Author's Note: I apologize for the long break. I needed it to create new ideas. This is the finale chapter. Or at least, for now. If audience members such as yourself approve, I will continue on to make a Season 2 consisting of several sequel chapters. I already have ideas for them. Please enjoy the last chapter of this part.
She wandered the lonely dim block. After witnessing the revolutionary turning point in her life, she felt she didn't have a mind of her own anymore. Suddenly, a metal crate dropped on her. "Gotcha!" She heard. She was lifted into the air inside the cage and placed in the back of a big van by a large human in a black uniform. The doors slammed shut, allowing little light into the cargo area. After hours of waiting, the doors opened back up, to the site of more men in blue uniforms. They took her cage and mindlessly tossed it into a trailer being towed by a big truck. She was carried over a ramp into another dark room. Once again, she waited in the dark for hours until light became visible. The cage was unloaded and stacked on top of other boxes and cases. Suddenly, she felt the stack began to tip, and the cage fell and was dropped on the tarmac. She shouted in shock. The cage broke open, and she decided to venture out and try to see what she would come across. When she found another city, a net lifted her up off the ground. The person with the net, a man in a black uniform and hat, stared at her oddly before gently placing her in the back; just like before, only without a cage. Only a few minutes later, she was unloaded. Before she was, she heard "Ketchum? It was supposed to be your day off!"
The Pound Puppies were mesmerized. An entire flurry of emotions overcame them when they heard her back story. Even Squirt started to feel sorry. Mel hated being reminded of that moment so explicitly. "There! Now do you see why I don't exactly jump at the opportunity for another introduction of someone else in my worthless life?" She shouted. Lucky felt empathy for her. He couldn't help but feel sad for her. He disliked seeing anyone in her state. He sat down beside her.
"Your life isn't worthless, Mel." Lucky insisted. Mel hugged him tightly. She had the scarred side of her face covered. "But the only one who ever looked out for me is gone. I'm not anyone to anybody. I don't have anyone!" She replied. Squirt heard her and stepped forward. "That's not true. You have us!" He said happily. "And you'll have Xavier." Lucky continued. "And he'll have you." Added Strudel. "We understand losing someone that close to you is really hard, honey. But don't let it get to you anymore." Said Cookie as she came to sit by her, too. "But, he was my whole life. We were even closer than siblings. When he got hit by that car, when he hit the beam, and when he fell off and disappeared..." Mel started crying. "I think my world went with him." She finished. She found that her scarred eye no longer formed tears.
All five of them felt a sharp wave of sadness overcome them when they all found out what had really happened to her. They all wanted to help her as best as they could. "I'm really sorry you had to experience that," Lucky continued. "But it's time to put all of your pain and grief in the past. It's true that he did a lot of great deeds for you. Never forget him, but it's time to say goodbye and forget all of your bad memories." He smiled. "Now, everyone get some shut-eye. We still have a little bit of travel ahead. All six of them moved to their own space. Mel didn't move very far. She lied down. It wasn't very difficult to fall asleep with how sad she was.
The next morning, they all awoke to the sound of birds chirping. "Alright, gang. It's time to finish the road trip." He commanded. They all got up quickly and began to follow Lucky away from the campsite. They all hurried away. Mel almost forgot where they were headed.
A couple hours later, they began to reenter the city. After a few turns down some street blocks, they came upon a small building with a number 48 labelled across the top. For Mel, the building was just another sign that she was a step closer to Xavier; a step closer to a life she had never thought of living before. She was too anxious to try to think what it would be like to introduce someone like that into her life again. "Come on, Mel!" She heard. She shook off her daydream and nervously followed them all inside.
They were inside a small office. Another dog came through the door after them. He was tall and had thick orange fur. "Okay, the dog catcher will be back any minute. Let's hurry up." He said before he dragged a large brown book towards the Pound Puppies. Strudel opened it. Meanwhile, Mel spotted a photograph hanging on a thumbtack on a corkboard. It was of a puppy being hugged by a kid. She looked at it, and strangely imagined herself in that position. She imagined it two ways: a brilliant loving endeavor or a disastrous nightmare, like it was last time. Her anxiety practically screamed at her that the second one was the one that will occur. She became even more nervous.
"Mel!" Shouted Squirt. She looked in his direction. "Come over here." He responded. She followed him to the book they were all reading. Lucky spotted her and started speaking to her. "Good news! Your perfect person lives not too far from here!" He said. Before he could say something else, the doorknob began to turn. "It's the dog catcher!" Shouted the orange dog. They all quickly followed him out another door. "Okay. Xavier lives just over there. We better get started." Cookie explained. "Good luck!" Shouted the orange dog. The six of them walked out and began going to Xavier's house.
They soon arrived at a house on the corner of a street. "Well, this should be the place." Said Strudel. Mel was more nervous than ever. She even began to fear what might happen to her. "Quick, hide!" Yelled Squirt suddenly. They ducked behind some nearby bushes. The dog catcher's van was driving down the street. Then, it did something unexpected. It pulled into the driveway and parked. Ketchum stepped out of the van and walked up to the front door. He unlocked it and went inside. "Could it be possible that this is where Ketchum resides, as well?" Asked Strudel. "We'll figure that out later. Come on." Said Lucky as he walked around to the back of the house.
They all peered through an open window. Inside was a boy with black hair lying on his bed, looking really sad. They looked to the right and noticed a wall in which a portion of it was covered in photos of a pale blonde girl. Next to one was a picture of a tombstone with the words "In Loving Memory of Lauren Jones." The words "My Best Friend " were written in pen underneath the photo. The boy held one of the pictures of her. It was framed and it depicted them together on a hill around sunset. He grasped it tightly and held it close to him. He shut his eyes tight and sighed. "Poor kid." Said Cookie with sympathy. They all backed down from the window."This is it, kid." Lucky started. "It's time for you to move on to the next phase of your life." Mel stepped forward to where she could see all of them and began speaking.
"Before I came to the pound, I was completely unsure of where to go. But now, because of you five, I know where my place is." She said. Strudel stepped forward and placed a silver tag on her collar. "Once a Pound Puppy, always a Pound Puppy." They all announced. The Pound Puppies backed up while Niblet helped Mel up to the top of a windowsill. She turned around to look at them all once again and formed a grin. "Thank you." She said softly. She jumped down into the room with the Pound Puppies observing from behind.
Xavier heard a noise nearby, and sat up to investigate. When he turned his head to his window, there, was a gray puppy with a scar on one eye waiting for him. He gasped in surprise and slowly stepped toward her. Mel barked happily and ran to him. Xavier picked her up. "Who are you?" He asked rhetorically. They each took a moment to gaze in each other's eyes. Without a second thought, Xavier ran out of his room with her in his arms. "Dad!" He shouted.
A couple minutes later, Xavier walked back in, hugging her. The both of them looked the happiest they've ever been. Mel licked his face a couple times. Xavier happily accepted it. From the moment they each saw each other, they both knew that they understood each other. Mel now knew why he was chosen exclusively for her. She could tell he has been through the same things. Xavier sat on his bed. Mel followed and got as close as she could. She was finally ready for that kind of love again. For her, this was a journey to remember.
End of Season 1
