Chapter 718: Home
When a touch of green entered Kazuya's sight, he thought he had already returned to the surface, his heart still marveling at how short the journey back was.
But when an Aerodactyl flew across the sky, in a brief moment of daze, Kazuya thought he had returned to that ancient grassland.
Coming back to his senses, he finally realized that he hadn't returned to the surface, but had arrived in a certain underground world.
"What is this place? Why are the trees here so tall and massive? It looks like this place is a bit far from the Allearth Forest." Volcanion hadn't yet realized where He was, turning His head to look at Diancie with a grin. "Diancie, do you not recognize the way yourself?"
"No! Big Brother, this is the underground world!" Diancie shook her head vigorously, then proudly put her hands on her hips, quite smug.
"Underground world?" Volcanion tilted His head in confusion.
Clack, clack...
Footsteps sounded nearby.
Volcanion turned around, only to see that Kazuya had already taken steps, heading in a certain direction. He hurriedly shouted: "Hey! Kazuya, where are you going?"
"Shh! Shh! Big Brother, don't yell here! The Pokemon living here are extremely irritable!" Diancie hurriedly hopped up and covered Volcanion's mouth with her hands.
Subsequently, she ran to the grass nearby and picked three small flowers. One was placed on Volcanion's head, one on her own crown, and she was preparing to put the last one on Kazuya too.
"Master, this..." Diancie approached holding the small flower.
"No need." Kazuya waved his hand casually, his gaze drifting forward.
He didn't know what lay ahead. But something there seemed to be calling out to him. Whether it was his body, his soul, or his heart and Aura, they were all urging Kazuya to hurry in that direction.
Someone important was waiting for him there.
Volcanion and Diancie exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes. They didn't understand what was going on with Kazuya, but they still quietly followed by his side.
Walking on the dense grass, Kazuya didn't feel tense because this was a dangerous underground world; instead, his heart felt incomparably cozy and relaxed.
That feeling was as if he had returned home.
Returned to a place where he would absolutely not be harmed.
Rustle, rustle~
The bushes nearby were being shifted.
Volcanion and Diancie both looked over nervously.
"Ke-dou?" A naive cry sounded.
Although Kazuya hadn't turned his head yet, a smile had already hung on his face. A small Pokemon drilled out from the bushes, looking as if it hadn't reached adulthood yet.
"What is that?"
"Cute."
Volcanion and Diancie's gazes were glued to that Pokemon, and the latter's eyes even sparkled with bright light.
"Shieldon," Kazuya muttered.
He looked at that Shieldon-kun, who was somewhat wary and scared facing the three of them. He slowly crouched down, and then reached out his hands to that child.
The small Shieldon was only 0.6 meters tall. Let alone compared to the ancient era, even in the magical beast era, it was far from reaching the average standard. This was a baby dragon that had just been born not long ago.
"Ke-dou?" Shieldon-kun froze for a moment, her gaze shifting to Kazuya's face.
Hesitation almost instantly filled those two big, cute eyes. After two seconds of inner struggle, she still slowly paced and approached Kazuya.
Shieldon carefully leaned in front of Kazuya, then gently sniffed his skirt with her nose.
Who knows if it was because she smelled a reassuring scent, but Shieldon actually ended up lying cozily on Kazuya's outstretched hands, letting him hold her in his embrace.
"As expected of you."
"As expected of Master."
Seeing this, the peanut gallery, Volcanion and Diancie, hurriedly raised their hands, shaking their heads and clapping. This terrifying affinity was simply appalling.
Kazuya ignored them. The reason why Shieldon came over so reassuringly, only he himself knew in this world.
"Why did a child like you run out all alone?" Kazuya reached out and rubbed Shieldon's short jaw.
The little guy immediately wagged her tail comfortably and kicked her legs. Shieldon couldn't understand; it was clearly her first time having such an experience, but why did it feel so familiar deep in her soul?
"Ke-dou..." Shieldon raised her head to look at Kazuya.
Her two chubby feet covered in dirt pressed against Kazuya's thighs, leaving dirty footprints on his pure white long dress. But Kazuya didn't mind at all, only gently stroking this naughty little dragon who had sneaked out.
"I'll take you home." Kazuya stood up holding Shieldon.
"Ke-dou~" Shieldon rubbed her head against Kazuya's chest, then turned to look in a certain direction.
That was where her herd was located.
Volcanion and Diancie didn't say anything, quietly following by Kazuya's side. No matter what Kazuya wanted to do, they only needed to accompany him.
Moving forward.
Stepping over grass, crossing flower fields.
At the moment they walked out of a certain forest, the scenery ahead suddenly opened up.
Sunlight from an unknown source reflected on a tranquil and peaceful open grassland. A herd of about thirty or forty Bastiodon was leisurely basking in the sunlight on this field.
