That's right... the story is not over yet! The people of the Pokemon
world still have to say goodbye to their departing heroes...
As was the case with ADC, I will probably continue to revise the story
if I receive some constructive C&C with suggestions, but I won't send
the revisions to the list unless they're major enough to warrant it.
And now, on with the ending! If you've enjoyed the story, please let me
know!
Jellic�s Hateful Quest
Epilogue: A Good Goodbye or a Sayonara with a Sigh?
Jellic peered out across the admiring audience that had gathered
just outside of Heliotrope City. The makeshift stage was completely
surrounded by seats on three sides, stretching nearly as far as Jellic
could see, and some people were still forced to stand behind the
farthest row. The distant glare from their binoculars was barely visible
from the stage, even to Jellic�s sharp vision. �Do you think there�s
anyone who DIDN�T come?� he whispered to his friends.
�Probably not,� replied Arthur. �It seems that the whole world came
to wish you farewell. Every populated area was under the control of the
Enforcers until you defeated Natalie. When they heard about the farewell
ceremony for the hero who liberated their cities, everyone wanted to
come and pay their respects. The people of this world are known for
displays of this sort.�
�I think the people of any world would want to honor what you�ve
done for us,� added Ashley. �You overthrew a corrupt government and
destroyed an evil scientist. If I�d ever doubted that you were a real
hero in other worlds, you�ve been just the hero this world needed.�
�I�m glad to see that you�ve been a credit to the title of Hero,�
said Katana. �Of course, I always knew that you would be. I�m looking
forward to working together with you in the future.�
Lobia didn�t say a word. Every time she tried, she choked on her
tears. Ashley wrapped a comforting arm around the younger girl and gave
her a shoulder to cry on. Jellic had been a great friend to both of
them, but Lobia lacked the maturity to deal with the upcoming loss. The
ceremony had been planned as quickly as possible, but the allowed time
for celebration and rest before Jellic and Katana would have to move on
was almost at an end. As it was, Jellic could already feel the familiar
pull of the Destiny Spell within his breast as the final member of the
group stepped up to the microphone.
Vesper waved her hands to quiet the cheering crowd. �I�d like to
personally welcome all of you to this special ceremony to honor the
heroes who saved our world from the evil sorcerers.� The crowd swelled
with applause and cheers once again. Vesper patiently waited for the
noise to die down before continuing. �As you may know, two of these
people will be leaving us very shortly, never to return. Jellic and
Katana have shown us what it means to be a hero, and given us hope for
the future. They have rid us of both Natalie, the former leader of the
Pokemon League, who was actually the evil sorceress Kasmira; and Droll
Vordekar, head of Karddor Labs and alter ego of Dark Lord Elvor.
�In light of the short duration of their stay, I would like to
present them with their rewards at this time.� Vesper opened the jewelry
box in the hands of her assistant and removed from it an intricately
carved gold medal dangling from a long blue ribbon. �Katana, it gives me
great pleasure to present you with this medal acknowledging your
invaluable service to our world.� Katana stood and bowed, allowing
Vesper to slip the ribbon over her head.
The assistant placed the jewelry box down and handed a folder to
Vesper. �Jellic, the Pokemon League decided that a less extravagant gift
would be a more fitting testament to your accomplishments.� She handed
the folder to Jellic, who opened it and exclaimed at the contents.
�Gym Badges!� He showed the folder to Ashley, who gave him a
congratulatory pat on the back. �But I didn�t beat any of these
trainers!�
�These Badges are honorary,� replied Vesper. �Sometimes Gym Leaders
award Badges to trainers who provide them a valuable service, and we all
agreed that your service was valuable enough to merit it.�
�So now I have seven Badges,� said Jellic. �I wonder which Gym
Leader didn�t think I was worth an honorary Badge.� He glanced over the
folder again, and the realization hit him. �There�s no Power Badge
here!� He stared at Vesper inquisitively.
�The Power Badge has been retired,� explained Vesper. �The Obsidian
Gym was destroyed by Crusher, and I gave up my Gym Leader status when I
was elected the new head of the Pokemon League. The new official Gym
Leader and I agreed that it would be more appropriate if he presented
you with his Badge in person.�
�Why is that?� asked Jellic. �What makes him so different?�
�I believe I can answer that,� said the assistant, turning so that
Jellic could see his face for the first time. Jellic�s eyes saw the
Badge in the shape of an arrow pointing down pinned to the man�s coat
before lighting on the familiar face.
�Jason!� Jellic shook his first opponent�s hand. �You finally became
an official Gym Leader!�
Jason nodded. �It�s been my dream since I opened the Sage City Gym.
Unfortunately, the Obsidian Gym had to be destroyed before that dream
could be realized, but at least some good came out of such a tragedy.�
�Then you�re the holder of the eighth Badge! But does that mean that
I have to fight you again?�
Jason laughed. �You defeated me before setting out on your quest.
