GOODBYE

mission

HE HAS NO TEARS FOR THE FALLEN. their lives are given, not for grief, but to pass on their burden. their will, legacy, and dying breath, rests on those who survive. that is the unspoken promise made between him and his ‘allies’. people or pokemon, friends or pawns, there is no distinction in that regard.

a proper chess match requires countless sacrifices for the king to win.

his trek to mount pyre has become less frequent since TAPU FINI’s death. there’s no point in visiting now that the souls refuse to consult with him. only on principle, does he visit the fresh graves of pokemon and officers who have fallen in the line of duty. that much, he can give them.

from a distance, fernando observes someone mourn. he says nothing, giving them the personal space to grief in peace. but here, alone at night, his shadow scales with the radiance of the moon.

looming and ever clear.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
francie myrtle

GOODBYE

mission

“TO GRIEVE AND THE MOURN,” he answers with a solemn silence.

his words lose their distinct tone and command. his volume seems like a whisper among countless pleas. among the coarse and regretful, his barely carries any life.

no more true than any other lie.

“i heard you were in dewford.”

his headband covers half his face neatly. this time, only one eye settles on her.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
francie myrtle

GOODBYE

mission

HER SMILE IS MET WITH THE SAME EXPRESSION THAT HAD WELCOMED HER TEARS. many thing change but fernando’s impartiality does not. even when the scar digs into his eye and ends with an empty socket. he leaves that covered, for the others, but his face remembers what it should look like.

“i read the league reports,” he says simply. “and i pay attention to the details.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
francie myrtle

GOODBYE

mission

“IT CAN.”

he pauses.

“and it is.”

another pause. this time for purpose. to let the dust settle between a departure that should’ve never ended. his warnings to all always fall on deaf ears. yet, there is no pride in being correct.

not when vindication is hosted on mount pyre.

“and yet you found your way back to here.”

to me.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
francie myrtle

GOODBYE

mission

“VERY WELL.”

his eye crawls past her. scrambles up the dirt road until they land on the memorial she’s here to honor. to stay in hoenn is to know these tomb stones. to make a conscious decision to bury your loved ones.

“the region is lucky to have your return, myrtle.”

he does not waver. nor does he cave. the sparks of her fire do little against already burnt ash.

“back under the league, i presume?”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
francie myrtle

GOODBYE

mission

“NEVER.”

such an accusation is the last thing on his mind. to succumb to the very forces she had opposed so devoutly would be to spit on her lgeacy. he does not know francie, not to the depths she would like, but she’s left an impression on him. crafted a picture that almost captures the radiance of her smile.

“Razz Kingsman is now head ranger.”

a measure of what she could have done. what silph co. can create.

“otherwise, like you said, crazy.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
francie myrtle

GOODBYE

mission

“INDEED,” he repeats. the mention of his most recent accomplishment brings his focus back onto her. someone who sits in a limbo between the cait alfric and Razz Kingsman s of the world and the illeana reyes s he’s failed.

“it’s unfortunate it took so long to realize his value but i’m glad i held onto him for so long.”

this conversation too is laid to rest. discarded like the afterthoughts of her pokemon. he moves on without a moment’s hesitance.

“how has adjusting to ranger life been? i’ve heard they’re—” he takes a moment to look for just the right word.

“a quirky bunch.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
francie myrtle