In their guard, a tree trunk that pierced through the sky and earth of the underground world stood there quietly, radiating sunlight full of hope. Faintly visible in the sky of this world, one could still see a few lush leaves drifting leisurely with the wind.
"Ke-dou!" Upon seeing her family, Shieldon-kun immediately struggled and hopped to the ground, running towards the herd.
The Bastiodon turned their heads upon hearing the sound. While seeing Shieldon, they also saw Kazuya and the three Pokemon. For a moment, dozens of pairs of eyes fell on them.
"Hey! Kazuya, the situation doesn't look good."
"It's okay! We have the lucky flowers for protection! It will definitely be fine!"
Seeing the gaze of the Bastiodon clan focused on them, Volcanion and Diancie immediately became nervous and wanted to drag Kazuya away. But they found that Kazuya stood rooted to the spot like a post, motionless.
The two hurriedly turned their heads to look, and were immediately stunned.
A gentle breeze from an unknown source blew the green hair casually draped over his forehead, revealing the tear-filled red eyes beneath. The psychokinetic energy that had been keeping the long dress floating seemed to collapse from this breeze, unable to gather into its original form anymore.
There was no legendary miracle Sun Tree in this world.
Nor was there any coincidence that just happened to continue the Dragon Clan's spark.
There was only a great older sister who shouldered all responsibilities for her younger brother.
"Master..." Diancie's worried voice came. She stared blankly at Kazuya, not knowing what to do.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Volcanion's voice was also full of panic. It was His first time seeing such an expression on Kazuya's face.
"...So it was you." Kazuya, with tears in his eyes, pursed his lips and walked towards the giant tree.
Volcanion and Diancie hurriedly followed, not even caring about the row of giant beasts blocking the front.
The Bastiodon and Shieldon stood in place, watching Kazuya and the others approach. In the end, they actually unanimously made way for a path.
Kazuya's footsteps were very light, as if afraid of disturbing a fragile dream. He passed through the silent Bastiodon herd, as if passing through the river of time, returning to that grassland, returning to her side.
Finally, he stopped under the giant tree, shakily reaching out a hand, and gently pressed it against the rough bark.
The moment of touch.
The world seemed to mute at this moment.
An incomparably familiar and warm fluctuation surged through his palm into his limbs and bones, finally lingering in his heart for a long time without dissipating. That was a longing and love so intense it could almost instantly intoxicate someone.
All speculations, all senses.
At this moment, finally had a definite answer.
"So... you have always been using your own life to protect the Dragon Clan for me."
True sorrow is not wailing loudly, but a thunderous boom echoing in the silence of the heart. True parting is not urging a friend to drink one more cup of wine, but suddenly realizing on a perfectly normal afternoon that an important person has been left forever in yesterday.
Autumn leaves withered time and time again.
Time shifted year after year.
I am still here protecting them for you.
But I never expected, I would actually be fortunate enough to see you again.
It's like a miracle...
The giant tree was speechless. But a gentle breeze swept past, rustling the branches and leaves. A tender leaf fell from the sky, slowly landing on top of Kazuya's head, gently brushing past his hair.
The light surrounding the giant tree suddenly became incomparably soft and grand, yet not dazzling at all. Countless golden specks of light, like gentle fireflies, drifted down from between the branches and leaves, casting warm light and shadows on his face, also illuminating his freely flowing tears.
In a daze, a pair of hands formed of warm light gently wiped across his face, wiping away all the teardrops hanging there.
"I'm sorry..."
I'm sorry.
I didn't recognize you back then, and even turned and left without saying hello.
You must have been very sad.
"I'm sorry..."
Teardrops fell continuously from his face. The strength and composure he always maintained were destined to crumble in front of family.
Home.
Is never a certain place.
It's the person who, no matter what you've become, can recognize you, wait for you, and embrace you.
Spanning across sixty-four million years of time.
Kazuya and Florges finally saw each other again, returning to their own little home.
Volcanion and Diancie stood quietly behind Kazuya. Even though their hearts were full of doubts, they also understood that at this moment, silent companionship was the best choice.
The surrounding Bastiodon and Shieldon lowered their heads deeply, as if feeling gratified for this Sun Tree that had protected them for generations.
The gentle breeze continued, the branches and leaves rustled.
Forming a gentle lullaby.
The golden specks of light enveloped Kazuya and the giant tree, forming a cocoon of light like two hands clasped together. Scattered powder sprinkled from mid-air onto the top of Kazuya's head.
His consciousness began to grow drowsy.
Finally, just like back then, he gradually closed his eyes in his older sister's embrace, sweetly sinking into a deep sleep.
In the dream, there was everyone from the Dragon Clan.
In the dream, there was his naughty younger brother.
In the dream, there was the gentle Florges.
In the dream...
There was home.
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