Harper sat on the other side of the dressing room, watching from afar as Claire diligently listened to Layla about proper care of pokémon. She used Eve as an example, nodding along as she groomed the eevee's fur with careful strokes. Caleb focused on brushing Zorro with a frustrated look on his face, his grip tightening on the brush as he became distracted from the Lead Makeup Artist's advice—until Claire elbowed her brother in the side.

  “Ow! Hey!” Caleb yelped, jerking away as he rubbed his ribs with one hand. “Why’d you do that?!”

  “You should be listening to Ms. Kang!” Claire huffed back as she pointed at him. “When we start our Journey, I’m not taking care of Zorro every time!”

  “But I was listening!” Caleb hissed through his teeth, still rubbing his side. “Ms. Kang said not to brush a Pokémon too hard, but no matter how I brush Zorro, his fur never looks the way I want it!”

  Layla tilted her head thoughtfully, her hands resting on her hips. “I noticed that the first time I worked with him, but his fur’s already perfect!” She leaned down and patted the poochyena’s head. “He’s got quite a healthy coat!” She added with a reassuring smile.

  As the twins continued to talk with Layla, Beartic entered the room and after briefly greeting everyone, took a seat beside Harper and settled with a soft grunt. He tossed Harper a dry poffin he grabbed from the concession stand outside before biting down on his own sweet poffin.

  “So how much longer until Eve’s makeup is done?” Beartic asked, chewing thoughtfully as he slumped back in his seat. His ears flicked slightly, watching the ongoing preparations.

  “I think they’re almost done,” Harper replied, rolling the poffin between his paws before finally taking a small bite. He nodded toward Layla, who was handing a perfume bottle to Claire in gift fashion. “Layla was just teaching Claire about Pokémon care since she asked earlier,” He added, glancing back at Beartic.

  “Right, Claire mentioned that she wanted to be a traveling nurse,” Beartic said, wagging a paw. His expression softened as he observed Claire’s eager enthusiasm. “She asked the right person to learn from. Layla’s the best in her field.”

  “You’re right about that,” Harper murmured, gently adjusting the knot securing the tassels behind his head for his costume. “She’s got magic hands to tie this without making it hurt every time.”

  Beartic chuckled, resting his paws on his knees as he gazed back at the twins. His expression lingered for a moment before his eyes flicked back to Harper.

  “So… how do you feel, kid?” he asked suddenly.

  Harper turned his head, blinking in confusion. “Feel… about what?”

  “For this show,” Beartic said, gesturing vaguely around them with a lazy wave. “I’ve been meaning to ask how you felt when you wrapped up your last scene in Full Metal Cop, but I wasn't there at the time. Now that we're nearing the end of this show with the final episode, I wanted to know how you're feeling."

  With Beartic mentioning it, Harper began to recognize the strange yet familiar sensation that had lingered since morning. It was the same feeling he experienced while watching the sunset after discreetly slipping away from the celebration party in Undella Town. The sense of accomplishment came not from the party, but from when he spent the evening with Audrey and Ripley. After a moment of thought, he gave a light sigh.

  “I feel… more sure of myself,” Harper admitted, his gaze distant as he traced a claw over the edge of his seat.

  Beartic tilted his head, his brows raising with interest. “How so?”

  “I’m getting used to being here in Pokéstar Studios,” Harper answered, his paws fidgeting with the edge of his costume. “Everyone’s so nice and caring, and the environment is so positive. It’s nothing like before.”

  “Like before?” Beartic’s brows furrowed.

  “B-Before?” Harper stammered, his fur bristling slightly as he flinched at the Ice-type’s sudden shift in tone. He quickly held up his paws. “I— I didn’t—”

  Beartic raised a paw, his expression softening again. “I know you’re not ready. You don’t need to answer. You can explain it when it’s time, okay?”

  Harper exhaled shakily, his shoulders sagging with relief. “T-Thanks,” He mumbled, collapsing into his seat. Ever since he told Beartic and Brycen of his eventual disclosure, he had been much more likely to slip up. Not that it exposed him too much, but every time he did so, it increased the concern of the two.

