"How is he...?" Holly asked as a pair of paramedics that stayed behind upon Chris's collapse stepped out from the room he'd been spirited away to, with Barnack and Tsarea along with the girls surrounding them. "Stable, but we wouldn't let him move around for a while." one replied. "In his state it's best he remain bedridden for at least a day or two. Sudden movements won't do him any favors. It's both physical and mental fatigue that put him on the floor. Neither his mind nor' his body will be ready for anything strenuous again until he's had decent rest." the same paramedic cautioned. "As things are for the time being, it's best to make sure he has a quiet atmosphere, allow his mind to rest along with his body." the other insisted. "Don't give him any sudden startles, don't push him to move in any unnecessary ways. Just bed rest and quiet." the first pushed. "We see now?" Serenity replied, Alicia and Rose responding with a "Be patient" remark making the Pokemon scowl before the paramedics nodded and stepped aside, after which Holly thanked them before offering to arrange a ride for them to return to their hospital as Serenity reached out and slowly opened the door. Poking her head in, along with Alicia and Rose doing the same, the sight before them made their eyes widen as they watched a sister help him into a wheelchair, his body wobbling and shaking beyond his control as though he'd abruptly aged rapidly as she tried to set him down as gently as possible, his eyes heavy and circled darkly with a glazed look to them as the sister lift his feet one after the other onto the foot rests attached to the chair, his skin having turned a dreary pale. Seeing this, Serenity gripped the door tightly, her nails digging in before catching herself and relaxing before warily stepping inside, the girls following behind as they gathered around him and the sister stepped away with a bow.
"...Chris?" Serenity quietly called, getting no response as his eyes struggled to stay open, fluttering slightly as sleep tried to take him once more, his head bobbing as he fought to maintain what awareness he had. "My word..." Alicia muttered as Rose held his hand, the trio stricken by the degree of fatigue that had finally revealed itself. It wasn't until this moment that it became so truly clear as to what a one man army he'd been for the Temple, and how far he'd went for its sake. "You... Okay?" Rose asked, making him take a breath before nodding slightly. "...Okay..." he assured, his eyes slowly glancing at her, albeit as though seeing two of the rabbit making him groan with a sickened wince before hanging his head. "Easy now, no sudden acts." Holly reminded, she and Barnack joining them with Tsarea, the Mother unsure of what to do or say for having been so passive about his well-being. "Young man, you've made this city proud tonight... Just take it easy now." Barnack praised. "Not just the city, the world." Holly clarified with a smile of her own. Raising his head, Chris then tilt it back, closing his eyes and taking another breath to collect himself as best he could before looking at the two Mayor's. "The money... You'll have to show it... Everything's set. Show the result... Let everyone see it." he instructed. "That is your right... It can wait." Tsarea insisted, only for him to hang his head and shake it. "Do it... Do it!!" he insisted, Serenity quickly holding him and insisting he relax. "...You do it." he repeat. "Please..." he added before tilting his head back with his eyes shut once more. "It's pointless if we don't do it now... Has to be now... Finish it." he pushed, Tsarea lowering her head with a nod. "Holly... Mr. Odama... The two of you, finish it." he asked.
Looking at the two, they faced one another and nodded in agreement. "We've got it." Holly assured, offering a thumbs up. "Glad to." Barnack agreed. "If they do that, we take you home now, bed." Serenity insisted. About to walk around him and take the handles of the chair, Chris mustered the strength to grab her wrist, shaking his head. "No... You go... Watch." he ordered, Alicia and Rose looking at him surprised. "We really should get you home..." Alicia cautioned. "I don't ask much of you... I've always said that..." Chris reminded, struggling to look up at her without nausea. "But when I do... I have the right for it to be respected... Just like I'd respect anything you ask of me..." he insisted, making her and Rose look at one another while Serenity sneered out of his line of sight, not wanting to be a part of human festivities when he was in the shape he was. "...That goes for you too." Chris added, somehow sensing her discontent with the idea of leaving him in his state. "Want to take care of you." she argued as he lowered his head and shut his eyes. "Serenity... Please." he answered, making her groan before stepping in front of him and squatting, looking at his face as his eyes opened and wearily looked back at her. Now making eye contact, after a moment she let out a sigh and nodded before standing and pointing at the nearby sister. "You!! Take care!!" she ordered, making the sister jolt and nod quickly. "...You mess up, nothing protect you." Serenity warned, making her eyes widen warily, nodding a second time. "I watch thing... But if sense you get any worse, we go home." she insisted, focusing back at Chris as he raised his head and nodded. "Go... See what humans can do when they're... Togefferm... " he suddenly slurred, his consciousness slipping as the sister caught his head and nestled a small pillow behind his neck to rest on.
