Survivor of Nostalgia

When asleep, Celynne often imagined a blank space. She preferred it that way— better to experience nothing than experience anything in a dream. Why? Because it was all fake in the end.

But one dream crawled up and out of the depths of her aged memories occasionally. One that made her insides freeze up like a Powder Snow coating everything in its vicinity.

In that dream, Celynne woke up alone. She would call out, “Rae! Layla! Daaaad! Moooom!”

She’d try and search for them, canvassing the entire village, only to find that it was devoid of anyone. No matter where she turned— the stone homes, the altar, the commune hall, none would be found. It was as if they never existed in the first place.

Celynne would eventually fall to the ground in a dim room, holding a particular set of scarves. They were navy in color, and sewn into them was an upside down triangle, reminiscent of the orbs hanging around her neck. She’d cry and cry into the fabric, ending the dream with one question she uttered:

“Where… where did you all go…?”

Celynne stirred in her barren cave, whimpering until her eyes shot open. She grabbed her white furred chest, letting the memory recede into the forbidden corners of her mind. It rarely came up, but when it did, a gaping hole always took hold of her heart afterward.

It seemed that this time, a migraine came with it too. She massaged her temple, taking care not to bump the green bulb atop her head on the ceiling as she sat up. It was one of those things she cursed calyrex biology for. At the very least, she could be thankful hers was small in part to being female.

When the initial grogginess faded, Celynne peered outside, dispelling the psychic illusion she cast over the opening. Her home, if she could even call it that, was nestled on the side of a deep ravine. Clear sunshine filled up said ravine, illuminating the abandoned structures sitting on the stone ground below. Way overhead, a flock of fletchling and wattrel flew by for their migration back to the continent.

Business as usual.

Celynne exhaled, watching her breath catch the morning chill and evaporate. “…Another day.” Her eyes trailed to the bottom of the pit. That cursed place had cost her a few days of sleep now.

She turned to the items hiding deeper in her cave. Those deep blue scarves were the last things left of her tribe. The funny thing? She hated them, because they were crafted by the group that made her species disappear. So there Celynne was, wanting to get rid of them, but not having the courage since, what else would be left of her family if not those?

Soon enough a growl attacked Celynne’s stomach. ‘Hungry already? Damn.‘ She begrudgingly floated up and out of her cave, towards the world that seemed intent on leaving her behind.

---

Celynne drifted through the tangled undergrowth of the rainforest, on the lookout for fallen fruit. Her stomach demanded that it be fed, and threatened to wake up the entire forest’s inhabitants if it wasn’t. She couldn’t have that— she was supposed to be extinct, after all.

‘Unfortunately.‘

It was annoying given that lately, Celynne wished she’d go to sleep and somehow never wake up until she was needed. Her body and mind wanted two different things, and her mind won every time. And Celynne knewshe shouldn’t wish that her body would win, because that would render her tribe’s sacrifices worthless.

Except, what was she to do when everything around her were reflections of what used to be? The land, the pokémon, their way of life— Everything changed so much over the years… and it hurt. They were painful reminders, shadows she couldn’t get rid of.

Why did things have to change? Why was her tribe the unfortunate one to get left behind? These questions she thought much of, and never could answer.

Stumbling upon some fallen hondew berries interrupted Celynne’s pity party of thoughts. She looked around briefly to make sure no ‘mon was nearby. Her psychic powers were strong enough to sense nearby presences, but that still didn’t get rid of the need to be careful.

Satisfied the coast was clear, she picked up the berry, wiping off the debris on it, then took a bite. Cool flavored juices spilled over her taste buds. She liked hondews, mostly because of how it tasted like slightly sweetened water. She levitated up to the canopy, nestling in between a branch.

‘What do I fill my dreadful time up with today…?‘

Her duty was to help pokémon towards a better future. Defining what that meant was hard since she had no other ‘mon to debate it with, so she decided that only meant averting world ending crises.

Good for the world, there hadn’t been one in a few hundred years.

Not good for her, though. She might as well not have a job. ‘Also doesn’t help some damned human always shows up…‘

Some rustles and snaps reached Celynne’s ears. She glanced down, wondering who would make such a racket in this part of the rainforest, only to recognize the pair: a fuecoco and a bulbasaur.