  “Anyways…” He cleared his throat, his tail twitching restlessly as he forced himself to refocus. “After Brycen Man and Full Metal Cop, I enjoyed working on a project meant for younger audiences. With how lighthearted it was, I felt the same way when we acted.”

  “I agree with you there,” Beartic nodded slowly, crossing his arms as he tapped a claw against his forearm in thought. “My role as Tundra is one of the most fun roles I’ve done yet. I’m sort of sad that this is the last time I’ll get to joke around with you on set.”

  Harper coughed out a laugh. “That’s what you’re worried about?” he asked, exhaling sharply. “It’s not like this show is the last time I’ll see you.”

  “I know it isn’t,” Beartic replied, ruffling Harper’s head fur with one paw, earning an irritated swat. “It’s just that another opportunity to mess with you is going to end soon.”

  Harper only chuckled as he fixed his fur again. “Don’t worry, Beartic. You’ll have a bunch more in the future.”

  Beartic hummed in response, leaning back into his seat. “You know… I expected a simpler answer from you.”

  Harper arched a brow. “How else was I supposed to respond then?”

  “Well, you could’ve said, ‘I sure am glad that I can train with Beartic once we have more time,’” Beartic teased, his grin widening as he waggled his brows.

  “Is that what you want to do with me when this is done?” Harper asked, rolling his eyes.

  “C’mon, kid. It’s been a while since we last trained,” Beartic stretched his arms behind his back, his seat slightly creaking as he leaned. “There’s a special move I’ve been meaning to teach you.”

  A special move? Harper’s ears perked up as his tail twitched with interest. His move pool had remained stagnant since the show began production, so it’d help to learn a new move for if he was in another film that had combat. The only move he knew that could be categorized as special was Vacuum Wave. He didn’t know what other special moves that a riolu could learn—they were more recognized as physical fighters. Could riolus learn any other special moves other than Vacuum Wave? Maybe Beartic wanted to teach him Swift—he didn’t have other ranged options after all.

  Harper shifted in his seat. “What kind of special move are you talking about? You never phrased it like that before.”

  “Ah shoot, sorry if that confused you,” Beartic scratched the back of his head after noticing Harper’s changing expression. “What I meant was that I want to teach you how I use a move compared to how other pokémon usually do.”

  “How so?” Harper leaned in.

  Beartic raised a digit up to his mouth, his smile curling upward. “You’ll see when we start training again. That’ll get you pumped up for now, won’t it?”

  Harper gave a mocking wave of his paw. “Sort of.”

  Beartic snorted, nudging Harper’s shoulder. “Oh, shut it. I know you’re excited.”

  As they chuckled together, Harper watched as Bianca arrived from the entrance, enthusiastically greeting the twins and conversing with Layla. He remembered how Brycen mentioned a few days ago that Professor Juniper was going to come by once the test screening was ready. That date was rapidly approaching now that they were filming the final episode, and it made Harper a bit nervous about his first encounter with her.

  Even knowing the fact that Professor Juniper is aware of his literacy, it still uneased him with his first impression of her. She was the Pokémon Professor for Unova, after all, and that title held a much greater merit than the games portrayed. With how casual and lighthearted Bianca always seemed, it made Harper forget from time to time that she was the Assistant Professor to Professor Juniper and not the flighty rival he remembered from his playthrough of Pokémon Black as a kid.

  Harper pushed his concern away with a shake of his head, deciding to let future him worry about it when the time came.

  He watched as Zorro and Eve hopped off their seats, their tails wagging as they trotted toward the group.

  “We’re done with our makeup!” Eve chirped, twirling in place before striking a playful pose.

  Harper appreciated Eve’s enthusiasm, watching as Claire clapped in delight and Caleb gave an approving nod. Layla chuckled, brushing off her hands as she stepped back to admire their work.

  “You two look fantastic as always,” She said, placing her hands on her hips. “You’re all set for the final episode!”

  “We’re actually doing the last episode…” Zorro breathed out in almost reluctant amazement.

