Turning to look at the Shaman, Nate asked curiously. "What do you mean? Time for what?" The Shaman gestured them toward the back of the cave and the other locals bowed their heads as they passed with grim faces. Nate shared a concerned look with Mark but followed. Wedging through the narrow passage into the crystal cave, Nate saw the fossilized tree was shimmering with a soft rainbow light. It was beautiful and made the dim damp cave come alive. The crystals in the walls even pulsed with shimmering light. The Shaman moved up to the tree and told the three of them in a calm tone of voice. "There is one more thing we must do. A trade. A life for a life of peace." Nate took a step back, looking to the others. Sean looked the most distraught by it. While Mark appeared to have guessed something like this might happen. Nate shook his head, snapping out. "NO! I'm not ok with that! After EVERYTHING we have done... This is what we get in return?!"

The Shaman raised her hands to try and calm him, informing him casually. "I know it is not what you wanted to hear. But this must be done. There is no other way." Nate kicked at the loose rocks of the cave, snapping out. "And how are we supposed to make that decision?! It's not fair!" Mark reached out to touch Nate's shoulder, but Nate shrugged it off to pace. He didn't want to chose among his friends. He didn't have many and this felt like a punishment. The Shaman quickly stated out. "The chose has already been made. All you have to do is witness it." Nate stopped pacing to cut in darkly. "Witness one of our friends die? It's that easy, huh?! What kind of ritual is this?! Sounds like a cult!" The Shaman opened her mouth to say something, but Mark quickly told Nate to calm him down. "Nate, it is ok." Nate shook his head, his voice echoing off the walls as he snapped out. "NO! It's not! Why are you ok with this?!" Sean buried himself in Mark's chest as Mark replied. "Because this is what being Chosen means. We give our lives to save people."

Nate glared at Mark, bitterly retorting. "Being a hero SUCKS! It's never enough! When do WE get to enjoy the life, we worked so damn hard to save?!" The Shaman tried to butt in to say in a bit of a rush. "Boys, stop. Listen to me. The chose has been made and it's-" Sean lifted his head from Mark's chest to blurt out. "It's me." Both Mark and Nate looked to Sean and in unison with the Shaman said aloud. "What?!" Sean pulled from Mark, telling Mark and Nate seriously. "It makes the most sense. I'm not like you two... You're strong and confident in yourselves. Leaders. I'm... me. The Shaman brought something to my attention earlier. If this is my end... I just want to spend it with you two. I don't have anything else that I want to do... because I found what I was missing. I'm happy. I can go willingly." Mark grabbed Sean's arm, firmly telling him. "No! I won't let you. I had already made up my mind on the beach! It should be me." Nate rubbed his temples, scoffing out. "You two are crazy! Why would you do that?" The Shaman raised a hand, but no one was looking at her.

Mark turned to Nate, telling him seriously. "It's not crazy. It has to be done. And it's not fair to make either of you choose. So, I'll do it." Nate and Sean began to argue with Mark over the reasons why they all should or shouldn't pick each other, until Nate blurted out the one thing that he knew would shut them all up. "If it is going to be anyone! It should be ME because I've got no one else and nowhere to go after this!" The cave fell into silence and Nate shoved passed them to stand before the Shaman. Standing strong, he told her sternly. "I'll do it." Sean tied to lunge forward to grab Nate, but Tobias grabbed him by the arm to keep him back. Mark started to move up to grab Nate, until the Shaman placed her hands on Nate's shoulders. Giving him a warm smile, she cooed out like a mother to a small child. "Oh, Nathan. You have a lot of heart... But the choice is made." Nate grabbed her wrists, sinking to his knees as he pleaded with her. "Don't take him! I'm a better choice! Please!" Sean tugged against Tobias and Mark stepped up. The shaman waved Mark back though, taking a knee in front of Nate. Cupping his face, she told them all openly. "You three are so stubborn... That is not how this works. It can't be any of you."

All three of them looked at her with confusion. The Shaman stared into Nate's eyes, telling him sweetly. "I've been trying to tell you... This part is for you three to witness, because this part falls to ME. You are here to give me strength and see that when I'm gone... That Tobias takes my place." Tobias released Sean, causing Sean to stumble to the ground. Tobias looked suddenly terrified like this was the first time he was hearing this. Nate looked between them, then said uneasily. "No... You're the reason we-" The Shaman smirked, slowly standing as she told them calmly. "I've known this was coming since you first arrived here. It's my job as the Shaman to guide and lookout for my people." Tobias staggered closer, mumbling out. "Why didn't you tell me?! You can't! I'm not ready! I don't have your visions!" The Shaman smirked, touching Tobias's cheek as she said. "I know. But you will. I couldn't tell you because you would try to stop me. It's human nature." Tobias grabbed her wrist with an expression that suggested he was going to argue, but she told him warmly. "You have to understand, son. My time is over. I've done everything that I've ever set out to do. I have no regrets. I've taught you everything that you need to know."

