Transcendence

Embracing

Two months had passed since the battle that almost unraveled everything. Lant hadn't forgotten the loss of Widford Town-news outlets continued their mournful coverage, tributes played daily, and conspiracy theories flooded the airwaves. Some said it was a meteor. Others, an angry Legendary. The wildest one? A Riolu with celestial rage and a halo.

None of them mentioned Alex. And that was exactly how he wanted it.

Thanks to his insistence, everyone agreed to credit the victory to a group effort. Team Charm, Victor, Caitlin, Floatzel, the soldiers, even Arlo and Felix-all were named heroes. Alex, the Lucario who'd defeated Darkrai and now Mewtwo and saved countless lives? The Savior. Not a word. Just the way he liked it.

Meanwhile, a different kind of shock rippled across the region-Lopunny from Team Charm and Floatzel were a couple. Apparently, it had been going on for a while, ever since Alex was deep in training with Mew. The news left Alex more relieved than confused.

"Thank the stars," he muttered one morning, staring at a headline that read: "Sea-Speedy Romance: Floatzel and Lopunny's Love Reaches Shoreline Heights!"

With one less romantic chaos to worry about, and his scars from the battle fading into memory, Alex had begun embracing life in Lant. He still shared a cozy flat with Arlo and Felix in Blackmere. The two were planning something special soon, but refused to say what.

Tea time, once a dreaded ritual, was now part of Alex's daily routine. He learned to appreciate the floral blends, the sugar cubes, the silence of the moment-even if he still calls biscuits as 'cookies'.

"Oi, don't burn yer gums again, mate," Arlo chuckled.

"That's the third cuppa you've downed like a nutter," Felix added.

Despite their teasing, Alex smiled more easily now. He had changed. A cheery, if slightly awkward, Lucario had replaced the emotionally-walled Riolu of old. He cracked jokes. He joined conversations. He sometimes offered to help old pokémon cross streets. And every so often, he even laughed.

But old habits died hard.

Whenever Bellamy entered the room, Alex would straighten up, stiffen slightly, and offer a sharp nod. He respected the Bellosom but hadn't forgotten the bruises of pride she inflicted.

Carly? Worse.

She would swagger in with that smug expression and always say something like, "Thought ya were above us all, didn't ya, Alex?"

Alex would grit his teeth, respond with a diplomatic, "Afternoon," and sip his tea.

"She's still not lettin' it go, is she?" Felix whispered once. "She'll come round," Arlo said. "Eventually."

Still, Alex kept his peace. He'd learned the hard way that life was too fragile to waste on grudges. Too short-lived to worry about the past.

Blackmere Town was no longer the dilapidated sprawl he remembered. Streets once full of grime were now lined with fresh storefronts and cozy cafés. Lampposts actually worked. Murals painted the walls. The economy flourished, and the air buzzed with hope.

Smartphones were everywhere now too.

"Oi, get on social media," Arlo said one night. "I think you'd go viral," Felix added. "You've got the tragic backstory and everything."

"I'd rather not," Alex chuckled shyly, pulling a blanket over his head. Remembering that time with Supermodel Sarah Alia recording him with her Iphone.

Yet despite the changes, the heart of it all remained: the bond between Alex, Arlo, and Felix. They cooked together, trained together, shared dumb inside jokes, and occasionally sang terribly off-key karaoke late into the night.

Alex had once viewed Lant with bitterness.

But now? He saw it for what it truly was: a new beginning.

The King itself, Calyrex, had reshaped Lant into a thriving region. The vines of corruption had withered, and new growth bloomed.

As Alex watched the sun rise one morning from the roof, sipping lukewarm tea Arlo had made him, he smiled to himself.

He wasn't flawless. He wasn't perfect. But for once in his life...

He was at peace. And that was enough.