  Eve nudged herself beside him, fluffing her fur. “We’ll do our best!”

  Claire turned toward Harper and Beartic, waving them over by the door. “Come on! We need to head to the soundstage before Director Pokélsky comes looking for us!”

  “Race you there!” Caleb suddenly exclaimed as he rushed past her, closing the door behind him.

  “Hey, no fair!” Claire shouted as she held the door open for Zorro and Eve before catching up to him.

  Harper gave Beartic a sidelong glance. “Guess that means no more sitting around.”

  Beartic let out a dramatic sigh, stretching his arms as he stood. “So much for a peaceful break.” Despite his words, a smirk tugged at his muzzle. “Let’s go, kid. Time to wrap this up.”

  As they made their way to the soundstage, the weight of the moment settled on Harper’s shoulders. This was it—the final episode. The culmination of their work, their effort, and all the moments shared on and off set. Despite the lingering nerves, he felt ready. More than that, he felt grateful.

  In the Tundra Guild lobby, the chatter of teams gearing up for missions made the air feel alive. Pepper and Hazel stood side by side at the mission board as they scanned the array of posters. Hazel’s bright eyes were fixed on a request for help from a family of sewaddle, her tail wagging faintly. Pepper, meanwhile, tilted his head toward a different poster, his ears perked with interest.

  “Look, Pepper! This family of sewaddle needs help finding a safe place to live! We’d be perfect for the job!” Hazel’s voice carried a note of excitement as she flicked her tail toward the poster.

  Pepper’s mouth curled into a grin, and he nudged the board with his paw, pointing at another job. “Or… we could check out this one. It’s in an unexplored part of the mountains near Sonamu Forest! Finally, a real adventure!”

  Hazel shook her head, her ears flattening slightly as she took a step closer to the board. “Pepper, we’re supposed to be helping others. It’s a big reason why I wanted to join the guild.”

  Pepper sighed with a puff of frustration. “But what’s wrong with a little fun? We could both use it,” He muttered, glancing at Hazel with an almost pleading look.

  Hazel stilled as she turned to face him, her tone grew firmer. “I want to take missions that make a difference, not just go exploring for the thrill of it.”

  Pepper’s eyes narrowed. “So, you’re saying my idea doesn’t matter? Just because it’s not some ‘serious’ mission?” He snapped, lifting his chin in defiance.

  Hazel straightened her posture. “No, I’m saying that we’re a team, and we should focus on things that actually help Pokémon. I… That’s… That’s what we’re here for, isn’t it?”

  “Maybe that’s… Maybe… Mr. Harper, can we do this again?”

  As soon as Harper signaled Celine to end filming, the film crew loosened up as lights adjusted, scripts flipped, and quiet murmurs filled the air. He watched as Zorro and Eve sat off to the side, not speaking despite the scene having gone well up to that point. There was an edge, a hesitance that clung to their performances.

  He decided not to address it outright and he instead crouched near Zorro, letting the quiet settle between them. The poochyena tensed up as Eve’s eyes darted between them as though considering whether to speak.

  |[Guilt]|

  All Harper sensed from Zorro was that he wronged him, but for what? The scene was perfect until he asked him to stop.

  “What’s the matter? You were doing great,” Harper said gently, tilting his head.

  “I…” Zorro let out a slow exhale, his tail curling slightly. “I hate being mean like this.”

  Eve's gaze lowered in solemn understanding, not saying a single word. The argument in the script was opening old memories for them, and even though they hadn't had an issue during rehearsal, being in front of a camera would certainly elevate their emotions. Harper distinctively remembered Brycen's advice to not bring up Zorro's past, knowing well of the aftermath from personal experience. Thanks to his conversation with Eve, he had a broad idea of how to alleviate his dispirited nature. He silently signaled the eevee to come closer to the two of them, and when she did, he focused on the poochyena.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  “You know, Eve felt unsure about this as well when we rehearsed this together,” Harper reassured.

  “Really?” Zorro turned his head to Eve, who nodded once at the poochyena.

  Harper hummed in response. “She’ll never explicitly say this, but she cares for you through the good or bad because the two of you are like siblings.”