Tobias stepped in to hug her and Nate moved back to give them room. He felt bad for being a little relieved. He had prepared himself to go and now he just felt a little detached to everything. Sean rushed in to hug him, mumbling out gruffly. "Don't you dare try to take my place again! And how can you say such things, when you have us? Are we not friends?" Nate huffed a little, hugging Sean as he told him softly. "It's because you are my friend that I was willing to do it... You think I'd do that for just anyone?" Sean's grip around him tightened. Looking to Mark, Mark put a hand on his shoulder, then turned his attention to the Shaman. Mew slowly drifted down from the tree, telling them in a gentle psychic voice. "I'm ready. Do you still want to do this?" The Shaman pulled from her reluctant son to tell Mew excitedly. "I am." Kissing her Son's forehead, she told him in a strong voice. "Take care of them and yourself. I'm so proud of you and I will always be listening. I love you, Tobias." Tobias began to cry as his mother removed her necklace to put on him. She thanked each of them in turn, then faced Mew to give it a nod.

Mew gestured to the three of them, informing them nicely. "Put your hand on her back." The three of them did, feeling her take a deep breath as she straightened up. Mew then put a hand on the tree and the other out to the Shaman. Slowly raising her hand with confidence, she exhaled and touched Mew's little paw. From the Shaman's hand a bright light began to shine so brightly that everyone had to avert their eyes. When the light faded away, the Shaman was gone and each of their hands had a glowing mark on the back with one of the legendary birds. The Tree started to pulse lightly, before a large pulse shot forth. As the pulse passed through them, a strange calmness filled them. It cleared the mind of hate and pride. It was pure peace. Tobias then stepped up as Mew hovered closer to tell him in a proud voice. "Tobias, live long and may your reign be one filled with Harmony. You have my blessing." Mew touched Tobias's skin, causing a white light to ripple under his skin. Then on Tobias's back, a white tattoo of Lugia appeared.

Mew then gestured Mark up and said aloud. "May you rule with Wisdom." Mark reached out to shake Tobias's hand, causing his skin to shimmer a blue shade before a tattoo of Articuno appeared behind Lugia's tattoo. Sean moved up to shake his hand as Mew continued. "May you rule with Empathy." Tobias's skin shimmered in yellow, before Zapdos appeared to the back left of Lugia's tattoo. Then Tobias turned to Nate, who shook his hand as Mew finished off. "May you rule with a Determination for the good of others." This time as Moltres's tattoo appeared, Tobias's eyes shimmered with all the colors before returning to their normal brown. Mew gave him a bow, adding in a purring voice. "And so, life begins anew. You have our blessings, Tobias. Go forth and use them well." Tobias nodded to them, but he seemed to choked up to speak. For him, the grief was still too fresh. Instead, they patted him on the arm and let him leave. Once he had left, Mew told them sweetly. "They will celebrate tonight and though he couldn't say it. He welcomes you to join them." Sean licked his lips, asking Mew curiously. "What happened now?" Mew tilted her head, giggling cutely as she told them. "That is up to you. It's your life." Without another word, Mew turned invisible, and her shimmer vanished up into the diming tree.

The next few hours passed in a strange silence between then three of them. They cleaned themselves up in the cave river and dressed in their cleaned normal clothes that didn't have any Team representation on them. They helped create a bonfire and tried to celebrate with the locals, but just like Tobias... they didn't seem in the mood. Nate leaned against the wall of the cave entrance, watching the locals dance around the bonfire. He wondered if the others were thinking the same as him. Would they go back to their teams? Was this where their journey together would part? Nate ran a hand down his Mew shirt, feeling lost. He couldn't go back to Team Rocket. He had no Team to return to. Where would he go? Mark approached him, holding the ghostly hand of Chad. It made Nate smile to see the way Chad munched on food and acted like a small child at a carnival. As Mark approached, he broke the silence between them to ask softly. "I've been thinking... I'm tired of limiting myself to the Team Instinct... I just don't... I don't think I could go back and be happy. You know?"

Nate shrugged, unsure what to say to that. From the other side, Sean moved closer to add with a blush. "Even if Blanche wanted me back... I feel the same. I don't us to stop being friends. I... I'd miss you both too much." Nate tried to smile, but he couldn't help it. Biting his lip, he asked them with a little hopefulness in his voice. "So... Where do go from here?" Mark picked Chad up into his arms, causing Chad to hug him like a happy toddler. Giving them a smile, he shrugged out curiously. "I don't know about you guys... but I'm thinking we could... hop on a boat... travel. See some new sights." Nate's heart skipped a little as he said excitedly. "I've got nowhere to be." Sean chuckled, asking giddily. "So? What are we waiting for? There is a boat getting ready to leave for Kanto? I've never been there." Mark grinned, looking to Nate as he said boldly. "What do you say, Nate? Wanna show us around?" Nate stood up straighter, gesturing them to start walking. Laughing together, they headed to the boat.

Getting on the boat, theysailed to Kanto to start a whole new journey together. One that only brought them closer together asthey traveled across the regions and camped under the stars. The End.