"...What do we do?" Rose asked, looking at Serenity and Alicia nervously. "I'd like to take him home myself... But he made his case... Should we not do as requested the talk to come wouldn't be pleasant... Those humans did say he was stable." the snake point out. "We go..." Serenity muttered, looking at Holly and Barnack making both raise a brow from her less than friendly gaze. "...You not mess up either, he do the work, you finish right." Serenity warned before looking at Chris once more as he breathed. Taking a sheet off a nearby table, she tucked him in on his chair and put her hand on his forehead before brushing his bangs aside. "...You do this to self for them..." she spoke quietly, a mixture of respect and resentment combined as she stepped back. "...I go watch now, all go..." she assured before making her way to the door with the others, the trio looking back once more as the sister bowed by his side and the two Mayor's followed along with Tsarea, the Mother equally guilty and uncertain of the best course of action given his insistence even in his weakened state. "...I'd like to say I'm sor...!!" she tried to say as they walked down the corridor, only for Serenity to glance back. "Not say it, that make me even more mad. He do good thing for you, don't be weak." she insisted, the Mother showing surprise of her own from Serenity's change in character. "Worry about him is our job, mine. You focus on result of work, that all." she added before focusing ahead, the two Mayor's turning wary of the agitated Pokemon while Alicia and Rose had an "Oh boy" look about them, the two looking back at the door they'd exit from as it grew further away. "This really the right thing to do?" Rose muttered toward the snake. "I... Suppose...?" Alicia replied in an uncertain tone.
Making their way back into the main chamber of the Temple, the two Mayor's looked around before making their way to nearby staff to get an explanation of what Chris had intended next, while Tsarea remained with the girls. "Forgive me for pushing but... Won't you explain this sudden rage?" the Mother asked, looking at Serenity as the Pokemon crossed her arms and focused elsewhere. "Frustrated, about what he do to self, about what I know he do, and I do nothing..." she replied. "Angry we not stop him, angry people who mess up in first place not do more of the work." Serenity added. "We come here for fun, just more trouble..." she went on, pulling out the folded drawing Chris had made from her bosom. "Angry he want us to have good time, not care about self... Want everyone else happy, him being happy not matter." she point out, showing Tsarea the drawing getting an "Ah..." from her. "Angry because I want to protect him, but if I do, he not able to do what he wants and gets mad at me... So many humans in world, why he only one taking care of things? Doing what right? Each thing he do, he try to show me why humans are so good. Instead it only remind me why hate them to begin with... And make me hate more." she affirmed, tensing up slightly before taking a breath and relaxing. "He work self to death, then just tell us to go away, go do other things when he need taken care of. Push us away when he need help most... Always like that." Serenity sulked slightly as Tsarea turned her focus from the picture to the frustrated Pokemon before her. "My child, that's merely the mark of a man..." she replied, returning the drawing. "They fight, they struggle, and when their battle's over, they want those close to them to be proud, to be their hero, not to have their pity." she affirmed.
