EPILOGUE

Nestled on the northwestern coast of Verelum was the remote village of Rivermare. The quaint, little town lied beyond a stretch of mountains that separated it from the rest of the country where it sat upon a crystalline river weaving through the land. Lying at the edge of the shore where the river surged over the last bits of the land was a breathtaking waterfall. It cascaded through the air in a rainbow of sparkling overspray, reflecting the gorgeous lights of the soon to be setting sun.

The golden-orange sun rays cast a blissful glow on the village, brightening the lovely colors of the beautiful flowers on display. Fuchsia blossoms with round petals and sweet scents lied at the center of the town atop a wooden shrine. People and Pokémon alike gathered around the plaza to gaze at the extraordinary display of a once thought to be extinct plant species: Gracideas.

Gracidea-themed ornaments decorated all of Rivermare. Pink ribbons twirled in the spring season's gales, tethered to lampposts that wore flowered wreaths. Pots of peonies, poppies, dahlias, lilies, and more lined the wooden board paths. Vendors dressed in pastel colors sold blossom-shaped treats to curious visitors. Street musicians played lutes and sang songs telling the tales of Caelum's nature. Flower petals danced through the gusts and landed wherever they pleased.

One of the petals drifted downward and landed in August's outstretched palm. She brought it close to her to let the Shaymin perched on her shoulder lean forward and smell it. Much to her amusement, the petal tickled the Pokémon's small nose and caused her to release a high-pitched sneeze.

Chuckling, she teased, "Did you get a nice sniff?"

"Yeah," Gracie said, rubbing her snout with her paw. "It's not a Gracidea petal. I think it's a hi-bis-cus?"

Your guess is better than mine. August dropped the petal and watched it flutter onto the boardwalk. Lifting her head, she glanced around her at the moseying natives. Do you see the others yet?

Gracie rested her front paws on the top of August's head, using her as a prop to scan the area. "Nope. Want me to fly?"

No, I'll walk.

Gracie rebalanced herself as August continued walking through the crowds. Dressed in dark green Vere robes with her hair tied up and face free of dirt, it was impossible for passersby to know her upbringing. Only the long scar etched into her right cheek hinted at the dark past she tried to forget for a bright future.

After three years of leaving the Nosek household to dedicate herself to ferrying Shaymin, August had been greeted by Cyryl who'd been standing on the coastline. Zie'd approached her with a smile and asked if she'd attend Rivermare's first-ever Gratitude Festival. She'd accepted the offer and told her former apprentice she'd meet zir there. As she walked through the festival, however, she realized she'd underestimated how difficult it'd be to find zir amongst a sea of people.

In the depths of her mind, she relived her memory of wandering through Primrose's annual summer festival. How different times had been back then. Fortunately for her, Rivermare was unlike the capital; here, she was allowed enough breathing room to enjoy her surroundings. Primrose was nightmarish; Rivermare was dreamlike.

A passing shape overheard caught her eye, directing her gaze skyward. The feathered Pokémon landed before her with a graceful bow and tossed his long, autumn-colored plume in acknowledgment. Ruffling his cream-and-white feathers, he cawed in a deep voice.

"Pidge!" Gracie exclaimed, springing forth from August's shoulder. She landed nimbly in front of the bird and pranced on the tips of her paws.

"You've grown big," August noted, impressed by how tall the Pidgeot stood. He was more than double his height in comparison to the last time she saw him.

Pidge puffed out his chest, proud of himself. "Ot."

She breathed out a chuckle. "Yeah, yeah. We get that you're strong now. Where's Cyryl an' the others?"

Rather than speaking, Pidge began to lead the way. They crossed over a bridge full of children throwing breadcrumbs at fish Pokémon down below, excited squeals leaving their beaming faces as the Goldeen and Feebas leaped out of the water with gigantic splashes. August had to latch onto Pidge's and Gracie's flanks to stop them from joining in on the game. The commotion had caught the attention of the kids, but they swiftly turned away when they saw August's stern glare. Except for one.

A young boy approached them with a shy smile, stammering, "C-can I pet your, uh, your Shaymin?"

August released Gracie who then jumped forward, crying, "Yup!"

The children swarmed around the Pokémon at once, cooing over Gracie's cuteness. Gracie reveled in the spotlight, giggling in delight as she answered the multitude of questions flung her way. Some of the kids wandered toward Pidge and gasped at the softness of his feathers, stroking the bird's inflated ego. A smile tugged at August's lips.

"Sorry, but Gracie has to leave an' meet her friends now," she announced after a few minutes of playtime.

The children whined but obeyed, pouting as they called their goodbyes and watched the trio leave. A pavilion band of festivalgoers dining on street-foods waited for August's group on the other side of the bridge. Their oak table sat a group of five. Cyryl laughed loudly from zir spot beside Katla, leaning into her side which caused their matching green robes to appear as one. Across from them were Loto and his wife who grinned with their mouths full. The last person's back faced August, although she needn't see her face to know who it was. August paused in her steps and felt her mind go blank.

Gracie cast her a worried glance and asked, "Are you okay?"

Before she could reply, Cyryl noticed their arrival and called out, "August, you're finally here! Come sit down with us and eat. We've bought enough food to feed all of us and then some."

