Chapter 698: Epilogue - The End is a New Beginning
Chapter 698: Epilogue - The End is a New Beginning
In the years I was away, the world underwent numerous changes; all regions were in flux, yet one constant remained—Pokemon battles continued to dominate the world.
Ya Ci, Paldea League, Straight's Ranch, Dr. Orlin, Dr. Forest, Time Machine...
All these things seemed like distant memories from long ago. Now, after so much time had passed, everyone was no longer in this world, and whenever I reminisced about these past events, a nameless sadness would well up within me.
Fortunately, I still had my wife and Gogoats by my side, which brought some solace to my heart.
Upon returning, I began to learn about the changes that had taken place in the world. Under the joint leadership of Little Tree and Yuki, the Paldea League had risen to become the strongest league in the world.
Every year, this land attracted countless trainers and tourists from other regions to embark on adventures. If Ya Ci could see this scene today, she would surely be delighted, wouldn't she?
Little Tree... my daughter, I never imagined you'd seal the entrance to the World Tree. I think you didn't want people to disturb the Pokemon living there.
But, Little Tree! That was something I left for you and your brother. Every year, Minidracoons hatch on Swift Dragon Island, and when your children turn ten, they can also go to the island to train. Maybe they'll encounter their own Minidracoons too.
Sigh, but Dad and Mom also saw your efforts. Tree's House is now bustling, and I've seen your children... Your descendants are active all over the Paldea region. Even without the World Tree, your descendants are still exceptional, and they've even established a powerful family. Dad is truly proud of you.
However, Dad and Mom really miss you. When you were young, we poured our hearts into raising you.
Do you know? When I heard that you had lives of your own, Dad was truly heartbroken... Dad always thought that when our family of four grew old, we'd live together on the World Tree.
But... you also had things you couldn't let go of, and Dad and Mom respected and supported your choices.
Lately, Dad has been dreaming a lot, dreaming of you as children, holding Dad's hand and practicing walking at the ranch...
Sigh, let's stop here for today. Dad has to go help the Pokemon trainers from the Exploration Guild today. Haha, speaking of which, Dad isn't as good as you at commanding Pokemon battles and formulating tactics. I wish you were here too.
In the room, Shizuru paused, gazing at the contents of his diary and sighing softly.
It had been several months since he returned to everyone and the World Tree.
During his absence, everyone had experienced so much; every person and every Pokemon had countless stories to tell.
Shizuru often visited them, listening to their tales of longing from over the years.
However, the words in his heart remained unspoken, and he could only record these thoughts through his diary.
The most sorrowful thing in the world is for parents to outlive their children.
As parents, their souls remained, but their children had already departed, leaving Shizuru with a deep longing for them.
Shizuru sighed, slowly standing up and heading outside.
Outside, Ki Shu was tending to the Totten Turtles that had survived from ancient times.
Gogoat lay under the shade of a tree, resting with its eyes closed, as golden sunlight bathed the grass and everyone present.
Everything seemed peaceful and serene.
"You're out?" Ki Shu asked.
"Yeah," Shizuru nodded, appearing somewhat disinterested.
Ki Shu squinted at him and suddenly said, "You seem to have something on your mind! Is it about Little Tree?"
Shizuru sighed, "Oh..."
He sighed helplessly.
Until now, he hadn't seen Little Tree and Yuki for the last time, nor had he properly bid them farewell, which made the old father feel even more distressed.
"Bogo?"
The Totten Turtles sensed Shizuru's emotions and ran over, asking, "Bogo Bogo?"
Did Shizuru want to see Little Tree? Perhaps they could help!
Shizuru paused, then thought of the Totten Turtles' abilities.
At that moment, a flutter of excitement stirred within him.
Could he really see Little Tree again?
"Bogo Bogo!" The Totten Turtles nodded in affirmation.
Then, their bodies erupted with a dazzling light.
Ki Shu stood outside the glow, smiling and nodding at Shizuru, "Hehe, go! Little Tree might be waiting for you too!"
Shizuru paused, but the next moment, everything around him began to change.
Time traveled back to Union Calendar 287, in the autumn.
NaN, at the cemetery.
When Shizuru opened his eyes, he saw Little Tree, with white hair and a cane, standing before her tombstone, accompanied by Hun and Swift Dragon.
The little tree had grown old, her face now etched with wrinkles.
