Feng Che wrote his wish upon the final tag with focused precision:
"I wish for Mishiko to remain in a state of petrification forever, never to be restored."
As the ink dried, the wish tag erupted in a brilliant emerald glow. The True Eye on Jirachi's abdomen scanned the text, and then, with a slow and heavy motion, the eye closed completely.
"Your wish is granted."
In that instant, the stone statue of Mishiko began to emit sharp cracking sounds. Fissures spider-webbed across the gray surface, and instead of crumbling, the stone fell away to reveal supple skin and flowing robes. Mishiko had transitioned from a cold statue back into a living, breathing woman.
"Ah... how did my petrification break?" she murmured, blinking against the light.
Standing beside Feng Che, Yuan Xiong could no longer contain himself. Great, heavy tears rolled down his face as he let out a choked sob.
"Are you... Yuan Xiong? You've grown so much," Mishiko said, recognizing him instantly despite the decades. "How long was I encased in stone?"
She looked at Yuan Xiong's messy face with a hint of maternal teasing. "Alright now, stop that crying. You're a grown man—have you no shame?"
As the final wish was fulfilled, Jirachi dissolved into a cluster of white motes of light, ascending high into the heavens. The Lorekeepers of Celestic Town watched it go without interference; they knew that once the wishes were spent, the star would vanish like a meteor to sleep for another thousand years.
However, once Jirachi reached a certain altitude, it bypassed the normal laws of its species. Using the lingering energy of the Jewel of Life Feng Che had provided, it avoided its thousand-year slumber and teleported secretly into Shaymin's hidden Life Garden. Feng Che had altered its destiny. Furthermore, because Shaka had used a tag from a different Jirachi, Feng Che's partner still possessed one unused tag—but it was safer for the world to think it was gone.
The Awakening of the Dragon
Mishiko listened intently as Yuan Xiong recounted the tragedies and triumphs of the Garden family over the last twenty years.
"Yuan Xiong, you have truly suffered these past two decades," she sighed. Then, her warm gaze fell upon Feng Che. "And you... you are Yuan Jia's son, Feng Che. I can feel it. You possess not only the Green Leaf Power of our family but also a potent Dragon Power."
She reached out, pressing a finger against Feng Che's forehead. She transmitted her lifelong insights into Pokémon breeding and the mastery of Dragon Power directly into his mind.
"And Carolina," Mishiko turned to the Lorekeeper. "The little girl who used to follow me around has become the leader of the Celestic Clan."
As Mishiko's Dragon Power flared, a thunderous roar echoed from the depths of the Dragon's Den. Three massive shapes tore through the sky: a Garchomp, a Dragonite, and a Salamence. These high-tier, near-Champion-level dragons landed before her, nuzzling her with joy.
"Good, good. You've all grown into strong young men," Mishiko laughed.
Feng Che knew that with Mishiko's return, the Garden family now had an ultimate protector. Even if Dr. Carolina had lingering thoughts of absorbing the Garden family, she would have to defer to Mishiko—her senior and cousin.
"I will stay here in Celestic Town for now," Mishiko decided. "There are many wounded, and though I am no longer the Great Elder, my roots are here. Yuan Xiong, go back to the estate and assist Yuan Na; Feng Che is right to choose her as the successor. She has the spirit for it."
She then turned to Feng Che with a solemn expression. "As for your mother, Yuan Jia... I can still feel her presence in this world. But you must be careful."
"On her hand, there is a butterfly-shaped birthmark. If you find her, look for that mark. I believe I know why she abandoned you. When she was very young, she was kidnapped. When I brought her back, the trauma had caused her to develop a second personality—one that was antisocial, destructive, yet possessed terrifying talent as a trainer. I used my Dragon Power to seal it away."
So that's it, Feng Che realized. The seal must have broken when my father disappeared, leading her to abandon the 'orphan' and vanish.
The Cold Heart of Galactic
In the heights of the Galactic Building, Cyrus stood alone. News of the Pope's death had reached him. Surprisingly, a single tear tracked down his face.
"The old man is dead. Finally... but why does my heart ache?"
Cyrus suffered from a severe emotional detachment disorder. Growing up, he had become increasingly robotic, despising the "noise" of human emotion. His goal for the new world was to create a place of absolute silence and logic.
"Charon," Cyrus barked, his eyes bloodshot as he turned to the lead scientist. "What is the status of the Red Chain?"
"We have extracted the material from the gems on the tails and foreheads of the Three Lake Guardians," Charon replied, adjusting his glasses. "The Red Chain is two-thirds complete. Very soon, we will be ready to head to the Spear Pillar to bind Dialga and Palkia."