Epilogue

HOLLOW

It's hard to live this life

When you're feeling hollow

I start to fantasize

Not being here tomorrow

As I walk to the gallows

Breathing is shallow

I start to feel like I lost this battle

Try to realize

A new horizon brings tomorrow

- Execution Day

I

The gentle spring breeze followed Seth into his kitchen. The smell of coffee filled his home, and the pleasant morning light danced off his unused counter space. Coffee was brewed at every hour of the day in the Golden Tails Diner. Without that, his home would be truly empty, devoid of anything pleasant. Did he deserve anything pleasant? He turned back towards the back door to sit in front of Sarah’s tree. Before reaching the door he turned around and shook his head. It had to be today.

The kitchen doors swung open, and he entered the dining area behind the bar. He passed the newspaper that rested on the counter by the cash register. It was beginning to build a thick layer of dust upon it. It didn't help that everything around it was clean. Seth just couldn't touch it ever since Emily came running into the diner months ago, slapping it down in this very spot. It was too much a reminder of his failures. Every time he attempted to move it, Seth cowered away in fear.

On top of the newspaper, it said, "Local Resident defeats Pokémon League. Bruno gets retribution!" Under the title, a picture of Seth was centered around Annihilape, Rhyperior, Torterra, Vaporeon, Ampharos, and Noivern. Noivern had severe scars along the side of his face, but he looked happier than Seth had ever seen him. With the exception of any moment when Noivern was around Erin.

II

“Mr. Conklin, it's a pleasure. Please sit down. My name is Oliver Anderson,” a large border officer instructed eagerly. “We are so happy to have you.” The Olivine City custom house was incredibly warm, and the constant sounds of waves bounced off the walls.

“Um, thank you,” Glenn said, taking a seat across from the officer.

“This must be your daughter, Erin,” he asked, turning his gaze toward her.

“Yupporni!” Ava smiled pleasantly at the name, sitting next to her father.

“That's strange; in our reports, we had Erin listed as a male,” Oliver said, rubbing his fingers around his chin.

“Oh… well…” Glenn struggled to answer.

“All good, I understand. It's been quite a few years, but I have seen the abysmal record-keeping Kanto has kept. No worries,” Oliver answered for him. “Now that brings me to my next point. We are happy to have you, Mr. Conklin. Truly. A Pokémon trainer of your caliber is a wonderful asset for us. However, the 15 years of war Kanto has brought on us has…” He stuttered, trying to find the right words. “Well, I just wouldn't be announcing your nationality to anyone.”

“Understood,” Glenn said simply.

“Exactly my point. Look at this picture they have of you,” Oliver pulled up the picture of Seth centered around his Pokémon. “Kanto had to get a handsome, good-looking man to pose for your accomplishments. Despicable. I tell you, Seth doing this job for as long as I have, you come to know all the dirty secrets of this war. They are vile. I bet you couldn’t wait to leave.”

“Yes, do you know if we will have accommodations made for us?” Glenn asked.

“Of course!” His voice boomed. “You are a Pokémon master who has come to aid Johto. The government here will let you pick your city and get you all set up after we sign your paperwork here.”

“Sure, I understand-” Glenn began.

“Do you have any skills other than Pokémon training?” Oliver cut him off.

“Yes, I am an engineer,” Glenn answered quickly.

“Daddy works long hours,” Ava added, looking down at her feet.

“Well, I will try to help you out, kiddo,” Oliver said, giving her a loud smile. “Goldenrod might suit you well. But hey, you get the pick. Now, Mr. Conklin, the last thing I have to do for our League champion immigrants is verify with one of your champion Pokémon.”

“Of course.” Glenn released the one Pokéball he had on his belt, and Annihilape materialized behind Ava. She reached out her hand towards his. The eyes under his left scar eased holding Ava’s hand back.

III

Seth strolled down the streets of Westgate, sipping his coffee. A child no older than three dashed past him, frantically trying to catch her Marshtomp. Her parents flew by Seth in pursuit of their wild child. His thoughts drifted to Erin, chasing Vulpix or Mankey around these streets, blissfully unaware of it all. A couple was moving their furniture into Harold’s old house. The flowers that commemorated him were gone, yet somehow, it looked brighter. The sadness of his death, marking the power Team Rocket had over the city, had dissipated. Evicted from the premises, gradually replaced by new items brought in by the happy couple.

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A few doors down, Seth passed Samuel's home. He held a newspaper up, shouting to his friend Benjamin.

“Did you hear about this?” he asked Benjamin, peering above the paper, catching his friend’s rolling his eyes.

“If you talk to me one more time about Sabrina and the Kanto army, and this new mysterious chosen kid stopping Johto’s advancement, I am going to throw something at you,” Benjamin replied, annoyed.

“No, not that, about Lt. Surge.” Seth slowed down, choosing to listen to the news without engaging in conversation with Benjamin.

“No, what?” Benjamin asked, now intrigued.

“He was assassinated last night.”

“No way.” Benjamin got to his feet to look at the newspaper with his friend.

“Look right here, Lt. Surge, leader of Kanto, was assassinated in Vermilion City. The suspect, who was one of the citizens evicted from Vermilion, has been caught and awaits execution.” Samuel put the newspaper down, his mind racing.

“They're falling left and right, especially after Erika lost her battle with addiction,” Benjamin added.

The three-year-old girl, who was still outpacing her parents by a mile, accidentally ran into Seth.

“Oh, I'm sorry,” Seth said, looking down at the girl's bright smiling face. Tears welled up inside him. Her smile was so bright, but he felt hollow as he gazed into it.