"His battle was one intended to show not only you why humans are good and just... But to remind those of his own kind the same thing. His fight was to awaken your heart to the understanding and generosity of mankind can show which you've sorely missed in your time in this world, and to awaken mankind itself to these things once more. A war against the darkness which plagued the masses of one and damaged our kin the world over because of the acceptance of that darkness, and the ignorance of it. A wickedness mankind either welcomed, or ignored,yet still harbored within just the same..." Tsarea went on, putting her hand on Serenity's shoulder. "Many in this world envy the chosen, are spiteful of them. Even you, standing here and now, saying what you say, feeling as you feel, that too is born of spite..." she warned, making Serenity raise her brow with an "Excuse me?" response. "You love him, yet despite that you loathe what he does for others. Your hatred of man would rather see him let others suffer as you have suffered, and somewhere deep down, there is a part of you that wouldn't care if it hurt him to ignore the needs of the masses. There's a hatred you harbor... Even toward Chris, because of his fate, his love and acceptance of others which you lack. And if you're not careful... It will cause great pain for both of you, a pain I sense will come in the not too distant future." the Mother spoke, Serenity offering only a "How dare you" type of glare as Alicia and Rose inched back. "Ts-Tsarea darling, I'm not sure this is the best discussion to have with her in this particular... Location..." Alicia cautioned, looking around at the chamber filled with guests. "Mother's do not fear their children." Tsarea assured as the two Gardevoir looked at one another.
"...And deep down in the pit of those glaring feelings you harbor even toward the one you love, there is a deep seated fear that even you know the potential is there, a chance for conflict to break out if you don't keep the things you think and the way you feel in check. You fear the harm you could bring him the same as any human you cross. And make no mistake, if you don't try harder to quell that dark fire within, that day your destinies clash will come, and the future to follow will push you all to the brink of ruin... Don't let yourself be the catalyst for that future." she insisted, Serenity's fists trembling as Tsarea glanced at them and closed her eyes. "It matters not if you come to loathe me as you do so many in this world. I only ask that you not let yourself seep that loathing into his life, and worse, toward him one day. Darkness without light only grows and engulfs, and though he's helped all of you in the same way, in your case there's a particular barrier preventing him from having the affect on your heart it needs... Be careful child, lest you condemn even the man you love most to an end even a Devil would find cruel." Tsarea finished, opening her eyes before looking Serenity square in her own. Unflinching and unyielding, the Mother spoke her peace as Serenity wavered between rage and hesitation, until finally she relaxed her fists and let out a sigh, turning from Tsarea somewhat surprising the girls as they blinked at the two Gardevoir, impressed Tsarea got away with such a speech. "...My words hurt you and enrage you, but they are spoken out of fear for both, if not all of you, and all of us. This night may not change much, but if nothing else, try to allow yourself to admit humans do have some shred of good within them... That's enough of a step for me." Tsarea coaxed.
"And for him." she added while turning. "Even in his worst state, he pleaded for you to see what mankind can do, so the worst you can do is see what's to come with eyes clouded by spite..." she finished, taking her leave and letting Serenity have her space, the Pokemon looking down in silence. After a moment, Holly and Barnack stood on stage together, a spotlight having flashed on from above as they waved at the crowd. "Hey there all! Sorry for the wait!" Holly apologized. "Due to a few circumstances revolving our man of honor for the night, of which I'm sure you're all aware of after that extraordinary birth, he's decided to sit the rest of the event out to collect himself." Barnack explained, the crowd looking at one another and nodding, with many parents in their ranks knowing the stress that comes with such an event. "He gives his apologies, but hopes all of you continue to enjoy yourselves as we cap off the night by finally revealing how much all of you have given to the cause!" Holly grinned, returning anticipation to the chamber. "We've laughed, we've cried. Felt joy, and rage." she added. "And now, after everything that's happened, the messages shared around the globe, the fruits of your labor are about to unfold!" Barnack grinned as well, the phrase "Your labor" making Serenity twitch before looking at the stage in agitation, only to take another breath and sigh. "Gonna be okay?" Rose asked, walking up warily. "I okay... Just trying to..." she paused, looking toward where Tsarea went. "Open up... I guess." she grumbled. "...That's big of you." Alicia chimed in, slithering up. "Eh?" Serenity replied, raising her brow. "A little praise... Don't get used to it." the snake answered.