‘Must be from that new settlement that recently set up. I should take the opportunity to survey them today.‘ She dangled her legs over the branch, using some psychic power to distort the air around her. Now if the young pokémon decided to look up, they wouldn’t see her.

“You lost! You have to carry it all back,” the bulbasaur said, panting.

“You cheated! You can’t use vines to hold me back!” the fuecoco countered, stomping his feet.

“Too bad, you lost!” the bulbasaur continued, too busy giggling to care.

The fuecoco tackled his friend, rocking him back and forth. “Cheaterrr! I want to grow some vines!”

“Owow, careful! The elders want these berries in one piece!” the bulbasaur exclaimed.

The fuecoco seemed to forget their argument entirely. “Why?” he asked, a blank expression entering his face.

“They want to honor an old legendary, remember? Calarex? Calamex? Something like that.”

Celynne wasn’t sure she liked being called old, even if that was semi-true. But this event they talked about… Pokémon still remembered she existed? She leaned forward to get a better view of them.

“Oh yeah. But they haven’t set anything up.”

“That’s cause they’re thinking about canceling it,” the bulbasaur explained, putting a berry in fuecoco’s arms.

Celynne gripped the branch tightly, frowning. ‘They want to cancel already?‘ And just when her curiosity had been raised for the first time in a while too.

“Awww, really?” the fuecoco said, staring into the berry as if he was going to eat it.

“Yep.” The bulbasaur placed two more berries in their growing stack. “My dad said they’re missing an item that looks like calamex, and the only place to get it is from the ravine.”

“But we’re not supposed to go down there.”

“Yeah! So if the elders can’t think of a replacement, we might not do it.”

‘A foolish reason,’ Celynne thought, scoffing. ‘You can still honor us, item or not.‘ It was a shame she couldn’t hover down to the children and tell them that.

“Does that mean we get to eat everything we picked?” the fuecoco asked, struggling to balance all the fruit he held.

The bulbasaur grabbed a couple with his vines, giggling. “Maybe. I think we’ve got enough, race you back!”

“Hey! You’re double cheating now! I can barely move!” The fuecoco ran after his buddy, leaving Celynne to debate to herself in the silence again.

‘An honoring? That’s never been done before…‘

She could sit here and hope that it happened. Or, she could guarantee it would by simply retrieving the totem herself. There was just one issue— by going into the ravine, she risked coming face to face with the dreadful memories she’d rather hide. Was it worth it?

That came down to why she felt motivated to see it occur in the first place. Maybe… just maybe it would help her feel something other than the spitefulness plaguing her every moment. In that regard, yes, it was worth it.

Celynne finished off the hondew berry and dropped down. She had a descent to make.

---

Celynne kept her gaze facing forward as she stepped on the rocky trail into the ravine. The path snaked left and right, creating a long and dangerous fall should she trip or misstep. Levitating down would’ve been an option if she weren’t so distracted by the lifeless landscape below. So, taking the ‘scenic route’ it was. She only hoped it wouldn’t take her too long.

Celynne occasionally snuck peeks over the edge when she felt her eyelids start to droop. Attempting to do this while sleep deprived wasn’t the best choice she’d made in a few centuries.

Viewing the buildings on the bottom seemed sufficient enough to jerk her awake. She wondered how they appeared to other pokémon witnessing it for the first time. Did they find it peaceful? Awe inspiring? Mysterious?

Some might call it a miracle the structures withstood the trial of time, while Celynne would argue it was a testament to her tribe’s strengths. They didn’t slack when it came to preparing for the future. ‘Again thinking about them…‘

“Might as well do the list while I can,” Celynne muttered. She began reciting the names she usually listed before going to bed. “Clare, Leo, Yara…”

“…Alan, Aurelya, Eve…”

“…Lexy, Caleb, Reed…”

This continued for a few minutes until she got to the last five names.

“Rae, Layla, Axel, Elle, and… me.”

