He arrived earlier in the morning, a flight back into Sootpolis on Alto, his Staraptor, his eyes scanned the dead space where everything had evaporated.

There were no ashes, no bodies, not a single hint of remembrance of either Asriel or Hahn. He had made a single mark in the middle of the battlefield, a ribbon, in bright orange hidden under a solid piece of concrete to mark at least his Togetic, but it was no longer there. Necrozma did not even leave those afflicted the ability and solace to gather the remains of their Pokemon.

There was nothing to remember them by, and so he paid his respects the only way he could, a single framed photograph of both atop a memorial gravestone of thousands. Callan placed a set of white lilies and carnations atop the monuments. In the midst of the bundle, a glowing crystabloom.

Callan a small incense burner atop the gravestone. Using his lighter, he placed a set of incense sticks atop and gently ran the flame over the tips, then pressed his palms together to pray. Even should the body be missing, the memory of his Pokemon would forever be etched into him, as scars.

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He still felt so inadequate.

Sure, Alex Louis and Ava were still around, but—

While his own losses were on the smaller number of things, big glaring problem here was that those who he’d lost were among the ones that he cared for the most—

Two of the three that he’d started his journey into the world with, gone.

All because they wanted to protect him from whatever the fuck had gone down.

He thought he saw Hideo Kino but knew it best not to interrupt the other, and so he decided to wait a little bit until there were less people around. Holding a small bouquet of flowers in his left hand (as he had not yet gotten around to restoring his right one, oops) he looked around and took a single, sharp breath.

Who knew that during that dark time, he would discover what his Steelix was capable of—maybe too little, too late to matter now; he was still beating himself up and over what had happened to the three he’d lost that terrible, terrible day.

Alfons, sweet gentle giant of a Golurk. The one who understood him the most. (Who was he kidding, they understood each other so well, they didn’t need to talk just to know what the other was thinking.)

Luxu, sassy Salazzle, the ‘mother’ figure that stood by him through thick and thin. (One of those who’d helped find out what the fuck was going on when they’d gone out to search for Frankie.)

Ira, giant dinosaur who loved giving him rides whenever they decided to kick up dust whenever the Tyrantrum would want to stretch his legs. (Despite the Tyrantrum’s generally terrifying disposition, the one he owned was such a gentle one…)

While Invi was still around, it was wise of him not to use his Absol during that night of dread…

“Fuck,” was all he would say, crouching down as he left his own simple offering of flowers alongside all the rest that had been left there so far.

Small, inadequate—

But then again wasn’t everyone who’d been around for that terrible time?

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[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/228022792392671232/983808497089138728/Naruto_OST_-_Sadness_and_Sorrow_getmp3.pro.mp3[/player]

Elinor’s gentle steps thudded against the ground at the memorial service. A black suit adorned her in this time of grief. A single Crystalbloom in her hand. She walked up to the Memorial, face strained from holding back the emotions that were welling up. Her hand fought valiantly as well, to not ball into a fist and crush the delicate flower.

She kept her distance from the masses somewhat, hoping to avoid both Callan Young and Laurence Anderson should they find themselves here. She felt no need to join them in their grief nor them in hers. Her grief was hers to bear alone. She gently placed the flower at the Memorial, it laid there alone for now, gently illuminating its surroundings.

The tears welled up in her, even if she knew this was not the graves she had given them, this place compelled her to speak. “Gon, Nix, Grigus, Koa. I am sorry.” She tried to wet her lips, but only tasted salt. Her tears were falling. If only the rain would begin so she could hide it.

“I know this is silly, and you can’t hear me. Still…” She sniffled.

“Nix. Thank you. I know we didn’t always see eye to eye. And yet you saved us without a second thought.” Memories of The Steelix welled up in her. Both those of joy and sorrow, of the light that vaporized the Steel serpent, and of the first time she met him. How he had tried to steal her food only for her to give it to him willingly. Dumbfounded by the cockiness of this tiny human, he had joined her. Sworn to protect her, even from herself.

“Koa, you were always so shy. Sometimes I wondered if you didn’t like me.” She paused. “I know now that was not the case. If only I had dismissed those worries while you were still with us.” She sobbed. Memories of the Drifbloom sharing time with her and the other Pokémon. Always at the edges. If only they had reached out a hand and pulled him in. But it was too late now.

“Grigus. We didn’t get to spend a lot of time together, perhaps even less so than Koa. Still, while despair had taken me, you tried to save me. To be my torch in the dark. If only you were alive to know how grateful I am. And yet you told me loss was not to be fear. And I am sure you are right, but why does it hurt so much then?” Words were getting muffled by her whimpering sobs. Eyes pouring tears in a steady stream as what few memories she had with the Cofagrigus rolled in a sad flashback. Always focused on scholarly pursuits. He had enjoyed reading all the books in the library, from the great tales about Calyrex the conqueror to the children’s tale of the little Caterpie that could.

Lastly, she reached the fourth and final Pokémon. But this was perhaps the hardest to address. The words did not wish to leave her, and yet she forced them out. “Gon. Gon… I’ve told Minh that you won’t be coming home. Of course, she cried. She cried so much. That’s to be expected… But, she is strong. I know she will make it through. I only regret you won’t get to see her grow up.” The memory of her coming home after the disaster, only to be forced to tell the little Illumina Bagon that she would not get to see her father again. It had been hard.

“Gon, if I had only listened, if we had stayed away you would still be here… It is all my fault that you won’t get to see your daughter again, it’s all my fault that you won’t get to teach her how to fly or show her how strong you were. It’s all my fault. I am sorry. I am sorry… I am sorry.” She fell to her knees, hugging herself for some measure of comfort, as the memories of her time spent with the Salamence appeared before her mind’s eye.

One might even call it a flashback as the event of her and the Bagon meeting Laurence Anderson at a Dragon-type training day right after returning to Hoenn, before moving on to playing a pivotal role in carrying her and MATIAS SILPH during her first mission with Elite Four member as they searched for a Runner who had gotten lost, or how it had acknowledged her best friend annalise henderson during a mission. Even the memories of how it had come to her carrying its child made their way through, only for her to cut the film forcefully as the memories of Sootopolis began to appear.

No, She didn’t want to relive that painful day.

The tears began to dry as her eyes stung from all the salt. Her sobbing began to quell. She forced herself back on her feet. She needed to be strong, for herself, for her Pokémon, and for the people of Hoenn. She was never going to let such despair fall upon anyone ever again.

“Sorry about that. I am sure you all wouldn’t want to see me like that. Please, take your well-deserved rest, and know that I will make sure that your sacrifices weren’t in vain.” And with that, she turned to leave. The burden of grief is perhaps a little bit lighter.


OOC: Not open to interactions.
LOCATION: Darkest Day Memorial

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