Unearthed and Reunited

Rewritten Version

Max stares down at the spot in Forina where he watched his friend return to sleep, all that time back. Recalling that painful memory hurt him, and he couldn't help but miss Jirachi more every time he thought about it.

He knew why Jirachi has to sleep. The energy it recieves from the comet gets fed to Forina, allowing it to thrive. He knew it was extremely selfish for him to miss him. But in the one week that they were together, their bond had already grown so close. And now Max could no longer take it.

He slumped down to the ground, before the tears flooded his eyes.

"Jirachi... I miss you..."

He got lower and lower until he was simply lying down there on the ground.

"Please... I wish- I wish... you would come back to me..."

Max's tears continued to escape his eyes.

"Please..." he whispered, before a single tear drop fell out of his eye, and into the soil of Forina. It let out a grey ripple that was visible from across it's entire surface, sweeping across the land. Then, there was silence.

Jirachi felt the ripple from inside his crystal, as it pulsed. The ripple had intercepted the waves that the crystal was giving off. Even while unconscious, Jirachi can sense what is happening in the outside world. Once the salty tear settled into the soil, Jirachi immediately recognized who it belonged to. Jirachi was alone in his thoughts, trying to come up with a decision in that moment alone.

If he woke up, Forina would decay and the pokemon that lived there could no longer do so. But if he didn't, he'd be ignoring a wish, no more or less from his only friend. That goes against his very being. But was he really willing to sacrifice Forina just to be with Max?

Yes.

A spot in the ground began to glow. It got brighter and brighter until Jirachi's cocoon was visible! Max stared in awe, but still in tears. This time, the cocoon flashed red...

Before shattering dramatically into countless pieces, each one fading into sparkles. Jirachi's streamers unfolded, revealing the rest of his body. His little eyes opened, with a smile on his face.

"Max..."

Max teared up again, crying his name.

"JIRACHIII!!!"

He ran to his friend, grabbing him out of levitation and holding him as tight as he could for a hug. The emotions spiraling through his body were too great, taking his ability to speak. When he did try, he was cut off by a sob or a cough. He was in absolute hysteria. Jirachi sensed the pain and anguish in his heart.

"Max... it's... okay..." he whispered weakly with telepathy, still exhausted and fatigued from his early awakening.

Even as he looked back at Forina, noticing it decaying, he felt that he belonged with Max. They both felt guilty. Max, for what he had caused to Jirachi's homeland, and Jirachi, for the pain he had brought to Max.

"I'm sssorryyy." Max whined, his voice sounding teary as well. Jirachi blinked slowly, before looking up at him.

"I'm... here... Max... it's... okay... don't... cry..."

Jirachi lifted his hand as it touched Max's cheek. It slides down his face, wiping away a tear.

"I just wanted to be with you again... this- this is my fault..."

Then, Jirachi did something that took Max off guard.

Jirachi hummed Max's lullaby, the same one that he sung to him twice. Max recognized the song.

"Remember... this...?" He whispered.

"Oh, Jirachi-"

Before Max could cry again, Jirachi put his hand on his lips as he was held like a child in his arms.

"Shhhhhh..."

Jirachi tried to quiet Max down, wanting to make it evident that he cared for him so much.

"I... love... you... Max..."

Max's heartbeat sped up. He held onto Jirachi as tight as possible, scared of him being taken away again. He refused to let it happen.

"Will... you stay with me...? Please..."

Jirachi smiled brightly like the sun.

"...Yes."

Max, having grown up since the last time they met, was now old enough to be a trainer. He had already caught a few pokemon. He let Jirachi out of the hug. He took out a Poke Ball, and wiped his tears away. He decided it was time to move on with Forina and let it finally be put to rest. Jirachi belonged with him and nowhere else.

"(Sniff) Alright... Go, Poke Ball!"

Jirachi happily let herself get caught, slowly being sucked into the ball. It whirred around for a bit before clicking.

He stared down at the ball, before holding it with two hands, touching it to his heart.

"...Thank you." He whispered.

Later, Max had arrived at his home. May was out of the house at the time, so Max was home alone. But secretly, he wasn't. He took Jirachi out of his ball. He got into his bed, pulling Jirachi in with him. They cuddled tight. Max could sleep contentedly knowing his friend was back in his loving arms, where he belonged.

"Goodnight, Jirachi."

"Good... night... Max."