Chapter 253:
While everyone breathed a sigh of relief and turned their attention to Jirachi, Hayashi Kaede looked toward Victini.
"Vic… ni…?" (Do I have to go back now?)
Feeling the summoning force from the golden ring stir again, Victini fidgeted uneasily.
"Yes. Once Jirachi falls asleep, you'll be summoned back" Hayashi Kaede nodded, glancing at the path of the Millennium Comet with quiet reassurance. He pulled out a Capsule and asked, "Would you like to come back here again?"
"Vic… ni…"
Victini looked up at Jirachi in the sky, then at Mew, and finally at the golden ring. Its expression turned conflicted.
It wanted to come back. Here were its friends—and the human who gave it delicious cookies every day.
But… it couldn't. It didn't even know how to return.
This inner struggle made it hug itself, looking helplessly at Hayashi Kaede.
"It's alright" Hayashi Kaede said gently. "The drink is a Dream Drink—it's best to finish it back in Eindoak Town. But remember this: dreams are pleasant, yet don't lose yourself in them."
"Indulging too deeply in dreams is dangerous."
He held up the storage capsule. "And this is made from our Eastova Region. I've filled it with the cookies I made. Just tap it lightly like this, and a sealed package will come out."
He demonstrated patiently.
"I've packed quite a few inside. If you ration them, they should last you a long time."
"And also…"
Hayashi Kaede wanted to continue, but Victini was already looking at him with tearful eyes.
"Alright, alright, I won't say more."
He placed the storage capsule in Victini's hands, a faint sadness flickering in his eyes.
Though Victini had only stayed at the Breeding House for two days, he had grown fond of the little one in that short time.
From now on, Victini would likely wait in Eindoak Town—for Ash to arrive, perhaps.
He wondered idly if it would still sneak cookies from Ash, too.
"Vic… ni…"
Victini looked down at the Capsule, unable to speak.
At that moment, the Millennium Comet reached the end of its arc across the sky.
Jirachi, now fully infused with its energy, opened its eyes—and the first thing it saw was Mew floating nearby.
"Mew?" (You're awake?)
Mew's eyes lit up.
"Jirachi…"
Jirachi reached out, touching Mew gently. Drowsiness was already washing over it.
But before it drifted off, it leaned closer and whispered softly, "Jirachi…"
"Mew…" (I understand.)
Mew nodded, then said with a tender smile, "Kaede said you'll be able to enter dreams now. You have to visit mine often, alright?"
"Jirachi!" (Mm-hmm!)
Jirachi hugged Mew, nodding eagerly.
"Mew…" (When you do, I'll take you wherever you want to go. There are still so many incredible Pokémon you haven't seen yet.)
Mew rambled on, already imagining their adventures to come.
Jirachi listened quietly, its eyelids growing heavier. Then it reached out to pat Mew's head.
"Jirachi…" (One year will pass quickly. When I wake up, we'll find Victini together—and then explore the world, meeting more and more Pokémon.)
Hope filled Jirachi's heart.
It could hardly imagine what awaited it after waking—how many places it would visit, how many friends it would meet.
Then, it turned toward Hayashi Kaede and drifted down gently.
"Kaede… I'm getting a little sleepy."
"Mm, I know."
Hayashi Kaede watched Jirachi's eyelids droop and nodded softly.
"I've been… really happy… these seven days… You made so many delicious things for me…"
"Good kid. When you wake up, I'll make you even more."
He patted Jirachi's small body affectionately.
"Jirachi… Is Megumi leaving tomorrow?"
Jirachi's thoughts were hazy—it hardly knew what it was saying.
But Hayashi Kaede still replied, "Yes. She said she's leaving in the morning."
"I didn't get to say goodbye… I really wanted to go with her… to see the outside world…"
"It's alright. Visit her in her dreams tonight. And check in often—see what she's been up to through her dreams."
"Everyone… don't miss me too much… I'll visit your dreams often…"
The Millennium Comet bathed the night sky in silver light. The moon hung faintly visible, its glow soft and wistful.