"To everyone present here tonight, in our city and beyond..." Holly spoke. "Here we go!" Barnack declared, after which the two Mayor's held their hands up toward the massive monitor above the stage. Following this, the lights began to fade, dimming away as spotlights flashed on both within and outside the Temple toward the monitors and protectors to direct full attention. With all of them flashing on, the words "Damage Total" appeared on their blackened screens, followed by an image fading into view of the Temple taken during the fire as the inferno burst from its windows and smoke bellowed. Revealing a horrifying $1,000,000,000B in total damages needed to cover renovations from top to bottom of the historic wood and stonework of the Temple's colossal rear chamber, the sum included the cost of its many stained windows, classic and near impossible to recreate artwork, and all the priceless artifacts needing repaired or completely remade added in. Keeping in mind the price of inflation for the labor needed to clone all of the work done hundreds of years in the past, and how very few in the world would have the skill needed to do so, many supplies either no longer existed due to deforestation or were so rare even the richest would struggle to obtain them, this reality further bumping up the price. With everyone turning wide eyed and pale faced from the gut wrench that was the sum of the damage before them, it was this moment that made the people of Arcticu Valley not only truly realize what just a piece of the historic Temple could be worth, but how careless the city had been in preserving the walls which once protected their founding fathers and mothers from the cruel elements of the tundra they dwell.
The site that once stood as the beginning of what would come to be Yulema City in the present, had nearly met its end by its own spiteful descendants who failed to pass on its importance and the hopes it once represented. Though its creation was indeed aided via slave labor, this too was something it had come to represent in a positive light, as what was once built through the hands of force, would be surrendered to those the city owed so much to thanks to Holly's actions in placing Tsarea in charge of the site. The slaves of the past would become the ones to own that which they built so long ago, and though it was only one step, it was one long overdo that the world would take heed of thanks to the event Chris put together for its sake. It had become a Temple that represented the best and the worst of the past, the dreams and torment of souls alike, and through this, was unveiling the potential for the future to all willing to stop looking down on those deemed lesser, in an effort to walk hand in hand with all. And as the scene on the monitors changed, a map of the Ureaxion region appeared as the goal shot upwards off the screen, a line shown trailing down as various milestones flew upward, until finally reaching its end with $0 shown at the very bottom, the tally programmed to climb the trail as the donations ticked upward. Following that, glowing, glistening trails of white appeared on the map, beginning from various points in the region and meeting at the location of the Temple to represent where funds were coming from, each location, including Arcticu Valley itself, showing their own small golden tallies to represent how much each area gave. And after this, both Holly and Barnack declared "Start the count!" in unison, putting anticipation into the hearts of all
Next thing everyone knew, the orchestra began a slow, smooth performance, gradually building in intensity until an abrupt blast of effects exploded from the stage upon the band of youth Chris invited joining in, smashing their drums and strumming their guitars in unison with the orchestra. As small golden coins, like those seen on a Meowth's forehead, began rapidly trailing along each glistening path from throughout Ureaxion, they met together at the Temple's location making its marker glow brighter than the rest. With tallies from across the continent rapidly climbing, so too did the main counter begin its lofty climb toward the Temple's restoration. And as all the sisters gathered in the chamber to watch along with Mother Tsarea, given space to stand in front of everyone present, from the tens, to the hundreds, to the thousands, the funds given from all across the region saw the counter setting off with a brilliant start as the women who served the Temple clasped their hands together in prayer. "Wow... Look at it go..." Rose muttered wide eyed. "Not bad at all..." Alicia nodded. "...Long way to go." Serenity reminded as they watched the same as everyone. With the coins growing in number and flying faster and faster on the map toward the Temple's marker, so too did the tallies hasten their pace, with the main counter reaching the tens of thousands, then passing its first $100K, and continuing rapidly before the eager audience present and abroad. Though the progress was impressive, despite the excitement it created it also served as a cruel reminder of just how far away the $1B goal was. And yet despite these doubts, the amount of coins racing over the map and their pace continued to grow until they doubled over themselves along their paths, and in turn so too did the counters further hasten, until the numbers transitioned so quickly it were as though milliseconds were being counted as another $100K flew by, then another, and another...