“It’s okay, Mr.” She left Seth, already done with the conversation, and went back after her Marshtomp.

Benjamin saw Seth standing below him and gave him an awkward wave. He sat back down in his chair and disappeared behind a newspaper without reading a word. Finally, the girl's parents ran up to Seth, panting hard, trying to speak. Seth just pointed behind him and smiled to hide his envy.

IV

The spring air continued to circulate throughout Westgate, and across Kanto, pushing away the lingering smell of death that had plagued the country for so long. The new air breathed life into many people who had fought hard just to survive. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough in the world to rejuvenate Seth. His body felt empty, a deep pit of loneliness and fear that worsened with each attachment he severed.

He pulled Erin’s jacket out of his pocket and held it, memorizing every detail, every fiber of the blood-soaked, tattered cloth. He had plenty of his son's clothes back home. For example, the Flapple toy Erin brought with him rested on Seth’s nightstand. However, this jacket held special meaning to him.

Erin's happiness radiated to everyone around him. He connected with Grotle, caught Noibat, and saved all those kids from the Hypno den. Erin calmed down Metang and gave him life and meaning after his trainer, Ben, died. Erin was the the winner of the Soul Badge. He was the most selfless being Seth had ever known, and he died because of his father's selfishness.

Seth hid his tears in Erin’s jacket, breathing in his son’s familiar scent, but it only intensified the pain. The sun penetrated the blooming tree branches in the woods outside the city, warming the path where the sounds of Pokémon created a peaceful harmony. A Deerling in its spring coat pranced in front of him on the path and then skipped away.

Torterra emerged in the forest, looking around and savoring the pleasant air. The Pokéball dropped from Seth's hand and shattered as he stomped it into the ground.

“Thank you, Torterra,” Seth said to the puzzled look on Torterra’s face. “I'm so glad you were Erin’s first Pokémon.” Torterra took a step towards him, the scar on his side under the shell finally healing over. He still missed the rocky horn on the left side of his head. “No, Torterra. Go.” Torterra took another step towards Seth, wanting to be with him. “GO!”

Tears leaked down Torterra's face, mirroring Seth's. He finally turned away, disappearing into the woods where they had found him. Grotle was alone without his mother, and Erin was there to save him. Now, Seth was alone without his son and no one was there to stop him. He desperately wished someone could.

V

A teenager stepped onto the snow-covered ground beneath the Mountains of Mt. Silver, with a thousand Johto troops marching behind him. He wore a red jacket and a black and gold cap, set backward on his head. In one hand, he held a Pokéball, and the other rested on his Typhlosion.

"Are you ready?" Sabrina asked Red, her heart pounding in her chest, just like every soldier behind her. Unlike them, she wasn't scared—she was excited to finally have a challenge.

Red turned toward Mewtwo, placing a hand on his scarred chest. Ho-Oh emerged from the Pokéball, creating a ball of fiery chaos that melted the ground around them.

Red shifted his gaze toward the Johto challenger and blew his whistle twice.

VI

Seth walked through his backyard, the high noon sun casting its warm glow on the blooming tree that overlooked Cerulean City. Noivern emerged from his Pokéball, its scars stretching from its back along the side of its face. One part of its wing was mutilated but had healed enough to serve its final purpose for Seth.

"Will you do me a favor?" Noivern brought its face down to Seth, signaling its acceptance. Seth dropped the final empty Pokéball that housed Noivern into a package and tied it to its foot.

"I was going to tell you to go to Vermilion City first, but I think you should go to Saffron and meet with Sabrina. She will be at her gym, okay? When you get there, give her this letter." He tied the second letter to its other leg. "Sabrina will get you a navigator to Emily. She is doing something in Sinnoh for Lt. Surge." Noivern gently butted its head against Seth's and flapped its wings, leaving Seth truly alone.

VII

"We're almost there," Cynthia said to Emily. The boat skipped along the waves, approaching the island. It rose out of the water, illuminated only by the stars, without any aid from the new moon. Emily sat between Aggron and Vaporeon, looking up at the island.

A hiss carried over the waves, catching both their attention. "What is that?" Cynthia asked, looking at a large Pokémon flying towards them.

"What the actual fuck!" Emily said, disbelieving. Noivern landed on the ship and tackled Emily lovingly. "Why are you here? Where is Seth?" He looked down towards the package tied around his leg.

She pulled the package apart and found Noivern’s empty Pokéball and the deed to the Golden Tails Diner. She broke apart on the floor, holding a small scrap of paper. “Thank you for everything. Much love. Seth.”

"I should have been there." Her cries were carried out, absorbing into the dark water below. "I shouldn't have left him."

The boat docked at a small wooden harbor that creaked at every step. There was not a single Pokémon sound around them; the whole island was completely still. “My great-grandmother Cogita set up this preserve for them after they were hunted to near extinction.” A few Darkrai emerged from the ground, their white smoke-like hair appearing before their bodies lifted out of the ground. “He will be very happy here.” Emily's tear-stricken face looked at the Pokéball before releasing Darkrai to his family.

"Now, let's talk about the aid we can provide Kanto on the way back." Cynthia smiled but failed to lift Emily’s spirits. She was in the most necessary place to save her country but in the wrong place to save her home.

VIII

Seth sat beneath his wife's tree for a while, contemplating his last selfish act. He read the words he had etched into the monument:

"Sarah Conklin, Loving wife & incredible mother”

"Erin Conklin, If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever."

“Ninetales, a true guardian of this family.”

The sun completed its journey across the sky, making its last attempt to breathe life into the day, and Seth's feet gently swayed.