Pokémon: Stranger Things

"Shuiyueyu, please take me to some places you often go to, please?"

Chensha put the Shuiyueyu on the ground, and Shuiyueyu immediately understood what Chensha meant, and started to lead the way for the two of them.

Chensha deduced that this water jumping fish should be the offspring of a pair of giant marsh monsters bred by the old man and his wife, and it was for this reason that it appeared in the girl's hands on that kind of portrait.

With this level of kinship, one of the places where the water jumping fish often goes may be the current location of the giant marsh monster.

The first location is the bridge hole under a bridge in Hualan City.There are no traces of elf activity inside.

The second location is an alley around the corner.A few little Lada were looking through the trash can, and when they saw someone coming here, they immediately fled in all directions, making garbage everywhere.Except for little Radha, no other elves were seen.

"Chensha, after a while, it will be dawn."

Tianman patted Chensha on the back, reminding him to pay attention to the time.

Chensha almost never rested. Under the leadership of Shui Yueyu, he searched almost every corner of Hualan City, without any intention of stopping at all.

Leaving aside the matter of whether Chensha's physical condition can persist, Tianman felt that he seemed to accept the Marsh King a little bit.In the middle of the night, it was the Marsh King who carried Tianman on his back and followed Chensha to find the hiding place of the giant marsh monster.If it weren't for this marsh king, Tianman probably got lost or couldn't move.

"Really, don't you need to rest?"

"No need. There's still one place I haven't been to..."

Chensha was a little breathless when he spoke now.After all, his physical strength is indeed not outstanding.The whole night of searching had greatly exhausted his physical strength, and now he was just struggling to continue searching.

"It's nothing more than a night shift...Water jumping fish. Take me here next, okay?"

Chensha flipped through his elf illustrated book, on the map, he pointed to this location.

Cemetery in Hualan City.

It rained at night.When they arrived at the cemetery, the day was just dawning.The quietly stopping rain does not mean that the weather is about to clear up. On the contrary, the whole city is shrouded in a thin mist, as if stepping into a world different from the present world.

No one came to the cemetery in the early morning.In other words, people who are still alive will not easily step into the resting place of the dead.

Chensha doesn't want to recall the experience of the previous life.

It's boring here.Just because what the cemetery represents is—parting.

"found it."

Dust brushed his bangs that were wet from the rain.If he doesn't, he won't be able to see clearly what's in front of him.

A huge bog monster lay quietly beside a tombstone.The breath is steady and peaceful, as if it is in an environment it knows best and trusts most.

There are three portraits printed on the tombstone.

Chen Sha walked slowly to the tombstone, knelt down, and clasped his hands together to pray for them.

Tianma, who had always been very noisy, became quiet at this time.Standing aside, watching Chensha silently, without saying a word.

The fact that Chensha didn't want to admit was the truth of the matter.

The old man's wife and daughter had already passed away.Even the giant marsh monster that belonged to her wife was gone.

There is nothing he can do.Even if someone could figure out a solution to all this, that person would definitely not be Dust.

He thought that he did not have this qualification, nor did he have this ability.

All Chensha did was to stay here quietly, waiting, waiting.

The marsh monster finally opened his eyes.Seeing Chensha, a person it has never remembered, appearing next to the tombstone, it got up and wanted to attack—but it saw the water jumping fish that was closely following Chensha.

"You're awake, finally."

Chensha looked at the giant marsh monster, with an indescribably complex emotion conveyed in his eyes.

"Someone needs you badly and misses you badly. Do you still want to go back to him?"

The giant marsh monster froze.After a long time, it shook its head.

"Is that so... You don't want him to experience the pain of parting again, do you?"

Chensha stood up slowly, walked towards the giant swamp monster, and reached out to touch its body.

"I know, and I can understand. But...."

The feel is completely different from that water jumping fish.Rough and uneven, gradually losing temperature.

"There will always be a day."

Under the guidance of her sister, Chensha learned a lot about elf cultivation and medical care.Without this experience and knowledge, he would not take the initiative to rescue those injured elves.

There is a signal everywhere in this giant bog monster-its life is coming to an end.

If it leaves in front of the old man, it will undoubtedly make the old man experience parting again.But what if it goes missing?Perhaps there is a possibility that "the giant marsh monster is living an unknown life in an unknown place".

The giant marsh monster did not respond to Dust's words.

long silence.

The Water Leaping Fish walked up to the giant marsh monster, snuggled up to it, and clung to it tightly.