And in not time at all, the counter soared past its first $1,000,000 mark, causing a shattering noise and effect as it destroyed the milestone and climbed further in the center of the screen, putting looks of hope on the sisters while Tsarea watched as silently as the rest, her own eyes gradually widening. And as the music played, from where Chris sat, he looked silently at the ceiling, too weak to raise his head as he listened to the performance dulled by the walls surrounding him as he slightly gripped the ends of his wheelchair's arms. With the coins continuing to double over themselves on the monitors, all of Ureaxion found itself blanketed by radiant gold rushing toward the Temple as its marker glowed ever brighter the more they increased in number. With each point marked reaching the hundreds of thousands in donations, from coast to coast the region was equally playing its part in aiding the cause, the amount refusing to let up. Standing to the side, Holly and Barnack looked at one another while focusing on the count themselves, a growing respect for the region welling up from the unity shown. With the numbers passing another million, then another, the racing digits soared into the tens of millions, until at last the grand milestone of the first $100M was passed, causing another shattering noise and effect, this one more brilliant than the last as the crowd tighten their fists eagerly. And as the numbers grew, what began as looks of hope turned to expressions of awe on the face of the sisters, their hands gradually lowering as the Temple was given more than it would make across countless lifetimes in a single moment.
From where the girls were, Rose and Alicia shared similar awe as Serenity's crossed arms lowered, looking at all the people with looks of "Come on" showing as the anticipation grew. And as the counter soared, everyone watching paused when a black and white video of Marvin Luror Jr faded lightly into view atop the scene on the monitors. "I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our region!" he declared behind his podium, the scene revealing him standing atop the steps before the very Temple in which they were generations ago. "Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice! Now is the time to lift our region from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children!" his voice rang, carried throughout the Temple and city via its speakers as the counter shattered the $200M milestone.
"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the Ureaxion dream!"
Jr continued as the counter passed $225M.
"I have a dream that one day this region will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal!"
He called for as the counter surpassed $250M.
"I have a dream, that one day the sons of former slaves, and the sons of former slave owners, will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood!"
Jr encouraged as the counter passed $275M.
"I have a dream that one day even the city of Millennium, a city sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice!"
He cried as $300M gave way and the tally climbed.
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a region where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character!"
Jr pleaded, with $325M now passed.
" I have a dream today." Jr. paused.
"I have a dream that one day, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers." he preached.
"I have a dream today."
"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together!" Jr declared proudly.
And with this, the counter pushed beyond $350M.
"This is our hope. This is the faith that I will go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood."
"With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."
"This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning, "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrims' pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!"
"And if Ureaxion is to be a great region, this must become true. So let freedom ring!"
Jr. prayed as the counter hit $375M.
"Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Arcticu. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of Millennium. But not only that; let freedom ring from EVERY mountainside! Let freedom ring!"
"And when this happens, and when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every region and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual." Jr paused, raising his fists.
"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
He shout at the top of his lungs, his words carried far and wide across the globe, and upon doing so the video of him faded away from view, with the counter shattering the $400,000,000 mark as Tsarea used her abilities to make the bells of the Temple gong to and fro once more to the roaring response of everyone watching. After this, as the bells ended their tolls in respect to Jr, people began noticing the amount of coins racing across the region beginning to dwindle, the count slowing in turn as it struggled to reach the $500M mark. Luckily enough, though slowly, it managed to do just that, shattering the goal and blowing it off screen as the tally slowed to the point of a crawl. Eventually, it finally stopped just shy of $550M, with the performance coming to an end along with the count.
