Hello, and welcome to the final chapter.
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Yes, this is the end. We all knew this was going to happen eventually. I love writing about Barbecute, but I know when to sum everything up. Stories cannot continue forever, and I think now is time to finish up. Thanks to all my reviewers, I appreciated your support. This is the longest story I have finished so far.
And before you ask, Barbecute will return later, in a new adventure!
Now, here it is…. Chapter 10!
Leo barely remembered how he got to the tree. After sadly eating the Sitrus Berry, he had tried once more to get up into the air. The Butterfree vaguely recalled catching a light draft that helped him gain altitude, and painfully riding it towards the sky and the afternoon sun, before dropping suddenly. Since his wing was useless, he couldn't glide to the next breeze and stay aloft, and crashed. Because he weighed little, he didn't make much noise. and his almost destroyed wings started to shed their remaining scales, and fall slowly like leaves in the fall. But I'll never see one of those again. Leo thought sadly.
Then he saw a tiny pair of black eyes, the sun shined on them, defecting himself. Leo smiled. He'd recognize those eyes anywhere.
"Hey Pick.. Miss me?" he gasped, exhausted and weak. Pickle said nothing, instead, he scurried up the tree.
Reaching the branch Leo was so desperately clinging to, his eyes darted across the broken Butterfree. If Pickle didn't see his chest rise every few seconds, he would be sure that he was no longer alive.
"Pod, how do you feel?" Pickle asked him. A weak chuckle could be heard. "I've been better," he said, coughing slightly. "and no offence Pickle but I don't think you can get me out of this tree. Grab Barbecute. She's stronger."
Pickle looked down solemnly.
Leo looked at him suspiciously. "You do know where she is, right?" he asked in a worried tone. Pickle nodded his head. "She's-"
Tears poured down the mouse's face. "She's been unconscious for days. Humans call it a coma, I think."
Leo closed his eyes sadly. Pickle sobbed. His best friend might never wake up.
Leo shuffled his wings, and Pickle looked at him. "W-What are you doing?" he asked. Leo looked at him. "Getting out of this tree. You might want to get down so you can catch me." he said. Pickle didn't move. Leo nudged him. "Come on Pickle, I need you focused!" he yelled, and the Pikachu nooded and jumped out of the tree and backed up."Ready!" he called out. Leo used his last bit of energy, and pushed himself out of the tree. For a few seconds, he soared over Pickle's head, and then started to descend slowly. The wind rippled, and he somehow landed on Barbecute. Twist was napping, but a Riolu nearby looked at him, then closed his eyes once more.
Barbecute was lying there, not moving an inch. Leo sighed. Looking at her reminded him of his family, sleeping in his nest, never to wake again.
Then it happened. One fire-red eye open a millimetre.
Daniel was walking through the charred remains of Viridian Forest. A large amount of the forest had burned, but most of it was still standing. The Typhlosion could see signs of life already visible growing in their former home. Quin was riding piggyback on his shoulders, quiet and sad.
He had been searching for days, praying to Arceus that he'd find her, or at least, at peace. But days had gone by since the fire, and any family that couldn't find someone had accepted it. All but him.
Then he heard the voices he recognized so well. The fun, lively Pikachu he'd know for such a long time, and the not-so-energetic Butterfree.
"Pickle! Pod! Have you guys seen Barbecute?" he yelled, but got no reply.
Maybe it wasn't them?
He went closer to where the voices were heard, finding a small area free of trees and covered in long grasses and wildflowers.
"Pickle? Leo? Anyone?" Daniel called out. Then he saw the large Pokèmon lying still in the grass.
"Barbe-" he shouted, but a look from Pickle silenced him. He saw Leo, no longer the beautiful, majestic Butterfree he remembered, but instead, a shadow of his old friend.
Leo was lying on top of Barbecute, still as possible. Daniel's eyesight wasn't the greatest, but he could see the small flash of red on her face. Her eye was open.
Barbecute took a deep breath, inhaling the gentle breeze that blew her way. She looked at Leo, and couldn't help but giggle. He was genuinely surprised at her reaction.
"Barbecute? What's so funny?"
"You!" she said cheerfully, and nudged him with her nose. A tiny smile grew on his face, but even that was hard for him.
"Pod? Are you okay?" she asked cautiously, not even noticing everyone around her staring at the Typhlosion like a miracle had happened.
The Butterfree sighed. "No. I'm afraid it's almost time for me to go." he said softly. His voice was was growing quieter by the minute.
Barbecute growled. "Don't say such foolish things. You'll get new, er, scales and your wings will heal. You'll be flying in no time!" she said, fake cheerfulness in her voice, but it disappeared with the crack in her words as she finished speaking.
"Thanks, but I'm alright with it. I'm here with you, my closest friend, in a sea of flowers with the sun shining. This is the best way to go." he said, and Barbecute looked teary with his parting words.
"It won't be the same without you." she whispered, and the small Pokèmon shook his head.
"You'll find a way. You always do." he said, and his faint voice died out, his small body still and his wings drooped.
Barbecute was in shock. She felt like a thousand Vileplumes had attacked her with Stun Spore, but that could never measure up to how she felt now.
Daniel came closer, his daughter shaking slightly on his head.
"Barbecute?" he asked softly, but she didn't respond. Instead, she delicately placed Leo on the ground, and unsteadily walked away from him, finally stopping at a pretty spot with a large yellow flower. She picked the flower and tucked it behind her ear, then concentrated as claws made from shadows grew on her paws. She slashed and dug at the ground, finally stopping and carefully placing Leo in the ground before covering him. Finally, she placed the yellow flower down on the spot where he wa
Yellow was his favourite colour.
Only then did she begin to sob.
Pickle reached her first; nuzzling his face into her soft, warm fur. Tears were rolling down his face freely. Quin, who had jumped off of Daniel, was also crying, hugging her mom as tightly as she could as the tears flowed. Daniel hugged her too, his eyes watering as he tried not to cry, and even Twist came, holding on to a part of her.
It seemed unreal, like everything was a huge dream that they would wake up from laughing in Barbecute's den with Daniel and Quin chattering and Leo sitting on Barbecute's head telling stories of his family and Pickle racing around the little cave just having a good time like always. But that was over.
They all needed to get over their old life, and accept their new one. Together.
I would like to thank Gaige's Peppy Sweetheart for giving me the inspiration to write this. It's funny how this started with my avatar, but turned into much more. To tell the truth, I almost cried, and might still do that while I'm finishing up. I've already started planning a new Barbecute story, but it won't be out for a bit. I still think I might cry.
Goodbye for now,
Typhlosion8