  Zorro’s eyes rapidly darted back and forth between Harper and Eve before he slowly returned them back to him.

  “Remember, Eve knows that you don't mean what you say to her while filming. Do you mean what your lines tell you to say to her?”

  “Of course I don’t!” Zorro rapidly shook his head before recoiling in shame. “S-Sorry…”

  “Don’t be, you definitely wouldn’t feel that way,” Harper shook his head before giving him an encouraging nod. “Still, it looks like you knew the answer all along.”

  A few seconds passed where Zorro sat with his own thoughts until he eventually responded.

  “I… I guess I did…” He muttered. “T-Thanks, Mr. Harper. I think I can do this again.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Harper concluded. He stood up and turned to the Director’s line of sight and signaled to continue with a wave of his paw.

  “Harper says things are good! Let’s continue where we just cut!” Celine called out, clapping her hands together to refocus the crew.

  He turned to Zorro again, briefly talking with him again. “Remember, your emotions are what give your lines meaning, but they don’t affect the actor you’re saying them to, only the character they represent.”

  “O… Ok!” Zorro nodded with confidence.

  When Harper walked off the set, he watched as the film crew began moving again, finalizing details as Zorro and Eve steeled themselves to continue the scene.

  Scene 1, Take 3,” Someone announced before clapping the slate together.

  “Action!”

  Hazel straightened her posture. “No, I’m saying that we’re a team, and we should focus on things that actually help pokémon. That’s what we’re here for, isn’t it?”

  “Maybe that’s what you’re here for, Hazel,” Pepper scoffed. “I thought being a team meant going after what excites both of us, too.”

  Hazel’s gaze softened for a moment, but then she lowered her head, her ears pinning back. “Maybe we aren’t on the same page anymore, Pepper. Maybe… we can take these jobs separately,” she suggested, her voice quieter but resolute.

  Pepper froze, his bravado faltering as her words struck him. He glanced back at her, searching her expression for any hint of hesitation, but Hazel’s stance remained firm, her eyes unwavering.

  “Fine. If that’s how you feel,” He growled slowly.

  The tension between them lingered like a thick cloud as they stood there in silence. Around them, other guild members exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the shift between the normally inseparable duo.

  Finally, Pepper stepped forward, snatching a job poster from the board with a flick of his paw. His steps were brisk as Hazel watched him walk away, her expression briefly softening, but she quickly turned back to the board, grabbing her own mission poster.

  “I can complete this by myself… I know it.” She whispered as she clutched the paper tightly.

  With a final glance at the mission board, the two members of Team Horizon walked off in opposite directions. The lively chatter of the guild seemed to waver as their steps echoed down separate hallways.

  The rest of their final day of filming continued with little issue. Thanks to Harper’s advice and Eve’s encouragement, Zorro overcame his insecurity and performed the best he had yet. From the scenes with Beartic and Zorro, Harper and Eve, and to when they acted alone, no filming had ended prematurely again.

  The plot of the final episode continued like how most children’s media did, where partners split before realizing they needed each other to play off of their own strengths and weaknesses.

  On one of the cameras, Harper and Celine watched the recording of one of the earlier scenes they filmed, checking for any missing details before moving on.

  “Hazel… I’m sorry for saying all that mean stuff to you earlier today. I didn’t really mean it.” Zorro said in character, remorsed.

  Eve gazed up at the poochyena, teary-eyed like how she did during training. "I'm also sorry for saying that we had to split up. We shouldn't have done that."

  The two briefly stand in silence as their body shifts into a more confident stance, with Pepper quickly wiping his eyes.

  “How about we find a job that’s both helpful and a little adventurous next time?” Zorro suggested, keeping his cheerfulness up. “I think we’d do better… together.”

  “Agreed,” Eve sniffed, smiling as the two looked at each other.

  “Wow! This is the best I’ve ever seen them!” Celine commented in amazement. “I can understand them by their body language alone.”

  *Is that scene good to go, then?* Harper wrote.

