At the same time, by a stretch of coastline.
A woman dressed head to toe in black, with a wide-brimmed black sunhat veiled in silk, walked along the beach.
At her side floated a pink Pokémon.
"This continent will do."
Cogita tilted her chin slightly, gazing at the lush forest in the distance.
This was no longer Hisui, the land she once resided in. Crawling along the sands were many Pokémon she had never seen before.
After Elias left, she had wandered with Tornadus, circling through many lands.
After so much wandering, in the end she had chosen to settle here—where the climate was relatively gentle.
One could call it… the start of her new life.
Just as she thought that, Tornadus drifted closer, making hand gestures as it spoke.
[The flowers and grasses back in Hisui… it feels like someone's moved them.]
As the guardian of spring, even across long distances it still retained a faint sense for the plants near its home.
Cogita only nodded lightly, unconcerned.
"It must be Irida, helping to tidy the cabin again. Pay it no mind."
She did not want to linger on too much from Hisui.
It would only make her recall events from years ago.
Precisely for that reason, apart from the items Elias had once given her, she had brought nothing else from that house.
"Come on, let's see whether this new land has somewhere fit to call home."
She beckoned Tornadus, stepping forward first into the depths of the continent.
...
Meanwhile, Elias had already returned with his Pokémon to the Pearl Clan.
"So… going back to the modern era has to be delayed a few days?"
Irida scratched her head, confirming with him.
Palina sat beside her, tagging along to listen.
"Mm. I still have a few things to take care of over the next two days."
Elias nodded in reply.
Though simulations lasted a long time inside, in reality they were no more than a day or two.
Irida wouldn't be waiting too long.
Hearing this, Irida didn't press further.
It was natural Elias had his secrets—she would never pry.
Besides, she had already waited so long; two or three more days made little difference.
It even gave her time to rearrange matters in the clan, ensuring that while she was away, things would continue to run smoothly.
She parted her lips, about to ask Elias whether there was anything she could help with—
But Palina, sitting next to her, had already beaten her to it.
Irida puffed her cheeks a little at that.
Both were her childhood companions, both among the people dearest to her.
And yet… something about it felt oddly off.
"Palina, don't you need to return to the Cobalt Coastlands?"
After a pause, Irida asked.
As expected, the answer was no.
Unlike other wardens, Palina had no "noble" Pokémon to care for.
Her two Growlithe could be carried with her.
And the Coastlands themselves were remote, so there was no urgency.
For a moment, Irida even thought—it might have been better if Palina had been chosen as leader back then.
After leaving Irida, Elias made his way back to his own room in the clan.
"Gardevoir, I'll leave the others to you."
He rubbed her head, speaking warmly.
Among his team—Latias was too careless, Zoroark too impulsive, Mewtwo lacking in daily-life experience.
Lucario and Gengar, while capable, weren't strong enough.
And Mew… well, that went without saying.
So, all in all, entrusting the others to Gardevoir when he was gone gave him the most peace of mind.
"Garde~"
She nodded obediently.
But then—
As if struck by a thought, her pale cheeks suddenly flushed with red.
She pointed toward the sky, saying nothing.
Elias followed her gaze.
It was already dusk—night wasn't far off.
And paired with her expression, he realized what she wanted.
His own heart stirred in turn.
And with the system's deadline—before midnight tomorrow...
There was no need to rush just yet.
Meeting Gardevoir's expectant eyes, he gave a slight nod.
Her eyes lit up instantly, her look like that of a kitten finding prey.
Rubbing lightly against his leg, she stepped away, satisfied, padding off with a spring in her step.
That night, as agreed, the other Pokémon were sent off to various rooms under different pretexts.
Only…
Mew quietly unlatched a window, slipping out while no one noticed.
Elias and Gardevoir definitely had a secret they were keeping from her!
As the clever ancestor of Pokémon, Mew trusted her instincts.
She flew straight toward Elias's room.
But then—her body froze.
A strange heat spread up her face, painting it scarlet.
Pokémon hearing was sharp. She… she thought she was hearing strange sounds.
She had lived for a long time.
Though she acted childish, she had seen plenty—
Far more than that idiot Mewtwo, who didn't understand anything.
For once, Mew had no mood to play.
She crept toward the window, carefully peeking her head inside.
Her round eyes instantly widened.
Heat rose to her face like she was being cooked alive.
She knew Gardevoir had a secret.
After a brief daze, Mew clenched her little fists.
The others haven't even gotten a taste of soup—yet she's already eating meat!
"What are you doing?"
Just as Mew pressed her paws over her eyes, watching through the cracks in her fingers, a voice spoke from behind.
Her whole body jolted. She spun around quickly, pressing her paw over the speaker's mouth.
It was Mewtwo.
Seeing Mew sneak out, she had followed.
"Mew~ (Shhh, keep your voice down, don't let them notice.)"
Mew whispered urgently.
Mewtwo frowned slightly.
But seeing Mew so uncharacteristically serious, she nodded in agreement.
---
T/N: SEGGS