Celynne sighed, closing her eyes briefly. Over thirty names, each a calyrex who used to exist. She wished she could say that it was easy to picture them. How they had their own likes, dislikes, laughs-

…What did their laughs sound like? She couldn’t remember anymore. A bitter chuckle escaped her. Time healed all wounds, and that certainly didn’t stop it from erasing them either.

It was why she kept their names memorized, at least that way she could hold them closer to her heart than writing it down.

About an hour later Celynne finally reached the foot of the chasm. Shadows covered most of the landscape. Gusts of wind bounced off the walls, creating an ominous sounding whistle that reverberated all throughout. Celynne’s feet rooted in place with the sudden unease in her gut. She was closer than ever to the memories… to them. ‘Get a grip, just don’t take any detours.‘

Easier said than done.

She walked inward, exhaling slowly. It would be a waste to turn back now anyway. ‘We stored gifts near the commune hall, if I recall correctly…‘ Eventually Celynne arrived at the village entrance, pausing at the fence. Her breath caught slightly as she spotted the dangling stone sign. Its words were as clear as ever: Chroniclers of the Vale.

‘Dad was so proud when he put that up.‘ She could picture him standing under the sign, calling everyone to come see. They stood right where she was, embracing-

Celynne shook her head. ‘What are you doing?! Get what you came here for.‘ She hung her head low and briskly walked past it. For a minute, Celynne found it easy to keep going like nothing was wrong. She went straight, turned right at the corner, straight again, left, as if she was on autopilot.

However, her thoughts wouldn’t be kept at bay. As she recognized more and more of the buildings she used to frequent, memories flooded her weary self.

In the long rectangular building, her tribe ate under its roof every night. Reed prepared the meals and never shirked on making it appetizing. She liked to tease him that it was awful just to get his attention.

In the structure shaped like a pyramid with a sphere on top, Yara treated them anytime they hurt themselves on the rare occasion. Celynne didn’t remember what she sprained, but Yara’s way of making the pain disappear almost made her want to get hurt again.

Or how about the simple but cozy huts she and her tribe slept in every day? Right next to her family, Celynne never wanted for company.

She clutched her chest, mist forming around her eyes. She shouldn’t have come. Everywhere she looked, there they were.

‘Just go!‘ Celynne broke into a run, blanking her mind as best as she could. Maybe there’d be some safety in the storage building. Out of sight, out of mind.

She tore through the paths, only occasionally glancing up to make sure it was the right direction. She didn’t know how long it took her to reach what she was searching for, but the recognizable green cloth acting as the door told her she arrived. Celynne hastily stumbled through and fell to her knees. She caught her breath, re-familiarizing herself with the scene.

The building consisted of one room, illuminated by the singular window currently left ajar. Multiple chests lined up against the walls. Some of the wood on them had gone rotten thanks to the rain that got in, creating a musty scent.

‘Wait, a few of the chests are… open?‘ Celynne cleared her eyes before realizing why.

This was where she spent her last days before moving out of the village for good. And unfortunately, she could recollect every detail like it happened only yesterday.

---

Celynne and the other calyrex had gathered at the cafeteria. The rain poured relentlessly outside, and the fireplace towards the back offered grim solace to their restless conversations. Sitting around the long table, each one of their expressions varied between solemn and worried.

“Belief in us is waning,” Axel began, speaking over the hushed tones. All eyes went to him and the navy cape donned around his shoulders. “It’s no surprise, but it’s happening faster than we thought. Pretty soon we’ll be gone too. We’ve already lost a few.” His head slightly nodded to the empty seats.

Celynne turned to her left, where Leo should’ve been sitting a couple spots down. He faded so suddenly, without warning. His partner, Eve, barely could be devastated, because she too disappeared the next day.

“And there’s not much we can do about it. The humans have taught the mortals they don’t need us for everything,” Yara said, eyes directed downward.

“It’s not helping that alien pokémon is making them lose even more faith,” Reed argued, scowling.

Axel stood up, his voice resolute. “We have but one recourse left. We consolidate our power into one individual.”

The orbs around Elle’s neck lit up as she gasped. She grabbed Axel’s hand. “And force them to live on their own?”

“It’s the only way to ensure our survival.”