Even though my Gym wasn�t official at the time, I still consider that
enough of a victory for my purposes.� He handed Jellic a Badge identical
to his own. �Congratulations on winning the first South Badge.�
�South Badge?� asked Jellic, pinning the Badge to his tunic.
�Vesper wanted to have an official Gym a bit farther south than
Persimmon. I�m a mixed type trainer, so I didn�t really have an
attribute of my Pokemon to name the Badge after.�
�I suppose the name makes sense,� agreed Jellic, returning to his
seat.
�Congratulations, Jellic,� said Arthur. �You�ve collected eight
Badges. That makes you an official Pokemon Master.�
Jellic turned to him. �What exactly does that mean?�
�It means that you�re eligible to compete in the Pokemon League
competition, you can run an official Pokemon Gym, and your name and
portrait will have a special place in the Hall of Masters,� replied
Arthur. He paused to let his words sink in.
Jellic leapt to his feet, knocking his chair over. Vesper
interrupted her speech to turn and face him. �Is something wrong,
Jellic?�
Jellic emphatically shook his head. �Vesper, would you mind if I
discussed something with one of my friends before we continue?�
Vesper looked puzzled. �Of course... but what could be so important
that we have to interrupt the ceremony? The crowd�s not going to want to
have to wait.�
�Trust me,� said Jellic, �they�ll understand.� Arthur, sensing
Jellic�s intentions, stood up. �You arranged this, didn�t you? The
honorary Badges were your idea!�
�I admit, I did exert a bit of my influence to convince Electra to
part with her Spark Badge,� replied Arthur. �I felt that you deserved
it.�
�Is it really what you want?� asked Jellic, lines of unspoken
conversation passing between the two as they exchanged a secret that
only the two of them understood. �All this time, you�ve told me how much
you missed being a Hero...�
Arthur nodded. �After a while, the bad memories fade away and only
the good ones remain. However, I believe that every man has a right to
make his own decisions. Do whatever you feel is right. I will accept
your choice, either way.�
Jellic sighed. �I hope I can remember how it goes... I haven�t used
archaic speech in a long time.� He stood in front of Arthur in a regal
stance. �Arthur of Heliotrope City, formerly a traveler as I am... your
heroic deeds of decades past need no introduction, and your deeds in
this dimension have spoken for themselves. You have faced me as an
opponent and stood by my side as a companion, and proven yourself
capable in both respects. For this, I judge you worthy of assuming the
title of Hero once again.�
�What�s going on?� asked Ashley.
�That�s the ceremony of Heroism!� exclaimed Katana. �Jellic�s
reinstating Arthur to Hero status!� Her expression clouded. �But why
would he...�
�Arthur, if you accept your new task, recite the Destiny Spell,�
continued Jellic.
�Let�s see if I still remember this...� Arthur bowed his head. �I
pledge to save those who need my help; to fight evil wherever it may
thrive; to protect those weaker than myself; to shun my love, or sooner
shun my life.� Having finished the oath, Arthur knelt before Jellic. A
dull glow surrounded Arthur for a few seconds, then faded.
�I never forgot that oath,� said Jellic, introspectively. �I vowed
that if ever I failed to forsake my love, I would give up my life.� He
bowed his head. �The time has come to keep my vow.� He turned his right
arm into a blade and raised it to his heart, sharp side pointing
directly at his chest.
�Jellic, no!� shouted Ashley, leaping to her feet. Katana grabbed
her and held her back.
�Just watch. I think you�re going to like this part,� said Katana
with a tear in her eye.
Jellic lowered his blade, touching the flat to Arthur�s left
shoulder, then his right shoulder, and finally the top of his head.
�Arthur, congratulations on your ascent to the rank of Hero. Rise, Hero
Arthur.�
Arthur stood up. �Thank you, Jellic. You honor me.�
Jellic turned to the waiting crowd. �Having found a worthy successor
to the title of Hero in my stead, I, Jellic, shall no longer be known as
a hero! I hereby shun my previous life as a hero and begin my new life
here in this world. The Destiny Spell which once bound me now binds my
successor � as does the Linking Spell which acts upon it.�
�Is that really true?� asked Ashley, barely able to contain her
excitement.
�It is,� replied Katana, sniffing in her tears. �Jellic�s staying
here to be with you.�
�Jellic�s staying!� cheered Lobia, wiping from her eyes the tears of
joy that were well mixed with the tears of sorrow. She threw her arms
around Ashley, who returned the embrace in kind.
Jellic, having noted this reaction, turned back to Arthur. �At this
point, the retiring hero usually passes his sword on to the new hero.
But I�m afraid I�ve become rather attached to mine.� He indicated his
blade arm apologetically.