With the moment now at its end, the lights within and outside of the Temple brightened back to their normal state as the tallies across the map of the Ureaxion Region vanished along with the trails and their source markers, leaving only the marker where the Temple was located glowing on it's icy northeastern territory and the main counter itself in the middle of the screen. With such a high amount of money taken in from a single event, it was nothing to snuff at despite the disappointed attendees, a fact they kept in mind regardless of the failed goal. Letting out sighs and dropping their hands, the sisters looked at one another before they turned to Tsarea, the Mother smiling and nodding at them all. "Worry not children, it's more than enough to polish up the damage so long as we use a little craft in our thinking and avoid greed." she assured as those around them looked at Tsarea and the women who served by her side, happy for the amount shown yet guilty it couldn't reach all the way. Back on the stage, Holly and Barnack stepped up to its edge before looking up at the monitor behind them, then at one another before shaking their heads with a "Wow" look on their faces and letting out deep blows of air as though both had been sucker punched. On the sidelines, Rose sulked with an "It didn't make it..." response. "Well, half way is still impressive, if I'm judging those numbers correctly... Surely we could consider the sheer amount that in itself is worth to humans?" Alicia reminded while Serenity looked down. "All that work..." she muttered. "He work self until pass out, and still not make it..." she added. "He did his best, come now. It's impressive regardless." Alicia pushed, making the Pokemon glance up at her.
"Those were a lot of numbers... You can only do so much... I'm sure they can still fix plenty with that!" Rose assured, trying to show Serenity a smile. "...Rather than the result itself, the bigger issue will be breaking it to him once he has the strength to take it." Alicia point out before all three groaned from the idea. "Who's gonna be the one to do it?" Rose asked, looking up at the two with both letting out a sigh. Looking around at everyone, Holly and Barnack seemed as though they were somewhat confused by the response to the amount shown on the monitors. "What's this about...?" Barnack asked. "...I don't think they realize..." Holly muttered back as they both looked back at the screen above them, then focused on the crowd. "Hey there everyone!" she called out, making the audience jolt and focus back on the stage. "That's some number, isn't it?!" the Mayor grinned. "Throughout the history of Ureaxion, no fundraiser has put together such an amount over the course of one night... All of you, our citizens here and beyond, should be very proud of yourselves!" Barnack assured before they looked at one another and grinned. "But... Aren't you forgetting something...?" Holly asked with a wink, making those before them look at one another curiously. "What they on about?" Serenity questioned, raising her brow. "Not sure..." Alicia muttered while Rose looked at the two and tilt her head. "Ladies and gentlemen..." Holly spoke once more before both she and Barnack declared "This is just the total for OUR region!" in unison, making eyes widen throughout the chamber and beyond. "That's right! YOU alone, our region alone, managed to push the goal all the way past the half way point, all by yourselves!" Barnack praised.
Hearing this, Tsarea let out an "Oh my word..." in response, the sisters by her sides looking at one another with responses akin to "Wait, what?" from the revelation. "You see everyone, Mr. Nakazaki had a strike of genius with this." Barnack point out before Holly stepped in. "When Chris decided that we'd split the count in two, he wanted to emphasize a few things by doing so... One being that he wanted to see, all of us to see, what our region alone could accomplish. He wanted to reveal how strongly our convictions could be when given a true challenge, so that we may see where our ideals, our own morals stand on their own today. To see how closely our beliefs were in line with his own... And with how much all of you have put together here tonight, I think both of us can say..." she paused, letting Barnack speak. "Mr. Luror, who stood at the steps of this very Temple so long ago, would be very proud of all of you." he praised with a grin, making those before them grin just the same before cheering excitedly. "Through this, not only have we shown ourselves where Ureaxion stands on equality for all, but together the people of our region have made it very clear, among ourselves and to the rest of the world, there's still so much more to be done if any of us are to rightfully stand under the banner of justice. In the time of Mr. Luror, we fought for the minorities of mankind to have their day, to be given their piece of the world they helped carve for us all, and now in our time, we're doing the same thing all over again... Only this time, not for mankind... But for those I doubt any of us have ever truly looked at, not in the way we do right now." Holly smiled as everyone turned their attention to Tsarea, the Mother scratching her cheek out of slight shyness for all the focus.
"Together, our region alone just raised five hundred MILLION for the cause of equality, we've all dug deep in our pockets and told the world we want to change... If that's not a scream heard from heaven on high, I don't think there's a voice loud enough that could." Barnack praised. "And now that you've seen where our region stands on the matter... Are you ready to see what the rest of the world has to say?!" Holly shout excitedly, after which everyone roared in response with their fists shooting up. "THERE'S the energy we're looking for!" the Mayor laughed before both she and Barnack turned to the monitor above them and shot their hands up toward it. "Alright!! LET THE COUNT CONTINUE!!" they declared in unison.
