Double Rainbow

Avery- Epilogue

Nine Months Later...

The next nine months pass in PPS's palace. It's a nice place, with pillows so comfy the clouds even seem hard. I kiss pups, visit with famous leaders of all sorts. Spritz left only a month after our journeys, as soon as he was healed, but Torch promised to stay here until I left, which was to be soon.

"So you're leaving tomorrow, then." PPS says, lapping up some cold water with plenty of ice cubes.

"Yes. I think it's time. I don't know, it's just... home is out there somewhere. This place is nice, but it's still not my home." I tell her.

PPS nods. "I'll see you two off tomorrow." A guard whispers something in her ear. "Oh... I have to go. Bye!" PPS runs out of the room, leaving the half full dish there.

I wake up the next morning at dawn. "Where are we going, Torch?" I say, excited.

"I think we should go to Natrina's palace. Work our way home from there." I nod.

"I can teleport you there. That is, unless you want to take a grueling half-year journey to Summerleaf Forest." PPS speaks up

"That would be great!" I say happily.

PPS focuses, energy forming around her paws, she grabs us, and we're gone. I open my eyes in Natrina's Palace, and for a second, PPS is there too, and she waves good-bye and then teleports back.

I see Natrina with her scepter, sitting there like she always has. "Hey, Natrina!" I say.

"You're home!" she says, leaving her scepter on the chair and running to us.

She focuses on Torch. "I have something to give you." she says. "Avery, someone's waiting for you in the forest."

"Who is it?"

"That's a surprise." She winks. "Well, I don't want to split the two of you up if you don't want it, but I really need you to stay here, Torch."

"It's okay, I'll go on alone." I sigh.

Torch grabs my paw. "I'll be there, okay? Tell Riana I'm alive."

I laugh. "Sure."

The journey is only half a day's flight, but I start walking. Everything is so amazing... just as it was over the summer. I see Riana splashing in the river, and her mouth gapes when she sees me. "It's... it's you! Avery, you're back!"

I smile as Riana gives me a big, wet hug. "I'm glad you're still here." I say, hugging her back.

"Of course I am! The forest never changes, if you know what I mean." Riana winks. "Well, you're almost there. She'll be waiting, of course."

"Who?! Who?!"

"Well, if no one's told you already I guess it's up to me to keep the secret. We're here, anyways."

I gasp. "It's the willow tree! But... it burned down!"

Shine brushes through the thick willow branches. "We got a new one. Riana helped start a forest wide petition. Natrina herself grew a willow tree from a seed with her magic right here on this spot. It only took an hour but she looked soooo tired afterwards."

"Shine!" I hug her too, and we clap wings and tails. "You came here, too?"

"I went to the city and got instructions from Gash on how to get here just a month after you left. When I heard you left, I decided to be the welcoming party... but you never came. It's okay. I like it here. This forest has a certain charm to it, y'know? I think I'm going to stay here awhile." She leans back against the trunk, which is just as thick as the old one. Besides the fact that it has no mysterious black rock beneath it, it's a lot like the other willow tree.

"I think I'll stay here too. Settle down. I've had enough adventure for a lifetime."

The three of us sit under the willow tree together, watching the sunset. "Everyone else around me has a mate, a kingdom, whatever, but in the end, I like it here better. All you need are a couple of good friends."

The wind sings a lonely song of days long past, and the stream can be heard in the distance. Every little bit of this place lets me know that I am finally home.