The father and son fastened their gear and prepared to leave the temple, until Taki and Totodile ran to them
"Hey, wait up!" called Totodile. "We're coming with you!"
"...but just to the edge of the forest," smiled Taki.
Miguel noticed his mother.
"Hey Mom, why don't you come with us?" he suggested.
She gathered her words before speaking.
"I've lived here as long as I can remember," she answered. "This is my home."
"As much as I would like to come, I'd rather stay," she continued.
"You'll visit us soon, right?" asked Louis.
"Of course," answered his grandmother.
As the group approached the edge of the temple's grounds, the Chief called out.
"Farewell Serrano's!"
Both father and son simultaneously gestured a thumbs up above their heads. The large Scizor, the temple's security, loomed before them.
"Nice work out there, kid," it said.
"Thanks, Scizor," replied Louis, warming with the acknowledgement.
Taki and Totodile guided, leading the way through the forest before Taki reached into her pocket and retrieved a Pokéball.
"Hey, Louis," called Taki. "Catch!"
She threw the item to the boy. It arced in the air, a spiral of red and white, before Louis successfully managed to snatch it from its flight.
"A Pokéball?" pondered Louis. "Why?"
"In case you ever change your mind," replied Taki.
The idea of training filled his thoughts again.
"Gotcha'," he said.
"That used to be my Pokéball..." spoke Totodile. "...but you can have it. Taki doesn't use it anymore."
Soon, the trees thinned, as the sounds of a running river grew. Taki stopped walking.
"This is as far as we'll go, Chief's orders," she said.
After they said their goodbyes, Taki picked up Totodile, who continued to wave at the Serrano's, who waved back until they were out of sight.
"I PROMISE I'LL VISIT!" called Louis, into the distance.
Both individuals approached the bridge leading home.
The bridge with the Gyarados'.
"As long as they don't see you as a threat, they won't attack," whispered the boy.
Miguel nodded.
"There's that kid again," muttered one of the Gyarados'. "Should we let them pass?"
"As long as he doesn't throw a rock at us again," the second responded.
"I won't!" called Louis.
Miguel stared at the exchange, chuckling.
Before long, the village of Flash Town rose before them. Within it was the Serrano family home. The family's Pidgeotto spotted the pair from the windowsill.
"Well well, look who came crawling back," it snarked.
A quizzical expression crossed Miguel's face.
"Was it always this rude?" he asked.
"Maybe," replied Louis.
The door swung open and father and son stepped over the threshold.
"Is someone there?" called Janet, from a bedroom.
"Yeah, your husband and son," answered Miguel, smiling.
She whooshed from the bedroom to the front door. A wide range of emotions flowed through her, before settling on relief.
"I'm so glad you're both okay," Janet spoke.
"Did you get my letter?" asked Louis.
"Just yesterday, I was worried sick," answered his mother. "The letter said you were with friends. Where are they?"
"...home," responded the boy.
As regular household life returned, Louis went to his room and began unpacking. Clothing fell from it, a Pokéball, binoculars, and something else…
...a scroll of sketches unfurled on his bed. The first...a beautiful sunset from a mountain peak. The next one, a happily dancing Totodile.
"H-how did Tracey get these in my bag?" the boy wondered.
Thinking back to the time Tracey travelled alongside him and Taki, Louis remembered how they shared one last embrace before departing. He realised that Tracey must have slipped the scroll of sketches into his bag without noticing.
"Clever boy," he said, chuckling.
There was one more sketch...one that Louis had never seen before. ...It was one with Louis and Venusaur in a moonlit glade.
Louis dropped the parchment. He grew cold, and tears welled in his eyes, as the boy fell to his knees, sobbing, while clutching the paper. Soon, Janet rushed into the room.
"Louis, ...are you alright?" she said, glancing down at the sketch.
"Is that one of your friends?" she continued.
Louis couldn't answer, barely managing a nod as more tears flowed through his eyes. It was all Janet needed to understand. Her son had lost a friend.
"Hey, Louis," said Janet. "You're grieving. Do you know what grief is?"
Louis shook his head.
"Grief is just love with nowhere to go," explained his mother. "It's stuck in you. Whoever this was, they'd want you to be happy, and for you not to be so sad."
At that moment, the pair hugged, and Louis fell asleep in his mother's arms.
Aww, what a way to end the chapter.
Oh, and just so you are all aware, the next chapter posted will be the last one for this story. It's been a great run.
Thanks for reading. Is there something you enjoyed? Can you guess what happens next? Or...what do you hope to see in future chapters? If so, go ahead and leave a review explaining any of these reasons. (Please don't leave hurtful reviews)
If you enjoy this story and don't want to miss out on future chapters, go ahead and follow/favourite this story so you will be notified when a new chapter is released. Heck, feel free to share this story with your friends.
Thanks again. See you next time