After this, the lights dimmed and spotlights flashed on like before, while the orchestra began a new performance to the echoing of drums as on the monitors, the depiction zoomed out of the Ureaxion Region and revealed the globe spinning on the screen until it suddenly unfolded, revealing the map of the entire world. And just as before, markers flashed on from atop every region on the map, only this time with pure and radiant platinum colored beams glistening while reaching out from other lands and making impact with the marker representing Yulema Temple itself. With the world over now reaching out its hands, a torrent of gold coins that dwarfed the earlier display began rapidly racing toward the Temple along their platinum paths to victory, causing the marker for the Temple to explode in brightness like a newborn star. Outside the Temple, atop its lofty roof, a colossal hologram projector flashed on, revealing the same coins spiraling down like a shimmering hurricane as though being safely vacuumed into and secured within the Temple itself. While the monitors showed the donations from the perspective of the world, the Temple was used to show what it would look like if all those coins were seen raining down from the heavens. And with the music and effects all in play, on the monitor the counter rocket skyward like never before, now blasting past the hundreds of millions with ease. From the $600M mark, to the $700M mark, up to $800M, with the world itself involved it seemed like a struggle for the numbers to keep up with the desire all of humanity was showing to help Tsarea after the battle she had to obtain her role and the hardships thereafter. And with eyes full of awe and wonder, she and the sisters watched the $900M mark shatter away...
And in no time at all... With the world watching... Yulema Temple hit its $1,000,000,000B goal...
When this otherworldly target was met, a new effect turned the golden numbers platinum as well and they twinkled like stars as the numbers climbed ever on, now with no goals in sight save the sky itself as the only limit. Having expected it to at least stop at the goal, all of the sisters began collectively dropping to their knees, with tears beginning to stream from their eyes as they were given more money than those even at the top of the world could ever dream of touching so suddenly. And while all of this was happening, the monitors were programmed to begin showing the responses the world was having toward the event. Revealing trends like #SaveTheTemple and #IStandWithTsarea trending at the top of the list across countless websites, comments from members across the web were revealed, exposing the overwhelming inspiration the event had on more lives than one could count. On top of this, people had been allowed to submit photos of themselves with the Pokemon they lived with. Some of the most inspirational pictures showed Hospital and Pokemon Center staff standing behind all of the Pokemon like Chansey that helped them, intending to show the humans stepping back and letting the Pokemon get front and center attention while pictures of Police Departments did the same, with human officers proudly standing in the back while their Pokemon brethren like Lucario stood in the forefront and bent on a knee in the same pride. Regardless of who it was, every picture showed man and mon alike raising their fist in firm unity and support, showing just how strongly Chris's words and actions resonated with people and Pokemon across the spectrum.
With the world bathed in the golden cloak of coins racing from coast to coast toward the Temple, it was impossible for anyone to decide whether to focus on the count or the online reaction, both creating the same awe regardless. Some pictures showed the parental roles some Pokemon had taken on for the sake of humans, one with a Machamp in a business suit and glasses with kids dangling from his arms like a swing and a smiling woman by his side, while another showed another Gardevoir somewhere in the world kissing a little boy goodnight. A similar scenario revealed a Hatterene reading a storybook to triplets, the Pokemon showing a sly smile and extending the claw from her hat toward them to represent telling something scary to warn them of the dangers of misbehaving as they lay wide eyed and obedient. All over the world, roles and bonds none had taken the time to appreciate, let alone properly notice was being laid out before them. Every scene shown emphasized only one thing, the world wasn't a man's world, nor' was it a woman's world. It wasn't put forth for solely humans, nor' reserved for Pokemon... It was a world for all, for each and every soul delivered upon its surface, where nothing else mattered but the unity destined to rise upon that grand era to come, an era without the bigotry or scorn known so well in the present and past... They were glimpses of an era when only the lessons of where such a world of neglect led society in the past remained. And now that these depictions of such a future were exposed, and the first step toward it was happening, all who were present, regardless of where or who, knew it would be up to everyone to make sure these glimpses became a permanent reality, no matter how many more steps it took.