“But…”

“We can’t delay too long. Waiting means risking all our lives. At this moment, is there anyone feeling brave enough to volunteer? Or do we want to put it to a nomination?” None of the calyrex could meet Axel’s gaze, save for one. “Celynne?” he said, eyes widening a bit.

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not volunteering,” Celynne replied, folding her arms. “I simply believe there’s something we can do to restore their faith. We- I, just haven’t found it yet.”

A measure of pride entered Axel’s face. “You’ve been working hard, but our species should know better than anyone else that we are out of time.”

Celynne sighed. Her younger brother Rae patted her leg in reassurance.

“Perhaps this is too much for now. We’ll make a decision in the morning,” Axel announced, clearing his throat. “Good night.”

The group of calyrex dispersed, and Celynne decided to take a trip over to the storage building. She liked going there to remind herself of what they were working for. Once inside, she retrieved a crude stick replica one ‘mon made for them. The head was represented by a ball of wool dyed green. Had they done something wrong to stop getting gifts like these?

She put it back, pulling out a pair of scarves next. They received these from the humans a good while after they first arrived. Their craftsmanship, she had to admit, was decent. It was a shame they were the cause of her species’ downfall.

Some few minutes later, the cloth behind her quivered, and Celynne instinctively knew who it was.

“Knew I would find you here,” Axel said.

“I wish we could keep helping them, Dad,” Celynne murmured, stowing the scarves. She stayed on her knees instead of facing him.

“I know, sweetheart. But the world is moving on, and we have to adapt,” Axel said, holding her shoulders.

“Everything about this is unfair. How come our existence relies on belief, while every other pokémon can live with no drawbacks?”

“It’s the way the heavens sought to make us.”

“I’d have some words with them if I could.” Celynne rose to her feet. “…You don’t think we’ll lose anymore tonight, do you?”

Axel’s silence should’ve told her everything she needed. “No, we won’t. Don’t worry,” he said after a moment.

Celynne nodded. “I’ll head home.”

“I have to talk with a couple others, so if you’re asleep by then… I love you.”

“Love you.”

Celynne exited and quickly made her way to their house. Upon entering, her siblings were already asleep in their beds, meaning there wouldn’t be any lengthy conversation to be had. Her mom glanced up as she tended to the fire in the corner. Celynne approached it, exhaling as the warmth reached her wet fur.

“Going to bed?” Elle whispered.

“Once I get dry,” Celynne responded. “What about you?”

“I’ll sleep once your father gets here.” Elle wrapped her arms around Celynne, the latter not bothered by why she was doing it so tight. “Good night, Celynne.”

“Good night, Mom.” She moved to break it off, but her mom wouldn’t budge. “Mom?”

“Don’t say anything. Just…”

Celynne and Elle stayed like that for a while. When Elle finally let go, she smiled and resumed staring into the fire. Celynne wasn’t horribly wet anymore, so she went to her bed and drifted off peacefully.

The next morning, Celynne sat up, looking around. Smoke from the extinguished fire registered to her first. Odd. Someone was typically making breakfast. Her brother and sister were nowhere to be seen, as were her parents. Concerned, she went to check her neighbor’s house— Equally empty.

Celynne froze on the path, fur standing on end. Even though the weather had cleared, the light cast by the sun felt numbingly cold.

She started with a power walk, then a jog, then a sprint, until it became a full out levitating dash. She reached the cafeteria, poking her head in, finding nothing.

“Dad! Mom! Rae! Layla! Anyone?!” Celynne exclaimed, rushing to every building.

In each: Nothing, nothing, nothing.

“Where- where did you all go…?” she cried, fighting the multiple lumps in her throat.

Celynne ended at the storage building, pushing through the cloth to find a paper scrawled in ink. She snatched it up in an instant. It read:

“Our dearest Celynne,

If you read this, it means the ritual worked. You… are now the last of the line of calyrex.

It wasn’t easy making this decision, especially behind your back. However, had you known we chose you to succeed the legacy, you would’ve done everything to stop us. We’re sorry.

To list all the reasons we picked you would take up too much space, so I will summarize it: We believe in your spirit. Your conviction is far stronger than we can imagine.

