{Chapter XVII "Farewell to a Friend"}
Lovino and Antonio smiled at each other. Feliciano left, giving them time to be alone. Everything seemed to be going well. Until…
"Lovino! Antonio!" Alfred exclaimed running toward them.
"What is it Alfred?" Lovino asked as he and Antonio hopped to him.
Alfred gently laid a leaf down on the ground in front of them, and Lovino and Antonio gasped. "Dr. Kirkland…laid Francis low," he explained. "He's hurting real bad." Lovino and Antonio looked sadly back down at the leaf where Francis was lying down smiling at Alfred. Antonio used his index finger to gently turn Francis's head towards him and Lovino.
"You both are still-?"
"We're staying frogs, Francis," Lovino explained.
Antonio smiled and grabbed Lovino's hand. "And we're staying together." Lovino smiled at Antonio and nodded.
Francis too smiled. "I like that…and Jeanne…she likes that too," he replied. He smiled one last time at the star, Jeanne, shinning bright on them and closed his eyes, taking his last breath right before the dark clouds covered her. Alfred, Lovino, and Antonio quickly took shelter, Alfred with Francis still in his hands, as the rain poured in. For once the weather represented the feelings and emotions that surrounded the trio.
'This is definitely not dancing rain,' Antonio thought sadly. The mourning look Lovino gave him told Antonio he agreed.
Even the bayou seemed to be in mourning. The dark clouds cast a solemn shadow over everything and there was a fog just touching the surface of the swampy water. Although the fireflies were still lit up, their lights weren't as bright as they used to be. Yes, everything was in fact mourning the loss of Francis including the trio who had only known him for such a short period of time.
Three fireflies carried Francis's body in a bigger, stronger leaf while everyone else followed. They gently laid him on the surface of the water and Antonio and Lovino placed two flowers they found next to him. Then the fireflies pushed him off into the thick fog. Everyone was crying, but as the leaf holding their dear friend disappeared from sight, the clouds rolled back causing a bright light to glow upon them. They all gasped as they looked into the sky, for a new larger star had appeared next to Jeanne. They were bright, and stretching out towards each other as if holding hands. Suddenly the bayou erupted in cheers. Everyone knew Francis was with Jeanne again.
A/N: Hello my darlings! And might I say, Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. Even if you're single or have a significant other or are dating someone, I hope your day is wonderful!
Now, I apologize for not writing and posting this last week. I honestly have no excuse except for I couldn't find the movie and I always feel the need to watch the scene before I write it. Unfortunately, that is a very sucky excuse so please feel free to hate me for it. Also, I know this chapter is really short. 414 words even. But, I felt that Francis deserved his own chapter. What's totally awesome is I have a three day weekend, so I'll be able to post at least one other chapter. I'm not 100% how well that plan will work because I missed three-ish days of school this past week because I was sick, therefore I have a crap-ton of makeup work to do. But there are only two more chapters left so it would be amazingful if I could finish it this weekend. Let's hope for the best, shall we?
Again, I love every single one of you and thank you for reading!
Ciao, Athineath~