And after comment after comment, picture after picture, and number after number, at long last the true, final tally for the Temple neared its end. While a pianist gradually took on a soft solo performance at the finale of the song, the gold coins from around the world dwindled to nothing on the monitors, the projector atop the temple flashed off as the coins ceased, and in a moment of silence, it was proudly displayed...
That the world had just given Yulema Temple, and Mother Tsarea, just over $5B, securing the future of it, and all who it served for ages to come...
In this moment, there wasn't an icon in history who could fathom the success one event could have, nor' the influence it could have over the world so many called home. And to cap off the moment, the monitors faded to black as the final tally lowered to the bottom of the screen, remaining proudly displayed as their platinum shine glistened, just before a video of Chris fade into view from the event. "Family comes in all shapes and sizes! Destiny extends its hand to each and every one of us! Man and mon! Do any of us have a right to prevent that?! Do we have a right to claim our own and deny it from others?!" he repeat. "Be you white or black, or whatever your race may be... Be you a man or a woman! Or wherever your identity may lead you!" he pushed. "All of us are born for greatness! All of us have a place in this world! But none of us have the right to decide for others where that place is! We're born to live, we're born to evolve! Humans and Pokemon! Physically, mentally, and not as one species above the other, but together as one the way we were intended to be!" Chris insisted as the scene transitioned to one of his final remarks. "Together, we've given it our all tonight! So no matter how things turn out, never forget the lessons you've learned here, keep them in your hearts and minds, and pass them on to those who come! Don't let tonight be all for naught! For even if we've succeeded, if the message dies with us it won't matter!" he finished as the monitors faded back to black. And after this, a surprise photo put together by the staff was revealed showing Marvin Luror Jr. on the left side before the masses in black and white, making his speech with his finger pointing out demanding to be heard...
And on the right side, the black and white photo of Jr transitioned to a fully colored picture of Chris, showing him making his own speech in the same way during the event. After this, the following sentences appeared one by one at the top of the displays, the words fading in and out of view in the process...
"Every Generation Has A Hero..."
"Every Hero Has A Message..."
"The Best Generations Remember Both..."
"They Carry Them In Their Hearts..."
"And Keep Moving Forward..."
After which the monitors returned to showing only the total earnings in the middle of otherwise black screens as the lights within and outside of the Temple returned to normal. From within the Temple, throughout the plaza, and all across the world, cheers of victory and sobs of joy could be heard because of what had happened on this night, while in the midst of all the emotion, the girls who journeyed with the man who'd accomplished it all stood in silent reverie of their own, taking it all in their own ways before, together, as if reading one another's minds, silently made their way back to where Chris had been left. Upon reaching his room, Serenity opened the door and approached his now sleeping form, walking around him and taking his wheelchair in hand. Stepping out of their way, the sister tasked with watching him was given little acknowledgement, save for "Sorry" from Serenity for having threatened her while Alicia and Rose bowed. Making their way to the back of the Temple, he was wheeled through the ashy remnants of the rear chamber, the wheels kicking up and circling the dust as he moved along. Using a small exit door in the corner of the room, Rose held it open as Serenity pushed him out, while before them stood Rapidash at the ready with carriage behind as Ninetales aura sat glowing by him, the fox having sent word for the stallion to be ready before she gave a nod and her aura waft away.
If you were to watch the scene in slow motion, it would be all too fitting a moment, as the remnants of ash circled and waft away from the warriors wheels while being spirited away from the battleground behind him in the cold of night. The warrior, battered and weary from his fight, all glory surrendered, all thanks refused, merely bidding his rescued peoples farewell. Having done what's right, he hides himself from the masses, wanting them not to see his crippled state, but focus only on the joy and festivities of their freedom, and newfound understanding of the world in which they took for granted...
So is the will, so is the fate, of Chris Nakazaki, the Guardian Master...