And although pokémon no longer seem to need us, there may be times when they falter. That is where you come in. The rest of our power, we bestow to you. You will carry on our duties, and for that we ask of you two tough things:

One, keep pokémon’s knowledge of your existence to a minimum. Fate has deemed we take a more passive role, and that is something we should obey.

Two, labor towards a brighter future for them, as we have always done.

It is our hope these scarves we’ve modified provide you some comfort when you’re lonely. Know we are with you, ever and always, under the expanse of time.

With love,

Dad, Mom, Rae, Layla, and the tribe.

Celynne’s paw trembled with the might of a Magnitude Ten as she gazed upon the navy scarves lying on the floor.

“I’m… the only one left?” Celynne dropped the page, backing into the wall.

“No… it can’t… NO!” she screeched, kicking and sending out a pulse of psychic power, blowing the lids of some chests open. They slammed against the wall with a loud thwack. She heaved in and out, curling into her knees.

“I’m… I’m the only one…”

---

Celynne blinked, not realizing how many tears had fallen from her face. ‘Why… why does it still hurt?‘

She was in this exact position at the time, too. The only difference was that she got checked on by Zacian and Zamazenta a few days later, and subsequently never returned to this place again. Until today, that was.

Now, she was the only ‘mon left to pick herself up. ‘You have to get up… you have to…‘ Celynne willed her arms and legs to move, except, she just… couldn’t.

Celynne cried until she physically couldn’t anymore. She was making a mess of the place, tears and snot all falling onto the floor. But who cared? No one would be coming back to see it.

She gradually shifted to stifled whimpers and loud sniffles. Ignoring the fact that resurrecting them would be impossible, even if she had the choice, wouldn’t doing it undermine what they wanted? She had to honor that, no matter how much it hurt.

With the worst of it over, Celynne found the will to move her right leg up, then her left, and got to her feet. She staggered to the chest directly in front, pulling out the first object to touch her paw. It was a stone tablet, depicting a calyrex staring at a raging fire. Too bulky and specific for a settlement to keep. She dug around some more and grabbed a calyrex statuette next. Small, but simple enough for whatever the settlement planned to do with it. Good enough.

Celynne turned her back to the room, wiping her eyes. “I hope I’m making you proud.”

---

Celynne tracked down the settlement to a semi-open part of the rainforest. The entire place was very much in progress, using a combination of sticks, leaves, and tarountula webbing to form makeshift houses. One notable feature was the stack of rocks at the head of the settlement. A small pit was dug on each side of it, surrounded by pebbles.

Celynne had an inkling of what it could be, but wanted to confirm her suspicions first. She hid in the treetops, and using Psychic, placed the statuette at the base of the rock pile when no one was looking. Now she simply had to wait.

“Hey! Do you see that?” she heard the bulbasaur from earlier eventually say. He and the fuecoco ran to the rocks, examining the statuette. “Where’d this come from?”

“What is it?” the fuecoco asked, reaching to touch it.

The bulbasaur’s vines tied around his friend’s arms before they could do anything rash. “Stop! We have to get the elders to look at it first! Do you want to get cursed?”

“Oh yeah! Good point.”

Celynne scoffed at their silliness. She might’ve been like that once.

The little pokémon called out to the others. One by one, the settlement’s residents gathered at the site of honor, murmuring about who or what could’ve brought the item. A green and yellow lurantis separated herself from the pack, opening her arms to the sky.

“It’s most certainly proof calyrex watches over us, even in the afterlife!” she declared. “Come, we must begin the honoring at once!”

“R-right now?” a spewpa asked.

“Right now! Who knows how long the channel may be open with them?!”

Celynne looked on with slight amusement at their scrambling to get the area ready. The statuette was placed on top of the rock pile, then surrounded by various kinds of flowers and berries. Debris like dead leaves and stray sticks were cleared away. The fuecoco lit up a fire in the pits on the side.

Finally, the lurantis took the lead, putting the ends of her pincers together and bowing her head. “We give thanks to the ancestors who once graced these lands. Your protection is not forgotten. We hope with this display our settlement may develop smoothly in the coming days.”