  “Sure does! Now we just have one more to do!” The Director declared before turning to everyone in the soundstage. “Alright! Let's take ten for a break before we film the final scene!”

  As the film crew relaxed, engaging in casual conversations with one another, Harper noticed Zorro and Eve letting out deep sighs of relief. Just as he was about to make his way over to them, Beartic placed a paw on his head, holding him back.

  “You’ve done great with them, but it’s my turn now,” The Ice-type playfully beamed, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “I’ve got my own method to cheer them up.”

  Before Harper could say anything back, Beartic grabbed him and dropped him in a nearby seat before entering the set, sneaking behind Zorro and Eve.

  “Hey! Don't be so mopey on our final day!” He barked, startling the two young pokémon. Before they could react, he suddenly scooped them up and placed them on each of his shoulders. “Who's up to learn Fly?”

  The unexpected turn of events lifted their spirits, sending them into fits of laughter and cheers as Beartic swiftly navigated the set, skillfully avoiding crew members and equipment scattered in his way.

  “Hey, Mr. Harper?”

  Harper turned to see Caleb take a seat beside him on an empty wooden box. After the boy adjusted his makeshift seat, he joined in watching Beartic play with the poochyena and eevee.

  “I wanted to ask you something while Claire was off my back,” He pointed a thumb behind him, where his twin sister was engaged in a conversation with Brycen and Bianca.

  *What is it?* Harper flipped his whiteboard over.

  Caleb nervously fidgeted with his fingers. “Well… It’s— Um…”

  Harper leaned in, his ears twitching slightly.

  The boy soon steeled himself and bowed his head to him, blurting out his question. “Can you join me when I become a Pokémon Trainer?”

  ~What?~ Harper raised an eye.

  “You can keep training Zorro when I start!” Caleb rushed to explain, his words tumbling out in excitement. “He’s so much stronger now than when he was before we met you. If you joined us, we could be the next Champion of Unova!”

  Harper stopped himself from sighing in front of Caleb, instead writing his unchanging answer down and showing him.

  *Sorry, but I don't want to leave Pokéstar Studios.*

  “Oh…” Caleb mumbled, his shoulders slumping. “But how am I going to get stronger without the best sparring Pokémon ever?”

  That warmed Harper’s heart, but the twin brother needed to know that their battles couldn't go on forever.

  *I’m not the only reason why Zorro’s gotten stronger.* Harper scribbled before erasing the sentence and writing two large words.

  *It’s you.*

  “Me?” Caleb blinked, pointing at himself.

  *Remember when you hesitated whenever I hit Zorro in our first battle?*

  “Too well…” Caleb pouted, rubbing his shoulder at the memory.

  *Do you remember the last time you made that mistake again?*

  “I—” He raised an index finger before it dropped down. “I don't remember…”

  *How about your non-verbal communication?*

  “We’re getting better at it, bu—”

  Harper stopped Caleb’s sentence with a paw. *You'll continue to get better even after you leave Pokéstar.*

  “But what if I fail at my first Gym? What if I fail before it?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Harper’s expression softened. *Because of what Zorro told me.*

  “What did he tell you?”

  *His dream is to become strong enough to take you anywhere you want without being scared.*

  “It… It is?” Caleb whispered, his gaze drifting over to Zorro, who was now sprawled on top of Beartic’s head, giggling.

  *Don't be scared to start your journey without me. Besides, you have Claire and Eve, right?*

  “I know that, but I would win every battle ever if you came with me!” He tried to refute.

  *Winning isn’t everything. Losing teaches you just as much as winning does.*

  Caleb huffed, resting his foot on his leg and tapping on it with a finger. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But having you around would make it easier."

  *If it were easy all the time, it wouldn't make you strong.*

  Caleb sat quietly for a moment, staring at the playful chaos Beartic was causing with Zorro and Eve. The laughter ringing through the set made his lips twitch into a small smile.

  “I guess you’re right,” he sighed, finally looking back at Harper. “It won’t be the same without you, though.”