The giant swamp monster's eyes were first surprised, then helpless... Finally, relieved.

It stood up slowly, obviously an elf known for its strength, but at this moment even standing up became a luxury.

"It's not time to fall yet."

Dust supported the giant swamp monster's body, preventing it from falling to the ground.

The giant swamp monster's body was extremely heavy, and Chensha's physical strength was running low, so he couldn't hold on for long.

"Don't try to do it all by yourself."

Tianman leaned in front of Chensha, and also helped him support the giant marsh monster's body.On the other side, Kudao Xiaobing and Marsh King also worked hard.

"......thanks."

Almost no one knows why this happens.

Two young children, with the help of their elves, supported a giant marsh monster that lacked energy, and staggered towards the distance.

"Old sir, we are back."

Chensha knocked on the old man's door and found that the door was not locked.

Pushing open the door, the old man was sitting quietly on a rocking chair, looking out the window into the distance.

"It's time to go and do everything that needs to be done."

Chensha smiled at the giant marsh monster.No longer needing the help of others, the giant bog monster's steps became as firm as ever, walking towards his trainer...and his precious family.

"Old man, it's you..."

The sound of the giant bog monster's steps brought the old man's thoughts from afar to reality.That familiar voice had already brought tears to the old man's eyes.The old man and the giant bog monster embraced each other tightly without saying a word.

Perhaps, some memories and emotions do not need to be put into words.

"...I can't see such a scene. Dust, I..."

"It's okay, Tenma. I understand. Leave that to me."

Tianman sighed, handed some things into Chensha's hands, and turned to leave.His hands can be seen raised to his face, seemingly rubbing his eyes.

There is a different atmosphere in the house than before.

Should it be warm?K.

But the dust is clear, and the warmth will not last long.

He slapped himself hard to keep his consciousness clear—also making a decision.

He took out what he asked for from Tianma just now—a few hairpins.Facing the mirror at the side, Chensha pinned the hairpin on her hair, placed two fingers on the corner of her mouth, and pulled it upwards.

"You can still keep smiling."

Also be able to show a smiling face.

Chensha picked up the water jumping fish, and walked to the old man who was still hugging the giant marsh monster.

"Small.....Xiaoyue..."

The old man could not believe his eyes.Through the vision blurred by tears, the figure that had long since disappeared in his world was now faintly visible.

"...It's me, Dad. Really...it's been a long, long time."

Chensha thought that he had long forgotten how to say all the words related to his parents.But, only at this moment, he is not Dust, but another person, another person who should not be here.

"Xiaoyue, I couldn't be with you at that time...I'm really, sorry..."

The old man was already sobbing.Chensha obediently leaned over, allowing the old man to embrace him together.

"We don't hold grudges against you. Both me and my mother hope that you can live a good life..."

Even though Chensha had never understood the past that the old man had experienced, the words to say clearly emerged in his mind.

"So are the giant marsh monsters, and so are the water jumpers...From now on, we will always, always be together, and will not be separated."

"Won't we separate...?"

"Yes, it's agreed."

"A promise, ah."

Hearing the word promise, the old man finally showed a relieved smile.

Chensha's expression turned cold again, he gently pushed away the old man's hand, and put his hand on the giant marsh monster's side.

Then he called the hospital.

.............

"Sand. I don't understand why the giant swamp monster is willing to go back in the end."

Tenma placed a bouquet of flowers in front of the tombstone.On the former tombstone, there are two more photos.

"Meeting is the beginning of parting, and there will always be a day when we say goodbye.".[-]

Chensha took the broom and patted the dust on the clothes.He had just cleaned up the dust nearby, and even if he couldn't do more, he still wanted to do something that he could do.

"But, Chensha, you..."

"It's just getting used to it."

Chensha untied the hairpin she used when she was pretending to be the old man's daughter, and put it in front of the tombstone as well.

The weather, which was gloomy due to continuous rain, finally cleared up.Chensha and Tianman looked into the distance, and the passing clouds took away the sorrow that stayed here.

"Thank you for being able to do this for us. Our last family is entrusted to you."

A girl's voice entered Chensha's ears from behind.Chensha looked back, but there was nothing there.

"The last family."

Chensha knew who the so-called "last family member" was referring to.

Hanging a water jumping fish with flowers in front of the monument, it is looking up at the dust and sand.

"In the future... please give me more advice."

Chensha opened his arms to welcome the water jumping fish that jumped into his arms.A warm breeze blew past, rolled up a few fallen leaves, and floated into the distant sky until they disappeared completely from sight.