She gently knelt on the grass, tending to her father's tombstone, wiping away the dust, and placing the fresh flowers she had brought beside the grave.
She softly recounted the events that had transpired over the years.
"So much has happened this year. My grandson has grown up, and he's become a formidable Trainer too.
Dad, Yuki wanted to come and see you too, but he's too old now. So, I came to visit you instead."
Unbeknownst to her, she had reached her father's age... Alas, perhaps this would be the last time she could come to see him.
Seeing the aged Little Tree and hearing her words, Shizuru's eyes welled up with tears.
He silently wept, gazing at his daughter.
"Do you want to meet her?" a voice whispered in his ear.
Shizuru hesitated for a moment.
Grandchildren should have their own blessings, and if he suddenly appeared, it might startle Little Tree. At this moment, he was content just to have one last glimpse of his daughter.
Little Tree spoke at length, and Shizuru stood by her side, watching for a long, long time.
As dusk fell, Little Tree slowly rose to her feet.
A yellowing leaf drifted down, landing on Little Tree's head.
Shizuru, standing behind her, reached out and gently plucked the withered leaf from her hair.
Then, he sighed and turned to leave.
But at that moment, Little Tree, as if sensing something, spun around and called out, "Dad, is that you?"
Shizuru paused, momentarily stunned, and stopped in his tracks.
Tears streamed down Little Tree's face. "Dad, I miss you so much..."
Hearing her words, Shizuru could no longer hold back.
He channeled the Tera Energy within him and slowly materialized before Little Tree.
After many years, father and daughter were reunited.
"Dad..." Little Tree's eyes welled up, and tears began to fall.
"Little Tree, don't cry. Dad is back," Shizuru said, momentarily casting aside the concerns of a time paradox and the potential butterfly effect of his actions.
He was just an ordinary father, walking towards his daughter and embracing her.
"Waaah!" Little Tree had never imagined she would see her father again, and a low wail escaped her lips.
"It's okay, Little Tree. You've done well. You and Yuki have always been Dad's pride," Shizuru said.
Father and daughter wept in each other's arms, and Shizuru explained what had happened to him and apologized for not being there for her. They stayed like this until the sky grew completely dark.
Shizuru felt the Totten Turtles calling to him from the other side of time.
He stood up and said to Little Tree, "Little Tree, Dad has to go now."
Little Tree quickly got up and asked, "Will I be able to see Dad again in the future?"
Shizuru nodded. "Definitely."
Little Tree's heart was at ease.
In the year 288 of the Union Calendar, Little Tree passed away in her sleep.
When she opened her eyes in her soul form, she saw her father waiting by her bedside.
"Dad, is that you?" she asked.
Shizuru nodded. "Let's go!"
Little Tree turned to look back, then walked towards her father.
Hand in hand, father and daughter approached the entrance to the Spirit World.
However, Shizuru did not enter. He sent Little Tree to meet her mother, saying, "Go, Little Tree. Go and talk to your mother. Whatever decision you make, Dad will support you."
Little Tree looked at the entrance to the Spirit World and then at her father.
She seemed to understand, and nodded. "Okay, Dad."
Shizuru watched as Little Tree's figure disappeared, and a sigh escaped his lips. He closed his eyes, and after a while, he opened them again.
The latest chapter is complete!
The knot in his heart was untied, even though it wasn't the perfect outcome. But it was Little Tree's decision, and as a father, Shizuru could only respect it.
Shizuru returned to the World Tree.
Time passed like flowing water, and life continued in its simplicity.
Shizuru often returned to the abandoned ranch, reminiscing about the past and the life he once had.
He once hoped for a child to inherit his ranch, as it was the culmination of his and his Pokemon's lifelong efforts.
But now, the ranch remained abandoned.
Every time he saw the desolate ranch, Shizuru's heart ached.
Until one day, a boy with a Charmander arrived at the ranch.
The boy looked at the letter in his hand and murmured, "Huh? Is this the ranch my great-grandfather left behind?"
"What a pity, it's already fallen into such disrepair! It doesn't resemble the thriving place in the photos at all..."
"But it's okay! Charmander, we can make this place shine again!"
The Charmander beside him shared his enthusiasm, its eyes burning with determination.
(End of Chapter)
Shizuru narrowed his eyes, his interest piqued.
Oh?
Is this... his descendant?
