August tasks ch 4 - A Happy Reunion!

          An hour or so later, Amelia tapped him on the shoulder. Remington turned to see her wearing a blue hood. “Sea Basin Hood, she called it.” Amelia said, knowing before he even spoke what Remington was going to ask. Remington smiled and pointed out the staff on his back, on which his Continental Sash was hanging. “Looks good.” Amelia complemented. She leaned on the balcony railing as Remington had and stared out over the sea. “So, watcha been thinking about?”

         “I miss them.” Remy said, staring out at the sea again.

         “Who? Pyren?”

         “Well, of course Pyren; most of the Pokemon who were sent back in time are back now but he’s still missing. I’m talking about our old friends, from back home. Statera.”

         “Ah.” Amelia replied. “I should have figured.” She paused. “What were you thinking about them?”

         “I just miss them, ya know?” Remy sighed in grief. “Most of them died, half of them just left us, and I think maybe only a few of them probably remember us. I remember them, though.”

         “They remember us.” Amelia said. “After all of our adventures, how could they not?”

         “Well, ya. I guess.” Remington replied.

         They were silent after that. A while passed, and the sun dipped lower. Eventually, someone came to find them. “I believe that Leiro and Sharon are looking for you two.” A hoarse voice said.

         Neither of them bothered to turn around; they were too entranced by the sea. “How come?” Remington asked.

         “They say you need to join in their initiation ceremonies. They’re getting ready to perform them as we speak and they’re waiting for you.” The Pokemon paused, then asked “Aren’t you Remington and Amelia?”

         “Yes we are. Why-” Remington turned around and gasped in shock. Amelia turned and did the same.

         Standing in front of them was Pyren.

         “Pyren!!!” Remington exclaimed. He jumped on Pyren and gave him the biggest hug he had given in a long time. “Pyren! I missed ya old buddy, ol’ pal! Where have you been?!”

         “I can’t believe this!” Amelia said, rubbing her eyes as if she was in a dream. “I mean… wha- why’s your voice different?”

         Pyren chuckled hoarsly. “Sore throat. Sorry.” He replied. “I’ve been in the past, of course, but Jasmine finally transported us all back to the present. I ended up this place, though. Don’t ask me why. I ended up talking to Prosphora and he made me work as a servant to prove that I wasn’t a trespasser; it was more of a guard’s brainstorm than his, really. Anyway, here I am.” Pyren stood up and showed Remington his Aureola Collar. “They eventually accepted me into the order and, well… I forgot to leave.”

         “Well, I’m glad we came, then!” Remy said, giving Pyren a squeeze.

         “Woah, kid! Can’t… breath…!” Pyren said. Remy chuckled awkwardly and let his friend go.

         “How did they accept you, exactly?” Amelia asked him.

         “My good faith and my good deeds. The latter isn’t exactly customary with my own beliefs, but in retrospect it should be an inherent nature in Pokemon to help others. At any rate, good faith and good deeds are the things they look for. For example, just today I assisted a traveler who had fallen ill and was taken in by the Cathedral. I grabbed this Dewott who I had seen around in the past - he visited the Cathedral today as well - and obtained a sea plant, about two miles out to sea. It would normally be quite a swim, and he objected to it because of that at first, but when I explained that a Butterfree was dying and that a dragon could get us there within the span of a few minutes, he agreed to help me. At any rate, I got the Butterfree his medicine and he’s likely to recover now. I’ve done things like that a few times around here and they got me this nice collar to show my part in the Order.”

         “Well, that’s great Pyren!” Remington said, his smile never fading.

         “That reminds me, actually. I found someone else here, as well. When you’re ready to go home, I’ll show you.”

         With that, Remington and Amelia happily proceeded to the Embassy rooms where, after a little bit of explaining, they were taken through the processes of initiation. It was rather interesting for them to see how other religions did their work.

         Afterward, they found Pyren on the balcony and he took them to a large room with very large mats for sleeping. “This is where the big dragons sleep. Lots of dragon types live in this Citadel, apparently. One in particular found me the first day.” Pyren pointed out a sleeping Salamence, upon whose back was a large saddle, enough to probably hold ten Pokemon of the team’s size. “Ahem.” Pyren said loudly.

         The Salamence turned its head to face them and, once again, Remington and Amelia were shocked and awed. “You two!” The Salamence exclaimed.

         “Dyrus!” Remington shouted. “You’re here!”

         “Yes, I am.” Dyrus said. The dragon began explaining how, in fear for his life during the great snowstorm that hit Tao, he fled west and ended up perching at the Cathedral Drop to rest his wings, which were sore from flying out of such cold. There, he was recruited by the Order of the Sun to act as a courier for the Pokemon of the order, a talent at which Dyrus was amazingly gifted. When Pyren arrived, the Monferno explained to Prosphora how he learned to mount and ride Dyrus when he was younger and offered to do so again if the priest wanted. That explained the “servitude” that Prosphora wanted him to do.

         “When me and Dyrus got back and heard you guys were here, I immediately went to Prosphora and asked to be allowed to go to the missionary set up in Tao Village. Granted, I had asked before, but he hadn’t allowed me. This time, I practically groveled at his feet to be allowed to go, since I would travel back home with you guys in the process. He actually gave me permission to go without a second thought.”

         “Really?” Amelia asked.

         “Yes. He said that his only condition was that I ‘keep an eye on the dark one.’ I’m not sure what he meant by that but I’m sure it will occur to me at some point.”

         Amelia’s face went a little grim. “I see.” She replied. Pyren didn’t understand, but she certainly did.

         With nothing left to do at the Cathedral for the reunited team, they all climbed onto Dyrus the Salamence for the first time in nearly a year, and they left the Cathedral and flew home into the sunset, together at last. A family as they should be.