August stayed still, returning, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, we are," came the even tone of the person August hadn't ever thought she'd meet in person again. Lang looked over her shoulder at the adventurer, her expression guarded as she insisted, "Don't just stand there, August. You can sit between Katla and Ina."

Gracie nudged August's legs and ushered her forward. She obliged and took her seat parallel to Lang's, discomfort worming through her stomach as they stared at each other. Tension brewed in the otherwise festive air, veiling their gathering in a state of unease.

Lang severed the awkward silence first, saying, "It's been quite a while since we've last spoken, hasn't it?"

"Aye," August said, breaking eye contact to accept a kebab from Cyryl and nod a 'thank you.' "You look well. How've you been?"

"I've been grand, thank you. It's hard not to be pleased with yourself when you've been able to accomplish everything you've dreamed of. And you?"

"I'm good."

In the corner of her eye, she saw the rest of their companions' gazes flickering back and forth unsurely. She must've ruined the pleasant mood they had set before. August hid her frown behind a mouthful of roasted vegetables. They should've told her Lang would be here.

Cyryl tried easing the tension with a small grin as zie said, "I forgot to mention it before, Lang, but August has written a book of her own, as well. It's not a science journal or anything of that sort, but instead an accumulation of her adventures. I brought you a copy of it, truth be told, if you'd like to read it."

Zie pulled a copy of Eyes of Gold out of zir bag and handed it to Lang. August chewed on her lip. Cyryl had insisted on publishing the book under her pseudonym of Skye Evers to share her tales with the rest of Waywyn in hopes it'd become a local classic. Neither of them had expected to have neighboring bookshops requests for copies to sell to their own customers. The book sold well enough in Tranquelum for August to fly comfortably without worrying about how to pay for food and fuel.

"I'll read it when I return home," Lang claimed as she ran her finger along the book's spine. "I wish you would've told me this sooner—I would've brought a copy of The Isles of Gracidea to trade."

August had heard of Lang's work. The Isles of Gracidea was an in-depth collection of articles explaining the science behind Core Gracideas and their connection to Shaymin. She needed to buy a copy; her reading skills were keen enough now to follow advanced literature.

"Speakin' of Gracideas," Loto piped up while waving around his skewer, "when's the ceremony?"

"What ceremony?" Gracie questioned, tilting her head.

Lang's gaze softened at the sight of the Shaymin. She answered, "This Gratitude Festival was created to honor those to who you owe thanks to. You write the name of the person you want to thank on a piece of parchment and then place that in a flower to be set down the river and over the waterfall. They used to use bellflowers for the ceremony, but that's recently changed so now people will use Gracideas. What's a better way to honor someone than to send them a flower known for promising grand fortune?"

At that moment, August understood why Lang had agreed to invite her here. The realization thawed the ice and drew a treaty in the dampened truth. There was no need for her to read her paper nor Cyryl's to know they all wrote down the same name of someone who should've been there with them. The thought of his presence was enough to let them rest their dispute for just the night.

It wasn't until the tendrils of twilight colored the horizon violet when they left the pavilion to approach the river. Gleaming stars appeared from the depths of the night sky like glittering diamonds. Colorful, paper lanterns speckled the wooden paths and reflected in the shimmering water. Hushed whispers and tender murmurs drifted through the Gracidea-perfumed zephyr.

August stood in the back of the group as they prepared to release their Gracideas, listening to the melancholy explanations of the names the others had chosen.

Loto's wife released her flower into the river first, saying as the blossom drifted, "That's for my mother."

Crouched beside her, Loto grabbed ahold of her hand and then freed his own Gracidea. Smiling sadly, he said, "For Kari."

"This is for Papa," Katla said as she went next. August's own heart ached at the mention of the old man she'd grown so attached to in such a short period of time. She didn't miss how Katla added in a whisper, "I hope he likes it."

In unison, August, Lang, and Cyryl approached the water. August cupped her flower with as much delicacy as she could as to not drop the nametag placed upon it. Bile gathered in her throat. He would've liked this sort of event, she knew he would've. He was always one for sentimentality.

"To Omar."

"For Omar."

"Omar."

The trio of Gracideas swirled in the water as they were released and floated downstream. Hundreds of flowers rippled in the lucent stream, illuminated by the lights of Chinchou and Lantern swimming beneath them.

No one said anything as they trekked west to where the waterfall cascaded over the isle. Unified silence joined them together as they reminisced on their beloved who'd gone from Caelum much too early. The white stars twinkling above offered only gentle solace to their scarred hearts.

August stole glances at her companions as she scooped Gracie into her arms. There, the Shaymin rested her chin on her shoulder in a quiet form of comfort. Staring out at the starry horizon surrounded by people who cared enough for her to wish fortune on her well-being, she reflected.

All August had ever wanted in life was to belong, and she believed she'd found where she belonged best. She'd once believed she'd find that place through glory she earned from being rich, but that was far from the truth. Precious jewels and bountiful wealth weren't what she needed in life. No, it was far from it. There was no way for her to buy her way to the place where she belonged, for she belonged to the sky. The sky where she was destined to always be free, and the sky was the place where she could always find Gracie.

🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺

🌺  THE END  🌺

🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