Shizuru, in his ghostly form, hovered curiously beside the boy.
He watched as the boy tended to the ranch, cleaning the house with the Fire Dinosaur and unpacking his daily necessities from his spatial backpack. He made the bed, ensuring everything was in order.
Once the living arrangements were settled, Shizuru noticed the boy taking out a picture frame from his bag and hanging it on the wall.
Shizuru focused his gaze, and on the frame, he saw his younger self.
Shizuru: "..."
The boy stood before the photo, his face filled with reverence. He clasped his hands and chanted:
"Great-Great-Grandpa, I am your descendant, Teng Shu. Please bless my upcoming ranch life and make it smooth!"
"Teng Shu?" Shizuru observed the boy with interest.
As far as he knew, the Tree Family had grown into an enormous clan, with most of his descendants dedicated to becoming powerful trainers.
Now, out of the blue, a young lad had appeared, eager to inherit his ranch.
Shizuru walked behind Teng Shu and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
Teng Shu, startled, turned around, and in the next moment, he saw a figure floating in mid-air behind him, a figure he felt he knew.
This person...
Teng Shu turned back to the photo on the wall, then looked at the man behind him.
Teng Shu: !!!
His face was filled with terror, both scared and shocked. He grabbed the Fire Dinosaur and scrambled out, shouting as he ran:
"Mom, Great-Great-Grandpa's ghost is here!"
Shizuru: "..."
With a slight movement of his mind, he used his ghostly powers to create an illusion, blocking the boy's path.
Teng Shu was terrified as the door suddenly vanished.
This was his first encounter with a ghost in his life.
"Mom, help!" Teng Shu screamed in fear. Seeing no response, he quickly changed his plea: "Great-Great-Grandpa, please don't hurt me, I'm your descendant!"
Shizuru stopped and said, "I have no intention of harming you."
Teng Shu, startled: "Huh?"
"Is your name Teng Shu?" Shizuru asked.
"Yes... yes!" Teng Shu replied, still in shock.
"Why did you come to this ranch?"
Seeing that Great-Great-Grandpa's ghost had no intention of harming him, or perhaps influenced by the bloodline power within, Teng Shu's fear subsided.
He briefly explained his reason for coming to this place.
"There are too many talented people in the family, and I'm not very good at training Pokemon. At home, I'm constantly nagged by my mom. Plus, I heard the rumors about the legendary ranch and the mythical Life Milk, so I want to manage a ranch like Great-Great-Grandpa, live with Pokemon, and farm!"
Teng Shu's words were a bit incoherent, but Shizuru understood.
Coincidentally, he had been feeling heartbroken over the abandoned ranch, and now, with a descendant suddenly appearing to inherit it, Shizuru felt incredibly relieved.
"Good lad!"
Teng Shu was curious about the Great-Great-Grandpa before him: "Are you really my Great-Great-Grandpa? But didn't you pass away?"
"Souls exist in this world," Shizuru smiled, dispelling the illusion and asking, "Do you want to manage this ranch?"
"Yes!" Teng Shu nodded, then asked curiously, "Great-Great-Grandpa, is the rumor about the mythical Life Milk true?"
Shizuru smiled and asked, "Do you want to know?"
"Of course!"
"In that case, let's revive this ranch!"
In an instant, Shizuru had a plan.
He wanted to test this boy, and if he succeeded, he would give him the wondrous recipe he once created to help manage the ranch!
"Next, let's start by weeding the ranch. When you finish this task, I'll give you a gift."
As he spoke, Shizuru's figure disappeared, returning to his ghostly form.
Teng Shu stared at the vanished Great-Great-Grandpa, pinching his thigh in disbelief and wincing in pain.
It wasn't a dream!
He had truly seen Great-Great-Grandpa!
"Great-Great-Grandpa, are you leaving?" Teng Shu called out anxiously.
"Don't disturb me unless it's important. When you complete the task I've given you, I'll appear with a reward," Shizuru's voice echoed.
Teng Shu's eyes lit up.
According to rumors, Great-Great-Grandpa was an incredibly powerful trainer, once known as Paldea's strongest.
What would his reward be?
Teng Shu, driven by the desire for the reward and his dream life, spoke to the Fire Dinosaur with determination:
"Fire Dinosaur, let's go! Let's work hard and clear the weeds!"
"Roar!"
A new story began.
(The End)
Chapter end
Report