  *We still have time together before the show is completed.*

  *It’s not like you're going to leave as soon as filming ends.*

  Caleb let the words sink in before nodding. “Yeah… that's true…”

  Just then, Claire called out from across the set, waving at him. “Caleb! Come on, Ms. Pokélsky wants to tell everyone something!”

  “Alright, alright!” He sighed dramatically before standing up, offering Harper one last grin. “When I become a Pokémon Trainer, I’ll win against you, but only if I don't beat you during sparring before I leave!”

  After Caleb hurried on his way, Harper leaned back into his seat, exhaling to himself.

  ~Thank God I didn’t mess that up,~ He brought a paw to his face, dragging it down.

  How many times had it been now that he gave advice to the twins and their pokémon? With how many times his words helped them in times of need, it slightly unnerved him.

  Was he better at this than he originally thought?

  Not wanting to raise his own ego, Harper sat up and made his way to where the rest of the film crew and pokémon actor extras had gathered around Celine. He saw Brycen and Bianca together near the center, where the Director had placed herself. Beartic stood behind them, towering over everyone else, letting Zorro and Eve jump off his shoulders to sit in their trainers’ arms. Harper weaved his way around the crew members until he arrived next to the polar bear.

  “What’s going on?” Harper asked Beartic.

  “Director’s got some pre-final words for our last day,” He answered, crossing his arms. “I guess she couldn’t wait to give thanks before we even finished this last scene.”

  The crowd’s murmur died down when Celine brought a wooden box in front of her and took a step forward on it, now taller than everyone beside Beartic. With a cough to clear her throat, she began to speak aloud.

  "Everyone! We're finally in the final stretch of filming this show!" She announced as a few people clapped and cheered. "I just want to thank you all for all the hard work you have put into this project. I know how different this typically is to other films we make here in Pokéstar, but we are making something truly spectacular here thanks to the tremendous efforts of one pokémon," She began to observe the area around her. "Speaking of, where is he?"

  Without any warning, Beartic picked Harper up onto his shoulder, waving to grab Celine's attention. She quickly spotted them out and waved towards them as she continued to talk.

  “Thanks to Harper, production was able to work! He’s gone above and beyond with not only helping our new stars alongside Brycen’s Ace, Beartic, but also checking every single piece of dialogue we have recorded so they were as authentic as they could be for pokémon viewers as well! Can we give him a huge round of applause?”

  In a split second, the soundstage erupted into a cacophony of absolute ovation. Harper felt his cheeks blush as the cheers and clapping continued, the loudest coming from the twins, their pokémon, and Bianca.

  “You did good, kid,” Beartic grinned, tilting his head up. “Celine was right about everything. The show only worked because of you.”

  “It also worked thanks to everyone else here,” Harper added, scratching the back of his head shyly. “I only helped whenever I could.”

  “Oh, you know what I mean,” the Ice-type scoffed in amusement, rolling his eyes playfully. “I can only imagine where your literacy is going to take Pokéstar Studios from here on.”

  For the first time, Harper’s foreknowledge of knowing how to write didn’t feel as if he were lying to everyone. Despite how he lied about his past to everyone, it still brought everyone together to make this show. He didn’t know what to expect of the future, but with his plan to reveal himself to Beartic and Brycen, he at least knew that it was going to be alright.

  When the applause finally died down, Celine hopped off of her equivalent of a soap box. “Now, let’s get this final scene over with!”

  “Our final scene in this show together,” Beartic murmured, folding his arms as he gazed over the set. “Let’s make the most out of this one.”

  “We sure will,” Harper nodded firmly, determination gleaming in his eyes.

  The sky was still tinged with darkness, the first hints of dawn barely creeping over the horizon. Outside the entrance of the Tundra Guild, Team Horizon stood alongside Tundra and Luca, the cold morning air surrounding them. They were gathered for a farewell, the weight of departure settling in.

  Pepper’s paws trembled slightly as he wiped at his eyes, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. His voice wavered as he looked toward the departing figures.

  “Are… you two really leaving?” He murmured, his ears drooping. “It felt like such a short time…”

  “It feels just like yesterday ever since you first set off with Hazel and your friend here, hasn’t it?” The Narrator reminisced. “You’ve been through so much together—exploring new places, helping pokémon in need, and learning what it truly means to be part of a team.”