�That�s quite all right,� Arthur assured him. �You�ve followed the
ceremony well enough to this point, even to the archaic language.�
Jellic smiled. �I think I can find my own sword in the next world. And I
�ll have Katana with me. I�m sure that her fully-powered magic will be
enough to protect both of us.�
�Take care of her,� ordered Jellic.
�And you take care of my Gym! I know that I�m leaving it in capable
hands, but I want you to prove me right.� He removed the Solar Badge
from his clothing and handed it to Jellic.
�I will.�
�I�m afraid there�s no real ceremony for passing control of a Gym to
a successor,� said Arthur. He handed his Pokebelt to Jellic. �Those, and
what�s in my PC, should be enough Fire and Grass types to get you
started. You can use whatever Pokemon you want when you battle, but if
you don�t use plenty of Fire and Grass types, you�ll need to carve
yourself a new Badge.�
�Don�t worry,� said Jellic. �As long as they�re willing to obey me,
I�m sure that your Pokemon will make me proud.�
�Come on, Katana,� said Arthur. �It�s time for us to go.�
Katana handed Moltres� Pokeball to Ashley. �I�m going to miss you,
Ashley. But I know you and Jellic will have a wonderful life together.�
�Psy! Psy!� shouted Katana�s Psyduck.
�I�ll miss you too, Psyduck,� said Katana, giving the duck a kiss on
the head. Psyduck blushed deeply and leapt onto Ashley�s shoulder.
�Goodbye, Katana! Goodbye, Arthur!� called Ashley as the two stepped
down from the stage. �I�ll miss both of you... but I know I�ll be happy
as the wife of a Gym Leader.�
�Hold on just a minute!� protested Jellic. �When did I...�
�You didn�t,� said Ashley with a chuckle. �But when you do get
around to asking... I�ll accept.�
Lobia leapt out of her chair to give Jellic a hug. �I�m so glad you�
re staying! I promise I�ll come visit you all the time!�
Vesper came to shake Jellic�s hand. �Welcome to the Pokemon League,
Jellic. There will be paperwork to fill out and other bureaucratic
nonsense to worry about, of course, although I�ll help in any way that I
can...�
�Thanks everyone,� said Jellic. �I can hardly wait to get started as
a Gym Leader... but first I�ve got to spend some quality time with my
fiancee.�
�Jellic...� began Ashley, standing up. �Does that mean...�
�I�m not the type to ask questions that I already know the answer
to,� replied Jellic. �Let�s just say that your acceptance has been
accepted.� Ashley looked confused until the meaning of his words grew
clear, and she laughed happily. Jellic pried himself out of Lobia�s grip
and applied an embrace of his own to Ashley, complete with a kiss. The
crowd cheered.
�They seem to be the perfect couple,� said Katana admiringly as she
and Arthur watched from afar. �I�m ashamed that I almost forced them
apart forever.�
�I don�t think there was ever any risk of that.�
Katana looked into Arthur�s eyes, searching for signs of a joke but
seeing none. �You mean, they were destined for each other?�
�Perhaps,� agreed Arthur. �But perhaps not. Who can understand the
ways of love?�
�Indeed.� Katana sighed and turned back to the stage. �Maybe love is
a force powerful enough to shadow even two Linked Destiny Spells.�
�I believe that now a great deal more than I ever did before,� said
Arthur. �Normally, I don�t hold truck with poets. Their fanciful talk
generally conveys more emotion than fact. But I think love is an equal
amount of both.� He stopped as a Nidorino and a Nidorina crossed the
path. �Those two are on their way from the Swamp of Sickness to the
Colorless Caverns, where they will face the dangers side by side until
they find the Moon Stones they need to evolve. If one doesn�t make it,
the other will most likely not bother to return.� The Nidorino pushed a
branch aside, clearing a path for the Nidorina through the low-lying
brush. �Do you think they�ll succeed?�
�I can tell just by watching them that they�ll reach their
destination,� replied Katana. �They�re as much in love as Jellic and
Ashley, don�t you think? It�s the kind of love that can accomplish
anything.�
�There�s no evidence that �love conquers all,�� said Arthur. �But
our friends have certainly made a convincing case.� Katana hummed her
assent.
The two stood and watched until the crowd began to disperse and the
people on stage gathered to discuss their future together. �Shall we be
off, then?� Katana asked at last.
Arthur nodded. �We shall.� They turned and walked away from the
stage, their friends, and the entire population of the Pokemon world
until they had left the world itself far behind, never to return.
-------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to "Whose Line is it Anyway?" where we make things up as we go
along, whether they make sense or badger.
JOHNNY BRAVO: *sigh* The only woman I ever really loved... and she's
gone. I wonder if I'll ever get over - Hey! Nuggets!
JACKIE CHAN: Oh, sorry. I broke your spy camera! (pause) SPY CAMERA?!
My webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~katinamp