A skeledirge came up front, clearing his throat. The fireball on his snout molded into a mic of sorts. He began to hum a low, mesmerizing tune. The fires in the pits jumped behind him, performing their own dance with the song.

Celynne floated to the ground, far from the crowd to take in the revelry. All the while, she watched with a straight face. She waited for something, anything else to stir in her. However, instead of feeling touched, all she could muster was bitterness.

Remembrance wouldn’t bring them back. ‘Why can’t I feel other things? Is it because I don’t want to?‘ Celynne sighed. ‘It was worth a shot.‘

“Excuse me, dearie, I couldn’t help but notice you’re all by your lonesome over here,” a thin and hoarse voice said.

Celynne gasped. How could she have been so careless?! She whipped around to find another skeledirge staring right at her.

“No need to be frightened, I’m way past my prime. I can barely see you with these eyes.” The skeledirge squinted. “Dirdre’s the name.”

‘Oh.‘ Relief washed over Celynne. She didn’t need to rush to get away… yet. “Celynne. I don’t mean any trouble.”

“I didn’t think you did. The ceremony catch your attention?”

“Yes… it did.” Celynne glanced over her shoulder, watching the other skeledirge sing. “Why celebrate such an old pokémon? Things have changed where you can forget them.”

“Mmm. Things change, but sometimes, reminders aren’t so bad,” Dirdre replied, closing her eyes to listen.

“I wish I didn’t have reminders.”

Dirdre’s attention went to Celynne again. “Why is that?”

“I can’t miss what I don’t know. Then I’d be able to feel something else than longing,” Celynne said, curling her paw.

“You’ll always miss something. Aren’t there pokémon or things you cherish in the present?”

“…No.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, dearie,” Dirdre remarked, furrowing her brow. “What do you think will get you to feel what you want?”

Celynne stayed silent, mulling the thought over. Her feelings had long died out since the day her tribe vanished. And it was all because of those humans. It sickened her. If they hadn’t come in and pokémon still believed in calyrex-!

“Nothing.”

“That can’t be true,” Dirdre refuted. “If there’s nothing you can enjoy now, why not work toward something you think will give you joy?”

A spark scratched deep inside Celynne’s brain. Work on something… for herself? Her mission was always for and about the general populace. “I’m… not sure. My role doesn’t let me.”

“You are allowed to be greedy. Working on others’ behalf can get exhausting, and you sound ready to sleep for a few years.” She closed her eyes again, absorbing herself in the song.

‘If only you knew,‘ Celynne thought. Yet, Dirdre did have a point. She was beginning to see a course that would benefit her and pokémon both. A course that might make her… happy. But first, she had something to do.

“Say, how about you…” Dirdre’s head panned left and right. She blinked, not seeing the pokémon she was just talking to anywhere. “Oh? Dearie me, how did I lose her? Poor girl, I hope calyrex can help her.”

---

Standing on the edge of the bluffs, Celynne overlooked the crashing waves below. Her steadied breathing betrayed the fear she should’ve had at staring down such a steep drop.

‘Finally…‘ she thought. ‘This should be good enough.‘

Celynne outstretched her paw. She didn’t know what awaited beneath the water’s surface, and honestly, she didn’t care. Coming to this decision after so long tired her out more than she cared to admit. At least now, finally, she could try and move on.

‘Three. Two. One-‘

“Farewell.”

As the sun set and darkness reclaimed the land for the night, Celynne dropped the pair of scarves into the waves below. They fell straight down, the fabric too heavy to catch any of the wind’s currents. She could barely make out its form sink into the ocean depths.

A certain lightness arose in her chest. ‘That was… strangely relieving.‘

Celynne didn’t need those relics. In this new age, they would only hold her back.

Her tribe’s duty was to help pokémon first and foremost. At the same time, didn’t she also deserve some peace? So she decided to combine the two objectives, and the goal was simple:

Humans weren’t going to be welcome in this world any longer. They were unpredictable and unreliable.

Plus, if pokémon were strong enough to forge on without calyrex’s intervention, didn’t that also apply to humans too?

Celynne would say definitely. She’d help make sure they become remnants of the past.