  As the words echoed, the world around them seemed to shift. Like a vivid memory, their journey unfolded, showcasing all the pokémon that Team Horizon had helped.

  Across Sonamu Town’s lively square, Twig the pansage, Wave the panpour, and Blaze the pansear laughed and played together by the fountain, their past feud nothing more than a distant memory. Nearby townsfolk smiled at the sight, relieved to see harmony restored.

  Inside the Audino Medical Center, Pilf the scraggy busied himself at the front desk, happily assisting incoming pokémon. Behind him, Ivy the audino carefully applied a bandage to a patient, exchanging a pleased greeting with Pilf as they worked in seamless rhythm.

  Beneath the vast night sky, Ranni the gothitelle stood within her observatory, her eyes fixated on the telescope before sketching the vague shape of a distant star. A quiet sense of peace washed over her as she admired the twinkling constellations through the glass dome above.

  At Sonamu Museum, Talon the archeops guided a group of young, eager pokémon through an exhibit, his wings gesturing animatedly toward the towering fossil of a tyrantrum. The children’s eyes widened with amazement as he unraveled the ancient pokémon’s history with excitement.

  On the grand stage of Unfezant Theater, Feathershaw the unfezant listened attentively to Lumi the litwick as they discussed stage lighting. Lumi flickered slightly, explaining where the lights would fit best for each scene, while Feathershaw nodded in understanding.

  Within the Mienshao Dojo, Lin the mienshao demonstrated precise movements to a class of Fighting-type students, her keen eyes watching as they attempted to mimic her form. Walking through the rows, she adjusted their footing and posture with expert precision.

  At the lakeside of Sonamu Forest, Nikki the jolteon, Amber the flareon, and Raine the vaporeon enjoyed their time together. Amber lounged on the warm sand, watching as Raine glided effortlessly through the water. Nikki playfully leaped from a boulder and cannonballed into the lake—only to accidentally send a jolt of electricity through the water. Raine surfaced, giving a mock scowl, while Nikki offered an embarrassed smirk. Amber chuckled at the scene, amused by their antics.

  A short distance away, Beaverly the bibarel wiped the sweat from his brow, surveying the sturdy dam he had just finished reinforcing. With a satisfied nod, he stepped back, finally able to relax.

  The memory-like visions faded, returning the scene to the guild’s entrance, where the morning light had brightened slightly.

  “All of these Pokémon,” The Narrator mused with soft certainty. “I’m sure that Team Horizon can do great even after our departure.”

  Tundra steadily nodded in agreement. “They’re right, Team Horizon. You’ve accomplished so much ever since your friend joined your team. They won’t be leaving forever. We’ll see them again.”

  Hazel’s ears perked up, hope flickering in her eyes. “R-Really?” She softly asked.

  Luca gave a firm nod. “The friendship you have made will last forever. Time and distance will do nothing to break it.”

  Pepper turned toward the Viewer, determination shining through his lingering sadness. “I’ll never forget the adventures we had together!” He called out. “You’ll always be a member of Team Horizon, no matter what!”

  Hazel stepped forward, lifting her head with newfound confidence. “Team Horizon will always shine another day!” She declared.

  Together, they all raised their paws, waving as the Viewer walked down the stone steps alongside the unseen Narrator.

  As the town stretched before them, the Narrator’s voice spoke once more.

  “A world only inhabited by pokémon is a wonderful place to be, isn’t it?” They asked.

  When the Viewer responded, the Narrator continued to speak.

  “I’m glad that you have learned so much with the time you spent with Pepper and Hazel in the Tundra Guild. Thank you for being such a good friend and ally for Team Horizon.”

  The sun began to rise, its golden light casting over Sonamu Town and the towering red pine at its heart.

  With how much bigger it is, I want to post it into separate chapters with one per episode. I'll still post the full thing in a single chapter here, but I'll make an entirely new fic (on Ao3 and PMDFF) to post there as well for easier readability. More on that when the time comes.