"Ah, it's still nice to have a sunny day. Now that we've taken care of things, it's time to head back." Yagen stretched his stiff body with open arms and looked at the sun hanging high in the sky.
"Yes." Summer petted the head of the mischievous Perrin beside him, while Hatterene and Ursaluna slowly walked towards him.
"Um." A cold voice echoed in their ears.
A girl who resembled Shulan held a pale purple flower and floated above the snow. Her lower body was ethereal, and behind her were similarly ghostly human and Pokémon figures.
"Are you... weren't you transformed into Pokémon?" Yagen was a bit surprised.
"No, to be precise, they were born from our resentment and will. Our remaining consciousness guides their actions, but as time passes, we will eventually disappear."
"So, we are truly grateful to you for letting us see the end of this blizzard before we vanish." The girl bowed deeply with gratitude.
A tall, sturdy man and a slightly plump woman appeared behind her, placing their hands on her shoulders and bowing with the same gratitude.
An elderly man with a cane, a smiling child, Pokémon mimicking human gestures of thanks, and various people all showed relieved expressions as their figures gradually faded and disappeared on the spot.
The ghost Pokémon that had fallen on the snow suddenly woke up, their eyes full of confusion.
They felt the warm sunlight and then headed towards the vast snowy field without looking back. Ghost-type Pokémon don't like sunlight, after all.
"And thank you for saving Shulan, Summer." The girl bowed twice more. "And thank you for taking care of Shulan, Yagen."
The man and woman's figures dissipated, and the girl's figure gradually became transparent.
"Ah, it seems my time is short. Please tell her that no matter what, her mom, dad, and sister will always love her and want her to live a healthy life."
"We will," Summer nodded.
"Definitely. And I'll teach her to do meaningful things, don't worry." Yagen patted his chest in assurance.
The girl smiled like the sunlight shining on Glaseado Mountain and softly said, "Please forgive me for one last selfish request. Could you give this flower to Shulan? It's a flower that shares her name, able to bloom even on the harsh Glaseado Mountain."
The girl's figure completely disappeared, and the purple Shulan flower gently floated in the air, wrapped in a blue light, flying into Yagen's hand.
"Haha, being thanked by the dead is quite an unusual experience, don't you think, Summer?" Yagen tightly gripped the flower.
"Ah, yes." Summer said, watching the departing Froslass.
"Humans can create disasters like the Treasures of Ruin, but there are also meddlesome Aura Guardians like the old man." Yagen kicked the snow on the ground.
Then, he suddenly asked, "Hey, will our good deeds be remembered?"
"Who knows? But I think doing what we believe is meaningful is enough," Summer replied. It was this belief that made him risk defeating the Treasures of Ruin.
"When you get back, thoroughly research the Treasures of Ruin. I'll prepare a genius-level seal," Yagen said, looking at Summer. "Only someone like you can break the seal and guide them correctly."
"I remember you saying to live in the moment. Why the sudden concern for the future?" Summer teased with a smile.
"Really, Summer, why do you have such a good memory?!" Yagen retorted, then suddenly seemed a bit nervous. "This is my first lesson to my disciple. It has to be perfect!"
"Alright, it's really time to go back now. At least in my lifetime, Paldea was a peaceful place."
With that, Summer led the Pokémon down the mountain, while Yagen showed a thoughtful expression. Was this an excellent form of sealing?
In the disaster refugee camp, everyone rejoiced upon hearing that the Treasures of Ruin had been defeated and the blizzard had stopped, except Shulan. She clenched the flower in her hand, tears streaming down her face.
"I will, Mom, Dad, Sister."
Blurry eyes, clear memories, a gentle sister smiling and dancing in the snow, expressing her wish.
"Shulan, sister is going on a journey. Though I love the white snow, I heard from traveling merchants that there are many beautiful places in the world. I really want to see them!"
"Maybe I'll even meet a cute Pokémon. Then our whole family can leave this snowy mountain and enjoy the world's beauty together!"
My dream is for my sister's dream to come true. But she's gone... and I want to fulfill her dream. So, I...
Shulan wiped her tears, trying to appear stronger, and sincerely requested the two:
"Summer! Yagen! Can I leave with you? I promise I won't cause any trouble. I'll learn anything!"
"I want to fulfill my sister's dream. I want to see the world's beauty for her!"
"Sure."
Shulan looked incredulous. Yagen actually agreed to her request so easily.
"But let me say this first: I'm strict, and you'll have to learn a lot with me. Can you handle it?" Yagen asked seriously.
"Of course!" Shulan responded immediately, her voice tinged with tears.
"Good, very spirited. After all, Aura is a force of spirit, you know?" Yagen knelt and touched Shulan's forehead with his finger.
Shulan suddenly noticed a faint blue light emanating from her, while the man before her glowed brightly blue, and Summer even more strangely, with a lush green light.
The refugees looked envious. Following a Pokémon emissary who defeated the Treasures of Ruin meant a bright future.
"Hey, good talent," Yagen smiled, then leaped onto Wyrdeer's back. "From now on, call me Master. Now, let's go."
Shulan was a bit puzzled that they were leaving so abruptly but quickly followed Wyrdeer's steps, turning to thank the refugees for their care after about ten meters.
Summer waved goodbye from the crowd. His and his Pokémon's figures gradually blurred and disappeared.
"Master, Summer...! Summer!" Shulan called out helplessly.
"Don't worry, he's not dead. He just returned to his original time," Yagen paused. "Still, it's a pity. He was a good friend."
At Lake of Mists, Summer opened his eyes to find a pouting Milotic, who was unusually angry because it wasn't brought along in the time-space distortion.
"It wasn't intentional, Milotic. The time-space distortion was too sudden," Summer apologized, taking out a feather glowing with moonlight. "Here, a Crescent Feather, to give you sweet dreams."
Milotic's expression instantly turned joyful. Its sleep quality would improve again.
Summer nodded. In fact, he had several Crescent Feathers, all gifts from Yagen.
"Take them, Summer. You deserve to be accompanied by sweet dreams. You wouldn't refuse my gratitude, would you?"
Faced with such warm words, Summer couldn't refuse. Sorry, Cresselia, for the trouble.
In the city by the desert, the market flourished again after the suppression of the Treasures of Ruin, but the streets were filled with wanted posters.
"Master, we're still wanted. We can't stay long," Shulan, wearing a cloak, said nervously.
"Tch, that fool tried to control the power of the Treasures of Ruin. Blowing up half his palace was merciful." Yagen said nonchalantly.
"Besides, I bragged to Summer that no one could stop me from sealing the Treasures of Ruin!" he said, then asked Shulan, "What's the principle of the sealing technique?"
"Energy counteraction, using the natural environment to suppress the Treasures of Ruin's energy."
"Right. Lush forests suppress earth, poisonous swamps suppress plants, solid rock mountains suppress frost, and flowing streams suppress fire."
Yagen said, planting an iron pillar and infusing it with his Aura, smiling. "Alright, the Treasures of Ruin's seal is complete."
"But, Master, is it really okay to bury the seal in the city?" Shulan asked.
"No problem. Only someone without evil intentions and in sync with Pokémon can break the seal. Someone like that fool king can give it all he's got, haha!"