Notes:
Here it is, the final chapter and the epilogue. Cheers to everybody who has read, commented and followed :)
Saturday morning, Solaceon Town
It was a pretty hot morning, even for Sinnoh in August. Lucas, Dawn and Barry made their way down the high street; Dawn fanning herself with her hand and Barry darting from building to building in search of shade.
"Barry, if you race up and down like that, you'll make yourself even hotter", Dawn pointed out.
"I couldn't be hotter if I camped inside Stark Mountain", Barry said.
"Yes you could, silly!" said Dawn. "Anyway, look, we're outside of Mocha Cafe. Let's go and get a drink".
Lucas and Barry agreed and they all went inside, glad to be out of the blazing sun. The fans were on and a cooling breeze blew down from the ceiling.
"I think I'm gonna have a chocolate ice cream float", said Barry.
"And I'll have a mint chocolate float", said Lucas.
"And I'm having..."...Dawn paused and let out a gasp.
"What's up, Sweetie?" Lucas asked.
"Look! Bebe is over there", said Dawn, pointing to the counter. Lucas and Berry peeped through the crowds, trying to get a glimpse. Sure enough, Bebe was standing there, smiling and talking to the cashier. She took her purse out of her handbag and paid for her order with a twenty Pokedollar note.
"Oh, Bebe was the one who bred Terry! Let's tell her we saw and battled him and he made friends with Lucas and then ran away into the fog", Barry said eagerly.
"Yes, then maybe she can look for him and find him", Lucas agreed. The three teenagers followed Bebe, weaving their way through the tables and throngs of people. They saw Bebe slip into a booth in the corner, greet some unknown friends and then bend down to pet something.
"I think maybe she already has", said Dawn with a happy sigh.
"Let's tell her about our epic battle though anyway, c'mon you guys", said Barry.
Bebe heard Lucas and the others approaching and she looked up and smiled.
"Hello you three", she said. "Have you come to say hi to this dear little Eevee?
"Yeah, we know him", said Barry at once. "We met him in the Solaceon Ruins and he was oof!" Dawn and Lucas nudged Barry hard on each side to make him shut up.
"Oooh! You found him, did you?" Bebe said in surprise.
"Uh yeah and Lucas made friends with him and tamed him", said Barry.
Lucas blushed and Barry steered him closer, round to the entrance of the booth. Next to Bebe, sat Saturn and Jupiter and opposite her, were Cyrus and Mars. A little Eevee, now much cleaner, sat on Bebe's lap, purring loudly.
"Ha, Lucas!" said Saturn with a grin. "We just keep bumping into each other, don't we?"
"Huh?" gasped Lucas, startled.
"It's Lucas, he's following us round", said Mars. "He secretly wants to join Team Galactic but can't bear to admit it".
"I, uh..."...stammered Lucas.
"Lucas, can I buy you a drink?" offered Cyrus.
Lucas frowned. "Why would you wanna do that?" he said in a suspicious tone.
"It's your last and final drink before he defeats you completely and utterly in battle tonight", smirked Barry.
"Humph!" Lucas glanced at Terry on Bebe's lap and felt his confidence grow. "I may win this time. Since we last met, I've been battling powerful Pokemon. I've been to the brink of death and back".
Dawn rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Now Lucas" Bebe said in a soothing voice. "That was a very kind gesture of Cyrus, he wasn't mocking you". Lucas went red.
"Uh, OK. Sorry Cyrus", he said.
"Apology accepted", said Cyrus.
Bebe smiled. "Lucas, would you like to pet Terry?"
"Sure", said Lucas, who wanted to show in front of everybody that the wild killer Eevee had been tamed by him exclusively. Terry glanced up, blinking his eyes sleepily. Lucas reached out and rubbed his head.
"Hey little guy", he murmured. "You remember me, huh?" Terry began to purr.
"He likes me", Lucas said smugly. Terry head butted Lucas' hand. Then he jumped down off Bebe's lap and trotted under the table over to Cyrus. Cyrus bent down, picked him up and settled him onto his lap.
Lucas gaped.
"Awww, he must be friendly again to everyone now that he isn't lost and alone anymore", Dawn gushed.
"Yeah and to think what he was like before", Barry muttered.
Cyrus caught Lucas eye and held his gaze.
"Lucas, are you ready for our battle tonight?"
"As ready as I'll ever be", said Lucas, still basking in his new confidence.
Cyrus checked his watch.
"The time is exactly 11:25 and 56 seconds", he said. "So, our battle will commence in..."...
"That late", Lucas gasped. He turned to Bebe. "I'm really sorry Bebe but we gotta rush off and leave you now. I need to practise. I MUST win this time".
"Of course", smiled Bebe. "Good luck dear".
"You're gonna need it", said Mars.
"Humph!" said Lucas. He turned to Dawn and Barry. Dawn smiled at him in an encouraging manner. Barry gave him the thumbs up.
"Let's do it", he said.
As they turned to leave, Lucas gazed at Terry one last time. Terry blinked slowly and chirruped.
"Bye, little guy", said Lucas. "I dunno if we'll ever meet again but if we do, well..."...
"Come on Lucas, there's no time for emotional farewells, we gotta practise our battling like there's not tomorrow", said Barry. He steered Lucas and Dawn followed them, waving goodbye to Bebe and Team Galactic. As they left, Terry licked his lips, before settling back down to go to sleep.
The Killer Epilogue
It was early morning in Jubilife City. The sun rose through a haze of most, casting a pale yellow light on the steel and glass of the tall buildings. Cars moved slowly along the roads and bikes weaved in and out of them, rushing to work. A few people on their way to the shops paused to gaze curiously at a teenage boy, who was chained to a lamppost and clad in a black cocktail dress. Two other teens stood near him; a boy with his hands in his pockets and a sympathetic looking girl.
"Why?" Lucas groaned. "Why oh why did I have to lose?"
"It's Karma, Lucas", Dawn said severely. "You were very rude to Cyrus when he offered to buy you a drink the other day".
"Dawn, that's not fair" Lucas whined. "I said sorry afterwards, didn't I?"
"Yes, after Bebe prompted you!"
Lucas huffed.
"Aw, you're my girlfriend, you're supposed to stick up for me and support me".
"I am supporting you", said Dawn. "I'm here, keeping you company".
"I'm here too", said Barry. "But to be honest, that's just to laugh at you in your Mom's dress".
"Huh!" Lucas sulked. "Bloody Cyrus! Why must his Pokemon always be, how does he say it...infinitely superior to mine?"
"At least he didn't write that on the sign though", said Barry.
"Yeah", said Lucas. "Yeah, you're right".
He looked down at the sign which hung around his neck and grinned a little.
I helped reunite Cyrus with his Pokemon.
The End