In that gentle exchange, Jirachi's body gradually turned into a smooth, round stone. It floated upward briefly, then drifted down and nestled quietly into the earth.
At the same time, Victini felt the pull from the golden ring.
Under everyone's gaze, both Victini and the ring vanished in a flash of golden light.
Where Jirachi had settled, waves of emerald energy rippled outward, expanding in gentle circles.
It was as though the earth itself had awakened.
The withered flowers in the garden—those that had nearly faded—bloomed once more.
The fruit trees in the plantation, their fruit still green, began ripening at an astonishing pace.
And it wasn't just Hayashi Kaede's Berry Plantation.
Throughout Aogiri Town, in home gardens, farmland, and even wild berry patches, plants flourished all at once.
Perhaps the effect extended even farther—to the Shoshu Province, or maybe the entire Eastova Region.
By morning, countless farmers would awaken to find their crops ripened ahead of season—a miraculous early harvest.
Back in the garden, silence lingered.
Every Pokémon's gaze was fixed on the spot where Jirachi had vanished—remembering the little friend who had once handed out gifts with joy.
But the quiet was soon broken by a familiar, lively voice.
"Kaede~!"
Hayashi Kaede turned to see Takagi Megumi running from the direction of the Breeding House.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
The girl stopped short when she saw everyone's solemn faces. The usual warmth at mealtime was gone.
"Um… I just came to say goodbye. I'm leaving tomorrow morning and might not have time then." She glanced around. "By the way, where's Jirachi?"
"It went to sleep" Hayashi Kaede answered simply.
"Ah, what a pity! Why did it go to sleep so early… Then please tell it for me—I'll come play with it when I get back!"
Sensing the heavy air, Megumi decided not to linger. She waved quickly and left.
Hayashi Kaede watched her go, then turned back to his Pokémon. "Alright, everyone, time for bed. Let's see whose dream Jirachi visits tonight~"
"Mew!" (Sleep, sleep! Let's go find it!)
Mew zipped toward the house, followed by Alolan Vulpix and the Eevees.
Then Serperior, Steenee, and the others.
Only Blaziken remained at the table, staring at the unfinished rice balls.
"Alright, alright. I'll stay with you" Hayashi Kaede said, sitting beside it. "Finish eating first—then sleep."
"Blaziken…"
---
Eindoak Town
Victini reappeared through the portal, looking up at the fading gateway. Instinctively, it reached for the fading portal—then realized it was still holding a drink and the storage capsule.
Victini looked at the drink, then the storage capsule.
Flying to the highest point of the kingdom, Victini gazed out over the sparkling lights of Eindoak Town.
Victini remembered Hayashi Kaede's words, but it's longing for the old King still ached in its chest.
"Vic… ni…"
Finally, Victini drank the Dream Drink. As the lights of the town dimmed, Victini drifted into a deep sleep.
Days turned to nights.
Children's laughter, the cries of Pokémon, the sounds of merchants and rushing wind—none of it reached its dreams.
Victini face softened with joy, a few tears sliding down its cheeks.
Over time, Victini expression shifted—from happiness, to melancholy, to confusion, and finally, to peace.
At last, Victini opened its eyes.
Victini vision was hazy, snowflakes falling gently around it. The faint chill stirred Victini inner fire, melting the snow from its fur.
"Vic… ni…"
Victini brushed away its tears and took out a cookie from the storage capsule, nibbling it quietly.
When Victini finished, it floated up, wandered aimlessly for a while, then stopped before one of Eindoak Town's guardian pillars.
Gathering energy, Victini formed a massive V-shaped fireball and launched it at the pillar.
BOOM!
The stone shattered with a deep rumble.
Cautiously, Victini reached out—and felt nothing blocking it anymore. The barrier was gone.
Victini turned once more toward the tranquil Eindoak Town below, its eyes filled with longing.
Then, it soared into the sky.
Victini didn't know how long it had slept.
But she knew one thing:
It was time to stop dreaming—and to begin anew.