alight. She didn't want to drag him off behind a dumpster. She wanted to hold him tight so she'd never lose him again. Her parents only smiled when they walked by holding hands.
Cassia smiled, too. She was genuinely happy for Amber. Aerodactyl beamed as she petted it. She texted Seth. She'd won their bet on whether Trip and Amber would make up.
At Pyrite Hospital, Seth wasn't checking his P★DA. He took turns with Suzie, his sister, to sit at Rui's bedside. The Robo Suicune were complete. Once Wes arrived, he never left. It wasn't what Seth or Suzie would have expected of their stern father. He knew that.
'She was there for me when I needed it most... and she saw the best in me when no-one else did.'
His Pokémon, especially Espeon and Umbreon, loved her too. They surrounded the bed. She was strapped tightly down to prevent her lashing out. There was no recognition in her eyes. They knew she could recover. Leon did, even with a head injury thrown into the equation. Still... Seth had to admit it was unbearable. It felt like losing her. When she spoke, she spat barely coherent death wishes and threats. Somehow it was worse coming from her than from Wes, who Seth might have expected to be aggressive if the roles were reversed. Jovi delivered software, developed by her and Hop after what happened to Leon, to track Rui's progress. The purification gauge was at 4.8%.
Seth gently shook Wes awake when he arrived to find him asleep in his chair, despite Rui's shouting. He brought black coffee and a pack of cigarettes from home.
'Dad, if you want to take a break even for a smoke... please do.'
'Oh... it's OK.'
He took the coffee, but refused the cigarettes. 'She wanted me to stop smoking. Maybe it'll help. Or... heh... maybe she won't recognise me.'
'She doesn't recognise any of us, anyway...'
'She does. I know it seems wrong to compare a human to a Pokémon, but I can see what I saw in the Shadow Pokémon in her. They lash out because they do recognise you and it frustrates or upsets them.'
He sighed. 'Seth... I do have a massive favour to ask of you.'
'Yeah...?'
'The Gym Challenge will resume sooner or later... but I don't think your mom will be better by then. I don't want to leave Suzie to deal with this alone while I'm away battling.'
'I'm honoured, dad... but I'm not strong enough.'
'You caught an XD series Virizion in a Poké Ball. You're more than strong enough.'
'The Poké Ball was just a fluke. I only have six Badges.'
'Well, go get your other Badges first, of course. You don't have to accept. I can ask someone else. But you're my first choice.'
'I mean... I really am honoured... but...'
He smiled wearily. 'I was really excited to battle you, dad.'
'Then I tell ya what...'
Wes tossed his empty cup into the bin. 'As soon as you get your eighth Badge... I'll take that break and we'll battle.'