Celebi was stunned for a moment.
It only came back to its senses when Lucas gently placed the small wooden tag around its neck.
"It looks great. This is our gift to you. We hope you like it."
Lucas admired it for a moment, then nodded and continued, "I hope you're always happy and carefree, no matter where or when, just like you are now."
Celebi sniffled, then looked at everyone and all the Pokémon in the Breeding House; they were all watching it, with reluctance and sadness.
But not a single one of them asked it to stay, because they knew it was free.
It liked Shauna, liked building flowerbeds with her. It liked Petilil; she would whisper secrets to it. It liked… so many things. It liked everyone and every Pokémon in the Breeding House.
It cried out happily, then flapped its small wings and flew in front of Petilil.
"La ji?"
Celebi covered its mouth and chuckled, then gently rested its forehead against Petilil's forehead.
A green light emanated from its body, continuously transferring to Petilil.
After a while, Celebi tiredly lifted its head, flapped its wings, then high-fived everyone and all the Pokémon in the Breeding House one by one, finally coming to Lucas's side.
"Chao~"
Its voice carried reluctance.
"Go. Remember to come home often when you have time."
Lucas used "home" instead of "back."
Celebi covered its mouth and chuckled.
In its long life, it seemed to have found a place where it could feel at ease.
Finally, under the moonlight, it kissed Lucas's cheek.
At last, it soared high into the sky, then, illuminated by the moonlight, flew off into the distance.
Lucas watched the disappearing Celebi, and it was false to say he wasn't disappointed, but he also understood that Celebi was inherently free.
Lucas pursed his lips and couldn't help but hum a tune.
Everyone and all the Pokémon listened to this tune. Although it was just a whistle, in the quiet forest, it was exceptionally clear.
Although it was a farewell, in summer, by the forest Lake, on a moonlit night, a song like "Firefly Night" was quite fitting, wasn't it?!
After the tune finished, Shauna's voice came from beside him, "Uncle, will Celebi come again?"
Lucas looked down at Shauna. She seemed genuinely reluctant to part with this little companion, even though they had only spent a few days together.
He smiled, then bent down and picked up Shauna. After Gengar and the others had packed everything, everyone and all the Pokémon bid farewell to the forest Pokémon.
Then they set off on the road back to the Breeding House.
"Shauna."
"Hmm?"
"Farewell is for the next meeting."
"Shauna doesn't understand."
"I mean, we'll meet again."
Under the moonlight, Lucas and the others' shadows stretched long. He said to Shauna in his arms, "After all, the anchor point of time has already been set. This is the beauty of human and Pokémon encounters, separation."
Shauna still shook her small head, her silver hair in pigtails continuously brushing against Lucas's face under the moonlight.
"You'll know when you grow up."
"Oh, then Shauna wants to grow up quickly."
"That won't do."
"Why can't I grow up quickly?"
"Because Uncle wants Shauna to grow up slowly. There are enough adults with Uncle and Sister Nina, Sister Reese, and Sister Linnea."
"Still don't understand."
"But Shauna understands one thing: I'll understand when I grow up, right?"
"Hahahahaha, Shauna is so clever."
Nina held Petilil in her arms, Vulpix was held by Jenny, and Mime Jr. was held by Joy, while Gothorita followed by Joy's side.
Looking at Lucas, who was talking to Shauna, Nina couldn't help but laugh.
Then she ruffled the leaves of the Petilil in her arms.
"You really are something, Lucas."
Just like Grandma Jasmine.
On the other side, Celebi suddenly stopped. It seemed to hear the melody Lucas was whistling. Looking down, it found itself above the Breeding House. Then, under the moonlight, it cupped the small wooden tag around its neck, paused for a moment, and then covered its mouth and chuckled.
Immediately after, it flew a few circles around the Breeding House.
Berries reappeared on the trees, herbs began to accelerate their Growth, vegetables began to ripen, and Shauna's flowerbed from the past few days.
It was already full of flowers, vibrant red and dazzling.
Seeing the flowerbed full of flowers, Celebi nodded in satisfaction. Using the abilities feedbacked to it by the Breeding House and the forest, its body shot straight up into the air, then plunged into a suddenly appearing circle of light.
On Lucas's side, seeing the text that appeared before him, Lucas felt a warmth in his heart.
[Farewell: Farewell is for meeting again. Celebi really likes the people, Pokémon, and things in the Breeding House, so it left a small gift and blessing for the Breeding House.]
[Gift: Celebi shared its internal energy with Petilil. Petilil's control over its innate energy and the power of its same-type moves have greatly improved.]
[Blessing: Things planted in the Breeding House will grow at a faster rate, the number of Berries will increase, becoming more delicious and juicy, vegetables will become more tender and juicy, and the efficacy of herbs will be slightly enhanced.]
[In the Name of Love: Celebi accepted the small wooden tag you gave it. No matter when or where, it can accurately sense the existence of the Breeding House. It will spread the love of the Breeding House across different times. At the same time, it seems to have given you an unknown gift?]
[The beauty of human and Pokémon encounters, separation — Lucas]
"Thank you, Celebi."
Looking at Celebi's blessing and gift, Lucas said softly.
Back at the Breeding House, Lucas and the others were all stunned when they saw the flowerbed.
"How did they bloom?"
Shauna was a little confused.
"Sister Nina and I only planted the seeds this afternoon, how did they bloom tonight?"
Shauna was a little confused, but she quickly slid off Lucas and ran towards the flowerbed.
Under the moonlight, Lucas looked at the flowers in the flowerbed for a long time, then took out his phone and took a picture.
"Uncle, this flower is for you."
Lucas looked down and found Shauna had picked a few flowers and ran over, giving them to him, and then to Nina and the others, and Gengar and the others.
"Thank you, Shauna."
"From now on, you can't pick flowers randomly. You have to leave them."
Shauna said, looking at the flowerbed, which now had a slightly empty spot. Shauna felt a little pained.
Lucas and Nina and the others exchanged glances, then all burst into laughter.
Afterward, a group photo of everyone and all the Pokémon, holding the flowers of love and blessing left by Celebi, in front of the flowerbed under the moonlight, was hung by Gengar on the stairwell wall.
Although Celebi was not in the photo, the love it left behind represented it.
In the Name of Love, flowers bloom.
Thank you, Celebi.
Lucas gently placed the flower into the vase, silently saying in his heart.
....
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